Complete list of cars launched in 2009

Here’s the much awaited vicky’s exhaustive list of cars launched in 2009. A huge list of 74 cars launched in 2009 is compiled in the slideshow. Starting from Tata Nano to Rolls Royce Ghost, Indian buyers have found many options in each and every segment. To see the complete list of cars launched in 2009 visit http://www.vicky.in/slideshow/cars-launched-in-2009/

Bike lovers stay tuned..soon comes the complete list of bikes launched in 2009

Renault Sandero, Nissan Micra,Ford Figo, Hyundai small car and Skoda small car to miss Auto Expo

2010 Delhi Auto Expo will witness launch of more than 10 new cars. But nothing can quench the thirst of true auto enthusiast. Here are list of 10 cars that are most expected to be showcased at 2010 Auto Expo but not. We all wanted these cars at Auto Expo, but unfortunately we won’t see them. Contrary to what you read in other media, we have confirmed reports that Renault Sandero, Nissan Micra and Ford Figo won’t be part of Auto Expo. Hyundai ultra low cost car (Nano competitor), Skoda small car (Hyundai i10 competitor), Fiat Linea 1.6L diesel, Honda Jazz Automatic, Hyundai i10 diesel, Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX and Toyota Corolla Altis diesel. To read about more faulters click here

Audi A7 is all set for launch in 2011

Once the international debut is made in 2010, Audi 7 will find its way to India in 2011. The car will bear its image as the luxury sedan allied with the sporty outlook. The car is to set apart the chauffeur and will resemble the coupe of Merc CLS with 4-door option. The car will portray style and technology least bothering about practicality. Other features including price is yet to be talked about. A car worth enough to wait for!

Super bikes to be on reach

No more fancy nor fascination about the super bikes on the Indian roads. Bikes of superior range and exorbitant pricing would become a common factor from next year. Suzuki Motorcycles is launching a bike at Rs8 lakhs while the US Harley Davidson seeking the bankers to run the show. Current models from the world giants Yamaha, Honda, Ducati and Kawasaki are selling as premium sedans at Rs10-15lakhs.

Suzuki is unleashing its Gladius, powered by V-twin 645cc engine, 2-cyliner street bike adoring sporty outlook at Rs7 lakhs ($6899 in the US). This is one of the two models that are coming from Suzuki as the cheapest in 500+cc engine category. Come January 5, Harley Davidson is unleashing its product range in India in a bid to woo the bankers for financial assistance for the prospective buyers.

Harley is in the process of making a pact with the banks on loans at rates on par with car loans. The cult products expected from Harley are Touring, Dyna, Sportster, Softail and VRSC. The annual product volume of superbikes in India is 500-600 shared among Honda Motorcycle, Suzuki Motorcycle and Yamaha India- all dealing with bikes in the range of 696cc-1670cc at the price of Rs10-45lakhs.

The companies will refresh at the arrival of Harley and the Italian Ducati. Honda is launching its 1200cc VFR, which is to be launched in the US and Europe soon. Yamaha has already launched its YZF-R1 for Rs12.5lakh and is coming out with more models.

Hyundai replaces its trumpcard

So far, Hyundai has been on the triumphant path with its Santro yielding tremendous response so to become the flagship. But, the sale of Hyundai’s i10 (at an average of 12000units per month) has surpassed that of Santro- 7000 units a month- forcing the company to assign the status of flagship to i10. Hyundai launched Santro as its flagship model, two years ago, to counter Maruti Suzuki. But the Korean company sets various standards to attain flagship status and the strategy is to have multi-model and consolidate sales of both i10 and Santro, to boost the compact car segment and increase customer base, says the company’s VP for India.

The target for this year is the sale volume of 85000 units of Santro and 1.4 lakh units of i10. Though the company sources claim various factors for the popularity of i10, the real factors seem to be – style, competitive pricing and superior technology. Between the two, i10 is costlier but still its sale increases- ever since its launch two year ago, the average sale of i10 has been 12000 from 6500 units per month but the sale of Santro is on the decline – it was 12000 units a month in the year 2000 but now it is 7000 units a month. But with the arrival of Maruti Suzuki’s Alto to the market, the sale of Santro has started its decline; further loss has been due to, again Maruti’s Estilo, Wagon R and Tata Indica.

