Renault India is all set to launch a brand new, 7 seat low cost MPV based on the Kwid in the second half of 2019. The  new MPV will be a sub-4 meter offering and will sit on the Renault Kwid’s CMF-A platform, which means that it will share parts extensively with the budget hatchback. The Triber will get many segment first features including a  fold-able third row of seats that will give owners the flexibility of boosting luggage area or carrying an additional pair of passengers. Here are a couple of design sketches of the Renault Triber that have leaked onto the internet.

From the sketches, it’s clear that the Triber will have a tall boy stance. It will have totally fresh styling that  gives it a distinct design, which is quite different from that of the Renault Kwid. Code-named the RBC, the Renault  Triber has been designed for emerging car markets such as India, Brazil and Indonesia. The Renault Triber will be  launched in India in the middle of this year, in July to be precise. The MPV is expected to be one of the most affordable MPVs sold in India, and will be positioned under the Maruti Ertiga in terms of pricing.

We expect a starting price of about Rs. 5 lakh for Renault’s low cost MPV, which should make it quite attractive to  those seeking a contemporary 7 seater that’s very affordable. The MPV will be powered by the Kwid’s 1 liter-3  cylinder petrol engine, with a power and torque boost. Power is expected to go up to about 75 Bhp (up from 68 Bhp) and 100 Nm of peak torque (up from 90 Nm). A 5 speed manual gearbox will drive the front wheels of the MPV. A 5 speed AMT option is likely to be offered as an option.

Most parts of the Renault Triber’s interiors are expected to be shared with the Kwid, but with different styling  touches and colour schemes. ABS, airbags, reverse parking sensors, seat belt reminder and speed alerts will be standard safety features on the new MPV, which will comply with Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP) right from launch. Renault has just put out a couple of teasers of the Triber, and in the coming months, expect a range of teasers revealing more of the MPV. With July just 3 months away from now, don’t be surprised to see un-camouflaged examples of the Triber leaking out ahead of the launch.

As for competition, the Renault Triber will compete with the Datsun Go+ and the Maruti Eeco. It’s likely to be a much more contemporary vehicle than the Go+ and Eeco. There won’t be any diesel engine on offer although Renault could offer CNG and LPG options in future.

Also Read: Renault Kwid-based Triber 7 seat MPV sketches leaked through a new video

Tata Motors’ next big launch for the Indian market is the Altroz premium hatchback, whose near-production version was showcased at the Geneva Motor Show of 2019. Tata Motors will launch the Altroz during the middle of 2019, just as the festive season in India commences. The car will be a challenger to the likes of the Maruti Baleno, Hyundai Elite i20 and the Honda Jazz. Meanwhile, it has been spied without camouflage at Pune, ahead of its India launch. Here’s the spyshot.

Spyshot courtesy Supercharged

The car’s spyshot is from Tata Motors’ factory in Pune. What’s not known though is whether serial production of the  Altroz has already begun. Notably, the Altroz will be built at Tata Motors’ Pimpri factory, alongside the Harrier and  Buzzard. The coming days will give us more indications on whether production of the Altroz has actually commenced. For now though, we’ll give you a lowdown on what to expect from Tata most expensive hatchback, which will also be the largest one that the automaker has built for the Indian market.

Talking size, the Tata Altroz will measure just short of 4 meters in length, and is expected to be quite spacious on  the inside – a tradition that Tata Motors has followed on almost every car it has ever launched. The interiors of the  car will be quite contemporary, and expect a high level of fit and finish. Premium touches on the interiors are also  expected as the Altroz will be positioned as a premium hatchback. There will be plenty of creature comforts and a  touchscreen infotainment system dominating the dashboard.

Under the hood, the Tata Altroz is expected to get turbocharged petrol and diesel engines borrowed from the Nexon compact SUV. On the Altroz though, the petrol engine is likely to be detuned. The 1.2 liter-3 cylinder turbo petrol motor is expected to output 110 Bhp-150 Nm while the 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged diesel is expected to make about 110 Bhp-250 Nm. 6 speed manual gearboxes will be standard. There’s talk of a twin clutch AMT option as well, but there’s no clear indication of this.

