New Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster Revealed

The Italian luxury sports car manufacturer, Lamborghini has finally revealed the all new Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster: the most exciting series production Lamborghini ever built and the new benchmark in the world of open-top luxury super sports cars.On the heels of the successful coupe introduced in Summer 2011, and with over 1,300 units already delivered to customers, Lamborghini is now offering the convertible version of the Aventador, a vehicle that balances the ultimate driving experience with the ultimate in sports car sophistication.

The new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster can immediately be recognized by the unique profile of its upper area, which extends along newly designed geometric lines from the removable roof to the engine hood. The Roadster's design is the result of a careful study into the best way of combining performance, elegant style, ease of use and a driving experience that excites all five senses.

The two-piece roof is made entirely from carbon fibre using various technologies such as RTM and Forged Composite®. These technologies guarantee maximum aesthetic performance and stiffness although each component is extremely light, weighing less than 6 kg. These two parts are removable, easy to handle, and being lightweight and simple to attach, can be stored in the front luggage compartment. In just a few seconds the Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster can be admired in all its luxurious beauty.

The rear pillar has been redesigned to offer total support for the removable roof, accommodate an automatic protection system for passengers, and provide the engine compartment with pretty good ventilation. Right at first glance, it’s noticeable that the engine hood on the Roadster differs from the hood on the coupé because of its central “spinal column” with two pairs of hexagonal windows connected at the sides as if they were hyper-tech armor plates. Their purpose is to cool the engine, drain off rain water properly and, of course, allow the beauty of the V12 power unit to be admired.

The driver of the Aventador Roadster and his passenger can decide for themselves how intensely they would like to enjoy the driving experience. The powered rear windshield not only influences the flow of air in the vehicle, but also controls the experience of the sound from the twelve-cylinder engine. The wind deflector, on the other hand, delivers almost complete calm inside the car, even at high speed. It rests on the front wind-shield frame and can likewise be stored in the luggage compartment when not in use.

The Aventador Roadster is also equipped with door windows with chamfered edges, which always ensure a perfect fit into the hard-top seal, and underline the sharp side profile of the car.The body of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster sports a two-tone finish, as the wind-shield pillar, the two roof sections and the rear window area up to the “fins” are painted in gloss black. The visual effect is that of a completely open vehicle with sleek lines combining perfectly balanced sportiness and elegance.

The range of colors available for the Roadster has been supplemented with a very light, metallic blue color, Azzuro Thetis, whose tone varies with the angle of the light. Even the interior has a new look. The use of leather called Sabbia Nefertem highlights the great hand-made craftsmanship of the upholstery from Sant' Agata Bolognese and is a perfect match for the exterior in Azzuro Thetis. Finally, the new Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster also features new Dione 20”/21” rims with a daring, aggressive look. Crafted in light forged aluminum, they lower the weight of the vehicle by 10 Kg as compared with the standard set of rims.

The new Aventador LP700-4 Roadster boasts record performance. It accelerates from 0 to 100kmph in only 3 seconds flat and has a maximum speed of some 350 kmph. These numbers, combined with a drive train featuring a centrally located, 6.5 liter aspirated V12 generating 700 hp, an ISR 7-speed gearbox and push-rod suspension make the new Aventador Roadster a unique super sports car with no direct competition.

The Roadster's V12 also includes a cylinder deactivation system when the engine is working at partial capacity, while the innovative, instant Stop & Start system includes high-performance capacitors known as supercaps to awaken the engine. This is an absolute first in the super sports car segment.The new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster can be ordered at any Lamborghini dealer in the world for the price of 300,000 euro, excluding taxes. 

Lamborghini Announces Gallardo Retirement

Lamborghini has decided to retire its iconic best-selling model, the Lamborghini Gallardo at the end of the year 2013. The latest in the Gallardo line-up, the LP-560-4 will be the final Gallardo to be sold with the tag after which it will be retired and a replacement will take its place. The year 2013 will mark a decade of the Gllarado's rein, at the end of which Lamborghini will debut its replacement. The company will however continue selling the old Gallardo's.

