BMW 1-Series facelift unveiled

when BMW launched their cheapest ever BMW 1-series globally as well as in India, the very first reaction from everyone was - How weird does it looks? Yes, we know looks can be subjective, but the 1-series was genuinely an ugly looking car. And now BMW has given it a much needed major cosmetic upgrade. BMW has officially revealed the facelifted BMW 1-series, which looks far better than the current generation.

To start with the makeover, the whole front fascia has been redesigned. It now gets the bigger air intakes and different kidney grille with chrome accents. The headlights are new and attractive with standard LED DRLs. The car looks more wider from the side, thanks to more muscular wheel arches and the rear gets two-piece taillights extending onto the trunk lid with L-shaped graphics.

On the inside, the facelifted BMW 1-Series gets new upholstery options, a 6.5 inch central display and a Controller unit mounted on the center console. The buttons and knobs gets a chrome surrounds now and the keypads of the radio and climate control system benefit from high-gloss black detailing. The dual-zone climate system features a white light in daytime mode and orange in night mode.

If you are ready to shell out more money, you can get full LED headlights (including indicators) as well as adaptive LED headlights with High Beam Assistant function and LED fog lights with cornering. You can also opt for more expensive navigation system with a 8.8 inch screen. As far as the engines are concerned, both the three- and five-door 1-Series have received a revamped engine lineup.

116i: three-cylinder 1.5 litre with 109 hp & 180 Nm

118i: four-cylinder 1.6 litre with 136 hp & 220 Nm

120i: four-cylinder 1.6 litre with 177 hp & 250 Nm

125i: four-cylinder 2.0 litre with 218 hp & 310 Nm

116d & 116d Efficient Dynamics Edition: three-cylinder 1.5 litre with 116 hp & 270 Nm

118d & 118d xDrive: four-cylinder 2.0 litre with 150 hp & 320 Nm

120d & 120d xDrive: four-cylinder 2.0 litre with 190 hp & 400 Nm

125d: four-cylinder 2.0 litre with 224 hp & 450 Nm

Porsche, Mercedes building electric cars to challenge Tesla

According to reports,sources from Porsche, Mercedes, and Audi said that they are all readying electric cars to respond “to the success of the Californian newcomer Tesla with its Model S.”

Porsche’s chairman Matthias Müller reportedly said that the company is working on an all-electric car that will be based on the company’s Modular Standard Platform (Modularer Standardantrieb-Baukasten in German, or MSB for short) and look similar to the company’s Panamera (which has already been introduced with a hybrid electric engine).

The car will be "an advanced battery-powered variant [that] is tasked with challenging the Model S on both performance and range,” Autocar UK says. The publication added that Porsche is aiming for a curb weight lower than the 4,647 lbs of Tesla’s Model S in its forthcoming car, and that it will come with a synchronous electric motor with horsepower comparable to the Model S.

Although details about the car are slim, Manager says that the car won’t be released until 2018 at the earliest.

Mercedes sources also told the publication that the company had a Tesla competitor in the works, but the projected timeline for such a car is further out; an all-electric sedan won’t be ready until 2021, sources say. According to the blog Gas2, Mercedes’ battery is currently too big to fit in the car maker’s current models, so some redesigning will reportedly be necessary.

And its well-known that Audi is further along in building an electric car aimed at potential Tesla buyers. The recently announced Audi Q8 e-tron, for example, is anticipating a release in 2017. But the Q8 won’t compete with Tesla’s current Model S, industry watchers say; instead, with that car, Audi has its sights on the Model X SUV that Tesla intends to ship in March 2015.

Autocar suggests that Porsche’s coming electric car battery could be produced in partnership with Audi, which is also finalizing its R8 e-tron electric car.

Nissan Datsun Go To Be Launched In India On March 19

One of the most eagerly awaited hatches, the Datsun GO will be launched in India on March 19 in New Delhi.

The Indian launch will mark the brand's return to the world stage after decades. We have driven the Datsun GO and the entry-level hatchback justifies all the hype surrounding it.

Nissan revived the Datsun brand with a focus on affordable entry-level cars.

