Seven hooligans in Kerala have been arrested for attacking a vehicle that was being driven across a flooded road. The hooligans were captured on the dashcam of the car when they stopped and harassed the family. The car was returning from a marriage ceremony in the Kottayam district of Kerala.

Here’s what happened

The video posted on Facebook shows a car wading through water-logged streets of Kerala. The vehicle was crossing the Pala – Ponkunnam road, near Kottayam. The video then shows several people playing on the water-logged streets stopping the vehicle and starting to abuse the driver. They even used their hands to splash water on the front windscreen of the vehicle and slapped on the bonnet multiple times. According to a report, they also damaged the vehicle, which may not have been captured in the camera. The occupants also reportedly opened one of the windows and the culprits poured water inside the vehicle.

Scared voices from inside the car could be heard in the footage and it seems that there were a few females present in the vehicle too. However, it is not known how many people were inside the vehicle at that time. After a minute or so, the group of hooligans let go of the vehicle and they leave the spot.

The police have arrested seven people who were captured in the video footage. The names and details of the culprits have not been released yet. The cops took action on the direction of the Kottayam Superintendent of Police (SP) after the video was uploaded on the social media site and became viral. The cops have also not revealed the sections under which the culprits were booked and detained.

Never get involved in road rage

There have been such incidents in the past too. It is not clear if the gang saw the dashboard camera and let go of the vehicle. However, the dashcam footage served as an important evidence to identify and arrest the hooligans. A dashboard camera is extremely helpful during accident cases too and helps in claiming the insurance quicker. It is always a good idea to install a dashboard camera in your vehicle.

Road rage is one of the most common incidents on Indian roads. There have been many incidents where the situation got out of control completely. If you ever get stuck in such a situation, ensure that you do not open the windows and do not talk back. Try to drive away from the place but if your vehicle is blocked, it is always a good idea to stay inside the vehicle and keep the doors locked. Even the windows should not be opened and if necessary, open the window only a little bit to talk to the people. Call the police if you cannot get away from the spot on your own.

Also Read: All-new Hyundai Santro: Another render shows what the new hatchback could look like

The Ford Freestyle has become India’s best-selling hatchback-based crossover and Ford India could line up new variants soon. In fact, the managing director of Ford India, Anurag Mehrotra, has hinted that the Freestyle could get an automatic gearbox in the future at a recent event that CarToq was a part of.

While not saying it explicitly, here’s what he said in reply to a question posed at a recent off-road event involving the Freestyle.

A shift from semi- automatic to full automatics has been seen after a certain price point.

What this also means is, the likes of the facelifted Figo hatchback and the Figo Aspire compact sedan, which will share their engines and gearboxes with the Freestyle, are also likely to get automatic gearboxes. The Freestyle has debuted Ford’s new 1.2 litre, 3 cylinder Dragon petrol engine with class leading outputs of 85 Bhp-120 Nm.

Presently, this engine is offered with a new, 5 speed manual gearbox from Getrag. A 6 speed torque converter automatic gearbox, which is offered with the bigger 1.5 litre Dragon petrol engine on the EcoSport is expected to be offered with the smaller motor as well.

The other engine on the Freestyle is the 1.5 litre TDCI turbocharged diesel unit with 98.6 Bhp of peak power and 215 Nm of peak torque. The diesel engine gets a 5 speed manual gearbox as standard and Ford has no plans of offering an automatic gearbox with it. The Ford Freestyle goes up against the Toyota Etios Cross and the Hyundai i20 Active in India.

The hatchback-based crossover is priced lower than both these cars, and sharp pricing is a big reason why the sales of the Freestyle has been quite brisk. Prices of the Ford Freestyle start from Rs. 5.09 lakhs, which makes it as cheap as most B-Segment hatchbacks. The Freestyle offers butch styling and high ground clearance and additional safety features over regular hatchbacks.

Also Read: All-new Hyundai Santro: Another render shows what the new hatchback could look like

Motorcycles are fun and when the enthusiast starts having too much, it becomes dangerous. Here is a video from Karachi, Pakistan, where the motorcycle riders can be seen participating in a dangerous game.

What is happening here?

The video uploaded on a social media platform shows various bikers taking turns to jump on a ramp. The artificially made ramp is made quite steep and the bikers can be seen speeding towards the ramp and becoming airborne. They let go of their bike once they are airborne and try to land on their feet. Hundreds of spectators can be seen on both sides of the way leading to the ramp and every one of them is cheering up the participants.

While a few of them successfully land on their feet and get a lot of cheers from everyone around, many of them fall quite badly. In some cases, even the bike starts rolling towards them. None of the participants can be seen wearing any protective gears or even a helmet, which can be crucial during accidents. We are not sure what the prize money is but this seems to be an attractive sport for the youth. Many of them can be seen using 2-stroke bikes, which are known for their quick acceleration.

