Most awaited car Maruti Kizashi is all set to be launched in the India on 2nd February, 2011. The Maruti Suzuki Kizashi will be available at a price rance of Rs. 12 to Rs. 15 lakh. Maruti Kizashi will be the competitor for of Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis and Volkswagen Jetta at the lower end, and Honda Accord and Toyota Camry at the upper end.

As per a recent statement given to PTI, Maruti Suzuki India Managing Executive Officer (Marketing & Sales) Mayank Pareek said, "This (Kizashi) is our attempt to be future ready, as we believe the A4 and A5 segment (luxury) is going to grow. It is small at the moment but the way the economy is growing, this segment is going to be big."

"There are nine million Maruti Suzuki customers at present. Many of them want to move up and have been asking after the SX4, what next? What we are doing here is to provide them options in luxury segment," Mr. Pareek said.

Maruti Kizashi model will be launched in India in both manual and automatic transmission versions. Maruti Kizashi will be the most expensive car in India for Maruti Suzuki.

Tata Nano is one of the cheapest car of the world and the Tata Nano is available all over the India at cheaper rates. Tata Nano Diesel is on the card as well. Tata Nano Diesel will be launch around September 2011, as speculated in recent media reports.

Tata Nano Diesel will be the cheapest diesel car available in India. So far there is no diesel car in the segment A and A+. Earlier this month, the company had announced to offer open sales of the car at all of its 874 sales outlets spread across the Indian market.

With the New Year 2011 started, it's time to take a look at the cars expected in this year. 2010 was a bumper year for the Indian car fans with launches as the Etios, Figo, Micra and Polo. Now, as the Indian auto market is growing at its best pace ever, the auto biggies are eying to make the most of this ongoing high demand momentum by expanding their India portfolio.

Same as the scenario was throughout last year, a slew of new cars is ready to enter the Indian roads this year as well. Major car makers such as Maruti, GM, Ford, Honda, Nissan and Renault are gearing-up to launch their respective new portfolio car models in the Indian market. Here is a brief description of the much anticipated upcoming cars in India in year 2011.

Maruti Kizashi
Indian auto giant Maruti Suzuki is coming-up with a series of new cars in the country throughout this year. The most awaited among these is company’s high-profile premium sedan – Maruti Kizashi – that will be launched in the Indian market in the second half of January 2011. The Kizashi sedan would be sporting a 2.0L petrol engine and is expected to be shelved in the price segment of Rs 14 to 16 lakh. The major competitors of the Kizashi will be Toyota Corolla Altis, Chevrolet Cruze and Honda Civic. The car will be imported to the Indian market as a completely built unit (CBU) from Suzuki’s base market in Japan.

The Kizashi is Maruti’s first attempt to enter the premium sedan market, and will thus will be a very important and interesting event in the Indian car scenario.

Maruti SX4 Diesel
The SX4 diesel is yet another much awaited Maruti car in India that is expected to be rolled-out in the Indian market by the first quarter of year 2011. The new SX4 diesel variant will come powered by a 1.3L turbo charged diesel engine. The car is expected to be launched in the price segment of sub Rs 7 lakh. The company has in fact already started assembling the car at its Gurgaon plant.

New Maruti Swift and Swift Dzire
After launching the Kizashi and SX4 diesel in the first half of this year, the company plans to launch upgraded version of its popular premium hatchback Swift and volume driving entry level sedan Swift Dzire. The new Maruti Swift Dzire model is speculated to come with a shorter length (less than 4 meters) and also with price reduced by over Rs 40,000, due to lower taxes applicable. On the other hand the hatchback Swift is expected to come with a number of cosmetic changes at both exterior and interior front.

New Maruti Swift Spy Shots

Maruti Cervo
This is yet another Maruti car that is lined-up to hit the Indian roads by the end of this year. The Maruti Cervo will be placed in the price segment of sub Rs 2 lakh where it will be competing with the small car Tata Nano and Hyundai’s upcoming 800cc small car. It is expected to sport a 0.6L, 60 bhp engine and is claimed to be offering a segment leading fuel economy.

Given the car's specs and pricing, the Maruti Cervo is sure to be one of the most awaited launches this year!

Toyota Etios Liva
After launching the sedan version of Etios in the Dec 2010, Toyota is all set to launch the hatchback Etios Liva in the Indian market in April 2011. The car will be sporting a 1.2L petrol engine that is expected to deliver a peak power of 80 bhp. A concept version of this model was showcased at the Delhi auto expo in January 2010, where it had received an applauding response from the car enthusiasts. The car is expected to be launched in the price range of Rs 4 to 6 lakh where it will be competing with the likes of Maruti Swift, Hyundai i10, Ford Figo, Chevrolet Beat and Volkswagen Polo.

