jaguar 's V6 TURBO 4 CYLINDER ENGINE

Jaguar Bringing in Supercharged V6 and Turbo Four-cylinder Engines

The British auto marque, Jaguar has announced that its engine line-up is going to get a bit enhanced with the introduction of two new forced induction powerplants. The announcement of this engine has been made before the commencement of the Beijing Auto Show 2012. These two new engines would be mated to eight-speed ZF transmission which is highly efficient. Out of the two engines being introduced, 3.0-liter V6 supercharged engine is more powerful producing 340 hp or 380 hp depending upon the configuration. This V6 engine is an all aluminum engine and has been derived from the 5.0-liter V8 of Jaguar. The significant features of this engine are direct injection, quad cams, roots-type twin vortex supercharger along with a water-cooled intercooler.

The compression ratio of the 3.0-liter engine is 10.5:1 and is higher than that of the 5.0-liter supercharged engine which is 9.5:1. The other engine being offered is the 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder engine that is capable of producing a power of 240 hp. This engine is already doing duty in the Range Rover Evoque. The company has not revealed anything about the vehicles being equipped with this engine. In the press release of these engines, it was also stated that the 3.0-liter V6 supercharged engine that is capable of producing 380 hp will be hustling inside the high output variant of the forth coming Jaguar F Type Roadster which is scheduled for the launch somewhere in 2013. This F-Type Roadster can also derive power from the 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder engine. 

fastest ever build ferrari

Announcing the F12berlinetta: the fastest Ferrari ever built

Today’s on-line unveiling of the F12berlinetta ushers in a new generation of Ferrari 12-cylinders in the form of a car that delivers unprecedented performance from an exceptional new engine, combined with innovative design that redefines classic themes along with extreme aerodynamics. Revealed to the world for the first time on Ferrari.com in preparation for its official debut at the Geneva International Motor Show, the F12berlinetta, finished in an attractive new Rosso Berlinetta three-layer colour, represents the very cutting-edge of mid-front-engined sports cars. This is, in fact, the most powerful and high-performance Ferrari road car ever launched thanks to the incredibly efficient engine – in terms of mechanical, combustion and fluid-dynamics efficiency – which, together with advanced vehicle architecture, aerodynamics, components and electronic controls, guarantee unsurpassed driving involvement whatever the road or track.

Ferrari’s traditional transaxle layout has been revolutionised to match the more extreme performance of the car. The wheelbase has been shortened and the engine, dashboard and seats have been lowered in the chassis, while the new layout of the rear suspension and gearbox enabled Ferrari’s engineers to make the rear volume of the car smaller. The overall result is a very compact car with a lower centre of gravity that is further back in the chassis, and a level of aerodynamic efficiency that sets new standards. Scaglietti, renowned for its expertise in aluminium materials and construction, designed an all-new spaceframe chassis and bodyshell using 12 different kinds of alloys, some of which have been used here for the first time in the automotive sector, and employing new assembly and joining techniques. This has resulted in a 20 per cent increase in structural rigidity while reducing weight to just 1525 kg (70 kg less than the previous V12 coupé) with an ideal distribution between the axles (54 per cent over the rear). The F12berlinetta’s 6262cc 65° V12 engine delivers unprecedented performance and revs for a naturally-aspirated 12-cylinder. Its maximum power output is 740 CV which

translates to a specific output of 118 CV/l. Torque reaches a peak of 690 Nm, 80 per cent of which is already available at just 2,500 rpm, and which provides an unrelenting surge of acceleration all the way to the 8,700 rpm limit. The engine is mated to the F1 dual-clutch transmission, which has closer gear ratios developed specifically for this car’s performance. The F12berlinetta boasts a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.1 kg/CV . Fuel consumption has been reduced by 30%, with CO2 emissions of just 350 g/km – figures which put the F12berlinetta at the top of the high-performance league. These results have been obtained by extensive research and development which focused on efficiencies of the whole vehicle: engine, aerodynamics, tyres and weights. Similarly excellent results have been obtained with the car’s aerodynamic development, thanks to the integration of the design process with extensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and lengthy testing in the wind tunnel. Downforce has been boosted by 76 per cent (123 kg at 200 km/h) while drag has been significantly reduced (the Cd is just 0.299). These results come courtesy of two new solutions. The first of these is the Aero Bridge which uses the bonnet to generate downforce by channelling air away from the upper part of the car to its flanks where it interacts with the wake from the wheel wells to decrease drag. The second is Active Brake Cooling, a system that opens guide vanes to the brake cooling ducts only at high operating temperatures, again reducing drag.

