Car News - Latest Indian Car News & Views | CarWalehttp://www.carwale.com/news/Latest news updates on Indian car industry, expert views and interviews exclusively on CarWale.Copyright 2012 CarWaleCarWale RSS Generator8926<![CDATA[The CarWale Daily Fuel, May 15, 2012]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/8926-the-carwale-daily-fuel-may-15-2012.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/8926-the-carwale-daily-fuel-may-15-2012.htmlCarWale Team5/15/2012 10:48:00 AM1270http://img.carwale.com/ec/8926/img/m/8926_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/8926/img/m/8926_lMahindra is facelifting the Verito, Audi A3 sedan in India by 2014,new E-class spotted in Europe while India gets its first online tyre store.

]]> 

  • Mahindra is working on the Verito facelift as the product’s life cycle is reaching maturity a bit too fast. Expected to be in line with the new Xylo and XUV design style, the new Verito should appeal to the Indian customer.
  • Mahindra is launching the Thar AC version, with a factory-fitted AC. Watch this space.
  • Mercedes Benz India is officially launching the new facelifted ML 350 SUV, today, in Delhi. The Blue-Tec diesel Mercedes, launched globally in January, prices will be announced by noon.
  • The Tamil Nadu government scored an ace amidst policy paralysis by signing pacts with five automotive giants ensuring a total investment of Rs 5700 crore in the state and roughly 10000 job opportunities. Companies like Daimler CV, Yamaha, Nissan-Ashok Leyland, Eicher Motors and Philips Carbon Black are investing in Oragadam near Chennai which is developing as an extensive automotive hub in south India.
  • India’s first online store for tyres, ChangeMyTyre.com, has started business with its launch and will deliver tyres across all major cities in India. CEO and co-founder, Mr. Neeraj Chauhan hopes to make the tyre market transparent and convenient thereby gaining big business.
  • The Audi A3 Sedan, based on the A3 MQB platform will be positioned just below the Audi A4. Technically competing with the VW Passat, Skoda Superb, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, the speculated Mercedes CLA, Audi hopes to take the segment head on.
  • Mercedes Benz India is beaming after registering a 30 per cent growth in sales year on year in spite of the said global slowdown. Around 7430 Mercs went on sale compared to last year’s 5810 units.
  • Hyundai is now offering the rear-view camera as standard fitment on the fluidic Verna albeit at increased cost for the customer.
  • General Motors have forayed into the competition by revealing pictures of the Trax, a mini-SUV that competes with the Ford EcoSport and Maruti XA-Alpha. The Trax will be showcased at the Paris Motor Show in September this year. They will have to rename the model when it comes to India given the existence of Force Trax.
  • The Mercedes Benz E-class facelift was spotted testing in Europe. Though heavily camouflaged, the new E-class gave up a few details. Integrated daytime running lights into the headlamp, re-styled bumpers and tail are some of the features. We expect this car to debut in India with its world debut as the new A6 and current ruling BMW 5-series are eating away at Mercedes’ share in the segment.
  • An American military research facility is working on using the exhaust gas thermodynamics of battle tanks to generate electricity to run the on board computers and other systems as far as possible. This would improve the efficiencies and also reduce emissions. It sounds similar to the electrical turbocharger that is rumoured to debut on the next Subaru Impreza WRX.
  • Porsche has denied that it will develop a sports car that will slot under the Boxster. The Pajun, which we reported just days ago will compete with the E-Class, ‘may become reality’ in five or six years.
  • McLaren has developed a convertible MP4-12C. It will go on sale after the McLaren F1 successor, we imagine. 
  • Eterniti Motors has garnered their first sale of the Artemis super-SUV at the Bejing Auto Show.
  • The US senate has okayed the installation of ‘black boxes’ in cars from 2015 onwards. This should help settle more than a few lawsuits quickly! 
  • Jay Leno has added a Tata Nano to his garage. This wouldn’t have been remarkable if his garage didn’t house over 200 cars, some of them one-offs and really rare masterpieces. 

