Jaguar XJ

The all new Jaguar XJ comes loaded with a 5.0 L supercharged AJ 8-cylinder V GEN III petrol engine with four-valve technology which belts out 385 PS of peak power at 6,500 rpm and churns 515 Nm at 3500 rpm. The 5000cc supercharged engine is coupled with ZF 6 speed transmission. The gearbox type is shift-by-wire six speed transmission that ensures drivers to change the gears manually without operating the clutch which can be done through steering wheel-mounted paddles. The all-new Jaguar XJ luxury sedan is loaded with sophisticated technology and features which include LED tail lights, Active Differential Control, air suspensions, Adaptive Dynamics (continuously variable damping), quick power steering, four zone climate control, rain sensing windscreen wipers, front parking aid, 12.3 inch full colour TFT-LCD instrument cluster with virtual information display and the list goes on and on.

The four-door saloon which comes in very design of sports coupe is more spacious than any other luxury car. The interior design of the car make one to feel free with 125mm of extra leg room for passenger and tear-drop shape of side window support it well. In addition, glass roof can be swept back for more natural light. Passive and active safety features make this vehicle more desirable than any other luxury saloon to name a few including pedestrian contact sensor, 3 flash land indicators, airbags at front and side (driver and passenger), airbag-side curtain, frontseats-whiplash protection system and seat belt reminder front and rear.

Jaguar XJ Mileage

The all-new Jaguar XJ comes fitted with 5.0 L V8 petrol AJ V8 GEN III engine which pumps out awesome 385 PS of maximum power at 6,500 rpm and generates an impressive peak torque of 515 Nm at 3,500 rpm. The maximum power of powertrain is well managed by ZF six-speed automatic transmission which results in utmost use of each and every drop of fuel. The vehicle gives an standard mileage of 5.8 kmpl in city and 10.5 kmpl on highway.

Power is the term which is never neglected by any potential customer or owner. In automobiles, power comes the first and helps the firm to get more customers. As far as this new offering of Jaguar is concerned, one need not to worry at all as the vehicle is fitted with most sophisticated powertrain and other supporting features. Let's see the specifications of powertrain. The engine which is in the heart of the machine is 5.0 L V8 petrol AJ V8 GEN III. The company, Jaguar India, claims it to be the most technically advanced Jaguar engine has ever created. This new powerhouse of Jaguar pumps out 385 PS of peak power at 6,500 rpm and develops a maximum torque of 515 Nm at 3,500 rpm. Faster acceleration, ultimate handling, better fuel economy and safety is determined by using advanced lightweight aluminium monocoque bodyshell.
ZF six speed automatic transmission ensures best use of power with the help of a fully-adaptive shift system which also promises silky gear shifting and ultimate performances. Some of other innovative integral parts of the vehicle such as air suspension, adaptive Dynamics and quick-ratio power steering provide superb handling and comfort
Jaguar XJ Exteriors

View Jaguar XJ Exterior Pictures

The sexy looks of the car tells everything which need not any adjectives. However, one would like to go through the expert words from industry people. So let's take a look on that too. The bodyshell is constructed using lightweight aluminium which is responsible for less fuel consumption due to its ligth weight and also ensure better handling and safety.

This four-door saloon that comes in sports coupe body is justified by sweeping roofline, swept-back Xenon light clusters. The Jaguar XJ bonnet is wider, sculpted power bulge and rigid looking manly wheels make the vehicle the most aerodynamic. Headlamps seems awesome with Adaptive front lighting, cornering lamps with washers and LED Signature lights. Other exterior features include power folding electric adjusted exterior mirrors, auto dimming with Courtesy Puddle lamps and memory function, heated windscreen,rain sensing windscreen wipers, heated rear window, front parking aid and rear parking camera aid (both include touch-screen visual indicators). Apart form this, the car incorporates LED tail lamps and tailpipes (twin with chrome finishers). The car sports a panoramic glass roof which is standard on all new XJ models. The glass roof can be swept back front the top of the windscreen.
Jaguar XJ Interior

View Jaguar XJ Interior Pictures

As soon as you enter in the cabin of the super luxury saloon, you must appreciate the design and advanced features from multimedia to sexy finish. It gives you the feeling of total comfort with handy use of instruments. You will first see the craftsmanship when you sit on driver's seat which is fitted with ample head and leg room. The three spoke leather steering wheel attract you to drive the car with highly advanced multimedia features. The front and rear portion is covered by premium carpet mat set whereas the front and rear seat come in soft grain leather.

The pan panoramic glass roof can be opened for natural lights and can be operated automatically. For avoiding scorching heat, a dark tint reflective coating is provided. Mirror-matched wood veneers curve add to the beauty of the car interiors which come in eleven shades. The veneers are borrowed from 1950's classic wooden speedboats.

One more exciting feature is there in the saloon, bathed in light. The bathed in light make the car a more luxurious place in night by turning blue. The light blue mood spreads in the cabin and turns you crazy.

Interior Comfort

The new luxury vehicle of Jaguar India launches a car with advanced technology and good comfort features. The car is spacious whether it is front or rear portion of the car. Head and legroom is ample for every passenger and driver itself. At the rear row around 1 meter of leg room is created for comfy seating. Twin Cup holder at front and rear seat's centre armset is also equipped with twin cup holders. A small storage compartment is encraved in the front centre console area for small things. Driver's foot rest and rear business trays and front ashtray with cigar lighters are provided especially for those who like to smoke in the car. Four zone climate control is also fitted for luxury.

