Honda has always been a respected brand in India. As of now, its sales game is going stronger than ever, thanks to the new Amaze. The stylish compact family saloon is the current success story for Honda. Moreover, the car ranked 9th in pan-India car sales figures (May 2018). To remind you, Honda has been selling the Amaze for a long time, but that was an older model and although good, it never sold very well. What makes the new Amaze such a success story, let’s now see in detail.

Fresh styling and looks

Honda cars have never been dull-looking, but this particular car brings fresh styling to the counter. Taking cues from big brother Honda City, the Amaze sets new standards in styling for sub 4-metre cars. Honda claims that they built a whole new platform for the new Amaze. The car has grown in all directions and surprisingly is lighter by almost 40 kg than the previous model. The front-end looks butch and the thick chrome grille adds to the feel. Subtle lines across the sides and an attractive rear complete the look. This car for sure doesn’t look like another hatch with an added boot, but rather a proper compact sedan.

Revamped interiors & more space

The first things one notices upon getting inside the car is how spacious and well-built the cabin feels. Honda’s policy of ‘Man maximum, Machine minimum’ is reflected strongly across the cabin. The dual tone interior theme feels premium with silver accents thrown across to up the ante. A piano black trim finish adds to the feels. The steering is a chunky unit and feels good to hold. The centre console is taken by a nice 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system which supports both Apple Car Play and Android Auto. Wheelbase has gone up by 65 mm due to which space is one of the plus points of the car with ample rear and front legroom and decent seats, making it brush shoulders with the segment leaders. Rear headroom might be a problem sometimes but that’s only when you seat three full-sized adults at the back. Safety features like ABS, EBD, dual airbags etc are standard across the range. Also, boot space is cavernous at 420 litres which is best in class. Overall the cabin feels spacious and upmarket and is among the best in the segment.

AT option on both petrol & diesel engine

In a country like India where roads are riddled with potholes and awful traffic jams, automatic transmission becomes a boon to many people. Honda ticks all the right boxes on this and offers CVT as an option on both the petrol engine and the diesel engine, albeit, the diesel CVT produces significantly less power. The petrol engine is a 4 cylinder, 1.2 litre standard affair churning out 88 Bhp of power. The diesel unit on the other hand is a 1.5 litre unit giving out 98.6 Bhp with manual transmission and 80 Bhp when paired with a CVT. This is one of the factors for the great sales figures of the car.

Something for everyone

The Amaze comes with a host of engine and transmission options and different trim levels. The Amaze starts at Rs. 5.8 lakh and goes all the way up to Rs. 9.11 lakh (ex-showroom prices, Delhi) which is on par with the competition. Each engine option has four trim levels (E, S, V, VX). Every trim has its own features with VX being the top-of-the-line version. Honda for sure has done its homework and given out enough options to suit everyone’s need.

Honda reliability & badge value

Honda has always enjoyed a good reputation among the Indian crowd thanks to its solid build quality and good after sales service support. Nonetheless, Honda badge has a peace of mind tag attached to its retail value. Honda cars also have a good resale value and are reliable even after years of usage. Fine engineering and great all-round durability is what we have come to expect of Honda and it rarely disappoints.

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Italian supercar marque Ferrari is the one most ‘enthusiasts’ speak of in awed whispers. With its iconic ‘prancing horse’ badge and its exclusivity, there are a lot of unsubstantiated rumours surrounding the brand due to the rules it sets for its customers. So before you join the rumours club, let’s bust a few myths about the Ferrari brand.

You cannot bring the XX models home

The notion that Maranello’s finest keeps its track-focused XX lineup locked up at the factory is one of the biggest myths propagated by the rumour mill and you most probably came across it while watching old episodes of Top Gear.

However, in 2016, Google executive Benjamin Sloss busted this myth on Instagram when he showcased his 599XX Evo in a post. Sloss revealed that owners could take their XX cars wherever they wanted to, just like any other car. However, many customers prefer to keep their cars stored at Ferrari’s Corse Clienti department in Maranello.

Ferrari confirmed that Sloss’s comments were true in an email to Road & Track, however, the carmaker has made it mandatory for owners to get their XX cars checked by a Ferrari mechanic and technician ahead of tracking their cars.

Anyone can buy any Ferrari special edition car

Ferrari’s limited edition cars are the envy of every supercar owner and wannabes. Whenever you hear about a new special edition prancing horse like the LaFerrari or its drop-top version, the launch announcement is accompanied by a statement telling the world that all the allocations for the new car are already booked.

For these special cars, Ferrari carefully chooses from its own customers, who fit their profile for the new car before asking them if they want to book the new car. It doesn’t matter if you own 5-6 Ferraris or a large collection of prancing horses in your garage, if Ferrari doesn’t want you to buy the car, then you don’t get one.

You can buy Ferraris only through invites

While Ferrari chooses the customers who can buy their limited run or special edition cars, the same cannot be said about their regular cars. If you have the money for a ‘regular’ Ferrari, then the Ferrari factory will build you your supercar.

Ferrari never advertises

While its true you will not see a Ferrari ad on your regular news or sports channel, the Italian marque does not shy away from promoting itself. While shying away from regular TV ads, the company uses sponsorships for events and online ads to reach its clientele. A big example of this is the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, an amusement park in the UAE.

Always been a sports car manufacturer

While the Ferrari car business started off as a way to keep its racing team going, the carmaker has not stuck to making just sportscars that are good for short drives and track days. Till this day, the carmaker makes grand tourers which can chew up the miles across countries. Its current GTC4Lusso and GTC4Lusso T are proper four-seater cars with big boots for your luggage. While today’s power figures for grand tourer Ferraris may seem ridiculous, they do come with a storied history with the brand which includes iconic cars like the Daytona.

Open the engine hatch and lose warranty

Another rather preposterous myth propagated by the rumour mongers is that if you open the engine hatch, Ferrari will not honour your warranty. This, like the other myths, is a load of tosh that deserves to be binned. While Ferrari, like any other carmaker, will charge you if you fiddle with the engine, opening the bonnet or engine cover to gaze at the V12 or V8 masterpiece underneath is not something that will get you into hot water.

You can sell your Ferrari whenever you want

While you can sell your ‘regular’ Ferraris whenever you want, the same cannot be said for special edition cars or track exclusive specials. These hypercars or track monsters come with a signed bond to ensure you don’t just buy the car and then sell it a few days or months later for a big profit thanks to the insane demand for it. If you dishonour your bond with Ferrari, prepare to be blacklisted. However, once the time period of the bond lapses, you can then sell your car.

All Ferraris become expensive with time

The prices for every car in the world appreciate or depreciate depending on the demand for them and their rarity. And while some classic Ferraris like the 250 GTO have sold at astronomical prices, don’t expect every prancing horse to do so. Just ask the owners of many four-seater V12 Ferraris about how crazily the prices of their cars have dropped. If you believe that just a prancing horse badge will make the price of your regular Ferrari rise years after your purchase, then you need to get your head checked out.

