Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2020 i Car India

The new Porsche Cayenne GTS and its Coupé twin have been revealed, blending dynamism with exclusivity in one red-hot package. The two GTS models are designed with maximum driving performance in mind and sit between the 340-hp V6 S and the 550-hp V8 Turbo models. Unlike the last model, the new GTS goes back to a turbo V8 heart, now with 460 hp and 620 Nm. That allows a sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 270 km/h, with the Sport Chrono package. Specific to the Cayenne GTS is a lowered chassis with a unique design and enhanced equipment, including the new sports exhaust system. The chassis set-up sees standard steel-spring suspension that lowers the car by 20 millimetres and includes Porsche Active…

WITH HOMOLOGATION TESTS CONCLUDED SUCCESSFULLY, THE first fully electric SUV model from BMW will be produced as per schedule for the global market later in 2020. The new BMW iX3 is the electrified alternative to the X3 and features a potent powertrain to go with its mid-size premium SUV form. BMW have been systematically pursuing their electrification strategy and aim to release the new BMW iX3 for sale in global markets by the end of 2020. The requisite homologation and testing of the new BMW iX3 were successfully completed with more than 340 hours of testing and over 7,700 kilometres of test-drives within four weeks. The fully electric BMW iX3 and the conventional X3 are being produced on the same line. This enables high efficiency and flexibility. The iX3 packs…

IN THE FIRST-EVER VIRTUAL SHELL ECO-MARATHON ASIA OFF-TRACK Awards, four Indian teams won accolades. The Shell Eco-marathon competition this time was conducted as the first-ever virtual competition due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Shell Eco-marathon Asia Off-Track Awards saw Indian teams bag as many as four awards in six categories with a US $3,000 (Rs 2.3 lakh) cash reward for each award. With on-track grading out of the equation, students were gauged on Technical Innovation, Vehicle Design (Prototype and Urban Concept), Communications, and Safety and Circular Economy. Here are the winners and their respective categories: Team Eco Titans from VIT University won the Communications Award, Team Pravega from the Government Engineering College, Barton Hill, won the Circular Economy Award, Team DTU E-Supermileage from the Delhi Technological University won the Vehicle…

The Kia Seltos 2020 has been launched with a variety of new features and updates across the range, priced between Rs 9.89 lakh and Rs 17.34 lakh (ex-showroom). The Kia Seltos has become one of the most popular SUVs in India and, now, the 2020 Seltos gets new features that make it smarter, safer, more appealing, and more convenient. Many of the features from the higher variants are now offered lower down, thus making them more accessible. It is still offered with three engine options, two petrol and one diesel, and now there are 10 new features. Safety-wise, it gets the Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) as standard on all variants. For better connectivity and convenience, all automatic variants get the smart-key remote engine start feature. The UVO service has been…

The flagship SUV of the three-pointed star, Mercedes-Benz GLS, has been launched at Rs 99.90 lakh (ex-showroom). The GLS is the standard-bearer of Mercedes-Benz’s luxurious SUV line-up and is the biggest and most indulgent offering of them all. The GLS has a longer wheelbase than its predecessor’s at 3,135 mm; a 60-mm increase that translates into 87 mm more space in the cabin. The GLS is available in two guises: 400 d 4MATIC and 450 4MATIC; both priced the same. The 400 d 4MATIC has the 2,925-cc in-line six producing 330 hp and 700 Nm of torque, mated to the 9G-Tronic automatic and all-wheel drive. The GLS 450 4MATIC comes with EQ Boost and is powered by a new 2,999-cc in-line six engine producing 367 hp and 500 Nm with…

We saw a few new launches in India like the A6, Q8, and, more recently, the A8 L. Will Audi India have a three-car stable till the market situation improves? We are looking at a much larger portfolio with a slew of launches planned for the rest of the year — this will include a mix of volume and RS models. With BS6 regulations, we have decided to revamp Audi’s entire product range in India. Therefore, all our upcoming products will either be brought to India for the first time or will be the next generation or facelift at the least. There has been no major change in our product plan because of the market situation; however, there is a possibility that a particular product launch may move forward or…

The Maserati’s weight penalty is pulverised by the 3.8-litre Ferrari-derived V8, an engine able to have you on your knees in awe WHOEVER MANAGED TO usher these two gangsta-liveried choirboys through type approval must be very well connected in the shadowy underworld, the Vatican or the highest government circles in Rome. While the part-throttle drive-by noise in the higher gears may be almost legal, the decibel explosion in second or third, with Corsa drive mode activated and the accelerator nailed to the floor, could be classified as malicious damage of property, physical injury resulting from negligence or latent public disturbance. And, no, this is not hyperbole. If high-pitched tones can shatter a wine glass, then thundering great waves of bass amplified by four tennis ball-size tailpipes can easily, in one…

