First Dawn from Rolls-Royce raises $750k in charity auction

Even for a Rolls-Royce, $750,000 seems like a lot of money. But that's how much one customer paid this past weekend for the privilege of acquiring the very first example of the new Dawn convertible. And we're glad to report that the the money is going to a good place.
Rolls-Royce introduced the Dawn this past September at the Frankfurt Motor Show as the convertible counterpart to the Ghost sedan and Wraith coupe. It's set to take on the likes of the Bentley Continental GTC and Mercedes S-Class Cabriolet, packing a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 good for 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque up front and a folding fabric roof over its four-seat cabin. The company's Bespoke division set up this particular example in Andalusian white, with a deep red roof, red coachline, and a corresponding interior in red and white with Indian rosewood paneling and special treadplates.

Valued at over $400,000, the vehicle was donated for the charity auction at the Naples Winter Wine Festival held this past Saturday to benefit the Naples Children & Education Foundation. The winning bid of $750,000 was placed by insurance mogul and hedge fund manager Julian Movsesian, pictured inset at left with Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. He'll take delivery in April from the dealership in Naples before anyone else gets theirs. Over the same weekend in Arizona, an Acura NSX sold for $1.2 million, a COPO Camaro for $300k, and Jay Leno's Harley-Davidson edition Ford F-150 for $200k – all of them the first of their kind, and all benefiting charitable causes




PRESS RELEASE
Rolls-Royce Dawn Raises $750,000 For Children's Charities As The Brand Marks A New Era With The Most Social Rolls-Royce Ever

NAPLES, Fla., Feb. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

- Dawn brought a winning bid of $750,000 at the 2016 Naples Winter Wine Auction
- California area collector to receive the very first Rolls-Royce Dawn globally
- Over past 15 years, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have grossed $4.8M in bids for the auction
- Proceeds to benefit Naples Children & Education Foundation

It is one thing to bid on a prize as rare as a Bespoke Rolls-Royce and quite another to bid on the once in a generation opportunity to be the first owner of the newest member of the Rolls-Royce Motor Car family, the all-new Dawn. On Saturday, January 30, 2016, a winning bid of $750,000 secured this honor for an avid car collector as he became the first owner of the most sought after motor car on the market and a generous benefactor of the Naples Children & Educational Foundation. Dawn was the highlight of the Naples wine auction this past weekend which raised $11.1 million for the local charity.

All proceeds from the Festival support the Naples Winter Wine Festival's founding organization, the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), which has given out annual grants to more than 40 nonprofit agencies and has impacted the lives of about 200,000 children. "Over the past decade, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has worked closely with many owners to raise millions of dollars for local charities. It is entirely befitting that the first new Dawn is born into such altruistic company," said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös.

Unveiled last September in a breakthrough digital launch, Dawn has been heralded as the "sexiest Rolls-Royce Motor Car ever offered." Excitement for the new Drophead Coupe has been exceptional with the first model year already being fully subscribed. The most social of super-luxury drophead motor cars, this exquisite motor car – commissioned specifically for this moment – boasts a stunning Andalusian exterior finish with a Deep Red roof, offset by an Arctic White and contrasting Consort Red interior appointed in the finest quality leather in the world. The vehicle is finished in full Santos Palisander Canadel Paneling - a handcrafted finish of open pore Indian Rosewood - covering the front fascia, doors and wrapping onto the back deck. Bespoke Treadplates commemorate "Build No.1 for Dawn in North America."

The first Dawn will be delivered in April of this year through Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Naples Florida. First customer deliveries of Dawn globally will follow immediately.

2016 Detroit Motor Show: India-bound Volvo S90 unveiled

Volvo has unveiled the S90 at the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), which is also known as the Detroit Motor Show. Like the XC90, the S90 is also based on Volvo’s Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) and will be powered by the same range of four-cylinder engines. The S90 is Volvo’s rival to the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Jaguar XF and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

High Front Volvo S90 Mussel Blue

The exterior borrows a few styling cues from the XC90 with LED headlights and the Thor’s Hammer inspired daytime running lights. The face is also very similar to the XC90 but looks lower and sleeker thanks to the sedan form. The Volvo S90’s cabin too shares a few similarities with the XC90, including utilisation of high-grade materials and a slab of wood which forms a large part of the fascia. The dashboard gets dominated by the large infotainment screen, which includes satellite navigation and audio, and the different functions of the vehicle can be controlled through it.

