Porsche fans in India will remember that last year, a production lap record was broken at the Buddh International Circuit, with India’s first ever F1 driver, Narain Karthikeyan behind the wheels of his own Porsche 911 GT3. This time around, Karthikeyan broke the same record with the new Porsche 911 GT2 RS clocking in at 2 mins 0.26 secs, 7.5 secs quicker.

The GT2 RS was launched in India last year priced at Rs 3.88 crore (ex-showroom) and is the most powerful road-going 911 ever made. Powered by a 3.8 liter, twin turbo flat-six engine, with 700 hp and 750 Nm of torque, there’s nothing stopping this mean machine. With a 7-speed PDk gearbox, the GT2 RS can go 0-100 in a breathtaking 2.8 secs and its top speed is rated to be at 340 kph.

Karthikeyan broke his own lap record with the GT2 RS, which was specced with the optional Weissach package, adding a carbon fiber roof, bonnet and anti-roll bars with magnesium wheels to cut off 30 kg from a total of 1,545 kg body weight.

After breaking the record, the ecstatic Karthikeyan said, “Compared to the 911 GT3, we set the previous record with, the GT2 RS is a completely different animal. It was a rush to break the record by such a big margin, and I think I even surprised myself with the final lap time.”

With yet another record broken, along with its production car record at the Nurburgring, the Porsche GT2 RS is making waves and climbing new heights. In Nurburgring, the GT2 RS beat the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ’s time of 6 mins 44.97 secs by clocking a very impressive 6 mins 40.3 secs, claiming the title of the fastest production car in the world.

With Porche making news in its continuous advancements in the world of cars, we wonder how long it’ll be before someone breaks this record too, probably another Porche beauty again?

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Also Read: Maruti Eeco gets ABS, airbag & other safety features: Omni OUT!

The Maruti Eeco has just received a range of safety features in order to comply with BNVSAP regulations, which come into effect from the 1st of April 2019. Under the new safety regime, all cars sold in India must have the following safety features as standard across variants: ABS, driver airbag, seat belt reminder system, speed alert and reverse parking sensors. All these features have now been added to the updated Maruti Eeco, which has already reached dealer stockyards. Official sales of the updated Maruti Eeco will begin soon.

Pricing is yet to be released. Expect a price bump up of around Rs. 10,000-20,000 for the additional safety features.  Prices of the pre-update Eeco start from Rs. 3.61 lakhs. The passenger van is available in 5 seat and 8 seat  variants. Popular both among private car buyers and cab operators, the passenger van is available with petrol and  petrol CNG dual fuel options. It’s rear wheel driven, and uses independent front suspension and leaf spring rear suspension.

As for engine specifications, the van is powered by a 1.2 liter-4 cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol unit that  churns out 73 Bhp of peak power and 101 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mounted under the front seats, and is paired  with a 5 speed manual gearbox. Known for its excellent reliability, low maintenance cost and good fuel efficiency,  the Eeco is one of India’s biggest selling cars, with average monthly sales of around 6,000 units. Sales are likely  to go up in the coming months as the Maruti Omni will no longer be built after April 1st.

Yes, Maruti Suzuki decided to discontinue one of India’s veteran cars – the Omni passenger van – a few months ago.  This move came in the face of the new Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP), a government mandated safety regulation that aims to add more safety to cars sold in India. The Maruti Omni’s age old platform was deemed unfit for the new safety features, which is the main reason why Maruti decided to pull the plug on one of India’s automotive legends.

The Eeco will take the Omni’s place, and is likely to be available in a cargo version as well. We also expect Maruti  to add a LPG-Petrol dual fuel option to the Eeco as many parts of India continue to have a lack of CNG dispensing facility although LPG refilling stations are present in such areas. Adding an LPG variant to the Eeco will make the passenger van a lot more appealing in more parts of the country. The upcoming Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms is said to be another factor that could hasten the arrival of the LPG variant of the Eeco.

Also Read: Maruti Eeco gets ABS, airbag & other safety features: Omni OUT!

The Tata Tigor compact sedan was launched as India’s least priced sedan. Now, Tata Motors has taken a giant stride  forward, and is now offering the compact sedan at a huge, Rs. 1 lakh discount. Prices of the Tata Tigor now start at  Rs. 5.42 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi, which makes it even cheaper than the Maruti Baleno premium hatchback. The Maruti Baleno’s prices start from Rs. 5.46 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi.

The Tata Tigor sold in India is offered with three engine options – two in petrol and one in diesel. The petrol  motors include the 1.2 liter-3 cylinder naturally aspirated unit with 84 Bhp-115 Nm, and a 1.2 liter turbocharged  petrol engine (offered on the JTP model) with 112 Bhp-150 Nm. Both engines get 5 speed manual gearboxes as standard,  and the more powerful turbo petrol unit gets shorter gear ratios for great acceleration and roll-on performance.

The naturally aspirated petrol engine gets a 5 speed AMT option. The Tigor also gets a 1.1 liter-3 cylinder  turbocharged motor with 69 Bhp-140 Nm outputs. A 5 speed manual gearbox is standard with this engine. While the regular variants of the Tigor get standard suspension, the sporty JTP trim gets much stiffer springs, and reduced  ground clearance for better road holding, and handling.

In fact, the Tigor JTP is one of the least priced, high performance sedans in India. It has a 0-100 Kph timing of  just 10.34 seconds, which makes it really quick, but slightly slower than the feather light Maruti Baleno’s RS  variant, department. Priced at Rs. 7.49 lakhs, the Tigor JTP is more than Rs. 1.25 lakhs cheaper than the Baleno RS, which is priced at Rs. 8.76 lakhs.

So, clearly, the Tata Tigor is big on value, across variants. It’s got a notchback form factor, which is quite unique in the compact sedan space, and this design has also given the car none of the truncated form that most other compact  sedans suffer from. Despite a great price tag, feature-rich interiors and good looks, the Tata Tigor hasn’t really been a big success for the automaker.

