Offroading especially dune bashing can be a lot of fun when you have the right vehicles to do it. However, even if you use some of the most capable SUVs on the planet, not having the right technique or taking the wrong line can get you into a whole load of trouble as this video by Anshuman Bishnoi on Youtube shows.

The Ford Endeavour starts off by doing a few runs around the lower section of the large sand dune. The driver of the Ford Endeavour pushes the Ford Endeavour along the dune as he starts getting higher up the dune. However, after a few attempts, he decides to go a bit higher but takes the wrong line across the dune’s side and finds his large Ford SUV almost tipping over to the side before it gets stuck in a rather precarious position with its tyres buried deep within the sands of the desert.

Now if the Endeavour had been all alone in the desert sands, recovering the large for SUV would have been a real issue. However, thankfully for the Endeavour’s driver, he was part of a group of enthusiasts who had decided to go offroading together and therefore had plenty of backup to help him get his SUV out of the predicament it was stuck in on the side of the dune. Also, the group carried the right tool to help dig the wheels and front bumper of the Endeavour out of the sand to help it maneuver its way off the sides of the dune.

With his fellow off-roaders giving him advice about what to do to safely get off the dune’ side – disengage the handbrake, put the SUV’s automatic gearbox into drive (D) and ensure that you get as much wheel spin as possible to help clear the sand.

The experts guide the Endeavour driver through the process, telling him what to do as they slowly but surely while shovelling sand away from the SUV. Thanks to the instructions, the Endeavour driver finally wiggles the large SUV out of the sand trap on the side of the side of the dune onto the safer and much firmer ground right next to it.

The other off-roaders in their Fortuners (both old and current-gen models) then proceed to demonstrate the proper line to take while sliding around the side of the large dune. After a while, the Endeavour driver goes in for another attempt across a higher section of the dune. This time gets the right line of attack to follow and easily glides the Endeavour around the side of the dune with ease.

This video is just further proof of why off-roading should always be a group activity and that all those participating should carry the right recovery equipment to ensure that everyone comes safely back home.

While off roading, here are two things that need to be kept in mind,

1. Never venture without back-up. Even the most capable vehicles can get stuck.
2. Recovery equipment such as winches, sand ladders, sand mats and tow straps are essential for off roading.

Also Read: Buying a car is often a terrible waste of capital, says Maruti chairman

Mahindra launched the Roxor ATV exclusively in the USA market. The small ATV, which is not even road legal in many states in the USA has become quite a hit among the enthusiasts. There are quite a few videos of the Mahindra Roxor from various terrains. Here is a new video of the capable ATV in fresh snow.

The Mahindra Roxor can be seen drifting and driving at high speeds on the snow. There are no signs of struggles and it never fails to find grip in the deep snow. The Roxor also climbs the steep road banking, which is also covered in snow without any problem. The Mahindra Roxor is based on the Mahindra Thar but has been modified to make it even more off-road friendly. The All Terrain Vehicle takes on the likes of Polaris RZR and cannot be driven legally on the roads.

The Roxor is assembled in Michigan and costs around $ 15,000, which is around Rs. 9 lakhs in India. The Roxor is powered by the 2.5-litre turbocharged direct injection diesel engine that is also available with the Mahindra Thar in India. It produces a maximum of 62 Bhp and a peak torque of 180 Nm. The engine gets a five-speed manual transmission and the 4WD can be engaged through a manual level. It also gets a low-range transfer case, similar to the Mahindra Thar.

Mahindra Roxor offers quite a long list of features including the BF Goodrich KO2 Radial Offroad tyres, 40-inch HiLites Light Bar, Warner winch, Bestop Bikini soft top, MTX Bluetooth sound bar, 3-spoke steering wheel, 12V power socket and an under seat storage box with a lock. Mechanically, the Roxor is equally good and gets full-floating axle at the front and leaf springs in both the axles. At the rear, the Roxor gets the semi-floating axle. This makes the Roxor very dependable while doing off-roading. Roxor is also quite lightweight, which makes it very capable in tricky situations. The Roxor is rear wheel driven in the 2WD mode, which makes it even more fun on the slippery surfaces like snow and mud.

It gets front disc brakes and drum brakes at the rear. The top speed has been restricted at 72 km/h due to the safety reasons and to meet the US Transport Department guidelines. The Roxor is available in a wide range of bright colours to attract the buyers. In India, the Thar DI is the closest to the Roxor. It is mostly sold to the fleet car owners and is known for being extremely rugged. Even though it has become a popular product in the American market, there are no plans of Roxor getting launched in the Indian market anytime soon.

Currently, Mahindra is locked in a legal battle with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in the United States. FCA wants the US Trade Commission to ban Roxor imports. FCA claims that the Roxor’s design infringes on Jeep copyrights. However, Mahindra has denied this charge. Recently, some media reports announced that the US Trade Commission ruled in Mahindra’s favour but this was denied by FCA, which maintains that the case is still under investigation.

Also Read: Buying a car is often a terrible waste of capital, says Maruti chairman

Toyota Kirloskar Motors has always enjoyed a dominant position in two key segments of passenger cars in India, namely MPVs and premium SUVs. The Innova has ruled its segment from day number one, taking over from where the Qualis left. Ditto for the massive Fortuner that outsells the Endeavour 3:1.

No other models from rivals have ever been able to give these two workhorses any major challenge, a reason why these offerings were among a handful of cars on sale without any discount whatsoever.  However, the Indian automotive industry is a hard nut to crack and even the Japanese giant has had to bow down in front of stiffening competition.

The sales figure story

We decided to have a look at Toyota’s performance in in the last two years, starting January 2017. Here are some figures:

Peak month: 17,758 units in July 2017
Lowest month: 10,336 units in Jan 2017
Sales in Nov 2018: 10,721 units

Toyota’s November 2018 sales stood at 10,721 units which is 15% less as compared to same month last year as well as October 2018’s performance. Not only this, the last time they sold such low numbers was 20 months away back, in February 2017. India’s 6th largest passenger car marker has certainly taken a hit in the past few months, lowering its market share even further.

The Innova Crysta Story

New rivals: Marazzo, Ertiga, 1.5 lakh discount on Lodgy
Benefits: Upto Rs 45,000

So what’s wrong with the Innova Crysta? The product is perfect but its the competition that’s making life tough for Toyota. The Marazzo, launched in August has been making positive advancements in terms of sales, selling as many as 3810 in October 2018. With a starting price that is Rs 9.9 lakh for the M2 version, the Innova ends up being 55% expensive to buy!
Second and the major factor for the discounts on the Innova is the all-new Ertiga. Priced from Rs 7.4 lakh onwards, its almost half the value and though belongs to a lower segment, the product is so good, it is probably making Innova customers walk into Maruti showrooms. We don’t doubt this as the new Ertiga offers more space for both passengers and luggage than ever before, looks smarter and gets a much better petrol unit with an optional automatic.

No wonder then, Toyota is offering benefits of upto Rs 45,000 on the Innova Crysta to counter newer rivals.

The Fortuner Story

Rivals: Endeavour and Alturas G4
Benefits: Upto Rs 40,000

Although the Fortuner is the epitome of badass SUVs under Rs 40 lakh mark, it is more expensive than its rivals. In terms of the 4×2 automatic variants, the Endeavour Trend is a good Rs 5 lakh cheaper (post discounts) while newly launched Alturas G4 is affordable by Rs 4 lakh. Now while the Ford offering has a smaller engine, it allows customers an entry into the world of big burly SUVs in India. Likewise, the Alturas offers a bag full of extra features, thereby sweetening the deal for customers.

