Here's the Bajaj small car, but it won't cost Rs 1 lakh!

The country's second largest bike maker Bajaj Auto Ltd on Tuesday cocked a snook at those who sniggered at its efforts to get into the passenger car market.

The company silently unveiled its 'Lite' concept car in New Delhi, two days before the much hyped launch of Tata Motors' Rs 1 lakh car.

Bajaj Auto, the country's second biggest two-wheeler maker, said it plans to bring out its small car in collaboration with Renault and Nissan within four years but it will not be for Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100,000).

"I know Carlos Ghosn (President and CEO of Renault and Nissan) has set a target of 2010 for Bajaj-Renault car. While it is hard to put any time-frame, we can say in two-four years we can expect to have the product ready," Bajaj Auto managing director Rajiv Bajaj told reporters in New Delhi.

Bajaj declined to give a specific price of the small car. Ghosn has earlier stated that Renault was looking for a $3,000 car in India, a move triggered by Tata Motors' Rs 1 lakh car that will be unveiled later this week.

Maruti To Launch All-New Small Car In 2008

Maruti Suzuki India Limited announced today its plans to launch an all-new car to be built in India. The car called the A-star will be showcased in concept form at the Auto Expo in Delhi in January next year.
The company plans to sell the A-star with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, which will be Euro-V compliant. The carmaker will be following Hyundai’s footsteps (which, makes the i10 in exclusively in India and sells it in Europe) and will manufacture the car in India at its Manesar plant, and will sell it in Europe and India. Production at the facility is being bumped up and the plant is expected to roll out 150,000 A-stars annualy along a similar number of Swifts and SX4s. The car will also be sold under the Nissan badgeing in certain markets and will be on sale by autumn of 2008.
The company refused to divulge details about the price and specifications but said that the car would be a size smaller than the Splash, which was launched internationally recently.

BMW X3

his isn’t the archetypal SUV we are used to. There’s no diesel engine, not much space – let alone three rows of seats – and it’s a size smaller than many luxury saloons. BMW’s compact SUV has a different agenda, so if you’re looking for a big, practical SUV that can serenely whisk the wife, kids, mother-in-law, dog and golf clubs to a weekend resort then its best you flip these pages.

Central to the X3’s appeal is its sporting character and it’s the undiluted focus on the driver, an intrinsic part of every BMW, which makes every journey memorable. And the drive up to Mahabaleshwar over the New Year in the X3 was just that. Lightly packed with just the wife, one son and small bags, I was thankful that I didn’t have to carry a full holiday payload, which could have corrupted the handling.

Clambering up into the firmly-padded driver’s seat gives the first sense that the X3 is part-SUV and part-saloon, simply because you don’t sit as high up as in the former or as low down as in the latter. The driving experience, however, is neither – it’s pure sports car!

This X3 is powered by the same 2.5-litre straight-six from the 325i saloon that we’ve grown to love. It’s got the same sweetness, the same linear power delivery and the same eagerness to rev. The only difference is that since the X3 weighs 370kg more than the 325i, performance isn’t as sparkling as its saloon cousin. I also missed the thick slug of mid-range torque that a typical, modern, common-rail diesel belts out. That’s not to say the X3 is slow. In fact, it’s far from it. It’s just that this jewel of a motor loves to be worked closer to its redline, so you really need to get the revs up for it to come on song. And that’s exactly what I did when I hit the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

Shifting the six-speed auto ’box into ‘Sport’ mode, the engine would hold revs till the 6500rpm redline before the gearbox would shift up. The transmission is incredibly responsive and kicks down in a flash to a lower cog, to make most of the power-band. The result is a seamless surge of power which whisks the X3 to some serious speeds. The strong top-end and unflappable poise make the X3 a fantastic highway muncher and, not surprisingly, the Expressway got over in a flash. Peeling off at the first exit, the 40km road to Wakan on the Goa road via Pali is a shortcut to Mahabaleshwar that I love to use. It’s an old rally stage which is still free from traffic and has a delectable assortment of twists and bends over undulating landscape. The road is pretty rough and there’s the odd speedbreaker too (unmarked, of course). In short, this road has the right ingredients to give any car’s chassis a thorough workout. The X3 handles like any BMW should – that’s expected. But on the Pali road, just how good the X3 was shocked me. It sits on the older 3-series chassis (E46), and responds positively to enthusiastic driving. The experience starts with the hydraulically-assisted rack and pinion steering, which is super-accurate and bristling with feel, which in turn gives you loads of confidence, especially at high speed.