The Altroz is based on the ALFA platform, which Tata Motors will use for a range of passenger cars in future. The  Altroz will be the first car to use this platform, which will also support electric cars. Tata Motors showcased an  all electric version of the Altroz at Geneva, and the car will make its debut in the Indian market sometime next year. Expect the production version of the Tata Altroz Electric to be showcased at the Indian Auto Expo.

Also Read: 25,000th unit of the Mahindra Marazzo rolls out of Nashik Factory

Ford Motors India may soon pack its bag from India in a planned ‘partial exit’. According to Reuters, the company will come together with Mahindra and Mahindra in a joint venture. Moreover, the report suggests that Mahindra will have a majority stake of 51% in the JV while Ford will have a 49% share in the JV. Therefore, the company might not fully exit India like GM-owned Chevrolet did back in 2017. However, Ford will cease to exist as an independent manufacturer and will continue as a part of the JV with Mahindra.

The US-based manufacturer is among the oldest and most well known automotive brand in the world. The company has had a presence in India for about 25 years now, starting way back in 1995. It is interesting to note that Ford first entered India in a JV with none other than Mahindra itself, which then the manufacturer ended and set up itself independently as Ford India Private Limited.

The Escort and the Ikon were among its first car models here. However, Ford never could capture the Indian market as it hoped to do. Apart from a few successful models like the Ikon, Fiesta (older gen), EcoSport and the Endeavour, other Ford cars did not catch the fancy of the Indian buyers much. Till date, the manufacturer has invested around $2 billion in India but till date only has around 3% of the market share.

As of now, the total worth of the JV has not yet been disclosed. Both Ford and Mahindra are working towards closing the deal, which is expected to be sealed in around 90 days from now. As for Ford’s assets and employees, the company will transfer them to the JV and hence things will mostly be the same for the workers, apart from the shift of boffins.

To let you know, the news of Mahindra and Ford coming together for a JV is not new and was announced in 2018 itself. However, at that time the plan was to focus on developing and sharing power trains as well jointly develop connected car solutions. In 2020, Mahindra will provide Ford with a new low-displacement BS-VI compliant petrol engine which the company will use to strengthen its model lineup.

Talking about the current status of Ford in India, in FY 2019, the company sold 92,937 vehicles in India which is much less than the industry leader Maruti Suzuki and even other manufacturers like Tata, Mahindra among others. Compared to FY 2018, Ford had a growth of around 3% as it sold 2875 more vehicles in FY 2019. However, that is a negligible increase and with new players like MG Motors, Kia and the recently announced Citroen entering India in the coming time, things could take a more challenging turn for Ford.

Coming to the new JV with Mahindra, it will benefit Ford as it could use the widespread dealership network of Mahindra along with price its products more strategically. India is among the top growing automotive markets in the world and therefore fully exiting the market after investing so much may not be the best option for the company. A partial exit in the form of a JV is among the best options and it will be interesting to see how things turn up for both Mahindra and Ford in the coming time, especially now that there are many new entrants ready to invade the market.

Source

Also Read: 25,000th unit of the Mahindra Marazzo rolls out of Nashik Factory

The Maruti Vitara Brezza is India’s best selling SUV by far but competition is rapidly increasing. Mahindra recently  launched the XUV300 – an SUV that guns straight for the Brezza – and Hyundai is all set to launch the Venue compact SUV in a couple of months. Maruti Suzuki is doing its bit to keep the Vitara Brezza in the buyer’s eye, and the automaker has just released two new TVCs featuring the SUV. Both TVCs are centered around a theme called ‘wickedly smooth’ and are clearly aimed at younger buyers. Here, check them out.

The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is offered with a single, diesel engine option in the form of a 1.3 liter Fiat  Multijet turbocharged unit that makes 89 Bhp of peak power and 200 Nm of peak torque. There are two gearbox options  on offer – a 5 speed manual and a 5 speed AMT.

