HONDA AT SECOND POSITION IN INDIAN TWO WHEELER MARKET

HONDA ACQUIRED SECOND POSITION IN TWO WHEELER MARKET

Honda motorcycle and scooter India private limited (HMSI), the only Honda in Indian 2 wheeler industry, has overtaken Bajaj Auto in both domestic and overseas sales in July to claim the second position.

At present HMSI have wide range of bikes and scooters in India HMSI is having Activa, Activa-i, Aviator, CB Shine, CB Trigger, CB Twister, CB Unicorn, CB 1000R, CBF Stunner, CBR 1000 RR, CBR 250 R, CBR 150 R, DIO, Honda Dream Neo, Honda Dream Yuga.

With this large number of products Honda is serving ant catering the needs of all generations and income groups, recently Honda has launched light and zippy version of Activa which is Activa-i which will be a straight competition with Hero Pleasure and TVS wego and all others in same range.

Not only this, Honda came up with Dream Yuga bike which will be a direct competition with legends which are Splendor and Passion. Honda Dream Yuga is powered by 109cc single cylinder air-cooled engine which churns out 8.25bhp at 7500rpm and 8.63Nm of torque. The engine is mated to four-speed constant mesh gearbox which has all-up gearshift pattern. The motorcycle has telescopic suspension in the front and 5 step spring loaded suspension at the rear and features 8 litre fuel tank. The company recently updated the motorcycle with a 2013 variant which features the Honda Eco Technology (HET). With a claimed fuel efficiency of 72kmpl, the motorcycle can travel for approximately 576kms on a single tank. It gets 18 inch allows wheels and tubeless tyres at both, front and rear. Which makes it ahead of all other competitors.

HMSI had earlier overtaken Bajaj Auto in domestic sales. The monthly sales, declared on Thursday, put HMSI July numbers at 287, 177 units, its highest ever sales in its 13 years of Indian operations. Of these, 147,635 units were motorcycles and rest (139,542 units) scooters.

Company officials said the 35per cent growth in motorcycle sales had powered it ahead of scooter sales for the first time. HMSI had started its business in India with a scooter portfolio to tap the market that had virtually no major players and entered the fiercely competitive motorcycle market later. 

Scooter sales grew by 8 per cent. Sources said demand for the 'Dream series' motorcycles had led to the sales surge, enabling HMSI to overtake Bajaj Auto in domestic as well as international market. HMSI domestic market share is 24per cent. Highlighting the company's performance in July 2013, YS Guleria, HMSI vice-president (sales and marketing), said, "Honda has created a new chapter in its Indian operations with three new records. In July 13, Honda have achieved highest ever sales, highest domestic market share of 24per cent and also became second largest player in domestic and export sales in two wheeler industry.

This is largely attributed to the overwhelming demand for Dream series and the increase in production with start of second production line at the third factory in Narsarpura, Karnataka."

BMW 750-li

BMW 750-li

If BMW’s philosophy for the 3-series is “the best sports sedan we can make,” the strategy for the 7-series may well be “just cram in everything we have.” But it’s been a long four years since the current 7 was introduced, and in the meantime BMW has acquired, invested in, developed, built, or invented so much more, er, stuff. It’s all headed for the 7-series this summer, along with some very subtle visual changes.

New Engines for Everyone, Except the Billionaires

Other than the V-12–powered 760Li, every 7-series model will see significant upgrades to its powertrain. The 750i (and long-wheelbase 750Li) still use a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8, but BMW has added Valvetronic—its variable valve timing and lift system—to this engine. It helps pump up output from last year’s 400 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque to 445 and 480.

The six-cylinder 740i and 740Li models also were sent to the operating room, emerging with the newer version of BMW’s turbocharged inline-six underhood. Power and torque stay at 315 hp and 330 lb-ft, but BMW says it expects the single-turbo N55 engine to improve upon the fuel economy of the outgoing twin-turbo N54. BMW has replaced virtually every N54 in its lineup with the N55 during the past year or so, but we haven’t noticed major fuel-economy improvements in the cars we have tested.

Every 7-series model—yes, even the V-12 cars—now features an eight-speed automatic transmission in place of six-speed boxes. There are some other, less-headline-worthy upgrades: The eight- and six-cylinder cars now have standard stop-start systems to shut down the engine when the car is at a standstill. A self-flagellation system, called “Eco Pro,” has been added to the range of Driver Dynamics Control settings; it has the power to transform an ordinary 7-series into a Prius, strangling throttle response and shutting off the heating or air conditioning while stopped. Eco Pro also decouples the engine from the rest of the driveline when coasting at speeds between 30 and 100 mph. Finally, all-wheel drive now is available on the long-wheelbase version of the six-cylinder 7-series. In the past, it was offered just for the 750i and 750Li.

