Mercedes Maybach S Class makes its official debut at Los Angeles

        Daimler AG unveiled the Mercedes Maybach S Class luxury sedan at the Los Angeles Motor Show 2014. The Maybach nameplate had gone into woods from some time and the company is making its come back in the form of S Class.

        Mercedes Maybach S Class is 200m longer than the regular Merc S class and now stands 5453 mm long. Because of this there is added wheelbase which now measure 3365 mm.

        There are minimal changes in the exterior except for the “Maybach” badging and lettering and shorter rear doors to accommodate the rear quarter glass which is embedded in the C pillar.

        Most of the changes have occurred in the inside of the car. The rear passengers get to enjoy the additional legroom and the backrests now can be adjusted separately. The cushion can also be adjusted individually (inclination and horizontal).

        The Mercedes Maybach S Class will get the tag of “quietest car in the world” thanks to special seals optimizing the noise insulation along with the installation of additional sound deadening material.

        Scheduled to go on sale in February 2015, first the Maybach S Class will be offered in S600 variant with a twin turbo V12 6 liter engine with 530 Hp of power and 830 Nm of torque followed by less powerful S500 and S400 4MATIC variants.

Mercedes Maybach S Class video

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Toyota Prius V facelift 2015 unveiled at Los Angeles Motor Show

        Toyota has unveiled the 2015 Prius V facelift at Los Angeles Motor Show. The 2015 Prius V facelift looks more aggressive now with new front bumper, a revised grill and redesigned headlamps.

        The car now gets new colour themes - Attitude Black Metallic, Absolutely Red and Toasted Walnut Pearl. There are no much changes in the interior except a 8 way power driver’s seat (with power lumbar support) and an Entune infotainment system with 6.1 inch display.

        The Hybrid Synergy Drive system remains the same 1.8 liter Atkinson-cycle engine with electric motors. It produces a combined maximum power output of 134 Bhp and returns around 40 to 44 miles per gallon.

Source: worldcarfans

Toyota Prius V facelift 2015 video

Toyota Prius V facelift 2015 more pictures

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Renault’s new low cost mini SUV spied for the first time

        These are the first spy pictures of Renault’s low cost mini SUV being tested in Europe. We are not sure whether the mini SUV will make it to India in the near future, but it will definitely bring Renault into one of the top car makers in India.

        As seen from the pictures, the front grill gives us a thought that it is a Dacia vehicle. Dacia is the sister concerned company of Renault which makes low cost cars for European markets. In fact the Duster SUV was famous as Dacia Duster before it was launched in India with Renault name.

        The test mule seen looks to be smaller than Duster, which means it might come under 4 meter length mark. The styling of the vehicle looks to be basic and the single wiper gives us the idea what Renault is trying to do, to develop a low cost SUV, which will suit better for developing markets like India.

        If launched in India, the Renault mini SUV will compete with Ford Ecosport, soon to be launched Hyundai min SUV and Mahindra S101, the test mules of which are seen many times on Indian roads.  

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New Mini Cooper launched in India, available in both 3 and 5 door options

        German luxury car maker BMW which owns Mini Cooper has launched the iconic third generation Mini Cooper in India. The new Mini Cooper S is available in both 3 and 5 doors options and is priced at Rs. 31.85 lakh and 35.20 lakh respectively (both prices ex-showroom).

        As of now Mini Cooper is available in only diesel option. The petrol powered Cooper S will come to India in early next year.

        The Cooper S features an all new 1.5 litre twin turbo diesel engine with 114 Bhp of power and 27.5 Kg of torque. Power is delvered to front wheels by 6 speed automatic gearbox. The new Cooper gets a new front and rear suspension and sits on the new UKL platform.

        The new Cooper S is bigger than the earlier model. In the exterior there are some changes such as bulbous and prominent nose, contrasting roof and some decals. In the interior, the speedometer has been moved behind the steering wheel and the central screen makes the pride of the dashboard. 

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Mitsubishi unveils 2015 Triton pickup in Thailand

        Mitsubishi has unveiled the new 2015 Triton pickup in Thailand. The Triton gets an upgrade 9 years after its launch which has been the best selling vehicle in one ton pickup market.

