Mr. Rajeev Kapoor retires from Fiat India management post , Mr. Gurpratap Boparai to be new CEO

Fiat India Automobiles Ltd today announced the retirement of Mr. Rajeev Kapoor from the post of President & CEO and appointment of Mr. Gurpratap Boparai as the new CEO of the company.  Mr Rajeev Kapoor joined Fiat India Automobiles Limited in 2007 and has overseen the formative years of the operations to its present level and is retiring on reaching 60 years of age. 

Mr. Boparai was so far heading the Power Train division of the company. He possesses the requisite skills and experience and will be responsible to scale up the state-of-the-art Ranjangaon facility to further heights under his leadership.

Having joined Fiat India in 2007 as Assistant Vice President, Manufacturing and Powertrain Division Mr. Boparai took over asHead of Powertrain Division in 2009 where he was responsible for business development and overlooking all the functions ofPower Train plants like manufacturing, Finance, HR, PE and others.

Mr. Boparai comes with over 20 years of experience in the automobile sector and has worked with some of the most reputed companies. His successful stints include Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Limited, Ocap Chassis Parts Private Limited, Iveco and Tata Cummins Limited.

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Mahindra Quanto's interiors spied for the first time, Launch in September 2012

Mahindra's Quanto could be another success story for Mahindra after a successful launch of XUV 5OO last year. The car maker then felt the need of a Compact SUV and then decided to give its current Xylo a short haircut and this is how Quanto was arrrived at.

We had earlied shown the images of Mahindra's Quanto aka Mini Xylo however this is the first time when Auto Car has managed to get the first ever clear images of its interiors. The dashboard as expected is completely borrowed from its sibling - Xylo and you could see the second row has ample of legroom which is an accomplishment in itself with such a size of vehicle. We could imagine ourselves purchasing a Maruti Suzuki Swift or even Hyundai i20 with almost no space at the second row, but end up buying it because there are no options available in the market. This is not enough, Mahindra's upcoming Quanto would even have rear jump seats at the back after having a fantastic legroom on second row.

All this would be launched at a fantastic price band considering the fact that it will be placed below Xylo which starts at Rs 7.35 lac, this is expected to launch at approximately Rs 6 Lac, which would be liked by the Indians. The feel of an SUV - slight change from current cramped hatchbacks and with a diesel engine availability. Let us also remind you that Mahindra's Quanto would come with a 1.5L 3 cylinder engine which would deliver 100 bhp of power which is far ahead than any hatch present in India.

With all this we await the launch of Mahindra's Quanto which is slated for a launch in end of September 2012.

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Chevrolet Sail hatchback and Sedan Interiors spied for first time, Launch in September - Images

General Motors India (GM) is planning to launch its fourth small car in the country, a premium hatchback "Sail", by September-October, a company official said Monday.

"We would be launching the Sail in Q3, and the small car segment along with the multi-purpose vehicles(MPVs) will continue to be our main focus," said S. Sawhney, vice president, sales.

Asked about the foray into the light commercial vehicle (LCV) space with the launch of the sub-tonne truck this year, Sawhney said: "We never planned to launch the LCV in 2012."

The company August last year had announced the launch of LCV to be rolled out from its Halol plant in Gujarat. 

The company is expecting to increase its market share which currently is 6.5 percent."The high interest rates and the rise in fuel prices had made the market sluggish but we expect it to improve shortly. We hope to increase our market share significantly," said Managing Director L.C. Paddock.

The company, which will be rolling out both diesel and petrol variants of the three passenger vehicles, will put major emphasis on the diesel variants as the auto industry has witnessed a big surge in the sales of diesel cars.

The interiors of the cars have been spied for the first time and must say they have are pretty appealing. Following are the features of the car :

•    Spacious, airy interior with seemingly good finish
•    Quality of materials appears to be average
•    Beige them with grey inserts in places
•    Grey-beige upholstery
•    Chrome, angular door handles inside
•    Chrome tipped handbrake lever
•    Circular side A/C vents, rectangular central ones
•    No chrome / aluminium inserts on the steering wheel
•    Compared to the jazzy interior of the Beat, the Sail’s cabin looks rather spartan
•    Power window buttons on a floating panel below the center console
•    5 speed manual transmission with typical Chevrolet push forward reverse 
•    1-Din music system with CD, Radio, Aux-in and USB
•    No climate control, only basic A/C controls
•    Tilt adjustable steering wheel
•    Map pockets in door panels
•    Big storage space below the central control for wallets / coins etc
•    6x2 spoke alloy wheels
•    Vertically stacked high mounted tail lamps
•    Central high mount brake lamp
•    Body coloured front / rear bumpers – two tone ORVM
•    Big instrument cluster with a huge central speedo surrounded by tell-tale and digital readouts

