All new facelifted Hyundai EON.... Can it regain the market of hyundai in entry level Hot_Hatch!!

Hyundai Eon has been one of the popular pick in the entry-level hatchback segment in the country. In efforts to stand strong in the Indian market, the automaker will be introducing a facelift model in the country sometime soon. It is worth noting that Eon has not received any major design upgrades since its launch in the country way back in 2011, except for a new 1.0-litre engine option that was introduced in 2014.

The 2017 Hyundai Eon does not get any mechanical upgrades and will continue to be powered by existing 0.8-litre and 1.0-litre engine options that come mated to a five-speed manual transmission. However, the new model might receive a few tweaks to deliver slightly better fuel efficiency figures than its predecessors.
As for the design element, the company’s renowned fluidic sculpture 2.0-design philosophy will be seen in the new Eon facelift as well. The new model will get restyled headlamps, tweaked bumpers, new grille and revised tail-lamps. The side profile is likely to be more or less the same as the current generation with body coloured ORVM’s and will also sport newly designed wheel caps.

The new Hyundai Eon will get revised upholstery in new colour combination and improved fabric. For freshness, the new model will get a new instrument cluster. This time around, the biggest change in the new model comes in form of a touchscreen infotainment system, which is likely to be offered on the top-spec version for that competitive element in its segment.

VolksWagen Tiguan.. The most awaited car in India....

Volkswagen India confirmed that it will showcase three all-new products at the upcoming Auto Expo 2016. One of these products will be the all-new 2016 VW Tiguan. The GTE concept might be shown at the event, however, we can expect the Tiguan's production version to be launched in India some time in 2016. The new Tiguan debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015. It is based on the MQB platform, making it lighter than the outgoing model. The new Tiguan boasts of an all new design, better equipment, and a refined engine lineup. Its introduction in the Indian market will mean VW's entry into the compact SUV segment in India.

Exterior:

The Tiguan's design is influenced by the VW Cross Coupe GTE showcased at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. It measures 4,485mm in length, 1,839mm in width, 1,633mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,682 mm. As compared to the outgoing model, this new vehicle is larger than in size (70mm longer, 30.5mm wider and 76mm longer in wheelbase). Up front are a pair of angular LED headlamps with LED DRLs directly flowing into the grille and chrome elements on the front wing.

The car rides on large 18-inch diamond cut alloy rims and gets a chrome line that runs across the side. There is also a chrome underlining for the window line and roof rails. At the back, a sleek pair of new horizontal LED tail lamps are visible and a new roof spoiler adds to the appeal. A chrome appliqué on the lower fascia and twin chrome exhaust tips complete the rear look.

Interior:

The upcoming VW Tiguan's cabin is similar to the previous car's layout but gets a premium design with new leather and other materials. VW globally offers an optional 12.3-inch Active Info display from the 2015 VW Passat, which displays the instrument dials and navigation in full screen. A five-inch non-colour infotainment display is standard while an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen is available as optional equipment. The latter two might be available in the India-spec variant.

The SUV also features a new three-zone automatic climate control system called Pure Air Climatronic. The other highlights in the Tiguan include a large panoramic sunroof and electric four-way lumbar support and massage function for the front seats. On the safety front, even in the base variant, VW is expected to offer safety features like the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring and Lane Assist departure warning system. There are in all, seven airbags, including a knee airbag on the driver’s side. The top-of-the-line versions will be equipped with adaptive cruise control (ACC), Side Assist (lane-changing assistant), Pre-Crash proactive occupant protection and Area View (360-degree view).

Engine and gearbox:

There is no official word from VW about the powertrain yet. However, we can expect the Tiguan to be powered by a choice of 1.4- and 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine options and on the diesel front, the 1.6- and 2.0-litre TDI diesel units. The transmission options might include the seven-speed DSG unit or maybe even the new 10-speed DSG gearbox.

Price and competition:

The VW Tiguan is expected to be available in Trendline, Comfortline and Highline trims. It will go up against the crossovers like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 in the Rs 28 lakh to Rs 38 lakh price segment in our country.

Tata Kite 5.. can it make tata's market strong or its just a sequence of zest??

Tata Motors had for a long time been testing replacements for the Indica and the Indigo eCS. It took the wraps off the Indica replacement last year and dubbed it the Zica. It is now expected to get a replacement for the Indigo eCS which it is likely to call the Sway. The revamped vehicle is expected to offer good value for money for consumers on a budget. Tata will showcase the car at the 2016 Auto Expo.

Exterior:

We have seen the Tata Zica in the metal and know that the Sway will look just the same all the way to the C-pillar. However, in a bid to separate the two cars Tata is likely to modify the grille of the latter. The side profile will mimic that of the Zica while the boot (based on the test mules) will be stubby and have the same tail lamps as the hatchback. However, it is also likely to get some additional chrome and will get the number plate on the bootlid.

