Honda City has completed 20 years in the Indian car market and is one of the top-selling cars in the segment. The City has set the benchmark for luxury in the Indian mid-size sedan market and most people connect this car with status. Over the years, Honda City has changed a lot and has even got a diesel engine under the hood. Why exactly does the City sell so well in the market and how does it feel to own the vehicle? To find out the answers, we have the Honda City diesel for the next three months in the top-end ZX trim.
Honda City ZX
Model: Honda City ZX (diesel) Odo at arrival: 16,359 km Colour: Modern Steel Metallic Date of arrival: 9th August 2018
The Honda City has been a perfect vehicle for the daily commute and also occasional highway runs. To welcome the sedan, we packed our bags to head towards the foothills of the Himalayas. I always prefer driving at night when traffic is thin and the commuters are tucked away in their beds. The Honda City’s all-LED headlamps are spectacular at night and ensure that the road is well-lit even without a street light present.
We were headed towards the Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand and the roads to the place are a mix of good and very bad stretches. Due to the recent arrival of the monsoon, the road conditions were not at the top-notch level and then there are the infamous multiple speed breakers that can easily break your neck if ignored. With four adults onboard and luggage for two days, the Honda City’s underbody remained safe from any hits. The City always had the image of a low-slung sedan and we can confirm that it has come out of age.
Honda City
The distance to our night stay at Jim Corbett was about 320 km and the City’s torque heavy diesel engine helped us complete the distance in just 5 hours. With a good audio system and a sunroof, the drive never felt boring on the way while the comfortable seats took care of the comfort factor quite well. The Honda City gets a precise steering set-up and returns excellent fuel efficiency too, returning an overall economy of 19 kmpl for the entire trip, including the infamous Kawar jams on the highway on the way back.
City 1
Over the next few weeks, the City will see many more destinations and we will bring you all you want to know about the sedan. Stay tuned and keep checking the space. The Honda City is priced from Rs. 8.79 lakhs to Rs. 13.92 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi.
Kia unveiled the SP Concept compact SUV earlier this year at the 2018 Auto Expo and the production version of the concept will be the first vehicle to bear the premium Korean carmaker’s badge on the Indian sub-continent. Now, designers at Korean design house, Koo Ki Sung studio have given their take on what the Hyundai-Creta rivalling SP Compact SUV could look like when it arrives on Indian roads in 2019.
The speculative render by the Korean design house shows a slightly watered down version of the SP Concept from Auto Expo 2018, with slight tweaks done to the design to make it more ready for production. The render by Koo Ki Sung studio is in line with Kia’s statement that the production-spec SP SUV’s styling would remain quite close to the concept SP’s design.
Up front, the rendered production-spec Kia SP retains the sleek LED headlights (though they have been toned down and look to be smaller in size) along with the large blacked-out grille with its chrome borders and blacked out pillars that were seen on the concept. The auxiliary LED lights that sit under the LED headlights have changed and look similar to what you would find in production cars today. The front bumper looks similar to the one on the concept SUV but is missing the vertical LED fog lights.
The production-spec Kia SP Concept will be underpinned by the same platform that is used by its future sister SUV and rival, the Hyundai Creta. The upcoming Kia SP is also expected to use the same powertrain options found on the Hyundai Creta though they are expected to be updated to meet the upcoming BS-VI emission norms that will go into effect in 2020. The Kia SP will also come packed with a host of safety features to meet the Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP) that go into effect in a few months’ time.
The production-spec Kia SP SUV, which could bear the name ‘Tusker’, will arrive in India in 2019 and will butt heads with the Hyundai Creta, Tata’s upcoming 5-seater Harrier SUV, the Renault Duster and Mahindra’s S201 SUV.
Isuzu Motors India has signed on former South African cricketing legend and Adventure enthusiasts, Jonty Rhodes. This venture is being done to promote V-cross, the adventure pickup truck that the company offers in India. Jonty Rhodes is one of the more famous cricketers. He is also known for his adventure lifestyle through which he inspires others to travel and take up adventure sports.
He is known for being a “game changer” himself which makes him the perfect man to endorse the V-Cross. On this occasion, Mr Ken Takashima, Deputy Managing director, Isuzu Motors India said: “Jonty perfectly represents the brand’s values and his association encapsulates what we intend to do in this country”.
Rhodes, on this occasion, said, “I am pleased to be associated with a legendary brand that makes reliable, durable and performance-oriented vehicles”. He also stated the fact that a lot of people use Pickup trucks as personal vehicles in foreign countries, especially on his own. He said that he is “excited to be associated with ISUZU in India” and he looks forward to an “amazing journey with the brand”.
Isuzu D-Max V-cross is one of the few pick up trucks available in India. It is powered by a 2499 cc VGS Turbo diesel engine which produces around 132 Bhp and 320 Nm of torque. The Adventure pickup truck also comes equipped with a number of features like Traction Control system (TCS), Electronic Stability Control (ECS) and Auto Cruise control. It comes in two Variants V-Cross standard (Rs 14.32 Lakh ex-showroom) and V-Cross high (Rs 15.82 lakh ex-showroom).
Isuzu also retails a mu-X SUV which can seat 7 passengers and is powered by a 2999 cc Isuzu Ddi VGS Turbo Diesel engine. It produces 175 Bhp @3600 RPM and 380 Nm of torque @1800-2800 RPM. Isuzu mu-X now comes with a “5ECURE” offer which provides “5 years of warranty and 5 years of periodic maintenance or 1,50,000 km (Whichever is earlier).
