Mar 31, 2011

IndiGo parent to sell yachts, cars

The multi-crore eye popper was launched here on Tuesday along with a multitude of other super luxury products by Interglobe General Aviation. Apart from Koenigsegg, Interglobe is bringing Gumpert cars, Vyrus and Hollisters motorcycles, ISA and Arcadia yachts, too.

Its super luxury portfolio includes hydrolift speed boats from Norway; yachts from Italy and the UK, 3 and 5-seater submarines, super expensive bikes and trikes (three-wheeled bikes).

The company, which is a subsidiary of Interglobe Enterprises (that runs low-cost carrier IndiGo) has rechristened itself as InterGlobe Established Products Private Ltd. Branded as THE ESTD, it will have exclusive representation for these products within the Saarc and UAE regions.

Nigel Harwood, president and CEO, THE ESTD, said, “With such iconic global brands, THE ESTD will deliver its customers with the ultimate luxury experience, be it for land, air or water.”

Christian von Koenigsegg, founder and CEO, Koenigsegg appears certain that with the fast paced growth of luxury products in India, his car would be well received here. The car is priced well above the Rs10 crore mark.

Roland Gumpert, MD of Gumpert Cars, said, “Gumpert is an extremely high-end car that is synonymous with speed and thrill.”Volker Sichler of Hollisters Motorcycles, Ascanio Rodorigo of Vyrus, Maurizio Baldoni from Arcadia Yachts and Sandro Spaziani from International Shipyards Ancona (ISA) are also keen to sell their respective super luxury products in India.

In all, THE ESTD will bring Koenigsegg, Gumpert sports car, Deronda race car and Nostalgia — designers and producers of quality replica Jaguar cars — to India. In the bikes and trike section, it will bring Vyrus, one of the most powerful production motorcycles; custom-made Hollisters and Grinnall high performance vehicles. Under yachts, it will bring Messerschmitt, Arcadia, ISA, Novatec and Saturn brands. Speed boats would include Hydrolift and Donzi brands. THE ESTD’s existing product portfolio includes Hawker Beechcraft aircraft, Sikorsky luxurious helicopters, Dornier seaplanes.

Mar 30, 2011

Volkswagen launches all new Passat

Volkswagen, Europe’s leading car manufacturer unveiled the all-new Passat with the highly innovative BlueMotion Technologies for India today.
The all-new Passat will be available to customers in the diesel variant in both automatic and manual transmissions, starting at 20.80 lakh ex showroom Delhi. Sales of the all new Passat will start with the Highline and Comfortline which will later be followed by the Trendline.

Speaking about this new launch, Neeraj Garg, Member of Board and Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd. said, “We started our journey in India with the introduction of the Passat in 2007, and three successful years later it gives us great pleasure to bring the latest generation to the market.

The all-new Passat will be exclusively available with BlueMotion Technologies by Volkswagen India and the distinctive innovations will work together to achieve good fuel efficiency and reduced emissions without depriving customers from the fun of driving. It is a design into the future with upgraded comfort, convenience, quality and safety, and more importantly cleaner and extremely fuel efficient.”

Mr. Lutz Kothe, Head of Marketing and PR Volkswagen Group Sales Pvt. Ltd. added by saying, “The Volkswagen Brand’s commitment to sustainability is translated through the innovations of the BlueMotion Technologies. These efficient technologies have been implemented in a range of Volkswagen cars and are among the cleanest and most fuel efficient in the world. The introduction of the all-new Passat further emphasizes Volkswagen Brand’s commitment to India.”


Source: Volkswagen India

Mar 29, 2011

BMW gears sub-1000cc bikes by 2012

BMW, the German luxury car maker that introduced its bikes in India in January, aims to sell 45 motorcycles this year.

“The company has already sold 15 bikes so far and aims to sell around 45 bikes this calendar year,” said a company official. According to Kachalia, the MD of Navnit Motors “The Company is also looking at introducing bikes below 1,000cc. We intend to bring these bikes by 2012.”

BMW is offering six models initially, which include S1000RR, K1300, R1200GS, K1600GTL, R1200R and HP2 Sports. All these bikes are above 1,000cc and in the Rs 18-23 lakh range. “As part of the branding and marketing activities, the company has already started participating in motor shows in India apart from organising road shows,” said Sharad Kachalia, MD, Navnit Motors.

At present, BMW is fully importing its bikes into India. “Our aim is to sell at least 100 bikes before we start assembling them in India. If the market is big enough we might think of including bike operations within our Indian subsidiary,” said the official.

BMW Car maker’s motorcycle venture, will primarily sell its products at two outlets in Delhi and Mumbai. BMW dealers — Navnit Motors in Mumbai and Deutsche Motors in New Delhi — are currently importing the bikes into India.

“They have taken over full responsibility of the marketing and development of the bike market in India. They talk directly to our headquarters in Munich in case of any import orders as our bike operations are totally different from that of the car business,” said the official.

