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Sunday 25 September 2011

Renault is planing to capture market with new range of SUV's DUSTER & KOLEOS

Renault is planing to capture market with new range of SUV's DUSTER & KOLEOS


A first look at the vehicle tells you Renault has definitely got the styling right. And now, the Duster is all set to be the third offering from Renault after the Logan and the recently launched Fluence.

Bigger has always been better, and when it comes to SUV’s in India, this especially holds true. The Indian SUV market at the moment is pretty chockablock with entries from almost all manufacturers. The range varies from, the little Premiere Rio (that is if one can call it an SUV) starting at five odd lakh rupees to the big daddies which include the Range Rovers and the Landcruisers that retail in crores. But between all these, there is one market which is relatively quite nascent and that is the entry level SUV segment. 



For years it’s been a fight between the ubiquitous Tata safari and the current best seller, the Mahindra Scorpio which are both pretty good vehicles in their own right. But not anymore. Coming to take the fight to them soon is the Dacia Duster. If the brand doesn’t ring a bell yet, it’s the same company that also makes the Dacia Logan, aka the Renault Logan aka the Mahindra Verito. The Duster however is all set to be the third offering from Renault after the Logan and the recently launched Fluence.


A first look at the vehicle tells you Renault has definitely got the styling right. The proportions are just right and with a length of 4.31 metres and width at 1.82 metres, the Duster feels neither to cumbersome around town and at the same time is big enough to make its presence felt. The Duster is unmistakably 4x4 and from the front thanks to the imposing lines of the chrome grille and the sump guard. Seen from the side, the high ground clearance, clearly defined wheelarches and protective mouldings encourage the driver to tackle even the toughest roads and tracks. Although built on the Logan platform, ground clearance has been increased to a purposeful 210mm and wheelbase has been stretched too by 43mm and is also longer overall (25mm).



Powering the Duster, is the same 1.5 litre diesel mill that powered the Logan and is also powering the Fluence albeit in a more powerful state of tune. The Duster is also expected to push out about 108 PS and close to 240 Nm of torque. Now that is not much considering its rivals have a considerable horsepower advantage. But the ace up the Dusters sleeve is its kerb weight. At close to 1205 kg its bulk is closer to sedans rather than SUV’s and as a result, expect the Duster to pretty much match the competition as far as performance is concerned. Anything in the range of Rs. 7-8 lakh will make sure this Renault dusts off the competition.

Now Here Comes the all new KOLEOS by RENAULT with very nice features.



Now the Koleos isn’t an all new car. It’s been around in the international markets since 2008. However the car that you see in the pictures is the updated 2012 model. It’s a good thing that we get the new car since the predecessor wasn’t too much too look at. The new car though while not being the most handsome SUV, isn’t too bad to look at. The dimensions are just right and the Koleos is big enough to make its presence felt and at the same time compact enough to not feel cumbersome driving around town. The big grille along with upswept head lights looks like the Koleos has got just the right dose of botox. The skid plates at the front and rear add a touch of butch-ness to the otherwise pretty conservative stance of the Koleos.

Open the door and the first thing that strikes you is “Bose” written on the door sill. While that would want you to believe that there is a Bose system in the car, but we couldn’t fathom why would you want the audio systems name on the door sills and not to mention on the front fender as well. But a quick chat with Marc Nassif, MD-Renault India led us to believe that this is indeed the Renault Koleos Bose edition.

Slip into the driver’s seat you find yourself in a typical high perched driving position which is common is SUV’s. The steering wheel feels great and quality of materials is brilliant. We specially loved the soft touch dashboard materials and the fake carbon fibre panels. It’s quite roomy at the back as well, but considering the Koleos is a five seater and not a seven, legroom is pretty average at best. The seat back tables which otherwise serve well, make for a pretty hard surface resting against the rear passengers knee in case the driver/co-driver seat is slid all the way to the back. As far as luxury and flexibility is concerned, the Koleos has it covered. Dual zone a/c, leather all over, rear a/c vent with separate blowers, 6-way power adjustable driver seat, parking sensors and then some. But the best bit is the Bose audio system. The 8-speaker will simply blow your socks off. The high fidelity system reproduces some amazing acoustics no matter what song you play. The best in-car entertainment system in its segment for sure.

Good music in the background and a brilliant blacktop beneath us, the Koleos was being pushed petty hard but it was upto the task. With 150 PS and 320 Nm from the 2.0 litre dCi oilburner coupled with an all mode 4x4-i system, the Koleos had the grunt and the grip to make it an enjoyable drive, no matter how the conditions were. Even around the corners, the car held up pretty good despite its tall stance.


