TVS Phoenix 125 launched

TVS has launched its Phoenix 125 motorcycle. The Phoenix 125 comes with a new 125cc EcoThrust engine that TVS claims comes with excellent pickup & best in class fuel efficiency. Speaking at the launch, Venu Srinivasan, chairman, TVS Motor Company said, “We have developed an all new engine for this motorcycle. It complements several unique features to ensure ‘premium ride quality’. With this launch, we hope to increase our market share in the segment. This launch also completes our motorcycle product portfolio.” The motorcycle features a fully digital speedometer with an amber backlight, a digital fuel gauge, low battery reminder, trip meter, service reminder, soft texture grips & soft touch switchgear. The company has also...

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Nissan launched new Evalia MPV

Nissan has launched the Evalia MPV at a price range of Rs 8.49 9.99 lakh. Available in four trim levels, the Evalia will be powered by a 1.5 litre dCi diesel motor churning out 84bhp & 20.4kgm of torque. Priced at Rs 8.49, the base XE variant gets basic features like power steering with tilt adjust, electric wing mirrors, a single DIN music system with two speakers & aux connectivity, & a multi information display. The next trim level XE+ costs Rs 8.92 lakh. It gets all the features of the base XE & also comes with driver & passenger airbags. The third variant, the XL is priced at Rs 9.49 lakh & apart from the features of the XE+, it also gets remote controlled central locking, power windows,...

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Spy Pictures of new Next-gen Honda CR-V

Honda is readying the new generation CR V soft roader for an Indian launch as is evident from these pictures. Alert reader Vivek Sharma spotted this test mule in Noida. The next generation CR V made its debut internationally in June, 2011 at the L.A. Auto Show, & is expected to be launched in India in early 2013. The new CR V features an evolved look with quirky modern details & sound dimensions & proportions. At the rear, the company has retained the vertical tail light design of the current car. We drove the car for our October 2012 issue & found that the interiors, just like the exteriors, have adopted an evolutionary change. The car has plenty of boot space & the large cargo compartment becomes enormous...

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Test Drive and Review of new Maruti Alto 800

It’s not everyday that you get to test a car that’s likely to be a surefire best seller, but that’s just what this is    a first drive of Maruti’s all new Alto 800, a car that in all probability will start life at the top of the sales charts. The new Alto is a car Maruti has poured its heart & soul into to get right. What the company wants is continuity & progress. It wants the Alto 800 to take off from where the current Alto stands today, & for that Maruti’s designers have given it an identity that is instantly recognizable.  So there’s an overriding feeling of familiarity as you walk upto the car. The compact dimensions, the high mounted headlights & the thick ‘C’ pillar at the rear of the car tell...

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Review and Test drive of Chevrolet Sail U-VA

The Chevrolet Sail U VA will be the first model to come out of the GM SAIC joint venture. This car, which will replace the Aveo U VA will ive into a cut throat & ruthlessly competitive segment. It will face stiff competition from considerably talented cars, like the Maruti Swift, Ford Figo & Toyota Etios Liva. So does it have enough oomph to take on the rest? Read on to find out. The Sail, though nice looking, is styled to fit the ‘please all, displease none’ mould, & as a result looks a bit too generic & tame. The lines of the car are neat, the skinning is very modern & there are no unnecessarily exaggerated features. The angled headlights wrap around the nose quite nicely & the rising windowline makes the Sail...

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Review and Test Drive of new Mahindra Quonto

We first broke the news of the ‘mini Xylo’ (code: U203) on our website on June 3, 2010, & it’s been no secret Mahindra has been developing its own sub 4 metre car, one that has finally taken shape as this, the Quanto. The case for chopping the Xylo’s length was to qualify the Quanto as a small car and, correspondingly, a lower 12 percent rate of excise duty. But is this more of a compromise or does the Quanto fit the bill as a mini SUV? From the front there’s little to distinguish the Quanto from the facelifted Xylo. The ‘V’ on the bonnet is more defined, & there’s a new lip above the toothed grille, but this apart the two cars are near identical upto the rear doors. Where the Quanto looks totally different is from the tail. The...

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Mercedes B-class is launched at Rs 21.49 Lakh in India

Mercedes Benz has launched the B class in India with a starting price tag of Rs 21.49 lakh for the base B 180 petrol variant. The B class is the first offering from Mercedes to sit on the new front wheel drive (MFA) platform. This platform is used in the new A class, & will also do duty in the upcoming A class based saloon & in a compact SUV as well. A four cyl in line, 1595cc, direct injection, turbo petrol motor powers the B class mated to a 7 speed dual clutch ’box. A 1.8 litre diesel motor will join the petrol unit later next year. As expected, the Mercedes B 180 BlueEfficiency comes loaded with features like a start stop system, airbags, attention assist, hill start  & brake assist, & a panoramic...

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Piaggio's Vespa LX 125 review and test drive

Vespa’s return to India comes in good time, when the scooter market here is showing healthy growth & ample promise. The LX125 is well suited to India. Everything was beginning to seem picture perfect, till Vespa announced the LX125’s unusually high price. Let’s find out whether the Indo Italian newcomer has what it takes to justify asking a premium over its rivals. Design Arguably the best looking Indian scooter, the Vespa LX125 is perfectly proportioned, its smoothened, timeless lines having been well received ever since first seen back in the 1940’s. It’s rounded front apron runs a smart border, above which sits a rounded clear lens, halogen headlight that brightens up inky nights. The new Vespa has top quality, elegantly...

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MIni has revealed new Paceman

The Mini Paceman three door coupe is officially revealed in the pictures which will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in this month. Mini will offer the Paceman in 7 variants. The base spec Cooper is driven by 119bhp, 16.3kgm version of the turbocharged 1.6 litre, four pot petrol motor. The more powerful Cooper S has 181bhp & 24.5kgm of torque, & can sprint from 0 100kph in 7.5sec. It is available in front wheel drive & four wheel drive ‘ALL4’ variants, as are both the diesels on offer. The cheapest diesel option is the front wheel drive Cooper D, which produces 110bhp & 27.5kgm of torque mated to a six speed manual transmission. The Cooper SD produces 141bhp & 31.1kgm of torque in two wheel drive form. The...

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Tata launches a campaign ‘Nano: Art in Motion’

Tata Motors inaugurates campaign that will see artists paint the Nano in bright colours. Finished car to tour Mumbai during Ganesh festival. Tata Motors has launched its latest marketing campaign, ‘Nano: Art in Motion’. As part of this campaign, artists will use the Tata Nano as a canvas to paint the car in bright colours. The first car will be painted by artists Sangeeta Babani & Anil Dingankar, an upcoming artist, from September 14   September 16 at High Street Phoenix in Mumbai. Once painted, this transformed Nano will tour the city during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, visiting pandals, orphanages & schools along the way. Fans of the hatchback can also be a part of this campaign by registering for the ‘Catch...

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Review and test drive of new Audi S4

It looks like an A4, bolts like Usain & sounds like the build up to a storm. That, in a nutshell, is the Audi S4. It may look subtle & very domesticated, but, make no mistake, there is nothing delicate about the 3.0 litre, supercharged V6 under the hood. It’s the same as the one in the A6, except it makes exactly 38bhp more, in a car that weighs 110kg less. Let’s get the numbers out of the way – they are quite stunning, but there’s a lot more to this car than its 0 100kph time of 5.6sec. You’ll get to its top speed of 250kph very quickly too. But what makes the S4 special is that it rides well. Yes, you heard right – the ride is fantastic. Audi has resisted going the ‘Nürburgring lap record’ way & stuck to...

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