Featured Archives - Indiandrives.com

October 26, 2015

2016 Mini Cooper Convertible Revealed before Tokyo

The latest convertible from the Mini stable is all set to be unveiled at the 2016 Tokyo Motor show and in order to build up to the grand launch, the company has released pictures of the car. The new Mini Cooper Convertible looks great from its new images and has a fully electric roof as well as an advanced rollover protection system which helps keep occupants safe by detecting possible rollovers.

The car will be powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine or a 1.5-liter diesel variant. The engines will come mated to a six speed gearbox to be offered in both manual and auto options. In addition to this, shift paddles have been mounted on the steering wheel in the automatic option. Traction control as well as electronic differential lock has been provided as a standard feature across models.

The car has also been increased in terms of dimensions slightly and also has an increase in terms of wheelbase. The Cooper convertible will also be heavier this time around and the top will take about 18 seconds to deploy. In addition to these features, the car will also have a 6.5 inch infotainment screen as well as a USB audio connection. The car will also have reversing camera as well as rear parking distance control.

The Mini is likely to hit showrooms in UK by March 2016 and is likely to come to India later in the year.

October 26, 2015

Adra Concept may be Christened Gem-B by Chevrolet

The new compact SUV being worked on by Chevrolet and based on the Chevrolet Adra concept may be called the Gem-B when it is finally launched. The car was first seen at the 2014 Auto Expo and is likely to release in 2018. To be based on the Gamma 2 platform from the company, the car will feature the funky design language from Chevrolet and is likely to come with options of both diesel and petrol engines.

The new platform is one that has been much talked about lately and is being eagerly anticipated by the motor world. The platform is likely to give birth to a compact SUV, which is the Gem-B, a B-segment hatchback is also likely and so is a compact sedan. The hatchback will be a replacement for the Sail once the launched. The company is also likely to launch a car which will take on the Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano, Maruti Suzuki S Cross and the Hyundai Creta. This will be the largest in terms of cars based on this platform.

General Motors is taking the market here in India extremely seriously and has lined up a host of cars for the public. The company has been spending a huge amount in development in the country and will look for their investment to bear fruit in the coming years.

October 26, 2015

2016 Trax Cruiser Deluxe Launched by Force Motors at Rs.8.68 lakh

Trax, the popular people carrier from Force Motors just got all that much better as the company has launched an updated edition of the vehicle just in time for the festive season. Priced at Rs.8.68 lakh, the car will now have a new dashboard as well as a new instrument cluster. The carrier will also come with two toner interiors and air conditioning making this all the more popular with passengers.

The Trax Deluxe, which is the updated model, will be powered by a 2.6-liter turbocharged engine which delivers 81hp in terms of power as well as 230Nm of torque. The engine has been derived from the Mercedes OM616 and does a great job for its purpose. The new model also looks better in terms of the exterior with a new front grille, round headlights as well as new rear and front bumpers. The car also has new coloured side graphics that look more stylish and bold to give it an overall look and presence that is modern and classy at the same time.

According to the President, Sales and Marketing, Mr Ashutosh Khosla, Trax is the first in terms of indigenous MUVs to have been developed in India and over the last 30 years it has made itself the leader when it comes to people as well as goods carriage across the country. Force India has been looking to update it in order to ensure its longevity and this has been another step in that direction.

October 24, 2015

Latest Generation London Taxi Revealed by Geely

The wraps have been taken off the latest edition of the London Taxi and this was done with the Chine Premier as well as the Duchess and Duke of Cambridge in attendance. It is called the TX5 and has the iconic design of the London Taxis but does see an upgrade in order to conform to modern amenities.

In terms of looks, the car comes with a large vertically slatted grille and the round headlights which are hallmarks of the cab. The lights will now act as projector units. In addition to this, chrome bezels have been added to the fog lamps and grey coloured bumpers have been added as well. Steel wheels and flared wheel arches can also be seen from the side view of the car.

Since the company has revealed just the one picture of the cab, it is not possible to say a lot of things about the mechanics and looks just yet. However, it is known that it will have bench seats with space for six in the cabin with people sitting facing each other. The cab also has wheelchair holding capability, WiFi connection, a rear opening door as well as a panoramic sunroof.

Geely has effectively managed to bring together all the necessary elements to retain the look of the classic and bring it to it a taste of the modern. The car will be produced in Warwickshire and can be expected on London streets by 2017.

October 24, 2015

6.5 Million Vehicles Recalled by Toyota

In what seems to be a year going from bad to worse for the automobile industry, Toyota has asked for a recall as many as 6.5 million vehicles as a result of a power window switch issue. The company has already been through controversy recently with the airbags and this seems to be compounding its problems. According to Toyota, the problem here is that the power window master switch from the driver’s side had a chance of short circuiting and this would mean overheating in the car. The overheating had plenty of problems such as melting of parts as well as possibility of fire.

Models recalled by Toyota include the RAV4, Corolla, Camry and the Yaris which were produced between 2005 and 2010. The company though has made it clear that there are yet to be any reported incidents of the glitch causing any crashes or issues with the driving of the car. Numbers wise, the Japanese giant has called back about 2.7 million vehicles in North America, 1.2 million vehicles in Europe as well as 600,000 in Japan.

Presently, the company is globally the biggest carmaker and in India too have been doing fairly well. A refreshed edition of the Etios was launched by them recently which has been doing good business this festive season. However, news of this recall as well as the previous recall will definitely play on customers minds when it comes to deciding on the quality of the company.

