Mahindra 2 Wheelers' Auto Expo plans

Mahindra 2 Wheelers will showcase its 2012 Moto3 bike and launch the Duro DZ scooter in Delhi at the Auto Expo 2012.Mahindra racing ended third in the Constructors� Championship in its debut 2011 season. It had taken the covers off its new 250cc Moto3 entry for the 2012 season earlier in Valencia. This will be the first time that the bike will be unveiled in India.Mahindra has already launched

Skoda Fabia Scout pictures

Peugeot to unveil future models

Feast your eyes on the 2011 championship-winning Peugeot 908 LMP1 Le Mans car. The blindingly quick Le Mans prototype weighs approximately 925kg and develops 550bhp from its 3.7-litre V8 diesel unit. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 908 grabbed three of the top four spots, coming second only to the Audi R18.Alongside the Le Mans racer will be Peugeot�s first car for India � the 508. This will be

FIRST DRIVE New BMW 3-series review, test drive

Testing a mainstream production saloon on a Formula 1 race track doesn�t serve any real purpose except to tell you how quick you (and the car) really are. You don�t just cruise from apex to apex but end up driving the wheels off whatever you�re piloting. So the first couple of hot laps of the Catalunya circuit in Spain were enough to reveal how far forward BMW has taken the new 3-series� driving

Tata Nano to get upgraded starter motor

Tata Motors has announced a �replacement exercise� for all Nano models except the recently launched 2012 Nano.As part of this exercise, Tata Motors will replace the starter motor with the one that comes in the 2012 Nano.  This will be done free-of-cost and will affect about 1.40 lakh customers nationwide, and will cost Tata Motors about Rs 100 crore. According to Tata Motors, there is no formal

New Hyundai Sonata launch at Expo

Hyundai�s striking design efforts of late should make the Korean carmaker�s hall a huge attraction. Treat yourself to the absolutely stunning Veloster coupe, another class example of Hyundai�s fluidic design language. Oodles of sex appeal aside, the Veloster has a 1.6-litre petrol engine developing 138bhp and a raft of safety features like ESC, ABS, TCS, Brake Assist and six airbags. The Veloster

XUV500 to be dearer by Rs 55,000

Three months after its launch, the Mahindra XUV 500 will see its first price revision from January 1, 2012. The quantum of hike will be Rs 30,000 for the base W6 variant, Rs 50,000 for the W8 2WD variant and Rs 55,000 for the W8 4WD variant.Currently, the XUV 500 W6 is priced at Rs 10.8 lakh, W8 2WD retails at Rs 11.95 and the top-end 4WD W8 variant is available for Rs 14.16 lakh, ex-showroom,

Audi Q3 to be revealed at the Expo

Come January 2012, Audi will cater to every type of visitor with its wide range of models at the Auto Expo. At one end is theQ3, the affordable compact SUV, while at the other is the camera-magnet R8 Spyder.This will be the Q3�s Indian debut and it will first be launched in mid-2012 with Audi�s Quattro four-wheel-drive system. Two engines will be offered, a 2.0-litre TFSI turbo-petrol developing

New Toyota Camry, prius, innova, fortuner launch at the Expo

Toyota will reveal a completely new face at the Expo, quite literally. A facelifted Innova, Fortuner, Land Cruiser, Prius and an all-new Camry will be displayed in the Toyota hall.The bold new Camry will be launched at the Auto Expo. The Japanese carmaker plans to assemble it from CKD kits so prices should drop considerably. A more refined 2.5-litre 174bhp VVT-i petrol engine mated to new

Ferrari pushing for F1 testing increase

Ferrari is pushing for an increase in testing in Formula 1, with its president Luca di Montezemolo claiming that it is crucial for the development of young drivers.From 2009-2011, in-season testing was banned outright with pre-season running heavily limited. In 2012, there will be one test at Mugello on May 1-3, following the early-season flyways. But there is no net increase in test days as

Hyundai Eon vs Maruti Alto

The Maruti Alto is India�s best-selling car by far. An affordable price tag is just one of many reasons why, but the fact is the Alto gets the basics right. It�s fuel efficient, easy to use and requires minimal maintenance � with the comfort of knowing if anything does go wrong, a Maruti service station is never too far away. Last year�s K10 model only added cubic capacity and horsepower to the

Tata to showcase Pixel at Expo 2012

Tata Motors will showcase the Pixel city car concept at the 11th Auto Expo in Delhi.The Pixel concept, which made its debut at the Geneva motor show in February this year, is based on the Nano, but has been developed mainly for European markets. It�s just over three metres long, and when it reaches India two years from now, will be up against the likes of the Maruti Alto. Like the Nano, the Pixel

