Thursday, July 30, 2009

Maruti SX4 Prices in India

Maruti SX4 Price

Rs 646,126* - Rs 747,651*

Maruti SX4 Description :

With a 16V DOHC type engine the Maruti SX4 possess four cylinders with 16 valves with a piston displacement of 1586cc. The car is capable of delivering a maximum power output of 102 bhp at the rate of 5500rpm. Moreover the car can deliver a maximum torque of 145Nm at the rate of 4200rpm. Maruti SX4 offers a five speed manual transmission.
Considering the chassis of the car we have a EPS type steering and brakes of ventilated disc in the front and drum type at the back. With a sitting capacity of five people along with a 50 litres fuel tank capacity this car is highly capacitive.
Considering the features of Maruti SX4 we have some comfort providing features like manual AC, single zone auto AC, heater, front door and front back seat pockets, center room lamp etc. Interiors of the car are provided with day/night rear view mirror, passenger vanity mirror, driver's ticket holder, accent rear and front door trims. With the instrumental panel of the car are added features like techometer, speedometer with illumination control, switch illumination color, information display (temp, clock), head light levelling, integrated stereo and a stereo remote.
Exterior fo the car include tubeless tyres, alloy wheels, full wheel cover, body colored bumpers, body colored side moulding, body colored outside door handle, high mount stop lamp, front fog lamps and rear fog lamps. Considering thesafety the car is added with airbags for the driver and passanger, 3 point rear seats belt and two lamp belts, rear door of the car is child lock, front seat belts are height adjustable, side impact protection beam and iCATS all being available in the standard quality and variation.


A Maruti SX4 with genuine body kit


Presently Maruti SX4 is available in two variants viz., Vxi and Zxi. The two different car variant are available in seven different color varieties.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Audi A4 Price

Audi A4

Audi A4 Price

Rs 2,900,000* - Rs 3,600,000*

Audi A4 Review

A hugely entertaining luxury sedan that is good at everything but one - interior space. A bit cramped for a luxury offering. Subtle yet aggressive styling makes sure it stands apart in a crowd world class laxoury car.

The Audi A4 was originally introduced in 1994 as the A4 saloon model, a 4 door passenger sedan. One year later, consumer demand and the popularity of a more cargo conscious vehicle prompted the introduction of the Audi A4 Avan' and the wagon version of the popular vehicle was introduced in 1995. Throughout the years between the introduction of the vehicle in 1995 and the 2007 model year, proficient German engineering has been the driving force of the A4, whether in sedan, wagon or convertible form. Available in Sedan, Convertible and Station Wagon flavors.A4 is relection of dashing stereotypical style pattern of Audi.It competes most effectively in the compact luxury segment, where the A4 goes up against the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class. Besides all-wheel drive, Audis are noted for their understated design and well-tailored interiors.The A4 sedan can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive; front-wheel-drive versions come with either a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT), while "quattro" all-wheel-drive versions come with either the manual or a six-speed Tiptronic automatic. The popular A4 accounts for over half of all Audis sold today.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Maruti RITZ – Specifications Features Price and Review

Its been a long time since Maruti Displayed its car Splash aka RITZ in Auto Expo 2008. The wait has been long, but finally the car is being launched on 15 May 2009. The Maruti Ritz aka splash is the production version of Maruti Splash prototype displayed at Auto Expo 2008 in Pragati Maidan, Delhi

maruti ritz (4) maruti ritz

maruti ritz (2)

Maruti RITZ Specifications:

Martui Ritz will be available in three engine options, 1.0 L Petrol, 1.2 L Petrol and 1.3 L diesel.

Maruti Ritz 1.0 Petrol :

This will be a 1000 CC petrol engine of Suzuki K series with a power output of 65 BHP. This is somewhat similar to the engine used by Maruti Suzuki A-star. This variant is expected to give a good mileage in city driving conditions.

Maruti Ritz 1.2 Petrol :

This variant will have a 1200 CC petrol engine of Suzuki K-series with a power output of 85 BHP. This engine is similar to the engine used by Maruti Suzuki swift. This variant is expected to give a moderate mileage with good power output for car enthusiasts.

Maruti Ritz 1.3 Diesel :

This variant will have a 1300 CC multi-jet diesel engine with Fiat’s technology. The power output of this engine will be about 75 BHP. This engine is similar to the engine used by Maruti Suzuki swift DDIS. This variant is expected to give a good moderate mileage with good power output in City Driving conditions. The price of this model is expected to be the highest among the three variants.

