NANO to be launched in october!!!

The car being made at the Singur plant in West Bengal will be the first version of Nano. The Nano launch will likely coincide with Kolkata’s favourite festival, the Durga Puja.
Tata Motors is toiling hard to stick to the deadline in spite of various hurdles and cost over-run. It is estimated that the Tata Nano project cost has already zoomed up to Rs 2,200 crore so far as against the planned Rs 1,700 crore.
The company has preferred to downplay the political controversy over land acquisition that posed a hitch to the project, and instead blamed the floods that hit Singur in 2007 as the reason behind the cost escalation. “The Nano project is facing cost overrun, but the cars would be rolled out from the Singur plant during the Durga Puja in October barring any unforeseen circumstances,” Tata Motors managing director Ravi Kant told the media recently.
Tata Motors sees a substantial global demand for the Tata Nano with the company already receiving expressions of interest from a number of countries from Europe, Latin America, South East Asia and the USA for setting up plants. However, according to the company’s top brass, the Nano is scheduled only for the domestic market as of now and would explore countries in Africa and Latin America soon after the launch in India.
Meanwhile, the political controversy hovering around Singur seldom seemed to have died down. Tata Motors has made it clear that it wants to make peace with Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who was opposed to the project. Saying that the company was not averse to holding talks with anyone, Tata Motors managing director Ravi Kant said the company is in Singur to manufacture and not to be in politics.
He said: “We want to work with everybody. That is how we are growing our business, whether in Jamshedpur, Pune, Lucknow or Uttaranchal.”

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TVS Apache RTR F1 launched!!!

10 days ago, TVS Motor launched the successor to the much loved Apache RTR motorcycle - the RTR FI.
The big change is electronic fuel injection. The older RTR had a carburetted engine, while the RTR FI will have electronic fuel injection, with all its attendant benefits. Better power delivery, slightly better fuel efficiency… Pricing is a bit if a disappointment - Rs 7000 more than the carburetted RTR 160.
The displacement is 159.7cc from a fuel injected single cylinder motor.The Apache RTR FI produces 15.76 bhp at 8500 RPM, good enough for a top speed of 120 kmph. That is some 0.5 bhp more than the older RTR. Maximum torque is 13.1Nm at 6500rpm.
There is an optional rear disk brake available now for better stopping power.That, and the slightly different graphics and the engine cowl below are the only visual differences.
The Apache RTR FI has an innovative digital dash though can be used to keep track of your 0-60 kmph timings as well as top speeds achieved.
TVS Motor is counting on the Apache RTR FI to add another 500-1000 units to its current sales volume.
The ex-showroom price of the TVS Apache RTR FI 160 will be Rs 64,990 in New Delhi. We have heard reports that it will cost much higher in Mumbai and Chennai - so the only way to find out is to go meet your local TVS dealer. The new Apache RTR FI motorcycles should have reached all dealers by now.
At this moment, there is no further information on the RTR FI.
If you managed to get a test ride of the RTR FI, do leave a note in the comments below. Comments are moderated, so expect to see them published within the hour, normally.

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Mahindra Renault launches Logan Edge

The Mahindra Renault combine announced the launch of a limited edition version of the Mahindra Logan, the Logan Edge.This is NOT the New Logan which we talked about here. That would take quite some more time to come to India.
If you are looking for visual improvements in the Logan Edge, sorry. Nothing serious has changed as far as looks are concerned.
The major additions in the Limited Edition Logan Edge seem to be the optional ABS in in a petrol and a turbodiesel version, a reverse parking sensor and slightly imprved mileage.
The pricing of the Logan Edge is as follows:
Logan Edge 1.4 GLX petrol - Rs 499,990
Logan Edge 1.6 GLS petrol - Rs 558,338
Logan Edge 1.6 GLSx petrol (ABS) - Rs 578,337
Logan Edge 1.5 DLS turbodiesel - Rs 695,319
Logan Edge 1.5 DLSx turbodiesel (ABS) - Rs 715,319
All prices are ex-showroom Delhi.
The limited edition model, we think, is an attempt to battle the Maruti Swift Dzire, which has hit the sales of the Renault Logan in the last few months.
Parking sensor would of course be a major convenience, as is anti lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake distribution (EBD) in the Logan Edge.
The Logan Edge also gets better in-car entertainment from a USB/ iPod compatible Kenwood music system. Beige leather upholstery is a new addition, as well as a center console with faux-wood finish.
Mahindra Renault has also introduced a new colour exclusively for the Logan Edge - Mystique Purple, and new body graphics.