According to the Company, Jonty Rhodes brings a lot to the table and stands for Reliability, performance, excellence on one hand and innovation, consistent and aspirational on the other. Isuzu Motors is a Japanese company which is operating in India through its subsidiary branch Isuzu Motors India. The company is operational in India since 2016 and manufactures its product at Sri City, in Andhra Pradesh.
The all-new Hyundai Elite i20 premium hatchback, due for launch in India during 2020, will go turbo. The car will use the 1.0 liter-3 cylinder GDi turbocharged petrol engine that Hyundai will introduce next year on the QXi code-named sub-4 meter compact SUV.
This motor is rated at 118 Bhp, but is likely to see a range of tunes to suit specific cars. For instance, it may get
a detune for the next-generation Hyundai i20 Elite in the interest of higher fuel efficiency. Meanwhile, the reason
Hyundai has chosen to bring turbocharged petrol engines to India has to do with tightening emission norms.
From April 2020, India will move to the highly stringent Bharat Stage 6 emission norms, and meeting these norms with a naturally aspirated petrol engine could entail the fitment of expensive emission control equipment. A turbocharged petrol engine, by virtue of using tail pipe emissions to increase power and fuel efficiency, will limit tail pipe emissions, and allow Hyundai to avoid using expensive emission control equipment. However, diesel engines – which already feature turbocharging – will still require expensive emission control equipment, making them unsuitable for many segments of budget cars.
So, while it’s highly likely that the next generation Hyundai Elite i20 will get the turbocharged petrol engine, the possibility of Hyundai doing away with the diesel engine option completely is quite high. The all-new i20 Elite is expected to use a new platform, and also get a thorough stylistic makeover. Additional features – both in terms of safety and creature comforts are likely. The all-new car will continue to take on the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Honda Jazz. Currently, the Elite i20 is India’s second best selling premium hatchback and Hyundai will be keen to maintain the car’s top seller status even on the all-new model.
Atal Behari Vajpayee was India’s first prime minister to shift from the grand old Hindustan Ambassador to a luxurious, BMW 7-Series Security Edition saloon. PM Vajpayee made this shift in the middle of his tenure after the Special Protection Group (SPG) – the force that guards India’s VVIPs – recommended that he opt for high-end, heavily armored BMW saloons for security reasons. Prior to this, most of India’s prime ministers used the Hindustan Ambassador that was bullet proofed suitably.
What prompted this sudden change?
Terrorists attacked India’s greatest edifice of democracy – the Parliament house in New Delhi. This got politicians, and those protecting them, alarmed. An order for four heavily fortified BMW luxury saloons were placed. These BMW 740 Li variants, with V8 petrol motors were to ferry the prime minister. While one car was kept as a standby vehicle, the two other BMWs were used as decoys, which is the general practice when ferrying very important persons and
state heads such as the prime minister and president.
But had any other PM before Vajpayee used luxury cars?
Well, yes. Rajiv Gandhi, India’s prime minister between 1984 and 1989, used a range of cars including the Maruti 1000 sedan, a Mercedes Benz 500 SEL and a Range Rover. The Mercedes and the Range Rover were gifted to Rajiv Gandhi by the King of Jordan. Rajiv Gandhi, who liked to drive by himself rather than be driven, preferred these cars to the Hindustan Ambassador. Incidentally, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv’s mother and a two time prime minister preceding him, used the Hindustan Ambassador as well. After Rajiv Gandhi, multiple prime ministers of the country continued to use the Hindustan Ambassador until Vajpayee shifted to the BMW.
A funny incident!
When PM Vajpayee demitted office in 2004, he got back to using a a Hindustan Ambassador. On one such occasion, the octagenarian ex-prime minister found himself stuck in the Ambassador after the doors of the vehicle jammed. Mr. Vajpayee had to squeeze through the small gap between the front bucket seats of the Ambassador, and exit through the front door. The Manmohan Singh-led UPA government sent across one of the four BMWs that had fallen into disuse after Mr. Vajpayee’s tenure, to the former PM.
Actor Saif Ali Khan turned 48 yesterday. The Bollywood actor is best known for his role in Dil Chaata Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Hum Tum and Parineeti. The actor who recently starred in the Netflix drama Sacred Games is currently married to actress Kareena Kapoor and has a son with her and is the 10th Nawab of Pataudi. Both Khan, the son of former Indian cricket captain Tiger Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore, and his wife Kareena are known to have a large collection of cars, they use on the streets of Tinseltown. We take a look at this rather Royal car collection from Bollywood.
Audi R8 Spyder
Saif Ali Khan is known for his collection of fast rides and both he and his wife Kareena, have been spotted in Audi’s only supercar till date, the R8. What makes this car special is the fact that it is the convertible R8 Spyder, which is a lot harder to find in India compared to its hardtop sibling.
Saif’s red R8 Spyder is powered by a 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 engine borrowed from Lamborghini which screams out 525bhp and 530Nm of torque. The R8 Spyder sprints from 0-100km/h in just 4.1 seconds and continues accelerating till it tops out at 313km/h.
Ford Mustang
Saif Ali Khan is a proud owner of the pony car in India. However, Saif’s Mustang is an imported RHD Shelby GT500 unlike the regular Mustang GT currently sold in India. Saif’s red Mustang with white stripes is also an older generation of the iconic Muscle car currently on sale in India and was purchased in 2008.
