Mercedes unveils new M-class

These are the first official images of Mercedes’ all-new M-Class SUV.

Globally, the all-new M-class is said to include a four-cylinder diesel engine as well in order to give the upmarket SUV a class-leading fuel economy. However, the base ML250’s presence in the line-up when the new M-class is launched in India next year is yet to be confirmed.

The ML250 is powered by a twin-turbo 2.1-litre diesel engine with 201bhp and 51.01kgm of torque and will feature a seven-speed automatic gearbox with stop-start and brake energy recuperation.

The M-Class range will include models like ML350 Bluetec, which uses a 254bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel, and the ML63 AMG, which will be powered by a 536bhp twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8. There will also be a diesel-electric version in some markets called the ML300 Hybrid that will be unveiled later and will run the ML250’s 2.1-litre engine in combination with a 20bhp electric motor.

Visually, the new M-class, codenamed W166, retains the same basic proportions and design elements as its predecessor but in a more contemporary and updated form. The new M-Class is 4804mm long, 1926mm wide and 1796mm tall. In comparison, the BMW X5 is 24mm longer, 16mm wider and 19mm lower than its forerunner. Despite riding on all-new underpinnings, the M-class’s wheelbase remains the same, at 2915mm.

Inside, it offers seating for five people in two rows. As with the exterior, the interior is all new but generally adheres to the look of the outgoing model.

Kawasaki Ninja 650R launches in India

Kawasaki launches its second Ninja in India, the Ninja 650R at an appealing price tag of Rs 4.57 lakh ex-showroom Delhi.

The fared-in street bike is powered by a four-stroke, liquid-cooled engine in parallel twin format. This DOHC fuel-injected Ninja has a power output of 71bhp at 8500rpm and churns out 6.73kgm of max torque.

The Ninja 650R comes with a suspension that is a combination of telescopic front forks and a rear monoshock. The bike will be assembled by Bajaj in Chakan, imported into the country as a CKD unit.

Audi A6 to get four Engines

EXCLUSIVE!

Audi will launch the all-new A6 this July with four engine options. The base model will be a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel which puts out 175bhp and a 3.0-litre TDI churning out 242bhp. The two petrol motors will be 2.8-litre FSI and 3.0-litre supercharged TFSI, developing 201bhp and 296bhp respectively.

The new Audi A6’s lavish interior is an appealing mix of curves and lines with great detailing and the wraparound dashboard looks terrific. The top-end A6 will get the Quattro four-wheel drive system and Audi’s seven-speed, S-tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Audi will expect to clock big numbers with its base diesel model as the base variants are a preferred choice among luxury car buyers who want to go in for a higher segment model but are also looking for affordability and low running costs. This is evident from the sales of the BMW 5-series where a major chunk of the numbers comes from the base 520d. Audi will hope to emulate this success with its entry level 2.0 TDI.

Prices of the A6 2.0 TDI will be approximately Rs 37 lakh (ex-showroom) and the top-of-the-line 3.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI will cost around Rs 47 lakh (ex-showroom) each with only a few thousand rupees separating them. This will place the A6 on par with its rivals.

Ferrari officially debuts in India

                                                                                                              

Ferrari makes its Indian debut with the launch of its first dealership in Delhi. The Shreyans Group is the official importer for Ferrari in India.

 

The Italian luxury sport carmaker will sell its entire range of cars in India starting with the California which is priced at Rs 2.22crore. Other models giving company are the 458 Italia with a price tag of Rs 2.57crore, the 12-cylinder 599GTB Fiorano retailing at Rs 3.57crore and the flagship FF priced at Rs 3.41crore.

 

Speaking on the ocassion, Ferrari CEO, Amedeo Felisa said, “Till yesterday, Ferrari was present in 57 countries. Now we are in the 58th country, which is India. We should have been in India much before and we expect to be able to sell more than 100 cars in the next 2-3 years.” 

 

The Shreyans Group has setup an independent Ferrari India office with Ferrari experienced professionals to manage the upcoming dealer network. According to the company sources, Ferrari has allocated 24 cars for India in 2011 out of which 14 cars are already tentatively sold.

 

Following the launch of the Delhi outlet, there will be a dealership in Mumbai which is slated for an early 2012 launch. And if Ferrari witnesses a demand, there could be added dealerships in other cities as well. The dealerships in India will be supported by official Ferrari Service centre and this will be a boon to the existing Ferrari owners as well, who, until now, had to make do with unauthorised service support. 

