Maruti Suzuki had launched the all new WagonR yesterday. The hatchback starts at Rs. 4.19 lakhs, which is just a marginal increase over the the model it replaces. It is more powerful as well as more spacious than the model it precedes.

The new WagonR will rival the likes of Tata Tiago and the Hyundai Santro among others in the segment. Now many people are confused over whether to go for the new WagonR or opt for the Tata Tiago. For the same, here is a quick guide on which car to buy based on your requirements.

Want a Diesel hatchback – Tata Tiago

If you are looking for a diesel hatchback, the Tata Tiago is the one to get among the two. This is because the Maruti Suzuki WagonR does come with a diesel engine. The WagonR gets powered by either a 1.0 litre petrol engine or a 1.2 litre petrol unit.

The Tiago on the other hand gets powered by both petrol and diesel engines. The petrol unit is a 1.2 litre engine while the diesel is a 1.1 litre unit. However, the diesel powered variants of the Tiago do not have an automatic gearbox options. Therefore, if you want an automatic transmission too, you would have to go with the petrol powered variants. Prices of the Tiago start from Rs. 3.51 lakhs. 

Focus on cabin space – Maruti Suzuki WagonR

The Maruti Suzuki WagonR is bigger than the Tiago in wheelbase size. Though it is less wider and longer than the Tiago, it has a wheel base of 2,435 mm, which is precisely 35 mm more than what Tiago has. Also, the boot space of the Maruti Suzuki WagonR stands at 341 litre, which is quite large when compared to the Tata Tiago’s modest 242 litre boot volume.

The new WagonR’s boot is expandable to 710 litre, which means it can gobble up quite a lot of stuff with rear seats down. It also apparently has more cabin space than the Tiago. Therefore, if space is your priority, the new WagonR should the car you want to own.

Want a Fuel Efficient hatchback – Tata Tiago

The Tata Tiago is among the most fuel efficient cars of India. The petrol variant has an ARAI certified fuel efficiency rating of 23.84 km/l. The diesel powered variants of the Tiago get a spectacular ARAI certified fuel rating of 27.28 km/l.

Compared to this, the WagonR has a modest fuel efficiency of 21.5 km/l for the 1.2 litre variants while the 1.0 litre variants get a bit better figure of 22.5 km/l. Therefore, if your main priority is mileage or you drive your car a lot in cities and highways, you will be better off with the Tata Tiago.

Peace of mind factor – Maruti Suzuki WagonR

Now one factor that works for Maruti Suzuki is the peace of mind factor its come along with. The WagonR is no different and it also comes with a hassle free after sales service network. Maruti Suzuki has the largest network of dealerships and spare parts manufacturers across the country.

Also, the spare parts are quite economical and do not cost a bomb, which is an important factor when buying a budget hatchback. The WagonR uses tried and tested engines and is built on the company’s lightweight fifteen generation Heartect platfom.

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

Flying cars… A future with cars flying around us seems to be closer than ever before. Couple of weeks ago PAL-V, Dutch manufacturer for flying cars had made an announcement that India might gets its first flying car in 2021. Now, news is coming up from Virginia, USA that military and commercial jet manufacturer Boeing has also tested one of their upcoming flying car.

Boeing has designed the flying car to take passengers over congested city streets and dodge sky scrapers. Boeing has named this vehicle PAV which stands for Passenger Air Vehicle. A Prototype of this Autonomous Passenger vehicle has successfully completed a controlled takeoff, hover and landing in its first test flight conducted in Manassas, Virginia. Boeing has even shared a video of Passenger Air Vehicle’s first flight. Let’s take a closer look at this air vehicle.

The first thing that we realize when we look at this vehicle is that it looks nothing like a car. With all the wings and aerodynamic design it looks more like a mini aircraft. In the video, it seems like the body of the vehicle is attached to a base which has Eight propellers in it which will help the Passenger Air Vehicle in the takeoff and maneuvering the direction during the course of flight.

There is also a propeller at the back of the vehicle to help it move forward. The Passenger Air Vehicle is not powered by fuel. Boeing says the PAV is powered by an electric vehicle and is designed for fully autonomous flights with range as much as 50 miles or 80 Kilometers.

Boeing and its arch rival Airbus SE are among the companies that are racing to stake a claim on flying cars and parcel-hauling drones, which has the potential to be the next disruption to sweep aerospace industry. Boeing’s efforts got a boost after the acquisition of Aurora Flight Sciences in 2017 who were already developing a flying taxi in collaboration with Uber Technologies Inc.

Talking about flying cars, PAL-V is the world’s first company to have developed a commercial flying car. They have three models in their stable. The PAL-V Liberty costs around Rs 4.18 crore. The other two models are Liberty Pioneer Edition and Liberty Sport model and these cost around Rs 3.78 crore and Rs 2.52 crore respectively.

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

Pollution is a major problem in most of the metro cities around the world. In Delhi NCR we had seen government taking various steps like odd-even rule, seizing old vehicles etc to control pollution. One of the other alternatives is promoting more electric vehicles, and that is what exactly the government is trying come up now. Authorities are now planning to come up with a green cess on petrol powered two-wheelers to subsidize the electric ones.

According to ET, a proposal has now come up that asks the buyers of petrol powered two-wheelers to pay an amount as green cess. The cess amount will be anything between Rs 800 – Rs 1000 and will purely depend upon the model one chooses. The main motive behind this step is to encourage people to buy more electric scooters and hit million mark in next two-three years.

The price difference between petrol and an electric two-wheeler is around Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 that is mainly because most of the parts that are used in an electric scooters such as motor, batteries, controllers and power units  are not manufactured in India and that adds up to the cost of the vehicle. But with this scheme in place, the gap can be reduced. Once a large number of electric vehicles are there on Indian roads the manufacturers can ask component makers to invest and start manufacturing parts locally to keep the costs down.

The proposal to impose green cess comes at a time when most of the two-wheeler manufacturers in country has called for a reduction in GST rates for motorcycles and scooters. The price of many petrol powered two-wheelers is expected to see a hike with the implementation of new BS VI emission norms.

