After Toyota incident, automakers have learnt their lessons. Honda has already recalled its vehicles across the globe for faulty electric switches followed by Peugeot Citroen who also recalled their models across Europe. Now Volkswagen has recalled 193,620 vehicles in Brazil and Mexico. Volkswagen announced that there was lubrication problem with rear wheels in its models VW Novo Gol and VW Voyage.

Volkswagen announced on its website the recall as a “preventative” measure where the designated Novo Gol and Voyage cars “can cause noise and continuous use could lead to a blockage of the wheels. In extreme cases, the wheel can come off.” This is the third recall operation by Volkswagen in Brazil. It had earlier recalled its 477,000 models of VW Fox when 8 Fox owners had their fingers chopped off and other 14 suffered hand injuries while folding the rear seats to increase the trunk space.

[Via: indiaautomotive]

Mercedes India has launched the S350L and the S350 CDi L BlueEFFICIENCY in India. The 2010 S-Class offers features designed to provide highest levels of comfort and safety to its occupants. Features like Advance Parking Guidance with ultrasonic sensors, Multicolour Ambient Lighting, LED Light Package, Climatised seats, Massage function for rear seats, ATTENTION ASSIST, etc are standard. The new S 350 L is priced at Rs. 82 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi), while the new S 350 CDI L BlueEFFICIENCY comes at Rs. 80.50 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).

As an exclusive world first for the 2010 S-Class, SPLITVIEW technology is being offered. With two views on a single screen, both the driver & the front passenger can view different functions simultaneously on the screen. A wireless headphone with remote ensures that the co-passenger does not interfere with the driver’s focus while on the road. Great attention has been given to the Rear Seat comfort and entertainment package for the rear-passengers. New introductions include redesigned rear entertainment screens with remote control & 2 wireless headphones as well as standarad massage function for the rear passenger.

[Via: Motorbeam]

Volkswagen India has inaugurated India’s first ‘Quick Start Modular 3S Dealership’ in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Volkswagen Raipur will be the company’s first 3S facility in the state of Chhattisgarh. This unique concept is a mobile deployment, including dismounting and relocation, enabling the showroom to create fast sales and service facility. The entire facility takes 3 weeks for foundation and 3 weeks for assembly at the location. The launch of this unique showroom comes at a time when Volkswagen is ready to start sales of the new Polo from March this year.

The 8 module dealership features 3 cars on showroom display, parts storage facility, 4 workshop bays, service and sales office, customer and driver lounge , social room for employees and lavatories. The container showroom of Volkswagen Raipur will offer premium buying experience to its customers, at par with the Volkswagen’s global standards of sales and services. The showroom is also equipped with state-of-the-art service facility well-equipped with tools and equipment capable of servicing 10 cars per day.

[Via: Motorbeam]

Volkswagen , which recently bought a 19.9% stake in Suzuki Motor, has now started production of the Polo at its plant near Pune. With the Polo , a compact hatchback that will compete against vehicles like the Skoda Fabia, Honda Jazz, Hyundai i20 and Fiat Grande Punto, Volkswagen hopes to make significant inroads into India’s growing car market.

VW, which has invested close to US$850 million at its plant in Chakan, near Pune, currently has a capacity of producing 110,000 cars in India per annum. With three VW Group brands – Audi, Skoda and VW – present in India, all of which will be launching various new cars in India in the near future, the German manufacturer is aiming to garner a major chunk of the car market here over the next few years.

Volkswagen is aiming for a high degree of localisation in its cars made in India, to keep prices in check. However, prices for the India-spec VW Polo are likely to be revealed only next month, when the car is shown at the Auto Expo, in Delhi.

[Via: indiaautomotive]

Volkswagen India has launched the New Beetle in India with a price tag of Rs. 20.45 Lakhs. It is going to compete with the likes of Fiat 500 and it will be imported as a completely built unit in India which will make it pricier due to high import duty. They have also launched the much awaited SUV – Touareg . It has been launched with a price tag of Rs. 51.85 lakhs.

The Touareg is Volkswagon’s radical new sports utility vehicle which represents an attempt to attract a more upscale group of buyers to the Volkswagen brand – buyers who might otherwise be tempted by Mercedes Benz. Accordingly, the company calls the Touareg “one of the most important new vehicle launches in VW history.”

[Via: Cars India ]

“The new Audi A8 is the sportiest sedan in its segment,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “It combines numerous functions in a new and intelligent way. And it’s unmatched in the stylistic elements and impression of the interior.”

