While most Media vehicles publish this news story with a Sanju Style Question Mark, we go on a Nostalgic trip with the Fiat ..

Fiat cars have been around for a while now. They were amongst the first few to set up shop at India. In the Pre Maruti era, one had just two choices - Ambassador or Fiat  and then  Premier Padmini 

Fiat struggled for several years now in India. They seemed contented miliking their cash cow the most popular 1.3 L Multijet Diesel engine, which the company supplied to Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors. 

Unconfirmed reports say they plan to wind up as  their Cash cow wont meet BS6 Emission norms without significant investments. its major customers viz Maruti and Tata have already gone long distance in preparing their BS6 Powertrans inhouse to save money. The current line up of Fiat wont be compliant to the upcoming safety rules which kick in starting April 2019 and Oct 2019 ie the Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program ( BNVSAP).  Fiat India finds it unviable to invest so much money to be 2019 ready. They feel they should focus on the Jeep Brand.

Fiat brand has been close to the hearts of most indians. A lot of us have grown with a Fiat or an Ambassador at Home.

Talking about The Premier Padmini. The Green arrow style indicators on either sides of the IP. The two red lights indicating Charging and Oil. The Deep Blue light Indicator at Top Centre of teh IP, for High Beam. the Steering mounted Gear Shift Lever. The Paddle style Accelerator. The bench front seats , later replaced by bucket ones. The Steel bumpers, the Smiling Moustache style PAL Logo .. all part of one's growing up  and still the Ubiquitous Mumbai Kaali Peeli!

Around 2001, Fiat did try to resurrect with the Palio. They roped in Sachin Tendulkar as "Ambassador for Fiat" ; Spent lot of money. Got Sachin a Ferrari too , the Contentious one.  Launched the Yellow Palio variant on his name, the  S10 edition. However ineffective strategies , lack of Focus from Head Office, Wrong Selection of Dealer Partners, lack of support to Dealer Network led to a grim situation where we now hear about their winding up. We still hope its not true! 

MotorUncle.com salutes the FIAT Brand. It shall always remain special to us. We dedicate a few pics from yesteryears and wish the team all the very best! And also please try if you can hold on for longer and take it as an opportunity to turn this around for good!

Hi! Guys ,  Please guide which one to go for ... 

Mind says Fortuner , Heart Says Endeavour , Patriot in me says Alturas ...   :) 

Totally Confused !!

The Santro had won the hearts of many! It was also the Debut of Shah rukh Khan in the Motown! An  Association which still stands the test of time ! Hyundai India And SRK!

The Complete family car , with Tall Boy Design added things  like Power Steering, fuel Injection to Common household lexicon of the Indian Middle Class. 

A Product which paved the way for  Hyundai as the second largest Car maker in the country.  

So Is this the New Santro ? Would it be a hit like its predecessor ? Can the New Santro codenamed AH2 catapult Hyundai to No 1 Slot in India ? Ahead of Maruti ? Or is it a long way to go for HMIL as of now in terms of Network and Cost of Ownership of vehicle. 

Well no straight and ready answers but  a lot rides on the AH2  ! 

SPECS of New Hyundai Santro ( yet to be confirmed ) :

• It will be named- Santro.
• Santro will come with a 1.1 litre Petrol, making 68 hp, 104nm torque.
• ARAI fuel consumption figure is- 20.3kpl.
• Santro will have a touch infotainment system which will support Android Auto and Apple Car Play. There will be steering controls for the audio system.
• Rear Camera will be offered.
• Rear AC vents, first in the segment will be offered.
• Pricing will start at 3.69 lakhs for the base variant and will go upto 5.40 for the top end variant.
• An AMT type Autoamtic transmission will be offered, Hyundai’s first.
• Green will the launch color.
• 24th October is the launch date.

Team Motor Uncle 

MotorUncle555@gmail.com

Ph : 7042124674

Guys please share fortuner or endeavour ?

The EcoSport, Duster, Creta, Brezza, S cross have been for a while now ... Which SUV is expected to arrive soon ?

Any New one ? or we still get the same old options in the Motown! ???

What about Kia , MG and Peugeot ? When are they launching their SUV ?

https://andrewshippautos.co.uk/

German authorities have taken Audi CEO Rupert Stadler into custody, making him the highest-profile arrest in the group’s diesel-cheating probes

Volkswagen AG diesel emissions cheating fiasco had the company in news for all the wrong reasons. It lead to dramatic exit for the VW chairman Winterkorn. 

Despite the company paying more than a USD 1 Billion in damages and compensations, here comes the  biggest move by the authorities. 

The Arrest of the Audi CEO Ruper Stadler. It surely sends out a powerful message, an exemplary reprimand of sorts , that wilful cheating and playing with environment and Health is unpardonable! 

Time to see how the Audi and VW companies, their dealers and consumers respond. Lets see how future unfolds and history gets made. It is surely an opporunity of a "La Harvard case Study" for VW and Audi to turn around the things for the better. Time to hit the mattresses and fight for  Win -Win ! 

The World's highest selling and most fav EV the Nissan Leaf shall be launched in India soon! 

The EV segment in India is the most watched out space by the World' s leading EV makers like the Tesla and also the conventional car makers for their EV range 

But the Nissan Leaf at Half a crore ? Would you buy it ? How many takers for this one ?

Would you go for the Audi A6 or the Nissan Leaf if you have 50 Lakhs to spend ?

Yes Creta has been the segment leader. 

One of the fastest and hottest selling Compact SUV's in the Country.  It has offered pride of ownership to several customers across the country, so much so that it even canabilised elder sister Santa Fe.  

Even on MotorUncle.com, it has enjoyed one of the highest aggregated rating from Expert and Actual Users.  https://motoruncle.com/cars/review/Hyundai-Creta

The Hype & Hoopla of Facelift Model 

Old Creta

New Facelift Front 

Old Creta Rear 

New Creta Rear 

The Great Hysteria and Hype Car Co's make do Minor facelifts, calling it & branding it "All New Car" 

It cant get funnier than that. These are brilliant strategies to add steroids to the fatigued product and sagging sale. Yes, it could be an exception for the Creta, as it has done consistent no's in the market despite great competition from Tata Nexon and Jeep Compass from either ends of the Price Ladder.