Interior Blond Volvo S90

Speaking on the occassion, Håkan Samuelsson, president & CEO of Volvo Car Group said “We have always placed great significance on our presence in the US. That is why we decided to present our S90 to the public for the very first time at the Detroit show, and why we have begun to build a Volvo factory here.”

The new Volvo S90 will get IntelliSafe Assist as standard including Adaptive Cruise Control and Distance Alert and the semi-autonomous drive feature- Pilot Assist. The Pilot Assist feature makes slight steering inputs to keep the car properly aligned within lane markings up to speeds of around 130 km/h.

Rear Volvo S90 Mussel Blue

The S90 also gets Volvo’s City Safety feature which has a new update – large animal detection. This feature is capable of detecting large animals such as deer, horses or moose/elk, night or day. The technology offers a warning and brake support to help avoid or mitigate collisions with large animals.

Front Quarter Volvo S90 Mussel Blue

“We created our new flagship sedan, the Volvo S90, as a real game changer. It is classy and cool. The exterior is exceptionally well surfaced with a fantastic stance and the sort of clean lines that are singularly appropriate of a Scandinavian design. The interior masters the art of blending innovative technology and natural materials into an elegant, welcoming and tasteful ambience, Swedishness at its best,” said Thomas Ingenlath, senior vice president, Design at Volvo Car Group.

We expect the new S90 to debut in India in the second half of 2016.

Auto Expo 2016: Toyota Innova Crysta revealed

When the Innova came along the market was practically devoid of a people carrier that could be reliable, fuel efficient and comfortable but the advent of the Innova changed all that. So much so that it went on to become the nation’s favourite MPV. But that was a decade ago and it was high time that Innova got a generation change and that time was now. The Crysta as the second generation Innova is now called. At 4,735mm in length, 1,830mm wide and 1,795mm high, the Crysta is significantly larger than the current Innova which should open up more space in the cabin especially in the boot.  But the identical Wheelbase of 2750mm could affect the seating position of the third bench. Aesthetically, the Crysta looks quite premium than the current car and is clearly positioned towards the personal owner rather than fleet runners.

Toyota Innova Crysta rear
The massive chromed out front grille is flanked by wraparound projector lamps with LED DRLs for added style and even the fog lamp housings have been given attention. The tail lamps too feature a wraparound design and look rather good. The massive tailgate reveals a cavernous boot and with the third seat bench up there is still ample space for luggage.

Toyota Innova Crysta interior
The cabin too is a testament to Toyota’s vision of making a premium MPV. There are good quality materials all round. The seats are finished in leather and are comfortable to sit on. A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system dominates the dashboard below which reside the climate control buttons and knobs at a slightly upright position for easier access. The model we saw was the top of the line variant and came with steering mounted controls, keyless entry and button start. In terms of safety the Innova will offer ABS and airbags as standard whereas the top variant will come with seven airbags.

Toyota Innova Crysta steering wheel
The Crysta will come with two engine options probably the new 2.8-litre GD engine and a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder VVT-i petrol engine. Both engines will come with a choice of a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Toyota Innova Crysta pic
The Crysta will most likely be a high volume car for Toyota but given the amount of improvements, standard equipment and high quality levels, the Crysta could come at a price. In addition Toyota could sell the Crysta alongside the current Innova to keep the premium and personal tag intact while simultaneously catering to fleet runners by offering the current Innova at slightly lower price

Auto Expo 2016: New Audi A4 Unveiled in India

The new Audi A4 was unveiled in the presence of cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood star Alia Bhatt at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo today and is set to be launched in India later this year.

The A4, which made its global debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, looks a lot more compact and sharp when compared to the outgoing model. It features a wider single frame front grille and revamped headlights. There are new LED daytime running lamps, while the tail-lamps too have LEDs in them. The sedan has a more sloped roofline, while the car's rear and its wheel arches have been given a subtle redesign as well.