 

Bookings for the cars start today and the delivery time for a Ferrari could take between 3 to 12 months depending on the model and level of customisation. 

Hyosung GT650R out for Roadtest

The new Hyosung GT650R can be ridden hard but it requires enormous amounts of effort, very high concentration and many, many times, it’s sheer rider will power rather than chassis ability that carries your through. 
The Hyosung GT650R’s tubular twin-spar chassis is now pretty old. It was the same platform that spawned the GT250R, the bike we know as the Comet. The Comet felt large for a 250 and the GT650R, unfortunately, also feels a little bit too large for what is substantially a budget 650 in most markets abroad.
The V-twin motor was originally carburetted and this one now features fuel injection. The four-valves-per-cylinder DOHC V-twin is based on the same architecture as Suzuki’s effortless and well liked SV650 V-twin. The 90-degree V-twin features water-cooling and is mated to a 6-speed transmission. All told, the package makes an impressive sounding 73.7PS at 9000rpm and 60.9Nm is the peak torque, arriving at a relatively high 7500rpm.
But it is a V-twin, which usually means strong torque, and in the 90-degree configuration, good primary balance and consequently less vibration related issues. In the real world, however, this does not compute. In feel, the sound of the engine is loud at idle and it has the thrum we associate with twins alright. But when the revs come up as you ride, the sound turns thrashy more than evocative. Then you also notice that the engine feels rough to use and past 6,000rpm, our test bike coughed up a lot of vibration which got steadily more pronounced right to the redline. 
This makes riding the GT650R at elevated pace and high revs very hard on the hands and legs which go numb from the vibes pretty rapidly. But the sub-6000rpm performance is pretty sweet, vibes are a non-issue and that in sixth, 6000rpm equals around 140kmph, more than enough for 99 per cent of the Indian riding cycle.
To be fair, this is an older engine and some of the coarseness is just pure age. It isn’t slow though, taking 5.18 seconds to get to 100kmph on its way to its 202kmph top speed. Along the way the bike gets up to about 185kmph on the speedo with little fuss but the rest takes space and time to arrive on the digital clocks. The transmission similarly works neatly but hard riding can produce missed shifts and it feels positive but not entirely slick.
Like all multi-cylinder engines, the motorcycle produces substantial amounts of heat. But the water-cooling obviously works with the temperature indication on the digital gauge hardly ever crossing the mid-point.
The chassis too feels a bit last-generation and lacks the fluidity of the current motorcycle chassis. At 215kg, this is a heavy motorcycle and you always know you’re on a big-boned, heavy-massed machine. At speed, changing direction requires physical effort and tipping this motorcycle into a corner is neither feather-touch nor hair-trigger. Get it leaned over and it feels good if heavy. There is stability to be enjoyed and the tyres grip well enough on tarmac to produce fast corner exits. 
Ride quality on the other hand, is ponderous with the motorcycle feeling like its wheels are way too heavy. It thuds through bumps, ripples produce discomfort and mid corner bumps don’t unsettle the chassis as much as they do the rider. The inverted telescopic fork - adjustable for compression and rebound (but not preload) and the rear monoshock, adjustable for preload do have the internal wherewithal and require careful tuning to make the chassis feel better overall. The brakes are Korean made, and feel soft and spongy to use unlike the sharp and effortless units we’ve come to be used to now. Hard braking involves a serious amount of fork travel and four fingers clamping down strongly on the lever.
Where the motorcycle will shine is in the styling department. The GSX-R inspired bodywork and the vertical headlamps are not my personal picks for a great design. The finish levels as well as the build quality could be better. The switchgear, for instance didn’t feel top drawer and the vibration from hard riding managed to dislodge one of three retaining bolts on the end can as well as the right side rear indicator bolt in the course of the test.
The Hyosung GT650R isn’t the effortlessly great motorcycle we were hoping it would be. It subscribes to an older school of sportsbikes and comes across as a motorcycle that could do with some overall refinement, on the engine feel front, on the chassis dynamics front as well as on the fit-finish and build quality front. 
The Hyosung wasn’t set up for India. On better roads, in calmer riding conditions, I believe the GT650R will come across as an adequately capable motorcycle. 
What does not help is the committed ergonomics. The reach to the bars is pretty long and the bars themselves are pretty low, which put you into a racer crouch and leave you no alternative despite the wide and comfortable seat. This is not going to be an easy motorcycle to ride daily.
Substantially, what this Hyosung needs is fine-tuning and honing. The engine and chassis both appear to have ability but are not performing to their fullest. But Garware Motors is playing it smart. Its first dealers will be in Tier II towns and not in the big metros. These are places where the GT650R will sell easily because it is without doubt a substantial motorcycle for the money and because competition will be slow to reach these places. Dealers are already taking Rs 50,000 bookings on this Rs 4.6 lakh (approximate ex-showroom price) motorcycle. Hyosung is to announce final prices and plans shortly. Garware plans to offer just one free service and a 2-year, 25,000km warranty on the motorcycle but will have spares in stock, at reasonable prices as well as a service van for customers too far from dealers to go to the authorised service centres.
The GT650R is a motorcycle that holds a lot of promise in terms of the company’s ability to develop motorcycles, but it also shows that the company has a lot to learn before it can take the fight to the established Japanese competition. It’s up to S&T Motors, the owners of Hyosung to lead the brand down that aggressive growth path. 

