19 posts tagged “bmw”
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.
BMW has launched the much awaited roadster Z4 in India. The Z4 will be imported to India as a CBU and the car will pose a tough competition against Mercedes-Benz SLK, Audi TT, and Porsche Boxster
The 6-inline engine on the Z4 has a capacity of 2993cc. The twin turbos of the roadster produces 306 bhp. The Z4 can also go on to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
The German car maker BMW is working towards becoming the number one luxury car maker of the country. BMW is having a tough competition with Mercedes-Benz these days and wanted to be replaced in its position.
The BMW Z4 is dominant and elegant. It has a seating position close to the rear axle, rear-wheel drive and a fully-automatic retractable hardtop..
The new BMW Z4 is available in the petrol variant, BMW Z4 sDrive35i , is available in India priced at Rs 59,00,000 (Ex-showroom, New Delhi).
In the coming couple of weeks, we are about to witness some new launches in the Indian car market. And the most interesting ones would be the Chevrolet Cruz, BMW Z4, and the Tata Indigo Vista, now renamed as Tata Manza.
The launch of the Cruz will be very crucial for Chevrolet. As the fate of the Chevrolet in India to a large extend depends on the performance of Cruz in India. Tata is also launching its new car, Tata Manza, which was initially named as Tata Indigo Vista, in Mumbai on the 14th of this month. BMW’s new convertible, Z4 is also expected to hit the Indian market on the October 12. The Z4 will be a two-seater and it will be priced from the range of Rs. 50 lakh to Rs.60 lakh.
The ongoing festival season is the main reason behind the large number of new car launches. The car manufacturers are expecting good business during this time of the year.
The FIA on Tuesday honored Lotus the 13th spot on the grid for the 2010 season. And this will mark Lotus’s return to Formula One racing. It has been fifteen years since the Lotus has been out of F1. The team, which is originally based in Norfolk, England near the Lotus car factory, is sponsored by a partnership between the Malaysian government and a consortium of Malaysian businessmen.
The headquarters of the team is projected to be relocated to a purpose-built facility at Sepang International Circuit, which is now the home of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
A request from BMW Sauber has been rejected FIA, but the team might get a chance in 2010 in case of any vacancy. FIA is also talk to the teams about expansion to 14 teams and 28 cars for 2010.
Tony Fernandes, owner of the Air Asia airline, will be the team principle Lotus. Mike Gascoyne, who had already been the Technical Director of Force India, Toyota, Renault and Jordan, is having the same role in the Lotus team also. Lotus has reached an engine supply deal with Cosworth.
A special edition C-Class model has been launched in the country by the luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India.
The company has announced that the special edition will be rolled out only in limited numbers. Mercedes-Benz will only manufacture 60 special edition C-Class models aiming to maintain the exclusivity of the model. Both the petrol and diesel versions of the special edition C-Class will be available and these models will be priced between Rs 28.46 lakh and Rs 31.30 lakh.
It was not in the distant past the Mercedes-Benz was adorning the top position in the Indian luxury car market, which is now taken up by BMW. Not only from BMW, but the company is facing competition from other brands which are all aiming for the top position but in spite of all the competition, the company is able to still remain among the top three best car manufacturers of the country. But the company with its constant launches of new models and upgraded and facelifted versions of the existing models the company is trying to win back the number one position it once had. The company has already announced its plans to invest Rs 150 crore in network expansion in the country.
The next company that is planning to withdraw itself from the F1 legion is none other than Mercedes Benz. This is just a rumour but it could possibly happen. It would most probably follow BMW, which announced officially last week that it is planning to quit F1 and will not be in Formula One after this season.
It was Honda that took the decision to back out from the Formula legion before BMW. The economic slowdown that is affecting all the sectors can be a reason why companies, one after the other ditching the Formula One. And the F1 could be seen as a big liability for these companies and would be thinking of spending the money on something more profitable. The many disputes in the F1 could also be a reason for the sudden withdrawal.
