Rajiv Bajaj recently confirmed in an interview that Husqvarna will make its way in India by the end of 2019. This comes as a good news for all the enthusiasts as the Swedish brand is known to make some of the best lightweight performance motorcycles in the world. The brand (pronounced Hus-q-vrna) has been long rumored to be coming to India and its motorcycles was even caught testing some time back.

While we already knew that Husqvarna is slated for a 2019 launch, Bajaj MD Rajiv Bajaj’s confirmation puts a seal over it. To let you know, the Husqvarna brand is owned by KTM. Also, Bajaj now owns 47% stake in KTM which means that the Husky is also under Bajaj’s control to quite an extent.

Rajiv Bajaj revealed about this development during a press conference. The bike baron said:

“Definitely Husky will be here in 2019 calendar year and we have some very, very exciting products. We have over half a dozen products under that brand to come in and we are seeking to, in fact, I don’t know if I should say this but I think Husqvarna will become even bigger than KTM has become for us! Not only in India, but worldwide. You see, everything we do is with a world-wide focus,”

What is even more interesting to see here is the fact that the company will bring not 1 or 2 models but around 6-7 models to India. However, they will most probably be launched with a gap of 1-2 months and not all at once. It is likely that Husqvarna will begin its Indian innings with the Svartpilen 401 and the Vitpilen 401 bikes. Both of them are lightweight and wildly designed bikes with powerful engines.

The Vitpilen is a retro, cafe racer styled bike with sporty riding position. However, it is a far cry from conventional cafe racers and features a radical design with fuses the DNA of a cafe racer with a lightweight naked performance bike. The Svartpilen, on the other hand, is a more of a relaxed, scrambler-styled motorcycle which has a wilder design along with typical scrambler traits. Both the bikes are based on the same platform and share the same engine.

Talking of which, both the bikes are powered by a 373cc, four stroke motor that is the same unit which does the duty on KTM 390 series bikes. The liquid cooled engine produces 44 Bhp of peak power along with 37 Nm of torque and gets four valve twin cam head, fuel injection and a slipper clutch. A 6 speed manual gearbox is standard.

In terms of pricing, the Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen and 401 Vitpilen are likely to be priced under Rs. 3 lakh. They will directly take on the recently launched BMW G 310 territory along with providing an alternate to the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650. KTM 390 Duke will also be one of its direct competitors, albeit it will be cheaper than the Huskies.

Also Read: Nissan Kicks image gallery: 10 detailed pictures of the all-new SUV

Giving surprises to parents is something phenomenal. While there are many who have gifted cars to their parents, here is something which is unique. Aryan Gowda from Karnataka surprised his parents with a spanking new Audi R8 on the birthday of his father. Here is the video.

The video has been deleted or made private by the uploader. Sorry for the inconvenience.

The short video shows the brand new Audi R8 being delivered to the house of Aryan. It is the latest generation Audi R8 finished in the Tango Red Metallic colour. The Audi R8 seen in the video is without a registration plate, which indicates that the vehicle arrived directly from the showroom. The car gets parked outside the home of Aryan and he brings his parents out with his palms blindfolding them. The parents are visibly awestruck by the beauty of the Audi R8. He then takes the father for a ride in the co-driver seat. He has also shared a picture with his mother on the co-driver seat but it is not the part of the video.

Audi R8 is one of the most popular sports cars in the world. This is the top-of-the-line V10 Plus model that retails at around Rs. 2.72 crores in the Indian market. However, this one seen in the video is the 2014 model, which was replaced in 2016. We are not sure how the vehicle is still unregistered but it is possible that some unsold model in the dealer stock was sold at a much cheaper price than the latest version of the car.

In the latest form, the Audi R8 is only available in a single variant in the Indian market. It is powered by 5,204cc, V10, petrol engine that generates a massive 602 Bhp at 8,250 rpm and a peak torque of 560 Nm at 6,500 rpm. The naturally aspirated engine of the Audi R8 V10 Plus can push it from standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds. The top-speed is electronically limited to 330 km/h. It gets a 7-speed automatic transmission. The Audi R8 gets a permanent AWD system that sends the power to all the four wheels at all the time. The rear wheels get a mechanical differential lock, which provides optimal traction.

This is the pre-facelifted model of the Audi R8 V10 Plus. Internationally, Audi revealed the facelifted version in October 2018 and the new model is expected to reach the Indian market later this year.

The Audi R8 gets single-frame front grille with a honey comb pattern. The most distinctive feature about the R8’s design is the flat full LED headlamps. Customers can also go for the full laser lighting cluster that increases the light throw to about 600 meters but adds a lot of amount to the final cost.

It also gets a driver-oriented cockpit which is fully digital and measures a whopping 12.3-inch. Customers can choose various options to customise the vehicle’s interiors and it also gets a 500-watt surround sound system from Bang & Olufsen.

Also Read: Nissan Kicks image gallery: 10 detailed pictures of the all-new SUV

Our roads are filled with uncertainties and anything can happen while behind the wheels of a vehicle. Stray animals are among the biggest threat as they can appear suddenly and cause accidents. In fact, a lot of bike and car accident cases happen when the vehicle tries to save any animal that has come in front of them.

The video below portrays a similar example of how things can take an ugly turn because of these stray animals. Take a look at the video now before we discuss any further.

As seen in the video, the truck nearly overturned on the road. What happens here is that a cow was passing the road. As you might know, these holy animals move at a pace of their own and change the direction suddenly without notice. Same happens here, as the cow almost reaches one end of the road and then stops. A truck was coming up fast on the road and the cow turns towards it and then moves back on the road. Now what may have caused it to do so is beyond the understanding of us humans. However, this move made by the cow makes things turn near fatal for the truck.

The unsuspecting driver is seems to be driving at a pretty good speed. When the cow stops at the road’s end he continues his pace as the cow was already out of the danger zone. However, when the animal turns back towards the road and moves forward a bit, in line of the approaching truck. Seeing the cow in its way, the truck driver applies full force on the brakes and the truck goes all sliding on the road. Due to sudden and heavy braking, the truck does a complete 180 degree degree sliding turn.

