Let's discuss kei cars...

[alwayz_yummy]

yup tignan ko.. kasi i'm currently brewing up a pet project using a small engine + light frame/tube frame. same as those of kit car/ shelby replicas, canterham 7, buggys.

either front mount or rear mount engine (some super carrys are rear engined) then option of putting in v-twin motorcycle engine..

hehehe--inspired because of watching discovery real time.

then suddenly, why not do it like a "smart"-- "sandwich-mount engine-- engine slightly tilted to save engine space for passenger, but prob ng smart is it is an unstable platform, like the a class

[architect]

*AY,

You are welcome to use the kei platform (small engine, light tube frame, optional kit form) we have developed. In addition, we are in contact with one of the main importers of JDMs, so affordable parts should not be a problem in your case.

If you are interested, pm ehnriko.

[architect]

Of fuel costs and sub-compact cars: How Pinoys are shifting gears

How Pinoys are shifting gears

[SIZE=2][SIZE=1]The QQ3, shown here, runs around 21 km to the liter, never mind the "Made in China" tag". It's the cheapest in the market today.[/SIZE]

By ROY MEDINA
abs-cbnNEWS.com

First of a Series

As fuel prices reach historic highs, some car buyers now say small is beautiful, even if the car really isn’t. Fuel-efficiency, rather than style and brand, is fast-becoming the deciding factor of budget-conscious car buyers.

In response to skyrocketing fuel costs, car manufacturers are rolling out new sub-compact models. Carmakers say they are simply being in tune with the market, especially since motorists are now complaining of high fuel costs.

More “minis” are now jostling through city streets, among them, the Chery QQ3 and the Suzuki Alto.

China’s Chery

Walter Inguito of Iseway Motors, the Philippine distributor of the Chinese-made Chery brand of sub-compact car, told abs-cbnNEWS.com customers are slowly coming to accept China-made cars.

Based on the market reception Chery has received since opening the car brand’s Philippine distributorship in 2007, people are now looking for fuel-efficient vehicles.

“Especially now with the gas thing, every week, P1.50 per liter, sometimes the increase is P2 so if I’m the car buyer, I’ll have second thoughts on bringing a car, especially if the car runs only about six kilometers to seven kilometers per liter,” he said.

“I need to be budget conscious and buy something practical,” he said of the buyers’ point of view.

Smart buys

Sales of Chery’s sub-compact car show that buyers have set aside concerns that China-made cars are inferior.

Vehicle sales for the QQ3, Inguito said, rose to around 1,000 from January-June this year, from the 180-200 in unit sales Chery had from July-December 2007.

“It’s fuel-efficient, that’s why you can save money. For a budget of P1,000 for gasoline, it’ll last you a week, maybe a week and a half, if you drive it from home to work and vice-versa,” he said.

He added that buyers usually inquire about the car’s fuel efficiency. The question on the price tag comes later.

“It is the first thing that they consider, the price comes second, they know that the price is very low.”

QQ3’s gasoline-powered basic unit with manual transmission comes at P319,000. It runs on a 3-cylinder, 12-valve engine.

The 4-cylinder variety, meanwhile, comes with a keyless entry is priced at P349,000. A unit with automatic transmission, on the other hand, sells for P373,000.

Inguito said most of the QQ3 units sold are the higher-priced units. He added that even if these two are more expensive than the basic units and considered “luxurious” in terms of accessories and features, they are still relatively cheap compared to other sub-compacts in the same class.

Inguito said that the QQ3 goes at an average of 18-20 kilometers per liter in city driving and 25 kilometers or more on highways.

So definitely, the price really plays second fiddle in the list of considerations because of the fuel efficiency.

These practical buyers, Inguito said, are the primary market of their company. They have a monthly income of P25,000 and are part of the middle class. They usually have a gasoline budget of between P2,000 to P3,000 a month.

“These are the first-time car buyers and those who want a second car but are mostly thinking of fuel costs, and at the same time, efficiency,” he said.

17 and counting

Considerations on fuel prices were based on the recent spikes in prices of gasoline and diesel not only in the Philippines but in other countries as well.

As of end-June, oil prices climbed to a record $143 per barrel in Asia .

In the Philippines, oil companies announced another P1.50 per liter increase in prices of their products, their 17th for the year.

Overcoming birth pains

[SIZE=1]The Alto, according to Suzuki, has sold more than 1 million units in India, a country also affected by high fuel prices. The carmaker said that if it can do it in India, why not the Philippines?[/SIZE]
Japanese car maker, Suzuki, is also testing the Philippine market for sub-compact cars with its 0.8 liter car, the Alto.

Hector Tabon of Motormall Philippines, the Philippine distributor of Japan’s Suzuki cars, said the Alto was first introduced in the Philippines in 2007 following its popularity in India, where fuel prices have also been skyrocketing.

According to Tabon, Suzuki thought that if the Alto sold more than 1 million units in India, why not in the Philippines?

He, however, said that the Alto, as expected, experienced birth pains.

“Market acceptance was not good at first because the notion was it’s not that fast on the road [at 800 cc]. But as the prices of fuel went up, slowly, it’s been gaining attention,” he said.

The Alto comes in two variants – the Standard at P359,000 and Deluxe at P398,000.

