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Renault KWID Review :

The French manufacturer Renault has launched Entry Level Hatchback Car "KWID" in the Indian Markets. Renault has smartly positioned the KWID in comparison to the market leader "Maruti Suzuki Alto 800" and the Hyundai Eon. KWID's design is inspired by an SUV with similar style like the Duster. In the front it has a large chrome grille, black cladding lines at the bottom and on the sides are nice, stylish headlamps, foglamps and rounded taillamps. It has 180mm of ground clearance, it's a tall car, 13 inch wheels. There is ampty of space between the wheels and the wheel wells, shorter wheelbase and high groung clearence which is a mismatch in the KWID. The KWID comes in 4 different trims, 60 customization options and 25 different vinyl sticker to make your KWID unique from the crowd.

Interior : The interiors of KWID is nice and spacious than the Alto 800, headroom and shoulderroom is quite well, front seats are extremely comfortable but it lacks under-thigh support. The rear seats are flat i.e. you will feel uncomfortable on long journeys. Rear seat belts do not recoil to save on cost. There are plenty of storage space in the KWID like 3 glove boxes on the dashboard, 3-spoke steering wheel, glossy piano black finish to the central console, chrome finish on A/C vents, 7inch touchscreen media navigation system with bluetooth connectivity (First in it's class). There is a large and clear digital meter. on the dashboard. The quality of outside rear view mirrors and door handles looks cheap, otherwise the KWID is a well packaged car. 300 litres of boot space which is largest in the class and can be expanded to 1115 litres by folding the rear seats.

Ride Quality : KWID is powered by 3-cylinder 799cc petrol engine which produces 54bhp @ 5700 rpm and 72Nm of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.The engine is smooth and works well in the city. The 799cc punchy engine gives its best on the highway but it takes time before speeding-up. In terms of handling, it has nice body role and is quite impressive how KWID handles the spot holes. On bad roads, you doesn't feel jerks inside the cabin due to improved suspension. You need to work hard with the steeing wheel as KWID didn't turn too easily. Otherwise, it's steering is light and responsive at high speeds.

Fuel Economy : Renault claims a mileage of 25.17kmpl as per ARAI figures which makes KWID "The most efficient petrol car in India". Renault has reduced the weight of the car by 50-60kgs less than the Tata Nano and Alto 800 to 660kgs which makes the fuel figures practical.

Pricing : Renault has priced the KWID smartly to give a tough competition to Maruti Alto 800 and Hyundai Eon.  

KWID ranges from Rs 2.56 Lakhs to Rs 3.53 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom, New Delhi).

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ALL NEW HYUNDAI CRETA REVIEW :

The South Korean manufacturer Hyundai has launched it's Compact SUV  ix25 but it is renamed as CRETA for the Indian markets. Hyundai has made Creta's exterior look llike the  Santa Fe to give it a premium look and attract customers to the showrooms. The Creta has a long bonnet with squarish SUV stance, 3 slate front chrome grille, big front bumper and new fog lamps. It has a flowing roof lines, ground clearance of 190mm, in the rear it has wraparound taillights, steepy windshield  with a wiper and a spoiler. It comes with 16inch alloy wheels but also offers 17inch diamond-cut alloy wheels in the top end variant.

Interior : Creta has a premium interior i.e. good plastic material has been used. It has some special features like a big door handle, steering mounted controls, 5inch touchscreen infotainment system which comes with audio visual navigation system, AUX, USB, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control, comfortable leather seats which makes it premium. It also has engine start/stop button, 6 airbags, rear view camera, rear ac vents (now positioned correctly i.e. upwards), ABS with EBD, impact sensing auto-door lock,Vehicle Stability Management, Electronic Stability Control, Hill Assis tand 6-way driver adjustable seat and you get a good view of the road. In the automatic variant (SX+) you will get 2airbags, 16inch alloy wheels and no leather seats, other features remain the same.

It has a massive 400Litres of boot space.

Road Test : When you will drive the 1.6L diesel (manual) version, the engine  is very smooth and refined but you will hear some engine noise inside the cabin. Hyundai uses the same engine used in the Verna which churns out maximum power of 126bhp @ 4000rpm with a healthy torque of 26.5kgm @ 1900rpm. It is a nice punchy diesel engine good for highway driving specially during overtaking. Below 1700rpm Creta feels lack of power during climbing the hills, you have to work constantly with the gears. The gearbox is smooth enough, Steering is quite responsive as it gives confidence through the corners but it has a soft suspension and as it is not a 4x4 so if you push it hard you will not feel enough confidence and feel jerks inside. It isn't made for driver enthusiasts as it is not a proper SUV, it is more of a crossover type. It is meant for day-to-day commuting. When you will drive the 1.6L petrol (manual) version, the engine is extremely smooth,refined and you will feel a burst of power just as in the 1.6L diesel option. The petrol variant churns out maximum power of 121bhp @ 6400rpm with a torque of 15.4kgm @ 4850rpm. The engine is made for city drive and relaxed highway drive as well. Creta also comes with 6-speed automatic gearbox (diesel variant) which is first in the segment. The rear seats are quite comfortable with plenty of leg-room and head-room inside the cabin. The rear seat is placed somewhere low and the window line is little high.

