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| MASERATI
QUATTROPORTE |
 THE
QUATTROPORTE IS proof, if any were needed that Italy is the
spiritual home of car styling.
Graceful, elegant and stylish, this new saloon from Maserati
with its wonderful engine and inspirational exhaust note is
sure to please the discerning luxury car buyers among us.
Even something as mundane as ‘four-door’ sounds
more exotic and exciting when the Italians call it ‘Quattroporte’.
It offers one thing that saloons from Merc, BMW and Audi do
not – panache, charm and immaculate street-creed.
The Ferrari-owned company will be bringing this model to our
country powered by a roaring 4.2-litre V8 with 400 horses
on call.
This beauty hits 100kph in five seconds and lets you shift
F1-style via paddles through its six-speed semi-automatic
transmission.
If you truly want to stand out in the luxury car crowd, then
this just might be the car for you.
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| Model
Maserati Quattroporte Engine 4244cc V8 petrol
Power/Torque 400bhp/46kgm Kerb weight
1930kg Dimensions (L/W/H) 5052/1895/1438mm
Expected price Rs 71 lakh |
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|
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| MERCEDES-BENZ
M-CLASS |
 THE
ORIGINAL M-CLASS, built in a comparatively low-cost factory
in the USA, was a real home run for Mercedes.
But as the years progressed Merc took a lot of flack for its
quality, old school driving dynamics and interiors.
Well, now Merc has punched back, and it’s another knockout.
Fresh lines but recognizable looks, stonking new motors, class-leading
on and off-road performance, the list goes on. It also manages
to have the best ride quality of all the cars in its class.
Guess we know why it’s smiling now.
|
| Model
New Mercedes-Benz M-class Engine 2987cc turbo-diesel
Power/Torque 224bhp/52kgm Kerb weight
2110kg Dimensions (L/W/H) 4780/1911/1815mm
Expected price Rs 40 lakh |
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| MERCEDES-BENZ
S-CLASS |
 THE
NEW ‘BEST car in the world’ has a lot to live
up to. Nothing less than a terrestrial version of the Starship
Enterprise will do, and from what the spec and feature list
says we’re in for another dose of mind-numbing technology
overload. Everything you can imagine from radar and infrared-based
autopilot, to brakes that grab hold of the discs lightly when
the car ‘senses’ danger, to hybrid powertrains
and active air suspension. Crisper lines, attractive ‘pinched’
fenders and a Maybach-like rear section mean you will get
full attention as well. Will it still be the best car in the
world? Watch this space.
|
| Model
New Mercedes-Benz S-class Engine 3724cc V6
petrol Power/Torque 245bhp/35.69kgm Kerb
weight 1840kg Dimensions (L/W/H)
5163/1855/1444mm Expected price Rs 65 lakh. |
|
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| MITSUBISHI
MONTERO |
 LOOKING
FOR THE ultimate off-roader which exudes rugged charm and
is loaded with oodles of creature comforts? The Montero
could be just the ticket.
Expected to be launched at the beginning of 2006, the Montero
is the latest version of the Pajero 3.2. Styling is typically
macho-SUV with a new-look front end, while the rear is pretty
much the same except for a spoiler.
Power is courtesy a 3.2-litre direct injection turbo-diesel.
However this unit does not have common-rail technology that
has become the norm in this class. Pricing will be quite
competitive vis-a-vis its rivals like the new M-Class and
Land Cruiser Prado
|
| Model
Mitsubishi Montero Engine 3.2-litre turbo-diesel
Power/Torque 165bhp/38.1kgm Kerb weight
2810kg Dimensions (L/W/H) 4830/1895/1855mm
Expected price Rs 28 lakh |
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October 2005