 

The CarWale Daily Fuel is your quick daily dose of automotive news from India and around the world. If you want to know whatever's in the news but want it short and sweet, here's your solution.

 

]]>7482<![CDATA[Mahindra's re-badged Logan launched as the ‘Verito’ today]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/7482-mahindras-rebadged-logan-launched-as-the-verito-today.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/7482-mahindras-rebadged-logan-launched-as-the-verito-today.htmlCarWale Team4/26/2011 3:23:00 PM3329http://img.carwale.com/ec/7482/img/m/7482_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/7482/img/m/7482_lMahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s exclusive Logan is here and will now on be called the Verito. The new Verito will only sport the Mahindra badge and emblem and be priced at Rs 4.82 lakh for the petrol variant and Rs 5.62 lakh for the diesel BS3 compliant variant. A BS4 compliant version will be available for BS4 markets with a varied pricing. Verito is derived from the Latin word ‘Veritas’ which stands for truth.

]]>Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s exclusive Logan is here and will now on be called the Verito. The new Verito will only sport the Mahindra badge and emblem and be priced at Rs 4.82 lakh for the petrol variant and Rs 5.62 lakh for the diesel BS3 compliant variant. A BS4 compliant version will be available for BS4 markets with a varied pricing. Verito is derived from the Latin word ‘Veritas’ which stands for truth.

The car will continue to be powered by the Renault engines and the interiors remain the same. The exterior has added ski racks and side cladding, which are available for the first time on a sedan in the Indian market. A new ‘Twilight Blue’ colour will also be available. The new Verito offers the same Renault drive train with the option of a 1.5 DCi CRDi diesel engine and the 1.4 MPFI petrol engine. The Verito remains the broadest car in its segment, offering unmatched cabin space. It also boasts of a spacious seating capacity and a boot space which is one of the largest, with 510 litre capacity. The Verito diesel has excellent mileage and safety and technology features like ABS with EBD and driver airbag on offer.

Mr. Rajesh Jejurikar, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said “The Verito, with its unique value proposition aligns with the Mahindra DNA of offering tough, rugged and sporty vehicles. The earlier Logan will continue to get complete service and spares support from us.”

]]>7475<![CDATA[Mahindra-badged Logan to be launched this week; will be called ‘Verito’]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/7475-mahindrabadged-logan-to-be-launched-this-week-will-be-called-verito.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/7475-mahindrabadged-logan-to-be-launched-this-week-will-be-called-verito.htmlBhagyashree Dev4/25/2011 1:48:00 PM3396http://img.carwale.com/ec/7475/img/m/7475_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/7475/img/m/7475_lMahindra has renamed the Logan; it will now be called ‘Verito’ and be launched sooner this week.  Another  4 metre notchback is in the piping as well. This will be launched in January 2012. The prototype of this car is ready and it is currently under R&D on Indian roads. The project is currently on the backburner as impetus is being given to the launch of Mahindra’s Global SUV which is expected in the next 3 to 5 months.

 

]]>Mahindra has renamed the Logan; it will now be called ‘Verito’ and be launched sooner this week. Another  4 metre notchback is in the piping as well. This will be launched in January 2012. The prototype of this car is ready and it is currently under R&D on Indian roads. The project is currently on the backburner as impetus is being given to the launch of Mahindra’s Global SUV which is expected in the next 3 to 5 months.

The Verito which will be launched this week does not have any major integral changes. The drivetrain and the engine remain the same. All Renault branding will be done away with and the car will show some basic cosmetic changes on the exterior and a changed grill sporting the Mahindra badge in place of the Logan’s.

The Logan, a well accepted product in India, may have been marred by the business differences between Mahindra and Renault but the Verito should help spruce sales as the demand for the diesel has been steady and growing. The Verito will definitely be seen with the Logan’s current bestseller 1.5 litre diesel engine and another petrol variant. The pricing, which is already very competitive will not see a major change.

