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Category: Automotive

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Auto and Car news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Mercedes-Benz India Records 18.60 Per Cent Sales Decline In H1 2019

    Mercedes-Benz India Records 18.60 Per Cent Sales Decline In H1 2019

    The Indian auto market is under turmoil and luxury carmakers which account just 1 per cent of the market share are the first ones to bear the brunt of macro-economic headwinds. Mercedes-Benz which is the largest-selling luxury car brand in India has witnessed a sales decline of 18.60 per cent in the Indian market in the first half of calendar year 2019. The company has sold 6561 units in the January-June period this year against 8061 units which were sold in the same period a year ago. According to the German carmaker, high interest rates, inflationary hikes, liquidity crunch and rising import costs took a toll on sales. That said, the company still claims leadership position in the Indian market.

    Commenting on sales performance, Martin Schwenk, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “We are glad to maintain the leadership position in the luxury car market by sustaining our sales performance despite facing continuous macro-economic headwinds and a temporary limited availability of volume models. We expect sales to recover gradually from the third quarter, however, conditions would continue to remain challenging. We are excited to retain our customers’ loyalty and sustain the market leadership by continuing our customer centric initiatives. As a fundamentally strong brand, Mercedes-Benz continue to remain bullish on the mid to long term prospect of the dynamic Indian market.”

    The Mercedes-Benz E-Class LWB continues to the bestseller for the company followed by the C-Class and GLC SUV. In the same period, sales of AMG models have gone up by 47 per cent. Ahead of the recent budget session, Mercedes-Benz along with SIAM and several other carmakers had requested the budget committee to reduce the GST rates on cars measuring above four-metres to 18 per cent. Companies were expecting to absorb the price hike with tax reduction which could have helped them to control the prices and in-turn would have improved sales.

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  • BMW Group’s Global Sales Grow Marginally By 0.7% In June

    BMW Group’s Global Sales Grow Marginally By 0.7% In June

    Though sales of cars have taken a hit globally, the BMW Group sales continued their positive trend in June. The Group saw a marginal rise of 0.7 per cent in sales compared to the same month last year, with a total of 2,40,674 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles sold worldwide. This brings the company’s total sales for the year to date to 1,252,837 which is up by 0.8 per cent. This is the first time the company has sold more than 1.25 million vehicles in the first half of the year.

    Overall sales of the BMW brand grew by 1.4 per cent in June, with a total of 2,03,523 delivered to customers worldwide in the month. That result brings the brand’s sales total for the first half of the year to 10,75,959 a growth of 1.6 per cent. Both these figures are a new record high for the brand. The new or revised BMW X vehicles continue to be the brand’s biggest growth drivers, with global sales of the BMW X2 up 19.1 per cent in June, while sales of the BMW X3 rose by 66.6 per cent and deliveries of the BMW X4 increased by 70.8 per cent. Less than three months after market launch, a total of 13,555 BMW X7 vehicles have been sold globally and now India too will get the car very soon. In the first half of the year, a total of 4,67,134 BMW X vehicles were delivered to customers worldwide, accounting for 43.4 per cent of the brand’s overall sales; that figure was just 35.8 per cent in the same period last year.

    As far as electric cars are concerned, BMW i sales increased by 22 per cent in the first half of the year, with demand for the BMW i3 increasing by 21.2 per cent in the same period. Sales of the BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid models increased by 43.4 per cent in the first half-year, while deliveries of the plug-in hybrid MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 rose by 55.8 per cent

    MINI brand sales in the first half of the year decreased slightly. Deliveries in the year to date were down by 3.9 per cent while sales in June decreased by 3.5 per cent.

    Rolls-Royce too delivered a total of 2,534 cars across the globe which showed a growth of 42.3 per cent. Growth was seen in every region worldwide, with sustained demand for all model families. Exceptional customer demand for Cullinan continues, resulting in a strong order book, already stretching into the first quarter of 2020. The marque remains on track for a strong year in 2019.

    BMW Motorrad sales continue to grow strongly, with year-to-date deliveries up 7.1 per cent. In June, a total of 18,230 premium BMW Motorrad motorcycles and maxi scooters were delivered to customers around the world which is a growth of 7.4 per cent.

