The Hyundai Elite i20 Facelift, a car introduced at this year’s Auto Expo, is the South Korean automaker’s best selling car now. In March 2018, the Hyundai Elite i20 Facelift sold 13,319 units, putting it way ahead of the next best selling Hyundai car – the Grand i10, which sold 12,476 units in the same period. However, the Elite i20 is still significantly behind India’s best selling premium hatchback – the Maruti Baleno, which closed March 2018 with sales of a whopping 16,254 units.

The Elite i20’s current success in India is mainly due to the fact that the car continues to remain fresh, more than 3 years after launch. The design of the car has stood the test of time and the hatchback continues to look contemporary despite new competition and the years passing by. The facelift has made the rear of the car look more butch and the sleekness of the pre-facelift model is no longer there. However, buyers seem to be voting for the new styling with their wallets.

Sales of the Elite i20 Facelift could continue strongly in the coming months as Hyundai is all set to introduce a CVT automatic gearbox with the 1.2 liter petrol engine of the car. Currently, there is no automatic gearbox on offer in the Elite i20 even as both the Honda Jazz and Maruti Baleno offer such an option. So, the addition of the new AT variants could push up sales by at least a 1,000 monthly units as a lot of premium hatchback buyers in India now seek the comfort and convenience of an automatic gearbox.

The diesel version of the Elite i20 Facelift will continue to offer only a manual gearbox – a 6 speed unit. The petrol motor displaces 1.2 liters and pushes out about 82 Bhp and 115 Nm. The diesel displaces 1.4 liters, gets a turbocharger, and makes 89 Bhp-220 Nm. For those who like peppy performance, the diesel engine is the pick of the lot. The Elite i20 comes with premium interiors and a lot of features that give it an air of sophistication. Prices start from Rs. 5.35 lakhs.

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It has come to light that the upcoming Tata Nexon AMT has started reaching authorized Tata Motors dealerships. The revelation comes thru the spy images that show some units of the Nexon AMT stationed at a dealership stockyard. The Nexon AMT’s launch will take place towards the end of the ongoing IPL season.

The AMT will be available with both petrol and diesel engines. It may be noted here that none of the rivals of this car offers an automatic transmission for the diesel engine. Hence, the launch of the AMT should give this SUV an edge over rivals like the Maruti Vitara Brezza and the Ford EcoSport. Powering the petrol variant of the Nexon AMT is a 1.2L Revotron engine while the diesel variant is powered by a 1.5L Revotorq motor. In terms of engine specifications, the AMT variants don’t get any sort of change. The turbocharged petrol engine outputs a maximum power of 110 PS along with a peak torque of 170 Nm. The diesel engine also outputs 110 PS of maximum power but a higher torque of 260 Nm. For the AMT variants, the motors come mated to a 6-speed automated manual transmission that sends the drive to the front wheels.

The Tata Nexon looks really modern and offers a comfortable cabin, too. It offers three driving modes – Eco, City and Sport. The Nexon AMT offers a creep feature that comes in handy in the Stop-and-Go city traffic. The SUV also gets Smart Hill Assist feature that stops the SUV from rolling backwards on an uphill road. There’s also a new PEPS key that is exclusive to the AMT variants. Basically, it’s a wristband-like key that can be used instead of a remote for the keyless entry and go.

The Tata Nexon AMT variant is available only in the top-of-the-line XZA+ trim. It will launch with a new Etna Orange body colour and a Sonic Silver dual-tone roof. Bookings of the new model are already underway at authorized dealerships and can be made by depositing a sum of Rs 11,000.

via The Automotive India

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Tata Motors made the biggest splash at this year’s Auto Expo with two really ravishing car concepts – the H5X SUV and the 45X premium hatchback. And the best part about both cars is that they’re coming soon to India. The launch timelines are now out.

The H5X SUV will be launched first, in the first quarter of 2019, while the 45X will follow in the later part of the year, during the festive season. Both cars will use Tata Motors Impact 2.0 design philosophy but will be as different as chalk to cheese when it comes to pricing, positioning and also the buyer segments they’re targeted at.

Mayank Pareek, Tata Motors’ head for the passenger vehicles business unit said,

In the first quarter of next year, we will introduce the H5X, a new SUV based on the Omega platform. In the second half of the year, we will launch the premium hatch 45X based on the Alpha platform. Over the next three years, we will develop an entire suite of products, including sedans and other products that are currently missing from our portfolio. By 2021, we will cover 90% of the passenger car market.

First, let’s go through what the H5X SUV is all about. It’s a compact SUV with seating for five and meant to be Tata Motors upmarket rival to the Hyundai Creta. At the same time, we expect the H5X to undercut the Jeep Compass and play the sweet spot between the Creta and Compass. The H5X will use the Land Rover LS550 platform as its underpinnings, but with extensive localization to drive down costs. It’s expected to be powered by the 2 liter Fiat Multijet turbocharged diesel engine with about 140 Bhp and 320 Nm. 6 speed manual and 9 speed automatic gearboxes are likely. While a front wheel drive layout will be standard, all wheel drive layout is likely to be offered as an option.

The 45X will be Tata Motors’ Maruti Baleno challenger in the premium hatchback segment. It’ll be the first Tata car to use the Advanced Modular Platform (AMP), which will support a lot more models such as a sedan, MPV, and a crossover. The 45X will use the same engines as the Tata Tiago hatchback but with a lot more power and torque thanks to variable geometry turbochargers on both petrol and diesel motors. While manual gearboxes will be standard, Tata Motors is also mulling a twin clutch automatic gearbox for this car. Initially though, expect only the manual transmissions to be on offer. The 45X is likely to undercut both the Baleno and the Hyundai Elite i20 in terms of pricing.

