Rip van Winkle awakes

Ya, it has been a really long break... most because I have shifted to a new city and was focusing more on my work. After all it pays my bills :)

But thing are set to change for the better... and I'll be updating my blog a lot more from now. Promise. Apart from reviewing some fabulous cars and motorcycles, I have been also doing some food and restaurant reviews. All of that come soon, right here.

Expect a lot more action, so strap up and hold on to your eye balls... this is going to on helluva ride!

Toyota Corolla Altis launched

Japanese auto major Toyota on Friday launched an advanced version of its sedan, Corolla Altis, priced between Rs 10.83 lakh and Rs 12.86 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The new car would come with a 1.8 petrol litre engine in three options. More details on its way...

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

The company sold about 50,000 units last year and currently has around 3% of the Indian passenger car market. It is also planning to introduce several new models in the near future to meet its target, he added. TKM plans to sell an average of 2,000 Corolla Altis a month.
"Regarding the small car that everyone has been waiting for, we aim to start production and sales around 2010 or early 2011," Kirloskar added.

The A-star rolling out in October

Time for some garma-garam news. India's leading car company, Maruti Suzuki has just confirmed that it is set to launch the A-star in India right on scheduled – that's October '08. The Jap auto giant will start exports by January next year. The firm also announced that car will be priced between Rs 3-4 lakh.

The A-star will introduce Suzuki's revolutionary next-gen 'K-series' engine in India. The new star-car , if I may say so, is targeted to fight back Hyundai's i-10 assault as the i-10 has not only dented the Waron-R and the sad Zen Estilo, but the Kappa engine has kicked Swift sales below the belt.

Meanwhile, the parent of the Indian company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, has asked its subsidiary to boost its research and development (R&D) for small car engines, according to news reports.

Pics: Team-bhp.com

Motown's big boys visiting India

Auto-majors from around the world are waking up to realize India's importance in the automobile industry, be it in the consumer section or the low-cost of manufacturing.

Come tomorrow and the crème de la crème of the global automobile industry would be making a stop over in India.

Apparently, the top bosses of Suzuki Motors, General Motors, Fiat Spa, Continental AG and Mercedes-Benz are arriving to take part in the annual Indian auto industry meet and would also be taking some key decisions during their stay here.

Suzuki Motor chairman Osamu Suzuki will be visiting India for the next three days for Maruti's AGM. Chairman saheb will also review some the key products of his Indian subsidiary.
Maruti is gearing up to roll out the next gen K-series engines, which would be strapped on to the 'A Star'. The compact car will be produced in India for exports to Europe and is due for launch during Diwali.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is also paying us (read: India) a visit and will be here till Friday.
Marchionne will be busy at the Tata-Fiat joint venture plant at Ranjangaon holding detailed meetings with Fiat officials and suppliers to assess Fiat's journey in India so far.

General Motors' president and COO Frtiz Henderson is arriving at a time when his company has just announced $200 million investment in setting up an engine and transmission facility and is also enhancing the car manufacturing capacity.
The next generation Chevrolet Tavera might be launched in Henderson's presence.

Christoph M Eisenhardt, executive vice president of Continental GmbH, and Rainer Schmueckle, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, are also expected to stop over for some Indian curry by mid-week. And if they get the time from the hot Indian curries, they might also review their future plans with officials of their respective subsidiaries here for India.

Toyota's three world premieres at Paris Motor Show

Toyota, probably the worlds largest car maker, will unveil the all-new Avensis, its European flagship model. The Avensis will project an athletic and sleek design and will feature a more powerful and cleaner engines that emit less C02. The amazing new Avensis is set to push the boundaries of the D-segment in Europe.

Next in the queue is the much awaited iQ production model, that was showcased as a prototype earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show. IQ is less than 3 metres long and the cute little car is not just the world’s smallest premium 4-seater ever built but is also a serious driving machine with CO2 emissions levels starting at a mere 99 g/km. The iQ will also offer all-round protection to all occupants with high levels of safety features, including the world’s first rear window curtain shield airbags.

The other show-stopper is Toyota’s new urban all-roader - Urban Cruiser, featuring 1.4-litre D-4D diesel All Wheel Drive (AWD). This urban all-roader will sport a unique rugged exterior design, along with high level of safety equipment.

