American motorcycle manufacturer Cleveland CycleWerks will launch two of its bikes in India next month. According to Overdrive, the two motorcycles, the Ace Deluxe and the Misfit 250 will be priced at Rs 2.23 lakhs and Rs 2.49 lakhs, respectively, with deliveries set to start in November.

The Cleveland Misfit 250 and Ace Deluxe were among the line-up of single cylinder motorcycles that Cleveland CycleWerks showed off at the Auto Expo 2018 to mark its debut in India. Cleveland CycleWerks was expected to launch the Ace Deluxe and Misfit 250 in India a few months ago in June, but the bikemaker delayed the launch due to a delay in setting up the dealer network in India. However, now that the American motorcycle manufacturer has tied up with 10 dealers in major cities across India, it has greenlighted the launch of the two bikes for October.

Pranav Desai, the CEO and Director of Cleveland CycleWerks, has told Overdrive that the bikemaker will be importing the motorcycles as CKD kits from its Chinese manufacturing facilities, which serve 23 markets around the world. These kits will be assembled at Cleveland’s Pune facility, where the assembly line can handle 35,000 to 40,00 units a year. Once this line reaches 30% capacity, Cleveland plans to open another line at its facility.

Desai also revealed that Cleveland has started locally sourcing parts as well for the two new bikes. The headlamp units are made in India by FIAM, as is the wiring loom. The bikemaker will fit its motorcycles with either Ceat or MRF tyres depending on the size of the wheel.

The Ace Deluxe is a retro-designed naked motorcycle, while the Misfit has been styled as a cafe racer. Both bikes share the same mechanical parts including the single-cylinder 229cc engine, which is equipped with a counterbalancer to help cut down on vibrations.

The carbureted engine produces 15.2 Bhp @ 7,000 rpm and 16 Nm of torque @ 6,000 rpm and is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The bikes are equipped with USD forks up front and twin shocks at the rear, while braking duties are handled by disc brakes on both the front and rear tyres. The Ace Deluxe weighs in at 133 kilogrammes (kerb), while the Misfit 250 is 21 kilos heavier at 154kg.

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Indian carmaker Tata Motors has launched the Nexon Kraz limited edition in India. Prices for the Tata Nexon Kraz limited edition start at Rs 7,14,951 for the base petrol variant. The Nexon Kraz (pronounced Craze) celebrates the first anniversary of the launch of the Tata compact SUV in India.

The Tata Nexon Kraz limited edition is available in two different variant levels – Kraz and Kraz+ with both being offered in petrol and diesel guises.

Tata Nexon Kraz Limited Editon Price List

The Nexon Kraz is based on the XT variant of the regular Nexon and brings with it a host of cosmetic changes both on the exterior and interior of the car. Exterior changes on the Nexon Kraz include a Tromso black paint job with a sonic silver roof to give the SUV a dual-tone colour effect along with a ‘neo-green’ colour scheme for the mirrors, wheel accents, grille insert and Kraz badging.

The neo-green colour can be seen on the inside in the stitching for the seats along with the surrounds for the AC vents and also for the Z on the Kraz badge on the centre console. The dashboard, centre console, door panels and a section of the steering wheel all feature a piano black finish, bringing a premium look to the Kraz’s interiors.

The Tata Nexon Kraz is based on the XT variant of the regular Nexon and is only available with a manual gearbox regardless of the engine choice. The 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine on the Nexon Kraz produces 108.5 Bhp and 170 Nm of torque while the 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel produces 108.5 Bhp and 260 Nm of peak torque. In the Kraz, both engines send power to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. The Kraz, like every other Nexon model, gets 3 driving modes – Eco, City and Sport, which change the engine’s power output to suit the driving style required.

The Tata Nexon Kraz comes packed with a host of features including a 4-speaker audio set-up from Harman which also brings Bluetooth connectivity, along with a cooled glovebox, automatic climate control, a shark-fin antenna, rear AC vents and a boot lamp.

Also Read: Hyundai Creta-rivaling Nissan Kicks compact SUV: New information about launch surfaces

The Honda Activa is the most popular scooter currently on sale in India. The Activa was first launched in India in 2001 and has since gone on to totally dominate the scooter market in India. In February at the Auto Expo 2018, Honda announced the Activa 5G, the latest scooter to bear the iconic name. Despite being nothing more than a minor facelift, the Activa 5G has captured the hearts and wallets of the scooter riding community in India, which can be seen in the sales numbers. In July 2018, Honda sold 286,380 units of the Activa in India, which translates to roughly 1.1 Activas sold every 10 seconds. So what are the reasons for the Activa’s big success story in India? Let’s find out.

Wide Appeal

The Activa appeals to many types of two-wheeler buyers. Its appeal stretches from teenagers on their way to college or the professionals riding to work to even the stay-at-home moms heading to the shops, the Activa has something that appeals to all of them. Thanks to its fuss-free nature, the Activa can be used as a daily driver allowing anyone buying it to get from point A to point B easily, which at the end of the day is what people want.

High Convenience

One of the biggest reasons that ensures that the Activa sales remain crazily high is the high convenience it offers. Despite using metal panels, the Activa does not weigh much, which allows almost anyone to ride it easily. Also, it offers sufficient storage space and hooks to allow you to store whatever it is that you want. The biggest factor though is the CVT automatic gearbox, which means that riders do not have to shift through the gears, which makes traffic jams easier to endure.

Affordability & Ease of Ownership

The Honda Activa may not be the cheapest scooter on the market today, but its features ensure that it offers a high value-for-money in the eyes of those looking to purchase one. At a starting price of Rs 52,000, the Activa 5G is priced at around the same mark as many entry-level motorcycles. Combine the price with the features offered (automatic transmission, more storage space) and you can see why people opt for the more practical Activa. Add in the fact that the Activa is easy to maintain and can be worked on by even road-side mechanics and you see why this scooter sells like crazy.

Adequate Performance

Make no mistake, the Activa isn’t a two-wheeler that will win you races down a drag strip. However, the Activa with its automatic gearbox and small engine (either 110 or 125) offers enough performance for use inside the city. The Honda scooter can easily zip through traffic with its engine and suspension set-up. For people who have to deal with traffic jams on small streets every day, the Activa just seems like the perfect vehicle.

