BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo: Pics and details

The 5 Series Gran Turismo - the ugliest car BMW has ever built!

It seems some carmakers are right now in a race to see who can build the ugliest, most pointless car in the world, and BMW is one of the frontrunners in this race. After the ugly hatchback-SUV-estate crossover – the X6 – the German company has now come with the equally ugly 5 Series Gran Turismo. We don’t know why it looks the way it does and we doubt if anyone at BMW does, either.

‘BMW is pleased to announce the 5 Series Gran Turismo, a car which combines an understated coupé-like silhouette to the luxurious interior of a BMW 7 Series, while at the same time giving the functionality of a BMW 5 Series Touring or X5,’ says a press release from the company. We don’t really know what to make of it, except that the 5 Series GT is supposed to be a mix of most of BMW’s cars and SUVs, which definitely has to be very, very bad thing.

Like the X6, which was recently launched in India, the 5 Series Gran Turismo is also certain to come to India within the next few months. The car will be available in four- and five-seat versions and according to BMW, the vehicle’s split tailgate (which can be opened like that of a saloon as well as like that of a hatchback) will allow owners to easily stuff more luggage into the 5 Series GT’s boot.

The BMW 5 Series GT will be available in 530d (diesel), 535i (petrol) and 550i (petrol) versions and all variants will come with a very long list of high-tech gizmos and optional accessories. None of which we really care about, because we miss the days when BMW actually used to build some very good looking cars. Still, if you are looking forward to buying one of these monstrosities, be prepared to shell out Rs 50 lakh and above.

Goodyear India launches DuraPlus, will expand capacity to four million tyres per annum

The Indian arm of the US-based Goodyear is working on boosting its production capacity by 15%, which will take its annual production to four million tyres per annum. The company is also launching a new tyre – Goodyear DuraPlus – which is aimed at small family hatchbacks that account for the largest segment in the Indian car market. Goodyear India wants to target the replacement market with this new tyre and is also negotiating with car manufacturers for OEM fitment.

Apart from the tyres its manufactures in India, Goodyear is also planning to offer puncture resistant run-flat tyres (RFTs), which are often fitted to high-end luxury cars. These tyres, which cost more than Rs 10,000 each, will be imported from Goodyear’s manufacturing facilities in the US or Europe.

Setco signs JV agreement with FTE, will make car clutches

Setco Automotive, which currently manufactures clutch assemblies for commercial vehicles, will now also start making clutches and clutch components for cars. The company has signed a joint venture agreement with FTE Automotive of Germany, which supplies brake and clutch components to various carmakers worldwide.

In addition to car clutches, which it will supply to car manufacturers in India, Setco also plans to start supplying marine clutches by 2012. By that time, it hopes to increase its annual turnover to more than Rs 500 crore – about twice that of its current turnover. The company plans to spend around Rs 200 crore towards capacity expansion and technology enhancement over the next two years.

Bajaj, Renault may go separate ways on the ULC car project

The proposed Bajaj-Renault partnership for an ultra low cost (ULC) car could be headed for trouble already. The two companies have ‘issues’ with the car’s design, technical specification, branding and positioning.

Last year, Bajaj and Renault had signed an MoU for the ULC car project, but the actual joint venture agreement has not been signed yet. According to reports in the media, both Bajaj and Renault still want to work together on the small car, but their aims and objectives are turning out to be dissimilar, which may put the whole project in jeopardy.

Bajaj, which currently has no cachet in the passenger cars space, is looking to develop a vehicle which other carmakers may find difficult (or even impossible?) to profitably replicate. In addition to low cost, the Pune-based two-wheeler manufacturer wants to focus on fuel-efficiency for its first car.

Renault, meanwhile, wants to go after the Tata Nano, no holds barred. It wants to develop a car that can take on the Nano in terms of pricing and value-for-money. The French company is confident that for Nano money, it can actually offer a car that’s better engineered, safer, more stylish and more refined than the Tata product. While Bajaj believes that a Nano replica – even one that’s slightly better than the original – may not work, Renault is quite gung-ho about it and wants to launch its own version of the Nano as soon as possible.

Apart from tech specs and positioning, the other major issue is that of branding. Bajaj is keen to keep the upper hand here, since the ULC car will be its first foray into the passenger cars segment. The company wants the new car to be seen as a Bajaj product, and does not want the Renault badge to overwhelm the Bajaj name.

While both Bajaj and Renault remain committed to resolving their issues over the next few weeks, their ULC car may well be delayed by 6-12 months if Bajaj insists on reengineering the package completely. There also seems to be a small chance that the alliance may not take off at all, in which case Bajaj will go on to develop the small car on its own, perhaps with technical inputs from KTM. Either way, it should be interesting to see how this story finally pans out.

Bajaj Auto Q4 net profit down 49.79%

Right now, 'distinctly ahead' is not exactly how you would describe Bajaj Auto

Bajaj Auto has reported a 49.79% decline in its net profit, at Rs 69.14 crore, for the period January-March 2009. The company had earned a net profit of Rs 137.71 crore in the year-ago period.

