MEET HOT Mia Khalifa

New-Gen Chevrolet Sail Coming Soon

The last update that we saw on both, the Sail sedan and the hatchback, was just before the Diwali season, but GM India now has a new plan for 2015. Chevrolet is gearing up to bring in the new-gen Sail sedan and from what we can see, it looks like a significant one; in terms of design at least.
The new Chevrolet Sail 3 was unveiled at the Guangzhou Motor Show in China and will make its way to India soon. In terms of exterior design, it looks significantly more refined and the redesigned model gets a larger dual-port grille flanked by sweptback head-lamps.
It is not only longer and wider than its predecessor, but also has a 35mm longer wheelbase
. The company also revealed the trunk can hold 366-litres of luggage.
There will be no changes as far as the engine is concerned, but we hope to see the option of an automated manual transmission make its way into the car. Chevrolet has plans to introduce new products in the Indian market and there are also rumours of its sub-brand - Opel - coming to India to strengthen the company's small car portfolio.

All You Need to Know: Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

Opulent, extravagant, palatial, and what not. I could go on and on with a list of adjectives befitting the Mercedes-Maybach S600, but considering the fact that it involves 'S-Class' and 'Maybach', we had it coming, didn't we? In the company's own words, the Mercedes-Maybach sub-brand offers 'peerless exclusivity' and there's definitely no contesting that statement.
Interestingly, the opulence seems to have been carried over to the car's mechanicals too. Though not a lot of details about the mechanicals are available about the Mercedes-Maybach S600, it powered by a 6.0-litre V12 twin-turbocharged motor that develops 523 horses and 830Nm of torque. It also gets a top-speed of 249Km/h.
Just so you know, the Mercedes-Maybach S600 will be launched in US in April, 2015.
That said, here are the rest of the details:

a. Exteriors: Other than the extended wheelbase (it is 8.1-inches longer than the S-Class), the Mercedes-Maybach S600 gets a specially designed side profile, which retains design elements typical to the S-Class like the dome-shaped roofline. Furthermore, the rear door has been shortened by 2.6 inches and has no triangular window, which help create a sense of exceptional exclusivity. The the C-pillars on both sides get the Maybach Manufaktur logo - a double M inside an arched triangle.
Other subtle changes include 3 double louvres in chrome within the radiator trim, and additional vertical chrome trim. This design theme is observed at the tail end too.

b. Interiors: Inside, the front center armrests with nappa leather feature embossed Maybach crests, handstitched door trim, nappa leather roof liner, chrome-plated tweeter grilles and fiber-optic cables for the ambience lighting to the side on the armrest. The standard Exclusive trim package includes fine-wood trim with handcrafted feel surrounding the entire rear seating system.
c. Features:
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class gets several standard provisions, including, PRE-SAFE Brake with Pedestrian Recognition, DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist, BAS PLUS with Cross- Traffic Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus and Night View Assist Plus.
Executive seats in the rear get what the company calls 'innovative seat cushion airbag', i.e. the airbag is located under the seat cushion upholstery, but on top of the plastic seat shell, which is moved by the seat mechanisms. Long story short, this means that the airbag is always in the right position relative to the occupant.
d. Other Highlights:
1. AIR-BALANCE package which includes fragrancing, ionization and filtration. A premium room fragrance has been designed exclusively for this model and the AGARWOOD bottle itself is adorned with Maybach lettering.
2. Two high-quality, handcrafted champagne flutes.
3. Panoramic sliding sunroof with optional MAGIC SKY CONTROL, which allows the colour of the glass to be switched to light or dark.

MINI Reveals Electric Kick Scooter - Citysurfer

MINI has introduced the Citysurfer concept and no, it is not a car; it is in fact a scooter. It is a concept though, but a very interesting one for sure. This is a kick scooter featuring an electric drive capable of reaching a top speed of 25 km/h.
It is light and weighs 18 kg and features a lithium-ion battery mounted within the frame which can be charged by using a 12-volt car socket or a regular household socket.
According to the people at MINI, the electric scooter has a range between 15 to 25 km and the electric motor is activated in only after a certain minimum speed is achieved the old fashioned way by the rider's own thrust.

There is also brake energy regeneration and the kick scooter can be folded to store in the trunk of a matching MINI. Deactivating the electric motor is done by using a brake lever while the pneumatic tires are suitable for taking the Citysurfer concept through bumpy roads.
Independent front & rear hydraulic disc brakes take care of braking duties and MINI has also installed a phone holder capable of charging your phone while on the go. What more do you need, right?

