Maruti Suzuki New Alto / M800 bookings open, teased on its official website

Maruti Suzuki Alto seems to have learnt the art of promoting its new car, which is yet to be launched on its official website and thereby revealing the information about the car slowly and finally the price on the launch date. The company has now instructed all its dealers to start accept the bookings of this car and if you are the one who is interested in booking this car, just walk down to your nearest dealer and you can book one.

The new official website of the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 is now open and it previews the new alto by just displaying the front headlamp of the car. The website also asks you to enter your details in case you are interested in the new small car. 

The new Alto 800 will be here on Oct 16th. There is no official word from the company on whether or not the old Alto 800 will continue to sell alongside it. The Alto 800 will be Maruti Suzuki’s Hyundai Eon challenger, and the small car is based on the tried-and-tested Alto platform. The car will be launched in both petrol and CNG variants and is expected to start at price tag of Rs 2.49 Lac.

What is more interesting about the car is apart from the refreshed exteriors, the car now also gets completely changed interiors and tweaked F8D engine which the company claims is 15% more fuel efficient that the previous one. The new Alto comes with an ARAI acclaimed mileage of 22.74 Kmpl whereas its CNG sibling would deliver a mileage of 30.46 km per kg.

What do you think, will Maruti Suzuki Alto once again get the badge of best small car in India ?

Source : Marutisuzukialto800.com

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Renault Duster prices to be increased by upto Rs 40,000 from 1st October 2012 - No hike for those already booked

The Indian subsidiary of the french car maker, Renault India Private Limited has announced an immediate price hike in its largest selling model - Duster. The SUV is expected to see a price increase of Rs 30,000 in its current price for petrol variant whereas the Diesel variant will see a hike of Rs 40,000.

The new prices will be effective from October 1, 2012. Duster has received 20,000 bookings since launch, it added. The company had launched the SUV on 04th July 2012 whereas the bookings for this monster were open a month ago, on 04th June 2012.  The SUV was launched with introductory price of Rs 7.19 lakh for the entry level petrol variant and Rs 7.99 lakh (Ex showroom Delhi) for diesel.

Commenting on the development, Renault India Managing Director Marc Nassif said: "Facing an increase in raw material prices and instability in foreign exchange, factors which are beyond our control, we had to increase the retail price of Renault Duster."

However, there is some thing good for the those who have already booked the car. The company, though has decided to hike the prices but at the same time has also come to a decision that there would be NO HIKE for those who have already booked this vehicle before September but have not yet got the delivery of this vehicle. Now this is something good for the company, to maintain the trust within the buyers in India. It is also said that the company feared that with the price hike, it will fall into the category of XUV 5OO which has a much bigger and powerful engine compared to Duster and people might think of cancelling the car.

To meet the demand for the Duster the company has increased production to three shifts in Chennai factory as well as the outputs of vendors, he added. Click here to read more about Renault Duster

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Mahindra Satyam launches its In-car infotainment system

Mahindra Satyam has announced the launch of its unique infotainment solution under the aegis of its connected vehicle concept.

Several players in this space have been focusing on bringing a standalone product offering to market, Mahindra Satyam has positioned itself as an end-to-end solution provider with this launch.

The solutions is differentiated with an automotive grade in-vehicle infotainment device integrated with an excellent service delivery platform to provide entire gamut of value-added services. It uses MirrorLink to emulate functionalities such as navigation, and multimedia capabilities. Some of the key features of the solution include - a unique user friendly health module, vehicle diagnostics system and seamless integration with app store.

"Mahindra Satyam's infotainment solution addresses some of the challenges that OEMs and Tier 1 automotive companies are facing, through faster time-to-market, and reduced costs. While the service delivery opens up several revenue streams for relevant industry players, the device is also frugally built to offer maximum value to consumers", said Karthikeyan Natarajan, Senior VP and head, Integrated Engineering Services, Mahindra Satyam.

With Mahindra, already having a substantial chunk of market share in the Indian automobile industry and this is only expected to grow in the North direction with the launch of bigger vehicle from Mahindra's SsangYong portfolio, the car maker is expected to use Mahindra Satyam's in-car infotainment system which will not only improve Mahindra's benefit but will also be good for end consumer as they will get an original OEM fitted product with more reliability.

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Jaguar unveils F-type at Paris Motor Show

Its predecessor is widely agreed to be among the most beautiful sports cars ever made, and on Wednesday Jaguar showed it was trying to go one better than the glory days of the 1960s with the new F-Type.

