Maruti Suzuki's Wagon R new starting at Rs 3.28 lakh

Maruti Suzuki compact A-star launched

Maruti Suzuki compact A-star launched

Available in three variants: LXi, VXi and the top-end fully loaded ZXi and in an array of nine vibrant colours, which include three new ones - Desert Brown, Supreme White, Bright Red, Paradise Blue, Sunlight Cooper, Midnight Black, Healing Green, Silky Silver, Azure Grey,

it has introductory prices of Rs. 346,775 for Lxi, 374,775 for Vxi and 411,775 for Zxi (all ex-showroom Delhi).

Tata Sumo Grande - Temerarious and Grand(e)

We’re all a bunch of ludicrous blokes and it was proved by rather a good measure when the very car in question came to a parking halt in front of the office gate. One of us jumped with joy, another just went mad doing the head-banging stuff, a chap was looking berserk doing the pelvis thrust and all I could manage was a stiff body with my jaw dropping down. Visualize this scene and I am certain that you will be grinning like Ronald McDonald! Which was the car in question? But obvious, the one we all have been waiting for - Sumo Grande.
It is a funny car this. Funny I say, because you don’t expect it to look this good, perform the way it does, induce a sense of pride and carry a certain elevated character. All this is a good thing then why-o-why is all this funny, you ask. Because it still carries the brand name ‘Sumo’. The idea was to bring the Sumo brand name back in action with an invigorated sense of being, and we can only but hope that Tata has hit the gong well and hard

Price (GX): Rs. 7.68lakh (As Tested; Ex-showroom, Mumbai) 0-100kmph: 17.6 secondsTop Speed: 148.01kmph Mileage: 10.1kmpl (City); 13kmpl (Highway)

For: Looks, space, seat comfort, engine performanceAgainst: Refinement, overall quality, gearbox

Advantages
Looks
Price
Space
Seat comfort
Engine performance

Disadvantages
Plastic quality
Refinement
Dynamics
NVH
Gearbox

Tata-Jaguar-Land Rover

When we heard that our very own Tata Motors would buy Jaguar and Land Rover, everyone was thrilled. Mr. Ratan Tata himself had a wry grin at the accomplishment. The Nano-maker bid a cool $2.3 billion and the formalities were completed.
Little did we realize that the funds for the buyout were generated the help of fifteen banks, including Calyon, Citibank, JP Morgan, and Standard Chartered. This is the kind of international attention the deal garnered, and a clear indication of the position and respect Tata generated on the world platform. The batch of financiers agreed upon a short-term loan, to be cleared in fifteen months. So for this reason Tata has decided to raise Rs 9,770 crore through fund-raising activities, a major chunk of which will be used to finance the buyout of the British badges. The money would be acquired mainly through ‘A’ class equity shares, class of shares that includes Differential Voting Rights (DVR). This is another first to the Indian business community who have always stayed away from this offering in terms of raising of funds and public listing of companies. Through this Rs 7,200 crore would be made available and the remaining of which would be through convertible preference shares (CCP) and another A class of shares with limited voting rights. There are also plans to introduce securities in overseas markets. This will happen with their plans of being listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Tata Motors have been under a little pressure because of the rising interest and input costs. The problems being faced in the availability of auto finance also add to their woes.
Overall, this landmark deal is far from over in terms of finance considering its magnitude. For the average car fanatic the iconic brands can offer so much technology to the Indian auto industry. It is overwhelming to see the foresight of Tata Motors and the promise that it holds not only in India but on the world stage. It is a clear indication of the seriousness with which the deal is being handled. For some it may be a deal, but for many among us, the shares and finances apart, it’s all about the marques that are Jaguar and Land Rover – they are iconic and it would be a shame to see them fade into oblivion. It is nice to see that Tata Motors relate to that, but business is business.

