Maintaining a car or bike to be costly - Union Budget 2010

The Union Budget announced by the Finance Minister, is all set to have a direct impact on the automotive sector of the country. Buying and maintaining a car or bike is going to be costly with a hike of 2% in the Excise Duty which has already led to an immediate and corresponding increase in the prices of automobiles and component. Running cost of bikes and cars too will get dearer with the suggested increase in Excise Duty on petrol and Diesel.


The Excise Duty on small cars now stands at 10% while on big cars, Mutli Utility Vehicles (MUV's) and SUV's the duty has bumped to 22%. The duty on Electric Vehicle makers stands at 4%. Adding to that, the Excise Duty will also cut their share from the prices of vehicle components like tyres,batteries, etc. A pair of heavy duty truck tyre would now cost Rs. 500 more, while that for a sedan will be higher by Rs. 250 a tyre. Batteries will be dearer by 2%. The tyre makers of the country have already resorted to this hike.

The government’s decision, taken as part of a partial rollback of the stimulus package in the Union Budget, saw companies announcing corresponding increases in prices almost immediately. These included big volume players like Maruti, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra, General Motors and Honda.

“Prices have to go up with the increase in excise and our cars will become dearer by 2% across the board,” Maruti chairman RC Bhargava said. The entire model range of Maruti will now come at revised rate with a hike between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 13,000.

Hyundai said that the hike on its cars will range between Rs, 6,500 and Rs. 2,5000. The price of the Santro is expected to be up by Rs. 6,500, the i10 by Rs. 6,700 and the i20 by Rs. 9,500. “The increase will be on all the models,” Hyundai India’s marketing and sales director Arvind Saxena said.

Paul de Voijs, Managing Director, Volvo Auto India Pvt. Ltd stated, "As per the Union Budget 2010 presented by the hon' ble Finance Minister, the 2% increase in the excise duty on cars will lead to a hike on the car prices. Unfortunately this will be passed on to the end consumer as it is inevitable."

Tata Motors have spared the Nano for now from the revision, but the a hike between Rs. 4,600 and Rs. 18,700 will be levied on all other models coming out of Tata Motors factory.

Maintaining a car or bike to be costly - Union Budget 2010

The Union Budget announced by the Finance Minister, is all set to have a direct impact on the automotive sector of the country. Buying and maintaining a car or bike is going to be costly with a hike of 2% in the Excise Duty which has already led to an immediate and corresponding increase in the prices of automobiles and component. Running cost of bikes and cars too will get dearer with the suggested increase in Excise Duty on petrol and Diesel.


The Excise Duty on small cars now stands at 10% while on big cars, Mutli Utility Vehicles (MUV's) and SUV's the duty has bumped to 22%. The duty on Electric Vehicle makers stands at 4%. Adding to that, the Excise Duty will also cut their share from the prices of vehicle components like tyres,batteries, etc. A pair of heavy duty truck tyre would now cost Rs. 500 more, while that for a sedan will be higher by Rs. 250 a tyre. Batteries will be dearer by 2%. The tyre makers of the country have already resorted to this hike.

The government’s decision, taken as part of a partial rollback of the stimulus package in the Union Budget, saw companies announcing corresponding increases in prices almost immediately. These included big volume players like Maruti, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra, General Motors and Honda.

“Prices have to go up with the increase in excise and our cars will become dearer by 2% across the board,” Maruti chairman RC Bhargava said. The entire model range of Maruti will now come at revised rate with a hike between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 13,000.

Hyundai said that the hike on its cars will range between Rs, 6,500 and Rs. 2,5000. The price of the Santro is expected to be up by Rs. 6,500, the i10 by Rs. 6,700 and the i20 by Rs. 9,500. “The increase will be on all the models,” Hyundai India’s marketing and sales director Arvind Saxena said.

Paul de Voijs, Managing Director, Volvo Auto India Pvt. Ltd stated, "As per the Union Budget 2010 presented by the hon' ble Finance Minister, the 2% increase in the excise duty on cars will lead to a hike on the car prices. Unfortunately this will be passed on to the end consumer as it is inevitable."

Tata Motors have spared the Nano for now from the revision, but the a hike between Rs. 4,600 and Rs. 18,700 will be levied on all other models coming out of Tata Motors factory.