    As far as regions go, the brand continued to buck the trend in USA, achieving growth of 7.5 per cent in the month, while strong growth of 21.8 per cent was achieved in China. Despite a decline in the premium market in Germany in June, deliveries of BMW vehicles were up 0.5 per cent in the month. The Asian market too showed a strong growth of 6.9 per cent (year-to-date) thanks to all the new launches by the group in various countries.

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  • Kia Seltos SUV Pre-Bookings To Start

    Kia Seltos SUV Pre-Bookings To Start

    Kia Motor India has revealed that pre-bookings for the Seltos SUV will start from July 16, 2019. The bookings will start online as also across its 206 sales points in India. The company has started its innings in India with 265 touchpoints across 160 cities, thus enabling customers from across the country to gain access to its product. The pre-bookings for the Kia Seltos SUV will be made for a token amount of ₹ 25,000. The Seltos will be launched in two trims GT Line and Tech Line and there will be five variants on offer.

    Manohar Bhat, Vice President and Head – Sales and Marketing, Kia Motors India said, “The Kia Seltos has been built from ground-up, keeping Indian customers in mind and is equipped to redefine the segment. I am proud of the hard-work and dedication put in by all our team in the development of the Seltos, and that has paid off in the way the car has come about to be. We are confident that the customers will be equally delighted by the specifications combination and our wide-spread network of 265 touchpoints in 160 cities that will instill confidence and recognition of the brand. We can’t wait for India to experience the stylish Seltos.”

    Under the hood, the Kia Seltos will get the third generation Smartstream engine that will come in three iterations: 1.5-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel and the 1.4-litre turbo petrol. There will also be three 3 automatic transmission options alongside the 6-speed manual transmission options – 7DCT, IVT, and 6 AT . The vehicle also sports 3 traction modes – Mud, Snow/Wet and Sand, for a greater grip and control on all surfaces.

    Visually, the Kia Seltos gets the brand’s signature Tiger Nose grille with chrome surrounds, flanked by inverted L-shaped LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights. The SUV also gets a muscular bumper with another set of LED DRLs with chrome bezels, a wide central airdam, and silver skid plate. The top-end model will also get a set of new diamond cut alloy wheels, with the shark-fin antenna and silver roof rails. The rear features a pair of sharp-looking LED taillamps and a beefy rear bumper with brushed silver styling element and a large diffuser.

    There are a host of segment first features that have been included in the Kia Seltos and yes, the list is an exhaustive one. We already told you about the trim levels, it also gets a first in segment 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. Adding to the premiumness, is an 8-speaker sound system by Bose. Kia has also provided an air purifier which has been placed between the front two seats and provides for an AC vent for rear seat passengers.

    In terms of features, the Seltos will also come with connected technology, which Kia calls UVO, which can be controlled a segment-first 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SUV also comes with an 8-speaker sound system by Bose, a 360-degree surround camera, and a 7-inch colour TFT unit for the instrument console. With UVO, you can use your phone to operate the car’s ignition, AC controls and more. UVO can also be accessed via a dedicated button on the IRVM, which also has dedicated roadside assistance and SOS buttons that alert the dedicated call centre- in case of an emergency. Safety features include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, HAC, VSM and is built using advanced high strength steel (AHSS).

  • Triumph Mumbai Dealer Demo Bikes On Sale With Hefty Discounts

    Triumph Mumbai Dealer Demo Bikes On Sale With Hefty Discounts

    Triumph Motorcycle India’s Mumbai dealer is offering its demo bike line-up to potential customers at heavy discounts. The bikes range from the Triumph Bonneville T100, Street Twin, Street Triple, Tiger XCx, and more. The catch though is the manufacturing year for these bikes that were produced in 2017 or 2018, and have a few kilometres on the odometer. The Mumbai dealer is the latest of the Triumph outlets to retail its demo bikes. The Delhi and Jaipur showrooms announced similar discounts on their demo motorcycles few weeks ago. In addition, the Pune dealership has a few demo motorcycles on sale including the Speedmaster, Bonneville T120 and the Street Twin from MY2018.

