Tug-of-war was a popular sport before we humans got X’BOXed’. This once popular sport has been taken up by the automotive fraternity, which is reflected in the ever increasing number of tug-of-war videos. Today we bring you a tug-of-war video of two interesting contenders. This video features a Bajaj Dominar competing with a Royal Enfield Himalayan. Some may say that it is an unequal/mismatched competition as Dominar has got much more power than the Himalayan (34.5 Bhp >24.5 Bhp). But to let you know, in situations like these, peak power doesn’t matter much. More on that later, but first, let’s take a quick look at the video.

In the video, in a short while, the bikes are double tied and the engines get fired up. Then, the Dominar gains some ground initially but then the Himalayan takes over, with the Dominar suffering a wheelspin too. The second round yields the same results with the Bajaj bike making feeble attempts to get in the game. The third round, however, contains some drama with both the bikes pulling each on to the other side but the end result is the same as before. The Himalayan wins all three rounds with flying colours.

Next, the riders interchange their bikes (fair play) and set up against each other once more. In round one, the Dominar gets pulled away again; however, it now puts up a fight. To cut the long story short, the second and third round too are won by the Himalayan, though the Dominar constantly fights for the title with full might.

The video clearly illustrates that more power does not necessarily propel you to the top.

It’s true that more the horsepower, better the machine’s capability to attain speed. But in situations like these, what matters is how much low-end grunt your vehicle has got. Simply put, the higher the torque available at low RPMs, the higher the chance of winning such situations. In this respect, the Himalayan produces 32 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm whereas the Dominar produces 35 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm. So now you see why the Royal Enfield bike won all the six rounds over its Bajaj counterpart, which is seemingly more powerful.

Also, if we take into consideration the fact that both of them are different types of bikes, things will become more apparent as to why there is less low-end grunt in the Dominar. The Royal Enfield Himalayan is an ‘adventure tourer’ category bike whereas the Dominar belongs to the category of ‘sports tourers’.

As with everything that’s meant to go off the road, the Himalayan needs power at much lower RPMs to counter difficult terrain. But being a sports tourer, the Dominar is meant to be used at higher speeds than normal commuting speeds to realise its full potential, hence more power on the higher rev band. Think of it as being more near its full potential while munching miles on an highway rather than doing low speed short-distance runs.

Also Read: Ford Figo Aspire Facelift: Spied fully uncamouflaged ahead of launch

Royal Enfield has appointed Mr. Vimal Sumbly (former Managing Director of Triumph Motorcycles in India) as Head of Asia-Pacific region. He is the man behind the huge success of the British Motorcycle brand “Triumph” in India. Before Triumph, Sumbly had helped establish the KTM and Bajaj Pro-biking brands in the Indian market as part of Bajaj Auto subsidiaries.

Royal Enfield is planning to target the global markets in the premium motorcycle segment. The company has already appointed Shubranshu Singh (Star Sports) as their head of the branding for Royal Enfield and Simon Warburton (former Triumph UK’s Head of Design) as the head of product development for the company. Vimal Sumbly is the third important person in this list. The company thinks these people can contribute towards the global reach of the brand in the premium motorcycle segment.

Royal Enfield sells around 70,000 motorcycles per month (domestic and global exports). The company sells around 1800 units globally, and now Mr. Sumbly has a real challenge at hand to boost sales. Mr. Sumbly is expected to play a major role in establishing the Royal Enfield brand in the Asia-Pacific region, where big brands like Triumph and Harley-Davidson are already quite strong. Currently, Royal Enfield has presence is Asian markets such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia etc. Mr. Sumbly will be based in Gurugram for a few months before moving to Thailand to head the Asia-Pacific operations.

Royal Enfield is all set to launch the 650 twins globally this month, with the Indian launch lined up for November 2018. Recently, Royal Enfield announced new models for the global markets. The company also confirmed that the Continental GT 650 and the Interceptor 650 will not be the only motorcycles with big engines. Royal Enfield is planning to take on global rivals like Triumph and Harley-Davidson in segments up to 1200cc.

Also Read: Ford Figo Aspire Facelift: Spied fully uncamouflaged ahead of launch

The Mahindra XUV500 is one of the best-selling 7-seat SUVs of our country. Its high ground clearance, imposing stance and comfy interiors have made it a popular choice among people. Bangalore-based tuner Motormind has introduced a new body kit for the Mahindra XUV500. Motormind is a well-known company in the Indian modification scene and has many marvelous designs and mods under its belt. Let’s now have a look at the new XUV body kit.

What’s the MadMen kit all about?

The Madmen kit is targeted towards individuals who want their car to stand out from the lot. With the Mahindra XUV500 selling like hot cakes, it is possible that your car just becomes a part of the XUV500 crowd. So that’s what this kit is meant to change, lend more character and personality to the vehicles and make it shine separately.

Interesting, but how?

First, let’s be clear on one thing. This thing being a ‘body’ kit, no changes are made under the hood. So it’s all just about the aesthetics.

Talking about the changes, the car now gets redesigned front and rear bumpers along with a host of other cosmetic upgrades. At the front, the car now sports pronounced angular air vents on the lower sides of the bumper. Custom LED DRLs are recessed at the top of the air vents. The lower portion gets a clean skid pad engulfed by sharp chins. A rather aggressive looking hood scoop also makes its presence along with a redesigned grille complete with a honeycomb mesh.

The sides haven’t changed much except for beefed up and blacked-out wheel arches, giving the car a more rugged look. Coming to the rear, changes include a sleek diffuser with a set of sharp ribs projecting out along with the integrated custom LED. Air vents with a honeycomb grille are on the either sides of the bumper, connected by an open slit. These vents also get a clear lens LED blinker. A set of trapezoidal-shaped exhaust tips on either side of the diffuser add to the appeal.

Impressive, anything on the inside?

