Fuel efficiency is dead and buried

As a marketing weapon, that is.

The TVS Star returns 102kpl, the Hero Honda Splendor - last I checked - returns 85 kilometers to a liter of fuel; the Bajaj CT 100 is a 101kpl bike.

To borrow a cliché from The Cranberries “Ode to my family,” Does anyone care?
I remember the 1980s - the era of the mopeds. To most people in the 1980s, the moped was representative of two-wheeled freedom - once they were more popular than scooters and miles ahead of motorcycles. Now they are just a small fraction of overall motorcycle sales.

What went wrong?

I feel the obsession with mileage got the better of people. The mopeds claimed some outrageous numbers for their stamina - the Hero Puch’s 91kpl, the Atlas Powerking’s 93kpl and someone’s 108kpl were figures that adorned newspaper advertisements.

What went wrong?

The Puch sold well - not because of its claims of 91 kilometers to a liter, but because it was trendy and cool and a school / college going youngster could be seen in public atop it and still have his reputation intact.

The Mofa didn’t - it was too rudimentary, uncool and had no oomph value.

No one noticed that it claimed 122kilometres to a litre.

And when the time came when people could get a Hero Honda CD 100 - that looked generations ahead of any moped (and was) - they promptly switched loyalties.

Life for mopeds has been downhill since.

Motorcycles have been luckier, the people behind them wiser and the market more evolved. So while a Star Sports mentions the 102kpl, it is more of a passing mention. Not shouting over the roof-tops with a loudspeaker. The Platina too does nothing more than a passing mention of its fuel efficiency.

The marketing buzzwords now are looks, lifestyle and desirability.

Bajaj Platina adverts go ga-ga over the looks - the looks of a bike which is essentially bottom rung of the desirability ladder!

How cool is that!

Or the TVS Star Sports adverts which show a girl finally consenting to ride pillion with a guy, just because he now owns a Star Sports. Again, the Star Sports rubs shoulders with the Platina in the market.

No wonder the TVS girl wears specs!

Surprisingly, the top-of-the-rung bikes like the Karizma, Pulsar and Apache do not hark on the desirability. Look at the recent adverts - the Pulsar is about being wild and free, the Apache is about being….ummm….wild and free and the Karizma is about being ahead of the pack.

Coming back to the reason why I started writing this post - fuel efficiency as a marketing weapon seems to be dead. Maybe, because the manufacturers realized that launching a new variant or product every second month and shouting about its fuel efficiency, just so that the rival can better it in a month’s time, wasn’t a very good idea. Remember it was only some time back that we had the Hero Honda Joy, Bajaj Caliber, Boxer (and its 100 variants), Caliber 115 and TVS Centra all romping around in the market. Some of them are dead, some on ventilator support.

Brands are now being built, stronger, and around numerous other virtues, apart from fuel efficiency. And manufacturers now want long-lasting brands.

Bajaj, which must be holding an unenviable record of most “dead” two-wheeler brands in India, is now focusing on its current crop. So the Pulsar (flagship, in four engine sizes 150cc-220cc) stays till Rahul Bajaj’s grandsons start running BAL. The Discover will be built on and will have three engines to choose from (110cc - 135cc) and the Platina will be around till Bajaj can extract the maximum out of its existing 100cc platform.

Hero Honda too wants to build upon its strong brands. The Karizma will stay (more likely becoming Charismas Xtreme), the CBZ Xtreme will continue, the Achiever will die (is it currently alive?), the Glamour may live (will need hard work), the Splendor will live (obviously!), the Dawn will die and the entry level battle will be fought with the CD 100 Deluxe.

Deepesh Rathore
Research Editor
deepesh.rathore@supplierbusiness.com
For more details Fuel efficiency visit www.theautodiary.com

Written by Car Enthusiast on July 28th, 2007 with no comments.
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Tips In Choosing The Appropriate Car Or Limo Service You Need

With the various limousine services in Toronto, one might get a headache on which to call and avail services from. There might not only be hundreds of limousine services in Toronto so it is more advisable to be wise and prepared in choosing the appropriate limo ride for your needs. Here are some tips that you should remember in deciding what limo service you must avail:

1. Do some background checking or ask friends if they have availed services from your preferred Toronto car service company.

This is a wise action to make before getting services; it is a-must to orient yourselves before getting service. There are a huge variety of car services available within Toronto but only a few are reliable. So, better prevent yourselves from being deceived by those crappy limousine services that will only get into your nerves because of poor service.

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In some aspects, hiring a car service like an airport limousine service in Toronto might sometimes cost you more than the usual. That’s why in cases such as this it is recommendable to ask for free estimates or price consultation so that you will have the chance to prepare a budget which best fits the kind of limo or car service for you needs. Many Toronto limousine rentals actually provide offers such as this so better call up those kind of car services.

3. Protect your interest.

When getting a Toronto airport limo service, for example, be advised that it is your needs that is what’s important. Do not let yourselves be manipulated on the kind and the type of car or limo ride you need. You are the person who best know what you need so state everything you need from the start and communicate very well with the car or limo service company you are about to avail. There are too many risk that might come and no one for sure wants to experience the hassles of traveling.

4. Comfort and Security at all times.

Two main reasons why many individuals prefer to get a private car or limo service when touring or traveling in different places are comfort and security. Especially if one is traveling along with family or business colleagues, it is more of a guarantee that he or she is traveling with comfort and safety. And to be able to ensure to get comfort and security, finding a reliable and credible company providing services like airport limousine service in Toronto is the key to get hold of one. And lastly:

5. Make sure the company is legal.

One good way in checking if a car service company is legal or not is through inquiring in a transportation office. Through a quick call or surf in the internet can be used as tools in checking if it’s legal or not. Just make sure to provide the correct information about the car service company you are about to get. Also, ask if they are bonded just to serve as your service protection from them.

These tips stated above are only a few from the long list on how to get or select the appropriate and reliable car service company you need to avail. Making sure only takes a little of your time so better do them before getting one. These tips will serve as you shield against deceitful companies that might take advantage of you. Remember, it is better to be safe than to gain bad consequences in return.

Andrew Beene is a web associated with a company providing Toronto car service.

Written by Car Enthusiast on August 21st, 2008 with comments disabled.
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