The French Group – PSA will re-enter the Indian market with the Citroen brand. The first vehicle from the brand will be the Citroen C5 Aircross SUV that will be launched by the end of next year in the Indian market. Citroen officially showcased the upcoming SUV in India and here is what it looks like.

The Citroen C5 Aircross is a five-seater SUV that looks sharp from all around. It gets separate DRL and main headlamp cluster that are smartly integrated to the front grille of the SUV.

The front grille gives an illusion that the DRLs and the main headlamp are all integrated. It gets large air dams at the front with contrasting highlights.

It gets an interesting design with the floating-roof design and a thick chrome stripe orbiting the A, B and C-Pillars.

The 3D tail lamps are huge in size and have specially designed elements that give a distinctive identity to the SUV even from the rear.

The rear gets faux exhaust vents. A picture taken from the low angle shows the real exhaust opening.

It currently gets 17-inch alloy wheels in the Indian market. However, the alloy design may change when it launches in India.

The Citroen logo is integrated right into the grille of the car that makes it look quite interesting.

The Citroen C5 Aircross gets touchscreen infotainment system just like all other modern cars in the Indian market. The size of the screen is huge and it measures 8.0-inch. It supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Instead of the conventional instrument cluster, the C5 Aircross gets a large 12.3-inch digital instrument console. Until now, such a screen has been seen only on high-end luxury cars and not on affordable vehicles.

The interior theme gets inspired by the exterior design of the SUV. You can see stacked up AC air vents that look inspired by the rear tail lamps of the vehicle. There are four such vents placed on the dashboard of the car.

It gets a multifunctional flat-bottom steering wheel. Even the button clusters are shaped with rounded edges matching the tail lamp elements of the SUV.

A lot of space is provided in the central console. It gets a space to keep the smartphone, and buttons like sport and engine start-stop are placed in the middle too.

It gets a roof-mounted equipment panel that gets various buttons including an SOS button. Even the 360-degree sensor screen has been placed on the same panel.

The Citroen C5 Aircross gets a boot space of massive 580 litres, which can store all the luggage needed by the family even for long distance journeys.

The gearshift lever looks very premium and it also gets an electronic parking brake.

Also Read: Upcoming Citroen Aircross C5 (Jeep Compass-rival) picture gallery

Edit: Jeep has just launched the Compass Sport Plus variant in India. The petrol variant is priced at Rs. 15.99 lakhs, which represents a Rs. 59,000 increase over the Sport variant, and the diesel is priced at Rs. 16,99 lakhs, which is a more modest Rs. 38,000 price increase over the Sport variant. Bookings are now open, and deliveries will begin soon.

Ever since the Jeep Compass SUV’s launch a couple of years ago, it has been receiving a slew of new variants, and the latest in the long list of Compass variants is the Sport Plus trim. The Compass Sport Plus will sit above the entry  level Sport trim, offering buyers many more features at a modest price increase. The arrival of the Tata Harrier, an  SUV that is much karger than the Compass, but that is also much cheaper, could have prompted Jeep India to come up with the new variant. The Tata Harrier is selling quite well, and commands a long waiting period. The Tata Harrier is over Rs. 3 lakhs cheaper than the Jeep Compass.

The additional features on the Jeep Compass are as follows. 16 inch alloy wheels, windshield insert, blacked out roof  rails, reverse parking sensors, 5 inch touchscreen infotainment system and dual zone automatic climate control. The  Compass Sport Plus gets 2 airbags, ABS+EBD, electronic stability program and traction control as key safety features.  Arm rests on both the front and rear seats, LED daytime running lamps, electrically adjustable wing mirrors and keyless entry are the other prominent features on the new variant.

Meanwhile, the Jeep Compass Sport Plus will be available only with the 6 speed manual gearboxes driving the front  wheels. Both petrol and diesel engines will be available with the Sport Plus trim. The petrol is a 1.4 liter-4  cylinder turbocharged unit with 160 Bhp of peak power and 250 Nm of peak torque. The diesel is a 2 liter-4 cylinder  turbocharged unit with 170 Bhp of peak power and 350 Nm of peak torque on offer. If you want an all wheel drive  system or an automatic gearbox, you’ll have to opt for higher variants.

Jeep India is yet to announce prices for the Sport Plus variants of the Compass Diesel and Petrol models. We expect  it to cost about Rs. 50,000 more than the Sport trim. The new trim is likely to be introduced within the next few  days. Jeep is also working on a new top-of-the-line TrailHawk variant for the Indian market. The TrailHawk version will be off-road focused, and will be available with the 2 liter diesel engine. The TrailHawk version will also add a  9 speed torque converter automatic gearbox to the mix.

It’ll get a range of new off-road bits such as revised front and rear bumpers, upgraded suspension for better  articulation, a four wheel drive system with additional modes such as Rock and Sand, and finally, tow hooks  integrated into the front and rear bumper. The interiors of the top-end trim are also expected to get minor changes.  The Jeep Compass TrailHawk is expected to be launched by the middle of this year. Prices are likely to start from  over Rs. 25 lakhs.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 with 16 inch Aftermarket MOMO alloy wheels looks GORGEOUS

Modifications of cars in India are not as popular as they are in the international markets. However, there are no regulations laid down by the government on the kind of modifications allowed on the vehicles. Supreme Court of India earlier gave a ruling saying that any kind of modification of vehicles is illegal. Kerala State Police has already started taking actions against modified vehicles.

The MVD has now started going the extra mile to nab the illegal vehicles and recently, the officials went to an auto show at a local college for a surprise check and booked several vehicles for being modified. The special drive happened in Kochi where the MVD registered 10 two-wheelers at various college campused in the district. The vehicles were displayed as a part of an auto show and were not on the road when the MVD officials booked them.

The special shadow squad of MVD kept a close watch on the show and followed the vehicles. They then reached the show in the afternoon and checked every vehicle displayed at the spot minutely for any kind of changes. All the vehicles that were inspected were part of the auto show.

The officials also said that the auto show had a special bike stunting exhibition where specially modified motorcycles were used. These motorcycles made loud noises due to the altered silencers. Such silencers also increase the power of the bike. The cops also said that a few bikes did not have any kind of silencer at all, which created a thunderous level of noise in the surroundings.

