2015 Hyundai Elantra facelift launched

The updated car gets a few styling changes on the outside, and an all-black interior with a bit more equipment.

Hyundai has launched an updated version of its executive sedan — the Elantra — at a starting price of Rs 14.13 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). There are a few styling changes made to what is already a striking car, but you’d have to be really familiar with the Elantra to spot them at first glance. The most prominent are the new headlamps, which now have a blacked-out housing, incorporated projector elements, and a really cool looking LED-illuminated strip. There are new L-shaped fog lamps that sit inside deeper enclosures in a front bumper that is more contoured. The only change you’ll see on the sides are the new 16-inch alloy wheels, but move to the back and you’ll find a new rear bumper with a blacked-out lower section, and new tail-lamps whose lighting pattern mimics LEDs.

There’s a more significant change in store on the inside, where Hyundai has chosen to swap the beige and grey two-tone colour scheme for an all-black one. The dashboard has been changed slightly too, with a new audio system and the welcome addition of a 4.3-inch colour touchscreen in place of the dated monochrome screen. This now also acts as the display for the rear-view camera, rather than the rear-view mirror as before. The tiny central air-con vents have also been replaced by larger ones that now sit higher up on the dashboard, on either side of the infotainment screen. The air-con display, much like many new Hyundais, gets a more upmarket-looking blue on black monochrome display instead of the black on blue colour. Hyundai has also given the Elantra metal-finished pedals.

The engines remain unchanged, of course, and that means a 1.8-litre petrol engine that produces 148bhp and 18.1kgm, and a 1.6-litre diesel engine with 126bhp and 26.5kgm of torque. Both engines can be had with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox, and Hyundai says the manual diesel’s 22.7kpl ARAI-rated fuel efficiency figure is the best in the segment. As ever with Hyundai, the Elantra is still very well equipped, and apart from the new colour touchscreen, you’ll find things like auto headlamps, keyless entry and go, cruise control, electric front seats with ventilation, six airbags, ESC and of course, Bluetooth.

The manual-transmission cars are available in S and SX trims (the diesel version additionally gets a lower base model), while the automatics are only available in SX trim. The Hyundai Elantra petrol ranges from Rs 14.13-16.49 lakh and the diesel version goes from Rs 14.58-17.94 lakh.

Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Petrol

S - Rs 14.13 lakh
SX - Rs 15.41 lakh
SX (automatic) - Rs 16.50 lakh

Diesel

Base - Rs 14.58 lakh
S - Rs 15.35 lakh
SX - Rs 16.68 lakh
SX (automatic) - Rs 17.94 lakh

New Generation Honda Civic Revealed ... Roumered pics n details

 The Japanese carmaker, is planning to launch the new-generation Civic in international markets later this year. The company had also showcased the concept at the 2015 New York Auto Show earlier this month, and now the patent sketch images of its coupe and sedan versions have been leaked online by a forum called Civic X.

The Honda Civic's patent design looks a lot more practical as it loses out on the typical concept-like attributes, though it still retains most of the design elements of the concept. The vehicle gets an all-new face with a 'Flying H' Honda grille, flanked by new head-lights. The grille is supported by deeply sculpted lower air intakes. The rear, too, retains the Civic concept-inspired tail-lights.

 the 10th generation Honda Civic that features a longer wheelbase and a lower, wider stance which gives it an aggressive look. Talking about its proportions, it features a longer hood, a more set-back green house, and shorter overhand and rear deck, thus giving it a more athletic and 'in motion' appearance.

The new-generation Honda Civic will get a new 1.5-litre VTEC turbo engine with direct injection, and the engine will be offered with 2 transmission options - a short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission, and a new continuously variable transmission (CVT). The company says that the vehicle's new compact platform and 'Earth Dream Technology' powertrains will help the vehicle achieve class-leading fuel economy ratings and fun-to-drive performance, passenger safety, the company will offer some advanced features like lane departure warning, forward collision warning, multi-angle rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control and Honda LaneWatch along with Honda's next-generation advanced compatibility engineering (ACE) body structure.

