Kia 3-door Now On Sale

The new Kia Rio is available to order now in three door guise for the first time. The same engines options, trim levels and external dimensions from the five door are carried over to Rio 3-door.

The Rio 3-door is available with a choice of four engines – two petrol and two diesel that are carried over unchanged from the five door version.  The 1.1 CRDi that delivers 74bhp and 170Nm of torque at 1,500rpm.
EcoDynamics technologies, such as Intelligent Stop & Go, will be a standard feature with all new Rio diesels, including the 1.4-litre models. The 1.4 CRDi is a four-cylinder diesel engine from the same U2 family as the 1.1.  It develops 89bhp and 220Nm of torque.

There are also two petrol engines in the new Rio.  The entry-level unit is the 1.25-litre Kappa engine which made its debut in Kia’s smallest car, the new Picanto.  This engine develops 83bhp and 121Nm of torque.  The new Rio is also available with Kia’s 1.4-litre Gamma engine, developing 107bhp and 137Nm of torque.  It also offers buyers the convenience of an automatic gearbox as an option to the standard manual.

Lexus's Concept Car LF-LC Sports Coupe Unveiled At Detroit Auto Show

Crafted from a clean sheet of paper, Toyota's sports coupe concept combines high technology and organic shapes to achieve a close connect between the driver and the car.

With swept back headlights resembling a falcon’s face, a long hood and a fastback roof, the new Lexus LF-LC concept luxury sports coupe has all the makings of being the brand’s successor to the SC luxury coupe that has been in production for years.


The Lexus SC or ‘Sports Coupe’ series was conceived in early 1990s at which point, Toyota had no genuine luxury coupes in its model range. The SC 430 complemented the company’s flagship model, the LS 400 sedan at that time. The first SC series came with a 4.0 litre V8, rear-wheel drive configuration.

Penned by Toyota’s Calty design studio in Newport Beach, California, the LF-LC 2+2 coupe has a glass roof and polished aluminium trim. The interior combines smooth leather, suede, brushed metal and wood with advanced controls like a pair of LCD displays and multiple touch screens to control everything from audio to climate control to sideview mirrors, door locks and windows.

The front-engined, rear wheel drive concept uses a version of Lexus’ hybrid drivetrain, but there is no confirmation on what powertrain would be used.

Volkswagen XL1 For The Indian Roads Unveiled At The Auto Expo 2012

The Volkswagen up! is not there but the India-bound hatchback’s absence was compensated by three other car unveilings – the 2012 Beetle, new Touareg and the XL1 diesel hybrid concept, claimed to be the world’s most efficient concept car. The XL1 is powered by a two-cylinder, 800 cc TDI engine that puts out 49 PS supplemented by a 27 PS electric motor to deliver over 111 kmpl.

Toyota Launches The New Prius From Rs 27.39 At The Auto Expo 2012

Japanese car maker Toyota today launched a new version of its hybrid sedan Prius in India that is priced between Rs 27.39 lakh and Rs 29.41 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, had first introduced the world's best selling hybrid car in 2010.

"The introduction of the new Prius is our sincere effort to bring in advanced hybrid technology to India to develop such market here," Toyota Kirlosakar Motor (TKM) Deputy Managing Director (Commercial) Shekar Viswanathan told reporters at the 11th Auto Expo here.

The new Prius will have solar ventilation system in addition to the exiting battery technology, he added.

"We hope to see more Prius customers and contribute to the growth of the Indian hybrid market and thereby contribute to a greener tomorrow," Viswanathan said.

The company has so far sold 150 units of this car since its launch in India in 2010, he added.

Viswanathan, however, declined to share any sales target for the new Prius in India.

Japanese auto giant had first introduced the vehicle in 1997 and has already sold 24 lakh units across the world.

Auto Expo 2012 Launches Uncovered!!

This year's Auto Expo cannot get any more bigger with the likes of DC, BMW, Jaguar, Volkswagen, Land Rover etc. showcasing their best vehicles for the Indian roads. 

Here's a look at some:

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan sits inside DC Avanti, a sports car designed by DC Design at the India Auto Expo in New Delhi on Thursday, Jan 5, 2012. The five-day long automobile event begins Saturday. 



