Indian automakers have slammed the government's decision to advance implementation of the Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) norms to April 2020, claiming it would increase the cost of cars.
R.C. Bhargava, chairman, Maruti Suzuki, cited an IIT Kanpur study, which claimed cars contributed a mere two per cent to overall pollution. "People should not be surprised when they don't see any perceptible change in air quality even after implementation of Bharat Stage VI norms," he said.
Bhargava also warned that the move to implement BS VI auto fuel emission norms in just four years would raise car prices by between Rs20,000 and Rs200,000. He said it would be a challenge for automakers to upgrade technologies to meet the BS VI norms, which would correspond to Euro norms.
The veteran auto industry executive wondered whether it was necessary to concentrate 90 per cent of our energy on a source that accounted for just two per cent of pollution. 
Union roads and highways minister Nitin Gadkari had announced .

Maruti chief says advancing date of implementing BS-VI norms to result in sharp hike in car prices

BS-Motoring

Mercedes-Benz, India's top luxury car maker, today launched the GLE 450 AMG Coupe in India priced at Rs 86.14 (ex-showroom, Mumbai) making its the first launch of 2016.
The car, which is a cross between a coupe and a sport utility, will compete against the BMW GT. The GLE is a new class of product by the German company. 
Mercedes launched 15 products, including facelifts, last year.  This year the company will launch 12 products kick starting with the GLE today. The GLE races to 100kmph in 5.7 seconds, as per company claims. 
The company saw an increase of 32 per cent in sales as 13,502 units clocked last year as compared to 2014 sales.
The GLE will come with a 3 litre turbocharged V-6 engine producing a maximum of 362 bhp of power and a peak torque of 520nm. The engine comes mated to a new 9-speed automatic gearbox. 

Mercedes uncovers 450 GLE in India at Rs 86.14 lakh

Japanese electric vehicles maker Terra Motors has launched its Y4Alfa e-rickshaw in India. Priced at Rs. 1.3 lakh, the e-rickshaw has a range of 100km on full charge. It weighs 380kg and can accommodate 5 five including the driver. 
The e-rickshaw gets powered by a Terra battery unit which is priced at Rs 27,000. The Terra Battery is manufactured in Bangalore and has a life span of at least eighteen months.
The Y4Alfa e-rickshaw offers low running costs compared to a gas-powered vehicle and has a small turning radius. It also features rain covers that can be pulled down as and when needed, according to company sources.
 
“India is the second largest producer of three-wheelers in the world. Hence, India is an important market for us. We plan to sell 30,000 units of e-rickshaws and 20,000 sets of Terra Batteries by the end of the fiscal year,” Teppei Seki, country director, Terra Motors said.
 
“We are committed to bring in high quality Japanese offering and services to the Indian ...

Terra Motors' Y4Alfa e-rickshaw launched in India

Country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India today hiked prices of its vehicles across models by up to 12,000, joining others like Honda, Toyota Kirloskar, Tata Motors and Skoda in taking such a step from this month.
The average hike in the ex-showroom prices across models, starting from entry level hatchback Alto 800 to premium crossover S-Cross, is between Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,000, the company said in a statement.
Besides, the company has also hiked prices of its recently launched premium hatchback Baleno in the range of Rs 5,000 to Rs 12,000, it added.
The company currently sells a range a vehicles starting from entry-level car Alto 800 to premium crossover S-Cross, priced between Rs 2.52 lakh and Rs 13.74 lakh.
Baleno is priced between Rs 4.99 lakh and Rs 8.11 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi).
Honda Cars India has already increased prices of its vehicles across models by up to Rs 10,000. Czech carmaker Skoda has also increased prices of its model range by up to Rs 33,000 from ...

Maruti Suzuki hikes car prices by up to Rs 12,000

 The British luxury automaker and its coach building team, Mulliner are updating the interiors of their Flying spur and Continental models. What makes these interiors special is the very fact that the British carmaker is bestowing the interiors of these cars with a special stone veneer. The stone  to be incorporated in these cars , has been sourced from Indian states of Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. The veneers are made up of quartzite along with slate, which have been sourced from 200 million years old blocks of stone.The incorporation of this stone in the interior is also immaculate, as the veneer is just 0.1mm thin, and it is both light as well as translucent. Bentley’s resourceful customers also have a choice of colours for the interior, which is achieved by curing the rock with a fiberglass resin. The color choices include, terra red, autumn white, galaxy and copper.Commenting on this, Geoff Dowding, Director of Mulliner Operations said “Bentley is exploring new, fine and rare ...

