BMW rolls out the locally assembled 2014 X5 from its Chennai plant

BMW India has rolled out the locally assembled X5 from Chennai. This is the third generation of the SUV that was launched on May 29 in the presence of legendary cricketer and brand Ambassador for BMW, Sachin Tendulkar.

This new BMW X5 gets changes to both exteriors and interiors. The car gets a tall upright stance adding to its sporty character and the fascia shows the traditional BMW kidney grille which is broader than the outgoing model. The vehicle features new headlamps with LED inserts and revised two piece tail lights.

The overall dimensions of the car have changed than its predecessor, making it

1. 1938mm wide(5mm wider)
2. 4,886mm long (32mm longer) 
3. 1762mm high (14mm taller). 
4. Wheelbase is 2933mm.
5. Boot space of 650 litres.

Inside, the automaker has given a wooden treatment around the dash, door pads and the gear lever. The instrument panel gets four round gauges and the cabin features a freestanding 10.5-inch iDrive control display monitor. The other standard features include self-leveling rear suspension, electronic damper control, four-zone climate control and cruise control with braking function, etc. Another highlight in this X5 model is that it gets lane departure warning, road sign information, head-up display, night vision with human and animal detection, 360 degree surround view parking assistance and collision warning.

The new generation BMW X5 is powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine producing 258bhp of power and 560Nm of torque. This mill comes mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and the power is sent to all the wheels. The car does the 0 to 100kmph run in just 6.9seconds and reaches a top speed of 230kmph.

The car was first unveiled at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo and was launched at price of Rs 70.90 lakh last month. The deliveries for the BMW X5 will begin by the end of this month. The waiting period for the car may extend to three months, and to meet the growing demand the manufacturer might step up the production.

All the specs of BMW X5 are here

2015 Hyundai Solaris (Verna) unveiled.

The 2015 Hyundai Verna has been launched in Russia at 4.73 lakh Rubles (Rs 8.26 lakh). Sold under the ‘Solaris’ moniker in Russia, the facelift adopts the Fluidic version 2.0 design philosophy, making it closely resemble its elder brother, the Sonata.

The new Verna is a facelift of the current car and gets some prominent cosmetic changes influenced by the 'Verna RB concept'. The Russia-spec Verna is very similar to the Hyundai Rena, which is sold in China, though the front grille gets two chrome slats and the headlamp design has also been altered. The lower bumper has also been redesigned and gets a different design for the fog lamps. The rear gets new tail lamps with LED lights and a reflector on the lower bumper.

The interiors of the new Verna have remained almost same, though it now gets an all-black centre console and cabin. Safety features include six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) and ABS with EBD.

The Verna is currently offered with four engine options and we expect the same to be retained for the facelift. Both the petrol and diesel-powered variants are offered with either a 1.4-litre or a 1.6-litre unit. While the petrol variants come with a five-speed manual gearbox, the diesel variants come with a six-speed manual gearbox. A four-speed automatic gearbox is also available in some high-end variants.

The current second-generation Verna was launched back in May 2011 and is one of the Korean manufacturer’s best-selling cars in India. Hyundai recently updated the car with redesigned alloy wheels, projector headlamps and daytime running lamps, though the threat from the new Honda City, Sunny facelift and the Fiesta facelift is too big to be ignored. While the sales numbers have remained pretty consistent over the past few months, the City has shown that there is a lot of untapped potential in this segment. We can expect the facelift to be launched by the end of this year.

2014 Ford Fiesta launched starting at Rs 7.69 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

Model Available: 

1.5 TDCi Diesel Ambiente
1.5 TDCi Diesel Trend
1.5 TDCi Diesel Titanium

Colors Available:

Panther Black

Diamond White

Golden Bronze

Smoke Grey

Paprika Red

Moondust Silver

Ford has launched the 2014 Fiesta today for a price tag starting Rs 7.69 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The good-looking sedan will be available in three variants namely 1.5 TDCi Diesel Ambiente, 1.5 TDCi Diesel Trend, 1.5 TDCi Diesel Titaniumand with a single engine option of  1.5 TDCi Diesel with some changes.

