Skoda Laura R S Launched At Rs. 15.19 Lakhs

Skoda has launched the Laura R S in India, priced at Rs. 15,19,906/- (ex-showroom, Maharashtra). The Laura R S features Alcantara leather seats with lateral support and an R S emblem, steel sports pedals, 3-spoke multi-function leather steering wheel, 16″ Draconis alloy wheels bolted on 205/55/16 tyres, rear spoiler, chrome dual exhaust, xenon curve projector headlights with dynamic levelling, corner function, with front fog lights and the LED position lamps. The Laura R S is available in four colours namely Sprint Yellow, Candy White, Race Blue and Magic Black.

The Skoda Laura R S is powered by a 1.8 TSI petrol engine which produces 160 BHP of power at 4500-6200 RPM and 250 Nm of torque between 1500-4500 RPM. This motor delivers a fuel efficiency of 13.4 kmpl and is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Skoda claims that the suspension has been tuned with revised spring rates to make the R S sharper than other Skoda vehicles on sale. We will have to wait and see if the R S has the spirit of rally sport cars.

Skoda C-Segment Sedan Named Lauretta

The upcoming C-segment sedan from Skoda will be called the Lauretta and not the Rapid. The all new midsize saloon is based on the Volkswagen Vento and will draw heavy inspiration from the Fabia in its design. The Lauretta will share engines with the Vento and will come with a 1.6-liter petrol and 1.5-liter diesel motor both of which produce 105 BHP of power. These engines are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and we can expect an automatic variant as well. Skoda will undercut pricing of the Vento by atleast Rs. 20,000/-, so we can expect the Lauretta prices to start at Rs. 6.79 lakhs for the petrol and Rs. 7.79 lakhs for the diesel.

Skoda will offer a good list of equipment on the Lauretta. Just like the Polo-Fabia share underpinnings, the Vento-Lauretta will do the same. The traditional Skoda family design will adorn the front, while the rest of the car will look alot like the Vento. Skoda is expected to launch the Lauretta in November, 2011 and will start deliveries in December. We can expect three variants each in petrol and diesel guise. It will be interesting to see how Skoda differentiates itself amidst the growing competition in the C-segment, where the Nissan Sunny is the only car left to debut.

Source – ACI

Land Rover To Launch New Defender In 2015

Land Rover will be launching an all new Defender in 2015. The new Defender will be based on the Defender Concept 100 which will make its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Land Rover Defender Concept 100 is a very modern version of the Defender. However the Concept is far from production and one can expect lots of revision in the styling before this becomes production ready. Hopefully Tata Motors will launch the Defender in India and give us Indian’s a choice to own one of the best off-roaders in the world.

Fiat CBU For India Could Be The Bravo

Recently when Fiat announced the launch of two new vehicles for 2012 (one small car and the other a CBU), we speculated if the CBU could be the Bravo hatchback. Now Fiat India’s website has the Bravo product page on it (here), which makes many believe that the Bravo is indeed scheduled for India. The Bravo, being a CBU will be far from value for money and will help Fiat in brand building. However, how many people have even heard the car Bravo. We are sure atleast 99% haven’t (car enthusiasts aside). If the company can’t build a brand using the 500, there are slim chances it can do so with the Bravo. Mind you, we have driven the Bravo and its one of the best cars around. You can read our review here.

By launching the Bravo, Fiat won’t be really helping its cause because prices will be touching around Rs. 20 lakhs. Mercedes-Benz is scheduled to launch the A-Class around similar prices, while the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will soon be available too. What Fiat needs to do is to market itself well. How many people know that the Fiat also has Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Iveco under its belt. Sadly the Italian automaker is too slow or lazy to capitalize on it. More so, the Bravo hasn’t done very well internationally. It was profitable for Fiat in 2008 and 2009 but after that has failed to break even for the company. Thus, Fiat have already decided to call it quits with the Bravo, replacing it with a crossover in 2013. Could the Indian market turnaround the fortunes of the Bravo?

Renault To Launch Koleos On September

Recently Renault put the website of the Koleos live, teasing us with the salient features of the upcoming crossover. Now amidst a launch packed month, there is another car which will be launched next week. The Koleos will be officially launched on the 8th of September, 2011 in New Delhi. We already have covered all the details of the car and await the official release of the prices. A starting price of Rs. 20 lakhs is expected for the Koleos which will compete with the likes of the Chevrolet Captiva and Mitsubishi Outlander.

2012 Tata Indica Vista review

Car tested: 2012 Tata Indica Vista ZX Quadrajet

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 6,91,237/-

Tata Motors unveiled the Indica Vista for the first time at the 2008 Auto Expo. Since then, alot has changed and new competitors have emerged in the competitive hatchback segment. The Vista has received a much needed facelift to keep it fresh amongst new rivals. The company has not done drastic changes on the Indica Vista, but subtle ones, which have been done after factoring in feedback from existing customers. With the new India Vista, Tata Motors’ expects sales to rise by 20-22% and feels that the LX and VX variant will be the most popular one. With 4 engines on offer across 4 variants, we find out if the Vista is a worthy hatchback amongst global alternatives.