The car's production started last month at the company's Oragadam facility in Tamil Nadu. It will be priced under Rs 4 lakh, but does not feel cheap and is quite good-looking for an entry level car.

The GO has good cabin space and performance is more than enough for the urban commute.

The car has 170mm of ground clearance and gets 13-inch steel rims. Safety, however, is not up to the mark with none of the model trims getting ABS or airbags even as options.

The car will be powered by 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol which gives 67PS and 106Nm of torque.

Hyundai Xcent Launching Tomorrow

Hyundai seems to be on a roll! Having shaken the small car space with the Grand i10 unlike any other product before it, save for Maruti's Swift, the Korean auto maker is going to announce its entry into the sub-4 metre sedan segment - a category that's done wonders for Maruti Suzuki, and Honda, of late. Popularly mentioned in the motoring world as the Grand i10 sedan, the Xcent will be launched tomorrow.

Hyundai had revealed the Xcent to the media just before the commencement of Auto Expo and the press world went crazy talking about it - rightly so. The Xcent is based on the Grand i10 platform, and taking cue from how rounded the hatchback is as a mechanical product, and how brilliantly it's done in the market, the compact sedan is expected to mirror that performance. Expected, mind you.

The comact sedan segment was, in essence, create by Tata Motors when it came out with the Indigo CS. Maruti Suzuki soon followed suit with its Swift-based Dzire and has been the strongest player in the segment ever since. Honda, however, did worry Maruti a fair bit when the Amaze was introduced. The fact that it was a serious effort from a company like Honda, no less, and also that it came with the first ever diesel engine (for India) from the chaps at Minato, Tokyo, shifted the market sentiment heavily in favour of Honda.

But Hyundai has added the spice that Maruti and Honda would've been keen to avoid for some more time. We compare the three - the Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze and the Maruti Suzuki Dzire to checkout if the fight will get any bloodier!

When it comes to design, the Honda does look more striking. There is a bit of modernity to it and though the front bears resemblance to the Brio hatchback, it does have its own character. The Xcent on the other hand carries over the front fascia of the Grand i10 but the boot could be slightly better integrated. It does look a bit odd from the rear. Now, the Swift Dzire does fail to appeal in this department. It looks similar to the Swift and Maruti has not really thought about the rear. It looks like it was done in a hurry.

Obviously, all the three mentioned cars are less than four metres in length. We don't have the spec-sheet of the Xcent yet but since it is on the hatchback (the Grand i10) the basic width and height would remain unchanged. The wheelbase is said to be changed - we'll let you know about the exact dimensions when we get them. Which will be tomorrow.

The Swift Dzire at 3,995mm is the longest in the segment while the Amaze scores a close second measuring in at 3,990mm. The Swift is 1,695mm wide; the Amaze is 1,680mm while the Xcent (going on the Grand i10's figures) is the narrowest of the lot with 1660mm.

A bit of engine-talk now. The Dzire gets the 1.2-litre K-series petrol engine and the 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel. The Honda Amaze gets a four-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre petrol engine. The Xcent might carry forward the same engine from the Grand i10 and it will get the 1.2-litre Kappa petrol and the 1.1-litre, 3 cylinder diesel engine.

On the transmission front, the Amaze and the Swift Dzire get a five-speed manual as standard. But the petrol variants also get the auto-box. Expect the Xcent to get the 5-speed manual or the 4-speed auto box

As for features, all the cars will be evenly matched. But since the Xcent is the most recent of the launches, it will come with some best-in-class features like push button start-stop system, rear AC vents and two-din audio system with 1GB of memory. There will also be automatic climate control on offer (just like in the Dzire) and even safety features like ABS and Airbags will form part of the car.

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire still holds a strong influence in this segment, but if there's any manufacturer that's spoiled Maruti's game, it's mostly been Hyundai. This may not be any different. It's difficult to overthrow the Dzire as the segment bestseller, but Hyundai will definitely make a heavy dent in its numbers - or so we expect. The Honda Amaze too, new to the segment, remains a strong contender. At the end of the day, it will come down to the price of the Xcent and Hyundai will make no mistake in seeing that it prices the car just right.