There is no petrol engine on offer although there’s talk that Maruti  is developing a petrol engine for the Brezza. The Brezza Petrol is said to be lined up for a launch by 2020 March, just ahead of the Bharat Stage 6 emission norms kicking into effect.

The other big development around the Maruti Brezza’s mechanicals is that the SUV could get a brand new, in-house  developed 1.5 liter turbocharged diesel engine. The 4 cylinder motor – which is already offered on the Ciaz sedan –  makes more power and torque than the 1.3 liter unit, with 94 Bhp-225 Nm outputs. It gets a 6 speed manual gearbox as standard. What remains to be seen is when Maruti will offer this engine with the Vitara Brezza considering the fact that the 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet diesel won’t be made BS6 emission norms compliant.

Also, it remains to be seen if the new 6 speed manual gearbox that’s offered with the new diesel engine is converted  to AMT. There’s a big possibility of this happening as Maruti does need an automatic option on the Vitara Brezza,  whose rivals also offer similar options. A mild hybrid system is also expected to be on offer with the petrol engine  of the Vitara Brezza.

Coming back to the current iteration of the SUV, prices start from Rs. 7.85 lakhs ex-showroom  Delhi for the base LDi trim. Maruti offers twin airbags, reverse parking sensors, speed alert and seat belt reminder  and ABS+EBD as standard safety features on the Brezza across variants. The SUV is expected to get a facelift next  year, which is expected to add a bunch of new features and some mechanical changes.

Also Read: 25,000th unit of the Mahindra Marazzo rolls out of Nashik Factory

Ranveer Singh is known for his flamboyant roles in the Bollywood movies. In real life too, the actor drives around in a few exotic vehicles. Ranveer is an automobile enthusiast and loves to drive his own cars. Here is a video that shows him caring about his Aston Martin Rapide S.

Ranveer requesting the photographers

The video from Viralbollywood is from last year when Ranveer Singh arrived at the Mumbai airport. Ranveer uses the white Aston Martin Rapide S quite often and he loves to drive around the city in the sports car. He did the same to reach Mumbai airport. As soon as he reached the airport’s departure gate in his Aston, the photojournalists present at the spot rushed towards Ranveer’s car to click pictures.

Security guards of Ranveer Singh can be heard asking the journos to get away from the car repeatedly as Ranveer waits inside the car. Soon he comes out and starts waving, which again causes the journalists who were present on the spot to come close to the Aston. After a few moments, Ranveer pointed out with his finger towards the car and can be heard saying in Hindi, “Thoda piche hojao, bohot mehengi gaadi hai”. The journalists present on the spot respond to Ranveer’s call and leave the Aston Martin Rapide S alone. The Aston Martin Rapide S gets a fat price tag of Rs 3.9 crore, ex-showroom, which makes it one of the most expensive vehicles available officially in the Indian market.

The exotic white-colour Aston Martin Rapide S is a regular ride of Ranveer Singh and he has been spotted the car in various occasions inside the city limits of Mumbai. The 4-door luxury sports car from the iconic British carmaker gets powered by a massive 6.0-litre petrol engine. The AM29 V12 engine powering the Rapide S produces a maximum power of 552 Bhp and a peak torque of 620 Nm. It gets a ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission and can go from 0-100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds. The Aston Martin Rapide S can reach a top speed of 327 km/h.

Ranveer also owns a slew of other luxury cars in India. Here is a list of all the vehicles owned by the actor.

Mercedes-Benz GLS

Ranveer Singh also owns the latest-generation GLS SUV from Mercedes-Benz that has been wrapped in a matte black sheet. The GLS is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 engine and generates 255Bhp-620 Nm. It is priced at Rs 83 lakhs.

Mercedes-Maybach S500

Ranveer got his Mercedes-Maybach S500 registered in his signature “6969” number. The extremely luxurious sedan is priced at Rs 1.85 crore and gets a host of features. The Maybach S500 gets powered by a 4.7-litre V8 Bi-Turbo petrol engine that generates a maximum of 455 Bhp and peak torque of 700 Nm.

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Ranveer also owns the pre-facelift GLS, which is known as the GL-Class. The 7-seater SUV is often used by the actor to reach his shoot locations. The car is powered by the same 3.0-litre V6 engine as the GLS.

