expensive new cars: New Cars

Showing posts with label New Cars. Show all posts

Thursday

Nissan Sunny Diesel Launch In India In January 2012 Expected

Nissan India has launched its global sedan Nissan Sunny in India on Sep 20, 2011 which is a car based on the versatile V-Platform on which Nissan Micra is also based. Nissan Sunny has been launched only in the petrol variant in India with the Nissan Sunny Diesel still few months away from its official launch in India. With a spectacular starting price of just Rs. 5.78 Lakhs, Nissan Sunny seems to be a strong competitor to most of the cars in the entry level sedan segment. The Diesel option of Nissan Sunny, even if priced at up to Rs. 80,000 more than the petrol counterpart, will be priced at an approximate price of Rs. 6.6 Lakhs approximate price, which is a very aggressive price.

image- Nissan Sunny Sedan

The USP of the Nissan Sunny is the quality and space of the Interiors at an affordable price tag. The diesel engine variant of the Sunny is expected to add fuel efficiency and low running cost to the Sunny. As per some sources close to Nissan, the Nissan Sunny Diesel is expected to break covers around January 2012, which will most likely take place at the Indian Auto Expo 2012 in new Delhi India.
Nissan Sunny Diesel Specifications In India

The expected specifications of Nissan Sunny Diesel to be launched in India in January 2012 are:

    * 1.5 Litre K9K CRDI Diesel Engine
    * Max power of about 85 BHP
    * Max torque of about 200 Nm
    * Fixed geometry turbocharger
    * Expected mileage of close to 20 KMPL (estimated

Nissan-Renault Bajaj Ultra Low Cost Project Not Seized Yet

Nissan – Renault and Bajaj went into a joint venture to build an ultra low cost (ULC) vehicle for the Indian market but after months of discussions, the two foreign automakers were not happy with the Indian two wheeler manufacturer.

The discontent continued for months and the project was said to come to an end soon but at the launch of the Nissan Sunny sedan, one of the officials spoke to the media and at last threw some light on the news.

After the launch of the Nissan Sunny sedan, Vice-President Corporate (India, Africa & Middle East) of Nissan Motor Company Mr. Giles Normand said, “We have been holding discussions, the next round of the announcement will be a joint announcement.”

Inquiring on the time line for the project, Mr. Giles Normand said, “We will let you know at the right time.”

Interestingly just after this Nissan Motor India Managing Director Kiminobu Tokuyama said that the company is planning to launch a new small car for the Indian market, the second fastest growing market.

He said, “We, at Nissan, are committed to offer a good and wonderful product to any segment. Currently we are studying the project of launching a small car but it is too early to predict and comment about the exact timeline of launching the car.

Tuesday

First Look: Mercedes CLS 350 BlueEFFICIENCY

If you are a fan of the charismatic Ari Gold (a popular character from the HBO series Entourage), then it was a momentous day for you. Mercedes India has launched Ari Gold’s car – 2012 Mercedes CLS in India at a price of 67.67 lakhs (ex showroom Mumbai).

Of course, the old CLS Clss was popular because it was the first 4 door sedan designed to look like a 2 door coupe. The idea was to blend practicality and space with sporty design and a powerful engine.

In 2005, when Mercedes launched the CLS, its disproportionate angles, drastically sloping roofline and unbelievable practicality sent the rivals back to their drawing boards.

Audi followed Mercedes’ philosophy by bringing the A7 to the market while BMW is said to be working on a 4-door coupe model on the 6 Series platform. 5 years later Mercedes is trying to redefine that magic of CLS.

So have they succeeded?

Introduced in Paris Motor show 2010, the new 2012 CLS continues to be a 4 door sedan dressed in a 2 door coupe’s outfit. If you are successfully selling a concept for 5 years, you don’t change the recipe entirely. But the similarities stop right there.

