nissan evalia

Of late, we have seen a sudden proliferation of 'segment-breakers' in the Utility Vehicle category. As car buyers have become more demanding and discerning about where they spend their money, the level of choice and abilities of vehicles have improved. Consequently, Maruti's LUV Ertiga and Renault's Compact SUV Duster are currently taking the market by storm. It's Nissan's turn now; they're all set to launch what the Japanese call the 'Urban Class Utility Vehicle'. Has Nissan got everything right with the Evalia to have a winner on their hands? Let's find out.On the face of it, the Nissan Evalia is a conventional people mover. Though upright and boxy in design, the Evalia has an exquisite and aerodynamic frontal design. The unique grille with chrome garnish flows seamlessly into the slimline wraparound headlights and the Evalia looks great in the front three quarter view. However, the side and rear profiles are van-like and less aesthetically pleasing. 

Rexton

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M Ltd.), India’s leading SUV manufacturer launched its highly anticipated high–end SUV SsangYong Rexton in India. The Rexton SUV is priced at Rs 17.67 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) for manual transmission (RX5 version) and Rs 19.67 lakh for automatic transmission (RX7) and is designed and developed by SsangYong in Korea, the sports utility vehicle (SUV) is the third generation Rexton.

Hyundai Elantra

Remember Elantra? It's not time yet to forget a car that was pleasing to the taste of many, but failed to sell in great numbers and disappeared in 2006. A six-year long void is now filled with the all-new Elantra that marks the continuing evolution of Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture design language.One needs to work at Hyundai to differentiate the Elantra from its 'fluidic siblings' at the first glance. Even though the hexagonal grille presents a more sinister smile than the Verna, the fog lamps create a flavorless impression. Again, the head lamps are so similar to Verna's, but they extend further into the fenders. In profile, the Elantra too gets that well-defined line stretching from the front door to the tail light.

Hyundai Sonata

Completely redesigned for 2012, the new Sonata is more refined, better equipped and more freshly styled than the model it replaces.

From a design standpoint, Hyundai has rolled in a healthy dose of its "fluidic sculpture" design, which makes it an inflated Verna in profile. However, the massive chrome grill flanking the cat’s-eye HID headlamps, complemented with two aggressive lines running on the bonnet, puts the Sonata head and shoulders above the contenders. The significantly redesigned tail lamps give the vehicle a splash of class. The exterior, in short, is exhilarating and looks absolutely classy. Thumbs up!

The sophisticated fluidic design character is reflected on the two-tone beige-and-black interior, too. This, combined with Hyundai’s proficiency in interior packaging, has created an interior ambience that delivers class-leading comfort, functionality and practicality.

Hyundai i20

Pictures of the face-lifted Hyundai i20 have surfaced on the web. Expected to break cover at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, the new model features refreshed styling, enhanced equipment and lower CO2 emissions.

The pictures suggest introduction of the company's 'fluidic sculpture' to the hatchback. Stylists at Hyundai have modernised the i20 with the company's signature hexagonal grille, new headlamp units, a more contemporary front and rear bumpers and freshly sculpted bonnet and fog lamps.

Although details on the interior are not revealed yet, the same design language should undoubtedly extend to the interior as well.

After the official unveiling at Geneva, the new i20 will soon make it to Indian shores.

Nissan Terrano

 Renault-Nissan  alliance has already brought us two great rebadged cars – Scala and Pulse. The third car born out of the partnership, the Nissan Terrano, is a rebadged Duster and this review will endeavor to find out how far the Terrano has departed from the Duster.Nissan has thrown in some stand-out styling cues into the Terrano that clearly differentiate it from the Duster. From the front, the Terrano can easily be identified by the signature Nissan grille that is reminiscent of the Pathfinder. It's certainly the most effective element of the Terrano’s look, because it translates well into a big SUV shape. The bold lines on the V-shaped bonnet that blends seamlessly into the grille make it unmistakably a Nissan. The angular headlamps and bumper are new as well

Honda CR-V

There’s good news and there’s bad news. The bad news is that there is no diesel and will not be for the foreseeable future.  The good news is, CR-V is now being assembled in India and prices have gone down by a whopping 2.7 lakh rupees. Well, that’s incentive enough to show some love for a petrol SUV, so let’s find out if the new price and features make it a good bargain; also how far the fourth generation CR-V has departed from the model it replaces.While the new CR-V’s structural design stays true to its roots, it flaunts a more sculpted body. Major changes are up front – the old-fashioned grille has made way for a more contemporary one. The three-bar grille flanked by swept-back HID headlamps lends the car a younger and distinct stance. Changes in profile are subtle, although the large ten-spoke alloy wheels and bold fender flares create a rugged presence.

