The Castrol Autocar Performance Show 2005, India’s first ever display of high end, super performance cars kicked off on December 1, at the Nehru Centre in Worli, Mumbai. The four-day long show was inaugurated by India’s racing champion Narain Karthikeyan. Spread over two floors of the sprawling Nehru Centre, the Castrol Autocar Performance Show 2005 features over 36 motor manufacturers, designers and leading accessory manufacturers.

Speaking with media persons shortly after inaugurating the show, Narain Karthikeyan, ‘the fastest Indian in the world’ said, This is the first time that a collection of high end, super performance cars has been put together in India. Besides being a treat for enthusiasts, the show offers a fascinating glimpse at some of the most advanced vehicles in the world and is set to become the benchmark for automotive shows in India”.

The star attraction of the show was the Castrol World Rally Championship Simulator where a driver navigates the Castrol World Rally Championship winning car one of the rally courses, whilst sitting in Mumbai! This is the first time that a simulator of this sort has been brought into India.

“Castrol has had a long standing association with motorsport and Formula One and our association with this show is a natural extension of Castrol’s brand promise of superior performance. High performance cars and bikes demand superior lubricants and Castrol is uniquely poised to meet the grueling performance needs of automobiles in motor sport and high end cars. We are delighted that car and bike lovers will get this unique opportunity to get a close, up-front look at some of the most powerful automotive machines in the world”, said Sudhanshu Vats, Vice President-Marketing, Castrol India.

The thousands of people who thronged to the show during the day were treated to a great display of performance cars, including the Porsche Boxster, the Roadster, the Cayenne SUV the Porsche 911 Coupe, the 500bhp BMW M5 Sports Saloon the Rolls Royce Phantom, the 385bhp Range Rover Sport, the 286bhp Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, the Polaris All-Terrain-Vehicle, the Chinkara ATV, amongst others. The bikes on display included the Suzuki Hayabusa-the fastest bike in the world, the green devil, the Kawasaki ZX 12R, the Moto GP-bred Yamaha R1, Honda CBR 600RR and the Harley-Davidson V-Rod.

Sharing the motivation behind the launch of the show, Hormazd Sorabjee, Editor, Autocar India, the organizers of the show said “This show is the ultimate destination for those who have a passion for cars and bikes. It is an excellent platform for the automotive industry to showcase exciting products and new concepts to a knowledgeable and influential group of enthusiasts. The show has received excellent support from all sections of the industry and it is heartening that in its inaugural year, it lives up to its promise of being the ultimate show for high performance cars in India”.

First Look - Ford Fiesta!

The base model of the Ford Fiesta petrol is priced at 5.59 lakhs. The Fiesta 1.6-liter petrol (ZXI model) would be priced at Rs 6.29 lakhs and the 1.6-liter petrol Fiesta (SXI model) at Rs 6.89 lakhs. The diesel Ford Fiesta with a 1400 cc engine would be available at Rs 6.99 lakhs (ex-showroom).

Xclusiv - Mercedes Factory!

Merc's SL56 AMG!

Merc's award-winning SL convertible sports car lineup has yet another trophy to add to its cabinet -- the SL65 AMG was voted "The Fantasy Convertible" by the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA). NEMPA members, consisting of New England-based automotive journalists, tested the limited-production, high- performance hardtop convertible during its annual Ragtop Ramble convertible driving event from Boston to Kennebunkport this summer.

"Why fantasy?"

"Because it would be a fantasy to own one, never mind be lucky enough to secure seat time behind the wheel of one."

Merc's Next Generation S-Class Named S550

Mercedes-Benz last week announced new nomenclature for its flagship sedan. The model year 2007 S-Class will be named the S550, replacing the S500. In the U.S. market, the new S-Class line will be launched with an all-new 5.5-liter V8 engine delivering 382 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque, the first of a new-generation V8 engine family featuring four-valve-per-cylinder technology and variable valve timing. The "S" designation had long been used to identify top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz sedans and coupes, and the S-Class has embodied the brand's flagship role for more than five decades.

