Japanese automaker Nissan is trying to make up for lost time — by putting its Indian plans into top gear. By 2012, the company plans to roll out nine models in India, where passenger car production is projected to cross 3 million units in 2014-15. Currently, the Indian car market is of over 1.2 million units.

Out of the nine models that the company plans to roll out, five will be produced from the company’s Chennai facility, while the rest will be completely built units. The Oragadam plant in Tamil Nadu, with a capacity to manufacture 200,000 units, was set up at a cost of Rs 4,500 crore along with Renault, the French carmaker.

The company plans to employ to about 3,000 people for the facility, up from 700 now. Terming India as "one of the most important and strategic markets for Nissan", the company said that the Chennai facility would also be an export hub.

Nissan holds 6 per cent market share globally and is aiming to garner the same amount in the Indian market. It also plans to scale up the number of its dealerships to 55 by 2012, up from just 11 today.

On October 1, the auto major released sketches of its next global small car, which will be produced in five countries, including Thailand, China and India. Destined for 150 countries, the small car will be the first to roll out of the company’s Oragadam plant in Tamil Nadu by April-May 2010.

"We plan to have a total of nine models in the Indian market by 2012, of which five would be made in India," Nissan Motor Co Vice-President Colin Dodge told reporters during a round table conference.

The company is trying to keep the costs of its small car low through increased sharing of parts and components with Renault. Industry sources estimate that the small car will be priced at Rs 4-5.5 lakh, to take on the likes of Hyundai’s i10 and Maruti Suzuki’s Swift and Ritz head-on.

In a press release, Nissan Motor India Managing Director and CEO Kiminobu Tokuyama said, "It is a proud moment for us today as we reveal the first sketch of our global compact car. We are confident that the car which will be manufactured locally in Chennai will delight the discerning Indian customers. We are serious and committed in our plans for India and are all excited as we gear up for the start of production in May 2010."

As part of its strategy to offer more variants to the Indian customers, Nissan Motor will also launch a new sports car — ’370Z’ — in India in 2010. Hover Automotive India (marketing partner of Nissan, India) Vice-Chairman G M Singh said, "Though the market for sports car in India is limited now, but we think over a period of time, the market for such cars will increase."

Currently, Nissan has introduced two models — luxury sedan ‘Teana’ and sports utility vehicle ‘X-Trail’ — for the Indian market, priced between Rs 21 and 25 lakh.
Incorporated in 2005 as a 100 per cent subsidiary of Nissan Motor Company, Japan, Nissan Motor India first introduced the Xtrail in 2005 and Teana 2007.

The Chennai plant will also manufacture Renault’s compact cars. This will help the French auto major to cut product development expenditures.

Renault and Nissan’s decision to launch their own compact cars is independent of a tie-up with Pune-based motorcycle maker Bajaj Auto to develop a low-cost car that is expected to debut in 2011. A formal joint venture agreement is yet to be signed among the partners, though work on the small car is progressing at a slower pace.

Renault SA, France’s second largest car maker, owns 44 per cent in Nissan Motor Company, Japan’s third largest car maker, and the Japanese giant owns 15 per cent in Renault.

Source: India Syndicate

Japanese automaker Nissan is trying to make up for lost time — by putting its Indian plans into top gear. By 2012, the company plans to roll out nine models in India, where passenger car production is projected to cross 3 million units in 2014-15. Currently, the Indian car market is of over 1.2 million units.

Out of the nine models that the company plans to roll out, five will be produced from the company’s Chennai facility, while the rest will be completely built units. The Oragadam plant in Tamil Nadu, with a capacity to manufacture 200,000 units, was set up at a cost of Rs 4,500 crore along with Renault, the French carmaker.

The company plans to employ to about 3,000 people for the facility, up from 700 now. Terming India as "one of the most important and strategic markets for Nissan", the company said that the Chennai facility would also be an export hub.

Nissan holds 6 per cent market share globally and is aiming to garner the same amount in the Indian market. It also plans to scale up the number of its dealerships to 55 by 2012, up from just 11 today.

On October 1, the auto major released sketches of its next global small car, which will be produced in five countries, including Thailand, China and India. Destined for 150 countries, the small car will be the first to roll out of the company’s Oragadam plant in Tamil Nadu by April-May 2010.

