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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.

  • Fiat Chrysler Confirms Merger Talks With Renault

    Fiat Chrysler Confirms Merger Talks With Renault

    Fiat Chrysler has made a “transformative merger” proposal to French peer Renault, the Italian carmaker said on Monday, in a deal which would create a world leader and help address some of the weaknesses in both Renault and Fiat.

    Fiat said the combined business would be 50 percent owned by FCA shareholders and 50 percent owned by those of Renault.

    Pressure for consolidation among carmakers has grown with the challenges posed by electrification, tightening emissions regulations and expensive new technologies being developed for connected and autonomous vehicles.

  • Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII Collection Unveiled

    Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII Collection Unveiled

    It’s always a moment when Rolls-Royce shows a new ‘art-on-wheels’ to the world and more so when it’s a special edition. The luxury carmaker has unveiled the Wraith Eagle VIII Collection on the shores of Lake Como at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and says that the car will tell the tale of one of the most pivotal moments of the 20th Century. Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Brown flew the first non-stop transatlantic flight in June, 1919. Contemporaries of Sir Henry Royce, Alcock and Brown flew non-stop from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Clifden, Ireland in a modified First World War Vickers Vimy bomber aircraft which was powered by a 350 bhp, 20.3-litre Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines.

    Rolls-Royce marks the 100 year anniversary of this feat with a highly personalized Collection edition of the Wraith. The car is finished in Selby Gray upper two-tone with a contrasting brass feature line. Vanes on the iconic grille up front are finished in black and the alloy wheels are polished in a translucent shadow finish.

    The inside of the Wraith Eagle VIII collection will give you a different feel altogether. Don’t mistake it for any change in the design as the layout of the cabin remains untouched, however, the difference is in the treatment. It is draped in Selby grey and black leather with brass inserts to mirror the outside Hue. The speaker covers too are finished in brass which further extends to the door panniers. The driver side door includes a brass plaque with Sir Winston Churchill’s quote commending the achievement of the duo pilots who flew across the vast stretch of the Atlantic. The clock has an iced background effect which glows a faint green light in the night while driving.

    Rolls-Royce will handcraft just 50 units of the Wraith Eagle VIII Collection which will use the same 624 bhp, 6.6-litre V12 motor that powers the standard Rolls-Royce Wraith.

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  • Some Tesla Supercharger Stations To Limit Charging To 80 Per Cent

    Some Tesla Supercharger Stations To Limit Charging To 80 Per Cent

    Electric vehicle-maker Tesla is updating some of its supercharger stations to limit the top state of charge (SoC) to 80 percent at busy stations to reduce wait times. “The limit will be enforced at 8 percent of the stations 24/7, while the rest will be affected by the limitation at peak hours. Tesla says owners that stop by at an affected station will receive a notification,” the Engadget reported on Saturday.

    The EV-maker claimed the new feature, combined with other recent updates to its supercharger network, may cause a 34 percent improvement in throughput at the charging stations.

    “When combined with the recently-released On-Route Battery Warmup feature and V2 supercharger upgrades (to 150 kW), we expect 80 percent SoC limit enforcement to result in a 34 percent improvement in throughput at our busiest supercharging locations — creating a better, more efficient supercharging experience for owners,” the Electric quoted the company as saying.

    Few supercharger stations have been reported to get very busy during holidays, causing long wait times.

  • Audi Q3 Sportback To Be Unveiled In July 2019

    Audi Q3 Sportback To Be Unveiled In July 2019

    Coupe SUVs are catching the fancy of car buyers. Mercedes-Benz and BMW have been selling such models for quite some time and Audi too followed the trend with introducing the five-seater Q8 which will be its new flagship in the SUV range. The German carmaker had also shown interest in making a coupe body style of the 2019 Q3 and finally has confirmed that it is coming. The Audi Q3 Sportback will make its first public appearance in July this year.

    The Audi Q3 Sportback is among the seven new SUVs the German carmaker has lined-up for this year. The company shared its plans in its 130th Annual General Meeting where it also mentioned about organizing a dedicated event to unveil the Q3 Sportback as there are no Auto shows or major Auto events lined up during that time. The Coupe SUV will be showcased at the Frankfurt motor show as well in September.

    Now we still don’t have any clear details about the Q3 Sportback but we expect it to be similar in design to the new-generation Audi Q3. The model will borrow design cues from the Q8 Coupe SUV as well as sporting a similar kind of coupe roofline which may not be as steeply raked as we have seen on other models like the A5 and A7 Sportback. The facade and profile is expected to remain identical to the Q3 housing the same massive grille which may be finished in piano black to add a sense of sportiness. Mechanically, the car is likely to use the same powertrains that drive the Q3 which means that the 2.0-litre TDI diesel and 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engines will be on offer. Audi may also consider the 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine for the Q3 Sportback.

