All-new Compass is the Jeep we are waiting for

When Fiat took over Chrysler, one of the first things it did was to put Jeep on an expansion mode globally. From being an American brand with production confined to its home country, Jeep's SUVs are now being manufactured in plants located in Europe (Italy), Brazil and China. The South American country recently witnessed the start of production of the all-new Compass, Jeep's newest global C-segment challenger.

The Compass slots in between the Renegade and the Cherokee in the Jeep lineup and will replace not one but two existing models - the Compass and the Patriot. The outgoing twins might not be missed but there is so much to like in the all-new Compass.

On top of the list is it's spot-on styling and proportions. The Grand Cherokee, Jeep's flagship SUV, is universally loved for its design and the brand's designers were wise enough to borrow its cues when they penned the new Compass. The fascia, for instance, bears more than a passing resemblance with the cohesive arrangement of grille, headlights and bumper resembling the Grand Cherokee. The rest of the vehicle is as minimalist as it can get with a prominent shoulder line and an unique chrome window lining that outlines the top of the windows before flowing into the rear windshield. Like all Jeeps, the Compass boasts flared squarish wheel arches with minimal front and rear overhangs, just how we like our SUVs to be.

The off-road ready Trailhawk variant can be identified with bright red tow hooks, black alloy wheels and contrasting hood decal. Spec one in red and black as shown above and we bet you will turn heads whenever you take it on road, it's that hot!

Interiors appear to be a clear step up from the current Compass and is said to be made with premium materials to improve the overall quality. The dashboard is inspired by the Cherokee's and feature a 8.4-inch UConnect touchscreen infotainment system supported by 9 Beats speakers.

While the Brazilian Compass is powered by a 2.0-liter Tigershark Flex petrol engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 2.0-liter Multijet II diesel engine mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox, 15 more engine and transmission combos would be added as the Compass goes on sale in different global markets.

India is reportedly one of the target markets for the new Compass and, honestly, we aren't surprised. Indians love their SUVs and, despite the initial sticker shock, we hear the first batch of Wranglers and Grand Cherokees launched recently are sold out. Things then are looking good for the new Compass and we can't wait to see how it fares here.

2016 Paris - Nissan says 'Bonjour' with the flashy new Micra

Perfectly utilizing the glamorous floor space of the 2016 Paris Motor Show, Nissan made quite a style statement by unveiling its fifth-generation Micra. Squarely targeted at the popular and highly-demanding B-segment in Europe, the new Micra is all set to continue the nameplate's 30-year legacy in the continent when it goes on sale early next year.

When Nissan unveiled the Sway Concept at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, few expected the car to make it to production unchanged. Nissan, being who they are, did just that with the new Micra. That was an exaggeration, of course, but you get the point.

Ditching its swoopy lines and feminine image for good, the new Micra looks sharp and flashy. Nissan's signature V-motion grille takes the center stage up front flanked by large headlights with boomerang-shaped detailing inside. But the profile is where the real drama is. Prominent character lines that originate from the edges of the grille flow through the fenders, change course midway through the front doors to form a V-shaped crease before running the full length of the car. Other interesting design touches include the floating roof - another Nissan signature, C-pillar mounted rear door handles and sharp boomerang-shaped taillights.

While opinions on the new Micra's styling have been polarizing so far, we don't remember the last time a B-segment hatchback's design was debated as much. That's good news, Nissan has got the new Micra rolling!

In total contrast to the exterior styling, the new Micra's cabin is subtle and lacks flair. Occupying prime position inside is the multi-function flat-bottom steering wheel, the wing-shaped dashboard and the 7-inch full-colour display that incorporates the infotainment and navigation systems. Entertainment duties are taken care of by the new 6-speaker 'Bose' personal sound system.

The new Micra is loaded with advanced safety kit including segment-first Lane Departure Prevention, Intelligent Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Intelligent Around View Monitor, Traffic Sign Recognition, High Beam Assist and Blind Spot Warning apart from ABS and airbags that we know. Impressively, Nissan is planning to have these features as standard across the range.

Powertrain options at launch include a 0.9-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.5-liter diesel engine, both developing 90 horsepower. A 1.0-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine will join the lineup later as the base engine option.

