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Last year, Tata Motors acquired two of the world's most prestigious auto brands - Jaguar and Land Rover. Both the entities were loss making units for Ford until the company finally sold it off to Tata Motors. However, the tables seemed to have turned after a year of the sale. Although sales figures for Land Rover have dipped and gas-guzzling SUVs are no longer in demand, Jaguar has picked up its past glory once again.
Jaguar is expected to be profitable soon and the new Jaguar XF has been welcomed by the luxury car buyers. Jaguar XF sedan possesses clear deviation from its traditional design and has been well-received by the customers. The long sporty look with a new set of engines to complements the sleek new design. These engines were developed by Ford but Tata Motors seems to reap its rewards now. The new Jaguar XF now carries 515 bhp 5.0 litre V8 engine which has replaced the old 4.2-litre V8 of XF. The new XF model has helped Jaguar to put the sales figures back on track.

Now Tata Motors intends to bring the revolutionary XF sedan to India along with Land Rover to serve Indian customers an ultimate taste of luxury, speed and design.

One of the most popular car questions about the Hyundai i20, is whether it comes in diesel.


by Satish Kalepu
About the Author
Satish Kalepu is an avid car fan. Based in India, he often writes about new cars, used cars, new bikes and used bikes in India. He is an expert in used car valuation, and is associated with CarTradeIndia.com.

2010 Audi A8 Car Show

2010 Audi A8 Car Wallpaper

2010 Audi A8 Car Picture

Honda Motors has finally launched the highly awaited Jazz at function in New Delhi on Wednesday. Jazz is the first small car offered by Honda Motors for the small car market in India. So far Honda marketed only the mid-size cars City, Civic, Accord, and compact SUV CR-V in India.

Honda Jazz started its journey in 2001 in the United States and Japan as the Fit. Honda has gives the car an Indian identity by naming it Jazz and an India specific engine. The new hatchback is based on the highly successful new Honda City sedan. Honda Jazz is powered by the 1.2 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine which delivers 89 bhp power and 110 Nm of torque. The new engine is mated to a responsive 5-speed manual transmission which gives precise shifts. A progressive clutch helps complete the trio of three biggest advantages on a Jazz. Interestingly, the engine on Jazz is the same as the 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine fitted in new Honda City which helped Honda gain a reputation for performance and fuel economy.

The engine has a variable valve timing system (VVT) which gives seamless power output. The engine can deliver 16.1 km/l fuel economy, as per the certification by Automotive Research Association of India. The engine is tuned to meet Euro IV emission norms which will come into effect from next year. It also has eco-friendly angle feature as the engine is made E-10 compatible, which allows usage of bio-fuels.

Honda Jazz is sold on three variant levels - the base model, Mode and Active. The prices for Jazz start with Rs 6.98 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The mid-range Mode features body side mouldings, corner protectors to prevent scratches, and funky lit garnishes on the side steps. The top end Active, which is the sporty version of Jazz features sport pedals, steering wheel with mounted audio controls, air conditioner with heater, large front fog lamps and a rear spoiler.

The dashboard is loaded with a neat layout of button and switches for various functions. Jazz has borrowed the steering wheel from the new Honda City. The stylish dash is typical of the Honda's with large dials and big knobs. The bright clear markings in the dials on the instrument cluster can be viewed even in the darkness. All the three variants get the unique magic seats that allow versatile usage of the space behind front seats. The magic seats folded up or flip-folded down to create a flat floor get additional storage compartment. Generous legroom and head room for tall adults suggest a spacious interior.

Safety equipments include front SRS airbags, ABS with Brake Assist, Electronic brake pressure distribution and the signature G-Con construction body. Jazz prices start from Rs 6.98 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The Jazz Mode is cost Rs 30,000 more than the base model and the top end Active comes with a price tag that is Rs 35,000 more than the base model.

Some auto critics also call the Jazz a mini MPV owing to its unique cab forward design and spacious interiors. However, Jazz is pure a five door hatchback with its roots firmly set in the Honda ethics - comfort and performance. Honda achieved the exemplary space in the cabin by fitted the large fuel tank under the front seats.

If you want to get mechanics and people who work on their own cars going in a heated debate, start an argument about whether aftermarket car parts are as good as OEM parts. It may seem like a basic argument, but it is actually fairly convoluted.
Okay, what are OEM parts? "OEM" stands for "original equipment manufacturer". In practical terms, this means the party that made the original part for your car be it the muffler, bumper, clutch or whatever. Isn't this part just the car company selling the car be it Ford, BMW or whomever? Nope. Most car companies outsource much of the car part manufacturing to smaller companies.

This outsourcing is why the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler have such far reaching impacts. Not only does it impact everyone at those companies, but everyone at each independent company that makes parts for GM and Chrysler. If these independent companies lose enough business, they may have to shut down. This is problematic since they also make parts for other brands. This is also why the idea that a Ford is "American made" and a Toyota isn't is mostly hogwash. All the brands are getting a lot of their parts from the same suppliers whether they are in the United States, Canada, Mexico or wherever.

Aftermarket car parts come in two variations. The first is simply a generic form of the OEM part, much like generic pharmaceuticals compared to name brands. The second is an accessory for a car such as cold air intake systems for the engine, racks to carry bikes and so on. There isn't much debate that this second form of aftermarket car parts is fine, but the first variation is the area where contention starts.

OEM parts are almost always more expensive than aftermarket car parts. That being said, the price difference often isn't that large in many cases. This is important because OEM parts are generally better for your car than aftermarket parts. The issue is not the manufacturing process of the aftermarket car supplier, but the simply fact that the OEM part is made using the same molds and manufacturing process of the original part on your car. This means it should fit perfectly whereas the aftermarket part might not be an exact fit.

So, which should you go with? It depends. Aftermarket is definitely the choice when it comes to improving the performance on your car. If you are just looking for a part replacement, OEM parts are going to be slightly better although more expensive. Only you can decide if the price difference makes the aftermarket car parts a better deal.