The LP-560-4 model Gallardo has been built off the Audi's old 4.2-litre V8 engine, with two extra cylinders thrown in. From what we can make out, the V10 will not be discontinued along with the Gallardo. It will probably be refined for greater performance and find its way under the hood of the Gallardo replacement. And with that, the Gallardo era will end, which is certainly a sad thing considering the popularity of the car. However, Lamborghini is sure to bring in a replacement that will be just as impressive. Stay tuned to CarDekho as we bring you updates on what the replacement of the Gallardo will be. Cheers!

Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster Launched in India

The Italian luxury sports car manufacturer, Lamborghini that launched the all new Aventador LP700-4 Roadster in the global markets, has today launched it in India at Rs 4.77 Crore (ex-showroom, Delhi), which makes it one of the most expensive supercars sold in India today. The all new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster is the most exciting series production Lamborghini ever built and the new benchmark in the world of open-top luxury super sports cars.

Lamborghini that already sells the Aventador coupe in India, has now positioned the roadster right above that. The new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster can immediately be recognized by the unique profile of its upper area, which extends along newly designed geometric lines from the removable roof to the engine hood.

The new Aventador LP700-4 Roadster boasts record performance. It accelerates from 0 to 100kmph in only 3 seconds flat and has a maximum speed of some 350kmph. These numbers, combined with a drive train featuring a centrally located, 6.5 litre aspirated V12 generating 700bhp, an ISR 7-speed gearbox and push-rod suspension make the new Aventador Roadster a unique super sports car with no direct competition.

The Roadster's V12 also includes a cylinder deactivation system when the engine is working at partial capacity, while the innovative, instant Stop & Start system includes high-performance capacitors known as supercaps to awaken the engine. This is an absolute first in the super sports car segment.

Hyundai to Launch a Compact SUV, MPV and a new Hatchback: Official

In an earlier report published on CarDekho, we talked about Hyundai's plans of launching a new hatchback to rival Maruti Suzuki Swift. The said hatchback will sit between the company's flagship hatches i10 and the i20, taking the total no. of hatchbacks to five. Now a report published today on ET confirms the same, it also reveals that there will be "a slew of products for the Indian market , including a compact SUV, an MPV as well". This has been confirmed by none another than Hyundai's CEO and MD, BO Shin Seo.

 
Image used for represenation purpose only

Seo also said that the company's focus will be on diesel engines, the company has recently made investments in diesel engine capacity. Speaking to TOI, Seo said that "the HMI will launch a small SUV soon The SUV will COME earlier, followed by an MPV ".

Hyundai's arch rival Maruti Suzuki India has already launched the Ertiga MPV, while it still doesn't have anything in the growing compact SUV/MPV segment. On the other hand, the newly launched Renault Duster has already been doing superb in terms of sales, Ford is ready with its compact Crossover, the EcoSport and Chevrolet Enjoy MPV will be here anytime soon. So, it has become more a necessity now for Hyundai India to launch a good product to earn the market share in this space.

Hyundai India is keeping its focus on diesel run cars, diesel vehicles accounted for 28% of the company's total sales. "We have invested $ 300 million in a new diesel gasoline flexible plant which has a 3,00,000-unit capacity. The flexi assembly line future-proofs us from any changes in the government's fuel POLICY, the while at the same time it Protects us from currency fluctuation since we no longer import diesel engines, "he said.

The company is also working on the next-generation i10, which will house the company's newly developed 1.1-litre diesel engine, while the petrol version will continue to derive its power from the existing 1.2-litre Kappa2 motor. The aforementioned 1.1-litre diesel engine is the company's smallest engine right now, which might also power the new compact car we mentioned above.

Speaking about the new compact car, Seo says "between the i10 and i20. It will create a completely new segment and will have better pick -up and performance than the i10 segment ". Denying that Hyundai will get into sub-Eon segment, he said, "Our Brand POSITIONING is On all about modern premium, so we will not go below the Eon, "said Seo.

Stay tuned to CarDekho for all the latest updates on upcoming Hyundai cars, Cheers!

Source: TOI

Mercedes-Benz India Records 5.3% growth in First Quarter

German luxury car maker, Mercedes-Benz's Indian subsidiary has announced their first quarter (Jan-March 2013) sales results, in which they sold 2009 units. Mercedes has recorded a growth of 5.3% over the corresponding period of 2012 in which a total 1908 units were sold by the company.