Also, the bikes get seriously damaged when they land after being airborne. The bikers seem to be reaching a height of at least 6-8 feet after the ramp and it is dangerous when the bike falls. The whole stunt game is played at an uncontrolled area, which increases the chances of getting injured. The game seems to be inspired by the longest jump attempts made by many international motorcyclists. However, they are done in a very controlled environment.

Stunting without safety gear!

A motorcycle can be fun to ride but can seriously injure the rider. People are very exposed on a motorcycle and even minor accidents can turn deadly. It is recommended to wear all the gears whenever you’re riding a motorcycle. During the stunting, the chances of accidents increase by many folds. Stunting is an extremely fun sport but one should practice it in controlled areas and never perform it on public roads.

Source

Also Read: All-new Hyundai Santro: Another render shows what the new hatchback could look like

Launched in April 2018, the Freestyle is now the second largest-selling Ford in India and has been well accepted by consumers. Priced from Rs 5.1 lakh onwards, the Freestyle not only offers tremendous value for money, it comes across as a functional and practical cross-hatch as well. The Freestyle is more than just a hatchback on steroids and this is what we experienced recently during the #GoFreestyle event last Sunday.

Riding on taller 15-inch wheels, the Ford Freestyle offers a lot of strong points as compared to its immediate competition or regular hatchbacks. And these were the highlights at the event where the car had to be driven through no less than seven obstacles, first of which was made for testing the HLA or the hill-launch assist feature. This is not offered by any other car in the price band and I feel it should come handy during regular commutes as well, for instance, while crawling through rush hour traffic on a flyover.

The second obstacle, though a bit tight, made us climb up steeply, making use of all that low-end torque on offer. The Freestyle has 190mm of ground clearance and even with a load of four passengers, the car did not touch down even once. Ditto for the third obstacle or the tyre catcher which was quite fun!

We continue the drive ahead to the ‘chicken humps’ section which was a visual treat for photographers. With either of the rear wheels in the air, the Freestyle went about negotiating this obstacle with ease, thanks to the extended suspension articulation. The rock crawl section looked simple initially but I was wrong – the key was to go slow without spinning the wheels (to avoid any unwanted cuts) and it was best to let the Freestyle crawl ahead in the 1st cog with no accelerator inputs. It worked!

We weren’t done yet and the 6th obstacle too impressed me. I had three more passengers on board and though the undulations looked deep, we came out without stalling the car or getting it stuck as you can see in the video above. The best was kept for the last – the slush pit. It had rained heavily the day before which meant this slush pit had water as deep as 15-20 inches at places and this wasn’t ordinary water, but slush that tends to stick to the tyre, making it harder for the engine to work. But nevertheless, we all loved driving here and came out without getting stuck even once (throughout the day mind you).

The Freestyle is sold with both 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel motors. The former is part of the new Dragon series of engines and impresses when it comes to a punchy low-end, which is required for off-roading. The only feature we could not test was the ARP or the anti-roll over protection as the particular obstacle couldn’t be made, thanks to constant monsoon showers. That said, each one of us, including the customers, went back happy and impressed with this little cross-hatch, or compact utility vehicle (CUV) in Ford lingo!

Also Read: All-new Hyundai Santro: Another render shows what the new hatchback could look like

The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is one of the highest-selling cars in its segment. The Ciaz really has a lot going for it. However, it has often been criticized for being a bit dull to drive and also to look at. However, Calicut-based 360 Motoring has given the Ciaz a makeover of sorts to make it look decidedly sporty and very desirable.

As can be seen in the images we have on this page, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz by 360 Motoring looks far sportier than the stock version. It carries a handful of cosmetic updates, which work together to give this sedan a really sporty image. From the very Audi-esque paint scheme to the huge spoiler at the rear, there are just too many sporty elements on offer.

At the front, you get a new bumper that looks far sportier than the one it replaces. It has huge air dams and even a front bumper splitter. It also carries a blackened-out hexagonal front grille instead of the chrome-plated horizontal slats of the stock car. Moreover, the original headlamps have made way for a set of custom units that carry BMW-like corona rings. Also, there’s a pair of LED DRLs that sits inside the airdam.

In the side profile, the car gets a set of new deep-dish alloy wheels that are shod with wide, low-profile tires. The car also gets a wide body kit, which makes it look more planted and sportier. You also get a black-trim around the side windows. The roof has been painted black, too. At the rear, the first thing you’ll notice is the huge rear spoiler. Also, the boot has been completely de-badged. The original tail-lights have been replaced with black-tinted ones. Also, the stock bumper has been replaced with a really sportier one that carries a dual muffler-cutter at both the ends.

While we aren’t aware if this modified Maruti Suzuki Ciaz carries any performance modifications, we are pretty sure that the highly skilled guys at 360 Motoring would have found it only apt to throw in some performance upgrades. We are really mighty impressed with the way this Ciaz looks. It’s actually the best Ciaz modification we’ve ever seen.

