- Maruti will launch the Ciaz sedan on October 6, 2014, after the car has been showcased at the Paris motor show later this week.
- Bookings for the new car had opened up from September 3 for an amount of Rs 21,000. There is currently a two-month waiting period on the Maruti Ciaz, regardless of the variant booked.
- The Maruti Ciaz sedan will have two engines on offer; a 1.4-litre K10B petrol unit that makes 91bhp and a 1.3-litre Fiat-sourced diesel unit that makes 89bhp. Both engines do duty in several other of the carmaker's models. Maruti claims an ARAI-certified 20.73kpl fuel efficiency for the petrol model and 26.2kpl for the diesel.
- The new Maruti will be available in four trim levels V, V+, Z and Z+ and seven colour shades. The range-topping trims will have features like 16-inch alloys, touchscreen infotainment system, rear air-con vents, climate control and keyless entry.
- The new Maruti Ciaz sedan will rival the likes of the Honda City, VW Vento, Skoda Rapid and Hyundai Verna.
- Kia will showcase its new diesel-electric hybrid concept at the Paris motor show later this week.
- The mild hybrid concept, based on the Optima saloon and dubbed T-Hybrid, combines the Optima’s existing 134bhp 1.7-litre CRDi turbodiesel engine with a small electric motor.
- The resulting concept can be driven by electric power only at low speeds and while cruising, with the model’s lead-carbon battery recharging via deceleration. Kia says it chose a lead-carbon battery over more conventional lithium-ion units because they require little cooling and can be easily recycled.
- Kia first previewed the technology at the Geneva motor show earlier this year, saying the system would be offered in both petrol and diesel-powered models “in the near future” to help lower CO2 emissions while also raising power.
- Other new features fitted to the concept include a new belt-driven starter generator, which replaces the conventional alternator and can start the Optima T-Hybrid concept with zero emissions, as well as “almost no noise or vibration”. A smaller vehicle battery and starter motor are also fitted.
- Power from the 1.7-litre CRDi engine is also said to be enhanced thanks to a new electric supercharger, which works alongside the existing turbocharger to improve peak output and torque. The electric supercharger particularly increases engine response at low speed, says Kia.
- Although Kia officials describe the Optima T-Hybrid as still being a concept vehicle, it’s extremely likey the technology will feature on the upcoming fourth-generation Optima, which has recently been spotted testing ahead of its planned launch late next year.
- Kia Europe boss Michael Cole said: “The new mild hybrid system is our flagship technology for improving the efficiency of our internal combustion-powered models. In future, technology such as this will help Kia further reduce fleet emissions in Europe.”
- Kia will show updated versions of the Rio hatchback and Venga compact MPV at the Paris motor show later this week.
- The Rio – Kia’s best-selling model in 2013 - gets revised exterior styling, most notably the adoption of Kia’s latest ‘tiger-nose’ front grille, as well as revised front and rear bumpers and new fog lights. Three new alloy wheel designs are also available.
- Inside, the refreshed Rio gets a redesigned centre console, plus new chrome accents around its air vents. DAB radio will now be offered as standard in the UK, while the newest generation of Kia’s infotainment system will be used on the 7.0-inch central screen.
- Engine options from the current car are maintained, and range in power from 74bhp in the entry-level 1.1-litre CRDi to 108bhp in the 1.4-litre petrol. Expect prices to increase slightly from the £9495 of today’s car.
- Also on display will be the updated Venga, which also adopts the Korean firm’s new front-end design and receives new trim inside, as well as a redesigned centre console. Again, engines from the current range will be carried over.
- Both models will be available from dealers early next year, with order books expected to open next month.
- Team MRF's Jan Kopecky won the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) title after winning Rally Hokkaido convincingly.
- 2013 European Rally Champion Kopecky took an unassailable 50 point lead with only one round remaining. His main rival and Indian Rallying ace Gaurav Gill crashed out of the lead of the rally and his team was unable to get the car ready in time for the final day.
- Rally Hokkaido in northern Japan is traditionally one of the fastest rallies on the APRC calendar with faster cars often touching 240kph on the narrow tree lined roads, with the surface breaking up into deep ruts making it an extremely challenging event.
- While Kopecky won the event easily by 42 seconds from his nearest rival, he controlled his speed and saved the car over the rough sections.
- The Czech driver commented, “The car was great, the team was great and I would like to thank everyone from Team MRF Skoda to making this possible. They did an amazing job these past five rallies and hopefully we can do it again in China”.
- Kopecky was also quick to thank his co-driver Pavel Dresler also from the Czech Republic. He said,“ I was trying my best and big thanks to my co-driver, he’s a part of the game and 50% of the result. Without him I would be lost somewhere in the forest and am happy that we didn’t make too many mistakes in the last 5 rallies. It's been a great experience competing together in all these different countries”.
- With a total of 154 points accumulated over the past five events Kopecky wins the 2014 Asia Pacific Rally Championship Drivers title as he cannot be beaten, even with one round to go in China. India’s Gaurav Gill is currently second on 104 points but with only 39 points available to win in the one remaining round, it’s now impossible for Gill to retain the title he won in 2013.
- India's Sanjay Takale finished 10th overall and won the Production Cup in Hokkaido, driving a Cusco prepared Subaru Impreza. “This was our goal to come here and win a round of the Production Cup as this will my last APRC event of the year. We’ll be back next year though, preparation for that begins now” said Takale at the finish.
- Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride or DGR is a global ride founded by a group of Australians in 2012. The ride is aimed to spread awareness about prostate cancer.
- Although Triumph Motorcycles has partnered with DGR, they feel that this is not a ride meant just for Triumph Motorcycle riders, because everybody should be invited for this cause.