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Chevrolet Trax- Compact SUV spied for the first time

Since, we have already briefed all our readers about the all of the new MPV's that are India bound and lately also briefed about the all new Chevrolet Trax that will be produced in 140 countries which means will be a global product and could be launched at a very cost competitive price and could target the lately launched Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport that is bound for a launch in January 2013. The Trax has been caught uncamouflaged on the streets of city of San Luis Potosí in Mexico. The Chevrolet Trax will be sold in 140 countries and Mexico is definitely on the list.

The Trax is a compact four door SUV whose dimensions are – 4,248 mm in length, 1,776 mm in width and a wheelbase of 2,555 mm. This baby Captiva will be launched in 3 engine options– a 1.4L turbocharged petrol which produces 140hp, a 1.6L petrol producing 115hp and a 1.7L turbodiesel engine which churns out 130hp. The engine will be mated to 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Chevrolet Trax will be also sold as the Buick Encore and the Opel Mokka. The Trax, Encore and Mokka are essentially the same cars underneath with some design changes. The Trax will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show and we will get you all the details from the launch.

Stay tuned for more information.

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Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 to be launched with CNG option

Maruti Suzuki after one of the worst labor trouble is once again back to production in its Manesar plant where it produces one of the best cars - Swift and Dzire. The car maker in order to regain the lost market share is doing the best possible. One of its bread and butter model in India - M800 and Alto will be re-launched in October 2012. The new Alto / M800 boasts of a competitive price tag where in the company says it will give tough competition to Tata Nano and Hyundai Eon.

However, the present Alto K10 which is a 1000cc engine will now also be available in CNG variants if the reports from the company is to be believed. The car maker plans to launch the CNG variant this Diwali and would like to capitalize upon the festive season boost.

Meanwhile, Honda has also introduced the CNG variant of its bread and butter Honda City model in Thailand yesterday and plans to launch it in India in October 2012. 

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New light weight Golf debuts on 04th September 2012 - Video and details inside

The all new VW Golf will bow down to the world on 04th September 2012. The all new Golf will be 220 pounds lighter and thus 23% more fuel efficient than the existing car making it to be more leaner, meaner, meatier. The new car boast of the technologies such as fatigue Detection, Traffic Signal Detection and Park Pilot. Driver would also have the convenience of selecting from a variety of driving profiles to suit the mood – comfortable or aggressive. Here is an exhaustive list of new features coming up of the New VW Golf.

•    Front transverse diff lock
•    Progressive steering
•    Auto folding ORVM
•    LED foglights
•    Pr-crash safety features
•    Park Assist 2
•    City Emergency braking
•    Fatigue detection
•    Traffic sign detection
•    Park Pilot
•    Dynamic light Assist
•    Lane Assist
•    Front Assist
•    Adaptive cruise control
•    Electric parking brake
•    Driving profile Selection
•    Cylinder deactivation tech
•    Ambience lighting
•    Run Flat tyres
•    Panoramic tilt-slide sunroof

Click on the video below to view more details on this one

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LML to launch ungeared scooter in India this Diwali

LML which made it re-entry in Indian after a long lock-out in 2011. The company has since then launched the NV 150 and its derivatives. The company now plans to launch a new ungeared scooter. As per our sources, LML may consider to launch the Sensation scooter with an automatic transmission to take on the likes of Honda Activa, Suzuki Access and Mahindra Duro.

The Sensation draws its looks from the famous Vespa which once ruled the scooter market. The retro styled scooter will attract a certain class of buyers. The automatic scooter will be powered by either a 100cc or 125cc engine and the focus will be on mileage. The launch is expected to be in October 2012 in India which is the festive season and the company wants to capitalize upon the sales during the peak season.

The tweaks to its styling could come from newly designed chrome mirrors, new digital odometer, self start and chrome embellishments on the front & rear panels. We can expect a reflector type headlight and wishfully LED tail lights.

Stay tuned for more information.

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Polaris celebrates first anniversary in India

Polaris India has completed its one year in India during which had hosted several events across the country to showcase the off roading capabilities of its vehicles.

