Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has announced that all its vehicles will be equipped with Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) gearboxes by 2018.
The car maker, which recently celebrated 20 years of its operations in India, is confident that the addition of AMT gearboxes will turn out to be a beneficial step for the company. The gearboxes are touted to be self-manufactured and will come equipped on mid-level hatchbacks and entry-level sedans.
The AMT technology, which offers the advantages of lesser cost, rider flexibility and better fuel economy, has become very popular among Indian customers and the demand for AMT cars is going up considerably in recent times. 
In 2014 Maruti Suzuki launched the Celerio with AMT gearbox and received good response from buyers. This was followed by the Tata Zest and facelifted Maruti Suzuki Alto K10. From then on, many manufacturers came up with AMT variants of their cars and now many more vehicles are in the pipeline. No wonder the demand for AMT cars .

Hyundai cars in India to have AMT gearboxes by 2018

BS-Motoring

DSK Motowheels, part of the diversified DSK Group, forayed into the niche superbike segment in 2012. Shirish Kulkarni, chairman, DSK Motowheels, discusses the company’s achievements and its plans for the future in an exclusive interview with BS Motoring:How many Benelli superbikes have you sold nationwide since the launch of the Italian brand in India? Which are your major markets?
We have sold around 2,200 bikes since we launched the DSK Benelli range in India. 
We see widespread potential from across the country. With a strong presence through 16 sales and service outlets across all metropolitan cities, we are increasing our footprint further by entering tier II and tier III cities pan-India. In fact, non-metro cities are showing immense potential. As per our research, demand for powerful superbikes in these markets has gone up by 60% in the last four years. Consequently, we are looking at widening our footprint in these lucrative geographies in a major way. 
What kind of growth do .

Interview: Shirish Kulkarni, chairman, DSK Motowheels

Renault India has suspended the production of its latest hatchback Kwid due to engine problems at its Oragadam plant in Chennai.
According to vendor and dealer sources, the French car maker is learnt to have scrapped 1,500 engines due to high noise levels and not a single Kwid car, which has a waitlist at the consumer end of at least five months, has been produced since May 11.
Sources in the company said that the production stoppage was part of "regular maintenance" and that the delivery of the Kwid will not be impacted by the stoppage of production.
However, according to Renault filings with the Tamil Nadu state government, the planned shutdown is only from May 21-29 whereas Kwid production has stopped from May 11 onwards.
Launched in September 2015, the hatchback had registered over 1.25 lakh bookings in India with waiting periods stretching from 5-10 months.
The Kwid is a critical car for Renault which has been trying to ramp up production to meet demand. The company clocked a ...

Renault India halts Kwid production due to engine problems

Worried over the spurt in the number of illegal speed-breakers on highways, the Haryana government has ordered their removal. 
Many roads and highways in the state are pockmarked with speed-breakers put up illegally by local bodies or residents. Krishan Lal Panwar, the state’s transport minister, has now directed the National Highways Authority of India to remove all such speed-breakers.
The problem of illegal speed-breakers is rampant across India, as local residents either put them up or force local bodies including panchayats to erect them to prevent accidents.
However, all rules relating to putting up speed-breakers are violated, causing more accidents. According to the central government, speed-breakers cannot be set up on national highways; only rumble strips can be installed, but with the specified size and height.
Speed-breakers on other roads also need to be painted so that motorists are aware about their existence. Many bikers and two-wheeler riders get killed or injured ...

Haryana government to remove illegal speed-breakers

Three innovative IT initiatives of the ministry of road transport and highways, and developed in house by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) were launched on Monday by road minister Nitin Gadkari.
The three initiatives included ePACE (Projects appraisal and continuing enhancements), an online integrated management information system; INFRACON, the national portal for infrastructure consultancy firms; and an updated version of INAM PRO, a web-based application for infrastructure and material providers.
Gadkari urged all stakeholders to make conscious and active use of innovations and successful best practices from around the world in engineering and construction of roads. 
The minister said the government had brought in many policy changes to streamline procedures and ease out road blocks like land acquisition, environment clearances and paucity of funds. 
Technological initiatives have also been brought in like the satellite based road asset .