2010 Porsche Cayenne

The newest generation of the Porsche Cayenne is all set to make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show soon in March. The new-generation Cayenne S Hybrid comes with a technically advanced and sophisticated parallel full hybrid drive. The car also boasts of a fuel efficiency figure of just 8.2 liters/100 kilometers which is equivalent to 34.4 mpg. The car is yet more efficient with CO2 emissions of just 193 g/km which makes the car perform like an eight-cylinder with the fuel economy of a six-cylinder machine. The car also features the new Tiptronic S eight-speed automatic transmission with Auto Start Stop and a widespread of gear ratios, thermal management on the engine and transmission cooling circuit, on-board network recuperation and variable engine cut-off.

The Cayenne S Hybrid along with the entire list of models in the new generations is specialized in efficiency and performance in their respective segments. A whopping 23 percent fall has been observed in fuel consumption which has made the car cleaner and greener. The ultra-light weight construction along with the blend of the perfect materials has helped bring down the weight of the car to 180 kgs along with a better standard of safety and quality. The weight factor has not only improved efficiency but also improved performance, agility and handling.

The new car offers a better on-road and off-road driving pleasure. The new design and shape of the car displays the typical ‘Porsche Look’ within the car with a sports-like character. The new car is more compact and dynamic than its predecessors. The Cayenne S Hybrid comes with a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine that runs on petrol and has the capacity to churn out 333 horses. Along with this is an electric motor which produces an additional 47 bhp of power which adds up to the overall power and torque of 380 bhp and 580 Nm respectively. Apart from the hybrid, there will also be various other options powered by both petrol as well as diesel engines. The heart of the Cayenne Turbo is a 4.8-litre V8 that churns out 500 horses.

The car will be available in the European market from the 8th of May costing an equivalent of Rs 29.40 lakh while the Cayenne Turbo is priced at about Rs 58 lakh. However, do not expect the prices to be same in India due to the infamous import duties.

2010 Porsche Cayenne

The newest generation of the Porsche Cayenne is all set to make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show soon in March. The new-generation Cayenne S Hybrid comes with a technically advanced and sophisticated parallel full hybrid drive. The car also boasts of a fuel efficiency figure of just 8.2 liters/100 kilometers which is equivalent to 34.4 mpg. The car is yet more efficient with CO2 emissions of just 193 g/km which makes the car perform like an eight-cylinder with the fuel economy of a six-cylinder machine. The car also features the new Tiptronic S eight-speed automatic transmission with Auto Start Stop and a widespread of gear ratios, thermal management on the engine and transmission cooling circuit, on-board network recuperation and variable engine cut-off.

The Cayenne S Hybrid along with the entire list of models in the new generations is specialized in efficiency and performance in their respective segments. A whopping 23 percent fall has been observed in fuel consumption which has made the car cleaner and greener. The ultra-light weight construction along with the blend of the perfect materials has helped bring down the weight of the car to 180 kgs along with a better standard of safety and quality. The weight factor has not only improved efficiency but also improved performance, agility and handling.

The new car offers a better on-road and off-road driving pleasure. The new design and shape of the car displays the typical ‘Porsche Look’ within the car with a sports-like character. The new car is more compact and dynamic than its predecessors. The Cayenne S Hybrid comes with a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine that runs on petrol and has the capacity to churn out 333 horses. Along with this is an electric motor which produces an additional 47 bhp of power which adds up to the overall power and torque of 380 bhp and 580 Nm respectively. Apart from the hybrid, there will also be various other options powered by both petrol as well as diesel engines. The heart of the Cayenne Turbo is a 4.8-litre V8 that churns out 500 horses.

The car will be available in the European market from the 8th of May costing an equivalent of Rs 29.40 lakh while the Cayenne Turbo is priced at about Rs 58 lakh. However, do not expect the prices to be same in India due to the infamous import duties.

SABCC February Activity

About 25 SABCC'ers, friends and guests descended on the Schillinger Road Panera Bread location for the first Mugs and Motors of 2010. As always, we enjoyed each others company while we moaned about yet another rainy start to a club event.

Never ones to stay down, the group poured more coffee and ordered another baked treat from the display case. Fully caffeinated and carb-loaded we set out on the next part of our activity - a visit to an incredible collection of Corvettes housed at Martin's Nursery in Semmes, Alabama.

Buddy Martin is one of the kindest, most generous people we've met to date. Buddy started the nursery as a hobby many years ago (along with a full time job at a manufacturing facility). Today, it ships a staggering quantity of ornamental plants all over the USA. Now that the nursery is a 'real' business, Buddy needed another hobby and he found one in collecting the most special of Corvettes. It was this collection that the club was invited to visit.

