2014 New York - Land Rover unveils the Discovery Vision Concept

It wasn't too long ago when things were looking rather bleak for Jaguar and Land Rover, the iconic British brands that are now owned by Tata Motors. A few amazing, well thought-out, stunningly-styled models and a steady sales climb across all major global markets later, the two brands have now elevated themselves to a position where they seem to do nothing wrong. The Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept unveiled in New York last week serves well to prove that.

Previewing a new family of Sport Utility Vehicles under the Discovery nameplate, the Discovery Vision Concept is where, we strongly feel, the future of Land Rover belongs. The Range Rover might be raking in the profits, the Evoque might have customers queing up on either side of the dealerships and the Defender might be swallowing hitherto unexplored terrain but the Discovery is the model that would keep the Land Rover factory and its workers busy. Taking design cues from this concept, an all-new premium compact SUV dubbed the 'Discovery Sport' will be the first member of the new Discovery family that has all along been a standalone model. The concept itself looks sleek and modern with a lot of elements picked up from the Evoque.

Also making its debut in the Discovery Vision Concept is the ground-breaking "Transparent Bonnet" technology. Using cameras mounted in the vehicle's grille to capture the terrain ahead which are then fed to a Head-Up Display in the windshield, this revolutionary feature uses 'virtual imaging' technology and creates a see-through view of the terrain through the hood and the engine bay. Isn't it incredibly cool to have a hood and then have tech that makes it invisible? We bet watching this tech in person would make it a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie. Have a look at how this technology works and the view that the driver would get when it is in operation in the images below.

Land Rover hasn't revealed details on the underpinnings, powertrain options and the variants that will follow the Discovery Sport. What it did indirectly reveal though is a rosy outlook for the future. With the exception of Ford Motor Company which might be a bit disappointed that the Discovery Vision Concept looks too similar to the Explorer, this Land Rover concept has probably made everyone else happy.

2014 New York - All-new Hyundai Sonata uncovered

If we are asked to pick one car that completely shook up and transformed the high-volume, hugely-popular and big-earning midsize marketplace globally, we would point our collective fingers towards the Hyundai Sonata. When the sixth-generation Sonata went on sale in 2010 across major global markets, it brought in oodles of style and aggression that were hardly seen in the mainstream midsize sedan segment. With its fluidic exterior styling and swoopy interior appointments, the Sonata stood out in the crowd dominated by mundane-looking sedans. Needless to say, awards and accolades poured in, sales flourished and the Sonata gave 'Brand Hyundai' a huge fillip.

Hyundai wants to cash in on that and the all-new, seventh-generation Sonata that was unveiled earlier this week at the 2014 New York International Auto Show aims to make the Sonata more sophisticated and luxurious. Employing the brand's "Fluidic Sculpture 2.0" design philosophy, the new Sonata loses quite a bit of muscle and aggression that made the previous-generation model popular. The sharp cuts and creases in the sheet metal are replaced by taut and gentle lines, making the new Sonata look more sophisticated and dignified. An upright hexagonal grille, sharp headlights, sleek taillights and simple character lines define the new Sonata. Thankfully, the coupe-like roofline and the athletic profile are retained in the new model. And boy, the Sonata Turbo in that bright orange shade looks damn sexy! By the way, Hyundai calls that colour 'Urban Sunset'.

The interiors are all-new as well, quite literally. A simple, straightforward cabin with intuitive center console that's angled towards the driver marks a total contrast from the angular dashboard of the previous model. Atleast at first glance, the cabin doesn't create that big an impact visually. Two 4-cylinder engines, a 2.4-liter Theta II and a 2.0-liter turbocharged Theta II, both equipped with Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) and Electronic Intake Continuously Variable Valve Timing (E-CVVT) powers the new Sonata. As with every new Hyundai model, loads of safety kit find their way into this car as well. Apart from the standard stuff, a knee airbag, Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and a Lane Departure Warning System, heated and ventilated seats, smart trunk and a host of Multimedia options makes the new Sonata a well-kitted family car.

