'Report – Next gen MQB-based Audi Q3 coming in 2018' plus 7 more

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• Report – Next gen MQB-based Audi Q3 coming in 2018
• Report – Lamborghini Asterion reportedly leaks out
• IAB Report – Duster Air special edition announced in Europe
• IAB Picks – 6 new Maruti products coming by end of this fiscal year
• IAB Special – Five-time Mahindra Scorpio customers’ impressions on the 2014 Scorpio
• IAB Report – 13 cars coming to India from the Indonesia International Motor Show 2014
• IAB Report – Global brands struggle to connect with Indian customer: J.D Power report
• IAB Report – Mahindra Quanto AMT launch confirmed for this financial year

Report – Next gen MQB-based Audi Q3 coming in 2018 Posted: 27 Sep 2014 05:30 AM PDT Will be based on the VW MQB Platform. While Audi is prepping a facelift for the Q3, details have already started surfacing about the next generation compact crossover. Autobild predictably suggests that the next gen Q3 will sit on the VW Group’s MQB Platform, and is expected to be larger than the current generation in order to distinguish itself from the Q1 crossover that Audi announced for 2016. Go-faster RS variant in petrol and diesel, as well as a 1-liter engined ‘Ultra’ variant are reported to be in the lineup. The next gen Q3 will offer the same engine lineup as found in the VW Tiguan, which includes a 2.0-liter TSI engine that outputs 200 hp. Along with that, there is a rumored Q3 ‘Ultra’ variant that houses an eco-friendly 1.0-liter 3-cylinder that produces 108 bhp, and is coupled to an S-tronic transmission. Furthering the Q3 range’s eco-friendly appeal is a plug-in hybrid variant, says the report. Also on the cards are the performance oriented Q3 RS petrol and Q3 RS TDI outputting 395 bhp and 268 bhp respectively. Also Read: IAB’s Audi Q3S Review The next gen Audi Q3 is expected in the market in 2018, while a facelift of the current generation will be unveiled late this year or early next year. Audi Q3S – Image Gallery (unrelated) [Source - AutoBild.de]

Report – Lamborghini Asterion reportedly leaks out Posted: 27 Sep 2014 04:29 AM PDT To be based on the Huracan platform? Out of the blue, Lamborghini dropped a teaser this week of an upcoming model that is expected to be unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The teaser, shown above, depicts of the critical design lines that will define the shape of the car and the tagline “Once perfection is achieved, you can just double it”, suggesting that it could be a 2+2, and a spiritual successor to the 1968 Espada. Lamborghini have confirmed that there will be a new car showcasing, but doesn’t confirm the name or platform. Several magazine scans of an upcoming Lamborghini have surfaced on the web, and reports believe that the car depicted above is indeed the vehicle teased by Lamborghini. Since they recently trademarked the name “Asterion”, a creature in Greek mythology which is part bull and part man, it wouldn’t be surprising if the teased model is christened that name. The Asterion follows the super-exclusive line of Lamborghinis that include the Sesto Elemento, Veneno and Egoista. The scanned images partly reveal the design of the upcoming Lambo that perfectly fits design lines of the official teaser. It looks like a 2-door 2+2 supercar, which is inline with recent rumors. However, do take these rumors with a pinch of salt as these images could also simply be photoshopped. Also Read: Lamborghini Huracan launched in India at INR 3.43 crore The trademarked Asterion logo features an electric bolt above the “o”, adding credence that the Asterion could be the first ever Lamborghini to feature an hybrid powertrain, although details on the powertrain are currently unknown. Lamborghini Huracan – Image Gallery (unrelated)

