BMW is ready to bring their Crossover SUV, the new BMW X3 to the Indian car market to take on the Audi Q5 and the yet to be launched Mercedes Benz GLK. The launch event is dated for 25th August 2011. BMW can look at a pricing of Rs 42.2 lakhs, and gives BMW X3 buyers the freedom to choose between X3 diesel and petrol variants.

BMW X3 petrol will be powered by a xDrive25i with a 2.5 liter engine capacity registering 206 hp and 246 Nm (181 lb.ft) of torque. The vehicle will go from 0-100km/h in under 10 seconds, and will reach top speed of 210 km/h.

The turbo xDrive20d diesel engine has a 2 liter displacement capacity. The diesel engine will produce 176 hp and 350Nm (258 lb.ft) of torque. The car will go from 0-100 km/h within 10 seconds and will see top speed of 200 km/h. The new BMW X3 diesel is expected to drive in volumes for the company.

A Hyundai Motors(HMIL) spokesperson recently made it known that the company was all set to boost production of their luxury sedan, the Verna.  The company has seen an increase in demand as they have received bookings of over 20,000 units from various dealers across India. The new Verna was launched this May and is in the price range of Rs. 6, 99 to Rs. 11 lakhs.

This new fluidic wonder is available in 1.4 and 1.6 liter capacities as petrol., and diesel engine variants. In response to increased demand, Mr. Arvind Saxena, Director of Marketing and Sales for HMIL said that production will be geared up and they hoped that this would take care of current bookings, and also reduce the period for future booking.

At present, Hyundai Motors Limited presents seven passenger cars.  Accent, Verna, Santro, i10 and 120, Santa Fe and Sonata Transformer, all of which have recorded favorable sales figures while boosting company reputation in the Indian car market.

If you are a Sachin fan, and wish to hurt your sentiments purposefully, though that’s not my intent, feel free. I love Michael Schumacher(in this story, I love him even more). In fact, I love Shcumi from the days of watching F1 on Doordarshan on big boxes, also known as TV’s. Year after year, the cars zipped by on screen, and I watched. There was no internet then, and I’m a self taught F1 fan. At the start it didn’t even make sense, who won, what was the car a driver drove, or in fact what was the driver’s name, but in a few years I knew all about Schumacher, and Ferrari.

Now, I didn’t ever want to know about Sachin, but he’s always in news, so, I accept he’s very popular. He also has many records and ad deals, so, obviously he has a lot of money and that establishes that he didn’t sell the Ferrari because he was cash strapped. Also, I believe he has not lost his mind, so, this is not an act of insanity. Appears, it’s a parking issue. Fair enough because he just doesn’t have place to park the Ferrari considering he has to arrange parking space for 40 cars. Tough spot.

This poor Ferrari didn’t almost make it to India because of customs duty imposed on it which wasn’t to be waived off because the car was received as a gift, and not a prize.The Ferrari 360 Modena finally did come to India a year later, and Sachin didn’t have to pay customs duty. The car stands testimony to many greats which can simply be summed as ‘a gift from Ferrari to Sachin Tendulkar when he equaled Don Bradman’s record of 29 Test centuries, with Michael Schumacher handing over the Ferrari 360 Modena to the batsman. Did you spot the greatness of the moment?

So, What’s the moral of the story?
Well, this one has no moral, it’s plain disrespectful.

Volvo is in process of adding to their existing models and future plans work on the back of the Xc60 and S60 cars in regards to volume generation for Volvo. It is the Volvo XC90 which is what the company is all excited about.  Due to its failing popularity, Volvo has decided to give it a makeover in the months to come.

The company is in process of working on a new model of the XC90 SUV.  Mr. Doug Speck, Chief Executive Officer of Volvo North America spoke at an interview and established the fact.  Although no actual dates of launch were declared, Mr. Speck added that XC90 did contribute to company’s volumes.

Swedish auto manufacturers have not revealed any more details regarding new models or research and development that the company was in process of doing, but there is a possibility of XC90 being redesigned and given a new look in order to fit in the scheme of things.  One will just have to await further details from Volvo in this respect.