- Mark Hawwa came up with this concept and organised it first in Perth, Australia. The idea was received well and has reached a global platform today, raising Rs 1.48 crore across 145 cities in 38 countries worldwide, in 2013.
- This year, DGR took things to the next level, riding in 254 cities around the world on September 28, 2014 and managed to raised Rs 5.37crore to support research on prostate cancer.
- Prostate cancer, also known as carcinoma of the prostate, is when cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. This disease is fatal for every one man in six, and is also highly painful.
- Honda sells a hatchback version of the Civic overseas. The sedan version was on sale in India until it was discontinued in 2012. Now, a revised Honda Civic line-up in international markets includes a more racy-looking Sport model. It is expected to make its debut at the upcoming Paris motor show.
- Offered with either 1.6-litre diesel or 1.8-litre petrol engines in hatchback form, the Civic Sport includes new 17-inch alloys and sportier bumper and grille.
- Changes across the entire Civic hatch and estate range include new front and rear headlight graphics and technology, new front and rear bumpers, new side skirts, a new finish for the rear spoiler and new interior, including updated seat fabric options.
- Also new is a Honda Connect infotainment system, based on the Android platform, which allows uses of pinch, swipe and tap the screen as they would on a smartphone. The chassis remains unchanged. Boot capacity on both models is also unchanged - remaining at 477 litres in the hatchback and 624 litres in the Tourer.
- Volkswagen has revealed its new Passat GTE ahead of the Paris motor show next week.
- The plug-in hybrid can cover 31 miles on electric power alone, and comes with a combined petrol-electric range of 622 miles
- This is the third such model from Volkswagen following the limited volume XL1 and recently introduced Golf GTE, and is based on the eighth-generation Passat.
- It will be offered in both saloon and estate body styles when UK sales get underway during the second half of 2015.
- At the heart of the front-wheel drive Passat GTE is a modular petrol-electric hybrid system shared with the Golf GTE. It uses a specially tuned version of Volkswagen’s widely used turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder direct injection petrol engine that develops 154bhp at 5500rpm.
- The transversely-mounted combustion engine is supported by an electric motor set within the forward section of the new car’s standard six-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox, where it delivers 113bhp and 243lb ft of torque.
- More powerful than the unit used in the Golf GTE, the disc-shaped synchronous electric motor is capable of propelling the Passat GTE both independently for limited distance zero local emission capability and in combination with the petrol engine.
- Energy for the electric motor is provided by a 9.9kWh lithium ion battery mounted under the rear seat. Some 1.2kWh larger in capacity than that used by the Golf GTE, it can be charged on the run via recuperated kinetic energy and the petrol engine or alternatively by plug-in means via a socket within the grille.
- Charging time on a standard 240 volt system is claimed to take 4 hours 15mins. Customers can also choose an optional wallbox that operates at 360 volts and is claimed to reduce the charging time to 2 hours 30mins.
- Together, the Passat GTE’s petrol engine and electric motor deliver a combined system output of 215bhp and 295lb ft, giving it with 14bhp and 37lb ft more than the Golf GTE.
- As with its smaller sibling, the driver can choose between four different driving modes: “E-mode”, “Hybrid”, “Battery Charge” and “GTE”.
- The interaction between the petrol engine and electric motor can be monitored on a 6.5-inch colour screen. Included is a so-called “range monitor”, “energy flow indicator”, “e-manager” and, in conjunction with the optional navigation system, “360 degree range” – the latter of which calculates one-way electric driving range over prescribed routes.
- In the default “E-mode” the Passat GTE is claimed to possess an electric range of up to 31 miles at speeds limited to 81mph. In “GTE” mode, in which the efforts of the petrol engine and electric motor are combined for maximum performance, it is claimed to hit 62mph from standing start in less than 8.0sec and reach a top speed of 138mph.
- With official combined cycle consumption described by Volkswagen as being “over 141mpg” on the European NEDC test procedure, the GTE boasts an average CO2 emission rating of “less than 45g/km”.
- With its 50 litre fuel tank brimmed and lithium ion battery fully charged, Wolfsburg’s newest plug-in-hybrid model is claimed to boast an overall range of more than 622 miles.
- The GTE is visually differentiated from other more conventional eighth-generation Passat models by blue accents within the grille, a uniquely styled front bumper with low mounted C-shaped LED day time running lamps, GTE decals on the each of the front fenders and standard eight-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels.
- Inside, there is blue ambient lighting, a leather-trimmed flat bottom steering wheel with blue stitching, unique instrument graphics, a restyled gear knob plus standard aluminium and high gloss black plastic trim applications.
- To cash in on the upcoming festive season, TVS Motor Company announced that the Jupiter scooter will be available in two new colours. The TVS Jupiter will be now available in two new shades of Matte Beige and Sparkling Silver.
- Apart from the two new colour options, the TVS Jupiter will be available in the following shades of Titanium Grey, Mercury White, Midnight Black and Volcano Red.
- The updates made on the TVS Jupiter are restricted to the cosmetic front and no changes have been made to its powerplant. The TVS Jupiter is powered by a 110cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled motor producing 8PS of maximum power and 8Nm of peak torque.
- Features on the TVS Jupiter include pass lights (segment first), external fuel filler cap at rear, 12-inch alloys wheels, tubeless tyres and LED tail light. Suspension duties are taken care of by telescopic front forks and gas-charged rear suspension, while braking is done by 130mm dia drum brakes at front and rear.
- The TVS Jupiter has been priced at Rs 44,250 (ex-showroom Delhi) whereas the new colour options will be available at no extra cost.
- Commenting on the development, K N Radhakrishnan, President and CEO, TVS Motor Company said, “This is yet another example of our deeper customer understanding and our commitment to deliver what customers want. Today, we have the widest and most comprehensive range of scooters straddling all segments of the scooter market with Jupiter targeting the male single user segment, Wego targeting the dual user segment and Scooty Zest, Pep+ and Streak making up for the women single user segment.”
