Lexus coming to India.
| Source: AI Facebook Page Hormazd sorabjee's latest tweet Quote:
Good news for people waiting for Lexus to officially enter the Indian shores. Do you think Lexus will be able to compete with the likes of Audi, Bmw and Mercedes, considering that mostly their cars will be a CBU? |
ICML to launch new SUV to compete with XUV International Cars and Motor Ltd (ICML) and subsidiary of the Sonalika group is working on a brand new SUV which could see an 2012 launch and will compete with the likes of Mahindra's XUV 500, and Tata Safari. The company will display a concept vehicle in the Auto Expo in Delhi early next year. Sonalika had also shown a concept of an SUV long ago at the 2008 Auto Expo. The company had tied up the Rover group from Britain and also announced ambitious projects in collaboration with Italy's automobile design house for world cars. The company had said it was going to develop a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and a passenger car with Pininfarina that would be positioned in the 'C' segment priced between Rs. 8-10 lakhs. With market growing both in terms of numbers and competition, ICML will need a very well planned strategy to create a niche and position for it self. The XUV currently has acquired the number one spot and the Tata's new Merlin is expected to be a bench mark for Tata Motors in terms of quality and features when is gets launched. Currently the sells the Rhino MUV in select market and is powered by a CRDi engine. The new SUV will be launched pan India and will have a new dealership network in place. The company plans to raise funds through a public offer in the next 3-4 years and looks at a IPO down the road. The 1989-incorporated ICML, functioning from Hoshiarpur, makes the Rhino series of multi-utility vehicles that can seat seven-eight passengers. They function both as taxis and private vars. Sonalika Group, has been into making farm equipment since 1969. They started making tractors in 1996, and entered the utility vehicle sector, which is slated to grow at 16 per cent in India. Rhino was launched in 2006. The company operates out of a manufacturing facility in Amb, Himachal Pradesh with a capacity to produce 24,000 units per annum.
| International Cars and Motor Ltd (ICML) and subsidiary of the Sonalika group is working on a brand new SUV which could see an 2012 launch and will compete with the likes of Mahindra's XUV 500, and Tata Safari. The company will display a concept vehicle in the Auto Expo in Delhi early next year. Sonalika |
Need Suggestions For Panvel-Rajasthan-Panvel Trip in Mid-December
| ** Doing this for a friend of mine. Planning to do Panvel-Gujrat-Rajasthan-Panvel trip this December Start Date: 17th Dec 2011 Duration: 13 Days Car: Ritz VDi Travellers: My Friend, His Wife, 5 Year Old Kid (Driving will be done by my friend alone) So guys here is the complete plan: Attachment 848074 I am attaching the Excel Sheet as well: Attachment 848075 1. Planning to have stay mostly at RTDC. However, if better options considering "Budget Stay", then please let me know. 2. Road Conditions considering the route. 3. Suggestions for sight seeing 4. Possible Good Fuel Refills 5. Famous Shopping/Eatery suggestions at stay locations Map is as follow: LINK: Panvel, Maharashtra to Panvel, Maharashtra - Google Maps Attachment 848084 Thanks in advance for your oncoming suggestions. |
Plan to recondition your old 800/Alto - Maruti does it in Rs.35k with new half engine
| Yesterday, I went to get the coolant hose pipe replaced of the swift at DD Motors (Peera Garhi), and while paying the bill, I came across a poster that said, transplant your Maruti's heart for longer life for Rs.10,000. I was a little surprised as I never expected it to be this cheap at ASC and asked the service adviser for the details. I was told that Rs. 10k is the cost of new half engine of 800/Omni and including other costs such as valves, guides, gaskits, lathe machine cost for head face etc, and labour; the complete rebuit of your 800 will cost you around Rs.20k. Now, one any ways get to pay 10-12k for complete reconditioning of the old 800/omni engine and paying Rs.20k to ASC is not bad at all when you get warranty on parts (Adviser wasn't sure how much warranty we get, he wil check and let me know today). Since, we have the now almost 12 year old 5-Speed 800, which has mostly the same engine as Alto (apart from few minor modifications in Alto), I enquired about the cost of the rebuit of the 5 Speed 800/Alto engine. And again I was surprised to know that the total cost of reconditioning including a new half engine will be near Rs.35k. Now, I was expecting somewhere around 18-20k for complete overhaul of the engine and paying 35k for complete thing is not a bad idea.. We have done over 1.7 lac kms on our car in last 12 years (without an overhaul) and tell you what its still a delight to drive. We plan not to sell the car ever (after a small thought of trading it for used esteem CNG- now discarded) and hence, plan to bring the car back to its pristine condition sometime next year. So, whats the better way than getting an almost new heart which can run for the rest of the car's life easily as this car now runs only 5k kms a year. Just an effort to save the 800 - a CAR that put India on wheels..:) |
Nearly finalized a Linea MJD E Pk, last minute soul searching
| I've been planning to buy a diesel sedan for quite some time and accordingly, I had test driven the Verna Fluidic, the Vento and the Ford Fiesta. (Both the Petrol and Diesel versions, though I had no intention of buying a petrol) The first Vehicle I test drove was the Volkswagen Vento: Pros: Powerful Engine. German Build. Competent and capable after sales. Cons: Looks don't appeal much to me. A*S*S expenses are unknown and going by past experience, likely to be expensive. Next Hyundai Verna Fluidic: Pros: Good looks. Powerful Engine Hyundai A*S*S, though regularly engaging in daylight robbery, is marginally competent. Cons: Felt extremely uncomfortable driving the car, couldn't wait to return it back to the showroom and get away. The seating position was uncomfortable and the steering was all over the place. Hyundai A*S*S regularly engages in daylight robbery. Next was the New Ford Fiesta Pros Good looks. Nippy in city driving. Engine has adequate power. Excellent handling, after all it is a ford :) Really enjoyed the TD. Ford A*S*S is a known quantity and not particularly expensive anymore. Cons: Overpriced, very. I was pretty much sold on the Fiesta but sometime last week, while waiting to get the driver's side mirror of my Indica Turbo replaced, I suddenly felt the urge to go and TD the Linea. We took a long TD, nearly 30kms, highway, inner city and industrial district. Fiat Linea MJD Pros Great looks. Great handling with hydraulic power steering, you do feel connected to the road, felt at home in the driver's seat. In fact, the advisor was surprised when I told him I had never driven the Linea before. I'm used to dealing with Tata A*S*S. Cons Availability of spares, though the dealership informed me that since there is demand due to sufficient no. of Lineas on the road, spares like mirrors etc. are usually in stock. Dunno whether Fiat will still be around 2-3 years down the line. Anyway, I decided to follow my heart and I intend to book a Bossa Nova White Linea MJD E Pk tomorrow for 9.28 on road. I've been through ownership reviews here and on Teamfiat as well as talking to the one friend I have who owns a Linea. However, before I finally book the car, I would like to know of any reasons why I shouldn't. |
