The Cruze hatchback is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 153bhp.

Chevrolet has revealed first images and details of its new Cruze hatchback prior to its public reveal at the Detroit auto show.

The hatchback has the same 2,700mm wheelbase as the Cruze sedan, but it has a modified roofline that ends with a spoiler, giving the model a sporty look. The car offers a boot space of 524 litres with the rear seats in position and 1,198 litres with the seats folded down.

Like the sedan, the Cruze hatchback is powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 153bhp at 5,600rpm and 24.47kgm of torque at 2,000rpm. The engine is mated to a standard six-speed manual and gets the option of a six-speed automatic gearbox. 

The car gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard, and a number of safety and assistance systems can be ordered as extra.

The next-gen Cruze hatchback will go on sale internationally in late 2016 and will be available in two trim levels along with the option of Chevrolet’s RS performance package.

Courtesy : Autocar

The Bolt is Chevrolet’s first dedicated EV since the EV1; shares battery technology with the new Volt.

Chevrolet has revealed the all-new, all-electric Bolt hatchback at the Consumer Electronics Show 2016 in Las Vegas. The car is the company’s first dedicated EV model since the EV1, which went out of production way back in 1999.

The Bolt shares much of its styling with its concept namesake that was revealed in January 2015. The changes in design include a larger grille flanked by more conventional headlamps with LED elements, revised bumpers and tail-gate and blacked out wing mirrors and C-pillars.

The Bolt is based on a new front-wheel-drive platform structure and uses the same lithium-ion battery technology as the second-generation Chevrolet Volt, providing it with a claimed zero-emission range of over 320km.

Inside, the production Bolt gets a dual-tone interior with a dashboard dominated by a centrally located 10.2-inch MyLink infotainment system which as per the company offers a "customisable, widget-based 'flip-board style' operation", a surround view system that allows the driver to get a bird's-eye view of the car's surrounding, a wireless smartphone charger and an EV-specific navigation system with locations of charging stations. The car also comes with a new MyChevrolet mobile app that allows users to remotely control specific functions along with providing services such as OnStar mapping service, vehicle charge status and service scheduling.

"The Bolt EV is capable of using the latest mobile app technology to enable car sharing, advanced GPS routing and gamification, all designed to enhance the ownership experience, now and into the future," said General Motors boss Mary Barra at the car's unveiling.

The American automaker, however, did not reveal specifications of the car's powertrain, but details are expected when the car makes its public debut at the Detroit motor show later this month.
The all-new Bolt will be manufactured at General Motor’s Orion facility near Detroit which is currently being upgraded to handle the model’s production. The Bolt will rival the likes of the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3 in international markets when launched.

Courtesy : Autocar

1.    Audi A8
Sure, an automatic gearbox has to deal with the job of just selecting driving modes and basic automatic duties like park, neutral and drive, but when you are in a flagship Audi, it must also feel like the command centre of a luxurious speedboat. So there you go, the A8 comes with a lever that looks like a marine throttle stick. Neat indeed.

2.    Bentley Mulsanne
Whether you are driving a Bentley or being driven in one, the world is at your command. The grip of the shifter has to be solid and chunky then, don’t you think? High quality leather stitched to perfection and a rounded metal top with the Bentley logo to boost your pride seems just about right.

3.    Jaguar XJ
The Brits also like it cool and classy, so where Bentley has its lever much in your face figuratively, Jaguar likes to hide its selector flush with the centre console when not in use. Thumb the starter and a textured metal-finished rotary raises itself to life. Very cool, Jaguar, very cool!

4.    Lamborghini Huracan
The folks at Sant’Agata Bolognese love their supercars like they love airplanes. The theme inside the Huracan is one of toggles and flip switches, pretty similar to what you’d find inside a top-dog fighter plane. While there are buttons to shift you from park to drive, god forbid you accidentally click one to go to reverse. Can’t make such a mistake, can you? So Lamborghini gave the reverse selector a rather lovely lever that tugs to the back to engage.

5.    Volvo XC90
The new XC90 has one of the best luxury SUV cabins on offer around the world. All credit must be given to the interior designers of the luxury SUV for crafting such a heavenly cabin. No detail was overlooked, and that extends even to the shifter. It’s made of crystal and gives the car that extra premium feeling.

Courtesy : Zigwheels

The future could witness a highway full of autonomous cars with their occupants sitting back watching their favourite TV shows in high definition

The concept of self-driven cars looks more and more realistic with every passing month. After all the recent developments in the autonomous car quarters in California, some companies are now thinking one step further to complement modern-day media needs in these future vehicles. At the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, Volvo revealed that it is developing intelligent, high bandwidth, streaming capabilities with its technology partner, Ericsson, that will ensure drivers and passengers get the most out of their time travelling in an autonomous Volvo, said a press release. 

“We recently unveiled our design vision for fully autonomous cars with Concept 26. Now we are actively working on future solutions to deliver the best user experience in fully autonomous mode,” said Anders Tylman General Manager Volvo Monitoring & Concept Center at Volvo Car Group in the release.

He added, “Imagine a highway full of autonomous cars with their occupants sitting back watching their favourite TV shows in high definition. This new way of commuting will demand new technology, and a much broader bandwidth to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.”

Researchers at Ericsson believe that around 70 per cent of all mobile data traffic in the coming years will be from video. Thus, they have recognised the need for tailor-made content to be provided to customers when they are travelling in an autonomous car. 

“If you want to watch the latest episode of your favourite series, the car will know how long the journey needs to take and can optimize the route and driving control accordingly. With autonomous drive it is no longer just a question of just getting from A to B quickly – it’s about the experience you wish to have in the car – how you wish to spend the time you are saving,” said Tylman.

“With our future autonomous drive technology we will provide people with the freedom to choose the way they would like to commute and the content they would like to experience,” he concluded.

Courtesy : Zigwheels