he Yeti however failed to mark its presence Indian market, but Skoda has still decided to update the car.
The car is available in two variants in the international market - a standard 'City' version and a more beefy 'Outdoor' version. The 'Outdoor' version features bolder cues in its body cladding and scuff plates.

Skoda Yeti Outdoor was displayed at the 2014 Auto Expo and was seen testing in India, which paves its way to the Indian auto mart.

The front of the car comes with Skoda's new corporate look. It features wider grille, more angular headlights and a different front bumper. The new model comes with sharper looks than before, however it s distinctive glasshouse remains the same.

Skoda Yeti facelift adorns an electrically adjustable driver's seat, cruise control and even a rear view camera in some of its market. The interior of the car comes with a new three-spoke steering wheel and colour for the plastics.

Skoda Yeti facelift will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel in two states of tune - a 108bhp, front-wheel drive and a 138bhp all-wheel-drive version.

There has been no official announcement on the pricing yet however, it is expected to cost 7-8 percent more than the current version of Yeti.

Read Latest News from Auto News India

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Tata Motors bets on new sedan Zest to revive weak India sales

The car, called Zest, is a compact sedan built on a new platform and, in a departure from previous models, boasts user-friendly features such as touch-screen control panels.

Tata Motors' domestic business has posted losses in four of the last eight quarters and Ranjit Yadav, head of passenger vehicles, said the Zest was key to the automaker's revamped domestic strategy.

"The Zest is the first step and an important proof point of what we want to do with our passenger vehicle business," Yadav told Reuters. "We have taken some hard calls in the last 12 to 18 months to set right our fundamentals."

Tata Motors, India's biggest automaker by revenue, dominates the trucks and buses segment, but its passenger cars have failed to lure customers away from local rival Maruti Suzuki India Ltd and foreign competitors including Hyundai Motor Co and Honda Motor Co.

Tata's domestic car sales fell 39 per cent year-on-year in the year that ended on March 31 and its market share also dropped to 4.2 per cent at end-June from 10.2 per cent two years ago, industry data showed.

Lack of a product pipeline, an image that its cars are not cool because they are used as taxis and the legacy of its ultra-cheap Nano, perceived as a poor man's car, has put Tata Motors out of favour with buyers.

In the past, the automaker has relied on its trucks and buses, as well as on the strong sales at its luxury unit Jaguar Land Rover, to offset the weak performance at home.

But with trucks and buses sales declining as India's economy battles the longest spell of below 5 per cent growth in quarter of a century, Tata Motors has now shifted its focus to cars.

It also wants to capitalise on any improvement in the economy under the new government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, executives say. Car sales in India, expected to be the world's third-largest car market by 2018, are likely to rise this year after posting a decline for two consecutive years.

Investors, however, say it won't be easy for Tata Motors to convince buyers of the merits of its passenger cars after being largely absent from that market for so long.

"It will be more of a challenge for Tata because it is in very different segments," said Walter Rossini, a Milan-based portfolio manager for Gestielle India, which manages Indian stocks including Tata Motors shares. "For them it would help to focus more on their commercial vehicle business in India and luxury international business."

Some analysts said Tata has taken a well-calculated risk by launching a compact sedan because of the popularity of smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles. Deepesh Rathore, analyst at Emerging Markets Automotive Advisors, however, said the company still had to change its image, adding: "It will not happen in a hurry."

As part of its new strategy, Tata Motors plans to launch two new vehicles every year until 2020. The Zest will be followed by the Bolt hatchback later this year, said Yadav.

Read more Latest News from Auto News India

New Jaguar XE sedan to make global debut in September

The Jaguar XE will use a new grade of high strength aluminium called 'RC 5754', which has been developed specifically for the XE, the company said in a statement.
   
"This new alloy features a high level of recycled material and makes a significant contribution to Jaguar's goal of using 75 per cent recycled material by 2020," it said.
   
Commenting on the new product, Jaguar's Chief Technical Specialist Mark White said: "The Jaguar XE body uses over 75 per cent aluminium content, which far exceeds any other car in its class."
    
He further said: "We've made sure our aluminium-intensive body structure exceeds all global safety standards without compromising on vehicle design or refinement."
    
