Sauber launch 2016 Formula1 car ahead of 2nd pre-season testing tomorrow

Sauber became the last Formula1 team to launch their car today ahead of 2nd pre-season testing tomorrow which begins in Barcelona.

Sauber became the last Formula1 team to launch their car today ahead of 2nd pre-season testing tomorrow which begins in Barcelona. The Hinwil based team has experienced financial problems and as a result, had to use a modified 2015 car at the first pre-season test last week. The 2016 car is christened Sauber C35. The outfit has released images on the car online.

Speaking ahead of the rollout of the new car, which will take place in the Barcelona pitlane on Tuesday morning, Kaltenborn said: “We want to clearly improve.”

“Obviously, there’s a certain position we’d like to achieve.

“But, to start with, it’s important to become established in midfield.

“Only then are we going to focus on individual positions.”

Felipe Nasr has previously acknowledged the threat of newcomer Haas and admits it is tough to know where Sauber will rank among its rivals.

“It’s difficult for me to predict how the positions behind the top teams are going to pan out this season – and where we’ll be able to line up in that part of the field,” he said.

“The whole team has been working very hard to explore areas in the car that we can improve. That’s why I’m confident that we’ve made progress.”

Team-mate Marcus Ericsson added: “The battle for positions is getting fiercer.

“But I’m convinced that, with the new car, we’re going to take a step forward so that we can finish in the points with greater consistency and under our own steam.

“Last year we managed a good start. In the second half of the season it was a harder struggle for us to score points.

“This season I’d like to see us being in contention for points and fighting on a level where speed is decisive.”

Sauber’s technical director, Mark Smith said that Sauber’s decision to take part in the first test, even in the C34, was beneficially especially in terms of gather tyre information.

“Ideally, we would have been there with the new car but in terms of schedule, that didn’t work out because of date change and so on.

“But with limited testing nowadays, whenever you go to the pre-season tests with new cars, there are so many things you need to work through that lots of other ‘nice to do’ stuff – a lot of it around tyres in terms of canvas sweeps and all sorts of sweeps – you never get the chance to do.

“I believe we’ll gather some quite useful information that will be applicable 2016 so it’s definitely.”

Source: Autosport

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Mercedes Benz C Class 250d launched at INR 44.36 lakh (ex-showroom)

Mercedes Benz C Class 250d launched in Pune; will also be locally produced.

Mercedes Benz India added the C-Class 250d to the C 200 and C 220 d variants, giving customers another option to choose from. The C-Class 250d features an inline 4 cylinder set up with a 2.1-litre mill. It produces 204 bhp at 3800 rpm and a handy 500 Nm of torque at a lowly 1600-1800 rpm. The new 9G-TRONIC transmission helps deliver the power to the wheels. 0-100 kmph comes up in 6.6 seconds and the speed is electronically limited to 247 kmph.

The C 250 d features 17-inch 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in Vanadium Silver finish. It features LED Intelligent Light System (ILS) which automatically adjusts the headlamps based on weather, lighting and driving conditions for ideal visibility in every situation.

On the interior, it gives a choice of three ambient light modes: Solar, Polar and neutral. ABS, BAS, ESP, ASR, Hill Start Assist are standard safety features. B elt tensioners for driver and front passenger seats, reversing camera with 180° view, Attention Assist, Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC add to the safety of the passenger.

Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented,“The all-new C-Class completely redefined the mid-size luxury sedan segment in India and created for itself a new territory of supremacy. The inherent success of this ‘World Car of the Year’ is evident from the fact that, the C-Class remains an unrivalled product in its segment, emerging as the highest sold model in our portfolio in 2015. With the introduction of the technologically advanced new C 250 d, we further bolster our position and are confident of continuing its unmatched success in India. Apart from featuring the 9G-TRONIC transmission for the first time in the C-Class, the C 250 d also features the Garmin® MAP PILOT, ambient lighting, all LED Intelligent Light System and PARKTRONIC amongst other advancements; making the C 250 d a luxury sedan with a unique blend of power, style, comfort and safety.”

“We always presented the best of our products and services to our elite patrons in the shortest possible lead time. The overwhelming response for the new C-Class drove us to commence the local manufacturing of the C 250 d simultaneously with its introduction in India. This key step is not merely a reflection of our localisation strategy, but also underscores our unsurpassed commitment of driving value for our customers. We are confident that the local production of the C 250 d, will create high customer interest with additional value proposition and increased availability” Mr. Folger further elaborated.

2016 Aston Martin DB11 Completely Leaked

The 2016 Aston Martin DB11 has been leaked completely ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

The 2016 Aston Martin DB11 has been leaked completely ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Earlier, just one picture showing the front of the car was leaked at a presentation.

The new pictures show the full car, including the new front end with new headlights with LED daytime running lights, new grille and a new bonnet. The rear end is completely new as well. The overall shape of the car is not that different when compared to the DB9. The dash displays and interfaces that have been seen on a test car have been taken from the S-Class Coupe, but it is unclear if this will be continued in the production car as well.

The 5.9-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine that does duty in the DB9 will be replaced by a brand new 5.2-litre turbocharged engine in DB11. While the old naturally aspirated engine made a maximum power of 568 bhp in the Vanquish, the new turbocharged engine is expected to make around 600 bhp. The new engine has been developed in-house by Aston Martin.

Along with that, there are rumours that the British company could introduce a new smaller V8 engine to the DB11. The new engine will be sourced from AMG and it is likely to be the new 4.0-litre turbocharged unit that powers the AMG GT and other top end performance cars like the C 63. The AMG engine makes a maximum power of 510 bhp.

The Aston Martin DB11 will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month and the car will reach showrooms by the end of the year. It will replace the DB9, which is around 12 years old. The new Aston Martin DB11 will lead a new generation of cars from the British company.

2016 Aston Martin DB11 Leaked Image Gallery

Source – Car Scoops

Customers Of The Aston Martin Vulcan Attend First Track Day

Aston Martin held its first track day for customers of the Vulcan hypercar in Abu Dhabi.

Aston Martin held its first track day for customers of the Vulcan hypercar in Abu Dhabi. The first six lucky customers received world-class tuition from an elite team of racing drivers, led by Aston Martin Racing works’ driver Darren Turner at the Yas Marina Formula One circuit. The remaining 18 will get their due soon.

The drivers were first let loose in the V12 Vantage S road car and the Vantage GT4 race car. Then they got to take their respective cars out on the track with passenger side tuition. The customers skills were tested on every lap. The tuition went on into the night so that the customers could experience the car in different atmospheric conditions.

Aston Martin Director of Special Projects and Motorsport David King commented: “Aston Martin Vulcan is a very special car and that is why we have developed a unique ownership programme. This includes specialist training so customers can drive it in the way it was intended. It has been great to see the first customer’s reactions after unleashing their very own Aston Martin Vulcan on the Grand Prix circuit here in Abu Dhabi.”