Maruti Ritz Features:

Maruti Ritz features great styling, macho looks, luxurious interiors, nice head room and leg room. Power Steering, Air-conditioning and Heating, body colored bumpers are expect to be the standard fitments of all variants.

maruti ritz red

maruti ritz interiors

It will have spacious and comfortable seats, nice plush dashboard with SX4 like styling. On the inside, the passenger gets a feel of a sitting inside big luxury car. The styling will pose a competition to Hyundai i10 and i20 segment. The competition is likely to be more intense when Hyundai will launch i20 diesel variant later this year. Maruti Ritz is the closest competitor to Hyundai i10 and i 20 segment.

The top end variants will feature steering mounted controls, ABS, Air-bags, alloy wheels, leather upholstery and other such luxury features.

Maruti Ritz Looks:

The looks of Maruti Ritz aka Maruti Splash is pretty macho on the exterior. It is a tall-body design but with graceful curves and muscular styling. Large crystal headlights and grill give a nice facelift and style statement to Ritz. The tail lights are also tall and rise vertically towards the roof giving it a unique styling in its class. The height looks good and sitting position at this height must be comfortable. On the interior, the feel is going to be luxurious and comfortable. The quality of the interiors is expected to be good and the dashboard and seats are finely designed. The gear-knob placement is similar to that of Hyundai i10, AC knobs and vents are large and well placed. The tachometer is placed on the upper side of dashboard, giving a sporty look and feel. The inside door handles are of good quality and design.

All in all, the looks of Maruti Ritz are impressive.

Maruti Ritz Price:

The pricing of the Maruti Ritz will be between 4 and 5.5 Lakh rupees. The final prices are to announced on 15 May 2009 by Maruti, I will update this section as soon as the official prices are declared. Stay tuned for more updates on Maruti Ritz.

VIA

Monday, July 27, 2009

New Toyota Camry in India Next Week

Toyota Camry

In the last few years, Toyota has managed to introduce an interesting array of cars in India.
Last year, the Japanese automaker also launched the new Corolla Altis. They are even planning to get their small car here. There were speculations of a new Camry also but it was not confirmed.
Now the PTI is reporting that the new Toyota Camry is expected to be launched in India by next week. The new variant of the luxury sedan by the world’s largest carmaker is expected to be rolled with some alternations in its looks. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has been worried about the sales of the car as it went down by more than seventy-five percent in the April to June period.

The new Toyota Camry is expected to have more features. Expect stuff such as new headlamps, rear view mirrors that have indicators, new front grille and fog lights. TKM hopes that these features will attract car buyers who are looking to buy a luxury car
. The automaker has lost a substantial amount of customers to Czech carmaker SkodaAuto, who sells Superb in that segment.

The present version of the Toyota Camry falls in the price range of Rs 20.97 lakh and Rs 22.58 lakh. It features a 2.4 litre engine. However, a Skoda Superb with a 1.8 litre engine just costs Rs 18.89 lakh. There is no info on the prices of the new Camry. But after launching the Camry, the automaker will introduce the Fortuner SUV for Rs. 20 lakhs in India by September 2009.

Toyota Camry Facelift

Toyota Camry Facelift

Toyota Camry Facelift

Toyota Camry Facelift

Toyota Camry Facelift

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Tata Indica Vista Twin Win Offer

Tata Indica Vista
Tata Indica Vista
Tata Motors has relaunched its amazing Twin-Win offer in India. All you need to do is to test drive the new Indica Vista at any of the Tata Motors showrooms. Take a test drive and you can walk away with amazing gifts. If you still plan to buy competitor’s car, the company gives you Rs. 1000.

However, if you go ahead with buying Indica Vista, the company offers you additional cash benefits of up to Rs. 10,000 on your purchase. Apart from these assured gifts, Tata Motors also offers a gift scratch card with gifts up to Rs. 1 lakh.

Finally, there is a 1 Rs. insurance scheme as well!

