BMW 1 Series hatchback set to arrive in India with price tag of Rs 19 lacs
If you love speed this is the ultimate car. BMW 1 Series hatchback set to arrive in India with price tag of Rs 19 lacs
Sounding the bugle of an ensuing war between the two automobile giants, BMW announced the launch of their 1 series hatchback for the Indian market. The announcement comes close to the heels of news about the rival Mercedes planning to launch A- class hatchback for the Indian consumers.
The latest offering from BMW, the assembling for which would be done at the company’s Chennai based plant through the completely knocked down (CKD) kit route, would be available from September onwards
The automobile giant is enjoying the advantages of building its own cars for India through the completely knocked down kit route as the government is continuing to levy taxes on imported vehicles every year. Taking benefits of the local assembly, BMW has sold 9,375 units in India in 2012 successfully defending the title as India’s largest luxury car maker for the fourth year in a row.
Launched in 2004, the first car in the BMW 1 series was the 5-door hatchback. Being the first hatch to be offered by the luxury automobile manufacturer, the car was well received in the market. However, with an aim of providing more variety, BMW, in 2007, introduced other versions of the 1 series, namely coupé, convertible and 3-door hatchback.
BMW 1 series will be available in India in the 5 door hatchback models. The sub-variants in this segment are 116i, 118i, 116d, 118d and 120d. It is also expected that BMW will soon launch its 3 door hatchback models in the country. This model is speculated to have sub-variants 116i, 118i, 120i, 130i, 116d, 118d, 120d and 123d. The price of the new 1 series India 5-door hatchback can be expected to be in the range of Rs. 14 lacs to Rs. 19 lacs in the Indian market.
Talking about the forthcoming product, President, BMW India Philipp Von Sahr said: BMW India plans to launch the 1-Series hatchback in September 2013. The car will be assembled through the completely knocked down(CKD) kit route at BMW India’s Chennai factory. Currently, we’re waiting for more clarity on the India-EU FTA so as to analyze the effects it will have on our cars’ prices. Also, BMW is considering the assembly of more Mini models in due course of time,”
“(This year), an unprecedented price war was witnessed. BMW will however stand its ground and refuse to be drawn into it. Having sold 7,389 units from Jan-October, the company expects to exceed last year’s tally of 9371 units by December end. The price of all the models in its portfolio beginning January 2013 would be increased,” added the President.
Meanwhile a latest version of the BMW 1 Series, known as the LCi, is all set to be launched in the global car market any time now. Though there is no official confirmation about the same coming to India, speculations are rife that it would be available for the Indian market too following its launch.
Further, with two giants BMW and Mercedes already neck down in the big fight, it is not clear whether top German marque Audi India will also join the fight or not. Since there is no information about the launch of the A3 hatchback, this year, it is being believed that Audi has chosen to go ahead a sedan version of its A3 model.
source:http://nvonews.com/2013/04/29/bmw-1-series-hatchback-set-to-arrive-in-india-with-price-tag-of-rs-19-lacs/
2014 Maserati Ghibli Astounds at Shanghai Auto Show...
The excitement just didn’t stop at the giant Shanghai Auto Show this week with some of the biggest players in theautomobile industry showcasing new and improved models to lure buyers at the tail end of 2013 and the right into 2014. Some of the hardest hitters were Mercedes Benz, BMW and Porsche, but one of the stars of the show was the new 2014 Maserati Ghibli.
And as this was the first time thatMaserati has manufactured a diesel engine vehicle, interest was understandably palpable.
The new Maserati 2014 Ghibli will come with a V6 three litre fully diesel engine. Maseratiowes some of the credit to Paolo Martinelli; hailing as he does from the Italian giant of style, Ferrari. Despite being diesel, theMaserati Ghibli is no slow coach and delivers an impressive two hundred and seventy five horse power and a nice whack of torque at around four hundred and forty ft/lbs. Zero to 60MPH is dealt with in just over six seconds and emissions are pretty low too for a car of this ilk.
And if fuel economy is what matters – not usually the case with Maserati buyers of course – the 2014 Ghibli is pegged to serve up around just under forty miles to the gallon combined.