The S-Class is a technological showcase that has pioneered significant safety and comfort features for the entire auto industry, including the first ABS anti-lock brakes, the first ESP stability control and the first PRE-SAFE system. The new S-Class made its world debut at the Frankfurt auto show in September 2005 and is set to arrive in the U.S. in February 2006. The successor to a long line of premium luxury vehicles, the 2007 S-Class sedan will debut with a significantly evolved design and a stronger presence. Sharper angles and cleaner lines frame a sedan that gains about 1.7 inches of length, almost an inch in width, and more than three inches in wheelbase over its predecessor.

TOYOTA to unseat GM as world's top automaker

The Toyota Motor Corp. group is expected to boost its global automobile production to more than 9.2 million units in 2006, making it almost certain that the group will surpass General Motors Corp. to become the world's top automaker in terms of output. Toyota has decided to raise its global production volume 12% from its 2005 projection to 8.3 million cars next year, an increase of roughly 900,000 units, which is more than Mazda Motor Corp.'s entire annual domestic output. In contrast, GM's global production next year is unlikely to top its 2005 projection of 9.12 million cars.

Mercedes-Benz Unveils R-Class Grand Sports Tourer

The Mercedes-Benz R-Class luxury vehicle is an entirely new type of Mercedes-Benz and a brand new way for six adults to travel. The new R-Class combines the distinct advantages of several disparate vehicles -- the sure- footedness of a permanent four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicle, the performance and comfort of a fine sports sedan and the versatility of a luxury wagon. Innovative design and useful technology now make possible an automotive decathlete -- a vehicle that can excel at an unprecedented range of owner needs.

Suggested pricing for the R-Class line begins at $48,775 for the R350, powered by a 3.5-liter, 268-horsepower V6 engine. The R500 is fitted with a 5.0-liter V8 producing 302 hp. Both models come with a seven-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive. The basic vehicle is loaded with standard equipment such as eight-way power front seats, leather seat inserts, birds-eye maple interior trim, split second and third row seats, load-leveling suspension and rain sensing wipers.

Is a Car 'Key' to Impressing a First Date?

If there's one thing men and women agree with when it comes to dating it's that cars make an impression, this according to a Ford Fusion "Life in Drive" Dating Survey that polled more than 400 singles and revealed a whopping 89 percent of males and 95 percent of females said they were somewhat likely to notice their date's car.

The Ford survey revealed that it's not just your car, but the state of your car that can make an impression on your date, with 58 percent saying that the condition of their date's vehicle would at least somewhat impact their attraction to the person. Females felt more strongly about their date's car condition than males with 69 percent saying it would at least somewhat effect their attraction to their date compared to 47 percent of males.

When asked to recall their "most embarrassing car date moment," respondents chose being told by their date that they were a "bad driver" (22 percent) as tops overall with females (26 percent) outpacing males (18 percent).

BMW - Made in India

BMW plans to build the 3 and 5 series at an assembly plant in Tamil Nadu, 25 miles (40km) from Chennai in South India.

The vehicles will be imported in completely knocked down kit (CKD) form from Germany through Chennai Port and assembled at the 22-acre Maraimalai Nagar site in the Mahindra Industrial Park.

Narain to race in Mumbai!

Mumbaikars for the first time will be able to enjoy India’s ace Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan driving his Jordan at 300 kmph+ speed at Marine Drive on October 30. Read more

DC's new concept car!!

No Daewoo deal, says GM

General Motors has dropped plans to buy Daewoo Motor India’s car plant at Surajpur in Uttar Pradesh. What has prompted General Motors to call off the deal is the government’s inordinate delay in reaching an out-of-court settlement with the lenders to the beleaguered plant and Arcil, an asset reconstruction fund overseeing the sale, sources close to the development said. Read more

ICICI Mobile ATM

Seen below is a prototype of a mobile ATM of ICICI designed by DC (Dilip Chhabria)!!

Festive Season Discounts!

