Vicky.in Blog

1) Honda is yet to officially unveil its next generation Jazz in the upcoming Tokyo Motor show but as usual pictures are already out.  Honda’s Jazz is known as ‘Fit’ in Japan.  This JAZZ will be the Honda’s small car for India to take on  upcomingggggg  Skoda’s Fabia, Volkswagen polo bluemotion, and Toyota’s small car.  Honda’s Jazz and Skoda Fabia are expected to be priced around Rs6 lakhs.  Hence all these small cars will be positioned above the  B+(Maruti swift) segment.

2) The 1.3 liter Jazz’s i-VTEC engine puts out a nice 100 PS at 6,000rpm and 127Nm of torque at 4,800rpm, while the 1.5 liter Jazz’s i-VTEC engine makes 120 PS at 6,600rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4,800rpm. For Japan, a continuously variable transmission is standard, powering with the front or optionally all four wheels. But all these are unlikely for India(as petrol mills only below 1200cc enjoys tax concession), the indian jazz will be powered by a 1.2 litre engine.A new diesel unit and a hybrid unit may also join the jazz lineup.

3)Jazz is not just a hatchback version of city, it is more upmarket. Jazz share the seats with accord and its steering wheel resembles civic. Jazz is stylish and embellish typical Honda design – sharp lines and central bonnet ridge. Honda Jazz sharp headlamps supplements thesteeply raked windscreen but the front grille resembles the CR-V. Alloy wheels and ellipsoidal glass area decorates the Jazz side. Similar to other sporty hatchback, the curved roof merges with the smaller rear glass area. Jazz taillamp is the pure attraction it blends with the rear. Jazz’s tail gate is mounted in the centre and is wide.

4)   Jazz is roomy just not because of well known Honda’s clever packaging but also through its generous dimensions. Honda’s Jazz is 3900mm longer(qualifyies to avail the tax benefit), 1695mm wider and has a 2500mm longer wheelbase which means a comfortable living space inside the hatchback. Also Jazz features a massive 400-litre boot. Suspension is by McPherson struts up front and torsion beam at the rear. Honda’s Jazz is well known for its groundbreaking central fuel tank which ensures a flat floor cabin(revised in the new jazz to provide more rear headroom) and the magic cinema-style seats – a clever floding five-seat lay­out,  which allows owners to expand the load area at the pull of a single lever.  Comfy Jazz will suit your space needs.

5) The Jazz will go on sale in Japan in January ’08, in India it is likely to be some time after the first quarter of 2008. Jazz styling, flexibility and the economy is wowed  by customers all over the world(20 lakhs jazz sold over 115 countries). Honda hopes to generate a similar wave in India.

* Bajaj’s much touted 200cc avenger DTSi will be out soon. The avenger will get a new heart. Bajaj will strap its 200cc oil cooled engine found in the pulsar 200cc into the avenger. Similar to its pulsar 200cc, the avenger 200cc DTSi will produce a maximum power of 18Ps.

* Though the Avenger – feel like god machine is really not meant for bikers who keep checking their fuel gauge. Bajaj has included the fuel gauge in the new avenger 200cc. Similar to its predecessor avenger 200cc DTSi instrumentation will not host the fuel gauge, it will be housed neatly in the fuel tank.

* The Avenger’s 200cc DTSi will have all the classic cruiser features – the round headlamp, simple fairing-less front profile chrome-finished single pod instrument cluster all exuding old-world charm. Multi-spoked, chrome-plated wheels, rectangular rear view mirrors, aluminium levers and shiniy handlebarweight adds more glamour to this cruiser. A footboard like enticer could have been better but avenger 200cc retains the same footpeg.

* Bajaj Avenger 200cc DTSi is expected to be priced above Rs70000. Bajaj avenger 200cc DTSi is expected to hit the bajaj’s exclusive ‘pro-biking’ for this festive season. Though the Yamaha’s enticer is no longer in production, this time the avenger 200cc DTSi cruiser will face the heat from the cult bike maker Royal Enfield. Yes, Royal Enfield plans to bring its new thunderbird 350cc to reap robust festive demand. The new Thunderbird 350cc will feature Royal Enfield’s much hyped UCE or integrated engine that means for the first time in Enfield history gearbox and engine will be integrated. Also the new Thunderbird 350cc UCE might feature the much controversial twin spark technology. A battle between cruisers is to be unveiled.

Photo of Bajaj Avenger 200cc’s oil cooler

source: photos from overdrive

update: more information on Bajaj Avenger 200cc DTSi

Suprisingly, Bajaj has tuned down the 200cc Pulsar engine for the new Avenger. The new avenger ‘s 200cc DTSi engine produces only 17.51 at 8000rpm(0.5PS less than the pulsar 200cc). What is more surprising is, the avenger cruiser is less torquey than the sporty pulsar 200cc. Avenger 200cc DTSi produces only 16.78Nm at 6000rpm(should have been more). Bajaj has fitted Bullet machismo like windshield for the avenger 200cc.

