CHEVROLET MAY LAUNCH ALL NEW TRAILBLAZER SUV TO INDIA

CHEVROLET MAY LAUNCH ALL NEW  TRAILBLAZER SUV TO INDIA

Chevrolet may launch all new SUV, the latest Trailblazer, to India on end of 2013 or early 2014. Slated to compete with the likes of the Toyota Fortuner & Ford Endeavour, this body-on-frame SUV will be powered by a choice of 2.8-litre, 180bhp or 2.5-litre, 150bhp diesel units. The larger 2.8 common-rail diesel makes a very strong 47.8 Kgm, incidentally 10kgm up on both the 3.0-litre Fortuner & Endeavour.

The Trailblazer is an attractive looking SUV and the company says it will be the most clean-sheet truck it has designed in its 100-year history. On the inside too, the SUV is expected to have more space than the Endeavour and the Fortuner. Chevy claims the Trailblazer will sport car-like features and will be a proper seven seater.

GM is hoping to assemble the Trailblazer at its Halol facility, where it currently carries out all its CKD operations. We expect the SUV to be priced around Rs 17 -22 lakh.

The broad-shouldered design is neither overly geometric nor remotely feminine, conveying more strength than any GM sport-ute currently available here. LED lighting details add pizzazz, and the seven-seat, two-tone interior features modern treatments and a load of comfort and convenience features. We imagine some of these, such as the overhead video screens for the second- and third-row seats, would be quite a shock in developing markets.

For power, the TrailBlazer concept relies on a 2.8-liter turbo-diesel inline-four. The concept is all-wheel-drive, and, as a body-on-frame truck, boasts the ruggedness that is a virtual requirement in emerging markets where not all of the roads are as smooth and well-maintained as ours.

Indeed, despite our crumbling infrastructure, roads in the U.S. are veritable silk-covered ribbons compared to those in many parts of the Middle East, China, and South America & india . So, for the time being, GM feels it has America covered with its bevy of trucks and other truck-like things. Much of the rest of the world, though, is about to get a cool new SUV.

Source – autocarindia,, .caranddriver

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NEXT – GENERATION LAND ROVER DEFENDER TO BE BUILT IN INDIA

NEXT – GENERATION  LAND ROVER DEFENDER TO BE BUILT IN INDIA

If there’s one car the British industry can be proud about (apart from the Mini), it’s the Defender. Land Rover’s 4x4 has been in production since 1949 and, even though it evolved somewhat over the decades, at heart it was always the same.

& even though Land Rover has licensed the manufacture of some derivatives and clones of the Defender in countries such as Turkey and Brazil, it was always built in Solihull, UK.

In three years’ time, this tradition will come to an end as Land Rover's owner Tata Motors has decided to manufacture its 2015 replacement at its Prune plant in India and export it from there to the rest of the world.

According to the company’s chairman Ratan Tata who was interviewed by Autocar, the move will lower the manufacturing costs making the next Defender more affordable. Tata added that it will also bring its assembly closer to the Asia-Pacific region, where it is expected to be a strong seller.

Land Rover has already given us an early preview of the Defender replacement with its two DC100 concepts. According to the British magazine, the production version will likely be based on an updated version the T5 ladder chassis used by the current Discovery and Range Rover Sport.

Moreover , if Land Rover goes ahead with this plan, the next Defender will share many components with  next generation Tata’s own Aria SUV that will be assembled at the same plant , making its production even more cost-effective.

Source – autocarindia,carscoopblog

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MARUTI SUZUKI LAUNCHED REFRESHED 2012 A- STAR

MARUTI SUZUKI  LAUNCHED  REFRESHED  2012 A- STAR

Maruti Suzuki 's small car offering, the A-Star gets a refresh for the New Year. The company now offers the A-Star with new alloy wheels and an integrated rear spoiler.

On the interiors front, the 2012 A-Star gets dual tone beige and black upholstery. Maruti has also put in 50:50 split rear seats and more cubby holes in the cabin.

Airbags and ABS are now optional on the A-Star with two new colour options, Glistening Grey and Pearl Caffeine Brown.

Maruti Suzuki hasn't tinkered with the engine and the new A-Star retains the 998cc K10B petrol engine with 67PS of power and 90NM of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

The new A-star is available in five variants - LXI, VXI, VXI AT, ZXI and ZXI (with ABS and airbags). Prices start from Rs 3.66 – Rs 4.40 lakh , ex-showroom Delhi.

Speaking at the launch, Shashank Srivastava, chief general manager, marketing said, "A-star is one of the most vibrant brands in our portfolio. Some of its high points such as contemporary styling, dynamic handling and ride quality, best in class turning radius, power, flat torque and superior performance has made A-star a popular choice especially amidst the youth. The smart modifications in the spiced-up A-star are in line with customer feedback and seek to enhance the overall look, feel and comfort of the buyers."

The car is MSI's Japanese parent Suzuki's fifth global model and it manufactured only at Manesar in India.

MSIL so sold a total of 3.81 lakh units of A-Star, which is the flagship export model of the company.

The company has exported over 2.81 lakh units so far to over 130 countries, primarily to the European markets such as the Netherlands, Italy, the UK, Spain & Germany. Other markets that have also contributed the car include Australia and South Africa.

Source - ibnlive

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BMW M Performance Range Revealed, New Tri-turbo Diesels

BMW M Performance Range Revealed, New Tri-turbo Diesels

BMW has revealed details of its new M Performance range, adding a new triple-turbo diesel engine and enhancements to each model's handling and technical packages.

The M Performance line-up launches with the M550d xDrive in Sedan and Touring wagon form, along with the X5 M50d and the X6 M50d - the latter also debuting in 2012 with a subtle styling makeover.

