LIVING 2 DRIVE

2013 Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG Drag Racing a CLS63 AMG

2013-06-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

Mat Watson of Auto Express wanted to find out how well the new Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG hatchback stacks up against a bigger and stronger AMG model. He puts it head to head against a CLS63 AMG for a quarter mile drag race. Can the smallest car AMG makes hold its own?

The A45 AMG features more brake horsepower per gallon than any other car today, and with a four-cylinder single turbo engine, it’s also the first AMG model with fewer than six cylinders. Equipped with all-wheel drive, this baby AMG seems like it won’t stand a chance against the heavier, more powerful, and more expensive CLS63 AMG.

So why should you care about some oddball European market Mercedes-Benz model? Because the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLA class is basically the same car, albeit with cooler styling. And this little AMG manages to hold its own, which is rather impressive for a car that costs roughly $59,650 that is competing against one that costs around $130,290. See which AMG model comes out on top in the video below.

2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class enters production

2013-06-17T00:06:00.001-07:00

2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class enters production

With the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class set to go on sale next month, the first examples of the sixth-generation ultra-luxury sedan have begun rolling off the assembly line at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant in Germany. The first car headed to customers is the silver S400 Hybrid you see above, and Mercedes executives Dieter Zetsche and Andreas Renschler were both on hand to welcome the car.

To prepare for the new S-Class, Mercedes has invested close to one billion euros in the German factory. While a half dozen models are produced at this plant, most of the recent improvements were focused on Mercedes' flagship sedan. Also destined to be built at this plant is the upcoming S-Class Coupe, which is replacing the CL-Class. Interestingly, this name change has been speculated for some time, but the official press release posted below could be the first time we've seen Mercedes refer to the car as such.

2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class Enters Production – 2014 Cadillac CTS Price Confirmed

2013-06-17T00:05:00.000-07:00

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class has this week gone into production at the automaker’s Sindelfingen assembly plant, just weeks after its official unveiling in Hamburg. Joining to festivities to pay homage to the sixth-generation S-Class was Mercedes Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dieter Zetsche, and the company’s new head of manufacturing Andreas Renschler.

Scheduled for a fall release date in the US, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class will first launch in S550 flavor and subsequently be followed by convertibles, coupes, top-end AMG versions and even a plug-in hybrid option throughout 2014.

The S Class has long proved to be the most powerful weapon in Mercedes’ arsenal, spurring further investment of over 1 billion Euros in the company’s Sindelfingen assembly plant in order to ensure flawless and consistent quality with each and every car produced, along with improvements to assembly efficiency.

Meanwhile, Cadillac has confirmed the price options for the 2014 CTS, which is expected to launch in the US this coming fall after making a stunning debut at the New York Auto Show.

Those expecting a price-cut will unfortunately be disappointed to hear that the front-to-rear tweaks ad refinements afforded to the 2014 Cadillac CTS have resulted in a $7,000 premium compared to the current model. Including destination charge of $925, the new 2014 CTS can be yours for an entry-level price of $46.025.

Anyone looking to go the whole hog with the 3.6L V6 twin-turbo 420BHP beast will be looking at $59,995.

Nevertheless, Cadillac remains confident that the ratio of bang to buck is still right up there with this year’s new CTS, pegging the luxury midsize as a rival for the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

“CTS has always been Cadillac’s centerpiece, and as our brand expands and elevates the car properly grows to its true place” according to an official statement from the automaker.

“With last year’s addition of the award-winning ATS compact luxury sedan, CTS will directly challenge the luxury midsize competition with uncompromised performance, luxury and technology.”

Electric Benz's silent speed record

2013-06-17T00:04:00.000-07:00

The Nurburgring is a favourite testing ground for many manufacturers, and there's always a publicity fight between carmakers as to who has made the fastest sportscar or sedan lap around what they call, the "Green Hell" which is regarded as so dangerous that open-wheel racing hasn't taken place there for decades.

Setting a time of 7 minutes and 56.234 seconds, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Cupe Electric Drive is the first production electric vehicle to lap the famous track in under 8 minutes.

Mercedes says the record-taking car is identical to the series production version, which will launch later this month. The all-wheel-drive electric SLS is the most powerful AMG high-performance car, with four electric motors developing a total output of 552kW (750 horespower) and 1000Nm for all four wheels.

The car accelerates from 0 to 100kmh in 3.9 seconds and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 250kmh.

Unlike a petrol engine, the build- up of torque is instantaneous with electric motors - maximum torque is effectively available from standstill.

The spontaneous torque build- up and immense power delivery without any interruption in traction is combined with completely vibration-free motor running characteristics.

It's also very, very quiet as the video on YouTube of the lap shows.

The record time of the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive has been certified, two weeks after the first overall win for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 in the Nurburgring 24 Hours.

2014 Audi R8 GT to Debut at 24 Hours Le Mans 2013

2013-06-17T00:03:00.001-07:00

The 2014 Audi R8 GT which was recently spied testing at the Nurburgring is set to make its public debut at the 24 Hours Le Mans 2013 next week.

Throughout the Audi R8’s production run, the original Audi R8 GT remains as the model’s most hardcore, and stripped down racer for the road and these spyshots indicate that the 2014 Audi R8 GT will feature a selection of new aerodynamic components compared to the previous-generation Audi R8 GT. At the moment, the most powerful car in the facelifted Audi R8 line-up is the 2014 Audi R8 V10 Plus which produces a total of 550hp.

The first-generation Audi R8 GT produced an extremely impressive 560hp and was limited to just 333 units in coupe form, meaning Audi will obviously have to push the power envelop even further if it’s to create a truly mighty range-topping Audi R8.

As the following spyshots highlight, this particular 2015 Audi R8 prototype features a selection of more aggressive and aerodynamic components including a new front splitter, large side air intakes and two carbon fiber canards up front. However, the most outlandish and eye-catching feature present on this particular 2015 Audi R8 GT prototype is its massive rear wing, similar to those fitted to Audi R8 LMS race cars.

