Hyundai rolls out 3 Millionth Car in India

Exactly 8 months after the roll-out of it's 2.5 millionth car out of the Indian operations, Hyundai Motor India today celebrated the Roll-Out of it's 3 Millionth Car from Indian soil. Being Hyundai India's best seller by volume both in domestic and export markets, a decorated red i10 deservedly did the honors for the company in the presence of the top management officials. This day (04-Aug-2010) will go down as a red letter day in the company's history as Hyundai is only the second automobile manufacturer in the country after Maruti-Suzuki to achieve this milestone and also did so in a record time of less than 12 years.

Ever since Hyundai started operations in India in 1996 by setting up it's plant in a record time of just 17 months, it has always been a trend-setter in the country. Starting from the Santro in 1998, Hyundai continued it's successful onslaught in India with the Accent and Sonata in 1999 and 2001 respectively. This was followed by Terracan, Getz, Elantra and Tucson, all of which turned out to be less successful. Hyundai came back with a bang with the i10 in 2007, which garnered an entire gamut of awards and smashed all sales records. This was followed in 2008 by the hugely successful i20 model. Going forward, Hyundai is expected to launch the Santa Fe before the end of this year to try it's luck again in the SUV segment.

Here's wishing the company all success in it's future endeavors and to cross many more milestones.

The go-anywhere Mahindras leave us impressed

We have to confess that in recent times, we are totally taken by surprise by the way in which some automobiles have shown their true potential and are starting to grow on us, which in the past, have not managed to garner a second glance. The case in point are the jeeps manufactured by Mahindra and Mahindra. Except the Scorpio and the Thar (or customized Classic models), we have never been fans of the other Mahindra models, basically because of their plain-jane design and old-school interiors. Sometimes, we have even went as far as thinking about how people are buying these vehicles in the first place.

Proved us wrong and made us a fan straight-away, yes, that's exactly what the Mahindra jeeps did to us in our recent encounters with them at a couple of places, Wayand (Kerala) and Kabini (Karnataka) to be precise. From ferrying people up and down hill in the mountain roads (Munnar and Wayanad) to climbing almost rock-like slabs and stones with ultimate ease (Edakkal Caves in Wayanad) to taking people on a forest safari (Nagarhole National Park) to manouvering through knee-deep slush with the slightest of strain for both itself and the passengers (Kabini), the Mahindra jeeps did it all and more. On the other end, Mahindra Boleros, which were customized enough and would not look out of place in a luxury hotel, whizzed past the highways and plains, proving the versatility that these vehicles provide their customers.

Agreed, the Land Rovers, Land Cruisers, Jeeps and Hummers of this world can do all this and much more in total lap of luxury, but when you bring the price into consideration, the Mahindras leave them in the dust. The most astonishing fact is that these Mahindras manage to do those jobs at a fration of the price of the formers. Thanks to Mahindra, we now regret fot not giving the respect that these vehicles deserved. Remember folks, where your car will not dare take you, these Mahindra jeeps will do it for you!

Tata Aria spotted testing in Pune

They say that a keen eye for detail will never go unrewarded and it came true during my recent short trip to Pune, India's second automotive hub after Chennai. Having determined to spot something interesting related to automobiles there, I was overwhelmed with what I saw. The diverse range of yet to be launched vehicles that I spotted testing in Pune city ranged from a completely camouflaged bike, most probably a new model from Bajaj to a Mercedes-Benz City Bus doing intracity trial runs. But sadly, except this Tata Aria test vehicle, the other surprises could not be captured through my lenses.

When I first saw this new model from Tata during it's premiere at the Auto Expo 2010, I knew what I saw was big. But, I just did not expect it to be so big until I spotted this cool Tata Aria parked casually on a busy Pune thoroughfare. It was really huge, which is apparently obvious with the Indica (in the shot) as a reference. The Aria is surely going to be one size up than the competing models like Toyota Innova and Mahindra Xylo. If the magic carpet ride of the current Tata Safari is anything to go by, the Aria is sure to transport people in ultra comfort as it shares the platform with the yet to be launched new Safari.

The styling of the Aria is so conservative that it hardly turned heads, but the imposing road presence that the Aria commands cannot be denied either. The front end has been styled quite aggressively with big, peeled back headlamps that extends so far back into the fender that it almost touches the A-Pillar. But the design of the grille, with three horizontal slats leaves a lot to be desired, with it's high positioning giving it a slightly awkward look. The rear styling is comparatively more pleasant and pleasing to look at with Tata's signature Christmas-tree taillight cluster, which in this case is tapered at the bottom. The chrome-tipped dual circular exhausts lends it a sporty look, which is further accentuated by the chrome number plate garnish and the v-shaped rear windscreen. This car also had slots where the rear parking sensors are supposed to be fitted.

