According to the leading Indian newspaper, The Times of India, Maserati cars that will be entering the Indian market will be having a price tag starting from $275,000. It should be known that India imposes more than 100% tax on imported cars.

In their statement Maserati quoted that they expect to sell their Gran Turismo coupe, GranCabrio convertible and Quattroporte, to India’s latest generation of wealthy Indians. The company intends to open their first showroom in Mumbai by the end of this year and then will be opening the second showroom in early 2012. The company intends to have showroom in seven major Indian cities, by the year 2015.

A study from Citi Private Bank and Knight Frank Shows, called “The Wealth Report” says that the latest generation of wealthy Indians leads the world in aforethought spending on private jets, fine wine and yachts.

It should be known that Lamborghini and Bugatti already are selling cars in India.

Maserati told that Indian auto markets premium car segment has grown by 70 percent last.

The Indian economy is marked by a huge gap between the poor and the rich. According to reports from World Bank, the poverty rate in India has gone down a bit in the past 25-years from 1981 and 2005.

The Boxster is designed to shed approximately 176 pounds of weight which would assist in increasing the performance of the luxury car. Its silhouette is designed by lowering the car height by 20mm.

The new edition will be powered by 3.4 liter flat six engine which would generate 320 horsepower.  It will be teamed with six speed manual transmission but would offer the option of 7-speed PDK automatic transmission. To offer a refined ride this edition would be equipped with high performance suspensions.

This burly edition would sprint from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds at a top speed of 166 mph.

Porsche is already synonymous with a good performance car and boosting the power and shedding weight would make this edition quite beguiling.  The unique wheels and trims would help in making this edition stand out from its siblings.

All the auto fans who wish to buy a good performance car and yet wish to be different from others then the 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder is the right choice. It would definitely offer a true value for every dollar spend and make heads turn as you pass by.

The 159 Sedan

The four door 150 Sedan will be the first Alfa Romeo car to make its presence in the US. Its unique Italian Silhouette with a perfect blend of superior quality would offer a tough competition to the present American and European models.

The 159 will be equipped with 3.2 liter direct injection V6 engine which would produce 260 horsepower.  It would be equipped with standard all wheel drive to compete with other Luxury auto makers in the US. The most exciting part about the 159 sedan is that it is a true luxury car with a base price of $34,000. This would make other luxury car makers like BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Audi on their toes.

The Brera Coupe

The Brera has already made its name in the European segment. It is a top notch sport hatch back car with a sleek, yet classy styling, and 2 by 2 seating layout. The Brera is a well known crowd pleasing car. Like other Alfa models the Brera features its iconic triangular front grille and unmistakable headlamps which add to the front look of this Italian beauty.

This sport-hatch will be equipped with a similar powertrain like the 159 sedan. It will feature a 3.2 liter direct injection V6 engine which would generate 260hp. It will also feature all wheel drive system. The beauty of all Alfa Romeo editions including Brera is that they are equipped with stiff but efficient suspensions which offer a comfortable ride. This luxury car would reach the US shore by 2010 and will be available at a base price of $36,000.

The Spider

The Spider convertible is the most stylish and desired car amongst other Alfa Romeo models. The Alfa Romeo Spider will offer two powertrain options.

It will be equipped with fuel efficient  2.2 liter four cylinder engine in the  base edition  and would offer option of 3.2 liter  V6  edition from 159 Sedan edition. This two door version is expected to be smaller and lighter than the 159 Sedan and the Spider.  The light weight body would offer better acceleration and handling.

The images reveal the company’s plans to move towards the crossover development to keep up with the pace of its competitors. Audi Q5 and Mercedes Benz GLK editions have already probed their worth. To maintain its leadership position BMW has planned the debut of the next gen X3.

The next gen X3 model will be unveiled next year but will be known as 2011 BMW X3. The images reveal that the dimensions of the car has been expanded to offer more interior space and make seating more comfortable for the passengers. The body silhouette is also designed with completely finished headlights and tail lights. It is quite prominent that BMW has borrowed some styling cues from the X1 compact SUV.