To mark its anniversary, Polaris hosted celebrations at Camp Wild in Faridabad, Haryana that included off-roading. Polaris India Managing Director Pankaj Dubey was on hand to play the gracious host. He expressed satisfaction over the fact that Polaris India has achieved its sales targets. The company’s expansion plans in India are on track, with the inauguration of its newest dealership in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Speaking on the topic, he said, “We are excited to venture into Indore to offer unmatched off road experience.” As per Mr. Dubey’s claims, the company is receiving around 300 inquiries every day from adventure lovers. However, he admitted that only a few would purchase Polaris vehicles just for adventure and fun. Polaris vehicles are available with price tags, ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.

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Mercedes Benz may start assembling M and GL Class SUV's in India

Mercedes has confirmed that they will start local assembly of the new M and G Class SUVs in India. While local assembly for the M-Class will start as early as November this year, the bigger G-Class assembly operations will begin sometime next year. The idea behind the semi-knocked down assembly is to attract lower import duties as compared to CBU and price the cars very competitively. These kits are produced in Tuscaloosa, prepared for shipping and sent on their journey to the final assembly plants. This is the first time that the M-Class and G-Class will be assembled outside of Tuscaloosa, USA. Mercedes' facility at Stuttgart will continue to supply the engine and transmissions

At present, Mercedes-Benz assembles its luxury sedans C, E and S-Class at its facility near Pune in Maharashtra. Commenting on the plans, Daimler AG Member of the Board of Management Wolfgang Bernhard said: "Our new SUVs are very popular with our customers. We expect high growth rates also in the emerging markets and, therefore, extend our local production. Thus, we open up new potential as part of our growth strategy."

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2013 Honda Accord Interiors incl. Dashboard revealed - Images

The interior design of the new generation Honda Accord has recently leaked, revealing the new dashboard, instrument cluster, steering wheel and more. After the 2013 Honda Accord has been officially revealed just a month ago, this time it was interiors - the complete dashboard which has left no scope for guess works.

From these images, we can see that the driver’s side of the Accord looks good. The clock-face gauges boast a large, center-mounted speedometer flanked by the tachometer on one side and the fuel and temperature gauges on the other. The steering wheel boasts a clean setup of buttons that don’t look too overwhelming. You also get the “Start/Stop” button, an “Econ” button, and what looks to be a TPMS reset button (tire mounters of the world will rejoice over this one).

Stay tuned for more images and information.

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Honda City CNG launched in Thailand - India launch in next few weeks

Honda Automobile (Thailand) has debuted the City CNG subcompact locally, its first model that can use compressed natural gas. Honda City's much required Diesel engine is still couple of months far in March 2013, but the Japanese car maker which once had a upper hand in sedan segment and had a class leading City available and was undoubtedly the first choice among sedan buyers is now all set to roll out CNG variant of the car in October 2012.

The City CNG, which is powered by a 1.5-litre engine that runs on both petrol and CNG, features electronic fuel injection and a unique suspension design.Safety features include an electronic safety control box and solid cross bar with enhanced stability.The car is produced in accordance with Euro 4 emission standards at Honda's Ayutthaya factory.

Honda has decided to do fitment of the CNG kit and cylinder at the dealer-end and not at its factory. The factory will produce a special 'CNG variant' of the City. The price of the CNG variant is expected to be at least Rs 50,000-60 ,000 more than the City's price.

However, the car maker once again confirmed that the works on new 1.5L diesel engine is on and will be launched by March 2013. Meanwhile, Honda has decided to discontinue the Civic for the Indian market.

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Singapore garages in the sky - Park your Car outside your flat at 30th Floor - Video

Staying in a flat and worried about your car parked in the basement where you just have no control over your car - no body knows when you wake up in the morning to go to office and find your car scratched by another car nearby. You donot have to worry about it now, but how ?

Sky Garage apartments in Singapore are now offering parking in the sky - which means you can now park the car right outside your flat - does not matters which floor are you staying at !!! This is not just - you can park two cars if you own a flat here.

However, if you have more than two cars - you will have to own a pent house here which costs Rs 133.88 Crores. A regular flat here costs Rs 41.83 Crore. Would you like to buy one to have your machine parked in front of your eyes every time ?

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Comparison - Renault Duster Vs Ford EcoSport ?

Ford had showcased the EcoSport at the 2012 Auto Expo and was pretty happy with the way the reviews came from the crowd there. The launch is slated to be in January 2013 in India. However, Ford EcoSport's launch has already taken place in Brazil.