The Yaris and Altis

The new Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and improved Hyundai Verna have made sure the Toyota Yaris stands no chance in front of C segment buyers. Lack of a diesel is surely a sore point but more than that, the competition provides a better value deal with added benefits of space, design and cabin feel. The Toyota Altis likewise has fallen prey to models like Tata Hexa and Mahindra XUV500 that offer more space, more seats, similar features and a lower price point.

If you always wanted to own a Toyota, this is the time. All the models now offer better value and are commendable products. They enjoy a fairly high re-sale value and come backed with Toyota’s legendary reliability and long term ownership experience.

Also Read: Buying a car is often a terrible waste of capital, says Maruti chairman

Tata Motors has been spied testing a Harrier at Coimbatore near Jayem Automotive. Jayem Automotive is an active  collaborator with Tata Motors and also the automaker’s partner for the high performance car brand JTP. While the  Harrier spotted near Jayem could be a regular version undergoing some testing ahead of the launch, there’s the  possibility of the test mule being a high-performance JTP version of the car.

Hat tip to CarToq reader Lokesh, from Erode – Tamilnadu, for sending in these exclusive pictures. Meanwhile, here’s a speculative render that shows  what a Tata Harrier JTP could look like.

While Tata Motors is yet to announce firm plans for the JTP variant of the Harrier, such a model can’t be ruled out  given the fact that the Tiago and Tigor already have JTP trims, and the Nexon is all set to follow suit. Being the  flagship offering from Tata Motors, the Harrier getting a JTP trim is just apt. Currently though, the SUV will be  offered with a single diesel engine-manual gearbox combination.

Tata Motors is steering clear of an all wheel drive layout for the Harrier at launch although such a feature could be  added to the SUV in future. Also, a petrol engine is not a part of the Harrier’s variant mix at the time of launch.  Again, the petrol engine is also likely to be offered on the Harrier in future. We expect a turbocharged petrol motor  to be fitted to this SUV.

Reports on the internet suggest that the JTP variant of the Harrier will use a high performance, Ingenium turbo  petrol engine sourced from Jaguar-Land Rover, two luxury car marques owned by Tata Motors. The Ingenium petrol motor makes about 240 PS in Jaguar-Land Rover cars. On the Harrier JTP, it could be significantly detuned to ensure  differentiation. Another report suggests that the Harrier could get a hybrid petrol option in future, with two wheels  driven by the petrol motor and the other two by the electric motor.

Meanwhile, the regular version of the Harrier has been fully revealed, specifications, et all. The SUV will be  officially launched in early January and bookings for the same are already open at all Tata Motors passenger car dealerships across India. The SUV is expected to debut with prices ranging between 15-19 lakhs. It will rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Mahindra XUV500 and the Jeep Compass.

Tata has loaded the Harrier up with features, both in terms of creature comforts and safety. In fact, the Harrier is  the most feature-rich car that Tata Motors has ever produced. From multi-stage ESP and 6 airbags, to a floating 8.8  touchscreen infotainment system and a JBL sourced 320w stereo, the Tata Harrier is stuffed. The SUV promises to  redefine the segment. Watch this space for our full review.

Via IAB

Also Read: Buying a car is often a terrible waste of capital, says Maruti chairman

BMW is among the oldest and reputed brand in the world. The name BMW is actually the initials of Bayerische Motoren Werke, or Bavarian Motor Works in English. The brand is one of the trinity German brands which includes Mercedes Benz and Audi. In India too, BMW is a revered brand and owning one is a definite sign that you have arrived in life. However, many people are not satisfied in just owning the and unleash their wilder side on the cars. Here are 5 absolutely crazy things people in India have done with BMW vehicles.

Tearing up the roads

BMW cars are mostly famous for the luxury and opulence they offer. They can also be driven in a very sporty way. Seen in this video is an current generation, F30 BMW 3-Series sedan. The car is seen doing doughnuts in what looks like am empty parking lot. bet that 90% of the BMW owners in India would have never dared to do something like this on their rides.

Crazy Off-roading

The BMW X5 is a very plush SUV and offers a great deal of comfort and features along with looking handsome. However, no matter how brute it may look, it is not meant for any serious off road stuff. But, here we see it going all evil and taking on all types of terrain it can. It even manages to get stuck in a situation or two, but gets out with a little help. The X5 is mainly a soft roader and meant to be used on highways and city roads, with some occasional off roading. However, the lack of low ratio gearbox and other off road machinery limits is hardcore off road usage.

Race with Ferrari

The Ferrari 458 Italia is among our personal favorite sports cars. The 562 Bhp producing 4.5 litre naturally aspirated engine is among the best ones made by Ferrari and it was the first car to start the current design language of the Ferrari lineup. On the other hand is a BMW M4, which in itself is an absolutely bonkers sports sedan. So what happens when they both race. Pretty obvious though, the Ferrari being a Ferrari won the race. However, the race was held in live traffic conditions which is very dangerous for everyone on road.

Playing Road Rash on roads

While most of us have enjoyed playing road rash on PC, it was pretty obvious that doing so in the real world would lead to tragic happenings. Well, here is a video which apparently shows some live daredevilry on roads. Apparently, a trio of bikers is going head to head with a BMW M3 in the video. The bike whose rider is filming everything is a Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R, which itself is a very powerful bike.

In the video, we see movie style chases, cuts, wheelies and close shaves. Forget 100, the video here is in the league of around 200 kmph per hours. What probably was missing is the pulling out of chains, rod fights and kicks in true road rash style. We advise every sane person out there to not even remotely try and copy these antics, even if you ride wearing a bomb squad suit.

Modify into a Camaro

BMW already makes some pretty gorgeous cars. However, there are some who are not satisfied by just owning a premium German marque and go on to sculpt the car of their dream. This one here is a BMW 5-series that has been modified to look like a Chevrolet Camaro. Whether the attempt is successful or not, that’s for you to decide. The mod job has been carried over by Road Rage Custom Builds and there is a lot of body kit slapped on to the stock 5-series.

At the front,  a new mesh grille takes the place of BMW’s kidney grille and the front bumper has been redesigned too. The sculpted bonnet with hood scoops takes things further and so does the red and black paint job. The sides carry the same theme with splashes of Red and gorgeous black-red alloy wheels. The interiors are also done in red and black to give them a matching personality. At the rear, we see a redesigned bumper, rear splitter, four exhaust pipes along with wild designer inserts.

Also Read: Buying a car is often a terrible waste of capital, says Maruti chairman

The third generation Swift is among the better looking hatchbacks out there. It is incredibly light and fun too drive too. Though it is not powered by a big engine, the Swift does not make that evident often with its low weight and flick-able nature. Also, the car is one of the favorites among the various modification houses of the country.

Its mod potential can be realized by the fact that there is almost every type of modified Swifts in India. Be it low rider, drifter, wild looking, scissor doors or any thing else, there is a Swift available for every type of modification. Today however, we bring you a modified Swift which looks very pleasing without being too loud. Take a look before we discuss about this beauty.

As you see, the car above has not gone though any wild modification. Done by Pune based GS Customs, it still carries the same basic Swift look while managing to look quite cool. Neither the bumper nor the headlights have been changed and are still stock units. This goes on to show that a car can be made a looker without any radical modification to it.

Talking of the changes, the most eye catching part is the bright yellow wrap job that that it has received. It resembles the bright yellow Bumblebee Camaro and who knows, if the Transformer came to India he may turn up just like this one. Or it already has *smirks*. Jokes apart, another bit that adds to the look is the blacked out roof panel. the glossy black roof adds an interesting contrast to the bright yellow wrap.