Bentley Continental Gets India-sourced Jurassic Period Stone Veneer Interior

Marking a change in strategy following the Delhi-NCR ban on diesel vehicles, luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) today launched its sports car Jaguar XE in the country with a petrol engine. The company will also bring in a diesel variant in the future. The sports vehicle will be locally manufactured at the company's Pune plant. Rohit Suri, president at Jaguar Land Rover India said to meet the growing demand for petrol vehicles we have introduced the Jaguar XE in two petrol engine derivatives. The vehicle comes in two trims: Jaguar XE Petrol Pure, priced at Rs 39.9 lakh (ex showroom, Delhi) and Petrol Portfolio priced at Rs 46.5 lakh. The Supreme Court had imposed a ban on sales of diesel vehicles with an engine capacity of 2 litre and above in mid December in Delhi and national capital region to address the rising pollution. The ban is in place till March 31. The ban had impacted sales of several companies such as Mahindra and Mahindra, Toyota, Mercedes and Jaguar Land Rover. ...

JLR launches petrol-powered sports car Jaguar XE

Volkswagen has introduced a host of new features to the Polo and Vento. These include intelligent systems like rain sensing wipers, auto dimming IRVM, phone book/SMS viewer, mirror link connectivity and dynamic touch screen infotainment system, which will optimise the driving environment and comfort.
Volkswagen has evolved rapidly to provide new offerings in the Polo and Vento which will enhance their daily driving experience, said the company.
“Vento and Polo have been among our best-selling carlines since their inception in the Indian market, and I am delighted to announce the introduction of these additional features,” said Michael Mayer, director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India. “Providing a further boost to safety, the rain sensor and auto-dimming IRVM features allows the occupant to drive with ease and convenience. We are optimistic of continuing to raise the bar through our brand new offerings, and further expand the growing Volkswagen family in India.”
The upgraded Polo and ..

Volkswagen introduces new features to Polo, Vento

Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd. has launched the Model Year 2016 of the Jaguar XJ in India starting from INR 1.06 crores (on-road, Mumbai). The new Jaguar XJ combines cutting-edge technology, sporty dynamics and luxury, along with new features.
Rohit Suri, President, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd (JLRIL), said, The New Jaguar XJ is designed to deliver greater levels of luxury and performance. With its even more assertive and bolder look, the New XJ has a commanding presence on the road, making it a definitive head turner. Its luxurious interiors, powerful engine and latest technology will enhance the in-car experience of our discerning customers by making it even more productive, entertaining and relaxing."
The New Jaguar XJ comes in the following variants:Jaguar XJ 2.0L (237bhp) Petrol Portfolio : INR 1.08 croresJaguar XJ 3.0L (296bhp) Diesel Premium Luxury: INR 1.06 croresJaguar XJ 3.0L (296bhp) Diesel Portfolio : INR 1.15 crores
All prices are on-road, Mumbai (approx.)
The New Jaguar XJ 

Jaguar launches new XJ at INR 1.06 crores (on-road)

Italian car maker Ferrari launched the latest 488 GTB supercar in India on Wednesday.
Priced at Rs 3.88 crore (ex-showroom, New Delhi), the Ferrari 488 GTB claims 0-100kmp/h in just 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 330kmp/h.
Powering the new 488 GTB is a newly developed 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine that is capable of producing 670PS of top power at 8,000rpm along with 760Nm of torque at 3,000rpm. This engine is coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission gearbox. The GTB stands for Gran Turismo Berlinetta, a reference to its deep roots in Ferrari history.  
Though the vehicle looks like an upgraded version of the previous generation 458, it gets cosmetic upgrades to keep things fresh. The 488 GTB also comes with a newly designed head lamps and slightly modified front fascia. While the front is characterised by the dual grille opening which channels air into the two radiators, there is also a double front spoiler which, on close inspection, looks very like those of ..

