Category: AutoGyaan

Cars, Bikes, Alternative Vehicles, Air Transport et All

Triumph Motorcycles coming to India soon

Bike-manufacturer Triumph’s entry into the Indian two-wheeler market has been making the rounds for a long time now. According to rumours, Triumph motorbikes may be available in the market as soon as the 2013 festive season. However, we are slightly skeptical of these rumours, given the history of ups and downs of Triumph’s attempts at foraying into the Indian scene.

The 2012 Auto Expo witnessed the famous British marque’s announcement of aggressive pricing for a model range of seven big-bikes. However, not much has happened since then with the only worthwhile news being that of an upcoming factory located on the outskirts of Bengaluru. A major reason for this delay is Triumph’s intelligent business strategy, which involves bringing bikes through the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) route instead of the much more expensive CBU (Completely Built Unit) route. According to other rumours, the iconic English company is already in process of setting up a compact, efficient motorcycle assembly unit in Manesar, on the outskirts of New Delhi, which will help bring in Triumph motorbikes without further delay.

The CKD units can be expected to be competitively priced, close to their announced target prices from the 2012 Auto Expo. Triumph will be directly competing with other high-end motorcycle marques such as Harley-Davidson which has been present in India for much longer, and the upcoming Indian and Victory brands.

July 24, 2013
New Renault Duster to be Unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show

Renault will be heading to the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show and has already made some exciting announcements. Apart from a new concept car, it has promised the introduction of an all-new Duster at the popular auto show.

The new concept is an interesting prospect, with Renault’s press release mentioning a “new brand identity. However we believe the big newsmaker will be the second incarnation of the French automaker’s successful compact SUV.

The Duster which is sold in India under the Renault badge, is manufactured and sold globally under the badge of Renault’s Romanian budget brand, Dacia. Introduced in 2010, the Dacia Duster has been a massive hit in markets such as the UK, Russia and India, becoming Renault’s best-selling global model. Clearly, the new Duster will have big shoes to fill, and all eyes will be on Renault’s pavilion in Frankfurt, come September 10.

Spyshots of test models have been spotted more than once on the internet. Multiple shots of the new Duster testing in and around Europe show evident cosmetic changes both inside and outside. Exterior changes to the Duster include revised headlights and tail lights, grille, bumpers. It is believed that inside, the new Duster will get most of the upgrades that were shown on the 2013 Dacia Logan sedan. A slightly revised version was spotted testing in Romania five months ago and featured a revised instrument cluster and cruise control. The interior will get a brand new dashboard, better electronics such as a touch screen display, higher quality upholstery and lots more. A lot of these upgrades may not make it to India, but we’re hoping Renault includes the more important ones.

July 24, 2013
Maruti WagonR Stingray Coming Soon

Maruti Suzuki will be launching an all new version of its immensely popular WagonR hatchback, called the Stingray. The Stingray will sit above the current base WagonR and will be much sportier looking. With a redesigned front and rear end, the WagonR Stingray will hope to draw back attention to the Maruti brand and help spur sales in what is turning out to be a poor economy for automotive manufacturers.

The front end gets a slimmer grille flanked by sleek headlamps which may house projector-beam units. A flatter bonnet and an all-new bumper with a bigger air dam make for an aggressive look. The rear also adds slimmer tail lamps with clear-lens units and a new rear bumper. Alloy wheels may come as standard, but the side-profile of the tall hatchback is expected to remain largely unchanged.

The WagonR Stingray will also get minor interior upgrades in the form of different colours for the upholstery and other tweaks. Power is expected to come from the same 67bhp three-cylinder 1.0-litre K10 series engine as offered in the current WagonR.

The Maruti Suzuki WagonR Stingray is to be launched in the coming months. Expect the car to carry a premium of around Rs. 30,000 – Rs. 50,000 more than the standard WagonR.

[Image shown is of the Japanese Suzuki WagonR Stingray]

July 24, 2013
Bentley Confirms First SUV for 2016

After over a year of speculation, Bentley has finally confirmed that it will produce an SUV. The new model line will be built in Crewe and will go on sale in 2016.

