2007 starts on a promising note, with Tata launching its most expensive passenger car, the LWB Indigo XL grand in 1.4 16v DOHC 100 bhp petrol and 1.4 16v DOHC 75 bhp dicor CRDi diesel versions, both new motors being an evolution of current ones.
The car is loaded with every first class amenities that a passenger in a 747 enjoys, including a top class on board entertainment system (first seen on Indigo SX), rear AC vents and leather seats with enormous legroom. 747 performance and refinement is however not part of the package. Priced closer to NHC territory, initial sales are encouraging but complaints with dicor's fuel pump and brand perception of Tata as a "cheap" car maker means that demand tapers of prematurely.
While the 747 jumbo jet is long part of Air India's fleet, Maruti debuts the Multi-Jet diesel under license from Fiat under the hood of its flagship-the swift. The car is India's first CRDi powered enthusiast's diesel small car and all the positives of swift are carried over with the addition of that excellent torquey fuel efficient powerplant. The craze becomes even higher and despite the 4.7-5.25 lakh price, the car commands a huge 2-3 month wait list, a fact that remains unbeaten even today. Clearly, the swift DDIS is on the way to become another blockbuster from the Maruti stable.
It coincides with the inauguration of Maruti's new diesel engine plant at its new greenfield facility, Manesar. Those who purchase the swift DDIS can't stop revving and raving about it. within months, every college, UG or PG, swift DDIS becomes a common sight. Its positioning of an enthusiast's diesel car clearly pays off. New colour-pearl metallic arctic white, becomes a rage and commands even a bigger wait list. It even sells at a premium of 30,000 at some dealerships. It is made available in LDI, VDi and VDi ABS models.
The ultimate driving machine wants to make the future of the automobile a thing of the past.
The year also marks an entry of the third German brand-BMW, which had just constructed a spanking new plant in the outskirts of Chennai where it begins assembling the 3 series as SKDs.
While the 5 series, 7 series and X5 are imported, the 3 series is formally launched at C class price territory, with more features and engine options. The car becomes a certified hit and C class sales take a beating.
This marks the beginning of the German 3 way cola war. Between Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi. Audi, meanwhile continues its role as an importer and sells cars. It will expand in the coming years.
Matiz Reloaded but will it ignite a spark in the small car market?
One of India's most loved cars, the matiz becomes an object of discussion when rumours start to grow that it will be relaunched in India under a new name-The CHEVROLET SPARK.
The car is formally launched in April 2007, after about 18 months delay in a process to localise components and validate the car for our roads. The basic chassis and front suspension are carryover from the old matiz, whereas the body, interior and rear suspension are new, so is the improved steering geometry. On paper, at least, the car's combination of cute looks, refined performance and superb mileage, ride, handling, stability and good space in a compact footprint meant that the santro is under threat.
But when the price is announced, all that hoopla would become a thing of the past. Just as Daewoo goofed up with the pricing of the matiz at launch in fall 1998, GM prices the spark out of contention, at least 20,000-30,000 rupees above competition. The price of 3,09,000 for a non ac model does not look exactly like a steal.
While GM does have a limited production capacity as a new plant is still under construction at Talegaon, the response of the spark is not exactly encouraging. Rivals start even bigger discounts and cars like santro and Wagon R sell even more briskly.
Unbelievable but true, come october, just after 6 months after the spark is launched, GM starts giving brutal discounts of upto Rs. 30,000 in the spark. Clearly, it is the case of wrong product pricing, though right positioning. Many ladies are seen driving the spark, highlighting its easy to drive and cheerful user friendly nature.
The Zen estilo sales do drop after all that initial hoopla but the percentage drop is not that bad. The culprit-discounted wagon R.
Hyundai, meanwhile, is on the verge on launching its new global kei-car, the I 10, the world debut of which is performed in India. This also marks the first time that a global MNC has chosen India as the sole exclusive production hub of the I 10, in Chennai, as a new plant is inaugrated which will also export the same to global markets.
Its available in 5 models, including the one with sunroof! Despite the higher price, its combination of quality interiors, sound engineering and Hyundai's reputation as a maker of quality small cars means that after the Santro, this is another blockbuster that Hyundai desperately needed after its terracan, tucson, sonata embera, getz and elantra flopped in the market.
ShahRukh Khan is appointed as the brand ambassador and Hyundai spends huge amount in marketing and PR to make the I10 a success at any cost.
Powering the I10 is an evolved and a torquier version of 1.1 epsilon motor, but since it has to pull a car that is considerably heavier than the Santro, performance and mileage is just modest. But despite its small drawbacks, the well rounded nature of the I10 is a new benchmark for kei-cars in India and it goes on to win all the publications' COTY awards in 2007.
Other Launches:- Ford Endeavour, the then SUV king, is refreshed and a TDCi motor is also added to make the package even more competitive.
- Skoda launched its new gen Octavia, the Laura in 2006
- Honda, meanwhile launches its all new second generation CR-V and refreshes its accord with LED taillights.
- Rival Toyota launches its all new redesigned 2007 Camry in 2.4 MT and AT versions in March. The world gets to see the all new corolla in 2007, but India will get it later.
- Mitsubishi again refreshes the pajero and drops the price of cedia.
- Nissan launches its sedan the teana to counter the camry and accord. Powered by 2.3 V6 with 4 speed AT, sales are dismal.
ICC World Cup 2007
The year 2007 also witnesses Cricket's biggest sporting event-the ICC world cup 2007 in the Caribbean, with Australia Defeating Sri Lanka to claim their 3rd consecutive world cup title.
The entertainment industry continued its usual overdose of daily soaps without any sops, and musical shows now included kids as participants (SRGMP Lil Champs VS SVOI Chotte Ustad) and news channels continued to go berserk with new "jyotish vidya and grahan stuff etc." Kya kisi channel pe us samay grahan lag gaya kya?
The DTH market witnessed the entry of new players. Food prices began to rise.
Bollywood meanwhile continued to entertain us with hits like:
- Om Shanti Om
- welcome
- chak de India
- partner
- taare zameen par
- jab we met
- apne
- namestey London
- comedies like Bhul Bhulaiyaa and Hey Babyy
TZP became a cult film, so did Chak De, another landmark movie showcasing the plight of Indian Women's hockey team. Aamir's hairstyle in TZP became a new fashion within the Indian Youth.
June 2007 witnessed an anonymous member joining team bhp.
So, as 2007 draws to a close, 2008 will be one of the biggest years in the Indian auto industry as new segments will be created and multiple launches will take place, all fighting it out for an even bigger share of the pie.
A company will perform a pentagonal launch whereas a new legend will be re-incarnated, as the year will also prove to be a landmark for Indian sports as history will be created, so will be for team bhp with a world exclusive.
Kisi ne sach hi kaha hai:
The winner takes it all, the loser's standing small.
Besides the victory, that's a destiny....
Who will win? And whose destiny will change?
Find out soon.......