Automobilestillnow

The Tata Hexa concept was showcased at Geneva motor show in an almost production-ready from. The Crossover-SUV concept is expected to become the precursor to the design of future Tata SUVs as well as enter production with the production model getting almost identical styling as the concept showcased. The production ready Hexa will be powered the 2.2-litre Varicor diesel engine from the updated Aria generating 154bhp and 40.8kgm of torque mated to a choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The Hexa, when it goes into production, will become the first Tata to receive a six-speed manual and automatic transmission with the most gear currently offered by the company being a five-speed in both manual and automatic cars. The Hexa will also get a torque-on-demand four-wheel drive system. A twin-turbo version of the 2.2-litre engine generating around 175bhp is expected to be in the offing but it cannot be confirmed if it will make its way to the Indian spec car. The cro...

Tata Power Solar and Manipal University have unveiled the SERVe (Solar Electric Road Vehicle) prototype in Bangalore. The prototype – built by a team of 27 students from the university in collaboration with Tata Power Solar – aims to explore commercial viability for solar powered cars. The solar car prototype is built on a tubular spaceframe chassis with a glass fibre reinforced body and gets bespoke solar panels made by Tata Power Solar along with a complex data management system. The four-wheeled prototype weighs in at around 590kg and gets a two-seat layout. The prototype is powered by a chain-drive electric motor and gets a Direct Solar Drive, allowing the prototype to run on direct sunlight alone. The solar panel is supplemented by rechargeable lithium-ion cells for additional power, allowing the car a claimed top speed of around 60kph and a claimed cruising speed of 30kph maintainable on Direct Solar Drive. SERVe becomes the showcase of an industry-academia effort tha...

Toyota’s best-seller, the Innova, has gotten a bit too long in the tooth and is ready for a replacement. The Innova is the most popular MPV in India and is the company's bread and butter product. While there is still some time for the new model to be unveiled, we have accurate illustrations of the all-new Innova that’ll replace the existing model.  The new Innova will feature a new design language, not too different from the latest Toyota cars like the 2014 Corolla Altis. The new design theme is a radical departure from the current design and it is far more edgier than expected. Toyota’s CEO Akio Toyoda did famously say “No more boring Toyotas.” And we can say for sure, they don’t look boring anymore. The new Innova features a new nose that is a big change from the outgoing model as the anvil-shaped grille is a stand out feature at the front. The distinct bonnet is a bit more prominent and that makes it look less like an MPV. The windscreen of the new Innova is dras...

Mercedes has unveiled the conceptual version of the GLC Coupe. The concept previews the production GLC Coupe which is expected to be revealed sometime later this year. It is expected to retain much of the styling as well as the dimensions and mechanicals from the concept when it goes into production internationally, in 2017. The GLC Coupe is 4.7-metres long, 2-metres wide and 1.6-metres tall making it larger and lower than the X4. The GLC Coupe is also larger and lower than the outgoing GLK-class. The GLC Coupe sits on a modified version of Mercedes’ modular MRA platform featuring heavy use of high-strength steel as in the C-class, along with the use of aluminium in the suspension. Under the hood, the GLC Coupe concept is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol motor generating 362bhp and 52.95kgm of torque. The engine is expected to feature in the GLC 450 Coupe AMG, a model that will bridge the gap between the standard GLC Coupe and the full-spec AMG mode...

In 2013, Suzuki had introduced its Recursion motorcycle as a neo-retro café racer concept at the Tokyo Auto Show. But rumours regarding the production of this motorcycle were dismissed by Suzuki. Now the company has filed patents that hold serious potential to bring back this turbo-charged motorcycling on a large scale. This concept seems promising for Suzuki for a couple of reasons. From the images seen here, Suzuki has not made the Recursion a very extraordinary-looking motorcycle, such as Kawasaki’s H2 or H2R — the supercharged duo that have got the net buzzing for a while now. The Recursion actually looks like it can pass off as an ordinary half-litre class motorcycle, making it accessible to a wider market. When the bike was unveiled back in 2013, Suzuki claimed that it used a 588cc parallel twin equipped with a single turbocharger boosting power to a claimed 99bhp at 8,000rpm. That may not sound like much as Suzuki’s full-faired sportsbike, the GSX-R600, makes a...

