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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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

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2014 Mini Cooper Hardtop Long-Term Road Test - Audio & Technology

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IAB Report – Chevrolet Sail twins with dual-tone interior launched

Relaunched to revive flagging sales.

General Motors India today announced the launch of the new Chevrolet Sail and Chevrolet Sail hatchback at prices of INR 5.19 lakhs to 7.64 lakhs and INR 4.41 to 6.81 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi) respectively.

A chrome surround and a boot chrome strip are the exterior changes.

The main changes are concentrated on the interior which get a dual tone black and beige combination with highlights in silver and chrome. A new 2-DIN music system with Bluetooth functionality has been added, which supports five phone pairings and Bluetooth audio streaming.

AC vent bezel and HVAC control knobs have chrome surrounds, while door handles and the gear shifter have silver surrounds. The steering wheel is now in black and the background lighting in the instruments is a light blue.

A new music system with a dual tone interior is central to the relaunch.

External additions stop with a chrome surround for the foglamp enclosure and a chrome strip on the bootlid of the sedan.

The features and mechanical carriage of the vehicles stay the same. Both cars are powered by the 1.3-liter (Fiat Multijet) SDE SMARTECH turbocharged engine that develops 75 PS (73.9 bhp) at 4,000 rpm and a torque of 190 Nm at 1,750 rpm, and deliver a fuel economy of 22.1 km/l.

The U-VA branding has been discontinued.

Petrol variants are strapped with a 1.2-liter SMARTECH engine that develops 83.6 PS (82.42 bhp) at 6,000 rpm and torque of 108.5 Nm at 5,000 rpm along with a fuel economy of 18.2 km/l.

You can refer the press release below to get further details.

New Chevrolet Sail – Image Gallery

New Chevrolet Sail launched – Press Release

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IAB Report – 2014 VW Vento diesel AT launches tomorrow in India

Comes a day before the new Rapid.

Official sources have confirmed that the 2014 VW Vento launches in India tomorrow.

Much to everyone’s surprise, the VW Group has used the higher specification 7-speed dual clutch transmission on the 2014 Skoda Rapid (the Vento’s cousin sister) that will launch on the 25th (Thursday). The same powertrain will serve on the 2014 Vento.

Exterior changes are limited to new headlamps, wheel designs and body colour options. [Image credit - Team-BHP.com]

Familiar from the new Polo that launched in India in July, the new Vento sports dual-barrel headlight clusters, but the grille and front bumper are same. Over to the side profile, a new alloy wheel design, and a new body color (called ‘Toffee Brown’ on the Jetta) make up the changes.

Inside, the biggest change on the diesel variant is the inclusion of the DSG automatic unit. Like the new Polo, the Vento will now come with a flat-bottomed steering wheel, revised instrument cluster with new MID, and silver inserts in the audio system area.

The DSG gearbox is pairing to the 1.5L diesel engine for the first time.

Also Read: IAB’s review of the VW Polo 1.5L diesel

Mechanically, the Vento will have its 1.6-liter TDI engine swapped for the new 1.5-liter TDI seen on the Polo. This engine is likely to make 105 PS (103.52 bhp) at 4,400 rpm and 250 Nm of torque between 1,500-2,500 rpm. The 5-speed manual transmission will be a standard fitment, and the 7-speed DSG will come on select top-end variants.

[Spy image from Team BHP]

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IAB Report – Mahindra Xylo with body add-ons, dual-tone interior, updated suspension launched

Available with two engine options. 

Mahindra has launched an updated version of the Xylo MPV today.

On the outside, designers have given the MPV a chrome strip for the hood, new roof rails, side body decals and redesigned alloy wheels. The rear number plate enclosure gets a chrome strip too.

The Xylo gets a chrome garnish for its hood.

Inside, changes are far more subtle. Revised seat fabrics, a dual-tone black-and-beige theme for the dashboard, a new instrument cluster, steering mounted audio and cruise controls and a Bluetooth-enabled music system are observed.

Mechanically, Mahindra claim the suspension of the MPV will now offer a more comfortable ride and increased stability at higher speeds.

The new Xylo is available with two engines to choose from. The base engine is the 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 95 PS (93.7 bhp) and 218 Nm of torque.

The MPV gets a dual-tone black and beige interior theme.

The more powerful 2.2-liter mHawk makes 120 PS (118 bhp) and 280 Nm of torque. The mHawk is paired to the new 5MT320 gearbox, which will be introduced in the new Scorpio day after tomorrow.

Also see: New Mahindra Scorpio teased again

The Xylo range is priced between INR 7.52 lakhs to INR 10.93 lakhs, ex-Showroom, New Delhi.

Refreshed Mahindra Xylo – Image Gallery

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IAB Report – New VW Vento launched at INR 7.44 lakhs

Available in three engine options.

Volkswagen India has introduced the VW Vento facelift at a starting price of INR 7.44 lakhs. The big feature on the facelift is the launch of the 1.5-liter four-cylinder diesel engine which was introduced on the Polo facelift in July, and along with it the seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission.

Double barrel headlamps, new alloy wheel design and new ‘Toffee Brown’ body colour round up the external changes.

Cosmetically, the front fascia of the Vento facelift receives new double-barrel headlamps, a slightly redesigned front bumper, new alloy wheels and a mildly updated rear bumper and taillamp.

The interior gets the new three-spoke steering wheel from the Polo facelift. The dashboard is in a brown and black dual tone theme with the center console getting a silver finish.

Dual front airbags are standard across all variants, and so are height-adjustable driver seat and power windows. The Highline variants get 15-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth-enabled audio system, speed sensing door locks, automatic climate control and steering-mounted audio controls.

The new steering wheel, gear shifter and the silver console finish constitute the interior changes.

As for the powertrains, the 1.5-liter diesel engine (available with a five-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearbox) delivers 105 PS (103.5 bhp) and 250 Nm of torque. The 1.6-liter petrol (available with a five-speed manual gearbox) offers 105 PS at 5,250 rpm and 153 Nm at 3,800 rpm while the 1.2-liter TSI engine (available with a seven-speed automatic gearbox) delivers 105 PS at 5,000 rpm and 175 Nm at 1,500-4,100 rpm.

VW Vento facelift – Prices (ex-showroom, New Delhi)

• Vento 1.6 MPI Petrol MT in Trendline, Comfortline and Highline variants – INR 7.44 lakhs to INR 8.87 lakhs.


• Vento 1.2 TSI Petrol AT (7-speed DSG) in Comfortline and Highline variants – INR 9.35 lakhs to INR 9.92 lakhs


• Vento 1.5 TDI MT in Trendline, Comfortline and Highline variants – INR 8.57 lakhs to INR 9.90 lakhs


• Vento 1.5 TDI AT (7-speed DSG) in Comfortline and Highline variants – INR 10.49 lakhs to INR 10.94 lakhs

 VW Vento facelift – Official Image Gallery

VW Vento facelift – Brochure

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