Source – 360 Motoring

Also Read: All-new Hyundai Santro: Another render shows what the new hatchback could look like

Tata showcased the Tiago JTP and the Tigor JTP at the 2018 Auto Expo. The Indian manufacturer will launch the more powerful version of the Tiago and Tigor and both the models are currently being tested. This time, the Tigor JTP was caught testing with camouflage on the new parts that will be different from the regular version. It’s likely to be priced under Rs. 7 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi, making it India’s cheapest high-performance sedan.

While the Tiago JTP is expected to be launched by next month, the Tigor JTP will be launched on the market by Diwali, which is in November this year. It is quite possible that Tata will launch both the vehicles at the same time, during Diwali. Tata has not confirmed any launch date, but they had announced that the vehicles will be launched before the end of this year.

The Tata Tigor JTP will become India’s most affordable hot-sedan and is expected to get a price tag of around Rs. 6.8 lakhs. It will be the first hot version of their sedan on the Indian market. Tata has developed the powerful versions of the Tiago and Tigor in partnership with Jayem Automotives. In fact, JTP stands for Jayem Tata Performance. The Tigor JTP is based on the regular version of the sedan but gets subtle styling updates that make it look much more aggressive.

The car gets upgraded body parts that add aggressive styling bits at the front and the rear of the Tigor. The restyled front and rear bumpers make the vehicle look different and much more aggressive than the regular variants. The front bumper also gets a lip spoiler that further accentuates the looks. Other styling changes include a gloss black fog lamp housing, bonnet vents, 15-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, side skirts and a red ORVM cap. It also gets a dual exhaust tip. The Tigor JTP will get a few “JTP” logos all over the body.

Powering the Tigor JTP will be the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that also powers the Tata Nexon. The engine will generate a maximum of 108 Bhp and 150 Nm with the Tigor JTP. Tata has also made the suspension stiffer, lowered the ride height by 35mm and reduced the ground clearance by 9mm to give it a better stance and handling capabilities.

Source

Also Read: All-new Hyundai Santro: Another render shows what the new hatchback could look like

Hyundai is preparing for the launch of a brand new hatchback in India, which is currently code-named the AH2. It’s  very likely that the South Korean automaker will bring back the Santro badge on the new car. Here is yet another  render that shows what the all-new Santro could look like.

A new set of spyshots revealed that the 2018 Santro would get the cascading grille, which is now a standard styling element on most new Hyundai cars. Also, the new car is expected to have a tall boy design just like the original  model. The new Santro is expected to be one of the more attractive looking cars in the entry-level hatchback segment. It’ll compete with the likes of the Maruti Alto K10, the Renault Kwid and some variants of the Tata Tiago. It’s expected to sit in between the Eon and the Grand i10 in terms of price and positioning.

The new Santro will be a petrol-only car and Hyundai could add LPG and CNG dual fuel options to the car for specific markets of India where there are LPG and CNG dispensing stations. For now, we also know that the new Santro will be the first Hyundai car to offer an automated manual transmission as an option. A five speed manual gearbox will be standard though. The car is likely to have a 1.1 liter-4 cylinder petrol engine although we can’t rule out a smaller, 800cc, triple cylinder motor on entry level variants.

Hyundai is said to be contemplating a September 2018 launch for this car, which means that we’re just a couple of  months away from what promises to be the automaker’s biggest launch for this year. Hyundai has already begun video campaigns that revolve around the old Santro, which makes us believe that the new car will also use the same badging. The Eon has been losing steam in the entry-level hatchback segment, and the Santro is the car that Hyundai will be banking on for big numbers.

Via CarWale

Also Read: All-new Hyundai Santro: Another render shows what the new hatchback could look like

The monsoon has taken over all of the Indian sub-continent. While the monsoon loses its strength while it advances towards the northern part of the country, it is the south India which goes through the worst. Parts like Kerala and Tamil Nadu encounter waterlogged streets for days during the monsoon season. Here is a video from the Kerala that shows the best use of the waterlogged streets.

What is happening here?

The people in Kerala have taken out their long boats which are usually seen during the Vallam Kali or Snake Boat race during the annual harvest festival of Onam. The boats can be 100-120 feet long and as many as 40 people are boarded on the boat at one time. The video shows the boat speeding through a waterlogged street in Kerala.

The rowers are accompanied with drummers and other instrument players who keep the rowers in synchronisation. The boats can cover a 1.4 km distance in just 5 minutes with the rowers doing up to 120 strokes per minute. It is a sight to watch during the game, but the boat rowing on the street is a whole different level of fun. With full participation, the boats can be seen going past the camera.

Most of the people in the southern part of India keep themselves prepared for the monsoons. Many people keep their inflatable boats ready whenever the streets are waterlogged and use such boats and inflatables to commute during the monsoon season. Regular vehicles are almost useless on the waterlogged streets as water enters the engine compartment and stops the vehicle completely. Most of the people keep their vehicle inside the home during such situations to save it from any damage. The empty waterlogged streets give the people a perfect opportunity to enjoy the season.

Not the first time!

While this is the first time that a longboat has been seen on the streets doing such stunts, people from various parts of the country use inflated tubes of the tyres to big bamboo baskets as means of commute during such situations. There are quite a few videos on the Internet that show the grim status of the roads during the monsoon and the inconvenience people and daily commuters face.