Tata Vista D90

Indica has been an important car for Tata. Ever since its launch in 1998, the car has evolved into a capable and practical hatchback that always stayed on top of sales charts. Now in its latest Vista D90 avatar, Indica has shifted the goal posts to another pitch. Powered by a specially tuned Quadrajet diesel engine, the new Indica is a completely different animal that delivers 90PS of raw power. However, does it live up to the hype? I recently spent two days behind the wheel of the D90 to find that out.Tata has thrown in some new design elements that reflect the sportiness of the car. However, the new bumpers and an aerodynamic rear spoiler seen in the pictures are not part of the original D90, but a body kit that you may purchase from the dealership. What come as standard are just a contrasting roof and the D90 badge at the rear

Tata Cliffrider

1. The Tata Cliffrider is derived from the Tata       Crossover" Concept, which was originally unveiled at the last Geneva Auto Show. Sporting a silhouette like a high-slung sedan, the Tata Cliffrider is a dynamic package that combines lifestyle and sporty usage with the practical functionality of a pick-up truck.

Chevrolet Cruze

The Cruze is Chevrolet’s new compact sedan, replacing the Cobalt in the Chevrolet lineup. The Cruze aims to deliver a stylish design, roominess and upscale amenities while remaining fuel-efficient and inexpensive. Cruze is offered with either a a 1.8-liter Ecotec 4-cylinder engine or a 138-horsepower 1.4-liter Ecotec Turbo. Both engines are paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission and the Eco trim level is expected to achieve 40 mpg highway. The OnStar advanced communication system comes standard on the Chevrolet Cruze.

Suzuki A:Wind

Suzuki Motor Corporation announced A:Wind, the new A-segment hatchback concept at the 30th Thailand International Motor Expo 2013.The A:Wind is so named because it seeks to bring a fresh wind to the A-segment as a global compact car

BMW 1-series

BMW 1-series launched at Rs 20.90 lakh

BMW has launched the new 1-series compact luxury hatchback in India at a starting price of Rs 20.90 lakh for the base petrol variant. The 1-series  comes with two engine options, a 1.6-litre turbo petrol developing 136bhp and a 143bhp 2.0-litre turbo diesel. Both BMW 1-series variants come with a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Skoda Octavia

Skoda Octavia is a household name in India - not just because it marked the Volkswagen Group's entry into the country back in 2001, but for the fact that it was fast, solidly built, elegant-looking, affordable and most importantly, returned amazing fuel economy.
When the second generation arrived, Skoda killed the Octavia nameplate and rechristened it the Laura. Although Laura managed to sell in decent numbers, it failed to continue the revolution sparked by its predecessor. Now, the Czech carmaker is all set to reintroduce the Octavia into what could be a tougher challenge in a more competitive market.

Honda Jazz

 

Honda has stated in a press release that the new Jazz Hybrid is the most frugal hybrid car in Japan, returning a mileage of 36.4 km/l from its Sport Hybrid Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive (i-DCD). This is an improvement of 35% over the previous Jazz Hybrid. The hybrid Jazz uses the same aforementioned 1.5-litre engine mated to a 7-speed DCT offering three hybrid modes. It can run on EV mode alone till 40 km/hr but unfortunately, Honda will not launch the hybrid Jazz in India.
The third generation Honda Jazz will go on sale in Japan in September and is also known as the Honda Fit in many markets. The 2014 Honda Jazz is evidently longer and the increase in wheelbase further boosts interior room of the already spacious hatchback.
The exterior design of the new Jazz is influenced from bigger Hondas, namely the FCX Clarity, CR-V and to a certain extent even the NSX. The dashboard of the new Honda Jazz is certainly driver centric although we aren’t quite sure about the centre console.

