Tag: SUV

LOTUS ELETRE | The first electric hyper-SUV

The Eletre is a new icon from Lotus. It is the latest in a long line of Lotus road cars whose name begins with the letter “E”, which means ‘Coming to Life’ in some Eastern European languages. It’s an appropriate link as the Eletre marks the start of a new chapter in the history of Lotus – the first accessible EV and the first SUV.

The ongoing transformation of Lotus to a truly global performance car brand has reached its most significant milestone yet.

The all-new and all-electric Lotus Eletre is a striking and progressive Hyper-SUV – the first of a new breed of pure electric SUVs. It takes the Lotus DNA from more than 70 years of sports car design and engineering, evolving them into a desirable all-new lifestyle car for the next generation of Lotus customers.

The company’s famed expertise in the fields of ride and handling, steering, and optimized aerodynamics has been carefully and respectfully evolved. The Eletre takes the heart and soul of the latest Lotus sports car – the Emira – and the extreme aero performance of the all-electric Evija hypercar and reinterprets them as a Hyper-SUV.

Known only two days ago by its Lotus codename, Type 132, the Eletre is a globally relevant product, a shining halo of sustainable mobility for a worldwide audience. Embodying emotion, intelligence and prestige, it extends the reach of the Lotus name, badge and renowned driver engagement to a new audience.

A bold new dimension to the Lotus performance car portfolio, the Eletre delivers many firsts for Lotus – the first five-door production car, the first model outside sports car segments, the first lifestyle EV, the most ‘connected’ Lotus ever. And yet it remains an actual Lotus, a beautiful car ‘carved by air’, packed with pioneering technology, sporting performance and simplicity of purpose, designed and developed by a passionate global team. The Lotus Eletre is alive with character and personality.

The Eletre is 4WD, has a battery capacity that’s over 100kWh and with power from 600hp. A 350kW charger will deliver a 400km (248 miles) range in just 20 minutes. The car’s target maximum WLTP driving range is c.600km (c.373 miles). It also comes with the ability as standard to accept 22kW AC charging which, where available, reduces the time plugged in.

Technology includes the most advanced active aerodynamics package on any production SUV, and intelligent driving technologies such as the world’s first deployable Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system in a production car. Add in a dynamic walk-up sequence that delivers a moment of theatre every time the driver approaches the car, and it’s clear the Eletre is making a simple statement – this is Lotus reinvented, the birth of a new icon into the Lotus stable.

The immersive experience with the Lotus Eletre begins before the driver has reached the car. Pressing the button on the key or smartphone app activates a unique moment of theatre in the automotive world. The car’s exterior lights run through a short sequence, the active front grille ‘breathes’, and the illuminated flush door handles deploy. The experience is repeated inside the car as the door closes behind the occupant.

The infotainment experience in the Eletre sets new standards in the automotive world, with pioneering and innovative use of intelligent technologies. The result is an intuitive and seamless connected experience. It is a collaboration between the design team in Warwickshire and the Lotus team in China, who have huge experience in the fields of User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX).

The Eletre is the first in a new range of premium lifestyle performance electric vehicles to be built at an all-new state-of-the-art production facility in Wuhan, China. The car has been ‘Born British, Raised Globally’, with design led by the UK, supported by collaborative work with teams in China, Sweden and Germany. The overall exterior and interior design has been led by an international team based at the Lotus Tech Creative Centre (LTCC) in Warwickshire, UK.

The Eletre is built on Lotus’ all-new and highly versatile Electric Premium Architecture (EPA). The low-to-the-ground design means outstanding handling, and the EPA can easily adapt to accommodate C+ to E+ vehicle class battery sizes, motors, component layouts and intelligent driving technologies.

The platform will be the basis for an all-new range of premium lifestyle performance electric vehicles from Lotus. Led by the Eletre, these cars will catapult Lotus into a new era of higher retail volumes and significant revenues.

