Nissan to cut costs, shift March, Micra production to India and Thailand in 2010

The Nissan Micra will be made in India from 2010 onwards

Nissan Motor Co. has announced that it will shift a significant part of its production of the March and Micra, two of its bestselling small hatchbacks, to India, Thailand and perhaps some other countries, in a bid to reduce costs. These cars are currently being made in Japan and the UK.

Starting early next year, Nissan’s small cars will be made in India, Thailand and up to three other countries. While Nissan has not specifically said anything about stopping production of these hatchbacks in Japan, it’s widely expected that Nissan will ultimately outsource all production of its smaller cars, since producing those cars in Japan has become prohibitively expensive.

M&M still waiting for homologation and other clearances in the US

Mahindra & Mahindra, which was aiming to launch its SUVs and pick-up trucks in the US, is still waiting for its vehicles to be cleared for homologation in North America. M&M hopes to start its innings in the US passenger vehicles market with a Scorpio-based pick-up truck, which is yet to be homologated in the US.

The US has strict homologation norms for foreign (as well as domestically produced) vehicles, which includes vehicles being tested for safety, crash protection, emissions and road worthiness. According to some analysts, a Scorpio-based vehicle may have trouble getting through some of tests in the US and even if it does get through, it may get a low safety rating, which may hurt sales.

M&M, which is slowly moving towards world-class vehicles – as exemplified by the new Xylo MPV that was launched in India recently – is not giving up on its plans for the US market though. The company expects to get homologation and all other clearances within a few weeks, after which it hopes to start selling its vehicles in America.

DLW dispatches first locomotive to Mozambique

In a bid to secure a place in the international market, the Varanasi-based Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), a production division of Indian Railways, recently dispatched its first locomotive to Mozambique.

The locomotive exported to Mozambique was the first ever 3000 horsepower locomotive built in DLW, for cape gauge. With a lightweight superstructure and 18.5 tonne axle, this locomotive is fitted with a 16-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine, with a microprocessor-controlled fuelling system for heavy hauling capacity, better propulsion control and controlled wheel creep.

India is now exporting diesel/electric locomotives to several countries, and DLW is at the forefront of all such activity in the country. Last year, DLW had committed to spend up to Rs 150 crore towards modernisation and capacity expansion to 250+ units per annum. Apart from Mozambique, DLW has also got orders from Sri Lanka and is expected to tap various other markets very soon.

Maruti Suzuki to set up two driver training centres in partnership with Haryana government

Maruti Suzuki is setting up two driver training institutes in Bahadurgarh and Rohtak, in Haryana. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda laid the foundation stone for the two institutes yesterday, in the presence of Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. The institutes will be set up, managed and run by Maruti.

The two institutes will form an integral part of Maruti Suzuki’s ongoing corporate social responsibility initiative – the National Road Safety Mission (NRSM) – announced in December 2008. Under the NRSM, the company plans to train five lakh persons in road safety across India in the next three years.

‘Growth of any region, to a large extent, depends on the availability of transport facilities. Hence, it is crucial that these facilities expand quickly. These driver training institutes being started with Maruti Suzuki will not only provide training but will also sensitize learners towards various aspects of road usage and safety. Each centre would annually train around 12,000 persons,’ said Hooda.

‘Road safety is an integral part of Maruti Suzuki’s social responsibility. The company has been promoting safer driving practices through different formats such as IDTRs and Maruti Driving Schools. We realize that as a subject, road safety is very vast and requires an integrated approach of different stakeholders such as public, vehicle manufacturers, the government, civil society etc. We hope that our initiative with Haryana Government will be a catalyst for other organizations to join the road safety effort in the country,’ said Nakanishi.

Once fully operational, these two IDTRs are expected to train around 3,000 people every month. Maruti Suzuki already operates two IDTRs in Delhi, which train a total of about 5,000 people every month.

Fuel-injection: The next big thing for small Honda bikes in India?

The fuel-injected Honda Wave 110i. Could HMSI also launch a fuel-injected bike in India this year? We think they might!

Honda recently launched the Wave 110i in Thailand. While the Wave 110i is only a small displacement commuter bike, what makes it a bit special is that its engine is fuel-injected rather than being carburetted.

