The Mustang is expected to be powered by a 437bhp 5.0-litre V8 engine; will be Ford’s halo car in India.

Ford is set to launch the Mustang in India on January 28. Currently in its sixth generation, the model made its debut in 2014 on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Compared to its predecessor, the current Mustang is lighter, stiffer, and more spacious with better quality interiors.

This is the first Mustang to be developed as a right-hand drive. The car is available internationally with three engine options – a 306bhp 2.3-litre, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, a 296bhp 3.7-litre V6, and a 437bhp 5.0-litre V8. Also available is a drop-top version that sits alongside the standard coupé model. India, however, is expected to only get the coupé version.

Ford is expected to launch its halo car with a full-blown 437bhp 5.0-litre V8 engine as test mules of the V8-equipped, right-hand-drive Mustang GT have been spotted on Indian roads several times. The engine is likely to be paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters with power sent to the rear wheels.

In international markets, the Mustang comes equipped with features such as fully independent front and rear suspension, high-performance brakes with four-piston calipers (six for the V8 version), 19-inch alloy wheels, HID headlamps, puddle lamps with Mustang logo projection, an infotainment system with a 2.8-inch touchscreen, ambient lighting and four driving modes. With the car being a CBU import, we can expect the India-spec model to be equipped with almost all the features seen on the Mustang sold internationally.

Prices for the Mustang GT V8 could be somewhere around Rs 80 lakh. Following the launch, Ford will be showcasing the car at Auto Expo 2016 in February.

Courtesy : Autocar

Harley-Davidson will expand its Sportster range for the Indian market by launching the new 1200 Custom motorcycle at around Rs 9 to 10 lakh ex-showroom

Harley-Davidson is all-set to expect its Indian portfolio. The American bikemaker has invited us to ride its new product in Jodhpur on January 28th but refused to divulge any further information regarding the mystery bike. But according to our sources the new bike in question is the Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom. The American bikemaker had recently removed the Sportster 883 from the Indian market and the new motorcycle is the replacement for the above. Service personals at the dealership are currently undergoing training for the new motorcycle with the first lot of motorcycles expected to be delivered by early February. The Sportster 1200 Custom will be the third motorcycle under the Sportster range for the Indian motorcycle market after the Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight and Iron 883.  The styling of the motorcycle is typical to an American cruiser with dollops of chrome and the design influence of the Sportster 883 can be easily seen albeit the proportion of the bike being understandably larger. 

Powering the Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom is the same 1,200cc displacement V-twin powerplant as seen on the Forty-Eight. The air-cooled motor churns out 96Nm of peak torque at just 3,750rpm. Power is transmitted to the rear-wheel via a 5-speed gearbox using chain drive. Braking is done by disc brakes on both the ends while ABS is standard. The Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom will be locally assembled and we expect the motorcycle to carry a sticker price of around Rs 9 to 10 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. The Sportster 1200 will compete against the Indian Scout in our two-wheeler market. 

Courtesy : Zigwheels

Updated Chevrolet Cruze, Spin MPV, Colorado pickup truck and the iconic Corvette and Camaro sportscars will also be seen at the show.

General Motors India will use the 2016 Auto Expo as a platform to showcase the Chevrolet brand’s new design DNA. On February 3, the carmaker will reveal two new concept vehicles at the Chevrolet Pavilion in Hall 5 at the India Expo Mart, Noida.

Chevrolet has released a teaser of one of the two concepts that will be showcased. The image indicates that this concept could be a precursor to the next-gen all-new Beat hatchback that will hit Indian showrooms by 2017. The teaser reveals the carmaker's new design language. The hatchback is likely to get Chevrolet’s signature front styling with a large two-part grille and a prominent 'Bowtie' emblem at the centre. The concept hatch will also get projector headlamps, LED daytime running lamps and LED fog lamps. Another important aspect seen in the teaser is the thick cladding on the concept’s front bumper, which could mean that Chevrolet could also be readying a 'cross' version as well.

Chevrolet will also exhibit showstoppers such as the Corvette and Camaro sportscars, the Chevrolet Colorado pickup, the recently launched Trailblazer and the new Cruze with styling and feature upgrades. The Spin MPV, slated to be launched early 2017, will also be on display.

In July 2015, GM had announced a new investment of US $ 1 billion and its plans to roll out 10 new Chevrolet models by 2020. The Trailblazer SUV, launched in October last year, was the first of these models and is to be followed by the Spin MPV.

