Honda's new AC-X saloon concept

Honda has also revealed the AC-X saloon concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Japanese manufacturer describes this concept as a next-generation plug-in hybrid. The AC-X (Advanced Cruiser Experience) concept is between the Civic and Accord in size. Honda says the concept “offers a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience in urban and long-distanc e motoring”. To that end, the concept is offered with an ‘automatic driving mode’ for more relaxed driving, with an ‘engine drive mode’ on offer for more spirited driving.Specifically designed for long journeys, the AC-X gets the two joystick steerin g controls that are common to all of Honda's Tokyo show cars. Dubbed ‘twin lever steering’, the system is said to reduce the physical stresses of...

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BMW forays into used-car market

BMW India has made buying a pre-owned BMW easier and more reliable with the launch of its Premium Selection range. Each vehicle is carefully selected, examined for quality and sold with a BMW warranty as well.The examination includes a 360-degree check as well as a technical and visual refurbishment. Additionally, every Premium Selection vehicle will be sold with a detailed history of servicing, maintenance and repairs.The vehicles on sale will be less than five years old and do not have more than 1,20,000km on their odometers. They come with an up to 24 month/2,00,000km warranty (whichever is earlier) and buyers can also avail of BMW’s Roadside Assistance service any time of day, all year round.Dr Andreas Schaaf, president BMW India said,...

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Lexus launch in India confirmed

Toyota has officially confirmed that it will introduce the Lexus brand in India by 2013. The Japanese carmaker has been evaluating the feasibility of its luxury brand in India for several years now and has finally decided to go ahead with the launch. “We have been watching India with keen interest and we are happy to announce that we will bring Lexus to India in 2013” confirmed Yukitoshi Funo, executive vice-president of Toyota Motor Corporation. The Lexus range will be sold through dedicated dealerships, though several Toyota dealers are likely to take up the franchise to take advantage of their service set up that requires common equipment for both brands. However, Toyota will take a very cautious and diligent approach to appointing...

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Hyundai i10 LPG launched

Hyundai has launched an LPG variant of its i10 hatchback, called the i10 Blue Drive.This model comes with a factory-fitted LPG kit that has a 34-litre LPG tank while the conventional petrol tank has a 35-litre capacity. According to Hyundai, the LPG-kit is ARAI certified and is impact resistant as well. It is also certified by DOE (Department of Explosives). The LPG-kit is also backed by a two year warranty.The i10 Blue Drive is priced at Rs 4.2 lakh for the Era while the Magna LPG variant is priced at Rs 4.31 lakh (ex-showroom Delh...

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Aluminium tech for next Mercedes SL

Nov 23, 2011Mercedes will unveil its sixth-generation SL roadster next year. The new SL roadster will be the very first Mercedes in large-scale series production to use an almost exclusively aluminium lightweight construction.At a preview event held close to last week’s Los Angeles Motor Show, Mercedes showed journalists a completed example of the new two-seater grand convertible’s ‘body-in-white’ superstructure.Made from a mix of chill cast, vacuum die-cast, stamped and extruded aluminium, it allows the finished 2012 SL to be 140kg lighter than the outgoing steel car, and 20 percent more torsionally rigid – to the enhancement of handling precision, rolling refinement, performance and fuel-efficiency.Mercedes’ CAD-optimised design for the...

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New BMW 3-series review, test drive

It’s encouraging that the sixth-generation BMW 3-series, despite its very obvious eco credentials and its numerous technical innovations, is still just a good-looking saloon that drives rather beautifully at heart. At first, the new saloon may seem like business as usual – with a slick and elegant new style that looks both familiar yet more thrusting. But beneath its new suit, the F30 3-series is dazzlingly different and superior to the car it replaces in every single area you can imagine. It’s more comfortable and more dynamically capable than before. The new range will include the entry-level 2-litre petrol (320i) and the efficient 2-litre diesel (320d). We drove the 320d in the UK, which was only available in Sport trim with...