While the current Micra is produced in Renault-Nissan's alliance plant in Chennai and exported worldwide, Nissan is reportedly moving the production back to Europe for the next-generation model. That puts a huge question mark on the new Micra's launch prospects for India though the funky hatchback would be a fabulous addition to Nissan's aging lineup here. Will Nissan spring us a surprise? Let's wait and watch.

2016 Paris - Hyundai RN30 Concept has RS, GTI & Type-R in its sights

For those of you who didn't take Hyundai's announcement of forming a new N sub-division for high-performance models seriously, the South Korean manufacturer has dropped the biggest hint yet at what to expect from the new sub-brand. Unveiled in Paris alongside the upcoming third-generation i30 with which it shares its design and underpinnings, the RN30 Concept is wild and dramatic.

While the basic design is inherited from the i30 hatchback, the RN30 Concept looks aggressive with its wider body and hunkered-down stance. Armed with aerodynamic enhancements like ground-hugging skirts all around, bonnet air outlets, floating fenders that work in tandem with side splitters, large rear wing and a massive diffuser, all of which help in generating the much-needed downforce, the RN30 Concept is purpose-built for the racetrack. Smoked lights, distinctive DRLs, light-weight 19-inch alloy wheels and centrally-mounted twin ceramic exhausts add to the sex appeal.

Lamborghini-esque 'scissor' doors look hot but sadly won't make it to production.

The cabin is stripped out with just the essentials making the cut, saving precious weight in the process. Hyundai has also worked with BASF to develop a light-weight high-performance environment-friendly plastic that's been used extensively in the RN30's cockpit. Low-set, body-hugging bucket seats and a roll cage complete the interiors while image-stabilizing gimbal cameras mounted on the A-pillars let drivers shoot professional racing footage.

Powering the RN30 Concept is a high-performance turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that's currently being developed by Hyundai to power the N production models. Employing an enlarged turbocharger and forged cylinder block for increased thrust and durability, the engine generates 375 horsepower and a whopping 451 Nm of torque. Hardware include a wet-type dual-clutch transmission (DCT), All-wheel drive (AWD), Electronic Variable Exhaust system and a sophisticated electronic Limited-slip differential (LSD). 

After all, this Hyundai has the go to match its incredible show!

Developed by engineers at Namyang, Hyundai's global R&D headquarters, and pushed to their limits by their counterparts at Nürburgring, the world's most challenging race track, Hyundai's N models are something we are looking forward to eagerly. 

Will the i30 N be as sexy and intense as the RN30 Concept? For Hyundai's sake, let's hope it does.

Hyundai unveils all-new third-generation i30

Prior to its official debut at the upcoming 2016 Paris Motor Show, Hyundai has revealed the looks and specifications of the third-generation i30. A popular car for the South Korean brand in Europe, the i30 has sold over 800,000 units in the continent since its debut in 2008. Not surprisingly then, the new i30 is designed, developed, tested and set to be manufactured in Europe. 

The new i30 is also said to be the DNA car for Hyundai in Europe, previewing the future direction of the brand. For a market like ours where Europe-oriented Hyundais like the i10 and i20 are big-sellers, this is a crucial hint at how the next-generation variants of these cars would evolve.

Visually, the new i30 continues the trend that we first saw with the Sonata and, more recently, Elantra. Hyundai is doing away with the flashy styling elements, opting for subtler designs instead.

Debuting in the new i30 is what Hyundai calls a 'Cascading Grille', a 'blink-and-you-miss' evolution of the hexagonal grille that many automakers have fallen in love with. Hyundai says the new grille will become the identity of the brand going forward, so expect to see a lot more of these in upcoming Hyundais. Wraparound headlights with projectors and vertically-stacked air curtains with inbuilt foglights and LED DRLs define the fascia. The hood is long, the wheelbase is longer and the overhangs shorter, giving the i30 a solid stance. The profile is characterized by a prominent shoulder line that runs the full length of the car. While the split-taillight units look good, the tailgate has two creases too many.

The interiors are well-designed and elegant with the quality, fit and finish expected to be top notch as well. Eye-catchy elements include the beautiful three-spoke steering wheel and the optional 8-inch floating touchscreen in the center console. While some of us actually like this setup, there are a whole lot of folks who hate this show-off stuff stuck on to the dashboard. Hyundai claims class-leading passenger and luggage space in the new i30 and we don't doubt it. Crucially, the rear windows aren't kinked upwards like most Hyundai cars, so those seated at the rear don't have to fight claustrophobia as much as before.

