Honda Motor Co has announced plans to build a new automobile transmission plant within its Hamamatsu Factory, Japan, in order to strengthen production of automobile automatic transmissions (AT) and continuously variable transmissions (CVT), to meet growing global demand. The new automobile transmission plant will utilize a portion of the factory site where the motorcycle plant is currently located (the transfer of motorcycle engine production to Honda's Kumamoto Factory will be completed in 2009). 

With relocation of the existing facilities within Hamamatsu Factory and introduction of a new production line, the plant will make full use of advanced technologies and establish a high quality and highly efficient production system. With the new plant, annual AT and CVT production capacity at the Hamamatsu Factory will increase from the current 700,000 units to 1.1 million units. The new plant is scheduled to become operational within 2010, and related investment is expected to reach approximately 14 billion yen.

On the occasion of the 8th Advanced Diesel Engine Technology Symposium held at the company's Namyang R&D Center recently, Hyundai Motor Co. unveiled details of its newest passenger diesel power plant, the R-Engine. With an output of 184ps and 40kg of torque, the R-Engine is ahead of the rest of the class, surpassing all German and French competitors (200ps and 44.5kg-m for the 2.2-litre). The R-Engine benefits from the third generation common rail system developed by Bosch whose piezo-electric injectors deliver fuel at 1800-bar for an unprecedented degree of accuracy and control. 

It also features an electronic variable geometry turbocharger and an advanced engine control unit (air system-based charge control). Developed by a 150-man team at an investment cost of 250 billion won, the R-Engine harnesses Hyundai's newest and most advanced development tools. Computational flow dynamics, structural and thermal analysis were used to optimize its design while computerized simulation of the die casting process was employed to achieve the optimal balance of strength and low weight. vailable in 2- and 2.2-liter displacements, the R-Engine is fitted with a 16-valve dual overhead camshaft which is driven by an internal steel silent timing chain. For reduced vibration and lower booming noise, the R gets a lower balance shaft which has been encased in stiffened ladder frame housing for increased rigidity. 

Weight saving features include serpentine belt with isolation pulley, a plastic head cover, plastic intake manifold and plastic oil filter housing. Euro 5 emission standards are met with a close-coupled diesel particulate filter plus highly efficient exhaust gas recirculation with by-pass valve. The R-Engine will enter production next year and will see its first application on the 2010 Tucson and Sonata models which are due to be launched in the coming year.

Ford India has introduced the new Ikon range offering significant improvements ranging from a new advanced DuraTorq TDCi engine offering superior fuel efficiency through to the fresh, bold European design cues. While the exterior design cues include a front end with Fiesta-like styling, the 1.4-litre common-rail diesel engine, which is also seen on the Fiesta does 68PS and 160Nm of torque. The petrol Ikon continues to be powered by the 1.3-litre Rocam engine. The new, Ikon range starts at Rs 4.59 lakhs approximately.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has announced that Toyoto Motor Co. has decided on a capital investment of approximately 68 billion Yen (approximately Rs. 32 billion) for the second plant currently being constructed on the TKM site. Earlier, the automaker had decided to invest approximately 35 billion Yen (approximately Rs. 16.47 billion) for the buildings and basic equipment for the second plant. An additional amount of around 33 billion Yen (approximately Rs. 15.53 billion) would be invested for both general-purpose and specialized equipment necessary for manufacturing a new compact vehicle. The second TKM plant is scheduled to begin operations in 2010 , with an initial annual production capacity of around 100,000 vehicles. The second plant will produce passenger vehicles, including the Corolla, as well as a new compact vehicle. The aim is to meet the broad needs of customers in India, where motorization is expanding rapidly.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has launched its educational programme, the ‘No to Counterfeit’ campaign, aimed at increasing awareness among consumers about the ill effects of counterfeit automobile parts. The campaign will be conducted between November 1st and November 30th this year and implemented across Toyota’s wide network of 68 3S (sales, service and spare parts) facilities across India. 

Customers will be educated about the danger of using counterfeit parts through the use of banners, posters, key product leaflets, badges and other colaterals. In addition, they will be eligible to win attractive assured gifts.

The ING Renault F1 team has announced that its unique F1 City Road Show will be held in New Delhi on Sunday, November 09, 2008. The Renault road show is being brought to India at the invitation of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games of India 2010, and will be part of the "700 Days to go for the Commonwealth Games 2010" celebrations. 

The road show is a multi-city world tour, conducted in 6-8 select cities across the world every year, and is a visual spectacle, executed by the ING Renault F1 Team, conducted on public roads and open to the public who get a chance to see at close quarters the Renault F1 cars, driven by the official ING Renault F1 Team drivers, along with a range of other Renault cars and specialist stunt drivers. The road show has had great success over the last few years with cities like Johannesburg, Mexico, Istanbul, Moscow, Kiev, Paris, Lyon and Warsaw welcoming the show. 

This is the first time that a motor sports event of such magnitude is being held in India. In addition to highlighting India's preparedness to host such big events, it will also reinforce Delhi, and India's position as a sporting and tourist destination to millions of viewers across the globe and signal India's preparedness to take on the challenges of providing better infrastructure and facilities to youth, especially with the Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi and also the planned official F1 circuit in India.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), in a statement released to the media, has announced that its forthcoming vehicle, an utility vehicle widely claimed to be called as Ingenio, will actually be named Xylo when it is launched in this quarter. 

Xylo has been co-created with customers and takes into consideration the lifestyle and luxury aspirations of its end customer. An in-house team of 160 young experts worked on the Xylo whose project name was Ingenio. 

Said to be similar to the Toyota Innova in structure, the Xylo is the second independent, ground-up vehicle development project by M&M after the Scorpio. Borrowing the experience gained by the development of Scorpio and also that of making a host of utility vehicles, the Xylo is expected share a few components and modules with the Scorpio.