Jaguar XJ L

The XJ L is one of the first cars owned by Ranveer Singh. The XJ L is still with Ranveer and he uses the car every now and then. The flagship sedan gets powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine that generates a maximum of 237 Bhp – 340 Nm. For the customers looking for more power, the XJ L also offers a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that generates a whopping 296 Bhp. Jaguar also offers a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine.

Also Read: 25,000th unit of the Mahindra Marazzo rolls out of Nashik Factory

Renault India has just revealed a couple of teasers and sketches of the Kwid-based Triber low cost compact MPV. While the Triber will be launched in India by the middle of this year, at what one hopes will be a super competitive price tag, rendering artists have already begun putting their imaginations to good use. Here are a couple of speculative renders that indicate what the Renault Triber MPV could look like.

Render courtesy HamiVans

What’s unmistakable in these renders is the influence of the Renault Lodgy – the French automaker’s only MPV on sale in the Indian market. The Renault Triber – going by these renders – comes across as a mini-Lodgy of sorts. It’ll be interesting to see if Renault gives the Triber similar styling as it’s something that will be hard to pull off in effectively, especially with the sub-4 meter length restriction in place. If designers at Renault does manage to get the proportions just right, full power to them though.

The front end of the compact MPV is unmistakably inspired by the Renault Kwid – a car with which it shares with CMF-A platform. The rear shows significant changes though. The tail lamps are horizontal units – much unlike the vertical ones on the Lodgy – and these add an element of width to the MPV’s rear end design. The MPV gets a tall boy form factor, which means that good headroom will be a given. Renault will offer a removable third row of seats on the Triber – a segment first feature that is meant to offer great flexibility between seating additional passengers and stowing extra luggage.

The Renault Triber MPV will be a 7 seater, and is expected to start from around Rs. 5 lakhs considering the sub-4 meter form factor and the excise duty benefits that accrue due to this. As for mechanicals, the low cost MPV will share its engine and transmissions with the Renault Kwid 1.0. The engine will be a 1 liter-3 cylinder unit with aboit 75 Bhp-100 Nm on tap. 5 speed manual and AMT options are expected to drive the front wheels of the Triber. We expect many features of the Triber to be carried over from the Kwid. However, the interiors could feature a fresh design and revised colours.

Renault’s biggest success till date in India has been the Kwid low cost hatchback. With the Triber, the French car maker will be hoping to carve out a similar success story. Pricing will be crucial though. As for positioning, the Renault Triber is likely to sit under the new Maruti Ertiga in terms of pricing. We expect it to rub shoulders with the likes of the Datsun Go+’s top-end trims. Do keep an eye out for new, uncamouflaged spyshots of the Renault’s MPV as the launch nears.

Also Read: 25,000th unit of the Mahindra Marazzo rolls out of Nashik Factory

The build quality of Indian cars often gets a “question mark” due to the non-existent safety rules in the country. However, there are manufacturers who are lauded for offering well-built vehicles in the market and Ford is one of such brands present in India. Here is a Ford dealership representative who is using his unique techniques to show you the build quality of the Ford EcoSport.

Ford EcoSport Quality tested

The video put up by Left Lane Driver demonstrates the quality of the door panels and the rear bumper of the Ford EcoSport. To show the tough build quality, the person chooses a unique way. He first opens the rear door of the sub-4m compact-SUV and then hangs on the door and lifts up his legs just like doing “pull-ups”. The person did not reveal his weight but it seems like close to 70kg and putting such a heavyweight just on the hinges of the door, which then works perfectly just as before shows the top-notch materials used by the manufacturer.

He then stands on the rear bumper of the EcoSport without any support and even puts pressure on the part by jumping on it. The bumper remains intact, again speaking volumes about the build quality. He also says that the rear bumper gets reinforced steel that ensures such a heavy build quality of the bumper.

The next door panel he chooses to demonstrate his unique experiment is the driver door. He opens the door, puts his foot on the inside door handle panel. He shuts the door to show that there is no misalignment even after climbing on the door panel when it was open.