- In an official announcement Ducati has announced that it will take the wraps off its new motorcycle, the Scrambler, on September 30 at Intermot, Cologne. Known primarily for its sports bikes and an occasional cruiser and off-road machine, Ducati has been prepping a new Scrambler for a while now.
- In fact, Ducati hasn’t always just been about the big superbikes, they have had a Scrambler as part of their line-up in the 1960s and ‘70s. The original Scrambler was a bare to the bone single cylinder motorcycle with engines ranging from 125cc to 450cc. These bikes were not only simple and cheap but also extremely easy to live with, quite diverse from the Ducatis we know today.
- Ducati first confirmed the new Scrambler when it launched the first episode in a three-part series as a build up to the official declaration. The Italian motorcycle maker gave us a glimpse of the Scrambler too fans in a ‘secret room’ at the 2014 World Ducati Week earlier this year. And now, with the release of the third and final episode, Ducati has finally announced that its official unveil at Intermot.
- Following the debut at Intermot this week, the Ducati Scrambler is expected to go on sale in the first half of 2015.
- With less than a week remaining for the 2014 INTERMOT show, MV Agusta has sent out a teaser pic of its upcoming motorcycle.
- MV Agusta has sent out a release with a teaser picture prior to the 2014 INTERMOT motorcycle show scheduled from October 1st-5th in Cologne, Germany.
- In the teaser image one can see a wire spoke wheel shod with Pirelli Diablo Rosso tyre. Other details that can be figured out is that the bike employs a single-sided swingarm and a single tip from what looks a MV Agusta’s three-pipe exhaust system.
- It is speculated that the new MV Agusta offering will be a cafe racer styled motorcycle or an extreme version of the still unreleased Turismo Veloce ADV-tourer. The possibility of the new bike being a cafe racer is higher as the demand for cafe racer motorcycles has risen in the recent past.
- Also demand for Ducati Sport Classics has seen a huge growth in the used bike market of Europe and maybe MV Agusta wants to capitalise on this opportunity.
- The three exhaust pipes are an indication that the new offering would be powered by either a 675cc or an 800cc three-cylinder motor. The 675cc motor on the MV Agusta Brutale 675 churns out peak power of 109PS at 12,500rpm and 65Nm of torque at 12,000rpm. Whereas the 798cc mill, powering the Rivale produces 126PS at 12,000 rpm and peak torque rating is at 84Nm at 8,600rpm.
- Also at the 2014 INTERMOT motorcycle show it is expected that MV Agusta will announce that Mercedes-AMG has acquired a minority stake in the Italian company. It is expected that the new motorcycle would make its debut on home turf at the 2014 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy.
- Piaggio is expected to present an updated Moto Guzzi V7 lineup at next week's INTERMOT show in Cologne, Germany.
- The new model family will be available in three versions - the V7 II Stone, V7 II Racer and V7 II Special; although Piaggio has only revealed pictures of the Moto Guzzi V7 II Stone.
- Moto Guzzi’s signature longitudinally-mounted V-Twin engine powers the V7 II range of bikes, but the engine has been moved lower in the frame, and also pitched forward by 4 degrees over the previous generation bikes. This is expected to address complaints, especially from taller riders for lack of knee space.
- The transmission has been updated as well, with the addition of a sixth gear and a more refined clutch for easier shifts. Other additions include a new dual-channel ABS, traction control and a reduced seat height, to aid short riders as well.
- The updated V7 bikes are expected to hit showrooms in Europe by November 2014.
- Piaggio has announced that it will present a more off-road capable version of the Aprilia Caponord at next week's Intermot show in Cologne, Germany.
- One of the prominent changes is a larger wheel up front – swapping the previous 17 inch wheel for a wire-spoke 19 inch; the rear remains a 17 incher though. The bike also gets a 24-litre fuel tank, LED running lights, a larger screen, aluminium saddlebags, crash bars and skid plate for better off road ability.
- Powered by Aprilia’s 1200cc V-Twin engine, the Caponord Rally comes equipped with the Aprilia Dynamic Damping semi-active suspension system that automatically adapts its calibration to match the road surface and riding style.
- Additional features include ride-by-wire throttle, three selective engine maps, traction control, cruise control and switchable ABS.
- Piaggio will formally unveil the Rally on September 30 in Cologne and the bike will start arriving in showrooms in Europe by January 2015.
- McLaren has revealed a toned-down version of the 650S for its increasingly lucrative Asian market.
- Produced in response to "customer demand in the Asian market", the 625C is powered by McLaren’s familiar 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine.
- However, while power in the standard 650S is 641bhp and maximum torque measured at 500lb ft, the 625C has 616bhp and 450lb ft – the same as the now-discontinued 12C.
- Nevertheless, McLaren says the 625C – the C stands for Club – can reach 62mph in 3.1 seconds, and has a top speed of 207mph, the same top speed as the 650S. CO2 emissions from the model also remain the same as its higher-powered sibling, at 275g/km, while the 625C is capable of returning a claimed 24.2mpg on the combined cycle.
- The 625C is fitted with new dampers and a revised suspension setup – including softer spring rates at the rear – giving it what McLaren calls “the most refined ride” of any of its models. Also changed are the brakes, which are cast-iron discs instead of the carbonfibre-ceramic units found on the 650S. Those changes are designed to give the 625C better every day usability and comfort.
- McLaren’s ProActive Chassis Control system, which offers driving modes for both normal and track use, is unchanged.
- It’s little surprise that McLaren should invest so heavily in the Asian market: in 2013, the region contributed 20 per cent of the firm’s global sales. Buoyed by its entry into China in September last year, McLaren expects Asia to secure more than a third of its total sales in 2014.