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The Maruti Dzire has done the unthinkable. It has beaten the Maruti Alto entry level hatchback for the full 7 months of 2018. Maruti sold 166,088 units of the Dzire sub-4 meter compact sedan in the first seven months of 2018, between January and July. In contrast, only 146,761 units of the Maruti Alto were sold in the same period.

While the sales of the Dzire have grown 14%, that of the Alto has dropped by 1%. If this trend persists for the next five months of the year, the Maruti Alto could finally be dethroned from its top perch as India’s best-selling car – a status that it has held on to for years. This will be unprecedented if it actually plays out.

Maruti Suzuki won’t be unhappy though as the Dzire brings in more margins than the Alto, not just in terms of profit numbers for the automaker and dealerships, but also for after-sales centers. On an average, the cost of the Maruti Dzire is at least double that of the Alto.

Even in terms of service, the Dzire costs more to maintain than the Alto, which is Maruti’s least priced car. Prices of the Maruti Alto start from Rs. 2.66 lakhs while those of the Dzire start from Rs. 5.58 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi. Both cars are sold to both private buyers as well as cab operators.

The Maruti Alto is sold in three main variants – Tour, 800 and K10. The Tour and 800 trims of the Maruti Alto use the tried and tested F8D, 3 cylinder petrol engine displacing 796cc. This motor makes 47 Bhp-62 Nm, and is also available with a CNG-Petrol dual fuel option. A 5 speed manual gearbox is standard with this engine. The K10 variant of the Alto uses a 1 litre-3 cylinder petrol engine with 67 Bhp-90 Nm. This engine gets 5 speed manual and AMT options.

The Dzire on the other hand, gets petrol and diesel engine options. Both motors get 5 speed manual and AMT options. The petrol motor in question is a 1.2 litre K-Series unit with 82 Bhp-113 Nm while the diesel motor is a 1.3 litre turbocharged unit with 74 Bhp-190 Nm.

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Harley Davidson India is now buying back Street 750 and Street Rod 750 from customers by paying them the entire ex-showroom price. There’s a catch to this. The buyback offer is applicable to only those customers whose Harley-Davidson Street 750 and Street Rod 750 are less than a year old, and who agree to upgrade to the brand’s Softail range of high-end cruisers. Essentially, this is a one of a kind exchange offer from Harley Davidson, the likes of which has never been seen before, in India at least. For customers with Harley Davidson Street 750 and Street Rod 750 motorcycles that are between 12-24 months old, the brand will offer 75 % of the ex-showroom price.

There are six cruisers that Harley-Davidson sells under the Softail range in India. They are the Street Bob, Low Rider, Fat Bob, Fat Boy, Deluxe and the Heritage Classic. While the Street Bob is the most affordable of Harley-Davidson’s Softail cruiser range, with prices starting at Rs. 12.59 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi, the Heritage Classic is the most expensive of the lot, with ex-showroom prices starting at Rs. 19.71 lakhs. All six motorcycles under Harley-Davidson’s Softail range are imported into India through the completely built unit (CBU) route. This explains the significantly higher price tag of these motorcycles when compared to the Street 750 range (which starts at about Rs. 5 lakhs).

It is a good deal?

It depends, really. If you have the itch to upgrade to a more powerful Harley-Davidson motorcycle, this approach is quite hassle free. All high-end motorcycles are depreciation disasters, and selling a motorcycle in the used bike market results in the bike taking a big hit. It’s not uncommon for motorcycles to lose over 30% of their original value in just a year. In such a situation, Harley-Davidson offering the full ex-showroom price of the Street/Street Rod 750 for customers upgrading to Softail cruisers is a good offer.

Naysayers may note that this is a way for Harley-Davidson to make Street 750/Street Rod owners upgrade to much more expensive motorcycles from the Softail range, which are not just expensive to buy but will be more expensive to maintain as well. Of course, they will also depreciate quite a bit. So, merely upgrading through this scheme is like taking on a much bigger financial liability. Also, if this is meant to be a stock clearance exercise from Harley-Davidson, potential buyers of the Softail range would miss out on sizeable discounts that would otherwise be on offer. All in all, this is a double-edged scheme that will suit some, but not everyone.

Other factors to consider before upgrading…

Buyers of the Softail range of cruisers from Harley-Davidson will also have to pay significantly higher road tax in India as vehicles imported as CBUs are taxed higher than vehicles that are either fully-built or assembled here. Notably, both the Street 750 and Street Rod 750 are fully built in India, replete with a high amount of localization, at Harley-Davidson’s factory in Bawal, Haryana. This is also the reason why the Street 750 range is priced so competitively. Prices of the Street 750 start from Rs. 5.05 lakhs, ex-showroom, Mumbai.

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The second-generation Hyundai Grand i10 hatchback is expected to make its debut next year, and the car has already been spotted testing on South Korean roads. Hyundai has a research and development facility at South Korea and, often, all-new cars are first tested on Korean soil. Like the current version of the Hyundai Grand i10, the new model is expected to be a global model. Details on the platform of the new Grand i10 are yet to be revealed.The car is likely to get slightly larger in size but is expected to continue operating in the sub-4 meter hatchback segment in the Indian context, in order to make the best out of duty benefits.

The new Grand i10 is expected to receive significant stylistic upgrades and also new features on the inside. The  current model uses a 1.2 litre-4-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine with 82 Bhp-114 Nm on tap. This engine  gets 5-speed manual and 4-speed torque converter automatic gearbox options.

The diesel engine with the hatchback is a 1.1-litre-3 cylinder turbocharged unit with about 70 Bhp-170 Nm on offer. With the new Grand i10, Hyundai could opt for a turbocharged petrol engine that would first be introduced in the QXi code-named sub-4 meter compact SUV, due for launch sometime next year.

The usage of a turbocharged, 1-litre-3 cylinder petrol engine will allow Hyundai to meet the highly stringent Bharat  Stage 6 emission norms. It remains to be seen if Hyundai continues to offer a diesel engine on the all-new Grand i10  considering the fact that the diesel engined variants are likely to get quite expensive come April 2020, when the BS6  emission norms kick in. We won’t be surprised if Hyundai decides to go petrol-only with the new Grand i10. What we can tell for certain is the fact that the new Grand i10 will get ABS and twin airbags as standard safety features,  and will meet the upcoming Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP).

Via Naver

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The RX 100 is a bike that’s been getting more and more popular with each passing day. There have been good bikes in our country, there are some very good bikes out there but never has there been another bike like RX 100. As with everything that gains fame and has a cult following, this bike too has many interesting facts and rumours attached to its name. Let’s have a look at some of them.

Was born out of a failure

The RX 100 was a successor to the very capable Yamaha RD 350. Dismal sales and lack of interest among general public forced Yamaha to rethink their strategy and launch a cheaper bike according to the Indian customer. Hence, it was made because of a failure but it resulted into an unmatched success.

Its engine was opened and checked before many competitions & races

People just could not believe how powerful this pint sized rocket was. Also, at its time, it was also rumoured that it had a bigger engine than what is being marketed. There have been cases of the engine block being opened and checked by race authorities and conductors to make sure it was a 100 cc engine.

Rightly Known as the ‘Pocket Rocket’

The RX 100 had a nimble body and accelerated like a rocket, hence the name pocket rocket. It had a 98cc, single cylinder two stroke air cooled engine which produced 11 bhp of power and 10.39 Nm of torque. This coupled with a mere weight of 98 kg made sure that the bike didn’t just run but rather flew over the streets.

Was very popular among chain snatchers

Owing to its light weight and good power to weight ratio, the bike accelerated like a charm. This incidentally made it a popular choice among chain snatchers and other criminals who needed a quick and economical getaway vehicle after a crime. So before black Pulsars became the rage among chain snatchers, RX was the king, albeit not in a positive way in this case.

Its light Weight was also a bane in a way

Ask any RX 100 owner and he will tell you this is not a bike to be ridden at high speeds for a long time. The reason is that the light frame allowed for good acceleration but also made the bike rather unstable and shaky at high speeds. Actually the thrill about riding an RX was in the fact that how well it handled and how very fast it accelerated, rather than top speed runs.

Its successors didn’t quite make a mark

Production of RX 100 was officially halted by March 1996. Next came the 132 cc RXG which was riddled with problems and malfunctions throughout its short lifetime. This was followed by a somewhat better RX 135 which actually was a revamped RXG. Many iterations of RX 135 followed but none could ever match the success of RX 100.

Film industry had a role in making it an icon

The Indian film industry especially the south movie industry loved the bike. Many south movies of late had heroes making entry on RX 100s. Even in Bollywood it was a popular choice and even if the hero was not riding it, his sidekicks were on the saddle of the beloved bike. Even now the name reeks of masculinity the same way it did in the 80s and 90s, so much so that a recent Telugu movie was named ‘RX 100’ to add character to the lead role.

Was an icon of masculinity

It sounded rogue (in a positive way), picked up speed like a forest catches fire and made its riders look attractive and carefree. Every adolescent or grown guy wanted to lay hands on this bike and ride it out to the fullest. It was a symbol of Masculinity and free wiliness and hence an evergreen icon.

Was not a very cheap bike back then

Even during its time, the Yamaha bike was retailing at a price of about 19,764 INR which was not cheap in those times. Converted into today’s price value the bike would cost something on the upper side of 60k. This was higher than the competition but then again, the bike was way better than any 100cc bike available at that time (HH CD 100 etc). It initially retailed in three colour choices, Cherry Red, Peacock Blue and Black with more launching afterwards.

A well maintained piece can fetch up to 1 lakh for its owner

Many people still have a dream of owning a RX 100 and riding it like there’s no tomorrow. The bike has a dedicated cult following and a good mechanic can still do wonders to the bike. One can get it under INR 50 thousand. However as of now, well maintained pieces are rare to be found and even if a stock well maintained RX 100 comes to market, it fetches a handsome price, upto even 1 lakh in some cases. Worth the extra effort and price though according to us

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The world’s rich and famous can be found across the world thanks to their love of exotic vehicles. However, this Richie Rich club also has a few quirky members who prefer nothing better than to stay under the radar by living life as you should have limited to live in. So here are 5 humble cars used by the ultra-rich people from across the world.

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg is the man who founded the social media company that keeps us glued to our phones, Facebook. At 34 years old, he is the sixth richest person in the world, with a net worth of $67 billion. With such riches at his disposal, Zuckerberg could have any car he wants in the world. However, Zukerberg’s daily driver of choice is the Honda Fit which is sold in India as the Jazz.

Zukerberg’s Fit is one from the previous generation of the premium hatchback from Honda. Zuckerberg’s Jazz uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine that produces 117bhp. The Facebook CEO has also been seen using a Volkswagen Golf GTI hot hatch and an Acura TSX sedan. While both of these are more expensive than the Jazz, they’re far less expensive compared to exotics usually found in hyper-rich garages.

Warren Buffett

With a net worth of $86.1 billion, American businessman Warren Buffet is the third richest person in the world. However, despite his insane wealth, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is known for his love of McDonald’s and for driving himself around town. Unlike his contemporaries, who prefer opulent rides, Buffet’s daily driver is a Cadillac XTS sedan. When he purchased the Cadillac XTS with the help of his daughter in 2014, Buffet traded in his old 2006 Cadillac DTS.

The XTS costs the equivalent of Rs 33 lakhs in Indian money and is the largest sedan on sale in the Cadillac lineup. Powering Buffet’s large Caddy barge is a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine. The engine is available in two states of tune – 304 bhp and 410 bhp, though it is not known which is used by Buffet’s car.

Steve Ballmer

Steve Balmer, the former CEO of Microsoft is worth $42.1 billion and is the 19th richest person in the world. Balmer was a classmate of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and dropped out of Stanford University to join the company and succeeded his friend as the CEO of the company in 2000.

While Ballmer owns an NBA franchise, the Los Angeles Clippers, but his ride of choice a humble Ford Fusion hybrid. The 2010 Fusion Hybrid, was gifted to Ballmer by Ford Motor Co. to commemorate the one-millionth car to have Ford’s SYNC infotainment system. Powering the Fusion hybrid is a 2.5-litre petrol motor producing 156 bhp and an electric motor which ups the combined power output to 191bhp.

Roman Abramovich

Roman Abramovich is an Israeli-Russian businessman best known by the public for owning the London-based football club, Chelsea. With a net worth of $11.1 billion, Abramovich is the richest person in Isreal and was once also the richest man in Russia.

While he has a pretty lavish lifestyle and can be found in the south of France aboard his 533-foot Eclipse yacht, the second largest in the world., which he purchased for $400 million in 2010. On dry land in France, Abramovich is often seen driving around in the electric car pictured above, which looks like a large golf cart.

Steve Wozniak

Steve Wozniak, better known by his nickname Woz, is the co-founder of Apple, the world’s first company to be valued at over $1 trillion. Woz designed and hand-built the Apple 1 computer, the first ever product sold by Apple. With a net worth of $100 million, Woz is known for his philanthropic work and is still one of the most recognized and loved figures in Silicon Valley.

Despite his wealth, Wozniak’s daily driver is the Chevrolet Bolt EV. The Bolt hatchback from Chevrolet is powered by an electric motor that produces of 200 bhp and 360Nm of torque and 360Nm of torque.

Image Source: 1,2,3,4,5

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Royal Enfield has always enjoyed a cult following in India. Young buyers are fascinated by its retro looks and its ever-popular engine thump. Also, Bullets and modifications go hand in hand. RE motorcycles are probably the most frequently and intensely modded bikes in India. Many newbie riders succumb to the temptation of modifying their new Royal Enfield Bullets and that’s where thing can take a wrong turn, terribly so many a times. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest mistakes newbie riders make while getting a modification job done.

