Toyota is going to bring premium brand Lexus to India in 2013

To feed the growing appetite for luxury cars in India, Japanese auto giant Toyota will officially introduce its premium brand Lexus here in 2013 through fully imported route.

The company, which is present here through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, will set up separate exclusive showrooms for selling the cars and sports utility vehicles of the brand.

"Lexus is a premium and reputed brand of Toyota. We will introduce the models of this brand in India in 2013," Toyota Kirloskar Motor Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh told PTI from Tokyo.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The company, at present, is conducting a study in the market on formulating strategies to market the car, he added.

"The cars will be imported from Japan and will be sold as a completely built unit in India," he said.
When asked if the company has finalised the models and their respective tentative prices, Singh said it will be announced as soon as the market study is completed.

On marketing strategy, he said, "We will have separate showrooms for these vehicles in India."
Although the company has not officially launched the brand in India, some Lexus models, that are imported directly by individuals, are plying on the roads.

(Watch CNN-IBN live on your iPad. IBN7 and IBN Lokmat too. Download the IBNLive for iPad app. It's free.

Powered By :  http://ibnlive.in.com/news/toyota-to-bring-lexus-to-india-in-2013/206951-25-162.html

New Audi A7 Car Review

If Audi cars in India were all profiled in one brochure and you happened to be flipping through it, your reactions may have been something like this – “Smart and young, but familiar… flip… Good-looking and Sporty, but not big enough… flip… Stately and loaded, but nah… flip… Wow! What the heck?”That would be the A7 eliciting the pleasantly surprised ‘Can't believe I missed this before!' reaction.

  

Audi's car portfolio worldwide has had a healthy dose of eye-catching, adrenaline pumping additions during the last few years and its India garage has also been adequately endowed in the mean time to bust up the competition. But Audi's nomenclature tradition and hierarchical progression for its models might make you wonder if it is seeking solace in numbers – are the odds stacked against the evens or are evens also oddly successful? 

The fact is the numbers do represent a model hierarchy based on size and market position. Within that deck of cars, it is another matter all together that the Audi A7 manages to wriggle out of its slot box and create a whole new niche for itself. And mind you that is despite competition beating it to the market with cars like the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the BMW GT5 (5-Series Gran Turismo). 

Powered By :  http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/smartbuy/automobiles/article2650336.ece?ref=wl_companies

At the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo in January, Skoda Citigo will not be displayed

Skoda Citigo, a popular small car that was expected to hit the Indian roads in coming months, is not going to be launched in the Indian market anytime soon, as per a statement given by a senior company official, recently. The Skoda Citigo is expected to change the equation of small car segment, where it will be taking on with some of the best selling cars in India including Maruti Alto and recently Hyundai Eon.

The launch of the car is seems to have been postponed to give Volkswagen’s UP model a clear entry in the Indian market. The Skoda car parent Volkswagen car will be displaying its much talked about compact car UP at the upcoming Delhi international Auto expo, which will be followed by its launch in the country a few months later.

Skoda-Citigo

In a recent statement given to NDTV, a top Skoda executive said that the company will not be showcasing the car at the upcoming Delhi International Auto expo, where a number of car enthusiast were looking forward to take the first glimpse of this small car. This indicates that it will take more than a year time to hit the Indian roads.

The Citigo model will be featuring the same 1.0L engine which is available in the Volkswagen UP! with two different power versions at 59 Bhp and 74 Bhp, respectively.

Powered By : http://www.cartradeindia.com/car-bike-news/skoda-citigo-will-not-be-displayed-at-the-upcoming-delhi-auto-expo-in-january-114961.html

New face lifted Tata Nano to be launched next month

Tata Nano, the cheapest car in the country, is all set to be launched in an upgraded version in the Indian market by end of November 2011. This is the first ever serious upgrade from Tata’s side in Nano model since its launch in the country in March 2009.

The new face lifted Nano will be carrying a better performing engine with a 10 percent hike in the power, converting into a hike of 35bhp to 38bhp. An increase in the fuel economy is also expected. Moreover, a two cylinder engine and a more powerful 3 cylinder 900 cc engine are also expected to find place in the new Tata Nano variants.