All four cars are powered by BMW's new triple-turbo common-rail diesel: a 3.0 litre six-cylinder mill that produces 280kW and 740Nm of torque - the latter coming online at 2000rpm.

The new engine represents a gain of 50kW and 110Nm over the 535d, and 55kW and 140Nm over the diesel driving the xDrive40d SUVs.

Matched with an eight-speed automatic Sports transmission and BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the engine gives the M550d a 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds for the sedan, and 4.9 seconds for the wagon.

Fuel consumption for the M550d sedan is listed at 6.3 l/100km, and the Touring wagon is only slightly short at 6.4 l/100km.

The same transmission and xDrive package shunts the X5 M50d to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds and the X6 M50d in 5.3 seconds, with the X5 listing 7.5 l/100km and the X6 listing 7.7 l/100km.

While all of the M Performance diesel models fall short of their petrol M car counterparts in the acceleration stakes, the much lower fuel consumption should prove appealing to buyers looking to strike a balance between guts on the road and pain at the bowser.

The M Performance range also brings a number of enhancements beyond the huge power boost, including M-tuned suspension, springs and dampers along with modified mounting for the body shell, engine and transmission.

On the styling front, the M550d gains 19-inch light alloy wheels, and the two X SUVs ride on 20-inch hoops. A new styling and aero package has been added to each model, drawing inspiration from the familiar petrol-powered M cars.

In the cabin, all four cars gets sports seats trimmed in black or dark grey, with a constrasting stitch and M logos everywhere. There's also an M steering wheel, paddle shifters, an Anthracite-coloured roof liner, and aluminium highlights.

Lastly, a new audio package has been developed to transmit the engine's noises into the cabin, sent through the car's speakers.

Source - themotorreport

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2013 BMW FACELIFTED 7 SERIES

   2013 BMW FACELIFTED 7 SERIES

BMW's 7 Series will receive its first extensive update next year, however these spy images of a 7 Series development mule show that we shouldn't expect much in the way of exterior changes.

Instead, for their midlife update the F01 and F02 7 Series will feature a raft of under-the-skin revisions that will aim to boost power and efficiency.

The turbocharged 3.0 litre six-cylinder petrol of the 740i could jump from 240kW to 260kW, and the 750i's 4.4 litre twin-turbo V8's output may rise to 335kW - an increase of 35kW.

Currently, only the V12-powered 760Li flagship utilises an eight-speed automatic, however BMW's latest version of its eight-speed is expected to be bolted to I6 and V8 variants from 2013.

The almost complete absence of camouflage on this development car ( very unusual for a BMW prototype ) suggest that the car's sheet metal will carry over unchanged, with only minor alterations to the front and rear bumpers.

New wheel designs should be offered though, and the headlamp clusters will likely make greater use of LED technology.

Inside, there appears to be no substantial design changes. However, expect more up-to-date electronic equipment to feature in the 2013 7 Series' cabin.

Source - themotorreport

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2013 Hyundai Santa Fe (ix45)

           2013 Hyundai Santa Fe (ix45)

Hyundai's next-generation Santa Fe SUV have draped in the brand's sharpened new styling language.

Revealing one-half of the new SUV's face (which we've duplicated for your viewing pleasure) and a proper look at the rear end, the shots show that the 2013 Santa Fe will take on an "upsized ix35" look.

The Santa Fe name could also be replaced in world wide with an ix45 badge, although the survival of the Accent and Elantra names leaves the door open for the big wagon's existing name to continue.

Technical details for the new model remain a secret for now, although we can likely expect the new Santa Fe to continue with the 145kW 2.2 litre R-Series diesel that features in the current model.

We could also see the Genesis Coupe's 205kW/372Nm 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. If so, this would sit as rival for Ford's EcoBoost-powered Explorer.

The 2013 Santa Fe is rumoured to be heading for a New York Auto Show debut in April, although Hyundai has yet to confirm plans on that front.

Source - themotorreport

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2013 facelifted BMW X6

             2013  facelifted BMW X6

BMW's big X6 "Sports Activity Vehicle" has come in for a 2012 upgrade, picking up a modest facelift, new technologies and the carmaker's new M Performance package.

Spot-the-difference styling tweaks include a lightly updated grille, along with restyled foglight housings, wrapped in a more prominent satin silver garnish.

The X6 gets new adaptive full-LED headlights as an option, upgradeable from the standard-fit Xenon lights, and there is also a new twin-bar LED design for the taillights.

Mechanically, the updated X6 will continue with its existing powertrain line-up, including the xDrive50i's 300kW 4.4 litre V8 and the 225kW inline-six driving the xDrive35i. The current eight-speed automatic transmission will also carry over.

BMW's new M Performance package has been added to the updated X6's options list however, with the xDrive35i gaining an additional 12kW and 40Nm of torque, while the V8 picks up a bonus 30kW and 40Nm.

The M Performance range also debuts a new triple-turbo 3.0 litre six-cylinder diesel engine, marking the launch of the top-end X6 M50d.

The new mill kicks out 280kW and 740Nm of torque, making for a 55kW and 140Nm boost over the current xDrive40d model

The X6 M50d lists a 0-100km time of 5.3 seconds, with fuel consumption listed at 7.7 l/100km. (read more about the M Performance diesel models here.)

The updated X6 gains new exterior colours, with the arrival of Orion Silver, Midnight Blue and Marrakesh Brown. Inside, there is new Vermilion Red Nevada leather and Ivory White Nappa leather.

The range-topping X6 M gains the same styling and interior upgrades for 2012, while the current 408kW and 680Nm 4.4 litre twin-turbo V8 will carry over unchanged.

Source - themotorreport

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