Pricing : The Petrol Variant starts from Rs 8.60Lakhs to Rs 11.20Lakhs 

               The Diesel Variant starts from Rs 9.47Lakhs to Rs 13.60Lakhs 

               (All Prices are Ex-Showroom, New Delhi)

                  

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Maruti Suzuki DZire vs Hyundai Xcent vs Honda Amaze: Diesel Comparison

Maruti Dzire looks the most stylish due to recect changes done by the company as compared to hyundai xcent which looks smarter & solid whereas honda amaze is built on Brio's platform and it is considered as one of the better looking sedan in the segment. 

1. Interior : Talking about the boot space: Dzire has 316litres, Amaze has 400litres and Xcent has 407litres which is best in the segment. The interior of the Amaze looks good but the plastic used does not feel as good as the other two. Amaze has best-in-class leg room and head room as compared to other two. Dzire has enough leg room in the front but it compromises in the back. The interior of Dzire is the best in the segment. Xcent interior also feels good as in the verna. Xcent has some additional features like engine start/stop button, cool glove box, bluetooth telephony, climate control with rear a/c vents and parking sensors with a reversing camera. 

2. Road Test : Xcent has the smallest engine i.e. 1.1L , 3-Cylinder engine which produces 72PS of power @ 118Nm of torque. The engine noise is not audible inside the cabin. The car is very convenient for the city drive and it drives well. Dzire has the best steering control in this segment. Dzire has 1.3L , 4-Cylinder Multi-Jet engine which produces 75PS of power @ 119Nm of torque. When driving in the city you will feel more requirement of power at lower rpm. After 2200rpm dzire feels a burst of power and it feels more confident on highways even during overtaking a vehicle. Amaze has the largest engine i.e.  1.5L , 4-Cylinder engine which produces 100PS of power @200Nm of torque. Amaze is best for city as well as for highway use. The overall performance of Dzire is the best in terms of city as well as for highway. Maruti has shifted from mineral oil to synthetic oil, the engine noise has been reduced considerably. Amaze has the biggest engine in the lot but it is the most noisiest in the segment. Amaze has best ride quality and gives confidence when you throw the car through the corners. On highways, the Dzire feels more stable in the lot as there are no speed limit governing it and it is more powerful than the amaze whose speed is limited to 140kmph. The 15-inch alloy wheels provides better stability on the road as compared to other two. Amaze is the best in terms of safety as Honda provides ABS as a standard feature in all variants but we get Airbags in mid and top-end variants only. Xcent and the Dzire provides ABS and Airbags in top-end variants only.

3. Fuel Efficiency : The Dzire has a mileage of 13-14kmpl (city) & 17-20kmpl (highway), The Xcent has a mileage of 12-13kmpl (city) & 15-18kmpl (highway) and The Amaze has best-in-class mileage of 14-15kmpl (city) & 19-22kmpl (highway).

4. Price : Dzire range from Rs 6 Lakhs to Rs 7.82 Lakhs , Xcent range from Rs 5.87 Lakhs to Rs 7.75 Lakhs and Amaze range from Rs 6.21 Lakhs to Rs 8.21 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom, New Delhi).

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2015 Hyundai Elite i20 vs Honda Jazz :  Diesel Comparo

1. LOOKS : The Honda Jazz  impresses the public by its looks: angular design, smart muti-element grille, wide headlamps, wide windshield, strong character lines across the side and the angular taillamps with vertical reflectors. The proportion of metals used makes the tyre look under-sized. Whereas the i20 looks mature in terms of styling like the flat bonnet, large hexagonal grille that makes it attractive and wide headlights in the front. The black C-Pillars and slim taillamps makes it aggressive.

2. INTERIOR : i20's interior feels premium on the inside, fit and finish is also quite good like the plastic used inside and the controls on the dashboard and on the steering wheel is ergonomically placed. The Jazz's interior is also similar to the i20 but it provides touchscreen navigation system but it does not give you the feel of a premium hatch like we get in the i20. The plastic used are good but the glossy central panel that catches up fingerprints and looks shiny. The jazz has a lot of storage space like plenty of small spaces around the cabin, the bottleholders are smartly designed.It has amassive boot space of 354 litres as compared to i20's which has 285 litres of boot space. In the top end variant of Honda Jazz we get magical seats i.e. we can adjust the rear seats upto the floor level to get additional space. The rear seats can be split-up in many combinations as per our requirements. The front seat holds down flat to provide a business-class experience. Jazz's has colorful meters which lit day-night and changes color according to our driving style. 

