Fiat India opens new showroom in South Mumbai

Fiat's expansion plan continues with yet another showroom in Mumbai, Esskay Motors, its first official showroom in South Mumbai.

Fiat India has finally opened a brand new showroom in South Mumbai, Esskay Motors on February 20, 2014. The new showroom in the popular Prabhadevi area marks a long awaited return of an exclusive Fiat showroom in South Mumbai for the first time in over a decade. The new showroom has a floor space of over 8,500 square feet with display space for four cars and a state of the art workshop of 18,000 square feet, which shall be operational in a months time. Nagesh Basavanhalli, President and MD of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India Operations and C. K. Parkash, Chairman and MD, Esskay Motors inaugurated the showroom.

Apart from the 2013 Fiat Punto and the newly launched 2014 Fiat Linea, the Fiat Avventura concept car and the Fiat 500 Abarth will also be on display till March 23, 2014. The Fiat Avventura is stated to be launched by August with the Fiat 500 Abarth scheduled for launch later this year. Fiat will also launch the all-new Fiat Punto in late 2014 making their total tally of four new cars in the 2014 calendar year.

Speaking on the occasion, Nagesh Basavanhalli said, “FIAT India views Mumbai as a very strategic market and the inauguration of an exclusive dealership is in accordance with our strategy to capitalise on this potential. We are confident that our association with Esskay Motors will play a crucial role in identifying the customer base and enhancing customer experience in Mumbai. Fiat has brought these cars to the city for an exclusive viewing, on demand of its fans and customers here.”


C. K. Parkash, Chairman and Managing Director, Esskay Motors said, “FIAT cars are prominent all over India for their aesthetic design and their engineering superiority. We are extremely proud to become exclusive dealers of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Mumbai and with an experienced management team and well trained technicians we are confident of replicating world class dealership and after-sales experience to the car buyers here”


Since its official split from the Tata group in April last year, Fiat India has opened 105 new showrooms in various cities and towns around the country with a total of 150 showrooms planned by the end of 2014. Fiat India has also ensured higher levels of customer service and a large consignment of spare parts which will be kept in stock so as to felicitate quicker turn around times for its new customers.   

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After domestic launch, Fiat to export Avventura

Fiat Group Automobiles India (FGAIPL) is working on an export strategy for its soon to be launched compact utility vehicle Avventura built on the Punto platform.

While the company did not disclose details, it said plans to export Avventura to key global markets will be initiated after the vehicle is launched in the domestic market.

“We will be looking at right-hand driven markets as a priority but there is no firm plan yet on which those markets are going to be. Our priority will also be to make sure we have enough capacity to cater to the domestic market,” said Nagesh Basavanhalli, president and managing director, FGAIPL.


While the company has not given the exact launch date, Avventura is expected to be launched before December 2014.


Avventura, built indigenously, was first introduced at the recently concluded Auto Expo in Greater Noida. The vehicle will be available in both petrol and diesel variants in the domestic market.

FGAIPL claims it is pulling all punches to make a comeback in the market from the product and the dealership perspective.

In the pipeline are plans to launch iconic car brand Abarth — which will initially be launched as a completely built unit and eventually be assembled locally to bring down costs — and the new Punto. All launches will take place before December 2104.

FGAIPL, which is a subsidiary of Italian carmaker Fiat, has already seen a 72% jump in sales volume to 10,278 vehicles during the April 2013-February 2014 period on a year-on-year basis.

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Can AMT shift past Manual?

t’s been about two decades since automatic transmissions started trickling into India through the likes of the Daewoo Cielo, Opel Astra and the Maruti Esteem AX. Today, most of the high-end cars are 100 percent automatic, but in the mainstream market, this transmission system hasn’t really gained traction with Indian buyers. In fact, despite a proliferation of automatics by premium brands, the total sales of cars with automatic transmission still accounts for less than five percent. However, that scenario may soon change.

The Auto Expo 2014 played host to the launch of the Maruti Celerio, which comes with an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). And, more importantly, it’s the cheapest auto car you can buy in India today.
 

According to market sources, there has been an overwhelming response to the Maruti Celerio. Some dealerships claim that the Celerio EZ Drive or AMT version accounts for 70-80 percent of enquiries in certain dealerships.