But the revelation was the ride quality. Throw anything at it, but the Koleos takes everything in its stride with aplomb. The last section of the journey barely had any roads and the Koleos just went through it without any problems or juggling the heavy lunch we had eaten. With a ground clearance of 206 mm and the 4x4 transmission the Koleos should be pretty capable off the road as well, but that we shall only find out once we fully test the vehicle. The only fly in this otherwise pretty good ointment is the gearbox. The 6-speed auto box is a bit slow and left hunting for the right gear whenever you need to shoot past that truck or slow moving rickshaw. A 6-speed manual would definitely make the Koleos an even more entertaining drive.

The Koleos then comes across as a pretty impressive offering from Renault. While it may not spring a surprise in any department, it seems to be quite a sensible product from a sensible manufacturer. For the moment, the Koleos will be available only in one fully loaded variant as Renault wants to showcase its very best. And it is indeed loaded with almost all the creature comfort one could ask for. But is it worth the Rs. 22.99 lakh ex-showroom Delhi price tag especially amongst such established competition

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Lamborghini 'Super Trofeo Stradale'



The Trofeo Stradale is 70 kilograms lighter than the previous LP560-4, and sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.4 seconds and clocks 200 km/h just 10.4 seconds later.
We all thought the Lamborghini Gallardo 570-4 Superleggera  is the most intense of the LP570 series, until the president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A, Stephan Winkelmann, unveiled the most extreme Gallardo ever; the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale which took the audience by surprise at the Volkswagen Group Night in Frankfurt.

This new and most extreme top model in the Gallardo lineup is based on the successful race car from the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, one of the world's fastest single make series. The car will be produced in a limited run of 150 numbered units.

Think about extreme race-prepped road-legal cars, the image you perceive in your mind would probably match the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale with the "Rosso Mars" paint scheme. The two massive carbon fiber air intakes up front just paint a fanatic picture of how wild the performance is, with a defined measure of calculated extreme handling and driver authority.

The rear spoiler is an enormous, lightweight carbon fiber construction that can be adjusted manually. This spoiler offers greater aerodynamic stability which is said to offer three times the downforce as compared to the Gallardo LP560-4, which in turn helps increase stability during tight, high-speed driving. The Trofeo Stradale is 70 kilograms lighter than the previous LP560-4, which provides a stunning power to weight ratio of  2.35 kilograms per HP for breathtaking performance. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.4 seconds and clocks 200 km/h just 10.4 seconds later. The top speed achieved by the Stradale is 320 km/h.

VIDEO OF LAUNCHING AT FRANKFURT 2011:-

Tuesday 13 September 2011

FORD EVOS CONCEPT CAR REVEALED AT FRANKFURT 2011

As promised, Ford has revealed the brand new concept car at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show : the striking new Evos plug-in hybrid sports coupe.Not only does the Evos point at a possible future front-drive Ford coupe, it also showcases the automaker’s first truly global design and a new vision for customer-focused and intuitive technologies.


Key features of the design include the fastback body, muscular haunches, and sporty profile. This dramatic exterior also conceals a four-door, four-seat layout--yes, the Evos features two pairs of gullwing doors--and packages them in a sleek coupe like body.


Overall measurements come in at 177 inches in length, 77 inches in width and a height of 53 inches. The wheelbase stands at 108 inches.Connectivity is also a strong theme behind the design of the Evos.


For example, the car can know its driver's habits, and will automatically adapt handling, steering and engine controls to suit his or her personal taste. Beyond this, the car’s interface and telematics systems will also be able to recognize the driver’s work schedule and local traffic or weather conditions.


It could automatically play the same music or news program that was just streaming at the driver’s home, or heat or cool the interior to an ideal temperature before the driver gets in by predicting departure time based on his or her calendar. Finally, wirelessly communicating with devices in the home, the Evos could close the garage door and switch off the lights automatically as it pulls away.

Believe it or not, the connectivity of the vehicle can also help optimize the drivetrain, which in this case is a plug-in hybrid system matching a gasoline engine with an electric motor running on lithium-ion batteries.In this way the overall driving range could be more than 500 miles on a single tank of gas and a full charge of the Evos’ batteries.


Sadly, Ford is keen to stress that you’ll never see the Evos on the road, though many of its distinctive design features will feature on next-generation Blue Oval models including the Mondeo/Fusion/MKZ replacements and, possibly, the long-rumored three-door Focus.

Sunday 11 September 2011

Ducati Diavel AMG revelaed at Frankfurt Auto show 2011

    The Ducati Diavel to make his debut at upcoming  frankfurt auto show 2011
 
Ducati’s collaboration with AMG started on a massive note with a sponsorship contract between the two companies for the Ducati MotoGP team, primarily since both share similar values with respect to performance and motorsport culture. The new Diavel will be seen with upgraded special five-spoke wheel styling, new radiator grilles, exhaust, an Alcantara saddle and most importantly an extraordinary Diavel-AMG badge on the white-striped carbon-fiber bodywork. What sets the new edition of the Diavel apart from the other ones is the accurately balanced engine made and signed by an individual technician.