The milk container truck was most probably not carrying any load at the time when this incident happened. Had it been full, we guess the scenario would have turned out differently. This is because of the momentum it would then carry which would have overturned the truck or even prove fatal for the cow. The Fast and Furious style skid that is caught on the camera does look amazing though. The cow gets saved by a whisker and we guess it got the fright of its life. The driver’s presence of mind should be applauded as he didn’t steer the truck sharply towards any direction but instead applied brakes straightaway.

Such cases are common in our country and many among us would also have been involved in such situations. The problem of stray animals is widespread in India. Cows and dogs are the most common animals on the streets and are responsible for a large number of fatalities on road. Therefore, one should always be cautious and attentive while riding or driving. We never know what may come in front of us and have to be prepared for quick response if the condition arrives. After all, one might not be as lucky as the truck featured in the video. A bad day can easily turn a close shave into a fatal accident.

Also Read: Nissan Kicks image gallery: 10 detailed pictures of the all-new SUV

Nissan will launch its Leaf EV in India by the end of 2019. While it was being speculated since long that the company will bring in the popular electric car in here, now it has been confirmed by Nissan officially. This is in lieu with the recent government push to promote electric vehicles and related infrastructure in India.

To let you know, the Nissan Leaf is among the best selling electric vehicles across the globe and the latest generation model is quite decent to look at too.

Nissan has announced that it is now looking to increase its stake in the Indian auto scene aggressively and the launch of the Kicks compact SUV has marked the beginning of it. The Kicks compact SUV was launched today and the company has positioned it lower than the competition apart from equipping it with several class leading features.

The Nissan Leaf was introduced in Thailand last month at 1,990,000 Thai baht which is about Rs. 42.53 lakh when converted to INR. It also came with a standard three years or one lakh km warranty. The Leaf will be bigger in size than conventional hatchbacks and will provide enough range to go on a long trip. The battery pack will also provide enough juice so as overtaking among other things will not be a problem. It is expected that Nissan will make some changes on the Indian spec model before bringing the car here.

The Nissan Leaf will be powered by a 40 kWh battery which can offer a range of up to 400 km just on a single charge. The battery provides a pretty decent power output of 148 Bhp along with a peak torque of 320 Nm. The charging time of the battery is from 8 to 16 hours, depending on power capacity. When using a 3 kW charger, the time taken to fully charge the battery will be 16 hours. On the other hand, if a 6 kW charger is used, the time is reduced to half, that is, 8 hours. Nissan also offers a fast charger that will quickly replenish up to 80 per cent in just around 40 minutes. However, it remains to be seen that which battery pack Nissan will offer for the Indian spec leaf.

The Indian Government is pushing hard for electric vehicles and has even started providing tax relief to EVs. This is being done in a bid to cut on the pollution levels that have plagued all the major cities. Most of the developed countries have already gone the electric way and India too is now following the same. Apart from promoting EVs, the government is also pushing for creating a better infrastructure for the EVs to run and make it easier for the electric car owners to own such vehicles.

Also Read: Nissan Kicks image gallery: 10 detailed pictures of the all-new SUV

Nissan has launched the all-new Kicks in the Indian market today. Priced at Rs. 9.55 lakhs, the all-new SUV takes on the likes of Hyundai Creta and Renault Captur in the Indian market. Here is detailed pictures of the all-new Nissan Kicks.

The Indian version of the Nissan Kicks is quite different from the international model. It is based on the Renault Captur’s B-Zero platform that also underpins other cars like the Duster and the Terrano in the Indian market.

The all-new Kicks is bigger in size than its international model. It is even bigger than the rival Hyundai Creta. The Nissan Kicks offers floating-type roof and contrasting colours on the rooftop.

The Nissan Kicks looks quite intimidating. It gets projector headlamps. The front of the SUV gets the skid plate and there the face is inspired by the Nissan’s latest family design that incorporates the V-grille.

The Terrano looks very modern from the side. It gets a very attractive glass area and the C-Pillar is raked, giving it a very sleek and elegant look. The Nissan Kicks gets 17-inch machined alloy wheels. The ten-spoke wheels look quite good and make the side look impressive.

The Nissan Kicks offers 2,673mm of wheelbase, which translates into a large cabin space. It gets rear AC vents, premium diamond-stitched leather seats and leather trims on the doors and the dashboard too.

The Kicks offers a 360-degree camera, which is a first in the segment. It allows easy parking into cramped spaces. It will be helpful for many who find it difficult to park large cars with confidence.

The premium dual-tone dashboard gets an 8-inch infotainment screen in the centre. It gets both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

The Kicks also gets a unique digital-analogue instrument cluster. There are twin pod analogue meters that form the tachometer and the fuel gauge respectively. There is a central digital screen that shows the speed. There are additional screens above and below the speedometer that shows various information. It looks quite fresh and is unique in the segment.

The floating-type infotainment screen stays the eye level of the driver to offer the best view. It gets physical buttons for easy access of modes like Menu, Audio, Camera, previous or next, volume and tune signal.

The Nissan Kicks is available with both petrol and diesel engine options. There is a 1.5-litre petrol engine that generates a maximum of 104 Bhp – 142 Nm. The 1.5-litre diesel engine produces a maximum of 106 Bhp – 240 Nm. They are the same engine options that are available with the Nissan Terrano. Renault will not offer any automatic option for the time being.

Also Read: Nissan Kicks image gallery: 10 detailed pictures of the all-new SUV

Maruti Suzuki has today launched the new WagonR in India. The tall boy hatchback has been priced at Rs. 4.19 lakhs for the base LXi 1.0 variant while the top of the line ZXi AGS 1.2 has been priced at Rs. 5.69 lakhs. The new WagonR will compete with the Hyundai Santro and the Tata Tiago in the segment. The new WagonR is larger and more powerful than the model it replaces. Down below is the full price list of the car across all trims and engines.

