Weekly Wrap-Up: Three New Launches Include Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Mahindra XUV 500 Xclusive Edition and Renault Pulse

With three silent launches and quite a big fuss over Geneva Motor Show, the week ends with 2015 Union Budget bringing no relief to Indian auto sector. The excise duty on passenger cars remain same thus making cost status ditto as of 1st January, 2015.

Despite giving some respite, the Customs Duty on commercial vehicles has been raised from 10 per cent to 40 per cent. But on the other side, government has provided relief to electric vehicle manufacturing by allocating Rs 75 crore. Read more on budget related stories on our BudgetDekho Section.

About the three new launches, Maruti Suzuki introduced the Swift Dzire facelift at Rs 5.07 lac. The compact sedan with its refined diesel engine now delivers best in segment fuel economy of 26.59kmpl. Renault too updated its Pulse hatch which now gets automatic headlamps, steering mounted control and driver seat height adjust. The homegrown manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra too launched its limited edition XUV 500 Xclusive Edition at Rs 14.48 Lacs.

Renault India Launches Pulse Facelift at Rs 5.03 lac

Renault India in order to uplift its model line has silently launched Pulse facelift at Rs 5.03 Lac (Ex-showroom Delhi). The 2015 Pulse facelift now gets little upscaled inside out. It gets automatic headlamps, steering mounted controls and a height adjustable driver seat for better comfort. In coming months, the automaker will also launch Lodgy and Stepway MPV and also a new small car. Both the MPVs will be launched in the month of March while the small car will be introduced in the festive months. Read More

Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire Facelift Launched At Rs 5.07 lac; Now Delivers a Fuel Economy of 26.59kmpl

Maruti Suzuki has silently launched the facelifted Swift Dzire at Rs 5.07 lac while the ZDi (diesel top variant) costs Rs 7.81 lac (Ex-Showroom, Delhi). The most selling compact sedan from India’s largest passenger car seller is now offered with four new eye-catching shades in both petrol and diesel models. Read More

Mahindra XUV500 Xclusive Edition Launched at Rs 14.48 Lac

The homegrown manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) has launched the limited XUV500 Xclusive Edition at Rs 14.48 Lacs (Ex-showroom, Mumbai). The Xclusive edition is only available on the top-end variant W8 and only 700 units of this limited edition will be put on sale. On the premium luxury features, the Xclusive edition gets electric sunroof, convenient reverse camera, voice messaging system, sporty aluminium pedals, stylish grey alloy wheels, 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat (optional), illuminated scuff plates and anti-pinch driver window. Read More

BudgetDekho With CarDekho

Union Budget 2015 - Impact on Car Buyers and Owners

Cars have generally been considered a luxury product in India, they are technologically intensive and as a result generally much more expensive. Considered a status symbol, cars are still taxed considerably higher. The automotive industry has been identified as a generator of employment both directly and indirectly. A major source of income for the government, successive governments have promoted manufacturers to set up their assembly plants in India and kept taxes on cars directly imported here very high to deter mass-market car imports. The global economic downturn and domestic economic fluctuations have affected the automotive sector in India, with sales and profits taking a big hit in the past couple of years. Read More

Upcoming Launch

Hyundai India to launch i20 'Active' on 17th of March, 2015!

Hyundai India will launch the crossover version of the Elite i20 - they-call-it - i20 ‘Active’ on 17th of March, 2015. The much anticipated debutante hatch-turned crossover vehicle from the Korean auto manufacturer was on test on our soil from quite some time. Read More

Hyundai Reveals Sketches of 'Already Spied i20 Active'; Indian Debut in March

In order to enhance its model lineup, Hyundai India is now planning to launch the new SUV lookalike i20 Active crossover. Since the launch is approaching, the automaker has revealed the sketches of its upcoming new model which hints towards an aggressive body design. Based on the company’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’ design language, the i20 Active when launched will lock horns with the likes of Fiat Avventura, Toyota Etios Cross and Volkswagen Cross Polo. Read More

