Honda CB Hornet 160R first look

The Honda Unicorn was long positioned as a commuter-friendly 150 in India, and has garnered good sales numbers for HMSI. However, it seemed to be targeted at the more mature buyer and lacked a sporty appeal. Other options in the market such as the Bajaj Pulsars, Suzuki Gixxer twins and the Yamaha FZ series of bikes were much sportier, and appealed to a wider variety of buyers. Honda has worked to address this, and unveiled a much sportier sibling of the CB Unicorn 160, which will replace the older Honda Unicorn with a 150cc heart. This is the Honda CB Hornet 160R.

While the specifications have not been officially revealed yet, sources at the company tell us the Honda CB Hornet 160R uses the same engine as the CB Unicorn. Going by this, expect the engine to make the same power figures as the CB Unicorn – the 162.71cc unit making 14.5bhp of power at 8,000rpm, and 1.48kgm of torque at 6,000rpm.

The Honda Hornet 160 is quite the looker, with sharp lines and angles used throughout the design of the motorcycle. Actually, the overall design of the motorcycle seems to be inspired by the Honda CB600F Hornet’s – a similar stance and parts like the headlamp cluster seem to resemble its bigger cousin’s.

The Honda CB Hornet 160R has 10-spoke alloys, front and rear, connected by telescopic shock absorbers up front and a mono-shock system at the rear. The rear wheel is mounted on a box-section swingarm. The motorcycle is brought to a halt with petal rotor-equipped disc brakes on the front and the rear, which work together through Honda’s proprietary Combi-Brake System (CBS).

. A digital information display cluster, same as the one used on the CB Unicorn 160 has been installed on it. The fuel tank has muscular bits all over, and even has plastic cladding with carbonfibre-like finish running from the handlebar to the seat. The seat is a well designed single piece, with a step up to the pillion region.

While Honda has not confirmed the expected price or launch dates for the CB Hornet 160R, you can safely expect it shall be priced at a slight premium over the Honda CB Unicorn 160 (which retails for Rs 72,400 ex-showroom, Delhi), when it reaches dealerships later this year.

Benelli TNT 25 vs KTM Duke 200: Specification comparison

Benelli gave us the keys to their most important motorcycle for India yet, the TNT 25. We took it for an exclusive ride some time back. Still in the works, its rough edges are being polished, and its horses are being trained. While out for a spin on it, we kept wondering how the finished motorcycle would fare against its direct competition, specifically KTM’s orange-blooded Duke 200. Unfortunately, we cannot comment until we get to ride the finished product. But for now, how the bikes compete with each other on paper is worth evaluating.

The Benelli gets a 249.2cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that puts down 24.1bhp at 9,000rpm. The Duke 200 makes a marginally higher 24.7bhp at 10,000rpm from its 199.5cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. With the larger engine, the TNT25 generates 2.1kgm of twisting force, while the Duke 200 makes a slightly lower 1.94kgm.

The TNT 25 is slightly longer, measuring 2,080mm, while the KTM measures 2,002mm. Here the KTM is the broader one, at 873mm, while the Benelli measures 805mm. The Duke 200 is also taller at 1,274mm, and the TNT 25 stands at 1,090mm. As one might expect, the KTM is lighter too, weighing 136.4kg on the scale; almost 15kg lighter than the Benelli that weighs 150kg.

Suspension on the motorcycles are in the form of USD forks up front and mono-shock springs at the back. The KTM Duke 200 gets an alloy swingarm, while the Benelli TNT 25 gets a box section one. Both the motorcycles are brought to a halt using disc brakes, and don't get the ABS feature. At the front, both the motorcycles have 280mm disc brakes. While the Benelli gets a 240mm at the back, the KTM gets a 230mm unit.

The pricing for the Benelli TNT 25 is not known yet, but it is likely to be anywhere between
Rs 2.5 - Rs 3 lakh. However, the Austrian manufacturer has priced all its products very aggressively, and same is the case with the Duke 200. It retails for Rs. 1.45 lakh in Delhi.

New Mitsubishi Pajero Sport first look

Mitsubishi recently revealed the new Pajero Sport. Along with looking more stylish, it has improved interiors and comes with an array of safety and driver-assist features.