The Renault Duster having the first mover advantage with almost 12,000 bookings confirmed by the company - though some 2,500 bookings cancelled after the actual launch took place has gained place in the Indian market after a jaw dropping price of Rs 7.19 Lac for the lowest petrol variant. However, to be realistic something in today's market conditions - a diesel variant, plus minimum safety features like 2 airbags along with ABS would take the toll to Rs 11 Lac, with a 1.5L 85 bhp engine, which is too big a price tag for sheer value for money and keeping in mind its competitors. You could get a Tata Safari for a similar price tag with a complete SUV feel (not Compact SUV) and with a much more powerful 2.2L Dicor engine. Stretch your budget a little bit and you could end up buying a new XUV 5OO. 

Well, coming on to comparison of Renault Duster with Ford EcoSport, which might be an actual competitor of Duster, we got some important points for all you guys which might help you in taking decision about the owning a hassle free new Compact SUV. So, here we go.

Engine
Ford's EcoSport will be powered by 1.0L Ecoboost engine delivering 120 ps of power. Now that's fab !!! (Remember ! The petrol engine has already won  International Engine of the Year award). Also, do not forget to see the Ford Ecoboost engine's video which tells about how powerful this engine would be. The American car maker says it will be equivalent to a 1.6L engine and will be very fuel efficient - something 20 Kmpl or so ?  The car maker also claims that the EcoSport will also be available with 1.5L Diesel engine - This is the same engine which powers the Ford Fiesta. So, the already running machine is tried and tested and will not give you a setback. However, Renault Duster's engine is a 1.6L petrol engine and a 1.5L diesel engine with 85 bhp. As far as petrol goes, Ford is a clear winner however we will have to test the Diesel engine when it launches - as far as current fiesta engine is concerned which has a prominent turbo lag - Duster is a winner in Diesel. We expect Ford to refine its diesel engine and reduce the turbo lag to a minimum. Ford EcoSport has also been caught with Automatic variant however it is still not confirmed whether Indian market will get the same or not !

Exteriors
We would compare Duster to a Rhinoceros which is plump and a little slow to act however the Ford's EcoSport would be compared to a wild night animal with bright eyes looking for a prey and fast to react. Renault's Duster has a massive ground clearance of 205mm whereas the Ford EcoSport has added to the fact that with 200mm ground clearance it also has a 550mm water wading capacity - which means including the side sill and the opening of doors the clearance is 550mm which is massive and will be a boon to drive without caring for water in extreme monsoons. Looks wise both the vehicles look equally good - it just depends on one's perception and what clicks to one. Both score equal points on looks.

Interiors
Renault Duster's interiors boast of beige colored interiors with chrome on AC vents however it lacks the first look - WOW factor. Despite of being a 5 seater, the rear AC vent would come into the legs and would ideally be a 4 seater SUV. The rear seats are comfortable and offer good thigh support. A huge boot space could also not be ignored. Ford EcoSport has got spacious and comfy interiors with plenty of thrilling features installed. Trendy cabin with stunning styling cues and smart upholstery coupled with effortless work of Ford professionals in utilizing every bit of space speaks itself. Voice controls, Hill launch assist and smart start are some of those exciting features seen in this American machine.

Features
Renault Duster is packed with an array of features comprising of Power steering, Power windows with switches on door pads, Remote central locking, Remote fuel filler, Rear armrest with cup holder, Electrically adjustable driver’s seat, Leather seat, Tinted glass, Foldable rear seats, 2 Tripmeter, Tachometer, AC with climate control, Remote boot opener, Foldable front passenger seat, Glove box, Rear wiper, Rear defogger, Radio, CD, MP3 player with Bluetooth and AUX input.

Ford EcoSport could be loaded with features like remote operated door opening & closing, Power windows, Tripmeter, My Connection feature in music system, iPod or USB connectivity, Quick fold system for the rear seats, plenty of storage areas like under passenger seat, Cooled glove box, Cup holders, Map holder on front seats, Auto Climatic control AC system with pollen filters, etc. A SYNC feature is also installed in the EcoSport which works on voice recognition commands.

Price
Renault Duster is placed within price bracket of Rs 7.19 - Rs 11.30 Lac ex-showroom price whereas the Ford EcoSport could be priced slightly below the Renault's Duster. We expect it to be priced between rs 7 lac - Rs 11 Lac, mainly due to availability of features on high end variants.

Verdict
Undoubtedly, the car makers are expecting one of the biggest fight ever in the Indian car market for both the products are equally good. However, one who would like to care about the rugged SUV feel and would not care much about the interiors and the features - Renault Duster would be ideal for one. However, if you care for the interiors and would like your car to have all the updated features and rich look - go for Ford's EcoSport. The final verdict is yet to be made once the vehicle launches in January 2013.

