New Audi Q8 to usher in new design language for the car maker

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By tech2 News Staff /  30 Dec 2016 , 13:48

Speculations and rumours around Audi’s new luxury SUV have finally turned into reality as a quick preview of the upcoming Q8 was given by design chief Marc Lichte.

Expected to go official at the 2017 Detroit motor show, the car’s front end was revealed during a highly-publicised photo shoot and interview with German website Die Welt. The new Q8 will have a new distinctive muscular design and it will be unlike any Audi SUV till date. The new Q8 is said to be production ready and according to the design chief, future buyers will not mistake an A4 with an A5, or a Q3 with a Q5 in future.

Lichte also said that the “sausage factory” syndrome, where each car in the range has a different size but similar appearance, will no longer be followed by Audi.

From the teased photo of the Q8 we can see a bold single frame grille along with prominent vertical lines. The headlight and lower bumper also see a radical change. The four-seat luxury SUV will be placed above the Q7 and will be targeted to customers who want a sporty coupe like feel with a tall ride of a large SUV.

There is also a speculation that it will be offered in a plug-in hybrid and potentially fully electric motors, along with petrol and diesel offerings.

Next-gen Volkswagen Tiguan ‘Allspace’ 2017 goes official, to be showcased next year

By tech2 News Staff /  20 Dec 2016 , 08:21

German car maker Volkswagen has confirmed that it will be launching a seven-seat version of the Tiguan SUV wearing the Allspace badge next year. The special badge, according to the company, is to set it apart from the standard wheelbase, five-seater version, and to emphasize its attractive range of equipment features.

The new SUV is expected to go official at the Detroit Motor show in January, however there is design sketch released by the company. As per a source, the car will have a large wheelbase that is 11cm longer than the current generation Tiguan, which also recently won the 2016 Drive Car of the Year award.

The new long version of the Tiguan will come with more room in the interior apart from the longer wheelbase. The production of the car will begin in Europe by mid-2017 and is expected to be launch in certain regions by the end of 2017.  While details are still limited, it is expected to carry over the engine as the regular Tiguan along with a possible hybrid model. There is a slim chance that it will arrive in a diesel variant considering the issues Volkswagen faced in the past.

The price range is expected to be in around the $40,000 (Rs 27 lakh approx) bracket.

Geely launches new Car brand Lynk & Co and the first car is a connected SUV called 01

By tech2 News Staff /  21 Oct 2016 , 18:15

Volvo owner Geely launched a new car brand called Lynk & Co. The first car by this new brand is called the 01, and it totally re-imagines what a car should be. The car company is not centered around getting users to buy cars.

Instead, there are various payment models. You can subscribe to a car, and the company takes care of the insurance, service and maintenance for a monthly fee. You can hire a car, or rent yours out when not in use. You can lease a car or even just buy the car, if you really want to.

The technology for implementing these features have been available for some time. However, Lynk & Co is the first company to go ahead and implement it in a car. The intent is to break the expensive cycle of

Audi Q3 gets special offers and discounts this festive season

By tech2 News Staff /  11 Oct 2016 , 17:43

The festive season is here and that means special offers from car makers and dealers. The recent one comes from German automobile maker Audi as the company has announced a range of discounts and offers on its popular SUV, the Q3.

This year the luxury car brand has announced city based offers which include:

1. Delhi and NCR: Down payment of Rs 5.99 lakh with EMI of Rs 48,888.
2. Mumbai and Greater Mumbai: Base model starting price of Rs 30.78 lakh with an EMI package of Rs 26,999.
3. Bangalore: Zero percent interest loans.
4. Chennai: Four years manufacturers warranty with a four year service plan. Also, four years guaranteed buyback at 45 per cent of original value with a four per cent rate of interest loan

According to NDTV, these offers have been confirmed and are

USA auto safety authority opens probe into 6,42,000 Ford SUVs and cars

Image Credit: REUTERS

  04 Oct 2016 , 09:14

U.S. auto safety regulators said Monday they are opening two new preliminary investigations into 642,000 Ford sport utility vehicles and cars over door latch warning light and steering issues. Ford Motor Co, the second largest U.S. automaker, said last month it was reducing its adjusted full-year pre-tax profit forecast to $10.2 billion from at least $10.8 billion it predicted in July because of a $640 million charge for an expanded side-door latch recall.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Monday it was opening a probe into 380,000 2011-2013 Ford Edge SUVs after receiving 1,560 reports of “door ajar” lights. Owners reported they are uncertain if vehicle doors are properly latched.

In the door-latch probe, safety issues such as doors opening while driving, doors unable to be locked while driving, and interior dome lights staying on continuously were reported. One injury has been reported, but no crashes.

NHTSA also said Monday the agency is opening a separate investigation into 262,000 2010 Ford Fusion cars for steering issues. The 547 complaints about power steering included sudden failures of the system and were linked to 12 crashes and