3. FEATURES : If we talk about the top-end variants of both the cars then it provides bluetooth, AUX and USB ready audio systems with steering mounted audio and telephone controls. Automatic climate control where jazz uses a touchscreen system. We get push start/stop button on the i20 which is not seen on the Honda jazz.The i20 gets rear a/c vents with cooled glove box in the front but the Jazz lags behind. Jazz has much more legroom and headroom in the rear as compared to the i20. Jazz losses out the thigh support. In the i20 the rear seats are comfortable but placed lower towards the ground and it does not feel airy like in the back seats of the jazz.

4. ROAD TEST : Honda jazz is better insulated, engine feels more refined but we still hear the noise inside the cabin specially in the rear. Jazz has the same 1.5L i-DTEC engine that we see in Amaze, City and Mobilio. Honda jazz produces 98bhp @ 3600rpm and peak torque of 20.4kgm @ 1750rpm. It is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The engine works well during city driving as well as highway driving. On the other hand, the i20 has 1.4L CRDi engine that makes 89bhp @ 4000rpm and peak torque of 22.4kgm @ 1500-2750rpm. The i20 has a much refined engine as compared to honda jazz. The engine is also much silent than the honda jazz. It is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Easy gearshifting makes the city drive a fun and it provides a lot of power after 1800rpm on the highways. The i20 covers 0-100kmph in 12.58 seconds slower than the Jazz which takes 12.33 seconds. The jazz feels more connected on the road during high speeds as compared to i20. Jazz's steering is much lighter and easy to drive in the city and on highways it is much more consistent and provides confidence to the driver when we go through the corners. Whereas the i20 does not feel much consistent on the highways. i20 provides tilt and telescopic steering adjustment whereas honda jazz provides only tilt steering adjustment.

5. MILEAGE : Honda Jazz claims a mileage of 27kmpl(highway) and 23.4kmpl(city) whereas the i20 claims a mileage of 22.5kmpl(highway) and 19.3kmpl(city).

6. PRICING :  Honda Jazz range from Rs 6.49 to Rs 8.59 Lakhs (Diesel) whereas the petrol variant range from Rs 5.3 to Rs 7.29 Lakhs and the Elite i20 range from Rs 6.42 to Rs 8.05 Lakhs (Diesel) and the petrol variant range from Rs 5.3 to Rs 6.93 Lakhs (Ex-Sowroom Price, New Delhi)

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Honda city vs Hyundai Verna vs Maruti Ciaz : Which One To Buy

1. Looks: The hyundai verna has winged shaped radiator grille with chrome and projector headlamps with boomerang shaped fog lamps, 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, at the rear we have new taillamps with LED effect with a conceiled exhaust. The maruti ciaz has a pleasing shape with projector headlamps, big taillamps similar to the honda city, 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels.Ciaz is the longest and the widest among the three. The honda city has a 'H' design philosophy, front has a typical honda face with sharp headlamps and oversized grille. From the rear the car has been changed i.e. it looks wider.

2. Interior: Verna's design is same as before and the cabin is spacious and quality-wise it feels the best among the three. The seats are comfortable but the rear seats looses out the leg room when compared to the other two. Ciaz's cabin is airy and the quality is good. There is plenty of space for the rear passengers and the seats are also quite comfortable. City's interior has been made trendy as it looks from the outside with respect to the previous model but quality-wise it does not feel solid as compared to the other two. There is enough space in the front as well as in the rear which improves the legroom due to the extended wheelbase.

3. Features: We talk about the top models of all the three which includes a long list like steering controls, push button start-stop, auto climate control, visual auto functions and a rear view camera. The verna has additional features like cooled glove box, 1GB internal memory, auto headlamps and ergo lever. The ciaz has a touch screen navigation system whereas the city has an electric sunroof, cruise control and paddle shift gear. Both city and ciaz gets rear a/c vents while the verna has a powerful a/c in the front. In terms of safety, verna gets six airbags whereas both city and ciaz gets only two airbags.

4. Drive: The new verna has a widest range of engines to choose from: it has 1.4L and 1.6L petrol and diesel engines. The 1.6L diesel engine with 6-speed manual transmission feels the quickest as power delivery is smooth and the clutch is also light and power requirement is also segment best. The steering is too light but stability has been improved at high speeds. Maruti ciaz has 1.4L and 1.3L petrol and diesel engines.The ciaz's engine is refined and provides good ride quality. The diesel engine does not make noise and there is no turbo lag. Honda City has 1.5L petrol and diesel engines.The city has the best steering in the lot but looses out in terms of refinement and ride quality. The 1.5L diesel engine is quite impressive but not explosive as the verna. The Automatic Transmission is available in both petrol and diesel variants of the 4S Verna whereas in the city and ciaz we get automatic transmission in petrol variant only.

