AUTHENTIC CARS

The Volkswagen Jetta facelift will reach Indian showrooms soon . The facelift, although minor, comes a little more than two years after the second-generation Jetta was launched (August 2011) in India. The refreshed Jetta is expected to get new headlights, similar to the ones seen on the current Passat, with LED daytime-running lamps, and new alloy wheels. On the inside, all variants of the Jetta will be equipped with automatic climate control, which is a good addition considering the current Jetta doesn’t have it as an option even on the higher variants. As for the mechanicals, they’ll carry over unchanged, which means it’ll get the familiar 2.0-litre TDI engine and the 1.4-litre TSI petrol. Both come mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, while the diesel engine also comes with the option of a six-speed auto ’box. Volkswagen will no doubt be aiming to put up a better fight against the new Skoda Octavia and the current segment leader, the Hyundai Elantra. It...

Mercedes-Benz is planning an all-out assault in the coming year with three all-new models and a fourth to follow soon after. Leading the charge will be Eberhard Kern, Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO, who stated he was happy with the acceptance of the new-generation cars and believes that there is a lot of potential in the sub-Rs 30 lakh segment in India. The carmaker registered a 58 percent year-on-year sales growth for the July to September 2013 period, selling 2,696 units as against 1,703 units for the same period last year. In comparison, rival Audi sold 2,545 units in the same period – pointing to the fact that Mercedes has momentum on its side. And it plans to keep this momentum going with a new model blitz. The flagship S-class saloon will be the first to debut in its range-topping  449bhp V8 S 500 guise. The carmaker will introduce this car in India via the CBU route and some dealers in Mumbai have already started taking bookings. This high-tech luxury sal...

For those of you who've been waiting for a good time to seal the deal on a new car, now's the best time. Because with Diwali just around the corner and the market still going through a lull, car dealers will be desperate to sell as many cars as possible to meet targets. That translates to big discounts and deals for customers on a number of models. Here's what we've found this month: Browse car discounts by model Luxury saloons Audi A4 Audi A6 Audi A8 BMW 3-series BMW 5-series Mercedes C-Class Volkswagen Passat Hatchbacks Honda Brio Hyundai i10 Volkswagen Polo Toyota Etios Liva   SUVs / MPVs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Tata Aria AUDI A8 We got to know from an Audi dealership in Mumbai that you can get a sizeable discount on the Audi A8, a saloon known for its unmatched space and comfort. So, as per this benefit, you can avail of uptoRs 15 lakh on this luxury saloon depending on the stock that’s available. A...

Land Rover has unveiled the first stretched-wheelbase Range Rover for 22 years. Due to go on sale in March next year, the new model will make a simultaneous debut at the Los Angeles and Guanzhou motor shows next month. The company has also revealed a new Autobiography Black range-topping version of the Range Rover, which will be available in long-wheelbase form only. This new 5.2m-long model will be the most expensive Range Rover yet sold.  A hybrid version, due later next year. Land Rover says the LWB Range Rover has an extra 140mm of rear legroom, with the bodyshell being extended in front of the rear wheels. Subtle modifications to the styling — including stretching the rear door — have ensured that the extra length hasn’t resulted in odd proportions. The rear seats of the LWB model can be specified as either a traditional bench or as individual ‘Executive Class’ rear seats. In either form, the seat backs can recline by up to 17deg, 8deg more...

BMW has revealed its eagerly awaited 2-series coupé ahead of a public debut at the Detroit motor show.   Due to go on sale in March, the rear-wheel drive successor to the 1-series coupé adopts BMW’s new naming system, which sees the German car maker’s more overtly sporting models receive an even-number model designation, as seen on the recently introduced 4-series and longer-established 6-series.   Three engine options will be available at international launch. The replacement for the highly rated M135i coupé runs a 321bhp version of BMW’s twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder petrol engine, giving it a 0-100kph time of 5.0sec in standard six-speed manual guise or 4.8sec with an optional eight-speed automatic gearbox.   A further two models, the 218d and 225d, are planned to join the line-up in May 2014.