  • Aprilia Storm 125 Launch Details Revealed

    Aprilia Storm 125 Launch Details Revealed

    Piaggio is all set to officially launch the Aprilia Storm 125 in India on 30th May, 2019. We say officially as the scooter is already available in select Aprilia dealerships across India. It is expected to be priced at ₹ 65,000 (ex-showroom, Pune). The Aprilia Storm 125 was first showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo and is about ₹ 8,000 cheaper than the Aprilia SR 125. Overall, the design stays the same but there are a few changes on the Storm 125 as compared to the SR 125. The first is the color scheme of course and the Aprilia badging is a white instead of the usual red. The bright yellow paint job is complemented with bold graphics, which is quite similar to what we saw at the expo.

    Also, the scooter will have two variants, one with an optional disc brake up front while the other will be a drum brake one. Both scooters will have a combined braking system as standard. The tires are now knobby instead of the road-biased tires that we see on the regular SR 125. Also, the wheels could be 10-inch instead of the 12-inch units that the SR 125 is fitted with. As far as engine and cycle parts are concerned, the Aprilia Storm 125 gets the same hardware as the SR 125. The scooter gets a 125 cc single-cylinder, air-cooled motor that makes 9.25 bhp and 9.8 Nm while being paired to a CVT unit. The suspension bits stay the same as well.

    The Aprilia Storm 125 will go up against the TVS NTorq 125, Honda Grazia and the Suzuki Burgman Street. We expect the deliveries of the scooter to begin in the next few weeks.

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  • BMW Concept R18 Revealed

    BMW Concept R18 Revealed

    While BMW Motorrad has a motorcycle or two for almost every occasion and enthusiast, what it lacked was a retro-styled, chrome-laden, laidback cruiser motorcycle, something similar to what Harley-Davidson motorcycles have to offer. But that is set to change. At this year’s Concorso, d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW took the wraps of the Concept R18. It is a beautiful cruiser concept and the design language is similar to that of a bobber motorcycle. The good news is that BMW Motorrad confirms that the Concept R18 will go into production come 2020. In fact, BMW will be launching more such cruiser motorcycles in the future, although exact details are very sketchy at the moment.

    With its ‘factory-custom’ bobber styling, BMW has ensured that it catches the eye of the cruiser motorcycle enthusiast. It says that the R18 is a tribute to the original R5 which made its debut in 1936. The stance of the bike is similar to the 1936 R5 and there are other stylish retro touches such as a teardrop shaped fuel tank, open shaft drive, cantilever suspension et al. The bike gets a 21-inch wheel up front and an 18-inch wheel at the rear, shod with Metzeler Rille tires. Taking the retro quotient higher is the leaf-shaped single seat.

    The BMW Concept R18 gets a massive 1,800 cc boxer-twin engine which has been newly designed and the engine block and transmission are built out of blasted Aluminium. The engine badge bears the name of the concept bike and emphasizes the overall quality. In addition, Solex dual carburetors – similar to those in the BMW 2002 – hark back to the company’s construction history and add the final touch to the motorcycle’s heritage. Will it be coming to India? We are not quite sure at this point in time. But when it does reach international markets, it could very well take on other premium cruiser motorcycle manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Indian and Triumph.

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  • New Skoda Superb Scout Cross-Estate Unveiled

    New Skoda Superb Scout Cross-Estate Unveiled

    Jacked up Estate body types have found preference among car buyers. These cars are more practical than their sedan counterpart and luxury carmakers like Mercedes, Audi and Volvo have one such model in their portfolio. Volkswagen too has the Passat Alltrack and now even Skoda has added the new Superb Scout which is essentially a cross-estate version of the Skoda Superb.

    The new Skoda Superb Scout is different from the Skoda Combi Estate which was sold in Europe. It looks rugged equipped with matte black body claddings and also gets larger 18-inch alloy wheels while 19-inches are optional. The ground clearance is up by 15 mm and there are subtle body enhancements in the profiling in a bid to add to the rugged appeal. The roof rails and window frames are chrome-plated, and the wing mirror housings shine in an aluminum look and there are special SCOUT badges as well. The elongated body style and other additions have also made the Superb Scout heavier than the Superb sedan and it tips the scale at 2200 kg.

