Tag: luxury cars

Tata Motors to manufacture JLR cars in Tamil Nadu

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India’s Tata Motors will manufacture Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) luxury cars at a $1 billion plant that it is planning to build in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The plan would mark the first time that JLR-branded cars would be manufactured from scratch in India.

The cars would be sold domestically and also exported, according to one of the sources, who declined to be identified as the plans were private.

Tata Motors, which acquired JLR in 2008, declined to comment on what it called speculation. It announced plans for the Tamil Nadu plant in March but did not disclose what vehicles would be manufactured there or the plant’s intended production capacity.

JLR has three car factories in Britain and also builds cars in China, Brazil and Slovakia.

In India, where it sells cars such as the Range Rover Evoque, Discovery Sport and Jaguar F-Pace, it is still very much a niche brand. The models that are sold in India are exported from Britain as fully built vehicles or in parts that are then assembled at a plant near Pune city.

JLR contributes about two-thirds of Tata Motors’ revenue and in the financial year ended March 2023, the Indian company reported its first annual profit in five years, helped by strong demand for sporty Range Rover SUVs and Jaguar saloons.

The British brand saw retail sales surge 22% globally in the last financial year to nearly 432,000 cars. In India, where it competes with Mercedes-Benz MBGn.DE and BMW BMWG.DE, it sold just 4,436 though sales were up 81% from a year earlier on growing demand for luxury goods.

It was not immediately clear which JLR models would be built at the factory.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lamborghini’s V10 era ends with 2024’s limited-edition Huracan STJ

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Italian luxury sports car manufacturer Lamborghini is set to replace the V-10 engine Huracan with the 2024 Lamborghini Huracan STJ, a limited-edition variant of the Huracan STO.

Only 10 units of this model will be produced, each featuring a carbon fibre identification plate displaying its build number.

The STJ, standing for ‘Jota’, is inspired by the Huracans used in Lamborghini’s one-make series, the Super Trofeo. The ‘Jota’ refers to Appendix J of the FIA rulebook, which outlines the specifications for touring and GT cars.

The STJ, which offers exclusivity and improved performance over the STO, will come equipped with a unique aero package, including additional scoop-like wings on the bumper, a more aggressive rear wing angle for increased downforce, and adjustable race-derived shocks with special tuning.

Also Read: Citroen exports Made-In-India e-C3 EVs globally, a first for multinational carmakers

It also features unique Bridgestone Potenza Race compounds. These modifications reportedly shave a second off the STO’s lap time at the Nardò Technical Center Handling Track.

The Huracan STJ is powered by the same 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 as the Huracan STO. This powertrain churns out 630hp of power and 565Nm torque. It is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox powering the rear wheels.

The STJ also uses special Bridgestone Potenza racing tyres installed on 20-inch single-nut rims. Moreover, a new set of race-derived, four-way adjustable shock absorbers has been fitted, which allows for increased stiffness and improved handling.

Also Read: Bajaj unveils 2024 Pulsar N250: New colours and features at nominal price hike

Two liveries are available for the STJ: Grigio Telesto with a Nero Noctis roof and Rosso Mars and Bianco Isi details, or Blu Eliadi with the same secondary colours. The interior is black Alcantara with red contrasting stitching.

Pricing details are yet to be announced, but with only 10 units being made, they are expected to be claimed quickly. The Huracan’s replacement is anticipated to be powered by a 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V-8 with a performance-enhancing hybrid system.

Also Read: Tata Punch tops March sales, Hyundai Creta close second, Maruti slips to No. 3 for the first time

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Bentley’s 2023 earnings fall amid economic slowdown, eyes revival with 2024 hybrid launches

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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British luxury carmaker Bentley on Tuesday reported a lower operating profit for 2023 after a weak economy and high-interest rates hit sales, but the company said its performance had stabilised and new launches would boost it in 2024.

“We had an uneven performance for the first time in about four years,” CEO Adrian Hallmark told reporters. “Even though our customers can still afford our cars… there was a level of emotional sensitivity that slowed down demand.”

For those who leased rather than bought cars with a starting pre-tax price above 220,000 euros ($238,590), interest rates had led to a tripling in monthly fees last year, Hallmark said.

He said the launch of four high-performance hybrids this year should spur sales as the company gears up to launch its first fully electric Bentley in 2026.

