Common cause

PITSTOP

Fuel prices going up. Emission standards going up. Engine performance needs to go up. In this kind of situation, it looks like diesel is going to be everybody's favourite fuel.

According to Bosch, diesel vehicles' share in the Indian passenger car market is expected to rise from the current 30 per cent to over 40 by 2010.

In 2005, Bosch sold about 40,000 common-rail systems in India. By 2010, that figure is expected to go up to 600,000 systems. Which is why Bosch recently became the first in the country to start the manufacture of common rail high pressure pumps and injectors.

Their spanking new manufacturing facility in Bangalore has an installed capacity of up to 1,000 pumps a day. Bosch already has a plant in Nashik that produces common rail injector components, which has a current capacity of 4,000 sets daily.

The Nashik facility will start production of complete common rail injectors next year. By the way, Bosch is all set to supply common rail systems to Maruti Suzuki for their new turbodiesel engine, which will be seen in the Swift by the end of the year.

Accessory access

Unhappy with the performance of your brand-new but stock car? Want to do up your three-year old set of wheels? Want a better musical experience while driving? Seats beginning to wear out? Want a sunroof? Well, then head to Trends, at Keytuo Industrial Estate, Andheri (East), Mumbai, a spanking new accessory store.

Part of DC Design, Trend stocks up on each and every accessory your car needs, right from wheels and tyres to audio equipment and performance bits to interior upholstery.

Trends can get any car kitted up based on your needs and your budget, while each of the 8,000-odd products in their catalogue comes with a warranty.

So if you want your car to wear brands like Foliatec, Momo Design, Thule, K&N, Rockford Fosgate, Sparco, Webasto, Zenetti and a host of others, Trends is your destination.