Weekly-Wrap-Up: Price Hikes, 2015 CES, Bolt Launching On 22nd January and Surprises from Toyota!

The first week of 2015 brought us price hikes from almost all the major manufacturers - Maruti, Honda, Hyundai, etc. We were also fortunate to see the best of technologies at the 2015 CES (Consumer Electronics Show). Moreover, Toyota surprised us with subtly refreshed 2015 Fortuner & Innova and yeah not to miss, addition of a new engine in Fortuner - 2.5-liter D4-D. The long awaited Zest’s twin sibling Bolt from Tata Motors is scheduled to launch on 22nd of January!

Major Highlights

Official: Bolt From Tata Motors to launch on 22 January!



Tata Motors is all set to launch the Bolt hatchback on 22nd of January, the bookings for the same has already started few days back for an amount of Rs. 11,000. As per the previous reports, Bolt was earlier launching on 20th of January but it has been now confirmed officially that it will launch on 22nd Jan 2015. Moreover, Bolt has already arrived at dealerships and is also being displayed at various malls. Read More

Toyota launches 2015 Fortuner 4x4 AT and Innova

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched the updated 2015 Fortuner and Innova in the country. Both the vehicles now come with standard dual-front airbags (Driver + passenger) along with added bling. The new Fortuner is available in the price range Rs. 24.17 lac and Rs. 26.49 lac while Innova is available in the range of Rs. 10.51 lac and Rs. 15.80 lac (All-Ex-Showroom Delhi). Mechanically, both the vehicles remain unaltered.Read More

Toyota Fortuner 2.5L introduced in India



An all-new 4X4 automatic model is not the only addition to Fortuner's variant portfolio, as Toyota has also introduced a cheaper version of its popular SUV with a smaller capacity power plant. Equipped with a 2.5-litre diesel engine, the new Fortuner 2.5L is offered with Toyota Racing Development (TRD) body package as standard.Read More

Mercedes Benz CLA Bookings Commence, Likely To Be Assembled Locally!



Mercedes Benz CLA’s bookings has started, the compact luxury sedan is scheduled to launch on 22nd of January. Furthermore, the German automaker has reportedly invested Rs. 150 crore in its Chakan, Pune manufacturing facility to house new assembly lines. With the current investment, the company has invested a total of nearly 1000 crore in its manufacturing facility.Read More

We won the ‘WOTY 2014’ and the ‘MPW - Automotive 2014’

CarDekho Wins Website of the Year India 2014 & 'Most Popular Website'!



Folks, we are delighted to inform you that CarDekho has won the coveted ‘Website of the Year India 2014’ award and the 'Most Popular Website 2014’ title in the ‘Automotive’ category. We would like to thank you all for the never dying support and honor your valuable opinions and precious votes, all that has helped us win this title.Read More

Price Hikes

Maruti Suzuki Increases Prices upto Rs 31,600



Following the footsteps of other carmakers, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd has also announced price hike across its model lineup upto Rs. 31,600. The manufacturer has increased its prices in accordance with the withdrawal of excise duty concessions and rising input costs in production.Read More

Hyundai Motor India Announces Price Hike



Country’s second largest automaker and top exporter, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. has announced price increment across all its models effective from January 01, 2015. Korean automaker has joined the price hike spree, courtesy to the government withdrawal of excise duty relaxation and increase in initial manufacturing cost. Hyundai India sells cars starting from EON to the flagship - Santa-Fe, prices have increased in the range of Rs. 15,000 - Rs. 1.27 lac.Read More

Honda Car India Hike Prices of its Entire Model Lineup upto Rs 60,000



As the reduced excise duty of cars expired on 31st December, 2014 automakers have now started increasing the ex-showroom prices of their current model lineup. Honda Car India being no different from any other carmaker has hiked the prices upto Rs 60,000.Read More

Best of 2015 CES (Consumer Electronics Show)

Mercedes-Benz F105 Luxury in Motion is a self-driving lounge



Self driving cars, the future technology that we have seen in many sci-fi movies, are all set to take the roads soon. With many companies putting many millions of money and kilometers into the self driving technology, Mercedes-Benz, which has pioneered many innovative technologies, has now revealed a self-driving luxury sedan, F 015 Luxury in Motion. Mercedes-Benz believes that by 2030, the number of mega-cities with more than 10 million inhabitants will increase from about 30 to over 40 and automated driving will be the way forward. Making its world premiere at the International Consumer Electronics Show 2015 in Las Vegas, the F105 Luxury in Motion looks more like a lounge than a car inside, elevating comfort and luxury to a new level. Read More

Toyota Provides Its Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell Technology For Free To Other Automakers - For A Better Future!



Today at the 2015 CES (Consumer Electronics Show), Toyota announced that it will make its 5600+ hydrogen-fuel-cell related patents available for royalty free use to other automakers until the end of 2020 (patents for hydrogen production and supply will remain open for an unlimited duration). Toyota’s initiative will spur conjunctive development and introduction of innovative fuel cell technologies around the world, for a greener future. Read More

Bye Bye Touch-Screen; VW Showcases Hand Gesture Technology in its Golf R Touch Concept

At the ongoing CES (Consumer Electronic Show), the German manufacturer Volkswagen has showcased its upcoming next-gen infotainment system MIB II which enhances company's connected drive concept. As exhibited in the event, the Golf R Touch concept featured gesture-control system and we would see some of the most advanced gesture-based vehicle controls and electric cars in the near future, which can drive themselves to find their own charging locations.Read More

Hyundai Introduces Blue Link 'Smartwatch' App Featuring Voice Recognition!