Interior Measurements

The Jaguar XJ is regarded as the latest luxury saloon with four door which provides accommodation to five people. Five people can be accommodated easily in the car. The engineers of company managed to carve a nice rear legroom of 1,121mm which also make passengers' journey very special and comfortable. A nice headroom and legroom for all passenger and drive is provided for comfortable riding experience.

Jaguar XJ Engine and Performance

The car's powetrain is equipped with most advanced technology by Jaguar. The engine type is 5.0 L V8 petrol AJ V8 GEN III. The innovative power mill belts out 385 PS of peak power at 6500 rpm and churns a maximum torque of 515 Nm at 3500 rpm. The power and torque figures of the engine are enough evidence of masterpiece technology used in making by the engineers of the firm. The engine coupled with ZF six-speed automatic transmission along with a fully-adaptive shift system result in faster acceleration, zero loss of power while gearshifting or low speed and enhanced fuel economy. The electronically controlled six speed transmission can also be operated through steering wheel mounted paddles.
In view to make the car very special in term of performance, the vehicle is blessed with air suspension, quick-ratio power steering and Adaptive Dynamics which work together for amazing handling and control. The bodyshell of the four-wheeler is made of advanced lightweight aluminium monocoque which results in faster acceleration, greater handling, better mileage and shorter stopping distances.

Wheels

The car has wider and rigid wheels and tyres. The all new Jaguar XJ comes with larger wheelbase that is responsible for butter-smooth riding experience.

Braking & Handling

Braking and handling are unmatchable in this new machine which is also the flagship model of the company. The vehicle is equipped with front ventilated disc brake and rear disc brakes. The brakes are fitted with latest ABS systems which ensure instant halting at any level of speed. Features like Adaptive Dynamics, air suspension and quick-ratio power steering help to handle the four-wheeler in a much better way as to give a fine riding and control. The Jaguar XJ advanced lightweight aluminium monocoque bodyshell is very much to add faster acceleration and more precise handling. Handling is also refined through Adaptive Dynamics, air suspension and quick-ratio power steering.

Handling & Safety

The company has not compromised with the driver and passenger safety by providing a good number of passive and active features to name a few include pedestrian contact sensor, 3 flash land indicators, airbags at front and side (driver and passenger), airbag-side curtain, frontseats-whiplash protection system and seat belt reminder front and rear. For better handling of the mean machine, there are some standard and unique feature to Jaguar such as Adaptive Dynamics, electric parking brake, cruise control with automatic speed limiter, dynamic stability control with TRAC DSC mode along with air suspension and quick-ratio power steering.

Stereo & Accessories in Jaguar XJ

The dashboard of the car is flooded with many pathbreaking new technologies which help the driver and front passenger. The dashboard houses a virtual instrument display on a 12.3 inch high-definition glass screen which is fitted right behind the steering wheel. The audio systems, climate control etc can be operated with touch-screen facility thereby a few switches. The driver and front passenger can have different screens with Dual View that allows both to see different content simultaneously. The car boasts of powerful 1200W Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system and the Audyssey MultEQ audio tuning system. The system produces amazing clarity with the help of 20 speakers. The system is supported by the ultimate in digital sound processing technology. The Media Hub of the sound system is equipped with advanced technologies which allows using USB memory sticks, iPods from Gen III to the latest iPod and iPhone. The external media devices can be inserted in a docking panel which is fixed in the centre-console storage box. The 30 GB hard drive saves your favourite numbers automatically in it when you play any media device.
You can now buy Jaguar XJ accessories online. Great discounts available.

Pros & Cons

Jaguar XJ Pros :
Luxurious with most advanced technologies, spacious, finest exterior and interior. Amazing acceleration and control and handling

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Mercedes The new E-Guard

The new E-Guard

Following on shortly from the market launch of the new E-Class, Mercedes-Benz is also offering the E-Guard, the world’s most successful executive saloon as a special-protection model. This differs from the standard model mainly in that it has an intelligent network of protection features made from special steel and aramide, and polycarbonate windows all round. This network, supplied ex-factory and outwardly invisible, is integrated beneath the outer skin which is otherwise identical to that of the series-production vehicle. The new E-Guard Saloon offers its occupants effective protection against the increasing worldwide risk of criminal attack on the road and is classified as protection level VR4 according to BRV 2009. With this new E-Guard model, Mercedes-Benz is continuing its eight decades of expertise in the design and production of special-protection vehicles.

S 600 Pullman Guard – the new state occasions car with the highest protection

The new and prestigious S 600 Pullman Guard state limousine, with integral high-level VR6/VR7-rated protection (BRV 2009 ratings), is based on the vehicle body for the S 600. The wheelbase has been lengthened by 1150 mm and the roof raised, to make getting into and out of the vehicle even more comfortable. The Pullman format provides generous and luxurious space; and is rounded off by the ultimate in driving experiences. In addition to the comprehensive range of standard fittings and equipment for the S 600 Pullman Guard, we also offer optional extras, to allow you to modify the vehicle precisely to your requirements.

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Porsche Cayman S

A Blue-Blooded Valentine

 

Vital Stats

Engine:                                3.4L Flat-6

Power:                                 325 HP / 272 LB-FT

Transmission:                     7-Speed DCT

0-60 Time                           4.7 Seconds (0-62)

 

Top Speed:                          175 MPH

 

Drivetrain:                           Mid-Engine, RWD

 

Curb Weight                        2,910 LBS

 

MSRP:                                $88,220 (as-tested)

I need you to understand what it's like to drive this car. I'm not talking about your ability to comprehend the words on this page or process the figures that surround the 2014 Porsche Cayman S, but rather what it feels like to take control of a car conceived, designed, engineered and manufactured to set your prefrontal cortex alight with all the glee a Zippo typically reserves for pine needles marinated in jet fuel. From the instant you put your tail in the driver's seat, the Cayman sets about impregnating your veins with a full and varied spectrum of ludicrous emotion. It's not like taking the family pickup to market, I can tell you that much.