Suzuki’s 125cc Access

Suzuki launched in its much expected 125cc Variomatic scooter the ‘Access’ on september. Access is the third product from the Suzuki stable in India after Heat and Zeus motorcycles. 125cc Access is the third product from the Suzuki stable in India after Heat and Zeus motorcycles. 125cc Access is powered by a 125-cc air-cooled four-stroke engine with automatic transmission. Suzuki’s access features contemporary telescopic front suspension and a rust free body. 125cc access also features central locking system and provision for fitting a spare rear tyre at the back similar to the one found in Kinetic honda. Suzuki’s 125cc excess has an unique shutter mechanism for a single control point for the entire machine to avoid theft. Suzuki’s 125cc access is available in five colours – red, blue, black, grey and silver. 125cc Access will hit the stores by the first week of next October. Suzuki will announce the price after a pan-India roll out within two weeks time. According to Suzuki,125cc access scooter will give a mileage/fuel efficiency of 65kpl.

booming scooter segment:

Though indian motorcycle industry fell by almost 14.4 percent in the April-August period from a year ago. Scooters is witnessing a robust growth, it rose by 19 percent during the same period. On an average 40000 scootes are sold every month in india. TVS scooty plus, Honda Activa, Hero Honda pleasure and Bajaj kristal are prominent players in this scooter segment. Recently, TVS unveiled an electric variant of scooty. Yamaha is mulling seriously to foray into the scooter segment. TVS also plans a new scooter next year.

In August 2007, Kinetic Sym introduced india’s first 125cc scooter flyte. Suzuki’s access will compete with the flyte. The flyte is priced around Rs37000. Suzuki’s 125cc access is expected to be priced on a similar front.

Suzuki’s plans

Suzuki will introduce a 150cc motorcycle early 2008. Apart from the 150cc bike suzuki will launch another model next year(possibly a 175cc model). “Since sales of two models in the 100cc and 125cc segments have slumped, we are looking at the market for 150cc bikes now. We are also considering launching a 175cc bike, but it will depend on how the premium segment grows,” Suzuki said. Altogether a total of three launches in the next two years. With these launches, Suzuki plans to capture 4% market share(at present suzuki holds 1%) in the indian two-wheeler market in the next three years. Suzuki also plans to double its dealership network from its existing 145 in next two years.

Suzuki had already announced Rs 700 crore investment till 2010 for the indian market. Presently Suzuki sellss of 7,000 units of heat and zeus per month. Suzuki target sales of 5,000 units of 125cc access per month.

don’t expect the following from suzuki:

Suzuki ruled out any sales tie-up through the existing dealer network with Maruti. Suzuki says no to any product in the 100 cc category. Suzuki also ruled out a CNG variant in any of its products since it ”did not see the ability to house the CNG kit safely” in the two wheelers. . Suzuki also ruled out the commercial launch of the top-end Suzuki 1,000 cc bikes. ”The government policy is not suitable. We might get these bikes only as a representational model since the the roads are not suitable. Also the duties on the bikes are very high,” suzuki said.

Here’s photo of suzuki 125cc access

update: Suzuki access 125cc pictures

source: suzuki 125cc access pamphlet and photos from xbhp forum

SRV gets a new diesel engine according to this chevrolet’s new site. http://2007optrasrv_in.in.pls.carscomplete.com/prelaunch/dispatch.do

SRV’s perfect mate – the TCDi engine:Imagine an engine which is powerful than the might skoda powers your small car. General Motor plans to strap optra magnum’s 2.0L TCDi engine under the SRV’s hood. The 2.0L, 16V TCDi engine (Turbo Charged Common Rail Direct Injection) pumps out 120.5PS at 3000rpm and maximum torque of 314Nm at 2125rpm. Both these figures are greater than the mighty Skoda Octavia. This engine is also getting popular for its frugal nature. Five speed manual transmission is mated to this engine.

SRV Diesel Vs SRV petrol:

Apart from the new diesel heart, new SRV diesel will feature some cosmetic upgrades. New 15″ Alloy Wheel will replace the 14″ steel wheels found in SRV petrol. SRV diesel will also get new fat tyres i.e 195/60 R15 Tyres(185/65 R14 tyres in SRV petrol). SRV diesel also gets a new 5 MPH Impact Proof Bumper at the front(2.5 MPH in the SRV petrol model). Driver seatbelt in the new SRV(diesel) gets a load limiter. No sunglass holder for the SRV diesel model. SRV diesel is expected to be priced Rs90000 than the gasoline SRV. SRV diesel will come at a price of Rs790000(ex- showroom).

if it happens:  SRV diesel will not make any jitter in sedan or in hatchback market but it will certainly rock the Ford Fusion’s new diesel journey hard.