BMW 335Li LWB

A long-wheelbase version of the next-generation BMW 3 Series has been spotted and snaps of it have made their way to the web. This Chinese market version is meant for chauffeur driven buyers and could do well if launched in India.

While the 3 Series is known to be a driver’s car, in India where most buyers of luxury cars get them driven by chauffeurs, this LWB version makes good sense. The LWB 3 Series could bring back some of the buyers lost to Mercedes-Benz whose C-Class is considered a better buy for rear-seat occupying owners. The LWB 3 Series will bear the 335Li badge in China and is expected to make its official debut at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show in April.

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL

While Mercedes-Benz’s pavilion at the Delhi Auto Expo witnessed huge crowds, a big crowd puller, the new 2013 SL made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show.

Mercedes-Benz has given the legendary SL another lease of life with the new 2013 model which though looks familiar has new design elements and technology to keep it fresh. The overall dimensions of the roadster remain nearly the same as its predecessor but the new SL is based on a new all-aluminium structure and body which Mercedes says weighs about 125kgs less than the current model.

The new SL 550 will get a 429bhp 4.6-litre twin-turbo V8 which can propel it from 0-100kph in just 4.5 seconds, much faster than the older car’s 5.2 seconds. The car will feature a seven-speed automatic transmission. New features will include LED daytime running headlights, Magic Sky Control equipped folding hard-top and a new wiper blade system dubbed Magic Vision Control that streams wiper fluid along the blade to avoid overspray into the interior when the top is dropped. The entire wiper will be heated as well. The new SL is expected to launch in India in 2013.

New Ford Mondeo

Ford has taken the covers off its all-new Mondeo sedan at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show. This new Camry & Accord fighter is most likely to make its way to India in 2013.

Moreover the 2013 Mondeo is an all-new car and looks the part too. To be honest Ford has used many design cues from Aston Martin while designing the new Mondeo and it could be mistaken for a Rapide by those with an untrained automotive eye. It looks stunning and very proportionate from almost any angle.

2013 Ford Mondeo

The new Mondeo will be powered by 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre Ecoboost Turbo petrol and diesel engines and will also have a hybrid variant in overseas markets. Ford has given the new car an all-new suspension and electric steering system aimed at making it better to drive. When launched the new Mondeo could become a serious competitor to D segment sedans like the Accord, Camry and Passat.

New 2012 Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai’s pavilion at the upcoming 2012 Auto Expo will showcase the next-generation Sonata sedan which will be launched at the event according to company sources.

Hyundai’s existing Sonata Embera has gotten really old in the tooth and was hardly selling and thus the move to bring in the all new Sonata or the i45 as it is known internationally. The new Sonata will be manufactured in India and is thus expected to cost considerably less than its rivals which include the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry (new one expected at the Auto Expo), VW Passat and the Skoda Superb. While Hyundai hasn’t spilled the beans yet, we expect a price range of Rs. 15-18 lakh for the new Sonata.

The new luxury sedan will be powered by a 2.4-litre petrol motor and a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine which also does duty in the Santa Fe. Hyundai’s new fluidic design language is found in abundance on the new car which appears a little fussy in terms of styling but might appeal to Indian buyers who like a bit of flash when it comes to their cars. Equipment levels like in the Verna are expected to be class leading. Will the new Sonata bring back the original Sonata’s glory days for Hyundai? Only time will tell. Along with the new Sonata, the new Elantra will also be revealed at the Delhi Auto Expo next month.

A teaser sketch of I-oniq concept

Hyundai has released a sketch of what will be a radically styled new concept called I-oniq and will be revealed at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

From the sketch it looks like a new shooting brake or a crossover of some sort. Hyundai doesn’t have a shooting brake in its potfolio and neither does it have a four-door coupe so this new concept could pave the way for one of those. Hyundai has named the concept I-oniq which it says previews the brands next evolution of ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language which we see on current models like the new Verna.

Hyundai is also expected to launch the new Sonata in India early in 2012. We’ll get you more details on the I-oniq concept as its public debut gets closer ahead of the Geneva Motor Show.

