Ford Figo is the ICOTY

Technorati Tags: ford,figo,icoty,india,award,year

The Ford Figo has been voted this year’s Indian Car Of The Year (ICOTY). The ICOTY is the country’s most coveted award for cars. It is decided jointly by a jury comprising senior journalists from India’s best automobile magazines. This year, the Ford Figo faced tough competition in the form of the Volkswagen Vento sedan. But it won by an impressive margin of 26 points.
The Ford Figo launched in March 2010, was developed in India for Indian roads. The petrol  Figo hits 100kmph in 16.79 seconds and the diesel takes 19.3 seconds. Ford showed its understanding of the Indian market by specifying an engine that prioritises economy over performance. Add to that the well designed interiors, small touches like a extra powerful aircon and reasonable pricing, and it’s no surprise that the Figo is doing wonders for Ford in the sales arena. Now it has another feather in its cap, the ICOTY award.
The other cars in contention for this year’s award were the Chevrolet Beat, Maruti Suzuki WagonR, Nissan Micra, Skoda Yeti, Tata Aria and the Volkswagen Polo. The Toyota Etios was not nominated because the ICOTY contenders list closed before the Toyota was launched. It will
be strong contender at the next year’s awards though.
This year’s jury included Bob Rupani and Gautam Sen of Auto India, Aspi Bhathena of Car India, Srinivas Krishnan and Pablo Chaterji of BS Motoring, Girish Karkera and Sriram Satyanarayanan of BBC Top Gear India, Yogendra Pratap and Vikrant Singh of Auto Bild besides Sirish Chandran and Bertrand D’souza of OVERDRIVE. The ICOTY was presented to Ford at a well attended JK Tyre sponsored event in Mumbai in the presence of the who’s-who of the Indian automotive fraternity.

BMW launches 5-series

Technorati Tags: bmw,india,5-series,price,520d

The new BMW 520d has been launched in India and can be ordered at BMW dealerships across India.

Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW India said, “The 5 Series is the core model in our product portfolio. The new BMW 5 Series sedan, since its launch in April 2010, has successfully emerged as a leader in the luxury sedan segment in India. The new BMW 520d sets a new benchmark for four cylinder diesel sedans by combining outstanding performance with incomparable fuel efficiency.”

The new BMW 520d delivers best-in-class fuel economy of 18.4 km/ltr as measured by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) for Indian market specifications. This has been possible by effective implementation of “Efficient Dynamics” which in simple words means getting more for less. The new BMW 520d effectively embodies the principle of Efficient Dynamics by incorporating light weight construction technology, Brake Energy Regeneration and the advanced Electronic Power Steering technology.

Powerful aesthetics, dynamic performance and unmatched comfort make the new BMW 520d the most desirable modern executive sedan in its class.  The new BMW 520d will be CKD (completely knocked-down unit) produced at the BMW Plant Chennai and the all India ex-showroom prices in INR is  36,90,000.

Note: Ex-showroom price excludes RTO registration charges, tax, insurance, handling charges; Octroi and entry tax (as applicable). The above ex-showroom prices are exclusive of sales tax / VAT applicable on sale to the customer. Prices and options are subject to change without prior notice.

The new BMW 520d will be available in a range of ten paint finishes: Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Cashmere Silver, Deep Sea Blue, Havanna, Milano Beige, Space Grey, Titanium Silver, Imperial Blue Brilliant Effect and Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect.

Individual upholstery designs in Dakota leather will be available in four colours: Black, Vento Beige, Cinnamon Brown/Black, Oyster/Black and Oyster/Oyster Dark. The following interior trims are available: Fine-wood Trim Ash Grain Brown and Fine-wood Trim Fineline Anthracite.

The new BMW 520d comes with a two-lire four cylinder turbo diesel engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine delivers a maximum output of 135 kW/184 hp as well as peak torque of 380 Nm at 1,750 rpm reaching its maximum output at 2,500 rpm. Acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/hr comes in 8.1 seconds with top speed of 225 km/h

Jaguar launches XF diesel in India

Jaguar today launched the all new Diesel XF in India. This follows the successful launch of the highly acclaimed 5.0L naturally aspirated petrol XF and the supercharged XFR in 2009.

Contemporary, individual and beautifully crafted, the XF has the soul of a sports car, the style and sophistication of a luxury four-door saloon and the visual excitement of a coupe. Delivering high performance, excellent refinement and outstanding dynamic ability, the XF is true to Jaguar’s philosophy of creating beautiful, fast cars.

