AutoQ is a weekly round-up of top automobile stories.
1. Tesla to Complete its ‘S-3-X-Y’ Lineup of Cars With ‘Model Y’ SUV
Tesla is shifting focus towards selling cars for the mass market and is looking to unveil a more economical version of the Model X, which will be called Model Y.
The Tesla Model Y, touted to be an electric crossover, is scheduled to launch at the company’s upcoming Los Angeles Design Studio on 14 March.
Tesla boss Elon Musk had hinted about the company’s plan to launch Model Y through Twitter in 2017. Seems rumours are finally coming true.
Read the story for the S3XY connection here.
2. Getting Driving Licenses in Delhi to Get Tougher
The process of getting a driving licence in Delhi has now become a lot more stringent. Maruti Suzuki and the Delhi Govt tied up to set up a fully-automated driver training circuit next to the Mayur Vihar Road Transport Office, at a cost of over Rs 20 crore.
The automation makes the testing process simpler and quicker, but it is also more stringent. To sign up for a driving licence the applicant needs to book an appointment online and pay the fees.
Click here to read everything about this new high-tech test center.
3. Volvo Will Limit All Vehicles’ Top Speed to 180 Kmph - Here’s Why
Swedish car-maker Volvo, on Monday, 4 March, announced that it will limit the top speed of all its vehicles to 112 mph (180 kmph) as the company looks towards its goal where no one is seriously injured or killed in a Volvo vehicle by 2020.
The new speed limit will be implemented on all Volvo model year 2021 cars, The Verge quoted the company as saying.
According to an official statement, Volvo referenced the limitations of technology to prevent accidents and injuries above certain speeds, based on data from the US National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration which shows that 25 percent of road fatalities in the US in 2017 came from over-speeding.
Read the story here.
4. Tata Unveils Buzzard SUV, Altroz Hatchback & H2X Concept at Geneva
Tata Motors has been showing its vehicles at the Geneva International Motor Show for 21 years on the trot.
Every year, the company has a few special vehicles to unveil, and this year too, Tata has four that have been unveiled – Tata Buzzard, Tata Altroz, Tata Altroz EV and Tata H2X. And then there’s the Tata Harrier on display that is called the Tata Buzzard Sport for European markets.
Of these, the Tata Buzzard and Tata Altroz will be launched in India later this year. The vehicles follow Tata’s family look in terms of design – what Tata calls Impact Design 2.0.
The Buzzard is the same as the Harrier except for the rear, which is taller and redesigned to accommodate two extra seats. The Altroz was showcased last year as the 45X concept premium hatchback.
Read here for more.
5. Bullet-Proof 2019 Range Rover Sentinel SUV Debuts Globally
Talk about superb security in a car! Range Rover has taken the covers off its new super secure SUV, the fully-armoured 2019 Range Rover Sentinel.
The upgraded Range Rover Sentinel from the 2015 variant gets a bigger 5-litre Supercharged V8 petrol engine and an improved chassis, which is identical to the Range Rover Autobiography.
The armoured version of the SUV has been designed by Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division.
Read the story here.
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