Buyers continue to opt for the likes of the Maruti Dzire, Honda Amaze and Hyundai Xcent over this car, and the large discounts that Tata Motors is now offering is meant to make the Tigor more attractive to buyers. On whether these discounts will actually have a big impact in terms of boosting sales is something we’ll have to wait and watch for. For now though, Tata Motors has roped in Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan to endorse the Tigor, and highlight the big discounts the car’s being offered at.

Also Read: Alia Bhatt spotted shooting TVC on new Hero Pleasure automatic scooter: Honda Activa rival

Suzuki Hayabusa is undoubtedly one of the most popular sports bikes in India and is also very common on the Indian roads. The Hayabusa is not an outright sports bike but it is a sports-touring motorcycle that is designed to gulp miles on the highways while keeping the rider comfortable. The 1,340cc, inline four-cylinder engine powered Hayabusa is extremely powerful and can cross more than 100 km/h in the first gear itself. But what happens when it starts going against a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R? Well, here is a video byTurbo Xtreme, which shows the insane speed of Hayabusa and ZX-10R on the Indian roads.

The video was shot on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway, which is a newly made six-lane highway that bypasses the traffic from Delhi. It is a group ride done by a group of superbike owners and there are quite a few of them. The Suzuki Hayabusa starts chasing the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R when the roads open up and the video taken from the helmet-mounted camera shows how insane it can get.

The Suzuki Hayabusa can be seen following the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R through the traffic closely. This is when all the sports bikes fall back and they do not get engaged in the high-speed run. The Hayabusa can be seen in pursuit of the ZX-10R and keeps on trying and the video later shows that the Suzuki Hayabusa finally overtakes the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R when the speedometer indicates more than 290 km/h of speed.

It should be noted that the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is a track-focused bike, unlike Suzuki Hayabusa which is powered by a much-relaxed engine. The ZX-10R can a higher rev-limit is also much louder than the Hayabusa on the road. The Suzuki Hayabusa is powered by an in-line four-cylinder, 1,340cc liquid-cooled engine that produces a maximum power of 197 Bhp of maximum power at 9,500 rpm and peak torque of 155 Nm at 7,200 rpm. The bike gets a 6-speed transmission. The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R gets powered by 998cc, inline four-cylinder engine that generates a maximum power of 197.3 Bhp at 13,000 rpm and a peak torque of 113.5 Nm at 11,500 rpm. Both the bikes have an electronically limited top speed of 299 km/h due to safety reasons.

Should you be doing it?

Speeding on public highways is always extremely dangerous. The channel mentions at the start of the video that he is highly trained and has an experience of riding superbikes for more than 20 years, which is a lot. However, even experience and training can go wrong at high speeds on the Indian roads. Speeding should be restricted to the tracks for everyone’s safety.

Some may argue that even tracks are not safe and crashes keep on happening all the time on the tracks. Well, that’s true but racing tracks provide a much more controlled area than on the public roads. The risk of crashing inside a track is much lower due to the absence of public traffic and stray animals. Also, tracks are designed to absorb the impact of the crash and to save the riders or drivers from fatal injuries. Most of the tracks also provide medical treatment that can be crucial during the initial time after the accident. It is always a good idea to do the speed runs inside a controlled area rather than the public roads.

Also Read: Alia Bhatt spotted shooting TVC on new Hero Pleasure automatic scooter: Honda Activa rival

Renault India has two all-new vehicles in the pipeline for launch in the next couple of years. While the first  product – the Kwid-platform based RBC MPV – will be launched in July 2019, the other vehicle – the all-new Duster SUV  – will arrive next year. The 2020 Auto Expo is likely to be the event through which Renault could showcase the new Duster in India for the first time.

Meanwhile, here is what Venkatram Mamillapalle, CEO, Renault India, has said in a recent interview –

We have new product launches in 2019 and 2020. Two new products will be launched, one in July (2019) and the other, the year after that.

The 2020 Renault Duster has been long coming. The first-gen model was launched in India way back in 2012, and is now 7 years old in the market here. Over the past 2-3 years, the Duster has been upstaged by the Hyundai Creta and Maruti S-Cross, and is now a pale shadow of its former self as buyers find it too boring compared with newer competition. Renault has been adding regular facelifts and the automaker has even offered large discounts to push sales. It hasn’t helped much though, and the Duster now sells under 1,000 units each month.

So, an all-new model is what the Duster brand needs to make a big sales comeback in the Indian market, and this is  the reason why the 2nd generation Duster will arrive early next year. The new Duster does have resemblance to the  outgoing model although the styling has been totally revised. The B-Zero platform remains the same though. Engine options on the new Duster are not likely to be carried over from the current version. This is because the new, Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms will come into effect in India from April 2020. This will require all car makers to make significant changes in the engines to meet the much tighter norms.

Given the fact that the engines that the current Duster uses are old school units, a lot of re-engineering may be  required to make them BS6 compliant. We expect Renault to bring in a turbocharged petrol engine on the new Duster, apart from offering a BS6 compliant turbo diesel engine. Both front wheel drive and all wheel drive options are likely to be offered on the new Renault Duster. While manual gearboxes on both engines are almost certain, it remains to be seen if automatic gearboxes are also on offer. The new Duster will continue to be a 7 seater, and will compete with the likes of the Maruti S-Cross and Hyundai Creta.

Between now and the new Duster’s launch in India, Renault will slip in a facelifted version of the current Duster. The launch of the facelifted Duster is expected to happen soon.

