Nissan Datsun Go+ MPV unveiled!

Datsun has introduced a second car, an MPV developed for Indonesia, called the Datsun GO+

Two months after Datsun unveiled its comeback car, Go, in India, the company today took the wraps off its second car – a 7-seater MPV called the Go+ in Indonesia.

The MPV is based on the same platform as the hatchback – something clearly denoted by the car’s name and the identical styling, engine and power ratings. It also shares the same 2450mm wheelbase as the hatchback and the extra 210mm length is the only key differentiating factor. The length is still under the 4-metre mark that will entitle it to excise benefits when it launches here. In Indonesia, Datsun has said that the Go+ will be priced under 100 million Indonesian rupiah, which amounts to roughly INR 5.50 lakh. also viewvolkswagen-crosspolo

 Inside, too, the styling remains true to the hatchback with features like bench seats up front, dashboard-mounted gearshift lever and the Datsun Mobile Docking Station for smartphone integration. The crucial difference, of course, is an additional third row that will seat two. Those looking for additional cargo space at the rear may also have the option to remove the third row seats.new-skoda-octavia-with-10-changes-must see

The Go+ will be produced at the Nissan Motor plant in Purwakarta in Indonesia and go on sale in 2014. It will eventually come to India and battle against the likes of Ford Eco-sport  and the upcoming Brio-based MPV from Honda.

KTM 1290 Super Duke R to be unveiled on September 29

KTM has created a dedicated website of the 1290 Super Duke R according to which the bike will be unveiled on September 29 and will most likely be launched at the 2013 EICMA show in Milan starting November 5

KTM enthusiasts who have been eagerly waiting for the unveiling of the 1290 Super Duke R rejoice! The Austrian manufacturer is all set to unveil the bike on September 29 and has started a dedicated website with countdown timer reflecting the time left for the unveiling. Though the unveiling is on September 29, the 1290 Super Duke R's global launch will likely be at the 2013 EICMA show in Milan, Italy, starting November 5. 

As part of its pre-launch marketing campaign, KTM has also released a teaser video of the bike in action. But it is no secret how the new offering would look like since pictures of the 1290 Super Duke R were leaked in July itself. The images were posted by an employee of the Kiska Design agency; the firm responsible for designing it on his blog during a special pre-launch preview to KTM American dealers.

Visually there is hardly any difference between the production version and the concept shown at the 2012 EICMA Motor Show, which is a good thing. The major differences are the headlamps and the exhaust. The funky headlamp design is a love or hate it affair though personally I like them. The chunky looking exhaust pipe has been retained from the one seen on the test mules and is in sync with the aggressive design language of the machine.also view his younger sibling KTM Duke 390

Overall the design of the bike is very sharp and edgy which works in KTM’s favour. It would be interesting to see whether KTM would retain the same design on the production model after the images were leaked. No details are available on the mechanical front but it is been speculated that the bike would be powered by the RC8-sourced V-twin which has been bored to 1195cc and would pump out close to 190-200PS of power. 

If this is true, then the 1290 Super Duke R would be one of the most powerful production naked bikes on sale and one fire breathing beast to tame. The Austrian bike manufacturer has provided all the necessary electronic nanny to help the rider from being bitten by the brute like ABS, traction control, stoppie and wheelie protection. But if you like being a hooligan and do some stunts, well no worries as you can disengage stoppie and wheelie protection on your will.also viewKawasaki Ninja ZX-10R And 14R

  It is doubtful whether KTM would bring the 1290 Super Duke R to our shores but if they would, be ready to shell out a hefty premium, since the bike would be brought in via the CBU (completely built unit) route.

Hennessy tunes the McLaren MP4-12C; 0-100kmph in 2.8 seconds!

Yesterday we spoke about the Germans tuning what are generally considered fast cars and making them even faster. Today it seems that the Americans, courtesy of Henessey performance vehicles, have come back with a bang by tuning the Mclaren MP4-12C. This is the first vehicle under their HPE700 tuning programme and it seems like the results are just too good to be true.

