World Travel Awards arrives in Rwanda

World Travel Awards (WTA) has touched down in Rwanda ahead of its Africa Gala Ceremony 2017.

The prestigious event will take place in the country’s thriving capital, Kigali, on 10th October, with hundreds of leaders from across the hospitality industry expected to attend the glittering red carpet ceremony.

Local stars, George Ndirangu and Makeda Mahadeo – both hugely experienced as hosts and presenters – will compere the event which will take place at the five star Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, alongside the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) and AviaDev Africa (10th-12th October).

The leading hotel investment conference that connects business leaders from the international and local markets, driving investment into tourism projects, infrastructure and hotel development across Africa, AHIF is attended by the highest calibre international hotel investors of any conference in Africa.

Meanwhile AviaDev Africa is a unique event bringing together airports, airlines, governments, industry suppliers and tourism authorities to determine the future air connectivity and infrastructure development of Africa. The event provides an opportunity for the aviation and hotel development communities to share intelligence on their future plans, catalysing tourism development on the continent.

Speaking ahead of the event, WTA President and Founder Graham E. Cooke said: “It is an honour for World Travel Awards to be here in Rwanda, for the very first time.

"The heart of Africa, Rwanda has become rightfully known for its spectacular scenery – think thundering waterfalls, towering mountains and virgin rainforests – and rare wildlife.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Rwanda to claim its rightful place as Africa’s rising star and I can’t wait to welcome all our nominees next Tuesday, as we recognise the leaders among them."

A full list of nominees can be viewed on the World Travel Awards website.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region.

World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.

source - worldtravelawards.com

ŠKODA KAROQ awarded Best New Design among all compact SUVs

The readers of the German trade magazine 'auto motor und sport' have voted the new ŠKODA KAROQ as the best new design in the category of compact SUV’s. The ŠKODA KAROQ prevailed against 17 competitors to win the converted ‘Autonis’ award.  ŠKODA KAROQ’s design language is typical of the brand – emotive and dynamic.

​“We are proud that the ŠKODA KAROQ has been voted Best New Design by the readers of ‘auto motor und sport’,“ said Christian Strube, Board Member for Technical Development at ŠKODA AUTO. “The expressive design and clear design language of our vehicles has been exceptionally well received by the customers. The ‘Autonis’ award is a confirmation of our work, whilst also being an incentive for us to sharpen the design profile of our models,” added Strube.

In the 17th 'Autonis' reader poll, 88 new models from the last 12 months went head-to-head in a total of ten vehicle categories. The field of compact SUVs or off-road vehicles was the most fiercely competitive with 18 models. The ŠKODA KAROQ gained 28.7% of the 16,600 votes cast, securing the title of Best New Design among all compact SUVs.

The emotional and dynamic design of the ŠKODA KAROQ, with its clear lines and crystalline elements, is characteristic of the brand's SUV design language. The front is dominated by the two separate headlight units, the striking radiator grille and the three-dimensional surface design of the bumper and bonnet. Short overhangs, the retracted rear as well as the early falling roof line, which is optically extended by a contour in the D-pillar, characterize the sides. The modern design features include the tornado line, which extends from the front wings to the rear lights. The wheel arches are enclosed by wide wheel panels – a design feature typical of ŠKODA’s SUVs – and give the ŠKODA KAROQ a particularly powerful look.

The Czech car manufacturer is pushing ahead with its SUV campaign with the ŠKODA KAROQ. In addition to its powerful design, the KAROQ also boasts ŠKODA's typical qualities such as generous space, convenient Simply Clever features and modern connectivity solutions.  From spring 2018, this will be the brand’s first model to feature a digital instrument cluster; information such as speed, revs and the navigation map are displayed digitally instead of on an analogue cluster. The driver can choose between various individually programmable layouts.

Source : Skoda

Hyundai Introduces Most Awaited – Global SUV TUCSON with Intellimatic ‘4 Wheel Drive’

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), the country’s second largest car manufacturer and number one exporter since inception today introduced the most awaited the 4-Wheel Drive (4WD) system in TUCSON enhancing the portfolio of Dynamic Global SUV. The Intellimatic 4WD TUCSON offers a perfect combination of a high performance off roader SUV along with comfort and stylish road presence. 

