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Geneva motor show 2015 preview

The Geneva Motor Show 2015 will be held March 3-15. It will showcase new models from the likes of Ferrari, Honda, Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin. Here’s a list of cars that are most likely going to be present at the show. Audi The Ingolstadt-based carmaker will have on display the RS3 and the R8. The RS3 is a performance hatchback on sale in global markets; it makes 362bhp from its 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine and can get to 100kph in 4.3 seconds. The R8  sportscar will be present in its second-generation avatar. It shares mechanicals and some technology with the Lamborghini Huracan, and will be an all-wheel drive only. Audi will also display its Avant Concept which will be a preview for Audi’s future design direction. Aston Martin British sportscar manufacturer will be unveiling the Vantage GT3. It is the more extreme version of the V12 Vantage S and is likely to produce as much as 600bhp of power. The company will also unveil its track-only h...

Rolls Royce Phantom coupe ‘Al-Adiyat’ unveiled

The Phantom coupe ‘Al Adiyat’ sports a red paint scheme with white pinstrips on the exterior, with a hand-stitched red and white dual tone interior. This exterior and interior theme will continue onto the nine Wraiths included in the collection. The car features motifs of horses and reigns throughout the vehicle and gold plated horse-shoe stamps on the door sills. The scheme of horses continues onto the seats with intricate horse logos stitched into the front headrests, while the rear headrests sport reigns. The ‘Al-Adiyat’ coupe will feature the standard Rolls Royce 6.75-litre V12 engine generating 460bhp and a 0-100kph time of 5.8 seconds. The top speed of the car is limited to 250kph.

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider to debut at Geneva

Alpha Romeo will debut the convertible version of its mid-engined sports car, the 4C at the Geneva Motor Show. From the front, the 4C Spider and the 4C Coupe are identical. The Spider sports a more pronounced rear, three heat extractors and a subtle spoiler. It also gets a body coloured engine cover. The coupe will also get all-new wheel designs. To turn the c oupe into  a Spider, the company has built an all-new aluminium rollover structure, custom carbonfibre windscreen frame and high-strength steel engine cross bars. The Spider will also come with an all-new carbonfibre air intake system. It will also get an optical carbonfibre hardtop. The 4C Spider will be powered by the same engine as the coupe, a 240bhp TBi. Alpha has claimed a 0-100kph time of 4.5 seconds for the Spider. The Spider will offer a premium leather interior with accent stitching. The cabin will also get carbonfibre vent surrounds, along with an all-new audio system. The car will be revealed alo...

SCOOP! Sporty Tata Bolt to be showcased at Geneva show

Tata Motors will be showcasing a performance version of the Tata Bolt at the Geneva Show next week. The sportier Bolt will eventually will the wear the badge of a new performance brand Tata is planning to launch towards the end of the year. The more powerful Bolt will use the existing 1.2-litre Revotron petrol engine, but the power output will be raised from 89bhp to around 120bhp. The engine is also likely to be torquier, and to handle all these extra reserves, Tata will arm the new car with Fiat's tried and tested C501 gearbox which does duty in the diesel multi-jet powered models. The Geneva show car will be properly kitted out with flared bodywork and 17 inch wheels. The interiors too will get a makeover and reflect the car’s sporting intent. The suspension too has been modified with stiffer damping and lowered ride height. Unlike the high-riding standard Bolt whose tall ground clearance is all too obvious, this hot hatch will have a squat stance . Tata Motors i...

Mercedes-AMG C 63 coming to India in stonking 503bhp S guise

Mercedes-Benz will be launching the AMG C 63 S in India, in the third quarter of this year. It is the performance-enhanced version the new C-class, and is expected to be priced around the Rs 1.3 crore-mark. Although the AMG C 63 is globally available in two states of tune, the Stuttgart-based carmaker will only be bringing the more powerful S model to our shores. Mercedes India recently spoke of its plans to launch 15 new models in 2015, and this AMG C 63 S is now confirmed to be part of that pack. Like Mercedes' flagship sportscars, the AMG GT and AMG GT S, the C 63 uses the newly developed 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. While in the standard C 63, this engine churns out 469bhp and 66.2kgm of torque, in the uprated S avatar, it makes 503bhp and 71.3kgm of torque. Mercedes has also confirmed that the flagship  AMG GT will launch in India towards the end of 2015 . The AMG GT too, will only be brought in its more powerful 503bhp S form. The AMG C 63 S sedan is targeted at ...