The 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 is powered by a 5,4-litre litre V8 engine producing 500bhp and 651Nm of torque which is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The flagship Mercedes S-Class limo is a recent addition to the garage of Saif and Kareena. Painted in a grey shade of paint, the S350d luxury sedan is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine producing 255bhp and 620Nm of torque. The Bollywood power couple is often seen travelling around to parties across Mumbai in this luxury limo.
BMW 7-Series
The S-Class is not the only flagship German luxury limo in Saif and Kareena’s collection as they also have a BMW 7 Series in their garage. The luxury BMW owned by the couple is a 750Ld, which uses a quad-turbo 3.0-litre straight-six diesel engine that cranks out 394bhp and 760Nm of torque. It can do 0-100 km in 4.6 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.
Mercedes E-Class
Saif also happens to own a previous-gen E-Class luxury sedan. The old E-Class was sone of the best-known cars to be driven around in India and was a top choice among businessmen and industrialists as a chauffeur driven car.
Land Rover Range Rover Vogue
Bollywood’s obsession with the Range Rover extends to the Pataudi clan as well and Saif is the proud owner of an older-gen Range Rover Vogue from Land Rover. It is not known which of the three powertrain options offered by the British brand is used in Saif’s SUV as it is rarely seen on the road these days.
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
Saif’s love of fast cars extends to his SUVs as well and the latest addition to his collection is Jeep’s most powerful SUV on sale in India, the Grand Cherokee SRT.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT is powered by a supercharged 6.4-litre V8 petrol engine that produces 470 Bhp and 640 Nm, which is sent to all four wheels via an automatic gearbox. The Grand Cherokee SRT can do the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.8 seconds and has a top speed of 257 km/h.
Audi Q7
Kareena’s luxury SUV of choice is Audi’s flagship Q7, however, with the arrival of the Merc S-Class and the 7 Series BMW, the actress and mother of one is rarely seen in this SUV. Kareena’s Q7 uses a 3.0-litre turbo V6 diesel engine cranks out 245 Bhp and peak torque of 600 Nm.
Lexus LX 470
One of the older SUVs in Kareena’s collection was a Lexus LX 470 luxury SUV. This previous-gen LX 470 was imported into India way before the arrival of the luxury Japanese brand in the country. Kareena’s Lexus LX 470, which was extensively used by her till a few years back uses a 5.6-litre V8 that produces 383bhp and 546Nm of torque which sends power to all four wheels via an automatic gearbox.
Honda CR-V
The humblest SUV in the entire Pataudi collection is an older Honda CR-V, which is mostly seen with Saif’s daughter Sara Ali Khan, whose first Bollywood movie, Kedarnath is set to release on the 30th of November. Saif’s CR-V seems to be the 2.4-litre variant, which uses the same engine that powered the old Accord and featured All-Wheel-Drive as standard.
Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch the facelifted Ciaz C-Segment sedan in India next week. Media drives are also set to commence next week, and the first impressions of the heavily revised car will soon be out. The leaks have begun in full earnest. The interiors of the facelifted Ciaz have now been fully revealed in the latest crop of uncamouflaged spyshots. The car gets a beige and black trim for the dashboard, with most other parts of the inside getting a beige theme. There’s a prominent faux wood insert across the dashboard, and this endows the interiors of the facelifted Ciaz a touch a luxury.
The faux wood treatment is also carried on to the doors of the car. In effect, Maruti has tried to give the Ciaz a look and feel similar to luxury cars and most buyers are certain to appreciate these small but significant premium touches. The car also gets a totally new instrument cluster, with ‘smart hybrid’ prominently emblazoned on the speedometer section.
The facelifted Ciaz will be India’s first C-Segment sedan to go hybrid. By hybrid, we mean partial/mild hybrid as the Suzuki Hybrid Vehicle System (SHVS) fitted to the car merely assists the engine during acceleration rather than functioning as a full hybrid.
SHVS was already seen on the outgoing Ciaz’s diesel variant. In fact, the pre-facelift Ciaz was the first mass market car in India to receive a mild hybrid system, and the same set-up is also found on the Maruti Ertiga Diesel. Even the facelifted Ciaz’s diesel variant is expected to get the mild-hybrid SHVS unit. Coming to the new petrol engine the Ciaz will use, it’ll get capacity, power and torque boosts.
The 1.4 liter K-Series petrol engine is being replaced by the 1.5 liter unit, which now makes 104 Bhp-138 Nm. This engine will get 5 speed manual and 4 speed torque converter automatic gearbox options. The diesel engine will continue to be the 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet unit with 89 Bhp-200 Nm, and a 5 speed manual gearbox as standard.
New uncamouflaged pictures of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Facelift are now out. The images have been snapped up from one of Maruti’s dealership stockyards, which means that the facelifted Ciaz has already begun reaching dealerships across India. It’s understandable considering the fact that Maruti Suzuki has already commenced bookings for the facelifted Ciaz through the NEXA chain of premium dealerships. Moreover, the launch of the car is scheduled for next week, and deliveries are all set to begin soon after launch. The facelifted Maruti Ciaz will continue to operate in the C-Segment sedan space, taking on the likes of the Hyundai Verna, Toyota Yaris and Honda City.
The uncamouflaged spyshots of the Maruti Ciaz Facelift reveal that the car gets a revised front end styling. The headlamps look sharper than before and are likely to pack in LED projectors, while the front grille is a totally new item.
The grille also gets an additional dollop of chrome at the top and bottom while the fog lamp surrounds on the front bumper are also new items. The alloy wheel design of the car gets a mild refresh. At the rear, the tail lamps get the LED treatment while the bumper features new satin inserts. There’s a ‘smart hybrid’ badge on the bootlid, and that’s pretty much it in terms of styling changes.
