Zimbly Cars » India http://cars.zimbly.com By An Indian Automotive Enthusiast Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:09:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Renault Koleos – Spied In Chennai http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/07/renault-koleos-spied-in-chennai/ http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/07/renault-koleos-spied-in-chennai/#comments Sun, 31 Jul 2011 05:55:14 +0000 Sushil http://cars.zimbly.com/?p=1259 Saw this Renault Koleos in heavy traffic on Anna Salai (Mount Road) near the Saidapet bus stop around 5:30 PM wearing very minimal camo – just some cover of tape on the badges at the rear. This confirms reports of its release being very near.

Was able to get only two photos (taken by my wife) [...]]]> Saw this Renault Koleos in heavy traffic on Anna Salai (Mount Road) near the Saidapet bus stop around 5:30 PM wearing very minimal camo – just some cover of tape on the badges at the rear. This confirms reports of its release being very near.

Was able to get only two photos (taken by my wife) as I was driving and there was too much traffic.

Overall it looked good and paint quality seemed nice. Has decent road presence. Was not able to see the front due to traffic. Hope it is priced well.

]]> http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/07/renault-koleos-spied-in-chennai/feed/ 2 Sketch # 13 – Tata Nano http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/03/sketch-13-tata-nano/ http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/03/sketch-13-tata-nano/#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:01:29 +0000 Sushil http://cars.zimbly.com/?p=1226 Back to only pencil for a change.

]]>
Tata Nano

Back to only pencil for a change.

]]> http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/03/sketch-13-tata-nano/feed/ 2 Will the Hyundai Verna(Transform) replace the Accent ? http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/03/will-the-hyundai-vernatransform-replace-the-accent/ http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/03/will-the-hyundai-vernatransform-replace-the-accent/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:10:33 +0000 Sushil http://cars.zimbly.com/?p=1213 I plan to post some wild hunches of mine and check if they come true later.

This series starts with a hunch that Hyundai may phase out the Accent (Feb sales of around 1224) and replace it with the current Verna Transform (Feb 2011 sales 1241)(with the ugly nose rings) as their entry level [...]]]> I plan to post some wild hunches of mine and check if they come true later.

This series starts with a hunch that Hyundai may phase out the Accent (Feb sales of around 1224) and replace it with the current Verna Transform (Feb 2011 sales 1241)(with the ugly nose rings) as their entry level sedan offering when they launch the new Verna (code name RB) sometime in the middle of this year. They may call it the Verna Executive :-) .

The indications of this happenning will be discounts starting on the Verna and the Accent anytime soon. Why such a hunch – Ford has done this with putting their long time success story the Ikon to sleep and plan to move the Fiesta as the Fiesta Classic as their entry level sedan offering prior to launching the new Fiesta which can be branded as their more premium offering. I think it makes sense for Hyundai to do the same especially since the sales of the Accent are not worth mentioning. The Accent now looks very dated and has had no visual change in atleast 4 years and is lingering on.

Am I way off with this theory ? Do let me know…

]]> http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/03/will-the-hyundai-vernatransform-replace-the-accent/feed/ 1 Honda Jazz – Owner Interview http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/03/honda-jazz-owner-interview/ http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/03/honda-jazz-owner-interview/#comments Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:30:15 +0000 Sushil http://cars.zimbly.com/?p=1206 

Jazz in Sherbet Blue

This is a short offline(done over email) interview with Mr Girish T.,  one of my close friends who is probably one of the first in Chennai (maybe in India as well) to buy a Honda Jazz. Many thanks to Girish for agreeing to this interview and sending over his answers [...]]]> 

Jazz in Sherbet Blue

This is a short offline(done over email) interview with Mr Girish T.,  one of my close friends who is probably one of the first in Chennai (maybe in India as well) to buy a Honda Jazz. Many thanks to Girish for agreeing to this interview and sending over his answers in a very short time.

Sushil: What was your old car and how long did you have it ?
Girish: Fiat Palio – 7 years

Sushil: Why were you replacing your old car/getting a new one ?
Girish: The Fiat Palio was a Fuel Guzzler, Great car but was not backed by service. Fiat had stopped production as well. Time for change.