VERDICT 
The Hyosung GT650R promises a lot. However, this is a motorcycle that requires a lot of effort to ride enthusiastically and to corner hard. Its weight and size are on the higher side for a middle displacement 650cc motorcycle. The other issue is engine refinement which suffers from vibration as the revs cross 6,000rpm. The brakes too could be vastly better. That said, for the price, the Hyosung slots neatly into a part of the market which we have long believed makes a lot sense for the growing bigger displacement motorcycles.

Mercedes-Benz SL350 and GL500 launched

Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz launched two of its premium products SL 350 roadster and GL 500 SUV in India. These models are priced at Rs 98.5 lakh and Rs 80.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) respectively. The SL 350 is powered by a 3.5 litre V6 engine that delivers a maximum power of 315PS and 360Nm of torque. The SL-Class will be available in ‘Sports package’ trim which offers 18 inch alloy wheels, front brake callipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering, darkened tail lights, headlamps with dark surrounds and a sports air filter. The GL 500 4MATIC claimed to be one of the most powerful SUV’s in the world is powered by a 5.4 litre V8 engine which produces 388PS of power along with a massive 530Nm of torque. It accelerates from standstill to a 100kmph in just 6.5seconds. Drive is fed via a standard 7G TRONIC 7-speed automatic transmission. Here is the Press Release Mercedes-Benz India sets new benchmark in Luxury Motoring: launches the SL 350 and GL 500 • The SL-Class offers an ideal balance of sportiness and comfort in the open sports-car segment. The SL-Class consolidates it’s position with a distinctly sportier look and a more enjoyable driving experience. • The GL 500 Sports a powerful 5.4 litre V6 engine producing a power of 388hp along with a staggering torque of 530Nm. New 20-inch alloys imparts a sporty look & front seat memory packages  ensure ease of driving Delhi: Mercedes-Benz India today launched the SL 350 and the GL 500 4MATIC,  further re-iterating their position of offering the widest product portfolio for the In-dian luxury car market. The SL-Class, one of the most legendary cars in the Mer-cedes-Benz stable, derives its DNA from the legendary 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ and has always been a favourite among automobile aficionados across the globe. The GL 500 is amongst the most powerful SUV in Mercedes-Benz’s portfolio and it strengthens the company’s presence in the increasingly popular SUV segment.  The SL 350  The SL 350 features a high-revving 3.5 litre V6 sports engine that produces a power of 315Hp and torque of 360Nm giving an enhanced performance & reduced fuel consumption. The SL 350 features the Direct Steering with Variable Servo Assistance which is available as standard. The Direct Steering incorporates the speed-sensitive power steering coupled with added sportiness. The steering features an all-new rack with a steering angle-sensitive ratio that reduces the need to turn the wheel and increases agility.  The SL-Class offers "Sports package" which comes as standard, is one-of-its kind in its segment. Under this package, the interior features the exclusive silver-coloured contrasting topstitching on the Exclusive NAPPA leather seats and aluminium prism trim among others.  The SL-Class has Multi-Contour climatised seats ensures a perfect balance between sportiness and excellent seating comfort for its passengers. Further the instrument cluster sports attractive dial graphics, 3D dial surrounds and   hanging needles. The SL 350 also sports a three-spoke steering wheel with matt chrome decorative inserts along with silver paddle shifters. The cockpit is superbly styled and gives a commanding feel to the driver. The AIRSCARF neck level heating maintains neck level temperatures even on colder days to ensure a comfortable ride. The Mercedes-Benz SL 350 also features a high resolution 6.5 inch colour display COMMAND with DVD changer and media interface with extended functionality and improved menu navigation. The Intelligent Light System also available as standard in the SL offers improved illumination while driving. Other standard features include:  KEYLESS-GO and Harman Kardon® Logic7® sound system with Dolby Digital 5.1 with 10 high-performance loudspeakers.  