Tata Motors also offers twin offer with your car purchase by offering bonus of up to Rs. 10,000 on exchange of your old car through Tata Motors Assured dealers. You can log on to the Indica Vista website for more details and place a test drive request as well.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Maruti launches CNG kit for Alto car in India

Maruti
Car giant Maruti has launched CNG kit for Alto car in India. The kit priced at Rs 43545 is sure to further reduce the cost of driving of the largest selling car in the country.
Launched eight years ago, the Alto has displaced the M800 as Maruti's flagship company in the domestic market. Moreover, this model is also exported to other countries including Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Greece, Austria, Ireland, the UK, France, Italy and Sweden and now it plans to start exporting it to new markets like Denmark, Hungary and Portugal. So far it has exported nearly 2 lakh Altos. During FY 2007-08, Maruti sold sold 227,170 units in the domestic market.

Alto sales have actually picked up very fast over the last 24-30 months. While Maruti only sold around 500,000 units of the Alto within the first six years of the car's launch, it has sold around the same number over the last two years.

MSI had launched the Alto in September 2000, with two variants. Currently it sells three variants (Base model, LX, Lxi) in the domestic market. It is powered by a 796 cc gasoline engine with 3 cylinder, 4 valves per cylinder MPFI engine with 32bit Engine Control Module (ECM)


"Alto has emerged as the most preferred car in India for its driveability, superior mileage, low ownership cost and overall reliability. We are confident that the Alto with a CNG option makes this car even more attractive for customers," Maruti Suzuki Chief General Manager Shashank Srivastava said.

New Skoda Superb previewed at the Autocar Performance show




The new Skoda Superb was unveiled at the Autocar Performance Show but will reach showrooms only in February 2009.

Prices will start at Rs 20 lakh for the base petrol model, going up to Rs 25 lakh for the full-fat petrol.

Thomas Kuehl, Board Member of Skoda India, said: “We will bring an exciting range of engines: a 1.8-litre, 160bhp TSI petrol, a 2.0-litre diesel with 140bhp, and a new 3.6-litre V6 petrol with 260bhp.”
The V6 however, will be launched a few months after the 1.8 petrol and 2.0-litre diesel versions.

Its trump card is the limo-like space that few can hope to match. The Superb will prove to be the biggest threat to Group stable-mate the Volkswagen Passat.

Testing Hyundai i30


Hyundai i30 review

The 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder engine is remarkably
flexible, delivering good acceleration while
still remaining frugal, drinking 7.2L/100km

Hyundai i30 review

Hyundai's i30 is one of the Korean company's
best looking vehicles to date - a classy design

Hyundai i30 review

The interior presents very well, is functional,
and features some clever additions, like USB

You've got the nod from the bank manager and you've decided to see what's on offer in the small car market. There's more European-influenced designs than you can shake a gear stick at, drive away deals, free petrol offers and all sorts of the other enticements.

Make no mistake - small cars are big business.

The big names are likely to find their way onto your shortlist - Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Ford Focus, Mitsubishi Lancer, Holden Astra. All of them are quality cars with smooth looks and rich heritages.

One of the interesting things about a fashionable looking car is that it makes you want to drive it. And the opposite can be said for ugly cars too. Thankfully Hyundai has crafted what is arguably its best looking small car to date, and it feels well built when you ease yourself in, the doors shutting with a satisfying thud.

It's got all the safety and comfort features you'd expect of an imported European car, with airbags, ESP, CD stereo, climate control, USB jack and more, only without the $30k+ price tag. You can read more about these features further down in the Interior explanation.

The SR model Hyundai i30 we are testing here is the sporty range-topper, the variant that got protein power a gym membership, yet is powered by the same 2.0-litre petrol engine as the other cars in the range. This bodes well for the entire i30 range because the driveline is uniformly smooth.

Though the engine is no technological trend-setter, it is smooth and flexible and I as inadvertently found out it'll spin the front wheels without too much provocation. Our model was fitted with a 5-speed manual which gives the car an impressive turn of speed and the driver plenty of control.

I must say I stalled it a couple of times to begin with, but this is no reflection of the gearbox or the clutch, which are both accomplished devices (I'd just dropped off a Holden V8 ute with a very different clutch feel). Indeed, the gearbox is a very smooth shifter - there's nary a notch to be felt as you guide the lever from first through fifth gear, and it allows for quick shifts too.

With 105kW of power at six grand, and an eagerness to rev even higher and without getting raspy, the 4-cylinder petrol engine is finally able to match it's rivals head on. The Corolla, Focus, and it's other rivals no longer have the refinement or poweradvantage they once had over Hyundai.