The company plans to load the car with the latest technology features, and all car fans can expect a full array of features attached to this edition. The next gen edition will also be equipped with Bi-xenon headlights and around corner capability. The seat would feature massage functions to offer complete comfort while travelling.

The company proposes to use similar technology under the trunk. It is expected that the company will offer options of four engines to the Europe market which would range from 177 to 300 horsepower while the US market would get options of two gasoline engine which would generate 231 horsepower and 306 horsepower. The company plans to introduce the hybrid model also very soon; however the company has kept all details under the wraps.

We will update our readers with finer details to get a closer view of the X3 …. Till then keep tuned.

Lexus 2010 HS 250h is priced at MSRP: $34,200 – $36,970 and shares some driveline components from Toyota Prius.  It is equipped with a 2.4 liter engine which generates 147 horsepower from the Atkinson cycle engine and 40 horsepower from the Hybrid Synergy Drive electric motor i.e. a combined 187 horsepower rating.

This aerodynamics offers a fuel mileage of 35 mpg in the city levels and 34 mpg on the highway according to the EPA ratings. Like most other hybrids hilly roads damage the fuel efficiency, it was seen that the 250h offered an average fuel mileage of 22 mpg on hilly terrain which is quite acceptable.

The interiors of this hybrid edition are quite luxurious and can comfortably seat four passengers. The 2010 Lexus HS 250h is not a sports car, however it sprints from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds which is neither very slow.

During the test drive our team concluded that this hybrid edition offered a much comfortable ride at freeway speeds in comparison to Toyota Prius or Camry Hybrid. It is equipped with good suspensions which make the ride very smooth and comfortable. We noticed that though the cabin did not offer much road and wind noise but the engine noise was fairly obvious inside the cabin.

2010 Lexus HS 250h body style:

The body is well crafted with impressive tail lights, and an elegant curve to the C pillar area. The blunt nose and the flared lower elements offer a boxy look to the vehicle. Overall it has an averagely pleasing look.

2010 Lexus HS 250h Interiors:

The interiors of this car are beautifully designed with leather seats. They have used good interior materials which are derived from plant sources and have kept up to the expectation of the Lexus brand. We noted that the interiors are not very spacious and does not have enough legroom and headroom to seat tall passengers.  The rear seat can also comfortably seat only two passengers unlike other hybrids which comfortably seat three passengers in the rear bench. We would have appreciated if it would have been roomier like the Mercury Milan Hybrid or Ford Fusion Hybrid. The 250h provides sufficient storage space as the engineers have tidily placed the Hybrid system.

2010 Lexus HS 250h features:

The 250h edition features standard 18 inch alloy wheels, USB, Bluetooth and XM Satellite Radio capability. The premium models feature lane keep assist, heads up display, radar assisted cruise control, navigation and infotainment, a Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system and a new Safety Connect and Enform telematics system.

2010 Lexus HS 250h safety:

The 250h is well equipped with major safety features such as ten airbags on the front and the rear side, Electronic stability control, and ABS brake assist.

Overall the 2010 Lexus HS 250h offers a complete package of luxury, affordability and good performance which most car enthusiast would seek.

BMW has unveiled its 2010 BMW X6 Active Hybrid at the Frankfurt Auto Show and is ready for retail sales also. This powerful vehicle is teamed with a twin turbo 4.4 liter V8 engine which produces 480 horsepower and 575 pound feet of torque. It is also equipped with nickel metal hydride hybrid power pack and has worked hard to gain the title of the world’s most powerful gasoline and electric hybrid passenger vehicle. With tough competition from other luxury maker of its class like Lexus, Cadillac, Mercedes Benz etc BMW has worked hard to get this respected title.

This  BMW edition  sprints at a speed of 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds at an electronically limited top speed of 130mph. It is completely fuel efficient and offers approximately 20 % better mileage than the other rivals which are equipped with V8 engines. The stop and start function also assist in reducing wasted fuel at idle.

This model offers an impressive fuel mileage in spite of the heavy weight. It is been known that this model weighs 5,000 pounds and an addition of 400 pounds of hybrid power train which is equipped to this model.