North America will be the first market to receive the new-gen Honda Civic later this year, whereas the Asian markets will get it only by 2016.

image Courtesy: Civic X

Audi’s lighting tech to make night into day without the glare

Your rear-view mirror is a much coveted spot! Attempting to create a unique brand signature that is instantly recognisable, there are rings, slashes and curvy lines of LEDs or LED tubes that have been vying for our attention in most modern day luxury cars. Sometimes the car’s design and recent history seems to flow around its LED signature.

One brand which is striking and inseparable with its LED tube signature across all of its models is Audi. But Audi’s work with its headlamp and tail-lamp design and construction goes beyond just looks. For engineers at Ingolstadt automotive lighting is an obsession.

Audi is attempting to use lighting not only for aesthetics; but also to function as an information medium. The light comes alive; it moves and takes on new forms of expression and differentiation.

In that, Audi’s new Light Assistance Centre at the company’s German HQ could just alter the future of road safety and travel technology. This underground light tunnel, which is 120 metres long, is home to development of innovative lighting solutions and camera-based lighting assistance systems, which improve visibility, reduce glare for oncoming traffic and increase safety.

Audi claims that the facility, finished in matte black, is the biggest lighting tunnel for vehicles in Europe. The tunnel went into full operation in March and we decided to tiptoe in the darkness and check if there was light at the end of the tunnel (sorry, couldn’t stop that pun).

About the facility

The lighting competence centre and the laser lab, which are housed under an 11-storey building, apparently presented a great challenge for the civil engineers because it had to do without supporting columns and required an interior height of up to nine metres. The floor surface mimics a normal road, which helps with the research and development. Audi invested €4.5 million in the facility and it is about 400 feet long and 40 feet wide mimicking the average road. Over the last 25 metres, it widens to about 60 feet wide and 30 feet to emulate different conditions. It is also equipped with a street-like floor surface, a turntable and a scale for the cars, a laser laboratory, a workshop, a media room and separate rooms for the development of interior lighting technologies. What this ensures is the elimination of the need for night-time tests in uncontrolled conditions. Audi engineers work with the designers and also receive inputs from their motorsport

colleagues, which help in bringing fruition to new ideas even faster. Audi claims lighting is of central importance as a design element. The most recent lighting signature in the company’s model range is characterised by the Matrix LED headlights with their individually controlled light-emitting diodes. They light up the road without blinding opposing traffic.

Marc Lichte, Head of Design at Audi, says: “Our lighting design stands for the perfect interplay between technology and design. It expresses the character of our models even more clearly. The lighting signatures at the front and rear of the car have a great impact on how our models look on the road.” He says in 15 years, he can imagine: “A light that is in motion and interacts with the driver from the moment they approach the vehicle.”

Interaction

This technology is not only innovative in terms of lighting solutions but also adds to the look and design of the entire model range.

One of Audi’s next steps will be Matrix laser technology, in which a laser produces the light. This will enable the ideal light pattern for virtually every situation, such as special lighting for construction zones and similar bottlenecks. In this case, two strips of light about 15 metres (49.2 ft) long are projected onto the road to indicate the vehicle’s width. The new light pattern is a great help when driving through construction zones or similar bottlenecks. The driver can follow the light as if it were rails.

These have already arrived on the TT and A8, but Audi demonstrated for us a mock-up of a headlamp that takes these diamond-shaped LED-powered reflectors and creates a rather intriguing headlamp design, with neat LED strip-light indicators. At the demonstration, we were told this technology will be incorporated into all future models. No specific timeline was mentioned though.

As futuristic (read: difficult to execute) as the concept may sound, Audi claims it is entirely possible to replicate the idea into real life situations. The big question is whether the idea will actually reach Indian shores.

We already don’t have certain radar-assisted sensor technologies in some of the luxury cars being sold here due to frequency limitations and regulations.

Even if it does make its way here, it is difficult to judge the efficacy of this tech in a chaotic country such as ours. But, that’s the exact purpose of Audi’s light assistance technology; to make driving safe for the driver and the oncoming traffic.

