2011 BMW Z4 by 3D Design

You can’t say that the Japanese don’t know how to handle German machinery. Not when a Japanese aftermarket company can turn an already sporty BMW Z4 into a piece of tuning awesomeness.

Gnarly, aggressive, and sexy all at the same time, 3D Design’s new race-inspired body kit for the Z4 speaks volumes on the level of skill the Japanese have for giving cars a fantastic styling makeover. Check out the new duds on this Z4, including a new front splitter, side skirt extensions, a new carbon fiber rear diffuser, a trunk-mounted spoiler, a set of 19" forged wheels, and stainless steel sport exhaust system with valves that provide the added thunder to the entire makeover. Meanwhile, the interior also received a full gauge package that you can find just above the car’s gear lever.

It’s an awesome package even if BMW’s sports roadster was left with its 3.0-liter, inline 6-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and top speed of 155 mph. It now has the look to justify its powerful, workhorse of an engine.

2012 Mini Coupe

Only one day after BMW announced the official details on the new generation 1-Series, Mini has also joined in on the party by releasing details of their own for their much anticipated Mini Coupe . Last seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009 as a mere concept, the first two-seater in the company’s lineup will make its world debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show with sales to begin shortly after. Prices will be announced at a later date.

The new Mini Coupe will come sporting an entire lineup of four cylinder engines ranging from the base Coupe with 121 HP up to the John Cooper Works Coupe with 208 HP. It will also be the fastest-accelerating MINI ever with the highest top speed. The JCW Coupe, for example, will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds and will be capable of a top speed of 149 mph.

Volkswagen preparing a 1.4 petrol Vento

In our earlier post, we reported Volkswagen testing the new Jetta around Pune. Amar Paithankar, the guy who took the pictures, is also reporting that VW was testing a few other cars too along with the new Jetta. The most intriguing of these cars was a 1.4-liter petrol version of the Vento. Now, we cannot expect VW to be testing an entirely new variant of a car just for fun, can we?

The new 1.4-liter petrol variant of the Vento seems to be prepared to fend off the fresh challenge thrown by the Hyundai Verna. Also, petrol prices are soaring through the roof and people are increasingly putting their money on diesel variants of various models unless there is an extremely substantial price difference between the petrol and diesel variants.

The cheapest Vento currently retails for about Rs. 7.1 lakh ex-showroom. It’s the 1.6-liter petrol Trendline version. With the Vento 1.4 liter petrol Trendline variant, VW may be able to offer a further discount of Rs. 50K, which would give the prospective customers an even bigger incentive to go in for the car.

The specifications of the new engine are not disclosed yet, but we can expect peak output of around 85PS, with 130Nm or thereabouts of peak torque. While those figures may not sound enough to haul the heavy weight of the Vento reassuringly enough, the lure of being able to own a premium sedan like the Vento at a small price, may just rope some more customers in for VW.

Apart from the new Vento, Amar also reports having spotted a Skoda Yeti and a Skoda Superb with concealed badges on test. While the Yeti on test may be an AT ver

sion, we cannot fathom what changes the superb may incorporate.

Skoda Plans To Introduce Laura RS

Back in 2005 when Skoda introduced the Octavia R S version, it was considered a poor man’s race car. The Octavia R S added a whole new dimension to the Indian Auto Scene back then by giving power hungry enthusiasts a rocket under the 15 lakh price bracket. The introduction of petrol turbo cars was also one of the important jobs the R S did. Even today there are enthusiast buyers who are ready to pick a well-kept R S at a respectable price.

Skoda India is now planning to relive those glory R S moments by introducing the Skoda Laura Rs. The Internationally available Laura (or the Ocatavia) R S is the real deal, which comes with a 2.0-liter TSI (petrol turbo) engine that churns out an amazing 200bhp. The question really is, does introducing a 2.0-liter turbo petrol engine in these times when the petrol prices are skyrocketing, make much sense? Would there be many takers for it?

Skoda India understands that the 2.0-liter turbo petrol will guzzle too much of the expensive fuel to stay viable. Hence they are going to keep the engine of current Laura untouched for the Rs. version also. So what exactly is different you would ask. Well, when the Skoda Laura R S is introduced this September, it will wear new, aggressive looking clothes, replete with bigger wheels, a body kit, a rear spoiler, new steering wheel and other cosmetic changes, but without any alterations made to the powertrain.

The new Laura with V R S badging will come at a premium over the usual Laura.