Tech Deals of the Week: iPhone 6, Google Nexus 6, Sony PlayStation 4

This week, you can grab the Apple iPhone 6 or the iPhone 6 Plus with cashback offers, swap that old smartphone lying in your drawer for an instant discount on a brand new Google Nexus 6, or grab some really funky headphones and speakers, or get the Sony PlayStation 4 at a discount. There's still a lot more on offer, just keep reading to spot the hottest tech deals of the week.
1. Cashback on iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and other Apple products at PaytmPaytm is offering cashback on Apple iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and a few other select Apple products on its store. The cashback will be in the form of a deposit into their mobile wallet. The money can be used to buy products or pay for your monthly mobile or DTH bills and even pre-paid connections. On the iPhone 6 Plus 16GB, you can get a cashback of Rs. 9,000 using promo code A9K. That brings down the effective price of the device to just Rs. 53,500. On the iPhone 6 64GB
you can get a cashback of Rs. 6,000 using promo code A6K, making it effectively worth Rs. 56,500. You can also grab the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch for Rs. 58,129 (effective). Paytm's sellers sell genuine products, and the goods come with manufacturer warranty. The cashback is credited within 24 hours of shipping for pre-paid orders, and within a few days after delivery for cash-on-delivery orders. Stocks are limited so don't spend a lot of time thinking if you're really looking to buy one.
Link: Paytm Apple Store
2. Launch offers on the Google Nexus 6The Google Nexus 6 is finally available for pre-order on Flipkart. The big-screen smartphone has limited period launch offers on Flipkart currently. Flipkart is giving away three months worth of Flipkart First membership, its loyalty program, and selected e-books for free. You can also exchange your existing smartphone for a brand new Google Nexus 6 for an instant discount up to Rs. 10,000. The exchange offer is currently available only on the 64GB variants of the Nexus 6. To exchange your old device you need to enter details of your device before making a purchase. The device needs to be in working condition, and the discount will depend on which device you're swapping. You may get a better price for your device outside but Flipkart's exchange offers are easier, hassle-free ways to get rid of your old devices. There's an EMI offer as well where you can get a cashback up to Rs. 1,500 when you convert your transaction into EMIs on an HDFC or ICICI Bank card.
Price: Rs. 43,999 for 32GB, Rs. 48,999 for 64GB
Link: Flipkart
3. BenQ 24-inch Full HD LED monitorAmazon has discounted the BenQ 24-inch LED monitor to Rs. 12,176 (regular Rs. 16,247) this week. If you're looking to replace your old computer monitor, or need to add a new full HD display to your existing workstation, this is a pretty good option. The BenQ LED monitor includes support for MHL connections, enabling streaming from MHL compatible devices. There's a Low Blue Light mode to prevent eye strain for longer periods of usage. It's basically a way to reduce the amount of blue light the monitor produces, to prevent eye damage. The monitor offers a native resolution of 1920x1080, and comes in a sleek form factor. Amazon only has a few units under the discounted pricing, expected to run out of stock pretty quickly.
Price: Rs. 12,176 (regular Rs. 16,247)
Link: Amazon
4. Denon AH-D310 headphonesCroma is selling the Denon AH-D310 headphones at a discounted price of Rs. 1,994 this week. These headphones are currently selling for around Rs. 2,650 on Snapdeal, and at Rs. 2,990 on Amazon India. These headphones are powered by a 42mm driver that promises a clear and dynamic sound. These over-the-head headphones with with comfortable ear pads, and a contour shaped headband for easier fitting and comfort. These headphones come with a 1.3m cable, a 3.5mm gold-plated stereo plug, and a microphone along with a three-button remote for making or receiving calls while on the go. At its current price, the Denon AH-D310 headphones are a must-buy.
Price: Rs. 1,994 (MRP Rs. 2,999)
Link: Croma Retail
5. Sony PlayStation 4 cashback offerPaytm is offering a cashback of Rs. 7,000 on the Sony PlayStation 4, bringing down the effective price of the console to just Rs. 30,482. The console is selling for around Rs. 36,000 online, while the offline prices are somewhere around Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 36,000. You'll need to use the promo code PS7000 to get the cashback, which is in the form of a deposit into your Paytm mobile wallet. The amount can then be used to buy products on Paytm or for making transactions using your wallet on other sites where Paytm wallet is accepted. At this price tag, it's a no-brainer to grab the PlayStation 4. You'll save up enough to grab two games at least!
Price: Rs. 30,482 (effective)
Link: Paytm
6. Sony DR-BTN200 wireless headphonesAmazon is selling the Sony DR-BTN200 wireless headphones for Rs. 4,750 (MRP Rs. 7,990) this week. That's a lot cheaper than Snapdeal (Rs. 6,256) and Paytm (Rs. 7,313). The Sony DR-BTN200 are capable of wirelessly pairing up with a Bluetooth-capable device with just one touch. The headphones promise noise suppression, and each cancellation that would come handy for even phone calls. Sony claims that the headphones can last up to 40 hours on a single charge if used for music playback only. The current verified purchase reviews on the listing at Amazon are all positive. At its current price, these Sony DR-BTN200 come highly recommended!
Price: Rs. 4,750 (MRP Rs. 7,990)
Link: Amazon
7. Sennheiser HDR 160 over ear headphonesYou can grab the Sennheiser HDR 160 over-ear headphones at an effective price of Rs. 5,593 (regular Rs. 7,990) on Paytm this week. These wireless headphones are normally selling at their regular price of Rs. 7,990 on eBay India, and Snapdeal. The offer on Paytm includes a cashback, like the offers mentioned above, and will be deposited in a virtual wallet on the company's site. The reason it still holds value is because we all have bills to pay, and this virtual cash can be used there.
The Sennheiser HDR 160 runs on two AAA NiMH rechargeable batteries which ship with the package. The headphones offer a good bass response, and a great sound quality. There's no active noise cancellation though, but the affordable price tag, and the wireless nature pretty much makes up for it. It does offer a decent amount of noise isolation.
Price: Rs. 5,593 (effective)
Link: Paytm
8. Clearance sale on speakers and headphones at FlipkartFlipkart is running a clearance sale on select speakers and headphones. If you're looking for really cheap, temporary 2.0 speaker systems you might want to check out this sale. Flipkart-owned brand DigiFlip is selling for around Rs. 399 for a pair of mini USB speakers. You can grab a DigiFlip Bluetooth Speaker with FM tuner for Rs. 1499 (regular Rs. 2000). If you want something bigger, the Philips DSP 54U 5.1 channel speaker system is available for Rs. 3,999 (MRP Rs. 6,299). Apart from speakers, there are headphones up for sale from Panasonic, Sennheiser, Sony, Philips, and others. These items on sale are very limited in stock, so expect them to fly off the virtual shelves in a matter of hours, if not minutes.
Link: Flipkart

