Honda’s Indian small car by 2010

Honda Siel has announced its plan to launch a Indian specific small car in next three years. Honda has already announced the launch of its hot hatchback ‘Jazz’ by mid 2009 running on a 1.2-liter mill, which is being targeted at the urban youth.

The news on the grape wine is that, the next small car maybe based on Honda’s 660cc K-series currently sold only in Japan. In addition, knowing Honda, we are sure that whatever the car is and however big its heart is, it will always give heartwarming performance. The car would roll out of the Rajasthan plant, which is about to be upgraded to produce 60000 units annually. So far Honda has only acknowledged that it R&D team is banging its head to give us a small car for domestic transportation purposes.

Honda has always managed to give us cars with exceptional VFM. Honda’s Indian specific small car will be postioned against the likes of i10 and Wagon-R.

Volvo may launch small car in India

There will be a new small car in the Indian roads shortly, which will be unlike any other. We are taking about the launch of the Mini by BMW. At an expected price of around Rs.20 lakhs and with unmatchable power, this car would start a completely new class of small cars.

To uproot this possibility of monopoly, the Swedish giant Volvo is currently considering launching one of its small cars like S40, C30 and V50. In Europe, these cars cost around 10 to 15000 euros. This would translate to nearly 20 lakhs in the Indian market owing to the taxes. So if launched the cars would easily meet the Mini Cooper in terms of the price, but concerning the performance we will have to wait and see.

Bajaj prepares for slowdown

Downsizing seems to be the mantra to face the economic downturn for most Indian companies. But here is a company that stands as an example that with good managerial skill and innovation any crisis can be withstood. Bajaj Auto has decided to follow a few out-of-the-book measures like extending credit to dealers, reducing payment cycle to vendors, lowering inventory and keeping a constant eye on the supply-demand balance.

Bajaj has maintained a 6% growth year-on-year like clockwork, even in this year. But in the April to September quarter, the sales have actually declined by 1.5%. The usual surge in the demand during festive season has not been witnessed.

To face all this, Bajaj has already started losing weight on its production line by controlling the inventory. Production targets are revised every week based on the supply demand equilibrium. Furthermore the company has also brought down the payment cycle from a 40-day cycle to a 15-day one. Being a financially sound company, they have also started extending loans to their dealers. Now they are bracing up for the post-festive season when the sales usually goes down.

Ford on track in India

It’s a tough time for the global economy now. But as the saying goes it is darkest before the dawn. Major companies around the world that have seen many a tumble on their path, will stand strong even after this crisis not because they always have, but because they have the years of experience to guide their judgment. Ford Motor Company has planned to go ahead with its bulk investment of $500 million in the Indian market. This decision on the outlook may look bold and courageous, but one must understand the company’s foresightedness.

Ford’s managing director for India has admitted that their investment decisions are long term as they should be. In the current year Ford’s sales fell to 27% between April and September. But Ford has announced that it will be launching a small car in the next two years and open an engine factory in Chennai. Reminds me of something I read somewhere, ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going’.

General Motors new Chevrolet Aveo U-VA Pictures

General Motors India today launched the new Chevrolet Aveo U-VA at a press conference attended by its brand ambassador and movie star Saif Ali Khan.  General Motors launched the new Aveo U-VA as part of its centenary year celebrations.

Accroding to GM, the New U-VA comes with a number of additional interior and exterior features including:

* Driver airbag and ABS system for enhanced occupant safety
* Keyless entry with burglar alarm for improved vehicle security and ownership convenience
* A rear spoiler to add sportiness and youth to the external visual package
* Leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob to enhance driver appeal
* Split folding rear seats to ensure cabin payload flexibility
* Premium deco moulding on the instrument panel and door trims to provide luxury

Speaking on the occasion Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President said, “The new Chevrolet U-VA now brings superlative value and additional safety, security and luxury to our customers, which is in line with our commitment to provide best-in-class products and services. With our Talegaon plant going into production last month, GM is now in a position to strengthen the company’s presence in the Indian market through the Chevrolet brand.  We will now continue to roll out new products and also revitalize our existing line up to create new excitement in the market. We are confident that we will be able to capture a sizable portion of the domestic market by 2010, he added.

“The Chevrolet U-VA is a global product sold in Europe, North America and other parts of Asia Pacific,” said Mr. Ankush Arora, Vice President (Marketing, Sales & After Sales).  “Today, the new Chevrolet U-VA can also boast of truly class-leading and exciting features that put it a league above its competition”, he added.

The new chevrolet aveo U-VA comes in nine colours and is priced between Rs3.98 lakhs and Rs5.10lakhs.

Pictures of new Chverolet Aveo U-VA

GM launches new Aveo U-VA

Update:

Contrary to the expectations, Chevrolet has launched the current aveo U-VA with a minor facelift not the one shown in 2007 Frankfurt motor show.

As we reported you in advance, Chevrolet today launched the new Aveo U-VA in India. First shown at 2007 Frankfurt auto show, this new Aveo U-VA will be officially available in India from today. Both internally and externally the new Aveo U-VA offers significant advances over its predecessor. This is a serious facelift and the new Aveo U-VA gets bold styling which imparts its new sporty image. The bonnet follows the lines of the radiator grille. Eye-catching contours, which flow from the bonnet to the A-pillar, highlight the sporty look. The fresh design of the new Aveo U-VA is an extensive revision over the previous model. Only the windscreen, roof dome, and door outer panels are carried over from the earlier generation vehicle. The gigantic grille at the front and fake fender vents gives a muscular appearance to the car.  GM’s new Aveo U-Va back is dominated by the solid bumper and the round tail lamps in a clear-glass housing.