Toyota has unveiled its Corolla hybrid at the Shanghai motor show. This is the first time that the Japanese carmaker has showcased a hybrid powertrain on the Corolla outside of Japan. The hybrid will be produced in China through the FAW-Toyota joint venture with sales expected to start in the second half of 2015. When compared to the standard car, the Corolla hybrid gets a sharper front styling with projector headlamps, LED daytime running lights, a twin-bar chrome grille, a large wraparound airdam, recessed foglamps, alloy wheels and an exclusive blue paint scheme. No engine details have been revealed yet, but the Corolla hybrid is expected to be powered by a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle engine and an electric motor generating about 99bhp.

Maruti’s upcoming crossover SUV, the  S-Cross  was showcased at the Auto Expo 2014.  The carmaker began  testing the vehicle for  India last year. Maruti is expected to make a number of changes to the S-Cross for the Indian market before launching it and one of the major changes will be its name. According to  Gaadiwaadi.com , the S-Cross will be named Maruti Across in the India market. The model will be more of a crossover than an SUV. But will have the requisite off-roader details, like high ground clearance, black cladding all around and metal scuff plates at the front and rear. Overseas, the S-Cross comes with Suzuki’s ALLGRIP all-wheel-drive system, although it’s uncertain whether or not the Indian car will adopt this, or stick with the two-wheel drive. The Maruti Across is expected to come with LED daytime running lamps and 16-inch alloy wheels, at least for the top-spec variant. The interiors of the Indian version are expected to fe...

Toyota has announced that it will build a new production facility in Mexico and expand its joint venture in China with the aim to accelerate the use of innovative technologies into everyday production. These investments are part of the Japanese automaker’s plan to construct production lines that are more competitive, with reduced initial investment, improved efficiency, flexibility, environmental performance and safety.  The new plant in Mexico will help the company improve its competitiveness in the North American market and will undertake the production of the Corolla model. It is expected to have a production capacity of 2,00,000 units when fully functional. For China, Toyota has announced the restructuring all its existing production lines as well as the opening a new production facility by the end of 2017 to meet future market demands. Speaking at the event, Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corporation, said: "This investment represents our long-he...

Mahindra has reduced prices of its e2o all-electric car following the launch of the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) scheme by the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Enterprises in collaboration with SIAM. The prices of the e2o now start at Rs 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) instead of Rs 6.76 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) for the base T2 variant while the premium T2O Quick2Charge variant is now priced at Rs 5.38 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) as opposed to Rs 7.12 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) earlier. The discount, according to Mahindra, will be over and above any other incentives already on offer. Currently, incentives on the e2o are offered in Delhi and NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, smart cities, and cities with population over 10 lakh as notified by the Government. This incentive under the FAME scheme however does not extend to the battery pack as customers will still have to pay the Rs2,999 per month for the battery...

Tata is gearing up to launch the GenX Nano soon. The new car gets revised styling, an AMT gearbox and an opening tailgate. The GenX Nano gets restyled front and rear bumpers, smoked headlamps, a rear foglamp under the tailgate and the exhaust tucked away beneath the new bumper. Other changes include an opening tailgate to access the rear luggage compartment, a 24-litre tank instead of the current 15-litres, and the option for an AMT gearbox with Sport mode. As per ARAI tests the GenX Nano Easy Shift (AMT) is expected to return 21.9kpl. In preparation of the launch, Tata has announced an exclusive program for all current Nano owners giving them the privilege to become one of the first owners of the new GenX Nano Easy Shift (AMT). Under this program existing Nano owners can avail of exchange offers for their current Nano, as well as a further discount of Rs 20,000. Nano owners will also be able to sign on for a referral program and earn Rs5,000 for every referral made. ...