The car's improved powertrain allows it to easily navigate its way through the heaving peak hour crush, while the rear view mirror and the side mirrors provide good levels of rearward vision. The seating position is generally pretty good and combined with a tidy 4.24 metre length and a 1.77m width and short overhangs (not to mention responsive steering),parking it is not at all scary.

Out on the highway the Hyundai i30 will trundle along nicely, the engine speed sitting on 2600rpm in 5th gear at 100km/h, which is quite economical.

We handed the keys back to Hyundai with a final reading of 7.6L/100km, after covering 396km. We didn't even use a full tank of fuel, and the trip computer claimed we still had 180km of fuel left. Not bad that, for a 53 litre tank.

The small car responds well to steering input, with a precise steering feel that isn't too light. A lot of new cars these days feel over assisted and the steering is much too light in my opinion. This can lead to reduced steering feedback and disconnects you from the road somewhat.

There's a bit of weight and resistance to the steering which is refreshing in a small car which provides for a more rewarding driving experience when you find a good stretch of winding road. The heavier steering can be attributed to the MDPS (Motor Driven Power Steering), which is different to traditional hydraulic power steering units, yet is still engine and road speed-sensitive.

There's no vagueness in the steering feel that used to be a Hyundai hallmark, and there's also audio and cruise control buttons on the steering wheel which are nice touches.

The Hyundai i30 SR is the model most suited to enthusiastic driving because it's fitted with large 17-inch alloy wheels shod with wide 225/45 aspect ratio tyres. It maintains good traction as a result of the tyres, and the suspension system (MacPherson front struts and an independent 'Torsion Blade' multi-link rear) helps keeps body roll to a relative minimum, allowing you to concentrate on tracking through corners.

I did notice a bit of jounce when riding over mid-corner bumps and potholes, but it's not terminal and is probably accentuated by the car's light weight rather than its suspension. It'll understeer if pushed hard, but has a fairly neutral feel through all but the tightest corners.

On straight roads and during everyday driving the ride is smooth for the most part too. I don't think it's chassis is quite as accomplished as the Ford Focus, but it's up there with the new Mitsubishi Lancer for dynamics and can belt through corners relatively quickly when you keep the engine singing above 5000rpm.

The anchors are fairly touchy but this is no bad thing; touchy brakes are better than soggy ones. There's good feel through the brake pedal when you need to mash it hard as the fool in front of you decides to take a physically demanding phone call in an 80km/h zone (I yelled and possibly swore at him to pull over and he just grimaced at me - clearly I was overreacting to a potentially fatal collision).

Stopping power is considerable too, and this is helped by a fairly low kerb weight of just over 1360kg, and nicely sized disc brakes: 280mm fronts, 262mm rears.

Overall, I reckon that Hyundai's jazzy new i30 is a very cool customer, a clean operating machine. There's a real sense of effortlessness about driving it, but you don't feel detached either. The gear changes are light and seamless, the steering is well weighted and reactive to road speed, and with ample of poke from the engine the car motivates well.

There's nothing inherently wrong with the way the car drives and though it doesn't have as much character as some of its rivals, it's a huge improvement on Hyundais of yore.

Engine: 4/5

Efficiency and power. Must be a Honda right?

It's a Hyundai actually, and an impressive piece of engineering. Nicknamed the 'Beta' engine, it may not be the best motor in its class, but it's very easy to live with. There's precious little harshness when the engine revs out (which was surprising) and it's not too noisy. Best of all it's got a good environmental record, with low CO2 emissions and good fuel economy.

The fuel-injected 4-cylinder engine provides the car with a good deal of acceleration in the lower gears and only bogs down if you stuff up your gear change, like when you miss a gear and hit 4th instead of 2nd.

Reading the spec sheet of a new car, in this instance 105kW and 186Nm, doesn't mean much these days. Everyone's got variable valve this and twin cam that, to the point where the real world test is the most authoritative way to gauge a cars performance.

On the street the car feels every bit a 105kW buzz box, getting its power to the front wheels via the 5-speed manual very effectively. There's enough power there to override the considerable tyre grip, but the ESP and traction control systems regulate the power delivery so that the wheels rarely miss a beat (though you can turn it off).

Hyundai claims the 2.0-litre petrol engine in the i30 returns fuel economy of 7.2L/100km on the combined city and highway cycle, and we recorded 7.6L/100km which is still pretty good. This involved about 40 per cent highway driving, 20 per cent city driving and commuting, and the rest pedal-to-the-metal driving along twisty roads to test the chassis.