Launched with the state-of-the-art 3.0-litre AJ-V6 Diesel S engine, the Diesel XF provides drivers with superior driving dynamics, a more striking appearance and an upgraded interior which offers the ultimate in sporting luxury. The twin sequential turbocharged engine with 275PS and 600Nm of torque offers exceptional efficiency and refinement.  To deliver the high levels of power and torque seamlessly and with effortless flexibility, this engine is perfectly matched to Jaguar’s sophisticated six-speed ZF 6HP28 automatic transmission and can accelerate the Diesel S from 0-100 kmph in just 6.4 seconds.  Featuring technologies such as the JaguarDrive SelectorTM, JaguarDrive ControlTM, Jaguar Sequential Shift and Dynamic Stability Control with Trac DSC mode the new Diesel XF combines responsive, sporting dynamics with the refined, supple ride expected from a luxury Jaguar. . The Diesel XF is fitted with 18” inch alloy wheels with full size spare wheel as standard.

The XF 3.0L Diesel model launched in India includes many premium features as standard: Soft Grain leather seats, Phosphor Blue halo illumination and interior mood lighting, seven-inch full colour touch-screen display and Jaguar Smart Key SystemTM with Keyless Entry and Start. Also included as standard are cruise control, electric glass sunroof, front and rear parking aid with rear view camera and Jaguar Sound System with 6 CD player.

The new Diesel XF introduced in India has been customised by Jaguar engineers in the UK for the Indian market. With ride height adapted for Indian conditions and a non-DPF diesel engine, the 3.0L Diesel XF has been fully homologated and certified at ARAI for the Indian market. This symbolises the importance of and Jaguar’s commitment to the fast growing Indian premium luxury car market. 

The new diesel XF is available in India in the Premium Luxury derivative and is approximately priced at Rs. 4

Toyota Etios overdrive coverage

Technorati Tags: overdrive,toyota,etios,india,variants,mileage,booking

Toyota has launched the Etios sedan at a starting price of Rs 4.96 lakh, Ex-showroom, Delhi. It is available in four variants, J, G, V and VX. J is the lowest trim level with manual windows, no power steering and black fabric interiors. The G variant has steel wheels, no tacho, a basic audio system, no defogger and black fabric. But airbags, ABS and EBD are available. The V variant is loaded, and the VX adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, a chrome shift knob and body skirts to the V's already fully-loaded feature list. The Eitos has class-best cabin and luggage space according to Toyota, plus flat rear floor like the Civic. The 1.5-litre 90PS petrol engine offers 17.6kmpl on the ARAI test cycle. It offers a 3-year/100,000km warranty. The hatchback will be named 'Liva,' which means lively. It will be launched in April 2011. The localisation level of the Etios is 70%, with the major imports coming from the powertrain. Localisation will rise to 90% in two years. The Etios range starts at Rs 4.96 lakhs for the J variant, the G costs Rs 5.46 lakh, the G+ Safety is Rs 5.96 lakhs, the V is Rs 6.41 lakh and VX is Rs 6.86 lakhs, all prices ex-showroom, Delhi. The booking amount is Rs 50,000 and deliveries begin in January.

Overdrive December issue

Technorati Tags: overdrive,december,issue,etios,toyota,honda,vfr,cbr250r

This December, OVERDRIVE has got itself in what is Toyota's most important model: the Etios. But first - we've had fun on two wheels - we've ridden the world's first dual-clutch motorcycle, the Honda VFR1200F. We've also swung a leg over it's baby brother, the CBR250R that will have lots of Indian enthusiasts happy with its value. We've also enjoyed the smooth, torquey Suzuki Bandit 1250S. We then hopped on to the Hyosung GT650R sportbike and ST7 cruiser. And rounded things off by riding through Rajasthan on an Enfield Classic 500. But we haven't got to four wheels yet - Harriet's taken a ride on the 3-wheeled Piaggo MP3.
Life is no less exciting on four wheels this month - the Etios promises much, and we've driven it. Another city car that offers a lot is the i20 Automatic, and we've driven that, too. A little further up the ladder, we see if the Vento AT has what it takes to usurp the City AT. If it's out in the woods that you want to be, then there's no better issue - we've driven the brawny Ford Endeavour 3.0 TDCi 4x2. Then we've got Skoda's much-awaited Yeti, with its on-road manners a different SUV approach to the Endeavour's muscle. We hop into the Volvo XC60 for a full road-test; should the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 be worried? We take a look at VW's new Passat, a sea change from the outgoing model. The hard work done, we've gone for a relaxing wine-tasting trip to Nashik in a Camry. You read about them, but can you afford them? We give you the dope on buying a luxury car.
For our poster, we've got the devil itself: the Ducati Diavel...

