Author: Lakshya Agrawal

Volvo joins V8 Supercars series in 2014 down under [w/video]

Volvo fans, we have good news for you. It had been a rumour for a while, and now it’s official. Volvo will be joining the V8 Supercars series in Australia with an official team in 2014. Volvo’s own polestar tuning firm and Garry Rogers Motorsport have joined hands to help Volvo create Volvo Polestar Racing.

The Swedish half of the outfit will produce a V8 engine, and will supply it to the Garry Rogers team, for them to get the car ready for the track. Two V8 Supercars will be used by the team, based on the production S60 road car. But considering that the S60 uses a range of transversely mounted engines with four, five or six cylinders (powering either the front or all four wheels) while the new race car will employ a V8 sending about 650 horsepower to the rear wheels, we guess the similarities between the production variant and the V8 Supercar stop at the exterior design.

Volvo claims this is the first factory-backed entry in the V8 Supercars series from a luxury brand. We should note, though, that Mercedes-Benz is represented in the series with an E-Class sedan, but that outfit isn’t quite an official entry from the car’s German parents. With the going away of the Ford Falcon, the addition of the Nissan Altima and now this Volvo S60, V8 Supercars is surely getting very interesting. Watch the teaser video below, to get an idea of what Volvo has in mind.

[youtube id=”PNvH9n90XtQ” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

[Source: Volvo, Polestar Racing via YouTube]

June 18, 2013
Lamborghini Gallardo replacement to be launched in 2014

According to reports, Lamborghini is set to put a cap on its 50th anniversary celebrations with the unveil of one last concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, which will closely preview the upcoming Gallardo replacement. The production version of the new two-seater, is set to go on sale in the UK during the second half of next year and will follow its predecessor in sharing key components, including a lightweight carbonfibre and aluminium spaceframe structure, with the replacement for the current Audi R8, due in 2015.

Rumours suggest that the Gallardo replacement will be called the Cabrera. In keeping with Lamborghini tradition, it refers to a line of Spanish bulls whose lineage can be traced to other famous breeds, including the Miura, Gallardo, Navarra and Veragua.

The Gallardo’s 5.2-liter V-10 will carry over, but with extensive revisions to deliver more power and fewer emissions. Peak output should come in at 592 horsepower, which in metric figures converts to about 600 horses. This means the new car is likely to be an LP 600-4. Note, an engine with these very specs was previewed in the Egoista concept. The engine will be mated to a standard six-speed manual gearbox, while the new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic from the R8 will be available as an option, replacing the current Gallardo’s six-speed automated manual ’box. Lamborghini plans on introducing a rear-wheel drive model as well, apart from the usual range of four-wheel drive variants.

The Gallardo replacement’s design is expected to be a blend of the Sesto Elemento and Egoista concepts. The new car, which carries the internal codename LP724, is said to have grown marginally in length to almost 4500mm, or 16mm longer than its predecessor, with width and height remaining close to the 1900mm and 1165mm respectively of the Gallardo. Together with an edgy new exterior, the Gallardo replacement is set to adopt a new interior layout that, with a slight increase in wheelbase over its predecessor at 2600mm, will offer added levels of accommodation.

Lamborghini had initially planned to base its new car around a contemporary carbonfibre monocoque similar to that of the Aventador, however parent compant Audi has dictated them to follow a more conservative route, keeping in mind the second-generation R8.

Since the R8’s conception, both cars have shared a modular spacefame. This allows them to share vital components, and will therefore continue to be the case. A new, lightweight carbonfibre and aluminium structure weighing 198kg will be used by the Audi. That is 24kg less than the all-aluminium structure used by the current R8.

The new spaceframe structure will be clothed in a body that uses a combination of carbonfibre-reinforced plastic and aluminium panels. The move is aimed at bringing the new mid-engined Lamborghini to the scales at less than 1500kg — the official kerb weight of today’s four-wheel-drive Gallardo.

