BMW Launches Sports Activity Coupé in India!

BMW India launched the BMW X6 at Infinity Cars, a new dealership facility in Mumbai. The BMW X6 will be available on the Indian roads in two variants – X6 xDrive50i (petrol) and X6 xDrive30d (diesel). These cars are available in the country as Completely Built-up Units (CBU) and can be ordered across all BMW dealerships in India.

The new BMW X6 has all the agility and elegance of a coupé plus the impressive versatility of an SAV. The BMW X6 draws its strength from two exclusive automotive worlds to create a new one. The first Sports Activity Coupé. Equipped with BMW Dynamic Performance Control, this is a coupé that knows no limits, especially in terms of driving dynamics.

The ex-showroom prices of the new BMW X6 in INR are as follows.
BMW X6 xDrive50i: 82,90,000
BMW X6 xDrive30d: 65,90,000

PS: Ex-showroom price excludes RTO registration charges, tax, insurance, handling charges; Octroi and entry tax (if applicable).

The all-wheel xDrive system provides better traction, higher stability and more safety. If the sensors detect that the car is about to drift off course the system reacts in milliseconds. By adjusting the amount of power that goes to the front and rear wheels, xDrive effectively nips over or under steering in the bud.

For the first time in a BMW, Dynamic Performance Control gives the BMW X6 unique new cornering qualities. Seamless drive distribution to the left- and right-hand rear wheels improves track stability, allowing the driver to enter bends more precisely and cross-accelerate faster with optimised grip when accelerating out. On slippery or uneven surfaces, Dynamic Performance Control provides the further advantage of an even safer and more stable traction.

And when xDrive and Dynamic Performance Control join forces, the result is a whole new dimension in driving dynamics.

The new V8 power unit with Twin Turbo technology and direct injection in the BMW X6 makes it the most powerful drive unit ever seen in a BMW X Model. The new eight-cylinder is impressive not only through its outstanding thrust and pulling force, but also through its compact dimensions.

To the very last detail, the BMW X6 offers a unique synthesis of exclusive luxury, sporting dynamics, and powerful style. A wide range of colours and materials highlight the sporting character of the BMW X6 and add to the individual style and personality of this unique vehicle.

Reigning Discounts!

Automobile companies in India are enticing their customers by offering them great bargains on their cars. December is usually a month of discounts/great deals, but this time around the bargains seems to be even juicier considering a sharp drop in sales last month and a pile up of inventory at the showrooms.

Here's a run down on what's on offer:

Toyota Motors:
Innova - a price cut of up to Rs. 32,780.
Corolla - a price cut of up to Rs. 40,750.

Maruti Suzuki:
Wagon R - increased discount to Rs. 25,000 plus insurance vs. Rs. 12,000/insurance in November.
M-800 - a price cut of Rs. 6,500 plus insurance vs. Rs. 2,000 in November.
Alto - concession up to Rs. 7,000.
SX4 sedan - will go down by Rs.23,000 to Rs.760,542

Hyundai Motors:
Santrol GL (solid) - offering this version at Rs. 2.99 lakhs, the price that was when this model was launched 10 years ago.
Santro non-AC - free insurance plus car accessories worth Rs. 7,000
Santro GLS - free insurance plus car accessories worth Rs. 15,000
i10 - will be cheaper by Rs.11,247 and Rs.18,381 depending on its models.
Sonata - will see a drop of Rs.44,792
Also, loyalty benefit of up to Rs. 20,000 on select models of Getz, Accent & Verna.

Ford Motors India:
Ford Fiesta EXI (petrol) - a discount of Rs. 90,000, thus bringing down the sticker price from Rs. 6.2 lakhs to Rs. 5.29 lakhs.
Ford Fiesta Diesel - a discount of Rs. 51,000, thus bringing down the sticker price from Rs. 7.10 lakhs to Rs. 6.59 lakhs.
Offer valid only till Dec. 12, 2008.

Audi Inaugurates New Exclusive Showroom

Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, today announced the opening of a new exclusive showroom in Ahmedabad.

‘Audi Ahmedabad’ will be the first in the state of Gujarat and the third showroom in the western region.

‘Audi Ahmedabad’ showroom is spread over an area of 5,000 square feet, will display six cars and will have a total strength of 12 employees, extensively trained by Audi. The exclusive Audi workshop is specially built to service all Audi models with the latest and most advanced equipment brought in directly from Germany.

