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ICML’s Concept car

ICML showcased its new first ever prototype of Concept car at the Auto Expo. According to Mr.Mittal Director, ICML, the concept car is a new generation,high performing sophisticated SUV. Its conceptualization has been a dream of younger generation of Mittals.The concept car is a subtle piece of engineering with powerful engine and dynamic build up that will instantly put it on the frontrunners among the high end concept cars. ICML’s offer of five-seater concept car will be realized in the next two years and it is being devised anticipating the changes in the auto dynamics by the time.

Bajaj raises stake in KTM

Bajaj Auto plans to increase its stake in Austrian motorcycle maker KTM Power Sports by 25% to 30% over the next few months, said Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj. In November, Bajaj Auto acquired 14.5% of KTM for about $76 million, and subsequently increased that to 20.9%. “When we move into a more up-market two wheeler scenario, we will brand the vehicles as KTM, as that is what will be right for consumers,” Rajiv told Forbes.com.

Chrysler to sell Tata Ace electric in US

If reports are to be believed Tata Motors has joined hands with Chrysler for selling electric variant of Ace in United States Of America (USA). “The battery-operated vehicle has passed required safety and reliability tests, and the prototype is ready for production,” the report said, adding they will be exported as completely built units. Tata Motors will begin exporting around 10,000 units by 2008, and ramp up to 50,000 units, it said. “We are indeed exploring the feasibility of a vehicle on the Ace platform with an electric engine suitable for the U.S., in collaboration with a U.S. company,” a spokesman for Tata Motors told Reuters. It is important to recall that Tata motors displayed the Ace electric (ace elettrica) at the 2007 Bolgona Motor show in Italy.

Vahan show: Interview with Mr.Sam Group Head, Marketing and Sales of Yamaha India

While Tata’s nano made everyone to rethink the concept of frugal engineering, R1 inspired YZF R15 and FZ inspired FZ 150cc made everyone to realise, what is a true 150cc bike? YZF R15 and FZ pulled crowds like anything. It seems that Yamaha is back with a bang. Amidst disco and thundering music we interviewed Mr Sam Group Head, Marketing and Sales of Yamaha India. In this interview, he talks about rebirth of Yamaha brand in India. He promised from now onwards Yamaha will carry forward the global Yamaha brand image to India and will live to the expectations of brand Yamaha. While conquering the premium segment yamaha is in no haste to exit the 100cc segment. He told us that Yamaha will not vacate from the 100cc segment for the sake of bringing niche products. Yamaha would now be present across the segments and carve out a niche for its products. Let’s Vroommm with Yamaha

Interview with Yamaha

Fiat on a comeback trail

Below listed are four new cars which will soon make Indian roads attractive. Cinquecento,Grande Punto,Linea and Bravo is sure to ease your eyes soon.

Grande Punto – Fiat’s life saver

Fiat 500 cinquecento – True hatchback

Fiat’s Linea – purely italian

Fiat’s Palio Diesel – perfect heart for perfect hatchback

Piaggio to sell vespa again

As expected, Piaggio Group will re-enter the Indian market soon. Today, Piaggio officially announced its plan for the Indian market. Mr Roberto Colaninno, Chairman, said Piaggio would be setting up a new two-wheeler manufacturing facility at Baramati in Maharashtra. “We expect to roll out our first batch of two-wheelers in 2009-10,” he told. Piaggio will focus on two-wheeler production and marketing in India, maximising technological innovation through development of eco-compatible engines delivering low emissions and reduced fuel consumption. Mr Colaninno also indicated that the two-wheelers would be available from 50 cc up to 150 cc. The company through this initiative will be re-launching the Vespa brand of scooters in India. The new plant will also manufacture the hybrid Vespa engine, which works on lithium battery charger and petrol.Asked about the possible introduction of the Aprilla range of motorcycles in the country, Mr Colaninno said that during the initial period the focus would completely be on automatic scooters, but subsequently the company would study the feasibility of getting into the motorcycle business. In this context, Mr Colaninno said Piaggio would begin European marketing of thermo-electric hybrid scooters at the end of 2008. “At the same time, we are doing market analysis to gauge the feasibility of the launch of two, three and four wheel hybrid vehicles in India, presumably at the end of 2009 and early 2010,” he said. Piaggio owns well-known brands that include Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera and Derbi and has factories in Italy, Spain, India and China.

About Vespa

This will be the third time piaggio enters the Indian market. Vespa was first introduced in India in 1960 in technical collaboration with Bajaj Auto. The tie-up expired in 1971. In 1980s Bajaj sold scooters in North America but later withdrew from the market due to litigation threats from Piaggio. Piaggio then joined with Kanpur-based LML to reintroduce the Vespa brand in 1983. The duo earned the goodwill of indian consumers through the iconic Vespa scooters. LML had manufactured a range of Vespa P series clones using their Piaggo/Vespa molds and machinery. In 1999 Vespa’s went off Indian roads following Piaggio’s break-up with joint venture partner LML.