While we aren't sure the critics and brand fanatics would be impressed by the toned-down external and internal looks of the new Sonata, we are equally sure that most of the general public out there who go and actually buy these cars are going to love this near-luxury transformation that Hyundai's most important model is embarking upon. Should Toyota and Honda be worried? Yes and no. Yes because the new Sonata will continue to sell in big numbers snatching customers away and no because the new Sonata won't make the Camry and Accord look bland like the previous generation model did.

Audi A3 is 2014 World Car of the Year

Volkswagen Automotive Group’s staggering stranglehold over the World Car of the Year title continues in 2014 as well with the Audi A3 becoming the latest from the stable to win the coveted title. This is the second time an Audi is being crowned World Car of the Year after the A6 that won in 2005. For the year 2014, twenty-four models from across the world met the eligibility criteria to contest the World Car of the Year title. Jurors from around the world evaluated each of those models and arrived at a shortlist of twelve, which was then further filtered down to just three finalists. The Audi A4, BMW 4-Series and Mazda 3 were the cars that made the cut. In the final evaluation runs though, the Audi emerged on top, leaving the BMW and Mazda behind.

Conferring the title on the A3 in New York, the jurors of the World Car Awards observed, “It might borrow styling hints from its bigger brothers, but the A3 still offers classic, chiseled contours and even better interior trim levels. With a superb choice of engines and four body styles, the A3 range packs a hefty premium punch in the small luxury segment. Audi should be complimented for making this A3 ride like no other A3. All the old shimmer over rough surfaces has gone, replaced by a silky smooth ride that approaches limousine quality”.

It’s good for us then that the A3 will soon arrive on Indian roads to spearhead Audi’s challenge in the potentially-big entry luxury segment.

* 2014 World Car of the Year – Audi A3

Previous WCOTY Winners:

* 2013 – Volkswagen Golf
* 2012 – Volkswagen Up!
* 2011 – Nissan Leaf
* 2010 – Volkswagen Polo
* 2009 – Volkswagen Golf

As always, the announcement of the World Car of the Year award was accompanied by allied titles such as World Performance Car of the Year, World Green Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year aimed at honoring the expertise and brilliance exhibited in the respective aspects. For 2014, a new title World Luxury Car of the Year has been added to acknowledge higher-priced premium models selling in limited numbers worldwide.

From an initial list of ten luxury cars launched worldwide, three finalists in the form of Bentley Flying Spur, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Range Rover Sport were chosen. In the end, it was the Mercedes that beat the other two to become the 2014 World Luxury Car of the Year.

* 2014 World Luxury Car of the Year – Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2014 World Performance Car of the Year title went to familiar territory as Porsche took top honours for the third straight year. The 911 GT3 prevailed over the other two finalists for the award, the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and the Ferrari 458 Speciale.

* 2014 World Performance Car of the Year - Porsche 911 GT3

Previous Winners:

* 2013 – Porsche Boxster / Cayman
* 2012 – Porsche 911
* 2011 – Ferrari 458 Italia
* 2010 – Audi R8 V10
* 2009 – Nissan GT-R

BMW picked up the World Car Design of the Year award for its work on i3, the first model in the company’s all-electric ‘i’ sub-brand. Mazda 3 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class were the other two finalists that vied for the top spot.

* 2014 World Car Design of the Year – BMW i3

Previous Winners:

* 2013 – Jaguar F-Type
* 2012  – Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
* 2011 – Aston Martin Rapide
* 2010 – Chevrolet Camaro
* 2009 – Fiat 500

It’s eye-catching looks notwithstanding, the BMW i3 was also crowned the World Green Car of the Year for its revolutionary, grounds-up approach towards efficiency and sustainability. The finalists for this award included the Audi A3 Sportback g-tron and Volkswagen XL1.

* 2014 World Green Car of the Year - BMW i3

Previous Winners:

* 2013 – Tesla Model S
* 2012 – Mercedes-Benz S250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
* 2011 – Chevrolet Volt
* 2010 – Volkswagen BlueMotion Cars
* 2009 – Honda FCX Clarity

Currently in its tenth year, the annual World Car awards are, by far, the most respected and the most popular in the automotive industry. The awards intend to complement the various national and regional Car of the Year awards handed over annually.   Judged by a panel of expert automotive journalists from North America, Europe and Asia, the World Car awards recognize the best in the automotive industry on an international scale.