At 375,439 units, Bajaj’s sales sales were down 22% during Q4 FY 2008-09, as compared to 482,912 units sold in the corresponding period last year. Consolidated total income during the quarter was down 8.61%, at Rs 1,883.27 crore, as compared to Rs 2,060.61 crore in Q4 FY 2007-08.

Bajaj Auto sold a total of 1.91 million two-wheelers during FY 2008-09, as compared to 2.1 million units during the year-ago period, a decline of around 11%. However, Bajaj is working on various things to remedy the situation. The company is working on a brand-new scooter with which it expects to be able to take on the Honda Activa, which is the biggest bestseller in its segment.

Bajaj is also pushing ahead with its made-in-China budget bikes for some of its exports markets. For India, the Pune-based company is all set to launch a new range of bikes, developed in collaboration with KTM, by early 2010. However, there still seems to be no sign of the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, which Bajaj was expected to launch this month.

Revamped Skoda Laura launched, prices start at Rs 12.68 lakh

The facelifted Skoda Laura is here...

Skoda India has launched a facelifted version of the Laura, which now comes with a choice of 1.8-litre petrol, 1.9-litre diesel and 2.0-litre diesel engines. The car is also available with a choice of manual and automatic transmissions. Skoda has restyled the headlamps, taillamps, front grille and front bumper, and the new Laura also comes with redesigned, better equipped interiors.

Prices for the new Laura range between Rs 12.68 lakh for the petrol base model, to Rs 17.64 lakh for the top-of-the-line L&K 2.0-litre diesel.

LPG-powered Hyundai Accent eco launched

Jeremy Clarkson says the Honda Insight is 'Biblically terrible.' It should be interesting to see what he says if he is ever made to drive the LPG-powered Hyundai Accent eco

Old, dull, drab and dour it may be, but the Hyundai Accent isn’t ready to drive off into the sunset just yet. Like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai India has also taken to flogging its old (actually, ancient…) cars way, way beyond their sell-by date. The Korean company, which had earlier launched a CNG version of the Accent, has now launched an LPG-powered variant. This one is called Accent eco and costs Rs 5.34 lakh ex-showroom.

The Accent eco comes with a factory fitted LPG kit, which has been approved and certified by the Department of Explosives (DoE) and the Automotive research Authority of India (ARAI). The car costs Rs 35,000 more than the standard petrol version and its 1.5-litre engine can run on LPG or petrol – the driver can switch between the two fuels on the move. The Accent eco comes with a 27-litre LPG tank (in addition to a 45-litre petrol tank), so range on LPG alone should be around 300km. But seriously, if we were motoring on a budget, we'd much rather drive a Maruti 800 or a Tata Nano rather than something like the Accent eco.

On a more encouraging note, HMIL, which had scaled back production at its Chennai plant last year, moving from three shifts to two, is planning to go back to three shifts. From the 1oth of June this year, Hyundai will again run three shifts at its Chennai plant since the company expects sales (domestic and exports) to pick up significantly over the next few months.

Daimler AG acquires a 10% stake in Tesla Motors

The very cool new Tesla Model S sedan, which is expected to go into production by 2011
Pics: AutoblogGreen

Daimler AG of Germany has acquired a 10% stake in Tesla Motors Inc., the only company currently selling mainstream (as in, a vehicle that can be used on highways) electric cars in Europe and North America. Prior to purchasing this stake, Daimler had already been working with Tesla with a view to incorporating the latter’s lithium-ion battery technology into an EV version of its own Smart car.

‘Our strategic partnership is an important step to accelerate the commercialization of electric drives globally. As a young and dynamic company, Tesla stands for visionary power and pioneering spirit. Together with Daimler’s 120 years of experience in the automotive sector, this collaboration is a unique combination of two company’s strengths and marks another important milestone in Daimler’s strategy for sustainable mobility,’ said Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Daimler AG.

‘Daimler has set the benchmark for engineering excellence and vehicle quality for more than a century. It is an honour and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Daimler would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla,’ said Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and Product Architect.

While Tesla already has its electric roadster and is working on the new Model S sedan, Daimler will start limited production of its electric Smart ForTwo later this year. The company is slated to launch its first mainstream Mercedes-Benz EV in 2010 and will ramp up its electric vehicle production by 2012.

2010 Toyota Prius launched in Japan, is likely to come to India by end-2009

The new Toyota Prius has been launched in Japan - the Honda Insight had better watch out!

Toyota Motor Corp. has announced the launch of the 2010 Prius, in Japan. With this latest version of its trendsetting hybrid, Toyota aims to take back the ‘world’s best selling hybrid’ crown, which the Honda Insight has usurped of late. Indeed, according to Toyota, it already has more than 80,000 orders in hand for the new Prius!

According to a press release from the company, the new Prius’ Toyota Hybrid System II (THS II) has been almost completely redesigned and now delivers as much as 32.6km/l (as tested under the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism JC08 test cycle) in the fuel efficiency stakes. The Prius’ 1.8-litre petrol engine also provides, according to Toyota, engine performance that’s comparable to conventional petrol engines of up to 2.4-litres.