Via TOI

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The Ford Endeavour towers over most cars in India, and has one of the best street presences among luxury SUVs sold here. Why, the Endeavour even makes the best selling Toyota Fortuner look tame in comparison. Wild has been taken to the next level by a Ford customer somewhere in Odisha, who got the dealer to customize his Endeavour.

The brand new, customized Endeavour is a total brute of an SUV. Changes include a Raptor grille up front, tail light covers, stop lamps mounted on the D-Pillar and meaty 20 inch offset alloy wheels. The offset alloy wheels are likely to void suspension warranty in case of a claim though.

The Endeavour is one of the more successful luxury SUVs sold in India. While it sells less than a third of the Toyota Fortuner, numbers still are respectable, averaging about 500 units a month. The Endeavour’s butch looks is a major selling point. The SUV is offered with two engine options, both of them turbocharged diesels.

The smaller one is a 2.2 liter-4 cylinder unit with 158 Bhp of peak power and 385 Nm of peak torque while the larger one is a 3.2 liter-5 cylinder unit with 197 Bhp-470 Nm – class leading outputs. Both engines get 6 speed automatic gearboxes as standard. While the 2.2 diesel drives the rear wheels, the 3.2 diesel gets an all wheel drive mode as standard.

Prices of the Endeavour start from Rs. 26.32 lakhs, and the SUV is CKD assembled at Ford’s Chennai factory. As for safety features, the Endeavour is well equipped. ABS+EBD and 7 airbags are standard on the top-end trim, which also offers ESP, traction control, a terrain response system for the all wheel drive mode, hill hold, hill descent control, and an electronic center differential lock that distributes torque evenly to all four wheels during off roading. The Endeavour has seating for 7 adults, and it a lot more comfortable than the leaf sprung model it replaced.

Via Team-BHP

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The Royal Enfield 650cc twins are one of the most awaited bikes of this year in India. The 650cc Interceptor and Continental GT are an all-new product developed by the Indian brand and they will be available in the global markets. Recently, two new production colour schemes were spotted a Revelry Cycles, a Royal Enfield dealership based in Sydney, Austrailia. The new pictures show that the bikes in twin colour schemes at the dealership.

The Interceptor can be seen in white/red colour scheme while the Continental GT 650 can be seen in black/grey dual paint scheme. The tank of the Continental GT gets a golden stripe running across it. Apart from these two changes, the motorcycle remains visually unchanged from the bikes Royal Enfield showcased in India and at the 2017 EICMA show.

Royal Enfield is expected to launch both the new motorcycles in the Indian market by the May/June. However, many export markets have already started receiving the all-new bikes and the international launch looks closer than the launch date in India. Royal Enfield has followed a similar schedule in the past too when they launched the Classic series of the bike in international market before launching them in India.

Royal Enfield has also announced the price of the bikes in the Austrailian market. The Interceptor is priced at AUD 10,000 while the Continental GT 650 is priced at AUD 10,400. It roughly translates into Rs. 5 lakhs and Rs. 5.4 lakhs in Indian currency. Because they will be made in India, the price in the domestic market will be cheaper by at least Rs. 1 lakh.

Both the bikes will be powered by a newly developed 647cc, parallel-twin cylinder engine that gets fuel injection and oil-cooling too. The engine produces a maximum power of 47 Bhp and 52 nm of peak torque. It gets a 6-speed transmission with the slipper clutch as standard. The bikes also get telescopic front forks, gas-charged shock absorbers, spoked steel rims and disc brakes on both the wheels. The bikes are expected to take on the Harley-Davidson Street 750 in the Indian market.

Source

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Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) unveiled the Burgman Street 125 automatic scooter at the Auto Expo 2018. A new report reveals that this scooter will launch in late-May or early-June this year. Until now, it was being speculated that the Burgman would launch in the current month. However, with only a few days of this month left, there is absolutely no sign of the new offering. Hence, it looks like the latest claim of a May/June launch holds at least some truth.

The Burgman Street 125 will be India’s first maxi-scooter. The upcoming scooter will have to rival the likes of TVS NTorq and Aprilia SR 125 in terms of pricing. Internationally, the Burgman is available with bigger engines. While the 125cc motor of the India-spec scooter will be far less powerful than its international counterparts, the scooter will have similar dimensions. The scooter shares many bits with the Gixxer 155/Gixxer SF motorcycle.

For example, it gets the same all-LCD instrument console. The scooter gets stylish five-spoke alloy wheels and boldly designed body panels that make it look nothing like anything else on the road. The features list includes bits like LED headlamp unit, 12V charging socket, tubeless tyres, multi-function key slot and a front disc brake.

The Suzuki Burgman Street 125 shares much of its underpinnings with the Access 125. Even the engine comes from the Activa 125-rival. For the Access 125, this 124.3 cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine outputs 8.5 bhp at 6500 rpm and 10.2 Nm of peak torque at 5000 rpm. The Burgman is slightly heavier than the Access 125 and hence, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd is very likely to tune the motor to output slightly higher power and torque.

It will come mated to a CVT and will have a carburettor. The upcoming Suzuki Burgman Street 125 is likely to cost Rs 80,000 (ex-showroom) when it goes on sale here.  While expensive, the scooter might find some takers owing to its unique design (in the Indian context) and high level of comfort.

via NDTV

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The upcoming Maruti Suzuki Ciaz facelift has been spotted again. The updated car will launch around August this year and will carry several styling updates to look fresher and more attractive.

The Ciaz was first launched in 2014 and has been very popular among C2-segment sedan buyers. However, in the past three-and-a-half years of its career, the only updated it has received include the addition of new variants and the Android Auto for the Smartplay infotainment system. Other than this, the Ciaz was moved from the regular Maruti showrooms to the Nexa premium car outlets last year. The facelift, however, will carry substantial updates, which will help it fend off the heat from cars like the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna.