The new model will will represent the brand’s hallmarks of “luxury, performance, quality and craftsmanship”, and Bentley says that it will be the “most luxurious and most powerful SUV” on the market. The announcement of a production SUV follows the Bentley EXP 9 F concept, which was shown at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The as-yet unnnamed SUV will help create 1,000 jobs in the UK.

To prepare for the fourth model in its lineup, Bentley will be investing 800 million British pounds (around $1.2 billion USD) into its Crewe headquarters and production lines over the next three years.

This £800 million investment and a thousand new jobs from Bentley is fantastic news for both Crewe and for the UK as a whole. It is another important milestone in strengthening our economy. I am delighted that Bentley will be building their new vehicle here, not only creating a thousand jobs, but safeguarding many more, as well as increasing training opportunities for highly skilled apprentices.

– David Cameron, Prime Minister, United Kingdom

The Bentley SUV is likely to share its platform with the next-generation Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne. Past rumors have indicated that the SUV could look completely different from the 2012 EXP 9 F Concept shown above, be renamed the Falcon and offer options like a plug-in hybrid version and three-row seating.

July 23, 2013
Mercedes Benz now offering a ‘9G-Tronic’ 9-Speed Gearbox

Mercedes-Benz has introduced a new nine-speed automatic gearbox as standard equipment on the Mercedes Benz E350 BlueTec, which is the diesel version and is sold internationally. The new ‘box has been developed in-house, and is known internally under the name 9G-Tronic. According to reports, Mercedes has been working on the 9G-Tronic for a long time, and even denied its existence officially until this past weekend.

Now though, Mercedes-Benz’s German language website configurator has gone live with various updates for the E-class line-up and the 9G-Tronic is shown to be available on the standard rear-wheel-drive E350 BlueTec. It replaces the older seven-speed ‘7G-Tronic’ automatic gearbox.

The 9G-Tronic gearbox does not affect the 6.6 seconds 0-100 km/h acceleration time of the E350 BlueTec. However it improves the stop/start function and helps increase fuel efficiency while reducing emission levels.

July 22, 2013
Ford Fiesta EcoBoost wins Women’s World Car of the Year 2013 award

The Ford Fiesta EcoBoost has bagged the 2013 Women’s World Car of the Year award. The Fiesta won the economy car category, and edged out other finalists Mazda CX5 and the Range Rover in the final round, to be announced as the Supreme winner.

Women pack powerful purchasing power, representing a huge market opportunity. The fact that a respected panel of published and specialist women motoring writers selected the Ford Fiesta 1.0-litre EcoBoost is a significant accolade as we work to design, develop and market our vehicles, technologies and services in a way that captures the attention of this very influential buying group.

– Craig Von Essen, product and communications manager, Ford, Asia-Pacific and Africa

Judges were also asked to nominate their ‘Dream Car’. This was won by the Aston Martin Vanquish, ahead of the Jaguar F-type.

According to Chief Judge, Sandy Myhre of New Zealand, the judging categories changed for 2013 and the three-tier voting system makes it hard for any car to be selected as a category finalist, let alone winning. Judges supply their own shortlist from 2013 model year cars they’ve tested. From there a shortlist is formed to determine the finalists and from the finalist list judges choose their supreme winner and the podium finishers.

The official results in each category are:

Family Car: 1st – Audi Allroad, 2nd – Volkswagen Golf, 3rd – BMW 3 Series

Luxury Car: 1st – Range Rover, 2nd – Mercedes Benz SL550, 3rd – BMW 6 Series

Sports Car: 1st – Porsche Boxster S, 2nd – Audi RS5, 3rd – Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ

SUV: 1st – Mazda CX5, 2nd – Hyundai Sante Fe, 3rd – Nissan Pathfinder

Economy Car: 1st – Ford Fiesta 1.0-litre EcoBoost, 2nd – Kia Forte, 3rd – Toyota Prius

July 21, 2013
Andretti Autosport Signs Up for All-Electric ‘Formula E’ Series

Four-time IZOD IndyCar Series champions Andretti Autosport has announced that it will field a team in the upcoming FIA Formula E Championship, the all-electric racing series that will debut next season. Andretti Autosport is the first U.S.-based team to sign up for the new racing series.