Built in accordance with the latest international standards of Audi Corporate Identity ‘Audi Ahmedabad’ will give its customers the progressive Audi brand experience. For the showroom opening the exclusive super sports car Audi R8 will be on display.

The Audi R8 that has won several awards in Germany and Europe, along with the double victory at the famous 2008 World Car of the Year awards, winning both the ‘World Performance Car” and “World Design Car of the Year’ awards, was launched in India in November 2008.

The Audi R8 is available along with the entire Audi model range in India consisting of the new Audi A4, Audi A6, Audi A8, Audi Q7 and Audi TT at twelve dealerships across the country: in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ludhiana, Chennai, Kochi and Kolkata.

Superman's Two Wheeler!

BSA Motors Launches Largest Range of eScooters in India

BSA Motors, a Strategic Business Unit of Tube Investments of India (TII), part of the Rs.9582 crore (USD 2.4billion) Murugappa Group, launched five models of BSA eScooters today in the city. The eScooters are manufactured at the BSA Motors new plant in Ambattur, with an investment of Rs.200 million for the first phase. The Ambattur plant has an initial production capacity of 150 eScooters a day which can be ramped upto 300 units per day as and when required. The first batch of eScooters would be rolled out from Chennai on 10th November 2008.

BSA Motors announced Actress Tamannah, the rising star in south Indian movies as the brand ambassador for BSA eScooters, to create strong linkage with the target audience of the age group between 14 to 30 years. She has acted in trendsetting films like ‘Happy Days’ in Telugu and ‘Kalloori’ in Tamil.

Mr. M A Alagappan, Executive Chairman, Murugappa Group launched the product range. The management of BSA Motors comprises of Mr. M M Murugappan, Chairman, Tube Investments of India, Mr L Ramkumar Managing Director, Tube Investments India, Mr. Arun Alagappan, Senior Vice President, BSA Motors and Mr. K B Srinivasan, General Manager, BSA Motors.

The five models of the BSA eScooters are,

Smile - The most competitively priced e-Scooter in the country for the age group of 13 to 18 years; 250 W, top speed of 25kmph. License and Registration is not required for riding this eScooter

Diva - First e-Scooter designed exclusively for girls in the age group of 16 to 20 years; 250 W, top speed of 25kmph. License and Registration is not required for riding this eScooter

Street Rider - Unisex sportz model from teen to twenties; 250 W, top speed of 25kmph. License and Registration is not required for riding this eScooter

Roamer - For working men and women for the age group of 18 to 25 years; 500 W, top speed of 40kmph, requires license and registration.

Roamer+ - The Family eScooter; 800W, top speed of 45kmph, requires license and registration

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. M M Murugappan, Chairman, Tube Investments of India said, “We see our entry into the electric two wheeler market as a logical extension of our current business, from bicycles to electric two wheelers. The eScooters is presently a Rs.450 crore market in India and the industry is expected to double in a year’s time. BSA’s foray into the eScooters category helps us to expand our portfolio in the two wheeler market. He also added, “BSA eScooters will undoubtedly be the next big success from TII.”

The Ambattur plant will have facility for painting, assembly and testing of eScooters. Key parts like motor, controller, battery, lamps, wheel discs, tyres & tubes have been sourced from reputed automotive vendors. The plant is equipped with State-of-the-Art technology with comprehensive full vehicle performance testing with a test track, motorized conveyor assembly line with modern assembly tools.

The BSA eScooters are certified by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to be used in public roads in India. Maintenance free batteries and motors make BSA eScooters 100% trouble free. The BSA eScooters have an efficiency of 82-85% in comparison to petrol run vehicles which has an efficiency of 35-38%.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Arun Alagappan, Senior Vice President, BSA Motors, said, “BSA Motors, a Strategic Business Unit was consciously formed to ensure focus and attention to the growing eScooter market in India. The BSA marketing team is constantly tracking leading style and fashion trends among the youth and their way of life. Hence, care has been taken on every aspect of the marketing mix to suit it to the target group. He also added, “Our initial thrust will be in the south Indian market and would be accessible with wide range of dealership network shortly.”

BSA Motors has carried out extensive market research to understand customer preferences in terms of features, colours, graphics and product names. The products have been specifically designed to suit Indian conditions. Every model has gone through extensive tests and validation to suit to the Indian roads and weather.