- Both coupé and Spider versions of the 625C will go on sale, and the model will initially launch in Hong Kong. It will be rolled out to other Asian markets in the coming months.
- The Fortuner 2.5-diesel will be launched in the first week of October.
- Mated to a manual transmission, this 2.5-litre engine will make 168bhp. This two-wheel drive variant will be positioned below all the current 3.0-litre offerings from the Toyota stable.
- Besides the new 2.5-litre engined Fortuner, Toyota is also planning to launch a 3.0-litre 4WD Automatic version that will sit at the top end of the range. The power output remains the same at 168bhp.
- The 4x2 Automatic has been a hit with the customers and accounts for 50 percent of all Fortuner sales. The Japanese carmaker is expecting a good response from the 4x4 Automatic variant as well.
- While the next-gen Fortuner was spotted testing in Thailand earlier this year, the new 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre 4WD Automatic Fortuners have been lined up by Toyota to hold the interest of potential SUV buyers.
- SIAM’s (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) Automotive Design Challenge 2014 is currently underway. The styling and design group has finalised three make-believe themes for the contest this year. Interested candidates are required to pick any one theme; create and submit their designs and clay models along with the presentations.
- The first of three themes is 'what if Hyundai purchased a majority in Ferrari, and is now looking to build a special automobile as homage to the legendary Enzo Ferrari'. This idea invites potential designers to create a unique mix of Hyundai and Ferrari’s design languages. The second theme invites candidates to design what a BMW pick-up truck would look like, and the third theme assumes 'if World War II had not ensued, and countries and companies had continued to evolve unaffected, what would have been Auto Union’s development course and how would it look like today'.
- Participants are expected to submit their initial soft copies by October 11. The jury will then shortlist 10 candidates by October 18 for the next scale-model stage. The result for this stage will be declared by October 22, after which the chosen candidates will have to make their final submissions by February 7 next year.
- The design challenge intends to evaluate the participants’ understanding of the selected theme, depth of understanding the vehicle layouts, flow of the design lineage, quality of execution and attention to detail.
- Interested candidates can visit www.siamautostyle.in for further details.
- Maruti Suzuki has launched a limited edition package called VXi+ offered with the Celerio VXi and LXi trims. This limited edition package is a dealer level fitment which sells for Rs 20,000.
- However, Maruti Suzuki is offering the fitment at almost Rs 14,000 for a limited period. This comes just before the festive season, and has been undertaken by Maruti to boost sales of the recently launched hatchback.
- The VXi package brings some cosmetic and functional upgrades to the Celerio. Body coloured ORVMs with integrated turn indicators and body coloured handles, and a JVC 2-DIN music system, multiple speakers and central locking are offered as a part of the package.
- There will be no change under the skin and the Celerio VXi+ will be available with the 1.0-litre petrol engine mated to the five-speed manual and AMT gearboxes.
- BMW is preparing a more potent version of the i8 for its centenary celebrations in 2016, sources have revealed.
- The new model, rumoured to be called i9, would use the same carbonfibre tub as the i8 but would get more aggressive styling, a larger engine and a more powerful electric motor.
- The engine is understood to be the new modular 3.0-litre six-cylinder unit that is in development and set to appear first in the upcoming 7-series replacement.
- The i9 will be the next model to join BMW’s i sub-brand. Also planned is the i5, a stretched version of the i3.
- Currently in use in the i8 is a three-cylinder 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine in combination with an electric motor. Total power output is rated at 357bhp, alongside 420lb ft.
- Expect the i9 to improve on the standard car's 0-62mph sprint time of 4.4 seconds, as well as its 155mph top speed.
- The new Ferrari 458 Speciale A has been revealed. It is the most powerful open-top road-going 'spider' model in Maranello's history, and will debut at next week's Paris motor show.
- The 458 Speciale A – the 'A' stands for 'Aperta', which is Italian for 'open' – is limited to 499 examples, like the flagship LaFerrari hypercar. The 458 Speciale A is described by Ferrari as "a celebration of the dazzling success of the various versions of the 458".
- The car is propelled by the same engine as the 458 Speciale coupé, which is the most powerful naturally aspirated road-going V8 unit ever built by Ferrari. The 4497cc engine has a maximum power output of 597bhp at 9000rpm and maximum torque of 55kgm at 6000rpm. Equipped with a seven-speed twin-clutch semi-automatic transmission, the 458 Speciale A can accelerate from 0-100kph in 3.0 seconds – the same as the Ferrari 458 Speciale coupé – and hit 200kph in 9.5 seconds.
- Maranello hasn't confirmed an official top speed. The 458 Speciale A's dry weight is claimed at 1340kg. Its aluminium retractable hard top, which takes 14 seconds to deploy or retract, makes it 50kg heavier than the 1290kg Speciale coupé.
- Mirroring the exterior differences between the 'standard' 458 Italia and 458 Spider, the new Speciale A features a number of changes to accommodate the retractable roof and its mechanism. One consequence of the rearranged rear deck is that there is no longer a glass cover over the engine. Instead you get a painted cover with six air vents.
- The 458 Speciale A is also the most aerodynamically efficient Ferrari spider ever. It features front and rear active aerodynamics, a rigid chassis structure comprised of ten aluminium alloys and the Side Slip Angle Control (SSC) system. First introduced on the 458 Speciale coupé, SSC takes control of the limited-slip diff’s operation when the car is switched into Race or TC (traction control off) modes.
- The Paris show car will be presented in a triple-layer yellow livery with a blue and white central stripe and five-spoke forged wheels.
- The interior gets blue carbonfibre – exclusive to this model – on the dash, moulded door panels and central tunnel, as well as the newly designed seats in Alcantara with contrasting stitching and 3D technical fabric. A special plaque in the cockpit commemorates the three international 'best performance engine' awards the V8 has won.
