Volvo Launches new Sedan S60 in Inia, price @ 27 Lacs, Volvo S60 Photos, Images

Volvo India launched its new luxury sedan, "S60" on Thursday, 10th March, 2011. Volvo S60 launched in both petrol and diesel engines with 2 diesel variants D5 Kinetic and Summum and petrol variant T6 Summum.

Volvo S60 Prices in India: (all prices ex-showroom Mumbai & Delhi)

Volvo S60 D5 Kinetic Diesel - 27 Lacs

Volvo S60 Summum Diesel - 32 Lacs

Volvo S60 T6 Summum Petrol - 34 Lacs

Volvo S60 Exterior Photos:







Volvo S60 Interior Photos:

Maruti-Suzuki Launche Kizashi in Inia, price @ 16.5 - 17.5 Lacs, Kizashi Photos

Maruti-Suzuki launched its most awaited luxury sedan "Kizashi" in India as a CBU on 2nd February, 211 and bookings are open for Rs. 50,000 deposit across all dealership and the delivery will begin in March.

The Kizashi will be powered by 2.4-litre petrol engine which will give 185 bhp and will feature a six-speed manual transmission and is capable of racing from 0-100km/h in just 7.8 seconds flat. Kizashi launched in 2 variants, Manual Transmission variant an Continuously Variable Transmission option.

Maruti-Suzuki Kizashi Price in India:

Manual Transmission - Rs. 16.50 Lakhs

Continuously Variable Transmission - Rs. 17.50 Lakhs

Marutu Suzuki Kizashi launching on 2nd February, 2011, Suzuki Kizashi Photos, Images

Maruti-Suzuki India launching its first luxury sedan "Kizashi" in the Indian market on 2nd February, 2011. Suzuki Kizashi will come with CBU and will compete with Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat.

Kizashi means 'omen ', 'sign' or 'warning' will be powered by 2.4 liter Petrol engine which gives 185bhp with six-speed manual transmission.

Estimated Price of Maruti-Suzuki Kizashi in India:

Rs. 18 - 20 Lacs

Maruti-Suzuki Kizashi Exterior Photos:






Maruti-Suzuki Kizashi Interior Photos:

Volkswagen announced Prices of Vento starts at Rs 6.99 Lakhs, delivery from 6th September 2010

Volkswagen India announced the prices of its much talked sedan "Vento" based on Polo on Thursday, 12th August, 2010. Volkswagen Vento will be launched in 3 petrol variants and 2 diesel variants. These will be the Trendline Petrol, Highline Petrol, Highline Petrol Automatic whilst the oil-burner’s will be the Trendline Diesel and Highline Diesel.

Volkswagen India claims that the Vento petrol has a fuel efficienty of 15.83kmpl for the 5-speed manual and 14.4kmpl for the 6-speed automatic gearbox variant and 20.54kmpl on the diesel.

The delivery of Volkswagen Vento will start from 6th September, 2010 from the 47 VW dealerships.

Volkswagen Vento Prices in India (all ex-showroom Delhi)

VW Vento Trendline Petrol - Rs. 6.99 Lacs
VW Vento Highline Petrol - Rs. 8.23 Lacs
VW Vento Highline Petrol Automatic - Rs. 9.21 Lacs
VW Vento Trendline Diesel - Rs. 7.99 Lacs
VW Vento Highline Diesel - Rs. 9.23 Lacs

With the introduction of Volkswagen Vento competition will be tight between market leader Honda City, Fiat Linea, Maruti-Suzuki SX4 and Hyundai Verna Transform.

Volkswagen's new Sedan Vento to hit India soon - VW Vento Photos, Pictures, Images

Volkswagen India is gearing to launch its new sedan "Vento" based on Polo platform to acquire more market share and leadership of the mass market C-segment by August 2010. VW Vento will be positioned above the Polo and below the Jetta and the pre-launch booking for the car is likely to start soon.

Volkswagen Vento will be available in both petrol and deisel variants with the 1.6 litre engine. The petrol variant is paired with a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gear box and the diesel variant is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Price of the Volkswagen Vento will likely be between Rs 6.5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh.

Volkswagen Vento Exterior Photos:







Volkswagen Vento Interior Photos:

Hyundai launches Verna Transform in India Priced at Rs 6.55 - 9.21 Lacas - Verna Transform Photos, Images

Hyundai India launched the all new Verna Transform, on Wednesday, 23rd June, 2010 with dynamic features and a distinctive sporty styling. Verna Transform gets a fresh new bumper design, new headlamps and stylish new front body coloured grille with gives more aggressive look.

New Hyundai Verna Transforms will compeet with Maruti-Suzuki SX4, Honda City, Fiat Linea and Ford Fiesta. The Verna Transform retains the powerful & popular powertrain of its predecessor. The petrol variants include – 1.6 VTVT & 1.6 SX VTVT – while the diesel variants include - 1.5 CRDi VGT, 1.5 SX CRDi VGT & 1.5 SX VGT (AT).