The Indian auto company Tata bought Jaguar Land Rover for $2.3 billion in 2008, betting big that it could revive two venerable British brands that had lost a bit of luster over the decades. The new F-Type, the first Jaguar two-seater in a half-century, is the first major Jaguar design shepherded through by the new owners.

Tata has been a hands-off owner for Jaguar, largely letting its British team to make the major decisions on the car. At Wednesday's unveiling, Tata executives were in the crowd, but it was the Jaguar design chief, Ian Callum, who took center stage.

And the designers looked to the past - and the famed E-Type, beloved by aficionados everywhere - to inspire what they clearly hope will be the automaker's future.

``It's just a tremendous challenge today to produce a beautiful car that meets all the world regulations,'' said Philip Porter, a Jaguar historian who has written a book about the E-Type. He hasn't driven the F-Type yet, but likes what he's seen so far. ``It's a combination like the great Jaguars of the past of sculptural styling, great engineering and superb performance.''

And, he added, ``it sounds like a sports car, which is essential.'

Jaguar Land Rover has been a huge part of Tata's recent success. Sales for the second quarter of 2012 rose 30 per cent, largely based on growth in the Chinese market. The car goes on sale in April 2013.

The V-6 starts at $69,000 in the United States; the V-8 starts at $92,000.

There are two different supercharged engines: a 3-liter 6 cylinder with 340 horsepower for the normal F-type and 380 horsepower for the S; there's also a 5-liter V8 with 495 horsepower.

Jaguar says the 0-60 time is 5.1 seconds for the normal F-type; 4.8 seconds for the S and 4.2 for the V-8. The car has an 8-speed transmission with automatic or manual modes.

Click here to view more images.

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Toyota Innova Aero Limited edition launched

Toyota has introduced an all new Innova Aero (Limited Edition). The variant list of the Innova just seems to be getting longer. However, this special edition will be rolled out only in 1200 exclusive units. 

The limited edition of the Innova Aero will be on sale only till the end of December, 2012. The limited edition Aero Innova will be offered in a 7 seater and an 8 seater. Toyota has based the new Innova on the existing GX grade. The Innova Aero (Limited Edition) will be offered in Euro III and Euro IV.

The new added luxury features are as follows

• Dual Tone Front Bumper Spoiler – The race inspired bumper spoiler gives a sporty look to the limited edition Innova Aero
• Dual Tone Rear Bumper Spoiler – Beyond its sporty look, the striking Rear Bumper Spoiler gives a trendy appeal to the rear
• Side Skirt – Designed to match the side mould, the sleek side skirt ensures an exclusive look
• Roof Spoiler – With its sleek design and inevitable appeal, the Roof Spoiler enhances the dynamic look
• Aero Emblem – The stylish emblem gives the limited edition Innova Aero a distinct identity

The new Innova Aero is competitively priced between Rs. 12,25,677/- and Rs. 12,30,207/- ex-showroom Delhi and will be available at all Toyota dealerships from today.”

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New Lamborghini Gallardo unveiled - Images

A revised version of new Lamborghini Gallardo is out now, unveiled at Paris Motor Show 2012.

The car now has tweaked front and rear styling, new matt black 19in alloy wheels and larger air intakes in front of the front wheels. The car also sees new styling package that includes underside of the front spoiler, front and rear grilles and parts of the rear trim painted to gloss black.

The revised LP 560-4 and new Edizione Tecnica models will be in showrooms from November.

Click here to view more images on our facebook page.

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Get a Samsung Galaxy Note free with Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai is now offering its buyers a brand new Samsung Galaxy Note along with every purchase of Hyundai Sonata. Hyundai's Sonata in India is priced for Rs 18,52,979 for the manual transmission and at Rs 20,61,272 for automatic, (prices are ex-showroom Delhi). The all new Sonata made its Indian debut at the Auto Expo in January this year.

Hyundai has chosen to launch the Sonata with a 2.4-litre GDi petrol engine which produces 201PS of power and is mated to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Part of the standard fare includes front and rear seat ventilation, front seat warmers, Xenon head lamps, cruise control, paddle shift, 10-way adjustable power seat with lumbar support and a 4-way power adjustable front co-driver seat. As far as safety is concerned, Hyundai have kitted it with six airbags, electronic stability program (ESP) with traction control system (TCS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) along with a rear view camera.

Grab this deal before it ends.

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Suzuki S Crossover concept finally revealed - Hints at new SX4

Suzuki S Crossover is finally unveiled at Paris Motor Show. After many days of game of hide & seek, where in the company was teasing the audience with the images of S Crossover, is finally out.  Suzuki S-Cross is expected to replace the current SX4 baby crossover towards the end of 2013.

