Ducati Monster 795 is here

Italian superbike manufacturer Ducati has unleashed their Monster 795 in India at an asking price of Rs 6,99,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The 795 has been developed specially for Asian countries, and comes equipped with an 803cc engine synchronized to a 6-speed gearbox. It�s Desmodromic valve train equipped engine makes a maximum power of 85bhp at 8250rpm. Adding to the good news for super bike enthusiasts, the Monster 795 can be booked with immediate effect, although deliveries shall only commence post March 2012.

Although affordable for a Ducati, and a step in the right direction, the Monster 795 could have been priced even more competitively in a segment which is fast filling up with many able rivals.

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Jaguar Land Rover's stunning expo lineup

Exhibiting alongside parent company Tata Motors, Jaguar Land Rover�s display is bound to have won the brand a whole host of new fans. India is an important emerging market for Jaguar and the manufacturer seems to have pulled out all the stops to impress Auto Expo goers. The display includes the facelifted XF, the XJ and Jaguar�s most powerful production car yet, the wild 542bhp XKR-S. However, it is the pair of Jaguar concept cars that really drew eyeballs.

The first of these is the C-X75 hybrid supercar that will be built in partnership with Williams F1 team. Slated for future production, the low-slung supercar looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. It�s a range-extender hybrid that uses a pair of mini turbines instead of a conventional combustion engine as a generator for the electric motors. It shouldn�t be dismissed as an anaemic eco car though � it produces 778bhp and can hit a top speed of 330kmh.

Sharing the limelight with the C-X75 is the C-X16 which is a Porsche 911-sized sports car.  The concept�s extremely tight skinning, sloping roofline and rear haunches look really smashing in the flesh. Power is courtesy a supercharged, direct-injection, 376bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. However, a 'push to pass' button on the steering wheel frees up energy stored via an F1-style Kinetic Energy Recovery System, and kicks in an electric motor that boosts power by 94bhp for up to 10 seconds. Performance is a claimed 0-100kph time of 4.4 sec with top speed limited to 300kph.

The adjacent Land Rover stand had its own show-stoppers as well with the spotlight on the DC100 and the DC100 Sport concepts. The concepts, first shown at the 2011 Frankfurt Motorshow, point to what the next generation Defender (due in 2015) will look like. If the design is anything to go by, the new model will share few visual elements with its legendary predecessor. The angular cues remain but the whole treatment is very futuristic. Land Rover is yet to fine tune the styling but has said it wants to design a product that is �as relevant in Mumbai as it is in California�.

Elsewhere in the stand, the recently-launched Evoque garnered its fair share of attention too.

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BMW launches M5 Sport saloon

BMW has launched its new M5 sports saloon at the 11th Auto Expo in New Delhi. 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 offers 552bhp and 69.4kgm of max torque, and the sports saloon can hit 100kph in 4.4 seconds, and 200kph in 13sec (manufacturer�s claims). The new M5 gets a power boost of 10 percent and torque figures are up by 30 percent compared to the previous-generation, V10-powered E60 M5.

The transmission is a seven-speed, dual-clutch unit with steering-wheel-mounted paddle-shifters, which drives through a new Active M differential with electronically-controlled, multi-plate, limited-slip differential. Depending on the driving situation the diff can lock between 0 and 100 per cent, says BMW.

An M-specific chassis set-up includes M-tuned Servotronic steering, cockpit-adjustable dynamic damping and stability control with an �M Dynamic� setting. Steering wheel buttons that can be programmed with chassis, engine and diff settings can now memorise two individual set-ups as compared to the single setting option on the earlier M Drive button.

The all-new BMW M5 has been priced at Rs 95.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

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Mini officially launched in India

Iconic British car-maker Mini has finally entered the Indian car market. The BMW-owned manufacturer will bring in four models, namely the Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper Convertible and Cooper S Countryman into India as completely built units (CBUs). The Mini range will be sold through three exclusive dealerships � Deutsche Motoren and Bird Automotive in New Delhi and Infinity Cars in Mumbai.

