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 Generator8950<![CDATA[The CarWale Daily Fuel - May 19, 2012]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/8950-the-carwale-daily-fuel-may-19-2012.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/8950-the-carwale-daily-fuel-may-19-2012.htmlCarWale Team5/19/2012 3:45:00 PM1279http://img.carwale.com/ec/8950/img/m/8950_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/8950/img/m/8950_lFiat launches Punto 90hp Sport and second Fiat Caffe at Pune, new Tata Safari Storme will go on sale in July, Premier Rio to use Fiat's Multijet diesel and auto manufacturers in India may get recall guidelines by end of year.

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  • Fiat India has launched the Punto 90hp Sport at a price tag of 7.36 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. The Punto Sport has decals, contrasting mirrors, interior trim with chrome accents and different fabric over the regular 90hp diesel. 
  • Fiat also launched a Fiat Caffe at Koregaon Park in Pune, the second such café in India. India is the only country to have two Fiat caffes. One can shop for a Fiat or simply sip a cup of coffee at the café.
  • The Bajaj RE60 will probably be launched by the end of 2013. It is said that the RE60 will compete with auto rickshaws for intra-city transport rather than the Nano that still owns the crown of the cheapest car in India.
  • The Tata Safari Storme is expected to hit the showrooms by July this year. Tata is planning to keep the existing Safari on sale along with the Storme at least in the initial phase.
  • The Premier Rio joins the ranks of Indian Fiat and Maruti diesels as well as some Tata diesels in being powered by the Fiat 1.3 Multijet engine. Fiat, under the new agreement, will deliver 28000 engines to Premier over the next three years.
  • Hyundai India is expecting a slow growth of about 6 to 8 per cent over the year owing to rising fuel costs, interest rates and a general perception of a dampened economy. Meanwhile, the Korean company is taking efforts to ramp up its service and dealer network.
  • Auto manufacturers in India may be required by law to issue a recall if a vehicle is found to have a defect. Nothing has been decided yet, but proposed steps include informing the government of the recall and issuing an official media statement. SIAM plans to get in the door first with its own set of voluntary guidelines, to be issued next month.
  • The state of Kerala will soon have an automated system to judge vehicle fitness, thus giving a scientific approach to vehicle testing before a fitness certificate is issued. The cost is Rs 1.8 crore per machine, and two machines have been ordered.
  • The state of Goa is going to get equally high-tech as Kerala: within six months, all the offences and accidents committed by a vehicle will be recorded on the registration card itself. Palmtop readers/writers will be provided to the traffic police to help record or retrieve the information.
  • The world's first nationwide electric car network has been launched in Israel. 'Refuelling stations' swap the depleted battery for a new one instead of merely charging it, so that a refuel takes just as much time as filling up on a fossil fuel. The vehicle of choice is the electric Renault Fluence.
  • With increasing electronic control over a vehicle's functions, it is getting harder for independent mechanics to diagnose and thus repair faults with modern cars. A law in Massachusetts, USA aims to make the necessary software available to these shops but with security restrictions beginning 2015, the same year that vehicle 'black boxes' become mandatory. However, the bill hasn't been passed yet.
  • Bentley is expected to resume its motorsport participation in an unlikely form - the Dakar rally. Parent VW has been buying up all the race Touaregs it sold to privateer teams. This move would make marketing sense to the Winged B, since the EXP 9F SUV is its biggest upcoming product.
  • British GT car manufacturer Aston Martin sees scope for further growth in the Chinese, Russian and other Asian markets besides China. They are planning to launch an SUV under the Lagonda brand to foray into the premium SUV segment.

    • 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.

    ]]>    3660<![CDATA[VW New Beetle and Touareg Launched]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/3660-3660.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/3660-3660.htmlCarWale Team12/5/2009 11:24:11 AM3922http://img.carwale.com/ec/3660/img/m/3660_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/3660/img/m/3660_lVolkswagen has announced the launch of the New Beetle, and the Touareg in India. The New Beetle will be priced at Rs 20.45 lakh and the Touareg at Rs 51.85 lakh (ex-showroom ,Delhi.) Speaking at the launch, Mr. Neeraj Garg, Member of Board and Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars said, “We are excited to bring this iconic Beetle, to India after its success across the world.” He further added, “The launch of the Touareg is our marketing debut in the SUV segment. India has a great demand for SUVs. The Touareg has been successful across countries and the entry will further enhance our presence in the market.”

    ]]>    Volkswagen has announced the launch of the New Beetle, and the Touareg in India. The New Beetle will be priced at Rs 20.45 lakh and the Touareg at Rs 51.85 lakh (ex-showroom ,Delhi.) Speaking at the launch, Mr. Neeraj Garg, Member of Board and Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars said, “We are excited to bring this iconic Beetle, to India after its success across the world.” He further added, “The launch of the Touareg is our marketing debut in the SUV segment. India has a great demand for SUVs. The Touareg has been successful across countries and the entry will further enhance our presence in the market.”

    The New Beetle is equipped with a 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with an output of 115bhp at 5400rpm. It is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The New Beetle which comes equipped with 15“ alloy wheels, four airbags, ABS and ESP.

    The Touareg develops 240bhp from 4000-4400rpm with the help of turbocharging from a 3-litre V6 TDI engine mated to a 6-speed DSG gearbox. The company claims a 0-100kph time of 7.8 seconds. The Touareg offers genuine leather seat upholstery and a 230V power socket in rear luggage compartment among the other things in the mile-long list of features. The vehicle also offers 45 degree hill climbing ability, 35 degree side slope angle and a wading depth of 500mm.

    ]]>    1503<![CDATA[VW wins the Dakar Rally]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/1503-vw-wins-the-dakar-rally.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/1503-vw-wins-the-dakar-rally.htmlRachit Hirani1/23/2009 6:14:19 PM2559http://img.carwale.com/ec/1503/img/m/1503_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/1503/img/m/1503_lVolkswagen won the 2009 Dakar Rally with its Race Touareg TDIs. This year's Dakar Rally made its debut in South America. Volkswagen factory driver and off-road motorsport veteran, Mark Miller, also made history as the highest-finishing American that has ever raced in the Dakar Rally.

    ]]>    Volkswagen won the 2009 Dakar Rally with its Race Touareg TDIs. This year's Dakar Rally made its debut in South America. Volkswagen factory driver and off-road motorsport veteran, Mark Miller, also made history as the highest-finishing American that has ever raced in the Dakar Rally.



    The 2009 Dakar Rally was won by the Volkswagen Factory team of South African-German duo Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz, while their Volkswagen team mates Mark Miller and Ralph Pitchford finished the rally in second place.

    "It was an incredible result for the Volkswagen team this year, with Giniel and Dirk taking the first diesel-powered win,”  said Clark Campbell, Volkswagen of America Motorsport Manager.

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