Heavy vibration on steering wheel in low idle condition
| Hello guys, I needed some advice to rectify a problem in my Zen that i've been experiencing for 3 months now. The problem is, when i crank the engine and leave it in idle condition, i experience a heavy vibration on my steering wheel, it becomes periodically intense and i suspect its something got to do with the engine rpm, because when i rev up the engine, all the vibrations disappear. I think the problem could be solved if i were to change engine mounts or is there anything in the steering assembly that needs to be changed (bearings, mounts etc.) Mine is a 2000 model Zen Vxi. It has run over 1 lakh km. Currently its at my home town and I intend to bring it to Chennai next month. Kindly pour in your thoughts. |
Mini to enter with 3 models, Auto Expo debut
| BMW's retro brand of cars MINI will make its official debut at the 2012 auto expo with car delivery to start by Jan to March. MINI will launch three new models in India: The iconic three-door Cooper Hatch, the Cooper convertible and the Countryman SUV. BMW is currently setting up new dealerships and the first |
Team-BHP Account Locked
| I got 3 mails saying someone tried to access team-bhp account using wrong password. All 3 with different IP address as below: 141.105.65.70 186.205.41.251 120.203.1.250 is that real hijacking attempt or prank email? |
Brazil Grand Prix- Vettel breaks record
| With his 15th pole of the season, Vettek broke Mansell's record. Qualifying 1 Vettel 2 Webber 3 Button 4 Hamilton 5 Alonso 6 Rosberg 7 Massa 8 Sutil 9 Senna 10 Schumacher di Resta missed Q3 and was 11th |
A very very happy hello to all
| Hello All. I finally made it to Team-BHP after my second attempt. Very proud to be a BHPian. And I am about to take delivery of my new Ford Figo 1.4 TDCi Titanium tomorrow, 27th Nov'11. Very very excited. I want to thank everyone whose posts I read and finally made the decision to buy the Figo. I also like to thank and appreciate all the mods for running this site and its content wonderfully. You guys ROCK! I will post my ownership experience once I clock a few miles with my car. Lastly a little about my self. I am 32, work as a Business Consultant for a MNC in Bangalore. I love cars and own a Ford Ikon Flair which I am selling as of now. And I love Team-BHP. Best, Sam |
Special edition Ford Fiesta launched in Britain
| Ford has launched the Fiesta Metal Special Edition with plenty of enhancements to talk about. The power of the 1.6-liter petrol engine has been upped from 120PS to 134PS and 0-100kph comes up in 8.7 seconds. Ford have lowered ride height, chromed the exhaust tips, appointed the interiors with black leather seats stitched with silver thread and thrown in stainless steel scuff plates.
Only 1,000 models of the Metal Special Edition are going to be produced making it a rare breed. I can guess your reaction when you observe the sticker on it that has 12.75 lakh rupees written on it! |
Scoop! Toyota Land Cruiser Facelift Leaked!
| Toyota Land Cruiser Facelift brochure scans leaked! Please move to Int'l Section if found irrelevant here. Source |
Spicybids.com - fraud website?
| Dear friends, just thought I would warn you about this fraud website and how they cheat people, my friend has experienced the same as mentioned below and lost a lot of money, I have copied the following article from the Internet, and I am sure it is true as we have experienced it. :Shockked: Cheating People By Bidding Spicybids is a fraud website. The concept behind the fraud is to make people bid and do not give them any products. And they charge for each bid. This is how it works. A consumer has to register and pay money to buy bids. For Rs.3200 they give 100bids (they have different rates for different numbers). Once you buy bids, you can start bidding. For each bid that you click they charge around Rs. 32 (again depends on the bids that you buy). When the bid is about to close, some one can bid again and the timer extends for 20 seconds. This will countinue till no one bids, and the last bidder wins the product. Now I'll explain how the company is making others fraud. First point, if you keep a close look, you will see that the products keep repeating (because they are showing the same products again and again). Second point, consumers also keep repeating (are there only handful of people to bid in a website in a country as big as INDIA or World?). Third point is, if a consumer starts bidding, the bid will continue and won't end at all, till the same repeating users win the bid) Moral of the story is some one has started a website and they are minting money by collecting money just to bid in the website and they make sure some of their own company staff itself gets the product. This way they get money and they don't have to sell any product. That is why the product & the users keeps repeating. And if a consumer who is not from their company bids, the bid will not end. You can try this out. Keep bidding for a '15free bids'. The value will keep increasing and will not end (May go more than 70-80). And if you check the winners area you will see that generally '15free bids' go for Rs.3-20. Please avoid using this website. And I request the responsible people to take action against the owners of this website. |
My new Cruze - the Sand Drift Grey Beast
| So I finally got my Chevy Cruze on the day I got my new job. I think it's a good omen. It's a Sand Drift Grey LT model. It was either this colour or black for me. But I've already had a black Honda City so I was inclined towards the Sand Drift Grey. I'm going to follow the "assembly line" format mentioned in the forum rules to make this simple. 1. Alternatives Considered: The usual suspects Civic, Laura, Altis, Cruze and even the Fluence. My budget was 13-16 lakhs. I was primarily looking for good looks and decent performance. I was not too particular about things like power, resale value and availability of cheap spares. I'd probably chose the civic or altis if I did.
