440kph Y2K hyperbike India-bound

Manufactured by Marine Turbine Technologies (MTT), the Y2K can outrun a Bugatti Veyron! Meet the MTT Y2K. It will outrun a Bugatti Veyron Supersport, rev three times more than a Formula 1 car and make the mighty Suzuki Hayabusa feel like a Hero Honda Splendor. Made by South Louisiana-based Marine Turbine Technologies (MTT), the Y2K has nothing less than a Rolls-Royce Allison 250-series gas turbine engine, usually found in, erm, helicopters. Unleashed...

Read More

SCOOP! New top-end trim for Honda Brio

New VX trim with added features for Honda Brio coming this April. Honda is expected to introduce a new top-end VX trim-level for the Brio. As a hatch, the Brio makes a strong case for itself as a decent overall package, but has a few glaring omissions in its features list. The new variant will address these issues and include additional equipment like a rear de-fogger and driver seat height adjustment. A rear wiper however, will not be...

Read More

Mercedes announces ‘Performance Drive’

Mercedes performance drive to feature training sessions by certified professionals. Mercedes-Benz India today announced the launch of ‘Mercedes-Benz Performance Drive’. The company is offering motoring enthusiasts an opportunity to hone their driving skills through programmes conducted by certified global trainers. Speaking about the event, Eberhard Kern, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “Mercedes-Benz has been...

Read More

KTM eyes BMW’s Husqvarna

Austrian bike specialist KTM could buy into Husqvarna. Recently crowned European bike market leader KTM is in talks with German two-wheeler giant BMW Motorrad to acquire its subsidiary off-road bike company, Husqvarna. The last time Husqvarna changed hands was with BMW taking over the brand from European bike major MV Agusta, in 2008. A possible joint venture at this stage is certain to spell good times ahead for Indian bikers. Indian...

Read More

SCOOP! Honda CB150R coming this Feb

Honda to launch promising new naked 149.4cc streetbike. Honda recently announced an Indian offensive, promising to launch new bikes and scooters every quarter of 2013. Staying true to their word, Honda recently introduced the Dio, Activa and Aviator scooters with revised engine technology. There’s now news the next Indian Honda is going to be the CB150R streetbike, set for launch in just a few days, in February 2013.    The CB150R...

Read More

New Skoda Octavia coming this year

Skoda Laura replacement will be called the Octavia. We take a detailed look at whether it has what it takes to shake up the established order. Skoda created nothing short of a sensation when it launched the Octavia in India back in 2000. The Mark I Octavia came to India at a time when the only real luxury car present was a Mercedes E-class, and its combination of size, build quality, price and incredible fuel economy meant customers made a...

Read More

New sub-four metre Verito spotted

Mahindra's sub-four metre Verito seen testing, likely to get a 1.5-diesel motor. After the launch of the sub-four metre Quanto, Mahindra looks all set to launch its next offering in the segment. We found evidence of this as our alert reader Senthil Kumar spotted the Verito-based compact being tested in Chennai and sent us spy photographs.   The sub-four metre Verito is expected to sport styling cues similar to the recently facelifted...

Read More

Volkswagen Polo vs Hyundai i20

Can the updated VW Polo match and better the stylish and feature-rich Hyundai i20? We find out. Overview Ever since its inception, the Hyundai i20 has had a smooth run due to its stylish looks, feature-rich cabin and myriad trim levels to suit varying needs. Hyundai even gave it a mid-life update in March, 2012 to freshen up the appeal of its premium hatchback by giving it the carmaker's fluidic sculpture design treatment. Its rival,...

Read More

BMW-Toyota confirm sports car plans

A proposal for a co-developed BMW-Toyota sports car is set to be completed by the end of 2013 BMW and Toyota have signed a binding agreement to co-develop a new sports car. The agreement is a joint venture first outlined in a memorandum of understanding in June 2012, which also includes fuel-cell development, research into lightweight technology, and lithium-air battery technology.   The two firms have agreed to “define a joint platform...

Read More

KTM on top in Europe

KTM pass BMW Motorrad to lift European sales crown. Austrian motorcycle giant KTM has overtaken BMW Motorrad to become Europe’s numero-uno motorcycle manufacturer. KTM sold 107,142 motorcycles through the calendar year 2012 to record its personal best sales, leading BMW Motorrad by a margin of 1000 bikes. KTM grew a respectable 32 percent in 2012 and increased their market share by 7.5 percent.   KTM has also worked closely with part...

Read More

Lotus launches E21 to kick off F1 2013

The E21 is visually similar to last year's car, but tech director James Allison said that certain areas of it have undergone a wholesale redesign. Lotus has unveiled the new E21 Formula 1 car that it hopes will provide a springboard for it to become a top team in 2013. After an encouraging 2012 campaign where Lotus delivered a victory in Abu Dhabi with Kimi Raikkonen, the Enstone-based outfit believes its evolutionary car can...

Read More

Tata Vista D90 review, test drive

Tata plonks a more powerful diesel motor in the Vista. We find out how good it is. With Tata carrying out extensive exercises to constantly improve its range of cars, we’ve seen quite a few updates, facelifts and upgrades on several of the manufacturer’s products like the Manza. The latest in the line-up to get a new avatar is the Indica Vista with a 90PS (89bhp) diesel engine. It is powered by the 1.3-litre Fiat Multijet diesel engine that...

Read More

Volkswagen hikes prices of Vento, Polo

Volkswagen has added features and hiked prices of the Vento and Polo. Volkswagen today announced that additional features have been plonked in some variants of the Vento and the Polo.  The Vento now gets a 2-DIN music system with USB, Bluetooth and AUX in the Comfortline and Highline variants. Also, the Vento Highline now gets automatic climate control.   The Polo Highline now comes with the new RCD 320 music system with...

Read More

Nissan, Mercedes and Ford team for fuel cell tech

Three brands want to speed up commercialisation of fuel cell tech and development Ford, Nissan and Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler have announced the formation of a partnership aimed at accelerating the commercialisation of fuel cell electric vehicle technology. Together, the three car makers plan to develop a common fuel cell system to be used in what they describe as “highly differentiated, separately branded fuel cell electric...

Read More

Jaguar's BMW 3-series rival inches closer

Jaguar compact saloon poised for production as planned crossover is pushed back. Jaguar is close to giving the go-ahead to a range of compact and lightweight rear-drive models that will spearhead a significant sales expansion for the brand. However, the new line won’t be an obvious rival for established premium cars such as the BMW 3-series and Audi A4, according to senior sources. It will attempt to outpoint the German opposition by...

Read More

Vista-based crossover-like concept unveiled

104bhp, 1.3 Multijet diesel-powered D90 Xtreme showcases Vista platform's potential. Alongside the recent launch of its Vista D90 hatchback, Tata Motors also showcased a concept for a crossover based on the Vista, called the Vista D90 Xtreme. The concept is conceived in the same vein as the Skoda Fabia Scout and the upcoming VW CrossPolo, in that it is a standard hatchback with slightly raised suspension (25mm in this case) and a number...

Read More

Lamborghini Aventador Roadster launched in India

Drop-top Aventador can hit a claimed 350kph and sprint from zero to 0-100kph in just 3.0sec even with the roof off. Lamborghini has launched the Aventador LP700-4 roadster in India. The Aventador roadster -  a 690bhp V12 open-top hypercar that is, the Italian firm claims, “the most exciting Lamborghini ever built”. The Aventador Roadster uses a Targa-style two-piece carbon fibre roof, which weighs just 6kg. It can be removed by hand...

Read More