Mercedes registers 50% growth in India

The E-Class Mercedes marks 20,000 made in India cars for the company and this is perhaps fitting that it is an E-Class because almost half of all Mercedes cars sold in India are E-class.
For Mercedes, the Indian drive has been one of the most special. The company says it will grow more than 50 per cent in the next 2-3 years.
Mercedes Benz India MD & CEO Wilfried Aulbur says, “With the current developments, we are on a very good path and I am sure this path will continue for the next 5-10 years.”
Last year, Mercedes sold 2,500 cars, which is more than half of India's luxury car market of 4,500 units. This year the company says it will sell more than 4000 units.
And it's not just cars, Mercedes has introduced the Actros range of trucks which will also contribute significantly to volumes.
“Our task is to get significant and enough volumes in the market. It is currently not a demand problem we are having,” Aulbur added.
And to satisfy this robust demand Mercedes is moving out of its current facility to a plant that is five times larger.

This present facility has a capacity of 4000 units annually but the new plant at Chakan will start with a capacity of 5000 units.
And its not the only the popular cars that will be assembled there.

The company will also assemble the Actros range of trucks along with bus chassis. Mercedes benz buses are expected to hit Indian roads in the second half of 2008.
The new plant will come up at an investment of Rs 250 crore and can be ramped up to a capacity of 20000 units over the next 5-8 years.

Bajaj Auto Lite concept

Bajaj names the car as 'Lite' which is silently unveiled two days before the much hyped 'Tata Nano' at the Auto Expo.

The Tatas' Rs 1-lakh car seems to be posing a challenge to two-wheeler major Bajaj even before it is on the road. A study has indicated the two wheeler sales are sure to see an erosion once Ratan Tata's dream Rs 1-lakh car is launched. This indeed has made India's largest two-wheeler manufacturer Baja Auto to seriously consider entering the passenger car market. The proposed vehicle will be fitted with a 500-600cc engine and will be available in diesel, petrol and compressed natural gas versions, according to a report which elaborated on Bajaj's plans.Bajaj is not alone as opportunity calls for innovation. The Kolkata-based company Global Automobiles has reportedly announced a tied up with China's Guangzhou Motors, to roll out a low-cost car. When asked about the new car, Bajaj Auto MD designate Rajiv Bajaj told that "it wont be tough to make a car for Rs 1 lakh. The tough part will be making money out of it. "You have to make the car and make money as well," Bajaj names the car as 'Lite' which is silently unveiled two days before the much hyped 'Tata Nano' at the Auto Expo. The car is likely to be priced at around $3,000 (Rs 117,000).The first comment on the small is that it is stylish and cute. The design of the car is breath taking. Coming to the technical features the car is likely to run on a twin cylinder engine which will be powerful enough for the day today needs. 4 speed manual gear box, standard safety features, A/C etc... are expected on the car. The car comes with no power steering. Front drum and rear disk breaks will give enough control while driving.The Tata offering is expected to hit the roads in September or October this year. Bajaj's car will be ready for commercial production a bit later than Tata Nano.

A quick look what what the Bajaj lite concept offers:
Launch date is expected to be a couple of years down the line - so no, we are not going to see Bajaj's small car battling it out with Tata's small car on the streets of India.Expected fuel efficiency of the Bajaj Lite is 35 kmpl. That is higher than the rumoured fuel efficiency of the Tata small car which is 25 kmpl. The Tata small car is expected to cost Rs 1.25 lakhs - when it is out on the streets. That day is not too far away. But the Bajaj car is gonna be a long time coming.

The Bajaj Lite concept will offer a pterol and a diesel engine. So is that 35 kmpl for every liter of diesel or petrol? No answers yet. If you know the answer, please add it in comments below.According to Rajiv Bajaj, managing director of Baja Auto, the car will have a transmission which is unique in that it won't be an automatic transmission or a geared vehicle but something in between. Discussions are going on with Renault for mass production of the Bajaj Lite.The price which renault is targeting for the small car is $ 3000, which translates to Rs 1,17,000 at current exchange rates. But this is just a figure - production costs and exchange rates boith could change massively by the time the car is ready for production.

O Sanam-Lycky Ali-Sunoh

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