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Honda Mobilio

Launch Price :6.25 - 9 lakhs

Launch Date : 2014

Specifications:

Engine

Type (P) - 4 cylinder, 1497cc petrol
Type (D) - 4 cylinder, 1498cc petrol
Power (P) - 116 Bhp
Power (D) - 98.6 Bhp

Transmission

Gearbox - 5-speed manual / CVT automatic
Type - FWD

Seating Capacity

7 Seater

Steering

Power steering

Measurement

Dimensions - 4386 mm x 1683 mm x 1603 mm
Ground clearance - 185mm

Review:

The Brio platform is one of Honda’s major developments for the Asian markets. The platform currently underpins the Brio hatchback and the Amaze sedan, while a third model has just been unveiled in Indonesia. The all-new car is called the Honda Mobilio and is a seven-seater MVP that will be launched in India in 2014.

Exterior

The Honda Mobilio MPV (codenamed 2NH) is 4.4-meters long (wheelbase of 2.6-meters) and has a ground clearance of 185mm. It looks like a stretched out version of the Brio but much like Amaze, it looks like it has been designed from the ground up to be an MPV.

Interior

The interiors of the new car expected to be similar to that of the Amaze and Brio with beige being the predominant colour. The front two rows will certainly be spacious with foldable third-row that can either accommodate children or make way for extra luggage. The equipment list on Honda cars is generally below par compared to the competitors, so don’t expect music system with Bluetooth or too many trendy features. However, the safety bits will be up to the mark – ABS-EBD and airbags will be standard fitments for higher trims.

Engine

The Mobilio will be powered by the new 1.5-litre turbocharged Earth Dreams diesel engine churning out 100PS and 205Nm – the same unit that powers the Amaze sedan. It will also get a petrol variant which will probably be powered by the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol unit from the Honda City. There is also a possibility that Honda will reduce the size of the car to sub-4 to get the tax benefits, in which case the 1.2-litre petrol unit from the Amaze and Brio will due to the duty for the Mobilio.

Competition

Once launched, the Mobilio will compete with the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Chevrolet Enjoy and Mahindra Quanto.

Toyota Corolla Altis 2014

Launch Price :12 - 17 lakhs

Launch Date : May 2014

Specifications:

Engine

Type (P) - 4 cylinder, 1796 cc, Petrol

Type (D) - 4 cylinder, 1364 cc, Diesel

Power (P) - 138 Bhp @ 6400 RPM

Power (D) - 87 Bhp @ 3800 RPM

Transmission

Gearbox - 6-speed manual / 7-speed Automatic

Type - FWD

Seating Capacity

5 seater

Steering

Power steering

Measurement

Dimensions - 4620x1776x1475mm

Ground clearance - 175mm

Suspension

Front - McPherson strut with L-shaped lower arm with stabilizer

Rear - Torsion beam with stabilizer

Brakes

Front - Ventilated Discs

Rear - Leading-Trail drum

Tires

Tire size - 215/45 R17

Wheel size - 17”

Review:

Toyota India unveiled their new crucial offering, the next generation Toyota Corolla Altis at the 2014 Auto Expo. The bookings for the eleventh generation Corolla has started but the price and deliveries are yet to be revealed by the Japanese automaker. Toyota showcased the new Corolla Altis at the Auto Expo, revealing the details on the brochure of the new model. The styling is quite impressive and aggressive unlike the outgoing model that had a conservative design language.

Exterior

The 2014 Corolla as we had said earlier has been derived the from the Furia design philosophy. While it is a complete departure from the current vehicle in terms of aggressive appearance, it is however, more conservative than its American counterpart.

It gets a square design in front with sharp lines for the bumper, grille and the hood. The blacked-out headlamps and light cluster (now featuring an LED insert) flow upwards into the sloping bonnet which has prominent creases on the sides.

All four wheels have extremely flared arches and the doors slope forward on the side. At the back, Toyota has retained some of the aggressiveness from the American spec car due to the wrap around tail lamps. The rest of the rear looks like it has been designed based on the current Camry sedan and features a large number of bulging lines.

Interior

The Toyota Corolla has a relatively conservative design philosophy for the both the American and European spec car. Design bits are expected to be in beige with standard fabric for the seats. However, the top-spec variant is expected to get fake wood inserts as well beige leather upholstery trim for the seats.

 Standard features across variants are expected to include driver and passenger airbags, ABS with EBD, rear AC vents, parking sensors and electronically internally adjustable OVRMs. On the higher specs, we can also expect front parking sensors, Xenon lamps, touch screen infotainment system as well as electronically adjustable seats.

Engine

The engine line-up will be the same as before- a 1.8-litre petrol unit and a 1.4-litre diesel engine. The former produces 138bhp and 173Nm of torque while the latter produces 87bhp and 205Nm of torque. The diesel has a six-speed manual while the petrol can also be had with a seven-speed automatic gearbox.