The five-door S-Cross hatchback will feature a distinctive beltline, plus protective body mouldings all round and a skid plate under the car’s front, which will give it a rugged, macho looks. At the front, we can also see LED-intensive headlamps, a bold rectangular grill and huge sized chromed air dams. The bigger alloy wheels might be for display version in concept, however we might get 16" alloy wheels.

Stay tuned for more information. Click here to view more images of Suzuki S Crossover.

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Spied - 2014 Hyundai i10 testing in Chennai

Hyundai Motor India Limited is working on new Fluidic sculptured i10 ? Well, yes, all the models of Hyundai including Eon, i20, Verna, Sonata & Elantra got a facelift or newly launched since the company has announced the new Fluidic language. i10 was the only one lagging behind and we can now see a new facelifted i10 coming to Indian market very soon.

Though the car has been highly camouflaged, with covers even in front, side and on the rear, means more signs of fluidic designs and more changes in all directions of car. As you could see in the images, the new car sports alloy wheels, will it be true to say that the car would be next i20, in terms of the segment leader and the market maker for Hyundai. Well, we leave this answer to be replied by statistics once the car comes out in the market. The testing of the all-new i10 (code – Hyundai BA) started a while ago.

The nose will get the ‘Fluidic’ treatment which will include an aggressive grill and bumper along with larger swept back headlamps. It’ll bear the new family look and won’t stand out amidst the Verna, Elantra and Sonata. The side profile is expected to have more sharper curves that we seen on Eon, Verna and on i20.

The highly camouflaged car on the rear also depicts that the rear will also carry major change and will look more masculine and a mature look. Hyundai is likely to unveil the overhauled i10 at the Frankfurt Auto Show next year.

Source - Motor Vikatan

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Nissan Evalia launched in New Delhi at Rs 8.49 Lac

Nissan Motors India has launched Evalia in India with a starting price of Rs 8.49 lac. The Evalia is presented in four variants (XE, XE+, XL and XV). The variant wise prices (ex-showroom, New Delhi) are as follows.

XE - Rs. 8.49 Lac
XE+ - Rs. 8.92 Lac
XL- Rs. 9.49 Lac
XV - Rs. 9.99 Lac

At that price, the Evalia is much more expensive than both the Ertiga as well as the Xylo MPVs and will surely be a better bet for Taxi travellers than current market leader Toyota Innova, which is priced upwards.

Powering the large MPV is the same K9K diesel unit from the Renault-Nissan family. The 1.5 liter dCi delivers 85 bhp and a maximum torque of 200 Nm. Now, what’s more important to note here is the fuel economy figure. Nissan’s tried and tested diesel unit delivers a ‘best-in-class’ fuel economy of over 19 km/l which is 20-30 % more than what any of its competition can achieve. It is not just in terms of efficiency that the Evalia excels but when it comes to handling, the Nissan is way better than the corresponding Mahindra product.

the base XE variant gets basic features like power steering with tilt-adjust, electric wing mirrors, a single-DIN music system with two speakers and aux connectivity, and a multi-information display. The next trim-level XE+ costs Rs 8.92 lakh. It gets all the features of the base XE and also comes with driver and passenger airbags.

The third variant, the XL is priced at Rs 9.49 lakh and apart from the features of the XE+, it also gets remote-controlled central locking, power windows, a 2-DIN music system, and air-con vents for second-row passengers. The top-end XV, in addition to the features of the lower variants, gets fog lamps, an intelligent key, reverse camera, and a colored multi-information display. The XV retails at Rs 9.99 lakh.

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Salman Khan adds Limited edition Intruder M1800RZ to his garage

Salman Khan's passion for bikes is well known and not new. The Bollywood Actor has recently added Suzuki Intruder M1800RZ to his garage. Mr. Atul Gupta, VP Sales and Marketing, SMIPL and Ms. Anu Anamika, National Head – Marketing, SMIPL handed over the Suzuki Intruder to the actor. Salman Khan endorses the brand and has featured in Suzuki motorcycles’ recent brand campaigns.

Salman Khan is the proud owner of the legendary Suzuki Hayabusa and recently rode a Suzuki superbike in his blockbuster ‘Ek Tha Tiger’. The newest addition to his Suzuki superbike portfolio, the Intruder, is a four stroke, 2-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 54° V-twin engine. Commenting on the occasion, Atul Gupta, VP, Sales and Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. says, “Suzuki two-wheelers has received a tremendous response to Salman as our brand ambassador. We are proud of our association with him. It is an honour that he has chosen to ride the Intruder.”