For 2014, the next-generation Cayman features many of the same styling tweaks first displayed on the coupe's drop-top cousin, the Boxster, though a spate of mechanical changes, more power, less weight and better efficiency join the party to further differentiate this model from its predecessor. And while additions like rev-matched downshifts and electronic power steering help push the Cayman into a new era, one fact remains unchanged: This is one of the best driving cars on the market. Period. Bear with me and I'll try to explain exactly why that is.

Engineers stretched the Cayman wheelbase by nearly 2.4 inches and widened the front track by 1.6 inches, and the result is a car with all four wheels pushed well to each corner. Thanks to shorter overhangs front and rear, total vehicle length has grown by a manageable 1.3 inches from stem to stern. That means it will take a keen eye to spot the machine's swell. Instead, onlookers are likely to first take note of the dramatic upkick from rocker panel to air inlet. Porsche calls the feature a "dynamic recess," and the contrasting black inlets really do shuttle air to the flat six mounted mid-ship.



Up front, the Cayman S splits from its more demure Cayman sibling with larger front air inlets framed by black plastic strakes instead of the standard body color treatment. Base models are left to suffer with a black front splitter while the S trim gets a bit of paint on the lower aero. Around back, the two can be separated via the exhaust outlet, where the Cayman uses one tip and S gets the double barrel treatment. Otherwise, the stern looks awfully familiar. Boxster fans will recognize the integrated lip spoiler stretching from tail lamp to tail lamp across the rear deck. The vehicle's mechanized spoiler, meanwhile, has grown in surface area by 40 percent to increase downforce at higher speeds.

This youngest of the Porsche sisters is still the fairest of them all, 911 included.

Designers did move the windscreen forward by nearly four inches, resulting in a finished product that looks a bit less like someone simply tack welded a roof onto the company's entry convertible. Still, the two cars share more than a few strands of DNA, and despite protests from engineers and designers alike, shoppers will inevitably look at the pair's third generation as two shades of the same hue.

As if that were a slight. This car is drop-dead gorgeous in the flesh. With its lusty flanks and new, optional 20-inch wheels, the Cayman looks more mature than ever. While purists can hem and haw all they like, the truth is the youngest of the Porsche sisters is still the fairest of them all, 911 included.



Meanwhile, the cabin has remained largely untouched for 2014. Drivers will welcome the addition of new sport seats. The thrones manage to thumb that fragile line between support and comfort, serving up fantastic lateral support without cutting off circulation to the body's more sensitive environs over a long haul. If I could afford it, I'd have them for every seat in the house, toilet included. Standard trim serves up a set of manually adjustable buckets with Alcantara inserts, though our tester came rocking power adjustable seats dipped in leather. European buyers, meanwhile, get to option up to a set of carbon fiber, fixed-back race buckets capable of bonding the seat of your jeans to the car's chassis on a molecular level. Unfortunately, the gear doesn't pass crash safety in the US, though we hear Porsche is working on that one. Keep your fingers crossed.

The base Cayman is now twice as rigid as the Boxster and substantially stiffer than even the 911.

Otherwise, the Cayman cabin features redesigned air vents, and the option sheet now comes packed with a 12-speaker Burmester sound system. By some engineering wizardry, the system turns out some 851 watts of power while tipping the scales at a scant 14.3 pounds. Regardless of whether or not you opt for the black-art stereo, odds are you'll appreciate the extra interior room over the second-gen Cayman. For 2014, the model boasts a total of 15 cubic feet of cargo area, up a little over half a cube overall. In addition, the longer wheelbase delivers a bit more leg room as well.

As with most Porsche products, it's what you don't see that separates Cayman generations, starting with the chassis itself. The body shell is now 44-percent aluminum for the first time. The move slashed body-in-white weight by some 103 pounds while increasing torsional rigidity by a baffling 40 percent. What does that mean, exactly? Porsche says the base Cayman is now twice as rigid as the Boxster and substantially stiffer than even the 911, making it one of the most rigid sports car chassis in the world.



Both the 2014 Cayman and Cayman S bring extra muscle to the table. Our S tester came with a 3.4-liter flat-six engine pumping out 325 horsepower at a screaming 7,400 rpm and 272 pound-feet of torque from between 4,500 and 5,800 rpm. More impressively, the six can wrap its tach all the way to 7,800 rpm before hitting the limiter. While a six-speed manual transmission is standard equipment, our machine came equipped with the nutty-good PDK dual-clutch seven-speed transmission. Those who stick with the row-your-own can now look forward to rev-matched downshifts when in Sport mode.

Hit the key and that menacing flat six barks and snarls before settling into a smooth idle.

Engineers also turned a keen eye on helping the Cayman S get down from speed, and as a result, the coupe now features the same front brakes as the mighty 911 itself. With stiffer four-piston calipers, better cooling and larger 13-inch front discs, the clamps had no trouble shouldering two days of hard driving through the twisting hills of southern Portugal, complete with a morning of bashing around the Autodromo Internacional Agarve – a fiendish track used for Moto GP events and Formula One testing. Carbon ceramic brakes are also available, offering up lifetime durability in non-track use as well as a substantial cut in unsprung weight. Porsche says going for the carbon discs can pull as much as 52 pounds from the brake system's total mass.