Designed and engineered in the UK, the Jaguar XE will be the first Jaguar to be manufactured at a new purpose-built production facility at the company's Solihull plant in the West Midlands in the UK.
   
"The world premiere of the new Jaguar XE will be held in London on September 8," the company added.
    
It further said the XE is projected to deliver fuel economy of less than 4 litres/100km on EU combined cycle.
   
JLR has been focussing on lightweight construction for its Jaguar brand. The Jaguar XJ, XK and F-Type have all been developed using aluminium structures. The XE becomes the latest model to use aerospace-inspired technology in cars.

Source: Auto Industry News

Honda launches MPV Mobilio

The car will be priced at Rs 6.83 lakh and 9.86 lakh for its petrol variant while its diesel version costs Rs 8.25 lakh to Rs 11.31 lakh.

Mobilio, which has already garner about 7,000 orders from when bookings opened in early July, is expected to push Honda to the third-largest domestic carmaker spot in the next few months, behind Maruti and Hyundai right now it is trailing close behind Mahindra & Mahindra.

Honda Cars India president and CEO Hironori Kanayama said, “The launch of Honda Mobilio follows the success of Honda Amaze and the new City, which led to our exceptional growth of 83 per cent in the previous financial year.”

The car is developed at the company’s R&D centres in Bangkok exclusively for the Asian markets, particularly Indonesia and India. During the fiscal 2013-14, Honda Cars India reported 83 percent increase in sales at 1,34,339 units as against 73,483 units during the previous year.

Honda India aims at selling 300,000 units annually by March 2017.

Mobilio is based on Honda’s latest Earth Dreams Technology, the 1.5 litre i-DTEC diesel engine which delivers a power of 100 ps at the rate of 3600 rpm, maximum torque of 200 Nm at the rate 1750 rpm and fuel economy of 24.2 kmpl as per test data. The 1.5 litre i-VTEC petrol engine delivers a maximum power of 119 ps at the rate of 6600 rpm, maximum torque of 145 Nm at the rate of 4600 rpm and fuel economy of 17.3 kmpl.

Jnaneswar Sen, Sr Vice-President (Marketing & Sales) said, “The company which currently has 170 dealerships across 107 cities hopes to take this number to 230 facilities in 150 cities by March 2015.”

The company hopes to open new dealerships in Bellary, Belgaum, Udupi, Shimoga and Gulbarga in a few months.

Source: Auto News

Bajaj to launch four-wheel vehicle but it's not a car

Weight, top speed and other specifications, including safety standards, mean the RE60 will not be classified as a car. But that didn't stop executives from top automakers such as Tata Motors from comparing it to a car and finding its safety features come up short.

Rajiv Bajaj, the company's managing director, insists the RE60 is neither a car nor an autorickshaw. The government is even creating a new classification category for the vehicle, which is expected to be launched within months.

"In every market that a three-wheeler is available the quadricycle should be relevant," Bajaj said.

"Because at the end of the day it provides a very logical upgrade from a three-wheeler for people who want to pay a little more and want to have the comfort and safety of four wheels, four doors, a roof and seatbelts," he said.

In India, autorickshaws typically have no doors and a soft roof. The vehicles are usually turned into taxis and known in many countries as tuk-tuks.

The RE60 is part of a long-term expansion strategy by Bajaj to boost sales growth at home and abroad.

The company is the world's largest autorickshaw maker and India's second largest motorcycle maker, and sales of both these vehicles have decelerated over the last two years, hit by falling demand in a slowing economy.

Bajaj's three-wheeler sales fell 6 percent in the 2012/13 financial year compared to a 17 percent increase in the previous year and a 28 percent rise in 2010/11.

Motorcycle sales also showed a similar trend: they fell 2 percent in 2012/13 compared to a 13.2 percent gain in 2011/12 and a 35 percent increase a year earlier.

Exports of motorbikes and autorickshaws account for more than a third of Bajaj's sales. The company counts Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, TVS Motor Company Ltd and Italy's Piaggio as competitors in the three-wheeler segment.