The new Fiesta gets Ford’s new trapezoidal front grille and wraparound headlamps. The bonnet gets a power-dome hood design that looks impressive. The tail lamps get more detailed to be in sync with the stylish front end. Inside the Fiesta gets an in-car entertainment system inspired by the logic of the modern mobile phone. The interface is easy to use and have been placed for optimal ergonomic positioning.
The sedan retains the 1.5-litre Duratorq TDCI diesel engine. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

‘‘The Fiesta has a very special role in Ford India’s product portfolio and is for the pure driving enthusiasts who are known for their distinct choices and opt for nothing but the best,’’ said, Nigel Harris, President, Ford India.

“2014 Fiesta, with its best-in-class driving dynamics, design and in-car technology, is a complete package that delivers much more than the expectations of customers in this segment. What’s better is its attractive price, making our premium sedan an even more compelling option for discerning enthusiasts,” he added.

Tata might be Working on turbocharged petrol engine for Nano.

Tata Motors not giving up on the Nano yet, the sales of the Nano might be flagging, but the company intends to change that. According to a source the Indian car major is working on a turbocharged version of the Nano. The interesting bit is that the turbocharged Nano might make it to markets this year during the festive season.

The turbocharged Nano project could be a strategy by Tata Motors to re-position the Nano as a ‘smart city car’ from the current ‘cheap car’ image it has been tagged with. Along with this the company is also rumoured to be working on an electric variant of the Nano to be called the Nano ‘e-rev’.

A company spokesperson said “Tata Motors is constantly working on upgrades, new variants, and new projects. We continue to look at new and refreshed products to be launched across various segments and, of course, test these vehicles and the same is applicable to the Nano.”

The source adds, “While we have high degree of technology-readiness and the programme offers several competitive strengths, it is difficult to predict the exact timeframe needed to create the right ecosystem for this to be a market-viable project.”

While Tata may wait for favourable policies for the electric and hybrid vehicles before it launched the Nano ‘e-rev’. We can expect the turbocharged vehicle facing not too many delays before it’s available in the showrooms. These are still early days to predict the cubic capacity of the engine or the number of cylinders the turbocharged Nano will use, all we can say is – it will be huge improvement in performance over the current model. The Nano is also the cheapest rear-wheel-drive car on sale in India today.

Source

Mercedes-Benz relaeses CLS Facelift 2015 Snaps online

Mercedes-Benz has released a batch of images of the upcoming CLS facelift. The images preview the front fascia with the new grille and the Active Multibeam LED headlamps of the new car in its full glory.

The multibeam units enable high-precision adjustment of the car’s headlamp beam depending upon the speed as well as road conditions. The headlamps are made of special modules with 24 individually controlled LEDs which automatically illuminate a road by distributing the beam optimally. The beams are also controlled to mask the main beam to avoid blinding the drivers in the oncoming traffic. A camera has been placed behind the windscreen which processes data through four control units. These control units adjust the light pattern 100 times per second, delivering perfect lighting.

Internally called C218, the new CLS gets minor cosmetic updates to the exterior like a revised front grille and front and rear skirts. Interiors will also be revised with new upholstery options, a new steering wheel and a free-standing screen in the centre console, just like in the A-Class and B-Class. It will also get the latest version of Mercedes’ COMAND Online system with NTG 5.0 version.

The CLS is offered in India in a single variant - the CLS 350. This car is powered by 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine churning out 306bhp and 370Nm of torque. The engine will send power to the rear wheels through a new 9G TRONIC gearbox.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS is pitted against other four-door coupes like the Audi A7 and BMW 6 Series. While sales of this segment have been steadily increasing in some foreign markets, the trend hasn’t really caught up in India yet. The CLS is imported as a CBU and due to the high price, has to compete with other more practical luxury saloons like the BMW 7 Series and Audi A8L. The CLS facelift will be launched in India a few months after its European launch.