 
Predictably, other mainstream carmakers are now embracing AMT tech. Though passed on in Europe for newer transmission technology, it is set to see a resurgence in India. Tata showcased the Nano Twist Active that, apart from the recently fitted power steering, also features an AMT ’box. This should help the Nano unlock its true potential as a city runabout. Tata also showcased the new Zest saloon AMT that, interestingly, is mated to the diesel engine. Mahindra too showcased an AMT-equipped Quanto ‘auto shift’, indigenously developed with help from Ricardo.
 

AMT technology was pioneered by Magneti Marelli (MM), the component arm of Italian carmaker Fiat. Unsurprisingly then, Fiat too is mulling the introduction of an AMT-equipped Grande Punto hatchback and Linea saloon. However, this won’t be the first time it uses this tech – it had featured on the old Punto (not the Grande Punto) previously.
 

So why the sudden renewed interest in a relatively old technology? It’s primarily down to the economics AMTs offer that makes them difficult to resist. They appear to have addressed the two main hurdles that stunt the demand for automatic cars: price and fuel efficiency.
 

The Celerio EZ Drive, just around Rs 38,000 more than the equivalent manual version, is a breakthrough in terms of price. To prove the point, the cheapest manual Honda Brio costs Rs 3.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) while the automatic ’box is available only on the top VX trim and starts at Rs 5.99 lakh. This means the consumer has to essentially fork out an additional Rs 2 lakh just for the automatic box – an uncomfortably high percentage of the car’s price.
 

By offering the AMT ’box on even the base LXi Celerio, Maruti has made the automatic transmission an affordable option, rather than a luxury feature. The manufacturer has unequivocally addressed fuel consumption concerns by claiming that the AMT Celerio delivers identical fuel efficiency as its manual counterpart – the ARAI fuel economy figures for the Celerio manual and automatic are identical at 23.1kpl!

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Datsun makes a global comeback; launches Rs. 3.12 lakh car

Japanese auto major Nissan's Datsun brand on Wednesday made a global comeback with the company launching its entry level car 'Datsun Go' priced between Rs. 3.12 lakh and Rs. 3.70 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) in India, intensifying competition in the small car segment. 

"Indian car market is very competitive and with Datsun we are entering a segment which we can't address with the Nissan brand. We expect the Datsun brand to contribute half to one-third of Nissan's sales in India," Nissan Motor India MD and CEO Kenichiro Yomura told reporters here.

The company will launch three models under the Datsun brand by FY'16 and it has already announced the Go+ as the second model to be launched.

Commenting on the return of the Datsun brand, Datsun Global Programme Director Ashwani Gupta said the global automotive market has undergone a shift with the high growth markets such as India, Indonesia, Russia and Brazil that accounted for 40 per cent of the total sales, expected to account for 60 per cent by 2016-17.

"The opportunity of new car demand lies in high growth markets with first time buyers. The transaction price in India ranges from USD 8000-9000 as compared to USD 25,000 to USD 30,000 in high growth markets like the US, EU and Japan.


That's why we decided to bring the Datsun brand," Gupta said.

The entry-level car under the Datsun brand is aimed at the first-time car buyers. The Japanese carmaker is reviving the Datsun brand after almost three decades.

In March 2012, Nissan had announced that it would launch the Datsun brand in India by 2014. After its introduction in India, Datsun will be launched in Indonesia, Russia and South Africa.

The car would compete primarily with the likes of Maruti Suzuki's Alto 800 and Alto K10 and Hyundai's Eon.

While the 800cc Alto 800 is priced between Rs. 2.37 lakh and Rs. 3.52 lakh, Alto K10 is priced between Rs. 3.15 lakh and Rs. 3.31 lakh.

On the other hand, Hyundai's Eon, is priced between Rs. 2.83 lakh and Rs. 3.85 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi). The five-door front-wheel drive Datsun GO comes with a 1.2 litre engine with a five speed manual transmission.

The car is being manufactured at the Oragadam plant, a joint venture between Nissan and France-based automaker Renault. Both the companies have invested about Rs. 4,400 crore.

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Volvo launches new S80 sedan; prices start at Rs 41.35 lakh

Swedish luxury car-maker Volvo Auto India on Wednesday launched an updated version of its S80 sedan in India, with price starting at R41.35 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The new generation Volvo S80 comes with various features including pedestrian and cyclist detection with full auto brake, Volvo Auto India said in a statement.