While the overall silhouette and bulbous presence remains, the new Pajero borrows a lot of design cues from the GR-HEV concept, showcased by the carmaker at the Geneva motor show three years ago. The face gets a heavy dose of aggressiveness thanks to the sharp headlights that have LED daytime-running lamps, a new bumper, a bold grille and a generous splash of chrome. Mitsubishi calls this new design language 'Dynamic Shield'.

Move to the side, and what strikes first are the massive wheel arches and the huge rear overhang. Then there are the new alloy designs, and the steeply rising window line that has a crease running right below it; subtle touches that prevent the flank from appearing too bland. While the rear is large, the chrome bar helps break mass up. There are also the attractive tail-lights that seem to have been picked from the GR concept. They are quite uniquely designed, with reflectors running onto the sides and down to the bumper.

The Pajero Sport is based on Mitsubishi's pick-up truck called Triton, and some of the elements in the cabin too are borrowed from it. Difference is, the ambience in the Pajero cabin is a lot more upmarket than its utilitarian cousin. Nice elements include the chunky four-spoke multifunction steering wheel, flowing centre console, brushed silver inserts, and leather upholstery. The new Pajero’s seats look large and well cushioned, and there’s also a lot of legroom on offer.


The new Pajero Sport gets kit such as a touchscreen infotainment system, a 360-degree camera, seven airbags and an electronic hand brake. Other new features include autonomous braking, Blind spot Monitor, Hill Descent Control and a system to avoid misacceleration.

The engine powering the new Pajero is a 2.4-litre MIVEC turbo diesel which comes mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Power figures have still not been revealed, but the carmaker claims that the model has been tuned to be more fuel efficient than its predecessor. The new Pajero also gets a four-wheel-drive system, and a new off-road mode.

New Skoda Superb Laurin & Klement India bound

Expected to launch early next year, the new Skoda Superb is based on VW’s MQB platform. Bigger and lighter than before, the new Superb looks more aggressive and gets a smoother profile, compared to the current model. The Superb to be brought to India is also expected to get a new Laurin & Klement top-end trim.

In international markets, the Laurin & Klement trim sits atop the new Superb’s range. Standard features on the trim include heated seats, adaptive dampers with three drive modes, 18-inch alloys, umbrellas stowed in the front doors, electric adjust front seats with lumbar support and memory function, three zone climate control, parking sensors, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, bi-xenon headlamps, keyless entry and an electric tailgate. However, lower trim levels get smaller infotainment systems and alloy wheels.

The Superb Laurin & Klement has been spotted testing in India. But we are unsure about what to expect in the trim level when Skoda launches the new Superb next year. In terms of power, the Superb will uses the familiar 1.8-litre TSI petrol and 2.0-litre TDI diesel engines mated to six-speed or seven-speed double-clutch automatic gearboxes.






The new Skoda Superb is expected to be revealed at the Auto Expo 2016 before going on sale. If brought to India, the Superb Laurin & Klement will mark the return of a trim level, previously offered on the earlier Octavia and Laura.

BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R concept breaks cover

BMW has revealed a racing variant of its 3.0 CSL Hommage concept car. To make its debut at the Pebble Beach Concours D'elegance, is almost identical to the concept unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May, and gets BMW’s racing colour scheme.

New improvements include a race suit that can display information to the driver. The driver’s helmet too displays speed and engine information, while a special piping in the sleeves illuminates when both the driver’s hands are on the wheel. The minimalist steering wheel display provides the driver with information on the current track and race position. Other racing additions to the interior include a fire extinguisher system and an emergency shut-off.

While BMW insists the concept is a one-off creation with no production future, sister publication, Autocar UK understands that the concept does still hold some significance for BMW’s future production models. Senior sources have revealed that the concept is a statement of intent for the BMW M division to build more extreme, lightweight models, which would be pitched as the company's answer to its great rival, the Mercedes-AMG’s Black Series versions. The first model built to this strategy will be the M4 GTS.

The 3.0 CSL Hommage is the third Hommage car from BMW in recent years, following on from the M1 Hommage from 2008 and the 328 Hommage, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the 328 racer in 2011. Like the 3.0 CSL Hommage, both the previous Hommage concepts were revealed at Villa d’Este.

The latest concept car is marginally bigger than an M6. It is 4,997mm long, 2,018mm wide and 1,302mm high, with a wheelbase of 3,190mm. For comparison, the M6 is 4,898mm long, 1,899mm wide and 1,374mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,851mm.