We arrived (without losing anyone along the way!) and were shown into a garage that could only be described as the stuff of dreams. There were three rows of beautifully restored cars - mostly corvettes- in a cavernous building. This climate controlled facility covers almost 12,000 square feet and boasts several collections of memorabilia, including NASCAR, Harley-Davidson and John Deere.

For me, the star of the collection was a 1953 Corvette - the inaugural year of the model. There were only 300 built and one of them resides in South Alabama. A close second was a C4 Corvette Grand Sport . Finally, a 1957 Chevy Bel Air convertible fuel injection model with every available option was at the front of the non-Corvette line.

After the garage tour, we were shown around the 300+ acre nursery and the outbuildings where the collection is restored or serviced.

The group offered its thanks to our gracious hosts and went our separate ways around noon - and into a beautifully sunny day!

2011 Lexus CT 200h photos

2011 Lexus CT 200h

2011 Lexus CT 200h Car

2011 Lexus CT 200h

2011 Lexus CT 200h

2011 Lexus CT 200h

2011 Lexus CT 200h

2011 Lexus CT 200h

2011 Lexus CT

Undisguised - Tata Aria Spotted Near Pune

One of motoroids regular readers sent this scoop shots of the Tata Aria doing its final testing rounds while being completely undisguised. Though we have already seen the MUV in flesh at the 2010 Auto Expo, we hadn't seen the vehicle running on road in its final production form. As per our friend who caught the Aria on cam, the vehicle was extremely quiet even when doing speeds of 130 km/h! On a few bumps in the road surface on the Pune-Mumbai highway, the vehicle seemed to have quite a significant bounciness / body roll. Later the vehicle pulled over to a roadside hotel, where the reader further followed it. As per his observations, even at idle RPM, there is hardly any diesel clatter as compared to the similar engined Safari DICOR.

According to other sources closer to the development of the Aria, the vehicle is in its final component-testing phase before it goes on sale in March. We are expecting the Aria to be priced between the Xylo and the Innova with the top end model slightly crossing the Rs. 10-lakh mark.
 
 

Undisguised - Tata Aria Spotted Near Pune

One of motoroids regular readers sent this scoop shots of the Tata Aria doing its final testing rounds while being completely undisguised. Though we have already seen the MUV in flesh at the 2010 Auto Expo, we hadn't seen the vehicle running on road in its final production form. As per our friend who caught the Aria on cam, the vehicle was extremely quiet even when doing speeds of 130 km/h! On a few bumps in the road surface on the Pune-Mumbai highway, the vehicle seemed to have quite a significant bounciness / body roll. Later the vehicle pulled over to a roadside hotel, where the reader further followed it. As per his observations, even at idle RPM, there is hardly any diesel clatter as compared to the similar engined Safari DICOR.

According to other sources closer to the development of the Aria, the vehicle is in its final component-testing phase before it goes on sale in March. We are expecting the Aria to be priced between the Xylo and the Innova with the top end model slightly crossing the Rs. 10-lakh mark.
 
 

Now this is how you test a car - Chevrolet Cruze - Road tested & Reviewed

Here our partners at Motoroids put the Chevrolet Cruze to what we call "Now this is how you do a road test", driving the car 600 Kms in all sorts of terrain to try and prove what the car is really worth. Interested to know the verdict. Visit our Car Reviews and Road Tests section to read the full story. Take my word for it, it is worth reading it.

Read the full review here "Chevrolet Cruze Road Test & Car Review"

Now this is how you test a car - Chevrolet Cruze - Road tested & Reviewed

Here our partners at Motoroids put the Chevrolet Cruze to what we call "Now this is how you do a road test", driving the car 600 Kms in all sorts of terrain to try and prove what the car is really worth. Interested to know the verdict. Visit our Car Reviews and Road Tests section to read the full story. Take my word for it, it is worth reading it.

Read the full review here "Chevrolet Cruze Road Test & Car Review"

Making MGs at Abingdon

Here is a delightful short film from British Pathe titled Making MGs at Abingdon. This silent film was produced in 1931, not long after MG moved into the former Pavlova leather works facility. The premise of the short subject is a young couple has gotten word that the MG they ordered is ready to be picked up. The factory tour is part of the delivery process.

I can't identify what they are building, but I know I want one. Enjoy!

( MAKING MGs AT ABINGDON )

Maruti Suzuki recalls 1 lakh A- Star to replace Faulty Fuel Gaskets

Following reports of anomalies in the fuel tank, Maruti Suzuki, the biggest car maker in India are now in the process of recalling over one lakh A- stars to replace the faulty fuel pump gaskets and O rings. Approximately these affected one lakh cars were manufactured before 22nd August, 2009.

