More powerful and hard-edged than before, the 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 has been built to take on the best super nakeds from Europe...The 2010 Kawasaki Z1000, with its new styling, 1,043cc inline-four engine (which replaces the old 953cc mill) and new aluminium beam frame, looks all set to take on hard-core streetfighters from Europe. While the earlier Z was a bit soft when compared with machines like the Ducati Streetfighter, MV Agusta Brutale and Triumph Speed Triple, the new one looks fit enough... Read Full Story

The Indian government is looking at all possible ways of promoting hybrids and EVs and of making sure that conventional cars are made more fuel efficient and more emissions compatible...India’s Union Minister for heavy industries and public enterprises, Vilasrao Deshmukh recently announced that the government is considering the possibility of reducing import duties on hybrid vehicles (and possibly electric cars as well?) and the finance ministry will be presented with a proposal regarding the... Read Full Story

The 2010-spec Volvo S80 will go on sale in India by early next year, while the new XC60 SUV and S60 saloon are also likely to be launched here by mid- to end-2010Volvo, which has chosen to not participate in the Auto Expo in Delhi, in January 2010, will focus on using its resources towards promoting its new cars which it plans to launch in India next year. According to Volvo, the luxury car market (comprising of cars costing Rs 25 lakh and above) in India grew by 11% in 2009, while sales of V... Read Full Story

The Porsche 911 GT3, GT3 RS and Boxster Spyder will be available with optional lithium-ion starter batteries from January 2010...While Porsche isn’t offering hybrids and EVs just yet, from January 2010 it will start offering lithium-ion starter batteries as an option on the 911 GT3, GT3 RS and Boxster Spyder cars. At around six kilos, these li-ion starter batteries are more than 10kg lighter than conventional lead-acid starter batteries.Porsche’s li-ion starter battery will cost 1,900 euro (R... Read Full Story

The new BMW 5 Series - more accomplished than ever before...BMW has released pics and details of its sixth-generation 5 Series sedan, which now comes with a host of new technologies, new engines and an optional 8-speed automatic transmission. With the first generation 5 Series having been launched in 1972, each successive generation of the car has upped the ante in terms of sheer technology as well as the driving experience, and the latest car pushes the envelope even further.The new BMW 5 Se... Read Full Story

The seven-seater Suzuki APV is likely to be launched in India by March 2010...Maruti Suzuki, which stopped production of its multi-purpose van – Versa – some time ago, is looking at launching a new vehicle in that segment by March 2010. With vehicles like the Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo and Chevrolet Tavera already doing brisk business, the van/MPV segment isn’t one that Maruti can afford to ignore for too long.The vehicle which we think will replace the Versa, in India, is likely to be the ... Read Full Story

With 193bhp at the crank, the BMW S1000RR is the most powerful litre-class supersports machine in prodction, and offers stunning levels of performance on the track...It may not have the race-proven heritage of a GSX-R, ZX-R, CBR-RR or YZF-R, but the BMW S1000RR has something which its litre-class competition doesn’t – an inline-four that makes all of 193 horsepower at the crank. Indeed, with a (claimed) 180bhp at the rear wheel, the S1000RR is the most powerful of all current litre-class prod... Read Full Story

This has to be the coolest Katana ever...Here’s one absolutely fabulous looking Suzuki Katana that’s been at the receiving end of an expensive, very well executed makeover. The UK-based Steve Adams, who owns this bike, seems to have spent a fortune on doing up this classic Suzuki from the 1980s, and it is money well spent.The list of mods for Steve’s Katana is very long, but here’s a quick look at some of the more significant bits and pieces: 1,170cc Wiseco piston kit, gas flowed head, EFE 11... Read Full Story

The Fiat Linea 1.4 Turbo will address all concerns regarding the car's lack of performance...The Fiat Linea, a brilliant little sedan that is currently stuck with underpowered 1.3-litre (diesel) and 1.4-litre (petrol) engines, is all set to get a makeover next year. For the Indian market, Fiat plans to launch a new version of the Linea in 2010, which will be fitted with a turbocharged 1.4-litre T-Jet petrol engine.Thanks to its forced-induction engine, the Fiat Linea Turbo will pack around 12... Read Full Story

Hyundai's new Theta II 2.4L GDI engine is likely to be big on fuel economy...Hyundai has developed an all-new 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that will first be used on the new Sonata, which will be launched in India in 2010. With ‘gasoline direct injection’ technology, this Theta II GDI engine will, according to Hyundai, use less fuel, have significantly lower emissions and will be more powerful and responsive when compared to a conventional fuel-injected petrol engine.Engineered in Na... Read Full Story