Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Mahindra TUV3OO

Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Mahindra TUV300 , this is a nice comparison video by Bunny Punia of Cardekho dot com. Both Compact SUV's offer totally different experience and offer good value for money.

While Vitara Brezza , which has already taken the market by storn and received more than 40 thousand bookings, impress with its good ride quality, car like handling, and impressive feature list.

TUV3OO on the other hand draws you with its butch styling, wider and taller body giving you impressive road presence, loads of interior space and not to forget the AMT option making TUV3OO the cheapest diesel automatic SUV in India.

Looking at the preference for safe cars by Indian car buyers both car's offer good safety equipment  as options in lower models and standard equipment in higher models.

Vitara Brezza – The Exciting New Compact Suv !

Vitara Brezza the much awaited compact SUV from Maruti Suzuki was launched today at mouthwatering prices ranging from Rs.6.99 to Rs 9.68 Lakhs, ex showroom New Delhi.

Maruti has pitted Brezza against segement leader Ford Ecosport by undercutting its price by a good margin.

Brezza top models will also be offered in stylish two tone body paint, which is sure to attract youngsters.

Looking at the buzz Brezza launch is generating on the web and judging from the fantastic response Brezza stall got at the latest Auto Expo in Feb 2016, this stylish compact suv  looks like another certain winner from Maruti Suzuki stable.

If you are in the market for a new compact SUV, and if Brezza ticks most of the boxes in your desire list, it would be a wise decision to book it as soon as possible, market pundits do look at long waiting list for Brezza as bookings start getting piled up. 

 Car buyers who booked Maruti's last hit launch Baleno are already looking at few month long wait  to recieve their cars, and now prospective Brezza   owners may be looking at the same scenario.

I would also bet on Maruti share prices going north ward from here as the Brezza booking numbers start coming in, so keep a close watch on this stock for next few days.

                                                                                                                      ....Alok 

 pic source

Budget 2016 - Cars to Cost More. !

 For car lovers Budget 2016 did not bring any good news, in fact their favorite mode of transport is going to be taxed more.

 Small cars will suffer the minimum impact of the new taxes, while large cars worth more than 10 Lakh will see the maximum hike in price.

Most of the Auto Majors have all ready  come out with the new price lists showing the increased prices.

Even though the new taxes will be levied only on cars dispatched from the manufacturing plants from April 1 2016, dealers have stopped delivery of cars to customers till the time effect of  new taxes is made clear by their respective auto companies.

There is some good news for companies using hybrid technologies in their products,  hybrid vehicles have been exempted from the new taxes. Maruti is one auto major which will benefit from this tax exemption, since it uses hybrid technology in many of its car models like Ciaz.

Surprisingly no new sops were announced for the electric cars and hybrid cars, which looking at Modi Government's commitment to clean energy vehicles, came out as a damp squib for the industry watchers.

Two wheeler companies  have been exempted from the any tax hikes, this along with the major investment that the Government India is making in jump starting the rural economy should see two wheeler sales go up in the coming year.

Budget 2016 saw  huge amount of resources allotted to infrastructure development, with more emphasis on timely completion of  ongoing infrastructure projects.

I see two wheeler majors, auto manufacturers like Maruti which use hybrid technology in cars, and infracture companies engaged in road building, doing very well in the stock markets in the coming financial year.

I feel overall its a good budget,  new taxes too will result in better roads and other facilities  to make traveling more safe, comfortable and enjoyable for millions of car and bike owners in India.

                                                                                                                                                       ....Alok

New Name for Tata Zica is Tata Tiago !

Finally the new car from Tata Motor the cute Tata Zica has been renamed Tata Tiago.

After Tata Motor decided to drop the name Zica due to its similarity with the name of notorious  Zika virus, they conducted a name hunt contest and chose the name Tiago from over  37,000 suggested names.

Tiago means baby boy in Portuguese/Spanish.

Personally I liked the sound of the name Zica a lot, and it sounded similiar ... yet much better than Tata Indica. But i guess Tata decided to go with a name which sounded similar to Tata Indigo...Tiago - Indigo.