These three world premieres will mark the beginning of a whole raft of new models and futuristic technologies from Toyota.

M&M may acquire Malaguti

After taking over Kinetic Motors, M&M may acquire Malaguti and is also looking at possibilities for a tie-up with Loncin. Malaguti is an Italian two-wheeler manufactures that makes stylish, high-tech and sporty scooters. This move will help M&M to get a slice of the rapidly growing high-end two-wheeler segment of India.

M&M has plans to take Kinetic's product portfolio to the next level, for which the tractor major is considering alliances, and acquisitions in Europe, Taiwan and China.

There are reports that M&M is considering a strategic alliance with Loncin, one of the biggest motorcycle manufacturers in China.

Hope with all these alliances, acquisitions and tie-up M&M come up with a great mix-and-match recipe... this reminds me of the yummy 'khichri' my mom makes!

Fast and Furious – The forth installment!

I've been a big fan of the Fast and Furious movie and eagerly waiting for the next episode. Luckily I cam across the trailer for the forth part of the car movie titled ‘Fast and Furious’... ya they've let go of ‘The’ from the title. Short and precise!

Here's more good new... The movie will mark the return of the first movie lead duo Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, thank God!! In a nut shell the latest F&F movie will have the duo come together to fight a common evil.

Ok, ok... before you jump out of your pajamas, you'll have to wait till next summer (read: around July 2009). So stay put and enjoy this fabulous trailer for now...

Tata may not produce Nano in Singur

A visibly disturbed Ratan Tata threatened to move Tata car plant out of West Bengal if the violence at Singur did not subside. Tata have already invested around Rs 1500 crores in setting up the plant and with plans of producing the world's cheapest car - Nano.

Tata revealed, "We are deeply concerned at the violence and disruption and at the safety of our employees, equipment and investments at the project site at Singur". Tata said that there was a general perception that Tatas were exploiting the state. "We are extremely sensitive to the needs of the rural community. We have not come to exploit anyone. We have got the land on lease and not bought it."

State opposition party Trinamool Congress led by Mamta Banerjee is hellbent to make Tata set up operations on 600 acres and return 400 acres of land earmarked for ancillary units to farmers from whom the property was acquired.

The CPM state government is adamant not to succumb to Trinamool's demands, causing a deadlock leading to tension and violence in the project area.

The question here is not 'what's gonna happen to Nano?' but 'what's gonna happen to Bengal?'

The Next-Gen Toyota Corolla – Altis

Finally the launch date for the Next-Gen Toyota Corolla – Altis has been reviled. The car debuts on 5th September 2008 according to the Corolla teaser website.

The website apart from the teaser image of the car, also has owner testimonials for its other models under the “quality stories” section. The car will be in select Toyota showrooms before the launch.What fun!

SCOOP! New Honda City --- Spy Pics.

The all new Honda city spotted in Thailand where the car is believed to make its global debut. Here are some spy pics doing the round on the net... Great stuff, huh?!

The second image is a Photoshop illustration by good man Jorge L. Fernández. For more of his work visit Area75.com.

Pics: pantip.com

A-star is born!

Come September and Maruti will spice up the hatchback segment with it's much awaited A-star. The A-star better known as new-age Alto in European countries, will be unveiled at the upcoming Paris auto show this October. In India the Maruti Suzuki A-star will have to live along with the Alto and Wagon-R.

The Maruti Suzuki A-star concept was showcased earlier this year in India at the Auto Expo, though the production car will not be as futuristic in designed as the concept car. With a low slung front grill like the Audi accompanied by high bonnet line and the vertically stacked headlights make the car distinct yet its not over the top. The tall-boy design assures roomy interior and legroom.

The A-star will sport a 1 liter K-series engine which can produce 65 BHP and we can expect better fuel economy. This family car will be price around Rs 4 lakh... Beware Hyundai i10!

Xtreme Video!

As promised here's the short video I had promised... The Fab two from "The World Off Road" - Akis & Vula...enjoying extreme sports around the world. Watch this till the end!watch it till the end. It's fun.

Around the world in 800 days!