Each eScooter will have four colour options with the exception of Diva which will have five colour options. The unique features of these eScooter models are its protective safety switch, twin passenger foot rest, ergonomically designed seats, great storage space, side reflectors and many more innovative features that are not currently available in the market. The forte of BSA Motors lies in product design and top notch quality. Out of the five models, three models are in 250 watts, one in 500 watts and one in 800 watts.

Press advertisements of BSA Motors calling for 40 dealerships in South India had an overwhelming response from 400 applicants. Strict criteria were applied for dealer selection and the best 45 applications were selected for the launch phase. BSA Motors initially plans to set up 45 exclusive dealerships before December 2008 in states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry and Goa. All BSA Motors showrooms in the country will also have service centres with best in class equipment to provide complete service and satisfaction to the BSA customers.

For effective after sales service, BSA Motors plans to set up a centralized customer care call centre. BSA Motors’ customers can shortly call on GSM and Toll free VSNL number or SMS for product queries, test rides and service related issues.

Audi R8 - Super Car Launched in India

Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, today launched its Audi R8, the exclusive, mid-engine super sports car with a high degree of day-to-day drivability. The stylish and progressive Audi R8 is priced at 1,17,00,000 INR (ex-showroom Delhi without C.S.T., transportation, etc.).

“The Audi R8 is not only a strong statement about the brand, but also about Audi’s direction for the future – to be the most successful premium brand by 2015. It embodies the philosophy of “Vorsprung durch Technik”. It will revolutionise the Indian automobile space and will offer an experience of a lifetime to discerning customers in the country,” said Mr. Benoit Tiers, Managing Director Audi India.

The much-awaited Audi high performance super sports car, the Audi R8 was officially unveiled at the splendid lawns of the German Embassy in New Delhi along with two Audi racing legends: Auto Union Type D and the Audi R8 Le Mans Prototype, both chosen for their link to ground-breaking technologies of their time. These cars were introduced to the public in a rare display, after which in a stunning presentation eight Audi R8’s moved in a convoy to the historic India Gate through streets of New Delhi.

“We decided to launch the Audi R8 in the Indian market based on the enthusiastic response received from our select customers. India is a very crucial market for Audi and we are very keen to expand our presence in the country through expansion of the dealership network and bringing in our international range of models,” added Mr. Tiers.

With its technical precision and superior performance, the Audi R8 took the lead in the most demanding automotive sports car segment from the moment it was launched. The Audi R8 4.2 V8-FSI is equipped with an engine displacement of 4,163 cc, a power output of 309 kW (420 hp) at 7,800 rpm and a maximum torque 430 Nm between 4,500 and 6,000 rpm. The Audi R8 can attain a top speed of 301 km/h with 0-100 km/h in impressive 4.6 seconds.

The super sports car is endowed with a drivetrain combination of quattro permanent all-wheel drive with manual six-speed transmission or six-speed R tronic and an all-aluminum Audi Space Frame body. Its perfection in quality and finish, only to be expected of an Audi product, place the Audi R8 in a formidable position worldwide.

The Audi R8 has distinctive exterior and interior styling that offers the feel of a luxurious sports car with exclusive equipment coupled with a wide variety of customized interior options.

The Audi R8 has won several awards in Germany and Europe, along with the double victory at the famous 2008 World Car of the Year awards, winning both the ‘World Performance Car” and “World Design Car of the Year’ awards.

The Audi R8 is available along with the Audi model range in India consisting of the new Audi A4, Audi A6, Audi A8, Audi Q7 and Audi TT at twelve dealerships across the country: in Delhi, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana, Chennai, Kochi and Kolkata.

-- Grand launch event held at the exclusive environs of The German Embassy

-- Audi brings exclusive racing fever to India with the R8 Le Mans and Auto Union Type D race car

-- Audi R8: a pure super sports car and a high degree of day-to-day drivability

-- Audi R8: Winner of 2008 “World Performance Car” and the “World Car Design of the Year” awards

AUDI AG

AUDI AG sold a total of 964,151 cars in 2007 and thus achieved its twelfth consecutive record year. With revenue of €33,617 million and profit before tax of €2,915 million, the company attained its best figures ever. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Györ (Hungary), Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium). At the end of 2007, production of the Audi A6 started in Aurangabad, India. The company is active in more than 100 markets worldwide.

AUDI AG’s wholly owned subsidiaries include Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A. in Sant’Agata Bolognese (Italy) and quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm. Audi currently employs around 57,000 people worldwide, including 45,000 in Germany. The brand with the four rings invests more than €2 billion each year in order to sustain the company’s technological lead embodied in its “Vorsprung durch Technik” slogan. Audi plans to significantly increase the number of models in its portfolio by 2015 to 40.

