AUTHENTIC CARS

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...

Bentley will reveal its new Le Mans Limited Edition Mulsanne at Pebble Beach. The car has features inspired by each of Bentley's six Le-Mans winning drivers, including diamond-quilted seat covers and door panels as well as drilled-alloy foot pedals. The car will also receive sports suspension and steering. Exterior finishes include new exhaust designs and new five-spoke alloy wheels. The car joins Bentley's previous Le Mans-inspired Continentals, and continue's the firm's celebrations of the 90th anniversary of Le Mans, and the 10th anniversary of its win in the Speed 8 in 2003. As with other models in the range, the Le Mans Limited Edition Mulsanne will only be available in North America. Bentley's Continental GT3 race car, unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, will also be on display.

Nissan has unveiled their new SUV in India, the Terrano. The carmaker’s new SUV is its answer to cars like the Ford EcoSport and its Alliance partner Renault Duster.   Unlike other badge-engineered products like the Renault Scala and Pulse (which are the Sunny and Micra, respectively, with a few plastic add-ons), the Renault Duster-based Nissan Terrano comes with more significant exterior changes to the compact SUV vehicle.   There are sheet metal changes to bring the car’s design in line with other Nissan SUVs like the X-Trail and Pathfinder. This includes different bumpers, tailgate, headlamps, tail-lights and an all-new grille that defines it as a Nissan. The interiors are mostly the same as the Renault Duster’s, though.   In terms of engine options, it gets the same set as the Duster. This means a 1.6-litre petrol option, and two diesel engine options in different states of tune.   Speaking at the unveiling event, Kenich...

Rolls-Royce has launched the Wraith, its most powerful car ever, which is priced at Rs 4.6 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi). The Ghost-based coupe comes powered by a 624bhp V12 engine capable of accelerating from 0-100kph in 4.4 seconds. The Wraith is 183mm shorter in terms of wheelbase than the   Ghost, 130mm shorter in overall length, 40mm wider in rear track and 43mm lower in height. The suspension has also been stiffened to minimise body roll and ensure the driver gets a better sense of feedback when cornering. The steering weight is also heavier at high speeds and lighter at low speeds to encourage spirited driving. However, company boss Müller-Ötvös emphasised that the Wraith should not be considered an outright sporting GT. "While the Wraith does push the brand in a new direction, evolving it in a way that we hope will attract new, perhaps younger customers, it is still a Rolls-Royce, and the 'bed of...

The most radical new Jaguar for decades has been given the green light for production in 2016. Company insiders say the new model could become “Jaguar’s Evoque” — both changing perceptions of the brand and selling in substantial volumes. It is expected to be priced to rival the BMW X3. The Jaguar crossover concept has been in development for over two years already. It’s thought that Jaguar could unveil a teaser concept as early as this September’s Frankfurt show. Sources who have seen the new car at customer clinics held in the Midlands have described the crossover as “stunning”. One source — a current XF owner — told that the styling proposal was “unlike anything that Jaguar had done before” and “easily the best-looking vehicle in the room”. The line-up at the clinic included the current Infiniti FX and Porsche Cayenne, although both are bigger than Jaguar’s crossover. It’s thought that the coupé-like FX has been something of a stylistic influence for the n...

The very first prototypes of the seventh-generation BMW 5-series have hit the road in Germany ahead of a planned arrival in international showrooms by early 2016. There is not much information available on the styling front, however, an evolutionary approach looks set to keep it close to its predecessor in size. Not to be mistaken with the 5-series facelift that will soon hit our shores, the next-generation 5-series will be about 4910mm long, 1875mm wide and 1470mm tall. As with today’s 5-series, the new model will be sold internationally in three body styles: saloon, Touring and Gran Turismo liftback. The new BMW 5-series has been conceived around a lightly modified version of the high-strength steel monocoque platform structure used by the existing 5-series. But in a programme that will affect all future BMW models, engineers are planning measures that will enable the new car to shed up to 100kg. Insiders say that the move will allow the entry-level 5...

Here are the first official pictures of the updated Skoda Yeti. As you can see, the Yeti gets a much-required minor styling update. The front styling now follows the design language seen in newer Skoda models such as the international-market Rapid, the new Octavia and the updated Superb. The front is now more angular, featuring a new-style signature Skoda grille with the logo that recently made its debut in India with the unveiling of the new Octavia. Also new are the square-ish headlamps, and gone are those chunky, round fog lamps. These have been replaced by conventional-looking units shaped like those on the new Octavia. The hood is also all-new, as are the front bumper and chin, which are now re-profiled with straighter lines that go well with the new signature Skoda grille and headlamp combo. Skoda will sell the updated Yeti in two variants, namely the the Yeti City and the Yeti Outdoor. In the City version, Skoda has got rid of the rugged-look...

These are the first spy images of the facelifted Toyota Innova spotted in Indonesia. From the images, it’s evident that the new Innova gets a large chrome grille with three horizontal slats. The bumper is also all-new and incorporates a new design for the air-dam, fog lamps and a chrome strip surrounding the fog lamp enclosure. The rear receives minor changes in the form of a thick strip of chrome above the number plate, while an extra set of reflectors are incorporated on either side too. There is no report on whether the interiors get any updates yet, but expect them to receive subtle revisions as well. This is the third update the Innova has received since its launch in 2005 here. The first was a mild update to the lights and bumpers in early 2009, and then the current facelifted version, which was launched in 2011. The facelifted Innova is likely to be shown at the 2013 Indonesia International motor show, which takes place from September 19. These are ...

The new Mercedes GLA compact SUV is the fourth member of Mercedes’ new small compact family based on its front/all-wheel drive MFA platform, joining the A-class, B-class and CLA. The looks of the Concept GLA have been toned down for the production car, particularly at the front and rear ends and with some of the surfacing. But the result is still one of the sportiest and most dynamic-looking cars in the class, with a look clearly in line with the rest of the models in the MFA family. It is 4417mm long, 1805mm wide and 1494mm high, which makes it slightly longer, narrower and lower than the concept version. It is also 125mm longer than the A-class on which it is based, the pair sharing the same 2699mm wheelbase. Internationally, the GLA will be offered with a range of transverse four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines equipped with either front 
or four-wheel drive. The new Mercedes GLA compact SUV is the fourth member of Mercedes’ new small compact family ba...

BMW has closely previewed the new M4 coupe with a new concept car. The BMW Concept M4 Coupe offers a thinly veiled look at a production version that will launch at the Detroit motor show in January. The concept, which will be unveiled at Pebble Beach this weekend, is billed only as a design study at present and, as such, gives no technical insight into the new M4. However, BMW sources have confirmed that the new M4 will return to straight-six petrol power, ditching the V8 of its M3 coupe predecessor. As the 3-series coupe adopts the new 4-series name for its latest generation, so the M3 version adopts the M4 name. The M4 name will be used for the coupe and as-yet unseen cabriolet and Gran Coupe (four-door) versions of BMW’s new staple M car, with the M3 name remaining for the 3-series-based four-door saloon that will also be shown in Detroit. All of these M models will share a new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre engine, producing an estimated 450bhp. That’...