The Andretti team plans to create a two-car program for the series, which will compete in 10 cities around the world. The American outfit now the third team to sign on so far for Formula E’s inaugural season, joining China Racing and British-based Drayson Racing.

Andretti Autosport is run by none other than former racer Michael Andretti. Michael Andretti, who is the son of racing legend Mario Andretti and father of current Andretti Autosport driver Marco Andretti, was the 1991 CART IndyCar champion and raced in Formula One for McLaren in 1993. He has led Andretti Autosport to the status of IndyCar champions on four occassions, with drivers Tony Kanaan, the late Dan Wheldon, Dario Franchitti and last year’s title winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. Andretti Autosport also won the Indianapolis 500 with both Wheldon and Franchitti.

It’s an honour for Andretti Autosport to have been selected as one of the 10 founding Formula E teams for the inaugural season. I look forward to further exploring the series and helping build the future of open-wheel racing across the world.

– Michael Andretti

Interestingly, Andretti Autosport plans to run one of its cars for the Formula E championship but potentially use the second as a “star car” for well-known drivers. This in turn could mean appearances in the new category from their stable of IndyCar pilots – defending series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe and E.J. Viso.

We are absolutely delighted to welcome Andretti Autosport to the series; a team with an incredible racing pedigree and track record who I have no doubt is going to make a big contribution to the FIA Formula E Championship. It’s fantastic too for such a highly-established outfit to show its commitment to sustainable motoring and with two US races on the inaugural calendar – Los Angeles and Miami – I’m sure American motorsport fans will have a lot to cheer come race day.

– Alejandro Agag, Chief, Formula E

Formula E’s first season will run from September 2014 to June ’15, running entirely on street circuits, including one in London. Berlin was unveiled as the final venue on the calendar last week.

July 21, 2013
Ashok Leyland Stile MPV Unveiled

Ashok Leyland has unveiled the production version of the Stile MPV. The Stile is a rebadged Nissan Evalia and is stripped down to be priced lower than the Nissan. The Stile is ‘styled’ differently to its Nissan equivalent. It also gets a lower-spec version of the 1.5-litre Renault-derived K9K turbo diesel engine, which produces 75 bhp and 185 Nm of torque. Compared to this, the Nissan Evalia produces 85 bhp and 200 Nm of torque.

The Stile is expected to gain a CNG powered variant with a petrol engine serving as the base. Ashok Leyland has many body styles in mind regarding the Stile’s usage. These include but are not limited to 7/8 seat options for the passenger variant, an ambulance and a panel van.

The Ashok Leyland Stile is expected to be launched in September and further details including pricing will be revealed at the same time. The MPV was unveiled by Carlos Ghosn, the global Chairman and CEO, of Nissan and Renault, when he was in Delhi for the unveiling of the Datsun Go. The Stile will be sold from Ashok Leyland’s dealerships but will be manufactured by Nissan at Oragadam.

July 20, 2013
Honda Reveals Sketches of Brio-based MPV

Honda has unveiled sketches of a new Brio-based MPV in Indonesia, and the car is expected to debut at the Indonesia International Motor Show later in September. According to reports, it will be available with an updated version of City’s 1.5-litre iVTEC petrol engine, and Honda’s torque-heavy 1.5-litre 100 bhp diesel engine. 3 rows of seating for a total seating of 7 people will definitely increase its length over the 4 metre limit, so the car will not be eligible for an excise benefit.