All the ten vehicles that have been booked for being modified will have to present themselves before the RTO. All the vehicles will have to replace the aftermarket silencers and will have to produce the bike in stock condition. The RTO will inspect the bike and will also check if all the original parts are in place. This process was explained by an MVD official to Deccan Chronicle.

The MVD officials also reveal that the vehicle that won the first position in the competition was also booked. Earlier, Enforcement RTO Manojkumar warned the educational institution authorities to be more careful with such events. Modification in Kerala is extremely popular and many youths modify their two-wheelers and cars in various ways. Even after the caution from the RTO, the event happened and that’s when the shadow team of the MVD took action.

Earlier, the MVD said that they will also keep a close eye on modified vehicles on the social media platforms. Any vehicle that they feel is modified will be notified electronically and the owner of the vehicle will have to present himself and the vehicle to the RTO for inspection.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 with 16 inch Aftermarket MOMO alloy wheels looks GORGEOUS

With the General Elections coming up in India, strict checking of vehicles have started around the country. Karnataka CM, HD Kumaraswamy, who was travelling in a convoy was flagged down to stop at an election check post in Hassan district in the Southern Karnataka and his Land Rover Range Rover was checked by the police officials.

Since the CM has Z Plus security cover, he can be seen travelling with a large convoy of cars with a police Toyota Innova travelling in front followed by a Tata Safari that carries all the wireless communication devices and network jammers for the safety of the convoy. The third car in the convoy is where HD Kumaraswamy was sitting and the vehicle stopped in front of the police officials.

The officials greet the Chief Minister with a salute and then go on to check the Range Rover’s boot thoroughly. After checking the vehicle, the police officials start talking with the CM and his bodyguards from the Mahindra Scorpio come to his vehicle too. Within seconds, the Range Rover can be seen with a cover of a crowd. Soon the cops signal the Range Rover to go ahead and all the vehicles follow it in the convoy. There are a total of nine vehicles in the convoy with a police Mahindra Bolero trailing the convoy and the whole convoy followed by an ambulance, which is a protocol whenever a Z Plus personality travels in a convoy.

Such check posts set-up ahead and during the election time serve various purposes. The check posts check all the vehicles for any illegal material that may be carried by the individuals including cash and liquor. Election Commission of India keeps on updating about the latest seizures of illegal materials.

It should be noted that Kumaraswamy earlier ditched the Toyota Fortuner that was allocated to him by the government. He instead chose the Land Rover Range Rover, which is his personal car. According to various reports, the CM of Karnataka chose his own personal vehicle over the government allocated vehicle because of personal health reasons. He has reportedly modified the Range Rover’s suspension system and seats to make it more comfortable for long distance journeys. It should be noted that even in stock form, the Land Rover Range Rover is one of the most comfortable vehicles in the market. It comes with an air suspension system and the seats are extremely comfortable. Kumaraswamy was seen sitting in the co-passenger seat instead of the rear seats too.

The Land Rover Range Vogue carries a whopping price tag of Rs. 1.75 crore, ex-showroom. It is much more comfortable than the old-gen Toyota Fortuner, which is known for its bouncy ride quality. With elections coming up soon, more such checkpoints are expected to come up in the future.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 with 16 inch Aftermarket MOMO alloy wheels looks GORGEOUS

Mahindra Thar is a very capable off-roader and is the first choice of many off-roaders. The affordable price tag and the sturdy build of Thar make it extremely popular among the off-roaders too. The Mahindra Thar is one model in India that has one of the best collective off-roading challenges and here is one such video that shows the Mahindra Thar trying to descend down a vertical drop!

Mahindra Thar on a vertical drop

While the Thar is very capable in the stock form itself, it is also one of the most modified vehicles in the country. Even the vehicle seen in this video put up by Kashmir Off Road is heavily modified but the actual modifications in the vehicle are not known because of it quite away from the camera. Nonetheless, the vertical drop has been made to test the capability of the Thar and it is quite dangerous as the vehicle can topple if not handled properly.

The driver inside the Thar cannot see a thing and he is getting directed by the people who are outside. Such spotters are extremely important to do such a manoeuvre if you want to keep the vehicle safe. The Mahindra Thar then slowly puts the front tyres and the spotters can be heard saying do not brake so hard. Actually, applying brakes sharply on such a drop may result in the vehicle toppling over due to the transfer of weight.

The vehicle then slowly comes down the vertical decline but due to the limited ground clearance, it gets beached and the bottom of the vehicle rests on the ground. However, as it is coming down, the vehicle did not get stuck because of the ground clearance. In fact, the angle of the climb is so high that the Thar’s front bumper started resting on the ground at the end of the climb. There is a second video that shows how the members get the traction mats to ensure that the wheels have enough traction to go through. The Thar did come out without the need of any external help in the end but it sure has suffered a few damages to the underbody and the front bumper.

The height of the climb was also perfect. If it was a little higher, the vehicle’s front would have still above the ground and the vehicle could have toppled. One should never do such experiments without the experts around just like in this video. Off-roading may look like fun but it requires a lot of practice and planning. One has to take the best route out without damaging the vehicle much. Most people do not face such vertical falls on a regular basis even on the specialised off-roading tracks. But now if they do face such a challenge in a Thar, they know that the vehicle is capable enough to get through the challenge without a problem.

Nonetheless, such challenges can also damage the vehicle severely and should not be done until there’s no other way out.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 with 16 inch Aftermarket MOMO alloy wheels looks GORGEOUS

Renault has just put out a teaser for its next big thing for the Indian market – an MPV based on the Kwid’s CMF-A  platform. The new Renault low-cost MPV will be called Triber, and it will be launched in India during the second half  of this year. Considering that we’re already in April, and have less than 3 months to go for the second half of this  year, expect to see a flurry of teasers in the build up to the Renault MPV’s launch. Now that the name has been  revealed, it’s only a matter of time before more details about the new Renault Kwid-based MPV surface. For now, check out the teaser.