The Audi A4 is slightly bigger than its predecessor and is now 4730m long (25mm more), 1840mm wide, and 1430mm in height. The wheelbase of the car too has been stretched by 12mm to make it more spacious.

However, what Audi have managed to do is put the new A4 on a diet, which is why there is a considerable weight loss. According to the company, the A4 with the 1.4-litre TFSI engine has lost upto 120kg and now tips the scales at 1320Kg. The new sedan is also more aerodynamic with a drag coefficient of just 0.23.

Inside the cabin, the interiors get comprehensive changes with a new steering wheel and gear selector while the virtual cockpit from the Audi TT replaces the conventional unit.

The new A4 will be offered with petrol TSI and diesel TDI engine options, paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. It will compete with the new BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class as well as the Jaguar XE.

Auto Expo 2016: John Abraham Launches Yamaha MT-09; Priced at 10.20 Lakh

The Yamaha MT-09 bike has been launched by Bollywood star John Abraham in India at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo. The good-looking street fighter motorcycle comes at a price of 10.20 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and will be imported into the country as a completely built unit (CBU).

The MT-09 is Yamaha's flagship model for the MT series in India and is powered by a newly-developed in-line 847cc, 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke engine that develops 113bhp at 10,000rpm and 87.5Nm of torque at 8,500rpm. This unit is mated to 6-speed transmission. Yamaha claims that the bike will have a fuel efficiency figure of 19Km/l.

The performance street bike sports traction control system with two different riding modes and is also equipped with ABS.

Built on a diamond-type frame, the MT-09 is equipped with telescopic front forks with 137mm travel while the rear features a swing-arm (link type) suspension. There are 298mm dual disc brakes in the front brakes while the rear gets 245mm single disc ones.

The bike will be pitted against the Triumph Street Triple and the Kawasaki Z800 in India.

Auto Expo: Maruti Suzuki Ignis Unveiled; Launch Later This Year

Joining the extensive lineup of unveils and launches at the ongoing Auto Expo, Maruti Suzuki has unveiled the all-new subcompact crossover-SUV Ignis alongside the Baleno RS. Currently on sale in the Japanese markets, the Ignis is expected to be leaps ahead of what Maruti has been offering in recent times. The model comes with a bold exterior design, stylish cosmetic features and loads of segment first features and will be launched in India towards the end of 2016, during the festive season.
In terms of design, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis is largely identical to the Japanese-spec version. The subcompact crossover SUV stands tall and looks very premium with cosmetic additions. The front fascia features a stylish pair of headlamps with projector lights and large U-shaped DRLs, perfectly infused with the grille extending all the way from left to right.

The front bumper looks simple and houses large air intake and circular fog lamps with chrome bezels. Towards the side, you will notice  the flared wheel arches with gloss black alloys and blackened A- and B-Pillars. Dimensions of the Maruti Suzuki Ignis are 3700mm in length, 1660mm in width, and 1595mm in height with a wheelbase of 2435mm and 180mm ground clearance.

The cabin of Maruti Ignis has been designed in line with the stylish and sporty exterior. The interior comes with an all-black or black-white dual tone colour scheme. The front row offers sporty bucket-style seats, while the rear comes with 50:50 adjustable split seats. The boot capacity stands at 133-litres, which can be expanded to 258-litres by sliding the rear seats and 415-litres by folding them flat.


As for features, the Maruti Ignis comes loaded with equipment like climate control, an intelligent infotainment system equipped with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and steering wheel-mounted controls. Other additional features include 4-Wheel-Drive (4WD) system, hill decent control, Suzuki's adaptive Dual Camera Breaking system (DCBS), lane management system, along with front, rear and side camera for parking assist on the overseas spec version. In addition, the Ignis will come with ABS and EBD as standard from the base variants along with driver and co-passenger airbag, given the automaker's recent set of launches.