The interiors are matched by top-notch enhancements in its exteriors. The SL 350  roadster sports a unique design idiom which is a part of the current Mercedes-Benz design philosophy. The front grille has been radically revised to grab one’s attention and the prominent louver on the radiator grille gives it an even wider and dominant look. The power domes adorning the bonnet and Gill-like trim panels are reminiscent of the SL’s history. The front end has a more prominent V-shape. Besides this the SL sports attrac-tively designed main and auxiliary headlamps.  As a part of the SL-Class’s “sports package” the exteriors flaunts attractive 18 inch 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels; front brake callipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering, darkened tail lights; headlamps with dark surrounds and Sports air filter among others. The New GL 500 4MATIC The GL 500 4MATIC one of the most powerful SUV’s in the world featuring a 5.4 litre V8 engine produces a power of 388hp along with a staggering torque of 530Nm. This mammoth accelerates from a standstill to a 100kmph in just 6.5seconds all thanks to its light weight construction resulting in improved engine smoothness and higher torque in the mid-engine speed range. The GL 500 comes with the 7G TRONIC 7-speed automatic transmission as standard,   allowing adept engine speed at all times, in turn cutting down fuel consumption. The shorter gear shifts make the ride smooth and also reduce the noise levels. It also has manual gear shift paddles on the steering to further enhance driving please when needed. The 4MATIC all wheel drive system in the GL 500 provides excellent traction and enhanced driving stability even on poor road conditions. Additionally the GL-Class comes with the unique off-road pro engineering package that is a boon for those interested in having some serious off-roading and the AIRMATIC suspensions make sure that ride quality is not compromised even on the harshest terrains. The GL 500’s intimidating size is further complimented by the brilliant silver coloured louvers in the radiator grille that impart a striking appearance to the car. The LED tail lights add a distinguishing feature to the rear view of the car which is further enhanced by the stainless steel, chrome look underguard. The LED day time running lights combined with the Intelligent Lighting System regulate the headlamp range and light distribution of the car, making night time driving easier than ever. The 20-inch alloy wheels further add to the sporty appeal of the car. On the interior front, the GL 500 4MATIC has a luxurious feel that further compliments its spaciousness. The steering wheel has elements of wood and leather that combine to add a rich feel to the interiors. The NAPPA leather seats further enhances the luxury quotient of the car. The front seats have memory package, so that each driver can set up the seating as per convenience.  Another new feature of the GL-Class is its electrically folding third row seats, a first in its segment. The GL 500’s rear seat entertainment system with its 8-inch colour screens and Harman Kardon system is ideal for a back seat movie viewing or gaming experience. Although the GL’s size is intimidating, parking it is one of the easiest tasks as it comes equipped with PARKTRONIC and COMAND system with Linguatronics and a reversing camera that help manoeuvre the car easily in tight parking spaces. The THERMOTRONIC luxury automatic climate control helps maintain different temperatures for the driver, front and rear passengers giving each their own comfort zone. Third row  passengers can also enjoy the comfort of fresh air, as the third row comes with rear electrical vent windows.  Mr Peter Honegg, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India: “The SL 350 and the GL 500 are two of the most popular offerings in our portfolio. Both the cars have unique USP’s. The SL-Class with its styling, performance and handling abilities has won hearts globally. We are glad to introduce the SL-Class which is sportier, aggressive and of course packed with benchmark Mercedes-Benz safety features and technology. On the other hand the GL 500 being one of the most powerful SUV’s in the world, is ideal to suit the tastes of the growing number of off-roading afficionados in India. I am confident that both the vehicles will woo auto enthusiasts, critics, customers & media alike.”

Aston Martin in India

Aston Martin has officially opened the doors to its first dealership in India today, bringing the British marquee's luxury sports cars to Mumbai.

Aston Martin will commence its presence in India with a dedicated facility in Mumbai in partnership with Performance Cars, a division of Infinity Cars. The first Aston Martin dealership is located at Kemp's Corner, Mumbai. The after0sales facility workshop is located somewhere near Worli.

