THE UK SPEC HYUNDAI I20 FLUIDIC BLUEDRIVE HATCHBACK WITH THE 1.1 LITER DIESEL ENGINE DELIVERS A WHOPPING 37 KMPL

In India, the title of the most fuel efficient car belongs to the Chevrolet Beat Diesel, which proudly proclaims a fuel economy number of a stunning 25.44 Kmpl, which also happens to be ARAI certified. If that’s a really frugal car, wait until you hear this. South Korean automaker Hyundai claims a scintillating 37 Kmpl for the 2012 i20 Fluidic hatchback and this mileage is what the UK spec model outfitted with the brand new, 3 cylinder, 1.1 Liter common rail turbo diesel engine is touted to deliver. Now, that is a very high fuel economy number, thanks in good measure to the three cylinder engine.

World over, three cylinder engines have been delivering high fuel economy numbers and this 1.1 Liter U-II diesel engine from Hyundai seems to be no exception. The 1.1 Liter CRDI engine produces a peak power of 74 Bhp and a peak torque of 152 Nm. The engine comes with a variable geometry turbocharger, which is something that is usually not seen in such a small diesel engine, as fixed geometry turbochargers are usually the norm in the smaller capacity diesels.  The engine also features a balancer shaft to keep the vibes, that are inherent to three cylinder engines, in check.

This first iteration of this engine was first used in the likes of the Hyundai i10 and the Kia Picanto hatchback making the i20 Fluidic the third car to be powered by it. Apart from the high economy figure, this engine is also known for its low CO2 emission number mark of 88 grams/Km. A start-stop system and low rolling resistance tyres are other factors contributing to this engine’s terrific economy numbers. Considering that the 1.1 Liter diesel engine’s power and torque could still be a decent bet for the i20 in the Indian market, should Hyundai India launch this engine on the Indian version of the i20 Fluidic?Also, Hyundai is building a diesel engine plant at its Sriperumbudur unit. This plant is expected to churn out three engines, the 1.1 liter, the 1.4 Liter and the 1.6 Liter diesel units. So, this engine could be produced in India in the times to come. It is expected to provide the i10 hatchback with the long missing diesel engine option. With only the petrol engine under the hood, the i10 does excellent numbers with monthly sales averaging 10,000 units consistently. So, one can only imagine how good the sales of the i10 would be if Hyundai plonks in the 1.1 Liter U-II CRDI diesel engine.

THIS IS HOW THE 2013 FIAT 500L MPV 7 SEATER COULD LOOK LIKE

It’s been the week of leaks. From the new TVS Apache to the Lamborghini Urus SUV concept, the leaks are just happening, left, right and center. Now we’ve gotten hold of the possible looks of the Fiat 500 L MPV, which can seat seven and is scheduled to debut sometime in 2013. Fiat just launched the 500 L hatchback, which is a grown up version of the cutesy cute Fiat 500. The 500L is based on a modified Fiat Punto platform and was designed primarily to offer more space and practicality while retaining the appeal of the 500 marquee, to compete with the BMW owned Mini range of hatchbacks.

The Fiat 500 L based 7 seater MPV is another move in this direction to make the Fiat 500 brand franchise more appealing to a wider range of customers. The Mini range of hatchbacks have been a raging success across the world and Fiat wants a share of this market as the 500 too is an iconic brand. However, unlike the Mini, the 500 L looks quite disjointed from the original Fiat 500 hatchback, and this  might prove to be a stumbling block for the brand, as it was the original Fiat 500′s compact proportions and cutesy looks that has elevated this car to its iconic status.

Now, coming to the 7 seater Fiat 500L MPV, this car appears to be a stretched wheelbase version of the Fiat 500L. Other details are unavailable at the moment although we reckon that the MPV could have a 2+3+2 seating layout to accommodate the 7 adults it promises to. Amongst the engine options, Fiat might plonk it its latest petrol Multiair engines with turbocharging to accompany as the MPV might require some more shove than the hatchback, considering that it will be heavier and will have to lug around two more people. Fiat does have a range of Multijet diesel engines and one of these could also make it to the MPV.