Major manufacturers like Honda Motorcycles, TVS Motor Company have not yet made any comment on this scheme. Other reports are also coming up that says Rs 5,500 crore has been set aside for implementing the second phase of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme for better public transport and support initiation of electric buses by state governments.

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

Indian automaker Mahindra, known best for its SUVs and utility vehicles, has presented its latest flagship vehicle –  the Alturas G4 luxury SUV – to Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur. The Alturas G4 sits right at the top of  Mahindra’s SUV line-up, and competes with the likes of the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour. Prices of the  Alturas G4 start from Rs. 26.95 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi.

Jaipur, Veejay Ram Nakra, Chief of Sales and Marketing, Automotive Division, M&M Ltd. said,

It is my pleasure to present our luxury SUV, Alturas G4, to His Highness Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur.  His Highness, with his royal legacy and true sportsman spirit is an icon of new age royalty and we believe that the  Alturas G4 will be the perfect vehicle for him.

The Alturas G4 presented to the Jaipur royal is the top-end, four wheel drive automatic trim. The Mahindra Alturas G4 is also available in two wheel drive automatic trim. Both variants are powered by the same 2.2 liter-4 cylinder  turbocharged diesel engine that’s tuned to output 187 Bhp-420 Nm. The gearbox is a 7 speed torque converter automatic unit sourced from Mercedes Benz.

The Alturas G4 is slightly cheaper than its prime rival, the Toyota Fortuner. Also, the Mahindra flagship SUV offers  more features than the Fortuner, and is also larger. The Alturas is the only SUV in its segment to offer 9 airbags, which includes a driver’s knee airbag. It also gets other nifty features such as a 360 degress bird eye view camera  for ease of parking, and a driver’s seat the automatically pushes back making space for the driver while entering.

Like other SUVs in its segment, the Alturas G4 uses a body on ladder frame chassis, and is designed to perform well  even off the road. The SUV gets a 7 seat layout, with plush leather interiors. A touchscreen infotainment system with  Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, dual zone climate control and a power adjustable driver’s seat with  ventilation function are other notable features of the SUV.

To give Alturas G4 buyers a premium experience, Mahindra has created special zones within its showrooms. Buyers of the Alturas will also be assigned relationship managers who will handle sales, service bookings and other  interactions. Mahindra will also give Alturas G4 buyers an entry into the Purple+ club, a one-of-its-kind initiative  that will allow customers to redeem points on purchases, and participate in many brand activities.

Mahindra is going all out to promote the Alturas G4, and the chairman of the Mahindra group, Mr. Anand Mahindra was recently picked up this SUV as his personal SUV. Presenting the Alturas to the Jaipur royal is the latest in the slew of such high profile people that the brand is tying up with in order to build buzz around the luxury SUV.

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

Tata has started to roll off the new ABS equipped Tiago and Tigor in India. The company hiked the prices of its vehicles some time back and this recent development explains it to some extent. Almost all the car manufacturers are now pushing for making their cars more safer. This is because of of the upcoming BNSVAP (Bharat New Safety Vehicle Assessment Program) which has set a lot of reforms in the industry. The ABS is among one of the various features that are now made mandatory on the vehicle.

Earlier, safety features like ABS, EBD and Corner Stability Control were only offered on the XZ, XZA and XZ+ variants of the Tiago and Tigor. now however, with the new safety regulations in place, which will come into effect from April 2019, safety features such a ABS, rear parking sensors, airbags and speed alerts are expected to be offered on all variants of both models. The introduction of safety norms is a good step by the government as it will lead to a lower fatality rate.

While ABS may not seem like a big affair to many, it is a very vital safety feature that can make the difference between life and death during an accident. It prevents the wheel from locking and thereby skidding, which makes the driver lose control of he vehicle. Instead, ABs maximizes braking efficiency by continuously releasing and modulating brake pressure according how the wheel spins.

Both the Tiago and the Tigor are come with petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol engine is a 1.2-litre unit that produces 84 Bhp of power and 114 Nm of torque. The diesel engine is a 1.05-litre diesel unit that cranks out a decent 69 Bhp of power and 140 Nm of torque. The petrol variants gets both manual and automatic (AMT) transmission options. The diesel, however, is only available with the manual transmission. It is among the sore points of the car and especially so for the Tigor, since many people now prefer automatic transmission over a manual unit.

The Tata Tiago starts at Rs. 3.39 lakhs for the base petrol XB variant while the top of the line diesel XZ plus variant costs Rs. 6.38 lakhs. It rivals the likes of the Hyundai Santro, Maruti Suzuki Celerio and the newly launched Maruti Suzuki WagonR in the segment. The Tigor, on the other hand, starts at Rs. 5.20 lakhs for the petrol XE variant while the top of the line diesel XZ plus variant costs Rs. 7.38 lakhs. It rivals the like of Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Hyundai Xcent among others. Both the Tiago and the Tigor also get sporty JTP variants, which have more powerful engines along with sportier suspension and steering setup.

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

Before buying a car, taking a test drive of the vehicle is an absolute must. It gives the buyer a fair bit of idea into how is the car in real world and does it really deliver in a way that’s depicted on paper. Earlier, one had to visit a dealership in order to see the car in person and then go out for a test drive. ‘

Since some time though, test drives can be easily booked via a simple call to the dealership and the car will be waiting for you at your doorstep. However, Hyundai has now taken a step further and launched Google and Alexa support for booking a test drive of its new Santro hatchback.

Both the Amazon Alexa and Google assistant are artificial intelligence software which aim to cater to the users demand. Voice assistance is among many of their features. While most of you must have used Google assistant on your phone to search for a word’s meaning or to book a movie show, now you can book a test drive of the Santro too. For Alexa, one just has to speak “Launch All New Santro” into their Amazon Alexa device and the magic begins to unfold.

The same procedure is to be followed for Google assistant. One has to speak “Ok Google, Launch All New SANTRO” into your Google Home or Google Assistant on your Smartphone and you will be greeted by a small description of the car along with a question whether you want to test drive the car. Confirming this will automatically lead to getting your reservations done after following some simple steps.

