Updated Ertiga to get a petrol-automatic variant. Ertiga diesel to come with SHVS tech.

The updated Suzuki Ertiga was revealed recently in Indonesia. The updates include tweaks to the exterior and new features added to its interior as well. 

The refreshed Ertiga gets a wider chrome-laden grille up front. The front bumper is all-new and also gets chrome inserts. The side profile remains the same except for alloys with a new design on the higher trims. At the rear, a thick chrome bar runs between the tail-lamps. The boot lid also gets the addition of reflectors near the tail-lamps. Overall, the updated Ertiga seems to have received a lot more bling compared to the rather bland and understated styling of the current model.

On the inside, it gets new upholstery, electric folding wing mirrors, driver window auto-up function and new interior trim colours. Suzuki also claims to have improved sound insulation in the cabin. For the Indian market, the facelifted Ertiga is also expected to get the addition of keyless entry and go, climate control and Maruti’s SmartPlay infotainment system. It could also get different upholstery and interior trim colours.

The engines will be carried over from the current model, but are expected be tweaked to deliver improved fuel efficiency. The facelifted Ertiga is said to be powered by a 1.4-litre K14 petrol engine making 91.73bhp and 13.25kgm of torque; down from the current 93.7bhp and up from the 13.2kgm of torque. The tried and tested 1.3-litre DDiS diesel motor is also expected to undergo a similar treatment. It could, like the Ciaz, also benefit from Maruti’s fuel-saving SHVS tech. The refreshed Ertiga MPV is likley to hit showrooms in October 2015. 

Maruti is expected to equip the updated Ertiga petrol with a four-speed automatic gearbox, and this will make it the first Maruti MPV to come with an automatic transmission. This gearbox is likely to be the same unit that does duty in the Ciaz. The carmaker, however, does offer the AMT gearbox in the Celerio and the Alto K10 and has announced that it will offer CVT automatic in the upcoming Baleno hatchback. 

Courtesy : Autocar

The ride with a cause was supported by Triumph Motorcycles India for the second consecutive year.

Re-born German Carmaker Borgward looking at local assembly in India; Audi Q5-sized BX7 SUV will be the first model.

German carmaker Borgward, now re-born as a Chinese-German company, will soon launch its first new car in fifty-odd years. The first cars will soon come out of a plant in China, and Germany, understandably, will be one of the first markets.

The big news, however, is that Borgward will also be coming to India, sometime in 2016. Whereas the SUV will initially be imported, Borgward is also looking at cutting costs by assembling the SUV here, possibly at a facility owned by Chinese financial partner Foton outside Pune.

But will Indian car buyers be interested? The BX7, its first car, after all comes with only a 222bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol and no diesel. And it will be up against some real luxury car heavy weights. Company officials though, say the positioning is really attractive. Known as ‘accessible premium’ internally, Borgward will strive to deliver an SUV the size of an Audi Q5 at around Rs 25-27 lakh; which should get it a bit of attention. And the company will also “have a full range of cars in the near future, with two all-new cars launched every year”, according to the chairman of the supervisory board and grandson of the founder, Christian Borgward.

The styling is attractive enough. Looking like something in between an Audi and a Mercedes, the BX7’s large front grille, balanced profile and Porsche Cayenne-like rear are sure to get it attention. On the inside, the show car had a fairly traditional looking dash, with a large screen at the centre and an iDrive-like rotary controller. There’s a good amount of space on the second row and there is a third row too. A novel feature is that the car will allow the driver to access information from the car’s on board diagnostics (OBD) system via a wireless link and an app.

Borgward has also been clever about how it has put the car together. A lot of  the engineering on the car has been done by various German component makers, who have the requisite skills and know-how. The chassis, Borgward claims, is its own, the all-wheel-drive system is a BorgWarner’s GenV ‘torque on demand’ system and, there are numerous safety system expected on the car like city braking assistant, active lane keeping, proximity cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and driver fatigue warning. Whether or not Indian car buyers find Borgward attractive is difficult to predict, but one thing’s for sure, the company certainly seem to be putting its shoulder to the wheel.

Courtesy : Autocar

Specifications of the 2016 YZF-R1M carried forward from 2015 model; all owners to get access to Yamaha Racing Experience.

The YZF-R1M comes with a fully adjustable Ohlins Electronic Racing Suspension (ERS), Communications Control Unit (CCU), and carbon-fiber bodywork. New owners of the 2016 YZF-R1M will get access to Yamaha Racing Experience, where riders can acquire competitive riding skills under the guidance of motor racing legend, Colin Edwards, and also learn to fine-tune their motorcycles to suit riding styles and conditions.

It is common knowledge that Yamaha brings some of the most cutting-edge technology to the YZF-M1, the motorcycle that Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo won MotoGP races on. Some of this technology is brought to the production YZF-R1 motorcycle as well, specifically the ‘M’ version which is most closely related to the MotoGP motorcycle. 

Courtesy : Autocar

Mumbai will be the fifth Indian Motorcycles dealership in India after Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderbad. The dealership will showcase the entire range of Indian Motorcycles available on sale in India and will also have Indian Motorcycle merchandise

Polaris India Pvt. Ltd. will inaugurate its fifth Indian Motorcycle dealership in India with a brand new showroom in Mumbai on October 8.

The new dealership will showcase the entire range of Indian Motorcycles on sale in Indiahe models on sale include the Indian Roadmaster, Indian Chief Classic, Indian Chief Vintage, Indian Chieftain, Indian Chief Dark Horse and Indian Scout. All the Indian Motorcycle products are brought in via the CBU route in India.

The cheapest Indian Motorcycle on sale is the Scout which has been priced at Rs 12 lakh while the flagship offering is the Roadmaster priced at an eye-popping Rs 37 lakh (both prices are ex-showroom Delhi).

Courtesy : Zigwheels