But again, all that information doesn't so much as utter a syllable about how it feels to pilot this car. Slide into the driver's seat and the 2014 Cayman wastes no time in serving up what might be the perfect driving position. Those excellent buckets situate you high enough to deliver plenty of visibility with all but the tops of both fenders clear from view. Hit the key and that menacing flat six barks and snarls before settling into a smooth idle. If your heart hasn't started beating to match time with the flat six by now, you might want to get the organ checked.



Under civil driving conditions, the PDK gearbox is content to prattle along with nearly imperceptible shifts. Under deceleration, the drivetrain can also kick into a coast mode to save fuel, and an auto start stop system means the driveline keeps from sucking down gas while the car is at a stop. Kick the two-door into Sport mode, stiffen the optional adjustable suspension, crack open the available sports exhaust and the car opens up like the maw of some hyperactive sea beast, whipping from comfortable tourer to mountain crest hellion with a few button presses.

The Cayman S can clip off a 0-60 run in a shave under 4.7 seconds on the way to a terminal velocity of 175 mph.

Those of you who started bellyaching when you first heard the Cayman now comes with electronic power steering can politely shut your faces. The tiller is as precise as you're likely to find on any machine, delivering excellent feedback with plenty of communication. If you don't know what the front wheels are doing in the Cayman S, you can't blame the car.

If you don't know what the front wheels are doing, you can't blame the car.

The PDK really is the only "automatic" transmission I've had my hands on that can accurately anticipate which gear I need to be in for whatever assault on proper driving I'm attempting to execute at that particular moment. The shift logic is something from another future, one where there's a little German gnome clinging to your brain stem and barking commands at the gearbox via HAM radio. Go for the wheel-mounted paddle shifters and the hardware pops off blistering shifts that hit like a telephone book to the lower back. As a die-hard defender of the manual transmission, I can honestly say this tech is driving bliss.

Get the Cayman S out on a track and it's immediately clear what Porsche has cooked up with this car. The platform is incredibly forgiving, turning even butter-fisted yokels like myself into competent lappers. With a little prompting, the Cayman will rotate in a nice, slow, even breakaway before squatting on its haunches and popping out of a corner. Those massive brakes tolerate regular sieges without drama or significant fade, providing a confident pedal with excellent initial bite. That's true even after a handful of hard laps trying to chase down a 911.

If this all sounds like a love note, it should. The 2014 Cayman S isn't just good. It conjures explicative-laced smiles from your lips like a bucket draws water from a well, but that doesn't mean I'm a smitten man. As lustworthy as the Cayman S is, kitting one out to the level of excellence found in our tester will see you spend some serious cash. It doesn't take much strolling to walk right up to the $90,000 barrier on this car. While the base MSRP of $52,600 is more manageable, the Cayman S starts at $63,800, and by the time the dust settled on our tester's price tag, we were looking at $88,220, including a $950 destination fee. Getting frisky with the option sheet puts you in deep waters prowled by the likes of hardware like the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, as well as plenty of sheetmetal decorated with letters like AMG, M and even CTS-V.

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Electric Hybrid Car

The Opec oil crisis of the early 1970s, Jeffrey Kaffee, a former commercial pilot, remembers, led to huge frustration at long petrol queues. Lesson learnt, years later Kaffee became a Prius owner. Then, last week, he moved on to General Motors' new plug-in electric hybrid, the Chevrolet Volt.

Kaffee was on holiday in Florida when the car came in to his local dealership, in Denville, New Jersey. The sellers flew him back for the day to take the silver-coloured five-door saloon for a spin.
"We drove it a lot," he said. "The car was on all day. It was after 2 o'clock when I  was finished for the day and I looked down and it had half a battery to go. It was doing fine."
Impressed by the test run, Kaffee, who is now an estate agent, decided to make the car his main commuting vehicle.
The Volt is the first extended-range electric vehicle to be made for the mass market by one of the big US carmakers, and hits the streets at the same time as the Nissan Leaf, an entirely electric hatchback.
Both cars are being marketed as green alternatives, with Nissan running adverts showing a driver getting hugged by a polar bear. The two electric rivals began shipping out last week, in limited quantities to selected areas, including California, Texas, New York, New Jersey and Washington.
Unlike initial experiences with electric cars in the 1990s – when General Motors ended up recalling and crushing the entire fleet – the Volt, first unveiled at the Detroit auto show four years ago, is seen as an important part of GM's comeback.
Early indications are encouraging. The car has received gushing reviews from car magazines, and more than 200,000 people have signed up for more information about the Volt on the company website.
The Volt's additional small petrol engine is seen as a safeguard against the "range anxiety" - the distance it is possible to travel on a charged battery - that is associated with 100% electric vehicles.
Even Kaffee, who initially signed up for both vehicles, had reservations. "The Leaf is a great car around town but you can't really take it on an extended trip," he said. "You wouldn't want a day when you are out there and you are out of juice."
So far availability of the Volt has been limited; 160 cars were shipped last week, and only 10,000 more are planned for all of next year. So there are waiting lists.
There were reports last week that some showrooms were charging a premium of as much as $5,000 over the manufacturers' price.
The Volt manages between 35 and 40 miles on a single charge before the petrol engine takes over, extending the possible range to about 380 miles. It takes about eight hours to fully recharge the battery on the standard American 110-volt household outlet.
The price of the car starts at $41,000 (£26,000), which is relatively expensive in the US, but sellers say the price is dictated by the $15,000 cost of the battery pack. Customers in the US are, however, eligible for a $7,300 tax credit, bringing down the price to about $33,000.
The Leaf is reported to be able to travel about 100 miles on a single charge. The car sells for just under $33,000 and also qualifies for a $7,500 tax credit, bringing down the price to about $25,000.

