OIl Marketing Companies may have freezed new LPG connection, but India’s oldest and most successful car may get LPG variant soon. Maruti 800 which Maruti Suzuki is selling for more than 20 years still clocks decent sales numbers. But the upcoming Tata’s Nano may make dent in the sales. Anticipating the nano’s effect and spiking oil price, Maruti Suzuki plans to power the M800 with LPG. The LPG kits will be supplied by Landi Renzo -Tribhuvan Minda-Impco. Maruti Suzuki is currently selling Wagon R duo (petrol and LPG) variant. LPG kit done wonders for the tall boy and pushed the Wagon R monthly sales above 10000 mark. Similar to the Wagon R duo, the LPG variant of 800 will be priced at a premium over the existing petrol variant. Expect the price to be around Rs2,50,00.
Nissan to sell LCV in India by 2010
Nissan has said it will start selling light commercial vehicles (LCV) in India from 2010. Nissan has planned to roll out 13 LCV models by 2012 as part of its global strategy to make it market leader in the segment.”At the heart of the business plan is a substantial investment in new products. Nissan will launch 13 all new light commercial vehicles by the end of 2012,” the statement said.The company is also planning to double its revenue generated by LCV sales by 2012 as compared to 2007, it added.”Nissan has grown LCV sales to unprecedented records for the brand, and we aim to become a leading player in the global LCV market by 2012,” Nissan Motor Co Corporate Vice President (LCV Business Unit) Andy Palmer said.
Mahindra gets closer to acquire Kinetic
Accordintg to Economic Times, Mahindra and Mahindra has signed a term sheet with Kinetic Motors in its bid to acquire a majority stake in the company. A term sheet is a non-binding agreement setting forth the basic terms and conditions under which an investment is to be made in a company. Mahindra is looking to acquire 76% stake in the company valued at about Rs 120 crore. Mahindra is doing due diligence of Kinetic’s books and assets. A deal could fructify in the next two months if the due diligence proceeds smoothly, sources said.
Hot news on TVS limited edition scooter, Volkswagen jetta and more
* Yamaha to launch YZF R15 on June 14th
* TVS Apache RTR FI (Fuel Injection) will hit the market in the first or second week of June
* TVS will also launch two limited scooters (scooty pep’s) inspired by the spirit of wimbeldon. TVS has signed up with All England Tennis Lawn Club for producing the scooters.The limtied edition scooty pep will appeal to women with sporty attitude and will be launched to coincide with the forthcoming Wimbledon season.
* Volkswagen Jetta is expected to be priced between Rs13 to Rs16 lakhs
* Hyundai to hike prices of all models in the range of Rs5200 to Rs32200
* Similar to Tata, Mahindra and Mahindra is also beleived to be in talks with italian bike maker MV Agusta
Maruti Suzuki hikes prices of DZire
As promised during the launch, Maruti Suzuki has hiked the prices recently launched Dzire sedan. The price of Dzire is hiked by Rs18000. The dzire was launched with an introductory price ranging Rs 4.49 lakh and Rs 6 lakh across different variants. Owing to the raising input cost, Maruti Suzuki has raised the input cost of other products too except the Grand Vitara. Maruti Suzuki hiked the prices of all petrol variants hatchback Swift,SX4 and Gypsy by Rs 9,000. The diesel version of Swift has become dearer by Rs 15,000. Maruti Suzuki also increased the prices of Zen Estilo and WagonR LPG by Rs 1,000 while Alto and M800 has become costlier by Rs 1,500. Prices of all variants of Omni and WagonR Petrol has also been hiked by Rs 2,000 and that of multi-utility vehicle Versa by Rs 8,000.