Also Read: Alia Bhatt spotted shooting TVC on new Hero Pleasure automatic scooter: Honda Activa rival

The Tata Safari is probably one of the oldest SUVs in India that are still going strong. It was first launched in 1998 and has completed 20 years since then. The other SUV we will be talking about today is the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross. The SUV, or better to say a pickup truck, is responsible for popularizing the pickup segment in India. While vehicles like the Tata Xenon XT were on sale since some time here, they never saw sales success. Now, what happens when both of these SUVs are pitted against each other in a tug of war. The video below by Jatt Land shows just that, so let us check out the video and see who turns out to be the winner here.

As seen in the video, neither of the two brutes can be declared the winner here. Both of them have about equal power output, which is one of the factors involved here. Among the two, the Safari is the older SUV while the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is the more modern vehicle. One thing to note here is that neither of the two SUVs were in 4×4 mode while the tug of war took place. The D-Max comes with a 4×4 drivetrain as standard while the older generation Safari seen here had both 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains on sale. The reason for Isuzu being in 4×2 mode could be that the Safari seen here is the 4×2 variant, and the D-Max was not put into 4×4 so as to keep the competition equal.

The older generation Safari here is powered by a 2.2-litre VTT DiCOR diesel engine. This engine churns out a good 138 Bhp along with 320 Nm of torque. The 7 seater SUV tips the scales at around 2.2 tonnes. The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, on the other hand, is powered by a 2.5-litre diesel engine that churns out 134 Bhp along with 320 Nm of torque. The D-Max tips the scales at about 1915 kg, which makes it lighter than the Tata Safari. Also, the D-Max here is running on better off-road spec tires than the Safari. However, the end result comes out to be a draw. Had it been a 4×4 battle, the results for sure would have been a different story.

While it is fun to see such competition videos between SUVs and cars, we advise that one should never imitate this with their own vehicle. Such tug of war competitions can damage the car in many ways. It puts unnecessary load on the engine, transmission as well as the drivetrain and if not done properly, could lead to severe damage to the vehicle. This would probably be the last thing anyone wants to happen to his ride and therefore, stay away from such antics and do not try them on your vehicle.

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Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, which was first launched in 2016 and went on to become India’s best-selling Utility Vehicle by replacing the Mahindra Bolero from the top slot. After 3 years, Maruti Suzuki is going to launch a facelifted version of the Vitara Brezza and as per CarWale, the production of the new SUV has already begun.

The beginning of the production indicates that the new version of the Brezza will be launched in the market soon. Major changes are not expected in the upcoming Brezza visually. It may come with a redesigned grille and slightly updated bumpers. The updated front-end will also receive LED headlamps but the shape will largely remain the same. On the inside, we can see the new SmartStudio infotainment update with new seat fabric.

Apart from that, we may also see a new alloy wheel design on the Vitara Brezza. As per the report, Maruti Suzuki has already produced around 5,000 units of the new model, which is expected to arrive in the showrooms from next month. It is quite possible that Maruti is building a stock before the launch to ensure that there is no waiting period on the vehicle.

Maruti Suzuki may also introduce the all-new 1.5-litre E15A diesel engine that was developed in-house by the brand. We may also get to see a petrol engine in the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Brezza, which currently only offers the 1.3-litre diesel engine unit. It should be noted that the 1.3-litre diesel engine cannot be upgraded to BS-VI norms and it will have to be retired when the new norms come in. The current version of the Brezza also offers AMT transmission but the new model could come with a conventional automatic transmission that will add a more premium feel to the car. It should be noted that the 1.5-litre diesel engine is more powerful than the current engine, which will vastly improve the performance of the car.

The Vitara Brezza sells more than 12,000 units per month on an average and takes on the likes of Mahindra TUV 300, Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon and newly launched Mahindra XUV 300. Soon, Hyundai will launch the QXI-based compact SUV that is expected to be known as Styx in the same segment.

It should be noted that Maruti Suzuki will start supplying Vitara Brezza from 2022. It is also the time when the all-new version of the sub-4m compact SUV is expected to be launched in the markets. Before that, Maruti Suzuki will start supplying the Ciaz and the Ertiga vehicles to Toyota. Suzuki will also start to receive technology transfer for the Hybrid Electric Cars in the Indian market.

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Royal Enfield has officially added alloy wheels to the accessory package of Classic series and the Thunderbird series motorcycles. The alloy wheels are priced at Rs. 10,000 and can be bought from any Royal Enfield dealership or service centres across the country.

Until now, only the Royal Enfield Thunderbird X models offer the alloy wheels. As per the official website, the 9-spoke machined alloy wheels can be fitted on the bike in 105 minutes and all the existing components fit directly into the new wheels. The wheels are certified with a two-year warranty against any kind of damage. They are currently available only in a single black colour and will all the bikes including Classic 350, Classic 500, Thunderbird 350, Thunderbird 500, Thunderbird X 350, Thunderbird X 500. The alloy wheels available with the Thunderbird X models are slightly different looking than these alloy wheels. The aftermarket wheels look much more premium with its chrome finish on the spokes.

It is not known if Royal Enfield will offer any kind of exchange offer where the customers can return their old alloy or spoked wheels and pay a discounted price for the new ones. As the alloy wheels are of the same size as the spoked rims, the same tyres will fit on the bikes and there’s no need to buy different tyres. Royal Enfield is also expected to offer alloy wheels for the all-new Interceptor and the Continental GT 650 in the Indian market.

The alloy wheels will allow the owners to make the full use of tubeless tyres on the Royal Enfield bikes. None of the Royal Enfield bikes with spoked rims offered the feature to use tubeless tyres, which causes a lot of trouble to the long-distance travellers. Tubeless tyres are much easier to repair on the way and also makes the ownership experience somewhat better.

However, spoked rims are much more rugged when it comes to serious off-roading. Spoked rims offer much more flexibility on the rough roads and are very durable too. Even alloy wheels are durable but for extreme conditions, spoked rims are the preferred choice of professionals. The alloy wheels are very stiff and break under pressure but the spoked rims can bend and absorb any jerks on the road without any problem.

