Tag: Suv

  • Auto sales extends growth

    Auto sales extends growth

    Vietnam’s auto sales reached 42,359 units in April, with most major brands posting double-digit to triple-digit growth, according to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA).

    This figure marked a 40 percent increase from the same period last year and brought four-month sales to 123,931 units, up 33 percent, said VAMA, which does not incorporate data of VinFast and TC Motor (assembler of Hyundai cars).

    Most top-selling brands posted a double-digit increase in sales compared to March last year.

    Truong Hai auto remained the top seller with 14,569 units, up 41.5 percent year on year.

    It was followed by Toyota with a 55.3 percent growth to 8,694 units.

    Honda and Suzuki saw a tripling in their sales, with the former rising by 216 percent to 6,100 units, and the latter by 173 percent to 1,111.

    Ford’s sales bucked the trend with a 25 percent drop to 1,933 units.

    With data from all brands included, the sedan Honda City was the top-selling model in Vietnam last month at 3,013 units. It was followed by the sedan Toyota Vios and the SUV Toyota Corolla Cross.

  • Ferrari Drops First Official Teaser For Purosangue SUV

    Ferrari Drops First Official Teaser For Purosangue SUV

    Italian marque Ferrari has dropped the first official teaser for its first-ever SUV, the Purosangue. The hotly-anticipated model has been a part of the folklore much before Ferrari officially announced its intention to build one and has been at the receiving end of some polarising opinions over the years. While some have been calling it blasphemous for straying too far from the brand’s origins, the others see it as an evolutionary tale of changing times and customer needs. Either way, the Ferrari Purosangue will be the four-door SUV and it will make its public debut sometime later this year, going by the brand’s Instagram post.

    The teaser image offers a shadowed look at the front profile but little tweaks that include turning the brightness all the way up gives a clearer look at some of the design details. The split headlamp design has been borrowed from the SF90 and the F8 Tributo supercars. There’s more muscle though and a slightly more heft in the design.

    There’s no word on the powertrain yet but the Purosangue is expected to draw power from a twin-turbo V8 engine that could make about 700 bhp. A smaller V6 hybrid cannot be ruled out either. Power will be sent to all four wheels via a dual-clutch transmission. A V12 is less likely but maybe that’s the redemption key that would turn naysayers into fans of the “FUV.”

    More details on the upcoming Ferrari Purosangue will be available later in the year. And you can expect more teasers to follow. Production will begin in 2022 while deliveries are likely to begin sometime in 2023. Can the Purosangue replicate the Lamborghini Urus’ success? We’ll find out soon enough.

  • Indian car rental company zooms into Vietnam

    Indian car rental company zooms into Vietnam

    Leading Indian car rental platform will begin operations in Vietnam next week.

    Users can start booking cars, including SUVs and hatchbacks, on its website and smartphone app starting Monday, a media representative said.

    “We hope to reach 2,000 vehicles on the platform by March next year.”

    The company has appointed Kiet Pham as its vice president and country director.

    Kiet used to hold senior management positions at Indonesian ride-hailing platform Gojek and Indian hotel booking company OyO.

    The rollout is part of Zoomcar’s plan to enter the Southeast Asian market, where it plans to invest more than $100 million in the next two to three years.

    Zoomcar launched its car rental service in India in 2013 and has become a leading company there in the industry.

    It has 10,000 cars for rent in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Its headquarters in India has 300 employees.

    The company recently raised US$92 million from several investors led by U.S.-based SternAegis Ventures.

  • Land Rover Range Rover Teased Ahead Of Debut

    Land Rover Range Rover Teased Ahead Of Debut

    The Land Rover Range Rover is no ordinary SUV and the arrival of the new-generation model is always special. It’s one of the oldest brands in the full-size luxury SUV segment and the next-generation model will rival the likes of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS and BMW X7 and other premium SUVs like the Aston Martin DBX, Porsche Cayenne, and even the Lamborghini Urus gave its pricing. Land Rover has released the first teaser of the 2022 Range Rover which is a new-generation model and is all set to make its official debut on October 26, 2021.

