AUTHENTIC CARS

BMW has replaced Toyota as the world's most valuable car brand, according to an annual survey commissioned by communications services group WPP. Toyota topped the car sector of the survey in 2011, but its brand value fell by ten percent in the past 12 months, whereas BMW's has risen by the same amount. The Bavarian manufacturer's rise was aided by record sales growth around the globe, as was fellow German marque Volkswagen, which enjoyed a 15 percent increase in its brand value and moved into the overall Top 100 of BrandZ's Most Valuable Global Brands. Toyota retained its position as one of the world's best brands, but lost its top place in the ranking in the aftermath of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters that affected all Japanese carmakers last year. The disasters in Japan last year also negatively affected the brand-value rankings of Honda, Nissan and Lexus, but all three remained in the top 10. Hyundai continued its global rise by breaking into ...

The first fully road legal prototype of Porsche’s upcoming 325kph petrol-electric hybrid powered 918 Spyder has been spied undergoing shakedown tests near Porsche’s Weissach R&D test facility. Sporting a look highly reminiscent of the concept first displayed at the 2010 Geneva motor show, the new two-seater is set to crown the Porsche line-up when it is launched next year at a price already confirmed at £621,600 at current exchange rates. But while it appears similar to the concept, close inspection reveals a number of changes have taken place in the production process. Among them is a smoother looking front end with smaller air ducts out on the front corners and a bonnet that does without the air vent of show car. The windscreen also sits at a more upright angle and the cabin has been extended slightly in length – as evidenced by the prototype’s longer doors. At the rear, there are more prominent hunches over the rear wheels and a longer rear overhang – presumably a requireme...

BMW has unveiled the racy 316bhp M135i. Seen here in its production guise for the first time, the turbocharged 3.0-litre, six-cylinder hot-hatch has been officially confirmed as the performance flagship of BMW’s second-generation 1-series line-up after being previewed as a concept at the Geneva motor show earlier in March. The rear-wheel-drive M135i is the second model to join BMW’s new M Performance line-up, following the M550d xDrive. Unlike its 376bhp, tri-turbocharged diesel sibling, the petrol-powered M135i has been engineered for both left- and right-hand drive markets. Alongside the initial three-door model, BMW is also readying a five-door version. The M135i is powered by the latest take on BMW’s widely-used N55 engine. The 3.0-litre straight-six uses a twin-scroll turbocharger along with BMW’s patented Valvetronic variable valve control and double Vanos variable camshaft control systems, along with the latest in piezo valve-guided direct injection to deliver 316bhp at 5000r...

Mini has unveiled its fastest-ever production car, the Mini John Cooper Works GP, at the Mini United festival in France. With the third-generation Mini already in development, the Mini John Cooper Works GP is a limited-run version of BMW’s second-generation hatchback. Although Mini has yet to reveal specific performance details for the race-bred, two-seat machine, it has lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 8min 23sec during its development. That’s 18 seconds quicker than the best lap time achieved by the BMW-owned brand’s next-fastest model, the Mini Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit, which lapped the gruelling German circuit in 8m 41s. The old car – which is the spiritual predecessor to the Mini John Cooper Works GP – had 210bhp and was fitted with a limited-slip differential. Although the power hike was modest compared to the base car, the JCW GP was around 40kg lighter than the standard version. The Mini John Cooper Works GP should produce in the region of 220...

The Supreme Court of India has banned the use of automotive sun-control film completely, across the country, effective from May 19. The ruling comes as a shock to the Rs 150-crore industry that could close down overnight once the ban comes into effect. Traffic police in various cities have already started notifying car owners to remove the sun film from their vehicles. Failure to do so will attract a penalty of Rs 100 for the first offence and Rs 300 for the second, and could also include seizure of your driving licence for repeated offences. The Supreme Court’s decision has been made to curb crimes committed using the opacity of sun film as a cover. But the advantage of sun film in this tropical nation cannot be ignored and motorists will face the brunt of this ruling. Dealers haven’t yet received orders from manufacturers to stop selling sun film and all the dealers we have spoken to still sell it.   However, car manufacturers will continue to tint glasses, as there is no ba...

Back in January 2012, Fiat launched the 2012 Fiat Linea and 2012 Fiat Grande Punto in the Indian market. Whereas during the same period, in Turkey, Fiat was working on the facelift model of the New Fiat Linea 2013 and recently it has started assembling the same.  As of now we do not expect this new model to come to India but in 2013 we can surely expect the same to reach the Indian shore. The  new additions in the 2013 Fiat Linea are: From the image it is completely clear that the front fascia has got some major improvements A good amount of chrome has been used on the face now A new chrome grille is there Revised bumpers with chrome accents A lip spoiler In India the Fiat Linea 2012 is available with three engine options, a 1.4 litre petrol, a 1.4 litre T-Jet petrol and a 1.3 litre Multijet diesel but also comes with a 1.6 litre Multijet diesel engine. However the New Fiat Linea 2013 facelifted model will also feature a 1.4 litre Multiair petrol engine and a second gen...