Bajaj launches KTM Duke 390 at a staggering price of INR 1.8 Lakhs

If there is one automobile company in India that belts out blows to its competitors every now and then, it has got to be Bajaj. When the Pune-based Indian manufacturer launched the KTM brand in India with the Duke 200 last year, its shockingly-competitive pricing scared the daylight out of its competitors. Now, Bajaj is doing it all over again.

In what can be termed an even mightier blow, Bajaj has now launched the KTM Duke 390 in India at a staggering ex-showroom Delhi price of INR 1.8 Lakhs. Yes dear folks, that's almost 400 cc of two-wheeled bliss for less than a couple of lakhs!

Though KTM claims that the design and styling of the Duke 390 is inspired by the bigger Duke 690, we find it to be very similar to the Duke 200. That isn't surprising, as one of the main reason for the success of the Duke 200 was its attractive 'naked sports-bike' looks. The only identifiable factors differentiating the bigger-engined sibling are the huge '390' graphics in the fuel tank and the striking Trellis frame and alloy wheels that are now painted in the trademark orange colour. The vertically-stacked headlight, the super-thin taillight, the tiny indicator lamps, the sharp and angular fuel tank, the high-set rear seat, the split tyre-huggers and the exposed steel frame and mono-shocks that gave the Duke 200 its unique identity do the same job in the 390 as well. There is no doubt, this motorcycle will turn heads wherever you go.

Powered by a 373.2 cc, liquid cooled engine, the Duke 390 boasts a power output of 43 bhp at 9000 rpm and a torque rating of 35 Nm at 7000 rpm. Together with a claimed kerb weight of 154 kg, the Duke 390 promises to be an insanely quick bike. This single-cylinder, 4-stroke engine is loaded with a lot of advanced technological bits that include fuel-injection, 4 valves driven by twin camshafts, diamond-like carbon coated finger followers and a nikasil-coated cylinder. India-specific changes in the Duke 390 include a larger radiator and a tweaked suspension set-up. Antilock Braking System (ABS) is available as standard, complementing the 300 mm disc up front and the 230 mm disc at the rear. The Duke is known for its super-nimble handling and the 390 would be no different, shod with Metzeler tubeless radials.

Well, the technical specifications aside, Bajaj has yet again given the competition some sleepless nights with the launch of the Duke 390. For the price at which it retails and considering all that it has on offer, the Duke 390 is all set to storm the market.

Ford stuns the industry with an aggressive starting price for the Ecosport

It's been almost 24 hours since Ford announced the prices of the Ecosport, its most-awaited compact Sports Utility Vehicle, for the Indian market. We are yet to come out of the shock though. To be honest, Ford's pricing strategy for the base variants of the Ecosport has literally sent shock-waves across the industry and most competitors might be forced to resort to discounting or repricing in the long run. But, for all those prospective customers who hid their frustrations within and patiently waited for the Ecosport for more than a year, it has been well worth the wait.

Ever since it was unveiled to the public at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi last January, the Ecosport has managed to generate such a buzz that not many new vehicles do. That's because the Ecosport's concept of butch looks, compact dimensions and high ground clearance were just 'perfect' for us Indians, given the restricted road space and less-than-perfect road conditions in our cities. After making us all wait with bated breath for 18 months, the Ecosport was finally launched yesterday and the prices of all variants were announced.

The Ford Ecosport is going on sale in four trim levels - Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium (O), with a choice of three engine options - a 1.5-liter TiVCT petrol, a 1.5-liter TDCi diesel and the hugely-anticipated, technologically-advanced, "International Engine of the Year" award-winning, turbocharged 1.0-liter petrol dubbed the 'EcoBoost'. One variant of the 1.5-liter petrol engine is also available with an option of a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While the EcoBoost engine is making its debut in India, all the other engine and transmission options are already available in the new Fiesta.

The diesel variants that are expected to bring in much of the sales are priced at INR 6.69 Lakhs (Ambiente), 7.61 Lakhs (Trend), 8.62 Lakhs (Titanium) and 8.99 Lakhs (Titanium (O)). The 1.0-liter EcoBoost variants can be bought in only the top two trim levels and are priced at INR 7.89 Lakhs for the Titanium trim and INR 8.29 Lakhs for the top-spec Titanium (O) trim. But, it is the starting price of the 1.5-liter petrol variant that has got the industry shaking. The manual variants are priced at INR 5.59 Lakhs (Ambiente), 6.49 Lakhs (Trend) and 7.51 Lakhs (Titanium). The automatic variant is priced at INR 8.45 Lakhs. All prices are ex-showroom Delhi.