The Mercedes Concept S-class coupe is “very close to the production version”, senior Mercedes designer Jan Kaul has said. Even though this concept model is based on a modified version of the previous-generation S-class, it uses numerous production parts from the real car, which will appear in showrooms next year.According to Kaul, the real coupé is about 10mm higher and about 20mm narrower, and the centre of the nose cone – marked by the Mercedes badge - is “30mm more upright” and has “less of a shark nose”. The production car also gets 20-inch wheels rather than the concept’s 21-inch units.Kaul – who led the design of the concept’s interior - said the Mercedes design team sat down last September with the target of finishing the concept two months before last September’s Frankfurt show. “A car like this is very much part of Mercedes’ coupé history; when we started on the project we imagined the kind of car that might be driven in a James Bond movie,” says...

The Honda S660 concept car has been revealed ahead of the Tokyo motor show. Described by Honda as 'an open-top sports-type mini-vehicle', the S660 is likely to become the spiritual successor to the manufacturer's original S600 sports car of the 1960s. The S660 name suggests the model will use a 660cc engine for power, which alongside its very small dimensions means the concept appears to be aimed at the Japanese Kei car market. A Kei car must be less than 3.4 metres long by 1.49 metres wide, and have a fixed engine capacity of 660cc. From these concept pictures we can see the S660 uses an automatic transmission with paddle shifts mounted on the steering wheel. A partly digital dashboard can also be seen on the interior. Reports suggest the S660 concept could be seen in production form as the revised Honda Beat. The manufacturer recently confirmed it would be bringing the roadster back for the modern age, while a reveal for any such model at ...

Volvo has launched the updated S60 saloon and the XC60 SUV. The facelifted S60 saloon and XC60 SUV get the new family look, improved equipment levels and a minor mechanical update. The more rounded and dynamic family look of the S60 saloon and the XC60 SUV have been replaced by a visually widened front end, more prominent horizontal lines and slimmer lights. Both the new Volvo S60 and the XC60 SUV get new interior trim. In terms of equipment, there are new sport seats, LED daytime running lamps and integrated dual tail pipes.   A new multimedia system has also been introduced which includes a seven-inch touchscreen that can even be used when wearing gloves. The TFT instrument panel from the latest V40 Cross Country has been rolled out across the revised Volvo range. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters have also been added to automatic models. The carmaker has also improved the city safety feature whereby crashes ...

Lamborghini has confirmed it is to put the Veneno roadster into limited production. Just nine versions of the Veneno roadster will be built, costing £2.79m (around Rs 27.79 crore) each. The Veneno roadster has no roof, and Lamborghini says the “design is focused on optimum aerodynamics and stability through fast corners – with handling akin to that of a racing prototype. Yet it is fully road legal”. It is powered by a mid-mounted 6.5-litre V12 developing 740bhp mated to a semi-automatic gearbox with five shift modes. Power is sent to all four wheels. Lamborghini claims a 0-100kph time of 2.9sec with a top speed of 354kph for the 1490kg hypercar. The front end is said to act as a huge wing and the car’s flat underbody incorporates a “sizeable” rear diffuser. Other aero kit includes an adjustable rear wing and a carbonfibre ring around the wheels that create a turbine effect providing cooling to the brake discs. The “Red Veneno” paint was developed specifically f...

The McLaren P1 will be able to crack 0-100kph in just 2.8sec, one of several astonishing performance figures officially confirmed by McLaren for the first time. The new hypercar will then go from 0-200kph in 6.8sec and from 0-300kph in 16.5sec, making it one of the fastest-accelerating performance cars in history. It can cover a standing quarter mile in 9.8sec at a speed of 244kph, while the top speed is electronically limited to 349kph. The figures eclipse those of the Porsche 918 Spyder, which cracks 0-100kph in 2.8sec, 0-200kph in 7.9sec, 0-300kph in 23.0sec and goes on to a top speed of 339kph. The P1’s other great hypercar rival, LaFerrari, has only had its 0-300kph time of 15.5sec confirmed. The 0-100kph time will be “less than 3.0sec” and the 0-200kph time “less than 7.0sec”, but the top speed will not be announced “because it doesn’t matter”.Very few cars have an official 0-100kph time of sub-3.0sec, including specialised models like the Ariel Atom...