Installing cheap and low-quality alloys

This is among the most dangerous and widespread modification practices in India. Using low-quality alloys just for the sake of looks can damage the bike and are a threat to the rider’s life. Add to that a heavy bike like a bullet, and you’re sitting on a death trap if you install cheap alloys. Alloys definitely give more character to the bike and raise the oomph factor, but using sub-par materials can be fatal. It can cause rim cracks, air leaks, insurance/warranty breach and most importantly, is a ticking time bomb. There have been been examples of tyres just coming off or bursting due to poor alloys. So if you are passionate enough to modify your bullet, just go a little extra mile and get certified OEM rims. After all, a deeper hole in your pocket is still better than enormous hospital bills.

Using cheap/ill-designed aftermarket exhaust systems

Want more sound out of your engine? Want to make your presence felt on roads? Install a free-flow exhaust to your bullet and watch the world burn. This is what most people are told by shopkeepers. What they don’t know is that using a cheap free-flow exhaust can cause more harm than good to your beloved bullet. While a well-designed and fitted exhaust can definitely up the ante, a cheap and poorly made one degrades the bike, lowers the average as well as power output. A badly designed exhaust also hampers the working of the exhaust valve causing it to burn. Truth to tell, every bike needs a custom-designed exhaust for it to properly fit and function but that’s not the case when you get it done for a few bucks. Nowadays, RE provide custom silencers in their showrooms. Apart from them there are many reputed companies like Akrapovic, which provide custom silencer replacement and fittings.

Fitting high power horns and lights without using relay

Loud horns and high-powered lights are the current rage with bullet owners, with many of them fitting lights on leg guards too. While it may seem like there is no issue in doing that, the consequences can be harsh. If we go by the rule book, excessively loud horns are banned and it is mentioned as an illegal practice in vehicle laws of the country. So if you are caught by police, the fines can get pretty high. Apart from this, high power lights and horns require proper rewiring and use of a relay system in accordance to the wattage. Such mods without relay can cause short circuits in the wiring and may even cause the bike to go up in flames. You are also at risk of getting your electric systems warranty void upon such actions.

Using poorly designed crash/leg guards

While leg guards definitely up the safety of your bike, its important to get a good one. Many people are still conflicted about the usefulness of a crash guard. According to us, it for sure protects the bike from damage but may not be very useful to the rider if he gets thrown off the bike. Which brings us back to the topic of the quality of leg guards. Poor-quality or poorly-designed leg guards can prove ineffective during a crash. Very strong and stiff crash guards can transfer the force of the impact wholly to the chassis dealing permanent damage to it. On the other hand, low-quality material can get bent and may hurt the rider. It’s always a clever choice to get good crash guards for your bullet. RE-certified crash guards are a great option for newbie riders.

Fitting awkward or very wide handlebars

Handlebars are a distinctive mod option in a cruiser like RE but many newbie riders make a mistake when they go purely according to aesthetics and get wide handlebars. While its not wrong to change the handlebars to a custom one, choosing the right one should be one’s priority. There are many problems associated with handlebars if not done right. First of all poorly designed or very wide handlebars affect vehicle maneuverability adversely. It also creates problems when moving through heavy traffic or parking in a crowded area. In a country like ours where the aforementioned factors are in plenty, improper handle bars can prove to be a pain.

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The Suzuki Swift Sport is the sportiest car sold by the Japanese automaker in many parts of the world, including many right-hand drive markets. While there’s been constant talk of Maruti launching the Swift Sport in India, official word is yet to arrive. Meanwhile, the sporty hatchback was put to the challenging ‘moose test’, which tests the car for its stability under emergency direction changes. The Suzuki Swift Sport nailed the moose test and earned praise from the testers, who noted that the car’s steering was responsive and that the hatchback managed to maintain stability during the test. Here’s a video showing the Suzuki Swift Sport taking the moose test.

As shown in the video, the Swift Sport hits the cone at 77 Kmph (the regulation speed at which this test is conducted). The driver of the car has just gotten into the Swift after driving a Ford Fiesta ST, which has a much heavier steering. This change in steering effort – from heavy to light – results in the driver under correcting, and this is the reason why the Swift Sport hits the cones. However, the car did manage to be quite controllable, says the driver. In subsequent tests, after the driver has gotten used to the lightness of the steering and the overall feel, the Swift Sport manages to easily clear the moose test at 77 Kmph.

At higher speeds though, the car does hit the cones, while being quite controllable, which is the most important parameter tested during the moose test. Even on the slalom course, the Swift Sport does an admirable job but there’s more body roll in the car than the Ford Fiesta ST, which seems to be the reviewers’ benchmark for handling.

The Swift Sport sold internationally is powered by a 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 140 Bhp-230 Nm. Six-speed manual and torque converter automatic gearboxes are on offer. The car gets stiffer suspension and stylistic tweaks to differentiate it from the regular variants of the Swift.

Could the Suzuki Swift come to India, through Maruti’s good graces? We have our doubts. In general, Maruti Suzuki prefers to sell reasonably high volume cars, and the sales performance of hot hatches in India has not been anything to write home about. We have the same doubts about the possible arrival of the Suzuki Jimny – while we would love to see here (even if in the long wheelbase form). However, the big numbers that Maruti aims for are just not there.

Via KM77

Also Read: Yamaha R15 V2.0 sportsbike: Bye-bye India?

Dilip Chhabria is probably the best-known Indian car designer. DC, as he’s popularly called, has produced cars like the Tarzan movie car, the DC Avanti sportscar and the TCA concept shown at Auto Expo 2018. Chhabria’s design house DC Design is better known for customising cars for the rich and the famous in India. DC design also offers custom interiors for regular cars seen on Indian roads, which enhance their luxury or sporty credentials. Here, we take a look at ten of the best car interior modifications by DC Design.

Toyota Fortuner

The Toyota Fortuner is the SUV of choice for Indians looking for a large-size SUV. The modified interior you see above is a heavily customised version of the ones found on the current Fortuner. The lounge-like interiors of the Fortuner offer loads of luxury options for passengers in the rear. These include leather upholstery, reclining rear seats, a massive TV mounted on a partition separating passengers at the back from the driver and a premium entertainment setup. Adding to the lounge vibes are the mini bar and the ambient lighting.

Toyota Innova Crysta

The Toyota Innova Crysta is the go-to MPV for Indians and DC Design’s custom interior takes this family carrier to a whole new level. The interiors of the Innova Crysta get a wooden trim, white leather upholstery, reclining seats, and a chiller. The large TV is mounted on the partition separating the driver from the passengers at the rear.

Tata Aria

The Tata Aria was Tata’s large luxury MPV/SUV crossover and came packed with a host of features. DC Design took the luxury levels up to 11 when they customised the interiors. The DC Aria interior sports white leather upholstery, dark faux-wood trim, massive recliners, a large TV and what appears to be a chiller. The interiors of this Aria was something that would put luxury limos to shame.