BMW hasn’t confirmed the technical details of the car, other than the fact that it is rear-wheel drive and below the long bonnet is a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine in combination with an ‘e-boost’ electric motor to aid acceleration.

The 3.0 CSL concept car is constructed from an extensive use of lightweight materials, including carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. The original 3.0 CSL was around 200kg lighter than the 3.0 CS on which it was based thanks to an extensive use of aluminium in its construction.

The body of the new concept car features vast flared wheel arches with extensive aerodynamic sculpting to channel the air towards the rear of the car. The wheel arches house 21-inch alloys shod in 265/35 tyres in front and 325/30s at the rear. Other notable exterior design features include the extensive air intakes, the large fixed rear wing, a roof spoiler, a front splitter and huge side exhausts.
The interior of the original concept was pared down and made almost exclusively of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, save for some wood on the instrument panel, which was also a structural part. This wood was a reference to the interior of the original 3.0 CSL. Key driver information, such as the speed, revs and gear selection, could be shown on a display on the steering column.

BMW design chief Karim Habib said, “For BMW designers like us, the BMW 3.0 CSL is a style icon. Its combination of racing genes and elegance generates an engaging aesthetic that continues to win hearts even today. The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage celebrates many of those characteristic features but without copying them. Indeed, some of the parallels are not immediately obvious. We wanted people to sense the family resemblance rather than see it straight off.”

Lexus LX570 facelift

Lexus has revealed the facelifted LX570 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The refreshed SUV gets tweaks inside and out, added features and a new eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The revisions to the styling include a new single-piece spindle grille with chrome surround, revised front and rear bumpers, LED headlamps, reshaped LED fog lamps, new alloy wheels and new tail-lamps.

On the inside, the infotainment system has been upgraded to a 12.3-inch display. The instrument cluster now uses a larger 4.2-inch display and gets a panoramic view camera as standard. The facelifted LX570 also gets the addition of Drive Mode Select and the option of a heads-up display, LED ambient lighting, a wireless charger and a 11.6-inch display for the rear-seat entertainment system. Also offered as option now are heated and ventilated rear seats.

 Mechanically, the 5.7-litre V8 is now mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox in place of the older six-speed automatic unit. The engine develops 384bhp and 55.68kgm of torque.

Honda S660 sold out in Japan

Honda has seen an unexpected demand for its mini roadster, the S660, in Japan. Launched in April 2015, it has now been reported that the limited number of cars, 8,600 to be precise, slated for production in 2015, have already been sold out.

Interestingly, it was observed that four in five cars sold were bought by those over the age of 40. Honda’s car was designed to attract a younger demographic, but ended up being the preferred choice for older people looking to buy a second car in Japan.

Honda has plans to restart taking orders from October, and also states that the demand for the S660 roadster will be balanced, as younger buyers are expected to develop an interest in the car over the course of time.

Yamaha Alpha gets three new colour options

Yamaha Motor India has introduced three new colour schemes for the Alpha. These dual-tone colour schemes are called Rocking Red – red with black, Beaming Blue – blue with gold, and Gleaming Gold – white with gold.

The other colours will still be available, taking the count to a total of eight colour options to choose from. For the new colour schemes, Yamaha is charging a premium of Rs 1,000 over the other colours, which sets the price of the Alpha slightly below Rs. 50,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Under the skin, nothing has been changed, and the scooter still comes with the 113cc, single cylinder, four-stroke engine which makes 7.1bhp. The Alpha was launched last year with Yamaha’s Blue Core technology.

Eric Buell Racing bought over

Eric Buell Racing was sold at an auction recently for a mere USD 2.25 million (approximately Rs 14 crore). In 2013, Hero MotoCorp had paid a lot more at Rs 159 crore to purchase a 49.2 percent stake in EBR. In addition, an extra Rs 17 crore was paid to purchase EBR’s consultancy arm. At the auction, official records showed that EBR had $20.8 million (Rs 132 crore) in assets and $20.4 million (Rs 130 crore) in liabilities.

EBR was sold to a company called Atlantic Metals Group LLC, and no other details of the company were revealed by the court. This deal includes all assets necessary to manufacture EBR bikes, like the tools, machinery and the inventory of remaining bikes and spare parts. Valuable intellectual property is also part of this deal. No official statement has been released by Eric Buell or the buyers.

Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce Roadster showcased at Pebble Beach

At the ongoing Pebble Beach Concours, Lamborghini has taken the wraps off the open-top version of its Aventador Superveloce. The Aventador Superveloce Roadster goes on sale internationally next year. Like its coupé sibling, only 500 units of the Aventador SV Roadster will be produced.

These Superveloce (SV) are lighter, more powerful versions of the regular Lamborghini Aventador. Performance figures of the Aventador SV Roadster are pretty much identical to the SV. Power comes from the same 6.5-litre V12 engine, producing 740bhp at 8400rpm - a full 49bhp more than the 641bhp on offer in the regular Aventador. Power is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed automated manual transmission.

Despite a slight increase in weight (1575kg versus 1525kg for the coupé), the SV Roadster is still capable of reaching 100kph from a standing start in 2.9sec, versus 2.8sec for the coupé. Perhaps most impressive is its top speed of 350kph, which matches the coupé.

The Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster gets a stripped-out cabin, which incorporates carbonfibre fabric for the seats and parts of the interior trim, as well as Alcantara and leather. There’s also Lamborghini's digital instrument cluster.

Lamborghini says the SV Roadster's hard-top is made of carbonfibre and features a quick release system that adds just 6kg in weight, and that the design of the hard-top has been optimised in a wind tunnel for aerodynamic efficiency. The glass rear screen can be raised or lowered from inside the cabin, acting as a wind deflector when the roof is down.

Recall announced for Honda CBR 150R and CBR 250R

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has announced a recall for its CBR 150R and CBR 250R to check for a possible fault with the starter relay. The announcement is part of a global recall issued by Honda Motor Company as the starter relay is shared with the international models as well.

The recall is a precautionary step to check for and replace defective starter relay switches due to incorrect application of the sealant. According to Honda, the defective switch may lead to a sudden loss of electrical power at any time, and worst-case scenario it could cause a fire in the part.

Honda will be checking all CBR 150R and 250R motorcycles manufactured between June 2014 and June 2015 for this defect and, if found, will rectify it free of cost irrespective of warranty, at the company's service centres.

Audi Q7 Facelift

The Porsche Cayenne and VW Touraeg have both got major updates this year so it only seemed obvious that the Audi Q7 be updated too. Now, Audi has taken the wraps off the 2015 Q7 SUV and it appears to have undergone some major cosmetic reconfiguration.

The flagship SUV from the Ingolstadt- based automaker retains an all too familiar shape but is now a whopping 325kgs lighter and roughly 26 per cent more efficient than the outgoing model. The SUV tips the scales at 1995-kgs and has managed to pull off this task thanks to an all-new aluminum-steel chassis and multi-material body composition.

Exterior:

The 2015 Q7’s fascia reflects the German automaker’s new design philosophy which now sees its cars moving away from the previous two generation’s rounded edges to much sharper features. The headlights can now be configured in the form of Xenon’s, LEDs or matrix LED headlights. What appears to be standard across all three headlight setups are the arrow- shaped LED daytime running lights with the top-spec models getting the integrated turn signals.

The side profile appears to have been retained from the outgoing model but the roofline has a sharper rake at the rear end and it appears that the whole roof has also been lowered slightly. The bulging wheel arches add to the butch look of the vehicle while there is some contrast coloured moulding on the base of doors. The designs of the alloy wheels too are different now, though we expect that the company is likely to continue offering the older shapes depending on the market.

The rear, like the fascia, gets sharper lines giving a square appearance to the overall design but thanks to the forward rake of the glass does not look out of place. The entire mid-section below the tail lamps has been reworked and thereare two bulge- like design elements on which the badging have been placed. Finally, the exhaust tail pipes have been changed and thanks to the new design philosophy are now flatter and rectangular in shape.

Interior:

Less is more seems to be the new philosophy for Audi as it has simplified the cabin design by decreasing the size and number of the elements on the dashboard. The steering, instrument panel and climate control system all appear to be new while the screen has moved from being in the dashboard to the top of it and has now also become larger as well a touchscreen unit. It now uses Audi’s latest MMI system while offering support for Android Auto as well as Apple Car Play. Adding to this package is either a Bose system or a 23-speaker B&O surround sound system.