Commenting on the introduction of 4WD TUCSON, Mr. Y K Koo, Managing Director and CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, “We are happy to introduce the most awaited 4WD Global SUV – TUCSON to the Indian market. Introduction of 4WD is to bring to the customer the next level of cutting edge technology in Dynamic Styling, Athletic Performance, Advanced Safety and Smart Comfort as product innovation towards competitive advantage in fast growing SUV market while also enhancing the overall price value equation through value engineering and passing the price benefit to customer.”

The TUCSON is engineered to deliver Excellence with Dynamic Styling, Athletic Performance, Smart Comfort along with Advanced Safety. With the introduction of 4WD TUCSON; we have focused on the localisation thus offering competitive pricing for our valued customers. Superior customer experience through innovation is the hallmark of Hyundai Brand DNA. The much awaited 4WD system is an upgradation to TUCSON’s cutting edge technology and will surely raise the excitement in the growing SUV market in India.”

The 4WD is offered in 2.0 Diesel AT GLS variant. Bookings of the 4WD TUCSON is open and available across all Hyundai dealerships in India.

Key features : 4WD System 

The 4WD System comes with - ‘On Demand 4WD Functioning’ which automatically implements Rear Wheel Traction Control by assessing road conditions & maintain utmost traction on rough, lose or slippery surfaces, improving stability while cornering. When driving in this mode the system determines intelligently that there is need for 4WD based on the terrain and the engine driving power automatically get distributed to all 4 wheels without the driver’s intervention. 

The On demand 4WD Functioning system ensures better Fuel Efficiency as intelligent switching ON/OFF for 4WD system, the performance is optimized and there is low wear & tear of mechanical parts. TUCSON 4WD system also offers 4WD Lock mode which helps to activate the 4WD function manually based on user demand, resulting in a torque split of 50:50 between front and rear wheels.

Advanced Traction Cornering Control (ATCC) is an integral feature of TUCSON’s 4WD. It helps to transfer torque to the wheels that have the most grip resulting in improved cornering performance.

With over 4.5 million customers worldwide, TUCSON is one of the best-selling SUV’s across the world and a benchmark in the segment in India. TUCSON’s strong success is apparent from the overwhelming response it has received from experts and also from customers winning 7 big auto awards in India since its launch in November 2016.

Further with Hyundai’s strong commitment towards Safety, the TUCSON AT GL trims in both petrol and diesel have been reinforced with safety features like Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hill Assist Control (HAC), Down Hill Brake Control (DBC) & Brake Assistenhancing the safety and driving performance.

TUCSON: New Prices (Ex-Showroom Delhi) 

Fuel Type	Variant	Price (Rs.)
Petrol	2WD MT	17,99,900
	2WD AT GL	20,99,000
Diesel	2WD MT	19,95,900
	2WD AT GL	22,49,000
	4WD AT GLS	25,19,000

Source : Hyundai

Samsung HMD Odyssey introduces the Ultimate Windows Mixed Reality Experience

Samsung HMD Odyssey provides remarkable immersive experience with Dual AMOLED high-resolution displays, a 110-degree field of view, AKG headphones and built-in 6 DOF inside-out position tracking.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., in partnership with Microsoft, today announced the Samsung HMD Odyssey – the most immersive Windows Mixed Reality (MR) headset in the market. The quick and easy to set up Samsung HMD Odyssey  delivers a premium virtual reality experience, with superior picture quality and the highest resolution display taking consumers to entirely new virtual limits.

“The Samsung HMD Odyssey is a high performing headset, which like all of our products, delivers meaningful innovation to our consumers’ lives” said YG Choi, Senior Vice President of PC Business Team, Samsung Electronics. “Designed in partnership with Microsoft, the Samsung HMD Odyssey transports consumers to the next frontier of Windows Mixed Reality, which introduces to them to a new, industry leading virtual reality experience.”

Lifelike Experiences

With dual 3.5-inch AMOLED displays, the Samsung HMD Odyssey delivers more vibrant colors, and deeper blacks, providing crisper, more lifelike images. The 110-degree field of view allows users to discover paramount virtual experiences around them.

When it comes to sound, the Samsung HMD Odyssey comes with 360° Spatial Sound, providing users with complete surround sound, through premium built-in AKG headphones.

Users can also talk with other gamers, without having to remove the headset, using the fitted array mic.

Incredibly Easy Start

The Windows Mixed Reality experience with the Samsung HMD Odyssey has been designed to give users the very best experience right out of the box. Unlike typical head-mounted displays, you do not need to install any extra motion sensors – simply connect to your PC and get started. With inside-out position tracking, users are not restricted to a limited space during their virtual reality experience.