Fitted with Honda’s PGM-FI fuel-injection technology – the same that’s fitted to Honda’s sportsbikes like the CBR600RR and the Fireblade – the Wave 110i is expected to set new benchmarks in terms of fuel efficiency and performance, for small-displacement two-wheeler engines.

We expect HMSI, Honda Motorcycles Indian arm, to also adopt fuel-injection in a big way over the next few months. HMSI, which is said to be working on an entry-level 100cc commuter bike, which will be launched later this year, could well equip its bike with PGM-FI. This could help the bike meet and perhaps even exceed the fuel efficiency expectations of buyers in the 100cc segment. It would also provide HMSI with a unique selling proposition, like Bajaj has in the DTS-i, DTS-Si and DTS-Fi monikers.

The Wave 110i will sell for the equivalent of around Rs 47,500 in Thailand. A fuel-injected 100-125cc machine from HMSI, if priced at around Rs 40-45,000, should also do very well in the Indian market. While Yamaha, TVS and Bajaj have already brought fuel-injection to the Indian two-wheeler market – albeit only on more expensive bikes – perhaps it’ll be HMSI that brings fuel-injection to the masses!

Hyundai Sonata Transform launched in India, prices start at Rs 13.90 lakh

The Hyundai Sonata gets minor updates and is now Transform-ed

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) has launched a new variant of the Sonata luxury sedan. Called the Sonata Transform, this new variant features updated interiors, minor changes to the styling and, according to Hyundai, it also offers improved performance. The Sonata Transform’s petrol version is priced at Rs 13.90 lakh, the common-rail diesel version costs Rs 14.90 lakh and the diesel with automatic transmission is pegged at Rs 15.90 lakh (ex-showroom).

Among other things, the new bits included on the Hyundai Sonata Transform are revised alloy wheels, a smart key that incorporates remote door opening, keyless ignition and engine immobiliser. The car is fitted with separate climate controls for driver and front passenger, the steering wheel has remote control buttons for the audio/MP3 player, and the Transform gets leather upholstery and leather-covered steering wheel and gearshift knob. Curtain airbags are optional and cost Rs 32,000.

Hyundai has updated the Sonata’s headlamp and taillamp design, revised the shape of the front and rear bumpers and added body-colour door handles. Two-tone beige interiors, wood-finish inserts on the dashboard and safety-oriented electronics like ABS and EBD complete the package. It's still no Camry or Accord, but for those looking for a spacious, cheap-and-cheerful (relatively speaking...) luxury sedan, the Sonata Transform just might fit the bill...

Fiat Linea launched in India, prices start At Rs 5.99 lakh

With sensibly priced petrol and diesel variants, the new Fiat Linea should do well in the market

Fiat has launched the much-awaited Linea, in India, with prices starting at Rs 5.99 lakh for the base model petrol car, and Rs 6.89 lakh for the base model Multijet diesel. For those who want all the bells and whistles, the top-end petrol and diesel Linea variants cost Rs 7.21 lakh and Rs 8.35 lakh respectively.

The Linea, which will be manufactured at Fiat’s plant at Ranjangaon (near Pune) is the company’s first new car launch for 2009. Fiat has also lined up two more cars – the Bravo and the Grande Punto – for the Indian market, which will be launched later this year.

With the Linea, Fiat hopes to take on cars like the Honda City, Maruti SX4 and Ford Fiesta, and with its contemporary styling, petrol and diesel engine options, and a wide range of sensibly priced variants, the Italian car looks like it could be a strong challenger in the C-segment.

Mahindra-Kinetic co-branded scooters to be launched later this month

The Kinetic Flyte will now be re-branded as the Mahindra-Kinetic Flyte

M&M, which bought a controlling stake in the Pune-based two-wheeler manufacturer, Kinetic, in July/August 2008, is now ready to re-launch the Kinetic range of scooters. These vehicles have been revamped and will now be co-branded as Mahindra-Kinetic. These re-branded vehicles will be available in Kinetic showrooms (which will also be revamped and which will now carry new logos) by the end of this month.

Kinetic scooters will still be manufactured at its Pithampur plant (near Indore, in MP) and prices will not change. The range will include the Flyte 125 and Nova 135, though it isn’t clear whether the Blaze will also continue. Fitted with a 170cc engine (originally sourced from Hyosung), the Blaze is India’s biggest, most powerful scooter, but hasn’t been doing too well in the market and may be discontinued.