As far as the "All New Car" trick is concerned, All Car Companies do it! The only difference being the extent of changes. However, if you try to see in the case of Facelifted Creta, its almost like a "Spot the Difference" Quiz :) 

Additionally, according to Industry sources, which could be unreliable, even the Engine specs remain more or less the same. There could be new transmissions though

Do we still call it the "All The Creta" 

There are pics floating on the internet which show spy shots of "Facelifted Creta" taken at a Dealer Stock yard, as the company prepares for the launch. Yes the Team Bhp Pics, which have been used by all Leading Car Sites and Magazines, of course after giving due credit. 

 Let's see how the hype, hysteria of the Facelift Model, unfold for this great product which has truly proven its mettle in the market. 

We wish Hyundai Motor India all the very best for the launch, last week of this month

 Cheers! Team MotorUncle.com 

MotorUncle555@gmail.com

Rolls Royce today unveiled their upcoming SUV  - The Cullinan

It might be the best SUV performance wise, but frankly its a bit tough to  digest a SUV which looks like a Rolls Royce. Its like a Grand old Lady in a Mini Skirt ! Or a KungFu Attire 

Come on take a look! Doesnt it seem , the bottom has been suddenly sliced ! It shall take a while to digest the rear styling. 

We feel the Rolls belongs to the Sedan and Rolls is the Car of the tycoons and the Kings and the Maharajas!

An SUV styling somewhere dilutes it all .... WHAT SAY ?

We need more and more cars for the masses which are safe, sturdy and have low cost of Ownership ...all cars right from entry level should have basic safety features like Air bags , ABS, reversing Sensors, good Strong built ...

We are already the 4th Largest auto market in the world ... we need to grow more responsibly ... 

Policy Makers, Auto co's, dealers, suppliers, Citizens all need to work on it together

The Consumers need to demand Best Cars without any compromise 

We need to reduce the Road Fatalities. We need safety in vehicles, safety on roads. Safety needs to be a way of life! Losing 1.5 L people in road Accidents every year. That amounts to :

1. One Death Every 4 minutes, 
2. 20 children under the age of 14 die every day due to road crashes in in the country.
3. 377 people die every day, equivalent to a jumbo jet crashing every day.

This needs to Stop! Lets harness tech for this! 

Car Meets Cloud

Connected Vehicles tech should be harnessed. Majority reasons of Accidents like Over loading, Over speeding, Drunken Driving, dangerous Driving, Lack of Servicing of Vehicles, Spurious spares can trigger alerts, from the Car Computer and notifications, sms can be sent to the Driver/ owner, their kin, govt Call center, Insurance companies, Car Service center for corrective action. 

Insurance premium, traffic Challans can all be controlled. Even Excessive emissions can be controlled the same way. 

We invite responsible members of the Auto Industry to come together and run trials with govt Agencies, Tech Co's. Pass Laws around it. If Ola, Uber can do it, why cant the people of India, govt  ,Auto Industry and spirited Citizens ?

Lets turn around our biggest weakness into our biggest Strengh! Yes we can do it!

Jai Hind 

Was it overconfidence of Renault ?  They had just delivered a uber successful Product like the Kwid.  No Normal Success it was... Something what Harvard Biz School Case Studies are made of ...

It seems the reasons of Success of Kwid got turned around to work against the Captur. 

What worked for Kwid :

1. Great SUV LIke Styling in a Entry LEvel hatchback

2. Unbelievable starting price lower than Maruti Suzuki vehicles 

3. Good Localisation 

4. Superlative Marketing Blitzkrieg

What didnt work for Captur : 

1. Great Styling but looks like a swollen up Kwid. So lost out on the differntiator bit 

2. Now despite striking resemblance with Kwid, it has a price tag, even higher than Duster

3. Indian Customer no fool, they research online and get to know Captur is on same platform as Duster. 

SO why would the Customer pay more than the Duster, for a car made on the same platform and which actually looks like the Entry Level Hatch ie the Kwid ... ! 

I know Captur has some class leading features and gadgets. I know Captur is the NExt Gen Vehicle ... but mere doston jo dikhta hai .... wo Bikhta hai ! 

See for yourself, Kwid and Captur look like Sisters.  The same reason why Audi A8 does miniscule numbers. The Siblings curse I guess... One Has to be Salman and the other Sohail. 

 A Premium customer paying a higher price wants a clear differentiator

Source : MU Ratings

 Captur :  https://motoruncle.com/cars/review/Renault-Captur

Kwid  : https://motoruncle.com/cars/review/Renault-Kwid

hi,

I’m approaching the end of my Camry lease in July. After making some moronic decisions with my past 2 car purchases I want to make the best possible decision this time. I recognize that a car is not an investment as it just depreciates but I want to be conscious of the total cost of ownership as well as safety features with this purchase. I’ve saved up 17k ontop of my emergency fund which I can either use to buy out my 2015 Camry lease residual, buy a different used vehicle, or put a large down payment on a new car, preferably a 2018 CamryIf I buyout my lease I’ve eliminated car payments and have a low mileage 2015 Camry with a residual that should be just under market value. The issues are I didn’t exactly baby the car in the past 3 years as I wasn’t anticipating buying it out. Also, the car is lacking many of the safety features I wanted to upgrade to as I anticipate my wife and I having kids in the next couple years.In my head, perhaps because my father told me “never buy new” I feel like a sucker buying new as I would be the one taking the depreciation hit and would be committing to more monthly payments. On the upside I make over 200k and could easily pay it off quickly, I’d be getting every safety/convenience feature I want, and would get the benefit of the new warranty.Lastly, I’ve ruled out buying a heavily used car as I had my fair share of those in my life and am not mechanically inclined enough to identify a good/bad deal or handle repairs myselfIf you were in my position what would you do? Does it ever make sense to buy new over used with a car like a Camry?

Please help.

I did not find the right solution from the internet.