Hero Electric launches e-rickshaw ‘Raahii’ at Rs. 1 lakh

 

Two-wheeler maker Hero Electric today launched an electric rickshaw ‘Raahii’ priced at Rs. 1.10 lakh (on road, Delhi).

“We are highly ecstatic on launching this innovative model of e-rickshaw. Raahii is designed to ease the hassles that daily commuters and drivers have to go through while travelling,” Hero Electric CEO Sohinder Gill told reporters here.

The e-rickshaw, which has been certified by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), comes with 1,000 W motor and can cover a distance of 90 km on a single charge, he added.

The vehicle comes with various features like internal LED light for passenger and driver and USB mobile charger for driver, side curtains and inclined back support for passengers.

It will be sold through the company’s 120 dealerships.

“We have already sold more than 1 lakh electric two-wheelers till now and expect to sell a lot of e-rickshaws in states like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Gujarat,” Gill said.

Besides, the company is looking at developing markets in south India, he added.

The company is also working on an upgrade of Raahii which it plans to launch shortly, Gill said.

New Innova rushes !!!

Toyota’s best-seller, the Innova, has gotten a bit too long in the tooth and is ready for a replacement. The Innova is the most popular MPV in India and is the company's bread and butter product. While there is still some time for the new model to be unveiled, we have accurate illustrations of the all-new Innova that’ll replace the existing model. 

The new Innova will feature a new design , not too different from the latest Toyota cars like the 2014 Corolla Altis. The new design theme is a radical departure from the current design and it is far more edgier than expected. Toyota’s CEO Akio Toyoda did famously say “No more boring Toyotas.” And we can say for sure, they don’t look boring anymore.

 

What’s New ??? 

• Dual front airbags and ABS standard across the range
• Dual tone dark grey alloys
• Wood finish for the steering wheel
• New leather seats
• New “Oak” finish for the interiors and wood finish on armrests(higher variants only)
• Roof mounted A/C vents for the third row
• Two new paint shades- Bronze Mica Metallic and Silver Metallic.

The new Innova features a new nose that is a big departure from the outgoing model as the anvil-shaped grille is a stand out feature at the front. The distinct bonnet is a bit more prominent and that makes it look less like an MPV. The windscreen of the new Innova is drastically raked, follow the silhouette line up the roof of the car and down to the other side, and it shows that Toyota designers have also used a C-pillar with an inverted kink to good effect. What also works well is the manner in which the bars of chrome run through the headlights and carry on down the shoulder line of the car. As a result, the new Innova now looks less van-like and that could go down well with a majority of private owners.

The Innova will be built on a new version of the IMV platform. While Toyota is not likely to change it too much,  the new car will feature a new, stiffer and lighter version of the chassis. The new ladder frame is likely to be more compact and space-efficient as well; a slightly longer wheelbase is also on the cards.

The 2.5-litre D-4D diesel engine used in the Innova is set for an upgrade and the new motor to replace it could be the 2KD-FTV. Available in two states of tune — 118bhp or 142bhp, the latter is already on sale in India and powers the current Fortuner 2.5.  

 

Untill Then ...

 

The Toyota Innova still remains one of the most popular MPVs in India, much of which is thanks to its space and practicality, which smaller, cheaper MPVs cannot match. However, at Rs. 15 lakhs (ex-showroom) it has become quite expensive over the years and is beginning to show its age too. The next generation Toyota Innova, which is currently undergoing extensive testing, should be available in 2016. Till then we expect to see more limited/special editions and, as always, we’ll keep you updated.

 

Image courtesy : autocar india.

Suzuki Hybrid (technology)

Swift Range Extender, an electric vehicle suited for daily usage such as shopping or commuting.

Overview of the Swift Range Extender

Swift Range Extender is an electric vehicle equipped with a motor, a battery, and an engine-driven generator, which focuses on its concept “drive the minimal distance needed for daily usage as an electric vehicle”. For short distances such as shopping or commuting, it can run as an electric vehicle by using its battery power charged from a household outlet for approximately 15km. When the battery runs low, it can run by generating with the 0.66L engine-driven generator, therefore it has no anxiety of stopping due to running out of battery.