Mahindra XUV500

The Mahindra XUV500 also got a lounge treatment from DC design. The second and third row of seats have been replaced by massive recliners. Both the front seats feature large displays at their backs, and the entire SUV is done up in tan leather upholstery. The DC XUV500 also gets faux-wood trim panels and ambient lighting.

Hindustan Ambassador

If every Hindustan Ambassador’s interior was like the ones modified by DC design, we don’t think our netas would have given them up. The modified Amby interior gets a new reclined rear bench with leather upholstery, massive amounts of faux-wood trim, a driver partition, two displays, tray tables and four rear AC vents.

Renault Duster

The regular Renault Duster’s interiors look quite spartan compared this one, modified by DC Design. This customised Duster cabin features a white, black and tan interior theme. The seats are wrapped in white leather and the ones at the rear are recliners. The backs of the front seats also play host to a display each and the Duster gets faux-wood inserts as well.

Nissan Sunny

The Nissan Sunny is known for the massive amounts of legroom it offers its rear passengers. DC has taken advantage of this by fitting the sedan with reclining seats at the rear, along with a chiller. The Sunny gets a red and black interior theme with the seats wrapped in red leather and a host of faux wood trim.

Ford EcoSport

The pre-facelift EcoSport compact SUV featured a black-themed interior. DC Design gave the EcoSport’s interiors an upmarket look with a beige and black design theme The other major change is the large circular AC vent at the rear.

Maruti Swift

The previous Maruti Swift was one of the best driver’s cars offered in India, but its interiors did not match its fun-loving nature. DC Design’s customised interiors for the Swift featured a sporty black-and-white theme with red-trim pieces, which gave it a fresh and sporty look.

Hyundai Elantra

The interiors of the previous-gen Hyundai Elantra have also been tweaked by DC Design as well, as can be seen above. The red-and-black theme make the Elantra’s interiors look a lot sportier than before.

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The Tata Xenon is a low-volume pick-up truck that sells more in the commercial vehicle segment than the personal  vehicle space. Low volumes also mean that the ones that end up getting modified are quite rare in India. Exceptions  do exist though, and here is the country’s maddest modified Tata Xenon pick-up truck that can give the Isuzu V Cross and Mahindra Scorpio Getaway a run for their money. The pick-up truck in the video below is owned by Shariqh Abdul of Hyderabad. It features a host of modifications, both visual and functional. All the modifications come together to give this pick-up truck brute street presence and macho appeal.

This vehicle is a 2014 Tata Nexon, with no engine modifications. What this means is that it runs the standard 2.2-litre
turbocharged diesel engine with 140 Bhp-320 Nm, and a 5-speed manual gearbox. This Nexon is rear-wheel driven. As for the modifications, the exteriors are where most of the action is.

The front of this pick-up truck gets a custom bumper with bullbar and embedded fog lamps and a reprofiled hood with a functional hood scoop and vents. The grille is also a custom-built item. The vehicle gets a wide track thanks to spacers, and the Maxxis mud terrain tyres really give it that extra width.

There are custom metal fenders for all four tyres, which run steel wheels. At the rear, a massive tyre carrier, a  metal bumperette and twin exhausts that open up behind the dual cab are the key changes. This modified Xenon also gets rooflights and a 42-inch light bar.

There is a suspension lift that makes the vehicle much taller than the stock version, and this is another factor that adds to the brute appeal of this SUV. On the inside, there’s a new colour scheme with leather seats and a center console borrowed from the Toyota Innova. That sums up the list of mods on this muscular pick-up truck.

Video courtesy ZohairAhmed

Also Read: Yamaha R15 V2.0 sportsbike: Bye-bye India?

Honda is planning a SUV blitz for the Indian market after tasting success with the WR-V hatchback-based crossover.  For many months, the Honda WR-V was one of the brand’s top selling car. It’s a crossover based on the Honda Jazz. The success of the WR-V has whetted Honda’s appetite for launching more SUVs in multiple segments, and the recently launched Amaze will be the base for another sub-4 meter compact SUV offering from the Japanese automaker. The GSP platform of the Honda Amaze will be used for the new, sub-4 meter compact SUV that will challenge the likes of the Maruti Brezza, the Ford EcoSport and the Tata Nexon.

Although the WR-V is also priced and positioned similarly, the crossover is more of a raised hatchback with butch  styling than a true-blue compact SUV. Honda is said to have started feasibility studies for the new SUV. An exact  timeline for its launch is yet to be available. Don’t expect the SUV to arrive anytime before 2020 though. Apart from  the sub-4 meter offering, Honda will also launch an SUV in the compact SUV segment where the Hyundai Creta operates. The facelifted Honda HR-V/Vezel is said to be the SUV that has been earmarked for this segment. An India launch in late 2019 for the Honda HR-V/Vezel is likely.

The GSP platform of the Honda Amaze supports two engine options currently – the 1.2 litre i-VTEC petrol with about 88 Bhp-110 Nm and a 1.5 litre i-DTEC turbocharged diesel engine with 98.6 Bhp-200 Nm. These engines get 5/6 speed manual gearboxes as standard, and CVT automatic gearbox options. Similar powertrain options are likely for the sub-4 meter compact SUV as well. However, Honda is also likely to consider hybrid/electric options or at least keep the vehicle ready for such options in the future. Honda’s next big launch in the SUV space will be the 7-seater version of the 4th generation CR-V luxury SUV, which for the first time in India will be launched with petrol and diesel engine options. The CR-V will be launched in October this year.

Via LiveMint

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Hyundai is offering hefty discounts on almost all its cars this month. These discounts come at a time when the festive buying fervour is high in India. So, if you’re looking for great deals on Hyundai cars, now is the time to go for it.

August 2018 Discounts & Offers on Hyundai Cars

Hyundai Grand i10

Rs. 1.2 lakh off

The Grand is a popular hatchback that sells in heavy numbers and it’s currently available at a big discount. Premium petrol models Magna, Sportz and Asta are available at a special ex-showroom prices of Rs. 4.99, 5.49 and 5.99 lakh respectively with an additional corporate discounts of Rs. 5,000.

Other petrol versions command a discount of Rs. 95,000 (Rs. 50,000 cash discount + Rs. 20,000 exchange bonus + Rs. 20,000 loyalty bonus + Rs. 5,000 corporate discounts) and the diesel version is available with a discount of Rs. 1.20 lakh (Rs. 50,000 cash discount + Rs. 45,000 exchange bonus + Rs. 20,000 loyalty bonus + Rs. 5,000 corporate discount).

