Garware Motors has launched the latest iteration of the Hyosung GT650N. The N stands for naked and therefore the motorcycles frame and engine are exposed. The bike comes with a Yamaha like new design headlamp and a floating instrument console. The bike is similar to the GT650R which comes with a full fairing. The handle bars on the 650N are a little more raised making for easier commuter riding in city traffic. Price of the motorcycle is Rs. 4.39 lakhs ex showroom Delhi.
Prices of the Hyundai Eon will start at Rs. 2.69 lakhs for the base version ex showroom Delhi. For those intending to purchase the little car, our advice is to get to the nearest Hyundai dealer and check the prices that are relevant to you. The car comes with a three cylinder 814cc petrol engine that pumps out 55.2 PS of power and as per ARAI certification the car is capable of consumption of 21 kms to the litre.
As BMWs always do, the new 3 Series looks dynamic even at standstill. Staying true to the 3 Series lineage, the sixth generation 3 Series retains the characteristic long boot, short front and rear overhang and the wide stance. The rear has been designed to look wide, using horizontal design lines and slim tail lamps constructed using LEDs.
The head lamps connect to the kidney grille in the 6th generation 3 Series, a modern interpretation of the design cues from the BMWs of the ’70s. The kidney bars are now more three dimensional, giving the car a sharper look. The kidney bars are finished differently in the three trims.
The headlamps now have double corona rings, again using LEDs. The corona rings aren’t perfectly circular but flattened at the top and bottom for an edgier look.
You will also love the full colour head up display on the 3 Series. It has evolved from the display used in the 5 Series since January 2004. More information here.
Designed for the BMW enthusiast who prefers his beemer with not too much chrome, the BMW Sport Line has loads of high gloss black bits. The interiors have a theme of black contrasting with various slim elements, for example the slim stitching in red on the door upholstery. The black leather and plastics also contrast with the aluminium bits in the interior.
The kidney grille of the Sport Line 3 Series is distinguished by the 8 kidney bars, painted in high gloss black. The air intakes beneath the headlamps have been redesigned with a slim air intake at the center and larger ones at the sides. The alloys are distinctive, as is the aluminium trim at the rear. The Sport Line has a single aluminium finished bar bisecting horizontally the air intakes on either sides. There are two exhaust tips, one on each side of the car.
The Modern Line is characterized by the use of matt aluminium all around, with the interiors projecting a very light, airy and open feeling, drawing inspiration from space. The interiors also make use of modern materials for example the wood, which is again textured to be three dimensional. The kidney bars are 11 in number and are finished in matt chrome.
Distinguishing the Modern Line at the rear is the matt aluminium trim in the bumper and the single exhaust tip finished in matt aluminium. The alloys are designed after turbine blades.
BMW unveiled the 2012 3 series sedan at the BMW Plant in Munich. To be available in three variants, Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line. The sixth generation of the 3 Series has grown in size compared to its predecessor, track width has increased by 37mm at the front and rear by 47mm. The length has increasedd by 93mm and wheelbase by 50mm. The 2012 3 Series is lighter than the last year’s model by 40 kilograms. A choice of four power plants, featuring the new BMW TwinPower Turbo technology will be available.
BMW is the first carmaker to offer an eight-speed automatic gearbox in the premium mid-size segment. It links up with the Auto Start-Stop function that comes as standard and can be had on both the petrol and diesel versions.
In addition to Comfort, Sport and Sport + driving modes, there is also the ECO PRO mode, that helps drivers maximise fuel economy through their driving style.
BMW ActiveHybrid 3 to premier in 2012, along with a host of other engine options.
The 2012 3 Series also happens to be the first in the market to have a full colour heads up display which projects key information onto the windscreen so it appears directly in the driver’s field of view. Also available is Surround View with Side View and Top View, which gives a bird’s-eye perspective of the vehicle and the area around.
More updates to come when we post a Feature in our Design section.
This weekend’s Portimao Superbike race which marks the end of the 2011 season for World Superbike racing is also going to be the swansong for Yamaha that has decided to pull the plug from its official superbike efforts. It will also be the end of Paul Bird Motorsport’s era as the official entry of the Kawasaki factory effort in World Superbike. Paul Bird is looking for opportunities to stay in World Superbike with other manufacturers. Aprilia is touted as one of them while wild rumours even suggest that Paul Bird could become a privateer Yamaha entry.
Max Biaggi’s reign as World Superbike Champion will end soon. At the upcoming race at Portimao Biaggi will return to ride the Alitalia Aprilia RSV4 but will not be fully fit as he is still recovering the fractures that he suffered on his right ankle and foot. His injury has kept him out of a few races and that has meant that he has lost the opportunity of challenging Carlos Checa on the Ducati whom he trailed for most of the season. Checa has already amassed enough points that are unassailable and is the champion for 2011.
The ubiquitous Sahara Group has bought 42.5% of the Force India F1 team which will now be known as the Sahara Force India F1 team. What enabled the purchase of the Sahara group is the dilution of the 50% stake that the Mol brothers (Jan and Michel) to just 15% and the dilution of Vijay Mallya’s stake from 50% to 42.5%. Mallya and Sahara’s Subroto Ray now have equal partnership and Subroto Ray will be the Chairman of Sahara Force India F1 will Vijay Mallya will continue as Team Principal. The deal is supposedly worth $100 million.
The one persistent complaint of the Indian consumer about the Fluence from Renault has been that its diesel variant is very de specced. Renault, as we have already reported is in the process of righting that. But that will take a little time so in the interim to maximise sales during the festive season Renault is offering a Festive Edition which will have Stanley leather seats and rear parking sensors. Though this is being done at the level of the dealers, it is at the instance of the parent company itself.
Mahindra has a winner in the XUV 500. Bookings for the vehicle have now crossed the 8,000 mark and the vehicle has not even gone fully national yet. It is also being said that Mahindra has instructed dealers to temporarily halt booking and have also instructed that they ask customers to re choose their colour preferences so as to rationalize production and implement speedy delivery. Some would perhaps say that Mahindra has trumped over Tata who are unable to sell the Aria (though very well equipped) in any decent numbers.
The world premier of the BMW 3 series will be held at Munich on the 14th of October, 2011 but the rest of the world will get to see it via the BMW’s Facebook page. The new 3 series which is internally coded as the F 30 will have an additional five body styles the Touring, GT, Coupe, Gran Coupe and Convertible. Interestingly BMW has decided to call the Coupe, Gran Coupe and Convertible as the 4 series. More will be revealed tomorrow when the actual launch takes place.
Link to the Facebook Livestream here in our previous post.