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03 February, 2012 French auto major Renault on Thursday said it is planning to launch a passenger car in India at below Rs 4 lakh.
“Beyond Rs 4 lakh a car is our playing ground today (in India). We project to go below Rs 4 lakh,” Renault India Pvt Ltd country managing director Marc Nassif said here. He was speaking on the sidelines of a programme to launch Pulse, a hatchback in B segment.
According to Nassif, currently about 50 percent of Indian passenger cars cost between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 4 lakh. The company launched the diesel version of Pulse, priced between Rs 5.77 lakh and Rs 6.25 lakh, in January.
Nassif said the plan of rolling out cars below Rs 4 lakh was part of its global strategy.
On the sales target in India, he said: “We will aim to sell one lakh cars once we have our five cars on the roads and 100 outlets. It can be 2013 or 2014... that will depend on how the models are doing and the growth of the market.”
Among the company's five new cars, three are out in the market.
The car maker, which entered India in 2005, launched a luxury sedan, Fluence, in May 2010. In September, it came up with a compact SUV, Koleos.
In the second half of this year, it will launch Duster, a SUV. The company will come out with a sedan before 2012 ends. “Last year (2011) we sold about 1,500 cars (Koleos and Fluence),” Nassif said.
The company will open 100 outlets in the country by December 2012.

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Unable to price the Micra aggressively, Nissan has understood that the only way to penetrate the Indian market is by developing another inexpensive compact car.

Nissan is working on this small car and the Indian wing is helping them complete the task. Earlier this year, Nissan held talks with Ashok Leyland for a car between the Bajaj-Nissan-Renault ULC and the Micra, but no headway was made.

As wheelosphere.org points out, Nissan could develop this mini car with another objective – Pixo replacement for Europe. The Pixo is the Maruti Suzuki A-Star wearing a Nissan badge. Maruti Suzuki agreed to supply Nissan Pixos till 2013. Beyond this point, Nissan might fill that void by manufacturing the next generation Pixo at its Oragadam plant in Chennai where the Micra is manufactured.

Mr. Kiminobu Tokuyama, Managing Director & CEO, Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. (NMIPL) to Business Standard -

We plan to have a car below the Micra. We have a significant demand for this segment and we have been studying it. We are, at present, in the concept stage and studying customers

Rumor has it that Volkswagen expressed interest in cosmetically altering the A-Star to fill the product gap under the Polo for India. This might be another reason why Nissan could have chosen to look beyond the A-Star and its partnership with Maruti Suzuki for the future of the Pixo. Recently there were reports of a possible tie-up between Malaysian car maker Proton and Nissan, where the latter would provide its V-Platform to Proton for developing its small car for India.

In 2013, Nissan will manufacture the V-Platform MPV at Oragadam which might not be suited for the Indian market. Nissan will however introduce the NV200 MPV in India by 2012 under the Ashok Leyland-Nissan alliance.

Nissan’s third product for India, from Oragadam, instead of the V-platform MPV, could be the sub-Micra mini car which will serve dual purpose – take on the likes of the Maruti Alto and Hyundai HA here in India, and serve as the Pixo replacement in Europe and other parts of the world.

Source – bsmotoring.com

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Lexus announced the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the all-new 2011 CT 200h hybrid, which will be priced at $29,120. The MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $875. When it arrives at dealerships in early March, it will be the fifth hybrid in the Lexus lineup and have the luxury industry’s best overall combined fuel economy at 42 mpg. With its starting price of $29,120, CT 200h will have the most attractive price point in the Lexus lineup and offer the level of refinement, quality and reliability that customers have come to expect.

“For just $1,000 more than the cost of a non-luxury hybrid, buyers can indulge in a CT 200h with our proven Lexus Hybrid Drive technology,” said Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager, Lexus Division. “Lexus hybrids currently make up 90 percent of all luxury hybrid sales in the U.S., so you can imagine how excited we are to continue our leadership in this market with the CT 200h.”

The CT 200h emits approximately 60 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than the average new car, and has EPA-estimated ratings of 43 mpg city and 40 mpg on the highway utilizing regular 87-octane gasoline. Moreover, the CT 200h can be operated in a switchable EV mode which generates zero emissions.

In addition to the EV and Normal drive modes, the CT 200h offers Sport and Eco modes which can help enhance either performance and dynamic ability or driving efficiency, fuel economy and emissions. EV, Eco and Normal drive modes emphasize ride comfort and smooth acceleration.

Sport mode maximizes the CT 200h’s performance and agility. The throttle and Electric Power Steering (EPS) settings are modified. In addition, Sport mode provides less intrusive operation of the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC) systems. When Sport mode is selected, instrument panel lighting changes from blue to red and the hybrid power indicator is replaced with a tachometer.

To further enhance the overall driving experience, CT 200h features a sporty, wide-grip steering wheel and strategically angled pedals, and drivers sit in a low, 10-way power seat with a long seat cushion, lumbar support, and aggressive side bolsters. The hybrid also features a unique Yamaha front and rear lateral performance damping system. It’s designed to absorb and minimize undesirable body vibrations, offer a more linear steering feel, and further contribute to ride comfort.