Awesome Audi S6 Is the Car of the Future, Now

2013-06-17T00:01:00.002-07:00

Buckle up, because you're about to experience the Audi S6, one of the fastest sedans in the world. Besides its muscular performance, it's bristling with the latest car tech, so advanced that it gives you a hint of what's to come in the future of self-driving cars.

Audi lent us this car for a week, giving us a close-up look at the most advanced technology available in cars, circa mid-2013. The option-packed Audi S6 we tested ($87,720) is not the most expensive car from this upscale German automaker, but it's high enough on Audi's hierarchy to show off the tremendous power and astonishing technology of today's best cars.

At first glance, this ominous black chariot looks like a low-slung, curvy version of your dad's sedan. Don't be fooled.

At first glance, this ominous black chariot looks like a low-slung, curvy version of your dad's sedan. Don't be fooled. A closer look reveals clues about its true nature. Look how it sits on its haunches ready to pounce, with that Angry-Bird look on its face. Check out the wide track of its fat, low-profile tires, and that little badge on the side that says "V8T." Yes, those are hints that this is most certainly a hungry wolf in an ornery black sheep's clothing.

If you're a gearhead who likes to take a peek under the hood, you'll be delighted at the twin-turbocharged 4.0 L V-8 engine you'll see underneath. Soon, you'll be experiencing all 420 horses of this beast, cranking out a maximum torque of 406 pound-feet, specs that are in the vicinity of the world's most powerful cars.

After a quick walkaround, I was ready to take a seat and see what this baby could do. As I sat down in the Audi S6, I knew I was in for a treat. Just possessing the electronic fob makes the car recognize you, unlocking the door for you. When you sit down and start the engine with a quick button push, the S6 springs to life. Take a look at this six-second video and you'll see the speedometer dials jumping to attention in their test sequence, the steering wheel tilting to just the right angle, the 7-inch infotainment screen whirring into position, and even the Bang & Olufsen tweeters emerging from either side of the dash like tiny prairie dogs:

As we went for our first ride, my two traveling companions were able to logon toAudi Connect, an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot that's hooked up to the T-Mobile 3G network, letting two of us — one on a laptop and another with an iPhone — access the web via Wi-Fi. The only drawback was that the T-Mobile network in our area is pokey, giving us a disappointing upload and download speed of less than 2Mb per second. That's slower than almost any home broadband connectivity.

The S6 also allowed me to plug in my iPhone, giving me control of all of my tunes on board, as well as letting me play Pandora radio. This also allowed the S6 to use my iPhone's LTE network, which is 10 times faster. However, this is not a new feature at all — we have the same iPhone plug-in capability in our 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid.

If you're looking to use apps in the S6, you'll be disappointed.

If you're looking to use apps in the S6, you'll be disappointed. There's no such compatibility here — even the cheapest car we tested, the Chevy Spark, had better app compatibility than this. But perhaps the target audience for this luxo-sport monster doesn't care much about apps. It felt to me like in this context, the S6's smartphone friendliness (along with its other technical niceties) was just enough, offering easy Bluetooth connectivity that lets you upload your phonebook and place hands-free calls using speech recognition.

Another excellent use of speech recognition was the easy access to online points of interest, where you can search Google for restaurants, gas stations and other locations, either nearby or on your programmed route. This felt like science fiction to me, giving me live data from the Internet to assist me in finding anything I wanted in the physical world. Best of all, it was relatively easy to use compared with all of the other touchscreen-based infotainment systems I've tested.

That's not to say the Audi S6's infotainment system is perfect. Discerning someone's conversational meaning is difficult even for humans in a noisy environment, so it's not surprising that speech recognition inside a car barreling down the highway at 70+ MPH might not be completely accurate. But in most cases, inside the S6's exceptionally quiet cabin (even when traveling way beyond any U.S. speed limit), its recognition was just good enough to get the job done.

If you want to manually enter data, you don't use a touchscreen — Audi has a clever idea: a touchpad situated a lot closer to where your right hand normally rests. You can enter addresses using its accurate handwriting recognition capability. As you enter each number or character, you get voice feedback confirming what you just entered. This is an excellent way to enter an address on a GPS system, not requiring you to take your eyes off the road at all. And then there's the Google Earth maps, overlaying the usual street maps, giving you a realistic look at the world you're navigating. Neat.

Besides those nifty photorealistic maps, Audi's Internet-connected navigation system, launched in 2011, works like most do, with the added benefit of displaying turn-by-turn directions in the excellent heads-up display that appears to hover right over the hood. But its most delightful aspect is the way a picture from Google Street View shows up on the navigation screen as you get close to your destination. It's a terrific idea, showing you precisely what your destination looks like — making it much easier to spot.

The Audi S6 technology is easing its way toward the self-driving car. It's equipped with enough cameras to thrill an old TV director like me — there are at least a half-dozen of them mounted in strategic places around the car. That makes it so the car is almost sentient, acting like it's acutely aware of its surroundings. When you're backing up, you see a conventional backup camera view, and also on the screen you see an overhead view of your car. It's magical. Somehow the S6 combines the images from all those cameras, and computes it into a "God" view. If that's not enough, if you're about to run into something, you hear warning sounds within the car, coming from the direction of the danger.

Those cameras, accompanied by ultrasonic and radar systems, give you other potentially life-saving benefits, such as a lane-change assistant that makes lights flash on either side-view mirror to let you know if you're about to merge into a car hiding in your blind spot. There's also Active Lane Assist that steers you back into your lane if you should stray, while giving you haptic feedback with a slight buzz in the steering wheel. But it's smart enough to not engage if you're traveling slower than 40 miles per hour, or if your turn signal is on.

There's even an infrared camera that measures a heat signature, showing you a pedestrian or animal in the road up to 1000 feet away.

My favorite magic trick, made possible by this array of detection equipment, is Adaptive Cruise Control, the perfect road-trip companion.