Eberhard Kern, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented: “We are very satisfied with the company performance in this quarter. Given the overall strain in the Indian economy and the fact that the Passenger Vehicles market has de-grown by double digits in Jan-Feb 2013, an incremental 5.3% performance enhancement is encouraging. There are several exciting product launches slated in the next months and riding the wave of these fascinating products, we envisage a double-digit growth in the next quarter.” 

The E Class has been the single largest contributor to the sales volumes in January – March 2013 period with more than 800 units sold (increase of about 25% over the corresponding period in 2012) while the Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars (comprising Completely Built imported cars like the AMG range, the SLK-Class and the CLS-Class) have registered highest growth (48% increase over the corresponding period in 2012). 

Honda CR-V to come in four variants, launch on 12th February

The Honda’s new CR-V will be available in four variants, two of which will be with the 2.0-litre and other with the 2.4-litre. It is disappointing for those who were expecting a diesel in the CR-V, as the Indian diesel doesn’t suit the CR-V’s oil burner.

The 2.0-litre with come with two transmission options, one being the six-speed simple shift stick and the other being the five-speed autobox. The autobox on the 2.0-litre doesn’t get paddle shifters. The 2.4-litre comes only with a five-speed self-shifting box with flappy paddles that transmit power to all the four wheels. This engine gets two cosmetic trim, one with the Audio Video Navigation (AVN) and the other without it. The AVN comes with a 5-inch touchscreen system that has audio, video, navigation and reverse parking camera. The bigger engine also gets HIDs with washer, while the 2.0-litre comes with halogen lamps.

Features like leather upholstery, multi information display with ECO assist, Econ mode, 17-inch alloys, electric driver’s seat, keyless entry are all standard across the entire CR-V range. Honda calls its fourth-generation CR-V as the Super CR-V. We drive both the engine options of the CR-V and share our review , of the first driving impressions that we got while driving on the roads of Udaipur.

New Honda CR-V vs competition

The new generation of the Honda CR-V is just launched and the Japanese automotive manufacturer has priced it well as the entry-level car comes for under the 20 lakh mark— even though the costing is without taxes.

The new generation CR-V is available with a 2.0-litre (6-speed manual and 5-sspeed auto) and 2.4-litre (5-speed auto) petrol engine variants. It competes with the BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz B-Class when it comes to shear pricing. So, we help you decide the better option.

Honda CR-V vs BMW X1

 

The X1 has been around for quite sometime and has been the entry-level vehicle for the BMW badge. It is based on the 3-Series platform and gets the same petrol and diesel engines like the previous generation 3-Series. The X1 is a SUV that feels like a sedan to drive, just like the CR-V. The difference however is that at the moment the CR-V comes with all-wheel drive in the 2.4-litre with touchscreen navigation, reverse parking camera etc. With the X1 launch just 2 days away, we are sure that BMW will add some extra goodies to make it competitive with the Honda, and at the same time you also get the BMW badge, but the Honda CR-V is a great value for money product and has done good in the past. So, the choice is yours value for money for badge value.

Honda CR-V vs Mercedes-Benz B-Class

The B-Class is the new entrant to the Mercedes-Benz stable and also new entry-level vehicle to the three-pointed star badge. The B-Class isn’t an SUV, but it does fall under similar price bracket. The Mercedes-Benz B-Class produces 122bhp of power that is less than the CR-V but the seven-speed dual clutch spreads the torque evenly, enhancing its performance. The B-Class is more expensive then the CR-V, but it does get seven-airbags, seven-speed dual clutch transmission, and more renowned badge than most of the brands that are ever sold. But the CR-V is an SUV, which differentiates it from the B-Class and is also an all-wheel drive.

Honda Plans to Launch Civic hatchback and CR-V Diesel in Australia

Japanese car maker Honda is now planning to launch the diesel version of its famous vehicles Honda CR-V and Civic Hatchback in Australia, while Indians are about to get Honda's first diesel car Amaze. Honda has recently launched the all new CR-V in India in petrol version only, however the diesel CR-V will still take more than an year to come here. The Australian Honda is likely to launch the diesel powered CR-V by 2013 end or Early 2014, while the diesel engine powered Civic hatchback will be rolled out much earlier to that, possibly in April 2013.

