Vespa LX125 Price

The stylish Vespa LX125 from Piaggio just got more affordable. We saw a price cut in October last year for the festive season which Piaggio has now made permanent. This scooter is now available at a price of Rs 68,827 (on-road, Pune), down from Rs 74,590 (on-road, Pune). The new price is already in effect, which makes this the perfect time for customers looking for a retro cool scooter to make their purchase.

In the last eight months, Piaggio has sold 25,000 units of the Vespa LX125 and with this slash in price, we can expect to see many more on the roads. Piaggio has also announced that it'll launch new variants of the Vespa in 2013, so there is more to look forward to for all Vespa aficionados. 

Original : Autocarindia.com

2013 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: I normally would not select a bright yellow sports car as my commuter machine, but this 2013 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 sure came in handy on a foggy, murky morning broken up by random splashes of sunlight. The yellow hue actually felt like a safety feature, and the black wheels are really growing on me. I’m a big fan of sinister rollers, which when executed properly look even meaner than chrome, in my opinion.

The Z06 is a rocket on the expressway. Merging in third gear is a breeze, and the power and sound are exhilarating. The V8 rumbling at idle is magic enough, and that only intensifies during acceleration. This car is rock solid -- and the driver feels every bump and road bruise. That’s to be expected, but the ride is almost jarring at times, and there’s an occasional vibration communicated through the steering wheel.
I’m a fan of the looks. The Corvette has sharp lines, beautiful curves and sexy flared fenders that are attractive from the driver’s seat and when viewed from the road. The C6 has a pitch-perfect appearance to my eyes: It’s edgy, almost spaceship-like, but it still looks like a Corvette. I hope the C7 doesn’t get too rounded or softer in appearance. This is a menacing machine, and it exudes confidence.
The six-speed manual is tight and true, and the throws are short and satisfying. I like the feel of the weighed pedals, and the steering is generally heavy without being overdone. The cabin -- outfitted with yellow stitching and carbon-fiber trim -- actually looks pretty sweet. After panning the Vette’s interior for years, I really like this dressed-up version. The “trunk” area is accessible and works well for storing things, such as a blazer and overnight bag. Corvettes have plenty of practical elements, which is a bit underrated.
Overall, it’s a Z06. It’s a great car. There are some flaws, but it’s intense behind the wheel and attractive. I’d take one in black.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I got up early this morning to get a few extra miles in on this Z06 -- and I’m extremely glad I did. My way home from work was predictably terrible, and I swear I’m never taking the main expressway again.
The Tour suspension mode does a good job soaking up the bumps and slows that rebound feel that really jars your back. I had no trouble getting comfortable in the seats, which are plenty sporty for this Corvette, a car that could be the deal of the century.
I said almost the same thing about our recent Nissan GT-R, but I still stand by it. If you want to spend $100,000 and get the purest sports car on the road, go with the Z06. If you need something with a little more tech but the same performance, go with the GT-R. I don’t think anyone would be disappointed.
The slick tires will break loose with every stab of the throttle, even through second and third gear. The bonus is the traction control lets the tires spin a bit but keeps you pointed straight. I know this has five settings for the safety feature, but I wish I’d had more time to play with each one.
It feels as fast as either the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 or Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. That’s mostly due to the car’s low curb weight of 3,199 pounds. The problem is that you can’t get anywhere near the car’s limit without a racetrack or at least a long airstrip.
Oh, and yellow with black wheels and black trim, that’s exactly how I would order my Z06 Corvette.
ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: Yes, the new C7 is just around the corner, but the C6 is still a heck of a car, especially in Z06 trim. It’s always been my favorite Corvette in the lineup. The supercharged insanity of a 638-hp ZR1 is nice and all, but there’s just something about the naturally aspirated LS7 with its 7,000-rpm redline. I adore this engine for its all-motor rumble and sensational throttle response.
And it’s the best balanced Corvette to make it ideally suited for track work. We had one a year and half ago for a magazine cover story where we had it along with a Porsche 911 GT2 RS and Lexus LFA. With the performance package that adds the Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires and then the magnetic ride suspension, it wasn’t even a couple of ticks off the $380,000 Lexus when lapping GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Mich. There’s certainly no shame in that.
One of the biggest improvements Chevy made to the C6 was to offer sport seats that finally feature sufficient side bolstering. It’s been my biggest beef with the Corvette, and I’m ecstatic that they finally took the steps to remedy it. People have also been harping about the interior for its subpar plastics and central tunnel that gets extremely hot, but that stuff doesn’t bug me too much. I’ve never found the materials to be that offensive. Either way, something tells me things will be drastically different in the C7.
What things are important to me? The aforementioned LS7 engine, slick six-speed manual gearbox, comfortable driving position, well-placed pedals for easy rev-matching for downshifts, responsive steering (which gets magnified with the aggressive Michelin rubber) and its unmistakable looks with slick carbon-fiber exterior trim pieces borrowed from the ZR1 on our test car. And then, as mentioned above, you can soften the suspension, and it’s comfortable enough on the road. I would be weary of driving this thing in the rain, though, with the tires.
Like many people, I’m looking forward to the new car, but I’m going to certainly miss the C6 Corvette Z06. Well, maybe at least until they release a C7 Z06 model.
2013 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Base Price: $76,575
As-Tested Price: $101,265
Drivetrain: 7.0-liter V8; RWD, six-speed manual
Output: 505 hp @ 6,300 rpm, 470 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,199 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 15/24/18 mpg
AW Observed Fuel Economy: 16.6 mpg
Options: 3LZ premium equipment group including memory package, frontal and side impact airbags with passenger-sensing system, power bolster and power lumbar seat adjusters, leather bucket seats, luggage shade and cargo net, red brake calipers, tilt and telescoping steering column, navigation system with AM/FM and CD player, universal home remote, Bluetooth for phone, additional nine months XM radio ($8,860); Z06 ultimate performance package including Brembo ceramic brakes, PS Cup tires ($7,500); Carbon-fiber package ($3,995); magnetic selective ride control ($2,495); Velocity yellow tintcoat paint ($850); yellow brake calipers ($595); and custom leather with yellow stitching ($395)