    Now the teaser image doesn’t give us much insight of the design but we get a sense that the overall silhouette has been retained. That said, expect to see some significant updates made to the front end and even at the rear. The bronze color SUV in the teaser image also gives us an idea that Land Rover might introduce some new body colors on the new Range Rover. Then, it is also expected to be an all-new model by transitioning to Jaguar Land Rover’s new MLA platform. Then, the 2022 Range Rover will be offered with a variety of powertrain options which will include plug-in hybrid (PHEV) as well, and of course in both configurations. The latter is probably scheduled to arrive later in the model’s life cycle. And finally, expect a performance version as well with the 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine sourced from BMW.

    Switching to the new platform should bring some significant updates as well like more room on the inside where a potential increase in the vehicle’s size is expected. Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro infotainment system is one of the safest guesses on the inside, given its flagship status and some variants are also rumored to get rear-wheel steering offering tighter turning radius at lower speeds and better agility at higher speeds

  • ExxonMobil Launches Mobil Super TM SUV Pro Synthetic Engine Oil

    ExxonMobil Launches Mobil Super TM SUV Pro Synthetic Engine Oil

    ExxonMobil Lubricant has launched Mobil SuperTM SUV Pro synthetic engine oil for SUVs in India. Basically, the company is trying to tap into the growing demand for SUVs with the branding. The engine oil is based on ASTM D6891 (Seq. IVA) test results versus API SN engine test requirements. The company claims that it offers 79 percent better engine wear protection as well, especially in stop-and-go traffic conditions, and helps to improve fuel-economy.

    Deepankar Banerjee, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ExxonMobil Lubricants Pvt Ltd. Said, “People are turning to SUVs to more easily maneuver through dense traffic, handle bad weather conditions, and drive over rugged terrain. To meet the needs of SUV owners, we are introducing Mobil Super SUV Pro which is specially formulated with active ingredients for SUV engines. Whether you use your SUV for daily commute or weekend drives, our new Mobil Super SUV Pro is packed with features to deliver All-in-One Protection for every terrain, making it easier for all SUV owners to care for their cars.”

    The engine oil has been developed to provide superior low-speed pre-ignition protection to prevent internal engine damage along with all-weather protection for longer engine life. It also provides heat-activated anti-wear protection. The Mobil Super SUV Pro is suitable for both diesel and petrol engines and meets American Petroleum Institute (API) SN Plus and European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) A3/B4 Standards. Mobil Super SUV Pro is available in 1, 3.5, and 5-litre pack sizes at Mobil Authorized Retail stores, Mobil Car Care stores and Amazon.

  • Honda’s First All-Electric SUV To Be Called Prologue

    Honda’s First All-Electric SUV To Be Called Prologue

    Honda today announced that its first new mass-market battery-electric vehicle will be called Prologue, signaling a new electrified era that will lead to the company’s vision for 100% zero-emission vehicle sales in North America by 2040. An all-new SUV coming to market in early 2024, the battery-electric Honda Prologue will be, according to the company ‘highly competitive’ but specific details about the new vehicle will be released over the coming months.

    In addition to the Honda Prologue, the company will introduce an all-electric Acura SUV in the 2024 calendar year. Both will utilize the highly flexible global EV platform powered by Ultium batteries based on the company’s strategic partnership with General Motors. Honda also plans to launch a new series of EV models in the second half of the decade based on a new e:Architecture, with development led by Honda.

    In April 2021, Honda global CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, announced a vision to achieve carbon-neutrality for its products and corporate activities by 2050, including key targets for sales of electrified vehicles. This vision calls for the sales ratio of battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles in North America to progress from 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2035 to 100% by 2040.

    Honda has a long history in bringing electrified vehicles to market in the U.S., beginning almost a quarter-century ago with the EV Plus electric vehicle (1997); to America’s first hybrid, the Honda Insight (1999); the Honda FCX (2002), the industry’s first fuel cell vehicle in the hands of individual customers, and the Clarity series (2017). As Honda prepares for the launch of Prologue, the company will introduce hybrid-electric systems to more core models to continue to reduce CO2 emissions and bridge customers to the volume of battery-electric vehicles now in development.