Unlike many other cars, even the base Ambiente variant of the Ecosport comes with a decent set of features. Tilt and telescopic steering, power mirrors with integrated turn indicators, remote locking, a music player with Aux-in and Bluetooth functionality and a multi-function display are standard. The only disappointment for us is the absence of rear power windows in the base model. Trend, the next variant in the line-up, adds rear power windows, Antilock Braking System (ABS), steering-mounted audio controls, driver seat height adjust and a host of other nifty features. As we move up, the Titanium variant also gets 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, climate control, cooled glove box, reverse parking sensor, dual Airbags and Ford's patented SYNC voice-enabled multimedia system with Emergency Assistance. The top-end Titanium (O) variant is fully loaded and adds push-button start, leather seats, keyless entry, side and curtain airbags to the kitty. The Automatic variant also gets the Hill Hold function and Brake Assist feature with Traction Control system.

With the Ecosport, Ford has made its intentions clear. It is willing to take on the competition head-on and has already unleashed the most powerful weapon in its arsenal in the form of aggressive pricing. Its now up to the competitors to decide their next moves. At these prices, the Ecosport not only undercuts the Renault Duster, its prime competitor, but also spoils the party for a whole lot of premium hatchbacks and entry-midsize sedans. Cars like the Maruti-Suzuki Swift and Dzire, Hyundai i20, Honda Amaze and Toyota Etios might be affected by this compact SUV as well.

With stunning design and styling, powerful yet frugal engine options, a long list of features and an extremely competitive pricing strategy, the Ecosport has "blockbuster" plastered all over it. This could become the one big hit apart from the Figo that Ford desperately needs in India. All the company has to do is to take care of the production and the Indian car-buying public will do the rest. Well, the Ecosport may have arrived late on the scene, but it has arrived in style!

Ford celebrates production of 7 millionth Transit van

This seems to be a season of landmarks in the automotive industry. Merely days after Volkswagen celebrated a production milestone of 30 million units of its Golf, Ford Motor Company has announced reaching a production milestone of its own. The American manufacturer recently witnessed the roll-out of the seven millionth Transit van. Considering that commercial vehicles like the Transit don’t enjoy popularity and sales unlike cars do, this is a significant moment for Ford.

The story of Transit began in 1965 in Europe, with the model becoming an instant hit in the continent thanks to its practicality and versatility. Since then, Ford has developed a range of body-styles and variants of the Transit including parcel vans, tipper trucks, campers and bare chassis as well.

Production and sales of the Transit van crossed the first million in 1976, while the subsequent million milestones were reached in 1985, 1994, 2000, 2005 and 2010. Until 1996, Europe remained the sole production location of the Transit, with new plants in Nanchang, China and Hai Duong, Vietnam starting production in 1997. The plant in Nanchang, China is a joint-venture between Ford Motor Company and its strategic Chinese partner Jiangling Motors Corp (JMC) and produces both Ford-branded vehicles and JMC-branded vehicles for the burgeoning Chinese market. It was this Chinese plant that rolled out the seven millionth Transit last week with the celebrations coinciding with the opening of a new assembly line for the commercial vehicle.

Participating in the celebrations along with Wang Xigao, Chairman, Jiangling Motors Corp, Ford Motor Company’s President and CEO Alan Mullaly said, “The Ford Transit plays a significant role in the lives and jobs of millions of people. From getting workers to a building site, to delivering important packages, or even rushing a patient to the hospital, people all over the world rely on Ford Transits to get the job done. The Ford Transit has a superb heritage and an even brighter future. As we pass this incredible seven million milestone, we look forward to helping even more customers get their businesses moving forward with a Transit.”

With the all-new Transit series going on sale recently with an expanded lineup that includes Transit Custom, Transit Connect and Transit Courier and the Transit series venturing into hitherto unexplored markets like North America, sales are expected to grow further. And that means the eight millionth Transit is not too far away.

Mercedes-Benz launches the E-Class facelift in India

If there is one model that is consistently doing good numbers all over the world and brings in fat profits for Mercedes-Benz, it has got to be the E-Class. All through its history, the E-Class has ensured that it stays on top despite stiff competition from the BMW 5-Series, Audi A6 and, of late, the Jaguar XF. The story is no different in India too, as it was the E-Class that kicked off the Mercedes-Benz innings in India. Just like it did elsewhere, the E-Class went on to become a big success story in our market with 23000 units sold till date, making it the highest-selling luxury sedan in India ever. That's what makes the launch of the new facelifted E-Class so important for Mercedes-Benz India.

Though this is just a mid-cycle facelift for the E-Class, Mercedes-Benz has made significant changes in the sheet-metal. This is quite obvious when we look at the front-end of the new E-Class. Gone are the trademark quad-headlight clusters that was a part of the E-Class legacy for the last three generations. Replacing them are two stretched units with thin streaks of Light Emitting Diodes on both sides that mimic the quad lighting setup. The hood, grille, bumper and fenders have all changed, giving the new E-Class a modern and youthful look. For the first time ever, the new E-Class comes with the three pointed star logo in the grille. The biggest change in profile is the absence of the 'retro' pontoons that was a talking point in the old model. The redesigned taillight lenses is the only noticeable change at the rear.

