Interview with Mr.Silverio Bonfiglioli,COO,Fiat Group International
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TVS pips Bajaj to move to third place
As the December sales went down, the two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto may experience a jagged ride. Due to the slowdown in the sales, the competitors pushed it to the fourth position.Till October 2008, Bajaj was in the second position next to Hero Honda, the market leader. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan’s Honda Motor has made the Bajaj to move to third position. Now, TVS motors hold the third place.
Bajaj Auto slithered in domestic sales after trailing the pinnacle to Hero Honda in the year 2001. For decades, Bajaj was the definite leader of the harmonized market and in the past few months it is going down. In the last month it sold only 62,043 units. The slithering percentage is of 55 from December 2007.In December, Hero Honda made 2.09 lakh units of sales and HMSI achieved a growth of 29% to 87,164 units. And TVS Motors sold 72,355 units and holding the third place in the market.For the past few months, the market share of Bajaj got reduced as the motorcycle sales lingered at 43 lakh units in the first nine months of the fiscal.
During the time, Bajaj sales plunged 22% to 10.35 lakh units while the competitors maintained their market value. In the month of September, there was 3% decrease in the sales in the domestic market.In October the sales went down by 50% and in November it went down by 53%. Further, the company has streamlined the inventories with dealers and has decreased the dispatches from the factory, said the company officials. To salvage the losses, the company has planned to introduce six new models this year. HMSI and Hero Honda are based on Japanese firm Honda holds 26% stake and now decree the Indian market with more than two thirds of the overall sales in the two-wheeler.
Hyundai launches Sonata Transform
Hyundai today launched its all new Sonata Transform, the upgraded version of its sonata embera.
Commenting on the launch of the all new Sonata Transform, H S Lheem, MD, HMIL, said “It is our endeavor to constantly upgrade our products. Sonata is a proven success globally and offers high end luxury, top notch comfort and advanced safety features. The all new Sonata Transform is aimed at further delighting our customers as it successfully integrates all the key attributes of a premium sedan.“
Whats new in sonata transform?
* Exterior Styling changes in the new sonata transform includes door handles, front and rear bumper insert, outside mirror housing and waistline molding.
* The new sonata transform also gets rear defoggers, fog lamps and twin exhaust,
* Inside the new sonata transform you get 2-tone beige interior, auto head lamp off (battery saver), wood-grain finish inserts on steering, dashboard and door panel.
New sonata transform is powered by the advanced second generation Theta family of gasoline engine which produces a generous 175PS@6000 rpm of maximum power and a peak torque of 23.8Kgm @4000 rpm resulting in robust acceleration and a quick throttle response. The 2.4 litre, four cylinder, DOHC engine is assisted by a Variable Intake System (VIS) and VTVT technology which makes it highly fuel efficient as well as a refined unit. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.
The diesel variant of new sonata transform powered by a 4-cylinder, 2-litre Common Rail engine (CRDi) with a Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) is both frugal as well as an efficient performer. With a peak power of 150PS@3850 rpm and max torque of 32.1kgm@2000 rpm it generates enough performance to delight the enthusiast. The diesel (CRDi) variant of new sonata transform will be available with both – a 6-speed manual and a 4-speed (H-Matic) automatic transmission.
Picture of new sonata transform
Fiat launches Linea
Fiat today launched the liena sedan today in a glittering ceremony in Mumbai. “Fiat has kept its promise of making this an exciting year for its customers. The launch of the Linea is the first in the line of three launches that Fiat will undertake this year, the other two being Bravo and Grande Punto,” Fiat India CEO Rajeev Kapoor said. Linea is available in four colours – flamenco red, minimal grey, parla champagne and hip hop black. Later Fiat would add three more colours.
Pictures of Fiat Linea
Mercedes Benz plans to hike prices
Mercedes-Benz India indicated that prices of all its models will be revised upwards from mid-February 2009.Global recesion,fluctuating input prices and adverse exchange rates have placed the high level challenge before the manufacturing companies. We have absorbed significant levels of cost escalation–but cannot continue to sustain such levels beyond a point, Mercedes-Benz India’s Managing Director and CEO, Wilfried Aulbur, said.”We are going to increase prices of all Mercedes-Benz cars from mid-February 2009,” he added.
Fiat to launch Linea
Fiat will launch the linea today in Mumbai. After the Xylo hottie, the linea sedan is sure to revive the consumers interest in automobiles. Watch this space carefully to get the latest updates
Here are prices of Fiat variants
Fiat linea Active Petrol- Rs5,98,967
Fiat Linea Dynamic Petrol- Rs6,29,972
Fiat Linea Dynamic Pk petrol-Rs6,57,978
Fiat Linea Emotion Petrol – Rs6,69,980
Fiat Linea Emotion Pk Petrol – Rs6.98,984
Fiat linea Active Diesel- Rs6,88,983
Fiat Linea Dynamic Diesel- Rs7,18,989
Fiat Linea Dynamic Pk Diesel-Rs7,46,993
Fiat Linea Emotion Diesel – Rs7,56,996
Fiat Linea Emotion Pk Diesel – Rs8,10,004
Mahindra and Mahindra launches Xylo
Update: Price of Mahindra Xylo varients
| Varient | Ex Showroom |
| E2 | Rs.6,24,500 |
| E4 | Rs.6,69,500 |
| E6 | Rs.7,32,500 |
| E8 | Rs.7,69,500 |
Be proud! before anyone in the world you read about the specifications,features and colours of Xylo variants. Mahindra today officially confirmed the same. Mahindra and Mahindra today officially launched Xylo. Available in four variants – E2,E4,E6 and E8 this Xylo comes with 2.5L CRDe unit developing 112bhp of maximum power and 240Nm of peak torque between 1800-3000rpm.