3.On-road price, Discounts: About 14L + Customizations (more on that later). I got my own insurance and did not buy insurance from the dealer. I did not know I could do that till someone told me about it. 4. Engine type & variant: Cruze only comes with a 2.0 Diesel Engine. I got the LT Variant (manual transmission) 5. KMs Driven and usage patterns: About 500KM driven. Roughly 30-35 km a day with 80% dense traffic and 20% open highway. 6. Exterior Styling: that's what did it for me. I love it. 7. Interior Design and Quality: The design is simply awesome. It's ergonomic and looks hot. However I had read that the quality of plastics and button/knobs are not as good as the Civics and Lauras. But I am reasonably satisfied with them. No complaints as such. 8. Interior Space and comfort: Ranks high on comfort. Not so much on space. I am 6'2" and I doubt if anyone more than 5'4" can sit comfortably behind me in this car. I had read about dismal head room for the rear passengers but I have not seen anyone have that problem in my car yet. Have the GM people changed something here? 9. Other noteworthy interior points: Great air conditioning, powerful headlamps, basic odometer panel cluster, good looking dash. I was not sure if the LT model would play the ipod. But it does and very well at that. Complete integration. You can scroll all the artists, albums, genres etc from the dash controls. Same for a USB drive. The USB drive will only play the first 10,000 songs though. It says so in the manual. 10. Engine performance: Excellent. But the turbo lag is obvious. The clutch recoil does live up to its reputation of being hard. It does get tough during bumper to bumper traffic, but once the road clears a bit, you will probably leave everyone behind. 11.Fuel Efficiency: honestly i have not kept track of it yet. Watch this space. 12. After Sales service: had my first servicing yesterday. Was effortless. Although they sent someone to collect the car, i travelled with that mechanic to the service centre. Have heard nightmarish stories about parts being replaced by fake ones during service. Especially the famous Skoda story on this forum. But no such incidences thankfully. The ordeal was over in 5 hours. Got my car back on the same day. 13. Other points: I replaced the stock tyres and alloys. Out went JK Vectra 205/60R16. In came Bridgestone 225/45/R17. It was a good decision. The ride quality is much better now. The suspension seems more refined, especially for rear passengers. 16" alloys were replaced with 17" BM racing alloys. Model 7527. I hope it's looking good. I personally loved it. Total cost after exchange was about 40K. Have also added the door garnish. Looks cool at night. Cost 6K (bought from dealer). Looked around for a nice ICE with 7" touch-screen but apparently you need to cut and strip the wires to interface with the existing system. That voids the warranty. So I am still looking for a socket which will help me fit the ICE without voiding the warranty. I know that Caska and Mega Audio are options but if I get this elusive socket, I can probably fit in the Sony, JVC as well. Overall it's been a good experience for the first 500KM. Traffic does give me nightmares with the hard clutch and turbo lag but that probably accounts for a 5% negative experience in an otherwise brilliantly crafted car. Lets Cruze !! |
Daimler to Scrap Its Maybach Luxury Cars
| Source: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Quote:
Personally, I never liked Maybachs and against Rolls Royce's and Bentley's who would buy a Maybach? Including a short video I found on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSdJFrH3Q9A |
i10 auto: Issues in a year old
| The i10 sportz auto is a year old. At lower rpms and at load there was a rattle from the front. The service centre diagnosed it as a problem with the transmission and kept it for 4 days, and handed it back to me, after they had "solved"it. The noise still persists, and now they think it may an engine knock. Am out of ideas and have left the i10 at the Service center at Bangalore. Has anyone else encountered a similar issue ? |
i10 auto: Issues in one year old car
| The i10 sportz auto is a year old. At lower rpms and at load there was a rattle from the front. The service centre diagnosed it as a problem with the transmission and kept it for 4 days, and handed it back to me, after they had "solved"it. The noise still persists, and now they think it may an engine knock. Am out of ideas and have left the i10 at the Service center at Bangalore. Has anyone else encountered a similar issue ? |
Route Help: Hyderabad - Goa - Udupi - Bangalore - Hyderabad
| Hi, I am taking a break from work for one week. So wanted to do some travelling. The route i want to take is: Hyderabad - Solapur - Hubli - Goa - Kollur - Udupi - Bangalore - Hyderabad. Want to spend 3 days in Goa, 1 day in Bangalore. Would like to visit the Mookambika temple in Kollur and Krishna temple in Udupi. So plan is something like below : Day 1: Hyderabad - Solapur - Bijapur Hubli night halt. (570 Kms) Day 2: Hubli - Goa (155 Kms ) Day 3,4,5: Goa Day 6 : Goa - Udupi with halt at Kollur for temple for few hours. (268 km to Kollur + 75 Kms for Udupi) Day 7: Udupi - Bangalore (405 Kms) Day 8: Bangalore Day 9: Bangalore - Hyderabad (572 Kms) I have only done the Bangalore Hyd route earlier, will be the single driver for the trip. Want to stick to the National Highways as much as possible So have lot of queries on this plan. 1. Is above a practical plan. 2. What are the road conditions on any of the above routes. 3. Where can i stay in Hubli, Udupi and Goa. 4. What is the terrain in Goa to Udupi ? Is it hilly ? I have done Otty, Mudumali, Leh so can some one give a comparison. 5. Must see places in the route and locations 6. Want to do some water sport in Goa, what is a good location in Goa All suggestions and comments are welcome. Thanks in advance Moderators please relocate the thread if this is not the correct sub form. |
Rendered – Maruti Suzuki junior SUV
|
A segment in its own, this vehicle is said to have certain capabilities of a grown up SUV besides the handling of a Swift. Shoeb studied these speculative media reports and did some guess work. He feels that the junior SUV can be built using Swift parts. Coming to the vehicle, the high ground clearance gifts it with the ability to negotiate any terrain. The flared wheel arches and upgraded tires add extra oomph to its masculine looks. Higher variants could be equipped with a 4X4 to make it a somewhat civilized Gypsy. Since most Maruti vehicles are exported, we expect lots of safety features and driving aids on the top-end version. The 1.3 Multijet is the logical choice and Maruti could look at the 1.6-liter petrol engine on the SX4 for equipping the export model. For the Indian market, the 4X2 version missing some of that equipment will find many buyers. Design language is same as on the new Suzuki models. |
Honda India halts production of City and Brio due to parts shortage
|
Now, it is reported that the Thailand floods have caused a major shortage of parts for the Indian subsidiary to such an extent that Honda India is forced to stop the production of the City sedan and the Brio hatchback. If the situation gets worse, the company will have stop the production of the Jazz as well. The situation is bound to get worse in December. Honda India has confirmed that in December Jazz will have a skeletal production, around 250 units, and a few hundred units of the Civic and Accord sedans will be made. The company’s also stopped taking further bookings for the Jazz at its dealerships due to the uncertainty in the future. The Brio has a backlog of 6,000 cars and the Jazz bookings run up to 4,000 units. The City might see some relief in February. Source: TheEconomicTimes |
Importing a used Skoda from the UK? They're going real cheap
| Hi, I am planning to buy a used mid segment car. I ended up on couple of websites that had Skoda Octavia`s for sale and that to in the range of 2.3 to 3 lacs. I called up the seller and fixed up a meating for today.Then late night researching, I landed on the Skoda Horror stories thing and it really scared the hell out of me. I immediately cancelled the decision to buy the Skoda and cancelled today's meeting. Some how in my mind I am stuck to the feeling of owning a Skoda or a good mid segment car. I landed up on ebay international website and had a look at what is available there.Surprisingly there are some throw away deals in cars too :Cheering: but again the import thing comes into play as everyone says. Check this skoda octavia | eBay Now checking out the prices these cars are offered at they are too tempting. I have herd that the import duty on used imported cars is 130 % and that of new cars is 105 % . Does the government charge import duty on Book value of car or Bought out price of car ? Note: The top list Skodas are priced at under Rs40000 @ 80=1 UK pound. The weight of the car itself if around 1000 kg and if the car is scrapped at Rs 20 per Kg, it will fetch the owner Rs 20000/- . If parts of the car are sold separately it will fetch even more than the price they are willing to sell it for. Are these fake listings ? Or is the developed country market too saturated and cars are as good as dump there ? |
Renault Nissan to develop an Alto competitor
| French car maker Renault and its Japanese partner Nissan, are seriously considering a new small car for the Indian market. Renault has appointed Gerard Detourbet, currently head of its entry level division, to oversee the Indian project. The proposed entry-level small car will take on Maruti Suzuki’s Alto and Hyundai’s Eon in the country’s rapidly |
Arjun Balu bids adieu to Motorsport
| Team MRF's Arjun Balu says goodbye to the INRC. |
Skoda Octavia at 175k kms- Suspension, Brakes, Axles etc overhaul query
| Hi, I need urgent help in understanding if this is a valid situation. my mechanic told me that my Skoda Octavia needs a suspension overhaul, shock absorbers, disc brakes and axle changes as they have all work out and are making a reasonable noise. I have done 175000 kms in the last 5-1/2 years. Would also appreciate an insight as to what I can expect the bill for this to be and what is the best way to proceed on this. Thank you for all your help. Warm regards, Rajeev 9810184403 - happy to have a chat too! |
Buy a Hyosung GT 650 N for 3.8 lakhs. Limited offer!!