This is one car that could perhaps make sense for Fiat India to launch in the Indian market. We’ve been seeing a slew of MPV launches. Fiat does suffer from the lack of a varied product portfolio and in that circumstance, the 500 L MPV could be a high volume product that makes a lot of sense for India. Given that the 500 range is now focused on practicality rather than icon status, this product could also be priced competitively. What say, Fiat India?

HERE ARE MORE IMAGES AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE FACELIFTED NEW 2012 TVS APACHE RTR160 MOTORCYCLE

Imitation is the best form of flattery. Well, let’s begin with a little back story. When the TVS Apache was first launched sometime in 2007, the motorcycle was a response to the likes of the Bajaj Pulsar 150 and the Hero Honda CBZ. The Apache was a track honed machine whose forte was an aggressive riding position, good handling and a responsive engine. However, the motorcycle never really took off amidst the growing competition which introduced timely updates. Finally, TVS Motors seems to have decided to refresh the Apache in the form of a style makeover, the only downside being the fact that the Apache now looks strikingly similar to the Bajaj Pulsar family.

The headlamp fairing, especially when viewed from head on, gives one the impression of a Bajaj Pulsar variant rather than a TVS Apache variant. Oh, and we also can’t help but point out that TVS  still seems to be hungover with its erstwhile partner Suzuki, given that the new Apache’s headlamp shows a striking resemblance to te Suzuki GS150R.  While the enthusiast crowd may be bemoaning the lack of any real innovation here, this motorcycle from TVS could still sell well. Remember, Hero MotoCorp has been the tremendous success it is on the back of paint and sticker jobs, all around a single 97.2cc four stroke horizontally inclined engine.

So, by that analogy, the facelifted 2012 TVS Apache could still sell well, but the only difference being that, unlike Hero MotoCorp’s economuter, the performance motorcycle enthusiast in India clearly wants more bang for the buck, given the multitude of offerings vying for attention at the marketplace. The engine of the RTR160 remains bog similar with no increase in either power or torque. Expect the same to be the case with the 180cc model as well.  While the hustings will decide the fate of the new TVS Apache RTR160 and RTR180, both of which get identical styling makeovers, we’ll round up what’s new on both these motorcycles,

* New headlamp with pilot lamps and front fairing

* Faux carbon fiber insert on the fuel tank

* New fuel tank scoops/faux air intakes

* New graphics

* Faux carbon fiber insert around the instrumentation console

* Redesigned seat

* New all-metal footpegs for the pillion

* New pillion footpeg mounts

* Redesigned side panels

* New crash guard design

* Redesigned seat

* New rear mudguard

* Redesigned saree guard

Evoque Victoria Beckham edition revealed

Production limited to only 200 units, this special edition Evoque gets lots of unique interior and exterior bits.

The long-awaited Victoria Beckham-designed Range Rover Evoque has been revealed at the Beijing motor show. Just 200 units will be produced.

When the Evoque was first previewed in London in summer 2010, it was announced that Beckham had joined the Land Rover design team and would work with design chief Gerry McGovern on an exclusive special edition version of the Evoque.

Speaking in Beijing, McGovern told Autocar: "We chose to work with Victoria Beckham because she has credibility in a fashion design world. She specifically wanted the car to be masculine - something that David would drive. Both women and men like masculine cars."

Beckham said she looked at yachts, luxury jets, classic cars, movies, personalisation and fashion in creating her Evoque. “I want everyone who gets into this car to feel special and empowered by its quality and craftsmanship,” she said. “I like that it feel luxurious but also has quite a classic edge to it as well as a contemporary feel.”

The luxurious special will be built on the regular Evoque production line in Halewood, and then handed over to Land Rover’s special ‘Engineering to Order’ division to give it an exclusive makeover.

It is based on the three-door and comes with the range-topping 237bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, a six-speed auto’ gearbox and all-wheel drive.

