Motormate - Your security mate

The renowned and one of the leading manufacturers in the security solution sector, Godrej Security Solutions (GSS),has set it's foot into the auto segment by launching the Motormate.

  

A portable safe, the Godrej Motormate, allows car owners to store their valuables. The user gets ample space to store valuable goods like cash, wallets, mobile phones, cards etc. 

The multi strand, braided steel can be attached to various reinforcements, handles, hinges and pillars. Because of its compactness, users can store the Motormate almost anywhere in their vehicle.

Another upsideto the Motormate is that it has provision for wires to pass through it, which means you can charge your electronic gadgets. The Motormate has a brushed aluminium outer case to resist scratches, while on the inside you have a soft case to avoid your valuables scrapping or any other physical damage. The Godrej Motormate has been priced at Rs 2,499 and is available at leading car accessories stores across the country and you can order online from shopping portals.

source:zigwheels.

Review-The New And Improved Toyota Corolla Altis

The new, 11th-gen Corolla will hit Toyota showrooms with full acceleration, trying to recover the battlefield that it's lost to the Elantra and Octavia. Displayed at the Delhi Auto Expo earlier this year, the car has experienced a major design makeover in its new avatar, apart from getting a long list of new features.

This is a fresh car. It's longer and wider, and carries a bigger footprint than the outgoing model. The face has the familiar Etios-like grille which fits well with the sculpted headlights. The rear has wide tail lamps. From the front, the car gets a nice squat look thanks to the new bumper. In profile view, you can however notice the reasonable ground clearance. Toyota is offering optional 16-inch alloy wheels on the top-end variants of Altis.

Heavily a chauffeur-driven car, focus was on using the added size to free up more space at the rear resulting in lots of legroom for the passengers at the back. Add to this the fact that the new Corolla's rear seat backrest can also be reclined. There is also a manually operated retractable rear sunscreen.

The dashboard has plenty of design elements and various forms of plastic. The instrument cluster is a neat twin-pod design. The big and chunky steering comes with large-sized controls for music, Bluetooth telephony and even cruise control. The centre console is dominated by a large LCD multimedia display with controls for music, telephone and aux input. It's a simple interface, with special emphasis on functionality rather than edgy graphics.

There are two engines on offer – a 1.4-L diesel and a 1.8-L petrol – both carried over from the previous model. The diesel is only available with a six-speed manual box. The D-4D engine is designed for fuel economy, and Toyota has left it untouched. Power appears around 2,000rpm, after which the engine is happy to keep pottering around, be it on the highway or in the city.

The petrol  lets you choose between the six-speed manual or a CVT with seven pre-defined ratios, a gearbox that was designed for Lexus. It's incredibly efficient, and comes with a manual mode, which instills some enthusiasm in the Corolla.This time, Toyota is also offering paddle-shifts on the Corolla. The steering is well weighted, but doesn't do much in passing information on what the front wheels are upto. The ride is exotic, and adds to the enchanting effect that only a Corolla offers.

 Toyota expects the Corolla to become a segment-leader again. It's a more modern-looking car now, and has decent levels of equipment to keep the buyer interested. 

The numbers:

Petrol: 4cyl, 1,798cc, 138bhp, 173Nm, 6M/CVT, 
fuel tank: 55 litres, 1,180 - 1,270kg, 
boot capacity: 470 litres

Diesel: 4cyl, 1,364cc, 87bhp, 205Nm, 6M,
 fuel tank: 50 litres, 1,230 - 1,270kg, 
boot capacity: 470 litres

The price

Rs 16-22 lakh (estimated, on-road)

The verdict

The new Corolla addresses the problem of dour styling, and tops it with a more spacious cabin. Is now one of the most comfortable executive sedans out there.


source:topgear

Nissan's 'Pulsating Pulsar'

Nissan has made up it's mind to reintroduce the Pulsar model name with a new five-door hatchback for sale in the Autumn.

The Japanese company has issued a teaser of the new Nissan Pulsar.Built at Nissan's factory in Barcelona, Spain, the hatchback will be a competition for theVolkswagen Golf and Ford Focus

The hatchback has been designed to meet the specific demands of European car buyers and features the same high quality, high innovation approach that is symbolic of Nissan products. 

It's the first time Nissan has set foot in the C-segment since the Almera.

The name Pulsar first appeared in 1978 and was popular for models in Asian and Australasian markets for the last four decades. It also appeared in certain European markets in the early 1990s. 

The new Nissan Pulsar will be officially revealed in full next Tuesday.

source: Autocar

Royal Enfield's Logo and Paintjob Makeover

Continuing with it's makeover spree, Royal Enfield give's the brand a fresh new appearance, and hence the company has gone ahead to not only offer a reincarnated logo but also refreshed color options for its famous Classic and Thunderbird series bikes. 

 

The Classic 500 and Classic 350 are now available with new colour options, wherein the Classic 350 gets a blue and white colour, alongside the initial black and silver colors. On the other side, the Classic 500 gets a beige color option with a maroon strip running down from the front fender to the tail light.

 

Another series that has received a color upgrade is the Thunderbird Range. In this series  both the 350 and 500 flaunt a new brown and blue shade. The new shades offered by the company are available at no extra cost.

