The Toyota Innova Crysta is one of the most luxurious vehicles on sale around Rs. 20 lakh price bracket. It has been the only MPV to be sold in that price range and still gather good sales. The coming time will see the arrival of Kia Carnival MPV in the same price range which will challenge its supremacy in the segment. Coming back to the Innova, Executive Modcar Trendz has given a special treatment to this MPV. The mod house has transformed Innova’s interiors into a lounge-like place with all the luxuries one could demand of in a car.

The second and third-row seats have given way for two full-length electric recliners. The recliners come with all the necessary functions and the passengers also get amenities like a privacy partition, chiller and touch buttons along the sides. The interiors are swathed in high-quality leather with a shade of tan and looks premium. The door and side panels of the Innova have also been redone and now match the overall theme of the interiors.

Apart from the majestic seats, the luxury lounge here also gets motorised foldout tables which come to you at the touch of a button. A motorised 24 inch TV and floor carpet lamination are other premium features which can only be expected from a luxury lounge. Ambient mood lighting and premium wood finish all around further elevate the luxuriousness of the Innova lounge here. The rear passengers get about 40 inches of legroom, which is enough a full stretched out sleep.

The roof features star glazed LED lights along with the cup holders near the chiller for easy access. An intercom system is also provided to communicate with the driver when the partition is up. With the partition up, nothing would bother you while you rest and enjoy in your own luxury cocoon. High-quality material is present wherever you see and there is not a sign of regular hard plastics anywhere.

The driver and front passenger area is not left out, as is the case with many other such luxury lounges. EMT has fully modified the interiors here too so that the chauffeur can be at ease as well while driving. Noteworthy features here include a half leather half wood steering wheel, Nappa leather seats along with wood finish panelling on the dashboard as well as the sides. Ambient lighting is present here too along with touch-sensitive buttons on the side.

Along with all this, the lounge comes with utility and luxury features like inverter, custom carpet flooring, DVD Music Player and reverse camera among others.  For further information and detail on the Innova lounge by EMT and the cost of this lounge, you can get in touch with them by clicking here.

Also Read: Honda CB300R with touring modifications looks adventure ready [Video]

Honda launched the all-new CB300R in the Indian market earlier this year. The all-new naked bike takes on the likes of KTM 390 Duke in the market. While there are many options in the naked street segment in the Indian market, the option for long-distance touring motorcycles is still scarce. Many modify their regular, naked motorcycles and add touring-friendly modifications to make the bike much more capable. Here is a digitally created image that shows Honda CB300R in proper touring form.

The digital image by DESI GEEEK of the bike shows it as a proper touring bike with added accessories. To start with, the bike gets a beak-shaped front mudguard that gives the bike true off-roading look. It also gets a different mudguard and the alloy wheels have been replaced with the spoked rims, which are much more rugged and abuse-friendly than the alloy wheels. Making the bike more capable is the off-road tyres with big blocks.

To make the ride comfortable for long-distance trips, the seat gets replaced with a new, more comfortable and extra cushioned seat. Even the pillion seat is now more comfortable when compared to the stock seats. Other changes include new handlebar guards, auxiliary lamps mounted on the side, that will make riding at night very easy and comfortable. The bike also gets a tall windscreen that will help the riders from wind blast on the open highways.

All of these modifications and accessories can be sourced from a local aftermarket shop and can be installed on the bike to make it a better touring bike. However, sourcing and installing all the parts will come out to be expensive and unless you only want this bike as your adventure machine, it is a better idea to buy an ADV bike. Accessories are not always as reliable as the OEM products and it is always a good idea to prefer reliability, especially if the bike is going to far off destinations in search of adventure.

There is no doubt that the Honda CB300R gets an extremely smooth engine that can be pretty useful for fatigue-free long distance rides. The bike is priced at Rs. 2.41 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi and it has become quite popular in the market. The all-new CBR is currently sold-out for the next two months as the first batch of the bike is completely sold out. It is a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) product, which is assembled in India.

Honda offers the all-new CB300R through the Honda Wing dealerships. There are 22 such dealerships across India. The bike gets powered by a 286cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that produces a maximum power of 31 Bhp and a peak torque of 27.5 Nm. The bike weighs only 147 kg, which makes it very agile in heavy traffic situations. The bike is offered with a 6-speed transmission.

Also Read: Honda CB300R with touring modifications looks adventure ready [Video]

Maruti Suzuki launched the Balneo facelift without much fanfare in January this year. With this mid-life facelift, Maruti gave the Baleno several updates along with fresh styling and aesthetic tweaks. To let you know, the Baleno is the best selling vehicle in the premium hatchback segment, where it battles for the crown with the likes of the Hyundai Elite i20 and the Honda Jazz. The top end variant of the Baleno, the Alpha 1.2 automatic petrol, is priced at Rs. 8.77 lakhs. Being the top end model, it comes with all the bells and whistles expected from a premium hatchback and then some. The video below by Namaste Car gives a detailed walkaround review of the car. Check it out before we further move on upon the details and features of the car.

As seen in the video, the facelifted Baleno looks quite fresh and chic compared to the model it replaces. Maruti Suzuki has retouched several bits around the car which enhance its aesthetics without actually giving it a major upgrade. The front bumper has been refreshed and houses larger foglamp enclosures. The air dam is also larger than the previous generation model while the front grille has been updated. It now gets 3D detailing in a flowing pattern like design, which actually looks good. The car now rides on machined dual tone 16 in alloys shod on with 195/55 section tires. The rear gets a similar design as on the previous model and the big chrome slab running horizontally along the tailgate looks quite premium.

Things have been refreshed on the inside too and as seen in the video, the car comes with new seat fabric, finished in black and navy blue dual tone colours. The touchscreen audio system has been updated too and it now gets the “SmartPlay Studio” UI, which first launched with the Maruti Suzuki all-new WagonR. It also gets the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity apart from navigation and Bluetooth telephony. the dashboard design, rake and reach adjustable and other interior bits remain the same but overall, the cabin feels refreshed.

In lieu of the upcoming BNSVAP safety norms, the Baleno gets a host of safety features too. This includes ABS+EBD, dual airbags, brake assist, pre-tensioner and force limiter seat belts, front seat belt reminder, ISOFIX child seat restraint system, speed alert system and rear parking sensors are standard across the variants of the Baleno. The Baleno is built upon Maruti’s HEARTECT platform which is stronger than the previous platforms and underpins several of the manufacturer’s other cars like the Ertiga and Swift among others.

Talking about the engine and transmission, they have been carried on untouched. The 2019 Baleno remains powered by the same set of 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engine options. The four-cylinder petrol engine produces a maximum power of 82 Bhp of power along with 115 Nm of torque. The 1.3-litre diesel engine produces a maximum power of 74 Bhp and 190 Nm. The petrol engine gets CVT automatic transmission as an option but the diesel engine option only gets a manual 5-speed transmission. The top end Baleno in the video uses the 1.2 litre petrol engine mated to the CVT transmission.

The Baleno has remained at the top spot in sales since a long time and with the facelift, Maruti has further given it an update so that the car stays in its top form. However, it will face a new competitor in the form of the upcoming Tata Altroz. Tata has hinted that the Altroz will disrupt the premium hatchback segment and therefore it will be interesting to see how things unfold in the coming time.

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The KTM 125 Duke is a rather interesting bike in its own respect. Though it is about double the price of a regular 125 cc bike, it behaves like a bigger bike than what its engine may suggest. In fact, it rivals 150 cc bikes in terms of performance. Which brings us to the topic we picked today, Bajaj Pulsar 150 vs KTM Duke 125 biting each other’s head off in a drag race. Before we start, let’s tell you this one has very close results and the result is quite confusing. Now let’s take a look at the video below by DV which pits both the bikes against each other.

What’s happening here?

As seen in the video, the result is quite unexpected and confusing. The race is conducted in three rounds, which each round yielding conflicting results than the previous one. Talking about the first round, here we see that the baby Duke takes the lead and wins the race. However, the Pulsar started a bit late in this round and thus had a marginal disadvantage since the beginning.

