Triumph Motorcycles one of the iconic British brands that was resuscitated by John Bloor a few decades ago and since has been doing quite well, has targetted the Indian market. It is well known that India and China are the two countries where highest growth is expected in the future and that has meant that all manufacturers of consequence in the auto industry want to have a presence in these two countries. Triumph is actively considering getting into India, though the route is yet not very clear. There are have been such rumours in the past but it appears as if Triumph is serious this time around.
Yearly Archives: 2011
The governing body of two wheeler motorsport, the FIM has announced the names of six new teams in the MotoGP category as claiming rules teams (CRT). These teams are all presently in the Moto2 category and are considered to be the top teams. The press release from FIM states that these will be one rider teams. The names of the teams are
1. By Queresono Racing (BQR)
2. Forward Racing
3. Kiefer Racing
4. Marc VDS Racing
5. Paddock GP Racing
6. Speed Master
There is speculation that the first team in this list will in all likelihood use a Kawasaki ZX-10R engine while it is more or less confirmed that Marc VDS Racing will use a BMW S1000RR engine along with Forward Racing. The other teams engines are still not in the realm of speculation even while it is believed that at least a couple of teams will be using Aprilia RS V4 R engines. The list of factory teams is not yet announced with some problems in the category. It is rumoured that Suzuki is pulling out at the end of this year and that LCR Honda which is now a Honda Satellite team may become a CRT. Also Aspar may run two Ducatis instead of the present one. But perhaps the most exciting news is about Norton wanting to come in as a manufacturer. There are apparently some squabbles within the Norton management and FIM is waiting to sort those problems out before making the announcement about factory and factory backed satellite teams.
Wheelosphere.org is carrying pictures, real close ups of the soon to be launched Hyundai small car code named the HA. The car is supposedly an 800cc with some saying that it is being launched to take on the Maruti Alto while others say that Hyundai even has the Tata Nano in its sight. Whatever the case maybe the car is undergoing testing and has been caught on camera many times. What is strange about this new set of pictures is that the car is testing in another country (as confirmed by the registration plates) but in right hand drive configuration. The pictures seemed to have originated in Korea and then picked up by a Brazilian website. The water marking is the give away. Anyway have a look and enjoy.
Picture Courtesy Wheelosphere.org
Motorbeam.com is reporting that Garware Motors which is right now importing and distributing the Hyosung brand of motorcycles from Korea will also expand into a similar situation with cars. Motorbeam has also speculated that since most of the big manufacturers are already in India, the cars to be imported maybe from Subaru.
GM seems to have got its act together as far quality is concerned, since the JD Power surveys that are now considered the barometer for owner satisfaction have thrown up three awards for GM products, two of those going to the Chevrolet Spark for initial quality and for vehicle dependability and the third going to the Chevrolet Aveo U-VA for dependability. Both the models have been classified as being the “most dependable” in their respective segments while the Spark has also won the award for initial quality for the fourth time in a row.
UPDATE:
An unofficial cash discount of anywhere between Rs. 1.45 to Rs. 1.75 lakhs is available on limited stocks of the Honda Jazz. Do note that this has not been announced officially by Honda, and is being considered a ‘dealer’ discount to clear stocks. If you would like to purchase a Jazz at the reduced price, chances are slim. Enthusiasts from various cities report different deals, we suggest you get in touch with your local dealer for the same.
No concrete information has emerged on the would-be pricing of the face lifted Honda Jazz.
The internet is speculating (as is usually the case) about prices of the Honda Jazz being slashed now that the prices of the City have come down quite substantially. As it is the top variant of the Jazz is priced very close to some of the lower variants of the City and this is something that has always mystified people. The result of Honda’s pricing strategy is that the Jazz sells in a couple of hundreds every month. Now with the price cut of the City the pricing of the Jazz is a bigger issue and no wonder everyone is waiting for the announcement of price decrease for the Jazz. While everyone is doing that, we at Riot Engine have another take and that is what if Honda is considering pulling the plug on the Jazz altogether? Honda will be launching the Brio and in that context Honda may not want to keep the Jazz which is also a hatch but much bigger than the Brio. The Indian market has shown that the action for hatchbacks is in the Wagon R/Beat/i10 segment with bigger hatches not doing too well, especially if there is no diesel engine. The i20 bucks the trend due to the availability of a diesel engine. But the quintessential problem of the large hatchback segment is best articulated by the Chevrolet U-VA which has got great reviews from its owners so much so that JD Power Survey has seen it become the most dependable car but the sales numbers are falling to almost two digit figures. The lack of sales is attributed to the lack of a diesel engine by none other than GM India head honcho Karl Slym. So we think it could be curtains for the Jazz and not a price cut.