Also Read: Honda Activa-based NAVi relaunched in India with new features

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), the country’s highest-selling car manufacturer, is very close to launching the all-new Ertiga MPV. The upcoming new-gen Ertiga is not only larger than the current model, but also offers more in terms of features and performance. It will also have a higher price tag than the current MPV. Meanwhile, owners of the current-gen Ertiga can enhance the desirability-quotient of the Ertiga by installing some of the official accessories on offer. Here’s a video that details all the official accessories for the highly popular MPV –

The vlogger has used a limited-edition Maruti Ertiga to demonstrate the official accessories on offer. The limited edition of the Ertiga already comes with many official accessories that are sold by the company. At the front, you get chrome garnish for the front grille. You also get bumper protectors and a chrome garnish for the foglamp housing. In the side profile, the Limited Edition version comes kitted out with a set of stylish alloy wheels. You can purchase the same alloy wheels for other variants. You can also install side rub strips with chrome garnish to enhance the look of the side profile. Furthermore, you can install door visors, too. At the rear, you can install a roof-mounted spoiler to give a sporty look to the Ertiga. You can also install chrome garnish for the tail-lamps.

On the inside, the Ertiga can be kitted out with a reverse parking assistance system. You can either install only sensors or go for the full kit, which includes sensors, camera, and display. The Limited Edition Ertiga comes with bespoke seat covers, which aren’t available for other variants. However, you can choose from a range of similar seat covers that are part of the official accessories list. You can also purchase a cushion set and faux wood inserts for the centre console. You can also install a driver arm-rest on the lower variants. Finally, you can also purchase a God idol and a body-cover.

Here is a list of official accessories for the Maruti Ertiga MPV –

• Bumper Protector
• Foglamp chrome garnish
• Chrome finish front grille
• Chrome side rub strip
• Multi-spoke alloy wheels
• Door Visors
• Rear Spoiler
• Reverse Parking Assitance (sensors only)
• Reverse Parking Assitance  (sensors, camera and display)
• Seat covers
• Steering wheel cover
• Wood inserts
• Driver arm-rest
• Cushion set
• God idol
• Body cover

Video courtesy – Ujjwal Saxena on Youtube

Also Read: Honda Activa-based NAVi relaunched in India with new features

The Honda Activa has been one of the most popular two-wheelers around. The great mix of convenience, reliability and frugality it offers has made it a huge hit among the two-wheeler buyers of the country. The Activa is really a great urban runabout that can take you from point A to point B without any fuss. While the Activa’s playground is your urban road-network, it looks like some Braveheart recently decided to take the puny two-wheeler to places where only bikers with purpose-built tourers dare to go.

In the above video, you can see a Honda Activa being ridden on the Sach Pass, which is one of the most dangerous roads in the world. The video goes on to show the Activa being ridden on really harsh terrain and even through some dense fog. As you can see, the Activa seems to have cleared the whole stretch without breaking a sweat. However, one must note that this is one of the most challenging roads in the world for any two-wheeler rider and his machine. So far, we’ve only seen geared motorcycles being ridden on this stretch. The uploader of the video goes on to claim that is the first ever automatic-transmission scooter to have travelled on this road.

Frankly, we’re really surprised to see the Activa performing flawlessly on the harsh and broken tarmac. It even passes through some waterlogged stretches and continues to ride along unfazed. Towards the end of the video, the Activa can be seen riding through picturesque, snow-clad stretches. However, throughout the journey, the road surfaces remain pathetic. It’s really a pleasant surprise to see the li’l scooter covering the entire stretch without any problem.

The infamous Kishtwar-Killar road, which is also known as The Cliffhanger, is regarded as one of the most dangerous roads around the world. Only the most skilled riders and drivers attempt to pass through this stretch on their powerful motorcycles and SUVs. In this video, however, you can see a Honda Activa being ridden on the dangerous Killar-Kishtwar stretch.

You can see how the rider trods along the really tricky stretch of totally broken roads. One small mistake can lead to a 400-meter drop into the Chenab river. Actually, this road isn’t even a road but a really narrow mountain trail at a frighteningly high altitude. The broken surfaces and the narrowness of the trail can be clearly seen in the video. However, the Activa rides through the entire stretch without any mechanical failure. The two videos we have here go on to prove the high reliability of India’s most favourite automatic scooter.

Video source – Karanbir Singh on Youtube

Also Read: Honda Activa-based NAVi relaunched in India with new features

Dilip Chhabria, the founder of the popular DC Designs in India, is a big petrolhead himself. The automotive designer is popular for many of his designs, including the Aston Martin Vantage V8 concept. His personal garage is full of exotic vehicles and here is a full list of all the vehicles that belong to him.

BMW X6 M

The BMW X6 is the world’s first SUV-Coupe and can turn every head on the road it goes through. Dilip Chhabria owns the M-powered version of the vehicle, which is one of the most powerful production SUVs in the world. He uses the vehicle regularly and here is a picture of him going around the Buddh International Circuit, which is the only Formula 1 circuit in the country.