2015 Honda Jazz set for Geneva Motor Show launch; India to follow soon

Japanese auto giant, Honda, is in full action at its Tapukara plant, in Rajasthan, as it is producing soon to be launched premium hatchback Jazz. It is believed that the produced batch of Jazz at Tapukara will be shipped to South Africa, as the snaps show the car is being loaded into trucks. Though there is no word from Honda about its Indian launch, globally it will be launched in the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Read More

CarDekho Video Reviews

Fiat Avventura

Skoda Yeti

Offers, Additions and Service Camps

Now Own a Ford Figo with Zero Down Payment Offer

As the Ford lovers awaits the updated Figo, the Blue Oval company is giving mouth watering deals on the outgoing Figo. Latest in the offering from the American automaker is the zero down payment scheme. The EMI for the Figo thus gets as low as Rs 1,671 per lac. Apart from saving upto Rs 58,000, the carmaker is also offering discount upto 15 per cent on selected accessories. Read More

Now Get Cricket Updates On the Move as Ford Introduces SYNC with Ford AppLink in EcoSport

Realizing the cricket world cup fever, Ford has introduced SYNC with Ford AppLink in its best-selling compact SUV EcoSport. With the addition of this infotainment system, the passengers can now get updates from ESPN Cricinfo while on the move. The SYNC with Ford AppLink is offered on the Titanium variant of Ford EcoSport and is made available  across all dealership in the country. Read More

Mahindra announces M-Plus- A Nation-Wide Mega Service Camp

The homegrown car manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. has announced a free nation-wide mega service camp M-Plus. The camp is scheduled to be organized between 2nd March to 8th March, 2015 at over 450 Mahindra authorized workshops across the country. Read More

Fiat India Organizes Free-Service Camp - 26th-28th February 2015

Fiat Group Automobiles India Pvt. Ltd (FGAIPL) has organised a pan-India free-service camp for its customers. The service camp is from 26th to 28th February and across all its dealerships in the country. Speaking of it, the national free service camp has been set-up in 131 Fiat's exclusive dealerships across 104 cities in different states of India. Read More

Geneva Motor Show

120 bhp Tata Bolt Heading for the 2015 Geneva Motor Show

Tata always has a presence at the prestigious Geneva Motor Show, over the past years the company had showcased various concept at the Swiss show. This year, at the 85th Geneva Motor Show in the first week of March, the JLR owners will showcase a hotter version of the recently launch Bolt hatchback. The powerful Bolt will wear a new badge of the upcoming Tata’s performance wing, which the automaker is planning to launch by the end of this year. Read More

Volkswagen unveils 2015 Touran MPV ahead of Geneva Motor Show

Volkswagen has revealed the updated version of Touran MPV which is the best selling MPV in Germany. The 2015 Touran has been carved on company’s popular MQB platform and is now more upmarket from its predecessor considering the exteriors and interiors aspects. Read More

Land Rover Revealed 2016 Range Rover Evoque; Features New Ingenium Engine

Proving the statement wrong “Don’t fix, if it aint broke”, Land Rover has revealed 2016 Range Rover Evoque. Recently, the automaker also released the teaser of the SUV which will make its world debut at 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The biggest change in the new Evoque is embracing the new Ingenium engine lineup. Read More

Auto Guide

Car AC Guide: Maintenance, Problems and Solutions

As temperature rises, the first thing you wish in a car is a powerful AC. However, sometimes your car AC doesn’t work that efficiently and it can be one of the most uncomfortable situations as you sit in a well-packed cabin. There can be many reasons because of which your car’s AC does not works properly, however you can fix it, as most of the times the problems are not that big but can affect cooling drastically. In this article, we will describe the basic components and operations of AC, and if there is a malfunction, how to diagnose it. Read More

7 reasons of car overheating with remedies

With the advancement of technology, car overheating is not a common problem anymore. However, there are still probabilities that your car can overheat due to some faulty part or lack of cooling agents. It may persist because of various problems, including one of the common problem like lack of coolant and much bigger situation like a blown head gasket. In this article, we will tell you how to diagnose car overheating and how to get rid of it.. Read More

