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Last year, Bajaj sales dipped to historic low. But, Bajaj is back with a new strategy. Bajaj has introduced more than six bikes in 2009 and is closing the gap with Hero Honda. What turnaround Bajaj Auto? Discover 100cc! Following its success, Bajaj has launched an affordable pulsar motorcycle called Pulsar 135LS. Will it succeed? we tell you in this test drive.
Lohia’s third electric version on with the launch of OMA Star. This adds the series of OMA and FAME e-bikes. The new version is painted in three colors – macho black, fiery red and spirited silver- and is to cost Rs25,999. The bike is efficient enough to run for 65kms with one charge and at atop speed of 25km.hr,weighs 89kg with the wheel base measuring 1230mm. the capacity of the battery is 20Ah at an average charging duration of 6-8 hours.
OMA-Star has a digital speedometer, alloy wheels and telescopic suspension. The bike will be marketed through 10 dealers across Delhi alone and is expected to reach 20000 units by the end of March 2010. The company is exploring the export possibilities.
Aided by groundbreaking technologies of DCT (Dual clutch transmission) and 1237cc, 170Bhp engine, the new vehicle will find its way into India during Q3 of 2010. In spite of the cost speculation, the bike is nearing the process of getting into India, with the apex body in Japan gave its consent. Since its launch in 1980s the bike has been winning laurels as the most popular among the bikes and is carrying on this mantle to India.
Bajaj is all set to scrap scooter production and divert its folio to exclusive motorcycles. The experience gained at the nightmarish sale of scooter and scooterete has forced the company to withdraw its once famous Hamara Bajaj slogan into antiquity.
By this move, there will be no production of Chetak or Krystal and the resources will be dumped to the production of motorcycles, in a bid to become the top manufacturer of bikes, said its MD Rajiv Bajaj. In order to strengthen its base in motorcycles, Bajaj wants to reestablish with the thumping response to its Pulsar.
Soon there will be a new version in the Pulsar series, F brand(indicating fair ) for the second generation Pulsar 220. However, there are speculation that this new bike will bear S version indicating sports or streetfighter. The new bike will pose with a half naked headlamp and a redefined instrument cluster and is to weigh less to enhance its efficiency. The price may be less compared to similar brands in the market. An alarming news is that Bajaj will not feature in the ensuing Auto Expo in New Delhi.
The electric vehicles supremo Eko of Banglore has launched India’s first hybrid scooter and the cheapest one. Strike, the cheapest in the electric segment, @Rs22000 does not require any registration or road tax. The choice is there for choosing the battery capacity at an additional cost. ET-120 the next one is the first hybrid scooter tuned to run on a combined fuel of a 70cc petrol engine and an electric motor.
Devised under a tie-up with the US-based Emerging Vehicle Technologies, the scooter is set to run for 120km/lit fuel. It yields the unified torque power akin to a 120cc petrol engine bike at a top speed of 65km/h. the price of this scooter may be around Rs42000 which may be a competitive one.
The proposed tie-up between Fiat Italy and the Indian service company Carnation (of Jagdish Khattar) is in the offing. Under this pact, Carnation will take care of vehicles belonging to Magneti Marelli – Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Lancia. This pact raised many eyebrows in the industry that Fiat has a tie-up with Tata for promoting marquee brands in India including sales and service.
While Khattar expressed hopes of minimized conflicts in the Tata sector, the latter circles did not comment on the scheme. The chairman of Tata Ratan Tata had earlier expressed his willingness to deal with Fiat for its lorry segment Iveco and Ferrari and Maseratis, in addition to taking Nano to Latin America. The Indian deal between Fiat and Tata is currently doing with Linea, Grande Punto, Palio and Fiat 500 apart from JVs for manufacturing passenger cars, engines and transmissions.
Tata is shouldering the marketing of Ferrari and Maserati in India but Fiat is in no way dependent of Tata for launching any alternative or additional business in India. The issue is on the perusal of Tata circles, say sources close to Tata. In the meantime Carnation has got full deployment activity of servicing the premium range of brands, cars costing more than Rs10 lakhs, along with Fiat range. Under the agreement, Carnation will install countrywide service centres and workshops from which Magneti Marelli will carry on sales of parts and servicing the cars. Once settled, the JV will lead to the component sourcing for Carnation in India and overseas.
All that Magneti intends now is to establish its strong hold through Carnation JV, since the company has doubled its presence in the last two years, said its CEO. Magneti was in search for a leading company for this sort of tie-ups, and Carnation seemed to be an ideal one for offering global quality of service in India. Magneti is keen on its growth in the potential Indian automotive industry. Carnation, to run its show, has accrued Rs108crore form Marquee investors Premlinvest and FCI Ventures.
In addition, the company has got a financial assistance from Punjab National Bank through debt fund amounting Rs170crore for erecting multi-brand auto solution hubs.
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Vicky spy team has come up with an incredible scoop on Mahindra’s new vehicle.
Following the launch of gio, Mahindra would soon launch another mini truck called “Maxximo”. WHile the gio is 0.5 ton truck, the new maxximo would be 0.8tonne (800kg) truck. The styling will be unique on the likes of gio. Maximmo will be the first vehicle in India to use advanced diesel engine technology. Maxximmo will be powered by 2 cylinder,900cc, direct injection m_Hawk engine. Power and torque produced by this engine is ample to pull loads across any conditions. Maximmo develops 25bhp of peak power (approximately) at 3600rpm and 55Nm of maximum torque. The load area will be huge enough to hold 800kg of payload. The cabin design is ergonomical. Driver and a passenger can sit comfortably even for long journeys.
Stay tuned for more details
The Government may have made it mandatory to wear helmets, in major cities, while riding Bikes and Scooters! But democracy prevails not in the law enforced but in the freedom to choose the right ones for us! [more info…]
Yamaha today launched 2010 version of its superbike R1 in India. Yamaha launched R1 and MT-01 in india in 2007. The superbike sold well beyond Yamaha’s expectations. “While the market for superbikes in India is still limited, consumer response to our previously launched superbikes has been overwhelming. Its (2010 YZF-R1) launch signifies our successful brand transformation efforts in India,” India Yamaha Motor Chief Executive Officer and MD Yukimine Tsuji said in a statement. The superbike, powered by a 998cc engine, would be sold in the country as a completely built unit (CBU) through the company’s 24 authorised CBU dealerships in 13 cities.
What to expect?
Maruti Suzuki which raised eyebrows with the unveiling of A-star concept at 2008 Auto expo will showcase slew of new models to excite the visitors at 2010 Delhi Auto Expo.
* Maruti Eco – Launch of new versa
* Maruti new WagonR
* Maruti new Swift – with Ritz K-series engine
* Maruti small car (Rs2.5lakh car)
* Ritz variants
* A-star concepts
* SX4 variants
* Maruti Kizashi