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Renault Scala now officially available on Renault's website - launch on 07th September 2012

Renault India's website has now been updated and the product gallery now shows 5 products from Renault's stable to Indian market. The addition of fifth product - Renault Scala now officially confirms the product and images. However, only two images have been given on Renault's webspace which shows the description of the front fascia and the smartly designed rear end of the car, however you may click here to view more images of Renault Scala on our facebook page.

The new car - with same interiors and heart as that of Nissan Sunny will bow down in India on 07th September 2012.  The car from rear has a big chrome strip across the boot (even wider than the one spotted on Duster). The chrome strip would be one seen on the upcoming Tata Safari Storme. The chrome grill would carry boldly the name "Scala". The rear would carry the Renault badge in between on the boot as you could see the same has been hidded by black tape in the image. At the rear the tail lights too got an update from Sunny, which sport a new reflector design.

When compared from front with Nissan's Sunny, the car would have a hexagonal shaped grill carrying proudly the Renault badge. The alloy wheels would be similar to Pulse and from interiors the car would be similar to Sunny just that the Renault badge will sport on the steering wheel. Thankfully, the steering mount audio controls are placed on steering wheel, rather than on the back of steering as seen in Renault Duster.

The car is expected to launch in the price tag of Rs 6.5 - 9.5 Lac, ex-showroom price. 

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Renault aims to move to luxury car segment by new brand "Renault Initiale Paris"

Renault aims to move up the ladder and launch a new Luxury car brand - Initiale Paris. The car maker will compete with the trio - BMW, Audi and Mercedes which are present in the luxury segment. Renault’s entry into this highly competitive and profitable segment comes on the back of the French automaker’s alliance with Daimler, the group which owns the luxury marquee Mercedes Benz.

While Renault already builds the Citan panel van for Mercedes Benz, the French car maker also supplies the 1.5 Liter K9K turbo diesel engine to be used on the entry level A-Class and B-Class hatchbacks. It could also be possible that in future the Mercedes Benz cars are produced at Renault facilities for that matter Renault-Nissan factory in India to achieve the overall lower costs.

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Toyota to launch sedan to take on Hyundai Verna, Honda City and Skoda Rapid

Toyota Kirloskar Motors have last year launched Etios sedan which was bound to target the customers of Maruti Dzire and Mahindra Verito. The car maker had priced the car aptly and could see some number moving up the ladder due to duro Etios - sedan and hatchback.

The car maker also dominates in Luxury sedan segment  with Corolla Altis and in MPV segment with Innova. The space was however void between the Corolla and Etios and was no competitor to Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Nissan Sunny, Renault Scala and Skoda Rapid. The car maker now plans to launch a new sedan which will compete with the likes of these cars. The car will be powered by same 1.4L D-4D engine and is expected to deliver a power of 102 bhp. The car maker is expected to launch the sedan in 2014.

Stay tuned for more information.

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Mahindra to start exporting XUV5OO to Europe from September 2012

Mahindra & Mahinda is now ready for the launch of its global product XUV 5OO to Europe after launching the SUV in Kenya.  The Mahindra XUV500 was destined to reach Europe in 2013 but Mahindra is very eager to begin next month. Spain which is now going through severe crisis will be the first market in Europe for XUV 5OO.

The XUV500 is currently exported to Australia and South Africa. However, it will be a challenge for Mahindra to sell the XUV500 in the more mature European market which has auto giants such as Ford, General Motors and Renault in that segment. The XUV500 will compete against very strong competitors like the Dacia Duster and Nissan Juke. Products like these have been around for a few years and have strong demand.

The car maker launched this SUV in India with an initial capacity to manufacture 2,000 units a month at its Chakan plant, however seeing the response from customers the car maker has to increase the production levels to 4,000 vehicles a month and Mr. Anand Mahindra has now decided to increase the production to 5,000 vehicles a month to cater to the increasing domestic demand and also to the export markets. The SUV is also exported to Australia and South African markets.

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KTM India to organize Orange day for all Duke owners in Pune on 02nd September

KTM India has decided to organize a unique event by name "Orange Day" for all Duke 200 owners in India.  The event, christened Orange Day involves a track day, race clinic, service camp and a stunt show. The day 02nd September 2012 will be called as "Orange Day" for all the Duke 200 owners in India.

Orange day would take place on 2nd of September, from 7 am to 12 noon at Downtown Racing, S R No. 5, Beside Ganga Constella, Near Eon IT Park. Kharadi, Pune. You can also call at 8149442920 to ask for more details. 

