From sporty backpacks to funky garment bags, the German luxury car maker Audi has added a range of stylish bags to their merchandise collection in India. Designed with style and funk, the collection includes a shoulder bag, backpack, sports bad, garment bag and travel bag.

The shoulder bags are available in two versions the Audi Messenger bag- A1 and the Audi Messenger bag Heritage. The A1 is a two-in-one bag with an ingenious reversible cover with compartments for mobile phone and PDA, zipped compartments and a padded interior compartment for a laptop. The Heritage is a shoulder bag with large main section, organizer dividers, front pouch with zip and adjustable strap with old quattro logo and Audi Sports logo embossed on the front and old Audi logo on the rear .

Designed for mobility the Audi Backpack has a large main section, padded 15and733; laptop pouch on the back side, numerous organizer compartments. Another striking feature is the zipped pocket integrated into the flap on the front of the bag. Compact and convenient, the Sports bag is more like a gym bag which is water-repellent and spacious. It has a large main compartment with a padded baseplate and two zipped pockets with the inside mesh pockets are best suited for small items.

Audi Travel Bag comes with a large compartment padded with a stable baseplate and robust treaded wheels. Other practical highlights of the bag include flat zipped compartment on the front and the zipped pocket with a shoe bag on the side.

Practical and stylish, the Garment bag with a shoulder strap is a convenient travel companion for those on the run. The bag has three front pockets and spacious interiors with hooks for hanging and removable shoe bag.

The large main compartment with padded base plate offers plenty of room for sports kit and two zipped pockets and the inside mesh pockets are best suited for small items.

Audi shoulder bags are tagged between Rs.5,599 and Rs.7,849, the backpack at Rs.12,399, the sports bag at Rs.8,549, travel bag at Rs. 13,549 and garment bag at Rs. 15,799.

The biking scenario in our country has witnessed a sea of change. Initially biking only meant a mode of transport to commute from one place to another. But nowadays, biking isn't a mode of transport but a channel to explore new destnations. But it isn't an easy task to tour and travel long distances on two-wheels without proper touring accessories, since normal bags are bulky and aren't designed to be loaded on motorcycles. To help bikers facing this dilemma, Rynox Gears have introduced its range of touring and riding accessories.

First up is the Optimus-S tank-cum-tail bag, which employs suction to clamp the bag on the tank instead of magnets which is useful for bikers who own motorcycles with fibre tanks like Yamaha FZ, KTM Duke, etc. With the Optimus-S, Rynox becomes the first enterprise to provide suction based tank bags in our country. A magnetic version of the bag is also available and is titled Optimus-M which with its clever engineering can be also use as a back bag.

Next in line is Navigator, which is a compact mini-tank bag to hold your essentials for daily commute and short rides. Apart from tank-bags bikers also have an option of picking up a saddlebag which has a capacity of 75-litre which makes it the highest capacity saddlebag on sale in the market. Apart from the touring accessories, Rynox have introduced two new riding gloves, Kombat and Rampage.

The Kombat is gauntlet gloves with carbon fibre knuckle protector and fabricated from leather and double-stitched Kevlar fabric with EVA padding. The Rampage is a glove more suited for city riding with knuckle protectors and equipped with EVA padding. Both the gloves have a colour option of red, grey and black.

Mercedes-Benz's latest attempt to create a greater connect with customers and prospective ones is the new 'myMBFS' iPhone and iPad app on the App store which has been launched in association with Daimler Financial Services (DFS). The myMBFS app is available for free download and is compatible with devices running iOS 5.0 or later, including the new iPhone.

The key functions of the myMBFS app are promotions, estimator, get quote, dealer locator and contact us.

Here's what these functions do:

andbull; The Promotions function allows users to see the latest promotions and offers on Mercedes-Benz cars.

andbull; The Estimator function allows users to select a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, calculate the cost and then select a monthly payment amount for the final price along with the length of the contract.

andbull; The Get Quote function then requires the user to provide a few contact details and request a detailed vehicle quote from a local dealer.

andbull; The Dealer Locator function allows users to view local Mercedes-Benz dealers in the area. Users can then call or map the dealer location using the iPhone/iPad's internal mapping client.

andbull; The Contact Us function displays direct contact information for users to directly consult with Daimler Financial Services for more information.

Jointly developed in the US and Singapore, the 'myMBFS' App is fully localised to India specific requirements. An added bonus is the dual language functionality which supports international as well as local target groups.

Sidhartha Nair, Managing Director, Daimler Financial Services India, said, "Our customer base today, who aspire to own a Mercedes-Benz car, are technology savvy. They are always in touch with the world on the go. Our 'myMBFS' application not only gives them an access to the world of Mercedes-Benz but also helps them in their purchase and finance decisions. This app will help us deliver our customer centric services, in the digital world, through devices to the palm of our customers. The fascination for innovative technology has always guided us to pioneer better ways to connect with the customer. This app is specifically tailored for India, ensuring that customers have access to information relevant to them."

