Yearly Archives: 2012

Tata Aria

Tata has launched another two wheel drive variant of the Aria – the Aria Pure LX at an ex-showroom Bangalore price of 9.95 Lakhs. At the launch Mr. Ranjit Yadav, President, Passenger Car Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “The Aria is already well received for its class leading comfort and versatility, refinement, safety, styling and a powerful yet fuel efficient engine. The new Aria Pure LX, with an unbeatable price, makes the proposition of the Aria’s finesse of a sedan with the muscle of an SUV, even more attractive.”

The Aria Pure LX retains features it was lauded for in its 4W drive guise, including keyless entry, driver information system, pillar-mounted dual air-conditioning units, disc brakes on all four wheels, in-built engine immobilizer with parametric alarm system, projector headlamps and the beige fabric upholstery. The Aria Pure LX skimps on features like airbags, ABS/EBD, ESP/TCS, stereo, front fog lamps, rain sensing auto wipers, auto fold mirrors, cruise cruise control and auto climate control.

The Aria Pure LX powertrain also gets a new ‘single mass flywheel’ as opposed to the ‘Dual Mass flywheel’ on the other variants.

Porsche GT3 Cup 01

Nothing like a one make race to brighten your Sunday. There’s something about a pack of cars with near identical abilities racing on a track where the outcome is more weighted on the drivers’ performance than all other factors combined. The 911 GT3 Cup is Porsche’s candidate for its one maker series races. This 911 GT3 Cup is based on the seventh generation 911. The 3.8 litre six cylinder flat engine makes 460 bhp and delivers immeasurable dollops of excitement on track.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 04
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 03

The new GT3 Cup makes 460 hp at 7500 rpm, 10 horses more than its predecessor. A six speed gearbox developed by Porsche Motorsport transmit power from the rear mounted engine (duh!) to the rear axle. The new GT3 Cup is also the first Porsche trophy race car to have its transmission operated by shift paddles.

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is produced in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen on the same assembly line as the road legal Porsches. The car is then taken to the Motorsport Centre in Weissach where it gets its superpowers courtesy of some fine tuning and is then tested by a professional race driver.

New components include the single piece race wheels with centre mount. The width of the Michelin race slicks was increased by two centimetres to 27 centimetres at the front, and by ten millimetres at the rear to 31 centimetres. Porsche says the 911 GT3 Cup also gets a newly developed race braking system. The biggest improvement is the endurance quality compared to the braking system in the previous generation GT3 Cup. The race spec 911 gets 380 millimetre slotted and inner-vented steel brake rotors at the front and six-piston aluminium fixed callipers. The rear axle features a four-piston calliper.

A newly designed safety cage & new race seat improves driver safety.The seat is distinctively shaped around the head and shoulders and can be adjusted individually with the help of padding. The 911 GT3 Cup also has a rescue hatch in the roof for easy access by medics in case of a crash.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

The basic retail price for the vehicle, exclusively available to drivers of a Porsche racing series and in white exterior colour only is 181,200 Euros. The cost of course, does not include country-specific import duty and taxes.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

S to me stands for Style, Sophistication, Speed and Safety! From the German stables the S drives ahead of its closest rivals, the BMW 7 Series and Audi A8. I am not great with words as I am with cars, wouldn’t bore you with the regular technical comparison between the in class competitors from the factories next door, or the English counterparts! I date the beautiful S more than the 7 to the A8! Hence I script with authority this Love Story with the S300L.

Love at first sight!

Mercedes-Benz S Class S300L Review by RD

smooth lines along with its majestic grill make it a couplet on wheels!

Mercedes-Benz S-Class S300L Review by RD
Mercedes Benz S Class Review Rd 18
Mercedes Benz S Class Review Rd 17
Mercedes Benz S Class Review Rd 16

Like any Bollywood movie would have it, it was love at first sight, although my heart was with the 7! The older S never had appeal to me, nor had the presence on road. The 2010 model was a game changer! Its smooth lines along with its majestic grill make it a couplet on wheels! As with young Entrepreneurs and Heads of state alike, this 17 feet artwork stole my heart!