Tata Motors on a roll again

Tata Motors is on a roll at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi. Apart from the much-awaited one-lakh car, Tata has unveiled four new passenger vehicles, the most interesting of which is the New Indica. When it goes on sale in the latter half of 2008, it will be sold alongside the current Indica, but will be more expensive.

Two new engines provide power -- the petrol is a 1.2-litre variable-valve timing enabled motor, while the diesel is the 1.3-litre Multi-jet common-rail diesel already doing duty in the Swift D. Both engines will be manufactured at the new Tata-Fiat joint venture plant at Ranjangaon near Pune.

The new Indica is bigger than the current car, and this only means more interior space. Also new is the non-independent rear suspension and the wider tyres.

The current Indica gets a change of heart too. It gets the 1.4-litre DiCOR engine from the current Indigo. Priced at Rs. 4.25 lakh(ex-showroom, Delhi), it will be sold alongside the current turbo and no-turbo diesel Indica V2's.

Also on display is the new Indigo CS. Measuring less than four metres in length and powered by a 65bhp petrol and 70bhp turbocharged, inter-cooled diesel engine, this saloon can take advantage of the excise cuts for small cars.

Tata's ageing Sumo has also been at the recieveing end of the scalpel too. The Sumo Grande is longer than the outgoing Sumo, and so has more interior space. New is redesigned beige interiors and the front-facing third-row seats. The 2.2-litre DiCOR engine, similar to the one powering the recently launched Safari, but de-tuned to 120bhp, is what will help the Sumo Grande get over what was one of the previous generation Sumo's greatest weaknesses -- its lethargy. It will be in showrooms by February 2008 and is available in three variants -- the Lx, Ex and Gx. It is priced at Rs. 6.55 lakh to Rs 7.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

2009 Audi TTS

Long anticipated by fans of Audi's S-Line performance cars and by driving enthusiasts in general, the 2009 Audi TTS will finally reach U.S. showrooms by the end of the year.

This will be the first S model for Audi's sports car since the TT was launched in 1998, and at first blush the raw horsepower numbers might disappoint some. The power increase from standard TT models is not as significant as that in other S-Line cars. Yet indicators suggest that the speed and response S buyers expect are here, and thanks to the TTS's light weight, efficient transmission and relatively small turbocharged engine, fuel mileage figures should be impressive. We might think of the TTS as a true high-performance sports car with a green conscience.

This hot-rod TT will be available as a hard-top Coupe or two-seat, convertible-top Roadster, like the standard TT models. Yet the TTS, which was unveiled at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in January, sports some subtle appearance tweaks that distinguish it from other TT models.

Its standard lightweight alloy wheels are upgraded from 17 to 18 inches in diameter, and 19-inch rims are optional. The headlights are jewel-like bi-xenon projector beams, with a unique ribbon of LED bulbs running horizontally underneath; the low-energy LEDs operate as the daytime running lights. The front and center portions of the TTS body and frame are manufactured from aluminum, and curb weight for the coupe is 3075 pounds. That's a few hundred pounds lighter than most similarly sized, similarly specified sports cars, even with the TTS's standard quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The most prominent TTS distinction lies under the hood, where a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine generates the power that makes it go. This inline-4 features direct fuel injection and higher boost pressure than Audi's other turbo engines. The TTS turbo also gets a number of durability enhancements, including heavy-duty pistons and connecting rods. It delivers 272 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, or 22 horsepower and 22 pound-feet more than the most powerful engine in current TT models.

While other markets will get a conventional six-speed manual transmission, there will likely be only one choice in the United States: Audi's six-speed, dual-clutch manu-matic. This transmission works like a manual with an automatic clutch system, rather than a conventional automatic. Its paddle-shift feature delivers razor-sharp, race car-style gear changes, but it also has a fully automatic mode. The all-wheel-drive system has been beefed up for even faster response directing power between the front and rear wheels. The TTS will not be offered with front-wheel drive, as the standard TT is. Audi claims the TTS Coupe goes from 0 to 62 mph in 5.4-seconds, with top speed governed at 155. The acceleration figures roughly match those for a Porsche 911 Carrera. Yet, thanks to the TTS's light weight and other efficiencies, Audi also promises a combined mileage rating greater than 29 mpg. That's impressive in a car of the TTS's anticipated capability.