SAFER, BUT NOT CHEAPER

The RE60 weighs 400 kilograms (880 pounds), about 100 kg more than Bajaj's smallest autorickshaw and half as much as a small hatchback. The engine, which can run on gasoline or compressed natural gas, goes up to 70 kilometres per hour (about 40 miles per hour).

The vehicle is likely to be priced between an autorickshaw and a small car. Analysts expect the RE60 to cost 200,000 rupees, more than the roughly 150,000 rupees for the most basic Bajaj three-wheeler but less than the 270,000 rupees for India's bestselling car, the Maruti Alto hatchback.

Bajaj spent 5.5 billion rupees developing the vehicle, according to media reports. The company can initially make up to 5,000 vehicles a month and has been waiting for two years to get them on India's roads.

The federal government is expected to allow quadricycles from October 1.

Bajaj hopes the quadricycles will catch on in countries where three-wheelers are widespread, and has sent samples for test runs in Sri Lanka, Colombia and Kenya. Managing director Bajaj, however, declined to give any sales forecasts.

Analysts said quadricycles are likely to have broader appeal than the autorickshaws.

"Specifically, in cities in the next three to four years it could replace the three-wheeler, primarily because it provides better safety, as well as comfort as well as better fuel efficiency when compared to three-wheelers," said Nitesh Sharma, an analyst with brokerage Espirito Santo Securities.

(Agencies)

Source: Automobile News

Fujifilm X-E2 camera review

The X-E2, which is an upgrade to the Fujifilm X-E1, was announced across the world in October last year and it will be available in India in solid black and two-tone black and silver body.

The camera will be priced at Rs 76,999 for the body only and it will cost another Rs 1,09,999 along with the XF 18-55mm kit lens.

Fujifilm’s X-E2 is a mirror-less interchangeable lens camera which features a 16.3 MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor along with an autofocus time, which has been claimed to be at 0.08 seconds.

The camera’s sensor uses an original colour filter array along with a randomized pixel generator which removes the utility of an Optical Low Pass Filter (OLPF) which results in lessening of resolution.

The X-E2 also has the first Lens Modulation Optimizer (LMO) for ILCs, which basically uses Fujifilm’s knowledge of each lens’ characteristic to adjust the in-camera processing and sharpening in order to compensate for diffraction and lens aberrations.

The idea behind bringing this technology is to produce sharper JPEG images while shooting at the largest or even smallest aperture.

When it comes to handling, the Fujifilm X-E2 brings into application a fusion of manually adjusted aperture ring along with a shutter speed dial on the camera’s top.

The exposure compensation goes from +/- 3EV and the user can customize up to four buttons to his preferred functions. Besides, the X-E2 also sports a 2.36-million dot OLED viewfinder and has a 3-inch 1.04-million dot LCD screen.

This latest Fujifilm product has a startup time of 0.5 seconds and a minimal shutter lag of 0.05 seconds and high-speed continuous shooting of 7.0 FPS.

The X-E2 also sports the DSI technology which enables it to go for better manual focus better and gives the camera an ability to shoot 60 FPS 1080 p videos.

Focus Peaking Highlight, which highlights the outline in high contrast areas of the subject during focusing, provides further assistance to the user achieve better and finer sharp shots.

The camera also comes with a built-in Wi-Fi which allows the user to transfer images and one can also download the Fujifilm Camera App for iOS and Android to transfer up to 30 pictures at a time.

Coming at Rs 1,09,990 along with the kit lens, the Fujifilm X-E2 looks positioned clearly at enthusiasts and professionals.

JPN

Source: Latest Tech News

LML launches automatic scooter Star Euto 150 in India

Star Euro 150 measures 1760 mm in length, 695 mm in width and 820 mm in height along with a wheelbase of 1260 mm and a ground clearance of 160 mm.

The scooter has been given a retro styling fused with a modern touch. The company has retained the design tones from the scooters manufactured in 80s combined with a modern and functional layout.

LML has also given ample attention towards the scooter’s extensive chrome detailing that includes rear view mirrors on front facia, which lends it a premium look and retains the contemporary design at the same time.

Talking about the instrument cluster zone, it retains a retro appeal but is loaded with modern features like economy and power modes.

