All-new Maruti-Suzuki WagonR launched

Merely months after Hyundai launched the new Santro in a bid to gain supremacy in the entry-level hatchback segment, Maruti-Suzuki has hit back by launching the third-generation WagonR in India. Consistently a best-seller, WagonR has been a huge success story for Maruti-Suzuki with a loyal fan following. The launch of this new model - priced between INR 4.19 Lakhs and 5.69 Lakhs - is a move by the leader to not let Hyundai invade it's turf.

WagonR has never been a style statement on wheels. It was - and still is - boxy with a design that gives precedence to function over form. The new model is no different. The squar-ish headlights that WagonR has always been synonymous with are retained, albeit stretched at the edges and swept back on to the sides. A new grille with a chrome insert in the middle and an updated bumper housing a large air dam and trapezoidal fog lamp pods complete the changes in the fascia. In profile, the ‘tall boy’ look and proportions are left intact. To add drama, a floating roof effect has been brought in the C-pillars and the character lines along the doors and wheel arches are more pronounced. At the rear, the WagonR now gets vertical taillights that extend till the roof.

Interiors have gone through a thorough update as well with a bright dual-tone dashboard replacing the dull grey interiors of the outgoing model. A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Smartphone connectivity, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay takes prime place in the center console with manual air-conditioning controls placed beneath it. A 3-spoke multi-functional steering wheel and a digital tachometer greet the driver while the bigger cabin would help keep the occupants happy by offering more space and practicality.

Standard features on the new WagonR include driver airbag, Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, rear parking sensors, central locking and front power windows. The top-end variant, apart from the touchscreen infotainment system mentioned above, gets additional goodies like a passenger airbag, steering-mounted voice control, electrically-retractable rear view mirrors, rear wiper, washer and defogger and a storage tray under the co-driver's seat. It's sad Maruti-Suzuki isn't forcing Hyundai to follow suit by offering passenger airbags as standard in the WagonR. Thankfully, it's atleast an optional feature on all variants.

The biggest surprise element in the new WagonR rests under the hood. While the 3-cylinder K10B engine has been carried over from the outgoing model, Maruti-Suzuki has pulled off a master stroke by adding the more powerful K12M 4-cylinder engine to the WagonR lineup. While the former delivers 67 horsepower and 90 Nm of torque, the latter delivers 82 horsepower and 113 Nm of torque. Both the engines come with the option of a 5-speed manual or an automated manual transmission (AGS). Suspension duties are handled by MacPherson struts with coil springs at the front and torsion beam at the rear.

Bookings for the new WagonR opened just a week back and Maruti-Suzuki claimed over 12,000 bookings at the launch event. Clearly, India's largest car-maker has another blockbuster in the making.

Tata launches the much-awaited Harrier in India

Tata Motors finally launched its much-awaited Harrier in India yesterday. This brings to an end an extended period of pre-launch build-up during which pretty much everything about the Harrier except the pricing and some specifications were known. That closing piece of the puzzle is out now.

Tata’s newest challenger is available in four variants. While the base XE trim level is priced at INR 12.69 Lakhs, the flagship XZ retails at INR 16.25 Lakhs. Sandwiched by them are the XM and XT variants, priced at INR 13.75 and 14.95 Lakhs respectively. All prices are ex-showroom Mumbai. That’s smart pricing by Tata, undercutting main rivals like the Jeep Compass and the Mahindra XUV500. At these prices, the Harrier is perfectly poised to pull in customers from segments above and below.

Featuring Tata’s Impact 2.0 design philosophy, the Harrier sports contemporary styling that’s in line with the global design trends. And by that, we refer to the split light clusters up front where LED Daytime Running Lights take up the spots erstwhile occupied by the headlights. The latter are placed below on a separate pod that also houses the fog lamps. The grille that merges with the DRLs is shaped to look like the ‘Humanity Line’ that’s seen on all recent Tata models. The silhouette has classic SUV cues with flared wheel arches and plastic cladding that runs the length of the car. The floating roof with chrome inserts and the thin wraparound taillights connected by a piano black insert give the Harrier a chic look from the rear. 

The interiors mark yet another step forward for Tata Motors. Harrier’s cabin is minimalistic, classy and, if initial impressions are anything to go by, appears nicely put-together too. The Signature Oak Brown interior colour scheme that’s shown in the picture together with the Oakwood finish applied on the dashboard look rich and inviting. Other attractions inside include a 8.8-inch ‘Floating Island’ on the center console that houses the infotainment system as well as a host of other controls, a part-digital instrument cluster, JBL-tuned sound system with nine speakers and an aero-throttle style parking brake. 

While most of the aforementioned goodies are exclusive to the XZ variant, standard kit across the line-up include power steering, central locking, power windows, dual front airbags, Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, tilt and telescopic-adjustable steering wheel, projector headlamps, rear parking sensors and perimeter alarm system.