With its Mahindra-Kinetic products, M&M is said to be looking at focusing on entry-level mass-market two-wheelers to begin with, though it may also develop other products for the ‘lifestyle’ segment later on. In fact, M&M is said to be looking at tying up with a European bike manufacturer for high-end bikes, which it will launch at a later date.

BYD e6: The Chinese extend their lead with EVs

The BYD e6, a fully electric crossover, has a range of 400km! When it comes to EVs, China seems to have brought Japanese, European and American manufacturers to their knees...
Pics: Autoblog

Chinese car manufacturer, BYD unveiled its latest electric vehicle – the e6 – at the ongoing NAIAS in Detroit. To be marketed as a five-passenger family-oriented MPV, BYD e6 is a pure electric car, with a range of 400km on one full battery charge. And for an electric car, the performance is also amazing – the e6 will accelerate from zero to 100km/h in less than 8 seconds, and hit a top speed of 160km/h!

The e6 is fitted with what BYD calls its ‘Fe battery pack,’ which can be quick-charged to 50 percent of its capacity in just 10 minutes, and 100 percent of its capacity in 60 minutes. Whatever it’s comprised of, with an output of 268bhp and 550Nm of torque, the BYD E6’s ferrous battery pack should certainly be able to deal with the vehicle 2,000kg kerb weight.

‘We will start to develop sales and distribution networks in North America. Our goal is to introduce BYD electric vehicles in the US in 2011 and set up our manufacturing facilities in the US when it is appropriate,’ says BYD chairman Wang Chaufu.

With such major breakthroughs in EV technology, China sure looks all set to take the lead in the electric vehicles segment worldwide. We wonder where that leaves companies like RECC, which haven’t been able to succeed with the Reva EV in India despite years of trying…

2010 Toyota Prius unveiled in Detroit, coming to India by end-2009

The 2010 Toyota Prius is definitely coming to India by the end of this year...!

Toyota has unveiled its third-generation, 2010-model Prius. With more than a million units of the Prius sold over the last 10 years, this hybrid sedan has been a big success story for Toyota, and with the new version, the Japanese giant is making sure it stays ahead of the curve.

Compared to its predecessor, the 2010 Prius offers improved fuel economy, more contemporary styling, improved interior space and, according to Toyota, a more rewarding driving experience. The car remains a full hybrid – one that can run on either its petrol engine or electric motor or a combination of both.

For the third-generation Prius, Toyota has carried out a comprehensive revamp of its Hybrid Synergy Drive system, which brings significant reductions in weight and size, contributing to the overall improvements in fuel economy and emissions. Also, a bigger, 1.8-litre, 98bhp VVT-i engine is fitted to the car, improving overall drivability and performance.

The new Prius will be sold all over the world, in up to 80 markets – double the number compared to the current model. The car will go on sale in the US and in Europe within a few months, and we’re sure Toyota will bring some units of the 2010 Prius to India as well, probably in the third quarter of CY 2009. After all, if Honda can bring the Civic Hybrid to India, can Toyota be too far behind with the Prius…!

Cadillac Converj concept: GM plugs away at its EV future

With cars like the Converj, Cadillac could drive into the era of battery-powered motor vehicles

General Motors has unveiled the Cadillac Converj Concept – GM’s take on a battery-powered electric luxury car. The Converj is meant to showcase GM’s electric propulsion technology – called Voltec – that offers about 65km of driving range on pure electric power, and extended-range capability of much, much more. Cadillac’s extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) concept features sharp, contemporary styling and luxurious interiors, as befits a Cadillac.

‘It’s a logical extension of our plan to reinvent the automobile. The Converj clearly shows what a Cadillac electric vehicle could look like, and clearly indicates that global luxury customers can have a car that has both strong design and electric propulsion with a total range of hundreds of anxiety-free miles,’ says Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman of Global Product Development.

The Cadillac Converj’s ‘Voltec’ electric propulsion system is made up of a 16kWh battery, an electric drive unit and a four-cylinder flex-fuel engine. It uses electricity as its primary source to drive the car, with the engine being used to charge the lithium-ion battery, which is integrated into the Converj’s chassis and stores electricity from the grid when the vehicle is plugged in. It takes less than three hours to recharge the battery at 240V, or about eight hours from a 120V outlet.