    The Mumbai dealership is selling the 2018 Triumph Tiger XCX for ₹ 12.5 lakh, while the Tiger XRx is priced at ₹ 12 lakh. Both the bikes have clocked 11,500 km and 7500 km respectively on the odometer.  The 2018 Bonneville T120 has 2266 km on the odometer and is being sold at an on-road price of ₹ 9.5 lakhs. The Triumph Bonneville Speed Master with 2800 km has been priced at ₹ 10.50 lakh, while the 2018 Street Twin with 1401 km can be yours for ₹ 8.4 lakh. The 2017 Triumph Bonneville T100 is being sold at price of ₹ 7.5 lakh.

    There’s a completely new 2018 Triumph Street Scrambler as well with 0 km on the odometer available for ₹ 10.5 lakh. Lastly, the 2018 Street Triple RS is available for ₹ 11.25 lakh, while the Street Triple S with 2540 km can be yours for ₹ 8.5 lakh (all prices, on-road Mumbai). There are limited units of these motorcycles on sale with one or two examples of each at best. The discounts range anything between ₹ 1.5 to ₹ 4 lakh depending on the model, and makes for a good bargain.

    The pricing, dealerships say, has been depreciated taking into account the usage and the present condition. The demo bikes though are unregistered and customers will be the first owners of the motorcycles on paper. The motorcycles also get the two-year standard Triumph warranty as standard that covers unlimited kilometres, which can be extended to an additional two years. The warranty is applicable at all of the brand’s global dealerships and is transferrable as well.

    That said, the condition of the bikes including cosmetic and mechanical damage and the subsequent repairs, if need be, still remain a concern. Demo bikes are usually ridden by prospective customers and can be subjected to use and abuse by multiple riders. Then, there are also concerns of the market value of these bikes that is likely to affect customers that paid full price for their respective motorcycles. A number of Triumph customers that carandbike spoke to remained unaffected though. The customers said that since the demo bikes have likely seen more wear and tear then all-new motorcycles, the pricing in the used market will remain different.

    With the overall market slowdown in the auto sector, the sale of demo bikes could be to liquidate assets that will help dealers stay afloat. The auto industry is collectively witnessing a slowdown in sales across all segments, and dealers have been affected by the slow moving inventory. The second half of the year though is expected to see a growth in volumes across all segments.

  • Tesla Cuts Price Of Model 3

    Tesla Cuts Price Of Model 3

    U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla has lowered the price of its mass-market Model 3 and raised the prices of its premium Model X and S cars.

    The starting price of the Model 3 is now $30,315, from $32,225, Tesla’s website showed on Tuesday. The top-of-the-range Model X now begins at $75,315, rather than $71,325, while the Model S rises to $70,115 from $65,125.

    The prices include potential incentives and petrol savings of $9,875, Tesla said on its website.

    Earlier this month, Tesla said deliveries of all three of its models in the second quarter of this year rose 51% from the previous quarter to a record 95,200 vehicles. The Model 3 accounted for about 80% of the total, underscoring the vehicle’s role as the linchpin of Tesla’s growth strategy.

    The automaker said it expected production and deliveries to continue growing in Q3.

    On Tuesday, Tesla also changed its prices in China, the world’s largest market for electric vehicles.

    Its website showed the Model 3 starting price is now 355,900 yuan ($51,780), down from 421,000 yuan. It lifted the Model X to 790,900 yuan and Model S to 776,900.

    Tesla is building a factory in Shanghai. In May it said it will set a starting price of 328,000 yuan for Model 3 vehicles built at the new factory.

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  • Toyota’s War With Dealer Over Recalls Cost It $16 Million

    Toyota’s War With Dealer Over Recalls Cost It $16 Million

    Toyota Motor Corp. must pay $15.8 million to a California dealer who accused it of retaliating against him because he had developed safety-recall software that was costing the automaker millions of dollars in car repairs.

    A state court jury in Santa Ana on Monday found Toyota liable for unfair interference in a contract Roger Hogan’s two dealerships had with the automaker. But the jury found Toyota didn’t intend to deceive the dealerships by hiding material facts, and as a result didn’t have to pay punitive damages.