How to Download and Use Google Maps for Android, iOS Without Internet

Lost in Nowhereland with no Internet connection as far as you can see? As always, Google Maps can help you find your way back, as long as you have an iOS or an Android device, even if you are offline. Google recently added a feature to Google Maps, which lets you save maps to your phone.
Yes, you can now check maps even when there is no Internet connection. The downside is that you will not have access to route information, addresses, navigation, traffic, and a host of other data that require an Internet connection. However, having map data for reference might just save you a lot of time. Here's how to use this nifty feature on iOS and Android. The steps are identical for both platforms.
 
What you need to use this feature

You're going to need an Android or iOS device. Unfortunately, this feature isn't available on other platforms. Google Maps version 3, which was released last week on iOS, added support for offline maps. Android users, be sure to update to Google Maps version 8 before following the steps listed below.


How to save maps offline?

1. To use this feature, first sign in to your Google account to use this feature.


2. Type "OK Maps" in the search bar and hit the search button. A dialog at the top of the map asks "Save this map?" with a Save button at the bottom of the screen.

3. At this point, you can zoom in or out, and move the map, to select the area you want to save. Everything that is on-screen gets downloaded, so if you zoom out to save the entire Delhi area, for example, then you can later zoom in to see the individual localities and streets.

4. Once you've selected the area, tap the Save button at the bottom of the screen. A dialogue box pops up and you are asked to enter a name for the map. Just enter a name and tap on Save.

5. Accessing offline maps is easy. Just tap the 'person' icon, which is next to the directions icon on the search bar. This will take you to your profile. Scroll to the bottom to see your saved maps. You can rename saved maps in case you plan to save more than one.

There are certain limitations to saving offline maps. Zoom out too far and you will see an error saying that the map area can't be saved because it is too large. We were able to save almost all of Delhi, but Google Maps deemed the area "too large" when we tried to save National Capital Region (NCR).
There's nothing stopping you from saving multiple maps to cover a large area, in case you're worried about that. Another limitation is that map data is available only for 30 days. You'll have to download maps again after this.
The good thing is that the saved map of Delhi occupied just 9.9 MB of space on our phones. That's good news for those who are running low on storage space.

Have you ever saved Google Maps and used them offline? Ever been knocked offline, lost and wished you had access to offline maps? Tell us about it in the comments section below

Hyundai ix25 Compact SUV's Production Model Unveiled; India Launch in 2015

Hyundai, the South Korean automaker, recently showcased the production-ready model of the ix25 at the 2014 Guangzhou Auto Show. The concept of the model was unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year. The compact SUV is likely to be launched in India next year since the company has already started testing the vehicle here. Upon its launch here, the car will take on the likes of Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano and Ford EcoSport.

Based on the company's evolved 'Fluidic Sculpture 2.0' design philosophy, the ix25 takes it design cues from the Santa Fe. Measuring 4270mm in length, 1780mm in width, 1630mm in height, the car is slightly smaller than the Duster. That said, the 2590mm of wheelbase ensures a spacious cabin for five passengers.

While the ix25 will be offered in two petrol engine options, 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre, in China, the India-bound model will be made available with a different set of engines. We expect the Indian model to be powered by a 1.4-litre VTVT and a 1.6-litre CRDi diesel, the same pair that also power the Hyundi Verna.