New Hyundai Verna Transforms Prices in India:

Petrol Version - Rs.6.55 to 7.50 Lakhs (Ex showroom Delhi)

Diesel Version - Rs. 7.87 to 9.21 Lakh (Ex showroom Delhi)

New Hyundai Verna Transforms Photos:

Auction: 1935 Bentley 3.5 Litre

We've seen our fair share of auto auctions over the years. At this point, it takes something truly rare and truly unique to catch our eye. The car in question has to be more than four wheels and a beautifully engineered engine, which explains why we're all riled over word that a 1935 Bentley 3 ½ Liter Saloon will be auctioned off by Historics at Brooklands. Yes, the car itself is something special. It wears a unique Flying B hood ornament – one of only three ever created – and has extensive documentation following nearly every mile on the odometer, but that's not what makes this particular lot so interesting.

You see, the car is being sold along with complete ownership of Freestone & Webb – the company that originally built the Bentley's special body way back when. The company is being auctioned off with neither assets nor debt, so the winning buyer will essentially have rights to the name alone. The coachbuilder hasn't built anything since closing its doors for good in 1958.

The Bentley and Freestone & Webb will be sold alongside a total of 65 other classics on June 2.

via:autoblog




Press Release

Classic Bentley to be auctioned, complete with free ownership of the company that built it

75 years after it was coach-built to the highest standards of the day, a 1935 Bentley will be auctioned at Brooklands on June 2 with a unique, free 'accessory' - ownership of the British coach-building company that created it.

Billed as one of the finest examples of its kind, the fine 1935 3 ½ litre Bentley Saloon is a jewel amongst 65 other fine classic and collector cars offered by specialist auction company, Historics at Brooklands.

Valued at between £75,000 - £90,000, the Bentley is offered by Historics with a comprehensive array of diaries documenting it's many trips in great detail. It is adorned with a single winged 'B' radiator mascot; believed to be one of only three examples of the experimental design ever produced, whilst the company which originally built the bespoke bodywork and interior of the car - Freestone & Webb - has even greater rarity value.

The renowned British coachbuilder was formed in 1923 by V.E. Freestone and A.J. Webb and, at its height, was producing 15 Rolls-Royces and Bentleys a year with exquisite hand-crafted bodywork and interiors. Freestone & Webb regularly exhibited at the London Motor Show and, for nine consecutive years, its excellence in the industry was recognised with the Gold Medal in the Private Coachbuilders competition.

Following the death of Webb in 1955, the company was taken over by HR Owen and continued to build bodies until 1958, after which the name was shelved.

The car's vendor discovered and acquired the company name and registered the limited company in 1990. It is now offered, together with the Bentley, as asset and debt free, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own not only a fine motor car, but also an iconic piece of British automotive coachbuilding history.

For more information, and to attend the Historics at Brooklands auction on the evening of June 2, call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk. Entry by catalogue only, available prior to, or on the evening.

3-litre Bentley Saloon.

Christened 'The Silent Sports Car', the chassis of the 3 ½ litre Bentley Saloon was built from September 1933 in Derby alongside Rolls-Royce – and indeed designed under the influence of Sir Henry Royce - earning its moniker, in part, to excellent handling characteristics and a top speed of 97mph when adorned with the lightweight bodywork.

Despite early examples of the Bentley 3 ½ litre costing around £1,500, the unique blend of style, grace and performance proved popular amongst the inter-war elite, with over 70% of the cars built between 1933 and 1939 said to be still in existence some 80 years on.

A small selection of the 65 fine motorcars consigned to the first Historics of Brooklands auction on Wednesday, June 2, includes the following. Please visit
http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/online-catalogue.aspx for the full consigned list of vehicles.

High res photographs are available of all vehicles

1930 Bentley 4.5 litre Vanden Plas Tourer

A beautifully presented 1931 Bentley 4.5 litre boasts a well-documented and wonderful history, a fabulous finish with the correct engine and period-style supercharger. Examples of these important cars rarely come to the market, and a high level of international interest is expected £625,000 - £775,000

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe

Very original, four owners from new, long-term owner since mid 80's
£110,000-£145,000

1954 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe

Discovered in a barn after 20 years and recently re-commissioned
£48,000-£50,000

1987 Aston Martin Zagato Volante

Extremely rare, 1 of 37
£45,000-£60,000

1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I

Body by Thrupp & Maberly. Engine, body and interior restored
£130,000-£155,000

1955 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

Stunning body on uprated XK140 chassis
£45,000-£55,000

1937 MG TA Special

All aluminium body, built to very high spec, demonstrated at Le Mans Classic 2004
£25,000-£35,000

1937 MG TA

Well-known 'Team Rosbif' racing T-Type. Raced extensively from early sixties onwards in the UK and Europe
£23,000-£28,000

1955 Ford Thunderbird

Imported to the UK in early 1960's
£12,000-£18,000

1969 Chevrolet Camaro 396 SS Convertible

Genuine numbers-matching 396SS in restored condition
£30,000-£40,000
1968 Ford Escort AVO Rally

Absolutely correct period rally car, beautifully restored.
£35,000-£45,000

1939 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith by Mulliner & Co

A stunning Razor-Edge saloon with a 6,000 hour restoration.
£30,000-£40,000

Tesla to partner with Toyota to Build Electric Vehicle

Toyota Motor Corporation and Tesla Motors have announced that they intend to cooperate on the production of electric-vehicles, parts and production system and engineering support. Toyota will purchase a $50 million of Tesla’s common stock issued in a private placement to close immediately subsequent to the closing of Tesla’s currently planned IPO.

