Aston Martin in India

Aston Martin has officially opened the doors to its first dealership in India today, bringing the British marquee's luxury sports cars to Mumbai.

Aston Martin will commence its presence in India with a dedicated facility in Mumbai in partnership with Performance Cars, a division of Infinity Cars. The first Aston Martin dealership is located at Kemp's Corner, Mumbai. The after0sales facility workshop is located somewhere near Worli.

Aston Martin customers and enthusiasts will be able to view and test-drive selected models from the entire range of V8 Vantage Coupe, V8 Roadster, V12 Vantage, DB9 Coupe, DB9 Volante, DBS Coupe, DBS Volante, and the 4-door Rapide. These models will be joined by the recently launched V8 Vantage S and the new Virage.

In the launch event Aston Martin also showcased the super-exclusive One-77, which is priced at around Rs. 20 crore.

Ford unvelis the 2011 fiesta

The original Fiesta has had a pretty good track record, but as we mentioned in our last comparison with the Linea T-Jet — it definitely needed an update. Now the new Fiesta four-door premium sedan boasts some smart features and promises to raise the bar in fuel economy as well.

The new Fiesta is now powered by a 1.6 litre Ti-VCT petrol engine producing 120bhp, and a 1.6 litre TDCi , 90bhp diesel engine. It also comes equipped with Cruise Control.

Fiesta’s new design includes a set of wraparound "foxy eyes" headlamps, clamshell bonnet and prominent wheel arches. The interiors have been completely redone as well, with the instrument panel centre stack designed to feel as useful and intuitive as the keypad on a mobile phone.

Fiesta’s new design includes a set of wraparound "foThe new Fiesta also showcases Ford’s Human Machine Interface (HMI) strategy. It's equipped with smart Voice Control technology paired with Bluetooth, which provides wireless connectivity to a mobile phone. The Voice Control feature allows the use of one's voice to take control of multiple devices and to make and receive calls, change the radio station, climate control settings or music track, while the music plays through a six-speaker sound system.

Ford was tight-lipped about the prices, but we will update this space as soon as the prices are announced. Fiesta fans, is this an answer to your prayers? Let us know in the comments below.xy eyes" headlamps, clamshell bonnet and prominent wheel arches. The interiors have been completely redo

X3 launches in India by mid of 2011

BMW India will be launching the X3 by mid 2011 as a CKD product built out of its Chennai facility. The new generation of the X3 debuted at the Paris Motor Show late last year. The current X3 is the oldest vehicle in the BMW line-up and needed a serious upgrade to take on the likes of the Audi Q5 and the Volvo XC60. The new generation car’s interiors resemble what is current at BMW at the moment, but crucially it is larger in size, more spacious inside and looks up-market, perhaps the right element mix for its target market. We expect the base model to be the xDrive20i, a four-cylinder petrol making 150PS, claiming a 198kmph top speed and 11.5 seconds to 100kmph. The diesel will use the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine already seen in the 320d, 520d and X1 that makes 184PS and 380Nm. Since the model will be a CKD, expect BMW to be able to price the X3 between Rs 30 to 35 lakh, a significant drop from the old (CBU) X3 which was priced at Rs 44 lakh.

Harley-Davidson India launches Forty-Eight

Harley-Davidson India added up a new bike to its portfolio by launching its mighty Forty-Eight model. The bike sports a 1200cc V-twin engine that produces a prodigious 98Nm of torque.
The Forty-Eight will be available across all the Harley-Davidson dealerships in India, in addition to the existing 14 models in its 2011 line-up. Bookings will commence from this month.
The Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight is priced at Rs 8,50,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).


Here is the Press Release

New Delhi: Harley-Davidson® announced the addition of the new Forty-Eight™ model to its expansive model portfolio in India. With this addition, Harley-Davidson offers a motorcycle that promises riders a raw and radical ride as this bike brings brawn and chiseled custom with power and performance. 
The Forty-Eight will be introduced at Rs. 8,50,000 (ex-showroom Delhi). This model will be available across all the Harley-Davidson dealerships, in addition to the existing model line-up of 2011.
The new Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight motorcycle is a factory custom in the legendary tradition of the hot rod Sportster line with the raw, elemental appeal of the Dark Custom™ bikes. 
Riding low with a slammed suspension and featuring the classic "peanut" fuel tank, the Forty-Eight backs up its bulldog appearance with the performance of its blacked out and polished rubber-mounted Evolution® 1200 cc V-Twin engine. The low solo seat, under-mounted mirrors, side mount license plate, clean rear fender and tall and fat front tire emphasize the Forty Eight's focus on chiseled customization. 
Harley-Davidson Sportster models like the Forty-Eight have retained an aura of rebellion since their introduction in 1957, when the foundation of custom culture was being formed by hot rod gear heads hanging out on city street corners, in gritty garages or at dusty dragstrips. Sportster motorcycles became an iron canvas for many legendary choppers of that era and beyond. The Forty-Eight has more than just custom cool styling with the smooth ride on new front fork sliders, a tall and fat front tire and slammed rear suspension. 
With Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) and performance tuning with a broad torque curve, the Forty-Eight motorcycle delivers a powerfully responsive ride with smooth clutch effort. The pipes on the chrome, shorty dual exhaust pound out the distinctive Harley-Davidson V-Twin sound. 
The Forty-Eight embraces the street up front with forward foot controls, low profile custom handlebar, fork-mounted turn signals, slammed speedometer mounting bracket and fork brace with lightening holes. A unique dual texture seat with a height of 26 inches fits the lone rider, while a passenger pillion, footpegs and backrest are some of the many accessories that can be added.
Bookings for the Forty-Eight will commence in April 2011, at Harley-Davidson dealerships around India.  
Harley-Davidson India commenced operations in August 2009 and appointed its first dealership in July 2010. The Company currently offers 14 models in its 2011 line-up in India, available through its authorized dealerships. For more information, visit the Harley-Davidson India web site at www.harley-davidson.in