Gadkari launches innovative IT initiatives for road and highway construction

Mahindra & Mahindra’s TUV300 with the all new mHAWK100 engine, is claimed to be India’s first SUV to offer autoSHIFT automated manual transmission technology (AMT).
The autoSHIFT   (AMT) T8 variant has also been upgraded by the company with more power and has been refined for smoother automatic gear shifts and a fatigue-free driving experience.
The TUV300 will also offer a more comfortable ride with better cushioned seats in the second row and comes with ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts on the second row seat to ensure safety of the child.
Along with more power, there is a boost in torque from 230 NM to 240 NM in the TUV300 with the all new mHAWK100 engine, thereby improving acceleration with more pep and torque. 
The new mHAWK100 engine will deliver a power of 73.5kW (100 Bhp) and will be available in the top end variants of T8 and T8 AMT in the TUV300. The new vehicle is available across Mahindra dealerships pan India; the TUV300 with mHAWK100 engine will be priced at Rs.8.87 lacs ...

Mahindra\'s TUV300 is first SUV with autoSHIFT AMT

Japanese automaker Toyota’s confidence in the Indian market has taken a big knock after the ban on diesel cars and SUVs above 2,000 engine capacity imposed by the Supreme Court last December, said a top executive.
“But it is our job at Toyota Kirloskar Motor to reinstate that confidence,” Shekhar Vishwanathan, vice-chairman, of the Bengaluru-based company said at the launch of the Innova Crysta, the all new model of its best-selling Innova. 
The new Innova Crysta has been launched nationally except in Delhi. This is bound to affect the vehicles sales as Delhi-NCR is the company’s single-largest market accounting for more than 8 per cent of total sales.
Company sources admit that the lingering uncertainty on the sale of high-end diesel vehicles in the national capital region has come as a big blow to Japanese auto major Toyota’s “confidence in India”, forcing its domestic unit to rework its plans.
Vishwanathan said “the element of trust has been broken” between Toyota and the country ..

Ban on high-end diesel cars, SUVs, shakes Toyota\'s confidence in India

Mahindra's TUV300 is first SUV with autoSHIFT AMT

The Supreme Court ban on diesel vehicles and SUVs of engine capacity of 2,000cc and above in Delhi-NCR, which has been in effect since mid-December, has impacted about 5,000 jobs in the automobile sector and has resulted in production loss of around 11,000 units, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam).
In a written submission to the Supreme Court, Siam states there was a production loss 11,000 vehicles due to the ban; this translates to an impact on approximately 5,000 jobs in the industry. 
The submission, giving a ground level impact of the apex court’s restrictions, adds that “if extended across the country, it (the ban) would lead to a loss of production of one lakh vehicles over the same period and would have impacted 47,000 jobs.”
As diesel vehicles of 2000 cc and above were not sold they were transferred to the non-NCR dealers for disposal.
Opposing levy of environmental compensation charge (ECC) on diesel vehicles, the automobile industry body said .

5,000 auto industry jobs impacted by ban on diesel vehicles: Siam

April was a tough month for auto exports as overseas sales dipped by 15.87% to 2.44 lakh units compared to 2.90 lakh units in the same month last year. This happened largely on account of the African and Latin American markets facing challenges. 
According to the latest data of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), it is after three months of growth that automobile exports fell last month. In the first three months of the year, export shipments had grown by 3.8 %, 0.95% and 6.53% respectively.
Says Vishnu Mathur, Director General Siam, “Exports have declined overall. Every segment seems to have gone down and that is largely because African and Latin American markets are facing a lot of challenges right now. Decline in commodity exports and downward spiral in crude prices have led to a decline in income in the African markets.”
Industry experts say that Latin American countries have been badly affected by high inflation and therefore the purchasing power of consumers ..

Tough times for auto exports

Honda BR-V

Good looks and smart features in the new Honda BR-V make it ideal for those looking for a dash of thrillThe compact SUV space is no more the exclusive playground of Mahindra & Mahindra. Ever since Renault brought in the Duster at an affordable price, several car manufacturers have introduced compact SUVs into the Indian market. The latest to join this growing tribe is the Honda BR-V.The first word that comes to one's mind after seeing the BR-V is "deja vu". Since it's built on the Honda Brio platform, it feels as though one has seen the BR-V earlier. It reminds one of the Brio, the Mobilio and even the CR-V. The only difference seems to lie in its sporty looks.The BR-V is not a very large vehicle. Rather, it's a bit narrow in its overall structure. But when I step inside, I am amazed by the space the Honda engineers have carved out for its passengers and their luggage.The BR-V is powered by Honda's proven i-VTEC and i-DTEC technology. Both petrol and diesel engines have a cubic cap