        The new Mitsubishi Triton gets a newly developed 2.4 liter turbo diesel engine that produces 181 Ps of power and 430 Nm of torque. A 2.5 liter variant with 178 Ps and 400 Nm and a 2.4 liter petrol with 128Ps and 194 Nm of torque will also be available when launched. The new Triton will be available in single, double and club cab variant options.

        The triton features 5 or 6 speed manual transmission or a 5 speed automatic one depending up on the engine. A rotary 4WD controller allows the driver to switch between 2WD and 4WD modes.

        The Triton pickup forms the base for the next generation Pajero Sport SUV which is expected to be unveiled for global markets in 2016. 

Mitsubishi Triton 2015 pickup video

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Volkswagen developing low cost MQB platform for emerging markets

        Volkswagen is currently developing a low cost MQB platform for a series of low cost models for emerging markets like India and China.

        Volkswagen’s low cost MQB platform could serve as foundation for Dacia like sub brand which the company mentioned to create in the upcoming markets.

        Volkswagen is planning to cut costs by using less of high strength steel and aluminium. There could also be simpler suspension, more basic interior cabins and also more emphasis on localisation of components depending up on where the car is assembled. 

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Toyota unveils Mirai fuel cell vehicle, has 300 mile range

        Toyota has unveiled the production ready Mirai fuel cell vehicle which has a range of 300 miles before it runs out of hydrogen. The Mirai fuel cell can refill hydrogen in just 5 minutes.

        Mirai meaning “Future” in Japanese gives Toyota an opportunity to get the tag line “the future has arrived”. Toyota Mirai will reach dealerships in japan in April 2015 and later will make its to North American shores as well. Toyota Mirai will cost around $60,000 when launched in Japan. 

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Tata Zest gathers 6 months waiting period

        Tata Zest, the compact sedan from Tata Motors developed under its “Horizonnext” strategy has gathered waiting period of up to 6 months for some of its variants. This brings a long gap for any Tata vehicle to gather this much of waiting period. Its was Nano small car when launched in 2008 had managed to gather some waiting period.

        The long waiting period for Zest is attributed to supply chain constraint and inadequate production capacity. In the month of October 2014, Tata Zest sold more than Honda Amaze, and such popularity of the car had created demand more than the production. Till date Tata Motors has sold over 10,000 units of Zest since its launch in August 2014. According to company sources, the petrol variant of Zest is also gathering momentum in sales. 

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Mahindra P601 pick up mini truck spied, to feature dumbbell shaped headlamp

        Mahindra is testing its P601 pick up mini truck in and around Chennai where it has its R&D facility (Mahindra Research Valley). From the latest spy pictures we see dumbbell shaped headlamps which look cute on this mini truck.

        Looking by the size of the vehicle it might be positioned between Gio and Maxximmo mini truck. It will have payload capacity of 600-700Kg. A rumour of two wheel bases of the vehicle is going around which means the payload can be increased to 1 ton also.

        Mahindra P601 will compete with Tatas range of mini trucks which has seen huge success in this segment. 

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Renault duster discount price 2014

        Renault has slashed prices of Duster SUV, probable to clear 2014 manufactured models. The price slash holds for the AWD Duster also which was launched barely 2 months back.

        Renault Duster RXL which was sold at Rs. 9.69 lakh is now available at Rs. 9.29 lakh, a cool Rs. 50,000 discount. You get Rs. 60,000 discount on Duster RxL AWD variant which is now sold at Rs. 11.29 compared to earlier price tag of Rs. 11.89 lakh (Prices Ex-showroom, New Delhi).

        The initial response received by Duster seems to have gone because of launch of Nissan Terrano. Terrano with its better looks has eaten up Duster sales and Renault is striving hard to maintain sales figures of Duster. Renault says the price slash is for limited period, but we believe it will be effective till this year end. 

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Renault developing 800cc petrol engine for its low cost small car

        For quiet sometime we know about Renault’s plan of launching a low-cost small car in India. The car codenamed XBA is likely to be in Indian showrooms by mid 2015.

        Renault will debut an all new 800cc petrol engine in the low-cost small car. The engine codenamed BR-8 is quiet sophisticated with twin cam, 4 valves per cylinder, 3 cylinder one. Advanced design of the engine will help to deliver excellent power and fuel efficiency.

