Maruti Suzuki India Limited has launched a new limited edition version of its slow-selling Zen Estilo hatchback in Ahmedabad. The launch of this variant is aimed at boosting sales of this not so successful product of Maruti’s lineup.
The Estilo Sports variant only possesses certain visual enhancements over the regular top end Estilo VXi. The sports variant has body colored Outside Rear View Mirrors (ORVM’s), full wheel covers and a roof mounted spoiler as the extra external embellishments. On the insides, the sports variant gets art leather seat covers, a steering wheel cover, an MP3 music system with Auxiliary input and USB, along with two speakers.
Ford has redefined the small car segment in India and the Figo has taken the market by storm. With over 21000 bookings at hand, Ford is starting a second shift at their Chennai plant to meet the growing demand. This demand also comes from the overseas markets and Ford has also started exporting the Figo to potential countries like South Africa. Besides the Figo, Ford is also exporting engines to Thailand from their base at Chennai.
“We have recently started exporting diesel and petrol engines to Thailand. The monthly demand there is around 3,000 units” Michael Boneham, MD, Ford India. With a 40 percent increase in the number of dealerships across India, Ford is firmly establishing itself into a league which is ruled by Maruti Suzuki. The company is also exploring venues outside India where they can launch the Figo.
Ford has got it absolutely right when it comes to impressing the small car buyer and the Ford Figo has been an outright success in the already overcrowded small car segment. Even the Maruti’s could not stop the Figo and Ford has managed to sell 16000 Figo’s since its launch 14 weeks ago. Thats about a little more than 163 cars per day, a feat in itself.
Ford has already delivered 16000 Figo’s and has more than 21000 bookings at hand. Ford is beefing up its production capabilities with another shift starting next month to meet the soaring demand. One of the reasons for Ford’s success is that the Figo is available in a diesel engine unlike the Chevrolet Beat, Hyundai i10 and Maruti WagonR & Estilo. Even the Nissan Micra, poised for a launch next month, will not be offering a diesel engine initially.
The Nissan Micra has met with moderate success as 400 bookings were registered within two weeks of the car’s debut at showrooms. Before you compare this achievement with Figo’s or Fortuner’s number, remind yourself that Nissan sold about 300 cars last year and is recognized in India only as a small commercial vehicles manufacturer (Alwyn-Nissan trucks). Add to that the fact that Nissan only has 11 dealerships across India compared to 100+ Ford or Toyota outlets.
The Nissan Micra is already in production and and with its launch coming up next month, Nissan India announced Ranbir Kapoor as their brand ambassador at a press conference in Mumbai today. Television adverts featuring Ranbir will be aired from 10th June. The Micra will be available in 4 petrol variants and a diesel option will be announced shortly.
The Micra is being manufactured at the Nissan plant in Chennai and the first batch of exports will begin by September. The Nissan Micra is the first in the segment to have the i key and push button start/stop, both features seen only in high end luxury cars. Booking are open and Nissan aims to build its brand image with the Micra in India. Nissan is currently known in India for top end cars such as the Teana, X-trail and 370Z.
Chevrolet India is planning to launch the Beat Diesel in India by March 2011. GM India has announced the manufacturing of 1-litre diesel engines from their Talegaon manufacturing plant which will be doing duty for the latest hot hatch Beat. The engines will start rolling out from this facility early next year, pretty much when we can see Beat Diesel on sale. The plant will also be manufacturing 1.2 Litre gasoline engines, which will be introduced at the end of this year. Company is also planning to increase production of two of their cars – Beat and Cruze to meet the customer demands.
Here is what General Motors India Vice-President (Sales, Marketing & Services) Ankush Arora had to say, “The one-litre diesel engine will be rolled-out from Talegaon early next year for our small car, Beat.We are planning to increase the production of Cruze to 900 units from the current 600 units and intend to raise production of Beat units to 4,000 from the present 3,300 units.”
The Tata Nano Superdrive reached Mumbai on Saturday and was well greeted by Mumbaikars. It was seen at prominent Mumbai landmarks such as Bandra Worli Sealink, Haji Ali and Gateway of India. The 15000 km Tata Nano Superdrive was started on the 2nd June at Sanand, Gujarat, to celebrate the opening of Tata Nano’s new plant.
Tata is all out to prove that the Nano is a safe and reliable car and though a few cases of fire may have ‘burned’ the Nano’s image, the 15000 km long Superdrive is a way of answering critics, who are weary of the cars reliability and safety. The Nano’s will be covering this collosal distance divided into three groups and each group will follow a different route covering 36 cities in all. During this drive, the Nano’s will encounter diverse terrains and extreme conditions, which will be a test for the ‘Worlds Cheapest Car’. The Superdrive will conclude at Mumbai on 28 June.
Maruti Suzuki celebrated its fifth anniversary of the Swift in India on May 25, 2010. To commemorate this, Maruti organised three large, individual parades of the Swift in three cities – Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. The aim of the parades was to smash the Guinness record for the most number of single-make cars in a controlled environment. Japanese car manufacturer Mazda bagged this record back in 2005 with 249 MX-5s parading in a park in New Zealand.
On May 30, 2010, Maruti officially broke the record with 342 Maruti Swift at Gurgaon’s Leisure Valley Complex. In each of these three cities, hundreds of Swift owners along with their families joined and interacted with fellow car owners. Incentives for the participants included free fuel and free service/accessories coupons for Swift owners.
Though the number of Swifts gathered at Mumbai and Chennai far exceeded that of Delhi, it was a tiny catch that disqualified the parades held in these two cities. The Guinness rules strictly states that all the participating cars must carry out the entire parade in a formation of two rows. As the temperatures soared at Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex and Chennai’s Sriperumbudur track, frustration and more so agitation appeared to have set in with the drivers – which lead to the breaking of this rule. Unfortunately this automatically disqualified the parades held in Mumbai and Chennai.
Volkswagen India & JK Tyres flagged-off the inaugural race of the Polo Cup India 2010. The first round in Pune saw a full grid with 20 drivers competing on the 2.15km long specially designed street circuit. The tight circuit with a mixture of 90 degree corners and narrow long straights meant overtaking was difficult, and the similar spec cars din’t help either. But the drivers gave their best shot. Qualifying was the key to winning the street race and Sailesh Bolisetti, winner of both the Round 1 races, did exactly the same.
After the race Sailesh Bolisetti said; “I enjoyed the race and it was a great experience. The track was difficult but not dangerous and our cars have the best safety features available for a saloon race car on our tracks.” Karthik Shankar, who had two podium finishes said, “It’s an amazing feeling. It was my first race on a street circuit and first time in a saloon car. On such a circuit you need 100% concentration at all the times. One blink and you may end up in the barriers.”
He adds, “Even the slick tyres were different from the ones we use for other Formula cars in India. They perform well when new, but the drop in performance and grip in the later stages of the race is noticeable. You have to take care of your tyres.”
The spectators too had a feast watching the Polos thrown into the corners at high speeds and later with the stunts performed by Hari Singh – the multiple National Rally Champion – and VW’s driver coach, Ronny Wechselberger. At the end, with immense on-track action and excellent response from the spectators, it was a spectacular race weekend that marked the beginning of a new era in the history of motorsport in India.
After the race Sailesh Bolisetti said; “I enjoyed the race and it was a great experience. The track was difficult but not dangerous and our cars have the best safety features available for a saloon race car on our tracks.” Karthik Shankar, who had two podium finishes said, “It’s an amazing feeling. It was my first race on a street circuit and first time in a saloon car. On such a circuit you need 100% concentration at all the times. One blink and you may end up in the barriers.”