New Aveo U-VA is powered by the same engine that powers the current one. The 8Valve, SOHC engine has a maximum torque of 110Nm at 4400rpm and a peak power of 76PS at 5500rpm. According to General Motors, this new Chevrolet Aveo U-VA would return 14-15kmpl in the city and 16-17kmpl in highway.

Similar to the older car, the new aveo U-VA also comes in three variants – 1.2,1.2LS and 1.2LT. New Aveo U-VA is also loaded with plenty of new features such as 14 inch alloy wheels on top end 1.2LT variant. The top end variant also gets larger profile 185/60 tyres, leather gear knob and rear spoiler.  60:40 foldable rear seats is a standard feature in aveo U-Va 1.2LS and 1.2LT variants. All the three variants of the new aveo U-VA gets a digital clock.

The prices of the three variants of new Aveo U-VA are

New Aveo U-VA 1.2 –Rs3,98,000

New Aveo U-VA 1.2LS –Rs5,04,000

New Aveo U-VA 1.2LT –Rs5,10,000

More details are expected and the pictures will be uploaded soon

Pictures of new Aveo U-VA

Volvo launches XC90 R-Design in India

The news that India is a ‘developing’ nation is becoming evident in more ways than one. What else can one say when any product which took nearly 2 to 3 years to appear in India is now available in under a month. The Swedish automobile giant, Volvo has also started understanding this and what a way they have chosen to show it to us. By November after the festive season Volvo has given us a chance to celebrate Holi again. That is when Volvo plans to launch its premium variant XC 60 after the European launch. For now, let’s make do with the XC 90 R Design.

The Rs.58 lakh car spells style and substance in one breath. The looks are contemporary without being boring. The car looks extremely bulky in the pictures but up-close at 1.7m it just about manages to touch your shoulder. The European design cues are unmistakable from the rear with the rear lamps showing off the best curves of the car. In other parts the style is quite minimalistic and renders an urban feel to the car. The car is available in 5 colors each sounding as exotic as the next like Passion Red and Magic Pearl Blue, making the target market as clear as the color.

Now as for the heart, it’s a 4.4 liter, 315 bhp mammoth under the skin of a soft-roader. The torque stands at an impressive 440 N-m to pull the 7-seater from 0 to 100 in 7.5 seconds* with a top-speed of 210 Kmph. Volvo says it has made extensive tests and up gradations on its chassis to make the car sportier (read off-roadish). Other highlights of the car include a massive set of 19-inch Vulcanis wheels, sports-tuned twin exhaust and classy (read Volvo) interiors. Volvo has always been known to produce safe cars (and one must admit a little boring). Let us hope that their attempt to add the fun quotient has been successful.

Pictures of Volvo XC90 R-Design

SBI to finance Tata Nano buyers

Tata Motors and State Bank of India (SBI) plans to forge a special alliance for extending car loans to buyers of Nano. As per the understanding, SBI will provide car loan facility to Nano buyers across the country. Tata nano dealers will accept only cheques issued by SBI. Also anyone who wants to buy without a loan also will have to issue demand draft of SBI in fa-vour of Tata Motors.

SBI which has 11,000 branches and its seven associate banks which have a network of 2,000 branches will be a boon to the Nano buyers. A win-win partnership is in line.

Chevrolet to launch new Aveo U-VA

As we reported earlier http://www.vicky.in/blog/chevrolets-new-aveo-u-va-2008/ GM Chevrolet will soon launch the new Aveo in India.  General Motors unveiled its new aveo(aveo U-VA in india) at the Frankfurt Motor show last year and ever since it was unveiled Indian customers has been waiting for this new car. From the styling point of view, the aveo U-VA looks more aggressive compared to staid current one.The big split radiator grille with a prominent crossbeam are typical styling cues of every modern european hatchbacks. The dynamism in styling of new aveo U-VA is enhanced by the large, curved clear-glass headlamps and fog lamps that project like spotlights from the lower part of the bumper. The spruced up, eye-catching interiors is also to increase the appealing factor of the new aveo U-VA. A fully integrated audio unit, user-friendly air-conditioning dials and soft plastics will make the new Aveo U-VA stand up to the rivals like Hyundai i10.

With the change in the styling, GM Chevrolet also introduced two new petrol engines for the new aveo U-VA.  A 1.2-litre developing 84bhp and a 1.4-litre unit with a power output of 98hp became the new powertrain of new Aveo. But Indian Aveo U-VA will continue with same engine that powers the current U-VA. Expect the price to be marginally higher. Aveo U-VA currently retails between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 5 lakh.

Pictures of GM Chevrolet’s new Aveo  U-VA

Volkswagen plans to launch Caddy in India

Volkswagen which has been a premium maker in the Indian auto segment plans to enter the mass market segment. Not just with a ultra low cost car but also with a taxi on the likes of Tata’s Indigo and Renault’s logan. VW officials told reporters at the recently concluded Hanover International Automobile Exhibition (IAA) that Caddy would be slotted against Indica or Indigo. “India deserves a good taxi,” Stefan Schaller, board spokesman for VW’s commercial vehicles business, told.

Picture of Volkswagen Caddy

With inputs from Economictimes