BMW X6: you'll like it, but adults sitting in the back seats won't

In case you were wondering (I was), there is not very much headroom in the back of a BMW X6. I have just climbed into the rear of one and found this out. In fact, this oddly compromised car will not accommodate anyone much over six foot tall – I am six foot, and I fit. Just. Autocar's own Andrew Frankel, who is a bit more than six foot, won’t.

Which will make buying an X6 a strange process. Will it matter to buyers that the two full size rear seats (it is a four- and certainly not a five-seater) can’t be used by anyone over six foot? Will the X6’s looks (think what you like about the styling but you cannot deny it is unique and distinctive) and considerable performance sell it? After all, you can’t fit anybody with two legs in the back of a Mini but that hasn’t stopped it being a vast success.

Mitsubishi Concept-RA

Mitsubishi picked an elegant way to signal its intention to sell more diesel models in the US; its Concept-RA unveiled today in Detroit is a slinky two-seater coupe that's more likely to turn heads for its sharp looks than its 2.2-litre turbodiesel. It also points to the new Eclipse, which could come to Europe next time round.

The sports car is one of the best-looking concepts shown by Mitsubishi for ages, its bright red paintwork contrasted by matt black finish on certain functional body parts, including the top of the engine which actually forms part of the bonnet. Typically monstrous 21-inch wheels and butterfly doors add a dose of motor-show magic to proceedings, too.

Concept-RA: a diesel evangelist

Powering Concept-RA is a state-of-the-art Mitsubishi 2.2 diesel, mustering a sturdy 310lb ft for rapid performance. The message Stateside from the Japanese car maker was a vision of high performance through such powerful engines, combined with the promise of 40mpg.

Is the Concept-RA is destined to remain a show car? We reckon its low-slung looks are rather fetching - and its Evo-derived four-wheel-drive chassis sounds promising in a cutting-edge diesel coupe. The good news is that it points to the new Eclipse coupe, a US market model that the Europeans are petitioning for. UK boss Jim Tyrrell has said he would like to import it here, so watch this space.

Suzuki SX Force

SX Force front

We know Suzuki for its top-value small cars, but if you like two-wheeled transport, you will also be familiar with its superbikes. In an effort to combine the two, the firm has created the SXForce.

Based on the four-wheel-drive SX4 supermini, it drew the crowds at the Detroit Motor Show with its innovative interior controls (above) – handlebars borrowed from a motorbike! The basic dashboard has a central rev counter and is finished with carbon fibre inserts, while the seat trim is inspired by motorcycle leathers. The SXForce is powered by a 250bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.

Externally, it draws its inspiration from the forthcoming SX4 World Rally Car. At the front is a deep front bumper that features a gaping air intake to help aid engine cooling. Further visual tweaks include a bonnet mounted scoop for the intercooler, wider wheelarches and a massive carbon fibre rear wing.

Jaguar XF 2.7 D Premium Luxury

Jaguar's XF 4.0-litre supercharged SV8 is a great car, but along with the naturally aspirated V8 it’ll only account for 5 percent of sales. But the 2.7-litre diesel will mop up a whopping 70 percent of sales. This then, is the crucial test for the new XF, and for Jaguar.

Things start well, because the more you see the XF, the more you fall for its looks. There are Lexus GS hints in the side profile, but park the two cars together and the Jag is lower and definitely leaner with pronounced rear haunches. And speaking of rears, the XF surely has one of the best of any car, whatever the class. Only oversized headlights, an undersized grille, and the necessity to spec big wheels let Ian Callum’s design down. Just be prepared for all the attention you’ll get driving it.

2009 Honda Pilot Concept - Auto Shows

Since the Pilot’s debut in 2002 as a 2003 model, the competition in the crossover-SUV arena has become fierce, with strong entries from Mazda (the CX-9) and GM (the Buick Enclave, the GMC Acadia, and the Saturn Outlook) stealing quite a bit of the Pilot’s thunder.

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But just when it appears that the weather was starting to favor the domestics, another storm seems to be on the horizon. Perhaps to send a message to Detroit’s Big Three, Honda chose the North American International Auto Show to unveil a prototype of the next-generation Pilot, and if Honda puts even half the style and substance of the prototype into production, the Pilot’s competitors should be worried.

