Check out Volkswagen-Vento with Charismatic Effects

The upcoming Volkswagen Vento has everyone talking and why not VW Vento is expected to have dynamic exteriors and interiors in the same platform as of Honda City. And that is why it is said to be the straight competitor of the market leader Honda City. The extra set of advantage the Volkswagen Vento will have in comparison to its competitor Honda City is, Vento will be available in both petrol and diesel version. Whereas, Honda Cars are available in only petrol version. Hence, the Vento will come with a diesel heart, something which will give Honda sleepless nights. The all new Volkswagen Vento price is yet to be disclosed by the company, but the industry sources are expecting VW Vento to be priced near about 9-10 lacs. And is expected to be launched in the Indian market in the month of July or August 2010.

Car Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Car in Top Shape

If your long-cherished dream of buying a car has been fulfilled then you need to concentrate on its maintenance part to prolong the life of your car. We all are very much aware that proper and required care of your car is must to ensure its longevity. Washing your vehicle on a daily basis and protecting it from harsh conditions are some of the common precautions that almost every car owner takes. Here we have collected and compiled best expert advice to give extra years of life to your car.

First of all, drive with care everyday and your car will surely reward you with longer intervals without any sort of repair:

-Accelerate slowly when you start your vehicle or when you begin your drive. The most wear and tear to the engine occurs when you start your car or when your drive train occurs in the first ten to twenty minutes of operation.

-It is always advised to check the pressures of your car on regular basis- once a week is ideal. Bad and inadequate tyre pressures can affect fuel economy very noticeably.

-Use only light to medium acceleration, keeping the engine rpms below 3,000 for the first few hours of driving.

-And most importantly whenever you get your car repaired, do not ever compromise on the quality of spare parts and always prefer to go for the original and branded spare parts. Local spare parts, though commanding a low price, will badly affect the performance of your vehicle, especially in the long run. And another maintenance tip is that do not ignore minor problems and get them solved immediately, before they balloon into something bigger and really serious.

• -Check battery and brake system whenever you go for a drive – Another aspect to be considered is the life of the car battery which usually depends on how often the owner uses the vehicle and on what kind of road he usually travels. Make sure that your battery is ok, to avoid any further damage to the engine.
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• -And lastly if your car is a standard transmission, take some time to learn to flawlessly switch gears and try to be comfortable with your car. Every car has a different feel, specially for the new learners, but after few weeks, your car should begin to fit you like a glove.

Top 5 Small Cars in India by Maruti Suzuki

There's one thing common in all Maruti Suzuki customers- they gawk at the stunning looks of a brand new car, revel at the news of a recent launch, but when it comes to buying cars for themselves they stick to the good old vehicles with trustworthy Maruti Suzuki logo on them. Such is the goodwill of the brand, and such is the versatility of these small cars in India.

Here are the top 5 Maruti Suzuki small cars in India till date:

Maruti Suzuki 800- Still produced in four iterations, with two costlier LPG versions, these four generations old Maruti Suzuki cars are still the most favored vehicles of car lovers who belong to the middle income group in India. If you are looking for the most economic buy, go for the AC LPG version. But one thing, you have to come to terms with - Maruti Suzuki 800 cars are more than just common on the Indian roads.


Maruti Suzuki Alto- A notch superior to Maruti Suzuki 800, the Alto wins hands down when it comes to versatility. Go for the top-end LXi model, for that makes the smartest choice. But then again, be sure to come across a hundred similar Altos once you hit the roads.

Maruti Suzuki A-Star- If you are the one those who prefer no compromise in the quality stakes, then this Maruti car is surely meant for you. Contemporary in looks, Maruti Suzuki A-Star comes powered with a three-cylinder engine from the new K-series family, and enjoys a satisfactory demand in the European market as well.