Maserati now available in india

Modena-based luxury and sports car maker Maserati will bring its Italian brand of high performance cars to the Indian car market this year. Along with Shreyans group, Maserati will open its first Indian showroom in Mumbai this year and plans to open a second dealership in New Delhi early 2012. 
The range of Maseratis to be sold in India includes the GranTurismo coupe, the GranCabrio convertible and the Quattroporte sports sedan. The company predicts that its sedan range will absorb 80 percent of its buyers in India, with the remaining 20 percent opting for the GranTurismo coupe and the GranCabrio convertible.
Prices of GranTurismo range between Rs 1.2cr to Rs 1.37cr, Quattroporte between Rs 1.23cr to 1.43cr and the GranCabrio is priced at Rs 1.43cr
India will be the 63rd market for Maserati in the world.

Here is the press release

Modena/New Delhi-  Maserati announces it will bring its uniquely Italian brand of high performance and custom-made exclusivity to the Indian car market this year.
 The Modena-based luxury and sports car maker, in partnership with the successful Indian luxury retailer, the Shreyans Group, will open its first Indian showroom in Mumbai this year and plans are well advanced to open a second dealership in New Delhi in early 2012, with plans to cater to seven major Indian cities by 2015.
 The Maserati India office will combine the experience in service, customers service and network management of Maserati professionals with the Indian market expertise of the Shreyans Group, which has established it as a key player in India’s luxury market in many sectors from cars to superbikes and fashion.
 With the Indian economy recovering, the Indian car market posted 1.87 million sales in 2010 for an annual growth of 25 percent. Yet even that growth rate pales in comparison to the premium car sector, which grew by 70 percent last year.
 The demand for the introduction of Maserati’s models - the Quattroporte flag-ship sedan, the GranTurismo coupe and the GranCabrio convertible - into India has been driven by a new generation of wealthy Indians.
 Maserati predicts that its sedan range will absorb 80 percent of its buyers in India, with the remaining 20 percent choosing the GranTurismo coupe and the GranCabrio convertible.
 Expectations are that customers in Mumbai and New Delhi will be India’s most enthusiastic, with New Delhi predicted to take 40 percent of Maserati’s entire Indian distribution and Mumbai 35 percent.
 India will be the 63rd market for Maserati in the world.

Maserati’s 2010 Financial Results
 For 2010, Maserati reported €586 million in revenues, an increase of 30.8% over 2009, primarily attributable to excellent sales performance for the new GranCabrio, the GranTurismo and the Quattroporte flagship sedan.
 A total of 5,675 cars were delivered to the network during the year, an increase of 26.4%, with positive performance in the majority of Maserati's national markets.
 In the USA, Maserati's no. 1 market in the world with over 2,000 units delivered to final customers, volumes were up 45% over the previous year. Excellent results were also achieved in the United Kingdom (+72%) and China (+128%). In the markets’ ranking, behind the United States two countries tied for second place: Italy and the United Kingdom, each with 530 units delivered. In 4th place is China.
 With over 400 units delivered to final customers, China has also become Maserati’s largest market in Asia; the Asia Pacific region is the fastest growing market for Maserati globally, and the 2nd area of the world – after the U.S. – for Quattroporte sales.
 Maserati’s first four markets are thus located on three different continents, to prove the truly global reach of the Modena-based factory.
 Maserati’s 5th largest market in the world is Germany, Japan is 6th, France is 7th, Switzerland is 8th, Australia is 9th, Hong Kong is 10th, the UAE 11th.
 For 2010, Maserati had a trading profit of €24 million (trading margin: 4.1%). The sharp increase over the €11 million trading profit for 2009 (trading margin: 2.5%) is attributable to both higher sales volumes and continued optimization of operating costs.
 Maserati reported €151 million in revenues for Q4 2010, up 17.1% over the same period for the prior year. Trading profit was €8 million for the quarter compared with €5 million for the fourth quarter of 2009.
 During the year, the Company released the new GranTurismo MC Stradale, the fastest, lightest and most powerful model in the marque's product range: a top-of-the-line coupé that embodies Maserati's vast experience gained on the racetrack.
 Other models presented were the special edition Quattroporte Sport GTS Awards Edition and the GranTurismo MC Trofeo, for which Maserati has organized a single-make championship.