June 17, 2013
Maruti Suzuki India launches CNG Ertiga called the Ertiga Green

Rumours of Maruti’s plans of launching a CNG variant of the Ertiga have been doing the rounds for a few weeks, and now we can confirm that Maruti has launched India’s first CNG-equipped MPV. The Ertiga Green is available only in the LXi and VXi trims.

Maruti claims that the Ertiga Green has a mileage of 22.80km/kg. Bookings for the car are on for a price of Rs 10,000, with deliveries in 15 to 20 days. The Ertiga Green’s exteriors and interiors remain unchanged.

We continuously work to offer products that are high on fuel efficiency and low on overall cost of ownership. Ertiga Green, with a factory-fitted CNG system, is another step of Maruti Suzuki to meet today’s need of our customers

– Manohar Bhat, Vice-President, Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India

The LXi variant comes with a price tag of Rs 6.52 lakh, while the VXi variant costs Rs 7.30 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The Ertiga has been a success with over 87,000 units sold since its launch in April, 2012.

Ertiga Green is the sixth vehicle from Maruti Suzuki India with factory-fitted CNG kits. Alto, Wagon R, Eeco, SX4 and Estilo are already offered with factory-fitted CNG option. The new vehicle will be available in states with CNG infrastructure, including Delhi NCR, Gujarat, Mumbai, Pune, and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the company said.

June 16, 2013
2014 BMW 4 Series Coupe Revealed

Less than two hours after the first images of the 2014 BMW 4 Series Coupe leaked onto the Internet, BMW has gone ahead and revealed the car themselves. The 2014 BMW 4 Series Coupe was first revealed in concept form at the Detroit Motor Show in January, and is a replacement for the 3 Series Coupe.

The midsize coupe is both wider and longer than its predecessor. BMW says the wheelbase on the 4 Series is 50mm longer than the old two-door’s, plus the new car is 26mm longer overall, with the track widened by 45mm at the front and 81mm at the rear. The roofline is also 16mm lower than before, and combined with the lowered suspension, the 4 Series Coupe has the lowest centre of gravity of any BMW currently on sale. That should make it quite nice to drive fast in the corners, better maybe than the current 3 Series. To add to this, BMW has tuned the springs, dampers and camber angles to make the car more responsive, while tweaking the the rear axle as well.

The 4 Series Coupe gets the same lower grille as the dramatic 4 Series concept, which wraps around each of the foglights. The Air Breather mounted on each front wing was something else seen first on the concept before appearing on the 3 GT and new X5. It looks a lot like its 4-door brother, but the width provides a nice stance giving the car well balanced look and feel.

Internationally, BMW will offer the 4 Series with 3 petrol and 3 diesel engine options. Kicking off the diesel range is the 420d, with the same 2.0-litre engine as the 320d saloon. This produces 181 bhp and goes from 0-100 kmph in 7.5 seconds. The 420i is the entry-level petrol model, with the same 181bhp output. Further up the range are the 3.0-litre six-cylinder 430d, with 254bhp, and the petrol-powered 428i and 435i, with 242bhp and 302bhp respectively. A 309bhp 435d model is the flagship, but is only available with the xDrive four-wheel-drive system. The 420i and 420d can also be fitted with four-wheel drive. No information on the engine lineup in India is available right now.

The 4 Series Coupe will be available in three different trim lines – Luxury, Sport and M Sport. The Luxury line focuses more on overall amenities and upscale appearance, while the Sport and M Sport models are meant to offer much more performance-based kit and additions to make for a slightly more aggressive exterior. The M Sport model will offer stiffer suspension and upgraded brakes but an Adaptive M Sport set-up featuring adjustable dampers as well as 18-and 19-inch wheels are options on all models. The cabin doesn’t look all that different from the 3 Series, incorporating the same line of toys and creature comforts, and is offered in a variety of shades.

The new 4 Series goes on sale later this summer, and BMW has already confirmed pricing for some countries. In the US it will start at $41,425 and the range-topping 435i xDrive will set you back $48,925. In the UK, the base model will cost £31,575 and the 435i xDrive Luxury priced at £40,795. Watch this space for updates on its launch and pricing in India!