The current eight-passenger Pilot offers lots of versatility in seating and cargo hauling, and it appears that the next-generation model will pick up where this one leaves off. Honda did not disclose the Pilot prototype’s exterior dimensions, and the company wouldn’t even open the doors for us to sit inside what appears to be a warmed-over version of the current Pilot’s interior, but American Honda’s executive vice-president, John Mendel—who is about six feet tall—claims he can sit in the third-row seat. He also promises even more by way of versatility and cabin configurability.

No details were disclosed about the Pilot’s V-6 engine other than to say that the production model will adopt Honda’s latest version of Variable Cylinder Management as found on the Accord’s 265-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, enabling it to run on six, four, or three cylinders depending on conditions. Mendel also suggested that towing would be a strong suit of the 2009 Pilot, in spite of the newfound emphasis on efficiency.

The 2009 Pilot is the latest to be designed in accordance with Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering mandate, intended to facilitate better crash compatibility with automobiles large and small. In fact, Honda claims that the new Pilot will be nothing short of the best in class in the safety department but, once again, offered few details about exactly what it will offer.

The New Air-Compressed Car: Goes 200 Km (125 mi) for just $ 2

We are in the middle of a dreadful global warming that could melt all the Arctic glaciers by the middle of this century. Humankind is in a struggle to find all kind of technologies reducing the emissions of greenhouse effect gases. And one of the main emitters of these gases are cars. Sun-powered cars would emit no polluting gases at all, but so far this technology has not convinced. But now, BBC News is signaling that a French company has come with a pollution-free car functioning on compressed air. The car is produced by India’s Tata Motors and, by the end of 2008, it could be bought from Europe and India.

The air-compressed car, known under the name of Mini-CAT or City Cat, would be refueled in just a few minutes from a special air compressor that can be found at the gas stations. A 1.5 Euro fill ($ 2) would allow you to go 200 km (125 mi). The new car could reach a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km per hour) and could cost only $7000 (4,750 Euro) !

The car has a body made of fiberglass and it is endowed with an advanced electrical system being totally computer-controlled. The car’s motion is determined by the expansion of compressed air. There is no fuel, no burning, no polluting gas emission. The vent gases are completely clean and cool and can be employed in the inner air conditioning system, being just air.

Volkswagen small car for India

The call of emerging markets has sparked a race amongst manufacturers to build BRIC spec models. These are primarily cheaper than the cheapest models and Volkswagen, known for the Beetle, which put millions on wheels, is joining the bandwagon with its own small car apart from larger siblings.
Chairman of the board of management for Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn, in the annual press conference 2007, confirmed that Russia and India are two nations with great growth potential. “We will construct a production plant at which we will start producing a small car model tailored to the needs of our Indian customers, beginning in 2009,” Winterkorn said, describing it as “an economical, everyday small car that looks attractive and is affordable.”

VW is currently developing an all-new small car, which happens to be a two-door, rear engined machine. However, this new car is due to arrive as late as 2011 as it’s still in its initial development stages. According to sources, this model will primarily be for the European markets. In addition, it will have small engines, like a single cylinder unit!

For India on the other hand, VW has announced it will launch a small car based on its current Polo platform. And this particular car is due to arrive here in 2009. Now, putting two and two together will tell you that this two-door, rear-engined car, will not be VW’s first small car in India, contrary to whatever you might have read elsewhere. The artist’s impression you see here however, will actually be the car you can buy starting in 2009. This one’s a variant of the Fox, which in turn is based on the Polo.

But does it look familiar? Sure - after all it’s a redesigned version of the Fox. But it seems the tall boy theme is fast getting out of fashion. The front end of the car looks aggressive. The bulges on the hood coupled to the sharp headlamps look hot. The large sculpted front bumper exudes a bold aura. However it’s the grille that gives the car character. VW has used similar grille designs in a host of other cars and it is fast becoming its corporate identity. The lower half serves the purpose of the air dam while the metal chunk in between will house the registration plates. Fog lamps too are positioned in the bumper and are surrounded by plastic inserts.

