Stunning styling n All-new 1.6 turbo-diesel and 1.4 turbo-petrol n Spacious cabin n Rs 12-15 lakh n Early 2017 launch

The all-new Chevrolet Cruze, globally unveiled in Detroit in June 2015, is a big deal for General Motors and there will be a lot riding on its well-sculpted shoulders when it goes on sale internationally in 2016. The Cruze is the best-selling Chevy in the world and is sold in more than 40 markets. It’s a different story in India, where the current Cruze has sold around 1,200 units a year of late and competes in the niche executive sedan segment, which has been shrinking over the years.

It possibly explains why GM India is taking its own sweet time bringing it to our market. Whilst an India reveal is expected at the 2016 Auto Expo next February, the all-new Cruze won’t go on sale till early 2017. The delay is possibly because of the lead time needed for localisation to achieve a competitive price, but the more likely reason is that India isn’t a high priority in the global rollout of the car. So, is it worth waiting for then? It’s actually got all the makings of a winner, provided GM India can breathe some life into the Chevrolet brand by the time it’s launched.

The styling is simply top class and we can’t think of an executive sedan that looks better. The chiselled exterior, replete with creases, gives the Cruze a sharper look. The front looks particularly good, with the creased bonnet, two-part grille, especially the pouty hexagonal lower half that really stands out. The sharp headlights come with LED daytime-running lights and neatly sweep up near the grille.

Not many cars look great in side profile but the Cruze is stunning even from this angle. The proportions are spot-on, the swooping roof gives a sporty coupé-like look and the 17-inch wheels nicely fill up the wheel wells, giving the car a superb stance. There are lots of nice details in the rear as well, and the sharply cut bumper and two-part tail-lights look great. A big thumbs up for the styling then, which is a huge battle won.

The interiors don’t disappoint either. Drop down past the low roof and you’re greeted by a cabin that feels quite luxurious and upmarket. Like the current car, the new Cruze’s interior gets a ‘dual-cockpit’ design and comes with a piano-black or brushed-aluminium finish, along with multiple soft-touch surfaces on the dash and other parts. A large screen sits at the centre of the dash and is surrounded by two vertical air-con vents. In terms of quality and fit-and-finish, although the new Cruze is a big step in the right direction, it still doesn’t quite match the likes of the Jetta and Octavia.

Thanks to the Cruze’s larger dimensions, there’s more space on the inside, especially at the rear, where you get an extra 51mm of knee room. Overall legroom is very impressive, even with the front seats pushed back to accommodate a six-foot driver. The rear seat is also more generous, with increased thigh support, but to compensate for the swooping roof line, the rear seats are set a touch too low. You have to contort a bit to slip under the low roof, but once you’ve settled down, headroom is surprisingly generous. Look closely and you’ll notice an indent in the roof liner above the passenger’s head, which liberates precious extra inches. Hence, six-footers at the back won’t have much cause to complain, except that the windows are a touch too small.

The front seats are supportive and heavily contoured, which keeps you snug, but again, are also set low. However, the low dashboard allows for a good line of sight and all-round visibility is pretty good.

If the US model is anything to go by, we expect Chevrolet to pack the new Cruze with lots of features and equipment when it comes to India. At the unveil, the car came equipped with features like GM’s MyLink infotainment system that employs a seven-inch touchscreen and is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also available was the MyLink radio with a larger eight-inch display that also gets navigation and Apple CarPlay. Other features include wireless phone charging, heated rear seats, and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. The last few items certainly won’t come to India but the rear-view camera is likely. The India car might get a localised version of GM’s popular OnStar communications system which boasts 4G connectivity along with a Wi-Fi hotspot feature for higher trims.

There are big changes under the skin of the new Cruze, which is an amazing 100kg lighter than the older car. According to GM, it features one of the most mass-efficient chassis systems currently available in the market and it also gets a 27 percent stiffer body than its predecessor. So we expect the ride and handling to be much improved too.

The car is likely to come to India with two new engine options. The current 2.0-litre diesel will be replaced by a smaller, state-of-the-art, 1.6-litre variable-geometry turbo-diesel. This advanced powertrain, which features latest injection technology and new, low-friction components, is expected to be much more fuel efficient too. Power and torque figures haven’t been revealed yet, though we expect it to be a bit down on power compared to the current 164bhp 2.0-litre motor. GM engineers have hinted that figures will be in the ballpark of 135bhp and 32.6kgm.