Land Rover plans to launch a larger, lightweight Range Rover Evoque XL to slot between the existing car and the Range Rover Sport. According to a report by Autocar, the new model is codenamed L560 and is expected to be launched in 2016. The report also says L560 will be based on the same aluminium platform as the new family of compact Jaguar models and will be made in the same new facility, currently being built at Solihull. The report suggests that the Evoque XL could achieve annual sales of up to 80,000 units and is likely to be the most profitable model of the five body styles (four Jaguars and this new Range Rover) being planned on the new aluminium platform. L560 is also likely to become Range Rover’s most economical model, thanks to a combination of the lightweight aluminium architecture and the all-new ‘Hotfire’ four-cylinder engines currently being developed by JLR. Indeed, the majority of Evoque XL models are likely to be powered by four-cylinder pe...

Tata Motors is planning to give an extensive facelift to the Indica Vista hatchback. This test-mule was spied near Coimbatore. The Indica Vista is expected to receive a long list of cosmetic and styling updates such as a new front fascia which could be inspired by the Manza hybrid shown at the Auto expo earlier. At the rear, the tail-lamps are expected to be all-new and the current signature Christmas-tree arrangement will be ditched.  Also, the spy shots show the number plate positioned on the boot-lid instead of the rear bumper as seen on the current car. Expect the new Tata Indica Vista to carry over the current engine range which includes a 1.3-litre diesel engine with two power output options, a 1.4-litre TDI diesel engine which is BS-III only and a 1.2-litre petrol. Our sources tell us that the Manza will also get a similar update in near future. Tata Motors could  showcase the updated Vista and Manza at the upcoming Auto Expo in February 2014...

Several official illustrations, which appeared online after being submitted for design registration, show the new Ferrari in detail. It's evident that the car features many design cues found on current Ferraris, including the front and rear styling of the FF. The lights are the same as those seen on the current 458, F12 Berlinetta and FF, while the lower valance appears a hybrid of that found on the FF and F12. Despite the illustration appearing to show a fixed-roof coupé, there are prominent cut lines in the roof that suggest that a production version could feature a folding metal hard top, like the California, or a removable or retractable roof panel. The images may also not be representative of the final production version, accounting for the lack of an obvious receptacle for the folding roof, or alternatively reflecting the fitment of a targa top. The Ferrari California is currently the oldest model in the manufacturer's range, having being revealed in late ...

Porsche has released a teaser image of the Macan SUV in production form, ahead of its debut at the LA Motor Show next month. The SUV will be powered by a range of V6 engines. At the top of the range sits the Turbo variant, powered by a 3.6-litre V6 direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine offering 395bhp and 406lb ft of torque. At the bottom of the engine range will be two four-cylinder engines – the first time four-cylinder powerplants would have appeared in a Porsche since the 968 in 1995. On the petrol side, there will be a 220bhp 2.0-litre unit. The base diesel will be a 190bhp 2.0-litre turbo unit. Other engines in the Macan’s range are set to include a 295bhp 3.6-litre V6 in the S, and a 250bhp 3.0-litre V6 in the Diesel S. A hybrid variant is also planned. Strong 911 overtones can be seen in the final production car's styling, with the final form looking closer to that of the Range Rover Evoque than a full-size SUV. The Macan will take on both the baby...

