The government is believed to be considering decontrolling petrol prices, a move that may see rates being hiked by Rs 16-17 a litre, but diesel will continue to be sold at a subsidised price.

The relentless rise in international oil prices that last week touched an all time high of $135 a barrel has forced the government to mull options to save state-run firms, which expect a revenue loss of Rs 200,000 crore (Rs 2000 billion) this fiscal on sale of petrol, diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene.

“One of the options being considered is deregulating petrol prices,” an official said. “The country’s preferred auto fuel diesel will, however, continue to be subsidised even though a marginal Rs 2-3 a litre hike in prices may be announced.”

Petrol is currently being sold at a loss of Rs 16.34 a litre and diesel at Rs 23.49 per litre. Deregulating petrol price would mean that its prices would move in tandem with international prices.

He said the move is being considered after Finance Ministry declined Petroleum Ministry’s request for lowering customs duty on crude oil to zero from 5 per cent and that on petrol and diesel to 2.5 per cent from current 7.5 per cent.

The oil ministry had also asked for lowering of excise duty on the two fuels but Finance Ministry is not obliging.

Petrol has negligible impact on inflation and so even if it is deregulated it would not contribute the 3-and-half year high inflation rate of over 8 per cent, he said.

Diesel on the other hand is used by transport industry and replicating the same for the fuel would have cascading effect on inflation.

However, deregulating petrol would lower the revenue losses by just Rs 20,000 crore (Rs 200 billion). Half of the current estimates are on account of diesel rates.

Fiat is working with Ford Europe on the new version of the iconic 500. Whether or not Fiat’s planning an Abarth performance version is a matter of debate.

Fiat hasn’t confirmed a cabrio edition is on its way, but some magazines say it’ll sport a cloth top not a folding hardtop, and launch with really small engines in the range of 1.1-liters.

Here’s a first glimpse of Fiat’s upcoming Cabriolet version of the new 500 small car that’s scheduled for sale in 2007, with the drop-top planned for 2008.
The New Fiat 500 Cabrio should follow the same formula and draw on Fiat’s expertise with small cars.

From the image it’s clear that the Cabriolet sticks to the lines of the original car, sharing its profile despite the adoption of the canvas roof.

A complex electric folding metal roof was ruled out due to the car’s compact size and low cost characteristic.

The 500’s running gear is shared with Ford’s upcoming Ka replacement, which will be built alongside the baby Fiat at the same factory in Poland.

Under the hood will be several engine options ranging from 1.1-litre and 1.2-litre petrol units to a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel. A 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with over 120bhp plus a new 1.6-litre turbo-diesel is also on the cards.

Hyundai looks set to be latest challenger in the ultra low cost car ranks in India with their announcement of a new model targeted for that market. Tata Motors kicked things off with the introduction of the Nano earlier this year with its starting base price of only $2,500 U.S. It doesn’t look like Hyundai plans to go quite that low, instead coming in a little higher at $3,500. Development of the new model is only now beginning with a target launch date of 2012. According to Hyundai’s Indian boss H.S. Lim, the new car is not meant to be a direct competitor to the Nano (a thousand dollars might not be a big deal on a $50,000 SUV, but since that amount is almost half the cost of the Nano, people will notice), even though better-equipped versions of the Nano can exceed the Hyundai’s price point. In the meantime, Hyundai is launching natural gas and propane versions of several models, including the Accent and Santro this year.

The SLR McLaren, the beastly exoticar from Mercedes, just got beastlier

Mansory, the expensive, high-end, exoticar modifier, is responsible.

This is Mansory’s newest project, and perhaps the ultimate modified Mercedes.

And don’t be thinking that it’s just another Brabus-type aftermarket package, ’cause this is beyond anything Brabus, or anyone else, could have ever done.

Its debut at the 2008 Gevena Auto Show caused quite a stir, mainly among the rich who could not wait to get their hands on one. The rest of us common members of the John Q. Public could only sit back and dream.

From the nose to the fenders, from the design all the way to the paint and interior, this car has been completely remade. It now sits lower, has an overall more exotic and aggressive body, and has a new name— the Mansory Renovatio. Frankly, I’m surprised that no one has written about this car yet, as it is so insanely cool.

All of the body parts are made of carbon fiber, and a lot of attention was paid to aerodynamics and performance. For example, the nose package is specially designed to deliver more air to the engine, and the side skirts calm the air between the axles, as well as providing support for the side exhaust system. And the gold paint, of course, is to make the car look cool.

