Weekly Wrap-Up: Tata Bolt Bookings Starts, Datsun Go+ to Launch soon and more

The last week of the year hasn’t been that exciting as the only happening news was from Tata which commenced Bolt's bookings. Another happening was also around bookings as the first Indigenous sports car – DC Avanti is almost sold out. The car is getting good response and as only 500 units will be available initially, the booking for first lot is already done. Mahindra’s subsidiary brand SsangYong has revealed its upcoming SUV Tivoli, which will be launched in mid-2015.  Datsun India might launch its Go+ MPV on 15th January, while Renault Lodgy can also make its way to India in 2015. In an unexpected move, Nagesh Basavanhalli stepped down from his post of MD and President, Fiat India. Another big news was that Hyundai India is looking for land to open its new plant in Rajasthan.
 
Book your Tata Bolt for just INR 11,000
 
Tata Motors has commenced the online bookings for its soon-to-be-launched Bolt hatchback. Customers can book the hatchback at (http://bookonline.tatamotors.com/) with a payment of just INR 11,000. Bolt is the second vehicle in line under the company’s Horizonext banner after the Zest compact sedan. 
 

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Nissan to launch Datsun GO+ on January 15th
 
If word on the street is to be believed then Datsun's second product, the Go+, is set to make its way to the Indian market on January 15th. The latest offering is country's first-of-its-kind sub-4 metre compact MPV, which is more-or-less a large five-seater hatchback with a flexible third row, best suited for children or your dog.
 

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2015 batch of 500 DC Avantis almost sold out!
 
Post four years of planning, three years of execution and a delay of almost two years, India’s first indigenous sports car- DC Avanti is finally ready to hit the tarmac next year. To be priced close to INR 40 lacs, the first deliveries of the much-anticipated sports car will commence from March 2015.

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SsangYong Tivoli SUV fully revealed
 
After teasing the styling sketches and safety features, SsangYong Tivoli has been fully revealed officially. The SsangYong Tivoli will be the most affordable product from the Mahindra-owned automaker and will rival the likes of Nissan Juke and Renault Captur. The Tivoli borrows its styling elements from SsangYong’s XIV-air and XIV-Adventure concepts, which the company earlier showcased at this year’s Paris Motor Show. SsangYong Tivoli is scheduled to be launched in Korea in January and globally during the 2nd quarter of 2015.
 

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Tesla Roadster 3.0 package upgrade promises 640 km range
 
 
Though Tesla Roadster is not on sale right now, the company has announced a new upgrade for the sports coupe. The Tesla Roadster 3.0 package will use new battery, new aero kit and new low rolling resistance tyres to achieve a predicted 40-50% improvement on the overall range of the car. With a specific set of speed and driving conditions, the Roadster 3.0 can offer a 640 km range. And to demonstrate that in the rear world, Tesla has announced a non-stop drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles in the early weeks of 2015.
 

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Honda considering a new car manufacturing plant in Gujarat
 
After Tata, Ford, Maruti Suzuki, another car manufacturer is planning to establish its manufacturing facility in the state of Gujarat. According to a latest report from PTI, Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) is in final talks with the state authorities for a proposal to set up a new car plant near Vithalapur village in Ahmedabad district. With an investment of over INR 1,000 Crore, the new manufacturing facility will be build under the "mega project" category of Gujarat's new Industrial Policy.
 
 

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Fuel from crop waste
 
A group of scientists in Taiwan have managed to create clean burning fuel for vehicles from plant waste and straw. Crop, such as rice, leaves behind a lot of straw and organic waste matter which can now be turned into fuel. When farmers reap the crop field, a lot of this unwanted straw either gets turned into fertiliser or is discarded as waste. Now however, scientists can utilise this waste to produce fuel. Alien to our country, ethanol infused fuel can be found at many fuel stations around the world. In China, fuel is a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% petrol. Biobutanol can be produced from wasted straws, bagass, and wood wastes. Although the demand for biobutanol is rising, the process of fermentation for this particular fuel still remains very inefficient.

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Volkswagen Polo with 1.0-litre BlueMotion petrol engine launched in UK
 
Volkswagen has launched the first-ever petrol version of the Polo BlueMotion, with prices starting from £14,730. The Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion will be powered a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder BlueMotion TSI petrol engine that produces 95 PS of maximum power at 5,000-5,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 118 Nm at 1,500-3,500 rpm. The 1.0-litre engine will be the greenest petrol engine in the range with 94 g/km CO2 emissions and 68.9 mpg fuel economy. The Polo BlueMotion will reach 100 km/h from standstill in 10.5 seconds and has a top speed of 192 km/h.
 

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Fiat India chief Nagesh Basavanhalli steps down
 
 Nagesh Basavanhalli, who joined the Indian subsidiary of the Fiat Chrysler LLC in April last year, has now stepped down from his position. He was appointed as the Managing Director (MD) and President for Fiat India, in an effort to re-establish and streamline the firm's operations post its break-out with the home grown auto major- Tata Motors Ltd.
 
 

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Tata launches dedicated arena to promote Bolt
 
After commencing online bookings for its soon-to-be-launched Bolt hatchback a day before, Tata Motors has now announced the launch of a dedicated Arena for the car in Delhi. Named as Bolt Arena, it is an interactive hub where company will promote the Bolt through various customers engaging activities. The arena will be in the city till 28th January and will move to other locations in the following weeks.
 
 

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Renault India announces price increase from January 2015
 
Renault India has also announced an increase of prices for its products from January 1st, 2015 due to rise in input costs. The increase of price range will be up to 2.5% across Renault’s product lineup. We have so far seen the announcements of price increase from Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki, General Motors and BMW with other car manufacturers too expected to join them soon.
 
 

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Renault Lodgy India launch in 2015; expected price Rs.8 lac
 
Renault India has officially confirmed the launch of its MPV, Renault Lodgy, in 2015. The Lodgy has been spied testing in India in disguise leading to various speculations about the car's launch in India. With the announcment, Renault has put an end to all the speculations. When Renault Lodgy is launched in India mid-2015, the car is expected to target people who wish for a spacious car that can carry a whole family and their luggage in comfort. We expect the price of Renault Lodgy to be priced at Rs.8 lacs, right in the middle between the likes of Ertiga, Mobilio and Enjoy on one side and Innova, Xylo on the other. 

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