While the Yamaha’s latest offering R15 is already making jitters among competitors. Yamaha today said that R15 will be its starting point that means expect more from RD350 maker. “We will start a new era of Yamaha India with this bike,” Yamaha India chief executive and managing director Tsutomu Mabuchi said. “This model is extremely important to us. It is one of the most technologically advanced bikes in India and will be a starting point for us ” he added.Yamaha is “re-emerging” in India and the YZF R15 would provide customers with the best of biking technologies.”We gave a lot of thought before launching this bike. We had a close look at the market and we reconsidered our approach. We found that that this segment is our best area to attack,” Mabuchi said. Yamaha has made 500 registration in chennai alone within few days of the commercial launch of R15 and it hopes to sell 25000 units of the bike before the end of this year.
Interview with Mr.Mizuno Takyoshi, Manager,Engineering Division, Yamaha Motor Japan
Yamaha is back with a bang! the R15 launched recently is already earning rave reviews across the spectrum. The racy styling, responsive engine and flawless handling easily makes the R15 an ideal bike for everyone who loves race. But all this made possible because of the tremendous engineering gone into the bike. R15 is the first indian bike to get designed with the assistance of wind tunnel. Not only it inspires styling from R15 but also it has all the superior technologies available in any R series bikes. Deltabox frame is said to be 200 times stiffer than the conventional double tube frame. That’s why you feel rock solid stability even at corners. We interviewed Mr.Mizuno Takyoshi, Manager,Engineering Division, Yamaha Motor Japan the father of R15 to know more about the bike. “R15 is clearly a league ahead when compared to the bikes available in the market” he claimed. In this interview Mizuno also shared with us how Yamaha team made R15 with superior handling characteristics. Finally he told us that with the R15 Yamaha wants to bring the racing european culture to the Indian market.
Yamaha_mizuno_takyoshi_interview.flv
Maruti Suzuki M800 Duo – Pictorial Review
The raising fuel prices pushes every buyer to opt low cost fuels. As the production follows the demand all the major manufacturers are introducing CNG and LPG variants of their flagship products. Maruti Suzuki India’s largest car manufacturer has launched alternate fuel cars in the past. To compete with the slump in sales and to pull the buyers back into its fold, Maruti Suzuki has launched and LPG variant of 800. But unlike the Hyundai which offers cars running only on CNG/LPG, Maruti Suzuki prefers dual fuel cars. This is wise option considering limited availability of LPG . Let’s check how the 800 fares with LPG.
1) Maruti Suzuki M800 Duo: The new M800 Duo produces a max power of 35ps at 5000 rpm and max torque of 56 at 2500 rpm.
2) Maruti Suzuki M800 Duo: Maruti 800 Duo works on gas mixer system based on Integrated Gas Technology and the lpg kit is supplied by Landi Renzo of Italy. Though Maruti claims this system results in optimum performance there is significant lack of performance. You can feel it especially while moving up any flyover. However choosing between LPG and petrol is just a button away.
3) Maruti Suzuki M800 Duo: Unlike the wagonR duo, the lpg tank is mounted in the boot space of M800 duo. The 19.2L LPG tank occupies almost all the space in the boot and hence there is no space to store your luggages.
4) Maruti Suzuki M800 Duo: comes in two variants – standard and AC variant. The prices ranges between Rs2,37,810 and Rs2,62,499 (on the road Chennai).
The legacy of 800 seems endless especially with LPG as its food. The only sore point in the M800 duo is lack of boot space. But considering the skyrocketing fuel prices, M800 is an ideal car for day to day commuting only next to the electrically driven Reva. The M800 duo is clearly the most economical car available in the country.
P.S:Our sincere thanks to M.Jayakumar, ABT Maruti (massales@abtlimited.com), Guindy, Chennai (9994475222).
Feel the beat of Yamaha’s R15
Feel the beat
Yamaha_r15_beat.flv
Government hikes excise duty
The northward journey of vehicle prices seems nowhere near its end. Government of India today raised the excise duty of cars with engine capacity above 1500cc. For the engine capacity of 1500-1999 cc, a specific duty of 15,000 rupees per unit has been imposed. For vehicles of 2000 cc and above, the specific duty is 20,000 rupees per unit.
Impact on the prices:
Prices of Maruti SX4, Hyundai Verna,Renault-Logan, Honda Civic and Honda Accord are bound to go up by Rs 15,000 per unit. The prices of Utility vehicls Tata Safari, Tata Sumo, Mahindra Scorpio and Bolero and Toyota Innova would go up by Rs 20,000 per unit. The prices of Beamers, Merc’s and Skoda’s will also raise by Rs 20,000 per unit.
The actual hike in the on-road price might be substantially more than the hike directed by the government. However, the announcement of Rs 15,000 hike will actually result into an addition of Rs 6,000-7,000 to the price, taking the total burden to Rs 22,000 per vehicle due to the subsequent increase in value added tax (VAT), road tax and insurance. Similarly, a Rs 20,000 hike will result in an icrease in price of Rs 27,000-28,000 per unit.
Products—————-Old Price——–New Price
- Chevrolet Optra 8.28 8.43
- Chevrolet Tavera 6.53 6.73
- Honda Civic 11.42 11.57
- Hyundai Verna 6.55 6.70
- Mahindra Scorpio 6.99 7.19
- Ford Fiesta 6.85 7.00
- Maruti Suzuki SX46.54 6.69
- Tata Scorpio 8.86 9.09
- Tata Sumo 6.55 6.75
- Skoda Octavia 10.95 11.1
The new duty structure will not make any impact on the prices of small cars.