The E-Class has always had amongst the best interiors in its segment and the facelifted model is no different. A combination of ash wood trim, special-treated oak-wood finish and chrome inserts liven up the interiors that is dominated by shades of black. The COMMAND multimedia system now comes with a 17.8-cm high-resolution display, internet, USB and Bluetooth connectivity and navigation system. A host of Intelligence Assistance Systems are on offer including Eco Start Stop function, variable light distribution system with cornering function and a tyre pressure loss warning system.

A total of 8 Airbags including adaptive, dual-stage airbags for driver and front passenger, side-impact airbags for driver and front passenger and window airbags, Anti-Skid Resistance (ASR), Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Brake Assist (BA) function, Attention Assist system that warns drivers about inattentiveness and drowsiness, Active Bonnet that enhances pedestrian safety and Adaptive High Beam with automatic switching between high and low beam along with the famed PRE-SAFE and NECK PRO technologies take care of the safety quotient in the new E-Class.

Two variants are on offer, the E 200 CGI (Petrol) with a retail price of INR 41.50 Lakhs and the E 250 CDI Avantgarde (Diesel) that retails for INR 44.48 Lakhs. The petrol variant is powered by a 1991-cc engine that produces 135 kW of maximum power at 5500 rpm and a peak torque of 300 Nm between 1200 to 4000 rpm. A 2143-cc V4 engine with a rated power output of 150 kW at 4200 rpm and a peak torque of 500 Nm between 1600 to 1800 rpm powers the diesel variant. Both the variants are mated to the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission and are capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in under 8 seconds.

As a launch special, 100 units of 'limited edition' E 250 CDI with a panoramic sunroof, wider rear tires and an illuminated three pointed star logo up front is available, priced at INR 49.90 Lakhs. All prices mentioned are ex-showroom Delhi. With this launch, Mercedes-Benz would be hoping that the E-Class continues its dominance in the mid-size luxury segment against the growing threats from BMW and Audi.

Though the new E-Class is launched in India in just the standard 'sedan' trim, the international markets get to enjoy the complete line-up that includes Estate, Coupe, Cabriolet and the AMG-tuned variants of these body-styles. While we aren't sure which of those are headed our way, we have anyway added a picture of the complete line-up for you to have a quick glance.

Volkswagen Golf production crosses 30 Million units

Successful automobiles around the world reach and pass milestones every now and then, but this is one pretty big landmark. Volkswagen recently celebrated the roll out of the 30 millionth Golf from its Wolfsburg facility in Germany. Since its debut in 1974, the Golf has had a mighty successful run around the world and more so in Europe, enabling the German car-maker to reach this milestone in just 39 years. To help us get a better perspective of this landmark, Volkswagen says that, statistically speaking, an average of over 2000 people have purchased a new Golf every day for the past 39 years. Do you want us to say anything more?

That this huge milestone came in the same year in which the Golf has been awarded the coveted "World Car of the Year" title would make it even sweeter for Volkswagen.

When the Golf was initially launched, it was a big moment for Volkswagen as this model was an indirect successor to the ultra-successful Beetle. Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design for the Volkswagen brand says, "It all began in 1974 with a revolution. The step from the Beetle to the Golf was revolutionary. A new vehicle layout was created with the conversion from an air-cooled rear engine to a water-cooled front engine and from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive. In terms of the car's styling, Volkswagen designers switched from round shapes to a rectangular design structure - based on the legendary design study by Giorgio Giugiaro."

Since then, the Golf has become a benchmark for the industry and for Volkswagen itself, as all competing cars and every other car that Volkswagen produced was pitted against it. Since its debut in 1974, the Golf has gone through seven full generation changes with each successive model raising the bar for the segment and placing the Golf firmly on top. For us though, the best part of Volkswagen Golf was its evolving design and styling that just kept improving over the last 39 years without ever taking a radical departure from the first generation model. The 30 millionth Golf was a TDI BlueMotion variant which, incidentally, happens to be the most fuel-efficient Golf ever built.

Speaking on this landmark, Prof. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG said, "The history of the Golf is also the history of automotive progress. With technologies such as the safe front-wheel drive of the first Golf, the debut of the TDI in the third Golf, ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and the dual clutch gearbox of the fourth Golf and the standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System of the new generation, this car has continued to democratise progress. An optimum of safety, comfort and driving fun are no longer a question of money thanks to the Golf. And so our bestseller lives up to the Volkswagen name."

While all this is good to read and know, its a pity that we wouldn't be able to drive such a brilliant car on Indian roads anytime soon.