The Verito will challenge Hyundai’s Accent, Tata’s Indigo and Maruti Suzuki’s Dzire.

Mahindra holds the exclusive license to sell the Logan in India, Nepal and South Africa.

]]>7347<![CDATA[Mahindra may relaunch the Logan]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/7347-mahindra-may-relaunch-the-logan.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/7347-mahindra-may-relaunch-the-logan.htmlCarWale Team2/16/2011 12:17:00 PM1876http://img.carwale.com/ec/7347/img/m/7347_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/7347/img/m/7347_lMahindra and Renault decided last year to call it a day as regards their Joint Venture and the future of the Logan was under threat. But the guys at Mahindra are planning to give the Logan another chance in the Indian car market. Of course, the logo at the front will be done away with but will we get to see any other changes in the car?

]]>Mahindra and Renault decided last year to call it a day as regards their Joint Venture and the future of the Logan was under threat. But the guys at Mahindra are planning to give the Logan another chance in the Indian car market. Of course, the logo at the front will be done away with but will we get to see any other changes in the car?

Mahindra will be taking down the Renault name from the 150 dealers that the JV had and will be starting operations anew. Chances of the sub-4 metre Logan coming is on the higher side and with Mahindra going solo with the sedan one can expect many changes, the only question being when? We will get you the latest as and when we get to know about it. So, stay tuned for the latest!

]]>6989<![CDATA[Toyota Etios Sedan Launched, base version priced at 4.96 lakhs]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/6989-toyota-etios-sedan-launched-base-version-priced-at-496-lakhs.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/6989-toyota-etios-sedan-launched-base-version-priced-at-496-lakhs.htmlCarWale Team12/1/2010 1:05:20 PM18095http://img.carwale.com/ec/6989/img/m/6989_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/6989/img/m/6989_lToyota Kirloskar Motors launched the much anticipated and awaited car, the Etios Sedan in Banglore today. The first car to roll out under Toyota's 'Q' class concept, the sedan made heads turn when it was first showcased in the Delhi Auto Expo. Under the hood beats a 2NR-FE - 1496cc 16V DOHC engine which delivers 90ps @ 5600rpm and according to ARAI gives a mileage of 17.6 kmpl. Projected as a family car the sedan has a 595 ltr boot space to store all the luggage for your long journeys. The sedan has undergone 2,00,000 km of real world testing in India and hence priority has been given to mileage, space, style and price.

]]>Toyota Kirloskar Motors launched the much anticipated and awaited car, the Etios Sedan in Banglore today. The first car to roll out under Toyota's 'Q' class concept, the sedan made heads turn when it was first showcased in the Delhi Auto Expo. Under the hood beats a 2NR-FE - 1496cc 16V DOHC engine which delivers 90ps @ 5600rpm and according to ARAI gives a mileage of 17.6 kmpl. Projected as a family car the sedan has a 595 ltr boot space to store all the luggage for your long journeys. The sedan has undergone 2,00,000 km of real world testing in India and hence priority has been given to mileage, space, style and price.



The car will be launched in the J, G, V and VX (top of the line) variants. The pricing will be as follows: J - Rs. 4.96 lakhs, G - Rs. 5.46 lakhs, G with options - Rs. 5.96 lakh, V - Rs. 6.41 lakhs and the top-of-the-line VX will boast of a price tag of a Rs. 6.86 ( all prices ex-showroom Delhi). Bookings are now open at Rs. 50000 and deleveries of the sedan will begin in Jan 2011. The J and G variants will  boast of 175/65 R14 wheels while the V and VX will be based on 185/60 R15 tyres with 12 spoke alloys. Safety features in the car includes Airbags, ABS with EBD optional on G trim while on the other these safety features will be standard on V and VX trim. The sedan also gets a centrally mounted instrument cluster.