GM also claims that this new engine will set a benchmark as far as refinement is concerned, going so far as to say that it will be ‘whisper-quiet’. With demand for petrol coming back, Chevrolet, for the first time in India, will offer the Cruze with a petrol option – the 1.4 ‘Ecotec’ with direct injection and a turbo, developing 153bhp and 24.47kgm of torque, which should offer strong performance and decent fuel efficiency too.

The new Cruze will sport the same suspension set-up as the current car – MacPherson struts up front and non-independent torsion beam at the rear. We also expect it to get larger 17-inch rims compared to the 16-inchers in the current car.

Overseas, the Cruze gets safety features such as 10 airbags, ESP, rollover mitigation and ABS, along with disc brakes on all four wheels as standard on all trims. There are also advanced safety features like Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Keep Assist and Forward Collision Alert. If not all, we expect most of these safety gadgets to make it here.

There’s no doubt that the new Cruze, which is improved in each and every area, will be a quantum leap ahead of the car it replaces, but what remains to be seen is how effectively GM India can price it. Can this car turn GM India’s fortunes around? Not quite. But its stunning looks, state-of-the-art engine and feature-packed cabin could change the perception of Chevrolet in India.

Courtesy : Autocar

The performance brand will offer three models – the Abarth 595, Abarth Punto and Avventura ‘Powered by Abarth’.

With the launch of the high-performance Abarth 595, Fiat has introduced its performance brand, Abarth, in India. The 595 is the halo car for the performance brand, with two other models slated to be positioned below it as mass-market offerings. The first of the two models to be launch is the Abarth Punto, and the second, the Fiat Avventura ‘Powered by Abarth’.

Founded in 1949 by Carlo Abarth, the Abarth brand was created to build cars as well as modify and improve existing road and race cars. The scorpion badge was derived from Abarth’s zodiac sign – Scorpio. The brand worked on several models for the road and race track before creating the original Abarth 500 way back in 1958 with a 26bhp 479cc engine. The Abarth 595 was born in 1963, by increasing the existing engine capacity of the Abarth 500 to 595cc.

In India, the Abarth 595 is the essentially a more beefed-up version of the Abarth 500. Though looking almost like the standard car save for a different body kit, the 595 has a completely different mechanical set-up. Under the hood is a 158bhp 1.4-litre turbo-petrol motor, developing up to 23.45kgm of torque as per the drive mode, mated to a five-speed AMT gearbox with paddle shifters. The suspension has been lowered and stiffened to add to the car’s racing feel.
Inside, there are race seats up front and an Abarth-badged flat-bottomed steering wheel. The instrument cluster is an all-digital affair while a boost gauge sits atop the dashboard in a separate pod with a shift indicator light incorporated at its centre.

The first of the more mass-market offerings from the brand is the Abarth Punto. Though at a first glance it can be mistaken for the standard Punto Evo 90HP, the car does get mechanical and styling modifications. The biggest change is the engine. The comparatively tame standard engines have been replaced by a 145bhp 1.4-litre T-Jet motor. The suspension has been lowered so that the car sits 20mm closer to the ground, and has also been stiffened. The stopping power has also been enhanced with disc brakes now at the rear as well.

On the styling front, the Fiat badge has been replaced by Abarth badge inside and out, while the wheels too are now ‘scorpion’ styled alloys. Other changes include colour-contrast inserts on the front grille, both bumpers and wing-mirror covers, along with Abarth decals on the outside and the use of sportier steel pedals on the inside, and red and yellow contrast stitching on the all- black interior. The Punto is expected to go on sale sometime around Diwali with prices likely to be under Rs 10 lakh.

The second of the models to be launched is the Fiat Avventura ‘Powered by Abarth’. The Avventura, unlike the Abarth Punto, isn’t a proper Abarth. In the styling department, the car is likely to remain untouched by the performance brand, while mechanically only the 145bhp 1.4-litre T-Jet unit is to be introduced under its hood. The Avventura would also become the first model ever to wear the ‘Powered by Abarth’ badge rather than the iconic scorpion badge itself.

Speaking at the launch of its halo model, Fiat India CEO, Kevin Flynn said that the introduction of the Abarth brand was much needed to spice up the company’s offering in India. He also said that with this performance brand, Fiat was now looking to achieve a four percent market share in the coming years.

Courtesy : Autocar

It's the sportier-looking twin of the Honda CB Unicorn 160; to be launched Diwali 2015.

