It’s new, it’s got 256bhp and it’s one of the fastest hot hatches you can buy. In this video, Vicki Butler-Henderson finds out if the Mazda3 MPS is as mean as it sounds. For more videos, news and reviews go to fwd.five.tv
Video Rating: 4 / 5
www.fastmotoring.com – Take a look on what Fifth Gear has to say about All-New Mazda 3. They gave the little 1.6 litre Mazda 3 a 8 score.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Don’t feel like climbing Pikes Peak? Then watch the new Audi drive itself up. That’s right, a car that can drive itself outside of a James Bond movie. Technology is indeed a beautiful thing. Audi dealer Fairfax customers will be impressed what the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak can do.
This fall the new Audi model will make a test run up Pikes Peak in Colorado. This model is based on the street-ready Audi TTS sports car with a drive-by-wire throttle and a semi-automatic DSG gearbox, which work well with the automated electronics that make a driver optional.
The car uses two computers in the trunk. They process safety-critical algorithms with Real Time Java from Oracle and vehicle dynamics algorithms. This combined data allows the TTS drive on its own at various speeds, over different surfaces and through a mix of conditions.
In addition to trying to drive itself up a large mountain, the Audi TTS Pikes Peak will attempt a land speed record at El Mirage Lake in California this fall. Audi is hoping the car will make it into the Guiness Book of World Records for autonomous speed. The Chantilly VA used car dealer staff is looking forward to this moment.
“We were very much inspired by the Pikes Peak race cars,” said Raul Cenan, Lead Designer on the TTS project. “But there was very different technology used in those cars overall. So we decided to go with more modern elements that were heritage-inspired.”
Partners in developing the technology behind the Audi TTS Pikes Peak include the Stanford University Dynamic Design Lab, the Electronics Research Lad for the Volkswagen Group in Palo Alto, California and Oracle Corp. They chose the Pikes Peak race route, which includes pavement and gravel, to test the limits of the autonomous technology.
Audi cars have a history of achieving legendary status on the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and this fall the Audi TTS may just be added to that list. Audi rally cars have used technology like all-wheel drive to win the “Race to the Clouds”. Famed rally car drivers include Bobby Unser, Walter Roehrl and Michel Mouton. Many Chantilly VA used car dealer customers would love to add their names to that list!
Selecting the design for the Audi TTS Pikes Peak was a fun challenge for the design team. They created several options, one of which actually had a topographic map of Pikes Peak covering the body of the TTS.
The “winning” design incorporates the past tradition of Audi while demonstrating the technology that is essential in the TTS. Designers took 1980s rally car themes and tweaked them to have a futuristic look. A large four-rings logo is dominant on the roof of the new TTS so rally fans with an aerial view will have no doubt what car they are watching. Audi dealer Fairfax customer will surely be watching.
Arthur Ashcraft – About the Author:
The Internet has been touted as the greatest resource for the used car buyer. Prospective buyers can find trade-in, private party, and retail values in a heartbeat. The question to consider, however, is what Internet source is right? The three major sites: NADA, Edmunds, and Kelly Blue Book are clamoring to be the Trusted Authority on used car values. Yet price discrepancies are frequently in the 00′s from site to site. Which web site, if any, is the most accurate source for the used car buyer?
To illustrate the discrepancies, here’s an everyday example: NADA may retail a 2003 SAAB 9-5 Linear at ,996, Kelly Blue Book prices it at ,456, and Edmunds prices it at ,800. These are all retail values, assuming excellent or clean condition. ,456 minus ,800 is a ,656 difference. That’s a huge price difference in the highly competitive used car market.
The retail values placed on many vehicles by these web sites can have even larger price differences – some as high as 00 to 00 dollars. These gigantic price fluctuations can leave a used car buyer spending 00′s extra, depending on which guide he or she used. Moreover, private party and trade-in sale prices do not accurately account for vehicle condition, and less than 5% qualify as excellent.
Vehicle condition is a critical variable. An owner might think his trade-in is in stunning condition and thus worth X, based on his Internet research. An expert may know it needs 00′s in repairs and reconditioning costs.
The answer to “whose prices are right” is that none of the big three web sites reflect used car prices accurately. Most often, the prices are too high on the retail side, questionable on the trade-in side, and confusing on the private side.
So what or who is the real authority? The answer is the Market! The market (i.e., the folks grinding it out everyday in the used car market place – sellers and buyers) reflect true market value. Web sites are guides only. The used car prices from these sources need to be measured against the reality of the market.