While this is nothing otherworldly, it is actually quite good of Hyundai to incorporate the simple little tricks into our daily lives. Hyundai has been known for innovations they make on their cars and the same is now done for the customer experience. While not everyone would use this Alexa/Google assistant feature, it comes as a smart gesture by the company.

Talking about the Santro, it comes powered by a 1.1-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 69 PS of power along with 99 Nm of torque. It is the same engine that was used in the i10 but it has been thoroughly updated and tuned to meet the latest emission norms. Talking of mileage, the Santro returns an ARAI-certified fuel economy of 20.3 km/l, which is lower than most of its rivals like Maruti Celerio, which returns a maximum of 23.1 km/l and the Tata Tiago.

The Santro gets both a 5-speed manual and an AMT gearbox option to choose from. Prices for the Hyundai Santro start at Rs. 3.9 lakhs for the base variant and go all the way upto Rs. 5.65 lakhs for the top end variant (both prices ex-showroom, Delhi).

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 reaches dealerships ahead of launch

Maruti Gypsy is an iconic car and what makes it still popular is its versatility and the ‘n’ number of modifications one can make to it. Earlier we showed you Maruti Suzuki Gypsy diesel, the 1.3-litre petrol engine was swapped by 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine by Swift. Here’s another modified Gypsy.

Vidur Rathore, the owner of V-MOD has converted a Gypsy to Renegade. The donor vehicle is Gypsy King and a lot of metal bodywork has been done to achieve this modification. The shop is based in Indore, MP and the owner has given a bright yellow paint job to it.

On the outside, the car has been given aftermarket headlamp, tail lamps, and bigger wheels to stand out from the market. The doors have also been slicked out perfectly and shine bright yellow.

Moving to the interiors there is two-tone colour give to the seats. It is not clear whether it is 2-seater or if there is space in the back so people can sit inside. The modified Gypsy is an open-top vehicle, and there’s no provision even for a soft top. So, this vehicle is purely meant for fair weather.

One of the things which separate this Gypsy from other cars is that it has a beer bar underneath the back seat. You must never drink and drive though. The total modification job will set you back by around Rs 4 lakh.

This modified Gypsy does have polarizing looks, just like the Jeep Renegade had when it first made an entry into the US market some years ago. Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore it. That pretty much sums up this modified Gypsy.

 Maruti Gypsy to be discontinued by March 2019

Yes, the iconic Gypsy – the budgeted 4X4 will stop its production soon. Maruti Gypsy has been long in the market even before I was born and has been a tremendous success till now. Been in the market for more than 30 years, the Gypsy never cared to change, the aura still remains the same.

Its round headlamp on the exterior, open top and an affordable all-wheel-drive function what made this car popular.  Maruti Suzuki Gypsy is powered by 1.3-litre petrol engine churning out 81 Bhp of peak power and 110 Nm of peak torque on tap. The rear wheel driven car is built on a tough ladder frame chassis which helps in conquering tough roads. A 4X4 transfer case is standard, and the Gypsy is one of the most capable off roaders in India.

Yes, the Gypsy is popular among rally racers because of its natural style and the ruggedness. The car over the years didn’t provide the basic amenities like power steering, power windows per se. The leaf spring suspension made the ride very uncomfortable and the low fuel efficiency were the two main reasons people complained. However, with the changing norms of safety in India, the car couldn’t be re-engineered with ABS and airbags. Thus the era of Gypsy will end soon.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 reaches dealerships ahead of launch

Mahindra’s little known GenZe electric scooters are on sale in the US for quite some time now. Recently, the GenZe 2.0 was spotted testing in India. The spyshot you see below was taken somewhere on the Nashik highway and gives a clear view of the rear end of the scooter.

Some time back, we told you that Mahindra has plans to bring this electric scooter to India. Now as the scooter has been caught testing, the news of the scooter coming to India gets more backing.

To let you know, GenZe is a  US based (read California) manufacturer of electric bicycles and scooters. It is owned by the Mahindra Group, and the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra. The Mahindra GenZe 2.0 is a electric urban scooter with a host of technology underneath. The name ‘GenZe’ is derived from ‘Generation Zero Emissions.’ The brand has been active in the US since quite some time now and it was about time that it came here too.

The GenZe gets powered by a electric motor with a 1.6 KwH battery. The battery can be recharged in 3.5 hours from empty to full. This electric motor propels the GenZe to a top speed of 48 Kmph. The range is also capped at 48 Kms, which though is not much but can be used for city commute. The top speed of 48 km/h is achieved in 10 seconds by the scooter. It weighs 105.5 kilograms and has a payload of 133 Kgs, which means that two average sized adults can be carried.

The scooter gets a host of technologies which make it quite advanced. These include regenerative braking, disc brakes on both wheels and four driving modes – Sport mode, economy mode, easy mode and custom mode. All lights on the scooter are LEDs and it has a 7 inch LED touchscreen monitor. The touchscreen gives out a lot of data that concerns the scooter, and connects to the cloud to download this data. The rider can check various details about the GenZe on the move.

In the USA, the Scooter is available with three variants – GenZe 2.0, GenZe 2.0s, and GenZe 2.0f. The standard model offers an adjustable seat, front storage area, and open back bay for modularity. The GenZe 2.0s comes with lower handlebars, redesigned front fascia, and a sporty aesthetics. The GenZe 2.0f features a hard-case lockable storage compartment and an electronically locking centre kick-stand for added security.

The Mahindra GenZe 2.0 connects with the dedicated GenZe app. While the standard version has limited features, the GenZe 2.0s comes with three years of 3G telematics data, and the ability to remotely track and disable it to protect from theft. The GenZe App on the 2.0f enables the user to electronically lock the centre kick-stand and Smartphone integration with the touchscreen display.

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Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 reaches dealerships ahead of launch

Tata Nano was the brainchild of Ratan Tata who visualised of giving a safer and affordable alternative to Indian families riding on two-wheelers. The Nano was launched in Indian market with an initial price of about Rs one lakh. But it received a lacklustre response from Indian customers and later the production was was stopped. Tata Motors is now preparing to give Nano a farewell with the new emission norms kicking in from April 2020.