The F12berlinetta’s impressive technical specifications are completed by Ferrari’s latest generation carbon-ceramic brakes (CCM3) and the evolution of the magnetorheological suspension control system (SCM-E). As is now traditional with all Ferraris, its control systems (E-Diff, ESP Premium, F1-Trac, and high-performance ABS) are all fully integrated. The result is that the new Prancing Horse 12-cylinder accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.1 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h in 8.5 seconds. It also completes a lap of the Fiorano circuit in 1’23”, faster than any other Ferrari road car. Benchmark performance and maximum driving involvement are guaranteed by immediate turn-in, with smaller steering wheel angles, and increased cornering speed. Stopping distances have also been drastically reduced. The design of the F12berlinetta is a result of the collaboration between the Ferrari Styling Centre and Pininfarina and is a perfect balance of uncompromising aerodynamics with harmonious proportions interpreting the typical elements of Ferrari’s front-engined V12 cars in an original and innovative way. A coupé with sleek, aggressive lines whose compact exterior dimensions conceal exceptional in-car space and comfort. The all-new Frau leather interior highlights the balance of advanced technology and sophisticated, handcrafted detailing. In the middle of the light and lean dashboard, there are new carbon fibre and aluminium air vents clearly inspired by the aeronautic field. The cabin has been optimised to ensure maximum usability of the interior space with additional luggage capacity behind the seats, which can also be easily reached thanks to the large aperture offered by the tail-gate. With the cockpit designed around the driver, typical of all Ferraris, the Human Machine Interface approach is emphasised, grouping all the major commands within immediate reach to guarantee maximum ergonomics for the most involving driving experience.

NEW FERRARI 458 ITALIA ,

Ferrari to unveil special edition of 458 Italia at Beijing Motor Show

The upcoming Beijing Motor Show will too have its share of a grand revelation with Ferrari 458 Italia’s special edition. This special edition of Ferrari 458 will be limited to 20 units only and is specially created to memorialize the company’s 20th anniversary in China. This special edition is designed with China in mind. The car is exemplified by various Chinese elements including the color. The car is finished in a special and new shade of red known as Marco Polo Red. The color and other apparels of the car are inspired from the Chinese ‘longma’ theme which represents ‘the vigor and spirit of the legendary dragon-horse’.

A golden dragon symbol offset by gold and black race strips, sits on the front bonnet of the special edition of 458. The hint of gold is rendered to the rims and the winglets and also to the interiors of the car that reflect traces of ‘longma’ theme. On the inside the head rests on the seats are picturesquely embroidered in gold color which is a significant element of the Chinese culture. The dashboards of all 20 cars admit a tablet with the words ‘20th Anniversary Special Edition’ engraved on it and the engine start buttons are inscribed with simplified Chinese characters for ‘start’.

At the Italia Centre of the Shanghai World Expo Park, the Italian auto giant, Ferrari will also be inaugurating its first permanent brand exhibition on the outside of Maranello. This exhibition will cover 900 sq. meters in the Expo Park and will last for three years. Some of the best collection from the Maranello Museum will be exhibited during these three years. The collection would be divided into five topics including Ferrari in China, green technology, product, design and racing. In this exhibition, in addition to all the current and past models of Ferrari cars, a selection of special images and videos will also be put on the show for the visitors.

ELENTRA CAR OF THE YEAR

Hyundai Elantra named 2012 North American Car of the Year

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra took top honors in the most exclusive award in North America when it was named 2012 North American Car of the Year on January 9th, 2012. A jury of 50 independent North American automotive journalists evaluated each of the new cars introduced last year and chose the 2012 Hyundai Elantra as the winner. The award was announced at a news conference at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which marks Hyundai’s second win. The Hyundai Genesis was named North American Car of the Year in 2009.

“Elantra speaks to the success of our recipe of bold design and great fuel economy,” said John Krafcik, president and chief executive officer, Hyundai Motor America. “In a year with some truly breakthrough competitors, we are honored that the jury recognizes Elantra’s far-reaching impact on the industry.” The jurors considered more than 50 new vehicles, before selecting the top three cars and top three trucks. The Volkswagen Passat and Ford Focus were the other car finalists.

This is the 19th year of the awards, which were inspired by the prestigious European “Car of the Year.” The jury is administered by an organizing committee and funded exclusively with dues paid by the jurors. Jurors judge the cars on a number of factors including innovation, impact on the industry, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. Elantra exemplifies Hyundai’s emotional “Fluidic Sculpture” design principles. “Fluidic Sculpture” considers the interplay of wind with rigid surfaces to create the illusion of constant motion. Elantra is an evolution of the design qualities found in Sonata.

Along Elantra’s sides are Sonata’s flowing lines, with the addition of a strong undercut feature line starting at the front door. These lines, along with muscular wheel arches and a sleek roofline, create a memorable and spacious package. Flowing lines also lead to an aerodynamic body. The drag coefficient for the Elantra is an exceptionally low 0.28 that compares favorably to the Chevrolet Volt (0.29).