  • Mercedes-Benz Global Sales Up By 22.3% In Q1 2021

    Mercedes-Benz Global Sales Up By 22.3% In Q1 2021

    Mercedes-Benz cars sold 590,999 passenger cars globally in the first quarter of 2021 driven by China and US retail sales as well as strong demand for plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles. This marks a jump of 22.3 percent in sales globally compared to the same period last year. In Europe, one in four cars sold by Mercedes-Benz and smart was an xEV.

    Globally, plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars made up about 10 percent of overall sales, with approximately 59,000 units and thereof more than 16,000 all-electric vehicles sold. The EQA too has been well received after it was launched in January this year. The company already has 20,000 orders for the EQA. Given the strong start, the company is looking to bring in 3 new models the EQS, EQB, and the EQE this year.

    The current worldwide shortage of supply in certain semiconductor components affected deliveries in the first quarter and will continue to affect sales in Q2. The company monitors the situation closely and is in constant contact with the suppliers.

    Sales of Mercedes-Benz in the Asia-Pacific region rose 46.6 percent due to the continuing strong sales development in China: where a new record was achieved with 222,520 cars delivered in Q1. In January, sales in China almost reached the milestone of 100,000 vehicles within a single month. In the Europe region, brand deliveries were despite ongoing lockdown measures in many markets at the beginning of the year slightly above Q1 2020. In Germany, Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 54,446 cars down by 15.4 percent while sales in the North America region totaled 88,318 units showing strong growth of 12.5 percent.

    In India, the company recorded a growth of 34 percent over Q1 202

  • Toyota Working On New Electric SUV

    Toyota Working On New Electric SUV

    Toyota has revealed that it will debut a new full-electric SUV in 2021. The details about the new EV are scant but it will be built on the company’s new e-TNGA platform. In terms of size, it will be similar to the current RAV4. Toyota aims to focus on the European market with the new electric SUV which is yet to be named. Toyota believes that a compact SUV can accommodate the needs of most regions in which the company operates and there are more volumes in that segment. The new battery-electric SUV will be one of the first of six EVs to be coming from the e-TNGA platform.

    Koji Toyoshima, Deputy Chief Officer, ZEV Factory, Toyota Motor Corporation, said, “Toyota will shortly take the next step in the rollout of its forthcoming battery-electric portfolio by first previewing an all-new mid-sized SUV in the coming months. The versatility and flexibility of e-TNGA technology allows us to design and create vehicles that are not just battery-electric, but also exciting to drive and beautiful to look at.”

    The new platform gets a clever design and Toyota says it is both highly versatile and easily adaptable for a range of product types. The basic architecture principle is that a number of key elements remain fixed whilst others vary. This allows the company to bring in variance in different parameters such as vehicle width, length, wheelbase and height. The e-TNGA platform can accommodate front, rear or four-wheel drive layouts. With a wide-range of battery and electric motor capacities that can be adapted to suit various vehicle types and usage profiles, Toyota is likely to use this platform increasingly in the near future. The development time of different model variants can be reduced and individual models can be developed in parallel to each other.

  • China Grants Tesla Green Light To Start Selling Shanghai-Made Model Y SUV

    China Grants Tesla Green Light To Start Selling Shanghai-Made Model Y SUV

    Tesla Inc has obtained permission to start selling its Shanghai-made Model Y sports utility vehicle in China. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published the approval on its website on Monday.

    Tesla, now sells its Model 3 electric cars in China and has been building new car manufacturing capacity in Shanghai to make its Model Y SUVs. It applied for the Shanghai-made Model Y SUV sales permission earlier this month.

    It started delivering vehicles made in its Shanghai factory last December and sold more than 13,000 vehicles in China in October.

    The company has started exporting China-made Model 3 cars to Europe and said last week it plans to also start making electric vehicle chargers in China in 2021.

  • Skoda Vision IN Concept Teased In New Video

    Skoda Vision IN Concept Teased In New Video

    Skoda India has rolled out a new video teasing its upcoming Vision IN concept SUV. Slated to make its global debut at the upcoming Auto Expo 2020, the new Vison IN concept is built on the new MQB-A0 IN platform and will preview the company upcoming SUV that is set to be based on the localized version of the MQB architecture. The video teaser gives us a glimpse of the new butterfly grille featuring the signature vertical slats outlined in crystal, which is illuminated along with the Skoda logo on the hood. The video also gives us a clean look at the new split LED headlamps which come with the lettering “Vision IN” etched on them.