The new WagonR comes with 3 trim levels across two engine and gearbox options. The design of the car continues to carry the same tall boy profile but it is a completely new vehicle. The new WagonR is based on Maruti’s Heartect platform that also underpins other cars like the Swift and Ertiga. It gets new square wraparound lamps at the front apart from new L-shaped tail lights. The car is larger in dimension than the model it replaces and also gets a more powerful 1.2 litre engine for the first time.

The interiors have also been given an update and now are much smarter than before. The dashboard of the all-new WagonR carries a dual-tone theme. It gets black and beige finish with a touchscreen infotainment system taking the centre space. The steering wheel gets chrome inserts and mounted controls for the infotainment system and the Bluetooth telephony. The upholstery and the cabin carry over the typical beige theme, which is likely to get dirty over time.

The all-new WagonR will come in 6 colour options, namely Superior White, Silky Silver, Magna Grey, Autumn Orange, Nutmeg Brown and Poolside Blue. It gets disc brakes in the front wheels and drum brakes in the rear wheels. Also, the car will meet the upcoming BNVSAP crash test norms. Features like standard ABS+EBD, driver-side airbag, speed alerts, front seat belt warnings and rear parking sensors are be standard across the range.

The Maruti Suzuki WagonR gets powered by either a 1.0-litre engine or a 1.2 litre engine. The 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine is carried over from the older car and produces 67 Bhp of power at 5,500 rpm along with 90 Nm of peak torque at 3,500 rpm. Meanwhile, The 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine produces 82 Bhp of power at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 113 Nm at 4,200 rpm. This is the same engine that also does duty on the likes of Ignis and the Swift among others. Both the engine come with a automatic (AMT) gearbox option apart from a 5 speed manual gearbox.

With the new WagonR, Maruti has ticked almost all the right boxes. The car now comes with features that are on par with the competition, is more powerful and is even larger in size than the model it replaces. The Hyundai Santro and the Tata Tiago have been doing well in sales and had bitten off the sales share of the older WagonR. It is expected that the new WagonR will take the lead again now from its competitors.

Also Read: Tata Harrier SUV picture gallery

The much awaited Harrier SUV has been launched by Tata today in Mumbai. The SUV starts at Rs. 12.69 lakhs for the base XE variant while the top of the line XZ variant has been priced at Rs. 16.25 lakhs. This marks the start of an eventful year for Tata, which will further see the launch of the 45X hatchback and H7X SUV in the coming months. The Tata Harrier takes on the likes of the Mahindra XUV500 and the Jeep Compass along with the upcoming MG Hector SUV.

The Harrier is available in four different variants – XE, XM, XT and XZ. The XE variant offers dual airbags, ABS, parking sensors, central locking, projector headlamps, LED DRLs and LED tail lamps, 16 inch steel wheels, powered wing mirrors, 4 inch MID, power windows, rear AC vents and steering adjustable for tilt and reach. The XM variant adds front fog lamps, rear parcel shelf, 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system, steering-mounted audio controls, multi drive modes, remote locking, 6 way adjustable driver’s seat, follow me home headlamps and a wash wipe function for the rear windscreen. The XT variant adds 17 inch alloy wheels, android auto, apple carplay, rear defogger, reverse camera, push button start, keyless entry, automatic climate control, 8 way adjustable driver’s seat, power folding function for the wing mirrors, cruise control, cooled glove box and rear armrest. The top-of-the-line XZ variant adds HID projector headlamps, cornering fog lamps, leather seats and interiors trims, 8.8 inch touchscreen infotainment unit, sub-woofer, 9 speaker JBL audio, 4 additional airbags, hill hold, hill descent control, electronic stability control, and 60:40 split rear seat.

The SUV is built upon a newly developed OMEGA platform, derived from Land Rover’s D8 that also underpins the Discovery Sport. The Harrier is the biggest SUV in the segment currently. Talking of the design and exteriors, the Harrier is quite a handsome SUV. It is based on the H5X concept shown by the company at the 2018 Delhi Auto Expo. The design transition from concept to production model is not much and the SUV retains most of the styling from the concept. Combined with its large size, the Harrier is quite imposing to look at and a definite head turner.

The Harrier comes with a lot of first in class features. This includes a 14 function ESP, 9 speaker JBL audio system, 7 inch MID along with a 8 inch touchscreen infotainment system, and fast charging USB ports. The interiors of the Harrier carry a dark theme which is a welcome change for the usual beige interiors we see on most of the vehicles. The dashboard has been given a wooden finish and a chrome bar runs through the length of it. The 5 seater SUV is quite comfortable and offers ample of space for both the front and rear passengers

The Harrier also misses out on the 4WD system but Tata has developed a new Terrain Response System for the Harrier and it works quite well. The FWD SUV gets various modes and a 14 function ESP to boot. The front wheels are controlled and power is given to the wheel which remains in contact with the ground. While the Harrier may not be as capable as a 4×4 or a 4WD SUV but it still does a lot better than the usual 2WD SUVs in market.

The Tata Harrier is powered by a 2.0 KRYOTEC engine that develops of 140 Bhp of power and 350 Nm of peak torque. It is essentially a Fiat sourced 2.0 litre Multijet engine that is also found under the Jeep Compass. However, it has been tuned for fuel efficiency by Tata and has a different torque curve from the Fiat unit. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and the power goes to the front wheels. For now, Tata has decided to not offer an automatic transmission but it is expected to be launched with an automatic version at a later time. The engine gets different modes that modulate the power output to save fuel and be efficient.

Tata Harrier will be available in 5 different paint shades. The five colour option consist of Calisto Copper, Thermisto Gold, Ariel Silver, Telesto Grey and Orcus White. The Tata Harrier is among the new wave of Tata vehicles that are being made using international expertise. The Harrier looks like a step in the right direction and the only thing to be seen now is how much response will the SUV get in real world market.

Also Read: Tata Harrier SUV picture gallery

Force Motors recently updated the Xtreme model with a new 2.2-litre Diesel engine. Licensed from Mercedes-Benz, this unit puts out more power and torque than the older engine. We drove this new model yesterday and were pleasantly surprised with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels and here is the proof.