Audi Q5 2.0 quattro launched India

Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer has announced the launch of the Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro, the most recent addition to the highly successful luxury SUV in India. The new Audi Q5 2.0 TDI q is priced at Rs3,905,000 (ex-showroom Maharashtra). Deliveries to customers will begin in April 2011.

“We are confident that the addition of the powerful 2.0 TDI q engine to the Audi Q5 range in India will strengthen and sustain our leadership position in the luxury SUV segment. The all new Audi Q5 2.0 TDI q, resonates higher efficiency and dynamic performance with its new engine and refreshed array of characteristics, that reflect our core brand essence of „Vorsprung durch Technik‟,” said Michael Perschke, Head – Audi India.

The Audi Q5 2.0 TDI q with 125kW / 170 hp reaches a maximum torque of 350 Nm 1,750 rpm and develops its power evenly, leading to a fascinating driving experience. It is equipped with the dynamic 7–speed automatic S tronic transmission, which is impressive for its short, sporty shift times and smooth gearshift across the entire spread between the shortest and the longest ratios. 2/3

The Audi Q5 range is also powered by a petrol engine – the 2.0 TFSI q and a diesel engine – the 3.0 TDI q. The new 2.0 TDI q engine would be available as CKD.

Audi India sold 3003 cars in 2010, exceeding targets yet again to achieve record growth of 81%. “This encouraging performance reinforces the increased aspiration for technical finesse and progressive sophistication among luxury automotive customers in India. Audi India will continue to expand its product line up and deliver path breaking and award winning cars to cater to this rising need,” added Michael Perschke.

Audi India is also focused at strengthening its dealer network across India. This year, the brand with the four rings has already opened showrooms in Delhi and Chennai with Ludhiana to follow soon. Last year, the company inaugurated showrooms in Mumbai West, Kolkata, Jaipur and Bengaluru.

The Audi model range in India includes Audi A4, Audi A6, Audi A8, Audi Q5, Audi Q7, Audi TT, the super sports car Audi R8 and the recently launched Audi R8 Spyder available across the country: in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Mumbai West and Pune. Further developments include Surat, Mumbai South, Coimbatore, Indore, Lucknow and Delhi West.

Yamaha bikes price in India

The two wheeler segment in India has undergone metamorphosis and over the years, from being price conscious to being style and performance conscious, the two wheeler segment has indeed come a long way. Yamaha is one such brand that riders associate with right pricing and great performance.

The Yamaha bikes price in India varies from the affordable ones meant for students and stylish for the rich. In a bid to capture close to 10% market share in the coming years, Yamaha plans to double the volumes. The Japanese manufacturer has been successful in capturing the imagination of the youth by producing performance oriented bikes.

In the past, Yamaha has launched powerful bikes in India. The latest launches by Yamaha include Yamaha Vmax, Yamaha Fazer, Yamaha FZS, Yamaha FZ 16, Yamaha Gladiator, Yamaha G5, Yamaha Alba and Yamaha Crux. The soon to be launched models of Yamaha bikes like the YZF-R125 is the scaled down version of YZF-R1 coupled with some of the inspired features from its bigger brother YZF-R6.

On the other hand, the Yamaha YZF-R15 from Yamaha Motor is an all-new revamped version of the sports bike and it offers a whole new biking experience to the Indian rider and particularly has appeal for youngsters. The price conscious shopper would especially like the Yamaha Gladiator, which is an economical bike, crafted with the features of powerful bikes from the India Yamaha Motor Company. The Yamaha bikes prices of almost all the models of Yamaha bikes vary from state to state across India.

Mar 28, 2011

Yamaha confirms 250cc bike for India

Yamaha is planning to export a bunch of it’s commuter motorcycles to Africa to shore up it’s revenues. Now, for you the Indian motorcycle enthusiast, that is something as boring as say Kareena Kapoor in a ugly green jump suit. But what you will definitely please you is the fact that there is official word emerging from Yamaha India, that there is indeed a 200-250cc motorcycle lined up for the Indian motorcycle market in the future.

While it still remains unclear as to how quickly Yamaha India will launch the 200-250cc motorcycle to ensure that it remains in the thick of things in the very hot 250cc premium motorcycle market in India, which of late is seeing plenty of action. If you’re an Indian motorcycle enthusiast, there’s no better a time to start saving up.

We’re hoping that Yamaha bikes brings it’s latest 250cc offering soon as arch rival Honda has just launched the 2011 Honda CBR250R to an overwhelming response and is targeting no less than 30,000 units per year in sales. One bummer of course is the fact that Yamaha India will launch a 150cc scooter only after the next two years. So, all those of you expecting the zany Yamaha BW125 may have to wait for longer as scooters don’t yet seem to be Yamaha India’s priority for now.

Meanwhile, here’s what Hiroyuki Suzuki, the new managing director and chief executive of Yamaha India, had to say.