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50 New cars for 2012

Nov 24, 2011 What’s coming in the next few months? The most common question asked of at Autocar India. We get a huge number of mails everyday from readers wanting to know what’s coming in the near and not-too-distant future, and that’s understandable. In our ever-changing market, you really need to be on top of model upgrades and new car launches, especially if you are about to sign a considerable amount of your savings on an all-new car.The last thing you want is to see a new and superior model out on the roads, soon after you’ve spent your hard-earned money on a car that could be quickly outdated. So, to keep you in the loop, straight from our confidential files, an almost complete list of new cars manufacturers are planning to put...

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Skoda launches Yeti 4x2

Skoda Auto has launched the 4x2 version of the Yeti soft-roader. This model features a de-tuned version of the 4x4’s 140bhp, 2-litre common-rail diesel engine with peak power now a significantly lower 108bhp. This model is, however, a whole 98kg lighter than the 4x4 car. The 4x2 also gets a 5-speed manual transmission in place of the 4x4’s 6-speed manual gearbox. What remains unchanged is the Yeti’s sophisticated all-independent suspension, so it should be comfortable in its 4x2 avatar too. The Yeti will be available in two variants, namely Active and the better-specced Ambience that gets ESP and rear parking sensors. Prices start at Rs 13.2 lakh (ex-showroom, Maharashtra) and go up to Rs 14.05 lakh. In comparison, the base Yeti...

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Lamborghini unveils LP550-2 Spyder

Lamborghini has added another model to its drop-top Gallarado range, this time it’s the two-wheel-drive variant called the LP550-2 Spyder.“This is a purists model that adds another dimension of driving fun,” says Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini’s president, “this will appeal in particular to a very special group of customers that enjoy a spirited driving style and also like to experience the sheer pleasure of open-air driving."The LP550-2 Spyder is powered by Lambo’s 542bhp V10 driving the rear-wheels through either a conventional manual gearbox or an e-gear- a robotised manual version.According to Lamborghini, the LP550-2 Spyder will accelerate from 0-100kph is 4.9secs and the top speed is 320kph. ...

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Petrol Ventos, Mercs for a steal

The Mahindra First Choice Super Store at Goregaon, Mumbai, has on offer six 1.6-litre petrol VW Vento Autos for Rs 7.75 lakh each. Manufactured in the year 2011, these cars have only clocked 2800-12000km on the odo, and are still under factory warranty.Also on sale is a 2008 VW Passat diesel for Rs 12.50 lakh and an October 2009 Jetta that has been driven 23,000km for Rs 12 lakh. In the premium segment, there are two BMW 3-series’ – a 2008 320i for Rs 16 lakh and a 2010 320d for Rs 26 lakh. The Mercs on offer include a 2011 Mercedes E350 petrol priced at Rs 40 lakh, a 2010 C200 retailing for Rs 20 lakh and a 2002 E240 at Rs 12.50 lakh.All these cars come with a one-year First Choice 24/7 road-side assistance servi...

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Big end-of-year discounts on luxury cars

The luxury car market is full of serious discounts this month and leading the way is the German trio. Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi are offering selected models at prices difficult to resist.Leading the way is Mercedes-Benz with the E200 CGI. The premium saloon is being offered with a Rs 5.5-lakh cash discount and a petro card worth Rs 2.5 lakh (3,500 litres approximately). This adds up to a massive Rs 8-lakh benefit. The base petrol variant will now cost you only Rs 40 lakh as against Rs 45 lakh on-road Mumbai. The E200 CGI has the same engine used in the C-class developing 183bhp from its 1.8-litre unit. Add the luxuries and space of an E for just about Rs 5 lakh more than the similarly specced C-class and it makes a compelling case for itself. Audi...

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Skoda Rapid launched at Rs 6.75 lakh

Skoda has launched the Rapid saloon in India at a starting price of Rs 6.75 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. The Rapid is available in both petrol and diesel engine options, and offered with manual and automatic variants. Built on the same platform as the Vento (code: VW251), the Skoda iteration (code SK: 251) shares most mechanical bits with the VW saloon which includes engines as well. Hence, the Rapid is powered by the same 1.6 petrol and diesel motors both of which develop 105bhp, but in a slightly different state of tune. In the looks department, the headlights, the grille and the fogs are similar to Skoda’s Fabia. To help the Skoda and VW bits blend, the Rapid gets a new bonnet, new fenders and a mildly altered chin. The bonnet is...