| Hyosung is offering the GT 650 N for a mouth watering price of Rs. 3.8 lakhs. The sports naked bike was launched just a couple of months back at a price of Rs. 4,39,000 (ex-showroom Goa). The new GT 650 N ups the oomph factor of speed by several notches. Stripped down to racing fitness |
Can sunfilm be removed, and then reapplied?
| Hi, I've my OHC Vtec with 3M CR70 film installed in the front. Last night something fell and the front windscreen is damaged :Frustrati. I'm giving the car to windshield experts for replacement of windshield. Is there any chance that the old film can be removed and applied to the new windscreen? The reason why I'm checking this is that I don't want to waste the money spent on film. Experts pls advice. |
TVS Apache Streetfighter?
| Saw this picture circulating on social networking sites, is this for real or just another shot at PS? Looks promising. A bits in the circle looks a bit suspicious to me:confused: Attachment 847638 |
So what do you think is the Hottest?
| 'Corners and Cuts are only for Fords and Fiats'. Now that rhymes! Not a revelation, of course. This was my FB status for yesterday. Plainly, I was too bored seeing each of friends update their status with 'Kovaleri –Kovaleri 'song. So, out of nowhere struck this rhyme and pasted it directly on my FB Wall…Little did I know of this 'random thought' making some people go hopping mad! The first comment came from an ardent Lancer fan and he questioned, "Mitsubishi?? ". As I have no idea of how a Lancer's steering wheel feels, I replied honestly, answering in German (we both attend German classes together), "So lala (so-so)". Now, one of my cousins has just bought the diesel-rocket- i20 Crdi. He's only two years elder, mechanical engineer and a wheel-spin enthusiast; the 'one' thing he looks for in a car is Engine! A few days ago, we were on the same topic discussing hot-hatches. Clearly in his mind, a diesel car with stump-yanking torque and chic looks is the one. Let's be honest, it's the i20 he's invariably pointing towards. On the other hand, I am a die-hard Palio GTX fan-boy. None of the cars to this day and date evoke the same sense of passion, magnetism, character and charm that a Ferrari red painted GTX provides, period! That's all concluded without having driven one, actually. Wonder how will I react when I get behind the wheel of one? Thanks to the drive experiences shared by all of you here, who have driven the GTX, I love it more and more every passing day! Just to pull my brother's leg, I thought it would be a good idea to bring steering/feedback thing in picture and get his facts straighten up. We had an hour long argument that day but sadly, no conclusions! The aforementioned Facebook update, as he would have thought, had surely been posted to offend him! As a result, he started bickering again. Without any second thoughts, I joined him thinking it'd be a good time pass. Some other armchair enthusiasts joined the party too, things started to get serious…And the Word-War II began: WHICH IS THE HOTTEST HATCH LAUCNCHED IN OUR COUNTRY SO FAR? i20- Surely has a bonkers engine (CRDi unit). Good looking and, perhaps the most practical hatch that's being currently sold in our country, alongside the Jazz. But, is it hot? Do you really think? Polo 1.6- Gorgeous when red, 1.6 and 105 bhp. Perfect replacement for the ageing GTX, I thought. But then, stumbled upon this article, read the very first comment there, and I am re-assured that the GTX still is untouchable. Battle of the hot hatches - Heat this! Swift- I believe it to be the only car that is Hot in all the departments. It ticks all the right boxes-Handling, price, engine, fun, looks, reliability and FE (The thing we Indians seek foremost of all in any car/bike!). Definitely, hot! … Hottest? Uhmm, that red Palio. Getz Crdi- Here's some blast from the past! I have heard some great reviews from enthusiasts and automobile journalists about the diesel Getz. It had a CRDi unit and offered 240 N-m of torque…Seriously wow! Also read it being an able handler too. But, does that make it the hottest hatch of all times? I have no idea; please pour in your comments. Punto- Best looking hatch of all times. Period. Hot as hell in red. Wish Fiat had plonked some 100+ bhp motor into it. It would have been so easy to forget the GTX then…Engine and performance is the only weak-link that stops it from clinching the 'hot hatch' title from elder brother! Brio and Jazz- Honda's Vtec delivering a revalicious 90bhp. Most fun cars around (GTO's words, if I am not mistaken). Jazz with revised pricing is easily the best small petrol car in market today. Albeit, both Hondas look a bit soft to me rather than hot (also the reason why Fabia is not in my list of hot-hatches, apologies for the same). And I think, I am right in saying that none of these handle anywhere close to a Fiat or Ford. The Jazz or the Brio simply does not 'cut' the mustard for the cornering-happy-janta. I am sure many will disagree, and I would like to hear back-up reasons for the same as well. :-) Ford Figo- Here comes the Ford, finally. Fords are the only rivals I see to the Fiats when one seeks outright fun in a car. Betters Fiat, actually (Fiesta). Amazing handlers, best steering feedback and some great engines to drool over. The Figo though could have been an enthusiast's delight had it been bolted with the same unit as that of Fiesta (1.6). Because as of now it's not an outright performance hatch vis-Ã -vis Polo 1.6 or GTX. Its subtle looks don't help spice up things much, either. The Figo then resembles to its Italian meaning of cool than being a red-hot chili pepper. Still, if I were in market today to pick a small car, it'd be a tough call between this Ford and its arch-rival Fiat Punto-from an enthusiast's point of view. Zen Carbon/Steel- Aha, the two door hot hatch. I have very little to share about this car. Remember reading only 300 or 500 of these were made. A very hot chick, down my street used to drive one of these (Steel). The combination was simply jaw-dropping. How it feels to drive is unknown yet? (Both, the girl and the car :D). Recently did a Chandigarh-Delhi run on the first-gen Zen. Pick-up was quite insane and it climbed up to the figures of 130-140kph effortlessly. Only concern was high-speed stability as it felt shaky and unstable (scary!). So guys these are the only entrants I could think of for now. I know I have missed many other brilliant hatchbacks (Fabia, Micra, Liva, Santro, Wagon R, Chevy, Opels etc.), but you can always favour any of those missed in your posts, if you think they had some kind of X-factor in them. Besides being a fan-boy, why I think the GTX reigns above all? It's only because I think GTX is the perfect amalgamation of looks, power, performance, handling, character, passion and fun. We have some great cars today but they all miss out on some or the other points above. Secondly, it's painted in Ferrari red. :D What do you think? Am I correct in saying so? |
So what do you think is the hottest?
