[ankan.m.blr]

More trouble for the already troubled HM, even before new Amby hits the road

Hind Motors power cut

A STAFF REPORTER
Calcutta, July 26: Power department sources said tonight that electricity supply to the Hindustan Motors plant in Hooghly’s Uttarpara had been cut from this evening as the company had outstanding dues of over Rs 7 crore.

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd supplies power to the plant of Hindustan Motors, a flagship company of the C.K. Birla Group.

“We sent numerous reminders to the company (Hindustan Motors) in the past few years. But it neither paid the electricity dues nor responded to the reminders. Because of the non-payment of dues and the absence of any word from Hind Motors, the power supply was stopped this evening,” a power department source said.

“The supply will be restored if the company pays the dues. The company needs to get back to the power distribution utility immediately,” he added.

A Hindustan Motors spokesperson said tonight that there was no power cut at the Uttarpara plant. Company sources at the factory, however, said electricity supply had been snapped from 7.30pm.

source : www.telegraphindia.com

[deehunk]

A turbocharged 1.5L DSL Isuzu engine BS4 variant of Ambassador I guess can chunk out a maximum power of 55-63bhp@4000 rpm with a torque between 130-150Nm@2200 rpm. The combination of a FGT/Waste gate turbo and finer engine tuning cannot make any miracles to this car, the taxi segment may get another choice in the market but they may not be able to catchup with young buyers.

[adg_andy]

Finally, the BS4 Amby to see light of day soon.

HM says the certification will open up the 17 major metro markets, especially Kolkata. The company has started work on the production of the newly certified BS IV car which will start rolling out of its Uttarpara plant in Hooghly from August 2013.

Article at :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/21406733.cms

[WindRide]

An amby beating a Merc and Crown Victoria on a race track?! difficult to digest. But HM's non-existent marketing will go to town with this. Talk of a drowning man clutching at paper straws.

Quite frankly, where does HM go from here.
In the private buyer market, no way anyone south of 40 is going to touch it. Those above 40 will already be struggling with rising EMIs.
Govt orders cannot be banked on anymore. Looks like only 4 ministers in the current Kerala govt. is seen inside an Amby, and that includes the CM.
Taxi - ah, there is always the calcutta cabbie.

HM stands for everything that was wrong with the socialist beginings our country had after its independence.

[girimajiananth]

Originally Posted by WindRide

An amby beating a Merc and Crown Victoria on a race track?! difficult to digest. But HM's non-existent marketing will go to town with this. Talk of a drowning man clutching at paper straws.

Looks like HM takes top gear very seriously ! A screen shot from HM website.
Not sure if this was posted earlier , sub 4m amby looks like this ? Source autocar .

[1100D]

Originally Posted by girimajiananth

Looks like HM takes top gear very seriously ! A screen shot from HM website.
Not sure if this was posted earlier , sub 4m amby looks like this ? Source autocar .

Even if the person responsible for claiming the "worlds best taxi" on the website, maybe aware of the sarcastic nature of the whole thing. There are thousands of people who would probably not be interested to find out the authenticity of the crowning.

Especially, the taxi market in Kolkata where newer competitors have been unleashed, just this headline is going to keep many loyalists trying out diversity. So from HM marketing point, every penny counts, doesn't matter how it comes.

On the other hand, if one does not watch the video in full and just concentrate on the last section, they did sarcastically mention this as the worlds best taxi. So HM is right to claim it as well.

[blackasta]

Originally Posted by girimajiananth

Looks like HM takes top gear very seriously ! A screen shot from HM website.
Not sure if this was posted earlier , sub 4m amby looks like this ? Source autocar .

IMO with the right front end and side treatment, that short rear end could easily give that car ultra retro looks - like a Morris minor.

A paint scheme with flame decals and a similarly exciting engine/tranny - who knows we might have a true hotrod!