Maruti has come up with schemes for the whole range of their offerings, so have Tata Motors for their models of Indica, Indigo and Indigo Marina. Hyundai dealers have offers on the Santro and Getz and so has Chevrolet for Tavera and Optra Elite, its just-launched new variant on the roads. Toyota and Honda dealers have not been left behind either.

Maruti has come up with virtually free insurance for most of the models in its stable and is topping that offer with gift cheques. It is offering first year insurance at Re 1 for the Maruti 800. Its also offering first year insurance at 50% discount on the Alto. For Zen (P), Wagon R, Esteem and Baleno it is offering first year insurance at Re 1 along with gift cheques ranging from Rs 7,500 to Rs 15,000 depending on the model the customer buys.

Hyundai too is not lagging behind in this race to attract customers to its dealerships. With Santro it is offering first year free insurance along with a car stereo, fog lamps, a gold coin and some other accessories.

On Getz it is offering an MP3 player along with first year free insurance. Over and above this they are giving the customer Rs 10,000 as ‘exchange bonus’.

Tata car dealers are also offering free insurance and MP3 player with the Tata Indigo and Tata Indigo Marina. If the customer doesn’t want these then he can opt for a gift cheque of Rs 21,000 in lieu of the above. In case of Indica V2, the customers are given, along with free insurance and a stereo system, free security system and a gold coin. The customer can opt for a gift cheque of Rs 27,000 in lieu of the above.

Chevrolet Optra Elite is offering a gift cheque of Rs 10,000 with an introductory price of Rs 7.09 lakh. And on the Tavera, the company is offering free accessories worth Rs 15,555. The scheme on the Toyota Corolla (which has just been launched in a next-gen avatar) allows the customer to make a down payment of Rs 99,999 and the balance needs to paid with an EMI of Rs 17,999 for five years.

Ford Fiesta and Diwali Discounts

This festival season, get ready to drive a new Ford christined Fiesta, a mid-sized C segment car filling the gap in its product portfolio currently existing between Ford Ikon and Ford Mondeo. This will be Ford India’s first car that will be launched in India simultaneously with some other countries in Europe and in Asia. Though the company hasn't announced the pricing yet, it is likely to be priced between Rs 6.25 lakh and Rs 7.50 lakh.

Did you noticed recent ads in news dailies about Ford offering a hefty discount of up to Rs. 55,000 on its flagship Ford Ikon?? Well, this is Ford's first step at launching its new 'premium aspirational car' Fiesta which will be complementing the Ikon.

PS: I believe getting Ford Ikon for a huge 55k off is a good bet!!

Rs. 1 Lakh car!

Circa March, 2008; Venue: The Geneva Motor Show. Like every year, the 78-year-old automotive show is a big draw. More than 5,400 journalists, 750,000 visitors and 300-odd exhibitors have descended on the 114,000-sq. mt. exhibition ground. As usual, the automotive drool fest is spectacular: there are super-luxury cars on display that are bigger, shinier and faster than the ones year before; hybrid cars promise to become cheaper and even more environmentally-friendly, and a slew of nifty concept cars from the big manufacturers gives a peek into the automotive future-the small cars will rule. Yet, the biggest buzz is not about any of these cars. The talk of the show is the unveiling of the world's cheapest car, with a sticker price of $3,000 (Rs 1,32,000 at the current exchange rate). The manufacturer isn't Toyota, Suzuki or the French Citroen. It is a Pune-based company called Tata Motors, and the 6-feet-plus man standing next to it just can't stop beaming at the flashing cameras. Five years after he promised (incidentally, at the same show) to build the world's cheapest family car, Ratan Tata has delivered. Beating incredible odds once again, the Chairman of the Tata Group has built a car that could do to India what Henry Ford's mass production did to America in the first half of the 20th century. He's built Everyman's Car.

That's the first paragraph of the latest Business Today issue featuring Mr. Ratan Tata and the Rs. 1 lakh car. The issue is loaded with features that any auto enthusiast would love to read. I would say that Business Today has covered the current Indian auto scenario better than any other car or bike magazine in town.... So, go get your copies today!!