The car would be available in the country in two diesel variants, priced at R41.35 lakh and R44.80 lakh, respectively, (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The company also launched its first exclusive lounge at the Terminal 3 domestic departure, Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. “Terminal 3 IGI Airport is one of the largest aviation hubs in South Asia with a heavy influx of high profile fliers. Creating a Volvo lounge at such a strategic location is yet another step closer towards our existing and prospective customers,” Volvo Auto India MD Tomas Ernberg said. Commenting on the launch of S80 sedan Ernberg said: “We have focused on quality and attention to detail in order to give S80 a major boost and sharpen its competitiveness.” 

Group to launch UD Buses Bangalore, March 19: Volvo Buses on Wednesday said it will roll out its new range of less expensive buses branded ‘UD Buses’ later this year, eyeing a potentially large market for these vehicles in Indian cities and also for export to emerging markets. The company has entered into a joint venture with SMK Automobiles to set up a manufacturing plant near Bangalore for the new range.


UD, a Japanese maker of buses and trucks, was acquired by Volvo in 2007 but its bus operations were discontinued in 2010 as the focus shifted to developing trucks.

“UD buses have had a strong brand presence in Japan and southeast Asia. Now we adapt the buses for growth markets, starting with India,” said Håkan Agnevall, president of Volvo Group’s bus operations. Volvo’s current line-up of buses are priced upwards of R80 lakh. With the UD range, it is eyeing the upper end of the gap between premium buses and the mass segment buses that cost up to R25 lakh. FE Bureau

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Mahindra Reva set for e2o’s European, Sri Lankan drive

Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles, the electric car manufacturing arm of Mahindra & Mahindra, will enter the European markets — particularly the UK and Norway— by the end of this year with its e2o model, the automatic electric car.

Buoyed by an impressive response from its recent entry into Nepal about four months ago and Bhutan (a week ago), the company is now looking at other countries which offer incentives for electric mobility, said Chetan Maini, founder and CEO, Mahindra Reva Electric.


He said: “We are working on additional features like airbags, ABS, power steering and enhanced battery for e2o to enter the European markets. We have identified the UK and Norway and will enter these markets by year-end.”

Maini added: “Both the UK and Norway offer huge incentives for electric vehicles. In particular, Norway has zero-import duty to promote e-vehicle concept. Nearly 1,500 Reva electric cars are plying in the UK while nearly 500 cars were sold in Norway (earlier Reva models). Given the huge promotion to green concept and our years of presence in these two countries, its easier for us to enter with the e2o.”


Similarly, the company is looking at entering Sri Lanka, which, too, offers incentives for electric vehicles. “We have exported around 30 e2os to Nepal and Bhutan till now and


we keep getting more orders. Bhutan has just opened its market for electric vehicles only and we have the first mover advantage in the 70,000 cars per annum market,” he added.  

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Toyota to launch new Corolla Altis on May 27

Japanese four-wheeler maker, Toyota has announced that it will officially launch the new Corolla Altis which was unveiled earlier in the Auto Expo 2014 at Greater Noida. The manufacturer will be launching its C+ segment  luxury  car  on May 27, 2014. Bookings of the car, across all dealership have already begun at Rs. 50,000. The new model has undergone cosmetic changes and there aren’t any mechanical upgrades done to the  car. Hence, the car’s expected price will be Rs. 40,000 premium over the current model.

The new car features new stylish chrome grille, LED headlamps, LED Clearance Lamps (four) along with new 16” alloy wheels which bring a decent and confident look. The car’s interiors are also more premium class with plush leather seats, dual tone colour and cyber carbon piano black instrument panel cluster giving the car a rich feel. The car comes with features like- push start/stop button, smart entry, rain sensor, paddle shift, rear array lamp, rear power socket. Along with it the car features 7 inch touch screen, one button operation and voice command capable audio.


2014  new Toyota Corolla Altis measures  4620mm long, 1776mm wide and 1475mm tall  and is longer and wider than the current car. The wheelbase of the car is increased by 100mm and stands at 2700mm against 2600mm of  the current car.


The company has high hopes from the car and that is clear from the statement given by Mr. Hisayuki Inoue, Senior Managing Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Chief Executive Officer of Asia and Middle East Operation, “ The new Corolla Altis signals a new era in Toyota design. Along with DNA of quailty, it shares the excting new ‘Keen Look’ with our cars around the world. I am confident that the All new Corolla Altis will continue to fascinate customers in India and around the world.”