We decided to carry the good old ‘water bottle’ test inside the Gurkha as seen in the video above. To make it interesting, we placed the bottle upside down and it was resting on the tiny surface of the cap. Yet, when we started the SUV, the bottle did not fall down. The Gurkha has an idling RPM of just under 1000 and as you would have seen above, the water level hardly moves around inside the bottle. We then revved the engine higher and the surprise continued. The cabin does remain smooth even while hitting the redline zone!

The Xtreme version is the top-end model in the Gurkha 4×4 range. The change here is the new powertrain that makes the Gurkha more than powerful for daily usage. Inspite of having a smaller capacity (2149cc vs 2596cc), the motor puts out 65% more power and 40% higher torque. The transmission too is new (G32) to handle the extra torque. This new set-up is remarkably smoother than the older powertrain and is a welcome change for owners who would be using their Gurkhas on a daily basis and for weekend getaways.

Force Motors has also worked on the insulation part, making sure vibrations don’t creep into the cabin. While conducting the ‘water bottle’ test, we didn’t see any movement or shakes from the gear lever, steering wheel and even the internal review mirror. These is a great achievement in our opinion – after all this is not your upmarket premium SUV but a hardcore old school 4×4!

In terms of pricing, the Gurkha Xtreme 4×4 is positioned between the Mahindra Thar and the Isuzu V-Cross. Rs 12.99 lakh ex-showroom Delhi gets you a manual air-con and power steering as standard. You also get a factory fitted snorkel for a higher air intake. The regular Xplorer and Xpedition versions continue to sell alongside this one and are priced much lower.

The Mahindra Thar CRDe is a direct rival. The Thar CRDe is powered by a 2.5 liter CRDe turbocharged diesel engine with 105 Bhp-247 Nm. A five speed manual gearbox and a four wheel drive transfer case with high and low ratios are standard on the Thar. The That does not get differential locks like the Gurkha but has auto locking hubs and a mechanical locking differential for the rear axle. Also, unlike the Gurkha, the Thar is available with a soft top.

Also Read: Tata Harrier SUV picture gallery

Toyota will bring the new twelfth generation Corolla to India in 2020. It will replace the current Corolla Altis sedan and will be a fresh breath in the segment. Worldwide, the Corolla is among the best selling car models and it is quite popular in India too.

Toyota recently launched the new model of its Camry executive sedan in India and is currently working on smaller cars which will be based on Maruti Suzuki vehicles. The new Corolla is longer and wider than the current model and will also be more premium than the model it will replace.

It is expected that Toyota will bring in the new Corolla with only hybrid tech on offer. The segment has previously seen some hybrids too like the Civic hybrid but they could not do very well in the market. However, now the market is more inclined towards efficient vehicles and the taxes on hybrids are also lower than before. The current generation Corolla sold in India comes with a 1.8-litre petrol engine and a 1.4-litre diesel engine. Also, the new Corolla will come with BSVI engines from launch. Most probably, Toyota will not bring the diesel engine as an option on the Corolla and it will make use of only hybrid petrol units

Internationally, the Corolla comes with both a petrol engine and a petrol hybrid engine. It is not yet known whether the company will bring both the engine options to India or will just make do with the hybrid option. The 1.8-litre VVT-I petrol hybrid engine generates a maximum of 98 Bhp power along with an electric motor that generates a maximum of 71 Bhp power. The effective output is expected to be around 130 Bhp. The hybrid system would ensure exceptional fuel economy. The conventional 1.8-litre petrol engine, on the other hand, puts out a good 138 Bhp of power along with 173 Nm of torque.

The Corolla will be longer (by 20 mm) and wider (by 5 mm) than the one sold in India. However, at 2700 mm, the wheelbase of the car has not changed and is the same. It is based on the TNGA platform by Toyota. Maruti Suzuki will also develop their own sedan based on the new Corolla and will launch it as its flagship vehicle in India.

If Toyota brings only the hybrid variant, the prices are going to get affected in a big way and are likely to start above Rs. 20 lakhs. However, the conventional petrol unit would been a marginal hike in price which is expected with a new car. Then car will another age old rival in India when it gets launched in 2020. We are talking about the new Honda Civic, which is also expected to come here by 2020.

Also Read: Tata Harrier SUV picture gallery

Off-roading can be extremely fun but only if one knows their way around the challenges. Off-roading in the sand dunes can be even more fun but only if the driver knows how to drive the vehicle and get out of a stuck situation.

Here are three different SUVs stuck royally in the sand and recovered without any external help. All the three SUVs have been kept in that position intentionally to showcase their capabilities. The previous-generation Toyota Fortuner was the first one to try and get out of the situation. The driver of the vehicle goes really slow on the throttle and tries to crawl out of the sand without slipping the tyres. After a couple of minutes, the previous-generation Fortuner comes out of the sand pit. The older generation Fortuner did not offer traction control and all the inputs were done by the driver himself.

The second attempt is taken by the all-new current generation Fortuner. It gets the advanced A-TRAC system, which is a kind of traction control system. With the electronics working, the all-new Fortuner also comes out of the situation very smoothly and without any problem. In fact, it takes very less effort to take out the all-new Fortuner when compared the older-generation Fortuner due to the added electronics. This proves that the electronics do help in recovering the vehicles.

The last but not the least is the Ford Endeavour. The Toyota Fortuner-challenger in the Indian market, Ford Endeavour has impressed many with its capabilities. Even the Ford Endeavour uses the same crawl method to find grip and come out of the situation without much problem.

The video further shows that the vehicles are intentionally driven around in the sandy place to make them stuck. All the three vehicles again go through the same process and come out of it without much problem.

What is the secret behind?

Off-roading skills are developed with experience. However, there are a few things that you can always take care off while going off-the-road. Here are a few tips that will help you to recover your vehicle when stuck in the off-road trails.

• Be calm as being impatient does not help. Calming down and assessing the situation should be the first step in the recovery process.
• Always reduce air pressure in the tyres. This increases the area of contact with the ground and provides much better traction to the vehicle. The air can be deflated to around 10-12 PSI. All the vehicles seen in the video has lower air pressure.
• Always be smooth. Accelerating or braking suddenly in off-roading can be dangerous. Most off-roading surfaces are smooth and slippery. It is recommended to always be smooth.
• Don’t accelerate while stuck. The most common mistake to do when stuck is to accelerate. It just worsens the situation and makes the vehicle get stuck deeper.
• Always keep a few tools handy. If you are planning to go for off-roading, keep shovels and air pump handy. These two things can be very useful to bring the car out of most of the situations.