Hello, Different Hybrid System

The outgoing 7-series hybrid was not a winner. It was often unpleasant to drive, and was positioned more like Lexus’s LS600hL, aiming to give V-12 performance with V-8 consumption. BMW has binned the whole system for the 7, fortunately, and the new ActiveHybrid 7 seems to make more sense. This new gas-electric setup—available only in long-wheelbase configuration—is essentially the same as is used in the hybrid versions of the 3- and 5-series, pairing the N54 twin-turbo inline-six to an electric motor and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Combined output is 349 hp and 367 lb-ft of torque, down from the previous hybrid’s 455 hp and 515 lb-ft. Fuel-economy ratings aren’t out yet, but BMW says that in European testing the hybridized 7-series delivered a 14-percent improvement over a six-cylinder 740i.

Suspension, Steering, and Everything Else

There are, quite frankly, so many mechanical modifications and new gadgets for the refreshed 7-series that we’d need to buy a new computer server to list the rest of them. Here are some selected highlights:

● Active Roll Stabilization now is standard on the 760Li and continues to be optional on the rest of the range; it aims to mitigate body roll through active front and rear anti-roll bars.

● A self-leveling rear air suspension is now standard across the board; such a suspension was previously available only on long-wheelbase eight- and twelve-cylinder models.

● Adaptive LED headlights are now available and come standard on the 760Li; these replace the adaptive xenon headlights.

● The iDrive navigation and infotainment system has been updated to the latest spec.

● BMW’s Parking Assistant now is available; this feature uses ultrasonic sensors to find a parking space large enough for the 7 and handles steering the car into the space. You know, if you’re afraid of parallel parking.

Subtle Cosmetic Changes

Excluding models with the full-LED headlights, the new 7-series looks at first glance the same as last year’s 7er. There are, however, some changes. The kidney grilles are revised and more upright, and BMW has performed a major upgrade by adding vertical slats. The lower part of the front fascia also has been redesigned, with a wide opening giving the 7 more of an anthropomorphic face.

Inside the 2013 7-series, very little has changed. BMW describes the front seats as “more slender” than before and several new color and trim combinations find their way onto the options sheet. The roofline of the long-wheelbase models has been tweaked just slightly, which BMW says adds half an inch of headroom in the rear. A Bang & Olufsen sound system is now optional.

In India it is priced at INR 1.29 crore (Ex-Showroom New Delhi) 

2014 Mercedes S Class

The New Mercedes S Class In India

The S-class is Mercedes-Benz’s flagship. A great battleship of a limo that sits at the top of its range - it promises lavish comfort, the highest levels of safety, incredible refinement and a combination of first-rate build quality and truly astounding luxury features. And because many are owner-driven in other markets, it drives and steers beautifully too.

The big question however is, just how much has Mercedes taken the game ahead over the already very capable outgoing car? Mercedes also has a new mission plan for the new S-class. Not only does this new car have to take on competition from the likes of the BMW 7-series, the Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ, an extra long wheelbase version will take on Bentley and Rolls Royce too. To get it up to this new level, Merc has allegedly stuffed it to the brim with tech that would have gone onto the still-born new Maybach

As a result, the biggest change is on the inside, which is good, because if there was one area that the earlier car was weak in, it was the cabin. Comfort levels were already brilliant on the outgoing car and so was build quality and materials used; brilliant, not a word used loosely here. But this car takes things to the next level. The insides are a fantastic blend of traditional leather and wood craftsmanship and the latest digital tech. Think of it as a sort of a perfect, no compromise harmony between something like a Bentley and an Audi. Also present is an elegant simplicity to the dashboard, which neatly wraps around into the doors, with plenty of chromed vents and massive screens on the instrument panel that can be configured to display just about anything.

The thrones in the front are simply massive and legroom at the rear is surplus as well. 

There’s actually 14mm more shoulder room than its predecessor up front, and the rear has 14mm of extra space for your knees as well. The rear-seat configurations include a ‘First Class’ set-up where the seat can be seriously reclined and you also get a pillow-like padded headrest, ‘lazy boy’-like pop out support for your thighs and airliner-like full-sized fold-out tables. There’s a hot stone massage function, an active perfuming system and a Burmester audiophile grade audio. New safety features include a rear belt bag, which incorporates an airbag within the seat belt strap, night vision and radar cruise control with an automatic braking function as options. Connectivity has also been upped with a WLAN Hot Spot unit that now forms part of the multimedia system.

