IAB Report – Mahindra releases one last teaser before the new Scorpio’s unveiling

Comes with a raft of changes, mechanically and visually.

Riding on the ‘third generation’ chassis, the new Mahindra Scorpio will launch today at a ceremony in Mumbai. While several leaks in the past few days have revealed the feature quotient of the SUV, the front and rear of the car, and the variants on offer, the all-important prices will be only be known today.

The Scorpio comes with several first-time features.

Hours before the press conference, Mahindra have revealed another teaser of the SUV, showing the foglight of the car. To be offered with a 2.5-liter m2DiCr engine (in the base S2 trim) and the 2.2-liter mHawk diesel engine (on other variants), the SUV gets a new 5-speed manual gearbox.

Mahindra have given the SUV many firsts in features like LED daytime running lights, touchscreen system with GPS, 17-inch wheels and rear grab handles. The dashboard is fully revamped with an updated design, upgraded audio system, new instrument cluster, and a steering wheel borrowed from the XUV500.

Despite its age and the arrival of new competitors, the Scorpio continues to enjoy market leadership in the SUV segment and has averaged 4,022 units monthly sales so far this year.

Also Read: Mahindra Scorpio shows its revamped interior

Rivals: Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano, Tata Safari Storme

Expected Price: INR 8.5-13 lakhs, ex-showroom

Launch date: Today (September 25)

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BMW i8 Goes for a Hot Lap around Laguna Seca [Video]

   BMW’s marketing machine claimed that the i8 will be rivaling the likes of the Audi R8 and Porsche 911 in their initial efforts but things aren’t exactly like that in real life. Sure, on paper things are looking up for the hybrid but on a real track, in the hands of a race car driver results may vary.

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2016 Kia Optima Spied Testing in Europe [Photo Gallery]

   The Optima did a lot for Kia in terms of sales volumes. The mid-size sedan was first introduced in 2000, while the current generation has been with us since 2010. And as things stand at Kia these days, the Optima is due to receive a new generation next year.

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Indonesia Live – Daihatsu Terios Spirit mini SUV

The Toyota Rush’s badge-engineered cousin travels through time.

PT Astra Daihatsu Motor (ADM) displayed the Daihatsu Terios Spirit at its stand alongside several other concepts, cars and displays at the Indonesia International Motor Show 2014 (IIMS 2014).

Not only is the Spirit an exhibit to market the customization potential of the Terios, it is also the forerunner to the Terios facelift that the Indonesian media expect in showrooms next year.

One marketing official at ADM confirms that future Terios production models will be much like the Spirit. The first results could be seen as early as the first quarter of 2015.

The Terios Spirit is fixed with new headlamps, grille, and bumper. The headlamps get LED lights and projectors, that look production ready. The front bumper is garnished with chrome accents and the side profile is jazzed-up with a chrome band on the wheelbase, mirror-mounted indicators, black roof rails and chrome alloy wheels. At the rear, the Spirit flaunts a large roof spoiler and clear-lens taillamps.

The mechanical assembly of the car continues as it is with the 1,495 cc four-cylinder petrol engine that develops 109 PS (107.46 bhp) at 6,000 rpm and 14.4 kg-m (141.2 Nm) at 4,400 rpm, paired with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The mini SUV, in its everyday specification, measures 4,385 mm x 1,695 mm x 1,695 mm (LxWxH) with a wheelbase of 2,685 mm.

Also Read: Daihatsu UFC-3 mini MPV concept premieres at IIMS 2014

Daihatsu Terios Spirit at the 2014 Indonesia International Motor Show – Image Gallery

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It's Mercedes-AMG C 63, Not Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG [Photo Gallery]

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Spied – Production Ssangyong X100 compact SUV’s patent sketches leaked

Ford EcoSport rival from the Mahindra-owned company launching next year in Europe. 

Ssangyong will debut at the upcoming Paris Motor Show the XIV Adventure and XIV Air concepts. These concepts preview the company’s new compact SUV (codenamed Ssangyong X100) which is slated to launch sometime early next year.

The production X100 looks familiar from all the concepts Ssangyong has presented over the last two years.

The production-spec Ssangyong X100’s patent sketches have been leaked in China providing us a comprehensive look at the car’s design. Complete with registration plate holders, indicators, door handles, muffler, windshield wipers and a fuel lid, the car should be revealed soon after the Paris Motor Show.

The car will begin a new design chapter for Ssangyong with a sharp front end featuring peeled back headlamps and symmetrical foglamps. The roofline of the SUV slopes gently towards the C-Pillar, reminiscing the Range Rover Evoque, while the rear wheel arch is accentuated with an extra crease. At the rear, designers have given it curvy taillamps, recessed tailgate and a stoplamp on the bumper.

The SUV would measure about 4.1 meters in length and sport an Evoquish roofline

While details on the compact SUV are limited, the company says that the concepts coming to the Paris Motor Show will measure 4,195 mm in length and have a wheelbase of 2,600 mm. This description should fit the production car.

Power for the SUV will come from a 1.6-liter engine, though it remains unconfirmed if this engine uses turbocharging. The engine is reported to get 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions, adhering to Euro 6 emission standards. This is will be a newly developed engine from Ssangyong.

Power for the car will come from a 1.6-liter Euro 6 compliant engine.

Also see: Ssangyong mini SUV’s interior partially revealed in China

The compact SUV is a key product for the Mahindra-owned Korean carmaker which announced its Promise 2016 plan at the start of this year. The company aims to double sales in 3 years under this growth plan.

Competitors: Ford EcoSport, Hyundai ix25, Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008

Expected Price: Below 15,000 GBP (INR 15 lakhs), ex-Showroom

Launch date in Europe: Early 2015

Ssangyong X100 Leaked Patent Drawings – Image Gallery

Ssangyong XIV Concept Teased – Image Gallery

[Spy images from Auto Ifeng]

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IAB Report – Renault Duster AWD launched at 11.89 lakhs

Premium variant takes on the upcoming Mahindra Scorpio.

The Renault Duster All Wheel Drive variant was launched today at a price of INR 11,89,499 rupees for the RxL variant and INR 12,99,499 for the RxZ variant (ex-showroom Delhi).

Mr. Sumit Sawhney, Country CEO and Managing Director, and Rafael Treguer, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, of Renault India, launched the Duster AWD.

The vehicle is fitted with an all-wheel drive system that Renault dubs as the ‘i Drive Technology.’ It offers shift-by-fly options for 2WD, Auto & 4WD. The car driven by a 6-speed manual transmission.

The vehicle is powered by a 1.5-liter diesel engine that develops 110 PS (108.45 bhp) @ 4,000 rpm and 245 Nm @ 1,750 rpm. It returns 19.72 km/l in the ARAI test.

The Duster AWD features ESP, ASR and an ‘ECO’ driving mode.

Features on the AWD variant include Electronic Stability programme (ESP), Anti-Skid resistance (ASR), Hill Start Assist and cruise control. Other safety features include ABS with EBD and brake assist, and dual front airbags. The engine has an ‘ECO Mode’ which reduces fuel consumption by 10 percent when activated.

The cabin is enriched with a multi-information display panel, 8-way adjustable driver seat, ‘medianav’ infotainment system, steering-mounted audio controls and electrically adjustable outside mirrors.

Cosmetic changes are reserved to body graphics and the AWD badge.

The AWD variants are available in amazon green, pearl galaxy black, pearl supreme white, metallic woodland brown, metallic graphite grey and metallic moonlight silver body colours.

You can refer the release below for additional details.

Renault Duster AWD – Press Release

[Head to Slideshare if you can't see the document above.]

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