We are in a very severe condition. But we aim to break even by 2013 as we are increasing our production capacity. We plan to raise the capacity of this plant to one million and, by 2013, in the domestic market we aim to sell 800,000 units and 200,000 to be exported. The African markets need basic models such as Crux and FZ and we will export YBR to South America. In Africa, you see three types of motorcycles—mopeds, scooters and street models of motorcycles. These motorcycles are also used for commercial purposes. I mean a rider can have two pillion sitting behind him and he can charge fare from them. So, we will have to change specifications of the bikes, which we plan to export. We may need at least two years before we come up with a scooter in the 150cc segment. Going forward, we will bring in motorcycles in the range of 200-250cc.

Mar 26, 2011

Bajaj to launch Renault Car

Bajaj Auto will show prototypes of its Ultra Low-Cost (ULC) car – which will compete with Tata Nano – to its partner Renault this year. Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj said, “We are dead serious about the car project. Sometime later this year, in fact in a matter of months, we will be able to show Renault the prototypes.” There are speculations that the ULC Car will hit the market in 2012.

Bajaj claims that its 4-wheeler will have a targeted mileage of 30 kmpl and the emissions will be in double digits, say, 80 0r 90 grams of Co2 per kilometre (Indian standards set Co2 emissions at 150 grams per km). Compared to that, the Tata Nano releases 110 grams of Co2 per km. Related: Bajaj-Renault ULC price to be Rs 1.1 lakh

Bajaj India signed an equal partnership of 50:50 with Renault Nissan in 2008. Bajaj would handle the design, engineering, sourcing and management entirely while Renault-Nissan would come into the picture for marketing and selling the ULC car.

The ULC car is being developed by Bajaj’s R&D engineers and will be shown to Renault for a final call. If the car matches its expectations, Renault will step in to decide on the sales and distribution of the car. However, if for some reason Renault doesn’t like the ULC prototypes, Bajaj Auto would still have the option to sell the 4-wheeler on its own.

Hyundai Accent launches 2011 edition

Hyundai India has launched the 2011 Accent Executive Edition at a price of Rs. 5, 01,900 (ex-showroom, Delhi). With the petrol variant, the new Accent is also available in CNG and LPG kits.

Arvind Saxena, Hyundai Car India director, marketing and sales, said the 2011 Accent Executive Edition’s styling is elegant, making the sedan more sophisticated and desirable. The mild face-lift is part of Hyundai’s efforts to update their cars as per customer preferences.

The 2011 Accent is powered by the existing 1.5-litre (1,495 cc), 12-valve, SOHC engine that produces 95 PS of maximum power at 5,500 rpm and maximum torque of 12.7 Nm at 3,500 rpm. The engine, mated to 5-speed manual transmission, offers brisk response. Hyundai India new Accent will compete with the petrol variants of Chevrolet Aveo, Ford Fiesta, Mahindra Logan, Toyota Etios, Maruti Dzire and Tata Manza.

Hyundai India, 2011 Accent Executive Edition comes with central locking, button-embedded keys,etc. The reinforced cabin has been crash tested to conform to global safety norms and provides optimum driver and passenger safety. By making available LPG and CNG options, the Accent has become an even more economically attractive buy.

Hyundai, Accent was initiated in India over a decade ago and was active in setting up the Korean brand in India. Until now, Hyundai Car has sold more than 3 lakh Accent cars in the country. At present, Hyundai cars sell an average of 2,100 units of the Accent every month.

Ford Figo to launch in India

Ford Figo, Indian Car of the Year in 2011 may soon be available in a 1.6-litre petrol avatar. Auto car India Editor Hormzad Sorabjee tweeted about the possibility adding that Ford India may use 1.6-litre petrol Duratec engine that powers the Ford Fiesta in the Figo 1.6 petrol.

Ford Fiesta 1.6-litre motor produces 100 bhp of maximum power at 6,500 rpm and 146 Nm of maximum torque at 3,400 rpm. The 1.6 Duratec engine has enough low-end grunt and the performance at speeds above 150 km/hr is also very pleasing. The mileage is rated at around 13 km/litre.

The Ford cars, Figo 1.6 petrol will fight with the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 and Skoda Fabia 1.6. The Figo 1.2 is known for its value-for-money pricing. Ford cars to price the Figo 1.6 also competitively, perhaps, around the Rs. 5.5 lakh range.

The current Figo petrol is powered by a 1.2-litre Duratec engine that produces 71 bhp at 6,250 rpm and 102 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Though the 1.2-litre engine has strong mid range power and decent drivability, it lacks low-end grunt demanding frequent down shifts, especially in city driving conditions. The Figo 1.2-litre petrol delivered a mileage of 13.5 km/lire in our road test.

