Part of Honda's global recall, the CBR motorcycles will be checked for a faulty starter relay.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has announced a recall for its CBR 150R and CBR 250R to check for a possible fault with the starter relay. The announcement is part of a global recall issued by Honda Motor Company as the starter relay is shared with the international models as well.

The recall is a precautionary step to check for and replace defective starter relay switches due to incorrect application of the sealant. According to Honda, the defective switch may lead to a sudden loss of electrical power at any time, and worst-case scenario it could cause a fire in the part.

Honda will be checking all CBR 150R and 250R motorcycles manufactured between June 2014 and June 2015 for this defect and, if found, will rectify it free of cost irrespective of warranty, at the company's service centres.

Courtesy : Autocar

The Lexus SUV gets revised styling, added features and a new eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Lexus has revealed the facelifted LX570 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The refreshed SUV gets tweaks inside and out, added features and a new eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The revisions to the styling include a new single-piece spindle grille with chrome surround, revised front and rear bumpers, LED headlamps, reshaped LED fog lamps, new alloy wheels and new tail-lamps.

On the inside, the infotainment system has been upgraded to a 12.3-inch display. The instrument cluster now uses a larger 4.2-inch display and gets a panoramic view camera as standard. The facelifted LX570 also gets the addition of Drive Mode Select and the option of a heads-up display, LED ambient lighting, a wireless charger and a 11.6-inch display for the rear-seat entertainment system. Also offered as option now are heated and ventilated rear seats.

Mechanically, the 5.7-litre V8 is now mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox in place of the older six-speed automatic unit. The engine develops 384bhp and 55.68kgm of torque.

Courtesy : Autocar

Called Toyota Parts Connect, the facility allows customers to source genuine spare parts and accessories over the internet.

Toyota has announced the launch of its online portal called Toyota Parts Connect that aims to facilitate the distribution of genuine spare parts and accessories for all Toyota models. The facility is currently functional only in Bengaluru, but will expand its reach to other cities in the future.

Currently through Toyota Parts Connect, customers will get access to around 400 genuine spare parts such as brake pads, wiper blades, oil filters, etc along with a choice of around 30 accessories. The list is expected to grow to encompass more spare parts and accessories in the future. Customers will be able to source spare parts online and have them delivered to their nearest Toyota service centre. Certain spares will be offered with instruction manuals as well.

Commenting on the announcement, Shekar Viswanathan, Vice Chairman and Director said, “We are very keen to spearhead this unique initiative of launching the digital platform for our customers, which is the first of its kind in the industry. This additional distribution channel reinforces our commitment towards being the leader in customer satisfaction and safety therefore enhancing our customer delight. In the first phase, customers across Bengaluru will now be able to shop for all their Toyota car and care needs with ease and convenience of the digital platform.  We will be expanding this to the other cities in due course.”

Customers can access these services at www.toyotapartsconnect.in. With this launch, the manufacturer intends to improve the current level of customer service as well as ensure easy access to genuine spare parts and accessories.

Courtesy : Autocar

To be the sporty range-topper of the next-gen Tiguan line-up; likely to get 300bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine.

Volkswagen is working on a performance version of its upcoming Tiguan Coupé SUV, the Tiguan Coupé R. The car-like SUV is being developed by the firm’s in-house R division.

As compared to the standard Tiguan, the five-seater Coupé R will have a sloping roofline, a shallower glasshouse and wider C-pillars. Overall appearance will be very similar to the Cross Blue Coupé shown at the Detroit motor show in January. The Tiguan Coupé R is expected to receive a number of upmarket interior appointments, such as an active instrument display, a heads-up display and a full selection of camera-aided safety features, including an emergency braking function.

It is likely to get a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, similar to the one used by the Golf R, making around 300bhp and 38.7kgm of torque. It will come with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, four-wheel drive and an electronic torque vectoring function, according to insiders. Nothing is official at the moment, but the Tiguan Coupé R could have a claimed 0-100kph time of around 5 seconds.

A specially tuned version of the standard Tiguan Coupé’s MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension with reduced ride height and a four-mode adaptive damping system will aim to provide the necessary traits needed to set the R model apart from the rest of the line-up.

Engine options are likely to include 1.4 and 2.0-litre petrol units, and 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesels. Also planned is a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid-propelled GTE model running a similar set-up to that used by the Golf GTE. While the Tiguan Coupé is planned to go on sale globally in 2017, the range-topping R version will be on sale in 2018.

Volkswagen is in the final phase of testing the next-gen Tiguan in standard form which is likely to be unveiled at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show 2015. The carmaker has also confirmed that this new SUV will come to India in mid-2016.

The Tiguan Coupé R will be Volkswagen’s answer to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG, Audi RS Q3 and the Range Rover Evoque SVR.

Courtesy : Autocar

Based on the T trim, the Go NXT is priced at Rs 5.16 lakh and gets a few new features but there’s no airbag.

Datsun’s budget hatchback, Go, may not have exactly struck a chord with customers. The car received a lot of flak for its poor crash test results, and although Datsun offered an airbag-equipped version of the top-end Go T on a made-to-order basis, it still couldn’t get away from the fact that the car was sparsely equipped, even by segment standards.

But the brand is now pulling a few stops to keep the Go competitive in the segment. On sale now, across Datsun showrooms, is the Go NXT. The new trim is based on the existing T trim and gets additional features like rear parking sensors, remote locking and a rear parcel tray. Cosmetic changes include side mouldings and a chrome finish for the exhaust tip, while on the inside, the centre console gets a glossy black finish.

The Datsun Go is powered by a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, petrol motor that makes 67bhp and 10.6kgm of torque. It's mated to a five-speed gearbox.

The Datsun Go NXT is priced at Rs 5.16 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). It sits below the airbag-equipped T trim in the model’s lineup.

Courtesy : Autocar