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

New Toyota Fortuner’s chassis is lighter but stiffer; gets part time 4WD.

Toyota, it seems, is making good on its promise of producing ‘no boring cars’. How else can you explain the radical looks of the all-new, second-generation Fortuner, slated for an early launch towards the end of the year? Very different from the car it replaces, the new Fortuner is built on the new Toyota light truck platform. Thing is, unlike the current car, it looks nothing like the truck on which it is based.

The design language is now more in line with current-gen Toyota off-roaders sold internationally. Up front, the look of the car is characterised by the wedge shaped bonnet and the long, Camry-like headlights that are recessed well back. Big, fat chrome bars have been used to help define the V-shaped grille and there’s loads of chrome around the sunken fog lamps as well. Toyota has also used LED daytime-running lamps to help add ‘bling’ to the nose. 

Moving to the sides, the wheel arches now get a ‘square’ profile and are large enough to take the big 12-spoke alloy wheels. The sides are characterised by two design elements that stand out. The first is a ‘floating or pillar-less’ roof that Toyota has used to great effect. And then there’s that kink in the beltline that looks radical and really sets the Fortuner apart. It’s quite new-age from the rear as well. The pillar-less glass breaks up the mass quite nicely, the sleek tail-lights merge with the bar of chrome well and the wide rear bumper stops the SUV from looking too top heavy.

But though the new Fortuner looks much sleeker, it’s still a traditional body-on-frame SUV under the skin. The chassis, however, is new. Shared with the Hilux pick-up, it is lighter and stiffer, but Toyota says it is just as rugged as that of the earlier SUV. While the front suspension is similar to the new Hilux pick-up, the Fortuner gets a more passenger-friendly five-link coil spring suspension at the rear. The new Fortuner is, interestingly, built on the same 2,750mm wheelbase as earlier. The new car, though, is now not as focussed on off-road use. Ground clearance is lower at 193mm, versus the earlier car’s 220mm, the earlier Fortuner’s full-time four-wheel-drive system has now been replaced by a part-time system and the new Fortuner will be available in 2WD too. 4WD variants will get shift-on-the-fly tech as well. Four-wheel-drive cars will also get the option of a rear differential lock and hill descent control.

The other big change on the next-gen Fortuner will be Toyota’s new GD series engines. They comprise two diesels  – a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel, expected to replace the current 2.5-litre diesel unit, and a 2.8-litre motor that will replace the current 3.0-litre unit. The new 2.4-litre 2GD-FTV motor is rated at 148bhp and 40.78kgm of torque while  the larger 2.8-litre 1GD-FTV is rated at 175bhp and 45.9kgm of torque. Transmission choices will include a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic, depending on the variant.

Inside, the dashboard is also more modern soft roader than full-fat SUV. Similar to the current-generation Corolla Altis sold in India, it gets a mix of dark and light brown soft-touch materials and faux aluminium. The large infotainment screen sits at the centre and the controls for HVAC are placed below. On higher trims, the seven-seat cabin will get leather seats and a new four-spoke steering wheel with audio and Bluetooth controls.

The Toyota Fortuner is likely to come with features such as a rear-view camera, seven airbags, hill descent control, rear AC vents, touchscreen, 17-inch wheels, disc brakes front and rear, and a cooled glove box. Higher variants are likely to come with reverse parking sensors, keyless smart entry and start, downhill assist control, LED headlamps and LED DRLs.

Toyota is expected to bring the new Fortuner to India towards the end of the year or early next year, when it will compete with the likes of the new Ford Endeavour and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. Since the new series of engines will be assembled and made in India, Toyota could launch the new Fortuner at a more attractive price, which could really shake the market up.

Courtesy : Autocar

Ford's first compact sedan, the Figo Aspire will be launched tomorrow to take on the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent and Tata Zest

Ford is all set to commence a major sales boost to the company, years after the EcoSport was launched with the new Figo Aspire. The Figo Aspire will launch tomorrow and will compete in the busy but fast selling compact Sedan segment. Cars like the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent and Tata Zest are top contenders in this segment.

The Figo Aspire, as the name suggests is a sedan version of the next generation Figo that is also due in the coming months. The Aspire is one of the best proportioned and designed cars going by the standards of this segment. Key design features are the bold chrome lined Aston Martin like grille and the prominent bonnet and waist line. The rear ends in a typically stubby but layered boot and bumper.