It should be noted that the Indian-spec Ford EcoSpot is yet to be tested by Global-NCAP safety rating agency. In the Latin-NCAP in 2013, the EcoSport scored a perfect 5-star rating. The current version of the EcoSport was tested by NHTSA in the USA and the vehicle scored 4-stars out of 5. It should be noted that the USA-spec EcoSport is quite different from India and the safety norms in the country are very advanced and critical.

Back home, the Tata Nexon, which is a competitor of the Ford EcoSport became the only Indian car with a 5-star safety rating. The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza has a 4-star rating. It should be noted that safety rating and build quality are not the same. Safety rating is awarded to a vehicle after crash testing it with a dummy. High safety rating does not mean good build quality. A vehicle with a high safety rating may still develop body rattle over time due to the build quality.

The Ford EcoSport gets a number of safety features in India including the Emergency Calling, which was the segment-first feature when the sub-4m compact SUV was launched in the Indian market. The EcoSport offers 6 airbags, ABS+EBD, traction control and ESP.

Also Read: 25,000th unit of the Mahindra Marazzo rolls out of Nashik Factory

MG Motor has unveiled the all-new eZS electric SUV internationally before the launch in the Indian market later this year. The all-new electric SUV will become the first ever all-electric car from the British brand in the Indian market and will be the second launch by the brand after the Hector in India. It will be a global product and will be available in international markets like the UK, Australia, Germany and the Middle East.

Rajeev Chaba, President & MD, MG Motor India said,

With a modern design and advanced technology, the MG eZS will herald a new chapter in environment-friendly solutions in India. While the petrol version of the MG ZS had already become a popular choice globally, we are confident that its zero-emissions electric equivalent will bring accessible electric motoring to the customers in India upon its launch by the end of this year. We hope by the time we launch the vehicle; the government would have announced the much-needed subsidies and incentives for the EVs under the recently announced FAME II scheme so that the people are encouraged to by the environmentally friendly mobility solutions.  More details about the specifications and features of the eZS will be announced at a later stage.

MG Motor has not commented on the technical specifications like the power of the upcoming eZS. The exact range of the electric car is also not known. However, according to the official statement, the car will offer around 250 km of range with a full charged battery. Such details are expected to be revealed by the brand close to the launch. However, it is known that the MG eZS will feature a similar connectivity feature as the MG Hector and will feature an eSIM. Similar over-the-air (OTA) will be available with the upcoming car too. The iSmart connectivity system offers built-in apps, Artificial Intelligence (AI), other smart features and voice assistance.

The MG eZS will be a mid-size SUV similar to the Creta. There are no direct competitors of the car in the Indian market but it will take on the Hyundai Kona EV when it is launched in the Indian market later this year. There are a lot of electric vehicles that have been planned for the Indian market in the coming times. Soon, Mahindra will launch the all-new XUV300 EV in the Indian market too. Even smaller, more affordable vehicles like Tata Tiago EV and Mahindra KUV100 EV will be launched in the India market in the coming times.

It should be noted that MG Motor may price the eZS quite competitively in the Indian market. The all-new car may can be manufactured in India at a later stage and is expected to carry a price tag of around Rs 10 lakh.

Also Read: 25,000th unit of the Mahindra Marazzo rolls out of Nashik Factory

The Mahindra Scorpio is among the best selling SUVs in India. First launched in 2002, the Scorpio became an instant hit and still attracts a lot of customers due to its rugged looks and value for money prospects. It also is a capable off-road tool and comes with fully functional 4×4 drivetrain complete with low ratio gearbox.Now Nagpur based NYC Customisations has modified a Mahindra Scorpio into a complete beast of a vehicle. Take a look at the video below which shows the SUV in its full glory.

The Scorpio is already a pretty good looking SUV with great road presence and an intimidating stance. However, this one featured here takes the word butch to a whole next level. Owned by Nikhil Yadav, NYC Customisations has done many unique mod jobs in past and this Scorpio is amongst the best among them. Also, note that the engine and other mechanicals have not been tampered with and this is a complete aesthetic mod job. Let’s now get to know all that has been done on this wild Mahindra Scorpio.