Powering the Honda Jazz in India will be the same 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engine, which did duty on its predecessor. The new powertrain will of course be the frugal oil burner, which is already employed in the Amaze diesel. The 1.5-litre i-DTEC unit belts out a class leading 100 BHP of power with a respectable 200 Nm of torque. Both these engines help Honda keep the Jazz defined as a small car in India, resulting in excise duty benefits. The company has given the Honda Jazz better dynamics, improved interior room (the old Jazz was massively spacious already) and modern exteriors

Nissan Datsun GO

Nissan has re-launched the Datsun brand after 32 years in Gurgaon. Datsun will launch its first car early next year called the Datsun GO (codenamed K2). The Datsun GO will be priced under Rs. 4 lakhs in India and will be powered by a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder engine, paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The same engine does duty on the Nissan Micra Active, producing 68 PS and 104 Nm. However in the Datsun GO, the company might detune the engine in the interest of boosting fuel economy. The Datsun GO takes its name from the first Datsun (Dat GO) which was launched in 1914 in Japan. 

Volkswagen Cross Polo

Description Toggle

Volkswagen has launched of the new Cross Polo at Rs. 7.75 lakh, ex showroom, Delhi. The car will be available with a 1.2L TDI engine and a 5-speed manual gearbox. 

The New Cross Polo commands attention with its rugged new ‘Cross’ front and rear bumpers, black side cladding and wheel arches, silver painted mirrors and roof rails, 5-spoke alloys, ‘Livon’ titanium black upholstery and class-leading 1.2L TDI engine. 

Sales of the New Cross Polo will commence from August 23, 2013.

The Cross Polo is equipped with a 1.2-litre TDI engine with a maximum power output of 75 PS (55 kW) @ 4200rpm and a maximum torque of 180 Nm @ 2000 rpm with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Honda City

Honda has unveiled the all-new 4th Generation Honda City at a World Premiere event in India. The All New City measures 4440 mm in length (same as its predecessor), 1695 mm in width (same as outgoing model), 1495 mm in height (10 mm more than the outgoing model) and 2600 mm as the wheelbase (extended by an additional 50 mm over outgoing model).

The good news is that the All New City will be powered by the 1.5L 4-cylinder DOHC i-DTEC diesel engine. The Petrol variant of the City will be powered by an improved 1.5L 4-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC petrol engine designed to offer the best balance of engine performance and fuel economy.

The new City is loaded with features such as touch-screen AC controls, Bluetooth, push start button, rear AC vents, rear parking camera among many others. We’ll be testing the new City early next month, watch this space for a detailed review. 

Maruti Suzuki Stingray

Maruti Suzuki has launched the new Stingray in India, expanding its portfolio to meet aspirations of young India. The Stingray’s highlights include projector headlamps and reflector grille. Stingray is powered by the highly acclaimed 998cc three-cylinder K-series engine. The K-10 engine on Stingray delivers a power of 68PS @ 6200rpm and a high torque of 90Nm @ 3500 rpm. The car will return a fuel efficiency of 20.51 kmpl of petrol .

Grand i10

Hyundai Motor India Limited launched its new hatchback Grand i10 in India at Rs. 4.30-5.48 lakh for the four petrol variants and Rs. 5.24-6.41 lakh for the four diesel variants.The car has been touted as the buffer between the current i10 and the i20 — both in terms of price and specifications. But what makes the hatchback an Indian buyer’s delight? Its diesel variant.There are two engines to choose from in the GRAND i10 – an all-new 1.1 litre U2 diesel and 1.2 litre Kappa petrol. Both engines will be mated to a five speed manual gearbox and the 1.2 litre petrol will be available in Automatic as well. Hyundai offered me to drive the new U2 diesel for a few kilometres and by the three-cylinder standards, the engine is very refined. It is near-silent when idling and the overall NVH levels are well controlled.

Renault Duster

Unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Duster will make it to India soon. The new Duster gets a major facelift up front, which includes a new stylish grille, a new air intake and headlamps with daytime running lights. Although the side profile looks unchanged, 16-inch Dark Metal alloy wheels look good. The rear gets new tail-lamps and lots of chrome. 

Minor changes to interiors such as steering mounted controls, infotainment system, reshuffled buttons etc. are evident in the photographs. Although mechanically it remains the same, rumour has it that the 1.6-litre petrol engine will be replaced by a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine

Subaru BRZ.

