Mercedes Benz A Class Out On the Roads

Mercedes Benz A Class is out on the roads. The new A-Class it looks far more enticing than the pre launch reports and is too good to believe. This new baby Merc is certainly attractive, especially at the front, where a wide grille feeds into the clamshell bonnet and into heavily scalloped sides. "A is for Attack." So said Daimler AG chairman Dieter Zetsche as he introduced the new A Class, a car that Mercedes Benz has designed from the ground. The A Class will give sneak shot of Mercedes brand for entry level consumers.

All the models come with turbocharged four-cylinder units. The A180 CDI features a 1461cc unit with 109bhp and 260Nm of torque. This comes mated to a brand new 6-speed manual. The A180 CDI comes with a 1796cc engine. The engine develops 109bhp and 250Nm of torque. The A200 CDI with the 1796cc unit develops 136 horses and whips out 300Nm of torque.

The A180 employs the 1595cc unit (122bhp and 200Nm) mated to the 6-speed manual. Next in line is the A250 with the 1991cc unit mated to the 7-speed dual clutch gearbox with 211bhp on tap and 350Nm of torque. Finally the A250 Sport is identical with a few graphics to make it look faster.

The seats are pretty good and supportive. The steering wheel is a neat new design. The cabin has more leg room than its predecessor. There is sufficient head room despite the sloping roofline and the 341-litre boot volume can be enhanced to 1157 litres of luggage carrying capacity by folding the rear seat back flat.

The A200 CDI with the new 6-speed manual gearbox gives figures of 0-100km/h in 9.3 seconds and a 210km/h top speed. Ride quality was firm with just the right amount of pliancy without upsetting the handling. Overall the dynamics are pretty nifty though typically Mercedes-Benz and even for the young brigade there is something. Given that the B-Class will start around Rs 24-25 lakh, the A-Class could prove a nightmare for Mercedes-Benz India to configure and sell at sensible money. The overall set-up delivers absolute stability at high speeds without compromising on the fun to drive agility factor. You can also check out the likes of the Mercedes E Class and the Mercedes Benz ML 350 CDI and Audi Q7.

Maruti Swift Dzire Auto Performance On the Road

Maruti Swift Dzire automatic is definitely nothing like its other counterparts. The old Dzire has already topped the charts and just when you thought that there is nothing else for the Dzire to conquer, the company has launched an automatic gearbox variant of the highly successful sedan. The new Swift Dzire makes the under 4 metre cut but let us see if it makes the people’s cut.

In terms of the looks, the new Swift carries on the mature image and improvises with curves, an extended hood and bigger head lights. The front end style remains the same but looks a lot more elegant.

On the inside you are in for an absolute delight. The delights come in the form of new steering wheel, new dashboard and dash of beige. There is also the option of two tone black colour scheme. The seats are spacious and comfortable and the cabin has a pretty premium feel to it. Like the back end design, the back seats however take a bit of a beating though the wheelbase of the new car is about 40mm longer.

In terms of the performance, the Dzire comes in both the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel variants that are currently on offer in the new Swift. The Dzire now has the option of a 4-speed automatic gearbox in the mid-level VXi petrol variant. The new automatic delivers a power of 87PS @ 6000rpm and a torque figure of 114Nm @ 4000rpm. It hits the 100km/h in 16.49 seconds. Moving around city traffic, the drive is an absolute breeze and the neither the gearbox nor the engine feel laggy at any point. The steering is nicely weighted and carving corners on a twisty mountain road is as fun as it gets in this segment of cars.

The new Swift Dzire delivers a mileage of 16kmpl. The Swift Dzire automatic gearbox comes at an extra cost of Rs. 35,000. You can also check out the likes of Mahindra Verito and the Toyota Etios.

Mercedes Benz a Class 2012 Hatcback Revealed

Mercedes Benz A Class hatchback is the next big thing from the company to make its entry into the market. It is expected to be launched in September 2012 in Europe. The new babe from the stable of Benz will come with option of four diesel and three petrol engines mated to two different transmissions.