Decent Mileage

Another factor in the Activa’s favour is its fuel-efficient engine which can return up to 50 km/l if you’re gentle with the throttle. This combined with its ability to zip through crowded streets and backroads make the Activa an easy choice for buyers looking to purchase a new scooter.

High Reliability

Honda’s vehicles are known for their high reliability and the Activa is no different. We’ve seen Activas with over 1 lakh kilometres on the odometer, which still run without any issue whatsoever. Thanks to this trouble-free nature of the Activa, it comes as no surprise that the Activa is highly popular among the Indian public.

Top Resale Value

Thanks to its reliability, a fuel efficient yet sufficiently powerful engine, and the low cost of running, it comes as no surprise that the Activa enjoys a high-resale value in the second-hand market, which allows owners to recoup quite a lot of their initial investment on the Activa.

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Maruti Suzuki absolutely dominates the Indian car industry to the point of almost being a monopoly. Picture this. Just the NEXA range of Maruti cars that include the Ignis, Baleno, Ciaz and S-Cross outsell every other car manufacturer in India, save for Hyundai. That’s utter dominance for you. While Maruti’s NEXA range managed to sell 28,672 units in August 2018, a slow month for Maruti Suzuki due to the Kerala floods, Tata Motors put out 18,420 cars in the same period while Mahindra and Honda managed 17,368 units and 17,020 units, respectively. Maruti’s Arena (non-Nexa) line-up of cars sold a whopping 1.17 lakh units in August 2018, a drop of about 5 % mainly due to lower dispatches to Kerala.

Less than four years ago, Maruti Suzuki established a premium range of dealerships under the NEXA badge. The first car to be sold through the NEXA dealership chain was the S-Cross, which was soon joined by the Baleno, the Ignis and finally the Ciaz. In the future, more cars from Maruti Suzuki will be sold through the NEXA chain, which promises to offer a higher quality of customer service, better ambience, and overall a more premium buying experience. To ensure that the more premium purchase experience is carried over even to after sales service, Maruti has been setting up service outlets exclusively for the NEXA range of cars.

Maruti’s strategy with the NEXA chain of dealerships is quite clear. The brand wants to unshackle itself from the tag of a ‘budget car maker’, and move upmarket. In the future, expect more premium cars from Maruti, ones that are much pricier than the current NEXA line-up of Ignis, Baleno, Ciaz and S-Cross. In a year or two, Maruti will introduce the rebadged Toyota Corolla Altis to the NEXA line-up. This premium D-Segment sedan will be Maruti’s priciest car on sale. The car is expected to be sold with a petrol-hybrid engine. An SUV that will challenge the Hyundai Creta is another vehicle that is expected to be sold through the NEXA chain.

Also Read: Hyundai Creta-rivaling Nissan Kicks compact SUV: New information about launch surfaces

A limited edition model of the Datsun RediGO entry level hatchback has been launched in India. Ex-showroom Delhi prices start from Rs. 3.58 lakhs for the 800cc variant and Rs. 3.85 lakhs for the 1 litre engined model.  Both versions take on the Maruti Alto 800 and Alto K10 models. The Limited Edition RediGO is available in 3 colours: White, Silver and Red. The Limited Edition car gets a host of visual changes to make it stand out, and look different from the regular versions of the RediGO. There are also changes on the inside, once again as major differentiating features between this car and the regular version.

The various exterior changes on the limited edition Datsun RediGO include a roof wrap, revised body graphics, bumper extensions at the front and rear, red insert for the front grille and new graphics for the hatchlid. On the inside, key changes on the car include red and black leather upholstery and revised colour accents on the AC vents. As for feature additions, the RediGo Limited Edition gets rear parking sensors, a satin chrome gear bezel, chrome inside door handles and carpet mats.

The RediGo’s 800cc, 3 cylinder petrol engine makes 53 Bhp-72 Nm and Nm while the 1 litre-3 cylinder motor makes 67 Bhp-91 Nm. Both engines get 5 speed manual transmissions as standard. These figures are comparable to that put out by the Maruti Alto 800 and K10 models. The larger engine also gets a 5 speed AMT option but this isn’t available on the Limited Edition variants. Again, the AMT option is similar to what the Maruti Alto K10 offers.

Mr. Peter Clissold, Vice President – Marketing at Nissan Motors India Pvt. Ltd. said,

This festive season, Datsun wants to make the celebration more special by delighting customers with the powerful and vibrant redi-GO Limited Edition. The refreshing design along with power packed performance is a testimony of our commitment towards customers to offer progressive mobility solutions.

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Nissan’s next big thing for the Indian market will be the Kicks compact SUV, which will take on the Hyundai Creta. It will be launched in January 2019, according to a Team-BHP source. The Kicks that will be sold in India has been developed specifically for the market here, and is distinct from the global version in that it’ll use the B-Zero platform.

The global version of the Kicks uses the V platform. The India-specific Kicks will share its platform with three other compact SUVs that are already on sale – the Renault Duster, Captur and Nissan Terrano. The SUV will also share its engines and gearboxes with the aforementioned SUVs.

This strategy will allow Nissan to price the Kicks competitively. We expect the SUV to start from under Rs. 10 lakhs. It remains to be seen whether the Kicks will replace the Nissan Terrano or if the latter will be re-positioned by the automaker to make way for the new SUV. For now, the Nissan Kicks and Terrano are poised to have plenty in common.

Both SUVs will share the engines as well. The 1.5 litre K9K turbocharged diesel engine will be the mainstay of the Kicks, and is expected to be offered in a 108 Bhp-240 Nm state of tune. A 6 speed manual gearbox will be standard although it remains to be seen if an AMT option is also offered.

The petrol engine will be the 1.6 litre naturally aspirated unit with 102 Bhp-145 Nm. This engine will get a 5 speed manual gearbox as standard. A front wheel drive is likely to be standard on this monocoque SUV. While Nissan does have the capability of offering an all wheel drive layout on the Kicks by borrowing the system from the Duster, it’s unlikely to do so. This is because SUVs with all wheel drive layouts are typically poor sellers in India. Coming to the other key bits, the Kicks will bring a brand new design to the table, and looks quite contemporary. Interiors are also expected to be trendy, with a lot of features on offer.

Also Read: Hyundai Creta-rivaling Nissan Kicks compact SUV: New information about launch surfaces

Days ago, Mahindra launched their much awaited Marazzo – the latest entrant to the 7-seater MPV segment in India. The Marazzo looks quite promising but the Maruti Ertiga is expected to offer tough competition to the newly launched MPV. Let’s check which one outperforms the other, as far as technical specifications go.

Price/Value-for-money

Mahindra has done a commendable job with the pricing of the Marazzo, launching the MPV (D2) at Rs 9.99 lakhs (ex-showroom) with the top-end variant (D8) priced at Rs 13.9 lakhs (ex-showroom). The Maruti Ertiga is a cheaper alternative to Mahindra Marazzo with prices starting at Rs. 6.34 lakhs(ex-showroom) for the LXI trim and the top-end diesel variant is priced at Rs. 10.69 lakhs (ex-showroom).

The Maruti Ertiga is offered in petrol, CNG and diesel options along with manual and automatic transmissions to choose from. The Mahindra Marazzo is currently offered in diesel engine trim with only manual transmission as option. Clearly, the Ertiga is a more suitable option for those who are looking for a fully loaded MPV with a budget of Rs 10 lakh.

For those who have a higher budget and want more space than the Ertiga, but don’t have the budget for the Toyota Innova Crysta, the Marazzo makes sense.

Specifications/Performance

The Mahindra Marazzo is powered by a 1.5-litre diesel engine, which produces maximum power of 121 Bhp and 300 Nm of peak torque that comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Mahindra is planning to bring in a petrol engine variant and an automatic gearbox option in the near future.

The Maruti Ertiga, on the other hand, comes with two engine options – a 1.4-litre petrol engine and a 1.3-litre diesel engine. The petrol engine is a 1373-cc four-cylinder unit, which produces 91 Bhp of peak power and 130 Nm of peak torque and comes with 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic only in VXI trim. The diesel variants are powered by a 1,248-cc four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which churns out a maximum power of 88.5 Bhp and 200 Nm of peak torque.

Here again, Maruti Ertiga takes the lead with two engine options and transmission options to choose from whereas Marazzo only offers diesel engine with manual transmission. While the Ertiga offers more options, the Marazzo is the one that’s more powerful, especially in diesel trim. Want a petrol/petrol-automatic MPV? Go for the Ertiga. For everyone else, the Marazzo is the better pick.  

Design/road presence

The Mahindra Marazzo is a newly designed MPV inspired by shark face, whereas Maruti Ertiga is yet to receive an all-new model, which is due by the end of 2018. The Marazzo definitely has the better road presence among the two. Mahindra Marazzo measures 4585 mm in length, 1866 mm in width and 1774 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2760 mm.

The Maruti Ertiga is lot smaller when compared to Marazzo with dimensions measuring 4296 mm in length, 1695 mm in width, and 1685 mm in height with wheelbase measuring 2740 mm (almost similar to Marazzo). Clearly Mahindra Marazzo is the winner and comes out as an optimal choice for a 7-seater family MPV.

Features and space

The Marazzo is the clear winner here. It’s got a more spacious cabin and is offered with four captain seats on the 7-seat variants, and is also sold with an 8-seat layout. The Ertiga is smaller, and gets a 7-seat cabin as standard. As for safety features, the Marazzo offers twin airbags and ABS as standard, which is the same as what the Ertiga offers.

The cabin on the Marazzo is more premium, and for the extra premium you pay for it, the MPV offers a range of features that are not available on the Ertiga.  Maruti is yet to launch the all-new Ertiga in October, which will host a lot more features than the current generation model. If you can afford the higher price tag, the Marazzo is the leader when it comes to features and space. 

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SUVs are now one of the hottest selling vehicles in India. People are attracted towards them because of their size and powerful engines. But there are many misconceptions about SUVs, such as the Mahindra Scorpio. Toyota Fortuner and more. Let’s debunk them now.

All big, tall cars are SUVs

No, not at all. The current trend of labelling any big, tall car as SUV is just a marketing gimmick. SUV clearly and boldly stands for ‘Sports Utility Vehicle’ that have the mandatory 4WD system to do light or heavy off-roading. Cars that have designs inspired from the SUVs but do not have defining features like 4WD are termed as crossovers, no matter how cool they look.

In the Indian market, a large number of SUV-inspired vehicles are passed off as SUVs. This has led to the current confusion in the market and among common people. For example, a car, such as the KUV100 is passed off as an SUV, which is far from the truth. It is just another hatch with an SUV-inspired body design. A true blue SUV, on the other hand, is the Toyota Fortuner.

SUVs can get out of any situation

This is one of the biggest misconception about SUVs. Yes, SUVs were initially made for that purpose but with changing modern trends, the original meaning of the word has also changed. If you have an SUV, which has an AWD (All Wheel Drive) system, it is unlikely that it will be great at off-roading. This is because though AWD system powers all the wheels, but without features like differential locks and low range transfer case, the vehicle’s capabilities would not be at its peak. There have been many instances of AWD SUVs getting stuck.

A Renault Duster that only comes with an AWD system will fail to reach a testing destination. If the same is done on a Mahindra Scorpio or a Thar that comes with a low-ratio gearbox, the result would be positive. Hard-core SUVs come with low- and high-range transfer cases. Such vehicles do not directly get power from the transmission. Rather, the power first goes to the transfer case and then to the wheels. They are also equipped with differential locks, which is used to lock and synchronize the axles. This means all the wheels spin at the same rate, which is very useful when handling rough terrains and in situations like crawling.

SUVs are slow!

Gone are the days of bulky cranky SUVs. Modern SUVs may look big and lazy, but they can be lightning fast. New technology-equipped engines along with advanced engineering have made sure that these vehicles are extremely fast and quick. Any good powerful SUV now can be as fast as a hot hatch in a straight line. Some even rival sports cars in acceleration and speed. A few examples of such vehicles that are fast in stock form are Land Rover Range Rover SVR, Bentley Bentayga and Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. The Bentayga can do 0-100 km/h in a jaw-dropping 4 seconds! That is fast, for any car.

