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4 Hyundai cars make it to the India’s top 10 selling cars list for the first time ever

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South Korean auto manufacturer Hyundai is finally inching towards its sales goal to achieve 50,000 unit sales in the coming year. The overall car sales figure for November told a similar story, which featured 4 Hyundai cars in the top 10 selling cars of India.

The top 10 list, which is largely dominated by Maruti Suzuki, saw many changes this time around indicating towards a shift in sales. To be more precise, the top six slots were occupied by Maruti Suzuki while the later four were taken by Hyundai vehicles.

40444 Hyundai Elite I20 1

This is for the first time ever that Hyundai has achieved such a feat and the credit for it goes to the new Santro. Talking about the other cars, the four Hyundai cars which made it to the list are i20, Creta, Grand i10 and the Santro. They were positioned as 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th respectively. While the other three are a regular feature of the list, the Santro is the latest entrant on the list.

We already told you how the all new Santro became one of the quickest vehicle to make it to the top 10 after launch. The latest hatchback by the company was launched on 21st October and in just 2 months after its launch, the car anchored on the number 10 position of the top 10 list. Hyundai sold a total of 9,009 units of the Santro in November 2018, which is a very good figure for a new car.

Santro 4

Talking of sales, the company sold a total of 10,555 units of their premium hatchback i20, and 9,677 units of the Creta SUV during the October-November period. Hyundai Grand i10 came ninth with 9,252 units of the car being sold. The total Hyundai sales figure stood at 43,709 in November 2018. This is actually less than what the company achieved in the same month last year, in November 2017. However, the whole automotive sector witnessed a slowdown in November this time so looking at relative conditions, Hyundai performed brilliantly.

Another interesting thing to note is that while the Santro got into the big leagues this time, another vehicle was pushed down the list. We are talking about the Maruti Suzuki Celerio, which left the top 10 list this time. The hatchback was the 10th best selling car in the October sales chart but now is out of the league. however, Maruti has planned a newer version of the car and we expect it to take the fight further on upon being launched.

As of now, Hyundai is focusing towards reaching 50,000 units sales mark, which has been its goal since sometime. With the entry of the latest Santro, we expect that the company would maintain its growth. The automaker will also launch a compact SUV called Styx and a new version of its popular Grand i10 hatchback in the coming time, which could further elevate its sales.

 

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


You can book a Jawa/Jawa 42 motorcycle in less than 5 minutes [Video]

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Last month, Mahindra owned Classic Legends Private Limited relaunched the iconic Jawa brand in India unveiling three new motorcycles in the form of the Jawa, Jawa 42, and Perak. Now Jawa Motorcycles have released a video on their youtube page showing a step by step process that allows prospective owners to book their new Jawa motorcycle in under 5 minutes.

The new video, which is basically a 5-step guide to booking either a Jawa or a Jawa 42 online at www.jawamotorcycles.com for a refundable deposit of Rs 5,000. The process starts by visiting the Jawa Motorcycles website which has been linked above. Once on the website, click on the book now box highlighted in maroon on the top right section of the website.

If you have not logged into the site before, the book now link will take you to a page through which you can sign up to the Jawa website. You can do this by either giving your name, email id and phone number and get verified via mobile verification or you can sign using your Google or Facebook, though doing so via social credentials will require another step to verify your phone number.

Jawa 42 Galatic Green

However, if you are already logged in to the Jawa Motorcycles website, the book now box will take you to the Booking page, where you can choose between the Jawa and the Jawa 42 motorcycles, deliveries of which will start in early January 2019. Jawa’s third motorcycle, the Perak, is currently not offered and is expected to be available a bit later in 2019.

Once, prospective owners have selected their bike of choice, they can choose between three colour options for the Jawa – Black, Grey and Maroon and five for the 42. The Jawa 42 is offered in two glossy finish paint schemes – Nebula Blue and Comet Red – along with four matte finish paint jobs – Starlight Blue, Lumos Lime, Halley’s Teal, and Galactic Green.

Jawa 9

After choosing the colours of the future Jawa bikes, customers then have to give out a few more details regarding their addresses before reading and agreeing to the terms and conditions and hitting Pay Now. A small pop-up window will now show allowing you to pay a refundable amount of Rs 5,000 via your preferred payment method. If you’ve managed to go through all these steps, then you should look forward to your new Jawa arriving sometime very early next year. The final ex-showroom prices for the Jawa and the 42 are Rs 1.55 lakhs and Rs 1.64 lakhs respectively

The Jawa and the Jawa 42 are the first two offerings from the reborn Jawa Motorcycles and are both powered by the same short stroke single cylinder engine that displaces 293 cc. The engine for the two bikes features fuel injection and liquid cooling produces 27 Bhp and 28 Nm of torque and are paired to a 6-speed gearbox.

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

Cop busts Harley Davidson Street 750 rider for speeding: Loves the bike! [Video]

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Harley Davidson are loved all over the world for their design, powerful engines and exhaust note among many others. The revered motorcycle marque is one of the oldest surviving brand and has a rich history. In India, Harley’s come at a high price due to them being either CBUs or CKD units.

But this doesn’t deters the numerous enthusiasts from owning one. And how can the cops be spared of the bewitching beauty these bikes posses, they after all are humans too. We today bring you a video which shows the same. Video courtesy MadrasMotorHead

 

In the video, we see two riders being stopped by police on a highway in Karnataka. As the riders were in full riding gear, the cops suspected they were indulging in a street race, which later turned out was not the case. The bikes in question are a Harley Davidson Street 750 and a Benelli TNT 300. The Benelli, however, was all ignored as the policemen were quite fascinated by the blue Harley cruiser.

The cops first inquired whether the bike riders were racing as they were riding high powered bikes. On being assured that this was not the case, they further began to ask about the bike and its details. The guys then tell the cops that its a Harley Davidson cruiser motorcycle, has a very easy riding stance and can be ridden comfortably over long distance. Upon being told that the bike costs up wards of Rs. 5 lakhs, they become more interested in the bike and ask the typical ‘Kitna deti hai’ (read mileage) question.

Cop Harley

They are also curious about the various gizmos the bikers had attached to their helmets, which the bikers told were a helmet mounted camera and helmet intercom system. They further told the cops that they used the camera to record their journey and adventures. They were further taken aback when they inquired about the engine displacement, which turned out to be 750 cc. This were astonished by this and were further interested in the motorcycle.

They asked the riders if they could ride one, to which the guys wholeheartedly agreed. After understanding the gearing, the first cop (in plain dress) took the Harley for a short spin, only to be more delighted by it. Then the other policeman took the reins of the Harley in his hands and went for a quick ride. Wee couldn’t help but notice how impressed he was with the bike upon returning. It even suited his personality and the policeman on a Harley looked rather impressive.