The Cooper hatchback is the most affordable car in the line-up. However, with an asking price of Rs 24.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Cooper is by no means cheap. Styling harks back to the original design; it�s classic yet looks contemporary at the same time. There are plenty of retro touches inside the cabin as well such as the large circular dials for the speedometer and tachometer. While the Mini Cooper can seat four, its small dimensions and three-door body style make it a car best suited to two occupants. The Mini Cooper comes with a 1.6-litre petrol engine that is good for 122bhp at 6000rpm and 16.3kgm of torque at 4250rpm. Those wanting more power can opt for the Mini Cooper S that features the same engine but with a twin-scroll turbocharger. Power is 184bhp at 5500rpm while max torque of 24.47kgm is produced between 1600-5000rpm. The Mini Cooper S has been priced at Rs 27.9 lakh.

The third model in the Mini line-up is the Cooper Convertible. The convertible adds the joy of open-top motoring to typical Mini charm. But given India�s extreme weather conditions, the Convertible�s fabric roof could prove impractical. The Convertible comes powered by the same 1.6-litre, 122bhp petrol engine that does duty on the Mini Cooper.  Priced at Rs 29.99 lakh, the Cooper Convertible is still the cheapest convertible on sale in India today.

The Mini that makes most sense for India is the Cooper S Countryman. It features five doors with decent space for four occupants so it is sure to find favour with family buyers. Moreover, its raised ride height will do a better job at dealing with pothole-laden Indian roads. The Countryman costs Rs 31.99 lakh and uses a 184bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged engine.

Mini has not announced any plans yet of brining in its diesel powerplant, however the manufacturer has confirmed all India-bound cars will come with six-speed automatic transmissions.

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Mahindra unveils REVA NXR at Expo

Mahindra showcased the production ready prototype of the NXR electric vehicle at the expo. The REVAi successor looks much more appealing and will have more variants too.

The badges of the production version have changed from the large REVA logo on the front grille to the Mahindra logo and the NXR logo with four leaves is used in the rear. The rest of the vehicle remains unchanged. The NXR uses parts from the Mahindra parts bin to keep costs in check. Despite this, making the NXR more appealing has made it a little more expensive. The company expects infrastructure support from the government to source, distribute and charge a range of electric vehicles and subsidy for its EV.

The NXR will be offered with three battery options � small, medium and large � to cater to a variety of driving ranges. There will be two kinds of batteries � lithium ion and lead acid but Mahindra will focus more on lithium ion variants. 

Engineers responsible for the NXR�s development have also worked on the Verito electric vehicle. The conventional engine has been swapped with a 29KW (39.4bhp) electric motor. The company claims the Verito Electric has a range of 100km on full charge and a top speed of 86kph.

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Auto Expo 2012 Gallery

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DC Design unveils Avanti sports car

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Dilip Chabaria�s DC design unveiled an all-new sports car concept at the Auto Expo, called the DC Avanti. According to DC, the Avanti is India�s first-ever sports car. This is DC Design�s first attempt at doing a full production run of a car designed by them. The Avanti was built at DC Design�s workshop at Pune.

It is powered by a Ford EcoBoost 2.0-litre 4-cylinder motor. This VVT (variable valve timing)-equipped engine churns out 240bhp at 5500rpm and 37.3kgm of torque at 3500rpm. Its engine is also Euro-V compliant and with minor tweaking can also become Euro VI compliant. The standard transmission choice is a six-speed manual unit, with a six-speed automatic on offer as an option.

Initially, in 2013-14, there will be a production run of about 300 units. Bookings will start in February 2012 with deliveries starting late 2013. The Avanti will be priced at around Rs 30 lakh (ex-showroom)

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Triumph launches seven models for India

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British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph has unveiled its Indian range at the Auto Expo. It is offering seven models starting at a tempting Rs. 5.5 lakh, and will join other iconic brands like Harley Davidson and Ducati in the fast-growing niche motorcycle segment of the Indian two-wheeler market.