FOR YEARS NOW, MERCEDES-AMG have been turning their magic on the C-Class to transform it into its most dynamic form. A fire-breathing, tyre-shredding sports car that looks, sounds, and performs... er... the way an AMG should. The latest to reach our shores is the C 63 Coupé, which, unlike its predecessor, the C 63 S, sheds two of its doors and appears more muscular and sharper with the raked roof-line. Interestingly, both the Coupé and S share the exact same dimensions, the only visible difference is that our test car is slightly lighter than its four-door sibling. The protuberant wheel-arches and the pronounced creases on the bonnet make no secret about the dynamism and performance the AMG has in store and ensures no one mistakes it for an ordinary C-Class.…

Bunkering 60-plus litres of Shell’s finest is a five-minute routine, not a thumb-twiddling 20 minutes WE’RE UNLEASHING THE TAYCAN on a stretch of lightly trafficked and unrestricted autobahn — a sure-fire formula for a broad smile accompanied by a big, fat inner conflict. While the devil inside begs you to succumb to the electric Porsche’s dynamic persuasions, the voice of reason urges you to back off. Because even at a relatively modest 200 km/h, the distance-to-empty display is in freefall. In the new automotive world order, if you want the pleasures of rapid progress, you must also come to terms with range anxiety and charge anxiety — the fear of running out and the fear of a long wait to recharge. Or do you? Is it too soon to consider…

The big loser of this match is the referee. If the M5 wins, the arbiter can only be a backward-looking, narrow-minded petrol head. Put the Taycan first instead and be perceived as a tech junkie who turns a blind eye to the minimum range requirements of a daily driver. Putting infrastructure to one side is a big call, but one we surely make. After all, who would wade into the world of £150k (Rs 1.44 crore) EVs without first having checked they have an appropriate use scenario and off-street charging capability? If you do, it’s easy to be swept up in the brilliance of the Taycan Turbo S. Less practical and more expensive than the Tesla and with less range and fewer charging options (truly Musk’s Supercharger network was a…

THE NEW HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS BEEN developed to offer a premium experience while meeting all the needs of a modern family. The new Santa Fe has a dominant front grille and elements that accentuate its wide stance. The patterned grille integrates the headlamps, with LED daytime lights cutting through it. The side-profile has a seamless line from the daytime lights to the tail-cluster, with wider wheel-arches and 20-inch wheels. Engine-wise, there’s a new Smartstream 2.2 turbo-diesel engine with 202 hp and 440 Nm paired to a new 8DCT wet dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel drive. A new 1.6 T-GDi hybrid model pairs the turbo-petrol engine with a 44.2-kW (60-hp) e-motor and 1.5-kWh battery pack for a combined 230 hp and 350 Nm. A plug-in hybrid will also be offered with…

THE BMW M5 AND M5 COMPETITION GET SOME KEY STYLING updates and enhancements. As on the new 5 Series, there’s a new one-piece kidney grille that’s lower, with M-specific bars, a restyled front apron, larger air intakes, and central air intake. L-shaped light tubes add to the effect of the new LED headlights, with Adaptive LED Headlights and BMW Laserlight optional. At the rear, the LED tail-lights have a three-dimensional design. The 20-inch M double-spoke wheels, from the BMW M8, are now available as an option. Standard M Compound brakes can be specified with calipers painted in High-gloss Black or High-gloss Red as an alternative to the existing M blue finish. The M5 Competition features new shock-absorbers from the M8 Gran Coupé and a retuned chassis that sits seven millimetres…

THE VOLKSWAGEN NIVUS IS AN ALL-NEW, four-door coupé-style compact SUV shown to the world in Brazil in a new “200 TSI” specification. VW created fresh ripples with an all-new compact SUV featuring four-door coupé styling and packing a frugal yet peppy compact turbo-petrol engine. The signature element on the Nivus is in the C-pillar’s fast and fluid slope, giving it a distinct and strong coupé profile. It measures 4,266 millimetres long, 1,757 mm wide, and 1,493 mm high and runs a 2,566-mm wheelbase. The boot volume is 415 litres. It’s built on the MQB platform that also underpins the T-Roc, Tiguan, and all-new Polo. Powering the Nivus is a powerful spec of the 1.0 TSI, a 999-cc, three-cylinder turbo-petrol that produces 128 hp and 200 Nm. It is paired to…