Yamaha to sell apparels

Bike showrooms are not just for selling bikes but for selling emotions. Yes,this culture is fastly catching up in India two wheeler industry. Yamaha Motor India has launched their first new-age lifestyle company owned store, ‘Bike Station. Already Royal Enfield has a similar setup and only few weeks back we reported you that Bajaj plans to convert its probiking showroom into a lifestyle store. This kind of stores will not only give a bond between the maker and the customer but also the necessary margin.

Coming back to Yamaha, the japanese manufacturer has already raised eyebrows by showcasing two new 150cc bikes at the auto expo. Through this Bike Station, Yamaha will build its true Yamaha image in India. Designed to provide a complete biking lifestyle experience,’ ‘Bike Station’ presents a complete range of accessories to fulfill the needs of a modern biker.While the store exhibits an entire range of latest bikes from Yamaha, there is an apparel and accessories section displaying quality, stylish and trendy clothing like Jackets, T-shirts, Jeans and accessories like bags, mugs, gloves, key chains. “The rationale behind the unique concept of ‘Bike Station’ is to create a new culture of biking lifestyle, which Indian youth is looking for, and to achieve the highest customer satisfaction in the industry.” ‘Bike Station’ is our latest offering to gen-X, which would provide an insight into the complete gamut of Yamaha’s offerings.” remarked Mr. Takahiro Maeda Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Yamaha Motors India. He further added that ‘Bike Station’ would not only sell bikes, apparels and accessories but would also provide ambit of services such as video games and internet surfing, thus creating a one-stop store for the needs of today’s youth.” Yamaha Motor India plans to set up 10 such concept stores in 2008 covering cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Lucknow. The company would infuse the synergies of ‘Bike Station’ into its existing dealer network by 2010 in a phased manner both in terms of appeal and experience.

Vahan Show: Interview with Fiat CEO

Fiat is ready to reconquer! this is what we felt when we visited Fiat pavilion at the Delhi Auto Expo. Fiat displayed Grande Punto, Linea,Bravo and Cinquecento at the Delhi Auto expo which clearly reflected its intention to capture indian minds again. All these products has already proven their proweness in europe and now they heads India. Especially the punto which gave life to Fiat (Global operations) and the new 500 (Cinquecento) the European Car Of The Year (ECOTY) is sure to make ripples in Automotive India Industry. We spoke with Mr Rajeev Kapoor, CEO of Fiat India Automobiles at the Auto Expo. He is very outspoken and revealed Fiat plans for the Indian market. He told us about the Fiat’s strategy to take care of service and spare parts availability.

Interview with Fiat CEO

Winners of Renault’s IndDesign

Renault which opened a design studio in India had announced a design competetion called ‘IndDesign’ in August 2007. The contest theme, “What is Modern India Design?” was open to only Indian students. As many as 77 students from 12 institutes took part in the contest. Renault has just announced the winners of its Auto Design Competition. The winners were offered internships at Renault Design India Centre in Mumbai. The jury to select the winners included Patrick Le-Quement, Senior Vice President, Corporate Design, Renault, Mel Nichols, Editorial Director of Haymarket Media in the U.K., Dilip Chhabria, Chairman and MD , DC Design, Patrick Lecharpy, Director, Advanced Design, Renault, Ritu Kumar, fashion designer and Managing Director, Ritika Private Limited, and Sangita Shroff, Director, Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, Jaipur. The competetion helped Renault DeSign to discover and develop design potential and talent across India. “Along with other global manufacturers who are in the process of setting up design studios in India, we want to better understand and respond to the needs of the Indian market and customers. Increasingly Indian carmakers are also setting up and/or developing their own facilities that rely less on European consultancies, as they previously did,” Renault said.

India in global radar:

Similar to Renault other major manufacturers are now testing waters with engineering and design schools in the country through design contests, diploma projects and interactions in the hope of capitalising on innovative designs coming out of Indian campuses.Italian design house Pininfarina, which designs cars like Ferrari, Jaguar and Alfa Romeo, took the first step towards Indian designs when it signed a statement of intent to pursue collaborative automobile design activities with Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Design. A year into the agreement, the company is keen on establishing a ‘global design hub’ in India in the next couple of years, where Indian students would be absorbed for the venture. Similarly, Mahindra and Mahindra’s design competition for students called ‘K. C Mahindra Award for Excellence’ in automotive design, has identified three innovative student designs on the theme ‘Long Haul Truck Cabin for the year 2015’. Hyundai, General Motors and Suzuki have also expressed their intentions to use Indian shores as a base for design development.

Fuel Injected Apache RTR

TVS apache RTR FI is the first bike from its stable to feature innovative Fuel Injection technology. By launching the apache RTR FI TVS will bring the its ultimate racing experience to the streets. According to TVS,the new apache RTR FI offers instant thrill and superior performance of a fuel injected 160cc engine. The 160cc FI mill cranks out 15.1bhp at 8500 rpm and 13.1Nm at 6500rpm. The figures are not much different for carburetted apache RTR. However, the power delivery will be progressive and the refinement can be felt while driving. TVS claims the top speed of the new apache RTR Fuel Injection (FI) as 120kmph. Also because of the improved combustion the emissions will be minimal in the new apache RTR Fuel Injection (FI).Another novel feature in the new apache RTR Fuel Injection (FI) is the rear disc brake. This new feature will give better control over this beast.