As there are no mechanical changes done to the car, it is still powered by 1.8 liter naturally aspirated petrol engine that powers the outgoing model. Power and torque are rated at 140 PS at 6400 rpm and 190 Nm at 4000 rpm respectively. The engine will come mated to a manual transmission. A seven speed CVT automatic with pedal shifters will also be available with this petrol motor. The diesel engine will also be the same 1.4 liter motor which produces 88 PS and will be available in D-4D with variable Nozzle Turbo and Intercooler with 6 speed manual transmission.

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Mahindra XUV500 gets new colours in India

The Mahindra XUV500 has been witnessing a drop in sales volume due to the stiff competition posed by Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster SUVs. In an effort to entice customers to its fold Mahindra has added new colours to the entire XUV range which consist of W4, W6 and W8 models.

2014 Mahindra XUV500 W4The base W4 variant which was till now available only in black & white will get Dolphin Grey colour. The W6 which is sandwiched between the W4 and W8 gets two new colours in Dolphin Grey and Satin White. The flagship W8 variant also sees the addition of Opulent Purple and Artic Blue colours.

The technical stuff remains the same. Engine is the same 2.2litre mHawk engine making 142PS at 3750rpm and a peak torque of 330Nm available within the 1600-2800rpm range. The transmission doing the duty of power delivery is a six-speed manual box. The SUV does the 0-100kmph in a claimed 12.5 seconds. Mahindra says that XUV500 has a top speed of 175kmph. Fuel efficiency is an ARAI rated 15.1kmpl.

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Fiat to locally assemble Abarth in India from 2015

 

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India operations president and MD Nagesh Basavanhalli on Friday said the company will begin locally assembling the Abarth at its Ranjangaon plant near Pune from 2015.

The company, which showcased the Fiat Abarth 500 at the Delhi Auto Expo, however, is yet to take a decision on which of the Abarth models it will begin assembling at the plant. The Abarth 500 is one of the four new cars that the Italian car maker has lined up for the 2014 launch in India. The Fiat 500 Abarth will be brought through the CBU route but we will have a local Abarth in 2015 as well, he said.

“... We will retain the DNA of the car, he added. The Abarth portfolio includes the Abarth 500 and Abarth Punto and is known among the raching enthusiasts.

Fiat has just launched the new Linea in the Indian market, and will bring the Abarth 500, the new hatchback Avventura and the refreshed Punto before end December.

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Hyundai Xcent launched, with alluring Rs 4.66 lakh price tag

 

On Wednesday, India's second-largest car maker Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) entered the hotly contested sub-4 metre sedan category with its compact sedan, the Xcent. Based on the Grand i10 platform, the Xcent comes for a starting price of Rs 4.66 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and will take on the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and the Honda Amaze. “The Xcent is a world-class product developed for Indian families and will create a new benchmark in terms of quality, design, space, features and driving pleasure in its segment. We have invested extensive effort in competitively pricing the Xcent,” said BS Seo, MD & CEO, HMIL. The Xcent also completes HMIL's portfolio in the sedan segment from entry level to premium.

“While the Indian auto sector saw negative growth in 2013, the compact sedan segment grew at 28.5% and has seen consistent sales of 24,000 units a month. We believe the segment will continue to grow and Xcent will further increase that growth,” added HMIL senior vice-president Rakesh Srivastava. With the Xcent, HMIL is hoping for a positive sales growth this year after witnessing a decline of 1.2% in 2013. “The recent excise duty cut is welcome and this year the sector will hopefully grow but only in single digits,” Srivastava said.

The Xcent is available in two engine options – 1.2 litre petrol and 1.1 litre diesel. The company says that while the petrol has a mileage of 19.1 kmpl, the diesel returns 24.4 kmpl. “The Xcent further redefines Hyundai’s automotive excellence as it gets various segment-first features such as glove box cooling, rear parking camera and sensors, auto folding mirrors, dual airbags, rear AC vents and more,” said Srivastava.

When asked if the Xcent will eat into slightly higher priced i20's sales, Srivastava added, “The i20 always had the Dzire and the Amaze as competitors, still it has been selling about 5,000 units a month. So there is no reason that Xcent will dent into i20's sales.”

