Frankfurt 2011: Volvo ‘Concept You’

Volvo is China's Swedish takeaway. A year on from its acquisition by a consortium of Chinese money-men, things are now getting serious. Sales are up 21 per cent in the first eight months of the year, the brand - beloved of San Francisco bay-area architects - is the fastest-growing in the US (whatever fastest-growing means), and a factory in Chengdu is due to open before the year's end. CEO Stefan Jacoby is also making very bullish noises. Given that Volvo's stand was being hastily extended on Monday - just 12 hours before Frankfurt show press day - to annex the space originally booked by a sadly absent Saab, we should be glad he's got something to be bullish abou...

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2012 BMW 750 Li xDrive Sedan

There's a lot to love in a BMW 7 series. My current favorite touch is the beautiful matte wood trim. Most glossy wood just looks fake and cheesy unless you're in a Bentley or Rolls-Royce, so this matte finish is a huge win in my boo...

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Ford Motor May Build Electric Cars in China With Partner, CEO Mulally Says

Ford Motor Co. (F) may make electric cars with its partner in China as the auto industry moves toward producing more fuel-efficient vehicles, Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally said. “Our plan is to make the vehicles people want and value, in China and around the world,” Mulally, 66, said in a Bloomberg Television interview on Sept. 24 in Chongqing, China. “As we move to more electrification you’re going to see more hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric...

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Fiat offers festival discounts on Linea and Punto

NEW DELHI: In a bid to increase sales during the festival season, Italian automobile major Fiat's Indian subsidiary on Wednesday launched discount offers for its hatchback Punto and sedan Linea. "With the launch of this campaign, we portray our commitment towards the Indian market and communicate that this campaign has been designed keeping in mind the emotions, sentiments and key values, deeply portraying our Indian connect," said Fiat India chief executive Rajeev Kapoo...

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Innovation Direct™ Set to Represent Automobile Communication System Invention to Potential Licensees

Miami, FL, September 25, 2011 ---- Kenneth Van Neste, North Carolina resident and inventor, has contracted South Florida invention and patent licensing leader Innovation Direct™ to represent his Automobile Communication Device to industry for the next 4 years. An innovative new product designed to make navigating roadways a much safer proposition, the Automobile Communication Device features a unique design that provides an effective method of alerting motorists of the use of cruise control in the vehicles around them, and whether they are in the process of accelerating or deceleratin...

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New CR-V Patent Drawings Leaked

Here are some leaked patent drawings of the all-new CR-V. Honda had presented a CR-V concept in July and the production version sticks to most of the concept’s styling. The wide upper grille, swept headlamps and a stylish-looking D-pillar have all been carried over. The wheels, however, have been toned down for a more civilized effec...

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Forster Steps Down As Tata CEO

Tata Motors has announced that its Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Carl-Peter Forster, has resigned with immediate effect. However, Forster will continue to serve the Board of Tata Motors as a non-executive member. Prakash Telang, MD of India Operations, and Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, will represent their respective operations on the Boar...

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Renault Launches Koleos SUV

The Renault Koleos SUV has arrived at our shores. Priced at Rs 22.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), this SUV is powered by a 2.0-litre, 150bhp, all-aluminium common-rail diesel engine with variable valve timing. This is the same M9R unit that powers the X-Trail, coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. This diesel motor, like in the X-trail, is quite rev-happy and packs in loads of punch once you cross 2000rpm. We drove the Koleos in Europe last year and found it a capable and luxurious SUV; the interior fit and finish is not upto German standards, but there’s a solidity to the interiors that is a cut above its Korean peers. The plastics are hardwearing, the switchgear feels solid and the vents don’t flap around. The trim feels...

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Toyota Etios, Liva diesel launched

  Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has launched diesel versions of the Etios saloon and Liva hatchback. Both cars get the same four-cylinder, 1.4-litre D4D powerplant that’s in the Toyota Corolla Altis. Unlike the Altis, though, this motor uses a fixed geometry turbo and different gear ratios in order to cut costs. Power output, at 67bhp and 17.34kgm of torque, is also less than the Altis. According to Toyota, the Etios siblings deliver an ARAI-claimed fuel economy of 23.59kpl. The Etios saloon diesel comes in three variants, the base D, mid-level VD and top-of-the-line VXD, whereas the Liva diesel will be available as GD and GD (SP). All models feature airbags, EBD and ABS as standard features. The Etios diesel is priced...

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Mercedes-Benz Launches CLS

Mercedes-Benz India has launched the all-new CLS 350 BlueEFFECIENCY. The new CLS replaces the car that’s credited with creating the “four-door coupé” segment of the market, and spawning models like the Audi A7 and the VW Passat CC. Mercedes sold more than 1,70,000 examples of the original car, which was launched globally in 2004. The new CLS is slightly cheaper than the model it replaces. It sits on a modified version of the current E-class platform, with wider tracks to help give it a more aggressive stance. Mercedes has not released official dimensions, but the car is wider and longer than the outgoing model, and wider but lower than the E-class saloon. The most dominant styling feature is a new front-end treatment that will be...

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Peugeots To Roll Out From Sanand

French carmaker Peugeot has signed an agreement with the Gujarat government to invest Rs 4,000 crore in setting up a plant in the State. The plant, with an initial capacity of 1,70,000 vehicles per year, will come up in a 600-acre site in the heart of the rapidly developing Sanand automotive cluster. The plant will have options for further expansion. Peugeot will also set up an engine and gearbox plant. This new investment will directly add up to 5,000 new jobs to the automobile hub and also create further economic and employment opportunities in the supplier park adjacent to the site. Peugeot’s first car in India will be its 508 saloon and it is expected to be launched in 2014. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and Philippe Varin,...

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Mercedes Benz India has launched the updated new C-class with a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The petrol model is called the C200 BlueEFFECIENCY, powered by a M271 EVO 1.8-litre turbocharged, direct-injection motor; it now comes with a 7G-Tronic Plus gearbox. The new car also gets 17-inch wheels with 225/45-R17 tyres. It is priced at Rs 29.79 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the Avantgarde trim level. The diesel model is called the C250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and is priced at Rs 32.30 lakh and it comes with a 5-speed automatic gearbox. The refreshed C-class now sports new headlamps with LED day-time running lights and though the tail lamps look the same they too have been tweaked. The bumpers have been re-profiled as well. The interiors...

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