My favorite magic trick, made possible by this array of detection equipment, is Adaptive Cruise Control, the perfect road-trip companion. It so accurately keeps the same distance behind cars in front of you, you'd think there was a ghost in the machine. Its spookiest feature is the way it can follow a car, say, into a tollbooth or in stop-and-go traffic, completely braking until the car stops. It practically mocks the car in front of you. Somebody pinch me, I must be dreaming.

Like an angel on your shoulder, the car tries to protect you, too. Its Braking Guard can actually stop the car if there's a collision about to happen, which I'm glad I didn't have the occasion to directly test. It's also smart enough to leave things alone if it senses you accelerating or swerving to avoid an accident.

My only concern when I was testing all this futuristic tech was that I would just sit back and let the car do everything, which Audi repeatedly cautions against in its owner's manual. Someday in the not-too-distant future, Audi won't have to publish those admonitions. Meanwhile, the S6 is getting ever so much closer to a self-driving car, and I was delighted by it.

Speaking of delights, the car is intricately configurable, letting you adjust its performance from comfort mode to dynamic mode which takes advantage of its extreme performance characteristics. You can configure the steering, making it more responsive for tight cornering, or looser for highway driving. You can do the same for the shock absorbers, giving it that cushy feeling of grandpa's Cadillac, or making it feel like a tightly tuned race car.

You can even adjust the sound of the engine, from an IndyCar roar to a civilized purr. But if you suddenly feel frisky, you can override all those ministrations, because when you floor the accelerator, everything defaults to the sportiest dynamic mode. For my testing, I tried all the modes, but kept it in dynamic mode most the time, so I could enjoy the astonishing acceleration and handling of this world-class sedan that felt and sounded like a Formula One racer. My only complaint was in dynamic mode, the car seemed to want to downshift when slowing down, making a smooth slowdown to a traffic light a challenge.

The positive aspect of dynamic mode is the way the automatic transmission lets the engine rev higher, making acceleration even more profound. And if you're not happy with any of the car's computerized shifting, you can take over yourself with a pair of paddles on the steering wheel, giving you total manual control of the shifts, letting you rev it up to near maximum so you can take advantage of the S6's tremendous torque.

While you're enjoying that neck-snapping acceleration, you can listen to a soundtrack to match.

While you're enjoying that neck-snapping acceleration, you can listen to a soundtrack to match. Our test car was equipped with the most monstrous car audio system I've ever heard anywhere. The 1,300-Watt Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System, a $5,900 option, has 15 speakers, allowing you to listen to Sirius satellite radio, HD/FM/AM radio, your smartphone audio or a CD at the highest possible quality. Its silky smooth high frequencies, convincing midrange and neighbor-annoying bass were lifelike to the point of absurdity. I was astonished by the quality of this system, rivaling the listening rooms of the most sophisticated audiophiles. This was the loudest, tightest and most impressive audio system I've ever heard, anywhere.

I rarely like to write the overused word "awesome," but this is an appropriate time to use that word. The Audi S6 is jaw-droppingly awe-inspiring, pushing me way back in its plush seat with its world-class acceleration, helping me out with the power of Google and the Internet, giving me a peek at what self-driving cars will someday be able to do, and giving me a tour of what most cars will have as standard equipment five years from now. If there's a better car in this world, I haven't driven it yet.

BMW showcases its xDrive technology

2013-06-16T23:59:00.001-07:00

BMW India recently showcased its intelligent all-wheel drive technology (xDrive) by way of putting their SUV’s, the X3, X5 and X6 through a special course created at The Pavilion, DLF Emporio Mall, Vasant Kunj - New Delhi.

Providing customers a one off experience to feel their products, these SUVs were put through a course comprising of ramps and obstacles such as articulation humps & incline. Individuals were also given the opportunity to get behind the wheel and see for themselves the actual potential of X3, X5 and X6 under expert guidance of International BMW trainers.

“The BMW xDrive is one of the most advanced examples of a four-wheel drive systems in use today’s world. With the BMW xDrive Tour across India, BMW India is happy to give customers an opportunity to experience the exhilarating superiority of the BMW X range of SAVs in a challenging and exciting environment”, commented Philipp von Sahr, President BMW India.

Like Philipp von Sahr said, New Delhi was just the starting point as the BMW xDrive Tour is going to make an appearance in other metropolitan cities as well giving customers hands on experience of the X range.

Kochi emerges India's strongest market for BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Jaguar Land Rover

2013-06-16T23:58:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI: We should have guessed it more than a month ago when a YouTube video of a 9-year-old boy driving his father's Ferrari in Kerala caught international attention and led to his father's arrest: the tiny southern state has developed a strong fascination for fast cars.

Kochi has beaten all the metros and other cities to emerge as India's strongest growing market for the likes of BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Jaguar Land Rover, thanks to rising value of spices and rubber, ever-increasing inflows from non-resident Keralites and the state's newfound urge to splurge on luxury.

Hands-free texting in cars distracting for drivers: Study

2013-06-16T23:57:00.003-07:00

WASHINGTON: Using voice commands to send text messages and emails from behind the wheel, which is marketed as a safer alternative for drivers, actually is more distracting and dangerous than simply talking on a phone, a study by travel organization Automobile Association of America found.

Automakers have been trying to excite new-car buyers, especially younger ones, with dashboard infotainment systems that let drivers use voice commands do things like turning on windshield wipers, posting Facebook messages or ordering pizza. The pitch has been that hands-free devices are safer because they enable drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.

Ford Boosts Sales of Pricier Cars With Sync, MyFordTouch

2013-06-16T23:56:00.001-07:00

Vehicles with the Sync or MyFord Touch systems climbed to 79 percent of Ford’s 2013 car and truck sales, from 68 percent for year-earlier models, the company said today in a statement. Ford typically charges $1,000 for MyFord Touch and $295 for Sync on models that don’t offer them as standard features.

Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally has pushed Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford to make unique technology one of the pillars that underpin new models. The strategy, while boosting profit margins, has hurt the automaker in quality surveys by firms such as J.D. Power & Associates because audio, entertainment and navigation features tend to draw more complaints from buyers.

Ford plans to offer a downloadable upgrade to its Sync and MyFord Touch systems in the coming months, according to today’s statement. The systems contributed to Ford’s drop in rankings of J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study for a second year in 2012. The Ford brand fell to 27th, from fifth two years earlier, and its Lincoln luxury marque remained below-average at 18th.

Results of this year’s study are scheduled for release on June 19. Automakers have sought to improve their technology offerings after complaints about them increased 45 percent since 2006, while other categories improved 24 percent on average, J.D. Power said last year.

Hyundai Veloster: Turbo hatch arrives just in time

2012-08-05T23:05:00.003-07:00

Hyundai Veloster: Turbo hatch arrives just in timeVeloster gains a turbo boost to help it compete against Toyota's GT 86

Less than a month before Toyota introduces its GT 86 sports coupe, Hyundai New Zealand is releasing a rival - a turbo version of the Veloster.

Hyundai's hatch-coupe will be priced from $49,990 for the six-speed manual. A six-speed auto version will also be available.

The 1.6-litre engine will benefit from turbo and the Veloster's power output leaps nearly 50 per cent to 150kW. Torque increases 60 per cent to 262Nm.

To cope with the extra performance, the SR Turbo gets ventilated front disc brakes that are 20mm bigger than those on the non-turbo models, recalibrated suspension, a quicker steering rack (2.78 turns lock to lock) and revised calibration for the motor-driven power steering.

It is distinguished from less-powerful Velosters by a more aggressive grille, round front fog lamps, 18-inch alloy wheels with chrome inserts, side skirts, a rear diffuser, rear spoiler and twin circular exhaust outlets.Standard equipment includes a panoramic glass sunroof and sports seats upholstered in a mix of leather and leatherette.

The Veloster has been the top-selling sportscar in Australia since it went on sale in February - although its lead will certainly be chopped back with the arrival of the GT 86.

Volvo's heroic warhorse

2012-08-05T22:51:00.002-07:00

Volvo's heroic warhorse

Neil Lyndon applauds the Volvo XC90, a good-value, luxury 4x4 that is also an excellent tow car.Before the internet, filling in a tax return was a riot of fun compared with the browbeating effort of finding the right match between a car and caravan.

But now, dozens of websites can do that job in a trice. You enter the details of your car and the websites list the caravans that it would be capable of towing. Or you enter the name of your caravan and up pops a selection of the cars that would be right for that model.

When, therefore, I had the offer of a family-size Hymer 485 Sporting caravan for a holiday in Central Europe, I tapped its name into these matchmaker sites and they all agreed that the Volvo XC90 would be “perfect” to tow it.

Volvo has announced some changes to the XC90 and, not having driven one since it was introduced nearly 10 years ago, I was eager to try it again.

So it was that I embarked in a new XC90 that took me from Scotland, where I live, on a 2,300-mile round trip across Holland, Germany and the Czech Republic, then home to Britain. In both directions, I nestled gratefully and comfortably in the billowy bosom of DFDS Seaways across the North Sea. I picked up and returned the caravan to Hymer’s factory in Bad Waldsee, but my family took the easy approach and flew both ways.The twin purposes of this trip were to visit distant Czech members of my family and to introduce our two young daughters to Germany, in the fond hope that they will eventually come to understand that country’s history, grasp its importance and speak its language.

To that high-minded end, we spent time in the ancient university town of Freiburg and in Munich, which may be the most civilised city in Europe. To leaven the dry dust of Dad’s lecture tour, we also took the children to Europa-Park (Germany’s biggest theme park) and for a short stay at the new Legoland, near Günzburg.

A good car and caravan were perfect for this roundabout trek. Hymer caravans are among the more expensive, but a minimalist and resolutely functional approach to interior design makes them look and feel more like an Ikea home than a show house on a Wimpey estate, which is the invariable approach of British caravan makers.

No chintzy curtains or moquette upholstery here, although the eyeball-searing white of the 485’s exterior proved, yet again, that my campaign to see caravans painted in more earth-loving colours has so far succeeded by zero per cent.

Volvo’s XC90 remains a heroic warhorse. Along with Toyota’s Land Cruiser, it is the big, luxury 4x4 for customers who don’t fancy themselves as the Duke of Edinburgh and don’t fancy paying a duke’s ransom for a Range Rover. The £44,500-plus price of the D5 SE Lux version I borrowed might be tens of thousands less than an equivalent Range Rover or Discovery.

Long in the tooth now – with an entirely new model expected soon – the XC90 recently got a cosmetic makeover to gussy-up its frumpy body. Body-coloured bumpers, LED daytime-running lights, metallic mouldings for the wing mirrors, dabs of faux metal around the cabin and white lighting for the instrument display are all standard tools in designers’ boxes when they are tasked with wringing a few more sales out of a model that is coming to the end of the line.

That turbocharged, all-aluminium, five-cylinder diesel engine of Volvo’s deserves to continue for many more years though. While dragging the Hymer around Europe, it was averaging more than 20mpg. When that burden had been cast off, it was often propelling the XC90 at a relaxing 120mph or more on unrestricted stretches of Germany’s autobahns.

Nobody who valued the stability of their stomach would want to throw this big lump of a 4x4 into a corner, but for covering 300 miles in a single morning, few cars are better.

Review: Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Sport

2012-08-05T22:43:00.001-07:00

Review: Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Sport

In just one generation, the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has gone from dull to delightful. It has a sporty and radical design based on an all-new front-wheel-drive architecture, one which the five-door hatchback will eventually share with other body styles such as a coupe and a crossover. The new A-Class has a lower centre of gravity, thanks to Merc's decision to ditch the previous sandwich floor construction. The car is also bigger at 4,355 mm in overall length with a wheelbase of 2,699 mm but with a height of just 1,433 mm.