The picture above may seem to be of a different car but is actually of the same car, albeit clicked in low light conditions. The wrapped Swift looks cheery from the rear angle as well and is quite different from the usual lot seen plying on the roads. On the rear too, no structural changes have been made as the tail light and bumper units are same as before. Apart from the wrapping, other tasteful modification done on the car is its wheels. The yellow Swift now rides on multi-spoked shiny alloy wheels that look the part. Wheels and rims are an integral part of a car’s design and good rims can take a car’s appeal up by miles, as is the case on this Swift. We approve.

There have been no changes made under the hood and the same stock engines still runs the car. Maruti Suzuki offers two engine option for the Swift, a 1.2 litre petrol engine and a 1.3 litre diesel engine. The petrol unit produces 82 Bhp of power along with 113 Nm of torque. The diesel engine churns out 74 Bhp of power along with 190 Nm of torque. Transmission options include a 5-speed automatic and a 5-speed manual gearbox, available on both engine options.

At this point, we have to advise you that wrapping a car in a colour different from the original paint is not exactly legal. Traffic cops may object, and you may be forced to peel off the wrap by the side of the road! Not to mention any fines they may levy. It is possible that a court may agree that it actually is legal, but we do not know of anyone who has gone to court for it. In general, it is always better to play it safe and stick to a colour similar to the original paint if you are keen on wrapping.

Also Read: Buying a car is often a terrible waste of capital, says Maruti chairman

Maruti Suzuki chairman R.C. Bhargava has made a rather interesting statement that will stun you, at least initially.  In a recent interview, Mr. Bhargava said had this to say,

People should start thinking why do I need to buy a car. I buy a car costing Rs 10 lakh. And 80-90% of the time it  is lying idle. What a terrible waste of capital.

Yes, he actually said that but there’s much more to this statement. There’s a wider context in which Mr. Bhargava made this statement, of that of shared mobility. Batting for shared mobility, the Maruti chairman wanted state governments to do more in order to encourage shared mobility, which in his opinion, would reduce congestion, cost  of mobility and parking problems.

Shared mobility refers to app-based car pooling, opting for app-based on-demand taxis or using on-demand car  sharing platforms such as Zoomcar and Drivezy. The whole point behind such services is that a single car can beused by multiple people as and when they need them.

This makes individual car ownership or at least multiple car ownership redundant for most people living in the bigger cities of India, where such services are well developed. In future, such services are expected to cover more parts of India.

Meanwhile, here are the other major things that the Maruti chairman said in the run up to that one big statement  that’s rather surprising from a leading car industry executive,

Shared mobility improves utilisation of vehicles as well as reducing congestion, parking problems and cost of  transportation. Today, laws, especially, state government laws, are not pro-shared mobility. That’s the problem. I  would like there to be some uniformity of good laws, which, in fact, give incentives for shared mobility over  individual mobility. A car company’s responsibility is to provide the best forms of mobility at cheaper costs to the  citizens. “Is that not my job to promote it? Why is it my job to promote individual ownership and make you all  subject to lose a lot of your money by having cars.

But what will Maruti Suzuki gain if people starts dumping individual car ownership in favour of car sharing?

Maruti’s chairman says that most private car buyers don’t utilize their cars enough, which means that the average life span of a car is much larger. This results in the car being in service on the road,  with the same or a different owner, for a longer period of time. As the car isn’t replaced quickly, car companies actually stand to lose as the replacement cycle slows down. Here are the exact statements he made,

What is the most important parameter for determining when a car should be scrapped and replaced — how much it has run. Now if more people are able to use a car and run distances which are otherwise run using two-wheelers and  three-wheelers, will that result in more car running than an individual car running or not. So, the replacement cycle will become faster, I will have more sales … That is why I want shared mobility.

Do you think shared mobility is a smart idea? Do let us know in the comments section.

Also Read: Buying a car is often a terrible waste of capital, says Maruti chairman

Space and comfort are the most sought after aspects of a car when buying. Apart from fuel efficiency and affordable pricing, many people are concerned about how spacious there car is. This is probably one of the reasons why the sale of SUVs is on rise. Afterall, there is nothing wrong to expect more comfort and space in a car when a premium is paid to buy them. So today, we bring you ten cars, split by price, that offer great space and comfort in their price range.

Tata Tigor – Rs. 5.20  – 7.38 Lakh

The Tata Tigor is among the cheapest compact sedans on sale in India right now. The Tigor recently received a facelift which enhanced its looks and added some more features like a touch infotainment system. Despite being cheaper than the competition, the Tigor has oodles of space on the inside and a reasonably large boot space of 419 litre, which actually is second best in segment. The cabin is quite comfortable and for its class, the Tigor offers a decent ride quality too.

Honda Amaze – Rs. 5.80 – Rs. 9.10 Lakh

The new Honda Amaze has not even completed an year since its launch but has already hoisted itself as a great compact segment. The car is steadily climbing up the sales chart and even established players like the Maruti Suzuki Dzire have begun to feel the heat. The Amaze has one of the most comfortable and spacious interiors in its class and is decently speeced too. It also has the biggest boot capacity of 420 litres, which is the largest among all the compact sedans in India.

Toyota Etios – Rs 6.80 – 8.93 Lakh

The Toyota Etios never made it big in terms of sales but is the most spacious non-sub-4-meter sedan in its price range. The absence of transmission tunnel leads to freeing up more space at the rear and the car can seat five in full comfort.. Both the front and the rear seats provide ample legroom, with the rear seats providing comfort with three abreast. Then there is the cavernous boot space of 595-liters, making it a segment litre in terms of boot capacity.

Nissan Sunny – Rs 6.99 – 9.68 Lakh

The Nissan Sunny is a really spacious car, so much so that Nissan called it a ‘Caaaar’ during its ad campaign to emphasize on all the extra space it has. The Sunny offers a lot leg-space at the rear. The beige themed interiors also helps make the cabin feel airier, though it is prone to get dirty over the time. Its USP is the rear seat comfort, which is on par with more costly cars. With a boot space of 490 litres, the Sunny may not have the biggest boot out there but will easily carry all your stuff for outstation trips.

Maruti Ciaz – Rs 8.19 – 10.97 Lakh

The recently facelifted Maruti Ciaz is easily the longest car in its segment. with the new update, it looks even more stylish and the interiors feel more premium. The rear seat is where the Ciaz shines as it offers ample legroom and head room along with the seats providing good bolstering. Its boot capacity of 510 litres may not be class leading but will certainly gobble up all your belongings. No doubt then that it is the current best selling car of its segment.

Honda City – Rs 8.77 – 13.92 Lakh

The Honda City has become synonymous with comfort and ride over time. The stylish sedan, though a bit costly than other rivals like the Ciaz, is the most spacious sedans we have out there. It has an excellent ride quality and good seats too, which ensure the occupants are comfortable even during long journeys. The City also offers 510-liters of boot-space, which is exactly what the Ciaz offers.

Hyundai Elantra – Rs 13.71 – 19.94 Lakh

The Hyundai Elantra is among the best looking sedans on sale in India. The soon to be facelifted car offers a great ride and a spacious interior. Both the front and the rear seats have enough legroom along with headroom. With plenty of storage spaces and a very attractive interior design, the Elantra is definitely a car to be in. It even gets ventilated seats which makes it an even more compelling buy if comfort is your priority.

Toyota Corolla Altis – Rs 16.27 – 20.01 Lakh

The Corolla Altis is Toyota’a best selling model globally. The large sedan offers enough space for five occupants and there’s enough legroom both at the front and the rear. At 470-liters, its boot capacity is nothing to write home about but still can carry a lot of luggage. It has a pretty decent ride quality and good front and rear seats.