Here’s a scenario to illustrate the importance the market plays on used car values. In the Northeast, the banks rely on NADA, used car dealers prefer to use Kelly Blue Book, and used car buyers are turning more and more to Edmunds. Now the dealer will likely want to use the inflated (Excellent condition) Kelly Blue Book value. The buyer wants an unrealistic Edmunds price, and the bank wants to use an under-valued NADA price. In other words, the three primary people in the car buying process – the buyer, the seller, and the lender, are all on different pages. Each player wants the most advantageous price based on the part he or she is playing. The market is the only element that evens the playing field. The point here is to demonstrate that the market is the true source to determine a REAL and FAIR used car value.
In order to get a fair price, according to the market, a used car buyer should aim for the middle. Avoid the highest prices and be realistic and flexible about the lowest. Stay somewhere in the middle to get a fair deal.
If you want a great deal, follow the market closely. If buying from a retailer, eBay and auction prices don’t count, as these are wholesale venues. Check out Cars.com, AutoTrader.com, and some of the other Used Car Sources. See what the vehicle you want (including miles, equipment and accessories) is being advertised for. Again, shoot for the middle!
Use the popular Internet resources, but don’t follow them blindly. You may actually pay significantly more than market value.
Having said all this, this doesn’t mean that used car dealers are going to stop trying to low ball trade-in offers. And of course every dealer wants to sell its vehicles for a maximum. But remember, the same goes for car owners, but in reverse. They want the highest price for a trade and the lowest retail price on a vehicle.
When using Internet sources to determine a used car value, be sure to enter the correct information. This may sound elementary, but option packages, models, miles, color, equipment, engine, transmission, gear ratios…etc, can be confusing. Yet these are important variables that will affect prices dramatically. In short, the wrong information skews the numbers.
Finally, what really needs to be highlighted with NADA, Edmunds, and Kelly, as well as other Internet sources, is that they are GUIDES. They are excellent resources for vehicle information, but weak resources for prices. This is not to bad mouth any of these sites – they are great starting points. Remember, however, that these guides may or may not be in the car buyer’s favor. Fair used cars prices are dictated by the market. Yes, do your research on the Net, but don’t cling to it. Use the Internet only to find the used car market’s middle ground.
Ted Olson is the founder of RepairTrust – a website dedicated to help the auto consumer avoid the pitfalls of the automotive industry. Click Auto Repair Costs to learn more…
The 2012 Mazda 3 made its U.S. debut at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. Face-lifted with an even more refined exterior and interior, the 2012 Mazda 3 also is the first application in North America of Mazda’s innovative SKYACTIV fuel-saving and performance-oriented technologies, achieving 40 mpg on the highway. The Mazda 3 model is Mazda’s best-selling vehicle worldwide and accounts for nearly half of all Mazda sales in the United States, making the vehicle a prime candidate for introducing SKYACTIV to consumers looking for dynamic performance coupled with high fuel efficiency.
“SKYACTIV is not just an engine; it is the next generation of advanced vehicle performance and efficiency,” said Jim O’Sullivan, President and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). “SKYACTIV embodies Mazda’s philosophy of engineering only vehicles that are fun to drive, satisfying to own and environmentally responsible; and there is no better vehicle to start with than the Mazda 3, one of the most exciting sport compact cars on the road.”
Redesigned for the 2010 model year, the refreshed 2012 Mazda 3 is Mazda’s first application of SKYACTIV technologies in North America, receiving an all-new SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine as well as the all-new SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission and all-new SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission. It also features improved sporty driving dynamics, responsive handling and a comfortable cabin space. The exterior design also has been refined to express a bolder stance, alongside new interior appointments creating additional functionality without sacrificing the touch-and-feel quality. Additional safety features complete the package.
Mazda 3, SKYACTIV Reach New Heights
In addition to the Mazda 3′s current MZR 2.0-liter dual-overhead-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine is the all-new high-efficiency direct-injection SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine. Mated to a standard SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or optional SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission, SKYACTIV will be available in either the sedan or hatchback models. The MZR 2.0-liter engine will continue to be available with the current five-speed manual as standard equipment. MZR 2.0-liter-equipped models also will be available with the current five-speed automatic as an option.
