Showing posts with label Benz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Benz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Benz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Benz. Show all posts

Sunday, 8 November 2015

Fast And Frugal: 15 Quickest Sports Cars With The Best Fuel Economy

To some, the terms “high performance” and “fuel efficient” might seem oxymoronic when applied to sports cars, but that’s not necessarily the case.
Sure, some of the quickest cars on the planet get dismal fuel economy, like the 691-horsepower Lamborghini Aventador Roadster that’s rated at just 12 mpg in combined city/highway driving and roars to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds. On the other hand, a base Porsche 911 Carrera that gets to 60 in a sufficiently swift 4.6 seconds and is rated at a combined city/highway 28 mpg, which is equivalent to what a far more passive compact crossover SUV attains these days.
We combed through the Environmental Protection Agency’s posted fuel economy ratings and compared them against the published acceleration times for all makes and models to identify 15 sports cars that can leap from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds, yet maintain a combined city/highway rating of 20 mpg or better. 

1. Alfa Romeo 4C

Like all the cars presented in this slide show, the Alfa Romeo 4C is estimated to attain 20 mpg or better in city/highway combined driving, yet can reach 60 mph from a standing start in under six seconds. 4C: 24/34/28 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds; MSRP (2015) $53,900.

2. Audi S5

18/28/21 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds; MSRP $53,100.

3. Audi TTS

23/27/25 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds; MSRP $51,900.

4. BMW 650i

17/25/20 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds; MSRP $88,700.

5. BMW M4

17/20/26 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds; MSRP $65,400.

6. BMW Z4

Z4 sDrive35i: 17/24/20 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds; MSRP $57,500.  Z4 sDrive35is: 17/24/20 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds; MSRP $66,350.

7. Chevrolet Corvette

17/29/21 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds; MSRP $55,400.

8. Ford Mustang

With Ecoboost turbo-four engine: 22/31/25 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds; MSRP $23,681.  With 3.7L V6 engine: 19/28/22 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds; MSRP $23,895.

9. Jaguar F-Type

Base F-Type: 19/28/23 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds; MSRP $65,500.  F-Type S: 19/27/22 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds; MSRP: $77,300

10. Lexus RC

19/28/22 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds; MSRP $42,780.

11. Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

SLK 300: 25/32/28 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds; MSRP $47,000.  SLK 350: 21/29/24 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds; MSRP $59,200.  AMG SLK55: 19/28/22 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds; MSRP $67,518.

12. Porsche 911

911 Carrera: 20/28/23 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds; MSRP $84,300.  911 Carrera S: 19/27/22 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds; MSRP $98,900.  911 Turbo S: 17/24/20 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds; MSRP $182,700.

13. Porsche Boxster

Boxster: 22/32/26 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds; MSRP $52,100.  Boxster S: 21/30/24 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds; MSRP $63,900. Boxster GTS: 22/31/25 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds; MSRP $74,600.

14. Porsche Cayman

Cayman: 22/32/26 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds; MSRP $52,600.  Cayman S: 21/30/24 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds; MSRP $64,100.  Cayman GTS: 22/31/25 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds; MSRP $75,200.  Cayman GT4: 18/23/20 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds; MSRP $84,600.

15. Nissan 370Z

19/26/21 mpg city/highway/combined; 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds: MSRP $29,990.

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Sunday, 11 January 2015

Driving the 2015 Chrysler 300, where every day is Father's Day

2015 Chrysler 300: First Drive
2015 Chrysler 300

Chrysler’s full-size, rear-wheel-drive 300 is America’s last true “dad car.” With its strong hood, broad shoulders and paternal gaze, the 300 sedan is bold, confident and unmistakably American. It’s been a successful car for Chrysler, too — sales are up 48% in the four years since its last redesign — and for its 2015 update, Chrysler seems bent on not messing with success when the updated 300 starts arriving in dealerships in the first quarter of 2015.
2015 Chrysler 300

Compared to the massively reworked 2015 Dodge Charger (which, to continue the metaphor, would be your fun uncle's car), this is as safe as a refresh gets, involving only new front and rear bumpers, grilles, wheels, and all-LED taillamps. Sport-flavored 300S models also now get blackout window trim to go with darkened headlamp bezels and gorgeous new 20-inch Y-spoke wheels; if there’s a Hemi V-8 under the hood, the 300S also gets standard sill extensions and big lip spoiler. But at the end of the day, the 300 looks more or less the same.
2015 Chrysler 300

