HONDA MOBILIO LAUNCHED AT 6.49 L EX SHOWROOM DELHI

 

 

Mobilio pricing ex showroom delhi.    Petrol E 6.49L, S 7.50L, V 8.76L Diesel E 7.89L, S 8.60L, V 9.76L

Honda to launch Mobilio in July

The HinduJapanese car maker Honda Motors will be launching its multi-utility passenger vehicle (MPV) Mobilio, first showcased at the Auto Expo 2014 in February, in India this July. File photo: S. Subramanium

Based on the successful Brio platform, Honda is hopeful that the 7-seater vehicle will help boost the MPV segment.

Notwithstanding the slowdown in the market, Japanese car maker Honda Motors will be launching its multi-utility passenger vehicle (MPV) Mobilio, first showcased at the Auto Expo 2014 in February, in India this July.

Based on the successful Brio platform, the company is hopeful that the 7-seater vehicle will help boost the MPV segment.

“The Honda Mobilio will be launched in July 2014,” confirmed Honda Cars India Ltd. Senior Vice President (Marketing and Sales) Jnaneswar Sen. Asked about the pricing of the vehicle, he told The Hindu that “It is still early to talk about the pricing of the car. All I can say we are concentrating on making it a compelling and attractive package.” He expressed confidence that “the launch of the Mobilio will revive the MPV segment”.

Amid the sluggish automobile market in the country, the MPV segment too has shown a decline of 15 per cent in the past financial year. Sales of Toyota Innova, which has dominated the segment for sometime now, nosedived 28 per cent, while sales of Maruti Suzuki’s Ertiga slipped 22 per cent.

About the opportunities in the segment, Mr. Sen said, “If we consider the current market size and the players that are there, the MPV segment adds up to between 10,000 and 12,000 units a month, so a year’s volume is about 1.5 lakh units, and that’s not a small segment.” He added that the segment grew very well a year ago and the decline in the last financial year (2013-14) was actually in line with the industry de-growth.

The company, which sells products such as Odyssey and Freed under this category globally, said with Mobilio they “are looking at the car as a personal vehicle for large Indian families rather than a commercial vehicle.” “We expect that Mobilio will appeal not only to MPV segment customers who generally have large families but also to families which have traditionally opted for a sedan or an SUV... Styling is one thing consumers are looking for in this segment and we believe we have delivered on this front with the Mobilio,” Mr. Sen added.

Mobilio will be available in petrol and diesel variants. Honda till now has been able to buck the declining sales trend in the automobile industry in the country on the back of recently launched successful models — Amaze and the new City. Besides Mobilio, the car maker would be launching the all new Jazz later in this fiscal year, Mr. Sen added.

Spied – Sporty Honda Mobilio RS variant gets ready for Indonesian launch

Honda Prospect Motor (HPM), the Indonesian subsidiary of Honda, is gearing up to launch the Honda Mobilio RS soon. The Mobilio RS, as the name signifies, is a sporty looking variant of the people carrier, that goes head-to-head with the newly launched Suzuki Ertiga ‘Sporty’ variant.

The Mobilio RS will be positioned above the existing top-end variant.

Rear of the standard Honda Mobilio, added for comparison.

The RS variant of the Mobilio comes with a roof spoiler, a ‘RS’ badge, exhaust finisher and a sportier rear bumper with a chrome strip. Previous spyshots have revealed redesigned headlights with LED elements, a twin-slat chrome grille, side skirts, new alloy wheels and an aggressively styled front bumper on the range topping variant.

Visual enhancements aside, the Mobilio RS would not sport any mechanical improvements and power will continue to come from the 1.5-liter four-cylinder i-VTEC engine. HPM offers this engine with a 5-speed manual or CVT gearbox options.

Front of the Mobilio RS from a previous set of spyshots.

Front of the standard Mobilio added for reference.

The RS variant of the Mobilio is likely to be priced at a premium of 27 million Rupiah (INR 1.44 lakhs) over the existing top-end variant. While the manual would cost 214 million Rupiah (INR 11.44 lakhs), the automatic would cost 225 million (INR 12.03 lakhs), as per the Indonesian media report. The Mobilio was launched in Indonesia in January.

In India, Honda will launch the MPV in July this year in petrol and diesel variants. The diesel will use the 1.5-liter i-DTEC engine which outputs 100 PS and 200 Nm of torque on the Amaze, while the petrol will get the City’s 1.5-liter i-VTEC that makes 119 PS and 145 Nm of torque.

Toyota Etios Cross review, test drive

The Toyota Etios Cross, first showcased by Toyota at Auto Expo 2014 earlier this year, is the Japanese carmaker’s attempt to cash in on India’s love for compact SUVs and crossovers. The basic formula here remains the same as on the Volswagen Cross Polo that was launched in 2013. In essence, the Etios Cross is a regular Etios Liva hatchback beefed up with a rugged-looking body kit. The added body cladding imparts a serious aggressive look, and while it may look a bit over the top, it ensures that the Etios Cross doesn’t get lost in the crowd – something the Toyota Etios Liva was quite prone to. 

The Etios Cross gets a matte black plastic band that goes right across from its chin, to the flanks and around the rear, thereby adding muscular chunks to the car. There are also pseudo skid plates with a dull silver finish adding to the complete picture. 