Ferrari 488 GTB launched in India at Rs 3.88 crore

 Auto Expo is the biggest Indian platform for automakers from across the globe to showcase their products. Not only do the automakers take this as an opportunity to reach out to the masses, auto heads also get an insight to the brand and its products. Almost all auto brands known to the Indian market are making an appearance, but some of them have decided to skip the event. Prominent names like Skoda and Volvo will make a miss in the passenger car segment, whereas Bajaj, Royal Enfield and Harley-Davidson will be absent in the two-wheeler segment. BharatBenz, a  wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler, will also miss out on showcasing its Trucks in the heavy vehicle space. Here is a list of what could have been on offer if these brands would have made it to the expo. Skoda2016 Skoda SuperbThe much awaited and highly anticipated Skoda Superb would have been the star for Skoda. Auto Expo would have been the perfect podium for the automaker to introduce its latest luxury sedan in India. Sadly, 

Brands Which Will be Missed at 2016 Auto Expo

Cabsguru, a cab search, comparison and booking platform, announced on Friday that it has closed a deal with Orix Auto Infrastructure Services (OAIS) to launch a premium intercity cab service in eight Indian cities.
OAIS is a subsidiary of Orix Corporation, Japan, one of the largest diversified financial services company with operations across 27 countries. In India, Orix has been a market leader in verticals including B2B rent a car business, employee transportation solutions, operating and financial leasing, etc.
Last month, Cabsguru had raised $200,000 as seed funding from a group of investors led by the Prashanth Ranganathan, founder and CEO, Paysense Services India Pvt Ltd.
Cabsguru will be launching the premium category intercity cab services in Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
Cabsguru is a marketplace and meta-search engine, which lets users search, compare and book cabs from the likes of Ola, Taxi for Sure, Meru and Easy Cabs. It has .

Cabsguru to start premium intercity cab service in eight cities

In a bid to encourage motorists in Bangalore to travel by metro, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) plans to allow third parties to rent out motorcycles outside nine stations to ensure last-mile connectivity.
The BMRCL’s earlier plans of renting out bicycles or starting feeder bus services have fizzled out because of lack of commuter response. This time, the corporation wants to rent out space of about 600 sq ft outside nine metro stations to contractors who will have to rent out motorcycles to commuters.
According to a BMRCL spokesman, a commuter can get off the station, take a bike on hire and use it during the day. He or she can return the vehicle in the evening before embarking on the return journey.
The corporation wants the contractors to provide electric two-wheelers as well at the stations.
The Bangalore Metro project, known as Namma Metro, has been progressing at a snail’s pace. According to estimates, it may take another 15 years before the entire project is ...

Bangalore Metro to provide bikes on rent for commuters

TVS Motor Company today launched its new four stroke moped TVS XL 100, which is available in Tamil Nadu market currently. The TVS XL 100 comes at an ex-showroom price of Rs 29,539.The new TVS XL 100 is powered by a 99.7 cc four-stroke engine, which effortlessly delivers 4.2 PS power with excellent initial pick up and a top speed of 60 kmph. TVS XL 100 returns a mileage of 67 kmpl under simulated test conditions as per TVS Motor standards, said the company."The all new four stroke moped TVS XL 100 has been designed to meet the evolving needs of today s customer and is one of the most affordable, reliable, easy to ride, powerful multi utility two wheelers in the market," said J S Srinivasan, Vice President, Sales and Service, TVS Motor Company in a statement.The new TVS XL 100 has a detachable rear seat with a robust rear flatbed platform to enable carrying of loads.The moped comes in five colours of black, red, green, blue and grey. Along with TVS XL Super and TVS XL Heavy Duty, TVS XL 

TVS Motor launches new four-stroke TVS XL 100 in Tamil Nadu

BMW's X5 and X6 SUVs will have updated infotainment systems in the international markets. Currently, both the models use the iDrive controller to operate their infotainment and navigation systems. 
However, the current 10.25-inch display will receive the touchscreen technology that was recently introduced by the new BMW 7-series, according to a report in the BMW Blog.
Along with the addition of touchscreen support, the X5 and X6 will also get the latest iDrive 5.0 system. With this update, the system is now operable through improved display, but still retains the iDrive controller in the centre console. However, the advanced gesture control technology, offered on the new 7-series, will not be offered on the current generation X5 and X6.
The new touchscreen for the X5 and X6 is expected to be a standalone update for the 2017 models, rather than part of a facelift. It is not clear whether the current X5 and X6 owners will be able to upgrade to this new technology.
There is also no news .

