Ford Motor Company has launched the new Ford Puma ST. This is the third model to join Ford’s ST performance line-up, following the Fiesta and the Focus. The Fiesta ST’s chassis has only received minor tweaks from its transition to the Puma’s crossover body. The rear torsion bar is 40 per cent stiffer to compensate for the extra weight and height.

Exterior:

The Puma is spruced up by the ST-specific styling pack. The front gets a new grille design with ST badging, while a splitter increases front downforce by 80 percent over the standard

car. The back gets a larger rear wing and diffuser help to balance out the extra downforce at the other end. The Puma ST is also available in the new ‘Mean Green’ shade with a total of 5 color options. The roof and spoiler, front grille surrounds, side trim and door mirror caps are always painted black while the new 19 inch alloy wheels complete the look.

Interior:

Inside, the Puma’s cabin also gets the ST treatment; including a flat-bottomed steering wheel, a sporty gear knob and pedals, along with Sporty Recaro front seats. However still, the ST’s boot retains the hose-down 80-litre ‘Mega Box’ from other Pumas, and the 456-litre volume is retained. 

All Puma STs get a generous standard equipment list:

• Wireless charging

• Front and rear parking sensors

• Quick clear heated windshield

• Rain sensing wipers

• Automatic LED headlamps

• 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster

• 8 inch Touchscreen system

• SYNC 3 connectivity

• Android auto, Apple carplay

• Bang & Olufsen sound system

• Ford pass connectivity

Safety Features:

   While the Puma crossover received a 5 star rating at the ANCAP crash tests, the new Puma ST includes the following advanced driver assist tech:

• Active braking assist

• Pre Collision assist

• Active park assist

• Cross traffic alert with active braking

• Intelligent speed limiter

• Local hazard information

• Geofencing & tracking

• 6 airbags

• ESC with traction control

• Torque vectoring control

Powertrain and Performance:

        Mechanically, the Puma ST is very closely related to the Fiesta ST. The 1.5-litre turbocharged Ecoboost engine is the same, though a revised exhaust system has been tuned to be ever so slightly more civilised. This engine produces a power output of 197bhp and 320Nm through a 6 speed manual gearbox to the front wheels. With launch control engaged, the Puma cracks the 0-62mph benchmark in 6.7 seconds – two tenths down on the Fiesta, while the 137mph top speed has dropped by 7mph.

        The Puma ST also offers multiple driving modes. ‘Sport’ sharpens the throttle and adds weight to the steering compared to ‘Normal’, and it opens up valves in the exhaust to provide a sportier soundtrack. Switch into ‘Track’, and the traction control switches off and the intervention from the stability program relaxes – though this can still be turned off completely if the driver wishes. At the other end of the scale, ‘Eco’ mode makes the most of a stop/start system and cylinder deactivation to help reduce fuel consumption. Based on the official WLTP testing procedure, the Puma ST achieves 40.9mpg and emits 155g/km of CO2.

The Puma ST’s steering system is claimed to be 25 per cent quicker than the standard Puma’s, and buyers will be offered the option of a Quaife mechanical limited-slip differential to improve traction on corner exit. This also works in conjunction with a torque vectoring system which activates the brakes on the inside wheel to help the Puma hug a tighter line through corners. The Puma ST gets larger brake discs which measure 325mm at the front and 271mm at the back, and are housed within 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in specially developed Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.

The Puma ST is expected to go on sale in Europe by early 2021 and will cost from £28,500.

The Nissan Magnite production version was revealed a couple of weeks ago and now the price has been revealed online before its official launch. This new compact SUV is going to be the Make-it or Break-it product for Nissan India. Now we have got the details of the variants and features split-up of the new compact SUV. Here are some clear details on what to expect:

Variants:

The Magnite will be sold in four variants, namely the XE, XL, XV, and the XV premium. All variants except for the entry-level XE can be ordered with either the 1.0L non-turbo or the turbo petrol engine.

Let's take a look at the features on offer:

XE Variant:

• 16” wheels

• Dual-tone interior

• Dual-tone bumpers

• Roof rails

• All power windows

• 3.5” LCD display

• Dual airbags

• ABS with EBD

• Reverse sensors

• Central locking

• Pretensioner seatbelts

XL Variant:

• Electric ORVMs with auto fold

• Auto climate control

• 6 speaker audio system

• Steering mounted audio controls

XV (High):

• 16” Dual tone alloy wheels

• LED DRLs

• LED fog lamps

• 8” touchscreen

• Wireless Android auto & Apple carplay

• 7” TFT color instrument cluster

• Voice commands

• Reverse camera

• Smart key access

• Push-button start

• 60:40 split-folding rear seat

XV (Premium):