BMW Cars to launch BMW 6 Series

BMW Cars are known for displaying opulence and class. BMW India announces the 2012 BMW 6 Series 650i Convertible for the Indian market. In a launch ceremony that was preceded by a starry ramp walk by models exhibiting Ace Indian fashion designer Suneet Verma’s couture collection, BMW India pulled out all stops to ensure that the real show stopper of the show, the 2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible had a milieu fitting for its Indian stopover.

The all new 2012 BMW 6 was unveiled at a decked up Lake Front of the Leela Palace Kempinski hotel nestling beside the picturesque Lake Pichola in Udaipur. BMW India CEO Dr Andreas Schaaf did the unveiling honors. The car has mellowed down a great deal from the edgy Chris Bangle flared design philosophy. It now wears a more subtle and classy design philosophy adopted by BMW’s current chief designer, Adrian Van Hooydonk. The long and svelte hood has a muscular V8 twin turbo petrol engine that can blur the scenery very rapidly with all of 407 Teuton thoroughbred horses waiting to be let loose. All these features may be combined with a flat torque wave of 600 Nm available right from 1800 rpm. Thus you have a BMW Car that is blisteringly fast to hit 100 kph in 5 seconds, going all the way up to 250 kph before the electronics decide to step in and slow you down.

The car also includes an eight speed automatic gearbox with a manual paddle mode is how all that shove and twist gets onto the tarmac while other trick stuff like Brake Energy Dynamics and BMW’s Active Dynamics will ensure that the going is never dull for a single moment, even as fuel is constantly conserved for this sexy Beemer to deliver a very creditable 11 KMPL. This stylish combination of sleek good looks and unmatched performance is priced at Rs 95 lakhs.

Mar 25, 2011

Honda to launch gearless scooters

Honda will launch many more gearless scooters for the Indian Scooter Market. After a decade of launching Honda Motorcycles and Scooters in India, Honda Motor Co set shop in India. The scooter market was previously dominated by Bajaj Auto, India`s most popular scooter maker ever.

Close on the heels, Honda, yet another renowned brand in India launched Honda Activa, a 102cc 4 stroke scooter that defied all predictions and went on to become the bestselling scooter right from the word go. Then came the very reliable, super convenient and reasonably fuel efficient Activa which continues to do so in its latest 110cc avatar. The popularity is well depicted by the long waiting lines that stretch for months together.

Honda followed the Activa up with the 50cc four strokes Honda Eterno, a geared scooter. The Eterno sold well but its volumes were not enough for Honda maintain production. Last year, the Eterno was given a graceful retirement while the demand persisted. The final scooter from Honda was the Aviator, but the model never really took off as well as the Activa or the Dio.

Honda essentially reignited the almost-dead scooter segment in India. The number of competitors has sprung up since then but none with the stellar and enduring success that Honda has managed to enjoy over the last decade. Hero Honda then launched the Pleasure. TVS Motors, announced the Spectra, the Scooty Pep and now the TVS Wego. Bajaj on the other hand, launched Saffire, the Legend, the Four Stroke Chetak, the Kristal, and last but not the least the Wave DTSi.

The now defunct Kinetic Engineering Limited came up with the Kinetic Nova, the Nova 135, and the Kinetic 4S and even tied up with SYM of Taiwan to ring in more automatic scooters, which currently Mahindra Two Wheelers, now makes. Mahindra Two Wheelers’ portfolio now makes Nova called the Duro, the Mahindra Rodeo and the Mahindra SYM Flyte.

Hence, the Indian scooter market may be seen like a confluence of various brands with Honda Activa seeing not much competition. The future competition will include Yamaha, which is planning to make its foray in the scooter segment along with the Piaggio’s legendary Vespa, which is all set to make an Indian foray. Despite all this, Honda Activa is a phenomenon which has managed to outsell all of these scooters. The scooter segment can thus have more scooters from Honda with more durability and ruggedness packed in.

Mar 24, 2011

Yamaha to announce electric 2 wheeler

Japanese auto giant Yamaha said it might consider the launch of electric Yamaha bikes in the fast growing Indian two-wheeler market. The launch will be in a bid to offer an alternative mode of transportation. Yamaha India will certainly be benefitted from the same.

Yamaha Motor, the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, is also developing an India-specific scooter that will hit the roads in the near future. Additionally it will launch two new bikes in the country in this year.

Commenting on the developments, India Yamaha Bikes Director (Sales and Marketing) Jun Nakata said, "For rising fuel prices, electric bike is a good option. Currently we are selling electric bikes in Japan and Europe. There is a possibility for the Indian market for introducing these products”. He did not share details like specifications and when the firm was likely to launch the products in India.

The company announced last year that it would focus more on India with more investments and an aim to have 10 per cent of its total global sales from the country within the next 3-4 years. When questioned about its plans for the scooter segment, Nakata said, "We are preparing to enter the scooter market. The product is under development in Japan and it will be an India-specific product." He said the firm was consolidating its position in the 150cc segment.

