Dealers for bikes booking made by Harley-Davidson

Five dealers have been appointed in India by Harley-Davidson for booking the bikes made by it. There will be 12models in this year and the bookings are to commence from April 20. The delivery of these bikes will be in June and the price ranges will be Rs6.95 lakhs – Rs34.95 lakhs. Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh and Hyderabad are the cities coming under dealership, said the MD of Harley-Davidson India and these dealers will be exclusive retailers for the products of the company.

The dealers will also take up accessories and service centres. These dealers have been picked out of 100 applications received across the country and will meet the company’s global standards. The customers will be offered the chances to have an air of different experience in biking, which the world has been enjoying more than 50 years, he added. Harley-Davidson got formal approval to enter into India in 2007 and only now it has materialized, with the commercial operations starting in August last year. The bikes will be imported from the US as CBUs in 43 models.

Honda launches CB Unicorn and CB Shine

Honda has launched upgraded unicorn and shine to meet the tighter Bharat III emission norm. The new Unicorn called CB Unicorn comes with maintenance free battery and viscous air filter. The new shine called CB Shine also gets maintenance free battery and viscous air filter. Along with these changes, CB shine comes with new body graphics.

TVS to launch Max 4R

While Hero Honda continues to cruise ahead with its Splednors and Passion, Bajaj has strongly build the brand on Discover and Pulsar. TVS may need more than just apache and star to counter the toppers. TVS plans to resurrect the Max-R brand soon. TVS discontinued the Max R in 2005 following the introduction Bharat II emission norm in 2005. Strangely, TVS will launch Max-4R which will meet the new Bharat III emission norm. TVS Max-4R, as the name suggests, will come with 4-stroke,110cc engine (sourced from Jive). TVS Max-4R will sell along with Jive and Star to grab more market share in the rural segment. Expect the pricing of max 4R to be very competitive.

Hero Honda launches new CD Deluxe and CD Dawn

Hero Honda has launched upgraded its mass segment motorcycles – CD Deluxe and CD Dawn. Both Hero Honda CD Dawn and CD Deluxe comes with new features and new graphics.

* new meter console

* attractive body graphics

* leg/saree guard (now part of standard fitment)

* new black muffler

* new utility box and

* side cover

The new CD-Deluxe and CD-Dawn are already available in Hero Honda showrooms across the country.

Skoda launches Superb Manual transmission

Skoda today launched the new variant of Superb Manual transmission. The superb comes with a six speed manual transmission and is priced Rs18,28,563 (ex-showroom Delhi). A delight to the auto enthusiasts, the Skoda Superb Petrol 1.8 TSI MT is geared with a Manual 6-speed transmission, which is unique to its segment and offers enhanced drivability and complete control on the engine performance. The 1.8 litre engine equipped with the award winning TSI technology has an inbuilt turbocharger with a high pressure direct injection system. The success of this variant can be attributed to the fact that it posses a lethal combination of the powerful TSI engine and an efficient 6-Speed Manual Transmission which not only gives better fuel efficiency (ARAI: 13.14 km/lit) but also improves the driving experience. The new Superb 1.8 MT Elegance will have the same equipment level as its siblings.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Thomas Kuehl, Board Member, Sales & Marketing, ŠkodaAuto India said, “We are proud to add the 1.8 TSI with the 6-speed Manual Transmission to the existing Superb range. Once again, to reiterate our commitment to our customers we have introduced new technologies in this variant which are a benchmark in the segment. The best in class 6-speed manual gearbox with the ‘Intelligent Gear Change Indicator’ takes the driving conditions into consideration and recommends the most suitable gear level to the driver on the Multifunction Display. As a result, the customer gets better fuel economy, better engine performance and a longer engine life. The response from our customers as well as auto critics has bequeathed the all New Superb with segment leader position and has surpassed all expectations.”

more CNG cars from Maruti

The country ‘s top most car maker Maruti Suzuki is on the verge of increasing the CNG small cars in the next fiscal. This was disclosed by the company Chairman, adding that the company’s R&D wing is concentrating on factory-fitted CNG cars in the B segment. This is to target the cost conscious small car customers he added. To meet the BS IV norms, he said, a majority of Maruti cars would go for upgrading taking along the varied price revision.

The variation in pricing, he said, is due to the engine variation and the cost involved. The vision for the fiscal is 10.2 lakh cars, an increase of 20% to the rated capacity. This increase will match the production efficiency, he asserted. The sale in March is expected to take over that of January and February, he said.