Its interior is equally funky. The groundbreaking design has a trio of centre air vents punched into the smooth one-piece dashboard fascia. The centre console is shaped as a module below them, while the free-standing colour screen for the Comand audio and navigation system is above.

The brand with the three-pointed star says that all trim elements have been electroplated for genuine metal surfaces that are cool to the touch.

Under the bonnet, the petrol engines driving the front wheels through a new seven-speed 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission are available with three output levels - the A180 with a 122 hp 1.6-litre turbocharged engine; the A200 which is also a 1.6 but producing 156 hp; and the A250 with a 2.0-litre turbo and 211 hp.

This new generation of four-cylinder engines already meets the stricter Euro 6 emission standard before it comes into force.

One of its innovations is Camtronic, featuring early intake closure and variable intake valve lift - the first for a direct-injection engine with forced induction.

So when the engine is under partial load, the amount of fresh air is limited to reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent.

The A-Class can be ordered in a variety of trim levels, with the highest being AMG Sport. AMG is the tuning division of Mercedes-Benz and the A250 AMG Sport comes with several high-performance modifications.

The most obvious are the diamond grille, aggressive aerodynamic kit and 18-inch alloy wheels. In the cabin, there are red accents and white dials for the meters. But beyond the cosmetic differences, the AMG Sport variant gets a 15 mm lowered sports suspension and Direct-Steer variable steering system.

AMG input has also resulted in a dedicated front axle. The wheel carriers and linkage points have been modified to increase understeering behaviour for lower lateral acceleration situations, thus boosting straight-ahead confidence at high speeds. As for the rear axle, it gets shorter links for higher lateral acceleration.

Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Sport

Engine: 1,991cc turbocharged
Transmission: 7-speed 7G-DCT dual clutch
Max Power: 350 Nm @ 1,200-4,000 rpm
Max Torque: 680 Nm @ 1,500-5,750 rpm
0-100kmh: 6.6 secs
Top speed: 240 kmh
CO2 emissions: 143 g/km
Distributor: Cycle & Carriage 6866-1888

What this does is reduce stability to encourage sportier behaviour at medium speeds of 100 to 120 kmh. On the race track, the Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Sport's power allows it to enter a fast curve enthusiastically. In keeping with the Mercedes philosophy, the suspension setting is still relatively comfortable.

As a result, there is noticeable body roll but the A250 still manages to inspire confidence with its reassuringly precise steering. Manual gear changes are quick and crisp, with the software for the 7G-DCT gearbox coming from the SLS AMG sports car.

With the A250 AMG Sport, Mercedes-Benz has managed to overhaul its image in one fell swoop. And as if that's not enough, look out for the A45 AMG with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine driving all four wheels in the first quarter of 2013.

Mercedes Benz launches new car in Kochi

2012-08-05T22:38:00.002-07:00

Mercedes Benz launches new car in Kochi

KOCHI, AUG. 5:

Rajasree Motors Pvt Ltd, the exclusive dealer of Mercedes-Benz in Kerala, has launched the new Mercedes Benz B-Class 180 in Kochi. The new car was jointly unveiled for the Kerala market by cine actors Rima Kallingal and Remya Nambisan.

Elaborating the features, Sivakumar, Managing Director, Rajasree Motors said with a very strong customer base in Kerala, the company thought it’s only appropriate to move closer to our customers by launching young and trendier models. It is a booming market and we intend to serve our customers better in every way, he added.

Besides the outlets in Kochi and Kozhikode, he said the company is coming up with a 3S facility at Kozhikode on the Kannur road. The showroom and service centre in Thiruvananthapuram will be further expanded.

MERCEDES S class offroad(by UPTV)

2012-08-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL V8

2012-08-05T10:57:00.000-07:00

Audi A6 3.0 BiTDI Tuned by MTM

2012-08-05T07:19:00.002-07:00

Audi A6 3.0 BiTDI Tuned by MTM

The brand new 3-liter, twin-turbo diesel V6 from Audi is an engine that deserves to be taken very seriously. This unit is making headlines under the bonnets of various models. And why wouldn’t, when we’re talking about a 313 ponies, something which only petrol engines were capable of achieving.

Now, the A6 Avant powered by this mighty diesel has been targeted by German tuner MTM, who have boosted it in stages. The first stage costs €1,700 and brings the output to 365 PS and 560 lb-ft (760 Nm) of torque. But pay the full €1,800 and you can have your V6 BiTDI making 381 PS and 575 lb-ft (780 Nm).

Other available upgrades include a brake upgrade kit as well as MTM’s custom wheels sized from 18 to 20 inches.

"One MTM achievement principle is that the cars should be strong in accession and beautiful in appearance and this explains why there is such a variety of offers on bimoto rims in every size," MTM says. For nearly €1730, you can have 18-inch wheels, and for €5230 you can have 20-inch ones that suit the A6 3.0 BiTDI well

Jaguar Land Rover to launch a number of fuel-efficient sports cars in next 2 years: Ratan Tata

2012-08-05T06:49:00.000-07:00

Jaguar Land Rover to launch a number of fuel-efficient sports cars in next 2 years: Ratan Tata

NEW DELHI: Tatas-owned British subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover would launch a number of fuel-efficient sports cars in the next two years, group Chairman Ratan Tata has said.

In Tata Motors' Annual Report for 2011-12, Tata said Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) was developing higher-powered and more fuel-efficient engines to attract more customers.

"The company has undertaken its most ambitious product development programme in its history and will be launching several new sports sedans and sports cars in the next two years in order to provide dealers with a more competitive and wider product range," he added.

Face-lifts and new models of the Range Rover as well as a competitively-priced new line of "rugged, lifestyle vehicles under the Land Rover brand are also scheduled to be launched," Tata said.

He, however, did not share details such as how many new models will hit the roads or how many will be under each of the two brands - Jaguar and Land Rover.

