Auto Doctor - Episode 2 - A comprehensive Automobile talk show

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g1LHSGYiHww&feature=share

Auto doctor - Episode 1- A comprehensive Automobile show

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u7pbcK1m6FU&list=PLP41WUn50SOd19_pxkUBfjOIcGOpY7RhJ&index=2&feature=share

Cars and Bikes: DSK HYOSUNG HNI EVENT IN AGRA - FEB 2014

Cars and Bikes: DSK HYOSUNG EVENT IN HOTEL CLARSK SHIRAZ AGRA
http://youtu.be/6P_Aea8aNhA

DSK HYOSUNG SHOWROOM LAUNCH IN AGRA - 12 th sep 2013

http://youtu.be/6P_Aea8aNhA

Hyundai Xcent Compact Sedan Launched @ Rs.4.66 Lakhs

One of the most successful sedans in India a decade ago was the Hyundai Accent, It ruled the market share in its segment from 2001-2005 giving a tough competition the old Honda City. Hyundai India launched its new Avataar the Hyundai Xcent @ Rs.4.66 Lakhs. The new Xcent would come under the Compact Sedan category and would be competing with Honda Amaze , Swift Dezire etc

Xcent is launched with two Engine , two transmission (MT/AT) and two fuel options. It comes with a 1120 cc Diesel and a 1197 cc Petrol engine, Automatic transmission is available only in the petrol variant at an ex showroom price of Rs.6.29  for the S AT 1.2 (O) & 7.19 Lakhs for SX AT 1.2 (O).The diesel engine options starts from 5.57 Lakhs exshowroom onwards till 7.38 Lakhs exshowroom for the top end SX 1.1 CRDI (O)

Xcent is loaded with the new generation features  like KeyLess Entry & Go, 2 Din Audio System, Bluetooth, Aux, USB, CD,ABS, Dual Air Bags. It is available in 6 color options.

With the new exciting features and a complete makeover in size, shape and looks will the Xcent be able to capture the market share in its segment, will it be able to compete and be a winner against the competition Honda Amaze and Swift Dezire ! Its gonna be a tough fight !!! Friends lets wait and watch.

Round 1 Begins. May the Best Team Win !!

Indian Car Industry goes Automatic.The Future-AT

It took nearly two decades for the Indian Consumer to understand the need and importance of an automatic transmission car. Amongst the first few companies to bring Automatic Transmissin to India was Daewoo back in 1997, AT is still the lesser loved one from its sibling Gearbox MT(Manual Transmission) as far as Indian consumer choice is concerned. The shift will happen soon , infact it has started to happen it will turn the tables in the next 7 years in favour of AT provided all the manufacturers understand the need and indian consumer mindset. As on date AT car sales are 1 percent of total car sales in India. 

As always Maruti being the leader introduced a clutch less car which is nothing but an AT car , Celerio- A perfect car , Right segment to hit, and a pricing that couldn't have been better , they have also managed to hit the nerve of Indian consumer, a perfect answer to the question , kitna deti hai ? Claiming an average of 25kmpl , I think Celerio is one of the best combination in an AT any manufacturer has configured till date in india keeping the need of Indian consumer in mind. No one ever thought we could drive an AT on a price of 4 lakhs. For the first time in the history of automobiles in India AT had more bookings than MT , The very first day of launch of Celerio on 6th feb 2014 MUL dealers Booked 1000 cars out of which 51 percent were AT. 

Misconceptions about an Automatic Transmission Car - 

1) It's complicated and difficult to drive- It's a wrong notion , as nothing can be simpler and better than driving an AT , as you don't have to change any gears or press any clutch as there is none. Simply accelerate and brake and stop whenever you want. 

2) Lot of traffic in city what will we do with AT- My dear friends AT is suitable in a more traffic situation as a driver you don't have to change gears again and again and press the clutch at various speeds and while stopping , so you won't feel the fatigue of driving in a traffic situation . 

3) It gives v less mileage - Yes definitely it gives lesser mileage than a MT , but the difference is not much 2-3 kmpl not more than that , on the highway the difference is lesser, this difference is worth the comfort you are get from driving an AT

As a customer our limitations are that we don't have many options to choose from, but the change is definitely coming which can be clearly seen by the demand and sales of Fortuner AT , Verena diesel AT , all high end luxury cars come only in AT versions. Now Maruti has taken a step with Celerio to penetrate into the mass and I am sure MUL will be successful in doing it. The other model and brands AT which comes in various companies are not so successful for two reasons that either they are too expensive or they are only in petrol and that too claiming a v less mileage. The manufacturers need to understand that India is a price sensitive and a kitna Degi obsessed market , till now the manufacturers producing AT small or mid size cars have never focused on these two factors , their thought process is that AT is meant just for the super rich elite class . It's time now the thought process should change. 

The emerging India is young and have a good purchasing power apart from being educated and smart. They need and deserve all the comfort possible. The Auto industry can definately derive much higher volumes in AT cars , only if they start producing diesel AT cars for the mileage sensitive consumers and low priced petrol AT cars for the price sensitive consumer. Current example of successful AT cars with right engine and price configurations are - Fortutner AT price 25 lakhs approx , Ford Eco Sport AT price 10 lakhs approx , Celerio price 4 lakhs approx , All of these cars are over booked and have a waiting period . This clearly shows Indian consumer is smart enough and if the product has the right configuration we have the capacity to buy either it's a 4 lakh product or a 40 lakh product . We call it the power of Emerging Indian Consumer. 

RIP Honda Accord and VW Passat !

Accord and Passat the Flagship Saloon models of Honda and VW respectively are no more in production now and have been official discontinued. Sources reveal that they will not come back in the market before 2016, so the Passat and Accord lovers will have to wait and watch for sometime. 

The main reasons for the giants to discontinue their flagship saloon has been depreciating Rupee, increasing cost of production , v high pricing and tough competition from German Luxury car makers . Accord in a 2.4 ltr petrol engine was priced at around 25 lakhs where As Passat 2.0 TDI top variant used to be around 31 lakhs , A person spending 25 lakhs or more has a lot of options namely An Audi A4,Q3 or may be a BMW X1 , 3 Series, 1 Series or even a Mercedes A class, B Class, C class .It should be understood  that consumers and the ruling young generation of India is becoming brand conscious, If I can spend I want to be in a niche segment or own something exclusive not a brand which is owned by many. A person having a High income becomes a Honda Accord owner no matter how wonderful the car is but the fact is a person with an average income is buying a Honda Brio and is driving the same brand which the high income level person is driving. It misses the exclusivity factor.A mass product can never be a Niche product and vice versa. No wonder why Maruti and Hyundai have never been successful with Highend top premium Cars , All their high end cars have not done well ever in comparison to competitors viz Baleno, Grand Vitara, Kizashi, Elantra, Terracan, Tuscon, Sonata etc . They need to understand that they are a mass brand and not a premium brand . One can not be masters in every field , Either we can cater the mass or we can cater the niche . We need to understand the exclusivity factor when dealing with a high end product or brand .

Both the cars Accord and Passat together have sold less than 500 units in past 7 months, The factories and dealers have wiped out their stocks . We need to wait till 2016 when we assume Accord and Passat will be launched with a complete makeover in the bodyshell , interior , engine . I won't be surprised to see the diesel Honda Accord ! Let's keep our fingers crossed :)