Honda teases new CR-V on thier official website

Honda has started teasing the all new Honda CR-V on their official website.

The new Honda CR-V is taking its own sweet time to enter India and the bad news is the new CR-V, like its predecessor will not offer diesel option. The petrol only Honda Civic has been put to rest due to lack of demand and the once popular Accord too faces the heat for not having a diesel engine.
While the petrol sedans are suffering this much, i wonder what would be the treatment the premium SUV buyers in India have in store for the CR-V, a petrol soft roader. Nevertheless, Honda is determined to bring the CR-V sans a diesel motor.
The CR-V’s European lineup includes a 2.2 liter diesel engine but Honda thinks that the Indian diesel quality is unfit for the engine. The petrol engined CR-V has been spotted a few times while it was testing in India.
Honda India’s official website has removed the old CR-V and instead started teasing the new CR-V which will be launched in February as Mr. Jnaneswar Sen, Senior vice-president, sales and marketing, Honda Cars India, has confirmed to me via an email.

Volvo V40 Cross Country – Volvo India’s entry level warrior has landed

Volvo V40 Cross Country has been spotted for the first time at a dealer’s yard in Kochi. This is Volvo’s answer for the burgeoning entry level luxury car market in India.

Back in FebruaryMr. Tomas Ernberg at the launch party of the new D3 engines, he expressed his plans to get into the entry level luxury market in India. This segment was created by the BMW X1 and now has the Audi Q3 and Mercedes B-Class fighting for market share.
I believed that Volvo’s answer to this segment would be the speculated XC40 crossover. There was also a possibility that the V40 hatchback could possibly see an India debut but the chances were slim. Volvo India’s weak marketing machinery couldn’t have managed to convinced the Indian masses to shell out huge moolah for a hatchback.
Then came Paris Motor Show where I saw the V40 Cross Country – a slightly jumped up version of the V40 with some offroad garnish such as a fake skid plate, bigger alloy wheels with chunkier rubber, roof rails and chunky black cladding elements all round the body. Immediately I realized, V40 Cross Country is coming home!
I met Tomas Ernberg again in Chennai a few weeks back to understand the plans for the V40 Cross Country. He gave us the following details –

• Only 2WD will head to India. No plans for the All Wheel Drive technology
• Two engines will come to India – 1.6-liter petrol and 2.0-liter diesel (Ford powertrains)
• There will not be any undercutting in terms of price. Volvo India will bring the fully loaded variant in form of a CBU unit. The prices will be higher than the Mercedes B-Class (So expect it to cost more than at least 22 lakhs)

The V40 Cross Country will be launched in India by March end or April and will play a major role in the Swedish car maker’s expansion plans. Volvo India plans to be a ‘Top 3’ luxury player in India by the end of this decade and wants to expand its base to 43 dealerships from the current 12 by 2020

Skoda announces Citigo Green Tec and Citigo Sport

The global sensation Volkswagen Up! has two cousins from its sister brands – Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii. Essentially, they are the same cars with a different exterior accessories, badges and price tags.



Skoda has completed its Citigo range by adding two new variants to the lineup – Skoda Citigo Green Tec (CNG variant) and Citigo Sport.
The Skoda Citigo Green Tec version has been optimized to run on natural gas. It has a 10 gallon petrol tank and two reserve tanks for CNG – 34.5 and 37.5 liters respectively. Couple the dual fuel source with the Start & Stop system, the brake energy recovery system and low friction tires and the total range shoots to a whopping 600 km!


The Citigo Green Tec will be offered with three or five-door body style, with prices ranging between 12,040 Euros (8.76 lakhs) and 14,360 Euros (10.44 lakhs).
Next in-line is the Skoda Citigo Sport – a sporty looking variant of the Citigo.


The reason i say ‘looking’ is because nothing whatsoever is done to boost the performance. Updates are only decorations.

Skoda Citigo Sport features:

• 15-inch Auriga alloy wheels
• Front Spoiler
• Rear Diffuser
• Decorative racing strips
• Sporty seat covers
• Leather-wrapped handbrake and shift knob
• Three-spoke steering wheel

Both variants are powered by a 1.0L MPI petrol engine available in two state of tunes – 60hp or 75hp.
It is very easy to see why Skoda is mum about the Citigo’s launch in India. They are waiting for VW India to confirm the launch of the Up! Only then can Skoda India go ahead with the Citigo. Unless there is complete component localization, the Citigo cannot be priced in the league of the i10s and Wagon Rs and serve as the Czech brand’s entry-level car faithfully.

