Mahindra launches XUV 500 at killer price

Mahindra has launched its new global sport utility vehicle XUV 500 at a staggering price of Rs 10.80 lakhs. The company will begin bookings from Saturday.



Two versions of the vehicle will be available, the W6 and W8 in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive.



The W8 has been priced at Rs 11.95 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi while the W6 has been priced at Rs 10.8 lakh for the two-wheel drive versions. The price of the XUV500 W8 AWD version is Rs 12.88 lakh ex Delhi.

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Seen together: John & Bipasha

Remember we told you recently how Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan painted a picture of deep friendship on the sets of Ek Tha Tiger, sparking rumours of a rekindled romance? Now Bipasha Basu and John Abraham have sent the rumour mills in a tizzy, after being spotted spending time together a few days ago.



But before you jump to any hasty conclusions, Bipasha has clarified that her get- together with John was simply a result of the pleasant equation they continue to share courtesy of all the good times they had had as a couple, and should not be mistaken for anything more.



“We too have feelings just like normal human beings. We did not plan for things to be like this. I feel that certain things in life are the outcome of destiny.

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A train journey for $5000 a day?

Young Joydip Mitra may not have travelled abroad even once, yet he is familiar with the quirks and preferences of people from a host of nationalities better than the most consummate tour guide.

Mitra is on board the Maharajas Express, a pan- Indian luxury train.

As a butler for the train's $ 5,000- a- night presidential suite Mitra knows his high- flying guests rather too well. " The Japanese want the water in the bath tub to be exactly between 55 and 60 degree Celsius. But an American guest will be offended if I maintain the same temperature, they want the water to be lukewarm," says Mitra, who doubles as housekeeping supervisor.

The presidential suite, which is under his charge, occupies an entire coach and comes with white marble flooring, rosewood wardrobes, handcrafted furniture with intricate ivory inlays and a panoramic window offering a glimpse of the hurtling world outside. The 20 deluxe cabins and 22 other suites also don't fall short in the departments of good looks and luxury. The crockery and cutlery are 24- carat gold- plated at the Mayur Mahal restaurant and water comes from a purification plant on the train.

" High- end luxury is a rarity and you cannot afford to make your guests unhappy," assures Arup Sen, Director, Royale India Tours, a joint venture between the IRCTC and tour operator Cox and Kings, which owns the train.

Maharajas Express offers four different packages for its high- end users: Royal India ( eight days; Delhi to Mumbai with halts at Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Vadodara); Classical India ( seven days; from Delhi to Agra, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh, Varnasi and Lucknow; Royal Sojourn (stops at Jaipur, Kota, Ranthambore and Agra; and Princely India (seven days; Mumbai to Delhi. If you have the money and the inclination, this could be the holiday of your lifetime.

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Lesser known star kids of B-Town

In B-Town, acting runs in the blood, but some star kids are yet to be discovered......

Don't mistake him for Ranbir Kapoor. Boney Kapoor's son Arjun has a striking resemblance to Ranbir. Arjun Kapoor is 20, and is interested in working behind the camera like his dad.




Jackie Shroff's son Tiger Shroff is set to debut in Sajid Nadiadwala’s next film.

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Kingfisher says bye to low cost model

Bangalore: Kingfisher Airlines on Wednesday said that it will quit its low cost aviation business, Kingfisher Red. Vijay Mallya, Chairman, Kingfisher Airlines said that the segment was too competitive and there are enough passengers for a full service operation.

"Kingfisher Airlines is working with a consortium of banks to further reduce interest costs and raise working capital as the carrier looks to restructure its fleet by selling and leasing back some of its aircraft to lower debt," Mallya said.

The cash strapped airline has never reported profits since its launch in 2006. In the last quarter, the airline had reported losses of Rs. 263.54 crore against losses of Rs. 187 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year.

Meanwhile, Mallaya also outlined plans to reduce debt and raise capital. The company has huge debt levels, which currently stands at Rs. 6,000 crore. He said the airline was working with a consortium of banks to further reduce interest costs and raise working capital.

The airline's auditors had said in the company's annual report for the fiscal year that ended March 31, that it needs capital infusion to remain viable. The auditors B.K. Ramadhyani & Co also noted, that the airline's financial statements had "been prepared on a going concern basis, notwithstanding the fact that its net worth is completely eroded."

The airline also plans to convert part of its rupee loans into low-cost forex loans based on existing cash flows, he said. Kingfisher had planned to raise $250-$350 million through an issue of global depositary receipts in January, but no deal has been forthcoming.

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Honda launches Brio at Rs 3.95 lakh

Honda today launched its entry level hatchback Brio India. Starting at a price of Rs.3.95 lakh, the Brio is available in four trims.

• Honda Brio E - Rs 3.95 lakh
• Honda Brio S - Rs 4.35 lakh
• Honda Brio S Option - Rs 4.9 lakh
• Honda Brio V - Rs 5.1 lakh

The Brio is powered by the same 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine that powers the Jazz. In the Brio, this engine delivers 88bhp of power and 109Nm of torque. The Brio S Option and V will get ABS, airbags and USB/aux-in audio system with steering mounted controls. The V also gets alloy wheels, fog lamps and a different seat trim.