- As you may remember, last year, Skoda India pulled the plug on its premium hatchback, the Fabia. The reason for doing this was that the car (codenamed SK250) was making huge losses on each unit it sold in our market. Despite numerous price cuts over the years, the Fabia never sold in numbers healthy enough to justify its continued sale in India.
- The next-generation Fabia (codename: SK260), which will make its formal debut at the Paris motor show later this month, is built on VW’s flexible MQB platform. It’s larger all round with more sophisticated interiors, mechanicals and equipment. This would make it even more expensive than the last Fabia, and as a result, it too has been ruled out for sale in India.
- However, Skoda still wants to fill the void that exists below the Rapid with a hatchback, Sudhir Rao, managing director, Skoda India told us. “We are experimenting with the Rapid facelift for India and if it succeeds, we will be confident about developing a Fabia-type hatchback which would have a mix of various platforms and components”
- And rather than turn to a new platform like the VW Up-based Skoda Citigo, Skoda could do what many international carmakers have resorted to for the Indian market — using an existing platform that’s been localised and depreciated. Yes, Skoda will likely use the Rapid’s platform and mechanicals, develop an all-new hatchback and give it an all-new name.
- The advantages of using an older platform are clear. As it no longer needs to meet tougher European crash test and safety standards, costs can be saved in the body structure of the car. And because it shares a lot of parts with the locally produced Rapid, VW Vento and Polo, localisation and cost-sharing will help bring the price down too.
- If this new hatchback gets the green light, however, it won’t hit showrooms before 2017 at the earliest. Till then, Skoda has to soldier on at the fringes of the market.
- The flagship Renault Espace has morphed from an MPV into a crossover, which will be seen in the metal for the first time at the Paris motor show next week before going on sale towards the end of this year.
- Renault justifies calling the Espace a crossover by saying its new shape combines elements of saloon, SUV and MPV, while retaining the light and space of the latter.
- The new model will be available as either a five-seat or seven-seat, but neither version will come to the UK. A right-hand-drive option isn't available, and the Espace hasn't been offered for sale here since Renault UK's model cull in 2011.
- The production Espace's design differs very little from the Initiale Paris concept revealed at last year's Frankfurt motor show. At the time, Renault bosses said the concept was "very close" to how the production variant would look.
- While the interior of the new Espace has yet to be shown, Renault says the cabin will be "brightly-lit, comfortable and modular," and will feature a floating centre console. The highest-spec version of the production car is expected to feature a new take on aluminium and wood trim, as well as a glazed roof to deliver the sense of space. Renault is also thought to have worked hard on seating comfort and acoustics.
- This production Espace is based on the new Renault-Nissan CFM1 modular platform and is expected to measure about 4.9m in length. Most versions of the car will be powered by a new, turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine coupled to an automatic transmission operated by push buttons.
- The decision to shift away from the traditional shape of the Espace is a controversial one for Renault, with the brand's design boss Laurens van den Acker telling the current-generation car – which was first introduced in 2003 – had lived "for too long". The change to a crossover shape was designed to make the new Espace "more elegant", he added.
- First images of the Mercedes-AMG GT Edition 1 have leaked on the internet and reveal the beefed up styling of the new 503bhp V8-powered performance coupé. It will debut at the upcoming Paris motor show.
- The first of Mercedes-AMG’s GT models will be offered internationally on a limited-volume basis in line with the German car maker’s Edition 1 sales strategy, which traditionally sees launch models offered with sporting accents and high levels of standard equipment as an incentive to prospective customers.
- Mercedes-AMG is yet to provide official details on the GT Edition 1. However, these reportedly official photographs confirm it is differentiated from the standard GT and GT S models, revealed recently, by a number of subtle exterior styling elements.
- Included are carbonfibre additions to the front air ducts, carbonfibre extensions on the lower outer edges of the front bumper, carbonfibre embellishments within the sills, 10-spoke alloys and a prominent fixed rear wing in place of the standard GT and GT’s retractable appendage. Inside, the new car is claimed to receive a series of yellow styling accents and Edition 1 badges.
- The GT Edition 1 is expected to feature the same mechanical package as the standard GT S. It is powered by Mercedes-AMG’s newly unveiled twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 direct injection petrol engine, which develops 503bhp and 66.2kgm of torque.
- Skoda has launched the new Rapid starting at Rs 7.22 lakh for the entry-level petrol and Rs 8.38 lakh for the entry level diesel manual (ex-showroom, Delhi). This new model boasts some key mechanical changes and a couple of cosmetic variations.
- The highlight of the new Skoda Rapid is the new 103bhp 1.5-litre diesel unit, while the 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine is retained. The standard five-speed manual gearbox is retained, as is the six-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox coupled with the petrol motor. The diesel unit gets an optional seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.
- Cosmetically, the new Skoda Rapid gets new alloy wheels and an optional black package for the top-end Elegance trim. The package includes black alloys, black fog lamps, black grille and logo, black wing mirrors and black housings for the projector headlamps. A glossy black roof and black decals are available as accessories. Other feature additions include cruise control, rear parking sensors and a card holder.
- By adding a diesel automatic to its Rapid arsenal, Skoda has attempted to further bolster the fortunes of its best-selling model. With the festive season almost here, it is likely that the Rapid will make a strong case with customers looking to buy a mid-size diesel automatic sedan. Currently, the other two cars in the segment that offer a diesel automatic are the Hyundai Verna and the new Volkswagen Vento.
- Mahindra has launched the much-awaited new Scorpio in India starting at Rs 7.98 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). A thouroughly updated model, the new Scorpio gets a host of changes in terms of mechanicals, cosmetics and interior.
