Carmakers shift into top gear to woo customers for festive shopping

With the festive season around the corner, its time to buy the car on that "auspicious" day for most Indians, a fact not lost on the car companies.

New promos, reworked models, and new features are only a few things in the arsenal for what could be the most competitive season for car companies looking to shore up their sales.

Honda SEIL, for example, is out with a refreshed City ZX that has some new interior features and added safety options to battle out the Suzuki SX4.

Now, Ford too has launched a new variant of its flagship Fiesta, named the Fiesta 1.6 Fida Edition. Along with a few exclusive features, two new colours, the most captivating deal of this new variant is likely to be the price at a bargain Rs6.60 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai).

The car comes with new turn indicators integrated into the electric rear-view mirrors, which has traditionally been offered in more expensive cars. Nine-spoke alloy wheels, colour coordinated leather-vinyl seat covers, perforated vinyl door trims, a new MP3 player with four speakers, a roof antenna, front fog lamps, programmable keyless entry, intelligent rear de-fogger, remote boot release, trip computer, driver''s seat height adjustment mechanism and battery saver are only a few of the cars features.

The limited edition Fiesta Fida will have the same 1.6-litre Duratec petrol engine that delivers a peak power of 101 PS.

Hyundai too has launched its third nationwide Free Car Care Clinic. The Clinic will offer a comprehensive 80-point check-up and examination of the engine, transmission, electrical, under-body, AC, body panels, etc. Customers can avail of this free check-up at any of its 320 dealer workshops across the country, while getting a free car wash and discounts on all spare parts.

Hyundai is also offering a discount of 20 per cent on labour and a 20 per cent discount on extended warranty. It has special discounts on service merchandising, such as engine flush, anti-rust coating, engine de-carbonisation, and car polish.

Hyundai''s Free Car Care Clinic was first introduced in 2006 and was subsequently conducted in January and February 2007. During this festive season, the Clinic will be a two-week long campaign, from October 3 to 17. It will also recognise customers who take special care of their cars, through `Best Maintained Car'' award for cars more than five years old, and driven 100,000km.