A Rolls-Royce SUV is under active consideration. Rolls-Royce boss Torsten Muller-Ötvös confirmed that customer enquiries, booming and consistent sales in the luxury SUV segment and potential rivals from Range Rover, Bentley and Lamborghini have kick-started investigations into a Rolls-Royce SUV – but stressed that no decisions had been made as to whether the project would go ahead. “For me, it is less of a question of whether we should do it – the segment is interesting, growing and stable even in times of economic crisis - as opposed to one of whether it fits with the image and brand of Rolls-Royce,” said Muller-Ötvös. “What I can say is that we are currently investigating whether Rolls-Royce can carry such a vehicle - but that absolutely nothing is decided.” Muller-Ötvös declined to put a timescale on when such a project could reach fruition.

Suzuki has showcased a 7-seater variant of the Wagon R at the recently concluded 2013 Indonesia International motor show (IIMS). Currently only a concept car, the 'Karimun Wagon R 3 Rows Concept' features a body that is extended after the rear wheel arch. However, the wheelbase on this concept is unaltered, which could point to a sub-four-metre overall length. The current Wagon R's length is 3595mm. The concept also gets a larger (wider) rear quarter glass and a larger rear overhang. On the inside, the third row gets a very short seat squab, but unlike the Datsun Go+, the seat height should be good. Even then, the third row would be suitable for children at best. Low-cost, sub-four-metre, 7-seaters could be the next big 'small' thing in India, and Maruti could very well debut this MPV version of the Wagon R here. The Mahindra Quanto is already part of this niche club, and the recently unveiled Datsun Go+ will make its way here some time ...

After launching the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI with a 1.2- litre petrol engine and the new Volkswagen Cross Polo, Volkswagen India has launched another version of the Polo hatchback, the Polo GT TDI. In fact, we were the first to break the story of VW's plans, which included the Polo GT TDI and other variants, way back in November 2012. Power comes from the same 105bhp1.6-litre TDI diesel engine that also does duty in the Volkswagen Vento and Skoda Rapid. However, performance and fuel efficiency is expected to be significantly better since the 1.6-litre Polo weighs a good 90kg less than its saloon siblings. Like the Polo GT TSI, the Polo GT TDI looks identical to its lower-powered siblings, The only external clues to differentiate the car will be GT badging on the grille and GT and TDI badging on the bootlid. It even has the same 15-inch alloy wheels as the regular Polo Highline and Polo GT TSI. On the inside, the seats get sportier black and grey fabrics...

The Mercedes S-class Pullman, the Rolls-Royce-chasing super-luxury flagship planning to sit at the top of the new S-class model family, will get bespoke styling and a £200,000 (around Rs 2.04 crore) pricetag to match. As Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche told at the Frankfurt motor show, the Pullman is intended to explore the full potential of the Mercedes brand, and fill the gap left by the now-defunct Maybach nameplate. “It will not just be the ultimate expression the S-class as a model, but of what Mercedes can offer as a brand,” said Zetsche. “It has become clear to us during the gestation of the current version that the S-class is considered ‘the car’ in the full-sized executive segment: the pre-eminent power in the class,” Zetsche went on. “As Mercedes grows in stature and success globally, so the potential of the S-class grows.”And, hinting at a bespoke design for the range-topping Merc, Zetsche said “first and foremost, I can tell you the car will look a lo...

The all-new Nissan X-Trail has been revealed at the Frankfurt motor show. The new car has been given much clearer positioning within the Nissan line-up. When the next-generation Qashqai arrives early next year, there will be no seven-seat version, so the X-Trail will be Nissan’s sole offering in the seven-seat SUV segment. The firm closely previewed the new X-Trail with its stylish Hi-Cross concept at the 2012 Geneva motor show. The new X-Trail promises more road-biased ride and handling than the outgoing car. But the added style and dynamic improvements has not come at the expense of off-road ability, claim insiders. They say the new X-Trail is just as capable as the current car off-road when equipped with the optional four-wheel drive system. Front-wheel drive is tipped to be offered as standard to help make the economy better than the current car’s. The core engine will be a significantly updated version of the current X-Trail’s 2.0-litre diesel engine, op...