Bentley is aiming for an all-electric model lineup by 2030, but Hallmark said its hybrids were likely to be on sale after that deadline as the company seeks to ensure a return on its substantial investment.

The luxury automaker in January reported an 11% drop in sales for 2023 following a record year in 2022.

The British luxury unit of Volkswagen posted an operating profit of 589 million pounds ($748 million) for 2023, down nearly 17% from 708 million pounds in 2022.

Revenue was down 13% at 2.94 billion pounds from a year earlier and the company said its profit margin dropped to 20.1% from 20.9% in 2022 because of investments in new vehicles.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Aston Martin launches DB12 in India for Rs 4.59 crore

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Aston Martin has launched its latest grand tourer, the DB12, in India. The much-anticipated model, priced at Rs 4.59 crore ex-showroom, replaces the DB11 and ushers in a new era for the brand. Aston Martin refers to the DB12 as the “world’s first super tourer”.

Gregory Adams, Regional President – Asia, Aston Martin, said of the launch of DB12 in India, “Marking its 110th anniversary, 2023 has seen Aston Martin shine brighter than ever, supported by the arrival of a true game-changing model, the Aston Martin DB12. For 110 years, Aston Martin’s iconic wings have been a symbol of innovation and craft, with the marque’s ultra-luxury, high-performance sportscars loved worldwide, with India being no exception.”

Design

The DB12 is claimed to be 80 percent new compared to the DB11. The aesthetic shift is obvious at the front, less so at the back. It has larger tracks in the front and rear, giving it a more aggressive stance. The headlights combine components from the DB11 and DBS, exhibiting impressive attention to detail, particularly in the three-piece DRL.

Also Read: Honda Dio to be promoted as India’s first moto-scooter during ISL 2023-24

Powertrain

The DB12 replaces the V12 engine with a V8 engine from Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division. The 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, combined with an 8-speed automatic transmission and improved tuning, gives the car more power than the DB11 V12 did. The maximum power output of this engine reaches 670bhp, and its peak torque stands at a remarkable 800Nm.

Features

The DB12 includes a new and technologically advanced cockpit with unique and performance-oriented features and equipment. It is equipped with the most recent adaptive dampers and stronger anti-roll bars from Aston Martin. Additionally, it includes an electronic rear differential that can change from fully open to locked in just milliseconds.

Price

Excluding customisation options, the Aston Martin DB12 costs Rs 4.59 crore (ex-showroom). It competes against the Bentley Continental GT, the McLaren GT, and the Ferrari Roma in the Indian market.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Audi to set up a factory in US to take advantage of IRA subsidies, says CEO Markus Duesmann

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Volkswagen-owned Audi may build a factory in the United States, alone or with the Volkswagen Group, to take advantage of subsidies offered by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the premium carmaker said on Friday.

Chief Executive Markus Duesmann said that a decision had not yet been made but that the IRA made it far more attractive to build electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States. Duesmann made the comments in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which were later confirmed by the company.

Asked whether Audi would build a plant itself or do so together with other Volkswagen brands, Duesmann said: “Both are possible. But the probability that we do it within the group is high.”

Carmakers have in recent years moved to reduce export and imports across major markets like the United States, China and Europe and instead localise production and supply chains to reduce transport and logistics costs.

But a growing number of firms are now announcing heightened investment in the United States over Europe in light of the IRA, worrying European officials.

The $430 billion IRA was passed last August and offers subsidies and tax incentives for a swathe of domestically produced green industry products, including a $7,500 consumer tax credit to buyers of North American-made EVs. It also includes a restriction on battery minerals and component sourcing to the region, in an attempt to phase out Chinese inputs.

Audi, which has committed to introducing only electric models from 2026, does not yet produce cars in the United States, but Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, last year began producing the ID.4 and is targeting 90,000 EVs in 2023.

Volkswagen is also upgrading its Mexican plants in Puebla and Silao to start building EVs, motors and related components by mid-decade.

Audi also has a plant in Mexico which produces the Q5.

The carmaker’s production chief Gerd Walker said last December it preferred to revamp its existing production network towards EV production rather than set up new greenfield projects unless more capacity was needed.

Volkswagen is due to lay out in March how it will rejig its production network worldwide to scale up EV production.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki hikes the price of Ignis by up to Rs 27,000

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow