Honda India has introduced an Electric Sunroof in the Accord V6 based on the customer’s feedback. The Accord V6 will also feature Ambient Light and Footlight which will enhance visibility during darkness allowing enough light to see the controls. The car will also be equipped with 2 sets of Keyless entry for added convenience to the customers.
The Footlight and 2 sets of Keyless entry have also been introduced in the Honda Accord 2.4L MT/ AT variants. In addition, Honda Accord 3.5L V6 and Honda Accord 2.4L now have a provision for Mobile phone with Bluetooth interface. The Accord range will be available at Rs. 18,52,000/- for 2.4L MT, Rs.19,27,000/- for 2.4L AT and Rs 26,15,000 for 3.5L V6 (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).
The New Audi A8 - the sportiest sedan in the luxury segment. Fascinating sportiness, innovative technology and superior comfort: Audi is bringing the next generation of the A8 to the starting line. The new flagship demonstrates the brand’s proverbial Vorsprung durch Technik with its light aluminum body, its powerful and highly efficient engines, the further improved MMI operating system, new driver assistance systems, the full LED headlights and an elegant interior with a craftsman’s level of workmanship. With all this technology the new Audi A8 offers the perfect synthesis of dynamics, perfection in design, workmanship and pioneering efficiency.
“The new Audi A8 is the sportiest sedan in its segment,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “It combines numerous functions in a new and intelligent way. And it’s unmatched in the stylistic elements and impression of the interior.”
The new luxury sedan, to arrive at U.S. dealerships in late 2010, is a technical work of art. Its elegant and forceful body is an aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF), weighing about 40 percent less than a comparable steel structure. The interior is captivating, with its new and spacious design and uncompromisingly high-quality workmanship full of attention to the smallest detail. The comfort on board is first class - from new, emotionally charged ambient lighting to the luxurious, power adjustable seats in the rear. The Audi A8 combines a new level of intelligence with exemplary and easy operation. Its multimedia interface (MMI) includes a pioneering innovation: Combined with the standard (in the U.S.) navigation system it has a touchpad. MMI touch enables the driver to control many functions intuitively; for example, the navigation destination can be entered by writing the letters on the pad with the touch of a finger.
MMI navigation plus is networked in a novel fashion with the advanced driver assistance and safety systems. It follows the route in advance during driving and provides the data to the control units for the automatic transmission, the headlights and for the ACC stop & go function. Their enhanced intelligence enables these systems to recognize complex scenarios and to make anticipatory decisions to assist the driver. The new technologies include a night vision assist with marking of detected pedestrians, the Audi pre sense safety system as well as - in the course of 2010 - a speed limit display.
Another high-end solution on board the new A8 is the full LED headlights, which use light emitting diodes for all light functions. They give the luxury sedan an unmistakable appearance even in daylight and even more so after the fall of darkness. The revolutionary optics used in these headlights mean a departure from the tubular light modules commonly used today. The full LED headlights herald a new chapter in lighting technology. The new A8 starts off with a 4.2 FSI with 273 kW (372 hp). The engine affords increased power and torque - but the fuel consumption has dropped by around 15 percent, thanks to intelligent and efficient technologies like the recuperation system and innovative thermal management.
Rolls Royce has launched the Ghost has been launched in India and at Rs 2.5 crore and above, it’s now one of the most expensive luxury cars available in the country. Rolls-Royce expects to sell a total of around 75 cars in India in 2010, of which the Ghost could comprise 50-60 units. Rolls-Royce, which sold 15 units of the Phantom in India last year, sold a total of only 1,212 cars worldwide in 2008. Now, with the smaller, less expensive Ghost joining its line-up, the British luxury car manufacturer is hoping to double its sales in 2010 and expects future growth to come from countries like China and India.
Powered by a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 that kicks out 563 horsepower and 780Nm of torque, the R-R Ghost is fitted with an eight-speed shift-by-wire automatic transmission from ZF. The car accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds and hits an electronically limited top speed of 248km/h.With dealerships only in Mumbai and Delhi, Rolls-Royce has a very limited presence in India, but has still garnered 25 bookings for the Ghost already.
Audi is all set to publically unveil the all new A8 on the eve of Design Miami on November 30th. The Audi flagship will be presented in a truly innovative way in a temporary museum structure, Audi pavilion which is focal point of “The Art Of Progress” which exhibits cultural and technological progress and echoes the value of the new A8: Vorsprung durch Technik and design expertise that stirs the emotions.
Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, commented on the exhibition concept: “Our claim “Vorsprung durch Technik” also embraces design, which is one of the outstanding elements of the Audi signature. And as top design has now emerged as an acknowledged art form, we see the bridge between art and architecture as a logical step in advancing our brand.”
The new Audi A8 promises to be an ultimate combination of performance, looks, luxury and technology. The flagship Audi luxury sedan will come with a slew of new engines which include V6 and V8 petrols and an all new Hybrid. A high performance model on the lines of the BMW 760Li and Mercedes S600 may also be launched.
Mercedes Benz India launched the all new E-Class on 23rd September, 2009. It was initially available in only one variant - the top of the line - Avant Garde which is priced at Rs. 47 lakhs (Ex-Showroom New Delhi).
But now as expected they are all set to launch the diesel variant of New E-Class in India which is going to be launched on 12th November. New E-Class 350 CDI will be powered by a 2987cc engine which generates 225 Bhp of power and 540 Nm of torque. The company will also introduce BlueEFFICIENCY technology in the diesel E-Class. This technology reduces CO2 emissions and increases fuel efficiency by upto 12%.
Skoda is ready to bring a new low-cost budget sedan model in 2012 in the international market. The new sedan model will compete with Renault’s Dacia which has recorded the strongest sales in past few months, especially in the sedan segment. Dacia received most of the benefit from the government scrappage scheme and now Volkswagen Group intends to bridge the gap between Renault Dacia and Skoda models which have a big price difference.
Skoda currently sells Octavia as a popular sedan internationally especially in the emerging markets including India and China. Skoda intends to replace the Octavia with new budget model which will be smaller than Octavia. The new budget model will directly replace Octavia in the developed markets.
Skoda CEO, Mr Reinhard Jung, said the new model would cost between 10,000 and 12,000 euros (Rs. 6.7 lakh - Rs. 8.04 lakh) and would launch in two to three years. Skoda has not revealed any more details about the car which will be placed between Fabia and Octavia in coming years.
Fiat India is getting ready to launch Linea T-Jet model in India. It will showcase the new model at the upcoming Delhi Auto expo in 2010. The new T-jet model will be powered by 1.4L petrol engine which will be a turbo-charged version. It delivered 120 ps @ 5000 rpm and torque of 206 nm right from 1750 rpm onwards. It reached top speed of 200 kmph and reach from 0-100 kmph in 9.2 seconds. The new Linea T-jet will be the only model in its segment that will have turbo-charged petrol engine once it is launched.
The new Linea T-jet will also have additional features like rain sensing wipers, reverse parking sensors, automatic headlamps, and Hill Holder function which means that it will stop the car from rolling backwards when you are on an incline and take your foot off the accelerator.
Fiat Linea was launched earlier this year and the model has been quite successful even since its launch. Fiat intends to regain its brand image in the Indian market and has launched premium models like Fiat 500. Fiat has also decided to increase its headcount at its R&D center to up to 200 to strengthen its research and development function.