Matt Windle, Managing Director, Lotus Cars, commented: “The Eletre is a bold and revolutionary new car, delivering on our commitment to move Lotus into completely new automotive segments as we widen our global appeal and accessibility. This is a momentous point in our history and a clear signal of our ongoing desire to transform our business. It is a true Lotus, and we’re confident it will delight performance car customers and offer a distinct alternative to the segment’s established players. The Eletre has the soul of a Lotus and the usability of an SUV. Alongside the Emira sports car, this is the perfect two-car garage from Lotus.”

Qingfeng Feng, CEO, Group Lotus, added: “The Eletre, our Hyper-SUV, is a new performance car from an iconic performance car brand and it will appeal to independent-minded and adventurous driving enthusiasts – those who love the thrill of driving. It is a unique combination of beautiful design, exceptional dynamic performance and everyday usability, for those who dare to look beyond the conventional, and marks a turning point for our business and brand.”

He added: “While the worldwide critical acclaim for the Emira has reaffirmed Lotus’ position as a respected sports car marque, the Eletre will make Lotus accessible to a whole new audience. It is a compelling alternative for those who desire a true driver’s car but whose lifestyle demands something more practical than a traditional sports car. And it is only the start for Lotus – there is much more to come.”

 

Kia Carens

Kia Carens : Introduction

Is it from a different world? 

All new design ideology can be seen on the Kia Carens

The Indian buyer’s growing obsession for SUV’s has flooded the market with 6 and 7 seater family haulers. With almost every automaker in the country trying to cater and please the big fat Indian families with their offerings, Kia isn’t falling back.

To bridge this segment’s gap, Kia unveiled its new three-row offering for the Indian market, the Carens, in December last year. The Carens made its global debut in India, and incidentally, the country will also be its sole manufacturing hub for both domestic and export purposes. 

The wrap around tail lights look upmarket

The Kia Carens is based on a stretched platform of the Creta/Seltos, similar to the Hyundai Alcazar. Dimensionally, the Carens measures 4,540mm in length, 1,800mm in width, 1,700mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,780mm. 

Now if you compare it to the Seltos, the Carens is 225mm longer and 80mm taller, while the wheelbase is 160mm longer. The Carens also fares brownie points as it is longer, wider and taller than even the Alcazar, that measures 4,500mm in length, 1,790mm in width, 1,675mm in height. Even the wheelbase is greater than the Alcazar’s 2,760mm. In fact, the Carens has the longest wheelbase in this segment, which is 30mm longer than the Toyota Innova Crsyta too, although the Toyota is longer when it comes to overall length. The dimensions certainly point to a spacious interior.

 

Kia Carens: Exterior design

What’s it like to look from the outside? 

 

Kia is calling the design ideology as coming together of 2 different worlds apart. And it actually makes sense as Kia is neither placing it as an MPV, nor as an SUV, but what exactly are they categorizing it? A recreational vehicle. 

The new Kia Carens in all its glory

The Kia Carens has a very distinctively striking presence to say the least. It has the proportions of an MPV, but also gets several styling elements to make it look like an SUV. Starting up front, the front facia is characterized by a striking split-LED headlamp assembly and a sealed off grille that is housed within a contrasting gloss piano back trim. The signature Kia tiger nose grille has moved down to the lower lip of the bumper giving space for a new chrome garnish.  The grille even features some gnarled effects and 3D patterns on the brushed silver insert for some added bling. Down below, the front bumper is more sedately styled, although the gaping central air intake does add some character. In fact, Kia’s signature ‘Tiger Nose’ motif is now featured on the bumper and not on the grille, although very subtly. 

The LED DRLS are said to be inspired by constellations and hence a unique futuristic design adorns the front. I wonder how many stars it would pack inside. The crown jeweled LED headlamps are sleek and futuristic with the three slot design even carried in the LED fog-lamps which lend a distinctive visual edge through sleek and avant-garde design.

Move to the side and it has a very MPV’ish silhouette. Generous amount of chrome has been used to fancy the Indian buyers. A chrome strip running all the way from the front window sill and wrapping around at the third quarter glass sections lends it an upmarket appearance. Though the R16 crystal cut alloy wheels have a nice design, they look a tad bit small considering the proportions of this car. In my opinion, a size up would definitely make a huge difference. 