This is the Mercedes-Benz Concept S-class coupé shown at the Frankfurt motor show, which gives strong clues about the production form of the company’s traditional flagship model. Once again, the replacement for the current CL is a substantial machine, some 5005mm long and 1958mm wide, with a 2945mm wheelbase.Like Mercedes’ smallest cars, the coupé has the company’s new distinctive styling theme on the bodysides, with raised edges running from the front wings to the rear wheelarch. Again, the car does without a B-pillar, suggesting that a convertible is also in the works. This concept also gets an almost entirely glazed roof.A long bonnet dominates the overall proportions and grants the coupé what Mercedes calls a “cowering greenhouse”, the impression that the cabin sits well back behind the front wheels. The nose of the coupé also adopts the look pioneered by the baby CLA, although this car has the upper part of its grille surround extended, thereby giving it a re...

Porsche's 918 Spyder has been unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in its final production form. Set to go into production soon, the 344kph petrol-electric hybrid two-seater is planned to be built in a run of no more than 918 examples, in left-hand drive only, over the next 18 months.Porsche claims orders for its new performance flagship are ahead of expectations. “We have taken deposits for more than two-thirds of the planned production volume,” officials revealed to Autocar. “Interest is increasing by the day.” First revealed as a concept car at the 2010 Geneva motor show, the 918 Spyder is based around a carbonfibre monocoque, comes clothed in composite plastic body panels and uses a bespoke chassis fashioned from aluminium, magnesium and titanium.This combination has helped Porsche achieve a kerb weight of 1634kg for the 918 Spyder in its lightest form, despite the inherent complexity and bulk of its petrol-electric hybrid powertrain and battery pack.Remo...

Bugatti has taken the wraps off the second car in its Legends series at the Frankfurt motor show. The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse “Jean Bugatti” is the second of six special editions built to commemorate significant individuals from the marque’s history. The latest special edition Veyron references the Type 57SC Atlantic, which was one of Jean Bugatti’s most iconic creations. That car was referred to as “La Voiture Noire”, and was Bugatti’s personal car. It disappeared after the second world war. In July, Bugatti announced it was to build six Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse models to honour “renowned names which have played a crucial role in its history and which have helped create its mystique”. The “Jean Bugatti” Veyron is made entirely from black clear-coated carbon-fibre and the grille surround is made from platinum. It features diamond cut alloy wheels and Jean Bugatti’s signature has been laser cut onto the petrol and oil caps. The interior is trimmed in ...

The radical BMW i8 has been revealed in its final production form at the Frankfurt motor show. The plug-in, mid-engined hybrid sports car is the sister car to the new BMW i3. The 4.7-metre-long i8 features the same unusual construction methods, using a carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) bodyshell sitting on a welded aluminium chassis. BMW claims the i8 can hit 100kph from rest in just 4.4sec with both the engine and electric motor engaged. Top speed — achieved by the petrol engine alone — is 250kph. BMW says this performance is partly thanks to the i8’s relatively low weight of 1490kg and an aerodynamic bodyshell. BMW says the i8 can reach 121kph in its pure electric mode. Weight distribution is “almost exactly” 50 percent front, 50 percent rear. The car has three driving modes: Comfort, Sport and EcoPro. BMW claims a range of 499km in hybrid mode, or up to 35km on lithium ion battery power alone.The i8 has a 2+2 layout with the three-cylinder engine and ...

The new Audi A3 cabriolet has been revealed at the Frankfurt motor show. The fourth variant of the A3 is bigger and lighter than the car it replaces. The Audi A3 cabrio has grown 180mm in length to 4420mm for a more elongated and elegant profile, but weight is down 50kg to 1365kg compared with its predecessor, aided by the lighter new MQB platform and aluminium bonnet. Audi claims body stiffness has also increased. The 2014 A3 cabriolet boasts a soft-top roof can be opened and closed in 18 seconds at vehicle speeds of up to 50kph. When folded, the roof has a “minimal” effect on luggage space, according to Audi. An ‘acoustic top’ will be offered to reduce noise in the cabin and ‘head level’ heating option for front seat occupants.At its launch early next year, 1.4 and 1.8 TFSI petrol engines developing 148 and 178bhp will be offered alongside a 168bhp 2.0 TDI diesel. Other engines, including a 296bhp S3 version, will follow. Audi claims the engines are 12 perc...