The facelifted Ciaz will get significant mechanical changes, mainly to the petrol model. The 1.4 litre K-Series motor of the pre-facelift model has been replaced by a 1.5 litre K-Series engine that makes more power and torque – 104 Bhp-138 Nm. This brings the Ciaz at par with the competition considering that the pre-facelift model’s petrol variants were somewhat underpowered. The Suzuki Hybrid Vehicle System (SHVS) mild hybrid system is another addition to the petrol engine, making the Ciaz India’s first hybrid C-Segment sedan. The diesel engine – the Fiat 1.3 litre Multijet unit with 89 Bhp-200 Nm, is carried over unchanged.
It is not uncommon to hear about such news where people fill up wrong fuels in vehicles. It generally happens due to miscommunication, lack of knowledge or a bit of both. This time it happened because the petrol station attendant wasn’t attentive enough. So, he ended up filling diesel in a politician’s petrol engine SUV.
The car in question is the flagship Volvo XC90 Hybrid, which is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine and which produces 407 Bhp of power and 640 Nm of torque. The car also comes with a plug-in hybrid system and the MLA from Karnataka, Mohiuddin Bava, was reportedly the first owner of this variant, in India.
The mix up occurred when an inattentive gas station attendant poured diesel in the SUV’s tank instead of petrol. He may have thought that since the car is a big SUV, it must be powered by a diesel engine. However, it wasn’t and he was specifically reminded of that before he went ahead to fill the gas tank.
It was the MLA’s son, who went to the station to get the SUV filled. He said that he gave clear instructions to the gas station attendant but still, he got confused. Upon finding that the wrong fuel has been filled in the car’s gas tank, Bava sent the car to the service station for immediate repairs.
This is what Mohiudeen Bava said,
As I was in Bengaluru for the Assembly session, my son had taken the new car to the fuel station. Though my son had instructed him (the attendant) clearly to fill petrol, when my son went to pay, he found that the staff had filled diesel.
To the credit of the politician, he handled the situation very maturely. According to him, it is a human error and such errors are bound to happen.
Getting the wrong fuel filled in your vehicle is an unfortunate event and shouldn’t happen to anyone. But in case, if it does take place, here are the instructions on how to check it, in order to minimize the damage, provided you catch the error early.
The hint of petrol filled in a diesel car
It is a truly catastrophic situation because diesel engines are big and complicated. If petrol is poured in a diesel engine-powered vehicle, then you won’t see the difference immediately, but soon you will start seeing thick black smoke due to unburnt fuel. In the end, the car will lose all of its power and won’t start again.
The hint of diesel filled in a petrol car
In such a case, the fuel filter will clog up easily, because diesel is thicker than petrol. The car will start jerking and stalling, as a result of it. A lot of white smoke will start coming out of the exhaust, if diesel manages to reach the spark plug.
What to do when this happens?
If such an event happens, you need to make sure that you drain out all of the fuel. Never start your car in such a event and immediately call a mechanic to remove all the fuel from the tank. The rest of the fuel can be taken out through the main line. In case the wrong fuel reaches the engine, you will have to remove it too. Crank the motor, it will not start, but throw up the wrong fuel from the engine. Now fill the tank with the correct fuel, along with some additives, to wash away any remaining drop of the wrong fuel.
Parts like spark plugs and fuel filter will need a replacement in petrol engines. In a diesel engine, draining out the remaining engine fuel can be done by removing the plug at the bottom of the filter.
The Hyundai Tucson 5-seat luxury SUV is now selling at a massive 1.7 lakh rupee discount. The discount in divided into three parts – free insurance worth Rs. 90,000, an exchange bonus of Rs. 30,000 and a corporate discount of Rs. 50,000. Buyers may avail any or all three parts of the offer, taking the overall discount to up to Rs. 1.7 lakhs.
Ever since the Jeep Compass was launched in India sometime in the middle of last year, sales of the Hyundai Tucson have never gone past the 250 units/month figure. However, it’s not the Compass that’s prompting Hyundai to offer large discounts on the Tucson, but rather the fact that the SUV will soon get a facelift.
In contrast, the Hyundai Tucson’s chief competitor in India – the Jeep Compass – does not have any discounts running. The only offer from Jeep India is a reduced price for the 5-year annual maintenance contract and road side assistance for the Compass SUV.
The Jeep Compass straddles a wide price band starting from about Rs. 15 lakhs, going all the way up to Rs. 22 lakhs. This has allowed the Compass to attract a wide range of buyers, from the Mahindra XUV500 to the Hyundai Tucson. The flagship Hyundai on the other hand, operates between Rs. 18.29 lakhs to Rs. 25.74 lakhs. This makes it significantly more expensive than the Jeep Compass, which will soon get a higher priced TrailHawk diesel automatic variant, which should put it par with the Tucson’s top-end diesel automatic 4X4 trim.
The Tucson sold in India is available with two engine options – a 2 litre petrol that makes 153 Bhp and 192 Nm, and a 2 litre turbocharged diesel with 182 Bhp-400 Nm. While the diesel engine of the Tucson makes more power and torque than that of the Jeep Compass, the petrol motor of the Tucson is less powerful. Hyundai offers 6 speed manual and torque converter automatic gearboxes on both the petrol and diesel engines. In contrast, the Jeep Compass diesel sold in India is a manual-only car. Both the Tucson and Compass get all wheel drive options on the top-end diesel trims.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis uses a couple of bullet-proof Tata Safari SUVs for road travel. The heavily armored SUVs used by the CM have been fined Rs. 13,000 by the Mumbai police. However, neither the CM nor the state government is yet to pay the fine. This information was revealed through an application filed under the Right To Information (RTI) act. An RTI activist called Shakeel Ahmed filed this application, seeking traffic violation details of the chief minister’s cars.