From the side the car has an angular look and the lines exude a sporty theme. Bulging wheel arches look meaty and endow the overall design with a sense of power. The rear window reveals the original lines of the Fox. Coupled with large alloy wheels and tyres this VW small car is sure to catch the fancy budget car buyers.
We had featured scoop pictures of Volkswagen Polos being tested in and around Pune recently, which surprisingly were not shrouded in disguise since the company was primarily testing the engines. Each car was scheduled to do at least 20,000 kilometres in a stipulated time frame; what confirmed it was absence of engine capacity decals.

Presuming that VW too would be eyeing excise duty benefits, they would probably have the 3-cylinder petrol engine from the Polo line in the new small car. Displacing 1198cc, this engine develops power in the region of 66PS@5400rpm and torque of 112Nm@3800rpm.

Maruti has raised the bar with the Swift diesel and VW sure will take it on with a diesel engine option for its maiden small car. In the offing is a 1.4-litre three-cylinder TDI PDE engine that can

Scorpio M-Hawk ready to spread its wings

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has launched an upgraded Scorpio called the M-Hawk with an all-new 2.2-litre engine that puts out a healthy 120bhp. This new engine, known internally as the Eagle, has been branded the M-Hawk as both the Eagle and Hawk names have been registered elsewhere.

The M-Hawk was developed jointly by M&M and engine consultant AVL. It boasts four-valves per cylinder and a host of other high-tech features. The engine promises superior performance and fuel efficiency and M&M is banking on this engine for its export models as well. Made from aluminium alloy, the M-Hawk is 60kg lighter than the current CRDe motor and the reduced mass is expected to improve dynamics too. M&M has roped in ride and handling specialist Lotus to tweak the Scorpio’s suspension. Though the layout and design remains the same, the damper settings have been changed and other components like the springs and linkages have been fine-tuned.

Lotus is reputed to have spent months of testing in India to sort out the Scorpio’s sloppy handling — its single biggest weakness. Other mechanical improvements include a revised gearbox, which now has double synchro rings for first gear. Also, the propeller shaft is now a one-piece unit and has been optimised to improve NVH.

As you can see from these images, there are few external changes to the Scorpio except for a set of new alloys and the M-Hawk badge on the front fender. The interior is also similar but there are many more features, which indicate the upmarket positioning the M-Hawk is going to take. This feature list includes audio controls on the steering wheel, tyre pressure sensors and rain-sensing wipers. The M-Hawk will be priced higher than the regular Scorpio CRDe, which M&M will continue to produce. The idea is to broaden the Scorpio range and offer variants at different price points. At the time of going to press prices were not released, but the M-Hawk with its new engine and other features is expected to cost around Rs 1 lakh more than the regular Scorpio.

The M-Hawk will be positioned against the new Safari which, interestingly, also has an all-new 2.2-litre common-rail diesel motor developed by AVL. The Scorpio M-Hawk will be displayed at the Auto Expo in January 2008.

Swift saloon to replace Esteem

Maruti’s plans to replace the Esteem with the Swift saloon have been laid bare with this scoop shot on Maruti’s assembly line forwarded to us by one of our readers. Codenamed the YV3, the Swift saloon is essentially the three-box version of the Swift hatchback, as you can see. However, behind the B-pillar it all changes. The rear doors, roof and rear section are different and have been redesigned but its clear that, given the high waist line and bulging flanks of the hatchback, integrating the boot has been a challenge. The outline of the rear door and the way it merges with the C-pillar sees one-too many kinks with wide panel gaps though, looks pretty awkward. The high waist extends all the way through to the rear, and merges into the sharply curved lights which bear the same ‘peeled back’ theme of the Swift, to ensure a strong family resemblance. The stubby boot has that ‘bustleback’ shape first seen on the BMW 7-series and now aped by the rest of the car world. A chrome strip above the number plate and fog lamps and reflectors integrated into the bumper give some relief to the bulbous rear.

There doesn’t appear to be any change in the wheelbase, which means that interior room won’t be far better than the hatchback’s. However, it’s possible that Suzuki has pushed the rear seats back to yield extra legroom. Beige interiors could give a more airy ambience inside unlike the hatch, whose all-black cabin gives you a sense of being cooped up. The interiors might receive a duo-tone finish, while the dash is expected to have some faux chrome and wood accents to give it a more upmarket feel. Twin airbags and ABS are expected on the top-of-the-line variants, which should retain the ZXi nomenclature.

