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NEW YORK — Toyota unveiled a redesigned 2013 Avalon today that departs dramatically from the full-size sedan’s previous styling.
With fastback lines penned by Toyota’s Calty design studio in Southern California, and engineered at the automaker’s technical center in Ann Arbor, Mich., the Avalon is the first Toyota vehicle developed entirely in North America, said Bob Carter, Toyota Division general manager.
The new Avalon “will lead an exciting new era of design and driving excitement for Toyota,” Carter said.
The full-sized sedan market continues to shrink but automakers such as Hyundai and Chevrolet are targeting the segment with new or redesigned models.
The large-sedan segment is forecast to shrink further as a percentage of the overall U.S. market, to 2.9 percent in 2017 from 3.6 percent in 2011, AutoPacific Inc. says.
U.S. sales of the Avalon rose 2 percent last year to 28,925 units.
Among the revamped Avalon’s features are 10 standard airbags, blind-spot warning system, preclusion warnings, a hand-stitched instrument panel and a sport-driving mode with quicker throttle response and more dynamic steering inputs.
The 2013 Avalon will carry a price similar to its current $33,955 sticker, including shipping, when it goes on sale this fall, Carter said.
The Avalon will ride on a 111-inch wheelbase, the same as the current model, but will have a 2.3-inch shorter overall length because of shorter front and rear overhangs. Although slightly narrower and shorter in height, rear-seat legroom is still spacious.
Toyota said the redesigned Avalon will be powered by a V-6 engine, but did not give performance specifics.
Toyota estimates it reduced the weight of the Avalon by 120 pounds over the current model.Automobile News

NEW YORK — Nissan will do well to sell 4,000 of them a year. But the automaker is giving its new van-shaped taxi cab all the auto show fanfare of one of its biggest products.
Models last night handed out prepaid credit cards to New Yorkers worth a free cab ride in the city as a way of advertising Nissan’s entry into the taxi business.
The canary yellow cab — a converted Nissan NV200 commercial van — is being hawked in billboards around the New York auto show, and the only existing model of the van sits prominently on Nissan’s display at the show, even though it will not appear on the streets until October 2013.
Why all the hoopla?
Three reasons, according to Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn:
First, New York is only the beginning.
“Eventually, we’ll see it in other markets in the world,” he says. The company has received queries on the cab from cities in China, India and Britain.
Second, the so-called “Taxi of Tomorrow” will serve as a rolling advertisement for the Nissan brand for millions of New Yorkers and tourists, Ghosn says, showing off Nissan as a technology innovator.
“Six hundred thousand people a day will experience it,” Ghosn says.
Among the cab’s innovations: interiors made of anti-bacterial materials that neutralize odors and germs; large roof skylights to let visitors gaze at the city skyline while in traffic; rear-seat reading lights; plug-in jacks to recharge cell phones; separate passenger air conditioner controls; a driver-to-passenger intercom system; and an embedded radio-transmission feature that helps hearing-impaired passengers hear the driver.
The taxi also will come as a battery-powered electric vehicle, giving Nissan still more exposure as a maker of electric cars.
“In my opinion, the EV will be the dominant version of the taxi,” Ghosn conjectured. “It’s quieter, and that will be attractive.”Automobile News

MUMBAI: Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI), the joint venture between Honda Motor Co and the Shriram family of Usha International, is undertaking another round of fund raising, this time to raise Rs 2,100 crore, two persons close to the development said. The move by the maker of Honda City and Honda Jazz cars to raise capital will further tighten the grip of the Japanese promoter in its Indian entity.

The Japanese partner currently holds a little less than 97% stake in HSCI, thus bringing in a vice-like grip over the Indian venture. The proposed plan to raise Rs 2,100 crore comes close to the recent rights issue in November last year, when the Japanese parent of the Indian subsidiary subscribed to the Rs 1,200 rights issue, while the Indian partner stayed away from subscribing to the rights issue. In September 2011, a month before the rights issue, the sources said that the Shriram family through Usha International had raised their stake by invoking their option to buy back shares. They did this by acquiring 2.4% stake from Honda Motor Co in Honda Siel for Rs 45 crore, to take their stake to 5%. Usha International paid Rs 52.8 a share, to Honda Motor Co.

The decision to have another round of fund raising thus raises a question whether Usha International can rustle up cash to maintain its minority stake in the joint venture. Sources in the know say the funds are needed for setting up manufacturing lines at Tapakura in Rajasthan where it also plans to build a components and diesel engine plant. Further the company is readying to launch six new cars, including re-launches, by 2015, which will need a substantial amount of investment.

By not participating in the November rights issue, the Indian promoter’s stake had declined to 3.16% from 5%. An email query to Honda Siel on the fundraising received a cryptic response. “India is definitely among the key markets for Honda, and HSCI is committed to this market with ambitious growth plans. However, we do not have any specific information to share at this moment,” the company replied.

“There are no developments. We may even keep our stake,” Krishna Shriram, the scion of the Shriram family, said, when asked if Usha International, the holding firm for the family, will sell its stake. Later Krishna Shriram elaborated his group’s apprehension, perhaps for the first time. “Our concerns are the missteps in acceptable corporate governance issues in letter and spirit by HSCI. A mature acknowledgement of this is what we would seek. Valuation methodologies and cash values are secondary issues.”