It is a 2006 model Scorpio and gets a black paint shade all over. The front end looks quite aggressive, almost ready to bite if set free. The bumper has been replaced with an off-road spec unit that comes with integrated LED DRLs along with twin auxiliary lights mounted on top. A large metal grille with verticle slats takes the centre stage that which has been blacked out for further visual drama.

The headlights now come surrounded by LED rings that double up as indicators and DRLs as per need. The bumper gets a stylish metal frame along with a bump in between which further put a seal to the Scorpio’s rugged looks. The butch looking tires are 33-inch off-road spec units shod onto multi-spoke alloys painted in green. Custom fenders add muscle on to the SUV and it gets roof mounted orange lights. A snorkel has been placed on it to increase its water wading capacity.

The side cladding is also a custom job and adds to the overall look of the vehicle. Coming to the rear end, a jerry can paint in green indicates towards its off-road build and adds character to the overall look. The tail lights have been blacked out while a new custom bumper has replaced the stock unit. All the custom metal work on the SUV like the scuff plate, bumper, side cladding among others is fabricated in-house by the mod guys.

Further, this Scorpio now features twin tailpipes that adds sportiness to its build. For enhanced utility, the roof has been fitted with a carrier that can be used to carry any kind of load when on a trip. Without a doubt, it is one of the best off-road type mod jobs we have seen on a Scorpio. Hat tip to Nikhil and NYC Customisation for turning a regular Scorpio into this beast.

Also Read: 25,000th unit of the Mahindra Marazzo rolls out of Nashik Factory

Mahindra Thar is one of the living legends in the Indian automobile space. With the upcoming safety rules that will become mandatory for all the cars in India, Mahindra is working on the next-generation Thar. The all-new vehicle has been spotted multiple times testing in different locations of the country under heavy camouflage. Here are new pictures that show the near-production version of the all-new upcoming Mahindra Thar.

The pictures from CarDekho show the Thar getting tested with a different body. Even in the new pictures, the Thar looks visibly wider than the current generation model and even under the heavily camouflaged body, we can see updates like new door handles and the new shape of the doors too. The test mule caught on the test gets a soft rooftop just like the current version of the Thar. However, it is quite possible that Mahindra will also launch the hardtop version of the all-new Thar in the market.

The soft-top cover seems to have become smaller than the current-gen Thar. At the rear, it gets a spare-wheel mounted tailgate. The headlamps and the tail lamps on the test mule seem to be a dummy as they look very crude and semi-finished. In the production version, Mahindra is expected to offer similar round headlamps and vertically stacked tail lamps like the current model. Keeping up with the modern times, we may also see LED bulbs used in the all-new Thar.

The new Thar is based on a modified Gen3 platform that also underpins the TUV 300 and the Mahindra Scorpio in the market. It is expected to become much more comfortable than the current version and will offer a much better driveability on the highways too. With the mandatory rules, Mahindra Thar will also feature the airbag system, ABS+EBD, rear parking sensors and seatbelt reminder system. Mahindra is expected to throw in a few other features like the touchscreen infotainment system to make the car fitter for the customers who want the Thar as a daily-driving vehicle. Currently, the Mahindra in stock condition is not very comfortable to drive it down on daily commute routes or highways.

The all-new Thar will also get powered by an all-new 2.5-litre engine that will be BS-VI emission norm compliant. The all-new engine will also powers next-generation Mahindra cars including the Scorpio. With the new engine, Mahindra Thar will also gain power, which will make it a better highway cruiser too. Other off-roading equipment like 4X4 drive system with low-ratio transfer case will also be available with the next-generation Thar.

Currently, Mahindra has not officially announced a launch timeframe for the upcoming SUV. However, it is likely to be displayed at the 2020 Auto Expo the launch in India will happen soon after that.

