Honda Accord Goes For a Make Over

Honda Accord gets many styling tweaks but overall the new design is very much on the conservative side except a strong character line that runs on the sides. As seen from the picture, the new Accord will get LED daytime running lights as well.

The interiors are comfortable and as usual reliable which have made it a runaway success for the Japanese manufacturer. Apart from the styling it also comes with a very powerful and efficient 3.6 liter V6 petrol mill too - great performance guaranteed!

As seen from the current Honda designs, the Accord gets many styling tweaks but overall the new design is very much on the conservative side except a strong character line that runs on the sides. As seen from the picture, the new Accord will get LED daytime running lights as well.

The new Accord will have more interior room, thanks to clever packaging. There is no news on engine choices but we expect them to be carried over from the current car.
The car is designed on the basis of needs of the passengers rather than the exteriors. Passenger and cargo space have been increased even though the length of the variant has been shortened.

New features like collision warning technology, rear camera for parking and lane changing technology will be seen in the new 2013 Honda Accord. The new Accord is also considerably lighter than its predecessors and these accounts for increased handling and dynamics. 2013 Honda Accord will also be available with three new powerhouse variants. These include an all-electric variant, direct-drive variant as also a gasoline-electric variant. One can opt for a 6-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The new Accord will compete with the likes of the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Camry, Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat. Expect Honda to launch the new Accord in India next year.

Mercedes Benz R350 CDI Ready For Sale

Mercedes Benz now goes robust with the addition of a diesel variant to its R-Class MPV lineup, the R 350 CDI (Long wheel-base). The Mercedes Benz R350 CDI price starts at Rs 58.9 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). The launch comes on the back of its petrol variant which was launched last year.

The fully loaded version comes with bi-xenon headlamps, steel spring suspension in front and AIRmatic (Adaptive Intelligent Ride control) system featuring self-leveling air suspension in the rear to aid comfort and improve driving dynamics. The R 350 CDI is powered by a 2987cc V6 diesel powerplant.

The interiors is where the R-class scores; the highly flexible interiors can seat up to seven in various seating combinations. The third row is the most impressive – even better than the GL. The seats can be folded down to create a massive 2,385 litres of storage area. Leather interiors are available in two tones of contrasting shades, a leather-covered tilt and telescopic steering wheel, dual zone automatic climate control and a choice of high gloss wood trims. The R-class features a command system with an in-dash six-disc CD/DVD changer and a long list of entertainment options such as eight-inch screens for the rear passengers, a DVD player and wireless headphones.

The new R-class gets Mercedes’ latest generation 7G-Tronic automatic transmission that has a Direct Select lever on the steering column and shift paddles placed on the steering wheel. The new torque converter reduces transmission input when the car is at rest thus reducing fuel consumption.

In the Indian market, the R-class will not face any competition in its segment since it will be the only car, but it will cross paths with the Audi Q7, Audi Q5 and the Audi Q3. What works for the R-class are space, practicality and comfort of an MPV coupled with refinement and driving dynamics of a saloon car.

Toyota Camry Reviewed Before Launch

Toyota Camry front seats are fully electrically adjustable to get that perfect driving position. The back seats too join the fun with exemplary thigh and back support. The space is now multifold and just at the press of a button you can adjust the seats.

The Camry comes with a four-cylinder 2.5-litre petrol motor featuring Dual VVT-i and its 178bhp output is 11bhp up on the previous 2.4-litre unit. It’s matched to a six-speed automatic gearbox and we don’t expect a manual transmission to be offered when it is launched.

The engine fires up on the start and then crouches into a hidden tiger and you can barely hear anything. The engine is like butter through knife and also races up easily. Floor it and the box shifts down after a bit of contemplation but does not scorch the redline until it reaches the 6200rpm. You can also go for the manual triptronic mode if you want to get your dose of adrenaline. The new Camry is a lot more confident and holds well on the road but beware of the rolls when cornered. It feels under control and isn’t disconcerting. The steering is also a bit too light and lacks feel, especially at high speeds. The suspension flattens the minor bumps and absorbs broken tarmac, but the car we drove came with 17-inch wheels, and a switch to 16-inchers and higher-profile tyres should further improve the ride, which is not bad to begin with.