"We plan to have a total of nine models in the Indian market by 2012, of which five would be made in India," Nissan Motor Co Vice-President Colin Dodge told reporters during a round table conference.

The company is trying to keep the costs of its small car low through increased sharing of parts and components with Renault. Industry sources estimate that the small car will be priced at Rs 4-5.5 lakh, to take on the likes of Hyundai’s i10 and Maruti Suzuki’s Swift and Ritz head-on.

In a press release, Nissan Motor India Managing Director and CEO Kiminobu Tokuyama said, "It is a proud moment for us today as we reveal the first sketch of our global compact car. We are confident that the car which will be manufactured locally in Chennai will delight the discerning Indian customers. We are serious and committed in our plans for India and are all excited as we gear up for the start of production in May 2010."

As part of its strategy to offer more variants to the Indian customers, Nissan Motor will also launch a new sports car — ’370Z’ — in India in 2010. Hover Automotive India (marketing partner of Nissan, India) Vice-Chairman G M Singh said, "Though the market for sports car in India is limited now, but we think over a period of time, the market for such cars will increase."

Currently, Nissan has introduced two models — luxury sedan ‘Teana’ and sports utility vehicle ‘X-Trail’ — for the Indian market, priced between Rs 21 and 25 lakh.
Incorporated in 2005 as a 100 per cent subsidiary of Nissan Motor Company, Japan, Nissan Motor India first introduced the Xtrail in 2005 and Teana 2007.

The Chennai plant will also manufacture Renault’s compact cars. This will help the French auto major to cut product development expenditures.

Renault and Nissan’s decision to launch their own compact cars is independent of a tie-up with Pune-based motorcycle maker Bajaj Auto to develop a low-cost car that is expected to debut in 2011. A formal joint venture agreement is yet to be signed among the partners, though work on the small car is progressing at a slower pace.

Renault SA, France’s second largest car maker, owns 44 per cent in Nissan Motor Company, Japan’s third largest car maker, and the Japanese giant owns 15 per cent in Renault.

Source: India Syndicate

Maruti Suzuki India is all set to launch a new version of their SX4 sedan. This new model would come powered with a 1.6 liter engine. Maruti Suzuki aims to price this model competitively as it would compete in this segment with rival models like Honda City. This new engine is Bharat Stage 4 compliant. The car would feature improved exteriors and enhanced interiors. Maruti Suzuki is said to have roped in John Abraham as the brand ambassador for this new model.

The first, the SX4 DDiS, is powered by Fiat’s acclaimed 120PS 1.9 litre diesel engine which is characterised by punchy performance and excellent flexibility. The intercooled and turbocharged unit’s peak torque of 280Nm is delivered at just 2,000rpm, and output is fully exploited by a new 6-speed manual transmission to give fuel consumption of 44.8 mpg (Combined), while still turning in a 0 to 62 mph figure of 10.6 seconds. Emissions are similarly low, helped by a standard diesel particulate filter.

The second model, the SX4 1.6 GLX 4GRIP, introduces Suzuki’s all-new i-AWD (intelligent-All Wheel Drive) technology in combination with the 107PS 1.6 litre VVT (variable valve timing) petrol engine. This latest SX4 can stretch a gallon of fuel over 39.8 miles (Combined), while 0 to 62 mph is dispatched in 11.5 seconds.

i-AWD is a selectable 4×4 system, offering three alternative modes. In 4WD-Auto, the SX4 4GRIP operates as a front-wheel drive vehicle for much of the time, but as soon as there is pronounced front wheel slip, torque is also delivered to the rear for greater stability. 4WD-Lock mode allows full traction up to around 40 mph, before automatically switching over to the 4WD-Auto mode for smooth cruising. The third option, 2WD mode, enables fuel economy to be maximised.

Finally, the recent introduction of an automatic option for an additional £850 on the 1.6 GLX model means the full SX4 line-up is now as follows:

Maruti Suzuki India is all set to launch a new version of their SX4 sedan. This new model would come powered with a 1.6 liter engine. Maruti Suzuki aims to price this model competitively as it would compete in this segment with rival models like Honda City. This new engine is Bharat Stage 4 compliant. The car would feature improved exteriors and enhanced interiors. Maruti Suzuki is said to have roped in John Abraham as the brand ambassador for this new model.