References:-
https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=241254
Digital content production service

Thanks

hi,

My latest factory, no matter how much I discount the cars they just will not sell. Buyers say they're too expensive...what am I doing wrong? Should I strip them of all options that are labeled "very rare"? not sure what else to do, have over 600 cars waiting to sell but can't figure out Also, why do I have a car say priced for Luxury, but in my inventory it shows it as "expensive"?

Please help

I did not find the right solution from the internet.

References:-
http://positech.co.uk/forums/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=18830
Digital content production agency

Thanks

Indian Motown Story was never this exciting! 3 New Car Companies getting ready to launch! Kia Motors which created sensation at the Auto Expo Last month and then MG Motors which is a famous UK Car Brand, makers of the Once Popular Morris Minor but now owned by the chinese Auto behemoth SAIC and of course the Peugoet part of the French Giant Groupe PSA 

Each of these companies have their own strengths as well as drawbacks. A Shared Drawback aka shared Mobility is that they are coming in late.  Maruti , Hyundai, Mahindra, Honda and Toyota have already had a ball.  Maruti and Hyundai enjoy more than 70% market share 

Lets take them one by one ...

Peugeot 

They have already made multiple U -Turns in the past. Lets Hope this time they are here to Stay.  Though they have some great exciting products. Motor Uncle had blogged on  Peugeot https://motoruncle.com/blog/peugeot-india-no-u-turns-please/

MG Motors 

They have adquired the General Motors Old Plant at Halol. It was aged even when GM acquired it from Hindustan Motors, more than two decades back.  Moreover It shall take tonnes of Mktg Ammo for MG Motors to paint the picture thats hey! its an iconic  British Brand. Meanwhile the rivals shall be busy googling MG Motors, opening Wikipedia on their deivces and educating the customers of its Chinese Owners ie SAIC. This is very similar to what GM India faced with Optra and other vehicles of GM Daewoo antecedants. In the last decade, Korean Car Companies had faced lot of flak and a run down on image due to Daewoo Bankruptcy.  But that was last decade.....Success of Hyundai has been a great image makeover for Korean Co's and yes Kia gets to leverage this.

And for management at MG Motors life is a full circle. This is because most are from the Initial Years of GM India when they faced similar issue due to Daewoo and now they shall face from the Chinese Owners SAIC. People also say it was the dated SAIC products launched by GM India last few years which proved as latter's death warrant! Anyways lets bury the past as we are here to discuss a promising future! 

Kia Motors 

Kia has a lot going its way. A Big Brother like Hyundai by the side, whom it can always turn for advise, support, leverage.  Then its a Korean company and thanks to its parent, Korean Brands acceptance have seen a sea change for the better last one decade. Then its an easy to pronounce name, almost like a Hindi word "Kia" . This can mean higher recall and engagement with masses. It all begins with a easy to pronounce and remember name. Ask Mktg & Sales guys at Renault India and Chevrolet India and they share their Market challenges of a difficult name to pronounce! 

By the way Chevrolet in French means Goat's Milk! So Big Advantage to Kia on the name part and the lineage. Additonally their product line up oozzes excitment and assuming the power trains are shared with Hyundai, this means trust and proven quality even if not supremacy

And they have already invested in a plant with a capacity of 3,00,000 units an year  based on the confidence of gaining traction and marketshare. 

So the lines have been drawn ! Time to rev up the engines or charge up the Batteries! Its  Race Time ! May the best Companies win! 

Hello,

Recent history of American auto reveals that two auto companies, namely Suzuki and Hyundai, entered the JUMBO American Auto market around 1985. Suzuki-America has yet to make profit from American operation in 25 years and probably in 2010 they lost to the tune of 100 Million $ in USA due to extra expenditure associated with introduction and advertisement of Kizashi. However, lucky for them, Indian Maruti Suzuki is booming without leaps and bounds – the most profitable arm of Suzuki. In 2010, Suzuki Japan increased the parent company’s royalty from 3.5% to 5.35% from Maruti, which kept global Suzuki in BLACK but Maruti-Suzuki’s net profit declined in India in spite of substantial increase in sale #. America is the sizable source of profit for Hyundai and they have a big manufacturing facility here. To get a feel see a comparison Lexus LS460L, Bentley Mulsanne, Lexes LS, Audi A6 and BMW 5 series, Lexus GS 350, Lexus RX 350.

For more details: product launch videos

Hello,

I have read several articles and posts on the Internet that say a cars headlight bulbs fade and get dimmer over time, and that replacing them will make them brighter. My car is 13 years old, I have had it for 3 years. I never replaced the headlights since I had it, I don't know about before that. I just took my car into the local Firestone service center to have the headlights replaced. When I told them I wanted the headlights replaced even though they still worked just because I wanted them to be brighter, they looked at me like I had two heads. I ended up replacing them with brighter bulbs(at twice the price I was quoted over the phone to just replace them). Is everything I read online about headlights fading false, or was I lied to by Firestone?

I didn't find the right solution from the internet.
References:

http://www.carforum.net/general-automotive-discussion/16809-do-headlights-fade.html

graphic videos

The Innova replaced the Qualis in March 2005 

Its been a straight 12 Years reign for Innova. Products have come and gone 

There have been taveras, Xylos, Lodgy's , Hexas of the world ... None could match the quality, reliability, styling, durability of the Product and the Brand 

The Innova began at at Introductory price of 7.5 Odd Lakhs and now sells at Rs. 21 Lakhs !

Would we ever be see this product ever retire or is it the corolla of Sedan Market ... Even Corolla faces tough competition from so many gret products ... here its just a sheer Monopoly!

What say People !??

The captur is undoubtedly very stylish, a head turner, loaded with features BUT...

The Captur , India gets is not the same model available in Europe!

The Captur India shall get is based on the same MO Platform which powers the Duster. Renault wishes to charge a premium for Captur.  

SO does this really matter....!!  ??

Would Captur be able to displace the Segement Leader Hyundai Creta ?

We shall get to know soon!!  Happy Diwali!

Hyundai Service Center Duped You? 