5. Efficiency:  Maruti ciaz is the most fuel efficient car with diesel engine having fuel economy of 26.2kmpl(highway) & 22.4kmpl(city) followed by honda city 26kmpl(highway) & 23kmpl(city) followed by hyundai verna 24.8kmpl(highway) & 20.8kmpl(city). Maruti ciaz is also the most fuel efficient car with petrol engine having fuel economy of 20.7kmpl(highway) & 15kmpl(city) followed by honda city 17.8kmpl(highway) & 14.3kmpl(city) followed by hyundai verna 17.4kmpl(highway) & 14.2kmpl(city).

6. Pricing: Maruti Ciaz range from Rs 7.2 - 10.3 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom, Delhi), Honda City range from Rs 7.5 - 11.8 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom, Delhi) and Hyundai Verna range from Rs 7.7 - 12.1 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

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2015 Mini Cooper S Review:

German Car Manufacturer BMW has launched the all new Mini Cooper S which is available in both 3-door and 5-door options in the Indian Markets.It is built for young, enthusiast and thrill lovers.It is increased in length and width than the previous model.If we look inside the centre console,music system and all the switches are designed to be trendy rather than ergonomic.The giant centre console has been replaced by an even bigger music system that is easy to operate.The power window switches has moved to the doors and now it is much easier to understand its control functions.It still uses toggle switches for rest of the functions including the big red button for engine start/stop.The 3-door car has a second row which can be used for occupying additional space and it has a sufficient 210 litres of boot space.It has two airbags as a standard feature, ABS with EBD, hill control with hill assist, cruise control and ESP.



Now we will talk about it's performance. It has a new 2.0 litre in-line four cylinder engine with forced induction, now it has two turbochargers which manages to pump out 192PS and 280Nm of torque.It uses the 6-speed automatic transmssion that is not the quickest but well enough in the Sports mode.It reaches 0-100kmph in just 6.7 seconds as it is built for city driving as well.There is no turbo lag makes a huge difference,the peak torque delivery begins at 1250rpm and the power is linear all the way to the red line at 6500rpm.



The new Mini Cooper S is an all wheel drive car which has a lot of power and looks attractive as well.The steering wheel, the engine and it's wheels are very quick and responsive according to the needs of the driver.The car turns rapidly during a sporty ride i.e. driving in a zig-zag way.It is the best premium hatchback in terms of ride and quality available in the country but it lags behind in terms of space, comfort, feature-rich or even economical as compared to its competitors present in the Indian and Global Markets.

The company has priced the Mini Cooper S at Rs 34.65 Lakhs(Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

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2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review 

The Japanese Car Manufacturer Toyota has launched its 7th generation Toyota Camry Hybrid Model in the Indian Markets. In the front it has a new grille with a large air dam. It has a new bumper integrated fog lamps surrounded by chrome slats. The car gets new headlamps with day time running lights, LED low beam and halogen high beam. It has 15 spoke 16-inch alloy wheels, a small tweak in the rear bumper as well and new tail lamps with energy efficient LED design.

Toyota has done few changes in the interor of the car like the new three spoke multi functioning steering wheel, layout of dashboard comes in black and beige color and the instrument cluster is redesigned. The cabin has cool blue mood lighting. The digital display is available in high resolution between the metres which helps the you to see how the hybrid system is working while driving.The man display in the centre console comes with touch functionality.In the rear there is soft upholstery, separate zone of climate control and a reclining feature which helps you move your seat electronically by 8 degrees. There is a large legroom and headroom available in the car. As a safety measure the car has dual airbags, ABS and Traction Control as a standard feature.

It feels soft on hard surfaces as the suspension quickly absorb the difference in surfaces with great ease. Toyota has reduced the cabin noise with improved insulation. At high speeds car is dynamicaly stable enough but you feel shortage of power in shifts while overtaking the other vehicle.

Globally the facelifted model of Camry is available in three engine options i.e. 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 litre petrol. But in India, only 2.5 litre petrol variant is available. The engine comes mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox while the Hybrid variant comes paired to a CVT transmission. The 2.5L gasoline engine is paired with a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Electric Motor. At low speeds electric motor  not only provides better fuel efficiency but it can produce torque at low engine speed resulting in a smooth and effective low range performance.

 There are two driving modes i.e. EV Mode and Eco Mode. The EV Mode gets activated when there is sufficient charge left in the battery to power the electric motor else it will continue to run on 2.5L petrol engine. The Eco Mode combines the potential of both the engines for a smoother drive.

The 2.5L engine produces 160PS of power at 5700rpm and 213Nm of torque at 4500rpm. When the electric motor is combined with the petrol engine it produces 205PS of power.It also comes with an Electronically Controlled Variable Transmission which makes the shifts smooth with less fuel consumption. Toyota claims 19.16kmpl ARAI mileage figures but in city conditions, you get 14-15kmpl.