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'BURNING DESIRE'

Brit and Ivor Novello award winner Lana Del Rey today released the video for 'Burning Desire'. It was written and composed by the singer songwriter and will feature as the title track to a special film called 'Desire' starring Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis, which has been created by Jaguar and the award winning producers Ridley Scott Associates.
The 'Burning Desire' music video was filmed on location in South East London at the infamous Rivoli Ballroom, a Grade II listed former cinema that was transformed in the 1950's and is the only remaining intact ballroom from its period in London.
The distinctive venue's eclectic mix of neo-classical, deco style perfectly complements Lana's original style. In the video she is seen wearing a vintage Ghost floor length silk dress as she performs the track.
Lana Del Rey said:"Film has always been so precious to me and I'm so proud to be a part of what Jaguar have envisioned for their new car with Damian Lewis. Making art means making tough decisions. I do believe you create your own life path and that you will be rewarded for following your passions - and sticking to it. It's just good to know now, with people like Jaguar and working with them, that I'm not the only one out there with such strident, creative beliefs."
Lana Del Rey's collaboration with the luxury car brand was first announced last September, with the singer performing the song for the first and only time to an exclusive and intimate audience at Paris's Musee Rodin at the global reveal of the F-TYPE. The F-TYPE is the first two-seater sports car from Jaguar since the iconic E-type was launched 50 years ago.
Ian Armstrong, Global Marketing Communications Director, Jaguar said: "Lana Del Rey is a world-class singer songwriter. In this video, she has used her unique ability to conjure, reflect and then reinterpret an aesthetic from a different era both for herself and for the F-TYPE."
The film that features the track tells the story of Clark (Damian Lewis), who delivers cars for a living, running into trouble after a chance encounter with a mysterious, young woman (Shannyn Sossamon) in the middle of a lawless desert. Directed by Adam Smith, this is a story of betrayal, retribution, passion and greed. The film will be released in Spring 2013.

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Aston Martin Vanquish

Aston Martin unveiled the Project AM310 Concept at the Concorso D’Eleganza at Villa D'Este on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. The concept showed how the future successor to the DBS would look.Aston Martin later announced that the concept would be put into production as the all new Aston Martin Vanquish.

2012 Aston Martin Vanquish rear view

The exterior styling of the Vanquish is an evolution of the DBS with many styling cues such as the elongated side strakes being inspired by the One-77. The boot lid includes an integrated rear spoiler designed to look as if it is impossible to make; this was done on the orders of Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr. Ulrich Bez. The car has an exposed carbon fibre skirt showing its all carbon fibre body. The Vanquish uses the new Generation 4 VH chassis which is lighter and uses more carbon fibre than the Generation 2 VH used in the DBS.

The car features an all new interior based on the one found in the exclusive Aston Martin One-77. The standard interior is trimmed in hand stitched leather and alcantara available in a range of colours. The centre stack features an improved infotainment system over the one found in the DBS. The car is available as either a 2-seater or 2+2.

The Vanquish uses an upgraded version of Aston Martin’s flagship V12 engine with a power output of 573 PS (421 kW; 565 bhp) at 6,750 rpm and torque of 620 N·m (460 lb·ft) at 5,500 rpm. Like most Aston Martins, the engine is front mid mounted with the power going to the rear wheels. It uses a fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves. The Vanquish uses an updated touchtronic2 transmission, Aston Martin's automatic gearbox, and unlike the DBS is only available as an automatic. It will be the first Aston Martin available with launch control.
The brakes are ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 398 mm (15.7 in) six-piston callipers in the front and 360 mm (14.2 in) four-piston callipers in the rear. The suspension is a lightweight aluminium front sub frame with hollow castings with independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers in the front and independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers in the rear. It has a three stage adjustable adaptive damping system including normal, sport and track modes. The tires are Pirelli P Zeros, 255/ZR20 in the front and 305/30 ZR20 in the rear.
As part of Aston Martin's 100th anniversary celebration, a Vanquish was airlifted onto the helipad of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on January 17, 2013

 

 

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2013 Jaguar XF

Jaguar's 2013 model year-mania continues with the XF series that gains a similar suite of updates to the larger XJ saloon that we told you about in a previous posting and then some more, including the introduction of the new Sportbrake that will start from £31,940 when it goes on sale in the UK later this year.

As with the XJ, the XF continues without any alterations to its design for the new model year, but with many changes under the hood.

The executive model's engine lineup is expanded with two new forced induction petrol powerplants, a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 delivering 335hp (340PS) and 450Nm (332 lb-ft) that replaces in some markets the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four rated at 237hp (240PS) and 340Nm (251 lb-ft).

The 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel range is now available in 161hp (163PS) and 197hp (200 PS) outputs with the latter replacing the existing 187hp (190PS) output engine.

These engines join the existing line-up of 3.0-litre V6 Turbodiesel and Supercharged 5.0-litre V8 petrols.

We should mention that not all engines will be available to all markets (i.e. the 2.0-liter turbo petrol in the UK), while the estate version of the XF will be offered at launch exclusively with diesel powerplants.

For 2013, Jaguar is also expanding the use of its new 8-speed automatic transmission with a start and stop system to all gasoline and diesel engines across the range improving emissions on the V6 Diesel engines by six per cent and on the supercharged V8 petrol by up to 11 percent.

The range topping 503hp (510PS) XFR can now be enhanced with an optionally available new Speed Pack that is equipped with revised engine and gearbox calibration, a new front aero splitter and a new rear wing. With this package, the XFR can reach an increased limited top speed of 174mph (280km/h) instead of 155km/h (250km/h).

Jaguar has also replaced the Bowers and Wilkins system with a new Meridian audio system.

As with the 2013 XJ, Jaguar is expected to release country-specific details on the XF in the coming months.