Mercedes-Benz S-Class S300L Review by RD
My ex-love The 7 Series, definitely has an edge over my current love in performance. The engine is livelier, and the performance is great. But the S has more control, and the steering is less ‘sticky’. She moves with my every fleeting thought. City driving as well as the long drives are the same with her. The power to weight ratio is just perfect.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class S300L Review by RD : V6
With three drive modes, there is driving pleasure for all! The paddle shift with sport mode on is as good as a stick shift; with the V6 giving the required punch when overtaking at over 150 kph doesn’t feel all that heavy. The 7G-Tronic transmission coupled with the rear wheel drive, provides seamless performance. Just sad that I didn’t have the heart to drift her!

Mercedes-Benz S-Class S300L Review by RD

Interiors

When I step into the luxurious interiors and close the door behind me, I feel as though I am isolated from the world. The cabin is sealed perfectly. Even at a relatively higher speeds on rough surfaces, the road noise is almost nonexistent.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class S300L Review by RD : Rear legroomMercedes-Benz S-Class S300L Review by RD : Clock

The seating is much more comfortable than the A8. Especially with the seat adjustment controls on the door, it makes life easier. The extra long chassis provides extra long leg room for the passengers both at the front and at the rear. The Harmon/Kardon sound system is definitely an improvement to the previous systems! The suspension and braking complement each other. Auto height adjust that varies ground clearance depending on the surface, load and tyre pressure sensors, makes it like travelling on a flying carpet!!

Mercedes-Benz S Class S300L Review by RD

The S follows the standard safety measures and precautions of its class. With drive assist feature, warning the driver to take a coffee break when I am tired is the icing on the cake!! The multimedia console is more user friendly than the iDrive from the Beemer. With multiple screen flow nearly absent, it’s like one single window. And the instrument cluster is a sight for sore eyes. With hundreds of permutations and combinations to select from, this makes her the Queen of her segment.

Like poets say, love can’t be seen nor heard, but can only be experienced. So go to the nearest Merc dealer and experience love.

– Authored by RD

Mercedes-Benz S Class S300L Review by RD Interiors 01
Mercedes-Benz S-Class S300L Review by RD : The Rear

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 Knightracer 01

Following on the heels of the launch of the Limited Edition A-Star Aktiv MSIL continues pushing its products out with the limited edition badges and new decals. The limited edition Alto K10 is packed with 11 new additional features on the LXi variant making it more stylish and dynamic says Maruti Suzuki. The cost you pay for these addition features is Rs 13,490.

More on what you get from the ‘Limited Edition’ straight from the press release.

The new features cover both exteriors and interiors of the Alto K10. On the exterior, rear end spoiler, trendy Knightracer body graphics, full wheel covers, body side moulding and left side ORVM have been provided. The interiors boast of new Knightracer fabric seat covers, rear parcel tray and steering wheel cover. In addition to all these features, the Alto K10 Knightracer is also equipped with the state-of-the-art JVC MP3 music system with USB, to make those long city-drives more enjoyable.

Mr. Manohar Bhat, Vice President (Marketing) Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, “The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10, since the day of its launch, found immense appreciation amongst the performance-driven and value-conscious young buyers who always strive to do more in less time .The Alto K10 Knightracer is a special limited edition that adds to the Alto K10’s appeal with an enhanced style quotient. We are confident that this special edition will bring pride to the select owners.”

Nissan Evalia launched in India at the 11th Auto Expo 2012

Nissan India joins the rank of automotive brands in the country to raise prices this year. “The price increase is being contemplated to offset the rising input costs and currency fluctuation prevailing in the Indian market. The revision of prices will soften the negative impact and help the company stay competitive.” says the press release from Nissan India.

Mercedes Benz E Class 2014 03

The dual headlamps of the E-Class have been swapped for a single unit that was teased a while ago. The grille can now be ordered with either the usual horizontal slats with ornament on top design or the more sporty grille with the three pointed star inset. The ‘pontoon’ inspired rear fenders have been ditched for a more conventional look. The rear has also been reworked and is unique in the fact that it isn’t aiming to project a really wide look at the rear with all horizontal elements like the Beemers and Audis have been trying to do this year.

Mercedes Benz E Class 2014 02Mercedes Benz E Class 2014 01

The optional grille with the inset three pointed star

The whole car is now more organic and less Teutonic. Automotive Forums seem to be mostly in favour of the new design while some members think there might be too much happening up front for the car to age gracefully. Nothing beats seeing the car in flesh, so the wait begins.