I think I am lucky, really. My work is like living my dream. It lets me meet interesting people... crazy, wacky nut-cases but interesting none the less ;)

This week I met Akis (an Automobile Journalist) and his girlfriend Vula (dancer instructor) who drove all the way from Greece to India. These amazing people are driving a Land Rover and plan to travel around the world in 800 days. Imagine Greece to Jordan to Iran to Pakistan to India and finding time in the middle to site see in Africa as well. I told you crazy but what a life.

People from different part of the world might seem different because of their cultures, looks or beliefs but this experience taught me something... in the end we are all human!!
Armed with a smile - Vula & Akis at Navnit Motors, Thane.

They have a website which the constantly update from the different places they travel. GAWD! Can kill for a life like this!! Ok...before I go on a rampage... have a look at their website... will upload some of their fascinating videos tomorrow... now, I'll get back to work and you enjoy the World Off Roads!

Lewis Hamilton sets pulses racing in India

Current Formula 1 championship leader, Lewis Hamilton stopped in Mumbai as part of a promotional tour for Vodafone after his breathtaking win at Hockenheim last weekend. The champ made a few karting laps at the Hakone Go Karting circuit.

Lewis met his fans and signed autographs as the press went totally crazy. Press photographers were jumping on top of TV crew, who in turn were trying to dodge Lewis security personals for a closer shot of the F1 driver. Utter chaos... precisely the way I like it ;)

I braved all that to get you these precious pictures...

That Lewis... Ya, he's really fast... faster that my camera's lens!

Mahindra adds the 'Edge' to the Logan

Mahindra Renault launched the limited edition Logan Edge in the country. The jazzed up new Logan Edge is priced from Rs 5 Lakh onwards (ex-showroom New Delhi) and will be available in petrol & diesel engine options.

Both brand ambassador Kunal Kapoor and the special Mystique Purple colour Edge looked distinct, young and vibrant. Precisely what Mahindra Renault were trying to achieve.

Mahindra Renault Pvt Ltd Chief Operating Officer Nalin Mehta said, "The new Logan edge is based on extensive customer feedback and is part of our endeavor to offer our consumers the best."


Other new features:

• Jazzed up Body Graphics & Special Edition Mystique Purple Color.
• ABS (Antilock Braking System) + EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution).
• Parking Sensors.
• Wood finish central Console with Beige Leather Upholstery.
• New Chrome Muffler Cutter.
• Nomad Arm Rest at the backseat.
• State of the art Kenvood Music system with USB input and iPOD compatibility.

The prices list:

• Logan Edge 1.4 GLX petrol - Rs. 499990 (ex-showroom New Delhi)
• Logan Edge 1.6 GLS petrol - Rs. 558338 (ex-showroom New Delhi)
• Logan Edge 1.6 GLSx petrol (ABS) - Rs. 578337 (ex-showroom New Delhi)
• Logan Edge 1.5 DLS turbodiesel – Rs. 695319 (ex-showroom New Delhi)
• Logan Edge 1.5 DLSx turbodiesel (ABS) – Rs. 715319 (ex-showroom New Delhi)

Fiat 500 launched and there’s lots more to come

The cute round headlamp, the naughty moustache shaped logo & chrome lines on the nose and irresistibly bubbly overall appearance makes you feel like owning one. Yup, that’s the effect that Fiat 500’s timeless design has on most people.

Before I forget, the adorable two-door Fiat 500 is being launched in India today! Not that people here will be killing each other to buy one, simply because it will cost a whopping - Rs 15 lakhs. Yeah, it’s simply a repositioning effort by Fiat India to revive the company’s limping image. Seriously, the firm needs a strong dose of Viagra to give other carmakers a ‘stiff’ competition.

Fiat has a few more tricks up its sleeves, like two new world-class models --- the Bravo and more importantly the Linea. Fiat Linea is a mid-sized sedan, which should debut in September 2008. About 70 % of Linea will be locally produced which assures low cost & taxes. The sedan will sport Fiat’s tried and tested 1.3 multi-jet engines with 95 BHP. Following Linea’s footsteps will be the Grand Punto and already mentioned the Bravo.