Hyundai’s signature hexagonal front grille and detailed swept-back headlights give Elantra a compact athletic face. The assertive stance is complimented by 15-, 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels and athletic proportions. Available fog lights and side repeater mirrors complete the distinct design. Elantra was designed at Hyundai's North American Design Center in Irvine, Calif.

Elantra’s standard fuel economy is EPA-rated at 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, amd 33 mpg combined, with the six-speed automatic transmission or manual transmission. These figures give Elantra a highway-only driving range of up to 500 miles. Elantra’s strong EPA ratings are backed up by the highest owner satisfaction with real-world fuel economy in the compact class, according to data from J.D. Power and Associates.

Under the hood, the Elantra is powered by an all-new 1.8-liter Nu four-cylinder engine with 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque (145 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque for Elantra PZEV). Thanks to advanced clean engine technology, most Elantras sold in California, Oregon and several Northeast states are certified as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV) by the EPA. The PZEV Elantra is as clean as many hybrid electric vehicles. The PZEV Elantra helps Hyundai meet its environmental commitments. Outside of these “green” states, the Elantra is available as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV).

Maruti mulls new 800 cc car to replace 800 and Alto

The 11th Auto Expo fever has more or less died down, although there are a lot more things happening. Just as we thought we right on top of almost everything, Maruti Suzuki India has just confirmed about a new Maruti model in the making which will soon replace the company’s flagship models Maruti 800 and Maruti Alto. Maruti Suzuki MD Shinzo Nakanishi was the one to break the good news which is definitely one, given the huge market share of the company’s best selling model Maruti Alto.

Maruti Suzuki chief was keen to drive two points home, one the proposed Maruti model will be an 800 cc car similar to Maruti Alto and Maruti 800, but more advanced in looks and technology to conform to the consumer needs for a small car. However, it’s going to be a while before we see the launch and not before two years until which, we will have to bade our time with the present flagship Maruti Alto in the segment. The Maruti Alto K 10 with the 1000 cc engine will continue to sell in the Indian car market for along while from now and is not up for the replacement. The Maruti 800 is still found plying on the tier II and tier III cities though not apt for metros and bigger cities as it fails to meet the latest emission norms.

Maruti Alto is their largest selling A segment car with an 796 cc petrol engine which though offered in the CNG variant to tap the growing demand for the car in the alternative fuel propulsion methods. Maruti India’s closest rivals very often turned green with envy with the huge chunk of Maruti Alto’s market share in India. Hyundai India, which is one among them had in fact has tried its best to puncture a hole in the growing demand for the car, though failed to a large extent in the process with Hyundai Eon small car. So, its high time for Maruti India to do the justice  with its very own model to replace the Maruti 800 and Maruti Alto before anybody else does.

BMW X6 gets a global facelift with naive engine

The BMW X6 is expected to get a steep rise in its modish demand as the company has given a new facelifted version  adorning a new engine option. The BMW X6 which has been the market leader in its sector from the time of its launch has been in huge demand.

This has allowed BMW to improve its style with a facelift which is further expected to result in an increase in its popularity and demand. The BMW X6 facelift looks different than the predecessor primarily on the front and back portions of the car.

To make the car look wider from the front the fog lamps are fixed in the upper area near the air inlets on the exterior. The modifications of the air vents in the lower section have further improved the styling of BMW X6.

 

The X6 has also got optional adaptive LED headlamps. The 3-D rings of the headlamps are placed both at the top and the bottom. The front reflecting units receive light from dim and high beam LED units fixed on a bar in the middle.

The lights at the back too have a LED treatment which makes the hallmark tail lights of the BMW glow. The lights are also stretched on the sides which enhance the width of the car. The car will also be available with a new engine alternative; a diesel engine with 3.0 litre capacity will be included in the BMW new car.

The new engine has 6 cylinders with three times of turbo charging which provides 386PS of power. The SUV is brought in India as a CBU (Completely Built Unit and therefore this new global facelift can reach Indian shores soon.

BMW India to recall 3,422 units to fix battery issues

BMW India is on the verge of bringing back about 3,422 units of its 5 and 6 Series models to mend the battery cable cover issue. The recalling by BMW is being done just after the recalling done by other car brands such as Nissan, Tata Motors, Rolls Royce, Maruti and Honda to swap faulty parts. The recalling being done by BMW India is a part of an international exercise for the battery issue of about 3,422 units of BMW 5 Series and BMW 6 Series cars sold from 2007 to 2010. An official executive of BMW mentioned that in some rare cases, the battery cable cover in the boot of these BMW cars might not be mounted correctly.

This problem could result in malfunctioning of electrical system in the car and thereby might lead to fire or charring. Also, the firm will soon start to inform the consumers about this global exercise and the replacement of the part will be done as soon as possible. The job of replacement will be done free of cost and will merely take 30 minutes in each vehicle. However, the spokesperson from BMW also mentioned units in the Indian car market are affected.