Roof rails, a spoiler at the rear and diamond-finish 15-inch alloy wheels all add to the Etios Cross’ appeal. Additionally, the ‘Etios Cross’ badge is prominently displayed on the boot lid and looks rather good. All of these add to the dimensions of the Etios Liva and makes the Cross 120mm longer, 40mm wider and 45mm taller than the standard Liva. Weight, too, has gone up by around 20kg spec-to-spec.

Unlike the VW Cross Polo which is offered in a single variant with a 1.2-litre diesel motor, the Etios Cross will be offered in two levels of trim and three engines to choose from; 1.2-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines and a 1.4-litre diesel motor. 

While we’d closely inspected the Toyota Etios Cross at Auto Expo 2014, we couldn’t get behind the wheel. Now that we have, these are our first thoughts about the 1.5-litre petrol and the 1.4-litre diesel Toyota Etios Cross.

On the inside, you get piano black interiors and sporty seat fabric and Etios Cross badging. It also features a 2-DIN audio system with aux, Bluetooth and USB compatibility. The top variants will also get audio controls on the steering wheel, and a rear defogger and wiper. However, the lack of electrically adjustable wing mirrors (even on the top-spec car) is a surprising omission for a car in this segment. On the safety front, it will come equipped with ABS and EBD and dual front airbags. As for space and comfort, the front seats are on the right side of comfy and the leg room at the back is quite impressive too. However, the flat seat squab could have been a bit more comfortable had it been inclined by a couple of degrees. 

As there are no mechanical changes to the Etios Cross, it drives almost identical to the regular Liva hatchback and the added weight (up by about 20kg, spec for spec) doesn’t really make a perceivable difference in its road manners. The 1.5-litre petrol motor (available only on the top-spec car) produces 89bhp and concentrates more on city drivability rather than outright power. Throttle response at lower revs is good and the car feels reasonably peppy on the highway too. The 67bhp 1.4-litre diesel, on the other hand, feels more sedate and while turbo-lag isn’t much of an issue, you will miss the mid-range punch on the highways. Also, both the motors are a bit too noisy and cabin insulation doesn’t do the best job at keeping out road noise either.   

However, the ride is pretty absorbent and the suspension does a great job of shielding the cabin from the worst of our roads. Handling is quite decent too and the chunky steering wheel is nicely weighted but a bit slow to respond. 

The Toyota Etios Cross does a good job of injecting a much needed dose of style to the plain Liva hatchback. Yes, the Etios Cross doesn't really add any real off-road credentials to the Liva hatchback, and the interiors still feel a bit low-rent, but the bold styling, spacious interiors and reliable mechanical package does make a reasonably strong argument in its favour. 

The Toyota Etios Cross is expected to command a premium of about Rs 60,000 over the regular Liva hatchback (spec-to-spec) and we think the butch looks justify this price. Also, since the Etios Cross is expected to be about Rs 75,000 cheaper than the VW Cross Polo, it will act as a good entry point to consumers looking for a macho machine.

Fact File

Engine

Type	1.5-litre DOHC petrol / 1.4-litre common rail turbo-diesel
Power	89bhp at 5600rpm / 67bhp at 3800rpm
Torque	13.46kgm at 3000rpm / 17.3kgm at 1800-2400rpm
Power to weight

Transmission

Type	Front-wheel drive
Gearbox	5-speed manual

Dimensions

Length	3895mm
Width	1735mm
Height	1555mm
Wheel base	2460mm

Chassis & Body

Weight	Petrol: 950kg / Diesel: 1030kg
Tyres	185/60 R15

Economy

Tank size

45 litres

Honda Mobilio price in India to start at under Rs 6.5 lac, diesel promises over 20kmpl economy

 

While the launch of the much awaited 7 seater Honda Mobilio MPV is still months away, we can’t help but come up with more insights for our readers. We drove the car last year in Japan, saw it up close again at the 2014 Auto Expo and now, we take a closer look at what the Mobilio will end up offering the Indian consumer.

For starts, the Mobilio will carry a price tag which will be lower than that of the new Honda City. This clearly means that we can expect the petrol range to start at approximately under Rs 6.5 lac while the diesel models will be expensive by around 1.2 lac. Next, the Mobilio will come powered by two engine options – the same ones that are seen in the new Honda City.

This means the Mobilio will get the same 119PS 1.5-litre petrol and a 100PS 1.5-litre diesel motor. The former will be sold with both a 5-speed manual and an automatic transmission. The diesel engine will come with a manual gearbox but we aren’t sure if it will be the 5-speed from the Amaze or the 6-speed from the Honda City.

Honda Mobilio vs Maruti Ertiga

The Honda Mobilio will take on the Maruti Ertiga head-on in India. Though the Ertiga carries a lower price tag, the Mobilio ends up offering more power, both in diesel and petrol forms. The Mobilio will also offer an automatic transmission, something that the Ertiga doesnt boast of. Further, given that the Amaze has an ARAI rating of 25.4kmpl and the City 26 kmpl, we can safely assume the Mobilio diesel to come with a certified economy of around 22-23kmpl, more than the Ertiga’s 20.77! The petrol Mobilio is also expected to offer better economy than the petrol Ertiga.

Further, the Mobilio is also expected to offer more cabin and boot space than the Ertiga. Infact, the Mobilio will take on other MPVs like the Xylo, Evalia and the Innova. For the uninitiated, the Mobilio carries the same interior design as the smaller Brio and Amaze.