Hyundai has more than 1200 service centers in India. Hyundai is committed to offer best after sales service through these centers. It conducts various kinds of service events to deliver pleasant Hyundai drive experience. In addition to seasonal camps, free car care clinic will be organized to keep your car in right condition. The service program offered by the company include road side assistance retail, road side assistance, 24 x 7 call center, insurance program and extended warranty program. You can raise your queries and connect with customer care executives through the toll-free number, 1800-11-4645 (Only BSNL and MTNL numbers). Mobile users can reach 09873564645 (for GSM connections).

However, many times people are dissatisfied with the performance of Hyundai Service and the customer care also doesn't help at all. In that case, we at motor uncle can help you in getting a resolution. You can share your queries here: https://motoruncle.com/servicecomplaints/listmyservice

After sales car service

The Hyundai after sales car service request can be raised through the Motor Uncle. Many customers suffer from overcharging, repeat repair, non-genuine parts and rude behavior of service staff. Motor Uncle will address all these issues and the maintenance of the car will be done very efficiently.

You can experience red carpet welcome at Motor Uncle. The service complaint can be registered online and the request will be shared with your car dealership immediately. The service complaint can be submitted online as well.

The dealers can be rated based on their responsiveness. There are some dealers who do great job by satisfying the needs of customers. You can rate the dealer so that you will help other customers in choosing the right dealer to fulfill their needs.

If you are purchasing a new vehicle, you can compare one or more vehicles with the information provided on the website. You are advised to join the forum to get the pulse of the motor industry. The forum is a great place to share your concerns with other customers.

The social sharing experience will be speeded up with the active participation in forums. You can visit https://motoruncle.com/forum to access forums. You can raise your voice with Motor Uncle by filling the online form.

Motor Uncle is committed to offering a service better than Hyundai Service Center. Hence, you can approach MU to get quick and prompt resolution for the issue. You can upload the service issues online by taking few snaps as well so that the information can be conveyed in a better way.

About MotorUncle

https://motoruncle.com/ is committed to offer best car care. The website is one stop solution for car purchase as well as maintenance. 

Motor Uncle will do comprehensive research on cars. It collects information from various sources including automobile experts, magazines and consumer data. Consumer surveys are conducted to get the real pulse of the market.

The ratings are considered on various parameters such as style, space, AC performance, mileage, driving experience, pickup, comfort, features & accessories, maintenance cost, resale value, after sales service experience and overall quality.

You can get a report card of every car so that an informed choice can be exercised.

Maruti Suzuki, the popular car manufacturer has its presence in India for more than 3 decades. The company started its operations in Gurgaon, India in 1982. The Maruti Suzuki 800 was the first vehicle rolled out from the factory and it has registered a huge success.

Exceptional customer service

The success behind Maruti Suzuki can be attributed to its technical competence as well as fulfilling Maruti Suzuki customer care. The R&D efforts of Maruti Suzuki yielded best results as the company is able to introduce affordable and innovative car models as per the needs of the customers. There are various models from the lowest range to the premium-segment from the company.

Through innovation, quality and reliable service, the company is leading the automobile industry by selling the highest number of cars in India on annual basis. The company designed and developed new segment of cars to withstand the typical Indian road conditions and without leaving heavy burden on customers’ wallet.

Maruti Suzuki introduced small cars in the Indian market in the early 80’s. Now, it has become the biggest contributor of family cars in India. It sells more than 1.5 million cars every year. Customers can reach the support team very easily. The Maruti Suzuki service complaint number 1800 102 1800 can be memorized very easily by customers.

Popular models

Maruti Suzuki offers various models of cars as per the customers’ budget and lifestyle. There are 150 variants ranging from Alto 800 to the latest, Life Utility Vehicle Maruti Suzuki Ertiga.

The current Alto 800 can be considered as the replacement for Maruti 800, the most popular car from the brand. It comes with Aero edge design, stylish headlamps and sporty grille. The car features stylish interiors which include ergonomically designed rear-headrests and spacious interiors. The slim doors will ensure maximum interior passenger space. There will be great convenience with the power windows. The engine efficiency is very high as it has an electronic throttle and passengers can experience a smooth ride. The 796cc petrol engine delivers sufficient power with 3 cylinders and it is ideal for driving in traffic-jammed roads as well. The vehicle delivers 24.7 kmpl on petrol and 33.44 km per kg on CNG. If you have any issues in booking the model, you can raise a Maruti Suzuki service complaint.

Dzire

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire offers more number of features and it offers better value for money. It comes with 1.2 liter petrol engine which can deliver 82 BHP and 113 of torque. The 1.3 liter diesel engine can deliver 74 BHP and 190 Nm of torque. As per ARAI, the vehicle delivers 22 kmpl and 28 kmpl with petrol and diesel respectively. You can reach Maruti Suzuki customer care to know more about the model.

Swift

Maruti Suzuki Swift is one of the popular models from Maruti Suzuki. It is available in petrol and diesel versions. The diesel variant comes with 1248 cc engine and it delivers 23 kmpl on city roads and 25 kmpl on highways.

Wagon R

Wagon R was launched in 1999. Many changes were made from the earliest version to the latest version and the company has achieved great success in selling Wagon R. it is available in petrol and diesel variant. Five adults can sit in the vehicle in a comfortable manner. The petrol version delivers 17 kmpl and diesel version delivers 19 kmpl. If there is any issue with the vehicle, you can reach Maruti Suzuki customer care to get quick resolution.

Baleno

The diesel variant from Maruti Suzuki delivers 27.39 kmpl mileage. The 1248 cc engine is connected to 5-gear manual transmission. The petrol variant delivers 21.4 kmpl of mileage. It has best safety features, interiors and exteriors to deliver great experience for passengers as well as driver.

Celerio

The Maruti Suzuki Celerio comes with 998cc engine and it delivers 23.10 kmpl of mileage. With great comfort-enhancing features, you can make the most of your investment.