Most striking externally is its hand-finished matt black paintwork and gloss black paint for the detailing. The 20in alloys are also in gloss black and feature rose gold accents. Rose gold is also used for the grille and badge surrounds.
The luxurious interior boasts tan semi-aniline leather seats that are hand stitched. Rose gold features again for interior accents, while other trim is finished in black lacquers and veneers, textured aluminium and soft-feel black paint.
Each of the 200 units, the first of which will go to Chinese customers, comes with a bespoke four-piece luggage set and a hand-sewn leather wallet for the manual that’s signed by Beckham herself.
John Edwards, Land Rover global brand director, said that the opportunity was in place to work with Beckham again if the collaboration was a success.
"It's an open-ended relationship with Victoria," said Edwards. "We'll both see how the last 12 months has worked for everyone and go from there. There are no plans for any other Beckham edition models yet."

Ford EcoSport production version revealed

Production-ready version sticks to the original concept styling sans minor changes.

Here are the first pictures of the production version of of Ford’s all new global vehicle, the EcoSport. As seen from the pictures, the EcoSport sticks to its concept body-style but now gets conventional headlamps and taillamps. Ford will showcase the EcoSport at the Beijing Auto Show.

The EcoSport is the latest ‘One Ford’ global product, a vehicle designed to help expand Ford's footprint in the world's fastest-growing auto markets, including India. It will be the second of eight products Ford plans to bring to India by mid-decade for which the company will invest US$ 2 billion in the development and production of the new vehicles.

Known internally as the B515, this next-generation EcoSport is built on Ford’s award-winning global compact car platform (B2E) developed with Mazda, which majors on weight saving and torsional rigidity though the EcoSport shares plenty of bits with the new Fiesta saloon under the skin.

What is plainly clear is that the design definitely has SUV written all over it. The five-door EcoSport gets chunky, technical styling, and a very space-efficient interior. A large trapezoidal front grille dominates the front end, while the front headlights are slimmer and more technical than on the Fiesta.

The lower front bumper and side sills get cladding, while there are also muscular wheel arches and a fixed spare wheel at the back to further emphasise its off-road intentions. The roof gets chrome rails and the rear side windows have the familiar Ford upwards kink in the window line.
Ford will debut a new 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, direct-injection turbo-petrol motor in the EcoSport – a world debut – that will be capable of developing power similar to a bigger, 1.6-litre motor. It will also deliver class-leading fuel economy. The car will also get the 1.5-litre diesel engine that currently does duty in the Fiesta.
The EcoSport, which cleverly combines the charm of an SUV, the frugality of small engines, cutting-edge styling and a very affordable price tag somewhere in the region of Rs 7-9 lakh, has the makings of a winner. At that price, it will provide a genuine alternative to a midsize car or even a premium hatchback.
The EcoSport’s main competitors will include the upcoming Renault Duster, Maruti’s production version of the XA-Alpha SUV, and compact SUVs from Volkswagen and Skoda which will be unveiled in future.

Lamborghini Urus SUV revealed

Lamborghin's all-new SUV "Urus" finally breaks cover, will be showcased at the Beijing Motor Show.

 

These are the first pictures of Lamborghini’s Super SUV concept, the Urus, soon to be shown at the Beijing Motor Show. The model is the spiritual successor to the LM002 4x4 from 1986, but unlike that model, Lamborghini is aiming for it to become a mainstream rival for the forthcoming large Bentley SUV, the Falcon.

No detail technical information has been released, but the Urus SUV is likely to be powered by a 600bhp motor sitting in the nose. The chassis may be shared with the Audi’s variable large car four wheel drive platform, the MLB, and the four wheel drive system is likely to make heavy use of torque vectoring.