Manually made, similar to all the Ducatis that roar their way out of the assembly unit, the special edition is fully clad with AMG’s very own ‘Diamond White Bright’ stripe and frame in contrast with the black rims. The AMG brand will be seen on the wheels, seat and the end caps of the exhaust.

The new ‘Devil’ as well as an exclusively designed jacket and helmet will hit the showroom in 2012, after its public unveiling at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show 2011.

 VIDEO OF DUCATI DIAVEL 2011

Friday 9 September 2011

Newly Launched Hyundai i30 with looks and nice features...


  
All new Hyundai i 30 Launched in Frankfurt auto show 2011 with new looks and nice features.

Designed and engineered at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the new-generation i30 will be making its world debut at this year’s prestigious Frankfurt Motor Show. The original model, which was launched back in July 2007 went on to increase sales in Europe year after year, achieving total sales of more than 350,000 units up to mid-2011.

Just like its passing namesake, the new i30 will target young and progressive buyers, who expect more than just good looks from their family hatches. The successful implementation of Hyundai’s new ‘fluidic sculpture’ design DNA, the new i30 will once again dinstinguish itself with looks and lines that deserve a second look many times over.

Giving further insights into the design DNA of this magnificent looking modern-day iteration of the ‘i30’ hatch, Thomas Bürkle, Chief Designer at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre, said “The new-generation i30 is recognisable thanks to the Hyundai family face with its signature hexagonal-shaped front grille and the jewel-like design of the headlamps, together with distinctive daytime running lights.  These lights present an angular shape within a more softly-edged recess, adding a strong personality to the vehicle, as well as a sense of refinement and luxury.”

Being the first Hyundai car to receive five stars from Euro NCAP, the car maker obviously expects the new-generation i30 carry forward the same success that the original model enjoyed, and the inclusion of its award-winning Five Year Triple Care package for European customers, will be a valuable point of differentiation for the new-generation i30.


Thursday 8 September 2011

CITROEN DS5!!

Sunday 4 September 2011

Volkswagen brings there NILS Concept at franKfurt auto show 2011


Designing a technically sound vehicle that flaunts all the glitterati and gizmos of the modern era, while at the same time filling its belly with as little of the world’s precious fuel as possible is very simply put, every major car makers dream for the near future. And while, it is a known fact that Volkswagen’s top boss Dr. Ferdinand Piesch has pioneered this movement to a great extend for the company and indirectly for the world, the scope and bandwidth of this vision was exemplified in the form of the XL1 concept car, that in real world conditions managed to cover an astonishing distance of a 100 km on a single liter of diesel.

That is to be quite frank, the true quest for super efficient small packaging, which now as we see it is slowly moving a step forward as Volkswagen unveiled for the very first time in its history, a single-seater all electric urban city concept that according to the auto giant is quite easily the newest and most fine specimen of a car flaunting the ‘minimalist mobility’ moniker.

Gaining a lot of attention at the very eve of the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show, where it will be looked upon a lot more closely and without doubt a tad of speculation, this racing car design inspired one man seater is what the company likes to  call the NILS Concept.


The first thing that ought to catch your attention is the fact that the car has four free-standing wheels, just like that of an F1 car. But, it’s not built for race track, but rather for transportation within the city, which as per German Traffic Demography data seems to make a lot of sense.

Built to be as compact as possible, the NILS will definitely make city drives a lot more hassle free thanks to its meager proportions. It is 3.04 metres long, which is about 50 cm shorter than one of Volkswagen’s latest urban hatch offerings for the world, called the up!

Just 0.39 metres wide from wheel to wheel, and a mere 1.2 metres tall, the NILS’s lightweight 460 kg body houses its 19 kg engine at the rear, where like all plug-in electric cars of the modern day, the 15 kW lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged at an electric vehicle charging station.

NILS Concept designer Thomas Ingenlath, has kept the proportions of this single-seater quite bare minimum, but curvaceous and aerodynamic at the same time, which brings us to what sort of performance one can actually expect for a one man city car like NILS.

Thursday 1 September 2011

Porsche's new range with your choosen colour



A hot version of the 911 will also be on the stands in the form of the new 911 GT3 RS which comes with a 4.0 liter naturally aspirated engine which is the largest displacement engine ever fitted in a 911. The new engine will produce a whopping 500 horsepower. Thanks to all its technical wizardry new GT3 RS has lapped the Nurburgring in 7:27 minutes which is mighty fast. The 911 GT3 RS will be limited to a production run of just 600 cars, time to rush and book one if you are a 911 enthusiast and have the cash lying around as the GT3 RS has always been the fastest kind of 911.

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