Interior upgrades are just as subtle, which is fine, as dads are usually suspicious of anything that changes too quickly. The blue instrument cluster is the most obvious difference, with its chronograph-inspired gauges flanking an easy-to-use, seven-inch high-resolution driver information display. The gear selector has been replaced by a Jaguar-style rotary e-shifter, and a pair of USB ports have been added in back so that kids or, just as likely, livery customers can charge their devices without cluttering up the front half of the cabin. And as ever, an analog clock remains front and center on the dash, like a grandfather clock for the car.
2015 Chrysler 300

The 300’s revised model lineup leaves no model underequipped, with even the base $32,390 Limited model boasting standard leather seats, Chrysler’s intuitive 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect system, keyless starting, heated 12-way power front seats, capless fuel filling, and more. Chrysler expects that about 45 percent of buyers will opt for the Limited, while 15 percent will choose the more luxurious $38,890 300C model with its standard dual-pane moonroof, Nappa leather, hand-sanded wood, polished wheels, rear window sunshade, and navigation. A select few (about five percent) will get the new-for-’15, fully loaded 300C Platinum model ($43,390) with its diamond-stitched hides, open pore wood, leather-wrapped dashboard, platinum silver trim, 20-inch wheels, and a 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system. The remaining 35 percent, Chrysler estimates, will come in 300S guise, which start at $35,890 and get everything in the Limited, plus piano black and “carbon hyrdographic” trim, a 552-watt Beats sound system and a slew of performance upgrades, which we’ll get to later.
2015 Chrysler 300

All 300 trim levels come standard with Chrysler’s Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 and rear-wheel drive. Limited, 300C and Platinum grades get the 292-hp version of the V-6, while 300S models get a 300-horse version with a tweaked exhaust system. If that’s not enough, grunt, 300S, 300C and Platinum models are available with a 363-hp Hemi V-8, the only eight-pot in the class (save for the Charger, of coures), and for the first time, every 300s comes with Chrysler’s sweet, decisive eight-speed automatic.
2015 Chrysler 300

We took Chrysler up on its offer to drive the 2015 300 on the beautiful Hill Country roads around Austin, Texas, spending some quality wheel-time in an all-wheel-drive 300 Limited, a rear-wheel-drive 300S, and a Hemi-powered 300C. Not surprisingly, we found that the V-6 models required some cajoling to get moving with any gusto, especially when sadled with all-wheel drive, which adds another 206 pounds to the 300’s two-ton weight. Efficiency remains impressive for a full-sizer, however, with 19/31 mpg for the rear-drive model and 18/27 for the all-wheel-drive version.
2015 Chrysler 300

The V-8 models, on the other hand, handles any acceleration requests as effortlessly as dad opening a jar — Chrysler says that the eight-speed lobbed 0.2 seconds off the V-8’s 0-60 time, to under six seconds for the Hemi-powered 300S. The penalty? Like some dads we know, this one drinks a lot: just 16/25 mpg, an improvement of one mile per gallon on the highway, but still not great.
2015 Chrysler 300

2015 Chrysler 300

2015 Chrysler 300

The 300C and every all-wheel-drive 300 ride on the same “Touring” suspension, which includes 19-inch wheels with all-season tires. Thus equipped, the 300 floats nicely over bumps and undulations but is nothing we’d characterize as fun — a feel familiar to 300 buyers after more than a decade of using the now-ancient Mercedes-based chassis. The 300S, on the other hand, receives a new-for-‘15 “Sport” suspension boasting stiffer springs front and back,
2015 Chrysler 300
 as well as unique shock tuning, a larger front stabilizer bar, and a unique electric power steering calibration. Steering effort and feel are increased considerably when the “Sport” button on the dash is pressed, which also puts the engine/transmission in a more excited state, quickening shifts. Thus equipped, the 300S becomes a far more gifted dance partner on country roads; finally there's a agile 300, albeit not quite at the level of the Cadillac CTS or a BMW 5-Series. If ever there was a car for “cool” dads, the 300S is the one.
2015 Chrysler 300

So Chrysler chose not to change it too drastically even when it had the chance this time, but that’s just fine, as the 300 was already quite comfortable in its own skin. As a big, solid, rear-drive luxury sedan that come stacked with goodies for about the same price as the tiny Audi A3 or Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, it’s easy to see why.
2015 Chrysler 300

2015 Chrysler 300

2015 Chrysler 300

2015 Chrysler 300


Monday, 30 June 2014

Road Test and Review: Mercedes-Benz S-Class (S500)

Road Test and Review: Mercedes-Benz S-Class (S500)


I am drafting this review as I sit in one of the finest and most luxurious places in the world – the rear compartment of the new S-Class. I believed, until today, that reading in a moving vehicle is an unhealthy practice. But, as I flipped through the stunning 160-page S-Class magazine, it never occurred to me that I was sitting in a moving car. Why? Because with the new S-Class, the outside world stays exactly there - outside. 