The name Urus come from a very large and powerful wild bull that was common in central Asia and Europe in the middle ages, and Lamborghini promise the Urus will set a new performance benchmark for SUVs. As Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini says "The Urus is the most extreme interpretation of the SUV idea"

The car will be built using carbon fiber technology so that weight is kept down and Lamborghini hopes the Urus can be used by households as the primary car. With a length of 4,99 meters, and a height of just 1,66 meters, it is not very large or very tall, but that shouldn’t matter in the least. The design is stunning. A typically Lamborghini nose mounted high, razor sharp lines similar to those on the Aventador, typically Lambo wheel arches first seen on the Countach and massive haunches make this car an eyeball magnet. Also stunning, the all-new 24-inch wheels which are forged from matte-finish aluminum.
The Urus will also use innovative and adaptive aerodynamics.  Both variable ride height and a height-adjustable front spoiler will be used to make the SUV scythe through the air and the aero balance of the Lamborghini Urus can even be adjusted to suit the prevailing driving conditions.
Trust Lamborghini to push the boundaries of what an SUV is and what it can do. The production car should be a new high.

Audi RS Q3 concept revealed

335bhp SUV concept at Beijing motor show; powered by Audi TT RS's turbo five-pot engine

The Audi Q3 RS shows Audi "exploring the potential" of a high-performance SUV. It will be unveiled at next week's Beijing motor show.

The concept is the first time Audi’s RS skunkworks has developed anything other than a conventional hatchback, saloon or estate. Mercedes’ AMG performance arm has long been producing high-performance SUVs, while BMW M’s controversial X5 M and X6 M models have proved to be a commercial success.

The RS Q3 concept uses a highly tuned version of the 2.5-litre five-cylinder found in the Audi RS3 and TT-RS. Power is increased in the turbocharged TFSI unit by 20bhp to 355bhp. An increase in torque over the 332lb ft produced in standard form has not been confirmed.

The result of the extra power is a 0-100kph time of just 5.2sec and the ability to reach a 265kph top speed. Drive is channeled through all four wheels using a seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission. The concept features Quattro permanent all-wheel drive

The RS Q3 concept has also undergone a series of chassis and styling changes over its more humble siblings. The RS Q3 has been lowered by 25mm, and sports suspension has been fitted.
Externally, the RS Q3 is distinguished by its muscular RS styling kit. At the front, there’s a new 3D-effect black honeycomb grille, tinted headlights, a redesigned front bumper with sculpted air intakes, and a spoiler made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastics (CFPR).
Flared side skirts and wheel arches give the RS Q3 a wider stance, while a long rear spoiler gives the RS Q3 a purposeful profile. At the rear, there’s a new bumper with diffuser insert, plus two large tailpipes. The concept is finished in striking Ordos Blue paintwork.
The blue and black-themed interior has also undergone a makeover compared to standard Q3s. Black Nappa leather seats get contrasting blue Alcantara stitching, while blue is also used for CFPR and Alcantara trim panels.
As a nod to its Chinese launch, Chinese characters are used on the tachometer.

Audi Q5 facelift images leaked

Q5 all-set to get a mid-cycle refresh

The first pictures of the facelifted Audi Q5 have leaked onto the internet, ahead of the car's official reveal at the Beijing motor show tomorrow.

 

Visual changes evident from the pictures include lightly revised bumpers, grille, headlamp graphics and tailpipes. At the Le Mans 24-hour race in June, Audi plans to lift the veil on a new SQ5 model running the 309bhp twin-turbocharged 3.0 V6 TDI. 

TVS RTR upgrade near ready

Next gen RTR sportsbike to launch shortly. To sport more contemporary and revised styling,

the Hosur-based TVS Motor company is about to launch its new Apache RTR sportsbike. The Apache RTR has always been a popular choice of sportsbike for Indian enthusiasts, and with good reason. Born from the solid foundation of TVS’s racing heritage, the affordable RTR’s, 160 and the flagship 180 represent the best of both worlds, engineered to be relaxed enough to ride daily in crowded Indian traffic, while still providing riders all the thrills of exciting performance and sharp-edged, sportsbike handling. The RTR 180 remains one of the few Indian motorcycles that come equipped with ABS.  

The Apache RTR’s are easily the best looking TVS motorcycles, and this is about to be taken to the next level. Expect the upcoming RTR to sport more contemporary, revised styling, with a new headlight fairing and new decals, while retaining all its sought after value-for-money features including heady performance, with good handling and adequate comfort. The new RTR is set to enter TVS showrooms around the country shortly, but don’t expect much more than is already offered in terms of engine capacity, performance or handling. 