• LED bi-projector headlamps

• Cruise control

• 360 degree surround View camera

• Tire pressure monitoring

• All black interior

XV (Premium) Optional:

• Dual-tone roof

Technology pack

The Nissan Magnite will also be available with an optional Technology Pack on the XV and XV Premium variants. Features on this package include:

• Wireless smartphone charging

• Air purifier

• Ambient mood lighting

• Puddle lamps

• JBL speakers

Exterior:

The production-spec Nissan Magnite seems to retain most of the concept’s design elements including the large grille, the Sharp creases, and the funky alloy wheels. It has even the same sculpted bonnet and angular headlights. Since the Magnite was originally meant to be launched as a Datsun, the grille bears resemblance to the other Datsun models.

The side profile looks muscular with prominent body cladding and large wheel arches which seem to dwarf the 16” wheels. The higher-spec variants also receive a dual-tone roof option, blacked-out pillars, and silver roof rails. At the back, the Magnite sports sharp-looking tail lamps which resemble those on the Triber's, a clean tailgate, and a dual-tone bumper. The Magnite is also set to be the first model in India to sport the new Nissan logo.

Interior:

The interior too is quite close to the concept with a large, centrally-mounted 8” touchscreen and layered dashboard with hexagonal AC vents.

Powertrain:

The Nissan Magnite will be available with two engine options. The first will be the 1.0L Energy series, 3 cylinders Naturally aspirated engine from the Renault Triber, producing 72PS Power through a 5-speed manual gearbox. The second powertrain will be a new HRA0 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol unit producing around 100PS (97bhp) of power and 160Nm of torque which will be mated to a 5-speed manual transmission option as well as an X-TRONIC CVT automatic gearbox. 

The new HRA0 1.0 3 cylinders turbocharged engine will get mirror bore cylinder coating technology from its legendary sport's car Nissan GT-R which will help to reduce the resistance inside the powertrain and also it will increase the overall efficiency of the engine.

The XE variant will be available only with the 1.0L naturally aspirated engine.

Pricing and launch:

The new Nissan Magnite will be launched with pricing by early December 2020. 

All-new Nissan Magnite Compact SUV Expected Price will start from 5.5 lakh and the top-spec Turbo Petrol CVT variant will go up to 9.55 Lakh.

All-new Nissan Magnite Variant wise price details (ex-showroom)

• 1.0L Petrol XE - Rs 5,50,000
• 1.0L Petrol XL - Rs 6,25,000
• 1.0L Petrol XV - Rs 6,75,000
• 1.0L XV Premium - Rs 7,65,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XL - Rs 7,25,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XV - Rs 7,75,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XV Premium - Rs 8,65,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XL CVT Rs 8,15,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XV CVT Rs 8,65,000
• 1.0L Turbo Petrol XV Premium CVT Rs 9,55,000

When launched, the Magnite will go against the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Ford Ecosport, Mahindra XUV300, and the Honda WRV as well. 

Stay tuned for further updates on the Nissan Magnite.

Stay tuned for further updates and please follow us on WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Tata Motors likes to stay in the news and they have always been quite successful at that. They have a habit of launching either subtle updates or special editions or even new variants of their cars almost every month. This time it’s a great news for Black lovers.

      Tata motors have filed trademark for #DARK and Camo editions of their budget range of cars, the Tiago, Tigor, Altroz and the Nexon. The #DARK edition is what we have seen on the Harrier already. The Harrier #Dark edition featured a new Atlas Black colour scheme with Glossy black finished alloy wheels. The

interiors too were given an all-black treatment with faux metal glossy grey accents on the dashboard and doors. We can expect the same treatment to be given to the other cars as well.

       As a result of the success of this special edition, the manufacturer has decided to launch this edition on all of their cars including the Tiago, Tigor, Altroz and Nexon. This #Dark edition scheme however, just like on the Harrier, will be available only on the top spec XZ+ variants of the Tiago and Tigor. The Altroz will receive this paint scheme only on the XZ and Nexon #Dark will be available on the XZ+, XZ+(S) & XZ+(O) variants along with their AMT equipped versions.

       The other special paint scheme that is expected to launched is the CAMO edition. Though we are not sure about it’s details or colour scheme, it is safe to expect a white and black camouflage theme either only on the roof or the whole body.

        Apart from these already available Tata cars, Tata Motors will also be introducing these #Dark and Camo schemes on the upcoming flagship Gravitas SUV as well.

        These #Dark and Camo special colour scheme are expected to be priced around Rs 30,000 - 40,000 depending on the car model. Stay tuned for further details on these special editions from Tata Motors.