2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe: Review

BMW will launch the new M6 Gran Coupe in India in the first week of April. Here's what it's like from behind the wheel

In order to fully understand what to expect out of the 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe we shall first delve into the history books and take a look at its lineage. In 1983 BMW took a modified version of the M1 engine; put it in the E24 chassis of the 6 Series giving birth to the first M6 – the M635CSi. The M6 was on the money right from the word go. It was critically acclaimed for its aggressive ‘shark nose’ styling, its luxury and of course its performance. The perfect amalgamation of immaculate breeding, faultless manners and eager energy was what gave the M6 a well rounded persona that was universally appreciated. Over three decades into the future, BMW brings in the M6 Gran Coupe which is a four-door version of the M6, which is in fact a coupe version of the M5 sedan and for a car that comes from such a rich ancestry, it surely has pretty large shoes to fill. Will it be able to live up to the benchmark set by its ancestry is the question that we are trying to find the answer to.

On the outside, the M6 Gran Coupe bears close resemblance with the 6 Series Coupe’s design, needless to say with the large air intakes, the adaptive LED headlights and the M kidney grille design giving it a more aggressive stance. The sharp shoulder lines, the swooping roofline, the long wheelbase and the flared wheel arches accentuate the curvaceous silhouette of the car. At the back the L-shaped taillights, the quad-tipped carbon fibre exhausts, the LED brake lights at the end of the roof and of course the M6 badge on the boot lid makes sure that the rear looks complete, clean and classy. The short 1393mm height guarantees that the carbon fibre roof will not go unnoticed.

BMW will launch the new M6 Gran Coupe in India in the first week of April. Here's what it's like from behind the wheel

If the roof makes its statement, the Alcantara leather headliner doesn’t fall too far behind in giving the interiors a touch of class. The chunky new M steering wheel is good to grip and sports two memory buttons that store and recall two of your favourite gearbox, steering and suspension setups instantly. Despite being all back one doesn’t feel the need for another colour on the dashboard thanks to the fine touches of carbon fibre around the centre console and the driver side AC vent. Having said that, we wish that aside from the overall sporty look and feel there was something more to state that it is an ‘M’ car as the logo on the gear lever just doesn’t seem enough. While the cabin feels nice and cosy in the front as well as at the back getting in and out of it can be a task. Space at the back is just enough, although you won’t feel as comfortable as you would sitting at the back in an M5.

At the heart of it, the M6 Gran Coupe sports the same engine that works force in the M5 and is in fact even based on the same platform. The 4.4-litre V8 with two twin-scroll turbos produces 560PS between 6,000 to 7,000rpm and 680Nm of torque in a long range of 1,500-5,750rpm. The competition package that we drove gets an extra 15PS of power. Although the M6 Gran Coupe shares the same engine as the M5 it is a lot different to drive. It feels much more alert on its toes to get to speed as soon as you hit the throttle hard and this characteristic of the car has a lot to do with the seven-speed dual clutch transmission that shifts oh so seamlessly. At 4.2 seconds, BMW claims the M6 Gran Coupe to be one-tenth of a second quicker to touch the 100kmph marker than its sedan sibling. Fed by two turbo chargers, the M6 has no turbo lag whatsoever and is always ready to please. Ample of torque available even at lower revs makes it a breeze to drive not just at high speeds on the highway but even in the bumper-to-bumper traffic on city streets. Like all other BMWs and aside from the two preset driving modes - the controls for which are on the wheel - the M6 Gran Coupe too gets the usual Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and the Sport+ modes. In the comfort mode, the car pretty much absorbed all the undulations of the road, but then again, we drove the car in Germany and the needless to say the road there are a lot different from what we have here. Shift into the Sport or the Sport+ mode and the suspension gets stiffer and with it, the M6 feels a sharper on the handling front.

BMW will launch the new M6 Gran Coupe in India in the first week of April. Here's what it's like from behind the wheel

As far as the steering is concerned, BMW has gone with the old school hydraulic assist way for the rack and pinion setup as opposed to an electromechanical steering. While some might find it odd especially knowing that the M6 Gran Coupe is surely going to be a car with a hefty price tag and question why the German car maker didn’t install the car with the latest trend in technology, as far as the drive in itself is concerned, I personally liked the weighty steering wheel that really makes the car a great handler. That said, at higher speeds it feels a little vague and demands constant input, two traits that are particularly rare on a Bimmer.

Overall, despite the fact that the M6 Gran Coupe has a lot in common with the M5, it has its very own identity, not just in terms of overall design but also in terms of performance and handling. Yes, it does compromise a little knowing the fact that it can only seat four and not five but again that’s the price you pay if you love the way the coupe looks. The M6 Gran Coupe then has it all – it looks brilliant and will surely turn a lot of heads when you are on the road, is a good enough family car with a decent sized boot and of course it has the performance at the push of the pedal when you feel the need for it on the high. The M6 Gran Coupe is scheduled to be launched in the first week of April and we think that it might run its immediate competition like the Audi RS7 and the Porsche Panamera close. But, will it beat it? Only a head-to-head will reveal.

Hyundai Xcent: Review

We have driven the much-anticipated new Hyundai Xcent. Should it be your next purchase? Read on to find out...