    Based on the exterior sketches which were revealed earlier, the concept SUV will also come with a clamshell-style bonnet with sculpted lines, alone with a muscular front bumper with beefy claddings and large air intakes. The video and the older sketches both confirm that the SUV will come with a set of roof rails, side and wheel arch claddings and larger alloy wheels. While we do not get to see the rear section of the concept here, the sketch reveals a pair of wraparound LED taillights with the 3D effect, and aluminum diffuser extended to the rear bumper. The SUV also gets a horizontal light strips connecting the reflectors on the tailgate and the bold Skoda lettering that is placed in the center.

    The teaser video also highlights some of the features of the cabin, which will also make heavy use of crystalline elements. For instance, the gear selector button in the center console, under the virtual cockpit, and a decorative crystal piece positioned on the dashboard. The seat covers come with contrast stitching, and the multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel features the knurl wheels in line with Skoda’s new operating concept. We also get a glimpse of an illuminated SOS button, which indicates, the car could get connected car technology.

    Developed specifically for the Indian market, the new MQB-A0 IN is part of Skoda’s India 2.0 project, and the platform will underpin subcompact models from Skoda and Volkswagen, including the localized version of the Kamiq and the T-Cross. We will get more details about the concept and the company’s upcoming models on February 5, at the Auto Expo 2020.

  • Mercedes-Benz Pushes Back US Launch Of Electric SUV Until 2021

    Mercedes-Benz Pushes Back US Launch Of Electric SUV Until 2021

    Mercedes-Benz has rescheduled the US launch of its first mass-market electric vehicle — an SUV known as the EQC to 2021. The SUV was introduced in Europe earlier this year, and it reportedly “generated high interest”, enough so that Mercedes’ parent firm Daimler made a “strategic decision to first support the growing customer demand” in Europe, Engadget reported on Tuesday.

    The US is the second-largest car market in the world after China, but it is only on par with, and sometimes behind, Europe when it comes to sales of all-electric vehicles.

    One factor driving the availability of cleaner cars in Europe is the strict emissions regulations package put in place by the European Union (EU), which requires automakers to reduce the emissions of their new vehicle fleets by 37.5 percent by 2030.

    In contrast, President Donald Trump has spent the bulk of his presidency unsuccessfully trying to roll back Obama-era emissions regulations that are similarly meant to support the adoption of cleaner cars, according to The Verge.

    Price of Mercedes’ EQC base model is expected to begin at $67,900 — less than the $74,800 Audi E-Tron and the $84,990 Tesla’s Model X.

  • Kia Motors Receives Over 32,000 Bookings For Seltos Compact SUV

    Kia Motors Receives Over 32,000 Bookings For Seltos Compact SUV

    The Kia Seltos compact SUV has been launched in India, with prices starting at ₹ 9.69 lakh and going up to ₹ 15.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Kia has received over 32,000 bookings in India since it started taking bookings for the Seltos July 16, 2019 onwards. In fact, the company received more than 6,000 bookings on the first day itself. By the first week of August 2019, the number of bookings went up to 23,000 units. Kia says that over one-fifth of the bookings have been done online, from Kia’s website. The company has already manufactured over 5,000 units of the Seltos from its Anantpur facility in Andhra Pradesh! Kia’s production plan for the Seltos is set and the company will start the deliveries of the Seltos from today itself. Manohar Bhat, Head, Sales & Marketing, Kia Motors India, said that the company will not stop taking bookings for the Seltos. The Anantpur plant currently has production capacity of 300,000 units annually.

