AUTHENTIC CARS

The Fiat 500X, a compact crossover that completes the Italian manufacturer's family of models based on its 500 supermini, has been revealed at the Paris motor show. It will go on sale internationally in the second quarter of 2015 and sit alongside the regular 500 and larger 500L derivatives in Fiat's line-up. Two versions of the new model have been created, mirroring a strategy adopted with the 500L and 500L Trekking. One is intended as a chic urban car, while the other has more rugged design themes. The 500X gets the same retro-inspired styling as the rest of the 500 family, but also includes a more prominent front-end grille design, with chrome trim used around the front bumper. Tinted windows, roof rails and a boot-mounted lip spoiler also feature. Designed at Fiat's Centro Stile design hub, the new 500X sits on a modified version of the SCCS platform that underpins the Fiat Punto. It measures 4.25 metres in length, while the rugged version is 2cm lon...

BMW is preparing a more potent version of the i8 for its centenary celebrations in 2016. The new model, rumoured to be called i9, would use the same carbonfibre tub as the i8, but would get more aggressive styling, a larger engine and a more powerful electric motor. The engine is understood to be the new modular 3.0-litre six-cylinder unit that is in development and set to appear first in the upcoming 7-series replacement overseas. The i9 will be the next model to join BMW’s i sub-brand. Also planned is the i5, a stretched version of the i3. Expect the i9 to improve on i8's 0-100kph sprint time of 4.4 seconds, as well as its 250kph top speed.

Mahindra has launched the much-awaited new Scorpio in India starting at Rs 7.98 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). A thouroughly updated model, the new Scorpio gets a host of changes in terms of mechanicals, cosmetics and interior. The chassis is brand new and is built using a hydroforming procedure, which makes it a lot stiffer than before. The five-speed manual gearbox is new and claims to improve shifts. These changes along with the suspension setup that has also has been tweaked, should offer better ride and handling than before. The face of the new Scorpio gets a slightly redesigned bumper, an updated grille and newly-designed projector headlamps with LED daytime-running lights. The rear gets subtle changes to the bumper, LED tail-lights and a roof-mounted spoiler. Also new are the foglamps, scuff-plates and 17-inch alloys. Changes on the inside include a power-window button on respective doors, horizontal AC vents, new instrument cluster, climate control and a new touchs...

Renault has launched the all-wheel-drive (AWD) Duster in India at Rs 11.89 lakh The new Duster gets a few cosmetic updates too. The most important change, the all-wheel-drive system, gets three modes – two-wheel drive, auto and four-wheel lock, and these can be changed on the go. The other highlight on the Duster AWD is an all-wheel independent multi-link suspension as opposed to the non-independent torsion beam setup in the front-wheel-drive car. Also on offer is Renault’s Electronic Torque control system, which helps distribute torque among all the wheels and allows torque balance at high speeds. Other changes include smoked-grey alloy wheels, darkened headlamp clusters and matte black B-pillars, and ‘AWD’ and 4x4 badging. On the inside, there's a new three-pod instrument cluster, a new three-spoke steering wheel, dual-tone grey and red seats, and soft-touch plastics on the upper portion of the new dual-tone, and a black and grey dashboard. Two variants are on off...

Aston Martin has resurrected its Lagonda nameplate for the production of limited-edition super sedans for the Middle-East. Previously, pictures of the car were released on Oman Air's website, the cargo division of which was responsible for shipping the car to Oman for hot weather testing. The new Aston Martin Lagonda, which is set to arrive in the Middle-East in 2015, will be made available to customers on an invitation-only basis. Styling cues come from the V8-engined Lagonda saloon, launched in 1976, which was designed by William Towns. Underpinning the new car is the company's VH architecture, which is used throughout its current line-up. Official technical details have yet to be released but it is understood that the production models use the 5.9-litre V12 from the Rapide S. In the Rapide, the naturally aspirated V12 produces 550bhp and 63.2kgm, granting a 0-100kph time of less than 5.0sec and a top speed of 306kph. Power will be sent to the rear wheels, most ...