In 2007 Audi India, based in Mumbai, commenced its business activities. The Audi model range in India includes the Audi A8, Audi Q7, Audi A6, Audi A4 and Audi TT.

Toyota Small Car for India

Toyota is building its second plant in India to increase production in a growing market. The plant, which will cost more than $340 million, is to open in 2010 with an initial annual production capacity of 100,000 vehicles, including the Corolla subcompact.

Toyota already has one plant in India, on the outskirts in Bangalore, that produced 52,000 vehicles last year. It was set up in 1997 as a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group.

The People's Car - Tata Nano!

"Since, promise is a promise the standard dealer version will cost Rs 1 lakh" announced a beaming Mr. Ratan Tata in front of thousands of journalists amid cheers from the crowd.

And sitting in front of the television, zipping past news channels showing "live & exclusive" pictures, I was as animated as I've been as a kid to get a glimpse of the car, now christened Nano.

How will it look? Will it be more spacious than M-800? Will they be able to price it at Rs.1L? These were the questions running through my mind.

I had predicted earlier to my friends that it will look similar to the 3-wheeled load-carrier of theirs, Tata Ace, which was launched a couple of years ago. When they launched Tata Ace, I had a gut feeling that Tata was testing its waters with this load-carrier. Well, I believe I was right, the Tata Nano has an uncanny front-end resemblance to Tata Ace....

Now let me stop bragging and get into the finer details. The TATA's will launch Nano in different variants and only the standard variant without A/C and other amenities will cost Rs. 1 lakh. Keep in mind that one has to dishout transportation charges and VAT separately. So, at this point, it looks like that will be an additional 20 grands. The car is expected to hit the roads in October '08. The prices of the other variants are not known at this time.

Now to the big question.. How will they make money out of it? Aint' the margins too thin? Well, their answer at this point is that there can be a lot of variants to it which you can customize at different price levels. Check out this link from their website where you can actually customize the Nano the way you want it (Highly Recommended!). And going by the options available in it, there's scope for a lot of alterations!! A few options that can be customized are the Scoop Trims, Decals, Alloy Wheel, Fog Lamps and Color variants of course.

Environmentalists have already raised their eyebrows and there's a section of the population which beleieves this car will crowd the cities. Yes, there's every possibility of that, but you cannot take it away from a common man who wants to take his family in a safe environment away from the harsh weather conditions!! If you really want to save the environment, ask automakers to stop making fuel-guzzling SUVs.

What the TATA's have in the Nano is a sure-shot winner and this will bring in a paradigm shift in the worldwide auto industry.

Here's some exclusive pictures of Nano -


The Deluxe/Luxury Version



The Standard Version


Interiors!








PS: More reviews will follow. Cross posted in Car India blog also.

BUGATTI - EVERYONE'S DREAM CAR!

My bro-in-law who is in Sharjah fwded me these "amazing" pics of a Bugatti Veyron which is worth 5 billion pounds!!

It is owned by Sheik Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of UAE. And it's probably the most expensive car with the most expensive number plate in the UAE!!!

A few stats:
V16 engine
1000bhp
9 radiators…
Top speed 405km/hr

Chevy Spark!

Finally, the much awaited car on Indians roads is ready to roll out from the spanking new showrooms of GM in India. The erstwhile Daewoo Matiz in its new awatar as Chevrolet Spark packs a lot of punch. Chevrolet Spark is equipped with a 1000cc petrol engine and is be available in four models and has been priced in a range of Rs 3.09-3.89 lakh -- nearly Rs 12,000 cheaper than Maruti Zen Estilo.

"We have not been represented in the small car market in India and we want to increase our presence in this segment, which is the fastest growing segment in the country," General Motors Corp Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner said.

PS: Will be only available in July for Tamilnadu and Kerala :-(

BMW 3 is here!

From next week, BMW's very own Made in India cars will roll out from its Chennai plant in Mahindra Global City.

According to ET:

“Trial productions have started since the third week of February and cars have been rolled out to achieve stabilisation of assembly process. To begin with, the company intends to roll out six cars a day. At present, well over 90% of the components, except for seats and few other parts, are imported as part of the CKD kits. However, this is expected to be gradually reduced,” the sources added. Meanwhile, the company has also expanded and strengthened its dealership network in time for the roll out from India.