Between 1997 and 31st March 2009, Toyota has sold more than 1.25 million units of the Prius, worldwide. The car is currently sold in more than 40 countries and the new-generation Prius will be sold in more than 80 countries, including India. As Toyota makes a global push to popularise hybrid vehicles, it’s expected to bring the latest Prius to India by the end of this year.

In an interesting aside, noted automotive journalist Jeremy Clarkson, who recently tested the Honda Insight, called it ‘Biblically terrible,’ and added that the hybrid Honda is ‘possibly the worst new car money can buy.’ Somehow, we’re sure he’ll find the new Prius more effective when he gets to drive it later this year…!

TVS wins legal battle against Bajaj, is free to Flame

TVS is now free to produce and sell the Flame 125, with twin spark plugs

TVS, which had been fighting a legal battle against Bajaj, with regard to the latter’s contention that TVS had infringed Bajaj Auto’s patented technology, is now free to continue using that technology. The Madras High Court has dismissed Bajaj’s claim and has allowed TVS to produce and sell the Flame 125 motorcycle, where the engine’s cylinder head uses three valves and two spark plugs.

According to Bajaj, TVS had lifted the idea of using two spark plugs from Bajaj’s DTS-i range of bikes, which use Bajaj’s patented ‘digital twin spark’ technology. Bajaj had taken TVS to court over this issue and TVS had been asked to stop using this technology. Now, however, the company is again free to use twin spark plugs in its engines. Of course, whether Bajaj now chooses to take the battle to the Supreme Court remains to be seen.

Maruti Suzuki Swift could get 1.2-litre K12 petrol engine

Maruti Suzuki may soon drop the Swift's existing 1.3-litre petrol engine in favour of the new 1.2-litre K12 mill, which is almost as powerful, more fuel-efficient and BS IV compliant

According to dealer sources, Maruti may soon stop producing the Swift 1.3, which is fitted with Suzuki’s old 1.3-litre petrol engine. This engine started life as a carburetted mill and was fitted to the Esteem and the Gypsy, and later got fuel-injection for a power hike and lower emissions. A suitably modified version of the engine was also fitted to the Swift, when this car was launched in India a few years ago.

The Swift’s 1.3-litre petrol engine produces 86 horsepower and is not BS IV compliant. Maruti’s new 1.2-litre K12 engine, which is fitted to the Ritz, is BS IV compliant, produces 84 horsepower and is quite likely to be around 10% more fuel-efficient than the Swift’s 1.3-litre engine.

Given the above, it won’t be surprising if Maruti decides to do away with the old 1.3-litre engine and fit the new 1.2-litre petrol engine to the Swift. This will make the car fully compliant with the latest emissions norms, boost fuel efficiency and since the difference in power is minimal, drivability is not likely to suffer too much. In fact, Maruti is expected to launch the new Swift 1.2 petrol, which will also benefit from some cosmetic upgrades and revamped interiors, within the next 2 - 4 months. And since cars with engines of up to 1.2-litres get the benefit of lower excise duty, the new Swift is likely to cost marginally less or at the most the same as the existing Swift.

There is, of course, no official word yet from Maruti Suzuki on this, but we’ll keep you posted on further developments.

Apollo Tyres acquires Dutch tyre manufacturer, Vredestein Banden

Apollo Tyres has bought over Dutch tyre maker Vredestein Banden, which was a subsidiary of Amtel-Vredestein, Russia’s largest tyre manufacturer, which declared bankruptcy in April this year. Vredestein Banden logged revenues of around US$400 million last year and by acquiring this company, Apollo hopes to make significant inroads into the European tyre market.

‘We have acquired one of the most profitable tyre makers in Europe, and will get direct access to Vredestein’s large market in Europe,’ says Onkar S Kanwar, CMD, Apollo Tyres. Vredestein Banden’s (which may now be renamed as Apollo Vredestein) operations will be integrated with Apollo’s over the next few months and both companies will explore synergies in the areas of technology, sourcing, manufacturing and marketing.

With this acquisition, Apollo’s total tyre manufacturing capacity gets a boost to 16.8 million units per annum, while annual turnover will be increased to Rs 7,200 crore. The company has, in the meanwhile, postponed its plans to set up a greenfield tyre manufacturing facility in Hungary, primarily due to problems with land acquisition in that country.

Amtek Auto, Sumitomo sign JV agreement for crankshafts

The Delhi-based automotive components manufacturer, Amtek Auto has entered into a 50:50 joint venture agreement with Japanese company Sumitomo Metals, a part of the Sumitomo Corporation. Set up at an investment of Rs 100 crore, the JV will undertake the manufacturing and marketing of forged crankshafts for passenger car engines.

Amtek-Sumitomo will manufacture crankshafts at its new facility Daruhera, near Gurgaon. Fifty percent of the investment has been put up by Amtek, 40% by Sumitomo Metals and 10% by Sumitomo Corporation. Production is expected to start in July this year and initial installed capacity will be 800,000 units per annum.

With the new JV, Amtek hopes to consolidate its position as a market leader in the field of automotive engine crankshafts. For Sumitomo, with its world class crankshaft forging technology, this is a significant step towards establishing its presence in the Indian market.