Fiat Unveils All New Linea Sedan

Fiat Group Automobiles India Limited today launched an updated version of its Linea sedan, priced between Rs 7.14 lakh and Rs 9.86 lakh (ex-showroom Chandigarh). The new Linea, which will be available in both petrol and diesel variants, comes equipped with various new features including cruise control and dual stage airbags.

Manager-Sales, Sarvpriy Kaushik said during the launch that "Fiat India has 11 dealers in Punjab and would add four new dealers by the end of the calendar year. During the same period the number of dealers would go up from current 104 to 150”. He said that Fiat will also be launching more models this year. The company is planning to have a product portfolio of five vehicles by the end of this year. By 2016, the company plans to have nine models in the country.

Fiat currently sells two models, Linea Classic, which was launched last year and compact hatchback Punto in the country. While Linea Classic would cater to the low end of C-segment, the new Linea would cater to the high end of the segment, commented Rakesh Gupta and Maneet Singh, dealers of Fiat for Mohali and Chandigrh.

Volvo S80 To Be Showcased On March 19th In India

Volvo India, the Indian arm of the Swedish automaker Volvo AG, will showcase the 2014 S80 at Terminal 3, Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. The day will also mark the opening of the first ever Volvo lounge at Terminal 3. The company has been already displaying its new XC60 and S60 at the airport after signing the deal to create the lounge.

Volvo S80 has been the company's one of the top-selling products, globally. Now with some cosmetic changes and more equipments, the upgraded S80 is surely a more feature-rich product than ever. On the outside, the Volvo S80 facelift gets new bumpers, rectangular daytime running lights and round shaped tail-lights, which give the car a more contemporary look. Some other features will be active high-beam control, heated steering wheel and windscreen.

Other than the new leather seats, no changes are expected inside the cabin. Mechanically, the car will remain unchanged; so, it will continue to derive its power from the existing 2.0-litre, in-line, twin-turbo diesel engine. This engine churns out a maximum power output of 163bhp at 3500rpm, while yielding 400Nm of peak torque.

Renault Unveils Duster Adventure Edition At Rs 12.18 Lakh

Renault had showcased a special edition of its Duster SUV at the Auto Expo 2014 and now, the carmaker has launched this model. The Renault Duster Adventure edition is priced at Rs 12.18 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and is a trim of the 110 PS RxL model. The special edition gets extra cosmetic touches and some additional kit.

On top of the features available on the 110 PS RxL variant, the Renault Duster Adventure edition gets smoked headlights, door side sill, ‘armouring’ on headlamps, cladding on wheel arches and moulding on the sides. There’s Adventure decals on the tailgate D-pillar and new alloys to distinguish it from the standard SUV. On the inside, the centre console and steering come with piano black finish, the grab handles are finished in silver and there’re lime green seat upholstery and fabric panels on the doors.

That’s all the additions on the Renault Duster Adventure edition and mechanically, it is identical to the standard RxL variant. It still uses the same 1.5-litre diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

Audi Unveils Sedan A3

German luxury car maker Audi today unveiled its much-awaited sedan A3 in the country and said it will be formally launched in the domestic market by mid-2014.

The Audi A3 is expected to be its cheapest sedan. However, the company declined to give any price range for the new vehicle. At present, the Q3 S is the cheapest Audi available at Rs 24.99 lakh.

"This is the right car at the right time. Among our top 10 priority markets, India is one of them. We will launch the car by mid-2014," Audi AG Vice President (Overseas Sales) Terence Johnson told media.

He said that in 2013, the company has achieved new sales record in 40 markets and India was one of them. It has sold 10,002 units in 2013, an increase of about 11 per cent over the previous year.

"We believe this market has tremendous potential for further growth of brand Audi. Reaffirming our commitment to the Indian market, we are bringing the Audi A3 Sedan. We expect the Indian market to continue to grow and to contribute substantially to Audi's global sales," he added.