Audi buys Ducati for 1.12 billion USD

Ducati will now become the 11th brand in Volkswagen’s portfolio

German luxury carmaker, Audi, has agreed to buy Italian bikemaker, Ducati, for a sum of 1.12 billion USD. Audi will also inherit all of Ducati’s current financial liabilities.

Volkswagen-owned Audi were earlier negotiating with Ducati owner Investindustrial to buy-out the Italian exotic bike maker, but it has now culminated to a deal. The marriage of the two automotive giants fits well with Audi’s ambitious ‘Project Eagle,’ aimed at elevating VW to becoming the world’s largest auto manufacturer.

Earlier, Andrea Bonomi, Investindustrial head had stated that Ducati was looking for a world-class industrial partner for its future growth and wanted to sell the iconic brand for one billion Euros.

The purchase will make Ducati the 11^th brand in VW’s portfolio. Ducati sold 42,000 motorcycles through 2011 and commands a nine percent share in its segment. The company has been making all the right moves over the past few years, launching segment-leading motorcycles like its versatile Multistrada 1200, the Diavel power-cruiser and 1199 Panigale race replica

                              The all new Honda City 

for more details visithttp://www.hondacarindia.com/City/index.html

WAITING PERIODS OF VERNA FLUIDIC AND I20 DIESEL CARS TO GO DOWN AS HYUNDAI INDIA CRANKS UP PRODUCTION

The Verna Fluidic sedan has been a runaway hit for Hyundai India, so much so that the car maker is struggling to meet demand in India wit waiting periods for the diesel engined model stretching to over 6 months in many cases. With competition from the likes of the Sunny diesel sedan and the Skoda Rapid rising, Hyundai India cannot afford the long waiting periods as customers might simply switch to cars with lesser waiting periods. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, Hyundai India is aggressively ramping up capacity at its Sriperumbudur plant, off Chennai.

The car maker can now produce 10,500 units of the Verna diesel and i20 diesel cars every month, which is up from the current 7,000 units. This increase in capacity by 33% means that the waiting periods for both the Verna Fluidic and the i20 Fluidic will go down in the coming months, bringing much respite to prospective buyers. Getting a handle on the waiting periods  of the 2012 i20 Fluidic is particularly important for Hyundai India as many potential new Swift diesel buyers might switch to the i20 Fluidic if in case the waiting period is low. Currently, the biggest downside of the new Swift diesel is the 6 months long waiting period.

Hyundai has recently launched the i20 Fluidic hatchback in India, with a frenzy of variants, designed to appeal to a wide spectrum of customers with a wide spectrum of price points. The facelifted model comes with a host of new features along with a refreshed exterior to bring the car up to times with the competition. Similarly, with the Verna Fluidic too, Hyundai followed a variant heavy approach, which has stood the car maker in good stead as the c-segment sedan raced to the top of the sales charts within months of its launch in the Indian car market.

The Verna Fluidic is available with four engine options, a 1.4 liter petrol engine, a 1.6 liter petrol engine, a 1.4 liter diesel engine and a 1.6 liter diesel engine. While the 1.4 liter and 1.6 liter petrol engines are mated to a five speed gearbox, the 1.4 liter diesel engine comes with a 6 speed gearbox and so does the 1.6 liter diesel engine. Also, the top end petrol and diesel engines feature a 4 speed automatic gearbox as optional. In case of the i20 Fluidic, the car offers three engines, two petrol and one diesel. The 1.2 Liter petrol engine is the base variant and is paired to a 5 speed gearbox. The 1.4 liter engine is mated to a 5 speed gearbox with a 4 speed automatic gearbox as an option. The diesel engine gets the 6 speed manual gearbox as standard.

