Lamborghini Veneno Geneva Motor Show 02

Lamborghini’s latest exotic powered by the Aventador’s 6.5 litre V12 is the new Veneno. Veneno is a 1914 Spanish fighting bull, one of the strongest, fastest and most aggressive. Veneno became popular in 1914, when ‘he’ fatally wounded the famous bullfighter torero José Sánchez Rodríguez.

The 6.5 litre V12 makes 750 hp in the Veneno with 0-100kph of time of 2.8 seconds and a top whack of 355 kph. Only 3 units, each priced at a cool 3 Million Euros will be made available to customers for purchase, and Lamborghini says, they’ve all been sold and will be made and delivered in 2013.

The Veneno has a carbon fibre reinforced polymer monocoque while the front and rear subframes are aluminium.All exterior parts are made from CFRP. The headlamps take Lamborghini’s usual ‘Y’ theme to the extreme and it continues towards the rear.

The engine cover has six wedge-shaped openings which extends into a large central ‘shark’ fin, which increases downforce at the rear.

While only 3 units have been sold, Lamborghini has actually made 4 Venenos. Only one Veneno, which is on display sports all three colors of the Italian flags. The other Venenos will have one color each!

Lamborghini Veneno Geneva Motor Show 01

The Hyderabad edition of The Hindu dated 4-3-2013 has carried a story that Mahindra is on the verge of signing an agreement with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to set up a manufacturing facility for its proposed small car in Zaheerabad of Andhra Pradesh.  It must be noted that Mahindra already has a manufacturing facility there, something that happened when the company bought out the Allwyn-Nissan factory which manufactured the Cabstar LCV.  Mahindra makes its range of commercial vehicles including three wheelers, school buses and also the Bolero Camper.

On the 6th of March, Mahindra will announce a new tractor making unit at Zaheerabad and this product is supposedly for the export market.  The Hindu says that the AP Government has succeeded in luring Mahindra to also set up its small car project at Zaheerabad and that it has given it sops for the same.  A formal announcement is likely to come on the 6th of March when the tractor unit will be inaugurated.  If this news is indeed true Andhra Pradesh could finally get a car manufacturing unit that has been eluding it constantly.

Peugeot, Tata (for the Nano), BMW have considered Andhra Pradesh as a location for their factories before choosing other places.  Royal Enfield also announced a plant in AP before moving to Tamil Nadu.  It was reported that Isuzu had zeroed in on AP for its plant but the company has denied that and has said that AP is one of the many sites being evaluated by Isuzu.

MV Agusta F3 675 Justin Bieber

Jeremy Bieber wanted to gift Justin the ‘most prestigious motorcycle’ in the world, he got in touch with Motovan, the official importer for MV Agusta in Canada. News filtered up the ranks and MV Agusta’s President Giovanni Castiglioni and Motovan Corporation’s President James Paladino became involved.

“I would like to thank MV Agusta and Motovan as it has been a pleasure to work with them on this very special project. Their quick response for the delivery of this exclusive Italian motorcycle gave us the time needed to personalize the F3 675 into what it is today” said Jeremy Bieber.

The pop star’s father hired Canadian designer Lucent AC to customize the F3 675 with illuminated symbols including ‘Batmobile’ and of course the iconic Bat silhouette.

The motorcycle will be on display for the first 2 weeks of March at “The Museum” (www.themuseum.ca) in Kitchener, Ontario, just outside Justin Bieber’s hometown.

Opinion on MV Agusta’s special treat for Justin Bieber will of course be polarized. While fans will go Bat-shit-crazy about Justin’s second motorcycle, middle aged men who can afford these Italian exotics and are probably the majority of MV Agusta’s clientele will probably be indifferent to this publicity effort. Justin owns a Ducati 848 EVO finished in black and has been spotted without proper riding gear for which, and other reasons has been labelled a ‘squid‘ in a story in Hell For Leather.

Mahindra XUV at the 11th Auto Expo 2012

“SUVs occupy greater road and parking space and ought to bear a higher tax,” is Chidambaram’s point. The Finance Minister has proposed a excise duty hike of 3% for SUVs & MUVs, raising the excise duty from 27% to 30%. The Toyota Innova, Mahindra XUV, Tata Safari Storme and the likes should see a sticker price rise by anywhere between Rs. 15,000 o 30,000. SUVs/MUVs registered as taxis will be exempt.

The good news is that the Ford EcoSport, Premier Rio and the Renault Duster will be safe from these price rises by virtue of their dimensions or by being powered by a 1.5L diesel engine.

“Singling out SUVs destroys the level playing field. Sad, one has to find to fight harder to succeed in one’s own country,” Mahindra & Mahindra chairman Anand Mahindra said. He also questioned the logic of penalizing vehicles that carry more people per car than smaller hatchs. Nice point Mr. Mahindra, but let’s not forget the number of SUVs driven around by single individuals.