Also Read: 25,000th unit of the Mahindra Marazzo rolls out of Nashik Factory

Mahindra launched the Marazzo MPV in September last year and it has gained quite a traction in sales since then. Now, the Nashil manufacturing plant of Mahindra has rolled out the 25,000th unit of the Marazzo. This comes at around 6 months from the MPVs launch in India. At the time of launch, Mahindra launched the Marazzo starting at Rs. 9.99 lakh which now has been increased to Rs. 10.18 lakh. There is no direct competition for the Marazzo in the market, save for the Renault Lodgy which is a very low seller.

The other popular MPVs on sale in India are the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (cheaper than Marazzo) and the Toyota Innova Crysta (expensive). This, in fact, leaves the ground empty for all the three MPVs and all of them have pretty impressive sales, with the Innova leading the sales charts in the MPV segment. Talking about the Marazzo, it is available in four variants – the base  M2, M4, M6 and the top end M8.

A DC modified version of the Marazzo is also available which comes with lounge-like interiors compromising of recliners, LCD screens, ambient lights, and chiller among others. Last year, the Marazzo scored 4 stars in the Global NCAP crash test and became the only MPV sold in India to do so. The Mahindra Marazzo MPV comes with dual front airbags, a passenger airbag off-switch, a speed-sensitive door lock/unlock feature, ABS with EBD and brake-assist and Isofix child-seat mounts as standard equipment on all its variants.

Talking about the engine and transmission, the Mahindra Marazzo is powered by a new 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine that’s been jointly developed by Mahindra and Ssangyong under a new engine family. The engine churns out a maximum of 121 Bhp of power along with a peak torque of 300 Nm. The engine comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the from wheels. According to Mahindra, the Marazzo is the world’s first front-wheel drive vehicle to have a transversely mounted engine on a ladder frame chassis. The same 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine is present under the hood of the Mahindra XUV300, albeit in a lower state of tune.

With the market trend tilting more towards the SUVs and MPVs, the sales of the Marazzo are expected to grow in the future. As for new rivals, no manufacturer has yet planned to launch an MPV in Marazzo segment. The next MPVs coming to India will be the Kia Carnival which will compete with the Toyota Innova Crysta and placed higher than that. Another is the Renault Tribe, which will take on the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. There were some reports suggesting that Toyota could bring the Avanza MPV to India but that is not confirmed. However, if Toyota does bring the Avanza MPV, to India, it will give a good competition to the Mahindra Marazzo.

Also Read: 25,000th unit of the Mahindra Marazzo rolls out of Nashik Factory

Hyundai’s latest success in the hugely competitive Indian car market is the Santro hatchback. The South Korean  automaker has managed to put 50,000 units of the Santro on Indian roads in less than 6 months of launch. The car  competes with the likes of the Maruti Alto K10, Renault Kwid 1.0, the Tata Tiago and Maruti WagonR 1.0. It’s Hyundai’s entry level  car for the Indian market and has replaced the Eon. Monthly sales of the Santro are hovering around the 8,000 unit  mark. Prices of the Santro start from Rs. 3.9 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi.

At launch, Hyundai had indicated that the prices of the Santro were introductory, and that they would go up after  50,000 units of the car were sold. However, it’s unlikely that Hyundai would increase prices of the Santro in a big  way considering the overall sales slowdown in the Indian market. Also, the Santro is already available at a discount  (3 grams gold coin and a Rs. 20,000 exchange bonus). So, Hyundai may actually end up keeping Santro prices unchanged, at least for the time being.

The Santro is available with a single engine option: a 1.1 liter-4 cylinder naturally aspirated petrol that makes 68  Bhp of peak power and 101 Nm of peak torque. This engine is also sold with a CNG-Petrol dual fuel trim. While running  on CNG, the motor makes 58 Bhp-84 Nm. The Santro’s petrol variants are available with 5 speed manual and AMT options. The CNG trim is available only with a 5 speed manual gearbox. Hyundai is also likely to offer an LPG-Petrol dual fuel version of the Santro in future.

