Tata Motors on Friday announced a global crowd-sourcing contest to finalise the new name for its hatchback Zica, which is being renamed to avoid confusion with the deadly virus, Zika.
It launched the #Fantastico Name Hunt, a crowd-sourcing activity for all netizens to suggest a new name for its cool hatchback, previously named – Zica (acronym derived from Zippy Car). 
The stylish hatchback has been showcased publicly for the first time at the Auto Expo 2016 in Greater Noida. While it carries the ‘Zica’ label for the duration of the event, the new name will be announced after a few weeks, ensuring all necessary consumer/ branding and regulatory aspects are addressed. The launch will take place thereafter.
Through the contest – #Fantastico Name Hunt, the company will be looking forward to suggestions from its fans and audiences around the world to share what they think should be the name of the car.
Over the next three days, the company will receive all entries through its social media .

Tata Motors launches global crowd-sourcing contest for new name for Zica

BS-Motoring

February 10, 2016: Driving on Mumbai roads, even during the best of times, is like running an obstacle course. Dug-up roads, hawkers selling stuff on pavements, which forces pedestrians on to the busy arteries, and handcarts and in some places even bullock-carts slowing down traffic. 
But residents of Lokhandwala complex, one of the busiest localities in the metropolis, are now finding divider blocks, placed haphazardly on the roads, a major inconvenience. Many motorists have run over the blocks, which have damaged their vehicles. 
According to Dhaval Shah, founder, Lokhandwala-Oshiwara Citizens Association, there are three places along the busy main road of Lokhandwala complex where road divider blocks have been dislodged and pose a threat to motorists. 
One motorist claims that his Volkswagen Jetta sustained severe damages and he had to spend almost Rs30,000 on repairs because of the haphazardly placed blocks. Motorists complain that despite paying hefty taxes – and even fees at ...

Unplanned road divider blocks in busy Mumbai suburb cause damages to cars 

 BMW has been known to push boundaries of automotive technologies. All techno-freaks eagerly wait for this German automaker to showcase something groundbreaking every year. After showcasing the 360 degree collision avoidance system and fully-automated parking in multi-storey car parks last year, it seems like BMW still has a lot in store for this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES). CES is the one place where every electronic manufacturer from around the globe showcases their upcoming technologies. It's like an Auto Expo for gadgets. With cars today being largely a circuit house, they have found a new home. Here are the top innovations that BMW is featuring at the ongoing (6 to 9 January) CES in Las Vegas.BMW i Vision: Future InteractionNetworked CockpitThis concept uses high-resolution displays on which the controls adjust themselves to match the situation. Also, the cockpit features gesture controls, touch-sensitive surfaces and voice control. The drive information is displayed ..

BMW\'s Technology Showcase at CES 2016

By participating in Formula E racing, automotive giant Mahindra & Mahindra hopes to develop mass-produced eco-friendly vehicles.
Last week, the Mahindra team staged a track display at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, featuring its fully-electric M2Electro in a drag race with one of its Motor3 racing bikes. Star drivers Bruno Senna and Nicke Heidfeld also performed at the race track.
Dilbagh Gill, team principal of Mahindra Racing, said the objective of hosting the demo run was to bring Formula E racing to India. 
According to Ali Russell, director of media and communications, Formula E, as a new racing series, Formula E acts as a platform to promote sustainable mobility and alternative energy solutions. "India is a perfect example of an important emerging market for the profile and production of electric vehicles," he added.
Mahindra Racing is one of only ten teams - and the only Indian team - to compete in the FIA Formula E Championship. It entered the second ...

Formula E racing will help Mahindra develop eco-friendly vehicles

The Indian government has decided to increase the national highway cover from the current 96,000 km to 200,000 km to address rising vehicle congestion and diversify traffic in the country.
According to a formula based on the vehicular traffic movement, the project includes development of four-lane, six-lane and express highways, said Nitin Gadkari, the minister for roads and highways. 
At present, India has a total road length of 5.2 million km, but as much as 40 per cent of the traffic moves on national highways constituting just two per cent of the total road length. As a result, 500,000 accidents take place every year, Gadkari said.
According to him, 300,000 people get injured and 150,000 are killed in accidents on existing national highways.
Gadkari also said that in Uttar Pradesh, the total length of national highways was 8,483km of which 4,500km was with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and 3,134km was with state Public Works Department. In the next two months, the 