The cosmetic changes that the Ciaz facelift will carry include a newer front-end and an improved rear-end. The interior will also get some changes to spruce up the things a fair bit. Other than this, we also expect the car to get some additional kit for the cabin. All this should ensure that the Ciaz doesn’t feel too spartan in front of the recently launched Toyota Yaris that comes with some best-in-class features.

At the moment, the Ciaz is on sale with a 1.4-litre petrol and a 1.3-litre diesel engine. The facelift, in all likelihood, will come with a new set of motors. The Fiat-sourced Multijet motor will be replaced with an ingeniously developed 1.5-litre common-rail oil burner. The 1.4-liter K-series petrol engine will be replaced with a 1.5-litre motor that will offer higher power and torque. It’s noteworthy here that the Ciaz has received some flak for the mediocre performance on offer. The new engines will solve this issue.Sources state that prices of the new Maruti Suzuki Ciaz facelift will be “different from the current pricing”. We think that the new engines, new features, and a fresher styling will helo the sedan to grow in popularity.

via Car and Bike

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Indian roads are full of surprises and we often see weird and funny incidents in real life or on video. Here is one more such video from Mumbai that shows something hilarious. The video has been shot just after the Vashi toll and it shows a Maruti Swift zooming away with a barricade stuck to its front.

What is happening here?

The video surfaced online and has already become viral. It shows an older generation Maruti Swift on the road with a bright yellow coloured plastic barrier, attached to the front of the car. According to the information available, the car did not pay the toll and drove through the barricaded lane with the blockade. It is not known how far from the toll this incident was captured but it seems that the Swift is still trying to get away and did not want to stop to remove the barrier.

Some may say that the barrier may not be visible to the driver but it is not the case. The Swift hatchback offers good visibility unlike the SUVs, who may have missed the bright roadblock. Also, the height of the barrier is more than that of the Swift’s bonnet and that should give the driver a clear view of what is happening in the front of the car.

Usually, such plastic barriers are filled with water or sand to make them heavier and help them to absorb any impact. But this one seems to be empty. Such barricades are made to make them easier to transport from one place to another as they are quite light when empty. There seems to be no damage done to the Swift’s front as the empty barrier is also very flexible. However, if he continues to drive with the barrier in front, it may get stuck on a rough road or a speed breaker and slip under the vehicle. The barricade under the vehicle will not be a pretty scene and it will definitely damage the bumper and maybe some underbody parts too.

Too common in India

Arguments with toll booth attendants over payment are a pretty common sight in India. Especially people in powerful positions and goons threaten the toll operators in a bid to save the toll amount. There have been many incidents in the past where the toll operators have been involved in scuffles or even killed while arguing about the toll payment.

Paying the tolls help the government maintain facilities like washrooms on the highway and also repair the roads, although there are many cases where the toll booths and the roads are not maintained properly. Commuters do get frustrated sometimes and get into arguments. But driving away with the barricade is a wrong way of dealing with the problem. It is not known if the person was caught later, but it is illegal and if caught, he would have to pay a hefty fine.

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The Amaze has had a successful run for Honda in the last five years and at times was the largest selling model for the Japanese car marker in terms of monthly sales. It redefined the sub-4 meter compact sedan market in terms of passenger space and introduced the most powerful diesel engine at that time. However, times change and so do rival offerings. This is where Honda kept planning the all-new second generation model and this is what we drove today in Karnataka. Can this upset the segment leader Maruti Dzire? Read on…

Let’s face it, the first generation Amaze wasn’t smart enough to win any beauty pageants. But when Honda took off the wraps off this new version, we were in for a pleasant surprise. I still wouldn’t call it a ‘beautiful’ sedan by any measure, but the new face does lend it a mature and a premium look easily, credit for which goes to the ‘solid wing face’ theme which has also been applied to other global models from Honda. The Amaze does not look like a ‘cheap’ sedan at all and this design theme gets carried over to the rest of the car. Agreed, the alloy wheels could have been classier but Honda, it seems, decided to play safe to cater to the masses than the enthusiasts.

The new Amaze is larger in overall dimensions as well. In terms of pure numbers, it is 5 mm longer and 15 mm wider but sits 5mm lower than the outgoing version – this gives it a low and wide stance, adding a hint of sportiness. The wheelbase is longer by a good 65 mm but more on that later. The new Amaze is available in a choice of five color options with the Radiant Red seen here being the new option. Both alloy wheels and rim cover designs have been updated. The higher end versions also get a one up increase in wheel size and now come with 175/65 R15 wheels.

The new Amaze really is an all-new car. Not only have the length and wheelbase increased, the sedan also gets a wider front and rear tread, up by 17 mm at the front and 25 mm at the rear as compared to the outgoing version. Even the ground clearance is higher by 5 mm and now stands at 170 mm. Further, the petrol model is lighter by 17 Kg while the diesel one sheds about 23 Kg, all in favour of the ever important fuel economy factor.

Changes continue on the inside as well and the new Amaze bears no resemblance to the outgoing model. I personally like the clutter free and clean design with the highlight being the DigiPad 2.0 and climate control up front. The speedometer console is also new and continues to show essentials like fuel consumption and outside temperature. Space has always been a trump card for the Amaze and the new one improves on that. We will let the numbers do the talking here again – the tandem distance has improved by 25 mm, rear shoulder room by 45 mm and rear head clearance by 10 mm. Boot space has also gone up by 42 litres to 420.

But does the extra space translate into comfort? Yes, but not without mentioning the new seats. These simply feel from a segment above and I can again vouch for the long distance comfort given my 53 day stint in the older version a few years back while breaking the then Guinness record for the maximum kilometers done in a single country without taking the same route twice. The new ones, up front, also tend to hug you really well. The air-conditioning particularly needs a mention here. The petrol models now get a 43 % larger compressor volume while for the diesel versions, this number stands at 9 %. This has resulted in the lowering of cool-down time and an increase in cooling performance.