Yeah, Motormind has covered all corners with this kit and then some. The insides are now swathed completely in black leather. Red stitching further adds to its character. The gear knob and the steering wheel both look sporty with all that leather and red stitching upon them. The seats now have a quilted pattern and look quite good.

The highlight of the cabin however is the centre console which has been given a carbon fibre finish. It looks truly stunning. Also, the buttons and switches on the centre console have a different shade now (reddish pink maybe) and it goes really well with the carbon fibre finish.

Seems like a good package, how much though ?

Not much is known about the pricing as of now, but expect it to be somewhere near Rs. 1.5 lakhs. You will need a donor car and the final product may take some time to deliver. Also, if you have made up your mind to stand out from the lot, we recommend you to get the base variant as the donor vehicle. There’s no point in getting a higher trim if you get the whole vehicle revamped. Of course, that doesn’t imply if you already own one.

Also Read: Ford Figo Aspire Facelift: Spied fully uncamouflaged ahead of launch

South Korean carmaker Hyundai has confirmed that it is bringing its Nexo Fuel Cell SUV to India. However, the Korean marque has not given a timeline for the launch of the Nexo Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) in India. The Nexo FCV is currently on sale in South Korea.

Speaking at the Niti Aayog global mobility summit, Chung Eui-sun, Vice Chairman, Hyundai, confirmed that India will be getting the Nexo FCV. The Nexo FCV reinforces Hyundai’s commitment to bringing zero-emission vehicles to India as part of its global plans to release 38 green vehicles by 2025. Chung also said that the Nexo FCV is in line with the Indian government’s policy for green cars as it requires nothing but hydrogen and air to run.

The Hyundai Nexo is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, which is lighter than regular battery-powered electric vehicles. Hyundai states that the Nexo’s hydrogen fuel cell unit powers electric motors which make about 161 Bhp and 400 Nm of peak torque. The Nexo SUV features three fuel tanks that hold a total of 156 litres of hydrogen which gives this electric SUV a rage of 595.5 kilometres as per the US Environmental Protection Agency range rating for electric vehicles.

In terms of design, the Hyundai Nexo carries forward the aggressive and angular Fluidic Design 2.0 design philosophy seen on other Hyundai cars. The front-end features sleek angular LED headlamps. The headlamps sit above the auxiliary lights that flank the massive gaping front grille. The rear-end is less busy and features triangular taillights and the Nexo name tag under the Hyundai badge.

The interiors of the Nexo feature twin displays which cover a total area of 12.3 inches. While one display shows the speed, range, and efficiency of the Nexo, the other unit hosts connectivity and infotainment options.

The Nexo SUV also gets a host of safety features including blind spot view monitor, lane following assist, highway driving assist and remote parking assist, which allows the car to park itself autonomously.

Hyundai is also bringing three electric vehicles in addition to the Nexo to India. The first of these three SUVs to arrive in India will be the Kona Electric SUV. The Kona Electric SUV will start hitting showrooms in 2019. The Hyundai Kona will be imported to India as a CBU.

Also Read: Ford Figo Aspire Facelift: Spied fully uncamouflaged ahead of launch

Indian motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield has sent out invites for the international ride for the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 twins. The invites, first seen on a team-bhp forum post, are for the 22nd-28th of September in Santa Cruz, California, with the tagline ‘It’s Playtime’.

The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 motorcycles were first unveiled at the EICMA 2017 last November in the Italian city of Milan, Italy. The new bikes mark a return to twin-cylinder motorcycles for the brand known for its retro cruisers. However, the two bikes also mark the first time that Royal Enfield as we know it today, produced in India, has entered the world of twin-cylinder motorcycles.

The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 are powered by an all-new 647cc parallel-twin engine that produces 46.3 Bhp @ 7,100rpm and 52 Nm of peak torque @ 4,000rpm. The all-new twin-cylinder engine is both air and oil cooled and features single cylinder camshaft and four-valve heads. The engine has a 270-degree crank. The engine is mated to a brand new 6-speed gearbox and the two new bikes get a slipper clutch as standard.

The new twin-cylinder motorcycles from Royal Enfield use a double cradle frame design by the bikemaker’s British subsidiary Harris Engineering. Both motorcycles feature telescopic front forks and gas charged twin shocks at the rear. Both motorcycles feature disc brakes on both spoked wheels and feature dual-channel ABS.

The only major difference between the two bikes is their design and ergonomics. While the Interceptor 650 features a retro street bike styling and an upright riding position, the Continental GT 650 is styled as a cafe racer and has an aggressive riding position.

While the invite is for the international ride in Santa Cruz, California, Royal Enfield is expected to launch the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 twins at the ride event in the United States. However, deliveries of the two new motorcycles are only expected to start in November for India. The two new motorcycles are also expected to be priced aggressively with prices expected to start at around Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom), which should help it undercut more expensive rivals from Triumph and Harley-Davidson with ease when it arrives in showrooms in November.

Also Read: Ford Figo Aspire Facelift: Spied fully uncamouflaged ahead of launch

The soon to be launched Ford Figo Aspire has been in news for quite some time now. The car has been caught testing many times, though camouflaged. Here are some fully uncamouflaged pictures of the upcoming car.

Forumers at Team-BHP have got hold of some stills which show the production-ready model of the Figo Aspire. The photos in question are of the Titanium variant. The shots reveal that the Aspire facelift will get a new honeycomb grille done in chrome, flanked by reworked headlamp clusters.

The front bumper has been redesigned and now comes with a wider central air dam and redesigned round foglamps. The fog lamps are enclosed within the C-shaped silver trim. The rear also features a redesigned bumper. The chrome slab running across the boot and the tail lamp clusters look similar to the outgoing model.

It also gets a reverse parking camera on top of the number plate housing. This facelifted version rides on stylish multi-spoke alloys that look real good. On the inside, it is apparent that the car takes styling cues from the updated EcoSport. The Aspire facelift will continue to come with the black and beige dual tone interior.