Click here to view more images.

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Honda Brio Automatic clear images out - to be launched very soon

Honda Motors India Limited, the Indian subsidiary of Honda Motors Limited, Japan was one of the most happiest company and had one of the exciting line up till the time problems started knocking its door. After the disastrous earthquake in Japan in March 2011, the car maker was one of the most severely hit automobile company after Toyota. The problems became worse with Thailand floods, and with the dieselization trend specifically for India, the company soon started losing the market share.

Honda with still one of the exciting line up with one of the most refined products - City and Brio with majority volumes were lagging behind its competitors on two parts - No diesel variants and lack of Automatic transmission.

While it has officially been announced and a well known fact that Honda is working on 1.6 L Earth dreams engine which will power the City sedan and later Brio hatchback too, the company is all set to launch the Automatic variant of Brio hatchback. The competitors, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai had A-Star and i10 in their stable for this race. Honda was in news for some time now to launch Brio automatic, till it was confirmed today, when the images surfaced at one of the dealerships in Chennai.

On the outside, the Brio Automatic looks similar to the Manual variants and we expect the car to come with CVT badges on being launched. It may be noted that automatics have started making a lot of sense to those with long daily commutes in ever increasing traffic and the auto might not be an all that bad option for customers of Honda Brio.

Source  - Gearheads

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Tata Motors Dealers across India start accepting the bookings of Tata Safari Storme - launch on 17th & 18th October 2012

Tata Safari Storme was displayed first at 2012 Auto Expo. The car maker had plans to launch the car in July 2012, however with the launch of Renault Duster and earlier Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and most importantly the feed backs received from the customers, the Indian car maker, Tata Motors started making few changes in the previewed Safari Storme and hence the cause of delayed launch.

The dealers are now accepting 100,000 INR (1 Lac Rupees) and you will get a confirmed booking receipt from the dealer. As per the dealers, the car would be launched in a phased manner on 17th October in Maharashtra and 18th October 2012 in New Delhi, , however no details on brochures and prices have been out as of now.

Sources close have just told that the current Safari's top two variants VX and ZX would be phased out and the lower two - LX and EX would still continue to be in production. The new Tata Safari Storme will be launched in three variants - LX, EX and VX. The new car would be priced approximately INR 1.2 Lac than the current version of Safari. The higher price of new car is particularly due to new improved dual mass flywheel adopted from Tata Aria which reduces the engine noise considerably. Also, the new Safari Storme will be powered by 2.2L VERiCOR Diesel engine. The front grill and headlamps are inspired from Landrover, which is also in Tata's territory and the rear looks more sophisticated with a chrome strip running along full width at the rear door.

The other features in New Tata Safari Storme includes -

•  Music System - We say single DIN at Auto Expo, would love to see a double DIN.
• Wooden & Chrome inserts on door trims and dashboards
• Beautifully mounted central clock on the dashboard - Looks elegant
• Driver seat height adjust & lumbar support
• Electronically adjustable ORVM's
• Engine immobilizer, ABS + EBD
• Remote central locking
• Power windows with Auto-up function

Click here to view more information on Tata Safari Storme. 

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Maruti Suzuki to launch new Alto / M800 on 16th October 2012

Maruti Suzuki India is now officially out with the launch date of their newly developed and yet to be launched New Alto / M800. The car will be powered by a 3 cylinder 800 cc gasoline engine with an option of CNG. These are first ever clear images of the New Maruti Suzuki Alto / Maruti 800. The images have been spied in China however we expect the similar models to be launched in India this Diwali. This Chinese version is the 1.0L 67 bhp engine however the Indian version is expected to have 0.8L engine with 45 bhp.

The new car is expected to have power windows too - just front two as you could see it from the images and the car would also have a driver airbag, seems like Maruti has studied the market well before launching the new model - Hyundai Eon too comes with a driver side airbag.

It is very good to see that Maruti, inspite of having smallest car in its portfolio or better to be said the entry level car has maintained the safety features with Airbags, Maruti has yet again a winner in its hands. Meanwhile, it is also heard that Maruti is also working on a small 800cc diesel engine and will be launched in 2015.

Click here to view more images of Maruti Suzuki New Alto / M800.

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Ford Figo facelift caught testing again - Launch in October 2012

The Ford Figo facelift has been caught testing several times in the past few months. We already know most of the changes made to the exteriors of the refreshed version, including the new sporty yellow paint. Yet another bright Yellow colored car is again spied.