 Following the debut of the 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine in the iK-2 concept (Maruti YRA precursor) at the Geneva motor show, Suzuki has now debuted a bigger 1.4-litre Boosterjet motor at the Shanghai motor show. The company claims that the new 1.4-litre engine offers dynamic performance along with high mileage through its direct-injection turbocharged set-up. Designed using weight-reduction technology, the features have an optimised layout to meet size and weight requirements. The new 1.4-litre Boosterjet engine will be first introduced in Suzuki models in the Chinese market, and then will be launched in other international markets.

Mercedes India has updated its COMAND infotainment system with the COMAND Online function. In line with the idea of staying connected while on the move, the function allows you to access the internet and use apps compatible with the COMAND system. The COMAND Online function was first introduced in the recently launched CLS 250 CDI and the E 400 Cabriolet. They are now available on all cars across Merc’s India portfolio. Apart from the internet browsing, users can access apps for radio, weather and location information, news and finance and social networking. These apps can be accessed via internet connectivity through a Bluetooth-tethered smartphone (Apple, Android, BlackBerry or Windows-based). Further details about the applications are available on the manufacturer’s website. COMAND Online uses cloud-based connectivity, which means updates and access to the latest apps are sent directly to your vehicle’s COMAND system.

An undisguised prototype of the new BMW  7-series was spotted  during the Christmas-New Year period. Now pictures showing the instrument cluster and steering up-close have also surfaced on the internet. The next-gen 7-series seems to come with a fully digital instrument cluster with the speedometer and tachometer retaining BMW’s classic design. The picture also shows the car to be in motion, and possibly being driven in ‘Sport’ mode from the light at the bottom of the tachometer. The 7-series gets a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with heavy silver accenting and bears the same design as the one spotted in the prototype. The car is also expected to receive the next generation of BMW’s iDrive system with a touchscreen infotainment system and gesture control. The 7-series is also expected to get TouchCommand rear seat control system which consists of a Samsung tablet with a bespoke BMW app, allowing rear passengers to control many of the car’s function...

Mini has revealed its augmented reality glasses ahead of the Shanghai motor show. The glasses, literally wearable glasses for the driver, are currently in the prototype stage. It can project vehicle and navigation instructions for the driver, and also render parts of the car ‘invisible’ to improve driver visibility. Other functions of the glasses include a ‘first and last mile’ system that will guide the driver to or from the car to his final destination. The glasses, as Mini claims, will also assist in parking by projecting images from a fixed camera onto the glasses, which will help assist in locating the curb. They will also take up the function of the heads-up display. The augmented reality glasses, if approved for production, are likely to become high-cost options on all future Mini models.

Renault will unveil its new hatchback on May 20, 2015. This new car, codenamed XBA, will be aimed squarely at the Maruti Alto 800. Based on the new, highly flexible CMFA platform, the Renault XBA, according to MotorOctane  is expected to be called the Kayou. The Renault XBA’s styling is expected to be more like a crossover than a compact hatchback which will give the car sufficient wheel travel, hence making it suitable for Indian roads. It is expected to feature a robust and stiff bodyshell and will be high on space efficiency. Company insiders tell us that the XBA will be a low-budget offering but will show no obvious signs of cost-cutting, like you normally see on low-cost cars. However, the talking point of the XBA is the engine. Codenamed BR-8, the motor is an all-new 800cc, three-cylinder unit, and will make its debut in this car. The Renault XBA is also expected to come with an automated manual transmission (AMT).