In the second round, we see that the crown is picked up by the Bajaj Pulsar 150, although the difference in timing is very minute. Both the bike started at the same time in this round and the Pulsar took the lead halfway through the race. Also, one thing to be noticed here is that the baby Duke started to catch up with the Pulsar in the top end but the drag line is crossed by then. Had the race been longer, the result could have been different in this round. But that’s what drag racing is all about, winning in the given track length.

The last round sees riders changing the bikes. In this round, the Ktm 125 Duke gets to the finish line first but the result was extremely close. The Duke was probably a few inches ahead from the Pulsar when they cross the finish line. The overall result, therefore, is this – Duke wins two rounds, Pulsar wins one round. 

How did this happen? We Explain

There were many factors involved in this race since the bikes are of almost the same calibre. As the rider later reveals in the video, one of the reasons can be the rider weight, as there was a difference of about 18-20 kg between both of them. Also, the rider expertise about launching the bike plays a crucial role in drag races, which is seen here too. In the first round, the Pulsar started a bit late which results in its defeat. In the last round with the lighter rider on the Duke, the Duke managed to win even though it didn’t have a great start. This shows rider weight also affects results in drag races.

Talking about the bikes, the KTM 125 Duke is powered by a single-cylinder, liquid-cooled 124.7 cc cylinder that generates a maximum power of 14.5 Bhp and a peak torque of 12 Nm. It is a fuel-injected engine, which makes it pretty smooth and fuel-efficient. It gets a 6-speed transmission.

The Bajaj Pulsar, on the other hand, gets powered by a 149 cc air-cooled DTS-i motor that churns out 15 Bhp of power along with 12 Nm of torque. The carbureted engine comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

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The latest iteration of the Geneva Motor Show saw Tata come out with its full might. Among the various concepts and models Tata brought to the show, the H2X concept probably attracted the most attention. With it, Tata will enter an all-new segment which was untouched by with them until now. In its segment, it will rival the likes of the Mahindra KUV100 NXT and the Maruti Suzuki Ignis. Since there is still some time before the H2X is brought out in production form, here are 10 things to know about it.

Larger in dimensions than rivals

The H2X concept might be a micro SUV but its design is more biased towards being an SUV rather than a hatchback. For the same, Tata made sure that the H2X will be the largest car in its segment. The dimensions revealed by the company at the Geneva Motor Show suggest the same. As for the dimensions, the H2X concept has a length of 3840 mm, a width of 1822 mm and a height of 1635 mm. Both of its chief rivals, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis and the Mahindra KUV100 NXT are smaller than it in any of the three dimension parameters.

Based on the same platform as the Altroz

Tata’s ALFA (Agile Light Flexible Advanced) Arc platform can accommodate a variety of body designs, engines and size. The versatile platform, therefore, will be used on many upcoming Tata cars like the Altroz, Altroz EV and the Hyundai Creta rivalling Blackbird SUV. The H2X will also be built upon the same platform and will be the smallest car to use the ALFA platform.

Design inspired by H5X concept(Harrier)

The H2X is designed on the lines of Tata’s new IMPACT 2.0 design philosophy, which is seen on all the new and upcoming Tata vehicles. Additionally, Tata says that the H2X concept has taken several design cues from the H5X concept, that was first showcased at the 2018 iteration of the Delhi Auto Expo. The hot-selling Tata Harrier is the production version of the H5X and going by this, we expect the production version of the H2X concept to be quite a looker too.

Will have best in class cabin space

We already discussed that the H2X concept will have the biggest exterior dimensions than its competition. Tata also claims that the production version of the H2X concept will have the best cabin space in its segment, even rivalling cars from a segment above. The wheelbase of the H2X concept is 2450 mm, which again is larger than the other vehicles in its segment. This means that fitting in five adults wouldn’t be much of a problem in the upcoming Tata micro SUV.

Will be the smallest SUV in Tata lineup

The production version of the H2X concept will be the smallest SUV by Tata in India. Though some may argue that calling it an SUV might be an overkill, that’s the kind of nomenclature manufacturers are using. It can definitely be called as a micro SUV and will be positioned below the company’s sub-compact SUV, the Nexon. With this, Tata will have 5 SUVs with IMPACT 2.0 design DNA in them – the H2X (upcoming), Nexon, Blackbird (upcoming), Harrier, and the Buzzard (upcoming).

Likely to  be powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine

The ALFA platform is designed to accommodate Tata’s 1.2-litre, three-cylinder Revotron petrol as well as the 1.05-litre, three-cylinder, Revotorq diesel engine. However, the production version of the H2X concept is expected to come powered by the 1.2-litre Revotron petrol engine initially. Though the company has not given any information on what the powertrain on the micro SUV will be, the 1.2-litre petrol is the most likely unit to be used on it. As for the gearboxes, both manual and automatic options would be offered, the latter probably being an AMT unit to keep costs in check.

Expected launch by

Going by the rapid pace of Tata’s R&D team, it is expected that the production-spec H2X will be launched around mid-2020. The H5X concept was first showcased at the 2019 Delhi Auto Expo and was launched in January this year, which means that the concept to product development was done under a year. The launch of the production-spec H2X, therefore, can be expected by the first half of 2020.

Same interior design theme as on other new Tata cars

The cabin and dashboard of the H2X concept are quite futuristic which is expected from a concept. However, upon close inspection, you will find that the design theme is similar to the recent Tata cars. The dashboard design with a bum in the middle, air-con vents placement, and floating touch infotainment system are some of the design elements that will be carried over on the production-spec variant.

Production version reveal at 2020 Delhi Auto Expo

The company showcased the concept version of the H2X at the Geneva Motor Show. Now, the production spec of the vehicle will be unveiled at the 2020 Delhi Auto Show. However, this will be the unveiling and not launch, just like Tata unveiled the Buzzard (7-seater Harrier) at Geneva but it will be launched in India by the end of this year.

Pricing

While there has been no word on the pricing as of yet, the production-spec H2X concept will set below the Nexon in Tata’s product lineup. The base model of the Tata Nexon starts at Rs. 6.36 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). Therefore, we can expect the base price of the H2X concept to be around Rs. 4.5-5 lakhs, which will make it quite a VFM product.

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Us Indians don’t have much choice when it comes to muscle cars. The only official muscle car on sale in India currently is the Mustang, which Ford thankfully brought here a couple of years ago. However, we do have a desi muscle car counterpart with us since decades in the form of the Hindustan Motors Contessa. Though it was meant to be a family saloon, those butch lines and muscular stance eventually gave it that status. In past, we have brought you various great examples of resto-modded Contessas but the one we bring you today is completely off the chart. Welcome this orange off-road special Contessa, which can devour your regular four-door saloon for breakfast. Take a look at the video below which shows it jumping and rallying across a dirt track like any other seasoned off-roader.

This unique monster of a Contessa is owned by Vikramjeet Sharma. While it may appear ludicrous to some, it definitely is something that has not been tried before. The mod job has been done on a way that the final outcome looks brute and clean, to say the least. As seen in the video above it slides and glides across the dirt track like an absolute charm. Among the heap of off-road spec Gypsys and Thars present at the track, this furious Contessa feels completely at home. And that loud roar it makes, perfection we say.

To let you know, this mod job is not just all show and no go. The long bonnet at the front gets an engine swap, which is the reason behind its agility and exhaust note in the video. The original engine has given way to a much more powerful 3.0-litre petrol unit which gives it all the power required to scale mountains. Further, custom exhaust has been added as is the case with any other modification job. The twin pipes on the rear not only sound good but add to the aesthetic value of the posterior. Apart from all this, another big change on this beast here is in the form of the drivetrain. It now features a 4×4 drivetrain, which further authenticates it as a proper rally car. The suspension has also been raised and tweaked to handle the rough terrain better.

Talking about the other changes made on the car, it now runs on huge tires that are also quite wide than the original fitments. The tires are shod onto to multi spoke silver rims that further add character to the mod job. The front grille has been replaced with a large custom unit draped in black featuring verticle slats. The front bumper also matches the grille with a black paint job and seems to be a custom made unit. A lot of custom bodywork has been done on this vehicle and the rear doors have been removed, which makes this a two-door off-road rally car. A lot of smaller bits like new wing mirrors are also present but all that does not get the limelight on this Contessa.