“As far as the automotive industry is concerned, the budget did not meet the expectations. We were expecting the roll back of the excise duty imposed last year. Some of the other announcements made by the finance minister for manufacturing, R&D activities, regulatory authority to monitor road projects, focus on skill development etc should enhance the competitiveness of the Indian industry.” said Lowell Paddock, President & Managing Director, General Motors India.

“We welcome the focus on infrastructure development, social benefits for inclusive and sustainable growth in the country. The investment allowance to boost the manufacturing sector is a positive move. The automobile industry is a significant contributor to India’s economy and future growth potential. We are disappointed that there is very little in the budget that will help boost consumer confidence and revive growth. It is a missed opportunity to introduce measures that would have revived industrial growth significantly. As we all know the automotive industry has been going through very challenging times, we are disappointed with the increase in the excise duty for SUVs.” said Joginder Singh, President and Managing Director, Ford India.

“The auto industry was expecting reduction in excise across all vehicle segments to combat the current crisis. The 10-year Auto Mission Plan has also been talking of a favourable excise regime for the industry. Notably, cut in excise duty from 12 % to 8 % had helped the auto industry in somehow bearing the brunt of the 2009 downturn. Nothing of the kind has happened this time. Thankfully, the excise hike is limited to SUVs.” said Mr. Uttam Bose, MD, Hindustan Motors Ltd.

Jaguar XJ Ultimate Unveiled Beijing 04

“Increase in Custom Duty for imported cars and Excise Duty on SUVs is very surprising. It will severely impact the auto industry and its growth. We will have to seriously evaluate the impact of this hike on our prices and, have no choice other than to pass on the increase to the customer.” said Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India who also gave the budget a cheeky 3/10 rating!

The FM has decide to increase duty on imported cars to 100% from 75% and for imported motorcycles (of 800cc capacity) to 75% from 60%. Duty on second hand vehicles ( right hand drive, not older than 3 years) has been raised to 125% from 100%.

Subsidy for electric cars will stay around until 31st March 2015. This should be good news for Mahindra REVA.

“We are not happy with the move and this will have an impact on our operations as well as profitability,” Sandeep Singh, Deputy MD at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said.

While all these announcements are geared to motivate companies to invest in India and locally manufacture/assemble the vehicles, the Indian automotive industry needs more reassurance from the Government especially with regard to the fuel pricing policy. Ford seems to have circumvented this issue by adopting a highly flexible production line that enables them to manufacture more number of diesel/petrol engines based on demand. Harley Davidson has also taken the plunge by adding the Softail variants to its already substantial line up of motorcycles assembled in India. We wonder what’s in store for the enthusiast in India.

Ford Ecosport Production Version Coming To India 20

Top Gear India is reporting that the Ford EcoSport is all set for a March 4th debut in Delhi. Top Gear also goes on to say that the only reason the EcoSport has been delayed until now is that the management has been waiting for the Union Budget, too see if it had anything good or maybe something shocking, for the automotive industry.

Ford dealers say prices of the EcoSport base petrol will start at around Rs 5.99 – Rs 6.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) while the diesel could start between Rs 6.99-Rs 7.25 lakh. Ford hopes to keep prices of the top end diesel below the 10 Lakh mark for multiple reasons.

The speculation thread on Team-Bhp also has a discussion brewing on the how probable this report is, considering Top Gear hasn’t mentioned the source of the news. The discussion also involves a Facebook post by a Ford dealer in Rourkela who again mentions a 1st week of March launch.

Land Rover ZF 9HP 05

Land Rover has been chosen as lead partner by South Carolina based ZF to build the world’s first 9-speed automatic transmission. Increasing the number of gear ratios from six to nine improves fuel economy significantly, with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions. Smaller ratio steps give ‘improved response during acceleration, improved shift quality, drive and refinement’ says Land Rover.

The lowest ratio in the 9HP is much lower than that of the existing six-speed transmission and is specifically designed for off-road use, towing and more extreme on-road conditions like gradients and altitude. Another welcome addition is the ability of the ZF 9HP box to skip-shift when downshifting, something the current six speed was not able to. This will paste a smile on your face when you down shift rapidly.

Land Rover ZF 9HP 03

the ZF 9HP is also a clever auto box, capable of adapting to the mood of the driver. The transmission sharpens up during Need for Speed driving and slips seamlessly into a more economical mode when trundling around town. Fast-Off mode measures the rate of throttle release, anticipates further requests by the driver for high power, then holds the gear if necessary. If the driver requests a downshift when the vehicle is travelling too fast, the transmission will remember the request and make the shift when the speed drops to an appropriate level.

Land Rover ZF 9HP 04Land Rover ZF 9HP 02

The new 9HP is also a masterclass in packaging. New hydraulic vane-type pump, patented dog clutches replacing bulkier conventional clutch packs, and an intelligently nested gear set have enabled this gearbox to be 7.5 kg lighter than the outgoing six speed model while growing only by 6mm.

Land Rover ZF 9HP 06

Hyundai i10 iTech

Inside the special edition Hyundai i10 gets red and beige seat covers, red plastic insets on the dashboard and steering mounted Bluetooth audio controls, while the exteior gets iTECH body decals. Added to the list of features is a rear parking camera.