All told, that's a very impressive fuel economy figure.

Exterior: 3.5/5

When I picked up the Hyundai i30 SR I was somewhat surprised with what I saw: a stylish design with an overt European influence. Granted, we're testing the range-topping SR sports model complete with the big wheels and a drop body kit to make it look even cooler, but that doesn't take anything away from the car's overall shape.

Apart from the slightly over-developed headlights (the extended trailing edge irks me), the Hyundai i30 looks good in my opinion.

How's this: on the Saturday I picked up the car a random bloke driving a Holden Crewman stuck his neck out the window to comment on the car, which had me momentarily speechless. "Nice looking car mate. What is it?" Err, thanks man. It's an i30, a new Hyundai.

I half thought he was mocking me, but catching a glimpse of the car reflected in the windows of a Melbourne City department store showed that the i30 does in fact cut a sharp figure.

For mine the wheels go a long way to sealing the deal - five spokers with subtle chrome gloss accents - but as mentioned the overall body shape is easy on the eye. It's unashamedly European, with smooth flowing lines and nothing too radical or try-hard to offend the eye.

From the side view the window line kicks upwards towards the rear and this lends the car a sophisticated style, while the rear end has a passing resemblance to a BMW 1 Series.

The front end has a modern look about it, with a stylised grille and a good sized front air dam below that. There's also fancy projector beams housed in the headlight clusters either side of the grille. I'm no great fan about the extended trailing edge of the headlight design that wraps around into the front quarter panels, but in hindsight I think that without that little 'kick' the front end would too closely resemble a Toyota Corolla.

Interior: 4/5

One of the most impressive elements of the new Hyundai i30 is the interior. It looks good, it feels good, it's functional and it's roomy. It has a modern look and feel and I was initially incredulous: this can't be a Korean car, can it?

Starting with the drivers view, the instrument display shows two large dials - speedo and tacho/rev meter - which are fairly plane Jane, but very legible thanks to a bold font. At night they glow blue, giving the cabin a funky, almost futuristic ambiance. Between the two main instrument dials is a rectangular LCD display that details trip functions - fuel usage, average speed, distance to empty and so on.

The front seats are fairly comfortable with a decent amount of cushioning, but when you start throwing the i30 into corners the meagre side-bolsters leave a little to be desired.

The leather wrapped steering wheel is smaller than normal - a very good thing in my book as it usually means there's less effort needed to make the car turn - and features useful cruise and audio controls (though the entry level SX models miss out on steering wheel controls).

Overall dashboard and interior plastics are rather impressive; the dash plastics are soft touch with a thatched texture and little things like the unique electric window buttons and dual USB and audio AUX ports (for MP3 players and USB stick connectivity) provide for a nice point of difference from its small car rivals.

A curvy dash design like the wings of a bird arching around the driver and front passenger creates a nice sense of space up front, and the centre console is aglow with twin cobalt LCD screens that detail the heating/cooling and the stereo systems respectively.

Everything works well, is relatively ergonomic, and an air conditioned glove box - essentially a 'chully bun' to use the New Zealand vernacular - adds yet more functionality to the car's cabin.

The rear seats are well cushioned making longer journeys bearable for back seat passengers, and leg room is not bad for a car of this size. A pair of adults or three ankle biters will find ample room in the rear on short to medium journeys.

Standard features in all i30 models include things like dual front airbags, anti-whiplash front head restraints, pollen filtered air conditioning, power windows, remote entry with alarm and power steering. ESP is standard on our test model, the $26,490 i30 SR, but will cost $1,790 and $990 for the base and mid-range SX and SLX models respectively (which also adds curtain and front-side airbags on the SX).

Our test car, the SR, adds things like an well sorted 6-speaker stereo, alloy pedals, leather inserts on the seats, ESP, six airbags, and of course the 17-inch wheels and body kit, which is an above average level of equipment for under $27,000. The boot isn't bad either, with a very usable 340 litres of space that expands to 1250 litres when you fold the rear seats down.

Overall I really warmed to the i30's interior. The design is modern but not completely soulless, and it's clear that Hyundai has tried a few different ideas with the interior design, such as a smart looking centre console and vertically aligned air vents.

So what's this - The Hyundai i30? It's got no heritage, I've never seen one before, and there's nary a German engineer in sight. But you know what? It's a strong showing from Hyundai and with a keen price, impressive features and a new look inside and out, it'll make one of life's big decisions even more difficult.