SLIDESHOW

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BMW launches new version of sports utility vehicle XI at Rs 27.9 lakh

: German luxury car maker BMW today launched all new version of its entry level sports utility vehicle X1 with price starting at Rs 27.9 lakh (ex showroom Delhi).

The company, which sold a total of 9,375 units in India in 2012, said it is looking to grow its sales amid tough market conditions on the back of new model introductions and new dealerships.
"This year we are looking at a certain growth in India. This will be on the back of new models such as the new X1 and 1 series which will be launched towards the end of the year," BMW Group India President Philipp von Sahr told reporters here.
He said the 1 series would be assembled at the company's Chennai plant and will be the sixth model to be assembled in India.
The new X1 is powered by a 2-litre diesel engine and will be available in three options with the base model priced at Rs 27.9 lakh and the other two priced at Rs 32.5 lakh.
Commenting on the market conditions, von Sahr said the overall economic situation doesn't look promising but the company was looking to sell more cars than last year.
"We will be adding new dealerships and this will give us new market," he said.
BMW has so far sold 5,435 X1s units in India since its launch in January 2007.
The base model of the new X1 would be more expensive than the earlier model by Rs 40,000 and BMW India will no longer offer petrol variant of the X1.

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Face-lifted BMW X6 Launched

   

           

Priced at Rs 78.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the xDrive40d Diesel model and and Rs 93.40 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the xDriver50i Petrol model, the new BMW X6 will look at further expanding its niche customer base with looks and features that now make for a more compelling purchase option

If ‘Beauty and the Beast’ have ever managed to harmoniously merge into creating a single product , it would most certainly have to be the BMW X6. Presented to the world as a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) and selling in India since 2009, this oxymoron of a vehicle despite being the brand’s least selling utility vehicle in the country has played a key role in building the brand’s reputation as one that can in fact design cars that are worth drooling over.

Operating in a very niche upmarket utility vehicle space with no real competition the X6 recently progressed into its second generation look  and now replaces its predecessor looking more aggressive, flamboyant and curvacious than before.

The face-lifted BMW X6 is now on sale pan India and presents a more expressive Sports Activity Coupé demeanor with modified details such as standard fog lights now set in matt finish surrounds, a higher and more lateral position that emphasies the width of the vehicle, a three-dimensional modelling of the frame and a newly designed kidney grille that stands out at the front of the vehicle. 

Having done away with the bi-xenon lights for the 2013 model, the X6 is the first vehicle in this segment to be fitted with adaptive LED headlamps as standard. Also visible are the 19-inch light alloy wheels featuring a double spoke design in bi-colour.

A massive 4.4-litre V8 for the the xDriver50i petrol model and an in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine for the BMW X6 xDrive40d will now mobilise the new X6 producing 408PS and 306PS respectively. Both models get a standard 8-speed sports transmission including shift paddles at the steering wheel. The Dynamic Performance Control feature is a standard fitment across all versions of the BMW X6 as is the intelligent all-wheel drive system xDrive system.

Even the insides have undergone special treatment with better quality leathers for the four-seater model. The luggage compartment volume of the Sports Activity Coupé is 570 litres and can be extended to up to 1,450 litres by folding down the rear backrests.

The 2013 X6 obviously benefits from the Driver assistance systems offered through BMW’s ConnectedDrive system and will be available in two exclusive packages for customers. The Innovation Package enhances driving experience through Adaptive Full-LED Headlights, BMW Head-up Display and BMW Apps, while the Luxury Package is designed specifically for customers with a focus on comfort. The package includes special Comfort Seats with Lumbar Support, Active Seat Ventilation and Seat Heating.

Speaking at the launch of the new BMW X6 Philipp von Sahr, President, BMW Group India said, “There are SUVs and there are coupes, but there is only one BMW X6. This vehicle is like no other. It unites apparent opposites, such as size with agility and sportiness with elegance. It’s a sports car that also feels at home when away from the road. That is why, we have created a separate vehicle category for the BMW X6 – the Sports Activity Coupe. These three words encompass everything that makes the BMW X6 so special and this is apparent at first sight. And there is another certainty. The new BMW X6 will definitely attract attention, wherever it goes.”

Priced at Rs 78.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the now better displaced xDrive40d Diesel model and and even heftier price tag of Rs 93.40 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the xDriver50i Petrol model, the new BMW X6 will continue to sell as a CBU (Completely Built-up) unit here in India and demand a handsome price for its enigmatic on road persona among other personal merits.


SLIDESHOW

 

                   