Aston Martin Racing works’ driver and high-performance development driver Darren Turner said: “The priority for all of us on the team was to produce a car that provides immense enjoyment for the customers. Judging by the reactions we have seen this week that goal has been achieved and surpassed. The guys here this week have all been in the car as my passenger at recent events, but this was the first time they got to see and drive their very own Aston Martin Vulcan. It has been a pleasure to see how quickly they have all got up to speed and to hear their first impressions of the car. I predict many fun track days ahead for these guys!”

The Aston Martin Vulcan is a track-only supercar that was launched at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. It is powered by a 7.0 V12 engine producing 820 bhp. It is mated to a 6-speed sequential transmission. Only 24 cars are being built and all customers will get track-day tuitions.

Zenvo To Bring New Supercar And New Race Car To Geneva Motor Show

Danish supercar company, Zenvo, will debut two new cars at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show next month.

Danish supercar company, Zenvo, will debut two new cars at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show next month. The first is a  supercar called the TS1 and the second will be a race car called the TSR.

Zenvo ST1

TS1 will be an improved version of the ST1 supercar. It will offer new levels of comfort, downforce and engine technology. Zenvo is expected to make it more reliable as well. The TSR will be a racing concept that could be aimed at a traditional racing series or a track-only no-limits racer that will take on the Ferrari FXX-K, McLaren P1 GTR and the Aston Martin Vulcan.

Zenvo has just one supercar under its belt and that’s the ST1. Made from carbon fibre, the supercar was designed fully by the Dutch and was almost entirely hand-built. It comes equipped with keyless entry, satellite navigation, telescopic steering wheel adjustment and electrically adjustable leather racing seats.

The St1 is powered by a turbocharged and supercharged 6.8-litre V8 engine producing 1,104 bhp at 6,900 rpm and 1,430 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters or a 6-speed manual transmission. The car accelerates from a standstill to a 100 kmph in 3.0 seconds and to 200 kmph in 8.9 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 375 kmph. The vehicle weighs 1,688 kgs.

Production of the Zenvo St1 started in 2009 and only 15 cars were built and sold. It is assembled at the company’s plant in Denmark and it has a list price of 6,60,000 euros. The 2-door coupe has a lot of reliability issues with a few examples catching fire and some events.

A car caught fire on the British motoring program Top Gear and while it made an appearance at the 2015 Copenhagen grand prix where the driver had to bail out as quickly as possible.

Source – GTSpirit

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Ford SYNC Connectivity System Now Supports Apple Carplay and Android Auto

The Consumer Electronics Show 2016 has already begun and a host of new announcements are on their way.

The Consumer Electronics Show 2016 has already begun and a host of new announcements are on their way. Ford amongst other manufacturers has announced that its SYNC 3 in-car connectivity system will now be able to support Apple Car play and Android Auto. In addition to this, SYNC 3 will also bring in a long list of applications compatible with the in-car system with the help of Applink. Ford will also provide access to 4G LTE services on the infotainment systems via SYNC. New SYNC Connect technology which is powered by 4G LTE enables remote start, unlock doors, check fuel level and locate a parked vehicle via your smartphone. Existing users of SYNC 3 will be also able to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in their respective cars.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are gaining immense popularity recently as they provide smartphone like interface on the car’s touchscreen infotainment systems. They have proved to be intuitive to use on the go and provides seamless connection to your smartphone. Don Butler, Ford Executive Director, Connected Vehicle and Services, said, “SYNC allows customers to bring the smartphone technology they’re comfortable with into a vehicle and use it without hassle. With SYNC, we move at our customers’ pace making it easy for them to maintain a connected lifestyle no matter their choice of smartphone, apps or services inside and outside their vehicle.”

Android Auto is available for devices which run on Android 5.0 or above while Apple CarPlay can be accessed by users having the iPhone 5 or later models. On Android Auto, the user will be able to access features like Google Maps, Google Play Music and various other apps by projecting it onto the screen of the in-car infotainment system. Apple CarPlay on the other hand projects the entire interface of the iPhone onto the in-car touchscreen so users can enjoy a connected experience without having to even touching their Apple devices. In India, Apple Carplay is only offered on the Maruti Baleno, while the Volvo XC90supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Mahindra Launches Scorpio And XUV 500 With 1.99-Litre Engine In Delhi

Earlier, in December 2015, the Supreme Court banned registration of diesel cars which are more than 2,000cc in Delhi.

Mahindra has launched the Scorpio and the XUV 500 with a 1.99-litre diesel enginein Delhi.

which are more than 2,000cc in Delhi. This meant that the Scorpio and the XUV 500 could not be sold in the national capital as they were powered by a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine. The following month, Mahindra announced that they would launch a 1.99-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine for the two SUVs. The engine has been finally launched and it is a downsized version of the 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine. The larger engine continues to power the two SUVs in other parts of the country.

Mahindra Scorpio

In the Scorpio, it produces 120 bhp and 280 Nm of torque. The power output is the same as the larger engine. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. In the XUV 500, it produces 140 bhp and 320 Nm of torque. The torque has gone down by 10 Nm. The engine is paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. AWD and an automatic transmission are not available currently with this downsized engine. The fuel efficiency figures for the new engine have not been announced.

The ban on the larger diesel engine is expected to end on the 31st of this month. But if the government decides to continue, then Mahindra need not worry. The smaller engines are now available in the national capital region. It might soon be available in other parts of the country as well.

Mahindra XUV 500

The Mahindra Scorpio starts at INR 9.67 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi) and goes up to INR 12.75 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi). The Mahindra XUV 500 starts at INR 11.58 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi) and goes up to INR 15.51 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi).

Source – Car and Bike (NDTV)

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Mercedes-Benz S400 To Launch This Month

The luxurious Mercedes-Benz S-Class is all set to get another variant called the S400.

In India, the S-Class is available with a V6 diesel, a V8 petrol, and an AMG V8 petrol. There is no option available for those who want a smaller and a more economical engine petrol engine.

The S400 will be the entry level petrol variant and will be powered by a turbocharged V6 petrol engine

The Mercedes-Benz S400 is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine producing 329 bhp and 480 Nm of torque. The S400 is also available as a petrol hybrid but it is unclear if it will be launched in the country. The engine will come mated to a 7G-Tronic 7-speed automatic gearbox or a 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic gearbox. Power is sent to the rear wheels. Globally it is available with a 7-speed automatic gearbox and the sedan returns 12.65 kms to a litre of fuel.

