We are currently updating our systems and will update you with the latest very soon
The Xylo is coming!
December 11, 2008
Mahindra and Mahindra’s brand new multi-purpose vehicle, Xylo, will be launched on the 13th of January 2009. Much to the excitement of everyone here at vroomindia, the Xylo is expected to be M&M’s new champion and will be touted directly against Toyota’s Innova. We had all expected the launch to be in December but M&M decided to postpone the unveiling to January next year.
All Hail the Hayabusa!
December 11, 2008
It couldn’t get any better for bike enthusiasts in India. Suzuki recently unveiled its suberbike, the 1300 cc Hayabusa along with the 1800 cc crusier Intruder M1800R on Indian roads. These ultimate machines are priced at 12.5 lakh each. That price may burn a pretty large hole in some pockets, but for true bikers the Hayabusa exemplifies speed, muscle and pure, unadulterated power. It’s enough to make your legs go all wobbly just by looking at it. We at vroomindia can’t get over all the oomph packed in this bike.
The Hayabusa has had a tremendous fan following the world over since its launch in 1998. This meanie can touch a dizzying speed of 300 km/h thanks to a 1,340cc liquid-cooled in-line 4-cylinder engine that produces 197PS of power and 154Nm of torque.
Suzuki Motorcycle India states that this is just the beginning of their super bike presence in India. More models are planned for the future. Bring ‘em on, we say!
We’re BACK!
December 9, 2008
It has been a quite a while since the Vroomindia news team updated this section of the website and we sincerely would like to apologise for our abrupt silence. The reason is that we all have been putting in an extra number of hours upgrading, fine tuning and tweaking every small detail of this website, just so that you when you log on to vroomindia.com, you have the best services and much more simply at the click of your mouse. Our news and reviews section will continue, from now on, to provide you with an honest analysis of all the news and developments in the automobile industry. So rev up your mouse and get set to vroom around this exciting new vroomindia.com. GO!
Industry woes!
December 9, 2008
Although we have been busy upgrading vroomindia.com, we have watched with baited breath as the automobile industry experiences a roller coaster of constant ups and downs. The journey has been more downward (plunging is more like it!) than upward for most part of it. Falling sales, inventory pile ups and production cuts seem to have become the order of the day and have been mainly due to banks clamping down on auto loans and high interest rates. As a result, many who work in the automobile industry have lost their jobs or have suffered pay cuts.
November figures for most car manufacturers were dismal. Maruti reported a drop of nearly 27%, while Mahindra & Mahindra suffered a fall in sales to an extent of 41%. Tata Motors saw volumes for commercial vehicles drop by 40%. Two-wheeler companies too were subjected to a similar fate (except for Hero Honda, who expects to end the year with an increase of 16% over revenues from last year). Some analysts believe that the downturn may continue in to 2009 and until banks do not make loans more affordable. It’s a game of wait and watch.
Good news at last! Used cars get cheaper.
December 9, 2008
Finally, there’s something to cheer about! The Government has announced a 4% excise duty cut across the board to boost demand. Car makers have decided to pass on this benefit entirely to consumers. Maruti, Hyundai, Toyota and two-wheeler companies such as Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motors have all announced price cuts on their vehicles.
But what’s even more exciting is that used cars prices are expected to fall a whopping 20-25%. Believe it or not, you will now probably be able to buy cars like Maruti Zen, Hyundai Santro, Fiat Palio, Tata Indica, Maruti 800 and sedans like Maruti Esteem, Tata Indigo and Fiat Sienna, that are between four and eight years old, for less than Rs 1 lakh.
Ford launches a new variant Endeavour
Ford India launched a new version of the Ford Endeavour on Wednesday. The new variant is called the Ford Endeavour Navi Gear and is equipped with a new GPS navigation system, in- car chiller / warmer and a 5th door convext mirror.
Hyundai is 10 and announces plans with its i10!
Hyundai celebrated its 10th birthday in India recently. Celebrations were kicked off with attractive schemes and promotions and announcements of plans for the future. Unarguably, Hyundai has achieved tremendous success across car segments in India. The i10, launched in October last year, has definitely been a sensation in its category. Taking cue from this, Hyundai is now studying the US car market carefully and assessing the alternatives of launching the i10 there.
The US car market is vastly different from the Indian car market. What is considered a big car here, comes under the small car category in the US. Nonetheless, Hyundai is confident that rising fuel prices will spur a demand for small cars and the i10 will gain acceptance there. Marking the occasion, Hyundai flagged off the i10’s trans-continental drive from Delhi to Paris. The car will be exhibited at the Paris Motor show later this year.
Hyundai also announced its plans of launching the new i20 in India. Production is expected to begin later this year. Let’s hope it keeps getting better and better!
All that glitters…..! India’s demand for luxury cars is on the rise.
While many of us squirm and cringe at the thought of rising prices and are making desperate attempts to save every paisa, there is a small but growing group of people who are on the lookout to splurge more and more on their cars. This group is the young and glitzy of India, with rising disposable incomes and even faster escalating aspirations of acquiring the best. We’re still lagging behind in our demand compared to Russia and China, but the gap will soon close in.
India has not always been very receptive to luxury cars. In the past, there was this general belief to save rather than splurge, so luxury cars didn’t really find a place for themselves here. Indian royalty, however, did own some luxury beauties, but that’s a different story. Today, luxury car makers in India are expecting an 80% jump in sales from last year – a steep incline that is expected to continue for sometime. New entrants, Audi and BMW, will be laughing their way to the bank for hopefully many years to some.
What’s in a Name? Maruti’s A-Star to have 3 different names globally.
Here’s an interesting piece of news from the Maruti stable. Apparently, Maruti’s new car, completely made in India, will be available around the World under 3 different names. In India, the car will be called ‘A-Star’. In Europe, the car will be marketed by Suzuki Motors and will be called ‘the new Alto’. Maruti is contract manufacturing this car for Nissan Motors and as a result, the car will also be called ‘Nissan Pixo’.
According to some reports, the new ‘A-Star’ in India will be pitted against the Hyundai i10, Fiat Palio and Tata Indica Vista in the premium small-car segment in India. Internationally, the Pixo and the Suzuki Alto will compete against Toyota Aygo. Manufactured at the Maruti Suzuki plant in Manesar, Haryana, the new car of multiple avatars will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show next month.
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