- The chassis is brand new and is built using a hydroforming procedure, which makes it a lot stiffer than before. The five-speed manual gearbox is new and claims to improve shifts. These changes along with the suspension setup that has also has been tweaked, should offer better ride and handling than before.
- The face of the new Scorpio gets a slightly redesigned bumper, an updated grille and newly-designed projector headlamps with LED daytime-running lights. The rear gets subtle changes to the bumper, LED tail-lights and a roof-mounted spoiler. Also new are the foglamps, scuff-plates and 17-inch alloys.
- Changes on the inside include a power-window button on respective doors, horizontal AC vents, new instrument cluster, climate control and a new touchscreen infotainment system. The new steering wheel, taken from the XUV 500, comes with controls mounted on it. There are airbags and ABS too. The new Scorpio also offers seating configurations ranging from seven- to nine-seater options as per the trims.
- The 2.2-litre mHAWK and 2.5-litre m2DiCr diesel engines have been carried over from the old car, but the nomenclature of the trims have been changed to S2, S4, S6, S8 and S10. The S4 and S10 trims are available in 4x4 versions
- With considerable updates being made to the popular Scorpio, Mahindra has a good package in hand to cash in on the festive season.
- Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd has just launched its second limited edition Vespa, called the Elegante at Rs 78,999 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
- The Elegante features chrome accents on the sides, chrome mirrors and an Elegante badge. A stylish new split seat is also on offer, mounted on a common opening platform that can be lifted to reveal a storage area. A colour coordinated helmet will also accompany the Vespa Elegante.
- The scooter gets no mechanical changes, and will continue to use the same 125cc engine, a disc brake up front, tubeless tyres and alloy wheels as standard.
- Only 3,500 units of the Elegante will be produced nationwide and it is available in two colour schemes namely, pearl white with dark red seats and clay with beige seats.
- Piaggio aims to introduce such limited editions quite often here thanks to the successful run of its last limited edition Vespa, the Esclusivo.
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni's much talked about bike collection will be on display at the two-day Bike Festival of India at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.
- Dhoni will play a key role as the face of the festival and of course, his newest acquisition, the Confederate Hellcat, will also be showcased at the BFI, billed to be the largest motorbike festival in South Asia.
- Among the main events over the weekend will be a dirt bike championship, drag race championship, racing championship, stunt biking and XDL championship. There will also be a host of adventure sports such as rappelling, paragliding, bungee jumping and much more. For those less adventurous, there is arm wrestling, weight lifting, bench press, rock climbing, burger eating and cola drinking competitions.
- Street food stalls, tattoo artists, virtual bike racing and a host of talented musicians, DJs and artists are expected to enthral participants. The festival will feature music such as sufi, rock, EDM and Bollywood Dance Music.
- The Bike Festival of India also lays great emphasis on the importance of safety in biking. As part of its efforts to raise awareness, the BFI has flagged off a 30-day National Safety Ride on August 31, 2014 from New Delhi. Triumph Motorcycles is the official partner of the BFI National Safety Ride and bikes on the ride are all Triumph motorbikes.
- The month-long safety ride over 8000 km to spread awareness of safe riding and using helmets will finally culminate on the BFI weekend at the Buddh International Circuit.
- Ducati is planning to launch an all-new version of its multipurpose motorcycle – Multistrada at the 2014 EICMA motor show scheduled to start from November 6th in Milan, Italy.
- This report comes at a time when BMW announced that it plans to launch the 2015 BMW S1000XR at the upcoming INTERMOT show in Germany. The 2015 BMW S1000XR is a multipurpose motorcycle developed by the German two-wheeler manufacturer to take on the Ducati Multistrada and is based on the S1000RR superbike.
- Although Ducati have been very secretive about the 2015 Multistrada but reports suggest that the production of the Multistrada has been shut to revamp the assembly line for the new model. Also dealers in the European market are providing heavy discounts on the Ducati Multistrada suggesting that they want to clear the stocks before the new bike arrives.
- The 2015 Ducati Multistrada will receive updates on both the mechanical and cosmetic front with more focus on the powerplant. Apart from the new Multistrada, Ducati will announce reveal the Ducati 1299 Panigale (story link) and the much awaited Scrambler at the 2014 EICMA show.
- The Kawasaki Z800 will be now offered in a new shade of green apart from the standard black colour.
- Kawasaki India has introduced a new shade of green for its streetbike offering the Z800. The Kawasaki Z800 will be now offered in a new green colour which the Japanese two-wheeler giant calls Candy Flat Blazed / Metallic Spark Black apart from the standard shade of Metallic Spark Black / Flat Ebony (black).
- The Kawasaki Z800 looked dull in the black colour as it couldn’t highlight the sharp and edgy lines of the Z800. Green is a colour that most two-wheeler aficionados associate it with the brand Kawasaki similar to red and Ferrari. Also many performance bike owners in India prefer their bikes to be in bright and vibrant shades.
- No changes have been made on the mechanical front on the Kawasaki Z800. At the heart of the Z800 sits an 806cc, liquid-cooled, in-line four mill producing 113 PS at 10,200 rpm and 83.0 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm, which is mated to a six-speed transmission.
- The bike features 41 mm USD telescopic forks upfront and monoshock setup at rear. Braking is done by dual semi-floating, four-piston, 310 mm petal at front and single 250 mm petal disc, and single-piston at rear.
- The Z800 weighs 229kg and has a fuel tank capacity of 17-litres. Kawasaki currently has two dealerships in our country at Pune and Delhi. The Kawasaki Z800 has been priced at Rs 7.90 lakh (ex-showroom Pune) and Rs 8.05 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). It is expected that the new green colour option will be available at no extra cost. The Kawasaki Z800 competes against the Triumph Street Triple in the Indian two-wheeler market.
