updates about latest autos news, pics and videos: March 2015

New Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDI

What is it?

This is the facelifted version of Mercedes-Benz’s swoopy four-door coupé. Yes, the car got a minor update last year as well but the visual and mechanical changes are more far-reaching this time around. At the same time, the CLS has become a fair bit cheaper to buy too. So, there’s plenty to talk of. Let’s go one by one, shall we?

It’d be an injustice to start any CLS review without a word on the styling first. Because this car is plain and simply as sexy as they come. It's wide, low and still stands out for its ‘sportscar with four doors’ design. There are quite a few new bits to tell you this is the 2015 model year car too. The new grille, for instance, is noticeably more rounded, features a single slat (earlier CLS’ used to feature two-slat grilles) and comes embellished with an elegant diamond-pattern mesh. The restyled bumper serves to tidy up the front too and, if you notice, no longer houses auxiliary lamps; all frontal illumination is taken care of by the new LED headlights. Each headlight comprises 24 LEDs that automatically (and constantly) adjust the lighting pattern to maximise coverage without dazzling drivers of oncoming cars. Clever as the system behind them is, the sci-fi headlights also look rather attractive. In terms of design, there’s nothing different at the sides and rear to report. Still, the surfacing on the doors, the frameless doors themselves and the stretched-out tail continue to look really special.

Within the cabin, the most noticeable change is the larger, new screen for the infotainment system. The tablet-like screen (something seen on all newer Mercs) does sit awkwardly atop the dash (again, something common to newer Mercs) but offers lots more in terms of functionality. In addition to satellite navigation, a handy 360-degree camera and Bluetooth telephone feature, the system can also connect to the internet using your paired phone’s connection. You can open web pages and log in to social networking sites while the car is stationary – a good way to kill time on long traffic halts. The system also allows you to stream music from internet radio channels on the go which helps make the most of the 14 fantastic-sounding Harmon Kardon speakers scattered across the cabin. However, the dial-operated COMAND online infotainment system isn’t the most intuitive to use and can be frustrating to feed commands in to.

The rest of the dashboard is the same as before and remains beautifully finished with perhaps a button too many on its centre console. As before, front seat comfort is good but the low roof means the windows are small, ingress-egress requires some flexibility and headroom isn’t in abundance. The last bit is more pronounced in the back, marking the CLS down as a car for the chauffeur-driven. Those who choose to be ferried around in one will still like the elegant manner in which the centre console extends into the back and divides the rear section into two defined zones.

Ford EcoSport

Ford’s EcoSport has had something of a dream run in India. Its modern take on a compact SUV really thrilled Indian car buyers and what also helped was that Ford got the price right. Little surprise then that the EcoSport was our Car of the Year for 2014. But how well would we get along with it, a whole year later? Familiarity, after all, does breed some amount of contempt.

What’s pretty clear even 12 months on, however, is that Ford’s baby SUV continues to exert considerable pull and appeal. There’s still that sense of wonder that a sub-four-metre car (it’s 3999mm long) can feel so substantial and full-sized on both the inside and out. I still marvel at the punch from what is essentially a 1,000cc engine, and it still has the ideal blend of urban agility and high-speed highway stability. Whichever way you look at it, this is a contradiction that works.

I recently spent a week and a half again with the EcoSport, driving it both in the city as well as over long distances, and found myself admiring it even more. What I love most about the car is the effortless manner in which it covers ground at a good pace. You can throw it at a rough road and not have to worry too much about adversely affecting the suspension or damaging the underbody. The EcoSport, in fact, instilled so much confidence, I chose to drive to Janjira on the coast of Maharashtra via some seldom driven over roads. Needless to say, the hard-charging EcoSport was an absolute pleasure to drive around the serpentine roads of Pali and Pen. Exploiting the considerable punch of the engine felt really good and the composed manner in which it tackled some bad patches was really impressive. The EcoSport petrol does possess a bit of stiffness in its springs, which helps give it a nice balance of ride and handling. But we did consistently find that it administers the occasional loud ‘whack’. This is especially true if you encounter a large horizontal ridge, over which the light nose of the car tends to skip. Still, on an everyday basis, the car isn’t uncomfortable to sit in or drive, and the undulations don’t toss you around too much either. Sure, it isn’t as well settled as a Duster, but then, what really is?

2015 Mercedes Benz A 200 CDI

What is it?

It’s the updated Mercedes A-class diesel that gets more power and some cosmetic tweaks too. It’s now called the A200 CDI and replaces the older A180 CDI. The biggest change is that the 2.1-litre diesel engine is now tuned to make a good 134bhp (the same as in the GLA SUV) instead of the modest 107bhp of the A180 CDI. Along with the more powerful motor, the A200 CDI gets new 16-inch alloy wheels anda panoramic sunroof as standard. Since this isn’t a facelift, the exteriors remain unchanged.

Inside, the dashboard gets mild tweaks with all-black dials and the dimpled grip on the steering has been swapped for soft leather. Disappointingly though, the low-resolution COMAND screen has been carried over from the older car and looks a bit out of place in an otherwise plush and well-executed cabin. The A200 CDI is available in only the top Sport trim and is quite well equipped. So, you get a reversing camera, Bluetooth telephony and audio, USB, electric adjust for both front seats, panoramic sunroof and six airbags.