Aston Martin customers and enthusiasts will be able to view and test-drive selected models from the entire range of V8 Vantage Coupe, V8 Roadster, V12 Vantage, DB9 Coupe, DB9 Volante, DBS Coupe, DBS Volante, and the 4-door Rapide. These models will be joined by the recently launched V8 Vantage S and the new Virage.

In the launch event Aston Martin also showcased the super-exclusive One-77, which is priced at around Rs. 20 crore.

Ford unvelis the 2011 fiesta

The original Fiesta has had a pretty good track record, but as we mentioned in our last comparison with the Linea T-Jet — it definitely needed an update. Now the new Fiesta four-door premium sedan boasts some smart features and promises to raise the bar in fuel economy as well.

The new Fiesta is now powered by a 1.6 litre Ti-VCT petrol engine producing 120bhp, and a 1.6 litre TDCi , 90bhp diesel engine. It also comes equipped with Cruise Control.

Fiesta’s new design includes a set of wraparound "foxy eyes" headlamps, clamshell bonnet and prominent wheel arches. The interiors have been completely redone as well, with the instrument panel centre stack designed to feel as useful and intuitive as the keypad on a mobile phone.

Fiesta’s new design includes a set of wraparound "foThe new Fiesta also showcases Ford’s Human Machine Interface (HMI) strategy. It's equipped with smart Voice Control technology paired with Bluetooth, which provides wireless connectivity to a mobile phone. The Voice Control feature allows the use of one's voice to take control of multiple devices and to make and receive calls, change the radio station, climate control settings or music track, while the music plays through a six-speaker sound system.

Ford was tight-lipped about the prices, but we will update this space as soon as the prices are announced. Fiesta fans, is this an answer to your prayers? Let us know in the comments below.xy eyes" headlamps, clamshell bonnet and prominent wheel arches. The interiors have been completely redo

X3 launches in India by mid of 2011

BMW India will be launching the X3 by mid 2011 as a CKD product built out of its Chennai facility. The new generation of the X3 debuted at the Paris Motor Show late last year. The current X3 is the oldest vehicle in the BMW line-up and needed a serious upgrade to take on the likes of the Audi Q5 and the Volvo XC60. The new generation car’s interiors resemble what is current at BMW at the moment, but crucially it is larger in size, more spacious inside and looks up-market, perhaps the right element mix for its target market. We expect the base model to be the xDrive20i, a four-cylinder petrol making 150PS, claiming a 198kmph top speed and 11.5 seconds to 100kmph. The diesel will use the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine already seen in the 320d, 520d and X1 that makes 184PS and 380Nm. Since the model will be a CKD, expect BMW to be able to price the X3 between Rs 30 to 35 lakh, a significant drop from the old (CBU) X3 which was priced at Rs 44 lakh.

Harley-Davidson India launches Forty-Eight

Harley-Davidson India added up a new bike to its portfolio by launching its mighty Forty-Eight model. The bike sports a 1200cc V-twin engine that produces a prodigious 98Nm of torque.
The Forty-Eight will be available across all the Harley-Davidson dealerships in India, in addition to the existing 14 models in its 2011 line-up. Bookings will commence from this month.
The Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight is priced at Rs 8,50,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).


Here is the Press Release

New Delhi: Harley-Davidson® announced the addition of the new Forty-Eight™ model to its expansive model portfolio in India. With this addition, Harley-Davidson offers a motorcycle that promises riders a raw and radical ride as this bike brings brawn and chiseled custom with power and performance. 
The Forty-Eight will be introduced at Rs. 8,50,000 (ex-showroom Delhi). This model will be available across all the Harley-Davidson dealerships, in addition to the existing model line-up of 2011.
The new Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight motorcycle is a factory custom in the legendary tradition of the hot rod Sportster line with the raw, elemental appeal of the Dark Custom™ bikes. 
Riding low with a slammed suspension and featuring the classic "peanut" fuel tank, the Forty-Eight backs up its bulldog appearance with the performance of its blacked out and polished rubber-mounted Evolution® 1200 cc V-Twin engine. The low solo seat, under-mounted mirrors, side mount license plate, clean rear fender and tall and fat front tire emphasize the Forty Eight's focus on chiseled customization. 
Harley-Davidson Sportster models like the Forty-Eight have retained an aura of rebellion since their introduction in 1957, when the foundation of custom culture was being formed by hot rod gear heads hanging out on city street corners, in gritty garages or at dusty dragstrips. Sportster motorcycles became an iron canvas for many legendary choppers of that era and beyond. The Forty-Eight has more than just custom cool styling with the smooth ride on new front fork sliders, a tall and fat front tire and slammed rear suspension. 
With Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) and performance tuning with a broad torque curve, the Forty-Eight motorcycle delivers a powerfully responsive ride with smooth clutch effort. The pipes on the chrome, shorty dual exhaust pound out the distinctive Harley-Davidson V-Twin sound. 
The Forty-Eight embraces the street up front with forward foot controls, low profile custom handlebar, fork-mounted turn signals, slammed speedometer mounting bracket and fork brace with lightening holes. A unique dual texture seat with a height of 26 inches fits the lone rider, while a passenger pillion, footpegs and backrest are some of the many accessories that can be added.
Bookings for the Forty-Eight will commence in April 2011, at Harley-Davidson dealerships around India.  
Harley-Davidson India commenced operations in August 2009 and appointed its first dealership in July 2010. The Company currently offers 14 models in its 2011 line-up in India, available through its authorized dealerships. For more information, visit the Harley-Davidson India web site at www.harley-davidson.in