Bajaj bikes against Piracy

Technorati Tags: bajaj,bikes,piracy,spare,parts,dealers,automobiles,india,mumbai

Bajaj Auto has started a campaign against piracy in the country. The Police have conducted raids on few automobile spare parts shops in Balaram Street, Mumbai, which were packing & selling counterfeit parts of Bajaj spare parts packed in non-genuine packing.
These criminal actions not only  infringe ‘Bajaj brand ‘ affecting brands credibility, but also cheat the customer who gets a substandard part, which when fitted in vehicle will not give proper service, besides possibly creating safety issues. The government also loses precious revenue in terms of taxes.
In order to contain this social menace, Bajaj Auto Ltd has initiated action against such counterfeiters & following shops in Balaram Street, Mumbai were raided with the help of EIPR Mumbai & Mumbai Police & the named persons were arrested.
1) M/s. Satkar Automobile (Mr. Sarvinder Sarvansingh)
2) M/s. Perfect Scooters (Mr. Sarbajit Santuksingh)
3) M/s. Raj Ratan Automobiles (Mr. Kantilal Pukhrajji Bohra)
4) M/s. Dilip Auto Agency (Mr. Dilip Babulalji Bafna)
Above offenders have been arrested & FIR has been filed against them under Trademark act. 4000 pieces of Counterfeit parts, fake packing material, worth Rs. 3 lacs were seized from their premises.
Bajaj Auto has taken elaborate steps to ensure that its genuine spare parts are easy to identify. A holographic strip with special characteristics is a part of every packaged part. The details of the security measures are detailed on the Bajaj Auto website: www.bajajauto.com under the Service section.
Bajaj Auto has conducted similar raids in Pune & will conduct such raids in all other cities across the country to protect Bajaj brand & the customer.

Mercedes Benz launches M-class new edition

Technorati Tags: mercedes,overdrive,m-class,edition,india

Mercedes-Benz today launched the M-Class Grand Edition in two attractive variants – Grand Sports & Grand Executive for the Indian market. The Sport Edition is priced at Rs. 54.11 Lakhs while the Executive Edition is priced at Rs. 47.91 lakhs Ex-showroom Pune.

The New M-Class introduced in India in 2009 offers the best of both the worlds: the highest levels of luxury, comfort and on-road refinement combined with excellent off-road capabilities and best-in-class safety standards. Its incomparable status can be attributed to its characteristic dynamic, stylish design, a combination of compelling performance both on and off-road, the ride comfort and ease of operation of a saloon, along with a high perceived value. This stylish SUV has been very well received in the Indian market and buyers have come to appreciate the outstanding qualities of the New M-Class. With its exceptional popularity and acceptance garnered over the years. The New M-Class has today become the segment leader registering 24% growth in the mid size luxury segment.
This New M-Class Grand Edition takes this success and magnificence of the New M-Class a step beyond. The Grand edition of this dynamic, stylish SUV now has even more distinctive characteristics, and looks sportier exuding aggression & power. The front end of this off-roader is now defined by redesigned attractive darkened headlamps, LED daytime driving light integrated with the front bumper and the eye-catching 19" light-alloy wheels in 10-spoke design. Stylish fine-tuning and new high-grade materials which are pleasing to the eye and touch combine with a new two-tone colour scheme to add fresh highlights to the interior. Additionally the interiors flaunt an AMG ergonomic sports steering wheel which is eye-catching along with an impressive Grand edition badge on the central console completes the look. It also has its spare wheel placed in its boot.
With a very attractive sub fifty lakh price point, this Grand Edition M-Class along with its compelling package of innovative features & styling elements will appeal to the wider spectrum of SUV aficionados.
In terms of technology, the M-Class Grand Edition, boasts of exciting features like permanent four-wheel drive and 4ETS traction systems while incorporating 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 rear axle has a four-link suspension system. Standard-fitted 19” light-alloy wheels in 10-spoke design emphasize the sporting pedigree of this stylish SUV.  Additionally the M-Class Grand Edition also features as standard - Heated seats, PARKTRONIC & NECK-PRO luxury head restraints as well.
“The M-Class has been a popular model series in India. The “Sports Edition” and the “Executive Edition” are very aggressively priced considering the loadings and features of this marquee. We are confident that customers who expect highest standards from their vehicles will find the M-Class a vehicle that exceeds their expectations- both on and off the road.” stated Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India.

Suzuki GSX-R Vs Yamaha R1 Overdrive comparison drive

Technorati Tags: suzuki,gsx-r,yamaha,r1,overdrive,drive,comparison

Styling & design
Why should we be talking about styling in the beginning of a track test? Well, let’s face facts. Ninety nine per cent of litre-class motorcycles sold in India will never even see the parking lots of a racetrack. Fewer still will ever approach the distant peripheries of their vast performance envelopes. In that kind of riding cycle, looks become rather important.