Approximately 4.4 pounds lighter than the current MZR 2.0-liter engine, the SKYACTIV 2.0-liter adopts multi-hole injectors to enhance fuel spray characteristics, along with specially developed piston cavity shapes that ensure a shorter combustion time and suppresses the impact on power and torque from engine knocking. Pumping loss is also decreased by employing dual sequential valve timing (S-VT).
The 2012 Mazda 3 achieves a high compression ratio of 12.0:1 and delivers 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 148 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm. (The PZEV version of this engine sold in California and other states produces 154 hp at 6,000 rpm and 148 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm).
Compared to the current Mazda 3 MZR 2.0-liter engine, the maximum power of the SKYACTIV-equipped 2012 Mazda 3 is increased by approximately five percent (from 148 horsepower at 6,500 rpm) and torque is increased by approximately 10 percent (from 135 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm). With improved torque, coupled with a drive control system that utilizes coordinated controls of the engine and transmission, Mazda 3s with SKYACTIV technology excel in dynamic response, further maintaining the Zoom-Zoom idea of oneness between the car and driver.
Fuel economy also gets a boost from the combination of a SKYACTIV engine and transmissions. When equipped with the SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine and optional SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission, the 2012 Mazda 3 sedan will achieve an EPA rating of 40 mpg on the highway, an approximately 21-percent improvement over the current MZR 2.0-liter engine equipped with the optional five-speed automatic transmission. With a fuel tank capacity of 14.5 gallons, the 2012 Mazda 3 sedan with SKYACTIV has the potential of a 540-mile range, with still a gallon of fuel remaining. City mpg for the sedan version also improves by 17 percent to 28 mpg. When equipped with the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission, the sedan is rated with an estimated fuel economy of 27 city/39 highway.
The Mazda 3 sedan with the MZR 2.0-liter has an EPA fuel economy rating of 25 city/33 highway with the standard five-speed manual transmission and 24 city/33 highway with the optional five-speed automatic transmission.
Also, previously only available with the MZR 2.5-liter engine, the Mazda 3 five-door hatchback model will now be offered in the U.S. with the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine. This Mazda 3 hatchback is estimated to deliver 27 city/38 highway (SKYACTIV-MT) and 28 city/38 highway (SKYACTIV-Drive AT). The slightly lower highway estimates can be attributed to different aerodynamics and the higher weight ratio between the sedan and hatchback. However, the hatchback’s driving range remains impressive with more than 500 miles of driving on the same sized tank as the sedan. The MZR 2.0-liter engine will not be available in the hatchback model.
The higher fuel economy of the 2012 Mazda 3 equipped with SKYACTIV is a direct result of combining all the best features of the technology in today’s transmissions. For SKYACTIV-Drive, the key advantages of a conventional automatic transmission, Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) were integrated. In addition, a torque converter with a lock-up clutch was developed to ensure minimal decrease in fuel economy and an increase in direct drive feel.
For SKYACTIV-MT, the goal was to achieve a shift feel that is sporty, brisk and responds to the driver. To accomplish this, not only was the shift-lever stroke shortened by about 10 percent compared to the current six-speed manual (available only in models equipped with the MZR 2.5-liter engine or MZR 2.3-liter Direct-Injection Spark Ignition turbo engine) but other technologies were applied as well: a down type system, lock ball type synchronizer, shift load canceller, slide ball bearing and locating 2nd and 3rd gears on a common shaft. By reconfiguring the current six-speed manual transmission, its weight was reduced by approximately 4.4 pounds due to the need for fewer components, while creating a quicker and crisper shift feel. Call it a little “MX-5 Miata-ness” in the Mazda 3.
Also available on the 2012 Mazda 3 is the highly-acclaimed Mazda MZR 2.5-liter engine. Alongside the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter, the MZR 2.5 is a technology powerhouse as well. It offers an aluminum block with cylinder-bore liners made of a steel-molybdenum alloy offering strength and stiffness generally not seen in large-displacement four-cylinder engines. A forged-steel crankshaft provides strength at high revs, but rigidity to ensure low NVH characteristics. Additionally, twin balance shafts located in the oil sump cancel second-order noise and vibration. The deep-skirt block is engineered for extra stiffness and main-bearing caps are integral with a ladder-type lower-block reinforcement. To minimize the noise and vibration typically found on larger displacement four-cylinder engines, the damper at the forward end of the crankshaft is equipped with two tuned masses. At the output end, a flexible flywheel also curbs NVH.