Maruti Suzuki customer service

Maruti Suzuki customer care service centers are presented throughout the length and breadth of the country. The company services about 40, 000 cars per day and it achieved J D Power Customer Satisfaction Award for 16 years in a row. The company offers great after-sales service which is exceptional. The company has 3225 outlets across the country. It manages 33,000 trained service personnel to fulfill the needs of customers. You can reach the customer care by calling the toll free number 1800 102 1800 or 1800 1800 180.

Issue Redressal system of Maruti Suzuki

You should be aware of the Maruti Suzuki service complaint booking process. Customers can raise an issue with Maruti Suzuki by calling the toll free number or email. You can reach by sending an email to contact@maruti.co.in. The query form, feedback form and complaint form can be filled online and it can be submitted easily.

You have access to qualified and trained technicians so that the issue will be resolved immediately. The replacement or repairs can be done very easily as spare parts are available at the service centers very easily.

The company should respond to customers immediately when they face issues from dealers. In some cases, the customer has to wait many days to get response. The customer should have patience to reach the phone support and should be able to spend time as well.

Seems surely closest to Moksh! 5 liter V8 600nm , 400 bhp+ ; a 1.5 G is what you feel in the plexes with your head buzzing for a while ...The crackling exhaust , One really loud Roaring Jag!

The Art of Performance Tour 2017-18 | Noida was yet another Successful Event organised by Jaguar India. Up Close & Personal with the Jaguar Dream Machines! Great Detailing like Expert Rally Drivers to guide and Help, Resident Doctor, Customised Videos for Guests, Trained & Helpful staff; Clean, Air Conditioned and 5 Star std Mobile Washrooms, Special focus on safety! Kudos to the #JaguarExperience

Mind Bloooowwwinnng Man!!!

Whats up Maruti Suzuki ? Broken the decade long jinx, if not longer??

Lets discuss the list of Products bombed in Premium segment last decade : Baleno , Kizashi, Grand Vitara ... Yup! A long list it is! 

Now comes in NExa, New Marketing, New Branding, Fading Consumer Memory ( always helps) , forgiving customer for past debacles

and you have a brilliant new Product and Buying Experience! 

Despite Honda launching a refreshed City, the Ciaz has overtaken the former in monthly sales. Tables have surely turned

Honda as a brand has stood for prestige, premiumness, luxury and comfort and has enjoyed a superlative Aspirational value since its launch in India in 1997-98. though it was very distinct from its global image which has been of entry level workhorse. Several Mass Auto Brands come to India and become Luxurious and Premium , other examples being VW,  Skoda, 

So what worked for Ciaz ? Shift to Nexa , Consistent Product Performance, Change in Mindset and Brand Perception of Maruti Brand or a combination of all these factors ... All said and done ...a big Hats off to Maruti Suzuki India for Pulling this off ... Lets see how long the lead can be sustained... as its just the beginning!

The Premium SUV space seems to be hotting up with the New Fortuner and also the Next gen Rexton showcased last year at the Paris Motor show

Can Mahindra command the premium Pricing the Toyota Way, especially after the Lacklustre Performance of the Rexton in India

Hey! Hey! time to turn to the Ace Marketers... A good Leverage of the XUV Brand and some exciting Product Campaign can really turn the fortunes of this long awaited Product!

Honda, A Brand which has been aspirational for the Indian consumers...Back in 1998 when the Honda Siel Cars debuted with the first Honda City at India's First Honda Dealership at Chandigarh, People went from Delhi to buy the City. That was the aspiration for owning a car with the power of 100 Horses... Something new and alien for the Indian Consumers back then... Many returning to Delhi with dented bumpers and fender... Unable to handle the power of the High rev Honda engines back then!

Honda, somehow lost the plot since 2010, it seems ... The Products like CR-V, Mobilio, BR-V have just seen average or below Average Performance.  Amaze though has a great start but was unable to displace DZire from it's throne. 

Now comes the WR-V . Pricing seems to be right. Shape is surely futuristic. Performance of Honda Petrol Powertrains is surely incomparable ... Petrol is the In thing these days 

The WR-V Ratings on Motor Uncle seems just Average ... They are the Experts  rating  only as of now... as the Actual Customers are yet to build to a significant no 

WR-V Sales performance would surely be a cornerstone for Honda Cars and We wish them all the very best!

In such a short period since its launch, Tata Hexa has become the No 1 Rated Vehicle in its category at Motor Uncle

That means All India Experts and its actual users the initial ones give it the highest rating amongst the other vehicles  in its class.

Surprisingly it shows highest rating in two parameters which have actually been Achilles Heel for Tata Motors : Cost of Ownership and After Sales Experience!

Now thats really surprising! or is it Tata Motors Customers saying the Ford Punchline "Feels like Family for a Change"  :)

so what is really special about this vehicle apart from its ability to pull a Boeong 777   thanks to an overwhelming 400Nm torque? 

SO what the grapevine about the Hexa ?

Hexa Motor Uncle ratings are here : https://motoruncle.com/cars/review/Tata-Hexa

All said and done Tata Motors is surely going through a metamorphosis ... Hexa and now Tamo Racemo!

Wish you all the best Tata Motors ..!!! way to Go!

The Baleno surely turbocharged Maruti Numbers and was a saving grace for Nexa Network after the debacle of the overpriced S Cross

Maruti Suzuki debuts its tubocharged DI Gasoline engine. It drops a cylinder to save weight.  Calls it the Booster Jet engine

It unleashes 101 bhp of power at 5500 rpm and 150 Nm of torque available between 1700-4500 rpm.  

The VW Polo GT TSI , on the other hand, belts out 104 bhp and 175 Nm of torque from a 1.2 litre engine and is paired to a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission.

The Baleno RS that way has a 5 Speed Manual Option for the still Manual Crazy Indian Customers. Not really sure if the Polo is it's closest Competitior. While VW Polo has been just an average Performer sales wise... Baleno has been on a 1.5 Months waiting for quite some time now

The exciitng featiues like Black interriors, LED Headlamps, Subtle Skirts,  only top notch variant ie Alpha trip make it a great Package

Thought the Test Drive of the actual vehicle supercedes all specs on Paper ... Hoping it outperforms and outdelivers and goes beyond..

so People what are your thoughts on the Baleno RS??

