Ford inaugurates Vehicle Personalisation Centre in India

Ford India has become the first company to launch a Vehicle Personalisation Centre in the country, enabling the new EcoSport buyers to customise their SUV with a host of vehicle personalisation options. Located in the premises of firm’s Chennai facility, the Vehicle Personalisation Centre is spread over 35,000 square feet. The center was inaugurated by John Cooper, Vice President Customer Service Division at Ford Asia Pacific and Nigel Harris, President, Ford India.

“Customers today view vehicles as an extension of their own personalities and are keen to customize their cars to stand out from the clutter. Our customers today are socially conscious who don’t compromise and want things done their way. They desire for enhanced levels of personalisation to make vehicles look distinctly theirs,” said John Cooper. “Adding to the overall brand ownership experience, we will provide customers peace of mind through premium quality customization options that they can trust without compromising on safety, quality or vehicle warranties.”

To begin with, the Vehicle Personalisation Centre will offer three customization options on the Ford EcoSport. The initial offerings include:

• Spare Wheel (Cover) Pack for all variants
• Alloys Pack that offers premium quality alloys and rear-spoiler for Ambiente and Trend trims.

Sports Pack that includes rear-spoiler, LED scuff plate, roof cross-bar for Titanium and Titanium (O) trims.

“Our company is committed to design innovative solutions that delight customers by delivering ‘what they want and value’. Our innovation-led approach has helped us democratize in-car technologies and offer unique service packages that deliver class-leading cost of ownership. The Vehicle Personalisation Centre is an extension of this customer-centric innovation,” Cooper added.

Hyundai Verna Booking Commenced in India

As Hyundai is prepping up for the launch of Verna, the dealers across the country has started taking the advance booking of updated model with an upfront payment of Rs 21,000 to as high as Rs 51,000. The facelifted Verna is slated for the launch on 16th/17th of this month. The updated model will feature daytime running LEDs placed alongside with fog lamps, LED taillamps, redesigned bumper and twin-rear fog lamps.

We called dealers of Delhi NCR, Jaipur and Mumbai and got mixed reports. Advance booking of car in Jaipur is yet to open while in Delhi it starts at Rs 51,000. While few dealers from Mumbai said the booking amount is Rs 21,000. Moreover, availability of the ongoing model is reportedly stopped by the automaker to make way for the facelifted version.
The updated model will get a new front profile which is based on Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy. The new model also gets a large twin slat grille and a bigger air dam.
On the list of updated features, the car will get a large touchscreen infotainment unit. The system also incorporates a built-in navigation system. If the Verna shares its features with sibling Solaris available in Russia, it will also ditch its 4-speed automatic gearbox to sport new 6-speed automatic transmission. Mechanically, the car remains the same and will carry forward 1.4 or 1.6 CRDi diesel engine and 1.4 or 1.6 VTVT petrol engine.

Porsche releases the Cayman GT4

Porsche’s Cayman range gets a new big brother, the GT4, to its line-up. The new Cayman GT4 shares its components with the focussed 911 GT3, resulting in the same lap time across Germany’s ‘Green Hell’ of 7 minutes 40 seconds as a 2011 911 GT3.

The engine under the umm... boot, is a 3.8 litre flat-six borrowed from a 911 Carrera S, developing 385bhp of maximum power. Equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox with dynamic mounts, the Cayman GT4 can touch 96kmph from a standstill in 4.2 seconds. Top speed on the track is a claimed 292.8kmph.

The body of the Cayman GT4 highlights 3 pronounced inlet openings at the front and a large fixed rear wing are part of an aerodynamic package which is systematically designed for down force. If you politely ask Porsche, and pay a lot of money, the performance capabilities of Cayman GT4 can be pushed even further. These available options include the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system, full bucket seats made of carbon fibre composite, and a custom Sport Chrono Package featuring a Track Precision app.