IAB Report – Duster Air special edition announced in Europe Posted: 27 Sep 2014 03:35 AM PDT Gets a few optical touches in the interior and exterior. Ahead of its debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, Dacia has announced the Duster Air and the Sandero Black Touch special editions. The exterior gets altimeter graphics and yellow mirror caps. From the name, it’s clear that the Sandero Black Touch is nothing but a Sandero Laureate with pearlescent black accents, body-colored bumpers, and 15-inch alloys exclusive to the special edition. Like the exterior, the interior also features pearlescent black trim and optional tech like cruise control and a MEDIA NAV infotainment system. Otherwise, it shares the same engine lineup with the standard Sandero: a 1.2-liter petrol, a 900 cc 3-cylinder “TCe 90″ turbocharged petrol engine and a 1.5-liter diesel “dCI 90″ engine, producing 75 hp, 90 hp and 90 hp respectively. The Duster Air features altimeter graphics that draws inspiration from aviation. Exclusive touches include front/rear skid plates, Imperial yellow side view mirrors, tinted rear windows and 16-inch alloy rims finished in a dark tone. The interior receives exclusive touches, like the special upholstery with contrast stitching and embroidered motifs, and features black trim and altimeter graphics. Under the hood, it’s powered by either a TCe 1.2-liter turbo petrol engine that outputs 125 hp and a dCi 1.5-liter diesel engine that produces 110 hp. The petrol variant will only be available with front-wheel-drive while customers looking at the diesel variant can opt for a 4-wheel drive system. The pricing for the Dacia Sandero Black Touch and the Duster Air starts at EUR 10,450 (INR 8.11 lakhs) and EUR 16,200 (INR 12.58 lakhs) respectively. Dealers will begin receiving orders from October 2, 2014. Dacia Duster Air – Official Images Dacia Sandero Black Touch and Dacia Duster Air – Press Release [Can't read the press release above? Head to Slideshare]

IAB Picks – 6 new Maruti products coming by end of this fiscal year Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:23 AM PDT This calendar year, Maruti’s lone new offering was the Celerio. Where arch rival Hyundai have launched two new all-products in high volume segments (Xcent and Elite i20), Maruti has remained relatively quiet. All that is about to change though, as Indian Autos Blog learns that half a dozen launches are planned for the remaining part of this financial year (ends on March 31, 2015). 1. Maruti Ciaz The Ciaz is India’s most fuel efficient car. The Ciaz is due to launch on October 10 (tentative), and will kickstart the festive season celebrations for the brand. Set to rival the Honda City, the Ciaz will be offered with a 1.4-liter petrol engine and a 1.3-liter diesel engine. Pre-launch bookings for the sedan were initiated on September 3, and the company has already received between 5,000 to 10,000 orders.