Image credit: BMW

June 16, 2013
Ford EcoSport Bookings open at Rs. 50,000

Bookings for the highly anticipated compact SUV, the Ford EcoSport, are finally open. While there has been no official announcement, the Ford EcoSport is expected to be launched in the last week of June, and according to the official Ford EcoSport Facebook page, those interested can now book it after paying a sum of Rs 50,000. There’s no word however on the vehicle’s pricing, and there’s a Rs 3,000 cancellation fee in case you change your mind later for whatever reason.

First showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo, the EcoSport is one of the most awaited cars this year. An endless delay in the SUV’s launch has begun to take a toll on customer patience with several angry fans making their opinions heard on the car’s Facebook page, slamming Ford for the lack of clarity on the SUV’s launch date and price. In response, Ford said that prices will be announced in a couple of weeks.

The Ford EcoSport will be the first car in India offering the excellent 1.0- litre EcoBoost engine produced by the American manufacturer. The same engine has won the famed Engine of the Year Award two years on the trot now. The Ford EcoSport will be available in four trims (Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium Optional) and three engine options: the 1.0-litre petrol EcoBoost, and the 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines from the Fiesta. All three engines come mated to the standard 5-speed manual gearbox also employed in the Fiesta though the 1.5-litre petrol can also be specified with the six-speed Ford PowerShift automatic transmission. Ford claims a fuel efficiency figure of 18.9kmpl for the EcoBoost-powered version.

Read more about the different features of the Ford EcoSport here.

June 15, 2013
2014 S63 AMG ‘unintentionally’ revealed by Mercedes Benz

Just a day after starting production of the 2014 S-Class at its main plant in Sindelfingen, Germany, Mercedes Benz has unintentionally given the world a sneak peek at the 2014 S63 model. An official promotional video showing the production line of cars has gone viral, after it was noticed that one of the featured cars just happened to be the high performance S63 variant.

[youtube id=”OyPEQYkZmTY” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

The latest S63 AMG model is yet to be officially revealed, though clearly the cars are already in production. This video, posted up by Czech website Auto Forum, shows the S63 AMG with its front fully revealed.

The enlarged air intakes in the front bar, and bigger AMG-spec wheels are a clear indication of the focus on performance. The V8 bi-turbo lettering on the sides and the S63 badge on the trunk lid leave no doubt that the AMG spec variant of the luxurious sedan will soon hit the markets. Other upgrades such as quad-exhaust pipes, larger brake discs and lowered suspension were quite evident in spy shots released earlier this year.

However, in line with other recently launched AMG models like the 2014 CLA45 AMG and 2014 E63 AMG, the 2014 S63 AMG too seems slightly restrained. None of the visual upgrades seem as aggressive as those of older AMGs. Have no doubt though, the 2014 S63 AMG is still a gorgeous car.

Official details aren’t available yet, but we expect the S63 AMG to pack Mercedes Benz’s twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 producing about 550 hp in the base model. Like the new E-Class, an S model will likely be offered. The seven speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive will likely be part of the S63 AMG package, too.

[autoforumCZ via YouTube, Motor Authority]

June 15, 2013
Mahi Racing secures double podium finish at Portugal

It’s happy days for MS Dhoni’s Mahi Racing Team India as both its riders, Fabian Foret & Kenan Sofuoglu, finished on the podium in the sixth race of the World Supersport season at Portimao in Portugal. Foret managed to pass two riders in the opening stages after starting from fourth place on the grid and took the lead in the latter half of the race due to the incredible pace of the Mahi Racing bikes. He was overtaken by eventual winner Sam Lowes on Turn 11. Foret tried his best to take back the lead but was unsuccessful in his bid and had to settle for a second place finish.

Reigning champion Sofuoglu had finished the race in third position after qualifying in third place. The Turkish rider however managed to set the fastest lap on lap 12 with a 1: 45.730 minute lap. The result leaves both Mahi Racing riders tied in second place on the championship standings. British rider Sam Lowes leads the table currently with 120 points after four wins on the trot. Nine races remain in the 2013 World Supersport season and both Mahi Racing drivers have enough opportunities to overtake Sam Lowes and win the championship.