They say back in the 60's , half of US was conceived on the backseat of either a Chevy or a Ford! Well even Indian grew up seeing the Ubiquitous Ambassador. It was later joined by Fiat and then Premier Padmini. Prior and In between we had Moris Minor, Standard and many cars with temporary flings. But the Landmaster and then it refined avatar in form of Ambasador stood the test of time.  Till even few years back the most powerful Men and Women of India would proudly occupy its rear seat. 

They say the rear Seat of an Amby was nothing less than the most comfy spring Sofa. Yes that's besides the point that she would ride on Leaf Spring suspension!

A thorough Workhorse, Most Spacious, the signature LIght On/Off Switch at the B Pillar inside akin to the one at Home! One of those rare cars still around, where the fuel tank can be detached within couple of minutes and the fuel can be emptied in a bucket in no time if the gas station attendant has poured the wrong fuel, while the driver was busy on his mobile!

Though eventually there were safety issues and Structural Stability concerns, exacerbated by fall of CK Birla group and complete non Focus on the HM Business.

The Taxi Workhorse even now at Kol!

Whether its the cab drivers or the passengers or the person at large on the Street of the City of Joy our Dear Kolkata ... They still swear by this machine. HM - A company headquartered in their state, they carry that pride with an even more special air. Undoubtedly the Amby instills a special character and colour to the City of Kolkata. The ride could be bumpy, the Ac might not be working, could be tiring to drive and manuever on the narrow streets, Challenge in Procuring spare parts...But Little Complaints!

Is this Foreign Invasion for the Better?

Image Courtesy : team BHP

HM had officially stopped production of the Legendary and Iconic Ambassador some time back. The plant at Uttarpada was in a shambles. There were grave  issues around Employee severance, welfare, technology, safety, upkeep

So it was a dying company and a deplorable state of affairs ... So if this foregn invasion ie Brand Acquisition by PSA Peugeot can infuse a new life in the brand, Product and set up ... It just might be worth it ... One has to surely keep in mind that Peugeot's journey in India ... last 25 years has been marred by failed attempts and false starts ... starting from the 309 , Premier JV and the attempt in 2011 with a plant at Sanand which again couldnt take off ...

Well Inline of the Never say Die spirit of the French Car Maker ... you never know  two negatives could make a positive!

Looking forward to the next Amby Model, Bon Jour! Pheonix! 

Hey Guys, Did you check out the new Tigor Sedan? Confused ? Well its the Tiago based Sedan from Tata Motors codenamed Kite5

The name got out Yesterday.  After the success of the Tiago, TML is very confident of this sedan avtar. Supposedly armed with advanced features found in premium sedan, this logical replacement of Indigo can boaast of :

• Automatic Aircon
• Power Steering
• MID
• Eco and City mode
• Engine immobilizer
• Remote tailgate opening
• 12V front Power Outlet
• Power Windows
• Follow-me-home lamps
• Speed-sensing door locks
• Central Locking with Remote
• Rear parking sensors
• Harman Infotainment System with touchscreen
• Driver’s seatbelt reminder
• Rear Defogger
• Steering-mounted audio controls
• Driver’s seat height adjustment
• Cooled glove compartment
• ABS with EBD
• Corner stability control
• Dual front airbags
• Reversing Camera

Its the Revotron Engine at the Heart

The Styling, Aesthetics are surely state of the art and contemporary. Slowly and Steadily, Tata Motors is regaining lost ground and coming in the consideration set of Personal Car Buyers and not just entry level cabs or commercial vehicle owners. 

Really looking forward to  an exciting launch of this vehicle most pobably begining next FY!

Technology has been always been developed to provide comfort and safety to humans.

We are also seeing a similar trend in the auto world with the development of autonomous cars. There are semi-autonomous cars for sale in market already. Almost all the OEMs are trying to develop their own autonomous cars for the future and that future doesnt seem to far away. All this is being developed keeping in mind the driver's comfortability and safety.

But then no technology is ever 100% fail proof! We have had many examples recently of self driving cars carshing, just to name a few:

• Google's self driving car jumped a red light and was involved in a serious crash.

• Tesla's self driving car suffered a crash last year, killing the driver. 

Am not questioning the technology here, self driving cars certainly have a better record than the human driven cars in terms of crashes. But what am questioning here is that, who's responsible if the self driving cars crash?

Who takes the blame if a component or a software malfunction in the car leads to an accident? The OEM? or the driver?

OEMs like Google and Tesla say that if the cars crash they will take the responsibility, but in a recent crash Tesla blamed the driver saying that the accident could have been avoided if the driver was alert and had kept his hands on the stearing wheel. But they are designing cars which will be completely self driven and require zero human input. what about then? Companies like GM say that to some extent the driver inside the car will be also held responsible if a crash occurs, as he/she can react to avoid the crash.

If OEMs are taking the responsibility and compensating the damages, then what will happen to car insurance companies? What about damages caused by natural phenomenons likes hail storm and typhoons? Who will compensate if the autonomous cars hits a pedestrian? Also all the traffic laws are currently written with the idea of a driver behind the wheel? Will we have to change the driving laws as well?

General Motors India or GMI, as how the company started its operations after the JV with HM was brought to end ... Its been more than 2 decades...... Some great Products,  Some great People, Some great Product Failures, Controversies.... The Company has fought and survived it all ... 

 However .... last few years ... It has chosen to just do the downward Spiral ... whether its Customer satisfaction, Sales, New and Exciting Products, Dealer Experience... and of course most important consequence Profitibility ..... As per Jan 17, 2017 report, the losses are 4 times it's Net Worth.

So what's the road Ahead for GM India? Can GM Corp afford to close the operations in an emerging economy like India? It's ramifications shall be felt even at Detroit as shareholders shall question the competency of not just Indian but Global Corner office as well of GM. 

It can be the greatest Challenge and also the finest Opporunity ... Something what gets taught at Harvard or Stanford Biz Schools!

May the Best come out!