    “Other dealerships should be aware that Toyota cannot mishandle safety issues and cannot retaliate against dealerships for their commitment to safety without consequences,” said Amnon Siegel, Hogan’s lawyer. “This jury has put its foot down and said there will be consequences.”

    The owner of Capistrano Toyota and Claremont Toyota accused the Japanese carmaker of concealing that it was planning to oust him from its franchise system as far back as January 2011 while he was investing millions of dollars to expand and renovate his dealerships.

    Hogan claimed that his Autovation program, which he started in 2011 after a massive recall related to complaints about sudden acceleration, was much more efficient than Toyota’s own system in identifying and contacting customers whose vehicles hadn’t had repairs done.

    According to Hogan, Toyota wanted to kill his program, which was also used by other Toyota dealers, and oust him because it was costing the carmaker too much money to fix all the cars Autovation identified.

    “I still have these hundred cars sitting in my lot that I can’t sell,” Hogan said after the verdict. “Even though we prevailed, I still have a hundred vehicles and I will not sell these cars. They’re still unsafe. The jury saw that we did the right thing by stop selling those cars. They understood that they’re still dangerous.”

    Toyota noted the jury discounted $2.3 million from its judgment because it found the dealerships weren’t blameless either and engaged in misconduct.

    “While we respect the jury’s decision, we remain confident the evidence and testimony clearly demonstrated that Toyota abided by its contractual obligations to the Hogan dealerships and has been transparent with its dealers, regulators and customers regarding the vehicle issues raised at trial,” the company said in an emailed statement. “We will consider our options moving forward.”

    At the trial, Toyota denied the allegations and argued that Hogan brought the lawsuit because the carmaker didn’t want to go along with the succession plan for his dealerships. The Autovation program was a for-profit side business Hogan was running in violation of his agreements with Toyota, the automaker’s lawyer said.

  • Mercedes-Benz Introduces Offers Across SUV Range

    Mercedes-Benz Introduces Offers Across SUV Range

    German auto giant Mercedes-Benz completes 25 years in India this year, and as part of its 25th year celebration, the car maker is has announced a number of offers for customers. The manufacturer has introduced offers across its SUV range bringing 25 per cent of additional benefits to the vehicles. The offers are available on the Mercedes-Benz GLC, GLE and the range-topping GLS SUVs, while the entry-level GLA and the sedans have been given a miss for now. The promotional scheme includes 25 per cent more value on interest rates, insurance, service packages, extended warranty and accessories.

    Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz had organised the 2019 summer camp, offering 25 per cent rebate on select parts for periodic maintenance, applicable for customers who have owned a Mercedes for over five years. The company intended to reach out to 7000 customers this year as part of the service camp. Going forward, it is likely that the company will introduce more offers throughout its vehicle range.There is not discount on the entry-level Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV.

    Mercedes-Benz entered the Indian market in 1994 and was one of the first luxury car makers to establish presence in recent times. The company is headquartered in Chakan, near Pune, where it has an assembly facility as well with the cars being brought via the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) route. The company has invested over ₹ 1000 crore in its operations in India over the years. Over 100,000 cars have been produced at the Chakan plant.

    Mercedes-Benz currently dominates the luxury car market in the country for the fourth consecutive year in terms of volumes. The company is aiming to retain the position and has consistently introduced new products soon after their global launch. The brand is now being spearheaded by Martin Schwenk, Managing Director and CEO, who replaced Roland Folger in the second half of 2018. Earlier this year, Santosh Iyer took the role of Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Mercedes-Benz India, and took charge from July 1, 2019, aiming to grow the luxury brand even further. The automaker has 10 car launches planned for this year, which was kicked off with the V-Class MPV in January.

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  • BMW Shows Off One-Off X7 Pick Up

    BMW Shows Off One-Off X7 Pick Up

    We’ve just about seen everything now. At this year’s BMW Motorrad Days, in addition to many bike highlights, a true one-off – the BMW X7 Pick-up. The conversion from SUV to pickup was performed by BMW Group vocational trainees in cooperation with the Concept Vehicle Construction and Model Technology divisions at the BMW Munich plant. Of course it is based on the BMW X7, and gets the 340 horsepower churning engine on the xDrive40i. The X7 pick up gets a handcrafted loading area boasting of fine-polished wood finish, a height-adjustable two-level air suspension and numerous high-class equipment details make this BMW X7 Pick-up an ideal companion for the diverse day-to-day uses and more.