With a top speed of around 160km/h, 2+2 seating configuration, luxurious interiors with high-grade materials and a very long list of cutting edge technologies, the Cadillac Converj sure is one cool concept – one which we hope The General can quickly turn into production reality within the next 2-3 years.

Mahindra Xylo launched, prices start at Rs 6.25 lakh

The Mahindra Xylo is ready to take on the Toyota Innova...

Mahindra & Mahindra have finally launched their much-awaited MPV – the Xylo – with which M&M hope to take on vehicles like the Toyota Innova and Chevrolet Tavera.

With three rows of seating and ample space for luggage, the Xylo is pitched a multi-purpose-vehicle that could also be a viable alternative to the family sedan. The vehicle is fitted with M&M’s 2.5-litre ‘mEagle’ common-rail turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, which produces 112 horsepower and 235Nm of torque, and is fully BS III compliant.

The Xylo’s CRDe engine is mated to a five-speed manual-shift gearbox, and the vehicle rides on 15-inch wheels, shod with 215/75 rubber. Suspension is double wishbone with coil springs and anti-roll bar at the front and multilink with coil springs at the rear. Disc brakes are fitted at the front, while drum brakes are used at the rear.

To be made available in 7- and 8-seater versions, with a host of optional gizmos, the Xylo looks like smart and sensible MPV, which, after the Scorpio, could M&M’s next big success story. With prices starting at Rs 6.25 lakh for the base version, the Xylo could well take on the Toyota Innova and the Chevy Tavera on their own turf and come out on top...

Anand Mahindra speaks about the Xylo...

Toyota aims to launch its first electric car by 2012

Based on the iQ, this is the battery-powered Toyota FT-EV concept

Toyota Motor Corp. is planning to launch its first battery-powered electric car in the US, by 2012. This EV will be based on the iQ, Toyota’s revolutionary new small car that’s already on sale in Japan.

With tightening emissions norms and fuel prices that are sure to keep moving upwards in the long term, Toyota is now committed to developing mainstream EVs that are smaller and more efficient than existing cars. The very first Toyota electric car will be able to seat four people and travel at least 100km on one full battery charge.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: First official pictures

The all-new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class should be launched in India within the next 6-8 months...

Pics: Autoblog

Mercedes-Benz has finally unveiled the 2010 E-Class, at a private event in Detroit. The car, which will be publicly unveiled in March this year, at the Geneva Motor Show, features major changes inside and out and is a major departure from the current E-Class’ styling.

The 2010 E-Class’ styling is inspired by the Mercedes-Benz conceptFASCINATION, which was shown last year. Apart from the obvious changes to the sheetmetal and the headlamps, the new E is bigger than the current model – overall length has gone up by half an inch, width has grown by 1.26 inches, the wheelbase has increased by 0.8 inches and the height has gone up by 0.5 inches.

The new shape is said to be more aerodynamic, torsional rigidity is said to be up by 30% and since the new E packs no less than 11 airbags as standard equipment, it should be safer in a crash. The car will also feature a host of new safety gadgets like Attention Assist, Lane Departure warning system, adaptive high-beam headlights, radar-based cruised control, blind spot monitoring and infrared night vision.

We expect the new E-Class to go on sale in India during the last quarter of 2009, with petrol and diesel engine options available as usual. You’ll have to wait for the official pricing details, but do expect the new E to be around 10-15% more expensive than the current model.

Ford promises to be ready with mass-market electric vehicles, hybrids by 2012

In a serious bid at getting ready for the future, Ford has announced its new plans for developing electric vehicles and hybrids, which it aims to bring to the market by 2012. The company will actually be bringing its first battery-powered electric commercial van to the North American market by 2010, followed by a small electric car in 2011 and a plug-in hybrid by 2012.

Committed to developing vehicles that offer sustainable mobility in the post-petrol/diesel era, Ford has started work on high-tech green vehicles. ‘Next-generation hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure battery powered vehicles are the logical next steps in our pursuit of greater fuel economy and sustainability,’ says Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development. ‘A growing number of consumers want that kind of choice, and we want to be in a position to deliver it to them across multiple vehicle categories,’ he adds.

In order to make sure its EVs reach the market quickly, Ford is ready to leverage the domain expertise of its partners. For its small electric car, which will be powered by lithium-ion batteries and which the company hopes to launch in 2011, Ford is partnering with Magna International. The new Ford EV will be able to travel up to 160km on electric power alone.