Every car lover who is not dead or in a coma loves the Subaru BRZ. This is because it checks all the requisite lust-boxes, delivering a lithe chassis, taut styling, an affordable price, decent fuel economy, and a take rate on its snicky six-speed manual transmission that keeps hope alive that Americans (or, at least the smart ones) still love sticks.

Is it possible to enhance our affection for this vehicle? A turbo STI version wouldn’t hurt. But, in the absence of that (for now?) Subaru clobbered us today at the Tokyo show by delivering the delicious, yet clumsily-named Cross Sport Design Concept. What’s catalyzing this increased endearment? The CSDC is a shooting brake! And everyone knows that nothing gets automotive journalists more excited than a shooting brake. Except, perhaps a brown, diesel-powered shooting brake.Subaru is on its path to earning a record setting profit this year on an American sales volume that will crest 400,000 vehicles for the first time ever. We pray to Carrus, the jackal-headed god of automobiles, that they use some of that windfall to build this. Even if it’s just for us.

Honda’s S660

Ever since the departure of the Honda S2000 in 2009, fans of the Japanese automaker on these shores have waited in vain for Honda to reclaim the affordable sports-car mantle it once held dear. After a calculated retreat from such models toward hybrids, Honda has shown small signs of moving back to the future — from powering the Formula 1 cars of McLaren next year to the upcoming Acura NSX revival. And at next month's Tokyo Motor Show, it will reveal the car above, the S660 Concept. It's a peek at a car Honda will likely build in Japan next year, but it's specs make a U.S. visa challenging.

The roadster concept follows plans that Honda has laid out for a drop-top model, similar in vein to the EV-STER concept shown two years ago in Tokyo. That model was electric powered, but the S660 concept uses a tiny 660 cc, three-cylinder turbocharged gas engine that churns out all of 67 hp to the front wheels. While Honda hasn't released full specs, the S660 does apparently weigh less than 2,000 lbs., and the interior shots show off carbon-fiber accents and other touches aimed at saving weight.

A production car with those specs might offer some spirited handling, but would need a diminutive price — and a roof — to compete on these shores. The hint of its future may lie in Honda's description of the S660 as a "sports-type mini-vehicle," which suggests a model meant to stand out among Japanese Kei cars rather than carving the Tail of the Dragon. We should get more answers next month about whether Honda fans will need more patience still

Maserati Ghibli

First: It's pronounced “GEE-blee” with a hard "g," and according to several sources comes from an Arabic word for a hot, sand-bearing wind of the Sahara. Between 1967 and 1973, Maserati built a gorgeous Ghibli in both coupe and spider layouts, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and powered by naturally aspirated V-8s. Maserati's second stab at a Ghibli, a small bi-turbo V-6 coupe designed by Marcello Gandini and based on the Maserati Biturbo, rolled forth from 1992 through 1996, and rarely shares a sentence with "gorgeous."

Seventeen years later in Florence, Italy, under a humid Tuscan sun, I drove the 21st century Ghibli from Maserati. For the third generation, Maserati used the name on a sport sedan, one intended to sell in far higher volumes than any previous car from the hallowed Modena company.

Maserati outfits its sexy sedan with one of four engine choices: a top-trim 404-hp, 3.0-liter bi-turbo V-6 in the Ghibli S rear-driver and all-wheel S Q4, a 326-hp tune of the same engine for the rear-drive-only base Ghibli. Europe gets a V-6 turbo diesel in one of two flavors; no V-8 engine will ever see duty in the Ghibli from the factory.

Speaking of factories: That V-6 drew from Chrysler's design for the Pentastar V-6, but has been massaged by Maserati and comes together in the clean engine room of Ferrari's famed Maranello shop. The mill pushes the Ghibli to a top speed of 176 mph, with 60 mph arriving in 4.6 seconds; fuel economy stands at 15 mpg city/25 mpg highway, top-shelf gas only.

For the United States and Canada, the 404-hp S Q4 will arrive in customer driveways at an estimated $75,000 base price, with a rear-drive Ghibli pumped up to 345 hp just for our market at a tick under $66,000. The Ghibli rides on a version of the Quattroporte chassis that's been shortened by 11.5 inches to 195.7 inches long — landing squarely between the BMW 5 Series and 6 Series Gran Coupe, and a few whispers within an Audi A7 Sportback.