The ‘low’ MPV or ‘LMPV’ (Codename: 2NH) has been given aggressive styling which should go down well with the masses. This is another attempt by Honda to do away with the admittedly staid designs of recent years, and the bulky LMPV seems to have enough character to push the Japanese automaker in the right direction. The front end is clearly inspired by the Brio with large inlets on both bumpers, The elongated wheelbase and low-slung roof line give it a sporty stance. A kink in the window line, attempts to reduce the MPV’s length visually and complements the dimensions of the car well . The car is flanked by very prominent character lines, and the flared wheel arches will surely grab some attention. A very interesting feature is the floating D-pillar which ends in a smooth curve halfway to the boot.

Unfortunately, this is all the information Honda has revealed as of now, but more news is expected in the coming months. The ‘low’ MPV should ideally make its India debut at the 2014 Auto Expo in Delhi. The MPV has tough competition with the Toyota Innova and the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga in the Indian market. But with it’s eye catching and aggressive styling, good engine options and the ever reliable Honda badge, it may just give them both a run for their money, as long as Honda are smart with the pricing. Watch this space for updates.

July 20, 2013
This is the 2014 Honda Jazz

So as it turns out, the images leaked in a Japanese magazine a few weeks ago were spot-on accurate. This is the 2014 Honda Jazz, and is expected to be launched in India somewhere in mid-2014.

This a major stepping stone for Honda as it aims to do away with accusations of dated styling across its range in recent years. The Jazz also suffered in the Indian market due to its relatively higher price tag and sales numbers never really took off despite it truly being one of the best hatchbacks in its segment. The 2014 Jazz may just do away with all those issues.

The new Jazz will be offered with three powertrain options, one of which is a hybrid! The Jazz Hybrid packs a 1.5-liter, Atkinson-cycle engine coupled to a 22-kw electric motor and battery. It will carry a brand-new seven-speed dual clutch transmission. And unlike Honda’s current integrated motor assist hybrid system, the new hybrid drivetrain allows driving in electric-only mode. HOWEVER we’re highly doubtful that the hybrid option will make it to India, due to the lack of a market. The other two options are the 1.5-litre i-DTEC ‘Earth Dreams’ diesel engine and a 1.2-litre petrol engine, both of which will be on offer in the Indian market.

It’s the first car to be released with Honda’s new design language, which they call “Exciting H. It’s sleeker, bolder and more aggressive than the outgoing car. The Jazz maintains its tall-hatchback look with MPV-like proportions, and offers a completely redesigned exterior. A new, narrow grille is bookended by Civic-like headlights. In fact, the entire front end reminds us of the European-spec Civic. There’s a new bumper with large air vents and a prominent character line running down the sides of the car, flowing into the new taillamps, part of which are on the boot. The restyled wheels are a nice touch, and all in all, the 2014 Jazz’s sporty looks are a breath of fresh air.

The 2014 Jazz will produced at Honda’s Tapukara plant, using a large amount of content locally to keep costs down. Since the Jazz shares its platform with the new City (due here in early 2014), it will definitely be more affordable than the earlier car. The Jazz should also be eligible for the sub-four-metre excise benefit.

All in all, the new Honda Jazz is a promising car, and it may just turn around Honda’s fortunes in the coming years, if priced appropriately. We can’t wait to see it on Indian roads, what do you think of the new Jazz?

July 19, 2013
BMW M5 Nighthawk Limited Edition Unveiled

The BMW M5 has quite a reputation in the automotive world for being one of the best performance sedans in history. For some reason, BMW felt that it could do with even more power and now we have the very limited edition BMW M5 Nighthawk.

The Bavarian automaker’s high performance ‘M’ division has managed to squeeze 15 hp more than the ‘regular’ M5 and shave off 0.1 seconds from the time for the 0-100 km/h dash. Now, maximum power output from the 4.4-liter V8 M TwinPower Turbo engine stands at a ferocious 575 hp and the car goes from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. The unit also produces 680Nm of torque and comes mated to a 7-speed M-DCT transmission.