You have to spend a lot on fuel

Again a misconception, this one has been around for a long time now. Older engines were unrefined and the focus was never much on efficiency but rather torque and power output. But modern vehicles do not take a fortune to keep them running. Relating the size of the vehicle with the amount of fuel it will need is a thought practice that needs to end now. The Volvo XC90 T8 is one excellent example of the same. The SUV has a 407 Bhp power output, and yet it returns a maximum fuel efficiency of 57 kmpl. Even conventional powered SUVs, such as the Ford Endeavour come with an ARAI-rated mileage of 14.2 kmpl, which is quite good given the size of the vehicle.

SUVs are difficult to drive

Tough old guys used to say that if you drive a big brawny SUV, you don’t need to lift weights. Well that might be true for their time but modern day electronics and assists have made it extremely easy to drive and control any car including the SUVs. Again many regard size and weight to the ease-of-driving of an SUV. They think SUVs are tough to drive because of their size and weight.

SUVs have high body roll during cornering because of their high centre of gravity. But many modern-day SUVs drive just like regular cars. Additional assists such as rear camera and parking sensors make it incredibly easy to park the vehicle even at the tightest spots.

SUVs mean diesel fuel

Many auto lovers refrain from buying SUVs because of a general perception that diesel engines power all the SUVs. It is true that diesel engines lack refinement as compared to their petrol counterparts. However, it is not true that SUVs offer only diesel engines. Many SUVs now offer petrol engines under the hood. Though they are very popular because of their lower fuel efficiency, but they’re still available. The latest Toyota Fortuner is a good example of the same. It comes with a 2.7-litre petrol engine that develops a maximum power of 164 Bhp and 245 Nm of peak torque.

All SUVs are extremely comfortable

Some may disagree with this but the fact is that many aren’t. That’s because of their high seating position and ground clearance, which translates into a high centre of gravity for the vehicle. Yes, SUVs do absorb a lot of potholes and deliver a comfortable ride, but on curvy roads they can be a pain. Coupled with a softer suspension set-up, the ride can be quite uncomfortable.

The passengers, especially the ones sitting at the rear seats face most of the beating due to the body roll. Ask people who’ve been riding around in first-gen Mahindra Scorpios. Most SUVs are not very comfortable especially on curvy roads.  The pick-up truck based Toyota Fortuner has a stiff suspension, which makes the ride uncomfortable for many.

They have a high maintenance cost

People generally remark that SUVs are high maintenance vehicles and many stay away from them because of the same. Time for a reality check. Actually, SUVs are now very affordable to maintain and run as compared to their earlier versions. Not all SUVs are fuel guzzlers. On the same note, all SUVs won’t devour you hard-earned cash when you take them for service.

One example of the same is the latest Ford Endeavour. Ford claims that regular servicing till 60,000 km costs less than Rs. 50,000 in total including the labour cost and parts. That is cheaper than many lesser-priced sedans and hatchbacks.

Bigger tyres and high seating position are always good things

Some of the main factors in the SUV segment’s popularity are its high seating posture and big tyres. The butch and throw-it-at-me attitude mainly comes from these attributes. While many may see them as good, in reality, it can be a deadly combination. The problem with the high seating position of an SUV is that the centre of weight of the vehicle is away from the ground making it extremely prone to rollovers. Therefore, it is not recommended to take high speed turns in an SUV.

All SUVs are built ‘tough’

All that glitters is not gold. Similarly, though all SUVs may look tough and solid that doesn’t necessarily translate into them being strong. SUVs look bulky and muscular due to their size and stance. People generally regard them as safe vehicles that will keep the occupants unhurt in any kind of crash but in reality, that’s not true. One shining example for this irony is the Mahindra Scorpio. It actually scored Zero in the NCAP testing for safety. Also, its body structure was rated ‘unstable’. But hey, it looks quite tough and well-built, doesn’t it.

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Indian automotive giant Mahindra launched the Marazzo in India earlier this week. The Marazzo is based on the all-new U321 platform which is a ladder frame and monocoque hybrid chassis. Speaking to Autocar Professional, Rajan Wadhera, President, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, revealed that the Marazzo’s platform can support a full range of body styles and is highly modular.

When asked in the interview by Autocar Professional about what all vehicles could be based on the Marazzo’s patented platform, Wadhera said, “It can take a seven-to-eight-seater product, be it a crossover or a typical blue-blooded SUV. The lines between a car, hatchback, SUV or MPV are very blurred these days and not as deep as they used to be. Customers are now willing to change over which is why you see a lot of them moving from hatchbacks to SUVs. It’s a platform of a C-sized segment, typically seven- to eight-seater, which can be scaled up or down to even a compact segment car.”

When Mahindra uses the scalable platform for more vehicles, the new SUVs and compact cars made using the architecture are expected to make use of Mahindra’s all-new 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel, which is mounted transversely onto the platform. The Marazzo’s new 1.5-litre engine makes 121 Bhp and 300 Nm of torque, which is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed gearbox.

The new 1.5-litre engine will be next seen in Mahindra’s S201 compact SUV that will rival the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon and Ford EcoSport when it arrives during the festive period this year. The 7-seater version the S201 (S202) is expected to rival the Hyundai Creta when it arrives next year. However, both the 5 and 7-seater versions of Mahindra’s upcoming compact SUV are not based on the new Marazzo’s platform but are instead reworked versions of the Ssangyong (a subsidiary of Mahindra based out of South Korea) Tivoli’s platform.

The Mahindra Marazzo, which takes its name from the Basque word for ‘shark’ was jointly developed by Mahindra Research Valley and the carmaker’s North American arm, Mahindra North American Technical Centre (MNATC) and has been built for the global market. The MPV which can be configured as either a 7 or an 8-seater has the largest footprint of any Mahindra vehicle till date and sits between the Maruti Ertiga and the Toyota Innova in terms of pricing. The Marazzo will be the third vehicle in Mahindra’s current line-up after the Scorpio and the XUV500 to be exported to international markets and is expected to go on sale in South American markets and South Africa soon.

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Most of you would have guessed it instantly – these are not real hovering/flying Hindustan Ambassador cars. These are digital renders created by our artist who edited photos of actual Ambassadors on Indian roads.

If you were a kid who grew up watching Back to The Future movies (that means you are an uncle now), or Harry Potter (you are of marriageable age, right?) you would have come across flying cars. A lot of us, when we were kids, wished they would become real some day. However, we are pretty sure most of us never thought about a flying Hindustan Ambassador!