It’s not every day that Bajaj decides to unveil two new motorcycles in India. What adds to the excitement is the element of surprise, as this was not a pre-organised launch event. Bajaj’s two new launches are the 150AS and 200AS Pulsars. The two motorcycles were spotted by many, being tested on the Pune-Mumbai highway and were also snapped recently by us. Let’s take a look at what Bajaj offers on the new bikes now. Bajaj Pulsar 150AS:  The Bajaj Pulsar 150AS comes with a neatly styled front quarter fairing. This means that the 150AS will be equipped with a 149.5cc, four-stroke and air-cooled engine producing 16.8bhp at 9,000rpm, and a peak torque of 1.3kgm is produced at 7,500rpm.The front fairing will offer wind deflection for a more relaxed commute at higher speeds. Here too, a single-disc brake is seen up front and a drum brake does duty at rear. The 150AS is available in blue, black and red colour options and is priced at Rs 79,000 (ex-showroom). Bajaj Pulsar ...

Ford has reportedly filed for a patent for a new 11-speed automatic gearbox. Patent documents published on April 9 by the US Patent and Trademark Office, revealed that a patent for the tech was filed by Ford in October 2013. However, it has been accepted now. The document includes details of three variations of the 11-speed gearbox, using multiple planetary gear sets, clutches and brakes. Ford has remained quiet about the gearbox’s development, but it is likely to feature in multiple models in the future if it is developed. In an official statement, Ford powertrain spokesperson Paul Seredynski said, “As a technology leader, we submit patents on innovative ideas as a normal course of business. Patent submissions help protect our new ideas but do not necessarily indicate future business or product plans”.

In April 2014, a Volvo insider  confirmed to us  that it was developing a replacement for the S80 called the S90. The nomenclature of ‘90’ being used to harmonise the range of Volvo’s cars –‘90’ being large, ‘60’ being midsize and ‘40’ for small models. Volvo’s vice-president of product strategy, Lex Kerssemakers has now confirmed to our sister magazine Autocar UK that the new S90 will borrow exterior and interior styling cues from the Concept Coupe showcased in 2013 and the new XC90, and will be larger than the long-in-the-tooth S80 sedan. On the outside the S90 is expected to get details such as the hammer-shaped daytime-running LEDs, protruding grille and ‘C’-shaped LED tail-lights which are expected to become standard on all Volvo sedans. For the interior, Volvo UK managing director Nick Connor said that the new S90 will be an evolved version of interior styling used in the new XC90, and will be a step up from the SUV.  Under the hood, the new S90 is expec...

In April 2014, a Volvo insider  confirmed to us  that it was developing a replacement for the S80 called the S90. The nomenclature of ‘90’ being used to harmonise the range of Volvo’s cars –‘90’ being large, ‘60’ being midsize and ‘40’ for small models. Volvo’s vice-president of product strategy, Lex Kerssemakers has now confirmed to our sister magazine Autocar UK that the new S90 will borrow exterior and interior styling cues from the Concept Coupe showcased in 2013 and the new XC90, and will be larger than the long-in-the-tooth S80 sedan. On the outside the S90 is expected to get details such as the hammer-shaped daytime-running LEDs, protruding grille and ‘C’-shaped LED tail-lights which are expected to become standard on all Volvo sedans. For the interior, Volvo UK managing director Nick Connor said that the new S90 will be an evolved version of interior styling used in the new XC90, and will be a step up from the SUV.  Under the hood, the new S90 is expec...

Toyota is all set to launch the updated Camry sedan in India on April 30, 2015. The Camry, in its current avatar,  is on sale in India since 2012. This mid-cycle facelift of the Camry will come with cosmetic changes, and will be available with both petrol and hybrid powertrain options.  We broke the news about the updated Camry hitting our shores in 2015 way back in December last year. The updated Camry was showcased first at the Moscow Motor Show in November 2014.  It gets styling changes both outside and in – up front, the headlamps are re-styled with LED daytime running lamps and the grille is all-new with a band of chrome on top of it. There’s also a new protruding chin along with a re-designed bumper. These changes align the Camry’s styling with the carmaker's current generation models such as the new Corolla Altis. At the rear, the boot lid gets mild styling tweaks and the tail-lamps get new LED inserts. The chrome strip on the boot lid is now...