FIRST DRIVE New Fortuner Auto review, test drive

Come January, Toyota will widen the Fortuner line-up with the introduction of a pair of new two-wheel drive variants. We have just driven the automatic-transmission variant and can tell you there is much to get excited about. But before we get into how the SUV drives, lets take a look at what else is new. For starters, frontal styling gets a major revamp. The larger grille, angular headlights and

Mahindra to showcase SsangYong range, EVs

Mahindra & Mahindra is to display two models from its newly-acquired SsangYong brand � the Korando crossover and Rexton SUV � for the first time in India at the forthcoming Auto Expo.The Rexton is a typical old-school SUV based on the tried-and-tested mechanicals of the first-generation Mercedes M-class. It is powered by a 2.7-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel motor developing 162bhp and 34.8kgm

Auto Expo launch for new BMW M5

EXCLUSIVE!BMW is all set to showcase its new M5 saloon at the 11th Auto Expo in January 2012.Like all previous M5s, the new car's styling is subtle but aggressive in its details, most notably the lower air intakes � three gaping ducts to flow cool air into the radiator, oil cooler and turbochargers. 19-inch alloy wheels come as standard fitment.The M5 features a twin-turbo, 4.4-litre V8 that

FIRST DRIVE New Chevrolet Captiva review, test drive

With the new Captiva, which is a heavily face-lifted version of the original model, GM believes it now has muscle to steer buyers into its showrooms. Look at this refreshed SUV head-on and you will tend to agree. The massive new grille has completely transformed the car and perhaps addressed the Captiva�s biggest weakness � that it just didn�t look SUV enough. The two-part grille, split by a

Honda Brio vs Hyundai i10

The Hyundai i10 is easy to drive, has a strong fuel-efficient engine, a well-appointed cabin and thus a strong favourite in the small hatchback class. With regular revisions and facelifts it has managed to distance itself from the rest.The Honda Brio though is keen on upstaging the Hyundai with its premium positioning. Both have 1.2-litre engines and what the Honda wins with size, the Hyundai

Mercedes plans exciting display for Auto Expo

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed its plans for the Auto Expo. The German luxury carmaker will showcase a range of new models and technologies at the upcoming expo. Firstly, there will be the all-new Concept A-Class on display which will also be one of the first-examples of Mercedes� new �fascinating� design language. This concept aims towards a future range of compact cars from the Mercedes stable.

Ford confirms Auto Expo plans

Ford has confirmed that it will preview an all-new global vehicle at the Auto Expo.This vehicle, the EcoSport, will be sold in India and other global markets. This next-generation vehicle will take centrestage on Ford's high-tech and interactive stand which will cover around 1,400 square metres. The EcoSport will be the latest One Ford global product, a vehicle designed to help expand Ford's

Suzuki reveals Auto-Expo plans

The upcoming Auto Expo in Delhi will see the Japanese bike-maker showcase its international range of sport and touring bikes. This includes the Hayabusa, Intruder M1800, GSX-R1000, GSR750, DL650A (V-Strom) and RMX450Z. The Indian range will be showcased too, with models like the SlingShot Plus, the GS150R and the Access 125 scooter. Also at the Expo will be the newly launched Intruder M800, which

Harley Davidson at Auto Expo

Harley-Davidson India has revealed its plans for the Auto Expo 2012, which will see it showcase some of its stock as well as customised motorcycles.The bikes will be displayed in an industrial warehouse-type setup. The stall will also have Harley�s range of merchandise, including apparel, riding gear and accessories. It will also display its range of MotorClothes and its Pink Label range, a

Bentley reveals new V8 engine

Bentley will launch its long-awaited twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine at the Detroit motor show early next month, promising �an instantly recognisable growl�.The engine will initially be offered in special versions of the Continental GT and GTC, identifiable by their black grilles, red badges and �figure eight� exhaust pipes. The models will be positioned below existing 6.0-litre W12 Continentals,

Audi to set up customer driving experience

Like the Mercedes driving academy, the base for Audi�s activities will be the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida � where customers will get an opportunity to drive Audi�s entire range of performance offerings right up to the R8 supercar under the supervision of trained instructors.Instructor roles have been given to former competition drivers Gaurav Dalal, Rohitaaz Kumar, Prithveen

Renault Upgraded Fluence diesel launched Upgraded Fluence diesel launched

Renault has added a new variant to its diesel Fluence range which was earlier offered only as a basic trim variant. The new, up-market trim is called the E4.  The E4 diesel Fluence now mirrors the features list of the E4 petrol variant. The diesel E4 now comes with features like cruise control, rain sensing wipers, chrome-lined trunk-lid and window sills, auto headlamps, rear parking sensors and