Maruti plans new dealerships for premium models

Maruti Suzuki has plans for a separate range of dealerships to sell its premium models. The move is targeted to specifically cater to premium car customers and build the brand’s image for the same. Maruti Suzuki has a very strong image as a successful carmaker, but is yet to find a firm footing in the premium carsegment. For example, the Kizashi, a premium sedan, was discontinued due to weak customer response.  A source has mentioned to our sister-magazine,  Autocar Professional  that the new range will comprise 30-35 dealerships in leading car markets, which will retail models with a “premium price tag”. Both existing and new dealers could be roped in for this, over the next one year.  Maruti's upcoming models include two new SUVs (YBA and S Cross) and a  premium hatchback (YRA) Instead of making a big jump to high-end models, Maruti Suzuki is looking at climbing gradually to segments of premium cars and SUVs which offer higher profit margins. ...

Hyundai i20 Active coming March 2015

Hyundai has revealed design renderings for the upcoming i20 Active. It was speculated that the car will be named “i20 Cross”, but it has officially been called the i20 Active. It is based on the new i20 hatchback, carries the same ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’ design language, and like the hatchback, has been designed at Hyundai Motor’s Design Centre Europe in Germany. Hyundai will launch the car next month. The i20 Active gets cosmetic tweaks, cladding, skid plates, roof rails and aggressive-looking alloys to boost the crossover-ish look. Hyundai claims “the car combines fun driving, a distinctive character and sporty refinement, with enhanced practicality and quality.” These renderings come at the heel of images of the car spotted in  production-ready guise . Specific details about the mechanicals are unavailable, but we expect the engines from the i20 to be retained. The i20 Active will take on the likes of the Fiat Avventura, Toyota Etios Cross and Volkswagen Cross Polo...

Audi Prologue Avant concept revealed

The Audi Prologue Avant concept has been revealed ahead of its debut at the Geneva motor show next week. The company’s successor to the Prologue coupé, which was first seen at the Los Angeles motor show 2014, has been created to show how its latest design language will be applied to future estate models, most notably the next A6 Avant. The two Prologue concepts share a wide, hexagonal grille, angular matrix laser headlights, prominent air ducts decorated with LED graphics, a contoured bonnet and shapely front wings. However, their similarities end at the trailing edge of the front doors with the Avant receiving an additional set of rear doors, an extended glasshouse, muscular rear wheel arches, a longer roof, more upright pillars, a steeply angled tailgate and tailpipes integrated into the bumper. At 5110mm in length, 1970mm in width and 1400mm in height, the Prologue Avant is marginally longer, wider and higher than the Prologue coupé. Like its two-door sibling, the ...

Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV II revealed

Mitsubishi has revealed official renderings of Concept XR-PHEV II. The car will make its global debut at the Geneva motor show next week. As the name suggests, the Concept XR-PHEV II is a progress on the original XR-PHEV concept unveiled at the Tokyo motor show 2013. In terms of design, there is a trapezoidal lower grille, and the air vents have chrome gills. The headlights and alloys are tweaked, as is the upper grille. It also gets door-mounted cameras. The Concept XR-PHEV II is a front-wheel drive plug-in hybrid vehicle with a conventional engine, working in tandem with a 160bhp electric motor and a 12 kWh battery. Mitsubishi also claims that the crossover is very frugal, and is also low in terms of emissions. The Concept XR-PHEV II can automatically switch from an all-electric mode to series hybrid or parallel hybrid, depending on driving conditions and battery level. The driver can also manually select the driving mode by opting for either Battery Save or Battery Cha...