At the time, GM International President Stefan Jacoby had said, “The new global vehicle family will have several different body styles designed to meet the expectations of the Indian consumer. The vehicles will be manufactured and sold in India and feature striking styling that has never been seen here before. They will also be exported worldwide. With this investment, our aim is to double our market share in India by 2020.”

Courtesy : Autocar

The KUV100 is powered by the all-new mFalcon engine family; comes with first of its class six-seater arrangement.

Home-grown carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra today launched the KUV100 compact SUV at a starting price of Rs 4.42 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune).

The KUV100 (pronounced KUV ‘one double oh’) has seven variants on offer, starting with the base K2, going up to K2+, K4, K4+,K6, K6+ and the top-spec K8.

Prices for the petrol variant start at Rs 4.42 lakh and the top-spec petrol variant costs Rs 5.91lakh. The base diesel is priced at Rs 5.22 lakh going up to Rs 6.76 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune).
Previously codenamed S101, the compact SUV has been designed and developed at the Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai. The KUV100 will go up against established players such as the Maruti Celerio, Hyundai Grand i10 and the Swift. It features a distinct crossover design, unlike the boxy outline of the TUV300, which sets it apart from the competition. 

At the front, the KUV100 gets a slim high-up grille and large prominent headlamps with LED elements that extend to the front pillar. The squared wheel arches and high-set fenders lend the car a muscular appeal while the sloping roofline adds some sportiness. The rear doors feature pillar-mounted door handles à la the Chevrolet Beat.

The KUV100 will be powered by Mahindra’s all-new mFalcon engine family, and offer two engine options. The petrol engine is a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol motor making 82bhp at 5,500rpm and 11.73kgm of torque at 3,500-3,600rpm. The diesel is also a 1.2-litre three-cylinder motor that puts out 77bhp at 3,750rpm and 19.37kgm of torque at 1,750-2,250rpm. Power from both the motors is sent to the front wheels via an all-new five-speed manual transmission.

Inside, the KUV100 ditches the conventional 2+3 seating arrangement for the 3+3 seating which makes it the only six seater in the segment. The arrangement has been made possible by the addition of a bench seat. To house the bench seat, the gear lever has been mounted on the dash and the handbrake moved to the base of the centre console. The six-seat layout comes as standard on the K2 and K2+ variant, while other variants get the option of the five-seat as well.
In terms of safety, the carmaker has offered ABS as standard across the range along with driver and passenger airbags. 

Courtesy : Autocar

The refreshed Beat gets added safety and convenience features; top variant gets a new LTZ nomenclature.

General Motors India today launched an updated version of the Chevrolet Beat hatchback at a starting price of Rs 4.28 lakh going up to Rs 5.55 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The hatchback now comes with improved interiors and added safety equipment.

In terms of the safety features, the LT variant gets the addition of a driver side airbag. Moreover, the top trim, which follows a new LTZ nomenclature, comes with passenger and driver side air bags, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD).

On the exterior, the Beat’s glass headlamps get black accents, body-coloured door handles, while the tail-lamps now sport a combination of coloured and clear glass. Other features include fog lamps with chrome surrounds, a newly designed rear spoiler with LED inserts and a restyled dual-tone rear bumper with sporty reflectors.

Inside, the car gets steering-mounted audio controls on some variants, a height-adjustable driver seat and silver interior highlights. The refreshed Chevrolet Beat also comes with remote keyless entry with a foldable key.

The Beat, which is available with a petrol and diesel engine, has an ARAI-certified fuel economy of 25.44kpl for the diesel engine and 17.8kpl for the petrol engine.

Mechanicals, however, remain unchanged and the Beat continues to be powered by the
1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol unit developing 79bhp and 10.9kgm of torque. The diesel variants come with a three-cylinder unit developing 58.5bhp and 15.2kgm of torque. Transmission duties are carried out by a five-speed manual gearbox.

“The Chevrolet Beat, one of GM India’s best-selling models, raises the bar in the country’s fast-growing compact car segment. The new version was developed by carefully listening to our customers and enhancing it with smart new features and stylish looks,” Hardeep Brar, vice-president – Sales, General Motors India said in a company statement.

The updated Beat also gets the addition of two new colours, red and steel grey.

Courtesy : Autocar