‘We strongly believe in collaboration because it drives innovation up and keeps costs down,’ says Don Walker, co-CEO of Magna International. ‘Bringing a fully functional electric vehicle quickly to market that meets customer expectations in terms of cost and performance is a great testament to both our companies' expertise and collaborative efforts.’

Don’t expect to see an electric vehicle in the Ford showroom in your neighbourhood just yet, but at long last, the American giant has finally started moving towards the future. A small Ford hatchback powered by li-ion batteries for the Indian market? Within the next five years, we’re sure!

Chevrolet announces all-new Spark

The all-new Chevrolet Spark is expected to come to India by 2011, though it won't be called the Spark here. It may, instead, replace the current U-VA in our market...

Chevrolet has announced its new small car – the Spark – which will make its public debut in March this year. But first let us clear things – the car you see here is not meant to be a replacement for the Chevy Spark sold in India. When this new Spark does come to India, it’ll be up against bigger hatchbacks like the Hyundai i20, Tata Indica Vista, Maruti Swift and Skoda Fabia. If anything, the new Spark might possibly replace the current Chevy U-VA in India, perhaps by 2011.

The new Chevy Spark has been developed by GM Europe and will first go into production in Korea, by the end of this year. The car will first go on sale in Europe, by early 2010, and will later be introduced in other markets, including the US and India, sometime in 2011.

Toyota unveils 2010 Camry at NAIAS, Hybrid version also coming this time

The 2010 Toyota Camry will come with a 169bhp, 2.5-litre VVT-i engine

Toyota has unveiled the 2010 Camry at the ongoing North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The new variant, which gets various mechanical and cosmetic upgrades, will go on sale in March this year.

To begin with, the new Camry gets an upgraded four-cylinder, 2.5-litre, 169bhp VVT-i engine, which replaces the current 2.4-litre unit. (Some markets will also get the new 2.5-litre engine in a higher state of tune, producing 179bhp, and a 3.5-litre V6 that makes 268bhp. We don’t expect the V6 to be available in India.) In either case, two transmission options will be available – a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic with sequential shift.

Changes to the Camry’s exterior include a new grille and front bumper, larger projector-style headlamps, restyled taillamps and redesigned 16-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the new Camry gets an all-new higher-spec sound system, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), revised instrumentation, automatic power windows with jam protection and revised, more upscale upholstery.

A Hybrid version of the 2010 Camry will also be made available in some markets, and we suspect Toyota may also bring in some of those to India as CBU imports. The 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid will be equipped with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, and the car will be certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) in the US. Pricing for the new Camry is expected to be announced in March.

Stay tuned for more information on Toyota India’s plans for launching the 2010 Camry and Camry Hybrid in the Indian market.

Bajaj Auto lines up multiple new launches for 2009 to reinvigorate sales

To counter falling sales, Bajaj Auto is lining up new bike launches for 2009 – the Pune-based manufacturer will launch up to six new two-wheelers in a phased manner by July this year. The first of the new launches is expected to be the XCD 135 DTS-Si, which could be priced at around Rs 45,000.

Apart from the new XCD variant, Bajaj is said to be planning two more bikes in the 125-135cc segment, followed by three bikes in the 150+cc segment. The company, which has a 35% market share in the domestic two-wheeler market and a 50% market share in the 125cc and above two-wheeler segment, aims to move on from entry-level 100cc machines and focus on bikes of 125cc and above.

Bajaj, which already has a significant shareholding in Austrian bike manufacturer, KTM, also aims to co-develop small-capacity sportsbikes in collaboration with the European company. Bajaj and KTM will develop these bikes for the European, Indian and perhaps other Asian markets, while Bajaj is also expected to sell some of KTMs bigger sportbikes in India, which could be assembled at BAL’s plant at Chakan, near Pune.

Finally, after dragging its feet on this one for the last 10 years, Bajaj is also expected to finally launch the Kawasaki Ninja 250R in India this year. Bajaj first started showing the Ninja 250 at Auto Expos in India in the mid-1990s, but never actually got around to launching the bike. Now, with the bikes market in India having evolved way beyond where it was in the 1990s, Bajaj is finally ready to launch the entry-level Ninja sportsbike in India. The bike is expected to be priced at around Rs 1.75 lakh, though there is no official word yet from Bajaj.