Tata’s Rs 1 lakh car-set to revolutionalise transport

Even before a name has been selected for Tata’s highly ambitious small car, it is tipped to revolutionalise the road transportation in the country. Tata Motors have zealously guarded the vital details of the small car project for all these years. Mr Ratan Tata himself is reported to have scouted for an appropriate engine and technology for the car. Though rivals and experts had initially dismissed the Rs 1 lakh car as impossible, unviable or compromising on quality and emission standards, it is now clear that Tatas are set to prove skeptics wrong.The new car has already been described as ‘an engineering marvel’ and an extra-ordinary feat. The independent director on Tata Motors Board, Mr R A Mashelkar, is reported to have seen the proto-type and also driven the car recently. The well known scientist was impressed by the experience. According to him, the car would not only satisfy all the existing emission norms, but it goes beyond and confirms to international standards. Therefore, there should be no reason for worry on the question of pollution of environment.

The small car, besides being the cheapest car in the world, is expected to deliver highest mileage (25 kms) per liter of petrol. This would mean fuel-efficiency that is one-and-half times more than the existing small cars. Together, it would have tremendous impact on two-wheelers and aut-rikhshas in the country. Just to put things in a perspective, a three wheeler auto costs around Rs 1.3 to Rs 1.4 lakh on road. And its fuel efficiency is certainly not a plus point. Not just the private passenger transportation, even the public goods and passenger carriers will see some drastic changes.

So far the Tata’s most aggressive project has remained in the private domain; come January 10, it will be unveiled in an auto exhibition in New Delhi. It is bound to raise the aspirations of a large number of middle and even lower income groups in the country and perhaps in the entire third world. Presently the Indian car market is 1.4 million units strong; it is set take a quantum jump in the months to come. The nation has already emerged as the second biggest market for cars in the world. More than 100 new models are expected to be on display at the Auto Expo in Delhi. Though some of them are slated to enter the fray beyond 2008, at least 60 new cars are likely to hit the roads in 2008; that is a new model in less than a week for the entire year!

What will be the implications of this frenzied competition? Maruti Suzuki controls more than 50 per cent of the car market in the country; it is reported to be considering price cuts in its entry level models. Other leading players are also planning moves to meet emerging competition. It is imperative that the two and three wheeler segments also re-work their price strategies. India has already become a hub for manufacturing small cars for the world markets. This will further consolidate the position and bring enormous benefits of large scale production.

Of course, it will necessarily be pointed out that roads in our metros and urban centers can take no more vehicles and parking facilities are woefully inadequate. But then it is difficult to visualize best roads and good infrastructure in place before embarking upon expansion of auto sector!

It will also be argued that for a poor nation that is deficient in fuel, such grandiose plans are not warranted. However, alternative sources of energies, including different blends of petrol are being experimented with fair degree of success. There is no reason why a small car has to remain the exclusive privilege of the rich or the middle class. Even the argument of poor nation with huge pockets of poverty will not hold water. The best antidote for alleviation of poverty is faster economic growth.

Automobile industry is known to be a leading industry with tremendous potential for development of ancillary units and employment generation. The manufacturing sector is certain to receive a boost which will in turn help the economy grow faster. Most importantly, it will transform and upgrade thousands of families from two-wheeler to the comforts of a car.

60 new cars coming in ’08. Take your pick

If buying a car is on your New Year wishlist, rest assured that you will be spoilt for choice in 2008.

No less than 60 new cars, models and variants are expected to reach the showrooms in 2008, with something for pockets of every size. Bringing cheer to the middle class will be about 15 new models and variants in the small car segment and around 20 new models in the midsize segment.

From Tata’s Rs 1 lakh-car, to Alfa Romeo 159 and BMW X6, the new launches are bound to make choices delightfully difficult.

The luxury segment will have about 10 new models to boast of, along with 15 new SUVs.

Annual sales of passenger cars in India more than doubled in the past five years to 1.08 million in the 12 months ended March 31, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. With seven in every 1,000 people in India owning a car at present, the total may reach three million by 2015.

To accommodate all the extra vroom, dealers are cutting down on inventories and hiring salespersons to ensure that your hot wheels get to you in the comfort of your homes.

Hottest action will be seen in the compact and sub-compact segments, with prices ranging from Rs 1 lakh for the Tata’s now famous peoples’ car to the Fiat Cinquecento that comes with a price tag close to Rs 12 lakh.

While Maruti is scheduled to launch Splash, Hyundai is prepared to counter it with the automatic gearshift i10, the manual shift version of which was first launched in India. In the hatchback/mid-size segment, Fiat is lining up its Linea while Volkswagen will bring in Jetta and Renault the Sandero.