    On the inside, the Skoda Superb Scout is finished in special wood-effect decorative strips that bear the Scout logo just like on the front seats. The seat covers are finished in fabric with contrasting stitching and the Alcantara leather seats with brown contrasting stitching are optional. The front seats are heated and are available with new piping in a contrasting color. The central display is fitted with additional offroad screens and the driver is greeted by a special, Scout specific, welcome logo on the display when entering the car. The front passenger seat can be electrically adjusted from the rear and the optional Sleep package provides larger headrests and a blanket, like the ones we have seen in the Kodiaq. It goes without saying that the Scout gets a larger boot than the Superb with a capacity of 660 to 1,950 l. The tailgate can be electrically operated and it can also be opened using the foot-gesture command.

    The Skoda Superb Scout will be offered with two tried and tested engine options. First is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder, TDI diesel engine which puts out 197 bhp and 400 Nm of peak torque and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, TSI petrol motor is also on offer. In the Superb scout, this engine is tuned to churn out 268 bhp and 350 Nm of peak torque and is mated to also mated to the seven-speed DSG gearbox. These are the same engine options we have seen in a range of VW Group cars. However, highlight here is the off-road mode which activates the all-wheel-drive system. It also comes with a rough road package which is a standard fitment and provides underbody protection for the engine along with the undercarriage. The ride is further complemented with the driving modes which work in conjunction with the Dynamic Chassis Control.

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  • Honda’s EV Journey In India To Begin With Hybrid Technology

    Honda’s EV Journey In India To Begin With Hybrid Technology

    It was back in 2018 that we told you about Honda wanting to get into the EV space in India. The electric car which will be launched in India will be one of the company’s global models which will be produced after 2019 after the Japanese carmaker rolls out its electric plan for a wide set of market. The vehicle that will make its way to India could be a ‘B’ segment vehicle the development of which is under process for the Indian Market. But this EV strategy will only pan out until 2023-24. Meanwhile, however, the focus will be on a gradual shift towards EV, which is why hybrid technology will find its way into Honda Car India’s line-up of cars. Honda is also looking to localize the production of hybrid and EV solutions in India in a bid to ensure that it is accessible and affordable for the buyers.

    According to a statement made to PTI by Senior Vice President and Director Rajesh Goel, Honda Cars India, “Till such time and also till the development of suitable charging infrastructure in the country, we feel that hybrid vehicles can be considered as good intermediate technology in electrification initiatives. Accordingly, we will begin our electrification journey in two years with hybrid technology.”

    Currently, the company only has the Accord hybrid in its portfolio and it attracts 28 percent rate with a cess of 15 percent taking its price to over ₹ 43 lakh (ex-showroom). As per its Vision 2030, the company strives to electrify two-thirds of its global automobile unit sales in 2030 with its range of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEVs), battery electric vehicle (BEVs) and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs)
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  • Hyundai Kona Electric India Launch Details Out

    Hyundai Kona Electric India Launch Details Out

    After bringing in its contender for the subcompact SUV segment – the Venue, Hyundai India is all set to bring in another SUV into the country and this time around it will a product that will launch the company’s electric product offensive. Yes, the Kona Electric all set to be launched in India on July 9, 2019 and the Korean carmaker will have its widest SUV product line-up in India with the addition of two new models this year. Hyundai’s SUV line-up in India will include Venue, Creta, Kona ev, and the Tucson which is scheduled to get a facelift in the second half of this year. Hyundai has already confirmed that it will be manufacturing its upcoming Kona electric locally in India at its Chennai plant. The latest development is the upshot of the company’s plans to invest in India a part of which will go towards the development of an assembly line for the Kona Electric.

    The main purpose of producing the Kona Electric locally is to keep the pricing aggressive in a bid to make it a viable offering for the prospective customers. Hyundai had earlier shared that it wants to keep the Kona comparatively affordable for car buyers. Hyundai will channel the rest of the investment in the manufacturing of other car models and development of new technologies and machinery. Moreover, the investment will add 1500 more jobs in India.

    The Hyundai Kona electric can go up to 350 km on a single charge which takes about 30 minutes through fast charging. Globally, the Kona Electric is offered in two iterations- one which is equipped with a 100 kW motor and the other with a 150 kW motor. While the former motor produces 134 bhp, the latter churns out 201 bhp. Both the motors are mated to electronic transmission. Moreover, it is equipped with upmarket features like an 8.0-inch infotainment system which supports smartphone connectivity, auto-headlamps rain sensing wipers and more.

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  • After World Car Of The Year, Jaguar I-Pace Wins Powertrain Awards

    After World Car Of The Year, Jaguar I-Pace Wins Powertrain Awards

    Jaguar has been riding a wave of success at car award shows all across the globe with its all-electric offering the I-Pace. It was the only car that won three categories at the World Car Awards 2019 and now has won three more at The International Engine + Powertrain Of The Year Award. It has won the best electric powertrain, best new engine and the 345 bhp to 444 bhp category awards. A panel of 70 expert motoring journalists from 31 countries evaluated the powertrain on several parameters including performance, driveability, energy efficiency and refinement.