It should be noted that Royal Enfield-branded motorcycles are one of the most modified bikes in India. Most of the owners go for aftermarket alloy wheels soon after owning the bike because of the ease of use. Recently, a video shared on the social media platform showed how low-quality aftermarket alloy wheel disintegrates on the road, which can cause grave injuries to the rider. Now that Royal Enfield is officially offering alloy wheels in the market, the use of substandard alloy wheels may go down in the future.

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The Maruti Swift – across three generations – is one of the most modified cars in India. From low rider kits to turbo jobs and just plain exterior modifications, the options are many for the Swift. However, we’re yet to see many Swifts with Volvo bus-like air suspension, or for that matter, BMW sportscar-like valvetronic exhaust that actually allows the driver to control the exhaust sound. Here are two such Maruti Swifts modified with air suspension, and valvetronic exhaust systems. The video below will tell you more.

Air suspension allows the car’s ride height to be varied. Also, air suspension makes ride quality much plusher in most cases. Air suspension consists of bellows (which are like strong air cushions), an air tank, an air pump and an electrical system that controls the amount of air pumped into the bellows. The bellows are what the car is suspended on, which function as the vehicle’s suspension as well as ride height controller. By controlling the amount of air in the bellows, the vehicle can be lowered or raised. This system is very popular on Volvo buses, which are known to offer excellent ride quality.

Coming back to the Swift fitted with this system, the air suspension is what allows the owner to transform this second generation Swift hatchback into a low rider at the press of a button. When the car encounters a situation that requires higher ground clearance, the owner simply has to raise the car, again at a touch of a button. The total cost of the air suspension fitted to the Swift is Rs. 1.8 lakhs.

The lowering springs that the car runs on costs another 34,000 rupees. All in all, expect to pay about Rs. 2.2 lakhs if you want a lowered car running on air suspension, which is an absolute essential if you intend to use the lowered car on an everyday basis.

Apart from the air suspension and lowering kit, the modified second generation kit in the video above gets a range of other tasteful modifications including a new front grille, debadging, new tail lamps and gorgeous aftermarket alloy wheels.

Coming to the other modified Swift – the one with the valvetronic exhaust – it also gets a range of tasteful visual modifications including a body kit that help it stand out on the road. The party trick though, is the valvetronic exhaust system that can controlled through a dashboard mounted switch.

As its name suggests, the valvetronic exhaust has a valve fitted inside the exhaust of the car, which can be opened on closed at the touch of a button. Opening the valve gives the exhaust free-flow character, making it sound very throaty. On the other hand, when the exhaust valve is closed, the exhaust goes back to having a sound that’s similar to what a stock exhaust offers. All in all, this is a system that can be used to trick cops. The valvetronic exhaust costs Rs. 45,000.

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The Hindustan Motors Contessa is considered to be among the best cars that the company ever made. It was first launched here in 1984 and had a pretty long stint till 2002 when it was finally discontinued. Most of must have read about modified Contessas or watched related videos but the actual car was quite different. It was based on the Vauxhall VX series car of 1976, which is the reason why this car looked so different from the other cars on sale in India at that time. The video below by Namaste Car shows a full review of the Contessa in almost stock condition. Check out the video to know how this classic looked and felt in its original condition.

The Contessa was positioned as a premium luxury car in the market and was targeted at those who wanted something beyond the regular Ambassador and Padmini stuff. It was priced at around Rs. 4.84 lakh to Rs. 5.42 lakh (Ex-showroom, Delhi) which was quite a big sum back then. It has luxurious interiors and features for its time along with decent engines. The downfall of the Contessa started after manufacturers like Tata, Maruti Suzuki, and Hyundai among others began offering much better alternatives at more affordable rates along with greater fuel efficiency.

The exterior design of the car looked stately and had a bit of muscle car element in it. The straight flowing lines and flat panels created a design that looks oh-so-brute even to this date. The car came with a rectangular headlight option as well as twin pod circular headlamp option. It had a large boot space of about 600 litres, which is quite large even by modern standards.

The car came with many features like power windows among others that were considered a novelty at that time. The video above shows us two cars, the first one of which has been maintained in good condition and had some changes on it, especially on the inside. The second car, however, is almost in stock condition but in a very miserable state.

On the inside, the Contessa gets a wooden finish dashboard, two spoke HM trademark steering wheel, AC along with a basic music system. The interiors of the first car got quite a bit of change on them like new upholstery, new seats, new AC along with other alterations. The second car gives a fair bit of idea how the interiors were like. The seats seem to be quite comfortable with good cushioning.

As for the engine, the Contessa came with both petrol and diesel units. The petrol engine was an 1817 cc, Inline 4 cylinder, SOHC with MPFI, Water cooled, Isuzu 4ZB1 engine that produced 85 HP along with 135 Nm torque. The diesel, on the other hand, was a 1995 cc, Inline 4 cylinder, OHC, Water cooled, Isuzu 4FC1 engine that produced 55 HP along with 107 Nm torque. Both the engines were mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The Contessa was available with four colour options – White, Blue, Red, Black. Despite being no longer available, the car holds a great value among enthusiasts and nicely maintained examples fetch a good price in the used car market.

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Later this year, KTM is expected to launch a new, entry level adventure motorcycle globally. This motorcycle also be  launched in India, where it will be produced. New spyshots of the motorcycle have surfaced, and these reveal new  details. The new ADV motorcycle from KTM will be based on the Duke 390 platform, but with significant changes to make it suitable for the new role it’s aimed at. While the engine, gearbox and most of the frame is expected to be carried over from the Duke 390, all these components will see revisions in order to suit off roading.

Spyshots courtesy ThrustZone

From the spyshots, it’s easy to make out that the KTM Duke 390 based ADV motorcycle will run alloy wheels. It’s safe to expect tubeless tyres to be on offer as well. The latest spyshots also reveal that the motorcycle will get  mounting points for panniers as well as top box. What remains to be seen is whether KTM offers panniers and a top box as official accessories. There’s a good chance of this happening given the fact that these accessories are one of the most bought items by ADV motorcycle owners who intend to go touring.