An official at Tata Motors has recently confirmed that they have no plans to invest and upgrade Nano to meet BS VI standards. This indicates that the production and sales of Tata Nano is likely to be stopped completely from April 2020.

Even though the production of the iconic Nano has been stopped at Gujarat’s Sanand factory, one can still buy a Nano if you want one. If a customer can convince a Tata dealer to order a car, Tata Motors will still be build the Nano on an order-to-order basis. Tata dealers across country have been clearing old stocks of Nano for the past many months.

Why did Nano Fail?

What really went wrong for Tata Nano?, it was a fabulous product. It could have actually been ‘The People’s Car’ for India but the ‘cheap’ tag attached to the car took things against the Nano. It was marketed as a poor man’s car. This meant that a lot of first-time buyers were willing to be seen in a used car, but not a new Tata Nano. While the Tata Nano will go into marketing books as a case study of how marketing killed a fabulous product, the car remains one of the best examples of Indian frugal engineering.

Key highlights of the Nano were its 624cc twin cylinder engine, a rear wheel drive layout, 4 speed manual and 5 speed AMT options, a very spacious cabin and in later models, Bluetooth connectivity and even a boot.

When launched in 2008 Tata Nano was world’s cheapest car and Ratan Tata kept his promise of pricing the car at just Rs one lakh. The Nano had wowed the world initially, and there were a many people booking for this tiny city runabout. The Tata Nano going out of production represents the end of an era. Tata is also working on some Electric vehicles, so an electric version of the Tata Nano is likely to come in future.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 reaches dealerships ahead of launch

India has the most number of causalities in road accidents every year. This is something that is not much talked about and is not a concerning for most. From the manufacturers to the government and even the buyers don’t usually have car safety on the top of their minds. But this has started to change of lately. With the recent BNSVAP safety norms launched by the government, safety is slowly and gradually becoming a important aspect of car buying. To make people aware of safety issues on cars, Tata has released a new TVC which emphasizes on the same. Take a look at the video below before we delve into further details.

As seen in the video above, Tata has done a good job in promoting the issue of safety in cars and on roads. The advertisement also highlights the fact that the Tata Nexon is the safest car in India with a perfect 5 star rating given by the Global NCAP. It is the first and the only car in India yet to have achieved the coveted 5 star rating. Recently, the Mahindra Marazzo too got a good 4 star Global NCAP rating. This is seen as a good change that is taking place in the auto sector of India.

Talking about the TVS, it begins with the fact that India is a democratic which translates into the fact that anyone can raise questions here. In the context of cars, the usual questions asked are related to the car’s performance, features, interiors, mileage and space. However, the TVC then highlights the fact that a Democracy is not just for asking questions but rather about asking the right question. The question which should be of top priority for buyers should be how safe is the car and will it keep me and my family safe in case of an unfortunate accident.

For emphasizing on the safety of cars as well as to force manufacturers into making more strong and safe cars, the government has launched the BNSVAP safety norms. With this, all manufacturers are required to make cars strong enough to pass through crash tests, feature ABS and airbags along with many other safety enhancements. This is quite a good move as it will ensure that the cars plying on road are safe and fatality rate in accidents is reduced.

The Tata Nexon is available with both petrol and diesel options. The 1.2 litre Revotron petrol engine produces 110 Bhp of power and 170 Nm of torque. The diesel engine, on the other hand, is an even peppier 1.5 litre unit which produces class leading 110 Bhp of power and 260 Nm of torque. Both manual and automatic transmission options are available with both the engines. There are three driving modes to choose from (Eco, City, Sport) which control the engine output from maximum efficiency to maximum power.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 reaches dealerships ahead of launch

With the growing demand and the popularity of the sub-4meter compact SUVs in the Indian market, many manufacturers are planning to launch their products in the segment. Hyundai, India’s second-largest carmaker is working on the all-new car, which could get the name Styx.

It was first revealed as the Carlino concept model in the 2016 Auto Expo in India and car is near its production stage now. The all-new model has been caught testing in Europe and India a while ago and here are more pictures of the upcoming Styx from South Korea.

The all-new Styx will take on the cars like Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport and upcoming Mahindra XUV 300. It will get the modern Hyundai family design that gives it a hexagonal front grille. The design is expected to be heavily inspired by the upcoming Hyundai Santa Fe. The heavily camouflaged vehicle’s design carries a resemblance to the Hyundai Creta’s silhouette.

The Styx will soon be unveiled at the New York Auto Show, USA on April 17th, 2019 and will be the first compact SUV by the brand that will be launched in the USA market. The Indian launch is expected to happen later this year. As Hyundai is entering the segment quite late, the Styx is expected to get a long list of features and priced attractively to get the attention in the Indian market.

Internally, the Styx is known as the QXi and it has been developed specifically for developing markets like India. However, it will be a global product and will be launched in many international markets with a few changes, of course. The Styx will be positioned below the Hyundai Creta and will be the smallest SUV from the brand.

The interiors of the Styx have been spied before and the pictures indicate that the cabin will offer premium features. The all-new Styx will offer an all-black cabin with bolstered seats. The dashboard will get a large touchscreen infotainment system, which is likely to be an 8.0-inch unit. It will get a lot of safety equipment too. Internationally, the Styx can come with a 7-airbag system but in India, it will be a lower number of airbags to keep the price tag competitive. Other safety features include ABS+EBD, hill hold, hill descent among others.

The engine details of the all-new Styx are still obscure. However, Hyundai is expected to use both petrol and diesel engine options in the upcoming compact SUV. The petrol engine is expected to be a 1.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces around 118 Bhp while the 1.5-litre diesel engine is expected to produce around 115 Bhp. Keeping it affordable, Hyundai may only offer AMT automatic transmission with the petrol variants of the Styx.

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Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 reaches dealerships ahead of launch

The all-new Maruti Ertiga, which was launched in India just a few weeks ago, has already been deployed in one of  India’s law enforcement agencies as a police car. The MPV has been pressed into police car duty at Gurgaon, Haryana. Now called Gurugram, the city also hosts the Maruti Suzuki factory, which produces the all-new, 2nd generation Ertiga MPV, apart from a range of other cars such as the Swift, Dzire and Alto.