The range starts with the legendary Bonneville, powered by an 865cc, air-cooled parallel twin in traditional Bonneville fashion. The Street Triple and Daytona 675 are powered by 675cc inline-three cylinder motors while the Speed Triple gets a bigger 1050cc mill. Out of the three, at Rs 5.75 lakh the Speed Triple is the cheapest of the lot, while you�ll have to shell Rs eight lakh for its bigger capacity sibling Street Triple.

While the Speed and Street Triples are projected as street bikes, globally the Daytona 675 is aimed at the Japanese� inline-four 600s, which should give it an edge in the Indian Market as none of the Japanese big four currently have a supersports offering in their lineups. Priced at an extremely attractive Rs seven lakh, the Daytona should successfully be able to fill the current void existing between a street model and full-blown litre-class offerings in India.

The Tiger 800XC is a dual-purpose motorcycle, powered by an 800cc inline-three engine producing 95bhp, priced at Rs 11.4 lakh.

Two cruisers round up Triumph�s range � the �smaller� of the two being the 1700cc Thunderbird Storm priced at Rs 17 lakh. The range-topping Rocket III is pure indulgence though, it�s powered by a 2300cc inline-three motor which at 22.5kgm, churns out more torque than a Honda Accord saloon and at Rs 22 lakh, costs about the same too. No second guessing what we�d pick then!

The range is expected to go on sale by mid-2012 and Triumph is planning to offer in-house financing options for its customers as well.

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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 the Duro DZ in South India and this will be the official launch of the bike in the nation�s capital.

Speaking on the upcoming Auto Expo, Anoop Mathur, President, Mahindra 2 Wheelers said, �The Delhi Auto Expo is the perfect platform to unveil Mahindra Racing�s new Moto3 challenger, the MPG30 (pronounced three-oh). Similarly at Mahindra Two Wheelers, we have significantly enhanced our technological capabilities to introduce high performance two wheelers like the new Mahindra Duro DZ scooter that we have recently launched in the South.�

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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 sports an unusual 1+2-door layout where the passenger side has an additional rear suicide door.

 Hyundai will also unveil a new concept car to the world called the HND-7. The company hasn�t revealed any information yet about it so you are in for a big surprise. The new Sonata that�s being geared up to replace the current-gen Transform gets the perfect stage for its India debut. Arguably the best looking Hyundai to date, it should be lapped up by executive car buyers in India. It�s not one for the enthusiast though, so don�t expect corner-carving capability, but rather chauffeur-driven comfort instead.

The second surprise from Hyundai will be a new SUV concept. It�s in the Rs 8-10 lakh range and is likely to be based on one of Hyundai�s existing platforms. The company wants to plug every gap in its portfolio so this Expo is a peek into Hyundai�s not-so-distant future in India.

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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 211bhp and an entry-level 176bhp, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel which should form the bulk of sales in India.

The brutish RS5 and the 5.2-litre V10 R8 Spyder will turn up the heat at the Audi stand so make sure you have your cameras ready. There�s even something for performance-seekers for whom a rakish coupe is grossly impractical � the new S6. It has a 414bhp, 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 under the hood and is capable of hitting 100kph in less than five seconds. What�s disappointing, though, is that the facelifted A4 won�t make it to the show even though its launch is expected in the first quarter of 2012.

Green credentials are a must these days, so balancing out the masses of horsepower on display will be the A3 E-Tron concept. The sleek and sexy plug-in hybrid has a 211bhp 1.4-litre TFSI motor coupled with a 27bhp electric motor. Audis served as a buffet then, pick your dish.

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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 six-speed manual and automatic transmissions will be the other changes to the Camry.

See images of the new Toyota Camry

The largest selling green car in the world too gets a facelift. Toyota will display the facelifted Prius that looks much sharper than the current model.  The front bumper gets a larger air dam and an extra set of fog lamps. The lamp cluster in the headlights has been redesigned as has the detailing of the tail lamps. The dashboard gets a touchscreen and a new layout that looks a lot livelier than on the current Prius.