It should be noted that the CVT versions will only be available in the V trim and not VX, thus missing out on the Digipad touchscreen, cruise control and one less USB charging point.

The new Amaze continues to be powered by the same petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol engine still puts out 90 PS of power along with 110 Nm of torque and will be offered with a choice of a 5-speed manual and a new CVT automatic option, replacing the older model’s torque converter. Fuel economy has taken a bump thanks to friction reduction technologies and now stands at 19.5 kmpl for the manual and 19 kmpl for the CVT model. We got a chance to sample the CVT petrol and this combination seems to work better than the manual version as the latter does suffer from a weak low end. The CVT box however erases this weakness completely and the engine climbs up to the right revs quickly when you want to go fast. This is the beauty of this type of transmission though it might end up being a slightly more expensive affair. The CVT petrol also gets paddle shifts to cater to enthusiasts, something missing in the diesel CVT reviewed next.

The diesel motor is now available with a CVT automatic transmission as well but the catch here is the output of the motor. As we all know, traditionally, CVTs are unable to bear high torque levels, and hence the diesel motor has been de-tuned for CVT usage, putting out 80 PS and 160 Nm – these are 20% less than what the same engine delivers with a manual gearbox. On the good side, Honda claims they have worked hard to keep NVH levels acceptable and have achieved both noise and friction reductions here. And in real world driving, this CVT is actually quicker than the more powerful manual diesel – we kid you not! This has been possible as depending on your accelerator inputs, the CVT box drops ratios to be in the correct torque band, pushing the car forward with an impressive punch. Roll-ons is where this set-up works very well, though flat out, the diesel CVT Amaze is not as exciting as its manual counterpart. Talking of which, the Amaze is once again restricted to a true top speed of 140 km/h which translates into 145 on the speedometer. Kitna deti hai? Well, the manual and CVT models are rated at 27.4 kmpl and 23.8 kmpl, respectively.

The 5 speed manual, Amaze Diesel continues to impress me. We had a diesel Amaze back home with over 1.2 lakh km on the clock and this one feels so much better. First, the NVH levels play an important role thanks to factors like improved soundproofing package, an engine undercover, several changes in the engine block and head materials and usage of lightweight materials. Second, the power / torque surge continues to come in early and third, as speeds rise, the Amaze starts to behave like a bigger sedan. This is also essential for those customers who are upgrading from a small hatchback and are looking for that important ‘bigger’ feel.

The new Amaze is based on an all-new platform that also aids the way the Amaze behaves at high speeds. Around the backside of the Bangalore airport on roads with ample bumps and speed breakers, the revised suspension set-up showed its true colors. For technical buffs, what the engineers did was replace the bump stop dumper from natural rubber to urethane. Likewise, the rear suspension geometry has also been changed by optimizing the roll center angle. On the rather empty Bangalore-Hyderabad highway, we did clock some serious speeds and even with three passengers and luggage on board, high speed manners were really impressive. And this includes cross winds as well as overtaking slow moving heavy commercial traffic – the Amaze sticks to its lane though brakes could have offered a better bite – I would blame this on the fact that the car we drove had less than 1000 Km on the odo and I believe the pads will offer their best behavior after a while.

Honda has also made the steering larger and heavier in terms of its weight – even the shaft size has gone up from 22 to 33 mm. This in turn calls for less effort from the driver and though I would not call it feather light, it works well for slow speed driving. High speed manners is something I’ve already discussed above.

The new Amaze also scores top marks in the crucial safety department. Standard features will include dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, child ISOFIX seats, head impact protection cabin and ‘failure reduction body’ – talking of which, the new Amaze meets the upcoming India crash norms and has already passed tests like frontal collision, side collision, rear collision, rear seat occupant protection and pedestrian protection.

And finally the cost of running. Honda will be offering a standard warranty of 3 years / unlimited km along with extended warranty options of 4 and 5 years, again with unlimited usage. This is segment best. The running cost is also lower than that of the Maruti Dzire with the Amaze petrol servicing cost coming to Rs 3,500 and that of diesel to Rs 4,900. This is for the 10,000km service interval. Impressive.

The only thing that remains to be uncovered is the pricing but knowing Honda, we expect the new Amaze to carry the same prices as the outgoing version. And that would answer this question – should you aspire and desire to get the new Amaze home? Well, you will not be disappointed is what I can say at this point of time.

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Honda will launch the all-new, 2018 Amaze compact sedan in India on the 16th of May. India will be the first market  to receive the brand new car, which is based on a new platform and competes with the likes of the Maruti Dzire and  the Hyundai Xcent. The new Honda Amaze gets a boatload of changes. We round up the significant ones.

Design

The new Amaze looks nothing like the car it replaces. The design is all new, right from the headlamps to the boot.
There’s a coupe-like plunging roofline at the rear, and this should the new Amaze a very distinct look in its
segment. The car looks like a baby-Civic, in a good way.

CVT on a diesel

For the first time ever in India, a sub-10 lakh, diesel engined car has received a CVT automatic gearbox. Yes, the
new Amaze is that car, and is a segment leader due to this factor. Honda has detuned the 1.5 liter i-DTEC diesel
engine, from its 98.6 Bhp-200 Nm outputs, to 80 Bhp-160 Nm in order to suit the CVT automatic gearbox better. The
diesel CVT delivers nearly 24 Kmpl, making it super fuel efficient. People who want a compact sedan for the urban
grind will simply love the smooth Amaze Diesel CVT.

Roomier

The new platform that the Amaze is based on has given Honda designers enough leeway to make the car roomier. The 2nd generation Amaze is larger than the first-gen model. In fact, wheelbase is up by a good 65 mm, and this makes the car a lot more roomier than before. The new Amaze has just improved upon one of the older’s car’s strong suits – space. And a lot of buyers will be impressed.