An official press release states, "At Maruti Suzuki, we constantly monitor quality of our products through feedback and internal analysis. In one such exercise in November ‘09, we came across an anomaly reported in the fuel tank in some of the vehicles and by December ’09 we started contacting the customers through letters. These vehicles belonged to lot made till 22nd August ’09 only. In case fuel is filled up to brim, beyond fuel auto cut off position, a possible fuel leakage from fuel pump mounting area may take place. No problem has been reported by customers. However, as a proactive step, we decided to check all vehicles from the lot, around 1 lakh units including those exported overseas. We are changing fuel pump gasket and O ring at no cost to customer. We are midway through the checking activity and hope to complete it soon. The final cost arrived at on this account will be shared with the supplier partner.”

Furthermore, the company has indicated that it has already kickstarted the repair process last year and are done with half of the affected units so far.

Maruti Suzuki recalls 1 lakh A- Star to replace Faulty Fuel Gaskets

Following reports of anomalies in the fuel tank, Maruti Suzuki, the biggest car maker in India are now in the process of recalling over one lakh A- stars to replace the faulty fuel pump gaskets and O rings. Approximately these affected one lakh cars were manufactured before 22nd August, 2009.

An official press release states, "At Maruti Suzuki, we constantly monitor quality of our products through feedback and internal analysis. In one such exercise in November ‘09, we came across an anomaly reported in the fuel tank in some of the vehicles and by December ’09 we started contacting the customers through letters. These vehicles belonged to lot made till 22nd August ’09 only. In case fuel is filled up to brim, beyond fuel auto cut off position, a possible fuel leakage from fuel pump mounting area may take place. No problem has been reported by customers. However, as a proactive step, we decided to check all vehicles from the lot, around 1 lakh units including those exported overseas. We are changing fuel pump gasket and O ring at no cost to customer. We are midway through the checking activity and hope to complete it soon. The final cost arrived at on this account will be shared with the supplier partner.”

Furthermore, the company has indicated that it has already kickstarted the repair process last year and are done with half of the affected units so far.

Chevrolet Cruze Automatic Launched by GM India

General Motors India today launched the Chevrolet Cruze Automatic in Bangalore at a ceremony presided over by its President & Managing Director Mr. Karl Slym. The manual version of Chevrolet Cruze launched in October has already redefined the D-segment with its coupe-like design proportions, comfortable interiors, class leading features and other exclusive product attributes.

The 6 Speed Automatic Transmission will be offered on the LTZ variant which also comes with a host of features like PEPS, Push Button Start, Cruise Control, Smart Screen and Electric Sunroof to name a few. The Automatic variant will also be available in a special 3 coat paint called White Diamond in addition to the exciting six colors already on offer.

The Chevrolet Cruze AT also has a triptronic mode which enables a sportier drive for the customer. Other highlights of this six-speed automatic transmission include Clutch-to-clutch shift operation for added precision and smoother shifts between gears. Also, it has a wide spread ratio with the first gear designed for a very high ratio to provide brisk acceleration from the top while the sixth gear has an overdrive ratio to keep the engine revolutions as low as possible for highway cruising and improved fuel economy. One of the key benefits of this model is that it uses premium fluids in the transmission that does not need replacement during normal use.

“Chevrolet has already become a driving force in India’s vehicle market,” said Karl Slym, President and Managing Director of GM India. “The Cruze has been receiving excellent market response since its launch in the last quarter of 2009. The auto Journalists in India who had test driven the vehicle have rated it as the best in its segment for its unique product attributes.

Chevrolet Cruze Automatic Launched by GM India

General Motors India today launched the Chevrolet Cruze Automatic in Bangalore at a ceremony presided over by its President & Managing Director Mr. Karl Slym. The manual version of Chevrolet Cruze launched in October has already redefined the D-segment with its coupe-like design proportions, comfortable interiors, class leading features and other exclusive product attributes.

The 6 Speed Automatic Transmission will be offered on the LTZ variant which also comes with a host of features like PEPS, Push Button Start, Cruise Control, Smart Screen and Electric Sunroof to name a few. The Automatic variant will also be available in a special 3 coat paint called White Diamond in addition to the exciting six colors already on offer.