Mechanically, the saloon will mirror its smaller sibling, sharing the same engines. These include the 1.3-litre G-series petrol engine currently doing duty in the car, and which can trace its roots back to the Esteem; the Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre Multijet diesel will be the more popular option. The car is expected to retain the 14-inch wheel size while the rear suspension will be tweaked to account for the extra weight, which could increase by approximately 100kgs. Interestingly, most of the design and engineering has been carried out by Maruti’s own engineers here in India.

Maruti is targeting sales of at least 3000 units per month and to achieve that figure, one can expect the Swift saloon to come at an aggressive price. Expect the range to start at around Rs 5 lakh for the base petrol, going up to past Rs 6 lakh for the fully-loaded diesel. At this price, it will surely give the C-segment a wake-up call.

Tata Unveil People's Car

The much awaited people’s car from Tata that the world had been waiting for has been launched at the New Delhi Auto Expo. The car has been christened the Nano, and is available to the public at an ex factory of 1 lakh, before local taxes. The Nano is the brainchild of Tata chairman Ratan Tata who was on hand to take the wraps of the car himself.

The car is powered by an all, 624cc fuel injected petrol engine in the rear of the car. The car produces 33bhp and this could give it similar performance to the heavier but more powerful Maruti 800 that makes 37 bhp. The engine is mated to a four speed manual transmission and Tata are in the process of developing a CVT automatic transmission.

The light weight has helped Tata reach a claimed an overall, combined city and highway driving figure of 20kmpl. The car is taller and wider than a Maruti Alto and this make comfort on the inside very good.

The car has a very steep bonnet and a rounded roof and the headlights and bonnet line give it a cute look. Tata was very clear that the car had to look attractive and this cute shape is the result.

The interior of the car consists of seats which are comfortable but very slender and the instrument panel is center mounted like on all new Tata cars. Like the outside the interiors look very attractive and there is a decent amount of space at the rear of the car as well.

While the car does not have comfort feature like air conditioning or power windows, coming variants will have these features.

Nissan’s iconic GT-R is back

To understand what the GT-R means to Japan, one needs to delve deep into the myth that is the car. A model that started out life as nothing more than the Skyline saloon back in the 1960s, it captured the imagination of the Japanese public however when, in its first race outing, it placed second to a racing Porsche 904 GTS. And then there was no looking back. But the real forerunner of this car was the 1989 R32 GT-R, a coupe that had a turbocharged straight six, computer-controlled four- wheel drive as well as four- wheel steering (called Super HICAS). This, along with later versions, the R33 and the R34 racked up race win after race win. Then came the tuners, who on a regular basis got more than a 1000 horsepower from the GT-R. Unlike other Japanese performance cars, it had both massive power and thoroughbred handling, both in one package. It ranked as one of the greatest performance cars in the world, no reservations. And that’s exactly what Nissan has engineered the new car to be. A world beater.

The philosophy behind the new GT-R is the same. Sports coupe body, as against low-slung supercar, high-tech four-wheel drive and turbocharged six-cylinder motor. But God, or Godzilla in this case, is in the details.

To say that Nissan has been totally obsessed by the GT-R project, would be grossly understating it. Even for the Japanese, the GT-R project scaled new heights of compulsive insanity. To take on the Germans and Italians, Nissan replicated parts of the Autobahn and the old Nurburgring race track in northern Japan, complete with signs in German and picnic areas! Then the test cars were shadowed everywhere they went by 911 Turbos and Nissan claims the GT-R is faster over the ’ring than the 911 Turbo, a massive massive bragging right despite the fact that the car is more than 100kg heavier but makes the same amount of power. Then, as with a lot of competition machinery, you can adjust everything on the car, from dampers, to the four-wheel-drive system to stability systems. The steering wheel looks like it belongs on an F1 car, with buttons and switches all around and no stone has been left unturned to give this car the best that is available.

Each motor for example is hand-assembled by a qualified race mechanic, Nissan beds in the massive Brembo brakes for each customer, the driveshafts use carbon-fibre to keep them light, the tyres are filled with nitrogen to keep the volume stable under extreme heat condition, the doorpads have been softened to allow for ‘painless’ hard cornering and Nissan has tuned the exhaust and the airflow so that you can now have a chat at 300 kilometres an hour. Then there is a Audi/VW-like DSG twin clutch six-speed transmission, the engine’s cylinder bores are plasma-coated for more efficient heat dissipation, a scavenger pump improves oil flow during cornering and a collector tank within the fuel tank does much the same for fuel flow. That’s not all. The electronic stability control package uniquely helps you corner faster, the dampers use information from 10 sensors to help get the right damping force, the car is classified as a Ultra Low Emission vehicle in Japan and even the paint has been specially formulated to handle stone chips at 300 kilometres an hour.

