Hyundai i10: Car of the year 2008

CNBC-TV18 and Autocar Auto awards panel selected Hyundai i10 as “Car of the year” for 2008 while Bajaj XCD DTS-Si won the “Bike of the year” award.

Hyundai i10 is attracting attention due to its contemporary looks, value for money, design while Bajaj is ruling premium bike segment while Hero Honda is struggling to retain market share.

Best Indian cars:

1. Car of the year: Hyundai i10.

2. Best value for money: Maruti SX4 (My favourite car).

3. Best design and styling: BMW-5 series.

4. Best compact car: Hyundai i10.

5. Best executive car: Honda Civic.

6. Manufacturer of the year: Maruti Suzuki.

7. Man of the year: Jagdish Khattar of Maruti Suzuki.

8. Best commercial of the year: Bajaj-Pulsar 200 DTS-I.

CNBC-Autocar selected above cars for these prestigious awards based on the parameters like value for money, performance, customer satisfaction, components, design and other crucial things.

Tata’s 1 lakh car “Nano” is the hot favourite to win 2009 car of the year and Tata Motors for the manufacturer of the year awards.

Please share your opinion on these awards.

New Toyota Corolla 2007 in India

Toyota Kirloskar Motor released limited edition of the new Toyota Corolla for ambitious Indian customers. They targeted this new model towards high paying Young executives. This model will be available in new Warm Silver and Champagne Mica Metallic colors. Toyota wants to sell 300 cars of this limited edition in India. First edition of Corolla was introduced by Toyota in 1968. Toyota recently occupied number one slot in US market.

Corola Limited edition Price: Around Rs 11 lakh.

Attractive Features in new Corolla:

1. VVT-I engine.
2. SRS airbags.
3. Front fog lamps.
4. 6-spoke alloy wheels.
5. 2-tone fabric seats.
6. Wood finish rare cup holders.

They are campaigning extensively to reach these new high-end customers through SMS and Internet. It is spending big money on top 20 Indian sites to attract visitors to the Toyoyta site. After Honda, now Toyota is spending big on Internet ads. Indian car makers should learn new marketing lessons from their Japan counterparts.

Visit the new Corolla limited edition car Website.

Busines Standard Motoring Awards - 2007

BS Motoring, automobile magazine, presented automobile awards for best cars and bikes for 2006.

Best car: Chevrolet Aveo U-VA of General Motors was selected as the Car of the year.
- Well Built and Spacious and good performance

Hero Honda CBZ X-Treme was selected as the Bike of the year.

Toyota Camry was selected as imported car of the year award.

Honda Civic is the Business Standard Motoring Jury choice for the car of the year.

Best performing car of the year is Hyundai Verna 1.5 CRDi.

Kinetic Blaze is the scooter of the year.

Honda Civic narrowly missed best car award due to its high price.

Please share your favourite cars and bikes.