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Mahindra's compact SUV 'Quanto' to be launched in second half of September - Priced apprx. 6 Lakh

India's largest utility vehicle maker, Mahindra & Mahindra has christened its compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) as 'Quanto', which will hit the market in the second half of September 2012. At a sub-4 meter length, the Quanto will be the smallest SUV in Mahindra's product portfolio, which is aimed at the buyers of diesel hatchback and entry level sedan customers.

Based on the 'Ingenio' platform, Quanto will be a sub-4 metre SUV, which will be powered by 1.5 litre diesel engine, thereby it will enjoy the excise duty of small cars. While, M&M has not revealed the prices yet, the SUV is likely to be priced between Rs 5.5-7.5 lakh. The launch comes at a time, when a lot of car buyers are graduating from small car to SUVs instead of sedans and the Quanto will also try to win away some of the prospective hatchback customers.

Pawan Goenka, president, automotive & farm equipment sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra said, "With the Quanto, Mahindra is aiming to fill a need gap in the Indian automotive market for a versatile and compact SUV. We are confident that with its unique value proposition, the Quanto will carve out a segment for itself in the market. We expect the Quanto to offer an exciting upgrade at a premium to customers who are otherwise looking for premium diesel hatchbacks or entry level diesel sedans."

The Quanto will cater to the needs of young urban India which enjoys an active lifestyle, added Goenka.
The statement issued by the company said, ""(Quanto) Derived from the word 'Quantum', the name has an association with the product promise of more space, more power, more seats and superior performance. The Quanto has the tough and rugged DNA of Mahindra SUVs, thus offering a distinctive advantage over hatchbacks and sedans.""

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Renault Scala to be launched in India on 07th September 2012

Renault with badge engineering on its yet to be launched product - Scala will be launched on 07th September 2012 in the Indian market. The new Scala is actually Nissan's Sunny wearing the French clothes.

The car has got sporty rear bumpers, clear big chrome strip on rear back, changed tail lamps while on the front the car gets sporty looking hexagonal Renault badge and the big air intake dams similar to Renault's other cars.

After much hype about the new Renault Scala which was supposed to be launched near Diwali was officially announced at Renault Duster's launch that the car would be launched in September 2012. Here are the clear images of Renault Scala, after we brought you other clear images of the car too.

Renault will carry the same 1.5L DCi engine with 85 bhp engine however on features - Renault will have ABS and Alloy wheels as standard across its variants. With premium interiors, Renault will also offer optional leather seats which add to the luxury of the car.

Stay tuned for more information on Renault Scala's launch. Click here to view more images of Renault Scala.
Now, since Nissan Sunny was the bread and butter model for Nissan in India and comprising about 70% of Nissan India sales, the car maker has planned to launch another product to compete with ongoing MPV's in India and would name it Evalia. The Japanese car maker plans to launch it in India on 10th September 2012.

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Yamaha Ray to be launched on September 14, 2012

India Yamaha Motors will launch its first scooter, the Ray in India on September 14. The Japanese two wheeler manufacturer has already created a lot of buzz around Ray by opening a pre-launch contest and by signing up Deepika Padukone as its brand ambassador.

As the launch is approaching the dealers are calling up prospective buyers and enquiring about the plans of purchasing the Ray scooter. One can book the scooter by paying a down payment of Rs. 500. The Ray will be priced in the range of 51,000 ex-showroom.

Yamaha had showcased the scooter at the 2012 Auto Expo and will be equipped with a 113cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled SOHC engine which will produce around 8 bhp of power @ 8000 rpm. The company claims a mileage of 45 km/l which seems decent for this scooter.

The Ray will have some tough competition from Honda, TVS and Suzuki which are currently the market leaders. The Activa & Dio are the most preferred followed by the TVS Scooty and Suzuki Access & Swish. Yamaha will have to launch a superior product in terms of comfort, features and mileage if the company plans to make a dent in the scooter market.

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MS Dhoni forms his own Bike racing team - MSD R-N Racing Team India

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose passion for bikes is well known, has floated his own racing team which is now competing in FIM Supersport World Championship.The championship is a support race for the World Superbike championship, which will make its India debut next year in March.

The team, named as MSD R-N Racing Team India, entered the 17-race championship in the 10th race at Brno, Czech Republic and is expected to compete full season in 2013. The team has two riders in Florian Marino of France and Dan Linfoot of Great Britain.

Marino is a four-time Superstock 600 race winner, and was a full time Honda WSS rider last year. Linfoot had won two Superstock 600 races in 2008. The squad has its base at Yeovil in the UK and technical director will be Andrew Stone.

Team principal Amit Sandill said the they aim to popularise and grow the game in Asia.