Star Euro 150 has a 150.82 cc single-cylinder, four-stroke, vertical engine, which can generate 9.38 horse power (HP) of power at 8200 rotation per minute (RPM) and is mated to a CVT gearbox.

The scooter weighs 112 kgs and it can be cruised at a maximum speed of 90 km per hour.

Apart from all these, LML has used a semi monocoque structure which has been pressed sheet metal in front and tubular frame in the rear in the Star Euro 150.

The front and rear suspension are equipped with hydraulic dampers and helical springs and the scooter can be stopped via a drum brake setup at the front and rear.

A front disc brake has also been provided as an option.

The Star Euro 150 has a 7-litre fuel tank and if it delivers the claimed fuel efficiency of 55 km per litre, the scooter can run 385 kms.

Additional features of the LML Star Euro 150 include a body coloured grab rail, front glove compartment, engine kill switch and auto start function.

The company is offering the Euro Star 150 in seven shades like black gold, cipria red, éclair brown, glicine blue, lilac blue (purple), multi-shade and pearl white.

JPN

Source : Automobile News

Rolls-Royce introduces Ghost-V specification in India

This all-new version of Rolls Royce car surpasses the company’s 6.6-litre V12 engine which dishes out 30 BHP more.

"This limited series celebrates one of Ghost's defining characteristics; the exquisite 6.6 litre Rolls Royce V12 engine," said Torsten Muller-Otvos, chief executive, Rolls Royce Motor Cars.

"Since its introduction in 2009, an extraordinary marriage of assured presence and remarkable driving dynamics has endeared Ghost to a new generation of highly discerning businessmen and women, ensuring the car's position as the statement of choice for a growing band of successful entrepreneurs around the world," Torsten Muller-Otvos said.

The car’s power enables it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km per hour in just 4.9 seconds, with 80 percent of power available from idle.

The V-Specification cars finish the exterior paint-scheme whilst customers can either choose from five specially selected exterior colours or also from the company's 44,000 hue palette.

The V-Specification version has been designed around the car's handcrafted interior through engraving to the treadplates, embroidery to the rear armrest and hand-worked steel inlays to the front multimedia screen lid.

The car’s interior has been given a classic look with an exclusively designed clock with a black crown, which surrounds the face.

The Ghost and the Ghost extended wheelbase are the most successful models in India till date and launching them in the V-Specification series underlines the importance of India as a car market for Rolls Royce.

JPN

Source: Latest Auto News

Toyota recalls 260,000 cars in US

The recall affects Toyota Tacomas and Lexus RX350s for the model years 2012 and 2013, and 2012 Rav4s, according to a report by the US National Transportation Safety Board.
   
The report said an electrical component of the brake actuator in the brake system of the vehicles could malfunction, turning on warning lights for the stability control, braking and traction control systems.

"If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative... increasing the risk of a crash," the report said.

On Wednesday Toyota announced in Japan the recall of 1.9 million Prius hybrid cars after the discovery of problems with software used to control a power converter. It said they posed a risk to drivers.

(Agencies)

Source: Automobile News

Auto Expo 2014: Top ten cars that stole the show

The 12th Indian Auto Expo witnessed 70 launches, out of which 26 were international variants. A total of 5.61 lakh people visited the show, with 90,000 attending on the last day. On the other hand, previous edition of the expo held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, managed to attract only seven lakh people.

Unlike in the past, the week-long show was split into two parts due to space constraints, with the motor show at Greater Noida and the auto components exhibition at Pragati Maidan.

Celerio: Aimed at strengthening its position in the compact car segment, the country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) launched 'Celerio', priced between Rs 3.9-4.96 lakh lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Celerio Auto Gear Shift variants will have the flexibility of both manual mode and auto drive mode in the same car, with a simple shift of gear lever. The Celerio will offer a fuel efficiency of 23.1 km per litre.

Etios Cross: Automobile giant Toyota Kirloskar Motor has unveiled its first crossover - 'New Etios Cross' on Thursday, mainly targetting young customers. Available in 1.5 and 1.2 litre petrol engines and a 1.4 litre diesel engine, the crossover would be launched in May this year but the company has already started taking bookings.The price of the model, which has the design appeal of an SUV, will be revealed in May.