A 2DIN DVD Mp3 system on VX variant is the first of its kind entertainment system offered in its segment. The VX features audio controls on the steering wheel and a USB and Aux-In facility as well. Some of the other features also include  a 13-litre cooled glove box. The sedan will be available in a range of colours Symphony silver, Serene bluish silver, Celestial black, Harmony beige, Vermillion red and White colours. The J trim though will be available only in Symphony Silver and white.  When it comes to the interiors of the sedan, the J variant gets a dual tone - black and grey upholstrey and the VX has dual tone black and red upholstrey. The low spec J and G variants come with all black upholstrey.

The Etios design concept is all about a balance of form and function. It is thoughtfully designed to provied ample legroom & headroom. This is visible in the car as it has a flat floor for the rear - with no transmission tunnel hump, so three people can sit comfortably and move within the cabin with ease. The J variant is so basic that it doesn't even come with the electric assist power streering. The G, V and VX comes with electric power assist steering. The V and VX on the other hand comes with tilt steering for adjustability. The suspension of the sedan will boast of MacPherson struts in the front and a torsion beam at the rear. The safety of the car is enhanced by the front ventilated discs and brake drums at the rear.

Made for India, in India and addressing the problems of the Indian customer like fuel efficiency, comfort, safety on the road could make the Etios is a frontrunner in the segment. Toyota states that they are keenly studying the possibility of a diesel engine in the Etios but we have a strong feeling that the 87 bhp 1.4 L diesel engine will makes it way under the hood of the sedan and will be launched in a few months. The diesel version of the sedan will be out by March 2011 and will cost Rs. 50,000-60,000 more than the petrol variant.

News is also out that the Etios hatchback will be out in a few months from now. The hatch will be called the Etios Liva and Toyota aims at selling 70000 etios and liva. We await with bated breath for the hatch as well and we sure are going to see a tussle for the top spot in the Indian car market. Will the sedan and the hatch be game changers in the market? we sure think so and we will keep updating you with the latest news so, stay tuned!

]]>6986<![CDATA[Toyota Etios Sedan all Set to Scorch the Indian Roads]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/6986-toyota-etios-sedan-all-set-to-scorch-the-indian-roads.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/6986-toyota-etios-sedan-all-set-to-scorch-the-indian-roads.htmlCarWale Team11/29/2010 7:01:35 PM9244http://img.carwale.com/ec/6986/img/m/6986_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/6986/img/m/6986_lThe Toyota Etios Sedan will be first launched in India on the 1st of December. Ready to roll it out in style, Toyota has roped in Bollywood music director A. R. Rehman. With the introduction of the Etios Toyota will enter the under 7 lakh, mass volume segment. Toyota Kirloskar Motors aims to sell 70000 units of the Etios in India per annum with its new unit in Bidadi and it will also expand its dealership network to 150 by the end of 2010. The sedan will be the first to set foot in the Indian markets and the hatch will follow soon in March 2011.

]]>The Toyota Etios Sedan will be first launched in India on the 1st of December. Ready to roll it out in style, Toyota has roped in Bollywood music director A. R. Rehman. With the introduction of the Etios Toyota will enter the under 7 lakh, mass volume segment. Toyota Kirloskar Motors aims to sell 70000 units of the Etios in India per annum with its new unit in Bidadi and it will also expand its dealership network to 150 by the end of 2010. The sedan will be the first to set foot in the Indian markets and the hatch will follow soon in March 2011.

The Etios sedan will boast of a 1.5-litre DOHC engine which will punch out 90PS of power. The Etios Sedan faces competition from the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, the Tata Indigo Manza and the Mahindra Logan, but none of these cars boast of a 1.5-litre engine so does Toyota have to worry about the competition? The Etios sedan is the lightest among the lot as it weighs in at 930 kgs and not only that but it also produces a torque of 132Nm@3000rpm and can comfortably seat five adults. These are just a few reasons why you should look forward to this sedan.