The discounts are not applicable on the base Era variant. The hatchback competes with the Maruti Swift and the Ford Figo. Prices start from Rs. 4.73 lakh. The car is available with petrol and diesel engines. The petrol engine gets 5-speed manual and automatic gearbox options, while the diesel motor makes do with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Hyundai Xcent

Rs. 90,000 off

The Xcent is Hyundai’s answer to the MS DZire and other compact sedans in the Indian market. Both petrol and diesel variants of the car are available at discounts of Rs. 90,000 (Rs. 40,000 cash discount + Rs. 45,000 exchange bonus + Rs. 5,000 corporate discount). Also, these schemes are not applicable on Xcent ‘E’ variant. The Xcent is now mainly preferred by cab operators. The car shares its engine and transmission options with the Grand i10. Prices start from Rs. 5.50 lakh. Apart from the Maruti Dzire, the Xcent’s competitors include the Tata Tigor, the Volkswagen Ameo and the Ford Figo Aspire.

Hyundai Elite i20/i20 Active

Rs. 20,000 off

The i20 is a hot seller in the premium hatch segment. The car is available with an exchange bonus of Rs. 20,000. All variants of the i20 line-up get this discount. The car is sold with 1.2-litre (82 Bhp-115 Nm) and 1.4-litre (99 Bhp-132 Nm) petrol engines, and a 1.4-litre diesel engine (89 Bhp-220 Nm). The 1.2-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel get 5-speed and 6-speed manual gearboxes respectively. The 1.4-litre petrol gets a 4-speed automatic gearbox. Prices start from Rs. 5.41 lakh.

Hyundai Verna

Rs. 40,000 off

The Verna with its stylish fluid design is one of the best selling sedans in the country. It is the car which dethroned Honda City as the top selling sedan. Currently, all variants of the car are getting a discount of Rs. 40,000 (Rs. 20,000 exchange + Rs. 20,000 loyalty bonus). With this offer, Hyundai has sweetened an already great deal and made the car an even better choice now. It is sold with a 1.4-litre (98.6bhp – 132.3 Nm) and 1.6-litre (121 bhp – 151 Nm) petrol engine, and a 1.6-litre (126.2 bhp – 259.8 Nm) diesel engine. Prices start from Rs. 7.9 Lakh.

Hyundai Elantra

Rs. 83,000 off

The Elantra is arguably one of India’s best-looking, affordable full-size sedans. Hyundai is offering a free insurance of Rs. 77,000 on petrol models and Rs. 83,000 on diesel models. The car competes with the Toyota Corolla Altis and the Skoda Octavia among others. It is sold with 2-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel engines. The petrol motor makes 150 Bhp-192 Nm while the diesel engine manages 126 Bhp-260 Nm. Both engines get 6-speed manual and automatic gearbox options. Prices start at Rs. 13.65 lakh.

Hyundai Tucson

Rs. 1.7 lakhs off

The Tucson is a 5-seat soft-roader whose competitors include the Jeep Compass and the Honda CR-V. The company is offering free insurance of Rs. 90,000 on petrol engine variants and Rs. 1.02 lakh on diesel engine variants. Additionally, the diesel variants are being offered with an exchange bonus of Rs.70,000. The SUV shares its petrol engine and gearbox options with the Elantra. The diesel engine is a larger, 2-litre unit with 182 Bhp-400 Nm on tap. Six- speed manual and automatic transmissions are available on the diesel engine as well. Prices start at Rs. 18.29 lakh.

Other than the above benefits, government employees get an additional benefit of Rs 5,000 on the Eon, Grand i10, Xcent, and I20 Active. One can also enjoy some more benefits by haggling at the dealership. There are good chances of the dealer throwing in some offers on some of the slow-selling variants. Hence, we request you to visit the local dealership and bargain hard.

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The Mercedes G Class SUV is an icon in the world of 4×4 vehicles. With a design that hasn’t really changed much in over 30 years, the Gelandewagen or G-Wagen as its more popularly known is the SUV of choice for celebrities across the world. In his post, we list 10 famous owners of the Mercedes G-Class SUV.

Ranbir Kapoor

Actor Ranbir Kapoor is one of the most bankable names in Bollywood today. He burst onto the silver screen in 2007’s Saawariya and his latest movie Sanju, a biopic on Sanjay Datt, has earned him rave reviews from critics and the general populace alike.

Ranbir’s G-Wagen is a previous-gen Mercedes-AMG G63 which drew power from a 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 537 bhp and 760 Nm of torque, which was sent to all four wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox. The G63 sprints to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds but its top speed is limited to 209 km/h thanks to its boxy design.

Akhil Akkineni

Akhil Akkineni is the son of Telegu superstar Nagarjuna and is a star in his own right in Tollywood. Akhil picked up his black G63 AMG sometime back and while it may look stealthy, the V8 rumble of is engine lets everyone know who’s coming down the road.

Pawan Kalyan

Pawan Kalyan, the younger brother of Chiranjeevi, is another G-Wagen owner. Like his older brother, Pawan turned to politics after success in Tollywood and founded the Jana Sena Party.

Pawan’s G-Wagen is an older G55 AMG which uses a 5.4-litre supercharged V8 engine that sent 507 bhp and 700 Nm of torque to all four wheels via a 5-speed automatic gearbox. The G55 was replaced by the G63 in the G-Class lineup.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger is best known the Terminator franchise and for the iconic phrase, ‘I’ll be back.’ Arnie was also a two-term Governor of California, where he zealously promoted green vehicles.

The eco-conscious nature of the Hollywood action hero is reflected in his custom G-Wagen. Built for the Terminator by Austrian company Kreisel Electric, this G-Wagen is completely electric. Powering the electric G-Class is an 80 kWh battery pack that gives a range of 306 km. The battery is paired to electric motors producing 482 bhp, which propels this green G-Wagen from 0-100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds.

Megan Fox

American actress Megan Fox’s breakout role was in the first Transformer movie which saw cars, trucks and planes turn into alien robots. Fox uses a Mercedes G550 to travel and while it isn’t the full-fat AMG model, her G550 still is powerful with 416 bhp on tap. No extra transformer hidden inside though.

Britney Spears

Britney Spears was the queen of pop music in the early 2000s and she too is the proud owner of a G-Wagen. However, Britney too has opted for a G550 instead of the manic AMG variants on offer. While less powerful, the G550’s 0-100 time of 7.2 seconds is nothing to scoff at.

Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner, the youngest of the famous Kardashian Jenner clan is a known admirer of the G-Wagen. The reality TV star who is expected to become a billionaire soon, thanks to her widely popular Kylie Cosmetics brand, sold off one G63 AMG and replaced it with another. Her custom G63 AMG changes colours like a chameleon and is Lamborghini orange thanks to its latest wrap job. Kylie’s G63 also seems to be fitted with a lift kit and custom Forgiato wheels.

Khloe Kardashian

Khloe Kardashian, the elder half-sister of Kylie Jenner is another member of the Kardashians to own a G-Wagen. While Khloe started off with a G550, she too switched to G63 AMG, shortly after her younger sister bought one. This friendly competition between the sisters is one that we at Cartoq don’t mind seeing on social media.