The dashboard, however, has been updated with a new centre console, which houses a floating touchscreen infotainment system similar to the one seen on the EcoSport, albeit with a slightly different positioning. There are lesser buttons for in-car controls now and re-positioned central air-con vents.

There is also an engine start-stop button positioned closer to the driver which could be beneficial for efficiency. It is likely that Ford will launch the new Aspire with a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder Dragon Series petrol engine. Additionally, a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder diesel unit will also be on offer. Transmission duties might be done by a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gearbox. It is expected that Ford would bring in the car during the festive season. The Ford Aspire facelift will be launched on October 4th, 2018.

Also Read: Ford Figo Aspire Facelift: Spied fully uncamouflaged ahead of launch

Ford India has recalled the petrol-powered EcoSport compact SUV to fix a potential issue in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software. The recalled EcoSport SUVs will get a remap that is aimed at fixing 1. sudden deceleration and 2. battery drainage. These issues have been reported by some EcoSport customers, which has prompted Ford to study the matter and come up with a fix. As with almost all recalls, this one will be at no cost to the customers. If you’re a Ford EcoSport Facelift owner, all you need to do is run your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) through this recall microsite Ford has created specifically for this recall.

If your car’s VIN matches the VINs that Ford has shortlisted for the recall, you need to drop off your EcoSport at the nearest Ford India service center, who’ll then do the needful. A total of 7,249 Ford EcoSport SUVs built between November 2017 and March 2018 have been affected by this recall. Ford India is also reaching out to the affected EcoSport owners through emails and letters. Notably, this is the second time that Ford has recalled the recently facelifted EcoSport. Earlier this year, the American automaker called back about 1,000 units of the facelifted SUV for potential problems with the seat reclining mechanism.

The EcoSport is Ford’s best-selling car, with over 4,000 units finding happy homes in India each month. The automaker also exports the EcoSport to many countries around the world. The EcoSport rivals the Maruti Brezza and Tata Nexon. It’s available with three engine and two transmission options. The petrol engines include the 1.5 litre-3 cylinder naturally aspirated Dragon unit with 120 Bhp-150 Nm, and the 1 litre-3 cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost unit with 125 Bhp-170 Nm. The diesel engine is the 1.5 litre-4 cylinder, turbocharged unit with 98.6 Bhp and 215 Nm. All engines get 5 speed manual gearboxes as standard while the Dragon petrol also benefits from a 6 speed automatic transmission. Prices of the EcoSport start from Rs. 7.82 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi.

Also Read: Maruti Ciaz Facelift sells more than the Honda City & Hyundai Verna combined

Maruti Suzuki is putting the final touches on the all-new WagonR hatchback for the Indian market. The car will be launched in early 2019, according to a report on NDTV. The new Maruti WagonR that will be launched here will be the 6th generation version, which is the same model that’s on sale currently in Suzuki’s home market of Japan. What this means is the WagonR will skip a generation and move directly to the 6th generation, and this is a good thing. This move of jumping generations has been prompted by India’s stricter crash safety regulations called the Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP).

Maruti has been testing the new WagonR on Indian roads for a while now, with numerous sightings of test mules over the past few months. The new car will get a totally revised styling at the front and the rear. The overall profile will remain similar to the current model, with the tall boy layout retained.

The new WagonR will go straight up against the all-new Hyundai Santro, which is due in late October. History seems to be repeating itself considering the fact that the original Santro came into India in 1999, a few months before the WagonR was first introduced here. A similar battle is in the offing 20 years later.

Mechanically, the new WagonR is likely to continue with the 1 litre-3 cylinder K-Series petrol engine with 67 Bhp-90 Nm on tap. 5 speed manual and AMT options are expected. The petrol motor is also expected to get LPG and CNG dual fuel options in specific markets.

A diesel engine is not in the scheme of things. Maruti sells nearly 15,000 units of the current WagonR every month, and similar sales expectations are likely for the new car. The new hatchback will get twin airbags, ABS and reverse parking sensors as standard. More features are likely to be added with better space management on the inside.

Also Read: Maruti Ciaz Facelift sells more than the Honda City & Hyundai Verna combined

Hero MotoCorp is ready to launch the Maestro Edge 125 during the upcoming festive season. The scooter was showcased at the Auto Expo 2018 and its prices are expected to start from Rs 55,000  (ex-showroom). Hero also showcased the Duet 125 at the Auto Expo 2018, which is now renamed as Destini 125 and will be launched at a price of about Rs 53,000 (ex-showroom). The Hero Maestro Edge 125 rivals the other popular 125 cc scooters such as Honda Activa 125, TVS Ntorq, Honda Grazia, Aprilia SR 125 and Suzuki Burgman Street. The Destini 125 will take on the Suzuki Access.

Hero MotoCorp, in their press release, said,

Hero MotoCorp will soon launch two new 125cc scooters to provide more excitement during the upcoming festive season. With the peak festive season coming in the months of October and November this year, the Company expects to maintain the trajectory with healthy double-digit growth in the coming months.

Hero Maestro Edge is powered by a 124.6 cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that churns out 8.70 Bhp of maximum power and a peak torque of 10.2 Nm. The engine is mated to a CVT transmission. The engine’s outputs are similar to that of the Honda Activa 125. The new scooter comes with Hero’s patented i3S (Idle Stop Start System) technology which helps it deliver higher fuel economy while cutting down on tail pipe emissions. These are the same specifications on the Destini 125.

The Hero Maestro Edge 125 comes with features such as fiber body, boot lights, outer fuel-filler cap, and mobile charging port and a semi-digital instrument cluster with service due indicator. The automatic scooter measures 1,809 mm in length, 729 mm in width, 1,154 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 1,245 mm. The scooter comes with a 5.5 litre fuel tank and can hit a top speed of 85 km/h. It gets front disc brakes and drum brakes at the rear, with telescopic forks at the front and a spring-loaded hydraulic damper at the rear. `

Honda Activa 125 is one of the best-sellers in the 125 cc scooter segment, and with the arrival of Hero Maestro Edge 125, it will be interesting to see which one sells more, considering the brand value of both manufacturers.