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Porsche Boxster S

Inside Porsche is a conflict that’s tearing it apart. On the one hand there’s the good old rear-engined 911, the sportscar icon; a car designed with enough space to fit a set of golf clubs in; a compromise. On the other are the more purist options, the Boxster and the Cayman; both middle-of-the-road, mid-engined sportscars with their engines in the right place. Logically, it’s the 911 that should be softer and more rounded, and the mid-engined cars that should be harder and faster. But no. Legacy and some mind-bending Porsche engineering have proved that the 911 can cut it with the best, less-than-perfect rear-engined weight distribution be damned. The original Carrera RS, the first 993 Turbo and the recent GT3 RS all have that touch of pure Porsche genius, and the fact that the 911 is simply a great driver’s car is almost impossible to ignore. Question is, how much better could the 911 have been if it had its engine in the right place? Exactly the debate that must be raging inside Porsche, engineers on one side, marketeers and Porsche traditionalists on the other.
Now, understandably, Porsche doesn’t want to upset the apple cart and wants steady sales of the 911 and its 20-odd derivatives. But there’s recently been a new reality emerging. The good people at Porsche are now pretty convinced that a 911 customer is very different from a Boxster buyer, and that, God bless them, is part of the reason the new Boxster has taken giant leaps forward. This, without a shadow of doubt, is by far the best Boxster yet.
Let’s take a quick tour. For a start, there’s almost nothing that’s carried over from the earlier 987. This new Boxster, or 981, is based on the all-new 911, and that means it immediately benefits from having a much stiffer and lighter chassis. There’s masses of aluminium used, the weight of the car has been pared down to a light 1350kg, the wheelbase is much longer, the stance is much wider and the new Boxster shares the Carrera’s much-talked-about electro-mechanical steering and front suspension too. So in essence, this car is three-fourths the brilliant new 911, but with the engine in the right place. Only the rear axle is carried over from the old car, but has been updated. To improve traction, Porsche has tagged Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) onto the rear wheels and the centre of gravity is marginally lower too. So here, straight up, is a huge technical advantage.
The new Boxster also looks more grown up. It no longer possesses the soft, cuddly, puppy dog-like lines of its predecessor. Look closely and you’ll see a hardness and purposefulness not seen on earlier versions. There are hints of the Carrera GT in the design, the vertically stacked elements in the headlights remind you of the legendary
917 and the lines are tighter, crisper and more muscular. This Boxster now gets bespoke doors instead of borrowing the 911’s, the rear spoiler is uniquely integrated with the tail-lights and the car can now be bought with larger 20-inch wheels for additional stability and traction.
A big surprise, as I step into the high-quality leather-lined cabin, is that the Boxster no longer feels like it is a size down on a 911. There’s the normal smattering of high-quality Porsche bits here, the large tachometer at the centre is exactly what you need for spirited driving, and the Carrera GT-style raised central console gives the cabin a cockpit-like feel. This car also has the much nicer paddleshift-equipped steering wheel which is leagues better than the flawed push-button-to-shift system, and essential when you’re driving hard. And while the plastic quality of the buttons on the centre console is strictly average and pulls down the overall ambience somewhat, the smart-looking vents with their slatted extensions look really good.
But the Boxster has always been about how it drives, rather than how it looks and feels, and with 400-odd kilometres of fantastic driving roads ahead of me, I’m keen to get going. Immediately the Boxster puts a Howrah Bridge-wide smile on my face. There’s a delicious rasp to the flat six motor that’s straight off a ’60s Porsche GT racer and you can almost picture the exhaust shooting out of the twin pipes at the back. Pull the flat six to its high 7800rpm redline and the blat from the rear gets even harder-edged. We make our way out of the sleepy town of St Tropez, and with the sun coming up, the Boxster rips past the jetty, sending a gaggle of overweight seagulls scattering. The residents of St Tropez are not impressed.
Our route today takes us through some of the best driving roads in Europe. We are headed up from the south of France in the direction of the fabled Route Napoleon, where you have corner upon corner of fast and wide tarmac. And if that isn’t quite enough, we’re also going to hook past Castellane, a famous special stage of the Monte Carlo rally. Driving nirvana awaits.

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Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II

Rolls-Royce, with the Phantom, had set a new benchmark in terms of luxury tourers. There was great performance, and all from the rich comfort of one of the most luxurious car cabins in the world. Rolls had outdone itself. Or so we thought, till the carmaker came up with the Phantom Series II. If you thought the old Phantom was good, then this new one will absolutely take you by storm.
There are improvements all round. The new car is even smoother than the old one, thanks to a new eight-speed gearbox mated to the twelve-cylinder motor. It is more economical because of the extra gears, but then, most Rolls owners have not been known to care much about fuel bills. The suspension has also been tweaked subtly to make the Phantom a tad more sporty. A more responsive throttle map can be turned on via an ‘S’ button on the steering wheel. Not that being sporty was ever a condition with any Rolls.
The new Phantom does do a great job of amplifying comfort levels and that feeling of luxury. The suspension gobbles up bad roads with utter ease, faint and nearly unnoticeable thuds the only indication. Barely any noise creeps into the cabin, even when you rev the engine freely. So when you step inside, you’re practically sealed into luxury.
So, what are the changes made to the Phantom II? The old car’s pig-eye fog lamps have made way for a nicer-looking LED headlight setup featuring fully automatic brights and some rectilinear daytime running lights. The imposing Parthenon grille is now made of a single piece of stainless steel, unlike the bonded three-piece component of old. Other exterior changes are
to the C pillar, which gets new chrome treatment, and a rear bumper that’s been refined.
The six-and-three-quarter-litre engine makes ‘adequate’ power, which is a bit of an understatement. The 453bhp and 73.4kgm of torque gets to 100kph in 5.7sec, but it never feels that quick. This I believe, is down to the taller ratio in the new differential that makes occupants feel like they’re gathering speed when they’re actually piling it on.
For a car that’s this big, it’s rather easy to drive. The square dimensions make guiding it through traffic a cinch, the view from the high driver’s seat is excellent, and visibility is improved by the elephant-ear rear view mirrors.
This brings us to that other useful feature that the new Series II has – cameras all around the car that beam images to BMW’s latest iDrive screen. And when you’re trying to park this leviathan, you need all the help you can get.
The cabin, of course, is finished to the expected highest standards, with lovely wood, soft leather, bright chrome bezels and tactile handles and buttons. Everything you touch has the right texture and tension to tell you it’s the best possible solution for its purpose. The thin-rimmed steering wheel is evocative of the traditional, albeit with multiple buttons integrated around the hub, and you can’t help but get sucked in by the old-world charm that this cabin exudes.
In the end, it may seem like Rolls-Royce has been extremely cautious with upgrading the Phantom, but when the last one was already so good, I think there’s no point in fixing what wasn’t broken. Sir Henry Royce had a principle – ‘take the best that exists and make it better’. That’s exactly what Rolls has done with the Series II.