The Ex-Showroom price(New Delhi) of Toyota Camry Hybrid range from 28.8Lakhs to 31.92Lakhs

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2015 Mercedes Benz A200 CDI Review

German car manufacturer Mercedes Benz has launched its entry level luxury hatchback "The A Class" in Indian Markets. Also it is the cheapest Merc available in India. It has a diamond grille in the front, long nose, swooping roofline, compact dimensions and beautifully carved out rear with LED taillights which makes the A-Class a premium hatchback. It comes with 16-inch alloy wheels replacing 17-inch alloy wheels. If we talk about its interiors, the A-Class comes with jet black dashboard with aluminium finished air vents and centre console surrounds is pleasant to look at. The under thigh support isn't much great and in the front the passenger feels a little bit cozy i.e. not much enough space but due to swooping roofline, the rear is much comfortable than the front.

It has several features like seven airbags, Anti lock braking system with Electronic Brake-force distribution, brake assist and electronic stability program to provide stability on panic situations, tyre-pressure loss warning system, engine immobilizer, remote central locking, child safety lock, door open warning system. It has automatic climate control with heater, power steering with tilt and telescopic adjustment, keyless start. It also provides Bi- Xenon headlamps, cruise control, reverse parking camera with sensors, 5-inch COMAND online infotainment system with Bluetooth, AUX and USB connectivity. To make the car more efficient, it has ECO start/stop technology. It is loaded with electrically adjustable rear view mirrors with integrated turn indicators, height adjustable driver seat, rear wiper, rear defogger and fog lamps with daytime running lamps. It is equipped with advanced music system(six speakers) compatible with GPS Navigation, Bluetooth, AUX, iPod and USB.

Now we talk about it's performance, the A200 Sports has a 2143cc 4-cylinder engine that churns out a maximum power of 136PS and 300Nm of torque which makes it more stronger than the previous model. The A-Class comes in two variants- diesel and petrol. The engine is mated to a seven speed dual clutch automatic transmission which sends the power to the front wheels of the hatchback. It offers an impressive fuel economy of 17.9kmpl in the city and 20kmpl on highways. It reaches 0-100kmph in just 6.7 seconds. When driving above the three digits, the driver gets enough confidence that he/she can easily throw the car through the corners  and there is no tyre or wind noise at the rear which makes the ride more comfortable. The automatic mode makes the city drive more comfortable. The steering is neither too heavy nor too light. It takes large bumps on the road pretty well and all round visibility is quite good. Due to swooping roofline and small glass at the rear makes it difficult to park the vehicle but reverse parking camera makes the task easier.The suspension has become softer than before and there is low centre of gravity.

Mercedes has announced the price of A200 CDI Rs 28.45Lakhs (Ex-Showroom, Delhi).

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All New Hyundai i20 Active Launched in India

Hyundai India has launched the updated version of Elite i20 (premium hatchback) called i20 Active Crossover in the Indian Markets. The hatchback will compete against Fiat Avventura, Toyota Etios Cross and Volkswagen Cross Polo. It is based on the ongoing model of Elite i20 hatchback, it is equipped with new headlight clusters with LED daytime running lights,projector headlights with cornering lights, new grille, bumper and circular fog lamps enclosed with a skid guard. New 16-inch alloy wheels, body cladding, roof rails, new fuel cap and gloss finish for the C-Pillars. At the rear, it gets new bumper with circular reflectors, a skid plate and an Active badge. The ground clearance has been increased by 20mm to 190mm. If we talk about its dimensions: i20 Active is 3,995mm long, 1760mm wide and 1,555mm tall (along with roof rails).

The interior of i20 Active remains the same as Elite i20. It is equipped with aluminium pedals, dual tone blue and black color interior with blue inserts for door trims and blue seats. The cross gets an All-Black dashboard whereas the gear knob, AC vents, music system has orange inserts. i20 cross is available in both petrol and diesel variants. The Petrol variant is a 1.2 litre Kappa, four cylinder VTVT engine which produces 83PS of power and 115Nm of torque. The Diesel variant is a 1.4 litre U2 CRDi motor which produces 90PS of power and 220Nm of torque. The petrol variant is mated to 5-speed manual gearbox and the diesel variant is mated to 6-speed manual gearbox. The diesel variant returns an ARAI rated fuel efficiency of 21.19kmpl and the petrol variant returns 17.19kmpl which is quite impressive.