The decision of Mercedes Benz, if it is planning to back out will be a shock to the Formula One management. The McLaren team will be affected by this decision of Mercedes Benz, as 40 per cent of the team is owned by Mercedes Benz and both Brawn and McLaren gets engine from Mercedes Benz.
Honda Motor Co. announced that it would not participate in the premier racing series last December and in less than a year’s time, F1 is losing yet another team. BMW has announced that it would pull out of Formula One by the end of the current season. For Honda, the reason for them to withdrawn was mainly financial as it faced a fall in sales and rise in yen but for BMW it is certain other factors that forced them to take such a decision.
The management of Formula One had never expected that the BMW team would back out and the decision of the team is an unexpected one. BMW may lay a path for other teams, such as Renault or Toyota, to follow. BMW was in an unfavourable situation where the team was behind Toyota and Ferrari. It also lost the support of its sponsor, Credit Suisse, which was still another reason for the company to step back.
Understanding the fact that this “Ultimate Driving Machine” is not going to gain anything much from the F1, the company has taken this decision, which it considers as the most appropriate.
BMW, the German automaker, is preparing itself to face any competition in the Indian luxury car market. The company is setting a target of 3,000 units to be sold in the country by the end of the year.
Mini, a three-door hatchback, is among the to-be launched list of the cars by BMW. The car has been expecting to be launched since 2007, but the company postponed the idea every time as it was not sure about the decision. The company is still skeptical about launching the car that will be imported to the country as a CBU and will carry a price tag of Rs 20 lakh. Buut it is expected to be launched by the end of 2009.
A compact premium sport activity vehicle, X1, that has been launched at the Paris Auto show is expected is also expected to get unveiled in India soon. The company has already introduced a new model X6 in India.
The plans for sourcing auto parts from India are also in progress, but this will happen only after the signing of the sourcing contract between BMW India and the parent company.
BMW currently has 13 dealers in India, and it is planning to open its operations in 10 new cities by the end of next year. By the end of 2009 it is expecting to sell over hundred units in the in Kolkata alone.
The 2009-2010 Budget does not bring great news for the Indian auto industry. The Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, during his budget speech on Monday has announced that the duties on big cars have been reduced.
Last June, the “component” that had been introduced costed Rs.15,000 per car with an engine capacity below 2,000 cc and Rs 20,000 for cars having larger engine capacity. But in this budget, the “component” is brought down to Rs 15,000 for SUV’s and large cars.
The shares of the automakers such as Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Ashok Leyland fell into a negative zone in the National Stock Exchange following the announcement of the budget.
The automakers have already announced their plans to reduce the price of their high-end vehicles. First one in the row was Hindustan Motors Ltd (HML) that reduced Rs 6,000 for its partner Mitsubishi's vehicles. While Tata promised that its decision will be announced soon, BMW, General Motors, and Toyota have announced that they will reduce the prices. But Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) announced that it has made a decision to not give any reduction in price.
To match the duties with the diesel driven truck, the excise duty of the petrol driven trucks has been reduced to eight percent from twenty percent. Demands of the auto part makers, such as reducing duty on raw materials and increase customs duty on finished components and the tyre makers, to reduce the customs duty on natural rubber, were left unaddressed.
Rolls Royce Motor Cars is planning to launch Ghost in India by the end of this year. A small luxury sedan, the Ghost is crafted by the same hands that manufactured the fifth-generation of Rolls-Royce Phantom - it is engineered by Helmut Riedl and designed by Ian Cameron. The interiors of the Ghost have the same wood and leather workshops as its sibling, Phantom.
The Ghost is a super luxury sedan that is available in a 6.6-liter, turbocharged V12 engine. The Ghost was announced at the Shanghai Auto Show. It will be launched globally at the the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, and the Ghost will come to India by November or December.
In the global market, the Ghost will be priced between Rs 1.2 and Rs 1.3 crore, but the price will go further high in the Indian market as a reason of the tax and import duty. The Rolls Royce is a BMW-owned company. The company is planning to widen its business in India and as a result of this, the company is planning to launch a whole new range of models in India, which will be available to the Indian customers, soon after they are been launched in the global market.