Maserati now available in india

Modena-based luxury and sports car maker Maserati will bring its Italian brand of high performance cars to the Indian car market this year. Along with Shreyans group, Maserati will open its first Indian showroom in Mumbai this year and plans to open a second dealership in New Delhi early 2012. 
The range of Maseratis to be sold in India includes the GranTurismo coupe, the GranCabrio convertible and the Quattroporte sports sedan. The company predicts that its sedan range will absorb 80 percent of its buyers in India, with the remaining 20 percent opting for the GranTurismo coupe and the GranCabrio convertible.
Prices of GranTurismo range between Rs 1.2cr to Rs 1.37cr, Quattroporte between Rs 1.23cr to 1.43cr and the GranCabrio is priced at Rs 1.43cr
India will be the 63rd market for Maserati in the world.

Here is the press release

Modena/New Delhi-  Maserati announces it will bring its uniquely Italian brand of high performance and custom-made exclusivity to the Indian car market this year.
 The Modena-based luxury and sports car maker, in partnership with the successful Indian luxury retailer, the Shreyans Group, will open its first Indian showroom in Mumbai this year and plans are well advanced to open a second dealership in New Delhi in early 2012, with plans to cater to seven major Indian cities by 2015.
 The Maserati India office will combine the experience in service, customers service and network management of Maserati professionals with the Indian market expertise of the Shreyans Group, which has established it as a key player in India’s luxury market in many sectors from cars to superbikes and fashion.
 With the Indian economy recovering, the Indian car market posted 1.87 million sales in 2010 for an annual growth of 25 percent. Yet even that growth rate pales in comparison to the premium car sector, which grew by 70 percent last year.
 The demand for the introduction of Maserati’s models - the Quattroporte flag-ship sedan, the GranTurismo coupe and the GranCabrio convertible - into India has been driven by a new generation of wealthy Indians.
 Maserati predicts that its sedan range will absorb 80 percent of its buyers in India, with the remaining 20 percent choosing the GranTurismo coupe and the GranCabrio convertible.
 Expectations are that customers in Mumbai and New Delhi will be India’s most enthusiastic, with New Delhi predicted to take 40 percent of Maserati’s entire Indian distribution and Mumbai 35 percent.
 India will be the 63rd market for Maserati in the world.

Maserati’s 2010 Financial Results
 For 2010, Maserati reported €586 million in revenues, an increase of 30.8% over 2009, primarily attributable to excellent sales performance for the new GranCabrio, the GranTurismo and the Quattroporte flagship sedan.
 A total of 5,675 cars were delivered to the network during the year, an increase of 26.4%, with positive performance in the majority of Maserati's national markets.
 In the USA, Maserati's no. 1 market in the world with over 2,000 units delivered to final customers, volumes were up 45% over the previous year. Excellent results were also achieved in the United Kingdom (+72%) and China (+128%). In the markets’ ranking, behind the United States two countries tied for second place: Italy and the United Kingdom, each with 530 units delivered. In 4th place is China.
 With over 400 units delivered to final customers, China has also become Maserati’s largest market in Asia; the Asia Pacific region is the fastest growing market for Maserati globally, and the 2nd area of the world – after the U.S. – for Quattroporte sales.
 Maserati’s first four markets are thus located on three different continents, to prove the truly global reach of the Modena-based factory.
 Maserati’s 5th largest market in the world is Germany, Japan is 6th, France is 7th, Switzerland is 8th, Australia is 9th, Hong Kong is 10th, the UAE 11th.
 For 2010, Maserati had a trading profit of €24 million (trading margin: 4.1%). The sharp increase over the €11 million trading profit for 2009 (trading margin: 2.5%) is attributable to both higher sales volumes and continued optimization of operating costs.
 Maserati reported €151 million in revenues for Q4 2010, up 17.1% over the same period for the prior year. Trading profit was €8 million for the quarter compared with €5 million for the fourth quarter of 2009.
 During the year, the Company released the new GranTurismo MC Stradale, the fastest, lightest and most powerful model in the marque's product range: a top-of-the-line coupé that embodies Maserati's vast experience gained on the racetrack.
 Other models presented were the special edition Quattroporte Sport GTS Awards Edition and the GranTurismo MC Trofeo, for which Maserati has organized a single-make championship.