Hyundai’s rival to the fast selling Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Honda Amaze is finally here in form of the Xcent. Far from what the name suggests, the Xcent has nothing in common with the Accent, Hyundai’s old workhorse that was discontinued last year. The Accent brand is popular in India and Hyundai wants to stick to its tradition of keeping the name of its cars alive - the Verna, Elantra, Sonata and Santa Fe for example. But the Xcent is a play on letters because a car of this segment is a first for Hyundai and is targeted at Gen X or the youth in simple speak. It is the compact sub-4 metre sedan version of the popular Grand i10 hatchback which is also our compact car of the year. But is the Hyundai Xcent just a boot bolted on to the Grand i10? There’s a fair bit more to it as we found out.

Most cars we’d introduce to you from the front but not this one. The Xcent’s USP over the Grand i10 is its boot so let’s start from the rear. The Xcent gets 407 litres of boot space, it’s the best in class and in the real world can gobble two full size suitcases and a bit more. That’s around 150 litres of boot space over the hatchback too, and quite frankly, the biggest reason behind buying the Xcent over the Grand. In India, the status associated with the sedan body style also plays its part.

As you can see in these pictures, the Xcent doesn’t get any tweaks to the exterior to make it stand apart from its hatchback sibling. It is identical all the way back to the rear doors. The eagle eyed reader might spot the chrome ring around the lower front grille, but that’s it. This isn’t a bad thing, though. The Grand i10 is a good looking car - as all recent Hyundais are - and so the Xcent starts off on the right foot. The sharp headlights go well with the overall design and the rakish profile of the hatchback merges well with the boot.

It’s from the C-pillar that things begin to change. The more acute angle of the rear windscreen gives the Xcent its sedan profile and the stubby boot is well proportioned to the rest of the car. It’s hard when you know the design is done with a pencil in one hand and a measuring tape in the other. Credit should be given to Hyundai’s designers for its perfect execution. The taillights are new but the form is similar to the Grand i10 and the bumpers with its horizontal reflectors accentuate the Xcent’s wide stance.

We have driven the much-anticipated new Hyundai Xcent. Should it be your next purchase? Read on to find out...

It is the same story on the inside. The dual tone dashboard, the chunky multi-function steering wheel and the dash mounted gearbox, all are similar to the Grand i10. The Xcent measures at 3,995mm x 1,660mm x 1,520mm (LxWxH). All the extra 230mm length over the Grand i10 is added towards the rear. The wheelbase is the same too at 2,425mm.

The Xcent comes with same engine and gearbox options as the Grand as well – petrol manual, petrol automatic and diesel manual. The petrol engine is the 4-cylinder 1,200cc kappa mill developing 83PS of power at 6,000rpm and 114Nm of torque at 4,000rpm and it comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic. It is a gem of an engine which was first introduced in the i10 in 2010. The car we’ve just driven is the diesel Xcent. It gets the 3-cylinder 1.1-litre mill that’s also in the Grand i10 but in the Xcent it develops 1PS extra power and 20Nm of extra torque over the Grand. With an adequate 72PS of power at 4,000rpm and 180Nm of peak torque between 1,750-2,500rpm, performance was expected to be better than the hatchback.

But, the added weight of the boot negates the uprated figures to an extent. Hyundai has tweaked the engine to develop extra torque in the low and mid range improving driveability. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox also borrowed from the Grand i10. It’s a slick shifting unit but one doesn't have to use it much as there is more torque available in the lower rev range. The need to shift gears is lesser while you are negotiating city traffic and making a quick pass requires only slight dabs on the accelerator. Theoretically, the Xcent should be marginally quicker, but we can only know that for sure with our testing equipment strapped on.

We have driven the much-anticipated new Hyundai Xcent. Should it be your next purchase? Read on to find out...

The Xcent is one of the better engineered Hyundai cars I have seen and driven. The car is more involving to drive and has an excellent suspension setup. The soft setup soaks in most undulations with ease but is also damped just right to build your confidence through a set of corners. There is some body roll but not too much to make you nervous. It’s the qualities of the Grand carried forward as expected and I like that about the sedan. Despite increase in weight and performance, Hyundai has managed to increase the diesel engine’s efficiency. It returns an ARAI certified fuel economy figure of 24.4kmpl, 0.4 kmpl more than the hatchback. In the real world, expect figures close to 17kmpl in the city and 22.5kmpl on the highway based on our tests with the Grand i10.

On the features front, the top-of-the-line Xcent in SX trim with option pack we have driven gets driver and front passenger airbags, ABS, keyless entry with push button start/stop, rear AC vents, multi function steering wheel, driver seat height adjustment, a 2-din audio system with Bluetooth, USB and aux-in ports, power outlets for the front and rear, chrome door handles on the inside and out and rear parking sensors and parking camera with display in the rear view mirror. On the outside, the Xcent gets integrated turn indicators in the electrically adjustable auto-folding outside rear view mirrors and 15-inch alloy wheels (it’s part of the option pack – 14-inch wheels on SX trim). There isn’t much you will need besides leather seats, which should be available as a dealer option.

The Xcent is a competent car, and it's well priced too in its class. But, we feel the pricing with respect to the Grand i10 might be a bit of a dampener. The base variants of the Xcent and the Grand i10 aren’t too far apart, but the Hyundai Xcent diesel in SX (O) trim costs Rs 7.42 lakh ex-showroom Delhi, about Rs 1.1 lakh more than the top-end Grand i10. And for that extra moolah, you don’t get a whole lot more. The Hyundai Xcent a nice car to drive and comes fitted with a long list of features and it will also not disappoint you as an overall package. But when viewed with respect to the Grand i10, the Xcent doesn’t make such a compelling case for itself.

