Yes, I know you all must be thinking as to what has happened to CarWale.com? Why are they not writing in here? Well, because we have been trying to gather and bring together the detailed reports, photographs and news. It is not easy over here at all, and you have to put in all your efforts to get things in order. You need to be patient, jovial, modest, and mannered and whatever other quality that it takes to get the things done! And as I say always, perseverance pays, and paid off it did! Allow me to start with a country which was present with all its might, and that was not only limited to car-makers but also extended to component manufacturers. And while at it, let us look at the big players who had brought along the products which were an eye candy for quite an audience!
Audi, as everyone knows, is synonymous with revolutionary inventions and is a second word in the automotive world for safety, in Germany. You have been seeing the A4s, A6s, A8s and the Q7s on the Indian roads. There is something uniquely distinct about Audis which make them alluring. You have the A6, a big executive car which rivals mighty players like the much reputed E Class from Merc and the 5 Series from BMW. The elegant lines, bold front and an interior which could induce an inferiority complex in quite a few cars even higher up in the segment, the A6 has been one of the mainstays for Audi globally. The A8 has been doing well too and the sales have seen a progressive march northward ever since its launch. The Q7, Audi’s flagship SUV, is quite a product for a first effort towards this segment and has done rather well for the German marque. It has all the essential elements that are needed from a SUV that demands such a price tag. It looks menacingly odd, has powerful engines and well appointed interiors. What more do you want? Well, bad roads to thrash this beast around, I guess!
BMW is an auto-maker which needs no introduction. These three letters are perhaps the most famous as far as the automotive world is concerned. if you have not heard of BMW, you have sinned. This German auto-maker has entered India rather recently but has entered with a bang! Aimed at establishing a firm foothold in the Indian market, BMW is not taking things easy and is working hard at establishing the brand in the best possible way and setting up of a plant here is a step in the right direction and speaks volumes of BMW’s intention. Present at the Expo were all its offerings, and then there was one more – M3. What’s that? If you have asked this question, then refer to the first statement – you have sinned. BMW unveiled the products with the famed ‘M’ badge which the Indians can now buy.
Mercedes-Benz, a company which has the most recognizable and ostentatious grille as far as the luxury cars are concerned in this part of the world. To ensure salivating mouths, Mercedes showcased a white SLK which had the crowd gripped firm to the German auto-maker’s pavilion. There were the usual suspects in addition like the ‘just-launched’ new C-Class, the flagship S-Class and to lay footprint off the road the SUV were present too.
And when the market is growing so rapidly, can the biggest car-maker in Germany be far behind in showing off its prowess to us? No. Volkswagen was there too, and in quite a big way! They unveiled the much talked-about Up, but this cute little compact is still about a couple of years off, so the machine that we were interested in the most was the Tiguan. VW has already been in the Indian market with the Passat, but will do well by being present in the ever-growing SUV segment. People will talk about the Jetta, which the company plans to launch here later this year, but there were people carrier like Multivan which too were interesting offerings. To lay its stamp on the super luxury segment, VW had the Phaeton, with a V8 engine, occupying the pride place.
Germany, as said, was at the Auto Expo with all its might, and it does not get better than this. Or does it? We will find out in 2010!
As the last day of the Expo dawns, also that dawns is the end of an event which essentially revolved around a handful of products, despite some big names being there. We also intend to wrap things up today, only to be a part of the media gathering on 19th. So, although it's been five days that I wrote anything here, with the promise of bringing you a lot of activity in here today, am signing off, for I have to rush to the Expo.