Tata Bolt: Tata is pinning its hopes for now on the all-new Bolt hatchback to tap into the small car market that accounts for the bulk of passenger vehicle sales in India. The vehicle is likely to be priced around Rs 4.7 lakh. Small cars are top sellers in a country where most people prefer to drive cheaper, fuel-efficient compact cars as roads are clogged with traffic and parking in big cities is hard to come by.

Ciaz: Maruti Suzuki India has unveiled concept sedan Ciaz as it looks to enhance its position in the bigger sedan segment going forward. The concept Ciaz as and when it hits the market will compete with the likes of Honda City and Hyundai Verna in the C segment sedans.

Nexon: Tata Motors has unveiled a concept compact sports utility vehicle Nexon, giving a glimpse of its future direction in terms of technologies, as it bids to make up lost ground in passenger vehicles market. The concept Nexon is a modern compact SUV, with fresh design and new generation human machine interface technology.

Mobilio: Honda Cars India Ltd has unveiled its mid size multi-purpose vehicle 'Honda Mobilio'. Honda Mobilio has been developed exclusively for the Asian markets. The price of the vehicle was not revealed by the company.

Audi A3 sedan: Audi, which unveiled its much-awaited sedan A3 in the country, said it will be formally launched in the domestic market by mid-2014. The Audi A3 is expected to be its cheapest sedan. However, the company declined to give any price range for the new vehicle. At present, the Q3 S is the cheapest Audi available at Rs 24.99 lakh.

Linea: Fiat Group Automobiles India has unveiled a new version of sedan Linea. It also launched a new version of Linea with improved features, which will hit Indian roads in March this year. Fiat will assemble this vehicle at its Ranjangaon facility in Pune.

Xcent: Hyundai has unveiled its new sub four metre sedan - Xcent that will compete with Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze and the upcoming offerings from Tata and Ford. The Xcent sedan is based on Hyundai's latest offering, the Grand i10 hatchback.

Corolla Altis: Toyota Kirloskar Motor has unveiled a new version of its Corolla Altis, which is equipped with advanced features and a fresh design. The price of the current model starts at about Rs 11 lakh.

The new model has advanced exteriors and interiors, new alloy wheels, push start/stop button and rear reclining seats with more leg space, he said.

Raghav Jaitly/with agency inputs

Source: Automobile News

Maruti Suzuki India stops production of iconic Maruti 800 model

CV Raman, the executive director of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, said though the car’s production has stopped, spare parts will be available for customers for the next 8-10 years as per rules. The car may not be available in newer version unlike other Maruti Suzuki India Ltd brands.

   

“Now on the 18th of January, we have stopped the M-800 production completely. We have to continuously meet the customer requirements. That is our duty to make sure that they get all the parts,” Raman told reporters in Hyderabad on the sidelines of launch of its new hatchback Celerio.

   

Maruti Suzuki Ltd has stopped selling Maruti-800, which has revolutionized Indian Auto industry in 13 cities including Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kanpur and Pune since April 2010.

“Our policy is 8 to 10 years we have to keep (the spares available). For all the models, which have been phased out till date, we have followed this policy,” Raman added.

   

Maruti Suzuki Ltd redesigned most of its top selling brands such as Alto, WagonR and Swift in redesigned version. The car, which was priced at around Rs 50,000 when launched in early 80s, is now available over Rs 2.35 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), according to Maruti-800 official website.

   

“There could be some stock of M-800 at the dealer level and I don't know the exact number," Raman said.

To a query on the Global NCAP report, he said the test done by UK-based organization was at 64 kmph, which is at much higher speed than even the regulation in Europe.

   

“In India, we have a certain regulation today. All the vehicles that sell in India meet the Indian norms," he said.

Some of the most popular small cars sold in India, including Maruti Alto 800, Tata Nano, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen Polo, have failed crash tests putting occupants at a high risk of life-threatening injuries in road accidents, according to UK-based Global NCAP.

(Agencies)

Source: Automobile News

Mahindra unveils electric sports car Halo

The company said depending on the support from the Indian government for electric vehicle, Halo will be introduced in the country but it could very well hit overseas markets first.    