This modified Contessa is special not because of its aesthetics but for its brutish capabilities. The bright orange paint job further accentuates the mod job. This probably is the first rally spec Contessa in India and we never knew we needed these. But since now we know, bring it on mod guys, let us see more unique concepts based on the Contessa. Especially after seeing this, we believe that the Contessa can be given any type of moulding one wants but it will still turn out to be as classy looking a car as it originally was.

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The Indian mid-size hatchback market is currently dominated by the Maruti Swift and Hyundai’s Grand i10. These two cars collectively gather about 27000 new customers each month – the Figo used to sell over 2500 units a few years back but with competition becoming better, sales starting going down South. However, the new and repackaged Ford Figo promises to deliver on most accounts. Is it really a match for the segment leaders now?

The 2019 Ford Figo has received about 1200 changes. Yes, its a number that is hard to digest but this is an official claim by Ford. The new Figo gets a host of changes inside and out including a new petrol heart under the hood. And then there is the revised pricing – but more on this later. Let’s have a look then at the new Figo across various parameters

The Design 

The Freestyle and updated Aspire were perfect examples of smart looking everyday cars from Ford and the new Figo continues to build on the same philosophy. The overall design or the body shell remains unchanged but there are ample tweaks to make the 2019 look fresh and appealing. Numbers first – it continues to be longer than the Swift and the Grand i10 and is wider than the Hyundai offering as well. At 2490mm, it offers the longest wheelbase in the segment too.

Up front, the 2019 Figo receives a new bumper that is inline with the one seen on its sedan sibling. The images you see here are of the top spec BLU trim that is now the range-topping variant. As the name suggests, there are ample blue coloured inserts around the body and BLU badging too. The Ford logo up front and C shaped fog lamp inserts, for example, get this treatment. The grille on the new Figo is tweaked and gets a black finish on the BLU model.

Next, you get larger 15-inch alloy wheels for the BLU model and revised 14 inch wheels for the lower trims. The BLU version also gets a contrasting black roof that gels in well with the black outside mirrors. This effect does add to the sporty look of the new Figo. At the back, you have a revised bumper that gets inbuild black inserts. There is more sticker work on the lower part of the boot lid as well. Overall, changes on the outside have made the Figo look much better than its previous iteration. At the same time though, front DRLs or day time running lights are surely missing on the model. Do remember, both the rivals offer this feature.

Design summary: range-topping BLU version looks sporty enough. DRLs missing though. 

Interiors

Remember the best in class wheelbase I spoke about earlier? That comes in handy when you get inside the Figo. Space is something most owners of this segment want in their mid-size hatchbacks and this is one area where the Figo continues to score top marks. Nothing has changed in this area. Ditto for the overall design and the colour theme that continues to be all-black. What has changed is the feature list. First is the inclusion of the push-button start that surprisingly comes without smart entry. So you still have to access the key from your pocket to unlock the car. Note both the rivals offer a true smart entry function.

Next change is the new touch screen infotainment set-up that has inbuilt navigation and also doubles up as a display for the rear camera or showing which door is open at any particular given time. Surprisingly, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay have been given a miss. The new Figo also gets auto headlamps and rain sensing wipers in the top spec variant.

Talking of which, the top spec BLU model gets blue inserts on all the four door pads and even contrasting blue stitch for the seats. There is BLU branding on the seat backs as well. Nice touch there! The Figo continues to be good in terms of ergonomics and practicality – no change here. That said, rear passengers will definitely be missing the convenience of dedicated rear vents but on the other hand, have ample space in terms of shoulder space and knee room.

Interiors summary: Remains spacious and gets added features. But not enough to challenge rivals 

The Engines

The 2019 Figo comes with a choice of three engine options. The diesel option continues to be the same 1.5 unit that does duty in the EcoSport, Freestyle and the Aspire. I am a fan of this engine and why not? Not only does it put out the best in class power and torque figures, the (almost) negligible turbo lag makes it an apt urban tool as well. It continues to come with a 5 speed manual ‘box though Ford claims the new gearbox is better to use and is lighter too. The result? The diesel Figo gets ‘crisp’ and sporty gear shift actions. I drove it extensively in both slow moving Jodhpur traffic as well as on the open highways leading to Khimsar and was mighty impressed with the punch on offer.

The NVH levels too are well under control which makes the deal even better. Want the icing on the cake? Unlike rivals, the Figo diesel is priced just Rs 80000 over the petrol sibling. At this price, the Figo clearly is the most affordable 100PS car out there in the market. For the record, both the Grand i10 diesel and Swift diesel offer just 75 PS of power.

The manual petrol model of the Figo gets a new 1.2-litre DRAGON series engine that we first saw in the Freestyle and later on the Aspire. It replaces the older model and now offers 10% more power and 7% higher torque. All this without sacrificing on the ever important factor of ‘kitna deti hai’. This also means the Figo offers 13 PS more power and 7 Nm higher torque than both the Grand i10 and Swift petrol models. Further, it also gets a new 5 speed gearbox that is lighter and consumes 40% lesser gear oil.

So does it feel on the move? Not as torquey as the diesel ofcourse but stand alone, a gem of a unit. Why? For starters, the NVH levels for a 3 cylinder motor are very very impressive. No unwanted vibes either. Next, the amount of torque available low down in the rev range is great which means fewer gear shifts in traffic and hence slightly better economy as well. For example, at about 1200 rpm, the Figo petrol does about 45-50 in the 5th gear. A gentle tab on the right pedal is what makes it move forward easily. Simple as that. The clutch too remains light and pedal to metal, the Figo petrol delivers, hitting in excess of 170 on the speedometer without much protest. We don’t recommend this though!

And there is the 1.5-litre petrol that is offered with a 6 speed torque converter automatic. This combination gets you 123 PS of power and 150 Nm of torque and is the same unit that we see on the bigger EcoSport as well. While we didnt get a chance to sample this model on the drive, going by my past experience, the Figo automatic should be a hoot to drive. In contrast, the Grand i10 gets a 4-speed automatic and the Swift gets a low cost AGS / AMT set-up. This model is also the most affordable 120+ PS car in the country!

Drive summary: Great punchy engines, low NVH levels, superb gear-shift actions 

Ride and Handling 

The first generation Figo was known for its dynamics that got lost somewhere when the second generation model was introduced. Ford rectified it by launching the sportier S version but sadly, we don’t get this one for the 2019 update. The BLU model is just an aesthetic update with similar suspension and steering set-ups. Don’t get me wrong – you can still enjoy the Figo and have ample grinning moments but will miss the fun factor of say the Swift.

But that aside, for your everyday runs, you will appreciate the light steering that makes parking a breeze. Visibility is excellent and this combined with peppy motors makes the Figo a very good urban runabout. The suspension too remains largely absorbent, taking care of everyday undulations without an issue. I did get a chance to sample the Figo at highway speeds for an extended period of time and was impressed with its high-speed manners.

We didn’t have twisties to play around with but did take the Figo off the road for some fun. Oh boy, did she respond well? Its easy and predictable to get the rear out at times and the Figo always remains confident and does not make you feel nervous. The brakes need a special mention – the bite is good and they work well when you drop the anchors at triple digit speeds. Do note the automatic variant gets electronic stability program as standard.

Summary: Remains an easy to drive car for city runs 

Revised line-up

The new Figo will be sold in three trims only. These include the base Ambiente, the loaded Titanium and the sportier BLU. While all three are available with the manual petrol & diesel models, the automatic petrol will only be sold in the Titanium trim. Along with this, Ford has also worked hard on getting the prices right. Let the numbers do the talking

It doesn’t stop here. Ford has also decided to offer the Figo with a 5 year 1,00,000km warranty as standard. The earlier Figo, on the other hand, came with a 2-year warranty only and customers could purchase the extended one for 3 years. This surely adds to the peace of mind factor and also helps a customer sell his Figo a few years down the line in a better manner. Ford also claims the Figo has the lowest running costs in the segment and we were surprised to see the larger 1.5 petrol has lower service costs than the 1.2 petrol. Have a look for yourself:

Our verdict

The 2019 Ford Figo is more than an update. In my opinion, its USP is the value for money tag. It improves across all parameters while offering the package at a lower price level. The 5-year warranty and lowest running costs further sweeten the deal for new owners. And before you ask, this is the only car in the segment to offer as many as 6 Airbags. Big shoutout to Ford for this safety initiative.