        Along with the new engine, Renault’s low cost small car will feature Automatic Manual Transmission to compete against recently launched Maruti Alto K10. The car will be priced around Rs. 3 lakh, very close to the Alto K10. 

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Fiat Avventura launched in India

          Fiat has launched Punto Evo based mini SUV named Avventure with a starting price of Rs. 5.99.064 ex-showroom, New Delhi. Fiat Avventura is available in 2 petrol (Active, Dynamic) and 3 diesel (Active, Dynamic and Emotion) options.

          The Avventura seems to have increase in length, width and height because of skid guards, side body cladding, roof rails and tailgate mounted spare wheel. Though the interior is carried from the Punto Evo, features such as soft-touch dashboard, an inclinometer and a compass makes it different that its cousin.

          Powering the Avventura are the same petrol and diesel motors of Punto Evo - the 1.4-liter petrol engine produces 88.73 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 115 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm, and the 1.3-liter diesel makes 91.6 bhp at 4,000 rpm and 209 Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm. Both come with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Fiat Avventura Prices (All prices are ex-Showroom, New Delhi)

1. Fiat Avventura 1.4 P Active – Rs. 5.99 lakhs
2. Fiat Avventura 1.4 P Dynamic – Rs. 7.05 lakhs
3. Fiat Avventura 1.3 D Active – Rs. 6.89 lakhs
4. Fiat Avventura 1.3 D Dynamic – Rs. 7.65 lakhs
5. Fiat Avventura 1.3 D Emotion – Rs. 8.17 lakhs

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New Honda Jazz India launch confirmed for March 2015

        Honda Cars India has confirmed the launch of new Jazz in March 2015. Honda has made it clear that it will price the car competitively so that it does not repeat the mistake it did when the old Jazz was launched in India.

        The good news about the new Jazz is that it will come with a diesel option. The first generation Jazz lacked a diesel option and lost out to its competitors such as Hyundai i20 and Volkswagen Polo who give a diesel option right from the beginning. The Jazz being a highly engineered vehicle stands firm in Honda’s product portfolio for India.

        With its futuristic styling and superb engineering Jazz is going to be the super hatch for India, the segment which is opening its potential of late. 

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Hyundai ix25 compact SUV spied alongside Ecosport and Duster in India

        The compact SUV market is surely hotting up in India. A test mule of Hyundai compact SUV was spotted testing alongside Ford Ecosport and Renault Duster in India. Ford Ecosport is less than 4 meters long and the Dusters is good 4315 mm in length. Hyundai compact SUV, sold as ix25 in China is measures 4.27 meters in length.

        Hyundai has slated its compact SUV launch in India next year. As we have seen Grand i10 and Elite i20 being tested for more than 6 months in India, Hyundai is doing the same for its compact SUV, that is testing the vehicle in Indian conditions for a good amount of time before launching on the road.

        Currently, Ford Ecosport is ruing the compact SUV market, thanks to its good looks and competitive pricing. Hyundai with its fluidic design theme and very good pricing will give a stiff competition to the Ecosport. So will the waiting period for Ecosport will come down, let’s wait till next year? 

Hyundai ix25

Source: Motorbeam.com

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Skoda Yeti facelift launched in India

        Skoda today launched the Yeti facelift in India priced at Rs. 18.62 lakh for 4x2 and Rs. 20.14 lakh for 4x4 variant (Both prices ex-showroom, Mumbai). The Yeti facelift comes with some exterior changes and added equipment as well. The Yeti facelift will be available only in top-of-the line Elegance trim in both 4x2 and 4x4 variants.

        The Yeti facelift now matches with Skoda’s new design language. Changes in the new Yeti are – new front and rear bumpers, bi-xenon headlamps, LED tail-lamps, new housing for the wing mirrors, new alloys and colour options for the roof. Like all the Skodas, Yeti too now gets a new 3 spoke steering wheel.

        Additional features include keyless go, electronically adjustable driver's seat with memory function, telephony controls on the steering, electrically foldable wing mirrors and Bluetooth connectivity on the audio system. On the safety front, the Skoda Yeti gets cruise control, ABS, EBD, brake assist, tyre pressure monitors, ESP and hill-hold.