The marginal extra power on tap isn’t a deciding factor between the two. So, if you are one who frequents out-of-town drives with a full compliment of passengers and need the extra luggage space or want to buy the sedan purely as a status symbol over the hatchback, the Xcent is the car for you.

 

Volkswagen Vento Preferred launched at 10.82 lakh

The limited edition Vento is available only in the 2013 manufactured models; gets minor cosmetic changes, a navigation system and 100 percent finance

Volkswagen has churned another variant out of the Vento. This time, it’s called Vento Preferred. Unlike the GT versions of the Polo that are mechanically quite different, the Vento Preferred is only a cosmetic update with a few features thrown in.

As part of the extra features in the car, you get chrome strips on the window sills, door visors and side door protectors and a small lip spoiler on the boot. These are essentially meant to liven up the car that surprisingly sports the old alloy wheel designs. Curious about these changes, we called up a few Volkswagen dealers who informed us that the Vento Preferred Edition is only available in Comfortline (mid-spec) trim on the 2013 diesel models. Volkswagen hasn’t sold all the cars manufactured last year yet so in a bid to get them off the shelves soon, have created a limited edition variant out of it by offering a few extra features. On the inside, you get a navigation system that doubles up as a display for the reverse parking camera.

And now that you know the Vento Preferred is a 2013 manufactured model, be at your haggling best as Volkswagen dealers should be quite eager to push it off the shelf. As is, Volkswagen has announced free first year insurance and roadside assistance for four years but you could squeeze out a bit more at the dealership.

The Vento Preferred is priced at Rs 10.82 lakh, on-road Mumbai. The interesting bit is that Volkswagen is offering 100 percent finance on the on-road price of this car if you go through Volkswagen Finance.

Hero MotoCorp launches new CBZ Xtreme in India

 

The CBZ line of power-bikes from Hero MotoCorp had been present in the Indian market for over a decade now. The India's largest bike-maker had created quite a quite a buzz on the Twitter networking platform hinting a possible launch of the CBZ Extreme Sports 2014. The anticipated Xtreme Sports is stated to be an upgraded version of the Xtreme motorbike. The Sports version is yet to be launched. For now, the bike-maker has launched the new face-lifted version of CBZ Xtreme. The bike has been launched at an attractive price tag of Rs. 66,516 (Ex-showroom Mumbai). The one with a rear disc is priced at Rs. 69, 530 (Ex-showroom Mumbai).

Hero MotoCorp launches new CBZ Xtreme in India

The CBZ Xtreme shall be powered by 149.2 cc, four-stroke, air-cooled, SOHC engine that generates about 14.4 Ps of power at 8500 Rmp and 12.8 Nm of torque at about 6500 Rpm. The 150 cc bike is mated to a five speed manual transmission. The bike is loaded with interesting features like digital-analogue instrument cluster, engine immobilizer and side stand warning light. The headlamps have been repositioned and complimented with a new visor. The taillights have been redesigned with LED tail lamps, dual finish exhaust muffler and an underseat mobile charger socket. The rear tyre is also slightly wider than the earlier version. The bike has been launched in interesting shades of Blue, Red, Orange and White.

The yet to be launched Xtreme sports shares a similar engine but generates about 15.2 Bhp, which makes it slightly more powerful than the Xtreme version. The top version of the Xtreme Sports may receive disc brakes for the front as well as rear wheels, whereas the lower version may get a front disc and a rear drum brake. Technologically the bike has received some interesting upgrades like Electronic immobilizer and Side stand down function that does not start the engine unless the side stand is pulled-up. An under seat mobile charging socket has also been provided for convenience. For added safety, the Xtreme Sports has received a wider rear tyre.

Source: OD

Honda Amaze anniversary-edition launched, Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG is here