Fuel is delivered to the intake ports by an electronically controlled sequential injection system. Ignition coils are modular units positioned directly above the spark plugs. Shim-less bucket tappets require no maintenance. Lightweight pistons are coated with a special anti-friction compound and fitted with low-tension rings for improved gas mileage. Sintered powder-metal connecting rods and lighter full-floating wrist pins minimize the reciprocating weight.
Providing 167 hp at 6,000 rpm and 168 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, the MZR 2.5-liter engine is available with a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed electronically-controlled automatic with manual shift control. (The PZEV version of this engine sold in California and other states produces 165 hp at 6,000 rpm and 167 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm). The MZR 2.5-liter engine achieves EPA figures of 20 city and 28 highway with a manual transmission and 22 city and 29 highway with the automatic.
Distinctively Dynamic
The Mazda 3 has earned a solid reputation for its sporty and exciting handling that delivers an equally pleasurable driving feel which emphasizes consistency between the driver’s expectations and the car’s response. Inheriting this pedigree, the refreshed 2012 Mazda 3 not only improves upon this sense of oneness between driver and vehicle, but also offers a comfortable driving experience that all passengers can feel and enjoy in various driving scenarios.
Referred to as Toitsukan, this linear and consistent feel is more specifically about establishing smooth transitions between acceleration, lateral and deceleration G forces in response to the basic aspects of driving, turning and stopping. This idea is not simply about delivering sharp response to accelerator and steering operations for a sporty ride, but instead delivering a consistent linear feeling of the car’s every response to control operations of the driver. Toitsukan extends to making driving pleasurable and instilling drivers with the sensation of excitement and control while at the same time offering passengers a comfortable ride created by smooth and stable car movement.
Concentrated efforts were made to ensure this Toitsukan is achieved throughout the car’s features, which also resulted in a stronger body, include the adoption of the Electro-Hydraulic Power Assist Steering (EHPAS) system and optimized tuning of the front and rear dampers. Mazda’s EHPAS system employs a new setting for pump flow characteristics that enables easier handling at slow speeds while also achieving more positive feedback and a better feeling for the road at mid-range through to high speeds. The overall result when compared to the current model is lighter, more nimble steering feel.
Put simply: turn the wheel a little, get a little change of direction; turn the wheel a lot, get a lot of change of direction. It seems so easy, but so few manufacturers seem to be able to achieve this level of intuition.
The body of the 2012 Mazda 3 also has been further reinforced for greater rigidity, improving upon the current model’s already stellar agility and handling stability. This was partly achieved by increasing the number of spot welds used to join the suspension crossmembers (to which the front and rear suspensions are mounted) to the reinforced body areas. Use of stronger materials for reinforcements made it possible to more effectively disperse input from the suspension crossmember mounts to the body, thereby greatly improving overall body rigidity. In addition, the two reinforcement bars located under the center of the floor panel of the current Mazda 3 were replaced by a single new brace that is both stronger and more rigid. Employing this sheet of reinforcing material suppresses fore-aft body deformation. This update applies only to models equipped with the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter or MZR 2.5-liter engines.
Additionally, models powered by SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engines are equipped with a drive control system that controls torque generation to maintain a harmonious balance between engine output and the gears of the transmission. Programmed in such a way to determine how much acceleration is called for in relation to the amount of acceleration pedal action, the system ensures the right amount of torque generated matches the acceleration demands. This instills in the driver a sense of confidence that the vehicle will respond faithfully and predictably. A driver’s desired speed can be reached without the need of a heavy foot on the accelerator, thus contributing to less waste of fuel.
Engaging, Efficient Exterior
This mid-generation evolution of the Mazda 3 also extends to its exterior design. The current model’s rich expression and bold stance has been updated to deliver a well-toned look that conveys even higher quality and curb appeal. Increased aerodynamics and stylized features give the 2012 Mazda 3 a more sophisticated look, blending seamlessly with functionality.
The 2012 Mazda 3′s exterior appearance ultimately features a more taut impression with a new front fascia and updated five-point grille opening for both sedan and hatchback styles. New design characteristics include more delicately sculpted forms around the openings on the outside edge of the front bumper and a rounded fog lamp shape (changed from the horizontally-wide version of the current model).
Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback models equipped with SKYACTIV-G gasoline engines will be further distinguished with exclusive elements, such as an all-new engine cover featuring a deep blue metallic paint finish with black sections along either side; headlamp units outfitted with a transparent blue ring around the center lens to emphasize the vehicle’s distinctive character; and a badge featuring a “SKYACTIV” logo against a clear-blue background.
Aerodynamics plays heavily to a vehicle’s carbon footprint. Improved aerodynamic performance yields greater fuel economy and further reduces CO2 emissions while also contributing to handling stability. With this in mind, the front bumper design was optimized, as were underbody parts, to more effectively streamline the flow of air traveling beneath the floor. The shape of the lower sections of the front bumper’s sides were redesigned to protrude forward and the fins beneath were made larger. This adjustment effectively distributes the flow of air hitting the engine compartment and the front tire deflector, suppressing turbulence in cooling the engine as well as along the sides of the body.
Other aerodynamic aids that further streamline airflow throughout and around the vehicle include enlarging and flattening the engine cover (on models equipped with the SKYACTIV-G engine); increasing the floor under-covers by approximately 10 percent and eliminating vertical grooves for a smoother design; increasing the rigidity of the front tire deflectors to prevent deformation and establish a good balance between brake cooling, aerodynamic performance and handling stability; and an added clamshell silencer shaped to sit on angle with the road surface.
The devil truly is in the details, and Mazda’s engineers didn’t miss a single one. The end result is a 0.27 Cd for the sedan (SKYACTIV-equipped model only), an approximately seven-percent improvement over the 0.29 Cd of current models. The hatchback version has a 0.29 Cd (SKYACTIV-equipped model only), also an approximately seven-percent increase over the 0.31 Cd of current models.
The refreshed exterior look is completed with all-new 16- and 17-inch aluminum wheel designs. The 16-inch wheel (on all SKYACTIV models) now features 10 twisted-surface spokes, increased from the current model’s seven-spoke design, and the 17-inch wheel (on 2.5-liter s models) is characterized by enlarged openings between each spoke, creating a look that adds to a lighter yet more dynamic feel. Designs for the 16-inch steel wheels and 18-inch aluminum wheels remain unchanged.
High Quality, Intuitive Interior
The interior design was no less re-imagined than the vehicle’s exterior, and was developed with the end goals of a more inviting cabin and higher quality feel. Beginning with the instrument panel – the largest landscape within the cabin – black is now used throughout the center stack and shift gate to provide an even bolder look. Also, silver-colored, satin-polished details were added to areas frequently operated by consumers, such as the outer rings of the three climate-control dial switches and the audio control panel, as well as the ventilation louvers on the center panel. In addition to creating a feeling of higher refinement, the silver-on-black color scheme further accentuates the location of these common controls and switches, which increases legibility and lessens the amount of time drivers take their eyes off the road, consequently reducing operating errors.
The Multi Information Display (MID) and liquid crystal display (LCD) also received color adjustments, changing from the red text and graphics of the current model to an easier-to-read white. On the 2012 MAZDASPEED3, the silver touches also replace the current red-accented graphics and the silver decoration atop the shift knob has been removed. The entire shift knob on the MAZDASPEED3 is now leather-wrapped. The parking brake knob also is wrapped in genuine leather, establishing a unified coordination that lends the cockpit an even sportier air and gives the MAZDASPEED3 interior additional sophistication.
The sporty twin-meter design of the instrument cluster itself remains unchanged but is highlighted with new, continuous-lit white graphic meters, which provide better readability, even in bright daylight hours. Backlight colors also differ depending on the model: dynamic gray for standard and high trim levels and a red gradation for the MAZDASPEED3. SKYACTIV-equipped vehicles will feature a blue gradation backlight as well as white-graphic meter panels. Also offered will be a stylish shift knob adorned by satin-polish plating on the lower section and a silver ring-surrounded SKYACTIV-logoed plate on the upper part.
Proving that even on a mid-cycle refresh, engineers truly sweat the details, the amount of the shift knob head’s forward projection on SKYACTIV-Drive equipped models has been increased by nearly 0.16 inches over the current model, resulting in a better grip feel and smoother shifts in both front-aft and left-right directions.
Improved visual designs also have found their way into the comfortable, snug seats and create a stronger impression of dimensionality with new three-dimensional fabric patterns. On the black seats of non-leather models, gray cross-threads have been added to enhance contrast and create a feeling of casual comfort. Dune-colored seats receive both bright and dark-colored cross-threads to create a calm, mature interior atmosphere. Higher trim levels (Touring and Grand Touring) receive a different three-dimensional seat fabric pattern to create a richer expression of quality on the black fabric.