Owing to rising price rise
Skoda plans to conquer Indian market
You bought and conveyed! kudos to the Fabia owners for making india an important market for Skoda. The czech maker is buoyed by the success of Fabia but at the same time it realised the advantage of local production. Skoda which is perceived as a premium brand in India launched its first hatchback in January at a premium price of Rs8 lakh. It earned a rave review and has been selling good. However, Skoda has realised the advantage of local production. Our policy is not to import any vehicle in the country but launch only those vehicles that have reasonable prospects and numbers to support production here” Board of Directors Member (Sales and Marketing)SkodaIndia Thomas Kuehl said. Soon Skoda star producing Fabia here. But what’s more interesting is Skoda will not just restrict itself to premium segments. Skod will present in all segments and hopes to sell 1lakh units by 2012. By the end of 2008 Skoda will start selling Roomster MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) built on skoda platform. Skoda’s roomster will take on Chevrolet Tavera, Tata Sumo grande and Toyota Innova. An 1.9 litre TDI engine pumping out 105 bhp will power the Roomster in India. In 2009, skoda will roll out the Fabia combi – sedan version of Fabia. As with other Skodas a diesel engine for the Fabia combi might give the skoda a first mover advantage in the segment. The entry level D segment is currently dominated by Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Skoda also plans to launch a Yeti based SUV in Indian market in 2010. Unlike CR-V’s and Captiva’s Skoda, Yeti based SUV will be produced in India. “Yeti will also be produced and not imported in India,”Kuehl added In addition to all these, Skoda also plans a cheaper hatchback which will be out around 2012. The cheapest hatchback is mainly for developing countries like India and the hatchback will be priced around Rs4-5 lakh. . The czech is buoyed by the success of Fabia at the same time it realised the advantage of local production. Skoda which is perceived as a premium brand in India launched its first hatchback in January at a premium price of Rs8 lakh. It earned a rave review and has been selling good. However, Skoda has realised the advantage of local production. Our policy is not to import any vehicle in the country but launch only those vehicles that have reasonable prospects and numbers to support production here” Board of Directors Member (Sales and Marketing)SkodaIndia Thomas Kuehl said. Soon Skoda star producing Fabia here. But what’s more interesting is Skoda will not just restrict itself to premium segments. Skod will present in all segments and hopes to sell 1lakh units by 2012. By the end of 2008 Skoda will start selling Roomster MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) built on skoda platform. Skoda’s roomster will take on Chevrolet Tavera, Tata Sumo grande and Toyota Innova. An 1.9 litre TDI engine pumping out 105 bhp will power the Roomster in India. In 2009, skoda will roll out the Fabia combi – sedan version of Fabia. As with other Skodas a diesel engine for the Fabia combi might give the skoda a first mover advantage in the segment. The entry level D segment is currently dominated by Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Skoda also plans to launch a Yeti based SUV in Indian market in 2010. Unlike CR-V’s and Captiva’s Skoda, Yeti based SUV will be produced in India. “Yeti will also be produced and not imported in India,”Kuehl added In addition to all these, Skoda also plans a cheaper hatchback which will be out around 2012. The cheapest hatchback is mainly for developing countries like India and the hatchback will be priced around Rs4-5 lakh.
TVS apache RTR Fuel Injection
You read it first at vicky.in
Really everyone is losing patience. It’s been almost a year before, TVS unveiled apache RTR Fi. After the loss of face over the twin spark controversy, TVS is slowly recovering and begins to build its image again. After a lot of misses, TVS is all set to launch apache RTR Fuel Injection within a few days. The fuel injected apache RTR engine produces a maximum power of 15.1bhp at 8500 rpm and a peak torque of 13.1Nm at 6500rpm. Vicky.in reader shishir has caught the apache RTR FI and the commercial video. From the shishir pictures, it seems that the apache RTR gets racy stripes on the tank and FI decal on the rear cowl. You can see in the pictures the apache RTR without a rear disc. It is important to recall the rear disc will be optional for the apache RTR. The video commercial of the apache RTR FI comes with a tag “the fast just got faster”. Let’s hope the TVS do the same and launch the bike.