Also Read: Maruti Ciaz Facelift sells more than the Honda City & Hyundai Verna combined

A few years ago, the Indian car market lacked automatic variants in the small hatchback segment. How things have changed. Now, there are no less than 7 cars offering automatic transmission options in the entry-level hatchback segment, and all these cars are priced under Rs. 5 lakhs. Here they are.

Maruti Celerio AMT

Prices start from Rs. 4.97 lakhs (ex-showroom)

Maruti Celerio was the first car from the manufacturer to be offered with an AMT option. Celerio offers decent space and comfort in its segment but sadly, the car did not pick a lot of pace in terms of sales. The company now only offers a 1.0-litre petrol engine after the diesel engine trim was discontinued. The 1.0-litre petrol engine gives power of 67 Bhp and 90 Nm of peak torque paired with a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT.

Tata Nano GenX AMT

Prices start from Rs. 3.14 lakhs (ex-showroom)

Tata Nano was launched as the cheapest car in the world. The car features a tall boy design structure and a rear mounted engine. Despite being the cheapest car in world, it did not become a huge success in the Indian market. Tata Nano offers the cheapest AMT in the market. The car is powered by a 624cc two-cylinder petrol engine which puts out 37 Bhp-51 Nm. A 5-speed AMT with sports and crawl modes is on offer.

Maruti WagonR AMT

Prices start from Rs. 4.88 lakhs (ex-showroom)

The Maruti WagonR is currently in its 3^rd generation and has been around for almost a decade. WagonR sports a tall-boy design, which makes for an airy cabin. The car derives power from a 1.0-litre K-Series engine which produces 67 Bhp of peak power and 90 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 5-speed AMT option.

Maruti Alto K10 AMT

Prices start from 4.16 lakhs (ex-showroom)

The Alto is a best-selling model from the manufacturer. The Alto K10 is often the first choice for people wanting to buy their first budget 4-wheeler. The K10 offers basic safety features like a driver airbag as standard which helps in more sales. It is powered by the same petrol engine offered with the WagonR. The engine is paired with a 5-speed  AMT gearbox.

Renault Kwid AMT

Prices start from Rs. 4.34 lakhs(ex-showroom)

The Renault Kwid is the cheapest car from the automaker which is offered with an AMT option. It is also India’s cheapest car to offer a touchscreen infotainment system. The Renault Kwid AMT is powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine which produces 67 Bhp of peak power and 91 Nm of peak torque. The AMT is a 5 speed unit.

Renault Redi-GO AMT

Prices start from Rs. 3.99 lakhs(ex-showroom)

Datsun Redi-Go is a hatchback which is targeted by the company to attract younger buyers. The car’s AMT variant is powered by a 1.0-litre engine with 67 Bhp and 91 Nm on tap. The AMT unit is a 5 speeder, and the RediGo’s major selling points are its funky styling and tall-boy design that offers roomy interiors.

Tata Tiago AMT

Prices start from Rs. 4.99 lakhs (ex-showroom)

The Tata Tiago is the cheapest hatchback from the manufacturer and offers a good level of comfort and space for the price. The Tiago offers some unique features among the segment like – Harmon-Kardon speakers, navigation system and an eco-drive mode. The car is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine which produces a maximum power of 87 Bhp and a maximum torque of 114 Nm. The 5 speed AMT even has a Sport mode. Crawl mode is standard.

Also Read: Maruti Ciaz Facelift sells more than the Honda City & Hyundai Verna combined

Hyosung is planning to take on the leader of the 250-500 cc cruiser segment – the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 – with their Mirage 250 cruiser motorcycle. The Mirage 250 will replace the Aquila 250 from the model line-up. It’ll be launched later this month. The Hyosung Mirage 250 will be powered by a Euro-4 compliant, 250 cc v-twin engine which will produce 25.8 Bhp and 21.7 Nm of peak torque. The engine on the Mirage 250 comes with a 6-speed gearbox. The motorcycle offers better torque than the Aquila 250, which is expected to make riding more effortless.

The motorcycle comes with a 15-litre fuel tank which can give a total driving range of 400 Kms, as claimed by the company. The riding position of the bike seems quite comfortable, what with the laid-back handle bar design and forward placed foot-pegs. The Mirage 250 gets significantly bigger tyres than the Aquila – 19-inchers at the front and 16-inchers at the rear.

The design language of the Hyosung Mirage 250 gives it an urban cruiser look and feel. The motorcycle gets a redesigned fuel tank, chopped out front fender and wire-spoke wheels finished in chrome. The headlights and taillight on the Mirage 250 are all LED units. The handlebar now hosts the single pod instrument cluster giving a minimal look to the front.

Braking on the Hyosung Mirage 250 is handled by a 300 mm disc brake at the front and a 220 mm rear disc with dual-channel ABS as standard. The suspension system on the frame consists of telescopic forks at the front and twin shock absorbers at the rear. These specifications are similar to what’s offered on the Royal Enfield Thundebird.

Earlier, Hyosung was sold in India by DSK-Moto wheels but due to financial situations of DSK-Moto wheels, Hyosung shut its operations in India. Hyosung will now re-enter the Indian market with the help of the Kinetic Group under the Motoroyale brand. The Mirage 250 will be locally assembled at Motoroyale’s plant in Aurangabad. Hyosung is expected to launch the Mirage 250 at around Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom). Due to the price factor and the engine output, the Mirage 250 will be the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500’s nearest competitor.

