Germany's most legendary cars

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Mercedes, BMW, Audi and VW – Germany is a nation of car nuts. The Local List counts down the country's most legendary rides.

Germany is famous for its precision-engineered automobiles and the high-speed autobahn. But the car industry's economic impact is huge, providing nearly a million Germans with employment.

From Volkswagen to Porsche, sports cars to reliable camper vans, Germany has not only produced some of the most popular and iconic cars and accounts for nearly a third of all autos produced in Europe.

But while Germany might produce around six million new vehicles each year, many of the classics still remain cherished by car-lovers the world over. Even vehicles such as the rickety old East German Trabant are still favourites.

After careful deliberation, The Local has compiled its own Top Ten. Click on the link and have a look through to see if you agree with our choices.

Volkswagen Bulli

Revered by hippies, surfers and holidaying families alike, the VW bus has been embodying laid-back cool since its creation in 1950. And although other campervans may be less prone to electrical faults and have better engines, the VW T1 remains one of the most iconic vehicles on the road.

Audi Quattro

Former rally favourite and homage to the 80s, the Audi Quattro boasts a four-wheel drive system (hence the name, meaning “four” in Italian) and a reputation for being a high-performance coupé. It was built from 1980-91.

Volkswagen Beetle

Since its birth in 1938, the VW Beetle has been one of the most bought cars worldwide. The original "people's car" has become an automotive legend, as over 21 million have been made worldwide.

Opel Manta

The Opel Manta was unveiled in 1970 and remained in production until 1988. The rear-wheel drive sports car experienced popularity in Europe, as the hotrod for everyman. It even inspired the German cult film appropriately named "Manta, Manta" with Til Schweiger.

Trabant

Belittled yet beloved in communist East Germany, waiting lists could be years long for one of these endearingly dainty vehicles. VEB Sachsenring created the Trabant in 1957, over 3 million were made and its design was barely changed during its lifetime.

Porsche 911

Sleek, shiny and sporty, the Porsche 911 is one of the Stuttgart-based company’s greatest successes, racking up awards and landing regularly in the top five in car rankings. The 911 was created in 1963 and boasts a distinctive rear engine and suspension design.

BMW 507

BMW had high hopes for the attractive 507 when it was concocted in 1956, expecting to export thousands to the US. But despite celebrity interest, the average driver found the roadster a little out of their price range, resulting in heavy losses for BMW. Only 256 were ever made.

Mercedes-Benz W114

An automotive icon, the Mercedes W114 or Strich Acht, was built to last. Introduced in 1968, nearly two million have graced roads worldwide and it is what many consider to be the ‘classic’ Mercedes.

BMW 02

The 02 series are some of the most recognisable BMWs to date. Favoured for their sporty look and light frame, over 800,000 were produced between 1966 -76 and remain collectable today.

Mercedes 300 SL

The unusual looking Mercedes 300 is characterised by a pair of flashy gull-wing doors. The sports car, of which only 3,258 were ever sold, was launched in 1954 and was the fastest of its time. Today the car is one of the most collectable Mercedes ever.

Read More : http://www.thelocal.de/lifestyle/20111123-39039.html

comments | | Read More...

Hyundai i20 India Price and Specification

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Hyundai has released the prices and specifications of its much awaited i20 in the UK market. Expect very similar levels of features in India as well, as we know that starting from the i10, Hyundai’s cars have gone global on a large scale. This is one good reason why Hyundai would not stint on features in what can be called its home market (well almost).

Hyundai i20′s prices undercut the competition by as much as £1000 (Rs 85,000). mind you that unlike India, the i20 competes with the likes of supermini’s like the Grande Punto (coming to India soon), Skoda Fabia and the Panda. In the British market there is a choice between two petrol engines, 1.2l with 77 bhp and 1.4l with 99 bhp, and two diesel units, 1.4 CRDi in two states of tune with 74 bhp or 89 bhp.

The i20 comes with air conditioning, six airbags and a 5-year warranty, active head restraints, remote locking and electric front windows as standard! That’s loads of equipment but expect it to lose some features in the interest of costs.

The Hyundai i20 UK price starts at £8,195 (Rs 7,00,000) for the 1.2 liter 3-door version and goes up to £11,845 for the top of the line 5-door model equipped with the 89 bhp 1.4 CRDi engine.