The S400 will come equipped with all the luxury and safety features that are available in other S-Class sedans

The S400 will come equipped with all the luxuries and safety equipments found on the other S-Class models. It will be launched in the country by the end of this month and will be priced between the S350 CDI V6 diesel and the S500 V8 petrol. The S350 CDI V6 diesel costs INR 1.14 crores (ex-showroom, New Delhi) while the S500 V8 petrol has been priced at INR 1.44 crores (ex-showroom, New Delhi). The S-Class competes against the Audi A8, Jaguar XJ, BMW 7-series and the Maserati Ghibli.

The sedan will be launched in India by the end of this month and will be priced between the S350 diesel and the S500 V8 petrol

Source – Autocar India

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Renault Kwid Review

The new K(w)id on the block by Renault is all set to take the market by storm after creating a lot of noise in recent times since its first global preview in May this year.

The new K(w)id on the block by Renault is all set to take the market by storm after creating a lot of noise in recent times since its first global preview in May this year. Renault Kwid is finally all set to go on sale later this month. It becomes the first car model to be majorly conceived and designed ‘in India, for India’ with 98% of localization from day one. Renault got a good start in India despite all the hindrances, including the bitter breakup with Mahindra which resulted in the former hitting Indian markets as a solo brand. This was sort of a blessing in disguise, and ever since, there has been no looking back for Renault. One of its biggest success models has been the Duster, launched in 2012 and still selling in good numbers in its segment. Renault now wants a major chunk from the small car segment as well. The company aims to achieve that with the Kwid which is up against the segment leader Maruti-Suzuki Alto and Hyundai Eon majorly. Despite all the challenges, Renault is pretty confident with its latest product.

We drove the yet to be launched Renault Kwid around Goa. Here’s the firsthand report of the latest, long anticipated, small car from the French car maker.

To start off, Renault Kwid is built on the all new platform called the CMF-A Platform jointly developed by Renault and Nissan. The Kwid becomes the first car model to use this platform that would be later shared for other car models from Renault, Nissan, (Lada and Samsung other markets). Weight reduction is what Renault has primarily focused on, for better fuel efficiency and that’s what they’ve achieved by using lighter but strong materials all around the Kwid. What Renault has done is reduced the number of parts used. For example, the Kwid has around 6kgs less of weld-joints on it as compared to any other car model. The same also goes for the total amount of screws used amounting to 20 kgs, that is around 6 kgs lesser than a regular small car in this segment. The Kwid weighs 669 kgs only, making it around 100 kgs lighter than its closest competitor, the Maruti-Suzuki Alto.

At first look, Renault Kwid instantly grabs your attention. The Kwid has tremendous road presence. It does remind you of its elder brother, the Duster, in many ways. Which is quite a good thing because this gives the car a distinct SUV aura. The basic design is tall, wide and squarish with a lot of smooth edges and curves. The front face is very much like an SUV. You have the bold double-layered center grill in matt black finish with the Renault logo placed on it. The front bumper is large with an SUV-like lower half of it, in matt black finish to give it a tough look. Round fog lamps with matt black housings are placed here to further enhance the looks of this hatch. The headlamps are large, squarish and come with a multi-reflector finish on them. The bonnet is long with a stylish bodyline that runs over it. The windscreen is at a steeply raked angle to give the Kwid a sporty look.

On the sides you get a lot of soft body lines that run in angles across the door panels. The door handles are lift-up type in matt black finish. No complaints about the door handles not being body-colored as this unpainted matt black finish adds to the overall brute look of Renault Kwid. The wheel arches are large and the fenders get SUV-like body cladding in matt black finish adding a lot of instinctive sportiness to the sides of the Kwid. Not forgetting the 180 mm ground clearance, the distance between the fenders and the tyre, is a lot for such a small car. Another neat touch is the placement of the turn lights on the fiber body-cladding fenders. The doors also get long running finishers that run across the lower part. These door finishers or inserts are in matt black finish to go with the overall SUV-like theme that the Kwid comes with. The B pillar has a black finish while the C pillar gets a plastic matt black cover with a neat variant badge in chrome placed on it.

At the rear, the design gets slightly rounded with the boot lid and the rounfed C shaped tail lamps. The boot lid gets a tiny integrated spoiler as well. The rear bumper like the front one gets dual tone red-black finish with the lower half getting the matt black finish. As with all Renault cars, the Kwid too gets its name written in the center of the boot lid with the Renault logo in chrome.

The Renault Kwid drives on 155/80 R13 sized wheels with JK Tyre Ultima-Neo doing the duty here with 3 point design plastic wheel caps.

Renault Kwid Dimensions

Renault Kwid is 3679 mm in length and is 1579 mm wide. The height of Kwid is nearly1478 mm. The wheelbase of the hatchback Kwid stands at 2422 mm which is best in class. Apart from all this, the car possesses a very good, class-leading ground clearance of 180 mm which is quite impressive, especially for the Indian roads.

Hop inside the Renault Kwid…and the first thing you notice is how easy it is to enter and exit the car, thanks to the height of the vehicle. The dashboard comes in matt black finish with a touch of piano-black finish at places, alongwith chrome inserts here and there. The instrument cluster gets an all-digital display with a large speedometer in the middle with the trip meters below it, the fuel gauge on the right side and other tell-tale warning lights spread around the cluster.

The instrument cluster comes in a soft orange backlight, and the digits with other instrumentation are easily readable in broad daylight. The steering has a three- spoke design with piano-black finish inserts on it. The steering feels chunky to grip. It’s in a decent position in terms of height, as there is no height or rake adjust here, but then, none of the rivals of Renault Kwid offer this option either. The center dash gets a large hexagonal design space that houses a 7″ (18cm) touchscreen head unit that Renault calls as MediaNav. This unit is same as the one that we see on Renault Duster. This touchscreen unit is the controlhouse for Radio, USB, GPS Navigation, Bluetooth and Aux-In. The hexagonal center dash also houses the rotary type Aircon switches. Like all other Renault cars, the Kwid also gets front power window control switches and central lock buttons located in the middle of the dash, rather than on the doors.

The Kwid has a 3-stage glovebox on it, the first and the last being closable ones, and the middle one is a left-open one. Lots of cubby holes and storage places are present in the Kwid; around the gear shifter, door pads. There’s no shortage of storage space in here. The AC vents on Renault Kwid consist of two round ones on the extreme sides and two rectangular vents on the center dash. All four vents can be shut and adjusted as per need. A thin chrome insert on these vents make them stand out and also enhance the beauty of the dash.