Honda Amaze anniversary version is just launched. This comes with front and rear spoiler and side skirting with exhaust pipe finishing. On the inside the centre console gets a wood finish panel and elegant seat covers too. This model costs Rs 71,861 more than the existing VX and S variants. The Mercedes-Benz GL 63 AMG is also launched at Rs 1.66 crore (ex-showroom, Mumbai). This is 5.5-litre bi-turbo that produces about 550bhp of power and is the most powerful SUV in India. This SUV also comes loaded with several features that you will want in a luxury car. Honda introduces Amaze Anniversary Edition to celebrate its 1st anniversary Honda drives in Amaze Anniversary Edition to commemorate its first birthday; Honda Amaze was launched on April'13 and the company has sold in excess of 80,000 units of the car till date. Honda is going gaga over its most successful product in the Indian line-up yet. The Anniversary Edition will be available only in the VX and S variant and will cost Rs 71,861 over the standard VX and S. Stripped down version of Audi A3 spotted again Audi had showcased the A3 at the Auto Expo and the company will be introducing the saloon and cabriolet version of this new entry-level product. The good news is that this car will be available soon and it will be available even in its performance packed version – the S3. Land Rover to replace the Freelander 2 with Discovery Sport Land Rover has confirmed that the first member of the all-new Discovery family will be the Discovery Sport premium compact SUV. This will replace the existing Freelander 2. The British marquee had anyways announced that the Freelander 2 will be merged with the Discovery family and this will all be a part of this same team. Mercedes Benz India launches GL63 AMG for Rs 1.66 crore Mercedes added a member to its AMG range in India – the Mercedes Benz GL63 AMG priced at Rs 1.66 crore (ex-showroom, Mumbai). The Merc has quite a lot of scintillating performance edition of its stock cars in AMG avatar in India ranging from iconic SLS AMG to capable off roader like G63 AMG, mind baffling drop dead beauties like SLK 55, SLS AMG roadsters to meaty saloons like E63 AMG and C63 AMG. Stefano Domenicali quits as Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has resigned from his position as team principal of Ferrari Formula One Team. He is taking full responsibility of Team Ferrari for not being able to clinch the top spots in last three races and thus handed his resignation. Stefano, 48 had been in charge of Team Ferrari by replacing Jean Todt in 2008. He will be replaced by Marco Mattiacci who is currently serving as the president and CEO of Ferrari North America. The next generation SLS AMG to have a bi-turbo engine Mercedes-Benz had revealed the SLS AMG Final Edition at the Tokyo Motor Show last year and now the company is preparing to introduce a brand new car instead of the SLS. This won’t be called as the SLS and it will be competing with the likes of Porsche 911, Jaguar F-TYPE and other competition. Audi cars to cost more Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, announced an increase in prices by an average of 3 percent in India. The increase in price will be effective from May 1, 2014. According to the manufacturer, the hike in the price is a result of deprecating value of Indian currency and constant fluctuation in forex rates. The interiors of the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT are revealed A new AMG high-performance automobile is all set for its world premiere in the autumn of 2014. The Mercedes-AMG GT will thrill sports car fans throughout the world with breath-taking design and supreme agility. This is the second product from the AMG stable after the SLS and this will compete with the likes of Jaguar F-TYPE and the Porsche 911. Mercedes-Benz to launch two major products this year Mercedes-Benz has been going strong with its sales in India and it is unbelievable how the company has turned around the tables. The brand was called by several to be not so young, but the new design language is trendy and definitely amongst the favourites. The company also was the first to introduce the A-Class, a luxury hatchback segment and the B-Class, as a luxury tourer. 2015 Chevrolet Cruze unveiled; India launch later this year GM unveiled the new 2015 Chevrolet Cruze ahead of 2014 New York Motor Show starting this Friday- April 18. It looks like the Cruze that leaked in the China is purely for the Chinese market, it surely looses the true American muscle car essence which we all love about the current Cruze. Well its all good that ends good, we will be getting this updated Cruze in the falls of 2014. The new car offers host of new features and it retains the beefy bolder looks of the Cruze. The new Cruze will compete against the likes of Skoda Octavia, new Toyota Corolla Altis, Renault Fluence and Hyundai Elantra. Mercedes-Benz to reveal the MLC-Class at the Beijing Motor Show Mercedes-Benz will reveal the MLC-Class at the upcoming Beijing Motor Show, which will compete with the existing BMW X6. The MLC-Class rumours have been floating on the internet for a while and it was recently confirmed by Mercedes-Benz to its investors in Berlin. 2015 Hyundai Sonata revealed at New York Auto Show All-new 2015 Hyundai Sonata was introduced at New York International Auto Show. The seventh generation model carries a more aggressive appearance with better styling and design upgrades. It showcases a new Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy, stiffer body structure, better ride quality, reduced NVH levels, and is loaded with several advanced safety and comfort features. Passion for Performance With nearly 500 horse power under the hood, foot down all the way on the accelerator, thundering down the straight stretch, suddenly there’s a hazard on the right, now it’s all up to instinct and awareness to do the right thing.

2014 Hyundai Xcent Test Drive Review

2014 Hyundai Xcent – Click above for high resolution picture gallery

Car Tested: 2014 Hyundai Xcent

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 5.53 – 8.87 lakhs

                                                                     video review

 

The Xcent is the most value for money compact sedan in the Indian market today.

You can either sell budget cars in massive volumes or more expensive cars to lesser people but usually not both. Defying this trend is Korea’s leading automaker which also finds its name in the top ten global automobile manufacturers in the world. Hyundai manages to sell an Eon at Rs. 3 lakhs while under the same roof a Rs. 30 lakh Santa Fe is successfully sold. 15 years back, thinking about Hyundai being so accomplished would have been difficult to digest but the company has come a long way. It has finally brought out a replacement to its second offering in India which was launched in 1999. We are talking about the Accent, a sedan which found a lot of success in the sub-continent has now finally found its spiritual successor in the form of the Xcent. The Hyundai Xcent is nothing but a Grand i10 with a boot and will play in the ‘ever in demand’ sub 4-metre compact sedan segment. But does the Xcent have the much needed X factor?

Motor Quest: Hyundai first launched the Accent in 1994, launching it in India in 1999 but when the third generation model arrived in 2006, they chose to keep the Accent running in India, re-branding the new model as the Verna. The Accent was discontinued last year and the Xcent fills its shoes.

While the front is identical to the Grand i10, the rear is all new but both don’t gel

Exteriors – One look at the Xcent and you aren’t going to skip a beat for sure. The Xcent is nothing more than a three box Grand i10 which makes it look ungainly from certain angles. While the hatchback is a smart looker, the sedan does not seem as appealing, possibly due to a very plain rear profile. Hyundai is known for making drop-dead gorgeous cars off late but in the case of the Xcent, the segment demands value and design is not a factor which will make or break a customers decision. The boot integration isn’t the best we have seen but it’s still better looking than those cars which are still nursing a chopped butt. Proportions aren’t as flowing as you would expect from a vehicle which competes against very established rivals and it’s more noticeable since Hyundai has set very high standards in the design department.