As the teaser indicates, the Renault Triber will be modular – an indication that it will use the Renault Kwid’s CMF-A  platform. CMF-A, which stands for common module family-A, is a low cost platform that Renault-Nissan have developed for use in emerging markets such as India and Brazil. The Renault Kwid and the Datsun RediGo are two cars that are based on the CMF-A platform, and sold in India. In the coming years, expect more vehicles on this platform, and later this year, the Triber MPV will become the third vehicle to use CMF-A.

The Renault Triber is expected to measure under 4 meters in length to confirm for excise duty benefits. This also  implies a very competitive price tag, and we expect this MPV to be somewhat like the Datsun Go+ stationwagon,  offering seating in a 5+2 format. Unlike the Datsun Go+, the third row of seats on the Renault Triber could actually  accommodate adults rather than just kids. At least, this is what the teaser hints at, by emphasizing on ‘super  spacious’.

The other big statement that the teaser seeks to make is ‘India’s first’. Currently, there’s no real MPV that’s a  sub-4 meter offering. The Ertiga comes the closest, but it measures nearly 4.3 meters. So, if Renault actually comes  up with a full fledged 7 seat MPV, and manages to make it confirm to a sub-4 meter length, then we’ll indeed have India’s first sub-4 meter MPV. There’s a strong possibility of this happening, and it’s just been nearly confirmed by the teaser.

As for mechanicals, the Renault Triber is likely to borrow its engine and gearbox from the Kwid given that it’s based  on the CMF-A platform, which emphasizes on a high level of parts sharing. The 1 liter-3 cylinder petrol engine is  likely to make its way into the Triber, and the 68 Bhp-91 Nm outputs will just be enough for everyday use. The 5  speed manual gearbox and AMT options are also likely to be carried over. A front wheel drive layout will be standard,  and so will be a monocoque form factor. Watch this space for more details.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 with 16 inch Aftermarket MOMO alloy wheels looks GORGEOUS

The issue of the increasing number of cars on the Indian roads is something that has caught the attention of policy makers and governments in recent times. With more cars comes the issue of parking as well as congestion of roads. For the same, the Supreme Court on Friday called for the family planning of cars owned by a person or by a household. The court pegged the examples of the “Hum Do Hamare Do” campaign which was a popular government scheme to check overpopulation and encourage family planning. The court also expressed concern over cases where a single person owns as many as five cars.

The court further added that an earning hand having a car is understandable. However, cases like when a person owns five cars himself are what is overwhelming. For the same, there should be a family planning of cars a household possesses.

One of the judges present at the hearing expressed concern over multiple car ownership and added:

Every earning member of a family has a car, but one man having five cars! There should be a family planning of cars. Hum do hamare.

The court observation came while hearing on an application seeking to lift the cap on one lakh three-wheelers in the wake of an auto manufacturing company offering to introduce BS VI autos in Delhi. The bench of judges hearing the case was informed that more and more vehicles were being added every day and that there were problems with parking spaces. Most of the multi-level parking have not turned out to be as successful as they were being hoped to be. Most of the people still prefer to park vehicles at any available space, mostly in their proximity.

The plea for lifting the cap on the number of autos, therefore, was not favoured by the bench which wanted to know the basis for fixing the cap and to what extent it can be relaxed in the present circumstances with nearly 3,000 busses of different category joining the public transport apart from expanding metro services.

The increasing number of vehicles on our road is, in fact, a serious issue which has already started giving headaches to the municipal bodies. According to Delhi’s Economic Survey 2018-19 report, the number of vehicles in the national capital is around 1.09 crore by March 2018, including over 70 lakh two-wheelers. Another report claimed that Mumbai’s car density is five times that of Delhi’s. The increase in the number of vehicles in a city not only worsens the road congestion and space availability but also affects the environment negatively. It also leads to an increased accident frequency as well as fatality rate.

Source

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 with 16 inch Aftermarket MOMO alloy wheels looks GORGEOUS

We’re less than 2 weeks away from the official reveal of the Hyundai Venue sub-4 meter compact SUV, which will happen on the 17th of April, at the New York Motor Show. A bunch of leaked, partially camouflaged pictures have allowed rendering artists to put together a realistic renders of the upcoming SUV. Here’s one such render that shows what the Hyundai Venue could look like. It’s been put together by CarToq’s rendering artist Vipin Vathoopan.

As the render indicates, the Hyundai Venue’s front end will be dominated by a massive, chromed grille. The headlamps move to the bumpers while LED DRLs sit at the place where the headlamps would have traditionally been. The front end of the Venue does give glimpses of other Hyundai SUVs such as the Kona and the Santa Fe. The Venue will be launched in India on the 21st of May, 2019.

In India, this SUV will take on the likes of the Maruti Brezza, the Tata Nexon, the Ford EcoSport and the recently launched Mahindra XUV300. The sub-4 meter segment is now getting crowded, and the Hyundai Venue will be positioned as a big volumes puller, aimed at bringing in 10,000 unit sales for Hyundai each month. This will make it India’s second best selling sub-4 meter compact SUV, just behind the Maruti Brezza.

The interiors of the Hyundai Venue promise to be quite luxurious and well appointed. The spyshots have revealed that the Venue could share some components such as the steering and control switches with the Hyundai Elite i20. The touchscreen infotainment unit will be mounted on the dashboard rather than in the dashboard, and this will be a prominent design bit of the interiors.

As for features, Hyundai has already revealed that the Venue will have many best-in-class bits such as Hyundai’s ‘BlueLink Connected Technology’. This technology, Hyundai claims, will make the Venue India’s first connected SUV. There will be 33 features offered under the Smart Connected SUV banner, and of these, 10 features will be India- specific. The Venue will also get an eSIM to give it smartphone access. Stuff like turning the air conditioning on, and even starting the vehicle can be done remotely, through the owner’s smartphone. The SUV will also have features such as emergency assist and geofencing.