For a more immersive experience, Samsung HMD Odyssey comes with a Six Degrees of Freedom¹ (6 DOF) sensor allowing for intuitive and natural movements.

With an adjustable control wheel, the Samsung HMD Odyssey is designed to provide a comfortable and snug fit.

Alex Kipman, Technical Fellow at Microsoft said, “We’re excited to welcome the Samsung HMD Odyssey to the Windows Mixed Reality family of devices. This is an incredible product and another important step for the mixed reality journey we are on at Microsoft.  With the Samsung HMD Odyssey, the team at Samsung has developed a Windows Mixed Reality headset that will delight our fans looking to immersive themselves in the world of mixed reality this holiday.”

The Samsung HMD Odyssey comes with integrated AKG headphones and array mics for voice commands, as well as two motion controllers. The Samsung HMD Odyssey will be available later this year in the US, China, Korea, Brazil and Hong Kong, with pre-orders beginning in the US only on October 3^rd.

Source : Samsung

Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What's the difference?

The main difference between the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is size. Neither is more "advanced" than the other. But the Pixel 2 XL has a higher screen resolution and pixel density. It has a bigger battery to accommodate the larger screen, too.  

GOOGLE PIXEL 2 VS. PIXEL 2 XL

	Google Pixel 2	Google Pixel 2 XL
Display size, resolution	5-inch; 1,920x1,080 pixels	6-inch; 2,880x1x440 pixels
Pixel density	441 ppi	538 ppi
Aspect ratio	16:9	18:9
Dimensions (Inches)	5.7x2.7x0.3 in	6.2x3.0x0.3 in
Dimensions (Millimeters)	145.7x69.7x7.8 mm	157.9x76.7x7.9 mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)	5.04 oz; 143g	6.17 oz; 175g
Colors	Just Black, Cleary , Kinda Blue	Just Black, Black and

with thanks : CNET : LINK : for more details

Super Performer Brand Next Gen VERNA Receives Strong Customer Response

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), the country’s second largest car manufacturer and the number one car exporter since inception announced a remarkable feat of recently launched Next Gen VERNA in India. The Super sedan has received more than 15,000 Bookings and more than 124,000 enquiries in just 40 days of its launch in India. 

On Overwhelming customers’ response of Next Gen VERNA Mr. Y K Koo, MD & CEO- Hyundai Motor India Limited said, “The Next Gen VERNA is intelligent by Design - A global product that personifies Hyundai’s Modern Premium Brand. As committed despite the production constraint; we will deliver 12,000 cars before Diwali and 20,000 cars by end of this year at an introductory price. We are happy with great response to Next Gen VERNA and thank our customers and media for their trust in Hyundai Brand.”

With over 8.8 million customers in 66 countries, The Next Gen VERNA is admired brand globally. The Next Gen VERNA is beyond the ordinary and is built on All New K2 platform sharing with Hyundai’s Global Bestseller Elantra, The Next Gen VERNA is a technological marvel developed with Futuristic Design, Dynamic Performance, Super safety, New Technology & Advanced Features.

The Next Gen VERNA is available in both powerful 1.6 litre - Petrol and Diesel engine options. The Next Gen VERNA offers high standards of Ride and Handling along with low NVH offers highest levels of comfort to occupants. Next Gen VERNA is an All-rounder car with Human Technology Connect and 21 Unique New Age Features.

Source : Hyundai

Tata Motors becomes the first OEM in India to deploy Electronic Stability Control (ESC) for Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Tata Motors Limited, a leading Global Automobile Manufacturer showcased the new safety technology – Electronic Stability Control (ESCsmart™) for the range of PRIMA and SIGNA trucks at an event in Chennai today. In addition to this, it also offers Automatic Traction Control (ATC) and Hill Start Aid (HSA) safety technology for the range of trucks and buses which will go a long way in helping prevent truck and bus accidents by increasing vehicle stability and safety.

Developed in partnership with WABCO INDIA, these technologies provide complete value to customers by providing vehicle stability, reducing accident risk, repair cost and improving vehicle uptime, thus enhancing road safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)  functionality is added on Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) which was introduced as a part of regulatory compliance as per CENTRAL MOTORS Vehicle Rules promulgated by Govt. of India for all vehicles more than 12 ton GVW. While ABS contributes significantly to the safety of vehicles under different road conditions, ESC takes the safety to the next level by providing safety under demanding conditions of various handling maneuvers, thereby preventing or minimizing the probability of accidents. This clearly demonstrates Tata Motors’ proactive approach of making available to the INDIAN Truck and Fleet Operators, class-leading technologies through intensive R&D and deep understanding of the operating conditions in India.