BMW India President Andrea Schaaf presenting the BMW M5 car at the 11th Auto Expo 2012 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on Thursday. 






Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Sons and Tata Motors, poses next to a Jaguar car during its unveiling ceremony at the 11th Auto Expo 2012 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on Thursday.



Visitors having a look of the interiors of a Volkswagen XL1 car on display at the 11th Auto Expo 2012 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on Thursday





Land Rover car on display at the 11th Auto Expo 2012 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on Thursday.



Crickter Irfan Pathan presents Mercedes car at the 11th Auto Expo 2012 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on Thursday.



Peter Schwarzenbaver(2nd L), Board Member of Audi AG and Michael Perschke, MD, Audi India along with actors Katrina Kaif and Lisa Ray pose with the company's Q3 2.0 T quattro car during its unveiling ceremony at the 11th Auto Expo 2012 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on Thursday.



Managing Director of Peugot Motors Limited Frederic Fabre (R) poses with the new Peugot 508 car during the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi on January 5, 2012.



Managing director and CEO Maruti Suzuki India, S.Nakanishi poses with the new XA-alpha concept SUV car during the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi. AFP

Hyundai Unveils Sonata At The Auto Expo 2012!

Car maker Hyundai showcased a a new version of Sonata, which it expects to launch in India by February end. This is the sixth version of the Sonata car.

The firm did not reveal the price of the new car but said it will announce it by the end of February. "The new Sonata will strengthen our brand signature," HMIL Managing Director and CEO H W Park said.



The company also unveiled its concept multi-purpose vehicle 'Hexa Space' at the 11th Auto Expo here. "We are showing our new concept MPV 'Hexaspace' for the first time ... It is too early to say when it could come in the market but it will take three to four years ..." Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) Director (Sales and Marketing)Arvind Saxena told reporters at the global premiere of the MPV.

The vehicle has a seating for eight passengers and all the seats are shaped hexagonally to create optimum space utilisation. It has been designed for urban customers in the 30-40 age group, the firm said.

Asked if India would play a role in the development of the vehicle, he said, "India is a big market for the company and could definitely play a role in the development..but showcasing a concept only shows our way head. For developing a product for India, we need to see the environment and other factor also."

"Both the vehicles (Sonata and Hexaspace) will raise the bar and set new benchmarks in India's fast growing automobile market," said H W Park.

Audi Q3 To Be Displayed At The Auto Expo

Audi's smallest, most affordable SUV offering for our market, the Q3, will be on display at the Auto Expo. And this one is unmistakably an Audi from the outside. Its gaping grille and LED adorned head/tail lights make sure to remind you that it hails from Inglostadt. There's no mistaking it for anything other than the younger sibbling of the Q5 and Q7, the only differences are apparent at the rear where the Q3 has a more sloping roof line and a steeply raked D-pillar.

It's smartly designed, too. It's got a coefficient of drag of 0.32. To put that into perspective, the McLaren F1, one of the fastest cars on the planet,has the same value. The lower the Cd, the better a car can cut through the wind, thus leading to faster speeds and better fuel efficiency figures. Stylish 17-inch wheels round out the exterior package.

On the inside, there's an interior that lives up to Audi's high quality standards. There may not be a lot of toys there, but what is there is of really good quality. There are a few spots in the interior where you'll notice some parts sharing from other VWAG group cars, but it's not really apparent at first glance. The MMI system is present here too, but the control knob has been relocated from behind the shifter to the center console. Apart from Comfort and Dynamic mode, there's a new Efficiency mode which you can select. This mode tells you when to shift and also tips you off on which parts are consuming the most energy. All in all, it's a nice car to be in, the Q3.

There are two 2.0-litre engines powering the Q3 for our market. The 2.0 TDI diesel will come with 170 bhp of peak power and the 2.0 TFSI petrol will come with either 170 bhp or 211 bhp of power. Unlike its main competitor, the BMW X1 though, the Q3 comes standard with the quattro all-wheel-drive system. There are a few clever bits here as well that will add to the overall efficiency of the car. For example, the flywheel will disengage during coasting to further save some energy. All that, combined with the low weight of the car, make for one efficient SUV.

The Q3 will be launched here by March of this year and will be priced slightly higher than the BMW X1 at around Rs 25 lakh. So get ready for some affordable luxury.