Hyundai introduces Blue Link smartwatch App with voice recognition compatible with smartwatches running Google’s Android based OS. The Korean automaker will debut the App at the 2015 CES (Consumer Electronics Show) and Pepcom’s Digital Experience. The 2015 CES will begin on January 6 in Las Vegas. The app is expected to be available on the Play Store in the first quarter of 2015.Read More

Panasonic Automotive in Works with Ford on New SYNC 3 Infotainment System



Ford Motor company has recently revealed the third iteration of its voice commanded infotainment system - SYNC 3 and now the Panasonic Automotive has announced as the Tier I supplier partner for SYNC 3. Ford’s next-generation communications and entertainment system SYNC 3 is set to replace the MyFord touchscreen infotainment system and with Panasonic partnering up with the Blue Oval company, expect faster, more intuitive and easier-to-use infotainment system. Read More

BMW Illuminates M4 Concept car with Iconic Lights



The luxury carmaker BMW has showcased its performance enriched coupe M4 with new Iconic Laser Lights at the ongoing CES 2015. BMW laser lighting and BMW Organic Light with OLED technology offer impressively long beam range of up to 600 metres in combination with the BMW Selective Beam functionality (anti- dazzle High-Beam Assistant). Read More

Audi Unveils Prologue Piloted Driving Concept at 2015 CES



The German luxury automaker has showcased the Prologue piloted driving concept at the 2015 CES (Consumers Electronics Show) in Las Vegas. The Prologue piloted driving concept is basically an updated version of the Prologue concept shown last year at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. Read More

For Safer Cars, Nvidia Unveils New Tegra X1 Processor at the 2015 CES



Nvidia, the Santa Clara company known for its GPUs (Graphics Processing Unit) and chips has shifted gears to unveil a new processor specially designed to empower high-end graphics on car dashboards. The processor was showcased at the ongoing CES (Consumer Electronics Show ) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Read More

Audi to Showcase Q7's New Infotainment at the 2015 CES



Q7, the premium SUV from the Ingolstadt based manufacturer is getting Audi’s new digital instrument cluster and a new generation MMI (Multimedia infotainment) system. The automaker unveils a video depicting car’s new infotainment system for the 2015 CES (Consumer Electronics Show) which starts tomorrow in Las Vegas, U.S. Read More

Audi A7 piloted driving concept drives from Silicon Valley to Las Vegas



To demonstrate its automated driving technology, Audi has arranged a long distance test drive with its A7 piloted driving concept car. The drive will have journalists behind the wheel of the Audi A7, driving from Silicon Valley, California to Las Vegas, Nevada to attend the International CES 2015. The piloted driving will cover a total of 900 kilometers and shows that unprecedented performance can be achieved with series production technology. Read More

Reports

Has Ford India stopped Figo's Production? Next-gen Car's Launch Seems Imminent!



Figo, the hatch that single-handedly revived Ford India’s fortune in the country, is approaching end of its lifespan and we know why, that's because the replacement is coming soon. But the vehicles which was averaging in the close vicinity of 1500 units sales a month, dropped suddenly to a miniscule 151 units in December 2014. Looks like American manufacturer has deliberately stopped producing the hatch, are we getting the next-gen 2015 early than expected?, Read More

India Bound Hyundai ix25 Secured Five Star Rating in C-NCAP Crash Test



India bound Hyundai ix25 has secured five star ratings in the crash test done in China by C-NCAP (China New Car Assessment Program). In a total of four test, the compact SUV secured 5 star ratings in side impact, 100 percent in overlap front crash, 40 percent in overlap front crash and whiplash. Read More

Range Rover Evoque Convertible All Set To Enter Production



First showcased as a concept model in Geneva Motor Show 2012, Range Rover Evoque Convertible is now set to enter production. As per the media reports, the concept version now gets a green light to enter into the assembly line. The delay was mostly due to automaker’s pondering over the business module for a soft-top Evoque rather than some engineering reasons. Read More

Audi India crosses 10,000 sales mark for 2nd consecutive year



Indian arm of the German luxury car manufacturer, Audi, ended the year on a record high with an impressive sales of 10,851 units in 2014, marking the brand's seventh successive year of growth. The carmaker also touched the record 10,000 milestone for the 2nd consecutive year, post becoming the first ever luxury car manufacturer in the country to achieve it in 2013. Read More

The Iconic Land Rover Defender to Die in 2015, Three New Final Editions Announced!



The Land Rover Defender synonym with British marque’s go anywhere capabilities enters its final phase of production. The Defender’s history traces back 68 years, when the founder brothers drew the basic design on the shore in Anglesey, UK. Read More

BMW i8 Spotted at Dealership of Mumbai


BMW i8, the hybrid sports car from the Bavarian manufacturer is now spotted at a dealership in Mumbai suggesting its early launch in the country. BMW i8 made its Indian debut at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo with Sachin Tendulkar taking the wraps off alongside Mr. Philipp von Sahr President of BMW Group India. As suggested by spied images, the car is right-hand wheel drive, while the one showcased in the Auto Expo was a left hand wheel drive. However, the first batch of the cars will be in limited numbers only and will be brought via CBU route. Read More