Hyundai i20 Active Prices (Ex-Showroom- Delhi)

Petrol Variants:

Hyundai i20 Active 1.2 - Rs 6.38 Lakhs

Hyundai i20 Active 1.2S - Rs 7.09 Lakhs

Diesel Variants:

Hyundai i20 Active 1.4 - Rs 7.63 Lakhs

Hyundai i20 Active 1.4S - Rs 8.34 Lakhs

Hyundai i20 Active 1.4SX - Rs 8.89 Lakhs

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BMW has Launched it's Future Car in India : BMW i8 for Rs 2.29 Crore

German Car Manufacturer BMW has launched the i8 which is first of its kind Hybrid Sportscar. The i8 is the first "I" cars from BMW entered the Indian Car Market. The i8 will be sold as a CBU and limited units would be produced in the Country due to high Global demand. It has a carbon-fibre body combined with a set of butterfly doors which makes it a futuristic car.The entire body is made up of Carbon and Aluminium components which makes it swift. In the front, it has a dual grille which has two air-intakes for increased aerodynamics. The front headlamps consist of LEDs and an optional high beam headlight is also available with the Laser Light Technology.

If we talk about it's interior, person sitting inside the car will get a sporty and luxurious feel.

The i8 is available in three variants: Halo, Neso and Carpo. Neso is equipped with standard features of sporty leather upholstery and necessary controls whereas Halo and Carpo will allow owners to customize their cars. The 2+2 seating arrangement is specially designed by using LifeDrive Architecture and can comfortably accomodate 4 passengers. Now we talk about it's safety features: it is equipped with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Start-off Assistance, Brake Standby, Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Fading Compensation will allow maximum safety under any dire circumstances.

Other features include multiple airbags, inertia-reel seatbelts, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and Connected Drive System as an additional safety feature.

The i8 is a plug-in hybrid vehicle which means that it is powered by two engines. The rear wheels get a 1.5 litre three cylinder twin-turbo petrol engine producing maximum power of 215PS and 320Nm of torque.Power is transmitted via 6-speed automatic gearbox.The front wheels are connected to an electric motor via two-stage AT box.Electric motor produces maximum power of 131PS and is mated to a 5kWh lithium-ion battery.This combination takes the total output to 370bhp and 570Nm of torque, which allows the i8 to hit 0-100kmph in just 4.4 seconds and has a limited top speed of 250kmph. i8 gives very impressive fuel efficient figures of 40kmpl (Under European Conditions).

The car is mainly built out of carbon fibre and despite a larger battery pack and engine, car weighs only 1490kgs and has a very low centre of gravity.Due to combination of petrol engine and electric motor, it has exact 50:50 weight distribution which makes the ride even more luxurious.The i8 emits only 59g/km of CO2 according to BMW.

Currently BMW i8 has no competition as it is the only vehicle of its class and design in the Indian Market.

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2015 Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire Launched in India

Maruti Suzuki, India's largest car manufacturer has launched it's top selling compact sedan Swift DZire in a fresh look. In 2012, the company cut down it's boot to make it a sub-4 meter sedan which gives the company the benefit of excise duty and keeps its cost down. Maruti has given it a bolder chrome grille in the front. Large Headlights have been made black. It has a new bumper with circular fog lamps. At the rear, the car gets an updated bumpers, new reflectors and slightly tweaked tail lamps . It comes with 10-spoke alloy wheels.There is not much change inside the car. The new sedan comes with the same beige-black-dual-tone dashboard. It comes with a faux wood finish above the glove box and on the doors which gives a premium look. If we talk about the leg room in the rear, it is quite decent but sitting 3 adults make it a little squeezy.

The sedan is equipped with features like engine start-stop button, electrically adjustable and retractable ORVMs, new set of music system, reverse parking sensors, keyless entry, Bluetooth telephony and power sockets at the rear. Now we talk about its ride and handling, the sedan has a smooth gear shifts during busy city drive.It rides over bumpy roads quite well.The visibility from driver's seat is not that good as the driver needs to keep that extra margin for error if he/she doesn't have the correct judgement at the corners.The steering wheel is qiute responsive, nice grip, is precise and has adequate feedback.The car has a set of Sports disc brakes in the front and drum brakes at the rear.At high speeds the car feels quite comfortable and has stable braking as well which gives confidence to the driver.

Under the bonnet, sedan offers the same 1.3 litre multi-jet engine and 1.2 litre petrol engine. Petrol engine produces 83PS of power and 115Nm of torque.The diesel engine produces 74PS of power and 190Nm of torque.The company claims that the diesel engine has a mileage of 26.59kmpl, which makes it India's most fuel efficient sedan.Whereas the petrol unit delivers 20.85kmpl of fuel economy.

The Petrol Variant ranges from Rs 5.07 Lakhs to Rs 6.80 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom - Delhi)

The Diesel Variant ranges from Rs 5.99 Lakhs to Rs 7.81 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom - Delhi)

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Mahindra XUV500 Xclusive Edition Launched in India

Indian Manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra launched the Xclusive edition of XUV500 in Indian Car Market.It is based on the current top-end W8 model. The company will manufacture only 700 units of this special edition.This model is launched after taking feedback from it's customers and the company tried to fulfill it's customers requirements by adding some additional features to the SUV.

