DriveBlog

This rise needn't get you down...

OK, so we all expected the price-ups. It's now the turn of the Santro Xing (XE) and the Accent to cost more (again?). Each of them will now be dearer by Rs. 8000. But experts insist that this is something that neither the car-makers or the customer need worry about. Thanks to some borrower-friendly finance schemes and the inevitable freebies that continue to get thrown in, the hiked up prices are not likely to affect either the automaker's volumes or the customer's EMI. Manufacturers also insist that the rise in prices are due mainly to the addition of new features: what may have once been an add-on is now being included as a standard part of that car.

Eurotrip!

After yesterday's price hike (if you can call it that), Maruti today unveiled Bharat Stage III variants of their Zen, WagonR and Baleno models, all of which are going to be dearer by Rs. 10000 - Rs. 15000.

Hyundai was the first Indian company to make its cars BSIII compliant when they launched the Accent CRDi in 2002.

The Indian equivalent of the Euro III emission norms will come into force on the 1st of April 2005 in 11 Indian cities to begin with. These norms aim to bring down levels of Nitrogen Oxides and Particle Matter emitted by motor vehicles. It also means work for the oil companies as the more stringent norms mean that sulphur content in petrol and diesel will have to be reduced.

Funny though, that just as we get set to adopt Euro III, the European Union will, very shortly, move on to Euro IV.

Smart, very smart...

Maruti announced the imminent new year price hike on all their variants except the M800 today. But they have, at the same time, brought in a limited period discount offer dishing out benefits ranging from Rs. 7000 to Rs. 30000, depending on the model. A sampler: The Zen will now be dearer by about Rs. 2000, while the benefit package (that includes free insurance and other goodies) on the car is worth Rs. 28000!

You just have to hand it to MUL...

The Unusual Suspects

That the new year gong usually ushers in a rise in car prices is not a fact that will evoke too much surprise from many. But this year, there are a few additional and unexpected reasons that promise to drive the prices of your favourite 4-wheeler up even further.

Now it's MUL too...

Following in the footsteps of its illustrious overseas rivals, Maruti confirms that it will be rising prices on all its models, come the new year. Their luxury sedan, the Baleno, will witness the most bloating on its price tag.

That probably explains why everybody's scrambling to get themselves that new car before the current year is out.

For a few rupees more

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Back up that truck for a minute! Today's headlines have way too many car companies planning to hike their prices in the near future. While Hyundai will up the asking price on the Santro and the Accent (GLE) by Rs. 8000 and Rs. 6000 respectively from today, Maruti, Skoda India and GM are expected to follow suit with their own set of price hikes in January 2005.

Additional investments towards making their cars Euro III compliant and upward trends in the price of inputs (read steel) seem to have necessitated this move.

Santro Xing Bang

Sales are up 71%, export figures haven't been better and it's Diwali. More than enough reason for Hyundai India to celebrate. And it's doing so by dishing out the good stuff with discounts on the Santro Xing. Make your booking by November 10th, pay the full amount by November 20th and drive home your brand new 'xing thing' on December 15th.

The new prices of the 4 variants, ex-showroom, Chennai are:

XE: Rs. 3,00,001 | XP: Rs. 3,09,309 | XG: Rs. 3,29,329 | XS: Rs. 3,59,359

 

Marina mayhem

Could the Indigo Marina's pricing upset the applecart for the likes of the Getz, Esteem and Fusion?

Car-nival time!

The festive mood has set in and India's carmakers seem bent on spreading the good cheer. And with Ford already serving up the rather tempting Ikon Anniversary Edition, the others are making doubly sure they aren't left out. So depending on the car you decide to buy within the next 2-3 weeks, you could end up with a discount as high as Rs. 46000!

Update: But then, discounts don't always guarantee a bumper crop. Not if it's been a bad year right through.

Getz you feeling ripped off?

Remember this discussion about whether the Getz had a bloated price tag? Well, the verdict on that forum turned up an 87:13 result in favour of the opinion that the Getz was indeed, not enough car for that much money.

This column agrees but advises a wait-and-watch policy - the mood may be about to change.