Maruti Suzuki Alto Sales Cross the 1 Lakh Mark In 5 Months

The Maruti Suzuki Alto has always been one of the bestsellers from the stables of the company. Maruti Suzuki recently announced that its Alto range, which includes the Alto K10, Alto 800 and the Alto CNG have crossed the one lakh sales mark in the first five months of 2017. Truly astounding! In fact, the Maruti Suzuki Alto has been topping the sales charts for close to 17 years now. The Maruti Suzuki Alto has been a significant contributor to the dominance of the company in the Indian passenger car segment over the years.

The Maruti Suzuki Alto is the most affordable car from the Maruti Suzuki stable and yes, there are concerns with regards to space in it, but clearly, the buyers out there want something with a good design and good fuel efficiency too. According to some statistics shared by Maruti Suzuki, nearly 25 per cent of Alto sales contribution comes from young customers less than 30 years of age and this contribution has grown by 4 per cent in the past three years.

 Maruti Suzuki first launched the Alto in the Indian market in September 2000 and in the 17 years of its existence in India, the company has upgraded it time and again to keep up with the demands of the customers. In the first three years of the Alto's launch, it clocked 1 lakh of cumulative sales. During 2016-17, Maruti Suzuki exported over 21,000 units of Alto to markets such as Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, and Uruguay and this is in addition to domestic sales.

Maruti Suzuki has regularly upgraded the Alto with the latest technology and new features. Maruti Suzuki has also equipped it with an Auto Gear Shift Transmission (AGS) technology which makes the Alto the most affordable automatic car from Maruti Suzuki. The demand for the automated manual transmission variant has seen a rise too and the demand is an ever growing one.

(The Maruti Suzuki Alto has been topping the sales charts for over 17 years now)

While Maruti Suzuki has had its fair share of success with the Alto K10 and the 800 cc variant, it is currently working on bringing out a new generation of the car and we've already told you all about it. Maruti Suzuki is working on a concept car that will showcase the direction the Alto family will take post 2018. The concept car will be teased at the 2018 Auto Expo in Delhi.

The Maruti Suzuki Alto has been facing tough competition recently, from the Renault Kwid and some of the others like the Datsun redi-Go. In the first eight months of FY 2016-17 Alto sales have taken a hit. Sales have declined by 7.4 per cent to 1,62,894 units, while the Renault Kwid has shot up to 73,676 units from 11,044 units sold in the same period the year before.

(The Maruti Suzuki Alto is mostly preferred by young customers who are below 30 years of age)

Maruti Suzuki will use the top to bottom approach when it comes to new-gen Alto, so we expect a whole bunch of changes in the field of advanced connectivity and a better user interface. expect it to get a good infotainment system and expecting Android Auto and Apple Carplay also won't be a far fetched idea. But considering the segment, we don't expect the fit and finish of the system like that on both the Ignis and Baleno. In fact it will be a segment first if it does come. The Alto will have to have these options considering the Kwid already comes with a touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. These next few months are crucial then as we wait to find out what Maruti Suzuki has in store for us.

Volvo, Volkswagen Ready To Supply Flex-Fuel Vehicles: Gadkari

Keen to promote transportation on alternative fuel like methanol and ethanol, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday that automobile giants Volkswagen and Volvo have shown interest in supplying such vehicles to be run on a pilot basis in the country. 

"We had a talk with Volvo... they are ready to supply 50 buses on methanol in Pune and Mumbai," Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Gadkari said.

Gadkari said the project will be on a pilot basis initially, and could be replicated as there was immense potential for running vehicles on alternative fuel like methanol, ethanol and Bio CNG. The minister said that talks were on with taxi aggregator Ola for running taxis on ethanol.

"Volkswagen is ready to supply flex engine for 100 vehicles if ethanol supply is ensured," he said.

Like flex engine in the US, Brazil or Canada, which can run either on 100 per cent petrol or fuel blended with 22 per cent ethanol, taxis here too can be operated on a pilot basis, he said. Last month Nagpur, the constituency of Gadkari, had earned the distinction of becoming the country's first city with a fleet of 200 electric vehicles, including taxis, buses, e-rickshaw and autos.

The minister had launched the pilot project for 200 electric vehicles, including 100 of Mahindra's new e20 plus to be run by Ola. Gadkari said that alternative fuel had huge potential and can cut on huge Rs 7 lakh crore import bill on crude. He said ethanol could be produced in large quantities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and taxis running on it could save Rs 4.5 per km on fuel charges. The minister said, in Stockholm 400 buses were running on ethanol which can be easily produced in India, while Gujarat State Fertiliser Corporation could produce methanol, which is produced from coal gasification.

"In fact we are thinking to promote alternative fuel in shipping sector as well and vessels could be run on methanol which is cheaper than LNG," he said, adding 500 barges were brought for Ganga which could be run on these if all goes well.

Last month, Gadkari had said he will urge Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to bring down GST rate on hybrid vehicles and other automobiles that run on alternate fuels. Under the GST rates, hybrid cars, which are considered eco-friendly, are slated to attract a 15 per cent cess over and above peak rate of 28 per cent, same as those of large luxury cars and SUVs.