 The Quattroporte range
 The award-winning Quattroporte continues to be a strong and consistent performer for Maserati, both in its sales and in its on-road performance. The range was crowned by the successful debut of the special edition Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition at the Geneva Auto Show in March, 2010, , born to celebrate the Quattroporte’s 56 major international design and automotive awards. The range begins with the Quattroporte, moves into the Quattroporte S, with its 4.7-litre V8 engine, and is headlined by the flagship sports sedan, the Quattroporte Sport GT S.
 The performance flagship of the four-door range is the Quattroporte Sport GT S. With its sports exhaust system freeing up more power, the 4.7-litre V8 boasts 323kW (440hp) of power at 7000rpm, the Quattroporte Sport GT S retains the Quattroporte S’s 490Nm of torque, but directs its performance more aggressively.
 
The GranTurismo range
 Acclaimed as one of the most beautiful cars of its generation, the Pininfarina-designed GranTurismo is also the car that rewrote the rulebook for fast, comfortable sports cars that could carry four full-sized adults. The GranTurismo has capitalized on all of Maserati’s known qualities, from design to performance, from handling to luxury and from passion to practicality- and encased them in a timelessly sleek package.
 Powered by a 4.2-litre, all-alloy V8 engine producing 405 horsepower at 7100rpm, the GranTurismo sprints to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds and can reach speeds of up to 285km/h. The GranTurismo S takes the strengths of the GranTurismo and adds Maserati’s 4.7-litre all-alloy V8 engine andthe electro-actuated six-speed transaxle gearbox.
 There is also an automatic-transmission version of the GranTurismo S, the GranTurismo S Automatic, which combines all of the advantages of the GranTurismo S’s 4.7-litre V8 power plant with all the comfort advantages and silken gearshifts of the 4.2-litre GranTurismo’s six-speed automatic transmission.
 The new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is the fastest, lightest and most powerful car in the Maserati model line-up. Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport programs, the GranTurismo MC Stradale has more power, less weight, razor-sharp handling and a 301km/h top speed.
 Responding to Maserati customer demands for a GranTurismo capable of balancing their road-driving needs with their race-driving desires, it incorporates the handling and aerodynamic lessons from Maserati’s three current racing programmes.
 With 331kW (450 horsepower), it has more power (7kW, 10hp) from the 4.7-litre V8 engine than the GranTurismo S, while its 510Nm of torque is a further 20Nm improvement. This helps to slash the 0- 100km/h sprint time, which the GranTurismo MC Stradale covers in just 4.6 seconds, and stretches the top speed to 301km/h.
 The GranTurismo range can be tuned to a more sporty edge with the MC Sport Line package, first launched in 2008 and now further enriched with new contents. Coming directly from Maserati motorsport expertise, the MC Sport Line offers GranTurismo buyers the chance to upgrade the exterior and interior of their cars, with extensive use of carbon fibre elements.
 The MC Sport Line package includes also a stiffer suspension set-up for the GranTurismo S, which further improves handling performance.
 