Better AC

Another interesting thing about the new Amaze is that it has a better air conditioner than the older model thanks to  the larger compressor volume, both in the petrol and the diesel models. Considering the extreme weather most of India faces, this is another thoughtful touch that buyers will appreciate, especially in sweltering summers.

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Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) will launch the all-new, 2018 Amaze compact sedan on the 16th of May. The Indian arm of the Japanese automaker has revealed that the first 20,000 customers of the Amaze will get a special offer in the form of an introductory price tag. This price will be hiked for customers who aren’t among the first 20,000. So, people who have pre-booked the Amaze stand to gain a chance of getting the car at a slightly more affordable price tag. With this statement coming directly from Honda, we expect the new Amaze to be priced extremely competitively.

Rajesh Goel, senior vice president for sales and marketing at Honda Cars India, said,

The response to the all-new Honda Amaze since its world premiere at the Auto Expo has been overwhelming. As a special gesture to all the Honda loyalists, who are booking the car even before knowing the price and variant details, we have decided to offer a special introductory price for the initial 20,000 bookings.

The Amaze will challenge the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, the Hyundai Xcent, the Tata Tigor and the Ford Figo Aspire among other compact sedans sold in India. The car, which is in its second generation in the Indian market, is based on a totally new platform, which will underpin more Honda cars in future.

The 2018 Amaze will be sold with the same engines as its predecessors. This means the petrol motor will be a 1.2 litre, naturally aspirated 4 cylinder unit with 87 Bhp and 110 Nm on tap, while the diesel will be a 1.5 litre, 4 cylinder turbocharged unit with 98.6 Bhp and 200 Nm. The petrol engine will get a 5 speed manual gearbox as standard, while the diesel will use a 6 speed manual.

Honda has decided to offer CVT automatic gearboxes on both petrol and diesel variants of the Amaze, making the car a class leader of sorts. Other key details of the new Amaze include totally revamped styling, which makes the car look quite unique among its competitors, new interior design, a digipad touchscreen infotainment unit and better fuel efficiency than before.

Via ETAuto

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The Indian car market is slowly inclining towards powerful cars and car manufacturers are responding to the shift. There are already quite a few affordable powerful cars available in India. Soon,  a slew of powerful cars priced above Rs.10 lakh will be launched in India. Which cars are these and when will they be launched? Let’s find out.

Jeep Compass Trailhawk

Expected launch: July/August 2018

The Jeep Compass has done quite well in India. The most affordable Jeep branded vehicle has become the choice of many because of various reasons including its powerful petrol and diesel engines. However, the car is still missing out on a proper 4X4 variant with a Low Ratio transfer case.

The Compass Trailhawk will feature a 4X4 Low Ratio transfer case that gets a rated output of 20:1, which is huge. The new transfer case along with features like sculpted bumpers for greater approach and departure angle will make the Trailhawk an enthusiast-friendly car. The Trailhawk will only get the 2.0-litre Multijet diesel engine that produces a maximum power of 171 Bhp – 350 Nm and a 9-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. It will also get a sporty exterior with features like new bumpers with red towing hooks, a new body vinyl and different alloys.

Maruti Swift Sport

Expected launch: September/October 2018

Maruti launched the all-new Swift in India and it is quicker, faster and much better to drive than the last-generation model. Maruti is now working to bring the Swift Sport to the Indian market. The Swift Sport will be the second hot hatch from the brand after the launch of Baleno RS. However, the Swift Sport will be much more expensive than the Baleno.

Why? Well, the new Swift Sport will be powered by the 1.4-litre turbocharged Boosterjet engine that develops a maximum of 138 Bhp and 230 nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions. This engine is much more powerful than the Baleno’s 1.0-litre engine that is available with its RS version.

Volkswagen Ameo TSI

Expected launch: September 2018

Volkswagen recently launched the 1.0-litre petrol engine version of the Ameo in India replacing the 1.2-litre engine. Now, the company may soon launch a more powerful version of the sub 4-meter sedan in the Indian market just like the Polo GT. Volkswagen will launch the Ameo TSI that will get a 1.2-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 104 Bhp – 175 Nm.

Now, this will be a big boost over the 75 Bhp – 95 Nm output of the current 1.0-litre naturally aspirated engine. Volkswagen will also offer a 7-speed DSG twin-clutch automatic transmission similar to the Polo GT.

Mahindra XUV Aero

Expected launch: 2019

Mahindra created quite a wave in the 2016 Auto Expo after the unveiling of the XUV Aero concept. The unconventional SUV Coupe became the centre of attraction at Mahindra’s stall. Mahindra has confirmed that the XUV Aero will enter production and it will be an all-electric vehicle.

Mahindra plans to launch an electric version of the vehicle that will be the flagship electric model of the brand. The Aero will be quite quick and will get a 0-100 km/h timing of only 8 seconds. It will also get a top speed of 190 km/h and a 300 km range.

Honda Civic

Expected launch: End 2018

The Civic will be the biggest comeback car model in the Indian market this year. The D-segment sedan has a big following in India and it is coming back in an all-new avatar. Honda announced that the Civic will be launched by the end of this year. It will be powered by two engine options.

The petrol-powered Civic will get a 1.8-litre engine that develops a maximum power of 139 Bhp and 175 Nm of peak torque. There will be a 1.6-litre diesel engine option too and it will churn out a maximum power of 118 Bhp and 300 Nm. The petrol engine will cater to the enthusiast crowd in India and it will also get automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

Mahindra XUV700

Expected launch: End 2018

Mahindra will launch the new flagship, XUV 700 in India later this year. The SUV will be a rebadged version of SsangYong Rexon G4, which is quite capable. The seven-seater SUV will be powered by a 2.2-litre engine, which is not the same as the 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine available with the XUV 500. It also gets a low-ratio transfer case, which will make it super capable and luxurious. The XUV 700 is expected to attract a lot of buyers because of its features, power and capability.

