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Honda plans to launch the fourth generation CR-V in the same platform of the existing CR-V.Honda adds third row of seats to the new CR-V to make it more comfortable.It features average increase in length, width and height.It is expected to feature both 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre four-cylinder gasoline engines as well as a 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine.It will not hold V6 option in it.Honda may launch the new CR-V as a CKD unit with an affordable price to beat its competitors.

Click here to see Pictures of 2012 Honda CR-V

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., the market leader in utility vehicles plans to launch a mini version of its popular car Xylo.Media reports say that the trial production has already started and the mini Xylo will be launched in the next two months in the company’s new plant at Chakan.

The mini-Xylo in diesel version is expected at a price around Rs.5 lakhs and it will surely be an attractive option for customers of premium hatchback cars.The demand of the more fuel efficient diesel SUV increases nowadays due to the hike in the petrol price.

The Automotive Dealers Association of Maharashtra chairman,Mr.Sandeep Kumar Bafna informed about the mini-SUV that it’s the package which will be of the essence – for example if a company can come out with a mini SUV wherein the price is Rs.5 lakhs to Rs.7 lakhs and it is a diesel product with excellent gearbox,engine and performance.For customers, a mini SUV is something that a person can use as an office going car as well as a weekend car.

M&M’s automotive division CEO,Mr.Rajesh Jejurikar commented on the sales outlook for this year that they have a strong portfolio of brands and they have a lot of products in the pipeline to be launched over the next 12 to 18 months.They are sure they will have a good year.

This launch of mini-SUV by M&M is mainly to increase its strengths in the utility vehicle market.The company also plans to launch a global-SUV in this year and Korando and Rexton in the second quarter of next year.

India Yamaha Motor with the main aim of obtaining a larger share of the world’s second-largest motorcycle market,plans to set up a third plant in the country.Yamaha is preparing to foray into the fast-growing segment in order to strengthen its presence in the two-wheeler market.The company sold 2,50,000 motorcycles last year and is now targeting a 10 per cent share of the domestic two-wheeler market over the next four years.The company at present has manufacturing plants at Surajpur in Greater Noida and at Faridabad in the National Capital Region which can annually roll out 6,00,000 motorcycles and 7,00,000 engines respectively.

Bajaj is soon going to bring back its Boxer model in India.The new Boxer will feature an engine displacement of 150cc.Regarding this issue,Rajiv Bajaj commented that they feel the demand for Boxer is still there in the market. Therefore, they decided to begin the Boxer once more with modified features.He also informed that they plan to launch a modified Boxer bike which is specially designed for semi-urban and rural markets by September this year.

This is the picture of Boxer 100cc.The new 150cc Boxer may vary from this.

The new Boxer is expected at a price range of Rs.38,000-40,000.At present,Bajaj sells only pulsar and discover models.Bajaj brings back the Boxer brand to India in the main aim of targetting the entry level 100cc segment which is currently dominated by hero Honda CD dawn, CD deluxe and tvs star city.Bajaj currently sells Boxer only in African countries.

Hero Honda Motors Limited plans to remove Honda from Hero Honda due to the termination of its joint venture partnership with Japan’s Honda Motor Company.Sources claimed that the new name of the bike maker could be “Hero Moto”.Analysts informed that while the company has the rights to use the Hero Honda name till 2014,it is keen on promoting new product,to be introduced under the new name.

The company has assigned International brand specialist Wolff Olins inmthe month of March to offer a new look to the world’s largest two-wheeler maker.The company is going to feature new brand identity which includes brand architecture, name, logo and positioning.Olins will work on this new brand identity of the company.

The company sources informed that Hero Honda could spend around Rs 200 crore on the rebranding exercise, which would include the creation of new commercials, payment to brand ambassadors and positioning of the brand in India and abroad.They added that Hero Honda intended to ship its motorcycles and scooters to Latin America, Africa, West Asia and Southeast Asia.The sources further informed that the company is evolving strategies for branding, resource allocation for exports and identifying potential overseas markets to export its bikes.