Honda which had its major focus on hybrid technology there in Australia, now believes that Diesel would help them grow even faster. Commenting on the same, Honda Australia's Director and Sales and marketing head, Stephen Collins said to CarAdvice, “We took a decision about a year and half ago that the diesel market was continuing to grow, and it was an opportunity that we couldn’t miss.”

Honda took so much time to get the first diesel in Australia, however they have been selling diesel cars in Europe for quite some time now. But diesel would be part of company's ongoing strategy in the future says the official. “I think our strategy up until a year and half ago was more hybrid but now it’s a combination of diesel and hybrid,” said Collins.

If we talk about Honda's plans for India, after launching the Amaze, the company is planning to launch the diesel versions of all its existing cars like Honda City, CR-V and the next-generation Jazz by 2014. There will also be a compact SUV based on Jazz with a diesel engine.

This is all what we have for now, stay tuned to CarDekho for all the latest updates on the same. Cheers!

Honda Amaze Launch on April 16?

Honda Amaze is unquestionably one of the most sought after vehicles of the year, as this will be the first diesel car from the Japanese auto giant in India, which is known for producing the world-class vehicles everywhere. And today AutoCar India has reported that the vehicle is finally launching on April 16, however the company hasn't officially said anything on the same. What makes us believe more on the expected launch date is the fact that the company's top official has some days back said that the vehicle would be launched in April.

Since we have already tried our hands at upcoming Honda Amaze , so one thing that we can say is that the car is very responsive, has good interiors and is surely one of the most balanced compact sedans we have in the market today. So, the segment leader Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire will have a genuine competitor in the form of Honda Amaze very soon. And if it's priced well, we are sure it will do wonders for the company and help the company bring back the glorious days.

Like we reported earlier, the brio based sedan Amaze will be offered with two engine options a 1.2-litre i-VTEC and a 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine. Since the 1.2-litre i-VTEC is the similar engine used in the Brio, so we would talk about the diesel mill for which everybody is waiting.

The 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine belongs to the new generation powertrain technology Earth Dreams that 'realises both excellent driving performance and fuel economy at a high level'. The diesel engine is likely to churn out the maximum power output around 85bhp along with an impressive mileage of around 23kmpl.

The pricing of Amaze will certainly be aggressive, thanks to exceeding localisation. What remains to be seen now is if the new Honda Amaze can give the Maruti Dzire and the Tata Indigo a run for their money.

Source: AutoCar India

Journey for Honda Civic and Jazz Ends Finally

Honda's plans of discontinuing the Jazz and Civic were known to everyone, the company was in the process to sell the last stock and had stopped the production already. Now, the company has finally removed the Jazz and Civic, indicating that no more units of both the vehicles will be on sale from now.

Launched back in the year 2006, Honda Civic was one of the most desirable cars of its time and it was being sold in good numbers too. But ever since the market moved towards diesel engine powered cars, its sales started declining. While on the other hand, Jazz was launched a little over priced, which could not lure many buyers. However, Honda later cut its price, which too could not help much.

So, in short, despite being two potent cars, they could not manage to sell in numbers due to unavailability of diesel engines. And like we reported earlier, the company is working on the next-generation Honda Jazz, which will also have the diesel trims. The next-generation Jazz is expected to come by 2014, while there are no plans been shared about the arrival of next-generation Civic, which has been already launched internationally.

Both Honda Civic and Jazz were removed from the company's official website at the time, when the company's first ever diesel vehicle, Honda Amaze have been added. Honda Amaze is making its Indian debut on April 11, so stay tuned for all the updates on Amaze, as we will be covering the event live. Cheers!

Honda Amaze Clocks 2552 bookings in March 2013

Honda cars India that officially announced the launch date of Amaze, company's upcoming compact Sedan in India has already received over 2,552 bookings for the car in March 2013, however the official bookings started on April 1. The deliveries of the vehicle will only start after its launch on April 11, 2013.

