The refreshed Beat gets added safety and convenience features; top variant gets a new LTZ nomenclature.

General Motors India today launched an updated version of the Chevrolet Beat hatchback at a starting price of Rs 4.28 lakh going up to Rs 5.55 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The hatchback now comes with improved interiors and added safety equipment.

In terms of the safety features, the LT variant gets the addition of a driver side airbag. Moreover, the top trim, which follows a new LTZ nomenclature, comes with passenger and driver side air bags, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD).

On the exterior, the Beat’s glass headlamps get black accents, body-coloured door handles, while the tail-lamps now sport a combination of coloured and clear glass. Other features include fog lamps with chrome surrounds, a newly designed rear spoiler with LED inserts and a restyled dual-tone rear bumper with sporty reflectors.

Inside, the car gets steering-mounted audio controls on some variants, a height-adjustable driver seat and silver interior highlights. The refreshed Chevrolet Beat also comes with remote keyless entry with a foldable key.

The Beat, which is available with a petrol and diesel engine, has an ARAI-certified fuel economy of 25.44kpl for the diesel engine and 17.8kpl for the petrol engine.

Mechanicals, however, remain unchanged and the Beat continues to be powered by the
1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol unit developing 79bhp and 10.9kgm of torque. The diesel variants come with a three-cylinder unit developing 58.5bhp and 15.2kgm of torque. Transmission duties are carried out by a five-speed manual gearbox.

“The Chevrolet Beat, one of GM India’s best-selling models, raises the bar in the country’s fast-growing compact car segment. The new version was developed by carefully listening to our customers and enhancing it with smart new features and stylish looks,” Hardeep Brar, vice-president – Sales, General Motors India said in a company statement.

The updated Beat also gets the addition of two new colours, red and steel grey.

Courtesy : Autocar

Ford’s all-new SUV is coming and will be a lot better than its predecessor

The all-new Ford Endeavour is set to be launched in India on January 20. The previous generation of the American SUV was quite a hit with Indian buyers given its imposing dimensions and butch design, and Ford has had us wait for a really long time for the new generation Endeavour. The new generation Endeavour has been tested extensively in India and abroad, and is expected to fare much better than its predecessor off tarmac, since off-roading was one of the grey areas of the previous generation Endeavour. 

Based on Ford’s T6 platform, the new Endeavour is in sync with current offerings in its segment thanks to the addition of the features and equipment one would expect of a new generation SUV, and of course, Ford has ensured it retains the muscular design that the Endeavour is known for. It still sports a boxy styling and gets generous helpings of chrome, but then that’s the kind of character American SUVs are known for, and also the design virtues that made the Endeavour a favourite. 

To improve its performance off tarmac the Endeavour also gets a new terrain management system, something that has become the norm with SUVs expected to go off-roading. The Endeavour is also a lot more luxurious inside, to pamper occupants who’d rather prefer being ensconced in the luxury of this spacious SUV rather than get mucky. 

The new Ford Endeavour will be launched with two engine options, a 2.2-litre diesel and a 3.2-litre diesel. The 2.2-litre diesel will be offered with a choice of two-wheel and four-wheel drive, while the 3.2-litre will be offered with four-wheel drive only. The 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel makes 160PS and 385Nm of torque, while the 3.2-litre makes an impressive 200PS, while also offering 470Nm of torque. Expect the new Endeavour to challenge the likes of the successful Toyota Fortuner and the recently launched Chevrolet Trailblazer. Pricing should be in the region of 23-28 lakh ex-showroom.  

Courtesy : Zigwheels

It’s barely two weeks into 2016, and Mercedes-Benz has already launched its first car, the GLE 450 AMG Coupé at Rs 86.4 lakh.

The crossover-coupe is based on the recently launched regular GLE SUV, and sports a distinctive swooping roof-line. The nose features a single-slat grille flanked by LED headlamps and an aggressive looking bumper, while the roofline terminates into an S-class coupé-like rear end. Plastic body cladding, splashes of chrome up front and at the rear, a dual exhaust system and 21-inch wheels complete the 2.2-tonne crossover’s aggressive design.