What were the violations?
The armored Tata Safari SUVs used by the CM were found to be speeding on multiple occasions on the Bandra Worli sealink. Speed traps of the Mumbai police set up on this stretch captured the traffic violations, and automatic electronic fine slips (e-Challan) was generated.
While one Tata Safari carrying the chief minister violated the speed limit 5 times between January and August 2018, the other SUV exceeded the speed limit 8 times. In total, there were 13 speed limit violations, amounting to a fine of Rs 13,000 (Rs. 1,000 per offence).
However, the fine of Rs. 13,000 has yet to be paid by the chief minister or his office, and there’s a valid reason for this.
What! Why?
According to the Mumbai traffic police, the chief minister’s convoy is exempt from the speed limit that every other citizen/road user of the state has to follow. A statement released by the Mumbai traffic department noted the following,
Traffic challans are auto generated through deployed speed cameras. Convoy vehicles of the CM are exempted from speed limits due to security threat perception. Technical glitches in the software which generates e-challans were being rectified.
After many accidents occurred on the Bandra-Worli sealink due to speeding, Mumbai traffic police officials installed 40 high-tech cameras in January this year. These cameras automatically capture and read the number plates of speeding vehicles. These cameras are also programmed to automatically send an e-challan to the offender. Ever since they were installed, over half of all speeding offences in Mumbai have come from the sealink, whose speed limit is 80 Kmph for four wheelers and 60 Kmph for two wheelers.
Yamaha has enhanced the colour options on the FZ-S 150cc twin disc brake equipped premium motorcycle. The two new colours added to the Yamaha FZ-S twin disc are Darknight and Matte Green. These colours are in addition to the Armada Blue colour that the Yamaha FZ-S Twin Disc has been available in, since its launch. The motorcycle is one of Yamaha’s best-sellers, and can be credited with turning around the company’s fortunes nearly 10 years ago, when it was first launched. In its second generation in the Indian market, the Yamaha FZ-S has received a slew of stylistic and mechanical changes.
The motorcycle now offers fuel injection, revised styling and features. It’s powered by a 149 cc fuel injected, SOHC four stroke engine that puts out 13.2 PS of peak power at 8000 rpm, and 12.8 Nm of peak torque at 6000 rpm. The engine is known for its smoothness and excellent reliability, and is paired with a 5 speed manual gearbox. Fuel efficiency isn’t a strong suit of this motor considering the fact that it has to deal with a massive (for its segment) 140 section rear tyre. In fact, the fat rear tyres was one of the original Yamaha FZ’s major selling points and the Japanese motorcycle has retained this significant trait in the newer models as well.
The Yamaha FZ-S is a very sweet handler, and one ride on the motorcycle will leave you feeling that it can do with a few horses extra. Such is the brilliant handling the motorcycle is capable of, which also makes it a top choice among stunters who work their way around lower horsepower with sprocket swaps. The motorcycle uses beefy 43mm telescopic forks up front, and a monoshock at the rear. The rear disc brake equipped variant gets a 220mm disc brake, increasing stopping power dramatically. ABS is still missing though, and Yamaha has until April 2018 to fit at least a single channel ABS to the FZ-S. The bike is priced at Rs 86,042, ex-showroom, Delhi.
The Tata Nexon sub-4 meter compact SUV has just gone past the 50,000 unit production mark. The Nexon is produced at the Tata-Fiat joint manufacturing facility at Ranjangaon, off Pune. The same facility also produces the Zest compact sedan, another Tata car with which the Nexon shares the X1 platform. Notably, the Nexon was launched in India during September 2017, which means that the production of 50,000 units has come well within a year of launch. Tata Motors recently introduced automated manual (AMT) variants of both the petrol and diesel variants of the Nexon. On an average, Tata Motors sells around 4,000 units of the Nexon each month in India.
The sub-4 meter compact SUV rivals the Maruti Brezza and the Ford EcoSport in the Indian market. While the Nexon has never really been able to match the Maruti Brezza’s sales numbers, which are superlative to say the least, it has beaten the Ford EcoSport on multiple occasions. The biggest factor driving the Nexon sales in the Indian market is the compact SUV’s terrific pricing. Tata Motors stunned the SUV market in India by launching the Nexon at Rs. 5.85 lakhs, undercutting not just sub-4 meter compact SUVs but many premium hatchbacks. Now though, the introductory pricing no longer holds, and the Nexon starts from Rs. 6.29 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi.
The Tata Nexon sold in India is available with two engine options – both turbocharged units. The petrol unit displaces 1.2 litres and produces 108 Bhp-170 Nm. The diesel makes 108 Bhp-260 Nm. 6 speed manual gearboxes and a front wheel drive layout are standard with both engines. The 6 speed AMT is now an option. The Tata Nexon offers twin airbags and ABS as standard safety features across all variants, and has recently scored 4 stars in Global NCAP’s crash test. The Nexon has a stable body structure, and is highly regarded for its tough build. It’s currently Tata Motors’ best-selling SUV.