New Audi R8 revealed ahead of Geneva premier

Development of the second-generation Audi R8 has been undertaken at the Nürburgring ahead of the car's launch. While the new R8 is expected to keep the same basic dimensions as its predecessor, visual upgrades include new front air intakes, smaller front grille, and new headlight clusters. The new R8 will come with LED headlights as standard, but laser lights will be available as an option. Audi first showcased the technology on last year's R8 LMX. At the rear, the profile of the new R8 appears wider than the current car, and sports new exhausts plus a large rear diffuser. While Audi bosses have confirmed the new R8 will follow the "same general layout" as the Huracán, the Audi car includes wider tracks and a longer wheelbase. Technology carried over from the Huracán includes its innovative rear firewall, as well as its central tunnel made from a single carbon fibre moulding, which weighs as little as 50kg. Majority of the new car's components will ...

New 2016 Toyota Innova leaked

This is the first leaked photo of the next-generation Toyota Innova MPV. Toyota’s best-selling model in India, the current-generation Innova has been on sale in India from 2005 and this next-generation model is due in our market in 2016. As can be seen in the leaked photo, the nose of the new Innova takes cues from Toyota’s more recent models like the Corolla Altis and the Camry. The big hexagonal grille – with two big chrome slats on top that flow into the headlamps – is wider and taller and flows all the way into the base of the front bumper. The headlamps appear to be double-barrel projector units and could even have integrated LED daytime running lamps.  The bottom half of the bumper is heavily sculpted, and the fog lamp inserts mirror the shape of the headlamps and flow into the grille. Moving on to the sides, there’s no escaping the monovolume, van-like shape, but there are lots of signs that show Toyota’s effort to liven things up. There’s the re-styled glass a...

Updated Renault Pulse gets more equipment

Renault has launched an updated Pulse hatchback. It now gets more equipment and features. The Renault Pulse now comes with keyless entry and go, auto folding wing mirrors, and a music system with Bluetooth and USB. The safety features now include ABS, EBD, dual front airbags and crash sensors. The Pulse also offers a new dual-tone dashboard with a piano black finish on the center fascia, along with automatic headlights, height adjustable driver’s seat and steering mounted audio controls. Mechanically, the updated Pulse retains the 1.5-litre K9K diesel and the 1.2-litre petrol. The car is on sale now and prices start at Rs 5.03 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).   This update comes across as an effort from the French carmaker to give the slow-selling Pulse a much needed push, at a time when the hatchback segment is one of the most hotly contested in the Indian car market.

Rolls-Royce ‘Serenity’ set for Geneva debut

Rolls-Royce’s all new Phantom based ‘Serenity’ concept car will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on March 3. The company’s bespoke design team has taken inspiration from contemporary interpretations of European furniture, combined with Japanese Royal Kimono designs. "Serenity will reintroduce the finest of textiles to create the most opulent interior of any luxury car," the company revealed in a statement. "This unique design demonstrates the levels of craftsmanship, creativity and attention to detail, only Rolls-Royce Motor Cars can offer." The one-off car will feature a bespoke silk-inspired interior. Rolls-Royce says that the concept celebrates "the historical role played by silk as a symbol of regal and imperial power".

Mercedes-Benz SL 417 Mille Miglia announced

The new two-seat, stylised roadster - conceived to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz’s class win at the 1955 Mille Miglia road race in Italy – is set to make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The car will be sold in SL400 and SL500 guises. The former will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 developing 328bhp, while the latter uses a twin-turbocharged 4.6-litre V8 with 449bhp. Both come as standard with adaptive damping, with the German carmaker’s patented Active Body Control system available as an option. The car will feature a host of stylistic changes, including red brake calipers, red surrounds on the standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloy wheels, and red accents on the front and rear bumpers. Changes inside include, red and black leather seats, trims and steering wheel along with 417 Mille Miglia insignias embroidered in the headrests. There will also be new red and matt carbonfibre-look trims on the inside of the car. ...