Recalls by car makers are not very common in India and the car brands are usually unenthusiastic to announce the defect of their cars as it would let out a negative vibe for their brand and will affect their sales. The short of official recall policy in the country keep the companies quiet and testify it when it influences the international markets. In last couple of months, car makers like Nissan, Tata Motors, Honda, Maruti and Rolls Royce had called in their cars back to fix the faulty parts.  In February, Porsche recalled  Cayenne SUVs sold in India to amend headlight locking system.

COOLEST CAR IN U.K

Aston Martin emerges as the coolest brand in UK

A recent survey conducted by CoolBrands in UK to identify the coolest automobile brand in the country, revealed that Aston Martin is considered the coolest brand in UK. The theme of the survey is to pick the brand offering the most modern design cars in the era.  The sports car brand, Aston Martin is considered to be offering the models with exquisite design, placing it with a marked difference from the rest of the cars.

The CoolBrands was established in 2001 to seek the opinions from the consumers to recognize the coolest brand in UK with respect to style, innovation, authenticity and originality of the leading automobile brands in the country. Among the long list of 10,000 brands that took part in the survey, 1,500 brands were shortlisted. The 1,500 brands are further narrowed down to the top 500 brands. A 36 member influencers’ team and the panel of experts along with the consumers bring about the justice to the survey.

Stephen Cheliotis, Chief Executive of the CoolBrands council had commented that every consumer would want to own a car model from the coolest brand in UK. For the past five years, Aston Martin had been chosen to be the coolest brand in UK in a row. The Aston Martin, which started as a small scale luxury brand has undergone a major transition to become the leading luxury brand surpassing the top brands in the segment globally. Aston Martin has spread its roots in 42 countries with 136 dealer networks globally. The recent dealerships include its presence in India, Istanbul, Turkey and in Las Vegas in Nevada. The luxury brand envisages opening around four more dealerships in China in the coming year. The models offered by Aston Martin across the world are One-77 hyper car, V12 Zagato, V12 and V8 Vantage range, DB9, DBS, Virage, Rapide, DBS Carbon Series and Cygnet City car.

ASTON MARTIN DRAGON 88

Aston Martin Dragon 88 Special Edition Break Covers at Beijing Motor Show

Aston Martin has come to the Beijing Motor Show 2012 with three there special edition models in its "Dragon 88 Limited Edition" series, which specifically aims at the customers in the Chinese market and also marks the arrival of the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. Aston Martin has unveiled three special editions of its “Dragon 88 Limited Edition” at the Beijing Auto Show which is tailor made for the Chinese customers. The Dragon 88 Limited Edition will enhance the Chinese portfolio of the German brand which already includes Aston Martin DBS Volante, Virage Coupe and V8 Vantage S Coupe.

Each of the Dragon 88 will feature the details that talk about the mystical qualities of dragon symbol. The Dragon 88 trim will be jeweled with 24-karat gold that are going to be applied to the signature Aston Martin wing badges on the front end and a dragon logo is sewn on the front seat headrests. The color will be offered with three hues- Amethyst Red, Volcano Red and Champagne Gold.  What adds to the exclusivity is that each exterior color has a unique interior finish that includes Spicy Red, Deep purple and Red Chancellor .To prove the words true, the plate is made out of strand of Metallic Gold, Truffle Crream with Winter White and Kestrel Tan.

Moreover the Limited Edition comes with alloy wheels incorporated in a ten-spoke design with silver finish and brake calipers. As the name reflects only 88 cars of this model will be rolled out in the Chinese market and each is going to be uniquely made and reserved. Aston Martin sees the Chinese market as one of the key markets for the country; the brand is going to open 11 new dealerships across China in 2012, there are 9 showrooms already in the country. The head-turner Dragon 88 edition are a result of the craftsmanship of the England designers which reflects the  panache and technology soundness of the brand.

HONDA'S 2013 ACCORD

Honda Hopes for Exceptional Success from the 2013 Accord

The family car Accord from the Japanese auto maker Honda Motors, had ruled the segment till 2001 when another Japanese car Toyota Camry dethroned it. Honda Accord managed to stand high at number-2 position under Camry for the next nine years till 2010; it slid to third position in 2011 after Camry and Nissan Altima when the company suffered a huge blow by the quake-tsunami disaster in Japan. In October 2011, Toyota released a completely redesigned Camry in the markets and by spring, Nissan invested 2,250 USD in the recreation of Altima. The sales of Camry and Altime boomed by 37% and 39% respectively through March, and in the same time the sales of Accord declined by 8%.