India's national highway network to increase to 200,000 km

Mahindra & Mahindra launched its all-new 1.99-liter mHawk diesel engine on Friday to power the New Generation Scorpio and the New Age XUV500, which will be sold in Delhi and NCR.
The move is seen as part of a strategy to overcome the recent Supreme Court ban on registration of diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2,000cc and above. The ban is in force till March 31 after which the apex court will review the order.
Sales of luxury car makers such as Mercedes-Benz and SUV manufacturers such as Toyota and Mahindra have taken a hit following the apex court order. Most of the popular diesel vehicles sold by the company – including the Scorpio, Bolero and the XUV 500 – are powered by diesel engines with a capacity of 2,000cc or more.
“This new engine, the development of which started in August 2014, is now ready for launch on both the New Generation Scorpio and the New Age XUV500,” said Pravin Shah, president and CEO (automotive), Mahindra & Mahindra. “We do hope that our ...

Mahindra launches 1.99-l mHawk diesel engine to power large SUVs

Car users are gradually switching lanes - they have been looking at ways to get the most out of government policies and other regulatory procedures. A few years ago, most car buyers were likely to have opted for diesel versions of their favourite cars simply because the government subsidised diesel.
But times are changing. Mahindra and Mahindra's latest offering, the KUV100, a compact SUV, expected to retail at between Rs4 lakh and Rs5 lakh, is the only car in the Mahindra stable to be sold with a petrol engine. 
Car buyers in India are now having second thoughts about diesel-powered cars. They would tend to opt for petrol-fuelled cars since they not only retail at lower prices but are cheaper to maintain. In December 2015, the Supreme Court banned diesel cars with engines larger than two litres from being registered, until March 31 2016, in Delhi, ranked the most polluted city in the world by the World Health Organisation. 
After the government scrapped subsidies on diesel at the end 

Acceleration towards automatics and petrol

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Stephane Peterhansel cemented his place in the Dakar Rally’s Hall of Fame with a stunning 12th victory in the world’s toughest rally raid event on Saturday.
The Team Peugeot Total driver, who has won the prestigious event in the bikes and car categories, drove conservatively in Saturday’s final stage, which was won by team mate Sebastien Loeb.
KTM’s Toby Price became the first Australian to capture the bikes title with almost 40 minutes between him and second-placed team mate Stefan Svitko.
Frenchman Peterhansel finished over seven minutes behind Loeb in the final stage between Villa Carlos Paz and Rosario. Loeb, driving in his first Dakar after nine World Rally championships, won the stage by over a minute from Mini’s Mikko Hirvonen.
But it was Peterhansel who was the most relieved to cross the finishing line and add more success to his storied Dakar career. “It's extraordinary. The pressure was very high, but we came through,” said the 50-year-old. “Crossing the finish line was a ...

Peterhansel grabs 12th Dakar title, Price clinches first

Tata Motors group global wholesales in January, including Jaguar Land Rover, stood at 93,355 units, an increase of 16 percent compared to January 2015. The cumulative wholesales for the same fiscal were at 847,661 units, higher by 7 percent over the corresponding period last year. 
Nearly 80 per cent of the volumes came from Jaguar Land Rover, which sold 427,193 units. Tata Motors' passenger vehicles posted an increase of 2 per cent to sell 110,244 units this fiscal.
Global wholesales of all passenger vehicles in January were at 56,616 units, higher by 14 percent. Cumulative passenger vehicle wholesales were at 537,437 units, higher by 11 percent.
Global wholesales of Tata Motors’ passenger vehicles in January were at 11,081 units, lower by 17 percent over January 2015. Cumulative wholesales for the fiscal were at 110,244 units, higher by 2 percent compared to the last fiscal. 
Tata Motors commercial vehicles also registered an uptrend. Global wholesales of all Tata Motors’ commercial 

Tata Motors registers 16% increase in global wholesales in January 

The Mahindra Gusto 125 was unveiled at a media event at Lavasa near Pune on Tuesday. The new model would be officially launched next month, when the company will also reveal the price.
According to Vinod Sahay, COO, Mahindra Two Wheelers, the company had a good response to its Mahindra Gusto 110 range, which was launched last year. "We are now excited about extending the Gusto brand and portfolio to include new consumer segments," he said. "The all-new Mahindra Gusto 125 is packed with a powerful 125 cc engine and stylish looks to match. We continue with the Gusto's advanced M-TEC engine technology, and innovative car-like features, like India's only height adjustable seat."
The new scooter features a halogen headlamp along with LED pilot lamps, 12-inch tubeless tyres, telescopic suspension with air springs and remote flip key. It will be available in orange rush, bolt white, monarch black and regal red.
The Gusto 125 is expected to take on the Honda Activa 125 and Suzuki Access. The .