Ford S-Max Vignale Concept looks stunning

In automotive parlance, Multi-purpose Vehicles (MPV) and the adjective "stunning" generally don't co-exist. In fact, those kind of words are more at home when used in posts that describe exotic sports-cars and uber-luxury automobiles sporting badges like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz and the like. But, when we first saw the images of the S-Max Vignale Concept released by Ford, that 's' word is actually what struck us. We were, quite literally, stunned!

To be honest, the Ford S-Max Vignale Concept evoked adjectives that's so untypical of an MPV. It is sleek, stylish and sexy. Surprised, aren't you? Look at the pics and we bet you won't be anymore!

So, what is it with the S-Max Vignale Concept that's so attractive? It starts with the colour itself. Draped in what Ford calls "Milano Grigio", a pearlescent jewel-like shade with rose metallic tones, the S-Max Vignale Concept looks dashing. Further accentuating the beauty are the Dark Rose Grey detailing in the grille, air dam and exhausts. Liberal yet subtle applications of chrome around the grille, in the front and rear bumpers, around the windows, in the doors and in the rear view mirrors is striking too. Add to that the unique 21-inch alloy wheels and the sharp headlights and taillights and the S-Max Vignale Concept is one hell of a looker.

We can't remember an MPV creating such a visual impact anytime in the recent past. How cool would it be if the MPVs criss-crossing our roads look as good and appealing as this one? That's wishful thinking, we know!

Though the interiors of the S-Max Vignale Concept fall way short of concept standards, it is still an appealing place to imagine yourselves in. From the dashboard and instrument panel through the glass roof to the luggage compartment, the interiors are swathed in high-quality leather. In sync with the exteriors, the seats have an unique hexagonal quilting pattern and the air-vents feature the six-faced shape too. Advanced car-to-car communications, tablet-docking stations for the second row and a flexible seating concept ensures that this concept creates an impression of a lounge on the move.

Showcased at the Salone del Mobile during the Milan Design Week, the Ford S-Max Vignale Concept is all set to go into production sometime next year. Following the Mondeo, the S-Max will be the second Ford model to be offered in the high-end 'Vignale' trim level that promises customers luxury, exclusivity and special treatment. Whatever it is, we only wish what we see as virtual images in this post is what we get to see on the road in 2015.

Volkswagen Golf celebrates 40 years of existence

Irrespective of what metric it is being measured up against, the Volkswagen Beetle would emerge as an iconic automobile that shattered the industry records. Hugely successful for decades together, the Beetle has its name etched in automotive history as one of the largest selling cars of all time. On March 29, 1974, when Volkswagen first rolled out the Golf as a replacement for the Beetle, it wouldn't have foreseen what happened next. Over the next 40 years, the Golf has spawned seven generations and sold an unprecedented 30 million units. In the process, the Golf not only became the most successful European car in history but also the most successful Volkswagen ever.

Its not always automotive companies openly admit one of their competitor's models as their benchmark. But the Golf is one such model and has always been the gold standard of the compact segment against which most new models conceived and developed by rival brands are being benchmarked. It's not hard to understand why. From the 'Mk I' which debuted in 1974 to the Mk VII that premiered in 2012, the Golf has always been a pioneer when it comes to introducing technology and features to the compact segment. As Volkswagen rightly pointed out in its press release, it was this car that took the most important technologies and trends, like turbocharging, direct injection, Antilock Braking System (ABS), Adaptive Cruise Control and automatic air-conditioning, to the mass market.

With thousands of loyalists that swear by them, the sporty GTI and GTD variants have gone on to become legends in their own ways. The seventh-generation Golf will also have a GTE, an electric hot hatch, joining the lineup.

Quite understandably, for a car that accomplished so much in its life span, awards and accolades have poured in over the years. The Golf is a two-time "European Car of the Year" title-winner in its Mk III and Mk VII incarnations while the latter was also chosen as the 2013 World Car of the Year. The Golf is also one of the few cars that cracked the Japanese car market and was also selected as the Japanese Car of the Year 2013-14, beating domestic giants Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda.

This is not the end of the story, mind you, as the Golf is still going strong at 40 years and is all set to shatter more records over time.