The coupé carries over the standard GLE’s interiors, but is more luxurious, given the generous use of perforated Nappa-leather all around the cabin. Other highlights of the interiors include carbonfibre trim, a sport steering wheel, sport seats, stainless steel pedals and the latest Comand infotainment system.

The 450 AMG is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine that churns out 362bhp and 53kgm of torque, which enables the crossover to complete the 0-100kph dash in a sportscar-like 5.7 seconds. Power is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic gearbox that offers five driving modes – comfort, slippery, sport, sport+ and individual. Each mode modulates chassis, suspension, steering wheel and powertrain settings as per driving and terrain conditions.

The GLE 450 AMG Coupé will go up against the BMW X6 and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

Courtesy : Autocar

The new year brings with it a line-up of cars, some all-new and some updated, that will be launched in our market as the months roll by. The beginning of the year will see exciting models such as the Mercedes GLE 450 AMG Coupe, the new Ford Endeavour, the all-new Mahindra KUV100 and the Tata Zica. Here is a list of cars expected to go on sale in 2016.

Mercedes GLE 450 AMG Coupe (January 12)

Mercedes will be introducing the GLE Coupe in India in its performance 450 AMG guise. However, it is not a pure AMG model, as the GLE 450 AMG coupe is powered by a 362bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 in place of the GLE 63 Coupe's full-blown 550bhp 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8. Power is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic gearbox which offers five driving modes – Comfort, Slippery, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. The 2.2-tonne SUV is capable of being propelled from 0-100kph in 5.7 seconds. The interior is carried over from the standard GLE with the addition of a carbon-fibre trim, a sport steering wheel, sport seats and stainless steel pedals.

Mahindra KUV100 (January 15)

Mahindra's all-new compact SUV, the KUV100, is set to be offered in four variants – K2, K4, K6 and K8 – with a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The powerplants are part of an all-new family of engines with the petrol and diesel units being 1.2-litre three-cylinder motors. All variants of the KUV100 will be equipped with ABS and a bench-style front middle seat, making the compact SUV a legal six-seater.

Ford Endeavour (January 20)

Now in its third generation, the new Endeavour rivals the likes of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Chevrolet Trailblazer and the Toyota Fortuner. The new Endeavour will be available in two trim levels – Trend and Titanium – along with the choice of a 2.2-litre four-cylinder or a 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. The 2.2-litre motor will be to a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox with power sent to either the rear or all-four-wheels. The larger 3.2-litre powerplant will get all-wheel drive and automatic transmission as standard. The all-wheel drive Endeavour will also get Ford’s Terrain Management System, which is similar to JLR's Terrain Response System.

FCA’s off-roading brand Jeep is set to launch its models in India this month. The brand will make its entry with three models, out of which two will be Grand Cherokees. The first of the two is the standard Grand Cherokee diesel SUV powered by a 3.0-litre 237bhp motor paired to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. To be available in top spec only, the SUV will be equipped with features such as panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated seats, sat-nav, parking sensors, reversing camera, an electric tailgate, bi-xenon adaptive headlamps and 20-inch chrome alloy wheels.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT (January)

With the launch of the Grand Cherokee SRT, Jeep will be introducing its performance brand, SRT,  in India. The SRT is set apart from the standard model by darkened styling elements across the front fascia, revised bumpers and darkened SRT alloy wheels. On the inside, it gets many SRT-specific tweaks to the cabin such as bespoke leather, flat-bottomed steering and carbon-fibre inserts. The biggest differentiator is the engine, a massive 6.4-litre 475bhp Hemi V8 capable of taking the SUV from 0-100kph in 5 seconds. The SRT also comes equipped with the standard Grand Cherokee’s all-wheel-drive system.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (January)

Jeep will be introducing the long-wheelbase four-door version of its Wrangler SUV in India. The rugged SUV will be powered by a 197bhp 2.8-litre diesel motor paired to a five-speed automatic gearbox with four-wheel drive. The Wrangler is the most hardcore off-roader model from the brand and will also be the most affordable of the trio.

Jaguar XE (February)

Jagaur is set to launch its all-new BMW 3-series rivalling sedan, the XE, in India at the 2016 Auto Expo. The car is underpinned by a segment-first, all-aluminium chassis and will be powered by a choice of JLR’s new 161bhp 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine or 2.0-litre petrol motor. The two engines may be joined by a V6 powerplant as well. Transmission duties will be handled by an eight-speed automatic gearbox. At the Auto Expo, the XE will be on display alongside the new XF and the all-new F-Pace SUV.