The boot is neatly integrated but the Xcent doesn’t wow you with its design

The front is identical to the Grand i10 and there is nothing to make out it your viewing the Grand i10 or Xcent but come to the side and the increased length is immediately apparent although everything is the same till the C-pillar. The side profile also flaunts the waistline moulding, which runs along the side. From both the side and rear profile, the styling doesn’t catch your fancy and the company should have made changes to the front of the car to make it look like a more balanced sub 4-metre offering (the taller height is what robs the Xcent from being a smooth flowing design). View it head-on at the rear and some will like the simple tail lights. The rear profile seems too simple and maybe a few more character lines would have helped its cause. Chrome is used just in the right dose on the boot and reflectors are provided on the bumper. The Xcent gets 15-inch diamond cut alloy wheels (on top variants) against 14-inchers offered on the Grand i10 and lower variants of the Xcent.

Dashboard is carried over from the Grand i10 and has good quality with a neat layout

Interiors – One of the best interiors in the hatchback segment is of the Grand i10 and the Xcent borrows the same cabin, thus giving Hyundai’s compact sedan a very appealing dashboard. Quality is excellent and there is ample amount of room inside the cabin. You definitely feel you are sitting in a car which is a segment up and that’s largely due to the attention to detail by the company. Features are galore and the Xcent is easily the most feature rich vehicle in its class. Bluetooth connectivity, steering mounted audio controls, 1 GB storage for the audio system, push button start with smart key, auto folding rear view mirrors, electrochromic mirror with parking camera and sensors, etc. and the list just goes on. The 2-din audio system offers pretty good sound quality and it is easy to pair your phone for Bluetooth streaming.

Rear seat now gets an arm rest, seat is reclined a bit and space is generous

While the inside of the Xcent is almost identical to the Grand i10, there are a few changes done to the sedan for meeting the expectation of saloon car buyers. The Xcent gets a climate control AC, reverse guide camera (the Grand i10 only gets sensors), closed lid in front of the gear lever and a rear seat arm rest with twin cup holders. The wheelbase is identical to the Grand i10 and there is a rear AC vent too. Space at the rear is plenty and the rear bench has been reclined a bit for added comfort. There is good amount of headroom (for under 6 feet passengers) and the doors open wide with the window area being generous for a good rear seat experience.

407-litre boot is the biggest in the compact sedan space, 7-litres bigger than the Amaze

The Hyundai Xcent is the narrowest car in its segment and thus seating five abreast isn’t the easiest thing to do. While other cars in the class aren’t five seaters, the Xcent too is best used as a four seater for longer journeys (the centre headrest isn’t adjustable while the other two at the rear are) but what goes in the Xcent’s favour is the nearly flat floor at the rear which helps to accommodate the middle passenger. The seats are quite comfortable but the rear bench lacks adequate under thigh support for tall passengers. The instrument cluster is well laid out but does not show average fuel economy and distance to empty. The AC deserves a special mention. In the burning sun, the AC managed to keep the car cool effortlessly with due help from the rear AC vent which enables faster and uniform cooling. There is no dearth of storage spaces inside the vehicle with abundant cubby holes for odds and ends. Even the glovebox is cooled. The boot is the largest in the segment (407-liters) and that was expected since the Grand i10 also has among the biggest boot in its class.

1.2 Petrol and 1.1 diesel engines are carried over from the Grand i10 hatchback

Performance – Hyundai has carried over the engines on the Xcent from the Grand i10 and we were expecting the 1.1-litre, 3-cylinder diesel engine to be replaced by the 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder engine from the i20 and Verna. However in the interest of cost and mileage, Hyundai has gone ahead with the 3-pot second generation U2 mill which gets increased output courtesy of a tune up job by Hyundai engineers. The turbocharger is now controlled by the ECU and this leads to better optimisation of the air flow to the engine. This diesel motor produces 72 PS and 180 NM torque, i.e. 1 PS more power and 22 Nm more torque (13% more over the Grand i10).

1.1-litre diesel is best in the mid-range and lacks top-end punch, revs to 4900 RPM

The increased ratings aren’t immediately apparent when you are behind the wheel but by no means does this engine feel underpowered. The engine has also been tweaked to counter the added weight of the Xcent over the Grand i10. Fuel is injected at 1800 bar pressure and this results in a better combustion and results in better fuel economy. Also, torque is available from as low as 1750 RPM making it easy to drive without too many gearshifts. The ARAI certified mileage exceeds that of the Grand i10 and is rated at 24.4 km/l (Grand i10 ARAI mileage is 24 km/l).

1 PS and 22 Nm increase gives the Hyundai Xcent diesel good city performance

Being a 3-cylinder engine, one would expect this engine to have an inherent vibration but Hyundai has done an awesome job with the NVH. The engine vibrates a bit on startup and settles into a nice rhythm. You will barely notice it’s a 3-cylinder engine, such good is the damping. It is vocal at low end and as you whizz past 2000 RPM the mill settles down to be less intrusive. Mated to this engine is a 5 speed manual transmission with slick shifts and evenly spaced out ratios for both driving styles. The engine redlines at a little less than 5000 RPM with the first gear topping out at 40 km/hr, second at 80 km/hr and third at 120 km/hr. This engine has decent low-end pull with a strong mid-range but loses steam once past 3500 RPM and there is no thrust in the top-end. Cruising at 120 – 140 km/hr is relatively easy and even at these speeds, it does not feel strained at all. One can expect a real world mileage of 18 km/l. Another point to the driver’s advantage is the clutch, which is extremely light for a diesel car.