The metallic blue BMW X6 M draws power from an 8-cylinder engine that churns out a maximum power of 567 Bhp and 750 Nm. It gets an 8-speed automatic transmission and an AWD system. It can run from 0-100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 249.9 km/h.

Aston Martin Vanquish

British manufacturer Aston Martin approached Dilip Chhabria to build a prototype of the Aston Martin Vantage V8 which was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show. He owns an Aston Martin in the form of Vanquish. The grand touring sportscar carries a price tag of Rs. 5.21 crores in India and is the most expensive Aston Martin that you can buy. It is powered by a 5.9-litre V12 engine that produces a maximum power of 568 Bhp and can reach a top speed of 324 km/h. The engine gets an 8-speed transmission that is known to shift between gears in a lightning fast speed of 130 milliseconds.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the epitome of luxury and Chhabria uses the old-generation luxury saloon as his daily car. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class S320 CDI used by him is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 engine that churns out a maximum of 210 Bhp and 490 Nm. The luxury saloon gets a 7-speed automatic transmission and is a fun car to drive too. However, most S-Class owners prefer the comfort of the rear seats.

DC Avanti

The DC Avanti is known as India’s first sportscar and is quite popular too. The DC Avanti has been designed by keeping the Indian conditions in mind and it gets a huge ground clearance of 170mm. The car gets a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine from Ford. The EcoBoost engine generates a maximum of 250 Bhp and a peak torque of 366 Nm. It comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. The Avanti is electronically limited at 180 km/h. It is also one of the most affordable sportscars that you can buy in India and carries a price tag of Rs. 35 lakhs.

Porsche 911 Turbo S

The Porsche 911 Turbo S is a track-oriented car and is known for its precise handling. It is one of the best track cars built by the Stuttgart-based manufacturer and is used by Dilip Chhabria’s son Bonito. He is also an avid car lover like his dad. It is the new generation Porsche 911 Turbo S and comes with an updated flat-six engine. The twin-turbocharged engine produces a maximum power of 572 Bhp and can reach 100 km/h from standstill in just 2.9 seconds. Bonito has been spotted at the Buddh International Circuit numerous times with the vehicle.

Audi R8 Spyder

Audi R8 is known as one of the most practical and value-for-money sportscars in India. This 2012 R8 Spyder in bright yellow colour is used by Bonito often. The drop-top sportscar looks quite fantastic and comes powered by a 4.2-litre V8 engine that produces a maximum of 420 Bhp. The convertible can accelerate to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds. The top speed is limited at 299 km/h.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG marked the production of the last gull-wing styled cars by the German brand. The beautiful red coloured SLS AMG is driven by Bonito and is often seen at the Buddh International Circuit. The sportscar is powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine that produces a maximum power of 563 Bhp and 650 Nm.

Source: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Also Read: Honda Activa-based NAVi relaunched in India with new features

While many modern day bikes have started offering high-tech laser cut keys, there are many bikes which still come with old Key-in-Knob (KIK) type keys. Such keys can be highly unreliable and here is a video that shows two brand new Royal Enfield bikes demonstrating the same.

What is happening here?

The video shows two brand new Royal Enfield Classic bikes parked side by side and a person holding a key. The person in the video first puts the key on one bike and starts it. He then takes out the key and puts it in the other Royal Enfield parked on the side. Interestingly, the key works and the second bike starts too!

While such things are quite common when the locks become old and continuous wear and tear makes the edges flat, it is uncommon in brand new bikes. Over regular use, the grooves in the lock lose their edges and it can be literally opened by any key that fits in the groove. In some extreme cases, the lock can be opened by inserting any hard metal object inside the lock and rotating it.

Keys and locks are made in various combinations and it is possible that a single key can open two different locks. However, lock manufacturers ensure that similarly made keys and locks are shipped to different regions to avoid any such thing. It is not known if both the locks have the same key combination or one of the locks have malfunctioned.

Always better to use a secondary lock

It is always better to use a secondary lock in automobiles. Be it a car or a bike, a secondary locking system ensures that the vehicle is safe and adds one extra layer of security. For bikes, there are many secondary lock mechanisms available, like a disc lock, which locks the brake and the bike becomes unmovable. Also, the wheel locks are quite effective and do not allow the bike to move when the handle lock fails. At present, there are many sophisticated devices like GPS-based locks, that can tell you the real-time location of the bike if it gets stolen and can even turn off the bike.

Source

Also Read: Honda Activa-based NAVi relaunched in India with new features

Fuel efficiency is a major criterion behind the success of any car model on the Indian car market. But what if we tell that you can easily achieve much more mileage than what the manufacturers claim officially by using a technique called hypermiling? Is it worth it? Let’s find out!

High fuel efficiency!

