Porsche Panamera's Cabin

PORSCHE'S finally handed out pics of the new Panamera's, cabin, which promises to be as high-quality as any other car in the range, but more practical and useable than most.
Clearly, it's a strict four seater, so grandma has to be left at home. Those who get to travel though, will get to choose between13 combination of shades and materials, will get a Burmeister sound system and 445 litres of luggage space.
Porsche also reveals that PDK versions will get a stop-start system, to cut down fuel consumption and CO2.

VW Touareg Hybrid

This is the Next-Gen VW Touareg. Of course, it looks the same like the current one. But looks can be deceptive. For this reason, Volks Wagon was plastered huge stickers yelling 'Hybrid' along the sides. And to make sure they drive home the point they have even repeated it in a bigger font.
This is a prototype of what we can expect from the German marque in the not so distant future. More to the point, this is what we can expect in the new Touareg. Well, you see developing a fresh looking exterior was going to be the easy part anyway, compared to what they plan to put under the bonnet and under the car - literally. And the only reason this prototype is on these pages is because... it is brilliant.
Yes, that's the word. VW tell us this is near production has ready. That's got are appetites going. Because there are two things VW is doing differently with this environment - friendly car of the future. First, they have decided to bring ti under there umbrella blue of technology, blue motion! Yes in VW world, blue is green, which is good. More importantly they have made this vehicle capable of going fast. No, seriously fast. For starters zero - 100kph is under 7 seconds! How do you like that? Add a claimed fuel efficiency figure of over 10kpl. And just to make sure all tree - huggers stop booing the SUV, they have done it first with an SUV, knowing that this breed needs all the Eco-friendly bits. First, not small cars.
This Touareg is a petrol - electric hybrid. There is a 3.0 - litre supercharged V6, using VW's home - grown advanced direct-injection system or TSI. This is mated to an 8-speed auto, interspaced with the electric or E-motor. Some interesting figures here. The V6 TSI is capable of close to 330bhp in maximum power turns, with whopping 440nm for company. This, is note, is equivalent to the V8 that currently propels the Touareg. So in absolute terms, you will get an equally powerful engine consuming less fuel, from the simple logic that lower displacement equals lower fuel consumption. Eco - friendly bit anyone?
This is just part of story. The better half of this Hybrid is the 38 Kilowatt E-motor. This brings along just over 50bph and 300nm of the Torque. Not excited yet? Hear this. Kick down or put gearshift selector in S(yes, environment - friendly sport model!), stamp the throttle and both the petrol and electric motor work in unison. Combined, they launched an assault on tarmac with close to 550Nm torque and 372bhp. exited now?
VW isn't trying to change the world. It's using the best of watts at disposal New technology, sure, but usefully combined with what's around today. For example, the use of Nickle - metal hydride batteries to power the E-motor. This is more durable and robust that the costlier but more effective Lithium ion batteries. More importantly, NiMH does the its meant for in the Touareg Hybrid pretty well. So why go for a costlier alternative?

Fiat Linea

ALSO ADMIRED BY THE CRITICS OF THE INDIAN AUTO INDUSTRY

AUTOCAR 'Car Of The Year - 2009'
AUTOCAR 'Best Mid-Size Car - 2009'
OVERDRIVE 'Mid-Size Car Of The Year - 2009'
TOP GEAR 'BBC TopGear Medium Saloon - 2008'

BMW X3 Series

An agile diesel is perfect for India, and this engine is as good as any out there. At long last BMW decided the petrol-only X3 wasn't working as well in India as they'd like, and plugged in the sweet 2.0-litre turbo diesel from the 320d. And it works, oh it works. It's both muscular and smooth, and the 1,995cc motor manages to whip out its 177bhp and 350Nm with astonishing quietness too.
This engine should have turned the X3 from a bit to a nonentity in BMW's lineup to a star, but sadly the car's niggling flaws remain.
BMWs are supposed to be many things. Exciting, for one. Fun to drive. A bit snooty-MBA too. What they aren't supposed to be is vaguely disappointing. Which is what the X3's always been, a sort of"Oh, well, all right, maybe I can live with it" member of the BMW tribe, trying to cash in on the soft-roader trend and not entirely succeeding. It's never quite right, never really been able to get out m under the shadow of its brethren-and unfortunately, this continues.
It's a combination of things. For one, this isn't one of Bangle's better designs: it's fussily detailed, too eager to try new things at the expense of actually looking nice. The interior's better, though I'd advise you to stay away from the carroty leather we had in our test car. Also, don't think about taking a fifth person on long drives.
Handling is also a problem. Body control is excellent, but the steering doesn't weigh up as much as I'd like, and feels a bit vague through corners, which is unforgivable in a Beemer, and the brakes, through strong are squishy and have no feel.
The central problem though, is the ride. On concrete, it's fidgety. On wavy tarmac your neck hurts from all the bobbing, and over potholes your teeth clack together. It gets better at high speeds and on very smooth roads, but this sort of car is mostly used in the city, where badly laid tarmac keeps drumming at your thighs and buttocks. It's particularly bad at the rear, which bucks and kicks over speed-breakers and ruts.
See, it's not a bad car: it has a lot going for it, but it just never comes together. The other problem is that there are just too many alternatives. Want a nice, slick soft-roader? The Outlander is about 80 per cent as good for 50 per cent of the price. Want a luxury soft-roader? The Q5 and XC60 will be along soon, and being much newer, should be better sorted. Want a BMW? The 3-Series is pretty good. Want a BMW SUV? The X5 is pricier but much sweeter.
So no, The X3 in any form is not quite the car that I'd break down a BMW dealer's doors for, but if you think otherwise, the wonderful new diesel might just seal the deal.
Price: Rs 39.9 lakh (ex-showroon New Delhi)
Performance: 0-100kph in 8.9 seconds