Tata Motors has expanded its Safari DICOR 2.2 range with the addition of a new Gx variant. The Gx variant has been positioned below Vx and offers enhanced value. Priced at Rs. 9.95 lakh (ex showroom Delhi) for the 4x2 version and 10.87 lakh (ex showroom Delhi) for the 4x4 version, the Safari Gx features dual tone exteriors in select shades. Rear view door mirrors have turn indicators. The interiors sport unique leather cum fabric upholstery. The reverse guiding system and ABS and EBD seen on the Safari can be opted on the Gx. Alloys are standard on the Gx on both 4x2 and 4x4 versions.

General Motors (GM) launched the automatic variant of the Captiva SUV recently. A CBU import, the Captiva 'auto' features a 5-speed automatic transmission mated to a 2-litre, 150PS diesel engine. Along with the auto transmission the SUV also features adaptive all-wheel drive and electronic stability program, which includes descent control and traction control. The all-wheel drive senses wheel slip at the front or rear axle re-directing the torque away from the slipping axle momentarily to avoid losing grip and traction. Teh SUV also features self-levelling suspension technology and can accommodate up to seven people.

Honda Motor Co will soon open a research centre to develop and produce bio-ethanol fuel from non-edible plant matter. The company, in a statement, said it aims to start building the facility in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo in April 2009 and begin operations in November. Bio-ethanol is a plant-derived fuel source that produces very little carbon-dioxide. Its supply is limited as it is primarily produced from sugar and corn – staple food for people. Honda wants to study whether it is viable to produce bio-ethanol from non-edible plant matter. 

The automaker has already succeeded in producing the basic technology to extract ethanol fuel from cellulose, found in the fibrous part of plants, including inedible leaves and the stalks of plants. Honda is striving to be an industry leader in eco-friendly cars, with its Civic hybrid proving a success alongside rival Toyota Motor Corp's Prius. Interestingly, Japanese automakers have vowed to keep up their development of fuel-efficient cars, despite a slump in sales due to the economic downturn.

Tata Motors has announced that it will launch the much-awaited Tata Nano on March 23, 2009. The cars will be on display at Tata Motors dealerships from the first week of April 2009. Bookings will commence from the second week of April 2009. Since its unveiling in January 2008, the Nano has evoked an unprecedented interest in the country, with its website having recorded over 30 million hits in the past one year and the creation of over 6,000 interest groups and communities. 

Tata Motors is making arrangements for the widest possible network to book the car, so that prospective customers can conveniently avail of booking facilities at their locations, across the length and breadth of India. The booking process and other details will be announced on March 23, 2009. The Nano would initially be manufactured at the Pantnagar plant of Tata Motors, which makes the Ace mini-truck. The Sanand plant in Gujarat, where Tata is investing Rs 2000 crore, would produce 2.5 lakh units a year.

BMW India inaugurated a new showroom in Mumbai. The new showroom, Infinity Cars, is the second in the city and located at Seth Motilal Sanghi Marg in Worli and the workshop is located in Chembur. The showroom covers nearly 7000 sq ft of space and offers the customers a unique retail environment. The approximate area of the workshop in Chembur is 18,000 sq ft and has 9 service bays that can service 35 to 40 vehicles a day. 

Presently, 12 dealers represent BMW in the Indian market. BMW India will further strengthen the dealer network by stepping into Phase II, by expanding into the markets of Ludhiana, Bhubaneshwar, Jaipur and Coimbatore, by the end of 2009.

Tata Motors has launched the Xenon XT pickup, shown at the 2008 Auto Expo. A tall and aggressive vehicle with a twin-cab set up and a small load body at the rear, the Xenon XT is powered by the 2.2 VTT DICOR diesel engine with a peak power of 140 PS and a peak torque of 320 Nm. It has 4X4 drive with an electrical shift-on-the-fly mechanism and a limited slip differential similar to the Safari. These, combined with a rugged ladder frame structure, a matching suspension and alloy wheels give the vehicle off road capabilities of an SUV. The load bed is a 1518 mm x 1414 mm area which lends itself to carrying equipment or having fun, as desired. 

Customisable to suit individual tastes and styles through a wide range of accessories such as bed-liners, fog lamps, canopy, boot lid, rollover bars, etc, the Xenon XT can seat 5 and features power steering, power windows, central locking, HVAC and electrically adjustable ORVMs. Already sold in Thailand, Algeria, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, the Xenon XT is priced at Rs. 7.62 lakh for the 4x2 version and Rs. 8.58 lakh for the 4x4 version, ex showroom Delhi.

Castrol India and Volkswagen Group Sales India have entered into a strategic partnership for supply of high performance lubricants. Under the agreement, as Volkswagen’s co-engineering partners, all Volkswagen cars sold in India will be pre-filled with Castrol lubricants. Castrol will also supply best in class engine oils, Castrol Magnatec Professional and Castrol SLX Professional Powerflo LongLife III, for exclusive service fill to all Volkswagen dealers in India.

In line with the excise duty reduction from 10 per cent to 8 per cent in respect of trucks and auto components, Ashok Leyland has announced that it will pass on the full benefit to its customers. This is despite the fact that the inventory of vehicles with the company has suffered a higher excise duty. The impact of the duty reduction is expected to work out, on an average, to over Rs 16, 000 per vehicle.

Volkswagen India hosted its 2nd International Suppliers Conference in Pune recently. About 280 suppliers from India and abroad took part in the two-day meet with members of the Volkswagen Group. The supplier conference is an important step for the Europe’s largest automobile manufacturer to lay the foundation for a cooperative partnership in India. The conference also gave an understanding about the automotive division of the Volkswagen brand as well as soon to be commenced manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune. 

Speaking on the occasion, Joerg Mueller, President and Managing Director Volkswagen Group India and Volkswagen Brand India, said: “These two days are very important for the growing family of Volkswagen suppliers. The conference is a platform to know each other better and establish Volkswagen as a local manufacturer and a long-term business partner in India.” He added that the objective is to motivate and train the suppliers about the Volkswagen's standards, processes, and systems required for the suppliers' day-to-day dealings and for their on-going partnerships with the VW Group. 

Mahesh Kodumudi, Executive Director Corporate Purchasing Volkswagen India, explained what Volkswagen stands for: “Volkswagen offers premium products. We therefore always target best-in-practice – for us and for our suppliers. Innovation is a very important word in dealing with Volkswagen.” He added that Volkswagen is already in touch with about 400 registered suppliers.