The first, the SX4 DDiS, is powered by Fiat’s acclaimed 120PS 1.9 litre diesel engine which is characterised by punchy performance and excellent flexibility. The intercooled and turbocharged unit’s peak torque of 280Nm is delivered at just 2,000rpm, and output is fully exploited by a new 6-speed manual transmission to give fuel consumption of 44.8 mpg (Combined), while still turning in a 0 to 62 mph figure of 10.6 seconds. Emissions are similarly low, helped by a standard diesel particulate filter.

The second model, the SX4 1.6 GLX 4GRIP, introduces Suzuki’s all-new i-AWD (intelligent-All Wheel Drive) technology in combination with the 107PS 1.6 litre VVT (variable valve timing) petrol engine. This latest SX4 can stretch a gallon of fuel over 39.8 miles (Combined), while 0 to 62 mph is dispatched in 11.5 seconds.

i-AWD is a selectable 4×4 system, offering three alternative modes. In 4WD-Auto, the SX4 4GRIP operates as a front-wheel drive vehicle for much of the time, but as soon as there is pronounced front wheel slip, torque is also delivered to the rear for greater stability. 4WD-Lock mode allows full traction up to around 40 mph, before automatically switching over to the 4WD-Auto mode for smooth cruising. The third option, 2WD mode, enables fuel economy to be maximised.

Finally, the recent introduction of an automatic option for an additional £850 on the 1.6 GLX model means the full SX4 line-up is now as follows:

This is what Ford’s new car for the Indian market looks like. It’s fresh and attractive – a sure shot recipe for success indeed. We take a closer look… 

 
First glance reveals a rather familiar design for the Figo – and if you think you’ve seen it before, blame it on the C-Max. Yes, the car has a face that is extremely similar to the large hatchback that Ford unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show and sports the Blue Oval’s distinct design personality. All the way from the uniquely shaped headlights down to the front grille, the face is the representation of new Ford models throughout their product portfolio. In many ways in fact, it even harks back in visual similarity to the Ford Ikon as well.

The overall design is rather chunky and muscular with neat accents and details all around. The flared wheel arches and the kink running between them front to back ad a strong sense of character. The rear is rather pretty too with the vertically stacked tail lamps and shapely rear window. All in all, the Figo isn’t an overly radical design – it is in keeping with large hatches available from other manufacturers in the country – which is a good thing. The Indian populace should find ready acceptance to the design. Interiors seem fresh as well from the little that the released images show.

This is what Ford’s new car for the Indian market looks like. It’s fresh and attractive – a sure shot recipe for success indeed. We take a closer look… 

 
First glance reveals a rather familiar design for the Figo – and if you think you’ve seen it before, blame it on the C-Max. Yes, the car has a face that is extremely similar to the large hatchback that Ford unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show and sports the Blue Oval’s distinct design personality. All the way from the uniquely shaped headlights down to the front grille, the face is the representation of new Ford models throughout their product portfolio. In many ways in fact, it even harks back in visual similarity to the Ford Ikon as well.

The overall design is rather chunky and muscular with neat accents and details all around. The flared wheel arches and the kink running between them front to back ad a strong sense of character. The rear is rather pretty too with the vertically stacked tail lamps and shapely rear window. All in all, the Figo isn’t an overly radical design – it is in keeping with large hatches available from other manufacturers in the country – which is a good thing. The Indian populace should find ready acceptance to the design. Interiors seem fresh as well from the little that the released images show.

Ford has just launched an online customizer for the 2010 Mustang, and it’s darn fun to play with. You can choose from a variety of hoods, louvers, scoops, spoilers, grilles, wheels, stripes, and pretty much everything else you can put on the exterior of a Mustang. You can even decide the size of your Mustang’s burnout and even put down some rubber on the pavement.

We went with a monochrome look on our dream ‘Stang, adding a Roush body kit, shaker hood, billet grille, 20-inch chrome wheels, and more.

 PRICING & AVAILABILITY

*Starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, including destination/delivery charge, excluding taxes, title and registration fees. Optional equipment not included. 

Ford has just launched an online customizer for the 2010 Mustang, and it’s darn fun to play with. You can choose from a variety of hoods, louvers, scoops, spoilers, grilles, wheels, stripes, and pretty much everything else you can put on the exterior of a Mustang. You can even decide the size of your Mustang’s burnout and even put down some rubber on the pavement.