"There is a plan to commercialize Halo, we are working on a bigger power train and a final design. It will take about three years to be production ready," Mahindra & Mahindra Executive Director and President (Automotive and Farm Equipment sectors) Pawan Goenka told reporters here at the Auto Expo.

   

He, however, said the car could hit overseas markets first.

   

"It may very well turn out that the market for the car may be outside India...unless there is government support for electric vehicles, the car could be launched outside India first," Goenka said.

   

According to the company, Halo can touch a speed of 0-100 kmph in less than 8 seconds. It has a top speed of 160 kmph with a range of 200 km on full recharge.    

"This car has been fully designed and developed in India with all indigenous technology," Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicle CEO Chetan Maini said.

   

The company also introduced a quick recharge variant of its existing electric car e20, equipped with smart port technology.

   

The car can be fully recharged in one hour, while a recharge of 15 minutes will give a range of 25 km. On the two-wheeler front, M&M unveiled its 300 cc bike Mojo and the new disc brake variant of the Centuro motorcycle. M&M President (Two Wheeler segment) Anoop Mathur said Mojo is currently undergoing validation and could hit the market this calendar year.

   

The company did not announce the prices of the two bikes. In the commercial vehicles (CV) segment, the company displayed two new models in the heavy CV category.

   

When asked by when the company expected the loss making CV venture to be profitable, Goenka said: "Right now the CV industry is suffering from a prolonged downturn. All the manufacturers are making losses. We see it recovering only after the next six months. Right now we are focusing on strengthening our product portfolio and hopefully we will break even in the next one year."

(Agencies)

Source: Automobile News

Hero MotoCorp unveils two new 100 cc bikes

Besides, the company also showcased a 620 cc super premium motorbike 'Hastur' and two concept bikes 'SimplEcity' and 'iON'.

   

"The two bikes (Splendor and Passion) are ready to be launched commercially. Hastur, which will mark our foray into the superbike segment, needs more research before launch," Hero MotoCorp Managing Director and CEO Pawan Munjal told reporters here.

   

Talking about the concept bikes, Munjal said, "They are destined for the future."

   

He added that the market has been slow but the company has done well and posted growth.

   

"By the second half of this calender year, growth should be back," Munjal said.

   

Last week, the company had unveiled a 150 cc diesel concept scooter and four other models, including a hybrid scooter. Barring the 150 cc diesel model RNT, the company plans to launch all other four models in the next fiscal.

(Agencies)

Source: Automobile News

Nissan rolls out 'Datsun GO' from Chennai plant

The entry level car, under the popular Datsun brand, is aimed at tapping the first-time car buyers. The company is reviving Datsun brand after almost three decades and the car is expected to hit Indian roads later this year. It is tipped to be priced below Rs 4 lakh.

   

The first car was launched by State Industries Minister P Thangamani in the presence of top officials of the Company, including Nissan Motor Vice-Chairman Toshiyuki Shiga, Corporate Vice-President and Global Head-Datsun Vincent Cobee and Consul General of Japan Masanari Nakano and others.

   

"This is a landmark day for all of us at Nissan Motor Corporation," Shiga said.

   

"This is only the beginning. Following the sales launch of Datsun Go in March, we plan to expand the product range. Datsun will account for 50 per cent of sales for Nissan Motor Corporation in India," he said after unveiling the car.

   

Cobee said, "This moment is a four years of hard work. We will showcase various colours of Datsun at AutoExpo in New Delhi on Monday. We will also show a glimpse of Datsun Concept car at the AutoExpo."

   

State Industries Minister Thangamani congratulated Nissan for the car launch and said the government would extend all the support to the automaker.

(Agencies)

Source: Automobile News

More competition in compact sedan segment; Tata, Ford in fray

Tata Motors introduced its compact sedan Zest, along with its Bolt hatchback, ahead of the Auto Expo to be held from February 5 to 11. Ford made the global unveiling of its Figo Concept, which will be its first compact sedan offering in India.

   

The new entrants will take on Dzire from Maruti Suzuki and Amaze from Honda, which are priced between Rs 5.69 lakh and Rs 7.77 lakh.

   

Compact car sales in India are expected to grow from about a million units last year to roughly 2 million units in 2018, according to newly appointed Ford India President Nigel Harris.