F1 Fun2Watch Crashes!

The F1 2007 season is here and what better way to start it than by watching this compilation of funniest of funniest crashes!

How to play havoc in the traffic....

A few weeks ago, when I was coming to the bank inside our campus, I chanced upon this huge traffic block created by an idiot truck driver who tried to turn the truck near our "akka mess"... The trucks tyres got jammed in the slush and he couldn't manoever it anywhere around, resulting in huge traffic jams for hours... Watch it now!

Video 1 -



Video 2 -

Better Fuel Economy!

As the weather warms up, more families plan to hit the road for vacation. But with petrol prices at about Rs. 50 a litre and expected to peak pretty soon, those road trips are becoming more expensive than ever before. What can be done to improve petrol mileage?


Powered by Castpost

Experts say conservative driving and proper maintenance can improve your car's fuel economy. That means driving at posted speed limits and keeping your tires, engine and transmission at their peak condition.

Designers are also making vehicles more fuel efficient. More streamlined cars are being made, which will drag less at high speeds and consume less energy. New engines, such as the cylinder deactivation technology used in the latest Chevy Tahoe, also conserve fuel by running on fewer cylinders when necessary to save power. Experts say these new innovations, along with proper driving and maintenance, can save a tank of gas every other month.

Lexus LS 600h L

Powered by Castpost

Hybrids are going where they've never been before. Lexus introduced the first "full" hybrid paired to a V8 engine for the best in luxury, performance and efficiency. The 2008 Lexus LS hybrid sedan was introduced to the world at the New York International Auto Show.

The hybrid version of the brand's fourth-generation flagship sedan combines a traditional gasoline engine with electric motors to produce outstanding performance, while improving fuel efficiency and producing dramatically fewer emissions. Combined with Lexus' hallmark luxury features, this car will be at the pinnacle of the luxury car market.

Knowledge and acceptance of hybrid vehicles continues to grow. This new Lexus hybrid comes to the market at a time when one-third of consumers are now considering purchasing hybrid vehicles.

2007 Volkswagen Touareg

World's most expensive cars

They are stuff dreams are made of. Wheeled dreams of most men and women. Metal beauties, which fill the fantasy of most and lives of rare miniscule.

Bugatti Veyron, Pagani Zonda and SSC Aero are few of the world's most expensive automobiles. A benchmark in design, technology and what say you. Here’s a peek. Check out

Fuel Challenge!

Today, John and Helen Taylor begin the North American leg of their historic pursuit to set a Guinness World Record for Fuel Efficiency by circumnavigating the globe in a standard car, across 18,000 miles and 25 countries -- using as little gasoline as possible.

The Taylors, arguably the world's most fuel efficient drivers with 34 fuel economy driving achievements between them, started their journey on January 17 in London. To date, they have tackled the roads across Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, encountering everything from ice storms, flash floods and a tornado to dancing camels and donkey carts. The Taylors have driven 12,700 miles to date and have been averaging 51 miles per gallon by using Shell fuel and employing Shell FuelStretch principles, which includes driving and vehicle maintenance tips.

The Taylors and crew spend up to 14 hours a day on the road, driving both day and night, while adhering to strict health and safety guidelines. They also follow a strict and limited eating regime to minimize the risk of illness that could affect achieving the record. One break for the couple, however, came mid-journey, when they stopped at home in Melbourne, Australia, to attend their daughter's wedding.

The U.S. Route

The North American leg begins in San Francisco at the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, followed by the Taylors and their support crew driving south to Los Angeles, and then heading east across the country through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Canada and New York. The Taylors expect to fill up about five times along the route, before ending in New York City on March 24.

The Taylor's attempt to set the best fuel efficiency record possible will be challenged by mountainous roads, gridlock around major American cities and potentially challenging winter road conditions. However, they have every confidence they will achieve their goal of 35 fill-ups or less for the global journey, which ends in London in early April after crossing Portugal, Spain and France.

"Given the United State's reputation for a wide variety of terrain, traffic congestion and road conditions this time of year, the U.S. leg will continue to test our ability to get the best fuel economy possible," said John Taylor. "However, by implementing FuelStretch driving tips, which any driver can use, we believe we are on our way to setting a Guinness World Record that will be tough to beat!"

