AUTHENTIC CARS

Alongside the recent launch of its Vista D90 hatchback, Tata Motors also showcased a concept for a crossover based on the Vista, called the Vista D90 Xtreme. The concept is conceived in the same vein as the Skoda Fabia Scout and the upcoming VW CrossPolo, in that it is a standard hatchback with slightly raised suspension (25mm in this case) and a number of cosmetic touches, like a tailgate-mounted spare wheel, to give it the appearance of an SUV. For the D90 Xtreme, additional touches include black cladding on the bumpers and below the doors, roof rails, flared wheelarches and larger, 16-inch alloy wheels. Interestingly, unlike most SUVs, which mount the wheel directly on the tailgate, the Vista D90 Xtreme’s spare is mounted on a swingarm that is hinged to the rear bumper, beneath the hatch. This was done to avoid tailgate rattle, and to keep the hatch door light enough to lift open easily. And since the spare wheel is not counted in the car’s overall length (which is the ...

Lamborghini has launched the Aventador LP700-4 roadster in India. The Aventador roadster -  a 690bhp V12 open-top hypercar that is, the Italian firm claims, “the most exciting Lamborghini ever built”. The Aventador Roadster uses a Targa-style two-piece carbon fibre roof, which weighs just 6kg. It can be removed by hand in “a few seconds” and stored in the front luggage compartment when not in use. The carbon fibre roof is made using Lamborghini’s own Forged Composite tech, which creates a material stronger than titanium but less dense. The hard-top for the Aventador Roadster addresses the main problem with its open-top Murcielago predecessor. With that car’s fabric roof raised, its top speed was limited to 160kph. The roof was also tricky to remove and store. Just like the coupé, the Aventador Roadster uses a normally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 featuring cylinder deactivation technology, stop-start and a seven-speed automatic gearbox. With the roof off, the...

BMW and Toyota have signed a binding agreement to co-develop a new sports car. The agreement is a joint venture first outlined in a memorandum of understanding in June 2012, which also includes fuel-cell development, research into lightweight technology, and lithium-air battery technology.   The two firms have agreed to “define a joint platform concept for a mid-size sports vehicle” by the end of 2013.   No further details on the sports car have been revealed by either party, but Toyota is known to be keen to launch a successor to the Celica as a bigger brother to last year's GT86. And by the time the co-developed model would make it to market, a replacement for BMW’s Z4 would be due. The recent mid-life changes to the Z4 were understood to be minor due to falling sales in the segment making little business case for substantial investment in the current model.   The sports car will make use of the lightweight technology development also outlined in today’...

Rolls-Royce has named its forthcoming coupé version of the Ghost as Rolls-Royce Wraith. The model will be the most powerful in Rolls Royce history, and is set to be revealed at the Geneva motor show in March. Speaking at a dealer conference in London this morning, Rolls CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said the Wraith would “draw superlatives” when it is revealed in Geneva. “Expect the boldest design, the most dramatic performance and the most powerful Rolls-Royce that has ever played host to the famous Spirit of Ecstasy figurine,” he said. “We will present a model whose starting point is luxury, refinement and exclusivity, traits that have made Rolls-Royce the world’s pinnacle luxury good for the last 108 years. This is a car not only defined by a timeless elegance, but one that encapsulates a sense of power, style and drama.” The Wraith name was first used by Rolls in 1938. Insiders have previously revealed the Wraith will produce as much as 600bhp from its highly tun...

The Aston Martin Rapide has received a considerable power hike as part of a comprehensive mid-life refresh for the four-door saloon. The extra power is reflected in the Rapide’s new name - it’s now known as the Rapide S - and means that the emphasis is now fully on making it a four-door sports car rather than a more luxurious, everyday GT.   The biggest changes for the Rapide S are to its naturally aspirated 5.9-litre V12 engine. Power is up by 80bhp to 550bhp and peak torque jumps by 2kgm to 63.2kgm. Low and mid-range torque is said to have been improved considerably more than the headline peak figure suggests.   The extra power means that the claimed 0-100kph time for the Rapide S is 4.9sec, which is 0.3sec quicker than the outgoing Rapide, and top speed is up from 302kph to 305kph.   Exterior styling changes are minimal, the most recognisable differences being a new front grille and a rear lip spoiler. A Carbon Exterior Pack can be specified, which...