        There is no change under the hood. The 2.0 Litre TDI engine is retained from the old model. The engine generates two power outputs of 109 Bhp & 138 Bhp in 4x2 and 4x4 variants respectively coupled with 5 & 6 speed manual transmission.

Skoda Yeti facelift prices (ex-showroom, New Delhi):

Skoda Yeti Elegance 4X2 - Rs. 18,99,000
Skoda Yeti Elegance 4X4 - Rs. 20,53,600

Skoda Yeti facelift features:

DESIGN	Elegance
Wheels
Alloy wheels 16inch, Dolomite (2x4), Tyres 215/60 R16	•
Alloy wheels 16inch, Forest (4x4), Tyres 215/60 R16	•
Steel temporary spare wheel 16inch, Tyre 195/60 R16	•
Chrome Package
Chrome surround for radiator grille	•
Chrome trim on controls for infotainment system and air conditioning	•
Chrome trim on steering wheel, gear-shift selector, interior door handles, air conditioning duct sliders, locking button of hand-brake	•
Chrome ring on instrument cluster dials	•
Side Mouldings with Chrome inserts	•
Interior Decor and Colours
Boreal wood design decor on front dashboard and centre console	•
Gobi Sand interior with dual-tone front padded dashboard, centre console and door panels	•
Exterior Colour Coding
Front and rear bumper brush guards, silver colour	•
Roof rails, middle part in silver colour	•
External mirrors in silver colour	•
Door handle in body colour	•
Bi-Color roof, painted (black/white/silver)	•
More
Turn indicator in external mirrors	•
SAFETY
Illumination
Bi-Xenon headlights w/ dynamic levelling and rectractable washers	•
LED daytime running lights	•
LED taillamps	•
Front fog lights	•
Corner function with front fog lights	•
Warning lights on front doors	•
Rear fog light	•
Visibility
Automatically dimming interior rear view mirror	•
Automatically dimming external rear view mirror (driver side)	•
External mirror defogger with timer	•
Rear windscreen defogger with timer	•
Rear windscreen washer and wiper	•
Braking
HHC (Hill Hold Control)	•
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)	•
EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution)	•
HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assistant)	•
MBA (Mechanical Brake Assistant) (for 4x2)	•
Traction
ASR (Anti Slip Regulation)	•
TCS (Traction Control System)	•
EDL (Electronic Differential Lock)	•
DSR (Direct Steering Recommendation)
Stability
ESP (Electronic Stability Programme)	•
Stability
TPM (Tyre Pressure Monitoring)	•
Off-Road Assistant
Hill descent control	•
Drive-off assistant	•
Park Distance Control
Parktronic sensors/speaker at rear	•
Parktronic sensors/speaker at front	•
Parktronic display on central infotainment system	•
Airbags
Dual front airbags	•
Side airbags at front	•
Curtain airbags at front and rear	•
Occupant Restraint
Occupant detection system for front passenger seat with seatbelt warning light	•
Driver seatbelt warning light	•
Seatbelt pre-tensioners for front seats	•
Height adjustable three-point seatbelts at front	•
Three three-point seatbelts at rear	•
Height adjustable head restraints at front	•
Three height adjustable head restraints at rear	•
Two Isofix child-seat preparations on outer rear seats	•
Undercarriage Protection
Cover for the engine and transmission	•
Underbody protective cover	•
Protection for the rear suspension arms	•
More
Acoustic warning signal for overrun speed	•
Fuel supply cut-off in a crash	•
Side door protective strips in Alu-optic	•
Door-open indicator	•
Dual-tone warning horn	•
Child-proof rear window and door locking	•
High level third brake light	•
Emergency triangle in the luggage compartment	•
SECURITY
Electronic Theft Deterrence
Engine immobiliser with floating code system	•
Security code for central infotainment system	•
Remote Operation
Remote control with foldable key, two	•
Remote control locking and unlocking of doors and boot lid	•
Remote control opening and closing of windows	•
KESSY - keyless entry, start and exit system with engine start/stop button	•
COMFORT
Seats
Height adjustment for driver and front passenger seats	•
12 way electrically Adjustable driver seat with 3 programmable memory functions	•
Lumbar support adjustment for driver and front passenger seats	•