BMW\'s X5, X6 SUVs to get new infotainment system

 ‘Kinetic Safar’, a battery operated e-auto indigenously designed by Pune- based Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Limited has been launched at Rs 1.38 Lacs (ex-showroom Delhi). The Safar e-auto can attain a max speed of 25 kmph and can carry 5 people (4 passengers,1 driver) at a time. Safar is designed to reduce carbon footprints and has been pitched as a cost effective solution for the last mile connectivity. It uses an all steel body, has electric wipers and dual headlamps. Battery charge indicator and speedometer have been placed on the dashboard. The ex-showroom price of Rs. 1.38 Lacs is inclusive of the Exide battery.While launching the e-three wheeler, Sulajja Firodia Motwani, founder and CEO of Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions said, “We are pleased to contribute in Government of India's initiative of reduction of pollution, improve the health of our citizens and offer smart transport solutions." Kinetic Safar has been approved by ARAI (Automotive Research ...

Electric 3-wheeler Kinetic \'Safar\' launched at Rs. 1.38 Lacs

India’s leading online automobile portal CarDekho will be displaying futuristic tech innovations at the Auto Expo 2016. It will unveil interactive product visualisers that enable virtual guided tours of cars and virtual reality solutions that give access to a lifelike experience of a car showroom. 
The company will also showcase an augmented reality-based facility to facilitate interactions between users and vehicles, besides exhibiting cutting-edge apps that allow one to get in-depth information on cars and bikes. 
CarDekho promises to give consumers a snapshot of the action from Auto Expo through an online virtual tour. 
“We at CarDekho are certain that the future of researching and buying cars will be dramatically different from today, and we want to lead that change,” said Amti Jain, co-founder and CEO, CarDekho. “Auto Expo 2016 is one of the most spectacular automotive events in the country, and hence the ideal platform for us to show cutting edge futuristic technology that will .

CarDekho to showcase futuristic tech at Auto Expo 2016

 Jaguar is all set to introduce its latest offering, XE sedan in the Indian market. The car will make its official Indian debut at the 2016 Auto Expo. Competing with BMW 3-series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-class, this is Jaguar’s cheapest offering till date. Bookings for the car have already begin at a cost of Rs. 1 lac and the launch price of the car is expected to be around Rs. 40 lac. This price bracket is courtesy of the local assembly which will take place at Jaguar’s facility in Pune. At the Expo, XE sedan will stand alongside XF sedan and the highly anticipated F-Pace crossover.These spy shots appear to be of a lower model as it lacks aesthetic luxuries like DRLs and projector headlamps. Foglamps too are missing on this model which could suggest their absence in the base variants. Despite being the baby Jag, the car still carries signature Jaguar look with the wide grille holding the ‘Wild Cat’ in the centre. The styling of the car is very capable of turning heads and with ...

Jaguar XE Spied Testing, to be Launched At Auto Expo

Nissan could introduce this in our market as the compact crossover segment is rampantly growing! Nissan has announced that they will introduce a production version of the Kicks crossover concept this year, in Latin America. The production version will share the name - Kicks. The automaker also announced that this new crossover will be sold globally, starting with Latin American markets from 2016. "Nissan invented the first crossover in 2003, with the Murano," said Carlos Ghosn, president and chief executive officer of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. "Since then, we've established our global crossover leadership with vehicles like JUKE, Qashqai and X-Trail – which have been great successes. The Kicks will bring Nissan's unique Crossover expertise to more regions," he added further. The automaker added that Kicks Concept’s design was led by Nissan's Global Design Center in Japan along with Nissan Design America (NDA) in San Diego and Nissan Design America - Rio (NDA-R). Currently, the teams are .

Nissan Confirms Kicks Crossover for Global Markets

 Mahindra’s highly anticipated offering, KUV100 micro-SUV will be launching tomorrow. The car will mark the establishment of a new segment in the Indian automotive scene. KUV100 will remain unchallenged in its segment, until Suzuki Ignis is introduced in the market, which will take place sometime later this year. The car was recently revealed in a spy video, which detailed all the exterior and interior components of the car. The video also gave a glimpse into how the car drives.KUV100 is a six-seater and incorporates a bench seat which is capable of seating two occupant on the front passenger seat. The unconventionality of the car doesn’t end there. Even the Gear shifter has been incorporated into the dashboard, so as to optimize the cabin pace available for the occupants and facilitate the incorporation of the bench-seat.Under The hood, KUV will be powered by a range of units derived from the mFalcon family. The petrol powerplant will be a 1.2-liter, 3 cylinder mFalcon G80 unit, ...

Mahindra KUV100 Launching Tomorrow

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