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Toyota fortuner SUV in india!!!

The Toyota Corolla has seen declining market share since the launch of the Honda Civic in India, and now is a bit long in the tooth. The company has been offering dsicounts and low-end variants for months now, slowly diminishing its existing stock.
The new Toyota Corolla is currently being tested in India - people have caught spy snaps of the car in several areas.
We have seen two new versions of the Corolla - the Altis and the Axio.
From the spy pics, we think it will be the Altis which will come to India.
The Japanese giant would pocket a higher market share in India, whch currently stands at 3 per cent. The new vehicles will be both imported and locally manufactured at the Bangalore facility.
While the next generation Corolla is to be available in the Rs 12-14 lakh range, the Fortuner SUV will come at a price band of Rs 15-19 lakh. The company will position the Corolla against against the newly launched Volkswagen Jetta and Honda Civic, and the Fortuner is expected to fight it out with the Maruti Grand Vitara, Honda CRV, Ford Endeavour and GM’s Captiva in the Indian marketplace.
Besides the new-gen Corolla and the Fortuner, the car maker is also mulling over more products across more segments in the Indian car mart. These are likely to include the luxury model Lexus and the compact car Diahatsu. If plans work out as scheduled, these two new models will be available in the country in a matter of a few years. And that’s not all. With the small car market also holding promise, Toyota is also expected to introduce its small-car aiming at more volumes. The small car from the Toyota stables might debut in year 2010.

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July 2008,Fiat 500 launch in India!!!

The much hyped two-door lifestyle model from Fiat, the Fiat 500, will soon be on Indian roads. The car, is to be launched in India in July in line with the Italian car maker’s aggressive push at making India a potential market.
The Fiat 500 small car will be imported to India as a completely built unit, as an image building exercise for the car maker in the country. The Fiat 500 as a mass market product in India, considering that it will cost more than much larger cars in India, like the Skoda Octavia or Honda Civic. The Fiat 500 will be a flagship model for the company - Fiat’s image has not really recovered in India after their initial hiccups in the late 1990s. Their alliance with Tata Motors in India has taken care of the negativity somewhat, but customers are still nervous about going in for a Fiat. A high end, iconic model (for India) like the Fiat 500 should go some way in restroing Fiat’s credibility in India.
Expected to sport a price tag of Rs 15 lakh, the Fiat 500 is likely to find its clientele among the celebrities, youth and auto enthusiasts.
The Fiat 500 has three four-cylinder engines - a 1400 cc 100 bhp petrol, a 1200cc 69 bhp petrol, and a 1248cc, 75 bhp multijet diesel engine already in India on the diesel Suzuki Swift. The car is 3.55 metres in length, but features 7 airbags including a knee-airbag and comes with a five star rating in EuroNCAP tests.
Besides the Fiat 500, the company has also lined up a few other models that would follow. The launch of Fiat 500 is being positioned in such a way that it would herald the arrival of the other new models such as Bravo and most importantly the Linea.
The Fiat Linea is a mid-size sedan Linea which would debut in September 2008. The Linea is expected to come up with 70 per cent local content, and company sources said that Fiat’s successful 1.3 multi-jet engines with 95 bhp will be used in Linea. Yet another model Grande Punto will follow he Linea and would get set for a December launch. The Fiat Bravo too is expected soon in India.
Fiat’s largest selling model in India currently is the Palio which is available in seven versions. According to the company, Palio sells around 600 units a month. This, significantly, means is that the company sells all that it makes.

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Small car for India by Volkswagen!!!