Spyshot – Honda/Acura NSX ready to be revived at Detroit?

Aryton Senna must be definitely tuned-in to the North American International Auto Show from the heavens. The spiritual inspiration to the legendary Mclaren F1 Supercar, the Honda NSX, may after all debut at the Detroit tomorrow.

The Honda NSX has a special place in the automotive history of the world. It was the NSX that convinced the world that supercars don’t have to be impractical with ridiculous ergonomics, extremely high service costs and woeful reliability. The NSX proved that supercars can be practical, comfortable and highly reliable machines when you develop them the right way.
Sadly, because of Honda’s fastidious attention to detail, the NSX’s production cost escalated rapidly making the project economically nonviable after 2005. It has been seven years since i saw the last Honda NSX rolling off the production line. But i am glad to report that it could soon be back!
This image posted by well known auto journo Asianmartin confirms that Honda is ready to revive the NSX brand at Detroit. However, this time it seems that Acura (Honda’s luxury marquee) is responsible for the NSX project.
If you have seen the Avengers movie, then you definitely have an idea of what to expect under the wrap. Remember the futuristic car Tony Stark drove in the Avengers? That was the concept avatar of the next gen NSX.
Last year, Acura unveiled the 2012 Acura NSX Concept (the precursor to the production model of NSX) at the same venue. There is a very good chance that i could possibly see the unveiling of the production model or a close-to production model this time around as there is no meaning in unveiling the same concept twice in such a huge dedicated booth area.
I do know that the production model of the NSX will have a weight-saving aluminum body and a high revving 3.5L VTEC making more than 450 hp mated to a wet twin-clutch seven-speed transmission. It will be a hybrid with an electric motor driving the rear wheels and two independent electric motors spinning the front wheels.
Acura claims that the new NSX will represent the ‘ultimate expression of man-machine synergy’. Stay tuned as i try to find out more!

While i was busy covering automotive news all around the globe, Mercedes dropped a bucket full of information on the new Mercedes E63 AMG.



As the new Mercedes E Class has been recently given a comprehensive facelift, it was very clear that i will see the new E63 AMG very soon. There is so much information available on the interweb, i thought i should bring a condensed ‘in a nutshell’ version.
So here is a fact-to-fact information about the 2013 Mercedes E63 AMG.

2014 Mercedes E63 AMG factfile:

• The E63 AMG lineup has been split into two lines – a standard E63 AMG and an ‘S-model’ which is a more powerful version of the E63 AMG.
• It is the quickest production car in the Mercedes’ history
• It will be available in sedan or wagon avatar.
• Design changes include an aggressive front bumper with huge air ducts and a central splitter, carbon fibre ORVM housing, a new rear bumper, a revised rear diffuser and quad trapezoidal shaped tail pipes.
• An optional new all-wheel drive 4MATC system is launched
• The standard E63 AMG will be powered by a 5.5-litre V8 petrol engine with 550hp/720 Nm. That’s 32hp and 20 Nm more than the outgoing model. 0-100 km/h happens in 4.2 seconds. With the new all-wheel drive 4MATC system, the 0-100 figure drops to 3.7 seconds for the sedan and 3.8 seconds for the AMG Estate.

• The S-model gets the same engine but with more power – 577hp/800 Nm. A 0-100 km/hr sprint can be achieved in just 3.6 seconds in the sedan or 3.7 seconds in the estate.
• All models get an AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed transmission.
• Braking in taken care by 360 mm perforated and ventilated discs all around with six- and four-piston calipers front and rear respectively. An optional 402 mm ceramic discs pack is also on offer which offer fade-free braking performance.

Official debut of the new E63 AMG will be held at the Detroit Motor Show tomorrow night. Sales of the RWD models will start in April and will be joined by the 4MATIC and S-Models in June.

Honda Urban SUV Concept press shots leak out

Honda’s Jazz-based Urban SUV concept will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show early Tuesday morning (Indian time) and a few Honda aficionados have given us a sense of whats in store by constructing digital mockups using the teaser image.