Skoda Octavia – Rs 15.99 – 26.78 Lakh

The Skoda Octavia is a stylish and a very comfortable sedan in its segment. Though a bit on the higher side in terms of pricing, it totally makes up for that with its high-quality build and materials. The cabin is a very good place to be in and the rear seats too are very comfortable. A big boot space of 590 litres further takes things up its favour.

Skoda Superb – Rs 23.49 – 32.99 Lakh

The Superb is the most expensive sedan on this list but is also the most spacious one. It’s even more spacious than many cars that are much costlier. The limo-like Superb offers a really gargantuan boot space of 625-liters. The Superb is expensive but is definitely the most comfortable and the most spacious sedan you can buy without having to spend a really enormous amount.

Also Read: 10 segment leading features of the Tata Harrier

Tata Motors will launch the production version of the 45X premium hatchback concept in the second half of 2019. Mayank Pareek, the president of Tata Motors’ passenger vehicles business has noted that the car would be launched between July-September 2019. The Tata 45X was first shown as a concept at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo. The car will be based on the advanced modular platform (AMP), which is called as Alpha Arc.

Here’s what Mr. Mayank Pareek said,

Harrier is first product based on Omega and our next product will be on Alpha. We will just have these two platforms…a product based on Alpha platform can come around the second quarter of next year (July-September).

The production version of the Tata 45X is expected to share its engines with the Tata Tiago. Both the petrol and diesel engines will be shared, but will produce more power and torque on the 45X. We expect the 1.2 liter petrol engine to be offered with a turbocharger, while the 1.1 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged diesel engine is expected to get a variable geometry turbocharger in order to boost outputs.

While manual gearbox options will be standard on both engines, a twin clutch automated manual transmission is said to be under development for launch in future. Like how the Tata Harrier shows a high level of resemblance with the H5X concept, the production version of the 45X premium hatchback is also expected to look very similar to the concept version.

The car will compete with the likes of the Maruti Baleno and Hyundai Elite i20 in the premium hatchback segment. Considering how well entrenched these cars are, the Tata 45X will have to pack in a spectacular amount of features to stand out. Tata Motors is also likely to price the new car very aggressively as a value-for-money price tag could get buyers interested.

Tata Motors followed this strategy with the Tiago, which is now the automaker’s biggest recent successes. The feature-packed Tata Tiago was launched at a shockingly low price tag, and this helped the car establish itself in a highly competitive segment. The Tata Tiago now sells close to 10,000 monthly units, and is Tata Motors’ best selling car. A similar strategy is likely to play out with the Tata 45X premium hatchback.

The Alpha Arc platform that underpins the Tata 45X premium hatchback will host a range of new cars. The next big thing from this platform is likely to be a micro SUV. Also, a sedan based on this platform is on the works. The sedan is expected to share styling bits and parts with the Tata 45X premium hatchback. However, these cars are not expected to be launched in India anytime before 2020. All these cars will be ready to accept electric power trains as Tata Motors does have major plans in electric mobility.

Via FinancialExpress

Also Read: 10 segment leading features of the Tata Harrier

Jeep Wrangler is the dream car of many off-road enthusiasts. When it was launched in India, the extremely high price tag kept many buyers away from the vehicle. However, there are quite a few Jeep Wrangler models sold in the Indian market. The hardcore off-road enthusiasts, however, stick to the vehicles like Mahindra Thar because of their affordability and ease of maintenance.

There are a few who take the super expensive Jeep Wrangler to an off-roading session. Here is one such owner who took his Wrangler to off-roading and got stuck.

Mahindra Thar to the rescue

The video shows Jeep Wrangler stuck in a ditch. The terrain seems to be quite slippery and the Wrangler is being rescued by the Mahindra Thar with the help of towing rope. The Mahindra Thar first tried pulling out the Wrangler from the rear but due to the limited space, it re-positioned itself. It should be noted that it is a towing rope and not a winch, which makes such rescues much easier.

The Mahindra Thar slowly pulls out the Jeep Wrangler out of the ditch where Wrangler finds traction again. Even though the Jeep Wrangler offers a higher level of equipment and has an engine that generates almost twice the power, it is not shocking to see it getting stuck. Any vehicle can get stuck during hardcore off-roading and the whole process of rescuing such stuck cars makes the off-roading even more fun. Even the most expensive SUVs can be get stuck in challenging situations.

The Jeep Wrangler seen in the video seems to be in the stock condition while the Mahindra Thar has been heavily modified for off-roading purposes. The Mahindra Thar can be seen with big block off-road tyres, which is a major advantage while doing off-roading on the slippery surfaces. The road-biased tyres fail to find traction in such condition and the vehicle becomes incapable. It is important to choose the right tyres for the off-roading.

The Jeep Compass is extremely powerful and uses a 2.8-litre VM Motori turbocharged diesel engine that develops a maximum of 197 Bhp and 460 Nm. The Mahindra Thar produces a mere 105 Bhp and 247 Nm. However, Thar gets all the off-road-friendly equipment differential locks, low-range transfer case and leaf spring suspension. The Jeep Wrangler, on the other hand, is much more comfortable to drive on the highways and can attain much higher speeds. With the right tyres, it can even reach extremely challenging locations where the Thar may not be able to go.

The Mahindra Thar is a much more popular vehicle because it is much cheaper to buy and maintain. Off-roading takes a heavy toll on the vehicles and can damage crucial parts. The parts of the Mahindra Thar are easily available while it may take weeks to source parts for the Jeep Wrangler. All these reasons make the Mahindra Thar much more suitable for hardcore off-roading in India.

Also Read: 10 segment leading features of the Tata Harrier

Mahindra and Ford have entered a wide encompassing joint venture in India, which will not just involve co developing cars for the future but also sharing distribution networks. For the first time ever, Mahindra dealers in smaller towns of India have begun retailing Ford cars. This move is meant to expand Ford India’s reach into smaller towns of India. Ford for now, is more of an urban brand in India, and this move could change this.

Ford India’s spokesperson confirmed this development with the following statement even as Mahindra’s spokesperson declined comment,

The two companies (Ford and Mahindra) have initiated a pilot, where select Mahindra dealers in Tier 4+ towns were given an opportunity to sell and/or service Ford cars. The pilot has been rolled out to 15 towns and the results are encouraging, giving incremental sales and service reach for Ford. The two automakers are continuing to explore the benefit of leveraging the Mahindra network in areas where Ford dealership is not present/planned.

Two other unnamed people talking to LiveMint said this,

Ford doesn’t have a robust chain of channel partners, so by letting Mahindra dealers sell Ford cars, the company is trying to reach most of the towns and districts of the country. Mahindra dealers are also making quick money from setting up small showrooms and selling Ford’s most popular vehicle, Ford EcoSport.

This will improve the profitability of the Mahindra dealers and will help Ford enhance its reach across the country. Mahindra dealers are also under pressure since last few vehicles did not manage to draw the customers. So, this kind of move to consolidate certain aspects of their operations was always expected from the two companies.

Clearly, the Mahindra-Ford alliance in India is going much further than just jointly developing cars. This is not the first time that Ford has joined hands with Mahindra in India. In fact, the American automaker entered India in the 1990s through a joint venture (JV) with Mahindra. The latter helped Ford establish a factory in Chennai, and the first car from this JV was Ford Ecsort. In a few years, Ford and Mahindra split, and the clock seems to have now come a full circle as both automakers are back again.

In the latest joint venture between Ford and Mahindra, the first joint product development move will involve electric cars. Ford will supply the Figo (KA) platform to Mahindra, which will add electric powertrains to the Figo Aspire and Figo hatchback. These cars are expected to be sold under both Ford and Mahindra badges.

Mahindra will share upcoming SUVs with Ford. A sub-4 meter SUV and a C-Segment (Scorpio segment) SUV are likely to be shared with Ford. Mahindra will also share new petrol engines that are Bharat Stage 6 compliant with Ford. More details on this partnership are expected to emerge in the coming months.

Also Read: 10 segment leading features of the Tata Harrier

The Maruti Suzuki Swift has yet again conquered the sales chart to become the best selling car of India in November, 2018. Interestingly, the top 6 spots for the best selling car were all taken Maruti Suzuki’s cars, which goes a long way in portraying the brand’s hold on Indian automotive scene.

The company sold 22,191 units of Swift in November, which is what many other companies manage as their total sales. Let’s now see what has lead to the Swift being the king of the jungle this time around.

Festive Season

The festive season was on full swing this November. It is usual to see a spike in car sales during the festive season and that’s the reason almost all manufacturers provide good discount schemes during this time. Though the festive season was reportedly not very good for auto companies this time, the Swift got good affection from people. The 22,191 units sold in November are a testimony of that, up from 17,404 units sold in October.

AMT option on both Petrol and Diesel

The Maruti Suzuki Swift comes with a host of trims and engine options to choose from. Apart from this, the company also offers the swift with an automatic (AMT) transmission option. However, unlike many other companies which only offer automatic transmission on either the petrol or diesel engines, Maruti has made it available on both the engine options and with two trim levels on each engine. With this, Maruti has made sure that there is something for everyone and at every price point for the Swift.

Sharp pricing

Every manufacturer knows that pricing is crucial for any car’s success in India. Maruti is well versed with the buying trends of India and there has positioned the Swift quite aggressively. To be precise, the base petrol LXi variant of the Swift retails for Rs. 4.99 lakhs while the top ZXi+ AMT variant retails for Rs. 7.76 lakhs. The base diesel LDi variant, on the other hand, retails for 5.99 lakhs while the top ZDi+ AMT variant comes at Rs. 8.76 lakhs. The base models of both the petrol and diesel models are among the most affordable hatchbacks you can buy in this segment.

Hefty Discount

Discount schemes are offered by manufacturers in order to get more and more people into the dealerships and buy their cars. The new generation Swift has not been on any great discounts up till now because its a new car and already has the attention of the customers. However, for the festive season, Maruti Suzuki decided to churn out a hefty discount on the car. The already inexpensive hatch back got even more cheaper with the discount and this is another reason why people flocked like bees for buying the Swift this festive season.

Great Mileage

The Marut Suzuki Swift delivers one of the best fuel efficiency figures in its class. Now mileage in India is a big thing and this is known well by Maruti. The 1.2 litre VVT petrol engine on the Swift delivers an ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 22 kmpl. The diesel, on the other hand returns an excellent ARAI certified fuel efficiency figure of 28.4 kmpl, making it one of the most fuel efficient diesel hatchbacks in the country. Also, the  generation model is lighter by around 100 kg than the previous generation model, which further helps the case.

Sales data via Autopunditz

Also Read: 10 segment leading features of the Tata Harrier

While we are still swooning over the 650 twins by Royal Enfield, the company has plans to shock us even more. Latest spy images suggests what looks like a scrambler version of the Classic 500. We had already reported a long time back that Royal Enfield may be developing a new scrambler version of the retro-modern Classic, but there was no solid backing at that time.

However, we now have some spy shots that confirm the new. The bike was caught while it was being tested and is sporting Classic 500 logo on it. Take a look at the picture below to get an idea of what can probably be India’s first affordable production scrambler.

As quite evident from the picture, it is a Classic 500 turned wild. Talking of the changes, the spyshots reveal a high-set rear mudguard and a luggage carrier, which could probably be fitted with a pillion seat easily. The exhaust canister is upswept and the tyres seem to be knobby, on-off road units capable of handling dirt trails in addition to regular roads. The front suspension features fork gaiters and a brace, which is also lifted from the GT 650. At the front, the Scrambler gets a taller, wider handlebar. Disc brakes are present at both ends of the bike, similar to the Classic 500.

The rear tail lamp and turn indicator are also new. Another thing to note here is the seating position. Going by these pictures, it seems like the riding position has been relaxed and the rider seems to be sitting more comfortably. Apart from these changes, not much can be said about the bike as of now. However, in wake of the upcoming tight emission norms, the bike will come with a BSVI ready engine.

The scrambler version of the Classic 500 will also come equipped with ABS functionality as in coming time it will be mandatory for all bikes at or above 125 cc displacement to have one. Talking of the engine, the unit in the spyshot seems quite similar to the stock Classic 500. The 499cc, single-cylinder BS4-compliant engine on the Royal Enfield Classic 500 Churns out 27.2 Bhp of power and 41.3 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. However, the engine will most probably be tweaked a bit on the scrambler to match the nature of the motorcycle.

Earlier in November, we were expecting Jawa to launch a scrambler as a part of its 3 bike lineup but that did not happen. India is yet to see an affordable scambler which people could buy without burning a hole in their pockets. There are some scrambler bikes in the market like the Ducati Scrambler but they all cost a bomb. The Himalayan was given a good response by the people and if done right, the scrambler can again make things right for Royal Enfield.

Source

Also Read: 10 segment leading features of the Tata Harrier

Tata Harrier is the biggest talk of the town right now. The latest SUV from Tata Motors is all set to be launched soon and full details of the vehicle have been revealed by the manufacturer. The Harrier is one of the most-awaited vehicles in the Indian market and the price announcement will happen in early January.

Tata will target the segment-leader Mahindra XUV500 apart from the SUVs like the Jeep Compass and the Hyundai Creta in the Indian market. Here is what the Harrier will offer in comparison to the Mahindra XUV500.

Dimensions

Even though the Harrier is a five-seater, it is almost similar in dimensions when compared to the XUV500. The Harrier is 4,598mm long which makes it longer than the  Mahindra XUV500 which measures 4,585mm. However, the Harrier is much wider at 1,894 mm while the Mahindra XUV500 measures 1,890mm in width. The Tata Harrier is also slightly shorter than the Mahindra XUV500 and measures 1,706 mm while the XUV 500 stands tall at 1,785mm. The Harrier also gets a slightly higher ground clearance at 205mm while the XUV 500’s ground clearance measures 200mm. However, the wheelbase of the Tata Harrier is 41mm longer and measures 2,741mm while the Mahindra XUV500 measures 2,700mm. The Harrier has an imposing stance on the road and sure has a very loud road presence.

Interiors and features

The Mahindra XUV500 is loaded with features. It gets electrically adjustable driver seat, electric sunroof, leather upholstery stitched in the diamond pattern, soft-touch dashboard wrapped in leather, lounge lighting, illuminated scuff plates, twin pod cluster, piano black centre console and underarm cooled box. Other features include logo projection by the puddle lamps, keyless entry and start, fully automatic temperature control, Tyre pressure monitoring system, smart sensing rain wipers, intelligent light sensing headlamps, brake energy regeneration. The infotainment system can be connected to smartphones and smartwatches and can be used as a remote to control the entertainment system. It also gets Android Auto and Mahindra EcoSense system that includes Navigation, Driving statistics, apps and more. The XUV500 offers an extremely sophisticated and premium cabin feel.

The Tata Harrier, on the other hand, offers a slew of segment first features that gives it a rich cabin experience. The Tata Harrier gets Oak Brown interior colour scheme that gives it a plush feeling. It also gets perforated leather seats and door pad inserts. The dashboard gets soft touch material with anti-reflective Nappa Grain top layer. Even the steering wheel is covered in leather. To make things exciting, Tata has added an aeroplane throttle inspired Piano Black Parking Brake to the Harrier.