The controversial Bentley SUV looks set to enter production within three years, according to reports that the firm is close to signing off the final design of the car.   In the first official confirmation that Bentley is going ahead with the SUV, CEO Wolfgang Schreiber confirmed that it will look more like the rest of Bentley’s vehicles than the EXP 9F concept car from the 2012 Geneva motor show.   Schreiber, talking to Automotive News, said that car was not built as a styling exercise but to see how the market reacted to the idea of a Bentley SUV.   “If you saw the styling, you would say, ‘That is a real Bentley,’” said Schreiber. He also said the SUV will use a V8, with the possibility of a W12 engine as an option.   The car will share a platform with the next Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne. The car’s shell will be built in Europe, with final assembly taking place in Crewe.

Audi has launched the updated R8 in India. The refreshed R8 is available in a coupe and spyder form and comes with a long list of mechanical and cosmetic changes.   Up front, there's the new chamfered, hexagonal Audi grille and the all-new LED headlights which are now standard across the R8 range. The turn-signals get new dynamic rhythm effect; they are now controlled by a special unit that transforms the daytime running lamps into turn signals. The front bumper also gets styling tweaks and the front air-intakes get three crossbars. The most distinctive visual change is at the rear, with striking new all-LED tail-lights and turn indicators that ‘swipe’ outwards when activated. The new R8 comes with 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels depending on the model.   Engine offerings include a 4.2-litre V8 and a Lamborghini-sourced 5.2-litre V10 which makes 518bhp and 54kgm. The updated R8 gets a new seven-speed gearbox and its 0-100kph sprint is claimed to be quicker than th...

Rolls-Royce has named its forthcoming coupé version of the Ghost as Rolls-Royce Wraith. The model will be the most powerful in Rolls’s history, and is set to be revealed at the Geneva motor show in March. Speaking at a dealer conference in London this morning, Rolls CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said the Wraith would “draw superlatives” when it is revealed in Geneva. “Expect the boldest design, the most dramatic performance and the most powerful Rolls-Royce that has ever played host to the famous Spirit of Ecstasy figurine,” he said. “We will present a model whose starting point is luxury, refinement and exclusivity, traits that have made Rolls-Royce the world’s pinnacle luxury good for the last 108 years. This is a car not only defined by a timeless elegance, but one that encapsulates a sense of power, style and drama.” The Wraith name was first used by Rolls in 1938. Insiders have previously revealed the Wraith will produce as much as 600bhp from its highly tuned t...

If the latest buzz over the slash in customs duties on luxury cars is anything to go by, high-end CBUs in India are slated for a price cut in the range of 30-45 percent. Recent remarks by the union heavy industries minister, Praful Patel, suggest that his ministry is keen on making duty cuts on luxury cars imported from Europe as a part of the India-European Union Free trade Agreement (FTA). The inclusion of automobiles in the European Union (EU) agreement has been a subject for discussion for over a couple of years now, with the EU expressing its reluctance to go ahead with the agreement without including automobiles. And if the proposal sees the light of day, it will bring major relief for the European luxury carmakers in India, especially the German trio of Mercedes, Audi and BMW. There is a likelihood that the reduction in duties may be extended to Japan and Korea as well. At present, India has trade agreements with these nations that do not include vehicles. The new t...

The government on January 18 authorised state-run oil marketing companies to hike diesel prices bit by bit over a period of time. Prices increased by 0.45 paise per litre (excluding VAT) of diesel fuel. The new price of diesel in Delhi is Rs 47.65 per litre, Rs 53.71 in Mumbai, Rs 51.51 in Kolkata and Rs 50.68 in Chennai.  As per a statement issued by IndianOil Corporation, “As a result of the above, the under-recoveries on HSD, both bulk and retail, shall decrease by approximately Rs 3,400 crore till March 2013. Based on the current prices and volumes, the decrease in the under-recoveries on annual basis on HSD shall be approximately Rs 15,000 crore for OMCs as a whole.”   This move is likely to affect market dynamics gradually. The diesel price hikes, when implemented in stages, will help reduce the imbalance between diesel and petrol. It has been over two-and-half-years since the government linked the price of petrol to international prices. Since then, prices ...