Coming to its mechanicals, it’s likely to be offered with two engines – a 1 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 110 Bhp-170 Nm, and a 1.4 liter CRDI turbocharged diesel motor with 89 Bhp-220 Nm. Both engines are likely to get 6 speed manual gearboxes driving the front wheels. The petrol variants could also get a 6 speed AMT option. The Hyundai Venue is expected to be priced between Rs. 7.5-11 lakhs.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 with 16 inch Aftermarket MOMO alloy wheels looks GORGEOUS

Bajaj has officially launched the all-new Dominar 400 after a long wait. The 2019 model comes with a host of upgrades and new features and is priced at Rs 1.74 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. The new Bajaj Dominar has already reached the showrooms across India and the deliveries have started too. Here is video from Bajaj Dombivali, Mumbai showroom that shows the delivery of the bike.

The new Bajaj Dominar 400 is around Rs. 10,000 more expensive than the outgoing model but it also adds a host of new features to the bike. Bajaj has also upgraded the engine of the new Dominar that ensures that the bike produces more power. Bajaj officially started taking bookings for the bike a few weeks back and the deliveries have started from today. The video on Rahul Bhattacharya channel shows two bikes – the new Green colour and a black coloured bike being delivered to the customers.

Mr Sarang Kanade, President – Motorcycles, Bajaj Auto Ltd said,

Dominar 400 has been able to create a strong following for itself and has become the preferred choice for city riders and long-distance tourers, alike. Customers have pushed the bike into extreme long distance and challenging geographies with aplomb, which inspired us to strengthen the sports tourer credentials in the new Dominar.

The new Bajaj Dominar 400 gets the same 373.3 cc engine block but it now gets DOHC (Dual Overhead Cam) shafts that increases the overall power of the bike. Compared to the last version of the Dominar 400, the new version produces PS Bhp more.

It now generates a maximum of 40 PS of power but the torque output remains the same at 35 Nm. It still gets the same 6-speed transmission. The DOHC head allows a quicker release of the gases and flow of fresh air in the combustion compartment, which increases the overall power and also allows the engine to rev at a higher rpm.

Apart from the changes in the engine, the new Dominar 400 also gets upside-down telescopic forks replacing the regular forks. The 43mm upside-down forks also make the bike look better and chunkier compared to the previous version. The new Dominar also gets a new twin-barrel exhaust that completely changes the way Dominar sounds and makes the exhaust note much deeper.

The Dominar 400 is a sports tourer bike and Bajaj has added features like bungee cord holders under the seat that will increase the utility of the bike. The Dominar 400 gets two fully-digital instrument consoles. The second instrument console mounted on the fuel tank now has been redesigned and it now shows additional information like the time, gear position, trip information and more. The Dominar 400 is now available only with the ABS variant as the sale of non-ABS vehicles have now been banned in India. Both the wheels get a disc brake set-up and it gets a dual-channel ABS.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 with 16 inch Aftermarket MOMO alloy wheels looks GORGEOUS

Drag races are a way to measure a car’s acceleration prowess, as well as a practical method to increase the reputation of a car. The quarter mile, half mile or just timed drag races have been going on since quite a long time. Drag times and related things are often the topics of discussions among petrolheads, sometimes which turns into comical fights too. To fuel the inner petrolhead within you, here’s a drag race between a Volkswagen Polo GT TSI and a Ford Aspire diesel. Now we know they are vehicles of different segments and the Polo GT has a clear power advantage here, but let’s watch the video just to see how Aspire performs.

The video above by Acceleration India brings two unlikely and interesting opponents together in this drag race video. The Ford Aspire has a diesel mill and is a sub-4 meter sedan while the Polo GT TSI is a proper hot hatch with a stonker of an engine. Moreover, the Polo GT here has had an engine remap and the power output has bumped up by another 10 Bhp. No doubts about the winner here then.

As it was evident beforehand, the Polo GT TSI took the drag race crown home. However, what was interesting to see was the Ford Aspire put one hell of a fight, despite not having any ‘hot’ or ‘performance’ tag over its head like the Polo GT TSI. In all the four rounds conducted during the course of the video, the Polo GT TSI won the race. However, the Ford Aspire had the lead in every single round and it was only later that the Polo overtook the car, making a show of its raw power while at it.

There are several reasons as for why the Aspire always took the lead in these drag races, but first, let’s take a look at their engines. The Ford Figo Aspire is powered by a 1498 cc diesel engine that puts out 99 Bhp of power at 3750 RPM along with 215 Nm of torque at 1750 RPM and comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Volkswagen Polo GT TSI, in stock condition, is powered by an 1198 cc petrol engine that churns out 103 Bhp of power at 5000 RPM along with 175 Nm of torque at 1500 RPM. It comes with a 7-speed automatic (DCT) transmission. With all the modifications and engine remap done on this Polo GT, the power outcome has been bumped up to around 115 Bhp.

As the above data tells us, the Aspire gets access to its full power at lower RPM (3750) than Polo (5000). Also, the Aspire is lighter in weight (1053 kg) than the Volkswagen Polo (1109 kg), which is another important factor in drag races. Being a diesel, the Aspire also has more torque which means some acceleration advantage over the Polo. And lastly, a point that may be easily overlooked is that the Polo comes with an automatic transmission but does not have any launch control software built in. Now it takes a really good driver to launch an automatic car properly without launch control and that could also be a contributing reason in why the Polo lagged behind during the first half of the race. In the end, though, the Volkswagen Polo GT wins every time but the Ford Aspire puts a good show and challenges the hot hatch brilliantly.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 with 16 inch Aftermarket MOMO alloy wheels looks GORGEOUS

The Mahindra XUV300 has received a pretty warm welcome from the public and it now is the third best selling vehicle in its segment. It challenges the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, and the Ford Ecosport among others in the sub-4 meter segment. In its second month of sales, the Mahindra has already sold 4742 units of the XUV300, which shows that it has got a rocking start. Now for a vehicle that’s doing well in sales, aftermarket customization options too come up pretty quick and the same is the case with the XUV300. The picture below shows an XUV300 with gorgeous aftermarket rims.

These are custom 16-inch rims and look pretty good on the XUV300. The multispoke machined silver units are from MOMO, which is a well known Italian manufacturer of aftermarket car parts. The fact that this XUV300 is also finished in a similar shade of silver further matches the alloys to the car. It is said that the wheels of a car are like a man’s shoes and good ones certainly take up the desirability factor up. Well, if that is the case, this XUV300 with its 16-inch MOMO rims is a perfect example for it.