The Chevrolet Cruze AT also has a triptronic mode which enables a sportier drive for the customer. Other highlights of this six-speed automatic transmission include Clutch-to-clutch shift operation for added precision and smoother shifts between gears. Also, it has a wide spread ratio with the first gear designed for a very high ratio to provide brisk acceleration from the top while the sixth gear has an overdrive ratio to keep the engine revolutions as low as possible for highway cruising and improved fuel economy. One of the key benefits of this model is that it uses premium fluids in the transmission that does not need replacement during normal use.

“Chevrolet has already become a driving force in India’s vehicle market,” said Karl Slym, President and Managing Director of GM India. “The Cruze has been receiving excellent market response since its launch in the last quarter of 2009. The auto Journalists in India who had test driven the vehicle have rated it as the best in its segment for its unique product attributes.

Volkswagen Polo Launched in India

Volkswagen has launched its eagerly awaited Polo hatchback in India. Surpassing the expectations, the company has priced the Polo very aggressively. The ex-showroom pricing for the car in Delhi is an alluring 4.34 lakh rupees for the base 1.2-litre petrol version. The base version of the fuel efficient 1.2-litre diesel will be available for Rs 5.32 lakh. The company has launched only the petrol version for now and the diesel version will be available around May. You can book petrol Polo for yourself right away though and get your delivery starting March 8th.

The company has localised the Polo to 50% for being able to offer it at such a lucrative price point. VW expects a localisation of 70% in due course which will increase their profits. We hear that there is a possibility of a 1.6-litre petrol model as well, which will be a total scorcher among all small hatchbacks in the country, but the timeline for this model’s launch has not been defined yet by VW.

Volkswagen has invested huge amounts of money in India and has set up one of the most sophisticated car plants of the country in Chakan near Pune. The German company is totally committed to increasing its presence and reach in the Indian market and plans to facilitate that by selling its cars well in the all-important B-segment.



At the current prices, the new Volkswagen is slightly more expensive than the equivalent Maruti Suzuki cars but cheaper than similar spec Hyundai cars. Both Hyundai and Maruti cars have more powerful engines than the Volkswagen on the paper, but you never know, Volkswagen may just trump the others with its better technology. Surprisingly, defying the global trend Volkswagen has priced the Polo cheaper than the Skoda Fabia – now Skoda is considered a notch lower than VW worldwide.

The petrol engine is a 1.2-litre, 75bhp three-cylinder unit, while the diesel mill is a 1.2-litre, 75bhp, three-cylinder common-rail unit. Both the engine will come with a five-speed manual transmission system claimed to transmit power with short, accurate shifts and very smooth handling. The car will be available in three trim levels called Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. 

Polo 1.2 petrol price – Ex showroom Delhi
1.2 petrol Trendline Rs 4.34 lakh
1.2 petrol Comfortline Rs 4.83 lakh
1.2 petrol Highline Rs 5.72 lakh
1.2 diesel Trendline Rs 5.32 lakh
1.2 diesel Comfortline Rs 5.81 lakh
1.2 diesel Highline Rs 6.70 lakh

Prices of the base petrol and diesel versions of Swift, Ritz and i20

Polo 1.2 litre 4.34 lakh 75bhp

-- Base Petrol
Swift LXi 4.00 lakh 84bhp
Polo 1.2 litre 5.32 lakh 75bhp

-- Base Diesel
Ritz LXi 3.90 lakh 84bhp
Fabia 1.4 Diesel 5.88 lakh 68bhp

i20 Magna 4.81 lakh 79bhp

Swift LDi 4.74 lakh 75bhp
Ritz LDi 4.65 lakh 74bhp

i20 Diesel 6.20 lakh 90bhp

Volkswagen Polo Launched in India

Volkswagen has launched its eagerly awaited Polo hatchback in India. Surpassing the expectations, the company has priced the Polo very aggressively. The ex-showroom pricing for the car in Delhi is an alluring 4.34 lakh rupees for the base 1.2-litre petrol version. The base version of the fuel efficient 1.2-litre diesel will be available for Rs 5.32 lakh. The company has launched only the petrol version for now and the diesel version will be available around May. You can book petrol Polo for yourself right away though and get your delivery starting March 8th.

The company has localised the Polo to 50% for being able to offer it at such a lucrative price point. VW expects a localisation of 70% in due course which will increase their profits. We hear that there is a possibility of a 1.6-litre petrol model as well, which will be a total scorcher among all small hatchbacks in the country, but the timeline for this model’s launch has not been defined yet by VW.

Volkswagen has invested huge amounts of money in India and has set up one of the most sophisticated car plants of the country in Chakan near Pune. The German company is totally committed to increasing its presence and reach in the Indian market and plans to facilitate that by selling its cars well in the all-important B-segment.