The estimated price of the sedan is under 7 lakh and what makes the competition even more interesting is the fact that Toyota has been known for its build quality and also for its after sales service. With a 5-speed manual transmission Toyota would be surely think about getting an automatic version in place. For the time being its the petrol variant that will make its way to the market and we all await the coming of its 1.4-litre diesel variant and Toyota plans to do just that at the end of 2011. all said and done, the Etios sedan looks good on paper but we will get you comprehensive test figures and tell you more about the features of the car once we get our hands on it. Watch this space for more.

]]>6871<![CDATA[Toyota Kirloskar Motors India to Launch Etios on the 1st of December 2010]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/6871-toyota-kirloskar-motors-india-to-launch-etios-on-the-1st-of-december-2010.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/6871-toyota-kirloskar-motors-india-to-launch-etios-on-the-1st-of-december-2010.htmlCarWale Team11/4/2010 2:34:30 PM12828http://img.carwale.com/ec/6871/img/m/6871_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/6871/img/m/6871_l

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd., showcased the Etios which turned out to be a headturner at the Auto Expo held in New Delhi in January 2010. While the car was not a production model, people at the Expo got a fairly clear picture of what the car would look like once it arrived and now Toyota Kirloskar Motors is all set to unveil the Etios on the 1st of December this year.

]]>

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd., showcased the Etios which turned out to be a headturner at the Auto Expo held in New Delhi in January 2010. While the car was not a production model, people at the Expo got a fairly clear picture of what the car would look like once it arrived and now Toyota Kirloskar Motors is all set to unveil the Etios on the 1st of December this year.


We think that Toyota will first unveil the sedan version and then the hatch but we do not know if Toyota might have some surprises up its sleeve. We also feel that the 1.4-litre engine that displaces 87bp, which was introduced in the Corolla Altis Diesel (read road test here) earlier this year would find its way in the Etios as well. The Etios hatch will be powered by a 1.2-litre engine (read our Upcoming Cars Section)


The sedan was conceived to compete with the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna, Mahindra Logan, Fiat Linea, Tata Indigo Manza, Volkswagen Vento and the Swift Dzire, all well established in the diesel sedan segment. Hence, it would be only logical to put the 1.4-litre power plant in the sedan to keep pace with the rest in the segment. As we look forward to Toyota Kirloskar Motors opening a new chapter in their venture with cars in India we will keep you updated about their plans. Stay tuned for more!

]]>6616<![CDATA[Mahindra Automotives Online Community Crosses 4 lakh fans on Facebook]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/6616-mahindra-automotives-online-community-crosses-4-lakh-fans-on-facebook.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/6616-mahindra-automotives-online-community-crosses-4-lakh-fans-on-facebook.htmlCarWale Team9/29/2010 10:57:40 AM2890http://img.carwale.com/ec/6616/img/m/6616_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/6616/img/m/6616_lMahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) said that its online community on Facebook now has a fan following of 4 lakh people. The company owes its popularity of brands such as the Scorpio, Bolero, Xylo and Logan, in addition to its unique properties, The Great Escape and Auto Quotient. 

]]>Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) said that its online community on Facebook now has a fan following of 4 lakh people. The company owes its popularity of brands such as the Scorpio, Bolero, Xylo and Logan, in addition to its unique properties, The Great Escape and Auto Quotient. 

Speaking on this achievement, Vivek Nayer, Senior Vice-President, Marketing, Mahindra & Mahindra said, "With 4 lakh digitally savvy people endorsing our brands on Facebook, this is indeed a recognition that we are proud of. It validates our continued focus to innovate in order to drive customer engagement & buzz around our brands, resulting in this massive fan following."