The smart diesel hybrid system (SHVS) is also likely to feature on the Maruti Ignis paired to the 1.3-litre engine. The 1.2-litre K-Series petrol engine could be part of the lineup as well. Transmission options will include a 5-speed manual and possibly the CVT unit. In India the biggest rival to the Ignis will be the Mahindra KUV100.

Auto Expo 2016: Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS Unveiled; to Be Launched This Festive Season

Maruti Suzuki has unveiled the new and sportier concept of its premium hatchback Baleno at the ongoing 2016 Auto Expo. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS launch in India is scheduled for festive season, 2016. The performance variant is powered by the much awaited 1.0-litre BoosterJet direct injection turbo petrol engine that will be launched in India and is currently on sale Suzuki cars internationally. The car will go on sale in India later this year and will be offered only with the top-of-the-line Alpha variant.
The new 1.0-litre BoosterJet petrol engine comes with Direct-Injection Turbo that enables the 3-pot unit to produce 112bhp and 175Nm of peak torque. When launched, the Baleno RS will become the newest addition to the fast-growing 100+ bhp hatchback club in the country that currently comprises of the Fiat Abarth Punto, Ford Figo 1.5 and Volkswagen Polo GT.

The Maruti Baleno RS concept features a bold and aggressive design language as per the company, which adds aggression to the styling of the standard model. The overall silhouette of the Baleno RS remains the same as the standard Baleno, but gets upgrades inclusive of


The interiors of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS have received major upgrades as well. While the basic look still reminds you of the standard Baleno, the additions are definitely add a sporty and premium touch, thanks to the all-black interiors, minimal chrome inserts, front sports seats with cross stitched upholstery. The centre console retains the SmartPlay infotainment system with Apple CarPlay while the multi-function steering wheel from the standard could have been replaced with a flat-bottom unit. You also get aluminium finish pedals to complete the look.

Auto Expo 2016: Volkswagen Polo GTI Unveiled; Launch in Second Half of 2016

Volkswagen Polo GTI, the 192bhp version of the Polo hatchback, became the third car from the German carmaker to be unveiled at the 2016 Auto Expo. Set to be launched in India in September, 2016, the VW Polo GTI has been designed for true-blue enthusiasts well-versed with the GTI philosophy.

One of the most popular hot hatches in the world, the Volkswagen Polo GTI is compact, stylish meant to tend to the requirements of automotive enthusiasts. Powered by a turbocharged petrol engine, it will be the first 3-door car in the segment in India. With that being said, Volkswagen may introduce a 5-door version of the Polo GTI later.

The German carmaker claims the Polo GTI gets offers exhilarating performance, power, and comfort is guaranteed to be the ultimate hot hatch in the country.

While the VW Polo GTI largely shares its with the Polo GT, the sharp LED head-lamps, a comparatively bolder honeycomb grille, sporty-looking bumpers, horizontal LED fog-lamps, alloy wheels, red brake calipers, red GTI insignia, and the GTI-specific rear spoiler set it apart from its cousins.

Moving on to Volkswagen Polo GTI's engine, it gets a more powerful 1.8-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine that develops 190bhp along with 250Nm of peak torque. Mated to a 7-speed DSG unit, the VW Polo GTI's top-speed is rated at 250Km/h. It also accomplishes the 0-100Km/h run in only 6.7 seconds.

Mercedes unveils all-new GLC, S-Class Cabriolet

With these introductions, Mercedes-Benz will strengthen the two segments, SUV and Dream Car, which witnessed the highest growth last year.
The company said it is driven by the philosophy of 'winning' in 2016, with a spate of 12 new products and 10 new dealerships.
The German carmaker had posted a record sales of 13,502 units in India in 2015 compared with 10,201 units in 2014, a significant jump of 32 per cent, Mercedes-Benz India said in a statement.
By registering sales of 13,502 units in the January- December 2015 period, the company also achieved its highest sales volume in a single calendar year in India since its inception, it added.
The new GLC offers the dynamic select handling control system with five-driving progammes as standard. In addition to the Eco, Comfort, Sport Plus and Individual Settings, which are familar from other models, the new car is also equipped with the off-road engineering package.