The Figo Aspire is expected to come quite heavily loaded with features. Aside from the standard Bluetooth telephony, integrated infotainment system and steering mounted phone and audio controls, it comes with automatic climate control and height adjustable seats. All versions of the Aspire come standard with ABS and two airbags. The top of the line Aspire on the other hand comes with a staggering six airbags. This is the first time a car in this class comes with six airbags.

Ford will offer the Figo Aspire with a choice of three engines and two gearboxes. The petrol unit is a 1.2-litre Ti-VCT mill that delivers 88PS and 112Nm. The diesel engine is the 1.5-litre unit that also powers the Fiesta and EcoSport. It develops 100PS of power and 215Nm of max torque, about 10PS more than the Fiesta and EcoSport. Both come mated with 5-speed manual gearboxes. There is an a six-speed dual clutch automatic on offer. This gearbox comes mated to a stronger 1.5-litre petrol developing 110PS and 136Nm.

Courtesy : Zigwheels

The bespoke Wraith is the final car from a trilogy of special models which includes the Wraith ‘Inspired by Fashion’ and Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’.

Rolls Royce has revealed the last in a trilogy of bespoke Wraith models called the Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’. The previous two bespoke models from the trilogy were the Wraith ‘Inspired by Fashion’ and Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’.

As per the carmaker, the stand-out feature on the latest bespoke Wraith is the 1300W, 18-channel sound system with two bass speakers, seven tweeters, seven mid-range speakers and two exciter speakers which is currently available as an option on the standard Wraith. The exciter speakers are units fitted into the headlining to add to the experience. Rolls Royce says that it took two years to develop the system which it claims can UK Wrist Replica Watches Cheap Sale,Rolex Breitling Omega ... replicate the live music experience. The system also features microphones located around the cabin to monitor outside noise and adjust volume settings.

The Wraith gets a copper-themed paint scheme inside and out along with a new leather trim on the doors and floor mats. The speaker grilles also follow the exterior paint scheme with a copper theme along with the words ‘Bespoke Audio’ engraved into the units.

The Wraith remains mechanically unchanged with the 624bhp 6.6-litre V12 mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox carried over from the standard model.

The Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’ will be available for order in India with prices expected to be around Rs 6.8 crore ex-showroom.

Courtesy : Autocar

Maruti Suzuki has released a teaser video announcing that the YRA will be officially christened as Baleno. The new Maruti Baleno will be a premium hatchback and compete against the Hyundai Elite i20 and Honda Jazz. The new Maruti car will be unveiled on September 15th in Germany

The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross has received good response as more than 6,000 cars have been booked within a week of its launch. Now Maruti Suzuki is gearing up for its next onslaught which was codenamed YRA and showcased at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. It was rumoured that the Maruti YRA (internationally known as iK-2) would be christened Fronx but the manufacturer has announced that it will be named Baleno. The new Maruti Baleno will make its debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany scheduled next month.

The new Maruti Baleno will be a premium Hatchbackpositioned above the Swift, and just like the Maruti S-Cross will be marketed through Maruti's upmarket Nexa showrooms across India. The task on hand of the new Maruti Baleno is cut-out as it will rival the likes of the Hyundai Elite i20, Honda Jazz and the Volkswagen Polo.

The Baleno name isn’t alien to Indian consumers as Maruti Suzuki had a similarly named Sedan in the Indian market before it was replaced by the Maruti SX4. But since the old Baleno sedan received luke warm response in the market, it will be interesting to see whether Maruti Suzuki would adopt the "Baleno" name again for the new hatchback in India.

It is expected that Maruti Suzuki will load the new Baleno hatchback to the brim with features. Expect the new premium hatchback from Maruti to get goodies like start/stop button, touch screen infotainment system, Bluetooth, climate control and the works alongwith cruise control to set it apart from its rivals. 

The new Maruti Baleno hatchback will get both petrol and diesel engine options. Expect the diesel engine to be the tried and tested 1.3-litre DDiS unit producing 90 PS of power. The petrol variant might get two engine options one of which would be the 1.2-litre displacement powerplant while it will be unveiling a new 1.0-litre dual-jet Booster jet engine. According to Suzuki the new 1.0-litre turbocharged motor is an all-new unit and all the details regarding the new mill will be unveiled at the e 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show on September 15th. ZigWheels will be present at the motor show in Germany and get you all the details regarding the new premium hatchback. Watch this space for more updates. 

Courtesy : Zigwheels