Hyderabad to get Rolls Royce outlet

Affluent car buyers in Andhra Pradesh have reason to rejoice as luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce has appointed Kun Motoren Private Limited as its authorised dealer in Hyderabad. This is the third dealership in the country, after Mumbai and Delhi, as part of Rolls-Royce�s India expansion plans. The company will set up an all-new showroom that will be operational by the middle of 2012. Kun Motoren

20,000th BMW rolls off the line

BMW India rolled out its 20,000th made-in-India car from its Chennai plant.The BMW Plant in Chennai commenced operations on 29th March 2007, it produces the BMW 3- and 5-series saloons, the X1 and the X3 SUV�s. The BMW Group has invested Rs 1.1 billion in the project and it plans to increase its investment in India to Rs 1.8 billion by the end of 2012.The German carmaker currently sells the 3-

New Toyota Innova, Fortuner spied

Here are the spy pictures of the soon-to-be-launched Toyota Innova and its hot selling Fortuner SUV. Both the Toyotas were spotted by our alert reader C.B Subbaiah in Bangalore.Unveiled at the Indonesian Motor Show, the Innova gets a substantial facelift, with new lights and grille, and the profile has been altered slightly as well. The upright grille sits more vertically than the current car,

Renault hikes Koleos prices

Renault has upped the prices of the Koleos SUV by Rs 1 lakh. It is now priced at Rs 23.99 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi (Rs 22.99 lakh earlier).The Koleos is powered by a 2.0-litre, 150bhp, all-aluminium common-rail diesel engine with variable valve timing. This is the same M9R unit that powers the X-Trail, coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Koleos comes loaded with 17-inch alloy

Ducati Riding Experience subscriptions for 2012 open

Italian motorcycle maker Ducati has now opened subscriptions for its 2012 Ducati Riding Experience (DRE) events. Open to beginners and race-track specialists alike, the DRE will take place at some of Italy�s famous circuits with a complete fleet of Ducatis. Participants can use the opportunity to perfect their riding skills, thanks to the presence of some highly qualified professional instructors

Facelifted Honda City launched

Honda India has launched its updated City in India.The new City gets a host of cosmetic upgrades such as an electric sunroof, chrome-plated front grille, updated front bumper, 10-spoke alloy wheels and turn indicators on rear-view mirrors. The saloon also gets cruise control now. Safety features on the new City include Dual front SRS airbags, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist. The updated City comes

New Mercedes SL-class pics leaked

Pictures of the all-new sixth generation Mercedes SL have been leaked online, ahead of the car�s official debut at the Detroit motor show in January.These grainy brochure images of the new drop-top show the clearest indication of the car�s styling yet, which closely follows the design language used on the new Mercedes SLK. These include a large, open grille, angular headlamps with distinctive LED

FIRST DRIVE Chevrolet Volt review, test drive

Chevrolet built the Volt to deal with one problem and one problem alone - range anxiety. Engineered to override the nagging fear you have in an electric car, when the charge in your battery is running low, the Volt is an electric car whose range can be infinitely extended by using a petrol engine as an electric generator.Powered by GM�s unique Voltec propulsion system which consists of a

New Safari 'Merlin' coming

Tata is going to launch a new Safari early next year. Codenamed �Merlin�, this will be the SUV�s most thorough update since its launch in 1998. New projector headlights, a squarish grille that looks more imposing than before, and a pronounced chin with a lip under the bonnet are major front-end revisions. The rear gets two chrome-tipped exhausts and an oversized chrome bar over the number plate. 

Work underway on new BMW R 1200 GS

BMW Motorrad is readying a major upgrade to its top-selling R 1200 GS adventure touring motorcycle, which is still as far away from launch as 2013.The final GS is similar to the model illustrated here, and shall sport revised, modern styling with a sharper, more aggressive snout apart from other substantial cosmetic changes. Refreshed instruments and an altered, adjustable wind deflector will be

New pictures of Skoda VisionD

New pictures of the Skoda VisionD concept car have been released by the Czech manufacturer. These latest images of the VisionD, which was first unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March 2011, highlight the design cues that will inform all future Skoda cars.The concept is a mid-size fastback with crisp lines and a new grille that Skoda�s chief designer, Josef Kaban, described as �proud, confident

BMW unveils 6-series Gran Coupe

BMW has unveiled the 6-series Gran Coup�. This new four-door coupe will rival the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS. The 6-series Gran Coupe joins the existing two-door coup� and convertible in an expanded range of 6-series models aiming to attract buyers who place greater emphasis on outright style than practicality.Stylistically, the Gran Coup� is identical to the 6-series coup� and convertible

2012 Renault Zoe

One or two styles up from the unique little Twizy is where Renault's ZOE Review rests. Following in the problematic vein of last years ZOE Z.E. car, the ZOE Review is a more genuine look at the edition that will be available next year dressed in Renault's latest experience. Not only that, but it may just be previewing (ZING!) the next Clio as well.Similar in dimension to the Clio, this little