    Speaking about the achievement, Ian Hoban, Powertrain Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said, “We’ve used all the benefits of state-of-the-art battery and motor technology to create a world-class electric vehicle. As well as zero emissions, the all-electric powertrain delivers an ideal balance of performance, refinement, and range, together with outstanding responsiveness, agility and day-to-day usability. I-PACE is a true driver’s car and above all a true Jaguar. We set out to make the world’s best all-electric performance SUV: these awards reflect that, and are fitting recognition for what the engineering team has achieved.”

    The Jaguar I-Pace is powered by a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery that delivers a range of 470 km (WLTP) and can charge from 0-80 percent in 40 minutes using a 100 kW DC charger. It is driven by two electric motors mounted on each axle which puts out 394 bhp and 696 Nm of peak torque. The motors are compact and light and along with the transmission weigh just 78 kg. This favors the I-Pace lightweight which in-turn helps it to clock triple digit speeds in just 4.5 seconds.

    It has won 66 global awards since it was revealed little more than a year ago, including the 2019 World Car of the Year, World Car Design of the Year, World Green Car, European Car of the Year, and German, Norwegian and UK Car of the Year.

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  • Ford Partners With Robots Maker Agility Robotics In Mobility Service Push

    Ford Partners With Robots Maker Agility Robotics In Mobility Service Push

    Ford Motor Co said on Wednesday it is partnering with walking robots maker Agility Robotics to assist self-driving delivery vans to drop packages at the doorsteps of people’s homes. Ford’s move into robotics comes as the No.2 U.S. automaker looks to expand into autonomous driving and mobility services. The company, which launched a self-driving pilot with delivery partners including Domino’s in Miami last year, said Agility Robotics’ two-legged robot, Digit, is capable of lifting packages that weigh up to 40 pounds.

    The robot can walk up and down stairs and through uneven terrain, while maintaining its balance after being bumped, Ford said bit.ly/2Jy47T5.

    “It’s not always convenient for people to leave their homes to retrieve deliveries,” Ken Washington, Ford’s chief technology officer, said.

    “If we can free people up to focus less on the logistics of making deliveries, they can turn their time and effort to things that really need their attention.”

    In 2017, Ford bought Argo AI, a Pittsburgh-based self-driving startup, but with spiraling development costs for autonomous cars in recent years, the company and other carmakers have sought alliances and outside investors.

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  • Mercedes-Benz’s Heated Seatbelts Encouraging Customers To Put Them On

    Mercedes-Benz’s Heated Seatbelts Encouraging Customers To Put Them On

    Seatbelt is the first safety feature in a vehicle which plays a crucial role in saving the life of the occupants in case of a collision. It keeps the body static and prevents it from coming into contact with the surface which can leave the passengers wounded. Over the time, we have seen technological developments in this area like the active pretensioners which grip the body even when you drive beyond a certain speed and obviously while sensing a collision situation.

    However, it goes without saying that all of it will come into play only when it’s hooked and the latest development aims exactly at improving the practice of putting on the seatbelt. Mercedes-Benz is testing heated seatbelts in its prototype and interestingly it looks very much like an usual seatbelt. It has heated tubes inserted in the fabric to keep it warm. It operates in conjunction at same temperature level as the heated seats and armrests we have seen in Mercedes-Benz top of the line Models.

    The Stuttgart based carmaker says that this would encourage its customers to fasten the seatbelts as they would love to be in a soothing temperature. The technology is even more relevant for cold regions where low temperature is actually an issue. Even in central, Eastern and Northern parts of India where temperature hits extreme low in winters, such technology will go in favour of adopting the practice of putting on the seatbelts. In India, where wearing seatbelt is a rarity and people in metro cities only do because of the law enforcement, such technology could actually help in making the practice more common.

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  • Prosecutors Fine Bosch 90 Million Euros For Illicit Emissions Software

    Prosecutors Fine Bosch 90 Million Euros For Illicit Emissions Software

    Automotive supplier Bosch has agreed to pay a 90 million euros ($100.21 million) fine for lapses in supervisory duties which enabled carmakers to engage in emissions cheating, German prosecutors in the city of Stuttgart said on Friday.

    Privately-held Bosch, the world’s biggest automotive supplier, delivered around 17 million technical devices equipped with engine management software, including tools that allowed carmakers to manipulate emissions tests, prosecutors said in a statement.