Maruti Wagon R- with the recent breathtaking launch of its Blue Eyed Boy, Maruti Wagon R is going strong and steady. It has very attractive sporty looks, and offers brilliant utilization of space and effortlessness to drive. One hardly gets to pin point a turn-off in this Maruti car, except for the tech-savvy car enthusiasts.

Maruti Suzuki Swift- You see a Swift on roads and you don't feel for a second that this Maruti car is already 5 years old. The Getz, the biggest competitor of Swift has come and went and this Maruti small car still remains fresh. No wonder, it tops the list of all-time favorite small cars in India.

How to Choose a Car Insurance Company?

Investing on a brand new car and have not thought about car insurance! Sounds unbelievable, isn't it? Car insurance is very important for a car and hence the choice in looking for a car insurance company needs to be made very carefully. There are varied factors that should be kept in mind while choosing a car insurance company. From prompt customer service, online facilities to the reputation of the car insurance companies, there are various factors that can be the driving force behind choosing a particular car insurance company. Wanna know more standard factors for choosing a car insurance firm? Read here for more information.

Give Your Sports Bike A Ravishing Facelift

Sport bikes are a cult in themselves. If you are owning one, you must be knowing that a sport bike needs to be upgraded at every regular interval to keep up with the latest trends in motorbike technology. There are many bikes in India that come with sturdy features resembling sports bikes. Even such motorcycles need regular upgradation. Here are few tips on how to go about re-styling and modifying your dearly cherished sports bike:

- Change the muffler of your sportbike to lighten the machine by a cool 6 to 7 pounds. This not only helps to keep the bike in shape but also squeeze more horsepower out of its engine. Do check out state-of-art carbon fiber mufflers of a good brand to do a quick and yet relatively inexpensive modification.

- Replace or modify your sportsbike's back wheel suspension. Do it yourself, or take it to a mechanic would tighten or loosen the suspension as per your need. A bit of suspension modification job is important to trade the stock suspension of your motorcycle in for something much sturdier, which can keep the rear wheel grounded well over the bumps even at high speed and through steep turns.

- There's nothing like a stylish safety add-on to spruce up your sports bike. Add some frame sliders- they will never ditch you in case of an unfortunate mishap.

- Get your sport bike new brake lines to replace the old stock rubber lines with steel lines. These preserve the bike power that you put into the break pull.

- Finally, some cosmetic modifications. No facelift is ever complete without some stylization. Go for a contemporary body work or a custom paint job. Getting a pair of LED lights and a super-specialized windscreen fitted to the machine also work great for sport bikes of all kinds.

Log in here for complete information on two wheeler accessories and components.

In-car Entertainment for Cars in India

For passionate car lovers who have an ear for music, getting a good car audio system for the vehicle of their choice is like the best thing under the sun. They can soothe their senses while on the drive and forget the rest of the word. While this is true for almost all car enthusiasts all over the world, for music-crazy Indians, this is all the more relevant. No matter, whether they are driving down to their offices or returning from a rocking party at night, they just love to tune in to their favorite number or some old movie classics.

Nowadays, almost all modern cars in India come with sophisticated in-built car stereo systems. And even if they don't have one, car owners make it a point to get one fitted once they buy a new car. In-car entertainment as a trend is spreading like anything today. Kenwood, Blaupunkt, Pioneer, and Alpine are some of the most well-known car stereo brands in India. For more state-of-the-art car music systems, try these:

- El Kameleon JVC EXAD KD-AVX77 media player
- Sony XPLOD CDX-GT920U (in-dash car stereo)
- Eclipse AVN726E DVD/GPS receiver

Honda Unicorn Dazzler Is Finally Here!

It was first launched in 2005. Since then Honda Unicorn has always topped the chart of favorite motorbikes in India. Now, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has come up with yet another new avatar of the sizzling Honda Unicorn motorcycle, this time with a five speed transmission 150cc engine. The new Honda Unicorn is called Honda Unicorn CB Dazzler or simply Honda Dazzler.