According to the latest sales release of the Honda Cars India, it registered an annual growth of 35% by selling an all time high volume of 73,483 units during Apr 2012 – Mar 2013 as compared to 54,427 units in the corresponding period last year. However, in March 2013, HCIL sold 10,044 units in the month of March'13 as against 11,016 units in March'12, recording a drop of 8 per cent. And if we look at Honda's model wise break-up of domestic sales in March, the Amaze accounted for 2552 units, while others Brio, City, Accord and CR-V sold 3917, 3432, 113 and 30 units respectively.

According to Mr. Jnaneswar Sen, Sr. VP - Sales and Marketing, HCIL, "We are delighted to witness a remarkable growth of 35% over last year although the market environment has been quite tough. Strong demand for Honda Brio and Honda City has been instrumental in achieving this success. The launch of Amaze this month will be a significant step in Honda's strategy to begin a new phase of growth for our business in Indian market. We expect huge growth potential in tier 2 & tier 3 markets with this car and therefore we have been expanding our sales network to reach out to newer cities and markets."

The company is aiming to sell about 10,000 units of Amaze every month, and booking number of 2552 units even before the official booking started, is a good sign.

2013 Lexus ES350 will feature the Steering- Assist Vehicle Control (S-VSC) System

The new Lexus ES350 and ES300h has a very exciting new feature which can lead the driver enjoy its ideal ride on any terrain. This technology is called Steering- Assist Vehicle Control (S-VSC) which is an enhanced version of the conventional VSC system. This upgraded version of the VSC system has the capability of cutting the throttle and add braking pressure in a turn if tire slip is detected, the cars steering angle will be corrected, pointing the tires more in line with the cars projected path if the driver has provided too much steering input which causes understeer or “pushing”.

This safety feature brought by the Lexus in the era of automobile engineering evolution is a brave and bold step. The S-VSC technology will make the car different from the other cars available in the market; hence it will help the brand in doing good in terms of number of sales. The Lexus ES350 has a power of 268 hp @ 6,200 rpm and provides a torque of 248 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm.

Whereas, the Lexus ES300h which is the first hybrid car has a power of 200 hp @ 5500 RPM and provides a torque of 195 lb-ft @ 4700 RPM and delivers 0-60mph in 8.1 seconds. The new Lexus ES 350 and ES 300h hybrid combine technology, style, and performance to please current ES owners and attract new buyers. Lexus ES has been unveiled at the New York Auto Show. This 2013 model of Lexus ES has more bold looks and includes the brands new trademark “spindle” grille.

Lexus IS 300h and Lexus LF-LC Opal Blue Concept to debut at Geneva

Japanese auto major Toyota's luxury vehicle division, Lexus is all set to showcase the all new full hybrid Lexus IS 300h and Opal Blue LF-LC at the Geneva Motor Show.

European premier for new IS 300h

The Geneva motor show will mark the European debut of the new, full hybrid Lexus IS 300h. The new model displays all-new styling that gives the sport saloon a stronger, more distinctive road presence than ever before, expressing Lexus’s reinforced focus on dynamic performance.

When it goes on sale in Europe later this year, the IS 300h will be available with an F Sport package, with exclusive sports-themed exterior and interior design features and sportier driving dynamics.

Opal Blue LF-LC

The award-winning Lexus LF-LC 2+2 hybrid sports coupe concept will be at Geneva, presented in a new Opal Blue finish. The concept showcases Lexus’s more sporting new image, with a fully driver-focused interior. It also delivers a strong interpretation of Lexus’s new design language, witnessed in the large spindle grille arrangement and rear architecture, which fuse distinctive style with engineering functionality.

Expanded F Sport range

Lexus’s full range of F Sport full hybrid models, including the new IS 300h F Sport, will be on show at Geneva, taking their place on an all-new motor show stand that’s being used for the first time in Europe.

Lexus will host a press conference on Stand 4.211 at 12.45pm on Tuesday, 5 March.

World will Drive Made-in-India SUVs

Sports utility vehicle segment in India is gearing up and ready to make its mark in developed markets such as Europe, Japan, Latin America and Australia. The Globally renowned auto-majors are looking India as the base for the export market and aims to take advantage of India's cost-competitive manufacturing methods. This will turn the country into an export hub for utility vehicles.

Homegrown auto-major Mahindra & Mahindra and French car-maker Renault has already exporting their flagship XUV500 and the Duster SUVs, respectively, to the European market. Now, Fiat and Ford India are studying the opportunities to export SUVs to Europe, South Africa and Southeast Asia.

