Kanak Gogoi from Guwahati, Assam has a penchant for designing automobiles. He has spent around Rs 1.5 Crore in the past 13 years to design automobiles but steadfastly refuses to commercialise any of them.
He has designed an air-powered car, a gravity-operated bicycle, a handglider, an aeroboat, a water cycle, an amphibian boat and the much talked-about TRYGO-X. The TRYGO-X is a two-seater car assembled from motor parts of obsolete vehicles. His latest creation boasts a method to generate electricity by moving vehicles over a rubble strip or speedbreaker. The mechanism of the speedbreaker is based on the principle of conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy, which in turn can be used to generate electricity. This innovation has been certified by the department of design of IIT Guwahati. Moreover, IIT Guwahati has already developed the prototype of Gogoi’s aeroboat that can travel on just four inches of water.
Mr. Gogoi has also made a solar hybrid car, whose 320 watt battery is charged by solar panels and is powered by a 100cc engine. He has designed a car which can on air energy powered by a hand glider and can reach a maximum speed of 120 km/h. This car is made by integrating motorcycle and Maruti 800 engines.
Interestingly, Kanak Gogoi is just 12th pass. Recently, he is honoured by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) with the National Innovation Award by the President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil for his achievements. Moreover, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offered him to build a fully furnished laboratory in Guwahati.
According to the recent study conducted by the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2009 India Initial Quality Study (IQS), overall new-vehicle initial quality in India has improved considerably from 2008.
The study measured problems owners experienced with their new vehicle during the first two to six months of ownership. It also examined more than 200 problem symptoms covering categories that include engine and transmission, AC, controls and displays, interiors, audio, entertainment and navigation systems and others. All problems were summarized as the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Lower PP100 scores indicate a lower rate of problems and higher initial quality.
Overall, initial quality in India averaged 155 PP100 in 2009, in comparison to 187 PP100 of 2008. Initial quality in the engine and transmission category improved more than in any other category, with 12 fewer PP100 than in 2008. Although excessive fuel consumption continued to be the single issue most commonly reported by owners, this improved more than any other area, compared with 2008.
9 out of 11 auto makers have improved in initial quality since 2008 reveals J.D. Power Asia Pacific.
The 2009 India Initial Quality Study (IQS) is now in its 13th year and is based on evaluations from more than 6,600 owners who purchased a new vehicle between November 2008 and July 2009. The study includes 50 vehicle models covering 13 makes. The study was fielded from May to September 2009 in 20 cities across India.
BMW has made public the details and pictures of its sixth-generation 5 Series sedan. It has whole new range of new technologies, new engines and an optional 8-speed automatic transmission. The new BMW 5 Series saloon has the longest wheelbase in its class (2,968mm) which creates more space for its passengers. The car also has 520 litres of boot space which is very useful for many.
The console is slightly inclined (by seven degrees) towards the driver. The multifunctional steering wheel has been simplified, putting all of the function keys in one hand and infotainment in the other. The car has used the BMW’s ‘Black Panel’ technology on the instrument panel and centre console, similar to the BMW 7 Series and the 5 Series Gran Turismo, adds a touch of luxury to the cabin.
The new BMW 5 Series saloon is available in three diesel and four petrol engines. Petrol variants include the 523i, 528i and 535i, all of which get six-cylinder engines, while the range-topping 550i gets a 4.4-litre, 407-horsepower V8.
The BMW is expected to launch the new 5 Series in India early next year. And it will be priced starting at Rs 45 lakh and above.
Volkswagen’s supervisory board has now okayed for the company’s plan to takeover Porsche. The VW supervisory board had agreed to the contracts determining details of the intricate tie-up last week. Porsche's board was expected to follow suit on Friday.
VW might invest about 25.8 billion euros ($A42.42 billion) in materials factories, and vehicle types by the end of 2012. Most of the funds will be used for production and equipment sites. And VW is keen to overtake the number one auto maker Toyota I another eight years. Volkswagen also plans to invest 4.4 billion euros ($A7.14 billion) in China, through joint ventures, by the end of 2012.
Porsche's chief sports car operations will all be incorporated into VW as its 10th brand. As an initial step, VW will acquire a 49.9 per cent stake for 3.9 billion euros by the close of this year.
VW's institutional investors have criticised the poor visibility on Porsche's financial situation and guaranteed to resist the deal.
Hyundai is in deep thoughts, it is planning to launch its facelifted Verna in India. The new Verna has already been launched in the Korea. And now the company might launch it in India with much expectation.
The launch of the revamped Maruti SX4 and Ford Fiesta could be an important factor behind the company’s decision to launch the facelifted Verna in India.
The Verna was launched by Hyundai in India back in 2005. Since the time, the car has not received any major change in its looks. The growing struggle in the auto industry has forced the company think about bringing in the new looking Verna to India.
We are not clear about the changes that the car would receive, and whether it will be able to conquer the hearts of the Indian car lovers. We are neither aware of the launching date of this new Verna nor the price of the car.