From the fall of 2010, Suzuki is heading toward more practical development by conducting on-road trials with the purpose of collecting information such as driving data and service technology suited for traffic condition of each area.

Driving modes

EV mode

• It runs with the motor by using only the power charged to the battery.

Range extend mode

• When the battery runs low, it runs with the motor by generating with the engine when needed.
• It is equipped with Engine Auto Stop Start System, which stops the engine at stops such as traffic lights.
• It is also equipped with regenerative brake, which generates and charges to the battery when the brake is applied.

Vehicle size	Overall length 3,755mm x overall width 1,690mm x overall height 1,510mm
Maximum seating capacity	5
Vehicle weight	1,190kg
Engine type	K6A (0.66L)
Motor	AC synchronous
Maximum motor output	55kW
Maximum motor torque	180N・m
Time required to charge battery	Approx. 1.5hrs@100V, Approx. 1hr@200V
Battery type	Lithium-ion
Battery capacity	2.66kWh
Plug-in hybrid fuel consumption*1	37.6km/L*2
Hybrid fuel consumption	25.6km/L*2
EV range*3	15km*2

• 
  
• 
  
• *1 Average fuel consumption calculated by combining fuel consumption during operation on electric power from external charge and fuel consumption during hybrid operation after consumption of electric power from external charge.
• *2 Measured in JC08 test cycle and verified by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
• *3 Range on electric power from external charge only.

source : Suzuki global .

Electric, Hybrid Vehicles to Get Cheaper in India; Govt Announces Incentives

In a bid to promote green vehicles in India, the government recently launched the FAME India scheme- 'Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India' - as a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. Under the scheme, the government will offer incentives on hybrid and electric vehicles; of up to Rs. 29,000 for two-wheelers and Rs. 1.38 lakh for cars. The government will spend Rs. 795 crore in the first 2 fiscal years under this scheme.

Starting with metropolitan cities, the scheme will be launched in all major and smart cities across the country. Under the scheme's purview, battery-run motorcycles and scooters will be eligible for incentives in the price range of Rs. 1,800 to Rs. 29,000.

Similarly, one can demand incentive in the range of Rs. 13,000 to Rs. 1.38 lakh if he/she buys an electric or hybrid car. For three-wheelers and light commercial vehicles, the incentives are in the range of Rs.3,000 to Rs. 61,000 and Rs. 17,000 to Rs. 1.87 lakh, respectively. Whereas, for buses it ranges from Rs. 34 Lakh to Rs. 66 lakh.

"We are starting the scheme in metropolitan cities. Eventually the scheme will be launched in Smart Cities and all major cities across the country," Union Heavy Industries Minister Anant Geete said.

At the launch of the scheme, the government officials also revealed that several leading carmakers, including Maruti Suzuki India and Tata Motors, will soon bring in few such vehicles in the country.

Talking about the country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India, it is ready with a hybrid version of the Swift - the Range Extender - that was showcased at the event. The same vehicle was earlier showcased at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo.

Maruti Suzuki told that the company will develop its hybrid models commercially only after "getting further clarity on key aspects, including technology development fund, charging infrastructure and demand incentive."

Maruti Suzuki May Consider Launching Swift Hybrid in India

In an effort to lure buyers towards electric and hybrid vehicles in the country, the government of India recently introduced FAME 'Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India' - as a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. Under the new scheme, the Government will offer incentives on electric and hybrid vehicles of upto Rs. 29,000 for two-wheelers and Rs. 1.38 lakh for cars.

During the event, government officials also revealed that carmakers like Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki will soon launch such products in the Indian market. One such product could be the Maruti Swift Range Extender, which was also showcased at the event. However, the company has clarified that it will develop its hybrid models only after getting further clarity about the schemes and incentives.

"The company will develop their hybrid models commercially only after getting further clarity on key aspects, including technology development fund, charging infrastructure and demand incentive.