Bajaj Auto has declared that it will launch a four-wheeler commercial vehicle in India in the mid-2012 in ultra-low cost car(ULC) platform.The company’s latest ULC platform was initially planned for making a new small car in India in partnership with Nissan-Renault’s global alliance.

The Chairman of Bajaj Auto,Mr.Rahul Bajaj stated that by the middle of next year, they will bring a four-wheeler from the ULC platform. For them, this will be a commercial vehicle and it will be a goods carrier. He added that the auto majors like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra are doing very well and Bajaj Auto is looking at that space.

He further added that they are a two-wheeler and three-wheeler maker and they are moving up toward the four-wheeler segment. With the help of their expertise and frugal engineering and Renault-Nissan’s technological expertise, they will launch the vehicle.He said that with the help of Bajaj’s expertise and frugal engineering and Renault-Nissan’s technological expertise, the company will launch a suitable vehicle for the market.

Honda which has somersaulted from top to bottom in Indian car market plans series of launches to make a comeback. The launches planned includes brio and a powerful variant of Jazz hatchback. Honda was considered as one of the top automaker in india and its brand is considered premium. However things started changing since the launch of Jazz.

* Honda screwed up the fortunes of CR-V (by refusing to make it a CKD unit),

* Jazz bombed at the market owing to the premium price tag,

* Vento sneaked the might city territory with volkswagen brand

* The absence of diesel option in civic and accord has made competitor like skoda  to dominate without hassle.

Looking deeply into matter, Honda has done major mistake except for failing to take stock of changing reality. Earlier, Honda and Toyota are only premium brands available for the customer. With manufacturers like Volkswagen and Nissan entered the market, they brought the world class vehicles at indian price. Volkswagen which is known for quality managed to bring the Honda class quality cars at lesser price. It also has world class diesel engine which honda lacked. Honda has missed the changing scene. Polo or i20 is considered a better buy than jazz anytime. While Honda holded its grip in the city segment,  change is already evident. Tsunami and earthquake could be another jolt for Honda and its Indian innings. Shortage of parts may affect the production and give the competitors room to ride the advantage. Few dealers have already switched loyalties to other brands.

But not all are over, before the launch of i10 and i20 few years back, Hyundai seemed to be losing ground. But the phenomenal i-series cars makes Hyundai to scale new heights. If honda could localise parts and produce ancillaries in India, Honda may comeback with a bang. Honda’s brio will bring customers to deserted showrooms and powerful jazz variant may be good idea (if price right).  The writing in the wall is clear! products need to be world class but pricing should be indian. The way forward is to manufacture parts at competitive price where else you can produce at low cost price, its India or China!

Honda will launch a powerful variant of jazz soon. Ever since the jazz launch, speculations started about powerful variant of jazz. Jazz which has loads of space is underpowered with 1.2L engine. 1.5L engine would give the jazz much required performance. Honda india may choose between 1.5L DSi and 1.5L V-tech engines used globally. Since Honda already sells city, 1.5L V-tec developing 88bhp makes more sense. However the problem it could jack up the jazz price further. Honda currently sells between 300-500 units a month which may raise if Honda gets the pricing right for Jazz 1.5L

Following the launch of next generation swift in July, Maruti will launch the new Dzire. New dzire will be built on the next generation platform and the key factor is new dzire would be under 4 metres. As under 4m cars attract less excise duty, Maruti is developing the new dzire under 4m and avail the 10% excise duty. In turn, this would reduce the new dzire price by Rs30,000 – Rs40,000 less than the current generation one.

Currently only the Tata Indigo CS is the only sedan to fall under 4m. Manufacturers are increasingly looking at compact sedan to make it better for bet for entry level sedan buyers. Mahindra is also planning for the launch of Verito CS (logan CS). The launch of new dzire may happen by end 2011 or 2012 auto expo. Mahindra may plan the same time to unveil the verito cs. Time for tata’s to bring the Manza CS!