Petrol engine offers linear power delivery and is very good on NVH levels

Powering the petrol Xcent is the 1.2-litre Kappa powerplant which needs no introduction as it has been doing duty on various Hyundai cars for sometime now. Performance is linear and throttle response is urgent, the 4-cylinder engine offering terrific NVH levels with the motor being barely audible inside the cabin at idle. The top-end isn’t as creamy like its rivals but there is good low end pep for comfortably ambling around in the city. Hyundai is offering a 4-speed automatic for the petrol Xcent which should make town driving stress free. The petrol Xcent returns 19.1 km/l mileage as per ARAI (a 0.2 km/l improvement over the Grand i10) but in real world conditions, one should expect 12-14 km/l.

The Hyundai Xcent offers good handling and remains very composed at speed

Driving Dynamics – Hyundai has achieved a good balance of ride and handling with the Grand i10 and we feel the Xcent is even better. While the Xcent is not as engaging to drive as its rivals, it offers good manners at speed, remaining very stable even at triple digit numbers. The steering is light at low speeds, weighing up decently as you gather pace although it’s not really feedback rich when you start pushing it around corners aggressively. Body roll is well contained and the top-end models come with wider tyres which boost the grip on offer. There is no nervousness at high speeds and this is one thing Hyundai has truly addressed with the Xcent. The cabin is well insulated and you can hardly tell the speeds you are doing.

Ride quality on the Xcent is excellent and the brakes offer sure-footed stopping power

Ride quality is excellent at low speed and the suspension does its job very well. The suspension is stiffer as compared to the Grand i10 and this has been done to cater to the additional weight and towards improving road manners. Even as you gather speed, the ride quality remains good and there is a mature feel to the way the suspension has been set up. Bad roads do unsettle the car a bit but there is no bounciness, not even at the rear. Braking performance is good and the pedal has a reassuring bite for confidence inspiring stops. The compact dimensions when coupled with the light steering and excellent all round visibility mean the Hyundai Xcent is a very easy car to drive and manoeuvre in congested city conditions.

The Xcent doesn’t get ABS as standard on any trim, it’s optional on top trims

Safety – Hyundai has offered the Xcent in three variants (base, S and SX) and only the top spec model gets dual airbags as standard. ABS is optional on the S and SX trim. This is surely disappointing as Honda offers ABS as standard on all diesel variants of the Amaze while the SX and VX variants of the petrol Amaze come with ABS. Maruti Suzuki offers ABS as standard on the top-end Z trims.

The Xcent offers a lot of value with its feature rich interiors and frugal motors

Verdict – The Hyundai Xcent manages to please in quite a few areas. While the styling of the car is a mixed bag (some like it, some don’t while we feel most will grow to it), there are quite a few positives going for the Hyundai Xcent. The cabin has a lot of space and the interior quality is top notch with a plethora of features on offer and the Xcent is unmatched when it comes to equipment. While neither petrol or diesel engines will set your pulse racing, both powertrains offer good performance for city duties while also being frugal. The Xcent is easy to drive with predictable handling and very good ride quality. Factor in the aggressive pricing and the Hyundai Xcent easily emerges as the compact sedan for those looking for a no compromise vehicle at a compelling price.

The Hyundai Xcent scores high on Hyundai’s traditional strong values – good space, lots of features, excellent ride quality and frugal engines. All this coupled with an attractive price will seal the deal for most prospective compact sedan customers.

The rear of the Xcent grows over you with time, it’s not the most appealing sub 4-metre

What’s Cool

* Spacious Interiors
* Quality Cabin
* Mileage
* Ride Quality

What’s Not So Cool

* Styling won’t please everyone
* Diesel lacks power compared to rivals

Alternatives: Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, Honda Amaze

The Xcent is well engineered to meet the requirements of majority of the customers

2014 Hyundai Xcent Specifications

* Engine: 1197cc, 16V, Kappa, VTT (P); 1120cc, 12V, U2 CRDI (D)
* Power: 83 PS @ 6000 RPM (P); 72 PS @ 4000 RPM (D)
* Torque: 114 Nm @ 4000 RPM (P); 180 Nm @ 1750-2750 RPM (D)
* Transmission: 5-speed manual (P & D), 4-speed auto (P)
* Top Speed: 165 km/hr (P), 160 km/hr (D)
* 0-100 km/hr: 13 seconds (P); 16 seconds (D) (est.)
* Fuel Consumption: 13 km/l (Petrol), 18 km/l (Diesel)
* Fuel Type: Petrol; Diesel
* Suspension: McPherson struts (Front), Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (Rear)
* Tyres: 165/65/14 (steel rim), 175/60/15 (alloy wheel)
* Brakes: Ventilated Disc (Front), Disc (Rear), ABS
* Safety: ABS, EBD, Dual Front Airbags, Reversing Camera

2014 Hyundai Xcent Dimensions

* Overall length x width x height: 3995 mm X 1660 mm X 1520 mm
* Wheelbase: 2425 mm
* Front Track/Rear Track: 1479/1493 mm
* Turning Radius: 4.7 metres
* Ground clearance: 165 mm (est.)
* Boot Volume: 407-liters
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 43 litres
* Kerb Weight: 950-1150 kgs (est.)