JLR had earlier announced to roll out 40 new products in the next 4-5 years.

Talking about JLR's performance, Tata said: "Jaguar Land Rover's operations have shown impressive growth in sales and profitability. Sales have increased by 37 per cent and 29 per cent respectively in value and volume over the previous year."

The company is currently considering to set up a new manufacturing facilities in China to meet market demand for the two luxury brands in the region, he added.

For 2011-12 fiscal, JLR's profit after tax stood at 1,481 million pounds (over Rs 12,900 crore) against 1,036 million pounds (over Rs 9,020 crore) in FY'11, up 42.95 per cent.

Its revenue went up by 36.89 per cent to 13,512 million pounds (over Rs 1,17,800 crore) from 9,871 million pounds (over Rs 86,020 crore) in the previous fiscal.

Earlier in March this year, JLR had said it would invest 3.5 billion yuan (over Rs 2,800 crore then) in its recently-announced joint venture with Chery Automobile in China to commence local assembly there.

The company is currently investing 355 million pounds in an engine plant in the UK. It also planning to set up an engine manufacturing facility in India.

In April 2011, JLR had said it would invest 1.5 billion pounds every year for the next five years, mainly on product development as it looks to catch up with global luxury car makers and position itself as a top premium brand.

Wheels of fortune: Land Rover's Evoque has helped to boost a once-ailing brand

2012-08-05T06:43:00.001-07:00

Wheels of fortune: Land Rover's Evoque has helped to boost a once-ailing brand

Four years ago it would have been hard to imagine that a money-losing Birmingham manufacturer that had endured five owners in 40 years (and was about to have its sixth) could become in a short period of time a great success story – turning a £1.5bn profit for its group, mentioned in the same breath as Apple for its design, and its Coventry-born designer turned into a "How To Spend It" centrefold.

Yet that is precisely what has happened to Land Rover after Indian giant Tata bought it (and Jaguar) from a cash-strapped Ford in 2008, and to its design director, Gerry McGovern, who now sits on the Jaguar Land Rover board.

So successful has it been that "every- one in the company wants to be a designer now," laughs McGovern, who "by placing design at the heart of everything we do" seems to have with just one model transformed Land Rover.

While the "small, light, feminine and urban looks" of the Range Rover Evoque, launched in June 2011, may not be to everyone's taste, they are certainly appreciated by the 80,000 people who have bought it (75 per cent of whom are outside the UK) as well as the judges who have garlanded it with more than eight major awards. Its success also no doubt contributed to last week's announcement that JRL is creating over 1,000 new jobs at its West Midlands plant.

More importantly for the future of the company, says McGovern, with "80 per cent of people who bought an Evoque never having bought a Land Rover before, it shows that we can produce new designs that can mean new things to new people" – whether in London, Beijing or Delhi. He admits, though, that "a few of our more traditional customers want to gun me down" – a sentiment doubtless encouraged by the Posh Spice Evoque Special Edition launched at Beijing's Auto China motor show in April this year.

Now his new cultural revolution is about to face its toughest test: the launch of the rest of the next generation of Land Rovers, from the flagship next-generation Range Rover in the autumn to his take on the 4x4 that started it all in 1948, the Defender, in 2014–15. "It is massive challenge but no one else is quite like Land Rover, so we will have a killer combination if we can continue to reconcile the production of the best off-roaders in the world with designs that are desirable and resonant with people today."

This isn't the first challenge that he has had to confront in his fight to transform a company world famous for "engineering-led design to one where design leads the engineering". For McGovern nothing illustrates this better than his battle to turn the Evoque LRX prototype into the vehicle that made it into the showrooms.

"We showed the LRX concept for the first time at Detroit and it really hit the spot, and then when we brought it back to the development centre our engineers instantly started talking about the changes that they would have to make it to maintain its 4x4 capability."

And in June, Land Rover engineers won the Royal Academy of Engineering's McRobert Award (the top UK engineering award) for the innovative engineering of the Evoque. For McGovern, these were the fights that he had to win. "Land Rover had become a byword for functionality, where all that mattered was capability. So that our design bible was full of things that came to make a Land Rover a Land Rover, such as a short overhang or high sill" – elements that were originally important for its 4x4 off-road capability. "And while I respect all that heritage, and understand the need to maintain the integrity of the brand in the modern world, we can't be trapped by it, as we need to create relevant, resonant products."

Key to this culture shift was getting "more joined-up thinking" by engineering, manufacturing and design based on "mutual respect for each other's part of the business" as well as "a common desire among them all to create desirable products that sell".

McGovern does admit that he has been helped by the market for SUVs fragmenting, a wider culture shift that has seen "design come of age", and an owner – Mr Tata – "who is keen to be involved in a supportive way".

David Leggett, director of automotive services at Aroq (publisher of motor industry bible just-auto.com), is sceptical of corporate-speak such as "culture of innovation", but he accepts that the Evoque has given the company a major boost. "They have managed to create the perception that Land Rover is a fashionable and up-market brand and have hit a demographic that has a lot of money and is attracted by this," says Leggett – even if they have been helped by market geography that has left them with few direct competitors.

"Ultimately, it was a canny buy for Tata as Ford had already done much of the hard work when they where in charge and so they have been able to turn what was a loss-making company into the main driver for growth in Jaguar Land Rover." And where Ford had run out of money, "Tata have funded a whole new product programme and become a very effective steward of the company, leaving the management to manage".

David Bailey, a professor and motor industry specialist at Coventry University Business School, puts their success down more to "R&D [research and development] innovation" than to marketing, as they have started to reach out to such companies as Williams for access to Formula One technology.

Like Leggett, Professor Bailey feels that this transformation can be overstated as under Ford "Land Rover had already started to make an operating profit". Unlike Leggett, however, who feels that Tata-owned Land Rover could be seen as a "car manufacturer in Britain," he argues that as Land Rover (and Jaguar) are responsible for 80 per cent of the UK's motor industry R&D expenditure, "it is the closest thing that we have to a Great British car company".