Mercedes Benz E Class 2014 05

Mercedes Benz E Class 2014 04

German Car Forum via AutoBlog

Skoda Octavia Third Generation 2013 01

Usually the task of sifting through the muddle of superfluous adjectives in a press release and presenting you with a clear concise news story falls upon the correspondent penning the story. Skoda though, has saved us some work. ‘Never before has a ŠKODA Octavia appeared as dynamic and at the same time as timelessly elegant, as distinctive, refined and assured on the road as this bestseller’s third generation’ says Skoda and we can’t help but agree with every adjective there. The new Skoda Ocativa (to fans everywhere the Octavia III) is simply stunning to behold.

Under the able stewardship of ŠKODA design chief Jozef Kabaň, the team started out with Volkswagen’s shared MQB platform and penned the lines afresh from hood to boot. The new Octavia is 90 mm longer and 45 mm wider than the second-generation Octavia. The wheelbase is now longer by 108 mm resulting in the increased space at the rear. As you would expect the front shares the new Skoda family look with the new logo, new position for the logo as well as the fantastic grille that we initially thought was too aggressive for a brand as elegant as Skoda. Skoda points out helpfully that the front overhang has been shortened, the C-pillar has been pulled more to the rear and add to these the increased wheelbase and you have a long, sleek and stunning silhouette. We still cannot fathom how much the designers at Skoda loosened their ties when they worked in the dynamic upswept line in the rear doors. They call it the ‘fin’ and it seems to add dynamism to the ensemble.

The rear looks just as fine with the trademark C shape rear lights. Interiors as with most Skodas, look good.

Skoda Octavia Third Generation 2013 Interiors

Skoda Octavia Third Generation 2013 03
Skoda Octavia Third Generation 2013 02
Skoda Octavia Third Generation 2013 08
Skoda Octavia Third Generation 2013 07
Skoda Octavia Third Generation 2013 06

“The new Octavia shows us resolutely continuing down a ŠKODA-typical road. It is a car with middle-class qualities at a compact-car price. It is an ideal car for demanding, confident customers expecting a modern Octavia with all its good values. It is our best,” says Frank Welsch, ŠKODA board member for technical development. Skoda builds on its strengths by offering the best bang for buck. Skoda says no other car in this compact segment offers more interior length (1,782 mm), more knee room (73 mm) and more headroom at the back (980 mm). The boot volume is said to be best in class at 590 litres.

Powertrain

At launch the new Octavia powertrain options will include four TSI petrol engines including the top end 1.8 TSI with 177 bhp as well four diesel engines including the base 1.6 TDI that power the Greenline version of the Octavia and enables fuel efficiency figures of 3.4 litres of diesel per 100 km and emissions of 89 g/km. Skoda says a natural-gas version has been planned for later. Except for the entry-level petrol and diesel option, all engines now are available in a Green tec version with a start-stop system and recuperation.

Manual and automatic DSG transmissions are available, with all-wheel-drive versions in the near future. Enthusiasts fret not, a ŠKODA Octavia RS is also in the pipeline.

Safety & Comfort

The new Skoda Octavia will also feature, for the first time on a Skoda – Adaptive Cruise Assistant. It automatically maintains a pre-set distance to the car ahead. Intelligent Light Assistant takes care of switching the lamps from high beam and back automatically. Automatic Parking Assistant makes parking the Octavia in and out easier. As part of the ‘Traveller Assistant’ package Skoda is offering another one of the firsts – the ability to recognize traffic signs. Electric panoramic sliding/tilting sunroof gets a place on the roof. It’s essentially a transparent panorama roof enhancing comfort and wellbeing on board the Octavia. The new Octavia is also available with KESSY (Keyless-Entry-Start-and-Exit-System), the automatic door and ignition-lock system.

From May 2013, the Octavia will be offered with Front Assistant/emergency braking function. Lane Assistant helps keep the Octavia in its lane. The Octavia is also programmed to automatically actuate the brake in a multicollision accident. Driver Activity Assistant alerts you when you’re falling asleep at the wheel. An active front hatch works to reduce the injuries to pedestrians in case of collision. Nine airbags including knee airbags and rear side airbags are available for the first time in a ŠKODA Octavia.