IAB Special – Five-time Mahindra Scorpio customers’ impressions on the 2014 Scorpio Posted: 27 Sep 2014 01:24 AM PDT It has been a little over 48 hours since the new Mahindra Scorpio for 2014 went live in Mumbai. There has been considerable chatter over the media and social media as people have voiced mixed opinions about the new generation Scorpio. Some have liked the new design, while some have maintained their allegiance to the old one. Mahindra, as with every iteration, has introduced new technology onboard the Scorpio, and for the first time in 12 years – worked seriously on the interiors. But exactly how new is the new Scorpio? Over the past 12 years, I have owned five model years of the Scorpio, one of which was a four-wheel drive version. For most part, I have had a mixed ownership experience with the brand. It remains one of the most important cars on Indian roads today, and the reason for Mahindra's 21st century revival too. Front seats now come with plastic mouldings that improve the appeal of the cabin. In person, the new Scorpio looks far better than most images have shown it to be. Blame it on Instagram perhaps, but when you actually see it physically present in front of you, all the notions of an over worked design go out the window. For the first time in the car's history, it is picturesque from the front too. Ramkripa Ananthan once again led the design team here, one of her previous projects being the XUV500. Infotainment screen displays data points such as fuel economy, distance to empty, tyre pressure and temperature, reverse sensor output, and service reminder. Reverse camera feed can be added. On the inside, a similar story extends. The quality improvements are shocking. Here too, you can't trust the pictures. You have to be physically present to appreciate the quality enhancements executed by Mahindra. The six-inch touch screen infotainment is actually a pleasure to use, and the plastic quality on the automatic air-conditioning buttons right below is better than a Mercedes I recently drove. ORVM controls, fuel lid opener button, and rear windshield de-mist button are relocated to the right of the steering wheel. Changes are limited to the front dashboard and centre console. Mahindra has left the second and third row virtually untouched. The seats remain the same albeit a blue-beige colour scheme. There is a new five-speed gearbox that Mahindra claims is easier and smoother to use. And delivers reduced NVH to the driver too. Though I haven't driven it yet, the gearshift mechanism definitely felt better over the previous generation model. Under the hood, most have come to believe that the entire chassis is new. That's not entirely the case. The front crash tips of the chassis are now manufactured using a hydro-forming technique, which is a process basically used for manufacturing parts that have variable thickness. The air conditioning vents can now be used. That's a good thing. This process helps the Scorpio meet European crash regulations. Besides that, Mahindra has actually put in a lot of effort in improving the ride quality of the car. Suspension elements at the front and rear are all new, both installed with anti roll bars to help with cornering stability. The rear axle is new (BANJO) and lighter. There is a new clutch in place, new exhaust, new wheel hubs for reduced frictional losses, vibrational damping on the propeller shaft to reduce NVH, a plastic fuel tank (from the XUV500), and a 6-channel ABS unit that now works on all four wheels instead of just the front two. The bonnet is now hydraulically assisted. Easier to open as a result. How much has the ride quality improved as a result of all those changes, I don't know yet. What is evident, is that the masses who will end up buying the car will be more concerned with what they can see (against what they can't), and that is the features. Mahindra has introduced a new variant nomenclature with the new Scorpio. The trims will now be called S2, S4, S6, S8, and S10. The feature list is spread across these 5 variants, but it is quite clear that all those new technology bits that Mahindra has endeavored to introduce on the Scorpio's platform, will appear only on the top end S10 variant. I have split the feature list (below) into the ones that will come as standard across the range, and the ones that will differ variant to variant. The build quality of the steering wheel feels robust and has a grainy texture that feels premium. The steering mounted buttons still feel cheap though. The standard bits are mostly the features that pertain to the design of the car. I have highlighted all the new feature introductions in blue on the specification sheet below. The touchscreen is more responsive than the one in the XUV500. If you decide on any variants besides the S10, you don't get most of the new tech as well as most of the previous generation’s ones. You miss out on those projector headlamps, static bending lamps, touchscreen infotainment, GPS, Tyre-tronics, start-stop system, automatic air conditioning, steering-mounted audio controls, cruise control, multi-information display, LED eyebrows, and more. Therefore, what you technically get by choosing the S2, S4, S6 or S8 variant, is a refreshed version of the previous generation car. One that is designed better, possibly rides better, and is more appealing. If you desire the genuine hardware action, you will have to go with the S10 version, which is the actual and true upgrade from the older generation in terms of features and technology.

IAB Report – 13 cars coming to India from the Indonesia International Motor Show 2014 Posted: 26 Sep 2014 11:28 PM PDT The ongoing Indonesia International Motor Show 2014 has proved to be bigger and better than before and only looks poised to grow further in the years to come. Here is our pick of cars from the IIMS 2014 that have India in their list of places to go. Note that not all cars are officially confirmed to arrive in India. 1. Tata Aria AT Despite a recent facelift, the Tata Aria is still waiting for its much needed shot in the arm. The A-Tronic 6-speed automatic transmission appears to be the last chance for the premium MPV to turn around its fortune. 2. Honda Jazz To be launched in the first quarter of next year, the Honda Jazz for India will be available with the 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol and the 1.5-litre i-DTEC petrol engines. 3. Mercedes C Class The Mercedes C Class, despite its age, continues to be one of the best selling cars for the brand in the sub-continent. The next gen luxury saloon which is slated to be launched next year would step up the game for the German automaker. 4. Mercedes GLA The Mercedes GLA launches in India on the 30th of September. The MFA product will fill the huge compact luxury crossover void that Mercedes-Benz India has in its portfolio. 5. Mercedes CLS facelift Armed with the Multibeam LED lighting and minor design changes, the Mercedes CLS four-door coupe is all set to be launched in India sometime early next year. 6. (Maruti) Suzuki SX4 S-Cross The compact crossover SUV from Maruti Suzuki has already started testing extensively in the country. Launch is expected to happen a few months after the Ciaz which will go on sale next month. 7. Audi S3 The 300 hp Audi S3 compact luxury sedan would be a good addition to the A3’s Indian variant lineup. Given that the regular petrol and diesel variants started off with a strong response, the go-faster variant could be launching next. 8. Tata Super Ace Tipper The Tata Super Ace Tipper is merely a special application variant based on the highly successful LCV platform. If launched in India, the load carrier would lock horns with the Ashok Leyland Dost. 9. BMW i8 The BMW i8 electric supercar which greeted the Indians at the Auto Expo earlier this year would be introduced in the country in limited numbers. The launch is expected sometime next year. 10. Datsun Go+ The Datsun Go+ will be the second product by the Nissan-owned budget brand in India. The low-cost 7-seat MPV which is basically an extended Go hatchback has already started testing in the country. Its commercial launch is expected in a few months. 11. Datsun redi-GO The Datsun redi-GO which made its world premiere at the Auto Expo previews a sub-Go hatchback with subtle hints of a crossover. The car is still a long away from meeting the assembly line but when it does, India is expected to be the first market and manufacturing base. 12. Honda Accord Owing to poor demand, the petrol-only Honda Accord has been withdrawn from the Indian market but the carmaker hasn’t ruled out a comeback. The latest version of the D-segment saloon will launch next financial year. 13. Tata Nexon The Tata Nexon is the Indian automaker’s answer to the Ford EcoSport and VW Taigun. The Vista-based crossover will be launched in February 2016.

