Fiat Linea : coming shortly........

Some of the Biggies in auto industry launched their well-packaged family sedans to draw in the fancy of the Indians. It was Honda which came in with its City and then Ford introduced the Fiesta. Hyundai joined the race too and its Verna became instantly popular. The latest entrant in this segment has been Maruti which has hit the Indian roads with the hot-selling “SX4....man are back”.!!!!

Fiat on the other-hand has been miserable as far as sales chart and success in India is concerned. The Italian brand tried its hand at the C-segment with Siena and later Petra. Both did not sell.

Now, with the new alliance in place in form of the JV with Tata, Fiat is thinking big for this segment. Thinking big in the shape of Linea.

The Fiat Linea has been designed from dot by Fiat Style Centre. The main objective was to design a sedan which would appeal to all. So the car had to look organized yet elegant, and even Sporty, if possible! Which the Linea manages to look with self-possession.

Fiat Linea will be available in two versions. A 1.3-litre multi-jet diesel that already powers the Swift could come in as an entry-level diesel option which will be complemented by a 1.4L diesel and 1.4 petrol option. Linea will be priced in range of Rs. 6 – 8 lakhs.

Flowing lines. Unmistakable Italian design, durable materials, Best-in-class technology.
Put together all these features and there you have the new Fiat Linea.

New 7-series from BMW

BMW is set to launch its new 7 Series by the end of this year.


For this time BMW has developed a host of gadgets in-house. These include lane change and lane departure warnings, infra-red night-vision camera, park assist cameras on the side, radar, and a head-up display, which tells the driver everything he needs to know.

The BMW engineers have spared no imagination in loading the latest 7 with everything your heart desires. The rear seats are ventilated and have 12 massaging bubbles, there’s an in-built 8 GB hard drive for your music, four-zone climate control, concierge service, and an automatic emergency dialling system in case of an accident.

The company is clear it does not want to lose the essence of the ultimate driving machine. Variable damping and modes for the engine and suspension, which include comfort, normal, sport and sport+.

Three engine options – a 3-litre straight-six diesel, a 3-litre straight-six petrol, and a 4.3-litre V8 petrol – power this car. While the big petrol gets the 7 to 100kph in 5.2 seconds, the diesel is pretty quick too, managing the 100kph sprint in just 7.2 seconds. And it’s environmentally friendly too; the diesel engine is claimed to produce just 192 grammes of CO2 per kilometre. BMW has pioneered what it likes to call Efficient Dynamics; the battery is charged under braking, and the alternator disconnects during acceleration, thus providing better performance, fuel economy and lower emissions.




Prices will start north of Rs 60 lakh, and the car will be in showrooms before the year is out.

Force India joins hands with McLaren Mercedes.

Force India signed a five year deal to form a technical partnership with McLaren-Mercedes .

McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa tests for a Force India.

"We are absolutely delighted to be able to announce a technical partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies and Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines, ,"
said chairman and managing director of Force India Vijay Mallya.

The multi-year deal will see the team's 2009 car - the VJMO2 - powered by Mercedes engines, in an agreement which includes the marque's Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) and will give Force India access to McLaren's network of parts suppliers. The car will also be fitted with a McLaren gearbox and hydraulic systems.

McLaren and Mercedes-Benz are two of the most famous names in motorsport history having achieved superb success in Grand Prix racing over many years, and most recently, a superb victory in probably the most dramatic world championship Formula One has seen.

"Force India Formula One team has been in existence for only one year, and certainly our first season has constituted a learning period," said Mallya.

Jazz is coming to town!!!!

The automobile giant Honda is all set to introduce their Honda Jazz car in India.

And you don't have to wait decades to get a test drive of the car.
Honda Jazz will launch as early as February 2009.

Honda was encouraged by the lower excise duty on small cars and decided to prepone the launch of Honda Jazz, the company's global hit. The Honda Jazz has a great sporty look and plenty of power as well.

Honda president and CEO Takeo Fukui, here for the inauguration of a unit at the company's upcoming second plant, said the Jazz was coming in early "in view of the importance of small cars in India and the enthusiastic response to the car at the January Auto Expo in Delhi."

But if you are thinking that the car would be cheap, think again. The Honda Jazz will launch at a heavy price. You'd have to shell out Rs 5 lakh to own the Jazz. On the bright side, Honda Jazz would turn out cheaper than the Skoda Fabia.

Honda’s new mini car ......."LIFE"

Hi Friends....Now Honda Also Entered Into The People’s Car Competition.

Honda motor co., ltd. launched its all-new LIFE in Tokyo Japan and rolled out in Japan from November 7.

We will see LIFE on Indian roads by next year. The mini car is equipped with turbo-charged 660 cc engine and to drive front wheel. This mini car could the next people’s car in India.

Customers may select from three life variations

1) the life g-type is simple, modern and practical,

2)the life diva is perky and sporty,

3)the life pastel is refined, elegant and fashionable.

Continuing a tradition of superior comfort and utility, the new life offers enhanced drivability and is the first minicar in Japan to include an audio system with a backup camera as standard equipment.The life is also the world’s first automobile equipped with a driver-side i-srs airbag system with continuously staged inflation, which accommodates a broad range of occupant positions and potential collision situations.

The all-new life was developed with the concept of “daily smile technology” to achieve a level of drivability and utility customers can enjoy in their everyday lives. Based on this concept, Honda evaluated every aspect of the vehicle from the customer’s point of view to develop a minicar that will put a smile on the customer’s face every day.