It might not be the best of the lot or fastest or the best handling car in its segment. However it is comfortable, luxurious and spacious. Hopefully it comes at a price closer to the competition thanks to CKD assembly, and its arch rival like the Skoda Laura, Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta will be watching with hawk eyes.

Nissan Evalia Pre Launch Report

Nissan Evalia will look to open up a new segment in the Indian market. The lookalike MPV- SUV is more than a Van but fits the MPV tag. However in spite of being a Van it looks nicer at the parking lot than the airport. It might not beat the Toyota Innova with the looks but sure has no qualms about it and will look to carve a path of its own.

From the front, the car looks nice. The interiors sport sliding doors for easy access. The Evalia is for sheer space and nothing on either side of Rs 10 lakh comes close. Not even the likes of Light Motor Vehicle come close. This is where Innova should actually be worried rather than the brag about its looks. The Evalia’s monocoque design and front-wheel-drive also adds up to its benefits over the Innova.

The Evalia is also going all out and will be available in three trim levels. The top-end version will get features like Nissan’s intelligent keyless entry system. However you will miss the climate control and power windows are limited to the front.

The Evalia runs on the 1.5-litre Renault K9K diesel and throws out 85bhp and 20.4kgm of torque. These figures might seem too low but the power delivery is right up there and the gear ratios ensure that you get much needed pulling force. The five-speed gearbox is easy to use as with the rest of controls.

If the company is to be believed then sources indicate the Nissan Evalia mileage to 20kpl. In spite of being huge, the Evalia handles like any other car on the road and comes across as easy to handle friendly car. The overall feedback from the Evalia is pretty good and you feel every bit of the drive. It handles well at the curves but one must be aware of the body roll, which you would expect from such a tall car. Nissan will launch the Evalia in India in first week of September. You can also check out the likes of the Maruti Ertiga.

Audi A8 Gets Naughty This Monsoon

Audi A8 now gets a 4.2-litre engine option. The L luxury saloon produces 350bhp and is mated to an 8-speed gearbox and the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The Audi A8 price for the L 4.2 TDI starts at Rs 1.1 crore, ex-showroom, Maharashtra. The Audi A8 L also comes with other engine options, such as a 3.0-litre TDI, 4.2 FSI petrol and a range-topping 6.3-litre W12.

The luxury sedan will be available at all showrooms across India. The Audi A8 started off with a celebrity tag with Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan taking delivery of his customized Audi A8 L 4.2 TDI. The Audi A8 L continues to set standards of luxury, design and engineering excellence. It delivers 800 Nm of torque and hits the 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds.

The interior comforts and safety features make this vehicle extra special. Coupled with a two piece panoramic sunroof, Bang and Olufsen sound system and 4 zone auto AC, the new Audi A8 is something that buyers with high budget will be want to buy. Among its other features you have the dynamic steering, head up display unit. Specially designed ergonomic seats are seen both in driver and passenger areas while an exclusive rear seat entertainment system is fitted. Special safety features will include ABS, traction control and airbags.

"We started the year on favourable economic conditions. We set a target of 8,000 units, but in the January-July period itself, we sold 4,680 units, a growth of 49 per cent over the same period last year. This way, we are hopeful of over-shooting the target. The Audi A8 L has been a benchmark in its segment and the new variant will redefine automotive excellence in India”, said Mr. Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India.

The company expects to sell 400-450 units of Audi A8 this year. “We will start assembling Audi Q7 at end-2012 and you can also check out the likes of the Audi Q5.

Aston Martin Vanquish Sports Car Launched

Aston Martin has added yet another feather in its cap with the launch of the ‘Vanquish’ sports car, thereby expanding its portfolio. Launched at the price tag of Rs. 3.85 crores (Ex-showroom Mumbai), the Vanquish is now the most expensive in India from the Aston Martin fleet. Currently Aston Martin has four cars in India. The new sports car will join the One-77 limited edition sportscar.

Aston Martin Vanquish has been launched after the Vantage, the Aston Martin Rapide, the Aston Martin DB9 and the Aston Martin DBS. The reason why the company has introduced the Vanquish in the Indian market is simply its three-fourth volume of Indian sales coming from its high priced models.