The Harrier also offers the largest infotainment system in the segment and it measures 8.8-inches. The system is wired to the 9-speaker system that includes 4 tweeters and an amplifier giving the segment-best sound quality. The Harrier also offers under arm coolbox and 2.4 Ampere USB charging points for fast charging of smartphones. The vehicle has been designed for urban users and gets smartphone holders all around. The Harrier also gets the segment’s largest 7-inch Driver Information Display screen on the console that gives all the information on the go.

Both the vehicles get a few common features like automatic headlamps and wipers, electrically adjustable and foldable outside rear view mirror, steering wheel tilt and telescopic adjustment, projection puddle lamps, and sunglass holder.

Safety

Both Mahindra XUV500 and the Tata Harrier are loaded to the brim when it comes to safety. The Mahindra XUV500 gets 6 airbag system, hill hold and hill descent system, electronic stability program, anti-lock braking system with electronic brake force distribution (EBD). The Mahindra XUV500 also gets segment-first emergency call system that calls the emergency services as soon as the airbags get deployed. It also gets cornering lamps and ISOFIX anchor points for child seats.

Tata Harrier also gets 6 airbag system with an advanced Electronic Stability Program. There are as many as 14 features under the ESP that includes ABS, EBD, Corner Stability Control, Off-Road ABS, Electronic Traction Control, Electronic Stability Control, Hill Hold and Hill Descent, Roll Over Mitigation, Electronic Brake Pre-fill, Hydraulic Brake Assist, Brake Disc Wiping, Hydraulic Fading Compensation and Dynamic Wheel Torque by Brake. The fog lamp doubles up as the cornering lamp in the Harrier and it also gets ISOFIX child seat anchor points. The Harrier also gets ESP terrain response system – Normal, Wet and Rough, which is missing from the Mahindra XUV500.

Engine

The Tata Harrier is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine that has been supplied by Fiat. Tata calls it the Kryotec 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and it gets a maximum power of 140 PS at 3,750 rpm and a peak torque of 350 Nm between 1,750-2,500 rpm. The Harrier gets segment-first three driving modes Eco, City and Sport. The Tata Harrier only gets a 6-speed manual transmission and surprisingly, there are no AWD variants at the moment.

The Mahindra XUV 500 is powered by a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine that generates a maximum of 155 Bhp and 360 Nm. The diesel engine gets both automatic and manual transmission options. Mahindra also offers AWD variants with the XUV 500. Mahindra also offers 2.2-litre petrol engine with the XUV 500 that generates a maximum of 140 Bhp and 320 Nm. It is available only with an automatic transmission.

Price

The Mahindra XUV500 diesel starts at Rs. 12.5 lakhs and the top model is priced at Rs. 19.21 lakhs. The petrol version of the XUV500 is priced at Rs. 15.61 lakhs. Tata is yet to reveal the official price of the Harrier but the on-road price of the Harrier is expected to be around Rs. 16 lakhs, which will keep the ex-showroom price at around Rs. 14 lakhs.

Also Read: 10 segment leading features of the Tata Harrier

The Hyundai Santro has been making all the right moves since its launch. The latest news is that the Santro has made it into the top 10 best selling cars of India during the October-November period. The Santro was launched on 21st October, which makes it one of the fastest entrants into the top 10 league.

To be precise, the Santro stood 10th on the list with a total 9,009 units sold. It makes it the fourth Hyundai car on the list, which otherwise is largely dominated by Maruti Suzuki.

Earlier, it seemed that the Tata Tiago would soon enter the top 10 club as the hatchback had been consistently getting good sales and also is the cheapest car in its segment. However, the Santro offers much better interiors and features along with good levels of refinement, leading it to get past the Tiago easily. Another thing worth noting is that the Santro also replaced the Maruti Suzuki Celerio from the list, which was a regular feature of the list. This shows the fall of Celerio, which was the 5th best selling car during October 2018.

However, the Maruti Suzuki WagonR still remains the king of the segment with 11,311 units sold in November itself. This is a gain of around 700 units from October, during which the car sold 10,655 units. This clearly gives a message to Hyundai that it will not be easy to shake off the reigning ‘tall boy’ car of India. the WagonR will soon be replaced by a newer generation model, which will come with many new features and offer a fresh styling to take the upcoming threat from Hyundai.

The Santro is powered by a 1.1-litre petrol engine that produces 68 Bhp of power along with 99 Nm of torque. the petrol engine returns a decent mileage of 20.3 kmpl. The CNG version, on the other hand, produces a lower 58 Bhp of power and 84 Nm of torque. The loss in power is compensated by a mileage of 30.48 km/kg, which can be a boon to people who have high daily runnings. Both petrol and CNG variants are offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox while the petrol also an AMT transmission option.

We had earlier reported how the Santro bookings were closed due to high demands which went past the manufacturing capacity. The current waiting period for the Santro stands just shy of four months. As a matter of fact, the new Santro bagged nearly 15,000 bookings even before it was official launched. This shows the kind of value the old Santro had created which led the people to book the vehicle without even getting to know it fully. The base variant of the Hyundai Santro starts at Rs. 3.89 lakhs, making it an attractive entry level hatchback.

Also Read: 10 segment leading features of the Tata Harrier

The new Hyundai Santro is less than two months old in the Indian car market, the only market that it’s on sale  currently. So, it’s too much to expect modified versions of this car in the real world. In the virtual world of  renders though, sky is the limit. Renderers have already begun modifying the new Hyundai Santro to give us an idea of  what modified examples will look like. Here’s a low rider render of the new Hyundai Santro.

Render courtesy Rtriadhie

The Hyundai Santro in this render features a slew of modifications. The blue paint scheme is new, and is not offered  by Hyundai. Changes on the front include projector headlamps, LED DRLs, bumper extension, a new grille and a revised air intake.

On the sides, the car gets a body kit, white decals, blacked out B-Pillar and 15 inch Volk Rays TE37 alloy wheels.  The stance is much lower than stock thanks to lowering springs in the suspension. At the rear, bumper extensions and  a roof spoiler round off the changes.

The difference between the modified and stock versions of the Santro are stark. Here’s a picture of the stock version
for reference.

There are no mechanical changes on the car. The engine remains stock. The new Santro gets a 1.1 liter-4 cylinder  petrol engine that puts out 69 PS of peak power and 99 Nm of peak torque. A 5 speed manual gearbox is standard while an AMT is offered as an option. The car also get a CNG-Petrol dual fuel version.

However, there is no diesel engine on offer and Hyundai has no plans to introduce one given tightening emissions in future. However, an LPG-Petrol dual fuel variant is likely to be introduced soon. Expect the LPG-Petrol variant to cost about Rs. 30,000-35,000 more than the equivalent petrol engine variant.

In the Indian market, the new Hyundai Santro is the automaker’s least priced car now that the Eon has been  discontinued. Prices of the Santro start from Rs. 3.9 lakhs. In the next few months, Hyundai is likely to launch a  lower priced variant of the Santro that will occupy the space vacated by the Eon.

The entry-level Santro is expected to use the Eon’s 800cc triple cylinder engine. Currently, the new Hyundai Santro  competes with the Maruti Celerio, WagonR and the Tata Tiago. The low cost version is likely to take on 800cc cars  such as the Maruti Alto and the Renault Kwid.

The new Hyundai Santro has gotten off to a rocking start. Nearly 10,000 units of the car have been sold in November, which has pushed the car to the 10th spot in India’s top-ten selling cars list. The introduction of the low cost version could boost sales further.