Also Read: Bangalore cop sees helmet-less rider, hits him with his 'chappal' [Video]

The facelifted Maruti Suzuki Ciaz sedan is just a few months away from launch in India. Maruti Suzuki has been testing the car extensively and new information about the facelifted Ciaz suggests that it will use a larger 1.5 liter K-Series petrol engine, which made its debut in the all-new 2018 Ertiga MPV, which was unveiled earlier this week. The new engine makes about 106 PS of peak power and 140 Nm of peak torque, both figure being higher than the current Ciaz’s 91 Bhp and 130 Nm outputs from the 1.4 liter K-Series petrol engine. The additional power and torque will be welcome and make the Ciaz more evenly matched with the Honda City, which has 118 PS-145 Nm on offer.

The facelifted Ciaz is also likely to get a new, 1.5 liter turbocharged diesel engine developed in-house by Suzuki. The new diesel mill is expected to replace the 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet unit that has been a staple on the Ciaz since launch. We expect the new diesel engine to also offer more power and torque than the 89 Bhp-200 Nm outputs of the 1.3 liter Multijet unit. Gearbox details of the new diesel engine remain unknown for now. The petrol engine is likely to get 5 speed manual and 4 speed torque converter automatic gearboxes. The 5 speed manual will be replaced by a 6 speed unit sometime next year.

The facelifted Ciaz will get a slew of changes in terms of design. The front end is expected to look sharper than before with restyled headlamps, bumper and grille. The rear is also likely to see a few changes. On the inside, expect Maruti to throw in a few new features to make the car more appealing. Price-wise, we expect the facelifted Ciaz to continue as a price warrior, with the sharpest pricing in the C-Segment sedan space. Competition for the Ciaz has just increased with Toyota launching the Yaris C-Segment sedan. So, Maruti will have its task cut out with the facelifted model.

Via ACI

Also Read: Bangalore cop sees helmet-less rider, hits him with his 'chappal' [Video]

Tata Nexon is the official partner of the ongoing Indian Premier League and a few days back the manufacturer revealed the Mumbai Indian edition of the car. The special edition Nexon got a lot of decals to show the support to the team. Here is a new IPL edition Nexon that has been dressed to support the Sunrisers Hyderabad but it is not an official edition.

What are the changes?

The changes are inspired by the logo of Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Nexon gets decals of wings on the side of the car which is inspired by the Falcon logo of the team. The car also gets matte metallic red colour wrap on the roof and the humanity line that wraps around the SUV. It also gets the red wrap on the rear bumper. The same wrap can be seen on the front bumper and fog lamp housings. The Nexon is available in dual tone colour as stock but is not available with the red roof and this design looks quite interesting. Even the alloy wheel fins get the red metallic highlight.

The car also gets an illuminated front logo and a new chrome skeleton that wraps around the front grille and the fog lamp housings. It is based on the top end XZ+ variant and no changes have been done to the interiors or the engine.

While it is unclear if Tata will officially offer their IPL edition cars in the market, interested people can always get their vehicles wrapped like this. Wrapping does not need any changes on the registration certificate of the vehicle and it stays valid with the stock specifications. Painting the vehicle, on the other hand, needs changes done to the registration certificate.

Tata Nexon has become quite popular in the Indian market and gets a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol and a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine option. Both the engine options produce a maximum of 108 Bhp but the petrol engine churns out a maximum of 170 Nm torque while the diesel engine produces a maximum of 260 Nm. Both get a manual 6-speed transmission. Soon, Tata will offer an AMT version with both the engine options.

Source

Also Read: Bangalore cop sees helmet-less rider, hits him with his 'chappal' [Video]

The Maruti Zen was launched in India back in 1993 and was finally replaced by the Estilo in 2006. The original Zen features a jellybean design and a very peppy 996cc G10 four-cylinder engine. Today, the Zen is almost a cult classic and you can still find some well-maintained, and even some tastefully modified, examples in various parts of the country. Here are 10 such cars.

Speedsport’s Maruti Zen

Here is a 3-door Maruti Zen from SpeedSport custom. This Zen Carbon 3-door model comes with a yellow and black colour scheme. Even the interior has been spruced up with a new steering wheel, gear knob and sports pedals. This modified Maruti Zen rides on 13-inch alloy wheels that are shod with 185 section tires. In its stock form, the Zen came with a 1-litre, 3-cylinder MPFI all-aluminium petrol motor that produced 58 Bhp-78 Nm. This car, however, gets a 1.3-liter MPFI petrol unit that produces 100 Bhp and 112 Nm.

Red Rooster Racing Modified Maruti Zen Carbon

Here is another modified Maruti Zen Carbon. It has gone under the scalpel of Red Rooster Racing and comes with a black paint job with orange highlights. You also get a pair of auxiliary lamps and multi-spoke alloy wheels. Power comes modified version of the stock G10 motor that gets camshafts from the Esteem’s G13 motor. The car also gets a BMC conical free flow filter and free flow exhaust. The rear suspension has been customized to aid handling. The interior also gets a black and orange theme to complement the exterior paint scheme.

Aquarius Blue Maruti Zen Steel

Here is another three-door Maruti Zen that has been modified to look even cooler. This Zen steel gets an Aquarius Blue paint job, which reminds us of the Ford Fiesta 1.6 S. This car’s G10 engine also gets camshafts from the Esteem’s 1.3-liter motor. It also gets an iridium spark plugs, a free flow 4-2-1 exhaust and a free flow K&N conical air filter. At the front, it gets two pairs of auxiliary lights. The Zen rides on 15-inch rims that are shod with 195 section tires. Even the interior gets the blue treatment along with a sports steering wheel and sports pedals.