Mahindra to launch Gusto 125 next month

Kawasaki India launched two flagship bikes, the Ninja ZX-10R and the Ninja ZX-14R on Tuesday. The bikes have been priced at Rs16.4 lakh and Rs17.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) respectively.
The ZX-10R features a new engine, which maintains the essential character of the 2015 model, but offers a stronger low-mid range for increased acceleration coming out of corners.
The engine is also more responsive, spinning up more quickly thanks to a crankshaft with a lower moment of inertia – something that benefits both acceleration and deceleration, as well as cornering performance.
The lighter crankshaft and a number of changes to the chassis deliver a much lighter-handing machine. The noticeably improved corner entry and flickability contribute to quicker lap times.
Along with Kawasaki’s integrated suite of electronics that include Power Modes, a new Kawasaki-Sports Traction Control (S-KTRC) system with 5 modes, Kawasaki Intelligent Anti-Lock Brake System (KIBS), Kawasaki Launch control Mode ...

Kawasaki launches Ninja ZX-10R and ZX-14R in India

The National Green Tribunal on Friday allowed the 6th edition of the 21 Gun Salute International Vintage car rally to be held in national capital over the weekend, giving a one-time exemption from its ban on vehicles older than 15 years.
The NGT clarified that this was just a one-time exemption and it would not allow such rallies without hearing the merits of the case. The tribunal also asked the organisers to file an undertaking stating that it was a charity event.
The 21 Gun Salute Heritage and Cultural Trust, which is organising the event, had sought exemption from the NGT’s November 2014 order banning all vehicles above 15 years from Delhi roads. The vintage car rally is being held from the Red Fort to Greater Noida.
About 100 vintage cars and 25 vintage bikes will be participating in the rally. The organisers said about 50,000 people are expected to witness the event.

NGT gives one-time exemption for vintage carry rally in national capital

Maruti Suzuki is changing the way its car salesmen used to lure prospective customers. With changing needs of buyers, the company is replacing printed brochures with tablets, in its showrooms, which can showcase various combinations of accessories in its cars and all its products at one go. The move is part of initiatives it is taking to sell two million cars a year by 2020.
Recently, Maruti joined hands with US giant HP for the supply of tablets and turn-key solution including servicing and maintenance of products.
While, earlier Maruti tried and failed in a similar venture where it allowed its dealers to purchase and maintain tablets for such usage. "But now HP provides us with complete solution. Thus, we no more required to manage a separate team to manage these devices", Rajesh Uppal, executive director, IT, Maruti Suzuki said. It also helps the company cut costs as Maruti does not have to purchase the devices from HP.
"Our latest offerings, which we call HP DaaS (Desktop as a ...

Maruti aims to sell 2 mn cars in 2020

Gone are the days when only premium sedans and luxury cars used to have air bags. Automobile companies are now installing it in almost all their models, including the entry-level ones.  The trend seems to be picking up even before the Indian government’s norm, which made having air bags in all passenger vehicles from October 2017, kicks in. The norm mandates that any car that gets launched from October next year needs to have an air bag to meet the new crash test standards. For existing models, a two year transitory provision has been made. In effect, the price of a vehicle may go up by up to Rs 20,000 depending on the segment for a single air bag. Most of the new launches of last year — Creta (Hyundai), S Cross and Baleno (Maruti), Jazz (Honda), Kwid (Renault), Figo and Figo Aspire (Ford) and TUV300 (Mahindra & Mahindra) — had the option of air bags, except for GenX Nano from Tata Motors.  Over the last couple of months, the country’s largest player, Maruti Suzuki, introduced air ...

