2016 New York - Lincoln Navigator Concept is treading on Continental's path

When Lincoln unveiled the Continental Concept at the New York Auto Show last year, it not just marked the return of an iconic nameplate but also ushered in a new era and a new look for future models of the brand. This year, Lincoln has again chosen New York for the unveiling of yet another erstwhile star of its range, the Navigator. Of course, its just a concept for now but expect the production version to not look much different.

While Lincoln's new design language made an instant impression when it debuted in the Continental Concept, it took some time for us to appreciate it in the Navigator Concept. And that's because of its size. The Navigator Concept is huge and the new Lincoln face has grown bigger to match the full-size SUV's proportions. Lincoln says its designers were inspired by luxury sailboats and yachts while designing this vehicle and it shows! The large trapezoidal grille housing a large Lincoln logo, the clean surfaces devoid of rash cuts and creases, sleek full-length taillights and the wide confident stance - everything that made us like the Continental is in the Navigator too.

The superb gull wing doors and the concertina steps that cascade out once the doors open are pure eye-candy that unfortunately won't make it to production. The turbine blade-like wheels and the ultra low profile tires could be chopped for a more road-friendly design and specification.

More than the exteriors, its the Navigator Concept's cabin that left us smacking out lips. The steering wheel and dashboard are elegant yet minimalist, just the way we like. Twin individual seats arranged in three rows and are adjustable thirty ways with Lincoln even holding a patent for these 'Perfect Position Seats'. Head restraint-mounted monitors ensures connectivity and entertainment for passengers seated at the second and third rows while a wardrobe management system can even hold a day's gear for the occupants. If the Continental is any indication, we expect the production version of Navigator to not lose much on the way and that would make this an awesome place to travel in.

A 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine sits under the hood, delivering greater than 400 horsepower to give the Navigator a real 'go anywhere' capability. Drivers can choose from several modes of steering, suspension and noise settings to get the driving experience that best suits them. The Navigator Concept features Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection that uses radar and camera to scan the road ahead and help reduce the severity or even eliminate frontal collisions.

Having debuted in 2007, the existing Navigator is the oldest vehicle in the Lincoln lineup and the new model can't come any sooner. By the looks of it, the wait is going to be worth it! 

2016 New York - Genesis Hybrid Sports Sedan Concept vows spectators, warns competitors

If Hyundai wants it's upstart luxury brand Genesis to go places and inch one step closer to be considered a genuine alternative to the German and Japanese luxury marques, all it has to do is free up some capacity and build the Hybrid Sedan Concept - just as it was displayed at the 2016 New York Auto Show without changing a damn thing!

Not every day do we see a concept that not just looks gorgeous but has fair chances of making it to production as it is. The rather unimaginatively named Hybrid Sports Sedan Concept is one such car that previews a compact sports sedan that's slated to join the Genesis lineup soon. Given that it has to take on stalwarts like the C-Class, 3-Series and A4 amongst others, Genesis can't afford to get it wrong. And if what we see us any indication, they seem to be doing everything right.

The aggressive fascia has a large hexagonal grille that has now become the face of the Genesis brand. On either sides of the grille lie a pair of sharp exquisitely-detailed headlights that are matched for shape, size and appeal by beautiful taillights. The muscular bumpers, the athletic beltline with that unique step up in the B-pillar and the sleek derriere with ultra-thin taillights and neatly tucked-in quad exhausts makes this concept a stunner. Particularly impressive are those chunky C-pillars and the way they merge with the rear deck and the muscular rear fenders.

Of course, there are some fussy elements, like the fender vents for instance, that we wish don't make it to production.

Interiors are futuristic and are likely to lose a lot of the fancy stuff when the car goes on sale eventually. Just look at that open-faced steering and the jazzy 21-inch display with 4k resolution. Gadget freaks would have a field day in the car's cabin. Space is likely to be limited, thanks to the sloping roofline and the restricted greenhouse.