If that’s bare-bones for you, Harrier XZ with exclusive features like Xenon HID Projector headlamps, front fog lamps with cornering function, premium Benecke-Kaliko Oak Brown perforated leather upholstery, outside mirrors with logo projection, Terrain Response Modes (Normal, Rough and Wet), six airbags, Electronic Stability Program, Hill Hold Control, Hill Descent Control, Roll Over Mitigation, Corner Stability Control and Electronic Traction Control is the one you should be looking at.

Harrier is built on Tata’s new Omega Architecture, a modular platform derived from Land Rover’s legendary D8 architecture. That’s the platform that underpins the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Expect the chassis to be robust and abuse-friendly, traits that Land Rovers are known and appreciated for worldwide. 

Currently, the Harrier is available with a sole diesel engine under the hood. This 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder diesel mill is named ‘Kryotec’ and derived from FCA’s MultiJet 2.0 that also powers the Jeep Compass. In the Harrier though, it is detuned to deliver 138 horsepower and 350 NM of torque, significantly less than the Jeep. Paired with this is a 6-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels. Neither All Wheel Drive nor an automatic transmission is on offer. With premium car customers and urban population preferring automatics these days, not having one in the lineup is a glaring miss. Worry not though, an automatic option is headed our way later this year, we hear.

With bold styling, plush interiors, potent engine and proven mechanicals, the Tata Harrier was already a tempting package. Spot-on pricing makes it just irresistible. Let’s wait and watch what this turns out to be for Tata Motors.

Toyota launches the all-new Camry Hybrid in India

India's first automotive launch of 2019 happened today with Toyota bringing in the new Camry Hybrid to our shores today. Currently in its eighth generation, Camry is offered here in a sole Hybrid variant and priced at an introductory pan-India ex-showroom price of ₹36.95 Lakhs. Incredibly for a Toyota, that's cheaper than the outgoing Camry!

Based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) that also underpins the expensive Lexus ES 300h, the Camry ditches the staid styling elements it's been known for and adopts the brand's latest design language. The fascia has been given an aggressive treatment that's dominated by a V-shaped grille and a huge trapezoidal air dam that almost occupies the whole bumper. The car features sharp LED projector lights up front and big wrap-around taillights at the rear. The aggressive front end aside, the rest of the car gives an impression of understated elegance which is what most customers in this segment look for.

The interiors are a total departure from the earlier Camry. The dashboard features a refreshingly modern design with a Y-shaped center console grabbing eyeballs. As one would expect from a car in this segment, the Camry comes fully loaded with a plethora of features. Standard kit includes 10-way power-adjusted front seats with ventilating function, 3-zone climate control, sunroof, rear seats with power recline and trunk access, 8.0-inch Human Machine Interface infotainment system with 9-speaker JBL audio, rear armrest with touch control switches, Heads-up display, wireless smartphone charger, cruise control and full leather upholstery. 

Toyota's commitment to safety continues with the new Camry featuring 9 airbags, Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability and Traction Control System, Parking Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, speed-sensing auto lock, impact-sensing fuel cut-off and ISOFIX and top tether anchor for child seats. 

The 2.5-liter gasoline hybrid engine under the hood has been carried over from the previous-generation model but the power and torque figures have been tweaked. In the new model, the engine generates 176 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 221 Nm of torque between 3,600 to 5,200 rpm. The Hybrid System Motor Generator delivers 118 horsepower and 204.1 Nm of torque. Transmission duties are handled by a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with paddle shifters. Toyota claims an ARAI-certified fuel efficiency of 23.27 km/l, thanks to the hybrid system working its magic. 

Toyota's prowess in the premium segments are second to none in India and the Camry Hybrid will have no problems convincing its target clientele. Yes, its main rivals like the Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat are priced lower but they lack the 'Hybrid' tag the Camry comes with. Honda's Accord is a hybrid too but comes with a price tag that's even higher than the Camry. In effect, Toyota would have no problems selling the few hundred units the Japanese head-quarters would have earmarked for India.

2019 North American Car, Utility Vehicle & Truck of the Year announced

For one last time, Detroit, the erstwhile Motor City, got to kick-start the year’s automotive calendar when the show floors at the Cobo Center opened earlier this week to host the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. For those won don’t know yet, the North American International Auto Show - as the event is officially called - is moving from being an annual winter event to a summer event starting 2020. 

And as has always been the tradition, the winners of the 2019 North American Car, Utility Vehicle and Truck of the Year were announced on the inaugural day of the event. Currently in its 26th year, the trio of awards are amongst the most coveted and respected in the industry as they are handed out collectively by a panel of 54 jurors representing various print, online, radio and television publications from the United States of America and Canada.