    Behind the passenger cabin providing five persons, the BMW X7 Pick-up offers a generous loading area. The length of the loading space varies from 140 cm (closed) to 200 cm (open). Thanks to the intelligent use of CFRP on roof components, rear doors and the rear lid, it was possible to further reduce weight by 200 kg vs. the production model, despite a 10 cm longer body. The combination of honey-coloured teakwood and the BMW Individual colour Tanzanite Blue metallic – an exclusive navy blue finish that develops extra depth when exposed to sunlight – was inspired by yachting sports and creates a sophisticated look.

    In just ten months, the twelve trainees from the occupational sectors body and vehicle mechanics, vehicle mechatronics and technical model construction turned a concept into a fully functional, road-legal automobile in show car quality. The trainees were free to decide on conception and implementation, but had to forgo the additional expert assistance normally provided in concept car construction. The BMW X7 Pick-up is a one-off and series production is not planned for this product.

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  • BMW CEO Harald Krueger To Step Down From Board

    BMW CEO Harald Krueger To Step Down From Board

    The Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Harald Kruger, gave notice that he will not seek a second term of office. The Supervisory Board will address the matter of a successor during its next meeting on 18 July 2019. Until a decision has been made, Harald Kruger will hold his position as Chairman of the Board of Management. Harald Kruger assumed the position of Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG from Dr Norbert Reithofer on 13 May 2015.

    Under his leadership, the company put forward its new strategy which enabled the BMW Group to actively shape the transformation of the industry and the transition towards sustainable mobility of the future. With the largest model roll-out in the company’s history, vehicle deliveries reached new all-time highs, while at the same time the company systematically expanded its electromobility strategy. By 2023, the BMW Group will have 25 electrified models on the roads.

    As Chairman, Kruger further strengthened the significance of strategic partnerships – particularly in the area of breakthrough technologies such as highly automated driving. Additionally, the BMW Group has successfully merged its mobility services under a new entity. Moreover, the BMW Group significantly increased its role as a global player and, as the first international company, will be able to increase its share in its Chinese Joint Venture, BMW Brilliance Automotive, to 75%.

    Kruger said, “The BMW Group has been my professional home for more than 27 years. After more than ten years in the Board of Management, more than four of which as the CEO of the BMW Group, I would like to pursue new professional endeavours and leverage my diverse international experience for new projects and ventures. Over the last years, the automotive industry has been shaped by enormous changes, which have brought about more transformation than in the previous 30 years. This has demanded tremendous efforts from every employee within the company. For their outstanding commitment, I would like to personally thank each and every one of them. It has always been a true honour for me to work with this tremendous team and to set the BMW Group on a path towards a successful future during the most significant transformation of this industry.”

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  • Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic+ Revealed

    Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic+ Revealed

    The completely new 2.0-litre engine is the world’s most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder manufactured for series production. The engine is paired to an 8-speed AMG Speedshift gearbox The A45 can do the 0-100 kmph run in four seconds flat while the A45 S does it in 3.9 seconds. The A45 and the A45 S have an electronically limited top speed of 250 kmph and 270 kmph respectively. With the AMG driver’s package, the A45’s top speed can be bumped up to 270 kmph as well. The specific output of the cars is 208 bhp/litre, which is downright mental. Plus, the car also has a ‘Drift’ mode which can be activated by putting the transmission into manual and switching off the ESP and car being in the race mode. There are six driving modes on offer, which are slippery, comfort, sport, sport+, individual and race.

    The A45 gets 18-inch alloys as standard while the ‘S’ variant gets 19-inchers. The 18-inch alloys get a 10-spoke design while the 19-inch alloys have a 5 twin-spoke design. Plus, the standard model gets grey brake callipers with white AMG lettering while the ‘S’ model gets bigger 6-piston, red brake callipers with black AMG lettering. Apart from the driving modes, the A45 and the A45 S also get AMG Dynamics which is basically integrated vehicle dynamics control which can be used to alter the ESP settings, all-wheel control and steering characteristics. It is highly unlikely that Mercedes-Benz will launch the A45 in India given that the new-generation A-Class isn’t on sale as well. But, never say never!

