Fiat could equip the Linea with same engine as the Abarth Punto – the 143bhp 1.4-litre T-Jet petrol.

Fiat recently revealed the Abarth Punto along with the 595 Competizione at the BIC.

The 143bhp hot hatchback is scheduled to roll into showrooms during the upcoming festive season. The next model to get the Abarth treatment will be the Avventura, but Fiat is also considering a high-performance Abarth version of the Linea.

The company seems to have taken note of the positive feedback that the Abarth Punto has received, and hence the same 143bhp T-Jet turbo petrol engine could be available in the Linea. It is also likely that the other mechanical changes such as rear disc brakes, stiffened suspension and lowered ride height (20mm) will make it to the sedan, if the car gets cleared for production.

Like seen on the Abarth Punto, the Abarth Linea could get certain upgrades to design.

The Linea has struggled to keep up with its segment rivals, and is now beginning to show its age. But with the sedan getting the Abarth badge, Fiat will not only inject some much-needed excitement into the car, but will also allow it to cater to enthusiasts looking for a powerful-yet-affordable mid-size sedan.

Courtesy : Autocar

Ducati dealers in India have started accepting bookings for the Ducati Multistrada 1200 for an amount of Rs 1 lakh

Ducati India has started accepting bookings for an amount of Rs 1 lakh for the Ducati Multistrada 1200.

The Ducati Multistrada 1200 will be available from November 2015 and is expected to start at around Rs 17 lakh ex-showroom. The bike is not available at dealerships and individual units will be imported based on demand and bookings.

The Ducati Multistrada 1200 is powered by the Ducati Testastretta DVT, equipped with Desmodromic Valve Variable Timing (DVT). The 1198cc L-twin DVT makes 160PS of power at 9,500rpm and almost 136Nm of torque at 7,500rpm. Drive is through a wet, slipper-type clutch.

The Multistrada 1200 comes equipped with cornering ABS, Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), four-mode Ride-by-Wire and the latest Ducati Skyhook suspension, which is standard on the Multistrada S version. The Multistrada S also features a new full-LED headlight with corner lighting technology. 

Courtesy : Autocar

Japanese company is not keen on alliances with other global automakers; banking on Maruti and India for bigger scale. Plans to launch 20 models in five years.

The president of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Toshihiro Suzuki has stated that his company is not keen on striking an alliance with another global automaker in the near future. “We have just come out of a divorce (with VW), so we are not thinking of getting into another marriage immediately. I am not sure whether getting into a collaboration with another automaker is such a good idea anymore,” he said.

Suzuki plans to go at it alone and will explore cooperation with component suppliers for new technologies. “There are various technologies we are developing and our are engineers are investigating whether we should do it on our own or in collaboration with component suppliers,” he said.

The Japanese company currently produces around 3 million cars globally which is far below the scale of top manufacturers like Toyota, GM and VW, each of which produce around 10 million vehicles a year. However, Suzuki doesn’t feel it needs more volumes to survive on its own. “I am not of the view that it is only companies with large volumes that can survive. There are big and small players and both survive so I don’t think that scale is an issue going forward”

However, it is banking on Maruti for future growth. “By 2025 India is expected to become the third-largest market in the world and hence in the overall future strategy of Suzuki, Maruti’s role is becoming increasingly important,” stated Suzuki. But he concedes that fake rolex watches banking so heavily on India “is a risk” but added that “there are lots of bright spots and opportunities for further growth as well”.

Suzuki has tasked Maruti with an ambitious sales target of 2 million cars in India.  “This will be a big achievement for us and Suzuki and Maruti are working together as a team to develop the Indian market further. We will also look at other markets like Africa together,” said the Suzuki president. There is an ambitious plan in place to launch 20 new models in the next five years and most of those could be headed to India. “Except for the kei-jidosha (for the Japanese market only), cars we will bring all our models to India.” He also hinted that with the growing aspiration of consumers in India, he would look at “gradually going upmarket with more premium models”. Currently, the only models that cater to the higher segments are the S-Cross and Ciaz.

Suzuki also has plans to beef up the R&D capabilities of Maruti. The company has invested upwards of Rs. 2,000 crore in a state-of-the-art R&D facility in Rohtak, Haryana, which is geared to design and develop vehicles from the ground up.

“We have started the process of product development in India as we did with Suzuki Motor corporation fifty years ago. Eventually, I want Maruti to build its own R&D expertise and be in a position to eventually develop cars for Suzuki too,” said Toshihiro Suzuki, convinced that it will be Maruti and India that will chart the future of fake rolex watches uk his company.

Courtesy : Autocar

Showcasing advanced aerodynamic technology, the Concept IAA hints at future CLS design.

Not long after Mercedes released teaser images of the Concept IAA, the car has been officially launched at the Frankfurt motor show. IAA stands for Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile, and the concept features an extendable body. At 80kph the elements in the tail section extend, increasing the total length of the car by 390mm.

The IAA concept is 100mm longer than the CLS and with the body fully stretched in aerodynamic mode, is longer than the S-class. The wheelbase too is 100mm longer than the current-gen E and CLS-class which hints at the possibility of larger interior space in future models. The interior of the IAA previews the upcoming E-class and is based on the current S-class.

Mercedes' Concept IAA features a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid system used in the C350e Plug-in Hybrid which pairs a 208bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an 80bhp electric motor and gives out 275bhp and 61.10kgm of torque.

Mercedes is yet to provide any performance claims, although the new concept could be capable of delivering an electric-only range of up to 66km.

Courtesy : Autocar