DriveBlog

While I was away...

Wonderful things happen when you're not watching. =)

Thanks, all ye who came by here.

Good Xings come with small price tags

As it is, March is traditionally a high-volume month for Motown. But smart pricers Hyundai have decided that this time, just the usual year-end rush simply won't do. After raking in mucho moolah with their festival season offer late last year, the Koreans are now rolling out a sans AC, sans Power Steering (and sans insurance) Santro Xing - for only Rs. 2.93 lakhs! Want either or both of the AC and PS? Just pick and choose - your 'custom-fitted' Xing will come for a reasonable few thousands more!

Ford too is cashing in on the year-end excitement with their 'March Masti' scheme - and that means free insurance and exchange bonuses on the Ikon, Rs. 21000 off on the Fusion and free diamond bling-bling worth Rs. 40000 with the Endeavour. All of that if you make that purchase before March 31, 2005.

In a while, automobile...

Life has me by the proverbial family jewels* as it is wont to every now and then. Hang on while I wrestle myself out of its grip...

[* Update - Er, if you're under 18, are reading this post with a parent somewhere in the vicinity or are simply offended by somewhat direct (but rather amusing) references to certain parts of the male anatomy, don't click that link now. Come back on your 18th birthday or when mum's left the room! =) ]

To cut a long story short

The cars / companies that have and haven't reduced prices, post the duty cut in this year's budget:

The Haves

• Honda City
• Honda Accord
• Hyundai  Elantra
• Hyundai Sonata
• Toyota Corolla
• Toyota Innova

The Have-Nots

• Hyundai Santro
• Hyundai Accent
• Hyundai Getz
• Maruti
• Ford
• General Motors

Whatitsnemagain?

How exactly is one supposed to pronounce the name of Tata's new crossover concept?

• The 'Zover'?
• The 'Ksover'?
• The 'Exover'?
• The 'Crossover'?

Also see:
The Best, Worst & Weirdest Car Names

BS Motoring does the Innova

Looks like Toyota Kirloskar Motors India may have made a mistake bringing in the Innova to stand in for the Qualis. But not for any other reason - the Innova just too damned good an automobile to be a taxi!

Now you know: The new Toyota 'people carrier' will be available in a whopping 10 variants!

Update: Not one week on the road and Toyota cuts prices on the Innova by Rs. 14000! But you really should be thanking good ol' PC for that.

How logo?

Here's one from the history books:

Fiat first used the 'five-bar logo' on the Uno in 1982, after Fiat design chief Mario Maioli, while driving past the Mirafiori factory at night after a power cut, saw the giant FIAT logo on top of the plant, set against the fading light of the sky. He did a quick sketch: the five bars represented the spaces he could see between the letters. Click the image above to see how the Fiat insignia has changed over the decades.

Also see:
A brief history of car logos and what they mean