Via Autocar

Also Read: Maruti Ciaz Facelift sells more than the Honda City & Hyundai Verna combined

The facelift for the Mahindra XUV500 is working wonders. The 7-seat crossover is now firmly at the top of its segment, outselling both the Jeep Compass and Tata Hexa comprehensively. While Mahindra sold 2,078 units of the XUV Facelift in August 2018, Jeep sold 1,303 units of the Compass and Tata Motors sold 759 units of the Hexa.

Effectively, sales of the Mahindra XUV500 are now greater than that of the Compass and Hexa combined. While the Jeep Compass was launched in India in July last year, the Tata Hexa was launched in January 2017. Of the three SUVs, the facelifted XUV500, which was launched a couple of months ago, is the newest.

The facelifted XUV500 has received a slew of changes. In terms of styling, it gets major revisions at the front and rear even as the overall shape and profile remain as is. The interiors get a big makeover as well, with leather clad seats, dashboard and an overall improvement in luxury.

New features have been added and the vehicle has also gained power and torque. The facelifted SUV uses the same 2.2 litre turbocharged diesel engine but with higher power and torque outputs of 154 Bhp-360 Nm. A 6 speed manual gearbox is standard, while a 6 speed torque converter automatic gearbox is optional. It’s offered with front wheel drive and all wheel drive layouts.

The SUV also gets a 2.2 litre turbocharged petrol engine option, sold exclusively with a 6 speed automatic gearbox. The petrol motor makes 140 Bhp-320 Nm. Prices of the XUV500 start from Rs. 12.32 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi, which makes it nearly Rs. 3 lakhs cheaper than the least priced Jeep Compass. This gives the Mahindra XUV500 a major advantage.

Variant to variant, the XUV comes across as a better value-for-money offering compared to the Compass, especially considering the fact that the former is larger, and offers 7 seats. The wide price range of the XUV500 even sees it competing with the higher variants of the Hyundai Creta – a much smaller SUV in comparison.

Here is our review of the new improved Mahindra XUV500 and what makes it better:

Also Read: Maruti Ciaz Facelift sells more than the Honda City & Hyundai Verna combined

High-end safety technology will soon become standard on all mass market cars sold in India, according to the union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari. Speaking at the annual SIAM conference, the transport minister said that safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance and automatic braking – currently available mainly on cars sold by Volvo and Mercedes Benz – will become standard on all cars.

Here is exactly what he said,

By 2022, we will work on a mandate on bringing Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) on all cars.

Radar-based safety systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and automatic braking are now common on even mass market cars sold in Europe and other parts of the developed world. These safety systems – categorized under Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) – go a step further than safety features such as airbags and seatbelts (passive safety systems) to actually prevent a crash from happening.

For example, adaptive cruise control monitors the speed of the cars ahead and automatically adjusts the speed of the car using this system. Lane-keeping assistance makes sure that the car sticks to the lane by controlling steering automatically. Automatic braking does just that – it brakes the car automatically when it detects that the car is too fast and too close to another vehicle at the front.

In other words, ADAS brings cars very close to self-driving – the next big thing in the automotive industry. While India is still many years away from having self-driving cars, ADAS technologies becoming mainstream will mean that we’re getting there slowly but steadily. The addition of these features will result in mass market cars getting more expensive. It remains to be seen how automakers and buyers react to this upcoming government mandate.

From 2019, all cars sold in India will have to feature twin airbags, ABS, reverse parking sensors, seat belt warning system and a speed warning system as standard. This is because of the new safety rules that will come into place next year, which will also include all cars getting tested under new crash test norms called the Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP). Cars that don’t meet the BNVSAP norms can’t be sold in India.

Via TOI

Also Read: Maruti Ciaz Facelift sells more than the Honda City & Hyundai Verna combined

There are a lot of aftermarket modification tuners in India now. Ranging from international players like DC to local ones like a garage near your house, India is coming up steadily on the mod scene. Among the best in India is Modsters Automotive, a company which is located in Saidapet, Chennai. Here are 10 great-looking cars that have been done by them.

Hindustan Contessa

India’s own muscle car (not exactly, but that’s the closest we’ve ever got), the Contessa was a gem of a car. Although rare, the Contessa is one car that is modified very often. This one here, known as the ‘Grey Hound’, has been finished in matte grey. It has fabricated wheel arches, in metal, a new front grille, new LED headlamps and tail lamps, a duck tail spoiler and custom leather upholstery on the inside. This is for sure one hell of a car.

Hyundai Verna

The Verna is one of the best-selling C segment sedans in our country. This one here has been tastefully done and is finished in a custom Nitrous blue paint shade complete with a blacked-out roof. The car now sports a custom body kit including a front bumper skirt, a new rear diffuser, new side skirts, a new wing at the back and new grille. It also gets fitted with new aftermarket headlamps with DRLs. The tail lamps are also aftermarket units. The car rides on 16″ rims which have been finished in a frozen grey shade.

Mitsubishi Lancer

The Mitsubishi Lancer was one of the hottest sedans to be ever on sale in our country. It was also one of the most modified car during its time. This one here has been done nicely by Modsters. It gets a new Yas Marina blue paint scheme with a black roof. Body kit includes a new front bumper, splitter, rear diffuser and side skirts. The rear bumper along with the bonnet are also new. The bonnet now has hood scoops which look really cool. The car also has new aftermarket headlamps with DRLs and projectors. The insides have been done in leather and orange aftermarket alloys do a commendable job to make the car look better. Completing the whole look is a big wing at the rear which increases the oomph factor by miles.

Honda Civic

Among personal favorites, this car oozes lots of appeal. It is also a modifier’s wet dream considering the fact that it responded very well to modifications. We have all probably seen enough modified examples of the Civic but this one is special. It gets a custom dual tone paint theme, which is now Austin yellow. It is fitted with a new bumper, new side skirts, new fenders both at the front and the back, a new rear bumper with a diffuser and dual exhaust tips on either side along with a dope aftermarket rear wing. The car now has a new hood, which has been finished in a carbon fibre theme. But we haven’t still come to the best part yet. This car features scissor doors, something that will make this one stand out even more. The headlamps and tail lamps are now aftermarket ones. Custom red leather upholstery now makes up most of the interiors.

