Who Needs A Driver?

If you are a fan of future-tech, you will love Audi鈥檚 upcoming A8 flagship sedan. If, however, you are someone that loves to drive fine handling cars, you may sink further into depression. The German manufacturers, once renowned for engineering 鈥渟oul鈥?into their vehicles, continue on a seemingly inexorable march toward bland autonomy. All in the name of 鈥渕y car is smarter than yours! Let me start with the upfront specs. Length is up by 1.5 inches, but weight has been reduced, courtesy of a blend of aluminum, high-tensile steel, a dash of magnesium and a splendid carbon fiber-reinforced polymer. The result is a chassis 24% more rigid than its predecessor. Two engines will initially be available, including a 3.0L V-6 with 340 horsepower and a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 with 460 ponies and 487 lb-ft of torque. The V6 will get waft the sedan to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and I expect the V8 to get there closer to 5 seconds.

Both engines mate with an ultra-smooth and unobtrusive 8-speed automatic. The latest Audis continue to read fine in external view, but they have lost that sexy swagger from previous designs. Sure, the new A8 is stately and classic in proportion, but I fear a bit too restrained in overall design. The latest take on the Audi hexagonal grille is a bit of a wart as well, as it is too prominent in the front fascia. The interior does live up to previously tasteful Audi standards, with rich materials and crisp design. The big change you will notice here is the presentation of Audi鈥檚 MMI interface, with a second centrally mounted 8.6-inch touchscreen below the main 10.1-inch navigation/multimedia screen. The lower screen is dedicated to HVAC and seat functions, replacing myriad buttons, knobs and doohickeys. It is all very tastefully done and reasonably user-friendly and intuitive. The 2019 A8 is being touted as the first production car capable of Level 3 autonomy. Christened Traffic Jam Pilot, the system works from all stop up to 37 mph fully controlling steering, speed and brakes in traffic. Who needs a driver? On the good side of the ledger, the A8 has an available all-wheel steering option, which makes the sedan feel much smaller and nimbler on the road. Another option is an electrically controlled active suspension that can literally lift a wheel over 2 inches to aid in traversing bumps. The overall driving impression is smooth, capable and quiet, with just a hint of that diving soul peeking out every so often. Will it be enough to make enthusiasts happy? Will the prodigious tech make luxe car fans happy?

The most diminutive of BMW 4-door models, the 1-Series hatchback, has been reengineered from the ground up. The Bavarian hot hatch gets all new sheetmetal, although the redesign is what I would categorize as mildly progressive in regards to the previous generation. Showing cues from BMWs current design direction, the new 1-er sports a similar grille treatment as the recently updated 7 and 5-Series. The car鈥檚 side and rear hatch treatments both show subtly tailored improvements as well. Overall the car projects the sporty persona that BMW is known for. Speaking of sporty, the F20 (factory production code) maintains rear-wheel drive, quite possibly the single most important aspect to many BMW aficionados for the handling characteristics this imparts. Two engines in five different flavors will initially be offered. The 116i and 118i use an in-line 4 cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine outputting 136 and 170 horsepower respectively. Three diesel variants, also a 4 cylinder turbocharged engine, will power the 116d, 118d and 120d models. The interior of the little Bimmer looks to be nicely put together with the expected levels of quality materials and fit and finish. The latest iteration of BMW鈥檚 ubiquitous iDrive navigation system will be optional. The car will be available in two pre-packaged configurations, labeled Sport Line and Urban Line. And now for the bad news鈥?the American contingent will again be bypassed with availability as the decision makers in Munich continue to feel that small premium hatchbacks are not in demand. Maybe we can change their minds..!

BMW Motorrad India has announced the variants and India prices of the F750 GS and F850 GS. Prices for the F750 GS start from INR 11.95 lakh while the F850 GS is available from INR 12.95 lakh. BMW Motorrad had announced the prices for the two middleweight adventure motorcycles at the Auto Expo 2018. The F750 GS was priced at INR 12.2 lakh while the F850 GS was available at INR 13.7 lakh (both ex-showroom). The final prices turn out marginally lower. The relatively budget F750 GS is primarily designed for on-road riding with soft off-roading capability. Thus, the motorcycle comes equipped with alloy wheels, instead of wire-spoke units. The F750 GS features a conventional telescopic front suspension to keep the prices low. It even features a more accessible seat height so even shorter riders can enjoy the motorcycle. The F850 GS is more premium. It鈥檚 also more off-road ready than the F750GS.

Thus, the motorcycle comes equipped with wire-spoke wheels that give it more rugged look and capabilities. The F850 GS, unlike the F750 GS, gets upside down telescopic front suspension. Apart from being more off-road ready, the F850 GS packs more power and torque. Both motorcycles use an 853 cc in-line twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine with two counterbalance shafts and a firing interval of 270/450 degrees. The engine on the F750 GS is tuned to deliver 77 hp of maximum power at 7,500 rpm and 83 Nm of peak torque at 6,000 rpm. The F850 GS, with the same motor, pushes out 95 hp of maximum power at 8,250 rpm and 92 Nm of peak torque at 6,250 rpm. The motorcycles feature selectable 鈥楻ain鈥?and 鈥楻oad鈥?riding modes. Rider aids on the motorcycles include BMW Motorrad ABS and the ASC (Automatic Stability Control). The BMW F850 GS features wire-spoke wheels, upside down telescopic front suspension and relatively higher performance numbers than the F750 GS. The BMW F750 GS and F850 GS will compete against the Triumph Tiger 800 range, the Ducati Multistrada 950 and the Honda Africa Twin in the Indian market.