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Caltech researchers develop silicon chip that can turn any cellphone into a projector

Researchers at California Institute of Technology (CalTech) have developed a new chip which acts as a lens-free projector. When used with a phone it could turn it into a projector.

The chip has been developed by Ali Hajimiri, Thomas G. Myers Professor of Electrical Engineering, and researchers in his laboratory (see image insert).


This is a light-bending silicon chip which uses integrated optical phased array (OPA) to project the image electronically with only a single laser diode as light source and no mechanically moving parts. This is unlike traditional projector that lets the beam of light pass through a tiny image, using lenses to map each point of the small picture to corresponding, yet expanded, points on a large screen.

The research team was able to bypass traditional optics by manipulating the coherence of light—a property that allows the researchers to "bend" the light waves on the surface of the chip without lenses or the use of any mechanical movement. If two waves are coherent in the direction of propagation—meaning that the peaks and troughs of one wave are exactly aligned with those of the second wave—the waves combine, resulting in one wave, a beam with twice the amplitude and four times the energy as the initial wave, moving in the direction of the coherent waves, says CalTech in a release.

The OPA chip uses a series of pipes for the light that are called phase shifters to slow down or speed up the timing of the waves passing through it. This controls the direction of the light beam. The electronic data from the computer or the cellphone are converted into multiple electrical currents to form an image. This is done by using stronger or weaker currents to the light within the phase shifter which changes the number of electrons within each light path. This also changes the timing of the light wave in that path.


These timed light waves are delivered to tiny array elements within a grid on the chip. The light is then projected from each array in the grid, the individual array beams combining coherently in the air to form a single light beam and a spot on the screen.


"In the future, this can be incorporated into a phone, and since there is no need for a lens, you can have a phone that acts as a projector all by itself," Hajimiri, of the research team says. He also clarifies that a tiny projection device can have many applications—including light-based radar systems (called "LIDAR"), which are used in positioning, robotics, geographical measurements, and mapmaking.


These results were described in a presentation titled "Electronic Two-Dimensional Beam Steering for Integrated Optical Phased Arrays" and were presented at the Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) conference in San Francisco on March 10.

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Mercedes S-Class price cut by Rs. 18 lakh as local assembly begins

German luxury car maker Mercedes Benz today announced commencement of assembly of the S-Class sedan in India and has slashed the car's price by Rs. 18 lakh.

The locally produced S 500 model will be priced at Rs. 1.39 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) and will be rolled out from the manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, Mercedes-Benz India said in a statement, adding that this strategic move will help to cater to the increasing demand.


In January, the company had launched the new S-Class luxury sedan in India at Rs. 1.57 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) and it was fully imported.


The company has already sold out the 125 units of the launch edition allocated by its German headquarters for India. The new S-Class currently has a waiting period of approximately 3 months, it added.

The company has advanced the plan to locally assemble the S-Class by a couple of months due to robust demand and has opened bookings for deliveries in June.

Currently, Mercedes-Benz India locally produces S-Class, E-Class, C-Class, GL-Class and the M-Class, while it imports completely built units of the A-Class, CLS-Class, SLK-Class and the luxury tourer B-Class, among others.

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Maruti Alto K10 AMT to be launched by 2014 end

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the country’s largest auto makers, is sure to enhance their position in the compact car segment following the successful launch of Celerio. Offered in a choice of manual and automatic manual transmission (AMT), the new Celerio booking numbers have surprised everyone, including the maker itself.

Raking in 1000 bookings everyday, Maruti Cerlerio is well on its way to become of the the best selling cars in India. The surprising factor of these bookings, is that compared to the manual variant, the AMT variant has received more bookings.

AMT technology is much in demand at present due to the fact that if offers the conveniences of automatic transmission and making clutch pedal or changing of gears redundant. It is also priced more economically as compared to other automatic technologies and the Celerio is priced at INR 4.14 lakhs making it the cheapest automatic car in the market.

With the new Celerio compact hatchback successfully launched last month, and noting increased demand, the company is now working on an AMT variant of the Alto K10 which is expected to be launched by the end of 2014, reveals Financial Express. Once the new Alto is launched later this year, Maruti Suzuki will be one step ahead of Tata Motors who are also planning to launch AMT variants of Tata Nano, Indica and Zest. Other manufacturers like Mahindra, Hyundai, Volkswagen etc are also working on launching AMT variants in India.