The trend in urban market is turned towards the contemporary styling and superior technology, wherein i10 has penetrated well. Hence Santro cannot penetrate this market rather finds solace in tier ii markets and semi urban segments. The company has an option to redefine Santro with smaller engine and reduced cost to match Alto- Santro is sold @Rs3.2lakh –Rs.3.6lakh; i10 costs Rs3.35 lakh – Rs5 lakh. I10 has the distinction in the export market as ‘launched in India car’ label.

M&M bets big on used cars

Mahindra First Choice Wheels Ltd, the company dealing with the used cars of multi brands, is to invest Rs100 crore as the capital expenditure for the expansion in next three years. With this investment the volume of outlets will be 300 from the current 103, said its CEO. The expansion will be phased on tier1 and tier 11 cities starting from urban and reaching the rural sectors. The company is quite happy with its share of 8% in the organized used car market and the target is Rs500 crore within this fiscal.

The country’s used car estimate is 1.5-1.7 million units per year with a profit margin of 8% and about 10% of this entire market is organized one. The used car industry is growing at 20% but Mahindra has attained 60% growth by selling some 10000 cars last year which the company expects, might reach to 18000 this year. As the expansion plan has started the company plans to reach the 1 lakh mark by 2014. For more feasibility for the buyers, the company is initiating tie-ups with banks and financial institutions for speedy loans and lesser interest rates. Mahindra itself has the Mahindra Finance Ltd and a special tie-up with Syndicate Bank offering loans @9%, which is half of what other banks charge for cars of organized market.

Renault to launch Logan Tourer

Renault today said that it will launch a new variant of Logan called Logan Tourer at the Auto Expo.  The new variant — Logan Tourer — will be available in both petrol and diesel variants and will be priced Rs 5.5 lakh and upwards, the company said in a statement.  Logan Tourer has been conceptualised and co-branded in collaboration with baggage maker VIP, it added.

Manufacturers skips the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo

While 2010 Auto Expo is touted as one of the world’s biggest auto event and ranked next only to Shanghai motor show. The number of absentees are growing. While media reports claim Ford will showcase Figo, Nissan will show Micra and Hindustan Mitsubishi will show the Lancer EvoX, the manufacturers categorically deny it. They confirmed to vicky.in that they are going to skip the 2010 Auto Expo.

List of Manufacturers who misses the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo

* Ford India

* Nissan India

* Hindustan – Mitsubishi

* Volvo India

* Bajaj Auto (Bajaj makes an U-turn, though there won’t be any major launch. Bajaj will showcase pulsar,KTM and Ninja series bikes at the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo)

* Ultra Motors (e-bike maker)

* Ducati

The fingers crossed for Nano pro

The India and the world are enthralled at the launch of small car at Rs1 lakh by Tata’s Nano. But the strange event is awaited at the Delhi Auto Expo, wherein a bicycle costing Rs2.4 lakhs is to be launched!. The one is from Firefox, the company known for bike of leisure and the bicycle is Trek Equinox TTX 9.8 SSL. Firefox believes that this is the time to revive the conventional bicycling added with charm and adventure and the Expo seems to be an ideal avenue to launch this bicycle, says the MD of the company.

Firefox currently distributes the US-based Trek Bikes in India. The bicycle is ideal for hi-end bikers and is customized for professional riders being made with carbon and rare alloys. The imported cycles will be available in 4 sizes. Further, Firefox revealed that it will unveil a bike Kompac at Rs8840 also at the Expo in addition to the entire range of bikes. The current base of dealership is 50 which is to be increased to 70 by March 2010, when 15 new models will be launched. Firefox has so far sold 45000 units since 2005 which includes 50 models.

.