| 'Corners and Cuts are only for Fords and Fiats'. Now that rhymes! Not a revelation, of course. This was my FB status for yesterday. Plainly, I was too bored seeing each of friends update their status with 'Kovaleri –Kovaleri 'song. So, out of nowhere struck this rhyme and pasted it directly on my FB Wall…Little did I know of this 'random thought' making some people go hopping mad! The first comment came from an ardent Lancer fan and he questioned, "Mitsubishi?? ". As I have no idea of how a Lancer's steering wheel feels, I replied honestly, answering in German (we both attend German classes together), "So lala (so-so)". Now, one of my cousins has just bought the diesel-rocket- i20 Crdi. He's only two years elder, mechanical engineer and a wheel-spin enthusiast; the 'one' thing he looks for in a car is Engine! A few days ago, we were on the same topic discussing hot-hatches. Clearly in his mind, a diesel car with stump-yanking torque and chic looks is the one. Let's be honest, it's the i20 he's invariably pointing towards. On the other hand, I am a die-hard Palio GTX fan-boy. None of the cars to this day and date evoke the same sense of passion, magnetism, character and charm that a Ferrari red painted GTX provides, period! That's all concluded without having driven one, actually. Wonder how will I react when I get behind the wheel of one? Thanks to the drive experiences shared by all of you here, who have driven the GTX, I love it more and more every passing day! Just to pull my brother's leg, I thought it would be a good idea to bring steering/feedback thing in picture and get his facts straighten up. We had an hour long argument that day but sadly, no conclusions! The aforementioned Facebook update, as he would have thought, had surely been posted to offend him! As a result, he started bickering again. Without any second thoughts, I joined him thinking it'd be a good time pass. Some other armchair enthusiasts joined the party too, things started to get serious…And the Word-War II began: WHICH IS THE HOTTEST HATCH LAUCNCHED IN OUR COUNTRY SO FAR? i20- Surely has a bonkers engine (CRDi unit). Good looking and, perhaps the most practical hatch that's being currently sold in our country, alongside the Jazz. But, is it hot? Do you really think? Polo 1.6- Gorgeous when red, 1.6 and 105 bhp. Perfect replacement for the ageing GTX, I thought. But then, stumbled upon this article, read the very first comment there, and I am re-assured that the GTX still is untouchable. Battle of the hot hatches - Heat this! Swift- I believe it to be the only car that is Hot in all the departments. It ticks all the right boxes-Handling, price, engine, fun, looks, reliability and FE (The thing we Indians seek foremost of all in any car/bike!). Definitely, hot! … Hottest? Uhmm, that red Palio. Getz Crdi- Here's some blast from the past! I have heard some great reviews from enthusiasts and automobile journalists about the diesel Getz. It had a CRDi unit and offered 240 N-m of torque…Seriously wow! Also read it being an able handler too. But, does that make it the hottest hatch of all times? I have no idea; please pour in your comments. Punto- Best looking hatch of all times. Period. Hot as hell in red. Wish Fiat had plonked some 100+ bhp motor into it. It would have been so easy to forget the GTX then…Engine and performance is the only weak-link that stops it from clinching the 'hot hatch' title from elder brother! Brio and Jazz- Honda's Vtec delivering a revalicious 90bhp. Most fun cars around (GTO's words, if I am not mistaken). Jazz with revised pricing is easily the best small petrol car in market today. Albeit, both Hondas look a bit soft to me rather than hot (also the reason why Fabia is not in my list of hot-hatches, apologies for the same). And I think, I am right in saying that none of these handle anywhere close to a Fiat or Ford. The Jazz or the Brio simply does not 'cut' the mustard for the cornering-happy-janta. I am sure many will disagree, and I would like to hear back-up reasons for the same as well. :-) Ford Figo- Here comes the Ford, finally. Fords are the only rivals I see to the Fiats when one seeks outright fun in a car. Betters Fiat, actually (Fiesta). Amazing handlers, best steering feedback and some great engines to drool over. The Figo though could have been an enthusiast's delight had it been bolted with the same unit as that of Fiesta (1.6). Because as of now it's not an outright performance hatch vis-Ã -vis Polo 1.6 or GTX. Its subtle looks don't help spice up things much, either. The Figo then resembles to its Italian meaning of cool than being a red-hot chili pepper. Still, if I were in market today to pick a small car, it'd be a tough call between this Ford and its arch-rival Fiat Punto-from an enthusiast's point of view. Zen Carbon/Steel- Aha, the two door hot hatch. I have very little to share about this car. Remember reading only 300 or 500 of these were made. A very hot chick, down my street used to drive one of these (Steel). The combination was simply jaw-dropping. How it feels to drive is unknown yet? (Both, the girl and the car :D). Recently did a Chandigarh-Delhi run on the first-gen Zen. Pick-up was quite insane and it climbed up to the figures of 130-140kph effortlessly. Only concern was high-speed stability as it felt shaky and unstable (scary!). So guys these are the only entrants I could think of for now. I know I have missed many other brilliant hatchbacks (Fabia, Micra, Liva, Santro, Wagon R, Chevy, Opels etc.), but you can always favour any of those missed in your posts, if you think they had some kind of X-factor in them. Besides being a fan-boy, why I think the GTX reigns above all? It's only because I think GTX is the perfect amalgamation of looks, power, performance, handling, character, passion and fun. We have some great cars today but they all miss out on some or the other points above. Secondly, it's painted in Ferrari red. :D What do you think? Am I correct in saying so? |
So who do you think is the hottest?