The hybrid model of the Swift, called the Range Extender, was earlier being developed for a pilot project that was to be supplied to the Government of India. However, after this announcement, it seems that the company might launch it for the public as well.
Powered with a 658cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine paired to a permanent magnet synchronous motor, the vehicle is claimed to return an impressive 48.2Km/l of mileage. The vehicle has an electric driving range of about 25.5 Kms. Despite being a smaller capacity engine, it is good for 73bhp.

The vehicle runs on 3 models - series hybrid, parallel hybrid and all-electric. In series hybrid model, the petrol powertrain works as a generator to power the lithium-ion battery which then powers the electric motor. In this mode, the petrol engine indirectly helps generate electricity to power the electric motor. In parallel hybrid mode, both - the petrol engine and the electric motor - provide power to the wheels.

The Swift Range Extender weighs 1,600 Kg, and takes 1.5 hours to completely charge the lithium-ion battery through a 200V socket.

Key Features - Infotainment system, push start/stop button, remote keyless entry and rear disc brakes.

Tata Nano With Automatic Gearbox Launching Next Month

Tata Motors, the home-grown automaker, that launched two all new products last year - Zest and Bolt - is all set to launch its first product this year - the 2015 Nano . Set to launch early next month, the 2015 Nano will get both design and mechanical updates. In fact, the company has started testing the vehicle in India.

The vehicle will be manufactured at the company's Sanand plant, where the regular Nano is being developed. While the engine will be the same 624cc, MPFI, naturally-aspirate, twin-cylinder unit that also powers the regular Nano, it will get an new 5-speed semi-automatic transmission. The gearbox is the same that is also found in the Zest.

Besides new transmission, this new top-of-the-line variant will also get new bumpers, fog lamps and different headlights. Moreover, Tata will also offer the Nano Twist F-Tronic in new exterior shades as well.The cabin, however, will remain unchanged.

With slightly different exterior and new transmission, the new model is likely to be pricier by Rs. 40,000 than the regular Nano Twist model. At this price, this model will become the most affordable automatic car

Tata Motors diverts focus to launch six new SUVs in the next 4 years

They made a zesty new beginning with a compact sedan, the Bolt hatchback and will be expecting their Kites in the pipeline to soar high post launch. However, over the next four years, Tata Motors will also ensure they win back lost ground from their prime rival, Mahindra. The auto giant plans to launch as many as six new UVs in the coming years. Some of them will be replacing their aging product line-up, while some will be brand new products that will mark Tata’s foray into uncharted territory.

The first product will be the Hexa Crossover which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2014 as a concept. A re-bodied Aria, the Hexa crossover will be powered by a 2.2-liter VARICOR 400 engine that delivers 154.21 hp of maximum power and 400 Nm of maximum twist along with an optional torque-on-demand 4WD system. Packed with features, the 6-seater could see launch early next year.

Later next year, Tata will also launch a compact SUV based on the Nexon concept displayed at the Auto Expo 2014. A 5-seater, the sub 4-meter product with RR Evoque inspired looks will take on the Ford Ecosport, Maruti’s upcoming compact SUV, Mahindra S101 and the Hyundai Ix25. The Tata Sumo will shed some of its flab and will be launched as the Raptor in late 2016. A rather rugged vehicle that will target B-town and rural markets, the Tata Raptor will try and hunt the Bolero down from its dominating position as the largest selling UV in India.

Two new global products which are being developed with inputs from JLR are expected to hit the market by the second half of 2017. Codenamed as Q501 and Q502, the former is a 5-seater while the latter has space for seven. Both vehicles could be powered by a new 2.0-liter Multijet motor that Tata is jointly developing along with Fiat Chrysler. Two other products – a 7-seater SUV on the X1 platform and a 9-seater based on the X6 platform are also under consideration.

* content courtesy motoroids .

Upcoming Tata Land Rover SUV based on Discovery Sport

Tata is currently developing it’s very own entry-level premium SUV based on the Land Rover Discovery Sport’s L550 platform. Known internally as the Q501, the SUV will share structural bits like the floorpan with the baby Disco, but will feature Tata specific styling on the outside. In these renderings, ace Theophilus Chin tries to imagine how the Tata land Rover SUV might end up looking.

