With typical precision, the engineers have been putting the finishing touches to the next-generation bestseller. They are currently setting up the new car for optimum acoustic comfort in the interior, excellent driving safety at high speeds and Vauxhall-typical steering and pedal feel. Since February, the Vauxhall experts for chassis, powertrain, electronics and lighting have been using the Arctic winter for the tuning of chassis and assistance systems on frozen lakes and narrow country roads in Swedish Lapland.

NextGen

The next Vauxhall Mokka generation is a completely new design based on the company's highly efficient CMP multi-energy platform (Common Modular Platform). This modular platform offers maximum flexibility in vehicle development. The CMP also allows the use of purely battery-electric drive as well as internal combustion engines. The customer has the choice. Thanks to the use of high-strength steels, the vehicle weight is low and the body stability is high. The new Mokka weighs up to 120 kilograms less than the previous model – with almost the same wheelbase and tyre sizes. With the electric Mokka-e, the batteries are installed deep in the vehicle floor, which lowers the centre of gravity and at the same time increases torsional rigidity by a further 30 per cent – excellent prerequisites for dynamic driving. Customers can look forward to a very agile second-generation Mokka, which will be available in dealerships from early 2021. Until then, the testing continues at full speed.

Testing, Fine-tuning At Arctic Circle

Engineer Gunnar Nees never tires of turning lap after lap on ice. He regularly stops for few minutes, reaches for the laptop, reads out measured values, and logs every mile covered. In the vast Arctic wilderness, it is still freezing cold in March. Exactly the right conditions for orchestrating the harmony between ABS, ESP, assistance systems and the rest of the new chassis.

The development cars are still hiding behind a green and black camouflage, with 3D-like graphics that blur the vehicle’s contours. The engineer behind the steering wheel has come to the far north to set up the chassis. Like every Vauxhall, the new Mokka must respond precisely to steering inputs and give good feedback, be comfortable and at the same time have a firm enough ride. A Vauxhall must not display uncontrolled body movements, for example, when the vehicle is driving over a large bump at medium speed. The Vauxhall philosophy calls for safe and relaxing driving on the motorway. A Vauxhall must remain easily controllable in all situations and be fun to drive at the same time.

These characteristics must be present under all weather conditions everywhere – at the icy Arctic Circle as well as in high summer at the Mediterranean. However, nothing should change in terms of precise handling and consistently good-natured driving behaviour. Parts, components and systems are continuously fine-tuned by the company engineers: dampers, springs, steering. In addition, the control software is adapted: for ideal pedal feel when accelerating and braking, for the right amount of steering power assistance and for the interaction between all assistance systems.

High-speed Driving

Back in Germany the same test engineer pilots the Mokka-prototype on home ground at the Rodgau-Dudenhofen Test Centre. Karsten Bohle, Project Coordinator, Second-generation Mokka, joins Gunnar Nees.

“We are all looking forward to seeing the new Mokka on the road in customer’s hands. The test drives are running like clockwork, also because our new baby, with its low weight and compact external dimensions, reacts well to adjustments. Handling and comfort are super. The Mokka is a joy to drive; the development work has been great fun,” said Bohle.

The new Mokka is ready to take its final exams at the Test Centre. While shaken, ride comfort and interior acoustics must remain unstirred – not even by the torture track. Here, not far from the Opel-Vauxhall base in Rüsselsheim, the tracks are replicas of the trickiest road surfaces in Europe. The engineers have tested here for decades and built up a huge wealth of experience. They repeatedly adjust springs and dampers, the balance between responsiveness and sporty precision continuously improved. The new car features particularly low road noise for optimum acoustic comfort, which the high-quality materials in the interior further increase. Squeaks and rattles are taboo.