Today however, those renders can be set aside as the first press shots of the Honda Urban SUV have found their way on to the web. I can’t find out the exact source of the leak as they had spread across the web very quickly.
The future compact crossover will rival cars such as the Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008 and the Fiat 500X. It will be built on the same platform as the Jazz, and perhaps resurrect the HR-V nameplate.
Honda have made a smaller replica of the CR-V, but the feature content is not excessive. Perhaps keeping the low cost framework in mind, designers have penned a clean and simple exterior. The headlights are shaped like a two-sided spear and the pronounced shoulder line caves into the rear door.
Rear door handles have been compounded into the C Pillar section, a design feature copied from the Nissan Juke, a direct rival.
Honda’s EarthDreams technology would power the production version, 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter engines are being speculated, but surely if this SUV is to be sold globally, it needs a diesel engine.

The size, features and the potential markets for this model can only be verified tomorrow night, but there’s no harm in predicting what maybe the outcome.
If Honda is planning an India launch, it has to be priced to beat the Renault Duster. I believe the sub-4m long future launches such as the Maruti XA Alpha and the Ford EcoSport would undercut the Renault and the Honda in pricing, so there has to be a whiff of premium to the way it drives and feels to convince customers who would then will have a bigger collection of models to choose from.

Volvo showcases touchscreen retrofit for XC60, S60 at CES 2013

Has your Volvo’s infotainment system left you wanting for more? Do you feel left out when your buddies use various gestures and touches on their top-notch German entertainment system? Well, help is at hand.

News from the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) usually details on your next smart phone or TV. However, car makers are known to show off their new tech at the event as well. Active headlamps, laser tail-lights and most importantly infotainment and multimedia systems. Volvo has displayed one such infotainment display it has been working on with Ericsson and Parrot and it seems rather interesting.
Its basically an Android based system with a new type of a touchscreen. Do bear with us on this as i may get a bit technical, but i assure you its pretty cool.
How do you turn your standard, factory-fitted screen into a touchscreen? Volvo says that by having IR emitters around the screen, the position of your touch (or even a stylus for that matter) can be detected as it would break the IR beam from reaching the source to the end. The software understands this as a ‘touch input’ and you’re good to go. Perhaps the most brilliant part of this technology is that the standard screen does not need to be replaced! Didn’t i say it was pretty cool?
The user on the other hand, does need to understand wavelength properties or IR radiations as theoretically, you wouldn’t really know if it is a touchscreen or a normal display made to be touch responsive. The most probable niggle could be a lag between the user ‘touching’ the option and the system processing it after the IR break has been studied.
Wait, what did i mean by ‘you going for it’? Volvo say that this technology will be offered as a dealer-installed retrofit for the initial period before they makes this a factory fitment. So if you’re driving a post-2010 Volvo S60, XC60 or even a V60 (with the 7-inch screen), you could soon get in touch with your dealer on the details.
However, i can only wonder how much this system could cost. Wouldn’t having a touch panel be cheaper than fitting IR emitters surrounding the screen and developing a unique software specifically for this? Yes, the fact that it can be neatly integrated into an existing car sounds good, but at what price? Volvo haven’t announced the pricing yet.
Other features of the system include wireless and 3G availability. Also, if you’re used to controlling the vehicle settings (temperature, navigation) through the steering wheel/dash mounted buttons and you fear that you’ll have to extend your arm and use the touchscreen from now on, fear not. Volvo says that these standard settings will continue to work the way they do now. It’s only if you want to get your music/video going or run various apps like Spotify, TuneIn and Parrot Maps, do you’ve to use the IR touch system.

Volkswagen plans a Golf CC to rival the Mercedes CLA

Even before its official debut at the Detroit Motor Show, the Mercedes CLA has picked up a fight with Volkswagen.



Reports suggest that Volkswagen’s stylish coupe based on the new Golf platform will rival the upcoming hottie from Mercedes.
A Golf-based Coupe? You mean a coupe variant of Volkswagen Jetta?
Well, the answer is both Yes and No. To explain it in a much simpler terms, the Golf based coupe will be to the Jetta what the Passat CC is to the Passat – not exactly the same car, but one that’s a little wider, lower and longer.