 

Of course, it does look like as if the Tata Hexa grew a bigger nose, but according to Tata themselves, the Hexa’s styling does preview the maker’s future design direction for SUVs. Ground clearance and footwear have been appropriately beefed up too.

The Hexa’s altered SUV stance sprawls the LR Discover Sport’s shape, size and proportion, including the 2741 mm wheelbase, and to us, it looks fit. The Q501, due in 2016-17, will be Tata Motor’s first ever major production application of components sourced from the JLR parts bin, including the LR-MS platform, along with the possibility of the Terrain Response System.

The Discovery Sport is available in five and seven seat layouts, reflecting the desire for Discovery models to appeal to family buyers, so expect the Tata to follow suit too. But being a Land Rover, a wading depth of 600mm and a ground clearance of 212mm ensure that this is still a proper SUV – not a crossover.

The Discovery Sport is powered by 2.2 litre, 4-cylinder, TD4 and SD4 diesel engines, both available with six-speed manual and nine-speed automatic transmission (ZF) options respectively. While the TD4 units produce 150 PS of maximum power and 400 Nm of maximum torque, the SD4 units are rated at 190 PS of maximum power and 420 Nm of maximum torque. All versions offer Four Wheel Drive as standard.

 Land Rover Discovery Sport

However, for the Q501, Tata Motors is evaluating Fiat’s 2.0 Multijet II diesel engine which is expected to make between 150 and 175 PS and lower-powered versions of the same could be used as well. Though the engines from the Land Rover tentatively won’t be shared, a 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder, eD4 Diesel engine is also expected to join the Discovery Sport range in late 2015. To be available exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission option and 2WD, the eD4 unit is expected to make 150 PS of maximum power and 380 Nm of torque – another possibility that Tata Motors could possibly consider.

*. Images courtesyTheophilus Chin . 

Tata Zest Gets A New Top-End AMT Diesel Variant

The home-grown automaker, has silently launched a new top-end AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) variant of the Zest. Called the Zest XTA, it is priced at Rs. 8.07 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). With this new variant, the Zest now has two AMT-equipped diesel models in its line-up.

Talking about the features, the Zest XTA has all the features that are offered with the XT manual variant. The list of features include Harman infotainment system that supports voice command, navigation, SMS readouts, etc. Other features are height adjustable driver seat, rear parking sensors, climate control, and two airbags among other provisions.

There are no changes to the exterior either. Powering the vehicle is the Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre multijet diesel engine that is good for 88bhp at 4000rpm and 200Nm at 1750-3000rpm. Mated to the 5-speed automated manual transmission (AMT), the Zest is claimed to return an impressive mileage of 23Km/l.

New Honda Jazz

Honda will launch the much-awaited new Jazz in our market around June 2015. The Jazz will be powered by a 1.5-litre diesel engine mated to a manual gearbox and a 1.2-litre petrol, equipped with a manual and a CVT automatic option. This CVT gearbox will be the same unit that does duty in the Honda City sedan.

While Honda’s smaller Brio hatch comes with a five-speed automatic, the Jazz will use the CVT belt-and-pulley job from the City. Whereas CVTs are good for fuel economy due to a high final drive ratio, they are not that nice to drive. This is particularly true at low speeds, where the poor responses from the gearbox only slow reactions down.

Honda has solved this problem by introducing a compact and slender torque converter on this gearbox. This is the reason why driving the City at low and medium speeds is not really a problem. The torque converter keeps sending torque to the car, even at low and medium revs and as a result, engine responsiveness is good. Famous for its brilliant packaging and massive cabin space, the Jazz is a global bestseller for Honda. And because it is assembled here this time around, with engines manufactured here as well, Honda will be able to price the Jazz competitively.

 

As for the petrol version of the India-bound car, its 87bhp, four-cylinder, i-VTEC engine is no stranger to the Jazz and in fact was the sole engine on offer on the previous version sold in India. We know it to be a peppy performer that’s quite happy to rev hard, so it should suit the Jazz nicely. It will come with a five-speed manual and there could be an automatic as well. At present, Honda sells the Amaze and Brio with a five-speed torque converter unit in India, though the Jazz models abroad are available with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) too.