The new Figo facelift is expected to arrive by the early October 2012. We are not expecting any changes to the oily-bits – the update is mainly to infuse some novelty factor as the car will be around at least till 2014. The main changes are to the exteriors; on the front, the indicators are now moved inside close to the grille and below the headlamps. 

At the rear, the changes are limited to the tail lamps to help the car appear fresh. Reports suggest that there will quite a few changes on the equipment list as well, especially on the Titanium model. While it does get alloy wheels now for quite some time, expect it to also get keyless entry and a Start-Stop button located where the 12 V socket is as standard.

Expect the Ford Figo facelift to hit the showrooms in October 2012.

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Official and Confirmed - Honda working on Diesel powered Brio based Sedan for Indian market

Honda Motors India Limited has been lacking on two issues in the Indian market and those were the sole reasons for fast losing of its market share in India. The first and foremost was lack of Diesel engines and the other one was a limited line up for the fast changing Indian auto market.

Seems like Honda is working on both the above mentioned issues, while Honda's iDtec engine is under progress and will be rolled out first in Honda City sedan in April 2013, Honda has also confirmed that the Japanese car maker is also working on rolling out new models for the Indian market which will be developed and produced in the Indian market however could also be exported to other countries including Thailand and others from India.

In the latest conversations with Honda Motors India CEO Takanobu San, the company is working on Brio based sedan and will compete with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Toyota Etios and Mahindra's Compact Verito. As per the company, Honda will again utilize its caliber for reliability of Honda along with top notch quality interiors coupled with a competitive price tag for launching their products at par with Dzire and Etios.

In another interview, Takanobu San said that the company is also working on an Jazz  based SUV, which will compete with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Renault's Duster and Ford's upcoming EcoSport. Click here to view more details on the same.

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Official and Confirmed - Honda working on a SUV / Crossover based on Jazz Platform

Honda Motors India Limited has been lacking on two issues in the Indian market and those were the sole reasons for fast losing of its market share in India. The first and foremost was lack of Diesel engines and the other one was a limited line up for the fast changing Indian auto market.

Seems like Honda is working on both the above mentioned issues, while Honda's iDtec engine is under progress and will be rolled out first in Honda City sedan in April 2013, Honda has also confirmed that the Japanese car maker is also working on rolling out new models for the Indian market which will be developed and produced in the Indian market however could also be exported to other countries including Thailand and others from India.

In the latest conversations with Honda Motors India CEO Takanobu San, the company is working on Jazz based SUV and will compete with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Renault Duster. As per the company, Honda will again utilize its caliber for reliability of Honda along with top notch quality interiors coupled with a competitive price tag for launching their products at par with Ertiga and Duster.

In another interview, Takanobu San said that the company is also working on an entry level sedan, which will be priced lower than the company's bread and butter model - Honda City however will compete with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Toyota's Etios and Mahindra's upcoming Compact Verito. Click here to view more details on the same.

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Have you seen the Mahindra Quanto's new TVC Ad Video - Live the weekend life !

Have you seen the new Mahindra Quanto's TV Commercial.  Well, if not watch it now and know at least 4 reasons to make to your boss the next time you plan to take a leave. Here you go !!!

Also, click here to check out all about Mahindra Quanto.

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Maruti Suzuki Ertiga crossover concept at IIMS

Yesterday it was Honda CR-Z in Indonesia Auto show that surprised media. So today it Maruti Suzuki Ertiga concept crossover presence at the show. There were no hints of showcasing Ertiga concept crossover in this show.

In Asian countries like Indonesia, India Suzuki has released Ertiga. This is based on Swift platform. Swift is considered as one of the hot hatches in U.K. Encouraging signs from market could be the reason for showcasing Ertiga crossover.

The unique components in this car are LED lights, revised bumper, honey comb grill, roof railings. In Indonesia Ertiga will be featured with automatic transmission. This kit may also be available in India.

Source : Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

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Rolls-Royce launches Phantom II in India

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has launched its Phantom Series II in India, the latest version of the super luxury car first launched in 2003.

The company is also looking at adding two more outlets in the country, taking the total number to 5 by the end of the year, said Herfried Hasenoehrl, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ General Manager for Emerging Markets, Asia.

At present, it has three outlets – Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad – and the company intends to open another outlet in Chandigarh. The fifth one would be closer to Maharashtra, he said, declining to name the location.

“The super luxury segment is unimpacted by the economic slowdown. The Indian market continues to prove its appetite for luxury products. There is sustained demand from the country’s discerning client base, who appreciate the timeless design of Phantom Series II,” said Hasenoehrl.