| 'Corners and Cuts are only for Fords and Fiats'. Now that rhymes! Not a revelation, of course. This was my FB status for yesterday. Plainly, I was too bored seeing each of friends update their status with 'Kovaleri –Kovaleri 'song. So, out of nowhere struck this rhyme and pasted it directly on my FB Wall…Little did I know of this 'random thought' making some people go hopping mad! The first comment came from an ardent Lancer fan and he questioned, "Mitsubishi?? ". As I have no idea of how a Lancer's steering wheel feels, I replied honestly, answering in German (we both attend German classes together), "So lala (so-so)". Now, one of my cousins has just bought the diesel-rocket- i20 Crdi. He's only two years elder, mechanical engineer and a wheel-spin enthusiast; the 'one' thing he looks for in a car is Engine! A few days ago, we were on the same topic discussing hot-hatches. Clearly in his mind, a diesel car with stump-yanking torque and chic looks is the one. Let's be honest, it's the i20 he's invariably pointing towards. On the other hand, I am a die-hard Palio GTX fan-boy. None of the cars to this day and date evoke the same sense of passion, magnetism, character and charm that a Ferrari red painted GTX provides, period! That's all concluded without having driven one, actually. Wonder how will I react when I get behind the wheel of one? Thanks to the drive experiences shared by all of you here, who have driven the GTX, I love it more and more every passing day! Just to pull my brother's leg, I thought it would be a good idea to bring steering/feedback thing in picture and get his facts straighten up. We had an hour long argument that day but sadly, no conclusions! The aforementioned Facebook update, as he would have thought, had surely been posted to offend him! As a result, he started bickering again. Without any second thoughts, I joined him thinking it'd be a good time pass. Some other armchair enthusiasts joined the party too, things started to get serious…And the Word-War II began: WHICH IS THE HOTTEST HATCH LAUCNCHED IN OUR COUNTRY SO FAR? i20- Surely has a bonkers engine (CRDi unit). Good looking and, perhaps the most practical hatch that's being currently sold in our country, alongside the Jazz. But, is it hot? Do you really think? Polo 1.6- Gorgeous when red, 1.6 and 105 bhp. Perfect replacement for the ageing GTX, I thought. But then, stumbled upon this article, read the very first comment there, and I am re-assured that the GTX still is untouchable. Battle of the hot hatches - Heat this! Swift- I believe it to be the only car that is Hot in all the departments. It ticks all the right boxes-Handling, price, engine, fun, looks, reliability and FE (The thing we Indians seek foremost of all in any car/bike!). Definitely, hot! … Hottest? Uhmm, that red Palio. Getz Crdi- Here's some blast from the past! I have heard some great reviews from enthusiasts and automobile journalists about the diesel Getz. It had a CRDi unit and offered 240 N-m of torque…Seriously wow! Also read it being an able handler too. But, does that make it the hottest hatch of all times? I have no idea; please pour in your comments. Punto- Best looking hatch of all times. Period. Hot as hell in red. Wish Fiat had plonked some 100+ bhp motor into it. It would have been so easy to forget the GTX then…Engine and performance is the only weak-link that stops it from clinching the 'hot hatch' title from elder brother! Brio and Jazz- Honda's Vtec delivering a revalicious 90bhp. Most fun cars around (GTO's words, if I am not mistaken). Jazz with revised pricing is easily the best small petrol car in market today. Albeit, both Hondas look a bit soft to me rather than hot (also the reason why Fabia is not in my list of hot-hatches, apologies for the same). And I think, I am right in saying that none of these handle anywhere close to a Fiat or Ford. The Jazz or the Brio simply does not 'cut' the mustard for the cornering-happy-janta. I am sure many will disagree, and I would like to hear back-up reasons for the same as well. :-) Ford Figo- Here comes the Ford, finally. Fords are the only rivals I see to the Fiats when one seeks outright fun in a car. Betters Fiat, actually (Fiesta). Amazing handlers, best steering feedback and some great engines to drool over. The Figo though could have been an enthusiast's delight had it been bolted with the same unit as that of Fiesta (1.6). Because as of now it's not an outright performance hatch vis-Ã -vis Polo 1.6 or GTX. Its subtle looks don't help spice up things much, either. The Figo then resembles to its Italian meaning of cool than being a red-hot chili pepper. Still, if I were in market today to pick a small car, it'd be a tough call between this Ford and its arch-rival Fiat Punto-from an enthusiast's point of view. Zen Carbon/Steel- Aha, the two door hot hatch. I have very little to share about this car. Remember reading only 300 or 500 of these were made. A very hot chick, down my street used to drive one of these (Steel). The combination was simply jaw-dropping. How it feels to drive is unknown yet? (Both, the girl and the car :D). Recently did a Chandigarh-Delhi run on the first-gen Zen. Pick-up was quite insane and it climbed up to the figures of 130-140kph effortlessly. Only concern was high-speed stability as it felt shaky and unstable (scary!). So guys these are the only entrants I could think of for now. I know I have missed many other brilliant hatchbacks (Fabia, Micra, Liva, Santro, Wagon R, Chevy, Opels etc.), but you can always favour any of those missed in your posts, if you think they had some kind of X-factor in them. Besides being a fan-boy, why I think the GTX reigns above all? It's only because I think GTX is the perfect amalgamation of looks, power, performance, handling, character, passion and fun. We have some great cars today but they all miss out on some or the other points above. Secondly, it's painted in Ferrari red. :D What do you think? Am I correct in saying so? |
How was it driving around the Himalayas with 500hp/700Nm?
| If you’ve been following our Facebook page and our jam-packed coverage of three-pointed star’s journey in India, you would have seen us posting photographs of Mercedes Benz SUV’s in breathtaking backgrounds. These were snagged when IndianAutosBlog.com was invited to Ladakh last month to drive the GL-Class and the G-Wagen.
In a feature story, we’re going try describing what we understood of these two outstanding utility vehicles. How did you feel when you knew you’d be driving Mercedes utility vehicles through the Himalayas?The adventure trip was an adventure not because of the snow-capped mountains, sub-zero temperature or the desktop wallpaper that spreads out to the horizon at Pengong Tso. Not for me because of the cars at hand which included the GL 350 and the G55 AMG overshadowed nature’s best act. The G55 AMG is a thoroughbred off-roader, and the 507bhp that the AMG badge made the wait harder. Mercedes Benz brought the G55 AMG into India to sell a classic SUV. With acceleration of a Lamborghini and off-roading capability of a ATV, the G55 AMG is a rare animal that combines the best of both worlds. Alongside the R-Class, this pair that joined the Indian stable in 2011 has no competition. Oh you’re talking about the Mercedes’s copy of the Armada? And hey is the GL a G-Class with a L board?There are not many cars in today’s world that look and feel like they were decades back. As there is in every case, the exception here is the Mercedes G-Class. The G-Class has outdated interiors, its age is seen with the household type switches and rear seat’s sandwiched passenger wears his seat belt that extends from the roof. Mercedes have lifted many components from modern saloons and tossed it into the G’s cabin, but there’s no hiding of the roots of this utilitarian SUV which was tasked with working with border security forces. The exteriors are no better, the first time I saw it, my respect for the designers behind the Trax and Sumo grew multifold until I realized the original designed back in the 1970′s was standing in front of me.