- Renault has launched the all-wheel-drive (AWD) Duster in India at Rs 11.89 lakh The new Duster gets a few cosmetic updates too.
- The most important change, the all-wheel-drive system, gets three modes – two-wheel drive, auto and four-wheel lock, and these can be changed on the go. The other highlight on the Duster AWD is an all-wheel independent multi-link suspension as opposed to the non-independent torsion beam setup in the front-wheel-drive car. Also on offer is Renault’s Electronic Torque control system, which helps distribute torque among all the wheels and allows torque balance at high speeds.
- Other changes include smoked-grey alloy wheels, darkened headlamp clusters and matte black B-pillars, and ‘AWD’ and 4x4 badging. On the inside, there's a new three-pod instrument cluster, a new three-spoke steering wheel, dual-tone grey and red seats, and soft-touch plastics on the upper portion of the new dual-tone, and a black and grey dashboard.
- Two variants are on offer, the base RXL variant priced at Rs 11.89 lakh while the top-end RXZ is priced at Rs 12.99 lakh (Ex-showroom, Delhi).
- The Renault Duster AWD comes with the same 108.5bhp 1.5-litre diesel motor as in the FWD RxZ variant, and is coupled to the same six-speed manual gearbox.
- Volkswagen has launched the facelifted Vento in India starting at Rs 7.44 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Highlight of the facelift is the addition of the new 1.5-litre diesel motor, which also does duty in the Polo hatchback. In line with the Polo facelift, the facelifted Vento also gets a few cosmetic changes and equipment additions.
- The updated Vento gets a brand new face thanks to the restrained-yet-smart use of chrome, reprofiled headlamps and a slightly redesigned bumper. It gets brand new alloys; and at the rear too, the bumper and tail-lights have been slightly restyled.
- On the inside, the updated Vento gets the same new three-spoke steering wheel like the Polo and gets piano-black finish and audio and telephony controls. The dashboard gets a two-tone option for the standard car and the centre console gets silver finishing in contrast to the black.
- The updated Volkswagen Vento is now available in the following trim levels:
- Vento 1.6 MPI petrol manual in three variants - Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. Priced from Rs 7.44 lakh to Rs 8.87 lakh.
- Vento 1.2 TSI petrol (7-speed DSG) in Comfortline and Highline trims. Rs 9.35 to Rs 9.92 lakh
- Vento 1.5 TDI manual in Trendline, Comfortline and Highline variants. Rs 8.57 lakh to Rs 9.90 lakh
- Vento 1.5 TDI (7-speed DSG) in Comfortline and Highline variants. Rs 10.49 to Rs 10.94 lakh
- Introduction of the automatic gearbox on the Vento diesel is a good move on VW's part as there's only one other automatic diesel on offer in the segment, the Hyundai Verna. However, the Vento diesel gets a DSG unit which is far more accomplished than the four-speed auto 'box on the Verna. Given the timing of the launch, Volkswagen seems to also be making sure that it takes a fair swing to cash in on the festive season
- The Mahindra Centuro recently crossed the two lakh unit sales milestone and to celebrate this success, Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd is offering promotional cashback offers of up to Rs 5,000 on purchase of a Centuro bike in the festive season.
- Through the ‘Kamyabi ka Jashn’ promotion, Mahindra is offering new consumers a cash back of Rs 5,000 on the purchase of a Centuro and Rs 3,500 and Rs 2,000 cashback on the purchase of the Centuro N1 and the Centuro Rockstar respectively.
- "We are delighted with the sustained growth momentum of the Centuro. Its consumer inspired technology has excited both consumers and auto experts. We are confident that with our increasing number of touch points and the expansion of the Centuro range, we will continue to grow at a rapid pace. ‘Kamyabi ka Jashn’ is our way of celebrating and inviting more customers into our fold," said Viren Popli, Chief of Operations, Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd.
- With a refined 107cc engine and some unique features like remote flip key, find me alarm and anti theft alarm system, the Centuro continues to attract commuter motorcycle buyers. Over the past year, Mahindra has expanded the Centuro portfolio with two more variants and the bike has gone on to win 7 prestigious awards. With an all-new scooter launch coming up and now cashback offers on bikes, Mahindra Two Wheelers is gearing up to greet consumers with attractive offers this festive season.
- General Motors India has refreshed the Chevrolet Sail hatchback and sedan. The updated models have been launched at a starting price of Rs 4.41 lakh and the Sail sedan is priced starting at Rs 5.19 lakh (both prices ex-showroom, Delhi). The new Sail models get slight cosmetic tweaks inside and out.
- The exterior gets subtle changes and some extra usage of chrome. The headlamp and tail-lamp assemblies are also slightly redesigned.
- On the inside, the new Sail models get a new dual-tone dashboard finished in black and beige, and a new steering wheel finished in black. The other changes include chrome surrounds to the AC vents and the gear-knob, ABS with EBD and airbags as per trims, and a new Beat-like double-DIN audio system.
- Engines from the previous cars are retained. Power for the updated Sail models come from a 82.5bhp 1.2-litre petrol and 74bhp 1.3-litre diesel engines. Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual transmission.
- These updated Sail models might help General Motors capitalise on the demand for cars at the start of this festive season.
- Launch of the Maruti Ciaz is expected sometime in the first half of October. For now, we have managed to get details about the features that every variant is going to get.
- The Maruti Ciaz is powered by Ertiga's 91bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine and 89bhp 1.3-litre Fiat-sourced diesel engine. The petrol motor comes with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic gearbox, while the diesel variant gets only a five-speed manual gearbox.
- The Ciaz comes in four trims each for the petrol and diesel models. The petrol Ciaz will be available in VXi, VXi+, ZXi and ZXi+ trims and the diesel in VDi, VDi+, ZDi and ZDi+ trims. The optional four-speed automatic gearbox will be available on the VXi+ and ZXi trims.
