Made-in-India Maruti Suzuki Baleno unveiled in Frankfurt

"Suzuki Motor Co. will celebrate its centenary in 2020 and from now till then we will launch 20 all new products of which a majority will be produced in India," so said Toshihiro Suzuki, President of Suzuki Motor Co. while speaking to a select group of Indian journalists on the sidelines of the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Kicking off this 20-model onslaught at Frankfurt was the all-new Baleno, totally made in India for the domestic as well as the global markets. This new large hatchback might carry the Baleno name but is completely different from what had appeared on our roads a decade and a half ago in the form of a large powerful sedan and a very elegant estate car, sadly both of which couldn't delight consumers, more so because of a lack of a USP and also the brand not having the gravitas to move minds upscale.

The new Baleno is surely destined for better prospects than its namesake from 12-15 years ago and it is the most modern expression of Suzuki's new design and engineering philosophy. For starters it gets stuck right into the upper end of India's booming premium compact hatchback segment where the likes of the Honda Jazz and the Hyundai i20 rule the roost. Psychologically it is very evident for a Maruti-Suzuki product to be fighting these brands and it is armed for the good battle with a visually strong presence (Suzuki terms it the "Liquid Flow" design theme), ample cabin space to lock arms with the Jazz and have enough firepower under the bonnet to take on the i20.

For Europe the Baleno will come equipped with petrol engines only, an all new 1.0-litre BoosterJet direct-injection turbocharged motor with SHVS smart-hybrid tech being a very exciting proposition while the other unit would be another all-new 1.2 DualJet motor. For India there would be the proven and reliable K12M petrol engine which will get either a 5-speed manual transmission or a brand new CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) as an option meaning it would be the first Suzuki to be so equipped with such a modern gearbox. However it would be the D13A diesel engine that does duty in a variety of Maruti-Suzuki models that would be the first choice option of many and this Baleno DDiS would be exclusively engineered for India.

The new Baleno hatchback is compact yet pretty spacious, the packaging engineers having liberated a cavernous cabin from the 2520 wheelbase the car rides on without compromising on the luggage space. There is an all-new design language within the cabin as well and here among the various conveniences and creature comforts, the first adoption of Apple's CarPlay in an Indian automobile is very welcome. This intuitive in-car entertainment cum connectivity platform that has dazzled the world since its introduction just about a year ago comes to India for the first time, in a Maruti Suzuki.

The all-new monocoque structure that is at the heart of this car is also one that will underpin many other Suzuki models that are planned for India. This would include the next generation Swift and a new compact SUV among others. The Baleno in Europe would ride on either 16-inch alloy wheels or 15-inch steel wheels but in India we think that the latter in both alloy and steel versions would be the norm. The new Baleno would go on sale in Europe in the second quarter of 2016 but it would hit showrooms in India in late October 2015, but only via Maruti Suzuki's NEXA sales channel.

Prior to the Frankfurt Motor Show Suzuki had already announced its intent to buy its stock held by the VW Group and in his address to the global automotive media, Toshihiro Suzuki underlined his company's new vision statement for the future titled Next 100 clearly hinting that it was going to stay independent going into its next one hundred years! In fact, when quizzed on the subject in our interaction, he said that having just experienced a divorce; he wasn't contemplating another marriage and that too so soon! However, Suzuki san did keep the door open to say that strategic partnerships in areas of technology would be explored.

As to Suzuki's operations in India, Toshihiro Suzuki clearly stated that India would play a major role in contributing to not just the 3-million units plus volumes his eponymous firm was aiming at but also that it would be the core pivot for many new global models sporting the Suzuki badge. He likened Maruti Suzuki to be the engine of performance for the Suzuki brand worldwide in much the same way as a turbocharger helps to generate more power and pleasure from a normal engine! It might have been subtle but he couldn't have put it simpler or clearer than that!

Mercedes-Benz S-Guard review

It’s said that just before you die, you experience that quick moment of clarity when your whole life’s memories flash across your mind, and then it’s just white light at the end of a tunnel and pretty angels feeding you grapes all the way beyond. Some are known to embrace the time when it comes, some are known to fight it. If you are part of the large majority who would like to fight that light and stay back, I can’t help you all. I can however suggest for a select few, who are likely to see that white light after being the target of a sniper or an explosive device, a car that will very easily, let me repeat for effect, very easily, let you drive past these irritants to let you live another day. That it looks gorgeous in the flesh and has a rumbling V12 under the hood are just additional benefits.