Ford Figo with roof rails and Ford Figo Aspire – Auto Expo 2016

The Ford Figo hatchback is based on the same platform as the Figo Aspire sedan. It also shares some of the design elements with it such as the headlamps, grille and bumpers. The posterior is where the similarity ends. The rear has wraparound taillamps and a sharp crease on the tail gate that is also equipped with a spoiler.
The hatchback has dimensions of 3,886 mm, 1,695 mm, 1,525 mm and 2,491 mm in length, width, height and wheelbase respectively. The cabin is endowed with features like black cloth upholstery, automatic climate control, electrically-adjustable side mirrors, multi-function steering wheel and Ford SYNC infotainment system with AppLink.
The Ford Figo comes with two petrol and one diesel engine offerings. The petrol engines are a 1.2-liter four cylinder Ti-VCT and a 1.5-liter four cylinder Ti-VCT unit producing 88 PS / 112 Nm of torque and 112 PS / 136 Nm of peak torque respectively. The former is paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox with the bigger power house getting married to a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Coming to the diesel, it is a 1.5-liter four cylinder TDCi mill capable of 100 PS and 215 Nm of torque, sending power to the wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox. At the show, the Ford Figo was shown with roof rails, part of the official accessories offered by Ford India. The “high grade plastic” roof rails with 3M black tape costs INR 5,998 and is a dealer-fitted accessory.
Ford Figo Aspire:
2015 Ford Figo Aspire at Auto Expo 2016
The Ford Figo Aspire was launched before its hatchback sibling and carries the latest design language sported by models of the Blue Oval the world over. The compact sedan has a bold front end, flanks with sharp character lines and short overhangs with the design culminating at a well-thought-out rear. The sedan measures 3,995 mm in length, 1,695 mm in width and 1,525 mm in height.
The interior features a dual-tone theme and a cabin layout similar to the Ford EcoSport. The center console is given a piano-black finish and also houses a small display that runs Ford’s SYNC infotainment system. Other equipment on offer are Ford MyKey, power side mirrors, tilt steering, power windows and fabric seat upholstery.
Under the hood, it gets the same engines and gearbox options that are mentioned above for its hatchback sibling.

10 exciting things to look forward to at Auto Expo

1. Maruti-Suzuki Vitara Brezza

It is a compact sub-4m SUV. It will be launched in this fiscal itself and will be positioned against the Ford EcoSport and will be slightly above the Mahindra KUV100. It will fit into the Nexa range of cars and has premium interiors like that in the Baleno with touchscreen, reverse camera and one airbag and ABS as standard on all variants.

Brezza will also be available in three exterior trims – glamourous, sporty and urban, which will be powered by the same 1.3-litre diesel engine with a petrol coming later in the year.

While at the Maruti-Suzuki pavilion also look up the Concept Ignis, a funky, SUV-like small hatch that will make it to production and be launched in India later on in the year.

2. Ford Mustang

At the Ford pavilion is the Mustang, one of the truly iconic cars in the world and also one that will actually be launched in India. Powered by a humungous V8 engine, the car looks very good and drives even better. What's more, it will be available to buy in India in the second half of the year and that too at a fraction of the price of other super cars.


But that does not mean it will be cheap. For supercar enthusiasts there is also the Nissan GT-R, Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro as well as the Audi R8 V10 Plus and BMW i8.

3. The new Bonneville range from Triumph
Classic and yet contemporary, brute but sleek is the new Bonneville range from Triumph, which includes the café racer Thruxton and the Street Twin, a baby Bonneville. All of them have parallel twin engines ranging from 900cc to 1.2-litres. These bikes embody the golden era of biking in the UK and are available in India starting from Rs 6.9 lakh.

4. Mercedes-Benz GLC

Mercedes is making an SUV for every car platform that it has. So there is the GLA based on the A-class, the GLE based on the E-class and the GLS based on the S-class and now for the very first time in India, the GLC, a mid-sized SUV based on the C-class.