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Ford makes life-size SUV out of Legos

A unique Ford Explorer rolling off the line at Chicago Assembly Plant will feature the model’s trademark eye-catching craftsmanship with one notable distinction. This Ford Explorer is created from more than 380,000 LEGO bricks and marks the beginning of a long-term alliance between Ford and LEGOLAND Florida theme park.

The bright red LEGOLAND Florida edition Explorer, created by 22 designers, weighs 2,654 pounds and is supported by a 768-pound interior aluminum base.

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Old NASA satellite to crash to Earth today

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - A defunct NASA science satellite is expected to fall back to Earth on Friday, showering debris somewhere on the planet although scientists cannot predict exactly where, officials said.

The 6.5-ton Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, or UARS, was carried into orbit during a space shuttle mission in 1991. It operated for 14 years, collecting measurements of ozone and other chemicals in the atmosphere.

Since completing its mission in 2005, UARS has been slowly losing altitude, tugged by Earth's gravity. On Friday, the 35-foot-long, 15-foot diameter (10.6-metres long, 4.5-metres diameter) satellite is expected to plunge into the atmosphere, NASA reported on its website.

While most of the spacecraft will be incinerated, scientists expect up to 26 pieces, with a combined mass of about 500 kg to survive the fiery re-entry and fall down somewhere on Earth.

The satellite's orbit passes over most of the planet, from as far north as northern Canada to the southern part of South America.

NASA said the chance a piece of UARS debris will strike a person is about one in 3,200. The debris will mostly likely fall into an ocean or land in an uninhabited region of Earth.

Satellites as large as UARS re-enter Earth's atmosphere about once a year.

NASA said there have been no reports of any deaths or injuries to people from falling debris.

The largest chunk of wreckage from UARS is expected to be about 151 kg, says Nicholas Johnson, chief scientist of NASA's Orbital Debris Program office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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Hyundai to launch Eon at 2.5 - 3 lakh

When you think Hyundai, the word 'style' pops unbidden to mind. Whether it's an i10, Verna, Sonata or Santa Fe, the company never compromises on style and seamless finish. Underscoring this fact is Eon, the latest offering from the Hyundai stable that is expected on Indian roads in October, priced around 2.5 lakh.

The Eon has a very intricate design accentuated with the fluidic lines we saw on the 2011 Verna. According to Autocar, the wheel arches and shoulder line are so complex that you'd have to go all the way up to a Mercedes-Benz CLS to see anything similar — and that's no overstatement.

Generally, A-segment cars disappoint on the interior. But Eon, unlike any other in the segment, gets a neatly finished and spacious interior. Also on offer are USB-supported music system, remote locking and even tiltable steering.



The Eon will be powered by an 814cc IRDE petrol engine developing 56bhp, which is definitely zippy on a car that weighs at 715-795kg. To add joy, Hyundai is claiming 21.1 kmpl, too.

Overall, the Eon is going to be more powerful, sleek, futuristic and hopefully equally priced as the super seller Maruti Alto. Who knows, this car might even dethrone Alto as India's best-selling car.


Hyundai Eon to bowl over the small car segment

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First Look: BMW Concept e Scooter

BMW's Concept E Electric Scooter


Building on almost 90 years of experienced in the field of motorised two-wheel vehicles, BMW Motorrad is drawing on the conceptual benefits of single-track vehicles to develop innovative solutions, adding a new dimension to the area of urban commuting.
Credit:BMW



Based on the BMW Group's sustainability strategy, BMW Motorrad aims to put a premium offer on the market in the area of electromobility in the foreseeable future. At the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), BMW will be presenting its design concept in this area for the first time: "BMW Concept e".
Credit:BMW



The design study BMW Concept e embodies the vision of an electrically powered scooter made by BMW Motorrad.
Credit:BMW



Increasing limitations in traffic space, growing traffic density as well as both ecological and economical challenges give rise to new demands in the area of private transport in the major conurbation areas in particular.
Credit:BMW



An e-scooter with sustainable technological solutions and the aesthetic design of the Concept e provides a response to these changing urban mobility needs.
Credit:BMW



With its Concept e, BMW Motorrad shows how attractive and fascinating the interpretation of the theme of electrical drive on two wheels can be in terms of design, while at the same time attracting attention to its new business area "Urban Mobility".
Credit:BMW



The Concept e is a vision: BMW Motorrad designers have developed the style and shaping of the e-scooter of the future - electric, digital, dynamic. The designers deliberately allowed themselves plenty of freedom so as to be able to strike out new, creative paths in the design of components and surfaces.
Credit:BMW



The shaping and precision achieved reflect the core values of BMW Motorrad: emotion, dynamic performance and innovation. At the same time, the purist, clear design, colouring and choice of materials instantly suggest a clean, efficient yet agile single-track vehicle which allows one to move effortlessly through city traffic.
Credit:BMW



So the design concept study Concept e is more than just an idea for a new vehicle. In addition to technical functionality and quality, the BMW Motorrad designers attach importance to an emotional dialogue between rider and vehicle.
Credit:BMW



Their basic premise is that a vehicle has to do more than just function - it has to arouse the rider's emotions, too. It has to inspire the rider again and again, as well as reflect its specific technological features.
Credit:BMW

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