Both variants have 3-cylinder and 12-valve engines at 5-speed manual transmission.

The Standard unit, however, does not have electronic power steering and power windows and door locks that the Deluxe has.

However, Motormall said that Suzuki is phasing out the Standard model in the Philippines. It did not elaborate.

Times a-changin’

Based on Tabon’s experience in handling special accounts and individual clients, buyers have two primary considerations.

The top consideration used to be whether the car is suitable for the country’s generally poor road conditions.

Times, however, are changing.

“Of course now, fuel costs are on top of the list. We're really aware of fuel, that we should conserve. The road condition has taken the number 2 [seat],” he said.

“Now, if you’re the type who’s aware of fuel expenses, you’ll look for a car that has a low engine displacement,” he said, describing the Alto as the most fuel-efficient car in the Philippine market today.

And so far, the market reception for the Alto has been good, Tabon said.

“So far, the Alto is recognized in that level, fuel efficient ito, to think that it runs 21 kilometers per liter.”

Even the rich

Tabon said sales of the Alto are picking up. They were also surprised to learn that even the rich are going for sub-compact cars.

Before, only the middle-class can be seen with small-sized sedans and at the most, compact cars. But now, even those in the upper-class are buying sub-compacts.

“You’ll be surprised to know of some of our clients’ addresses,” he said, adding that some of the elite from the rich enclaves of Corinthian Gardens in Quezon City and Valle Verde in Pasig City are Alto buyers.

He said that they were at first amazed at this phenomenon, but then again, the times are really changing.

“They’re really becoming aware of their fuel consumption. They don’t mind [the size] as long as they have a second car to use,” he said.

Tabon said the market trend shows that more and more Filipinos are buying small cars, specifically, the compact and sub-compact types

“I’m not talking about Suzuki alone, that you should buy this brand, even other brands [are growing in terms of sales],” he said.

He added that sub-compact cars, because of the rising fuel costs, are here to stay.

Tabon said he hopes the small is beautiful trend will catch on since it will also help reduce the country’s dependency on fuel imports.

“If only all of us will become fuel-efficient, eventually we’ll import less and less fuel, that would be a big help.”

[/SIZE]

[architect]

Double post. Don't know what happened.

[architect]

[SIZE=2]From The Earth Times -

[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+2][SIZE=3][SIZE=2]Tata Nano manufacturing to begin in 3 months
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE][/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Tata has just announced that manufacturing of the Tata Nano or the World's Cheapest Car shall begin in the 3rd quarter of 2008 and everything is on schedule. This comes as a relief to investors who were worried about the protests by farmers at Singur (the place acquired for producing the Nano) who were against the car plant and had promised to disrupt operations.

[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Tata Motors has also started developing new variants of Nano to meet environmental and fuel price challenges, as also market requirements of several international markets. No further details about this were given, but we already know about Tata's deal with MDI regarding the Tata Air car.

What we are more interested in knowing is that considering the most recent figures from India showed an inflation rate of more than 10% , is Tata still holding on to their promise of a 1 Lakh Rupee car? (approx. 2200 USD).

Readers may also recall that Tata Motors has recently purchased the Jaguar and Land Rover brands as well.

[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1] [/SIZE]

[SIZE=+2]

[/SIZE]

[alwayz_yummy]

a tata nano is close to look like the smart car...

[architect]

yup - but it actually looks more like the Mitsu i.

BTW ehnriko is waiting for your pm.

[alwayz_yummy]

yup will PM him, pero ayusin ko muna prob ko.. then makakakilos na me ulit.. will list first and do some pencil sketches...pag ready na me tuloy tuloy na ko..

[architect]

*AY,

no problem. We can wait for you.

[dx2r]

Japan has actually been successful exporting kei cars to the U.K., India, China, and other countries. In fact some models are being manufactured in those countries. However in such cases, the engines have typically been upgraded from the maximum 660cc to 800cc and higher. Also, some models have been enlarged beyond the maximum width of 1475 mm as regulated by the Japanese government for kei cars (e.g. Suzuki Wagon R+).

While technically these no longer qualify as kei cars, they still share a lot of characteristics with genuine kei cars, notably the small size, economical price, and higher fuel mileage.

Previously, industry analysts have questioned the appeal of entry-level mini cars in markets such as India and the Philippines where vehicles (even tricycles) are often overloaded and (ab)used for just about any transportation requirements. Hence, affordable utility vehicles are much preferred.

Yet Maruti is now producing the Alto in India, Tata will be delivering the Nano by Sept/Oct and here in the Philippines, the (Maruti) Alto, Chevy Spark, and even the Chery QQ are fast gaining ground in low down payments and relatively affordable monthly payments. On a parallel development, chopped-up genuine kei second-hand Suzuki Wagon Rs (660 cc) knocked-down kits are beginning to proliferate in Pampanga, Bulacan, and Cavite.

So, the questions are - has the local buying public began to accept kei cars? Will the difference in engine (1100cc vs 800cc vs 660cc) matter greatly - given gasoline prices are expected to further skyrocket? If general market acceptance progresses, how will EDSA traffic/NLEX/SLEX etc evolve?

Just some thoughts...

may alam po kayong dealer ng suzuki wagon r? saan po? pakiemail po : dx2r_ae77*yahoo.com