From the new spyshots, it’s clear that the KTM Duke 390 ADV will feature a tall front fairing that offers quite a bit  of wind protection, an engine cowl and also larger seats. The ergonomics – in this case the handlebar-footpeg  geometry – also seems more relaxed than those on the Duke 390, and this should facilitate longer riding hours. The  motorcycle could also get a bigger tank capacity, again designed to allow for longer distances before a refuel. All  in all, the bike seems built for adventure.

We expect the 373cc, four stroke single cylinder engine of the Duke 390 to be a milder state of tune, with focus on  low end and mid range punch. Also, the 6 speed gearbox with slipper clutch could get revised ratios, with a taller  sixth gear for more relaxed cruising. Also, there’s talk about KTM developing an R version of the Duke 390 ADV, which will get more off-roading chops that includes steel rimmed wheels and tubeless tyres, and many other features meant to make the bike a better performer off the road.

The ADV motorcycle segment in India is hotting up, and the launch of the KTM Duke 390-based machine should really make the segment take off in a big way. The Duke 390 is already a very popular motorcycle in the 2-3 lakh rupee segment, and the ADV version is also expected to sit in the same segment. However, a higher price tag that is a few tens of thousands more than the Duke 390’s price is expected. Expect the Duke 390 ADV to hit KTM showrooms across the country by the end of this year.

Also Read: Alia Bhatt spotted shooting TVC on new Hero Pleasure automatic scooter: Honda Activa rival

Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, who also endorses the Hero Pleasure automatic scooter, was spotted shooting a TVC for the new version of the scooter, due for launch later this year. The new Hero MotoCorp Pleasure automatic scooter will continue to rival the Honda Activa. While the exact launch timeline for the new Pleasure is yet to be revealed, we believe that the launch will be just around the corner. This is because of the fact that TVCs are shot just weeks ahead of the official launch.

From the looks of it, the new Hero Pleasure automatic scooter will feature heavily revised styling. The headlamp is a  new unit, probably LED, while the front fairing also gets a new design. The profile has also changed, with new  stylistic elements while the rear grabrail also seems to be a new unit. Expect many more design changes and new  features added to the revised version of the scooter. However, the engine and gearbox are likely to be carried over  without any major change, at least for now.

The current Hero Pleasure features a 102cc, four stroke single cylinder engine that’s air cooled, and that makes 7 PS  of peak power at 7,000 rpm and 8.1 Nm of peak torque at 5,000 rpm. The gearbox is a CVT automatic unit. The same is expected to be carried over to the new Pleasure. In 2020 though, this engine is likely to receive fuel injection in  order to meet the much more stringent, Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms. The BS6 norms will kick in from April  2020.

As for other key details, the 2019 Hero Pleasure continues to use a multi-link suspension up front even as most  automatic scooters in India are shifting towards telescopic front forks. A monoshock suspension will be standard at  the rear. The 2019 Pleasure will offer a self start, and is also likely to get an idle-stop system, which is meant to  boost fuel efficiency during traffic light stops, and also minimize tail pipe emissions. The exact price of this  scooter will only be known at launch though.

The Hero Pleasure’s key rival is the best selling Honda Activa. The Activa, in its 5G guise, is more powerful than  the Pleasure, and is powered by a 110cc four stroke engine. Honda is already working on the 6th generation Activa for
the Indian market, and recently spyshots of the scooter from ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) were  leaked. The new Activa will get telescopic front forks, a new design and many more changes. The new scooter is  expected to get fuel injection as well. With Honda incorporating so many changes in the new Activa, it’s only natural  that Hero will give the Pleasure a bigger update come 2020.

Via MumbaiMirror

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Rash riding and aftermarket exhausts have become a major nuisance across many Indian cities. Bhayander Police division of Maharashtra Police has adopted a unique strategy to catch such troublemakers red-handed on the roads. Here is a video that shows police catching a scooter with aftermarket exhaust and destroying it on the spot.

Police hammering aftermarket exhaust

According to the cops, there are numerous two-wheeler riders on the streets who flout rules by riding rashly in an erratic way and use aftermarket exhausts that create noise pollution. To catch riders, the cops get into disguise and dress like beggars, saints and common men to get blend in the crowd easily. The team then waits at different traffic signals to catch the culprits.

As seen in the video by HP Live, two different two-wheelers can be seen riding very rashly on the public roads creating a nuisance. The footage has been taken from cameras mounted on the cop cars, and CCTV footage from the traffic signals also show both the two-wheelers getting past two police officers and also do not stop when the cops in uniform flag them down. At a traffic signal, a policeman disguised in plain clothes stop both the vehicles, show them a placard saying that they are cops then they take out the keys so that the riders cannot run away.

The video later shows how the cops ask the riders to get down from the vehicles. The police make the scooter lie down and use a hammer to destroy the aftermarket exhaust. It can be seen that multiple blows of the hammer wreck the aftermarket silencer. It is not known if the cops also slap a fine on such motorists who flout the rules.

The decision of using cops under disguise and on-spot destruction of aftermarket exhausts was taken by the top officials of the police division. The police first tried issuing challans and fines to such riders, but according to the cops, the number such motorists remained unaffected on the roads. Destroying the exhausts of such bikes and scooters ensures that such illegal exhausts are not used in the streets at all.

Till now, the special team in disguise has been working on the traffic signals to catch such riders, and around 50-55 two-wheelers with aftermarket exhausts have been picked. All the bikes and scooters caught on the spot were given the same treatment seen in the video.