The interiors and exteriors are mostly stock save for the Hennessy badges and HPE700 badges, afterall the British sense of style and design is something that remains pretty good when it leaves the factory itself. Where Hennessy has done its magic are the underpinnings. They have installed a modified ECU upgraded intercooler, dual air induction filters and a stainless steel exhaust system.  

Thanks to these changes the 3.8-litre V8 now produces 705PS and 538Nm of torque and increase of 90PS and 130Nm over the standard car. It now does 0-100kmph in 2.8 seconds! And will go on to complete a quarter mile in 10.3 seconds at a top speed of 220kmph.

None of these numbers seem relevant when you consider the scale of their upgrades on what is already a fast and powerful car. To give us an idea why someone would modify a car like the MP4-12C, we must remember that Hennessy are the people behind the Venom GT which holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest Hypercar in the world. On January 10th it did 0-300kmph in 13.63 seconds. 

Suzuki presents iV-4 SUV concept

Suzuki presented its new compact SUV concept model, the iV-4, at IAA Frankfurt.

This concept model is designed to be personalised. “i” stands for “individuality”, “V” for “vehicle”, and “4” for “4 wheel-drive”.
The production model based on the iV-4 aims to be an SUV for the present day: light in weight and boasting among the lowest CO2 emissions in its class. And besides being eco-friendly, the four-wheel drive model will come equipped with ALLGRIP, the next generation of 4WD technology, in order to deliver the powerful drive the user expect of an SUV.

Suzuki will start launching the production model, based on this iV-4 concept model, at Magyar Suzuki in 2015 and will be releasing it in Europe.

Kawasaki launches Ninja ZX-10R and 14R superbikes

Kawasaki became the latest manufacturer to enter the performance segment as it unleashed the Ninja ZX-10R and ZX-14R superbikes at Rs 15.7 lakh and 16.9 lakh respectively

After making its fans wait for many a years,Kawasaki India  Motor finally took a plunge in the performance segment as it launched its Ninja ZX-10R and ZX-14R superbikes. But unlike the CKD (completely knocked down units) route it took for its other international offerings like the Ninja 300 and the 650R, would be taking the CBU (completely built unit) path for the Ninja ZX-10R and ZX-14R.

According to the Japanese manufacturer they chose the CBU route as it doesn’t make much sense to set up CKD operations for these motorcycles given the low volume of sales they would generate. Owing to this reason, the Ninja ZX-10R has been priced at 15.7 lakh whereas the ZX-14R would retail for Rs 16.9 lakh both prices are ex-showroom Pune.

If you remember, about three years ago, Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries founded the India Kawasaki Motors Pvt. Ltd. (IKM), the Indian subsidiary for their motorcycle business. Over the years the Japanese company with partners Bajaj Auto have launched some amazing piece of machinery in our country in the shape of the Ninja 250R, 650R and more recently the Ninja 300, which are sold from the latter’s Pro-Biking showrooms.

But the twist in the story is that now IKM is setting up individual showrooms in key motorcycle markets of our country, beginning from our very own Pune. The work at the Pune dealership is in full swing and would commence operations soon, to cash on the festive season. The first two models to be offered from the Kawasaki showroom would be the landmark model Ninja ZX-14R and the popular litre-class Ninja ZX-10R brought in as CBU (Completely Built Up) units.harley-davidson

Many enthusiasts from the Indian motorcycle fraternity have been waiting with bated breath for the ZX-14R. Powered by a 1441-cc motor capable of over 200 PS, this large and comfortable supersport comes equipped with Kawasaki ‘s acclaimed ram-air system that has a unique design to channelise air towards the engine. The company’s website claims it to be ‘the world’s fastest and most powerful production bike’. Need we say more?

New Skoda Octavia with 10 changes must have look

1-Bi-xenon Headlamps with LED day light function
   The Bi-Xenon headlamps offer better illumination and greater styling than the standard console. What makes them an even better choice is that they come with dynamic leveling function that adapts to any driving conditions

. Furthermore the LED daytime running lamps enhance the safety by providing better visibility to other driver and also add more substance to the car.