IAB Report – Global brands struggle to connect with Indian customer: J.D Power report Posted: 26 Sep 2014 10:53 PM PDT Show ads on technology and features, finds the study. They may be some of the most popular brands in the world, but they are struggling to make a direct connection to the customer. A recent study by J.D Power Asia Pacific shows that customers in Northern and Eastern parts of India are struggling to differentiate between popular brands like Ford, Fiat and Renault. Predictably, Maruti Suzuki topped the charts at 837 points out of a maximum 1,000, followed by Hyundai (758), Toyota (729), Honda (723) and Tata (703). Japanese giants Mitsubishi (565) and Italian major Fiat (586) stood at the bottom of the table. Predictably, Maruti Suzuki topped the J.D Power Brand Influence and Positioning Study 2014. In contrast, says the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2014 India Brand Influence and Positioning Study, Japanese brands like Honda and Toyota are achieving this easily. The study looks at consumer awareness and perceptions of the brand to measure the impact of mass market passenger car brands in India. The study segments the market using psychographic, demographic and behavourial attributes to help car makers understand their prospective customers. Also Read: Indian auto market to miss AMP 2016 targets The study suggests that car manufacturers need to relook their advertisement strategy. While the ads now focus on themes like excitement, elegance and trendiness of the vehicles, prospective buyers instead seek ads that talk about the new features and technology-related improvements in the product. J.D Power Brand Influence and Positioning Study [Can't view the document? Head to SlideShare]

IAB Report – Mahindra Quanto AMT launch confirmed for this financial year Posted: 26 Sep 2014 10:16 PM PDT Could also come with a regenerative braking system.  Mahindra will launch the Quanto with an automated manual transmission (AMT) by end of the financial year. The Indian carmaker expressed its intention of launching an AMT on the Quanto at the Auto Expo this year, and had also showcased the car. Mahindra referred to the technology as ‘autoSHIFT’. The AMT system is being developed with UK-based Ricardo. Pravin Shah, Chief Executive – Automotive Division & International Operations, speaking to IAB at the Scorpio’s launch, said – The Quanto AMT is in the store, and surely by the end of the financial year, the product should be there (on the marketplace). According to details released at the Auto Expo, the 5-speed AMT is jointly developed with UK-based Ricardo, and could provide superior fuel efficiency than the manual transmission variant. Mahindra said that the system uses an “advanced” ECU and a hydraulic actuation system for quicker gear changes. The Auto Expo concept was also fitted with regenerative braking technology wherein kinetic energy is recovered through an alternator and stored in a battery, potentially saving 40 liters of fuel per year. The Quanto AMT shown at the Expo had a different steering wheel as well. Also see: New Mahindra Scorpio vs Renault Duster vs Safari Storme spec sheet comparison The AMT-equipped Quanto should see some renewed interest for the car, which has fared quite poorly in terms of sales. Mahindra sold an average of 364 cars/month (calculated for January – August 2014 period). Expected Price: INR 7.8-8.2 lakhs, ex-Showroom Launch date: By end of this financial year Mahindra Quanto autoSHIFT at Auto Expo 2014 – Image Gallery

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