VW New Compact Coupe Concept

Volkswagen evinced interest on a Jetta coupe way back in 2010 revealing the New Concept Coupe at the Detroit Motor Show. Since then, i never saw production plans materializing on that front.
However, with Mercedes all gung-ho about the CLA and Audi about to finish the A3 sedan project, there is bound to be a demand for less flashier coupe from people who are not interested in driving a luxury brand.
AutoExpress reports that the Jetta Coupe/Golf CC will be developed on the MQB matrix. It will be a slightly lengthened version of the MQB platform because the same base underpins the Golf Estate variant and of course Audi’s new A3 sedan. It will get a notchback style wide-opening tailgate and not the boxy saloon boot seen on the current Jetta.
Being a premium product, expect highly refined and powerful versions of the familiar 1.4 TSI and 2.0 TDI under the bonnet. Just like most future VW Group models, cylinder deactivation technology will boost fuel economy to 23 kmpl. Plans to launch a hotter GTI version with the 2.0 TSI to rival the Mercedes CLA 45 AMG and provide a cheaper alternative to the Audi S3 saloon, are reportedly sanctioned.
When it sees the light of the day in 2015, prices will range from 19,000 GBP (around 16 -17 lakhs INR). It will be mostly sold in the US, Europe and Chinese market.
Despite being one of the fastest growing automotive markets in world, it is disheartening to see that coupes and convertibles are hidden away from us. Perhaps, there is still a long way to go for the Indian consumer to develop a liking for an out-of-the-box design.

Audi India has launched the facelift of the Q5 today post a short driving experience program for the media in Haryana.



These photographs are coming in from our representative from Mangur Village, Faridabad, Haryana, where the experience has just concluded. Audi India has also released a press note to reveal the updates, improvements and the price.



Changes have been made to the design, infotainment system, assistance systems and the engine. The fuel efficiency of the two diesel engines and the one petrol engine has increased by 15%.



The Q5 facelift is launched in 6 colors from a Delhi ex-showroom price of 43.16 lakh rupees.

Audi Q5 facelift styling and body

• Sharper profile
• Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights
• Engine hood and tailgate are made using aluminum
• Optionally available off-road style package

Audi Q5 facelift Engines

• Two TDI and one TFSI engine, equipped with direct fuel injection and turbo charging
• Power from 177 hp to 245 hp
• Fully updated 2.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI engines
• Fuel economy up by 15 percent, 2.0 TDI has fuel consumption of 14.6 kmpl [ARAI]
• Energy recovery comes standard on all engines

Audi Q5 facelift Power transmission

• Refined tuning, new electromechanical power steering for more precise steering response at higher speeds
• Audi Drive Select for electronic damper control

Audi Q5 facelift Interior

• New leather-wrapped 4-spoke multifunction steering wheel
• Controls finished in chrome
• High gloss black finish on the inner fascia of the radio system/CD player and the air conditioning
• Milano leather interior with two interior colors in beige and black

Audi Q5 facelift Exterior

• Comes in 6 colours
• New bonnet with contoured lines
• Refreshed bumper with trapezoidal design
• New rear diffuser and flat-bottomed tail pipe with chrome trim
• Tailpipes have flat bottomed section with chrome trim

Stay tuned for more details and photographs on the Audi Q5 facelift.

Audi’s push for innovative products brings some outrageous monsters on the market.
To start with, I don’t understand the concept of a ‘Sporty SUV’.
An SUV needs to be a good off-roader. Making it sporty by stiffening the suspension and fitting it with low profile tyres compromises its off-road credentials.
Secondly, it is ideal to buy a diesel powered SUV than a petrol model. Price of the fuel apart, diesel engines have a much better bottom-end torque which is absolutely essential for SUVs when they are off roading.
Yes, I know, in some countries diesel is cheaper than petrol. But still, a diesel SUV is just a very practical choice.
So when Audi brought the production version of SQ5 TDI to the 24 Hours of Le Mans race claiming it to be the first ever diesel model to wear an ‘S’ badge, I was puzzled with the basic philosophy of the product. But then I remembered that the Q5 wasn’t designed to cross a river but a soft roader that can occasionally drive over mild off-road trails.
Now Audi has gone one step further and plonked a 3.0 TFSI (petrol) engine in the SQ5’s body – Yes, it is a petrol powered Sporty SUV..WOW!