Renault Fluence
After splitting up with Mahindra, Renault is now looking at cracking the Indian market on its own. Plans are well underway and company has announced its Premium sedan Renault Fluence which will be rolled-out in the Indian market in May 2011.

The Fluence is expected to be set in the price segment of Rs 12 to 14 lakh where it will be competing with the likes of Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis and Chevrolet Cruze. The company will commence the commercial production of this car in April 2011 at its Chennai facility.

Renault Koleos
Following the launch of sedan Fluence in May 2011, the company is planning to roll-out a compact luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) – Koleos – in the Indian market by sometime around October 2011.The new Renault Koleos will be competing with the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Outlander, Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail and Ford Endeavour. The car is expected to be rolled out in the price segment of Rs 16 to 20 lakh.

Nissan's New Global Sedan
The Japanese auto giant Nissan that had launched its compact hatchback Micra in the Indian market in July 2010, is now gearing-up to launch its New Global Sedan in the Indian market by the last quarter of year 2011. The company has released sketches of the car and announced that is an all new car based on the Nissan V platform, common to the Micra.

The car is expected to be shelved in the price segment of sub Rs 7 lakh and will be fighting for space with the likes of Maruti Swift Dzire, Volkswagen Vento, Toyota Etios and Ford Fiesta.

Honda Brio

The Honda Brio is one of the most awaited cars in India that will be launched in the country in the upcoming Diwali season. The Honda Brio hatchback will be carrying a 1.2L petrol engine and is expected to be offered in the price segment of sub Rs 5 lakh. The major competitors of this model in the Indian market will be Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo, Nissan Micra, Chevrolet Beat, Hyundai i10 and upcoming Toyota Etios Liva.

The Brio will be Honda's first entry into the budget segment, thus forming another important event for the Indian market.

Hyundai’ New 800CC Small Car

Hyundai India is planning to launch its 800cc small car in the Indian market by the end of this year. The car will be shelved against the best selling Maruti Alto and the country’s cheapest car Tata Nano in the price segment of sub Rs 2 lakh. It will be the cheapest car in Hyundai’s India portfolio and expected to drive high volume for the company.

Besides the above hot favorites, there is a slew of other cars that is expected to be rolled-out in the Indian market this year. These cars include Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Sail, Chevrolet Spark Electric, Volkswagen Golf, Tata New Safari, Mahindra Mini-Xylo, a new mini-SUV from Maruti, new Volkswagen Jetta 2011and Passat 2011. For a full overview of the launches in India, please visit our Upcoming Cars section.

Chevrolet Camaro

Chevrolet Sail

Volkswagen Golf

New Tata Safari Spy Shots

Volkswagen Jetta

As we look forward to an exciting 2011, we hope you keep on visiting us to stay abreast of the latest in the Indian car market.

Courtsey: Cartradeindia.com

Mahindra and Mahindra’s fans finally can celebrate very soon because according to the latest buzz, in the automotive industry, the SUV Thar is ready to run on the Indian roads. The company unveil Mahindra Thar in India on December 21, 2010.

Mahindra, known for its range of inexpensive utes and light commercial vehicles, is about to launch an all-new off-road car to rival the likes of the Jeep Wrangler. It will offer a similar personality and function as the Wrangler as well.

The Mahindra Thar is set to launch in India today and will be the company's first non-commercial based car. It features rugged, open-style motoring with a removable hardtop roof, four-wheel drive and a 2.5-litre 78kW turbo-diesel engine. The engine also offers 247Nm of torque and passes Euro 4 emissions standards.

The Mahindra Thar will be a fairly serious off-road car and comes with an auto-locking hub lock system which means four-wheel drive excursions needn’t require anyone to get out of the car to manually lock the front hubs. The system is also matched to a five-speed manual Borg Warner gearbox incorporating high and low ratios.

Being heavy duty is what makes up much of this car’s design so it features front disc brakes (drum rear), live axle rear suspension and differential arrangement, independent front suspension, 200mm ground clearance and offers an approach angle of 46 degrees and a departure angle of 30 degrees.

There is adequate comfort though, with features like air conditioning and power steering making their way into the cabin, while the car rides on stabiliser bars front and rear; the car will offer respectable on-road competence as well.

Mahindra Thar price is between Rs.6 to 8 Lakhs (approx.).

All set to give the year 2010 a spectacular finish, India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. unveiled two new bikes - 998cc Yamaha FZ1 and 153cc Yamaha SZ-R, adding a new credo for the bikers in India with the archetype Yamaha DNA of Performance, Innovation & Design.

