DriveBlog

Countdown to 1 lakh

No windows...and now, no gears.

Cocking a snook at critics and disbelievers (with Maruti Udyog leading the wolfpack), Tata Motors stands firm on its promise to deliver a 'feasible' motor car that costs Rs. 1 lakh (or less) to the Indian consumer and to do so within the next 3 years. Citing the example of the Indica, India's first truly indigenous car, the very idea of which was scoffed at when it was just an idea, group chairman Ratan Tata insists that the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

In fact, plans are also afoot for kickass new version nexts of both the the Indica hatch and the best-in-class Indigo sedan.

Also see:
3 years and still counting
Pakistan's '1 lakh' wonder

FAQs

How many times have you wondered...

• ...just how safe your car is?
• ...why your car costs so much more in India than it would have abroad?
• ...just what the heck Maruti keeps doing right every year, year after year?

Innova Bol!

Indian filmdom's 'Mr. Perfect' will now endorse the Toyota Innova and will be the 'human face' of the values that the MPV stands for, namely 'perfection, innovation, versatility and performance' (Ahem!). In a break from convention, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited [hereinafter referred to as 'TKM' -I've always wanted to say that! =)] will for the first time use star power to help sell one of their brands.

Not that it looks like they need any help at the moment - the Innova's been scorching itself a rather enviable trail of sales figures since its launch earlier this year - and what's more, it shows no signs of stopping. Who did you say was missing the Qualis? And what's surprising is that the Innova has been performing better at the premium end of its own variant scale rather than in the economy segment.

Now you know: Aamir Khan can now count himself in the same league of such luminaries as Brad Pitt and Britney Spears who endorse Toyota brands globally.

Also see:
Joe Public reviews the Toyota Innova.