From the side profile, the Carens shows resemblance to the Seltos until the front doors, though the rear doors are much longer and it also gets a larger rear quarter window area. Strong character lines that start from the headlamps, blend into the doors and then emerge at the rear to meet the tail-lamps. At the rear, the Carens gets a pair of wrap-around LED tail-lamps which look like they have been borrowed from the Sonet. The rear windshield can be seen slightly raked and also houses an integrated spoiler. Akin to the front, the rear bumper is also aggressively styled with chrome garnish inserts. The raised ground clearance and the upright stance due body cladding all around lends it a pretty masculine look.

Kia Carens: Interior design

How does it feel from the inside?

In its typical fashion, the interior of the Kia Carens is very well laid with premium-looking materials and a well appointed dashboard. Use of multiple colors for the interior trim like Triton navy and Sahel beige, makes the cabin feel dramatic and lively to sit inside. A big slab of piano black is thrown onto the dash with gnarled effects and a brushed metal strip flows down below.  Something  which might bother the consumers is that the dash might pick up dust and fingerprints pretty easily and it would be a hassle to maintain it clean and shining bright. 

Notice the different color interior trims which jazz up the cabin

The interior also has a clean, layered effect with everything positioned for better reach. The infotainment system is neatly integrated in the dash. Giving it a premium touch. There’s even some fine detailing on the dashboard trim and on the door panels, adding some jazz to the interior.

Below the top-half, the AC vents have been integrated seamlessly along the width of the interior. The AC control unit gets a feather-touch panel with toggle switches for operating the climate controls, with the ambient lighting panel underlining all of this. 

Ventilated seats and different driving modes for the AT variant.

The 64 color options for the ambient light makes the cabin feel more upmarket and lends the Carens a premium feel inside. The center console is short and stubby and features additional controls for seat ventilation, drive modes, etc. The Carens will be available in both 6- and 7-seat configurations, with the former getting captain seats for the second row.

The touchscreen in fluid and well responsive to use

Generous amount of cubby spaces in all the nooks and corners allows for ample storage of nick-nacks. Infact, all the doors get 3 bottle holders and small pockets to keep phones or other stuff. The front doors even have dedicated slots for keeping umbrellas during the rainy season. 

Now you don’t have a panoramic sunroof because of the roof mounted AC vents for the 2nd and 3rd row, but you do get a single unit sunroof , just in case!

The second row boss seat features a one-touch tumble down function for easy ingress and egress to the third row. A fold up table and an air purifying module are housed behind the front seats. All in all you get 6 USB (5 C-type) ports to charge your devices. 

Captain seats for the second row makes the cabin feel more roomier

Considering the sheer size of the Kia Carens, stepping in and out is not much of a hassle and hence, it will be comfortable even for senior citizens in your family. The seats though are a bit on the narrower side, but provide good under thigh support for easing the longer journeys. 

Third row seats are considerably more comfortable

Now the extended wheelbase makes enough room even for the third row and for sure it is one of the best in its segment. Not just kids, but even average sized adults won’t be complaining much about the space at the back. 

Notice the gnarled effects on the piano black trim

Kia Carens: Features

What all tech does it pack?

This being a Kia, the equipment list is long and is a big highlight of the Carens. Top-spec variants of the Carens are equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Kia’s UVO connect. The touch is fluid and well responsive. It also gets a fully digital instrument cluster, an eight-speaker Bose sound system and a multi-function steering wheel with buttons for audio controls, voice commands and calling, similar to the one seen on the Sonet and Seltos.

The air purifying module behind the driver seat

Notably, the Carens also gets roof-mounted AC vents to aid cooling at the rear, which rules out the possibility of a panoramic sunroof. There is a single unit sunroof for the fancy purpose though. Other highlights on the Carens include a 64-color ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, seat-back table with cup holder, electrically powered, one-touch tumble down feature for the second row (first in segment feature) and an air purifier. Kia has particularly stressed on safety features with the Carens as all models get six airbags, ABS, ESC, hill-start assist, disc brakes at all four ends, TPMS and rear parking sensors as standard across all variants.

