Mahindra Scorpio creates great impact at Raid-de-Himalaya

THE MAHINDRA Scorpio, one of India’s most iconic SUVs, recently created a hat-trick at the 12th Raid-de-Himalaya which is one of the most grueling events on the Indian motorsports calendar. The Scorpio emerged the winner in a record three segments under the Adventure Trial – SUV category.
Mahindra Scorpio’s domination of the Indian SUV segment has reached new heights with this achievement.

The Scorpio also won Raid De Himalaya in 2009 and 2008 in the Adventure Trial - SUV category, making this a hat-trick win! Sanjay Takale & Rahul Sancheti came overall first in the Adventure Trial – SUV Category as well as first in the Stock Expert segment. The brother duo of K Prasad and K Pradeep came first in the Pro Stock Expert segment and Raj Singh Rathore and Chandrashekhar were the winners in the Stock Amateur segment: all these adding up to a triple treat for the Mighty Muscular Scorpio.

Commenting on the success of the Scorpio, Vivek Nayer, Sr. Vice-President, Marketing, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “This win further reaffirms the tough and rugged ‘Mahindra DNA' of the iconic Scorpio which is a much loved, much admired brand. It is a very proud moment for us as winning the 3rd time in a row is a testimony to the spirit of adventure of the Scorpio as well as the people who drive it so passionately! ”.

Raid de Himalaya 2010 witnessed 164 participating teams grappling with subzero temperatures, highly inhospitable weather and forbidding terrain. The robust and rugged Scorpios however dominated the six-day long competition from the flag-off at Shimla on Day 1, to the close of the rally at Manali on Day 6, maintaining their poise and position through some of the most challenging conditions on earth.

Commenting on the win, Sanjay Takale, Winner, Adventure Trial-SUV category, Raid De Himalaya 2010 said, “Finishing the Raid de Himalaya is an achievement in itself. This is a team sport and we couldn't have pulled this off if we did not work together. Team Mahindra had a job to do. The rally saw a very high casualty rate due to the treacherous and unforgiving terrain and only the cars with the best technical setup were able to pull through. My biggest advantage was my navigator, Rahul Sancheti, who was spot on with direction and the Mahindra Scorpio which never gave up, no matter what the terrain was. The roads this time tested our mettle and by winning it, we just answered it right”.

 

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Bugatti Veyron fastest car in India

VOLKSWAGEN GROUP'S Bugatti Automobiles launched its costliest ever car in India on Thursday amidst much fanfare and anticipation. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport priced at Rs 16 crore (ex showrrom price) is India's costliest car so far.

With its debut in the sub-continent, India has become world's only country to sell the cheapest as well as the most expensive car. Bugatti Veyron comes with a lot of exclusive and luxurious features and can touch the top speed of 407 km an hour and speed of 360 km an hour with the roof off.

As of now, the most expensive cars in the Indian market are Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bentley Mulsanne and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG which are priced at about Rs 5 crore. The market dynamics of sports cars are growing considerably at 25 percent annually.

During the launch of the car, Julius Kruta, Head of Tradition, Bugatti Automobiles SAS, said that for the typical wealthy customer, the choice is not between sports cars, but “between a helicopter, a Picasso painting or a Wally yacht.” He further added that the closed top variant of the car will be released next year.

Looking at the prospects of conquering the Indian markets, Kruta added that many Indians are among the richest in the world and we already have some Indian customers in the UK. We've launched it here because this is a healthy growing economy and people will get even richer in the future.

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Auto sales regain momentum in December

Hyundai Motor India ,one of the country’s largest car manufacturer recorded  a 17.6% rise over 22,252 units sold in December 2009. Hyundai Motor expexts the market to continue to grow in 2011 although the rate of growth may come down.

Mahindra & Mahindra  vehicles segment also registered a growth of 28%, having sold 15,601 units in December 2010, as against 12,212 units during December 2009.Tata Motors vehicle business recorded  28% rise in its total domestic sales in December 2010 at 19,977 units as against 15,661 units in December 2009. Tata Nano sales also  touched 5,784 units last month, about 60% higher over December 2009 .Ford India December sales were up 172%, with more than 60,000 units of Figa  sold in India since its launch in March 2010.

Toyota Motors saw a marginal rise in sales , grew 5% on-year with 6,359 units sold in December 2010. General Motors also sold 8,468 units against 8,258 units sold in December 2009, recording a rise of 2.5%.

After witnessing slower growth in November 2010 , auto sales regain in December 2010 by attractive year-end schemes.