New VW Jetta caught testing in India

VW has been readying its new Jetta for India for some time. The current gen model, although well equipped and well engineered, doesn’t quite look premium enough to compete with the rivals in its segment. Skoda Laura, which is VW Group’s own product, looks like a better deal for the price. All that, however, is soon going to change with VW introducing the new Jetta. The new version of the car looks much better than the current one, and will probably be better equipped too.

Team-bhp member Amar Paithankar has managed to spot the new Jetta testing in India, at the picturesque twisties of Lavasa near Pune. The car was powered by a 2.0-liter TDI engine, the same unit that propels the Skoda Laura / Superb, and produces 142PS @4200rpm, and peak torque of 320Nm @1750rpm. We are sure this is not the same unit as the Passat Bluemotion TDI producing 170 horses, as putting the more advanced unit in this baby would escalate the cost for no understandable reason.

shares its face and flanks with most other VW cars like the Polo, Vento and Jetta. While having a family design philosophy is a good thing, VW seems to have taken it way too seriously. Cars need to have a personality, some character, unfortunately, VW new family design philosophy is making all the cars from the stable look alike from the front. The only differentiating factor is proportions, for most models. The Jetta too resembles the Vento, Passat and Polo from the front, and only a keen observation would reveal the differences.

The Jetta is larger in proportions than the Jetta. Then there are the stylish 10-spoke alloy wheels which are unique for this particular version. Finally, you have the biggest giveaway at the rear, the tail-lamps, which are unlike any other VW model in India, and are reminiscent of the Audi A4’s tail units. The twin-pipe exhaust is another detail you should look out for, for differentiating the Jetta from its blood brothers.

Features include parking sensors, which were clearly visible on the test mule. There is no question that the car will come equipped with dual-clutch DSG gearbox, and will retail at a higher price than its Skoda cousin when launched. Expect a pre-Diwali launch by VW.

VW Vento diesel’s price to be increased, petrol variant left untouched

VW India is increasing the price of its highly successful Vento diesel. The price will be increased by 2.2 percent. The price hike will be effective from July 1st 2011. The company has cited increased input costs as the reason for the hike. At the same time, the company has left the petrol variants untouched, and they will continue to be sold at the current prices. The company seems to have taken the decision to leave the petrol prices unaltered keeping in view the high price of petrol which is already acting as a deterrent to petrol cars’ sales.

The customers who book the Vento Diesel till June 30, 2011 will be able buy the car without the price increase. Also, those who opt for selected variants of the Vento Petrol Variant will be able to get a reduced interest rate of 6.99 percent starting June 2011.

Commenting on this, Mr. Neeraj Garg, Member of Board & Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd. said “The Vento diesel has been well accepted in the market since its launch in September 2010. Its quality, build and drivability have won the Vento many accolades. We want to continue maintaining the same standard and quality for our customers; however we have seen no relent in the input costs over several months now which has forced us to increase the cost of the Vento.”

He added “On the other hand we are fully aware that customers who prefer the petrol variants are already faced with the burden of increased fuel costs and therefore we have decided to continue absorbing the additional costs for our petrol variants.”

Toyota Liva launch expected on 27 June

Toyota has been doing extremely well with its Etios sedan in India. The Innova and the Corolla too have been going strong. The Corolla, in particular has responded very well to the competition. The demand is more than the supply for Toyota, and production constraints are creating long waiting periods for the Etios customers. However, Toyota is planning to go ahead with the launch of its much awaited hatchback, the Liva on 27th June. The Liva will be the first Toyota product in the segment, and is expected to affect the sales of its rivals right from the outset.

Just like the Etios sedan, the Etios Liva hatchback too will have aggressive pricing as one of its biggest USPs. Toyota’s reliability, generous cabin space, and expected frugality of the new car’s engine will be some other incentives for the customers to go for the new car. The Liva will be powered by a 1.2-liter petrol engine at the time of the launch, a diesel variant will follow later. With a peak power output figure of around 80PS, the new engine may not be the segment topper in terms of specific output, but it is expected to be very fuel efficient and linear in terms of power delivery. It would be very drivable, refined and frugal – the characteristics that really matter in this segment.

Toyota will introduce a diesel variant of the Liva later in the year, sometime around Diwali. The diesel variant will be powered by the same 1.4-liter diesel engine which currently propels the Corolla diesel. Strange, but that’s the thing with diesel engines, the crazy amount of torque they produce deems them fit to put vehicles across segments in motion. Expect the diesel Liva to be one of the most fuel efficient car too, apart from being one of the most torquey.

The Etios Liva is expected to be priced at par with the Suzuki Swift, which itself will witness itself being reincarnated possibly by the end of June. The new Swift is expected to be priced about 5% more than the current version, as it is bigger and better equipped than the outgoing version. At that price point, which of the two would you prefer?