Audi Prologue Avant concept headed to Geneva

Audi has revealed first sketches of the Prologue Avant concept which will be shown to the public at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show 2015.

The Prologue Avant is based on the Prologue concept which was designed to preview future design direction for the Audi A6, A7 and A8 models. The Prologue Avant is expected to showcase the same design theory for the Avant range sold in overseas markets.

As seen from the official sketches, the raked-back concept gets Audi’s large hexagonal grille up front as well as Audi Signature Matrix LED lighting with large front air intakes. Moving on to the rear, the exhaust outlets are tucked into the rear bumper, while a small boot-mounted spoiler can also be noted.

According to sources in Audi, the first production model to feature this new design direction will be the next-generation A8 sedan which is due in 2016. Audi is reportedly working on a range-topping A9 concept as well, which is expected to follow the Prologue concept’s design language. The A9 range will compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS.

The Audi Prologue Avant concept keeps the same dimensions as the original Prologue concept which means, it will be 5.1 meters long and will sit on 22-inch alloys. Power is expected to come from a 4.0-litre V8 motor good for 597bhp.

The Prologue Avant’s interiors will get OLED displays which will do away with virtually all buttons as well as supplementary displays for infotainment functions and driver information.

13th Delhi Auto Expo to be held from Feb 5-9, 2016

The dates for the 13th Delhi Auto Expo have been announced. The event will be held from February 5-9, 2016, at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida.

The shift of venue last year, from Pragati Maidan to Greater Noida was a great success. Although there were fears that the venue's distance from the main city would act as a deterrent to visitors, the Expo saw a record number of footfalls in 2014. With positive sentiment on the rise in the auto industry, we can expect next year's Expo takes things to a new level. Like always, there will be new car launches; Jaguar has announced that its new XE sedan will debut in India at the Auto Expo 2016. 

Interestingly, like in 2014, the Auto Components Expo – one of the biggest exhibitions of automotive components, technology and services – will take place during the same period, from February 4-7, at Pragati Maidan. However, this move may not go down too well with component manufacturers as last year, some felt the Auto Components Expo (being held at a separate venue) was sidelined. 

DSK Benelli at India Bike Week 2015

DSK Motowheels had unveiled their Benelli range of sportsbikes in India just a few months ago. Now, DSK-Benelli will showcase its entire product line-up at the India Bike Week 2015 in Vagator, Goa, in its production ready form.

Shirish Kulkarni, chairman of DSK Motowheels will unveil the motorcycles that will make it to Indian showrooms soon. The motorcycles will be clad in their launch ready colour schemes this time, exclusively for the crowd at the India Bike Week. Prices for all the motorcycles will be disclosed on the day of launch itself.

Also on display will be three new motorcycles that DSK Motowheels will bring to India by the end of 2015. However, DSK Benelli refused to comment about them, and wish to present them only at IBW 2015.

Nissan develops organic glow-in-the-dark car paint

Nissan has become the first manufacturer to use glow-in-the-dark car paint. The Japanese carmaker has worked with Hamish Scott to create Starpath, which is a spray-applied coating that absorbs UV energy during the day and glows for 8-10 hours when the sun goes down. The idea is being used to showcase how the electric Nissan Leaf is helping more and more people convert to solar energy at home.

According to Nissan Motor GB EV manager, Paul O’Neill, “The Nissan Leaf is a shining beacon of sustainability and the future of motoring. Not only is it saving our customers money in running costs but we are now seeing how it is helping people become more environmentally sensitive by reducing their carbon footprint.”

While glowing car paint is already available, as are glow-in-the-dark car wraps, the ultraviolet-energised paint created especially for Nissan is unique thanks to its formula made up of entirely organic materials. It contains a rare natural earth product called Strontium Aluminate, which is solid, odourless and chemically and biologically inert. Various third-party companies have applied non-organic glow-in-the-dark paint to vehicles before but Nissan is the first carmaker to directly apply such technology. Nissan’s unique paint, if made commercially available, would last for 25 years.

Honda Amaze CNG launched at Rs 6.53 lakh

Honda has launched a new CNG-ready variant of the Amaze sedan. The Amaze 1.2 S MT Plus with CNG compitability is priced at Rs 5.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The CNG kit and installation costs an additional Rs 54,315. Total costs run up to Rs 6.53 lakh.

The Amaze 1.2 S MT Plus is priced similar to the 1.2 S MT, but Honda says it has tweaks to the suspension and wiring harnesses to make it better suited for the CNG kit.

Already known to be one of the more frugal cars in the market, the popular Amaze, with the factory-fitted CNG kit is likely to be a hit amongst the masses, especially the ones conscious of keeping running costs low.

