Polo saloon for India

German automaker Volkswagen has confirmed it plans to launch both hatch and saloon versions of its new Polo-based model in India. The company has also clarified that this new model will be called the Polo in India, although it is different from the Polo that is sold by VW in the rest of the world. Initially, VW had planned to manufacture just the hatchback version of the new Polo. However, after witnessing the rapid growth of the Indian saloon segment, it has now decided to manufacture a saloon version of the new Polo in India. The company has also said that it is considering the introduction of the new Passat CC model in India after some time. This version of the Passat features coupe-like styling and has just been launched in the German market.

New 7 Series in November

BMW is set to launch its new 7 Series by the end of this year. And it promises to be quicker, cleaner and better in every aspect.

BMW is set to launch its new 7 Series by the end of this year.Move over Q, for this time BMW has developed a host of gadgets in-house.

These include lane change and lane departure warnings, infra-red night-vision camera, park assist cameras on the side, radar, and a head-up display, which tells the driver everything he needs to know.

The boys from Bavaria have spared no imagination in loading the latest 7 with everything your heart desires, and creature comforts abound inside.

The rear seats are ventilated and have 12 massaging bubbles, there’s an in-built 8 GB hard drive for your music, four-zone climate control, concierge service, and an automatic emergency dialling system in case of an accident.

While all of the above might make this big bee-em seem like a bit of a namby-pamby, the company is clear it does not want to lose the essence of the ultimate driving machine. Variable damping and modes for the engine and suspension, which include comfort, normal, sport and sport+, ensure this car is no slouch.

Three engine options – a 3-litre straight-six diesel, a 3-litre straight-six petrol, and a 4.3-litre V8 petrol – power this car. While the big petrol gets the 7 to 100kph in 5.2 seconds, the diesel is pretty quick too, managing the 100kph sprint in just 7.2 seconds. And it’s environmentally friendly too; the diesel engine is claimed to produce just 192 grammes of CO2 per kilometre.

BMW has pioneered what it likes to call Efficient Dynamics; the battery is charged under braking, and the alternator disconnects during acceleration, thus providing better performance, fuel economy and lower emissions.Prices will start north of Rs 60 lakh, and the car will be in showrooms before the year is out

First look at Suzuki's new A-star

These are the first official pictures of Suzuki’s new Alto (YC5) that will be making its debut at the Paris Motor Show this October. The new Alto will be known as the A-Star in the Indian market and will sell alongside the current version. Suzuki’s aim was to play safe and keep the design modern but generic so that it would appeal to a larger customer base. This is why the A-Star is not as radical as the A-Star show car. The flame-shaped lights are pretty distinctive and the large grille, which extends below bumper level, follows the latest design trends. Maruti is targeting a Diwali launch for the A-star and will price it at around Rs 3-4 lakh. The A-Star will come with Suzuki’s K-Series 1.0 litre as well as a 1.2 litre motor and will compete with the Hyundai i10 and Kappa. This is the first time Suzuki will manufacture a car exclusively in India and export it to global markets. Nissan too has inked a deal with Maruti for 50,000 units every year. Maruti will produce the YC5 with a Nissan badge for Nissan’s home and export markets.

Hot Hyundai i20 revealed!

Hyundai’s Getz-replacement for European markets, the i20, is all set to roll out. The car will be launched at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September. The company has released the first official pictures of the car before the launch. As you can see, the car’s face bears a resemblance to the smaller i10. It gets the same tear drop-shaped headlamps and the and horizontal slat in the grille is also similar. However, the air intake below the front bumper is not as large as the i10’s. This is Hyundai’s new look, bits and pieces of which you will see in its future cars. The stylish i20 has a longer wheelbase than the existing Getz, and the company claims that it is bigger than the Getz on the inside. The hatchback will be manufactured in India and exported to European markets. It is slated for an Indian launch around October. You can expect the base i20 to come with the 1.2-litre Kappa engine that currently powers the i10. There could also be a new range of 1.4 and 1.6-litre Sigma family of engines on offer. The i20 will also get the Verna’s potent 110bhp common-rail diesel engine.