Yamaha India has two facilities in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, and has a combined installed production capacity of 6 lakh units a year which may be scaled up to 10 lakh units every year.

Yamaha to make India export hub

Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd intends to enhance and expand capacity and export motorcycles made in India to Africa and South America. In a bid to turn its local business profitable after more than 25 years, the company has great plans for the future.

Commenting on the developments, Hiroyuki Suzuki, the new managing director and chief executive of Yamaha India said, “We are in a very severe condition.” He added, “But we aim to break even by 2013 as we are increasing our production capacity.” The company also manufactures 600,000 Yamaha bikes a year at its Greater Noida plant. He said, “We plan to raise the capacity of this plant to one million and, by 2013, in the domestic market we aim to sell 800,000 units and 200,000 to be exported.”

Yamaha India had partnered tractor maker Escorts Ltd. In the last 15 years, it sold 2.5 million Yamaha bikes in the country, cornering 7.2% of market share. In 2000, Yamaha bikes released low end bike models and the market share fell to 3.6% by 2005-06, and to 2.35% by 2010-11. In the 11 months to February, however, sales rose 22.55% to 251,762 units on the back of India’s economic growth. The company has sold over five million motorcycles in India to date, according to a spokesperson.

Hiroyuki Suzuki added that he plans to sort these issues over the next two years. He also said that Yamaha is doing a feasibility study to make India an export base for Africa and South America. Besides, the company will also strengthen its research and development division in India with the help of Yamaha Japan to support the various export plans.

Mar 22, 2011

Infibeam Embarks 50% Discount On Bestsellers

Ahmedabad, India; March 22nd 2011:Infibeam announces 50% discount on more than 5000 bestselling book titles. The company has opened this opportunity to all customers shopping on Infibeam.com (www.infibeam.com/books) without having to register for any membership or annual plan.

With more than 10 lac customers and growing everyday, Infibeam caters to a wide range of book readers and the comprehensive catalog at attractive pricing and guaranteed delivery performance. The 50% discount offered on over 5000 bestsellers and expanding along with guaranteed next day delivery will offer shoppers a terrific shopping experience.

Commenting on the latest developments, Mr. Sachin Oswal, COO of Infibeam.com said, “Infibeam is working hard to provide the best prices to shoppers with superior customer experience. Now, readers will be able to read bestsellers and many new releases at half the original price.” He added, “All the titles available at huge discounts will be accompanied with free shipping. Customers can also opt for cash on delivery and next day delivery on these titles.”

The next day delivery was received with much enthusiasm from readers across India. In keeping with the ‘value for money’ and 'superior customer experience', Infibeam announces 50% discount on over 10,000 bestsellers. Readers may now browse through the comprehensive catalog and avail the enticing deal at Infibeam.

The attractive discount on books is ideal for a customers who wish to save more while shopping for multiple titles. The catalog at Infibeam offers one of a kind shopping experience along with enticing and money saver deals.

So, shop for latest bestsellers as well as new releases and avail them for up to half the original prices only at Infibeam.com.

http://www.infibeam.com/books


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About Infibeam.com
Infibeam.com is India's leading eCommerce portal with a selection of more than 100 lac products across books, media, lifestyle, gifts, electronics and automobiles. Infibeam.com is known for its innovative navigation, lowest prices, free shipping and dedicated customer service.

Infibeam.com also offers its web-store technology and associated infrastructure as a service to well- known brands and retailers such as NDTV, K Sera Sera, Hidesign, TTK Prestige etc.

Infibeam.com was founded in 2007 by a group of ex-Amazon employees with expertise in e-commerce and technology. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Infibeam has 250 employees based out of offices in Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The leadership team consists of MIT, IIM and IIT graduates amongst others with more than 100 years of combined experience in Retail and eCommerce.

Bajaj Auto to unveil the Bajaj Boxer

Bajaj India's leading auto manufacturer Bajaj India is sprucing up to launch the all new Bajaj Boxer in July. A few months back, the company announced the re-launch of one of the most popular Bajaj bikes. It is now expected that the bike will be launched very soon. It is likely that the bike will come with a price tag of Rs. 44,700 in the Indian market.

The Bajaj Boxer was previously the flagship bike model, launched in 1997. It created a big hype in the market due to its durability and performance but the production had been stopped. However, the company will re produce the bike yet again.

Bajaj Boxer will be loaded with a 4-stroke, Single cylinder, Oil Cooled, 125cc engine which ensures to deliver great power and torque at amazing rpm. Bajaj will also have better power and performance and will be the new answer to Hero Honda Super Splendor, Honda Shine, Yamaha YBR 125 and Suzuki Slingshot. The all new bike will also be equipped with a revamped appearance and have re-worked appearance and body design.