Also Read: Tata Harrier SUV picture gallery

Tata Harrier has been finally launched in the Indian market priced between Rs. 12.69 lakh and Rs. 16.25 lakhs, ex-showroom, Mumbai. Tata started taking bookings for the all-new Harrier from October 2018. The deliveries of the SUV begin today but if you’re planning to book the vehicle today, you will have to wait for a long time to get your hands on the Harrier.

The long backlog of bookings that have been created will take at least three months to clear. Which means that people who were waiting for the price announcement to book the vehicle will get the vehicle after three months. It sure is a long waiting time but given the hype around the Tata Harrier, there are many who would not mind waiting that long to get their hands on the Harrier. With the pricing out, the number of bookings is only expected to swell in the coming times.

The Harrier is available in four variants – XE, XM, XT and XZ. All the variants are offered with dual airbags, ABS, parking sensors, central locking, projector headlamps, LED DRLs, LED tail lamps, 16-inch steel wheels, powered mirrors, rear AC vents, adjustable steering wheel for tilt and reach. The top-end version gets HID projector headlamps, cornering fog lamps, leather seats, 8.8-inch infotainment system, the 9-speaker system from JBL, 6 airbags, hill hold, hill descent, cornering ABS, ESC, cooled box, cruise control and much more.

The Harrier was first showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo and since then it has been caught testing numerous times on the roads. It is the first SUV built on the OMEGA ARC platform of the brand. The platform has been derived from the platform of the legendary Land Rover Discovery Sport. The Tata Harrier is the biggest SUV in the segment and is even bigger than the Mahindra XUV500 when it comes to the dimensions. However, Tata misses out on features like the sunroof and 4WD.

It is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder KRYOTEC diesel engine, which is supplied by Fiat. It is the same engine that also powers the Jeep Compass in the Indian market. In the Tata Harrier it produces a maximum power of 140 Bhp and a peak torque of 350 Nm. The engine gets mated to a 6-speed transmission and there no automatic available with the Harrier at the moment. However, Tata may soon start to offer automatic variants of the Harrier. The engine gets three driving modes that change the power output of the vehicle.

The Tata Harrier is the first of many new vehicles that will be launched by Tata this year. Tata is planning to launch the 45X and the H7X later this year too.

Source

Also Read: Tata Harrier SUV picture gallery

The Hindustan Contessa is an iconic car that has been around for a long time in the Indian market. This resto-modded version of the Contessa brings the best of both the worlds. The Contessa seen here in the pictures belongs from a Kerala garage and has been beautifully modified.

The first change that strikes you in the vehicle is its front grille. It is much larger than before and gets an all-black finish. The four-pod headlamp set-up on either side of the grille adds a classy look to the vehicle. The bumper is made up of stainless steel while it now gets round foglamps with angel eye DRLs. Even the turn indicator is tucked nicely in the bottom of the car. The lower part of the bumper also gets aerodynamic updates with an underbody spoiler.

At the rear, the Contessa gets stock tail lamps and there is a thick stripe connecting the two lamps which have been painted in red colour. The steel, chrome-dipped bar is also visible in the rear of the car. The whole body of the Hindustan Contessa has received a customised paint job that adds an additional sense of sophistication to the vehicle.

This Hindustan Contessa has been modified on the inside too. From the inside, it looks better than most affordable premium cars in the market including the mid-size sedans. It gets aftermarket three-spoke steering wheel and a rebuilt instrument console that gets five dials. It is not clear what information do they show.

Most of the parts used in the interiors are aftermarket including the gear level, which is from MOMO and a touchscreen infotainment system. The touch-sensitive infotainment system has been mounted very creatively as Contessa has no place in the dashboard to fit such a large infotainment system. It also gets aluminium pedals that will keep the purists happy. There are a number of buttons inspired by the fighter jets in the car that add make it look quite cool.

The interiors get leather-wrapped seats that get double stitching. The seats also get unique headrests. It gets dual-tone seats made from dark and light tone leather. Even the dashboard gets leather wrapping and double stitching. Even the door trims get the leather wrap that makes the interior feel very premium and classy.

We are not sure about any mechanical upgrades in the vehicle. In the stock form, the Hindustan Contessa was powered by various engine options. There were a 1.5-litre BMC engine and a 1.8-litre engine from Isuzu petrol engine. It also came with two diesel engine options from Isuzu. There are many Contessa in the Indian roads that are kept in excellent conditions and are maintained as a classic by the owners.

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Also Read: Tata Harrier SUV picture gallery

The recently launched Tata Harrier’s official ARAI mileage figure has been revealed to be 16.7 Kmpl. This makes the Tata Harrier more fuel efficient than the Mahindra XUV500, which gets a mileage number of 15.1 Kmpl, and less fuel efficient than the Hyundai Creta Diesel (19.7 Kmpl) and the Jeep Compass (17.1 Kmpl).

Via ACI

The Harrier’s higher weight of about 1,680 kilograms could be the reason why it’s less fuel efficient than the Jeep Compass, with which it shares the engine and gearbox.

On the Harrier, the 2 liter Fiat Multijet turbocharged diesel engine makes 140 Bhp-350 Nm, which is lower than the Compass’ 170 Bhp-350 Nm outputs from the same motor. However, the Jeep Compass (1,540 Kgs) is significantly lighter than the Harrier, which explains the slightly higher mileage.

Coming to the Hyundai Creta, it’s not difficult to guess why it’s a lot more fuel efficient than the Harrier. One word: Lightness. The Creta is about 1,300 kilos heavy, which makes it over 300 kilograms lighter than the Harrier. Moreover, the Creta is powered by a 1.6 liter turbodiesel engine with 126 Bhp-260 Nm. Not only is this engine smaller than that of the Harrier but it also is less powerful.