  

 

 

Speaking of which, the CVT on the 1.3 Jazz I’m driving works well enough through traffic. Sure, on occasions when I do press the accelerator hard, the revs rise a lot before a corresponding rise in road speed but the paddle shifters allow me to select a ‘ratio’ on the seven-step CVT to drive it like a more conventional automatic. On its own, the system strives to keep revs low with the engine at its efficient and quietest best. So much so that good refinement is a key takeaway of the in-town drive. The Jazz cuts outside noise well and even the engine runs very quiet. Hopefully, these are traits that are part of the Indian Jazz as well.

 

 

 

The coarse and industrial-sounding 1.5 diesel engine in particular will need all the sound deadening it can get.the Jazz pitch a bit. Stability, though, is good and even at (whisper it) speeds above 100kph, the Jazz feels planted. Over fast and slow lane changes, the electric power steering seems adequately weighted too.this is not an engaging driver’s car. The steering, for one, feels a tad slow. You just don’t get that sense of connection you would in a Swift, Punto or even Polo. There’s also plenty of body roll which just hurts the driving experience further. But comfy on the large, if slightly flat, driver’s seat, I’m in no hurry to jump out. The cabin feels familiar largely due to the fact that there are a lot of bits in here that link the Jazz to the City sedan. The chunky steering, the instruments and the basic layout of the centre console are all very similar. There are a number of generous cubbys for storing small items too. Overall quality is also pretty much the same with hard but seemingly long-lasting plastics in use throughout the cabin.

 

However, with the City’s cabin in one hand, I’m able to note the differences. The Jazz’s asymmetrical dashboard extends further forwards towards the windscreen, the portion above the glovebox is more layered (there’s no secondary compartment like the old Jazz either), there’s a cupholder at the driver’s end of the dash (like the old Jazz) and there are generally fewer silver plastics all around. Jazz models in most international markets, like the one pictured here, also get a 7-inch touchscreen, but top-end variants of the Indian version will, in all probability, use the City’s 5-inch unit. Honda has learnt the hard way that Indian buyers like features and so is likely to sell the Jazz in fairly loaded form. That said, the Jazz will be different to the City in its use of manual controls for the air-con system. It’s not a negative really, because the knurled knobs are large and fall very easily to hand. Still, it’s a pity the recirculation control is of the outdated slider type. A more pertinent issue, though, is visibility past the thick A-pillar. The blind spot easily hides large vehicles and is bound to be a problem at crossroads.

 

Otherwise, visibility is good, be it out of the front or the rear windscreens. Even in the back, the large windows allow lots of light in and make the cabin look larger than it already is. Like before, Honda has really aced packaging here to come up with something that could humble many larger mid-size sedans on rear seat space. The new Jazz’s extra 30mm of wheelbase seem to have been completely used in creating even more space in the back. It’s a car you can easily sit cross-legged in, there’s that much legroom. Headroom is fantastic as well and there’s also sufficient width to seat three abreast.

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, the middle row seat is hard and not all that comfortable.

 

 The other two occupants might find their well-cushioned seats slightly short on thigh support, but will like the gentle upward slope of the floor that serves as a natural footrest. The last bit is on account of the Jazz placing its relatively small 40-litre fuel tank under the front seats rather than in the traditional position under the rear seats. The main positive of this setup is that it makes the Jazz as flexible as a seasoned yogi. Here’s how it does that.

 

 

And that’s pretty much the essence of the Jazz. It’s a car that puts practicality and ease of use above all else. While not the most exciting car to drive, it is easy to live with and brilliantly versatile. A spacious cabin and good all-round comfort are other key elements of the package. Also expect it to be a lot better equipped this time around. The other big thing to expect is a more competitive price tag. Honda will launch the Jazz with a relatively high level of local content and correspondingly is expected to price it closer to rivals such as the VW Polo and Hyundai i20. If anything, a good price tag will only add more desirability to Honda’s substance-rich hatchback. The new Jazz comes in mid-2015 and if you can hold out on your premium hatchback purchase, it very certainly is worth the wait.