The all new power bike Honda Dazzler comes in four color shades: Pearl Siena Red, Armour Gold Metallic, Sword Silver Metallic, and Pearl Nightstar Black. It has 17 inch alloy wheels and a rear wheel disc brake. Other state-of-art features of the new Honda motorbike include a digital console and monoshock rear suspension. The new Unicorn has been upgraded to meet the BS III Emission norms.

As far as technical specifications and road performance of the Honda Unicorn Dazzler is concerned, its 150cc air-cooled single cylinder powerplant is thought to be a good addition for the niche commuter segment.

Look wise too, much modification has been done. The CB Unicorn Dazzler has been introduced with an on-your-face naked bike styling, much like the recently launched CB Twister. With stylish curves and designs, Honda Dazzler is surely going to be a big hit amongst new-age bikers of India.

Top 5 Upcoming SUVs in India

Gone are the days when sport utility vehicles or SUVs used be a rich man's passion and a poor man's fantasy. Now with economic buoyancy almost every middle-class elite Indian can afford a SUV in India. The domestic auto market is flooded with several new launches in the utility vehicle segment, and every automaker, both Indian as well as foreign, is trying to grab a pie of it. Following are the top 5 upcoming SUVs that are going to make debut in India in the year 2010:

Skoda Yeti

Skoda Yeti: Thought to be the missing link between Octavia and Fabia in India, Skoda Yeti is going to be the first crossover from the Czech manufacturer to hit Indian roads.

It will come in a 140 bhp 2.0L common-rail diesel and a 103 bhp 1.2- liter petrol engine. The SUV in India will also get the 4X4 transmission as standard.

Tata Indicruz : This much-awaited sports utility vehicle is a Tata crossover based on a brand new technology platform with a generous wheelbase of 2750 mm. It will carry a 2.1-liter Dicor engine that can generate a power of 140 bhp and a maximum torque of 320 Nm. This new SUV in India has highly sophisticated interiors and comfort features that are synonymous with all Tata vehicles.

Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Santa Fe- Cars and sedans from Hyundai have always been quite successful in Indian subcontinent. Now, the ace Korean car maker is gearing up to introduce the Santa FE to Indian automobile market by mid-2010. A crossover SUV based on the Sonata platform, Santa Fe will be powered by a 2.2-liter diesel powerplant mated to a high definition 5-speed manual gearbox. This upcoming SUV model is expected to give Chevrolet Captiva, Honda CR-V and the recently launched Nissan X-Trail a tough time ahead.

Volkswagen Tiguan

Here comes another compact crossover SUV for Indian car lovers. Based on the A5 (PQ35) platform of the Mk V Golf, Volkswagen Tiguan will be available in two body styles and three specification levels: Tiguan Sport & Style, Tiguan Trend & Fun, and Tiguan Track & Field.

Volvo XC60

A “soft-roader” to be, this stylish SUV from the Swedish car maker Volvo will give BMW X3 and the Audi Q5 a tough competition in the years to come.

Top 5 Indian Cars to Hit Small Car Segment in 2010

Indian cars have been making news for quite some time now. The domestic small car segment, especially, is buzzing with the launch of a fleet of new car models. In the year 2010, many small cars manufactured by both Indian and foreign car makers are going to make debut in the Indian auto market. Following are the top 5 upcoming Indian cars in the small car segment that car lovers in India can look forward to:

Chevrolet Spark 800

Positioned below its elder sibling (also the bigger one in terms of engine capacity) the Spark, the new Chevrolet Spark 800 is expected to come with a lower price tag. Powered with a 800cc engine, this new entrant amongst Indian cars is said to be swanked with rich features to match the exquisite design and style of the existing Spark model.

Maruti Suzuki Cervo

Maruti Suzuki has gifted many versatile Indian cars to the car lovers in India. This time it is set to launch Cervo, the new small wonder of Indian car industry. Maruti Cervo, which is said to be arriving with a Suzuki 660cc engine competent of generating about 60 bhp speed, will give Tata Nano and the upcoming low-priced cars from Hyundai and Nissan, a tough time ahead.