New Mini Cooper S

What is it?

This is the sportier version of the already sporty standard car. The new Mini Cooper was launched in India last year in diesel guise but it’s the petrol S version we were waiting for and we have finally gotten our hands on it. Initially, only the three-door version will be available.

Based on the new UKL platform, the new Mini Cooper S is 98mm longer, 44mm wider and 7mm taller than the old car. The overall looks and stance of this car is unmistakably Mini. The large frowning grille, bug-eyed headlights and minimalist tail design is all typical Cooper, but now, with the larger dimensions, it looks more mature. Like the old car, the wheels are pushed to the new one’s extremities, leaving minimal overhangs. Also, the squat stance and low roof make the Cooper S look taut and racy even when standing still. But how will the neighbours know you bought the sportier Mini? It gets a different honeycomb grille with the S badge and the large sporty air intakes. At the rear, the large twin exhausts point to the extra horses under the hood.

2015 Audi TT coupe

The exaggerated-coupé profile and clamshell body design of the Audi TT has achieved an iconic status in a span of two generations — a really short time in automotive timelines. The TT, however, has also received a bit of stick for majoring more on show than go and its tepid dynamics couldn’t do much justice to its name that’s derived for the challenging Isle of Man TT.

Audi hasn’t taken too kindly to these criticisms and claims to have given the new TT the guts to match the style. The third-generation TT is based on the VW group’s MQB platform — the one that underpins cars such as the Skoda Octavia and the Audi A3. The platform’s aluminium-intensive construction has helped the TT shed a good 50kg. With a leaner body in place, Audi has also stuffed more power under the hood — resulting in an inviting specification sheet. The question though is, can this new TT finally keep up with peers once the road starts to twist? We take it out to the Western Ghats to find out.

Volkswagen Vento TDI

This is the sort of car I’d been waiting for, for quite some time. Not the Volkswagen Vento in particular, but a regular mid-size sedan with a diesel engine and a good automatic gearbox. Hyundai does offer the Verna diesel with an auto, but its four-speed torque-converter unit has always come across as a bit last-gen. This Vento’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, however, is as modern as they come, and its new 1.5-litre diesel engine is quite nice too. To me, this is a car that makes a great deal of sense. Luckily for us, we’ve just got one in our long-term garage and, luckily for me, I’m its custodian.

Nissan Patrol

What is it?

In case the name is unfamiliar, the Patrol is to Nissan what the Land Cruiser is to Toyota. That is, a full- sized body-on-frame SUV with an air of indestructibility. Importantly, it’s a model that’s under consideration for India. Nissan has still not confirmed if and when it would be launched, but did let us have a go in a demo vehicle shipped in from Dubai — coincidentally the single largest market for the Patrol.

The first thing to note about the Patrol is its size. Well over five metres long and just under two metres tall, in a word, it’s massive. And while the basic shape is typical of supertanker-sized SUVs, the Patrol’s large headlights and chrome-heavy grille do make it look particularly imposing. Elsewhere, styling is neat with the smart kink to the large glasshouse at the C-pillar being a notable feature.

If there’s anything a large body and large windows spell out, it’s a whole lot of cabin space. There’s a good foot or so between the large, fully powered front seats! Middle-row passengers have a great deal of space to stretch out as well, with lots of leg, shoulder and headroom. The level of comfort from the supportive leather seats is no less special. Third row passengers don’t have it all that bad either. Sure, access might feel awkward and the knees-up seating position isn’t ideal, but as last rows go, it feels roomy, helped in no small measure by the large windows that offer a good view.

The view within the cabin isn’t disappointing either. A rich mix of leather, wood, metal and chrome gives it a robust feel. Even the dashboard looks smart with a very luxury yacht-like swoop to the top. There’s loads by way of features too. Part of the package is a Bose audio system with 13 speakers, and dual seven-inch screens for the middle-row can be had as well.

2015 Audi TT S roadster

With the roof tucked away, wind in your hair and 306bhp under your right foot, you ought to feel special. When the car looks as good as the third-generation TT roadster, and you are driving on scenic roads such as the one I am on in Mallorca, Spain, things can’t really get much better.

The Audi TT was always a car about style and presence, and the new car has just added to the oomph factor. Instantly recognisable from the very first glance, the car has short overhangs and a taut-looking nose. It has unmistakable TT styling cues, with the familiar rounded wheelarches, curved windscreen pillars, bold shoulder line and sloping tailgate.The TT roadster loses the virtually unusable rear seats of the coupé, instead using the space for the folded fabric top, which opens and closes in a scant 10 seconds. The familiar four rings have been shifted onto the bonnet lip like in the R8, and the grille looks even more pronounced than on the old car. Other elements like the sharp headlights with daytime-running lamps and dynamic turn indicators just add to the overall appeal.

Based on the popular MQB platform, as other VW group cars like the Skoda Octavia and the VW Jetta, the Audi TT roadster is mostly made up of aluminium. This helps keep the weight down to 1,470kg, which is just 35kg more than the coupé variant. Even with the top lowered, the trunk retains a capacity of 280litres. The interior is protected from excessive buffeting by the wind deflector, which means you will find yourself lowering the top a lot, even in harsh weather.