Toyota will invest $50 million for a private placement of Tesla common stock and the state of California will provide a sales tax abatement to Tesla for capital equipment expenditures to tool up the plant. Musk estimated that the abatement will amount to about $20 million over the next several years.

The NUMMI - New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. - plant located in Fremont, only 17 miles from Tesla's new headquarters, ceased operations on April 1 after producing its last car, a red Toyota Corolla S believed to be destined for a museum in Japan.

The first car to roll of the production line will be Tesla's Model S electric sedan which costs around $57,400. While Tesla will still be late to the game when compared to the LEAF or the Volt, this amps up the company's reputation ten-fold. For a recent study just named Toyota as one of the top three companies consumers would buy an EV from.




Press Release

Tesla Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation Intend to Work Jointly on EV Development, TMC to Invest in Tesla

May 20, 2010 - Palo Alto, California, U.S.A. - Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announced that they intend to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support.

The two companies intend to form a team of specialists to further those efforts. TMC has agreed to purchase $50 million of Tesla's common stock issued in a private placement to close immediately subsequent to the closing of Tesla's currently planned initial public offering.

"I sensed the great potential of Tesla's technology and was impressed by its dedication to monozukuri (Toyota's approach to manufacturing)," said TMC President Akio Toyoda. "Through this partnership, by working together with a venture business such as Tesla, Toyota would like to learn from the challenging spirit, quick decision-making, and flexibility that Tesla has. Decades ago, Toyota was also born as a venture business. By partnering with Tesla, my hope is that all Toyota employees will recall that 'venture business spirit,' and take on the challenges of the future."

"Toyota is a company founded on innovation, quality, and commitment to sustainable mobility. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Toyota would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla," said Tesla CEO and cofounder Elon Musk. "We look forward to learning and benefiting from Toyota's legendary engineering, manufacturing, and production expertise."

TMC has, since its foundation in 1937, operated under the philosophy of "contributing to the society through the manufacture of automobiles," and made cars that satisfy its many customers around the world. TMC introduced the first-generation Prius hybrid vehicle in 1997, and produced approximately 2.5 million hybrids in the twelve years since. Late last year, TMC started lease of Prius Plug-in Hybrids, which can be charged using an external power source such as a household electric outlet. The company also plans to introduce EVs into the market by 2012.

Tesla's goal is to produce increasingly affordable electric cars to mainstream buyers – relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs. Palo Alto, CA-based Tesla has delivered more than 1000 Roadsters to customers in North America, Europe and Asia. Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components. It is currently the only automaker in the U.S. that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production. The Tesla Roadster accelerates faster than most sports cars yet produces no emissions. Tesla service rangers make house calls to service Roadsters.


Tesla Motors Announces Factory in Northern California
Silicon Valley factory will become the home of the Model S sedan

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Tesla Motors has purchased the former NUMMI factory in Fremont, California, where it will build the Model S sedan and future Tesla vehicles. As recently as April of 2010, the NUMMI factory was used by Toyota to produce the Corolla and Tacoma vehicles using the industry-leading Toyota production system. It is one of the largest, most advanced and cleanest automotive production plants in the world.

It is capable of producing half a million vehicles per year or approximately 1 percent of total worldwide car production. The award-winning plant was the birthplace of the vaunted Toyota Production System, a widely copied system that lead to dramatic quality improvements and unprecedented manufacturing flexibility and worker satisfaction.

The Model S is expected to be the first pure electric premium sedan and is designed from the ground up to take full advantage of the electric vehicle architecture. The sedan, which Tesla unveiled in March 2009, has an anticipated base price of $49,900, including a federal tax credit, and is intended to deliver the foremost design and technology in the automotive world. With an optional extended-range battery pack, the Model S will travel over 300 miles per charge.

The factory is located in the city of Fremont near Northern California's Silicon Valley, very near Tesla's Palo Alto headquarters. The location means Tesla can hire best-in-class engineers in Silicon Valley. The short distance also ensures a tight feedback loop between engineering, manufacturing and other divisions within the company.

"The Tesla Factory effectively leverages an ideal combination of hardcore Silicon Valley engineering talent, traditional automotive engineering talent and the proven Toyota production system," said Tesla CEO Elon Musk. "The new Tesla Factory will give us plenty of room to grow."

Toyota produced its last car there just last month. Tesla began discussions to acquire the site this spring, when it was also evaluating opportunities in Downey and Long Beach. The turnkey nature of the facility with its recent production of top quality vehicles and its considerable room for expansion made it stand out from other sites.