The flying car in Harry Potter movies may have required some serious magic, but the Amby flying car requires only the magic of Photoshop. Take a look at these three photos of hovering Ambassador cars below.

The interesting thing is hover cars are finally becoming real. Not in India, perhaps, but they are getting more and more viable with each passing day.

Anti-gravity technology – which seems to be what powers our Ambassador Hover cars – is obviously a very long way away. That is still in the realm of science fiction.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Moller International received a lot of press attention for their VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft. They looked futuristic, and achieved lift through the use of ducted fans. However, apart from some tethered test flights, none of them ever made an untethered flight, as far as we know.

Flying cars are nothing new. As far back as the early 1990s, people tried to make cars fly. The first one was the Curtiss Autoplane (which never took off) and the Arrowbile (another failure). The Airphibian (1946) was the first one to get a certification as an aircraft.

Recent attempts to fly include Moller International’s high-profile failures, the Terrafugia Transition, the PAL-V, and ATVs strung up below paraglider wings.

The eHang UAV, already being tested in Dubai for short hops, is more like an air taxi built using tech derived from remote-controlled drones. They look really impressive, and could become the first real flying personal vehicles. But no, they have nothing to do with cars – if anything, they are alternatives to cars. The KittyHawk is another promising project, from Google’s Larry Page, that looks like a cross between a plastic F1 car and a boat.

So will we ever see a flying Ambassador? Well, it IS possible for a determined DIYer, we think. People have managed to use multiple high-powered drone motors to make a lot of things hover. An Ambassador is too heavy for all that, but a lightweight Ambassador replica (fiberglass, perhaps) with a single seat inside, propelled by multiple drone motors can do the job. Who wants to try?

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If the recently launched Mahindra Marazzo caught your attention but for some reason the interior didn’t appeal, the company has just the thing for you. In partnership with Dilip Chhabria of DC Designs, Mahindra will offer a customized version of the Marazzo MPV with a bespoke cabin. It will be made available through dealerships and will come with a host of creature comforts and equipment – typical DC style we say.

The rear passenger area is where all the superficial bits will make appearance, but we’ll get onto that later. Starting from the dash, the car will get faux wood and leather along with chrome inserts in ample. The whole cabin will follow a lighter theme as compared to the regular car lending an airy feel inside.

The whole centre console now gets done in faux wood with a chrome bar running along it. The chunky steering wheel and the door pads will also feature faux wood and leather inserts along with courtesy lights. The seats are specially designed power seats which are upholstered in premium faux leather.

But the rear cabin is where the actual game begins. The rear captain seats will be replaced with electrically adjustable, reclining seats that also get their own footrest that extends from under the seat, business class eh. Well, we’re not stopping here as it also has an inbuilt 7 litre refrigerator, two large capacitive touchscreens attached to front seats with features like Android TV, iPad/iPod housing and foldable headrests shaped like a neck pillow. Features like infotainment system and seat operation can be operated from a touchpad console placed between the two captain seats, which also houses the small refrigerator under it. Foldable tables and 12V charging sockets add to practicality.

There has been no word on any exterior body kit by DC but Mahindra offers plenty of options to keep you happy. With all these modifications to the cabin, the third row seats might be rendered useless. Also, with the luxurious layout, access to the third row will become difficult. There has been no word on pricing yet, but taking into perspective the other interior jobs DC has done, the custom-built Marazzo is likely to be pegged at around Rs 3.5 lakh-Rs 5.0 lakh over the top-end M8 (Rs 13.90 lakh, ex-showroom) variant.

Via Auto.NDTV

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South Korean carmaker Hyundai is set to launch an upgraded version of the Grand i10 later this month. According to mycarhelpline.com, the new upgraded Grand i10 is expected to arrive in showrooms by the third week of September and will make ABS with EBD and dual airbags as standard on all variants of the Hyundai hatchback. This upgrade will bring the updated Hyundai Grand i10 on level terms in terms of safety with its biggest rival, the Maruti Swift.

In addition to the safety upgrades to all models, certain variants of the Grand i10 will also get cosmetic upgrades as well. The Grand i10 Magna gets cosmetic changes in the form of roof rails and beading on the doors, along with the safety upgrade. The Grand i10 Sportz variant too gets a few cosmetic bits added to in the form of a rear spoiler and LED daytime running lights (DRL), which should give it a more sporty look and could attract buyers away from the mid-specced Swift.

The upgraded variants of the Grand i10 will not feature any mechanical changes whatsoever. The Hyundai Grand i10 will continue to draw power from two engine options – petrol and diesel. The 1.2 litre petrol engine is an inline, 4-cylinder unit with 81 Bhp @ 6,000 rpm and 114 Nm of torque @ 4,000 rpm. The diesel engine is a turbocharged inline 3-cylinder 1.2 litre powerplant that produces 74 Bhp @ 4,000 rpm and 190 Nm @ 1,750 rpm. Both engines are mated to 5-speed manual gearboxes though the petrol engine is also offered with a 4-speed automatic gearbox. The outputs are similar to what the Maruti Swift makes.

The prices of the Grand i10 is expected to go up by up to Rs 15,000. Hyundai will also slash the cash discount offered on the Grand i10 by Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000, meaning an overall price hike of up to Rs 25,000 depending on the variant purchased.

The upgrades to the Grand i10 make the Magna and Sportz version of the i10 a real value proposition for many buyers, considering the safety upgrades. The i10 Sportz should attract even more buyers thanks to the addition of the DRLs and spoiler. The upgraded Grand i10 will also remain more affordable than the Maruti Swift, despite offering the same amount of safety features, which could work in the Hyundai hatch’s favour.

Via MyCarHelpline

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If you have an SUV or pick-up truck with four-wheel-drive, then finding out how well your vehicle does while going off-road is something many of wonder about. However, if you do plan to test out the off-roading capability of your vehicle, it would be advisable for you to go in a group with people who have vehicles with similar capabilities and a winch, as this video by Youtuber Anshuman Bishnoi shows.

The video sees 4×4 vehicles like the Toyota Fortuner, Tata Xenon and Isuzu V-Cross get stuck as the group goes off-roading in North India. However, with the help of the other vehicles in the group, all of which have been equipped with winches, the vehicles that find themselves stuck are easily pulled out of the problematic situation.