Commenting on the occasion, Hiroyuki Suzuki, CEO & Managing Director, India Yamaha Motor said, "India is one of the key markets for Yamaha and we have been constantly shifting gears to transform the market from utility to pleasure & lifestyle. Yamaha offers innovative designs, sporty looks and premium features across models as part of its strategy to give consumers a new thrill in biking. After the successful launch of our superbikes and 150 cc bikes in the Indian market over the last 3 years, we are adding two new bikes to our portfolio corroborating Yamaha’s continued commitment to provide world-class products to its consumers".

"While FZ1 is a naked sports bike with fuel-injected power and ‘Pure Torque’ for the ultimate riding experience, SZ-R gives the 150cc commuters segment a sporty edge apart from delivering Power, Comfort and Style. SZ series bikes launched in August 2010 and aggressive pricing of Rs. 49,000/- have high demand and are gaining popularity across India. Customers have been demanding inclusion of the disc brake version which is now available in SZ-R. We are confident that our new bike models will once again capture the hearts of our customers and will further consolidate our position in the market", he added.

Yamaha FZ1 Features:

Yamaha FZ1, a power packed sports bike comes with a compact design and 998cc DOHC 20-valve engine tuned for tremendous mid-range punch and massive top-end power. The cast aluminum bodywork and a comfortable handlebar position give the bike great looks while ensuring the comfort of the rider. The closed-deck cylinder block provides great strength while allowing a narrow engine in spite of big 77mm bores. The high silicon-content ceramic-composite cylinder lining reduces friction and maximizes heat dissipation for consistent power delivery. Also, the fuel injection with computer-controlled sub-throttle valves provides precise fuel/air mixture for outstanding power delivery through its broad rpm range while ensuring compliance of all emissions regulations.

Its race-inspired curved radiator with twin ring-style fans keeps everything cool under all conditions. The aggressive chassis geometry with supersport inspired 51 percent front wheel weight bias provides quick and nimble handling. The 320mm front discs aided by mono-block four-piston calipers up front and a single 245mm rear disc serve up strong and consistent stopping power.

Other high-tech prominent features of the bike include analog tachometer, digital speedometer, dual trip meter, odometer, water temperature and lights for neutral, high beam, low fuel and turn signals. The half-cowl fairing design gives aggressive eye-catching naked profile to the bike. The dual 12V 60/55 watt multi-reflector headlight features a sleek profile for superb aerodynamics and visibility.

Yamaha commitment to technologically advanced machines is accentuated by the bike’s cornering acceleration ability which delivers the maximum amount of drive force in the smoothest manner possible. FZ1 is available in 2 color options - Black and White at an ex-showroom price (Delhi) of Rs. 8,70,000/-.

Yamaha SZ-R Features:

The 153cc Yamaha SZ-R is a modern & sporty version of Yamaha SZ-X which is a powerful, comfortable and stylish commuter. The muscular SZ-R is targeted at commuter customers with their sports-oriented interests and is designed to create the sensation of "High Speed". The bike comes with front disc brake, tachometer and has tank protector added to the fuel tank to make it appear even larger.

Furthermore, the shroud of the standard Yamaha SZ-X model is replaced by an aerodynamic spoiler that extends out boldly and is given the same silver coloring as the side covers. The bike also has clear lens flasher, colored handle grip end bar, painted muffler end caps along with special graphics. SZ-R is priced at Rs. 55,500/- (Ex-showroom price - Delhi) and will be available in 3 color options – Quality Black, Quality Red and Quality Blue.

With the launch of FZ1 and SZ-R, Yamaha is all set to provide Indian riders a chance to experience true ‘Art of Engineering’, which lies at the heart of Yamaha’s creations. The duo is extremely well engineered, comfortable, stylish and promises to be the best in their respective categories.

Yamaha FZ1 Price in India: Rs. 8,70,000 (Ex-showroom price - Delhi)

Yamaha SZ-R price in India: Rs. 55,500 (Ex-showroom price - Delhi)

Source: India Yamaha Motor

- Price of Toyota Etios Sedan starts at Rs. 4,95,467 ex showroom Hyderabad

- Bookings for the sedan started on 1st Dec

- Hatchback to be launched in April 2011

- Hatchback is named 'Etios Liva'

Toyota Kirloskar Motor held a press meet in Hyderabad today to announce the company's entry into the highly competitive B Segment with the launch of the Etios Sedan, the car that has been developed specifically for Indian customers – 'World First, India First, My First'. Toyota had also announced the name of the hatchback version, the Etios Liva.