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Pamela Anderson: PETA's person of the year

PAMELA ANDERSON, famous for Baywatch serial, has been named the person of the year by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). She has been selected for the honour for her tireless work to end animal cruelty.

Anderson has made a number of contributions to raise awareness about animal welfare and animal rights.

Speaking to students at Oxford University on animal rights.
Posing for pictures with her body painted in butcher markings.
Doing commercials for the anti-fur campaign.
Calling on Indian leaders to ban the country's leather trade.
Demonstrating how easy it is to avoid contributing to animal suffering.

According to PETA, Anderson had also been penning letters and posing in their advertisements for raising awareness about cruelty to animals. PETA is a welll known organisation working for prevention of cruelty against animals across the world and it is known for using shocking tactics and advertisement to sanitise the world against cruel treatment to animals.

It has often involved top celebrities in its campaigns to create awareness and build opinion.

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The Much Awaited New BMW X1 Debuts in India

The new BMW X1 was launched in New Delhi in three variants: BMW X1 sDrive18i (petrol), BMW X1 sDrive20d (diesel) and BMW X1 sDrive20d Exclusive (diesel) and can now be ordered at BMW dealerships across India.

Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW India said, ?The new BMW X1 is a modern vehicle that for the first time brings premium BMW characteristics into the compact vehicle segment. The new BMW X1 sets a benchmark by bringing together features of a Sports Activity Vehicle with spontaneous flexibility and outstanding fuel economy. The new BMW X1 is the perfect vehicle for customers focusing on areas such as leisure activities and lifestyle in their choice of car.?
The new BMW X1 will be CKD (completely knocked-down unit) produced in India and the all India ex-showroom prices are as follows ?
The new BMW X1 sDrive18i : INR 22,00,000
The new BMW X1 sDrive20d : INR 23,90,000
The new BMW X1 sDrive 20d Exclusive : INR 29,90,000
Note: Ex-showroom price excludes RTO registration charges, tax, insurance, handling charges; Octroi and entry tax (as applicable). The above ex-showroom prices are exclusive of sales tax / VAT applicable on sale to the customer. Prices and options are subject to change without prior notice.
The new BMW X1 will be available in a range of ten exciting colours to choose from including Alpine White as non-metallic paintwork and the following metallic colours: Black Sapphire, Cashmere Silver, Deep Sea Blue, Vermillion Red, Space Grey, Titanium Silver, Sparkling Bronze, Graphite Blue and Marrakesh Brown.
The new BMW X1 sDrive18i and the new BMW X1 sDrive20d will be available in the upholstery choices: Sensatec Black and Sensatec Beige. Leather Nevada is the standard upholstery for the new BMW X1 sDrive20d Exclusive and is available in the following colours: Beige, Black and Red Brown/Black.
The new BMW X1: Description in Brief
The new BMW X1 expands and enhances the range of BMW X models by yet another innovative vehicle concept. Through its body design the BMW X1 demonstrates self-confident elegance, versatile and sporting character, as well as spontaneous agility. For the first time the features and characteristics of a BMW X model are carried over in modern style into a unique vehicle in the premium compact segment.
The interior of the BMW X1 is characterised by clear function and trendsetting, modern style. In the cockpit, the centre console is tilted slightly towards the driver so all the relevant operating functions are arranged to provide a sense of personal control. The elevated seating position, a generous feeling of space, the wide range of storage options and the variable interior offer ideal conditions for enjoying the new BMW X1 both in an urban environment and beyond.
The interior can be flexibly adjusted to individual requirements. The new BMW X1 has room for spontaneity through fully variable rear seats with separately folding centre section and adjustable backrest angle. The rear-seat backrest comes with ten-stage tilt adjustment from 1 to 31 degrees. The rear-seat backrest is divided in three parts (a split of 40/20/40) and can be individually folded down to increase the luggage compartment capacity from 420 litres to a maximum of 1,350 litres.
The panorama glass sunroof, available in the new BMW X1 sDrive20d Exclusive, creates a particularly bright ambience. Seats in the new BMW X1 are electrically adjustable on both the driver and front seat passenger sides.
A turbocharger with variable intake geometry and common-rail fuel injection gives the four-cylinder diesel in the new BMW X1 sDrive20d a maximum output of 130 kW/177 hp at an engine speed of 4,000 rpm as well as maximum torque of 350 Nm all the way from 1,750 to 3,000 rpm. It accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds with the ability to achieve the top speed of 205 km/hr. The average fuel consumption is 15.24 km/ltr as measured by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) for Indian market specifications.
The 110 kW/150 hp four-cylinder petrol version featured in the new BMW X1 sDrive18i provides a similarly economical entry into the world of BMW X models. This engine delivers peak torque of 200 Nm at 3,600 rpm reaching its maximum output at 6,400 rpm. Acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/hr comes in 10.4 seconds with top speed of 200 km/h. The average fuel consumption of BMW X1 sDrive18i is 11.24 km/ltr as measured by ARAI for Indian market specifications.
All versions of the new BMW X1 are equipped as standard with six-speed automatic transmission with short reaction and gearshift times. In India, the new BMW X1 comes with the dynamic rear-wheel drive system which means the driver enjoys typical BMW agility and driving pleasure ? namely precise handling, flawless cornering ability and incomparable dynamics.