Skoda Octavia Third Generation 2013 05

Honda Urban Compact SUV 01

Honda has decided to cash in on the love for compact SUVs the people of the world seem to have developed. Honda announced today that an all-new Honda compact ‘URBAN SUV CONCEPT’ will premiere at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show (officially the 2013 North American International Auto Show) on 14th January 2013.

Details are scarce at the moment but Honda has said that the interior will be spacious with Honda’s usual centre-tank layout. Do note that the compact SUV will be based on the next generation Honda Jazz ( known as the Fit in the North American market) and not the current generation platform. BSM has previously reported that the compact SUV will be likely powered by the 1.2-litre and/or a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine. It wouldn’t be far fetched to expect the compact SUV to be powered by the 1.5L i-DTEC from the Honda Amaze.

Honda has invested in a new plant in Mexico that’s expected to begin production in 2014. The plant is expected to begin production of the various models based on the Fit platform to be added to Honda’s stables.

Maruti Suzuki A-Star Aktiv Front 3/4

New graphics on the side, front, rear and roof make the A-Star Aktiv exterior. The limited edition model also gets the A-Star Aktiv Logo, red mirrors on the outside, red spoiler, red bumper, blacked out B-Pillars and a red sculpted plate in place of the fog lamps.

Inside the theme continues with new stylish seat covers, steering wheel cover, floor mats, rear parcel tray, door sill guard and a keyless security system. Maruti Suzuki says the exciting 14 new features on the A-star Atkiv have been valued at an Rs. 14,990 which probably means a price increase of the same value.

Explaining the outlook on A-star Atkiv, Manohar Bhat, Vice President (Marketing) Maruti Suzuki India Limited said , “A-Star is one of the most vibrant brands in our product portfolio. Some of its high points such as contemporary styling, dynamic handling and ride quality, best in class turning radius, power, flat torque and superior performance has made A-star a popular choice especially amidst the youth. The stylish modifications in the A-Star Aktiv are in line with our plans to offer our young and energetic customers a sleeker, more stylish and feature packed A-Star. We are confident that this special edition will bring pride to the select owners who get to possess it.”

While we aren’t big fans of the trend of swapping c’s for k’s, we think the A-Star Aktiv looks ‘zingy’ and is a much needed refresh for the aging model. Unless of course, you prefer the newer Alto 800.

Maruti Suzuki A Star Aktiv 02

Jeep Wrangler MOAB

Jeep Wrangler MOAB

Mike Manley, Chief Operating Officer for Asia and President and CEO – Jeep Brand was here in India on December 6th 2012 to announce that the Jeep brand will be launched in India officially. Fiat India will launch nine new or ‘significantly refreshed models’ under the Fiat and Jeep brands in the next few years including the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Jeep models will be imported as CBUs and should go on sale toward the end of 2013. Jeep vehicles will be sold through a Jeep dealer network that will piggyback on the service and parts support offered by an expanding Fiat dealer network.

“Our vision for India will revolve around a three-pronged strategy,” said Mike Manley. “First, introduction of new vehicles that will soon include the legendary Jeep brand. Second, the expansion of our independent dealer network and, finally, strong marketing initiatives that will continue to improve our awareness and brand perception in the market.”

IAB also reports that Jeep will launch a B-segment SUV in 2015 and a C-Segment SUV in 2016.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

Manley also said that the dealer network will expand from the current shared TATA FIAT dealers to approximately 120 independent dealers by 2013. Part of the dealer experience will include Fiat Caffe, which is surprising considering no country has more than one Fiat Caffe.

Jeep vehicles will be distributed at launch in metropolitan cities through exclusive outlets utilizing the infrastructure created by the FIAT exclusive dealers.

IAB says that Fiat India will have a B-Segment SUV in its portfolio by 2014 (supposedly the 500X) and also bring home Abarth in 2013 in addition to four other launches in 2013.

“Initial interest from the investors has proved to be strong. Therefore, we will be able to establish 120 independent dealers by 2013,” said Enrico Atanasio, Managing Director of Fiat Group Automobiles India Private Limited. “We are optimistic about our prospect for growth in the Indian car market, which grew 12 percent in 2011 and is rapidly becoming one of the major markets in the world. With the launch of the Jeep brand, new Fiat products, an expanding dealer network and upcoming marketing initiatives, we will be in a strong position to capitalize on this growth.”

Fiat Punto Virgin Radio

Fiat Punto Virgin Radio