The Xclusive Edition is equipped with an electronic sunroof, a reverse parking camera, stylish grey alloy wheels, six-way electronically adjustable driver seat, anti-pinch driver window, sporty aluminium pedals, sport illuminated scuff plates. Other features include 6-inch touch screen infotainment system with GPS, Bluetooth connectivity, USB, iPod connectivity; driver information system, fully automatic temperature control with dual HVAC.

SUV also has projector headlamps with LED parking lights, multi- function steering wheel with controls for cruise, audio and voice command. According to Safety and Security it has six airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD, Hill Hold Control and Hill Descent Control.

Under the bonnet is the same 2.2 litre mHawk Diesel Engine which produces 140PS of power and 330Nm of torque. The SUV is mated to 6-speed transmission and it is a Front Wheel Drive Car.Mahindra has launched two variants of the Xclusive edition: With Power Seats and Without Power Seats.

XUV500 (Xclusive edition) is priced at Rs 14.49 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom Price - Delhi).

XUV500 (Xclusive edition- Driver Power Seat) is priced at Rs 14.65 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom Price - Delhi).

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2015 Mercedes-Benz C220 Diesel Review

Finally the German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has launched the much awaited diesel variant of C-Class.The diesel model is available in two variants- Style and Avantgarde.It has a mini S-Class styling and compact dimensions which makes it the best looking cars in its segment. The C-Class comes with four driving modes: Comfort, Eco, Sports and Sports Plus.As the name suggests, the Sports and Sport Plus mode sharpens the C-Class to make it more dynamic.The C-Class is bigger, more luxurious and drives well than ever before.

The C-Class has a flowing lines, smooth edges and a slippery silhouette. The company has placed the nose under the bulging bonnet, brilliantly detailed headlights, wide haunches and attractive taillamps smartly. When we talk about it's ride and handling it's superb i.e. if you throw it on the corners it gives you confidence and rides well in control at high speeds.The steering wheel is also very responsive.As it is a four wheel drive vehicle, the car's weight is distributed evenly to the front and rear wheels giving the car perfect weight distribution.There are disc brakes in all the four wheels which makes it more safer than before.Combined with 225/70 R17 wheels and tyre combination , the car is well balanced in terms of comfort and handling.It has a boot space of 480 litres.

Now have a look at the features of it's top of the line Avantgarde model which is equipped with high resolution 8.4 inch screen for its COMAND infotainment system, satellite navigation, three zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, rear view camera. Other features include LED ambient cabin lightning with three selectable colors, a panoramic sunroof, push-button start and a 13 speaker Burmester audio system.

The sedan takes 7.4 seconds to manage 0-100kmph.Under the bonnet is a twin turbo 2.1 litre (2143cc engine), 4 cylinder diesel motor that churns out maximum power output of 170bhp between 3000 to 4200rpm at a peak torque of 400Nm between 1400 to 2800rpm.The engine is paired to a 7G- Tronic 7 speed dual clutch automatic gearbox.

The C220 CDI is slightly expensive than before. It is priced at Rs 39.9 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom- Delhi). 

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All New Toyota Fortuner 3.0 D- 4X4 Automatic Review

Toyota has finally launched their hot selling model " Fortuner 3.0 Diesel" which comes with 4X4 variant with a five-speed automatic gearbox. The 17 inch new dark grey alloy wheels makes the fortuner even better than before.New set of smoked headlamps and taillamps have changed it's front and rear looks by making it more sportier. Fortuner is always been a comfortable seven seater SUV as there is enough space for everyone. Toyota now gives the option of all black leather interior who want to add sportiness to their life.

The dashboard gets a nice black-wood insert that surrounds the infotainment system.SUV is equipped with an electronically adjustable driver's seat. The touch screen infotainment system comes with Bluetooth connectivity, a USB and AUX slot. It also has two 12V charging sockets in front and two in the rear.It has a multi function steering wheel on which the buttons are ergonomically placed.Toyota has introduced standardisation of dual front airbags across all variants, ABS and EBD.Fortuner 4x4 Automatic is an easy to drive car both in city and highway and off-road too.The 5-speed automatic is smooth and doesn't feel as lethargic as compared to other SUV's in the same range. Sometimes the engine feels noisy.

Fortuner 4x4 automatic is powered by 3.0 litre 4 cylinder oil burner pumping out maximum power of 171PS at 3600 rpm and 360Nm of torque. It takes just 11.7 seconds to cover from 0-100kmph. The SUV has a mileage of 11.9kmpl which weighs around 2 tons.

4x4 automatic 3 litre diesel Fortuner is available at Rs 26.49 lakhs (Ex-Showroom- Delhi)

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2015 Hyundai Verna Launched in India

Hyundai India has launched the Verna in the Indian car market. The sedan is priced at Rs. 7.74 lakh for base petrol variant and Rs. 8.94 lakh for entry-level diesel variant. The company named the sedan as ‘4S Fluidic Verna’, where ‘4S’ stands for Style, Safety, Sophistication and Speed.