As the name suggests, the car is likely to be a hybrid with some sort of electric assistance to the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine under the hood. With the rest of the specifications not released yet, it remains to be seen if the baby Genesis sedan can match or outrun it's turbocharged competition.

The Genesis brand might have come into existence only recently but it is making rapid strides already. With the erstwhile Equus and Genesis premium sedans transformed into G90 and G80 respectively to fit into the new brand nomenclature, the upcoming compact sports sedan is likely to be named G70. Having been smitten by the concept, we can't wait to see this car in its production avatar!

Bajaj Qute (RE60) spotted testing in Pune, Indian launch still a mystery

It was 2012 when Bajaj first unveiled the RE60 as a low-cost four-wheeler. It's unimpressive styling aside, we were looking forward for the RE60's launch especially since Bajaj announced this is an evolution of the brand's own three-wheeled auto-rickshaws. It also led to the creation of a new segment in the Indian automobile industry, the quadricycle. 

Soon enough, Bajaj started testing the RE60, at first with complete camouflage soon after its unveiling and then with partial camouflage later that year. While we waited eagerly for the launch, Bajaj continued testing the RE60, albeit with no camouflage, as late as last year.

Last September, Bajaj christened the RE60 as Qute and announced commencement of exports to countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia. Pending certification from Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and decision on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the Qute are cited to be the reasons holding up the Qute's launch in India.

That doesn't stop Bajaj from testing the vehicle though, as evident from these vehicles spotted in Pune with test registration plates. Of the two, the red Qute is a left hand drive model that's intended for exports while the white vehicle is a regular right hand drive model. The Qute might not be an attractive vehicle but it does look practical and built-for-a-purpose. In fact, in these pictures, the Qute isn't half as bad as it looked during its unveiling. It is built to a cost no doubt, with the single wiper, black plastic bumpers and the cheap rear view mirrors and door handles hinting at its commercial aspirations. Like Bajaj's auto-rickshaws, the Qute has just fabric roll-down sheets in place of windows. The Qute isn't a car and it doesn't try to be one either. Its boxy proportions with wheels placed at the four corners liberates a lot of space though, despite its compact footprint. Trapezoidal headlights with black surrounds houses integrated indicators while a similar theme is applied to the taillights as well.

Powered by a 216 cc rear-mounted engine that's said to produce 20 horsepower, the Qute can seat four in reasonable comfort and safety relative to three-wheelers, reach a top speed of 70 km/h and return a real-world fuel efficiency of 35 km/l. LPG and CNG fuel options might be in the pipeline too. 

If auto-rickshaws can be manufactured and sold with no problems whatsoever, what's stopping the authorities from giving green signal to the Qute that promises better safety for its passengers with the hard top, seat belts and added stability of four wheels? Bajaj appears to be clueless trying to find that out, resulting in they creating a website www.savethequte.in seeking public support. We've done our part. Now, go ahead and do yours. Let's help the Qute see the light of the day!

Renault Kwid continues testing, SCe (1.0L variant) and RxT with alloy wheels spotted

The Kwid has been a game-changing car for Renault in India. With the Duster losing the plot, the Kwid single-handedly brought Renault back into the game with more than 100,000 bookings and waiting periods extending to more than six months in some cities. Importantly, the Kwid has so far managed to do what the Hyundai Eon and Tata Nano couldn't, that is challenge Maruti-Suzuki's supremacy with the Alto. That's a real confidence-booster not just for Renault but for every other brand that intend to take Maruti-Suzuki head-on in a segment it has ruled for decades.

But Renault wants more. Both the Alto and Eon, Kwid's direct competitors, come with two engine displacements - a basic 0.8-liter mill and a peppy 1.0-liter unit in the top variants. The Kwid currently has the base engine variants of its competitors covered with its 799 cc, 3-cylinder engine that produces 52 PS of power and 72 Nm of torque. Very soon, the 1.0-liter variants of the Alto and Eon would be facing the heat as well as Renault is readying an all-new 1.0-liter 'Smart Control efficiency' engine with DOHC and four valves per cylinder. Though the specifications aren't released yet, Renault showcased this variant at the 2016 Auto Expo in New Delhi earlier this year. 