The new luxury sedan, to arrive at U.S. dealerships in late 2010, is a technical work of art. Its elegant and forceful body is an aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF), weighing about 40 percent less than a comparable steel structure. The interior is captivating, with its new and spacious design and uncompromisingly high-quality workmanship full of attention to the smallest detail. The comfort on board is first class – from new, emotionally charged ambient lighting to the luxurious, power adjustable seats in the rear. The Audi A8 combines a new level of intelligence with exemplary and easy operation. Its multimedia interface (MMI) includes a pioneering innovation: Combined with the standard (in the U.S.) navigation system it has a touchpad. MMI touch enables the driver to control many functions intuitively; for example, the navigation destination can be entered by writing the letters on the pad with the touch of a finger.

MMI navigation plus is networked in a novel fashion with the advanced driver assistance and safety systems. It follows the route in advance during driving and provides the data to the control units for the automatic transmission, the headlights and for the ACC stop & go function. Their enhanced intelligence enables these systems to recognize complex scenarios and to make anticipatory decisions to assist the driver. The new technologies include a night vision assist with marking of detected pedestrians, the Audi pre sense safety system as well as – in the course of 2010 – a speed limit display.

Another high-end solution on board the new A8 is the full LED headlights, which use light emitting diodes for all light functions. They give the luxury sedan an unmistakable appearance even in daylight and even more so after the fall of darkness. The revolutionary optics used in these headlights mean a departure from the tubular light modules commonly used today. The full LED headlights herald a new chapter in lighting technology. The new A8 starts off with a 4.2 FSI with 273 kW (372 hp). The engine affords increased power and torque – but the fuel consumption has dropped by around 15 percent, thanks to intelligent and efficient technologies like the recuperation system and innovative thermal management.

[Via: Cars India ]

Teaser Promo Of All New Audi A8

Auto Expo is back!! It is India’s and Asia’s largest automotive show which will be held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from 5th January to 11th January, 2010. The 10th Auto Expo will be organized jointly by Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). With the launch of Tata Nano, India has become the global hub for its cost competitive and technologically advanced automotive products. The exhibitors list for Auto Expo 2010 has been uploaded on the official Auto Expo website. It is held every two years and is an useful platform for manufacturers to showcase their products to the public.

The German government has announced an official German pavilion at Auto Expo 2010. German companies in the automotive industry will benefit from the very attractive and interesting conditions within the official pavilion. Some of the major car companies are General Motors, Honda, BMW, Audi, Tata, Maruti, Mahindra, Renault, Toyota, Skoda, Volkswagen and Mercedes. Many new cars are expected to be launched at Auto Expo 2010 which will play a very significant role in the company’s product portfolio.

To know more about new cars to be launched click here – Auto Expo 2010

Here are timings, venue address and dates of Auto Expo 2010:

- Fair Dates: 5th – 11th January 2010
Open to public: 7 – 11 January
Press days: 5 – 6 January
Trade & VIP visitors day: 6 January

- Fair Venue: Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India
- Fair Timings: 1000 Hrs to 1900 Hrs

Organisers for Auto Expo 2010:

Confederation of Indian Industry
Plot No. 249-F, Sector 18, Udyog Vihar, Phase IV,
Gurgaon – 122015 (India)
• Tel: 91-124-4013871/4014060-67
• Fax: 91-124-4014057/80/4014080

Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)
Core IV, 5th Floor, India Habitat Centre
Lodi Road, NEW DELHI 110 003
Telephone: +91 11 24 647 810-12
Fax: +91 11 24 648 222

FOUR SQUARE MEDIA SERVICES PVT. LTD.
202, A-31-34, JAINA EXTN. COMMERCIAL COMPLEX,
DR. MUKHERJEE NAGAR,
Gurgaon – 122015 (India)
• Tel: 91-11-27655127/27655128/27655129/27655130/41622733
• Fax: 91-11-27655130

The New BMW 5 Series . Highlights.

Audi is all set to publically unveil the all new A8 on the eve of Design Miami on November 30th. The Audi flagship will be presented in a truly innovative way in a temporary museum structure, Audi pavilion which is focal point of “The Art Of Progress” which exhibits cultural and technological progress and echoes the value of the new A8: Vorsprung durch Technik and design expertise that stirs the emotions.

Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, commented on the exhibition concept: “Our claim “Vorsprung durch Technik” also embraces design, which is one of the outstanding elements of the Audi signature. And as top design has now emerged as an acknowledged art form, we see the bridge between art and architecture as a logical step in advancing our brand.”

The new Audi A8 promises to be an ultimate combination of performance, looks, luxury and technology. The flagship Audi luxury sedan will come with a slew of new engines which include V6 and V8 petrols and an all new Hybrid. A high performance model on the lines of the BMW 760Li and Mercedes S600 may also be launched.

[Via: CC]