This is believed to be the new Jaguar SUV, which will be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show next week.   Dubbed C-X17, Jaguar says the design study has been created to ‘introduce Jaguar’s new, high-advanced, modular aluminum architecture’. Autocar understands that the new architecture will be given its own brand name.   At present Jaguar is saying little about the concept ahead of it being revealed, but the company says that it is designed to illustrate "the diversity of vehicles that could be produced using this architecture, which underpins the innovative future of the Jaguar brand."   It’s though that Jaguar the C-X17 is also intended to underline Jaguar’s plans to eventually switch to using aluminium construction for all its models within four years.   Even though the company has been using its unique bonded-and-riveted aluminum construction for the XJ since 2003, insiders say that the company has failed to make enough of ...

EXCLUSIVE Ford is developing a right-hand-drive version of the legendary sports car as part of a 50 th  anniversary redesign next year. The first Mustang was unveiled at the New York World’s Fair on April 17, 1964, and the carmaker will reveal a heavily revised Mustang at the New York Auto Show on April 17, 2014, exactly 50 years on. With a right-hand-drive option for the Mustang now available, Ford has plans to market it in right-hand-drive markets like Australia and the UK. Ford is also looking at launching the Mustang in the Indian market as a ‘halo’ product. Currently, Ford’s range in India consists of mainly compact cars and an iconic car like the Mustang could not only give the Ford brand a shove upmarket but also showcase the company’s heritage. The current generation Mustang is available with three engines, a 3.7-litre V6, the 5.0-litre Mustang GT and the Shelby GT500 that is powered by a 5.8-litre supercharged V8.  Ford also sells...

Audi has officially revealed its modern recreation of the iconic Quattro with a new concept car for next week’s Frankfurt motor show. The plug-in hybrid concept celebrates 30 years since the original Sport Quattro appeared at the 1983 Frankfurt motor show. Audi openly refers to the new concept of the same name as the “legitimate successor” to the 1980s icon. The new Sport Quattro is a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid with a combined 690bhp, which makes it the most powerful Audi ever. It is understood to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s next-generation MLB platform, which will go on to underpin a whole range of big new Audis as well as new models from Porsche, Bentley and Volkswagen. The concept is 4602mm long, 1964mm wide and 1386mm high, with a wheelbase of 2784mm. This makes the two-door coupé concept slightly shorter, a fair bit wider and a touch taller than the RS5 coupé, with a marginally longer wheelbase. The fact that it is shorter than the RS5 despite ...

Bentley has created performance-focused S versions of its V8-powered Continental GT and GTC models. Both the Bentley Continental GT V8 S and GTC V8 S will debut at next week’s Frankfurt motor show. The all-wheel-drive Continental GT and GTC V8 S models harness a 521bhp version of Bentley’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine. That’s 21bhp up on the standard V8, while torque gets a 2kgm boost to 69.4kgm. The result is a drop in the GT V8’s 0-100kph time by 0.3sec to 4.3sec, and that of the Continental GTC by 0.2sec to 4.5sec. Top speed in both cars is up by 6kph - to 309kph for the coupé and 307kph for the convertible. A sharpened ‘S’ mode is delivered through the close-ratio eight-speed automatic gearbox’s drive selector; throttle response is improved, gears are held for longer and the shifts are faster. Accompanying the engine upgrades is a series of chassis modifications. The sports suspension sits 10mm lower, and the front spring rates have been incr...