Tata Zica (February)

Tata takes a step towards brand reinvention with the Zica, as it is the carmaker's first all-new model since the introduction of the Vista; the Bolt and Zest being heavily re-engineered versions of the Vista. Designed by Tata’s European Technical Centre, the Zica follows the manufacturer's newly introduced  Impact design language. Sharing its platform with the Indica, the car is styled unlike any other Tata.The model will be powered by Tata’s all-new in-house developed 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and a new 1.05-litre three-cylinder diesel motor. The car will be offered with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard with an AMT unit expected to be introduced sometime in the future.

Nissan is set to reintroduce the X-Trail in India in its latest iteration. Discontinued in early 2014 due to lack of sales, the new X-trail is based on the company’s CMF platform and gets styling more in line with Nissan’s current generation of international crossovers like the Qashqai and Juke. Unlike the previous model which was offered with a diesel powertrain, the new X-Trail is set to be launched as a petrol-hybrid only. Power will be sourced from a 2.0-litre petrol engine paired to an electric motor. The car will make its way to India as a CBU import only and as per sources, the pricing could be somewhere around the Rs 35 lakh mark.

Ford Mustang

Ford will be bringing the iconic Mustang to our shores shortly with the car set to be showcased at Auto Expo 2016 in February. The current car is the sixth-generation model, unveiled in 2014 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The new-generation model will be lighter and stiffer, with more space in the cabin that benefits from a major quality upgrade. Internationally, the Mustang is available in three engine options – a 306bhp 2.3-litre, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, a 296bhp 3.7-litre V6, and a 437bhp 5.0-litre V8 – and two body styles, coupé and convertible. The Mustang headed to India is expected to be the hard-top coupé avatar powered by the 437bhp 5.0-litre V8 mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. Expect prices to be somewhere around Rs 80 lakh.

Chevrolet Cruze facelift

Prior to the introduction of the all-new model in 2017, Chevrolet is set to give the Cruze a facelift. As part of the facelift, the car is expected to get revised bumpers, new fog lamps, LED daytime running lamps and other minor tweaks to the exterior. Inside, expect to see the introduction of the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system on the higher trim levels. Mechanically, the car will carry on using the 163.7bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.

Volkswagen compact sedan

Volkswagen will reveal its Polo-based compact sedan at Auto Expo 2016, with the launch expected to follow later this year. A rival to the Maruti Dzire, Tata Zest and Hyundai Xcent, the compact sedan from VW – codenamed ICS – is expected to sit at the top of the segment when launched and borrow all the mechanicals, such as the 1.2-litre MPI and TSI petrol engines and the 1.5-diesel unit, from its hatchback sibling.

BMW 3-series facelift

Another facelifted BMW heading to India is the 3-series with prototypes already undergoing testing in the country. For international markets, the facelifted car has been given styling tweaks along with a range of new engines. However, for India the engines are expected to remain unchanged.

New Toyota Innova

The next generation of the Innova has already been launched in international markets, and is expected to arrive on Indian shores early this year. Positioned as a more premium model than the previous generation model, the new car is larger than its predecessor. It is powered by a smaller but more powerful 2.4-litre diesel engine developing 147bhp – a power gap of 45bhp from the current model’s 2.5-litre unit that makes 102bhp. Styling is more in line with the new Corolla Altis and Camry with a large front grille, LED daytime running lamps and sculpted bumpers. Inside, there’s a more upmarket dashboard with a touchscreen infotainment system and new materials.

New BMW 7-series

The new 7-series will be making its way to India this year. Having been revealed at the Frankfurt motor show, the new car gets an evolutionary design language with a more prominent grille, new headlamps and fog-lamps, redesigned bumpers and a new interior. Lighter than the older generation, the new 7-series will come to India powered by a 3.0-litre 261bhp straight-six turbo-diesel or a 4.4-litre V8 turbo petrol developing 444bhp. The new car also comes loaded with technology such as optional laser headlamps, the new generation iDrive with touch and gesture control, night vision and fuel-saving technology such as engine start/stop function.