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  • Volkswagen Says 50% Of Sales In China Will Be NEVs By 2035

    Volkswagen Says 50% Of Sales In China Will Be NEVs By 2035

    By 2035 half of Volkswagen’s sales in China will be new energy vehicles (NEVs), CEO Herbert Diess told a conference in Boao, China, on Tuesday, according to a company statement.

    Volkswagen intends to offer 14 electrified models in China this year. By 2028, more than half of the Group’s planned 22 million electric cars will be produced in China, the statement added.

    Volkswagen previously said it aimed to sell 400,000 NEVs in China next year and to sell around 1.5 million new energy vehicles in China in 2025.

    Volkswagen has joint ventures in China with FAW Group, SAIC Motor and JAC.

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  • Renault Duster Facelift Launch Date Announced

    Renault Duster Facelift Launch Date Announced

    The much-awaited 2019 Renault Duster facelift finally has a launch date, and the updated model will officially go on sale in India on July 8. In fact, Renault India recently also put out a teaser image for the facelifted Duster SUV, announcing the launch date. While globally, the Duster is already in its second generation, the India-bound model is still a few years away, and this new facelift is meant to keep the SUV relevant until the new-gen model arrives. Upon launch, the 2019 Renault Duster will continue to rival the likes of Hyundai Creta and Nissan Terrano.

    Visually, the facelifted Renault Duster borrows its styling cues from the new, Euro-spec Dacia Duster, mainly the front grille. The headlamps, however, are all-new and now feature both projector lights and LED daytime running lamps. The SUV also gets new bumper with a wider central air dam with a bull-bar like element, with black housings on either end with new round foglamps and additional lighting inserts.

    The updated Duster will also get a set of interesting-looking alloy wheels, however, the rest of the profile remains unchanged. At the rear, the SUV appears to get a flatter tailgate with matte black applique with the Duster branding and similar inserts on either end. The updated Renault Duster also comes with a redesigned rear bumper, while the taillamps remain unchanged. The updated Duster will meet the new crash norms and is likely to get a lot of safety equipment as standard like – dual airbags and ESC or an electronic stability control program.

    Under the hood the 2019 Renault Duster is likely to remain unchanged, offering the same 105 bhp 1.5-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine offered in two tunes 84 bhp and 108 bhp. The transmission duties will continue to be taken care of by a 5-speed and 6-speed manual gearbox with optional CVT automatic for the petrol and an AMT unit for the diesel model. However, both are likely to be Bharat Stage VI (BS6) ready.

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  • Bentley EXP 100 GT Teased Ahead Of Official Reveal

    Bentley EXP 100 GT Teased Ahead Of Official Reveal

    Bentley Motors will reveal the future of grand touring to the world on July 10, 2019 which also marks the company’s official 100th birthday. The car that the company will showcase will demonstrate the future of the brand and it’s called the Bentley EXP 100 GT. The new concept car will be a zero-emissions car, however, will it be all-electric or fuelled by hydrogen is something that the company has not let on. According to the company, the Bentley EXP 100 GT will be a ‘perfect blend of technology and craftsmanship’ and it shows in the teaser image provided too. The silhouette seen here gives us an idea that it is more coupe-like and that sloping roof will bring in a bit more style to the overall appearance of the car. The prominent wheel arches too cannot be sidelined and we have to say that it does look like a Continental GT from the future.

    The Bentley EXP 100 GT will also showcase the company’s path to bringing out new products to the portfolio. This is the company’s vision for the future of luxury mobility and it will not be about new design and features but also about the hand craftsmanship of materials which will set a benchmark in the industry. Yes, it is a grand tourer and Bentley’s vision of the future of luxury mobility, it will intelligently and sustainably enhance the owner’s grand touring experience, whether enjoying the thrill of driving or being driven autonomously.