No doubt, the performance figures are up there with the best. The 3.0L engine sends 355 PS/470 Nm to all four wheels via a Quattro system and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. A 0-100km/hr dash happens in 5.3 seconds flat – Impressive, isn’t it?
Not really because the Audi SQ5 with a diesel engine can do the same sprint in 5.1 seconds. Considering both petrol and diesel models are electronically limited to 250 km/hr, you are not pulling away from the diesel counterpart anytime soon.

What’s more is that the diesel variant of the Audi SQ5 sips a lot less fuel and is kinder (well sort of kinder) to the environment. The petrol SQ5 will return an FE of 14 kmpl and emits 199g/km of CO2. The diesel avatar returns 17 kmpl and emits 179g/km of CO2.

2015 Audi Q7 to be built with carbon fiber parts

Audi started work on the next generation Q7 back in 2011.
Audi’s flagship SUV has been testing in the snowy Alps for a few months, loaning its body shell from the current model as its design is yet to be finalized. I have covered every bit of information that has crept on to the internet.
The latest news comes from CAR Magazine who report that Audi is planning an extensive usage of carbon fibre for the next generation Audi Q7.
Audi R&D boss Wolfgang Dürheimer told CAR Magazine that Audi has the extensive tech know-how on how to use carbon fibre in mainstream models and plans to put it into action in the 2015 Audi Q7.
The chief reason for the usage of carbon fibre in the next generation Audi Q7 is the ambitious 350 kg weight loss program that has been planned for the flagship SUV. Lighter body weight results in better performance, improved fuel economy and reduction in emissions – three key areas that every manufacturer wants to outsmart the competition on.
Carbon fibre is mostly restricted to high-end supercars and racing cars right now. The key hurdle is the expensive and time consuming process of weaving the fibres together. Audi plans to overcome the hurdle by adopting a variety of composite materials such as aluminum, steel, magnesium and carbon fibre.
Because carbon fibre is VERY expensive to build, expect the prices of the 2015 Q7 to reach new highs. However, the high purchase price will be automatically neutralized by the low running cost.
Expect the new generation Audi Q7 to be on the lines of the CrossLane concept which was showcased at 2012 Paris Auto Show. The CrossLane Concept was a glimpse of all the future ‘Q’ models from Audi.

While the construction of the CrossLane was mostly with aluminum, the front and rear crash structures as well as supporting structures inside the occupant cell were made from carbon fibre. Perhaps, a similar structure could be adopted for the Q7.
The CrossLane was a much smaller vehicle than the Q7. But i can expect the key design elements of the CrossLane such as an aggressive single-frame grille, and slit-like headlights to feature on the new Q7.

The Swift Sport SZ-R and SZ-L are ready for Autosport International 2013

It raining limited edition Suzuki Swifts in the world. No wonder it is referred as the modern day Mini Cooper!



You have seen the Little Marcel Edition, Black-White Edition, Swift Navi Style and just yesterday you saw the Swift X-TRA.
Continuing your daily dosage of Limited Edition Swifts, here comes the Swift Sport SZ-R and SZ-L!
To start with, it’s not really the Swift that i get in the Indian market. It is actually a Swift Sport, a three door sibling that is mostly sold in developed markets such as UK, Germany, Australia, etc.
Suzuki UK is prepping two hot variants of the Swift Sport called SZ-R and SZ-L for the 2013 Autosport International in Birmingham UK. Autosport International is an annual auto show in UK dedicated to Motor Racing fans.
While Suzuki has not divulged any major details of these two variants, i can tell you that the SZ-L is powered by a 1.2-liter petrol engine (94 hp) whereas the hotter SZ-R boasts of a 1.6-liter petrol unit (134 hp).
Some cosmetic changes such as a two tone paint job with a red roof, exquisite alloy wheels are pretty evident from the SZ-R’s press shots.
Stay tuned as i try to scour the web for more details.

