Mahindra, Honda, Tata looking to hike car prices next month

Mahindra & Mahindra, Honda Cars India and Tata Motors are looking to increase prices of their models from next month, mainly to offset higher input and operational costs.

"We are actively contemplating increasing the prices of our vehicles in April due to increase in input and operational costs," Mahindra & Mahindra chief executive (Automotive division) Pravin Shah told PTI.

The company hasn't decided by how much prices will be raised.

"We have not yet taken a final decision on the quantum and timing but this a matter we are seriously considering right now. It will happen for sure in April," Shah said.

Sources in Honda Cars India said the company is considering a hike in prices next month.

"The discussions are going on, there is a possibility," the source said.

Tata Motors said it may increase prices of passenger vehicles by 1 to 2%.

Honda cars are priced between Rs 3.99 and Rs 24.36 lakh, while Mahindra passenger vehicles manufactured in the country retail between Rs 5.43 lakh and Rs 14.48 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi).

Last month, Mahindra had reduced prices of its passenger vehicles by between Rs 13,000 and Rs 49,000, after the reduction of excise duty. Honda Cars India had also cut prices by as much as Rs 44,741.

Now, a car that gives 100 km in less than litre of fuel

German car manufacturers Volkswagen as set to build a futuristic two-seater diesel-electric hybrid that would travel from Sydney to Melbourne on about 12 dollars of fuel.

The company will launch production version of its most exotic vehicle ever, the two-seater XL1 plug-in hybrid that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show, the New York daily News reported reported.

Billed as the world’s most fuel efficient road car, the teardrop-shaped coupe relies on a combination of exotic construction materials, a low kerb weight, compact plug-in diesel electric hybrid driveline and record breaking aerodynamics to deliver a spectacular combined cycle fuel consumption of 0.9L/100km on the European test cycle – a figure, Volkswagen contends, provides the XL1 with a theoretical range of more than 500km on its tiny 10-litre fuel tank, while endowing it with average CO2 emissions of just 21g/km.

Capable of running on battery power alone, the new Volkswagen also possess a zero-emission range of up to 50km on its electric motor.

First displayed as a running prototype back in 2011, the carbon-fibre reinforced plastic bodied XL1 is set to enter limited production alongside the Volkswagen Golf cabriolet and Porsche Boxster at the former Karmann factory in Osnabruck, Germany next month.

At 3888mm in length and 1153mm in height, the XL1 is slightly shorter than the existing Volkswagen Polo but lower than the recently unveiled second-generation Porsche Cayman.

Entry to the cabin is via butterfly style doors hinged within the windscreen pillar. Inside, the new Volkswagen provides accommodation for two, with the seats staggered slightly to free up shoulder room.

A series of extreme weight saving measures, including the use of specially developed carbon-fibre reinforced plastic just 1.2mm thick for the body, a windscreen with glass that is 3.2mm thick, a dashboard supported by a wood fibre material some 1.4mm thick and magnesium wheels, sees the XL1 hit the scales at just 795kg in production trim.

The diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain, which is also planned to be fitted to Volkswagen’s entry level Up city car to create a more affordable fuel miser, is mounted at the rear of the XL1’s cabin. Weighing just 227kg in all, it is based around a turbocharged 800cc two-cylinder common rail diesel powerplant that is mounted transversely and develops 35kW and 120Nm.

The efforts of the combustion engine are supported by a brushless electric motor mounted in the forward section of the new car’s seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, where it delivers 20kW and 140Nm.

Energy for the electric motor is provided by a 5.5kWh lithium-ion battery sited up front in the nose. It can be charged both via regular mains power or recuperated energy produced primarily under braking.

Together, the diesel engine and electric motor provide the hi-tech Volkswagen with a combined system output of 51kW and 140Nm, with drive delivered to the rear wheels.

Audi A6 Black Edition

 The black styling package consists of black finish styling cues on the interior and exterior of the car along with a lowered ride height to make the A6 Black Edition look sporty.

 The Audi A6 Black Edition gets the lowered suspension from the sporty S6 variant of the executive luxury sedan with rotor-design alloy wheels finished in dark titanium.

 The rear doors have dark glasses as do the rear quarter windows to add to the car's character

The Black Edition A6 gets black leather seats along with black headlining, Piano Black inlays complement the interior colour scheme

The Black Edition cars also get a BOSE surround sound infotainment system along with DAB digital radio and the Audi Music Interface for iPod connection

The Audi A6 Black Edition is available on front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models, engine options range from the 2.0 litre TDI engine onwards with the exception of the S6 model.

Toyota Launches Etios Diesel

Toyota Launches Etios Diesel

Etios Diesel is priced in the range of 6.44 lacs - 7.87 lacs ex showroom Delhi and is available in GD, GD (SP), VD and VXD grades



Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) further expanded the Etios product range by announcing the launch of the diesel variants of Etios and Etios Liva.