Apache RTR Fuel Injection (FI) commercial
source:Pictures by bprags of xbhp
Kawasaki to build motorcycles in India
Kawasaki may team up with Bajaj to produce motorcycles in India from 2009. Kawasaki Heavy may use Bajaj’s production sites at Pune, India to produce Kawasaki-brand sports bikes with engines of 150 cc or more, Katsuhiro Sato, a spokesman for the Japan, Kobe-based company, said to Bloomberg.Bajaj Auto has been a Kawasaki’s technology licensee since 1986. Since the tie-up, Bajaj has launched the KB100, KB RTZ, KB125, 4S, 4S Champion, Boxer, Caliber, Caliber115, Wind125 and the Kawasaki Bajaj Eliminator, the cruiser bike
Royal Enfield Thunderbird gets Twinspark
You read at first at vicky.in
The much awaited Thunderbird twinspark will be finally out soon. Thunderbird Twinspark have reached the Royal Enfield showrooms and dealers are only waiting for the formal launch. For the Royal Enfield, the Thunderbird Twinspark is a big technological leap and is seen as the important product.
Also the twinspark engine will help the Bullet maker to comply stricter emission norms.
You cannot tell whether the thunderbird is twinspark or Lean Burn variant at the first glance. It is the same Thunderbird in design and styling. Just two twinspark badges on the side flanks and a twinspark decal on the rear side are added. Surpisingly there is no UCE (Unit Construction engine) badge or a sticker in the Thunderbird Twinspark. But when you take a closer look you can feel the amount of that has gone into this vehicle.
Here are few special features of the twinspark engine.
* Thunderbird’s new engine adopts the superior twin spark technology for better combustion chracteristics
* Thunderbird Twinspark becomes the first Royal Enfield product in india to come with an integrated engine.
* In RE’s, the starter motor drives conventionally through gears & sprag clutch. But irrespective of 500 or 350 Enfield, failure of sprag clutch bearing and hence the failure of starter is most common. In the Thunderbird Twinspark,electric motor(starter) is mounted on the inner side of the Thunderbird Twinspark integrated engine which is tad diffrent from the conventional mounting point. The new technical development would reduce friction and wear-and-tear in mechanical parts of the engine, thus the Bullet’s new engine will have superior performance with less maintenance.
* The new integrated engine in the Thunderbird Twinspark employs six clutch plates for reduced clutch lever effort and hence strain free riding
* Also new in the Thunderbird Twinspark integrated engine is the auto de-compressor which eases your kicking. Unlike the electra 500cc LB, you can kick start the engine without pulling the decompressor switch. With these advancements, Royal enfield has make sure that customers doesn’t need to master the art of starting a Royal Enfield. Starting a RE is just a button away.
* The new integrated engine in the Thunderbird Twinspark uses hydraulic tappet which helps to maintain zero clearance of pushrod at all engine operating conditions enabling uniform valve timing.
Apart from the new engine,Thunderbird Twinspark gets lot of new features. It seems like Royal Enfield has built the new Thunderbird Twinspark with inputs from customers too.
* New Halogen lamp replaces conventional lamp and hence increased life.
* Foldable foot rest for the Thunderbird twinspark rider.
* The rear brake cable is on the right side of the bike
* Chain sprocket is moved to the right side.
* The new Thunderbird twinspark will be available in three colours (monotone) – silver,red and black. To be on the road thunderbird twinspark demands Rs99000 in Chennai.
Tata launches indica Xeta LPG
Tata Motors today launched Indica V2 Xeta LPG equipped with a dual fuel engine for petrol and LPG. The new ‘Indica V2 Xeta LPG’ would come with a 1.2 litre MPFI (Multi Point Fuel Injection) engine with two ECUs (Electronic Control Units).”The Indica Xeta LPG is equipped with a dual fuel (petrol and LPG) engine, which reduces CO2 emissions by about 10 per cent, while delivering excellent fuel efficiency both in the city and on highways,” Tata Motors said. The engine of the car would meet Bharat Stage III emission norms and could be upgraded to Euro IV norms as well, it said.”The Xeta LPG will initially be launched in two variants – GLE and GLS. The Xeta LPG GLE variant is priced at Rs 3.27 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), while the Xeta LPG GLS variant is priced at Rs 3.42 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi),” the statement said.