As the name suggests, the CNG-ready variant uses the same 1.2-litre four-cylinder i-VTEC motor, as in the standard petrol variants. It is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, and makes 87bhp and 11.1kgm of torque, when using petrol as fuel. The new variant will come with a 2-year warranty as standard.

New Skoda Superb global unveil on February 17, 2015

Skoda has announced that the new Skoda Superb will be globally revealed on February 17th.

The new model will have a smoother flowing profile and a more grown up luxury car look. It is also expected to be more practical than the previous-gen car. The boot space will be up by more than 60 litres, at 625 litres, and you can expand that to 1,760 litres once the rear seats are folded down.

It is expected to have a 2.0-litre diesel motor tuned for around 170bhp or a 1.8-litre 177bhp turbo-petrol engine. The current automatic DSG gearboxes are likely to be carried forward.

As seen from the official sketch, the new Superb gets Skoda's new two part, butterfly-shaped grille and a set of larger headlamps with a distinct hollowed out section below them. The nose now looks more aggressive, and the sharp cutlines on the bonnet and fenders, and the tastefully flared wheel arches add to the sporty stance.

Now 20mm longer, a considerable 50mm wider and using a new stretched (by 80mm) wheelbase, the new Superb will be even larger on the inside. The legroom has improved over the older car, the cabin is wide enough to fit three abreast in the rear, and the roominess up front is better as well. However, despite its larger size, the new Superb will be around 75kg lighter.

It is also likely to have a lot of the latest goodies found on VW's new B8 Passat, such as adjustable dampers and a new-gen infotainment system.
 

Hero HF Dawn launched at Rs 39,370

Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of two-wheelers, has just launched a new version of its entry level commuter, the HF Dawn. Hero has introduced this product trying to eliminate the need for public transport.

The HF Dawn also gets a metal carrier securely fastened just behind the pillion seat, enabling luggage carrying capability. The HF Dawn offers an upright riding position and an elongated saddle for comfort, a commuter necessity. Hero also provides a useful side-stand engaged indicator on the Dawn’s console.

Powering the HF Dawn is a modest, 97.2cc, four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine producing 8.2bhp at 8,000rpm and maximum torque of 0.82kgm is produced at 5,000rpm. The HF Dawn has a 4-speed gearbox.

The bike has telescopic forks upfront and dual shocks at rear, mated to drum brakes at both ends. The motorcycle weighs just 109kg and has a fuel-tank capacity of 10.5 litres.

The HF Dawn is available in silver, red, maroon, black with purple and also, black with red paint schemes.

Mercedes C-class C 220 CDI diesel launched at Rs 39.9 lakh

Mercedes-Benz has launched the diesel version of its C-class luxury sedan, C 220 CDI, in India starting at Rs 39.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The Mercedes C 220 CDI, available in two trims — Style and Avantgarde — is powered by a 2.1-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine good for 168bhp. The C-class diesel will initially be brought into the country as a CBU import with local assembly expected to commence later this year.

In terms of features, the top Avantgarde trim comes equipped with a high-resolution 8.4-inch screen for its COMAND infotainment computer, satellite navigation, LED ambient cabin lighting with three selectable colours, push-button start, a panoramic sunroof and a 13-speaker Burmester audio system. It also gets the basics like three-zone auto climate control, rear-view camera and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Mercedes C 220 CDI goes up against the likes of the Audi A4 and the BMW 3-series.

Prices of the new Mercedes C-class are as below:

Diesel

C 220 CDI Style: Rs 39.9 lakh
C 220 CDI Avantgarde: Rs 42.9 lakh

Petrol

C 200 CGI Avantgarde (CKD version): Rs 40.9 lakh
(all prices, ex-showroom, Delhi)

Indian Motorcycle Roadmaster launched at Rs 37 lakh

Indian Motorcycle, now owned by Polaris Industries, has launched a new luxury cruiser in India called the Roadmaster as its flagship tourer globally.

The Roadmaster is equipped with an adjustable transparent windshield for the rider, actuated by a button. It also has heated handle grips, and the rider and passenger get individually adjustable heated seats. Moreover, Indian has provided adjustable floorboards for the pillion to enhance legroom.

Indian has also fitted the Roadmaster with three weather-proof hard saddle bags, with push button access that operate via a remote key, and can store a total of 140 litres of luggage. Other luxury accessories include, genuine leather seats, keyless ignition, central locking, tyre pressure monitor, LED lights and importantly, cruise control. A 200-watt stereo system with smartphone compatibility is also provided for entertainment.

The Roadmaster is powered by a 1,811cc, four-stroke, V-twin and air-cooled engine, developing 14.16kgm of torque at 2,600rpm. Suspension duties are carried out by telescopic front forks, and an adjustable, pneumatic single shock does duty at rear. Braking is carried out by ABS-equipped disc brakes up front and a single disc brake at rear.

