CarWale.com Blog

Bajaj small-car for India, VW and Toyota to follow

Ashish — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:24:16 +0000

The small car segment has traditionally been the one which has made up for highest numbers and the trend is only going to continue for some decades to come. There have been quite a few car makers that have tried their hands at introducing ultra compact cars at low cost, but only Maruti clicked with their 800 and went on to make merry as hundreds of thousand of people laid down their cheque books for this car. (more…)

Bajaj small car to see the ‘Lite’ of day in 2011

Charles Pennefather — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:29:06 +0000

The Bajaj Lite, now codenamed ‘ULC’, will be launched in 2011. It will be developed by Nissan Motor Co., Renault SA and Bajaj Auto, with Bajaj holding a 50% stake in the JV, and Nissan and Renault holding 25% each. (more…)

BMW cleans up at the Engine of the Year Awards.

Charles Pennefather — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:11:06 +0000

The automotive enthusiast loves a ‘straight six’ – so does a cricket fan. The preference of the automobile manufacturer for the inline six-cylinder engine is gradually diminishing, as they give in to the packaging and safety requirements that a V6 meets much more easily. However, a select few still persist with the layout – BMW is one such manufacturer. (more…)

Brew your own fuel – at home!

Charles Pennefather — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:22:56 +0000

An increasing number of cars are running on ethanol to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, and a US-based company called the E-Fuel Corporation has unveiled a product that will let you make 100% ethanol. The EFuel 100 MicroFueler will ferment the ethanol out of sugar, yeast and water in a few days of the ingredients being put into it. (more…)

Caparo to develop buses with Hyundai

Charles Pennefather — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:03:07 +0000

The Caparo Group, which also manufactures the Caparo T1, will begin work on a Rs 3500 crore project in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. The facility’s first product will be the assembly of luxury buses in conjunction with Hyundai – namely, the Hyundai Aerobus – from CKD kits. These buses will go on sale next year and will feature Euro 3/4 compliant engines with power outputs from 320-380bhp, air-wide suspension systems and ABS. The buses will have joint branding in the Indian market, but marketing will be solely Caparo’s responsibility. The company plans to produce 1500 units annually.

Hyundai Launches ‘Ghar Ghar ki Pehchaan’ for Rural India

Ashish — Thu, 08 May 2008 06:28:02 +0000

Do you recall that one television soap – the splendid (yeah, whatever!) Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki (or is it Kii? Sorry if I spelt it incorrectly, for I am not into tarot or numerology etc), by one Ms Ekta Kapoor? It reached millions of homes and even the people in the remotest of towns were all gaga over it. (more…)

Lightning quick – world’s first Tesla showroom opens

Charles Pennefather — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:35:39 +0000

Tesla motors, manufacturers of the world’s first electric supercar, have opened their first dealership in the city of Los Angeles, near the University of California.

The Tesla roadster is an all-electric car; it uses batteries to drive an electric motor that powers the rear wheels. It is capable of 0-100kph in under 4 seconds, and a top speed of 200kph. (more…)

Automotive experts battle for best mileage

Ashish — Wed, 07 May 2008 05:12:01 +0000

Those who drive Hyundai Verna please stand up. Thank you. Ever wondered about the maximum fuel efficiency that your car can return? Well, even we, the automotive journalists, during our road tests give more of ‘real-world’ mileage figures but it makes for a good sense to see what’s the best (or close to best) mileage figure that a car is capable of. (more…)

Car malls to make an entry in India

Charles Pennefather — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:16:10 +0000

Now you can keep the wife happy while buying a car – Bengaluru is going to have a car mall, which does exactly what it sounds like: all car brands will be sold under its roof. Auto dealers in the city are joining hands to set up the multi-brand car mall near the city’s international airport. (more…)

Skoda Fabia 1.2L Petrol Launched

Rohan — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:42:20 +0000

Skoda has launched the 1.2l petrol version of the Fabia to complement the 1.4l petrol and diesel versions that were launched earlier. The variants on offer are the same – Classic, Ambiente, and Elegance. The 1198cc engine will signal a conscious effort to highlight fuel efficiency as a priority, something new to the Fabia. (more…)