For Professor Bailey, the challenge that Land Rover now faces is that it "needs to do a BMW", by doubling sales from 300,000 to 600,000 in 10 years to ensure that the company has a long-term future. That is going to depend on a lot of investment in new models that are "all their own work" as well as facing up to the challenge to develop more energy efficient cars.

McGovern claims that the plans are already far advanced for the programme of new cars that Land Rover is betting its future on. While he admits that the Range Rover has been more difficult to design than the Evoque "as no one wanted it changed, just made better," the new Range Rover Sport that follows has been easier as he feels he has "more permission to stretch it further"; and a lot of the decisions have already been made for the new Defender that, like the DC100 concept shown last year, is going to be "thoroughly modern and utterly relevant".

"The opportunity is great. We are selling 8,000 Defenders a year now. We could be selling 100,000." Yet however much he claims that the success of Land Rover is "never about one person, it's about having the right level of shared vision and passion," that's just a little too hard to believe.

LIVING 2 DRIVE: Audi launches powerful A8 L in India

2012-08-05T04:56:00.001-07:00

LIVING 2 DRIVE: Audi launches powerful A8 L in India: Audi launches powerful A8 L in India Audi A8 L launched i India with a powerful and sporty 4.2-litre TDI engine. The new luxury car ...

Audi launches powerful A8 L in India

2012-08-05T04:50:00.003-07:00

Audi launches powerful A8 L in India

Audi A8 L launched i India with a powerful and sporty 4.2-litre TDI engine. The new luxury car from Audi has now sets new standards for luxury, with exceptional dynamics and efficiency. The car was launched by Mr. unveiled by Mr. Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India. On the occasion, Bollywood superstar Mr. Abhishek Bachchan took delivery of his customized Audi A8 L 4.2 TDI. The car will be available at all showrooms across India. The powerful car now generates 350 HP of power and delivers 800 Nm of torque.

Audi A8 L Mumbai Launch

Audi A8 L is very true to Audi brand philosophy of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’, the Audi A8 L 4.2 TDI epitomizes a new level of sporty performance combined with technical intelligence and engineering art. The car is offered with a powerful diesel engine and symbolized true luxe mobility with its opulence, sophistication and aspirational value.

The Audi A8 L is offered with 4.2 TDI powerful engine and the A8 L family comprising of a V6 3.0 TDI q, V8 4.2 FSI q, and a W12 6.3 L q. The length and wheelbase have both been stretched by 13 centimeters versus the standard normal version wheelbase to measure 5.27 meters, offering increased comfort to rear seat passengers. It is available with an optional relaxation seat with power footrest. A number of seating options are available, including the massage function and rear seat entertainment.

The 4.2 TDI is a V8 engine. It generates power of 258 kW (350 hp) and delivers 800 Nm of torque between 1750-2750 rpm, making it the sportiest diesel saloon in the luxury class. The fuel consumption and CO2 emissions were cut on average by 15%. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. Audi A8 L is priced Rs 10075000 onwards (Ex-Showroom, Maharashtra).

Audi A8 L Features:

Body

Lightweight and yet ultra-strong aluminum body with ASF design
13 centimeters longer than the standard version, measures 5.27 meters
Timelessly elegant and harmonious lines, optional LED headlights
Optional panoramic sunroof comprising two glass elements

Interior and controls

Power-adjustable individual rear seats, with the luxurious rear executive seat package available as an option
Craftsman-level fit and finish, generous list of standard and optional equipment
Advanced MMI system including MMI touch with a pioneering character recognition, as standard

Assistance and safety systems

Night vision assistant with pedestrian marking – Optional
New Audi pre sense basic safety system for avoiding accidents and for minimizing their consequences

Infotainment systems

Bang & Olufsen Sound System- optional
Rear seat entertainment
Audi Music interface

Drivetrain

One gasoline engine: 4.2 FSI 273 kW (372 hp)
Two diesel engine: 3.0 TDI 184 kW (250 hp) and 4.2 TDI 258 kW (350 hp)
Newly developed, electronically controlled eight-speed tiptronic standard
quattro all-wheel drive standard

Chassis

Lightweight suspension, balanced axle load distribution
Audi drive select driving dynamic system including standard air suspension and adaptive damping

Toyota to launch new version Camry in India on Aug 24

2012-08-05T04:46:00.000-07:00

Toyota to launch new version Camry in India on Aug 24

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is all set to launch its new premium version luxury car 'Camry' in the country on August 24.

The model would be assembled at the company's Bangalore facility.

"We are going to launch Camry on the 24th of this month in New Delhi...," TKM Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh told PTI here.

Declining to give out details on the features of the new car, he said its components would be imported and assembled at the Bangalore plant.

"We have enough space there to produce the car," he said.

TKM, a joint venture between Japan's Toyota Motor Corp and the Kirloskar Group, had introduced Camry in India as a Completely Built Unit from Japan. Camry is one of the largest selling cars for Toyota globally.

The company currently offers its popular Multi-Utility Vehicle 'Innova', hatchback and sedan 'Etios Liva' and 'Etios', 'Corolla Altis' and Sports Utility Vehicle 'Fortuner'.

TKM has two manufacturing facilities in India with a total capacity of three lakh units.

The first plant manufactures Innova and Fortuner and the second plant Etios, Etios Liva and Corolla Altis.

Replying to a query on market remaining sluggish, Singh said Toyota did quite well in terms of sales.

"We are doing quite well in terms of sales. We are targeting to sell 1,70,000 units this year, compared to 1,31,000 units (last year)...," he said.

TKM has reported a seven% increase in sales at 14,574 units during July, 2012. It had sold 13,592 units in July last year.

On TKM's proposed engine plant in Bangalore, Singh said it would begin production this month.

The plant would cater to Toyota's hatchback Etios and Etios Liva, with a combined investment of Rs 500 crore.