Chevrolet Cruze

It has been a while now since Chevrolet winded up its operations in India. The Cruze however continues to be a car that is loved by enthusiasts, mainly due to the mod potential it possesses. You would be surprised to know that it has competed on many global level races, including the WTCC (World Touring Car Championship). The one featured here looks a bit Bumblebee-esque. It is now equipped with a new custom Solar beam yellow paint shade, new aftermarket headlamps with LEDs, a new front bumper and bonnet, a new rear bumper with a diffuser and quad exhaust tips and a massive rear spoiler. The car now sits on 17″ rims as well.

Skoda Rapid

The Skoda Rapid is more happy ferrying families than being modded. This one though breaks the stereotypes and looks ravishing. It gets a new body kit, which includes a front splitter, new rear bumper with a diffuser and dual exhaust tips on either side, a new spoiler, new aftermarket headlamps with LEDs and a smoked tail lamp cluster. The rims have now been painted in a shade of metallic gold.

Tata Safari Storme

The good old Safari in its Storme guise is a very capable vehicle. The guys at Modsters Automotives have given it a massive makeover. The SUV now features a custom off-road bumper with a fabricated bull bar, a new roof carrier, a new step at the back to climb into the vehicle and a new bonnet with hood scoops. Complementing the whole set-up is the paint job which has been tastefully done in an Arctic silver and Frozen grey paint scheme. Interiors now sport leather upholstery.

Honda City

The original City Type Z had left huge shoes to fill in. It was a highly reputed vehicle, especially among enthusiasts. The new City too is turning out to be more or less the same although it’s more oriented towards comfort now. The one featured here gets new LED DRLs on the headlamp cluster, new LEDs on the fog lamp cluster too, a new front splitter, a new grille with the red Type R Honda logo, a new bonnet with the added muscle, new gold rims, new rear spoiler, LED tail lamps and a new bumper with quad exhausts and a diffuser.

Maruti Swift

This one car has been featured in mod lists since long and is still going strong. The Swift has so many different body kits and mod variants available that it could single-handedly edge out all other cars to be crowned the most modded car of India. This one featured here still has the stock silver paint shade. Changes include a new front bumper, new headlamps with blue tint, a new rear diffuser with dual exhaust tips on either side, new aftermarket rims and side skirts.

Hyundai Accent

The Accent was a good-looking car with its sleek body design. It was also a popular choice in its time. While it has long been dead, here is one good modified example. This one gets a new custom body kit, with a new front bumper, new hood, new rear spoiler, new grille and new aftermarket headlamps. The car also sits on rad aftermarket rims now.

Also Read: Maruti Ciaz Facelift sells more than the Honda City & Hyundai Verna combined

The Tata Nexon has outsold the Ford EcoSport in August 2018, but only just. Tata Motors sold 4,499 units of the Nexon while Ford managed to sell 4,435 units of the EcoSport. As it’s clearly evident, the gap between the EcoSport and Nexon is very small. The Honda WR-V finished much lower, with 2,822 units. The Maruti Brezza, on the other hand, is head and shoulders above competition, selling a whopping 13,271 units. This makes the Maruti Brezza the undisputed leader in the SUV category, across all segments.

While sales of the Ford EcoSport have remained flat from the same period last year, the Maruti Brezza has slowed down by about 10 %. As for the Nexon, it wasn’t on sale in August 2017. The next big thing for the sub-4 meter, compact SUV segment is the Hyundai Carlino, and it’ll be launched in the first half of 2019. Mahindra also has plans to launch another sub-4 meter compact SUV in the form of the S201 – a rebadged and shortened version of the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While the Nexon and the EcoSport are likely to be locked in battle even in the coming months, the former does have a slight edge. One: There’s the diesel AMT option that makes sense to a lot of people who want comfort and convenience but are worried about petrol automatic SUVs consuming too much fuel in today’s times of skyrocketing fuel prices. The other aspect is pricing. The Nexon is considerably cheaper than the EcoSport across variants, and this is likely to sustain the SUV’s sales over a longer period.

The Tata Nexon sold in India gets two turbocharged engine options – a 1.2 litre petrol with 108 Bhp-170 Nm, and a 1.5 litre diesel with 108 Bhp-260 Nm. Both engines get 6 speed manual and AMT options. The Ford EcoSport gets 3 engine options – a 1.5 litre, naturally aspirated petrol with 120 Bhp-150 Nm, a 1 litre turbocharged petrol with 125 Bhp-170 Nm and a 1.5 litre turbocharged diesel with 89 Bhp-215 Nm. All three engines get 5 speed manual gearboxes as standard while the bigger petrol engine gets a 6 speed torque converter automatic option. Prices of the Nexon start from Rs. 6.32 lakhs while those of the EcoSport start from Rs. 7.82 lakhs.

Here is our friendly off-road comparison between the EcoSport / Nexon / Brezza:

Also Read: Maruti Ciaz Facelift sells more than the Honda City & Hyundai Verna combined

The facelifted Maruti Suzuki Ciaz has gotten off to a flying start. Maruti shipped out 7,002 units of the Ciaz to dealers across India this month. This is a very impressive number considering the fact that Kerala – a key market for the brand – was off limits due to floods. Hyundai put out 3,361 units of the Verna while Honda managed only 2,822 units of the City in August 2018. So, the Ciaz has single-handedly outsold the Verna and City put together. This may be an aberration that lasts only one month though because Maruti virtually stopped Ciaz dispatches last month. So, the big rise in dispatches are due to Maruti pushing out the facelifted model in a big way.