The front fascia of new CLS is inspired by Mercedes F800 concept. The new CLS ditches the small angular headlamps in favor of large rectangular ones. If you thought that the Germans are too obsessed with LEDs, the new CLS packs 71 LED lights making up front headlamps, running lamps, turn signals, and side lamps.

Compared to the previous model, the new CLS gets a very aggressive and dominating stance. The bulbously sculpted wheel arches give it a very muscular presence. The preposterously long and wide bonnet is sure sign that the SLS AMG designer did his bit in the new design.

The side profile of the car is the most definitive aspect of the design and that has not been touched much. The roofline still continues its dramatic descent towards the rear. Two sharp lines on the side profile further enhance the muscular appearance

Things go a bit downhill when we see the rear of the new CLS. The old one had concave tail lamps which used to gell well with the overall design. The new tail lamps bulge out of the overall design like a baboon’s butt.

Just when you think things are going downhill, you step into the car and its sweeps you off your feet. The CLS greets you with a blend of high quality leather, premium wood finish and soft touch plastic all wrapped up as one package. The newly design steering wheel has an aluminum base and paddle shifters to add a bit of modernity. The gear stick is replaced with a small dial just like in the new Jags

The center console has a lot of buttons to comprehend and at the same time a small analog watch add a touch of old school luxury. An 7 inch screen displays the relevant driver information as well as caters to your media demands. Music buffs will be happy with surround sound Harman Kardon music system. Mercedes COMMAND APS gives you a full control of the car’s mechanics.

The back seats curve very deep to mitigate the sloping roofline so that you get adequate shoulder and legroom. Nonetheless, they haven’t managed to completely solve the problem.

For the tech savvy rich mortals, the CLS is loaded with features that will exceed your expectations. Some features that managed to capture our attention were the Airmatic suspension, COMMAND APS, THERMOTRONIC climate control, electromechanical direct steer, active parking assist with PARKTRONIC.

Don’t worry safety savvy guys, the CLS comes standard with attention assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, ADAPTIVE BRAKE to the PRE-SAFE Brake, Active Lane Keeping Assist and 9 airbags. It is like a balloon shop in there!

Now we come to the really juicy (and my favorite part) POWER! The CLS is only available in a V6 petrol that pokes 225 KW/306 horsepower @ 6500 and stirs 370 Nm of torque at 3500-5250 rpm. The engine is mated to a 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Sorry dieselheads look somewhere else.

Mercedes has managed to keep the DNA of the old CLS alive in the new one. But at the same time brought the CLS up to speed with today’s technologies. The new looks (apart from the rear) suit the CLS very well and interiors are the icing on the cake.

Have you started working hard to treat yourself with the CLS yet?

Mercedes Benz CLS Class Image Gallery

Thursday

New Jaguar C-X16 Concept Hints at a Porsche Cayman and 911 Rival

Jaguar is bringing a new sleek concept car named the C-X16 to the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, which opens its gates on September 13.

Following the release of a single teaser rendering, the British carmaker unloaded a slew of photos and information on the concept that is believed to lead to a production model sitting under the XK and aiming at the likes of both the Porsche Cayman and 911.

Billed as a true driver's sports car, the strictly two-seat C-X16 is the smallest Jaguar in terms of length since the 1954 XK120. The concept is built around a shortened version of the next generation XK's aluminium chassis structure and it measures 4,445 mm (175-in.) in length, 2,048 mm (80.6-in.) in width and 1,297 mm (51-in.) in height and has a wheelbase measuring 2,622 mm (103.2-in.).

Lurking under its long hood is hybrid powertrain that includes a next-generation 3.0-liter supercharged V6 petrol engine delivering 380-horses (280kW) and 332 lb ft (450 Nm) of torque and an electric motor generator integrated into the eight-speed automatic gearbox that transfers power to the rear wheels.

The electric motor draws power from a 1.6kWh battery pack mounted behind the seats that is charged through a brake energy regeneration system. The motor provides and additional 95-horsepower (70 kW) and 173 lb ft (235 Nm) of torque.