Maruti Suzuki handed over 25 units of the all-new Maruti Ertiga MPV to the Haryana police at Gurugram. All these MPVs have been outfitted with beacons, sirens, wireless communication equipment and police livery in order to distinguish them as police cars. White is the standard colour that has been used across these MPVs, which will function as mobile police control room (PCR) vans.

The new Maruti Ertiga MPVs that have been pressed into police car duty are the diesel powered versions. The diesel  engine that powers these MPVs is the tried and tested, 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet turbocharged unit with 89 Bhp of peak  power and 200 Nm of peak torque. A 5 speed manual gearbox drives the front wheels. A mild hybrid system that cuts fuel consumption and boosts acceleration comes standard with this engine on the Ertiga.

Notably, the Ertiga along with its sibling – the Ciaz – will get a brand new 1.5 liter diesel engine shortly. The new  diesel engine will be offered with a 6 speed manual gearbox. It remains to be seen whether the new engine also gets a mild hybrid system. For now, it’s expected that the new engine will co-exist with the 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet unit  until 2020 – the year when Bharat Stage 6 emission norms come into force. After April 2020, the 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet diesel engine is likely to be discontinued, making way for the 1.5 liter motor as the standard diesel engine  in Maruti Suzuki’s car line up.

The all-new Maruti Ertiga is built on the HEARTECT platform that it shares with the likes of the Maruti Swift,  WagonR, Dzire and Baleno. This platform uses lightweight, high tensile steel, and this has allowed Maruti to make the new Ertiga lighter than the older version despite an increase in size. The lower weight boosts acceleration and fuel efficiency – key requirements of customers. The new Ertiga gets a totally revamped interior, with a lot of new  features. The touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is one such feature that sits on  the new dashboard of the MPV.

The new Ertiga retains the 7 seat layout in a 2+3+2 form. The MPV will be joined by a plusher version in the coming  months. The plusher Ertiga, with more features on offer, will be sold through NEXA dealerships while the regular  model will continue to retail from Maruti’s ARENA chain of dealerships. Maruti is also said to be working on a  crossover-styled version of the Ertiga with butch looks and higher ground clearance. The Ertiga Cross is expected to  make its debut by the end of 2019.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 reaches dealerships ahead of launch

South Korean car manufacturer Kia is all set to launch its first product – the SP Concept based mid-size SUV in India. Trial production of this SUV will commence from this month. Kia confirmed in an event held in Puducherry that it has plans to Introduce new cars every six months after the launch of their first product. Production version of the SP Concept is likely to hit Indian market in the second half of 2019.

The Kia SUV will take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta and the recently launched Tata Harrier. In terms of pricing, it’s expected to command a premium over the Hyundai Creta. The Kia SP code-named SUV is likely to offer more features than the Creta. However, it will share the platform with the Creta, and a lot of parts are also expected to be shared in order to keep costs low.

Kia’s SUV is based on a concept car that was showcased at 2018 Indian Auto Expo. It is based on a modern platform that we will see on next-generation Hyundai Creta. Kia has confirmed that the upcoming SUV will be equipped with power packed performance and world class quality. Talking about the engine, it is likely to be powered by a 1.4L turbo petrol engine producing 140 Bhp. A 1.5L petrol and diesel engine is also expected. Kia will also bring a sportier version of the SP SUV in 2020. An all wheel drive variant is unlikely to be launched.

The SUV has been caught testing several times under heavy camouflage on Indian roads. The Production version of the Kia SUV looks similar to the concept showcased at the Auto Expo. It has a sharp looking LED DRL above the headlamps just like the one seen on Tata Harrier, a large front grille and the tail lights are also likely to remain same as that of SP Concept SUV.

Kia is Hyundai’s premium brand and the upcoming mid-size SUV is likely to be placed slightly above Hyundai Creta. Kia will be manufacturing their new SUV from a newly set up plant in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur. The plant is spread across 536 acres of land and is capable of manufacturing three lakh vehicles annually. A local manufacturing plant will also help Kia in pricing the SP SUV competitively.

Apart from India, Kia Motors has manufacturing plants located in South Korea, Slovakia, China, USA and Mexico. Kia also has plans to be ranked among the top five automobile manufacturers in country in three years. When launched the Kia SP SUV will directly compete with cars like Tata Harrier, Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Creta.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 reaches dealerships ahead of launch

Maruti is all set to launch the new updated 2019 Baleno this month and dealer dispatches have started. Our reader Dhruv Budhiraja gave us this tip and the images are also circulating on various Facebook groups now. As seen, there are quite a few changes that we can clearly talk about now. Launch date has not been revealed yet though.

For starters, on the outside, the new 2019 Maruti Baleno will get restyled dual tone alloy-wheels on the higher specs models. These silver-black wheels or precision cut alloy wheels look a lot better than the current model’s design. Wheel and tyre size is expected to be same. These gel in well with the chrome covers for the door handles. Up front, the bumper has been redesigned and wears a sportier lower lip. The grille design has also been altered and the higher versions will get LED projector lamps. There are no images of the rear of the hatchback but a restyled bumper at the back could be added.

On the inside, the biggest news is the new, restyled infotainment system that will get added functions. As you can see in the image here, even the low warning light gets shown on the display. Even the central console gets new refreshed ornamentation. Further, the seats get a new blue and black theme. We also hope Maruti ups the quality quotient to match the Hyundai Elite i20. In terms of space, the Baleno has always scored top marks and this trait will continue to play an important role.

There will be more mechanical updates to the new 2019 Maruti Baleno. It will continue to be offered with a pair of engines that include a 1.2-lite petrol and a 1.3-litre diesel. The petrol engine will be offered with an optional CVT automatic transmission, something that other premium hatchbacks also do. In terms of numbers, the petrol engine is good for 82 bhp / 115 Nm while the diesel mill put outs 74 bhp / 190 Nm. The current Baleno is also available in the RS trim that comes with a turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine. We don’t know at this stage if the exterior and interior changes will be done to RS Baleno or not.

