Part 1
The annual Bangkok International Motor Show is an important event for India as it is like a preview to many vehicles that will be heading here in the future. After recovering from the devastating floods last year, Bangkok played the perfect host to all car manufacturers and added its own Thai zing to the show with the exotic women purring over the vehicles.
It had some significant and India relevant launches too including the Mitsubishi Mirage, the Chevrolet Trailblazer and the new Mercedes-Benz ML-class; the latter balances opulence and genuine off-roading ability extremely well. It will be launched in India in a month's time.
Advances in eco-friendly tech were also showcased, with BMW displaying the Active Hybrid 5. Plus, there were also some snazzy twowheelers. Here's the low down on the show.
The Bentley Continental GT gets an all new 4.0-litre V8 engine with 500bhp to play with. It goes 0-100km in mere 4.6 seconds and has a potential top speed of a whopping 303kmph.
THE ActiveHybrid 5 uses a 6-cylinder engine along with an electric motor for a total output of 340bhp. 0-100km takes 5.9 seconds and it produces just 149g/km of CO2.
Chevrolet's TrailBlazer, based on the redesigned Colorado, is a sevenseater ladder frame SUV. The second and third rows can be folded down to create a nearly flat load floor. It is powered by the all new Duramax diesel 2.8l engine pumping out a healthy 180bhp of max power.
The Sonic is Chevrolet's all new global sub-compact car designed to attract the young urbanites. It has an aggressive design and the front dual-port honeycomb grille adds to its sporty looks. The powertrain and other details will be revealed later this year.
This is the new Honda Civic which was earlier showcased in the US. Its presence in Bangkok points to the fact that it will soon be headed for India. The sedan's front grille is new, the logo has been reduced and it gets new headlamps.
Part 2
The all-new Hyundai Elantra comes with a 148bhp, 1.8-litre D-CVVT (Dual-Continuously Variable Valve Timing). There is also the 1.6-litre diesel which the Verna uses.
The new LS 600h L hybrid combines a 5.0-litre V8 engine with two powerful electric motors generating a combined output of 438 horsepower. 0-60kmph in just 5.5 seconds.
The Mazda Minagi is a crossover concept which pushes the A-pillar toward the rear focusing on the driving position. This is in sharp contrast to the single-arc profile of the frontward A-pillar placement found on most minivans. This concept's production version is called the CX-5. It is powered by the all-new SKYACTIV-G 2.0L DOHC 4-cylinder engine with VVT. The 155bhp and 203Nm of max power and torque are channelled through either the SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual or the SKYACTIV- Drive 6-speed Sport automatic.
The new Mercedes-Benz ML 250 CDI was revealed in the motorshow. It is powered by 2.1-litre engine with a 201bhp peak power output and 500Nm of max torque. It is equipped with a hill descent system, lockable differentials and several traction settings as part of an option pack. Mercedes will launch the new ML-class in India soon.
The Mitsuoka Himiko is a folding hardtop roadster built on a Mazda MX-5 frame and drivetrain. Styling appears to be largely inspired by Morgan and some other classic roadsters. The Himiko comes with a comes with a 2.0-litre DOHC petrol engine and a 6-speed automatic gear box with manual shift mode.
The Mini Roadster is the brand’s first 2-passenger drop-top. It is a car that is essentially a Mini Coupe with a retractable soft top. It comes with a 1.6-litre inline-4 cylinder engine which is available in three performance levels. The base model at 161bhp, then the Mini Cooper Roadster S, which features a turbocharged 181bhp and then the Mini John Cooper Works model which comes with 208bhp.
Part 3
The dragon-inspired supercar Mitsuoka Orochi started out as a concept car designed around a Honda NSX chassis. The engine is a Toyota sourced 3.3-litre V6 with 233bhp of max power. It is equipped with a five speed automatic transmission (from a Lexus SUV). And yes it is a rear-wheel drive supercar.
The Mirage is Mitsubishi's global entry level compact car. It is powered by 1.2-litre MIVEC which according to the Japanese car maker returns a fuel economy of 22kmpl. The 3-cylinder engine produces a healthy 78bhp at 6000rpm and generates maximum torque of 100Nm. The Mirage comes with a 5-speed manual transmission or a new generation CVT. Could this end Mitsubishi's low profile in India?
The concept of the March Nismo is based on the Nissan March (Micra) model that includes Nismo exclusive parts. It is designed to express how a premium sports compact can deliver exciting driving performance. The exterior has a lower stance and a bolder modified front grille. The rear lip spoiler is added to further enhance the aerodynamic performance.
Ssangyong has added two new engine options for the Korando. Both are 2-litre engines but one is a petrol and the other a diesel. While the diesel produces 148bhp max, the figures for the petrol are not yet known. The Korando now gets newly styled wiper blades, an improved LED illuminated instrument cluster and new high gloss finish for the switchgear. Watch out for the Korandoin India this year.
ThIS Korean crossover is powered by 2.0l turbocharged diesel engine that pumps out 139bhp and generates a peak torque of 310Nm. The base model comes with a 5-speed manual and the top end variant gets 4-speed automatic.
This Japanese beauty is a twin of Subaru BRZ as both the automakers developed the cars together. It is based on a new platform and features a low, highly aerodynamic bodyshell. It is powered by a 2.0-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol engine which delivers 200bhp. This engine is mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
Part 4
This green warrior comes with DRIVe programme with the primary aim of producing as little emissions as possible. It comes with 180bhp, 1.6-litre petrol engine.
This stunner of a hybrid electric vehicle concept vehicle gets a similar plug-in hybrid system as the current Prius PHEV. It comes with loads of features like a smartphone-like interface to monitor and control everything from the air conditioning to the battery charge. It also comes with the latest pre-collision and blind-spot monitoring systems and adaptive headlights. Toyota has also replaced the side mirrors with an around-view camera system.
The FT-EV III (Future Toyota – Electric Vehicle III) uses a lithium-ion battery pack mounted below the floor that powers an electric motor. Toyota claims a total driving range of 104km with space for four. The carmaker refers to the FT-EV III as a “near future” concept a production version of which will be built and sold as a Scion iQ EV. It should hit the US by the end of the year.
BMW C600 Sport
BMW 600C Sport get the 2-cylinder inline engine with a displacement of 647cc. Its rated power output is 60bhp at 7500rpm, and its max torque of 66Nm is available at 6000rpm. The power is transferred via a directly integrated CVT.
BMW C650 GT
The C650 GT get the 2-cylinder inline engine with a displacement of 647cc. Its rated power output is 60bhp at 7500rpm, and its max torque of 66Nm is available at 6000rpm. The power is transferred via a directly integrated CVT.
Honda Zoomer-X
The Honda Zoomer X is a prototype that has rugged-looking tyres and a boxy-looking structure. It gets the stacked headlight configuration instead of the traditional double headlights. Honda promises a production version soon.