Unveiled at the Detroit motor show, the Volkswagen CrossBlue will become a seven seat SUV that will provide VW with a rival for the likes of the Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot.   It will replace the elderly and slow-selling Routan MPV, fitting into the range between the Tiguan and the Touareg, a car considered too expensive to successfully compete against more affordable competition.   At 4987mm long, 2015mm wide and 1733mm tall, the CrossBlue is bigger than a Touareg. It uses VW’s MQB architecture, and the production car is likely to be closely related to the next Tiguan, with transverse engines. It will be built in the US alongside the US-market Passat.   The show car has a plug-in diesel-electric hybrid powertrain, with a 2.0-litre engine and a pair of motors, one driving each axle – combined they produce 302bhp and a 0-100kph time of 7.2sec.

Hyundai’s concept car for the Detroit motor show, the HCD-14 Genesis, gives us a preview of what to expect from its future large cars. The Californian-designed concept will shape the look of its BMW 5-series-rivalling Genesis and its Mercedes S-class competitor, the Equus. The rear-drive HCD-14 has a much sleeker, sharper look than the firm’s current executive cars, with short overhangs and a coupé-like roofline. The back doors are rear-hinged, with large, brushed aluminium hinges supporting them. The car is powered by a 5.0-litre V8. Hyundai’s US boss, John Krafick, said he is eager to show the “dynamic driving” of the HCD-14, a recognition of the relatively soft dynamics of the firm’s upper-end offerings.

Honda has taken the covers off its latest NSX concept car at the Detroit show. Essentially a lightly tweaked version of the NSX concept shown at last year’s Detroit show, the new car gets a proper interior for the first time. While the cabin looks near production ready, it is expected to be tweaked as the NSX is further developed. Among the styling highlights of the NSX concept are the big carbonfibre struts which run from the dash into the centre console. The NSX will not go into production for at least another two years, and will be built in the US where most of the car’s development will also be carried out. The car will use a mid-mounted V6 coupled to an electric motor to drive the rear wheels, and electric motors driving the front wheels to give four-wheel drive. Honda's Super Active All-Wheel Drive system will also be fitted. Speaking on the newly revealed concept, Jon Ikeda, head of Acura design, said, "The key is that the interior design complements th...

Honda has previewed plans for a new Jazz-based SUV with this Urban SUV Concept at the Detroit motor show. Honda has already confirmed a production version, which closely follows the sleek style of this concept. It will be introduced in Japan late this year, the US in early 2014 and Europe later in 2014. Underpinning the 4300mm-long Urban SUV Concept is the next-generation Jazz’s platform. A third generation of the standard Honda Jazz hatchback will be launched in 2014 with the new underpinnings. A saloon is also planned based on this platform and will be targeted at emerging markets. Each of Honda’s global regions is being given autonomy to tune it to suit local conditions. Both the exterior and interior styling are also likely to differ slightly between global markets. Honda CEO Takanobu Ito has previously described the global small car platform as strategically very important to Honda’s bid to boost sales from about four million units to seven million annually by...

Eight of Volvo’s nine-model global range will undergo significant updates within the next 12 months, new company boss Hakan Samuelsson has told Autocar.   The updates will be followed by the all-new XC90 replacement, which goes on sale in late 2014. The new XC90 will be the first model built on Volvo’s new ‘Scaleable Platform Architecture’, which will underpin all future models from the S60 upwards.   The current 60- and 70-series cars will get external makeovers this year and new engines will also be fitted into most of Volvo’s models.   The product blitz comes in the wake of falling sales in 2012, which saw the Swedish brand shift 421,951 cars, down six per cent on 2011.Samuelsson told Autocar that the fall was almost entirely caused by the weakness of the European market, where Volvo kept its share, but in a declining market.   Volvo is also preparing to go it alone in replacing the smaller 40- and 50-series models, Samuelsson revealed. Having...

