Ford Motor Company ranks among the premier US automakers. Founded by Henry Ford, this car manufacturer also has under its belt global brands such as Volvo, Mazda, Lincoln and Mercury. Ford is credited with the introduction of processes of large-scale manufacturing along assembly lines. With a range spanning the sporty Ikon – the Josh Machine, the fuel efficient Fiesta and the SUV Endeavour, Ford Motors India has made considerable inroads into the domestic market. The Ford Ikon has been in the market for a long time and has seen variants such as the 1.3 Flair and the 1.8 ZXi. It offers features such as side impact beams and monocoque body. Ford Fiesta made news with its extremely fuel efficient ROCAM engine. Features such as dual airbags and EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) make for safer driving on Indian roads. Over a century old, Ford Motor Company entered into a joint venture with Mahindra and Mahindra. Later in 1998, it was rechristened as Ford India Limited. With a modern integrated manufacturing unit at Chennai, Ford cars are all set for the Indian roads, with a small car on the anvil by 2010. A brand of GM (General Motors), Chevrolet made an entry into the Indian automobile market in 2003 with the launch of the Opel Corsa, Opel Astra and Opel Vectra. It was later that the models such as Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Spark, Tavera and Chevrolet Aveo U-VA were introduced. The Opel segment did not find itself popular with the Indian consumers. Tavera is a popular diesel-powered multipurpose vehicle (MPV) from the Chevrolet stable. Tavera has a petrol variant too. The mid-sized Aveo is priced competitively with other cars of the same segment. The Chevrolet Aveo has distinctly shaped front headlights and short body with steeply rising shoulder line. It has reduced kerb weight and aerodynamic styling thereby improving drag coefficient. Chevrolet cars are built with a high-strength safety cage around the entire passenger compartment. With added features such as the energy-absorbing crush zones and steel beams, Chevrolet cars are built to deliver quality road presence. The ‘bow tie’ logo of Chevrolet identifies each make from this manufacturer. Honda Siel Cars India Ltd (HSCI) is a joint venture between Honda Motors and Siel Ltd. The Honda City was the first to hit the Indian roads in 1997 and continues to be a popular model with its new version launched in 2003. Honda CR-V offers a distinctive combination of ‘the comfort of a sedan with the thrills of a SUV’. With a 2.4 liter DOHC i-VTEC engine, the Honda CR-V offers Realtime 4 WD that detects adverse conditions on the road and switches to 4-wheel drive. The Honda Accord offers VGR (Variable Gear Ratio) and multi-link rear suspension for enhanced driving comfort. The G-force control technology and intelligent airbags including side curtain airbags offer improved safety. The Honda Civic Hybrid, the latest model from the Honda global stable was launched in India in June 2008. It boasts of a system that can deactivate all four cylinders and move into electric motor. Besides, its ability to switch off the internal combustion engine when the car is stopped with the brake enhances it fuel efficiency. Hyundai Motors started its manufacturing operations in Chennai in 1996. It has offered several automobiles, from the SAntro Xing to the Getz and i10, from the Elantra and Sonata to the Tucson. Standing for ‘modernity’ in Korean, Hyundai has now become a familiar name on Indian roads and is associated with the Santro. Santro Xing offers plush interiors and transformed aerodynamic bodyline when compared with the earlier version. The Verna boasts of waistline moulding, keyless entry and wraparound headlight housings. Hyundai Sonata offers comfortable interiors with electrically-powered adjustments for seats and head rests and smooth gear transmission system. The Kappa engine which is installed in the Hyundai i10 is the lightest dry weight engine in its class with 16 valve DOHC. With reduced weight and friction, it is bound to give a fillip to fuel economy. This engine is being manufactured exclusively in India. Consumers can experience low NVH – Noise, Vibration and Harshness. Founded by Karl Benz in the year 1871, Mercedes Benz is a leading German Car manufacturer of Luxury automobiles. Mercedes is pioneer in major automobile technical innovations - Crumple Zones, Anti Lock Brakes, Traction Control and Air bags in automobile safety. The production quality is legendary in tune with German Industry standards. Though some of the models on the Indian Road may not measure up to the same standards as the cars available in the US and Western Europe, Mercedes Cars and Vans are inherently built like Tanks. When you close the door of a Mercedes, the reassuring thump signals the solidity which envelops you. Another feature about these German cars is their surfeit of engine power. When a one-ton car requires about 80 BHP of engine power, the Germans would pack in at least twice the power. Average German cars are typically faster than other cars of the same class. They are insanely expensive - making them - a status symbol.