Pictures of Mahindra Xylo
1) Mahindra Xylo top end E8 variant in Minty green colour
2) Side profile of Mahindra Xylo top end E8 variant in reador red colour
3) Rear side of Mahindra Xylo E8
Interior Pictures of Mahindra Xylo
4) Dashboard of Mahindra Xylo E2 (base variant ). Except the gear knob everything look nice. Gear knob has its roots from Bolero
For More info visit
Wanna buy Xylo in chennai contact Mr Dhayelan(9840433545/9841808317)
Mahindra and Mahindra Xylo Pictures
Pictures of Mahindra Xylo
Interiors of Mahindra Xylo
1) Instrument Panel of Mahindra Xylo E8 model
2) Mahindra has really taken care of quality. The fit and finish and quality of plastics is very good if not superb. The panel gaps are small and use of dual colours is exciting.
3) What everyone surprised here is the space that the xylo offers, its really an MPV with acres of space. 8 or 9 adults can comfortably sit inside. The seats are comfy and legroom in middle seat and third row seat is ample. Xylo is also featuristically rich, comfort is Xylo’s virtue. Everything is folded/unfolded at the press of a button. All the seats have adjustable (removable) head rest.
Xylo’s 2.5L CRDe unit is basically Scorpio’s M2DI engine used for rural market fitted with superior CRDe technology. The engine develops a peak power 112bhp and a peak torque of 240Nm between 1800-3000rpm.
Similar to scorpio the doors are large and wide opening. The third row seat has butterfly type window to allow sunlight and fresh air to get in.
Foldable seats and removable head rest results in flat bed. Slide the front and middel row seats backward remove the head rest,that’s it. Singapore airlines much 180 degree flat bed is here. Surely, your driver will take a sound sleep when you are away and your safety is ensured
Wanna buy Xylo in chennai contact Mr Dhayelan(9840433545/9841808317)
Mahindra Kinetic to launch new flyte and Nova
Mahindra Kinetic will make its mark into the two-wheeler market with its two improved products. This foray is set after M&M bought Kinetic six months back. The out setting of its two-wheeler business with the upgrades of presently available gearless scooters of Kinetic, the Flyte and Nova will be made by the utility vehicle market leader, as per the dealers of the company. By the end of this month, the altered versions will be available in showrooms.There will be no variation in the prices for both the scooters that will be co-branded Mahindra Kinetic. Presently, the prices of the 125-cc Flyte and 135-cc Nova are at around Rs.41000. Already Mahindra has started producing these co-branded two wheelers at its Pithampur plant near Indore. Further, it will dispatch the products to the dealers shortly, said the Kinetic dealer.
The information or the details will be communicated at the correct time, said Anoop Mathur, the M&M two wheeler division president and further he denied commenting on the issue. A couple of months ago, M&M clogged dispatching these gearless scooters and the dealers are lingering for the upgraded versions of Nova and Flyte.M&M is stern in striking the two-wheeler business with products in the entry level heap market as well as in the lifestyle and performance segment. Also, the company to source products for the top end of the market has made some partnership talks with several global bike brands. Earlier this week, the company arranged a tour to its Pithampur plant for its dealers.
M&M and Kinetic shaped to give a new firm in July 2008 named Mahindra Kinetic. In this firm, M&M holds 80% stake and Kinetic Motors hold 20% stake. For Rs.110 crore, M&M pulled out the controlling stake in kinetic.
Bajaj to launch XCD Sprint 135cc DTS-Si on January 21st
As you read it before in vicky.in, Bajaj today officially announced the launch of XCD Sprint 135cc DTS-Si on 21st January.
XCD Sprint 135cc DTS-Si will come with 10.5bhp engine mated with a 5-speed gearbox. The jaw dropping style of the bike and its long feature of XCD Sprint 135cc is set to rock the market. XCD Sprint 135cc DTS-Si will come with auto choke, gas-filled Nitrox shock absorbers, digital speedometer and LED tail lamps. Other significant features include electric-start and front disc-brake. .What makes the XCD Sprint 135cc DTS-Si is its compelling price tag. Bajaj says the price of the XCD Spritn will be approximately Rs45,000. “Bajaj Auto has a very strong position in the entry segment and the premium segment of the motorcycle market. With the launch of the Bajaj XCD 135 DTS-Si and two more new products in April and July, we aim to garner a strong position in the value segment,” Bajaj Auto general manager Amit Nandi said.