McLaren P1 GTR revealed

McLaren has revealed the final production version of the P1 GTR. It is the ultimate track-only incarnation of the Woking firm’s P1 hypercar. The 986bhp P1 GTR was first seen in design concept form at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August 2014. Now in its final form, the P1 GTR will star at the Geneva motor show 2015 with its design further optimised for aerodynamic performance and cooling. The Instant Power Assist System powertrain’s power output has been significantly boosted over its application in the road-going P1. The twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 now produces 789bhp (up from 727bhp in the standard P1) and the electric motor has 197bhp (up from 176bhp). The combined output is 986bhp, up from 903bhp. Weight has also been saved by removing powertrain features designed specifically for road use. The aerodynamic package on the P1 GTR is even more extensive than on the P1 road car. The most striking element is the large, fixed rear wing, which sits 400mm above the body...

Hyundai i20 Active leaked in spy photos

This is the new Hyundai i20 Active that can be seen in production guise, for the first time in these spy photos. Known earlier as the i20 Cross, the Hyundai i20 Active is based on the new Elite i20 hatchback. The i20 Active gets an altered look which can be clearly seen in these pictures. Up front, the headlights get projector units and LED daytime running lamps, the grill is slightly tweaked, and the front bumper along with the faux skid plate are all new, and so are largish round fog lamp units in order to give it a “Cross” look. The theme is carried on to the sides with additional body cladding, new-look alloy wheels and slightly higher ground clearance. Moving on to the rear, the bumper gets thick cladding with a brushed aluminum faux skid plate and round reflectors. Although there is no news of any changes to the engine line-up, we expect it to remain the same as the Elite i20. However, the engines will see a slight bump up in power for both, diesel and petrol models. ...

New Skoda Octavia vRS 230 to debut at Geneva

Skoda is all set to debut its brand new Octavia vRS 230 at the Geneva motor show next month and from what we know, it will be one to look out for. This car uses a similar engine as the Octavia vRS – a 2.0 liter turbo-petrol – but difference in tuning sees the power bumped up to 227bhp. The carmaker claims a 0-100kph time of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 250kph.   The new vRS 230 will also sport a more aggressive body kit than the standard vRS along with a bespoke interior and an electronic differential that Skoda plans to standardise in this variant – a first ever for the manufacturer.   The vRS 230 is expected to go on sale internationally in June in both hatchback and estate forms and will slot in above the current Octavia vRS. 

Range Rover Evoque facelift revealed

The Range Rover Evoque facelift has been revealed by Land Rover. It will make its global debut at the Geneva motor show in March.The revised Range Rover Evoque will be the most efficient Land Rover production model ever, when it goes on sale internationally later this year, with JLR’s new four-cylinder, 2.0-litre ‘Ingenium’ turbodiesel engine installed under its bonnet. Engine options include a two-wheel-drive 148bhp eD4 diesel engine equipped with a manual transmision, and a more potent four-wheel-drive 178bhp diesel unit mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The new car will also be offered with Land Rover’s existing 237bhp Si4 petrol engine. This variant, which comes with four-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission as standard, can accelerate from 0-100kph in 7.6sec and has a top speed of 217kph. Three drivelines are available – two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and Active Driveline. The Active Driveline system can automatically switch between two- and four...

Mahindra XUV500 W8 Xclusive Edition launched

Mahindra has introduced a new trim of the XUV500, the W8 Xclusive Edition. As the name suggests, this trim is based on the W8 trim; but this is a front-wheel drive model and not all-wheel drive. The XUV500 W8 Xclusive Edition is priced starting at Rs 14.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). It gets a couple of cosmetic additions and more equipment. New features on the XUV500 W8 Xclusive Editon include an electric sunroof and electrically-adjustable driver’s seat. It also gets hydraulic assisted bonnet, internet connectivity for the infotainment system, voice messaging system, reversing camera, illuminated scruff plates and grey alloys. It also gets anti-pinch driver window with express up and down. Mechanically unchanged, the XUV500 W8 Xclusive Edition retains the 138bhp 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, from the standard car. Mahindra will make only 700 units of this limited Edition XUV500. It is available in two versions; the Xclusive Edition ...