The Indian Roadmaster is priced at Rs 37 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), and is available at exclusive company dealerships in Gurgaon, Haryana and Bangalore. Indian Motorcycle is also preparing to inaugurate its first showroom in Mumbai soon.

Apart from the Roadmaster, Indian has four other cruisers on sale in India - the Scout, the Chief Classic, the Chief Vintage and the Chieftain.
 

Tata Nano Twist XE priced at Rs 2.06 lakh

The Tata Nano Twist is now available in a new XE trim. Priced at Rs 2.06 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Nano Twist XE is the base trim and sits below the Twist XT.

At this price, it is not only the most affordable hatchback, but also the most affordable power-steering-equipped car you can buy in India. It gets power steering, AC, an all-black dashboard and front seat headrests. However, in comparison to the Twist XT trim, some of the important features it misses out on are, heating function in the AC, music system, front power windows, central locking and rear parcel shelf.

There are also some dealers in Mumbai that are offering discounts on the leftover stock from last year. The Nano Twist XE is being offered at Rs 1.99 lakh (on-road, Panvel). What needs to be understood though, is that the discount is inclusive of cash discount and exchange discount. The offer is only available at select dealers, and is valid till the end of February 2015.

The discounts are also only valid till stocks last. To get more details and any further clarifications, it is advised to head to your nearest dealer. Although this offer is restricted to a particular region, dealers all over tend to offer discounts on leftover stock, so make sure to walk up to one and negotiate for a good deal.

Suzuki to unveil iK-2, iM-4 SUV concepts at Geneva

Suzuki will showcase two concept cars at the upcoming Geneva motor show in March. The Suzuki iK-2 concept will preview an all­-new hatchback while the iM-4 will show the direction for Suzuki’s future rugged small SUV.

Looking at the teaser image for the Suzuki iK-2 concept, it points to the production version of the Suzuki YRA hatchback which has already been seen testing in India and abroad. This new hatchback is expected to sit above the Swift in Maurti’s Indian line-up and will compete with the likes of Hyundai i20.

The Suzuki iM-4 concept looks like a future compact SUV offering from Suzuki. Maruti is also readying an all-new compact SUV that is expected to rival the Ford EcoSport. However, the silhouette shown in the teaser image of the Suzuki concept points to a different vehicle. 

Infiniti QX30 concept previewed

The Infiniti QX30 compact crossover will make its world debut at the Geneva motor show next month in a thinly-veiled concept form. As Infiniti concentrates on making sure its new model can take on the likes of the BMW X1 and Audi Q3, test mules for the QX30 have already been spotted testing.

The sister car to the upcoming Q30 hatchback - which is due to arrive this autumn - the QX30 is based on the same platform, and will be built at Nissan’s Sunderland facility. Both the models are expected to use Infiniti-tuned versions of Mercedes’ four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. They will also use a tweaked version of the front-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz A/B-Class platform. A Haldex-based all-wheel drive system, however, will be optional.

Infiniti says that the new model will "reignite the premium compact segment," and will offer "the sleek lines of a coupé with the rugged looks and commanding seating position of a crossover".

Honda launches Activa 3G

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has just launched a refreshed version of its popular scooter – the Activa 3G (or the third generation) - priced at Rs 48,852 (ex-showroom, Delhi). The scooter gets new styling seen in the new side panels, a rear tail-light and new three-dimensional Honda emblems. The Activa 3G is equipped with the same 109.2cc engine that develops 8bhp at 7,500rpm and 0.9kgm of torque at 5,500rpm. The Activa 3G gets the front linked suspension and a rear monoshock carried over from the previous Activa.

Honda Eco Technology (HET) also makes its way here, along with Honda’s patent combination brake system (CBS) and useful tubeless tyres. Honda’s new Activa 3G is available in blue, red, grey, black and white paint schemes.

Keita Muramatsu, President and CEO, Honda India said, "With India's contribution reaching 25 percent of global Honda motorcycle sales this year; India is and will remain Honda's priority market globally. However, I consider 50 lakh units to be the turning point for Honda in India.

In FY 2015-16, Honda is taking the next leap of business expansion. We will be bigger with new manufacturing capabilities and an aggressively growing network in the hinterlands, better at customer satisfaction and bolder with our introduction of 15 new models.”

Porsche 911 Targa 4 launched in India

Porsche has launched the 911 Targa 4 in India, priced at Rs 1.59 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi). The more powerful Targa 4S costs Rs 1.78 crore.

The name Targa signifies a semi-convertible body style, and is the main selling point of this model. The 911 Targa 4 gets a wraparound window at the rear instead of the C-pillar, and a thick bar instead of the B-pillars. The roof above the front seats is movable, and it takes 19 seconds for the roof segment to open or close.