Etios Diesel is priced in the range of 6.44 lacs - 7.87 lacs ex showroom Delhi and is available in GD, GD (SP), VD and VXD grades



The vehicle is are powered with a refined 1.4 litre D-4D Common Rail Diesel Engine that generates maximum power of 68 PS @ 3800 rpm and highest torque of 170 NM @ 1800 – 2400 rpm.



The 1.4 litre D-4D Common Rail Diesel Engine with intercooler offers an ideal combination of driving performance and best- in - class mileage.



The high performance engine of the Etios provides flat torque leading to less gear shifting finally resulting in improved fuel efficiency.



The engine recorded a best – in – class mileage of 23.59 kmpl, as certified by accredited test agency



The vehicles similar to its petrol variants are being offered in a range of vibrant colours – Symphony silver, Serene Bluish Silver, Celestial Black, Harmony Beige, Vermilion Red, White and Ultramarine Blue (only in Etios Liva).



The exteriors and interiors of the petrol variant have been carried over to the diesel variant.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is the latest and lightest iteration of the French automakers line of ultra-premium, high-performance supercars, but it’s not just a svelte skeleton. She walks it like she talks it, this one. Last week it set the new land speed record for a production car at a face skin-stretchingly fast 268 mph.

What’s so different about this Bugatti as compared to its older sisters? For starters, it’s got a completely switched out body and frame made entirely of carbon fiber which shaved 110 pounds off of the total weight of the vehicle. They also made slight aerodynamic changes to the body style allowing it to cut through the air up to the above, shocking top speed.

It’s 16-cylinder engine can rip out 1,200 hp with 1,106 pound-feet of torque, and this powertrain is mated to the carbon frame and stiffer suspension than previous models which allows this sexy beast to generate upwards of 1.4 lateral Gs. The interior is austere, yet stylish, but all of this is going to cost you. The Veyron 16.4 costs $2,000,000.

Nissan to launch Micra in India soon

Japanese carmaker Nissan said on Tuesday it will launch its Micra small car in the Indian market in July from a plant in the south co-owned with its French partner Renault.
"We will produce 80,000 units of Micra in the first 12 months beginning in May," Renault Nissan Automotive managing director Akira Sakurai said, according to Dow Jones Newswires.
The Micra was unveiled earlier this year at the Geneva auto show.
The Franco-Japanese carmaking alliance on Tuesday confirmed plans for another small car in the future, with its local partner, motorcycle and scooter manufacturer Bajaj Auto.
"We have room for another product, a small car, with Bajaj. This would be not just for Indian markets but for emerging markets too," Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of Renault-Nissan, said.
"The Micra will be competitive in terms of price and features with other Indian cars," Ghosn told media at a press conference in Chennai, where the car will be manufactured.
"To compete in India one must manufacture and source components locally, and meet Indian consumer needs," Ghosn added.
Nissan sold between 200 and 300 cars in India last year, all imported.
India and its 1.2 billion-strong population is a huge draw because of the low number of car owners.
Several automakers including Ford, Toyota and Honda are in the race to launch small cars in India in the next two years, to rival the Tata group's Nano, dubbed the "world's cheapest car" at 100,000 rupees (2,200 dollars).
Just eight per 1,000 Indians own a car, compared with 550 per 1,000 in Germany and 495 in France.
The Indian auto market is forecast to triple over the next decade to six million cars a year from the current two million.

Most reliable cars of 2010

Most reliable cars of 2010

J.D. Power and Associates annual report on vehicle reliability was released today -- and the results may surprise Toyota owners worried over the recent recall news.

The Japanese automaker ranks at number four on J.D. Power's list, which is based on a survey of 46,000 original owners of new vehicles. J.D. Power and Associates explanation of its methodology.

"The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old (2006 model year) vehicles, has been redesigned to include 202 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle. Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles...with a lower score reflecting higher quality. The study is used extensively by vehicle manufacturers worldwide to help design and build better vehicles."

Which auto brand claimed the top spot? Check out


5 - Mercury

Despite its recent bankruptcy troubles, Ford claimed two places in the 2010 long-term vehicle dependability survey with Mercury ranking in at number 5


4 - Toyota

In the midst of Toyota recall mania, the survey still ranked the controversial automaker 4th in overall reliability. The maker took home the most nameplate segment awards going to Highland, Prius, Sequoia, Solara, and Tundra.


3 - Buick

Buick improved significantly in rankings and moved up to 3rd place from 6th in 2008. The survey found Buick owners less likely to replace car components than owners of other brands.


2 - Lexus

The luxury Lexus brand tied Buick for third place in three-year reliability. The survey also declared the Lexus LS 430 sets an industry standard for dependability with the fewest problems of any model.


1 - Porsche

JD Power and Associates crowned Porsche as the number 1 long-term dependable vehicle, beating out US and Japanese competitors.