Priced from Rs 28 lakh in Japan, the GT-R is great value and available in right-hand drive. If you are keen on owning one, Nissan says it would love to help you import the car into India.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motors Cars was formed by Frederick Henry Royce and Charles Stewart Rolls on May 4, 1904. Royce was an engineer and Rolls was a salesman. Rolls Royce Motors cars made its international debut in December 1904 at the Paris Salon, exhibiting two-, three- and four- cylinder cars. In 1907, Rolls-Royce created the immortal Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost that was admired for its silence and smoothness.

In 1998, the Rolls-Royce marque was acquired by the BMW Group. Rolls-Royce cars are known for their engineering perfection and unmatched style. To commemorate its centenary, Rolls-Royce decided to launch a new car that reflects the true spirit of Rolls-Royce and thus Rolls-Royce Phantom was born

Check out the best cars of the year and new car india awards

It may look like that, but it was certainly not a walkover for the Hyundai i10 at the Business Standard Motoring Car Of The Year 2008 (COTY) evaluations.

There were those among the jury who would have liked the quick and flashy Suzuki SX4 to win the honours and there were those who liked the utilitarian virtues of the Mahindra Renault Logan better.

Those with a sporty bent wondered why a BMW could not win the title, while some thought the Chevrolet Spark represented a better value-for-money spin than the i10. As we told you, it was not a piece of cake winning the oldest automotive award in India.

But then we got to work. Driving these cars over a period of time over all kinds of roads, evaluating them over 21 critical parameters, testing them for fuel consumption figures in real life and ideal conditions, going through the performance runs with our state-of-the-art testing equipment that uses a minimum of three satellites to get data that is accurate to the last decimal.

And then we sat together and argued some more. It was important to keep the basic tenets of the BSM COTY in mind. Price, Fuel Consumption and Safety had to get priority over sheer acceleration numbers. Svelte design had to be backed by underpinnings that understood our road conditions. And more. Let us now look at the contenders before announcing the winners.

Contenders

Only brand new cars made in India were the finalists for the COTY 2008. That meant some superstar cars like the Maruti [Get Quote] Suzuki Swift diesel and the Chevrolet Optra Magnum TCDi were not to be considered.

The final line-up consisted of the Hyundai i10, Chevrolet Spark, Mahindra Logan (diesel as well as petrol), Maruti Suzuki SX4, the Volkswagen Passat and the BMW 3 and 5 Series.

Categories

We have five awards for 2008. BSM Car Of The Year (for the overall winner), BSM Jury award (for the most significant launch other than the COTY winning car) and BSM Performance Car Of The Year (for the most exciting driver's car) are carried forward this year too.

Debuting from this year is the BSM Best Value (for a feature packed and capable car that is easy on the pocket to buy as well as run).

Also, the ever increasing tendency to assemble luxury cars in India rather than import them meant that we had to axe the Import Car Of The Year award in favour of a new category, the BSM Premium Car Of The Year.

The contenders for this category were cars that are far too expensive to be serious COTY contenders. These cars were superior in their abilities and it wouldn't have been fair to let them compete with cars with mass appeal, hence.

Business Standard Motoring Car Of The Year 2008 � Hyundai i10

The Hyundai i10 wins the honour by being a contemporary car that is built in India for the world. Being a small car with a 66 bhp engine carried over with modifications from the good old Santro meant that it could not outshine its competitors in the objective parameters.

Surprisingly, the i10 lost out to its nearest competitor in the market, the Chevrolet Spark in the performance test ratings. However, the i10 started scoring well in the subjective rounds where the jury appreciated its build quality, ride, handling and general driveability. The car scored heavily on the design front and in the fun-to-drive department as well. But the real clinchers were safety, economy and the price.