It looks similar to Solaris which available on sale in Russian Markets. The front grille is Wing shaped , attractive headlamps,new front bumper and fog lamp.The side profile of the sedan is same.At the back. taillights are supported with LED's.

Its bumper has new reflector units and a black plastic element for 3D effect. It has provided the Ergo lever on the front passenger seat. The rear occupant can adjust the front seat with this lever. Top-end variant now features six-speaker audio system with 1GB internal memory, six airbags, climate control and multifunctional steering wheel with Bluetooth connectivity. Other features include six airbags, ABS with EBD, rear view mirror integrated reverse camera. Hyundai Verna gets anti-lock braking(ABS) system as standard feature.The seats are softer than before and the rear seats offer better under thigh support to the passenger.

Hyundai has also improved the suspension mechanism of the car, which improves the overall driveability of the car. It continued to offer two petrol and two diesel fuel options - 1.4 litre & 1.6 litre petrol and 1.4L CRDi & 1.6L CRDi diesel. 1.4L petrol offers 17.4kmpl and 1.6L offers 17kmpl.1.4L CRDi offers 24.8kmpl and 1.6L CRDi offers 23.9kmpl.

Petrol variants Ex-Showroom Prices Delhi range from Rs 7.74 Lakh to Rs 10.15 Lakh

Diesel variants Ex-Showroom Prices Delhi range from Rs 8.95 Lakh to Rs 12.20 Lakh

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2015 Volkswagen Jetta Facelift Launched in India

The 2015 Volkswagen Jetta facelift has been launched in the India. The sedan is available in three variants- Trendline, Comfortline and Highline, and the entry level variant is priced at Rs. 14.15 lakh, while the top-spec model is tagged at Rs. 20.17 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The VW Jetta facelift gets changes to both exteriors and interiors. The top-end Highline variant now gets newly shaped Xenon headlights with LED day time running lights and dynamic cornering system.It has a multi-function steering wheel(with switches for cruise control and audio),six airbags as standard across all its variants, along with brake-pad wear indicator and fatigue detection system. The top-spec diesel Highline also gets touchscreen music system and dual zone climate control. The car also offers parking sensors, ABS, ESP and hill control on all variants.On the rear, it features new boot lid with integrated spoiler and new tail lights.It offers twin-five spoke 16 inch alloy wheels which makes it's lools solid.

The Volkswagen Jetta facelift is available in both petrol and diesel. The petrol version offers  1.4-litre TSI unit that churns out 122bhp of power and 200Nm of torque. The 2.0-litre TDI turbo diesel unit that churns out 138bhp of power and 320Nm of peak torque. Both six-speed manual and twin-clutch DSG automatic gearbox are available in Indian market.

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2014 Best Hatchback Car of The Year : Hyundai Elite i20 Review

Hyundai had launched the second generation i20 called as Elite i20 in 2014 which has excellent style and sportiness.Elite i20 comes with two options: Petrol and Diesel.Elite i20 is equipped with 1.21 kappa  (VTVT) petrol engine(1197cc) which generates a maximum power of 83ps@6,000rpm and a torque output of 11.7 kgm . The new 1.4 L CRDi engine is technologically advanced engine in the Hyundai diesel family(1396cc) which generates a maximum power of 90ps@4,000 rpm, torque output of 22.4 kgm and comes with 6 speed manual gear box.

Interior and Exterior:

Elite i20 has a fluidic design with elongated headlamps and long flowing character lines. It is a combination of stylish and spacious car. It comes with turn indicators on both the mirrors.

Elite i20 has dual tone rear bumper, R16 diamond cut alloy wheels, front fog lamps, roof antenna, waistline mouldings and elongated rear combination lamps. 

It is ergonomically designed with well cushioned front and rear seats which offers great support and comfort to the passengers. It has next generation 8 speaker system, bluetooth and first in segment 1GB internal memory audio system. It is also equipped with fully automatic temperature control. This car has rear seat 60:40 split, 285 litres of  boot space, height adjustable driver’s seat, glove box cooling, luggage lamp, adjustable headrest and storage space.

It has dual airbags, headlamp escort function which allows the headlamps to be in ON condition for a limited time after the car is locked to illuminate the path if parked in dark condition, rear parking assist system, rear defogger, ABS, smart key with push button start, anti pinch power windows, smart pedal and auto light control.

The car has multi-function steering wheel, rear AC vents, rear parcel tray, tilt and telescopic steering, auto foldable electric mirror.

Elite i20 comes in 10 variants: 5 Petrol variants and 5 Diesel variants.
The Petrol variant range from Rs 5.23 Lakhs to Rs 6.86 Lakhs
The Diesel variant range from Rs 6.36 Lakhs to Rs 7.99 Lakhs