PS: If you want to read the online issue, please contact me.

Chevrolet Aveo

Are you planning to buy a Suzuki Swift or a Hyundai Getz in the near future?? Well... I will ask you to wait till January 2006... Coz here comes Chevy Aveo!!

Drive back home!

Canada took the unusual step on Wednesday of deporting a Vancouver man to India who was involved in a fatal street car race five years ago.

Bahadur Singh Bhalru, 26, was a passenger in a car that hit and killed 51-year-old Irene Thorpe during a street race in November 2000. He and his co-accused, Sukhir Singh Khosa, were convicted of criminal negligence causing death.

Bhalru served a two-year conditional sentence and is believed to be the first person in Canada to be convicted of being a participant in a high-speed fatal race, but not the driver.

He failed in his appeal to Canada's federal court for a stay of deportation on Tuesday. His lawyer, Zool Suleman, said he argued in court that his client was in danger of being harmed by corrupt police in India. Bhalru moved to Canada from India with his family in 1997 and lived in Vancouver with his parents and grandmother. He had no previous convictions.

At a press conference at Vancouver International Airport just before he boarded plane, Bhalru told reporters that although India was the country of his birth, Canada was his home, that he was a taxpayer and felt like a "political refugee." Khosa faces deportation at a later date, and is currently in the middle of appeals.

TVS' proposed 3-wheeler...

Via: Sinoj's forwarded mail...

PS: As the mail says, Who Needs a Car now?

2007 Jaguar XK Sports Car

Light and agile, the all-new Jaguar XK accelerates faster, stops quicker than the previous generation, steel-bodied XK8 and has exceptional dynamic abilities. The XK may be the epitome of sporting elegance but it is also a true driver's car in which we have managed to combine a very special balance of superb driving dynamics and comfort.





The 2007 Jaguar XK will be available from spring-2006, and it will be followed by a convertible version of the XK.

F1 dream over?

In its efforts to identify its driver line-up for the 2006 season, Team Jordan on Wednesday announced it was roping in BAR Honda’s Anthony Davidson as a test driver, fuelling speculation over the future of India’s Narain Karthikeyan with the team.

Davidson, who currently fills up the third driver spot for BAR Honda, will test the Jordan Grand Prix (EJ15) car at the Silverstone circuit on September 13.

"As part of Midland’s process of identifying its driver line-up in the 2006 Formula One World Championship, we are pleased to announce that British driver Anthony Davidson will test a Jordan Grand Prix car at Silverstone on Sep 13," Colin Kolles, managing director of Jordan Grand Prix, said.

Analysts say that if Jordan is to dump one of its current drivers, it is more likely to be Karthikeyan than Tiago Montiero, thanks to his having completed just 11 of the 15 races this season, compared to Montiero’s all 15, and languishing on position 17 in the drivers’ championship, three positions behind his team-mate from Portugal.

DDAD!

Thanks you Mr. FM

If the reports in the media are to be believed, pretty soon prices of small cars will be so low that a person owning a two-wheeler can upgrade it to a car, thanks to the upcoming budget.... Read more

Harley Davidson coming to India!!

The big boy from the world of biking is revving on the passage to India. America’s cult bike brand Harley Davidson is exploring the opportunity of riding into the burgeoning Indian motorcycle market through the direct import route.

Harley Davidson is in the process of assessing the feasibility of entering the Indian market with its range of high-end performance bikes.

“We do not have a presence in India yet and are keen on entering this market. We are now exploring the opportunities for our entry into India,” Harley Davidson Inc vice-president Timothy K Hoelter told The Times of India.

Though the finer modalities of its maiden ride on the Indian roads is yet to be chalked out, Hoelter — who is on a week-long visit to the country — said the bikes would be directly sourced from its American plant.

“India is among the few motorcycle markets in the world that’s growing at a fast pace and we are surely looking at a presence here. Whenever we enter the Indian market, it will be through the sourcing route. Harley Davidson buyers identify our bikes to be an all-American brand and they want to buy the bikes that are produced in US,” he said.