The M5 Nighthawk seems to built for stealth with its ‘Frozen Black’ paintjob. Other visual treats distinguishing it from the base M5 are the dark chrome kidney grille, adaptive LED headlights and matte black 20-inch alloy wheels. Door handles, four exhaust pipes and side vents also get the ominous dark chrome treatment. On the inside, you can find two-tone Merino leather upholstery, carbon fiber trim and an individually-numbered badge.

The Nighthawk offers a special ‘Competition Package’ which includes special suspension and steering settings, a sports exhaust system, lane departure warning system and an M dynamic mode setting. M carbon-ceramic brakes are fitted as standard.

Now for the bad news. Only ten of the BMW M5 Nighthawk cars will be made, and will be sold only in Japan. Unsurprisingly, they are rather expensive too at 18.2m yen (US $183k, INR 1.09Cr) for each. If there is more interest, BMW will run a lottery to find the lucky customer who gets one.

[Images source: BMW]

July 18, 2013
Formula 1 Chief Ecclestone Indicted on Bribery Charges

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has been indicted by German prosecutors on a bribery charge. The charge is related to a US $44 million payment to German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky of Bayern Landesbank, linked to the sale of a stake in F1.

Ecclestone has denied the bribery accusations, saying that the money was intended to stop the banker from exposing him to a UK tax inquiry. Gribkowsky was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail in Munich.

I have just spoken to my lawyers and they have received an indictment. It’s being translated into English. We are defending it properly. It will be an interesting case. It’s a pity it’s happened.
– Bernie Ecclestone to the Financial Times

The charges are related to the sale of a 47% stake in Formula 1 by Bayern Landesbank to private equity group CVC Capital Partners in 2006. Gribkowsky, who was in charge of managing the sale, admitted to corruptly receiving US $41.4 million in bank commissions and a large payment via the Ecclestone family’s Bambino Trust at his trial last year. He maintained he had been paid to undervalue the Formula 1 shares, whereas Ecclestone says he believed the banker was planning to give false information to the UK authorities about his tax affairs, and paid him to keep him quiet.

Bernie Ecclestone faces a possible jail term if found guilty, which would force him to stand down as head of Formula 1, as stated by him previously. He has six weeks to respond to the indictment.

July 18, 2013
Mercedes Benz S63 AMG Officially Revealed

The Mercedes Benz S63 AMG has finally landed, and officially this time. Mercedes Benz gifted the world an unofficial and unintentional peek at the high performance variant of its flagship luxury sedan last month but the German automaker has now released photographs ahead of a planned public debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

Mercedes Benz seems to be pacifying the exteriors of its high performance AMG range of late. The 2014 CLA45 AMG and E63 AMG seemed slightly restrained as compared to earlier models, and the S63 AMG has gone down a similar route. There’s a new front apron and splitter, side sill panels with 3D inserts in silver chrome, a black rear diffuser with chrome trim and a pair of twin exhaust pipes. “Twin-turbo V8” badges along its flanks and lots of AMG badges both outside and inside more or less sum up the the features visually distinguishing it from the base “non-AMG” variants.

The list of features distinguishing it mechanically however, goes on for a while. It’s powered by the same twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 which is found in other big AMGs like the E63 and CLS63. The unit produces 585bhp and a massive 900Nm of torque. That makes it faster than a manual Porsche Carrera 911 4S in terms of acceleration, and that makes it properly quick. The twin-turbo engine is hand-built by one man – as is written in AMG’s rules – and comes with an aluminium crankcase, direct injection, an air-to-water intercooler, and a lightweight composite oil pan.

A new AMG sports exhaust is found in the powertrain as well. It has special flaps that automatically open and close depending on the transmission selection on the seven-speed gearbox. In ‘controlled efficiency’ mode (‘C’), they’re closed, but switch over to ‘Sport’ (‘S’) or ‘Manual’ (‘M’) and the S63 AMG may just scare the neighbourhood kids.

It will also be available as a four-wheel-drive version, the 4Matic, which will get it to 100 kmph in a blistering 4.0 seconds. In comparison the rear-wheel drive S63 AMG still gets to 100 kmph in 4.4seconds. Top speed remains limited to 250 kmph, but can be increased to 300km/h in combination with a optional driver’s package. All this has been made possible due to extensive weight-saving measures which have resulted in a kerb weight of 1995 kg for both RWD and 4WD models. That is a genuine achievement by Mercedes Benz.