There are a few areas where Ford could have done a better job I agree. Rear a/c vents, Android Auto / Apple CarPlay, front arm-rest, Smart entry, DRLs etc are missing in the package but I feel these might not be deal breakers. For me its the bragging rights for selling the most affordable 100 PS and 120 PS cars in the country that should seal the deal for Ford. Well done guys!

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Buying a new car can be a tedious experience, especially for the first time buyers. It is a big decision to take with a lot of money involved. After finalizing the vehicle, you need to deal with the showroom officials and if things do not go well, you can get scammed by the usual tricks and can end up paying much more than the actual cost of the vehicle.

While there are many ways in which the car dealers can scam you, there are a few regular ways that most of the dealerships commonly use. Here are the details of such scams which most car dealerships will try to use to make extra money.

Getting demo cars

Every dealership has to buy demo cars that are placed in the showrooms to show the customer how the vehicle feels like in real life. Most of these vehicles spend their lives on the showroom floor and when the facelifted version or a newer model arrives in the market, the old showcase vehicles are discarded by the dealerships. While there are many dealers who sell off these vehicles at a huge discount, there are many who try to pass these vehicles as brand-new vehicles.

Some of these cars are also used as test drive vehicles by the dealers for getting new customers. Dealerships cover the scratches and paint the body to make the vehicle feel like a new one and in case of the test drive cars, many dealerships even tweak the odometer to give a feeling of a new vehicle.

You can avoid this by doing minute checks on the body to find proof of repainting. You can also check for scratches around the dashboard and instrument cluster. Other parts like the edges of the seat and pedals will also have some signs wear and tear, which will be enough to indicate that it is not a brand-new vehicle.

Paying extra charges

The manufacturers always quote the ex-showroom price, which means it the price of the vehicle inside the showroom and without any taxes. To legally register it and drive it, there are a few charges like registration charges, insurance and other similar things. This can be quite complicated for the new customers, which is why many dealerships slide in charges under various names when customers are buying new cars. One of the most common illegal charges used by the dealerships is handling charges. You can strictly say no to the handling charges and even several courts have deemed the charges as illegal. So avoid any such charges when you get the price quotation from the dealership and strictly say no to any inflated charges in the price of the vehicle.

Mandatory accessories

Many dealerships impose mandatory accessories on the customers and mention that the vehicle cannot be delivered without these “mandatory accessories”. Well, there is no such rule where the customer has to buy accessories from the dealers. Accessories are high margin products and dealerships try to sell as much as they can through various ways. Always remember to avoid such accessories, especially when buying a brand new vehicle. Always understand the accessories and buy them if you feel that they are useful.

Read your insurance

There are many terms and conditions that differ greatly for the number of insurance. Always read the insurance policy and get to know which all parts are covered under the insurance. Dealerships get a commission fee for selling their low-selling policies so it the job of the customer to be aware and know what he is buying. Spending time with the terms and conditions of the insurance policy is a good way to understand what it is all about.

Know what you’re getting

When buying a new vehicle always get to know about the manufacturing year of the vehicle. While it does not matter if you keep the vehicle for more than 5 years but manufacturing year can depreciate the value of the vehicle if you plan to sell it within a couple of years of ownership. Always read the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the vehicle and get to know details like manufacturing year. Many dealerships provide discounts on the models manufactured in the previous year too.

Coating

Soon after you get the delivery of the vehicle. Happy looking faces will gather around you from the dealership and will try to sell off car paint protection coatings including Teflon. Most of the coatings provided at the dealerships are sub-standard and do not last for more than a few days or work the way they should protect the car’s paint. Always avoid such coating and save money. You can always visit a car detailing place and get such coating done if you feel that it is necessary.

Also Read: Powerland 900D: India's first road-legal ATV explores the roads of Mumbai

Indian market will soon get stricter safety norms that make ABS, driver-side airbag, rear parking sensors and speed alert warning mandatory for the vehicles. Renault launched the 2019 version of the Kwid recently in the market with all these features as standard across the variant. Here is a video walk around of the vehicle that shows the RXL trim of the 2019 Renault Kwid on video by Gyani Enough

This is the RXL variant, which is placed just above the Standard base variant of the model and it is priced at Rs 3,35,900, ex-showroom. The entry-level hatchback from Renault gets no changes on the exterior in the 2019 version. It looks similar to the last year model and gets the same features on the outside too. The RXL variant gets black front grille, black ORVMs, black door handles and standard steel rims with silver wheel caps.

The RXL variant of the Renault Kwid gets powered only by the 0.8-litre SCe engine and the more powerful 1.0-litre engine is not available with this particular variant. The engine produces a maximum power of 54 Bhp at 5,678 rpm and a peak torque of 72 Nm at 4,386 rpm. The more powerful 1.0-litre engine is only available with the top-of-the-line RXT(O) and Climber variants. The 999cc, three-cylinder engine produces a maximum power of 68 PS at 5,500 rpm and a peak torque of 91 Nm at 4,250 rpm. The RXL version offers a 5-speed transmission while the more powerful 1.0-litre engine option is also available with a 5-speed AMT automatic transmission.

On the inside, the RXL variant gets a standard infotainment system with a monochrome LCD screen. It gets USB, AUX-input and Radio support but there is no Bluetooth connectivity available. The higher-end versions get the new touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. Renault offers a 7.0-inch coloured infotainment system that also gets an integrated navigation system. The RXL variant also gets a 12V socket that can be used to charge smartphones while driving. There is also a manual AC in the RXL variant.

The 2019 Kwid now offers all the mandatory features like a driver-side airbag, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), rear parking sensors and speed alert as standard across the variants. The Kwid gets an all-digital infotainment screen that shows the speedometer readings in big and clear fonts. The Kwid is quite spacious too and offers 300-litres of boot space.

The new Kwid is available in six colour options – Fiery Red, Planet Grey, Moonlight Silver, Ice Cool White, Outback Bronze and Electric Blue (Kwid Climber). The Renault Kwid takes on the likes of Tata Tiago in the market and is quite popular in the segment too.

Renault offers a standard warranty of 4 years or 1 lakh km, which is class-leading in the segment. The customers also enjoy Road Side Assistance and 2 year extra warranty/50,000 km as complementary service.

Also Read: Powerland 900D: India's first road-legal ATV explores the roads of Mumbai

We drove Bajaj’s all-new vehicle Qute a couple of days ago in Pune, and the following is our first drive review on India’s first quadricycle. With the Qute, Bajaj is planning to open up a new segment of vehicles called Quadricycles, in the city transport system which earlier had options like auto rickshaw, buses, cabs and two wheelers. A quadricycle is a four-wheel motor vehicle with much lesser power and a lower maximum speed than a conventional small car.

Why Qute?

Many of you might be thinking why buy a Qute instead of a small hatchback. Well Bajaj has clearly told us that Qute is ‘not a car’ and is not competing with any cars in the segment.

So, why the Qute? According to Bajaj, cars are designed in a manner to comfortably cruise on highways and do 200+ kilometres inter city runs. Cars have a decent set of creature comforts and a proper engine to make sure that it can do just this.

But when you bring the same car to a crowded city, things change. You get stuck in traffic, you cannot go above 20-30 km/h mark and you also end up burning more fuel. Bajaj said that people are using cars for intra-city travels in the absence of appropriate solutions.

That is where the Qute comes into picture. It is designed specially to do intra-city runs (within city) where the roads are narrow and remains congested most of the time. In such a situation you need a vehicle which is easy to drive, which can easily squeeze into tight spaces, and get out of it without breaking a sweat.

How does it look?

From the outside, Qute has four wheels, a bonnet at the front and a tall boy design. It has the stance of a car. It is basically an evolved version of the auto rickshaw that we see on our roads daily. It has a boxy design with car-like headlamps and turn indicators at the front.