Hyundai has launched the new Grand i10 hatchback, which will slot in between the current i10 and the i20 in the carmaker’s line-up. The Hyundai Grand i10 is available in four trims – Era, Magna, Sportz and Asta. The Era gets power steering, an air conditioner and an engine immobiliser. The Magna trim adds central locking, fog lamps, keyless entry, wheel covers, electrically-adjustable wing mirrors, power windows and rear air-con vents. The Sportz trim gets rear parking sensors, a music system with aux-in and USB connectivity, push button start, tilt-adjustable steering wheel and a cooled glove box. The top-of-the-line Asta trim adds a rear windscreen wash/wipe with a defogger, rear spoiler, alloy wheels, driver’s seat height adjust, steering-mounted audio controls and Bluetooth connectivity. The base petrol Era trim costs Rs 4.29 lakh, the Magna trim comes for Rs 4.49 lakh, the Sportz trim for Rs 4.88 lakh, and the Asta trim for Rs 5.47 lakh. The diesel Era comes...

BMW has launched the new 1-series compact luxury hatchback at a starting price of Rs 20.90 lakh for the base petrol variant. The 118d base trim is priced at Rs 22.90 lakh, the 118d Sportline trim at Rs 25.90 lakh and the top-spec 118d Sportline Plus at Rs 29.90 lakh (ex-showroom, all India). The 1-series hatchback comes with two engine options, a 1.6-litre turbo petrol that puts out 136bhp and a 2.0-litre turbo diesel with a power output of 143bhp. Both BMW 1-series variants come mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox. The petrol 116i is only available in the base trim, while the diesel 118d is additionally available in Sport Line and Sport Plus trims. The base trim gets fog lights, automatic headlights, a start/stop button, rear parking sensors, a CD player with aux-in compatibility, Eco mode, BMW’s Brake Energy Regeneration, six airbags, ABS, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The 118d Sport Line adds dual-zone climate control, a sliding fr...

Ford will launch a facelifted version of the Fiesta, based on the European model, early next year. The car will get significant styling updates like an aggressive Aston Martin-like front grille with chrome slats that follows the new family look, a re-profiled front bumper and fog lamps, revamped headlamps and a new bonnet design. The rear will also be revised with new tail-lights that are a touch larger than before. In terms of engine options, the carmaker will stick with the current line-up, and this means that Ford’s acclaimed 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine that does duty in the EcoSport will not make it into the Fiesta. Hence it will come powered by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine that makes 107bhp and 14.28kgm of torque, and a 1.5-litre diesel engine that puts out 89bhp and 20.8kgm. The petrol variants will come with the option of either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic, while the diesel will only be offered with a five-speed manual gearbox. Th...

The Jaguar XJ has been updated for the 2014 model year, benefitting primarily from equipment upgrades. Jaguar's Intelligent Start-Stop system is now included across the range, with the manufacturer claiming that the time taken to restart the engine is less than the time taken for the driver's foot to move from the brake to the accelerator. The car has a secondary battery fitted purely to power the start-stop system. Inside, long-wheelbase versions of the new XJ get airline-style reclining rear seats with a massage function, plus increased headroom and a new infotainment system. The rear suspension of the LWB XJ has also been upgraded to improve rear ride comfort. A unique addition to the Jaguar, which is part of the upgraded audio system, is the 'Conversation Assist' feature. It uses microphones above each occupant and uses processing technology to 'reinforce' the occupant's voice through the car's speakers, making it eas...

The facelifted Audi A8 has been revealed, with more powerful engines and new LED headlight technology among the changes. The updated Audi A8 was seen testing in India earlier. The revised A8, offered internationally in two wheelbase lengths and with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, will make its debut at the Frankfurt motor show next month. The optional new LED technology is called MatrixBeam. It features 25 individual LEDs that can be switched on or off or dimmed individually, depending on the road conditions. The lights also adapt around corners, feature indicators with sequential lighting and, when linked with an optional navigation and MMI infotainment system, use the sat-nav to adapt to corners, hills and road classifications. Other exterior changes include new designs for the front and rear bumpers, bonnet, front grille and LED rear lights. A new boot layout is also offered to improve loading, and added insulation in the dampers reduces interio...