New Cars India

In the mid 90’s Government of India liberalized the investment policy and this gave opportunity to the global car makers to venture into Indian car market. Today, most of them have their manufacturing facility in India and are launching their best cars in India to grab the larger chunk of the Indian car market; recently concluded 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi is a perfect example of the same.

General Motors India entered into the SUV segment by launching Captiva under the Chevrolet brand. This premium SUV has thrown tough competition to the existing players in the segment like Mitshubishi Pajero and Honda CRV. The Captiva is equipped with the 2000cc common rail diesel engine with 150 bhp. It is also furnished with luxurious safety features such as safety airbags and ABS.

The German car maker Daimler Chrysler launched the fourth generation Mercedes C-class. In terms of features and dynamics it is closer to BMW. The C-class will be available only with two engine options – the C200K will be powered by a 174 bhp four cylinder engine, while on the other hand the C220 CDI will be propulsion from a 170bhp common-rail diesel engine.

The, Czech arm of Volkswagen – Skoda launched its hatchback Fabia in India. It will be available with 1.4 ltr petrol and diesel engines. It’s a modern European hatchback at the price of Indian Maruti Swift. The diesel engine of Fabia is expected to be much more powerful than the other cars in its class in India.

In between the global car makers, the India cars manufacturers also made their presence felt among them Tata was the major one. Tata launched the second generation MUV Sumo Grande. This new MUV comes up with the Safari’s 2.2 Dicor engine, but with 120 bhp instead of 140 bhp. The Sumo Grande is positioned as an urban utility vehicle that will take on Mahindra's Scorpio and the Toyota Innova.

Car Buying Tips

Since buying a car entails a big expenditure and a major monetary decision, it is advisable to do a little bit of research work and keep some commonsensical things in mind rather than regretting later. Let’s zoom on…

Don’t go with a preconceived notion for or against a particular car and better go for buying a car with an open mind after considering all the pros and cons of the car (technical specifications, mileage etc.). With loads of reliable information available, you should first go for a virtual car shopping which help you in taking an informed buying decision
Equally important is the priority factor, whether you want great pick up or high mileage. Also keep other factors in your mind such as the size of your family and the seating capacity of the car.

If you are buying a car by availing a car loan then decide what is the maximum EMI that you can afford on your present income

Once you have zeroed on the car you want to buy, it is time to negotiate the price. Carry out a survey of different dealers to see if you can get a better price. It is quite possible that some dealers may have a special offer on the model you desire

Before finalizing the deal, always take a test drive to get the feel of the car. Make sure that you are comfortable and satisfied with the car. Check that there is enough leg space, luggage space, steering is not too heavy et al. Finalising the deal and signing the paperwork: As buyer of the car you need to ensure that all the legal forms should be filled in completely and submitted to the right authorities. You have to register the car with the Regional Transport Office. Following documents are required to be submitted to the RTO:

- Application for new car registration or Form 20
- Photocopy of the invoice, insurance policy, ration card or telephone bill as proof of address.
- Original Sale Certificate or Form No 23, Sales Tax Receipt, Octroi Receipt
- Pollution Under Control Certificate from the manufacturer or Form No 22
- Letter from the financier, in case you have taken a loan to purchase a car, addressed to the RTO asking them to endorse their lien on your car registration certificate book or Form No 34
- Your PAN number
- Imprint of your car's Chassis Number

It is always better to go for a used car if you are a greenhorn and have just learnt driving. This way you can refine your driving skills and gain the necessary confidence before investing a substantial amount on new car. Also you can afford a luxury model in relatively less price. But buying a used car has a few downsides too. Used cars have higher maintenance cost as compared to new cars So it is always advisable to go for an expertise advice and a thorough inspection by an experienced mechanic before purchasing. The engine, chasis, tyre and battery condition, air conditioning are the must to consider before buying. The most important advice is a test drive which will help you arrive at the decision whether the car is fit for you or not. Please ensure that the paperwork is in order so as to avoid any fraudulent.

New Launch Cars in India

Gone are the days when the Fiat and the Ambassador were seen in the streets in India. Now the Indian car market is flooded with world class brands and top automobile manufacturers are giving increasing stress on providing better after sales service to its customers.

The recent Auto Expo unveiled many new cars, so in case you are stepping out to drive your dream machine, there is a plethora of option in front of you.

Among new launch cars, the one which remained most popular in Auto Expo this time was 'Nano' from Tata, say it one lakh car or Laktakia, but Tata launched Nano for the people of india, thats why people came to see their Car called peoples car. But the head honchos of GMI were not perturbed. They were in a class of their own.

General Motors India (GMI), has now entered the premium SUV segment, by launching Chevloret Captiva, its new sports utility vehicle in this Auto Expo.

"Captiva has already made its mark in Europe, Australia, South America and Indonesia. And now, it is ready to capture its share of the Indian market. GMI has kicked of the year with a brilliant SUV," said Karl Slym, GM India president and managing director, at the 9th Auto Expo. Captiva could definitely score with the Indian mass since it looks more like a stylish compact SUV that has a three-seater as well as a seven-seater variant.

Chevrolet Captiva is priced to compete with Honda CR-V -which is sold at Rs 18.4 lakh, Pajero - priced at 18.8 lakh and Nissan X-Trail's - it's priced at Rs 23 lakh. The 2-litre diesel driven Captiva will be available to the customers for Rs 17.74 lakh (exshowroom ).

"We believe Captiva will be a successful vehicle on the Indian roads. We hope to sell 1,000 units in 2008," said Slym. The company estimates that the SUV segment would move up from the current 7,000 units per annum to 28,000 units by the year 2012. The company would consider manufacturing the vehicle here if it is able to get requisite volumes.

Reference : The Economic Times dated 13 Jan 2007

New Cars

General Motors has been a forerunner in bringing world class cars in India. GM started off with the launch of Chevrolet U-VA in January 2007, followed by ‘Chevrolet Optra Platinum’ limited edition. In April, GM India came up with the much awaited Chevrolet Spark' –a refurbished version of Daewoo's 'Matiz.' Chevrolet Spark’s best in the class fuel efficiency and enhanced safety features are certain to lure the car lovers. The saga continued with the introduction of Optra Magnum and New Chevrolet Aveo Anniversary Edition in the subsequent months. It is worth mentioning here that GM India has registered its highest ever sales in August since its inception in India.

The luxury segment also made a considerable inroad with launches like Audi’s Sports Coupe Audi TT, The 5 Series Sedan from BMW, Bentley’s Azure and Continental GTC and Mercedes Benz CL and S Class (S 320CDI L)

Among other prominent players, there were Mahindra Renault Logan' that hit the road in the mid 2007. Other worth-mentioning here are Maurti SX4, Grand Vitara, Ford Mondeo, Mitsubishi Montero and Hyundai i10.

However, GM’s Chevrolet Captiva in the premium SUV segment and Tata’s 1 lakh car are the most anticipated ones which are going to be unveiled during the Auto Expo in January 2008.