Mahindra is readying up a Toyota Innova Crysta-challenger for launch in less than a month from now. On the 3rd of September 2018, Mahindra will launch its first monocoque MPV in the form of the Marazzo. The Marazzo will have the biggest footprint of a Mahindra passenger car and is expected to rival the Toyota Innova Crysta in terms of size. However, in terms of pricing, the Mahindra Marazzo MPV is likely to significantly undercut the Innova Crysta, giving it a great value proposition. In fact, we expect the Mahindra Marazzo MPV to sit between the Maruti Ertiga and the Toyota Innova Crysta in terms of pricing. A sub-10 lakh rupee starting price point is anticipated.
The Mahindra Marazzo MPV will be a global product, and has been jointly developed by the automaker’s research and development wings in India and the United States. While most variants of the MPV will be front wheel driven, Mahindra is likely to offer an all wheel drive option for international markets. If such an option is made available in India as well, the Marazzo will be the country’s first all wheel drive MPV. The vehicle will get two seating layouts to accommodate either 7 or 8 passengers. Plush interiors with leather seating on the top-end trims will be standard, and the front four passengers will get captain seats with individual armrests.
Mahindra has already revealed the interiors of the Marazzo through a series of images, but important bits of the MPV that are yet to be completely revealed include the mechanicals and the pricing. A new 1.5 litre turbocharged diesel engine is expected to power the Marazzo, and expect outputs of at least 120 Bhp-300 Nm. Manual and automatic gearbox options are likely to accompany this engine. This engine will be capable of meeting the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 norms in 2020. For now though, it’s likely to be BS4 emission norms compliant. Mahindra could also offer a petrol engine on the Marazzo.
The Bajaj Pulsar has become the go-to motorcycle for the Indian rider looking to upgrade from a regular commuter to a more premium marque. However, gone are the days when you got the Pulsar with a 150cc engine and a round headlight. These days, the Pulsar name is associated with motorcycles with 6 different engine capacities and a total of 8 bikes use that name in the entire Bajaj portfolio. So, if by chance you’re looking for a Pulsar for a different purpose than the other guys, chances are you’ll probably get the bike. So here are 6 different types of Pulsars for six types of Indian riders.
For the budget conscious rider looking for a good-looking ride and mileage – 135 LS
If you have a tight budget both for purchasing a bike and to keep it running, then the Pulsar 135 LS is the bike for you. With prices starting at Rs 64,141, ex-showroom (Delhi), the Pulsar 135 LS is the entry point into the world of Pulsars. The Pulsar 135 LS is also the easiest to keep running with its ARAI certified mileage of 64km/l and it is easily the most frugal bike in the Pulsar range.
For the safe rider – Pulsar 150 Twin Disc
If safety is your priority and you aren’t willing to pay a premium to get ABS on the top-spec bike, then the best option for you is the Pulsar 150 Twin Disc. The Pulsar 150 Twin Disc, as its name suggests, gets disc brakes on both wheels. The 260mm front and 230mm rear disc will bring you to a halt quicker than any commuter bike, while also ensuring you retain control of the motorcycle as it slows down.
For the speed freak wanting a faired bike at the right price – Pulsar RS200
India’ infatuation with the faired motorcycles is a well-known story and the RS200 is the most powerful Pulsar on sale in India with 24.5 bhp on tap. Its faired design makes it look like a larger bike and the 140+km/h top speed ensures that it has the speed to match its looks.
For those looking for a good-looking VFM motorcycle with raw power – Pulsar NS200
The Pulsar NS200 is the naked sibling of the RS200 and has all the power of its sibling without the extra bulk caused by the fairing. The NS200 is quite a looker as well and with a price tag at least Rs 20,000 less, its faired sibling offers surprisingly great value for money at Rs 1 lakh.
For those looking for a classic Pulsar that they can take for a long ride – Pulsar 220F
The Pulsar 220F still retains the design of the older Pulsars, which helps it appeal to riders who prefer the older Pulsar design. It has a more relaxed riding position compared to the RS200 and NS200 and comes with a fuel injected engine.
Best of both worlds – Pulsar NS160
The NS160 is the latest bike to bear the Pulsar name and at Rs 78,000, it offers a mix of both performance and mileage to suit the person who wants a bit of everything without paying through the roof.
Jeep India has released a new television commercial video for its Compass SUV. This new video showcases the Compass’ all-terrain capabilities and also brings forward the continuation of the 1st anniversary offer. For the uninitiated, the offer was rolled out last month and was valid till 31st July only. However, Jeep has decided to push this to end of August now.
The offer has now been slightly revised too. Customers looking to purchase a new Compass can either opt for 50% savings on the Freedom Pack or can stand get benefits of upto Rs 35,000. The Freedom Pack combines warranty, regular maintenance and RSA (roadside assistance) for a period of 5 years. Last month, for July, this pack was available for just Rs 50,000 but for August, it is now available at a discount of 50%. On the other hand, we aren’t clear yet on what all is included in the second option, that of benefits being offered to the tune of Rs 35,000.
Any which ways, if you are looking at purchasing the Jeep Compass, opt for the first offer, that of the Freedom Pack. This will go a long way in ensuring peace of mind that is very essential when you invest into an expensive product. The Jeep Compass range currently starts at Rs 15.35 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. And while the product had a great start in India, sales are now falling each month. For example, Jeep sold as many as 2172 units in March but the same figure came down to 1201 for July 2018. The new, improved Mahindra XUV500 is partly responsible for this downfall.
The Jeep Compass is available with a choice of two engine options in India, a 1.4-litre petrol with both manual and automatic options and a 2.0-litre diesel that is only sold with a manual ‘box. Jeep will be launching a new, range topping version in the form of the Trailhawk soon. This will come with a 2.0-litre Diesel engine but with an automatic gearbox. The Trailhawk, thanks to higher ground clearance and better approach / departure angles is a rugged, go-anywhere cousin of the regular version.