Audi RS7

Audi’s S-cars are great. They’re fast, they handle well, they’ve got exquisite interiors. But any given Audi S is a subdued creature compared to the full-bore speed monsters from the likes ofBMW’s M division, Mercedes-Benz’s AMG or Cadillac’s V-Series. For the really over-the-top Audis, you now need to look at the RS models. The latest of which is the 2014 Audi RS7, which mates the A7’s sleek shape with a powerplant that would adequately propel a small naval attack ship. Audi debuted the RS7 in Las Vegas, or more accurately, the desolate roads far, far, outside of Vegas. This is a car that needs room to roam.

For $105,795—about $25,000 or so beyond the price of an S7—you get a seriously overhauled car. Horsepower leaps from 420 to 560 and the 0-60 time drops to 3.7 seconds, from a leisurely 4.5. And while the S7 and RS7 both use Audi’s stupendous 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, you do not add 140 hp simply by turning up the boost and ordering some schintzel. The RS7 gets different turbos, a whole new bottom end, a unique anti-lag system, beefed-up cooling and a different transmission

Audi SQ5

Audi’s S models have always stood for not just a souped-up version of its everyday vehicles, but a stepping stone to its beefier RS lineup. If you only know of its normal cars, the S variations seem potent, yet time in the RS varieties makes one astutely aware that for the S editions, the engineers have purposely left bits on the workbench.

But with the 2014 Audi SQ5, there is no RS to step up to. This, therefore, ranks as the pinnacle of Audi's SUV lineup. Yet it leaves you dreaming of more.

First, the positives: While the SQ5 could be greater, for $52,795, it’s everything it’s supposed to be. The interior remains first class – merely sporting a sprinkling of additional plastics to satisfy stringent bean counters. And while its supercharged V-6 does move with celerity, its 354 horses and 347 torques lack character. (I’ve slipped back to the negatives again, haven’t I?)

To better understand the SQ5, Audi sent me to Durango, Colo., to experience a drive through the snow-covered peaks around the San Juan Forest, over to the barren canyons of Gateway, nearing the border of Utah. The road was magnificent, winding to over 11,000 ft., with sheer, barrierless cliffs plunging off the side. I was glad to be in an SQ5. Had I have been in an R8, I fear I’d be writing this amidst smoldering wreckage off Coal Bank Pass.

Kia Forte

I still remember the day my dad bought a brand new car for my oldest brother who was about to enter college. We walked across the Nissan lot passing by the “four-door sports car” Maximasand rear-wheel drive 240SXs, to my dismay stopping at a base-model Sentra, which he purchased for about $8,000. The coupe’s scarlet-red paint job betrayed its humble accouterments: with its wafer-thin door panels, floppy four-speed manual, non-assisted steering and no air, it was austere enough to make Pope Francis proud.

With that experience emblazoned into memory, I take for granted that compacts should feel as cheap as housewares from the Dollar Tree. Yet in the past couple years, they’ve gone more upscale, adding touches like (faux) dash stitching traditionally found in more premium segments. Kia’s all-new 2014 Forte has especially blurred the lines between the luxury and working class.

It’s not just the design, which thanks to former Audi designer Peter Schreyer no longer looks like an ersatz Honda Civic. The matte-black plastic and the carbon fiber-esque accents impart a clean, Germanic look to the dash (save for the weird, gill-like frills above the glove box), and the panels don’t creak or flex when pushed. Unlike a typical daylong press event, I had this Kia for a week, and every day I jumped in I’d forget I’m in a budget ride — much more so than entry-level luxury cars like an Acura ILX or Buick Verano.

Part of that upscale feel comes from the quick steering and greatly improved suspension and chassis, which are firmer than the still-floaty Civic. That said, the Honda’s multi-link rear suspension proves superior over rough roads; the Forte skips and jitters when trundling over big bumps and potholes, thanks to its torsion beam rear suspension.

Also helping differentiate the Kia from a Sentra or Corolla is the 173-hp, 2.0 inline-four found in the EX trim, which above 2,000 rpm gives plenty of power for murderously short freeway on ramp merges. As with other Kia cars, the automatic transmission is quick to find the right gear, especially when romping on the gas pedal. In mixed city and highway driving, I averaged about 28 mpg, which is consistent with its EPA estimated 24/36 city/hwy mpg.