The seats on the Kwid get integrated headrests and come with three-tone fabric upholstery, with a mix of black, red and grey, making them look sporty. The front seats offer support well, and are adequately-sized for the average Indian frame. Front seats have a good amount of cushioning and are well-padded wherever needed. Considering the average Indian height, the rear seats can seat 2 passengers very comfortably. A third can fit in with a decent amount of legroom, shoulder-room and headroom. The rear seat is inclined at a perfect angle to give the right comfort. Like the front seats, the rear also get two integrated headrests. As mentioned, due to the large dimension of the Kwid, the cabin area gets a lot of space all around. In comparison with the rivals Alto and Eon, the space inside and out, is quite good on the Kwid. The boot area on the Kwid is a generous 300 litres which again is the best in the segment. 3 medium-sized travel bags can easily fit in here. The loading-unloading area is also ergonomic. With a fold of the rear seat, the boot can be increased to a mammoth 1115 litres.

Renault Kwid Engine – Transmission – Drive

This new global Renault Kwid model has an all new platform, with one getting an all new engine to drive it as well. The motor, specially developed for the Kwid, is a 799 cc 3-cylinder Petrol 12 valve engine. This 800 cc engine produces 54 PS at 5,678 rpm and 72 Nm of torque at 4,386 rpm and gives power to the front wheels. What you get is a 5 speed manual transmission that’s mated to this motor.

There’s a keyless entry but a key ignition start. Comes with a blank on the dash, which we think may house the button start at a later stage, or for the export version, so as to not disturb its position in the price-sensitive country models. Start the Kwid and the 800cc engine settles into a smooth idle in a jiffy. A few vibes can be felt at idle, but are not very noticeable or worth mentioning. Shift to 1st and you notice the short throws of the gear-shifter. The clutch is very light, and the clutch travel is not very long, adding to the driver’s comfort level.

With claimed fuel efficiency of 25.17 kmpl (best for a petrol car in India) apart from weight reduction, Renault Kwid also has its 3-cylinder 800 cc engine tuned for total lean fuel use. The 1st gear response is pretty decent. Once you cross the 25-30 kmph speed and shift to 2nd is when the Kwid begins to show its true colors. The power delivery increases, and with it, so does the steering response. What’s noteworthy is the highly impressive ride- quality on the Kwid. All potholes and bumps are ironed out, making this easily one of the best cars in terms of ride-quality for the segment. The gear ratios are set to short ones for 1, 2 and 3 while the 4th and 5th gears get slightly longer ratios to suit highway commuting. Road noise does filter into the cabin and so does a bit of tyre-noise but then, it’s part n’ parcel of this segment and price bracket.

Renault Kwid gets front discs and rear drum brakes that feel lively. The feedback on the brake pedal is also adequate. Sadly, there is no ABS on offer on the Kwid, but we expect it to be included later. The Kwid is great for city commutes thanks to its gear ratios and engine tune. Surprisingly, Renault Kwid does not fail to impress us on the highways as well. Touching a speed of 130 kmph on the Kwid felt very comfortable. The Kwid top end variant will come with driver airbag as option, while we expect this feature to be added to all trims.

Renault Kwid will be available in five color options : Fiery Red, Ice Kool White, Moonlight Silver, Outback Bronze and Planet Grey. You also have about 60 special customized accessories to choose from, including chrome inserts and garnish, roof rails, side-cladding, weather guard window deflectors, skid plates, mats, steering covers, seat covers etc.

Renault Kwid RXT

Std – Base

RXE – Base-Mid

RXL – Loaded Mid

RXT – Fully Loaded

Renault Kwid manages to bring in an all new SUV-inspired styling, seen for the first time on a small car; especially for the entry -level car segment. This is something that has never been done before by any carmaker. The car is targeted at the common man who can now get a chance to own a SUV-car at the price of a small car.

The ‘in-your-face’ designing and styling is trendy (not in a negative way, of course.) And if we look at the features, airbags are optional on the top variant; but then again, the competition offers that too.

So the big questions here are – firstly, is it a headturner? Yes. One can easily say, that this one is. Secondly, should you buy it? Yes. Because this Indo-French production comes loaded with features. With a peppy 800 cc engine that also promises class- leading fuel economy of 25.17 kmpl in the package. So to sum it up, Renault Kwid is a whole package, and we fully expect Renault to price it intelligently, (starting at Rs.3 lakh or so) because it has rival with the best-selling Maruti-Suzuki Alto 800 and the Hyundai Eon. A formidable, but not impossible task, as the Renault Kwid is a fully capable product, challenging the competitors and giving them a run for their money.

We already have given senior Renault officials a strong feedback to improve their aftersales and dealer network. We have been assured that they already are working on it to support the Kwid. It looks like a pleasant road forward here onwards…

Now you can pre-book your Kwid starting 14th September using the special Renault Kwid mobile app. That’s what we call, keeping up with the times! So, until the next time… Happy & safe driving! And we’re not Kwidding!!

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Honda HR-V Coming To India Next Year

Honda is considering launching the HR-V SUV in India sometime next year.

in India sometime next year. The SUV will look to sit between the CR-V and the BR-V, which will be launched soon. Also called the Vezel, the Honda HR-V was launched at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show and it is based on the Jazz hatchback. From the front, it looks more aggressive than the CR-V and the sloping rear gives it a sporty look.

The Honda HR-V will be launched sometime next year and it will slot in between the BR-V and the CR-V

Powering the international spec SUV is a 1.8-litre four cylinder petrol engine producing 141 bhp and 172 Nm of torque. It is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic gearbox. Honda could offer a 1.5-litre petrol unit from the Civic. It produces 175 bhp and 220 Nm of torque. A 1.6-litre diesel engine is also available. It produces 120 bhp and 300 Nm of torque. The diesel engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Four-wheel drive option is not available.

Honda is expected to launch the HR-V sometime next year and it will compete with upcoming Hyundai Tuscon. It will start at around INR 16 lakhs (ex-showroom).

The HR-V is based on the Jazz hatchback and was launched at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show

Meanwhile, the Japanese manufacturer is all set to launch the BR-V SUVin India later this year. It was shown at last month’s Auto Expoin Delhi and will be the cheapest SUV on sale by Honda. The 7-seater will compete with the Renault Duster, Hyundai Creta and the Mahindra XUV 500. As of now, they have only one SUV on sale in the country, and that is the Honda CR-V.It starts at INR 21.24 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi) and competes with the Skoda Yeti.

Source – ZigWheels

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Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza To Become First Maruti Suzuki To Be Completely Developed In India

Maruti Suzuki’s soon to be launched compact SUV will be the company’s first car to be designed, developed, built, validated and tested in India.

CV Raman, executive director, Engineering, MSIL said, “While the Indian R&D team works with the global team on various models, in case of Brezza all decisions and judgments on the car were taken by Maruti team and no validation of judgements were taken from the global team of Suzuki. Our R&D team which comprised of 300 members a decade ago is now 1,300 member and the majority of the addition has come over the last four to five years. The customers are transforming and the market is getting segmented. We have to address to every segment.”