Also Read: 10 segment leading features of the Tata Harrier

Tata’s upcoming flagship SUV, the Harrier is the current buzzword in the automotive space right now. The media drive for the Harrier has already commenced and we are getting some rave reviews about the SUV. We already had brought you all details on the exteriors, interiors, features and specifications of the SUV recently. As it will be the most premium SUV by the brand yet, it comes loaded to brim with features, many of which are class leading. Here are 10 such class leading features and specs that shows that the Harrier is flagship material SUV.

Multi driving modes

The Tata Harrier comes with three driving modes – Eco, City and Sport. This will allow the driver to select a desired mode according to the requirements. The Eco mode will retrict the power delivery a bit with maximum focus on fuel efficiency. The City mode will still have efficiency as priority but will provide enough power to zoom through traffic when required. The Sport mode, as the name suggests will deliver outright performance with focus on driving and fun element.

14 function ESP

The Harrier may not have an AWD drivetrain option right now but Tata has made sure that this does not hold the SUV back. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) on the Harrier comes with a number of safety aids and traction modes. To be precise, the ESP on the Harrier has a total of 11 functions, ranging from hill descent control and hill hold to off-road ABS, cornering stability control and brake disc wiping. This is something that the competition like the Jeep compass and Mahindra XUV500 do not even come remotely close to.

9-speaker JBL audio system

If you are an audiophile, the Harrier will provide you with a nice thumpy speaker system. Tata has equipped the Harrier with a powerful 320W 9 speaker system developed by JBL specifically for the SUV. Tata has been lately paying attention to the in car acoustic systems of their vehicles which is quite evident by the Harman systems on its other models. This is quite good as it saves you the pain of installing a good aftermarket system as the JBL developed stock unit is expected to be quite good.

Aero styled Parking brake

The Tata Harrier is equipped with a stylish Aircraft inspired parking brake lever. It comes with a piano black finish which gels beautifully with the rest of the cabin design. Note that the parking brake on the Harrier is not electronic but just styled like an aircraft lever. This is a far cry from conventional rod styled parking brakes and looks different.

7-inch MID

The MID, or Multi Information Display is a screen situated in the instrument binnacles of most modern vehicles. It provides all relevant information about the vehicle like range, temperature, diagnostics among many others. On the Harrier, there is a large 7 inch MID which is much bigger than the competition. The MID on the Harrier also incorporates the Rev counter in it.

Largest in Size and Wheelbase

The Tata Harrier is the biggest vehicle in its segment, which again makes it stand apart from the others. The SUV measures 4,598 mm in length, 1,894 mm in width and 1,706 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,741 mm long and ground clearance of 205 mm. Comparing this to the next largest vehicle in the segment, which is the Mahindra XUV500, the harrier easily comes out as a winner. The XUV500 measures 4,585 mm in length, 1,890 mm in width, 1,785 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,700 mm.

8.8 inch infotainment

This is easily among the most prominent interior feature of the Tata Harrier. The floating touchscreen infotainment system on the Harrier is a 8.8 inch unit which comes with Apple Car Play/ Android Auto connectivity along with rear parking camera display. The unit has been supplied by Visteon, the company which also supplies infotainment system to premium brands like Land Rover. The competetion offers decent 7 inch infotainment units too, but that is dwarfed by the 8.8 inch unit on Harrier.

2.4 A Fast charging points

Mobile charging ports are a regular feature in cars nowadays so that’s not a unique feature. However, Tata has fitted the harrier with fast charging USB ports to charge your phone quickly. The 2.4 A fast charging port are available for both the front and rear passengers and are quite handy, especially now when our phones are constantly running out of juice. Note that your smartphone should be fast charge enabled to utilize the full potential of these 2.4 A ports.

Umbrella storage

The Tata Harrier has another nifty feature that is easily missed. The SUV comes with a dedicated Umbrella storage, which is a really neat feature. Especially for a SUV like the Harrier which is meant to be enjoyed outdoors and off terrain, a dedicated umbrella holder unit comes really handy to stow away your rain wet umbrella, saving you the pain of wetting the seats.

Audi Styled LED indicators

Lastly, the Harrier gets quite cool looking LED turn indicators at front. Though this may not seem like something special, its the placement and functioning of the front indicators that makes them appealing. It looks similar to what Audi offers on many of its cars. As a design feature, the headlamps of Harrier are placed below the LED DRLs. The sleek LED DRL housing also incorporates the cool LED turn indicators.

Also Read: 10 segment leading features of the Tata Harrier

Safety is usually not given a priority  in motorcycles, both by buyers and by manufacturers. Though now things have started to change with the introduction of new regulations by the government, safety in motorcycles is still a long way to go in India. Until now, there were a very few motorcycles under the Rs. 3 lakh price mark that offered ABS as standard. A slipper clutch is something unheard of, with only a handful of bikes having it.

ABS and slipper clutch help significantly to make the motorcycles much safer by reducing the braking distance. A slipper clutch allows the rider to downshift aggressively and eliminates any wheel hop in the process, allowing the engine to brake properly. The use of engine braking and ABS brakes in full force brings down the stopping distance. Here are seven such bikes that come with ABS and slipper clutch.

Yamaha YZF-R15

Price: 1.26 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi

Yamaha launched the much-awaited all-new YZF-R15 V3 earlier this year. The Indian version of the bike misses out on certain features like upside-down forks, aluminium footpegs and the sticky Metzeler tyres. The all-new bike also gets an all-new liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that produces a maximum of 19.3 PS and 14.7 Nm.

The Yamaha R15 V3 is an all-new bike that gets an all-new engine. It gets the Deltabox frame, which is available with the previous generation bikes too. The bike also gets a slipper clutch, which lets the rider downshift quickly without any rear-wheel jerk. The R15 V3 is the only bike in the segment that offers a 6-speed transmission and being a track-oriented bike, the slipper clutch helps reduce the gearshift time.

KTM 390 Duke

Price: Rs. 2.39 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi

The KTM 390 Duke has become quite popular in the Indian market. The 390 Duke is a value-for-money performance bike, which appeals to enthusiasts and young riders. The KTM 390 Duke is quite powerful too. It is powered by a single-cylinder, liquid-cooled 373-cc engine that generates a maximum of 43 Bhp and 37 Nm. The bike gets many high-tech features like LED headlamps, full-TFT console and more.

It also gets the important dual-channel ABS and a slipper-clutch. KTM introduced the slipper clutch in the last generation of the bike and it became the first affordable motorcycle in the country to offer a slipper clutch in India.

KTM RC 390

Price: Rs. 2.37 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi

The KTM RC 390 is the full-faired sibling of the 390 Duke. The fully-faired KTM RC 390 is a track-spec bike and gets the same engine, transmission and clutch set-up as the 390 Duke. The bike is the preferred choice of many enthusiasts and amateur track riders. The slipper clutch allows the rider to even change gears while taking corners as the slipper clutch prevents wheel hops and keeps the motion smooth.

Bajaj Dominar 400

Price: Rs. 1.6 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi

The Bajaj Dominar comes with a long list of features that includes LED headlamps, slipper clutch, full LCD console, alloy wheels, tubeless tyres and more. The bike is marketed as a long distance touring bike and competes with Royal Enfield bikes in the market. The Dominar became the cheapest bike to offer a slipper clutch in India. The Dominar is available in two variants. The base variant does not get the ABS, while the higher-end variant gets dual-channel ABS with slipper clutch.