In 2011, Rolls-Royce sold 3,538 cars worldwide, its greatest ever sales. The company, which does not provide India numbers, expects to sell more cars this year.

The new Phanton II, priced upwards of Rs 4.6 crore, offers fully LED headlamps as standard for Phantom Series II. The model is equipped with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, while new driver assistance technologies, satellite navigation system, front, rear and top-view cameras are the other features.

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Delhi-Gurgaon expressway free ride on till Tuesday

Private commuters driving on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway will enjoy a toll-free ride at least till Tuesday. Extending the period of toll suspension for private vehicles, Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday allowed the expressway contractor to collect toll from commercial vehicles with immediate effect. 

The court also asked why the toll, which is Rs 21, cannot be revised to a rounded figure, which would make it easier for users to pay. 

The division bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice R K Jain also directed the concessionaire, Delhi Gurgaon Super Connectivity Ltd to set up split toll plazas by Sunday, which would increase the number of ticket windows from 32 to 53. This would be done by setting up temporary windows some distance away from the present plaza. 

The court also asked the concessionaire to implement all plans decided upon by the three stakeholders on Wednesday to decongest the toll plaza. 

The court was informed that a plan had been finalized to convert traffic coming from Udyog Vihar and entering Delhi by setting up new toll booths on an already built link road. This will provide direct access to the expressway bypassing the present toll plaza. Moreover, two cash lanes at the extreme left of the toll plaza will be left open and six-seven temporary booths installed down the road to process vehicles passing through these lanes. 
Stay tuned for more updates.

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Diesel becomes 85 paise cheaper in Bihar

 Bihar government today reduced VAT on diesel by two per cent to make it cheaper by 85 paise with effect from midnight, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said. 

The VAT on diesel has been reduced from the earlier 18 per cent to 16 per cent and in the process the price of the fuel product will become cheaper by 85 paise at Rs 50.15 from midnight, Kumar told reporters after a cabinet meeting. 

The diesel price had shot up to Rs 51 per litre in Bihar after the Centre had hiked its price by Rs five last week. 

The state government will have to bear a revenue loss of Rs 118 crore during the remainder of this fiscal year on account of reduction in VAT rate on diesel, Kumar said. 

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Volkwagen India offers festive season discounts of Rs 55,000 and Rs 70,000 on Polo and Vento

Volkswagen India has dolled out discounts on Polo and Vento. Apart from the discounts, Volkswagen India is also offering loan finance schemes with a low rate of interest of 5.99% and an additional discount for corporate bookings. While the Polo hatchback comes with a INR 55,000 discount on specific variants, the Vento gets up to INR 70,000 off on select variants. Both petrol and diesel engined models of the Polo and the Vento are eligibile for this discount offer, which ends on the 25th of September, 2012.

Both the Polo and the Vento are available with naturally aspirated petrol and turbo diesel engines. The Polo gets a 1.2 Liter, 3 cylinder petrol engine and a 1.2 Liter, 3 cylinder TDI turbo diesel engine. The Vento sedan gets a 1.6 Liter, 4 cylinder petrol engine and a 1.6 Liter TDI turbo diesel engine. While the Polo’s petrol and diesel engines are mated to a five speed manual transmission, the Vento sedan’s petrol variant gets a five speed manual and a 6 speed automatic gearbox, and the diesel Vento makes do with the 5 speed manual gearbox.

Click here to read more on newly launched variants of Polo and Vento.

Source - Volkswagen Live 

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Mahindra Quanto launched at Rs 5.82 Lac - Live updates, details, specifications and price - Videos

The much awaited and talked about compact Xylo and Genio platform launched at Rs 5.82 Lac. The car is launched in four variants C2, C4, C6 and C8 and is powered by a new common rail 1493 mCR100 engine with 100bhp@3750rpm producing 240nm of torque.

• Mahindra Quanto C2 – 5.82 lakhs
• Mahindra Quanto C4 – 6.35 lakhs
• Mahindra Quanto C6 – 6.86 lakhs
• Mahindra Quanto C8 – 7.36 lakh

Mahindra says "Quanto" means "Quantum" which more "more". In case of Quanto, it refers to more power and more space and inturn fun to drive. Below are some highlights from the launch -

• The car will have an option of 5+2 seating with top variant having 2 Airbags, ABS+EBD, Intelligent park assist system. 
• Smallest ever engine to be equipped with twin turbochargers.
• The company claims ARAI acclaimed  mileage of 17.21 kmpl. 
• Turning radius of 5.4m and ground clearance of 180mm
• Lowest variant to come with Black bumpers, Black ORVM (Manual), Black door handles, No Music system, No Power windows. 
• The DDAS feature (Digital Driver Assist System) is restricted to the two highest variants, while Micro Hybrid technology is available on all variants but the entry model. 
• Mahindra Quanto gets ABS on the two high end variants, while dual front airbags is restricted to the flagship variant. 
• Mahindra is offering the Quanto with a 2 years/50,000km warranty as standard.
• The Quanto is available in 6 colors - black, brown, silver, beige, red and white.