In today’s day and age, Mercedes Benz is seeing cut-throat competition thanks to two Germans named BMW and Audi. They have to be a step ahead on everything including the quietness of the steering rake adjustment linkage, sheet metal finish on the edge of the open bonnet and the stitching of the seat in places where only a proctologist can reach. Model lifecycles are getting shorter with every generation and there must be a very convincing excuse for a model to hold on to its place for over thirty years. This vehicle had created a mountain of a fan following, that it not only influenced clones from Mahindra, Tata and Force Motors, it made Mercedes change their mind when retirement plans were locked in a few years back. The model will drive on for another few years till the successor is ready. The GL-Class was designed for the SUV-loving crowd. Yes, I’m talking about America where demand for luxury SUVs peaks. The behemoth Audi Q7, Volvo XC90 and BMW X5 are its rivals. It was launched stateside in January 2006 and hit European markets during September of the same year. It is a 7-seater and has a lot more leg room, bigger seats, better sound insulation and a softer ride compared to the hardcore G55.
As the GL is among the largest SUVs in India, there’s not much detailing on the body work. Simple lines, straight forward headlamps, subtle chrome inserts are part of the optical tricks to break the bulkiness. It’s not eye candy, but a purely functional design that provides good all round visibility. A segment first is the off-roading package (Off Road Pro Engineering Package) standard on the GL-Class. The GL is what Mercedes calls its flagship SUV as the G-Class is considered as a special vehicle from the performance division. Does the G55 make 55bhp or did they leave out a zero somewhere?No. The AMGed G-Class dubbed G55 has a 5.5-liter V8 engine, tangoing with a supercharger (Kompressor in Mercedes lingo) to produce 507bhp and 700Nm. At an altitude of 15,000 feet, some of this power and torque is lost, but the balance is enough to make you scream for help as the fellow scribe puts pedal to the metal. The growl has overtones of metallic abrasion, a gargle created when you use screws instead of mouth wash, a deep bass of a powerful sound system and err..darn it, you have to listen to the note to know what I’m on about. Even at half volume, there’s enough noise to discomfort your blocked ears. It’s like the internal combustion engine came under a terrorist attack.
The G55 AMG hides a lion under its skin. Trying to tame this beast is best left to it masters at Mercedes Benz or AMG. Respect it and it’ll not kill you. Try throwing it around a bend, it bites back with a loud roar. The stiffened suspension hurts your back after an hour of riding on gravel and broken roads. The seating is up-right and there’s limited leg space at the rear. The angry, gas-guzzling Mercedes then is not a very practical car for a Mumbai or Delhi. It’s a vehicle you take to the millionaire’s club’s weekend party. It’s a car you use to arrive at the Filmfare awards’ venue. Two reasons you will spend 1.25 crore rupees to buy this car1) I can’t grow a lion in my house but have space for one in the garage Tell me about the Learner’s G-Class..The GL-Class is a learner’s car if your daddy is the president of an oil company. A perfect (rich) family SUV, the GL-Class seats seven in absolute comfort. The third row is not laid out just for the heck of it and actual people can sit there without getting sick. The ride is a lot softer than the G and the cabin’s very silent. Despite its size, anyone who knows to operate a car can use the GL-Class. A stalk I mistook for a high beam lever lets you control the driving mode and shift gears. When I climbed into the car, I searched the gear lever until a Mercedes official told me there isn’t one!
Even in the absence of a gear selector, there are literally hundreds of controls and settings, the most used was the suspension setting that allows to control ride height while we were off-roading. Despite having the interior space of a drawing room, there are distractions like the beige leather seats, the dark wood veneer on the dashboard, interiors done up in two tones and chrome additions that add cheer. Power is derived from a 3-liter, 6-cylinder diesel engine that produces 224bhp power and 510Nm of torque. These numbers are as significant as they sound on the GL-Class that occupies roughly 100 sq.ft of road because we never felt a lack of punch in the engine. It is paired to 7-speed automatic transmission that takes away all the effort from the left part of the body. Two reasons why I will spend over 65 lakh rupees to buy this car1) I have a family and a backbone that I love. I mean I do long distances frequently in groups. Any final thoughts on these two vehicles?
Mercedes took us all the way to Leh for us to experience them in an environment they seldom go. For the cars, this must have been a lot more fun. Mercedes offers off-roading package standard with the GL and the G-Class was honed on mountain passes and river crossings. It was its Nurburgring. Sadly Merc’s study shows less than 1 percent of customers in India take their cars away from the road. They don’t get to see how beautiful these beasts are in their natural ecosystem. You would agree that seeing a tiger in the zoo is a bit different than traveling to Africa and seeing them in the wild.
So there’s only one way to explain this phenomenon – How many of us would pay 1.25 crore for a car and risk breaking it? Mercedes Benz G55 AMG and GL-Class Image Gallery |
Team Bhp featured on Auto Car Special Project Magazine
| Hi All Last week i test drove a figo. Once the TD was done the sales person handed over me some magazines. One was the Figo magazine and the other one was the Auto car Special project magazine. At the back of the Auto car Special project magazine there were a list of awards that were won by the Figo. Team Bhp is also mentioned in the participating list. Did any of you guys notice this before? Sorry for the image quality as this was taken by my mobile. Mods, please: delete this thread if this has already been featured. |
Lubegard Red ATF Additive
| I have a 9 yr 75K+ Accord AT. The current running is pretty harsh - bumper to bumper 35 Km commute everyday (1.2 hr + each way). I felt up-shifts were becoming more noticeable (esp 1-2), and throttle control in 1st gear was a bit jerky. Did a bit of R&D in forums like driveaccord.net/bobistheoilguy etc. Things I understood: 1. AT usage under my conditions is classified as 'Severe'/'Extremely Severe'. 2. Heat is the no.1 enemy of AT failures. A good synthetic ATF (RedLine seems to be the most preferred) + Magnefine In-line filter + Transmission Cooler is a common modification to extract life out of older ATs. 3. Changing of ATF every 30K Kms (4 times Drain and Refill - not Flush) is highly recommended. 4. In case a synthetic ATF is not available, the one additive which people felt was good was Lubegard ATF additive to the standard Honda Z1 ATF. LUBEGARD Automatic Transmission Fluid Protectant Since sourcing RedLine in Mumbai seemed impossible, I tried sourcing Lubegard ATF Additive. Got this from a seller in Baroda, who is the official importer of the Lubegard products. The price was reasonable as well. (Rs.1000 incld. delivery charges) INITIAL IMPRESSION post driving 350KM DEFINITE improvement in shift quality. Jerks are less noticeable. Kick down is faster. Throttle feels 'smoothened' out. The car has become quieter - which meant the transmission might have been slightly noisy earlier! Will keep updating! |
Mahindra Great Escape - Jaipur
| MGE is being organized at Jaipur on 27 Nov. On spot registration start at 0730 at hotel K K Royal near Amer fort. A challanging course for 4 wd vehicles will challenge the drivers and bring heart in mouth for the passenger. The 2 wd will go through a 20 km through river bed and forest. |
Ghost Ryderz Pulsar Tour of India
| After rocking at the Biker Festival Goa, Ghost Ryderz is going to showcase the best of free style stunting across India. Ghost Ryderz in association with Pulsar Stunt Mania is going to travel to 8 cities across India and perform Freestyle Stunt Shows. “Ghost Ryderz” is a team of young biking fanatics which started off |
More images of the upcoming Chevrolet Sail
| Chevrolet's upcoming Sail hatchback that will replace the Aveo U-VA in the Indian market was caught testing again. The car seems like it will hit the Indian shores soon as it is being tested with minimal cover. Developed in China by SAIC-GM China, the Sail is a global model specially for the emerging markets. The |
Official – Toyota confirms Fortuner/Innova facelift January launch to IAB
| Toyota will showcase the Innova and Fortuner facelifts at the Delhi Auto Expo and launch it in the month of January, Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s Deputy Managing Director, Marketing, Mr Sandeep Singh told IndianAutosBlog.com yesterday evening. This puts an end to all speculation on the launch scheduled to take place at the Auto Expo or immediately after.