The current scenario is worse for Accord as it has slipped to fourth position now under Ford Fusion which is also undergoing a revamp this year. A lot of shoppers these days are choosing other competitive cars over Accord; a year ago for every 6/7 family cars sold, one was Accord but now for every 10 cars sold, one is Accord. Till 2010, Honda Accord maintained its second position with a market share of 17-18 percent in the segment, the figure then fell down to 13.6 percent in 2011 when Nissan Altima derailed Honda Accord from second position and for the duration of Jan to March 2012, Accord’s share in the segment was 10.4 percent after Ford Fusion bagged the third spot.

Honda is redesigning the once a ‘must drive family car’ Accord as 2013 Honda Accord which is expected to hit the showroom in the fall this year. The car has not broken covers as of now but Honda had foreshadowed the Accord coupe concept in January. This redesigned 2013 Accord will be smaller and lighter than the original version. In the face of this fierce competition, Honda needs to keep up its game by improving in a lot of areas and has therefore affixed the 2013 Accord with a host of crash-avoidance technology. The Honda Accord Hybrid is also on the cards.

According to a spokesperson of the company, the slow sales of Accord is a big concern and these days the car market has become excessively competitive with all the big players like Toyota, Hyundai Volkswagen and Kia leaving no stone unturned in the process to increasing their sales. Hyundai and Kia had rendered a full model change to Sonata and Optima respectively in 2011, Toyota too just changed the entire model of Camry and the latest entry of Volkswagen Passat is also a threat to other models of this segment. These players were not actively participating in the competition 5 years ago but now staying near the top is become an arduous task, added the spokesperson of Honda.

The spokesperson seems pretty confident about the success of 2013 Honda Accord that will put this car back into the segment leading position in many areas. He also revealed that the new Accord will be powered by a very powerful and efficient four-cylinder direct injection V6 engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. Honda is going to furnish Accord with some major changes in feature content, fuel economy, safety and level of technology; these major strides are surely going to help it win its position back.

2012 AUDI TO LAUNCH ON 3 rd MAY

2012 Audi A4 to launch on May 3rd

The latest reports coming from the stables of Audi India reveals that the luxury auto major is going to roll out the newfangled Audi A4 on 3 May 2012. Audi A4 covers will be lifted in Mumbai at the Turf Club. The refreshed version of the sedan Audi A4 will come in both petrol and diesel trims with the trademark Quattro option. The diesel version will be powered by 3.0L TDi engine whereas the petrol Audi A4 version is going to be powered with 3.2 FSI engine. Audi A4 price is likely to start from Rs.27.69 lakh and the luxury car is go against the likes of BMW 3 series and Mercedes Benz C Class.

The new Audi A4 is going to come with a lot of detailing apart from the change in ambience. The front facia seem to have adorned with maximum number of changes. The headlamps and the daytime-running LED lights are reshaped; the changes are minor, will not appear to bare eyes, one needs to get a closer look to identify the changes.  The head lamps now are going to be projector style with Xenon lamps available on the high end variants.  The jaw of the car is also more streamlined with all new grille and bumpers.  The shapes of the fog lamps incorporated are trapezoidal in shape. The rear end changes include an all new LED graphics lamp and a refreshed bumper.

Talking about the interiors of the car Audi A4 comes with a new steering wheel with high quality of plastics, the dashboard is also refreshed. The central console now features more controls matching with the trim level, the switchgear and Audi’s trademark multimedia interface is also tweaked. All in all, the new Audi A4 will come with the same three petrol and two diesel variants with four wheel Quattro on the 3.2 FSI petrol and 3.0 TDi models. 

TOP CARS AT BEIJING AUTO SHOW ,

Top Cars at the Beijing Motor Show 2012

The top slot of the auto industry were decided at the Beijing Motor Show 2012  as the car market has shown a double-digit growth in the year 2009 and 2010 and the car sales reached a milestone of 18.5 million cars making China the largest Automotive market across the globe. That gave the Beijing and Shanghai car expos to decide on the top ten slot; i.e. why the car manufacturers cannot afford to miss the show and unveil their amusing commodities. Here’s a rundown of the Top cars from the show.

1. Lamborghini Urus

No doubt making a good-looking SUV is a tricky business, but Lamborghini new SUV’s URUS has brought everyone down on its knees with the panache Urus SUV concept. The company has confirmed that the car will go into production by 2015.  As for the design, it is extremely close to what the finished product will look like; the interiors is just a concept but the exteriors are real.  Lamborghini Urus will give you a heady feeling as the engine is expected to come with more than 600 horsepower- it is speculated that the car is upgraded version of Gallardo’s V10; V8 can also be a possibility. The adjustable ride height features give it a off-road ability; Lamborghini is going to produce about 3000 copies a year- and this will double Lamborghini’s current yield in one shot.