Jaipur court issues arrest warrants against Porsche AG CEO and 8 board members

 

A Jaipur court has issued arrest warrants against Mr. Matthias Mueller, global CEO of Porsche and eight other board members in relation to a criminal case filed by Precision Cars India, the former official importer of Porsche sports cars.
Obeying court orders which was dated November 5, 2012, the local police and CBI have reportedly sorted the help of Interpol since the persons concerned were based in Germany and UAE.
Precision Cars India has filed criminal charges against the iconic German sports car maker which include cheating, extortion, dishonestly inducing delivery of property, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy. Porsche India is yet to comment on the matter.
The unpleasant case was triggered by Porche appointing Volkswagen Group Sales India as its sole importer last year while de-clutching Precision Cars who had been the official importer of Porsches for a period of 8 years.
After the sales operations are clubbed into the VW Group, Porsche set a record for the highest deliveries in a month in India by selling 117 units in October 2012.
Precision Cars has filed as many as six cases in different locations in India against Porsche AG.
A spokesperson of Precision Cars India told Hindustan Times that, “We have always made bonafide efforts to sort out the issues with Porsche, but they have…not given any support in resolving these issues. We were left with no choice but to pursue the matter legally.”

Live shots of the 2014 Mercedes E Class from a private unveiling trickle into the web

The 2014 Mercedes E Class has been the apple of the spyshot hunter’s eyes.



Everything one has to know about the renovated luxury sedan is already splashed all over the internet, before the car was previewed on the internet officially, and well ahead of its real world debut in Detroit next week.



The good chaps at Mercedes Benz Passion Blog present us the live shots of the car which was taken during a private sneak preview in California. The 2014 E Class on display was of the Avantgarde variant donning an attractive deep blue outfit.



The entire lineup of the 2013 E Class which includes the sedan, estate, coupe, convertible and AMG variants will be showcased at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week. As i know the new Mercedes E Class breaks the tradition by having an amalgamated twin headlamp unit instead of the split setup.
The wide range of powertrain options includes four petrol engines – 2.0 litre 4 cylinder, 3.0 litre V6, 3.5 litre V6 and a 4.7 liter V8. The diesel range consists of a 4 cylinder 2.2 litre and a 3.0 litre V6. All the engines are available different states of tune depending of the variants. The primary transmission choice will be a 7G-DCT automatic.



The boot of the 2014 Mercedes E Class has a useful compact tray which prevents knick knacks from being thrown around and could also double up as your drinks basket.
Mercedes lags behind its compatriots BMW and Audi globally. The facelifted E Class will be the first of many product refreshments that will be coming from the three pointed star’s stable in its objective of reclaiming leadership by 2020.

Volkswagen Polo pips India-made Figo, Etios in 2012′s title race in South Africa

The India made Toyota Etios and Ford Figo would now have to wait at least till January 2014 to take the highest honour in the South African market as 2012 proved to be another year of German dominance.



Polo Driver reported this week that the Polo Vivo (previous gen model available in hatch and sedan) and the new Polo (the spec selling in India, in hatch and sedan formats) are year 2012′s best selling passenger cars in South Africa.
The two carlines topped sales charts clocking 34,873 units and 28,667 units respectively, cornering a sensational 14.4% market share for the Polo brand.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Volkswagen group (Volkswagen and Audi combined) emerged as the country’s best selling brand commanding 22.3% of the market. Another highlight in this academic performance is that the Polo emerged as the leading seller in December 2012, dethroning the Vivo which was consistently on top throughout 2012.
Toyota sold 14,950 units of the Etios twins since deliveries began in May while Ford managed to close the year with 14,376 units of the Figo hatchback. Incidentally December was the best month in Ford India’s history for exports.
These two products are exported from India. Honda only recently began exporting the Brio from India, and Tata ships a few hundred units of the Vista alongside the newly launched Manza to South Africa every year.

Volkswagen’s budget brand for emerging markets to be called ‘Tantus’?

To tap the aggressive growth the emerging markets have to offer with new car buyers, many established manufacturers are creating new brands that will focus on the BRIC nations. Nissan started the trend with the revival of Datsun and now Volkswagen wants a piece of the pie.
CarMagazine reports that Volkswagen is scripting plans of launching a budget brand for emerging economies where base products constitute 40% of the market. Clearly, the question on your mind is how ‘base’ are i am talking?
Volkswagen has finalized three core products/platforms to start the brand –

• A 6 lakh rupees sedan
• A 6.5 lakh rupees wagon based on the sedan
• A 7 lakh rupees MPV
• A 7.8 lakh rupees crossover
• Affordable, entry-level three-door hatchback