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Upswing witnessed in industrial production in India

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION in India was highly sluggish in March 2008.The low performance of the manufacturing and production sector pulled down growth in industrial production to a six-year low of three per cent. This has been one of the basic reasons of rising production. Manufacturing sector carries almost 80 per cent weight in industrial production. The slowdown in the industry had a marginal effect on the overall growth of the economy. This growth coupled with inflation affects demand. It is said that the industrial slow down is basically due to high inflation rate, because input costs for manufacturing substantially increases, and higher fuel costs augments transportation costs.

The industrial slowdown also increases the dilemma of the Reserve Bank of India in choosing between anti-inflationary measures and growth-promotion steps. If money supply is tightened to a large extent, it retards the growth process. The deceleration was also witnessed in other categories like capital goods (8.6 per cent against 18.1 per cent, basic goods (3.1 per cent against 11.9 per cent) and intermediate goods (3.5 per cent against 15.3 per cent).

But, as we are out of the world-wide recession, industries now are in top gear. The manufacturing sector has bounced back with vigour, with a sharp surge in the number of sectors that show dizzy growth. While an increasing number of sectors are showing excellent growth, many sectors remain in moderate growth zone including some core sectors such as cement and steel.

During April-December 2010-11 the estimated data show that construction equipment, auto components, air conditioners, natural gas, tractors, nitrogenous fertilisers show excellent growth of 39.2 per cent, crude oil, power transmission towers, industrial gases, and utility vehicles show high-growth of 17.3 per cent, and cement, steel, caustic soda, rubber goods, and urea show moderate growth. Only eight sectors report negative growth this year as compared to 28 sectors last year.

In essence, as many as 50 to 127 sectors covered in a periodic survey by the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Council of Association have shown year-on-year growth of more than 20 in April-December period, compared with 27 last year. This indicates a strong rebound.

As a consequence, all this upswing, gross domestic products (GDP) growth may reach nine per cent starting Fiscal Year 2012.

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Ford recalls F-series pickups, Edge, Lincoln MKX

FORD MOTOR Co is recalling about 20,000 new vehicles in North America, mainly its heavy duty pickup trucks, due to the chance that an electrical short could cause a fire, Ford and U.S. federal regulators said on Thursday.

Ford will inform owners of its F-series pickups and small sports utility vehicles Edge and Lincoln MKX of the potential problem by January 10, according to a filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About 15,000 of the affected vehicles were sold in the United States, and most of the rest in Canada, said Wes Sherwood, Ford spokesman.

Sherwood said the automaker is not aware of any injuries, crashes or fires resulting from the issue.

Body control modules made by Lear Corp at a plant in Mexico produced over a six-day period may cause an electrical short, Ford told NHTSA in a filing.

The same filing said that Lear "found that a newly hired operator failed to properly clean a soldering machine during four production shifts" over six days in late October.

Sherwood said the suspect vehicles were assembled at Ford plants between late October and mid-November.

"If an electrical short develops, an overheating condition may occur" and result in a vehicle fire, the NHTSA filing said.

Ford discovered the problem when two F-150 pickups had fires in mid-November and early December at a Dearborn, Michigan assembly plant before being shipped, it told NHTSA.

"Ford is not aware of any reports for related fires on vehicles in service," the automaker told NHTSA.

Of the nearly 20,000 vehicles affected, 13,200 are Super Duty F-Series trucks, which are the F-250, the F-350 and the F-450 models.

Some 476 F-150 pickup trucks were affected. That model is the biggest selling vehicle in North America.

About 6,200 Edge and MKX models are affected, Sherwood said.

Edge and MKX are also known as crossover vehicles because they are built on a car platform rather than a truck platform as are larger SUVs.

Ford dealers are to inspect recalled vehicles and if necessary replace body control modules at no consumer cost. Sherwood said the repair time is relatively short, but he did not specify how long each repair will take or how much repairs will cost the automaker.

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