Motor News

Latest member of Benz family enters market

DIESEL & Motor Engineering PLC, general distributors for Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Sri Lanka, introduced the latest addition to the Mercedes-Benz family; the new C-Class. This new C-Class (W204) is expected to take-over from the old C-Class (W203), as the best selling Mercedes model ever.

Safety, Comfort, Agility: these are the outstanding attributes of the new C-Class. This includes the newly developed agility control package with situation-responsive shock absorber control, the Intelligent Light System with five different lighting functions and the Pre-safe preventive occupant protection system.

With a length of 4,581 millimetres, the Saloon is 55 millimetres longer than its predecessor. The body width has increased by 42 mm to 1,770 millimetres, and the wheelbase by 45 mm to 2,760 millimetres. These

 dimensions create the conditions for a generously sized interior, and therefore more comfort.

The standard package includes the Agility Control suspension, which controls the shock absorber forces according to the driving situation: when driving normally with low shock absorber impulses, the damping forces are automatically reduced for a noticeable improvement in ride comfort - but without any compromise in handling safety.

When accelerating from standstill to 100 km/h, the C 200 Kompressor is 0.5 seconds faster than its predecessor. Improvements in fuel consumption are equally impressive: the C 180 Kompressor consumes 0.3 litres per 100 kilometres less than before, while the combined fuel consumption of the C 200 Kompressor has been reduced by 0.5 litres per 100 kilometres.

During the course of its development, the new C-Class successfully passed more than 100 crash tests, including the particularly demanding, in-house impact tests of which some go well beyond the legal requirements.

Passing these is a precondition for the highest accolade in automobile safety: the Mercedes star. Occupant protection is based on an intelligently designed bodyshell, 70 percent of which consists of high-strength and ultra high-strength steel.

The safety technology in the interior has been complemented with the very latest protection systems.

Seven airbags are included as standard equipment: two adaptive airbags for the driver and front passenger, a knee bag for the driver, two side bags in the front seat backrests and two large window bags which extend from the A to the C-pillar during a side impact.

Yamaha designs custom-made Gladiator for Lasith Malinga

YAMAHA, one of the world’s leading bike brands, has taken the initiative to design a special custom-made Gladiator bike for Lasith Malinga as a tribute to his superlative performance in cricket, which gained worldwide admiration in the 2007 World Cup held in the West Indies.

Lasith Malinga is also the Brand Ambassador for Yamaha in Sri Lanka and is a loyal fan of Yamaha Gladiator himself.

With this custom-made Gladiator bike for Lasith Malinga, Yamaha will create history by being the first bike manufactured to customise a bike for a Sri Lankan cricketer.

Associated Motorways PLC, Sri Lanka’s authorised agents for Yamaha, played the main role behind designing the custom-made bike for Lasith.

According to the sources of AMW, the designing and manufacturing process of the custom-made bike is now reaching its final stages in a state-of-the-art Yamaha manufacturing plant in Japan.

The concept and design of the bike has been done by the world-renowned Japanese bike designer Matsuo while the manufacturing process is under the constant supervision of an expert team of bike specialists.

General Manager for Yamaha in Sri Lanka, Yohan de Zoysa expressing his views on the custom-made Gladiator, said, “We are glad that Yamaha has been able to become the first bike manufacturer in the world to give this kind of appreciation to a Sri Lankan cricketer. I hope this bike will be a fitting tribute to Lasith as both the bike and Lasith are unique in their own respective fields, by being unbeatable performers”.

To celebrate this special occasion, Associated Motorways PLC has offered a unique opportunity to Sri Lankan bike lovers. 300 bike lovers will be given the opportunity to come to Yamaha Town and select their choice from many Yamaha bike designs, after which the bike will be manufactured custom-made to the specific requirements of the bike lover.

This will also be the first time an international bike manufacturing company has given such an opportunity to Sri Lankan bike lovers.”

Chinese vehicles to overrun Indian models

CHINESE models are minnows in the Sri Lankan vehicles market, but they have the potential to demolish Indian dominance over this sector in the near future, says auto industry analyst Viraj Manatunga.

“1996-99 was the Indian era, when Indian makes edged out established Japanese makes in the commercial vehicle and motorbike segments. But two to three years from now, we will see the dawn of the Chinese era,” Manatuga told Hindustan Times.

“The Bajaj motorbike had only 10 per cent of the market here in 1999. But today it is number one, with 64 per cent of the market, selling 8,000 units per month. In 1999, Isuzu had 30 per cent share of the commercial vehicle market. But now it has just 19 per cent. TATA, which had only 1.5 per cent in 1991, has 23 per cent of the market share now,” Manatunga pointed.

Chinese commercial vehicles, JAC and FAW, are emerging “very strongly, he said. The Loncin is doing well in the motorbike market, selling 1,300 per month.

Chery QQ, which is a Maruti-Suzuki Alto like vehicle, is also doing well, selling 100 to 150 units a month, according to the local agent, David Peiris Motor Co.

Besides being highly sophisticated, the Chinese auto industry is very much bigger than India’s. China can, therefore, supply quality products at low prices to satisfy the quality conscious but price sensitive Sri Lankan market.

Chinese vehicle manufacturers have formidable hurdles to cross in Sri Lanka. Firstly, Chinese makes are still to enter the consciousness of the Sri Lankan buyer.

Hindustan Times

Hyundai deal, a welcome relief for S.Korea labour

HYUNDAI Motor’s amicable wage deal earlier this month has fuelled hopes in South Korea that its notoriously fractious labour relations could be at a turning point, suggesting happier days for companies and workers alike.

The deal at Hyundai Motor Co. marked the first time in 10 years that the country’s biggest auto maker was able to reach agreement without a strike and was widely popular, with almost 80 percent of union members voting in favour. The carmaker has been a pacesetter for strike action in the past, analysts said.

“The amicable outcome would suggest that strikes elsewhere can be avoided,” said Frederic Neumann, an economist at HSBC. In fact the Hyundai deal was the latest indicator of a growing trend. Unionised workers at affiliate Kia Motors Corp have chalked up only 12 days of strikes this year, almost half of last year’s.

Reuters