The GranCabrio range
 Acclaimed by the motoring press as one of the world’s most-beautiful cars, the Maserati GranCabrio has been a sales success in every market, meeting or exceeding its sales targets worldwide.
 The GranCabrio has the longest wheelbase (2942mm) in its segment, yet boasts class-leading structural rigidity, providing added safety, comfort and handling ability.
 A critically acclaimed full four-seat convertible, it lacks neither pace nor luxury, with a smooth, fast, sixspeed automatic transmission and 323 kW (440 horsepower) available from the 4.7-litre V8 engine.
 The GranCabrio’s body was re-engineered to ensure Maserati’s trademark handling and agility remained intact, even as it exploited the long wheelbase to provide class-leading safety and comfort.
 It also boasts special materials in its triple-layer cloth roof to ensure thermal and sound insulation, regardless of the outside temperature. The roof mechanism itself is strong and, at 60kg, light, and takes just 20 seconds (28 seconds, if the four independent window movements are taken into account) to fully fold back into its compartment.
 Conceived to give the GranCabrio a harder-edged model to sit alongside the GranTurismo S and the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the GranCabrio Sport, which debuted at 2011 Geneva Auto Show, uses a more powerful and fuel-efficient version of Maserati’s all-alloy 4.7-litre V8.
 This configuration of the naturally aspirated engine produces 331 kW (450 horsepower and has 510Nm at the peak of its rich, thick torque curve. The top speed of the GranCabrio Sport is 285 km/h and the 0- 100 km/h sprint is now reduced to 5.2s. This six-speed automatic transmission includes the super-fast MC Auto Shift software and has been developed for the GranCabrio Sport directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S.
 The GranCabrio Sport also debuts a new body colour for Maserati: Rosso Trionfale, inspired by the red national colours used on 1950s racing Maseratis - in 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio won his fifth F1 World Title at the wheel of a red Maserati 250F. Closing the circle, in 2010 Maserati clinched the FIA GT1 World Title with the MC 12 single-seater raced by Italian Andrea Bertolini and German Michael Bartels. 

Hyundai launches new accent 2011 in india

Hyundai Motors India Ltd., the second largest car maker and the largest car exporter in the Indian market, launched a new generation edition of its popular entry level sedan Hyundai Accent in the Indian market. The Hyundai Accent 2011 has been offered with a price tag of Rs 501,900 (ex-showroom, New Delhi).

The new Accent 2011 has been provided a new look with chrome finish front grille. Moreover, the body colored waistline molding now comes with chrome inserts. A chrome garnish has also been offered at the license plate.

The Hyundai Accent, which was launched in the Indian market in year 1999, is currently available in three fuel versions including petrol, LPG and CNG. The company has already sold more than 3 lakh units of the car in the overseas market.

Speaking to the reporters on the occasion, Arvind Saxena, Director, Marketing and Sales, HMIL said, "The Accent 2011 edition comes with elegant styling which makes it more sophisticated and desirable. It is our continuous effort to gauge changing customer preferences and keep introducing new features in our products. We are confident that with the new styling the Accent 2011 edition will become even more popular."

Maserati to enter Indain market

Maserati, the Italian luxury sports car brand, is gearing-up to mark its debut in the Indian market in April 2011. The Maserati brand will be competing with the likes of Lamborghinis, Bugattis, Ferraris and Porsches in the country. The company is a part of the Fiat Group and its whole line-up is produced only in Modena in Italy and that too in limited numbers. Maserati brand cars are currently sold in as many as 57 markets of the world.

In a statement given to ET, Maserati spokeswomen Silvia Saporetti said, "We see a great potential for Maserati marquee as all major luxury brands are sold out in the Indian market." Though the car maker is yet to announce the name of its Indian partner, it has entered into a deal with a Mumbai based firm for importing its cars in the Indian market.

The company is planning to bring whole range of its cars in India, where a number of top end celebrities already own Maserati cars including Amitabh Bachchan, Vijay Mallya, Anil Ambani and Ajay Devgn. The company will roll-out three series of its cars in India including two-seater GranCabrio range, Quattroporte sedan and GranTurismo coupe, priced in the range of Rs 3 to 5 crore.

Mercedes Benz A and B class to hit indian roads by 2013

Mercedes Benz India, the second largest luxury car maker in the Indian market, is planning to roll-out its new generation car series – A and B class – in the Indian market. The new A and B series of Mercedes will be positioned below company’s entry level range C-Class. The new series of cars will be rolled-out in the view of increasing demand for the segment of lower end luxury cars.

In a recent statement given to TOI, Mr. Peter Alexander Trettin, president and CEO of Daimler's central/eastern Europe, Africa and Asia regions, said, "The new range of A and B Class cars are currently under development and would be launched globally in 2013 (market introduction in 2012) along with India in the same year withMercedes Benz looking at developing right-hand-drive versions from the beginning."

According to him, the new A and B series of cars will have a front-wheel architecture and will be priced lower than the current C-Class. The new range will be much more fashionable than their existing versions and the cars will be younger and much more modern, he said.

Most of the A and B series cars will be compact hatchbacks. The company currently sells the C, E and S-Class sedans and the GL and M Class SUVs in the Indian market.