Suzuki has released the official image of the new Vitara. The compact crossover will be internationally unveiled at this year’s Paris motor show. Suzuki is reviving the Vitara model name for its all-new five-door car, which will battle rivals such as the Nissan Juke and Ford Ecosport in the globally competitive and fast-growing compact crossover segment. Like the Grand Vitara, a four-wheel-drive option will be offered via the AllGrip system and power is likely to come from the 1.6-litre petrol and diesel powerplants installed in the SX4 S-Cross. Suzuki says the Vitara "will have a striking road presence with distinctive design." Customers, internationally, will have the option of personalising the car with various colour and trim customisation options. The Vitara production model is based on the iV-4 concept which was first shown at the Frankfurt motor show in 2013. The new car is based on an all-new platform, which is expected to underpin a number of future vehic...

Jaguar is expected to reveal a new design language and will adapt it in the new models expected in the next 12-24 months. The carmaker will consolidate the look established by the XF, XJ, F-type and XE, which means that the new XF, due in that time frame, will be evolutionary in terms of looks. Expect the next XF to get a lightweight aluminium body structure. It currently uses a steel body. Sources  know that the next-gen XJ, however, "will be a big of a jolt, but will work for people". It is also likely that the C-X17 SUV, which is under "close consideration", will also get the green light, given the popularity of premium SUVs. This new look will be noticeable from 2017. While the rectangular grille developed for the sedans will remain, "everything else will change", sources have confirmed. It's also possible that Jaguar will introduce a new ' white space' range to complement the five-car line-up (with the SUV) it will have by 2017...

Maruti has launched the much anticipated Ciaz sedan in India starting at Rs 6.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the petrol model and Rs 8.04 lakh for the diesel. First shown as a concept at the Auto Expo earlier this year, the Ciaz is Maruti's fresh attempt at the midsizer segment after the Baleno and SX4. The new Ciaz is quite the looker and is one of the most upmarket offerings from Maruti yet. Power comes from a 91bhp 1.4-litre petrol or an 89bhp 1.3-litre Fiat-sourced diesel. Both engines are borrowed from the Ertiga, but the carmaker claims to have tuned them for improved responsiveness and drivability. The petrol engine is coupled to a five speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic while the diesel gets a five-speed manual gearbox only. Maruti is offering four trims on the new Ciaz – V, V+, Z, Z+ – and has packed it with equipment, with top trims getting front airbags, a touchscreen infotainment system, rear-view camera, leather upholstery, keyless entry and g...

Porsche has revealed the new 911 Carrera GTS ahead of its public debut at next month’s Los Angeles motor show. As with its predecessor in international markets, the new GTS is available as a coupé and a cabriolet with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. All variants have an updated version of the Carrera S’ 3.8-litre flat six engine. Power has risen by 30bhp over the Carrera S to a new peak of 424bhp. The increased reserves are channeled through a standard seven-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The new GTS is fitted as standard with Porsche's Chrono package and PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) system, which makes the ride height 10mm lower than the Carrera S. Porsche's GTS coupé is claimed to accelerate from 0-100kph in 4.0 seconds when fitted with the PDK gearbox. All versions top out at 299kph but the GTS coupé with the manual gearbox is claimed to be the fastest, at 305kph. The Carrera GTS is differentiated from existin...

Volvo has just taken the wraps off the most powerful version of its new 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, Drive-E engine family. This new petrol motor makes 444bhp, a huge 222bhp per litre. Volvo's current top engine, the T5, makes 245bhp. The carmaker, however, has not revealed a likely launch date yet. The new engine uses two conventional turbochargers supplemented by an electrically powered ‘turbo-compressor’. Its triple-charging setup is also supplemented by a fuel pump running at an unusually high 250 bar pressure. The turbo-compressor is used to ‘spool up’ the two turbochargers when the engine is running at low revs, thereby dramatically reducing turbo lag and off-boost performance. Volvo engineers claim that this new forced-induction set-up “enables a very dynamic drivability without any turbo lag.” All of Volvo's suppliers, including AVL, Denso and Volvo Polestar Racing, have all been involved in the engine development, the company said. Volvo's research...

The facelifted Porsche Cayman has been spotted testing on international roads. It is set to arrive in global markets in late 2015 or early 2016. Revisions to the front-end styling, including a restyled bumper with different air intakes, and what appear to be new headlamps are visible in the spy shots. The updates extend to the rear, where both the rear bumper and tail-lights been tweaked. Other changes include new wing mirrors and mountings. Currently, the Porsche Cayman, in standard trim, is powered by a 2.7-litre flat-six engine that produces 271bhp and 29.6kgm, which is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. Porsche claims a 0-100kph time of 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 266kph. Porsche also recently launched a flagship GTS variant capable of 0-100kph in 4.6 seconds.