Talking about the XUV300, it was launched by the company this February and is based on the SsangYong Tivoli. It has the largest wheelbase in its segment and comes with a few other segment-leading features like disc brakes on all four wheels and 7 airbags, though the latter is available only on the top end variant. Design wise, the XUV300 has an aggressive front end with a unique LED DRL design. The rear though looks a bit off and that’s probably because it was chopped off to get under 4-meter length criteria. The interiors of the XUV300 are pretty spacious and feature rich. It comes with dual zone climate control, sunroof, push button start, keyless entry, 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 6 speaker audio and cruise control among others.

Talking of the engines on the Mahindra XUV300, it gets both petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol engine is a newly developed 1.2 litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged unit that churns out a maximum power of 110 Bhp and a class-leading 200 Nm of peak torque. The diesel engine, on the other hand, is borrowed from the Marazzo MPV but has been slightly detuned for better efficiency. The 1.5 litre, 4 cylinder diesel engine here churns out a maximum power of 115 Bhp along with 300 Nm of torque. Both engines get 6-speed manual gearboxes as standard. As of now, there is no automatic transmission option but the company will launch AMT transmission for both engines later this year. The AMT version has already been spied testing too.

Image source

Also Read: Mahindra XUV300 with 16 inch Aftermarket MOMO alloy wheels looks GORGEOUS

India has one of the biggest import taxes on vehicles. Every vehicle that lands in India through the Completely Built Unit (CBU) route, the Indian government charges up to 250% tax that takes the price of such vehicles to an exorbitant level. The high price tag also ensures that these vehicles remain accessible to only a limited group of people who can afford expensive vehicles and pay the 250% tax to legally drive them around in India. Mo Vlogs, a popular YouTube creator recently came to India and hung out with the rich kids in Mumbai! What do they drive around in? Let’s check out.

The video is from Mumbai he came to attend an event. He and his sister Lana Rose went around for a drive around in the city. He starts his journey in a BMW M6 Gran Coupe and the video shows that the car is moving in a convoy of luxury and high-performance sports cars. There are quite a few Ford Mustang muscle cars in the convoy and a few exotics like the Aston Martin DB11.

The video taken from the BMW M6 shows the vehicles moving towards the sea link and the modified Mustangs driving at a high speed and accelerating on the roads. There’s a moment when the Ford Mustang even slid during the hard acceleration. The exhaust note of both the Ford Mustangs is way louder and much more different than the stock exhaust, which is because of the aftermarket exhaust systems installed in the cars. The red Mustang even has a few aftermarket visual upgrades that Mo Vlogs shows in the video.

The video shows that the underbody neon lamps of the red Ford Mustang can be altered in many different ways without even touching the car. The system gets a smartphone app that can be used to change the colour of the underbody neon to any other possible colour. The Ford Mustang is a popular car in the Indian market and is also one the most affordable sports cars available. Being a global car, there are numerous options for aftermarket exhaust systems and body kits. There are quite a handful of Ford Mustang muscle cars that have been modified in India. The exact names of the exhaust systems used in both the Mustangs are not known.

Later in the video, all the cars can be seen parked on the roadside and the Aston Martin DB11 also tries the entertain the bystanders by attempting a few drifts in his vehicle. The Aston Martin DB11 is a rare car in India and was even used in a James Bond movie.  The drifting session does not hold for long but it sure is something unusual that we get to see on the Indian roads, especially by such high-end exotic vehicles. Also, the convoy had the extremely rare Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG that gets gullwing doors! The convoy was also accompanied by a few other luxury vehicles including BMWs and Mercedes-Benz sedans.

Also Read: The future of "Ambassador" is yet to be decided: PSA Chairman

Honda Cars India refreshes the City once every 5 years. However, the 4th generation model, which is the current Honda City, will get a 6 year run in India, and it won’t be until early 2020 when the Japanese automaker brings in a successor to this hot selling sedan. The 2020 Auto Expo is expected to be the venue for the next-generation Honda City’s Indian debut. Internationally, the car is likely to be revealed a few months prior. Development of the new car is said to be almost over, according to Team-BHP sources.

The 5th generation Honda City is likely to be offered with petrol mild hybrid and diesel engine options. The 1.5 liter i-VTEC petrol engine with 117 Bhp-145 Nm will be paired to a mild hybrid system, similar to what is offered on the Maruti Ciaz SHVS Petrol.

This will allow Honda to comfortably clear the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms. As for the diesel, the 1.5 liter i-DTEC motor with 98.6 Bhp-200 Nm will be carried over but with major engineering changes to make it compatible with the new emission norms. The City Diesel is expected to get a lot pricier thanks to the addition of expensive emission control equipment.

Manual and CVT automatic gearbox options are likely to be offered with the petrol engine with the diesel likely to continue in manual-only guise. While there’s talk of Honda offering a CVT automatic option with the diesel powered model as well, such a move would make the City Diesel very pricey. Meanwhile, the car’s styling is likely to be evolutionary, building upon the design of the 4th generation model. The exact design changes on the car’s exteriors are likely to be revealed in a few months from now. On the inside, Honda is expected to give the new City classy yet hard wearing interiors, with styling similar to that of the new Civic.

A slew of new features are also likely to be on offer as this is a trait that successive generations of the City sedan have shown. After showcasing the new City sedan at the 2020 Indian Auto Expo, Honda is expected to launch the car during March 2020. This means that we’re about a year away from the new car’s launch in the Indian market. The City, which saw a facelift in 2017, continues to be a strong seller in the C-Segment sedan space, where it rivals the Maruti Ciaz and the Hyundai Verna.

For now though, the City is in either 2nd or 3rd place in its segment thanks to updated rivals. The full model change next year could help the Honda City retake its numero uno position in the C-Segment sedan market – a status that the car has held for years until the Hyundai Verna and Maruti Ciaz arrived.

Also Read: The future of "Ambassador" is yet to be decided: PSA Chairman

Hyundai Venue will be the first sub-4m subcompact SUV from the Korean manufacturer. Based on the Carlino concept, the Venue will be unveiled globally on 17th April 2019 and will be launched in the Indian market soon after. The all-new Venue will take on the growing segment that currently comprises of vehicles like Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport and newly launched Mahindra XUV300. What are the things that you should know about the upcoming SUV? Here are ten such things about the upcoming Hyundai Venue.