Honda has launched the Honda City VX(O) priced at Rs 10.64 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the petrol and Rs 11.83 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the diesel. The VX(O) trim is available only on the manual variants. It will slot in above the VX trim and become the new top trim in the model’s line-up. The Honda City VX(O) gets a 6.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity which includes functions such as on-screen dialling, address book, call answering and call log access. The touch-screen also doubles up as a display for the reverse camera, with guidance lines. The carmaker has also introduced a new paint shade for the City called White Orchid Pearl.

Gordon Murray has partnered with oil major Shell and former Honda F1 engine designer Osamu Goto to create a new city car concept that has been officially dubbed as Project M. The concept is set to debut in November and aims to inspire fresh thinking about simple, practical, global city cars. Project M has been described by the three partners as “an ultra-compact, efficient car for city use, based around the internal combustion engine”. This will become the second project jointly developed by the three parties, with the last one being Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost’s 1988 Mclaren-Honda MP4/4 F1 cars. It has been known from a recently issued mechanical layout plan, that the Project M will retain the T25 city car concept’s ultra compact, three seat, rear engine layout. The Project M is also expected to feature Gordon Murray’s iStream design and manufacturing process which employs a simply fabricated tubular steel frame with strategically bonded-in composite panels to deliver low w...

The newly launched Renault Lodgy MPV is available in four trims — Standard, RxE, RxL and RxZ. The new MPV will be offered with two versions of Renault’s 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine, generating 84bhp and 108.5bhp, called the 85PS and 110PS versions, respectively. The new Lodgy 85PS gets a five-speed manual transmission while the Lodgy 110PS comes with a six-speed manual gearbox. There are six paint shades and a two year/50,000km warranty on offer. The base Standard and RxE trims are only available on the 85PS variant while the 110PS RxZ trim Lodgy will be offered with a seven-seat variant in addition to the eight-seat option. Here's a look at the features available on the different variants: Renault Lodgy Standard (85PS - Rs 8.19 lakh) The base variant of the Lodgy gets standard features such as body coloured bumpers, roof rails, chrome tailgate garnish, hub caps, air conditioning, seating for eight, reclining and 60:40 folding second-row seats, 50:50 folding third row...

Come August and Hyundai will bring in an all-new SUV (Code: GS) to our market. Although launched in some international markets as the ix25, here, it's expected to have an altogether different name. Being 4.27 metres long, this SUV will miss the benefits extended to the small car category. This new SUV has already been spotted testing in India multiple times and is expected to come with a Verna-sourced 1.6-litre petrol or a diesel motor of similar displacement mated to the same manual and automatic gearboxes as the sedan. Hyundai will be targeting the Renault Duster and the upcoming Suzuki S-Cross with the GS and, apparently, the carmaker is also readying a 1.4-litre diesel-equipped version of this SUV. This motor is the same unit that does duty in the i20 diesel hatchback and the Verna 1.4 sedan. The smaller-capacity engine should allow the carmaker to price the SUV attractively as a diesel engine under 1.5-litre capacity attracts lower taxes. Confirming the news of the...

Tesla has added a new entry-level model to its Model S line-up in the form of an all-wheel drive called the Model S 70D. The Model S 70D will replace the two-wheel drive Model S 60 in the international market. The new Model S 70D gets two electric motors powering all four wheels, and an additional range of about 100km over the Model S 60. This new car is also a half second faster than the outgoing Model S 60 in a 0-100kph sprint and has a top speed of 225kph. The Model S 70D also gets factory-fitted features such as Adaptive cruise control and sat nav, along with the ability to plug into roadside Supercharger stations, all of which were cost options on the Model S 60. The Model S70D will be priced higher than the outgoing Model S 60 because of the added standard kit.