Back in June 2011, Mr Singh told IndianAutosBlog.com that TKM and TMC were engaged in discussion on the right time to bring the facelifts. There is good demand for both vehicles no reason to rush with the launch. The powertrains of the 2012 year models are no different though the Fortuner may come in 4X2 and automatic transmission guises. Images of the IMV Platform facelifts were taken by reader Arjun Shrie at the Dubai International Motor Show. |
Unnecessary OEM equipment in today's cars
| Many times I felt that companies are trying to "fool" people by providing unwanted equipments. Case to point... Tacho... Its just that I didnt feel abt writing about this till I came across the below article. Metrics That Matter–What’s Your Company Currency? Does any one share my thoughts that 1/ companies are trying to provide unwanted feature? 2/ customers too are "sucked" into this? I have read quite a few thread where people crib (or write as -ve) that tachos are not provided. This thread is not abt tachos, but also for other things for which you might have felt the same (eg: rear wiper - which I find to be very useful in mansoons, but perhaps others might have same feeling for it, as I have for the useless tachos.) |
Fiat Linea 2013 - Spy Shot
| Fiat Linea 2013 Spy Shot Emerge– Launch In Detroit In January 2012 Fiat Linea has been a very good handler in its segment and is known for its styling, good interiors and features. For a long time, about 5 years, it has rules many roads and many hearts. There has been no major facelifts of new models of the Fiat Linea in these years. But the time has finally comes, for the Fiat Linea to enter a new generation with a newer model. Recently, a picture has leaked from a European magazine which shows the styling of the new Fiat Linea sedan. The new Fiat Linea 2013 will be unveiled globally at the Detroit Auto Show in USA in January 2012. Attachment 847326 The Fiat Linea 2013 is somewhat similar in the side profile to its old generation or existing model of Linea, but it gets an entirely new fascia, the front bumper, headlamps, chrome grille, bonnet, fog lamps etc. are all new in styling. It gets a very sleek and sporty front look with new alloy wheel. The front windshield also appears to have become larger and merges smoothly with the roof of the car. Attachment 847324 The side profile is smooth and aerodynamic, the car looks slightly sloping towards front in profile adding good low center of gravity and large interior space and luggage space just like the existing Linea. The Engine of the new Linea is expected to be the latest lineup of award winning Fiat Multi-Air Engine which is capable of producing whooping power of 170 PS and 250 Nm of Torque with just 1.4 Litre of Engine displacement. Along with high power, these engines are lower on emission and better on fuel economy. Source: CarBlogIndia Cheers! Irish :) |
2011 has been a high-yield year for BMW India. At the start of the year, BMW India set themselves a target an aggressive target of 10,000 units and they came very close (8,000+ as of now) to reaching it. As the year comes to an end we needed to know what is the Bavarian giant planning for India in 2012. Snapshot of our conversation:
BMW India will also launch its leasing program in December. We have finalized the proposition and we are waiting for the integration of the IT & Legal systems. There is a team of 24 people working on the leasing plan and we will be ready for a rollout in December 2012.
There are no plans for a CKD operations right now. From my perspective, this is not a price driven segment. I don't think reducing the price will generate sales. It will always be a limited segment and I don't think that one can increase the segment by reducing the price.
So that's all for now folks. Do you have any suggestions for BMW India? Put them in the comments box below and we will make sure that they are conveyed. |
Hello All!
| Guys, Kudos to all of you for being part of such a passionate and constructive community. I hope to learn and share while I am here. I am living in Hyderabad for the last 5 years and was in UK, USA for 10 years before moving to Hyderabad. Owned a couple of pre-worshiped AT Corollas (1992 and 2000 models) while in the states, bought a Xeta GLG once I returned to India in 2007. The choice of Xeta was influenced by lack of Vitamin M, need for leg space (I am 6ft tall) and also preference for a hatch. I sold my Xeta and upgraded (if I may say so) to another hatch last week, will try to spend time on the ownership report soon. My other interests are aquariums, HiFi and photgraphy. Hope to find time for all these activities going forward. :) Thanks again, for all the reviews and NCB details. clap: - Kumar |
From Pune to Bangalore on a single tank (well almost!)
| I drove from Pune to Bangalore and back. The road is amazing ! Smooth and clear. The weather helped too - no rains, not too hot. The only thing that I missed was lack of good food venues on the way. Time Taken: 12 Hours - Pune to Bangalore + 3 Hours :Shockked: to destination in Bangalore Reverse - 2 hours to get out of Bangalore and 12 hours to Pune I took minimal coffee and necessary breaks. Vehicle: Tata Manza (ABS) When I started, I had my tank full, and as is the practice in India, perhaps +1 litre after the tank is full. My display showed 850 KM odd as the range so I thought, lets try to do it on a single tank. Well, I almost did it. When the vehicle showed 70 KM as the remaining range, with 60 km of journey left, I decided not to take a chance and got a refill. |
Re Sleeving the cylinder
| I went through the whole forum and couldn't get much proper info of how is the re-sleeving of the cylinder done. I tried searching on the internet too and got the basic knowledge that a new sleeve is fitted into the cylinder using the specialized lathe machine. But in this specific (cylinder) thread i would love if someone who has done sleeving of the engine and throw some light on why it is or isn't recommended. I have had mixed reactions from people saying that the re sleeved standard cylinder is not at par with the stock std cylinder, performance wise. But i am yet to understand why? Bike Guru's kindly share the info. (Basically i want to know about a 2 stroke engine Re Sleeving, but even if any other bike has been re sleeved, i would really appreciate them sharing the experience) Thanks in advance, Cheers !! |
