Chevrolet Beat Technical Specifications and variants

GM Chevrolet Beat is powered by an 1.2L,4 cylinder engine developing 80.5PS of peak power at 6200rpm and 108Nm of peak torque at 4400rpm. Beat comes Mcpherson strut type suspension at the front and compound crank type at the rear. Beat uses disc brakes at the front and drum at the rear. It runs on 155/70 R14 tubeless tyres. The dimensions of the beat are 3640mm – length, 1595mm – width and 1520mm – height. Beat comes with wheelbase of 2375mm and a ground clearance of 165mm. It weighs just 965kg. For the media test drive, Beat is available in bright red and blue.

Beat comes in three variants – 1.2,1.2LS and 1.2LT.

Daimler to build Mercedes C Class in the US

Daimler has restructured its making of Mercedes C Class in the US plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The move has already evoked a protest from the workers but the company sticks to its strategy, claiming that Germany is still its core production plant. This is one among such moves- SL sports models to be shifted to its main southwestern German plant in Sindelfingen, where too the workers protested.

The company feels that this will increase the volume of SL roadster by 20% by 2014.But the company has earmarked this for the C Class cars for the European market in northern Breman. Daimler’s move to shift to Tuscaloosa is on the strategy to retain the hold of Mercedes-Benz to grow further. This sort of shift is essential for global companies to have an easy accessibility and to get rid of foreign exchange formalities costs.

Daimler eyes on Bajaj and TVS for a truck

The end of honeymoon between Hero and Daimler made the latter to flirt with Bajaj or TVS to run the show. Daimler’s motive is to have a big shot in the industry like Magna Auto. The making of Mercedes-Benz strikes the string as Daimler intends to overtake the rivals like Volvo, MAN and Navistar. But none of these companies – Bajaj, TVS and Magna Auto- exerted any positive response to the issue.

Daimler has not let the heart down and will strive to drag the potential in the Indian market, especially with its Trucks. The tie-up between the Munjals of Hero group and Daimler did not pay off well, and they departed within a year of the JV. The reason cited is the dismal show of the commercial vehicles. Under the JV, Daimler had got 40% of Hero’s share for Rs106crore and has further invested Rs4600 crore to do it alone in the show, that Indian penetration might yield some other potential markets in the future.

This is one of the major tie-ups in the commercial vehicles sector in the Indian market- MAN, a Munich-based company had a tie-up with Force Motors, a Pune based company on 50:50; Navistar (US) and M&M; Nissan Motors and Ashok Leyland for light commercial vehicles; Sweden’s Volvo and Eicher Motors for commercial vehicles. Daimler, hereinafter, will involve in making Commercial Vehicles of light category, medium trucks by next year and heavy commercial vehicles by 2012 followed by export market later. For this, a production unit having a capacity of 70000 trucks is on near Chennai with Marc Llistosella as the CEO of the plant.

Daimler has five truck brands to its credit- Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star and Mitsubishi Fuso-Daimler. The temporary fall in the Commercial vehicles has revamped and the increase in the sale is by 5% to 2.63 lakh units. LCV sale is also increasing by 22% to 1.5 lakh units while the sale of heavy commercial vehicles is on the decrease by 11% to 1.12 lakh units.

Beetle invites pre-booking

The most lovable ‘people’s car’ of the late 70s Beetle has made a tremendous come back, as 160 buyers have extended their confidence on it. The formal launch is slated on December 4 and in tune with the passion for small cars, Beetle too invited advance bookings. Volkswagen is pleased with the feedback and targeted to fish out some 500 cars next year.

Price-Rs22lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai); single 2-lit petrol variant, 6-speed automatic gear box, mileage of 13-14 km/lit, anti-lock brake system, multiple-air bags, 15 inch alloy wheels. Delivery after the formal launch.Has the credit as the first car to be sold 20 million in the 80s. The launch will display the tag of The Return of the Legend to revive the extinct quintessence for nearly two decades in the Indian market.

The Director of VW small cars said Beetle will be an CBU from Mexico, shelling out 110% import duty to be more expensive than Polo (to be designed in Pune plant).The picture of luxury small cars in India wears a deserted look. Mini, from BMW is delayed; Fiat 500 (Rs15 lakhs)reciprocates lack luster (just 62 units in 17 months)

Toyota to unveil concept compact car in India next month

The Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corpn said it has planned to roll down a concept model of compact car next month. The Indian JV, Toyota-Kirloskar would begin the passionate model from its Bangalore unit sometime next December. Toyota treats this compact car project as a prestigious one to explicit its 11 year presence in the Indian market.