Original : Autoweek.com

GM exec discusses new Chevy 'Find New Roads' tagline

Since its founding in 1911 in Motor City, Chevrolet has gone from being as American as apple pie to a global brand that's selling some 4 million cars and trucks in more than 140 markets. That evolution means the patriotic messaging used to sell the brand to consumers in the past -- slogans such as "See the USA in Your Chevrolet," "Heartbeat of America," "An American Revolution," and, its most recent rally cry, "Chevy Runs Deep" -- won't resonate with a huge segment of the market anymore.
So parent company General Motors Co. announced a new tagline for the brand Tuesday: "Find New Roads."
"Chevy Runs Deep," the previous tagline was ushered in by former marketing chief Joel Ewanick and U.S. agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners. Ewanick brought in the Omnicom shop after he tossed aside longtime Campbell-Ewald and Publicis, and they unveiled the tag during the World Series in 2010. GM was immediately met with wide criticism from car buffs who claimed that "Chevy Runs Deep" lacked substance.
Jeff Goodby, one of the partners at Goodby, came to the tagline's defense, predicting that it would eventually have legs. Despite continued criticism and a global review, GM said in October of 2011 that it was sticking by its choice. But a year later, amid slips in market share and following the ouster of Ewanick, GM was openly announcing the possibility of axing it.
"We might transition," Chris Perry, Chevrolet's VP-marketing, told Ad Age sibling publication Automotive News in October of 2012.
That became definite Tuesday, with GM's announcement of "Find New Roads." It will be used to market nearly 20 new or revamped vehicles around the world, and it will also be used as an internal mantra. The new positioning, which was developed by Chevy's agency of record, Detroit-based Commonwealth, marks the second major change under interim marketing chief Alan Batey, who stepped in to replace Ewanick in July. (Commonwealth is an Omnicom and Interpublic joint venture composed of executives from Omnicom's Goodby, Silverstein & Partners and Interpublic's McCann Erickson.)
Burying "Chevy Runs Deep" comes at a time when General Motors is focused on markets like India and Russia, and market share for its largest brand, Chevy, has been slipping. It's also been cutting marketing spending. Domestically, GM spent $1.18 billion during the first three quarters of 2012 compared with $1.30 billion during the same period in 2011 -- a 9.3 percent decline, according to Kantar Media. The marketing spending on Chevy for the first nine months of 2012 was $663 million, down from $746 million, an 11 percent decline, according to Kantar Media.
So how long can we expect "Find New Roads" to stay intact? Batey has asked Mary Barra and Ed Welburn, GM's heads of product development and design, respectively, to help with making the theme a part of company culture going forward. Unlike those taglines that have come and gone, he predicts this one will stick around for at least a decade.