Renault-M&M pact over Logan cemented

The long standing tussle between Renault and Mahindra&Mahindra over the structuring of Logan has come to a cementing stage. The French company is agreed upon the restructuring, as desired and insisted by M&M, to reduce the size of the car and certain other modifications. The need is for availing the benefits of excise duty and M&M thinks the reduced price of the car may yield more number of sale volume. The sale of this Logan has seen the dip by 60%(4982 units) during April2009 and February 2010 amidst the growth rate of 26% in the Indian car market.

The final proposal about this will be publicized after April 5, said the official source from the JV. Under the JV effected from 2005, Renault holds 49% while M&M retains 51% stake. The President of Mahindra automotive business disclosed that the official information about the deal would be available in another 10 days. Till now, Logan is sold as the low cost fuel efficient sedan and the restructuring will further reduce the cost.

According to the tax reduction mooted by the government of India, cars within 4.0 metres long and with 1.2 lit gasoline / 1.5 lit diesel are eligible for relaxation in excise duty upto 10%. For cars with more than this specifications, the excise duty applicable is 22%. Logan is currently dealt by M&M in 1.4 gasoline and 1.6 lit diesel engines at the length of 4.2 metres.

Indian market of Volvo will survive despite Geely take over

Volvo Auto India allayed the fear, if any, on the impact of the take over of Volvo by Geely of China. Further, Gilly’s acquisition will not make the entry of the company into India. Volvo Auto India will retain its supremacy and individuality by being in Sweden, said its MD for India. The affirmation comes in the wake of a pact signed between Ford Motor shelled out its dismantling Swedish car unit to Geely Holdings of China for 1.8 billion US dollars.

The Indian operations of Ford is purely independent since October 2009. Till then the company has been doing its business on its own with new models and expansions. For 2010 the company has earmarked XC60 SUV and sedan S60 for the Indian market. Further there will be an increase of dealerships in India to 12 by 2010 end from the current seven. Volvo India is doing business with its two models – sedan S80 for Rs38-44 lakhs and cross over XC 90 at Rs42.50- 48.50 lakhs. Both are in diesel and petrol variants imported from its apex plant in Sweden.

The Great Wall of China has openings to the car market

The JV between General Motors and the Chinese company SAIC has paved the way for the latter to enter India. Headed by a senior engineer a team of technicians is on the way to India. This team will assess the situation and forward the report to the SAIC Board in Hong Kong. The assessment will include everything – engineering, finance, manufacturing- related to the JV. All these modalities were confirmed by the President of GM India. There won’t be, he said, any cramping of structure in the officialdom and disproved the rumor that a senior official from SAIC would likely occupy the post of Deputy MD in the JV.

But there are speculations that a three member team of officials will take charge on April 1. Differing from the earlier ownership of GM by Korea and Australia, the new venture gives room for huge volume of LCVs and passenger cars from the platform of SAIC. By this the target for the next three years will be treble than the current one. The JV platform will concentrate on pick ups, people carriers and vans to counter the market strategy of Maruti Omni and Tata Ace. Halol facility will be pressed into service for making LCVs and Talegaon plant will look after making of passenger vehicles(barring Tavera).

Under the pact by 2011 the first commercial vehicle will hit the road. Dealing of LCV cars would be separate between the companies under a new brand name. there will be assembling of cars in India with the design and make, instead of going for importing the CBUs from SAIC plants. All passenger cars are to be branded under Chevrolet and there would be new brand name for the commercial vehicles. SAIC-GM joint venture will not involve Wuling brand in India still they are in market outside China.

Volkswagen launches Jetta CRDe and Passat TSI

Volkswagen today launched upgraded variants of its sedans – Jetta and Passat. This upgrade is meant to meet the new emission norm which kicks from April 01 (tomorrow). The Jetta gets a new 2.0L Common Rail Diesel engine which churns out 110PS of maximum power at 4200rpm and 250Nm of max torque between 1500 to 2500rpm. Remember, the 2.0L CRDe also powers the larger passat sedan Volkswagen claims Jetta 2.0 ComfortLine returns 19.53km/l under standard conditions. The Jetta 2.0 L diesel Comfortline is priced at Rs. 15.92 lakhs. ex showroom, New Delhi.

The larger Passat gets a smaller 1.8L TSI petrol engine (for the first time in India). The 1.8L TSi pumps out 160PS of maximum power and 250Nm of maximum torque. Volkswagen claims a fuel efficiency figure of 12.69km/l for this new Passat 1.8 TSI. With this new engine, Volkswagen has managed to cut the cost of Passat significantly and compete against the popular Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Passat 1.8 L TSI is priced at Rs 19.20 lakhs, ex showroom New Delhi.

Picture of Volkswagen new Passat 1.8L TSI