The Mahindra Quanto will be equipped with a three-cylinder, 1.5 litre diesel engine that is likely to develop 100 bhp of peak power using a twin-turbo system. This is more power than any of the hatchbacks offer. Of course, one also has to take the weight of the vehicle into consideration, given that it will have a traditional ladder-frame chassis and will therefore be nearly 250 Kg heavier than most of the hatchbacks. Still, the most powerful diesel hatchbacks put out only 90 bhp of power (Fiat Punto, Hyundai i20). To some buyers, going purely by the numbers the Quanto seems like a good deal.

Stay tuned for more updates live from the event - with details, specifications, price etc.

Technology

Safety & Security

Comfort

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FIAT goes Absolute-ly festive with Linea and Punto

Fiat Group Automobiles India Private Limited (FGAIPL) is introducing a surprise for its customers this festive season as it launches its Limited ‘Absolute’ Edition for Punto and Linea in India. These ‘Absolute’ edition cars come with a customised accessory pack that offers additional value to customers at no extra cost. The Absolute pack contents offer utility & exclusivity and aim at evoking a sense of pride & fulfilment for the customer.

Mr. Ravi Bhatia, Head, Business Development – Fiat Group Automobiles India Private Limited said, “Fiat has exhilarating plans for this festival season. To celebrate and share the festivities with our customers, the launch of the Absolute Edition offers them additional benefits at the same price. India is an important market for us and this endeavour is an important step for FIAT in that direction. We came out with this celebratory offer keeping the consumers sentiments and their needs in mind where they can avail maximum benefits at no extra cost”.

The Absolute edition of Linea and Punto will sport additional features, which will distinguish them from the regular existing versions. The Absolute edition pack includes features like, Touch screen GPS navigator with 3G tablet & smartphone functionality, reverse parking sensors, Linea and Punto branded door sill, contoured splash guards, carpets, boot chrome strip & ‘Absolute’ exterior branding.

The touch screen GPS Navigator & 3G tablet comes with a 1.0-Ghz processor and runs on Android 2.3 OS. It offers house-level 3D maps and is equipped with phone functionality, multimedia and bluetooth. The carpets provide a neat & cosy feel to the interiors of the car, the branded door sills add an element of style and an elegant chrome strip for Linea adds touch of class.

Apart from a range of accessories, the company is also offering insurance at a discounted rate along with free road side assistance & an exchange bonus.

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Bharat Benz trucks to roll out on 26th September 2012

BharatBenz trucks will hit the Indian roads on the 26th of September. The company will launch a range of trucks in all segments. The BharatBenz range of trucks includes Light Duty Trucks (LDT) & Heavy Duty Trucks (HDT) in the 9, 12, 25, 31 and 49 tonnes category, featuring various usages and applications.

Click here to know more about Bharat Benz.

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Nissan India opens the bookings of Evalia MPV - Launch of 26th September 2012

Nissan Evalia, the first ever MPV from Nissan for the Indian market. The car is extensively used for cab market in UK. After the launch of Ertiga, almost every car maker in India is mulling to launch an MPV for the Indian market. The company has now started the bookings of Evalia by accepting Rs 50,000 in advance.

Nissan Evalia is expected to be starting from Rs 7.5 Lac starting price for XE variant and might go upward till Rs 11.5 Lac. Below mentioned are the features for all the three variants.

2012 Nissan Evalia XE Trim:

* Power steering with Tilt adjust
* Manual AC
* Electric wing mirrors
* ABS, EBD with BA
* Multi information display

2012 Nissan Evalia XE+ Trim additions:

* Twin Airbags
* Music system with twin speakers
* Gear Indicator

2012 Nissan Evalia XL Trim additions:

* Power Windows
* Central locking
* Music system with 4 speakers
* Rear AC

2012 Nissan Evalia XV Trim additions:

* Fog lamps
* Push button start
* 15 inch alloy wheels
* Reverse sensors with dashboard mounted camera display

Click here to read the complete details on Nissan Evalia.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE DETAILED IMAGES

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Government might consider partial roll back of Diesel prices - Sources

 Government is considering a partial rollback of a hike in diesel prices announced last week as part of a slew of " big bang" economic reforms that have plunged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's coalition into crisis.