2015 Land Rover Discovery officially announced

Land Rover has officially took off covers from the 2015 Discovery. Though the car remains cosmetically identical to the previous model, the car gets many features from the XXV Special edition as well as two new base variants. Deliveries of the 2015 model will commence in UK from September and the car is expected to hit our shores by the end of this year.

The XXV Special edition was launched earlier this year to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Discovery. The 2015 model gets many standard features from this edition like satellite navigation, media streaming, cruise control, front fog lamps, automatic headlamps, xenon headlamps with LED DRLs. The interior has been spruced up with black lacquer wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The HSE variant gets 20-inch alloys wheels instead of the 10-inch ones.

The 2015 Discovery is equipped with Land Rover’s new InControl Apps system, which is compatible with iPhones and Android phones and works with the Discovery’s existing infotainment system. The InControl Apps can display and control your cellphone’s apps with the car's touch screen and allows you to sync the cellphone to display the contacts, calendar and play music.

Speaking about the new model, Phil Popham, Jaguar Land Rover Group marketing director said, “To mark 25 years of Discovery, Land Rover offered more premium luxury in the form of the XXV Special Edition. Striking attributes from this anniversary derivative are now being made available across the range for our customers to bring that level of heightened luxury into their Discovery of choice.”

This 2015 model seems to be an attempt by Land Rover to keep the sales of the Discovery going till the new line-up is introduced next year. Many things in the Land Rover line-up are going to change as the British manufacturer is gearing up to completely rejig its portfolio in the coming years.

For the Indian market, the 2015 Discovery will continue to be powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine producing 245bhp and 600Nm of torque. The engine sends power to all four wheels through a six-speed gearbox. It competes with the only other seven-seater SUV in the price range, the Toyota Land Cruiser.

The 2015 Discovery will be available with three new colour schemes- aruba, kaikora stone and montalcino red. In the UK, the two revised base variants, the SE and SE Tech, are priced at GBP 41,595 (Rs 42.5 lakh) and GBP 47,495 (Rs 48.5 lakh) respectively. Like the previous models, the 2015 Discovery will be imported for the Indian market as a completely-built-unit (CBU).

Honda's MVP Mobilio is expected to Launch in July 2014

Honda Mobilio

Expected Launch: July 2014
Expected Price: 6.50 - 9 lacs
Availability - Diesel and Petrol

The Brio platform is one of Honda’s major developments for the Asian markets. The platform can be currently seen in Brio hatchback and the Amaze sedan, while a third model is expected to be launched in India this July. This all-new car is called the Honda Mobilio and is a seven-seater MVP that will compete with Maruti Suzuki's Ertiga.

The Honda Mobilio MPV (codenamed 2NH) is 4.4-metres long (wheelbase of 2.6-metres) and has a ground clearance of 185mm. It may appear like a stretched out version of the Brio but much like Amaze, it looks like it has been designed from the ground up to be an MPV. The Mobilio is a budget MUV, and so it shares a lot of components with the other Honda cars that would help it achieve a very competitive pricing. Despite this budget tag, the Mobilio looks and feels premium car with a trendy design and the Honda badge at the front.

The interiors of the new car are similar to that of the other Honda cars with beige being the predominant colour. The front two rows will certainly be spacious with a foldable third-row that can either accommodate children or make way for extra luggage.

The music system will be similar to that of the City sedan and it will have to be seen whether the touch screen AC panel will be fitted on the higher trims. The safety features will be up to the mark – ABS-EBD will be standard on all except the base variant and, at least the top two variants will get front airbags.

The Mobilio is have two variants

1. Diesel - Will be powered by the new 1.5-litre turbocharged Earth Dreams diesel engine churning out 100bhp and 205Nm
2. Petrol - Will get the 1.5-litre i-VTEC unit putting out 117bhp and 145Nm of torque.

The Honda Mobilio has reached production stage and the MVP is expected to reach the showrooms by July end. Honda will target the Ertiga with the new car, so expect a starting price of around Rs 6.25 lakh for the petrol base variant, the top-end diesel on the other hand should carry a price tag of around Rs 9 lakh. Honda showcased the Mobilio in 2014 Auto Expo. Once launched, the Mobilio will also compete with the Chevrolet Enjoy and Mahindra Quanto.