New IKON...josh machine is back

The ageing Ikon gets its second face-lift.

it was launched in 1999. In 2003 Ford had revamped the interiors, with better trim and more equipment, while the exterior got a new grille and bumpers. This time around, the external changes are more substantial with new lights, a reshaped bonnet and a more aggressive-looking bumper that has completely transformed the front of the car.

The new Ikon range offers significant improvements ranging from a new advanced DuraTorq TDCi engine offering superior fuel efficiency through to the fresh, bold European design cues. The new Ikon also boasts a freshened exterior design with distinct European cues. From the sharper new hood design and striking new headlamps to the all-new front bumper with its larger lower grille and European design cues, the new Ikon presents a fresh face but one that is instantly recognisable.

Ford India brings to market a new Ikon with superior fuel efficiency from its diesel engine. Ford introduces the advanced 1.4-litre DuraTorq TDCi engine in the new Ikon to complement the current 1.3-litre petrol engine, offering consumers the choice of two of the best powertrains, tailored to suit Indian driving conditions.

IKon 1.3 Racom :-

Starting from Rs. 4.59 Lakhs
(ex-showroom Delhi)
Petrol Rocam Engine
5 Speed Manual

IKon 1.4 DuraTorq TDci:-

Starting from Rs. 5.19 Lakhs
(ex-showroom Delhi)
1.4 Duratorq Diesel
5 Speed Manual

Lewis Hamilton.....F1's Youngest World Champion

Lewis is world champion
Lewis Hamilton became Formula One's youngest ever world champion by finishing fifth in an incredibly dramatic rain-affected Brazilian Grand Prix.

"It's pretty much impossible to put into words," a clearly emotional Hamilton said of his victory.

Felipe Massa won the race for Ferrari and looked set to take the title until McLaren driver Hamilton slipped past Timo Glock's Toyota and into the crucial fifth place at the final corner of the very last lap.

The start was delayed by ten minutes after a brief, but heavy, downpour hit Interlagos just before the mechanics were due to clear the grid.

Although the sunshine returned within a few minutes, the first half of the track was left very wet, so the whole field took the start on intermediates.

Well done Lewis, you deserve all you have achieved. Congrats.

Toyota Fortuner ........making its way to India.

The long-awaited Toyota Fortuner is finally making its way to India. The Toyota was waiting for the face-lift, which has just been launched in Thailand. The headlights and grille merge into one another, while at the rear, clear lenses have been used for the tail-lamps. The rest of the car remains unchanged.

Toyota will assemble the Fortuner at the Bidadi plant from completely-knocked-down or CKD kits. Only one engine – a 3.0-litre D-4D diesel from the same family as the Innova – will power the car. This unit produces 163bhp, but more importantly 35kgm of torque, since it has to shift the Fortuner’s considerable 1.8-tonne bulk. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, with the option of four-wheel -drive. In future, a four-speed automatic may also be on the cards.

The interiors are a plush place to be, and the Fortuner promises to provide very refined driving dynamics. It will be available fully loaded with climate control, AC vents for all three rows of seats, and a 2-DIN audio system with steering wheel-mounted controls. Coil-spring suspension at all four corners promises to provide a comfortable ride and sure-footed handling. The Fortuner can pack in seven people and their luggage, although the last row is best reserved for kids or Fido.

As with every product in India, pricing is key, and the Fortuner should retail for Rs 18 lakh, on-road. On specifications and price, its most obvious competitor will be the Ford Endeavour Thunder+, but don’t be surprised if it makes a dent in CR-V and Captiva sales as well. This is an SUV which promises to be a pucca off-roader, people-carrier, and soccer mom wagon all rolled into one. Toyota has ambitious plans to sell 5,000 units a year in India, and to achieve this target, it will have to fulfil all these roles.

First Drive.......The New A-Star

This is the car that Maruti hopes will challenge the Hyundai i10. Known as the Maruti A-Star in India, as it will not replace the Alto here, the car for the Indian market will also have wind down windows and other modifications made to it.

Power comes from the same 67bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine however and it’s suspended by MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear. And although it’s only a smidge over 3.6-metres in length, it’s full sized five-door. The car’s standout attribute is the car’s surprisingly slippery drag co-efficient of 0.30

For a start, it’s a much better-looking thing than the small Suzukis we’ve known before. The oversized headlights, prominent radiator grille and the added ‘wedge’ to the car’s bodyside give it a modern, cheeky look, and an abundance of visual appeal.

The new Alto’s cabin isn’t quite as funky, but it’s not far off the class standard. There’s plenty of room, even for six foot-plus occupants, but the driving position could be improved by a steering wheel that adjusted for reach.

At urban speeds and above the Alto displays good rolling refinement, absorbing mid-sized bumps with plenty of quiet composure and good damping. It steers a little oddly; the stability-enhancing dead zone engineered into the system around the straight ahead position feels a little too wide. But there’s no arguing with the car’s turning circle of just 9.0 metres, perfect for urban driving conditions

While the Alto doesn’t quite feel as upmarket or sophisticated as some cars of its size, but there can be no doubting that Suzuki has produced a robust, good-looking, practical, and cheap-to-run car. I'll update the test drive of Indian version more thoroughly later this month, so watch this space for more on the Alto.