Mar 17, 2011

Maruti launches New Maruti WagonR

Maruti India is the most trusted brand in India as it offers great driving solutions and great maintenance for users. The newly released version of Maruti car- the New Maruti Wagon R has the factory fitted LPG kit. The Swift is positioned above while Maruti cars namely Alto and Zen are placed below. The new WagonR is very spacious and Maruti India has definitely tried to spice things up a bit.

The all new Maruti Wagon-R has a much more pretty front grill, improved lights, bumpers and colors. The new Maruti Wagon-R 2011 Duo has a dual ECU (engine control unit) for better efficiency and mileage. It gives 18.7 /km per liter mileage on petrol and 14.4 on LPG which is highest of its class. There are special materials used in engine to attain maximum safety with LPG. Besides, Maruti also offers low running and maintenance cost. The LPG variant is certified by DOE and ARAI agencies for maximum safety. It also has an impact resistant LPG tank

The new Maruti WagonR is available in eight colors and five of them are new namely Metallic Passion Red, Metallic Forest Flush (Green), Metallic Royale Gold, Metallic Ocean Blue and Bahamas Biege.

Mar 14, 2011

New Tata Indica EV2 by Tata Motors

Tata Motors has unveiled the new Tata Indica variant Tata Indica EV2. And Tata Indica EV2 is been offered both in petrol and diesel engine options. In addition the diesel engine boasts of a peak power output of 69 Bhp whereas its peak torque figure is rated at 14.28 kgm.

On the exterior, the Tata Indica EV2 looks like its other BS3 variant but one would notice the fog lamps at the rear end in addition to the front ones, new 14 inch alloy wheels, new rear bumper, smart decals and new tail lamps. The gear ratios have been also modified to boost the drivability quotient. Besides, weight reduction has been brought about in the 2011 Tata Indica EV2 by about 10 kgs.

Tata Motors, new Tata Indica interiors gets beige upholstery and the top of the line variant boasting of wooden inserts in the cabin. Moreover ,Tata Motors offer USB port, Bluetooth enabled music system, keyless entry and 60:40 split rear seating arrangement. On the safety front, Tata Indica has got two air bags and a collapsible steering wheel. Tata Motors are the masters in pricing their products competitively.

Honda Suzuki speeds up 100cc motorcycle plans

Honda India showed tremendous growth in the last few years. Honda Bikes especially the 100 cc motorcycles had successful innings in India. Most auto manufacturers are showing tremendous interest in the 100 cc vehicle segments and following Honda India, Suzuki now makes a foray into the hugely popular two wheeler segments.

Suzuki is speeding up its plans to bring in the 100 cc commuter segment. The launch of the 100 cc Suzuki bikes is certain to enhance the sales volumes. Suzuki is looking to bring in 100cc motorcycle to India. Their earlier attempt to bring the 98.8cc Ind-Suzuki AX100 Two Stroke commuter motorcycle way back in the eighties in collaboration with TVS Motors was successful.

Thus it is apt to state that, life has come a full circle for Suzuki bikes. Ranging from the humble Access 125 scooter to the high end Suzuki Hayabusa sportsbike, Suzuki has a phenomenal presence in India. Suzuki India intends to make a bigger impact on the ever growing Indian motorcycle market.

Mar 12, 2011

Volvo S60 sedan forays into India

Volvo the world renowned Swedish company is continuing to launch new cars for India. Three months after the launch of the XC 60 SUV, the S 60 saloon comes as a pleasant change. The Volvo S60 is the boldest design from Volvo and is set to entice auto lovers in India. The icing on the cake is that the Volvo S60 will be the cheapest car on offer in India.

The prices of the Volvo S60 may be easily depicted as follows:

* S60 D5 Kinetic will wear a price tag of Rs. 27 lakh

* D5 Summun is priced at 32 lakhs

* T6 Petrol will be quite expensive at Rs 34 lakhs

The prices mentioned above are ex-showroom, Delhi. The cars come loaded with a host of safety features and impeccable technology.

The other high end features include a .4-litre twin-turbo, straight-five diesel motor with 205 bhp@4000 rpm. There is a massive 42kgm@1500-3240 rpm. The performance of the car is very good and the standing start to 100 kph and a top speed of 230kph makes it a great buy. Performance wise the all new Volvo S60 should be ideally placed between BMW 320d and the Audi A4 3.0 TDI on the figures count. The Volvo Cars is likely to be the largest selling S60 engine model as of now.

There is yet another model namely the T6 twin-turbo petrol with a stonking 304 bhp@5600 rpm and a fruity 44.6 kgm from just 2100 rpm. This being the only turbo petrol six cylinder offering in its segment is likely to leave the competition in its wake. However, the T6 will be offered with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

Honda India gears up to expand in India

Honda Bikes, the world wide head in two-wheelers market get aggressive in India after its exit from Hero Honda, its joint venture with the Hero Group. Honda Motorcycle & Scooters India (HMSI), its fully-owned arm set up in 1999, plans to launch two new motorcycles every year, expand its reach and bring in a new mass market 100cc bike.