The steering and suspension get their Vauxhall ‘feel’ on the Dudenhofen handling course. Two tie rods at the McPherson strut turrets are standard equipment; they provide further stiffness at the front end, adding a touch more precision and agility. The new car turns into corners eagerly, is easy to handle at the limit and the assistance systems function perfectly. Then comes the ultimate discipline – the high-speed oval with its steep banking, followed by the long straight. This test demands rock-solid stability at all speeds. In real life, it also results in a huge safety benefit when taking avoidance manoeuvres at lower speeds. The engineers only award their seal of approval for the autobahn when they return satisfied from the high-speed oval. The new Mokka has already passed this test with flying colours. However, testing, testing and yet more testing will continue until the summer. When the Mokka has achieved production readiness, cars will start rolling off the assembly line at the end of the year. (MT)

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched the updated Toyota Glanza hatchback in India, priced from INR 699,000 ex-showroom. The updated hatchback introduces revised exterior styling, including an updated front bumper, side skirts, a wide chrome grille bar and LED headlamp assemblies.

Under the bonnet, it transitions to a 1.2-litre three-cylinder Z12E petrol engine producing 61 kW of power and 112.4 Nm of torque, with claimed fuel efficiency figures of 23.80 kmpl for the manual transmission and 24.77 kmpl for the automated manual transmission (AMT) variant. The alternative CNG powertrain delivers 51.3 kW of power and 101.8 Nm of torque, and now incorporates an AMT option.

Tadashi Asazuma, Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "Ever since its launch in 2019, the Toyota Glanza has been a popular choice among customers seeking a stylish, feature-rich and dependable hatchback. The 2026 New Toyota Glanza builds on this strong legacy with a sharper and sportier design, a more premium cabin experience and advanced safety technologies making it an even more compelling choice for today's customers. The hatchback segment continues to be an important entry point for customers beginning their mobility journey, and the Glanza is thoughtfully designed to meet these aspirations with style, quality and peace of mind. As customer needs evolve, we remain committed to delivering ever-better cars and creating happiness for our customers."

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President of Sales-Services-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "As customer expectations continue to evolve, the New Toyota Glanza introduces several meaningful enhancements across safety, convenience and connectivity. With the introduction of Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), featuring Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Autonomous Emergency Braking and High Beam Assist, the New Glanza offers a premium mobility experience. The addition of AMT in the CNG variants further enhances driving convenience, while ventilated front seats, wireless charging and refreshed styling add to its overall appeal."

The Glanza features level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, a 360-degree camera system, six airbags, ventilated front seating, wireless device charging, a head-up display and a 22.86 cm touchscreen display with connected car telemetry.

Bookings have opened for an initial amount of INR 11,000, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in the first week of November. The Glanza can be had in seven paint options and comes with a standard 3-year or 100,000-kilometre warranty.

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Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has revealed the India-spec Hyundai Bayon, with bookings opening across company dealerships and online sales channels ahead of its scheduled launch on 26 October 2026.

The SUV introduces software and connectivity features, including Hyundai Motor India's first generative artificial intelligence (AI) voice assistant incorporating technology from Perplexity and SoundHound AI.

The Bayon is powered by a four-cylinder 1.5-litre MPi petrol engine generating 115 PS of power and 144 Nm of torque. Transmission options include a six-speed manual transmission and an Intelligent Variable Transmission. It also integrates over 70 connected features via the Hyundai Bluelink platform, including remote vehicle controls, smartwatch integration, and location services.

Built on an NVIDIA-accelerated Connected Car Navigation Cockpit, it supports up to 19 over-the-air vehicle controller updates for remote software maintenance and features dual 12.3-inch curved panoramic displays. The infotainment architecture supports a multi-language user interface across 10 regional and two international languages, alongside over 500 offline embedded voice commands across six languages.

Tarun Garg, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said, "With Hyundai Bayon, we are introducing an Intelligent Utility Vehicle that places technology and convenience at the heart of the customer experience. Guided by the philosophy of ‘Intelligence That Moves,’ Bayon seamlessly integrates Artificial Intelligence, advanced connectivity and software-driven innovation to create a mobility experience that is intuitive, evolving and deeply personalised. Through segment-defining technologies & features such as HMIL's first-ever Generative AI Voice Assistant, NVIDIA-accelerated Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC), Vehicle Controller Over-the-Air (C-OTA) updates and Hyundai Bluelink connected features, Bayon represents the next generation of intelligent mobility for Indian customers."