As I kept my laptop on the foldout tray table and started typing out some thoughts, I felt like being in a fantasy office workstation, thanks to the 24-speaker Burmester sound system, ambient lighting that bathes the cabin in a spectrum of colors, an energizing hot stone massage function with six different programmes – all integrated into an immaculately crafted interior.

The new S-Class literally coddles you in the lap of luxury. But there’s much more to the story that tells why the S-Class is the ‘best car in the world’. Let’s discuss that in detail.
Design

The new S-Class has grown over its predecessor in every dimension. However, neat lines and elegant detailing disguise the enormous size of the car. The signature chrome grille is flanked by swept-back LED headlamps and topped with the upstanding three-pointed star mascot. Chiseled into the profile are two flowing contour lines, and the dropping roofline is reminiscent of the CLS. The all-LED tail lamps are completely integrated into the body and is one of the best designs I've ever seen. Overall, the design remains conventional.

The new S-Class is the first ever car made without a single electric bulb. Instead it uses 500 LEDs that save energy up to 75%. 
Now, step inside the car and you’ll understand why the S-Class is considered as the benchmark of luxury. The cabin is a blend of contemporary design and impeccable craftsmanship. Sleek horizontal lines wrap the cabin in a seamless flow of wood and leather. The dashboard is dominated by two large 32cm screens – one acts as analog-style digital instrument cluster and the other for COMAND infotainment system. The infotainment system can be controlled by the large rotary control on the center console, steering-wheel-mounted buttons, remote control or even a smartphone app. The two-spoke steering wheel is a mix of wood and leather, and has “Mercedes-Benz” etched on it in the elegant traditional script.

Space, comfort and convenience

It would be waste of time talking about the cabin space because it is much more than anyone would ever need. Yet, at the push of a button, the front co-passenger seat moves forward all the way, freeing up acres of space and unfolding a footrest. Now recline the seat 43.5 degrees, dunk your head into the creamy pillow and turn on the hot stone massage for a matchless travel experience. If that’s not enough, choose from the seven colours of ambient mood lighting or listen to pristine quality music from the 1540-watt, 24-speaker Burmester 3D music system. 

The first-class rear compartment also gets two personalized TFT screens, foldable tray tables, heated armrests along with 12-V power sockets, USB ports et al. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Hotspot are standard and all these can be controlled using a remote control. Absence of touchscreens is highlighted as a shortcoming by many critics, but who would want to break out of the cocoon of comfort and move forward to fiddle with the touchscreen?

Although there is an arsenal of buttons controlling around 100 electric motors onboard, they are all neatly and logically laid out so that you get used to them in no time. 

Massage function is available only on the rear seats but all four seats are ventilated with cooling and heating option. The plethora of comfort and convenience features are virtually impossible to list down, but to name a few, power rear-side sunshades, hands-free boot access auto-dimming mirrors, automatic wipers, a panoramic sunroof, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control come as standard.

Performance

The S-Class is more about the quality rather than the quantity of power.  Nevertheless, the 4.7-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 engine that develops 453 bhp of power and 700 Nm of torque accelerates this gargantuan of a machine from 0-100kmph in 4.8 seconds onto a top speed of 250km/hr [electronically limited]. The incredibly refined engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox that can be controlled with steering-mounted paddle shifters. The S500 gathers speed in a smooth and refined fashion and gearshifts are barely noticeable. 

Ride and handling

As I mentioned earlier, the S-Class offers exceptional isolation from the outside world along with beautiful rolling comfort. The cabin is so quiet that even the loud horn sounded like a distant trumpet. The AIRMATIC suspension ensures smooth ride quality and cossets the occupants indeed. Although the suspension can thump into a pothole at times, road noise and wind noise are a thing of past.

You can swap between Sport and Comfort settings using a button on the centre console and the two modes are noticeably different. Although the S-Class focuses on the comfort of the rear passenger, Mercedes knows that owner would want to step into the driver’s shoes at times, hence the Sport mode. 

The S-Class handles almost like a sports car, grips the road fairly well. The suspension can be raised at slow speeds for better ground clearance and it automatically lowers at higher speeds for stability and fuel efficiency. For such a long wheelbase, the steering is quick and predictable at any speed. 

The only disappointment is that Magic Body Control (MBC), which created quite a buzz in social media last year, will not make it to India because the law of the land forbids use of certain frequencies. If only MBC made it to India, it would have had the toughest job of negotiating Indian road conditions.