“We will have many partnerships in future and we do not want our reputation as exceptional partners clouded by the current proceedings,” Krishna added. In 1995, Shriram Industrial Enterprise Ltd entered into a 40:60 JV with Honda Motor Company to form HSCI. In order to meet the group’s expansion plan, Siddharth Shriram later sold 38% stake in HSCI, with an option of buyback. With Indian subsidiary getting further capitalised by the parent to meet the expansion plans, Siel’s right to buyback almost halved.Automobile News

MINI is at home in 99 countries. And India is the 100th country that MINI will now make its home. MINI is now available in India as a Completely Built-up Unit (CBU) in MINI Hatch, MINI Convertible and MINI Countryman range in powerful and efficient petrol variants with six-speed automatic transmission. Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW Group India said, “With the launch of MINI, we have brought the world’s most exciting premium small car brand to India. MINI is more than just a car – it is a personality on wheels – a fashion statement – and a way of life. MINI expresses a whole generation’s approach to life – it is extrovert, open and full of zest in life. No other brand exhibits the attributes and essence of a modern urban lifestyle like MINI and there is no doubt that it is one of the world’s most emotional auto brands.”
“By launching the new MINI ten years ago, we created the world’s first premium small car brand in the world. With MINI our approach was: ‘From the Original to the Original’. Since then, we have sold over 2 million MINIs and converted the MINI brand from a single-model offer to a family of six models. Three of them, namely the MINI Hatch, the MINI Convertible and the MINI Countryman are now available in India. Our main focus this year will be to concentrate on successfully establishing the MINI brand in India.” Dr. Andreas Schaaf further added. Infinity Cars, the first exclusive showroom has been launched in Mumbai. The new MINI showroom is located at Linking Road. The customers will now get an opportunity to experience MINI in the new showroom which will display up to five cars. Ms. Pooja Choudury, Managing Director, Infinity Cars said, “We are proud to launch the first MINI showroom in Mumbai; a city known for its blend of Indian and international flavour; just like the MINI drivers who have an individualistic yet global attitude. MINI will open up a whole new world of inventiveness and style in Mumbai and we are very thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of this excitement.” MINI India will establish two more exclusive outlets in Delhi (National Capital Region) in 2012.Automobile News

MINI is at home in 99 countries. And India is the 100th country that MINI will now make its home. MINI is now available in India as a Completely Built-up Unit (CBU) in MINI Hatch, MINI Convertible and MINI Countryman range in powerful and efficient petrol variants with six-speed automatic transmission. Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW Group India said, “With the launch of MINI, we have brought the world’s most exciting premium small car brand to India. MINI is more than just a car – it is a personality on wheels – a fashion statement – and a way of life. MINI expresses a whole generation’s approach to life – it is extrovert, open and full of zest in life. No other brand exhibits the attributes and essence of a modern urban lifestyle like MINI and there is no doubt that it is one of the world’s most emotional auto brands.”
“By launching the new MINI ten years ago, we created the world’s first premium small car brand in the world. With MINI our approach was: ‘From the Original to the Original’. Since then, we have sold over 2 million MINIs and converted the MINI brand from a single-model offer to a family of six models. Three of them, namely the MINI Hatch, the MINI Convertible and the MINI Countryman are now available in India. Our main focus this year will be to concentrate on successfully establishing the MINI brand in India.” Dr. Andreas Schaaf further added. Infinity Cars, the first exclusive showroom has been launched in Mumbai. The new MINI showroom is located at Linking Road. The customers will now get an opportunity to experience MINI in the new showroom which will display up to five cars. Ms. Pooja Choudury, Managing Director, Infinity Cars said, “We are proud to launch the first MINI showroom in Mumbai; a city known for its blend of Indian and international flavour; just like the MINI drivers who have an individualistic yet global attitude. MINI will open up a whole new world of inventiveness and style in Mumbai and we are very thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of this excitement.” MINI India will establish two more exclusive outlets in Delhi (National Capital Region) in 2012.Automobile News

A statement was released by Tata Motors today in which it negated all the speculations going around regarding the de-emphasizing of Tata Indica. As per the statement released, along with the second-generation Tata Indica Vista the company has also introduced more fuel efficient models of Indica like Indica eV2 and has no plans of discontinuing Tata Indica. The Indica eV2 diesel is the most fuel efficient car in India offering an impressive mileage of 25kmpl. On the subject of producing other cars at its Sanand plant, Tata Motors mentioned that these guesses have no base as the company is not planning on producing any car other than Tata Nano at its Sanand plant in Gujarat.
Other Tata cars will continue to be produced at the company’s factory in Pimpri, near Pune and the Sanand plant will continue to manufacture only Nano. It was also briefed in the statement that Tata cars will not be sharing any platform or engine with the Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. Tata Motors has seen an up rise in the sales figures since the 2012 Tata Nano has hit the showrooms. The company is looking forward to the expansion of its distribution network with exclusive dealers and marketing enterprises.
Lately, Tata Nano has been receiving good response from the customers and is anticipated to push the sales further which in turn would result in full capacity utilization of Sanand plant. Tata Motors has always given importance to consumer needs and technology development and has continually refreshed its portfolio. The company has devised new strategies for its entire product range that includes Tata Nano, Tata Indica / Indica Vista, Tata Indigo / Indigo Manza, Tata Sumo, Tata Safari and Tata Aria. The company will reveal these strategies in the market with time as and when need arises.Automobile News