Not more than half a dozen years ago informed buyers used to approach the Hyundai brand with caution. "Korean cars are cheap for a reason" people would say. But every year Hyundai cranks out better and better cars. They look smoother, they drive better, and the new i30 is no exception to this trend.

In the last few years Hyundai has been climbing the new car quality and reliability ladder as it improves its design and manufacturing processes. The Korean cars are always improving, and Hyundai has even confirmed that its next generation Tiburon sports coupe will be a proper sports car, with rear-wheel drive!

But that's besides the point really. We're here to find out what the Hyundai i30 is all about, so let's take a look:

Friday, July 24, 2009

Fiat Receives 35% Stake in Chrysler


Big news in the auto industry today. Without paying a dime Italian automaker Fiat has gained a 35% stake in Chrysler. The two companies have formed a global strategic alliance that will see Fiat provide Chrysler with its small car platforms.

Both companies are banking that the addition of things like Fiat’s small vehicle drivetrains will result in substantial improvements in Chrysler’s line of small fuel-efficient cars. Fiat will also be distributing Chrysler vehicles outside of the U.S.

We can expect that Chrysler will now be using Fiat small vehicle platforms like the Punto or the Fiat 500 to get a new line of small, affordable cars with great mileage. But will it be in time to pull their tail pipes out of the fire?

Toyota Corolla Altis launched in India

Toyota Corolla Altis


Well this could be one of the cars which has received a lot of limelight in the recent days. As expected the stunningly stylish Toyota Corolla Altis launched in pride on 5th Sept 08 at New Delhi, India.

Arriving in 3 variants, the Toyota Corolla Altis incorporates a much more powerful and efficient engine. The new Altis adds on a 1.8L petrol edition with 130bhp on tap, which is 7bhp up as compared to the previous Corolla. Apart from the above features that the car boasts about, the Altis is also proud of its other features such as Auto Dimming in rear view mirror, HID Lamps, Headlamp washers, eight way power flexible driver seats which has an electric lumber support and the cruise control.

Vikram Kirloskar, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Vice-Chairman. commented “This year’s target is to sell 63,000 vehicles, and by fiscal 2015 we are aiming for a market share of about 10 per cent. The Altis marks our big step toward the achievement of this goal.”

The elegant and powerful car features a 5-speed manual transmission and optional 4-speed automatic transmission. Every new thing replaces the old and so does the Toyota Corrolla Altis which will replace the older versions of the Corrolla. At a cost ranging around Rs 10.83 lakh - Rs 12.86 lakh at ex-showroom, Delhi, the new Corrolla model gets set to drive on the roads of India.

Fiat, Tata eye market for Ferraris in India: Report

Fiat
Fiat
Italian auto giant Fiat and Indian car maker Tata are in talks about a joint marketing project to sell Ferraris and Mazeratis in India,
news reports said on Thursday.
"We are talking. We have various projects (including) marketing Ferraris and Maseratis" in India, Tata boss Ratan Tata told the Italian daily La Stampa.

Both brands are under Fiat's control.

Tata Motors is also present in the luxury car business, having acquired the British brands Jaguar and Land Rover for 2.3 billion dollars from US automaker Ford last year.

At the other end of the scale, Fiat and Tata are considering marketing the Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car, in Latin America, where Fiat has a strong presence.

The partners are also discussing "sharing new car platforms" and have plans for Iveco, Fiat's truck and bus subsidiary, Tata told La Stampa, which is owned by the Fiat group.

The Nano, starting at some 1,640 euros (2,330 dollars) in India, hit the streets this month in India, and Tata has plans to export it to Europe, South America and Southeast Asia.

It will arrive in Europe "at the end of 2011 as planned," said Tata, who is on Fiat's board of directors.

He added that the Nano had just passed European safety tests.

Fiat and Tata build cars, engines and gearboxes together in India, and Tata Motors is Fiat's distributor in India.

Skoda Laura in India

Skoda Laura

Skoda Octavia Laura with its extra ordinary looks and super performance is becoming the matter of pride to the owner and envy to the viewer. Its monolithic body, B pillar with tapering at top, attractive xenon headlights and front signal lamps with its roomy, spacious interior makes it more worth buying car to the car lover.

