Weekly Wrap-up: This week we saw the launch of Renault Kwid and Ford Figo, while VW USA disappointed everyone with their deceptive pollution control software and more

This week saw the launch of two much awaited vehicles, the Ford Figo and the Renault Kwid. While Ford launched their car at a base price of Rs 4.29 lacs, Renault astonished everyone with a base price of Rs 2.56 lacs (ex-showroom, New Delhi).  Then there were other launches viz. the Mercedes S600 Maybach that was launched at Rs 2.6 Crore and the Bajaj RE60  (now named QUTE) which is not available in India, as of now. Moreover, Fiat India teased the Abarth Punto EVO on their website and Maserati re-entered India with a new dealership in Delhi. Fiat has also renamed their upcoming Linea replacement Aegea as Egea. We also test the uber luxurious 2nd generation Volvo XC90.

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Renault Kwid Launched @ Rs 2.56 lac

French carmaker Renault has launched its highly anticipated entry-level offering, the Renault Kwid today. The Kwid was amongst the most awaited launch of 2015, due to many factors like its SUV like styling, competitive price of Rs 2.56 lac (Ex-showroom, Delhi)  and a mileage of 25.17 Kmpl. Read More: 

Ford Figo 2015 Launched @ Rs 4.30 lacs

Ford has launched the second generation of its flagship hatchback for India, the Ford Figo today. This is a hatchback i.e. boot-less version of Ford Figo Aspire sedan and Ford Figo's petrol variants are priced at 4.29 lacs and diesel variants have been priced at 5.3 lacs. The pricing for the small car is reminiscent of the first-gen Figo, which was also launched with a competitive price in 2010. The car has been launched as a rival to Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Grand i10 and Tata Bolt. Read More: 

Mercedes-Maybach Launches S600 Sedan at Rs 2.6 Crore

Mercedes-Benz India has launched the Maybach premium luxury sub-brand in India, today. The company introduced Mercedes-Maybach S600 model in the Indian market at a price tag of Rs 2.6 crore (Ex-showroom, Pune). Maybach S600, which according to the claims made by the company, is the quietest car in the world, made its global debut last year. Pre-orders started back in December, 2014 and deliveries for the car began in february 2015. Read More:

ARAI Appoints Rajan Wadhera as President

Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has announced in a press release that Mr. Rajan Wadhera has become its new President and Mr. Vikram Kirloskar is appointed as its new Vice-President. While Mr. Wadhera took charge from Mr. Vinod Dasari, Mr. Kirloskar took it from the newly appointed President. Read More: 

Comparison: Renault Kwid vs Alto 800 vs Alto K10 vs GO vs EON

It’s considerably cheaper than its arch rival - Alto 800 and the rest of the A-segment crowd. It’s India's second most economically priced car at Rs. 2.56 lac (ex-showroom Delhi) after Tata Nano. However, though the prices are competitive to the A-segment, the sheer size and features can shame a B-segment hatch and for that matter even the B+ segment cars. Renault has bombarded the entry level segment of the country today and we are pitching it against almost every car in the segment. Let us roll!   Read More: 

Fiat Renames Aegea as Egea

Fiat Turkey has changed the design and name of its model Aegea. Although the design looks significantly similar to the model depicted in Turkey on May 21, this car model will now be named as “Egea”. If the dimensions are not altered, the car will measure 4500 mm in length, 1780 mm in width and 1480 mm in height. Wheelbase will be of 2640 mm. Read More: 

Scorpio Continues to Dominate; Registers 5 lakh Unit Sale

The car which is attributed with Mahindra’s entry into the SUV segment, added yet another feather to its cap. Mahindra Scorpio has achieved a cumulative sale of 5 lakh units. Partial credit for the same goes to its designers who ensured the design matches the pace of time and brought two updates within a span of 13 years. The car has been able to register an average annual sale of 48,000 units. Read More:

Ford Figo Vs Maruti Swift, Hyundai Grand i10, Tata Bolt

Ford has finally launched its much awaited next generation Figo at a promising base price of Rs. 4.29 lacs (Ex-showroom, Delhi). With this price tag, it is undercutting each and every major rival that include Maruti Swift, Hyundai Grand i10 and Tata Bolt. We have done a short comparison of these cars to highlight the major points that set them apart. Read More: 

Update: Volkswagen CEO "endlessly sorry" on Emission Scandal; Pledges Investigation