Under the hood of the S500 there’s a new refined 448bhp turbocharged V8 with a velvety shift quality. When you are cruising, the gearbox upshifts quickly and revs drop down below 2000rpm for truly tranquil fast-lane progress. It is also capable of incredible bursts of acceleration with 100kph coming up in 4.8 seconds from standstill, very quick for a car of this size. The long gearing and fantastic stability also allow it to cross massive distances effortlessly, all the while pampering its occupants with low levels of noise and fantastic ride comfort. The S-class uses a new system known as Magic Body Control that features twin-cameras that look at the road ahead and adjust the suspension before the car actually gets to the bump. The new S also gets an active suspension system known as Active Body Control (ABC) that keeps body roll in check with the help of sensors mounted in the wheel arches.  

Ride quality is also helped by the greater rigidity of the chassis. The new body shell of the S-class now features an outer skin made from aluminium and the internal structure uses aluminium in combination with hot-formed high-strength steel. Offsetting the slight increase in weight is a dramatic increase in rigidity, which goes a long way to smoothen out the ride.

Also, class-leading are the aerodynamics of the car. A drag coefficient of just 0.24 is impressive for a car of this size, with the S300 BlueTec Hybrid dropping down to an even more efficient 0.23 thanks to adjustable louvres in the cooling system, extensive underbody panelling and detailed work on the wheel houses.

Initially, it doesn’t that impressive from behind the wheel. There is a bit of vagueness at low and medium speeds from the steering and it does have a tendency to wander over heavily cambered roads. But up the pace and the car tightens up impressively, the Active Body Control keeping the car level as you scythe through corners with the confidence of a GT.

We also drove the new 350 diesel. This car gets the same V6 engine as its predecessor, with slightly more power and torque. Acceleration, as expected, is brisk, and there's plenty of torque for that initial punch. It feels super smooth on the inside and, for the most part, feels inaudible too. You only get a bit of gruffness when you pull the engine hard, which is a bit of a shame on a car like this.

While not as visually arresting, the new S-class blends elegance with a sharp, new edge to its design. The body of the car is more sculpted, visually more compact and less stretched out. The grille is more prominent and larger and the headlights are more angular. The dimensions of the car, however, are quite similar to the car it replaces. The best bit is that Mercedes has managed to maintain a consistency in the styling all the way from the A-class to the S-class. 

The new S-class is big step forward for Mercedes. Much more limo than large saloon, it features a vastly superior cabin, an up-to-the-minute electronics suite and levels of comfort currently only seen on competitors from Rolls Royce and Bentley. No, the diesel engine doesn’t feel like a massive step forward and the now ageing seven speed gearbox could have been improved further too. But apart from that, even at an expected price of Rs 1.05 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the S350 Diesel and Rs 1.20 Crore for the S500 petrol, this is probably the best car in the world.

Source:- Autocar India

Wagon R Stingray

A Whole New Wagon-R Is About To Rock Indian Roads

Maruti is all set to launch a sportier looking WagonR here called the WagonR Stingray. The WagonR Stingray will sit above the current WagonR. The carmaker has taken this initiative in order to draw back attention to the brand. 

The Maruti WagonR Stingray will come with different styling up front and at the rear. The front gets a cleaner and sportier look with slim headlamps which may house projector-beam units, a flat bonnet and a slimmer grille and an all-new bumper with a bigger air dam. The side-profile of the car is expected to remain the same as the current WagonR. The rear is unique to the Stingray in the form of slimmer tail-lamps with clear-lens units and an all-new bumper that houses the number plate. The Stingray will get alloy wheels as well. 

Indian Cars: 30th anniversary of BMW diesel engine.

Indian Cars: 30th anniversary of BMW diesel engine.: BMW diesel engine is now 30 years old  30 years back, BMW presented its world first diesel powered car, 524td sedan for the buyers...

30th anniversary of BMW diesel engine.

BMW diesel engine is now 30 years old 

30 years back, BMW presented its world first diesel powered car, 524td sedan for the buyers. The diesel version of the vehicles were regarded as the noisy and more suited to the commercial vehicles like trucks than sporty sedans, but the regular price hike and oil crisis forced the German auto maker to add one diesel engine to its 5-Series. The BMW had done enough to convince people about its first diesel car performance, and as time passed it added good fuel economy, long service life to the vehicles along with the typical BMW's sporty feel.