Taking about the Mahindra XUV500, the SUV uses a 2.2 liter mHawk turbodiesel engine with 155 Bhp-360 Nm. This motor is more powerful than that of the Harrier’s engine. Also, the Mahindra XUV500 is almost as heavy as the Harrier. This is a reason why the XUV500 delivers a slightly lower mileage figure. All said and done, there’s not much difference in mileage between the Harrier, XUV500 and Compass. If you’re really concerned about fuel efficiency, the Hyundai Creta is the top pick here. The other SUVs will more or less deliver similar fuel efficiency numbers with the difference being too marginal to pick out a clear winner.

The Harrier was launched earlier today at a cracker of a price tag. Prices of the flagship Tata SUV start from Rs. 12.69 lakhs, which makes it slightly more expensive than the Hexa. In fact, the price difference between the 7 seat Hexa and 5 seat Harrier is less than Rs. 20,000, which could leave a lot of buyers confused. The Harrier looks a lot more contemporary than the Hexa, and is a lot more agile too.

However, the Harrier is still behind the Hexa when it comes to the brilliant ride comfort offered, and also the sheer space on offer. The Hexa is still the pick for someone who wants something very spacious and comfortable. For those who want something funkier looking, sharper handling and of course, a smaller SUV, the Tata Harrier ticks all the right boxes.

The Jeep Compass will be the actual SUV that will face the heat from the Tata Harrier’s launch. The Tata Harrier is almost as powerful as the Compass, and is overall a size larger. It’s feature loaded and apart from the four wheel drive option, offers almost everything that the Compass Diesel does. Petrol SUV buyers will still want to look at the Compass though as there’s no petrol engine option offered on the Harrier.

Also Read: Tata Harrier SUV picture gallery

Maruti Suzuki has launched the all-new WagonR in the Indian market. It is priced between Rs. 4.19 lakhs and Rs. 5.69 lakhs in the Indian market. It is based on the new HEARTECT platform and it has been updated all around. Here is a detailed picture gallery of the WagonR.

The all-new WagonR gets a new platform. It has also become bigger in size when compared to the last-generation WagonR. The design is all-new and is India-specific.

The all-new Maruti Suzuki WagonR gets tall tail lamps in the rear. The lamps almost cover the rear C-Pillar of the hatchback.

On the side, the all-new WagonR gets body coloured A-Pillar but the B-Pillar is all black while the C-Pillar gets a thick black cladding that adds a floating roof effect to the vehicle.

The all-new WagonR gets a new face too. The headlamps are dual-channel and get different housings for the indicators and the main beam. The front grille is plain and simple and gets a chrome stripe.

Maruti Suzuki has added deep creases to the body to give it an aggressive stance. The wheel arches get deep creases too and the fog lamps are housed in a unique shaped trapezoid.

The tail lamps are the most highlighted part in the rear of the WagonR. They have a thick base and narrow top. The wheels get covers and there are no alloy wheels available with the all-new WagonR.

The interiors have been thoroughly in the new car. It gets a new steering wheel with buttons to control the infotainment system and control the calls of Bluetooth-connected phone.

The top-end version of the WagonR offer 60:40 split seats. A part of the seat can be folded down and can be used to keep more luggage. This feature was not available with the outgoing WagonR.

As the dimensions have grown, the all-new WagonR now offers more space to the occupants. The rear seating space has especially become larger. Compared to the outgoing WagonR, the new model offers extra legroom, knee room and shoulder room.

The all-new WagonR also gets updated instrument cluster. The compact instrument cluster gets analogue and digital meters. The bigger meter shows the speed while the smaller digital dial shows the tachometer, fuel gauge, odometer and trip meters.

The all-new WagonR gets new seats too. Even though it is a five-seater, there are two headrests in the rear bench. The headrests on the front seats are fixed too. The dual-tone fabric on the seats does look good and premium.

For the first time ever, the WagonR features a touchscreen infotainment system. It gets a 7-inch screen but there is no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay connectivity. However, it can be used to browse news and other things on the Internet.

The dashboard gets an X-design theme with dual tone finish. The all-new WagonR gets a much more premium cabin compared to the outgoing model of the vehicle.

Also Read: Tata Harrier SUV picture gallery

Tata has launched the Harrier SUV in India today. The SUV starts at Rs. 12.69 lakhs for the base variant. This makes the Harrier cheaper than its most direct rival, the Mahindra XUV500, which starts at Rs. 12.72 lakhs. Let’s now take a look at this stunning looking SUV inside out in these official pictures by the company.

Hands down, the Harrier is among the best looking cars on sale in India. This can be attributed to the fact that it shares 80% of its design from the H5X concept. Those sleek front LED DRLs, flared wheel arches and good looking window line add up to the overall appeal of the car.

The rear also gets quite an exciting design and looks very good. The sleek tail lamps along along with the silver highlight on the rear bumper are some of the elements that further take up the visual drama.

The Tata Harrier is powered by a 2.0 KRYOTEC engine that develops 140 Bhp of power and 350 Nm of peak torque. It is essentially a Fiat sourced 2.0 litre Multijet engine that is also found under the Jeep Compass. The engine is tuned for efficiency instead of outright power.

The KRYOTEC engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and the power goes to the front wheels. Though there is no automatic transmission available as of now, Tata had earlier said that it will bring an automatic transmission to the Harrier some time later.

While this is not a unique feature, the Harrier does gets puddle lamps mounted on the outside rear view mirrors. This feature is quite useful in dark and illuminates the path when you get down from the car.

The interiors of the Tata Harrier look quite premium to say the least. The dashboard has been given a wooden finish and a chrome bar runs through the length of it. The steering wheel is a big chunky unit with various control buttons on it.

Another small but unique feature that the Harrier comes with is the fast charging USB port. If your phone supports fast charging, it could be a boon. No more running on dead batteries while on the move now.

Tata has equipped the Harrier with a largest in segment 8.8 inch touchscreen infotainment system from Visteon. It is the same company that supplies to other major manufacturers like Land Rover. A 7 inch MID is also present on the SUV.