It has a big logo between the headlamps that carries the name of the vehicle. On the side, it has a character line below the window which starts from the front and goes up till rear of the vehicle. It adds bit of a muscle to the profile of the vehicle.

At the rear Bajaj has given a dual tone finish to it. The upper portion of the vehicle has a black finish and the lower part carries the colour of the vehicle. There is a logo of Qute at the back as well. The Qute gets black bumpers at the front and rear as standard.

The Bajaj Qute’s body is made from the combination of high strength steel and plastic. All the major parts like the A,B,C Pillars, the roof, the front and the rear are made from the high strength steel. The parts like the four doors, bonnet lid, rear window housing is made from impact resistant plastic closures.

Interiors

Qute has nothing extra ordinary to boast about when it comes to the interiors. It is given an all black treatment inside. The Qute has bench seats which cannot be adjusted for fore and aft movement, but has tilt adjustability. These seats can accommodate four people easily. The cabin feels very spacious because of the big windows and the large glass area at the front and rear.

The speedometer finds its place in the centre of the dashboard. It is a combination of both analog and digital and it displays essential details like trip meter, odometer and the time. The sequential gear shift lever is placed on the dashboard. Another feature that comes standard in Qute is the MP3 player. it also has USB ports and Aux cables to connect other devices.

Bajaj has loaded the Qute with storage spaces. There are cubby holes between the front seats. There are two glove boxes on the driver and co-driver side of the dashboard. Bajaj Qute has a boot space of 33 litres which can be accessed from the rear seat. The rear seat can be folded in 60-40 manner to accommodate more luggage at the rear. As the engine of the Qute is at the rear, the space at the front remains vacant, so Bajaj has converted the space under the bonnet into a space to put your luggage.

How does it drive?

Now this is the main part. Does it drive like a car? Answer is a big ‘No’. Why? Well, its very simple. As mentioned above Bajaj Qute is a Quadricycle which has less power and a much lower maximum speed than a conventional small car.

The Qute is equipped with a rear mounted 216.6cc, single cylinder, liquid cooled, four stroke engine which produces 13 Bhp of power @5500 Rpm and 18.9 Nm of torque @ 4000 rpm. It is mated to a 5 speed manual sequential gearbox. The quadricycle is available with a both petrol and CNG options.

The petrol Qute delivers a fuel efficiency of 35 Kmpl and the CNG variant will deliver a maximum of 45 Kmpl. The one we drove yesterday was the CNG equipped variant. The top speed of the Qute is just 70 Kmph which is okay considering the fact that it is aimed to be driven in the city and not on highways.

Coming to the driving part, the driver sits very high and has a good view of the road ahead. The steering has a feel to it. The first and second gears are very short and at higher revs it feels as if the engine is stressed excessively. In traffic conditions Qute reveals its true colours. It feels very nimble to handle and can squeeze into tight spaces.

Another thing that we liked about the Qute is the amount of space it occupies. It takes very less space on roads and in parking lots when compared to a car. As we noted before, it basically an evolved version of an Auto rickshaw, So the sound of engine running can be heard all the time.

Some of the drawbacks that we found during the drive were that the clutch felt very heavy for an intra-city vehicle, and non roll-down windows. Bajaj could have managed to give a proper roll down window for better air circulation, especially when it doesn’t have an air-con even as an option. The driver seat is set very high and if the driver is a tall guy (6 ft) he might find it difficult to keep an eye on the traffic ahead.

Finally, Bajaj why no automatic? Bajaj is pitching the Qute as an intra-city vehicle – which  will be driven through congested roads and busy streets for most part of its existence. It would have been better if Bajaj could have offered Qute with an automatic transmission, or an automated manual transmission (AMT). Apart from these minor things, Qute is a great vehicle to be driven in city.

Whom is it aimed at?

Bajaj will be targeting Auto rickshaw drivers who are waiting for an upgrade. Bajaj will also try to convince taxi drivers who don’t own a cab and are thinking of buying their own car for a long time. There are various reason why people would buy it.

First it is highly fuel efficient. The petrol variant returns 35 Kmpl and the CNG variant returns about 45 Kmpl. The maintenance cost of the Qute is also very low. According to Bajaj the maintenance cost of Qute is around Rs 1 per km.

Another reason why people would be attracted is that it is very easy to handle in a heavy traffic situations. It also provides protection from the weather outside as it as a hard roof and doors which is not available when you ride a bike or an auto rickshaw.

Conclusion

At Rs 2.63 lakh for petrol variant and Rs 2.83 lakh for the CNG variant, Qute delivers the best of various categories in one product. It has four wheels and car like looks, the maintenance cost is lower than a two wheeler and the passengers are also protected by the weather outside, Which is missing in the case of a two wheeler or an auto rickshaw. With Qute Bajaj has opened a new segment of urban mobility and with time we hope to see more Qutes on Indian roads. The Bajaj Qute is actually an idea whose time has come.

Also Read: Powerland 900D: India's first road-legal ATV explores the roads of Mumbai

MG Motor, a ressurected British car brand by Chinese ownership, will launch its first SUV – the Hector – in a few  months from now. The MG Hector has been spied on what appears to be a TVC in London ahead of its official India-  launch. Now that the TVC is being shot, the launch of the SUV should just be a few months away from launch, if not a few weeks away. Here are a couple of spyshots courtesy Hormazd Sorabjee.

As the spyshots indicate, the MG Hector is quite a large SUV, based as it is on the Baojun 530. The Baojun 530 SUV is sold mainly in the Chinese market, by SAIC, which is one of China’s biggest automakers. In India though, the Baojun  530 will get re-badging, a dash of restyling, and will be called the MG Hector.

It’ll be produced at the former General Motors factory in Halol, Gujarat, which SAIC recently bought from the  American automaker following the latter’s exit from the Indian market. To keep pricing competitive, MG Motor is said to have extensively localized the Hector SUV, which is expected to take on the likes of the Jeep Compass and Tata Harrier.

The MG Hector will be offered with two engine options – a 1.5 liter turbocharged petrol and a 2 liter Fiat Multijet  turbocharged diesel. The petrol motor will put out about 140 Bhp-250 Nm, which makes it less powerful than the Jeep Compass, whose 1.4 liter turbo petrol motor churns out 160 Bhp-250 Nm.

Like the Compass Petrol, the MG Hector’s petrol variants will be offered with 6 speed manual and 7 speed twin clutch automatic gearboxes. The automatic gearbox will also be offered with paddle shifters. The diesel is expected to be a manual-only affair, with a 6 speed gearbox handling torque transmission to the front wheels.

The diesel motor is likely to have an identical state of tune to that of the Jeep Compass – 170 Bhp-350 Nm. What  remains to be seen though is whether MG offers an all wheel drive layout on the Hector, or simply chooses to go with front wheel drive layout as standard. For now, there’s not much information about this. What we do know though is that MG Motor will stuff the Hector with features.

From a 360 degree parking camera, flat bottomed steering wheel to cruise control and tyre pressure monitoring, the  Hector promises to be a loaded SUV. Prominent features will include a dual-tone dashboard, a sunroof available in two sizes, a flat rear floor for maximum space, LED projector headlamps, LED tail lamps, Harman Infinity audio system, a 10.4 inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and leather seats. As for pricing, expect the MG Hector to straddle the Rs. 15-20 lakh marks.

Also Read: Powerland 900D: India's first road-legal ATV explores the roads of Mumbai

All-Terrain-Vehicles or ATVs are special vehicles that are quite capable off-roading vehicles. These highly capable vehicles are used by enthusiasts for serious off-roading and rallies too. Even cops use such ATVs to reach difficult places. However, ATVs are not road-legal and cannot be registered for legal road usage. However, Powerland, a new brand in the Indian market has registered its ATV as an agricultural tractor vehicle, which makes it a road-legal vehicle. However, their insurance will be different from regular vehicles. Here is a video of Powerland 900D, which can be seen registered and was ridden on the public roads of Mumbai.

