Hyundai New Elantra

Just like the Sonata, the new fluidic Elantra is also just round the corner. However unlike the Sonata, the Elantra gets a rather sporty hue to its design. The large headlamps and ridged bonnet add to this feel. Short overhangs at the rear meanwhile give it a stout look. Inside, the new Elantra offers a more rounded design. A large chunky steering wheel offers controls for audio and Bluetooth telephony. The Elantra will be powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine which offers around 146bhp. 

BMW 1-Series

The sixth generation of the 3-series adopts the new family face and is longer and features an extended wheelbase too. This will surely help liberate more space inside. It also gets a full colour HUD, which displays speed and navigation information. The new 3 now gets the option of an 8-speed automatic across all versions. There are new engines too. For the 320i version, there’s a 2-litre turbocharged engine that makes 180bhp. The same engine in the 325i will produce 210bhp and 245bhp in the 328i. The top-of-the-line petrol, the 335i, will get a turbocharged inline six engine with a staggering 306bhp on tap. Among diesels, there will be a 184bhp 320d, a 204bhp 325d and a 245bhp 330d. Chances are BMW will also bring in the 335d with 286bhp. The latter is a six-cylinder turbo diesel while the rest will have 2-litre capacity. Start-Stop tech is now standard on the new 3.  

Mitsubishi Montero Sport

The Montero is one capable off-roader and next year it is getting a minor cosmetic upgrade. The changes begin with a new chrome grille sitting above a new skid plate shaded in black. New 12-spoke, 18in alloys are also on the cards. Expect new colours to make their way into India as well. However mechanically the Montero will remain the same and will continue to be powered by the  3.2-litre diesel engine with a peak output of 202bhp.

Chevrolet Captiva

Chevrolet is all set to launch the new Captiva, with a new front end. With its signature two-tier grille and oversized bow tie logo. The headlamps too have been redone. There’s also more bulk to the wheel arches and larger wheels. The rest of the SUV remains more or less the same. However speculation is ripe that Chevy might offer the Captiva with the new 2.2-litre diesel which is currently on duty in the Cruze. This should make it a more capable candidate. 

Chevrolet Enjoy

General Motors had announced that it will launch a few products from the SAIC Motor stable. To start off with, they will launch vehicles from the Wilung line-up which includes the CN-100 which is likely to compete with the Mahindr Xylo.

The new CN-100 is likely to be priced between Rs 5-7lakh and will be manufactured in GM’s Talegaon plant. This is expected to be powered by the 1.3-litre multijet engine and since it is sourced from China, the production cost is expected to be low.

The MPV will be 7-8 seater and can be great competition for the Xylo considering its pricing. Looking at the pictures of the interior, one can see it has black and beige dual tone interiors and an aftermarket stereo. It rides on 175/65/R14 tyres and it gets features like power windows and the ORVMS are manually-adjustable.

We believe the CN-100 has flexible rear seating as the second and third row of seats can be folded flat. GM might target the passenger and taxi market with the MPV and we expect the car to be launched by the end of this year.

Specs (Speculated)

Engine: 1.3-litre multijet engine

Volkwagen Touareg

Volkswagen had unveiled the second-generation of the Touareg at 2010 New York International Auto Show. With the Volkswagen Touareg being a CBU, even India will get the 2011 Touareg once its launched in the European market.
Design/Styling:
The 2011 Touareg gets the new Volkswagen face and styling created by Walter de’Silva, Volkswagen’s chief of design. The front grille is now narrow if compared to the outgoing model and the trapezoidal headlamps even get the LED surrounds.  The silhouette of the Touareg remains almost similar, with not so arched wheel flares.  The new 2011 Touareg gets a crown hood with a step at its sides giving it a more muscular look. The SUV gets chrome garnish with chrome surrounds around the greenhouse and a strip running on the rocker. The rear of the new Touareg is more pronounced and gets LED taillamps as well.

Volkswagen's new RNS850 touch screen entertainment and navigation system features an 8-inch screen, a 60GB hard drive with 18GB of space available to upload audio, video, and more, and a DVD/CD player with MP3 playback and Satellite/FM/AM stereo.

Mechanicals:
The Volkswagen Touareg will be available with the same 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine, with 4-MOTION, which is Volkswagen’s term for all-wheel drive system.

Overall Evaluation:
This new 2011 Volkswagen Touareg will be a great buying option considering all the bells and whistles it comes loaded with. The newer SUV has more road presence than the older one and should have better sales figures if compared to the current Touareg. This will come true only if Volkswagen price it well.    

Specs (Speculated)

Engine: 3.0-litre V6 TDI
Power: 239bhp

Mercedes Benz SLS roadster

After captivating hearts across the world the SLS AMG Roadster with its Performance and scintillating design is all set to scorch the Indian road with pulsating speed. The open top SLS AMG Roadster exudes graceful dynamism and magnetic allure. The purist, athletic design immediately captures the attention. The Roadster’s perfect proportions make it particularly impressive. 

While it looks like a beauty, it does ride like a beast. The eight cylinder V8 engine produces rumbling 571bhp at 6800 rpm with a maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4750 rpm. It can go from 0-100kmph in under four seconds (3.8 seconds) and has a top speed of 317 kmph. The power and performance of a monster, the SLS AMG Roadster has all the trimmings of a formidable sports car.