The new Baleno will miss out on the classy looking key fob of the older model. Instead, Maruti will be offering the same ‘sober’ looking key fob as the one seen on the Dzire. The image you see below also confirms the same. Some reports are also suggesting that there might be a possible reshuffle of versions. Watch this space for more!

Prices are expected to remain more or less same and these changes will help the new 2019 Maruti Baleno fight its rivals in a better way. Competition includes the Hyundai Elite i20 and the Honda Jazz. Maruti had recently launched the all-new WagonR and their next launch, after the 2019 Baleno, will be the 1.5-litre diesel engine equipped Ciaz.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 reaches dealerships ahead of launch

Mahindra XUV 300, one of the most awaited cars in the market will launch of 14th February. While Mahindra has revealed the XUV 300 through pictures and a TVC, we are yet to see the vehicle in flesh. Mahindra hosted a dealership meet to show the upcoming vehicle exclusively to the dealers in India. Here are the first pictures from the dealership meet.

The upcoming car will be available in six colours and the dealership meet had all the six colour options at the display. There were four different variants showcased. Mahindra will also offer dealership-level customisation options for the Mahindra XUV 300. The dealership meet had one such customised XUV 300 with the chrome kit too.

The pictures also show what the different variants of the XUV 300 will get. From the pictures, we can make out that the base W4 variant of the Mahindra XUV 300 will get steel rims but there are no wheel covers on them. During the name announcement, Mahindra revealed that even the base variant will come loaded with features. The base version of the Mahindra XUV 300 will get airbags, ABS, LED tail lamps, all four powered windows and disc brakes on all the wheels.

The second trim level is the W6 variant that gets wheel covers on the steel rims. It also gets chrome inserts on the grille. The W6 variant gets more presence with the roof rails in place. The W6 variant also gets a 2-DIN audio system with Bluetooth connectivity. Other features include a manual AC, a digital MID placed between the speedometer and tachometer dials on the instrument cluster.

The top-end W8 version will come with all the bells and whistles like the 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, 7-airbag system, front parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control system, 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display and sunroof. The top-end version also gets leather seats, steering mounted controls, cruise control, and more such features.

The all-new Mahindra XUV 300 is based on the SsangYong Tivoli platform but Mahindra has made enough changes in the looks to give it a signature Mahindra look. The XUV 300 looks much inspired by the Mahindra XUV 500. Engine details have not been revealed yet but it is being speculated that the all-new Mahindra XUV 300 will get the most powerful engines in the segment. There will be a 1.2-litre petrol engine that is expected to generate around 200 Nm of torque. The diesel engine is expected to be same as the one powering the Mahindra Marazzo. The 1.5-litre diesel engine unit produces a maximum power of 123 PS and a peak torque of 300 Nm. Both the engine options will get 6-speed manual transmission at the time of the launch. Later on, automatic variants are also expected to be launched in the market.

Mahindra has already started taking the bookings for the all-new XUV 300 and the prices would be announced on 14th February 2018. That’s the time delivery will also begin.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 reaches dealerships ahead of launch

The SUV segment in India has just got a lot more hotter past the launch of the Tata Harrier. The big SUV has taken the market by a storm and left most of its rivals huffing and panting. Among other, the most challenging competitors for the Tata Harrier are the Jeep Compass and the Mahindra XUV500.

At first glance, it seems like they are not a competition to the Harrier, but on a closer look, it seems that the other two SUV still have some game left in them. Therefore, we have brought this guide to help you find a SUV that suits you the best among these three.

Want a Powerful and Sporty SUV – Jeep Compass

If performance is all what you want, look no further than the Jeep Compass. Among the trio here, it is the most powerful SUV and comes with an AWD option too. The top of the line 2.0 Limited Plus 4X4 variant, though quite expensive at Rs. 22.9 lakhs, gets powered by a 2.0 litre Multijet engine and produces 170 Bhp of power along with 350 Nm of torque. This is the same engine that does duty on the Harrier too, albeit in a different state of tune. None of the SUVs featured here offer a proper 4X4 system and so if performance is your pick, the Compass is the best you can get.

Diesel SUV with Auto box – Mahindra XUV500

A diesel SUV with an automatic transmission seems to be among the most popular choice these days. The diesel engines provides better fuel efficiency while the automatic gearbox offers easy driving experience. However, among the three SUVs here, only the XUV500 comes with a diesel automatic option. It is powered by a 2.2 litre engine that churns out 155 Bhp of power along with 360 Nm of torque. The diesel automatic variant of the XUV500 has a ARAI certified fuel efficiency rating of 14 km/l.

Best Value for money – Tata Harrier

We Indians have a thing for value for money cars and the Tata Harrier is the best option in that criteria. With a starting price of just Rs. 12.69 lakhs, the Harrier is one hell of a value product. Even the top variant comes for Rs. 16.25 lakhs and it is equipped with all the bells and whistles expected of a top variant. Among the four trim levels available for the Harrier, the most value for money one is the XM trim which retails for Rs. 13.75 lakhs. It is fairly well equipped and does not miss on anything important.

Best Petrol powered option – Jeep Compass

Now if you want an SUV but still diesel engines are not something that you approve of, the Jeep Compass is the better option here among the trio. The Harrier does not have a petrol engine and the one on the XUV is not a very refined unit. The petrol engine on the Compass, however, is a pretty good 1.4 litre unit that provides ample of power along with being a very responsive engine. It churns out 160 Bhp of power along with 250 Nm of torque. It also comes with both manual and automatic transmission options to choose from.

Big Family? Need a seven seater SUV – Mahindra XUV500

One of the major reason why people buy an SUV is because they want a big vehicle that can move the whole family in one go. This translates into a 7 seater SUV, which is something that only the Mahindra XUV500 features among the three SUVs here. While 7 seats means that you will have to sacrifice a bit in terms of boot space, it can carry two extra people when the need arises. However the last bench on the XUV500 is best suited for children rather than full grown adults.

More focus on Interiors and features – Tata Harrier

Tata has made sure that the Harrier conquers the market right after the launch and for the same, has equipped it with a lot of equipment and goodies. 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 port. The seats are quite comfortable and spacious enough with oak brown colour theme. The interior feels quite well put together with wood and brushed metal detailing splashed across the dashboard.