Dear Mahindra & Mahindra,
Please stop using such elaborate full page ads on TOI in the name of advertising. It’s a fad, and it isn’t really going to work, and is a serious wastage of paper. In theory, Mahindra & Mahindra sold 33,378 cars in February 2011 and 31,967 cars in February 2010.
You chose to keep the Logan going but a lot of people have lost confidence in the vehicle but who knows it may work for you. It’s the only sedan you have, so, really work on it.
The Mahindra Xylo has the worst advertisement content. Not too many people in India have freelance jobs like Atul Kasbekar and need a MUV. The long legged ladies would any day prefer a suave sedan and not an MUV. If it’s a CRV, then yes because it looks great. Women love beautiful things, and the Mahindra Xylo isn’t very attractive. The men mostly need a car to get to work so this MUV doesn’t cater to everyone.

For some reason, I’ve always seen political flags stick out from a Mahindra Scorpio, when driving on national highways. As such, I’m very fearful of them and believe that they are attractive to certain quarters, and socio-economic segments. It’s also used as a rally car but I’m not rallying.
The Bolero is just biggish, and really looks like a big rectangular box on wheels. Of course, it’s been spotted ferrying people through because it’s huge, so, even if not an official taxi cab, it does get people to places especially when they aren’t in the middle of a big city.

You’re selling a whole range of three wheelers, and the transport guys are busy going where they have to, and aren’t reading TOI. So, why have you blocked the newspaper? You need to employ a range of advertisement techniques for varying customer bases. Whatever you aim to attain with these block ads isn’t really happening if you intend to acquire potential buyers.
Dear Newspaper,
Instead of making so much money, you could have done a free full page ad for relief for Japan.

Please take note: This is my personal opinion because I hate wasting paper, and I think I have a small idea about what’s going on in the auto industry. Any statistical mistakes will be corrected if suggested by a dependable source.

Here’s a good one.

Please feel free to take a look and win a t-shirt.

You just have to suggest a name.

Buying a new Skoda Fabia in India this Diwali. Look here for comprehensive Skoda Fabia details, images, videos and Skoda Fabia specs.

http://www.rushlane.com/skoda-launches-new-fabia-128414.html

Japanese giant Honda decides to move ahead with their decision to keep Thailand as its small car exporting hub for its latest cars to be designed especially for the Indian roads. This report is from Honda Siel India, which is Honda’s Indian subsidiary.

The Company is planning to launch this vehicle by the yearend. The car will be designed exclusively for India, like the market of the Honda Jazz and Honda Accord, which have been designed exclusively for Japan, and US respectively.

The company always had Thailand in their mind for their small car exporting hub and most of the cars made in India will be for the domestic market only. The main reason for making Thailand as the exporting hub is that Thailand is a part of the ASEAN group, which will allow benefits of free trade, etc.

Hyundai Motor India celebrates today after confirming that 25 lakh units have rolled out from its Sriperumbedur facility. The 1st hatchback Santro rolled out in September 1998, and 11 years later, that figure has crossed the 25 lakh mark.

They are the 2nd manufacturers in India to achieve this feat but have done so in the quickest time ever. They attribute this success to their overseas sales volume.

Their export of ‘Made-in-India’ cars, have provided a stronghold in the international market as such cars are meeting global car expectations.

Automobiles have had a colorful and interesting history. This is one invention that has seen mankind progress with a pace quite literally. Previously automobile evolved as an early steam powered vehicles that depended on steam power to be mobile that mostly prevailed through the better half of the 19th century.

The gas powered cars were next in line and there were several people who are credited for having given rise to modern cars and automobiles. Karl Benz was a German mechanical engineer who is credited with the designing of the world’s first practically viable automobile. Then there is Henry Ford and he is the one who is credited for improving the line of assembly of the automobile manufacturing industry.

He is also credited for having invented the transmission mechanisms of the car. There are several others who have contributed to the automobile industry and their combined efforts have spawned what we call a proper car today.