BMW 7 Series High Security launched in India

BMW has launched its 7 Series with High Security. This Version of 7 series i.e 760Li is certified with international standard guideline BRV 2009 and meets the requirements of ballistic protection and optimum safety.

Philipp von Sahr, president, BMW Group India said, "The BMW 760Li High Security provides optimum safety in the individual mobility segment in combination with unparalleled comfort of travel, superior drive technology and an abundance of innovative equipment features to guarantee confident motoring at all times.”

This armour plated sedan was developed along with the regular production model with some mechanical changes to the chassis and suspension to counter the additional weight. Buying the 7 Series High Security will be a confidential affair and the German car maker is offering personalized sales and service support for buyers across the country.

From outside it will be hard to recognize a BMW High Security 7 series, so it would be difficult to find out who bought it. BMW is also offering driver training programs for the high security vehicle for additional Security. 

Travelogue Edition of Renault Scala relaunched in India

Travelogue Edition of Renault Scala relaunched in India with an offer from renault.

NAVIGATE YOUR WAY TO THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE WITH STUNNING
NEW OFFERS

1. Attractive EMI of Rs.7999*
2. Complimentary Gift Cheque of first 5 EMIs**
3. Additional 2 Years Warranty
4. Free Roadside Assistance for 4 Years

For those who know where they want to go, there’s no better drive than the new Renault Scala Travelogue Edition. With an Integrated Navigation System, Illuminated Scuff Plates, Rear Sun Shade and lots more, it’s the perfect way to make every journey more rewarding. Go on, have the world at your fingertips.

Prices:

1. RXL Petrol: Rs 8.48 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
2. RXL Diesel: Rs 9.31 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
3. RXZ Diesel: Rs 10.20 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
4. RXL CVT Petrol: Rs 9.61 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
5. RXZ CVT Petrol: Rs 10.51 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

Renault India has relaunched the travelogue edition of the Scala at a starting price of Rs 8.48 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the RXL variant. The company had launched the same edition sometime last year but was limited to only the RXZ variant.

This time the company has carried forward this edition to most of its variants including the RXL and the RXZ for the petrol and diesel variants. The CVT version of the RXL and the RXZ variant also gets this add on. The only exterior change on the travelogue edition is a yellow line that runs across from the headlamps to the rear. On the inside, Renault India has added an integrated navigation system, illuminated scuff plates,  which look nice ,and a rear sun shade.

The company launched the Scala travelogue edition last year to boost sales and this time it’s no different. The sales of the vehicle have not been upto the mark in the last few months, with April sales touching only double digits. The competition in the segment is heating up with many models like the Honda City doing very well and Ford will be launching the facelifted Fiesta in the next few weeks, making it more difficult for the company.

May be Lexus will be launched in India.

Toyota-owned luxury brand Lexus is being considered for the Indian markets. In the last few years the automotive industry has seen a lull, but the sales of luxury cars haven’t take a hit. Indian luxury market is dominated by the German trio consisting of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Naomi Ishii, managing director of Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), the Indian subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, said, "We see a lot of opportunity in India now. Given that the three German brands are doing well, I feel we need Lexus here."

The biggest market for Lexus products is USA; as a result all its vehicles are petrol powered. We don’t know what products will come first but expect the SUVs to start the show. The Lexus range of vehicles has SUVs – RX, GX and LX and sedans – IS, ES, GS and LS which are most likely to be introduced in India.

The entry of the Japanese luxury brand, Lexus, in India will add some spice to the luxury car market. Until now, apart from the three German luxury brands none have been successful. We will have to wait and see Toyota’s approach to the luxury car market in India.

2015 BMW X6 officially revealed on BMW Website with Specs

Almost six years after BMW unveiled the production X6 model at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the German manufacturer has now taken the curtains-off from thesecond-generation ‘Sports Activity Vehicle’. We got some images from the official website, ahead of its public debut at the 2014 Moscow Motor Show. The car will go on sale in the UK market around December with a base price of GBP 51,510 (Rs 51.24 lakh Approx).