In conformity with the reducing design, the gear lever is now a smaller unit but other than that all elements look to be carried over and in the same places too. If the front gets so much, then the rear too looks to be a fun place. It can be configured with one or two 10.1-inch tablets that boast of a 32GB memory and full HD camera (for when that car selfie moment happens). Like its predecessors, the 2015 Q7 boasts of three rows of seats and lots of storage spaces.

Engine and gearbox

The Q7 is being offered with the 3.0-litre TDI diesel mill which in higher- spec models produces 272bhp and 600Nm of torque. It is also available in a lower spec config where it produces 218bhp and 500Nm of torque.

On the petrol front, the engine is a 3.0-litre unit that produces 333bhp and 440Nm of torque. There is also expected to be a 2.0-litre petrol engine which will produce 252bhp and 370Nm of torque. This engine will be offered only for the Asian markets. This Q7 also debuts Audi’s new 3.0-litre plug-in hybrid diesel engine that will produce 373bhp and 700Nm of torque. All engines are offered with an 8-speed AT and Quattro system as standard. Audi is now also offering an all-wheel steering on some specific models.

Jaguar XE

Jaguar has always been known to produce cars that slot into the higher sections of the premium category and this has been evident since the new look XJ and XF began production in 2009. It has however been missing a contender in the entry-level sports segment which is dominated by cars like the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. However, this will now change when it launches the XE sports sedan next year. Aimed at giving the British manufacturer a chance at the volumes game we can expect to see an Indian debut by the middle of next year.

Exterior:

The Jaguar XE, in the released publicity material and spy shots, looks exactly like the larger XF and the flagship XJ. This is a common practice among all the manufacturers partly due to economies of scale and partly due to the fact that it is easy for them to adapt a successful design across all their models to retain familiarity of product.

The Jaguar XE will get a smaller version of the XF’s massive chrome mesh grille complete with the leaping cat. Standard features are expected to be projector headlights, LED daytime lights and projector fog lamps. We even expect that the bumper will remain the same but with a higher ground clearance.

The side profile is also similar to that of the XF in terms of roof line, flared wheels arches and the rake angle of the roof line both in the front and back. However, while the boot will have similar design elements as the XF and XJ-like tail lamp cluster and chrome strips, it appears to be far smaller (in relation to the larger cars). The rear bumper is expected to be a little sportier and will be complemented by dual exhausts.

Interior:

While the exteriors are clear thanks to the plethora of spy shots and press release images, the interiors are still a mystery. However, given the theme of continuation on the outside, we expect that it will be no different inside. The overall design is expected to be very close to that of the XF and XJ but with the obvious cost cutting measures like fabric/Alacantra seats and shiny but high quality plastic in place of wood for the trim options.

We expect that the infotainment system, climate control and instrumentation will remain the same but there will none of the Houdini-like hidden vents and rotary dial appearing from hidden crevices. Instead we believe that there will be a standard gear lever and fixed gear selection dial in the cabin. The rear seat space will adequately seat two persons in full comfort thanks to the transmission tunnel and the rear AC unit.

Engine and gearbox

The XE will be the British automaker’s first vehicle to be derived from an all-new aluminium platform and engine family called Ingenium which will comprise units in the capacity of 1.8-litres to 2.5-litres and have power outputs in the range of 184bhp to 300bhp. There is also expected to be a top-of-the-line RS variant which will be powered by the 3.0-litre V6 unit from the F-Type range.

This family has both petrol and diesel engines and will be mated to either a six-speed manual or the ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox which will send power to the rear wheels or to all four-wheels in a 60:40 ratio.

Price and competition:

We expect that Jaguar will price the XE in the range of Rs 28 lakh to Rs 45 lakh and launch it in mid- 2015. It will compete with the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The biggest move is expected to be that Jaguar will locally assemble the car in India in a bid to price it as competitively as possible.

Harley-Davidson Street 750 continues to dominate RE Continental GT

On April 16, 2015, our sister publication Autocar Professional's report stated that Harley-Davidson’s India-built midsized cruiser Street 750 had drawn more buyers in the domestic market than its segment (engine displacement wise) competitor – Royal Enfield’s Continental GT during FY2014-15. The Q1 (April-June 2015) sales results for FY2015-16 highlight that Harley-Davidson’s liquid-cooled, V-twin, 749cc cruiser, continues to dominate Royal Enfield’s air-cooled, single-cylinder, 535cc café racer styled model in terms of finding buyers in the domestic market.