2. Mercedes Concept Style Coupe Concept

Mercedes Benz concept style coupe has been officially named as CLA-Class; essentially a notched down version of the CLS, the coupe is more near to C-Class in terms of size and is based on the A&B Class platform. Mercedes is only going to change the essentials in the production version, so the market is expecting a attention grabbing body work and A-class interiors to be loyally incorporated. The Paris show to be held in September will see the production version and one can buy the car within a year for a price a tidbit less than the C-Class.

3. Range Rover Special Edition with Victoria Beckham

Land Rover’s has signed up the Victoria Beckham, the former Spice Girl turned fashion designer as a design consultant for the Range Rover Special Edition. The company is going to roll out just 200 models across the globe, the price tag is around $ 130,000 with the star points being the rose gold speckles on the 20-inch alloy wheels and switch gear, a matte gray exterior and Vintage Tan leather with baseball sewed in. As for the target audience, the picture becomes clear when you hear that the company is going to give out VB- designed purses and four piece leather luggage set.  

4. Audi RS Q3 concept

The Audi RS concept which depicts elegance with a beasty engine- a rare combination is now going to be incorporated in Audi’s Q family car Audi Q3. In the Audi RS Q3 case the 2.5L five cylinder powered turbocharged engine found under the hood of TT-RS and RS3 is retouched to produce a whooping 360hp power. The 20hp more is good to sprint 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds and the car comes with 20-inch alloy wheels finished in matte Ordos blue is a head turner. As per the company it is merely testing waters but market rumor says that you should be able to buy one next year.  

5. BMW i8 Spyder

BMW with the i8 Spyder fulfilled two purposes: firstly, the car portrays a drop-top trim of BMW’s first in class hybrid supercar, which is due in 2014, and secondly it gives the viewer an idea about the interiors of the production ready car. The wheelbase is shortened and the car comes as a two-seater instead of four has helped the company to pull up proportions strings. The result is awe-inspiring The car comes with a 1.5L,220hp engine placed at the rear end and a 129hm motor at the front, giving it a sprint capability of 0-62 mpg in less than 5 seconds. Was this too much to take in, wait till you hear this-lift the rear deck and you will find a pair of electric scooters, to make you reach your destination easily after you have parked the car.

6. Ferrari's new Enzo

The market was abuzz with news that the heir of Enzo is going to be a hybrid car, but how the concept will work has been made clear at the Beijing Auto Show. The car is a revamped version of F12 Berlinetta 6.3L V-12 engine mated with an electric motor along with a seven-speed- dual-clutch gearbox. The result is a 10% better performing car with a whopping 40% low CO2 emission car than a car only deriving power from V-12. It is said to be the fastest and cleanest Ferrari ever!

7. Citroen DS9

On record, the Numero 9 is still in the concept category, but the company Citroen confirms, it will turn out to be one of three DS models that includes a small sedan and an SUV, aimed at China at the initial stage. It was juxtaposed to the original DS at the Beijing Auto Show and has more than a tint of the car’s drawn out elegance. The car proportions are novel, with a around 193 inches of length and wider, much lower wheel base. The car comes with 1.6L turbocharged rotating the front wheels and a 70-hp electric motor powered by lithium-ion battery pack, spinning the rear.  The Citreon DS9 is aimed to go against the likes of Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series.

8. Porsche Cayenne GTS

Felt like the Beijing Show was the market to display your sporty SUVs and Porsche did just that by showing off its new Cayenne GTS- a sharp, low and zooming take on the Cayenne .The 4.8L V8 engine found under the hood of the car has been trimmed to produce 420 hp – a 20 hp surge and 0-60 mph sprint in 5.7 seconds. Porsche flagship PASM suspension is incorporated; however it is lowered about an inch for a stiff body control and squatter stance.

9. Vokswagen E-Bugster Cabriolet

The irony of this concept is that we've already seen undisguised spy shots of the production-ready Beetle Cabriolet, rendering it rather pointless. Still, it scraped into the Top slot because it's such a damn fine thing to look at. Based on the E-Bugster concept shown at the Detroit show in January, but with the roof removed, this speedster version is propelled by the same 114-hp electric motor with batteries where the back seats should be. Don't expect to see an electric Beetle anytime soon, though -- the powertrain is just for show. But a two-seat Beetle with a chopped-down windscreen to sit alongside the four-seat Beetle Cabriolet is reportedly under consideration. The concept was already caught on lenses before its official unveiling at the show, and the images went viral. What made it grab a position in the top slot, is that the concept is mind-boggling good. Cabriolet is based on the E-Bugster concept unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show this January, however the concept car  has the roof removed; the car is propelled by the same 114-hp electric motor with batteries housing where the rear seats should be. The market is not going to see the concept car soon and the powertrain is just for the show. However, a Beetle with a cut-down windscreen is being considered.