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone is an American actor best known for his roles as the titular characters in Rocky, Rambo and the current Expendables franchise. The actor and film-maker is the proud owner of a G63 AMG, which has a very rare green paint job.

Dan Bilzerian

Social media personality and professional poker player Dan Bilzerian is known for his lavish lifestyle. So it comes as no surprise that his G-Wagen is the most unique one on this list. Bilzerian owns a G63 6×6, a limited-run six-wheeled, pick-up truck version the G-Class SUV.

The G63 6×6 features portal axles, which boost ground clearance and allow it to ford up to 1,000-mm deep streams. Also present are 18-inch wheels draped in 36-inch tyres. The G63 AMG 6×6 and weighs in at over 4.1 tonnes.

What makes Bilzerian’s G63 even more special is the fact that it has been tuned by Brabus, who’ve cranked up the power to 690 bhp and the peak torque to an insane 960 Nm.

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The Jeep Compass SUV has been Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ biggest success in India, and the brand is all set to keep  the momentum going with new variants. Steve Zanlunghi, the head of Jeep’s Asia Pacific operations revealed that new variants of the Jeep Compass SUV would hit the Indian market in the next six months.

Here’s what he said in an  interview to AutocarIndia,

“When we launched the Compass in India, it blew away all our expectations with how popular it was. And what we were doing – and it’s part of the strategy – was a long-term strategy and not a short-term one, because we know we’re building the brand in India. We weren’t there two years ago, and I believe the Jeep brand there has big equity, so what we’re doing is to keep the Compass fresh and alive, we’re going to bring different variants; within the next six months, you will see a few other variants of the Compass that we’ve been working on for a while.”

While we know for a fact that the off-road focused Compass Trailhawk is one such new variant that Jeep has in store  for the Indian market, the other variant is likely to be the Night Eagle edition, which is more of a cosmetic  enhancement. The Night Eagle edition of the Compass is now on sale in Brazil, and the SUV gets a range of cosmetic tweaks. The vehicle gets piano black finish for the front grille, 18-inch alloy wheels, foglamp surrounds, a centre console and AC vents.

Coming to the Trailhawk model of the Compass, it’ll be based on the 2-litre diesel-engined version. Key changes  include new front and rear bumpers for better approach and departure angles, revised suspension for better off-road  performance, additional off-road modes on the Seletrac terrain response 4X4 system and a 9-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The Trailhawk variant of the Jeep Compass will be the range topper, and is expected to be the most expensive version of the SUV on sale.

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We have already told you of the new Ciaz being launched and its specifications. We’ve now gotten our hands on the official accessories brochure of the car, which reveals all that the new car would be having on the inside. The new Maruti Ciaz facelift will be available in seven exterior paint options and 11 variants of petrol and diesel engines.

Maruti Suzuki has also revamped the interior quite a bit with design changes, such as wood trim on dashboard and doors, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, auto climate controls, leather upholstery and safety features such as cruise control, dual airbags, ABS, EBD and ISOFIX child seat anchors (Nexa Safety Shield).

Also, the new Ciaz is not going to have six airbags, even as an option, which the competition has on offer.

The company is offering two optional design variants with this car, Collection Opulence and Collection Affluence. Among the two, collection opulence is the more premium one with 11 different features like premium body covers and tissue holders, number plate garnish, illuminated door sill guards, leather steering cover, door visor and a interior styling kit in birch beige finish. It also includes premium seat covers, designer mats and premium seat covers.

Collection Affluence is the more modest of the two and does not include features, such as premium body covers, tissue holders and number plate garnish. Also it makes do without premium seat covers and designer mats. The rest of the features remain the same though.

Talking about the powertrains, there’s a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine rated at 104 PS @ 6000 rpm and 138 Nm @ 4400 rpm. The manual petrol gives around 21.56 kmpl (about 4 kmpl better than its competitors) of mileage while that the auto petrol offers 20.28 kmpl.

The diesel engine is same as the current unit – the 1.3-litre 4-cylinder generating 90 PS @ 4000 rpm and 200 Nm at 1750 rpm. Mileage is expected to be 27+ kmpl. It does not get auto transmission and only a manual is on offer. Both engines come with SHVS hybrid system as standard. All seems good for Maruti as of now and the new Ciaz is ready to take on the competition.

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Still Fancy a Yamaha R15 V2.0? This could be the last time to grab yours. Looks like India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. have discontinued the Yamaha R15 V2.0 in India. The R15 V2.0 has been removed from the models list from its official Indian website. The Japanese bike giant launched an updated model of the R15 officially as Yamaha R15 V3.0 at the Delhi Auto Expo 2018 in Feb. Launched at a price of INR 1.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) R15 V3.0 has been selling like hot cakes ever since. However, till now the company has been selling the Yamaha R15 V2.0 despite the launch of Version 3.0. Not anymore, if the official Yamaha website is anything to go by.

The earlier Yamaha R15 V2.0 was powered by a 149 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled Fuel Injection unit which was good for producing 16.8  Bhp at 8500 rpm and peak torque figures were rated at 15 Nm at 7500 rpm and all of that power was sent to rear tyres via a 6-speed gearbox. With a fuel tank capacity of 12 litres and weights on the scales at 136 kg (kerb weight). With the launch of the more updated Yamaha R15 V3.0 showed in a lower craving and demands for the R15 V2.0. The R15 V3.0 is successfully accepted by youngsters and data shows the same as the company has shipped around 7,847 units of the R15 V3.0 in June 2018 alone.

Later last week, the company launched the theme based Yamaha R15 V3.0 Moto-GP Edition, The R15 V3.0 Moto-GP only comes with Moto-GP livery without any significant changes to the engine or chassis. The 2018 Yamaha R15 V3.0 is powered by an all-new 155 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled Fuel Injected engine that is capable of churning out a maximum power of 19 Bhp at 10,000 rpm and a peak torque of 14.8 NM is produced at 8,500 rpm. This engine is mated to a 6 speed transmission with a first in segment standard slip and assist clutch unit.

The R15 V3.0 is the first motorcycle in its segment to feature VVA (variable valve actuation). The Yamaha R15 V3.0 takes design inspiration from the bigger brother, the Yamaha YZF-R1 with the faux RAM air intake, full-LED headlamps, and a sleek tail section. The motorcycle comes with a sporty fuel tank, all-digital instrument cluster and LED taillight. The R15 V3.0 uses a Delta-box frame technology continued from V2.0 to place the engine. With suspension at front including 41 mm telescopic forks and an adjustable rear mono-shock. Braking section is handled by the 280 mm discs at front and 230 mm rear disc brakes. ABS is standard across range. the bike is available in two paint schemes – Thunder Red and Racing Blue.

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India’s leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki launched the facelifted Ciaz sedan today in India. The changes on the facelifted Ciaz are not just cosmetic, with the biggest change happening under the hood. Here is a detailed photo gallery of the new Maruti Ciaz that shows off all the major changes that can be seen in the facelifted sedan.