To be unveiled at the M Festival at the Nurburgring on the 23rd of June, the 2012 BMW M5 definitely looks the part. The M5 is distinguished from its subtler cousin by enlarged air intakes, quad tail pipes instead of two and 20 inch alloys.
Codenamed the F10 M5, this BMW M5 is powered by a twin turbo V8 which replaces the outgoing V10. Autoblog reports that the mill is good for 552 bhp at 6000 rpm compared to the V10’s 507 hp at 7750 rpm. Torque has been increased from 383 pound-feet to 501 pound-ft, all of which give the new M5 a 0-60 mph badge of 4.4 seconds.
Enthusiasts are also breathing sighs of relief over a 2012 BMW M5 that was spotted with manual transmission. Reported to be a six speed unit, it will drive the rear wheels through a dual clutch transmission.
Source: Autozeitung via Autoblog via Bimmerpost
Ooh, a hot hatch! It isn’t news that us Indians have a dearth of appealing ( financially of course, not aesthetically) performance cars. We are not here to tell you that, the situation is about to change. Nope, not happening. Hence without the bells and whistles and trumpets and drum roll, allow us to present the Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy. Presented here just to rile you up into turning into zombies, biting off the neck of every other human being in the vicinity and then rushing to Renault India and demand they bring something like this to India and price it equivalently with peanuts.
Limited to a production of 500 units, the R.S. Trophy tops the Mégane range and will be sold in the markets of in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia (?).
Mégane R.S. Trophy marks the introduction of a new Sirius Yellow finish, and this body colour is available as an alternative to Glacier White, Etoilé Black and Cassiopée Grey.
With maximum power of 265hp (up 15hp), peak torque of 360Nm (+20Nm) available across a particularly broad rev-band (3,000 to 5,000rpm), a power-to-weight ratio of 5.09kg/hp and specific power of 132.5hp/litre, the car boasts an exceptional performance package. Even so, Renault Sport’s engineers have worked hard on the specification of the Mégane R.S.’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine to take driving enjoyment and response to even higher levels. Maximum turbo pressure has been uprated to 2.5 bar (up 0.2 bar), while the air intake design has been revised to take the higher pressure and higher running temperatures into account.
The R.S. Trophy will be Renault’s fastest road car with a top whack of 254kph ( up 4 kph over the Megane R.S. ), 0-100 kph of 6 seconds ( down by 0.1s ). Renault claims that it just isn’t the numbers but the Trophy is a ‘constant source of enjoyment and satisfying sensations’. Okay, we look forward to that!
Renault Sport models are offered in two choices, the ‘Sport’ Chassis or the track honed ‘Cup’ chassis which comes with a limited slip differential. The R.S. Trophy also has a new tyre fitment which contributes to the car’s handling. The design of the Formula 1-inspired Bridgestone Potenza RE050A’s asymmetric, directional tread pattern and the form of its tread blocks provide outstanding grip, stability and acoustic comfort. The R.S. Trophy is also slightly more frugal than the R.S., saving 0.2 litres/100km.
Distinctive design features of the Mégane R.S. Trophy would be its black roof, specific decals, new rear lip spoiler, 19-inch Gloss Black STEEV wheels with red piping and R.S. valve caps and numbered plaque. The LED daytime running lights are shared with the R.S. as well as the R.S. Monaco GP.
Recaro bucket seats, as expected are standard and are offered in fabric or leather trim depending on the market. The central display shows data provided by the R.S. Monitor. This innovative onboard data-logging system records performance and displays a range of mechanical parameters in real-time, a feature which owners will especially appreciate during track days. Well we have two tracks here in India, not counting the Buddh Circuit. The car will be on show at Renault Sport Day which forms part of the Renault Sport Enthusiasts Day programme at the Nürburgring, Germany, on June 17, 2011.
The buzz on the internet suggests that the Volkswagen Jetta could be launched on the 17th of August, 2011. This will be the new model that has a face that is in line with the new VW identity. Test mules of the latest model have been spotted in different parts of the country and therefore it does appear as if the news on the internet is correct.
The proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and India has auto manufacturers in India worried because that would mean that there would be a drop in duties and cars would become cheap to import, obviating the necessity to have assembly operations into which they have invested. Ratan Tata however believes that with the exception of his own Tata Motors and Mahindra, no other car maker including Maruti and Hyundai develop cars in India or make them specifically for India. He says all the existing operations are only assembly operations that benefit India in no great way. He is therefore for the reduction of import duties. We think this argument of Tata is perhaps not without some logic but it has a downside as well.