Automotive Love: Infographic: A smarter future for bus travel.....

Automotive Love:
Infographic: A smarter future for bus travel..


...: Infographic: A smarter future for bus travel..

Automotive Love: BMW i3 electric car

Automotive Love: BMW i3 electric car: BMW i3 electric car The first all-new electric car from BMW will test just how much technology its buyers want. The i3 offers a ...

Rolls-Royce

Nothing might so clearly communicate that you won’t ever “get” a car’s raison d’être, besides the fact that you couldn’t ever hope to buy one, quite like $87,424 in options on a Rolls-Royce with a base price of $284,900.

Start with the Starlight headliner in the back seat of the 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith, made from 1,340 fiber-optic lights sewn into the liner by hand and run off a dimmer above you where you’d normally find the sunroof toggle. It's a dreamy place to let your mind wander, a piece of beauty and whimsy for just $10,000. And as a bespoke feature you can order your Starlight cluster in the exact constellation map of your choice; I’d maybe request the stars overhead on the night of my kid’s birth, just because. Neil deGrasse Tyson, your ride awaits.

Pulled from Rolls' dusty history of coupe names, the modern Wraith arrives as a 5,203-lb. roller with the industry's only rear-hinged doors, just as they were on the 1938 edition. I like so much of everything about the rakish exterior of the Wraith apart from the thoroughly massive rear pillars, if you can even call those slabs of steel pillars. As a result of that long slabby tail, the rear overhang starts looking exaggeratedly long. Wheelbase is, after all seven inches less than on the Ghost sedan, overall length being five inches less than on the four-door. But, c’mon, the car's a beauty, and I’m just hunting around for chinks in the armor.

As for those royal doors: They are enormous, with stainless-steel handles, and they weigh a ton. To handle the intrusion of physics into daily life, Rolls automates the opening and closing via a button right inside the small triangle window at either front pillar.

BMW i3 electric car

The first all-new electric car from BMW will test just how much technology its buyers want. The i3 offers a typical mix of all-electric range and speed wrapped in one of the more advanced chassis the auto industry has ever developed. Whether it will be enough to lure EV shoppers to the BMW fold will be tested when it goes on sale in the United States in mid-2014

Ferrari 458

Creating an encore to the Ferrari 458 Italia is like trying to blow U2 off a stadium stage: It’s one tough act to follow.

But rocketing the new 458 Speciale around Ferrari’s historic Fiorano track in Maranello, Italy, it’s clear that company engineers have a $298,000 triumph on their hands. They’ve taken one of the world’s most heart-pounding sports cars, and rammed fiery shots of adrenaline and technologydown its finely tuned throat.

That technology includes the most powerful V-8 of any roadgoing Ferrari in history: 596 hp from just 4.5 liters of displacement, up from 562 in the Italia. In terms of horsepower to engine size, that’s also the mightiest naturally aspirated engine in the history of production cars, at nearly 133 horsepower per liter. That monstrous output is aided by an insane 14:1 compression ratio, the highest of any V-8 in the world.

Like previous special-edition, mid-engine Ferrari berlinetta coupes, like the 360 Challenge Stradale and 430 Scuderia, the Speciale is the hardest of the hardcore. It’s a stripped-down, muscled-up shriekfest, its brain bursting with dirty little secrets from Ferrari’s Formula One playbook. This is not a Ferrari for South Beach poseurs or NFL bonus babies. Ferrari calls the car a training tool — with a learning curve, but still safe and approachable — for serious drivers who want to challenge and improve their skills. Company executives estimate that 50 percent of Speciale buyers are racetrack regulars.

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla has long been the antithesis of the enthusiast car. It’s the automotive equivalent of smooth jazz — ubiquitous and innocuous but seldom loved. And like a forgettably syrupy Kenny G ballad album, it’s also enjoyed enviable success over the years; in 1997 it beat out the Volkswagen Beetle to become the best-selling nameplate of all time, and is always near the top of the charts for its segment, selling 290,947 units in 2012 in spite of being near the end of its model cycle.

Petrol costs less than diesel in Goa.

The state has become the first state to sell petrol at cheaper rates than diesel after oil companies recently announced a hike of Rs. 1 per litre for diesel.