A Formula 1 Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)-inspired hybrid boost system with a steering-wheel mounted button allows for on-demand acceleration using the electric motor.

Jaguar says the C-X16 tips the scales at 1,600kg (3,527 lbs) and has a perfect 50-50 weight distribution. According to the company, it is capable of accelerating from 0 to 62 mph (100km/h) in 4.4 seconds and from 50 to 75 mph (80-120km/h) in 2.1 seconds, while reaching a top speed of 186 mph (299km/h).

In addition, the British firm reveals that the C-X16 is able to travel at speeds of up to 50 mph (80km/h) using electric power alone and has CO2 emissions of 165 g/km.

The styling of the C-X16 is the work of Ian Callum. The exterior design mixes styling cues from both the XK (up front) and Jaguar's well received C-X75 hypercar study (at the back) from last year's Paris Auto Show, in a more compact form.

“This car has been designed from first principles," says Callum. "It is an evolution of the design ethos of past Jaguar cars and defines the agenda for a future of dramatic, innovative sports cars. Purity of line and intent is what Jaguar does best.”

Like the exterior, the interior of the concept looks very close to production sans the trim and dramatic color choices. According to the British automaker, the inspiration for elements of its layout come from aeronautical ergonomics, such as the joystick-style gearlever and banks of toggle switches, which also refer to classic racing Jaguar cars.

2013 Lexus GS Officially Unveiled at the Pebble Beach Festival

Time is up for Lexus to pull the wraps off the third-generation GS luxury sedan that made its first outing today at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California.

Based on the LF-Gh concept we saw in New York, the new GS features much bolder lines that its predecessor. Key highlights include a prominent trapezoidal grille that the company says will be a trademark of all future models, deep-set headlamps with L-shaped LED daytime running lights and an aerodynamic body that brings to mind the smaller IS.

Lexus' Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class challenger is underpinned by a revised platform that is more rigid thanks to the increased number of spot welds as well as laser welds in specific locations.

The engineers also redesigned the suspension, which features aluminum upper, and lower control arms for reduced unsprung weight and an updated rear subframe that supports a new multilink suspension.

The mid-size sedan also features wider tracks (+40 mm up front and +50 mm at the rear) and different shock absorbers with lighter-viscosity oil, allowing for faster response to small driver inputs. Braking is taken care of ventilated discs all around with four-piston calipers up front.

In Europe, Lexus will offer the entry level GS 250 (we presume equipped with the IS's 2.5-liter V6 as the company did not reveal any specific details) and a GS 450h full-hybrid version, whereas in the US the line-up will include the GS 350 and the GS 450h.

The North American market GS 350 is motivated by a 3.5-liter V6 generating 306-horsepower and 277-pound-feet of torque, enough to propel the premium sedan from 0 to 60mph (96km/h) in 5.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 142mph (228 km/h). Acceleration from 30 to 50 mph takes 3.0 seconds. The V6 engine is linked to a six-speed sequential shift automatic transmission with paddle shifters and sport driving functions as standard equipment.

Lexus will offer the GS 350 in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive versions. According to the Japanese automaker, the optional electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system can vary front-to-rear torque balance from 50/50 to as much as 30/70, depending on driving conditions.

Although its dimensions are almost identical to the outgoing model, the new Lexus GS offers improved space in the cabin, while boot capacity has been increased by 25%. Entry and exit are made easier thanks to wider door openings and the redesigned seat frame and steering column give the driver better visibility as well as increased comfort.

The dashboard’s design bears no relation to that of the outgoing GS, with the styling clearly inspired from the LF-A sportscar.

It features cleaner lines while highlights include the extra-large touchscreen (up to 12.3 inches) and the relocated controls for the audio (a 17-speaker Mark Levinson, if you tick the options box) and climate system. The latter uses a new, energy saving technology called S-Flow with an occupant-detection system to direct airflow only to the front area where passengers are actually seated.