The new Honda BR-V is subtly macho

Business Standard

Nordic treat

Volvo S60 Cross Country

The Volvo S60 Cross Country is a very capable car that can be handled across all weather and terrain conditionsThe Nordic region that comprises countries like Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland has given the world some great brands like Ikea, H&M, Nokia, Ericsson, Atlas Copco, Lego, Carlsberg and, of course, Volvo.Volvo, though known for its impeccable safety features, never really scored big on the styling front when compared to some of the German brands. All this has changed in the recent past. In India, with the likes of the all new XC90, XC60, S60, S80, V40 and V40 cross country, the style quotient has gone several notches higher. Now there is a new one in its stable: the S60 Cross Country.Call it a Nordic treat, if you must, but this car is actually meant for a country like India where the roads are generally pockmarked with pot holes of all sizes.The cross country tag means that this car is no ordinary four-wheeler. It is a luxury sedan with some sporty features. No

TVS Motor Company has rolled out a special TVS Scooty Zest 110 “Himalayan Highs’ edition,’ to commemorate its ride to Khardung La Pass by a female rider, Anam Hashim.
With this feat, TVS Scooty Zest 110 has earned a place in the India Book of Records for being the first 110 cc Scooter to reach Khardung La in the Himalayas. 
The special edition, TVS Scooty Zest 110 Himalayan Highs, comes in an exclusive Himalayan High Brown colour, with beige pigmented panels and superior enhanced features such as new tapeset, body colour mirrors, body colour cover switch panels. The special edition scooter features a special emblem honouring the feat of reaching the highest motorable road in the world at 18,380 feet.
“The Scooty has been an iconic brand for mobility in India,” said Aniruddha Haldar, VP Marketing, TVS Motor Company. “It’s only fitting that the first 110 cc scooter to reach the highest motorable road is a Scooty Zest 110, and it was ridden there by Anam Hashim, a 21 year old Scooty Zest 

TVS Scooty Zest 110 launches special Himalayan Highs edition

Japanese auto major Nissan threw a lifeline to compatriot Mitsubishi Motors on Thursday announcing its intent to buy a one-third stake in the scandal-hit automaker for $2.2 billion, forging an alliance that will challenge some of the world's biggest auto groups.
The news comes after Mitsubishi Motors was plunged into crisis following revelations that the company has been cheating on fuel economy tests for years. This had led to speculation about the company’s future.
According to the terms of the deal Nissan will become the company’s largest shareholder with a 34% stake. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries currently controls 20 per cent. 
Both the Japanese automakers have a presence in India, though Mitsubishi’s is marginal. The company had a technical alliance with Hindustan Motors, but hardly sells any vehicles in India. Nissan on the other hand has a significant presence in India.
Nissan has another tie-up with French auto major Renault according to the terms of which they both own stakes .

Nissan throws lifeline to Mitsubishi

The BMW plant at Chennai has rolled out the 50,000th car produced in India. Celebrating the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the German carmaker has further strengthened its commitment to the Indian market by increasing the level of localisation at the Chennai plant up to 50 percent.
“It is with great pride that we are rolling-out the 50,000th car locally produced at the Chennai plant,” said Dr. Jochen Stallkamp, Managing Director, BMW. “Each and every BMW that is locally produced is of the same international standards as anywhere else in the world and brings a smile on the faces of our customers.”
According to him, highly skilled employees, advanced manufacturing processes along with state-of-the-art machinery and technology provide all the necessary ingredients to achieve these tough standards. “We are proud of this achievement and look forward to many such milestones in the future.”
The all-new BMW 7 Series received the distinction of being the 50,000th car locally-produced in India. ...

BMW\'s Chennai plant rolls out 50,000th car

Ford India has launched a new Black Edition of the EcoSport SUV. Priced between Rs. 8.58 lakh and Rs. 9.93 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the Black Edition EcoSport will be available across all dealerships in the country.
Available in three trims - Trend+, Titanium and Titanium+ - the EcoSport Black Edition will be offered with the 1.5L TiVCT petrol engine with both manual and automatic transmission options, 1.5L TDCi diesel engine as well as the 1.0L EcoBoost engine.
The new variant will offer all-black exteriors that have a black grille, black-out moulded headlamps, 16-inch black alloy wheels, black mirror covers, and black fog lamp bezel, black roof rails and roof cross bars. The SUV comes with up to six airbags for safety and SYNC with AppLink, Ford's in-car connectivity system that allows drivers to stay connected.
In addition, the 16-inch alloy wheels too get the blacked-out treatment, and they surely look impressive. The interiors have been left untouched and will continue to offer .