2-Panoramic Sunroof electrically adjustable

   The Octavia comes with panoramic sunroof that has tinted glass for reduced light and thermal transmittance. With an electronic controller the roof window can be tipped out or moved backwards to enjoy the outside weather – moreover, the Octavia deploys a wind screen in this event to reduce wind noise and redirect airflow for the comfort of passengers.

3-Electronic Stability Control
   ESC helps the driver to maintain control over the car in critical situations, when the car starts sliding. The ESC takes help of ABS, MKB and other assistance to avoid slip, under-steer and wheel lockup. The control unit of ESC compares data of driving behavior with preset values and incase of discrepancies gives commands to stabilize the vehicle.

ESC is one of the most important safety features that help you be in control of the car all the time.

4-Six Airbags

   Airbags along with seatbelts make passenger cabin a safe place and the new Octavia has six of them. The airbags insulate occupants from coming in contact with the rigid components in case of an accident. The front airbag in the steering wheel protects the driver, while a similar one in the dashboard protects the front passenger. mercedes-benz AMG E63

The side airbags for the front seats protect against side impact and the head airbags cover from A-pillar to C-pillar protecting both front and rear seat passengers.

5-Automatic Front Wiper & Lighting System

The SKODA Octavia is equipped with rain sensors that automatically activates the wipers and adjust their speed depending upon the intensity of the rain. Similarly it also has automatic lighting system that illuminates under bad light so that you can focus on driving.

6-TPM (The Tyre Pressure Monitor)

The Tyre Pressure Monitor (TPM) draws the driver's attention to pressure loss in any of the tyres. Early warning can prevent mishaps related to punctures, under inflated tyre and also defect that radically changes the cars behavior and drivability. 

TPM is not only a safety feature but also improves longevity of tyres.

7-SKODA Audio Player

The new Octavia has a fully-loaded SKODA infotainment system with a 5.8” TFT colour touchscreen display. The audio player reads SD/MMC card and USB drive, Aux-in and also streams music from iPod or via Bluetooth. Moreover the output is channeled through eight well-placed speakers for crisp sound.

8-Dual-Zone Climatronic + Adjustable Rear Vents

The dual-zone climatronic air conditioner of the Octavia allows driver and passenger to set their own temperatures and makes sure that it remains that way.

Moreover, it has adjustable vents for the rear passengers so that their comfort is also completely taken cared of.

9-Parktronic - front and rear park distance control

Parktronic sensors probe the space around the front and rear of the car to determine the presence of obstacles and accordingly generates audio warning signal which helps to make better judgement. 

The Parktronic display on the central infotainment system shows the distance and direction of obstacle on a large colour screen.

10-   12Way Electrically Adjustable Driver Seat w/ Programmable Memory

The new Octavia comes with a 12-way electrically adjustable driver seat with three memory settings that store the seat (and mirrors) position for three different users. One-touch operation adjusts seat position to the stored memory values.

    

BMW i8 images leaked

BMW’s foray into hybrid technology is one that has been proposed for a number of years now, but has only taken its shape via one-off prototypes. But 2013 looks like the year when the research has finally taken physical shape. The company first launched the BMW i3 a couple of months back and now looks all set to unveil its elder sibling, the i8 sedan.

The i8’s entry into the world is taking a similar route of the i3, with the car’s official images ‘leaking’ a few days prior to its official launch. BMW has also revealed an official video illuminating just enough of the car to invoke attention. But if the i3 styling is anything to go by, the i8 will definite sweep us off our feet.B,M.W Z-4 Amazing Thriller

Similar to the i3, the i8 too uses a plug-in hybrid system with a three- cylinder petrol engine driving the rear axle and an electric motor powering the front. The combined output of the power plant is 367PS power and 569Nm of torque both of which aid the car to accelerate to 100kph from standstill in under 4.5 seconds while returning 40kmpl.  Despite the hybrid system, the car weighs around 1490kg thanks to its lightweight aluminium architecture.

BMW is on a roll to impress the environmentalist while still keeping the enthusiast happy, and the figures revealed from Bavaria speaks exactly of that. Who said hybrids are boring?