| |
| BMW aims to create a new segment |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
During the Auto Expo at the start of the year, BMW announced that its all-new X1 compact SUV (or SAV, Sports Activity Vehicle, as BMW refers to it) would roll off their assembly line in Chennai before the end of 2010. At the time, they also announced that it would simultaneously reduce the price of entry into the brand. Well, BMW have honoured both claims, as they officially launched the X1 in Delhi before Christmas last year.
President of BMW India, Dr. Andreas Schaaf, was expectedly bullish during the launch. BMW overtook Mercedes Benz last year as the leader in the Indian luxury car space. And despite an unprecedented spate of launches over the course of the year by Mercedes, BMW seems poised to retain its first place. Dr. Schaaf’s view is that the more models they launch, the more they’re able to grow the market as a whole. He also believes that, over the next decade, volume in the luxury car space in India will be ten times what it is today, which would put BMW India in the top-ten markets for the Bavarian carmaker the world over. To meet current demand, BMW has increased the production capacity of their assembly plant to 8,000 units, versus 5,000 previously. BMW also aims to create dealerships everywhere in the country where they can sell over 100 cars, as the impression is that demand for luxury cars now exists everywhere in the country, and not merely in the metros.
Dr. Schaaf also believes that there are no competitors for the X1, and he could well be right as this is a compact luxury SUV with a price tag to well-and-truly frighten a lot of the other SUVs in the Indian market. The X1 will come in three different variants. The sDrive18i has a 1,995cc petrol engine producing 150bhp and 200Nm of torque, and will be the entry-level BMW at Rs 22 lakhs (ex, showroom). The sDrive20d comes in two trim levels, and features a 1,995cc turbocharged diesel engine capable of producing 177bhp and 350Nm of torque. The sDrive20d will run you Rs 23.9 lakhs, while the sDrive20d Exclusive, which comes with xenon headlights, a 6CD changer with iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, iDrive, wood trim and leather upholstry, is considerably more at Rs 29.9 lakhs.
If you want to get your hands on an X1 anytime soon, however, you better rush, as some dealers have already stopped taking orders. It appears that BMW have hit the sweet spot once again!
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Audi bullish about India, as Audi Gurgaon delivers 1,000 four-ringed machines |
|
| |
 The Audi A6 is scheduled for a revamp in 2011. Targeted towards the executive segment, the new A6 will have five different engines on offer – starting with two petrol engines, followed by the three diesel units. These engines are expected to generate a power output ranging from 177bhp to 300bhp. The German manufacturer is also expected to launch a hybrid version of the A6, which would offer V6 power with the fuel efficiency of a four-cylinder unit.
The new A6 will offer adaptive light functions that adjust the illumination automatically during different driving conditions. And, on the inside, it’ll offer the facility of a start-stop button. In terms of overall design, the new A6 is a few millimetres shorter and lower than the outgoing model, but the wheelbase has been extended. The long engine hood, short overhangs, and sweeping roofline attract your attention instantly. 
With the new A6 in the pipeline, Audi would be looking to reassert itself in the executive segment, which is something that its dealer network would welcome with open arms. Audi Gurgaon, the German manufacturers’ flagship dealer – with 13,684sq-ft of showroom space, enough to display as many as 14 models – has already delivered 1,000 cars in two years. On the 30th of November last year, Audi Gurgaon celebrated delivery of its 1,000th car – a Q7, which is fitting since Audi has been very successful in the luxury SUV space. In 2010, Audi is expected to have grown by 80%, although its German rivals have posted more impressive figures.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Nissan unveils its global sedan |
|
| |
| |
 |
| |
Nissan Motors have recently unveiled a new global sedan at the 8th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition. The ‘Sunny’ is likely to already be on sale in the Chinese market, after which it’ll be launched in 170 countries worldwide. According to the company, it’s the second model to be built on its versatile ‘V’ platform, which currently underpins the Micra. The new sedan is expected in Indian showrooms by mid-2011, and will be manufactured at the Oragadam plant, near Chennai.
The market was expecting a sedan version of the Micra, so the individualistic styling of the sedan will be a good differentiator for Nissan. The new sedan is expected to be powered by a 1.5 litre (1,498cc) straight-4 engine, mated to a new-generation X-tronic CVT with an auxiliary transmission. The powertrain will be good for 108bhp and 148Nm of torque. The model name for India will be decided closer to the time of its domestic launch. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rolls-Royce to open the (gilded) doors to a new facility |
|
| |
 |
| |
A three-bedroom house in a posh area; a long holiday in Vegas; five Mercedes-Benz E-Classes; or a second wife – that’s what the Rolls Royce Ghost is worth! On second thought, it’s worth more than all this combined. You must understand, someone who’s in a position to own the Ghost would already have all of the above – yes, perhaps even a mistress. So what he (or her for that matter) wants is something exquisite – something more than just ‘flash’ on wheels. Put simply, he wants the best – something that would speak on his behalf. He wants opulence in as subtle and classy a way as possible. And the Ghost is the epitome of class.
It’s not as obvious as the Phantom – the sheer physical size and massive grille of the Phantom makes it very difficult for it to be subtle. We carried an extensive review of the Ghost back in the August 2010 issue, and, at the time, we went on-and-on about
its stately stance – despite being the baby Roller. But, we also spoke about how massively impressive it engine and driving dynamics are.
Recently, Rolls Royce organized a media event in the National Capital Region to share the news of a new, and bigger (much bigger actually) display facility coming up in Delhi. They also had a couple of Ghosts lined up for us to be driven in, and drive thereafter. So, it was a feeling of nostalgia that came over me – with those huge rear-hinged doors, and the soft carpets on the inside that make you want to remove your shoes before you step in.
Rolls Royce had brought along a couple of professional drivers to take us around and display the Ghost’s technical and engineering prowess. The parking sensors – together with the camera – was the highlight. Or was it really? No, it was the suspension and the engine. Oh, and the steering and the brakes. And also the fantastic interior. And the versatility. Heck, we’re smitten!
But this is what a Rolls-Royce does to you. I’ve never believed in ghosts, but I do believe in this one. I’ve already started saving up. And, in the meantime, I’ll be a regular window-shopper at the new dealership in Delhi (Mohan Cooperative, Mathura Road), which is expected to open its doors in the first quarter of 2011.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