Salman Khan, ‘Bhai’ to his devoted followers, has been one of the most dependable names in Bollywood since his debut 30 years ago on August 26, 1988, in the movie Biwi Ho To Aisi. Also Known for his shirt ripping, chest flashing roles that have given him a cult-like following, Salman Khan is also known for his rather impressive collection of cars and bikes he has owned during his three-decade-long stint in Bollywood. Here are some of Bhai’s garage exotics including a few cars and bikes he has previously owned.
Audi RS7
Before Virat Kolhi became the face of Audi in India, it was Salman Khan that promoted the four ring badged German carmaker’s cars in the country. Salman launched the RS7, Audi’s flagship sports sedan in India in 2014 and Bhai took home the red car he showed off at the launch.
The Audi RS7 is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine that cranks out 555bhp and 700Nm of torque. The 2014 Audi RS7 could sprint from 0-100km/h in a brisk 3.9 seconds and had an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h, which could be raised to 305km/h, through the optional dynamic package plus setup.
Range Rover Vogue
via team-bhp
Salman Khan has a penchant for huge SUVs and is the owner of a Range Rover SUV from British marque Land Rover. This is not Sallu Bhai’s first Range Rover and like the ones before, this one too is painted on white
Salman’s current Range Rover is a Vogue variant, though he doesn’t seem to have opted for the long-wheelbase option as he is usually seen in the front passenger seat, though that could just be one of his quirks. The Range Rover is offered with two turbo diesel engines, a 3.0-litre V6 and 4.4-litre V8 and also comes with a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol option as well.
Previous generation Range Rover
Salman was also the owner of the previous generation Range Rover, but his experiences with SUV were not what you would call pleasant. Khan often tweeted about his Range Rover breaking down and the fact that Land Rover was not able to fix the issues surrounding the SUV. The Bhai’s SUV was a PR nightmare for the Land Rover and the best-known picture of his issue-laden SUV is it being loaded onto the back of a flatbed truck with Salman using an auto to continue his journey.
Mercedes GLE
The Mercedes GL was the flagship SUV from the German carmaker before it was rebadged into what is known as the GLS today. The GL was one of the few big SUVs with 7 seats that could actually fit proper-sized people in the third row of seats. While we’re unsure if Bhai ever used the third row, his SUV’s interiors must feel dated now with its button mania in the centre console. The Mercedes GL in India used a 3.0-litre turbo V6 diesel engine producing 258bhp and 620Nm of torque which was sent to all four wheels via an automatic gearbox. However, the GL is no longer the only SUV from Merc in Bhai’s garage anymore
Mercedes-AMG GLE 43
The Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 is the latest addition to the Salman Khan fleet and was given to Sallu as a gift by former rival and now friend Shah Rukh Khan. The actor is routinely seen in the coupe-SUV crossover which is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 engine that produces 362bhp and 520Nm of torque which is sent to all four wheels via a 9-speed gearbox.
Mercedes S Class
Bhai is also the owner of the Mercedes Benz S-Class flagship sedan. However, despite its exquisitely comfortable rear seats, Salman is often spotted sitting next to the chauffeur up front. Salman’s S-Class is of the previous W221 generation, an is still one of the most luxurious cars in the world today.
Suzuki Hayabusa
The Suzuki Hayabusa takes its name from the Japanese word for the fastest bird on the planet, the Peregrine Falcon. With Salman as the brand ambassador for Suzuki in India, it doesn’t come as a surprise that he owns one of the legendary Busas.
When it first arrived, the Hayabusa was the last motorcycle to go into production before a gentlemen’s agreement between Japanese and European bike manufacturers to limit bikes toa top speed of 300km/h. The Busa has always drawn power from a 1.3-litre liquid cooled four-cylinder engine that develops between 173bhp to 197bhp depending on the which generation of the bike you buy, though Bhai’s is the more powerful second-gen motorcycle.
Suzuki Intruder M1800R
The Suzuki Intruder is the Japanese manufacturer’s flagship cruiser motorcycle and is the inspiration for the 150cc variant on sale in India. Salman got himself a blue-coloured version of the bike which takes on rivals from Harley Davidson and Indian and has shared previously shared images of the cruiser online.
The Suzuki Intruder M1800R draws power from a 1.8-litre V-twin engine that produces 127bhp and 160Nm of torque, which is sent to the rear wheel via a 5-speed gearbox and a driveshaft.
BMW M5
The BMW M5 has always been the benchmark for performance sedans and Salman previously owned an E39 M5, which was imported into the country as the M5 wasn’t on sale in India at that time. Salman eventually replaced his M5 with the Audi RS7 seen in this list.
BMW X6
The BMW X6 was a crossover between a coupe and an SUV and its design really polarized people’s opinions and was either a hit or a miss depending on who you asked. Despite, it coupe-like roof eating into the rear headroom, the X6 was a rather popular car from BMW among Indian buyers.
Salman was gifted his X6 by a BMW dealer in Gujarat, most probably for inaugurating the dealership.
Lexus LX
Before he went British with his Range Rovers, Sallu Bhai was a big fan of the Lexus LX SUV, which he imported into India, like many of his fellow Bollywood actors. Over, the year, Salman has owned quite a few of these big Lexus SUVs, one of which was unfortunately involved in the infamous hit and run case.