Mercedes to axe Maybach brand

Mercedes-Benz has recently revealed that its under-performing Maybach luxury brand will officially be killed off in 2013.The decision to disband Mercedes-Benz�s upper luxury marque comes after lacklustre sales of the company�s existing 57 and 62 limousines and a recent decision from chairman Dieter Zetsche not to push ahead with the development of replacement models � the likes of which were

Ford India Discover Smart Drive season two kicks off

Ford India kicked off its second season of the Discover Smart Drive (DSD). The show will cover 28 cities, 6400km across India in eight days and will conclude in Nepal. The winner gets the chance to drive the Figo in Nepal and will also get a helicopter ride over the Himalayas. The drive kicks off simultaneously on December 5 from Jammu, Lucknow, Mumbai and Chennai and comprises four legs. Ford

2012 Renault Clio

We looking for a newest information about 2012 Renault Clio RS 200 Raider. The first of Renault, and incredibly exclusive, among the more expensive vehicles currently available, Raider is done in he Renault i.d. colour. The choice of he Convert cannot be seen Dull or Diavolo Red is actually in comparison by a shiny dark-colored finish towards the top, again spoiler, F1-style front side aspect

FIRST DRIVE Range Rover Evoque review, test drive

The new Evoque looks simply stunning in the flesh. The very modern lines and raked-back profile make it really stand out in everyday traffic in Mumbai, and for Range Rover, this is a completely new direction. It is far removed from the traditional uprightness the company is known for and the show-car-like lines make you just stare and stare.We love the detailing of both the front and rear lights,

Nissan India-sales up 149 percent

Nissan India has reported a staggering 149 percent increase in its sales in the month of November 2011.The Japanese car manufacturer says that this major sales growth was driven by the recently launched Sunny saloon which accounted for 1131 units of the figure for November and has already achieved sales of more than 3130 units since its launch in September.Nissan�s other offerings like the Micra

Maruti announces Auto Expo plans

Maruti Suzuki has revealed its plans for the upcoming 2012 Auto Expo.The big news for the small-car giant will be its aggressive entry into the UV segment with two models � both of which will be showcased at the Expo in New Delhi.First up will be the global unveiling of Maruti�s first compact MPV, the Ertiga. As originally seen in our spy images, the Ertiga looks similar to the Swift from the

FIRST DRIVE Tata Indigo eCS VX review, test drive

A saloon for small car money, the Indigo CS is really hard to match on sheer value for money. Tata Motors has tweaked the car over the years and the car you see here is a further development of the eCS model launched in 2010.The majority of changes have been made under the bonnet. For starters, Tata has fine-tuned fuel delivery for improved driveability. Engine calibration has also been worked

Volkswagen reveals Cross Coupe concept

Volkswagen has showcased an all-new SUV concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. Known as the Cross Coup� concept, it hints at design themes of all future SUV�s from Volkswagen stable.The Cross Coup� previews the bold new look of its Volkswagen�s second-generation Tiguan compact SUV. Sitting onthe German carmaker�s versatile new MQB platform, the new four-seater, four-wheel drive petrol-electric hybrid

XUV500 bookings to re-open in Jan.

Mahindra is will once again take orders for its hugely popular XUV500 SUV in January. As you may recall, the company shut down bookings on October 11, after having received over 8,000 orders � or four-months� production � over the span of just 10 days.The company says production is on schedule and will also be ramped up to meet demand, which has grown thanks in part to word of mouth from

Mercedes CLS 350 review, test drive

The long right-hander ahead stretches as far as I can see. Almost subconsciously, I pile a bit more pressure on the throttle. The suspension hunkers down, the rear wheels bite the tarmac a little bit harder and, apart from the increase in pace, everything remains completely calm inside the cabin. What�s immediately clear is that, though this car is based on the current E-class, the new CLS

BMW, Toyota confirm engine link

BMW and Toyota have confirmed their engine technology collaboration plans. The two automotive giants will supply engines to each other, with BMW offering its 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesel engines to Toyota Motor Europe in exchange for the Japanese company�s hybrid technology and expertise.BMW�s engine supply will begin in 2014 and will be installed in certain Toyota-produced vehicles planned for sale

Tata Nano 2012 review, test drive

A vibrant range of colours, which includes a Papaya Orange and Rouge Red, loudly announces the fact that the Tata Nano has been given a makeover. But look beyond the eight new shades of paint and it is hard to distinguish the new-for-2012 car from the earlier model. The only real exterior additions to the upgraded Nano are the plastic wheel caps (on the top LX model) and a passenger-side