The Etios sedan will be available in four variants, J, G, V and VX, competitively priced between Rs. 4,95,467/- and Rs. 6,88,535/- ex showroom Hyderabad. The product highlights include innovative styling, best-in-class cabin and luggage space, superior comfort, impressive fuel efficiency and the legendary Toyota QDR.

Mr. Koji Nagata (Executive Managing Coordinator, TKM), Mr. Yugo Miyamoto (Senior Managing Coordinator) and Mr. Sailesh Shetty (General Manager-Sales, TKM) addressed the media.

Mr. Yugo Miyamoto, Senior Managing Coordinator, Sales, TKM spoke about the development of the product, he said: "It was very important to understand the needs of Indian car buyers and this was done by extensive research. We found that our target customers are highly price conscious but at the same time want good mileage, space and style. One of the strong points of the Etios is its True Sedan design. The Etios has been designed as a Sedan platform and not as a Hatch with a boot. It is smartly packaged with all the attributes for Indians who love to travel with their families – boasts best-in-class cabin and luggage space, ergonomic interiors and superior ride comfort."

Talking about the Etios Sales and Marketing strategy in India, Mr. Koji Nagata, Executive Managing Coordinator, Sales & Marketing, TKM, said: "We have an elaborate Marketing strategy planned for the Etios and it all started with the roping in Mr. A.R.Rahman as our brand ambassador who we believe was a perfect fit with the brand values of our product. We are also prepared to provide our customers a one class above experience, what we refer to as the Q Class Experience. In view of this effort, we have undertaken various initiatives: (a) Express Maintenance Service - Services and delivers the vehicle to the customer in 60 mins, (b) eCRB (Evolutionary Customer Relationship Building) - A tool that keeps the customer informed about the status of the vehicle that has been given for servicing, (c) A sales and service network that will be expanded to 150 dealerships by the end of this year."

Mr. Sailesh Shetty, GM-Sales, TKM added by saying, "We started taking bookings for the car on the 1st of December with a booking amount of Rs. 50,000, and as of today we have received 8000 bookings. The deliveries will begin in January 2011. "

The Etios is very important for Toyota and the company believes this launch marks the beginning of a new era for Toyota in India. In fact this launch will enable Indian customers in the middle income group to own an aspirational Toyota vehicle for the first time. The production of the Etios will begin as planned in the new plant which is the most environmentally friendly automobile manufacturing plant in the country today.

Earlier this year Toyota had announced its plans to begin production of engines and transmissions at the Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts in the third quarter of 2012 that will help in increasing the localisation content of the Etios.

Toyota Etios Features & Specifications:

Vehicle Outline:

(a) Exterior

A distinctive front grille with a smile line, sculpted surface and dynamic character-line in the front and rear, enhance the presence of the Etios. The rear has a fluent flowing C pillar, rounded end and three-dimensional combination lamps that enrich the vehicle's exterior from different angles.

(b) Interior

The seats are ergonomically designed units with integrated head rests. An instrument panel clearly divided into the information area and operation area with a large centre meter provides excellent visibility. The Etios has class best cabin and luggage space of 595L, a spacious 13L cooled glove box, seven one litre bottle holders, mobile holder and many more such useful storage spaces inside the car.

(c) Performance and Comfort

A newly developed 1.5L, 16V DOHC engine coupled with a 5-Speed manual transmission that produces high output for best-in-class driving performance. The torque is available at low rpm for less gear shifting and stress-free city driving.

The Etios has a superior mileage of 17.6kmpl which is ARAI tested.

Electric power steering for excellent maneuverability and tilt steering ensures a good ergonomic driving experience. The steering comes with audio controls for comfort at the driver's fingertips.

The flat type rear floor design offers ease of movement for rear seat passengers. With its rigid body structure and world class Mac Pherson Strut, the Etios has superior dampening performance providing superior ride comfort.

A class-first 'clean air filter' which is standard across all grades for purified air in the cabin.

(d) Safety

The Etios has various active and passive safety features ensuring the car matches global safety standards. The various safety features are (i) Energy absorbing body shell (ii) Driver & Passenger Air bags and (iii) ABS with EBD.

Its centrally located combimeter reduces eye movement and hence the driver can concentrate on the road.

(e) Special Treatment

To adopt to the various diverse climate and usage conditions in India, special treatment and countermeasures have been implemented:

- Good ground clearance of 170mm

- Under body protection to prevent damage to fuel and brake lines

- Anti-corrosion steel sheets at areas prone to rusting and stone hits

- Chipping resistant paint on rocker mould & fender

Source: Toyota Kirloskar Motor

- Price of Toyota Etios Sedan starts at Rs. 4,96,330 ex showroom Mumbai

- Bookings for the sedan started on 1st Dec

- Hatchback to be launched in April 2011

- Hatchback is named 'Etios Liva'

Toyota Kirloskar Motor held a press meet in Mumbai today to announce the company's entry into the highly competitive B Segment with the launch of the Etios Sedan, the car that has been developed specifically for Indian customers – 'World First, India First, My First'. Toyota had also announced the name of the hatchback version, the Etios Liva.