In addition to engines, TKM is scheduled to start producing transmissions for 'Etios' and 'Etios Liva' in early 2013. Exports of the transmissions are also being planned, a company official said.

Singh was here to flag off their first ever 'Etios Motor Racing' at the Irungattukottai race track here.

"We want to generate awareness about F1 racing in India... We have shortlisted 25 drivers who are trained by us. These drivers will participate in next year Etios racing," he said.

TKM Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa said in a statement, "We are very happy that EMR is seen as an ideal grass-roots category for young drivers to learn and make their way up in the motorsport ladder".

Volkswagen Beetle Diesel tuned by ABT Sportsline

2012-08-05T04:41:00.001-07:00

Volkswagen Beetle Diesel tuned by ABT Sportsline ,

ABT Sportsline, the motor racing and auto tuning company based in Germany have turned their attention to the new Volkswagen Beetle giving it a number of power upgrades along with cosmetic changes. The tuners have given its engine various upgrades which enhances power from the new 2.0 TDI engine from 138 hp to 168 hp while torque is increased from 320 Nm to 370 Nm. This also contributes to better acceleration timing from 9.4 seconds to 8.8 seconds for 0-100 kmph.

Mechanical upgrades include lower suspension spring kit and double walled stainless steel rear silencers. In the front are headlight brows and front spoiler. Also seen are twin oval exhaust pipes, head and tail lamp covers and license plate insert.

Customers will be given an option between alloy wheels in 18" or 20" along with high performance tyres. The new 2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI is expected to hit company showrooms in August, prices are slated to begin from $23,295 onwards.

Porsche Panamera: White Storm Edition von Anderson

2012-08-05T04:37:00.002-07:00

Porsche Panamera: White Storm Edition von Anderson

Als Porsche 2009 seinen Panamera auf den Markt gebracht hat, ist der Autobauer durchaus ein Wagnis eingegangen – vier Türen und ein Frontmotor passten auf dem ersten Blick so gar nicht zum Zuffenhauser Sportwagenhersteller. Der Panamera schlug allerdings voll ein und auch immer mehr Tuner machen sich an der Oberklasse zu schaffen. Mit der White Storm Edition des Veredlers Anderson auf Basis des Porsche Panamera GTS gesellt sich nun ein besonders spektakuläres Modell hinzu.

Mittels einer Softwareoptimierung und einer per Fernbedienung regelbaren Klappenabgasanlage kitzelt Anderson insgesamt 508 PS aus dem Wagen heraus. Allein die Anlage verschafft dem Porsche 17 zusätzliche Pferdestärken.

Optisch hat die White Storm Edition von Anderson ein ansehnliches Bodykit vorzuweisen, das unter anderem eine Frontschürze, eine Sportmotorhaube mit dezenten, seitlichen Lufteinlässen, Seitenschweller und eine Heckschürze umfasst. Die an der Front mit markanten Umrandungen ausgestatteten Scheinwerfer lassen den Panamera aggressiver aussehen. Die Heckleuchten und Scheiben tönt Anderson. Außerdem legt der Tuner den Porsche um 30 Millimeter tiefer.

Nicht zuletzt verpasst der Tuner seiner White Storm Edition eine seidenmatt-weiße Komplettlackierung. Damit soll der modifizierte Sportwagen wohl glatt als Fahrzeug der Sturmtruppen aus “Star Wars” durchgehen – die Namensgebung lässt Derartiges zumindest stark vermuten.

Damit nicht genug, kommen glänzend schwarze Felgen im Format 10×22 Zoll mit einer 265/30-22er Bereifung beziehungsweise in 11×20 Zoll mit 295/25-22er Pneus zum Einsatz. Wie Anderson verlauten lässt, sollen die schicken Felgen sogar im Dunkeln leuchten. Apropos Leuchten: Am Unterboden sind vier LED-Strahler angebracht!

Auch im Innenraum macht sich Anderson zu schaffen und spendiert jede Menge Leder und Alcantara mit vornehmen weißen Rautennähten. Ein besonderes Interieur-Paket in Weiß-Carbon umfasst des Weiteren veredelte Zier- und Einstiegsleisten, ein ergonomisch modelliertes Sportlenkrad sowie die Mittelkonsole. Ein besonderes Highlight ist sicherlich auch die weiße Fußraumbeleuchtung mit Dimmfunktion. Damit die Titelmusik von “Star Wars” in bester Qualität zu hören ist, installiert Anderson ein High-End Soundsystem mit Verstärker und Subwoofer.

MTM Power Boosts the Audi A6 3.0 BiTDI

2012-08-05T04:25:00.001-07:00

MTM Power Boosts the Audi A6 3.0 BiTDI

The German tuners are back with another project based on the twin-turbo diesel A6.

MTM has been busy preparing aftermarket programs for the KTM X-Bow and the McLaren MP4-12C, however it was only a matter of time until the Bavarians got back to what they do best - creating powerful and stylish Audis. Their latest project is based on the 3.0-liter biturbo diesel-powered Audi A6. Two power levels are being offered by MTM for the 3.0 BiTDI, the first featuring an ECU revamp and stoking the engine's output up from 309 horsepower and 480lb-ft of torque to 365 and 560, respectively.

The first stage prices at €1,700 and for an additional €100, MTM says a further reprogramming of the ECU tweaks output up to 381hp and 575lb-ft.MTM has also made available two sets of aftermarket brakes to handle all of that added power. Smaller 380x34mm brake discs with 8-piston calipers will set you back €4,900 while bigger 405x26mm discs cost €6,400 and require wheels of at least 20-inches. The Germans offer alloys from 18- to 20-inches, each available for an additional fee. For those Audi owners who crave even more customization, MTM is offering an F-Cantronic ECU for the sporty hatch's air suspension system.

The system commands a further €1,740 and allows the front-end to be lowered by as much as 25mm and 20mm at the back.Check out the MTM power boost for the torque-happy Audi A6 3.0 BiTDI in the photos below.