Wheel Industry

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Honda Jazz : An excellent car with good looks

All you can see one more car runs on Indian roads and you may be a part of it. Yeah! I am talking about "Honda Jazz". The fresh masterpiece in the 4 Wheeler segment has finally introduced by the Honda Company as a small car with a view of making it big in small car segment in India. The small car segment has been the most competitive segment, especially in India where customers in significant numbers look for a small car at minimum budget range. So, it is quite understandable that Honda has come up with a small car in order to tap this market. At the same time, the Company has wanted to maintain its reputation by positioning the car in the luxury range, so that it makes a big impression like that of its most successful cars Honda City and Civic.

With the first look at the Jazz, we can be assured that it makes a good impression on road. I can also not help but feel that if the same model was introduced earlier than i20, it would certainly have made the best impression. Once I enter the car, the interior comfort gives a sense of getting into a luxury car. The seats are comfortable with cushioning and spacious legroom, and they justify the statement of "One life, why so serious?".

The power of 90PS with 1.2L Ivtech engine justifies and boosts confidence in the Honda cars. With the track record of the successful Honda New City, definitely we need not worry about performance. At the same time, the Features of the base model are a setback, as it comes without climate control, alloy wheels etc. Indeed, the test drive I took was very impressive and the car's acceleration, handling and breaking all proved good.

It could have certainly made a big success with the same price if launched earlier than the Fabia and i20, but now its seems to be too late. With the earlier rumours that Honda might have priced the the car around 4.5 Lac, many customers would have planned to switch over to Honda for hatchback but now the option goes back to Swift, Indica Vista, and if budget is little higher then i20 and only at the end, consider New Honda Jazz.

When I looked at this car I never stop my feelings and just say it is an excellent car with good looks, but simply too, too expensive.

Monday, June 15, 2009

What Is The Real Cost of Owning The Wonder Car - Nano?

All we know that the Nano cost Rs. 1 lakh but how much will you have to cough up to run the car? Two-wheeler companies have been saying that the running cost will differentiate the Nano from a premium motorcycle brand. ET worked out the math.

The entry-level Nano, with its Rs. 1-lakh price tag, is expected to have an on-road price of Rs. 1.35 lakh in Pune. This will include the road tax of around Rs 10,000 including Rs. 2000-3,000 as registration and a one-time comprehensive insurance payment of Rs. 4,374.

The EMI for a five-year tenure loan is Rs. 2,300 added to which will be the petrol bill, with the Nano boasting a fuel efficiency of 23.6 km to a litre of petrol. In Pune, petrol retails at Rs. 44.29 per litre.

Explaining the tariff structure, the Maharashtra transport commissioner, Deepak Kapoor, said individual buyers have to pay 7% as road tax on the total cost of the car, which rises to 14% for corporates. Moreover, the tariff structure is based on the cost and not on the size of the engine. “We are not expecting huge tax collection on the Nano since its base price is low,” Mr Kapoor said.

The Nano’s insurance costs are also higher than two-wheelers. Finance industry professionals tracking the sector said the EMI on a higher-end Nano could be Rs. 3450-4000 for a five year loan while one-time insurance costs would be over Rs. 6,000.

When it comes to spare parts, though, the Nano is not going to be very different from other cars since all automotive manufacturers make their money on spares. “The world over, car makers always earn on spares and the Nano is not going to be any different. Individual spares of the car will probably cost the same as those of the Indica,” said a Nano vendor.

The owner of an automotive garage said the most commonly replaced parts in an Indica are front and rear bumpers.

Drive Your Emotions Into The New Modern Era

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Skoda’s Attraction : A Small Car Runs on Indian Road in Next Year

Czech auto giant Skoda, part of German automaker Volkswagen, is stepping up the gas in India and plans four new launches by next year which will see it entering the small car, MPV and SUV segments. The company may also increase local content in its cars in the coming year, and is looking to phase out the Octavia in the next couple of years.

The Octavia was used to make an entry into the mid-market segment. Skoda will introducing the small car at a little over Rs. 3 lakh (just compare it with Maruti Alto - Lxi). Skoda Auto India, on the sidelines of the launch of the diesel version of the Skoda Superb. I think, India will be the first market where this car will be launched. An estate/variant of the Skoda Fabia is also being tested for the Indian market. Also the Roomster, which is an MPV is being tested on Indian Roads. The company will launch the SUV, Yeti, next year. The Yeti will be brought out later this year at the Geneva Auto Show and Skoda plans to launch it in India in the first half of next year.

With the launch of the diesel version of Skoda Superb, and the V6 petrol version launch earlier, the Czech automaker is getting strong-growing in the D-segment, which has grown 55% in the last quarter. The company will also move into the mid-market segment with the renovation of the seven-year old Octavia model. So, if you are thinking to buy Maruti Alto - Lxi then why not SUV Yeti?

Tata Motors To Give Back Dealers Over Unsold Nano Forms

My God! Bookings of Nano are over and many of us waiting for 1 Lakh Rs. car for a years (may be 1 or 2) and nobody thinks what happens about the Nano or its coming variants. Well, Tata Motors is understood to have begun refunding dealers across the country for unsold Nano booking forms. Caught up in the Nano excitement, each dealer had picked up between 2,000 and 10,000 application forms, but managed to sell not more than 30-35% of it, top dealers said. Dealers bought each booking form for Rs. 250 and sold it at a premium of around Rs. 300 to customers.

The company has informed the dealers that the Nano form money would be refunded. They are able to sell more than 50% of the forms bought from the Tata management. Dealers now admit that they overestimated the demand for the Nano. Most customers opted to stay out of the booking process as there was confusion over the procedure, unavailability of test drives and uncertainty over delivery schedules.

It is believed that while issuing the forms, Tata Motors had told dealers that the amount spent on forms will not be refunded. Many dealers approached the company and requested about the refunding, as the amount is quite substantial. The company initially asked dealers to wait but now, they have been told that the amount would be refunded. I don't know what happens next?

Tata Motors received over 2.03 lakh bookings for its Rs. 1 lakh car Nano, collecting nearly Rs. 2,500 crore. The company sold a total of 6.10 lakh forms. Although initial industry expectations were around 5 lakh bookings, company officials maintain that the company has gathered a good response at a time when the car market is struggling for volumes.

Whatever the matter but one thing is clear many middle class families must have to wait for their dream car for at least 1-2 years.

Pediatric Links - For Your Beloved One

Pediatric Surgery
This blog describes various medical and surgical diseases in children.

Laparoscopic procedures
Laparoscopic surgery though require skill, it is less morbid, less painful, gives good cosmesis and avoids large scars.

Pediatric Cancer
It is an informative blog which describes various types of cancer in children, their clinical presentation,diagnosis and management written by a surgeon.

Atlas of Pediatric Diseases
It includes the exclusive pictures of various diseases in children. This is very useful site to remember the pathology in a glance. Especially for doctors as well as for persons who are interested in pediatric medicine and surgery. Disclaimer :The images in this blog are from real surgeries, and they might not be suitable for all readers.