The legal limit of the sound from homologated two-wheelers is set at 84 decibels. However, most aftermarket exhausts are made in a way to amplify the exhaust note and create a much higher exhaust note, which is much higher than the legal limit. Such aftermarket silencers are not road legal but can be used in private properties like race tracks. Many aftermarket exhaust systems increase the performance of the vehicles by allowing exhaust gases to flow freely through the system, which creates a higher noise. However, many affordable aftermarket silencers do not add on to the performance and are strictly limited to make the vehicle sound louder.

It should be noted that the cops do not use decibel meters to check the exhaust note of such vehicles. They are purely caught on the basis of being aftermarket and the ability of the cops to identify the level of sound from the two-wheelers. Nonetheless, such modified motorcycles and scooters create a major nuisance on the roads and in the past cops from various states have adopted the method of destroying such aftermarket silencers on the spot.

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Toyota and Suzuki are taking thier partnership a step further. The two Japanese automakers will co-develop a new MPV, which is likely to be a monocoque offering. This jointly developed MPV will be manufactured by Toyota and supplied to Suzuki, who is expected to badge-engineer the vehicle.

Toyota and Suzuki will sell this MPV in their respective showrooms in India. What remains to be seen though is whether this MPV will replace the Toyota Innova Crysta, or if it will sit in between the Ertiga and Innova Crysta in terms of positioning. It’s likely to rival the Mahindra Marazzo.

There’s a large gap that exists between the Ertiga and Innova Crysta. While the Maruti Ertiga’s prices start from Rs. 7.44 lakhs, those of the Toyota Innova start from Rs. 14.83 lakhs. This means that there’s a price gap more than Rs. 7 lakhs between the two MPVs, or in other words, a perfect opportunity exists for Maruti and Toyota to bring in another MPV to fill this gap. Also, this is the very gap where the Mahindra Marazzo operates. The new MPV is likely to be here sometime in 2022-23, which means that it’s a good 3-4 years away.

A diesel engine is unlikely on the new MPV, which could adopt a petrol-hybrid layout, and also offer a full-electric option. By then, petrol-hybrids are likely to become similarly priced as diesels, which will soon get costlier thanks to the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms, which will require expensive emission control equipment.

Apart from the MPV Suzuki and Toyota will develop, both automakers will launch a range of other vehicles. Maruti will supply the Baleno and Vitara Brezza to Toyota. Toyota will badge engineer both vehicles and sell them in Indian and African markets. In return, Toyota will supply the 2020 Corolla Altis to Maruti Suzuki, for badge engineering and selling from the NEXA range of showrooms.

This partnership has now expanded to include the Maruti Ciaz and Ertiga as two other cars that Toyota will badge engineer and sell in the Indian market. The MPV that we discussed above in this story will be an all-new model though, and probably the first jointly engineered vehicle from Suzuki and Toyota for the Indian market. Toyota will also supply petrol-hybrid technology to Suzuki for use in a range of cars.

The two automakers will also co-operate for electric vehicles. Maruti is all set to launch the WagonR Electric next year, and Toyota us expected to follow soon with an electric vehicle of its own. Denso – a parts maker owned by Toyota – is in a tie-up with Suzuki for making lithium ion batteries in Sanand, Gujarat. Meanwhile, Osamu Suzuki, the Chairman of Suzuki, had this to say about the alliance,

At the time we announced our scope of cooperation in May last year, I spoke that we will strive for success globally. I have seen progress in the partnership since then, and it is my pleasure to be able to make this announcement today regarding the status of partnership on a global basis, including Europe and Africa. In addition, we appreciate the kind offer from Toyota to let us make use of their hybrid technology. We will continue our utmost efforts.

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Hyundai, the second largest carmaker in India has released a teaser video showing the upcoming sub-4meter compact SUV testing in India. The all-new sub-compact SUV will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport and newly launched Mahindra XUV 300 in the Indian market. It is based on the Carlino concept and is likely to be named as Styx in its production guise.

The all-new SUV will be unveiled at the New York International Auto Show in April 2019 and is expected to be launched by Mid-2019 in the Indian market. This is the first ever sub-4meter sub-compact SUV in the market from the Korean brand and will be a global product that will go on sale in the USA too. Hyundai India has been testing the upcoming SUV throughout the roads of India and the heavily camouflaged version has been caught testing multiple times on the roads.

The official teaser video of the Styx shows the heavily camouflaged vehicle going out of the Hyundai India factory in Chennai for a test run in different weather conditions. The test mule first goes through Chennai where the temperature is 29 degree Celsius and humidity is at 72%. The video says that the vehicle will next move through the mighty Aravali range and the video of the same will be released soon.

The Styx is being developed according to the Indian road conditions but it will be sold around the world. The video also reveals the bright DRLs of the Styx, which is likely to be a part of the production version of the vehicle. The compact SUV is based on an all-new platform that underpins the all-new Hyundai Santro too. The same platform will form the base of many upcoming vehicles like the all-new Hyundai Grand i10.

The engine details of the upcoming Styx are not clear. However, it is likely to get two petrol engine options in the international markets. The Indian version may carry a different engine to keep the overall cost of the vehicle low. However, in developed markets, the all-new Styx is expected to offer an all-new 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine that is expected to churn out around 100 Bhp of maximum power. The car will also offer a naturally aspirated 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that powers the Hyundai Verna in the Indian market. The diesel engine in the Indian market is likely to be the same 1.4-litre turbocharged unit that powers the Hyundai Verna. Hyundai will offer both manual and automatic transmission options with the upcoming Styx.

Hyundai has always been generous when it comes to features and the upcoming Styx will likely to follow the same strategy. It is expected to get features like a sunroof, cruise control, wireless charging and even perforated ventilated front seats in the top-end variants. With loaded features, the Styx is expected to get a higher price tag than the segment-leading Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza too.

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The name Land Rover needs no introduction in the world of off-roading. The Land Rovers used to be the name of the vehicle that was made by the British manufacturer – Rover Company. The Land Rovers were the first four-wheel drive cars with doors that were mass produced for the civilians. The vehicles made by the brand were so reliable that in 1992, Land Rover claimed that more than 70% of vehicles ever produced by the brand are still in service. Here is a Land Rover Series 2A SUV that has been wonderfully modified and restored by WS Designs, Mumbai.