To be eligible for the award, a car, utility vehicle or truck should be all-new or significantly redesigned and have gone on sale in the United States or Canada before the last week of the prior year. From the full list of eligible candidates, jurors shortlist three finalists for each of the three award categories before rating them on several parameters including segment leadership, innovation, design, safety, handling and value for money. 

2019 North American Car of the Year

From the original list of potential contenders that ran into several tens of models, the jurors brought the number of entries down to 23 cars before narrowing down the selection further to the three finalists - Genesis G70, Honda Insight and Volvo S60 / V40 twins. While one would have expected this to be a closely-fought contest considering the might of the three entries, the Genesis G70 had the other two contenders beaten quite comfortably in the end. 

Jurors were particularly impressed with the fact Hyundai’s luxury upstart is no longer fighting the segment playing the value card. The G70, the brand’s first all-new development, had its work cut out going against segment stalwarts like the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. But the car appears to have surpassed all expectations, is plush, genuinely fun-to-drive and comes loaded with features all while playing the value card.

Volvo’s stunning duo finished distant runners up with Honda’s fuel-cell flag-bearer Insight coming home third. 

Results 

1. Genesis G70 – 318 points
2. Volvo S60 / V60 – 120 points
3. Honda Insight – 102 points

Previous Winners

• 2018 – Honda Accord
• 2017 – Chevrolet Bolt
• 2016 – Honda Civic
• 2015 – Volkswagen Golf / GTI
• 2014 – Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year

Despite being a recent addition, the idea of crowning the best new Utility Vehicle out there couldn’t assume more significance. With crossovers and SUVs on the rise globally, this has become the single most-important, hard-fought and, crucially, very-profitable segment for car-makers with many of them channeling millions of investment dollars this way.

Similar to cars, the jurors narrowed down the list to 20 models that joined this booming segment in 2018. Upon further evaluation, three models – Acura RDX, Hyundai Kona / Kona Electric and Jaguar I-Pace – made the cut to the final round. In the end, Hyundai’s subcompact crossover twins prevailed in what appears to be a close contest all the way to the end. Of the two, the Kona Electric has been receiving rave reviews since launch and it’s respectable range, funky styling, lively dynamics and, above all, affordable price tag appear to have won the panel over as well.

Trailing the Hyundai twins close was Jaguar’s full-electric I-Pace with the Acura RDX finishing third.     

Results

1. Hyundai Kona / Kona Electric – 203 points
2. Jaguar I-Pace – 181 points
3. Acura RDX – 156 points

Previous Winners

• 2018 – Volvo XC60
• 2017 – Chrysler Pacifica

2019 North American Truck of the Year

The third and final category of award honours the best in America’s perennial favourite body style - trucks. 2018 saw three trucks being launched with all of them making it to the final round directly. Ram had its completely-redesigned, new-generation 1500 Pick-up while GM countered with two entries, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra.  

In what turned out to be one of the most one-sided contests ever, Ram’s brilliant new half-ton Pick-up decimated the GM duo with a crushing victory. FCA’s focused efforts in making Ram’s volume-puller stand out by equipping it with a plush cabin, a large infotainment screen and standard 48-volt mild hybrid system has been winning hearts since launch and the jury were no different. Is Chevrolet’s long-held second spot on the sales charts under threat from Ram? Hell, yeah!

Results

1. Ram 1500 – 540 points
2. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – 69 points
3. GMC Sierra 1500 – 64 points

Previous Winners

• 2018 – Lincoln Navigator
• 2017 – Honda Ridgeline
• 2016 – Volvo XC90
• 2015 – Ford F150
• 2014 – Chevrolet Silverado

In the history of the awards, there have only been five instances when a manufacturer has been crowned two titles in the same year and Hyundai has achieved that this year. For its part, Ram put on a stellar show too en-route to victory. Kudos to the two car-makers.

Mercedes-Benz unveils the all-new CLA

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a weird place to stage the world premiere of a car. But that’s exactly what Mercedes-Benz did when the all-new CLA made its first appearance at Las Vegas last week. Currently in its second generation, this four-door coupe sits alongside the A-Class sedan this time around as a pricier and, of course, sexier option in the brand’s compact lineup. 

We dug deep to see what’s good and what’s not with the new CLA. Here’s what we found.

Good: MFA family keeps growing

When Mercedes-Benz debuted the Modular Front Architecture (MFA) – the inexpensive platform that drives the front wheels and underpins all compact cars in the family – traditional customers and brand loyalists cried hoarse that the brand’s purity is being diluted. Fast forward to 2018, every fourth Mercedes-Benz model sold was a compact car spun off the MFA. Yes, 609,000 out of 2.31 million customers that bought a Mercedes-Benz last year drove home a new A-Class, B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake or GLA. That’s not insignificant!