Front centre armrest, adjustable for length and height	•
Rear seat centre armrest	•
Entertainment
SKODA audio player with touchscreen controls	•
6.5inch LCD TFT colour display	•
Integrated six-CD changer	•
Eight speakers	•
Audio controls on steering wheel (MultiFunctional steering wheel)	•
SD/MMC data card reader	•
(MDI) Multimedia Device Interface compatible with USB(std, mini, micro)/AuxIn/iPod	•
Climate Control
Climatronic - automatic air conditioning with electronic regulation of cabin temperature	•
Dual-zone Climatronic	•
Adjustable rear air conditioning vents on rear centre console	•
Rear air conditioning vents under front seats	•
Dual Climatronic display	•
Automatic air circulation, including AQS (Air Quality Sensor)	•
Odour filter and pollen filter	•
Upholstery
Leather seat upholstery	•
Leather wrapped steering wheel	•
Leather wrapped gear-shift selector	•
Leather wrapped hand-brake lever	•
External Mirrors
Electrically adjustable/foldable external mirrors with memory and boarding spot lamps	•
Windows
Front and rear electrically adjustable windows	•
One-touch operation	•
Bounce-back system	•
Tinted windows	•
More
Height adjustable steering wheel	•
Length adjustable steering wheel	•
Alu-look pedal covers with rubber anti-slip inserts	•
Textile floor mats	•
CONVENIENCE
VarioFlex
Removable rear seats	•
Adjustment for rear seat backrest inclination	•
Length and lateral adjustment for rear outer seats	•
Telephone Pre-Installation
GSM telephone preparation with Bluetooth®	•
Telephone controls on MuFu steering wheel	•
Bluetooth® audio streaming	•
Information Display
Central infotainment system	•
Multi function display (MFD) of Travelling time, Distance travelled, Average speed, Immediate consumption, Average consumption, Travel distance before refuelling, Service interval, Outside temperature, Clock	•
MaxiDOT – large pixel display of multi function data and warning messages	•
Gear change recommendation indicator	•
Intensity adjustment of instrument illumination	•
Personal Comfort Settings
Electronic setup for MFD, Convenience, Lights and vision, Time, Winter tyres, Language, Units, Assistant, Alternate speed display, Service interval	•
Electronic Driving Aid
Automatic front wiper system with rain sensor	•
Cruise Control	•
Exterior Illumination
Light Assistant - coming home and leaving home lights	•
Boarding spot lamps	•
Interior Illumination
Reading lamps at the front and rear	•
Illumination of front glovebox	•
Illumination of luggage compartment	•
More
12V power socket in centre console	•
12V power socket in luggage compartment	•
Front sun visors with vanity mirrors	•
Two foldable roof handles, at front and rear	•
Lights-on acoustic signal	•
Rear mud flaps	•
STORAGE
Luggage Compartment
416 litres luggage compartment space	•
1485 litres of total luggage space with rear seats folded forward	•
1665 litres of total luggage space with rear seats removed	•
Four adjustable and foldable baggage hooks on horizontal rails in luggage compartment	•
Four fixed load anchoring points in luggage compartment	•
Rear seat centre armrest with through-loading	•
Three-part split and completely folding rear seats	•
Storage compartments in side panels under luggage compartment floor	•
Table function on rear middle seat	•
Removable rear parcel shelf	•
Passenger Compartment
Storage compartment under the front passenger seat	•
Storage compartment on the top of central dashboard, closed	•
Jumbo box – storage compartment under front centre armrest, with cooling	•
Front glovebox with cooling and illumination	•
Bottle holders in the front and rear doors	•
Cup holders in the front centr console and rear seat centre armrest	•
Storage compartments in the front and rear doors	•
Eyewear (glasses) compartment	•
Storage compartments in the front and rear centre console	•
Storage pockets on the backrest of the front seats	•
More
Roof rails	•
Coat hook on rear roof handles and B pillars	•
Ticket holder on A pillar	•
Retaining strip on front sun visors	•

• - standard equipment

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