The Harrier gets a 9 speaker system from JBL. The powerful music system comes with its own amplifier and subwoofer with enough bass. Perfect for audiophiles. Long Journeys won’t be boring anymore with this blaring music system on tap.

No doubt then that the Harrier is a great all round package. Tata has even placed it very aggressively in the market and we see no reason why it may not become a best seller anytime soon.

Also Read: Tata Harrier SUV picture gallery

Royal Enfield Interceptor became the most affordable twin-cylinder powered bike in India when it launched last year. The bike comes with a retail price of Rs. 2.49 lakh, ex-showroom and is cheaper than many single-cylinder powered bikes in the market. But how expensive or affordable is the bike to maintain? Here’s a video with an actual invoice that shows the cost of the first servicing of the bike.

Royal Enfield Interceptor first service

Video courtesy IdlerExperiments

The Royal Enfield Interceptor gets the first servicing invoice of Rs. 2,578, inclusive of all taxes. The servicing has been done according to the service schedule mentioned in the official Royal Enfield manual. The services done are new engine oil of 10W50 Grade. The Royal Enfield Interceptor takes 3.1 litres of engine oil and it is the costliest service in the invoice. It costs Rs. 2,011.90. The other two things that were done to the bike were engine oil filter change, which is for Rs. 450 and chain lube and cleaning, which costs Rs. 116.19. The total comes out to be Rs. 2,578.

This servicing has been done in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha but the first servicing charges should be similar across all the Royal Enfield dealerships across India. There might be slight changes in the charges and taxes but the amount should not be much different than the one shown in the video.

The bike odometer reading is 493 km. The second servicing as per the owner manual is at 10,000 km. The Interceptor gets a service interval of 10,000 km or 1 year, whichever is earlier. The first two services of the bike are free, which is a regular practice followed by most manufacturers in India. Even the cars get a few free services at first.

Even though manufacturers offer free services at the start, they are not literally free. The “free” part is the service charge or the labour charge. All the other parts or fluids are chargeable and there are no discounts on them. When the vehicle reaches the chargeable service stage, the invoice also gets labour charges that increase the final invoice amount.

The service interval of 10,000 km is quite much for a motorcycle and it shows Royal Enfield’s confidence in their product. This is an all-new engine that has been developed from the scratch and such a long service interval will put a smile across many Royal Enfield Interceptor and Continental GT 650 owners.

Also, the major services happen at 10,000 km interval when a lot of parts like the air filter may have to be replaced. That increases the service costs too but overall, the parts seem to be quite affordable and the ownership costs of the all-new Interceptor or the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is expected to stay on the affordable side. The oil-cooled engine of the Royal Enfield 650 Twins produces a maximum power of 47 Bhp and 52 Nm. Both the bikes have become quite popular in the market and have outsold all the rivals combined in December 2018.

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Mercedes-Benz India has launched their premium V-Class MPV today in India. It has been priced at Rs. 68.40 lakhs (ex-showroom) for the base Expression variant while the top Exclusive variant has been priced at Rs. 81.90 lakhs (ex-showroom). There are only two variants being offered and the it is the only premium luxury MPV on sale in India right now. It was first revealed in December that Mercedes-Benz is planning to bring the V-Class MPV here and some time later, the company confirmed the date of launch.

The Expression variant is the extra long wheelbase variant with with a total length of 5370 mm and wheelbase of 3430 mm. The Exclusive variant, which is more expensive, measures 5140 mm in length and has a wheelbase of 3200 mm. Both 6 and 7 seat versions of the MPV are available in India.

The second-row seats on the MPV can also be rotated towards the door which is quite convenient. Also, the seats can also be rotated to 180-degrees and the passengers can sit facing each other. The main difference among the two variants is in the wheelbase and length of the vehicle.

Talking about the design of the vehicle, Mercedes has done a decent job to make the V-Class look smart. The exteriors get sweptback LED headlamps, wide grille with Mercedes logo upfront along with a modern designed bumper and LED tail lights give it a decent appearance.

The interiors are quite plush and borrow bits from the likes of the S-Class among other Mercedes vehicles. Nappa Leather and wood are used extensively on the car and the interior design is very refreshing to say the least. It also comes loaded with safety tech such as attention assist, crosswind assist, headlight assist, tyre pressure monitoring systems, active parking assist, 360-degree cameras and six-airbags as standard.

The Mercedes-Benz V-Class is powered by a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine from the OM654 engine family that powers the current C-Class and the E-Class. The common rail injection diesel engine which features a single turbocharger produces 158 Bhp of power along with 350 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to a 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox. The MPV gets does the 0-100 km/h run in just 10.9 seconds, which is pretty decent considering the heft of the vehicle.

As of now, there is no competition of any sort for the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The closest most expensive proper MPV on sale is the Toyota Innova Crysta, which is nowhere close to the V-Class when it comes to the luxury and features on offer as well as in terms of price. However, speculations are rife that Toyota is also planning to bring its premium Alphard MPV to India. Nothing is confirmed on the same as of now tough. Also, even if Toyota will being the Alphard to India, it is not be happening anytime soon. Therefore, if you want a vehicle with oodles of space and unmatched comfort but don’t like the idea of buying a SUV, the V-Class is the perfect car for you.

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Maruti Suzuki launched the all-new Ertiga in the Indian market last year and it has become quite popular. The seven-seater MPV is based on the all-new HEARTECT platform that gives it bigger dimensions and makes it more spacious. Soon, Maruti Suzuki will launch the 6-seater version of the Ertiga, which is expected to be much more premium than the 7-seater version of the car. But Maruti Suzuki would not stop there. The brand also plans to launch a crossover version of the Ertiga in the Indian market.

A leaked document from Suzuki Indonesia shows the Ertiga crossover in the sketches. It was earlier being speculated that the all-new Ertiga will also get a crossover version but this leaked document confirms the vehicle now. The Suzuki Ertiga crossover will get the same look but overall, it will become much more rugged than the regular version of the car. The upcoming Ertiga is expected to get thick mouldings across the body and meatier bumpers to add the rugged look to the vehicle. It may also offer higher ground clearance than the regular version of the car. According to ACI, the crossover version will be revealed by the end of this year.

