The R8 gets a ventilated engine cover and a more upright window; powered by the coupé's 5.2-litre V10 unit in two states of tune.

New spy shots show a near-production, undisguised prototype of the 2017 Audi R8 Spyder undergoing final testing on the roads of Namibia.

As seen in the photos, the biggest changes on the car appear to be at the rear, with a ventilated engine cover and a more upright window. Reinforcements to the body structure have also been made, and as a result the weight of the new R8 Spyder is expected to increase compared to the R8 Coupe.

Like the coupé, the R8 Spyder will be powered by a 5.2-litre V10 in two states of tune. In the range-topping 'Plus' guise, the engine will produce 610bhp.

The fact that Audi is testing the R8 Spyder undisguised indicates that an official reveal might occur in the near future. A recently leaked roadmap of Audi's future product line-up indicates that the model will be launched in the United States next year. The roadmap also indicates that Audi is working on a new V6-powered entry-level R8, and chances are that the Spyder will get the engine sometime in the future too.           

Courtesy : Autocar

Power figures of the India bound Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer motorcycle has been revealed. The new Thruxton R is expected to be priced under Rs 10 lakh ex-showroom with a probable launch by mid-2016

After making two-wheeler enthusiasts for a long time, Triumph Motorcycle finally unveiled the engine specifications for the Thruxton cafe racer. The 2016 Triumph Thruxton is available in two trims – Thruxton and Thruxton R. The latter was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo and 2016 IBW thereby indicating the fact that only the Thruxton R will be launched in India. The 2016 Triumph Thruxton R is powered by a 1,200cc displacement parallel-twin motor generating 98PS of power at 6,750rpm and peak torque of 112Nm at 4,950 rpm. The powerplant is mated to a 6-speed transmission. The new 1,200cc motor according to the British bikemaker has been tuned for better torque and it delivers 62 per cent more torque than its predecessor. 

The 2016 Thruxton range design is an evolution of iconic Bonneville cafe racer styling with intricate detailing inspired from classic Triumph bikes of the past. They feature top quality finish and intricate level of detailing to enhance their iconic looks, such as the beautifully crafted Monza-style filler cap. Overall styling of the Triumph Thruxton R is pleasing and in our opinion it was among the most beautiful motorcycle to be unveiled at the 2016 Auto Expo in Delhi. The 2016 Triumph Thruxton R gets equipped with top shelf cycle parts like Brembo monobloc brakes and Ohlins suspension system. Also the steering geometry has been reworked to improve the handling dynamics of the motorcycle. The 2016 Triumph Thruxton R will be produced in Thailand and assembled in India and expect a launch by mid-2016 in the Indian market. Expect the 2016 Triumph Thruxton R to be priced under Rs 10 lakh ex-showroom in the Indian market. 

Courtesy : Zigwheels

The all-electric Model 3 is set to go into production in 2017; expected to have a range of 320-480km.

Tesla Motors will reveal its third car, the Model 3, in Los Angeles on March 31, 2016. The Model 3, slated to go into production in 2017, can be booked via Tesla outlets once the car is unveiled.

While the company has remained tight-lipped about other details, the Model 3's range is expected to be around 320-480km on a fully charged battery. Like Tesla’s current offerings, the Model S and X, the Model 3 is likely to be the quickest amongst its rivals, and might even beat the BMW M3’s 0-100kph sprint time of 4.1seconds.

Tesla's vice president of engineering, Chris Porritt, has already told our sister publication Autocar UK that little would be carried over from existing Tesla models. Standout features such as the ‘falcon doors’ of the Model X are also likely to have been dropped in order to gain the more accessible price point. 

The all-electric car will rival entry-level luxury models, such as the BMW 3-series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-class.

Courtesy : Autocar

Having cleared the Zica name hurdle, Tata are all set to launch the Tiago with both petrol and diesel engines to take on the Celerio and Hyundai i10.

One of the most anticipated launches from the Tata stable this year, the Tiago hatchback, is likely to hit showrooms on March 28, 2016. The Tiago continues Tata’s brand reinvention in the passenger car segment, following heavily re-engineered models such as the Bolt and Zest.

The Tata Tiago will slot in between the Bolt and Nano, effectively replacing the Indica eV2, in a segment dominated by Maruti and Hyundai with the Celerio and i10, respectively. Highlights of the Tiago include a pair of all-new three-cylinder engines – petrol and diesel, a bold new design and a strong suit of features.

The Tata Tiago petrol gets an all-new 1.2-litre three-cylinder DOHC aluminium motor which is a part of Tata Motor’s Revotron family of engines. This motor develops 83.8bhp of power and 11.6kgm of torque. The diesel engine is also an all-new 1.05-litre three-cylinder DOHC unit made of aluminium with a cast iron block. It generates 69bhp of power and 14.2kgm of torque.

Tata showcased the Tiago alongside its upcoming compact sedan sibling, codenamed Kite 5, at the 2016 Auto Expo. Both these models were recently shown at the Geneva motor show 2016 as well. The Kite 5 will slot in below the Zest as a smaller model and will feature a segment-defining feature – its 420-litre boot space. The sedan will share its mechanicals and feature list with the Tiago.

Courtesy : Autocar

Sales have consistently grown since launch of new Bajaj Avenger models in October 2015.

Indian bike maker Bajaj has been registering month-on-month growth in the sales of its Avenger portfolio since the launch of new cruisers on October 27, 2015. In February 2016, Avenger sales have grown by close to 10 percent month-on-month.

While speaking to a leading Indian business news television channel earlier today, Kevin D’Souza, president, finance at Bajaj Auto, disclosed that the company has recorded sales of close to 31,000 Avengers in February 2016. The exact model-specific sales data is yet to be released by the company. The company had sold a total of 28,085 units under its Avenger brand in January 2016. Of this, the single-cylinder, 149cc Avenger reportedly accounted for the bulk of the sales at 15,722 units. On the other hand, the 220cc Avenger variants accounted for sales of 12,363 units during the said month.

The Avenger brand had made it to the list of top 10 bestselling motorcycles list in December 2015 for the first time. At sales of 20,182 units in that month, the brand had ranked 10th on the list. Of this, while the 150cc variant had accounted for sales of 9,234 units, the 220cc variants had registered sales of 10,948 units. Interestingly, for the first half of the ongoing fiscal, monthly Avenger sales averaged at only around 3,650 units. 

Courtesy : Autocar