Indian-spec car to be different

India is a growing market and manufacturers always try to launch vehicles that will suit the tough Indian conditions and will also suit the customer preference. The Hyundai Venue will be sold in the global markets but the Indian version will have tweaks to suit the Indian conditions and the market. For example, when the Hyundai Grand i10 was first launched in India, the rear windows were made larger for the Indian market to ensure that the rear seat passengers do not feel claustrophobic. The Venue will also get similar tweaks that will make it different from the global spec car.

Engine options

Being a sub-4m compact SUV, Hyundai will take the full advantage of the small vehicle subsidy. According to the rule, the diesel engine of the sub-4m vehicle should have lower than 1.5-litre of displacement and the petrol vehicle should be lower than 1.2-litre of displacement. The exact engine options are not known yet but Hyundai is likely to install a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine from the Grand i10 and turbo-charged 1.4-litre diesel engine from the Verna. There will be a performance variant too that will get powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

Will remain connected to the Internet!

Hyundai has partnered with Vodafone-Idea to install eSIM on the Venue. The car will be the first vehicle in the segment to offer such technology and it will provide a range of services. The eSIM will provide the live location of the vehicle and the owners can even geo-fence the vehicle that will disable the vehicle if it goes beyond a point set by the user. The services will remain free to use until the warranty period of the vehicle and after that, it will be a chargeable service.

Launch date revealed

Hyundai will officially reveal the all-new Venue at the 2019 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) on 17th April 2019. In India, the car will be unveiled soon after that and it will be launched next month in the market. The Venue will be launched on 21st May 2019 in India. Bookings are expected to start before that.

You can control the car through a smartphone!

The Hyundai Venue will be the first car in the segment that can be controlled through a Smartphone application. This will be the first Hyundai model to get the BlueLink system and it can be used to control various things in the vehicle. The app can be used to remotely lock/unlock the car, start the engine, control the AC, find the car, check car details and staus, and use the horn and light. There is a host of other features that can be controlled through the smartphone.

Unique location of turn indicators

The images of the test mules of Hyundai Venue reveal a lot about the front-end of the vehicle. It gets sleek lamps that form the extended part of the grille similar to the new-age cars including the Tata Harrier and the Hyundai Kona. The lamps function as DRLs in these cars but in the Hyundai Venue, these lamps will work as the turn indicators. The DRL will be placed surrounding the headlamp cluster that is positioned below in the bumper.

Gets 33 new features, 10 India-specific features

As Hyundai has always been generous when it comes to the features, the Venue will be no different. It will get 33 new features and out of them, 10 will be India-specific. The exact features that will be exclusive to the Indian market are not known yet but the Venue will provide advanced features through the eSIM set-up. It will provide auto crash notification, emergency assistance, RSA, stolen vehicle notification, stolen vehicle immobilisation, monthly health report, maintenance alert, live traffic information, live car tracking, valet alert and more! It also gets an Artificial Intelligence enabled voice recognition system that will understand the Indian accent without a problem.

Dual-clutch transmission

The Hyundai Venue will offer both petrol and diesel engine options in the market. Hyundai recently developed its own AMT automatic gear system that debuted with the Hyundai Santro in the market. With the Venue, Hyundai is likely to offer a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that will be a first from the brand in the Indian market. The advanced DCt will be available only with the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine of the car.

All-black interiors

The Hyundai Venue will get an all-black interior that makes the vehicle very sporty. The leaked pictures reveal that the whole dashboard gets an all-black theme with silver accents around the AC vents and other areas that make it look premium. It gets a floating-type infotainment screen and a unique climate control display that is round in shape.

Semi-digital instrument cluster

The all-new Venue will be quite loaded with features and will also offer a semi-digital instrument cluster just like the Tata Harrier. The leaked interior picture reveals the detail. There will be an analogue dial that will probably act as the tachometer while all other information will be displayed on the screen.

Also Read: The future of "Ambassador" is yet to be decided: PSA Chairman

Ever since its launch in November last year, the Jawa brand has been getting a lot of attention for its bikes, the Forty-Two and the Jawa. Apart from queries related to their deliveries among other things, one of the most sought after question about the bikes was about their mileage. Various vloggers and others who managed to get their hands on the bike quoted different figures but now Jawa has put all speculations to rest and finally released the ARAI certified fuel efficiency figures of the Jawa and Forty Two. This was done through a tweet which you see below.

A lot of you have been asking this. The ARAI certified fuel efficiency for #Jawa and #FortyTwo is 37.5kmpl. Hope this answers your queries.

— Jawa Motorcycles (@jawamotorcycles) April 4, 2019

Going by this tweet, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 rivalling Jawa bikes get an ARAI certified fuel efficiency figure of 37.5 km/l. This is quite a decent figure and slightly more than its chief rival, the Royal Enfield Classic 350, which has an ARAI certified fuel efficiency figure of 37 km/l. Jawa’s mileage is also much more than that of the Mahindra Mojo, which had an ARAI certified fuel efficiency score of 25 km/l. However, real-life mileage figures depend on a lot of factors like riding style, weight on the vehicle, and traffic conditions among others. Therefore, the real-life mileage of the bike is usually less than the official ARAI figure.

Also, these mileage figures are only for the Jawa and Forty-Two bikes but not for the Jawa Perak. This is because the Perak has a more powerful engine than the other two bikes and hence will have a low fuel efficiency figure. Speaking of which, the stylish Jawa Perak bobber is powered by a big bore version of the 293cc motor, displacing 334cc. This bigger engine makes 30 Bhp of power along with 31 Nm of torque.

The Forty-Two and the Jawa, on the other hand, are powered by a 293 cc four-stroke engine that churns out 27 Bhp of power and 28 Nm of torque. The liquid cooled engine is Bharat Stage 6 emission norms ready and uses a very distinct twin exhaust design. All three bikes get a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. The bobber themed Jawa Perak was unveiled along with the other bikes in November last year but it hasn’t been launched yet. It is expected to be launched by the end of this year and it was earlier announced that the bike will be priced at Rs. 1.89 lakhs (ex-showroom). However, the final price could differ a bit at the time of the launch.