The Next Big Thing

This title, at times has been used for various tech launches and events. But when I mention this in context of Tesla Motors, it makes sense. Let's find out why.

Henry Ford once said, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” Likewise, the people of this century wanted more efficient (but still conventionally driven) cars, until of course Tesla showed up.

For the uninitiated, these are cars that open doors for you when they sense you approaching, cars that will drive themselves to meet you at the click of a button, they have sensors all around to void obstructions and yes with the new Autopilot System, they drive themselves too (well at least to a large extent). Though technically what Tesla calls autopilot is broadly a combination of existing technologies namely Automatic Lane Keeping + Automatic Cruise Control + Automatic Parking.

And forget about the fuel bills because Tesla runs on Lithium-ion batteries. In addition to that, Tesla has a network of 795 supercharging stations worldwide where you can charge your car batteries for free (For cars ordered by 15^th Jan, 2017).

With the launch of Tesla Model 3 last year, Tesla did for electric cars, what the iPhones did for Smart phones i.e. democratize them and push them from a niche audience into the mainstream.

Don’t mistake yourself to think that Tesla was an accidental success from the pool of companies that try to revolutionize the world. Want to know why?

It is because everything about what Tesla is doing today was released by Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla Motors) 10 years ago. Have a look at the excerpt from his Master Plan 1.

Now moving on, let’s talk about the cars a bit. Shall we?

Currently Tesla offers 2 cars primarily, Model S and Model X and though the Model 3 was officially launched last year, it won’t be available until later this year. You can choose from either of the single or dual motor setup. We have the option to choose for a variety of battery, colours and fancy features options. You can choose from either of the single or dual motor setup.

I won’t bore you with the specifications here. If you are a car fanatic, I’m sure you know about them already from the Safety Features to the Touch Screen panel. From Bio-Defense mode to Wi-Fi and Internet connectivity, also Automatic keyless entry works like a charm. And if you aren’t already aware of its specifications; I’m sure the above sentences made you curious enough to check it out.

In the end, I’d just like to conclude by Elon Musk, “If you go back a few hundred years, what we take for granted today would seem like magic - being able to talk to people over long distances, to transmit images, flying, accessing vast amounts of data like an oracle. These are all things that would have been considered magic a few hundred years ago.” So rather than sticking to the ordinary and conventional, go out and innovate.

FootNote: Feel free to comment for further discussions.

Beginning

In August 1888, Bertha Benz set off on her famous first long-distance automobile journey from Mannheim to Pforzheim. In doing so, the wife of Carl Benz demonstrated the suitability of the Benz patent motor car for everyday use and thus paved the way for the worldwide success of the automobile. Precisely 125 years later, in August 2013, Mercedes-Benz recorded a no less spectacular pioneering achievement following the same route. Developed on the basis of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the S 500 INTELLIGENT DRIVE research vehicle autonomously covered the approximately 100 kilometres between Mannheim and Pforzheim. Yet, unlike Bertha Benz all those years ago, it did not have the road “all to itself”, but had to negotiate dense traffic and complex traffic situations.

 

 

Autonomous long-distance drive.

Mercedes-Benz became the first motor manufacturer to demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous driving on both interurban and urban routes

 

Autonomous driving.

Partially automated driving is already available to drivers of new Mercedes-Benz E and S-Classmodels: the new DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot is capable of steering the vehicle mainly autonomously through traffic jams. This system thus forms the core of “Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive”, the intelligent networking of all safety and comfort systems.

 

 

DISTRONIC PLUS

 

DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot takes the burden off the driver when it comes to staying in lane and the system is now also able to partially autonomously follow vehicles in traffic jams. Thanks to the stereo camera, the Brake Assist system BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist is, for the first time, now able to detect crossing traffic and pedestrians, as well as boost the braking force applied by the driver. If the lane markings are broken lines, Active Lane Keeping Assist can detect when the adjacent lane is occupied, especially by oncoming traffic, and reduce the risk of the vehicle leaving its lane unintentionally by applying the brakes on one side. Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus allows the main-beam headlamps to be kept on permanently without dazzling other road users.

 

After getting your car repaired or serviced at an authorized outlet, how many times do you feel you have experienced :

1. Being Wrongly Charged
2. Rude Behaviour
3. Delayed Delivery
4. Bad Quality Of Work
5. Suspicion of Spurious Spare Parts
6. Being Pushed with Non Mandatory Services (VAS)

You can raise your After Sales Car Service Blues through Motor Uncle

Well, time to rejoice as you have a friend now by your side and that’s Motor Uncle! It takes just a minute to raise a concern through our Service Complaints Section and it is shared with your Car Dealership, Car Company’s Regional Service Head and eventually the National Service Head through a well laid out Process. You can submit your service Complaint here: 

https://motoruncle.com/servicecomplaints

Yesterday the Auto Media went Gaga ... On the launch of the New City in Thailand ...

while the entire world is going Woo Hoo!! over it ... I frankly struggle to locate, find "what New in the New City" 

Probably I'm not a Petro head who knows the car part by part , part no wise... well so are the normal 90% customers if not more... who had been waiting for the new city for a long long time..

Auto journos says ... Most changes are on the exterior ... and thats where I struggle the most to spot them ... They says its the new grille ... bla bla bla ... But no idea...

They say there would be leather seats, stereo with car Play, ABS ... Well Good Morning even the Ignis and Baleno come with these features now...

They say powertrain is very smooth and refined.... Hello! Honda has mastered making the finest petrol powertrains for donkey years now...

Did I head DRL's ? Daytime running Lamps ? YOu call that new in today's age... If they come ... they shall be restroing basic hygiene... 

So my questions remains ...  #WhatsNew?

The way Ola and Uber are hogging up the Personal Mobility space by unbelievable accuracy, precision in service. By the competitive tarrifs ... cheaper than an Auto rickshaw and cheaper than owning personal set of wheels... Is that the day not too far when becuase of pure maths and convenience, we shall stop buying our own cars and hirng our own drivers. 

The days of Cars all accessorised, multiple varied colours, personal customisation, various cars and models out there to see and savour ... Are the days limited and counted?