“With its low emissions, great fuel economy, four driving modes, and performance dampers, CT proves that you can use ‘fun-to-drive’ and ‘hybrid’ in the same sentence,” said Templin.

Standard features on the CT 200h include SmartAccess with push-button Start/Stop and touch sensors on exterior front-door handles; leather steering wheel; a six-speaker, audio system with a CD player, and Bluetooth® for phone and music streaming capabilities; integrated satellite radio receiver (includes complimentary 90-day trial subscription); USB/iPod® connectivity; 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels; and dual zone automatic climate control. The CT 200h also incorporates a standard eight-airbag Supplemental Restraint System.

Lexus has developed a unique electronic device holder that will be included in every CT. This simple console-mounted holder can easily accommodate most cell phones, music players, or portable navigation devices, keeping the device in close proximity to the power and USB ports on the console.

The optional sixth-generation navigation system features a backup camera and Lexus’ exclusive Remote Touch controller with user-adjustable haptic feedback. The innovative controller, similar to a computer mouse, eliminates the need for touch screen controls, allowing the pop-up navigation system screen to be mounted further up the center stack and away from the driver. This helps the driver benefit with a clear, high-resolution screen, improved site lines and reduced eye movement.

For comfort and convenience, the CT 200h is available with a moonroof and heated seats. Consumers can also add an optional Premium Audio Package which includes the Lexus premium audio system with 10-speakers and six-disc CD changer, HomeLink and electrochromic rearview mirror with compass. An optional Leather Package includes perforated leather seats, heated front seats, driver memory, and rain sensing wipers. Other optional equipment available for the CT 200h includes: LED headlights with headlamp cleaners, backup camera in rearview mirror, and Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.

Improving its environmental performance, several of the CT 200h’s larger components including the loadspace deck sides, deck board and deck board trim have been fabricated from a bioplastic material containing 30 percent plant-based resin. This helps in reduction of carbon emissions over the life of the vehicle. New for the CT 200h is the standard NuLuxe seat material that looks and feels like leather to driver and passengers, but is manufactured with the environment in mind.

Lexus Enform® with Safety Connect® is a telematics system available by subscription. Lexus Safety Connect is standard on all CT 200h models, while Lexus Enform is only available with navigation-equipped vehicles. Complimentary one-year trial subscriptions of Lexus Enform with Safety Connect are included. The Lexus Enform and the Safety Connect response center operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – every day of the year.

Lexus InsiderTM, a complimentary, opt-in service available without a subscription, is also standard on Lexus Enform-equipped CT 200h vehicles. The service offers in-vehicle audio casts with useful vehicle tips and event information, as well as insights into exclusive owners’ benefits. As part of the Lexus Enform navigation platform, XM NavTraffic® and XM NavWeatherTM are available via individual XM® subscriptions. Navigation-equipped vehicles also have the availability of XM® Sports and Stocks, a service that is included with an XM® satellite radio subscription. All XM services include a complimentary 90-day trial subscription.

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01 December, 2010 Japanese auto giant Honda Motor Co on Tuesday unveiled the prototype of its small car ‘Brio’ in Bangkok, which will be introduced in India in 2011 with a price tag of less than Rs 5 lakh.
The company said it would use the vendor base of its two-wheeler business in India to make the car price competitive.
“This car has been developed for Thailand and Indian markets. While the basic design is same, the vehicle has been tailored to meet requirement of each market,” Honda Motor Co President and CEO Takanobu Ito said. He also stated that the mass production of the car will start in Thailand in March, 2011. Mr. Ito, commenting on the Indian launch, Ito said: “In India, we want to launch the car within 2011, with price less than Rs 5 lakh.”
To make ‘Brio’ a competitive product, the company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Siel Group, is looking to localise 80 per cent of the components.
“For this vehicle, Honda will leverage the resources that it has cultivated through its motorcycle business and utilise local sourcing of parts and materials such as sheet,” Ito said.
The company operates its two-wheeler business through the wholly-owned subsidiary Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, which has a manufacturing facility in Haryana and currently constructing the second plant in Rajasthan. It is also reportedly scouting for location to set up a third facility.
Honda also has a two-wheeler joint venture with the Hero Group. Both the partners hold 26 per cent stake each in Hero Honda, India’s largest two-wheeler maker.
Elaborating on the strategy to promote ‘Brio’ and other Honda products, Ito said: “We have a strong passion to reach a wider customer base for our products. To accomplish this, we have focused on creating an attractive package at an attractive price.”
Earlier, the company had said that it will introduce two versions of the ‘Brio’ based on this prototype.
The company has a manufacturing facility at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh with an installed capacity of one lakh units. It had later committed an investment of Rs 1,200 crore to set up the second manufacturing facility at Tapukara in Rajasthan, with an installed capacity 60,000 units per annum.

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