Sushil: What were your requirements for your new car?
Girish: Fuel efficient, Hatchback with lots of space and preferred that it be a Japanese this time

Sushil: What options did you evaluate ?
Girish: Jazz, I20 and Punto

Sushil: Why did you pick this car from the options you evaluated?
Girish: Lots of space, Excellent styling, Honda brand and tag of being decent on fuel efficiency

Sushil: Which dealer did you get it from and how was your purchase experience ?
Girish: Sundaram Motors – Nothing great. They have never been known to be great on the purchase experience or service. But went with it because that was the closest to my place. Can’t get a lazier reason :-)

Sushil: Any freebies received ?
Girish: None – they managed to screw my chance to participate in the Honda festival and possibly get the Jazz free. They didn’t care much about it though. Speak volumes of their customer service. They did give me some money on the Fiat though. I thought that was a great freebie :-) .

Sushil: What accessories did you add and what do you feel are must haves for someone buying this vehicle ?
Girish :D idn’t add any. But the rear parcel tray is a definite must. So is a USB port. They have brought in these options with Jazz X

Sushil: How many KM have you covered and how long have you had the vehicle ?
Girish: About a year now and 15K on KM

Sushil: What is the mileage it gives you so far ?
Girish: Gives me nearly 14 in city.

Sushil: What are the good points/features that stand out ?
Girish: Mileage, Drive, Space and Space

Sushil: Any irritants or negatives that stand out ?
Girish: Some more features for the price would have been great.

Sushil: Would you recommend the Honda Jazz to anyone and why ?
Girish: Definitely recommend for those looking for a hatchback to drive in the city with loads of space. The tag of being pricey and Honda has not been able to do anything about It has let the vehicle down.

If you have any further questions on the Jazz please post them here through the comments and will request Girish to answer them here.

]]> http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/03/honda-jazz-owner-interview/feed/ 1 Vehicle Sketch – #6 – Hyundai I10 http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/02/vehicle-sketch-%e2%80%93-6-%e2%80%93-hyundai-i10/ http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/02/vehicle-sketch-%e2%80%93-6-%e2%80%93-hyundai-i10/#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:31:46 +0000 Sushil http://cars.zimbly.com/?p=1162 Danesh – this one is for you .  Looking at it now I realize there are obvious issues (with the wheels, angle of the body etc) :-).  Hope to improve over time.

I10

Here is the image used as reference (from Google search):

Reference I10 [...]]]> Danesh – this one is for you :-) .  Looking at it now I realize there are obvious issues (with the wheels, angle of the body etc) :-).  Hope to improve over time.

I10

Here is the image used as reference (from Google search):

Reference I10
]]> http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/02/vehicle-sketch-%e2%80%93-6-%e2%80%93-hyundai-i10/feed/ 6 Vehicle Sketch – #5 – VW Beetle http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/02/vehicle-sketch-%e2%80%93-5-%e2%80%93-vw-beetle/ http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/02/vehicle-sketch-%e2%80%93-5-%e2%80%93-vw-beetle/#comments Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:59:29 +0000 Sushil http://cars.zimbly.com/?p=1153 This one was done with an ink pen on a sketchpad. Done late at night.

]]>
Beetle Convertible

This one was done with an ink pen on a sketchpad. Done late at night.

]]> http://cars.zimbly.com/2011/02/vehicle-sketch-%e2%80%93-5-%e2%80%93-vw-beetle/feed/ 3 Vodafone India Promotion: Ride with Lewis Hamilton http://cars.zimbly.com/2010/09/vodafone-india-promotion-ride-with-lewis-hamilton/ http://cars.zimbly.com/2010/09/vodafone-india-promotion-ride-with-lewis-hamilton/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:24:48 +0000 Sushil http://cars.zimbly.com/?p=1074

Vodafone India is running a promotional campaign/contest for its subscribers to win a chance to ride with Lewis Hamilton in Chennai on September 17th.

There are two ways of participating  either through an SMS contest or through an online game. What are you waiting for – go check it out.

More details here: http://www.vodafone.in/vmm/pages/hotlaps.aspx

[...]]]>

Vodafone India is running a promotional campaign/contest for its subscribers to win a chance to ride with Lewis Hamilton in Chennai on September 17th.

There are two ways of participating  either through an SMS contest or through an online game. What are you waiting for – go check it out.