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza Sketch

The team started working on the SUV back in 2011. The cost benefits of developing the car here have not been disclosed yet. The financial part of it will be revealed at a later date.

The SUV is a sub-4 metre vehicle that will be based on an all-new platform. It is based on the XA Alpha concept showcased at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo. The design of the new compact SUV will be based on the company’s new design language and will look similar to the Grand Vitara SUV. It has been code-named the YBA.

The Vitara Brezza will be powered by the same 1.3-litre Fiat sourced diesel engine that powers the Swift and other Maruti Suzuki vehicles. The engine will get the SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) which made its debut in the Ciaz sedan. Power output is expected to be 75 bhp or 90 bhp. Expect Maruti Suzuki to offer a manual transmission as well as an automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive option will not be available. Petrol engines will be made available but it is unclear of it will be launched in India.

The equipment list is expected to be longer than its rivals. It will get projector headlamps, fog lamps, ORVMs with integrated turn indicators, keyless entry, push start-stop, an in-dash music system with Bluetooth, USB and AUX.  It will also get a touch screen system with GPS and reverse parking camera.

Maruti Suzuki’s first ever sub-compact SUV will be launched at the Auto Expo next month and it will compete against the Premier Rio, Mahindra Quanto, Ford Ecosport and the Mahindra TUV 300. Prices are expected to start at around INR 6.5 lakhs (ex-showroom). This new SUV will be the first proper SUV in the company’s line-up in India. Maruti Suzuki does not sell any SUVs in India. The S-Cross is a crossover.

Source – Indian Express

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Crossover And Sedan Based On The Renault Kwid Coming

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has confirmed at the ongoing New York International Auto Show that there will be a crossover and a compact sedan based on the CMF-A platform, on which the Renault Kwid hatchback is based.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has confirmed at the ongoing New York International Auto Show that there will be a crossover and a compact sedan based on the CMF-A platform, on which the Renault Kwid hatchback is based. Back in 2013, he said that the platform is for the most affordable cars in the market. “Obviously, we’re going to have a crossover, we’re going to have sedans, we’re going to have things like this (CMF-A platform-based small cars), because there is an appeal for India, and this is not only about India, this is about all emerging markets”, Mr. Ghosn said.

The Renault Kwid hatchback is based on the CMF-A platform

The compact sedan will be a sub-4 metre car that could compete with the Tata Zest, Ford Figo Aspire, Honda Amaze and the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire or the upcoming Tata Kite 5 sedan. The crossover will also be a sub-4 metre vehicle that could compete with the Mahindra TUV 300, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Ford Ecosport or the Mahindra KUV 100 or the upcoming  Maruti Suzuki Ignis.

The Kwid hatchback is powered by a 799 cc, three-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 53 bhp and 72 Nm of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and power is sent to the front wheels. The hatchback weighs just 669 kgs. This allows it to return an efficiency of 25.17 kms to a litre of fuel. The French manufacturer will soon launch the Renault Kwid 1.0 SCe, which has a more powerful and bigger 1.0-litre engine, and the Renault Kwid Easy-R AMT, which is equipped with a 5-speed automated manual transmission (AMT).

CMF stands from Common Module Family

It starts at INR 2.60 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi) and goes up to INR 3.64 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi). It competes against the Hyundai Eon, Tata Nano GenX and the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800.

Source – Indian Autos Blog

Hyundai’s MPV Delayed To Make Way For Compact SUV

Back in 2012, Hyundai showed interest in developing a new compact MPV when they released the Hexa Space concept.

Back in 2012, Hyundai showed interest in developing a new compact MPV when they released the Hexa Space concept. In July last year, they confirmed that the MPV had been given the green light and would be developed to take on the Renault Lodgy, Honda Mobilio and the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga.

Production version of the Hyundai Hexa Space MPV concept has been put on hold

The new MPV was expected to be shown as a pre-production model during the Auto Expo held last month in Delhi. But instead, Hyundai decided to show the new Carlino concept, which is a sub-4 metre compact SUV. Company sources say that the MPV has been put on a hold to concentrate on the new SUV.

This is mainly because the MPVs in the segment have been slowly losing sales. The Renault Lodgy, Honda Mobilio and even the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, which is the segment leader, is not doing well in terms of sales. Instead, there is a growing demand from the compact SUV segment. Hyundai has a compact SUV called the Creta, which rivals the Renault Duster, but they do not have any sub-4 metre SUV. The segment has seen an increase in demand lately. The SUVs in the sub-4 metre segment are the Ford Ecosport, Mahindra TUV 100 and the new Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. The Creta is currently their smallest SUV globally.

Hyundai will instead concentrate on the Carlino based compact SUV

The Hyundai Carlino concept was showcased for the first time at the Auto Expo and it is a sub-4 metre SUV. It is expected to be powered by the same engines that do duty on the Hyundai i20 hatchback. Automatic and manual transmissions will be offered. The vehicle is still under development and will be production ready only next year.

Source – Autocar India

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza Gathers 20,000+ Bookings, Deliveries to Begin from 25th March

Maruti Suzuki’s next on  stage star performer today is Vitara Brezza.

Maruti Suzuki’s next on  stage star performer today is Vitara Brezza. Company’s absense in sub-four meter compact utility vehicle segement was highly felt by many, few days back. Company took their own time, but came out with a car which ticks many right boxes, like almost every other Maruti. Vitara Brezza is the first car completely built – from drawing board to drawing attention, in India. The car made its official debut on stages of 2016 Indian Auto Expoand was launched two weeks ago. The interest generated at the time of unveiling got leveraged further when the prices were announced, which starts from Rs. 6.99 lakhsand streches upto 9.68 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi.

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is designed not offend anyone at the front.

A Maruti Suzuki’s compact SUV at a price of premium hatchback or a compact sedan sounded like perfect recipe of a hot cake for many. Thus over a fortnight it managed to gather 20,000+ bookings and there is no sign of company loosing this momentumanytime soon. Customer remains happy if he / she gets the chance to get behind the wheel of his / her brand new possesion and thus Maruti Suzuki will deliver this baby SUV from 25th of this month. Now it remains a question that how company manages to restrict the gap between demand and supply to the minimum. Waiting period should not go past a limit beyond which customer starts looking for an alternative. As this car is going be exported to overseas market, it will be difficult task for company to strike the balance between two markets.

Floating contrast roof adds flare to the overall sober design.

Currently Brezza is avavilable with only one diesel engine option. It is powered by 1.3 liter DDiS 200 engine which produces power equal to 90 horses and belts out a torque figure of 200 Nm. With kerb weight close to 1,200 kg, it manages to churn out fuel efficiency figure of 24.3 km/l. It is rumored that soon a petrol powered variant of this car will also be launched, most probably with 1.0 Boosterjetvariant.  With a length measuring 5 mm shorter than book written defintion of small car, Brezza competeswith Ford Ecosport, Mahindra TUV 300 and upcoming Mahindra NuvoSport. Company bets big on this car and counts this as key launch which would help them in achieving their target of double digit growth this fiscal year.