June 14, 2013
BMW claims it has 1,00,000 reservations for i3 programme

BMW’s sales boss, Ian Robertson, has said that there are 1,00,000 people around the world who have made reservations for the BMW i3, and a “significant number” of them have made deposits for the car.

Robertson’s interview with Automotive News Europe reports him as also saying that the i3 differs from many of the EVs on the road today because it was developed as an EV from the start, rather than being conventional car with an electric powertrain dropped in.

We are confident that with the i3 and i8 we will shift the [customer demand] needle because we will shape some of this technology.

– Ian Robertson, Chief, Sales & Marketing, BMW

His stance is in contrast with BMW CEO, Norbert Reithofer’s comments from last year, when he said that governments need to pony up more plug-in vehicle support or EVs just won’t be popular.

When asked for the car’s starting price, Robertson said that it would be in the same range as the 3 series, which in Germany is priced between 28,800 and 38,800 Euros for base versions. We will finally get to see the production version of the i3 at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, 30 months after the announcement of the ‘i’ subbrand, also including the i8 plug-in hybrid supercar. The BMW i3 goes on sale in Europe at the end of the year.

[Automotive News Europe]

June 14, 2013
2013 Tata Nano coming this month

The 2013 Tata Nano is all set to hit the markets next week, however you will be hard pressed to tell the difference between itself and its predecessor. The 2013 Nano comes only with minor cosmetic changes and no significant upgrades.

The 2013 Nano gets new bumpers and strips of chrome both on the front and rear on what is otherwise a largely unchanged exterior. The rear bumper does get bigger air vents though for better cooling of the engine.

The noticeable change on the inside is the addition of a glove box, with the rest of the interior staying largely the same except for some colour, trim and fabric changes. The top-end model however will come with an integrated music system (with both speakers placed on the dashboard) with CD, MP3, Aux-in, USB and Bluetooth capabilities. Such additions may make the Nano more appealing to its customer base.

Other upgrades are largely focused on improving the quality and reliability of the car including a new clutch to replace the highly criticized one on the outgoing model. A few mechanical and electrical upgrades have also been done. The proven 623cc, twin-cylinder engine is carried over from the 2012 model and continues to deliver acceptable performance and impressive fuel economy.

The 2013 Nano is something of a stepping stone for the much awaited power steering and CNG equipped variants, both of which are expected by the end of the year. The power steering would surely help Tata’s sales as the effort required to park this car due to its heavy steering is well accounted in the automotive world. The new Nano is expected to come with a marginal increase in price.

[Autocar India]

June 14, 2013
Apollo Tyres stock plummets 20% on Rs.14,500 Cr acquisition of Cooper Tire

The Apollo Tyres stock plummeted 20.87 per cent to Rs 72.80 in the late morning trade on Thursday on the BSE after the company announced that it will acquire the US-based Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in an all-cash transaction of around Rs 14,500 crore ($2.5 billion). A consortium of four banks — Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Standard Chartered — will raise $2.5 billion of new debt to fund what is one of the largest overseas acquisitions by an Indian company.

Under the terms of the deal, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, Cooper stockholders will receive $35.00 per share in cash. Apollo is paying Cooper shareholders a 43 per cent premium over yesterday’s closing price on the New York Stock Exchange.

According to Neeraj Kanwar, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Apollo Tyres, this deal will propel Apollo Tyres from 16th to 7th position in the global tyre manufacturing rankings, and get deeper market access in the US, Europe and China. Cooper Tire is ranked 11th globally with revenues of around $4 billion. As part of the deal, Apollo Tyres will take over 14,000 employees and the operations of Cooper’s eight plants across the world, taking Apollo’s headcount to 30,000.