The automobile industry has expressed concern on the high rate on hybrids stating it would put a spanner in the wheels of government plans to promote green vehicles. At present hybrid vehicles attracts excise duty of 12.5 per cent with an effective overall tax rate of 30.3 per cent.

Yamaha Fazer 25 To Be Launched Around The Festive Season This Year

The Yamaha FZ25 went on sale earlier this year and will soon be joined by its full faired version. While we recently showed you images of Yamaha's new 250 cc Fazer 25 being tested, a recent news report suggests that production of the upcoming model will commence in August this year with the launch scheduled sometime around the festive season. The Yamaha Fazer 25 will be the more touring friendly version of the FZ25 naked motorcycle, and will share its underpinnings with the latter.

The FZ-16 and the following Fazer 150 have been one of Yamaha's success stories, so it's not surprising the bike maker plans to replicate this strategy with the FZ25 as well. Given we have already seen spy shots of the Fazer 25 being tested, the model certainly seems well on its way to production by the end of this year. That said, Carandbike reached out to Yamaha Motor India to confirm the veracity of the report, but there has been no response from the company yet.

Unlike its 150 cc version though, the Yamaha Fazer 25 sports a full-fairing while also gaining new rear view mirrors and a larger windscreen. Previous spy shots have also revealed the new Fazer 25 to sport a single headlamp cluster instead of the dual setup on the 150 cc model.

The Yamaha FZ25 has been appreciated for its spirited performance

			Under the fairing though, both models will be sharing the same mechanical system. The Yamaha Fazer 25 will also sport a 249 cc air-cooled engine with oil cooling. On the FZ25, the motor makes 20 bhp and 20 Nm of peak, while paired to a 5-speed gearbox. Expect similar numbers on the Fazer as well, albeit there will be a marginal rise in the kerb weight of the bike. That said, the Fazer 25 will be positioned as a tourer more than an aggressive naked. Other details will also remain the same including telescopic front forks and a monoshock rear suspension setup, split seats and dual disc brakes sans ABS. That said, we could see Anti-Lock Brakes being added later in the timeline on both models. Apart from the additional fairing and weight, the Yamaha Fazer 25 will see a bump in pricing as well over the FZ25. The latter currently starts at ₹ 1.20 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and you can expect the quarter-litre Fazer to attract a price tag of ₹ 1.35 lakh. In terms of competition, the Yamaha Fazer 25 will lock horns with the Honda CBR250R, KTM RC200 and the likes in the segment.

New BMW 5 Series Launched In India; Prices Start At ₹ 49.90 Lakh

A much-awaited launch from the Bavarian carmaker, the seventh generation BMW 5 Series is now officially on sale in India with prices starting at ₹ 49.9 lakh, going up to ₹ 61.3 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The previous generation 5 Series was a bestseller for BMW India and also globally, and the newest edition only makes things more luxurious, powerful and more engaging to drive as well. We have been bringing you all the live updates from the 5 Series launch, while we have already driven the car and came back quite impressed. Competing against some heavyweights in the segment, here's everything you need to know about the all-new BMW 5 Series.

The 2017 BMW 5 Series is based on a completely new platform and is sharper and lighter than its predecessor. It is the second model to be based on BMW's new Cluster Architecture (or CLAR) that first underpinned the new generation 7 Series. The advanced platform along with extensive use of the aluminium has helped shed the kerb weight by 70 kg over the older gen 5 Series. With respect to the design, the new 5 takes much influence from the new 7 boasting of a toned kidney grille, sharper headlamps and massive wraparound LED taillights. The rear does not change dramatically over the outgoing model, but there is clearly a lot less visual bulk than the older version.

The cabin has evolved over the current version and the new BMW 5 Series welcomes you to a suave and futuristic interior. You now get a fully digital instrument console along with a larger infotainment screen. The unit is equipped with voice control and gesture control, while you also get multi-zone climate control, leather upholstered seats and the latest iteration of BMW's iDrive for enhanced in-car connectivity.

Sachin Tendulkar and Vikram Pawah with the new 2017 BMW 5 Series

The BMW 5 Series 2017 model comes with a ranges of updated powertrains and India will be getting three engine variants - a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder oil-burner that will make 187 bhp, which we'll see on the 520d, a 3.0-litre, in-line 6 diesel churning 261 bhp on the 530d and finally, a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol motor that will be churning out 249 bhp on the 530i. All the models will be paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. All versions come paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission with power being sent to the rear wheels.

The new generation BMW 5 Series has grown considerably in its size while the wheelbase too is much liberal at 2970 mm. The automaker has freed up more legroom at the rear and the car certainly feels a lot more spacious inside and out. More importantly, the new 5 Series is sportier to drive than its older model and that will certainly attract a lot of young buyers to the car.

BMW India has a major challenge as it aims to push the new 5 Series against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Long Wheelbase (LWB), Volvo S90, Audi A6 and the likes in the segment. BMW India though has kept prices competitive for its popular offering, and that should attract a host of new buyers to the sedan. Local assembly of the new 5 Series commenced at the BMW Chennai facility earlier this month, while deliveries are all set to commence soon.

