Fiat has announced that it will showcase a facelifted 500 on July 4, 2015. The refreshed 500 is expected to get minor changes on its exterior and interior to make it more in-line with its larger sibling, the 500X. The date is of great significance to the Italian brand, as the original 500 was launched on the same date way back in 1957, and it was also when the current 500 was unveiled to the public in 2007. The original three-door hatchback 500 has spawned a series of models since, followed by the 500C convertible, the larger five-door 500L and the off-roading 500L Trekking, the 500X crossover and the seven-seater 500L MPW. The 500 went through a facelift in 2014 and got a new digital dashboard and modifications made to the engine. The facelift this year is expected to see the car’s styling be tweaked to make it look more like the 500X, while on the inside it is expected to receive a 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and an overall improvement in quality. The new Fiat 500 is expected to make its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September. Courtesy: Autocar

BMW has officially unveiled the new 7-Series limousine. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Audi A8 rival features evolutionary design changes and the new car is lighter by up to 130 kgs, when compared to the outgoing model. The new BMW 7 Series is the first car in its segment in which industrially manufactured CFRP combines with steel and aluminium to form the new carbon core body structure. The fascia still looks familiar, with the highlight being the restyled headlamp clusters. Full LED headlights are standard, while buyers have the option of upgrading to the optional laser lights. The new 7-Series gets a few more additions like the LED fog lamps and restyled air dam, while the BMW kidney grille sits in direct contact with the bonnet. To the side, we see a silver insert that runs from the front fender to the end of the rear door, a thicker chrome surround for the windows and new wing mirrors. The rear end was among the first facets of the G11 7-Series to be spied and features new tail lights, with a chrome strip that runs between them and a tweaked rear bumper with dual tail pipes. On the inside, the iDrive display now features a touch screen and omega replica you also get the BMW gesture control. Hand movements detected by a 3D sensor control infotainment functions such as volume modulation and telephony. You can also pair a certain gesture with a specific function. The centre console also gets a new smartphone holder which allows wireless, inductive charging for mobile phones. Other features include 4-zone climate control, electrically adjustable seats with the massage function in the rear, seat ventilation, plus the optional executive lounge seating, executive lounge rear console and rear-seat entertainment with BMW touch command. The executive lounge seating option increases space in the rear seat behind the front passenger seat, which can slide forward by an additional 90 mm and has an electrically extendable footrest integrated into its backrest. The executive lounge rear console houses a fold-out table, additional cup-holders and the touch command system, which is a removable 7-inch tablet computer that facilitates control of the infotainment and comfort functions on offer. BMW also offers the remote control parking function, which parks the car using buttons on the new display key. The process is semi-automated and the key holder controls the forward and reverse functions while looking out for obstacles. Engine options are as follows: - 4.4L, petrol V8 that makes 442.5 BHP and 650 Nm of torque (750i xDrive / 750Li xDrive). - 3.0L, petrol V6 that makes 322 BHP and 450 Nm of torque (740i / 740Li). - 3.0L, diesel V6 that makes 26.1 BHP and 620 Nm of torque (730d / 730Ld / 730d xDrive / 730Ld xDrive). All engine comes mated with an eight-speed steptronic automatic transmission. A 2.0L, hybrid four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 322 BHP is also on offer (740e / 740Le / 740Le xDrive). Running on cheap fake watches uk the 94 BHP electric motor alone, the hybrid 7-Series can hit a top speed of 120 km/h and manage a range of around 40 kms. The new BMW 7 Series will be built, at the BMW Plant Dingolfing.

After the introduction of the Pulsar RS (Race Sport) and AS (Adventure Sport) series of motorcycles, Bajaj Auto is mulling the introduction of a new range of motorcycles in India under the Pulsar brand name. This new range will be called CS (Cruiser Sport). Bajaj had displayed the CS400 at the 2014 Auto Expo. The bike is a naked street fighter with a 375cc, 4-valve triple spark, fuel-injected engine and a 6-speed gearbox. The power and torque figures have not been disclosed. The bike has single disc brakes at the front and read with ABS. Other features include an inverted front suspension, monoshock rear suspension, a short, side-mounted exhaust, all-digital instrumentation and alloy wheels. The concept also had all LED lamps. It is possible that a 200cc version of the CS range (CS200) makes it to the market as well. It could share the RS200''s 199.5cc and 6-speed gearbox. This single-cylinder, 4-valve, liquid-cooled Triple Spark DTS-I power plant is capable of producing 24.2 bhp @ 9750 rpm and 18.6 Nm of torque @ 8000 rpm. Bajaj has lost a lot of ground to its competitors in the two-wheeler market. With the introduction of new models, it is trying to regain some of the market share. Courtesy : Team bhp

renault has released teaser images of its pickup truck. The commercial vehicle, a production version of the Oroch concept that was showcased last year, will debut on June 18 at the Buenos Aires auto show, Argentina. Based on the Duster, the pickup draws on all of its strengths, and is called a ‘Sport Utility Pickup’ by the carmaker. It’s a double cab pickup, with four doors and a five-seat arrangement. The vehicle is expected to get a spacious cabin, high ground clearance, 18-inch wheels and body cladding. The dashboard has a multimedia screen, and there are two cameras installed at the back of the dual cab. A rotary control on the centre console is used to operate the cameras. Engine options for international markets, are similar to the ones in the Duster. It gets 1.6- and 2.0-litre petrol engines. Although no name has been confirmed yet, it is likely that the Renault pickup will continue with the Oroch badge.

Nashik will receive a new automated vehicle inspection centre, functional from June 11. The facility will operate at the Nashik Regional Transport Office (RTO), and will be inaugurated by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. A variety of checks can be carried out at the facility including PUC certification, speedometer calibration, brake adjustment, suspension testing and wheel alignment checks. The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) will provide technical assistance at this facility that can service six to eight vehicles at a time. An elevated lobby has been created for vehicle owners. This project is funded by the Central Government and was first conceptualised in 2012. It was expected to be completed by 2013, but experienced unexpected technical delays. The officials at the Nashik RTO have confirmed that the preparations are running as per schedule. In 2014, at a seminar organised by the International Centre for Automotive Technology, P. Radhakrishnan, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways had confirmed that similar such test facilities will be set up in Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The vehicle testing centre at Nashik is a first in India, and is primarily targeted at removing human error and improving test efficiency. Courtesy:Autocar