According to the Joginder Singh, president and managing director, Ford India, said, that “ The European equation works well with the EcoSport. We already export the Figo to 38 countries from India. We would look at a similar scale for the SUV”. However, Singh did not talked about the number of EcoSport to be exported, the industry sources says that Ford plans to export around 40 per cent of the scheduled annual production of 1,50,000 units to foreign markets. The company will manufacture 380 variants of the SUV at Maraimalai Nagar facility and would be delivered to 40 countries.

Italian car-maker, Fiat also looking to grab this opportunity and aims to export at least two of its SUVs to right-hand drive markets. Earlier, company had revealed their plans of introducing nine new models in the Indian market by 2016. Speaking to Business Standard, Enrico Atanasio, former manging director, Fiat Group Automobiles India, said that,”We are looking at leveraging India as an export hub for right-hand drive models. We have excess capacity available in India and are looking at exporting vehicles from here to the UK, Japan, Australia and South Africa.”

Fiat soon going to introduce the Jeep brand in India with the Grand Cherokee and two compact utility vehicles with the Fiat logo in India. Fiat and Tata Motors together shares a manufacturing unit at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra.

In the last fiscal (2012-13), M&M exported around 2,000 XUV500 to Africa and Europe, and company aims to raise exports to Latin America by the mid of this financial year. Renault India too plans to export around 1,000-3,000 units of the Duster to the UK, where it is sold under the 'Dacia' brand. The French auto-giant is considering exporting the Duster to the other right-hand drive markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia and South Africa.

Source : Business Standard

Audi R8 V10 Plus Launches in India at Rs 2.05 Crore

Audi India has now launched the new top of the line Audi R8 V10 Plus variant of its flagship super car in India, which is the most powerful trim of the car. Launched in style at the famous Buddh International Circuit (BIC) Noida, the new Audi R8 V10 Plus has been priced at Rs 2.05 crore (ex-showroom, New Delhi).

Audi launched the new 2013 Audi R8 in January 2013 in a total three variants- R8 V8 coupe, R8 V10 coupe and R8 V10 Spyder, priced at Rs 1.34 crore, Rs 1.57 crore and Rs 1.73 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) respectively. And in the form of R8 V10 Plus, the supercar receives its fourth and the most powerful variant.

The prices of the all three variants have however been revised due to hike in import duties (2013 Union budget). So the R8 V10 Coupe which was launched at Rs 1.57 crore, now costs around Rs 1.81 crore. So the price of the new R8 V10 plus seems justified.

The R8 V10 plus houses the similar Lamborghini sourced 5.2-litre V10 engine, which also does its duty to the R8 Spyder and the R8 V10 Coupe, however it has been tuned for more power in the V10 plus variants. The engine now promises to return a whooping 550bhp and a peak torque of 540Nm, making it 25bhp and 10Nm more powerful than the R8 Spyder and V10 coupe. Mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic gearbox, the V10 Plus has the capability to touch the 0-100kmph mark in mere 3.5 seconds with a peak speed of 317kmph.

Honda Civic Tourer estate Spied

The production version of new Honda Civic Tourer estate has been recently spotted during its test rounds. AutoCar has released the first ever pictures of the production version of Civic Tourer, which was unveiled as a concept model at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The car will be manufactured in Swindon city, and will be put on sale by the early 2014.

The syshots of the car looks similar to the concept, although the front-end of the car will be toned down and lights will be less stylish. The low roofline at the rear-end will remain same, along with the large window in the C-pillar. The tourer comes adorned with distinguished features like the newly formulated rear lights and the red bar that goes across the tailgate. A small intermediary on the boot gives an indications that the bar will blend a lighting function. 

Honda Civic Tourer's luggage carrying capacity is one of the best and we expect the car to house some intelligent artistry. The fuel tank under the front seats and beam axle rear suspension tells that the car will have a very flat and long boot ground. It is also expected that the Tourer will get foldable seats like Jazz, to create an additional luggage compartment.

Honda believes that the Tourer will account for 20 per cent of Civic sales. In the growing C-segment market, the Civic competes against the likes of Volkswagen Golf and the Ford Focus. The company hopes to attract buyers from the above class with Tourer in the same manner that the Octavia has been doing for Skoda.