    Bosch has accepted the fine and will not appeal the decision, they added.

    Volkswagen used the software provided by Bosch to help the carmaker mask illegal pollution in diesel-engined vehicles.

    Volkswagen has borne the brunt of penalties and fines for emissions cheating since carmakers, rather than suppliers are responsible for certifying that cars meet clean air rules

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  • Renault Clio Based On The CMF-B Platform Bags Five-Star Ratings In Euro NCAP

    Renault Clio Based On The CMF-B Platform Bags Five-Star Ratings In Euro NCAP

    The all-new Renault Clio which is spawned by the CMF-B platform has bagged five-star ratings in the global NCAP crash test and this news stands even more crucial for the India market given the onset of the Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program  (BNVSAP) which is set to roll out next year. The CMF-B platform is an advanced and elongated version of the CMF-A platform which spawns the Renault Kwid and Datsun Go range. The CMF-B platform has been developed in alliance with Mitsubishi to underpin a slew of compact and mid-size models from both the carmakers globally.

    We know that Renault and Nissan are also in an agreement and share a range of cross badged models in India. The MO platform underpins all the compact models of both carmakers like the Duster, Terrano, Captur and Kicks among others. The platform was developed by Renault and both carmakers have been using it for long. The CMF-B platform is more rigid and lighter and can spawn next-generation models of these models other models like the next-gen Nissan Sunny which will help the brands to comply with the upcoming crash test and fuel efficiency norms. Renault is also gearing up to launch the seven-seater version based of the Kwid which has been developed on an advanced version of the CMF-A platform and is expected to meet the safety standards.

    Moreover, the CMF-B platform is also a silver lining for the India business of both carmakers. It may help them fill white spaces and introduce the next-generation of some previous models which were discontinued, like the Renault Scala. Uncertainty also hovers over the Renault Kwid which future depends on it clearing the crash test norms. The company can also use the learning to develop a high-tensile CMF-A platform which can underpin the next-generation Kwid or it can be entirely shifted to the CMF-B platform which is scalable and can be moderated for the model. However, the Kwid will likely witness a price hike in any of the cases.

  • Aston Martin Celebrates 50 Years Of James Bond Movie

    Aston Martin Celebrates 50 Years Of James Bond Movie

    The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is set to become the newest James Bond-inspired car, thanks to the most recent collaboration between Aston Martin and EON Productions. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 50 ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ DBS Superleggera special edition cars will be sold. Painted Olive Green to match the original 1969 Aston Martin DBS driven by James Bond in the movie, the new models will take bring in a brutish elegance to the DBS Superleggera. It is 50 years since filming began for the sixth James Bond film, which told the story of Bond villain ‘Blofeld’ and his ongoing attempts to hold the world to ransom. The 1969 Aston Martin DBS was James Bond’s perfect partner to save the world.

    Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group Chief Executive Officer, said, “Aston Martin is synonymous with James Bond and the DBS from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service has provided great inspiration to the team tasked with creating this very special edition. This new DBS Superleggera will be an extremely distinguished ‘brute in a suit’, designed to capture the essence of the iconic DBS from the 1969 film but with a 5.2 litre twin-turbo V12, 715bhp engine!”

    The 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 on the DBS Superleggera engine is set low and as far back in the chassis as possible to optimize the center-of-gravity and weight distribution, this high-performance engine develops 725PS at 6500rpm and 900Nm from 1800-5000rpm. Detailed tuning of the V12 together with an exhausting strategy with active valves and quad tailpipes ensures that the DBS Superleggera is audible wherever it goes.

    The special edition DBS Superleggera boasts carbon fiber, splitter, aero blade and unique diamond turned and forged wheels. A bespoke metal grille featuring six bright horizontal vanes, adorns the front of the limited-edition car to replicate the distinctive feature of the DBS featured in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The exterior paint surface is enhanced with body colored contrails and roof. Bearing commemorative side strakes and unique touches throughout, the car is every inch ‘007’.

    On the inside, the DBS Superleggera is trimmed in pure black leather, accented by grey blend Alcantara, as in the original 1969 DBS. The cockpit is accented in red, inspired by the red-trimmed glovebox in the original car, which held 007’s telescopic-sight rifle.

    The 50 owners of this James Bond Special Edition will have the option to select a bespoke designed drinks case which fits into the boot space. The black drinks case opens via the bright metal clasp to reveal the matching red felt-lined interior, with space for two bottles of champagne and four champagne flutes.

    Each of the 50 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service DBS Superleggera special editions will retail at 300,007 Euros, with first deliveries to customers commencing in Q4 2019

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