Interior:

The Tata Sway will get the same swanky cabin as the Zica right down to the layout of the instrument cluster. Design elements include a grey and black dashboard with grey seats, colour inserts for the aircon vents, 2-DIN music system, climate control and steering mounted audio controls. However, given that this is a compact sedan, the space at the back will definitely be more than that of the hatchback. Expect boot space to be in the region of 350-litres to 400-litres

Engine and Gearbox:

The petrol engine for the Sway will be the 1.2-litre Revotron motor that produces 84bhp/140Nm of torque. The diesel on the other hand, will be the 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder unit that produces 69bhp/140Nm of torque which by the look of things may seem inadequate. Both engines are offered only with a five-speed manual.

Price and Competition:

The new Sway compact sedan will be placed below the Zest and might be priced in the Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh range. At this price point for a budget sedan segment, it will create a huge impact on the sub-four metre sedans like the Honda Amaze, Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and the Hyundai Xcent

JEEP Compass.... A real SUV??

Jeep took a really long time to kick off their Indian voyage and after the launch of the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee, it seems that the American SUV maker has unfurled all its sails. Jeep has declared that an entirely new compact SUV would be assembled and exported from India as a part of the ‘Make in India’ campaign. The compact SUV, codename 551, will be the Jeep Compass and can be expected to be launched in India by the end of 2017 if not 2018.

The Compass looks like a baby Grand Cherokee with influences from the Jeep Renegade which is also expected to make its way to the Indian subcontinent. It gets the typical wide slatted grille, the high mounted headlamps and the macho front bumper with the blacked out bash plate. The side profile gets a prominent shoulder line, squared wheel arches and a thick D-pillar to complete the twin-cab five seater SUV look. The clear lens tail lamps in the back look sporty complementing the decked up tailgate and large bumper.

While the Compass is set to get about 17 powertrain options globally, for India we will have the 170bhp 2.0-litre Multijet II engine from Fiat to power the Jeep. It will come mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and will have the famed Jeep four-wheel-drive. It might have a petrol variant as well. It will come with a host of driving aids along with airbags for safety. As for the feature list, you can expect it to be akin to a luxury SUV.

Touted to compete with the full-size SUVs like the Fortuner and the Endeavour, the Jeep Compass might come with a price tag of about Rs 25 lakh ex-showroom as it will be assembled at the Ranjangaon facility in Maharashtra.

Ferrari GTC 4 Lusso

It is a Ferrari and is essentially a station-wagon. Knowing Ferrari’s legacy of building superfast sportscars it may seem out of place. Meet the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso – the three door four-seater shooting brake from the Italian stable. The GTC4 Lusso is the next generation Ferrari FF which was built as a grand tourer to carve continents at breath taking speeds comfortably.

The front fascia is dominated by a wide single-piece horizontally slatted air dam that extends across the width of the car with the prancing horse emblem in the centre. The Ferraro 458 style headlamps are swept back on the contoured hood with flared fenders on the side. Moving on to the side, the Ferrari has the familiar low slung profile with large alloy wheels filling up the wheel arches. The long hood is complemented by the breathing gills on the fenders. The raked windshield means a low slung roof that almost extends to the back of the car – typical for shooting brakes. The tail is also as dramatic as the whole car with the tapering cabin, wide rear bumper with rear splitter and the quad exhausts.

Wrapped in leather the function-focussed interior of the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso is exquisite especially with the carbon fibre inlays. Like all grand tourers, it gets a touch-screen infotainment system, climate control, power adjustable front seats et al. The three spoke steering wheel gets the typical flurry of switches that can control everything from driving modes, car setup and gear shifts along with Bluetooth telephony. The instrument cluster has the rev counter taking centre stage while speed and other vitals are displayed on the two TFT screens around the tachometer. Even the co-driver gets a peek at exactly how fast you are driving through a screen embedded in the dashboard displaying rpm, speed and the gear you are driving in.

The GTC4 Lusso is powered by the massive 6.3-litre Ferrari V12 that produces 680bhp of power and 697Nm of torque. The naturally aspirated mill powers the Ferrari past 100kmph in almost 3.5 seconds to a top speed of 345kmph. It also gets an improved version of the dual-gearbox four-wheel-drive setup from the FF along with four-wheel-steering as well.

For safety, you are cocooned between four airbags – two upfront and two curtain airbags. It gets traction control, launch control, skid control and a host of other electronic aids as a part of its electronic stability program. As far as competition is concerned, there is the Aston Martin Rapide and the Porsche Panamera but none of them comes anywhere close to the Italian in terms of price as well as performance.