Frankfurt Motor Show in detail. New Grand i10 and Octavia driven

Frankfurt Motor Show is one of the biggest motor shows in Europe, but how relevant are the products to the Indian car market? Well, there are several cars that were shown that are India bound. If you have missed out on the show, we will take you through the major happenings at the show and the other major happenings this week in the Indian automotive industry.

Range Rover Evoque 2014:

The Range Rover Evoque MY 2014, has a new transmission and drivetrain as it gets the nine-speed ZF automatic transmission and also a new Active Driveline. This is the first-time any production vehicle gets a nine-speed box. The new drivetrain enhances the performance, fuel efficiency and also reduces the carbon footprint. Read our first-drive review of the Range Rover Evoque 2014.

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class:

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the fourth product on the MFA platform and it is the new entry-level SUV, the GLA. It does resemble the A-Class a lot and it feels like the raise version of the A-Class. But the styling is fantastic and it does carry the styling to appeal to the youth. The GLA-Class has similar interiors like that of the A-Class or the B-Class. The space offered for four people is sufficient with ample of headroom and legroom. The boot too is large and offers good enough space for a weekend gateaway. The GLA-Class will be offered with two engines, one being a petrol and the second diesel. We believe the diesel will be the same 2.2-litre engine, however aren’t sure of the power ratings. The GLA-Class also comes with a 4MATIC transmission, but we aren’t sure if it will make its way into India.

Renault Lodgy:

Renault will be introducing the Lodgy in India, it is sold as the Dacia in Europe but our market will get it as the Renault. The Lodgy has three rows of seating and all the rows are comfortable. However with the third row up, there isn’t any boot space left. The quality of materials used of the inside will be similar to that on the Duster. It has spacious interiors and the top of the line should also get touchscreen system. It will be powered by the same 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine.

Suzuki iV-4 Compact SUV Revealed

Suzuki Motor Corporation that teased the iV-4 Concept compact SUV ahead of the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, has now officially unveiled the vehicle at the event. The iV-4 concept reminds us of the XA Alpha concept unveiled at the Indian Auto Expo in 2012, as the both the concepts share the design cues, also both are compact SUVs. However there is no official confirmation on the launch of the iV-4 in India, we believe it'll be a great product for the market like us where Compact SUV segment is on rise. Read more

Jaguar C-X17 has an intriguing design - Ian Callum

British luxury marque Jaguar just unveiled the C-X17 concept an evening before the Frankfurt Motor Show. This is the first crossover concept for the Coventry-based manufacturer and CarDekho gets to speak to the man who heads the design department for Jaguar, Mr Ian Callum to understand what he had in his mind while designing the C-X17. Read more

Ferrari unveils the 458 Speciale

Ferrari’s stand at this year’s Frankfurt International Motor Show displays the most comprehensive range in its history. The newest addition is the 458 Speciale, an extreme sports car that joins the Coupé and Spider versions of the multi-award-winning 458. Read more

The All new Nissan X-Trail Revealed

Japanese auto major Nissan has today revealed the all new Nissan X-Trail at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which is a seven-seater. Known as the Rogue in U.S., the new X Trail has come up with new looks, features and improved riding capabilities. To be offered both with the Front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive options, the former will come as standard. Read more

Updated Audi A8 Revealed at 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

German luxury carmaker Audi has today introduced the updated A7 at the IAA in Frankfurt. The engine lineup has once again become more powerful and efficient; new assistance systems and the innovative Matrix LED headlights make driving more composed than ever. One great strength of the big sedan is its low weight. The Audi A8 3.0 TFSI with the normal wheelbase has a curb weight of just 1,830 kilograms, best-in-class for models with all-wheel drive. The key factor in its lightweight construction is the body, which except for the B-pillars is made entirely of aluminum. An Audi Space Frame (ASF) design, it tips the scales at just 231 kilograms, roughly 40 percent less than a comparable steel construction. The ASF body also makes it possible to reduce weight in many other areas, from the brakes to the fuel tank. Read more

Jaguar's first ever SUV C-X17's detailed Image Gallery

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the British premium car brand has recently unveiled Jaguar’s first sports crossover concept car, the C-X17 at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. Getting the all new monocoque architecture (Codenamed iQ(AI)), the C-X17 exhibits classy exterior trend that the future Jaguar machines are to follow. This typical exterior moulding will not only give the outfit more strength but also it will make the machine lighter in weight. Read more

New Dacia/Renault Duster unveiled

Renault's fully owned subsidiary Dacia has unveiled the upgraded Duster at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The updated Dacia Duster now gets an emphatic 4x4 design cues, which further enhances the ruggedness of the vehicle. The front fascia of the new Duster gets a redesigned grille with two chrome-plated stripes and a new lower-set air intake, and new double-optic headlights with daytime running lights. The new Duster-badged roof bars with slatted supports, new 16-inch 'Anthracite' Metal alloy wheels and "Mud and Snow" tyres are added to provide a more rugged stance. Read more

Ford S-MAX and Mondeo Vignale Concept unveiled at Frankfurt

Ford, the American automaker has unveiled the new S-MAX Concept sports activity vehicle and the all-new Mondeo Vignale Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Ford S-MAX Concept builds upon the current S-MAX's style-without-compromise ethos with sleek design, premium craftsmanship, smart technologies and a more flexible interior. It also features connectivity and well-being technology including Ford SYNC with AppLink, which enables drivers to voice-activate apps from behind the wheel, and the Ford Heart Rate Monitoring Seat, which records the driver’s heart rate. Read more

