Blog Title: IndiBlog

Maruti Suzuki Launches A-Star in India

The much anticipated super-mini from Maruti Suzuki, the A Star was launched in the Indian market today. The A-Star has been launched in 3 variants, LXi priced at Rs 3,46,775, Vxi priced at Rs 3,74,775 and Zxi which comes at Rs 4,11,775 (all prices ex-showroom Delhi). The A-Star comes equipped with the latest KB series engine in 1 litre 3-cylinder capacity producing 65 bhp. Though the A-Star's specs pale in comparison to the Hyundai i10 it's engine is likely to deliver excellent fuel economy which has been tested by ARAI at 19.59 km/l. The A-Star will also be cheaper to maintain than the i10 as is the case with all Maruti Suzuki offrings. Available in nine shades the A-Star comes well equipped with a tachometer, digital tripmeter and odometer, AC with heating, power windows, central locking, power steering and even airbags and ABS on the ZXi. We are eagelry waiting to test drive the A-Star and share our views with you. This is a very important launch for Maruti Suzuki and is going to be their primary bread winner for some time to come.

New Toyota Camry Breaks Cover

Toyota's best selling family sedan, the Camry is being re-worked for a 2011 launch. The new Camry has broken cover in a Japanese auto magazine which shows a sportier theme with sharp head lights, large grille, aggressively designed body panels and a taut body. While the new Accord has taken the lead from the current Camry, the new model when launched will try to take back the mantle. Speculations indicate that the new Toyota Camry will be powered by a 2AR-FE 2.5 litre petrol engine with class leading efficiency.

Ford to Withdraw Fusion from India

Ford's odd-ball hatch, the Fusion never set the sales charts on fire despite price cuts and the introduction of a TDCi variant in 2007. The dismal sales have prompted Ford to phase out the model from the Indian market soon, though the exact timeframe is not yet known. Introduced as a butch hatchback with SUV characteristics and excellent ride and handling the Fusion did have lots to offer including the brilliant 100 bhp Duratec motor. Ford however got the pricing all wrong as the Fusion was a hatch and the Indian market was then not as mature as it is now. The delay in bringing the diesel version also cost Ford as by then the Swift diesel and the Fabia diesel were already in the market. Thanks to some slow judjement from Ford, it's now time to bid adieu to the quite capable Fusion. Ford will however continue to provide service support to existing Fusion owners but the re-sale values will take a hit. It is being rumoured that Ford will introduce the Fiesta hatchback in India to replace the Fusion. Read IndiBlog's story on this car.

Honda Civic Hybrid Now Much Cheaper at 13.36 Lakh

Honda has slashed the price of the Civic Hybrid by a hefty Rs. 8.14 lakh with immediate effect. This is a year end offer from Honda which will only last till the end of december 08. Honda had launched the Hyrbid Civic as a imported CBU in July 2008 and it has since sold only 60 units thanks to its shocking sticker price of Rs. 21.5 lakh which was almost Rs. 10 lakh more than the regular Civic's base model. At that price point going green with the Civic Hyrbid did not make sense but at a price of Rs. 13.36 lakh it is a very tempting offering. Honda is going to absorb the custom duty on the car till December end as it wants buyers to experience the Hybrid and gain the technological lead in the Indian market. The Civic Hybrid has earned good reviews from the automotive media and is a capable rival to Toyota's Prius which however is not on sale in India. The Hybrid tech works like this - During acceleration, the electric motor assists the engine, providing greater fuel economy and lower emissions. As soon as the brakes are applied, re-genrative braking charges the batteries even as the engine’s four cylinders are shut off. When the car comes to a stop, the engine switches off totally, saving fuel. It re-starts automatically as soon as the brake pedal is released (this is a CVT automatic, remember). One of the new features of Honda’s new Civic Hybrid system is that during low-speed cruising, it is possible for all 4 cylinders to be shut off and the Civic Hybrid to cruise on the electric motor alone, making it ideal for stop-start city traffic. Fuel economy would vary greatly depending on your driving cycle but is expected to be as much as 15kmpl in city driving conditions. At Rs. 13.36 lakh the Hybrid Civic makes excellent value and is almost a must buy.

BSA Motors Launches Range of e-Scooters

The electric scooter race in India is getting hotter and more competitive. After Hero Electric, Yo Bikes and many other small brands its now BSA (yes the cylce manufacturer) which has forayed into the burgeoning electric scooter market. Under a new name, BSA Motors the company has launched a series of light electric scooters: Smile, Diva, Street Rider, Roamer and Roamer+. The names are as basic as the bikes themselves and will cater to the need of short distance commuting for the budget conscious and the environmentally oriented. The eScooters are being manufactured at BSA Motors new plant in Ambattur which can churn out 150 eScooters a day with expandable capacity of 300 units per day. The first batch of BSA eScooters will be handed out to customers in Chennai on 10th November 2008. The five BSA eScooters in more detail: Smile - The most competitively priced bare bones e-Scooter in the country for the age group of 13 to 18 years; 250 W, top speed - 25kmph. No license and registration required. Diva - eScooter designed for girls in the age group of 16 to 20 years; 250 W, top speed - 25kmph. No license and registration required. Street Rider - Sporty model for young buyers; 250 W, top speed - 25kmph. No license and registration required. Roamer - For adults; 500 W, top speed - 40kmph. Roamer+ - For riding with pillion; 800W, top speed - 45kmph.

Maruti A-Star Delivers 19.59 kmpl in ARAI Test

The Maruti Suzuki A-Star was always expected to be very fuel efficient primarily because of the latest KB series 1.0 litre 64bhp engine which it runs with. The A-Star's fuel economy figures are now official thanks to a test by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) which is in the process of certifying the fuel efficiency figures for all passenger cars sold in India. The ARAI test found the A-Star deliver a super mileage figure of 19.59 kilometers to one litre of petrol under test condition which include city and highway driving cycles. This is great news for budget car buyers who are eyeing the A-Star which is due for launch this month.