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

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

Competition in the 150cc segment is on an all-time high and Hero rides in its most powerful 150c offering yet to take on its rivals. Can brute force help the new Hero Xtreme Sports in delivering the killer punch?

The 150cc segment is a lucrative category for the two-wheeler manufacturers. It has healthier profit margins and good sales figure also for the price these bikes command. Owing to this fact every major player wants to make a mark in this segment but at the same time it is also among the toughest segments to crack. The only new launch to make a mark in the 150cc category is the Suzuki Gixxer. Hero can be credited as the founder for the 150cc market when it launched the CBZ in the late 1990’s and it was a huge leap for Indian motorcycle industry. 

But the Manesar based two-wheeler manufacturer hasn’t been able to maintain its clout in the 150cc segment despite the fact that it upgraded it with the CBZ Xtreme in 2011. The Hero CBZ Xtreme did well initially but sales figure dropped with every passing month. To arrest this slide, the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in India rode in the Xtreme. Sharp styling and a bagful of features was its talking point. But despite these factors, the Hero Xtreme failed to make an impression and one of the main reasons was the lack of refinement and enough punch from the powerplant.  Hero has taken notice of the above shortcomings and launched the new Xtreme Sports which is labelled as the most powerful 150cc Hero motorcycle. Can the new bike revive its fortune in the 150cc segment? We get you the answer.

Talking about design, it is hard to convince yourself that the Hero Xtreme Sports is a new motorcycle as the basic design is similar to the Hero Xtreme that we reviewed last year. But look closely and the design differences start to unveil. The headlamp profile is similar to the older bike but it now features a LED pilot lamp that does look good and it sports a sharper smoked windscreen also. The fuel tank is also same but gets tank shrouds to enhance its visual mass. But it disappointing from hence forth. Instead of adopting an all-new design language to make the bike look attractive, Hero designers have added components from the Hero CBZ Xtreme that was launched almost five years back. 

The split seats, grab handle, belly pan, exhaust muffler and the instrument console are a straight lift from the older offering.  And coming to the instrument console it’s the same unit from the 2011 model which is fine as the semi-digital instrument cluster is easy to read. But since the old console was fixed on the new bike ergonomics has gone for a toss. The keyhole has been positioned on the bikini fairing and to further complicate things it doesn’t have an engine kill switch. So a basic task of shutting the engine at a traffic signal turns taxing and we hope Hero fixes this design flaw.  Also the new instrument cluster loses out on features like service indicator, illuminated keyhole and engine immobilizer which are present on the Hero Xtreme.

The new motorcycle also skips the under seat mobile charger socket as seen on its sibling. Talking about build quality, the Switch gear and the hand grips are of good quality. The bike is also well put together with tight and even panel gaps while the paint quality was also impressive. Overall the Hero Xtreme Sports is a disappointing with respect to design and features as being an update we expected it to have better design language and extra list of features. 

The biggest talking point about the new Hero Xtreme Sports is its powerplant and was marketed as the 'Faster than Ever' owing to the fact it was its most powerful 150cc mill. The 149.2cc, air-cooled single cylinder engine pumps out 15.7PS at 8,500rpm and 13.5Nm at 7,000rpm. This makes it almost 1.5PS more powerful than the Hero Xtreme from which the motor has been sourced. The above power figures also make the new Hero Xtreme Sports among the highest power rated 150cc motorcycle offerings on sale. Talking about performance, acceleration is brisk and the bike picks momentum with eagerness. Among the biggest disappointment that we had with the Hero Xtreme that we tested last year was the lack of refinement. Hero engineers have worked on this aspect and the NVH levels of the Xtreme Sports are much better than its sibling.

Having said that it cannot match the engineering superiority of its Japanese rivals or that of the Bajaj Pulsar AS150. The engine has a good bottom end and mid-range performance which is useful in traffic or while overtaking on the highways but at the apex of its performance the Hero mill feels strained. Clutch action felt sluggish in comparison to modern 150cc motorcycles and it was the same case with the 5-speed gearbox as well and Hero boffins need to address these shortcomings. Also, the bike needs to shed weight as the current 147kg kerb weight acts as a hindrance in harnessing the full potential of the power on tap. Hero hasn’t claimed any mileage figures for the new Xtreme Sports. The bike returned us an overall fuel efficiency figure of 48kmpl which could be easily hiked to around 55kmpl if ridden calmly. 

Ride, Handling and Braking: 4/5

The new Hero Xtreme Sports rides on telescopic front forks and adjustable gas charged twin shock absorbers at the back. Ride quality of the motorcycle is impressive as it absorbed bumps and undulations effortlessly. The diamond type frame endows the motorcycle with decent handling dynamics. But the bike feels more at home on the streets than around corners. The Hero Xtreme Sports is impressively nimble and agile for a 150cc offering which is useful while riding in traffic clogged roads. We still feel had the bike lost a few extra kilograms the agility quotient would have gone a notch higher. The added weight also makes it difficult to pull out the bike from the parking spot. The bike that we tested was equipped with disc brake on both the wheels. Braking performance of the bike is impressive with good bite and feedback through the levers. 

Riding Ergonomics & Pillion Comfort:  3.5/5

Talking about riding dynamics, the Hero Xtreme sports employs a clip-on handle bar and mildly rear-set foot pegs. Initially the riding posture feels a bit odd but after riding few kilometres you get used to it and though a bit front biased it’s comfortable. The broad seat means that the one cannot snugly hold the fuel tank with his thighs. Also the seat height is on the higher side and shorter riders might find the Xtreme Sports a bit too tall for their likening. Pillion comfort is good as the aptly cushioned seat offers ample support while the split grab handle is easy to hold. 

In the form of the Hero Xtreme Sports, the country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer had the task of fixing the flaws associated with the Hero Xtreme. While the addition of power and refinement are welcome and definitely make their presence felt, but then the high kerb weight hampers in exploring the power gain. Styling of the bike is also disappointing owing to the parts being shared with a discontinued model. This mash up of old and new has resulted in flawed ergonomics which is beyond reasoning for a modern motorcycle. What further makes life difficult for the Hero Xtreme Sports is the fact that it lacks the features as seen on the Xtreme while commanding a premium of Rs 1,000. 

The new Hero Xtreme Sports has been priced at Rs 72,625 and Rs 75,725 for standard and double disc brake variant respectively (ex-showroom Delhi). One can argue the asking price for the Hero Xtreme Sports is competitive with respect to its rivals. But for a marginal premium the consumer could get hold of a much better engineered motorcycle and that is what we would also suggest. If you still want to stick to the Hero brand, the Hero Xtreme makes better sense than the Xtreme Sports. As apart from being cheaper, it also has better features and the only compromise will be marginal performance drop and refinement. 

Courtesy : Zigwheels

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