While the Street 750 sold 524 units in Q1 FY2015-16, the Continental GT recorded sales of 434 units during the same period. Both models, however, have recorded a decline when compared with their respective Q1 FY2014-15 sales. The Street 750 and the Continental GT had sold 619 and 859 units respectively in Q1 FY2014-15.

Despite the Street 750’s starting price tag of Rs 4,32,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), which is more than double the sticker price of the Royal Enfield Continental GT (which comes for close to Rs 2,10,000, on-road, Delhi), the popularity of the former clearly underlines Indian bike buyers’ aspirational values, preference for ever-lasting build quality, and the strong brand pull that the American motorcycle manufacturer commands.

The Harley-Davidson Street 750 continues to be the top seller in the midsized motorcycle category of engine displacement of more than 500cc but less than equal to 800cc. This sub-category has seen a year-on-year fall of 28.34 percent thereby selling 490 units fewer as compared to its Q1 FY2014-15’s sales of 1,729 units. While the Street 750 and the Continental GT drive this sub-category, Kawasaki’s 71bhp 649cc Ninja 650 and Er-6n and Triumph Motorcycles’ 117bhp 675cc Daytona variants (675R and Daytona 675 ABS), 78bhp 675cc Street Triple ABS, and the 94bhp 800cc Tiger 800 variants (XRx and XCx) are the other prominent midsized motorcycles that make up the category in this engine displacement class.

Reporting decent growing numbers, Triumph Motorcycles’ above-mentioned products in this category, on the other hand, saw sales of 128 units during Q1 FY2015-16 as against 96 units sold in Q1 FY2014-15. It can be recalled that the British premium bike maker had, on March 12, expanded its CKD portfolio for India by rolling out two new variants in its adventure tourer portfolio – Tiger XRx and Tiger XCx, which offer on-road and off-road riding applications respectively. By doing so, the company had brought down the price tag of the 800cc Tiger models as Tiger 800 XC earlier was imported into India as a CBU.

DC Avanti

The DC Avanti will be the first made-in-India supercar when it is launched for the Indian market. The Avanti in concept form was unveiled at the 2012 Auto Expo and then for the 2014 edition, DC Design brought the production- ready version of the car.

During the show the carmaker had announced that they would commence production of the car at their manufacturing facility located in Gujarat but added that the initial models will be built at their Talegaon facility in Pune. Test mules of the vehicle have been sighted several times in and around Maharashtra. Most of these test vehicles have different sets of headlights and tail lamps, with many other makeshift components. This suggests that DC Design might be conducting some final tests of the production version of this car. However, we expect the car to retain most of the elements that were seen on the car displayed at the Auto Expo 2014.

Exterior:

The Avanti appears to have been modelled on the lines of the Ferrari 458 Italia. The nose of the car is dominated by a massive mesh air intake and trapezoid bumper. The head lamps are bi-xenon units while there are LED DRLS shaped like eyebrows for the headlamps. Keeping true to its sports car heritage, the Avanti has a long and low bonnet that dips in the middle giving prominence to the DC logo and a single air vent located on top.

The side profile is low and long with a sharply raked windscreen and rear roofline that disappears into the engine bay behind the cabin. The pillars as well as the top of the roof have been painted in black. It appears to be sitting on large 18-inch wheels which carry a very specific DC design.

At the back the most dominating factor is the engine obviously which is covered in body coloured glass to help it merge into the background. DC has shaped the tail lamps as low, sleek units that sit sandwiched between the bumper and the edge of the engine cover.

Interior:

The Avanti is a two-seater with the entire cabin being kitted out in what appears to be quilted out leather. This material is on the seats, dashboard, doors and space between the seats. The instrument cluster, steering wheel and more noticeably the AC are all basic units. We expect that DC will offer some more additional features, which will be standard in the segment, when the car is launched.

Engine and gearbox:

The sportscar is a mid-engined vehicle that is powered by the critically acclaimed Ford EcoBoost 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. This mill churns out 250bhp of power and 360Nm of torque and has been mated to a six-speed manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. DC Design house has equipped the car with a double wishbone setup both, at the front and at the rear as well.

Verdict:

The car is expected to be launched by the end of this year or early 2015. It will be priced at around Rs 25-30 lakh. The Avanti will create a category in itself as it will be the first supercar produced in our country by any Indian manufacturer.