"The initial belief was that we will sell a lot of entry-level cars like Vantage and a few of the high-end variants, but it has turned out to be the other way around. Cars retailing at upward of Rs 2.5-3 crore account for 80% of the 40-odd cars we have sold so far," said Lalit Choudhary, director, Performance Cars, the official importer of Aston Martin cars. This car replaces DBS.

The new Vanquish has now been upgraded to a 6.0 litre V12 engine which churns out whooping 565 horsepower at 6750 rpm and 620 torques @ 5500 rpm. The power is harnessed via a touchtronic2 automatic transmission and a stainless steel exhaust system.

You can bring the car to halt with carbon-ceramic brakes while the suspension has a 3-stage adjustable adaptive damping system with normal, sport and track modes for a more customized ride. The Vanquish was first showcased at Concorso D’Eleganza at Villa D’Este in the form of the AM310 concept and quickly caught the attention. It didn’t take much time for Aston Martin to put it into production thanks to the reception it received at the famous Italian automobile gathering.

Premier Rio Diesel Is The Newest Compact SUV

Premier Rio heats up the battle in the SUV segment with the launch of its new diesel variant. The new variant comes in the wake of the highly successful Renault Duster which has already garnered over 10,000 bookings within days of its launch. The Premier Rio will also look to create some inroads being the cheapest diesel SUV in India. The Premier Rio price starts at Rs 6.7 lakh for the entry level CRDi4 variant. This also makes it cheaper compared to the recently launched Renault Duster that starts at Rs 7.99 lakh for the diesel model.

Initially when the Premier Rio was launched, it failed to garner the much needed numbers. The sales were quiet dismissal in spite of having a meager price starting at Rs 4.90 lakh for the petrol model. Firstly the brand had a taken beating with few technical issues which is a huge mistake for a company that is yet to match up to the likes of the big boys in the market. Not too forget the Chinese involvement in the development of the car. Chinese goods are already considered as sub standard and the expensive parts and high maintenance did not help the cause either. Now that the Rio has 1.3 L Fiat sourced engine, it will not only step up its prospects over Duster and other upcoming SUVs namely, Maruti XA Alpha and Ford EcoSport but will also help build the trust in the car. The Rio CRDi returns a mileage of 19 kmpl and will be available in four colors.

The new Rio CRDi4 will be available at select dealers and will soon be made available at all the 55 dealers. Premier is also thinking of increasing the dealerships by 100 by the end of this year and there will also be over 200 service stations for the Rio.

Toyota Etios Liva Gets Sporty

Toyota Etios Liva celebrates its first birthday with the launch of Etios Liva TRD Sportivo in India. The limited edition Toyota Etios Liva price starts at Rs 5.23 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), while the diesel will cost Rs 6.32 lakh. Only 1,200 units of the special edition will be made and offered till the end of October.

The new variant caters to the youth and has been crafted by the Toyota Racing Development from Japan. In terms of the performance the special edition remains honest to the existing variant but goes sporty with features like aerodynamic front bumper and rear bumper along with side skirt in two-tone sport colours. All this is carried by a new set of 15 inch alloy wheels and ample TRD badging. Overall these tweaks give the car a sign of exclusivity on both the outside and the inside. The limited edition Liva will be available in two colours – White and Ultramarine Blue.

Speaking on the occasion of the launch Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, TKM, said “We are glad to introduce Liva TRD Sportivo Limited Edition, on the occasion of the first anniversary of Etios Liva. Etios and Etios Liva have been doing well and our vision, to see growing number of Toyota happy customers and Toyota families, is beginning to materialize. We will soon begin the domestic production of engine and transmission in the third quarter of 2012 and early 2013 respectively, at our facility in Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts. We also exported the first batch of Etios series to South Africa in April this year. We thank our customers for their appreciation of Etios and Etios Liva and look forward to their feedback to continuously improve upon the product.”

The style statement is finished off with the Limited Edition "TRD Sportivo" chrome badge on the boot lid. As far as the inside styling is considered, there is a new seat fabric with the "TRD Sportivo" logo and silver shift knob. You can also check out the likes of the Fiat Punto Sport and the Hyundai i20, Ford Figo and the Maruti Swift.