To mention more about its interior , various features like rich leather upholstery, dual zone climatronic air-conditioning, 4-way electrically adjustable driver's seat, automated sun roof sliders, unique storage compartment along with illuminated, refrigerated glove compartment are present in this car. Its safety features include powerful windshield wiper with rain sensors, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), for controlling slippage of the wheels Acceleration Skid Restrain system (ASR),Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to control steering and over steering, Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM), auto dimming rear-view mirror etc.

Other standard equipments available for smarter driving are cruise control, automatic rain detection system, front and rear parktronic with animated display, Skoda audience radio with 6 CD changer, MP3 playback, 12 speaker surround sound, Dolby noise suppression etc.

Skoda Yeti Review and information

Compact, attractively styled and full of surprises: This is Skoda Yeti. Very similar to the original Yeti concept, seen at Geneva in 2005, the production version adds five doors and a simpler front end, with a traditional Skoda grille and spotlights.

skoda yeti

skoda yeti

skoda yeti

skoda yeti

skoda yeti

Skoda also showcased Yeti Concept at the Auto Expo 2008. It will be launched this year globally and Skoda may bring it in India in 2010. This 4.2 metre long, five-door vehicle bears the well-known features of the brand. An impressive front end with a ribbed grille and friendly looking headlamps confidently demonstrate

Yeti`s relationship with the Skoda family. Sturdy flanks and distinct wings give Yeti its robust and solid look on 17 inch wheels, without coming across as bulky and heavy. The Yeti is a clever response by Skoda Auto to the increasingly important ecological issues in the popular and growing SUV class.

Skoda has met the demands for a cleanly styled body, a high seat position and versatile operating options with a design, which despite its robustness, exudes lightness rather than bulky shapes. The Yeti also meets the needs for environmental care, luggage space, safety and great road holding.

The Skoda Yeti is very well equipped for load lugging, too. The luggage compartment volume is highly flexible; up to 1,760 liters is available by removing the rear seats. A luggage cover and net as well as lashing rings are available to secure any load.

The Skoda Yeti is a clever compact vehicle that is bound to create a stir. Excellent handling characteristics and high agility are features of all trims. The 4×4 variants are characterized by outstanding off-road ability and excellent traction, coupled with low emission values and fuel consumption.

Video of Skoda Yeti:

Toyota Innova is a name synonymous with MPV's in India

Toyota Innova is a name synonymous with MPV's in India and has come a long way since its launch in 2005. Having sold 178473 units till date, the Toyota Innova has been much appreciated by its Indian customers and owners as it offers the luxury of a sedan with the performance and utility of an MPV.

Toyota Innova IndiaIn January this year, a revamped version of Toyota Innova was launched with advanced and dynamic styling. The new features of the Innova were highly appreciated and such is the demand for the new and advanced Toyota Innova that 3000 orders for the same were pending with TKM as of June 30th 2009. This highlights the immense popularity of Toyota Innova - the vehicle that has reshaped the MPV segment in India.

Ever since its launch, the Toyota Innova has aimed at providing unmatched styling, comfort and utility to its customers. Last year, the Innova continued its market leadership with a 36% market share in the MPV segment. Toyota Innova was designed keeping in mind large Indian families who like traveling together. It has attained No. 1 status in JD Power survey (IQS for MPV segment) every year since 2005. In the CarWale awards 2009, Toyota Innova emerged as a category winner by being chosen as "Favorite Car for Large Families 2009" by Indian car consumers. These results were further certified by AC Nielsen confirming over 1.6 Lakh consumer votes for all award categories

The New Toyota Innova offers aerodynamic styling on the exteriors with a stylish front grill and bumper along with redesigned rear combination lights, alloy wheels and new color wooden panels. The newly introduced rear sensor helps navigate reversing/ parking with ease.

The localization content of Toyota Innova is 49 % part wise whereas value wise it is 60%.

CNG Innova – A success in the fleet segment:
Toyota has always believed in sustaining a greener and more environment-friendly future. In keeping with this ideology of providing its customers economical and environment friendly driving options, it launched the CNG version of Toyota Innova early this year. The CNG Toyota Innova has been very well-accepted in the fleet segment.

TKM has recently bagged an order of 50 CNG Innova to be delivered to Carzonrent. According to Mr. Rajiv K. Vij, CEO, Carzonrent, "Given the low operating costs of the CNG Innova, it provides an economical option for the fleet segment. Also, we live in a world that is increasingly environment-conscious and thus, by adding the CNG Innova to our fleet, we’d like to do our bit to contribute to a cleaner and healthier future."

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