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Suzuki reveals Swift EV Hybrid concept

Suzuki has released details and pictures of a new concept, this time a variant of the Swift, called the Swift EV Hybrid concept.As the name suggests, this concept is powered by an additional battery that helps extend its overall range, a set-up similar to the Chevrolet Volt. While in motion, it is powered first by an electric motor and backed up by a small range-extending petrol engine. On battery power alone, the car has a 30km operating range.No specific details have been mentioned, but it shouldn’t stray too far from the Swift Plug-In concept that was shown at the 2009 edition of the Tokyo Motor Show. The 2009 concept was based on the previous-generation Swift and featured a 658cc mill, offering 54bhp, working in tandem...

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SCOOP! Ford EcoSport coming next year

The new Fiesta may not have taken off quite as strongly as Ford expected it to, but the American carmaker still has a couple of aces up its sleeve. One of them is the yet-to-be-revealed EcoSport.Known internally as the B515, this next-generation EcoSport will be unveiled at the 2012 Auto Expo, followed by a launch in Brazil in the first few months of the year. The current EcoSport is quite popular in Brazil and since India has similar market dynamics to Brazil, Ford is hoping to replicate that success here.The EcoSport is built on Ford’s award-winning, global compact car platform (B2E) developed in association with Mazda, which majors on weight saving and torsional rigidity. Ford wants to milk this platform as much as possible and hence...

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KTM 200 Duke specs here now

KTM and Bajaj Auto have lifted the lid on specifications for the upcoming trendy and radically styled KTM 200 Duke. The exciting and top drawer technology enriched streetbike is all set for an India debut within a few months from now.India’s first Duke comes powered by a 200cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke, four valves, liquid-cooled and fuel injected engine. Bore and Stroke measurements are an ultra short stroke 72mm x 49mm, so expect the 200 to display a big affinity for high revs. Its bantamweight kerb weight of 137kg will make the 200 Duke considerably lighter than every Indian rival in its class, and 25bhp of peak power makes for a solid power-to-weight ratio of 182.4bhp per tonne. Expect a close ratio, six-speed, one-down, five-up shifting...

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Rolls Royce Ghost EWB review, test drive

Rolls-Royce is going the extra length to make the successful Ghost an even bigger success. We give you the big picture.The traffic light to turn left is green. But the lane is choked by Mumbai’s impatient traffic wanting to turn right. There just might be place to squeeze through but I don’t want to be the one to scratch a Rolls, so I wait patiently for the light to change. A traffic police officer sees the car and gets the traffic to clear the lane to let us pass.As the errant bikers and cabbies make way for us, the policeman peers into the rear seat where our photographer Ashley is cosily ensconced. The cop’s eyes battle to recognise him – must obviously be a VIP – lording over the back seat.Yes, when you are in a Rolls-Royce, you are a...

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Mahindra XUV500 vs Tata Aria 4x2

 At first glance, the muscular XUV500 SUV and the MPV-esque Tata Aria look as different as apples and oranges. But it is under the bonnet that differences start to become more pronounced. While the XUV500 is built on a monocoque chassis with a transversely mounted engine, the Aria has a conventional body-on-frame construction with a longitudinally placed motor. The target customer though is the same. Both these ‘lifestyle’ soft-roaders are built to ferry seven passengers in comfort, taking pothole-ridden roads in their stride and making light work of long drives. You can buy either of them for between Rs 11 and 14 lakh. The question then is, which of these homegrown biggies is the best? Style fileThe XUV500 catches your eye instantly...

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Suzuki unveils Regina concept

Suzuki has unveiled details and pictures of an all-new concept car christened Regina. Suzuki calls the Regina a city-car concept that will be placed below the Swift.According to Suzuki, this concept represents the firm's vision of "a next-generation global compact car with excellent fuel efficiency and low emissions thanks to lightness and superior aerodynamics".There are no exact mechanical details revealed yet, but Suzuki says with a conventional petrol motor, this concept could return a fuel economy of at least 32kpl, which translates to a mere 3.1litres/100km.The Regina concept, a 730kg four-seater, is 3550mm long, 1630mm wide and 1430mm tall and has a 2425mm wheelbase. Interior styling is rather minimalistic but is highlighted with all...

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