All-new A4 sedan will be shown for the first time in India. Audi will also display the new R8 supercar at the stall.

Until very recently, Audi proudly possessed the claim of being the largest selling luxury car brand in India. Though it relegated that position to Mercedes-Benz in 2015, the brand appeal of the Four Rings is still very strong in the country. The German luxury carmaker will have an impressive list of cars on display at the 2016 Auto Expo, which signals its desire to win back its top spot on the sales charts.

The most important car of the lot for Audi, the replacement for one of its best-sellers. It’s the all-new A4, and as familiar as it looks, it is all new. It’s bigger, lighter and more luxurious than the outgoing model and also features reworked engines that are more powerful, lots more tech, as well as a better suspension set up. Subtle it may be, but the new A4 is all set to take rivals by the horns.

The show stealer at the Audi stall will undoubtedly be the all-new, second-generation R8 supercar. Replete with Le Mans tech, this is the fastest car Audi has ever made – so fast that both its top-speed and 0-100kph times start with the number ‘3’. Using an aluminium spaceframe combined with carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, the new R8 is propelled by a Lamborghini-sourced 5.2-litre V10 delivering power through a thoroughly revised Quattro all-wheel drive system. It looks a lot sharper too.

After the fast, we have the future, in the form of the Prologue concept. This low slung, two-door coupé is a glimpse of Audis to come. First showcased at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, the taut-looking concept packs a 600-plus-bhp, 4.0-litre V8. The impressive numbers aside, the Prologue is all about the ‘oohs and aahs’ its slick shape will elicit. It is loaded with future-proof tech, and signals the next direction Audi’s design language will take.

Also on stand will be the Audi A8 L Security. A heavily armoured A8, this luxury limousine can stop a bullet in its tracks, withstand grenade explosions, and probably everything else thrown its way, short of a nuclear attack. And while your car is fighting all types of attacks, you can kick back in your lounge seat, soaking in supreme luxury. 

Courtesy : Autocar

The new V15 motorcycle from Bajaj will be launched towards the end of March; to be priced somewhere between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000.

Even before they were revealed, Bajaj’s new 'V' family of motorcycles gained instant appreciation and fame for having been made from the metal of the scrapped warship, INS Vikrant. The video that teased the 'V' family gave us only a glimpse of the new motorcycle, or motorcycles, that were to come. Now Bajaj has taken the wraps off the new V range and here’s when we come to know just how exciting the motorcycles are.

Cruiser? Or, Café racer

The new V is more café-racer albeit with a hint of cruiser. This is down to the stance because of the 18-inch front and 16-inch rear tyres. Its contemporary design mixes sporty and muscular bringing a new flavour to the commuter space. Bajaj has taken many cracks at the commuter space and this family of motorcycles looks set to live alongside their successful and more simple-looking Discover range. From the wind deflector on the headlamp to the boat-tail rear, and the swoopy design in between, there’s a lot to like on the V. The chrome dual shock absorbers at the rear, the white contrast stitching on the seat, the removable cowl for the rear seat and the smart instrument cluster, all make it very appealing. The instrument cluster features a fuel gauge that switches from green to red as the fuel level dips really low. Chunky tyres give it a stronger stance and the smart, slim ten-spoke alloy wheels are hung off telescopic forks with blacked-out siders.

Underneath it all…

When it comes to the chassis the V has a fairly conventional setup that is aimed to provide durability and reliability. The chassis is a dual-cradle setup and uses stouter than usual 33mm diameter telescopic forks at the front and twin shock absorbers at the rear. The engine is an air-cooled DTS-i 150cc two-valve, four-stroke motor. In keeping with its target audience a kick-start has been offered as standard with an electric start variant on offer. This engine makes 11.8bhp of power. That puts the V about 2bhp down on power compared to its 150cc siblings in the Discover family.

The V also boasts of 1.3kgm of torque. Due to its two-valve head, it offers a solid 1.2kgm of torque from 3,000rpm, while peak torque is available at 5,500rpm. Fuel efficiency though hasn’t been disclosed yet, but you can expect that the V will surpass the Discover 150’s company claimed fuel efficiency of 75kpl by a big margin.  The V15 isnt a motorcycle for high speed cruising but will be easy to ride. The V15 will offer a real word fuel economy figure of about 60kpl with pillion on board, according to company sources. 

Production will commence on February 5, 2016, with the  launch scheduled to take place towards the end of March. Prices will be revealed closer to delivery date, and are expected to be somewhere between Rs 60,000 and 70,000.  

Courtesy : Autocar