The sedan and hatchback versions, concepts imported from Japan, are ready for display at Auto Expo in January 2010. With the annual production target of 70000 units, the production will start by December 2010. With these versions, Toyota Prius will also be in the display at the Expo and the launch of this would be decided later, said the company’s official. The numbers for Prius do not matter a lot but the brand image for claiming some concession on duty, from the government.

Prius is too expensive for its exorbitant duty mode. The price of Prius is not known but the sale number of Toyota’s account is available – 53000 units by the end of 2009, against 51800 in 2008. The JV, Toyota(89%) Kirloskar (11%) Motors has amassed 4 lakh units of retail sales so far in the Indian market. The net sale till October 2009 was 5650 units, a hike of 50% from the one in the last year thanks to Corolla, Altis and Innova and the launch of Fortuner.

Toyota is safe and secured with the back up of 93 dealers , to be increased to 150 coinciding the launch of new compact car in 2011. Of the long series of Toyota in India, Corolla, Altis, Innova and Fortuner are the products made in the Indian units while Camry, Prado and Land Cruiser are CBU imports from Japan.

Car prices set to increase by January

The dawn of the New Year will be alarming for the car customers – the prices are to increase. The proposal is coming from the most popular companies like Toyota, Maruti and GM. The price rise may be in the range of 2-3% and the reasons cited for this hike are higher inputs, exchange rates and investments. GM is quite famous with its ranges of Chevrolet Spark, Aveo UVA, sedans Aveo,Optra, Cruze and SUV Captiva.

Toyota has to its credit Innova, Corolla, Altis and Fortuner and the price hike will be somewhere in the range of 1.5 – 2%. The decision has come off after a gestation period with the increase in all round manufacturing costs and the companies are forced to this extent, said an official from Toyota Kirloskar Motors.

Maruti is assessing the situation and would go along with other companies, if needed and the company is facing the fluctuation in its margin due to the factors cited for the hike. Now the burden has been passed on to the consumers from the automobile manufacturers.

TVS Jive Driven

Manufacturers always wishes to differentiate products from their competitors to lure the customers. Most of the times, the diffrentiator fails to change you ride bikes. The features are attractive but never bring comfort. TVS claims here is a bike which will ease your body and mind. The Jive is an attempt by TVS to ease off riding.[more test drive…]
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Kolkata goes agog without service for Suzuki bikes

The legend may be displayed in art, print, or any other media, but the legendry mode cannot be left in the lurch. The once famous bikes from Suzuki – Zeus and Heat – are in trouble on the roads of Kolkata. The city dealer, who fascinated the customers with a sheer display of the bikes, has not bothered to provide service for these bikes. Thousands of Suzuki owners face this complications and lamentation has already started over the neglect of such service. Now the brand gets the ultimatum not the dealer.

The company is honest enough the shoulder the responsibility saying that it has more than 210 dealers spread across the country. A dealer is yet to be appointed for Kolkata, said the senior manager (service). The year 2009 has been a nightmare for the owners of Suzuki, as they had to ride all along to Hooghly, some 30 kms for servicing their vehicle.

Another optional location is Chinsurah and the customers blame Suzuki for not redressing the grievance. The worst is the case with free check ups offered for two years. The owners of Heat and Zeus are shocked and stunned to be left uncared by the top most bike company. Another handicap is that the local workshop keepers are not that much skilled to repair Suzuki bikes. Spare parts too are not easily available and hence the local workshop wallahs are not encouraging the service for these bikes.

It is quite strange to know that the company’s vice-president (sales and mktg) pacified with a statement that the issue would be reckoned with in the next year!. By January a tie-up would be initiated with a new dealer and a showroom-cum-service centre will come into effect by the end of this financial year, he said.

Possible Price rise in Toyota Kirloskar

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, running the show in Indian automobile market, is on the verge of hiking the price of its premier models by 1.5 – 2%. Slated from January 2010, the rise is the outcome of higher input costs, unpleasant exchange rates which the company feels unsuitable for its business. The most targeted cars will be Innova, sedan Corolla Altis, and Fortuner. A relief is the appreciation of Yen against the rupee- 8.7%- during the period of June-November.