Toyota has revealed its Toyota Corolla Furia concept car at the Detroit motor show, the firm’s first clues as to the future direction of its best-selling saloon. The Furia is the latest in a string of recent concepts from Toyota with bolder and more distinctive designs, following a personal plea from company chief Akio Toyoda for the firm to become more daring and break free of its conservative image and appeal to younger buyers.   The concept is 4620mm long, 1805mm wide and 1425mm high, with a wheelbase of 2700mm giving it relatively short overhangs. The concept is boldest at its front, with the design a much more striking interpretation of the look found on the new European-market Auris.   A sharply raked windscreen and low roofline ensure a lower, sleeker profile than that of Toyota’s current Corolla. A usual array of more outlandish concept features make it onto the Furia, including 19in alloys, lashings of carbonfibre trim and a large rear diffuser with i...

Audi is set to take the fight to the recently unveiled BMW M6 GranCoupé with a new 552bhp twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8-powered RS7 Sportback. Pictured here officially for the first time following its unveiling at the Detroit motor show today, the rapid liftback extends Audi’s RS line-up to six models. Power for the RS7 Sportback comes from the same 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine used by the recently unveiled third-generation RS6 Avant. It produces 552bhp at 5700rpm and 76.45kgm of torque between 1750rpm and 5500rpm - some 138bhp and 20.46kgm more than the less highly tuned version of the same V8 in the S7 Sportback. The new M6 GranCoupé’s twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 produces the same 552bhp. However, it offers 7.18kgm less. Because Audi’s seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is unable to handle the heady torque loading of the engine, the RS7 Sportback receives a standard eight-speed automatic ’box. It operates in combination with the latest evolution of the Audi’s Quattro fou...

BMW has confirmed that the next-generation coupé version of the 3-series will become a stand-alone model and be badged 4-series when global sales start late next year. It has just taken a bow in public for the first time at the Detroit motor show. The significant change to BMW’s line-up is previewed by this Concept 4-series Coupé, which finally lifts the lid on one of the car industry’s worst-kept secrets: that the two-door 3-series will be become the 4-series and join the 6-series as a two-door variant of a BMW saloon. “The ‘4’ doesn’t just mark the start of a new cycle; it marks the start of a model with its own individual character and a stand-alone design,” says BMW. Although billed as a design study, the 4-series concept is understood to be a faithful representation of the production car. Only some of the more extreme elements, such as the flamboyant front and rear bumpers and air dams, will be toned down. These first official pictures show the new two-door to ...

These images appear to show the forthcoming BMW X5, which is expected to be unveiled this year.   Leaked online from the brochure of a toy model company, the images – if accurate – give the best indication yet of what the third generation X5 will look like.   The front-end styling borrows heavily from the current 3-series, including the narrowed headlamps and prominent kidney grille. The large air vents at each corner of the front bumper are lifted from the recently unveiled 4-series Concept Coupé, while the rear lights are the same units fitted to the current X3.   The interior is not revealed, though is likely to go further upmarket and will be offered with a third-row seating option.   Engines have yet to be confirmed but the lineup is likely to include a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel, which will compete against the new four-cylinder

Chevrolet has begun promoting its upcoming Sail saloon on its website. Just like its hatchback sibling, the Sail's styling, both inside and out, is on the conservative side. However, its spacious cabin will give it an edge over the Maruti Swift Dzire, which will be its chief rival. Like the U-VA, the Sail will be powered by a 1.3-litre diesel engine and a 1.2-litre petrol engine. Interestingly, Chevrolet will not offer a 1.4-litre petrol on the Sail as earlier believed. The Sail will also be equipped with safety features such as speed-sensitive automatic door locks, ABS, EBD, airbags, a collapsible steering system and side impact beams. The saloon will also be offered with a 5 year/1,50,000km engine and transmission warranty and a 3 year/1,00,000km vehicle warranty. With the promise of excellent ride quality, decent comfort and prices ranging from an estimated Rs 6-7.5 lakh, the Sail could just ruffle the established order in the lower end of the mid-size saloon se...