Audi-A8 : L 4.2 Quattro

Audi’s first Indian car is a huge luxury limousine, cut-throat rival to the Mercedes S-class. An excellent car, it does very well in Europe, but will the better-known Merc badge beat it in India?:


Supremely elegant, the understated and very modern-looking A8 is one of the most beautiful cars in the world. As if sculpted out of a solid block of metal, the A8 grabs attention and is truly imposing in the flesh. Clean of line and high waisted, with a tight-fitting roof on spread-out, massive wheels, this limo has a stately air about it. High-mounted, rectangular headlamp clusters, a matching rectangular grille and a high cowl are other design characteristics that make it look all the more imposing.
Designed to look like it weighs five tonnes, the A8 is actually a relative lightweight, being built entirely out of aluminium. It's a technological marvel as well. It uses Audi‘s high-tech Quattro four-wheel-drive system, and the car rides on adaptive air suspension, with adjustable ride height. There is plenty of safety equipment, the suspension arms are made of aluminium and the handbrake has been replaced with an electronic one, a switch that disengages automatically when you drive off. The version sold here is the long-wheelbase A8L.
The cabin, also simple and elegant, is a masterpiece. It is superbly built and finished, with premium materials. The front seats are highly adjustable, with vast legroom at the rear, and although the cushioning is firm, the seats, both front and rear, are very comfortable.
The Multi-Media Interface or MMI system, which uses a screen and controller for auxiliary functions instead of a thousand buttons, works beautifully. Refinement is exceptional, better even than the S-class.


The A8 is powered by a rumbling, 4.2-litre V8 that makes a very useful 335bhp. More sports-sedan than limo when aroused, the V8 takes on a sonorous note as the needle whips past the 3500rpm mark. Lots of torque and horses coupled to an eager six-speed ZF gearbox mean express pace. Plonk the six-speed auto into ‘S’ for sport, pump the right pedal and the A8 claws forward at an astonishing rate. All four wheels bite and the five-plus-metre-long car leaps forward.
The A8 is one of the sportier luxury cars, with a slightly firmer ride than the S-class but superior handling and awesome stability. You always know it’s a big car, but with great grip and keen steering, it handles very enthusiastically. Suspension automatically hunkered down to its lowest setting, variable steering ratio having slowed down, the A8 is a delight even at speeds above 200kph.


The A8 is one of the very best cars in the world, a sportier, more personal and, unbelievably, better quality alternative to the S-class. At Rs 64 lakh, it is very expensive, more so than even the S-class, but what really hampers it is the small dealer network, and a badge on its nose that very few recognise. Servicing will be expensive, too.

New Hyundai i10 – first drive

Hyundai has launched its latest weapon in the small car segment, the i10. Better known by it’s code name the PA, the i10 was unveiled to the world in Delhi today by none other than Bollywood hero Shahrukh Khan.

An initial first drive of the i10 revealed a car that is clearly a generation ahead of the Santro. Comfort and refinement levels are higher, the dashboard looks modern and well equipped and ride comfort for both front and rear passengers is much improved. The i10 also displayed much better stability at high speeds; due to it’s stiff modern body structure.

In other areas the i10 is similar in character to the very successful Santro. The motor feels peppy, the steering is direct and quick to respond and the car feels well engineered and put together. It is powered by a re-worked version of the Santro engine 1.1-litre, the same 66bhp version of the motor that powers the larger Getz hatch.

It will be sold in three variants with the base version costing Rs 3.55 lakh and the top-end Magna O with sunroof costing 5.18 lakh (both ex-showroom, Mumbai). Available in a choice of ten colours all variants boast of beige interiors. A highlight of the interiors is the console mounted gearshift, which liberates decent space in the cabin. Safety equipment like airbags and ABS is available on the top variant. And there is an automatic gearbox equipped version on sale as well. Hyundai also offer an optional sunroof, making it the first small car to have this feature

Maruti To Launch All-New Small Car In 2008

Maruti Suzuki India Limited announced today its plans to launch an all-new car to be built in India. The car called the A-star will be showcased in concept form at the Auto Expo in Delhi in January next year.

The company plans to sell the A-star with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, which will be Euro-V compliant. The carmaker will be following Hyundai’s footsteps (which, makes the i10 in exclusively in India and sells it in Europe) and will manufacture the car in India at its Manesar plant, and will sell it in Europe and India. Production at the facility is being bumped up and the plant is expected to roll out 150,000 A-stars annualy along a similar number of Swifts and SX4s. The car will also be sold under the Nissan badgeing in certain markets and will be on sale by autumn of 2008.
The company refused to divulge details about the price and specifications but said that the car would be a size smaller than the Splash, which was launched internationally recently.

Fiat 500 and Bravo coming to India

Fiat is planning to give its image a much needed boost in India by launching the 500 and Bravo hatchbacks in early 2008. These models won’t be assembled in India, but will be imported directly from Italy, so they will be ridiculously pricey. However, Fiat is not looking at large numbers and is using both these hatchbacks to make a statement about the company. The idea is to inject some zing into the Fiat brand — which has languished in India for the past several years — in the run-up to the launch of the Linea and Grande Punto.