Most of these products will be like a Boxing Day dinner – leftovers from old VW models such as the past generation Polo, Jetta and Golf would be recycled. This would make them cheaper to build and more reliable because they have been tried and tested for ages.
Despite being a budget or low cost brand, VW will not compromise on safety. The new product portfolio will include at least two airbags and ABS. But the so-called ‘vanity features’ such as power steering, rear disc brakes, ESP and air-conditioning will cost you extra.
The same 1.2L petrols and 1.6L diesels that are present in the current Polo and Vento sold in India will build homes under the bonnet of the new ‘VW lite’ cars. Volkswagen will work extensively on getting more mileage from these old engines. A five-speed manual will be standard across the product range. But surprisingly, VW has plans to offer a 7 speed DCT as an optional extra for people who can afford it.
Because these new VW-lite cars will not be anywhere close to VW’s future range of ultra-hightech and super-safe cars, it makes little sense to sell them under the VW badge. Car Magazine reports that VW may use the ‘Tantus’ badge to sell these budget cars in the emerging economies.
Volkswagen filed the Tantus moniker in China to tap the burgeoning EV market. However, not much development has been seen on the Tantus project since 2011.
Volkswagen may also call on the expertise of its Chinese partner First Automotive Works of Changchun to develop these cut-cost products.
So come 2016, will we see a fierce battle between Datsun and Tantus in India.

Chevrolet Corvette C7 ready to take center stage at Detroit this month

 
The Detroit Motor show is scheduled for January 13 and i can’t wait to see what’s in store.
There are several interesting cars that are headed to Detroit such as the Mercedes E Class, Mercedes CLA, BMW 4 Series Coupe, Honda’s Urban SUV concept and many more.
But the car that easily is the show stopper is the seventh generation Corvette – Chevy’s new halo car and America’s answer to the Italians!
Inspired by the Corvette Stingray Concept of 2009 (Yes, SideSwipe from the Transformers Movie, you also got a glimpse of it at the Delhi Auto Expo), the all-new Corvette has been under development since 2007.
General Motors has used cutting edge technology such as Carbon-fiber floor, hydroformed-aluminum main members and die-cast magnesium cross members to make sure that the platform is rigid yet very agile. The composite materials have kept the weight under 1500 kg.
The new Corvette will be powered by a new LT1 V8 engine that pumps out 450 bhp and 609 Nm of torque. The engine will feature cylinder deactivation technology which deactivates four-cylinders under low loads to return 11kmpl – That’s very good for a supercar that can pull from 0-100 km/hr in under 4 seconds.
The engine will be available with a seven-speed manual developed by Transmission Technologies or a six-speed auto developed by Aisin AW. An electrically assisted rack-and-pinion steering will be standard. Magnetorheological dampers and Brembo carbon-ceramic brake rotors will take care of the ride and braking.
Some more interesting technologies such as Active Rev Match (ARM), a Performance Data Recorder (PDR) and Engine Sound Management (ESM) will take care of the overall experience of driving a Corvette C7.
Prices are expected to start at USD 55,000 (around 30 lakhs) making it slightly more expensive than the previous generation Corvette but the American media calls it exceptional value.

2015 Mercedes C Class will look young and energetic

The recent refresh to the Mercedes C Class may have been shadowed by the launch of the new BMW 3 Series, but the Stuttgart based maker is ready to plough some field back.



Mercedes is ready to bring in an all new Mercedes C Class to the Geneva motor show next March to overthrow the reign of the 3er.
This will not be a facelift but an all-new model worked grounds up on the new MRA (Modular Rear-wheel drive Architecture) platform.
The new Mercedes C Class has been lengthened by 100mm and widened by 40mm to make it considerably bigger than Mercedes’s new entry level sedan, the CLA Class.
This has also improved interior space – leg, shoulder and headroom have benefited. The boot capacity will rise to 485 litres which is more than fellow German rivals.
The New Mercedes C Class will be available in four bodystyles – Saloon, Estate, Coupe and Convertible. All four models will be sent to the AMG factory for performance enhancements.
Mercedes has lowered the total weight to 1,380kg and managed to increase the static and dynamic rigidity. The current MacPherson strut layout will be replaced with a new double wishbone arrangement providing greater wheel control and adding lateral stiffness for improved handling. The rear will retain the multi-link system of the current generation.
The longitudinally mounted engine lineup will consist of four-cylinder and V6 petrol units delivering outputs starting from 184bhp going all the way to 330bhp. A 2.1L diesel will also be available in four states of tune ranging from 120bhp to 220bhp. A plug-in petrol-electric hybrid is also in the making but details are a bit scarce on that one.
The engines will send the power to the rear wheels or all four wheels via a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DCT gearbox. Mercedes is also developing a nine speed automatic but i think that it will be reserved for the flagship car, which is of course the all-new S Class.
A new electro-mechanical steering system will be standard on all variants. A range of class leading safety technologies such as Distronic Plus feature with Steering Assist, Brake Assist Plus with Junction Assist, Attention Assist and some features from the new E Class will also trickle into the new Mercedes C Class.