 

Kia Carens: Engine and Gearbox options

How well does it drive?

Under the hood, the Carens gets the option of two petrol engines and a diesel engine. The first is a 115 hp, 144 Nm, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which is solely offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The 140hp, 242 Nm, 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine comes mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT gearbox.

Lastly, the diesel engine is a 1.5-litre unit which produces 115 hp and 250 Nm of peak torque. It can be opted in either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. These engine-gearbox combinations are the same as the ones that are offered in the Kia Seltos.

The overall drive is pliant and poised. The engine is never in a hurry and delivers a linear performance across the gear ratio range. It feels plush and sturdy at high speeds. Something worth pointing out are the well damped suspensions which can gulp in all the major potholes of city driving and the raised ground clearance allows the vehicle to glide over rough terrain patches. 

 

Safety Features
  • Dual front Airbags as standard across all variant
  • ABS & EBD
  • Front and Reverse Parking Sensors with camera
  • Seat belt reminder
  • High speed alert
  • Hill start assist
  • Hill Descent control
  • Electronic Stability control
  • Front seatbelt pretensioners
  • Rear disk breaks
  • Impact sensing auto door unlock
  • Side and curtain airbags
  • Tire pressure monitoring system
  • ISOFIX
  • Anti theft alarm
  • Rear wiper and defogger
  • Rain sensing vipers
  • Auto headlamps
  • Kia Connect mobile app.

Functional features
  • 50:50 Third row split
  • 2nd and 3rd row AC vents
  • Height adjustable drivers seats
  • 2nd row slide and recline
  • 5x USB C-type ports
  • Ambient lights
  • Electric second row tumble
  • Front and rear armrests
  • 3rd row recline
  • Ventilated front seats
  • Automatic climate control
  • LED DRL’s and headlamps
  • Wireless phone charger
  • Android Auto and Apple Car-play
  • Cooled cup-holders
  • Rear door sun shade
  • Cruise Control with steering mounted buttons
  • Push button start stop

To watch the complete first drive review, click here.

The ultimate celebrity seduction – Range Rover Sport SVR

Range Rover Sport SVR

The Performance British SUV gets a new attire.

With the Indian market currently obsessed with SUVs, no carmaker is leaving the stones unturned to attract buyers to their park. Fast performance road monsters are the favourite choice for many celebrities and wealthy folks out there. With the recent outburst of super-fast goliaths like the Audi RS Q8, BMW X5M, the AMG’s from Benz and Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo, JLR isn’t falling back. And to bridge this gap and to make others feel shy, the Range Rover Sport SVR is here to give a good game to the rest of the lot at this price range.

So, how much does this thing cost? A wee more than 2.19 Crore. And for that whopping amount, what do you get? A five-litre supercharged V-8 petrol engine that produces 567bhp of power and 700Nm torque and can accelerate from 0-100 kph in 4.5 seconds. That’s quite a bit for a luxury SUV.

The SVR is the most powerful Range Rover you can opt for. Designed, engineered and developed by JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations, the luxury performance SUV is hand-finished in Coventry, UK. 

 

How different is it from the regular Range Rover Sport SVR, you ask? 

For starters, the chassis bespoke enhancements, the SVR delivers more dynamic handling without compromising traditional Range Rover comfort or all-terrain capability.

The brilliantly engineered design of the vehicle ensures a controlled pitch under heavy acceleration and braking, and the damping hardware is tuned to provide exceptional turn-in, mid-corner grip and body control.

 

Styling on the outside of the Range Rover SVR? 

The redesigned front bumper design lends the Range Rover Sport SVR an aggressive appearance, with the massive vents designed to improve brake cooling and gulp and squish the air through its turbos. The performance brake pads and discs provide enhanced performance at higher temperatures, ensuring the braking system is more resistant to fade during dynamic driving. 

Body-coloured detailing along with blacked-out accents all across the body adorns and gives it a distinctive look you cannot mistake it for anything else. At the rear end, an SVR badge also helps to identify the SVR. A contrasting black roof gives it an even sportier stance. 

