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 about.

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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 book.

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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 Kapoor.

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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 decelerating.

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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 effect.

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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 Board.

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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 tightly screwed down and hence rattles are unlikely to creep in, which bodes well for extended use.

The Koleos comes loaded with 17-inch alloy wheels, a split tail-gate, cruise control, tray tables behind front seats, a Bose sound system with Bluetooth, steering-mounted audio controls, six airbags and a five-year, 10,000km anti-rust warranty.

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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 in the range of Rs 6.44-7.87 lakh while the Liva diesel is at Rs 5.54 lakh (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).

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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 phased in across Mercedes’ range over the next few years. Described by Merc insiders as a “soft nose”, it features a gaping grille that’s similar to one already introduced on the SLS. Mercedes says the grille treatment — which sits separate from the engine cover — helps to make the bonnet look longer.

The CLS’s flanks feature the same rear wheel arch bulge as the current E-class. The single, uninterrupted crease that ran from nose to tail on the old car is replaced by a line that falls from above the front wheel arch to the middle of the rear door.

At either side of the grille, the CLS comes with headlight units made up entirely from LEDs. Each set-up contains 70 LEDs, which work on dipped and main beam, sidelights and indicators.

The dashboard is an evolution of the current E-class design, with more flashes of chrome around the main dials and metal-finish buttons, and an analogue clock mounted in the centre of the fascia. Five interior colours, five trim designs and three grades of leather will be offered.

The CLS 350, priced at Rs 67.67 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) is powered by a 3.5-litre motor that produces 306bhp.  

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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, chairman, PSA Peugeot Citroën, presided over the agreement signing ceremony. Philippe Varin said, “We are proud to announce this new milestone in Peugeot’s continued global expansion and to have chosen to grow our Indian roots in the State of Gujarat. We view India as one of the most important and dynamic markets in the world, with forecasts of it becoming the third largest automotive market by 2020.”

Peugeot was earlier expected to set up its India base in Chennai. The Tamil Nadu government had made an announcement to this effect in June.

With its arrival in the Indian market, Peugeot adds a new milestone to its development. Peugeot, which boasts of being the first carmaker to launch a diesel hybrid, says it will build on its 200 years of industrial experience to bring its deep engineering expertise and innovation to India.

The company’s India investment emphasises the brand’s long term vision to offer its customers and dealers a wide range of products progressively introduced and well adapted to the market. Now that it has announced its arrival, Peugeot will be present at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi in January.

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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 have been redesigned and now look more like the ones on the bigger E-class. Also new is the panoramic sunroof
Additional features include Attention Assist along with PreSafe, Neck Pro, and Adaptive Braking safety systems. Apart from that it gets Agility Control package which changes the damper settings to alter the ride and handling balance.
Read the detailed review of the new C-class in the latest issue of AUTOCAR INDIA.

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