Teaching Drivers About FuelStretch Driving Principles

Drivers looking to get the most out of every gasoline purchase can get helpful hints from Shell "FuelStretch," a new program being offered at Shell stations nationwide. Designed to help drivers save money and get the most out of their car choice, FuelStretch offers motorists money-saving driving tips, a credit card that helps drivers earn gasoline rebates on every purchase they make, and innovative fuels that are specially formulated to help keep engines clean.

As part of their attempt to achieve the Guinness World Record for fuel efficiency, the Taylors have been practicing Shell FuelStretch driving principles. The FuelStretch tips for vehicle maintenance and driving techniques have helped the Taylors decrease overall fuel consumption, including actions such as using cruise control on major roads and in free-flowing traffic, avoiding idling and higher speeds and minimizing vehicle drag.

"Shell wants to help drivers make the most out of every purchase, which is why we recommend they incorporate FuelStretch driving techniques into their daily routine," says Mark Ferner, Shell Fuel Economist. "We hope the Taylor's journey through the U.S. demonstrates that whether you're attempting to set a Guinness World Record or just running errands around town, incorporating Shell FuelStretch principles is a simple way to be more fuel efficient."

U.S. drivers interested in following the Taylor's journey and learning how they too can drive more efficiently can visit http://www.fuelchallenge.com . The Web site chronicles the journey, providing daily statistics, highlights, and mileage records, daily blog entries from the Taylors and crew, photos, and links to the FuelStretch tips.

The Expertise and Tools Behind the Record Attempt

The Taylors approached Shell in 2004 to see if the company would participate in the world's biggest fuel-efficiency record attempt. They chose Shell to be their exclusive gasoline provider after testing several commercially-available fuels.

By supplying the Taylors with fuel for their Fuel Economy World Record attempt, Shell is demonstrating its commitment to fuels research and development. The Taylor's journey is the ultimate opportunity for Shell to test its fuel technology under real-world driving conditions, and the results will help Shell develop future fuels for drivers around the world.

The Taylors are driving a Volkswagen Golf FSI 1.6. It is VW's standard Golf model, which is representative of cars you can find on the road today. Per the Golf VW's Owner's Manual, the standard is 34.4 U.S. miles per gallon. The Taylor's car is accompanied by a crew trailing in two Volkswagen Passat Estates. The crew includes an independent witness, a videographer to document the journey, a writer to help chronicle the Taylor's adventures, and two Volkswagen support personnel.

The Guinness World Record attempt requires one gasoline type throughout the journey, so the Taylor's are using a European fuel formulation that is compatible with the European Volkswagon Golf they are driving. Shell gasolines currently available in the U.S. have important similarities to the European fuel the Taylor's are using -- both contain powerful detergents that can help keep critical engine parts clean, which can help improve engine performance.

For the attempt to qualify as an official Guinness World Record, the Taylors must travel in one direction, covering a distance of at least 18,000 miles, but no more than the full length of the Equator. The car needs to be a standard production model. There are 18 other strict rules covering antipodal points, East/West co-ordinates, independent adjudication, log books, witnesses, pre-travel engineering checks, and driving times.

"We're excited about this new challenge as it represents the most ambitious global fuel efficiency record attempt to date," says Craig Glenday, editor of Guinness World Records. "It's a timely representation of what attempting a Guinness World Record is all about -- pushing the boundaries of human and technological achievement while carrying along with it some helpful tips to demonstrate how every driver can save money on fuel."

PS: They also went throuhg India, click here to read the excerpts of that journey!

Exotic Cars

BMW Manufacturing Produces One Millionth Vehicle

The millionth vehicle, which came off the line on February 28, 2006, is a Z4 M Roadster in Interlagos Blue with a Champagne Leather individual interior, custom Ash-Walnut wood trim, 18-inch alloy wheels and an engine that takes the vehicle from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Due to its historical significance to BMW and the South Carolina factory, the roadster will remain at the factory in the Zentrum museum as part of the BMW Mobile Tradition Collection.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of roadster production. BMW was the first automaker to reintroduce a luxury roadster to the public with the Z3 Roadster in 1996. The Z4 Roadster, the first next-generation vehicle launched at the Spartanburg plant, began production in October 2002 and the 100,000th Z4 was built in November 2004.

The updated Z4 Roadster and the new Z4 M Roadster, the latest additions to the roadster family, were showcased at the Chicago Auto Show last month. Production of the updated Z4 Roadster began in January. Production of the all- new Z4 M Roadster, Z4 Coupe and M Coupe will begin this spring.