And both manufacturers know that. The R1 has come a long way from its origins and many would argue that the company has lost the plot a bit with the latest model (2009-2010). What used to be the best looking Japanese motorcycle of them all only three years ago has become a menacing looking stubby thing with a plump fairing, stubby exhausts and a gaping front end that always seems either startled or intensely hungry.

The Suzuki on the other hand, has evolved nicely. You can trace some of the lines back to the original Gixxer Thousand but much has changed, the headlight shape being the most dramatically shifting element of the whole lot. The new one is neat, I like the interesting shape and the gaping intakes - the Suzuki has presence. And menace. Suzuki’s experiments with the exhausts and their shape, on the other hand, I will never fully comprehend. The latest are these gigantic, curved titanium units that look a bit bigger in the pics than they really are. Then again, it’s nothing a carbon fibre Akrapovic stub won’t fix, right?

Overdrive Tata Nano drive

On a happier note, Cherrapunjee’s record for the highest rainfall in a single day is more than two and a half times Mumbai’s worst nightmare come true. A deeply staggering 245.5cm. That’s just over eight feet of rain over a day. If your house was perfectly watersealed and was missing only a roof, that day in Cherrapunjee would see your house fill up with rain water to just below the ceiling.

In fact, Cherrapunjee is no longer regarded as the wettest place on Earth, it’s only famous for that now. A nearby hamlet of Mawsynram is now officially the title holder. Cherrapunjee, though, still holds the records for the highest recorded rainfall in a year and over a month. As good a reason as any to go there in the middle of the monsoon.

Our search of driving adventure led us far and wide around India and Cherrapunjee fitted right in. Just to add a twist to the tale, instead of the obvious choice - an SUV with eight-foot wading capability, an outboard motor and a direct satellite uplink in case we need to send out a mayday, we chose to drive up in a Nano. That too, the base version, minus all the frills. We were out to see the monoliths the town is famous for, its caves and of course, the rain would be the thread that tied the story together.

We set off from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya for Cherrapunjee, a good 60km away. Shillong is fascinating

Overdrive India November issue

The big news is the big new Tata - the Aria, which promises a whole new dimension to the car-buying public. We pit the Tata Aria against the segment leader, the Innova, to see if it manages to best it. A little further up, the Santa Fe marks Hyundai's re-entry into the SUV segment and shows the Fortuner a thing or two. And near the top, the new BMW X5 has made its comeback against its rivals - we test the diesel xDrive30d. Audi's taking the fight to the Mercedes CLS with its four-door coupe, the A7; we drive it. Volvo is also bringing in their unique sense of style and safety in the S60, the 3-series rival. New hatchbacks continue their onslaught, with the Indica Vista Safire 90, A-Star Auto and Fabia 1.6 MPi. We also put the Fabia and Polo diesel into the ring to find out which is the better diesel hatch from the VW group. On two wheels, we've got two city bikes: one is the Mahindra Stallio, which marks the maker's foray into motorcycles. The other is the Ducati Monster 796, available at a remarkable price. We've also given you your fill of race reports including Sirish's podium in Rajasthan. We've gone to Bhutan in a Land Cruiser Prado for a holiday. And we've taken a look at what makes Honda's designs so appealling. All this and more in our November issue, out on stands now!

Overdrive magazine November issue preview

The big news is the big new Tata - the Aria, which promises a whole new dimension to the car-buying public. We pit the Tata Aria against the segment leader, the Innova, to see if it manages to best it. A little further up, the Santa Fe marks Hyundai's re-entry into the SUV segment and shows the Fortuner a thing or two. And near the top, the new BMW X5 has made its comeback against its rivals - we test the diesel xDrive30d. Audi's taking the fight to the Mercedes CLS with its four-door coupe, the A7; we drive it. Volvo is also bringing in their unique sense of style and safety in the S60, the 3-series rival. New hatchbacks continue their onslaught, with the Indica Vista Safire 90, A-Star Auto and Fabia 1.6 MPi. We also put the Fabia and Polo diesel into the ring to find out which is the better diesel hatch from the VW group. On two wheels, we've got two city bikes: one is the Mahindra Stallio, which marks the maker's foray into motorcycles. The other is the Ducati Monster 796, available at a remarkable price. We've also given you your fill of race reports including Sirish's podium in Rajasthan. We've gone to Bhutan in a Land Cruiser Prado for a holiday. And we've taken a look at what makes Honda's designs so appealling. All this and more in our November issue, out on stands now!