Safety

Driving around in a car of this size is no cakewalk. But an array of sensors and cameras takes care of half of your job. Active Park Assist automatically steers the car into parking spaces, while intelligent headlamps coupled with Night View Assist makes night driving safer and less stressful.

Considering the endless safety features on offer, it is easier to list out what the S-Class doesn’t have. The standard kit includes 8 Airbags, dynamic cornering control system, Adaptive Brake with HOLD Function, Brake Assist, ASR and Hill Start Assist just to name a few. 

Summary

The 2014 S-Class is such an engineering marvel that even the most mean-spirited cynic is left with a smile on his face. It raises the bar on luxury travel to new heights that seemed unimaginable even a few years ago. With its state-of-the-art technology, sovereign styling and flawless craftsmanship, the S-Class is once again setting the benchmark for competitors to emulate. 

The S500 in priced at Rs 1.56 crore ex-showroom New Delhi.

Saturday, 1 February 2014

Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The 12th edition of the Auto Expo is all set to begin on 7th February. With as many as 70 new cars expected to break cover during the event, the 2014 Auto Expo will be the biggest India has ever witnessed. As we are gearing up for the comprehensive coverage, here’s a look at the 10 hottest launches to watch out for.


Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Celerio will introduce Auto Gear Shift, which will have the flexibility of both manual mode and auto drive mode in the same car, with a simple shift of gear lever. Maruti claims a mileage figure of 23.1kmpl
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Hyundai Grand i10 was one of the most popular launches of 2013. Hot on the heels of this grand success, Hyundai will unveil a sedan version of the Grand
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Expected to be launched in February 2014, the Grand sedan will be priced aggressively to take on Honda Amaze and Maruti Dzire
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Nissan has re-launched the Datsun brand after 32 years. Datsun will launch its first car early this year called the Datsun GO. The Datsun GO will be priced under Rs. 4 lakhs in India and will be powered by a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder engine, paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The same engine does duty on the Nissan Micra Active, producing 68 PS and 104 Nm. However in the Datsun GO, the company might detune the engine in the interest of boosting fuel economy
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Honda will re-launch the revised Jazz in 2014. Although the first generation Jazz had a much-loved design, poor pricing resulted in bad sales
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The 2014 Jazz will certainly be aggressively priced and will also have the advantage of a diesel powertrain and a futuristic design
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

VW's Taigun is likely to be the first car on the Up platform (codename: PQ12) to come to India. The Taigun concept, based on a stretched version of the VW Up's NSF (New Small Family) platform, made its debut at the Sao Paolo International Motor Show in October last year and previews VW's future SUV face
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

With its bold, clean styling, the Taigun is sure to appeal to the Indian psyche. It looks a lot less radical than the Ford EcoSport and its less controversial lines are designed to appeal to everyone and offend no one. As for the interiors, VW designed it to resemble the simplicity of the latest smartphones. Its clean, minimalist look aims at being visually clear and simple to use
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Mobilio, the third car to be built on the Brio platform, marks Honda’s entry into the MPV segment in India. The Mobilio will be available with the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol and 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel options
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Both engines will be mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The production version of the Mobilio is expected to be unveiled at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Audi is all set to unveil its A3 sedan at the Auto Expo. It is Audi’s first compact sedan in the luxury segment to come into the Indian market
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Along with the A3, Audi will also showcase special editions of Q3, Q5, the sportier SQ5, Q7 and its recently launched sports car Audi RS 7 Sportback
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The BMW 3 Series GT will be one of the most important launches by the Bavarian carmaker at the Delhi Auto Expo
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The GT model is 200mm longer, 50mm taller and 17mm wider than the regular 3 Series model. The GT 3 Series comes with a 2-liter diesel engine producing 184bhp, while the petrol variant gets 2.0-liter motor developing 245bhp of power output
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Mercedes-Benz India will unveil the dynamically styled Concept GLA and CLA45 AMG at the 12th edition of the Auto Expo. Focusing on the company’s ‘Year of Excellence’ strategy, Mercedes-Benz will also launch its first SUV Guard 
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The AMG 2.0-liter turbo engine, with a maximum output of 265 kW (360 hp) and up to 450 Newton meters of torque, is the most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine in series production in the world
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Hyundai will launch the new Santa Fe in India at the Auto Expo. The full-sized SUV is expected to undercut Toyota Fortuner in terms of pricing when it is launched. To achieve this Hyundai will assemble the Santa Fe at its Chennai plant
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The new Santa Fe will have a more appealing presence, derived from Hyundai’s fluidic design philosophy
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for