Many familiar bits, borrowed from other Suzukis, inside the cabin.

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is priced between Rs. 6.99 lakhs to Rs. 9.68 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). Only powered by 1.3 liter DDiS diesel engine.

Delhi Auto Expo 2016: Benelli Tornado 300 unveiled

Benelli is all set to woo Indians with another fully faired affordable performance machine in the form of Tornado 300.

Benelli is all set to woo Indians with another fully faired affordable performance machine in the form of Tornado 300. Unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo 2016, Benelli Tornado will be available this year, here in India.

Powering the Benelli Tornado 300 is an in-line two cylinder 4-stroke 4-valve DOHC Benelli engine, producing 36 PS of peak power at 12000 rpm and 27 Nm of max torque at 9000 rpm, mated to a 6 speed gearbox. Benelli claims that the Tornado 300 will have a top speed of around 170 km/h which is certainly promising on paper.

41mm upside down forks up front, and a lateral mono-shock at the rear take care of the suspension duties. The suspension is adjustable for preload. Braking is taken care by large 260 mm floating discs with a 4 piston caliper at the front and a single 240 mm disc with a single piston caliper brake at the rear. 110/70 and 150/60 section tyres at the front and rear respectively are housed on 17-inch alloy wheels. The ride height has been kept as 790mm.

The Italian beauty looks fine and will make its way to Indian hearts easily. The full fairing with a large headlight minimalistic graphic work make it an elegant looking bike. The bike will be launched this year in India.

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza Gathers 2,600 Bookings, Deliveries To Begin By March End

Just 24-hour after launch, Maruti Suzuki received 2,600 bookings for the car.

Just 24-hour after launch, Maruti Suzuki received 2,600 bookings for the car. Some dealers started accepting bookings from the February. Deliveries of the new compact SUV will begin by the end of this month. The car received good response from the public when it was showcased at the Auto Expo in Delhi last month.

The Vitara Brezza has done well for Maruti so far and deliveries will begin by the end of the month

The compact sub-4 metre SUV was launchedin the country yesterday. This is the first sub-4 metre SUV from the Indian company. It was unveiledat the Auto Expo in Delhi last month. It measures 3,995 mm in length, 1,790 mm in width and 1,640 mm in height. The ground clearance is 198 mm and the turning circle is 5.2 metres. The SUV can seat 5 people and has a wheelbase of 2,500 mm while the boot capacity is 328 litres.

The SUV is powered by a 1.3-litre diesel engine producing 88.5 bhp at 4,000 rpm and 200 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and power is sent to the front wheels. The SUV returns 24.3 kms to a litre of fuel. A petrol engine and an automatic gearbox are not available. The car rides on 16-inch wheels.

It is available with a diesel engine only

The vehicle comes with a SmartPlay infotainment system with inbuilt navigation, engine starter button, cruise control, projector headlights with LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights, a driver airbag as standard, ABS, EBD, passenger airbag and a reverse parking camera.

The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza starts at INR 6.99 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi) and goes up to INR 9.68 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi) and it competes with the Mahindra TUV 300 and the Ford Ecosport.

It competes with the Mahindra TUV 300 and the Ford Ecosport

Read the specification comparison between the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford Ecosport and the Mahindra TUV 300 here.

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Audi Unveils New Efficient AWD System Called ‘Quattro Ultra’

Audi has unveiled a new AWD system called as the Quattro Ultra which promises to be 5 percent more fuel efficient than the current system.

2017 Audi A4 Allroad

Audi’s Quattro 4-wheel drive system has been quite the icon when it comes to providing power to all 4 wheels. The system has gained immense popularity in the company’s entire lineup and has won Audi many championship races, Le Mans 24 hours included. The German luxury car maker has now unveiled a new more advanced system called the Quattro Ultra that has the capability to decouple the rear drive and in turn provide enhanced fuel economy by up to 5 percent. The new system will be exclusively available for the modular-longitudinal platform (MLB) and has fewer moving parts which means less friction.

Audi Quattro Ultra Engaged

Almost 1 in 2 Audi’s sold worldwide are equipped with the Quattro AWD system and hence it is quite a big deal for the German car maker. The first car to benefit from this system will be the Audi A4 AllRoad that is set for launch in Summer this year. The system works on a programme that helps it decide when to couple and decouple the rear axle from the drivetrain. When the software decides that front-wheel drive is adequate, it will electromechanically disengage a multiplate clutch positioned right behind the transmission along with a clutch in the rear differential which decouples to stop the propellor shaft from rotating in order to reduce frictional losses, thereby improving efficiency.

Audi Quattro Ultra Disengaged

As mentioned above, this system will be only compatible with cars based on the MLB platform. Expect the A4 sedan to get this tech very soon followed by the next generation A5, Q5, A6 and A7. The Quattro Ultra can at the moment handle a limited amount of torque which is why we will have to wait for some more time to see it on Audi’s high performance models. Audi is all set to launch the Q2 SUVat the 2016 Geneva Motor Show on the 1st of March. Stay tuned for all the car news on the ICB network.

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Exclusive Interview with Datsun Global Head Mr. Vincent Cobee and His Plans for India

Datsun had a fairly cheerful 2016 Auto Expo where it unveiled the Go-Cross concept.

Datsun had a fairly cheerful 2016 Auto Expo where it unveiled the Go-Cross concept. The car looks stunning and is at least two years away from its official launch. Meanwhile, we spoke to the Global Head of Datsun, Mr. Vincent Cobee. Here’s what he shared with us.

Q) When do can see expect the Go-Cross Concept in production?

A) We believe in India and also in other markets there is growing demand for a multi faceted life, people want not only a commute car, but a car that can also bring you outdoor to family and sport experiences. Many markets including Indonesia are evolving very quickly. So when we put all of this together assets we have positioning of a brand evolution of our customer. We think that Redi-Go concept was a good idea for what I call the pre-wedding category but we also think that the families the extended group of friends are also targeting more adventure, that’s where Go-Cross stands. We have been listening to you that the Go-Cross concept will translate into a car and will come to India one time.

Q) What will Datsun India do differently this year that you didn’t last year?

A) I don’t think we do different, I think we do better. Solidifying your foundation, you need to improve may be as good as it should be. So if I give you some direction, we are introducing new body colours, new dual tone interiors, expanding our network in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. We will be increasing our sales finance offers. We will be introducing a third car bringing a broader line up. We also aim to target to the customers through our ‘ISayYes’ campaign.