But Hyundai i20 buyers are set to be pleasantly surprised. Despite having exceptional levels of space, quality and safety – plus dynamics which can take on and beat the best from Europe and Japan – the little Hyundai is still priced at least £1,000 lower than mainstream rivals.
Hyundai i20 Models

The Entry level 1.2-litre Classic will start at just £8,195 (Rs 7,00,000). Despite the low price, all i20s are equipped with air-conditioning, six airbags, active head restraints, remote locking, electric front windows and an aux-in socket.

In addition there is the reassurance of Hyundai’s Five Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty – unique in this class. 5 years warranty is a first and this goes on to show how well Hyundai has built this car.

The Mid-range Comfort model – expected to be the best seller and starting at £8,995 (Rs 7,65,000) adds 15-inch alloy wheels, body color door mirrors and handles, electric rear windows, full iPod integration, steering wheel mounted audio controls, a trip computer and a six-speaker system.

Flagship of the i20 range is the Style, equipped with 16-inch alloys, climate control, part-leather upholstery, metal-look facia and front fog lights.
Hyundai i20 Technology

There is plenty of new technology under the bonnet too. The i20 debuts with two new petrol and diesel engines, starting with an advanced 78bhp 1.2-litre ‘Kappa’ petrol which is expected to be the range’s biggest seller. It returns 54.3 mpg (26kmpl) on the combined cycle.

Meeting the demand for low-emission, high economy diesel power, the i20’s all-new CRDi engines both have a 1.4-litre capacity and offer 75PS or 90PS depending on the tune (Very similar to the 1.3MJT isnt it?).

Emission and fuel economy figures are exceptional –64.2 mpg (30.2kmpl) for the 75PS version and 62.8 mpg (29.5kmpl) for the 90PS model. Looks like the 1.3MJT might have finally met its match provided Hyundai prices its diesel models competitively.

Presently Hyundai’s diesel engines are imported unlike the MJT which is locally made and hence atttract import duties.
Hyundai i20 Safety

And just because it’s smaller, doesn’t mean it’s less safe. It is Hyundai’s aim to make the i20 the safest car in the supermini class. The company doesn’t believe safety should be limited to the more expensive models in the range either – Active Head Restraints and a total of six airbags are standard on all i20s.
Hyundai i20 Pricing

Coming to its prices, in the UK market, the i20 base model costs almost the same as the top of the line i10 ‘Style’. So looking at this, we can safely guess the i20 to start at around Rs 5,00,000 for the base 1.2kappa version which is not short of equipment at all.

This pits it closer to the Swift and it undercuts the Fabia-Its intended rival. Lets wait for the i20 and the much awaited Grande Punto to see the fireworks.

Read more: http://indianautosblog.com/2008/12/hyundai-i20-india-price-specification#ixzz1eXhGyMgG

comments (1) | | Read More...

Hyundai launches automatic Santa Fe at Rs 24.36 lakh

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) the country’s largest exporter and second largest manufacturer has launched its luxurious SUV, the Santa Fe with automatic transmission (AT) and additional features. The four-wheel-drive Santa Fe is now available with six speed automatic transmission for smooth and stress free driving.

The addition of features as push button start and smart key ensure convenience with one-touch operation. The new supervision cluster enhances clarity of the instrument panel. H W Park, MD and CEO, HMIL, said, “The Santa Fe launched last year has been extremely well received, the new offering with automatic transmission further improves our value proposition.” The Santa Fe AT is available with 2.2.L CRDi engine, the most powerful engine in its class delivering a maximum power of 197PS/4000 rpm and an impressive torque of 44.5kgm/1800-2500.

The hi-tech engine of the Santa Fe has a host of advanced technologies that gives optimal balance of performance, excellent drivability on all terrain and a fuel mileage of 11.72 kmpl (ARAI certified). Awarded five star safety rating by New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the Santa Fe comes fully loaded with various active and passive safety features such as electronic stability program (EPS) and anti-lock braking system (ABS) -- with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) to ensure greater driving stability. The six standard airbags and active head rests greatly enhance passenger protection and safety. Since its launch in October 2010, the Santa Fe has received an overwhelming response, till date 1100 units have been sold. The Santa Fe has been awarded “SUV of the Year 2011” by several media houses. The 4WD (AT) Santa Fe is priced at Rs 24,36,500 (ex-showroom Delhi), its available in five colours.

comments | | Read More...