Internally called F16, the 2014 X6 is based on a new platform borrowed from the current-generation X5 SUV, which was recently launched in India. This platform makes extensive use of aluminum and has helped the car lose 10kgs, despite the additional equipment. BMW claims that the new platform has helped the car improve its agility, response and on-road dynamics. The interiors have been revamped along the lines of the new X5 and lend a more premium feel to the car.

The car retains the coupe-like roofline as well as the styling cues from the current car. The new X6 gets toned-down styling which makes it look less dramatic than the previous car, though the silhouette still makes it instantly recognisable as an X6. The front of the car features the trademark twin kidney grille and narrower angel eye headlamps, which seems to be influenced by those in the new X4 and X5. It gets bigger overhangs on both ends which increase the new X6’s length by 34mm, though the wheelbase has been reduced by an insignificant 2mm.

For the global markets, the X6 will be initially offered with a petrol V8 and two in-line six cylinder diesel engines in the xDrive50i, xDrive30d and a M50d variants and xDrive35i and xDrive40d will be added to the line-up, later next year. For the Indian market, we expect BMW to launch the car in xDrive30d variant.  As the name suggests, all the models will be offered with the xDrive four-wheel-drive systems as standard.

Despite not fitting to everyone’s taste, BMW managed to sell more than 2,50,000 units of the X6 worldwide, over the past six years. The car has performed well enough for the German manufacturer to not only bring in a new model, but also to expand the range with the X4.

The first-generation X6 used to be sold in India, but depleting sales led the model to be discontinued a few months ago. The new X6 will be launched in India a few months after its international launch, though it might have to compete with the Mercedes-Benz’s upcoming contender in the segment, the MLC, by then. Other SUVs that you can buy for this price range include Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne and Mercedes-Benz ML.

Sprcification BMW X6 2015

Tata's "Zest" Expected to Launch In July, 2014

Expected Launch: July 2014

Expected Price: 4.50 - 7.60 lakhs

The Tata Zest compact sedan is the second car in the Pune based automaker from its new generation of vehicles. First shown just ahead of the Auto Expo, the Zest is a CS version of the Bolt hatchback.

The Design is very similar to that of the hatchback but includes a noticeable but quite decent looking boot. It makes use of the same engine, underpinnings, interior design as well as feature list from the hatchback.

The Tata Zest follows the same principle in terms with the Bolt hatchback in terms of design and overall appearance. The side profile remains the same up to the C-Pillar but thanks to the boot has a different appearance. At the back the lights have a similar design to that of the hatchback with a stubby boot lid.

Inside the interiors are exactly the same as the hatchback including the overall layout, features and upholstery. The list includes Harman touchscreen music system, gauges behind the steering wheel and white upholstery for the top spec variants and beige for the others in the range.

The Petrol Version of the Sedan is powered by 1.2-litre Revtron engine which produces produces 84bhp / 140Nm and Diesel Version  is powered by a 1.3-litre Quadrajet diesel which Produces 89bhp / 200Nm.
Transmission options include the five-speed manual as well as an AMT which is a first for Tata especially in this segment.

We are expecting that Tata will price the Zest in the range of 5.5 lakh Rupees to 7.6 lakh Rupees and it will have four petrol and three diesel variants. It will compete with the Hyundai Xcent sedan, Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Chevrolet Sail sedan, Honda Amaze and Volkswagen Vento.

Tata Zest Specifications.:

XUV500 Sportz Limited Edition Launched

Mahindra has launched new XUV500 Sportz Limited Edition for the Indian market at Rs 13.68 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). This variant is based on the top end W8 model and is limited to 1000 units only.

The XUV500 Sportz edition gets stylish red decals which look sporty, alloy wheels with red inserts, red accents on the fog lamps and door handles, red roof rails and ‘Sportz’ badging.  In the interiors, the SUV gets new sporty leather-fabric seats.