Q) How many sales points do you have in tier 2 and tier 3 cities?

A) In India Datsun has 42 dedicated dealerships out of a total of 200 outlets as we speak. Those two numbers will grow in the coming year by 50 percent to around 300 dealerships and 60-70 dedicated Datsun dealerships. We are flexing our distribution network and we are also logically translating the relevance of Datsun brand in tier 2 and tier 3 markets. Hopefully we will achieve the dealerships target by the end of this fiscal year by mid 2017.

Q) How do you convince customers to stay with you rather than spending their money on a bigger car given that sales in India now are greater in the large hatchback segment?

A) Here at Datsun, we of course care about the price and customers. We are not looking at the price, we are looking at the customer in another 2, 3 or 5 years and here I can confirm that we are the best. We have the best in terms of customer ownership, parts and labour costs. We are also working closely with our finance partners and offering a interest rate of 8.99 percent which is one of the best in the Indian market. So the difference is big but when you are looking at all the customer experience and other such factors together that is how Datsun is making a difference.

Q) Is there is a precise timeline to bring out the separate sales channel?

A) There is no precise timeline. If you visit our dealerships which are the same booth as Nissan, we have a different brand experience the way we position our products is also different.

Q) What is your strategy to gain 5 percent market share?

A) The objective is very ambitious. We take this market very seriously and we also understand that growth requires a lot of well organized efforts. In terms of products, today we have two, in some months we will have three, may be if we get good response for the Go-Cross we will have four one day. Second one is coverage, today we are under-represented. Third one is communication and we are now trying to target young middle class customers with the ‘ISayYes’ Campaign. Another way is guerrilla communications that is word of mouth, friends and families, referrals. Yes 1.5 to 5 percent is a challenge but at the same time we have a number of products we are going to launch and expanding our network.

Q) Will there be a sedan from Datsun in the near future?

A) When I look at the fast growing sub 4-metre sedan category in India I see opportunities and customer frustrations. Rear seat roominess, versatility actual storage capacity in the trunk. One of the reasons we developed Go+ is it is sub 4-metre which can give you 7 seats or 5 seats and a lot of boot space.

Q) On the safety front, do you see safety become an important selling factor in emerging markets around the world?

A) Everybody cares about safety and safety on the roads is a tragedy in India. So I think there is no doubt that all car makers and Datsun among them obviously wants to take part in solving that problem. We also have to be realistic about what the problem is in India, which is that 135,000 people die on Indian roads but the percentage of people dieing in a car is less than 15 percent. And if you were supposed to do a root cause analysis of those 15 percent very few were in a frontal crash. The root cause is more about maintenance, driving skills road conditions etc. Hence improving safety is absolutely necessary. But coming back to priorities, this car has the best in class braking by 25 percent, better seat comfort and lighting in segment. Lastly, I don’t think safety is a marketing tool, it is a serious subject.

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2017 Audi R8 V10 Spyder debuts at New York Auto Show

2017 Audi R8 V10 Spyder : 540 hp, 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, top speed 318 km/h
Audi launched the 2017 Audi R8 V10 at the New York Auto Show with improvements over its previous iterations.

Audi launched the 2017 Audi R8 V10 at the New York Auto Show with improvements over its previous iterations. The naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 makes 540 bhp along with 540 Nm at 6500 rpm and puts all that power to the ground swiftly with a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission, zooming from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds with a top speed 318 km/h.

The two-seater weighs just 1,612 kilograms with aluminum components making up to 79.6 percent of its weight.The chassis weighs a mere 208 kilograms, and its torsional rigidity has increased by over 50 percent compared with the previous model.  The  Audi Space Frame (ASF) is made from aluminum and carbon fiber. The all-wheel clutch, water cooled for maximum performance, distributes the drive torques fully variable according to the driving situation – in extreme cases, up to 100 percent to the front or rear wheels. Electro-hydraulic drive opens and closes the hood in 20 seconds up to a speed of 50 km/h.

Inside, large 12.3-inch, fully digital Audi virtual cockpit presents all information using rich 3D graphics. MMI navigation plus with MMI touch is standard, as are belt microphones. Audi integrates two head restraint Bang & Olufsen loudspeakers into each seat, for an excellent audio experience even when driving with the hood open.

The driver and passenger sit on sport seats or bucket seats with a more highly contoured seat shape, for lateral support. Customers have almost unlimited scope to tailor both the interior and exterior to their individual preferences.  Add-on body components such as the front spoiler, the diffuser and the new sideblades are also available in carbon. LED headlights with newly developed laser technology maximize visibility and range for the driver, bringing increased safety at night.

“With its spontaneous throttle response, quick revving-up and inimitable sound, the 5.2 FSI naturally aspirated engine in the new Audi R8 Spyder delivers undiluted emotion,” remarked Dr.-Ing. Stefan Knirsch, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development. “Compared to the R8 Coupé*, the engine sound in the open high-performance sports car now delivers an even more intense experience.”

Audi Q6 E-Tron to be Built in Belgium, To be followed by Q8 in 2019

The Audi Q6 E-Tron Electric SUV will be built at Volkswagen Group’s manufacturing facility near Brussels, Belgium.

The Audi Q6 E-Tron Electric SUV will be built at Volkswagen Group’s manufacturing facility near Brussels, Belgium. The Q6 will be positioned as a sporty variant between the Q5 and Q7, and will be launched by 2018.

The E-Tron Quattro concept was shown last year at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show which was an all electric crossover model. This model was later called as the Q6 E-Tron which will be seeing its day of light by 2018. It looks very sleek, sharp and futuristic from any angle. The car will be based on the MLB Evo platform and will be powered by conventional powertrains besides all-electric power. The electric drivetrain will consist of three electric motors placed one on the front axle and two on the rear axle. Between the two axles will sit a high capacity Lithium-ion battery to provide optimum weight distribution and low centre of gravity.

Audi will be sourcing the batteries from LG Chem and Samsung SDI of Korea which will provide the car with a range of upto 310 miles (500 Kms) on a single charge. The Q6 E-Tron will be designed on the basis of the R8 E-Tron electric supercar. The Belgian plant in question is currently responsible for the production of the Audi A1, which will be then shifted to Spain after the arrival of the electric SUV. Audi could also launch the Q8 electric SUV in 2019 which will be a luxurious offering from the company and will take on the Range Rover Sport.

Audi India launched the Q7 SUV in India last month and will be launching the all new A4 sedan this year. The A4 is powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol and a 2.0-litre diesel. The car could set new benchmarks in India for performance and efficiency as it is based on the MQB platform which makes much lighter than its predecessor.

Three interesting concepts to look out for at the Geneva Motor Show

Geneva Motor Show is one of the biggest platform’s to showcase products for manufacturers world over.

