To be the sporty range-topper of the next-gen Tiguan line-up; likely to get 300bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine.

Volkswagen is working on a performance version of its upcoming Tiguan Coupé SUV, the Tiguan Coupé R. The car-like SUV is being developed by the firm’s in-house R division.

As compared to the standard Tiguan, the five-seater Coupé R will have a sloping roofline, a shallower glasshouse and wider C-pillars. Overall appearance will be very similar to the Cross Blue Coupé shown at the Detroit motor show in January. The Tiguan Coupé R is expected to receive a number of upmarket interior appointments, such as an active instrument display, a heads-up display and a full selection of camera-aided safety features, including an emergency braking function.

It is likely to get a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, similar to the one used by the Golf R, making around 300bhp and 38.7kgm of torque. It will come with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, four-wheel drive and an electronic torque vectoring function, according to insiders. Nothing is official at the moment, but the Tiguan Coupé R could have a claimed 0-100kph time of around 5 seconds.

A specially tuned version of the standard Tiguan Coupé’s MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension with reduced ride height and a four-mode adaptive damping system will aim to provide the necessary traits needed to set the R model apart from the rest of the line-up.

Engine options are likely to include 1.4 and 2.0-litre petrol units, and 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesels. Also planned is a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid-propelled GTE model running a similar set-up to that used by the Golf GTE. While the Tiguan Coupé is planned to go on sale globally in 2017, the range-topping R version will be on sale in 2018.

Volkswagen is in the final phase of testing the next-gen Tiguan in standard form which is likely to be unveiled at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show 2015. The carmaker has also confirmed that this new SUV will come to India in mid-2016.

The Tiguan Coupé R will be Volkswagen’s answer to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG, Audi RS Q3 and the Range Rover Evoque SVR.

Courtesy : Autocar

Based on the T trim, the Go NXT is priced at Rs 5.16 lakh and gets a few new features but there’s no airbag.

Datsun’s budget hatchback, Go, may not have exactly struck a chord with customers. The car received a lot of flak for its poor crash test results, and although Datsun offered an airbag-equipped version of the top-end Go T on a made-to-order basis, it still couldn’t get away from the fact that the car was sparsely equipped, even by segment standards.

But the brand is now pulling a few stops to keep the Go competitive in the segment. On sale now, across Datsun showrooms, is the Go NXT. The new trim is based on the existing T trim and gets additional features like rear parking sensors, remote locking and a rear parcel tray. Cosmetic changes include side mouldings and a chrome finish for the exhaust tip, while on the inside, the centre console gets a glossy black finish.

The Datsun Go is powered by a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, petrol motor that makes 67bhp and 10.6kgm of torque. It's mated to a five-speed gearbox.

The Datsun Go NXT is priced at Rs 5.16 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). It sits below the airbag-equipped T trim in the model’s lineup.

Courtesy : Autocar

The new Honda SUV could get uprated engines and new transmissions; expected to be unveiled at the Auto Expo 2016.

Honda’s new small SUV, the BR-V will make its global debut in the coming days. The carmaker will also showcase the model to the Indian audience at the upcoming Auto Expo 2016. 

Although based on the same platform as the Brio, Amaze and the Mobilio, the BR-V will look more angular and rugged. At 2,652mm, the wheelbase is the same as the Mobilio, but there is a possibility of the engines getting an update. There will be the familiar 1.5-litre petrol and the 1.5-litre diesel on offer.  However, the big news is that Honda is likely to offer a six-speed manual gearbox on the BR-V, in place of the five-speed unit seen on the Amaze and the Mobilio. According to our sister magazine, Autocar Indonesia, this new six-speed gearbox will have optimised ratios for better engine response and class-leading fuel efficiency.  

Also, likely to be on offer is a CVT gearbox which could be a segment first. Currently, the Amaze and Brio come with a five-speed automatic gearbox in India. This CVT gearbox mated to the petrol motor, will be an all-new cheap breitling replica watches compact unit developed specifically for the BR-V that uses Honda’s Earth Dreams technology. 

The carmaker has clearly focussed on giving the BR-V SUV-like design cues, and that includes the butch cladding that runs around the entire car, the rising beltline, the pronounced wheel arch flares and the roof rails. The interiors of the BR-V are likely to get updated dashboard designs to attract many car buyers in India. It will come with three rows of seats, and it's safe to expect it to be similar to the ones seen on the Mobilio.

The new Honda BR-V will directly compete with the likes of the Mahindra Scorpio, Renault Duster and the cheap breitling replica watches uk recently-launched Hyundai Creta.

Courtesy : Autocar

The new family of turbocharged V6 and V8 engines will power future models under the Volkswagen Group.

To be based on a common architecture, the engines will feature a displacement of 500cc per cylinder, taking total displacement to 3.0-litre for the V6 and 4.0-litre for the V8. The engines are expected to feature regular gas-driven turbos initially, with a possibility for the introduction of electric turbos at a later stage.

The new family engines are referred to as KoVoMo internally, and are slated to power future Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Volkswagen and possibly Lamborghini models.

Courtesy : Autocar

The AMG S 63 sedan is powered by a 577bhp 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8; is the ninth AMG model in Mercedes’ Indian line-up.

Less than a fortnight after the launch of its coupé counterpart, Mercedes has launched the AMG S 63 sedan at Rs 2.53 crore (ex-showroom, Bengaluru). The AMG limousine gets aggressive styling, all the luxuries of the standard S-class, along with a powerful 577bhp AMG V8 engine.

The Mercedes-AMG S 63’s body kit includes a new front bumper with large air vents and a central air-dam, a new rear bumper with quad chrome tipped exhausts, large AMG alloy wheels and side skirts with chrome inserts.

Inside, the S 63 gets AMG-developed front seats with electric adjust with memory and massage functions, AMG leather upholstery, a panaromic sunroof, a heads up display and AMG badged door. The S63 comes equipped with a 13 speaker Burmester Surround Sound System as standard, but a 24 speaker 3D system is available as an option. Features such as reclining rear seats, individual rear screens and Mercedes COMAND infotainment system are carried forward from the standard S-class.

Mercedes also offers the S 63 with the newly introduced Designo platform. It gives buyers customisation options that include choosing from a wider range of exterior colours, interior trims and upholstery options for the car.

Under the hood is a 577bhp 5.5-litre twin-turbo AMG V8 that develops a massive 91.77kgm of torque, mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. Mercedes says that’s enough to get this two-tonne limousine to 100kph in a sportscar-beating 4.4 seconds! The AMG S 63 sedan gets a stiffer suspension setup as compared to the regular S-class and is equipped with the company’s revolutionary Magic Body Control system. The system uses a front-facing stereo camera (rather than radar, which is illegal in India) to examine the road for undulations and adjust the suspension in real time to achieve the most comfortable ride possible.

The AMG S 63 is Mercedes’ tenth car launch this year and rivals the likes of the Porsche Panamera Turbo and Maserati Quattroporte GTS and becomes the ninth AMG model in Mercedes’ Indian portfolio.

Courtesy : Autocar