The delivery of the Jawa motorcycles has already begun with the first batch handed out on by the company on the 30th of March, 2019. The next delivery slot is expected to happen on the 15th of April 2019. The bikes have received warm feedback from fans and it now remains to be seen how the rivalry between the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and the new Jawa bikes turns out to be.

Also Read: The future of "Ambassador" is yet to be decided: PSA Chairman

We have been conducting fuel economy runs for the past few months and they seem to have gone down well with both readers of our website and viewers of Cartoq’s Youtube channel. The Harrier has been in demand from you guys for a fuel economy video and the moment we got access to the media vehicle here in Delhi, we set out for the “kitna deti hai” run! At the end of the 179 km run, the Tata Harrier managed an impressive 23.9 kmpl. Don’t believe us? Hit the play button right away!

As we did with the previous runs, the Harrier was driven on the same route of Yamuna Expressway. This connects Noida with Agra and is usually devoid of traffic. We were two team members on board, the climate control was set at 26 degrees and cruise at an indicated 80 km/h. This was a run to extract the highest economy and hence the slower speeds. Ofcourse, we seldom drive at such speeds on an expressway but the idea was to see how much would the Harrier deliver when driven with a light right foot. The Yamuna expressway is wide enough and for safety, we stuck to the left most lane.

Do note that we conduct these runs on a tankful to tankful basis so that the actual calculation is as error-free as possible. We fill up the vehicle from our trusted fuel pump, carry extra fuel in bottles and repeat the exercise at the starting point. This takes time as air bubbles escape out and we ensure the fuel level reaches the top properly. The same exercise is repeated at the end of the run. In this case, the Harrier took in just 7.49 litres of diesel for 179 km. This translated into a figure of 23.9 kmpl, almost as much as what the on-board trip computer showed us. The Harrier comes with an ARAI certified economy of 16.7 kmpl which means we improved this by a massive 43%!

The Tata Harrier makes use of the same 2.0-litre diesel engine that powers the Jeep Compass too. However, here it makes less power which is more than ample for the segment. The engine is mated to a 6 speed gearbox and during the run, slotted in the 6th gear, the engine was spinning at just under 1500 rpm – the reason why we got an impressive fuel economy figure. Unfortunately, Tata is not offering an optional automatic as of now and even a 4×4 set-up has been given a miss. The Harrier competes with vehicles like the Jeep Compass and the Mahindra XUV500. Prices start at Rs 12.69 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi.

Also Read: The future of "Ambassador" is yet to be decided: PSA Chairman

Fresh off the heels from the success of the 125 Duke, Ktm now seems to be working on its future plans already. The company launched the 125 cc version of the Duke some time back and it has already become the best selling bike of the company. Going by this, the company is apparently developing a 125 cc version of the RC bike series. Deemed to be called the Ktm RC125, it will challenge the likes of the Yamaha R15 and Bajaj RS200 among others when launched. The spy shots below show the bike being ridden somewhere near Pune.

As suggested by these pics, the KTM RC125 will use the same body shell and frame as that of the RC200. The uncamouflaged bike here sports red number plate with white digits suggesting it’s a test vehicle. However, the body and decals suggest it is the RC200. The only difference here is the colour scheme, as the bike in these pictures is wearing white paint along with an orange tank. The RC200 gets black or white paint shades to choose from and both paint schemes get matching fuel tank colour along with orange decals.

If Ktm is really doing what it seems, it is good news for enthusiasts who were long looking for an alternative to the Yamaha R15 in the affordable segment. This makes sense too because despite being quite expensive than other 125 cc or even 150 cc bikes, the KTM 125 Duke is doing quite well in the market. It may be low on displacement but delivers a 14.3 Bhp power punch in a body that weighs 148 kg. It shares its body parts and frame with the Ktm 200 Duke and same will be the case with the RC125, which will share its body with the RC200.

As for the engine and transmission, the RC125 will share these mechanical bits with the 125 Duke. This means that the 124.7 cc liquid cooled motor will be used on the RC125 too, along with the 6-speed gearbox. This engine churns out a good 14.3 Bhp of power at 9,250 RPM along with 12 Nm of torque at 8,000 RPM. However, it will weight more than the 125 Duke due to its full fairings. Nonetheless, the sporty nature of the 124.7 cc motor is not expected to be changed.

Ktm is keeping itself quite busy these days and is also working on the long-awaited 390 Duke Adventure. The bike has been spotted yet again and will be the brand’s first adventure tourer motorcycle in India. It also increased the prices the 125 Duke recently and the bike now starts at Rs. 1.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Talking about the RC125, if the company finalises the bike for the Indian market, it could be launched by the end of this year of by next year. Expect it to be priced lower than the Yamaha R15 to keep the competition alive.

Image Source

Also Read: The future of "Ambassador" is yet to be decided: PSA Chairman

Hardik Pandya who manages to stay in the headlines is also a big car lover. Pandya’s love for SUVs shows in the vehicle collection he has and recently he bought the latest Mercedes-AMG G63 that’s worth Rs 2.19 crore, ex-showroom! The new version of the G-Wagen was launched in the Indian market in October 2018 and Hardik has been spotted driving the car too.

Hardik Pandya’s new G-Wagen

Hardik took the delivery of his latest ride a few weeks back and it is finished in a brilliant Palladium Silver Metallic colour. The popular all-rounder was seen driving it sometime back when someone from inside the vehicle took the video of him driving and put it on the social media platform.

The new Mercedes-AMG G63 carries a big fat price tag of Rs 2.2 crore, ex-showroom, which makes it one of the most expensive SUVs in the market. Hardik was earlier seen driving in a Land Rover Range Rover finished in black colour.

The new Mercedes-AMG G63 launched last gets a host of changes and Mercedes-Benz claims that this is the best aerodynamically designed G-Wagen ever. In India, only the G63 version of the G-Wagen is available while there is a more powerful G65 version available in the international market. The new G63 AMG gets a slightly rounded shape when compared to the last version of the model. However, it retains the signature boxy design, which makes it unique and special.