"We are looking at it from the long term perspective. Trying to grow the sport in Asia. The sport itself is in a pretty nascent stage in Asia so this is a first step," Sandill had said at the launch of the team in July.

"Trying to get to the championship and making a kind of mark in the championship and then take the sport to India and then other countries in Asia. We would also like to start a Racing Academy. Behind all this is the passion, which comes as a bonus," he said.

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Mahindra Stallio caught testing - Launch by October 2012 ?

Mahindra’s first motorcycle, Stallio did not open to any good start when it was launched two years back. Prematurely, it had to be withdrawn from the market because of some technical glitches which hampered the bike big time. Now, Mahindra is preparing second innings of Stallio in 2012 and here we present before you the exclusive spy pics of the upcoming 110cc bike.

The bike bears the same the looks on the outside and changes are largely limited to the engine and gear box. The Satllio when launched was powered by a 106.7 cc engine which produced 7.3 PS @ 7500 rpm power and Maximum Torque of 8Nm @ 5500 rpm.

The bike is expected to be launched in October 2012 and would be priced approximately Rs 45,000

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Mahindra to launch Duro DZ with auto start-stop technlology

Mahindra has refreshed the Duro and Roheo recently and launched it with DZ badges which differentiate it from the earlier models. At the launch of the new the Mahindra Two Wheelers R&D Centre the company also showcased the Duro DZ with start–stop technology. When launched the Duro will be India’s first scooter with MicroHybrid technology which is ideal for urban areas.

The car maker is already benefiting from Utility Vehicle market as this segment is showing huge growth in Indian market. The car maker newly launched XUV 5OO was a hit among car passionates and is referred to as Cheetah in India. Mahindra is also ready for the launch of Compact Xylo which is also likely to have a good response from customers in India.

Meanwhile, it is also in news that Mahindra will launch two bikes within this financial year: the revamped 110cc Stallio and the long-delayed 300cc Mojo. The announcement came at the inauguration of Mahindra’s state-of-the-art R&D facility in Pune today. The Stallio will be launched ahead of the October festival season while the Mojo will be rolled out in the fourth quarter of the current financial year, which is January to March 2013. A third bike is also in the offing, details of which weren’t disclosed saying it would be “a pleasant surprise.”

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Indian man wins Lamborghini Gallardo at shop and win contest in Abu Dhabi

The United Arab Emirates is the land of the supercars. They even give them out in malls, as one extraordinarily lucky cab driver found out this week when he won a $ 204,028 (Dh750,000) Gallardo LP550-2 in a local lottery.

Soupi Abdulla, 44, drives a Toyota van taxi for his day job, but hasn't owned a car in his life. He got around on a scooter. And he still will, even though he won a black Gallardo out of nearly a quarter of a million entries in a mall's shop-and-win raffle.

Wisely, Abdulla will never drive the rear-drive 542 horsepower Lambo. Ignoring vicious offers to buy his ticket from him, Abdulla decided to keep the car at the mall until he can sell it. He has a loan he needs to pay off for building his family home. His local mosque will get a donation and he wants to build more houses in his neighborhood. That's certainly a better plan than crashing it for insurance money.

He told the UAE paper The National, "my region is very poor. I will help these people from my village. Also my mother. My mother is very happy."Abdulla earns around $272 (Dh1,000) a month, less than 1/20th of what the annual insurance payments on the Lambo would cost.

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Krishna Group signs JV with Landi Renzo of Italy for alternate fuel solutions

Auto interiors manufacturer Krishna Group has announced a joint venture (JV) project with Landi Renzo SpA, an Italian company specialising in CNG fuel components. Landi Renzo has more than 30% market share worldwide for LPG and CNG alternative fuel components.

The two companies signed the JV agreement on July 30 in New Delhi. Chief guest R C Bhargava, chairman of Maruti Suzuki India, said: “We look forward to the successful launch of a major new initiative in the alternate fuels industry. It will work towards selling alternate energy for OEMs and contribute in its own way to reduce the oil import burden over a period of time”.

The meeting was attended by Carlo Gardella, CEO of Landi Renzo and Lovato India; Claudio Carnevale, Landi Renzo Group CEO; Carlo Alberto Pedroni, CEO, Lovato, Devanshu Lamba, marketing manager, Landi Renzo India; Ashok Kapoor, Krishna Group chairman; Parvesh Soni, CEO, Krishna Maruti; and RC Bhargava, chairman, Maruti Suzuki India.

While India grapples with rising fuel prices and unreliable public transport; such ventures would be a blessing for many and a way to save the depleting environment. The company would produce the first kits in November 2012.