Meet the S-Guard, Mercedes’ flagship armoured car. These pictures you see are the first line of defense for the S-Guard that looks identical to a regular S-Class. It’s meant to blend in to avoid suspicion, unless you turn on the strobe lights of course. It is however not your regular car. The usual customers include Heads of State, important government officials with lives worth saving and business tycoons who’ve crossed too many to be where they are. These Very Important People also need the confines of their tank to be luxurious. So the S-Class is the Mercedes of choice as the latest flagship Sedan as it happens to have won the World Luxury Car of the Year award.

What is the S-Guard then, over all the ‘standard’ features in the S-Class we tested last year…

Mercedes-Benz S-Guard details
We’ll let you read about the amazing massage chairs and exquisite Burmester sound system in the S-Class review. This story is all about the Kaboom bits. The S-Guard is built under the Guard program, Mercedes’ arm that builds and sells armoured vehicles around the world. The company tells us that it has a share of about 78 percent of the global armoured vehicle market among car manufacturers. This doesn’t include aftermarket specialists but clearly shows that the Guard team knows what they are doing. The S-Guard is the first of its kind vehicle to come with complete VR9 ballistic protection and resistance certificate. It is the highest level for a road car and here is what that means
At the bodyshell stage, protective components made of special steel are filled into the cavities between the structure and the outer body panels. Aramide and PE Components under the sheet metal handle splinters from explosives. There are layers, all around the passenger cell made of high grade military materials like Kevlar for instance to keep the nasty stuff from penetrating into the cabin.

The glass windshields and windows are bulletproof, 65mm thick and weigh between 50-80kg each. It can withstand 7.62 caliber AK47 bullets, something that will kill a guy behind a five inch brick wall. Large caliber Sniper fire can’t penetrate the glass too. The Guard car doesn’t get the auto up feature for these windows that generally stop the glass from rolling up when an object is blocking its path. If a hand for instance comes in to punch you in the face, all you need to do is roll the window up and the glass will chop the hand off is what we were told, without the slightest hint of exaggeration. The underbody is protected from mine blasts or any kind of fire under the car. The force of the blast will all but give the car a light jump and then you can continue the pleasant drive.

Mercedes-Benz S-Guard front static
The S-Guard has a panic alarm system, an automatic fire extinguisher, an emergency fresh air system that flushes out the foul air with the cabin when you are in the middle of a gas attack and pumps in air for an hour from a oxygen cylinder and a spare battery to start the car if the primary battery has drained off. The tyres are special Michelin PAX runflat tyres, capable of running over spike strips, losing all the air in them and then rolling on for another 30km with full steering control after damage. Besides firing torpedoes, it’s quite the car!
All that armour does weigh the car down. We are told it is somewhere in the region of 4 tonnes, or the weight of an E-Class atop a standard S-Class. To lug all that mass around, the S-Guard comes with a V8 or a V12 under its hood. We drove the latter and boy that masks the weight quite well. It’s got the necessary 530PS and 830Nm on tap to help propel the mammoth ahead at fairly brisk speeds. It’s got a top speed restricted to 210kmph and I suspect a 0-100kmph sprint is done in about 7 seconds. It may not seem fast but considering the weight, the S-Guard is like a wrecking ball barreling at irritants in its path.

The airmatic suspension we have loved so much in the S-Class for its magic carpet ride is also standard on the S600 Guard. The suspension has been beefed up to match the stock car’s ride quality though. Air springs at the front are reinforced and the rear axle gets additional steel springs. The brakes are larger too to get the S-Guard to a stop. Larger brake discs and bigger six-piston brake calipers up front give fantastic stopping power. The S-Guard is so composed during direction changes and heavy braking due to the suspension and brakes that it doesn’t give you a sense of the weight it is carrying. We also drove the armoured E-Guard and M-Guard with VR4 ballistic protection rating, which is a far lower level of armour, and in comparison, the S-Guard felt the most composed.

There are two stages of life, the first before birth where the safest spot on earth is the mother’s womb. The second is out here in the big bad world where the safest spot is inside the S-Guard. That’s if you have Rs 8.9 crore, ex-showroom Delhi for a stock S600 Guard and a few Crores or so over that for taxes and accessories. For the rest of us, as the good folks in the Game of Thrones say, Winter is coming!