At the current prices, the new Volkswagen is slightly more expensive than the equivalent Maruti Suzuki cars but cheaper than similar spec Hyundai cars. Both Hyundai and Maruti cars have more powerful engines than the Volkswagen on the paper, but you never know, Volkswagen may just trump the others with its better technology. Surprisingly, defying the global trend Volkswagen has priced the Polo cheaper than the Skoda Fabia – now Skoda is considered a notch lower than VW worldwide.

The petrol engine is a 1.2-litre, 75bhp three-cylinder unit, while the diesel mill is a 1.2-litre, 75bhp, three-cylinder common-rail unit. Both the engine will come with a five-speed manual transmission system claimed to transmit power with short, accurate shifts and very smooth handling. The car will be available in three trim levels called Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. 

Polo 1.2 petrol price – Ex showroom Delhi
1.2 petrol Trendline Rs 4.34 lakh
1.2 petrol Comfortline Rs 4.83 lakh
1.2 petrol Highline Rs 5.72 lakh
1.2 diesel Trendline Rs 5.32 lakh
1.2 diesel Comfortline Rs 5.81 lakh
1.2 diesel Highline Rs 6.70 lakh

Prices of the base petrol and diesel versions of Swift, Ritz and i20

Polo 1.2 litre 4.34 lakh 75bhp

-- Base Petrol
Swift LXi 4.00 lakh 84bhp
Polo 1.2 litre 5.32 lakh 75bhp

-- Base Diesel
Ritz LXi 3.90 lakh 84bhp
Fabia 1.4 Diesel 5.88 lakh 68bhp

i20 Magna 4.81 lakh 79bhp

Swift LDi 4.74 lakh 75bhp
Ritz LDi 4.65 lakh 74bhp

i20 Diesel 6.20 lakh 90bhp

Womens Car Rally - 2010

A Time Speed Distance rally may not necessarily be a race. It is more of precision driving where in the participants have to concentrate on maintaining the needed speed and being on the correct course of the rally. The Women Car Rally is a rally based on this TSD format where the participants are provided with both the route instructions as well as information regarding specific speed to be maintained at different sections of the rally. The speeds assigned are never illegal and are usually below the posted speed limit of the particular route or area. The rally will be held on the 2nd of April 2010.


To take part in this rally, the minimum requirement is a car and a woman holding the steering wheel. The team will consist of a woman driver and a navigator who will have to attempt to stay at the right course at the correct speed. The most accurate team will be at the perfect location and at the correct speed at a given time. Time checks at various unspecified locations will be used as the tool to determine the score of a team. The task of recording and comparing the time will be done by rally marshals. Travelling too fast or too slow would cost some valuable points through penalties.


The rally will witness breath taking views throughout the well planned course. The rally does not demand for special preparation and special cars. Participants can use their regular cars too for the rally.


Fee Details:
Early Entry: Rs. 7,000/- per team from Feb. 12 till Feb. 21, 2010 onwards
Standard Entry: Rs. 8,000/- per team from February 22 till March 07, 2010 onwards
Late Entry: Rs. 9,000/- per team from March 08 till March 17, 2010 onwards
Very Late Entry: Rs. 10,000/- per team from March 18 till March 25, 2010

This includes -
An opportunity to participate in Women Car Rally
An invitation for the participating team to prize distribution function followed by gala dinner.
Accommodation on twin sharing basis for the team at The Fern Ecotel Hotel (5-Star Luxury Hotel) on the night of 2nd April 2010.
Participation fees to be paid in favor of "Women Car Rally" by Cheque/DD/Cash payable at Delhi.
Cash/Cheque/DD can be deposited in IDBI Bank.

Womens Car Rally - 2010

A Time Speed Distance rally may not necessarily be a race. It is more of precision driving where in the participants have to concentrate on maintaining the needed speed and being on the correct course of the rally. The Women Car Rally is a rally based on this TSD format where the participants are provided with both the route instructions as well as information regarding specific speed to be maintained at different sections of the rally. The speeds assigned are never illegal and are usually below the posted speed limit of the particular route or area. The rally will be held on the 2nd of April 2010.


To take part in this rally, the minimum requirement is a car and a woman holding the steering wheel. The team will consist of a woman driver and a navigator who will have to attempt to stay at the right course at the correct speed. The most accurate team will be at the perfect location and at the correct speed at a given time. Time checks at various unspecified locations will be used as the tool to determine the score of a team. The task of recording and comparing the time will be done by rally marshals. Travelling too fast or too slow would cost some valuable points through penalties.


