AUTHENTIC CARS

BMW’s 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid engine has been voted the 2015 International Engine of the Year, thus ending the consecutive three-year victory of Ford’s 999cc three-cylinder turbo EcoBoost engine. Furthermore, the 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid engine, that does duty in BMW’s celebrated plug-in hybrid, the i8, also won awards in the ‘Best New Engine’ and the ‘1.4-litre to 1.8-litre’ categories. “This is a fitting victory for what is a remarkable powertrain. The i8 is a supercar of the future that’s available today. Progressive, emotive and environmentally responsible, here is a creation that proves the transport of tomorrow can be very, very exciting,” said Dean Slavnich, Co-chairman, International Engine of the Year Awards. In what was a very closely contested fight, the BMW’s petrol-hybrid motor ended Ford’s 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine dominance by a slender 7-point margin. However, Ford did have something to cheer about. Its 999cc EcoBoost engine was adjudged the...

Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled the new GLC in Germany. As part of the company’s new nomenclature for SUVs, the GLK moniker has been dropped in favour of the GLC. This new compact SUV is based on Merc’s MRA (Modular Rear Architecture) platform that also underpins the new C-class sedan. The interesting bit is that this SUV will finally make it to India and unlike the model it replaces, this one is available in a right-hand drive configuration. The GLC adopts frontal styling as on the new C-class with a similar grille and headlight design. The rear styling is much different from the earlier flat design of the GLK and now gets a more rounded design. All these design elements lend it a grown-up look. Inside the cabin, there are a lot of similarities to the C-class — be it the flowing single-piece centre console, rotary air vents, hooded instrument binnacle, touchpad, and the latest version of the COMAND Online infotainment system. The cabin now looks luxurious and well laid-o...

JLR has revealed two new technologies that will bring autonomous driving a step closer to reality. One of the systems being developed is a remote control application which will allow drivers to control their cars from outside the vehicle, using a smartphone. Working at speeds of up to 6kph and with a range of 10 metres, the system is designed for users to traverse tricky off-road terrain or tight spaces, without being in the vehicle. The application was successfully tested on a pilot Range Rover Sport vehicle and works only if the smart key present in the car is detected. The company plans to incorporate technology that would allow drivers to issue spoken commands for the vehicle to follow; but this could happen sometime in the future. Also launched is a prototype Range Rover Sport, capable of performing a 180-degree turn autonomously. The vehicle has been tested in situations like, dead-end roads, cramped car parks, etc. and the car was successful in manoeuvring without ...

The first official sketch of Mercedes’ upcoming GLC SUV is here. To be showcased for the first time ever in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Mercedes GLC SUV replaces the not-for India Mercedes GLK SUV and like its predecessor, will be positioned below the M-class (now GLE-class SUV). Unlike the GLK SUV that it replaces, the new Mercedes GLC will be produced in both left and right-hand drive configuration, which means there is a possibility of it hitting Indian shores too. When launched, the Mercedes GLC SUV will rival the likes of the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 and the Land Rover Discovery Sport. The Mercedes GLC line-up will also have a sportier GLC Coupe that is expected to compete with the Range Rover Evoque and BMW X4 SUVs globally. The GLC-based coupe is likely to be unveiled next year. The Mercedes GLC SUV features styling cues found on most modern-day Mercedes offerings, such as the soft-nosed grille and headlight styling. The overall look is more rounded and ...

Audi and the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) have set a new world record for the most distance travelled on a single tank of fuel. The car, an Audi A6 TDI Ultra, was driven for 1865.23km on a single tank of fuel at an average speed of 78kph. With motoring journalist Andrew Frankel and race driver Rebecca Jackson at the wheel, the drive commenced in the Netherlands. The A6 Ultra was driven from Maastricht, through Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, Germany and Italy towards the Balkans, with the tank finally running empty at Nova Sad in Hungary. The record-setting drive was originally supposed to be 1,600km long, but achieved 1,865km. The driving team was accompanied by a RAC vehicle with route planners and observers. The route was specifically selected to avoid heavy traffic and stop-start situations, which would have degraded fuel efficiency. The Audi A6 ultra was chosen because of its large 73-litre fuel tank and its 28.78kpl fuel efficiency ...

BMW is working on a new X2 model. It is expected to be a sporty-looking car, which will be previewed in its concept form early 2016, before it goes on sale internationally, late next year. The X2 will share the new BMW X1’s platform. In details given to our sister publication Autocar UK, BMW officials have confirmed that the X2 will get a uniquely styled steel body, following the example of the larger X4 and X6. The X6 was sold in India until 2014. The new BMW X2 will feature a five-door layout, with its tailgate set at an extreme angle than the X1 giving it a coupé-like silhouette. It will initially be offered with a range of four-cylinder engines. The addition of the more economical three-cylinder units within the first year is a possibility. The engines will be mated to either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox, in combination with front or four-wheel drive. The X2 will be produced alongside the new X1 at BMW’s Regensburg factory in Germany.

Fiat has announced that it will showcase a facelifted 500 on July 4, 2015. The refreshed 500 is expected to get minor changes on its exterior and interior to make it more in-line with its larger sibling, the 500X. The date is of great significance to the Italian brand, as the original 500 was launched on the same date way back in 1957, and it was also when the current 500 was unveiled to the public in 2007. The original three-door hatchback 500 has spawned a series of models since, followed by the 500C convertible, the larger five-door 500L and the off-roading 500L Trekking, the 500X crossover and the seven-seater 500L MPW. The 500 went through a facelift in 2014 and got a new digital dashboard and modifications made to the engine. The facelift this year is expected to see the car’s styling be tweaked to make it look more like the 500X, while on the inside it is expected to receive a 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and an overall improvement in quality. The new...