The video put up by Horsepower Cartel shows the new ATV in all its glory. The Powerland imports the ATVs from Linhai in China. The ATVs are assembled right here in India, which makes them priced competitively against the other ATVs in the market. Even though it gets registered as a tractor vehicle, it gets a white number plate indicating that it is registered as a private vehicle. Also, a helmet is not required to ride this ATV.

The Powerland 900D is powered by an 800cc diesel engine that is not turbocharged. It generates about 20 Bhp of peak power and 48 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a CVT automatic gearbox and gets 4X4 system too. There is a low-ratio transfer case, which can be used in challenging situations to get the vehicle out without any problem. The ATV gets 12-inch rims and all the wheels get disc brakes. The high-travel suspension makes the ATV very off-road friendly and capable. At the front, it gets DRLs and two projector headlamps and LED tail lamps.

The video shows that the bike gets a push-type accelerator, similar to the regular ATVs. It gets a seating capacity for two and because it is registered as an agricultural vehicle, there is a permanent towing hook placed at the rear of the vehicle. There are also two storage racks at the rear and the front of the vehicle.

The video first shows the ATV being taken to a beach where he moves around the beach without any problem. Most vehicles face problem on the beach because of the soft sand that can make the vehicle’s tyre stuck. He even takes it to the road through a staircase, showing the ATV’s capability.

He later also takes the vehicle to the roads of Mumbai, where he can be seen cruising comfortably around the roads. The video does not mention the price of the vehicle but it is priced around Rs. 4 lakhs and the on-road price of the vehicle will be around Rs. 4.4 lakhs.

Powerland also donated an ATV to the Mumbai Police recently for patrolling on the beach. Even the state police of Uttar Pradesh were seen using the same Powerland 900D ATVs during the Kumbh Mela for patrolling.

Also Read: Powerland 900D: India's first road-legal ATV explores the roads of Mumbai

The fact that ABS is a must have safety equipment is pretty well known by now. The government also took steps to raise the safety standards of the Indian automotive industry and made ABS a compulsory feature for all bike at or above 125 cc engine capacity. The ABS system on bikes comes in mainly two guises, a single channel system or a double channel system. A major question that many people ask us regarding ABS is about its effectiveness in wet conditions. This article will answer all your questions and doubts regarding the effectiveness of ABS in rain. Before we move onto the details, take a look at this video by Suraj Verma in which the rider brake tests a Bajaj Pulsar RS200 in wet conditions.

As seen in the video, the bike does not slip or slide under heavy braking even in wet conditions. This is because of the ABS system acting on the front wheel of the bike. As the Bajaj Pulsar RS200 comes equipped with only a single channel ABS, only the front wheel is benefited by it unlike in double channel ABS systems where both the wheels are monitored for tire slip. In the second and third attempt, we can see the rear tire getting out of the line a bit which is because it is not equipped with ABS. However, the front end is where the major danger lies and that is kept steady by ABS.

What ABS does here is to avoid the slipping and locking of the front wheel, which is a pretty natural case in wet conditions. Whenever the ABS system detects a wheel lockup, it instantly releases the break for a moment and reapplies it again, preventing wheel lock and wheel slip. The braking distance gets increased a bit when compared to non-ABS counterparts but the difference is not much and when compared to the life-saving potential of ABS, the extra stopping distance can be overlooked. Hence, we can now say that ABS works effectively even in rainy and wet conditions.

However, we recommend avoiding slamming heavily on brakes while on a wet surface as it can turn out to be dangerous. In rainy weather and wet conditions, rider at a slower speed than usual to avoid any emergency braking. Visibility is also affected by rains and hence it is wise to ride slower. The condition of your bike’s tire matter a lot when riding on a wet surface and if the tires are in subpar condition, heavy braking may be fatal even if your bike is ABS equipped.

Talking about the bike, the Bajaj Pulsar RS200 is powered by a 199.5 cc engine that churns out 24.5 Bhp of power along with 18.6 Nm of torque. The liquid cooled engine gets a six-speed gearbox and the bike comes with an optional single channel ABS system. In its price range, the Pulsar RS200 is among the best performance bikes out there. However, it tips the scales at 165 kg, which affects its low-speed manoeuvrability.

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Among the various cheap tricks and scams used in the used car marketplace, odometer rollback is among the most vicious one. Though it is not easy to perform an odometer rollback, it is not something that’s impossible. Contrary to the popular belief that digital odometers can’t be tampered with, odometer rollback can be done on almost any car. This malpractice is quite effective for con artists too as it is not easy to detect such frauds. However, one can get past such fraudsters by following a few steps. Read along to know how the odometers can be tampered with and the ways to detect the same.

Tampering of Analog Odometers

Analog odometers, as the name suggests, are those odometers where a series of numbered wheels display the distance clocked in kilometres/miles. Though they are not found on modern cars anymore, the used car market is filled to brim with older cars that come equipped with analog odometers. Tampering of the odometer is a relatively easy task for any workshop. The digits wheels can be turned back on an odometer to any figure as per the owners choice by removing the instrument console or speedometer of the car. The main reason behind setting back an odometer is to increase the resale value of the vehicle, as a lesser used car would fetch the owner a higher resale price.

However, more than often this kind of odometer tampering is not be done properly and the digit series get misaligned in the odometer. Also, mostly this kind of fraud is not detected immediately, but after about 10,000 km was run by the new owner when the digits wouldn’t click into place properly.

Tampering of Digital Odometers

Almost every car now comes with a digital odometer. It is a common misconception though that digital odo units are much harder to tamper with. That might be the case some 10-15 years ago when the fraudsters and mechanics weren’t much into the tech know-how of the car. However, that’s not true anymore and digital odometers that are tampered with don’t even look out of place and leave no tell-tale signs of odometer tampering. This is because the whole process is mostly electronic. Any guy with decent know-how of car software and electronic system can perform this job.

To alter the readings on a digital odometer, the console of the car is removed and hooked up to a laptop (even smartphones now), and the desired mileage is flashed into the chip that controls the odometer. Replacing the chip and re-soldering them on the printed circuit board that has the odometer chip is also a pretty common practice. Smudgy glass with fingerprints behind the plastic, ill-fitting speedometer console or scrape marks from screwdrivers near the screws holding the instrument console etc are some of the most evident signs of tampering, but tough to figure out if the work is done by a professional.

Disconnecting the speedometer cable is also a widespread practice. This is mostly done by third-party dealers who buy a car from the original seller. They then drive the vehicle around without the speedometer connected until it’s sold to another customer.

How to Detect Odometer Tampering

The most trustworthy method of checking for odometer fraud is also the most old school one. Before buying a used vehicle, ask for a detailed service history of the car, or at least find out where the car has been serviced mainly. You can then call the service station and find out when the vehicle last came in for service (and at what odometer reading). This should give you a clue as to whether the car has had its odometer tampered with or not. Service centres maintain a detailed log of the cars that have been worked upon there and it is a sure shot way of getting the necessary information.

While inspecting the car, look out for any “next service due” stickers in it (inside the glove box, inside the door frame, on the windscreen etc). Look for service station names/numbers on the car that you can call. Apart from this, you can check the car for wear and tear on the steering wheel, brake and clutch pedal, gear knob, condition of the seat cushions etc. Cars with over 100,000 km on the odometer would generally have these parts also displaying signs of wear. Tires are also a giveaway of the approximate distance travelled by a vehicle, unless the seller has replaced them recently. If you are feeling doubtful, the circuit board where the odometer chip is housed can also be opened and rechecked. If the chip has been replaced, the new soldering is a clear giveaway of that.

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Motorcycle modifications based on the bobber theme have become quite popular in India of late. The reason for it is that the bobber theme can be applied on almost any bike and also looks quite cool while being practical at the same time. Royal Enfields are the most popular donor bikes in the bobber mod category, though we have seen a lot of other bikes being turned into bobbers too. However, the bike you see below started off its life as a Hero Honda Hunk, a popular 150 cc commuter bike. It has been transformed completely and now sports a cool hardtail bobber look. This is probably the first time we are seeing a Hunk modified in such an extensive manner.