The fourth model in the Range Rover line-up, a yet-to-be-named seven-seater crossover, has been spotted testing on international roads, wearing a stretched body like the Evoque, along with a mocked up nose and radiator intake. Expected to be unveiled sometime in 2016, the luxury crossover will be the sister car to the Jaguar F-Pace crossover but will feature a longer wheelbase than the latter, and is likely to get the option of a seven seat layout. No engine details are available yet but it is expected that the entry-level versions will be powered by turbocharged versions of JLR’s Ingenium petrol and diesel engines, whilst the all-wheel drive variants may get V6 engines. With the flagship Range Rover being about luxury, the Sport about on-road dynamics, and the Evoque a small SUV for the city, the new vehicle will stretch the brand towards a crossover - a mix between a SUV and estate. The stretched wheelbase of the luxury crossover hints at more space for the second row...

Toyota has added a new 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine to its engine line-up. Known as the 8NR-FTS, this 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine is available as an option on the updated Toyota Auris in the international markets. Toyota’s new engine uses a single-scroll turbocharger and gets cylinder-heads with integrated water-cooled exhaust manifolds to optimise exhaust temperature. This Toyota claims, allows the engine to be more responsive and deliver maximum torque over a wider RPM range, and deliver 114bhp at 5200-5600RPM and 18.9kgm of torque from 1500-4000rpm. The 8NR-FTS becomes the second turbo-charged motor in Toyota’s line-up of turbo petrol engines, with the first being the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol which powers the Lexus NX200t.

At present, the Mercedes-Benz C-class is available internationally in the four-door sedan and wagon guise. A coupe and convertible variant are expected to join the range soon. In line with the plans, a heavily camouflaged C-class Coupe prototype was recently spotted testing in northern Sweden. On the outside, the car is expected to carry-over the same front end as the standard C-class but will get a new arched roofline, a sharply raked rear windshield, and a stubby tail with elongated tail-lamps. On the inside, there isn't much clarity on the details, but the Coupe is expected to feature the same dashboard as the standard car with individual rear seats instead of the bench. The Coupe will also carry over the engine line-up from the standard C-class sedan and will get AMG treatment in the form of the C63 AMG and C63 AMG S. It will also get a C 450 AMG trim featuring an AMG-tuned 362bhp turbocharged V6, a trim designed to fill the gap between the standard car and the AM...

Lexus has teased an image of its new ES sedan ahead of the upcoming Shanghai Motor Show which is scheduled to take place from April 22 to 29. It's still unclear whether the unveiled car is an all-new ES or just a refresh, however, it is known that China gets the same sixth-generation ES, which was launched only in 2012. This means, it is way too early for an outright replacement right now, so this could be a mid-life facelift for the Lexus ES. The company has said that “the new Lexus ES maintains its classical elegance while conveying a more dynamic experience and luxurious craftsmanship”. The teaser picture of the ES’ front quarter discloses a newly designed headlight with a more prominent, Boomerang-shaped LED daytime running lights, it has gained some more aggressive lines, and it has a wider and continual version of Lexus’ famous Spindle grille, which has an angled hourglass-type appearance. The massively styled front should bring the ES in line with Lexus...

The Renault Lodgy has been launched in India in the range of Rs 8.19 – 11.79 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), and with this latest offering, the carmaker is looking to capture a considerable chunk of the promising MPV segment. Renault had previously hit the jackpot with its Duster range, and if it hopes to repeat that kind of success, the Lodgy will have to dethrone the segment leader – the Toyota Innova. On paper, the Lodgy looks very promising, with just the right ingredients to take the fight to Innova. Here's how the two heavyweights stack up. Under the hood Lodgy vs Innova - engine comparison Engine Renault Lodgy Toyota Innova Cubic capacity 1461cc 2494cc Power 108.5bhp 100.6bhp Torque 25.3kgm 20.4kgm Both the Renault Lodgy and Toyota Innova come only in the diesel guise. The engine in the Lodgy is available in two states of tune (83.8bhp and 108.5bhp), but for this comparison, we'll consider the more powerful version. Although the Lodgy has a smaller engi...