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TVS Phoenix to be launched in September 2012 - Check out Video inside

TVS will launch an all new motorcycle Phoenix in September during the festive season. The company had showcased the Radeon motorcycle at the 2012 auto expo as a concept which looked production ready. The TVS Phoenix will help the company to further establish itself in the growing executive segment. The company has lost its third position and now ranks fourth behind - Hero MotoCorp, Honda and Bajaj.

The Radoen aka Pheonix was first show at the 2012 Auto Expo as a concept and seemed production ready. The Pheonix does not have a sharp design like its competitors and on the other hand looks more contemporary and will certainly appeal the masses. The bikes modern features with a staking digital instrument control, LED pilot and tail lamps.

Check out the Video of new TVS Phoenix

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Toyota Camry launched at an introductory price of Rs 23.8 Lac - All details, specifications & reviews

Toyota Camry has been officially launched in India at an introductory price of Rs 23.8 Lac. The one big difference in this car is that this is a CKD version and will be assembled here at Toyota's Bidadi plant in Bangalore. The car will now be more competitively placed against its competitors like Skoda Superb, Hyundai Sonata, VW Passat etc.

The Camry comes with a four-cylinder 2.5-litre petrol motor featuring Dual VVT-i and its 178bhp output is 11bhp up on the previous 2.4-litre unit. The car will be having a six speed manual transmission.  his all new engine features variable valve timing and comes mated to a 6 speed automatic transmission as standard. On the safety front, the car is loaded with ABS, EBD, ESP and 6 airbags as standard equipment. The Camry also gets  8-way power adjustable driver seat and multifunction steering wheel. The car is now open for booking with Toyota dealers across the country at a booking amount of Rs. 50,000.

Stay tuned for more details.

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Honda City to launch CNG variant in October 2012

Honda City's much required Diesel engine is still couple of months far in March 2013, but the Japanese car maker which once had a upper hand in sedan segment and had a class leading City available and was undoubtedly the first choice among sedan buyers is now all set to roll out CNG variant of the car in October 2012.

A source said Honda had been working on the CNG variant for some time and will make a few changes against a conventional petrol-only variant . "The suspension of the car has been strengthened as the CNG tank will be housed in the boot of the car. Also, a few changes have been made to the engine of the car in line with the requirements of a CNG car," the sources said. The instrument cluster on the City could also see some changes to reflect CNG requirements .

Honda has decided to do fitment of the CNG kit and cylinder at the dealer-end and not at its factory. The factory will produce a special 'CNG variant' of the City. The price of the CNG variant is expected to be at least Rs 50,000-60 ,000 more than the City's price.

However, the car maker once again confirmed that the works on new 1.5L diesel engine is on and will be launched by March 2013. Meanwhile, Honda has decided to discontinue the Civic for the Indian market.

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Maruti Swift Dzire old model now available at Rs 5.12 Lakh , ex-showroom price

Maruti Suzuki Dzire Tour will now be available to common masses also. After Maruti Suzuki launched the new compact Dzire, the old Dzire was put on to sale for Taxi users under brand name "Dzire Tour". The Dzire tour was lacking in many basic features like it had black colored bumpers, no left side mirror, no central locking and black colored door handles.

However, the company has now decided that the Dzire Tour will be available to common masses also at the same price however the above said basic features could be fitted as an accessory by the Maruti's authorized dealer at a price of approximately Rs 12,000 - 25,000 depending on the requirements of the customers.

The Dzire tour petrol would be available at Rs 5.12 Lac and Diesel would be available at Rs 6.16 Lac, both being ex-showroom price Mumbai.

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Renault Scala to be launched early September 2012 - Images, Price, specifications, details inside

Renault Scala, the platform sharing car with Nissan's Sunny is all set for an early September 2012 launch. The car has got sporty rear bumpers, clear big chrome strip on rear back, changed tail lamps while on the front the car gets sporty looking hexagonal Renault badge and the big air intake dams similar to Renault's other cars.

After much hype about the new Renault Scala which was supposed to be launched near Diwali was officially announced at Renault Duster's launch that the car would be launched in September 2012. Here are the clear images of Renault Scala, after we brought you other clear images of the car too.

Renault will carry the same 1.5L DCi engine with 85 bhp engine however on features - Renault will have ABS and Alloy wheels as standard across its variants. With premium interiors, Renault will also offer optional leather seats which add to the luxury of the car.

Stay tuned for more information on Renault Scala's launch. Click here to view more images of Renault Scala.

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