With the automobile world shaken over the unprecedented Volkswagen Emission Scandal, the company has finally got some succour. The assistance comes from none other than India’s automobile sector which has given its go-ahead to the carmaker to continue its sales in the country. “The government has not been asked to check Volkswagen cars thus far. Generally we conduct random checks on all cars. We did that on VW cars, too, but did not find anything unsatisfactory,” said a senior executive of government funded Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). This comes at a time when the company’s shares have gone down by 30% and is dreaded to face a fine of up to $18 billion. Although this news comes as a great pain reliever to Volkswagen, the engine used by the company in India is same as that in US which has been caught under the scandal. This means the engine is polluting the environment to same extent in India as it was doing in US. This also brings limelight to the fairly low standards practised in india over car emission. Read More: 

Renault KWID : The Complete CarDekho Compilation

Launch Update: Renault Kwid has been launched at a price of Rs 2.56 lacs (Ex-showroom, Delhi). The car has introduced many-segment firsts and has been offered at a price that is extremely competitive, especially considering all the features offered by the zippy little French car. Check out the complete launch details right here: Renault Launches Kwid at Rs 2.56 lacs Read More: 

Abarth Launches #WhoAmI Campaign for Punto

Fiat, under its company Abarth, is set to launch Punto next month. First revealed at International Buddh Circuit last month, the car is ready to dominate the non-premium segment with a 1.4 litre turbojet engine generating 145 bhp and 200 Nm. Although this Fiat’s engine is rated as 135 PS and 200 Nm in the global market, the company with its fine tunings proclaim to provide more to the driver in the country. All the more, suspension system is also stiffened to take care of the extra power. Read More: 

Entire Auto Expo - The Motor Show 2016 to be held in Permanent halls

The India Expo Mart Limited (IEML) has been given a massive makeover prior to the forthcoming Auto Expo - The Motor Show 2016. The venue has witnessed enormous construction in the form of two large halls being created in the venue with carpet areas of 25000 sqms and 12240 sqms respectively. The venue previously had only 8 permanent halls measuring 27,648 sqms.  Remaining display was curated in temporary hangers measuring 32,400 sqms. Read More: 

Maserati Re-Enters India With A New Dealership in Delhi

Maserati has re-entered India with a new showroom in New Delhi. The dealership is in partnership with AMP Supercars and is a state-of-the-art 3S facility located on Mathura Road. The Italian luxury car manufacturer announced its re-entry into the Indian market last year in cooperation with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India (FCAI). Upcoming dealerships of the brand will be in Mumbai and Bangalore. The brand new showroom features the brand’s flagship - Quattroporte, Ghibli, GranTurismo and GranCabrio. The 3S facility will accommodate both sales and aftersales service with parts facilities to help the customers with all types of issues. Other than this, there is also an exclusive customer lounge which showcases the history of Maserati and a configurator area where the customers can customize every detail of their car. Read More: 

Maserati Confirms Levante SUV Production for 2016

Maserati has confirmed the Levante SUV production to commence in February next year. The car is scheduled to make its debut in the Geneva motor show in March, following the initiation of its production. The car is based on the Kubang concept and has discarded the Jeep platform on which it was based earlier. The new car will be a Maserati unit built from ground up. Read More: 

Check Out: Upcoming Renault Duster Spied!

Spy shots of the new Renault Duster have surfaced online and the car has been spotted testing on the streets of Chennai. The Renault Duster facelift test mule was captured sporting considerably less camouflage. The car was spied on GST Road while riding on new alloy rims, which by the looks of it, seem to be diamond-cut. Read More: 

Road Test

2015 Volvo XC90: First Drive Review

Monsoons are usually a good and a bad time for drives. While the locations are scenic as they can get, shooting is where the challenge lies. So when we were told that we would be driving the new XC90 amidst heavy rains we were happy and anxious at the same time.  Coming to the vehicle, the XC90 since its inception hasn’t really been the perfect subject to be in front of the camera thanks to its squarish slab sided design which was functional at best but pretty boring to look at. While the informed bunch knew what they were getting into before buying a Volvo, the herd mentality bunch (which make up for the bulk of buyers) headed towards the more fancy looking competition. Read More: 

Renault Kwid First Drive Review

Indian’s love their set of four wheels. It isn’t just another asset you own but also a matter of pride and joy. For years now, this pride and joy was a Maruti. Through the decades, the Maruti 800, Zen, Alto and more recently the Alto 800 / K10 have found homes looking for their first new car. There’s no denying the fact that the A segment, of which Maruti Suzuki is the undisputed leader; forms the bulk of the volume of car sales in India. Now, French manufacturer Renault says India is all-set to become the world’s third largest automobile market by 2020. And it wants a big chunk of that pie. But with lifestyle products like the Duster, Fluence and the Koleos in their line-up, one can see why that might be a tough task to accomplish. Well, the answer to Renault’s pie eating craving, is the new Kwid. Read on to know more about our Kwid review. Read More: 

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