The Bespoke division's Rolls Royce Phantom Nautica gets a unique paint scheme on its exterior; draws inspiration from yachts.

After the limited-edition 'Inspired' series for the Rolls-Royce Wraith, to celebrate Rolls-Royce’s association with movies, haute-couture, and music, the Spirit of Ecstasy now has bestowed the Phantom with a new variant. Badged 'Nautica’, it has drawn inspiration from high-end yachts.  

The highlight of Rolls-Royce’s bespoke programme is how dramatically the character and feel of an automobile can be altered, just by adding in a few details and design elements. The Phantom Nautica features a two-tone paint scheme; Orchid White for the doors and fenders, and Arabian Blue on the bonnet, the panoramic roof, and the boot-lid. Besides the custom paint on the Nautica, the car features a double pinstripe below the shoulder line with anchor-shaped insignias on the front fenders, adding to the seafaring theme. The 10-spoke wheels come with Arabian Blue inserts as well.

Inside, the dashboard gets Tudor Oak veneer dashboard, along with white instrument dials, and Forest Fall white leather with Navy Blue piping to match the exteriors. Also tucked away in the drawer of the dashboard is a vintage style custom-made compass.

The bespoke Phantom’s underpinnings remain unchanged. It will be powered by Rolls-Royce’s 6.75-litre V12 engine rated at 453bhp and 73.4kgm of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Courtesy : Autocar.

Fiat is likely replace Linea with production version of Aegea concept or Brazil’s Grand Sienna in late 2016.

Fiat is evaluating a replacement for the Linea, which is nearing the the end of its lifecycle.The possible options being considered are the production version of the Fiat Aegea concept that was unveiled in May 2015 at the Istanbul Motor Show or the Grand Sienna that the manufacturer currently sells in the Brazilian market.

The Aegea concept is yet to go on sale internationally as a production car (albeit under a different name) and Fiat has only developed the car for left-hand-drive markets.  But to launch it in India, Fiat will have to invest in tooling for a right-hand-drive (RHD) version which will be hard to justify if India is the only market for the RHD car.  The current Linea sells on average 171 units a month and these volumes are too low to amortise the costs of expensive tooling for a new RHD dashboard and other ancillaries.

The other option is the Grand Sienna. The car is essentially a heavily reworked derivative of the Linea developed for the Brazilian market. As with the Aegea concept, the Sienna is also a left-hand-drive and will go through the same steps to adapt it for right-hand-drive markets.

Fiat is set to significantly upgrade its model range sometime in 2018 with a family of new cars spun off an all-new platforms. The Aegea or Grand Siena hence may only be a stop gap arrangement till then.

Courtesy : Autocar

The Daihatsu FX concept hints at a production mid-size SUV; larger FT concept is expected to give rise to a flagship SUV.

Daihatsu has showcased two SUV concepts at the ongoing Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show, the FX concept and the FT concept. The FX concept hints at a future crossover for the brand while the larger FT concept is expected to make way for a full-size flagship SUV.

The FX concept uses a B-pillar-less design with the front and rear doors hinged on opposite ends. At the front, the concept crossover features LED headlamps on either side of a narrow rectangular grille, with a thick strip of chrome running the width of the front fascia just below. The front bumper gets a prominent hexagonal central air dam along with LED daytime running lamps, black body cladding and a faux skid plate. On the flanks, the concept continues to sport body cladding along with black wing mirrors and blacked out door elements. The rear of the concept car features LED tail-lamps, and also gets a thin band of chrome running the width of the rear and a bumper with black body cladding and a faux skid plate flanked by vertically stacked exhausts.

Inside, the concept crossover gets a dual-tier all-digital instrument cluster along with sporty- looking front seats, a dual-tone interior, a panoramic sunroof, a flat-bottomed three-spoke steering and chrome and silver trim inserts across the cabin. No details were revealed about the engines to be featured in the FX concept.

The second reveal, the FT concept, gets a large vertical slat grille with LED inserts with LED headlamps placed on either side. The bumper gets high set fog-lamps with chrome surround and black body cladding along with a faux skid plate. On the sides, the SUV gets a tapering window line with chrome along the lower edge, black body cladding and silver side skirts. The roof line of the concept tapers gently towards the rear. At the back, the SUV concept gets large wrap-around LED tail-lamps, black body cladding, and silver body cladding on the bumper with LED fog lamps on the edges. An integrated spoiler is seen above the tailgate.

Inside, the FT concept gets a dual-tier dashboard split by a section of blue ambient lighting elements. The dashboard is finished in contrast-stitched leather on the top and gets a brushed aluminium finish on the lower section. The instrument cluster is an all-digital unit. In addition, the concept features a freestanding display for the infotainment system. Other details include white leather upholstery for the seats and doors, and chrome and brushed aluminum inserts around the cabin.

As with the FX concept, Daihatsu did not provide any engine details about the FT concept SUV.

Courtesy : Autocar

Finally, Honda is ready to join the compact SUV bandwagon with this: the BR-V. Unveiled at the ongoing Indonesia International Auto Show, the BR-V is the fourth product that Honda has created on the same platform that also forms the basis for the Brio, Amaze and Mobilio. Which is why its likeness to Honda's newest MPV comes as no surprise.

It will be positioned as a rival to the Renault Duster-Nissan Terrano and the Hyundai Creta, but it actually looks a lot like a Mobilio wearing thick-soled boots. The face and the rear section look different, yes, but from the side, it is a plastic-clad Mobilio that appears to be like an SUV. That belief is strengthened when you read what Honda has to say about what the BR-V really is: "This new generation crossover utility vehicle features the combination of an SUV appearance and handling and great utility and the spacious cabin of an MPV". So, potential Renault Lodgy Stepway buyers may just be tempted to do some cross-shopping.

Anyway, the BR-V's heightened stance means there's more ground clearance on offer, and since it is a Mobilio in SUV clothing, it also has seven seats, which will make it the only offering in its class to have three rows of seating. We do not have official interior images yet, but we can tell you the dash design will be noticeably different from the insides of the Mobilio. Honda claims the BR-V's interior space is "class-leading", and also tells us that the car will come with air-conditioning for rear-seat passengers as well.

For the Indonesian market, Honda will sell the BR-V with the 1.5-litre i-VTEC (found in the City) which develops 117 horses and 145Nm of torque. When it comes to India, the BR-V will be sold with the 1.5 petrol, as well as the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel (99bhp, 200Nm). Sending power to the front wheels is a six-speed manual, and a CVT gearbox is on offer, too. However, for India we think Honda will stick to the existing 5-speeder.

Safety-wise, the BR-V is equipped with dual front airbags, ABS and Vehicle Stability Assist. To compete with a car like the Creta, which is packed to the gills with features, Honda will have to bless the BR-V with sufficient kit. Like it did with the Mobilio, expect a posher 'RS' version to join the ranks some time in the future.

In Indonesia, the BR-V will be priced between Rs 11-12.5 lakh, so you know this one's aiming for the big guns. Expect Honda to first showcase the car at the Delhi Auto Expo in February, and follow it up with a launch in the months that follow.

Courtesy : BBC TopGear.