 Lets hope the new names clicks, and as some people would say whats in a name... Zica or Tiago... its finally the quality and looks of the car which will eventually make the sales registers ring. 

Tiago is expected to hit the showrooms by march end, we wish all the best to Tata Motors on their new launch, and wish Tiago will be a big hit with the car lovers all over
 .... Alok

Tata Zica Review:

Renuka Kirpalani with New Tata Zica !

The new “Kwid “ on the block !

Indian auto market got a shock today, when Renault launched Kwid, their new entry level hatch at absolutely mouthwatering prices. The base model is priced at Rs.2.57 - and top end model at Rs.3.53 lakh ex.showroom Delhi. 

When Renault revealed the prices they were much lower than the market expectations, and with most car makers in India going over board in pricing their new products, Renault has surely set a new and a very welcoming precedent.

 

Auto community in India had been very excited since Renault revealed Kwid , their new entry level hatch, specially designed for Indian market  by its Indian and French design team, a few months back.

  

 Renault Kwid first drive video

This exceptionally good looking car is better in design than most of the plain jane  hatches running about on the Indian roads, and its SUVish stance and body is to sure make it standout on the crowded roads.

 On top of the good looks Renault Kwid also gives you spacious interiors , a large 300 liter boot, safety features like an airbag,  and with 180 mm ground clearance it can give many of the fake suvs and crossovers a run for its money.

It’s a known fact that the  compact suv sector in India has been booming for past few years, and compact hatch market has always been the front runner of the Indian car market with hatches like Maruti 800, Maruti Alto ruling the auto industry and selling tens of thousands of cars every month year on year.  So Renault’s design team went on to marry best of both the world: a Compact Hatch and a Compact  SUV get married and you get an absolutely stunning Renault Kwid.

Like most other auto enthusiasts I would love to see this car to be a game changer for not just Renault but also for Indian Auto Industry, because with Kwid Renault has  shown the world that car buyers need not pay through their nose for a brilliant design.

Alok.

Resources: 

Official Renault Kwid website.

Renault Kwid Review and Test Drive - Autocar India.

Follow lively discussion about Renault Kwid on India’s foremost auto community Team BHP



 Tags: Renault Kwid, Renault India, New car launches, Renault Kwid Review, Renault Kwid Price, Renault Kwid Photos 

Ford EcoSport - Your dazzling new travel partner !

The brawny looking Ford EcoSport.

Ford EcoSport,  one of the  most awaited cars for the Indian roads is finally here. Ford calls it the ‘Urban Suv’,  going by its looks this compact crossover vehicle, with 200 mm of ground clearance, can take on any challenge Indian city roads can throw at it, even during the monsoon months when most roads take a heavy beating and go from bad to worse.

Since the first pics of Ford EcoSport were released on the internet car buffs have been drooling over its good looks, Even though the car has compact dimensions, its tall stance and clever design gives it proper suv look.   And the lucky few who have been able to test drive it, have also been talking about the good quality of interiors, its array of hi-tech features, the immensely flexible seating  etc. The ‘Car Gurus’  all over the internet are saying  “Ford EcoSport is best  value for money car in the sub 10 lakh range.”

Ford seemed to have taken a lesson from Mahindra & Mahindra. Mahindra’s had priced the much awaited XUV  much lower than the market expectations, and on top of the low price they also loaded the car with hi-tech features up to the gills. This led to the stupendous success of  Mahindra XUV. Compared to other cars in its class Ford too have priced the EcoSport lower, and loaded the car with hi-tech safety features, a choice of manual and automatic transmission, along with international class fit and finish.

If the market grapevine is to believed Ford EcoSport has received  a bumper opening with over 10,000 cars booked!!! If this is true, we can soon expect many of these ‘Urban Suvs’ running  about in urban and rural India.

If you are someone who will be in the market for a new car in next few months,  keep an eye on the progress of Ford EcoSport , as the ownership reports start trickling in we will be able to judge this car much better. For now… it not  a bad idea to test drive a EcoSport.

For me Ford EcoSport seems like the ideal car for my next drive to Leh, the compact dimensions, and high ground clearance, seem perfect to me to take on the narrow twisting Himalayan roads.