Mercedes-Benz is obviously taking note. In just over a year, the German luxury car-maker has bolstered its compact line-up with a new-generation A- and B-Class, an all-new A-Class sedan that sits alongside the hatchback and now the new CLA. There’s more, a new CLA Shooting Brake and a new GLA are reportedly in the works. With more and more customers responding with their wallets for one of these and Mercedes-Benz paying them back handsomely with newer models boasting superior styling and latest tech, the compact line-up from Stuttgart is emerging as a force to reckon with. Audi and BMW have a lot of catching up to do.  

Good: New CLA’s styling is spot-on

Let’s make a confession here. We at Anything-On-Wheels love the outgoing CLA from the day we saw the images of the Compact Sport Coupe Concept that previewed it. But, we know there are many that loathed the current car's bulbous and - cruelly, in their eyes - disjointed rear. Thankfully, the new CLA won’t polarize opinions.

The design team at Mercedes-Benz have been dishing out great looking cars the last few years and the new CLA is no exception. Be it the aggressive 'shark-nosed' fascia, the prominent power domes on the hood, the compact and flowing coupe-ish greenhouse, those frameless doors or the distinct Coke-bottle shoulder leading up to the familiar 'GT' rear end, the CLA is designed to turn heads. And it does, convincingly. If the sedan looks this good, can you imagine how the Shooting Brake would look like? We can't wait. Just ignore the cheesy orange accents dotting the launch edition.

Good: The revolutionary MBUX is even better now

Mercedes-Benz created quite a flutter at the 2018 edition of the CES bringing along it’s new-age infotainment system – the ‘MBUX’. With snazzy big screens, high-definition graphics, a customizable display, a full-colour Head-up Display, built-in navigation with augmented reality and voice control that activates on hearing "Hey Mercedes" and comes equipped with software that can actually learn, the MBUX is a technological tour de force. The new CLA, Mercedes claims, has the latest and improved version of that. 

Said to be intuitive and innovative at the same time, the MBUX promises to redefine in-car entertainment experience. For instance, the Interior Assist feature has a host of functions that could just be controlled via gestures. There's even a "Personal Favourites" feature that can be accessed by holding a hand over the center console with the index and middle fingers spread in a V-shape. The idea is to store frequently used MBUX functions in one place for quick access any time. Cars are getting intelligent and the MBUX serves as a strong reminder.       

Good: You pay more and you get more

When initial reports suggested the new CLA would have the same 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder under the hood like the A-Class, we were put off for obvious reasons. But, Mercedes-Benz has been smart enough to offer a higher state of tune in the CLA. With 221 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque, the CLA is more powerful and torquey than the A-Class sedan. 

If that’s not enough, Mercedes-Benz says there will be a host of petrol and diesel engines on offer when the CLA goes on sale later this year depending on the country you’re in. If none of that would do, wait for the bonkers AMG variant that should be in the pipeline. If the current CLA45 AMG is anything to go by, this would be well worth the wait!

Good & Bad: Interiors are fabulous but look all the same

If you've been in a Mercedes-Benz of late, you know that the cabins look and feel fabulous. It's more of the same with every new-generation or an all-new model coming in. The new CLA treads the same line too. A big free-standing monolithic screen stretches across the dashboard with two functional sections - one for instrumentation and the other for infotainment. Funky circular air-conditioning knobs are there, of course, like every other Mercedes model. A slew of top-notch driver assist functions, safety features and creature comforts - some straight off the E- and S-Class - are part of the kit too. 

Problem is, you've been in the CLA if you've been in the A-Class. You've seen the A-Class if you've seen the C-Class and so on. It's a good problem to have, no doubt. But, ask if an S-Class owner who paid five times as much as an A-Class owner feels the same way.    

Bad: A-Class Sedan or CLA? What's your pick?

Despite the “four-door coupe” tag that Mercedes-Benz bestowed on it, the CLA was always the sedan equivalent of the A-Class. Or so we thought until the second-generation model premiered. In addition to the hatchback that we’ve had for three generations, the new A-Class also had a sedan counterpart making the CLA’s positioning in the lineup a bit more difficult and confusing. Of course, the product planners at Mercedes wouldn’t agree with that statement. 

The CLA is sexier and likely to be priced and positioned higher than the A-Class sedan. It’s also a bit more powerful and expected to deliver the look and feel of a mini CLS, which it really is. In the end though, it all boils down to the rear headroom on the A-Class sedan versus the oomph factor of the CLA. Really. But, will a potential customer understand these differences? And even if he or she does, isn't this too much of an overlap within the brand?

All said and done, the new CLA has a lot going for it and is sure to be a success story it's maker expects it to be. Just bring out the Shooting Brake already, please!