The interior is also beautifully designed by Mansory, and it combines raciness with luxury. The seats are covered in special “Mansory” leather, and the steering wheel has been redesigned. The aluminum pedals, carbon fiber trim, and illuminated door tread all finish the package up quite nicely.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that this is just a visual package ’cause Mansory tinkered with the performance as well. Tinkered with it quite a bit, in fact.

Claimed top speed is 211 mph, and it now accelerates from 0-60 in 3 seconds flat—all thanks to its Mansory tuned 5.5 liter V8 engine. What Mansory did, is instead of replacing or remaking the engine, they upgraded it by replacing stock parts with theirs. The changes include Mansory’s supercharger, their performance compressors, a sports air filter, and custom intercoolers. As a result, the car now has 690 raging stallions and 649 pound-feet torque. Mansory’s super lightweight, one piece, forged turbine wheels and performance tires combine to make this car a formidable presence indeed.

So if you have the money and the connections, and if your SLR just doesn’t seem to outshine that neighbor who always pisses you off, and who just happens to drive a Ferrari 599, consider the Renovatio. The rest of us can only dream and wish we had one, ’cause that sure is one helluva ride.

Honda Cars India Limited a subsidary of the parent Honda Motor Company, Japan today launched the 8th Generation Accord in the Indian market. The car comes with all new styling and even better quality interiors for the discerning buyers amongst us.

The Honda Accord comes in three variants - Accord 2.4, Accord 2.4 Elegance and Accord 2.4 Inspire with prices starting at Rs. 16.49 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom Delhi) going upto Rs. 18.14 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom Delhi) for the top-end variant. The car comes with an uprated version of the 2.4 litre i-Vtech engine which now delivers 180 PS of power alongwith an 8% increase in fuel efficiency. The engine also meets the EURO IV emission norms. The new Accord is more spacious than the outgoing car and the length and width of the car has seen an increase of 80mm and 25mm respectively.

For more details read ahead….

The new engine is E10 (10% Ethanol and 90% unleaded) fule compatible. The new Accord also comes with a five-speed automatic transmission and which can also be used as a manual via the unique F1-Inspired pedal shift, a feature which Honda debuted on the Civic and currently the only car in its segment to include this feature.

The chassis and suspension are new and the steering now features variable gear ratio along with variable assist which makes Accord very quick and agile car for its size. The all new steering also improves the high speed manner with perfect control at all times.

The new Accord is a step ahead in safety as well and features a total of 6Air-Bags along with Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) and G-Force controlled (G-CON) technology for enhanced safety of the vehicle occupants in the event of a collision.

The new interior features include an 8-way power adjustable front seat with lumbar support, tilt and telescopic steering wheels and an advanced audio system which comes with a USB port.

Model wise details are still forthcoming. Keep watching this space for further updates.

Leading Japanese car manufacturer, Nissan Motor, is planning to sell more than 1,00,000 vehicles per year. Company plans for an aggressive launch in all segments ranging from entry-level cars, sedans, Hatchbacks to SUVs and light commercial vehicles.

CURRENTLY NISSAN X-Trail and Teana shine on the Indian roads and by 2012, the company will launch eight new models, out of which, four will be locally manufactured. Nissan Murano – the premium Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) will hit the Indian roads in 2009. The company is also planning an entry-level compact car that will be powered with an engine between one-litre and 1.2-litre and a light commercial vehicle.
In 2010, a new hatch back model will be also launched and the production for the vehicle is expected to begin next year at its Chennai factory. The hatch back model will carry the price tag ranging from Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 4 lakhs.

Nissan sees India as the future strategic market for them and there are tremendous potential. Another project that they are working on is with Renault, where they are setting up a Greenfield plant near Chennai in Tamilnadu with an investment of Rs 450 crores and will start its operations early 2010.

Nissan has also entered into an agreement to buy vehicles from Maruti Suzuki India to source its A-star to export it to Europe and also plans to export its own small car from India in a joint venture with Renault and Bajaj Auto.

Ford launched its new Fiesta Compact in the Geneva Motor show this year. It could be launched in India in coming times. Boneham, current ED of Ford India, said, “”It can be a possibility and we are studying this.” Boneham takes over Arvind Matthew as MD next month. Arvind Matthew shall be heading Michigan to be a part of the development team for the parent company.