News From Around The Corner

Kapil Sharma is Back With Yet Another Commercial of Honda Mobilio

Kapil Sharma has once again stepped-in to promote the Honda Mobilio, fourth installment of Kapil Sharma’s spree with Honda India’s debutant MPV Mobilio was released recently. The stand-up comedian has been associated with Japanese automaker’s MPV ever since. The commercials starring him started rolling in nearly a month before the launch of the Mobilio. In the videos, Kapil is always found flaunting the features and practicality of Mobilio in a way he is best at! And this 4th commercial is no exception, in this he is entertaining a large family. Without further do, watch it! Read More

Audi Reveals Second-Gen 2016 R8!

Audi has revealed the second generation of its mid-engine mounted sports car - 2016 Audi R8. The vehicle will make its global public debut at the upcoming 85th Geneva Motor Show, in the first week of March, 2015. The new R8 is faster, lighter, more efficient and is developed from the ground-up. Moreover, Audi R8 will be produced at a new Quattro GmbH production facility that was specially built for the new R8 – the “Böllinger Höfe” site in Heilbronn. And will go on sale in Europe this summer. Read More

Apple planning to make Electric Vehicles by 2020

Apple Inc. of USA is best known for making state-of-art gadgetry starting from the iconic iPod, MacBook, iPad and the hottest iPhone. We are all familiar with the role these gizmos have played in modernization of current world and Apple, undoubtedly has scaled immense heights in terms of profits. So if a manufacturer who has an image of making revolutionary products is heard of developing electric cars, excitement of enthusiasts is sure to pump up. It is believed that Apple is planning to bring this car by 2020. Read More

Hyundai Reveals Specification and Pricing of i30

Hyundai Motor UK has officially revealed the specification and pricing of new i30 range including, for the first time, the i30 Turbo. The base model i30 S which will replace the Classic model is priced at £15,195 (INR 14.60 lac). The S model gets keyless entry, USB and AUX connections and Bluetooth connectivity. Read More

Formula One

After All The Delays, Force India Finally Put Its F1 Car On Pre-Season Test

After finishing sixth in last year constructors’ standings, Force India surely looks to change the tally board ratings this year and to help achieve their goal, they have got a new F1 car. The team has revealed its new F1 car few days back and Nico Hulkenberg today tested the car for couple of rounds at pre-season test in Barcelona. The team had to skip the day one of the pre-season test cause of the delay VJM08’s build programme. Read More

McLaren-Honda star driver Fernando Alonso's participation in First F1 Race uncertain

Two weeks remaining in first Formula 1 race and McLaren-Honda’s star driver Fernando Alonso participation is in doubt. Reports around the F1 circuit is that after the tragic accident in Barcelona on the final day of pre-season testing, Alonso spent three days recovering in hospital, so the final decision of him racing in Melbourne is with doctors. Read More

Feature Stories

8 tips to keep in mind before a road trip

Summers have almost begun and with the exam season getting over soon, one thing that’s almost synonymous with summer vacations is a road trip. Everybody loves a good road trip; it gives you the opportunity to explore new roads and destinations at your own pace, and you can choose to alter the route as per your conveniences adding or subtracting enroute destinations, which one cannot do while using public or common transport. While road trips have their share of fun, there is always the uncertainty of a breakdown, so it’s best to be prepared.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you head out into the rising sun with your machine. Read More

To the end of the bow with new BMW X3

It was time for celebrations. India has kept the record of being unbeatable to Pakistan in the World Cup and overcame the losing jinx against South Africa. Our celebration always involves road trips in one way or another and this time we wanted to take the new BMW X3 to somewhere far and special. And to go to one of the most mythological and south-eastern tip of our country made a good argument. Driving to Dhanushkodi also let us knew how the new X3 behaved with its new 2.0-litre diesel engine. Read More