Fiat Bravo

Hatchbacks are not uncommon in Indian cars, but as it is claimed by the Italian car maker, Fiat, the Bravo is going to be different. The small family car will be available in both petrol and diesel variants, and will enthrall car lovers with its sleek appealing exterior and sharply rising waistline. The most striking feature of Fiat Bravo is its suppressed noise levels- both wind and engine originated, which is sure to give a relaxed driving experience to all.


Nissan Pixo

Surging fuel prices and greenhouse emissions have become a curse to Indian automobile industry. All upcoming Indian cars are being designed keeping these problems in mind. Same is applicable for Nissan Pixo, which comes with a 1.0-litre fuel efficient engine competent of expelling low carbon dioxide emission.

Mini Cooper

Premium Indian cars in the small car segment have been in great demand for the last few years. Now, the all New Mini Cooper from is ready to hit the market. The small car from British Automotive Brand's stable (owned by BMW) is positioned to give the Beetle and the Fiat 500 a tough competition. It will be available in 3 variants: Mini One, Cooper, and Cooper S.

Rising Demand of Indian Cars in The Overseas Market

Demand for Indian cars in the overseas market is on the rise. Indian car makers are expanding their overseas presence more fiercely than ever, and that too at a time when global automakers are busy buffering themselves against soaring fuel prices. This has been reflected in the exports figures of the recently ended fiscal report. Export of Indian cars witnessed a robust 33.23 per cent growth.

According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), export of Indian cars from the passenger car segment touched a figure of 4,41,710 units in FY10 against 3,31,535 units in the previous financial year. The increase was primarily driven by the demand for Indian cars in the small car category in the European nations, which offered handsome incentives to those buying new cars in exchange of their old ones under a “scrappage incentive program.”

Indian car makers who reaped the maximum benefits from this incentive program included Hyundai Motor India and Maruti Suzuki India. On an overall basis, export of Indian cars grew by 17.90 per cent at 18,04,619 units in 2009-2010, which was at 15,30,594 units in 2008-09.

However, in a not-so-interesting recent turn of events, the scrappage incentive program got withdrawn from the European nations, and now the Indian auto industry experts and car manufacturers fear that this will hit the export of Indian cars to the overseas market rather badly. Another reason that is being sited for the prospective slump in the export of the Indian cars is the recent rise in demand for Indian cars in the domestic market.

Indian car market is poised to grow by an impressive 12-15 per cent this year, and the production facilities of the major car manufacturers are already in stretch and are struggling to meet the rising domestic demand. Now, whether the car majors are successful in living up to the demand of Indian car market while delivering a decent export figures at the same time, only time will tell.

Audi Introduces R8 GT – The Fastest Road-Going Supercar

Weight loss + power gain = lightning pace is the new equation for the recently unveiled Audi R8 GT. After the phenomenal launch of Audi R8 in 2006, Audi R8 GT is now here to enthrall car lovers across the world with a fantastic blend of functionality and everyday practicality.

The all new GT version of Audi R8 has shed loads of weight. It is lighter than the previous version by 100 kg, and at 1,525kg, offers a better road performance with 552bhp and 398lb/ft of torque. The V10 engine configuration is capable of producing an amazing speed of up to 320 kph, and an acceleration of up to 0-100 kph in 3.6 seconds. No wonder, it is said the fastest road-going Audi ever! The supercar also boasts of a state-of-the-art R-Tronic sequential manual transmission.

Coming to the bodywork, Audi engineers has left no stone unturned to make this V10 powered coupe look stunning. They have put in some top-class sinister touches to it, and added the new carbon fiber ‘sideblades’, carbon-fibre splitter, and customary rear diffuser to rightfully set it class apart. Revamped side air ducts, smaller mirrors, and a superbly reworked rear design with a fixed wing and larger diffuser are some of the other striking features of this new Audi R8 GT car.