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European auto major Stellantis hosted an executive preview event in Paris, introducing six concept vehicles across its brand portfolio ahead of the Paris Motor Show. The reveals span models from Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS Automobiles, FIAT, Opel and Peugeot, forming part of a broader exhibition featuring over 60 vehicles and nine concept cars across eight corporate brands.

The introduced concepts reflect distinct engineering and design directions for each brand. The Alfa Romeo Cuorerosso concept presents a multi-energy architecture capable of accommodating models up to 4.7 metres in length, including a 2.9-litre V6 full-hybrid powertrain with all-wheel drive.

Citroën unveiled the 2 CV Concept, an electric vehicle targeted for European production at a EUR 15,000 price point. FIAT showcased the Multiplay, a configurable vehicle architecture combining pickup and utility vehicle traits inspired by the original Multipla design.

Opel presented the STX Concept, outlining design elements and lighting signatures for future estate models, while Peugeot revealed the RCZ Vision built on the STLA One platform and featuring steer-by-wire technology alongside updated cabin controls.

DS Automobiles displayed the DS F3VER concept, focusing on vehicle customisation and design parameters for future production models.

Gilles Vidal, Head of Design, Enlarged Europe at Stellantis, said, "With these six concept cars, we are expressing a shared conviction: the future of automotive design must be both bold and meaningful. Each concept explores new ways to enhance everyday experiences while reinforcing the unique identity of its brand. Together, they demonstrate how creativity, innovation and emotion can come together to make people fall in love with cars again."

Antonio Filosa, CEO, Stellantis, said, "This event brings our FaSTLAne 2030 strategy to life. It reflects the extraordinary effort of our teams and our commitment to shaping the future of mobility through iconic brands, compelling design and innovative technology, giving customers more choice and more reasons to be excited about what’s ahead."

Emanuele Cappellano, COO for Enlarged Europe, Stellantis, said, "Stellantis is deeply rooted in Europe and holds a leading position that will be strengthened by the success of all our brands. Stellantis wants to fully leverage the competitive advantage set by its iconic brands’ uniqueness, offering cars that are at once rooted in heritage and future-driven, based on robust know-how and distinguished by their unmatched design beauty, to shape the future of mobility with more than 50 products to be launched by 2030. These achievements, based on the execution of our strategic plan, will enable Stellantis to expand its market coverage in Enlarged Europe by 25 percent."

The concept unveils support Stellantis's broader product development roadmap, which targets the introduction of over 50 vehicle models by 2030 and a 25 percent expansion in European market coverage.

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Chinese premium electric vehicle brand AVATR announced its entry into the European market at an event in Paris, marking the next phase of its global growth plan. The manufacturer will initiate European retail operations in 2027, launching first in Norway and Spain with the AVATR 06T and 07L models.

AVATR operates as a joint initiative combining vehicle manufacturing from Changan Automobile, battery technology from CATL and software engineering capabilities from a technology enterprise, with design operations split between hubs in Shanghai and Munich.

Over the next three years, AVATR plans to introduce six models in Europe across mid-size SUV, large SUV and shooting-brake body styles. The company currently operates in 70 countries and regions, with global sales exceeding 280,000 units. AVATR targets expansion into 110 countries and regions by 2030, projecting overseas sales to represent more than 50 per cent of its total volume.

Justin Li, Head of AVATR Overseas Business, said, "AVATR has been a global brand from the very beginning. Over the next three years, six models will be launched in Europe spanning mid‑size SUVs, large SUVs and shooting‑brake body styles. In 2027, Norway and Spain will serve as AVATR’s European launch markets, where the AVATR 06T and 07L will make their European debut, officially embarking on a new journey for AVATR in Europe."

To establish its European retail and service infrastructure, AVATR has partnered with Nordic automotive importer RSA in Norway. The collaboration will establish two flagship locations in Oslo alongside additional experience centres and regional distribution points across major Norwegian cities. The company is setting up a localised service network, factory training programs and a European spare-parts logistics framework to support maintenance, roadside assistance and battery recycling operations.

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