The company has limited the changes to this variant to cosmetic only and mechanically remains untouched. This variant will continue to be powered by the 2.2 litre mHawk engine that churns out 140bhp at 3750rpm and maximum torque of 330Nm between 1600 and 2800 rpm. This engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

“We are pleased to introduce the limited edition ‘XUV500 Sportz’ for discerning customers. The Mahindra XUV500, with its winning combination of aspirational styling, advanced technology & safety features, comfort & convenience has already created an impact in the hearts & minds of consumers. This new offering of ‘XUV500 Sportz’ aligns with our leadership position in Indian motor sports & rallying and reflects our ‘Sporty’ DNA very well.  We believe that it will create a new benchmark in exclusivity to further enhance the XUV500's appeal amongst customers.” said Vivek Nayer, chief marketing officer, automotive division, Mahindra.

New Mercedes-Benz S350 CDI Launched in India

The S350 CDI will be locally assembled at its plant in Chakan, along with the petrol variant.

Mercedes-Benz India has launched the diesel variant of the 2014 S-Class at Rs 1.07 crore (ex-showroom pune). The new S-Class has been a runaway success for the German car maker, who started locally assembling the S500 after the CBU units were sold-out in 16 days. Mercedes look forward further increasing the sales number with the new diesel variant.

The S350 CDI is powered by a V6 3.0-litre oil burner producing 254bhp and 620Nm of torque which is transmitted to the rear-wheels via the 7G-Tronic Plus automatic gearbox. The S350 CDI gets the AIRMATIC suspension with Magic Body Control as found in the S500. The S350 CDI also gets most of the features from the S500 including the Burmester sound system.

As expected Mercedes makes no compromise on the safety part. The 350 CDI gets eight airbags, Dynamic cornering control system, Adaptive Brake with HOLD Function and ASR etc as standard.

The new variant of the S-Class undercuts the prices of the recently launched Audi A8L in the battle of luxury saloons. 

Ford Fiesta Facelifted expected to Launch in June

Ford Fiesta Facelift Preview

The Ford Fiesta is the American automaker’s C-Segment fighter for quite some time now. What we now call the Ford Classic was the original Fiesta that came to India in 2004 and was a major success for the American automaker during its entire run. It introduced the completely new car in 2009 for the Indian market with much anticipation. However, despite having a well-built package, the car did not do well due to an error in the pricing policy. Ford is expected to introduce a facelifted version which it displayed at the 2014 Auto Expo.

Exterior

The 2014 Ford Fiesta gets a similar fascia to that of the Ford EcoSport which in turn is in line with the American automaker’s family face and one Ford global programme. Its most striking feature is the Kinetic design Aston Martin-Esque grille which is now a standard feature across all its models. The revisions to the fascia now includes sharper headlights that flow to the back of the hood, changed housing for the fog lamps and obviously a new bumper.

The side profile of the 2014 Ford Fiesta remains the same as before but now includes two revised designs for the wheels and consequently the wheel covers. It still retains its characteristic flared wheels arches, forward leaning stance as well as aerodynamic creases running along the side.

The rear profile now gets some minor modifications in the form of a revised number plate holder, a rear bumper which has now been fitted with a chrome strip to give a premium appeal and finally a modified tail lamp cluster.

Interior

The facelifted Fiesta remains the same as the outgoing model in terms of the interiors so this means fabric seats, leather- wrapped steering wheel reverse parking sensors, climate control (the last three being applicable for Trend and Titanium), airbags and ABS with EBD. However, what’s new on this model are the rain sensing wipers, push button start, ambient lighting and Ford’s patented SYNC technology which made its Indian debut with the EcoSport compact crossover.

Engines and gearbox and variants

The Ford Fiesta in its current avatar is offered with two engines and three gearbox options. The petrol is a 1.5-litre unit that produces 108bhp and 140Nm of torque while the diesel is also a 1.5-litre unit that produces 89bhp and 204Nm of torque. The petrol is offered with a five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed dual clutch automatic while the oil burner is offered with a five-speed manual. However, the latest brochure from the American automaker reveals that it will only offer the 1.5-litre diesel engine for the Fiesta. It is likely that such a step has been taken due to poor demand for the petrol models. If Ford launches only the diesel engined variants then we expect that they will introduce a base Ambiente diesel variant along with Style and Titanium+ variants.