To explain hypermiling, let’s take an example of the all-new Maruti DZire. It is one of the most fuel-efficient cars on the market and the diesel version of the compact sedan returns a maximum fuel efficiency of 28.4 km/l! These tests are done by the government agency – ARAI and are done under test conditions, which are quite different from the real world situations. In real life, the efficiency will come down to around 25 km/l on highways. However, there have been many record-breaking drivers who have achieved much higher mileage than the claimed figure.

A Maruti Suzuki Dzire owner achieved the unbelievable fuel efficiency figure of 45.8 km/l! There are few others who have attempted the fuel mileage runs and achieved extremely high fuel efficiency figures like 32.3 km/l. And different cars like Renault Scala and Ford Fiesta have been used for such record runs.

So, how to do it?

Hypermiling is driving on an open highway at a speed of 60 km/h in the highest gear. This means that if the car offers a fifth gear, it should be in the fifth and if there is a sixth speed, the transmission should be in the sixth gear. Now to extract the maximum fuel efficiency, the AC has to be turned off and there should no electrical equipment like headlamps, audio system or navigation in use. The windows should be opened only a little to ensure that the air passes through, however, opening them completely would mean bad aerodynamics and the efficiency will drop. Now, to see the magical figure of efficiency, one should continue to be on the same speed, without accelerating or applying the brakes, over a long distance. If you drive like this over a long distance, you will be able to achieve at least 20% more than the claimed efficiency.

Would you like doing it?

The Indian weather condition is not exactly very comfortable. One has to use the AC when on the road under normal circumstances. Also, driving at 60 km/h on an open highway is extremely boring. Fast cars will pass you left and right and it is quite dangerous too. At times, people just get bored driving at slow speed over long distances and fall asleep. Also, without any music, it becomes difficult to concentrate on the highways over a long period of time. If you want to achieve the maximum fuel efficiency, maintain a constant speed and do not accelerate or brake often, as this will ensure maximum efficiency without making it extremely difficult for you.

Also Read: Honda Activa-based NAVi relaunched in India with new features

Kawasaki India has just re-launched the Ninja 300 with a massive price drop of Rs. 60,000 and a key new feature: dual channel ABS. The big price drop on the sportsbike is because of a higher amount of localization. The 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 300 is priced at Rs. 2.98 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi. Bookings for the motorcycle are now open at all Kawasaki dealerships across India. With the price drop, the Kawasaki Ninja 300 becomes India’s cheapest twin cylinder motorcycle. The bike will go up against the likes of the KTM RC390 (priced at Rs. 2.36 lakhs), which is much cheaper, and the recently launched BMW G 310R (priced at Rs. 2.99 lakhs).

While both the KTM RC390 and the BMW G 310R are single cylinder motorcycles, the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 300 is a twin cylinder bike. The engine in question is a 300cc, parallel twin, with four valves per cylinder and twin overhead camshafts. Fuel injection and liquid cooling are standard, and the engine is paired to a 6 speed manual gearbox. The engine puts out 39 Bhp at 11,000 rpm and 27 Nm of peak torque at 10,000 rpm. The Ninja 300 has the sportiest and the highest revving motor in question. It gives the motorcycle blistering performance, with a top speed of over 160 Kmph. A key addition to the 2018 Ninja 300 is the dual channel anti-lock braking system (ABS).

The Ninja 300 uses more conventional suspension components compared to the KTM RC390 and the BMW G 310R. Up front, there are telescopic forks, which is at least a generation behind the upside down units on the KTM and BMW. The rear is a monoshock though, which is at par with what the other bikes offer. The Ninja 300 will continue to be assembled at India Kawasaki Motors’ Chakan factory through the completely knocked down (CKD) kit route. As for localized parts, the bike gets MRF tyres and Endurance brakes. It’s heavier than before by 7 kilos, tipping the scales at 179 kilograms. Meanwhile, here’s what Kawasaki India – Managing Director, Yutaka Yamashita said about the new motorcycle,

We just started localizing for Ninja 300 ABS as a part of our expansion plan. Initiatives like “Make In India” have also been encouraging factors in increasing localisation. The localization gives us a benefit to set a very competitive price, because of which we can offer many new customers an opportunity to enjoy our product and also start experiencing fun of supersports riding. As per Kawasaki’s product portfolio, the Ninja 300 is an entry level sports bike. We have observed that customers start with the Ninja 300 and then upgrade to the next class. Therefore, the Ninja 300 happens to be our bestselling product in India because of the affordable price.

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7,290 units of the second generation Honda Amaze compact sedan have been recalled in India for the inspection of the EPS Sensor Harness. If found faulty, the part will be replaced at no cost to the customer. The recall affects the compact sedans built between 17 April 2018 to 24 May 2018. Honda dealers will begin contacting affected owners of the second generation Amaze compact sedan starting from the 26th of July, 2018. Owners can also check if their Amazes come under the recall by submitting their 17 character alpha-numeric Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the special microsite which has been created on the company’s website.

