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MG Gloster launch scheduled for the festive season
The MG Gloster which was bound for the Indian auto market is scheduled to be making its debut during the festive season as per the plans of the company. Rajeev Chaba, the President and MD of MG Motor India has recently announced that although there have been some impacts on the company’s launch programmes, the launch of the MG Gloster will be held as per the predetermined schedule. During the live session where the announcement was made, Chaba also confirmed that the MG Hector Plus will make its debut in the month of June this year.
The MG Gloster was first showcased at the Auto Expo 2020. In terms of dimension, the SUV is longer than the full-size Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 and will be locking its horns against the likes of the Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner, and the Mahindra Alturas G4. For the Indian market, the automaker is expected to offer an in-house developed 2.0-litre, twin-turbo diesel engine under the hood of the Gloster which will churn out about 218 hp of max power and 480 Nm of peak torque. Initially, the SUV’s drivetrain will be mated with a manual gearbox. However, there are chances of an automatic version of the SUV to be launched at a later date. It is expected to come with an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
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Pre-bookings for the Skoda Rapid 1.0 TSI begin
Skoda has announced that bookings have begun for the BS-VI compliant Rapid sedan. The car is expected to launch in April. The sedan was unveiled at the 2020 Auto Expo. The engine present in the car is available on the Volkswagen Vento and Polo.
Apart from the new engine, the car comes with minor cosmetic upgrades as well. Some of the new upgrades are LED DRL headlamps, new alloy wheels, rear diffuser, and a new boot-lid spoiler in the rear. The 1-litre turbo-petrol engine is expected to produce 110 PS of power and 175 Nm of torque. The power that is produced is expected to be the same as the Vento and Polo. The car is expected to come with a 6-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Skoda has already decided to drop the 1.6-litre diesel variant. Apart from a larger touchscreen that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, no other interior changes are expected. Deliveries for the Rapid are expected to begin from 14 April 2020. The vehicle can be booked for an amount of Rs.50,000. The new Skoda Rapid will go against the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Hyundai Verna, and Volkswagen Vento.
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New Toyota Vellfire launched in India
The luxury MPV, Toyota Vellfire, has been released in Indian markets today. The vehicle will cost a whopping Rs.79.50 lakh and will mark the very first time for a luxury MPV’s launch in the country for Toyota. The 2020 Toyota Vellfire is expected to compete with the Mercedes-Benz V-Class which is priced at around Rs.68.40 lakh. The new MPV from Toyota is designed to be chauffeur-driven and has been marketed primarily to celebrities and top business executives. It will be available as a CBU vehicle (Completely Built Unit). The vehicle is 4,935 mm in length, 1,895 mm in height, and 1,850 mm in width. The wheelbase of the vehicle is 3,000 mm. The vehicle also has a number of cool features such as LED headlamps, two sunroofs as well as a 17-speaker JBL system. If you’re wondering about the safety features of the vehicle, the Toyota Vellfire will come with seven airbags as well as EBD and ABS panoramic view monitor. It will also have parking assist alert. The interiors of the vehicle have been well-laid-out and the cabin appears luxurious to say the least. It has luxury captain seats that can be operated electrically, and the second row has the sliding function. The interiors are draped in leather.
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Launch date for the latest Volkswagen T-Roc announced
The launch date of the 2020 Volkswagen T-Roc has been announced. The vehicle will be available for purchase from the 18th of March this year. The debut of the vehicle took place at the 2020 Auto Expo where it featured beside the Tiguan Allspace as well as the all-new Taigun compact SUV. However, the Volkswagen T-Roc will arrive in the country as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) and therefore limited volumes will be targeted. The vehicle is expected to be available for purchase at approximately Rs.20 lakh. The vehicle is expected to compete with the Hyundai Tucson, the Jeep Compass, etc. The SUV is expected to be a petrol-automatic-only vehicle that will feature a 1.5-litre TSI engine that is expected to produce nearly 148bhp as well as 20 Nm of peak torque. The cabin of the vehicle features an upmarket and premium look and comes with a flat-bottom steering which along with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also has a fully digital instrument cluster in addition to other cool features. The other vehicles with which it is expected to compete include the Kia Seltos, the Hyundai Creta and the MG Hector.