Geneva Motor Show is one of the biggest platform’s to showcase products for manufacturers world over. Here we look at three concepts which could make its way to production soon.

Volkswagen Small Car: Volkswagen recently scrapped the Taigun SUV planstating that it is too small to be developed as an SUV.However, there are reports floating around the market that the company will develop a Polo based SUV to cater to the huge demand of small SUV’s across the developing markets and Europe. The prototype will reportedly be called T-Cross, hinting that it will be more of a crossover than a full blown SUV.  It is expected to hit production in 2018 and should find it’s way to India soon.

T-Cross could be similar to the T-Roc concept shown a couple of years back.

Read: Geneva Motor Show: 20 hottest upcoming production cars

Skoda Vision S SUV : A hybrid SUV from the Czech manufacturer will be on display at the show in Switzerland and the company has made images publicto understand what could be reality in couple of years time. Skoda claims the VisionS can travel up to 50km on electric power alone with the help of a  12.4kWh lithium-ion battery and can go about 1,000 kilometers on a full fuel tank!! The company describes it’s design language “is influenced by Czech Cubism and the tradition of Bohemian crystal art,” whatever that means.. but it looks good on the screen. The SUV will be first from Skoda to seat six passengers in three rows and will most probably come with ‘Kodiak’ moniker.

2016 Skoda Vision S Concept SUV Front

2016 Skoda Vision S Concept SUV Rear

Porsche 911 R: The original Porsche  911R celebrates it’s 50th anniversary next year and to celebrate this milestone, Porshe might bring the 911R nomenclature to use in a concept form at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. The prototype has been caught testing with very little camouflage and most importantly, it will come with a manual gearbox which was last seen in the 997 in 2011. Porsche 911Rwill be driver-focussed and will be very responsive, probably sitting in between the track focussed RS and the GT variants.

Spy pic source: Autocar

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2016 Pagani Huayra BC Stars In New Official Video

Pagani has released an official video of the hardcore version of the Pagani Huayra, called the Pagani Huayra BC.

The new supercar is named after the late Benny Caiola, who was a car collector and Pagani’s first customer. The Huayra BC is a hardcore version of the Huayra, just like what the Zonda R is to the Pagani Zonda. The vehicle gets a lot of aerodynamic upgrades.

Powering the supercar is the same 6.0 litre Biturbo Mercedes-AMG V12 engine that does duty in the regular Huayra. But now, the power output has now been increased to more than 750 bhp at 6,200 rpm and more than a 1,000 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The power output could be as high as 790 bhp. The engine is mated to a new 7-speed AMT gearbox and power is sent to the rear wheels. The car comes with a new titanium sports exhaust system which makes it sound better and it is lighter. The transmission of the car has also been significantly reduced and its drive shaft has been taken from Le Mans racing.The final engine specifications and performance figures have not been released yet. They will be released soon.

The Pagani Huayra BC is a hardcore version of the regular supercar

The final engine specifications and performance figures have not been released yet. They will be released soon. Other details like the total number of cars have not been revealed yet, but it is expected to be limited to very few units (some reports say 20). Rumours also suggest that the car is available only to the customers of the Huayra. Pricing of the Italian supercar has not been revealed yet. The new Pagani Huayra BC will make its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The full specifications, pricing and other details have not been revealed yet

Jaguar Releases New Video Of The F-Type SVR

Jaguar has officially released at the pictures and a video of the F-type SVR after pictures and details of the car leaked online.

“The new F-Type SVR is the first series production Jaguar to be developed by Special Vehicle Operations and benefits from everything we know about precision engineering, performance and design,” said JLR’s special operations managing director John Edwards. “The result is a 200mph, all-weather supercar that you can drive every day – we even made a Convertible version so that enthusiasts can revel in the sound from the new titanium exhaust system.”

The car gets a new front bumper with larger air intakes, air vents on the bonnet, a new rear diffuser and a new rear spoiler. It is claimed that the new rear wing reduces lift by 80%. The new larger intakes improve engine and brake cooling.

Powering the SVR will be the same 5.0 litre V8 engine that is present in the F-type R Coupe. It will be mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and power will be sent to all four wheels. However, while it makes 542 bhp in the R Coupe, it makes 567 bhp in the SVR. The torque has also gone up by 20 Nm to 700 Nm. The car now accelerates from a standstill to a 100 kmph in 3.7 seconds, which is 0.4 seconds faster. The top speed has also gone up by 22 kmph and it is 322 kmph now.

To deliver the specified performance, the engine will be aided by weight reduction. The car gets carbon ceramic brakes which are 21 kgs lighter, a titanium exhaust system that is 12 kgs lighter and forged aluminium wheels which save 10 kgs.

Jaguar is also building a convertible version of the SVR F-type. It will have a top speed of 312 kmph.

SVR is the in-house specialists of Jaguar Land Rover. Their first car was the Range Rover SVR. This is their second car and the first Jaguar to get the SVR treatment.

The pricing of the car has not been revealed yet. It is expected to cost 1,00,000 pounds.

Ferrari 488 GTB Launched in India for Rs. 3.88 Crore!!

Ferrari has launched the 488 GTB in India at a price of Rs.

Ferrari has launched the 488 GTB in India at a price of Rs. 3.88 Crore ex-showroom, Delhi. The supercar is the successor to the iconic 458 Italia.

Ferrari 488 GTB Front

Ferrari entered India last year with a hope of a fresh new innings in the country. The Italian supercar maker has now officially launched the 488 GTB in India. The Ferrari 488 GTB is powered by a 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 motor that develops 660BHP and 69.95Kgm, and propels the car to 100Km/hr in just 3 seconds. This makes it more powerful than the outgoing 458 Italia by around 99BHP and the legendary Enzo Ferrari too. This is also the most powerful turbocharged and mid engined Ferrari the company has ever produced. The car is rear wheel driven and is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox which helps it hit a 330Km/hr top speed.

Ferrari 488 GTB Front Three Quarter

The Ferrari 488 GTB will be sold in India via two existing dealerships in Mumbai and Delhi. The range of Ferraris sold in India consist of the California T, 458 Spider, 458 Speciale and F12 Belinetta besides the newly launched 488 GTB. Ferrari entered India in June last year with the California T which is the most affordable Ferrari on sale in India and the range topping F12 Berlinetta.

Ferrari 488 GTB Rear Three Quarter

The Ferrari California T was the first next generation models from the company to have a turbocharged motor under its hood. The engine is mounted in the front while the gearbox drives the rear wheels. It was unveiled on the web in 2014, after which it debuted the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. The T in the moniker stands for Turbo, something that Ferrari used on the iconic F40 supercar. The F12 Berlinetta on the other hand uses a naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V12 engine that develops a colossal 740PS and 690Nm.

Ferrari 488 GTB Logo