[WindRide]

The cab used in the top gear video would have come from Karma Kabs - a UK-spec Amby a.k.a "Fullbore Mark 10" imported by Fullbore Motors during the early 90s. I read somewhere that Fullbore 'upgraded' the amby on arrival in UK.The ambys were resprayed with higher quality English weather resistant paint, tyres changed, heaters and seat belts installed, catalytic converter fitted to comply with the European emmissions laws and most importantly front anti-roll bar was fitted. These changes almost makes an india-spec Amby 'modern'.

Ground reality is HM is being propped by successive WB govts to avoid the Dunlop fiasco all over again, and thereby keep the vote bank happy. You dont want thousands of comrades going jobless during your reign, do you?

And coming to the car making itself, HM is living under a rock. Due to years of protectionism from govt, it chose to ignore customer needs and create a solid brand value among the youth. Now that the brand recall is lost in todays crowded market place, it is next to impossible to revive this car.

HM should develop a classic car division and cater to the nostalgia-high segment and to the classic car markets abroad, something Royal Enfield does superbly.

[girimajiananth]

Originally Posted by blackasta

IMO with the right front end and side treatment, that short rear end could easily give that car ultra retro looks - like a Morris minor.

A paint scheme with flame decals and a similarly exciting engine/tranny - who knows we might have a true hotrod!

You are exactly right , a new modern amby should get HM back on track. But it looks like they have to do a lot more than new paint. It is very important that they keep up with current safety standards , install abs , airbags maybe ?? Better suspension (reduce the body roll please) & steering setup. New interiors , better seats, lots and lots of cosmetic changes along with the above mentioned technical specifications plus a killer price . I almost forgot about the thin dealer network and god knows what after sale service from the company . There is too much competition from every car maker for HM.

I think I am expecting too much from HM , but nothing is impossible .
I read earlier in the same thread about US govt bailing out GM, Chrysler and Ford, do Indian companies deserve that ? For a company that has not bothered keeping up with changes I don't think its necessary. I think all these days HM was very happy with Kolkata taxis and the government car status . Now that our babus and netas are using Mercs and Toyota , they are feeling the pinch.

Its time for HM to be more challenging .

[siddarthbh]

Apart from being a 'tank' in build quality and its nostalgic value, i dont see what space the Amby would take up in the current car market. There has been a generational shift in design, safety, features, drivability etc and the car has just failed to move on. The reasons for that are pretty obvious - years of guaranteed sales for the government and taxis. Even they have now moved on.

Co-incidentally, i was driving to Mangalore and back over the weekend. Outside Mangalore city, the Ambassador ruled the local taxi market a few years back. Every taxi was an ambassador and you would see many of them on the BLR-MLR highway. I noted while driving back yesterday that there was not a single Ambassador! All the local taxis are now jeeps.

[absynthguzzler]

There is one car that can revive the ""ämby look"" and cater to today's image requirements.


Get hold of used dyes for a VOLGA Gaz and try to base it on an Isuzu drivetrain.

There is just no other way HM will be able to reliably design a modernish product matching its lineage.

I personally find the VOLGA very statesman looking.

[anjan_c2007]

Believe all the comments about the "satire" and "comedy", here, in relation to the "World's Best Taxi Award" by BBC Top Gear should be rested.

The truth is revealed by Mr Mark Tully, ex- BBC correspondent in Delhi:

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/t.../1/297675.html

Another Facebook link, with most people going gaga over the report:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=588423637847305

[WindRide]

Amby CS render.. nice, i say!
source - http://worldrapid.com/hindustan-moto...k-in-2014.html

[volkman10]

Hindustan Motors Ambassador Encore 1.5-litre diesel taxi at a price below Rs 4. 98 lakh,BS IV-compliant.

Hindustan Motors Ltd new Ambassador Encore is BS IV-compliant. The diesel car is available at a price of Rs. 4, 97, 996 (ex-showroom Kolkata) for the ‘no-refusal’ taxi segment. Bookings will begin from September 2, 2013. Those making purchases in the replacement taxi segment will avail of reduction in the announced price.

http://www.rushlane.com/hindustan-mo...e-1288141.html

[anjan_c2007]

Some facts about the Ambassador from Autocar India:

http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-blo...-352012.aspx/0