TVS Apache RTR 200

Price: Rs. 93,685, ex-showroom, Delhi

This is the most affordable bike to offer slipper clutch and ABS in the Indian market. The Apache RTR 200 4V looks extremely sharp with tank extensions and sleek body design. The Apache RTR 200 4V also gets LED DRLs and W-shaped grab rails. If you’re looking for an aggressive looking bike with good performance, then this is the bike for you.

The Apache RTR 200 4V is powered by a 197.3-cc, single-cylinder engine that generates a maximum power of 20.3 Bhp and 18.1 Nm of peak torque. The bike also gets an Anti-reverse Slipper Clutch (A-RT). The Apache gets sharp graphics that makes it stand out in the crowd. This is the only slipper-clutch equipped bike in the TVS line-up at the moment.

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650

Price: Rs. 2.65 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi

Royal Enfield made waves with the launch of the Continental GT last month. The 650 twins are the most modern bikes by the company yet and get powered by an all-new 648 cc, parallel-twin, air-cooled, SOHC engine that develops a maximum of 47 Bhp power and 52 Nm torque. The Continental GT is a cafe racer styled bike and has a more aggressive seating position than the Interceptor.

The bike get disc brakes on both wheels an with dual channel ABS as standard. Also, the engine is paired to a 6 speed manual gearbox with a slipper clutch as standard. No other Royal Enfield has ever received these features making it a very advanced and safe bike. Though the Continental GT is quite heavy, the combination of ABS and slipper clutch brings the bike to a halt easily.

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Price: Rs. 2.50 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi

The Interceptor 650 is the other bike from the 650 duo launched by Royal Enfield. It gets a more relaxed seating position and is more conventionally styled. The Interceptor has a wider appeal and has been named after a vintage Royal Enfield bike of the same name. Apart from the styling and visual changes, both the bikes bikes of the 650 duo are same.

The Interceptor sports the same 648 cc engine as on the Continental GT with the same output. Like the other bike, it also comes with a slipper clutch and dual channel ABS as standard fitment. The new double cradle frame further aids to its handling, and is among the more modern bits of the bike.

Also Read: Tata Harrier in pick-up truck form: How do you like it?

Hyundai is the second largest manufacturer in the Indian market. The Korean carmaker has a range of models in the Indian market including the entry-level hatchback to the premium SUVs in the form of Tucson. Hyundai is offering year-end discounts on most of its models in the Indian market. Here are all the official discounts being offered by Hyundai in India.

Hyundai Eon

Discounts up to Rs. 65,000

The Hyundai Eon is the entry-level model of the Korean manufacturer. It takes on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Alto in the market and is available only with a petrol engine. The Eon is currently available with a maximum discount of Rs. 65,000. There is an Rs. 50,000 cash discount, Rs. 10,000 exchange bonus plus Rs. 5,000 corporate discount.

Hyundai Grand i10

Discounts up to Rs. 85,000

The Hyundai Grand i10 takes on the Maruti Swift in the market and is popular of its roomy interiors. Hyundai is offering up to Rs. 75,000 discount on the petrol variants of the Grand i10 which includes Rs. 50,000 cash discount, Rs. 20,000 exchange bonus and Rs. 5,000 corporate discount. The diesel variant of the Grand i10 gets Rs. 60,000 cash discount, which takes the total discount to up to Rs. 85,000.

Hyundai Xcent

Discounts up to Rs. 90,000

The Hyundai Xcent is a sub-4-meter sedan based on the Grand i10. Hyundai is currently offering a discount of Rs. 90,000 on the sedan on both petrol and diesel engine options. The sedan takes on the Dzire in the Indian market and gets a cash discount of Rs. 40,000, Rs. 45,000 exchange bonus plus Rs. 5,000 corporate discount.

Hyundai Elite i20, i20 Active

Discounts up to Rs. 55,000

Hyundai Elite i20 and its crossover version, the i20 Active get a maximum discount of Rs. 55,000. The discounts include Rs. 20,000 cash discount, Rs. 30,000 exchange bonus and Rs. 5,000 exchange bonus. Both the models get a similar discount. There are no separate discounts on petrol and diesel versions. Hyundai is offering a uniform discount on both the models.

Hyundai Verna

Discounts up to Rs. 70,000

Hyundai Verna is quite popular for being aggressive and powerful. The all-new Verna has received quite a positive response from the market for the way it handles. Hyundai is offering up to Rs. 70,000 discount on the Verna that includes Rs. 20,000 cash discount, Rs. 30,000 exchange bonus and Rs. 20,000 corporate discount. The Verna is available with both petrol and diesel engine options and there is an automatic and manual transmission available with the sedan too.

Hyundai Elantra

Discounts up to Rs. 1.2 lakhs

The Hyundai Elantra is one of the most popular D-segment sedans that takes on the likes of Toyota Corolla Altis in the Indian market. Hyundai is offering up to Rs. 1.2 lakh discounts on both petrol and diesel engine options of the premium sedan. There is free first-year insurance, Rs. 30,000 exchange bonus and Rs. 30,000 corporate discount on the Elantra.

Hyundai Tucson

Discounts up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs

The Hyundai Tucson is the most expensive car from the manufacturer in India and it also gets the highest discount of up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs. Hyundai is offering free first-year insurance with the Tucson with Rs. 30,000 exchange bonus and Rs. 50,000 corporate discount.

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Kia Motors is setting up a factory at Andhra Pradesh, and the first vehicle to roll out from this manufacturing  facility will be the production version of the SP Concept SUV. The Kia SP SUV will be launched in India later next  year. Manohar Bhat, the vice president of marketing at Kia Motors India, has revealed that the new compact SUV will  be priced similar to the Hyundai Creta.

He has also given a ballpark for pricing of the SUV. The Kia SP Concept SUV’s production version will be priced  between Rs. 10-16 lakhs, ex-showroom. This pricing will pit it directly against the Hyundai Creta, Nissan Kicks and  Renault Captur. Other SUVs that will be indirect competitors will be the lower variants of the Mahindra XUV500 and  the upcoming Tata Harrier.

Production of the SUV will happen early next year. Expect it to hit roads before the middle of the year. Kia will  have a separate sales and service network from that of Hyundai although both brands will share parts and platform.  Kia dealerships are likely to come up in most big cities of India from early next year, in the run up to the SP SUV’s  launch.

The Kia SP SUV will borrow the platform from the Hyundai Creta. While the gearboxes are likely to be the same as  those available on the Creta – 6 speed manual and automatic units – the diesel engine in expected to be different.  The Kia SP SUV is expected to debut a new, 1.5 liter turbocharged diesel engine that will eventually makes its way  into Hyundai cars and SUVs.

This diesel engine has been developed with the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 emission norms in mind. The next generation Creta and Verna will use the new diesel engine. In case of the petrol engine though, the same 1.6 liter unit that powers the Hyundai Creta currently is likely to be used on the Kia SP SUV. This motor makes 121 Bhp-151 Nm in its current state of tune on the Creta, and a similar tune is likely on the Kia.

The monocoque bodied SUV is likely to be front wheel drive-only, just like the Hyundai Creta. As for interiors and  styling, both aspects will be totally different. The Kia SP gets a front end that resembles the Tata Harrier, and  looks very different from the Hyundai Creta. It’s likely to be larger than the Hyundai Creta but only slightly. It  will be a five seater.

There are a slew of new SUVs all set to hit India’s compact SUV segment. The Tata Harrier will be the first off the block, with its launch slated for early January. The Nissan Kicks will follow soon after, and the Kia SP will arrive sometime during the middle of the year. So, for prospective buyers, the middle of next year would be a good time to go shopping as that would give them a clear picture on what to opt for.

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Also Read: Tata Harrier in pick-up truck form: How do you like it?