Honda has long positioned the Unicorn as a premium commuter, which was good on almost all fronts. Recently, the company gave the motorcycle a larger heart too, replacing the 150cc unit with a 160cc one. Although a great performer, the Unicorn missed out on an important factor — sportiness. Now Honda has taken the wraps off of the CB Hornet 160R - a sportier, more aggressively styled twin of the Unicorn.

The Hornet gets a shorter single-piece handlebar, a new headlight unit and plastic bits on the tank to add muscle to the overall appearance; the stubby silencer with an aluminum-finished shroud adds to the look. There's also the aluminum-finished grab rails for the pillion. Stopping the bike are petal discs on the front and the rear, which work together through Honda's combi-brake system.  Front suspension is taken care of by a telescopic pair of forks, while the rear suspension duties are performed by a mono-spring. The wheels on the CB Hornet 160R are 10 spoke alloys on the front and the rear.

The engine is the tried and tested Honda 160cc unit. We expect the performance to be the same as the CB Unicorn available in the market, however this can be confirmed only once we get to test the CB Hornet 160R for our extensive review.

Upon launch, the Hornet is expected to compete with other motorcycles such as the Yamaha FZ-S V2.0 and will try to dethrone the current class-leader – the Suzuki Gixxer, in the 150-160cc class, performance and naked motorcycle segment.

Courtesy : Autocar

Production of the Mobilio and Amaze to be cut down to meet increasing demand for the Jazz hatchback

Launched on July 8, Honda’s new Jazz seems to have already struck a chord with customers. The carmaker sold 6,676 units of the Jazz through July, making it the highest-selling car for the company that month.

However, Honda is facing a capacity crunch at both its Tapukara and Greater Noida manufacturing facilities; both units are running two shifts, and have reached full capacity. To match the demand for the new Jazz, the carmaker has begun juggling production at these plants.

A few months ago, sister publication Autocar Professional, had reported on the likelihood of the Brio hatchback or the Mobilio MPV’s production being brought down to bump up the Jazz's production. It is now believed that the carmaker has already brought down production of the Mobilio by 5-10 percent, at Tapukara, to make space for the Jazz. Though the MPV is produced at the Greater Noida plant, any cut in its volumes is adjusted against the Amaze sedan which is manufactured at both these facilities. Thus, production numbers of the Amaze are spiked up at Greater Noida and juggled at Tapukara to make way for the new Jazz. This is also one of the factors that has affected the sales of the Amaze — down in July to 4,589 units from the 6,834 units in June.

The new Jazz currently has a waiting period of 1-2 months and Jnaneswar Sen, Senior Vice President – Marketing and Sales, told Autocar Professional that the sales for the petrol variant stand at 60 percent, with diesels contributing to the rest. The CVT edition of the Jazz has raked in sales of 25 percent.

Courtesy : Autocar

Fiat will officially launch its performance brand Abarth today and the first car from its stables will be the 595 Competizione

Fiat India is all set to sting India with its high performance Abarth brand as the company readies the launch of its first product from the Abarth stable, the 595 Competizione. The 595 Competizione will take on the Mini Cooper S is the premium hot  Hatchback  segment.

Based on the cute Fiat 500 hatchback, the 595 Competizione comes with an equal doze of adrenaline and aggression to transform the 500 into a hot hatchback. Powering the 595 Competizione is a 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol engine (Fiat’s famed T-Jet) but tweaked to produce a healthy dose of power and torque – 160PS and 230Nm to be precise. The Abarth 595 Competizione will come mated to a 5-speed AMT gearbox with steering mounted paddle shifters. The 595 comes with two driving modes – Drive (D) and Sport (S), for regular and enthusiastic driving respectively.

While the power and torque figures aren’t high up to hot hatch standards, the 595 if a light car at just 1045 kg. It’s also just a shade over 3.6 metres long and 1.6 metres wide and so it does the 0-100kmph sprint in just 7.6 seconds and hits a top speed of 209kmph. 

The Abarth 595 gets sportier bumpers, stronger brakes, stiffer suspension, the likes over a stock 500. Sporty side skirts and 17 inch Abarth wheels make the 595 a lot more menacing than its little brother. With a roof spoiler and 595 Competizione badges, there is no mistaking it from the donor car. On the Replica Watches UK Sale,Cheap Quality Replica Watches Shop features front, the 595 gets air conditioning, and an entertainment system but no LCD touchscreen or satellite navigation. It however comes with a cool boost gauge. 

Expect Fiat to price the Abarth 595 Competizione in the Rs 25-30 lakh bracket, ex-showroom Delhi.

Courtesy : Zigwheels