10. Jaguar XJ Ultimate   

XJ ultimate is the most lush and lavish model from the Jaguar’s portfolio, the car is a high end version. The car comes with a longer wheelbase, hence the space at the rear end has gone high. When we talk about the luxury features incorporated, they will blow your mind, the car comes with fold-out iPads  integrated into the front seats, the keyboard is wireless and a table that swivels out of central console to reveal a set of glasses. The car is propelled by a 3.0L supercharged V6 engine that produces340/360 hp power and this is the engine that will be seen under the hood of  Jaguar F-Type Roadster.

MAHINDRA TO INVEST 3,000 CRORE

Mahindra Eyes to Open a 3,000 Crore Facility at Uttarakhand

Mahindra, the Indian auto major that was going to open a new facility in Maharashtra, has now shifted its way; the company is now going to open a 3,000 crore manufacturing facility at Uttarakhand. This new facility at Uttarakhand will have a capacity of producing 2.5 lakh vehicles per annum.  Mahindra is mulling to buy a 500 acre land to set up the facility, which could also house  auxiliary manufacturers around it. Mahindra & Mahindra has facility in Kandivali on the outskirts of Mumbai, Chakan off Pune and at Nasik, meaning all the facilities are in Maharashtra.

The facilities are for its four wheeler division which manufactures cars, utility vehicles and commercial vehicles.  In addition, there is an R&D facility in Chennai, called Mahindra research valley which is a pioneering facility to build new products; Mahindra is also mulling to open a new facility in Chennai as well. Mahindra India reason to shift from Maharashtra, to Uttarakhand is a disagreement the carmaker is having with the government of Maharashtra regarding the refund of VAT. The company demands that the government should refund the Vat paid on all vehicles produced in Maharashtra whereas the government is agreeing to return only the VAT Mahindra has paid for vehicles sold in Maharashtra.

This difference in stances between Mahindra and the government is cited as the major reason for the company’s decision to open facilities in other states. It’s not just Mahindra who is having troubles with the Maharashtra government, other automakers like Bajaj Auto and Volkswagen India are all on the same lines; it will be interesting to see if Maharashtra is going to lose them all.  If this happens, Maharashtra is going to lose its top slot of being a top investment destination of the country; already Gujarat has attracted a bunch of auto majors and has become the most sought after place in India for fresh investments in the auto sector. 

AUDI S4

Audi S4 Might be on The Charts for India

The luxury auto giant from Germany, Audi in a span of 5 years has emerged as one of the leading luxury car-makers in the country with their vast model line-up. Audi is eyeing the expansion of its portfolio and has planned to do that in style with a hint of sportiness. The company is mulling over the launch of Audi S4 which is sporty derivative of the Audi A4 sedan. Backing this assertion is the fact that Audi India has been recently caught carrying on a feasibility test on the S4 for the car market of India; however, no official announcement has been made by the company yet. The S4 is based on the Audi A4 with minor changes in the body design in order to render the car a sporty look; incidentally, Audi A4 is on its way for a grand launch in India.

The body height is also lowered by 20mm with the help of a suspension package in order to enhance the sporty persona of the car. The side profile of the car boasts large 18-inch wheels with low profile rubber that enhance the sporty aura and add flair to this four door luxury sports sedan. For the Indian car market some minor changes on the inside of the car and in the technical specifications are also expected to be supplied to the car; no details have been revealed yet. Feeding the performance attitude of Audi S4 is the 3.0-liter 6-cylinder TFSI engine that is capable of generating a peak power of 337.6 PS and a peak torque of massive 440 Nm. This engine is coupled with a 7-speed S tronic gearbox and the car has recorded 5 secs for achieving 0-100 kmph speed which makes it pretty close to the other supercars.

Audi S4 also flaunts an amazing fuel economy which is just 8.1 liter for every 100 km. Undoubtedly the car is expected to be featuring the award-winning Quattro four wheel drive technology that ensure class-leading performance in terms of stability, handling, vehicle dynamics and driver control. Also securing a place under the hood of this performance enriched car is a high performance braking system that copes easily with the increase in engine output. The advent of Audi S4 is expected to trigger a surge in the demand of practical and high-performance cars in India; this can also pave the path for the entire range of Audi’s S models here.

BMW 's LATEST ELECTRIC CAR ,

Some Electric Fun with the BMW Active E

BMW has great plans for the electric version Active E of the BMW 1 series under which the company is offering an opportunity to 700 to lease this car. Active E actually is a test bed for the electric drive research of BMW. Reportedly, the participating customers are enjoying the zero-emissions of this sporty looking BMW Active E and are being bowled over by the acceleration which is agile, linear, quiet and smooth. The electric motor pumps out 168HP of power but it is claimed to feel more powerful than that; the 0-60mph time is recorded as nine seconds. As soon as the throttle is released the regenerative braking sets in which makes it possible for the car to come at a complete halt without the brake pedal being touched.  Additionally the brake lights are turned on automatically as soon as the accelerator is released.