The new Mercedes-Benz will have trimmed down engines for its entry level cars. This is expected to improve the performance, mileage and also be a lot more ecofriendly with lower emissions. All the models will come with a stop/start system with a low drag coefficient of 0.27, turbo charging and improved fuel injectors will make them more efficient.

The engine is a 1461cc A 180 CDI type which powers up to 108PS and delivers an astonishing mileage of 26kmpl with just 98g/km of CO2 emissions which is the lowest of any Mercedes-Benz. All this credit also goes to Renault. Renault-Nissan and Mercedes-Benz inked a pact in 2010 to develop engines for small cars. The diesel A200 CDI with a 1.8-litre engine is already Euro VI compliant, emitting 111g/km of CO2. Its delivers 134PS of power and 300Nm of torque. The top of the line diesel engine is the A220 CDI, featuring a 168PS 2.1-litre engine with 350Nm of torque, and a 0-100km/h time of 7.8 seconds.

The A-Class will run on a 6-speed manual transmission, with the option of a semi-automatic 7-speed dual clutch 7G-DCT transmission. The top end A 250 will only have an automatic transmission, with three drive modes, Economy, Manual and Sport, and paddle shifters. Both transmissions were developed in sync and share many parts. The A-Class will be assembled in India. You can also check out the likes of the Mercedes E Class and the Mercedes-Benz ML 350 CDI and Audi Q7.

Maruti Ritz Goes For a Makeover

Maruti Ritz has a made splash in the market with its new avatar. The new images of the Maruti Ritz which is in fact sold as the Suzuki Splash in other global markets such as Japan and also in some countries in Europe have been released on Suzuki's Japan website.

The facelift starts off with a lower mounted nose which is accompanied by a one-piece grille. The headlamps get a lot more directional with a pointier finish. The fenders now dominate up above the bonnet 'V' while the rear joins the facelift with the bumpers getting fake air-vents. The rear bumper also gets sporty slats with a new profile. The overall looks still look very similar to the current Ritz with a slightly daring stance up front. The final facelift at the exteriors is rounded off with a flat design taillight against the curved one in the current Ritz. Looks like the company has finally heeded to the customers feedback as the previous design made the Ritz one of the ugliest looking car at the rear.

The nose job is also noticed on the interiors with small changes and lighter shades. The overall interiors will still carry on very much with the same design. However it is expected to surely move up a notch higher in terms of the material quality which was evident in the Swift and new Dzire. However, we’ll have to wait and watch for these changes in the actual physical model as there’s only so much you can make out from the images on the interweb.

The engine will be an 84bhp K-series 1.2-litre petrol and the 74bhp 1.3-litre diesel motors mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Maruti Ritz competes with the like of Hyundai i10, Ford Figo and the Honda Brio .

Volkswagen Vento and Volkswagen Polo Discount Dhamaka

Volkswagen Vento and Volkswagen Polo are looking to buck the trend for the poor sales of petrol cars this season. The ever increasing petrol prices have surely made the company go for a last ditch effort to improve its sales and only time will tell if others are to follow suit.

The company has huge stocks of previous years Volkswagen Vento and Polo. So if you are planning to buy a petrol car you can surely turn it to your advantage. Normally most companies face the dilemma at the end of the year and usually clear the sales by the first quarter. However coming close to five months into 2012, Volkswagen has no other option but to clear its 2011 Polo and Vento petrol models. Of the current lot VW is the only manufacturer left to sell its 2011 cars though.

The 1.2 and 1.6 petrol Polo is now cheaper by a huge Rs 50,000 in cash. The deal also gets a lot tempting with free insurance and a two-year annual maintenance contract (AMC) worth Rs 60,000 collectively. The overall discount comes up to a whopping Rs 1.1 lakh if you buy this on road in Mumbai. These calculations are for the base Trendline variant.

On the other hand the Vento cousin also gets cheaper by Rs 1 lakh cash discount for the 2011 model. Even the 2012 petrol 1.2 Polo gets free insurance and AMC worth Rs 60,000.