Ferrari California T to be officially unveiled in India on August 26

Ferrari will officially unveil the new California T in India on August 26. This will be Ferrari’s first new official launch in India with new dealer partners like Navnit Motors in Mumbai. That said, the prices for the new California T as we revealed a few months ago will continue to remain the same at Rs 3.30 crore (ex-showroom, Mumbai). This official launch of the new California T will only help cement Ferrari’s serious intent in India after a few unfortunately failed attempts in the past.

The Ferrari California T is Ferrari’s first ever front engined V8 car that is also turbocharged. The California T features a 4.3-litre V8 twin-turbo engine that makes 50PS of peak power and a shattering 755Nm of peak torque. The new California T of course is also a Convertible offering the best of both worlds to the lucky few customers. The new California T will also one of the most popular Ferrari’s in India and also the cheapest Ferrari supercar in its impressive portfolio.

Ferrari California T
Several Ferrari customers in the past have complained about how Ferrari service was a problem in the past due to both logistical and actual on ground service support. We expect Navnit Motors to also announce their position on Ferrari service in India along with details on their exclusive showroom. The new Ferrari California T will go up against the likes of the Porsche 911 Turbo s Convertible, the Bentley Continental GT cabriolet and the upcoming Rolls Royce Dawn

Audi Unveils E-Tron Quattro at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2015

Audi has revealed a new E-Tron Quattro concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Eco-Motoring is the talk of the town these days and the company states that the production version is expected to make its debut in the year 2018. The car gives us the hint about the futuristic designed electric vehicle, the Audi Q6 Crossover.

From the outside, the new Audi E-Tron Quattro sports aggressive looks, the car is fitted with the new octagonal shaped radiator grille that adds to the beauty of the car, the headlamps are edgy with the sharp looks that now comes with the Matrix technology. The company is working on a new laser technology that it will use in the upcoming productions. The bumper is quite aggressive as well while the sculptured hood receives sharp contour lines. Quite unconventional, a rear-view camera is mounted on the side fenders, which is expected to replace the ORVMs. The rear profile flamboyant too with the long LED taillights, bold black cladding and the rear roof spoiler.

Coming to the inside, the new E-Tron Quattro boast of attractive ambience with flat-bottomed steering wheel, fully designed instrument binnacle that looks quite futuristic and the dual touch-screen display. The car is very spacious and has space for four occupants to sit comfortably. It has also the ample boot space of about 615-litres.

As per the engine specifications, being an electric vehicle, the car gets lithium-ion batteries that puts out whopping 495 bhp that is generated in conjunction with Audi’s e-Quattro drive technology. The new E-Tron concept can yield the gigantic torque of 800Nm. The vehicle can go from 0-100 kmph in mere 4.2 seconds with the top speed of 209kmph. These amazing statistics are derived from the three electric mills that are working under the bonnet.

The car through the induction Charging technology can be charged wirelessly. To make the charging more convenient, the new E-Tron comes with the ‘Piloted Parking system’ that will direct the vehicle to the optimum charging position on the charging plate. The new E-Tron Quattro also gets large solar roof, which helps in charging the batteries on a sunny day, they are similar to one seen in the Karma Fisker.

The new car works with the lithium-ion batteries and the lithium packs are attached to the floor pan in the cabin which helps in maintaining low center of gravity and the balanced distribution of the axle. The company claims that this will help the SUV in maintaining and handling the main characteristics of the sports vehicle. The lithium batteries will feature Combined Charging System (CCS) which will help the owner to charge with the AC or the DC electrical current. The vehicle can give the power output of 150 kW after charging the electric car for 50 minutes.

Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Audi Board of Management for the Technical Development said that the company will present an all-electric, luxury-class sport SUV in the year 2018, the new Audi E-Tron Quattro concept provides solid foretaste of this. He also added that the vehicle combines the driving pleasure with the range, costly design and the excellent comfort.

Recently, Audi launched the new A6 35 TSFI petrol variant at the price tag of INR 45.90 lac. The new car gets the mechanical updates and comes with the smaller 1.8 litre turbocharged motor as compared to the older version that had the 2.0-litre motor. The company claims that the mill has better fuel economy has been increased by 12.7 % while the power is raised by 5%. The new A6 35 TFSI also gets some features like Engine Start/Stop button with Energy Recovery which increases the fuel efficiency in the vehicle.