See images of the face-lifted Toyota Prius

The facelifted Innova has been substantially redesigned and now sports new headlights, front grille, bumpers and alloy wheels. The interior too has been spruced up with new upholstery, dashboard tones and a DVD player. These changes are carried out to target private car buyers looking for an attractive MPV.

See detailed images of the updated Toyota Innova

 

The Fortuner too comes under the surgeon�s knife. The macho SUV has been a runaway success in India but Toyota isn�t resting on its laurels. In order to maintain its lead in its segment, Toyota has updated the Fortuner�s styling to include a wider chrome front grille, sharper looking new headlights, and a restyled front bumper among other things. A two-wheel-drive automatic variant has been added to its range too. There will also be a modified Corolla for the physically challenged at the Expo.

 

See images of the face-lifted Toyota Fortuner

Further up the ladder, the Land Cruiser too receives a facelift. The fresh new face of Toyota makes the stand a must-visit at the Expo.

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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 will be rear-engined, but will be powered by a three-cylinder petrol and a turbo-diesel.

The design and engineering - the work of Tata�s in-house engineers - incorporates scissor doors and a large glass area, including a panoramic roof. It gets a unique rear-wheel counter-steering system that gives the Pixel a turning radius of just 2.6 metres. The Pixel will form the basis of the next-gen Tata Nano, which is expected not before 2015.

Tata is also in the process of developing hybrid and electric versions of the future Nanos to help it meet future European emissions norms.

However, what�s not making it to the Tata Motors� stall is the much-speculated diesel powered Nano. Although development on the Nano diesel is complete, the company is holding back the launch. This is a strategic move from Tata Motors, which is keen to push sales of the much-improved Nano 2012, which has been clocking good volumes, in recent months.

We expect the Nano diesel to be launched not before 2013, powered by an 800cc, 2-cyl 45bhp diesel motor.

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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 of torque via a five-speed automatic gearbox. 

The Korando, a soft-roader built on a monocoque platform, is powered by a 173bhp 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and comes with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Mahindra will also showcase the all-new Reva NXR electric car and will also have an electric version of its Verito saloon at its stall. Also on display will be the Mahindra-Navistar range of medium and heavy commercial vehicles.

Apart from this, Mahindra�s other models, the XUV500, Thar, Bolero and Genio double- cab pickup will also be displayed.

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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 offers 552bhp and 69.4kgm of max torque, and the sports saloon can hit 100kph in 4.4 seconds, and 200kph in 13sec (manufacturer�s claims).

The new M5 gets a power boost of 10 percent and torque figures are up by 30 percent compared to the previous-generation, V10-powered E60 M5.

The transmission is a seven-speed, dual-clutch unit with steering-wheel-mounted paddle-shifters, which drives through a new Active M differential with electronically-controlled, multi-plate, limited-slip differential. Depending on the driving situation the diff can lock between 0 and 100 per cent, says BMW.

An M-specific chassis set-up includes M-tuned Servotronic steering, cockpit-adjustable dynamic damping and stability control with an �M Dynamic� setting.

Steering wheel buttons that can be programmed with chassis, engine and diff settings can now memorise two individual set-ups as compared to the single setting option on the earlier M Drive button.

The all-new BMW M5 will be priced at Rs 99 lakh (est. ex-showroom) and will be launched in India at the Auto Expo 2012.

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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. The A-Class concept was earlier revealed at the Shanghai Auto show and is based on an all-new MFA platform. Mercedes will also showcase alternative fuel technologies such as �Fuel-Cell� at the expo.

Another major highlight will be the launch of the SLS AMG roadster. This is essentially a drop-top version of the popular SLS AMG supercar already on sale in India.  The Mercedes stall will see as many as 10 cars on display that include the SLS AMG GT3 supercar as well as the C-Class DTM car.

Motorsport enthusiasts will also be able to get details on the soon-to-be-launched Mercedes-Benz-JPSI Performance Driving Academy which, according to Mercedes, is a first-of-its-kind platform for nurturing talent in India.

                                      

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