Additional Safety Features
All Mazda 3 and MAZDASPEED3 models will continue to be equipped with a high level of standard safety features. An optional feature available for 2012 models is a new Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system. The BSM system aids drivers in avoiding accidents that often occur in tight-spaced situations, such as brushing up against another vehicle during lane changes and traffic merges. 24GHz radar sensors located at the rear of the vehicle aim to detect approaching vehicles within a range of 13 feet to the left or right, and within 26 feet from the rear. When a vehicle is detected entering the blind spot area, indicator lamps housed within the door mirrors will light. If a turn signal is activated while the indicators are lit, they flash and a buzzer serves as an additional warning. Also available as an option is an Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS) with auto-leveling bi-xenon headlamps. AFS provides a wider range of vision during cornering, increasing the driver’s gaze point and visible distance, by taking into account both steering angle and vehicle speed to orient the headlamps to an angle.
All Mazda 3s, regardless of trim level or engine choice, will continue to feature Mazda’s own highly rigid safety body structure, which incorporates crushable outer zones that absorb impact energy, and Mazda’s Triple H construction, which applies H-shaped reinforcements to the floor, side frames and roof to suppress cabin deformation and minimize the likelihood of bodily injury during an impact. For 2012 models, the B-pillar reinforcement has been extended by more than seven inches and more high tensile steel was added to further increase body rigidity.
Standard advanced safety features include six airbags (advanced dual front, front-seat mounted and full-length side curtain) with improved double chamber side airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) with Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with a Traction Control System (TCS), front and rear stabilizer bars, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), a “crushable” brake and accelerator pedal assembly and collapsible steering column, three-point safety belts for all seating positions, front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters as well as Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH). On Mazda 3, safety is simply not an option.
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Gone are the days when sport utility vehicles or SUVs used be a rich man’s passion and a poor man’s fantasy. Now with economic buoyancy almost every middle-class elite Indian can afford a SUV in India. The domestic auto market is flooded with several new launches in the utility vehicle segment, and every automaker, both Indian as well as foreign, is trying to grab a pie of it. Following are the top 5 upcoming SUVs that are going to make debut in India in the year 2010:
Skoda Yeti: Thought to be the missing link between Octavia and Fabia in India, Skoda Yeti is going to be the first crossover from the Czech manufacturer to hit Indian roads.
It will come in a 140 bhp 2.0L common-rail diesel and a 103 bhp 1.2- liter petrol engine. The SUV in India will also get the 4X4 transmission as standard.
Tata Indicruz: This much-awaited sports utility vehicle is a Tata crossover based on a brand new technology platform with a generous wheelbase of 2750 mm. It will carry a 2.1-liter Dicor engine that can generate a power of 140 bhp and a maximum torque of 320 Nm. This new SUV in India has highly sophisticated interiors and comfort features that are synonymous with all Tata vehicles.
Hyundai Santa Fe: Cars and sedans from Hyundai have always been quite successful in Indian subcontinent. Now, the ace Korean car maker is gearing up to introduce the Santa FE to Indian automobile market by mid-2010. A crossover SUV based on the Sonata platform, Santa Fe will be powered by a 2.2-liter diesel powerplant mated to a high definition 5-speed manual gearbox. This upcoming SUV model is expected to give Chevrolet Captiva, Honda CR-V and the recently launched Nissan X-Trail a tough time ahead.
Volkswagen Tiguan: Here comes another compact crossover SUV for Indian car lovers. Based on the A5 (PQ35) platform of the Mk V Golf, Volkswagen Tiguan will be available in two body styles and three specification levels: Tiguan Sport & Style, Tiguan Trend & Fun, and Tiguan Track & Field.
Volvo XC60: A “soft-roader” to be, this stylish SUV from the Swedish car maker Volvo will give BMW X3 and the Audi Q5 a tough competition in the years to come.
I am Lavanya Gupta from India, a content writer by profession. I have kin interest in art & architecture and handicrafts. But there is one thing that drives me crazy, that is cars. It has been quite a while that I have been writing auto and car related articles for various web portals. Amongst all these, my favorite one is Auto Guide that is an Automotive industry B2B marketplace. For more updates on cars and motorbikes, see Auto Seduction.
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