The second generation Honda Amaze compact sedan is the automaker’s best-selling car. Ever since it was launched in February 2018 at the Auto Expo, the Amaze has been clocking about 8,000 units each month, boosting Honda’s sales in the Indian market. The new Amaze is now India’s second best-selling compact sedan, behind the Maruti Dzire. Other competitors of the Honda Amaze include the Hyundai Xcent, Ford Figo Aspire and Volkswagen Ameo. The Amaze has received a brand new design that makes it look very different from the first-generation model, and also makes it stand out among its competitors.

There are two engine options on offer in the new Honda Amaze. The petrol motor is the 1.2 liter i-VTEC unit with 87 Bhp of peak power and 110 Nm of peak torque. The petrol engine gets 5 speed manual and CVT automatic gearbox options. The diesel engine is a 1.5 litre, turbocharged i-DTEC all aluminium unit with 98.6 Bhp of peak power and 200 Nm of peak torque. A 6 speed manual gearbox is standard on the diesel motor, whose detuned version with 80 Bhp-160 Nm on tap gets a CVT automatic gearbox option. Twin airbags and ABS are standard safety features on the car, whose prices start from Rs. 5.59 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi.

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Ford India is offering massive discounts of over Rs. 1 lakh on the Figo Aspire compact sedan to clear stocks before the facelifted model arrives in India. Here are the 5 biggest changes that the Figo Aspire will get, which is expected to make it a lot more attractive than the outgoing model.

Brand new looks

Both the front end and rear end styling of the Figo Aspire Facelift will get significant changes. The Figo Aspire Facelift’s styling will take cues from the Freestyle compact utility vehicle. The front and rear bumpers will be revised and so will be the grille.

New petrol engine & gearbox

The Figo Aspire Facelift will feature Ford’s brand new, 1.2 litre-3 cylinder petrol engine from the Dragon line-up. This triple cylinder motor will have class leading power and torque outputs of 95 Bhp-120 Nm. The motor will be paired with a new 5 speed manual gearbox.

New interiors

The facelifted Aspire will also get a makeover on the inside. The car will get a brand new infotainment touchscreen console with Ford’s SYNC3 interface. It’ll have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for smartphone connectivity. The colour scheme on the interiors are expected to get a refresh as well, making the new car look a lot fresher than before.

New automatic gearbox

The facelifted model will get a new, 6 speed torque converter automatic gearbox option. This gearbox will be offered with the 1.2 litre Dragon petrol engine. Previously, the Figo Aspire Automatic used to feature a 1.5 litre Ti-VCT petrol engine with a 6 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox.

Better fuel efficiency!

The new 1.2 litre Dragon petrol engine is a 3 cylinder unit, and it replaces the 4 cylinder TI-VCT motor. While the new engine makes more power and torque, it is also be more fuel efficient thanks to its three cylinder layout. The exact quantum of mileage increase will be known at the time of launch, which is just a few weeks away.

Render courtesy IAB

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Honda has just re-launched the NAVi, an Activa-based moped that’s probably the funkiest thing on Indian roads  currently. The 2018 Honda NAVi gets a flurry of changes that is aimed at making it a lot more appealing to future  customers. The NAVi gets a new fuel gauge, a metal muffler protector, body coloured grab rail, headlight cover and  rear view mirrors, and a red paint scheme for the rear shock absorber. The NAVi is based on the Honda Activa  automatic scooter with which it shares the 110cc four stroke engine, the frame and various other cycle parts. In  essence, the NAVi is a Honda Activa in the form of a funky moped.

The 2018 Honda NAVi is priced at Rs. 44,775 (ex-showroom Delhi), and is available in 6 colour options: Patriot Red,  Shasta White, Sparky Orange, Black, Ranger Green (new), Ladakh Brown (new). Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria – Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said,

In the diverse Indian two-wheeler market, NAVi stands out firmly with its unique fun proposition. The trendy NAVi is a style statement for the youth and the new 2018 upgrades take it notch higher. Along with the convenience value addition like stylish fuel gauge and muffler protector, new vibrant colors offer an extra zing for those who have an appetite for uniqueness. We will continue to surprise our customers and add more fun for the riders.

The Honda NAVi is powered by a 110cc, four stroke engine that produces a peak power of 8 PS and a peak torque of 8 Nm. A CVT automatic gearbox is standard. The NAVi rides on 12 inch steel wheels with tubeless tyres. There are drum brakes at the front and rear. While an electric starter is standard, there’s also a kick start that’s offered. The  moped gets a range of accessories: from a luggage box to knuckle guards. Honda has positioned the NAVi as an  affordable, fun city commuter meant to attract the younger lot of buyers. The NAVi was developed entirely in India, by Honda’s in-house research and development outfit.

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While we’ve seen many retro-styled custom motorcycles based on Royal Enfield models, this modified Royal Enfield Desert Storm 500 not only offers tons of classic charm but has got a vintage World War II-look. Customized by Eimor Customs, this motorcycle has been named ‘Donnie Brasco’.