Powering the new i30 are three petrol and one diesel engines. Petrol options include a naturally-aspirated 1.4-liter mill and two turbocharged units - a 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder T-GDI and the new 1.4-liter, 4-cylinder T-GDI delivering 140 PS and 242 Nm of torque. Flying the diesel flag is the familiar 1.6-liter turbo diesel in three states of tune. Mated to these engines are the 6-speed manual and the fairly-new 7-speed Dual-Clutch automatic transmissions. 

The new i30 is said to be tested for dynamic prowess at the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife. Let's wait and see if that has translated into responsive steering and better handling, traits that Hyundai isn't known for.

When it goes on sale, the new i30 will have the most advanced safety package amongst all mainstream Hyundai models with a host of active and passive safety features including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Front Collision Warning System, Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Smart Cruise Control, Bilnd Spot Detector, Rear-Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Keeping Assist System, High Beam Assist and a total of 7 airbags.

While Hyundai has confirmed that the i30 nameplate will expand to include multiple body styles, we don't know what are they yet. Our guess is that a station wagon and a 3-door coupe would join the 5-door hatchback that we see here. That's not all. The new i30 will also get the first high-performance model under Hyundai's new 'N' sub-brand, come 2017. 

How about bringing this here to India as your halo car, Hyundai?

Skoda unveils Kodiaq, the brand's first large SUV

Czech automaker Skoda recently took the wraps off its all-new Kodiaq, the brand's first large SUV, at an event held in Berlin. Lining up above the Yeti in the lineup, the Kodiaq has the potential to do more than what the Yeti did in literally every aspect. Yes, the new Skoda SUV is not just bigger, it looks better, comes with three rows of seating and opens up new markets and target audience too. This, so, is a crucial model for Skoda.  

One aspect of current-generation Skodas that won the brand thousands of fans worldwide is their crisp styling that's accentuated in no small part by elegant detailing all around. The Kodiaq loses none of that.

Not all large SUVs are beautiful to look at but the Kodiaq sure is. The overhangs are just about the right length, the wheelbase isn't awkwardly long and there is none of that 'bulbousness' that seem to plague many of its peers. Giving it a distinct identity up front are its double-headlights that perfectly complement the trademark 'butterfly' grille with vertical slats. There are eye-catchy design elements all around - the muscular hood with central ridges, the recessed shoulder line, the snazzy alloy wheels and the contoured tailgate with multiple surfaces. Headlights and taillights get the typical 'crystalline' effect like all Skodas and look brilliant.

The interiors are typical European stuff with a functional layout that's devoid of flashy styling. Expect the build quality, fit and finish to be up there with the best as usual. Despite being just a tad longer than the Octavia, the Kodiaq appears to be a proper 7-seater with three rows of comfortable seating. The double horizontal lines, a theme successfully incorporated in the exterior design, is carried forward to the cabin as well. Remember the Skoda-branded umbrellas of the first-gen Superb that had their own storage slots in the rear doors? The Kodiaq has one such unique feature too. It's called 'door-edge protection' and it deploys automatically when opening the doors preventing the door edges from getting damaged.

A host of driver assistance systems like Tow Assist that automatically takes over steering when reversing with a trailer, Manoeurve Assist that automatically brakes when an obstacle is detected while reversing and Area View System that comes with wide-angle surround-view cameras are available for the first time in a Skoda. 

Engine options include the familiar 1.4 TSI, 2.0 TSI and the 2.0 TDI, with the smaller petrol and the diesel mills coming in two states of tune each. Apart from the 6-speed manual and the 6-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearboxes, a new 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission is making its debut at Skoda mated with the top-of-the-line TSI and TDI mills. An All-Wheel Drive system with electronically-controlled multi plate clutch is on offer too, which means the Kodiaq can take you off-road if needed.

We hear that the new Superb has got off to a flying start in several markets across the world and Skoda can't make enough of them. We know quite a few unhappy customers waiting for their Superbs right here in India too. When it goes on sale, expect the Kodiaq to pose more of the same challenges for Skoda, in India and abroad!