Hoelter, however, said the detailed plans — including product shortlist — for its India entry are yet to be worked out.

According to industry watchers, the Harley bikes would range between Rs 4 lakh to Rs 14 lakh in India, including the 60% import duty.

“As India’s economy takes bigger strides, a younger population with expendable income are embracing luxury as never before. With the demand for high-end bikes like Kawasaki Ninja and Suzuki Hayabusa from India growing by the day, it comes as no surprise that Harley Davidson is also finding this market very attractive,” said an analyst.

Harley-Davidson produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of merchandise.

Source: ET

Not Fat, Says Mercedes

A German court has ruled that Mercedes must release a man from a car lease deal after a dispute over whether he was too heavy to drive the luxury vehicle, Bild newspaper reported Tuesday.

Mercedes refused to release the insurance salesman from a lease agreement on his S-320 CDI model, arguing the multiple car breakdowns caused by his weight were insufficient grounds to break the deal.

But the Stuttgart court ruled in favor of the salesman, named only as Frank S., apparently on the grounds that the car should have been able to take his weight.

Frank S. was told that at 160 kg (352 pounds) he weighed twice as much as the average driver, Bild said.

"They told me that I was too fat for the car because the seat was broken," he told Bild, in a story next to a picture of the east German squeezing behind the steering wheel of the model Bild said was worth 65,000 euros.

"I could hardly fit behind the steering wheel ... Then I had to take the car back to the shop for repairs 13 times for 21 different malfunctions in the first 20,000 km."

The 37-year-old said he got fed up and wanted to return the car but Mercedes refused to release him from his lease contract.

A court in Stuttgart ruled that DaimlerChrysler had to let him out of the agreement.

The salesman, who switched to a Volkswagen, would sue to get back the leasing payments he made, Bild said.

Mercedes-Benz Vision R Concept

It's official: Every automaker on the planet now builds a crossover vehicle!

After the success of Toyota's crossover Innova, here comes the latest incarnation from Mercedes. "An automotive decathlete that excels at an unprecedented range of owner needs without sacrificing aesthetics." - According 2 Mercedes.

Top 10 Ways to Prevent an Accident

It's so much easier to prevent accidents than to deal with the painful consequences of a chance encounter. However, most motorists spend very little time learning how to drive more safely. Everyone is in such a rush to arrive that we cut corners and take chances. We would like to put a stop to that by providing a list of commonsense safety reminders. Following the tips below — and incorporating them into your driving habits — will greatly increase your chances of safely arriving at your destination.



1. Carefully look both ways — twice — before entering an intersection. It's easy to miss an oncoming car at first glance because it's hidden by your car's windshield frame. A second look only takes a second and it might avoid a serious collision.

2. Don't accelerate into an intersection the instant the light turns green. This is a good way to get rammed by someone running the red light who's coming from the other direction.

3. Look right before pulling out. After waiting for traffic from the left to clear before you make your right-hand turn, don't forget to look to the right again just before you proceed. Pedestrians or cars may have suddenly materialized in your path while you were waiting to turn.

4. Anticipate unexpected changes in traffic. For example, if you're in a fast-moving lane with empty road ahead and the next lane over is backed up, be prepared for impatient motorists to dart into the lane in front of you.

5. Know your blind spots. Find out where your blind spots are when checking the road behind you in your mirrors. You might have to turn to look directly into the lanes beside you to avoid missing something left undetected by your mirrors. This is particularly important when changing lanes — don't just rely on your mirrors.

6. Watch other drivers' blind spots. Practice extra caution when passing large vehicles, such as semi trucks, which have less maneuverability and even larger blind spots. If you can't see a truck's mirrors, chances are its driver can't see you.

7. Watch for children and pets. Pay special attention to posted speed limits around schools and in residential areas; children and pets may unexpectedly dart into the street.