Ad Age: When "Chevy Runs Deep" was launched, it was met with criticism, but GM asked for the public to be patient and said that they'd see it was a campaign that would ultimately resonate and convey the passion of the brand's fans. Does this mean the critics were right?
Mr. Batey: What I would say is that it was a campaign that was developed and implemented around the time of our centennial. When you have a centennial you have an opportunity to look back on your history. ... [Chevy] has a rich history and I think the campaign -- and all the results track this out -- did well at that point in time. Now we are taking it on the global stage to the next level. We are the fastest-growing major vehicle brand in the world today and have 20 new launches around the world in 2013. "Find New Roads" is more than a tagline, and in fact, I would say, for it to be successful, we have to create internal alignment. We want "Find New Roads" to become for all of us our North Star -- something that inspires us and builds around that spirit of ingenuity.
Ad Age: What makes you confident that "Find New Roads" works more meaningfully and works on a global level?
Mr. Batey: We have been working on this for the last five or six months hand in hand with Commonwealth, our global agency. From day one, we've been looking at this from a global perspective. We know it creates a lot of meaning and is also very flexible. You can think of two vehicles, in very different spaces, perhaps a Volt and a heavy duty truck [and it applies to both]. We also think it translates into the services we provide our customers; it gives us an opportunity to surprise and delight our customers.
Ad Age: You say this is meant not just to be a tagline but an internal mantra as much as an external one. What are you doing to get those working at GM at all levels, in all positions to rally behind the positioning?
Mr. Batey: We have a meeting with our senior execs which will take place next week [during the Detroit auto show]. It gives us a great chance to speak with all of our senior execs around the world [about the new approach]. They'll obviously take that back to their teams. I'll also be doing somewhat of our a world tour to ensure consistency. It will start toward the end of February.
Ad Age: After having such a strong presence in previous years, what will it be like to sit on the sidelines for the Super Bowl this year? Do still you think that was the right decision?
Mr. Batey: It definitely was the right decision. We had success with the Super Bowl in the past, and if you use it correctly it can be a great platform. Stay posted and you'll see some of the innovative things we're going to in the future.
Ad Age: You recently moved Silverado duties to Leo Burnett, aligning all truck advertising under the Publicis agency. Now this announcement about the tagline changes. Can we expect you to undertake more ad changes in 2013?
Mr. Batey: No. Those really were the two big ones we needed to put in place to make sure we have a successful 2013 when we have 20 new-product launches around the world for Chevy.
Ad Age: So you are happy with the way that the Commonwealth structure -- which has been an unprecedented partnership between competing ad companies -- is working for General Motors?
Mr. Batey: Yeah, I really am. We came together on this global effort at the same time. We previously had not operated as a brand on a global level. We have got some great global learnings. I'm feeling good about where we are right now ... I'm very excited.
Ad Age: It's been a busy few months for you since you've made the transition to the CMO role. How have you found it?
Mr. Batey: If I take you back to when I took this role on in the July time frame, I stressed it wasn't about one person but a team. We have got great people and I've really enjoyed it. It's been a fantastic time. We always new that looking into 2013 it would be an incredibly busy time.
Ad Age: What can we expect with regards to the search for a permanent CMO?
Mr. Batey: As I sit here today, we're still looking at our options and haven't gotten anything to announce yet.

Original : Autoweek.com