Lap 47’s Maruti Zen Steel 1.6

Here is a modified Maruti Zen Steel that has been done up by Lap 47, which is a custom car shop in Kerala. Run by Lal Bharathan, a former BMW technician, the man’s drives this Zen Steel on a daily basis. Instead of the Stock Zen’s 1-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that produced 58 Bhp-90 Nm, this car gets a 1.6-liter motor from the Baleno sedan. Hence, this Zen offers 94 Bhp and 130 Nm. Visually, the car looks slightly different from the stock version. It gets bumper diffusers, custom wheels, and a badge-less grille.

Another modified Zen Carbon

Here is yet another Maruti Zen Carbon that has been modified to look a tad cooler. Up front, it gets a cleaner look due to the absence of the Suzuki badge. It also gets a pair of bumper-mounted auxiliary lamps. The car also gets a bumper diffuser and side skirts along with orange stripes on the running across the rear fenders and the rear windows. The stock alloy wheels have been replaced with bigger multi-spoke units that are shod with wider rubber.

Deep dish rims on 5-door Zen

This one’s an immaculately well-maintained example that stands out due to its deep-dish rims shod with wide, low-profile rubber. The car also gets a discreet bumper diffuser and a couple of hood-mounted spot lights. While there’s nothing too radical with the way this Zen looks, the custom wheels go on to add a distinct touch to this car.

Monster Energy Zen

Here is another three-door Zen that receives a handful of modifications. The highlight of this zen is its two-tone blue-black paint scheme that gets large Monster Energy decals. At the front, it gets the stock wheels. The ear, however, gets bigger wheels shod with wider rubber. This gives the Zen Steel a very sporty stance. The interior too has been suitably modified and gets sports seats at the front.

And yet Another modified Zen Carbon

Here is yet another modified 3-door Maruti Zen. It gets a pair of new headlamps that seen to hold Xenon bulbs. The grille says goodbye to the Suzuki badge and the bumper gets a discreet diffuser. Also, the car gets sporty multi-spoke alloy wheels that are shod with low-profile rubber. Not much more is known about this well-maintained Zen 3-door but we simply love the stance of this car.

A Red-hot Zen

Here’s a sporty-looking modified Maruti Zen that comes in a shade of bright red. Up front, it gets a custom bumper that has a large air dam. The hood also gets a faux scoop while the side profile gets some sporty skirts. The Zen rides on deep dish alloy wheels shod with low profile rubber. Sporty and very tasty, no?

Sporty Zen Classic

The final car on our list of modified Maruti Zen hatchbacks is a well-maintained and slightly modified Zen Classic. The Classic was a limited-run model that featured round headlamps and a lot of chrome on the front grille to give the Zen a slightly retro look. While it didn’t get a very positive response from the market, the owner of the Zen Classic you see above has maintained his car really very well. The bumper gets custom LED fog lamps and this car rides on custom deep dish alloys shod with low profile rubber. The setup gives this Zen Classic a really very sporty stance.

Image sources- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 9, 10

Also Read: Bangalore cop sees helmet-less rider, hits him with his 'chappal' [Video]

The Great Khali is a popular WWE superstar and has even made his Hollywood debut in the movie ‘The Longest Yard’. However, many of you would be aware of Khali’s Indian origins. Actually, his real name is Dilip Singh Rana and he belongs to a village in Himachal Pradesh. Here is a video that shows the Khali driving his Tata Sumo before his WWE-break and subsequent stardom.

Today, Khali is a well-known WWE superstar and has even appeared in as many as four Hollywood and two Bollywood movies. However, before he shot to fame, Khali was an officer with the Punjab Police. Back then, he used a white Tata Sumo. It’s said that Khali loved his Sumo a lot. Of course, having shot to fame now, he has access to some much costlier set of wheels. However, the above video from his pre-WWE days shows him driving his white Tata Sumo.

As you can see in the video, Khali, who has a height of 7 ft 1 inch, almost towers over his Sumo. While the video shows Khali driving his Sumo at decent speeds, it’s quite apparent that the MUV is a bit cramped for a giant like him. He is finding it tough to stretch his hands and hence, he holds the steering wheel in a rather awkward fashion. His head is only an inch away from touching the roof and we are sure Khali must have had a tough time making himself comfortable on the driving seat.

Khali is the titleholder of WWE’s World Heavyweight Champion. He’s also the fourth tallest wrestler in the history of WWE. While he lives in Houston, Texas now, he can be seen using a last-gen Ford Endeavour and a last-gen Toyota Fortuner during his trips to India. Of course, the wrestler has made it big in life and doesn’t need to use his rickety old Sumo anymore but this video gives us an idea of what it must have been for Khali to drive this MUV in his earlier days.

Also Read: Bangalore cop sees helmet-less rider, hits him with his 'chappal' [Video]

Most of you must be aware of some of our latest reports, wherein we have talked about the increased focus of our traffic cops on ensuring that all two-wheeler riders wear a helmet. There have been some cases of the traffic police trolling lidless riders on social media and even a few cases where cops have decided to teach helmet-less riders a lesson by thrashing them using a baton. This case, however, takes the cake as a traffic cop in Bangalore got so irritated by some helmet-less riders on a motorcycle that he ended up expressing his agitation by throwing his ‘chappal’ at them!

Actually, the video you see above is a much smaller version of the original clip by vlogger Rishabh Chatterjee. The video has been taken by the dash-cam of his VW Polo. The vlogger was driving on the (surprisingly) vacant streets of Bangalore when his camera ended up capturing this moment at an intersection. Like we said, traffic cops across the country have been trying hard to ensure two-wheeler riders use an ISI-approved helmet. Not only are they issuing a challan to the lidless riders but are also trying to educate riders about the benefits of using a good-quality helmet thru social media, television and other channels. However, it looks like there’s still some time before every two-wheeler user really starts adhering to the rules and regulations.