8. Don't tailgate. Leave enough space between yourself and the car ahead of you, when traveling and when stopped. On the highway, this may save you from a fender bender. Remember to leave even more room if the roads are slick. If you stop on a hill behind a car with a manual transmission, the extra room may save you from being rammed if the car slides back. Leaving yourself extra room can also help you make a quick exit if you're approached by a carjacker in a dubious neighborhood.

9. Keep your car operating safely. Don't procrastinate about performing safety maintenance and repairs on your car. Check tire tread depth and pressure regularly. Have your brakes checked and wheels aligned as soon as they need it.

10. Go back to school. Go to a high-performance driving school to learn accident avoidance maneuvers and how to control skids. Understanding how to make your car do what you want it to do in emergency situations could save your life.

Source: Edmunds

Toyota's small car

Describing its extent of growth in the country so far as not satisfactory, Toyota Motor Corp today said it was impossible to attain a substantial presence without a compact car in its stable.

Toyota started production in India in December 1999 and in nearly six years, it could secure (only) five per cent of the one million a year passenger car market in India which was not satisfactory, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Managing Director Atsushi Toyoshima told reporters here.

Toyota operates in India through TKM, its joint venture with the Kirloskar group.

Toyoshima said Toyota was seriously studying proposals to set up its second plant and also to launch a compact car in the country but insisted that no final decision had been taken either on the location or the launch time.

Japan's biggest carmaker has made no secret of its ambition to capture ten per cent marketshare in India by 2010 and 15 per cent by 2015.

Asked if by 2010, small car project would be a reality, Toyoshima said: "Definitely, we should. Without that (small car), it's impossible to gain substantial presence in the Indian market".

He said his "gut feeling" is that the Indian passenger car market would double every five years and by 2015 would be four million units annually.

Via: ET

Mitusbishi Sportback

This is Mitusbishi's latest Concept Sportback show car, which will receive its public debut at this year's Frankfurt motor show in September.

The Sportback previews the look of the new Lancer, which will appear as a five-door hatchback to rival the Ford Focus in 2007, and brings with it a new platform which Mitsubishi claims will be flexible enough to build a range of new models upon.

Next to come will be a replacement for the four-wheel-drive Outlander, which will be unveiled at the Tokyo motor show in October alongside the first appearance of a concept version of the Lancer Evolution saloon's tenth incarnation.

Infiniti G35 Coupe

The 2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe is a 2-door, 4-passenger luxury sports coupe, available in two trims, the Base and the 6MT.

Upon introduction, the Base is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 280-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 26-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The 6MT is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 298-horsepower engine that achieves 19-mpg in the city and 26-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard.

The 2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe is a carryover from 2004.

Tata Ace

Tata Motors recently launched its new mini-truck the Tata Ace, powered by a twin-cylinder, 16bhp, 700cc IDI diesel engine (basically the Indica diesel engine split in half). The Ace, which Tata claims would provide fuel efficiency of 18-20km per litre, has a maximum payload capacity of 745kg and a stylish all-steel cabin, which provides some of the comforts of a regular car. With this model, the company hopes to create a totally new 'small commercial vehicle' category and has priced it at Rs 2.25 lakh (BS-II) and Rs 2.35 lakh (BS-III).

The New Tata Safari...

Gotcha Getz!

One day after announcing that prices for Accent and Getz will be hiped in September, Hyundai Motors has done a U-turn by announcing a price cut of Rs. 35,000 for the entry level Hyundai Getz.

Apart from this, Getz now comes with a variant (GLE) that costs exactly the same as that of a Swift Vxi @ Rs. 4.15 lakhs... !!!

The Getz GLE, which has an AC and power steering as standard features, is understood to be part of Hyundai’s efforts to increase its share of the fast-growing premium hatchback segment, where Maruti Udyog retails the three variants of Swift in a price band of Rs 3.95 lakh and Rs 4.95 lakh.

3,500,000,000

If you are boggled by the number of zeroes, well, that figure is 350 crore, and happens to be the annual income in Indian rupees of one gentleman by the name of Michael Schumacher!!!