This is seen in three different cases in the video above. The first vehicle to get stuck is a Toyota Fortuner, which is one of the best premium SUVs that is priced under Rs 30 lakh. In the video though, the Fortuner while traversing down a rough slope, gets caught in the tracks made on the off-roading path and falls over towards its left side. Thankfully, the Fortuner is pulled out with the help of others at the off-roading course, who use an Isuzu V-Cross equipped with a winch to bring the car back on four wheels and back up the treacherous slope.

The Fortuner repays the favour to the Isuzu when the Toyota SUV winches the V-Cross pickup out of a situation that was quite similar to the one it found itself earlier in. The Isuzu found itself stuck in a rut on its right side down a muddy slope. Thankfully, the Toyota Fortuner (which is fitted with an aftermarket snorkel) winches and pulls its Japanese counterpart out from where it found itself stuck onto the more stable ground. Then, with more help from the winch and its own powerful engine, the Isuzu gets itself back onto solid ground.

The final case sees a Tata Xenon get stuck late in the night. The Xenon is winched out from its precarious position by the Isuzu. In all three cases, the presence of another SUV with a winch and of people who know how to get a vehicle out of a tough spot while off-roading comes as a boon for the people behind the wheels of the affected vehicles. If these people had gone it alone, getting the vehicles back would have been a whole lot tougher considering that the off-roading course seems to be in the middle of nowhere.

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Royal Enfield has just launched the dual channel ABS-equipped Himalayan on-off road adv motorcycle. Prices start from Rs. 1.79 lakhs, ex-showroom, Mumbai, which is a modest Rs. 11,000 increase over the non-ABS version of the motorcycle. The Sleet variant is pricier by Rs. 1,836. Customer deliveries of the Royal Enfield Himalayan ABS have already begun, and ABS-equipped motorcycles have been shipped to dealer stockyards across India. In the coming days, expect the Himalayan ABS to be delivered to more customers across India.

Talking of changes on the Royal Enfield Himalayan, the ABS system has been added and the console gets an ABS light, and there’s an ABS sticker on the front forks. Apart from these changes, the Royal Enfield Himalayan ABS looks bog similar to the non-ABS version. There are no other mechanical changes as well. The motorcycle is powered by a 411cc, four stroke engine with 24.5 Bhp of peak power and 32 Nm of peak torque. The air-oil cooled engine gets fuel injection as standard, with an overhead camshaft and a two valve head. A five speed manual gearbox is standard and so is an electric start system.

The motorcycle gets long travel suspension consisting of telescopic front forks and a monoshock rear. The front suspension has 200 mm of travel while the rear gets 180 mm of travel. Ground clearance is hefty to say the least, at a whopping 220 mm. The motorcycle also gets a range of official accessories specifically meant for touring from Royal Enfield. At present, the Himalayan is the only affordable dual purpose motorcycle sold in India, and the next similar option – the BMW G 310GS – is priced more than double that of the Himalayan.

Meanwhile, official communication from Royal Enfield on whether the dual channel ABS unit on the Himalayan is switchable has not arrived yet. Bikers would want the dual channel ABS on the Royal Enfield Himalayan to be switchable though, since many off-road conditions would require such an option. Meanwhile, Royal Enfield will roll out dual channel ABS to more of its motorcycles in the coming months. The Classic 500 range, the Bullet 350, 500 and the Thunderbird twins will soon get dual channel ABS, with a similar Rs. 11,000 price increase.

Images courtesy Neelesh Bajaj

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A video has recently surfaced on the internet which shows famous actor Ranveer Singh in a very angry mood and rebuking another motorist on the road, apparently for driving roughly.

Badtameez insaaan
Baat karne ki tameez nahi tum jaise insaan ko ye bhi nahi pata ki kisi ki maa bahan ke saamne itni gaali kon deta hai pagal insaan agar yahi attitude raha to jaldi hi sadak par aa jayega pahle loge se baat karne ki tameez seekh phir hero bannaa flop actor- pic.twitter.com/KgZqnFfE8e

— Aquariussandesh (@aquariussandesh) September 3, 2018

This video was actually uploaded on Twitter by the same man who took the tongue lashing given by the movie star. The Twitter user alleges that the actor misbehaved with him and used extremely foul language during the short incident. The man, apparently anguished from the incident further wrote that Ranveer is a flop actor and he should mend his ways unless he wants to end up on the streets.

However, the video uploaded is not very clear and does not paint a clear picture as to what happened. In the video, Ranveer, who otherwise is known to keep quite a good temperament, is seen shouting and scolding the man. What he says exactly is unclear but the man is seen apologizing profusely for what he did (rash driving). Again, the seventeen second video is too short and unclear to pass a judgement but by the looks of it, the man seems to agree and apologize for his mistake, with Ranveer being in a real bad mood.

Also, according to a leading entertainment daily, Ranveer Singh was angry at the man for passing by his car swiftly, nearly causing a collision. When the actor reached out to talk to him, the man was busy on his mobile phone. Twitterati on the other hand is hot with it and people are blaming the man for the happenings. Many have even asked the police to intervene in the matter.

Ranveer Singh is known to be an auto enthusiast himself. His collection of cars range from Aston Martin and Jaguar to Range Rover and Land Cruiser, among many others.

Rash driving is a serious problem in our country and more people suffer causalities because of it. Things like unnecessary usage of horn, sudden lane shifts, non-usage of indicators and speeding plague our roads. It is high time we realize this and start driving like responsible citizens.

Also Read: Honda Amaze compact sedan: EVERYONE's buying it!

The Honda Amaze compact sedan is in its second generation in India. Launched in February during the Auto Expo 2018, the new Amaze has been Honda’s biggest success, ever. And August 2018 sales just reaffirm this fact. Honda put out 9,644 units of the Amaze sedan into dealer stockyards during August, ensuring that the car is in the top-10 sellers list for the third consecutive month. What this also means is that the demand for the Amaze has not ebbed nearly 6 months after launch, which is indeed a good thing as far as Honda is concerned.