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Audi Q5 facelift

Since its launch in 2009, the Q5 has always lived in the shadow of the Q7. Despite being substantially cheaper it never managed to outsell its big brother. So the mild facelift and fine tweaks will give it a tiny but much needed shot in the arm

To start off with the visual changes you need a spy’s attention to spot the minor differences in the new Q5 over the old one. The changes lie with a grille that now takes Audi’s new hexagonal shape and its detailing that differ depending on what engine is under the hood. The headlights get new daytime running lamps, the bumper is new and the fog lights have chrome ring surrounds. At the rear, the tail-lamps get different LEDs and there’s a new rear diffuser. Thanks to the wide stance and high bonnet, the Q5 looks quite brawny.

 

There are some subtle changes to the interiors too and the cabin now looks even richer than the old version. The Q5 is offered with the same range of engines as before, but Audi has increased their power output and also claim that the Q5 is 15% more fuel efficient than before. We drove the 3.0 litre diesel and the 2.0 litre petrol extensively to see what it’s like.

 

The 3.0litre diesel Q5 was always our favourite and now with even more power it has become even better. At the heart of it all is the 3.0-litre, V6 diesel with common-rail diesel injection and a variable vane turbo that makes 245bhp and 59kgm of twisting force. That’s 5bhp and a massive 8kgm more than the old car. As a result the V6 turbo-diesel propels this 1.8tonne beast to 100kph in 6.5seconds flat. But the kick in the kidneys every time you floor the delightfully sprung floor-pivoted throttle pedal makes the Q5 feel even faster than the figures suggest. This is a shockingly quick car, whisking you to ludicrous speeds from as little as 1200rpm in one hard, linear shove.

The 2.0 TFSI turbo petrol on the other hand is a much tamer beast. But still it has more than enough grunt on hand. The lusty mid-range and strong top-end holds the key to the 2.0TFSI’s terrific performance. This turbo-petrol isn’t going to wind to dizzy revs like a naturally aspirated engines do but it is smooth all the way to the 6500rpm limit.

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Mercedes ML 250 CDI

In the ML 250 CDI, Mercedes-Benz has quite a tempting car on offer. At Rs 46.50 lakh, the M-class undercuts an Audi Q5 in terms of price, and the Mercedes is a size bigger than the Audi. The four-cylinder ML 250 CDI also costs a whopping Rs 10 lakh less than the top-end ML 350 CDI. But this is not a case of Mercedes cutting corners as, apart from losing two cylinders (the full-spec ML 350 CDI has six cylinders), there isn’t much else you’re losing out on, and here’s why.

The 2.2-litre, twin-turbocharged engine under the bonnet of this SUV makes 201bhp and a very healthy 50.1kgm of torque. And while 201bhp to power the M-class’s considerable 2160kg isn’t much, it’s the torque this engine musters that makes all the difference. Flat out, it will hit 100kph in a respectable 8.8sec and will go on to a top speed of 210kph, and this is more than adequate for most of our conditions.

On the downside though, the smaller-engined ML takes more time to gather speed when attempting to overtake than the more powerful 350 CDI. Now, four-cylinder motors aren’t particularly quiet, but this one is special with its smoothness and refinement. It’s very quiet at idle and hums along gently till 3000rpm, after which there is a rather pleasing growl as you rev it to the redline. Merc’s engineers have done a stellar job at keeping this engine hushed. We just wish the seven-speed automatic gearbox was a bit quicker-acting. It shifts leisurely, with no jerks through the gears, but sometimes when you want a quick overtake, it doesn’t respond with the urgency that you demand. Even tugging at the paddle-shifters doesn’t help here – the gearbox responds a few seconds after you’ve asked for an upshift or a downshift.

Another difference is that the Ml 250 CDI makes do with conventional steel springs, as opposed to the air suspension that its bigger brother gets. This is not as bad as it sounds because the 250’s ride isn’t all that different from the air-suspension version. The low-speed ride is a bit firm, but it flattens out beautifully as you go faster. And like all Mercs, this one is absolutely, unshakeably stable at high speeds. This unflustered nature and the incredibly well-insulated cabin make for a very calm and relaxed motoring experience.

The ML 250 CDI is not as engaging to drive as some of its rivals – it’s not particularly eager at quick direction changes and you can feel the near-2.2-tonne weight moving about under sharp manoeuvres but, then again, it’s not too sloppy. With all-wheel-drive grip and a steering that’s wonderfully fluid in its action, you can extract some pleasure from driving it on a smooth, flowing road.

In all other aspects, the ML 250 CDI is as nice and capable as its bigger brother, the ML 350 CDI. You get the same spacious interiors, fantastic build quality, five comfortable seats and the special appeal that’s a part of owning a Three-pointed Star.

Price Range (in lakhs)*

Ex-showroom price

Rs 46.5 lakh

ENGINE

Fuel	Diesel
Installation	Front, longitudnal
Type	2143cc, 4 cyl in-line, common-rail, twin-turbo-diesel
Power	201bhp at 4200rpm
Torque	50.98kgm at 1600-1800rpm

Transmission

Type	All wheel drive
Gearbox	7-speed automatic

Dimensions

Length	4804mm
Width	1926mm
Wheel base	2915mm
Boot volume	690 litres

Chassis & Body

Weight	2160kg
Tyres	255/55 R18
Spare	Space saver

 

Brakes

Front	Ventilated discs
Rear	Solid discs

 

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