Range Rover Evoque Launch In India

 Range Rover fans have a reason to rejoice as Tata Motors plans to launch the latest Land Rover vehicle in India by the end of the year. The Range Rover Evoque is the smallest vehicle in the Land Rover line-up and is already on sale in Europe. The SUV will soon be on sale in USA and is available in both 3-door and 5-door versions. TheRange Rover Evoque is the direct competitor for the BMW X1 and the upcoming Audi Q3. In India, we will be getting the 5-door model with a 2.2-liter diesel motor, which also does duty on the Jaguar XF internationally.

With local assembly already commenced by JLR in India, we can expect the Evoque to be locally assembled as well, giving Tata Motors a chance to price the car very competitively. The 2.2-liter turbocharged motor produces 150 PS and 190 PS (depending on the state of tune) and is very fuel efficient as well. A 2.0-liter, Si4 petrol engine is available too, which uses a turbocharger and twin variable valve timing, but it is highly unlikely we will get that version in India. Expect the Evoque to be priced around Rs. 30 lakhs, sitting right below the Freelander 2.

Maruti Suzuki Swift Reviewed

Full Review Click Here

Force One SUV Out Now On 10.65 Lakhs

Force Motors has launched its first passenger vehicle, the Force One SUV. The Force One SUV is available in one variant only and only in 4×2. Amitabh Bachchan has been roped in as thh brand ambassador for an year and has ordered two units of the SUV for his personal use. The Force One SUV is priced at Rs. 10.65 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi), Rs. 11.1 lakhs (ex-showroom, Mumbai) and has an ARAI certified mileage of 12 kmpl. Deliveries start from 1st September, 2011. The Force One SUV is powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine and features dual mass flywheel. The 2.2-liter Daimler sourced motor produces 141 bhp of power at 3800 RPM and 320 Nm of torque between 1600-2400 RPM. The engine is Euro 5 ready and is optimized for -20 degree temperature. Mated a 5-speed gearbox from Mercedes-Benz, the One SUV has been tested in U.K.

Force Motors has collaborated with Daimler for 40 years and partnered with them for 30 years. The company will come up with a top end MPV in collaboration with Daimler later, they don’t plan to launch any passenger car. Another SUV in 2014. 21 dealers in India by September, 2011. Vehicle has been extensively tested, even in Leh! Dual AC vents for all rows, leather upholstery, second row will be 3 and 2 seater. Reverse parking sensors present. Amitabh Bachchan is the brand ambassador for one year. The company tested 50 prototypes. The Force One SUV has been manufactured at the company’s facility in Pithampur, MP.





The Force One is based on the Guangdong Foday Explorer III and is the first Indian SUV to have CED coating. It has three rows of seats and is a 7-seater, but last row seems suitable only for kids. The last row is forward facing and can be folded. Ride and handling has been tuned by Lotus Engineering, UK. Projector headlamps and day time running lights are standard but there is no ABS and airbags present. ABS variant will be launched in 2012. 4WD version to be launched in March, 2012.

The Force One has a top speed of 160 kmph and is available in five colours – Intense Black, Bold White, Robust Blue, Fierce Red and Emphatic Grey. The official Force One website is here

Yamaha Confirms R15 V2 Launch On 6th September

Yamaha India has finally confirmed the launch of the new R15 for the 6th of September, 2011. The company has sent out a media invite for the launch of the R15 version 2.0. The company asks the media to come and ‘experience a machine redesigned to change your perception of style and design forever.’ We have already speculated and spoken alot about the new Yamaha R15 which gets slight change at the front and heavy changes to the rear (LED tail lamps, split seats and wider rear tyre). A slight increase in power is expected for the R15 V2, helping Yamaha to counter the increased weight and rolling resistance of the new model.

Yamaha has increased the local sourcing of components with the new R15 and we can expect a very competitive pricing for the upgraded R15. We will be attending the launch event and getting you all the information straight from the launch floor. If you have any questions which you want us to ask, please leave it below and we will try our level best to ask the Yamaha management your question.

Maruti Suzuki is developing an all new 800cc vehicle

It will co-exist with the Alto. The company is utilizing its home grown R&D efforts for the construction of this new model. However this will be the first time for Maruti Suzuki engineers to make a model from ground up. The Indian engineers have pitched in their efforts for the development of the Swift and Ritz which was undertaken by Suzuki, Japan. The new 800cc car will help Maruti follow a two-model strategy at the entry level of the market, where it only has the Alto competing. The Alto sends close to 30000 units every month, being Maruti Suzuki’s best seller in current times.

“This will be an all-new car, though based on an existing platform. The idea is to do it in-house at Maruti, with minimal support from our Japanese parent, Suzuki. The idea behind the model is to constantly introduce new models while also developing the company’s R&D capability to develop, design and engineer a model on its own,” IV Rao, Managing Executive Officer (engineering), Maruti Suzuki, said.