Harley Davidson Street 750

Lastly, the bikers bid farewell to the now happy cops and thank them. The cops were so happy that they also thanked the guys and even asked them out for tea, to which the guys politely declined by saying they had a long road ahead of them. This video goes on to show that not all fully geared riders on powerful bikes are breaking law by racing and not all policemen are the same. Some may even share your ride leading to a lifelong memory.

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

Kia to launch Maruti Brezza challenger in India: Details

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South Korean carmaker Kia will be entering India in 2019 with an all-new SUV based on the SP Concept unveiled at Auto Expo earlier this year. Now a new report states that the second new model from Kia for India is a sub-4-metre SUV to rival the likes of the Maruti Brezza, Ford EcoSport and Hyundai’s upcoming compact SUV, that will be unveiled at Auto Expo 2020, ahead of its launch later that year.

Kia Sub 4 Meter Compact Suv

The report claims that Kia’s new compact offering will be the smallest SUV that the carmaker has ever made. The new compact SUV will be part of Kia’s 5-pronged launch into India which could also see models like the massive Toyota Innova Crysta rivalling Grand Carnival MPV (which can seat up to 11 people in one configuration) hit Indian roads.

Autocar India claims that the new Kia sub-4-metre compact SUV will come loaded with features and offer its own distinctive styling and offer premium interiors and a long list of features including a touchscreen infotainment system.

The new Kia compact SUV will be underpinned by the same platform that will be seen with the upcoming Carlino Concept-based compact SUV that could bear the name Styx. However, unlike the Styx, Kia’s SUV is expected to be priced at a premium compared to its rivals in a segment currently dominated by the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza.

The new concept SUV is also expected to share powertrain options with the upcoming Hyundai Styx. So expect, Hyundai’s new-for-India 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine to find its way under the hood of the offering from Kia. The diesel motor on Hyundai’s upcoming Maruti Brezza rival is expected to be the 1.4-litre unit from the i20. Both engines will be compliant with BS-VI emission norms which also go into effect in 2020. However, both the engines are expected to be in a different state of tune under the bonnet of the upcoming Kia compact SUV.

hyundai carlino cartoq render

The Kia SUV is also expected to offer a sportier suspension setup compared to Hyundai’s offering. There are no details available on transmission options but if the new Kia SUV shares its mechanical parts with Hyundai’s upcoming Maruti Brezza rival then, then it could end up with an AMT gearbox as its automatic offering as the Styx is expected to be offered with the same transmission option.

Kia, which is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor group has big plans for India and will be launching 5 new cars in India in an 18 month time period. Kia is already setting up its production facility in Andhra Pradesh which when fully operational will produce 3 lakh cars per annum. In addition to the two SUVs, Kia is also planning on introducing a hatchback and a mid-size sedan in India. The large Grand Carnival MPV is also another model being considered for an Indian debut.

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

This modified Fortuner looks absolutely STUNNING

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The Toyota Fortuner is the best selling full size SUV in India. It has been the reigning king since a long time now and slowly has also made its way into many modifications garages. While there are many modified examples around, the one we bring you today is quite different. Ever heard of sober perfection, because that’s what this Fortuner is all about. It has been beautifully worked upon by Autobacs, the same guys who also made the wild Darkseid Ford Endeavour. Now take a good look at this beauty before we go any further.

Fortuner Mod Front

As evident from the pictures itself, this Fortuner gets some pretty nice looking modifications on it. Starting off with the front section, the grille has been replaced with a new unit which seems to be inspired by the bigger and badder Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.

The bumper is also replaced with a new unit and the headlights now sport custom LED inserts. There is a Hilux off road snorkel in place too in order to help with water wading. The bonnet gets a big bonnet scoop which adds further to the muscular personality.

Meanwhile, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado costs close to a crore and the Fortuner is priced at about Rs. 30 lakhs. So, this modification effectively gives the owner the look of a much more expensive SUV at a bargain basement price tag. Not bad at all.

Fortnuer Mod Feature

Rest of the design has been kept mostly clean and what makes this one look a bit different. The rear end gets a new custom bumper along with a new diffuser. There are twin rectangular silencer pods in place too, which look quite cool. However, the most striking features of this Fortuner are its tyres and suspension. The already high suspension of the Fortuner has been lifted by a further 4 inches. This makes it a high stanced, butch looking SUV and quite imposing too.

Fortuner Mod

The SUV also gets butch tyres with extremely stylish, black coloured alloy wheels. The alloys are not your regular multi spoked units but rather stylish diamond pattern ones. Comparing the stock Fortuner with this beautifully done piece here, we have already picked our sides. To be precise, the swooning beauty takes the crown easily.

The Toyota Fortuner gets powered by both petrol and diesel engine options. The 2.7 litre petrol unit produces 164 Bhp of power along with 245 Nm of torque. The 2.8 litre diesel engine churns out 174 Bhp of power and 450 Nm of torque. The Fortuner has both a manual and an automatic gearbox as options. The manual is a 5-speed unit while the automatic is a 6 speed unit.

This Fortuner mod again shows how a beautifully modified SUV does not necessarily mean that it has to be over done or carry a large number of changes. some nice touches here and some alloys there go a long way in enhancing the appeal of your vehicle. However, modification has always been about how you want your car to be, so never go according to the popular perception.

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

Maruti Ciaz BEATS Honda City in November sales: Toyota Yaris at 5th place!

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The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is firmly back in the driver’s seat. In November 2018, amid festive buying fervour, the flagship sedan from Maruti sold 3,838 units. The next best selling C-Segment sedan was the Honda City, which did  3,531 units. The Hyundai Verna finished third with a surprising dip in numbers, at 2,558 units. By Skoda standards,  the Rapid did rather well with 809 units while the Toyota Yaris continued its slump, and managed only 600 units.

Ciaz Front Profile

The Yaris is now one of Toyota’s least selling mass market car, just ahead of the much more pricier Corolla Altis,  which is due for a generation change soon. The continued sales slump of the Yaris has prompted Toyota dealers to  offer discounts of up to Rs. 1 lakh on the car. At the lower price point, the Yaris is an attractive car considering  the equipment on offer.

Even the base variant of the Toyota Yaris comes equipped with 7 airbags, ABS+EBD, front proximity sensors and many other safety features. Even the base variant of the car gets an automatic option, making the Yaris quite attractive for buyers looking for convenience in a relatively affordable package. The car does not offer a diesel engine even as an option, and this strategy from Toyota could have backfired.

The car is offered with a 1.5 liter petrol engine that is a competent performer but not firecracker. The motor pushes  out 108 PS of peak power and 140 Nm of peak torque. A 6 speed manual, and a torque converter automatic gearbox with 7 stepped shifts, are available. Ex-showroom prices of the Toyota Yaris start from Rs. 9.26 lakhs on an average. If you bargain hard, great deals are on offer.