Maruti Suzuki Alto with AMT will be ideally suited for buyers in urban areas due to its attractive features at an affordable price. This would also enable the company to revive sales of Alto which have been declining during the period April to January 2014.

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Hyundai Xcent Launch On March 12th

In the run up to the 2014 Auto Expo, Hyundai revealed the Grand i 10′s compact sedan edition the Xcent. Designed to compete in the compact sedan segment, the Xcent will take on the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and Honda Amaze head on. It has now been confirmed that the car we saw first on 4th February 2014, will now be launched on 12th March 2014 i.e. within the period Hyundai stipulated. Expected prices for the Xcent should begin around Rs 5.30 lakh and go on to around Rs 8.15 lakh.

With the smartly named Xcent, Hyundai is looking to capitalize on the success of the Accent. The name is different yet familiar enough for customers to accept it instantly. Hyundai only unveiled the Xcent in Delhi and did not reveal any details regarding the engine options. However, if market trends are any indication the car is likely to get a 1.4-litre petrol engine and a 1.2-litre diesel. The 1.4 petrol will most likely be mated with a 5-speed automatic gearbox as well. With the Xcent, Hyundai will have tapped into every major and fast growing segment with the exception of the compact SUV. However, the IX 25′s (Final name will be different) launch doesn’t seem too far away which means Hyundai is going high and low to tap into every mass moving segment.

One of the things we liked most about the Xcent was the design employed. Adding size while staying within the sub-4 metre mark is a challenge many take up, but few can pull off gracefully. In terms of styling the car is evidently the larger sibling of the Grand i10, but the difference in name will certainly play to its advantage. Although the cars in essence are the same, the change in name makes the Xcent stand out just enough.

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Fiat launches new Linea

Fiat Group Automobiles India has rolled out its new Linea with several loaded features.

The prices of the seven variants of the car range from Rs 6.99 lakh to Rs 9.72 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi.


The new Linea comes with four petrol and three diesel versions. The lowest, Linea Active, is priced at Rs 6.99 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi, and Rs 7.22 lakh ex-showroom Mumbai.


The T-Jet Active cost Rs 7.44 lakh in Delhi and Rs 7.65 lakh in Mumbai. The T Jet Dynamic version is priced at Rs 8.53 and Rs 8.77 lakh in Delhi and Mumbai respectively. The T Jet Emotion is priced at Rs 9.01 and Rs 9.27 lakh in Delhi and Mumbai, respectively.

In diesel, the Multi Jet Active will cost Rs 8.15 and Rs 8.35 in Delhi and Mumbai respectively. Multi Jet Dynamic is priced at Rs 9.27 and Rs 9.50 lakh while Multi Jet Emotion will cost Rs 9.72 and 9.96 lakh in Delhi and Mumbai, respectively.


Among the bells and whistles on offer is a new cruise control feature for comfortable and safe driving at high speeds. The new Linea also comes with safety features such as ABS with EBD, dual stage airbags along with early crash sensors.


The car is also longest in the segment with best in class ground clearance. Among the external features, it comes kitted with bigger alloy wheels, new bumper and grille, ORVM with turn indicators.

It also comes with features like rain sensing wipers, automatic on/off headlamps, reverse parking sensors, Follow Me Home headlamps. In terms of infotainment, the car packs in Fiat's 'Blue and Me TM" technology with voice commands, steering mounted audio controls, USB & Aux in inputs and unique 'car' features among others.


Nagesh Basavanhalli, president and MD, FIAT Chrysler India Operations, said, "Fiat India will also be launching more models this year and with a 100 plus dealer network and upcoming marketing initiatives, we will be in a strong position to capitalize on the competitive market." 

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First Drive: Datsun GO

They say good things happen to those who wait. And so all those months of waiting, bringing you exclusive sneak peeks at the car, our moment with the Datsun Go had finally arrived. What made this drive more special was that we were the first ever journalists in the world... yes, in the world, to drive the Go hatch on the roads. With the official launch just a few weeks away and the interest levels growing, we thought we would put it on the city roads and a bit on the highway to see how the GO fares.

 
Let's go (pun intended) first with the looks department and this is where the GO really puts itself in a class above its segment. From the attractive hexagonal grille which will be a common link across all future Datsun models worldwide, to sharp-looking headlamps, the face of the car is very appealing. Interestingly, the headlamps come with the Follow-Me-Home activation system which automatically switch off after a pre-set time; a useful bonus feature for many first-time car buyers.