I recently learned that the seductive sound of a Ferrari's V12 engine reaches the ears of the driver and the passengers because the intake noise is channelled from the filter casings into the cabin. Now that's a special kind of symphony, which sadly most of us can't buy weekend passes for. But the good news however is that the Italian sports car maker has just launched an extensive range of earphones and headphones in collaboration with Logic3.

Classified into two categories, namely the Scuderia Ferrari Collection and the Ferrari Cavallino Collection these audio devices are available at www.Ferrari.com and will also be available through other premium retailers shortly.

Items under the Scuderia Ferrari Collection find their inspiration from the competition, speed and technological innovations of the Ferrari Formula One Team, while the Ferrari Cavallino Collection is deeply influenced by the euphoric experience of driving Ferrari's GT road cars.

Mirroring Ferrari's F1 styling, the Scuderia Ferrari Collection includes both On-Ear and Over-Ear Headphones starting from a price of ($170) Rs 9,280 for the S100 earphones all the way up to ($451) Rs 24,621 for the high-end R300 headphone models. Two Bluetooth enabled dock station speakers are also part of this line, and are priced at ($682) Rs 37,232 and ($853) Rs 46,567 respectively.

Headphones and Earphones under the Scuderia Ferrari Collection however vary significantly in pricing depending on the item you pick. Crafted with aluminium housings and covered in hand-stitched, lambskin leather the items under this collection start at ($227) Rs 12,392 and cap out at ($492) Rs 26,859. A separate Ferrari Cavallino GT1 Air Dock Station is also available for ($1,039) Rs 56,721.

The Ferrari team has been closely involved with Logic3 throughout the entire process, ensuring the marque's characteristic style, design and personality are captured within every product.

The most harmful external agents that reside within the four walls of our beloved automobiles are often invisible to the naked eye. This includes everything imaginable from dust mite, pollen, bacteria, fungi, virus, microbes etc which when inhaled could lead to serious respiratory disorders and other bodily complications.

While some modern day sedans and hatchbacks the Hyundai Verna for instance come with factory fitted air ionizers, most vehicles that are equally prone to surface adhering, dust mite, pollen, bacteria, fungi, virus, microbes etc offer their occupants little or no protection against such potentially harmful particles.

To better tackle this challenge Sharp has introduced a portable Plasmacluster Car Ion Generator IG-BC2A that uses the firms patented air purification technology to remove troublesome airborne mold spores, allergens and unpleasant smells such as sweat and cigarettes by emitting ions quietly and efficiently.

Verified and certified by 18 Independent renowned research organizations across the world Sharp's Plasmacluster Car Ion Generator protects the driver and co passengers against 29 types of harmful airborne substances.

Besides the above stated therapeutic benefits Sharp's latest automotive appliance has also proven to increase alertness, concentration and reaction time as the pure air that it helps circulate goes right into your blood stream thus improving circulation and providing relaxation.

Davis Devan:

A three-wheeler that looks more like a boat on wheels than a conventional automobile, 13 of these absolutely unique cars were produced. The two-door design incorporates a 4-cylinder 60PS engine.

BMW Isetta:

Between 1956 and 1962, German car manufacturer BMW produced the Isetta, based on an Italian design created by a refrigerator manufacturing company. This miniscule single-seater boasted a fridge-type outward opening front end, so the car had to be literally entered through the front This car came in multiple variations across this six-year period, including 3- and 4-wheeler variants, and sold a whopping 161,360 units. The Isetta boasted a 298cc single-cylinder 4-stroke engine, along with one the most idiosyncratic designs ever.

Peel P-50:

Another design sporting three wheels, the Peel P-50 has the exclusive distinction of being the world's smallest production car. Equipped with a DKW 49cc 4.2PS engine, this car barely accommodates a single person, and doesn't even have a reverse gear So if you wish to go backwards, the only way to accomplish this is by getting out and physically hauling the car in the desired direction.

Stout Scarab:

Left of field designs though aren't unique to small cars as the Stout Scarab clearly illustrates. Created at the Stout Motor Company in the US in the 1930s, this vehicle is cited as the first ever mass produced mini van in the world. It's difficult to believe that every soccer mom's favourite ride evolved from this specimen, but this car did come furnished with some intriguing features, such as portable table, and a seat that could swivel around to face the back. It ran on a Ford flathead V8 engine mounted in the rear.

Citroen 2 CV Cogolin:

Named after the French city where it was utilised, this absolutely astounding piece of engineering was the brainchild of a French fireman. It is said that looks can be deceptive, but in this instance that doesn't hold true as the Cogolin is indeed the front ends of two Citroen 2 CVs welded through the middle, and yes, the car can be driven as normal in either direction The purpose of this design was to assist the firemen of the town of Cogolin navigate through treacherous situations with relative ease.