New 2018 Volkswagen Polo Officially Teased Ahead Of Frankfurt Debut

Volkswagen will officially pull the wraps off the new-generation 2018 Polo hatchback later this year. Expected to make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, this September, the upcoming Volkswagen Polo will be launched in India in 2018. Ahead of the car's official debut, Volkswagen has released the first teaser image of the car. The teaser shows an outline of the sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo, which has gone through considerable design and cosmetic updates. Last month, the company had released some images of a camouflaged prototype of the new-gen Polo to create some extra buzz.

Now, we have already seen the new-gen VW Polo in its undisguised avatar. Visually, the car looks a lot sleeker now and it's also expected to come ith a 90 mm longer wheelbase. There will be other dimensional changesthem only after the 2018 Polo is officially unveiled. Moreover, the new Volkswagen Polo is now built on the company's tried and tested MQB platform, similar to the likes of the Audi Q2, Skoda Kodiaq as well but we will get to know about , Volkswagen Passat and more.

In terms of styling, the new VW Polo appears to have taken inspiration from its older and more powerful sibling - the Polo GTI. The car comes with sharp character lines on the sides and bonnet along with new sporty alloy wheels. Up front, the new Polo features a new, stylish pair of wraparound LED headlights, featuring projector lamps and LED daytime running lights. The car also gets a new sleeker grille with chrome highlights and a wider airdam along with new trapezoidal foglamps. The rear portion looks bolder and comes with a new LED taillamps and redesigned rear bumper.

While there are still no images of the cabin, you can surely expect to see a more upmarket appearance thanks to new interior trim options, improved styling and a host of new features like - a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, climate control, keyless entry and more.
Globally, the new Volkswagen Polo comes with an array of 3-cylinders and 4-cylinder engines and a hybrid powertrain is also said to be on the cards. The India-bound VW Polo, however, is expected to feature the same petrol and diesel engine options that do duty on the outgoing Volkswagen Polo.

Apple iPhone Gets 'Do Not Disturb While Driving' Feature To Avoid Distractions

For a lot of us, it is hard to resist checking your phone while driving to keep a tab on all the notifications. However, time and again, phones have been a major reason for accidents because the driver was not paying attention on road. Somehow, tech giant Apple has been at the receiving end of this issue, since it would not stop its users from using the iPhone when driving. Trying to combat the same, Apple Inc has now created a new feature for the upcoming iOS 11 update called 'Do Not Disturb While Driving' (DNDWD).

It's obvious that you should not be looking at your phone when driving and the new safety feature will ensure you do exactly that. When activated, DNDWD will ensure that your screen looks blank and all those notifications, alerts, messages and calls are avoided altogether. The software uses Bluetooth or WiFi doppler effect to determine how quickly you're moving, to determine if you're driving or not.

If you still try to see your phone screen in motion, it will remain blank thanks to this feature. Should you want to use your phone, you will have to pull over.

The feature thankfully, does not disconnect you with the world completely when driving. The feature auto-replies to texts with a message saying that you're driving. There is also an option to list certain contacts, who will have the option to text back as "urgent" to display their text regardless if Do Not Disturb While Driving is running. For car's that do not get Apple CarPlay yet, this feature is Apple's attempt to keep things safe.

But, what if you are the passenger? Apple says the feature can be turned off by saying you're a passenger on the phone. That also happens to be the loop hole in the tech giant's otherwise safety feature, considering many drivers too could opt for selecting the same.

That said, using your phone while driving is a life threatening risk, not only for the driver but also everyone on road. Ideally, it is something that you should naturally avoid, but such are the times we live in that we need an app to tell us this.

Volkswagen, Skoda And Audi Could Skip 2018 Auto Expo

Volkswagen India will not participate in the upcoming 2018 Auto Expo, sources close to the company have told carandbike.com. The next Auto Expo is scheduled to take place in February and it's not just VW India that might give it a miss. Volkswagen Group which includes Audi and Skoda might also not be part of the expo. Apart from the VW Group, other manufacturers including Bajaj Auto, Royal Enfield, General Motors, Ford and Nissan could also skip the upcoming Auto Expo.

The 2018 Auto Expo is organised by the industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) along with CII, and is held in Greater Noida around 25-30 km away from Delhi. Over the years, several manufacturers have opted out of the Expo for a number of reasons. Skoda India skipped the expo during the last edition as well and it won't be surprising to not see the manufacturer at the next edition. Bajaj too was quite vocal about its absence from the 2016 Auto Expo, stating that it was a platform for new and lesser known manufacturers to showcase its work.

While several manufacturers may not participate in the next edition, there will also be a host of new carmakers that will be showcasing products for the first time. This includes South Korea's Kia, China's SAIC as well as French automaker Peugeot. Apart from these, existing carmakers including Honda, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Hero MotoCorp, TVS among others are expected to continue its association with the expo. In the luxury space, it is likely that Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and BMW will showcase products next year.

That said, most manufacturers are yet to officially confirm participation at the 2018 Auto Expo. The biennial event witnesses a host of new products and concepts emerging for the Indian market and only gets bigger and better every year, recording a larger number of footfall as well.