Helmet-less riding is a pretty common practice across the country and should stop at the earliest. It is really very sad to see some two-wheeler users not taking their own safety seriously. Official figures from 2016 show that over 50,000 two-wheeler users lost their lives in road accidents. Out of these, a large number of deaths were of riders who weren’t wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. We request every two-wheeler ride to start using an ISI-approved helmet for his own benefit. We are not sure if the lidless riders seen in the video were challaned after being hit by a ‘chappal’. However, it’s clear that cops across the country are getting increasingly irritated by these offenders and are stepping up the heat on them. By the way, here’s the full version of the video –

Video Courtesy – The Rider Tribe on Facebook; Original Video – Rishabh Chatterjee on Youtube

Also Read: Bangalore cop sees helmet-less rider, hits him with his 'chappal' [Video]

The all-new Suzuki Ertiga MPV was unveiled last week at the 2018 Indonesia International Motor Show. Maruti will soon launch the 2018 Ertiga in the Indian market as well. Here are the key changes on the new MPV compared to the current model, which if we may add, has been really successful in the Indian car market.

Totally new looks

The first thing that’ll strike you about the new Ertiga is its looks. The MPV looks a lot fresher than ever before, and now has an upmarket design. It looks edgier, and somewhat like the Toyota Innova Crysta’s little brother, and this is a good thing. Everyone may not like the kink on the D-pillar though.

New engine

The new Ertiga petrol gets a bump up in both power and torque thanks to the new 1.5 litre K-Series petrol engine, which now makes 106 PS of peak power and 140 Nm of peak torque. The new Ertiga sold in India is likely to get an all-new, more powerful 1.5 litre turbocharged diesel engine as well, the specifications of which remain unknown for now.

Lighter, thanks to the HEARTECT platform

Like the Baleno, new Swift and new Dzire, the 2018 Ertiga hops on to the HEARTECT platform. At the heart of this new platform lies high tensile, light weight steel that’s responsible for improving body stiffness and reducing kerb weight. Although the new Ertiga gets larger in size, it weighs lesser. This should translate into better pick-up and fuel efficiency.

Larger and roomier on the inside

The new Ertiga is taller, wider and longer than the outgoing model although it does retain the 2,740 mm wheelbase of its predecessor. The increase in overall dimensions means that the vehicle’s interiors get roomier, making life more comfortable for its occupants.

Fresh interiors

Apart from getting roomier, the interiors look a lot fresher than before with a brand new design. Beige dominates the proceedings and the showstopper is the large, infotainment panel on the dashboard that’s touchscreen enabled. Maruti calls it the Smartplay interface, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay should be standard on this infotainment system.

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Last week, at the Indonesia International Motor Show, Honda unveiled the Small RS hatchback concept, a car that previews the next-generation Brio. Based on this concept, the first renders of the next-gen Brio have started appearing on the internet. Here’s what the all-new, next-generation Brio hatchback could look like.

The car does have some hints of the 2018 Honda Amaze’s design in it, especially the headlamps and the front grille. Thereafter, the design is quite different from that of the new Amaze, and this is a good thing considering the fact that cars have begun looking too similar to their siblings.

The all-new Brio is likely to retain its small footprint, which makes it an excellent city car. However, expect it to become more spacious in its latest iteration. The new car is likely to use the new platform that Honda has introduced on the all-new, 2018 Amaze.

However, the new Brio may not come to India as Honda is moving away from the hatchback space in the Indian market. The Jazz is likely to be the only hatchback that Honda sells in India. Other South East Asian car markets such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are likely to get the all-new Brio.

Coming to the mechanicals, we expect the new Brio to continue operating with the 1.2 litre i-VTEC petrol engine with 87 Bhp and 110 Nm as standard fare. 5 speed manual and CVT automatic gearboxes are likely to be on offer with this engine. A front wheel drive layout will be standard, and so will be twin airbags and ABS.

A diesel engine is not likely on this car as it’s anyway not meant for India – the only market in South East Asia where diesel still has big demand. The new Brio could make it to serial production by the end of this year, with a market launch likely in early 2019 in most South East Asian countries. The car is likely to continue being priced at the same levels as the current model.

Via IAB

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Maruti Suzuki has decided to step up the gas on CNG powered cars instead of prioritizing electric cars, towards which most of the car industry is feverishly moving. While Maruti will continue to invest in electric cars with an eye on the future, it’s immediate focus will be on CNG powered cars, which are cheaper to run than petrol engined cars due to the lower price of CNG. They also have lower tail pipe emissions, making them cleaner to run than petrol and diesel engined cars. Maruti currently offers a range of CNG powered cars, right from the Alto 800 and the WagonR in the entry level segments, to the Eeco and the Ertiga in the higher segments.

CNG powered cars are a lot cheaper than electric cars as they cost less than Rs. 50,000 more than equivalent petrol engined cars. Electric cars, on the other hand, are at least 50 % more expensive than petrol cars. For CNG cars, Maruti doesn’t have to develop battery and electric powertrain technologies. It can simply bolt a CNG kit onto the existing petrol engine.

These advantages mean that CNG powered cars have a better chance at working in the Indian market as a more cost effective, low polluting option than electric cars, at least in the near term, the next five years. India has a lot of natural gas reserves which if used for transportation, can reduce the country’s massive import bill.

The main challenge towards the adoption of CNG powered cars in India has to do with the CNG dispensing infrastructure. This infrastructure isn’t well developed in most parts of the country, which means that CNG cars aren’t able to take off in a big way. To address this, Maruti Suzuki is working with fuel marketing companies to establish more CNG dispensing outlets across India. This will make using CNG as a fuel for cars a lot more effective.

Via FinancialExpress

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