Prices (ex-showroom Delhi) as follows

i10 Era 1.1 (Crystal White) Rs 4,24,193
i10 Era 1.1 (Garnet Red) Rs 4,27,776
i10 Magna 1.2 (Crystal White) Rs 4,57,265
i10 Magna 1.2 (Garnet Red) Rs 4,60,879

Jaguar XJ Ultimate Unveiled Beijing 02

The Jaguar XJ Ultimate goes the extra mile in pampering occupants at the rear. A rear business table, machined from solid aluminium with piano black trim, powers into position at the touch of a button. A champagne chiller between the rear seats and bespoke champagne flutes in a dedicated storage area beneath the powered table help the powersuit clad businessman relax a while. Each rear-seat passenger is provided with an iPad and keyboard, housed and charged in dedicated leather-trimmed docks in the rear of the front seats. A 15-channel, 20-speaker surround sound system from Meridian takes care of the audiophile’s needs. Rear-seat entertainment package includes twin headrest-mounted screens and wireless headphones. Exclusive interior finishes including Herringbone veneer, machined aluminium and bespoke LED lighting. Jaguar says the suspension has been revised to optimise rear ride compliance.

Jaguar XJ Ultimate Unveiled Beijing 01

While the first 20 XJ Ultimate models will be finished in Celestial Black, customers can choose to have their car colour-matched to any shade of their choice. Discreet external detailing and badging differentiates the Ultimate from other XJ variants. Unique 20-inch ‘Maroa’ forged alloy wheels feature both technical grey and highly polished finishes. The XJ Ultimate is the first Jaguar to be announced that will be available with a new 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol engine (340PS). The XJ Ultimate can also be specified with Jaguar’s existing 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol engine, and its 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged diesel. All powertrains drive through eight-speed transmissions.

The V8 5.0 S/C Ultimate is priced at Rs. 1,87,96,544 (ex showroom Mumbai) while the 3.0L Diesel Ultimate will sell for Rs. 1,78,24,481 (ex showroom Mumbai).

Jaguar XJ Ultimate Unveiled Beijing 03

Jaguar XJ Ultimate Unveiled Beijing 04

Isuzu MU 7 01

In a surprise left hook, Isuzu has already started taking bookings for their MU-7 SUV and the D-Max Pickups. It is reported that only 60 units of the MU-7 will be imported this year of which 9 have already been booked by customers in where the first Isuzu showroom was opened. A dealership in Coimbatore has also been opened while the Delhi showroom will soon be inaugurated.

Isuzu MU 7 04

The MU-7 is priced at Rs 24.16 lakh (ex-showroom, Hyderabad), while the D-Max is priced at Rs 6.87 lakh for the single cab version and Rs 8.09 lakh for the double cab version. Only the double cab version is available now, with plans for the single cab version soon.

The MU-7 is powered by Isuzu’s newly developed 3.0-liter DOHC 16-valve 4JJ1-TC common rail engine. The engine makes around 163 bhp and a peak torque of 360 Nm available from as low as 1800 rpm. The Isuzu MU-7 is long, really long. At a wheelbase of 3050mm it is longer than that of the Fortuner by 2750mm. Gearbox options is limited to the MUX5S five speed manual. The Isuzu MU-7 is to be available only in 4×2 drive configuration.

Speaking to Business Line Shigeru Wakabayashi, Deputy Managing Director, IMIPL, Chennai has said that they are still looking for locations for their new plant, but have not yet finalized. The company has also not confirmed the investment they intend to make. Wakabayashi also explained that they had chosen cities in the South primarily as the plant is expected to come up in South India and this would help them understand the market better.

This is a trend we’ve been seeing in the Indian industry for a while now. While the established brands can choose to play everywhere, new entrants in competitive spaces, like the Mahindra Duro DZ and Rodeo RZ seem to do well down South than elsewhere. Isuzu seems to be playing the same card here.

Isuzu MU 7 03
Isuzu MU 7 02

Honda Jazz at the 11th Auto Expo 2012

If you’ve booked your Jazz already, not to worry, Honda will deliver your car. Dealers have stopped taking new bookings though. REmember the price slash of over a lakh in August 2011? That worked wonders for the brand and customers thronged the showrooms for what they believed was a fantastic hatch at a more reasonable price.

Autocar India says it is rumoured that Honda might be losing money over the Jazz at the lower prices and has been throttling production even though the demand is much higher. The Jazz is slated for a launch again in its nxt generation avatar powered by a 1.2L Petrol and the new 1.5 L i-DTEC diesel.

The other valid reason for ceasing production would be to free the production capacity for the upcoming AMAZE sedan. The Amaze is based on the Brio platform and will be Honda’s first diesel for India. The Amaze will redefine the brand image Honda has managed to establish over the years. While the petrol City and Civic have sold fantastically the last few years mostly thanks to the brand value, the Amaze will bring in customers who look for the value-for-money offered by the Amaze.

Source Autocar India