The competition will be worried though as the new Honda Amaze continues to run rings around every other compact sedan except for the Maruti Dzire, which continues to be the defacto best-seller in its segment, clocking more than double the sales of the Amaze, month after month. There are many reasons why the new Honda Amaze has managed to hit the sweet spot in terms of sales, and is managing to consistently keep it up. For one, it looks quite different from other compact sedans in the segment, and the revamped design is making the car stand out on the road. The car looks quite premium for the class it’s positioned in, and this makes it quite attractive to buyers tired of truncated-looking cars in the compact sedan segment.

Honda has given the Amaze a lot of options in the engine-gearbox department. The car is the first in its class to offer a diesel-CVT automatic option, in addition to the petrol-CVT automatic. Also, 5 speed manual gearboxes are standard on both petrol and diesel engines. The new Amaze has grown in size on the inside, and comes with a host of new features, including paddle shifters for the top-spec automatic variants. Despite the increase in size, Honda has managed to keep the weight low. The petrol (88 Bhp-110 Nm) and diesel (98.6 Bhp-200 Nm) engines have been carried over with the latter getting a detune (80 Bhp-160 Nm) in the automatic trim. Prices of the new Honda Amaze start from Rs. 5.81 lakhs, making it about Rs. 20,000 pricier than the Dzire.

Also Read: Honda Amaze compact sedan: EVERYONE's buying it!

Malayalam superstar Mammootty turns 66 today. Mammootty has been acting in the Malayalam movie industry since 1971, for the past 47 years. Over time, Mammootty has earned the reputation of being a proper ‘car guy’ and along with his son Dulquer Salman, owns the so-called ‘369 Garage’, named after the fact that all his cars have the number 369 on their registration plates. To celebrate his birthday, let’s take a look at some of Mammootty’s best-known cars from his car collection.

Jaguar XJ L

The Jaguar XJ L is one the most expensive cars in Mammootty’s garage. However, unlike most XJ owners, Mammootty can often be seen behind the wheel of his British luxury sedan. Prices for the Jaguar flagship start at Rs. Rs 99.55 lakhs and go all the way to Rs. 1.96 crore (all prices ex-showroom) for the supercharged V8 model.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Mammootty’s S350d was a gift to him from his son and fellow actor and car aficionado Dulquer Salman. The Mercedes S350d is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine that produces 282 Bhp and 600 Nm of torque, which is sent to the rear wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox. Mammootty’s S350d also sports a set of snazzy Rotiform Monoblock Alloy wheels. The S350d is priced at Rs. 1.32 crores (ex-showroom).

Porsche Cayenne S Diesel

Mammootty is also the proud owner of Porsche’s flagship SUV, the Cayenne. Mammootty’s Cayenne S Diesel is the most powerful diesel variant of the powerful Porsche SUV, which produces 382 Bhp and 850 Nm of torque from its turbocharged 4.1-litre V8 diesel engine. Power is sent to all four wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox and a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. Mammootty’s son Dulquer Salman is also a big Porsche fan and owns a modified 997 Porsche 911 Carrera S, a Porsche Panamera Turbo and a new 991.2 911 GT3.

Toyota Land Cruiser

Another large SUV in Mammootty’s collection is the trustworthy Toyota Land Cruiser LC200. The Land Cruiser sold in India is directly imported into India as a CBU and costs Rs. 1.41 crore in its current guise. The fuss-free Toyota SV flagship is powered by a turbocharged 4.5-litre diesel V8 that produces 262 Bhp and 650Nm of torque, which is sent to all four wheels via a 6-speed automatic and a four-wheel-drive set-up.

Audi A7 Sportback

Mammootty is also the proud owner of an Audi A7 Sportback. The A7 Sportback is best known for combining the looks of a four-door sedan with that of a coupe. The Malayalam film icon’s A7 is the diesel model that was discontinued in 2015 by Audi and had a last-known selling price of Rs. 85.88 lakh in the Indian market. Mammootty’s Audi A7 is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine that sent 241 Bhp and 500 Nm of torque to all four wheels via Audi’s famed Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Toyota Fortuner

Another Toyota SUV in Mammootty’s garage is the Toyota Fortuner. The Fortuner that is one of the most recognizable SUVs on Indian roads today is known for its reliability and offroading prowess. Mammooty’s Fortuner is a previous-generation model with the larger 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine (the SUV was also offered with a 2.5-litre turbocharged oil burner) that sends 170 Bhp and 343 Nm of torque to all four wheels via an automatic gearbox and four-wheel-drive. Prices of the current-gen Fortuner start from Rs. 26.69 lakhs.

Mini Cooper S

One of the sportier cars Mammootty can be seen driving around in, is the previous-generation Mini Cooper S. Mammootty’s Mini Cooper S made use of a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine with 181 Bhp and 240 Nm of torque that was sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox. Both Mammootty and Dulquer Salman  have often been spotted behind the wheel of the Mini. The current Mini Cooper S is priced at Rs. 33.20 lakhs (ex-showroom).

E46 BMW M3

The E46 M3 is one of the sportiest cars in the ‘369 Garage’ and is one of the most celebrated driver’s cars around. Powering the E46 M3 is a 3.2-litre straight-six petrol engine without a turbocharger in sight that produces 338 Bhp @ 7,900rpm and 365 Nm of torque @ 4,900rpm. The slick six-speed manual gearbox sends power to the rear wheels of the E46 M3, which is one the best driver’s cars to have come out of Bavaria. The 369 Garage BMW M3, which is mostly seen with Dulquer Salman these days, sports BBS CH-R rims, KW springs and an Eisenmann exhaust.

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Mercedes Benz India has just introduced new variants of the CLA luxury sedan, called the Urban Sport. The Mercedes Benz CLA is an entry-level model from the German luxury car maker. The CLA Urban Sport will be available with both petrol and diesel engine options. Prices of the Mercedes Benz CLA Urban Sport petrol start from Rs. 35.99 lakhs  while that of the diesel model start from Rs. 36.99 lakhs, ex-showroom India.