The i10 line-up has one variant that offers airbags and ABS which is an industry first for a new car in its league. BSM road tests evaluate the "real life" fuel consumption of cars after putting them through congested city roads, suburban traffic as well as highway driving, and the i10 scored a perfect ten by scoring all of the 25 points in this regard.

The fact that a basic model is available at Rs 3.59 (ex-showroom Mumbai) meant that it cleared the price benchmark easily to score a perfect 125 points for price.

To sum up, the i10 is contemporary to look at, easy to drive, bristles with safety and convenience features and plays the "intended role" as close to perfection as it can get at this price point.

Business Standard Motoring Best Value 2008 � Chevrolet Spark

General Motors India's smallest car on sale has a lot going for it, yet it did not make it to the top honours this year because the i10 is simply an overall better car. Still, the Spark redeems itself on various counts.

It is fun to pilot, bubblegum cheerful and for a car of its size, has mature ride and handling abilities. Yet, it does not burn a hole in the pocket. For the money you pay, the Chevrolet Spark is simply a brilliant buy. Which is why it won the debut Business Standard Motoring Best Value 2008 award.

Business Standard Motoring Jury Award 2008 � Mahindra Renault Logan

If not for the i10, the Logan would have been our winner this year. It did so well across the board that we just had to give it our Jury Award.

This award is given to the most significant launch of the year other than the COTY, and by all means the Logan is certainly a very, very important car in the Indian market today. Three engine options - of which the diesel is incredibly frugal - superb underpinnings that impart a superb ride on our roads, well-thought out features, remarkable interior space... all these at a persuasive price point are the highlights of the Logan. Congratulations, Mahindra Renault!

Business Standard Motoring Performance Car Of The Year 2008 � BMW 325i

218 bhp at 6500 rpm. 25.1 kgm of torque between 2750 and 4250 rpm. A 2497cc inline-six. A power-to-weight ratio of 142 bhp per tonne. 0 to 100 kph in 8.98 secs. Top speed of 240 kph. But these are only the numbers and they are too cold to explain how scintillating the BMW 325i is to drive.

With power going to the rear wheels, low slung architecture and a near 50:50 weight balance, the 325i is indeed the ultimate driving production machine you can buy in the country. Ignore the iffy ride quality and the lack of adequate legroom. You have to be in the driver's seat of this car and seek out corners to straighten across the country. The BMW 325i is Business Standard Motoring Performance Car Of The Year 2008.

Business Standard Motoring Premium Car Of The Year 2008 � Volkswagen Passat

Europe's largest car manufacturer has made a debut in India with a car that simply overwhelms you for the price it's asking. The Volkswagen Passat is a clever car. It is loaded with an incredible array of features that are not available in cars that are substantially more expensive.

Each little aspect of the car is thought out and the car is built to standards that are seen only in luxury models. Besides this, the 140 bhp 2.0-litre diesel motor mated to the state-of-the-art DSG gearbox means this is a fantastic car to drive as well.

The Passat is indeed a machine that will make you feel good that you bought it... for years on end. Which is why it is the Business Standard Motoring Premium Car Of The Year 2008.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drop head gorgeous

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is a long name for what is an eagerly-awaited car from the Goodwood factory. From the outset the goal was clear — to create an opulent automobile for those occasions when no other car will do. The Phantom Drophead Coupe is unmistakably a Rolls from any angle, with the proud Corinthian grille and Spirit of Ecstasy mascot adorning the never-ending bonnet. But these timeless elements have been re-styled to complement the modern approach the company has made with this car . Built on a high-tech aluminium spaceframe, the Drophead is a completely new car and not just a Phantom with a folding top. The chunky aluminium A-pillars add both form and function to this automobile, and the car is 225mm shorter than its saloon sibling.

Powered by the same 6.75-litre naturally-aspirated V12 which powers the saloon, the Drophead Coupe accelerates to 100kph in less than six seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 240kph.

Colin Kelly, regional director Asia Pacific for Rolls-Royce was present at the car’s Indian launch, and stresses that India is a significant market for the marque. “With the Drophead Coupe, we want to drive the Rolls-Royce brand into the next decade. Twenty cars are slated to be sold in the Asia-Pacific region, of which a significant number will be sold and buy new cars in india.”

The Drophead is infinitely customisable, including an optional brushed steel bonnet. Rolls-Royce insists that no two cars will be alike. Considering the Rs 5 crore-plus price tag, that is the least customers can expect!