Price and competition

We are expecting that Ford will price the facelifted Fiesta in the range of Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh but may price it even lower if it is only going to produce diesel models for the domestic market. It competes with the Honda City, Renault Scala, Nissan Sunny, VW Vento and the Skoda Rapid in the C-Segment sedan category. In terms of price it also competes with the Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano.

Tata Bolt- The New Hatchback from TATA.

TATA BOLT'S EXTERIOR

TATA BOLT'S INTERIORS

Based on their X1 platform which underpins the Indica Vista hatchback, the Bolt features an all too familiar silhouette but is a whole new beast in terms of features and overall design. It will also be offered with the Indian automaker’s new 1.2-litre 140bhp Revtron mill as well as the all too familiar 1.3-litre Quadrajet diesel engine.

This next-generation global car from Tata Motors showcases the new DNA of the company and boasts of newness in terms of design (DesigNext), drivablilty (DriveNext) and connectivity (ConnectNext). The company says that the name Bolt itself signifies speed and represents, according to the company, a winner’s attitude. It comes with several segment first features and employs a new design language for the interiors as well as the exteriors

At the front it gets an aggressive fascia, new grille and sleek shaped headlights that stretch from the middle of the bonnet to the grille. On the sides the window lines swoop down in curve towards the rear hatch which now seems to be devoid of the Christmas tree lamps. However, what rear does get are rounded edges and certain styling cues from slightly more premium cars.

It features a white and black combination interior setup with seemingly premium plastics as well as gauges mounted behind the steering and a touch screen created by Harmann for the Tata Bolt and Zest CS. However, on the lower spec variants we expect that Tata will offer beige interiors.

In terms of engines, Tata will offer this hatchback with the 1.2-litre Revtron engine which is petrol powered and produces 84bhp/140Nm. The diesel engine on the other hand is the 1.3-litre Quadrajet diesel. Transmission options include the five-speed manual as well as an AMT which is a first for Tata especially in this segment.

We expect that Tata will price the Bolt in the range of 4.6 lakh Rupees to 6.6 lakh Rupees and it will have four petrol and three diesel variants. It will compete with the Grand i10, Maruti Suzuki Swift, Chevrolet Sail and VW Polo.

Link:

Tata Bolt Specs

BMW and SACHIN Launched 2014 X-5 in India at Rs 70.90 lakh

BMW AND SACHIN TENDULKAR has launched the 3rd generation X5 in India for a price tag starting from Rs 70.95 lakh (all India ex-showroom). The new X5, codenamed F15, will be available in one variant and will have optional seating for seven. The SUV will be available only with a 3.0-litre diesel engine. 

The new BMW X5, though dimensionally similar to its predecessor, but offers more space and for the first time is offered as a seven-seater. The front fascia now looks sharper as compared to the rounded look of the old car and the traditional kidney grille is now much more prominent in the new car. The front bumper gets L shaped air dams under the round fog lamps assembly, the headlights and the edgy grille give it sharper features. The rear looks quite similar to the old car except for the edgy lines. The X5 also gets more premium interiors as part of the changes in the new model.

The X5 gets the straight-six 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine that makes 258 bhp of max power and 559Nm of torque.  The transmission is a ZF eight-speed unit that transmits the power to all four wheels. 

The X5 now measuring 4,886mm in length, 1,938mm in width and 1,762 mm in height, is longer, wider and higher than its earlier predecessor. The change in dimensions hasn’t affected its weight or dynamics; the vehicle is now a whole of 88kgs lighter and is more aerodynamic. 
BMW discontinued the X5 in India last year due to dwindling sales figures. However, the new vehicle looks promising and with two additional seats it may appeal to Indian customers.

LINK: 

BMW X5 SPECS