Monthly Archives: March 2011
Volvo V60 D5 hybrid in India preview
Article by Lijo Mathai
Volvo Motors India are very upbeat after the fantastic response they received for the Volvo S60 and the Volvo XC60, two products which were unveiled in India within a gap of 3 months. Both these cars have now started commanding a waiting period. Well, we at Indiandrives have got information from one of Volvo’s PR agencies that Volvo are going to launch the Volvo V60 D5 hybrid in India by next year. It would be India’s first diesel hybrid car and notably the first diesel hybrid production car for the world as well. We had earlier given you a preview of the Volvo V60 D3 and you may follow the link for the same. However the D5 hybrid is another prospect altogether. This car was unveiled [...]
BlueMotion technology – an insight
Article by Lijo Mathai
Volkswagen India have launched their 2011 Volkswagen Passat in India with BlueMotion technology. Now the name sounds eerily similar to Mercedes’ BlueEfficiency and BMW’s EfficientDynamics. Well it is precisely the same albeit at a lower cost but with almost the same benefits befitting the other Germans. Like we had earlier reported that Volkswagen India are going to start a Think Blue initiative with the launch of the 2011 Passat, now we would be taking you through the BlueMotion technology world. BlueMotion essentially means providing the vehicle with exemplary power, fuel efficiency and at the same time leaving less of a carbon foot print. Now all these terms cannot be taken in the same [...]
Aston Martin coming to India next month
Article by Lijo Mathai
Significant rise in income as also a now pompous lifestyle amongst many Indians are forcing many foreign companies to begin investing in India. As we have time and again iterated, all the luxury car companies as also the ones catering to the budget/niche market are making their presence felt here in India. Well, if we Indians can welcome all of James Bond movies, then why not his very desirable high tech car? Yes, rumors have been floating around that Aston Martin are ready to enter India as early as next month. To this very regard, Aston Martin have opened up a dealership in South Mumbai, Kemps corner to be exact. Even before its official entry into India, the company has found about 32 buyers [...]
100,000th engine rolls out of Ford’s Chennai plant
Article by Lijo Mathai
Just a year after setting up their engine facility in Maraimalainagar Nagar, Chennai, Ford India have achieved the distinction of rolling out the 100,000th engine from this plant. The beauty of the thing is that the 100,000th engine was rolled out barely in 14 months of start up of the plant. This engine plant is highly flexible in the terms that it can roll out both diesel and petrol engines from the same production line. It is also the first in the world for Ford wherein both the engines are produced from the same line. Michael Boneham, Ford India’s Managing Director and President said that this engine unit stands true to the commitment of the company in delivering high quality products to [...]
Tips on buying a used Ford Ikon
Article by Lijo Mathai
Ford India’s decision to do away with the Ford Ikon car recently was not a shock for many. The car was anyways long in the tooth and had already been replaced by its more classier cousin, the Ford Fiesta, in the global market. However now even the old Fiesta is getting replaced with an entirely new one, so it was a wise decision to axe the ageing Ford Ikon. However along with the axe comes a bonus, that of diminishing second hand Ford Ikon prices. I know that its been more than a month since anything worthwhile has been contributed to the used cars section. We are short staffed at the moment and this is the reason. When one of my friends recently sold his 8 year old Ikon and went and brought [...]