It also gets a completely new headlamp cluster that gets full-LED setup. It gets circular DRL around the headlamps and the retains the bonnet-mounted turn indicators. Keeping the Geländewagen DNA alive, the car gets visible door hinges on the side too. It also gets a tailgate-mounted spare wheel and flared wheel arches that add a wide look to the SUV.

The Mercedes-AMG G63 rides on 21-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels and gets a massive 241mm of ground clearance. Even though most owners do not take the G-Wagen off-the-tarmac, it sure is an exceptional SUV when it comes to off-roading.

On the inside, the new G-Wagen gets Alcantara leather and carbon-fibre elements all around. It gets two 12.3-inch displays. One of the displays serves as the infotainment screen while the other is used as the instrument cluster of the vehicle.

The new Mercedes-AMG G63 is powered by a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 petrol engine. It produces a massive power of 585 Bhp and a peak torque of 850 Nm. Mercedes-Benz downsized the engine from the massive 5.5-litre V8 that was available with the previous generation car.

The new version gets a 9-speed automatic transmission AMG SPEEDSHIFT that transfers the power to all the four wheels. It can do 0-100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 220 km/h. Owners can get AMG Driver’s package as an optional add-on and can increase the speed to 240 km/h.

Picture Source

Also Read: The future of "Ambassador" is yet to be decided: PSA Chairman

Hyundai India has just launched a new variant of the Creta compact SUV. Called the EX, the variant sits above the  base model, and is meant to be an affordable version of the SUV that offers a few features that most customers use on an everyday basis. The petrol powered Hyundai Creta EX is priced at Rs. 10.84 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi, while the diesel powered variant is priced at Rs. 10.99 lakhs. Both engines use manual gearboxes to drive the front wheels of the SUV.

The petrol engine on the EX variant is the 1.6 liter, naturally aspirated 4 cylinder unit with 121 Bhp of peak power  and 151 Nm of peak torque. A 6 speed manual gearbox is standard and the same engine is available with a 6 speed  torque converter automatic gearbox in higher variants. The diesel engine available with the Creta EX trim is a 1.4  liter unit with 89 Bhp-220 Nm on tap. The diesel variant of the Creta EX also gets a 6 speed manual gearbox. On  higher variants, Hyundai offers a more powerful diesel engine, which gets 6 speed manual and automatic gearbox  options.

As for the key features that the Creta EX trim offers over the E variant, the SUV gets front fog lamps with daytime  running LEDs, adjustable head rests on the rear seat which also gets an armrest with an integrated cup holder. A 5  inch touchscreen infotainment system, steering mounted audio and phone controls, two speakers, a USB charging point and a reverse camera are the few other prominent features on the Creta EX. The SUV also gets twin airbags, ABS+EBD, speed alerts and a seat belt reminder system as standard safety features.

The Creta was facelifted last year with a slew of new features including wireless charging, an electric sunroof and smartband enabled lock and unlock system. The SUV also received a stylistic makeover to help it remain fresh. The Creta will get an all-new model next year, and will grow in size. The 2020 Hyundai Creta will be a 7 seat SUV, and is expected to get pricier as well. It will directly challenge the Mahindra XUV500, and will feature new 1.5 liter  petrol and diesel engine options.

Currently, the Creta is India’s best selling compact SUV with Hyundai managing to sell about 10,000 units each month. The Creta will soon get a cheaper priced sibling in the form of the Venue. The Hyundai Venue will be a sub-4 meter compact SUV, and is scheduled to launch in India on the 21st of March, 2019. The Venue’s impending arrival seems to have forced Hyundai to launch a new variant of the Creta, and we won’t be surprised to see the E variant getting culled to avoid price overlap with the Venue.

Also Read: The future of "Ambassador" is yet to be decided: PSA Chairman

Maruti Suzuki recently launched the new version of the Ciaz fitted with the much-awaited 1.5-litre diesel engine. This all-new in-house developed engine will power many other Maruti Suzuki vehicles in the future as well. This new 1.5-litre mill is also BSVI emission norms ready, which is among the many feathers in its cap. It is also more powerful and reportedly is better to drive too. If you have been curious about the real world effect this engine would have on the Ciaz, the video below by Milind Kwatra will be helpful for you. Take a look at the video before we move further.

The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is among the best selling sedans in its segment and it will definitely get helped by this new engine. According to the video above, the steering feedback of this 1.5 litre equipped sedan has improved. Also improved are the power delivery and the driveability of the car in the city.

The new Ciaz 1.5-litre diesel has been made available with three levels – Delta, Zeta and Alpha. The prices for the Ciaz 1.5 diesel start at Rs. 9.97 lakh for the base Delta variant while the mid-level Zeta variant is priced at Rs. 11.08 lakh. The top of the line Alpha variant, on the other hand, is priced at Rs. 11 37 lakhs. The Ciaz powered by the older 1.3-litre diesel engine will remain to be on sale as of now and we expect its production to stop only before the BSVI emission norms are enforced.

Talking about the new 1.5-litre engine, it is an all-new unit developed by the company as mentioned before. The 1,498cc in-line 4-cylinder engine is called as the DDiS 225 engine and churns out a maximum power of 94 Bhp @ 4,000 rpm along with a peak torque of 225 Nm between 1,500 rpm to 2,500 rpm. As already mentioned, the new engine will comply with the upcoming BSVI emission standards. Maruti Suzuki’s new in-house developed diesel engine features the SVHS mild hybrid technology and has a high fuel efficiency figure, though it is lower than the older 1.3-litre engine’s fuel efficiency figure.

Speaking of which, the Ciaz 1.5 diesel has an ARAI Certified fuel efficiency figure of 26.82 km/l, which is less than the older 1.3-litre unit’s ARAI certified fuel efficiency figure of 28.09 km/l. The new Ciaz also gets a newly designed 6-speed transmission with the new engine. Among the other vehicles that will get this engine, the Ciaz is the first vehicle in the Maruti’s lineup to receive this new diesel engine. The other cars that will soon get this engine include the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and the S-Cross. It now remains to be seen whether this new engine update will result in any sales gain for the new Ciaz.

Also Read: The future of "Ambassador" is yet to be decided: PSA Chairman