Coming back to the best seller of this month – the Ciaz – the car was recently introduced with a facelift. This has  made the Ciaz the freshest C-Segment sedan in the country. The Ciaz has two engine options on offer – a 1.5 liter K-  Series petrol with 104 PS-138 Nm and a 1.3 liter turbocharged diesel with 89 Bhp-200 Nm. Both engines get mild  hybrids, making them more efficient than competition.

As for gearboxes, the petrol engine gets 5 speed manual and 4 speed torque converter automatic options while the  diesel gets a 5 speed manual as standard. The Maruti Ciaz has traditionally been big on value, and the facelifted  version continues in the same mould. The car’s prices start from Rs. 8.19 lakhs, and this makes the Ciaz one of the  least priced C-Segment sedans in the market.

The second best seller – the Honda City – is turning out a remarkable performance despite reaching its the last  couple of years of its life cycle. The car has big badge value, and this is a reason why buyers continue to flock to  it despite a premium price tag. The City is offered with petrol and diesel engine options. Like the Ciaz, the petrol  engined variants of the City get manual and automatic gearboxes while the diesel is a manual-only affair. Prices of  the City start from Rs. 8.97 lakhs.

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

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

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We’ve already shown you multiple new iterations of the upcoming Tata Harrier, some of which could eventually hit the production here. It’s not uncommon for SUVs to become pick up trucks, even in case of monocoque SUVs. Such SUV-based pick up trucks are popular in South America. Keeping this in mind, we got out rendering artist to put together a pick-up truck version of the Tata Harrier. Here’s what it could look like.

Tata Harrier Pickup Render Cartoq

As the render shows, the Tata Harrier pick-up truck gets an elongated rear and a double cab passenger compartment. If something like this is ever built, expect it to be a five seater with a large loading bed. The rear end shows a totally new design in terms of the tail lamps and bumper. While the render tries to take a sporty approach with the pick up truck, an actual production version could look a lot more sober, and functional.

Renault has a pick-up truck version of the monocoque bodied Duster SUV, and Hyundai has also shown a similar concept based on the Creta. Both vehicles are meant for the South American market. Similarly, a Tata Harrier based pick up truck, if built, may not be sold in India but in South America. Since Tata has a very limited presence in that part of the world, the possibility of this happening is remote.

Closer home though, in Kerala, an enthusiast has modified his Renault Duster into a dual-cab pick up truck. Also,  there are no dearth of such modifications. Mahindra, through its customization department, has built multiple such  pick up trucks based on the Scorpio. Called the Scorpio Xtreme, this custom vehicle is even offered by Mahindra for  those who can afford a steep price tag.

So, if the Tata Harrier pick-up truck gets built, we expect it to happen through the enthusiast route rather than the manufacturer route. And for those interested in building such a vehicle, our render should give you an idea on the  various possibilities. A lifted version with metal bumpers and off road tyres would really bring out the butch-ness of  the Tata Harrier’s design.

Talking about the regular version of the Tata Harrier, the SUV will make its India debut in early January. Even as  you’re reading this, Tata dealers across India are taking bookings for the new SUV. Tata Motors is reportedly looking  at a price tag between Rs. 16-21 lakhs, on-road, for the new SUV. This will make the Tata Harrier the most expensive  car that Tata Motors has ever sold in India.

The SUV will be offered with a single engine-transmission combination. The engine is a 2 liter Fiat Multijet  turbocharged diesel unit with 140 Bhp-350 Nm. The gearbox is a six speed unit that drives the front wheels. An automatic version of the Harrier, with a 6 speed torque converter automatic gearbox sourced from Hyundai will be offered sometime later next year.

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

Alia Bhatt to Kareena Kapoor: Bollywood actresses & their Land Rover SUVs

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The leading ladies of Bollywood’s silver screens are perhaps even more well known than their male counterparts these days. Like the actors of tinsel town and the rest of us Indians, Bollywood’s heroines also seem to be obsessed with SUVs from British brand Land Rover. In this post, we’ll take a look at 10 Bollywood actresses and their Land Rover SUVs.

Alia Bhatt – Range Rover Vogue

Alia Bhatt Range Rover Vogue
via team-bhp

Alia Bhatt debuted in Bollywood in 1999’s Sangharsh as a child actor. Her first major role as an adult came in Karan Johar’s 2012 hit Student of the Year. Since then Alia’s star has been on the rise and she’s one of the most bankable leading ladies in Bollywood today.

Alia’s Land Rover of choice is the Range Rover Vogue. The Range Rover is the largest and most luxurious off-roader from Land Rover. Alia’s Vogue draws power from a 3.0-litre turbo V6 diesel engine that cranks out 240 Bhp and 600 Nm of torque, which is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed gearbox.

Malaika Arora – Range Rover Vogue

Malaika Arora Range Rover Vogue
via team-bhp

Known more for her roles in item numbers, Malaika Arora first made her way into Bollywood as a dancer in the iconic song Chaiyya Chaiyya from Dil Se. The actress recently picked up a dark blue Range Rover Vogue V6 diesel for herself which features permanent all-wheel drive and one of the most luxurious rear seats in an SUV south of a Rolls Royce Cullinan.

Anushka Sharma – Range Rover Vogue V8

Anuskha Sharma Range Rover Vogue
via team-bhp

Actress Anushka Sharma debuted in Bollywood alongside King Khan himself in 2008’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Since her debut, Anushka has starred in hit movies like PK, Sultan and Sanju. She is currently married to the captain of the Indian cricket team.

Anushka also owns a Range Rover. However, her British SUV draws power from a 44-litre turbocharged V8 diesel engine that puts out 335 Bhp and 740 Nm of torque which is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox and a permanent four-wheel-drive system.

Jacqueline Fernandez – Range Rover Vogue

Sri Lankan actress Jacqueline Fernandez debuted in the 2009 fantasy flick Aladin. She has acted in quite a few movies over her career with her biggest hit being the 2014 movie Kick, where she starred alongside Salman Khan. Jacqueline Fernandez owns an older-spec Range Rover Vogue, though hers does come fitted with a rather distinctive body kit.

Shilpa Shetty – Range Rover Vogue

Shilpa Shetty is the latest Bollywood actress to join the Range Rover Vogue club. The actress was recently gifted a Range Rover Vogue by her husband Raj Kundra to celebrate their 9th wedding anniversary.

Kareena Kapoor – Range Rover Vogue

Kareena Kapoor has become one of the most recognizable and bankable actresses in Bollywood since debuting in 2000’s Refugee. Over the years, she has acted in some of Bollywood’s biggest hits including Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, 3 Idiots, Jab We Met, Ra One and many more She is currently married to Actor Saif Ali Khan, the current Nawab of Pataudi and the couple have a young son.