    There will be a total of 16 variants on offer with three engine options and two trims. The three engine options which are the 1.4-litre GDI turbo petrol, the naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre petrol, and 1.5-litre diesel engine will be conforming to Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms right from the beginning. All three motors will be BS-6 (Bharat Stage VI) complaint from the time of the launch. The 1.4-litre GDI turbo petrol motor is tuned to produce 138 bhp and 242 Nm of peak torque, and comes paired with a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed automatic transmission. The 1.5-litre NA petrol belts out 113 bhp and 144 Nm of peak torque, and is paired with a 6-speed manual and an IVT (Intelligent continuously variable transmission) automatic transmission. Lastly, the 1.5-litre VGT diesel produces 113 bhp and 250 Nm of torque, and is paired with a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

    The Seltos will also be equipped with the UVO (Your Voice) connected car tech that can be controlled via a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SUV also gets an 8-speaker sound system by Bose, segment-first a 360-degree surround camera, an 8 inch heads up display, and a 7-inch colour TFT unit for the instrument console. Other features include – LED headlamps and fog lamps, rear reclining seats, ventilated seats, eight-way power-adjustable driver seat, wireless charging, electric sunroof, rain-sensing wipers and more.

  • Maserati Unveils Limited Edition Quattroporte And Levante At Monterey Car Week

    Maserati Unveils Limited Edition Quattroporte And Levante At Monterey Car Week

    Monetary car week is one event that sees plenty of limited edition and one-off models and automakers wait for this time to show some of their special cars to the world. Maserati has also seized the opportunity to unveil the limited edition models of the 2020 Quattroporte S Q4 Granlusso sedan and the Levante S GranSport SUV. Both models have been draped in Pelletessuta interior which makes the cabin look as opulent as it can get. They sport thin strips of Nappa leather which is woven together to replicate the traditional hand-woven fabrics. Maserati claims that it’s the only car company to offer such an exclusive interior, thanks to its longstanding partnership with Zegna.

    The cabin of both models sports thin strips of Nappa leather which is woven together to replicate the traditional hand-woven fabrics. The Quattroporte is finished in a custom ‘Blu Sofisticato’ metallic exterior paint and it features blue brake calipers, sport seats and dedicated Zegna Edition interior badge. The cabin of the Quattroporte is finished in Brown Pelletessuta interior trim and Maserati has specifically mentioned that this will be the only time this configuration will be available for purchase.

    The Levante S GranSport SUV is painted in an exclusive ‘Bronzo tri-coat’ color and gets all-black Pelletessuta interior along with Radica wood trim. The limited-edition Levante features black brake calipers and 21-inch polished Helos alloy wheels. Maserati has also said that this combination will be made for a limited time and it has no plans to do it again on any other model.

    The Levante S GranSport SUV is painted in an exclusive ‘Bronzo tri-coat’ color and gets all-black Pelletessuta interiors.

    The Italian carmaker will be making just 50 units of both models and will take orders on first come first serve basis. It has not announced any prices for the limited edition models and will be starting with the deliveries only in 2020.

  • Jaguar Confirms J-Pace SUV In The Works

    Jaguar Confirms J-Pace SUV In The Works

    Jaguar has confirmed that the J-Pace SUV is in the works and a select few got a chance to see what the car is like. The J-Pace will be positioned above the F-Pace and it is likely to be underpinned by the MLA platform which will also spawn the next-generation Land Rover and its hardware will be developed with electrification in mind. The company had already announced its electrification plan worldwide. Every new Jaguar Land Rover model line will be electrified from 2020, giving customers more choice. The company is also set to introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles and that has already started with the I-Pace.

    There are more cars coming through and this includes the replacements for the current XE and F-Type. Of course, there’s also the all-electric version of the flagship sedan, XJ, which is set to make its mark in the market very soon. the model all-electric XJ which will succeed the combustion version which rolled off the production line for the last time on July 5.

    Codenamed Road Rover, the new generation Jaguar XJ will also get cosmetic changes along with the electric motor. Reports suggest that the XJ will be turned in to a five-door sedan instead of the current 4-door body. It is understood that the design layout for the new XJ is ready and the company will soon start working on it. This new design language will also be seen in the future Jaguar models.

    Additionally, considerably less expensive ‘baby Jags’ (possibly badged A-Pace or B-Pace) have not been ruled out. Dr. Ralph Speth, Jaguar CEO also stressed that Jaguar (plus sister manufacturer, Land Rover) are definitely not for sale to Peugeot-Citroen, Fiat-Chrysler, Hyundai-Kia or any other motor manufacturing companies.

  • 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.