Functionally ESC predicts forthcoming instability and automatically intervenes by applying brakes to avoid rollover, skidding and jack-knifing. It measures vehicle’s lateral acceleration, roll about its vertical axis through sensors, and applies brakes on selective wheels to control instability. Benefits to the customers shall be in terms of preventing jack-knifing in tractor-trailer, improve directional stability during dynamic maneuvers, prevent roll over during turning at high speed.

ESC shall be available on Prima – Tractors 4025.S, 4925 and Trucks 2523T, 3123T and 3723T and Signa LPS 4018 and LPS 4923 as well as LPT platforms of 25T, 31T and 37T.

Some of these safety technologies include:

Automatic Traction Control- Prevents wheel spin during acceleration under different surface conditions, especially slippery surface like mining, water and ice. Prevents loss of traction of one or more wheels. This further helps Increase tyre life by averting loss of traction of one or more wheels.

Hill Start Aid- Prevents roll back of vehicle during "Stop & Go" situation on an uphill gradient and helps minimize clutch and brake liner wear.

Source : Tata Motors

Mercedes-Benz ‘Edition C’ hosts new exterior and interior upgrades

Pune: India‘s largest luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz today, enhanced its C-Class portfolio with the addition of the new ‘Edition C’. The ‘Edition C’ hosts new exterior and interior upgrades, enhancing the sportiness of the existing C-Class. With the Edition C, Mercedes-Benz now adds yet another exciting paint option to the C-Class in India–the designo Hyacinth red. The C Class ‘Edition C’ was launched by Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, and will be available across all Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the country, from today.

Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “In today’s dynamic market, constant upgrade of our products is essential for effective life cycle management, and it remains key to our product strategy. At Mercedes-Benz, it remains our endeavour to always keep the customers excited and offer them a fresh product portfolio. Be it latest introductions from our global portfolio, mid-life facelifts or upgrades of existing models, our regular product interventions keep our portfolio new and customers intrigued. The C-Class had been a spectacular success story in the Indian market and has sold over 27,500 units since its debut in India. We are confident that the ‘Edition C’ will retain its top billing and discerning customers will find a lot of value in the product”.

Specification: Exterior

• First: New paint option: designo Hyacinth red

• Front apron spoiler lip and rear spoiler painted in black

• 5 twin spoke light alloy wheels painted in high-gloss black with a high-sheen finish

• ‘Edition C’ exterior badge

• Night package – front twin louvres, mirror housings, beltline and side skirts in black

• LED logo projector for front doors to welcome owners with Mercedes-Benz logo

Specifications: Interior

• Interior cabin with Open-pore black ash wood trim finish

• Sports pedal in stainless steel with embossed rubber studs

• Garmin® Map Pilot SD card navigation system standard across variants of the ‘Edition C’

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class ‘Edition C’ is available with C 200, C 220 d and C 250 d Avantgarde variants. 

Source : Mercedes-Benz

Maruti, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Honda, Mahindra & many others showing Positive signs of Growth in September 2017

Maruti Suzuki India Limited sold a total of 163,071 units in September 2017, growing 9.3% over the same period of last fiscal. This includes 151,400 units in the domestic market and 11,671 units of exports. The Company had sold a total of 149,143 units in September 2016.

Tata Motors - Strong growth in Pick-up (50%), SCV (40%), ILCV (34%) & MHCV (25%) segments drives Tata Motors commercial vehicles sales higher by 29% in Sept 2017

Similarly, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M Ltd.) today announced its auto sales performance for September 2017 which stood at 53,663 vehicles, compared to 46130 vehicles during September 2016, representing a growth of 16%.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd also registered the domestic sales of 50,028 units for the month of September 2017 with a growth of 17.4%.

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), leading manufacturer of passenger cars in India, registered monthly domestic sales of 18,257 units in September 2017 against 15,034 units in the corresponding month last year, registering a growth of 21%.

TVS Motor Company registered a sales growth of 23% increasing from 293,257 units in September 2016 to 359,850 units registered in the month of September 2017.