With Anand Mahindra joining the twitter bandwagon, the companys popularity on Social networking websites does seem to be on the growth path. With some new launches expected from the company this year (we hope to see the Mini-Xylo soon) and also the oncoming of the Mahindra two wheelers we are sure to sea a wave of change in the coming years.

]]>6418<![CDATA[Mahindra Car Sales Grow 29 percent in August]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/6418-mahindra-car-sales-grow-29-percent-in-august.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/6418-mahindra-car-sales-grow-29-percent-in-august.htmlCarWale Team9/1/2010 5:51:44 PM2638http://img.carwale.com/ec/6418/img/m/6418_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/6418/img/m/6418_lMahindra & Mahindra Ltd. announced that its auto sales for August 2010 stood at 28903 units as against 22413 units during August 2009, an increase of 29%. The company’s domestic sales stand at 27275 units during August 2010, as against 21410 units during August 2009, an increase of 27%. Exports have grown by 62% during the same period.

]]>Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. announced that its auto sales for August 2010 stood at 28903 units as against 22413 units during August 2009, an increase of 29%. The company’s domestic sales stand at 27275 units during August 2010, as against 21410 units during August 2009, an increase of 27%. Exports have grown by 62% during the same period.

The domestic sales for the passenger UV range of products including the Bolero, Scorpio and Xylo stood at 12994 units during August 2010 up by 14% from 11443 units during August 2009.

The 3-wheeler range of products domestic sales stood at 5074 units during August 2010 up by 39% from 3652 units during August 2009. The 4-wheel pickups range of products domestic sales stood at 7533 units during August 2010 up by 45% from 5188 units during August 2009.

The sale of the company’s sedan, the Logan, has also seen an upward trend with sales for August 2010 standing at 801 units as against 469 units during July 2009, a growth of 71%. With the company in the midst of launching the five seater Mini Xylo and the Sub-4 meter Logan, Mahindra would want to capture the attention of all those who still feel that the company is an SUV manufacturer.

]]>6302<![CDATA[Mahindra Logan Sales Go Up After Renault Walk-Out]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/6302-mahindra-logan-sales-go-up-after-renault-walk-out.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/6302-mahindra-logan-sales-go-up-after-renault-walk-out.htmlCarWale Team8/12/2010 2:47:49 PM4111http://img.carwale.com/ec/6302/img/m/6302_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/6302/img/m/6302_lThe Mahindra-Renault Joint Venture came to an end earlier this year. The Joint Venture, 51% owned by Mahindra & Mahindra and 49% by Renault, has till date launched only one vehicle, the Mahindra-Renault Logan. The state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Nashik in Maharashtra too was a product of this partnership. The sedan attracted some attention but the sales figures showed otherwise. Its sales plummeted the last fiscal year. Consequently, the JV lost about Rs. 5 billion during that fiscal year.

]]>The Mahindra-Renault Joint Venture came to an end earlier this year. The Joint Venture, 51% owned by Mahindra & Mahindra and 49% by Renault, has till date launched only one vehicle, the Mahindra-Renault Logan. The state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Nashik in Maharashtra too was a product of this partnership. The sedan attracted some attention but the sales figures showed otherwise. Its sales plummeted the last fiscal year. Consequently, the JV lost about Rs. 5 billion during that fiscal year.

The French car maker decided to call it quits and Mahindra acquired its stake and decided to go solo as regards manufacturing the Logan. The Logan sales have picked up after the split. The figures tell us the story. Compared to 303 units that sold in April (when the JV was intact), Logan sales have doubled to 752 units in July 2010. The growth has been credited to some quick and correct decisions taken by the company before the split.

Logans competition in this segment is the Maruti Suzuki’s Swift Dzire, Hyundai Verna Transform, Ford Fiesta, Fiat Linea and the newly launched Volkswagen Vento. Mahindra has hinted that there would be some price cuts as regards the Logan and with news of the sub-4 metre Logan (competition to the Tata Indigo CS), the competition just seems to be getting stronger.

]]>