Source : Autocar UK

Nissan Juke n-tec Introduced in the UK

Japanese car maker Nissan has introduced a new top of the line model in the Juke range- the Juke n-tec, which has received some extra features and cosmetic changes. Priced from £16,295, the Juke n-tec delivers even more style, higher equipment levels and an enhanced Nissan Connect infotainment system featuring remote connectivity as standard. Based on the existing Acenta Premium model, the new Juke n-tec adds a striking new look. Riding on dramatic 18-inch black and silver n-tec alloy wheels wrapped in 225/45 tyres it features gloss black B-pillars and door mirrors and black bezels for the bonnet light strips. On the inside, a gloss black centre console and gloss black door trim finishers complete the visual changes.

But the star of the show is the Juke’s advanced range of in-car technology. Taking centre stage is the new generation Nissan Connect system, which is fitted as standard to all n-tec models. Controlled via a large 5.8-inch colour touchscreen, Nissan Connect integrates the Juke's satellite navigation system with Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phones and MP3 players. The new version also incorporates Google® Send-To-Car technology that allows owners to plan and send their route to the car before they leave the house. In addition to being more convenient, it's also safer - removing the temptation to plot a route when on the move.

The enhanced Nissan Connect system also features a number of innovative features designed to make life behind the wheel even easier. Drivers have complete access to Google®'s comprehensive Points of Interest (POI) database, and can also request weather forecasts, local fuel prices and flight information. Nissan has also enhanced the navigation system interface, introducing a new ‘exit view' display with lane guidance, and an economy readout that ‘scores' the driver according to how economically they are driving. The smoother and more efficiently they drive, the higher the score.

Juke n-tec models also feature Nissan Dynamic Control System which allows the driver to select preferred driving dynamic modes, as well as change other functions such as climate control settings via the central touchscreen. Other standard equipment includes a reversing camera with colour display, automatic climate control and audio with Bluetooth Compatibility and USB port.

The n-tec is expected to be the best-selling model in the Juke line-up and will be available across all engine and drivetrain combinations. Buyers can choose from three engines - one diesel and two petrol - with the option of Nissan's ALL-MODE 4x4i intelligent four-wheel drive with rear axle torque vectoring and Nissan's XTRONIC M-CVT transmission when ordered with the advanced 1.6-litre DIG-T engine. The latter also gets a black interior headliner and a dual exit exhaust finisher to further mark it out.

The Juke n-tec joins the line-up at an exciting time. In the UK, the Sunderland-built crossover is Nissan’s second most popular model behind the Qashqai with 28,862 cars sold in 2012, up from 21,900 in 2011. Since its launch in 2010, more than 290,000 Jukes have been sold across Europe, with the figure for 2012 hitting a record-breaking 140,000 units. More than 500,000 Jukes have been sold worldwide since launch.

Fancy building your own EV racer?

Like Meccano? Love the Mercedes SLS E-Cell? Then why not combine your passions into a satisfying cocktail of skinned knuckles, frustration and anger by building the world's first electric kit car for the track?

All you need to do is buy the iRacer kit from Westfield and Birmingham City University for £13,999. For that you you get an aluminum frame, composite exterior paneling and all the other bits only James fully understands that help you turn and stop.

Unfortunately, you don't get the bit that makes you go - sourcing and financing the motor is all on you. You can choose from an old-school combustion engine, new-school hybrid or futuristic electric motor depending on how much money you have/what your sandals are made out of.

But it's the electro option that Westfield's pushing. The manufacturer suggests fitting two YASA-750 electric motors to drive the rear wheels. Sadly horsepower is limited to just 132 ponies, but the motors can deliver 550lb ft of torque (that's twice as much as an Ariel Atom V8) instantly.

As lithium-iron phosphate batteries aren't the lightest things in the world, the car is 180kg than the featherweight Atom. This means a top speed of 130-to-145 mph and a sub five-second 0-60 mph time. And weight isn't the only catch with electric motors. The iRacer can only be driven like a yob for 25 minutes before it needs re-juicing. Not one for Le Mans, then...

But before you race it you've got to build it. And as Jeremy, James and Richard discovered when they tried to build a kit car quicker than the Stig could race from England to Scotland, it's not that easy.