The next 2-3 months of dispatch data will give us a clearer picture of how the facelifted Ciaz is doing. Meanwhile, the Toyota Yaris – a petrol-only car in a segment where all the top-sellers offer diesels – finished in fourth, with just 1,047 units dispatched last month. Premium pricing and a petrol-only approach may be limiting Yaris’ sales as the car continues to be stuck at sub-2,000 levels for the last couple of months after having a promising start. For now, the Maruti Ciaz is the king of the C-Segment sedan space – a place it has reclaimed after months of being in second/third place on the sales charts.

The facelifted Maruti Ciaz has a good chance of doing very well as it’s priced very well, offers significant mechanical changes and is also the newest car in its segment. The car is available with petrol and diesel engine options, with the petrol engine also getting an automatic gearbox option. More features have been added and the new car is also the first hybrid in its segment thanks to the mild hybrid system on both the petrol and diesel engines. The Hyundai Verna still continues to be the segment leader, in terms of the sheer number of engine and gearbox options. The Honda City’s premium positioning may be giving it a hard time in sales as the likes of the Ciaz and Verna are better value propositions. A price cut? Well, we don’t think Honda will oblige.

Here is our review of the new Ciaz with the 1.5 petrol-auto combination:

Also Read: Maruti Ciaz Facelift sells more than the Honda City & Hyundai Verna combined

The Honda Activa has revolutionized the two-wheeler industry in India. It is the highest selling two-wheeler in the market and, over the years, the company has launched various variants that buyers can choose from. Here are six Activa platform-based scooters that will suit different kinds of people.

Activa 5G

For those who want a tried-and-tested, sturdy, reliable scooter

The Honda Activa 5G sells the most because of its reliability, ease of maintenance and practicality. Various iterations of this scooter have been around in the market for more than a decade-and-a-half now. The build quality of the Activa is also very sturdy thanks to the all-metal body. It’s super reliable, refined, cheap to maintain and quite fuel efficient. The Activa fits the purpose of a basic two-wheeler for daily usage. Prices of this scooter starts from Rs. 53,565 (ex-showroom).

Activa-i

For those on a tight budget

The Activa-i is a lightweight sibling of the regular version. The weight of the Activa-i has been reduced by swapping the metal body for a  lightweight fiber body. However, the same 108-cc engine from the Activa continues on duty in the lighter model. The Activa-i is much more agile and fun to ride due to its lightweight body and similar power ouput as the Activa. It is more suitable for new learners and women due to its lower weight. Prices of the scooter starts from Rs. 50,010 (ex-showroom).

Activa 125

For those who want a more powerful Activa

Over time, people wanted a new and more powerful Activa, for which Honda launched the Activa 125. As the name suggests, Activa 125 is powered by a 125-cc engine, which produces more power and torque than the regular model. The bigger engined scooter is suitable for people who want more power along with the comfort and reliability of a regular Activa. Prices of the 125-cc model start from Rs. 59,621 (ex-showroom).

Grazia

For the younger lot who want something cool

The Grazia is not exactly a variant of Honda Activa but gets its place in the list because it’s based on same platform as the Activa. The design of Honda Grazia is very modern, with big wraparound LED headlights and attractive colours. The scooter gets the similar 125-cc engine that the Activa 125 uses. The Grazia is meant to attract youngsters and people who want a sharp looking scooter from Honda. Prices of Honda Grazia starts from Rs. 59,622 (ex-showroom).

Cliq

For those who want versatility and a rugged scooter

The Cliq looks like a toy scooter but it’s very useful for those who carry a lot of things. The scooter has mainly been designed to attract buyers from Tier II and Tier III cities. The USP of the Honda Cliq is its design, which gives a wider floor board area that is useful for people who carry extra weight when travelling. The Cliq can also be fitted with an optional centre box that can be fitted on to the floorboard for extra storage. It is priced at Rs. 44,364 (ex-showroom).

NAVi

For those who love unique styling

The NAVi is a highly customisable, funky moped that shares its underpinnings with the Activa. The design of Honda NAVi is inspired from the monkey-bike, which gives it a unique and fashionable look. The Honda NAVi attracts those people who want a ride that can make them stand apart from the crowd. Honda offers many accessories for this moped. Prices of the Honda NAVi start from Rs. 44,775 (ex-showroom).

Also Read: 10 simple yet highly useful accessories for the Royal Enfield Classic & Bullet motorcycles

Remember the photo that went viral during the worst days of Kerala’s recent floods? It was a picture of a fisherman, down on all fours in the flood waters, letting a woman step on his back to get into a rescue boat. The fishermen who came out on to the flooded streets with their fishing boats were widely hailed as heroes of the rescue and relief operations.

The famous rescuer was a fisherman named KP Jaisal. Recognising his actions, a Kozhikode-based Mahindra dealer Eram Motors has gifted him a brand new Mahindra Marazzo, which was launched just this week at Nashik by Mahindra. The Kozhikode district’s first Marazzo is now Jaisal’s own.

Kerala Excise and Labour minister TP Ramachandran officially handed over the key to the Marazzo to Jaisal.

Eram Group CMD Siddique Ahmed, mayor Thottathil Ravindran, Kozhikode Collector U V Jose participated in the event. Jaisal told the audience at the event that he was extremely happy to have received the gift, and would use it for social good, whenever he can, in the future too. Jaisal told the audience and media that he was told by the NDRF team there was a stranded woman who was in a location difficult to reach. He expressed his willingness to give it a shot, and the NDRF provided their rubber boat to Jaisal. As the woman was suffering from bleeding, he thought that she would have found it difficult to step into the boat on her own, and that was what prompted him to act as he did.

Jaisal and his friends Afzal and Muzeen were awarded a ‘Gem of the Sea’ citation too at the event.

Mahindra and Eram Motors said that the gift is to encourage Jaisal and people like him in the future, and to recognise that he has become a role model.