“Honda always wants to be in the Number One position. Right now, we are in the fourth position, not very far from the third player. We want to be among the top three players (in India), and very close to the No 2 player,’’ said Shinji Aoyama, President & CEO, HMSI, in an interview last week.

Aoyama said Honda would like to fill the gaps in its portfolio. ‘‘Whatever we didn’t not have in our product portfolio, we would like to fill. For instance, we would like to enter the inexpensive product segment, and bring in a core product in the entry-level 100cc segment. This product will make us really aggressive (in the market),’’ he said. It has an 110cc bike in the Twister, but it’s a niche product targeted at urban youngsters. It is clear that Honda is looking for a more mass market bike.

“The short term plans will not be driven by events at Hero Honda but long term; there will be a huge difference. Single-mindedly, the world leader will think differently. Things will change dramatically,’’ said Naresh Rattan, head of marketing & sales, HMSI.

So far, Honda Motor Company was operating in India through both Hero Honda and HMSI. A joint working group decided on the line of models for both. The ventures were not to disturb each other, but play a complementary role, so that together Honda enjoyed a 60 per cent market share. ‘‘That horizon will change. Honda will bring in more core products now,’’ said a senior Honda executive.

Mar 11, 2011

Hero Group arranges funds to obtain Hero Honda stakes

Indian conglomerate Hero Group has arranged the required finance to acquire the 26 percent stake of Honda Motor of Japan in their joint-venture company Hero Honda Motors Limited HHML. In a regulatory filing, the company said that its investment company Hero Investments Private Limited (HIPL) is to acquire Honda’s entire 26 percent stake in HHML at Rs 739.97 per share.

The company has signed agreements with private equity firms BC India Private Investors II and Lathe Investment Private Limited for investing in HIPL to raise funds for the acquisition, said the report. 'Hero Group has also signed definitive agreements with PE firms BC India Private Investors II, an affiliate of Bain Capital LLC, and Lathe Investment Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the government of Singapore Investment Corporation (Ventures),' the company said.

The company said that it was waiting for the necessary approval from CCEA, noted the report and added that in December last year, Hero group and Honda Motor Co the two promoter groups in the joint venture company established in 1984 had declared that they are reorganizing their individual equity shares in HHML. At present, Hero Honda is the world's largest manufacturer of two-wheelers, including Splendor, Passion, Karizma ZMR, Hunk, CBZ Xtreme mobikes and scooter Pleasure.

Mar 9, 2011

Look for the Infibeam Magic Box opens everyday at Midnight

Ahmedabad, India; March 9th 2011: Infibeam is at it again. The largest ecommerce portal today launched 'Infibeam Magic Box' – a section on the site with a unique product to be put on sale every Midnight. The product will be priced extremely attractively for customers.

Commenting on the latest initiative, Mr. Manu Midha, Vice President, Planning and Operations, Infibeam.com said, "Infibeam's Magic Box is set to enthrall shoppers. After providing customers with a consistent shopping experience on a wide range of products, Magic Box would provide value buyers with an extremely compelling proposition." He added, "One unique product would come up for sale every day at Midnight and would last for 24 hours".

Magic Box products would carry heavy discounts from their list prices but would be limited in stock. For all those who miss out on the Magic Box deal, they can request Infibeam to inform them as soon as they get available next. This initiative is bound to enthrall shoppers. Also, for shoppers that have missed out on Magic Box products, Infibeam offers Hot deals on similar products; with attractive discounts.

Infibeam has always offered lowest prices on most products and Infibeam Magic Box will be a major highlight and a shopping deal not worth a miss. Do remember to check out Infibeam Magic Box; everyday at Midnight.

http://www.infibeam.com/deal-of-the-day.html

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About Infibeam.com
Infibeam.com is India's leading eCommerce portal with a selection of more than 100 lac products across books, media, lifestyle, gifts, electronics and automobiles. Infibeam.com is known for its innovative navigation, lowest prices, free shipping and dedicated customer service.

Infibeam.com also offers its web-store technology and associated infrastructure as a service to well- known brands and retailers such as NDTV, K Sera Sera, Hidesign, TTK Prestige etc.

Infibeam.com was founded in 2007 by a group of ex-Amazon employees with expertise in e-commerce and technology. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Infibeam has 250 employees based out of offices in Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The leadership team consists of MIT, IIM and IIT graduates amongst others with more than 100 years of combined experience in Retail and eCommerce.

Mar 7, 2011

Honda launches New Honda Brio

Honda India has been facing stiff competition from compact car manufacturers. Having faced the heat of the competition, Honda cars will now be accompanied by a slew of small cars. The face-lifted variants of its existing models were supposed to come by September this year, but the car will be ahead schedule, and you may now book the car as early as March 2011.

Honda India may not have hit the jackpot with the Honda Jazz, owing to the higher price tag. Hence Honda India is looking for some retribution and Honda Brio will be one of the major contributions from Honda cars.

