Next-generation Honda City expected to perform well in India

 

Over the years, Honda Cars India has built a reputation of manufacturing vehicles that are high in terms of performance and comfort. The company has enjoyed a vast amount of success in the Indian car market particularly due to its City sedan. The car that is cherished by quite a few is one of the favourite mid-size sedans to feature in India. The hike in petrol prices have impacted the sales figures of Honda City since the car is not offered in a diesel version. Now, the next-generation model is expected to replicate the success of older generation ones. As expected, the 2014 version of City shall make inroads in India powered by petrol and diesel units. Rumours are doing the rounds that the upcoming City would arrive in showrooms in India by January 2014, bearing a new shape and design. So as the launch date is nearing, car enthusiasts are getting all more excited about the design and features of upcoming Honda City.

The first and foremost exciting new addition in upcoming Honda City would be its availability in a diesel version. It was highly expected from the company as the ‘rapid dieseling’ of the Indian car market resulted in the plummeting of Honda City petrol sales. According to sources, the car would be offered with a 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine, which currently powers Amaze sedan but in differently tuned outputs. Apart from this, the 1.5-litre i-VTEC powertrain of City shall be offered with numerous advancements in order to give away superlative performance.

The other striking new feature of upcoming Honda City would be its new philosophy named as "EXCITING H DESIGN!!!". Under this, the three design factors, namely, High Technology, High Tension and High Touch represent the company’s aim to achieve a balanced body structure along with superior technology embedded in all of its vehicles. The new design concept was first seen in Fit model, which has already made its debut in major international markets. As reported, the upcoming Honda City is based on the same design platform.

On taking inspiration from the Fit model, the next generation Honda City would bear numerous designing changes as the front fascia will hold elongated wraparound clear lens headlamps along with projector lights and a sportier new grille. At the rear, new LED taillights along with running creases that will extend till the boot of the car are going to add to its styling.

Also to mention, the mileage figures for the upcoming petrol and diesel versions of Honda City are expected to be bit higher as compared to the current variants. Riding on the Earth Dreams Technology, the upcoming sedan of Honda shall give away best-in-class fuel efficiency as compared to its rivals.

Also the pricing might well work for Honda in its favour as reports are citing that the upcoming car cost significantly low. Industry experts are betting high that the base variant of Honda City petrol could cost around Rs. 7 lakh while the introductory diesel trim might get carry a price tag of Rs. 8 lakh. If this happens, then Honda would definitely have an edge over its rivals considering the kind of brand value the company has in India. In addition, Honda is likely to carry forward the good work done by Amaze sedan and the much acclaimed Earth Dreams diesel technology.

India car sales seen falling in FY-14

Car sales in India are expected to fall in the current financial year that ends in March, an industry body said, marking a second straight year of decline, as high interest rates and a slowing economy force consumers to delay purchases.

Automakers sold 163,199 cars in India last month, a drop of 3.9 percent from a year earlier, data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed.

SIAM had estimated in April that car sales would grow by 3-5 percent this year, but has indicated in recent months that they may fall instead.

Car sales had declined continuously in the first nine months of the year, said Vishnu Mathur, director general at SIAM.

"Now the decline is moderating, so if it keeps on moderating at this pace maybe we'll see zero growth in January-February," said Mathur.

"Definitely the year will be negative," he added Sales of motorcycles rose 18.1 percent in October to a record 1.1 million, helped by festive season demand and strong sales in rural regions, where incomes were boosted by good monsoon rains.

The September to December months, marked by a number of festivals, are considered by many Indians to be an auspicious period to make big-ticket purchases.

Truck and bus sales were down 19.8 percent at 53,533 units, SIAM said.

Meagre urban salary hikes in an economy growing at its slowest pace in a decade, combined with high interest rates and fuel costs has dimmed the near-term outlook for the Indian auto industry. Some analysts have pushed back forecasts for a sustained recovery to the next financial year.

Jeep Wrangler

If you have a penchant for adventure on wheels and think about going to places where few would dare to wander we have just the right set of wheels for you. Presenting the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara!

A lot of purists were waiting for this one. In fact a very dear friend of mine had been pestering me on a weekly basis about the arrival of the iconic Jeep products. So when I told him that I had managed to get my hands on a Wrangler, it was pretty much like a wet dream coming true for the guy. Now Jeep has a barrage of models which it has brought to India. While the 2-door Wrangler Sport boasts a massive 3.6 litre Pentastar V6, the one we have here is the more apt for our market, Wrangler Unlimited Sahara. While a big V6 engine and small insides are a big no-no, a long wheelbase, lots of legroom and diesel mated to an automatic transmission sounds just right. So how does the big Jeep go about its business here in Indian conditions? Let’s find out…

Iconic Design

The Germans aren’t uniquely capable of tastefully refining an iconic shape redesign after redesign, decade after decade. The current Wrangler isn’t a cartoonish “retro” reinterpretation of a classic vehicle from the distant past. Like a Porsche 911, it’s a special purpose iconic vehicle that has undergone an uninterrupted evolution over the years. Unchanged since the 2007 redesign, the exterior retains an unmistakable resemblance to the original Jeep. Form relentlessly follows function. The Sahara’s chunky five-spoke 17-inch alloys, look fantastic even though it’s a very simple design. Unlike with some supposed off-road vehicles, you’ll find no mere rim protectors here.

There’s no “DUB Edition.” Given the 2007’s increased width, the four-door actually has better proportions than the two-door.  While on the whole it might not be as attractive as a Freelander or a Q3, it’s the details that set the Wrangler apart. There are the classically rugged hood latches, high impact fender flares and rugged bumpers that enhance the formidable look while the Wrangler's round halogen headlamps still hold true to its original design, flanking its equally iconic seven-slot grille for that genuine Jeep brand expression. Now this might seem like a hardtop, but unscrew a few allen screws, yank out all four doors (will take a little effort though) and you have the perfect Dune buggy. Even the windshield can folded and rested on the bonnet like a typical jeep. Versatility at its best. All said and done, the Jeep might not be a beauty, but no one with any appreciation for design (as opposed to “styling”) can fail to find it attractive.