2012 MARUTI SUZUKI SWIFT ALPHA EDITION PETROL MODEL LAUNCHED IN INDIA

Sales of petrol cars are nothing to write home about except in the entry level segment where the likes of the Alto, Nano and Eon continue to do brisk business. In almost every other segment, where there is a choice of a diesel engine option, car buyers are simply jumping on to the diesel bandwagon. One such model is the super popular new Maruti Suzuki Swift hatchback, which is a big seller for the Indian car maker. However, Swift buyers are showing a steep tilt towards the diesel engined model with petrol engined Swifts only making for 20% of the sales.

This means that Maruti is lining up every trick in the book to entice car buyers into buying the petrol engined models. Apart from lining up attractive discounts on most of its petrol cars to the latest move of pricing the Ertiga’s petrol variants super competitively, the country’s largest car maker is going a step ahead to woo petrol car buyers. This time around, the new Swift is the latest petrol car from Maruti Suzuki to get a host of goodies, at no extra price. Maruti has launched a new Swift variant called the Alpha Edition, which is available only for the VXi mid variant of the hatchback.

The good thing about this car is that Maruti hasn’t bumped up prices for the extra features, ostensibly to ensure that the model is attractive enough for petrol buyers. While Maruti calls the Swift Alpha petrol a “special edition” it remains unknown whether the car maker will make limited quantities of the car. Meanwhile, here’s what the Maruti Swift Alpha edition packs in in terms of extra equipment,

With Maruti having kickstarted the trend of offering more features on a petrol ca without hiking prices, the competition might take cue of this and might be lining up loaded petrol car variants in the coming months. However, it remains to be seen whether this strategy brings in the desired results as petrol cars still suffer the handicap of higher running costs due to the wide difference between petrol and diesel fuel prices. So, it might take more than just additional features to offset the big advantage that diesel engine cars have.

COME 2014, HERO MOTOCORP COULD LAUNCH AN INDEPENDENTLY DEVELOPED 250CC PREMIUM SPORTS MOTORCYCLE

Currently, Hero MotoCorp has two premium sports motorcycle offerings, in the form of the Hero Karizma ZMA-R and the Karizma ZMR. Both motorcycles use the 223cc air/oil cooled engine, that erstwhile partner Honda, supplied Hero with. While these motorcycles are high quality mile munchers, they’re still slow sellers compared to archrival Bajaj Auto’s Pulsar range. With Honda coming up with the CBR250R and Bajaj unveiling the KTM Duke 200, the time is ripe for Hero MotoCorp to launch another attack on the 200cc+ segment, a segment where it is losing market and mindshare rapidly.

For this very purpose, Hero MotoCorp has began development of the 250cc motorcycle that it will pit against the likes of the CBR250R and the KTM Duke 200. However, it will not be until 2014 when this motorcycle will be launched in the Indian market, and that is a good two years away. While there has been some talk about Hero using the 250cc short stroke four stroke engine from the Honda CBR250R, it now seems that Hero MotoCorp wants to develop the new 250cc motorcycle by its own, with assistance from perhaps its new technical partner, Erik Buell Racing, and Austrian engineering design firm AVL.

However, we wouldn’t be too surprised of Hero buys the technology packed 250cc liquid cooled engine from Honda, as it has been doing all along, by paying a royalty to the Japanese firm. Honda, on the other hand, plans to go on an all out offensive in the Indian commuter motorcycle market, a market that it intends to take leadership of, by 2020. Apart from a rural India focused ad campaign to make the Honda brand percolate the Indian hinterland, Honda is readying up for the launch of its high volume commuter motorcycle, the 2012 Dream Yuga 110, in May this year.

Coming back to the Indian premium sports motorcycle segment, this segment is witnessing big growth as more and more young Indians are having higher disposable incomes to splurge on high performance motorcycles that are affordable too. Bajaj, one of the first movers in this segment, will launch the Pulsar 200 NS in the next few weeks and this tech packed motorcycle is expected to deliver big volumes. Also, KTM plans to expand its offerings in 2013, with a 350cc motorcycle even as Yamaha and TVS Motors are also long due for launches in the 200cc+ market. Hero MotoCorp will have a tough task cut out, especially with so many global competitors vying for the fast growing pie.