THE 2021 TOYOTA FORTUNER HAS BEEN introduced in Thailand. It has received some significant updates. The styling changes are obvious and begin at the front end: a reworked face, new bumper design, larger grille, and LED lighting all round. Other changes include tweaked LED tail-lamp clusters and a new design for the 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin has turned into a more comfortable place. An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the centre console is equipped with the latest connectivity. Also on the list are electrically adjustable front seats, a JBL audio system, ambient lighting, wireless smartphone charging, and a 360-degree camera. Under the bonnet in Thailand is a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel with 150 hp and 400 Nm, but we may expect a larger 2.8-litre engine with a hefty 204 hp…

The third-generation BMW X6 has been launched in India in two variants, xLine and M Sport, both priced at Rs 95 lakh (ex-showroom). The new X6 has a more aggressive and muscular design compared to its predecessor. The variants have distinguished design cues ― whereas the xLine highlights and enhances the off-road look of the car, the M Sport marks itself out as the sportier of the two. Optional features include the iconic BMW kidney-grille with an “Iconic Glow” that illuminates the grille. A panorama glass sunroof is standard. One petrol engine is on offer: the 3.0-litre, in-line, six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol unit that puts out 340 hp and 450 Nm. It is mated to an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission and xDrive all-wheel drive. It also gets paddle-shifters on the…

To commemorate 50 years of the Range Rover, Land Rover are offering a limited number of Range Rover Fifty models. Bookings are now open and prices should start upwards of Rs 2.5 crore (ex-showroom). The Range Rover Fifty will see only 1,970 cars being made, acknowledging the year it first arrived. These will be built on the already posh Autobiography trim level and will feature exclusive accents in “Auric Atlas” and unique 22-inch alloy wheel designs. Four curated exterior colours are on offer, with three additional Heritage choices from SVO. The badging features “Fifty” script in numerous areas of the vehicle and on the “1 of 1970” plaque on the centre console. The Range Rover India line-up recently went all petrol with all variants now powered by the P400 mild-hybrid…

The Mercedes premium SUV range has received a major boost with the addition of the locally assembled mild-hybrid petrol GLE 450 4MATIC and the GLE 400 d 4MATIC, priced at Rs 88.80 lakh and Rs 89.90 lakh (ex-showroom) respectively. The new Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class was introduced earlier with the 300 d and 400 d Hip Hop Edition. They still command a three-month wait-list. The new GLE 450 is the first petrol variant and aims to further its popularity. It packs a new 3.0-litre, in-line six, twin-turbo petrol with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, an electric auxiliary compressor, and EQ Boost, with an integrated starter/generator (ISG) that adds up to 16 kW (22 hp) and 250 Nm briefly. Peak output is 367 hp and 500 Nm, with EQ Boost assisting when needed low…

Hatchback Hunting I am looking for a new car for the city. Because of the pandemic I want a car of my own rather than relying on ride-sharing apps or the metro. Since I live in a big city like Delhi and parking is always a pain, I need something small and easy to park and one that comes with a reverse-assist camera. I also want a zippy car with Android Auto connectivity and decent mileage. I am looking at the Hyundai i10 Nios. What other options are out there for me? Please advise me. Akhil Mehra, via social media Dear Akhil, It's great that you want a car of your own and the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is certainly one option that fits perfectly in terms of your requirements.…

WITH OVER TWO DECADES BEHIND IT, THE Honda City is one of the longest-running car badges in our market, with timely updates and fresh models keeping it relevant in an ever-changing landscape. Competitors have come and gone over the years, the advent of crossover SUVs and sub-four-metre sedans has eaten into C-segment sales, but, through it all, the City endures, continuing to be one of the bestselling sedans in our market. For 2020, Honda have given us the fifth-generation City which builds on the outgoing model’s strengths with an eye-catching design, class-leading interior space, and excellent driving dynamics. The car is being offered with either 1.5-litre petrol or 1.5-litre diesel powerplants, and I recently spent a day with the top-end ZX variant of the petrol-powered City, equipped with the optional…

TO SAY RESTRAINT AND FORWARD THINKING ARE THE NEED of the hour would be a gross understatement. While many the world over spend time, money, and fuel with reckless abandon over trivial activities for momentary satisfaction, their actions have a far worse effect on consequence. Thankfully, Škoda, and indeed the entire Skoda-VW Group, don’t have such an aversion to vision and foresight. With a new range of globally accepted and popular cars that have appropriately downsized and even electrified powertrains, the future seems to be in focus; at least the foreseeable part of it. The new Škoda Rapid is the latest model to be introduced into their Indian portfolio and is the most potent one yet. And in all the right ways. For starters, there’s the style. This one here…