2012 Honda City launched

Honda has launched the refreshed 2012 model City with a few cosmetic changes, new equipment and a lower price tag.

The City now starts at Rs. 6.99 lakh for the Corporate Edition which puts it at par with rivals like the Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento etc and is good value for money for a car of this class.  Externally the 2012 City features a revised front and rear bumpers, chrome grille, rear taillights, new ORVMs with integrated turn indicators and new design alloy wheels in the higher spec variants.

Honda has also listened to buyer feedback and given the new City some added features such as a new sound system, plush seat upholstery, beige interiors, and improved centre console with more chrome bits and cruise control, sunroof & leather seats in the top-end variant.

The 2012 City is mechanically identical to the 2011 model and comes with the 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine and a choice of manual or automatic transmission. The 2012 City is prices as below (all prices ex-showroom Delhi):

• Corporate Edition – Rs. 699000
• E MT – Rs. 770000
• S MT – Rs. 820000
• V MT – Rs. 870000
• V AT – Rs. 942000
• V (Sunroof & Leather Seats) MT – Rs.950500
• V (Sunroof & Leather Seats) AT – Rs.1022000

Bookings for the 2012 City are now open across India and deliveries will begin in January 2012.

Nissan Sunny now in diesel

Nissan has launched the diesel Sunny in India with prices starting at Rs. 7.98 lakh for the XL variant and Rs. 8.78 lakh for the fully loaded XV variant.

There is no base (XE) variant for the diesel version as yet and variant for variant the diesel version is price around Rs. 1.3 lakh more than the petrol counterpart (this is excluding the discounts available on the petrol models).

Bookings for the diesel Sunny are now open across Nissan dealerships. The diesel Sunny is powered by the same engine which does duty in the diesel Micra but this 1461cc oil burner has been re-tuned and turbocharged to produce 85bhp and 200Nm of torque. In the Micra this engine produces just 63bhp. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission and automatic transmission is not an option currently.

A sketch of the Audi Q6

Audi is reportedly working on a new crossover which will slot in between the Q5 and the Q7 and give competition to BMW’s X6.

Automotive News Europe magazine has confirmed this bit of information from Walter de’Silva, the design chief with the Volkswagen Group. While Audi has a rival for all of Mercedes and BMW’s vehicles a sports crossover would enable it to widen its offerings and tap into the lucrative though niche segment. Odds are that the new crossover would be named the Q6 and will share its platform with the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne.

Beat Diesel price goes up

Chevrolet has hiked the Beat Diesel’s sticker price by Rs. 15,000 with immediate effect, citing rising input costs.

The petrol Beat is not affected at the moment though General Motors has stated that prices of the Beat Petrol will be hiked by 1-2% in January 2012. Chevrolet is expected to debut the 2012 Beat model at next month’s Delhi Auto Expo and launch the same soon afterwards. The rising demand for diesel hatchbacks has made the Beat Diesel into a hot seller and this price hike will have little effect on the car’s popularity which may only increase after the launch of the facelifted model next month.

Other car makers including Toyota, Maruti Suzuki etc have also announced a hike in the prices of their diesel cars blaming rising costs but gaining from the high demand for diesel cars in the country.

2012 Fiat Punto and Linea are coming soon

Fiat’s mouth watering end of the year discounts on the Punto and Linea are because refreshed models are due for launch on 3^rd January 2012.

Fiat has officially confirmed that 2012 year models of both the Punto and Linea are to be launched on the said date. The cars shall be sold through existing Tata-Fiat dealers as well as via Fiat’s new boutique showrooms which are to sprout up next year beginning with the first one at Janpath, Connaught Place in New Delhi.

The refreshed Punto may not be the Punto Evo (pictured) and may just get a mild cosmetic makeover along with some new variants and equipment. The same goes with the Linea. Fiat hasn’t yet confirmed what would be ‘New’ in the 2012 models. The problem with Fiat is however not its cars but it’s lack lustre sales and service network and the problem with spares which existing owners continue to grapple with.