A retuned version of the standard S500’s air suspension complete with Mercedes’ new ‘Magic Body Control’ system find their way on to the luxury sedan. A camera mounted within the windscreen scans the road and alters the settings of the air springs according to the conditions for maximum levels of comfort or sportiness, depending on the chosen mode. Other options for the Mercedes Benz S63 AMG include carbon ceramic brakes for the first time, a chauffeur pack, a ‘first-class’ rear suite, an air-balance pack, coloured calipers among many other expensive extras.

So what do you think of the 2014 S63 AMG? Let us know in the comments below!

[Images source: Mercedes Benz]

July 17, 2013
Volvo Pure Tension Concept has Folding Solar Pavilion

Everyday we come across concept cars which promise to change the future, but aren’t much more than a carbon fibre monocoque riding on magnesium rims. The “Pure Tension” Volvo V60 Pavilion however, is really something else.

Commissioned by Volvo Italy and the winner of the Pure Volvo Pavilion Design competition, the Pure Tension solar pavilion is an experimental creation, developed by Synthesis Design + Architecture, Buro Happold, and Fabric Images. The mysterious floating sculpture of sorts seen floating above the rendered Volvo V60 is a pavilion, like the ones erected for trade shows or outdoor events. The pavilion is a tensioned membrane structure constructed using a flexible HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) mesh skin, held in place by carbon fibre rods, which can fully collapse and fit inside the trunk of the V60 when not in use. The Pure Tension however isn’t designed to just provide shelter and look pretty while doing it; It doubles up as a power source as well.

The mesh is embedded with photovoltaic cells so that the pavilion can absorb energy from the sun or indoor lighting, making it a portable charging station. It can power itself or the V60 which aptly so, is a diesel hybrid that plugs straight into the pavilion.

According to reports, the Pure Tension Volvo V60 Pavilion concept will be shown in September in Rome. The creation however is lightyears away from being market ready, and chances of us ever seeing such a car on the road are quite small. But the Pure Tension is a great example of true innovation in the automotive industry, and is comfortable proof that the ability to think differently about the cars of the future, isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

[Source: Synthesis +DNA]

July 17, 2013
Lexus’ LFA Works making $10K Carbon Fibre Bicycles

Engineers at the LFA Works that produced the Lexus LFA supercar, have had a lot of time on their hands since the 500th and last LFA rolled down the production line in December 2012. Now we know what all those carbon fibre experts have been doing with the world’s best Carbon Fibre machinery in their free time. They’ve been working on bicycles, called the Lexus F Sport. Now obviously, these aren’t your everyday go-to the market bicycles. There will be only 100 units in total and each will cost US $10,000 each.

The black-and-white one-seater is very hi-tech, which it should be given the exorbitant price tag. The front derailleur is electronically controlled, for an instantaneous, smooth click into gear. And the shift levers are modeled after the paddle shifters in Formula One racers. The bike is heavy on lightweight carbon fiber. The frame, forks, seat, handlebars, seat post, rims and crankshafts are all made of the superexpensive, superstrong material. Except none of it is manufactured by Lexus, with all the carbon fibre being sourced from Takumi, in Taiwan. The Lexus F Sport also packs a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset with electronic shifters and weighs an astonishing 6.8 kilograms. Lexus crafstmen polish each frame for three hours to bring out the glow in the lacquer finish and exclusivity is still the norm for the Lexus LFA Works, with only one bike headed for Canada and two for the US.

The LFA was Lexus’ halo sports car and about a decade was spent by Lexus in its development. Even at US $375,000 per car, Lexus made a loss on each one they sold. Only 500 were produced, and the F Sport bicycles are touted by Lexus, as embodying the “principles and philosophy” of the LFA.

[Images source: Lexus]

July 16, 2013