Luxury the new car appears in I/2013

Many car in the form of "crisis" in the world has impressive debut from the beginning of the year, including LaFerrari, McLaren P1, Lamborghini Veneno ...


Perhaps the first quarter of this year was a rare occasion for the faithful car in the world to witness the launch of so many supercars. Besides the familiar names in the car industry, such as Ferrari, McLaren, Lamborghini, and other exotic car manufacturers are also launching their expensive supercars, such as W Motors GTA Spano.

Lykan Hypersport

In late January, W Motors of Arab supercar unveiled Lykan Hypersport, car exhibition in Qatar. Meanwhile, many people were skeptical about the success of this exotic supercar, by its sale price up to $ 3.4 million. However, shortly thereafter, W Motors has received more than 100 orders for its supercar, far exceeding the expected number of initial production is 7.

Lykan own powerful style, with more angular lines. Besides, the integrated technology in the car is also very modern, and is made from a variety of advanced materials, such as diamonds, gems, carbon fiber ...

Lykan Hypersport equipped with V6 engine, turbo, delivering maximum power of 750 hp and maximum torque of 1000 Nm, allowing the car to accelerate from 0-100 km / h in 2.8 seconds and can reach a maximum speed of 329 km / h.

GTA Spano

Car ownership from Spain made ​​from carbon fiber wing, yellow dotted lines, bring a unique look to the vehicle. Thanks are made from carbon fiber and other lightweight materials, the weight of the car is also quite mild, about 1,350 kg. System chassis of the car is made ​​from carbon fiber, titanium and Kevlar, a high-strength truck.

Meanwhile, the power supply for the car is the 8.4 liter V10 engine block, providing a capacity of 900 horsepower and maximum torque of 1000 Nm, which helps the car can accelerate from 0-100 km / hin less than 3 seconds, before reaching a maximum speed of 348 km / h. To ensure safety, the development of this car was fitted to the car - AP Racing carbon ceramic brakes and 6 piston brake clamp.

To car ownership from Spain, the customer will have to spend the amount of not less than $ 800,000.

Gold McLaren P1

"He succeeded," the legendary McLaren F1 supercar was officially screened offers of golf at the Geneva show in early March. McLaren P1 own design style "drop of water", and many more highly aerodynamic, which helps optimize the vehicle's performance.

Although McLaren is not too focused on the development of P1 to become the fastest car speed, but the maximum speed limit e at 350 km / h is also worthy of pride. McLaren P1 own "heart" is a hybrid system, a combination of electric motor and gasoline engine 3.8-liter V8, delivering 903 horsepower and maximum torque of 900 Nm. Thus, this car can accelerate from 0-100 km / h in 2.8 seconds, 0-320 km / h in 20 seconds.

Amount of money customers have to spend to own hybrid car is about $ 1.3 million.

Luxury Ferrari LaFerrari

Just with McLaren P1 above, LaFerrari bring in his powerful hybrid system developed by Ferrari. Was launched to replace the legendary Ferrari Enzo supercar, LaFerrari seems to have completed its mission, the entire amount of the car that Ferrari plans to produce have been ordered.

LaFerrari still owns bold design lines Ferrari usual fashion, but still ensure aerodynamic car. A very special, LaFerrari's first supercar by hand Ferrari design engineers.

Owning the power up to 963 horsepower, LaFerrari is the most powerful car in the history of the Italian carmaker. "Heart" of the car's hybrid system, combining block 6.3-liter V12 engine and electric motor, making this car can accelerate from 0-100 km / h in under 3 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 350 km / h. Price sell of LaFerrari is about $ 1.7 million, with a production of 499 units.

Lamborghini Veneno

This car is part of the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini. Veneno still owns more angular design lines of its common Italian supercar, but details were calculated very carefully to ensure the most impressive performance car.

Among the supercars that Lamborghini has ever produced, Veneno is the largest car ownership power. Provide power to the car is the 6.5 liter V12 engine block, providing a capacity of 750 hp, which helps the car can accelerate from 0-100 km / h in 2.8 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 355 km / h.

Lamborghini says only 3 Veneno supercar manufacturer plans to sell up to 3.9 million dollars.