Why is it here? Because the Polestar 1 is a boldly different performance-orientated plug-in hybrid, whereas so many PHEVs are just about on-paper economy. The 1 makes a big statement about how high the new brand — spun off from Volvo and under the same Geely ownership — is aiming. Style-focused early adopters are clearly in Polestar’s sights, but so are drivers who want some of the startling acceleration made possible by the torque characteristics of electric motors. Any clever stuff? The way the petrol engine up front (a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-litre four derived from the Volvo XC90’s, boosted by an integrated starter-generator) interacts with the two electric motors at the back is highly unusual, but makes sense and works well. The planetary gear sandwiched between the electric drive…

THE NEXT-GENERATION BMW 4 Series has broken cover and it packs a striking new design language that strikes differently to some from the front and looks a lot sportier from the side while widening the rear profile. It’s designed to be sportier than ever and be a proper sports coupé from the outset with a focus squarely on delivering dynamic driving pleasure and a clear differentiation from the new 3 Series. In its previous generation, it was a proper two-door 3 Series with the “3” actually having four doors. It replaced the 3 Series Coupé model. A four-door 4 Series Gran Coupé arrived later, but never mind... The new 4 Series Coupé has a sharper character with a specifically optimized structure and chassis technology to ensure maximum dynamic performance. A…

THE MIGHTY 6.75-LITRE BENTLEY V8 L-series engine has been the longest serving V8 design in continuous production and it has now reached the end of its handcrafted run, having been in production for more than 60 years. The last L-series engine will power the 30th and last of the Mulsanne 6.75 Edition by Mulliner. The Bentley V8 was designed by a team of engineers in the 1950s to replace the straight six. The L-Series V8 was in the 1959 Bentley S2 with around 180 hp; deemed “adequate” by Bentley. Since then it evolved into something truly extraordinary. In the Mulsanne Speed, the V8 developed 537 hp and 1,100 Nm. The low-revving engine delivered a unique character that defined the widely recognised “wave of torque” that all Bentleys now ride. The…

THE UPDATED E-CLASS CABRIOLET LOOKS spectacular as ever but one hidden gem is an evolved turbo-diesel that packs a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The updated OM 654 M diesel engine has some significant changes from the motor we’ve experienced in the new E 220 d in India. First is the new 48-volt system with an integrated starter-generator (ISG), called EQ Boost, that provides an additional 15 kW (20 hp) and 180 Nm of torque assist when needed; when starting off, coasting and overtaking, for instance. Along with electrification, modifications include a new crankshaft that increases piston stroke to 94 mm, up from 92.3 mm earlier, taking displacement up to 1,993 cc from 1,950 cc. Second, injection pressure is up to 2,700 bar from the previous 2,500 bar. Together with the water-cooled…

The refreshed Jeep Compass sports some big changes outside and under the skin. The butch design and off-road appeal of the popular SUV have been retained. Manufactured in Italy at FCA’s Melfi plant, it now offers user-friendly technologies for a more efficient, comfortable, and connected experience. The big change is the new 1.3-litre, turbo-petrol engine delivering either 130 hp or 150 hp. An updated version of the 1.6-litre MultiJet II turbo-diesel engine with 120 hp, now with SCR (selective catalytic reduction) is also available. New features include the new Uconnect for improved connectivity, new styling cues, different wheel designs, and a new colour palette with the choice of a contrast black roof. Handling has been enhanced thanks to a new tune for the steering system with updates to the suspension,…

AUDI HAVE OPENED BOOKINGS FOR THE NEXT-GENERATION RS 7 Sportback set for launch in India this month. The RS 7 Sportback is all about adrenaline-pumping performance. Based on the A7, it has been given a thorough makeover to live up to its speed-demon leanings. The distinctively flared wheel-arches, 22-inch rims, hunkered-down stance, and elements such as HD Matrix LED lighting with Audi Laser Lights augment the car’s nature. What really brings out that sporty nature is the 4.0-litre V8 TFSI petrol engine with 600 hp and 800 Nm on tap. Power is sent to all four wheels thanks to the quattro AWD system with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The RS 7 can go from zero to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and on to a top speed of up to…