- The base VXi and VDi variants get features like projector headlamps, front and rear armrests, keyless entry, audio system with USB, aux-in and card reader, fabric upholstery, and electrically-adjustable wing mirrors with indicators, among others.
- Over and above this, the VXi+ and VDi+ variants get an airbag for the driver, ABS with EBD, climate control, parking sensors, Bluetooth for the audio system, height adjustability for the driver’s seat, and steering-mounted controls.
- The ZXi and ZDi variants additionally get 15-inch alloys, rear sunshade, keyless entry and go, front passenger airbag, electric wing mirrors, reversing camera, and fabric and leather upholstery.
The top-of-the-line ZXi+ and ZDi+ variants get added features like the Smartplay infotainment system, leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering and 16-inch alloys.
- When launched, the Ciaz will go up against segment rivals like the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Skoda Rapid and the Volkswagen Vento.
- Mercedes has revealed the new Mercedes-AMG C63. The performance model in the C-class line-up is powered by the AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine, in two states of tune. This engine also powers the recently unveiled Mercedes-AMG GT. The C63 also adopts a similar naming convention, dropping the 'Benz' in favour of the new Mercedes-AMG badge.
- Tech data puts the maximum power for the Mercedes-AMG C63 at 469bhp at 5500-6250rpm and maximum torque at 66.2kgm at 1750-4500rpm. Fuel consumption is claimed to be 32 percent down compared to the naturally aspirated V8-engined C63 it replaces. It is claimed that the Mercedes-AMG C63 is capable of going from 0-100kph in 4.2 seconds and has a limited top speed of 250kph.
- An uprated version, the Mercedes-AMG C63 S, is also available and produces 503bhp and 71.3kgm.
- An AMG Speedshift seven-speed sports transmission sends the power to the rear wheels. The car also features speed-sensitive sports steering and AMG Ride Control sports suspension, which has three-stage adjustable damping. Braking is via internally ventilated and perforated brake discs, 360mm x 36mm at the front and 330mm x 26mm at the rear. The Mercedes-AMG C63 has a three-stage electronic stability program.
- The performance makeover from AMG adds bespoke AMG front and rear aprons, radiator grille, bonnet, side skirts and four-pipe sports exhaust to the exterior of the C-class. The car rides on 18-inch light-alloy wheels and 245/40 R18 tyres on the front and 265/40 R18 rubber on the rear, and LED high-performance headlamps complete the package.
- Among the cabin highlights are the AMG Dynamic Select switch, which is used to select driving modes, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual, an AMG Performance steering wheel in Nappa leather in a black three-spoke design, AMG sports pedals in brushed stainless steel with rubber studs and sports seats with improved lateral support and AMG-specific seat fluting. The instrument cluster has a large multifunction TFT display and a race timer, while a head-up display is an option.
- The S version adds to the exterior package with extras including a rear apron with three diffuser fins, a bespoke front apron and an uprated exhaust system with two chromed twin tailpipes.
- The Mercedes-AMG C63 is likely to go on sale internationally at the start of 2015. The sedan will be followed by coupé, estate and convertible versions which are planned to join the range before the end of 2016.
- Audi has revealed its new third-generation TT Roadster. It will make its public debut at the upcoming Paris motor show. The standard coupé version of this third-gen Audi TT is slated to launch in India in 2015.
- The new TT roadster receives a fresh appearance with hints of the Bauhaus design language from the original TT launched in 1999. This works in combination with a contemporary fabric hood that automatically stows in a dedicated space behind the cabin in just 10 seconds at the press of a button.
- Among the new car’s more prominent design elements is a more angular grille, new trapezoidal-shaped headlights with complex LED internal graphics, a more heavily contoured clamshell-style bonnet, and added structure to the lower section of the front bumper. The four-ring Audi emblem has also been moved from the grille to the edge of the bonnet. Further back, the new Audi gets prominent wheel arch flares with wheels ranging from 17 to 20-inches in diameter.
- A defined shoulder line, referred to by Audi as the Tornado line, runs the entire length of the flanks, from the trailing edge of the headlights through to the tail-lights. Holding true to the two-door layout of earlier models, the new TT Roadster continues to get rear end that boasts of a more defined lip to the end of the body. It also gets an automatic spoiler that deploys at speeds above 120kph, and more angular tail-lights that flaunt distinctive LED graphics.
- The body of the new model uses a combination of aluminium and steel construction, leading to a claimed kerb weight, for the TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI, of 1320kg.
- Volkswagen's flexible MQB platform is the basis for the new car. The Audi TT Roadster has a wheelbase of 2505mm, width of 1832mm and height of 1355mm. The multi-layer hood is supported by a frame consisting of aluminium, composite plastic, magnesium and steel components. It opens and closes at speeds up to 50kph. With the hood up, the nominal boot capacity is put at 280 litres.
- The engine line-up for the new TT Roadster has a four-cylinder petrol and diesel in differing states of tune. They are mated to either a standard six-speed manual or an optional six-speed S-tronic gearbox. There’s also an option between front- or four-wheel drive depending on the model.
- There will be a turbocharged 2.0-litre direct injection petrol unit that develops 227bhp and 37.7kgm of torque in the TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI and a more potent 306bhp and 38.7kgm in the range-topping TTS Roadster. This provides the new TTS Roadster with 38bhp and 3kgm more than its predecessor.
- In combination with its multi-plate clutch four-wheel drive system and optional six-speed S-Tronic dual clutch gearbox, the car can accelerate from 0 to 100kph in a claimed 4.9sec. Top speed is limited to 250kph.
- Also available will be a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder common rail diesel engine. It provides the TT Roadster 2.0 TDI with 181bhp and 38.7kgm of torque.