The rally will witness breath taking views throughout the well planned course. The rally does not demand for special preparation and special cars. Participants can use their regular cars too for the rally.


Fee Details:
Early Entry: Rs. 7,000/- per team from Feb. 12 till Feb. 21, 2010 onwards
Standard Entry: Rs. 8,000/- per team from February 22 till March 07, 2010 onwards
Late Entry: Rs. 9,000/- per team from March 08 till March 17, 2010 onwards
Very Late Entry: Rs. 10,000/- per team from March 18 till March 25, 2010

This includes -
An opportunity to participate in Women Car Rally
An invitation for the participating team to prize distribution function followed by gala dinner.
Accommodation on twin sharing basis for the team at The Fern Ecotel Hotel (5-Star Luxury Hotel) on the night of 2nd April 2010.
Participation fees to be paid in favor of "Women Car Rally" by Cheque/DD/Cash payable at Delhi.
Cash/Cheque/DD can be deposited in IDBI Bank.

Mercedes Launches New M-Class Variants in India

Mercedes-Benz today launched the 2010 M-Class in two variants for India. The Sport Edition of the M-Class is priced at Rs. 55 Lakhs while the Luxury Edition is priced at Rs. 60.9 lakhs Ex-showroom Delhi.
In terms of technology, the 2010 M- Class takes forward exciting features like permanent four-wheel drive and 4ETS traction systems to the next level by incorporating additional functions such as Downhill Speed Regulation, Acceleration skid control(ASR) and the off-road ABS system. The AIRMATIC air suspension significantly improves ride comfort, while the Adaptive Damping System (ADS), adjusts shock absorber response to suit driving situations. The double-wishbone front suspension makes a significant contribution to reduce roar and tyre vibration, ensuring impressive driving dynamics with its raised aluminium wishbones. The rear axle has a four-link suspension system. Standard-fitted 19” light-alloy wheels emphasise the sporting pedigree of the new M-Class.
The radiator grille is sub-divided by three black louvres with chrome trim, the rear tail lights with LED technology and the rear tailgate with its discreet spoiler edge and a panoramic rear windscreen add to the allure of the vehicle. The M-Class additionally includes features like PARKTRONIC, Electric Sliding sunroof, Front Memory seats, Media interface & Audio system with 6-CD changer, mini-spare wheel.
Interior Sports Package of the Sports edition consists of interior lighting package, sports instrument cluster, sports pedal system made of brushed stainless steel with rubber studs, Alcantra/ARTICO man made leather upholstery with contrasting topstitching, electrically adjustable front sports seats. While the Exterior Sports Package includes 19 inch 5 twin spoke light alloy wheels, rectangular tailpipes with chrome trim, aluminum-look roof rails, chromed waistline trim strip, load sill guard on the rear bumper in chrome and simulated front underguard in stainless steel. In addition to the Exterior sports package; the luxury edition includes a wood/leather multifunction steering wheel, Thermotronic 3-Zone Automatic climate control, harmankardon LOGIC 7® Surround Sound® system (12 high performance speakers with 610 watts output), Anti-Theft Protection package & Leather seats.
The M-Class has secured the highest rating of five stars in the European NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) crash tests. The M-Class is also the first vehicle in its market segment anywhere in the world to be fitted as standard with the anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®.