Full Detail Of New 2011 Maruti Suzuki Swift

The Maruti Suzuki Swift has been getting alot of attention lately and now we have got some exclusive information for you. The all new Swift 2011 will be launched in the third week of August, around the 17th to be precise. Bookings have already started and waiting period is close to 3 months already. Maruti Suzuki has decided to play the value game rather than position the Swift as a premium. The new Maruti Swift will be available in two engines and the petrol will be available with a 4-speed automatic later. Maruti Suzuki wants to prevent cannibalization of the Swift with the Ritz by positioning the new Swift above the Ritz.

New Maruti Swift 2011 Engines

1.2L VTT Petrol Engine – 87 PS of power at 6000 RPM and 114 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM
1.3L Multijet Diesel Engine – 75 PS of power at 4000 RPM and 190 Nm of torque at 2000 RPM

New Maruti Swift 2011 Fuel Efficiency (ARAI certified)

Swift Petrol – 18.6 kmpl
Swift Diesel – 22.9 kmpl

New Maruti Swift 2011 Features

Dual airbags
ABS (next generation technology – smaller and lighter)
Alloy wheels
iCats immobiliser
Electric operated outside rear view mirrors
Driver seat adjustment
USB, Aux port
Steering mounted audio controls
Tweeters
Climate control
165/80/14 tyres on LXi/LDi/VXi/VDi, 185/65/15 tyres on ZXi/ZDi
Six layer polymer fuel tank
Parcel shelf
Lane change indicator
Fuel consumption display
Rear wiper washer demister

New Maruti Swift 2011 Price (on-road, Delhi)

Swift ZXi Price – Rs. 6.5 lakhs
Swift ZDi Price – Rs. 7.3 lakhs
For other variants – Rs. 30,000/- more than the old Swift.

Exclusive - Every Detail About The New Maruti Swift

Maruti R3 Snapped Without Any Camouflage

The Maruti Suzuki R3 MPV has all of a sudden become a hot topic. It is not the first attempt by Indian largest automaker to produce an MPV carrier but the concept was so eye grabbing that everybody was waiting to see the production version. Now with the pictures of the production version out, we can confidently say it lacks the stunning looks of the concept version. From the pictures, it is apparent that the Maruti R3 is a stretched Ritz (the R3 is indeed based on a stretched Ritz platform). When viewed from the side, the Maruti R3 lacks the length of the Innova, which makes it so comfortable for the passengers. The rear profile showcases the LXi badge, which could be targeted towards the Taxi segment.

The car pictured here is the petrol version, which is powered by a 1.4-liter K14 motor. This new engine might make it to the next generation SX4 and produces 95 bhp of power. The diesel motor on the R3 will be from the SX4, using VGT to produce 90 bhp of power and 200 Nm of torque. The LXi variant of the R3 thankfully gets both side rear view mirrors but Maruti Suzuki does not plan to offer body colored mirrors or door handles. Further more, there are no half wheel covers or fog lamps either. There is an intergrated rear spoiler with stop lamp though and we expect the R3 range to start at Rs. 8 lakhs, when it goes on sale later this year.

SCOOP – On Test Tata Xenon Spotted

Tata Motors is conducting tests on the Xenon. We spotted the Xenon with an On Test badge around Pune. The pick-up featured its boot filled with jerry cans. Visually there was not any difference from the Xenon which is on sale in our markets. The Xenon we spotted was a right hand drive version, so this rules out specific testing for export markets. Is Tata Motors just doing regular testing of the Xenon or are there any mechanical changes underneath? Tata Motors could be adopting the Aria’s engine into the Xenon. The Aria and Xenon use the same basic 2.2-liter block but the Aria features revised oil sump, mounts and flywheel. These changes make the Aria quieter and prone to less vibrations.

Tata Indica Vista Facelift Brochure Leaked

Tata Motors has timed the launch of the Indica Vista facelift very well. The company will launch the new Indica Vista right when Maruti Suzuki will take the wraps off the new Swift. However the facelift of the Indica Vista is a very minor one and will not really affect the sales of the new Maruti Swift at all. Further more, Tata Motors has only managed to give the exterior (grille, alloys, etc) of the Manza to the new Indica Vistabut not the complete interior. The instrument cluster continues to be centrally mounted, becoming extremely inconvenient to most drivers. The brochure showcases the new center console, which has been lifted start from the Indigo Manza.

The interiors of the new Tata Indica Vista gets dual tone treatment. Tata Motors has added some nice touch to the interiors such as closeable air-con vents, electrically operated rear view mirrors, Bluetooth connectivity and audio controls on the steering wheel. Engine options on the Vista remain unchanged and the car continues to be powered by the same four engines. The 1.2 liter petrol produces 64 bhp of power, the 1.4-liter petrol produces 88 bhp of power, while the 1.3-liter Multijet produces 74 bhp of power. To be available in new colours, the new Indica Vista will adapt a new variant naming system, wherein the top end will be called the ZX and the lower end, the VX.