The S-class rivalling concept showcases Toyota’s next-gen fuel cell tech that is expected to deliver 50 percent efficiency gains and cost savings.

Toyota has revealed its Fine-Comfort Ride concept at the ongoing Tokyo motor show. The premium sedan comes with the company’s next-generation hydrogen fuel cell technology that could make production between 2025 and 2030.

While the brand’s executives are tight-lipped about the details, they did confirm that the next-gen fuel cell is more compact, lighter, more efficient and affordable to produce than the one used on the only current Toyota production car that features the technology, the Mirai. Kiyotaka Ise, head of advanced R&D for Toyota, said he wanted to cut costs and enhance performance by about 50 percent with every new generation of the powertrain. On the Japanese test cycle, the car is said by Toyota to have a range of 1,000km between refills, from a 6kg capacity tank.

The compact powetrain has helped to maximise interior space with the wheels close to all-four corners, each having its own electric motor. The Fine-Comfort Ride concept is 110mm wider than the current-gen S-class.

Inside, as the car’s name suggests, the focus is on comfort. The seats can be adjusted according to posture (including a fully reclined sleeping position), the numerous digital displays and projection screens are built around occupants and the seat layout can be altered to aid conversation or create personal spaces. Notably, the rearmost seats are in a sofa-like bench configuration, while the front two rows are made up of individual seats.

Although Toyota chiefs have refused to confirm the Fine-Comfort Ride has been designed with autonomous driving functions in mind, the ability for front seat passengers to swing their seats round and talk to rear-seat occupants suggests this is likely.

As with current hydrogen-powered vehicles, Toyota says the Fine-Comfort Ride can be refuelled in around three minutes.

Courtesy : Autocar

Three-row seven-seater MPV will be based on the low cost CMF-A platform.

The MPV market in India may be shrinking but Renault aren’t giving up. A recently revealed slide (part of the manufacturer’s ‘Drive the Future’ mid-term plan from 2017 to 2022) indicates a compact MPV lined up for our market, though no date is given. The silhouette shows the Dacia Dokker, essentially a shortened Lodgy that’s sold in a few international markets.

However our sources tell us the vehicle (code RBC) will be an all new MPV specifically developed for India and based on the low cost CMF-A platform that also underpins the Kwid. A source in know of the companys plans said “It has to be an all new vehicle as we have tried the route of modifying an existing one but had little success” hinting at the GO Plus.

The MPV will have three rows of seats with seating for seven and our sources also tell us that it will sit below the current best seller Ertiga. The company is quite bullish on the achieving Kwid like success as unlike the vans in that price bracket, Renault’s MPV will have a prominent nose structure lending it a better image and acceptability in our market. The nose structure is important as the new vehicle will also need to pass the stringent crash norms which would be difficult with a van like flat front.

The MPV segment in India has proved to be a tough market to succeed in; sales are shrinking and most manufacturers have either discontinued their models or have dropped plans to introduce new ones. Renault too have had little success with their Lodgy MPV that currently only sells about 400 units per month but the company believes there is still potential in the segment. 

Courtesy : Autocar

The updated, Euro 4 Monster should make it to India after the international launch.

Ducati’s mid-sized Monster gets some design and equipment upgrades for 2018. The updated 821 borrows its headlamp from the Monster 1200, but one of the bigger upgrades comes in the form of a colour TFT instrument cluster. This is a feature that more expensive siblings like the Multistrada 950 and SuperSport don't get. Completing the visual changes is a new slimmer design for the tail section. The 2018 Monster 821 also ships in a lovely new shade of yellow, in tribute to the original Monster 900 that turns 25 this year.

The 821 continues with the same 821cc, 90 degree V-twin but it now makes slightly less power and torque on account of becoming Euro 4 compliant. Peak power is now 2hp down to 110hp while torque drops from 89.4Nm to 86Nm. Braking is handled by dual 320mm front discs slowed by powerful Brembo M4.32 callipers. The Ducati Safety pack continues to offer three levels of ABS, eight levels of traction control and three riding modes. However, the six-speed gearbox now gets a bi-directional quickshifter like we experienced on the SuperSport S.

Ducati was due to launch a BS-IV spec version of the Monster 821 by October in India. However, we have now discovered that India will get the latest-spec Monster 821 instead and you can expect it to be launched here after international sales commence. 

Courtesy : Autocar

Fresh images show the Alivio, known as Maruti Ciaz in India, with exterior styling tweaks.

The refreshed Suzuki Ciaz (Alivio) sedan for China has been officially revealed. 

Earlier showcased at the Chengdu Motor show, the 2017 Alivio gets a new front grille along with new black fog lamp enclosures. The front and rear bumper appear to be new as well. As for the rear, the bumper doesn’t feature cut-outs any more, while detailing on the tail-lamps appears to be tweaked a bit with a larger stop lamp. 

The images give a hint towards the exterior styling changes that the updated Maruti Ciaz for India might get.

Maruti Suzuki is testing the refreshed Ciaz in India, with a number of images of test mules wearing minor camouflage appearing online earlier this year. Cosmetic changes seem to be few, with only sections of the bumpers masked by camouflage with the remainder of the car more or less similar to the current model.

The Ciaz in India rivals the likes of the Honda City, the Volkswagen Vento, Skoda Rapid and the soon-to-be-launched all-new Hyundai Verna.

Courtesy : Autocar

Long-wheelbase version of XE sedan exclusive to Chinese market; unlikely to come to India.

Jaguar has revealed a long-wheelbase (LWB) version of its XE sedan exclusively for the Chinese market, as stretched versions of standard models are popular there. The second LWB version in the market for the British manufacturer, the XEL follows in the footsteps of the XFL that was unveiled in China last year.

The XEL’s wheelbase has been stretched by 100mm compared to the standard model, and is now 2,935mm long.

The long-wheelbase model is mechanically identical to the standard one and is powered by the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol motor making either 200hp or 250hp.

However, the insides, particularly the rear section, is expected to include a rear-seat entertainment system, a larger panoramic sunroof and additional creature comforts to differentiate it from its standard sibling.

Jaguar’s XEL will be produced by the Chery-JLR joint venture only for the Chinese market, where it will rival the likes of the Audi A4L, BMW 3Li, and the Mercedes C-class L.

It is highly unlikely that Jaguar will bring this version to India where it already sells the standard XE in petrol and diesel guises with prices starting at Rs 38.84 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Courtesy : Autocar