The Etios sedan will be available in four variants, J, G, V and VX, competitively priced between Rs. 4,96,330/- and Rs. 6,82,519/- ex showroom Mumbai. The product highlights include innovative styling, best-in-class cabin and luggage space, superior comfort, impressive fuel efficiency and the legendary Toyota QDR.

The Etios was launched by Mr. Yoshinori Noritake, (Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation) in the presence of Mr Hiroshi Nakagawa (Managing Director, TKM) and Mr Sandeep Singh (Deputy Managing Director,TKM) Mr. Koji Nagata (Executive Managing Co-ordinator, TKM).

Mr. Yoshinori Noritake, Chief Engineer of the Etios spoke about the development of the product, he said: "It was very important to understand the needs of Indian car buyers and this was done by extensive research by me and my colleagues. We found that our target customers are highly price conscious but at the same time want good mileage, space and style. One of the strong points of the Etios is its True Sedan design. The Etios has been designed as a Sedan platform and not as Hatch with the boot. It is smartly packaged with all the attributes for Indians who love to travel with their families – boasts best-in-class cabin and luggage space, ergonomic interiors and superior ride comfort."

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD TKM, said: "The Etios is very important for Toyota and the company believes this launch marks the beginning of a new era for Toyota in India. In fact this launch will enable Indian customers in the middle income group to own an aspirational Toyota vehicle for the first time. The production of the Etios will begin as planned in the new plant which is the most environmentally friendly automobile manufacturing plant in the country.

Earlier this year Toyota had announced its plans to begin production of engines and transmissions at the Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts in the third quarter of 2012 that will help in increasing the localisation content of the Etios."

Talking about the Etios Sales and Marketing strategy in India, Mr. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director -Marketing, TKM, said: "We have an elaborate Marketing strategy planned for the Etios and it all started with the roping in of Mr. A.R.Rahman as our brand ambassador who we believe was a perfect fit with the brand values of our product. We are also prepared to provide our customers a one class above experience, what we refer to as the Q Class Experience. In view of this effort, we have undertaken various initiatives: (a) Express Maintenance Service – Which services and delivers the vehicle to the customer in 60 mins, (b) eCRB (Evolutionary Customer Relationship Building) - A tool that keeps the customer informed about the status of the vehicle that has been given for servicing, (c) A sales and service network that will be expanded to 150 dealerships by the end of this year."

Toyota Etios Features & Specifications:

Vehicle Outline:

(a) Exterior

A distinctive front grille with a smile line, sculpted surface and dynamic character-line in the front and rear, enhance the presence of the Etios. The rear has a fluent flowing C pillar, rounded end and three-dimensional combination lamps that enrich the vehicle's exterior from different angles.

(b) Interior

The seats are ergonomically designed units with integrated head rests. An instrument panel clearly divided into the information area and operation area with a large centre meter provides excellent visibility. The Etios has class best cabin and luggage space of 595L, a spacious 13L cooled glove box, seven one litre bottle holders, mobile holder and many more such useful storage spaces inside the car.

(c) Performance and Comfort

A newly developed 1.5L, 16V DOHC engine coupled with a 5-Speed manual transmission that produces high output for best-in-class driving performance. The torque is available at low rpm for less gear shifting and stress-free city driving.

The Etios has a superior mileage of 17.6kmpl which is ARAI tested.

Electric power steering for excellent maneuverability and tilt steering ensures a good ergonomic driving experience. The steering comes with audio controls for comfort at the driver's fingertips.

The flat type rear floor design offers ease of movement for rear seat passengers. With its rigid body structure and world class Mac Pherson Strut, the Etios has superior dampening performance providing superior ride comfort.

A class-first 'clean air filter' which is standard across all grades for purified air in the cabin.

(d) Safety

The Etios has various active and passive safety features ensuring the car matches global safety standards. The various safety features are (i) Energy absorbing body shell (ii) Driver & Passenger Air bags and (iii) ABS with EBD.

Its centrally located combimeter reduces eye movement and hence the driver can concentrate on the road.