At the front, the customizers have used a 4.25×18” big block, MRF Moto C tyre. The front-end also gets a sleeker fender with the registration plate mounted on top of it. The front forks have been painted black and the headlamp binnacle has been removed in favour of an exposed setup. There’s also a Royal Enfield badge near the front forks. Moving on, the motorcycle also gets black-painted crash guards that carry an auxiliary lamp each.

Once astride, you’ll be quick to notice that the original handlebar has been retained. The mirrors come from the Standard model. The fuel gauge is placed on the headlight casing and an ammeter has been added. The original fuel tank has been updated with thigh pads matching the seat upholstery. The fuel-filler cap gets an ‘Om’ sticker. Also, a brass trim has been used in some places. Even the fender-mounted front registration plate is made of brass. The handlebar end weights are also made of brass and bear the company branding. The customizers have replaced the original seat with a vintage-look, tan brown, spring-style seat. Even the pillion seat is sleeker and gets the same tan brown upholstery.

There is also a brass token holder. To complete the World War II look, the customizer has installed a faux ammunition box that serves as a first aid box and a utility box. These have been fastened tight with genuine leather belts. The wheels and other parts have been tastefully powder coated in matte black. Even the exhaust pipe has been given a black finish. The rear wheel also gets a 4.25×18” big block, MRF Moto C tyre. The original grab-rail has been replaced with a smaller unit. The motorcycle gets vintage-style custom tail-light and indicators. The crash bar is a military-style butterfly crash guard. The entire motorcycle gets a glossy dark Prussian Blue paint scheme.

Source- EIMOR Customs on Facebook

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Most of you would remember the ‘Taarzan the Wonder Car’, a movie that not only brought Dilip Chhabria into the limelight, but also gave a push to the mod car culture in the country. The Ajay Devgn-starrer showed how a young guy modifies a really old, rotting vintage car into a very attractive sportscar. Actually, the modified car shown in the movie was based on a second-gen Toyota MR2. In reality, this modified car was the work of none other than Dilip Chhabria, the famous Indian car designer.

This wonder car caught the attention of the entire nation and was even put on sale after the movie was released. However, no one was willing to shell out a whopping Rs 2 crore for something that was actually a dated sportscar with no proven crash protection on offer. In due course of time, the asking price was reduced to a lot more affordable Rs. 35 lakh. Still, the Wonder Car failed to find any takers.

Last year, we became aware of the car’s isolated and shabby condition. The above video, however, shows that the modified Toyota MR2 was recently acquired by someone and is undergoing a transformation. It’s likely that the new owner purchased the car at its scrap value. As per this video, it was initially planned that the Taarzan would soon look like a Lamborghini.

However, a new video we have above says that the Taarzan will not be remodelled to something new and instead, will look like the car we saw in the movie. The first video states that the Taarzan is undergoing restoration at a workshop in GTB Nagar, Mumbai. The first video also shows a mechanic scrapping off the original paint of the car. Basically, the MR2 that started life as a rotting old car in the fictional world is finally being resurrected from scrap in the real world. Powering the Taarzan is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that powered the original car. This motor has a maximum power of 218 bhp. The engine comes mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. We’re happy to know that the Taarzan is about to be restored to its former glory.

Videos source – Padosan ka Ghar on Youtube

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Suzuki Motor Corporation has unveiled the all-new version of the Jimny on the Japanese market. The SUV is extremely popular around the world and is expected to replace the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy in India. Suzuki Motor Corporation has released a new Television Commercial (TVC) in English that shows the journey of a photographer.

The earlier released TVC showed the Suzuki Jimny Sierra, which is a more rugged version of the Jimny. In the new TVC video, the regular version has been shown. The TVC talks about a photographer’s hardship and how far they have to travel to get a perfect shot. It shows a photographer driving around in the all-new Jimny and talking about his photography escapades. The promotional film shows the Jimny reaching extremely tough terrains with ease.

In the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), the Jimny is priced at 14,58,000-19,06,200 JPY (approx Rs. 9.08 lakh to Rs. 11.87 lakh) while the Jimny Sierra costs 17,60,400-20,62,800 JPY (approx Rs. 10.94 lakh to Rs. 12.82 lakh). The all-new Jimny is expected to be heavily modified before the Indian launch to make it more cost-effective. The all-new Jimny is powered by a 0.66-litre, three-cylinder engine that produces a maximum power of 64 PS and a peak torque of 96 Nm.

The Jimny Sierra gets a more powerful 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine that churns out a maximum of 101 PS and a peak torque of 130 Nm. The all-new engine will debut on the Indian market soon with the facelifted Ciaz and the all-new Ertiga. In the JDM, both the engines are offered with a manual 5-speed transmission and a 4-speed automatic transmission. It also gets a four-wheel drive system.

The all-new Jimny is built on the HEARTECT platform, which also underpins a lot of cars in India like the all-new Swift, Dzire and the Baleno. The new boxy, straight-lined design of the Jimny gives it a very G-Wagen-inspired look. It gets a pair of round headlamps at the front with LEDs (Daytime Running Lamps). It also gets 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels finished in gunmetal grey. On the inside, the all-new Jimny gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a new three-spoke steering wheel.

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