To some, the terms “high performance” and “fuel efficient” might seem oxymoronic when applied to sports cars, but that’s not necessaril...
Showing posts with label Mercedes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mercedes. Show all posts
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 ...
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 even...
The Cars Billionaires Drive
If you said all billionaires drive around in luxury cars, eat your words. While Mukesh Ambani’s Maybach 62 costs Rs 5.25 crore, Ikea founder...
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Showing posts with label Mercedes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mercedes. 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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
- Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch the Celerio hatchback at the 2014 Auto Expo. Expected to be the most popular launch of the year, the Celeriogets a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder K-Series petrol engine that develops of 67bhp and 90Nm of peak torque.
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
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
Expected to be launched in February 2014, the Grand sedan will be priced aggressively to take on Honda Amaze and Maruti Dzire
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
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
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
The 2014 Jazz will certainly be aggressively priced and will also have the advantage of a diesel powertrain and a futuristic design
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
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
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
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
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
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
The BMW 3 Series GT will be one of the most important launches by the Bavarian carmaker at the Delhi Auto Expo
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
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
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
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
The new Santa Fe will have a more appealing presence, derived from Hyundai’s fluidic design philosophy
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
The Cars Billionaires Drive
If you said all billionaires drive around in luxury cars, eat your words. While Mukesh Ambani’s Maybach 62 costs Rs 5.25 crore, Ikea founder Ingvard Kamprad has been driving a 1993 model Volvo 240 which is currently worth about $1500 (Rs. 83160)
According to the Forbes Billionaires List, Mexican telecom giant Carlos Slim Helu is the world's richest man. He drives a Bentley Continental Flying Spur which costs around 1,70,00,000 Indian rupees
Reliance India Chairman Mukesh Ambani with a net worth of $22.3 billion is the world's richest Indian in the Forbes list. He drives one of the most luxurious cars, a Maybach 62 along with a Mercedes S Class and a Mercedes SL500. The Maybach is worth a whopping INR 5 crores.
Industrialist Anil Ambani drives a car that suits his personality, a Lamborghini Gallardo. The Gallardo accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 4.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 325 km/h. Its V10 engine offers 500 hp and 376 lbs-ft of torque.
No, Ratan Tata doesn’t drive a Tata Nano. He uses a Mercedes S Class instead. His fleet also includes a Ferrari California, a Maserati Quattroporte, a Cadillac XLR and a Chrysler Sebring.
Liquor baron Vijay Mallya is famous for his passion for vintage cars. However, among his daily drivers is the pricey Maybach 62.
The miserly side of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is no secret. He owns one of the cheapest cars, an Acura TSX. It costs about $30,000 (Rs 17 lakh)
Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ daily drive is a Porsche 959 Coupe. Only 230 examples of this car were built and each one costs 2.2 crore Indian rupees.
Another modest billionaire, Steve Ballmer, drives a hybrid Ford Fusion which is worth around 10 lakh Indian rupees.
Financial data tycoon Michael Bloomberg drives an Audi R8 that’s worth more than a crore.
Heiress of the Wal-Mart fortune, Alice Walton, is the second richest woman in the world. But she owns a simple car, a 2006 Ford F-150 King Ranch. It is worth Rs 22 lakh
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, the nephew of Saudi King Abdullah, certainly drives the royal car. However, his Rolls-Royce Phantom is an entry level version and costs around Rs 3.5 crores in India
Warren Buffett drives a Cadillac DTS which, according to Business Insider, he bought to support the then failing General motors.
Billionaire Michael Dell drives a cool 2004 Porsche Boxter.
Google’s current executive Chairman Eric Emerson Schmidt loves the nature and drives a Toyota Prius, which is among the cleanest vehicles in the world
French businessman and the chief executive officer of PPR François-Henri Pinault drives a Lexus LX SUV
Ikea founder Ingvard Kamprad is worth an estimated $28 billion according to Forbes. However, he seems to be the humblest among the billionaires and has been driving a 1993 Volvo 240. According to Business Insider, if the car sold today, it would only be worth about $1500 (Rs. 83160)
Oracle founder Larry Ellison has a huge collection of pricey cars but the most prestigious possession is a McLaren F1. Production of this car was stopped in 1998 and only 106 were produced. This car could accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds. This car is currently worth $4.1 million.
Apple founder Steve Jobs’ widow Laurene Powell Jobs drives around in a silver Audi A5.
Phil Knight, co-founder and chairman of Nike, owns an Audi R8
According to the Forbes Billionaires List, Mexican telecom giant Carlos Slim Helu is the world's richest man. He drives a Bentley Continental Flying Spur which costs around 1,70,00,000 Indian rupees
Reliance India Chairman Mukesh Ambani with a net worth of $22.3 billion is the world's richest Indian in the Forbes list. He drives one of the most luxurious cars, a Maybach 62 along with a Mercedes S Class and a Mercedes SL500. The Maybach is worth a whopping INR 5 crores.
Industrialist Anil Ambani drives a car that suits his personality, a Lamborghini Gallardo. The Gallardo accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 4.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 325 km/h. Its V10 engine offers 500 hp and 376 lbs-ft of torque.
No, Ratan Tata doesn’t drive a Tata Nano. He uses a Mercedes S Class instead. His fleet also includes a Ferrari California, a Maserati Quattroporte, a Cadillac XLR and a Chrysler Sebring.
Liquor baron Vijay Mallya is famous for his passion for vintage cars. However, among his daily drivers is the pricey Maybach 62.
The miserly side of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is no secret. He owns one of the cheapest cars, an Acura TSX. It costs about $30,000 (Rs 17 lakh)
Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ daily drive is a Porsche 959 Coupe. Only 230 examples of this car were built and each one costs 2.2 crore Indian rupees.
Another modest billionaire, Steve Ballmer, drives a hybrid Ford Fusion which is worth around 10 lakh Indian rupees.
Financial data tycoon Michael Bloomberg drives an Audi R8 that’s worth more than a crore.
Heiress of the Wal-Mart fortune, Alice Walton, is the second richest woman in the world. But she owns a simple car, a 2006 Ford F-150 King Ranch. It is worth Rs 22 lakh
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, the nephew of Saudi King Abdullah, certainly drives the royal car. However, his Rolls-Royce Phantom is an entry level version and costs around Rs 3.5 crores in India
Warren Buffett drives a Cadillac DTS which, according to Business Insider, he bought to support the then failing General motors.
Billionaire Michael Dell drives a cool 2004 Porsche Boxter.
Google’s current executive Chairman Eric Emerson Schmidt loves the nature and drives a Toyota Prius, which is among the cleanest vehicles in the world
French businessman and the chief executive officer of PPR François-Henri Pinault drives a Lexus LX SUV
Ikea founder Ingvard Kamprad is worth an estimated $28 billion according to Forbes. However, he seems to be the humblest among the billionaires and has been driving a 1993 Volvo 240. According to Business Insider, if the car sold today, it would only be worth about $1500 (Rs. 83160)
Oracle founder Larry Ellison has a huge collection of pricey cars but the most prestigious possession is a McLaren F1. Production of this car was stopped in 1998 and only 106 were produced. This car could accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds. This car is currently worth $4.1 million.
Apple founder Steve Jobs’ widow Laurene Powell Jobs drives around in a silver Audi A5.
Phil Knight, co-founder and chairman of Nike, owns an Audi R8
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