2015 Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI launch in February end

Not so long ago, Mercedes-Benz brought in the 2015 C-Class but only in the petrol trim. Now, the Stuttgart-based car maker is all set to bring in the diesel C220 CDI variant. The C200 petrol on sale currently has come to our shores by the CBU route and its oil-burning sibling will also be the same.

With the C-Class, Mercedes has taken the design of entry-level luxury sedan to an all-new level. The 2015 C-Class gains its inspiration from its flagship S-Class. The long hood smoothly blends into the twin-slat grille that houses the three-pointed star. Like its elder sibling, the C-Class too has a nicely carved out smooth profile. The sharp shoulder lines continue all the way ahead up to the LED headlights. The interiors too have luxury written all over it. The cabin design with the wooden centre console and the aluminium finished ac vents further adds to the charm.

While the exterior and the interior design will remain the same, the C220 CDI will get a different heart. The 2.2-litre diesel mill will pump power of 170 horses and make peak torque of 400Nm. Mated to a 7G-Tronic gearbox, the C220 CDI claims to attain the ton in about 7.4 seconds.

For the C-Class Mercedes-Benz will not bring in a lower cost variant with lesser features. The fully loaded C220 CDI is anticipated to be priced higher than the C200. We expect Mercedes-Benz to bring in the C220 CDI at around Rs 42 lakh.

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Blaupunkt launches Cape Town 940 multimedia system

Car infotainment brand, Blaupunkt, has launched Cape Town 940, its first android based double din infotainment system in India. This new multimedia system runs on the android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean operating system and comes with a with a 6.8-inches capacitive touchscreen screen.

The Cape Town 940 gets internet connectivity via WiFi, smart phone integration for complete command and control of smartphones via the radio, android music player app, HDMI/MHL, independent rear seat entertainment zone, Bluetooth Twin connect in order to connect two phones simultaneously.

The in-car infotainment brand is also offering an all India map on SD card as an option, which provides connected navigation with live traffic updates for select cities (Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai), speed alerts and lane guidance. The navigation has been sourced from Map My India and is available at an additional cost of Rs 3,999.

The radio also comes with a cool Mirror Mode feature that allows users to project the screen of their smartphones onto the radio display with complete control of Apple and Android phones via the radio. Thus, all the functionality and applications on their phone are immediately streamed on the in-dash radio and to rear screens.

Commenting on the launch, Pankaj Jagwani, Managing Director, Blaupunkt India, said, "Connected car features are increasingly desirable to the customer and OEMs struggle with finding a robust reliable solution to realise this functionality in the near term. The company has OEM android platforms in active production since 2012 and is currently developing next gen android radios for several leading OEMs in Asia and internationally, with a number of launches planned in the near future."

The Cape Town 940 multimedia system is priced at Rs 54,990.

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Is this the 2015 Mahindra Thar facelift?

Images of the 2015 Mahindra Thar facelift doing test rounds in the country had surfaced on the web some time back. 2015 Thar facelift is back in spotlight once again. Reports suggest that this refreshed SUV has already reached the dealerships.

The pictures reveal that the 2015 Mahindra Thar facelift receives a soft-top with transparent plastic windows and steps finished in black that add to its rugged look. Inside, the dashboard receives silver inserts.

No changes are expected on the mechanical front. The Thar is expected to come equipped with its existing range of engine options which include a 2.5-litre DI unit that delivers 63PS of power and 182.5Nm of torque, and a 2.5-litre CRDe engine that churns out 105PS of power and 247Nm of torque.

Although, it is a minor facelift one can expect a completely new and fresh interior which will include a brand new dashboard, new seats and other interior trim. Also expect slight upgrades on the exterior front including flared wheel arches and a number of aftermarket dealer fitment accessories. (For more also read:)

The current Mahindra Thar is 3,920mm long, 1,710mm wide, and 1,930mm high, and has a wheelbase of 2,430mm with a ground clearance of 200mm. The Mahindra Thar currently retails between Rs 4.82 lakh and Rs 7.69 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

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McLaren and Mercedes unveil 2015 challengers

With the first pre-season test set to commence on February 1, teams have now started unveiling their 2015 challengers. McLaren was the first to take the wraps off their Honda-powered MP4-30, the car that Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button will drive this year.

The new car features a revised red, black and silver livery and is a 'thoroughly refined evolution' of the 2014 car. McLaren claims to have extensively worked over the winter to ensure that the MP4-30 is a solid package that has been developed such that it forms a strong base for the engineer, aerodynamicists and drivers to pursue during the season.

To comply with the revised regulations, McLaren have given the MP4-30 a nose-job, a slim rear-end packaging and tightly contoured bodywork that envelops the RA615H Hybrid unit. This will be the first time that McLaren-Honda alliance will be back in action since 1992.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg got their hands on Mercedes' 2015 contender when the team completed a day of running for a promotional event in Silverstone. The German was the first to sample the car which was then handed over to the current champion but unfortunately a blizzard brought an early end to the day's events. Before curtains, the duo could only post 18 laps round the Silverstone circuit.

Both McLaren and Mercedes are expected to make the track debut of their cars at the start of the first pre-season testing on February 1 at Jerez.

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Countdown for the 2015 Mumbai International Motor Show begins

If you're an adrenaline junkie, and if anything on wheels fascinates you, then the 2015 Mumbai International Motor Show is the right venue for you. Powered by Times of India and ZigWheels, the fourth edition of the Mumbai International Motor Show is about to begin, and the event promises to be even bigger than ever before.

Making its grand debut in 2009, the show has since then embarked on a successful journey by bringing in the latest happenings and stalwarts of the automotive industry on the same platform. This year's Mumbai International Motor Show will see the presence of global automotive brands from Europe, America, India, and Asia.

To fuel things up further, the show will have numerous pavilions that will display vintage cars to mesmerise visitors with their timeless beauty, cars that have rocked the racing circuit, different types of tyres and a wide variety of innovative accessories used in the automotive world.

The action refuses to stop here. To enthrall visitors, the event will also have a 4 x 4 track, where stunt bikers will exhibit their prowess every two hours. A pits-stop contest will keep visitors engaged furthermore into this exciting event.

So what are you waiting for? Register now for an entry fee of just Rs 150, and head on to this adventurous automotive show to have some fun with the machines.

WHEN: February 5-8, 2015

TIME: 11 AM to 8 PM

WHERE: MMRDA Grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai

FOR REGISTRATIONS LOG ON TO:

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Lexus GX

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Mazda CX-3

The Mazda CX-3 will be the smallest crossover sold by the Japanese automaker in America when it goes on sale late in 2015. A new vehicle blending hatchback, wagon, economy-car and, yes, crossover traits, the CX-3 is based on the platform that will spawn a new Mazda 2 next year as well. The CX-3 will sit below the larger CX-5 and three-row CX-9...



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