The vehicle will not look much different from the Ertiga. It is expected to follow the same lines of the Celerio and the Celerio X in the Indian market. Other details are not known but the global team is working on the product and it may soon be officially revealed in the market. It should be noted that the all-new Ertiga was first launched in the Indonesian market before launching in India. This new version of the Ertiga may follow the same route.

The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga will soon receive the all-new 1.5-litre diesel engine in the Indian market. The new engine has been developed in-house and will offer excellent NVH levels. The all-new 1.5-litre diesel engine of the Ertiga will continue to be offered alongside the 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine that is available with the current version of the car. However, post BS-VI emission norm implementation, the 1.3-litre diesel engine will be removed from the line-up. The all-new engine is expected to produce around 95 Bhp and returns a high fuel efficiency of more than 26 km/l. It will first launch with the Ciaz, which is expected to happen next month.

Maruti Suzuki will also launch the 6-seater version of the Ertiga in the Indian market with the new engine. It will offer captain seats in the middle-row and will be much plusher than the regular version of the car. It is not known if Maruti Suzuki will bring the new Ertiga crossover in the Indian market but looking at the success of the Ertiga, the crossover version can attract a lot of customers.

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With the pollution becoming a major problem in India, state governments are proposing various ways to reduce the emission from vehicles. In a similar step taken by Principal Secretary of Transport of Kerala, K.R. Jyothilal has said that the state is planning to limit the registration period of motor vehicles to ten years. To promote the use of electric vehicles, the government is planning to provide unlimited years of registration to electric vehicles.

Mr Jyothilal further said that all the charging points at all the petrol pumps would be made mandatory in the near future to promote the e-mobility. Also, all the conventional vehicles will have to switch over to electric, CNG or LNG within the next five years.

This will be one of the major steps to promote electric vehicles in India. In Delhi-NCR, all diesel vehicles are allowed to operate only till 10 years after registration, and petrol vehicles are allowed to operate 15 years after registration. However, no steps have been taken in the national capital region to promote the use of electric vehicles as of now.

The transport secretary has also asked the oil companies and stakeholders to exploit this opportunity to switch over from the investing in the fossil fuel arms to electric charging stations. He has also asked everyone to look for any opportunity to look for the opportunity to use hydrogen as a fuel in the future.

What we don’t know yet

When will the rule come into effect? It is not yet known when the new rules will be implemented in Kerala. The final rule may become quite different from the proposal.

What about old and already registered vehicles? Unclear. We do not know whether the new proposal would affect petrol and diesel vehicles that are already registered.

Is this final? No. Let us hope it was basically an intention that was announced and no final decision has been taken. There is enough time to build public opinion and pressure against this decision, we think.

The central government earlier said that the sale of conventionally powered vehicles would be banned in India from 2030. However, the rule was then overturned after protests from the manufacturers. Currently, the central government is working to make new policies to promote electric vehicles in India and introduce subsidies to bring the cost down.

The Indian market currently does not get a wide choice for Electric Vehicles. Mahindra is currently the only manufacturer that offers the full electric vehicles in the market. Soon, Tata will launch its products in the market too. Even international manufacturers like Hyundai and Nissan are planning to launch electric vehicles in the Indian market later this year, which will give a wide range of choices to the customers.

The electric charging infrastructure in India is missing. One of the major reasons of the EVs not popular is the charging stations on the highways and inside the city limits. However, plans for setting up electric vehicle charging stations have come up on the Delhi-Chandigarh highway and soon we may see similar updates from the different corners of the country.

Also Read: Tata Tiago & Tigor now have ABS as standard!

Maruti Suzuki launched the all-new WagonR in the Indian market recently. The tall-boy hatchback takes on the likes of the Hyundai Santro in the Indian market. The all-new WagonR is available in seven variants and the price starts at Rs. 4.19 lakhs and goes up to Rs. 5.69 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi. Here is the new TVC of the all-new WagonR released by the brand.

The theme of the TVC is “connecting hearts” and it has been made keeping just that in the mind. Maruti Suzuki earlier opened the bookings for the WagonR and in just ten days, the hatchback has received a whopping 12,000 units. The deliveries of the all-new WagonR started yesterday. With the launch and announcement of the prices, the number of bookings is expected to rise.

The all-new WagonR is based on the HEARTECT platform. It is the same platform that underpins the likes of Ignis, Baleno, Swift, Ertiga and Dzire in the Indian market. The all-new WagonR has grown in the dimensions and the interiors offer a lot more space too. It also looks completely different from what it used to and offers a sportier stance.

There are new headlamps at the front that now get a bump in the design. The all-new WagonR also gets new tail lamps, which cover almost all the C-Pillar. The blacked out B-Pillar of the all-new WagonR with the partially black inserts in the C-Pillar gives a floating roof effect to the hatchback. The WagonR visually looks a lot bigger than the previous-generation model.

On the inside, the all-new WagonR offers a modern design layout. It gets an X theme dashboard with a dual-colour theme. The car gets a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system but there no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity. The steering wheel is all-new and gets mounted buttons to control the infotainment system and answering or disconnecting the phone calls. Even the instrument cluster is all-new and gets the twin-pod digital-analogue layout. There are a large speedometer and a small digital LCD that shows information like fuel level and gets odometer and trip meters.

Keeping up with the new safety rules that will be implemented in the market from 1st April 2019, the all-new Maruti Suzuki WagonR offers a range of standard features. It gets features like a driver-side airbag, ABS+EBD, rear parking sensor, speed warning system, and front seatbelts alert as standard. The new platform also makes it compliant with the upcoming BNVSAP crash norms.

The Maruti Suzuki all-new WagonR gets powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine from the previous model. Maruti has also introduced the 1.2-litre, four-cylinder engine from the Maruti Suzuki Swift. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine produces a maximum power of 67 Bhp and 90 Nm while the bigger engine produces a maximum of 82 Bhp and 113 Nm. Both the engine options get AMT automatic transmission as an option.

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