Kareena’s Land Rover of choice is an older-gen Range Rover Vogue. She along with her husband Saif have been spotted moving about in Mumbai in the SUV.

Karisma Kapoor – Land Rover Freelander 2

Karisma Kapoor is the older sister of Kareena Kapoor and was one of the best-known actresses of the 1990s and 2000s in Bollywood. It has been quite a while since the former leading lady of Bollywood has been spotted on the silver screen. Karisma’s Land Rover of choice is a Freelander 2. Land Rover no longer produces the Freelander, which was powered by a 2.2-litre engine. The Freelander’s diesel motor came in two states of tune – 148 Bhp and 420 Nm of torque or 188 Bhp and 420 Nm of torque.

Huma Qureshi – Land Rover Freelander 2

Actress Huma Qureshi made her Bollywood debut in Anurag Kashyap’s 2012 Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1. She reprised her role as Mohsina in the second part of the series which released later that same year. She has since acted in movies like Dedh Ishqiya, Badlapur, and Jolly LLB 2. Qureshi’s Land Rover of choice is the Freelander 2. Land Rover no longer produces the Freelander SUV.

Urvashi Rautela – Range Rover Evoque

Urvashi Rautela Range Rover Evoque
via team-bhp

Actress and model Urvashi Rautela made her Bollywood debut in the 2013 movie Singh Saab the Great. Two years later she represented India at the 2015 Miss Universe pageant after winning Miss Diva 2015. Urvashi Rautela has been spotted numerous times in and around tinsel town in a white Range Rover Evoque, the baby SUV of the Land Rover lineup worldwide. The Evoque is powered by JLR’s Ingenium series of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel four-cylinder engines.

Shruti Haasan – Range Rover Evoque

Shruti Hassan with her Range Rover Evoque

Actress Shruti Haasan made her Bollywood debut in her father’s alternate historical flick Hey Ram in the year 2000. Nine years later she was the leading lady in the movie Luck. Her best-known movie till date is the Tamil flick, 3, best known for its viral hit song ‘Why This Kolaveri Di?’.

Shruti Hassan’s Land Rover of choice is the most affordable SUV that the brand currently sells in India – the Range Rover Evoque. The Evoque is offered with 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines which come paired to a 9-speed automatic gearbox.

Also Read: COSTLIER Skoda Kodiaq sells more than Honda CR-V


Maruti Dzire is India’s best selling sedan in November: Tata Tigor beats Ford Figo Aspire

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The Maruti Dzire is continuing its dream run in the Indian market. November 2018 has seen the Maruti Dzire clock  21,037 units in sales, retaining its top perch. The next best seller was far, far behind. The Honda Amaze managed  just 4,854 units, a steep fall from the 9,000 odd units it did a couple of months after launch. The back markers in  the compact sedan category include the recently launched Ford Figo Aspire and the Volkswagen Ameo.

maruti dzire discounts

The Ameo clocked just 506 units while the Ford Figo Aspire managed 1,583 units. That’s pretty low for a car that is  so well priced, and that just received a mid life makeover months ago. For those who want a fun car at a super  affordable price tag, the Ford Figo Aspire still ticks all the right boxes.

The Tata Tigor, which also got a top-end variant recently, is doing just about average, with sales of 2,156 units,  which is actually a big month-on-month fall of over 35 %. The Tata Tigor is simply getting overshadowed by other  compact sedans, and also its sibling, the Tiago hatchback.

The Hyundai Xcent, which is reaching the end of its lifecycle, has clocked 2,495 units, with a chunk of sales coming  from the cab segment. Another compact sedan, whose sales come primarily from the cab market is the Tata Zest, which did 1,208 units in November 2018. As the sales numbers indicate, the compact sedan market is totally dominated by the Maruti Dzire, which is also the country’s best selling sedan, by far.

The Maruti Dzire finds takers not just in the private buyer market but also among fleet operators. In fact, the car  is one the most popular options in the app-based cab aggregator fleets. Big buying by app-based cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola means that the Dzire continues its good run, month after month. Private car buyers are also opting for the car due to multiple reasons.

Firstly, the Maruti Dzire is a tried and tested brand in India, and the third generation model is no different. It’s  well priced, fuel efficient and offers a range of variants to suit a wide buying audience. Resale value is excellent  and so is reliability and after sales service. The Dzire continues to be an affordable car to own and maintain, which  is also a key reason why it’s so popular in the fleet market.

Coming to the engines on offer with the Dzire, there’s a 1.2 liter petrol motor with 82 Bhp-113 Nm on tap, and a 1.3  liter turbocharged diesel motor with 74 Bhp-190 Nm. Both engines get 5 speed manual and AMT options, and are among the most fuel efficient units in the segment. The Dzire now gets ABS and twin airbags as standard across the range. Prices start from Rs. 5.6 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi, and there are discounts of upto Rs. 50,000 on select variants.

The Dzire has an ultra successful sibling in India, called the Swift. The Swift is virtually a Dzire minus the three box style. The Swift shares its engines and gearboxes, and most features. However, the interior colour scheme is different, and so are certain styling elements on the outside. The Swift is priced a few tens of thousands cheaper than the Dzire, and is now clocking sales of 20,000 units per month.

Also Read: COSTLIER Skoda Kodiaq sells more than Honda CR-V

Wrong-side driving claimed CEO’s life; Court orders Rs 4.5 crore compensation

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India has one of the most dangerous roads in the world that sees numerous accidents every day. In an accident that took place in 2016, the Bombay High Court has ordered the insurance firm – New India Insurance to pay a total sum of Rs. 4.6 crores to the family of the deceased.

Insurance

The deceased Ravindra Kulkarni was CEO of Tata Precision, Singapore. He was travelling with his family from Pondicherry to Chennai in a car when a Toyota Innova crashed into his vehicle at an extremely high speed. The Innova was driving on the wrong side of the road and was insured By New India Insurance. All the family members in the car sustained serious injuries and four people including Ravindra succumbed to their injuries. Ravindra, his son Aniket and the driver of the vehicle died on the spot of the accident. Later, the Shailaja Kulkarni, who was the wife of Ravindra died due to the injuries.

A case was registered against the Toyota Innova under the Sections 279, 337, 338 and 304A of Indian Penal Code. The parents of Ravindra filed a claim petition before the MACT, Pune and filed for a compensation of Rs. 2.1 crores under different heads with 18 per cent interest. The New India Insurance approved a final grant of Rs. 2.5 crores, which was later revised by the Bombay High Court.

The Bombay High Court took various things into account before revising the claim amount. Ravindra worked as the CEO in Tata Precision, Singapore and earned 11,153 Singapore Dollars every month. He was the sole earner in the family and is now survived by parents who are close to 70 years old and his son Ashish, who is 22 years old. The family came under sudden financial strain and due to the death of the sole bread-earner in the family, the future of the family became uncertain. Parents of Ravindra also claim that Ashish is suffering from mental and physical trauma and his future looks extremely bleak.