 
The side and rear profile of the GO is also pleasing to the eye with flowing lines and creases to accentuate the stylish design - and emphasise space. Datsun has gone with small 13 inch wheels which it claims is lighter and offers better fuel efficiency but we just think they just look disproportionate to the overall design. But we do like this Spunky Maroonish Red shade on the hatch that we drove and believe will be the popular choice among Indian buyers, although the Powder Blue - shown at the Expo, might appeal to women buyers too.

Inside the cabin, the Datsun GO tends to lose a bit of its premium exterior appeal with some dull-looking plastic, the long pull-type handbrake, and of course the front connected bench seat. We wondered and scratched our heads about the relevance of this connected seat and of course kept probing Datsun about it, which really thinks it is a more practical option for India. According to the co., the free space in the centre can be used to place a small bag or book and also sliding out from the other side is now easier in tight parking situations. We are not convinced as it opens up a safety risk if children are placed in the middle of this front bench-seat. Also what we found out during our drive, is that one's elbow will keep bumping into the seat back which is quite bothersome.
 
But the wow factor inside the cabin is really the space with the ample headroom and extra legroom thanks to a generous wheelbase. The seats are comfortable enough but the cushioning could be firmer especially in the rear seat. The boot is also equally impressive for an entry-level car as we could fit in most of our heavy camera equipment and luggage without a hitch. Now Datsun is offering a whole host of accessories to make the cabin more appealing like a regular stereo system or the centre-seat in front being replaced by an armrest. Airbags and ABS are not available on any of the three variants that the company will launch, but Datsun says it is studying the possibility of offering it as optional sometime in the future.

We initially got the GO out on the highway to see what it was capable of and it didn't disappoint. The 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine carried over from the Micra performs reasonably well given that this engine has been retuned for better Fuel Efficiency. The company claims a Fuel Efficiency of 20.63 kilometres to the litre of petrol, just below the Hyundai Eon but importantly above the Maruti Suzuki Alto in the Fuel Economy charts. Engine noise does creep into the cabin along with some amount of wind noise. So you have to get used to the noise filtering in frankly. The clutch and brake pedals required no extra effort although the shifts on the 5-speed gearbox were not exactly smooth - especially the downshifts.
 
But despite its light weight, the car didn't feel unstable or rattle even at three-digit speeds on the highway. Once we hit the city in the midst of evening rush-hour traffic, the GO really impressed with easy maneuverability in traffic thanks to a quick and responsive steering and the engine offering decent performance at the low-end too.

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Facebook to shut down Messenger for Windows desktop on March 3

Facebook Messenger for Windows Desktop will be shutting down from March 3, according to a report in The Next Web. The report comes within days of Microsoft’s announcement that the official Facebook Messenger app will be coming to Windows Phone 8 devices within weeks.

According to the report, Facebook’s Messenger app began showing a link saying that it would shut down from March 3. “We’re sorry, but we can no longer support Facebook Messenger for Windows, and it will stop working on March 3, 2014. We really appreciate you using Messenger to reach your friends, and we want to make sure you know that you can keep chatting and view all your messages on http://www.facebook.com,” the message stated at the top of the application.



A Facebook spokesperson also confirmed the same to the website.

Facebook Messenger for Windows was released in March 2012. An OS X version was expected to be launch but given that the Windows version has shut down, it seems unlikely. Facebook is likely to concentrate on Messenger for Windows Phone devices, and other mobile devices, instead of focusing on desktops.  Another report on the The Next Web also said that Facebook Messenger for Firefox is also shutting down on March 3.

This isn’t the only service to get the axe in Facebook recently. Facebook also announced that it would be killing off the email service @facebook.com admitting that it had failed to take off amongst users.

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‘Faulty’ Volvo Design Led to Fire, Says CID

The Crime Investigation Department (CID) said here on Wednesday that ‘faulty’ design of Volvo buses is one of the major causes for a fire which engulfed a luxury bus and claimed 45 lives near Palem in Mahbubnagar district.

Speaking to reporters, additional DGP, CID, T Krishna Prasad said that the findings shows that there is a ‘defect’ in the design of Volvo buses which do not make them road worthy. We will submit a report to the centre about this, he said.