The Rolls Royce Ghost was revealed to the Indian car lovers in Delhi.
Announced in the 2006 Paris Motor Show, the Rolls Royce Ghost was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year. Earlier, the car was hinted as RR4. The sketches of the car released by the company showed that it had some changes from the conventional Rolls Royce cars.
The Ghost has a centre opening door configuration, with hand crafted interiors and grill. While compared to other Roll Royce cars, the Ghost is slightly smaller in dimensions, and still it is more powerful and it is the most technologically advanced car from Rolls Royce stable. The top-end model of the Ghost will be priced at Rs 2.5 Crore where as the Phantom comes for Rs. 4.45 Crore.
The super luxury sedan comes with a 6.6 L twin-turbo V12 engine. The company hopes to sell 50 cars in the country. The first delivery of the Ghost in the country is expected to happen in quarter one of the next year.
Fiat India is planning for the first compressed natural gas (CNG)-run car for the Indian market in the April-June quarter of 2010.
Although we do not know much about the CNG models Fiat India is planning to come out with, it is quite sure that Fiat Grande Punto is in the company’s list. Punto would have a fuel mix comprising of CNG and petrol.
CNG is ultimately going to be a fuel for most commercial applications, Fiat officials opine, speaking about the rationale behind the plan. Though Fiat has LPG models in its kitty, they clearly stand by CNG as it is a less luxurious fuel option of the duo and the better fuel of the two. This gives a message that Fiat is not lagging behind when it comes to vehicles running on more viable fuel options.
Other than this, Fiat India also seems to be busy in developing an India-Specific small car in Turin, Italy, that would be positioned between the A and the B segment and will be launched in 2011.
Since we’re still a few months away from the launch of the TR20 and the TR40, Mahindra’s compact pickups designed for the US market, let’s take a look at what they built for the Indian market. The Mahindra Gio is supposedly India’s first compact truck and is a half-ton, diesel-powered 4-wheel pick up that’s loaded with much more features than their standard 3-wheelers and designed for moving goods in and around the city.
The Mahindra Gio is made for a whole new category in the Indian automotive industry, being in between the 3-wheel and 4-wheel utility vehicles. Its 9.1 horsepower engine was built by American company Kohler who typically makes them for mowers and tractors, paired with Mahindra’s 4-speed transmission. Other features worth mentioning are its 5-foot cargo box, 3.8-meter turning radius, “car-like” controls and trendy looks.
It comes out in 4 colors particularly Peacock Blue, Royal Red, Golden Yellow and Sporty Green. Probably the best thing about the Mahindra Gio is its bang for the buck. Its Suggested Retail Price is 1.65 to 1.68 lakh, which is just 3,578 to 3,643 USD converted.
While the idea of a 9 horsepower 4-wheel diesel truck may sound odd and its appearance a bit peculiar, bear in mind that the Mahindra Gio was built for the Indian market. That’s not how the Mahindra TR20 and TR40 will turn out. Don’t cancel your test drive appointments, people.
Toyota has big plans in store for its small car project. Toyota has zeroed on Dentsu Communications to handle the advertisements for Toyota’s small car which will be soon launched in India.
It has been roughly estimated that the volume and the size of the business is in the vicinity of Rs 100 crore. Dentsu, along with this responsibility, will also be looking at the advertising duties of Toyota Prius, which is pitched as a green car and is launching next month.
Toyota’s advertisements belonging to the passenger car segment will be handled by Dentsu while PerceptH will be handling the advertisement duties of the SUV and the MUV categories.
The other cars belonging to Toyota stable in India include Camry and Corolla Altis in the passenger car segment and Innova, Prado, New Land Cruiser and Fortuner comprising SUV and MUV.
The entry of Toyota into the small car business is considered significant, as it is moving towards a more mass market. The advertising blitzkrieg by car giants entering India, including Volkswagen, in the recent times explains Toyota’s needs to keep the ad size significant. The marketing activity is slated to begin soon.
South Korean car-maker Hyundai is all set to invest around Rs 800 crore to develop a small car for the Indian market that is likely to be launched in the next two years.
The car-major, which has operations in India through a wholly -owned subsidiary, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, will manufacture the car, which will be smaller than the Santro, at its plant.
Confirming the news, the newly appointed MD and CEO of Hyundai Motor India Ltd, Han-Woo Park said that Hyundai will develop a small car and approximately Rs 800 crore would be invested for the purpose at the Korean plant for development.
Though he declined to reveal the details of the car, he did say that the car would be much smaller than that of the Santro and therefore the cost also would be much lesser. But also mentioned that the car was in design stage at the moment and will be produced in Chennai once the design is completed. The car will be launched in the Indian market initially as Hyundai has always targeted Indian audience but might later export it gradually.
Hyundai, which sells popular compact cars like Santro, i10, i20, has made India a small car hub for the Korean firm and has been exporting the cars to overseas markets.