The New India Insurance Agency, in turn, appealed that the driver of the Toyota Innova was driving under the influence of alcohol. The insurance said that the insurer cannot be held liable vicariously as the blame lies with the drive. The High Court rejected the argument by saying:

“Insurance Company would not be entitled to raise the said grounds. In any event the said grounds do not fall within the statutory defences which are available to an insurer under Section 149 of the Motor Vehicles Act to the Insurer.”

BASIS OF COMPUTATION Actual Annual Income – Rs.40,15,080/­- (11,153 SD x 30 (Conversion rate) X 12 Future Prospects (30%) – Rs.12,04,524/­- Deduction towards Personal Expenses – Rs.17,39,868/­- (1/3rd of Rs.52,19,604/-­) Total Annual Income – Rs Rs.34,79,736/-­ Multiplier – 13 COMPENSATION 1) Loss of Dependency – Rs.4,52,36,568/­- 2) Loss of Love and Affection – Rs.1,50,000/­- (Rs.50,000/- each to the Respondents/Claimants) 3) Funeral Expenses – Rs.1,00,000/-, 4) Loss of Estate – Rs.15,000/­- 5) Loss of Parental and Filial Consortium – Rs.1,20,000/­- (Rs.40,000/-­ to each of the Respondents/Claimants) 6) Total Compensation – Rs.4,56,21,568/­-

The court had deducted Rs. 3,000 Singapore Dollar for the paid by Tata Precision for house rent allowance and Rs. 3 lakh granted to the family by the same employer.

Source

Also Read: COSTLIER Skoda Kodiaq sells more than Honda CR-V

Tata Harrier-based H7X 7-seat SUV: New details revealed!

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Tata Motors has revealed their next SUV, the Harrier completely. The all-new 5-seater SUV would be the first model from the brand that will be based on the Jaguar Land Rover platform. Tata will announce the price of the all-new Harrier in January 2019 and they have already started working on the 7-seat version of the SUV.

Tata H7x Render
Via IAB

A Tata official during the official media drive event of the Harrier revealed a few details of the 7-seat version of the Harrier that has been internally codenamed as the H7X. It is expected to be out in the market by the end of 2019 and has been spotted testing on the roads too.

 

As the Harrier would target the young buyers, the H7X would target the family car buyers who require a family car with more seats. The H7X would be based on the same OmegaArc platform as the Harrier but to accommodate the extra row with two seats, Tata would increase the overall length of the vehicle by 200mm. The increase in the body’s length would also affect the wheelbase of the vehicle. The Harrier is quite long in dimensions and it measures longer than the Mahindra XUV. The increase in 200mm would mean a massive vehicle on the road and roomier space for the last row passengers. The H7x would also get a much flatter and straighter roofline when compared to the Harrier. This would ensure that there is ample headroom space for the last row passengers.

The increase in length would also mean that Tata would provide ample space for the luggage. Most of the seven-seater vehicles lack boot space when all the three-rows are in standing position. For example, the Mahindra XUV 500 offers only 93-litres of boot space with all the three-rows up, which can barely hold any luggage. However, the H7X is expected to get a much better luggage space, which will eliminate the need of installing a roof carrier.

The Tata Harrier offers the 2.0-litre Multijet diesel engine from Fiat that generates a maximum of 140 PS and 350 Nm. Tata has not revealed the official fuel efficiency figures of the Harrier but Jeep Compass uses a retuned version same engine which generates a much higher power. The lower power will allow Tata to put an impressive fuel efficiency tag on the vehicle. The H7X is expected to get the same engine option when launched in the market, However, there are strong chances that Tata may tweak the engine to increase the power in the H7X due to its higher weight.

Tata would offer the 6-speed manual transmission with the H7X after the launch. However, there can be an automatic version of the H7X during the time of the launch. Tata has ruled out the AWD or 4X4 option from both the versions of the vehicle but it gets a Terrain Response System that allows it to climb on the snow and tricky surfaces like sand.

Also Read: COSTLIER Skoda Kodiaq sells more than Honda CR-V

High performance Maruti Swift RS India launch timeline revealed?

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India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch a faster version of the popular Swift hatchback in India. According to a report in the Financial Express, the hot hatchback, which will bear the moniker Swift RS will likely be launched in India in the month of April 2019.

Maruti Swift Rs

Suzuki already sells a hot hatch version of its popular small car called the Swift Sport in multiple international markets. The Swift Sport is powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 140 Bhp and 230 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and the car also features a stiffer suspension setup compared to the regular Swift.

Unfortunately for us in India, the Swift RS is not going to be the Swift Sport with a different badge. Instead of getting the 1.4-litre boosterjet engine from the Sport, the Swift hot hatchback for India will instead get the engine from the Baleno RS, ie: the 1.0-litre turbo triple which is also part of the boosterjet lineup of engines from Suzuki. The smaller engine pushes out 101 Bhp at 5,500 rpm and 150 Nm of torque between 1,700 and 4,500 rpm. The engine comes paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Also similar to the case of the Baleno RS, the Swift RS will bring a few cosmetic changes compared to the regular car. These should include RS badges on the exterior and interior along with side skirts and new alloy wheels.

While the performance figures don’t seem like much, the difference between the regular Swift and a potential Swift RS is quite a bit. The regular Swift produces only 82 Bhp and 113 Nm of torque which is 19 Bhp and 37 Nm of torque less than the output of the 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine in the Baleno. Considering that the Swift weighs in at 880 kg at its heaviest, this would give the RS a potential power to weight ratio of 114.77 Bhp/tonne. This gives it a slight advantage over its nearest rival the Tiago JTP which has a power to weight ratio of 110.23 Bhp/tonne, which is mainly due to the fact that the Tiago weighs in at 1,016 kgs.

The Financial Express claims that Maruti will enact a pricing strategy for the Swift RS similar to what they did for the Baleno hot hatch. The Baleno RS was priced just below the top-spec ZXi+ diesel model and if the trend continues with the Swift RS, then the new hatchback could be priced at over Rs 8 lakhs, which could prove to be a misstep if Maruti wants to take on the Tiago JTP with the Swift RS.

At that price point, the Maruti Swift RS would end up being 1.6 lakhs more expensive than its Tata rival, which in a price-conscious market like India, could really affect sales. While the current clamouring for a go-faster model of the Swift may just be the only incentive Maruti needs to put that price tag on the Swift RS the fact that the same performance is available at a much lower price, will cause people to ask if the Swift name next to an RS badge is really enough incentive to buy the hot hatch? We’ll have to wait till April, if Maruti does confirm this report, to find out.