How’s it like from the inside? 

The lightweight SVR Performance seats create an athletic silhouette and provide exceptional comfort on long journeys. Finished in high-quality perforated Windsor leather, the SVR Performance seats reflect the SVR’s status as the ultimate high-performance luxury SUV. Seat backs finished in satin black with an embossed SVR logo on the headrests also deliver heightened exclusivity. The supportive seats also create more rear legroom and the impression of a cosseting four-seat interior while retaining flexible five-seat capability. The dual-tone tan leather coupled with sporty carbon fibre trims, gives it an uber-luxury cum sporty feel.

Continuing the high-performance theme, sound quality comes from a 19-speaker Meridian Surround Sound System, which combines 825 watts, a dual-channel subwoofer and Trifield technology for a thrilling personal sound experience in every seat.

 

Rohit Suri, President and Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India, said, “ Range Rover SVR redefines & further elevates performance and luxury in an SUV by leveraging the best of bespoke British design and engineering. I am sure that Range Rover Sport SUV enthusiasts and fans will simply love this latest offering combining formidable British engineering craftsmanship with high end and refined luxury. ”

 

All in all , a complete package to get the celebrity horses running.

 

What to expect from the upcoming Kia Sonet?

Korean carmaker Kia is set to launch its latest offering, the Sonet on August 7, in India. With its official rendering in July, the design is expected to set new benchmarks and inject a new dynamism in the compact SUV segment. This is the third product from the Hyundai-owned company in India and will compete with the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford Ecosport, Mahindra XUV300 and Renault Duster.  

The Auto Expo 2020 withholds the memory of the first look of the Sonet concept and hasn’t left the minds of young and aspirational Indians since then. The striking and curvaceous exterior highlights the brand’s dynamic DNA which has been merged with the emotive and bold design to create a strong on-road appearance. 

 “With the new Kia Sonet, we had the ambition to give this compact SUV a strong and muscular character found only in much larger vehicles. With this in mind, we have designed what we believe is a great SUV with a uniquely sporty attitude, a confident stance and a dynamic silhouette. We also gave the new Kia Sonet an uncompromising attention to detail and a selection of colors and materials that could have only be inspired by the great cultural heritage that our designers found all over India,” said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Design Center at Kia Motors Corporation. “As a whole we believe the new Kia Sonet will be a fantastic SUV with a very compelling and attaching character to our young and young at heart, always connected customers in India and beyond…” 

Of course, Kia would be incomplete with its signature structures: the tiger-nose grille with a three-dimensional ‘stepwell’ geometric grille mesh giving a pinched profile in the middle. The central air dam should be bounded by fog lamps and large air vents. The sleek headlights fused with LED DRLs merged into the grille, if given, will complete its classic look. The contrast-colored roof, the wing mirrors and the pair of roof rails should provide a unique look to the Sonet, along with dual-tone alloy wheels and the tapered rear windscreen.

Analogous to Seltos, the Sonet too is expected to be available in both Tech line and GT line variants. GT line variant is expected to come in black interiors along with red contrast highlights. On the other hand, the Tech line is expected to get dual-black tone and beige interiors. 

The powertrains are expected to be similar to the Hyundai Venue such as 1.2-litre petrol engine with 5-speed manual transmission, a 1.5-litre 100bhp diesel engine and a 1.0-litre GDi turbo-petrol engine. The transmission choices could vary between manual and intelligent manual transmission (iMT) gearbox, which is essentially a clutchless manual gearbox, as well as an automatic option — recently introduced in the Hyundai Venue.  

One can also expect the Sonet to have interesting features like wireless phone charging, ventilated seats, automatic climate control, a sunroof, keyless entry and a premium sound system. The Sonet might be first in its segment to offer a 360-degree camera. The compact SUV should be installed with excellent safety features like rear parking camera and sensors, 6 airbags, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, and tyre pressure monitoring system —like the Hyundai Venue. It is expected to launch with the price tag of Rs 8-13 lakhs (ex-showroom).

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