BMW opens a showroom in Navi Mumbai

BMW India announced the opening of Infinity Cars, its new showroom in Navi Mumbai. The new Infinity Cars showroom is located at Plot No. 50, Sector 1, Nerul, Navi Mumbai and is headed by Ms. Pooja Choudary, Managing Director, Infinity Cars. Read more

Volkswagen Polo GT TDI launched for Rs. 8.08 lakh

Volkswagen announces the launch of the powerful and efficient New Polo GT TDI today. With its 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, which produces 103bhp and 250 Nm of torque, the New Polo GT TDI is the most powerful diesel hatchback in its segment and has been engineered to provide unmatched performance combined with excellent fuel economy. The Volkswagen Polo GT TDI is priced at Rs. 8.08 lakh, ex showroom, Delhi. Read more

JLR announces in-vehicle smartphone app

Jaguar Land Rover is pleased to announce Jaguar InControl™ Apps and Land Rover InControl™ Apps, new smartphone integration platforms that will launch a new era of in-vehicle app connectivity. InControl™ Apps will be introduced in new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles from 2014. Read more

The C-X17 is Blue and beautiful

Julian Thomson is of the guys behind the success of the C-X17 concept. He has been working with the British manufacturer along with Ian to craft several astonishing designs. We tried to understand what are his thoughts, when he sat down to design the C-X17 and what does he think of Jaguar’s first crossover concept. Read more

Jaguar C-X17 Sports Crossover Concept Debuts at 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

Jaguar’s first ever sports crossover concept vehicle – the C-X17 – has finally made its debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. Read more

Jaguar to launch a new sports sedan

Jaguar today at the Frankfurt motor show announced the launch of its new mid-sized sports sedan that will be launched in 2015. This will be a new segment that Jaguar will enter. Read more

Mercedes-Benz unveils the GLA Class

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the GLA-Class at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This is the first Compact SUV from the German manufacturer that is based on the MFA platform. It will be the smallest ever Mercedes-Benz SUV. Read more

Volvo unveils Concept Coupe and new Drive-E Powertrains

Volvo Car Group has revealed the new Concept Coupe and the new, super-efficient Drive-E powertrains at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Volvo Concept Coupe showcases the capability of the company's new Scalable Product Architecture, and the new, super-efficient four-cylinder Drive-E powertrains are now available in six Volvo models. Read more

Land Rover unveils the new Range Rover hybrids

Land Rover has unveiled the Range Rover and the Range Rover hybrid versions at the Frankfurt Motor Show today. To embark the launch of these products, the SUVs are put on a real life test, as three of these vehicles have already begun their journey from UK, heading to India through the Ancient Silk Trail. Read more

2013 Skoda Octavia Details; Launch few weeks away

We are just a few weeks away from the launch of 2013 Skoda Octavia, as the Media drives for the vehicle have already begun. This has also revealed most of the details about the car, However prices will only be revealed at the launch. The 2013 Octavia will come up with three different engine options- 1.8-litre turbo petrol, 2.0-litre turbo diesel and a smaller petrol 1.4-litre TSI engine. Read more

Range Rover Evoque 2014 Initial Impressions

The Evoque has always been a stylish and probably one of the most gorgeous SUVs that ever made it to production. Since its launch in 2011, Land Rover has increased the production capacity to three shifts to meet the demands of this SUV. For the 2014 model year, the British marquee has further enhanced the driving dynamics of the Evoque. We can expect this 2014 model year vehicle to make its way into India by the end of 2013 or even the start of the next year. We get our hands on this new model year Evoque and share our initial driving impressions. Read more

Skoda Octavia 2013 Expert Review

Back at the start of 2000s, a Czech automobile manufacturer ventured into the Indian market. At the time, the company targeted the premium sector. You guessed it, the Skoda Octavia was a runaway success in the Indian market from its launch in 2001. Back then, the ease of drivability, the comfort and robust build not to forget the high fuel efficiency offered for a great price made the Octavia an instant hit. Now, 12 years after it’s first impression on the Indian auto customers,Skoda has brought the Octavia moniker back to India. We get our hands on it and share our first-hand experience. Read more

Factory Delivery

 

German manufacturers offer European factory delivery for their American customers. As several of the cars are complete body import, German manufacturers offer such packages to encourage plant tours and also an opportunity for better bonding with the customer. In India, most of the German luxury cars are assembled at their plant in the sub-continent, hence car buyers aren’t offered such opportunities. We like to do things differently and for the same reason we picked up our new Mercedes-Benz C-Class long termer from the company’s state-of-art Chakan plant in Pune. Read more

Style statement

Toyota Prius has been the style statement for several across the globe. Most of the celebrities own one to show how environment friendly they are. Read more

Toyota Land Cruiser 200 - Exploring the known and unknown

It's massive and has brand recognition like none other, yes Toyota Land Cruiser is something of a nostalgic value to hardcore SUV enthusiasts. With this intend in mind, we set out on the highway to the State of Rajasthan to capture its moments against the back drop of our historical forts. Read more

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