Ford is planning to become a major player in India in the coming years. It has also made considerable investments to expand its dealer networks and strengthened its distribution across the country. Currently Ford India is under the process of integrating its domestic operations with global vehicle platforms. “Ford is changing perspective towards global platforms. We are looking at global platforms to make them part of the India strategy,” said Boneham.

Ford Fiesta Compact shall be on roads in Europe, Asia and South Africa, Australia and North America by mid-2010. However, each country shall have its regionally tailored model to suit the specific needs and style.

If you want to sell your car, you need to know a few things before doing so. Here are tips on how you can sell your car the best way.

- There are different ways you can sell your car. You can go through a dealership or you can sell it yourself. It is more convenient when you sell your car to a dealer, but your car may be priced below what you anticipate. On the other hand, you can get a better price if you sell it yourself, but it will take much of your time and effort.

Whether you decide to enter to a dealership or sell your car by yourself, you need to know the market. Research how your type of car sells today and look for what other buyers at looking to buy. This way you can price of your car accordingly. You should highlight the features that your car has in order to match the desired market.

Choose how you will advertise your car. You can simply put a CAR FOR SALE sign on it so that every where you go you advertise it, or you can be more serious about marketing and place an advertisement online or inn the classified ads of your local newspaper.

If you decide to place an ad in the classifieds or on the net, provide a photo of your car to make it more appealing to buyers -so get out your camera and take pictures of your car!

Use unforgettable statements to give your car “charm”. Match these comments with your markets needs; highlight the excellent features so that they can be easily noticed.

Assess your vehicle and price it reasonably. As mentioned make a research on how cars sell are selling. If you price your car too high, chances are you will lose the sale. However, by putting a very low price on it will you will incur a loss.

Set up your car for the show. Your car is the star of the show, so it should be in tip top shape. Take the necessary measures to entice buyer have the engine tuned-up so it runs well.

Keep a record of all the services and repairs of your vehicle. Some buyers also look at these records to determine how well the car was maintained. These records also tell if the car is in good condition.

Now that the city of London has voted out “red Ken” in favor of Conservative candidate Boris Johnson, it is expected that the congestion charge scheme may undergo some changes. One electric car company, NICE (No Internal Combustion Engine), is showing no fear and is sounding positive about the future with their new mayor. They are even predicting increased business in the coming year. Julian Wilford, co-founder of the London-based company, states, “We know that Boris recognises the many benefits of owning an electric car,” in a press release that extends an invitation to the politician to give their shop a visit as well as discuss their upcoming plans. Perhaps they read his “colorful” opinion piece in the Telegraph in defense of that other London-centric electric car, the G-Wiz.

And what of those future plans? They plan on adding yet more models to their already-varied vehicle line-up which includes the Vectrix and Mega Multi Truck. For more a more detailed look into the future hit the jump for the press release.

Press Release :-

NICE Car Company to introduce more clean car choices in Boris’s London

London’s electric car company NICE (No Internal Combustion Engine) says it expects to build sales under new mayor Boris Johnson. That’s thanks to a combination of exemption from the capital’s congestion charge, free parking and growing concern among Londoners over the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel.

While the new mayor has said he will reform congestion charge, NICE believes owners of its Mega City car should continue to pay nothing to enter the zone. Small and pretty, the cars travel up to 40 mile on just one overnight charge, more than adequate for the majority of daily journeys. Crucially, they are also pollution-free; they emit no CO2, no NOX and no carbon monoxide.

“We know that Boris recognises the many benefits of owning an electric car,” said Julian Wilford, co-founder of NICE cars. “But we also understand the importance of choice to the mayor – and to our customers. At the NICE Car Company we have the widest range of zero-emissions vehicles on the market and hope the new mayor will find time to visit our West London base to learn more.”

Petrol and diesel now cost more than £5 a gallon which means around 14p per mile for an owner of a medium-sized car, capable of 35mpg. NICE owners pay around a tenth of that - just 1.5 p per mile. As Vehicle Excise Duty is also CO2-based, they also benefit from no annual road tax.

Launched at the British Motor Show in 2006, the NICE Car Company will be back at the ExCeL-based show from 23 July to 3 August this year. It will have a bigger stand, with several model launches. It will also reveal more about plans to have electric models in many different market segments by the end of the year.

In addition to motor show, NICE is looking forward to its first-ever SMMT Test Day on 22 May 2008. The Millbrook driving event will present an opportunity to launch a new car to the media, one of the first model launches by any participant at the event.