   

"After the success we had with the Figo and Ecosport, we needed to come up with another strong product, which is what we are doing with Figo Concept," he said.

While he did not reveal when the car would be available, Harris said, "It is closer to production and we are not several years away."

   

Consumers are more demanding than ever, wanting and expecting more from their cars, even if they are first-time buyers, Ford Motor Company Global Product Development Vice President of Engineering Kumar Galhotra said.

   

"With the Figo Concept, we are showing that choosing a compact sedan does not mean compromising on premium design or smart solutions," Galhotra said.

   

Tata Motors is pinning its hopes on the Zest, which will be available in both petrol and diesel versions, along with the Bolt, which will come only with petrol engine.

   

The diesel variant of Zest will be powered by a 1.3 litre engine. The company will start selling these new cars by the second half of the year, Tata Motors President Passenger Vehicles Ranjt Yadav said. These will add to the existing line up of Indica and Indigo.

   

"The journey has just started and with these two new vehicles we would like to increase our market share," Yadav said, adding there are no plans to phase out Indica and Indigo.

   

Zest will be the second product in the sub-four metre compact car segment, after the Indigo CS.

   

Adding to the competition will be the compact sedan version of Hyundai's Grand i10, which the company will unveil tomorrow.

   

According to sources in Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the car will be launched around March.

(Agencies)

Source: Automobile News

2014 : Upcoming bikes

Bajaj Pulsar 375 is the most anticipated motorcycle from Bajaj this financial year. This fully-faired motorcycle is expected to be a sports tourer rather than a super sport motorcycle. The Pulsar 375 is will be powered by a 373cc single cylinder liquid-cooled engine. This engine will produce peak power of 44bhp at 9000rpm and torque of 32Nm at 7250 rpm. It is mated to a six-speed gearbox. In short the Pulsar 375 threatens to redefine biking on Indian streets, as the original Pulsar did a decade ago.

Yamaha R25, a 250cc bike which was the star attraction at the Tokyo Motor Show last year, is likely to be launched in India this year. However, Yamaha Motor India officials remain tightlipped about its launch. The 250cc bike is larger and sleeker than its R15 version available in India.

RC 390 will share the same specifications as of the newly launched Duke 390 as RC models are built on the same underlying platform as the Dukes. The RC 390 will be based on the flagship RC8 superbike. Being a fully faired bike we expect it to provide better comfort at high speeds and ride-ability than the DUKE 390 but priced a bit higher.

With the recent crop of 250 cc bikes but all being in the sports bike territory, Hyosung motors and DSK decide to bring a budget cruiser the Hyosung GV250 into the market. Priced between Rs 2.5-3 lakhs it will crucially fill that space and get the first mover advantage. The GV 250 is a purely made for cruising and based on a sudden affection for cruisers all over India we feel that the GV250 will be a fruitful venture.

Aprilia RS4 250 is said to feature a fuel injected, single-cylinder, 4 valve engine with liquid-cooling providing power of about 30 bhp. It has also been reported that this bike will make use of front USD forks and fully adjustable rear mono shocks to compete with other bikes like the KTM 200, Pulsar 200 NS and Honda CBR 250 R etc.
(JPN)

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Maruti Suzuki gives new look to Swift

The revamped model of Swift dons LED daytime running lights mounted into the fog lamps. It also sports a new look front bumper and the LED part continues to come along with the stop lamp, which is placed at the rear.

When it comes to upgradation in exteriors, the top variants get 16-inch alloy wheels and a dash of Blue Boost Pearl metallic colour across the body.

The interiors, however, retain more or less the same look and feel apart from the new upholstery for the seats. Besides, some of the latest features which have been incorporated are Auto-Up one touch function on the driver’s side power window, electronically adjustable side mirrors, automatic headlamps and several others.

The hatchback also remains unchanged with the same engine specifications - a 1.2-liter petrol and 1.3-liter multi-jet engine.

It’s being said that the latest version of the Swift has been designed and developed mainly in order to fit in to the existing conditions in the Indian automobile market. The new Swift will be competing against other popular hatchbacks like Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo and Fiat Punto.

JPN

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