Rinspeed Budii autonomous EV revealed

Swiss concept house Rinspeed will unveil the Budii autononmous electric car at the Geneva motor show in March. The Budii, which is based on the BMW i3, has been fitted with a new steer-by-wire system and a steering wheel that can be folded away when it is not in use. The wheel can also switch sides to provide both left and right-hand drive. Rinspeed has worked with a number of suppliers for the technology used in the Budii concept. Infotainment specialist Harman Kardon have designed a system that “independently identifies the habits and preferences of the driver and reduces the necessary operating steps (to drive the car) to a minimum”. The car also rides on a new air suspension system that has a ride height adjustment range of 100mm. Also incorporated is a ‘telescoping laser scanner’, which rises up from the Budii’s roof and works in combination with a 3D camera to scan the terrain ahead of the vehicle, allowing the car to automatically adjust the ride height and suspension....
Audi has released a preview image for the new R8. This will be the second-generation of the supercar, and from what’s seen in the image, it will get laser headlights as an option. The new R8 is due to make its global debut at the Geneva motor show in March. The new R8 will get a heavily redesigned interior, which will most likely feature Audi's new all-digital dash, as seen on the new TT. Development of the second-generation Audi R8 has also been undertaken at the Nürburgring ahead of the car's launch. While the new R8 is expected to keep the same basic dimensions as its predecessor, visual upgrades include new front air intakes, while a smaller front grille has also been seen, as well as new headlight clusters. The new R8 will come with LED headlights as standard, but laser lights will be available as an option. Audi first showcased the technology on last year's R8 LMX. At the rear, the profile of the new R8 appears wider than the current car, and sports new ex...

Bentley to unveil new sportscar concept at Geneva

Bentley will unveil a high-performance, front-engined two-seater sports GT concept at the Geneva motor show in March. The concept will offer a peek into a new model which will rival sportscars from the likes of Aston Martin and Ferrari. The concept is likely to be powered by a specially configured version of the 500bhp Audi-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. Bentley is likely to say that the car’s main purpose is to test the reaction of potential buyers, but the new model was first mentioned as a production possibility by returning CEO, Wolfgang Dürheimer at a press conference in 2014. Our sister publication, Autocar UK, understands that the car is likely be positioned beside the Continental GT, not below it. Dürheimer also revealed the possibility of a sedan between the Continental Flying Spur and Mulsanne, and there have been suggestions since, of a more compact SUV than the forthcoming full-sized Bentayga, which is due to hit international markets next year. The GT, ce...

Mercedes-Maybach Pullman revealed

Mercedes has revealed the Maybach Pullman. A stretch-limousine version of the S-class, the Pullman will debut at the Geneva motor show in March. This is the second model in the Mercedes-Maybach luxury lineup, the first one being the Mercedes-Maybach S600. The debut of the Pullman will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the most fabled luxury limo, the 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600. The Pullman measures 6,499 mm in length, 1,598 mm in height, and sits on a 4,418 mm long wheelbase. It gets powered by the firm's 6.0-litre biturbo engine, which produces 522bhp and 84.6kgm of torque. Other mechanical details are expected to emerge upon unveiling. The cabin, which literally screams luxury, has quilted reclining leather seating for four occupants. The passengers sit facing each other, and there is an electrically rising partition window separating the front and rear seats, which can be switched from clear to opaque. There is a standard 18.5-inch screen and a Burmester 3D ste...

New Hyundai Tucson SUV revealed

Hyundai has released the first details about its new Tucson SUV ahead of the car’s official debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The crossover – a replacement for the current ix35 – will be powered by two petrol and two diesel engines.  A 1.6-litre petrol engine available in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms will produce 133bhp and 174bhp respectively. Meanwhile, the diesel line-up includes a 1.7-litre unit with 113bhp and two versions of the firm's 2.0-litre powerplant, available in a choice of 134bhp and 181bhp forms. The 2.0-litre option will also be available with four-wheel drive. It will include three transmission options: six-speed manual, six-speed automatic or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Tucson will feature Hyundai’s prominent front grille design. Speaking to journalists in Berlin, Hyundai design boss Peter Schreyer said: "We tried to make an SUV, but make it bolder and stronger. When we do something like this of course we have i...