As well as the diesel version, there is of course a petrol version with the same size V6 engine and the addition of twin turbo pepping – all of which will push the horse power up to around three hundred and thirty. For the more power loving car buyers (and those with the deeper wallets) the fastest offering is the Ghibli S which although it employs the same engine as the other models, it is a slight variation on a theme but it successfully delivers a more powerful four hundred and ten horse power and is able to hit sixty miles per hour in roughly five seconds.
source:http://eaglesrant.com/2014-maserati-ghibli-astounds-at-shanghai-auto-show/8229/fredrick-moore
Volvo V40 Cross
Volvo's V40 Cross Country is set to enter our showrooms on Diwali 2013. We take a look at this luxury car that is not quite traditional.
t’s the age of fusion. Consumers’ demands have evolved and so have the options available to them. And one of the most popular trends today is products which offer the best of many worlds. Crossovers are a result of this trend. These are regular cars that have the much-desired SUV look and feel, but come with very few SUV penalties; exactly why Volvo is in the process of readying its V40 Cross Country for sale in India. It’s targeted at the young-at-heart owner-drivers who are looking for something different.
The V40 will compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz B-class when Volvo begins to import them sometime around Diwali. The Gothenburg-based carmaker isn’t expecting any miracles. It’s well aware that the Cross Country will only appeal to those looking for luxury, features and style in a compact package. But is the V40 Cross Country attractive and feature-rich enough for the smartphone generation?
With regard to looks, Volvo has gotten it perfectly right. Our red V40 Cross Country regularly had people craning their necks to get a better look at the car and we got thumbs ups and smiles from total strangers all day. What gets your attention first are the aggressive, beak-like bonnet with its cuts and creases, and the extreme rake of the windscreen. There’s a strong bonnet ‘V’, the headlights are angled back appropriately, the black roof looks stunning, and the rising waistline and the tight-fitting top meet each other at the rear of the car quite elegantly. An unpainted plastic cladding that runs around the car, faux scuff plates, both front and rear, and sleek roof rails gives it an off-roader presence. The Cross Country also gets 40mm more ground clearance and larger tyres than the regular V40 hatch.
The exterior build quality is as good as, if not better than most competitors from Germany, and it’s nice to see consistent gaps and seams all around. The cabin isn’t as flashy as the exterior however. The design is a lot more restrained here and the Volvo parts bin seems to have been thoroughly raided; not necessarily a bad thing as most of the bits are well constructed and have a certain heft to them. What’s also retained from the bigger, more expensive Volvos is the look. The cabin is still a celebration of plain, IKEA-like surfaces and minimalist details, all tastefully trimmed in black and dull aluminium. Some large bits, like the floating centre console and the sculpted door-pads give the cabin a bit of a lift. Still, it’s not the kind of interiors that would give you feeling of luxury like an Audi cabin would. The bits which stand out are the shiny white central console and the transparent LED illuminated gear selector. Other unique bits include a frameless rear-view mirror and a massive full-length glass roof.
The V40’s seats have the trademark Volvo levels of comfort. There is fantastic support for your back and thighs and this is especially noticeable if you’ve just climbed out of another car. Head, elbow and shoulder room at the front of the V40 is plentiful too. This is also a very practical cabin with plenty of space for water bottles and other odds and ends.
Legroom at the rear is sufficient for most frames and since the rear bench seats are placed higher up, they give passengers at the rear a better view of the road ahead. Headroom for very tall passengers could be an issue though due to the tight-fitting roof. The third passenger at the back is also unlikely to be very comfortable – space for the middle seat is minimal and there’s a tunnel for a propeller shaft (for the all-wheel-drive version) on the floor that reduces legroom even futher. And while boot space is generous, there’s no spare wheel. You only get a puncture repair kit and an electric pump that runs off a 12-volt jack.
Volvo will bring two motors to India for the V40 Cross Country, a 180bhp T4 petrol and this five-cylinder 148bhp D3 diesel. Unlike some modern diesels, this 2.0-litre unit is extremely responsive and quick off the mark. There’s no turbo lag or delay from the six-speed transmission when you tap the accelerator, and the front-wheel-drive V40 leaps forward as soon as you place your foot on the pedal. What’s even more gratifying is that there’s plenty of linearity. Step hard on the gas and the V40 takes off more than promptly, the tug from the mid-range staying strong for quite some time. The performance figures speak for themselves. 0-100kph takes just 8.6 seconds and 150 is reached in 19.9 seconds. The V40 excels at covering ground quickly in urban confines and it’s surprisingly brisk out on open roads as well, pulling really effortlessly and strongly even at speeds as high as 180kph.