Weird and wonderful, there's no other way to describe these cars, and their eccentric characteristics will ensure that their names will forever be etched in automotive folklore.

When fans fire up their PlayStation3 (PS3) systems they'll have a chance to become part of Corvette history. Chevrolet and Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC (SCEA) are giving gamers a first-of-its-kind driving experience by offering a camouflaged Corvette C7 Test Prototype, to be debuted in January 2013, as a vehicle download in the critically acclaimed racing game Gran Turismo 5.

Chevrolet and Polyphony Digital Inc, the developers of the award-winning Gran Turismo franchise, collaborated to provide an authentic driving experience in a seventh-generation Corvette prototype currently available to only a handful of people in the world.

During the creation of the virtual Corvette prototype, careful attention was paid to the tiniest details from the creases and wrinkles in the soft camouflage used to disguise the new design to specific driving characteristics that are currently being tuned and refined ahead of the vehicle's official debut in January.

"Until now, only the most skilled drivers on the Corvette team have been authorised to push the test prototypes to the limits on some of the most challenging track surfaces in the world," said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Global Marketing. "Through this unique collaboration with Gran Turismo, Chevrolet is able, for the first time, to give performance car enthusiasts access to such an exclusive driving experience."

All six previous generations of the Corvette have been available to players of the Gran Turismo series since the game's inception and the Chevrolet nameplate remains one of the most popular vehicles to race. The camouflaged Corvette C7 Test Prototype is immediately available for download through the PlayStation Store from the PlayStation3 at no additional cost. It can be driven on some of the world's renowned race tracks, including Daytona International Speedway and the infamous Nurburgring andndash; one of the track surfaces used in testing to evaluate the new Corvette's driving dynamics.

"Gran Turismo has had many firsts and we're excited to partner with Chevrolet for yet another andndash; bringing the first-ever Chevrolet prototype vehicle into a racing game," said Kazunori Yamauchi, president of Polyphony Digital, Inc. "As car enthusiasts, we're thrilled to give fans this extraordinary level of access to the seventh generation Corvette that otherwise would not be possible."

The Gran Turismo series has sold more than 67 million games since its inception and remains the highest selling PlayStation-exclusive franchise of all time.

If you have the top end variant of the XUV5OO, Mahindra's Blue Sense app will enable you to control the infotainment system and view vital information such as climate control temperature, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), fuel consumption, etc besides warnings of an open door or a refuel. Just pair the android based smartphone to the car's infotainment system via Bluetooth.

"The Mahindra Blue Sense App is designed to take user experience to the next level. In keeping with our practice of bringing in many firsts on the XUV5OO, this first of its kind smart app will provide greater convenience, accessibility and information of the driver as well as co-passengers to ensure a safe, pleasurable and hassle-free driving experience. We have ensured that over 41,000 existing XUV5OO owners can also upgrade their XUV5OO with the Mahindra Blue Sense App. They just have to contact their nearest authorised dealership," said Rajan Wadhera, Chief Executive andndash; Technology, Product Development andamp; Sourcing, Mahindra andamp; Mahindra.
Those with an earlier version of the infotainment system will have to update to version 04.04.00 at a Mahindra dealership.

Earlier Mahindra had introduced a 'Tell Tale App' that informs XUV5OO owners about the functions of the instrument cluster indications, that downloaded by more than 7,000 owners.

Over 41,000 units of the benchmark SUV have been sold in India.

Swatch is bringing back the bling with their new Night Glows collection, consisting of six watches called DreamNight Rose, DreamNight Yellow, Rose Pearl Black, Yellow Pearl Black, Charcoal Medal Rose and Charcoal Medal Yellow, with two models each from its Irony Chrono, Medium and Big lines collection.

Clean, elegant and stylish, the Night Glows Collection's signature two-tone gold and black colour scheme garnished with crystals will certainly ramp up your street-cred to a whole new level, and will make for a pretty good Christmas gift too. The prices range between $150 (Rs 8371) and $205 (Rs 11,440).

The CarBot can seamlessly controlled through a free downloadable app and a smartphone adapter which comes included in the package, and is inserted in the standard 3.5mm earphone jack of your iPhoneandreg;, iPadandreg;, iPod touchandreg; or Androidandtrade; device.

You can choose from multiple game play modes such as the conventional racing mode, a drift mode and multiplayer battling which allows you to 'shoot' infrared shells at other CarBots. You can even build a maze and the CarBot will use its sensors to navigate through it in Maze mode.

Each CarBot operates on a different frequency, so racing against your friends will never be a problem, and with a built-in battery and USB flip down charger, battery costs are minimised, giving the user hours of inexpensive playtime and fun with the CarBot

The CarBot is available for prices below $30 (Rs 1674).