Fuel efficient diesel – Jeep Compass

The infamous ‘Kitna deti hai’ question is one of the most important query in the mind of the buyers. If you are among those people who are constantly looking at the fuel gauge of the car, the Jeep Compass is the best option for you. The diesel variants of the Compass deliver a ARAI certified fuel economy of 17.1 km/l, which is very good when compared to the competition.

Also Read: The Mahindra XUV300 is coming to a mall near you!

Bajaj Auto is just weeks away from launching the facelifted version of the Dominar. Known as the 2019 Bajaj Dominar, the motorcycle has been spied testing multiple times, both with and without camouflage. The motorcycle has also made it to Bajaj Auto’s website and a TVC, giving us a clear picture on what to expect. Meanwhile, here the un-camouflaged images of the 2019 Bajaj Dominar’s production version.

The biggest visible changes on the 2019 Bajaj Dominar include the upside down front forks and a twin barrel,  redesigned exhaust canister. Apart from these changes, the motorcycle will feature new rear view mirrors, a revised  instrument cluster with more information on offer, a larger radiator for better heat management of the engine and  dual channel ABS as standard.

The non-ABS version of the Dominar is expected to be discontinued in the 2019 model given the fact that government regulations in India now make ABS mandatory on all two wheelers with engine capacity higher than 125cc. What the non inclusion of the non-ABS version in the 2019 Dominar will mean is that the starting price of the motorcycle will increase. The addition of new features and dual channel ABS becoming standard is expected to make the Dominar pricier by a few thousand rupees. Expect prices to start from about Rs. 1.65 lakhs.

Coming to the key mechanical detail of the motorcycle – the engine – the 373cc, KTM Duke 390-derived motor is  expected to be largely unchanged except for enhancements for better refinement. Peak power and torque outputs of 35 Bhp-35 Nm are expected from this liquid cooled and fuel injected motor. A 6 speed manual gearbox with slipper clutch will also be standard with this motor. Bajaj Auto is expected to make the body work of the Dominar fit more snugly to prevent vibrations from seeping in at higher rpms.

Over the past few months, owners of the current Dominar have been called in to service centers to add anti-vibration  bits to their motorcycles as a part of a silent recall. The new motorcycle is expected to come with these  enhancements right from the factory. The 2019 Bajaj Dominar will continue to be positioned as a high performance,  affordable sports tourer that is meant to be a sportier alternative to Royal Enfields. However, it remains to be seen  if the Dominar can actually outsell the Royal Enfields.

In the past couple of years, sales of the Bajaj Dominar have been less than satisfactory, with the motorcycle doing  less than 1,000 units/month across most months. The 2019 version is expected to give Bajaj a better shot at boosting  sales of this motorcycle, which also happens to be the flagship product. Expect a price announcement and launch of the 2019 Bajaj Dominar very soon.

Also Read: The Mahindra XUV300 is coming to a mall near you!

The Himalayan region is becoming a hotspot for tourists around India. Especially, after the wave of self-driving rental cars, most of the tourists prefer to explore the Himalayas by themselves. Here is one such video that shows a self-driven Mahindra Scorpio 2WD going through the treacherous Spiti valley and getting stuck royally.

The Spiti valley is one of the most treacherous regions in the Himalayas. The roads are not cleaned often and the snow is not removed regularly, which can block the roads for hours or even days. The Scorpio seen in the video is an S4 variant and it is a 2WD set-up. Driving around in snowy conditions in a 2WD can be dangerous as the vehicle can get stuck anytime.

The quick video shows a roadblock caused by a snowslide. The video claims that it took around 4 hours to remove the snow with the help of locals. It can be seen in the video that the local residents are removing the snow with the help of shovels and making the way for the Mahindra. The Mahindra Scorpio can be seen treading on the snow-topped tarmac and getting stuck in it. The 2WD Scorpio sends the power to the rear wheels, which makes it more difficult to find traction in snow or slippery surfaces. The locals then removed more snow from the front wheels and then pushed the Scorpio from behind to bring it out of the situation. A Maruti Suzuki Gypsy can be seen crossing the same stretch without any problem.

Now there can be a few things that can be learnt from this situation.

Carry your equipment – If you’re going to such secluded places where the weather conditions are not predictable, always carry your own equipment. Essentials like a shovel, a tow hook and traction mats are extremely handy in such situations. Also, a tyre puncture kit and an inflator are mandatory tools on a trip. Places like Spiti Valley are very thinly populated and you would not find help or mobile network for hours on this stretch.

Know your vehicle – Yes, 2WD is quite capable if the driver of the vehicle knows what he or she is doing but there are a lot of limitations attached to the type of vehicle one is driving. If you’re going to challenging places for the first time, always ensure that you take a 4WD vehicle. Once you’re familiar with the route and know the challenges, you can try it again with a 2WD vehicle.

Know the limitations – Even if you have a 4WD vehicle, it is best to not venture into tricky places. Always walk the way to know the traction and how the surface is. Walking the way can give you a lot of knowledge and can help the vehicle getting through it easily.

Have a backup – Having a back-up vehicle is not always possible but it is extremely useful in such situations. A back-up vehicle can easily pull you out of challenging situations. Having a winch in the vehicle also helps but again, they are extremely rare on the regular vehicles.

Also Read: The Mahindra XUV300 is coming to a mall near you!

Tata Harrier, which was one of the most-awaited SUVs in the market was launched officially a few days back. Tata has released a TVC of the Harrier that highlights the vehicle’s features and shows it going around in different terrains. Here is the TVC.

The Harrier was launched at a price of Rs. 12.69 lakh and is available in four variants. The top-end variant comes with a price tag of Rs. 16.25 lakh. Currently, it is only available with a diesel engine mated to a manual transmission. It is the new flagship vehicle from the brand and is built on the Land Rover Discovery Sport’s D8 platform. The Harrier is a big vehicle in size and is even bigger than the 7-seater Mahindra XUV 500 in size. It offers a ground clearance of 205mm.