After the rescue at Vengara, which went viral thanks to the photo, Jaisal and his friends had proceeded to other flood-affected locations and continued their efforts. About 3000 fishermen participated in the rescue and relief efforts for a week, often transporting their boats on trucks to flooded areas far away from the sea. Over 480 people died in the floods that began in July and peaked in August when the shutters of several dams were opened simultaneously – which coincided with a full day of receiving 310 mm of rain on 8 August 2018.

Source

Also Read: 10 simple yet highly useful accessories for the Royal Enfield Classic & Bullet motorcycles

The Tata Tiago has just clocked its highest ever monthly sales, in August 2018, with a figure of 9,277 units. Launched over two years ago in India, sales of the Tiago have been steadily rising, which is unusual for a car. Generally, cars start losing steam two years into launch, and sales start ebbing. In case of the Tiago, the opposite has been true.

A slow starter, the Tiago has grown from strength to strength as more buyers continue to recognise its brilliant value-for-money proposition. Tata Motors stunned the entry-level hatchback space with the Tiago’s Rs. 3.2 lakh starting price, which was unprecedented to say the least.

And it’s not the price alone that’s driving sales. The Tiago offers more space than its direct competitors – the Maruti WagonR and Celerio. It’s also a lot more powerful (84 Bhp-115 Nm) compared to the WagonR-Celerio’s 67 Bhp-90 Nm outputs. As for features, again the Tiago has more to offer than its rivals. There is a diesel engine on offer too, which isn’t available on the WagonR and Celerio. In terms of looks, the Tiago is a very proportionate looking hatchback. The car offers all of these features at a price tag that’s nearly Rs. 1 lakh lower than its direct competitors. These factors also make the car very attractive to those considering smaller, cheaper offerings such as the Alto and Renault Kwid.

Sales of the Tiago are likely to increase further as Tata Motors has planned a slew of new variants. There’s a cross variant coming later this month that will be called the Tiago NRG. The new car will offer butch styling and additional ground clearance. Then there’s the Tiago JTP, a high-performance hatchback with 108 Bhp-150 Nm on tap, and whose starting price is likely to be a little under Rs. 6 lakhs. Once again, Tata will play the value card with the Tiago JTP, making it India’s cheaper hot hatchback. Finally, there’s the electric variant of the Tiago that’s also ready for launch. All in all, the car is poised to touch greater heights, and is easily Tata’s biggest success in recent years.

Also Read: 10 simple yet highly useful accessories for the Royal Enfield Classic & Bullet motorcycles

Here is a list of seven more SUVs that will soon be launched in India along with their launch time frames.

Datsun Cross

Price range: Rs. 5-7 lakh, Time frame: Early-Mid 2019

Datsun launched the Cross this year in the international market, and given our love for large cars, it is likely that the company will launch it here in the next 4-6 months. It does look like the regular Go+ on steroids but this is an all-new vehicle. That said, this 5+2 will continue to use the 1.2-litre petrol motor, but will be offered in a higher state of tune. We also believe the AMT ‘box seen on the redi-GO will filter into the Cross as well. In all likelihood, the Cross will be the most affordable car of its type (read: Cross hatch or Pseudo SUV) in the segment.

Skoda Karoq

Price range: Rs. 19-23 lakh, Time frame: Mid 2019

With the success of the Kodiaq in India, Skoda for sure is looking at bringing in its smaller cousin, the 5-seater Karoq. A rival to the Hyundai Tucson, the Karoq will offer the same fresh design language of the Kodiaq. It will also get design cues from its elder sibling into the interiors, for example, the climate control knobs and buttons. For the Indian market, the Karoq might be offered with a choice of 1.4-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel units, both mated to DSG automatic transmissions. AWD will be offered as well.

Hyundai Tucson Facelift

Price range: Rs. 19-23 lakh, Time frame: Mid 2019

The current-generation Tucson is selling in good numbers, and Hyundai will look at bringing in the facelift next year. While it will not get drastic changes, the company will add new features to up the ante. The new Tucson will continue to be offered with the same engine options as before. We do not expect a price hike, making it a good proposition compared to larger 7-seater SUVs.

New Hyundai Santa Fe

Price range: Rs. 26-32 lakh, Time frame: Mid 2019

Hyundai will re-launch the Santa Fe in India next year, and this one will get a complete revision in terms of styling. The new version looks bold and futuristic and will definitely go down well with those looking for an ego-massaging SUV in this price segment. Hyundai will continue with the 7-seat configuration on the new Santa Fe, and while it will still be powered by the same 2.2-litre turbo Diesel engine, a new 8-speed automatic transmission will be introduced. The Santa Fe will be bigger in size as well but we reckon Hyundai will not demand a premium in terms of pricing

Hyundai Carlino

Price range: Rs. 8-11 lakh, Time frame: Mid 2019

Hyundai’s first ever compact sub-4-meter SUV offering will be the Carlino. Showcased first at the 2016 Auto Expo, the Carlino is now in its final stages of testing and will be launched by mid-2019. This Maruti Brezza rival will come with an all-new 1000-cc turbo-petrol engine with a power output of around 90 bhp. Hyundai is known to make it cars feature rich and this one will not be any different – this will offer both manual and automatic options.

Volkswagen T-Cross

Price range: Rs. 10-14 lakh, Time frame: Mid/End 2019

Volkswagen has not been able to taste success in the Indian car market. The 10th largest selling car manufacturer is betting heavily on the all-new T-Cross compact SUV that will be positioned in the Rs. 10-14 lakh category. With a 100 bhp+ 1000-cc motor under the hood, this next-gen SUV will compete with both the Brezza and the Creta. VW will launch this in the next the 12-18 months, and the T-Cross will hold the key to the brand’s successful innings here.

Also Read: 10 simple yet highly useful accessories for the Royal Enfield Classic & Bullet motorcycles