(e) Special Treatment

To adopt to the various diverse climate and usage conditions in India, special treatment and countermeasures have been implemented:

- Good ground clearance of 170mm

- Under body protection to prevent damage to fuel and brake lines

- Anti-corrosion steel sheets at areas prone to rusting and stone hits

- Chipping resistant paint on rocker mould & fender

Source: Toyota Kirloskar Motor

Nissan Micra Diesel Price @ Rs. 5,85,617 for XV and Rs. 6,33,849 for XV Premium respectively (ex-showroom Mumbai prices).

Nissan Motor India Private Ltd (NMIPL), following the successful commercial launch of the petrol variant of its first 'Made-in-India compact hatchback –Nissan Micra -today announced the launch of the diesel-powered Micra in the city. The car was launched at Ichibaan Nissan – the company's authorized dealership in Mumbai. Sales for Diesel-powered Micra will commence from the dealership starting today. Kiminobu Tokuyama, M.D. & CEO, NMIPL, Manoj Kumar –VP Operations, Hover Automotive India Pvt Ltd (HAI) –the strategic alliance partner for Nissan in India, accompanied by other senior officials of Nissan and HAI attended the launch event.

Nissan also plans to launch 9 models by 2012, out of which company plans to launch sedan in 2011. Company's plant has an initial capacity of 2,00,000 units per year and plans to expand it to 4,00,000 units per year. The company has 21 dealers operational in major cities across the country and aims to have more than 100 dealers by 2013.

Nissan Micra Diesel Features, Mileage, Variants, Colours:

Nissan Micra Diesel is born out of the need to simplify the city chaos and enrich the urban driving experience. It is a reliable, stylish, safe and eco-friendly car for people who enjoy everyday driving. Nissan Micra Diesel is a smart, global hatchback with an affable appearance and engineered for easy handling and sprightly performance, while realizing class-competitive fuel efficiency. The Diesel-powered Micra comes with fuel economy of 23.08 kmpl (as approved by ARAI), making it the best in its class.

The Diesel-powered Nissan Micra will be available in two variants of XV and XV (premium). Available with greige interiors, it will be introduced in a range of six colours; Sunlight Orange, Brick Red, Pacific Blue, Storm White, Blade Silver and Onyx Black. The ex-showroom Mumbai prices for Nissan Micra Diesel are Rs. 5,85,617 for XV and Rs. 6,33,849 for XV Premium respectively.

Positioned in the B+ car segment, the Micra Diesel is powered with the popular 1.5litre Common Rail Direct Injection K9K Diesel Engine, which is mounted for the very first time in India on Nissan's versatile 'V' platform. The 8-valves, 4-cylinder Diesel-powered Micra generates Power rated at 47Kw (64PS) @ 4000 rpm, while torque output is 160Nm @ 2000 rpm. The Nissan Micra Diesel comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The wide gear coverage enables the 1.5-litre engine to achieve brisk acceleration in city driving conditions. The engine is refined and very silent, thus well adapted for Indian conditions.

Commenting on the launch Kiminobu Tokuyama, M.D. & CEO, Nissan Motor India said, "The success of petrol powered Micra in the domestic market has given us huge confidence to introduce the Diesel powered Micra within six months from the petrol version. The Diesel Powered Micra with its best in class fuel efficiency and unique features has the potential to crave a niche for itself in the overcrowded compact hatchback segment in India. This is not just another variant. It is the right product at the right time that will offer the discerning Indian customers a good means of urban mobility with a complete package of performance, features, safety and comfort. We are aware this is a very important phase of our journey and we stand by our commitment to provide Indian customers with a full range of products and services"

Says Manoj Kumar, VP –Operations, Hover Automotive India, "Ever since we launched the petrol variant in July, we have been flooded with enquiries for Micra Diesel. I am confident that the Diesel-powered Micra, is a good value proposition and a desirable option to choose from, for the Indian customers during this season. We are elated with the initial response the pre-order bookings have generated so far through our dealerships prior to the launch. We keenly look forward to replicate the success of the petrol variant with the Diesel-powered Micra. The Nissan Micra Diesel will be launched nationwide with a comprehensive multi-media marketing campaign featuring our brand Ambassador Ranbir Kapoor. We will also be using some non-conventional forms of media to maximize the product visibility and increase sales."

A comprehensive multimedia ad campaign (T.V., Radio, Print and Digital) has also been launched to support this activity. In July this year, Nissan launched the petrol variant of its first made in India global compact car –Nissan Micra (Global compact hatchback), based on the Versatile 'V' platform at its factory in Oragadam, Chennai. Since the sales began on July 15, 2010, the company has till date sold over 6000 units of Micra. With the launch of Micra Diesel, Nissan will add another variant to its product kitty providing the customers with a good choice.