Looks-wise, the Tata Harrier is quite aggressively designed. The design remains very similar to the H5X concept showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo. The all-new SUV gets bright LED DRLs, which are positioned as an extended part of the front grille. The main headlamps are positioned lower in the bumper. It gives a futuristic look to the Harrier. On the side, the unique window line of the Harrier and the thick C-Pillar with design element in it makes the Harrier look sleek and add a floating roof effect. At the rear, the Harrier gets huge LED lamps and a thick black stripe connecting both the lamps. The top-end of the Harrier gets 17-inch wheels while the lower variants get 16-inch wheels.

The feature list is quite long but the Harrier misses out on certain features. It gets dual function DRLs, which work as turn indicators, projector headlamps, electrically adjustable ORVMs and rear parking sensors as standard equipment. Inside the cabin, the Tata Harrier looks extremely premium with wooden inserts on the dashboard. It gets features like 8.8-inch touchscreen floating infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Tata Harrier also gets a 7-inch TFT in the instrument cluster that shows various information. It gets a 9-speaker surround sound set-up from JBL with a subwoofer. It is the best-in-segment audio system.

The Tata Harrier is powered by only one engine option. It gets a 2.0-litre Multijet diesel engine from Fiat that also powers the Jeep Compass. Tata has renamed the engine as KRYOTEC and it generates a maximum of 138 Bhp and 350 Nm. All the variants get 6-speed manual transmission but the automatic transmission is expected to be launched soon. The engine gets three driving modes – Eco, City and Sport. Changing the modes can change the power output of the engine. The Harrier also gets 14 function ESP, which offers features like disc wiping, off-road ABS, corner stability, hill hold control, hill descent and more.

Also Read: The Mahindra XUV300 is coming to a mall near you!

We saw a lot of highly awaited bikes in the Indian market in 2018 including the Royal Enfield 650 Twins and the BMW 310 twins. 2019 is expected to be equally exciting and there is a lot in the stores for the bike lovers in India. Here are the top bikes that are expected to be launched in 2019.

Bajaj Dominar 400

Expected launch: End January 2019

Bajaj has been testing the new Dominar 400 for a long time on the Indian roads. The bike has been revealed completely in Bajaj’s brand film and the launch is imminent. The Dominar 400 gets some very important and major updates in 2019. It includes twin-pod exhaust, upside down front forks, new alloy wheels and a bigger radiator. It will also get an updated instrument console with more features.

Husqvarna Vitpilen 400

Expected launch: Festive season 2019

Rajiv Bajaj recently confirmed the launch of the Husqvarna brand in the Indian market in 2019 and their first two products would be based on the KTM 390 Duke. The Vitpilen 401 is known as the white arrow and is a cafe-racer styled bike. Even though it has enough modern elements in its design, the bike still brings to mind a minimalistic retro design. The body of the bike is made out of a single flowing piece that gives it a dramatic design. The single-cylinder 373-cc engine generates a maximum of 42 Bhp and 35 Nm of torque.

Husqvarna Svartpilen 400

Expected launch: Festive season 2019

The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is known as the “Black Arrow” and is the scrambler version of the Vitpilen. It gets knobby tyres, a high handlebar and other rugged body parts that make it a better bike on rough surfaces. The Svartpilen also gets a more relaxed riding position. The engine of the bike is same as the Vitpilen and it generates a similar 42 Bhp – 35 Nm. Both the Husqvarna bikes are expected to be launched by the end of this year.

Yamaha MT-15

Expected launch: March 2019

Yamaha showcased the all-new MT-15 naked bike at an international auto show and it has been caught testing in India recently. The bike would take on the 200cc bikes in the market like the Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS and the TVS Apache RTR 200. The MT-15 is the naked version of the YZF-R15 V3.0 and would be powered by the same engine. Yamaha will do a few changes on the India-spec bike to ensure that it gets competitive pricing in the Indian market. The changes on the bike would be similar to the ones received by Yamaha R15 V3.0.

Jawa Perak

Expected launch: Mid-2019

The Jawa brand has become quite popular in India and has received an overwhelming response in the Indian market. Jawa will soon launch its flagship bike in the Indian market that was showcased during the launch of the Jawa and Jawa 42 bikes. The bike gets a Bobber design and looks quite interesting with matte grey shade and golden highlights on the tank and the side panels. It also gets a single-seat set-up. The bike gets dual-channel ABS and would be powered by a bigger bore 332cc, single-cylinder engine. The bigger engine will churn out a maximum power of 30 Bhp and 31 Nm. Jawa is expected to price the bike below Rs. 2 lakhs in the Indian market.

Hero XPulse 200R

Expected launch: Mid 2019

Hero MotoCorp showcased the much awaited XPulse adventure motorcycle at the 2018 Auto Expo but the launch of the bike has been pushed by a few months. The bike will be powered by a 200 cc engine from the Xtreme 200S  that churns out a maximum of 18 Bhp-17 Nm. It will be Hero’s flagship model in the Indian market and will be the priciest too.

It’ll ride on a 21-inch front wheel and an 18 inch rear with long travel suspension. Features like ABS will be standard on the bike. The XPulse is likely to be priced at about Rs. 1.2 lakhs, and will be India’s lowest priced adventure motorcycle on the market.

Honda CB300R

Expected launch: 8th February

The announcement of the  Honda CB300R’s launch came as a surprise to many. The all-new CB300R will be launched next month and the Honda dealers are already taking bookings for it. It will be a CKD product and is expected to be priced below Rs. 2.5 lakhs. The bike will get powered by a single-cylinder 286cc, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, 4-valve engine. It produces a maximum of 37 Bhp and a peak torque of 27.5 Nm.

KTM 390 ADV

Expected launch: End 2019

KTM has been spotted testing the all-new 390 ADV on the Indian roads which suggest that the bike is in its final testing stages. The bike caught testing in India was seen with alloy wheels and dual-purpose tyres. The bike will come with long-travel suspension, off-set spindle, high positioned handlebar and headlamps similar to the KTM 390 Duke. It is expected to be powered by the same 373.2cc engine that powers the 390 Duke and the RC 390. However, the power figures may change and so can the gearing ratio.

Also Read: The Mahindra XUV300 is coming to a mall near you!