 The Quattroporte range
 The award-winning Quattroporte continues to be a strong and consistent performer for Maserati, both in its sales and in its on-road performance. The range was crowned by the successful debut of the special edition Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition at the Geneva Auto Show in March, 2010, , born to celebrate the Quattroporte’s 56 major international design and automotive awards. The range begins with the Quattroporte, moves into the Quattroporte S, with its 4.7-litre V8 engine, and is headlined by the flagship sports sedan, the Quattroporte Sport GT S.
 The performance flagship of the four-door range is the Quattroporte Sport GT S. With its sports exhaust system freeing up more power, the 4.7-litre V8 boasts 323kW (440hp) of power at 7000rpm, the Quattroporte Sport GT S retains the Quattroporte S’s 490Nm of torque, but directs its performance more aggressively.
 
The GranTurismo range
 Acclaimed as one of the most beautiful cars of its generation, the Pininfarina-designed GranTurismo is also the car that rewrote the rulebook for fast, comfortable sports cars that could carry four full-sized adults. The GranTurismo has capitalized on all of Maserati’s known qualities, from design to performance, from handling to luxury and from passion to practicality- and encased them in a timelessly sleek package.
 Powered by a 4.2-litre, all-alloy V8 engine producing 405 horsepower at 7100rpm, the GranTurismo sprints to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds and can reach speeds of up to 285km/h. The GranTurismo S takes the strengths of the GranTurismo and adds Maserati’s 4.7-litre all-alloy V8 engine andthe electro-actuated six-speed transaxle gearbox.
 There is also an automatic-transmission version of the GranTurismo S, the GranTurismo S Automatic, which combines all of the advantages of the GranTurismo S’s 4.7-litre V8 power plant with all the comfort advantages and silken gearshifts of the 4.2-litre GranTurismo’s six-speed automatic transmission.
 The new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is the fastest, lightest and most powerful car in the Maserati model line-up. Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport programs, the GranTurismo MC Stradale has more power, less weight, razor-sharp handling and a 301km/h top speed.
 Responding to Maserati customer demands for a GranTurismo capable of balancing their road-driving needs with their race-driving desires, it incorporates the handling and aerodynamic lessons from Maserati’s three current racing programmes.
 With 331kW (450 horsepower), it has more power (7kW, 10hp) from the 4.7-litre V8 engine than the GranTurismo S, while its 510Nm of torque is a further 20Nm improvement. This helps to slash the 0- 100km/h sprint time, which the GranTurismo MC Stradale covers in just 4.6 seconds, and stretches the top speed to 301km/h.
 The GranTurismo range can be tuned to a more sporty edge with the MC Sport Line package, first launched in 2008 and now further enriched with new contents. Coming directly from Maserati motorsport expertise, the MC Sport Line offers GranTurismo buyers the chance to upgrade the exterior and interior of their cars, with extensive use of carbon fibre elements.
 The MC Sport Line package includes also a stiffer suspension set-up for the GranTurismo S, which further improves handling performance.
 
The GranCabrio range
 Acclaimed by the motoring press as one of the world’s most-beautiful cars, the Maserati GranCabrio has been a sales success in every market, meeting or exceeding its sales targets worldwide.
 The GranCabrio has the longest wheelbase (2942mm) in its segment, yet boasts class-leading structural rigidity, providing added safety, comfort and handling ability.
 A critically acclaimed full four-seat convertible, it lacks neither pace nor luxury, with a smooth, fast, sixspeed automatic transmission and 323 kW (440 horsepower) available from the 4.7-litre V8 engine.
 The GranCabrio’s body was re-engineered to ensure Maserati’s trademark handling and agility remained intact, even as it exploited the long wheelbase to provide class-leading safety and comfort.
 It also boasts special materials in its triple-layer cloth roof to ensure thermal and sound insulation, regardless of the outside temperature. The roof mechanism itself is strong and, at 60kg, light, and takes just 20 seconds (28 seconds, if the four independent window movements are taken into account) to fully fold back into its compartment.
 Conceived to give the GranCabrio a harder-edged model to sit alongside the GranTurismo S and the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the GranCabrio Sport, which debuted at 2011 Geneva Auto Show, uses a more powerful and fuel-efficient version of Maserati’s all-alloy 4.7-litre V8.
 This configuration of the naturally aspirated engine produces 331 kW (450 horsepower and has 510Nm at the peak of its rich, thick torque curve. The top speed of the GranCabrio Sport is 285 km/h and the 0- 100 km/h sprint is now reduced to 5.2s. This six-speed automatic transmission includes the super-fast MC Auto Shift software and has been developed for the GranCabrio Sport directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S.
 The GranCabrio Sport also debuts a new body colour for Maserati: Rosso Trionfale, inspired by the red national colours used on 1950s racing Maseratis - in 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio won his fifth F1 World Title at the wheel of a red Maserati 250F. Closing the circle, in 2010 Maserati clinched the FIA GT1 World Title with the MC 12 single-seater raced by Italian Andrea Bertolini and German Michael Bartels.