The roaring petrol engines on K&N Exhausts or the special alloys and wide tyres... the First date in the car ... without any intrusion ... The Long Drives with one's Life Partner .. the surprise special gift in form of a car on Karwa Chauth or Diwali or Birthday or Anniversary ...

Would all cars vanish /turn  into a coherent white stream of Ola and Uber, next 10 years ? Wait a minute ... How do these companies manage to pay such high incentives to drivers and susidise our journey bills ... Its a dual Sword by which they are piercing their investor money reserves...... How long can they sustain this mad cash burn ?  Uber has already exited China for the same reason ... they had burnt USD2 Billion in one Single year and they decided to save their business in the other 350 Odd cities ...across the world ... than win China by going Bust ...

It shall surely be exciting to see how future unbfolds and what kind of strategies viz innovation, business, cash, on ground, choice of cars, involving car brands works ... 

Till then let me enjoy my Long Drives and romantic dinners ... Drive safe ... Always wear a Seat Belt or a Helmet  ... 

The New Maruti Suzuki Ignis is all set to be launche don 13 January 2017!!!!!

One of the most awaited cars of this year, is almost here! Looks really good!

Check out few cool things about Ignis in the link below:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/autos/maruti-suzuki-to-launch-ignis-on-jan-13-five-things-to-know-about-the-premium-urban-compact/story-Py1TyDPztDCCHsbxfYkLLJ.html

It seems maruti has mastered the art of lightweight technology. With paper like metal sheets they seems to show no concerns on passengers safety.

Majority of indian buyers are obsessed with Maruti name and generally ignore safety aspects.

Volkswagen and Skoda though costly to buy and maintain but its good to see that they do not compromise on safety front.

Must say the Honda Jazz is one of the best cars in its segment. The earlier Jazz was a tad overpriced and subsequently was sold was on an attractive discount which led to quick stock clearing from the Honda Factory Finshed Goods yard and Dealer Inventory .

Honda took the learning from the Old Jazz Price pain and launched the "The New Jazz" at a competitive price

The New JAzz initially showed initial bouyant sales figures, however later plateaued and then subsequently tanked

Does the Indian consumer still find it overpriced? For the performance, style. equipement levels, I feel it is rightly priced.

Was it not promoted and or marketed  rightly ? Did it get caught between the Utility segment and the aspirational one ?

Were the people confused by its unique styling which cut across traditional lines hatchback and sedan Or is the 3 Box Sedan Customer still adamant for the Boot outside for Social reasons

Anywhich ways, I personally love this car and one can check out its rating by All India Experts and its actual users here at Motor Uncle 

https://motoruncle.com/cars/review/Honda-Jazz

The world is going mad after Driverless and Autonomous Cars. How safe and Practical are they? 

Especially for developing markets like BRIC 

Would you be comfortable in driving or be driven in One ?

How do we envisage the world in next 5 to 10 years ... Would we see self driving cars and pods buzzing down the roads ?

In the era of several distractions and 75% of accidents happening due to driver error and Driverless cars still a bit away ... Why can't we have more Inclusion and acceptance of HUD 

Just the way the naughtiest Brat in the class is made the class monitor... Tine to actively engage the navigation, phone , music system on HUD ..

 So that atleast the driver has Head Up ... No matter what ! 

If anyone is interested to try this machine, register yourself here: 

http://hexa.tatamotors.com/hexa-experience-centre?utm_source=facebook_cpc&utm_campaign=hexa_experience_center_bangalore&utm_medium=cpc

 Heard this machine is better than Innova Crysta, XUV500, and few others in terms of ride, handling, safety measures, and also supposedly comes with air suspension.

I m a bit mad on media, content writers and the society at large

A simple google search of best cars for women shows up results of only small dinky hatchbacks.

What does the male dominated society think? Girls cant drive or handle big machines!

I give out a clarion call to girls and femnists to admonish this belief of girls being second fiddle, weak Gender

Girls are no less and can have a lot of Fun with their machines

 The much-awaited new-gen Suzuki Swift (New Maruti Swift 2017 in India) has made its world debut in Japan.

In Japan, the hatchback will go on sale on 4th January, while it will come to India around mid-2017.

Suzuki's engineering division says that, first and foremost, it has made the car fun to drive. It also carries on to say that Suzuki has stressed on giving the new Swift some real personality.

New Maruti Swift 2017 Features:

– Large hexagonal grille
– Automatic LED headlamps
– Floating roof
– All-new wraparound taillamps
– Rear Wiper & Washer
– Halogen foglamps
– Rear foglamp
– Keyless entry
– Rear door handle towards the C-Pillar
– New steering wheel
– New HVAC controls with circular vents positioned in the center
– Two-pod instrument dials with a large MID
– Automatic climate control
– Touchscreen SmartPlay entertainment system
– Voice command & navigation system
– Contrasting trim on dashboard, door panels and floor

WOw! This is Great news!! Brezza wins the Icoty! 

A great vehicle truly deserved!!

Maruti Suzuki on Wednesday said its SUV Vitara Brezza sold nearly 83,000 units since its launch in March this year and won the "Indian Car of the Year 2017" award.

"Vitara Brezza has sold nearly 83,000 units since its launch in March 2016, making it one of India's top 10 selling models and propelling Maruti Suzuki to the leadership position in the utility vehicle space as well," the company said in a statement.

A consortium of 15 auto journalists declared Vitara Brezza the "Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2017" among all the cars launched in 2016. It battled it out against the Hyundai Tucson and Toyota Innova Crysta.

Would the Car Market Down Spiral ? For how long would the dip be there? 

Would it recover by Q1 FY 2017 when the GST Also begins to kick in?

I believe these three features should be made part of common minimum program for safety in all. Vehicles 

Are they really Practical and safe for India ? 

Does it drill a hole in your pocket?

Honda City simply rocks!!

I have been using the renault Duster last 1.5 years... Its great car but this choon choon sounds really bugs me .... plus the jets of the windshield wash remain perpetually clogged creating huge inconvenience and a safety issue on most of the Monsoon days.... what to do ...!