The vehicle seen in the pictures is of the 1971 Land Rover Series IIA and it looks extremely similar to the Series II Land Rover. The vehicle was offered in short-wheelbase, soft-top and five-door station wagon formations. The station wagon version was the most expensive of the lot and the biggest of all the variants. The vehicle seen here is a station wagon version, which has been converted immaculately to a pick-up truck version.

From the pictures, it seems that the vehicle has remained in an abandoned state for a long time but the shell has remained intact without much visible rusting. WS Designs has transformed the vehicle inside out. The body of the station wagon has been modified and the space behind the second-row seats has been cut to give it a pick-up truck look. The vehicle now gets four doors. The whole body has been repainted completely with a new shade and all the lamps have been restored to the original specifications. The headlamps are original too and give the nostalgic look and feel to the Defender. Even the grille is original and carries the original moniker.

Apart from that, it gets new ORVMs mounted on the bonnet of the vehicle. It even gets aftermarket big-block tyres that add a muscular stance to the vehicle. The spare tyre is mounted on the bonnet. It may hinder a clear view of the road ahead but it sure makes the vehicle look like a true rugged vehicle.

The interior of the vehicle has been revamped completely too. It gets a new dashboard with instrument cluster in the middle. This is not the original instrument cluster but analogue round dials have been used to keep the vintage DNA alive. The steering wheel also gets the Land Rover logo. The roofline of the vehicle is now very plush and gets diamond stitched fabric. Even the seats get the new Land Rover covers that make the vehicle feel very special on the inside.

It should be noted that originally Land Rover also offered the two-door pick-up version of the truck in the markets. The Land Rover Series IIA got powered by three engine options 2.25-litre inline 4-cylinder petrol engine, 2.25-litre inline four-cylinder diesel engine and 2.6-litre IOE straight 6 cylinder petrol engine.

You can contact WS Designs directly for the price and the time taken for such restoration and modification job.

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KTM Dealers around India are already taking bookings for the Duke 790, a twin cylinder engined sports-naked that the Austrian brand wants to launch soon. What KTM could also launch this year is the ADV version of the Duke 790, which is called the Duke 790 Adventure. The motorcycle could follow the Duke 790 into India, and be KTM’s flagship offering. The motorcycle, according to Overdrive, could be launched during this year’s festive season. The report also goes on to state that the Duke 390 ADV, which has been spotted testing numerous times on Indian roads over the last few months, could take a back seat for now.

The KTM Duke 790 Adventure shares its engine and gearbox with the street naked Duke 790 but gets a range of changes to make it more suitable for long distance riding, including forays off the road. First, let’s look at the engine  details. The motorcycle is powered by a LC8c 799cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine with four valve heads, twin  overhead camshafts and fuel injection as standard. This motor puts out 95 PS of peak power and 88 Nm of peak torque. A 6 speed manual gearbox with slipper clutch comes standard with this engine. The chassis of the Duke 790 Adventure holds the engine, with the latter being a stressed member of the overall motorcycle frame.

The differences between the KTM Duke 790 and 790 Adventure lie in the styling, suspension and features. The KTM 790 Adventure gets high travel suspension, with 43mm WP upside-down forks up front offering 200 mm of travel. At the rear, the suspension is also a WP item, but a monoshock in this case, with a 200 mm travel. The high travel of the  suspension is meant to make the bike take on tough terrain with ease while offering a good ride quality to the rider.  As for features, the motorcycle gets cornering ABS, off-road ABS, traction control, rally mode and even cruise  control.

These features are meant to not just make the motorcycle safe across varied terrain, but also make the ride stress  free on longer distances, where a feature like cruise control can greatly reduce rider fatigue. The motorcycle is  expected to compete with the likes of the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and the Suzuki V-Strom 650 in India’s mid-segment  adventure motorcycle space on the lower end, and the Triumph Tiger 800 and the Ducati Multistrada on the higher end. KTM is expected to bring the 790 Adventure into India through the completely knocked down (CKD) kit route, with assembly happening at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan factory.

This is a similar approach KTM is likely to adopt with the Duke 790. Both motorcycles will have higher local content  going forward, and this is what could result in super competitive pricing. KTM has always been known for pricing its  motorcycles very competitively, and we expect this character to be carried over to the Adventure 790 as well. Expect  an ex-showroom price of about Rs. 8.5 lakhs for the KTM Adventure 790. At this price tag, the Adventure 790 will sit  right in between the Versys/V-Strom and Tiger/Multistrada.

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A Kerala Road Transport Bus Driver was chased and stopped by the Motor Vehicle Department of that state for talking on the mobile phone while driving. However, the Motor Vehicle Department of Kerala could not fine him because of a recent High Court judgment. Sounds unbelievable? Well, it really played out just like this. Read on to find out why.

The bus driver was merely issued a showcause notice by the RTO rather than being fined. This is because a Kerala high court, in a May 2018 judgment, had ruled that ‘talking on the mobile phone while driving is not an offence, unless it can be established that it endangered public safety’. The court also added that there is no provision under the  existing law to book a person talking on the mobile phone while driving.

Here’s what the Division Bench said,

There is no provision in the Police Act that bans people from talking over mobile phone while driving. Hence a  person doing this can’t be assumed as one causes danger to the public. The court can’t rule that the person who  speaks on a mobile phone while driving causes danger to the public. The assembly should pass an amendment to include these provisions in the Police Act to make it an offence. If the police had registered such cases in the state those concerned can approach the respective magistrate courts to quash their cases.

Now, this judgment meant that the RTO could do nothing more than issuing a showcause notice to the bus driver for talking on the mobile phone while driving. What this also means is, people will no longer fear the consequences of driving/riding while talking on the mobile phone unless the government moves in and amends the law to make such an act a serious offence.

