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If you thought the flurry of new cars was slowing down, you’re
in for a big surprise. A slew of exciting wheels are set to roll
into the showrooms before the end of 2006.
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| ASTON
MARTIN DB9 |
 ASTON
MARTIN’S DAVID Brown (DB) series has become part of
motoring folklore thanks to the exploits of a certain British
secret agent. Think shaken not stirred.
The DB series has been Aston’s best-selling range of
all time. The DB7’s replacement, the DB9, which is headed
our way, is powered by a 450bhp 6.0-litre V12. This engine
proved to be so good, it forced Aston to tweak its top-of-the-line
Vanquish for more power. The DB9 is one car we can’t
wait to get our hands on.
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| Model
Aston Martin DB9 Engine 5935cc V12 petrol Power/Torque
450bhp/58.1kgm Kerb weight 1760kg Dimensions
(L/W/H) 4710/1875/1270mm Expected price
Rs 1.2 crore |
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| ASTON
MARTIN V8 VANTAGE |
 “PAY
ATTENTION 007, you can now get your Aston serviced in India.”
Yes, Aston Martin is headed here with its most exciting car
to date, the gorgeous V8 Vantage (remember the stunning prototype
Dilip Chhabria built for the British sports car maker and
showcased at the Detroit Show in January 2003).
Now with more cylinders and more power than a Porsche 911,
the Vantage is set to give the established sports car champ
a run for its money.
A traditional front-engined rear-wheel-drive sports car, the
V8 Vantage will blend top-notch English quality interiors,
sharp looks and genuine sports car performance in a well rounded
package.
The Vantage is powered by a ferocious hand-assembled 380bhp
V8 with a cracking exhaust note. The front-rear weight distribution
of 49:51 offers well balanced handling, and the bonded aluminium
chassis generates incredible amounts of grip. Porsche 911
owners, watch your rearview mirrors.
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| Model
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Engine 4300cc V8 petrol
Power/Torque 380bhp/41.75kgm Kerb weight
1570kg Dimensions(L/W/H) 4435/2022/1255mm Expected
price Rs 1 crore |
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| ASTON
MARTIN V12 VANQUISH S |
 THE
VANQUISH WAS the car that brought Aston Martin back from the
brink of oblivion back in the early 1990s. Of course the company
has come a long way since then and is now in the pink of health.
Its latest version, the Vanquish S is the car that is making
its way to India.
Powered by a 5935cc V12 engine, the Vanquish S is a typical
old-school Grand Tourer with the character and poise to munch
continents for breakfast. 520bhp and 58.8kgm of torque are
power figures that the sub-continent has never seen before.
The hand-assembled engine and hand-stitched leather interiors
should keep the connoisseurs among us more than happy.
Unfortunately it comes minus the rockets and other firepower
it possessed when it was the company car of a certain Mr Bond.
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| Model
Aston Martin Vanquish S Engine 5935cc V12 petrol
Power/Torque 520bhp/58.8kgm Kerb weight
1875kg Dimensions (L/W/H) 4665/1923/1318mm
Expected price Rs 2.1 crore |
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| AUDI
A4 |
 WITH
ITS BIG ‘Bulgarian Beard’ corporate grille, distinctive-looking
headlights and typically understated Audi sense of style,
the A4 is a stunner. And it’s coming to take on the
Mercedes-Benz C-class head on in India.
The A4 will be powered by a 140bhp 2.0-litre diesel and a
163bhp 1.8-litre turbo-charged petrol, the same as on the
Audi TT and the Skoda Octavia RS in Europe. The front-wheel-drive
A4 also features Audi’s seven-speed super CVT or Multitronic
gearbox.
The interior styling is more conservative, with lots of grey
around, but crucially space and comfort especially at the
rear are good.
If Audi manages to price its import at or below Merc’s
locally assembled C-class, we just might have a mighty German
tussle on our hands.
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| Model
Audi A4 Engine 1781cc turbo-petrol/ 1968cc
turbo-diesel Power/Torque 163bhp, 140bhp/ 22.9kgm,
32.63kgm Kerb weight 1390kg/1430kg Dimensions
(L/W/H) 4586/1772/1427mm Expected price Rs
26-28 lakh |
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October 2005