You may want more power but its performance will be more than sufficient for most. The automatic gearbox is also reasonably good. Manual intervention is possible and the box feels pretty responsive at most speeds. Refinement, however, isn’t great. The motor gets a bit gravelly when pushed past 3500rpm, and then there’s no need to guess what fuel the car runs on.
Sat on taller springs with more suspension travel, you’d also expect the V40 Cross Country to roll around a bit and feel a touch sloppy from behind the wheel. This isn’t the case. Body roll is well contained and the Cross Country really enjoys being cornered. Straight-line stability is really good, with the big hatch tracking dead straight at speeds in excess of 150kph with no need for correction on the wheel. It feels planted and relaxed in long corners too. There is a hint of body roll on tighter bends before the V40 settles down, but then you can push really hard and enjoy the corner. What makes punting the Volvo around corners even more enjoyable are the brakes and the steering. The former have loads of stopping power and a good amount of feel and this allows you to brake late with plenty of confidence. In addition, the accurate electric power steering is adequately feelsome. Centre feel is poor, but turn the wheel and steering weight and responses are much improved.
The sharp handling, however, does have its downside. Ride quality is good and the suspension is reasonably pliant and absorbent, but on sharper-edged craters, that layer of underlying stiffness in the suspension can be felt. Despite this, the suspension remains very comfortable, and because the ride is flat, the Cross Country encourages you to drive over broken sections without slowing down – a mini-luxury in itself.
The Volvo V40 Cross Country isn’t for everyone. It doesn’t have the butch appeal of SUVs and the two-wheel drive version isn’t very useful off-road either. But it’s not a regular car either. Its design is different from most of its contemporaries and that is what helps it stand out. Moreover, its comfortable on the inside, is packed to the gills with features and is great fun to drive with strong, good performance. And of course, being a Volvo, safety levels are up there. Expected to cost upwards of Rs 25 lakh when it is launched around Diwali, here is a luxury car that will be bought more from the heart than anything else.
The Volvo V40 Cross Country isn’t for everyone. It doesn’t have the butch appeal of SUVs and the two-wheel drive version isn’t very useful off-road either. But it’s not a regular car either. Its design is different from most of its contemporaries and that is what helps it stand out. Moreover, its comfortable on the inside, is packed to the gills with features and is great fun to drive with strong, good performance. And of course, being a Volvo, safety levels are up there. Expected to cost upwards of Rs 25 lakh when it is launched around Diwali, here is a luxury car that will be bought more from the heart than anything else.
Source : http://www.autocarindia.com/Review/340342,volvo-v40-cross-country-review-test-drive-and-video.aspx/1
Toyota Etios Liva:It’s all about attention. And the new Liva is designed to never go unnoticed. Swanky new interiors. A bold new look. Unmistakably trendy. The Liva will earn you a brand new string of admirers. Take it for a spin, you’ll see.
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#As certified by Test Agency under rule 115 of CMRV, 1989 under standard test condition. Actual mileage on road may vary
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Source : http://www.toyotabharat.com/cars/new_cars/in_liva/index.aspx
Honda Amaze review
All-new 1.5-litre 98.6bhp diesel motor in Honda’s first compact saloon, Amaze, claims a record fuel efficiency of 25.8 kpl.
With the Amaze, Honda embarks on a landmark innings in India. This is the company’s first compact saloon and first diesel car rolled into one and it has enormous potential here. The Japanese carmaker has a lot riding on the Amaze and it could very well catapult Honda to the pinnacle of the entry-level saloon segment. So, have they managed to get it right?
Based on the successful Brio hatchback, the new Amaze is almost specifically targeted at India. Its sub-four-metre length and options of a less than 1200cc petrol motor and less than 1500c diesel engine go towards ensuring that Honda can avail of the excise (tax on manufacturing) sops for small cars and make it affordable for the value-conscious Indian buyer.
What sets this car apart from other sub-four metre saloons is the cohesiveness of the design. Unlike the Maruti Dzire, which is the best seller in this class, the Amaze does not look severely truncated or chopped from the rear. The lines of the car flow smoothly over the Brio’s nose, onto the elongated roof and down over what is a very traditional looking boot. The reason it doesn’t look like an afterthought is because it isn’t one. Honda planned this Brio-based saloon from day one. In fact it looks positively attractive, with the two slashes across the side of the car and the nicely styled tail-lights. What allows the Amaze to keep this regular saloon profile is the fact that, unlike the Swift Dzire, it has a very short and compact nose.
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