There was an old gentleman sitting in the driver's seat and the windows were kept wide open which allowed me to peep into the interiors. The quality seems to be leaps and bounds ahead of what Tata has produced till now barring the Vista and the Manza. If those two models took Tata build quality to a new high, this is going to take it further up the order. Having seen one on the road now, I am only more curious to see the response of the general public to the costliest Tata yet.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG launched in India

Though India, as an automobile market, holds very high importance for every automobile company in the world, there is no denying the fact that, it is still seen as a market for compact cars, ones that are cheap to buy, own and drive by many. But premium brands beg to differ, what with companies like Ferrari, Aston-Martin and Lamborghini planning an entry into India and the recent years have seen the launch of brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Porsche and the sports cars of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi. In spite of the existing duty structure and the road conditions which makes buying and owning sports cars a tough job, the select few who are gifted enough to buy them are ready to plonk in their money and the number is growing by the day.

Here is proof, if ever needed, that the automobile companies have realized this and are trying to capitalize on it. Such was the response that Mercedes-Benz India received for it’s SLS AMG sports car at the Auto Expo 2010 that India has now become one of the first RHD markets in the world where this beauty is getting launched. Speaking on the launch of it’s flagship super car in the Indian market, Mercedes-Benz India MD & CEO Mr. Wilfried Aulbur said “We are very excited to come with SLS in India. We have started the production a couple of weeks ago in Germany”. Sure, there are many reasons to be excited for this man heading the Indian operations of the iconic German brand, but none to be as excited as we all car-lovers are.

Speaking of facts, the SLS AMG is the first-ever car to be completely developed by AMG, the performance division of Mercedes-Benz. After making fans across the world crave for regular Mercedes models with AMG badging, it has now taken its ultimate step with the SLS. Powered by a 6.3 litre V8 engine churning out 571 bhp of peak power and 65 kgm of peak torque, the car is capable of doing a 0-100 km/h run in 3.8 seconds and reaching a maximum speed of 317 km/h, more than any road in India will ever allow it to go. And just look at it, are the other facts & specs still needed to convince a prospective customer to put a couple of crores of their money in it? The SLS AMG is by far the most beautiful Mercedes to be launched in the past few years and more than a spiritual successor to the legendary 300 SL Gullwing. Just like it’s predecessor, the SLS AMG stuns with it’s Gullwing doors, the aluminum spaceframe construction, the long hood and the droopy rear-end styling. With 10 confirmed pre-launch bookings already, the SLS AMG is sure to script a big success story for Mercedes-Benz in India.

Image Courtesy: The Hindu (www.thehindu.com)

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sports creates Land Speed Record

There are certain things in life, which when even thought about for a split-second, demand superlatives. And when it comes to the world of speed, there are quite a lot of things (and humans) which do that. Starting from Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher (greatest F1 racers ever) to the TGV and Concorde (the fastest train and jet), the list is quite formidable. And, if there is one car which has its name etched into this list, it would undoubtedly be the Bugatti Veyron.

Stung with criticism from all angles, Volkswagen, the owner of the Bugatti brand took it upon itself to deliver what it promised in the form of Veyron, even if it involved losing money on every number produced. In the process of doing so, terms like W16 engine configuration, 1001 bhp and quad turbochargers became known to the general public. Finally, when the Bugatti Veyron was launched as the World’s most powerful car at that time, the world was in awe of one of the ultimate cars that had ever been produced. Though the car’s design was not liked by everyone, the specifications and power output more than made up for it.

And now, when the Veyron is about to become history with the last few numbers to be manufactured, Bugatti decided to celebrate with the most fitting title to it’s super car – “Guiness Land Speed Record for a Production Car”. On July-04-2010, in Volkswagen group’s proving grounds at Ehra-Lessien near Wolfsburg, Germany, in the presence of German Technical Inspection Agency (TUV) and Guiness Book of Records representative, Bugatti sent it’s official test driver Pierre Henri Raphanel to drive the first of the Super Sports in the oval in both the directions. With speeds of 427.93 & 434.21 kph and an average speed of 431.072 kph (268 mph), the Veyron Super Sports easily set a new world speed record for a production car.

To commemorate this, the first five Super Sports edition produced will have the same black and orange livery as the record car. The entire Super Sports series will come with a power output of 1200 bhp and a maximum torque of 1500 Nm which are identical to those of the record car, but the Top Speed will be limited to 257.9 mph thus making the life of the tires and the occupants easier. But only a very few people, who are already lucky enough to even think of spending a fortune on buying this, will be able to get their hands on this one, what with a price tag of close to a quarter of a billion dollars and a very limited production run.

Images Courtesy: Autoblog (www.autoblog.com)