Also Read: COSTLIER Skoda Kodiaq sells more than Honda CR-V

New Maruti Suzuki Ertiga SPIED with bigger diesel engine & 6 speed gearbox

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Maruti launched the new generation Ertiga last month with a 1.5 litre petrol and a 1.3 litre diesel engine. Now while the petrol engine is an all new unit, the diesel is the same unit used on the new Ertiga. However, it was expected that Maruti will soon bring in a new diesel engine to go with the new car. Now latest inputs from GaadiWaadi suggests the same. An Ertiga was recently caught testing that is equipped with the new diesel engine along with a new transmission too.

Ertiga Diesel Spyshot

As seen in the spyshots, the new diesel engine equipped Ertiga is virtually the same physically, except for the changed badging when it is finally launched. The new diesel engine will be a 1.5 litre engine along with being BSVI emission regulations compliant. Also, it will come mated to a new six-speed manual transmission. as for the power output, no official figure can be put out for now. However, it is expected to produce around 110 PS of maximum power and 270 Nm of peak torque. Also, the new engine could be more fuel efficient than the outgoing unit.

Ertiga Diesel Spyshot Gear

The new Ertiga currently comes with two engine options – a 1.3-litre diesel unit and a 1.5-litre petrol unit. Both the engines feature Maruti’s SHVS mild-hybrid setup, which gives a boost to fuel efficiency. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is produces 104 Bhp of power along with 138 Nm of torque. This is the same engine that is found under the hood of the facelifted Ciaz. This petrol engine comes paired with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Ertiga Diesel Spyshot Rear

On the other hand, the 1.3 liter turbocharged diesel engine, on the other hand, produces 89 Bhp of power and 200 Nm of torque. However, it does not have an automatic transmission option, and comes only with the 5-speed manual transmission. It was earlier speculated that the car with come with a new Diesel engine from the time of launch itself but that didn’t Maruti decided to go on with the older powertrain instead. The 89 Bhp diesel engine is a very efficient unit and is used on other Maruti cars too. However, for the Ertiga it is a bit under powered which is the reason why the company is ditching it in favour of a more powerful 1.5 litre unit.

The new Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is larger and better than the model it replaces in almost all aspects. It comes with a bigger cabin, better exterior design as well as more powerful petrol engine. The MPV is also loaded with enough features to take on the competition. As of now, the Ertiga does not have a direct competition at its sticker price of 7.44 lakhs. However, it is positioned to attract customers from other segments and higher classes who would have otherwise gone for a compact SUV in the same price range or even the Mahindra Marazzo.

Also Read: COSTLIER Skoda Kodiaq sells more than Honda CR-V

Tata Nexon becomes India’s first car to score a PERFECT 5 stars in Global NCAP safety test

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Tata Nexon, which was earlier tested by Global NCAP in August 2016 was re-tested to receive highest ever points by a made-in-India vehicle. The Nexon received 16.06 points out of 17, which is the highest ever achieved by any car ever made in India. This adds one more star to the Nexon’s earlier 4-star rating by the same testing agency.

The new 5-star rating has been updated by the Global NCAP agency and Alejandro Furas, Technical Director, Global NCAP explains the same,

“The ABS, or anti-locking brakes, in a full channel version, is a standard fitment for all the cars, so all the Nexon’s wheels have ABS in four channels. At the same time, the seat belt reminder was also now introduced by the manufacturer as a standard feature for driver and passenger side as well.”

It should be noted that the Tata Nexon’s body shell, platform and structure remained unchanged from the tests that were done in August 2018. Even the number standard dual front airbags of the Nexon remain the same. It is only the addition of the full-channel version of ABS in the Nexon as standard fitment plus the seatbelt reminder of the driver and the passenger raises the score of the vehicle. Even the 3-star rating given to the child safety remains exactly as earlier.

David Ward, Global NCAP Secretary-General said,

“This is a huge landmark for car safety in India. Congratulations to Tata Motors for achieving India’s first five star rating for adult occupant protection. Congratulations also to Mahindra for their first four star result. The Nexon was engineered in India and this shows the huge capability of the domestic industry to achieve excellence in safety design and performance. With the Nexon, Tata have shown the global car industry that to achieve five stars you can ‘Make in India’. Global NCAP is looking forward to many more Indian five star cars and further improvements in both pedestrian protection and crash avoidance.”

The new 5-star rating of the Tata Nexon would push many other manufacturers to produce safer cars in the Indian market. The Indian government has already announced that roll-out of Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assesment Program (BNVSAP) that will make the vehicles much safer than they are currently. The mandatory safety program would ensure that all the vehicle sold in the Indian market meet a certain minimum safety net.

Tata Nexon 5 Star Global Ncap Featured

The Tata Motors vehicles have often been appreciated for the impeccable built quality and the Global NCAP results echo the same. Tata has said that in the future all its vehicles would target the 5-star rating and would definitely have a minimum of a 4-star rating. This is expected to become a trend other manufacturers would also follow the steps of the Tata Motors and would want to produce safer cars for the Indian market.

Maruti Vitara Brezza, the Nexon’s chief rival in India, has scored 4 stars in the Global NCAP safety test. It remains to be seen if Global NCAP retests the Brezza in the coming months.

Also Read: COSTLIER Skoda Kodiaq sells more than Honda CR-V

Bajaj Dominar 400 selling at a BIG discount

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The Dominar 400 is the most powerful and expensive motorcycle by Bajaj in India. It is designated as a sports tourer and has muscular bike inspired design language. What is interesting though is the fact that Bajaj is currently offering heavy discounts on the bike, which has made its price equal to the sticker price of the first model, launched back in 2016.

To be precise, Bajaj is offering Rs. 10,000 as discount on the 2018 Dominar currently. The raise in price during the last two years was about Rs. 12,000. This makes the latest Dominar offer a great value with a sticker price that’s literally back to the original launch price.

Dominar 400

Apart from this, Bajaj is still offering the 5-5-5 offer, which it first gave out after the insurance time extending guidelines by the Supreme Court. Under the 5-5-5 offer, the bike gets free 5 year own damage insurance, 5 Free Services (labour only, in the first two years after purchase) along with a 5 year warranty. All this makes the already VFM Dominar to get even more lucrative.

Bajaj is offering all these schemes and discounts on the 373cc machine in the wake of its falling sales. The company has been witnessing a continuous fall in sales of the bike. The company sold 1095 Dominars in September 2018. This was half when compared to same month of previous year. October brought even lower figures with just 659 units sold during the whole month. Therefore, to attract customers back to the brand and the motorcycle, Bajaj is offering such big discount.