Renault to Unveil Facelifted Duster on February 4th, 2016

Royal Enfield unveiled its much-awaited adventure-tourer, the Himalayan on Tuesday, days before the start of the Auto Expo. The 411-cc, four-stroke, single cylinder engine whips out 24.5 bhp at 6,500 rpm.
Speaking at the launch, Siddharth Lal, CEO, Royal Enfield, said the idea was to build a motorcycle from ground-up specifically for the Himalayas. “We were looking to make a bike with great off-road capabilities but which also had good on-road manners.”
The new bike underwent intensive testing in the Himalayas for almost two months. “Lot of technical jugglery went into fixing leakages and making seat height optimal for the Indian market,” said Lal. “We wanted to give the Himalayan as much touring functionality as possible.”
The bike does not feature a manual kick-starter, only an electric start option. According to Lal, the bike is the culmination of Royal Enfield's 60 years of enduring history in its spiritual home, the Himalayas. “Our single biggest insight in all these years of ...

Royal Enfield unveils the Himalayan

In an attempt to further strengthen its 'Make in India' resolve, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), inaugurated its fourth two-wheeler manufacturing facility in India at Vithalapur, Gujarat. With this, the company will be expanding its total manufacturing capacity to 5.8 million units per annum. 
The company has invested Rs.1,100 crore into the state-of-the-art new facility in Gujarat, which has been set up in a record time of 13 months. An equal sum of money has also been invested by Honda's 22 associated suppliers to set up ancillary plants in the state. 
The new facility will only be used to manufacture 1.2 million automatic scooter units annually. By the end of the year, HMSI will boast of an annual manufacturing capability of 5.8 million units, a 26 per cent increase.
Noriaki Abe, Honda Motor COO of Asia and Oceania Regional Operations, said: "For two-wheelers, ASEAN countries contribute 13.8 million sales, which is 80 percent of Honda's global unit sales with ...

Honda sets up world\'s largest scooter plant in India

Mercedes-Benz inaugurated its second dealership in Pune as part of its 'winning' strategy for India. The Trinity Motors showroom is located at Kalyaninagar, and its fully-equipped workshop at Wagholi.
Roland Folger, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, who inaugurated the showroom, said 'winning' is part of the company's strategy for 2016. 
"We are amidst one of the most exciting phases in the Indian luxury automotive market today as we are the fastest growing luxury car brand in the country," he said. "Last year, Mercedes-Benz sold the highest number of cars since its inception in India."
According to Folger, the company will inaugurate 10 new outlets this year. "Our efforts towards creating customer fascination and addressing increasing customer differentiation for the brand has resulted in the creation of many industry best practices and infrastructure," he said. "The creation of the 'S Lounge' at Trinity Motors is one such fine example."
'S Lounge' is designed to ...

Mercedes-Benz inaugurates second dealership in Pune

Mahindra and Mahindra said it sold 12,868 tractors in December 2015, up three percent year-on-year, from 12,474 tractors it sold a year earlier. The company said it sold 11,686 tractors on the domestic market, up four percent from 11,286 it sold a year earlier.
Engineering and farm equipment maker, Escorts, however, reported an 8.9 percent decline in December 2015 tractor sales to 2,751 units from 3,021 tractors in December 2014.
Escorts' December exports slipped by 84 percent to 24 tractors from 150 units a year earlier and domestic sales were five percent lower at 2,727 tractors, against 2,871 units in December 2014.

Mahindra December 2015 tractor sales rise by three percent

The Mahindra GenZe 2.0, the first connected all-electric scooter, has been launched in Oakland, California. 
The scooter was conceived in Silicon Valley and engineered and assembled in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is designed to help alleviate challenges associated with urban commuting, parking, congestion, and pollution. The scooter has a removable lithium-ion battery that can be recharged at any standard electrical outlet, providing optimal freedom and ease of use. 
Its smart, utilitarian design offers ample rear storage space so people can get where they want and take their belongings with them. Beyond its use as a personal vehicle, the GenZe 2.0 has also attracted a lot of attention from cities and corporate campuses who are searching for efficient multi-modal and first/last mile solutions to help augment existing transportation infrastructure.
“Oakland is the perfect place to combine electric bikes and electric scooters, with mobility sharing and solar power,” said mayor Libby Schaaf .

Mahindra GenZe 2.0 launched in California

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