Talking on the mobile phone can not just be distracting while driving/riding a vehicle but can also cause accidents.  Such acts, especially from a bus driver, who is responsible for the safety of more than 40 passengers, is just very  dangerous. We shudder to imagine what would be the consequences had the driver lost control of the bus while driving.

While such a thing won’t just put the lives of the bus’ passengers in danger, but will also endanger the lives of  fellow road users. A heavy vehicle such as a bus must be driven with abundant caution, and a high sense of safety. We  hope that the Kerala government steps in and amends the law suitably to make driving/riding while talking on the  mobile phone a serious offence.

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Toyota is busy preparing its new strategy for the Indian market. The Innova Crysta and the Fortuner are the market sales leader in their respective segment but the Japanese manufacturer is now eyeing the lower priced segments to conquer. For the same, it is planning to bring in a new MPV and an SUV in the market, both in the Rs. 15-20 lakh price range. The upcoming SUV will chiefly target the Jeep Compass and will be priced higher than the MPV. The MPV, on the other hand, will sit below the Innova Crysta. The new vehicles launched by Toyota will be BNSVAP compliant and will be powered by BSVI compliant engines too

After Toyota launches the Innova Crysta facelift in India, its prices are expected to go up considerably higher than the current prices. Also, it will get a new competitor in the form of the Kia Carnival and hence the company will equip the Innova facelift enough to maintain its lead in the market. this means higher price and hence a new gap in the price range. This place will be filled by the new MPV. MPVs are getting quite popular in India of late and therefore Toyota is planning on bringing a smaller than Innova MPV soon.

Coming to the SUV, it will be priced higher than the Toyota MPV and will directly rival the Jeep Compass. With the Compass, Jeep has proved that the Indian market is not only about cheap pricing. Buyers are ready to shell some extra money if they are getting a better-finished product and a good brand value along with it. Toyota enjoys a good reputation in the Indian car market and therefore a smaller than Fortuner SUV could do wonders for the company if done right.

While it is not fully confirmed, the new SUV by Toyota could be a crossover known as the Rush in the International markets. The MPV, on the other hand, could be the Avanza MPV. The Avanza will be aimed more towards the mass volume customer group while the Rush will be positioned as a premium crossover in its segment

Toyota has entered into a partnership with Maruti Suzuki to share platforms, technology and expertise in the Indian auto market. As a result of this partnership, we will soon see Toyota branded Baleno, Ertiga and Vitara Brezza among others. Also, Maruti Suzuki will launch a sedan based on the new generation Corolla Altis, which will be launched in 2020. The key aim of this partnership is to save time, cost as well as labour on new model development and production.

With the new models planned by Toyota along with the Marut based lineup in the sub Rs. 10 lakh segment, it can be said that Toyota is finally working seriously towards offering products in every segment. Whether or not it will succeed is a question that would be answered after the launch of the respective vehicles. However, we can expect top-notch build quality from Toyota for sure.

Source

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Modified Mahindra Thars have become a very usual thing for most of us. Almost every Thar owner customises his ride according to his needs and taste which is the reason why Thar mod jobs are so common. Also, the Thar is a vehicle that can be modified in a lot of different ways and the vehicle adopts the mod look pretty easily. However, what we have today is a custom modified Mahindra Thar that has been given a proper ‘Monster SUV’ treatment and comes with four side doors among other mods.

It is available for sale and is a good option for someone who wants a mix of practicality and ruggedness. Let’s now check out the video below by BANKS CUSTOM which shows the four-door Thar mod in its full glory. The asking price for this Thar mod is about Rs. 6 lakhs, which makes it cheaper than the Tata Nexon that costs about Rs. 7 lakhs for the least priced model. However, that is when you say no to those gorgeous wheels. With the wheels as shown here, the same Thar will cost you about Rs. 10 lakh.

As seen in the video, the Thar mod here looks quite good and is something different from the regular mod jobs that we have got accustomed of. The chassis of this Thar has been extended by 10 inches in order to make enough space to fit four doors. It also has a decent boot area, the major chunk of which is occupied by a huge audio system enough to rock the vehicle. It is not a hardtop but in fact a soft top with windows attached. The modifier has even fitted a roll cage on this vehicle for added protection during off-roading.

The front end of the Thar gets an Angry birds style grille flanked by LED projector headlamps with inbuilt LED DRLs. The stock bumper has given way to a custom off-road bumper with integrated LED lights and an LED bar mounted on its top. The rear sports similar changes including a new bumper and LED tail lights. However, among the most eye-catching part of this mod job are that 20-inch rims shod on with huge tires. The wheels make this Thar look quite intimidating along with giving it a huge ground clearance. It has been painted in a shade of dark blue that looks quite good on it.

Apart from the structural end exterior changes, the interiors of this Thar have been given a full makeover too. The interiors now come swathed in tan shade leather. The dashboard has the same design as that on the stock Thar but everything looks more premium now covered in leather. The front and rear sets are bathed in leather too and get separate armrests. As mentioned earlier, an audio system from Kenwood has been placed on the vehicle complete with subwoofers. Another interior highlight is the sunroof, which has become one of the most sought after accessories nowadays.

The engine has been given a tweak too and has been fitted with an extra turbo apart from an aftermarket air filter. The Thar here is the DI 4×4 version that is powered by a 2.5-litre M2DICR turbocharged diesel engine. In stock condition, this engine makes 63 Bhp of peak power and 180 Nm of peak torque. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard. However, it has now been modified to produce about 90 Bhp, which further increases its off-road potential.

If you are interested in this Thar modification, get in touch with the mod guys by clicking the link below. You can also contact them via phone call by dialling the number given below.

Contact No. – 098767 29405

Facebook Link- Punjabi Jeepa Wale

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