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Volkswagen to offer smaller Polo for India

The German car giant Volkswagen is designing a smaller version of its fast selling Polo in the Indian market. The company is highly conscious of the growing trend in the compact car segment in which Maruti, Tata, GM and other majors players have a big role. VW is more concerned with the market potential and the brand image in the second largest market, after China, for the small car.

VW’s activities in the Indian soil began at Chakan plant, at an investment of Rs3500 crore for devising its small car Polo. The plant’s annual capacity is 110, 000 units.

Volkswagen (VW) started manufacturing operations in India earlier this year at its Chakan plant, rolling out the compact car Polo [images]. It invested around Rs 3,500 crore on the plant, which has the capacity to produce 110,000 units per annum. The Indian small car segment has 75% share of the net car sales (which is approaching 2 million annual units).

Tata Motors schedules for increase in the Ace segment vehicles

To meet the ongoing demand for the Ace and the related vehicles, Tata Motors has slated the schedule for increased output of vehicles. The proposals include erecting new facilities and feasibility studies in this regard has already begun, say the company sources. However, there is no official communication from the company sources except the possible setting up of facility or addition of facilities in the existing plants. Tata’s Pantnagar plant has the capacity of 250000 for Ace group of vehicles alone and the ongoing trend makes the company nearing that mark. There are four variants in the Ace sector for the Indian market which includes a passenger vehicle Magic and a minitruck. The goods carrier is being exported to surrounding nations like India and Nepal.

Tata is getting a tough competition from the other truck maker Mahindra&Mahindra in dealing with sub-one tone goods carrier. M&M’s range in sub 1-tonne segment includes Maxximo and Gio. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers disclosed an analysis that the combined offer of Tata and M&M in the domestic market for the sub 3.5 tonne goods carrier is 1,97, 366 units of which Tata has its share of 1,21,403 units while M&M sharing the remaining 75963 units. Tata accepts the fact that it has lost its due share in ACE LCVs due to certain factors, the major being new launches from the competitors.

Ace came to the market five years ago in the form of a mini-truck having 1-tonne payload. Within a year of its launch Ace received thumping response and its sale was 30000 units and it was 70000 in the subsequent year. The global recession did not spare Tata too and the sale of Ace slipped down to 81000 units in 2008-09 from the good show of 89000 units in 2007-08.

The company’s sale figure for 2009-10 has been 1.6 lakh units of Ace LCVs of which 1.1 lakh units belong to the goods sector.

Cars Sales Report for May 2010

Catch slideshow on Cars Sales History in May 2010 @ http://www.vicky.in/slideshow/golden-period-for-indian-automobile-industry/

Shootout Volkswagen Polo vs Fiat Grande Punto

Catch Shootout Volkswagen Polo vs Fiat Grande Punto @ http://www.vicky.in/slideshow/comparison-drive-volkswagen-polo-vs-fiat-grande-punto/

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Shootout: Bajaj Discover 150 vs Hero Honda Splendor Plus

Catch Comparison Test Drive between Bajaj Discover 150 and Hero Honda Splendor Plus @ http://www.vicky.in/slideshow/comparison-drive-bajaj-discover-150-vs-hero-honda-splendor-plus/

| Features | Verdict

GM Chevrolet to launch Beat LPG

As expected, GM India will roll out LPG variant of Beat small car by festive season. GM which tasted huge success with spark LPG, finds the LPG as the best alternative fuel to Indian market. General Motors India plans to launch an LPG variant of its recently launched Chevrolet Beat by the end of this calendar year, said Mr Ankush Arora, Vice-President, Marketing. “We will have the LPG-run Beat ready in a few months and plan to launch it by November-December,” he added. GM is also expected to add a diesel variant of Beat in the future. GM already sells Spark LPG,Optra CNG and Aveo CNG in India. GM sold 2296 units of beat in May

Nissan Micra Specifications, Features, Colours and Variants

The launch pad is getting hot again. Nissan which has already started bookings for Micra is all set to roll out the car next month. Here are the complete specifications,colours,features and variants of Nissan Micra.

Micra gets 1198cc engine churning out 76PS at 6000rpm and max torque of 104Nm at 4000rpm. The 3-cylinder is coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission. The dimensions of the Nissan Micra are Length – 3780mm, width – 1665mm, height – 1530mm and wheelbase-2450mm. The fuel tan capacity is 41 litres and boot capacity is 226 litres.

The three variants of Nissan Micra are Nissan XE,Nissan XL and Nissan XV. All the variants of Micra comes with electric power steering,driver airbag, tilt adjustable steering, Air Conditioning and drive computer. The base end Nissan XE also gets engine immobiliser. The mid end Nissan XL in addition to the above mentioned features gets rear wiper,tachometer, remote keyless entry,integrated music player, front and rear power windows and center locking. The top end variant of Micra – Nissan XV gets button start , front passenger airbag, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Climate control, electrically folding ORVM and electrically adjustable ORVM. Nissan also offers additional upgradation features for Nissan XE owners. Nissan XE plus comes factory fitted accessories with the base variant Nissan XE. The accessories includes wheel cover,Audio system with speakers, seat cover and steering wheel cover.

Nissan Micra will come in six colours – sunlight orange, blade silver,storm white, pacific blue, onyx black and brick red.

Click here to catch Nissan Micra from every angle.

Maruti 2011 Swift Specifications

After the unofficial pictures, now comes the official pictures of new swift. Suzuki has also detailed the specifications of swift. New Swift has grown in length and wheelbase which means no more cramped rear space. Suzuki says it will also come with modern interiors. However on the styling side, Engineers have intentionally kept the same profile. The pulled-back headlamps of new swift reminds the ritz. There is virtually no change in side profile. The rear of the new swift is bumped-up which means more luggage space. The tail lamps are also new. Overall, the new swift is more sleek but not drastically different from the current swift

Dimensions of new Swift Vs Current swift

* Length: 3,850mm | 3695mm
* Width: 1,695mm | 1690mm
* Height: 1,510mm | 1530mm
* Wheelbase: 2,430mm | 2390mm
* Front Track: 1,480mm
* Rear Track :1,485mm

Official Pictures of Maruti Swiftt