2012 Tata Nano

source:Indian Autos Blog

The new 2012 Tata Nano model will be carrying a range of cosmetic changes at both exterior and interior fronts. The major changes in the new face lifted Nano include new seats and fabric, new headrest for front seats, a beige-colored dashboard, outside rear-view mirror for passenger side, new wheel-cap design and floor mats, etc. The car will be available in new exciting colors including pearl-white, orange and green.

However, the company is yet to make an official announcement regarding the launch of this new face lifted Nano in the Indian market. The pricing and other specification details of the car are yet to be revealed in the country.

Powered By :  http://www.cartradeindia.com/car-bike-news/new-face-lifted-tata-nano-to-be-launched-next-month-115055.html

The New Tata Nano diesel likely to be launched in India by March 2012

With the gap between the prices of petrol and diesel fuels is getting wider and wider, a large number of the car buyers in the country are looking forward to buy a diesel run small cars like Tata Nano. The Tata Cars sales counters across the country are receiving a considerable number of enquiries for the diesel version of the small car Tata Nano, which is expected to be launched in the country by the first quarter of next year.

Besides a new diesel engine, the new Tata Nano diesel is expected to be carrying a number of upgrades including better interior seat cushioning and upholstery with new color combinations, new exciting color options at exterior, anti-roll bar, improved suspensions system and Power steering.

Tata Nano

The new Tata Nano diesel is expected to be showcased at the upcoming Delhi international Auto Expo in the month of January 2012. The car is expected to drive high volume sales in the Indian market as price of petrol is continuously increasing.

The petrol version of Tata Nano model was launched in the country in March 2009 and since then it has been a roller-coaster ride for Tata Nano in the Indian market. The sales of the car dipped to mere 509 units a month in November 2010, after reaching a peak of 9000 units in July 2010. The launch of diesel variant will further strengthen the position of Nano model in the country.

Powered By : http://www.cartradeindia.com/car-bike-news/tata-nano-diesel-likely-to-be-launched-by-march-2012-115034.html

New Skoda Rapid coming in India

The Czech Republic based premium car maker Skoda Cars is all set to launch its new India portfolio sedan – Skoda Rapid in the Indian market on November 17th. Besides selling in India, the car maker is also looking forward to export the car to the overseas markets in future, from here. Skoda is expecting the Rapid sedan to drive high volumes for the company, and it would become the best selling India portfolio car of Skoda, even leaving behind the sales of premium hatchback Fabia.

Speaking to the reporters in Jaipur, Skoda Auto India Marketing Head Tarun Jha said, "This car is specifically designed for India and the launch will be the global launch for the car. At a later stage, it may be introduced in different markets across the world."

Skoda Rapid

According to Mr. Jha, the company has not decided anything about the exports yet as the car is meant for the domestic market. However, it may export the Rapid to some neighboring countries later.” "It may become the best-selling car for us in India. It may be a game changer for us," he added.

The Skoda Rapid will be rolled-out in the price segment of Rs 7 to 9 lakh, in both diesel and petrol versions, the car will be taking on with the likes of Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea, Nisan Sunny, Volkswagen Vento and Ford Fiesta.

Skoda is aggressively expanding its dealership network in the Indian market. The firm plans to take the total number of its dealerships to 100 dealers by the end of this year from existing count of 82 dealers

Powered By : http://www.cartradeindia.com/car-bike-news/skoda-rapid-coming-on-16th-november-114974.html

Honda's New Honda CR-V revealed in India

Honda's Japanese website has published images and specs of the production CR-V for 2012. The actual car will be shown at the LA Auto Show next month. The new CR-V is based on a completely new platform, according to Honda Cars.

What is completely new is the look - the jutting lower jaw has now gone, replaced by a much cleaner front. The grille has three horizontal chrome strips not unlike that of the Maruti Dzire (which has only two.) The basic silhouette remains the same, but the way the rear glass, roof and tail-lamp integrate are very reminiscent of Volvo SUVs. The dinner-plate wheels of the concept have been exchanged for more realistic rims.

On the inside, Honda claims that the interior has got even more spacious with a lower floor that should help those that use the boot a lot. The car retains upgraded versions of the 2.4-litre petrol and the 2.2-litre diesel: let's hope Honda brings the latter to India this time. The automatic gearbox might be a six-speed one this time, which should help aids both performance and economy.

Powered By :  http://www.oncars.in/Car-News-Detail/New-Honda-CR-V-revealed/1272