Coming back to the micro sized Fiat500. Under the tiny little bonnet, you'll find one of these three powerful engines - a 1242cc, 69 bhp petrol, a 1368cc or 100 bhp twin-cam version of the same engine and the 1248cc, 75 bhp turbodiesel MultiJet, the same is use in the Maruti Swift diesel.
Believe it or not but you can customise the new 500 in as many as 500,000 different combinations, including body, interior and seat colour, stickers, wheel rims, bonnet trims, nudge bars and wing mirror cases. The car is 3.55 metres in length and features 7 airbags including a knee-airbag. The Fiat500 comes with a five star rating in EuroNCAP tests.

Despite all those features and the 500’s cuddlesome image and a price tag that could get you the recently launched Volkswagen Jetta or the Honda Civic, I think we’ll give it a miss for now…

More pictures from the launch coming your way soon... Visit www.fiat500.com

Hyundai launches new 'i10' with Kappa engine!

Hyundai India's second largest carmaker launched a new 'i10', powered by a 1.2 litre Kappa engine which can produce 80bhp and boasts an 4 speed Automatic transmission. The new i10 with all these goodies is priced from Rs 3.99 lakh ex-showroom onwards. What more do you want at that price?? The new i10 will definitely raises the bar of performance, fuel efficiency and emission.

According to Heung Soo Lheem, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) Managing Director and CEO, “This engine is exclusively manufactured only in India, which shows Hyundai's commitment to the country and to make it a global small car hub,"

Hyundai Motor has become the fifth biggest carmaker in the world and the Indian operation contributes 12 per cent to its overall global sales, he added.

Lheem said the company has already received huge export orders for the new 'i10', but the quantum of exports would entirely depend on the domestic demand.

He, however, said the current 1.1 litre engine would continue to power both 'Santro' and 'i10', but the new Kappa engine would significantly raise the bar in this segment.

Since its launch eight months back, the company has sold 1.85 lakh units of 'i10', of which 75,000 units were sold in the domestic market.

Hyundai introduces a No-Petrol LPG-Electric Hybrid car!

Hyundai is geared up to produce cars that won't need petrol! Now that's what I call news, specially with the 'speculating' prices of petrol and diesel. And it's the not so popular Elantra (at least in India) that gets the unique hybrid transformation.

The Korean auto major plans to start retail sales of its first LPG-electric hybrid car July 2009. The Elantra LPI Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) is the world’s first hybrid vehicle to be powered by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and the first to adopt advanced Lithium Polymer (Li-Poly) batteries.

FACTS
• World’s first LPI hybrid, first to use advanced Lithium-Polymer batteries
• Operation costs poised to be lowest of any hybrid in the market
• “Hybrid premium” cost can be recouped in two years through fuel savings
• Emits just 103g/km of CO2 and 90% fewer pollutants to qualify as Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
• Initial sales restricted to Korea. Now thats not a great news :(

However, we have our fingers & everything else crossed and hope to see India's second most popular car maker to launch the LPG-electric hybrid car here eventually.

Hyundai Elantra as we know it in India

SPY pics of Mahindra Ingenio

After a diet conscious lunch at Subway, my good friend Aslam Memon and I decided finally to head back to office and do some work to justify our salaries. Cruising on my bike with Mumbai's lazy summer afternoon traffic. Well, we weren't really enjoying it... not the job, I meant the summer sun. (Hope my boss doesn't visit blogspot often)...

Suddenly, God personally answered our prayers and added a twist in our usually (yawn) boring lives. We spotted a draped SUV (car) trying to slip past the sparse traffic. But, who can escape the eyes of the tiger? (I mean, yours truly). I jumped off the bike's seat and the pinched Aslam, who by then had fallen off to sleep with his head on my shoulder (just a clarification, both of us are straight and will not entertain any gay offers, now or in the near future). The pinch worked like a self-start and Aslam was up and running. Both of us got back on the bike, while I explained that I had spotted a to-be-launched car with black cloth wrapped all over it to protect its identity.

Before I could explain some more my partner (strictly for dieting only) took out his new mobile and started clicking the hell out of the car. He took quite a few pics but am posting just three, coz the remaining pictures were of the occasional chicks that distracted my sincere friend and some of the traffic cops mustaches, which I am sure most of you will not be too interested in.

Later we figured out from the gurus at CAR India that this is the Mahindra Ingenio...Heh hee heh... My first spy assignment was a super hit! Atleast for Aslam and me. Thank God we have some excitement back in our mundane lives (yaawn). You guys can now address me as the agent 009.

Here goes... enjoy...