Ford launches EcoSport Black Edition in India at Rs 8.58 lakh

American motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson has launched a campaign for its Indian customers, where a lucky rider can win a chance to ride across the US free of cost.
Under the Discover More campaign, Harley-Davidson is offering one lucky rider a chance to ride Route 66 across the US on Harley-Davidson's latest touring model. The offer also includes all expenses and with $1,000 (around Rs. 66,000) of spending money on the trip. 
Kicking off in May 2017, the 15-day guided road trip starts in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles and includes accommodation, round-trip tickets and the exclusive use of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle throughout the trip covering over 4,500 km.
To qualify for the contest, riders will have to complete an extended test ride and book a Harley-Davidson motorcycle from the Dyna, Softail or Touring family at a Harley-Davidson dealership within the duration of the campaign from May 12, 2016 to July 31, 2016. 
"There's nothing quite like motorcycle touring. It's not ..

Harley Davidson offers a chance to ride across Legendary Route 66 in the US

The engine specs of Datsun’s Redi-Go has been revealed. Datsun is all set to launch the much-awaited small car in India on June 1. The car had a global debut in India last month with the Japanese carmaker unveiling the production version of Redi-Go. 
Datsun has announced the launch price of the Redi-Go as Rs. 2.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), and has opened bookings for the same at Rs. 5,000 (refundable).
Redi-Go will be powered by a 0.8-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine (as seen in the Kwid). The three-cylinder motor is capable of producing 54PS of power along with 72Nm of torque. A five-speed manual gearbox will take care of the transmission duties.
The baby hatch is likely to offer a mileage of 25.17kmpl, similar to the Renault Kwid. The new Redi-Go Urban Cross accelerates to 100kmph from zero in 15.8 seconds, which is better than its immediate competitors including Alto 800, Renault Kwid and the Hyundai Eon. The small car is claimed to be the fastest in its league. 
The Redi-Go is ...

Engine specs of Datsun Redi-Go revealed; launch in June

Motorists in India often have to drive carefully to avoid hitting cows and buffaloes that roam freely on the roads, but in Punjab, they may have to pay a ‘cow cess’ to ensure that the animals are kept safely in ‘gaushalas.’
Anil Joshi, the state’s local bodies minister, has ratified a decision by municipal corporations and councils to introduce a cow cess on nine items including cars and two-wheelers.
The proposal was initially approved in 2014, but has yet to be implemented in more than 150 councils and 10 corporations in Punjab. Joshi, a BJP leader, has asked 33 councils and corporations to issue a public notification regarding the new cess.
Bhatinda and Mohali have already been collecting the cow cess for the last two years. Most of the remaining local bodies have been asked to do so by June 30.
“Our aim is to create more awareness about cattle protection and the menace,” said Joshi. “This money will be used for welfare and feed purchase for cattle.”
The cess is being imposed under 

Mooing story from Punjab: cow cess on cars, two-wheelers

With an aim to widen its model range, Honda is thinking of relaunching the Civic in India. According to sources, the all-new, tenth-generation Civic could make its debut in 2017.
The Japanese carmaker, which had concentrated more on mass market models such as the 'City sedan' in recent years, is now feeling the need to focus a bit more on the premium end of the market which has been left vacant after the Civic and Accord were discontinued.
Honda will launch the Accord Hybrid in September but that still leaves a gap between the big executive sedan and the City, which the Civic could neatly plug. Honda also feels that by the time it launches the Civic, there will be a ready market for it. 
Honda sold the eighth-generation Civic from 2006 to 2013 and it had a fairly successful run. Apart from being the 2007 Autocar’s Car of the Year, it was the segment leader for most of its life cycle.
Honda, which discontinued Civic in 2013, did not replace it with its successor. Also, by Honda’s own ..

Honda likely to relaunch Civic in India

Italian super bike maker MV Agusta has launched three superbikes in India - F3 which is an 800-cc bike; F4 (1,000-cc) and Brutale (1090 cc) - in partnership with Pune-based Kinetic Group. 
While MV Agusta F3-800 will come at an entry price of Rs 16.78 lakh, Brutale-1090 cc costs Rs. 20.10 lakh and F4 RR 1000-cc will be the costliest at Rs. 50.10 lakh.
Kinetic has set up a separate company, MV Agusta India, and a distribution brand called 'Motoroyale' to sell the bikes which will compete with Triumph, Ducati, Benelli and Kawasaki which are in the range of Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 34 lakh.
The Kinetic Group will be assembling some of these super bikes at its Ahmednagar factory. The kits will be imported in semi knocked down form and will be assembled at the factory. 
"We were the first company to launch a super bike in 2001 and we have sold over one crore two wheelers so far. Through Motoroyale we are creating a platform to bring in the most super premium motorcycles in the country," Ajinkya ..

MV Agusta launches three super luxury sports bikes; price starts at Rs 16.78 lakh

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