We went with a monochrome look on our dream ‘Stang, adding a Roush body kit, shaker hood, billet grille, 20-inch chrome wheels, and more.

 PRICING & AVAILABILITY

*Starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, including destination/delivery charge, excluding taxes, title and registration fees. Optional equipment not included. 

The most interesting automobile to hit the “market” of incredible prototypes that actually work is the BMW H2R Record Car. You wouldn’t think a hydrogen car could do so much, but this is not just an electric car.

She’s a fine example of German craftsmanship combined with the latest technology in the field of alternative fuel sources and it was built with the intention of setting new records in hydrogen performance.

After spending incredible amounts of time, money and energy to spearhead the production of hydrogen-powered vehicles, the result is worthy of the name BMW. The groundbreaking result set nine world records and proved that hydrogen has the best chances to become the fuel of the future.

The exterior design is as futuristic as the general theme of the car. Having smooth lines, aerodynamic design and gleaming silver body, it looks more like a
marine predator from the future. The car has a lightweight aluminum chassis, a monocoque aluminum space frame and an outer skin composed of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic.

This gives her a superb stability and a truly impressive top speed, with a greatly appreciated support from the 245/40/19 tires and from the suspension system, which uses a double-wishbone, spring-strut front axle, rack-and-pinion steering, forged-aluminum track control arms (with two ball joints for superior wheel guidance and directional stability), a tie bar and an anti-roll bar.

Technical specifications are also remarkable, as she uses a 6-liter V12 liquid-hydrogen-powered engine, generating 232 horsepower. This technological wonder can propel the car to a top speed of over 187 mph (301 km/h) and makes her accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 6 seconds, which is quite a performance for most cars using the classical internal combustion engines.

The H2R attained world best times and speeds for a hydrogen-powered car in the flying-start kilometer, flying-start mile, standing-start 1/8 mile, standing-start 1/4 mile, standing-start 1/2 kilometer, standing-start mile, standing-start 10 miles, standing-start kilometer and standing-start 10 kilometers.

But the most important thing about this car is the fact that she singlehandedly proved that clean and energy-efficient cars are not only an illusion, but the reality of tomorrow, as it only takes a bit of willpower to make nature smile and breathe easy.

The most interesting automobile to hit the “market” of incredible prototypes that actually work is the BMW H2R Record Car. You wouldn’t think a hydrogen car could do so much, but this is not just an electric car.

She’s a fine example of German craftsmanship combined with the latest technology in the field of alternative fuel sources and it was built with the intention of setting new records in hydrogen performance.

After spending incredible amounts of time, money and energy to spearhead the production of hydrogen-powered vehicles, the result is worthy of the name BMW. The groundbreaking result set nine world records and proved that hydrogen has the best chances to become the fuel of the future.

The exterior design is as futuristic as the general theme of the car. Having smooth lines, aerodynamic design and gleaming silver body, it looks more like a
marine predator from the future. The car has a lightweight aluminum chassis, a monocoque aluminum space frame and an outer skin composed of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic.

This gives her a superb stability and a truly impressive top speed, with a greatly appreciated support from the 245/40/19 tires and from the suspension system, which uses a double-wishbone, spring-strut front axle, rack-and-pinion steering, forged-aluminum track control arms (with two ball joints for superior wheel guidance and directional stability), a tie bar and an anti-roll bar.

Technical specifications are also remarkable, as she uses a 6-liter V12 liquid-hydrogen-powered engine, generating 232 horsepower. This technological wonder can propel the car to a top speed of over 187 mph (301 km/h) and makes her accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 6 seconds, which is quite a performance for most cars using the classical internal combustion engines.

The H2R attained world best times and speeds for a hydrogen-powered car in the flying-start kilometer, flying-start mile, standing-start 1/8 mile, standing-start 1/4 mile, standing-start 1/2 kilometer, standing-start mile, standing-start 10 miles, standing-start kilometer and standing-start 10 kilometers.

But the most important thing about this car is the fact that she singlehandedly proved that clean and energy-efficient cars are not only an illusion, but the reality of tomorrow, as it only takes a bit of willpower to make nature smile and breathe easy.