The only trick you need to remember is if you register a 2011 model in 2012, the date of manufacture is what decides the value of a car so this can affect its price when you decide to sell it. Not many know about this, but used car dealers do have a sniff for them and you need to be smart when you quote the price compared to a car manufactured in 2012.

New Fiat Linea Launched in Turkey

Fiat Linea has made itself available in a new refreshed avatar in Turkey. The renewed Fiat Linea has undertaken the mid-life facelift and comes with a host of changes in terms of the styling and a refreshed cabin.

The facelift of the Fiat Linea starts off with the refreshed front grille, re-profiled bumper; new fog lamp clusters and comes with loads of chrome for a premium feel. On the back end of the car changes arrive in the form of minor tweaks with an additional chrome strip. The number plate has now moved on to the boot lid. However, the side profile seems to have been forsaken in the mid cycle facelift and looks pretty much a chip off the old car.

The inside is where most of the action takes place and this is where you will notice sweat and toil of the designers. The dash board looks way above its class and comes in a new three-layered two-tone style. The steering wheel is not much alien from the current car, but still manages to have a place of its own with the bits of silver while the centre console gets company in the form a new integrated audio system. The AC vents also sport a modern look and come with useful cubby holes above them. The gear lever, climate control knobs and the door pads are still kept untouched and look similar to the current car. The instrument cluster, with chrome-ringed recessed dials and circular centres, looks great.

The company is looking at the viability of bringing the new Linea for the Indian market as the current variant has really done well. The current Fiat Linea is arguably the best in terms of the ride and handling at its price point and looks way above its class. The Fiat Linea competes with the like of Skoda Rapid, Volkswagen Vento and the Nissan Sunny.

Mahindra Scorpio upgraded version Ready to Launch

Mahindra Scorpio has secretly started its evolution under the codename W105. The existing Scorpio in the market has completed a decade on the roads and is still going strong. In fact it’s the Scorpio that started a new lease of SUVs in the market like the Tata Safari etc.

The Scorpio will not be influenced by the single body frame of the blockbuster Mahindra XUV500 and will still carry on with the good old hardy body-on-frame which is tried and tested on both the urban and rural terrains. So in spite of the facelift avatar, the new Scorpio will still be hugely ripped off from the current platform. The changes are likely to be seen at the wheelbase which will be longer to improve the legroom in the second row. With an all-new body it will also get a dose of power with a 140bhp version of the M-Hawk engine. The new Scorpio could also come with an improved fuel economy.

Plans are on at full swing in the research facility at Chennai, known as Mahindra Research Valley (MRV). With new high-tech labs and facilities, we can expect the Scorpio to sting us sooner than expected. The company is not overwhelmed by the success of the XUV500 and very well realizes that its bread and butter still lies with tried and tested Scorpio. We expect it will hit showrooms in 2014.

The new Scorpio will also look to get off the tracks faster with a new pick-up version perfectly set up for export markets, which the company believes will be crucial in coming years.

At a time when cars were all about being sane and travelling with your family, the Mahindra Scorpio stung us all by surprise and also showed that cars can be for fun and adventure with the family. Only time will tell if the new Mahindra Scorpio King will be back with a bang.

Volkswagen Polo R Line Sports Variant Revealed

Volkswagen Polo now gets leaner, meaner and sportier with the launch of its new R Line model. The new car is a sportier and faster variant of the premium hatchback. The Polo R-Line comes with a 1.2-litre TFSI engine mated to a six-speed gearbox. The engine delivers a maximum power of 105PS which matches up to the likes of 1.6-litre Polo Highline currently doing rounds on the Indian roads. However it does have a trump up its sleeve with a top speed of 190km/h and breaches the 100 km mark in just less than 10 seconds.

Moving onto the looks, they can easily be recognized by the strong sports attitude with a trendy front and rear bumpers. The radiator grille with R Line badge looks quite menacing with the black gloss. Then you have the deeper side sills and 16-inch ‘Mallory’ alloy wheels with the standard fog lights including a static cornering function.