Style Statement
The cute little 500, or Cinquecento, is a national icon in Italy and this latest model launched exactly 50 years after the original Cinquecento, fondly called the ‘Mighty Mouse’, has gone on to become a smash hit. Fiat can’t ever hope to replicate the Cinquecento’s success in India but this cheeky little car has the potential to become the style icon of 2008. Fiat is targeting Bollywood stars and celebrities as potential customers who would think of the Cinquecento as a style accessory to flaunt. Besides, its small and compact dimensions, along with fuel-efficient motors, give it the politically-correct and eco-friendly tag that makes it cool to be seen in one. The 500 can be infinitely customised too. Myriad options for the exterior colour and upholstery, over a hundred accessories and three engines can give the 500 the exclusivity celebs expect. Engine options include 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrols and the 1.3 Mutlijet that is currently powering the Swift. The little Fiat reeks of class with its classic styling and interiors that exhibit true Italian flair. It’s incredibly safe as well, for a small car. It comes equipped with seven airbags and scores a top-class five-star Euro NCAP crash rating. The price of the Cinquecento, after paying 120 per cent in taxes and duties, will be north of the Rs 10 lakh mark. In fact, a fully-loaded Cinquecento could even hit Rs 15 lakh. That may seem a ridiculous price to pay for a two-door car that’s smaller than a Swift but factor in the style, exclusivity, funky interiors, safety and the fact that the 500 was elected European Car of the Year, and perhaps to a rich few this car could make sense. Perhaps.

Hot Hatch
If the Cinquecento is aimed at those who want to be seen looking cool, the Bravo is for those who want what could possibly be the hottest hatchback in the country. The Bravo slots in above the Grande Punto in Fiat’s range and the family look is quite evident. This five-door hatchback, which was launched in mid-2007, comes with a wide range of engines, but it’s likely that India will get the 148bhp, 1.4-litre T-jet petrol and the 118bhp, 1.9 diesel. Performance, as a result, will be terrific and a top speed on the far side of 200kph is what you can expect. The interiors reek of style and the mock carbon-fibre-finished dash, contrasting upholstery inserts and classy piano black and chrome detailing look great. A chunky three-spoke wheel and stubby gear-lever, plus the angled dash, all point to a driver-focussed car. The Bravo is pretty spacious, even though it’s a hatch, and you can expect space and comfort to match a premium saloon car. The underpinnings are tried and tested, with the Bravo featuring MacPherson strut front suspension and a twist-beam axle at the rear. This non-independent rear setup, however, features hydraulic axle anchorage bushes for better wheel location and less noise. The Bravo also managed to score a 5-star crash rating, but pedestrian crash ratings were not as good.

Again, the Bravo will be an import so it will attract crippling customs duties, which could push its price to more than Rs 20 lakh in Indian showrooms. However, like with the Cinquecento, Fiat isn’t looking for large numbers and is targeting only those people who aren’t too bothered about price, but simply want exclusivity. But for snob value will the rich and famous buy a Bravo?

Audi

Audi's Indian strategy is to slowly introduce Indian assembled cars. Now, after the A6, the new A4 is next on the cards. Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show three months ago, the company will showcase it for the first time in India at the Auto Expo. The new A4 will arrive with a turbocharged petrol 2000cc and a pressure-injection 2000cc diesel engine, with the first cars expected to roll out of Aurangabad in May. The other highlight will be their 2007 Le Mans winning R10 TDI, and Audi hopes to bring down one of their star drivers during the unveiling.

BMW India plans small luxury car

PUNE: Luxury car manufacturer BMW India is conducting a market study on the feasibility of a small car in the luxury segment. “We have not decided on our plans for small cars in India... but are conducting a study to analyse the market,” BMW India president Peter Kronschnabl told reporters.

“Our small cars cost Rs 10 lakh overseas. Importing them here will increase the price by more than 100%. We are not sure whether a small luxury car with such a pricing will work in India,” he added.

The BMW study is scheduled to be completed over the next three months, after which the company would decide whether to introduce the small car in India or not. “We are pretty upbeat about the market in India and have invested around Rs 110 crore so far,” Mr Kronschnabl added.

BMW is targeting the top position in India in the luxury car segment over the next three to five years and has decided to focus on the Indian market. It has no plans of exporting the BMW 3 and BMW 5 series cars manufactured at its Chennai plant.

The company is also planning to increase its dealerships to 12 by 2009, having opened a ninth dealer outlet in Pune in partnership with the Pune-based auto retailer Bavaria Motors. “There is a good potential for luxury cars in India. While the total car market in India was growing at 16%, luxury car market is growing at more than 50%.

There are close to 3,500 luxury cars in India now and 2008 will add almost 4,500 luxury cars in India. We aim to achieve the top position in this booming market,” said Mr Kronschnabl. BMW India will also focus on increasing India’s share in sourcing components for its global branches.

“We have set up an international purchasing office at our headquarters in Gurgaon,” Mr Kronschnabl added. The existing team would be expanded to 10 members. The purchasing office will explore opportunities for sourcing components from India. Although the company hasn’t finalised any plans for sourcing, it would focus on procurement of production components as well as IT and engineering services, Mr Kronschnabl added.