The Honda Brio is a small car measuring less than 4 meters which gives it the 10% excise duty cut and a 1.2 liter petrol engine. Honda has a penchant for interior packaging; and there isn’t a doubt about that as well. Honda is also looking forward to fend off their Japanese rival, Toyota Motors with this move. Although bookings for the Honda Brio would commence from March, Honda will start delivering the cars only after 2-3 months.

Mar 5, 2011

Ford India list 188% sales growth

The Figo, Ford India has recorded as per the reports in February 2011, a 188 % sales growth. Ford India has witnessed a rapid boost in its sales from the time of the launch of the hatchback, the Figo in the year 2009, taking Ford to an exceptional new level. Ford India sold over 9,293 vehicles in February as compared to 3,223 in 2010. In all, the company has sold over 76,000 Figo's since 2009.

According to the company officials, the Indian unit of US based leading car-maker Ford Motors, has been performing well in the Indian market since last one year, and has registered a massive 188 per cent jump in its sales in the country in February 2011.

Commenting on the company's performance, Michael Boneham, president and managing director of Ford India said, "The phenomenal Figo has taken Ford to a new level in India." He also added that the company will soon launch its all new Fiesta, a premium sedan, the first of the eight new models slated to be launched by 2015.

Bajaj launches new Discover range model

A new Discover will join the Discover 100 and Discover 150 next month to further the growth of the Bajaj Discover brand in the domestic and export markets this financial year,” Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, Bajaj Auto, said in a statement.

“The two popular Discover brands with price tags of Rs 43,000 and Rs 48,000 have become a runaway success in the country,” S Sridhar, CEO, two-wheelers, Bajaj Auto, told Financial Chronicle. “It is a great sign that at present there is no stock left of Discover motorcycles in both our Waluj plant in Aurangabad in Maharashtra, and Pantnagar in Uttarakhand.”

“To cash in on the popularity of the Discover brand, we will launch a new model positioned between the 100 cc and 150 cc Bajaj Discover bikes available at present,” Sridhar said. He claimed that the new model would be a hit with motorcycle enthusiasts in the country and also in overseas markets.

Bajaj Auto posted a rise of 18.4 per cent in three-wheeler sales in February this year at 40,217 units against 33,968 units in the same month last year.

Last month Bajaj Auto total vehicle sales were the most excellent for February and stood at 3, 26,874 units compared with 2, 68,678 units in the same period a year ago, a growth of 21.66 per cent. “For the first time our total sales exceeded 3.5 million vehicles in a given financial year and we achieved this in the period April 2010 to February 2011,” Sridhar said.

Volvo launches S60 in India by March 2010

The Swedish company, Volvo Cars latest S60 saloon will be the cheapest car on offer in India by far. The Volvo S60 is perhaps the boldest design in a long while.

The cost for the S60 is expected to begin at below Rs 30 lakh, however it will most likely be for the four-cylinder models that will be launched later. Performance from this car is pretty good - the standing start to 100 kph coming up in just 7.8 seconds with a top speed of 230 kph. S60 engine model is anticipated to be the largest selling for the time being.

The additional engine model on offer will be the T6 twin-turbo petrol with a stonking 304 bhp@5600 rpm and a fruity 44.6 kgm from just 2100 rpm. Being the only turbo petrol six-cylinder offering in its segment, anticipated the T6 to disappear the fight in its wake. Standing start numbers of 6.5 seconds to 100 kph and a top speed of 250 kph should make its job easy of keeping cars like the BMW 330i and the A4 3.2 V6 in its sights. Both engine models of Volvo Cars can be expected to be offered with all-wheel drive as well as a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

Mar 2, 2011

Maruti Suzuki February sales Up 15.5 percent

Indian car market leader Maruti Suzuki Tuesday reported a 15.5 percent increase in its sales for February with 1,11,645 units being sold.

Maruti Suzuki India Limited sold a total of 1,11,645 vehicles in February 2011. This includes 10,102 units of exports. The company had sold a total of 96,650 vehicles in February 2010,' the company said in a statement.

According to the statement, the company reported an increase of 19.8 percent in its sales in the domestic market, which stood at 1,01,543 units as against 84,765 units in the corresponding period of last year.

Meanwhile, the company's exports fell by 15 percent to 10,102 units from 11,885 units in the like period of last year.

Segment-wise, the company reported a growth of 19.4 percent for its compact car segment A2 at 72,090 units. Cars in this category include Alto, Wagon-R, Zen, Swift, Ritz and A-Star.

A high growth of about 27.05 percent was reported for the company's sedan segment, including the SX4 and Dzire, with sales of 13,024 units.

The recently launched luxury-sedan from Maruti Suzuki Kizashi reported an initial sales of 25 units for last month. The car was launched in the same month and was followed by the introduction of the diesel variant of SX4.

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