The interiors get aluminum bits all over it with R Line logos stamped almost at every nook and corner of the car including the seats, headrests and the leather-trimmed steering wheel. The sports fever can also be seen on the seats upholstered in ‘Kyalami’ cloth, aluminum capped pedals and black cloth roof lining.

The Polo R line comes attached with radio/CD player with six speakers and multi-device interface for plugging in an iPod or other compatible devices, semi-automatic air-conditioning, multi-function trip computer, power windows, height-adjustable front seats, split-folding rear seats, electrically operated and heated-door mirrors, illuminated vanity mirrors, front and rear reading lights, tyre pressure monitor and remote central locking.

However, as of now the Volkswagen Polo R Line is available only in the UK at Rs.13 lakh INR for the three-door version and goes up to Rs 13.54 lakh for the five-door version. Until then, you can still quench your need for thrill with the Polo 1.6 which does a 0-100km/h in 12.33 seconds. The Volkswagen Polo competes with the likes of the Skoda Fabia and the Hyundai i20.

Mahindra Verito 2012 Avatar Revealed

Mahindra Verito has been caught in its new avatar doing the test rounds. The new facelift avatar of the Mahindra Verito is however not a complete transformation but just an update to before its compact sub-four-metre saloon launch.

The changes on the new Verito include a new front grille accompanied by a chrome strip, newly restyled front bumper and fog lamp housings. The B-pillar is blacked-out and the outside rearview mirrors get new mountings. At the tail end of the car, the changes have taken place at the tail lamps and bumpers. The number plate has now moved on to the redesigned bootlid.

With regard to the changes on the interiors, we do not expect much of activity at the mechanicals and most of them will remain the same. It is also expected to come with the same diesel engine. The best part of the facelift will be a huge cabin and better technology in terms of the dynamics. In fact the company had recently launched the rebadged Verito in April last year with some styling tweaks. The only reason for the facelift is looked upon as a buying time until it launches the sub-four-metre saloon. The launch time of the Verito is expected to happen in the coming months.

The new facelift avatar does not do much to change the image of the car. The car still struggles hard to shake off its taxi image and there is a lot left to be desired in terms of the quality. At a time when big brands like Nissan and Volkswagen are giving stiff competition in the sedan market, it is time the Indian companies also improved their standard.

In fact it is really strange that the number one SUV maker in India still struggles to even give a damn in the other segments. The new Mahindra Verito will compete with the likes of Nissan Sunny, Maruti Swift Dzire and the Tata Manza.

Audi A4 Launching at Sunrise

Audi A4 will show its new look on May 3, 2012. The newly renewed Audi A4 will look to lock horns with the likes of BMW 3-series and the Mercedes-Benz C-class. The new look Audi A4 gets a host of changes to both its exterior looks and the interiors.

The outer looks get a new front-end exterior design which is complemented by an attractive headlamp and new LED lamps which now appear as a continuous band. The top end models also get projector-styled Xenon headlamps.

The changes also make their way to the bonnet in the form of a new six-corner single-frame grille. You can get them in shades of grey for the four-cylinder variants and black for the six-cylinders. The bumpers not wanting to be left behind sport a re-profiled trapezoidal-shaped fog lamp. At the rear, there are new tail lamps with altered LED graphics and a new bumper.

On the inside the Audi A4 spills luxury all over it and has a moved a notch higher in terms of the quality and the ease of use. The dashboard and bits of smart wood trim which is available as an option reminds you of the Audi A6 and Audi A8. The changes to the interior include a new design drive wheel, high quality dashboard, centre console trim applications and new switchgear as well. There is also the option of Audi Drive Select which enhances the efficiency of your car by controlling the cruise and air- conditioning to optimize the fuel consumption.

The Engines will however be carried over from the current car. Overall the new A4 is bigger and better in every way compared to its predecessor. The Audi A4 with the same old strong engines, luxurious interiors and a new look will look to stamp its authority in the entry level luxury car market.