5 CONCEPT CARS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE
It wasn't meant to be for these exciting concept cars
Rolls Royce unveils the Amethyst Droptail special commission
The coupe roadster gets adorned with rare amethyst gems on the speedometer dials and the Spirit of Ecstacy
Renault Strengthens Network In Goa And Chhattisgarh
In one week, Renault India has inaugurated five dealerships across two states – Goa and Chhattisgarh. Two showrooms and workshops were opened in Panjim, Margao and Verna, all in the western state of Goa. On the other hand, to strengthen its presence and serve a broader audience in the relatively larger state of Chhattisgarh, the Indian arm of the French automaker opened three showrooms and workshops in Bilaspur, Ambikapur and Korba.
Renault India has more than 450 sales and over 500 service touchpoints, including 230+ ‘Workshop on Wheels’. It presently sells three models in one of the largest automobile markets in the world – Kiger, Triber and Kwid. With fresh investments lined up, the brand is expected to expand its product portfolio by mid-decade.
Air New Zealand Expands Its Order Books
As part of its 2023 annual results announcement, Air New Zealand confirmed it will further strengthen its fleet with an additional four aircraft – two Airbus A321neo and two ATR72-600. The two new 214-seat A321neo planes will join New Zealand’s flag carrier on a 12-year lease, boosting capacity by more than 9,000 weekly seats. The ATR duo, on the other hand, will help strengthen the airline’s domestic network, each with a 68-seat configuration (adding over 5,700 weekly seats). All four aircraft mentioned above will join the carrier’s fleet in late 2024.
Besides those, Air New Zealand also awaits the delivery of two previously ordered eight Boeing 787 Dreamliners and four Airbus A321s. Although their delivery timelines stretch to 2028, at least two A321Neo jets are due for delivery in the next 12 months. That’s not all. More details are awaited on a leased Boeing 777-300ER, which will add 3,000 weekly seats to the airline’s international network. Once in service, the 777-300 fleet count will rise to eight.
Mercedes Refreshes EQA And EQB EVs
Better range, tweaked design and improved features are among the changes.
Qantas To Buy 12 Boeing 787 Airplanes
Australia’s largest airline and flag carrier, Qantas, has zeroed down on new Boeing widebody jets to further modernise its fleet. Specifically, Qantas will purchase twelve 787 Dreamliner aircraft, all powered by GE engines, from the American firm. Four aeroplanes will be 787-9, and eight jets will be 787-10. Where the former derivative can fly up to 7,565 nautical miles (14,010 km), the latter variant, the largest of the 787 family, has a range of 6,330 nautical miles (11,730 km). The new aircraft will join Qantas’ existing fleet of 14 787-9 planes.
Indigo Leases 10 Jets To Strengthen Fleet
To further expand its reach in India and overseas, Indigo has inked a lease agreement with Singapore-headquartered BOC Aviation. The contract involves the latter to supply 10 Airbus A320Neo aircraft to the former. All jets in the equation are powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, and the delivery process should be completed before the calendar reads 2024.
With a fleet of more than 300 aircraft, Indigo operates around 1,900 flights daily and connects 79 destinations in its home country. Earlier this week, the airline confirmed that it will add two new international destinations to its portfolio next month.
Volvo To Unveil A New EV Soon
Geely-backed Volvo Cars has announced that on November 12, 2023, it will unveil an all-new electric vehicle (EV). Dubbed EM90, it will become the Swedish brand’s first-ever fully electric “premium” MPV. Although the company hasn’t revealed any other details at the moment, a calculated guess would lead many to believe that the upcoming people mover is likely to share many of its bits, including the platform and powertrain, with the EX90 electric SUV. In typical Volvo fashion, however, more teasers and bit-by-bit revelations will follow until the D day arrives.