2019 Bajaj Dominar 400 Spyshot

Another reason for these discounts could be that Bajaj will be launching a new, facelifted version of the Dominar in 2019 and hence wants to clear all stock before bringing in the new motorcycle. The new bike has been spied several times during its testing phase. It’ll get up-side down front forks, a new exhaust canister and possibly new paint schemes among other changes. In the market, the Dominar is pitted against the Royal Enfield 500 cc series as a more sportier and refined alternative. Bajaj also took a dig at Royal Enfield during its ad campaign, something that became very popular later on.

The Bajaj Dominar 400 is powered by a 373cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled, engine which is a heavily retuned Duke motor. The engine churns out a healthy 34.5 Bhp of power along with 35 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox and the bike also incorporates a slipper clutch for a smooth gear shift, a feature not many bikes in India come with. The bike 400 comes with dual channel ABS as standard and retails at Rs. 1.63 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Via Thrustzone

Also Read: COSTLIER Skoda Kodiaq sells more than Honda CR-V


Mahindra Marazzo is the India’s SAFEST MPV: Global NCAP

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The Mahindra Marazzo has scored an excellent 4 star rating in the latest round of Global NCAP crash tests. This is the highest rating for any Mahindra vehicle till date and also among the MPVs sold in India. The MPV scored a 4-star rating in adult occupant protection and 2-stars in child occupant protection at the rear.

The testing was conducted at the ADAC crash test lab near Munich, Germany. The Marazzo underwent a frontal offset crash test at 64 kmph which is the protocol for Global NCAP tests. The new Indian norms are much less stringent than this and the speed limit for them is 56 kmph. As seen in the video above, the Marazzo fared quite well in the collision with no deformation of A pillar and the cabin maintaining most of its shape. There was no major intrusions into the cabin also, which speaks volumes of the structural strength and rigidity of the Mahindra MPV.

The company has also made sure that the Marazzo is high on security features. All variants of the MPV come equipped with safety features such as dual front airbags, ABS, driver’s side seat-belt reminder, front seat-belt pretensioners and Isofix child seat mounts on rear seats as standard. All these features as standard also affected the overall rating in positive. The 4 start rating makes it even more safer than many butch looking SUVs in the Indian automotive market.

Marazzo Ncap

There were some of the finer aspects to the test that affected the rating from reaching 5 stars. The forward-facing child seat, for instance,  when attached to the Isofix mounts, was not able to stop extreme movement towards the front, which could result into serious injury for children above three years of age. The two star rating in child safety was because reasons like this only. Also, the agency noted that the protection for driver’s chest was not up to the mark and less than satisfactory. The seatbelt reminder available for the front passenger also did not meet the Global NCAP standards.

Talking of  the car, the Mahindra Marazzo gets powered by a 1.5 litre diesel engine that produces 121 Bhp of power and 300 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a six speed manual gearbox, which is standard across all variants. There is no automatic transmission on offer on the MPV, neither is a petrol engine. Starting at Rs. 9.99 lakhs, it has no direct competition as of yet but faces challenge from Maruti Suzuki Ertiga below its range and the Toyota Innova Crysta above its price range.

The Nexon also recently scored 5 starts in the Global NCAP test rankings, which is another achievement for a car developed and sold in India. It finally seems like manufacturers are taking note of passenger safety and are paying attention towards making their vehicles more safe.

Also Read: COSTLIER Skoda Kodiaq sells more than Honda CR-V

COSTLIER Skoda Kodiaq sells more than Honda CR-V

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November has been a month of odds for the automotive industry. Among the various surprises we’ve brought to you till now, here is one more. Skoda sold more units of the Kodiq than Honda CR-V. For those of you who are not much into sales and data, this means that the more expensive and usually less sold SUV (Kodiaq) has outsold the more popular and cheaper SUV (CR-V).

Kodiaq Lk

To be precise, Skoda sold 127 units of the Kodiaq SUV in November, 2018. Meanwhile, Honda only managed to sell 106 units of the CR-V in the same time period. This is surprising because it is always the other way round. Both of them are typical softroaders and best suited for daily city and highway usage. However, the Kodiaq can get more dirty and take you to farther places off the road since it has a 4×4 drive option too. The new variant of the CR-V had been released just a few months back in India.

The Kodiaq too suffered a loss in sales as the company sold 190 units in October as compared to 127 in November. However, the loss was much less pronounced as compared to the Honda SUV. Skoda recently launched a higher trim of their SUV which comes with many new features and kit. Called the L&K (Laurin & Klement), it gets a host of features including an 8 inch touch infotainment system and 9 airbags to name a few.

The L&K trim was advertised aggressively and could be one of the reasons why the SUV fared better than the Honda CR-V. Powering the Kodiaq is a 2.0 TDI diesel engine that generates 148 Bhp of power along with 340 Nm of torque. The engine comes mated to an automatic DSG gearbox, which has quite smooth operation.

On the other hand, the CR-V saw a greater dip as the company sold 228 units in October compared to 106 units in November. This is a drop of about 54% and a huge blow to Honda. Talking of the car, the Honda CR-V is available with two engine options – a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel. The 2.0-litre petrol engine produces 151 Bhp of power and 189 Nm torque. The petrol engine is paired with a CVT automatic gearbox and will only be offered with two-wheel-drive. The 1.6-litres turbocharged diesel engine cranks out 118 Bhp of power and 300 Nm of torque. The engine comes paired to a 9-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters.

Prices for the base model CR-V starts at 28.15 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) and goes all the way up to Rs. 30.65 for the top end variant. The Skoda Kodiaq, on the other hand, is more expensive than the Honda offering and its base model starts at Rs. 33.83 lakhs while the top L&K variant retails for a hefty Rs. 35.99 lakhs.

 

Also Read: COSTLIER Skoda Kodiaq sells more than Honda CR-V

Watch the Tata Harrier SUV bashing sand dunes in a brand new video

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Tata Harrier is currently the most talked-about vehicle in the Indian market. After months of releasing teaser images, Tata has officially unveiled the Harrier completely. The Harrier looks extremely good but misses out on a few crucial features like an AWD system, which would have given it the true-SUV DNA. However, to compensate for the AWD system, Tata has heavily invested in the Terrain Response system that makes it more capable even with the FWD system.

To showcase how capable the Tata Harrier is even with the FWD set-up, Tata has released a new video that shows the Harrier playing in the sand dunes in Rajasthan. The Harrier can be seen sliding through the sand dunes without losing any control, which shows how well it can handle the terrain.

The Tata Harrier gets three drive modes – City, Economy and Sports while there are two more terrain response settings – Wet and Rough roads. The front axle of the Tata Harrier is designed in a way that it sends the power to the wheel which is in contact with the ground.

The advanced ESP system of the Harrier works effectively, ensuring that the Harrier’s capabilities remain better than any other FWD SUVs. In fact, on the media drive, we tried taking the vehicle on a very sandy and rocky path and the power distribution between the front two wheels could be felt. It is the same system that ensured that the Harrier could go around in the sand dunes without getting stuck.