The mod job you see here has been done by Ahmedabad based McM Customs, who in past have done several commendable mod jobs. Talking of the Hunk bobber here, almost everything you see on the bike is new, apart from the engine and some other mechanical bits. The Hero Honda Hunk was powered by a 149.2 cc engine that churned out a decent 14.4 Bhp of power along with 12.8 Nm of torque. However, the performance of this bobber would be much better than the stock bike due to lower weight and custom exhaust. Let’s now get to know more about all what has been done on this bike.

Since this one is a hardtail bobber, it means that the rear suspension has been given a miss and the only thing to soothe your posterior while riding are the under-seat springs. The front forks too aren’t your regular telescopic units but are girder forks, which further enhances the aesthetics of the bike. The bike now runs on 18-inch spoked rims up front while the rear gets 15-inch spokes. The headlight and indicators further add to its old school bobber looks.

The handlebars are pretty tall units and are custom made for the bike. The single piece saddle gets a tan shade and the whole bike has been draped in a shade of cyan, which looks decent. The tail light is mounted on a U shaped rod, reminiscent of American Bobber bikes Other bits like the tank, fenders and frame are custom made units and come together to give the bike a classy look.

Another important upgrade made on the bike here is the dual disc brakes up front. the stock Hunk came with a single disc unit and the ones here are not only dual units but also larger. No bike modification is complete with a custom exhaust and this bobber gets one too, finished in black. It sounds decent too and can be heard in the last part of the video above. Overall, this bobber Hunk is a pretty good example of regular commuters being transformed into hot mod bikes and we expect more to come from other modifiers as well.

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Mahindra Marksman, which is one of the many defence vehicles manufactured by Mahindra and Mahindra is based on the Mahindra Scorpio’s NCGS platform. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) recently inducted six new units of the Mahindra Marksman armoured vehicles solely for the protection of the Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Reportedly, they are the first permanent bulletproof vehicles that will be stationed at the premises of the International airport in India. However, a Renault Sherpa armoured vehicle has been seen often guarding the high sensitive airport of the national capital in India.

The Mahindra Marksman is based in the same platform as the Scorpio but it has been modified heavily. The Marksman is available with two engine options. There is a 2.2-litre mHawk CRDe, turbocharged intercooled DI engine that produces a maximum power of 120 Bhp and peak torque of 280 Nm. The engine available with the Marksman is a 2.6-litre turbocharged DI engine that generates a maximum power of 115 Bhp and 228 Nm of peak torque. The 2.2-litre diesel motor is also available with the Mahindra Scorpio in the Indian market. Both the engine options get a 5-speed manual transmission and 4X4 system with a low-ratio transfer case.

The Marksmen can accommodate up to 6 people including the driver. The vehicle gets B6 level of protection that can protect the occupants from the firing of small arms and grenade attacks. The floor of the Marksman gets the bomb-protection too and it can survive up to two DM-51 German hand grenades or equivalent. There are steel interior frames that provide extra protection on the side. The vehicle also gets a Coppola machine gun mount that can be rotated 270 degrees.

The dashboard of the Mahindra Marksman resembles the old-generation Mahindra Scorpio and the front two seats are also similar to the popular SUV in the Indian market. Without any doubt, it is the most lethal version of the Mahindra Scorpio in the market but of course, private citizens are not allowed to buy it.

The Marksman is currently used by various State Police forces in India for various purposes. The Kolkata Police and the Force One division of Mumbai Police have the Marksman in their fleet. The exact price of the Marksman depends on the level of customisation ordered by the client but as per sources, it can cost between Rs. 25 lakh and Rs. 40 lakh. Mahindra also exports the Marksman to international defence and police forces.

We'll do our bit to keep our protectors protected. https://t.co/gABI9mig1x

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 16, 2019

All the six units procured by CISF has been given to the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of the CISF. The team is trained as the first-responders in critical situations. This is not the first time that CISF have procured the Marksman in India. The QRT division already owns a few Mahindra Marksman that have been put into service in various areas of the country. CISF is responsible for guarding the most important government installations in India including the nuclear plants. Also, they are hired by the private companies to guard their campuses in India.

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Volkswagen India is currently working on the all-new product line-up for the Indian market. Currently, the brand is working on a new low-cost derivative of the MQB-A0 platform for the Indian market. The first car based on the all-new platform is expected to be launched by 2021 and popular cars like next-generation Volkswagen Polo.

The Volkswagen brand is now planning to launch an all-new crossover based on the new MQB-A0 platform in the Brazilian market. The new compact SUV will be underpinned by the same platform as the Polo and will offer the same amount of wheelbase too. Skoda is currently leading the charge of the Indian operations for the Volkswagen Group and it is quite possible that such an SUV can make its way to the Indian market too.

The rendered image is based on the Seat Arona and it will be a sub-4m compact SUV that will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza in India and the likes of Hona WR-V in the international markets. Seat is another brand under the Volkswagen umbrella and is available in many international markets. The brands have followed the rebadging engineering strategy in the past too.

Seat Arona is a low-cost version of the Volkswagen T-Cross and it is quite possible that Volkswagen will launch the vehicle in the developing markets. Not many details are known about the upcoming vehicle. However, it will be a subcompact SUV that will be positioned below the Volkswagen T-Cross, which is also expected to be launched in the Indian market.

The Volkswagen Group is expected to launch quite a few SUVs in the Indian market in the coming years. All the vehicles will be based on the all-new MQB-A0-IN platform, which is specifically developed for the Indian market. Skoda will launch the all-new Kamiq, which will take on the likes of Hyundai Creta and Nissan Kicks in the Indian market. The Seat Arona-based SUV is expected to become the most affordable Volkswagen SUV in India and will take directly on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Mahindra XUV 300 and the Tata Nexon. The sub-4m compact SUV segment is currently heavily populated and is also one of the most popular segments in India. Soon, Hyundai will launch the Styx, which will be the first-ever sub-4m compact SUV from the brand in the world.

It should be noted that Volkswagen has made India-specific vehicles in the past. The Volkswagen Ameo is the perfect example of the same. The Indian market is the world’s fourth largest market but it is majorly dominated by the affordable, value-for-money vehicles. The all-new MQB-A0-IN platform will be a low-cost derivative of the international-spec platform that will allow Volkswagen Group to launch new vehicles at competitive prices. For the time being, Volkswagen will launch refreshed versions of their current model line-up to keep the product line-up fresh in the Indian market.

Image Source

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The Indian used market is quite expansive and is full of options. The used car market is full of vehicles that can fit anyone’s need. However, there are many cars available in the used car market that can be bought for an affordable price as the owners of such cars are getting rid of them in a hurry. Which cars are these and why they are available at a throw-away price? Well, here are all the details.

Chevrolet Cruze

The Chevrolet Cruze was known as the diesel-rocket in the segment. It was not very popular due to the brand name but there are many enthusiasts who bought the sedan and thoroughly enjoyed it. There are many Chevrolet Cruze sedans available at a very affordable price in the Indian market. Why getting sold at such low prices? Well, because the Chevrolet brand has closed down its shop in India the prices of the Cruze in the used car markets are depreciating faster than ever. It is a great car and Chevrolet is still offering service centres in India where these vehicles can be serviced regularly at a reasonable price.

Chevrolet Cruze used the car: Link1, Link2

Honda Civic

Honda sold just over 50,000 units of the eighth-generation Civic in the Indian market before it was discontinued from the Indian market. Now that the all-new tenth-generation Civic is here, the price of the older Civic models will start to depreciate at a much faster pace in the used car market. Until now, the price of the old Civic remained stable in the market but that may change soon with the arrival of the new Civic. Nonetheless, the older-generation Civic is a great sedan and still looks way good than many modern cars in the market.

Honda Civic used car: Link1, Link2

Previous-generation Honda City

Honda City is a living legend in the Indian market. The City brand name on sale for more than 21 years in the Indian market and it remains one of the best-selling cars of Honda in the market. Honda introduced the all-new fourth-generation City in the Indian market in 2014, which means that the owners of third-generation or older Honda City models are selling the car at dirt cheap prices. It should be noted that Honda started offering the diesel engine only with the latest generation City and before that only iVTEC petrol engine was available with the car.