The chassis features a 30mm lower ride height and a massive brake system are again shared with the 911 GT3. The insides of the Cayman GT4 aim to enhance the experience of unfiltered driving enjoyment for both driver and passenger. Standard sport seats, which are upholstered in a combination of leather and Alcantara, offer excellent lateral support. The new Cayman GT4 sport steering wheel guarantees ideal control and direct steering feedback due to its compact dimensions.

2015 Hyundai Verna Facelift

Hyundai India is prepping up to launch the 2015 Verna and it does not seem to be like ‘i’m getting a fresh new face.’  instead of it, things are expected to change mechanically too. Ever since the launch of City, sales of Verna dropped significantly, Ciaz has just worsen the scenario. Let’s see what’s the mid-life refreshed Korean sedan, launching on 17th of February, has in its bag.

PROJECTOR HEADLAMPS WITH DRLS AND LED TAIL LAMPS:

The new Verna is coming with projector headlamps, which are also present in the current-gen model. But unlike ongoing car’s LED positioning lamps, the new sedan features daytime running LEDs placed beside the fog lamps. Just like its Russian counterpart (went on sale recently, known as Solaris there), the Indian version too is likely to be equipped with LED taillamps. Moreover, the refreshed bumper sports twin-rear fog lamps.

TOUCHSCREEN INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM:

Though Verna (Solaris) launched in Russia did not get it but reportedly the version launching in India is getting a large touchscreen infotainment unit. The system also features a built-in navigation system. Moreover, at present Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is the only car in the segment that offers a touchscreen unit with navigation, introduced recently in the Z+ trim.

NEW 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:

Solaris with the recent update received a new 6-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai Verna in India at present is being offered with ancient 4-speed automatic transmission which was also installed in the previous Hyundai i20, but company decided not to offer it with the Elite i20. Considering this, it is expected that Hyundai will offer the new 6-speed automatic in the 2015 Verna. Speaking of the engines, the current motors will be carried forward in this update.

FRESH NEW look:

Apart from all, 2015 Verna is getting a fresh new face which faintly reminds you of Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy. It features a large twin slat grille and a bigger air dam. The bonnet in the new Verna is more sculpted compared to the ongoing model.

RIDE AND HANDLING:

Reportedly, Hyundai has worked upon the suspensions and steering response of the upcoming Verna. Since the current car is criticized for its not so confident steering feedback and soft suspension setup, expect improved ride and handling similar to that of Elite i20.

Mercedes AMG-GT to be launched in March 2015

When Mercedes-Benz launched the SLS AMG in 2010, the world took notice. It was without debate a gorgeous car, with wicked character thanks to its 6.3 litre naturally aspirated engine and of course the gullwing doors that made this beauty every auto enthusiast’s wet dream. Come 2014, Mercedes-Benz announced that the SLS AMG’s production would be stopped only to be replaced by another successor – the Mercedes-AMG GT. The SLS AMG has been Mercedes-Benz and AMG’s flagship car and now the baton has been passed on the AMG GT.

The AMG GT houses a 4.0 litre bi-turbo V8 engine that produces 462PS of power and 600Nm of torque while it ‘S’ variant sibling dishes out 510PS of power with 650Nm of torque. Both vehicles claim a 0-100kmph sprint in under 4 seconds with a top speed of 300kmph plus. The engine is mated to a seven speed dual clutch automatic transmission and an electronic differential.
The AMG GTs which will hit the Indian shores will be devoid of features such as lane keep assist, collision prevention and radar guided cruise control. The AMG GT is a light weight car as most of the components used in its manufacture are aluminium, which gives it a good power to weight ratio along with kick-ass dexterity around tight corners.
The AMG GT has five drive modes varying from comfort all the way to the race mode. It also comes with an individual mode where one can have personal settings for the suspension, steering, engine response, exhaust etc. Prices for this machine haven’t been announced yet, but we’re assuming it will be in range of Rs 2-2.5 crore.