The ESP system of the Tata Harrier gets 14 advanced functions that includes electric brake force distribution, corner stability control, off-road ABS, electronic traction control, rollover mitigation, brake disc wiping, electronic brake pre-fill, hydraulic brake assist, hydraulic fading compensation, dynamic wheel torque by brake, hill hold control and hill descent control.

The top-end version of the Harrier also gets 6 airbags including driver, co-driver, seat side and curtain airbags. All the variants of the Harrier come with ABS as standard. It gets disc brakes in front wheels and drum brakes in the rear. All the systems work together to ensure that the Harrier can climb on respectable off-roading trails. The front fog lamps of the Harrier act as cornering lamps, ensuring that the corners stay light during sharp bends.

Harrier 1

The Tata Harrier is available in four variants and all the versions are powered by the same 2.0-litre Multijet engine paired with the same 6-speed manual transmission. Tata has already started taking bookings for the Harrier officially and the price would be announced in early January. Unofficial estimates range between Rs. 16-21 lakhs.

The production of the Harrier has already started and the deliveries would start by the mid-January. Tata is also working on an extended wheelbase of the Harrier that will accommodate 7 occupants and is internally known as the H7X. The H7X will have styling that’s different from that of the Harrier. Also, it’ll be much longer.

Also Read: All-new Maruti WagonR SPIED ahead of launch: Hyundai Santro challenger

Skoda Scala premium hatchback unveiled: Maruti Baleno rival in the making?

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Czech carmaker Skoda has revealed the all-new Scala premium hatchback at an event in the city of Tel Aviv, Israel. The Skoda Scala which gets its name from the Latin word for a ladder is the Czech marque’s first car to be built on the MQB A0 platform.

Skoda Scala Rear Front Quarter

The Skoda Scala will replace the Rapid in many international markets However, India, where the Rapid is, in essence, a badge-engineered version of the Volkswagen Vento, will only see that sedan replaced by around 2021 as part of the VW Group’s India 2.0 strategy. However, Skoda could bring the Scala for India as it is built on the same MQB A0 platform that will underpin the VW Group’s new set of cars which will start arriving in 2020.

If Skoda does bring the Scala to the Indian market, expect it to be a shortened version, designed to rival the likes of the Maruti Baleno and the Hyundai Elite i20. Both the Maruti Baleno and the Hyundai i20 together sell over 20,000 units each month in India, which means that the opportunity in this segment is huge.  However, sharp pricing will be critical. In order to take on the Maruti Baleno, the Scala will have to duck under 4 meters in length.

The new Skoda Scala debuts the carmaker’s new design language and takes styling cues from the Vision RS concept seen a few months ago at the Paris Motor Show. Up front triangular LED headlamps with integrated daytime running lights flank a blacked out version of Skoda’s butterfly grille which also sports a thick chrome border. Underneath sits the front bumper which features an air dam running from corner to corner at its bottom edge. On either side of the bumper sitting right above the air dam are what appear to be the fog lamps.

Skoda Scala Rear Three Quarter

The sides of the Scala look sculpted and feature a character line connecting the headlamps to the snazzy LED tail lamps at the rear. The rear end itself is rather cool with the fully-glass rear window and the brand’s name written out in chrome in the blacked out section between the taillights.

The interior of the Scala is also brand new and features the use of premium materials like microfibre fabric which is used for the seat upholstery and foam on the dashboard. The multi-layered dashboard looks cool and at its centre is a large touchscreen display for the infotainment system that seemingly ‘floats’ above the rest of the dash. Skoda will also allow owners of the Scala to add a virtual cockpit display to replace the traditional instrument binnacle.

Skoda Scala Interior Dashboard

Skoda will initially offer the Scala with three engine options – two petrol and one diesel. The first petrol unit is a three-cylinder 1.0-litre unit that produces either 99 Hp or 115 Hp. Also offered is a 1.5-litre petrol engine that produces 150 Hp. The final engine is a 1.6-litre diesel that cranks out 115 Hp.

The engines will be paired to three transmission options – 5-speed and 6-speed manuals and a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic. For those looking for a sportier ride, Skoda will offer the Scala with a sports chassis option which reduces the ride height by 15 mm. This also adds four adjustable driving modes which users can change to tweak the response from the steering and the accelerator pedal.

The Skoda Scala goes on sale in the first half of 2019.

 

Also Read: All-new Maruti WagonR SPIED ahead of launch: Hyundai Santro challenger

Jeep Compass BEATS Mahindra XUV500 in November sales

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Jeep Compass has become the most successful vehicle from the FCA garage in India. The compact SUV takes on the likes of Mahindra XUV500 as they both fall in the similar price bracket. Initially, Jeep Compass outsold the XUV500 but after Mahindra launched the facelifted version of the XUV500, the sales of the 7-seater Mahindra skyrocketed and left the Compass way behind.

Compass Beats Xuv Featured

 

The latest sales figure of November 2018 reveals that Fiat sold as many as 1,164 units of the Jeep Compass, which is higher than the 1,032 units of XUV500 sold by Mahindra in the same month. Interestingly, the sales number of both the vehicles have come down when compared to the month of October but Mahindra has lost a higher number of units than the Jeep Compass.

In the month of October Jeep sold 1,518 units of the Compass in the Indian market while Mahindra sold 2,770 units in the market. The sales of the XUV500 came down almost three times but the Jeep lost only a few hundred units of sales.

Jeep Compass Black Pack

This is a general trend every year when the manufacturers post a bumper sale in the October festive season and see a decline in sales in the following months due to the end of the year. Most of the customers wait to buy models manufactured in the fresh year as it makes the resale value stronger.

Manufacturers have seen the trend over the years and try to alter the production to meet the declining demands. It can be a similar case here where Mahindra dispatched lower units of the Mahindra XUV500 due to the low demand in the market.

new mahindra xuv500

Mahindra XUV500 has remained the king of D-Segment since it was introduced in the market. Soon after the launch of the Jeep Compass in the Indian market, the sales of the Mahindra XUV500 went down but it bounced back after the facelifted version of the Mahindra XUV500 was launched earlier this year. Mahindra launched facelifted XUV500 with a more powerful engine and added many new features, which attracted many more customers.

Both Mahindra XUV500 and the Jeep Compass would soon be challenged by the all-new Tata Harrier, which is expected to be launched in the same price segment. It will make the competition much stiffer in the segment. The Mahindra XUV500 is known for its extremely value-for-money deal while the Jeep Compass is popular for its brand value in the Indian market. It would be interesting to see how the market responds to these two popular vehicles when the Tata Harrier launches in the Indian market.

Also Read: All-new Maruti WagonR SPIED ahead of launch: Hyundai Santro challenger

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