Toyota i-ROAD concept vehicle

In the realm between cars and motorcycles, many automakers see a potential market for city-only personal vehicles that combine aspects of both modes. Here's Toyota's latest idea for such a vehicle, the i-Road, an all-electric three-wheeler

that can travel 30 miles on a charge and leans into corners.

Bus vs. car: show me the money

Remember the classic scene from the movie Jerry MaGuire, where Tom Cruise shouts out “Show me the money!”?  It must have worked, because buses and coaches have responded! Watch out private car users, there’s a new King in town when it comes to affordability!

Buses our ...Future

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Improving urban mobility patterns at low cost.. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) - a modern transit system with the flexibility of buses, and the speed, comfort and reliability of rail - enjoys growing popularity of  around the world. BRT provides faster, greener, safer and more efficient service than an ordinary bus. "These systems operate like a surface subway, say BRT advocates, but cost far less than building an actual metro." With its dedicated lanes, accommodating service areas, technologically advanced stations and GPS tracking systems, BRT offers a comprehensive mass transit service at a fraction of typical costs. In fact, for the amount of capital it takes to build a single rail line, localities can build multiple BRT lines. The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) executive director, Walter Hook, confirms BRT’s potential in cities where funding is scarce. “BRT will be an important option for transit systems in the future, especially in cities where transit demand is high and budgets are tight,” Hook says. Due to its flexible service and low capital investments, BRT has found success around the world. In addition to the global enthusiasm for BRT is growing popularity in the U.S. There are currently five cities in the U.S., including Los Angeles and Cleveland, which use BRT as a part of their public transit system and eight to ten new BRT systems under consideration.

Infographic: A smarter future for bus travel..

Coach travels the world to raise awareness on coach tourism benefits.

02 May 2013 - In case you haven’t heard, buses and coaches are perfect for travellers who want to combine comfort, low carbon footprint, safety and a reasonable budget all into one faraway trip.. In fact, no other mode of transport lets you take in so many sights and still have money left over for local cuisine and a few souvenirs! This coach tour started in April 2013 in Germany and is currently in Iran. The coach has been travelling along the ancient Silk Road, with the aim to go all the way to Shanghai in China. From there, the coach will travel by boat to Alaska and pick up the Pan-American Highway. The coach will then travel the length of North, Central and South America to its southern tip in Patagonia. All in all, a Smart Move to take in sights all around the world!

Honda Gear concept unveiled

Honda Canada provided the world with its first look at the new GEAR Concept Study Model – a vehicle that demonstrates Honda’s innovative approach to providing the automotive answer for young, urban, Gen-Y lifestyles. Inspired by fixed-gear bicycles, GEAR is a concept that represents an entirely new way of looking at the sub-compact vehicle. It is simple and utilitarian, but also customizable, connected and full of personality.

BMW i3 - The Megacity Vehicle

The BMW i3 Concept with eDrive is an uncompromisingly sustainable vehicle designed for urban areas. Driven purely by electric power and purpose-built to meet the demands of sustainable and emission-free mobility. It embodies an intelligent form of urban transportation and commuting. When it comes to reinventing mobility, BMW i goes beyond principles of eco-minded and agile driving. The all-electric BMW i3 Concept Coupe is the latest beautifully-designed take on the upcoming megacity vehicle, setting a new standard for sustainable design and electric driving pleasure.

The new Honda CR-V

The fourth generation Honda CR-V brings you everything you loved about it, plus a little more.

Tata Unveils eMO-C Electric Van

Tata Motors recently opened a new engineering center in Detroit. On this occasion Tata showcased a concept of an electric delivery van known as the eMO-C.  Although it won't reach production phase soon, Tata estimates a price tag for the vehicle, starting from INR 8,50,500. The eMO-C is a follow-up to last year's eMO EV concept and was developed to support three battery modules providing a range of up to 80 km, 160 km and 240 km respectively.

Rolls-Royce Wraith

Oligarchic automaker Rolls-Royce introduced an all-new car at the Geneva Motor Show, a muscular grand tourer. Although this vehicle is christened the Wraith, the appellation is not pronounced in the traditional manner, rayTH, but is rather intended to sound something like, Bentley Continental GT.

Popemobiles of the past and present

For over 80 years, Mercedes-Benz has been providing the Vatican with "popemobiles," extensively converted and customized vehicles that are used as official cars for the Holy Father.