Does it mean, Country is coming out of the issues raised by Note Bandi as well as the new GST sentiments? Good signs at last. Hope the economy will start recovering now. 

Presales start for new Audi A8

At the Audi Summit in Barcelona the brand with the Four Rings celebrated the world premiere of the new Audi A8. Customers in Germany will be able to order the luxury sedan from October 5. With strikingly stylish design, first-class chassis solutions, a touch operating concept and the electrification of all drive units, the fourth generation of the A8 provides the latest reference for Vorsprung durch Technik. The basic price in Germany for the flagship is 90,600 euros; the long-wheelbase version starts at 94,100 euros.

The Audi A8 starts out in the German market with two V6 turbo engines: a 3.0 TDI and a 3.0 TFSI. The diesel unit with a displacement of 2,967 cc produces 210 kW (286 hp) and develops 600 Nm (442.5 lb-ft) of torque. It propels the A8 with its standard-fit quattro drive from zero to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 5.9 seconds and on up to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155.3 mph). Its NEDC fuel consumption is just 5.8 to 5.6 liters* per 100 kilometers (40.6-42.0 US mpg). This corresponds to CO2 emissions of 152 to 145* grams per kilometer (244.6-233.4 g/mi). The 3.0-liter turbocharged direct injection gasoline engine delivers output of 250 kW (340 hp) with torque of 500 Nm (368.8 lb-ft). As a result, the A8 takes 5.6 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph), and the A8 L takes 5.7 seconds. Fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is between 7.8 and 7.5 liters* (30.2-31.4 US mpg) for both body variants; CO2 emissions are between 178 and 171* grams per kilometer (286.5-275.2 g/mi

Both engines use a belt alternator starter, which lies at the heart of the 48-volt main electrical system. This mild-hybrid technology enables coasting with the engine switched off and a smooth restart. It also has an extended start/stop function and a high recuperation output of up to 12 kW thanks to energy recovered during braking. The combined effect of these measures is to bring down the fuel consumption of the efficient engines even further – by as much as 0.7 liters (0.2 US gal) per 100 kilometers (62.1 mi) in real driving conditions.

The luxury sedan comes with a three-liter diesel unit in the Audi A8 50 TDI quattro, while the Audi A8 55 TFSI quattro features a V6 gasoline engine. The A8 is the first production model to feature the brand’s new type designation clearly at the rear. The reference value for the double-digit number combination is the power output of the individual model in kilowatts. The numeral combinations increase in increments comprising five designations each, and they represent the hierarchy within both the respective model ranges and the brand’s overall model portfolio. Thus the numeral combination “50” will in future appear on the back of those models which deliver between 210 and 230 kW of power; “55” stands for the power output range between 245 and 275 kW. This new system will allow Audi to standardize the type designations for its worldwide range of automobiles.

The Audi A8 signals the dawning of a new design era for the entire brand. It stands for sporty elegance, progressive status and sophistication. The front-end with its broad, upright Singleframe grille, the fluidly muscular vehicle body, and the rear with the continuous light strip exude a strong presence. The interior has a deliberate minimalist feel. Audi carries its high quality standards into the digital age with a revolutionary operating concept. Two touch displays located in the center slot almost seamlessly into the high-gloss black surface thanks to black-panel technology. When the driver activates a function on these displays with a finger, they hear and feel a click by way of confirmation. The combination of acoustic and haptic feedback along with common touch gestures such as swiping make the new MMI touch response safe, intuitive and quick to use.

With more than 40 driver assistance systems, the A8 becomes the new gold standard among the competition. It is the world’s first production automobile to have been developed specially for conditional automated driving. The Audi AI traffic jam pilot will take charge of driving in slow-moving traffic at up to 60 km/h (37.3 mph) on highways and multi-lane motorways with a physical barrier separating the two directions of traffic. From 2018, Audi will gradually be taking piloted driving functions such as parking pilot, garage pilot and traffic jam pilot into production, depending on the legal situation in the particular country. During piloted driving, a central driver assistance controller now permanently computes an image of the surroundings by merging the sensor data. In addition to the radar sensors, a front camera and the ultrasonic sensors, Audi is the first car manufacturer also to use a laser scanner.

The new Audi A8 will be produced at the Neckarsulm plant in purpose-built production facilities and will be launched onto the German market at the end of November 2017. Customers can order the luxury sedan from Thursday, October 5. 

Source : AUDI