Source: Nissan Motor India Private Ltd (NMIPL)

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), the Indian subsidiary of Japanese auto giant Toyota, has registered 8,100 bookings for its newly launched sedan Etios in just one week. The Etios was launched on December 1 in India. On an average, Toyota showrooms across the country have booked orders for almost 1,150 cars every day since the launch. The company has 130 showrooms in the country.

Speaking to FE, Sandeep Singh, deputy managing director (marketing) of TKM, said the first unit of Etios will be rolled out from the plant in Bangalore on December 20. Deliveries will start either from December end or in the beginning of January. He said the company will execute the orders, which it received in the first week, in the next four months.

He said around 90% of the bookings were registered for top three variants of Etios, which comes out with 1.5 litre petrol engine. Toyota has released four variants of Etios sedan with a price tag in the range of Rs 4.96 to Rs 6.86 lakhs. "It's good response from the customers. We are planning to manufacture 9,000 units of Etios at our Bangalore plant in the first four months," he said. He indicated that the Etios success will not affect any models of other companies. Instead, he said the 'B' segment, in which Etios sedan has been positioned, will expand further.

Abdul Majeed, leader-auto practice in PricewaterhouseCoopers said the 'B' segment has been witnessing phenomenal growth. The number of cars sold in 'B' segment increased by 44% to 8.9 lakh units in the first six months of the current financial year compared to 6.17 lakh units in the same period a year ago. During the same period, overall passenger car sales increased to 1.4 million unit from one million unit.

Source: Financial Express

The leading Japanese car maker Honda, which is gearing up to launch its first ever small car ‘Brio’ in the Indian market, will manufacture and sell the car in Indian and Thai markets from next year, as reported in a leading Japanese news paper. According to the news report, Honda will commence the mass production of Brio in Thailand from March 2011, and the Indian production will start by the end of this year.

The report further adds that the new small car, which will be sporting a 1.2L engine, will be exported to the neighboring countries located in the South and Southeast Asia after manufacturing them in India and Thailand. Carrying Honda’s traditional trend ahead, the car will possibly be launched in Petrol version only in both of these markets.

The Honda Brio model will be produced on a common chassis on both of these production sites. However, the model produced in the Thai market will emphasize on fuel economy, in a bid to get tax preferences under a government eco-car plan, says the paper.

The model produced in the Thai market will be having as much as 90 percent local content in it and the company will roll-out the car with a starting price of 400,000 baht in that market. While in India, the Honda Brio will be produced with up to 80 percent local content so that its price can be kept attractive in this highly competitive market. The starting price of this car in India would be Rs 5 lakh, as estimated in the report.

The Brio model is expected to hit the Indian market in the festive season of year 2011. The car will be taking on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Swift, Chevrolet Beat, Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo and recently launched Toyota Etios.

Source: Cartradeindia.com

Automakers in India are contemplating price hike on their various car models in India. There has been a gradual increase in the various commodity prices in the market which has led to rise in input costs. Rubber, aluminium and steel prices have constantly been on a rise since past few months.

Hyundai Motors India Limited will increase the price of its cars by at least 2 percent from January 2011. "We have been absorbing increase in input costs but now we have decided to pass it marginally to customers. From January onwards, there will be an increase in prices of vehicles by 1.5-2 per cent," said Hyundai Motor India Ltd Director Sales and Marketing Arvind Saxena.

General Motors also announced that its cars will become expensive from January 2011 by 2.5 percent. It sells various models like Chevrolet Beat, Spark, Aveo, Aveo UVA, Cruze, etc. in the Indian market.

Maruti has already announced a price hike recently and Toyota is also likely to follow the footsteps of various other car makers in India. "There are cost pressures from various commodities as well as yen fluctuation which is affecting us. We will take the final call in this regard (price hike) by December 20," said Toyota Kirloskar Motor Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh. It will take a final call on the quantum of price hike by the end of this month.

Source: Cartradeindia.com

Thrilled by the overwhelming response received by the petrol version of its latest sensation Etios, the Japanese auto giant is now eyeing to roll-out a diesel version of this model in the Indian market by the end of next year. As per a recent statement given by Mr. Koji Nagata, Director, Marketing at Toyota Kirloskar Motors, the company hopes that Toyota Etios diesel would be launched in India by December, next year.

It is widely speculated that the upcoming diesel version of Etios will be launched with the same 1.4L, Common Rail Diesel engine that is currently doing duties in premium sedan Toyota Corolla Altis. The engine is capable of delivering a maximum power of 88.4 PS in combination with a peak torque of 205Nm

Interestingly, Nissan, which is one of the closest rivals of Toyota in its domestic market is all set to launch a diesel version of its Micra model in the country this week and it is expected to be one of the biggest competitors of Etios hatchback diesel version in coming years.