Honda City used car: Link1, Link2

Honda Accord

We are not talking about the all-new hybrid Honda Accord available in the Indian market. Honda launched the Accord in the Indian market in 2001 and launched the second and third generation of the car in the market until the all-new hybrid Honda Accord was launched in 2016. The Accord was not available for two years in the Indian market when the third-generation Accord was discontinued in 2014. There are many examples of the Honda Accord available in the used car market at this time and people are selling the car off due to the very bad resale value in the market.

Honda Accord used car: Link1, Link2

Skoda Superb

Skoda Superb is a brilliant car and is a very value for money product when it comes to the features of the vehicle. The first-generation of Skoda Superb was launched in the market in 2004 while the all-new latest generation of the sedan was launched in 2016. Skoda Superb is brilliantly built and is known for its good looks and performance. However, the after-sales service of Skoda in India is very infamous and there are many owners who are selling their Skoda Superb sedans at a very cheap price. Especially the previous generation vehicles are going for very attractive prices in the used car market.

Skoda Superb used car: Link1, Link2

Skoda Laura

The Skoda Laura was launched as the new Octavia in the international markets but due to the popularity of the previous-generation Octavia, Skoda decided to launch the new Octavia under the Laura nameplate in the Indian market. Even the Skoda Octavia sedans are available for very attractive prices in the Indian market but the Skoda Lauras get more attention in the used car market and are sold for much cheaper prices due to its non-iconic brand name in the market and depreciating resale value in the market. Also, sourcing the spare parts of old Skoda cars can be a pain in India.

Skoda Laura used car: Link1, Link2

Ford Endeavour

The previous generation Ford Endeavour is a great buy for people looking for affordable 4X4 SUVs. Most of these well-maintained vehicles are available for very cheap prices in the market. The abundance of old Ford Endeavour in the used car market at a low price is due to various reasons. The spare parts are very costly when it comes to the old Endeavour. Also, the NGT ban on old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR is causing a lot of owners to sell the vehicles at cheap prices.

Ford Endeavour used car: Link1, Link2

Mitsubishi Pajero

The Mitsubishi Pajero is a great vehicle for off-roading. However, there are many good and well-maintained examples of the Pajero available in the market that are going for dirt cheap prices. One of the main causes of this is the almost non-existent after sales network of the brand in India. It is quite difficult to maintain the old Pajero if it fails and you are not friends with a local mechanic. Even the spare parts of the old Pajero are very expensive.

Mitsubishi Pajero used car: Link1, Link2

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Mahindra recently issued a recall on its flagship Apache RR 310 motorcycle. The recall was issued to sort out some problems with the bike, chief among them being the high levels of vibrations.  The company reached out to the buyers via SMS and other means and notified them to visit their respective dealerships. The video below by Road Falcon shows what all upgrades have been done on the bike and what is the effect of them on the Apache RR310. Check out the video before we move on to the details of the improvements done on the bike.

As seen in the video, the company had issued several changes and enhancements for the Apache RR310 in order to make the bike run more smoothly. For the people who have recently had the servicing done can go to their nearest service centre to receive the updates. Talking about the upgrades, the most important one is the ECU update. The ECU update issued by the company has remapped the engine output so as to be more responsive in the lower end, thus making riding in traffic a lot easier. Then come the handle dampers, which reduce the vibration issue the handlebars were suffering with. These bar end mounted dampers are bigger and heavier than the ones present on the bike.

Then comes the chain roller, which has been replaced with a new unit that the company claims will reduce the noise and also will have less wear and tear than the one present on the bike currently. Lastly, the windshield gets a soft rubber padding below the instrument cluster which blocks any sort of air passage coming from the front. This results in lower vibrations and sound as well as lesser dirt accumulation in the hard to reach places around the inner windshield. According to the rider, after the upgrades, the vibrations have certainly gone down while the bike also feels more responsive in the lower rev range.

Talking about the bike, the TVS Apache RR 310 is powered by a 312-cc engine that churns out 34 Bhp of power along with 27 Nm of torque. It is mated to a 6-speed gearbox which is a slick shifting unit. The bike can register a top whack of almost 165 km/h and has a 0-100 km/h timing of about 6.28 seconds. The bike is pretty feature rich too and comes with track lap timer, digital engine temperature gauge, 0-60 km/h timing, 0-100 km/h timing, and top speed recorded on the last ride. It also gets Bi-Xenon projector headlamps and petal disc brakes. The riding position of the bike is quite relaxed, something which is opposite to its smashing looks. It has a starting price of Rs. 2.23 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi), which makes it a pretty decent choice in the segment.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 off-roader transformation is super cool

Toyota Kirloskar India has just released a TVC that says that Toyota cars hold up to 68% of their original value even after 5 years of usage. The value shows that the Toyota branded vehicles retain a high value even after years of ownership. What does it mean and how do the Toyota vehicles keep such a high resale value? Let’s find out.

68% of value even after 5 years

Toyota India’s range starts from the Etios hatchback and goes up to the premium SUVs like the Land Cruiser. Toyota Innova Crysta is the largest selling vehicle of the Japanese manufacturer and is extremely popular in the Indian market. Here are a few examples of the best-selling Toyota cars that have retained near about claimed figure of resale value even after five years of ownership.

Toyota Innova: The Innova Crysta is extremely popular in the Indian market and is the first choice of car fleet owners. In 2013, the base variant of the Toyota Innova was priced at Rs. 12.4 lakh, ex-showroom. Here are three examples that are more than 68% of the original ex-showroom price. Example 1, Example 2, Example 3

Toyota Fortuner: Toyota Fortuner is the best selling vehicle in the segment and has a high demand in the market. Even though Toyota launched the all-new Fortuner in the market, there is still a strong demand for older first-generation Fortuner in the Indian market. In 2013, the Fortuner was priced between Rs. 20 lakhs and 21 lakhs in the market. Here are three examples that show the current value in the used car market of the brand. Example 1, Example 2, Example 3

Toyota Corolla Altis: The Corolla Altis takes on the likes of Hyundai Elantra, Skoda Octavia and newly launched Honda Civic in the Indian market. In 2011, the price of the Toyota Corolla Altis was roughly around Rs. 10.53 lakhs and Rs. 14.55 lakhs. Here are three examples which are 5 years or older and retain a minimum of 68% value of the ex-showroom price. Example 1, Example 2, Example 3

Why Toyota vehicles have such a high resale value?

There are quite a few factors for the high resale value of the Toyota vehicles. Here are a few reasons why Toyota vehicles retain such a high value even after so many years of ownership.

Trust in the brand

Toyota India started operations in 1997 and over the years, the care-free ownership stories of people have built trust in the market. There are numerous Toyota vehicles with lakhs of kilometres on the odometer and still working perfectly on the road. This is something that has built over the years and has made the Toyota brand a trustworthy brand in the Indian market.

Bulletproof engines

Toyota offers extremely reliable engines, which is why most of the car fleet owners choose the Toyota vehicles. The 2.8-litre GD-Series diesel engine is one of the best diesel engines in the world. As per Toyota, the GD Series engines return a high thermal efficiency of 44 per cent and the 2.8-litre engine that powers the Innova and the Fortuner in the Indian market return a high efficiency of 44%, which is extremely good. All the engines offered by Toyota are very reliable and do not break down easily.

Price of new vehicles

The price of Toyota vehicles has gone up a lot in recent years. For example, the price of the brand-new base variant of the Innova Crysta is Rs. 14.83 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. The on-road price makes comes out to be quite high. This creates a major demand for used Toyota Innova in the market, which in turn increases the price of the vehicle.

Long ownership

Most Toyota vehicle owners buy vehicles for life. The buyers of Toyota vehicles mostly keep the vehicle for a long time, which creates a low supply in the used car market and increases the overall price of the vehicle.

Spare parts

The spare parts of Toyota vehicles, even if they are old and are replaced are not a major problem in India. The spare parts can be sourced without much problem, which makes the Toyota vehicles very easy to maintain even after years of ownership.

Reliable service network

Over the years, Toyota has built a trusted service network throughout the country, which gives a sense of trust to the buyers. Even while buying used vehicles, the wide service network and worry-free ownership experience induce confidence in the buyers.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 off-roader transformation is super cool