After the merger goes through, Apollo will have 14 plants worldwide, and will more than double its capacity to 3,500 tonnes per day from 1,500 tonnes per day now. The deal is expected to be concluded in the second half of this year, after regulatory approvals as well as getting approval from Cooper’s stockholders.

Apollo was founded in 1972 and is reputed for high performance tires across a range of well-known premium and mid-tier brands, including the flagship Apollo brand and Vredestein. Cooper was founded in 1914 and today supplies premium and mid-tier tires worldwide through renowned brands such as Cooper, Mastercraft, Starfire, Chengshan, Roadmaster and Avon.

June 13, 2013
Maruti Suzuki announces month-long exchange program

With the car market continuing on a downhill drive, India’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India has announced an exchange programme for its existing customers which will be valid for the whole of June 2013.

The company is targeting to reach out to over 5 lakh customers across the country with special discounts and offers through the network of its pre-owned car business called ‘True Value’. A mega carnival will be held across 112 cities on June 15th and 16th as a part of the initiative. The carnival will go beyond the metro cities covering tier 1 and tier 2 locations like Ranchi, Patna, Indore, Bhubneshwar, Raipur, Karnal, Hubli, Sagar, Mandi, Vapi, Vardha, Jamnagar etc. to name a few.

The month long Mega Carnival is an initiative for driving exchange and facilitating the new car sales. It will be led by our True Value chain which will act as catalyst to spur growth in of this segment. Maruti Suzuki is the market leader in this format of business. This initiative will provide a boost to an overall sluggish market and also create a positive sentiment for the entire automobile industry.

– Mayank Pareek, chief operating officer, Maruti Suzuki India

On offer will be a number of spot booking benefits, including attractive EMI schemes with bank partners, exchange bonus and loyalty bonus for the full range of Maruti Suzuki cars, during the month-long exchange campaign at all dealerships across India.

Car sales in India fell for a record seventh consecutive month in May with a decline of 12.26 per cent at 1,43,216 units, prompting industry body SIAM to caution that the prolonged slump in the market could result in job losses in the automobile sector. Maruti Suzuki India registered 8.25 per cent decline in domestic sales at 66,342 units in May.

[Times of India]

June 13, 2013
GM suspends production of diesel Sail and Sail U-VA

General Motors (GM) India has suspended production of the diesel variants of its newly launched Chevrolet Sail sedan and the Sail U-VA hatchback, suspecting problems with the 1.3-litre diesel engine used in these cars.

GM India has also suspended production of the BS III variant of the Chevrolet Tavera due to emission concerns. Not only might the delivery of these cars might be delayed, the issue may lead to a product recall of all diesel models of the Sail saloon and Sail hatchback manufactured over a certain period. GM India, for now, did not say if a recall of the cars was likely. P Balendran, vice president, GM India, said, “We will come back to you with an update after thorough investigation in the coming days.”

Neither issue is safety-related. The Tavera BS-IV and Sail HB & NB petrol models are unaffected and production of these vehicles is continuing.

It is not clear when the company will resume production the three vehicles. GM launched the Sail U-VA hatchback last year and the Sail sedan this year in the country.

June 13, 2013
Datsun unveiling sub Rs. 4 Lakh hatchback on July 15th

India will witness the revival of the iconic Datsun brand at Kingdon of Dreams in Gurgaon, Haryana on the 15^th of July this year. Datsun has announced that the first car of their comeback will be unveiled at the event, and Carlos Ghosn, global CEO of the Renault-Nissan alliance, is expected to do the honours. The new Datsun will be a hatchback based on the previous generation Nissan Micra.

The new car is expected to arrive with a host of styling changes compared to the dated Micra, and will be smaller in terms of exterior dimensions but roomier inside. It will be powered by the Micra’s 1.2 litre petrol engine with no information about a diesel unit yet.

Datsun is aiming to sell 1.50 lakh to 2 lakh cars in India every year and is therefore expected to price their models very competitively. In agreement with their philosophy of quality at a budget, rumours are that the Datsun hatchback will be priced under Rs 4 lakh. This puts it into direct competition with the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 and Hyundai Eon, which offer comparatively smaller engines (796 and 814cc respectively). The Datsun may already have an advantage, being more powerful than all its rivals while also matching their fuel efficiency.