Meanwhile, the CID sleuths on Wednesday arrested JC Uma Reddy, J C Prabhakar Reddy ,relatives of former minister J C Diwakar Reddy, and 9 others in connection with the case and produced them before the court in Wanaparthy. Later, the court granted them bail.


The arrested persons include -- Fairoz Basha, Shakeel Jabbar, Jameel Jabbar, Syed Akram Ahmed, Shabbir Khan, Amanullah Khan, Mohammed Rafeeq, J C Uma Devi and Yaseen Abdul Raheman.


The design of the Volvo bus is such that one main fuel tank of 300 litres is very close to the battery compartment, which  tends to be in close proximity to the road on the right hand side of the bus.

After the bus hit the culvert, the iron pipe on the culvert railing broke and pierced into the bus, due to which sparks emanated from the battery compartment, igniting the main fuel tank, which was made of plastic, Prasad explained.


“This pipe acted like a capillary and spilled the fuel into the bus. The entire interior of the bus was made of PVC material, which is highly inflammatory. Emergency exit doors were blocked by passenger seats, in violation of rules. The owner and the operator had altered the interior design to accommodate more passengers, to maximise revenue,” he said.

“The bus manufacturer Volvo, bus owners   Diwakar Road Lines and the bus operator was Jabbar travels have all made the bus endangering to harm life. Diwakar road lines and Jabbar travels forged lease document.

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Ford Ka MPV India launch in 2016

There is no denying the fact that the success of the Figo hatchback and EcoSport compact SUV has enabled Ford India to establish itself as one of the key players of Indian car market. Both these models, especially the EcoSport, have garnered a huge fan following among Indian car buyers and such is the demand for this compact crossover that the manufacturer has been struggling to meet the demand for its latest SUV.

However, apart from these two cars, Ford India doesn’t have any overtly successful model to speak of. Rather, the car maker has been conspicious by its absence in two hottest new segments of our car market- MPVs and Compact Sedan. Ford unveiled the sub 4m Figo compact sedan earlier this year and the model would go on sale in 2015. While this would solve half the problem, Ford will still need to come up with a MPV to capitalize on the burgeoning sales in this segment. This is exactly where the Ford Ka Concept, Figo Concept’s slightly bigger twin, comes into the picture.

The Ford Ka Concept was unveiled in Brazil just a day after Figo Concept’s debut and unlike the latter, the Ka Concept isn’t a sub-4m sedan and sits on a longer wheelbase. Visually, the biggest changes are the bigger headlights and taillamps. Apart from these and the 4m-plus credentials, there is nothing to differentiate it from the Figo Concept. While the bigger Ka Concept will never make it to India, what’s coming our way in 2016 is a MPV based on this sedan and with the Ford Ka MPV India launch, Ford India would be present in almost all the promising segments of our car market.

The Ford Ka MPV will be a Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and upcoming Hyundai MPV and Honda Mobilio adversary and is expected to score high in terms of passenger comfort and style. While the car will get Fiesta’s 1.5 litre petrol and diesel motors, we won’t be too surprised to see it also getting the highly famed 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine from the EcoSport.

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Ford Motors to have 24-hour shifts to meet demand

The Indian car industry is in the middle of a downturn, but Ford Motor's Indian unit is planning a round-the-clock manufacturing programme at its Chennai plant to meet local as well as overseas demand for its compact SUV EcoSport. The plant will operate 24 hours from the second half of 2014, a first in Ford's 17-year presence in India.

The company plans to produce 1,60,000 units in 2014 by operating the plant in three shifts. The plan is to take it to 2,00,000 cars with vendors' support. Ford India will, thus, join its South Korean rival Hyundai — also at Chennai plant — in operating with three shifts.


Ford currently makes about 350 units of EcoSport a day. It plans to increase it to 450 units per day by June. By October, the plant will produce 750 to 850 units a day to meet demand from Europe and Japan. Ford India is working with vendors to ramp up their capacity to meet the high demand.

The move comes at a time when block closures have become a norm due to a declining market. Ford India spokeswoman said the company continues to evaluate opportunities to remove bottlenecks for reducing the waiting period. "Given the dynamic and challenging times across the industry and low consumer sentiment, we continue to monitor the situation and will adjust our production to match the demand for our products. We do not comment on specific production volumes," the spokeswoman said.

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