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17 March to witness launch of the new Hyundai Creta
Auto Expo 2020 saw a lot of hype around the second gen Hyundai Creta. The launch of the vehicle is expected to take place on the 17th of March this year, and bookings are set to open soon. The new generation version of the Hyundai Creta sees the outside of the vehicle come with a unique and butch design. The front grille is cascading and has LED headlamps on either side. The shoulder line of the vehicle appears quite muscular and the squared-out wheel arches along with dual-tone alloy wheels enhance its aesthetic appeal. At the rear of the vehicle you can see split LED taillights that are shaped in the form of the ‘Predator fang’. The interior of the vehicle has not yet been revealed by Hyundai. However, the Auto Expo offered a small glimpse into the same, with a fresh layout expected from the new vehicle. Images from the Auto Expo reveal that the car will come with a relatively big touchscreen infotainment system along with an e-parking brake and a 4-stroke steering wheel.
Volkswagen Golf GTI being evaluated for India
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the most loved hatchbacks among car enthusiasts and the Indian car enthusiasts might be lucky enough to finally get their hands on the car. German automaker has started evaluating the possible measures to introduce the car in India. Reportedly, after the announcement of relaxation of import rules, the car is expected to hit the Indian shores as a completely built unit (CBU).
As per the newly announced import rules, automakers can import 2,500 units every year through the CKD route or the CBU route to India without the vehicles having to go through homologation. However, the models which are being imported are liable to meet the homologation criteria in the international market. If the Volkswagen Polo GTI finally makes its way to the Indian market, it will be delivered in limited numbers and the price can be expected to be in the ballpark of Rs.40 lakh. Being introduced back in 1975, the Golf GTI is the pioneer in the hot hatch segment. The eighth generation of the car was recently spotted testing in Germany and is expected to be unveiled by the end of the year. The next iteration is expected to have more tech, produce more power, and be lighter. Although the German auto giant has confirmed anything, the Golf GTI can be expected to be powered by revised edition of the outgoing 2.0-litre turbo engine which pumps out about 255 hp of max power and 350 Nm of peak torque in the standard model and about 290 hp of max power and 370 Nm of peak torque in the TCR model. If everything goes as per the company’s plan, the car can be expected to hit the Indian shores by the end of 2020.
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GST Benefits of Jaguar Land Rover to be Passed on to Customers
The cost of assembling cars has reduced by almost 12% for Jaguar Land Rover. Manufacturers are working towards passing the GST benefits to their customers as a result. Following BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover is the next to step up and make an announcement to reduce prices for the cars that are manufactured locally. The decline in prices is applicable on the XJ, XF and XE in the Jaguar portfolio as well as the Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport from Land Rover’s stable. The decline in prices is expected to differ from state to state and will be based on the model. GST is expected to come into effect from the 1st of July this year, but the decline in prices has been passed on to the customers already.
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Geely Auto buys the British Sports Car Maker Lotus
Chinese automaker Geely Auto has acquired stakes worth 51% in Lotus Cars and Lotus Engineering. The company also owns Volvo Car Corporation and The London Taxi Company. The purchase of stakes in Lotus Group was a part of the dealings in which Geely Auto bought 49.9% equity in Proton Holdings, a Malaysia-based automobile design and manufacturing company. With the fresh funds received from Geely, the long awaited SUV and third-generation sports car of Lotus can be launched soon. Lotus can also use the Drive-E range of engines of Volvo instead of Toyota powertrains.
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BMW launches M760Li xDrive in India
M760Li xDrive is considered to be the most powerful production of BMW and it will be the flagship product for its Indian portfolio.The 17 feet long sedan is powered by a 6.6 litre V12 engine. It’s ex-showroom price is Rs.2.27 crores in Delhi showrooms. At present, this is the most expensive BMW car available in the country. It is available in two models, M760Li xDrive and M760Li XDrive V12 Excellence. As the flagship vehicle of BMW, it is provided with all the luxuries a buyer can imagine. It combines the performance features of BMW M series and the luxury of 7 series.
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Nissan Explains Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology
One of the worst things that can happen to a automobile manufacturer is unavailability of fossil fuel. Car are manufactured after deciding on the fuel type. Scarcity of fossil fuel has pushed many carmakers to switch to alternative ways to run their cars. Apart from petrol, diesel, and LPG, electricity is the next best option in the hands of many automobile manufacturers. Nissan also has an electric car called LEAF which is the best-selling car in its segment. However, during the Rio Olympics held in August, 2016, Nissan inaugurated their brand new SOFC-powered car, Renova Bio 2030. Explaining the technology, Nissan stated that SOFC technology uses bioethanol electric power to charge the vehicle. E-bio fuel cells which are 100% fuelled with ethanol is used to charge 24kwh battery. This battery is sufficient to drive the car up to 600 kms. Nissan proudly states that this technology will have zero emissions and will be completely eco-friendly.