First impression – Yamaha R15
Yamaha invited a group journalist to test drive the new R15 at the Madras Motors club race track.The much hype around the bike and this invitation for a race track raised the heart beat of many. Here’s the first impression on Yamaha’s new R15.
Before going to the report, let’s have some info on the track. The madras race track doesn’t have a longer main straight but it is one of the best track to test the handling characteristics of a bike. We all have seen the bike at the Auto expo hence everyone is interested to ride the bike than its styling. The R1 inspired R15 exudes sportiness. R15 is the first made in india bike to come with full front fairing. Once you turn the ignition key on, R15 starts with hmmmmm sound which means she is ready to fire. The 17PS liquid cooled, Fuel Injection engine has enough top end to move past 100kmph at ease. R15 reached a top speed of 132kmph but few journalist felt she has more under the cover which means 140kmph might be in the reachable limit. The delta-box frame provides mind boggling manoeuvering ability to R15. At the corners, there is no need to shift down the gears, R15 remains stable and provide enough feedback to the rider. R15 comes with 80/90-17 at the front and 100/80-17 at the rear. Both the tyres are tubeless. Yamaha has worked with MRF specifically for R15 and the zappers offers enough grip though it is narrow. R15’s responsive engine and superior chassis is surely a league ahead. But expect the fuel efficiency or mileage of R15 to be in the range of 30 to 35kmpl. But i don’t think true performance lovers won’t mind the mileage.
First Impression: After finishing the ride every rider uttered the same two words……… absolute stunner
First drive pictures of Yamaha R15
Yamaha R15 is here
its vicky.in exclusive
The much awaited Yamaha’s new 150cc bike is here. Yamaha today announced the launch of R15 150cc. The R15 150cc which was unveiled at the Delhi Auto expo in January 2008 and has been building excitation among bike enthusiast since the expo. The buzz is all because of the bike’s R1 inspired styling and race bred technologies. R15 is powered by 150cc Fuel injection, liquid cooled engine which produces 17bhp of maximum power at 8500rpm and 15Nm of maximum torque at 7500rpm. R15 also comes equipped with high end features like rear disc and mono suspension at the rear. R15 would be available in two colours – black and blue. R15 is priced Rs97,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).
exclusive first drive pictures of R15 at Madras race track
Coming soon at vicky.in: First impressions of R15 and exclusive interview with Mizuno Takayoshi, Manager Yamaha Motors.
How to buy a swift or swift dzire?
Are you worried since you don’t know driving when your company is coming forward to offer a car to you? here’s way to tackle this issue. Just book a diesel variant of swift or swift dzire. By the time you complete your driving class and get the license, you might get your favourite dzire or swift hatch. But there is chance that you might not get the swift or the dzire by that time. Just relax and learn yoga. Ya, that’s the current condition of customers who booked swift.
Maruti Suzuki says that it is facing an unprecedented demand for both swift and dzire. Maruti Suzuki has already increased the capacity from 1-lakh units to 1.7 lakh units at its Manesar plant. Maruti also plans to up the capacity of the plant to 3 lakh units by October 2008 earlier than the scheduled timeline of 2009-10. However that might not bring respite for the customers soon, the waiting period for Swift Diesel is between 1-2 months and for the swift dzire its is expected to be in the range of 6-9 months. If you have already booked any one of these two cars without aware of this fact… start learning yoga today!
P.S: Maruti Suzuki is offering 12% interest on your booking amount of Rs50,000 for the period starting from the 16th day after booking to the day you receive the letter of delivery.
Scooters India mulls foray into electric bike segment
Scooter India a public sector automotive company which is known for its Vikram three wheelers mulls foray into burgeoning electric vehicle segment. Scooters India which holds the world rights of legendary scooter brands Lambretta. Scooters India started its commercial production of scooters under the Vijai Super brand in the domestic market and Lambretta overseas. The company discontinued the two-wheeler production in 1997. Later, it introduced Vikram, which has several variants running on fossil fuel like petrol and diesel and LPG, CNG and battery.Besides the domestic market Scooters India exports to Germany, Italy, Sudan, Nigeria, Nepal and Bangladesh. As the electric bike market grows in leaps and bounds scooters india wishes to ride the wave and in March it invited proposals. Currently scooters india is evaluating proposals.
Hindustan Motors to launch new model in October
The kumbakarnan of Indian Auto Industry finally wakes up. After 25 of years of long sleep, Hindustan Motors plans to introduce a new model in October to tap the festive demand. Hindustan’s only model Ambassador popularly called as Amby declining sales forces Hindustan Motors to launch the new model. Hindustan sells around 12000 units of Amby every year when Maruti Suzuki is selling 13000 units of alto every month.“To cope with competition, we have to launch new products. We have been planning this (launch) for quite some time,” Santhanam said. Hindustan previous launch was the contessa in 1980’s and it was officially stopped in 2003. There were no new launches during the period. In 2006, Hindustan Motor said it plans to expand its product range.Hindustan Motors also started preparing a comprehensive plan to revive the Uttarpara factory. The factory’s installed capacity is 25,000 vehicles but Hindustan produces only 12,000 Ambassadors a year.
Coming back to the Hindustan’s new model,the company says it has developed the new model on its own with design inputs from others. Also,the model is not likely to be part of Hindustan’s alliance with Mitsubishi. Santhanam, managing director of HM says “The company has, on its own, developed a new platform for the car. Though we have taken some technical inputs from others, the design is entirely our own,” said. The prototype of the car is ready and Hindustan has been testing the car extensively at the Uttarpara factory.
As we reported earlier Hindustan is also working on an auto gas or LPG version of the Ambassador before the Pujas. Hindustan will also introduce the Mitsubishi SUV Outlander by September 2008.