The most powerful six-cylinder diesel SUV in India has arrived in the form of the BMW X7 M50d, priced at Rs 1.63 crore (ex-showroom). The M Division SUV is its third iteration with a sportier twist; the xDrive30d and xDrive40i are on sale already. It features several styling elements that set it apart, some mostly subtle, such as the M logos and the font of the badging, and some a little more obvious, primarily the 21-inch wheels with wider 275/40 front and 315/35 rear Z-rated rubber. The highlight is the quad-turbo 3.0-litre, in-line, six-cylinder diesel engine that makes a full 400 hp together with a petrol-V8-bashing 760 Nm of peak torque. An eight-speed automatic transmits the hefty output to the M-tuned xDrive all-wheel-drive system that sends it to all four…

Maruti Suzuki India have launched the new S-Presso CNG BS6 from Rs 4.84 lakh (ex-showroom). The S-CNG option is now updated and available in the S-Presso. The funky sub-compact hatchback now joins the Alto 800, Celerio, WagonR, Eeco, and Ertiga in the range of cars powered by bi-fuel engines that use petrol and CNG (compressed natural gas). The S-Presso S-CNG is available in a choice of four trim levels: LXi, LXi(O), VXi, and VXi(O), priced between Rs 4.84 lakh and Rs 5.14 lakh (ex-showroom). The S-Presso S-CNG BS6 is powered by a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine that complies with the latest emission norms. In CNG guise, it delivers 59 hp and 78 Nm ― nine horses and 12 Nm down compared to petrol power. A five-speed manual transmission is standard. It…

The new Porsche Panamera 4 10 Years Edition has been launched in India at Rs 1.6 crore (ex-showroom) to commemorate a decade of the four-door sport-luxury car. Porsche India have brought in the Panamera 4 10 Years Edition as a nod to a decade of what was created to be a four-door 911. Within the coupé silhouette were four doors, four seats, and performance figures of a proper sports car. The highlights include satin-gloss White Gold Metallic 21-inch Panamera Sport Design wheels, with White Gold Metallic “Panamera10” logos on the front doors. There are a host of additional comfort and safety features, including LED matrix headlights with PDLS Plus, reversing camera, panoramic sunroof, 14-way comfort seats, and soft-close doors. The Panamera 4 is also on offer in India, priced at…

I am in the market for a cost-effective car to help take my family around. We need to fit up to six pax in the car at a time. I have three children. Two of them are young and one is a teenager. My budget is around Rs 5-5.5 lakh. What do you suggest? Ravish Juneja, via social media Dear Ravish, The Renault Triber would be the ideal option for you within that budget. It comes with seating for seven, so your family should fit in perfectly. It is priced at Rs 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom), so it will fit within your price point too.…

THE HYUNDAI VERNA HAS BEEN A STRONG CONTENDER IN THE C segment since its launch back in 2006, consistently offering buyers an attractive combination of stylish exteriors, well-appointed interiors, and powerful engines. The car has evolved through facelifts and newer versions over the last 14 years, going through the “transformed” and “fluidic” phases, finally leading to the new-for-2020 Hyundai Verna splashed across these pages. Our test car is the top-end SX(O) variant powered by Hyundai’s 1.5-litre DOHC petrol-powered motor, mated to an eight-speed CVT. As you can see, the new Verna is quite a looker, with strong lines flowing back from that massive grille up front, over the sharp LED headlamps and on to the A-pillars. The design of the front air dam and recesses for the fog-lamps give the…

THE LOCKDOWN HAS BEEN CHALLENGING FOR A LOT OF US. The restriction on movement has been cumbersome, to say the least, but now with Project Unlock in operation, there is light at the end of the tunnel. So, those of us who have an adventurous sort of disposition can begin planning our next big road trip. Rovers, wanderers, nomads, vagabonds — call us what you will, we can begin putting together all the pieces of this particular puzzle as we wait for the all-clear from the authorities. And that spirit of exploration truly sizzles and begins to thrive when it is paired with the right set of wheels. Could the new Kia Carnival be that effervescent companion for those mile-munching road trips? Well, you certainly wouldn’t bet against it based…

Why is it here? Because the M5 remains the benchmark for performance saloons and a recent test winner against the equally rapid, all-wheel-drive and not cheap AMG GT Four Door and Audi RS6. The F90-generation M5 is a couple of years old now but that doesn’t keep it from being a fabulous car. Yes, it’s mostly about driving hard, but the BMW is a genuine five-seater with a decent boot that makes long journeys realistic for passengers as well as the driver. Top-drawer infotainment and that badge only add to the desirability of the best car BMW currently make. Any clever stuff? The configurable xDrive system is genius, blending the real-world benefits of rear-wheel drive with a full-time rear bias and the option to cut power to the front axle…