Competition

The Toyota Corolla competes with Skoda Octavia, Chevrolet Cruze, VW Jetta and the Hyundai Elantra. We expect that this new car will be priced in the Rs 12 lakh to Rs 17 lakh for the top-spec diesel variant. The Japanese automaker may also introduce an AT box for the diesel variants with this new model. It is likely to be launched in June of this year.

KTM RC200

Launch date - july 2014

Launch price - 1.4 - 1.55 lakhs

The KTM Duke 200 has been a runaway hit in India and now there is going to be a fully-faired one called the RC200. Unveiled at the 2013 EICMA, the RC200 shares many of its components with the Duke 200 including the engine that has been re-tuned to take on the additional weight of the fairing. It also gets new projector headlights which add to its aggressive look.

The engine is the same liquid cooled 200cc mill from the naked bike that produces 25bhp and 19Nm of torque. It has been mated to a six-speed sequential box and is chain driven. Despite the faring, the RC200 weighs just 137 kilos (without fuel) which funnily enough is just 1kg more than the Duke 200. On the safety front, the RC200 gets a 300mm front disc and 230mm disc in the rear with the former getting a radially mounted ABS mechanism.

Honda CBR-650F

Launch date - June 2014

Launch price - 8 - 10 lakhs

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India showcased the CBR650F at the 2014 Auto Expo. This middle-weight bike from the Japanese maker has been created by young engineers for the young consumers of developing markets in Asia and Europe.

The design language of the bike goes very well with the traditional premium Honda sportsbike. It has been designed to balance sportbike styling and good handling with decent comfort and versatility. The front has been inspired from the ultimate CBR600RR supersport. This bike is a part of the new 650 family that also has the naked version- the CB650F.

The CBR650F is powered by a new 650cc four-cylinder DOHC engine that produces 87bhp at 11,000rpm and maximum torque of 63Nm at 8,000rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox with power transferred to the rear wheel via a chain drive. Honda claims that the engine is specifically tuned for low-to-midrange torque and the entire powerband is suited for a wide range of riding styles.

Like the other sportsbike in the segment, the CBR650F gets digital speedometer, tachometer and other instrumentation like clock, trip meter and fuel gauge.

2014 Yamaha R15 gets four new colours

Yamaha India has launched a total of four new colours and graphics for its R15 version 2.0 motorcycle. The new offerings have been made with a view to boost sales of the premium 150cc bike and to create more excitement among prospective customers. The four new colours are Raring Red, Invincible Black, Racing Blue and Grid Gold. The Raring Red and Invincible Black models are priced at Rs 110,003 and the Racing Blue and Grid Gold versions are a tad more expensive at Rs 112,924. All the above prices are ex-showroom, Delhi. 

The company hopes that with the introduction of these new colours the R15 can bring in more customers between the age group of 18-24 years. The change has only been made on the outside and the mechanicals remain the same with the engine being a liquid cooled, 4-stroke, 4-valve, SOHC unit displacing 149.8cc and generating max power of 17PS at 8500rpm and top torque of 15Nm kicking in at 7500rpm.

At the launch, Roy Kurian, VP – Sales and Marketing, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd, said, “It has been our hallmark to innovate and introduce products that have a strong connect with our customer base. The ‘R15’ has been a significant milestone in that sense in the company’s history and the torchbearer to introduce and promote racing culture in India. The racing DNA, sporty look and superior technology have been synonymous with the R15 which was graded up to R15 Ver 2.0 in 2011. A lot of thought and hard-work had gone into the conceptualization of the R15 and it has been a huge success for the company. As we launch the R15 Ver 2.0 in 4 new avatars, we are again very confident that this new introduction will help to keep the customer excitement intact in our flagship motorcycle.”

Honda City 2014

Price : 7.18 – 10.92 lakhs (Ex-showroom Delhi)

Specifications:

Engine

Type (P) - 4 cylinder 1497 cc, Petrol

Type (D) - 4 cylinder 1498 cc, Diesel

Power (P) - 117.3 bhp @ 6600 RPM 

Power (D) - 99 bhp @ 3600 RPM power 

Transmission

Gearbox - 5-speed Automatic/Manual, 6-speed Manual

Type - FWD

Seating Capacity

5 seater

Steering

Power steering

Measurement

Dimensions - 4440x1695x1495mm

Ground clearance - 165mm

Mileage

City -14.3 kmpl (P), 23kmpl (D)

Highway -17.8kmpl (P), 26 kmpl (D)

Brakes

Front - Ventilated Disc

Rear - Drums

ABS - Yes

Suspension

Front - MacPherson strut

Rear - Torsion Beam

Tires

Tire size - 175/65 R15

Wheel size - 15”

Review:

The all new Honda City looks all premium this time with major changes on its exteriors that make it contemporary and poses it with an all new ‘Shark Conceptual design’. The changes have been intelligently done on the exteriors to make it more appealing than the forerunners and resemble it with the ideal Honda City fleet. What makes it more adorable is the exclusive package of New Solid Wing Face Chrome Grille with company’s ‘H’ Badge at the centre, Premium Headlights and Premium Tail lamps. Built with high tensile steel along with the light weight and rigid body structure, the City comes framed with the new edge technology. Added to this, it is also blessed with high balance chassis system than ensures comfort and safety at the same time. Smoothness while driving is ensured with the classy set of suspensions that irons the uneven roads with ease. Like the previous generations, the new Honda City is five on five in terms of practicality ensuring best in class vehicle operating and stability. Besides this, the new City becomes an ideal car for the typical Indian conditions as the company has improved its ground contact performance by modifying the exhaust layout across the wheelbase centre.

Exterior

The revised sedan is not a completely new product and development has taken place in terms of a sporty and aggressive design. This is based on the carmaker’s ‘Exciting H Design’ philosophy which is expected to make its way to all the upcoming cars from Honda. The changes include the modifications to the front and rear profile of the vehicle. The revised front grille displays a singular broad horizontal slat laden with chrome. It tapers upwards at the edges and gets the Honda emblem in the centre. The grille extends down to the bumper which sees another thin horizontal slat before the air intakes. The double barrel headlamps are wider. The front bumper, which houses the circular fog lamps with honeycomb surrounds, gets redesigned air intakes. The bonnet has two vertical creases to channelize the air.

The side profile of the car also exhibits the creases meant to reduce the overall aerodynamic drag. Though the overall length of the vehicle is the same, the wheelbase is longer. The top end variant of the car stands tall on swept back design alloy wheels while the lower models get wheel caps with a similar shape. A slight change can be seen on the rear bumper but what is worth mentioning is the two-part layout of the tail lamps. The outer part of the tail light extends into the sides of the car, while the inner part is on the boot lid. The chrome strip running horizontally above the licence plate slot spreads across the rear linking the lamps. The car is tall from behind but the height is unrecognizable thanks to the horizontal lines added to the back.

The overall length of new Honda City is 4440 mm which is slightly lesser than the rival Hyundai Fludic Verna. However, its wheel base is slightly more and measures, 2600 mm. This extended wheel base ensures plenty of leg-room space to the occupants. The width of this mid-size sedan is also sufficient and measures 1695 mm, while its height extends up to 1495 mm. Moreover, the ground clearance of the new Honda City is 165 mm.

Interior

The interiors of the new Honda City are very similar to the layout of the previous car. However, the plastic quality has improved. It now gets a beige and black colour scheme with leather upholstery on the top spec variants while the lower variants get a fabric trim. The steering wheel has been revised and is larger than the previous one. It gets more buttons on it for audio connectivity, phone controls and cruise control.

The instrument cluster has three circles with the one in centre for the speedometer, the left one for the tachometer and the one on the right side to display the other information like the trip metre, the fuel gauge and the instant fuel consumption. The speedo boasts of two colours for the backlight- blue and green. If you are driving efficiently, the blue light turns into green. For tuning the car to the best possible efficiency, the automatic car’s dashboard gets an ‘Eco’ button. A centre arm rest is also present.

he new City comes blessed with airy interiors. It gets premium quality upholstery, ample of headrests, leg-room, head-room and shoulder-width for all the passengers. At the rear, the Honda City comes with a large cargo volume (boot space), measuring 510 Litres. Besides this, ventilation is properly channelized in the car through front and rear AC vent

Engine and Gearbox

The new Honda City is being offered with two sets of engines and gearbox options. The diesel engine is the 1.5-litre i-DTEC unit from the Amaze sedan that churns out 98bhp and 200Nm of torque while the petrol is the retuned version of the 1.5-litre i-VTEC unit which produces 119bhp and 145Nm of torque. The diesel is mated to a six –speed manual while the petrol gets an option of a five-speed manual CVT gearbox.

The 4th Generation Honda City is all good in terms of acceleration and pick-up. The 1.5 Litre i-VTEC petrol mill is the same one borrowed from the predecessors that attains speed range of 0 – 100 kmph in just 10 seconds with its top speed of 170. Besides this, the newly introduced diesel engine is also commendable in terms of acceleration and pick up and its NVH level is also quite low.

Competition

The new Honda City will rival the Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento, Ford Fiesta, Skoda Rapid, Nissan Scala and the next generation of the Maruti Suzuki SX4.

Colours

Carnelian Red Pearl

Golden Brown Metallic

Alabaster Silver Metallic

Taffeta White

Crystal Black Pearl

Urban Titanium Metallic

Verdict

At a starting price of Rs 7.18 lakh for the petrol model and Rs 8.62 lakh for the long-awaited diesel, Honda has banged the nail on the head, rather hard. The all-new, feature-packed interiors and shockingly spacious back seat havent just raised the bar, they have catapulted it out of reach of its competition