Not only do these damage your bike’s efficiency and battery, but these are also becoming illegal. Cops are sure to pay more attention and in some cases seize the bike which is making way too much noise. With more powerful motorcycles entering India each day, it is also becoming important that we follow the rules and regulations set up by the authorities, for the safety of us and others.
Cheap frame sliders/leg guards
It is the most important thing which protects our bike as well as our legs during a dangerous fall. Cheap leg guards can prove harmful as they are unable to provide the required structural strength needed to withstand the impact. Even those frame sliders which offer good strength but more frictional resistance can instantly flip your bike when it falls from a high speed.
Mudflaps
This is another mod which is commonly associated with Royal Enfield owners, although some Splendor owners use it as well. The mud flaps do almost nothing positive for the performance of your bike, if anything they function as the exact opposite for it. They are heavy and increase the drag when the bike is moving fast. Their main function, to prevent the rider from excess dirt, is easily managed by the stock mud-guard. So there is no need to install such a thing on your bike.
LEDs with no brightness
Some people change their halogen headlight thinking that an LED will save their battery while performing better than the former. It is true universally, but if you’re talking about the cheap lights which you bargained from a shady dealer based out of Karol Bagh, then I have bad news for you. Not only do such lights provide you with bad illumination, they even void your warranty in many cases.
Metal handle grips
Some Royal Enfield owners think that the metal in their bike’s body is not enough. So they go one step ahead and change their handle grips to metal, as well. Metal has resonating properties, so the infamous vibrations of the RE engine will attack the rider twice-fold, in this case.
There are plenty of tasteful mods out there and hundreds of great custom jobs on almost every bike in the market. So if you’re planning on modding your motorcycle, then it’s better to stay away from these.
Motorcycles are beautiful machines. We are lucky to have been born at a time when there are motorcycles available for almost every one of our needs. Still, there are some people who chose to destroy such a magnificent work of engineering by installing poorly designed accessories or carrying out mindless modifications. Let’s take a look at some of these modifications and accessories, and understand why they do more harm than good.
Cheap exhaust systems
Installing a modern SC Project or Akrapovic exhaust is totally fine. The problem comes when people replace their current stock exhaust with a cheap pipe, only to increase its sound. In fuel injected bikes, an O2 sensor is also present inside the stock exhaust, that senses oxygen levels and sends information to the fuel injection system to calibrate effective fuel efficiency. Replacing this sophisticated system with a simple loud pipe will reduce the bike’s performance, along with its efficiency.
Abnormally large tyres
Anyone who thinks that installing a 160/60 tyre on his Classic 350 is a great idea, is wrong. Not only up-sizing without limits yields no additional grip, it also reduces the overall performance. Stock tyres are specified by the company on the basis of several parameters of the bike. Just slapping on a big rubber to make the bike look cool will render all of the bike’s abilities, pointless.
Extended swing arms
The frame which the manufacturers design for your bike goes through hundreds of tests before it is installed. Getting a cheap aftermarket job on the frame compromises its structural integrity. Extending your swing arm is one such job which a mechanic does with relatively crude measurements. This type of modification, if gone bad, can leave your bike stranded, at best and in an accident, at worst.
Extremely low clip-ons
Clip-ons offer more feedback from the front of the front tyre and look cool at the same time. But the forward leaning position which these handles provide needs to be accompanied with a re-positioning of rider pegs and in some cases, a re-tuning of suspension. An extremely soft one will make you dive on the front handle, every time you brake.
Cheap alloy wheels
These are most common on Royal Enfields because its owners tend to go for the “tube to tubeless” tyre conversion for more reliability. Unfortunately, reliability is the last thing you will get if you decide to go for cheap alloy wheels. The Royal Enfield has spoked wheels for a reason. Its soft suspension, coupled with its heavy weight, demand a strong set of wheels. Spoked wheels do this job pretty well because they are flexible and not brittle, like the alloys.
The action just doesn’t seem to ebb in India’s compact SUV segment, which is totally dominated by one vehicle – the Hyundai Creta. Honda is the latest automaker to be gunning for market share in this segment, and the HR-V will be the SUV that the Japanese automaker is expected to launch. End-2019 is the timeline that Honda is said to have zeroed in on to launch the HR-V compact SUV in India.
The HR-V, also known as the Vezel in certain markets of the world, is in its second generation globally, and has been around for three years now. A major facelift is on the anvil, and we expect Honda to bring the facelifted model to India considering the fact the 2nd-gen model is not as fresh as the competition. Currently, the Honda HR-V/Vezel is available only with 1.5 litre and 1.8 litre petrol engines. A diesel engine is what the HR-V will need for India though.
This is because most SUV sales in the country come from diesel-powered models. In fact, the Creta has not one but two diesel engine options, and this is a key factor behind the SUV’s popularity in India. Under such circumstances, Honda will also have to offer a turbocharged diesel engine on the HR-V if it intends to make the SUV a success in India. Honda does have a suitable diesel engine though, in the form of the 1.6 litre i-DTEC unit that’ll power the likes of the upcoming CR-V SUV and the Civic sedan. This motor is now built in India, and gets a 120 Bhp-300 Nm state of tune.
The Honda HR-V/Vezel is a five seat SUV that is similar-sized to the Hyundai Creta and Jeep Compass. It gets 6 speed manual and CVT automatic gearboxes along with the petrol engines it’s sold with. The monocoque SUV is available with both front wheel drive and all wheel drive layouts. For the Indian market though, expect Honda to stick to a front wheel drive layout. The Honda HR-V will sit above the BR-V in terms of price and positioning. Expect pricing to range between Rs. 12-15 lakhs.