A larger model with a seven-seater option is also being planned for the Datsun range of cars in India. This model is expected to compete with the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. and the Japanese automaker plans to launch all three models at the 2014 Auto Expo.

June 13, 2013
Toyota Camry Hybrid to be launched in August

Despite the extremely poor reception to hybrid cars in India (both the Honda Civic and Toyota’s own Prius failed miserably), Toyota has announced that it will launch the Camry Hybrid in August. Toyota believes it can sell around 20-25 Camry Hybrids a month, which makes up around 5-6 percent of total Camry sales. It’s planning to locally assemble the Camry Hybrid in India alongside the 2.4-litre petrol model.

The Camry Hybrid will get a host of exterior and interior changes to differentiate it from the regular Camry. At the front, it comes with a new bumper having a wider air dam, as well as restyled fog lamps with chrome inserts. The front grille also features a chrome strip. There isn’t anything new about the rear, except for the blue badge that reads ‘Hybrid Synergy Drive’. On the inside, we get a redesigned dashboard and three dials in the instrument cluster. Toyota will also use a different seat fabric to add to the premium feel.

The 2.5-litre engine, mated to a hybrid powertrain, will see a bump up in power thanks to the use of an electric motor. This engine comes mated to an e-CVT (electronic continuously variable transmission) gearbox. The hybrid powertrain features a water cooled system that reduces the temperature of the exhaust gas and then reroutes this to the intake to control emissions. The system has also been tweaked to increase efficiency by reducing transaxial losses and improving motor control. The car will also have an EV drive mode, with which it can be driven on the electric motor alone for 2.5 km, provided the car doesn’t cross 40 kmph. Toyota will also tweak the chassis a bit to compensate for the extra weight of the electric powertrain.

Even with all the extra features, an expected price of Rs. 36 Lakh (about Rs. 12 Lakh over the regular Camry) seems too high to attract enough customers. Watch this space for updates on the Toyota Camry Hybrid!

June 12, 2013
Tata Vista and Manza now offered with MapmyIndia Sat-Nav

While the top-end models of the Tata Vista hatchback and Manza sedan are shipped with an infotainment system featuring integrated satellite navigation (sat-nav), Tata Motors has now entered into an association with which the sat-nav device will be offered as a standard feature in the Vista D90 ZX+ with maps from MapmyIndia.

Tata Motors is known as a vehicle manufacturer with a deep understanding of customer needs; the car models reflect this philosophy. Similarly, at MapmyIndia we take into account customer feedback and incorporate it into our product offerings. We are extremely happy to have partnered with Tata Motors to bring a superior GPS ‘navitainment’ experience to Tata Vista D90 customers. We remain committed to developing superior products and set new benchmarks with best in-class features that meet the needs of the Indian car buyer.
– Shivalik Prasad, Executive Director, MapmyIndia

Owners of the Tata Vista D90 ZX+ and of the VX, GVX, EX and GEX variants of the Manza will now be able to use updated maps from MapmyIndia, covering 10.33 million locations, 1.9 million road kilometres, 6,00,000 villages, 4,787 cities at street-level, 50 cities at house-level, 46 cities in full 3D and driving directions to 30,000 tourist locations. The navigation system will also offer features like extended lane guidance, sign-posts, rich points of interest, regional voice guidance and regional maps, turn-by-turn and voice-guided navigation, 3D imagery for India which includes full scale 3D landmarks across the country snd 3D city models which will include 3D buildings for residential and commercial areas across 36 major cities in India.

Sat-nav systems are of great help in finding locations reducing wastages of time and fuel while also making one’s drive comfortable and safer. Sat-nav systems are yet to pick up in India due to incomplete and inaccurate mapping, however organisations such as MapmyIndia are working to provide an updated range of maps across cities outside the metros. Expect to see more indigenous cars with in-built and functional sat-nav systems in the coming years.

June 12, 2013