“The 911 is a sports car which has won more races than any other. The car’s arrival here in India signifies a new chapter in the legendary model’s evolution and I am incredibly proud and excited to welcome it.” said Anil Reddi, director, Porsche India.

Both 911 Targa 4 and 4S offer all-wheel drive. The 911 Targa 4 is powered by a 3.4-litre six-cylinder petrol engine that makes 345bhp and 39.8kgm of torque, while the Targa 4S is powered by a 3.8-litre unit that puts out 395bhp and 44.9kgm of torque. Both cars use a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Equipped with the Sport Chrono package, both the Targas can achieve a 0-100kph timing of under 5 seconds. The 911 Targa 4 reaches a top speed of 282kph, and the Targa 4S tops out at 296kph. The Targa 4S can also be had with an optional Carrera S Powerkit that boosts output by 29.5bhp.

Other tech features in the 911 Targa 4 and 4S include electrical system recuperation, map-controlled thermal management of the engine coolant and an auto stop-start function.

Mercedes-Benz C-class diesel launch on Feb 11, 2015

Mercedes-Benz will launch the diesel version of its C-class luxury sedan in India on Feb 11, 2015. It will use the ‘220 CDI’ engine specification, which means a 2.1-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that in the previous C-class produced 170bhp. However, there is a chance this motor could get a little more power in the new C-class.

Like the C 200 petrol model, at the time of its launch the new C-class diesel will be a CBU import. Local assembly of the C-class will commence later this year, but Mercedes-Benz understandably wants to bring the all-important diesel version of its luxury sedan here as quickly as possible.

And like the CBU C-class petrol, the C 220 CDI will be launched in a fully loaded top trim only. That means it will have features like a high-res, 8.4-inch screen for its COMAND infotainment computer, satellite navigation, LED ambient cabin lighting with three selectable colours, push-button start, a panoramic sunroof and a 13-speaker Burmester audio system. You will of course get the basics like three-zone auto climate control, rear-view camera and Bluetooth connectivity as well.

We found the C 200 petrol to be an accomplished and grown up luxury sedan, but to better compete with its rivals in our market, a diesel version is essential. Being an import, the C 220 CDI is likely to be on the pricey side – around Rs 1 lakh higher than the C 200 petrol. Buyers are likely to baulk at the Rs 50 lakh plus on-road price (in certain states) however good the car maybe. Mercedes needs to introduce the locally assembled and hence cheaper versions of the new C-Class sooner rather than later to compete with its rivals on an even footing. 

Upcoming Renault-Alpine racer for Gran Turismo revealed

Renault has revealed a new, virtual Alpine race car for the Vision Gran Turismo design series. The new Alpine race car will be available for download and driving within the game, and serves as a prelude to the return of the Alpine brand in 2016.

Renault's in-house design teams submitted 15 designs for the concept, with designers and engineers working together to make the digital car. While no individual element of the concept will make it to production, officials say that several details on the car have been "directly inspired" by the upcoming sports car.

The new Gran Turismo concept is based on a carbonfibre monocoque chassis and is powered by a mid-mounted 4.5-litre V8 engine producing 444bhp and 59.17kgm of torque. Its top speed is pegged at 320kph, with power sent to the rear wheels by a seven-speed sequential transmission. It weighs 900kg.

Alpine says that the concept stands “at the crossroads of the past, present and future”, and it provides “a link between the virtual and real worlds”.

Much like other manufacturers, Renault has also produced a full-scale model of the concept. After the collaboration between Alpine and Caterham collapsed, Renault had previously confirmed that its upcoming sports car could be used to assess the business case for a new family of Alpine models. This was back in 2012, when Renault had first showcased a new-generation Alpine concept car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Players will be able to download the Alpine concept car from March.

Volkswagen Jetta facelift to launch on February 17

Volkswagen will launch the Jetta facelift on February 17, 2015. The facelifted Jetta will get a thorough update to give its competitors, the Skoda Octavia and Hyundai Elantra, stiffer competition. Prior to this, VW had launched a mildly refreshed version of the Jetta in October 2013.

The Jetta facelift will get a grille and headlamps that appear like a single continuous element, while the new and wider air dam will aim to improve aerodynamics. At the back, the LED tail-lamps are slimmer and now placed higher than before.

Inside, there's a new corporate steering wheel; bigger, cleaner dials in the instrument cluster, and a new high resolution trip computer.

Mechanically, the Jetta facelift will continue with the same 1.4-litre turbo petrol and 2.0-litre TDI diesel engines. The diesel engine, however, will get a 10bhp increase in power.

Expect Volkswagen to price the Jetta facelift in the Rs 16-20 lakh price range.