Roland Folger, MD & CEO of Mercedes-Benz with the S-class Cabriolet at Auto Expo 2016.
The C-class is already the first car in the Mercedes range to get the latest technologies from the S-class and all of them have been passed on to the GLC. Besides, the GLC comes with all of the drive modes found on other Mercedes SUVs and will slot into the gap between the GLA and the GLE very nicely.

Also at the Mercedes stall is the S500 cabriolet, the Maybach S500 Guard as well as the monster G500 – the souped up retro SUV in a florescent green colour.

5. Toyota Mirai

Toyota had already two eco-friendly cars in the country in the Camry Hybrid and the Prius and now it has launched the new Prius. But in additionm, it is also showcasing the Mirai which features a totally different technology as it is powered by hydrogen.


It is a fuel cell vehicle powered by hydrogen taken from on-board tanks and oxygen from the atmosphere. Since there is no internal combustion happening, the vehicle produces no emissions and the only by-product of running the car is pure water. For the tech-inclined and those espousing the cause of the environment, the Mirai may be one of the answers to pollution-free mobility.

6. Honda Navi

Is it a toy or is it a vehicle? Is it a motorcycle or a scooter? Well, this funky vehicle that can be customised and personalised in nearly 20 different ways is actually a motorcycle based on a scooter frame. It is a rear-engine motorcycle, so to speak.


Based on the Honda Activa chassis, it has the same 110cc engine and running gear as well, which includes a CVT for the gearbox. The only part from a bike is actually the front setup – with a telescopic suspension taken from a bike. Some of the concepts though have a typical scooter’s suspension upfront as well. The Navi is already on sale at an ex-showroom price of Rs 39,900.

7. Mahindra XUV Aero and other concepts

The Mahindra Group has bought the Italian company Pininfarina, one of the leading design studios in the world and responsible for designing many of the Ferraris and Maseratis and Alfa Romeos. So when I first saw the XUV Aero, the Mojo and the Mahindra Thar concepts, I thought that Pininfarina has been put to good use.
However, all the design work on the totally new XUV500 Aero has been done in-house in Kandivili at the Mahindra Design Studio and Pininfarina only executed the design and made the show car, which is a cross between an SUV and a coupe based on the XUV 500.

The first such vehicle was the BMW X6 and Mercedes was the second manufacturer to introduce such a vehicle in the country and Mahindra could very well be the third, given the response the Aero has got. The Mahindra Adventure division has been busy as well, turning a Thar into a monster truck with huge wheels and a menacing look.

8. BMW 7-series

Perhaps the most technologically advanced normal car in the world, the new seven-series is the epitome of luxury. You can, at the touch of a button, decide what fragrance there should be – perhaps to suit your mood, set the pillar lights to low intensity at night, let the panoramic sunroof show you the stars if you so choose out of a multitude of embedded patterns and then you can lay back and let the car give you a massage.
If you think that is asking for too much, watch as the car can pull out of its parking slot if the next car has not left enough space for you to get into the car. And if you are at the BMW pavilion then do check out the new X1 and the i8 which though displayed at the last Auto Expo still excites and amazes.

9. Tata Nexon

This surely could not be a Tata, is what I thought when I first looked at the Nexon. From the Bolt and the Zest to the to-be-renamed Zica, Tata Motors is on a roll as far as the design of its cars goes.

An edgy, in your face design was never the Tata thing but with the Nexon, Tata Motors has even taken it a step further. It is a production-ready concept is what the engineers told me.

I am pleasantly surprised by the levels of quality, fit and finish and how the car is put together apart from the design which may be a little loud for my liking, but is surely distinctive.

And while you are there, do check out the huge Hexa, which Tata Motors likes to call its premium lifestyle SUV, but which is actually an Aria MPV given the makeover but with a noticeable upgrade in quality and interiors.

10. Vintage and classic cars

Although most people visit the Auto Expo for brand new cars and cars of the future, tucked away at the far end of the Exposition Grounds, away from the hustle and bustle of the main area is Hall 16 and at its very end are over 20 classic and vintage cars and motorcycles including some cars and bikes that have been used in Bollywood movies like Dhoom and Bobby.

There is the original bug, the Volkswagen Beetle as well as the Volkswagen Bus in the Bollywood collection.