    We wait to know more about the car and yes what all it has to offer

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  • BMW X6 Revealed; Global Launch In November

    BMW X6 Revealed; Global Launch In November

    BMW took the wraps off the new-generation X6 sports activity coupe. It is the third generation model and has been updated completely. Beginning with the looks, the X6 gets a bigger kidney grille up front and the headlamps are more angular than rounded. Plus, the grille itself has a lighting function should you choose to switch it on. The X6 is now more chiseled and wears a sculpted look as compared to the more rounded look that the outgoing model had. The new X6 also grows in size with the length growing by 26 mm to 4,935 mm and the width growing by 15 mm to 2,004 mm. The wheelbase too increases by 42 mm to 2,975 mm, although the height is now reduced by 6 mm at 1,696 mm.

    The interior has been updated as well. It has a minimalist, sporty look thanks to Vernasca leather upholstery and new dashboard design which is driver focussed. Like any other BMW SUV, the new X6 too gets a bunch of standard and optional features which include multifunction seats with massage function for the driver and front passenger, four-zone automatic climate control, thermoelectric cup holders, Panoramic roof, interior fragrance package and a Bowers & Wilkins 3D Surround Sound System.

    BMW will offer four engines on the new-generation X6 including two petrol and two diesel engines. There will be V8 petrol and straight six petrol engines making 530 and 340 bhp respectively. And there is an in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine in two states of tune, making 400 bhp and 265 bhp. All new BMW X6 models come as standard with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission, while intelligent all-wheel drive maximises traction, agility and directional stability.

    Other features on the new BMW X6 include air suspension wherein one can alter the ride height of the SUV through 80 mm, and there is an off-road package on offer as well but not on the BMW X6 M50i and the BMW X6 M50d.

    The other interesting feature is the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, which responds to the command of ‘Hey BMW’ and users can choose the name for the digital assistant as well. The assistant will be able to explain all sorts of different functions provide up-to-date information and assist the driver. The range of functions and skills available will be constantly expanded as part of regular updates, which can be carried out seamlessly on a smartphone and in car via remote software upgrade.

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  • New Audi S8 Unveiled Globally

    New Audi S8 Unveiled Globally

    Audi is all set to put up a big show in 2020. The German luxury carmaker has been testing a slew of new models which are scheduled to be launched in 2020. The new-generation Audi A8was unveiled a couple of years ago and the S8 prototype was soon spotted being tested at the Nurburgring circuit. Almost two years later, Audi has finally unveiled the full-blown performance sedan and the figures are rather impressive.

    The all-new 2020 Audi S8 is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 motor which churns out a 555 bhp and a humongous peak torque of 800 Nm which is enough for a car that weighs 2.5 tons. In addition, it also gets a 48-volt mild hybrid system for start-stop traffic condition which betters the fuel efficiency and performance. Now such manic power delivery also needs to be handled prudently and for the purpose, Audi has equipped the S8 with some advanced standard fitments. For instance, the new model gets predictive active suspension as standard which can raise or lower each wheel individually. The suspension helps to keep the body stable by predicting the road conditions. For example, forward-looking cameras can sense potholes and adjust the ride accordingly. Then, in the dynamic mode, the suspension limits the body roll to as low as 2.5 degrees which goes up to 5 degrees in the comfort mode. Other standard fitments include Quattro all-wheel-drive, all-wheel steering, a sport differential and carbon fiber ceramic brakes which measure at 16.5-inch in the front and 14.6-inch at the rear.

    Understated design has been a tradition at Audi and the same goes even for performance cars. The new S8 looks subtle and very similar to the A8. Though the face is a bit aggressive, there isn’t much drama to make it look busy. At the rear, it gets quad tailpipes set up and the S badging. Moreover, it gets sporty looking five-spoke alloy wheels as well. Upgrades on the inside are little more than subtle. It gets an exclusive upper inlay made of Carbon Vector that creates a special 3D effect. Matte aluminum trim and diamond-stitched seats with embroidered S badging are also something which differentiates it from the A8 sedan. The fully-loaded S8 will be equipped with five radars, six cameras, twelve ultrasound sensors and a laser scanner.

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