Audi A8 L W12

My advice is to leave the tiresome act of driving to an underling and retire to the rear, where the deluxe surroundings – and 130mm of extra legroom – can be savoured at leisure.

 Price: £104,505; Top speed: 155mph (limited); 0-62mph: 4.7sec; Economy: 22.8mpg (combined); CO2: 290g/km; Kerb weight: 2055kg; Engine: W12, 6299cc, petrol; Power: 493bhp at 6200rpm; Torque: 460lb ft at 3250rpm; Gearbox: 8-spd auto

Renault Frendz

Straight off it’s worth bearing with the proliferation of touchy-feely buzzwords above. It’s easy to become jaded by inverted commas used when describing concept cars, English words often seemingly scattered at random as on a Japanese schoolgirl’s pencil case. But with the Frendzy, Renault has created a genuinely emotive product out of what is, essentially, a van with extra seats.
There is indeed warmth in the pale green and matte grey bodywork, while synthetic materials are used to recreate organic-feeling interior panels such as plastic floor and seat-back mouldings that genuinely look and feel like weathered hardwood, and faux leather interwoven with metal strands to hatch patchwork seat cushions.
 Price: na; Top speed: 81mph; 0-62mph: na; Range: 100 miles; Charging time: 6-8 hours; CO2: zero at tailpipe; Kerb weight: 1420kg; Engine: electric motor; Power: 59bhp; Torque: 167lb ft; Gearbox: direct drive, with reverse

Strip Tease

Like the GT650R, a strong 90-degree V-twin motor also powers the GT650N, with peak power at 73.68 PS and a staggering mid-range, as the 67 Nm of torque is served right from 7,250 RPM. Unlike the performance-oriented ‘R’, the streetfighter has been designed to be more apt for city riding. Due to time restraints during this exclusive ride we could not test the naked GT, but we did feel the bike’s ECU has been retuned and there is a definite change in the torque curve. The V-twin offers ample torque throughout the powerband, due to which it is not necessary to shift down while overtaking. Just a twist of the throttle is enough to let you surge ahead. Another highlight is the free revving engine that comfortably goes beyond 10,000 RPM and has a stunning top-end. The first gear went up to 81 km/h and the second can run up to 135 km/h at red line. Using the six-speed transmission I managed to reach 160 km/h on the speedo without much struggle, but ran out of road. The company claims a figure of 210 km/h.

Rolls Royce Ghost EWB review

Fact File

Price Range (in lakhs)*

Ex-showroom price

Rs 3.05 crore (ex-showroom, India)

Engine

Installation	Front, longitudinal
Type	V12, 6592cc, twin-turbo, petrol
Bore/stroke	89.0/88.3mm
Power	563bhp at 5250rpm
Torque	79.53kgm at 1500rpm

Transmission

Gearbox

8-speed automatic

Dimensions

Length	5569mm
Width	1948mm
Height	1550mm
Wheel base	3465mm
Boot volume	490 litres

Performance

0-100

5.0 sec (claimed)

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition

This is the Maserati Four Door. Doesn’t sound as exciting as ‘Quattroporrrrte’, does it? The name tells me a lot about the car – it tells me that the Italians are capable of injecting soul into something even as mundane as a saloon. This car is anything but mundane, and that’s exactly what I discover on my day out with Maserati’s bombshell.   

Fact File

Price Range (in lakhs)*

Ex-showroom price

From Rs 1.56 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Engine

Fuel	Petrol
Type	8 cylinders in vee, 4691cc, petrol
Power	440bhp at 7000rpm
Torque	49.5kgm at 4750rpm

Transmission

Gearbox

6-speed auto

Dimensions

Length	5097mm
Width	1896mm
Height	1423mm
Wheel base	3064mm
Boot volume	450 litres

Chassis & Body

Weight	1990kg
Tyres	245/35-R20 (f), 295/30-R20 (r)

Performance

0-100

5.1 sec*

Economy

Tank size

90 litres

New Chevrolet Captiva review

Fact File

Price Range (in lakhs)*

Ex-showroom price

21.4 lakh (ex-Mumbai, est)

Engine

Fuel	Diesel
Installation	Front, transverse
Type	4cyl, in line, 2231cc turbo diesel
Bore/stroke	86/96mm
Power	184bhp at 3800rpm
Torque	40.78kgm at 2000rpm

Transmission

Gearbox

6-speed manual

Dimensions

Length	4673mm
Width	1849mm
Height	1727mm
Wheel base	2707mm

Chassis & Body

Weight

1978kg

Performance

0-100

9.6 sec

Economy

Tank size

65 litres

by autocar

Hyundai Veloster review

The Hyundai Veloster is an over-engineered solution to what is, at best, a negligible problem. In an effort to attract customers from two disparate segments, Hyundai has employed an unusual 1+2 door configuration (one large one on the driver’s side, and 2 smaller ones on the passenger side) to distinguish the Veloster, in both form and function, from its competition.

Your admiration of the Veloster concept is likely to hinge on whether you consider the project a commendable stab at producing something different or, alternatively, see it as a superficial and cynical attempt to hijack new sales ground with flagrant gimmickry.
We’re not entirely sure whether either argument deserves the high ground to itself, but there is a nagging suspicion that the Veloster’s component parts don’t quite add up to an entirely satisfying whole.
As a hatchback the car loses a door, but gains only a modicum of style; as a coupe it gains a door, but doesn’t acquire the extra measure of dynamic talent that would have earned it a genuine shot at the Volkswagen Scirocco or Vauxhall Astra GTC.
by autocar