The Mercedes Benz CLA Urban Sport gets the following additional features when compared to the regular variants of the luxury sedan:

1. THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control with 2-climate zones offers individual climate comfort for driver and front passenger. Temperature, airflow and air distribution are controlled automatically.
2. Rear centre vents for improved climate comfort in the rear
3. New exterior paint – Cosmos Black
4. “Sport” floor mats
5. “Sport” illuminated door sills
6. “Sport” badge
7. Rear spoiler carbon style

Essentially, the new variants of the CLA get cosmetic changes and a few additional features in order to make the car more appealing to buyers. Both the petrol and diesel engines of the Mercedes Benz CLA luxury sedan are turbocharged.  The petrol motor is a 2-litre 4-cylinder unit with 184 Bhp-300 Nm outputs, while the diesel engine is larger, displacing 2.2 litres.

However, the power output on the diesel motor is only 136 Bhp, with torque rating similar to that of the petrol with 300 Nm. The petrol-engined car can accelerate to 100 Kph from standstill in just 7.1 seconds, while the diesel-engined variant takes 9 seconds. Top speeds for the petrol and diesel variants stand at 240 Kph and 220 Kph respectively. Clearly, the Mercedes Benz CLA is a very fast car.

As for competition, the Audi A3 is the chief competitor of the Mercedes Benz CLA in India. The CLA is Mercedes Benz’s first front-wheel driven sedan, and shares its platform with other entry-level Mercedes cars, such as the A-Class and B-Class. It was introduced in India as a high-performance car – the CLA 45AMG – in 2014, followed by the regular variants in 2015.

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Given the condition of our roads and drainage system, heavy downpours create flood-like situations on roads. Nearly all of us must have had to drive through waterlogged areas at some point in time. But take it from us, water and your vehicle can never be friends. In fact, water is your vehicle’s worst enemy, in ways you can’t even imagine. We had earlier featured some videos, which show vehicles damaged by flooding. Today, we bring you two videos that show how dangerous it is to drive though deep waters.

Both the videos are of the same car (Mahindra XUV500) but shot at different times. In the videos, we see that the whole area through which the vehicle is driving is waterlogged, or simply put, flooded. The Mahindra XUV500 driver though seems to be wise and maneuvers his car in a good way through the water. Using kerbs and people as a reference point, one can guess that the water level is easily 3-4 feet high at many points.

Curious eyes would also notice warning signs randomly popping up on the infotainment screen. That’s actually because of the water playing games with the electronics systems. Further into the videos, a tractor and a truck pass the car from the opposite direction in each video respectively.

Both created huge splash waves which were high enough to reach the bonnet of the vehicle, with water climbing to windshield level. The driver was fortunate enough to not have stalled the car which could have led to adverse results.

Now, If you think that owning a big SUV translates into having your way with water, you are utterly wrong. While it’s true that SUVs like the Mahindra XUV500 are better suited to deal with such situations, but remember, they are cars not submarines.

One should avoid driving during such situations until extremely necessary. There are many pitfalls which you might not be even aware of when one drives through high water levels. Ask any owner who drove in such conditions and he’ll testify that the car was never the same again.

Here are some of the potential dangers you can face, and tips you can follow, if you are caught in  such conditions.

Dangers of driving through deep water

Electric component failure

This is one of the first hits your car will take when navigating through high water levels. As shown in the video, the infotainment starts to behave in a funny manner when the car is in water. Sensors and electronics take a big hit and could result in short circuits or even fire if not tended to properly afterwards.

Hydrostatic lock

Hydrostatic lock or simply hydrolock is a condition in which your engine stalls and won’t start when cranked. This happens when water enters the cylinder head therefore affecting the compressibility ratio of the cylinder. Hydrolocking can cause permanent engine damage to your car (fractured crank, bent connecting rods etc). One good way to avoid such conditions is to make sure that the water level is below the air intake section. If not, don’t drive through or you may have to face serious repercussions.

Exhaust blockage

Water can seep in through the exhaust also. Constant running of engine keeps water entering the exhaust at bay because of the pressure with which the gases come out of the exhaust pipe. But, if the engine stops midway or if it stalls due to some reason, water can be sucked in.

Tips for driving across water

Drive extremely slowly

If you do have to drive through a waterlogged road, make sure you make it gentle. Entering the water at around 5 kmph and then slowly increasing the speed till 10-15 kmph is the key. By riding slowly, you create a bow wave in front of you, which forms a depression in the water, keeping water out of the engine bay. Also, keep your engine running at all costs. The moment your car stalls, consider yourself to be done for long.

Do not get in the range of heavy vehicles

For the same reason that requires you to drive slowly (bow waves), you should also stay as far back as possible from a heavy vehicle, such as a bus or a truck. Always avoid getting in range of other vehicles’ waves as these waves rise higher than the actual water level and may damage you engine. Therefore, avoid taking a flooded road with a heavy vehicle driving ahead of you, or next to you, or opposite you. Discipline is the key and one vehicle passing through a flooded stretch at a time is ideal.

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Hyundai will launch the all-new Santro hatchback in October 2018, and we now have an official confirmation of the same from a top official of the automaker.

Puneet Anand, senior general manager (marketing), Hyundai Motor India Limited, said,

“The Onam festival season was a dampener for PV makers due to floods in Kerala. The industry lost out on sales of nearly 32,000 vehicles. September sales are likely to remain low as well due to new insurance regulations and shradh period. We can expect the growth to be back from October onwards. There is growth momentum in the PV market. We have a new car launch in October. It will get us new customers and add to our sales”.

Last week, Bollywood actor and Hyundai’s long time brand ambassador, Shahrukh Khan, revealed that the new entry level car would be called the Santro. We expect Hyundai to add a suffix to the new Santro, like it has done in the past with the Santro ZipDrive and the Santro Xing models.

The exact suffix accompanying the new Santro badge will be revealed in early October, when the car is officially unveiled during the media drives. The new Santro will be a tall-boy hatchback like the original model, and is expected to be pegged in the Rs. 3-4 lakh price bracket.

At these price points, the new Hyundai Santro will take on vehicles, such as the Tata Tiago, and the higher variants of the Renault Kwid and Maruti Alto. Hyundai has clearly indicated that the new car would be much larger than the Eon, and will eventually replace the Eon in the Indian market.

A 1.1-litre petrol engine is likely to power the new car, and a five-speed manual gearbox will be standard. The car will also get a 5-speed automated manual transmission – a first for Hyundai in India. Petrol, LPG-petrol and CNG-petrol fuel options are likely to be on offer.

Via FinancialExpress with render courtesy IAB

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