Earlier this month, the company had launched its first ever mass segment car – Toyota Etios – in the Indian market on 1st of December. The car comes powered by a 1.5 L DOHC engine that is capable of producing a peak power of 90 bhp with 132 Nm of peak torque. It offers an exceptional mileage of over 17 km/l.

Designed with Toyota’s global quality standards, the new Etios sedan is all set to give its competitors a run for their money. The company has kept it starting price highly competitive at Rs 4.96 (Delhi ex-showroom), in a bid to give it a price edge over its rivals like Maruti Swift Dzire, Volkswagen Vento, Ford Fiesta, Tata Indigo CS and Manza, and Chevrolet Aveo.

Source: Cartradeindia.com

BMW 5 Series sedan car price Rs. 36 lakh

It's a price war in the Indian market! No matter which car segment we talk about, every car maker has realised that the car price tag holds the key to Indian customer's heart. So if there is are low cost cars in the small car segment or Toyota launching entry level Etios in sedan segment, there is now a BMW 5-series model at Rs. 36 lakh.

The premium car segment in India is abuzz with better models at even more competitive price tag than earlier. BMW has launched another 520d model in India which is the fifth engine variant to join the F10 series for Indian market. The model is powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that delivers 184bhp @4000rpm mated with an 8-speed manual gearbox.

At present, the 5-Series range includes four variants, 525d, a more powerful 530d and two petrol variants: 523i and 535i. The current diesel BMW models have a 6 cylinder engine as opposed to the 520d’s in-line four which produces 185bhp.

Source: cartradeindia.com

Mahindra took over the reigns of age old Indian electric car maker Reva earlier this year thus severing the latter's ties with General Motors to come up with new other electric vehicles for the Indian market. Now M&M owns a stake in Reva Electric and has complete plans lined up for the launch of Mahindra Reva NXR model by mid-2011.

\The new NXR model is apt for small city rides and will be a four-seater model. The company has already launched its two seater model in cities like Delhi and Bangalore. "We intend to take it to other cities in India. Also, we are all geared up to roll out our four-seater Reva NXR by next year," said Pawan Goenka, president (automotive & farm equipment sector), M&M Ltd.

The company is coming up with its new plant in South India with an investment of Rs 200 crore. "As the current plants are running at full capacity and with no plant in south, we are to finalise the venue in next three months. With a capacity of around 1 lakh tractors, we are planning to roll out 50,000 in the first phase," added Goenka on the sidelines of his visit to Ahmedabad for inaugurating the 101st Samriddhi centre in Gandhinagar.

Mahindra Reva NXR reaches a top speed of 104 kmph while providing a range of 160 km. The NXR can text you with crucial information such as Time-to-full-change, pre-heat or pre-cool the car, mail you a report on your driving habits or even unlock the door as you approach. It also features a revolutionary technology that addresses range anxiety– REVive, a remotely activated reserve charge which will get you going, even when you've seemingly run out of charge.

Mahindra is also planning to launch Korando and Rexton in India next year which will be its brand new SUV models from South Korea.

Source: cartradeindia.com

BMW 520d car price Rs. 36,90,000

The country's second largest luxury car maker BMW has launched its fascinating BMW 520d in the Indian market. The new 520d comes powered by a 1995 cc 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine that is capable of delivering a peak power of 184 bhp in combination with a peak torque of 350Nm. The new car comes mated with 8-speed automatic transmission which enables it to offer an impeccable performance on roads.

The new generation 5-series model carries a number of new features including 255/55 R 17 tyres, single Mp3 CD audio player in places of in-dash 6 CD changer music system, standard aux-in, USB port and Bluetooth interface etc. However, the cosmetic features of in this new car are same as available in the BMW 525d premium sedan. The BMW 520d car has been prices at Rs 36,90,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) which is as much as Rs 3 lakh cheaper than its elder sibling 525d premium sedan.

Performance wise, the new 520d leads the segment with good pick-up and acceleration characteristics. The car takes only 8.4 seconds to cross the speed barrier of 100 km/h. The five-seater 520d sedan has been made roomier as compared to its predecessor. While the boot space of the car is 520 liter, the wheelbase measures to 2888 mm. The car comes equipped with a range of safety and performance enhancing features that comprises of Halogen / Xenon lights, Navigation system, Manual Cruise Control, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, traction control and Stability control.

Meanwhile, the company has geared-up to launch its much awaited starting range luxury – BMW X1 - in the Indian market next month. The X1 model is expected to be rolled out in the price segment of Rs 20 to 25 lakh, and will be the cheapest BMW car in India.

Source: cartradeindia.com