Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 launched in India

     Audi has launched its supercar R8 in India with V10 engine. R8 is already on sale in India with a V8 engine. The R8 5.2 FSI V10 is priced at Rs. 1,32,49,000/- (ex-showroom Mumbai) as compared to V8 priced at Rs. 1.17 crore.

     The R8 V10 features unique styling difference from V8 with different alloy wheels, prominent V10 badge on the side, oval exhaust pipes and LED headlamps. The V10 engine of R8 produces maximum power of 518 Bhp and maximum torque of 54.1 Kgm. The car does 0-100 Kmph in just 4.1 seconds and moves upto 160 Kmph in 9 seconds.

     The R8 V10 will compete against the Lamborghini Gallarado which is priced at Rs. 2 crore. Audi aims to dominate the supercar segment in India and build on its success in the SUV segment with plans to launch Q3 in competition to recently launched BMW X1. 

Toyota Prius c Concept unveiled at Detroit Auto Show

     Toyota has unveiled Prius c Concept at the North American International Auto Show (Detroit Auto Show) being held at Detroit.

Toyota Prius c Concept Video

Toyota Prius c Concept Pictures

2012 Toyota Prius v unveiled at Detroit Auto Show

     Few days ago we had posted about the Prius MPV with some teaser images. Toyota has unveiled the 2012 Prius v at the Detroit Auto Show. After years of speculation, Toyota has officially announced plans to launch a Prius sub-brand.

 2012 Toyota Prius v Video

2012 Toyota Prius v Pictures

Nissan planning 2 compact cars below Micra for India

     Nissan seams to be bullish on Indian small car market. The company is all geared to have 2 compact cars below Micra to dethrone the market leader Maruti. 

     The first model (code:K2) will be built on two generation old Micra (Code: K11) but will have all new body shell and interiors. The company claims it will save Rs. 50,000 per car by using the old Micra platform, which it can pass on to the customers. It is likely to be priced at Rs. 3.5 lakh and rival against Wagon R and A Star. The car is scheduled for the December 2012 launch. Powering to car will be the same 1.2L petrol motor and a highly fuel efficient 1 liter petrol one might find its place on a later date. K2 will come with 2 wheelbases, the longer one for the export markets. A MPV based on K2 platform is also on the cards for Indonesian markets.

 

Nissan Micra K11

     The second model (Code: I2) is a very ambitious project which Nissan is developing to compete against Alto. The car is developed at Defiance Testing and Engineering of US which was bought by Ashok Leyland, a Nissan partner. Ashok Leyland will take the lead of developing I2 and most of the engineering works will be done in India to keep the costs low. I2 is expected to be priced at Rs. 2.5 lakh to tap the market currently enjoyed by Alto. It is expected be launched by 2013. 

Next Generation Honda Civic unveiled at Detroit

     Honda has come up with two concepts of Civic - Saloon & Coupe at the Detroit Auto Show for North America. Big inspirations from the outgoing Civic R and CR-Z is evident from the designs of the concepts. This is the 9th Generation Honda Civic since 1972.

Mercedes Benz Aesthetics No. 2 Sculpture at Detroit Auto Show

     Right from the origin of automobiles we have seen lot of car designs resembling the Nature. Be it animals or birds, all have inspired the designer to come with a new innovative concept of design. Now Mercedes Benz has designed an innovative concept of Interiors which closly resemble the God's best creation - The Life. The interiors named Aesthetics No. 2 Sculpture resemble the spine and vertebra of an animal. After all its the inspiration from the Nature which has brought to this stage!

“At Mercedes-Benz, automobile design is artistic creation. Inspiration is the pre-condition for the calm, coherent yet passionately emotional design of our cars. In the interior sculpture Aesthetics No. 2 we have allowed creative fantasy to develop freely without constraints,” said Gorden Wagener, Mercedes head of design.


“Soft, gentle and infinitely beautiful is her manner of dealing with her resources, creating impressive aesthetics ever anew. We perceive this in every cell structure, every blossom, every living being. However, we do not simply mimic Nature, but learn instead from the intricate, all-encompassing interplay of her elements – this, too, is a hallmark of art," added Wagener

Maruti Suzuki Alto becomes the largest selling car in the world

     An Indian car setting world record, seams surprise. Yes our Maruti Alto has created a record of selling the largest number of vehicles all over the world for the year 2011. Maruti Also sales rose 25% more with over 3 lakh car sold in the year 2010. 


     Maruti Alto surpassed the cars such as Volkswagen Golf and Fiat Uno which sold in good numbers in Germany and Brazil respectively. Infact Volkswagen's best seller in previous year underperformed this year.

     Maruti Alto was launched in India in 2000 and it took over as the largest selling car in India from M800 in 2006. The newly launched Alto K10 has also been perceived well by Indian customers. Good going Maruti!