This regenerative braking effect is toned down version of the one found in the BMW MINI E, and some consumers have reported that the ‘regen’effect in BMW Active E is not that aggressive. The Active E is expected to be powered by the drivetrain - large lithium-ion battery with 33KWH capacity - of the forthcoming BMW i3 which is an all-electric car due for launch in the latter half of 2013. With full charge the computer predicts mile range around 70 which indicates that the average is about 3 miles per kWH. There is a 7.7 KWH onboard charger that allows quicker charging than a lot of other electric vehicles. On 240 Volts, the car takes less than four hours to get completely recharged and on standard 110 volts power it takes close to 20 hours. The BMW Active E has no body lean and the steering feels well-weighted and supplies adequate feedback. Even with exceptional performance, little charging time and limited range, the down payment of $2,250 and $499 every month is a pretty expensive deal offered by BMW. The BMW Active E in itself is a fun ride.

BENTLEY'S LATEST ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS , read more

Bentley Released the Engine Specs of EXP 9F SU

The British luxury car maker Bentley unveiled the EXP 9F at the Geneva Motor show in March 2012. This car made it to the controversies but couldn’t win much appreciation but despite all this, the premium Bentley SUV has been in news constantly. Bentley is now hurrying with the commencement of production plans of this car and it has also revealed the engine specifications of Bentley EXP 9F at the Beijing Auto Show 2012. The first of the powertrains driving the EXP 9F SUV is the Bentley’s flagship 6-liter, W12 petrol engine affixed with twin scroll turbo chargers; this engine is capable of generating a peak power of massive 600 PS and an enormous peak torque of 800 Nm.

The other drivetrain could be the 4-liter direct injection twin turbo V8 engine that is capable of pumping out a peak power of 500 PS and a peak torque of 650 Nm. An eight speed automatic gearbox is going to be coupled with both these engine options. Another important revelation from this British marque at the Beijing Auto show 2012 is that the company is also considering a V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain for this newfangled Bentley SUV. The hybrid powertrain was not revealed in detail but the bits that surfaced indicate that this V6 hybrid powertrain will have a full electric range of 30km and will produce CO2 emissions as low as 130g/km.

Also the V6 plug-in hybrid can reach from 0 to 100 kmph under five seconds. This step of Bentley, of considering the development of a hybrid and actually working toward saving the environment is pretty commendable. The company has not made any revelations about the approximate time of launch of this hybrid version of EXP 9F but one thing we can be sure of is that, hybrid or not, the Bentley EXP 9F is sure to offer awe-inspiring performance like all other Bentley cars.

SELF DRIVING CAR FROM GOOGLE

Google Wades in Self-Driving Cars; Any Takers?

The icon of search engines Google Inc, thinks the future is of self driving cars and exchanging words with auto makers to develop the cutting-edge technology.The futuristic company says that the most important thing computers can do in the next 10 years is to drive a car and the company is eager to see self-driven cars on American roads. Google is going to make an official announcement as early as next year; however the company is not itself interested in producing cars, therefore the technology will be passed on to the Mountain View. This California based company will then form an alliance with one of the auto majors or it could manufacture parts to supply to the auto manufacturers.

As the automakers are also foreseeing it happening and  they want to be the ones to introduce this technology . As per the stats, Google noted that 90% of the accidents happening are a result of human error; self driving vehicles are aimed to reduce death on roads rate. There are about 32,000 people dying because of car crashed with a total of about $200 billion loss in annual societal costs. The company needs to prove mathematically that the self driving cars are much safer and makes few mistakes as compared to the cars that are run by humans. Also the company predicts that the car is going to be rolled out in market in less than a decade time.  

The Internet giant said that its self-driving cars on average complete a test course a couple of seconds faster than human drivers. Google is also in talks with insurance companies to make this project a reality and the company is unsure about whether it will have to provide some insurance to the initial buyers using this system. The company would also have the power to deactivate its self driving system as the company is going to keep a check over where and when the technology is working. Google has logged about 250,000 miles in a fleet of about 10 cars, but wants to have a log of about 1 million miles before the technology goes public. Google self-driving cars at present are retrofitted Toyota Prius with additional sensors and camera.

Google does not want to rule out human driving but wants to make it safer and as questions were raised regarding a driver-less car could also crash, the company replied that it won’t move forward if the data doesn’t depict that self-driving cars are more safe than people. General Motors is also testing a driver less car for almost five years and the company unveiled a prototype in the year 2008. The company is also said to be road testing semi-autonomous technology christened as “Super-Cruise”, that comes with a full automatic steering, braking and lane centering in highway under given optimal conditions and could be ready for production by mid 2020.