The new Maruti Suzuki Ciaz features an updated design which gives it a more upmarket feel. This can be seen up front where the top-spec Maruti Ciaz features LED projector headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lights.

Joining the two headlamps together is Maruti’s new multipixel grille and a chrome strip that runs across and above the centre of the grille. The front bumper of the Ciaz has also been reworked and features revised fog lamp housings with silver accents. The fog lamps are LED units on the top Alpha variants. The bumper also features a revised air dam.

The side profile of the Maruti Ciaz remains unchanged. The revised Ciaz sedan from Maruti though sits on new 15-inch 12-spoke alloy wheels.

The rear end of the Maruti Ciaz has been tweaked and features a new rear bumper with chrome inserts. Another new feature on the Ciaz is the tweaked taillights which feature new LED signature elements, which give the Maruti sedan a more premium look.

Maruti is offering the 2018 Ciaz in seven colour options: Metallic Premium Silver, Pearl Snow White, Metallic Magma grey, Pearl Midnight Black, Pearl Sangria Red, Pearl Metallic Dignity Brown, and Nexa Blue.

Step inside the new Ciaz and you’ll be greeted by the beige and black themed interiors (mostly beige, the black is used on the dash, centre console and steering wheel). However, the new Maruti Ciaz differs from its predecessor thanks to wood inserts and the satin highlights on the dash and door panels. The Ciaz also gets a new three-spoke steering wheel which features controls for infotainment setup and a new cruise control button.

The infotainment system remains the same and continues to support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A new feature added on is the Suzuki Connect setup to help keep track of the car.

The new Ciaz features a revised instrument cluster with a new 4.2-inch colour TFT multi-information display taking centre stage. The temperature and fuel gauges have been shifted around as well with the former sitting under the tachometer and the latter under the speedo. The position of the telltale lights has been changed as well. Also seen is an eco light on the speedo which changes colours depending on the way you drive.

The biggest change in the Ciaz comes under the bonnet. While Maruti has retained the 1.3-litre diesel (88bhp, 200Nm of torque, 24km/l) with a mild hybrid setup, the old 1.4-litre petrol makes way for the new K15B engine.

The K15B engine on the Maruti Ciaz is an all-new powerplant which produces 103bhp and 138Nm of torque. The new Ciaz is the first petrol car from Maruti to be offered with the carmaker’s SHVS smart hybrid setup. The Ciaz gets two battery packs, one lead-acid and the other a lithium-ion unit, that store energy from the regenerative braking setup. This stored energy is used to help the Ciaz petrol during bursts of acceleration. The Ciaz also gets a starter-generator. The petrol Ciaz is the most fuel-efficient car in its segment and returns a mileage of 21.56km/l when paired with the 5-speed manual gearbox and 20.28km/l with the 4-speed automatic transmission option.

The Ciaz comes packed with safety features including dual airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX child-seat mounting points as standard. The automatic variants also get ESP and Hill Hold. The Ciaz also gets cruise control as an option.

The new Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is more expensive than before with prices starting at Rs 8.19 lakh and going all the way up to 10.97 lakhs for the top-spec petrol and diesel variants. The new Ciaz is also more expensive than the Hyundai Elantra but is still a lot cheaper than its nearest rival, the Honda City.

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Another pic of the long-awaited and much talked about Tata Tigor test mule has surfaced online via Team BHP. As seen in the photo taken from a highway toll plaza in Coimbatore, the Tata Tigor can be seen sporting a twin-barrel exhaust, which suggests that it could be the Tigor JTP.

The have been numerous spotting of the test mules of the Tata Tigor JTP earlier, however this pic shows that the latest test mule appears to have a raw rear bumper without any paint. There are no black plastic cladding inserts in the rear bottom part of the bumper. What appears to be intact is the rear reverse parking sensors. Black spoiler placed above the rear windshield is similar to the standard model, but what’s missing are the rear antenna, chrome boot garnish and the taillights are of the base model.

Last year Coimbatore-based Jayem Automotives and Tata motors announced their collaboration to develop the more powerful and sportier versions of their street cars. In due process, Jayem Automotives is developing the sportier JTP versions of the Tiago and Tigor for Tata Motors.

The prototype models of both cars were first showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo in Feb this year. Since then, the Tigor JTP version has been spotted testing on roads several times and what is believed to be true is that both models are expected to get a 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that will produce a maximum power of 108 BHP and 150 Nm of peak torque, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Since the development of both the models is based to be on the sportier side, we are expecting bigger wheels and a stiffer suspension setup on both the models.

The Tata Tigor JTP could be a good package for the automotive enthusiasts, only the main question that remains unanswered as of now is when the official launch of these sportier versions is going to take place. Will it be a true sport model of the Tigor or just another overhyped thing? Which will it be, stay tuned to find out more about this.

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Tata Motors entered the sub-4 metre SUV segment with their Nexon last year in the Indian market after a long pause from the sub-4 metre segment. With the growing success of the Nexon in the sub-4 metre SUV segment, the company is now planning to launch a smaller SUV codenamed ‘Tata Hornbill’, as per ETAuto.

The Tata Hornbill will be developed on the similar platform as shown last year with the codename ‘Tata X445’. This micro SUV is most likely to compete in the segment with other micro-SUVs like the Maruti Ignis and Mahindra KUV100. Codenamed ‘Tata X445’, this model was initially planned to be developed and launched in 2022, but Tata Motors has preponed the launch after relooking at the segment and the growth rate of their Nexon.

When asked for a comment on the Tata X445, Mayank Pareek, President, Tata Motors (PV division), refused to give any pointers on the topic, but acknowledged that there is a great potential for such a product. “Indian people who have been purchasing hatchbacks for years will be looking for a promising upgrade.”

Indian market is one of the largest markets for the hatchback segment and sells over 1 million hatchbacks every year. “Almost 58% of the owners replace their cars every six years (and for them) the micro or small SUV becomes a good alternative,” Pareek said. So, it’s clear that Tata is keeping an eye on the micro SUV segment which seems to have huge potential in the Indian market in the near future.

The Tata Nexon is the last model developed on the similar platform as of the Tata X1, which also supports the Tata Zest and Tata Bolt.  he Tata Hornbill will ride on the Advanced Modular Platform, which is set to debut in the Tata 45X in 2019. The platform will also underpin a mid-size sedan that follows next year.

Though Tata Motors is working on different aspects to meet the upcoming BS6 norms, powering the X445 by a turbocharged petrol engine would make it a costly affair considering its rivals and positioning among the segment. Tata Motors Limited may offer a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine in the X445, which maybe borrowed from the Tata Tiago or could be a completely newly developed unit, along with manual and automated versions of the TA65 5-speed transmission. What’s worth noting is that none of the competitors in the segment comes with turbo petrol engines but gets AMT.

In the meantime, here is our review of the Nexon AMT models 

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