In this class, a multimedia all-in-one control system is practically compulsory and the new GS has its own “next generation Remote Touch with one-push confirmation” as standard for “intuitive operation of climate, audio and phone controls as well as the navigation system” (Lexus’ words, not ours…).

In terms of safety, the new GS features a huge array of both passive and active safety features. There are 10 airbags in total, including knee ones for both driver and front passenger and side airbags for rear passengers.

The new GS can be equipped with a pre-collision system that uses the radar cruise control system to detect a probable accident and an infrared camera that monitors the driver’s eyes. If it detects that he is not looking forward when road circumstances suggest that an accident is probable, it sounds an alarm. If the driver doesn’t respond the system will automatically activate the brakes, reducing the severity of the impact.

Lexus said that it will also offer an F-Sport Package with styling and chassis upgrades.

According to the Japanese company, GS production will start in December with the first cars arriving in showrooms in February.

American Idol: U.S. Market Toyota Camry to be Built Exclusively in the Land of the Free

The Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in the US for nine straight years. Yet, in its home market, it is virtually non-existent: even though it sold 82,000 cars in 1990, last year Toyota couldn’t shift more than 1,100 units! That’s because Japanese buyers prefer either the more sporty Mark X or the more luxurious Crown.

Therefore, for its seventh generation, which was only recently unveiled, Toyota decided to phase out imported Camrys from Japan and instead manufacture all cars earmarked for the North American market at its own plant in Georgetown and Subaru’s factory in Indiana.

“North America will be self-sufficient. The current US production capacity is sufficient to produce the vehicles we plan to sell” says Yukihiro Okane, chief engineer for the new Camry which goes on sale later this month.

This doesn’t mean that the mid-sized sedan won’t be manufactured in Japan anymore. It will still be produced at the Tsutsumi plant in Toyota City, albeit at a much reduced rate. Toyota aims to manufacture and sell 360,000 units annually in the US, while in Japan it will build 30,000 units, only 6,000 of which are destined for the local market.

Okane explains one of the reasons: “This Camry was developed in Japan, which means that production and design engineering originated here. So, at the moment, it’s most effective to manufacture it in Japan and, starting with Tsutsumi, deploy manufacturing globally.”

The second reason is the Camry’s hybrid version. Toyota aims to sell 50,000 hybrid Camry sedans per year in the US. They may be locally built, but all the hybrid components including batteries and electric motors, are manufactured in Japan. So it makes perfect sense, and is much more cost effective, to keep the domestic production line open.

Sunday

New Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo with 507HP to Bow in Frankfurt

For more than four decades now, German tuning house Alpina has been modifying BMWs cars. The Bavarian luxury carmaker has a tight relationship with the tuner going as far distributing the high-performance models through its official network.

Alpina's newest creation is the B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio based on the latest 6-Series Convertible, which will make its world premiere at the rapidly approaching Frankfurt auto show on September 13.
At the heart of the Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio is specially modified 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of delivering 507-horsepower and a monstrous 700Nm (516.3 lb-ft) of peak torque delivered between 3,000 and 4,750 rpm.
Power is channeled to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic Switch Tronic transmission, with Alpina claiming 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 311km/h (193mph) with a combined fuel consumption of 10.9lt/100km (21.6mpg US) for the Convertible model.
In comparison, the factory 650i Convertible features a 4.4-liter turbo V8 producing 407HP and 600Nm / 443 lb-ft. It completes the standard sprint in 5.0 seconds while reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), and returning an average fuel consumption of 10.7lt/100km.
Along with the powertrain modifications, the Alpina flavored 6-Series Convertible gains the tuner's trademark multispoke alloy wheels plus carbon fibre trim bits, front apron and rear spoiler as well as bespoke interior parts.
The B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio model will soon be followed up by the coupe derivative.