Source: Autocar India

New York International Auto Show awaiting the debut of 2015 Chevrolet Cruze.

            The New York International Auto Show to be held this month, will see the debut of the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze. The new Cruze has been bestowed with exterior style changes, interior makeover and connectivity upgrades. The variants include LS, LT, RS and LTZ models. An eco and diesel model will be a perk for the mileage conscious customer.

             Talking of the exteriors- the car wears a new dual port front grille complementing the headlamps that are swept back. Chrome touch has been used in decent quantities for the air intakes and front grille. The new design has been inspired by the 2014 Malibu and the all-new Impala models. Also, on offer are the LED DRLs available on the LT and LTZ trims.

                    The upgraded interiors include revised cup holder design, door lock and trunk release switch placement.  The centre console houses a 7-inch colour touch screen with navigation for ease of access. Major upgrade includes connectivity enhancements, which now include text message alerts with Bluetooth profile and Siri Eyes Free especially for iPhone iOS6 and iOS7, OnStar 4G LTE with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. All these upgrades surely add to the improved convenience and feature list.

                Safety has been given due importance, with the car having 10 airbags which include knee and side airbags for the front passengers. Other safety features include rear cross traffic alert, side blind zone alert, and also a rearview camera with rear park assist. Cruze offers more standard safety features than any other car in its class, including 2014 models of the Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla.

              Engine options have not been revealed yet but expect the Cruze diesel to have a 151PS/387Nm 2.0-litre motor. The new car is expected to launch in the North American market around September this year with prices set to be announced then.

Fresh From The Oven- The updated Tata 'Aria'

Aria, Tata’s home- made Multi Purpose Vehicle gets a significant makeover. Tata is now trying it’s level best to rope in customers by presenting this feature packed MUV. The notable features include electric wing- mirrors, in-dash navigation system and all essential parking sensors. Talking about the exteriors- headlamps have been blacked out, tail lamps have got clear lenses and decals adore the sides. 

The front.

The Driver Information System (DIS) provides real time info about crucial vehicular parameters such as tank range, tyre pressure etc. The MUV’s JBL Harman audio system promises to keep the occupants entertained. Apart from this, the MPV also gets features like a steering-mounted cruise control button.

The rear.

                Talking about the powerhouse-the 2.2-litre diesel engine has an improved output of 148bhp and 320Nm. It is claimed that Aria returns 15.05kpl.
                Available in three variants, the customers will have to shell out Rs 9.95 lakh for the Pure, Rs 12 lakh for the Pleasure, and Rs 14.74 lakh for the Pride versions (ex-showroom, Delhi).

source: topgear.com

The 9 SERIES -BMW'S new Trendsetter, to be unveiled in the Beijing Auto Show 2014

               Continuing its legacy of creating masterpieces, BMW will launch a new flagship saloon, the brand new 9 Series. The saloon would set rolling a new trend for sure. BMW is ready to lock horns with the Mercedes-Benz S600, Bentley Continental Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce Ghost, in the upcoming Beijing Auto show 2014. It’s noteworthy that this BMW saloon would be seated on the G11 platform designed specifically for BMW’s largest cars. The new platform is lighter ensuring better fuel efficiency and lesser amount of dirty gases.

                Although not much is known yet, the 9 Series is rumoured to be based on the BMW Pininfarina Gran Luso Coupe concept that was unveiled at the 2013 Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance. The design statement of the car is expected to translate into the 3 and the 1 series. Technology and luxury should be top notch if BMW expects to give a tough competition to the likes of Rolls-Royce.

                The 9 Series will be powered by BMW’s most advanced power source. You should expect the 9 Series to be offered with either a 4.4-litre, twin turbo, V8 petrol engine or a whooping 6.0-litre, twin turbocharged, V12 engine producing a gigantic 552PS. However a diesel engine in this car is less likely to be found. The engines will be married to BMW’s 7-speed dual clutch transmissions.

                Considering BMW’s entry into mass production of alternative materials like carbon- fibre, expect BMW to use the lightweight material, when and wherever possible. The 9 Series, will also have to be extremely luxurious on the insides as it goes up against the likes of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur and the new Maybach replacement.    We should expect it to come with a whole host of customisable options with varied range so that each car that rolls out is a unique entity in itself. Expect the BMW 9 Series to be priced between Rs 1.8-2.5 crores  (ex-showroom) when it arrives in India.

source: zigwheels.com

DATSUN - ON DO - the sedan for 'HIS WAYS'

The Datsun –On Do –   well the wait is over, Datsun releases its sedan, the ON-DO. But wait!! Indian sedan lovers may be disappointed to learn that it’s for the Russian market. The differently named car derives its name from Japanese and Russian. 'On'- in Russian means “He” while 'Do'- roughly means way/moving. So the name sums up as “his way”. The car is not a pert butt sedan which means its bigger than the sedans you would find in India in the sub 4 metre cap. Sporting the new Datsun looks the automobile resembles the Granta.

            Powered by a 1.6 L , 87bhp petrol engine the vehicle sees it’s marriage to a 5 speed manual gearbox. The considerable length provides for plenty of boot space, 530 L to be precise. But the down side is that it lacks a heavy feature list unlike the others in the segment. The machine has been priced at a generous 400,000 Russian Rubles.