Get set for the first fully original Indian VW. The company’s Indian engineers and designers are said to be building an Indian Volkswagen car, specifically targeted at India.
It is not known when the launch will take place, though most expect it to be in 2010.
And no, this VW small car is not targeted against the Tata Nano. Volkswagen will manufacture its India-specific small car at its upcoming greenfield plant at Chakan in Pune where the company is investing Rs 3,500 crore. The plant will have an assembling capacity of 1.1 lakh cars per annum.
There are no further details available, the car is already in the developmental stages, says Volkswagen India.
The European car behemoth has confirmed that the proposed Volkswagen car will be made in India from scratch. This means that all aspects including basic design of the car on paper to the end product will be done in India. With this plan in progress, VW would soon join the likes of global giants such as Renault, Nissan, Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, General Motors and Ford, who are already preparing to explore the Indian market with their India-specific cars.
Continuing with its India thrust, Volkswagen will also soon launch the Indian version of its Polo hatchback. Incidentally, the Polo hatchback has already carved a name for itself as an international best selling small car. The version for India is currently being built and is expected to hit the Indian tarmac in 2010.
Volkswagen, meanwhile, lifted the wraps off its Jetta, a premium D segment car, in India. The Jetta has been positioned in such a way it would rival Honda’s Civic, Hyundai’s Sonata, Toyota’s Corolla and Skoda’s Octavia. The Jetta which sports a price tag in the Rs 12.97-Rs 16.67 lakh range is available in three variants with a diesel option. The new car is VW’s addition to the Indian car market which is already seeing sales of its luxury model Passat as well as the SUV Touareg. It has been pointed out that the Passat and the Touareg together saw sales of around 340 cars in the first six months this year.
Apart from the plans for the fully-India car, the European giant may also make an entry into hugely potential commercial vehicle soon.

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Maruti 800 Uniq launched!!!

Maruti Suzuki has announced the launch of the Maruti M800 Uniq - a special edition of the Maruti 800, the car that put India behind the wheel in the 80s.
Limited Edition or not, the M800 Uniq is the last gasp from the car that many thought would never survive so many years, and so many newer models. Maruti Suzuki’s own Alto overtook the M800 in sales a couple of years back.
So what is the M800 Uniq all about?
Here are the new ‘features’– new body graphics, beige upholstery, door trims with fabric patch, smart (smart?) lower console box, rear package tray, and dome decals here and there. No non-AC cars, all Uniq 800s will be air-conditioned.
The Maruti M800 Uniq will come at an extra cost of Rs 5,200 over the regular Maruti 800 AC, which is Rs 2,11,176 (ex-showroom Delhi).
Mind you, the Maruti 800 after all these years, is still a practical little car in the small towns and villages. It is extremely reliable, service and repairs are dirt-cheap, and if all you need is point-to-point transportation, it really is a practical choice.
I don’t think anyone who had decided to buy an Alto would step back now and buy an 800 Uniq. That is not what Maruti Suzuki is looking for either. A few people for whom the Alto looked a bit too expensive, and would have gone for the 800 anyway, would be tempted to buy the M800 Uniq. A little push in sales, perhaps.

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spark price slashed!!!

General Motors goes all out to lure buyers toward Spark Here’s news for all those who were planning to buy the cute little car from GM - Chevrolet Spark prices have been slashed by around Rs 55,000.
The non-Ac, no-power steering model of the Chevrolet Spark will now be available at Rs 2.66 lakh ex-showroom, Delhi.
The Chevrolet Spark has managed to be a popular and sought after small car in India. However, inflation in the Indian economy, rising prices and higher fuel costs have affected the sales of every car in India including GM.
GM has an aggressive integrated marketing campaign revolving the Spark. The lower price would also help the Spark compete more aggressively against the Maruti Zen and Estilo.
In the last few days, Chevrolet Spark has been heavily advertised with a price cut on India’s national media. According to GM India, the new campaign revolves around a once-in-a-lifetime, limited period special offer to prospective Chevrolet Spark.
At the current low price of Rs. 2.66 lakh for the Chevrolet Spark entry-level model, GM India expects first-time car owners to take a look at the model.
According to the company, the Spark campaign will target customers via the media and will look forward to address every potential customer is addressed using all possible means of communication.
The car maker plans to roll out as much as 25,000 column centimeters of print, 5,000-pus TV spots, 60,000 seconds of radio, 45,000 spots in cinemas and multiplexes, SMSes, e-Direct Mailers, Direct Mailers, Hoardings, In-Mall displays and also Rural Activation programs across as many as 11 states. These apart, cross-promotions with brands that have similar quality and value propositions are also being planned to drive home the importance of owning a Spark.
The Chevrolet Spark was recently picked for the JD Power Award for its class-leading quality attributes. It had also been rated the best for fuel economy by journalists India.
The company, which has been going all out on a network expansion spree, has already equipped 117 locations across India with state-of-the-art, customer-friendly, quick-response service points. The new Chevy Sparks will be seen at all showrooms across the country with full marketing paraphernalia for quite some time now.

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