The BMW engineers opted for a straight six power unit, boosted by a turbocharger. The 2.4-litre engine is capable of developing 113bhp of top power and 210Nm of top torque, which was considerably high for a diesel engine in 1983.

This engine first powered the 524td, which was shown for the first time at the 1983 Frankfurt Auto Show. The BMW 524td was the fastest diesel production car of its time, accelerating to 100kmph in just over 12 seconds, and attains a top speed of 180kmpl. The vehicle claimed to offer a fuel efficiency of 14kmpl. Since then we have witnessed many advancements in diesel engines, and 5-Series continuously ruling the market. 

Indian Cars: Sketch of BRIO based Honda LMPV

Indian Cars: Sketch of BRIO based Honda LMPV: Sketch of Honda LMPV Honda Motors has released the sketches of the Brio-based MPV in Indonesia. The event was managed by Honda R&D...

Sketch of BRIO based Honda LMPV

Sketch of Honda LMPV

Honda Motors has released the sketches of the Brio-based MPV in Indonesia. The event was managed by Honda R&D Asia Pacific team in Thailand along with P.T Honda R&D Indonesia. Tagged as an ‘LMPV’ (Low Multi-Purpose Vehicle), the sketches of the car show a low-slung roof on an elongated wheelbase.

“Consumers in Indonesia had the honor to be the first time the world saw live performances Honda LMPV Concept at Indonesia International Motor Show starting on 19 September 2013. We believe this model will be a new option that can compete with models in its class,” said Jonfis Fandy, Marketing and After Sales Service Director PT Honda Prospect Motor.

The styling is robust yet slick, especially the headlights and the grille. So the snout is uncannily similar to the Brio/Jazz. The car sits nicely on an elongated wheelbase. Large inlets in the front and rear bumpers and a kink in the window line have been used to give a symmetric look to the vehicle. The large wheel arches also add to the aggressiveness. The refreshed rear wheel arch with its central ridgeline is meant to grab attention. The D-pillar lies just above the shoulder line.

“Honda LMPV Concept will be a special product for Honda in Indonesia because it is specifically designed to suit the needs of consumers and the character of the road in Indonesia. Honda LMPV Concept will also be produced in Indonesia, and became the first product of the new Honda factory in Karawang which we plan to begin operations in early 2014,” said Tomoki Uchida, President Director of PT Honda Prospect Motor.

The Brio-based MPV is expected to be launched in India by late 2014 or 2015. It will go up against the likes of the Mahindra Quanto, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and the Datsun GO-based MPV that is expected to launch in Indonesia in late 2014, coming to India later on.

Source:- http://overdrive.in/news/sketch-of-new-honda-brio-based-mpv-released-in-indonesia-coming-to-india-in-2014/

Indian Cars: Ambassador got No.1 position amongst all taxi's......

Indian Cars: Ambassador got No.1 position amongst all taxi's......: Ambassador Ranked As No. 1 Taxi In World  It may have lost out to the more modern competitors from Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Toyota an...

Ambassador got No.1 position amongst all taxi's....

Ambassador Ranked As No. 1 Taxi In World

 It may have lost out to the more modern competitors from Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Toyota and Honda but the good old Ambassador car, that once ruled the roost in India, has just been voted as the world's best taxi by global automotive programme Top Gear.

In a show, which is being aired on the BBC, Top Gear's executive director Richard Hammond organised a world taxi shootout in which Ambassador emerged a winner, beating competitors from all over the globe.

"The winner was India's virtually indestructible Hindustan Ambassador," UK-based motor museum Beaulieu, where the 'World of Top Gear' featuring vehicles from some of the most ambitious challenges are also showcased, said in a statement.

This particular example proved just how enduring the Ambassador really is when it saw off rivals from Britain, America, Germany, South Africa, Mexico and Russia to be named the world's best taxi, it added.

The Hindustan Ambassador started life in Britain as the Morris Oxford but, with a quick name change, it went on to become one of India's most enduring vehicles.

"It's (Ambassador) so tough that, although it now lives in World of Top Gear, with a quick wash and brush up, it could be back in service tomorrow probably," the statement said.

In 1948, CK Birla Group firm Hindustan Motors Ltd began the production of the Ambassador at Uttarpara in Hooghly district, West Bengal.

Till the arrival of the Maruti in the early 80s, the Ambassador was the status symbol in India. Gradually it lost out to various global competitors when it came to personal usage but continued to be the favourite vehicle for government officials and also in the taxi segment.

In the recent past, its sales in both the segments have shown a decline and in 2012-13, the Ambassador sold a total of just 3,390 units. This fiscal, it has sold only 709 units in the April-June period.