Mercedes Launches New M-Class Variants in India

Mercedes-Benz today launched the 2010 M-Class in two variants for India. The Sport Edition of the M-Class is priced at Rs. 55 Lakhs while the Luxury Edition is priced at Rs. 60.9 lakhs Ex-showroom Delhi.
In terms of technology, the 2010 M- Class takes forward exciting features like permanent four-wheel drive and 4ETS traction systems to the next level by incorporating additional functions such as Downhill Speed Regulation, Acceleration skid control(ASR) and the off-road ABS system. The AIRMATIC air suspension significantly improves ride comfort, while the Adaptive Damping System (ADS), adjusts shock absorber response to suit driving situations. The double-wishbone front suspension makes a significant contribution to reduce roar and tyre vibration, ensuring impressive driving dynamics with its raised aluminium wishbones. The rear axle has a four-link suspension system. Standard-fitted 19” light-alloy wheels emphasise the sporting pedigree of the new M-Class.
The radiator grille is sub-divided by three black louvres with chrome trim, the rear tail lights with LED technology and the rear tailgate with its discreet spoiler edge and a panoramic rear windscreen add to the allure of the vehicle. The M-Class additionally includes features like PARKTRONIC, Electric Sliding sunroof, Front Memory seats, Media interface & Audio system with 6-CD changer, mini-spare wheel.
Interior Sports Package of the Sports edition consists of interior lighting package, sports instrument cluster, sports pedal system made of brushed stainless steel with rubber studs, Alcantra/ARTICO man made leather upholstery with contrasting topstitching, electrically adjustable front sports seats. While the Exterior Sports Package includes 19 inch 5 twin spoke light alloy wheels, rectangular tailpipes with chrome trim, aluminum-look roof rails, chromed waistline trim strip, load sill guard on the rear bumper in chrome and simulated front underguard in stainless steel. In addition to the Exterior sports package; the luxury edition includes a wood/leather multifunction steering wheel, Thermotronic 3-Zone Automatic climate control, harmankardon LOGIC 7® Surround Sound® system (12 high performance speakers with 610 watts output), Anti-Theft Protection package & Leather seats.
The M-Class has secured the highest rating of five stars in the European NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) crash tests. The M-Class is also the first vehicle in its market segment anywhere in the world to be fitted as standard with the anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®.

Honda Siel appoints new President & CEO

Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) on Monday declared Mr. Takashi Nagai as the next and the 4th President and the CEO of Honda Siel who will take charge from April 1st, 2010. Tagai has replaced Mr. Masahiro Takedagawa, who will now head the company's Canadian operations.
Takashi Nagai has vast experience in the automobile industry, having worked with Honda ventures in different markets, across the globe including America and Europe. From February 2003 to January 2006, Nagai was stationed in Mexico as Director of Honda de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. In February 2006, Nagai was appointed as General Manager, Overseas Operations Office No. 1 of Honda Motor Co. Ltd. looking after North America, South America and European market. In April 2007, Nagai became Executive Vice President, Asian Honda Motor Company Ltd. and a Director of Honda Motor Co. Ltd from June of the same year.

Takedagawa, who has been heading Honda’s Indian joint venture with the Siel Group since April 2005, has been appointed as the president and Director of Honda Canada Inc. During Takedagawa’s tenure in HSCI, the company set up its second manufacturing facility at Tapukara in Rajasthan. His period of leadership saw the company introducing premium sedan Civic and hatchback Jazz in the Indian market.

Honda Siel appoints new President & CEO

Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) on Monday declared Mr. Takashi Nagai as the next and the 4th President and the CEO of Honda Siel who will take charge from April 1st, 2010. Tagai has replaced Mr. Masahiro Takedagawa, who will now head the company's Canadian operations.
Takashi Nagai has vast experience in the automobile industry, having worked with Honda ventures in different markets, across the globe including America and Europe. From February 2003 to January 2006, Nagai was stationed in Mexico as Director of Honda de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. In February 2006, Nagai was appointed as General Manager, Overseas Operations Office No. 1 of Honda Motor Co. Ltd. looking after North America, South America and European market. In April 2007, Nagai became Executive Vice President, Asian Honda Motor Company Ltd. and a Director of Honda Motor Co. Ltd from June of the same year.

Takedagawa, who has been heading Honda’s Indian joint venture with the Siel Group since April 2005, has been appointed as the president and Director of Honda Canada Inc. During Takedagawa’s tenure in HSCI, the company set up its second manufacturing facility at Tapukara in Rajasthan. His period of leadership saw the company introducing premium sedan Civic and hatchback Jazz in the Indian market.

Mercedes launches S-Guard

German car giant Mercedes-Benz on Monday launched its armored limousine S-Guard with a price tag of around Rs 6 crore (ex-showroom) making it the most expensive car to hit the Indian market. The S- Guard which is built in line of the S600 is housed with a 12 cylinder 5.5 cc petrol engine which churns out 517hp and 830 Nm of max torque and can touch a maximum speed of 210 km per hour.



Mercedes-Benz India board member Suhas Kadlaskar said the S- Guard is engineered to provide effective protection against the threats posed by terrorist attacks. ''The armor is designed to resist rifle-launched projectiles from military weapons, which have a velocity almost twice that of bullets fired from a revolver. They also offer resistance to shrapnel from hand grenades and explosive charges,'' he added.

The car is basically targeted at corporate and political leaders, government officials and celebrities and incorporates all the luxury features of Mercedes limousines. The S- Guard now surpasses the Maybach, also manufactured by Mercedes which comes with a price tag of Rs. 5.5 crore.