Here's proof this variant could soon see the light of the day. Caught testing on the busy GST Road near the Chennai airport, this silver-coloured Kwid caught our attention due to the additional 'SCe' badge on the right side of its hatch. No other change could be observed externally and the car looked exactly like a stock Kwid in RxT trim. 

Not far behind the Kwid SCe were a couple of red Kwids with test registration plates. One of them was bone stock but the other had an interesting change. Haven't you noticed the smart-looking alloy wheels that one of the red Kwids was shod with? We know that all current trim levels of the Kwid come with steel wheels. While the base variants have exposed wheels, the RxT gets plastic wheel covers. Though no other visual add-ons could be identified, this spotting makes us believe Renault is planning more features for the Kwid already.

Since we know Renault is also planning to launch an Automated Manual Transmission variant of the car with an 'Easy-R' badge, we kept our eyes wide open to see if an AMT-equipped variant was also part of the test fleet. Sadly, it wasn't. 

We are glad Renault isn't getting complacent with the Kwid's success and is putting in a lot of efforts to widen the car's appeal. Once the production constraints are resolved and the third shift starts at the Renault-Nissan Alliance plant in Chennai, the Kwid's sales numbers are bound to go up. With these powerful and feature-loaded variants in pipeline, expect it to grow further. All we can say is 'Alto, beware!'

BMW turns 100, predicts the next 100 years with the 'Vision Next 100' Concept

The BMW Group has turned 100 this year and, as part of the centenary celebrations, each brand in the group has decided to set out pulses racing with a concept of its own. BMW did it earlier this month while Rolls-Royce, Mini and BMW Motorcycles will follow over the year.

Ever since its unveiling earlier this month, this snazzy BMW has been setting the World Wide Web on fire. Why not? Aptly named 'Vision Next 100', the car is BMW's vision of a vehicle of the future - 100 years from now to be precise.

To start with, BMW's idea of the car of the future looks not quite unlike any car on the road now and thankfully so. Call us conservative, but we aren't fans of wacky concepts that look like spaceships roaming around aimlessly on earth. That way, we are pleased with BMW's Vision Next 100 Concept as it retains the same basic form that we have come to know and identify as cars. BMW's trademark kidney grille sits proudly at the front and so does the propeller logo at prominent spots all around. If you've been wondering about those shrouded wheel wells, know that the fenders are movable and would stretch to let the wheels turn. And what do we say about those suicide-style scissor doors? A show-stopper for sure, this BMW is!

Interiors are expectedly high-tech offering more comfort, more assistance and more intense experience for the driver as well as the occupants. Yes, we did say 'driver'! At a time when driverless cars are gaining traction threatening to challenge the very existence of human drivers, we are glad BMW thinks otherwise. Terms like Digital Companion, Alive Geometry and 4D Printing feature in BMW's press release. The purpose those terms and technologies exist is to assist the driver in a subtle and intuitive way depending on the situation. For instance, an advanced version of Heads-Up Display transforms every damn thing in the vicinity of the car into digital objects on the windshield.

Then comes the two driving modes - Boost and Ease. In the former, the driver is an integral part of the vehicle which for its part does its best to deliver an ultimate driving experience. Offering complete control in Boost mode is a joystick-like steering yoke that smartly collapses out of the way when the car is switched to Ease mode. True to its name, Ease transforms the car's cabin into a moving comfort zone with the Companion taking over the driving responsibilities. You know what, Alive Geometry can even warn the occupants before braking or turning. That's pretty cool and exciting, isn't it? Is there a time machine anywhere that would take us to 2116 right away?

BMW has not revealed what's under the hood or underneath the body of the car. That's okay for we do not know if fossil fuel would still exist 100 years from now to power automobiles. 

Well, thanks BMW, for giving a sneak peek of what's in store from Munich!