October 24, 2015

New Compact Jeep SUV to be Built by Fiat in India

The smaller SUV Jeep is being worked on and the company is looking to manufacture the right hand drive model here in India. The car has been codenamed the “C SUV” and will be launched around mid 2017.

While details are still sketchy, the C SUV, as it has been dubbed, will be based on the 500x platform from Fiat and will have five seats. While it is being speculated that the Jeep Renegade may be built in India by Fiat, the news from the company is that this will be an all new vehicle suited specifically for the Right Hand Drive markets.

The company may look at putting the 1.6-litre Multijet on this new SUV, which will deliver 120bhp in terms of power as well as 300Nm in terms of torque. To be manufactured in India, the car will then be exported from here to right hand drive markets across the globe including the likes of Australia, South Africa, UK and others.

The Jeep brand is to be first showcased by Fiat in India at the upcoming February Auto Expo and the company will begin operations here will the Wrangler SUVs and the Grand Cherokee. The “C SUV”, once launched will take on the Renault Duster and the Hyundai Creta and it will be manufactured here unlike the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee which are to be imported from the US as CBUs. The new vehicle will likely to be priced in the sub 15 lakh segment here in India.

October 23, 2015

2016 E-Class Body Revealed by Mercedes

Mercedes Benz has finally revealed the latest in terms of the 2016 E-Class which has been spotted multiple times across the year, albeit in camouflage. The latest images though, are from the assembly line and the influence of the new design philosophy of the company can clearly be seen on the model as well.

The design looks quite similar to that on the new C Class and the new S Class with the interiors too being based on the MRA platform from Mercedes, which is the same as the C Class. This means that the car will be as much as 100kg lighter as compared to the present model and the cabin and interiors too are likely to be quite similar to the S-Class, which is the flagship offering from the company.

The long wheelbase version and a Maybach edition of the E-Class have also been spotted in the past though the German automaker is yet to provide any confirmation to these models. In addition to this, the company may also release a coupe, a cabriolet as well as an estate version ensuring that potential customers have a lot to choose from. An all road edition of the E-Class may also be launched and this will be taking on A6 Quattro Allroad from Audi. The official launch of the 2016 E-Class will take place next year in January at the NAIAS in Detroit.

October 23, 2015

New Dealership Opened by Nissan in Rajasthan

A new dealership named Bhaskar Nissan has been opened in Rajasthan by Nissan India. The dealership is located at Sikar and will look after the service and sales of both the Datsun as well as the Nissan brands.

With the launch of this dealership, the company has effectively managed to expand their dealership network to as many as 148 cities across the country and will look to have as many as 300 touch points for sales and service in India by end 2016.

According to Managing Director, Nissan Motor India Private Limited, Arun Malhotra, the company is more than happy to see the launch of the Sikar dealership. They will look to provide the best in terms of both services and products to customers and will look to make theirs a long association. The company’s strategy in terms of growth will continue to be based on providing the customers the best when it comes to owning a Nissan and the company remains committed to expanding to as many as 300 locations by the end of 2016.

Nissan had recently opened new dealerships in Trichy, Kashmir, Tirupati, Mumbai and Nashik and this too comes in line with the huge expansion plans the company is undertaking. They are looking to inaugurate as many new facilities as possible and are keeping customer interaction at the forefront of their marketing activities with campaigns such as free check up camps being arranged on a pan India basis.

October 23, 2015

Chevrolet Trailblazer Launched in India at Rs.26.40 lakh

The new full sized seven-seater SUV, the Trailblazer, has been launched by Chevrolet in India and comes at a price tag of Rs.26.40 lakh.

The car is powered by a 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel mill that delivers 200bhp in terms of power as well as 500Nm in terms of torque. The SUV comes mated to a six speed automatic transmission and will be available in a single variant with rear wheel drive.

The Trailblazer will be the largest in terms of SUV’s in the segment and has been kept relatively simple in terms of style. This does not mean though, that the car is easy to ignore. The sheer size makes is one of the most noticeable cars and is driven by its own personality.

The variant comes packed with features as well which includes a touch screen music system, automatic AC, cruise control, independent AC vents, rear parking camera as well as a six way adjustable power seat making the driver one of the most comfortable in the car. In terms of safety too, Chevrolet takes things up a notch with ESP, ABS-EBD, hill start, dual front airbags as well as descent control.

The Trailblazer will be taking on the Mitsubishi Pajero and the Toyota Fortuner in the Indian markets and will look to establish itself as one of the leaders in the premium SUV segment. To be imported as a CBU from Thailand, the car is available only on Amazon for the first five days of launch.

October 21, 2015

Bookings for the Range Rover Evoque Facelift Open in India

The bookings for the facelifted Range Rover Evoque SUV have been opened by Jaguar Land Rover in India with the car being all set to be launched next month.

Powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine that delivers 187 bhp of power, the Evoque comes mated to a nine speed automatic transmission and this will see no update in the upcoming edition.

What will change though is the looks, with a new front bumper, new grill, a new alloy wheel design as well as enlarged air intakes. The rear end too will now have a new tailgate spoiler as well as LED adaptive headlamps and an LED stoplight. The car will also have new door casings, new seats and will be available in multiple colour options.

In terms of additional features, the Evoque will have the new 8.0 inch infotainment system from Land Rover as well as a new TFT display on the instrument panel. The car will also have All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC), which is a brand new addition and has been seen first on the Range Rover. Off roading too will be a treat with the car as it has tons of additional safety features which include emergency braking, lane keeping assist as well as a warning for drowsy drivers.

The car is assembled locally and is priced starting Rs.49.2 lakh. It is targeting the high end SUV segment here in India and will look to catch the attention of adventure lovers across the country.