Mercedes-Benz has given the E63 AMG saloon and estate a bold new look and increased output along with other performance enhancing upgrades as part of a comprehensive mid-life facelift that aims to keep them in the hunt against powered up luxury car competition. Due to reach the in international markets in April following a public premiere at next week’s Detroit motor show, the heavily revised E63 AMG saloon and estate preview a radical change in direction for the styling of all future AMG models with a distinctive exterior treatment that aims to provide both greater differentiation from standard Mercedes-Benz models together with improved aerodynamic properties.   Included is a more aggressive front end that combines the twin headlamp treatment of the newly facelifted E-class with a unique grille and bumper – the latter distinguished by huge air ducts and a central splitter that is claimed to improve air flow underneath the car. The exterior mirror housings have been g...

Renault’s first product for India, the Fluence, didn’t quite set the cash registers ringing for the French carmaker. Boosted by the enthusiastic response for its Duster SUV, however, Renault has the opportunity to address the saloon’s fortunes and simultaneously strengthen the brand image with the facelifted Fluence.  It’s immediately evident that the Renault’s new identity gives the updated Fluence a contemporary and distinctive look. The majority of the changes are neatly housed in the big, one-piece bumper that also includes the grille. The bigger and bolder Renault lozenge is placed on a glossy black strip that connects both headlamps. Lower down, the air dam section is split into three parts, lending the Fluence a very sporty look. New LED daytime running lights are visible above the fog lamps. Apart from the new 10-spoke alloy wheels, the Fluence looks the same and has no change in sheet metal.   On the inside, the Fluence’s equipment list sees new entrants....

Mahindra has officially revealed that the replacement of the Reva electric car will be called the Mahindra e 2 o. The e 2 o was earlier showcased at the Auto Expo as the Reva NX-R. We broke the news of the Reva NX-R being called the e 2 o in October last year.  According to Mahindra, the e 2 o is a result of the group’s vision of the ‘future of mobility’. It involves the creation of future-ready vehicles that meet the 5 Cs framework of – clean, convenient, connected, clever and cost effective.   The e 2 o will be manufactured at Mahindra’s new plant in Bangalore. This plant, according to the company, has a rated annual production capacity of 30,000 cars.   The Mahindra e 2 o will come with an electric motor that derives power from 48-volt lithium-ion batteries capable of powering the car for about 100km on a single charge. Mahindra sees promise in this project and is considering leasing out the batteries which are an expensive component to replace. With p...

The all-new, third-generation BMW Mini is just 12 months away from the launch, and it promises a dramatic leap forward in handling, performance and quality. Insiders say that because the new Mini family — which could extend to as many as 11 new models — is part of BMW’s UKL1 front-wheel drive platform project, factory costs can be reduced and quality increased.  BMW sources have already admitted that as many as 23 different models could eventually be given the green light. Indeed, estimates by industry analysts suggest that, by 2020, BMW will be selling about 980,000 front-drive cars under both the BMW and Mini brands.     All of today’s Mini models will be replaced and there will be at least three new models. These will include the new Traveller, which is a kind of sporty mini-MPV similar in layout to the BMW Concept Active Tourer. Also on the drawing board is a luxuriously trimmed baby saloon aimed at east Asia. The styling of the Mk3 range is said to have...

Fiat plans to launch its performance brand Abarth here in 2013. Unlike the Mini Cooper S, the company plans to make the Abarth here more affordable and price a locally configured and produced Grande Punto version at around Rs 8-9 lakh.  The Grande Punto is currently available with a 66bhp petrol variant, a 75bhp diesel variant and an 89bhp diesel edition. For Abarth, the company is most likely to use the existing 1.4-litre T-jet motor and pump up the power output to 165bhp, which should improve performance considerably. Fiat could make other changes for better handling of the car, more suitable to Indian conditions. The carmaker is likely to start with stiffening the chassis and carry on with using stiffer spring and sportier dampers, which would improve grip. Thicker anti-roll bars are expected to improve handling, while some extra stopping power is likely to be added with upgraded brakes. The car could also be the only four-door Abarth version of the Grande Punto as curr...