A senior source in the ruling Congress party said the rollback was being considered, speaking after a meeting of the senior party leadership. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, however, declined to comment when approached by reporters.

A hike in diesel prices and other reforms such as retail liberalisation prompted the government's biggest ally to withdraw from the coalition on Tuesday evening.

Government raised the price of heavily subsidised diesel by Rs 5 to rein in its fiscal deficit and counter the threat of becoming the first of the big emerging economies to be downgraded to junk.

Diesel is one of the main contributors to a subsidy bill that economists warn could push the country's fiscal deficit above a target of 5.1 percent of gross domestic product.

But the fuel price increase caused an instant political backlash.

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Mercedes Benz B Class launched at Rs 21.49 lac

Mercedes Benz launched the B Class in India, at a launch in Mumbai, in two avatars. The B180 is priced at 21.49 lakhs, while the B180 Sport sets customers back by 24.87 lakhs (ex-showroom Mumbai).

Key features of B 180 are:

-Halogen headlamps
-ECO start/ stop
-Hill start assist
-Electric Parking Brake
-7 speed DCT with shift paddles on steering wheel and cruise control
-ABS, ESP, ASR, BAS, tyre pressure loss warning
-7 airbags-driver, front passenger, L and R curtain, L and R side airbags, driver knee
airbag
-Audio 20 with USB/ aux-in, bluetooth, 1 CD/MP3/WMA, 6 speakers
-Attention assist
-rear wiper/defogger
-ARTICO upholstery-only black
-matrix look interior trim
-16″ alloys, 10 spoke
-only white colour

In addition to that, Sports version of B180 which is priced at Rs 24.87 Lac has additional features as:

-Panoramic sunroof
-Sports package and body styling
-Electric adjust driver seat with memory and lumbar support
-Leather steering wheel and gear knob-Mirror package
-Bi-xenon headlamps with LED DRLs and washers
-ARTICO upholstery in black or beige-Black ash wood trim
-17″ twin 7 spoke alloys
-Color options of red, white and silver

Mercedes Benz B class would be powered by a 1.6L 122 bhp petrol engine with a torque of 200Nm@4000 rpm.  The car would come with a 7 speed automatic gearbox with both front and rear braked equipped with disc breaks. The company claims that it has already bagged 250 bookings of the same. 

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Maruti Suzuki offers Rs 3L discount for Kizashi

Maruti Suzuki, India's largest car manufacturer, is offering a whopping Rs 300,000 discount on the premium sedan Kizashi to entice buyers ahead of the festive season.

Kizashi, which Suzuki brings to India as a fully imported unit, was launched here last February in the hope to pushing its brand higher up in the value chain. However its steep price tag made it difficult to find buyers.

Kizashi saw a stellar 85 per cent drop in sales in the April-August period this year with sales at just 23 units or little more one unit a week. However, the company did not witness any buyer purchase the premium car which was priced at Rs 17.12 lakh for the manual version. This has forced the company, which is struggling with demand slide, to offer the Rs 3.12 lakh discount on the car. Last year during the same period the company saw sales of 157 units, according to data provided by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.Other models in the segment or slightly higher than the Kizashi, including the Honda Accord, Skoda Superb, Nissan Teana and the Hyundai Sonata, have much better market share in the domestic market.

In India, Kizashi is imported as completely built unit, attracts import duties of more than 105 per cent, thereby doubling its price. The company had stated its intention of making way for a local assembly of the car depending upon the responses to reduce its price.The Kizashi utilises a direct ignition system for increased fuel efficiency with decreased emissions. The fuel tank capacity of the car is 63 litre.Experts believe that the company which has tried to enter the premium car segment with Kizashi has not been able to sustain its position in the segment due to the high price of the car. Further, the brand association of Maruti primarily as a manufacturer of compact cars has played a spoil sport in allowing the company to charge a premium.

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Tata Nano CNG caught testing in Pune - to be launched in December 2012

Tata Nano CNG was spotted testing on Pune roads. The car was spied testing on roads and as per the sources, this will be launched in December 2012. Also, the diesel variant of Tata Nano is expected in April 2013.

Meanwhile, have you seen the new Tata Nano Jingle by famous Tamil singer, Dhanush of Kolaveridi. 

Also, if you could see the Tata Aria testing in front of Tata Nano, it would not be wrong to say that Tata Nano is working on a more competitive version of Tata Aria since the car is selling in few numbers only.

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