More details here: http://www.vodafone.in/vmm/pages/hotlaps.aspx

]]> http://cars.zimbly.com/2010/09/vodafone-india-promotion-ride-with-lewis-hamilton/feed/ 2 2009 Vehicle Color Popularity (India & Global) from DuPont http://cars.zimbly.com/2009/12/2009-vehicle-color-popularity-india-global-from-dupont/ http://cars.zimbly.com/2009/12/2009-vehicle-color-popularity-india-global-from-dupont/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:07:22 +0000 Sushil http://cars.zimbly.com/?p=890 Dupont has published their annual studies of vehicle color popularity data for 2009. Am really happy to see that for the second year in a row India has warranted its own data collection and analysis. Till 2007 India was not considered separately and the closest was Asia which had data from Japan ! Shows India has [...]]]> Dupont has published their annual studies of vehicle color popularity data for 2009. Am really happy to see that for the second year in a row India has warranted its own data collection and analysis. Till 2007 India was not considered separately and the closest was Asia which had data from Japan ! Shows India has reached a stage where the data coming from it is meaningful on a global scale.

India 2008-2009 Vehicle Color Popularity
India 2008-2009 Vehicle Color Popularity

For India as indicated in the graphy above Silver still is the most popular color followed by white, red and blue. Last year White was the most popular closely followed by silver. Other colors constituted less than 6% each. Unfortunately DuPont has not released the breakup by other colors this time around.

On the global scenario silver is still the most popular color followed by black, white, gray and blue. Below is the trend of color popularity for the past 10 years.

Global Colors Popularity 2000- 2009
Global Colors Popularity 2000- 2009

The full DuPont report is here.

]]> http://cars.zimbly.com/2009/12/2009-vehicle-color-popularity-india-global-from-dupont/feed/ 1 Evolution: Vehicle tail lamps moving upwards ? http://cars.zimbly.com/2009/10/evolution-vehicle-tail-lamps-moving-upwards/ http://cars.zimbly.com/2009/10/evolution-vehicle-tail-lamps-moving-upwards/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:05:14 +0000 Sushil http://cars.zimbly.com/?p=868 I noticed this when the Ford Figo was announced – that vehicle tail lamps have now started the unstoppable climb upwards on vehicle backsides.  I am wondering when they will get replaced by a strip of lamps lining the roof. This seems predominantly on hatchbacks and some MPVs. Sedans still havent caught the bug it looks [...]]]> I noticed this when the Ford Figo was announced – that vehicle tail lamps have now started the unstoppable climb upwards on vehicle backsides.  I am wondering when they will get replaced by a strip of lamps lining the roof. This seems predominantly on hatchbacks and some MPVs. Sedans still havent caught the bug it looks like.

Here are some examples of this evolution of tail lamps that are now at door handle and higher levels:

Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment

Have I missed some newly launched newly designed vehicle from this list ? do let me know.

]]> http://cars.zimbly.com/2009/10/evolution-vehicle-tail-lamps-moving-upwards/feed/ 0 Swift and Fabia separated at birth (I mean design) ? http://cars.zimbly.com/2009/09/swift-and-fabia-separated-at-birth-i-mean-design/ http://cars.zimbly.com/2009/09/swift-and-fabia-separated-at-birth-i-mean-design/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:53:10 +0000 Sushil http://cars.zimbly.com/?p=825
Were the Swift and Fabia – separated at birth or whatever back of envelope drawing that first conceived their deisgn ? I have always felt there are way too many similarities in the design of the Swift and the Fabia. Have not had a chance to drive the Fabia but got a chance to park next to one and sneak a few photos off my mobile :-) .

Swift and FabiaSwift & Fabia
(Please click on the thumbnails for larger versions)
Design Similarities:
  • Overall silhouette with tapering roof
  • Glass house area tapering towards C-pillar
  • Blacked out A pillar
  • Bonnet line joining base of A pillar
  • Other than the front grilles the bonnet outline is very similar
Design Differences:
  • The Fabia is narrower by a little bit but longer than the Swift resulting in a longer rear door that doesnt taper as much.
  • The Swift is a bit taller and wider while the Fabia seems lower and flatter.
  • The Swift has better curves ;-)
  • Headlamps, Grille, fog lamps are the key differences up front.
  • The rear is different enough – the Swift shows its width with a portly rear.

 
Related External Link: Also A bit dated comparison  between the Getz, Swift and Fabia by BS Motoring.com.

Question: Are there other cars on the road that you think have such visual similarities ? Do let me know. I will do a series of such posts.

]]> http://cars.zimbly.com/2009/09/swift-and-fabia-separated-at-birth-i-mean-design/feed/ 4