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Hero Motocorp Bets Big On Scooters

Hero MotoCorp said it will launch three new scooter models and a variant by March 2016, a move that is likely to drive up competition in the country's scooter market.

While the first model 110-cc Dash will be rolled out in the first half of the next fiscal, the 125-cc Dare will hit the road in the second half of FY 15, Hero MotoCorp managing director and chief executive Pawan Munjal said.

Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor unveiled the three models at the Auto Expo. Hero MotoCorp is the second largest scooter maker in India.

However, the 150-cc Zir model will be launched in the first half of the financial year 2015-16, Munjal said, adding a European style step-through variant of ZIR will also be rolled out.

"Having seen a much faster pace than the industry in the scooter market, we are rapidly expansing our scooter portfolio with the clear objective of attaining leadership in this segment as well. Our new range of models is a reflection of our strong technology prowess and determination to keep innovating in order to expand our global foot print," Munjal said.

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Terra Motors Unveils Electric Superbike Kiwami

Japan’s largest electric vehicle maker Terra Motors Corporation  ventured into India with the introduction of the country’s first ever 1,000-cc electric superbike Kiwami at a price of  Rs. 18 lakh.

With the aim to attract the youth, motorcycle enthusiasts and urban consumers who look for eco-friendly variants, Kiwami which in Japanese means ‘ultimate’, produces a maximum power of 13.4 bhp and a top speed of 160 kph. The bike can be fully charged in six hours and has a range of 200 km.

“India is the second largest producer of two-wheelers in the world. Hence, it is an important market in our strategic growth plan and we intend to invest Rs. 300 million ( Rs. 30 crore) in the Indian market next fiscal year,” said Toru Tokushige, chief executive officer (CEO), Terra Motors. “The electric vehicle market in India is very fragmented and consumers do not have a high image of the segment.

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Hero Motocorp Diesel Vehicle Unveiled

In a technological showcase designed to highlight the company's future plans, Hero MotoCorp unveiled on Wednesday a diesel-electric hybrid scooter concept, 'RNT', which sports what is likely the world's first and smallest diesel engine for two-wheelers. This was part of a showcase of five completely new products, which will be shown at the Auto Expo and, of which, four will be launched from the April-June, 2014 quarter.

“Ahead lies a very promising destiny. We want to become a global brand, which we cannot without a full range. A year ago I had promised a new range of technologically superior two-wheelers, we needed some time to go back to the drawing board,” said Pawan Munjal, Hero MotoCorp's MD & CEO, while referring to the company's new global strategy after splitting from Japanese giant Honda in 2011.

From just over 6-million-unit sales today, Hero is targeting 10 million units by 2016-17, of which 1 million will come from overseas markets. Hero was previously restricted by the JV with Honda to enter global markets or start its R&D, which it has since become aggressive about.

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Mercedes Unveils C-Class Grand Edition At Rs. 36.81 Lakh

German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday launched the C-Class Grand Edition, both in petrol and diesel variants, priced at Rs. 36.81 lakh and Rs. 39.16 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) respectively in the domestic market.

The auto major, which reported a 32 per cent growth in volumes at 9,003 in the last calendar year over 2012, also rolled out the 50,000th car from its Chakan plant in Pune.

"An AMG body styling with front and rear apron and side sill panels and 17-inch 5-twin-spoke light alloy wheels with black AMG hub caps makes the C-Class GRAND EDITION distinctive in its appearance," Mercedes-Benz India said on its website.

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Kawasaki Launched Z800 In India At Rs 8.05 Lakh

Kawasaki has added a seventh motorcycle to its lineup in India with the launch of the Z800 at Rs 8.05 lakh . This is the fifth CBU Kawasaki to go on sale in India. Kawasaki has rapidly expanded their range in India once they began their CBU operations with the excellent Ninja ZX10-R. The company aims to sell around 400 of the five CBU models this year.
"In 2014, we expect to sell around 400 units of five CBU models in the country, including the Z800," India Kawasaki Motors deputy managing director Shigeto Nishikawa told media. He added that the company also plans to sell around 1,400 units of Ninja 300 and Ninja 650 models, which are assembled in India.
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