Audi R8 GT will be available in the following four colors:

- Samoa Orange metallic
- Suzuka Grey metallic
- Ice Silver metallic
- Phantom Black pearl

For the time being, only 333 units of the new GT version of Audi R8 will be made available to the markets worldwide. So, car lovers be on your toes. Grab a GT for yourself before they fly off the (t)racks!

Transform Your Car with Trendy Car Graphics

A sophisticated no-fuss look works great for traditional car lovers, but why go all bland when there is so much to do with your car's looks and finish? New-age car lovers are going gaga over the newest trend in car makeover – car graphics, the ultimate way to transform a car into a stylish, ravishing machine.

Car graphics, unlike most other car accessories, give your car a distinct identity. The moment you take your motor out from your garage, an aura is created that is so very unmistakable. Car graphics and decals if taken well care of, lasts you for long. There are modern techniques that make car graphics more durable and resistant to the sun's UV rays and any kind of harsh weather conditions. But if you are in interested in trying new things after every few months, then there's always an option.

Car graphics and car stickers come in a wide range of colors, styles and designs. They vary from car lettering to stripes to digitally printed car wraps. Car graphics are normally of very high resolution, and are designed to give you car a more stylized and personalized look. The most popular car graphics include shred, flames, dragon, tribal, car decals in the shape of a dragon, blade series, logos for the entire side, tear or shred car decals, specific car decals, hood car decals and full color car graphics.

Car graphics in the theme of hunting and racing are more popular amongst men, while women generally prefer scenery based and floral car graphics. Nature inspired car stickers are also an all-time favorite with the girls who are crazy about cars. But if you want to tread off the beaten track, then go for car graphic messages. Messages written on the car body serve as a great way to flaunt one's creativity. Besides, there are reflective car graphics and car stickers that are helpful in preventing any kind of mishap at night.

Following are the three major types of car graphics:

- Race Car Graphics: The ultimate desire of the sport aficionados.
- Custom Car Graphics: Perfect for those who want to do it in their own way.
- Vinyl Car Graphics: The most effective and easy-to-install car graphics.

Indian Auto Industry Sales Report for April 2010

After a stunning year-end performance in March 2010, Indian auto industry once again recorded an impressive growth in April 2010. Despite the recent price hikes and discontinuation of some car models in 13 big cities across the country due to BS 4 implications, all major car makers managed to increase their sales during this period. Almost all of them posted double digit growth figures that took the total sales of the domestic car market to a new height altogether.

Maruti Suzuki India reported a significant growth of 29.70% in total sales at 93,058 units as compared to 71,748 units sold during the corresponding period last year.

Tata Motors registered a 52.47% increase in total vehicles sales at 57,202 units, as compared to 37,518 units in the same month last year.

April 2010 total sales for Ford India witnessed a three-fold jump at 7,509 units. The company cited the good response to its small car recent launch Figo for this growth performance. It sold 2,034 vehicles during the corresponding period last year.

Hyundai Motor took its total sales figure for April 2010 to 52,020 units from 44,370 units in the same period previous year, which is a growth by 17.24%.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the Indian subsidy of Toyota registered a growth of 77.23% at 6,001 units against 3,386 units in the corresponding period previous year.

In the two wheeler segment, market leader Hero Honda put up a plateau performance. It managed to sell only 3,71,652 units as compared to 3,70,575 units in April 2009.

Suzuki Motorcycle India reported a growth of 53.22% in sales in April 2010. It sold 20,771 units compared to 13,556 units in the same period last year.

TVS Motor Company posted a 27.91% rise in sales at 1,44,689 units compared to 1,13,119 units in April last year.

Finally, India Yamaha Motor, regardless of premium pricing of its motorbikes, registered a growth of 42.01% in sales. It sold 24,960 units as compared to 17,576 units in the same month last year.