The X6 Active Hybrid version uses the two mode system by tying the electrical side to the gasoline side. They can alternatively provide extra power and charge the batteries at 50 KW regeneration rate. They can also trade power between each other as and when it is required. This feature assists in maximizing fuel efficiency and driving dynamics. It is also equipped with seven speed automatic transmission to provide better performance.

The electric motor generates its power from a NiMH high performance battery which is situated under the floor of the luggage compartment. It supplies energy to the cars on board network and when the brakes are applied the kinetic energy is converted to electrical energy and saved in the high performance battery. These exemplary functions provide good mileage as well as stunning performance.

This model is well styled with a huge doomed hood to store the electronic and diagnostic equipments and can be easily recognized even from a distance due to its distinctive look.

The 2010 BW X6 Active Hybrid is displayed at the Frankfurt Auto Show and due for sale before the end of the year.

John Watts senior manager of Acura product planning says that it is hard to hit the 2016 CAFÉ requirement and Acura is moving towards the fuel economy direction.

For many years we have seen that luxury cars have moved ahead battling it out for horsepower and engine output. The luxury cars produced 200- 300 horsepower a decade ago but in the recent times we have seen that the luxury cars now produce 500- 600 horsepower.  Lately we have seen that the consumers have tried to stress that they desire a balance between power and economy. With the economy that is trying to stabilize after a long time we have noticed that fuel prices are rising steadily. At this juncture it makes sense to stress for a balance between fuel economy and power.

Acura is trying to take a leap in this direction and is focusing on fuel economy. They have eliminated the V8 engine which was originally developed to feature in Acura RL and MDX. They have moved towards the rear wheel drive platform from the AWD.  Acura is trying to adopt hybrid technology instead of high output engines was confirmed by John Watts.

The BMW X6 is equipped with 4.4 liter V8  twin turbo engines which generates  a combined output of 480 horsepower and 575 ponds feet of torque and a nickel  metal hydride  hybrid power pack  to achieve the famed title of the world’s most  powerful gasoline, electric  hybrid passenger car. BMW already has tough competition from its competitors like Lexus, Cadillac, and Mercedes Benz.

This new version is estimated to sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 130mph. they offer a fuel efficiency of 22.8 mpg combined in the European combined cycle which is about 20% higher than the standard V8 engine. The main reason attributed for higher fuel efficiency is due to BMW’s hybrid system ability to run on electricity up to 37mph. This hybrid specific automatic stop start feature assist in reducing wastage of fuel.

The main problem that is seen in the X6 is its weight; however in spite of the heavy weight it is impressive that the hybrid gets good fuel efficiency.

The Hybrid models are known to sport a huge doomed hood where the electronic and diagnostic equipments are lived. The retail version has solved this problem where BMW has neatly packed it, but the bulge can be noticed from a distance and you can easily recognize the Hybrid version even from a distance.

The Hybrid system that is deployed in the BMW X6 is a version of the Daimler –Chrysler –GM two mode systems. This system uses twin electric motors which has the capacity to alternatively provide extra power, charge the batteries at a 50 KW regeneration rate,  or trade power between  each other as and when necessary.

The BMW X6 has tied the electrical side to the gasoline engine which is based on an electrical CVT and a standard seven-speed automatic transmission.

The only official information that we have received is that this model will be a perfect blend of high tech innovations and ground breaking designs. They have promised to raise the bench mark for the existing luxury car segment.  The company boasts of many new innovative features but sadly we may not know as the cars are likely to be sold in overseas market only. The main reason that we can conclude  for Lexus entering into the Overseas market is that the new hatchback will be an entry level model and will definitely priced below the IS range – a segment that is unlikely to enter in North America.

The company has not disclosed many facts about this version but earlier reports claim that this model will be equipped with a Hybrid power train and will share some of its internal features with Toyota Auris which is also commonly known as Toyota Corolla in some areas.

It is expected that the production version will be debuted at next years Geneva Motor Show which will be held in March before going on sale in Europe. The newer concepts will be known by September 15 so all you automotive aficionados stayed tuned to automotivecraze and we shall provide you up to date information about this luxury car.