Your mobile phone could start your next Hyundai

 
Just days back Hyundai demonstrated its tech prowess with smartphone based connectivity concept for cars.
The idea is that most people in the world have a smartphone at their disposal. So why not link most of the functions of the car with your smartphone?
There are already some manufacturers who provide basic functions such as Bluetooth connectivity and certain apps integrated in the car. But Hyundai wants to go the extra mile.
Using the smartphones NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, Hyundai wants to replace the functionality of your keyfob. Just swipe your smartphone on the car and it will unlock itself. You can even start your car using your smartphone by pairing with the on-board touch screen. Once the mobile phone is paired, you can sync all contacts and apps along with navigation destinations and streaming audio.
Just yesterday, Google announced that Hyundai and Kia will integrate Google Maps and Places into its telematics systems. Hyundai’s Blue Link technology and Kia’s UVO eServices will soon give drivers access to Google Maps and Google Places.
In addition to driving directions, the integration will also provide point-of-interest and local search functions to drivers on-the-go. You can speak out loud and the car’s voice-recognition features will detect your command and respond accordingly.
Hyundai says that because these features are based on current technologies they could be available as early as 2014.
Will the next generation i20 come with these exciting features and functions?

Skoda teases the 6 launches due for release in 2013

Skoda is using its Facebook page very productively to communicate on its future launches.

The Rapid and the Octavia were teased repeatedly on the main Skoda fan page and the launches did not go unnoticed even with Facebook users who weren’t auto buffs. After all, who isn’t logging to Facebook today to keep a tab on their world?
Just before the year closed, Skoda’s French subsidiary uploaded one such image, teasing not one, but five launches for their country.
The first launch is that of the new Rapid, indicating the start of availability in the French market. The second launch is the Octavia sedan that rolled out last month, and the veil on the third launch covers the impending Octavia wagon variant.
The fourth, fifth and sixth launches could feature the Roomster facelift while photographs of the facelifted Yeti and Superb test prototypes spotted around the foothills of the Alps, characterizing the VisionD concept, confirm that they are waiting for their big days this year.
For the Indian market, 2013 could witness the launch of the new Octavia in the first half of the year, followed by facelifts of the Superb and Yeti towards the festival season.
For 2014 and 2015, Skoda should secretly be working on their version of the Taigun and the Up!-based sedan and not to forget the next generation Fabia and Yeti using the MQB platform.

Skoda showcases Yeti Laurin & Klement edition

 i love the Skoda Yeti. The little compact crossover may not be a successful one here in India, but it is doing much better in Europe.



To achieve more customers in 2013, Skoda has showcased the Skoda Yeti Laurin & Klement Edition for the European markets.
Laurin & Klement (or L&K) generally symbolizes the top of the line, fully loaded version of any Skoda. A little known fact is that L&K are the initials of the surnames of Václav Laurin and Václav Klement who were the founders of the company.

Skoda Yeti Laurin & Klement edition features

• Bi-xenon headlights
• Silver roof rails
• 17-inch ‘Annapurna’ alloy wheels
• Leather seats
• Gloss black trim
• Alloy pedals
• Laurin & Klement door sill plates
• Laurin & Klement special badges

Being a Yeti, the standard equipment includes –

• Dual-zone air conditioning
• Heated windscreen and front seats
• Audio system with 12 speakers

Power comes from a 1.2-liter TSI (Petrol) and 1.6-liter TDI (Diesel) that both develop 105 hp. No details on prices are available yet.