The original Santro, which made its debut way back in 1999, made South Korean automaker Hyundai, a household name in India. Promoted by Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan, who was at his peak back then, the Santro established the Hyundai brand in India. The car – across various iterations – enjoyed a production run of 15 years, before being discontinued in 2014. Nearly, half a decade later, in 2019, Hyundai relaunched the Santro brand in India, and Shahrukh Khan continues to be the brand ambassador of the car.

The new Santro is a lot more feature-rich than the older version. Keeping with the times, the car even gets a  touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Santro now offers airbags, ABS+EBD, reverse parking sensors, ISOFIX child seat mounts, speed alerts and seat belt reminder as standard safety features. The car is already doing much better than the Eon. The next big update for the Santro will come in early 2020, when Hyundai makes it compliant with Bharat Stage 6 emission norms. A mild price hike is likely when this happens.

Also Read: 2019 Force Gurkha launched in India with additional safety equipment

With the high influx of performance cars, most Indian roads are not unaware of such supercars. With the growing popularity of such vehicles in the Indian market, enthusiasts are importing more exotics to the country. There are quite a few exotics in India including the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and an Aston Martin N340! Recently, the Indian roads received not one but three Lamborghini Aventador SVJ supercars. The SVJ stands for Superveloce Jota. The Superveloce means “Super Fast” while Jota was the name carried by the one-of-its-kind Lamborghini Miura in 1970s.

The Aventador SVJ is the most expensive sports car in India and is priced just below the all-new Rolls Royce Phantom. With the high amount of taxes, the cost to import a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ in India is around Rs 9 crore. With the road taxes, the total cost of the Aventador SVJ comes to be around Rs 12 crore in India! Here is a video of Lamborghini Aventador SVJ on temporary numberplates going through the streets in full glory.

This car seen in the video by Vipin Maben is the first of its kind in the brilliant Arancio Argos (Orange) colour. There are only 900 units of the Aventador SVJ available around the world, which makes the vehicle even more special. This model belongs to a popular garage in Bangalore, Karnataka and is the second SVJ from the city. The vehicle seen in the video is brand new and yet to get a registration plate.

Lamborghini officially revealed the Aventador SVJ last year and it is the fastest Lamborghini that you can buy. The SVJ is powered by a massive 6.5-litre naturally aspirated engine. It generates a maximum of 770 Bhp and 720 Nm of peak torque. It gets a 7-speed automatic single-clutch transmission. Talking about the performance figures, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ can do 0-100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds, which is 0.1 seconds quicker than the Aventador S. It can reach a top speed of 349 km/h.

The supercar rides on exclusive Nireo wheels that are made out of carbon fibre and aluminium. It gets Pirelli P Zero Corsa super sticky tyres. Lamborghini has also re-engineered the exhaust system to reduce the back pressure and make the vehicle sound “more emotive”.

Also Read: 2019 Force Gurkha launched in India with additional safety equipment

Among the world’s most revered automotive brands, Porsche today launched the all-new version of their flagship 911 sportscar in India. The German marque will offer the new 911 in two variants, the Carrera S (coupe) and the Carrera S Cabriolet (convertible), priced at Rs. 1.82 crore (ex-showroom) and Rs. 1.99 crore (ex-showroom) respectively. Bookings for the cars are now open while deliveries will start from the second half of 2019. The new 2019 Porsche 911 is better in almost every aspect than the model it replaces and is the 992 series model, the older being the 991 series.

It was launched globally a few weeks back and has struck a chord with enthusiasts across the world. Design-wise, the new 911 looks more muscular and Porsche has improved upon the previous 991 series 911’s design in a way that the car looks fresh. The rear is where most of the change is apparent with the new single bar LED tail light along with the curvaceous bumper. Compared to the previous generation model, the new 911 is more in line with the original design of the coupe. The interiors have also been given a boost and apart from the new multi-function steering wheel, the 911 gets a new instrument console with an analogue rev counter. The car gets a new 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Porsche Communication Management as standard on both variants.

Talking about some engineering and technical details of the car, the eighth-generation Porsche 911 is built on a new platform structure with a greater amount of aluminium in its rear section, improving weight distribution. Apart from the revised structure and chassis, the new 911 now gets rear-wheel steering on the Carrera S model for the first time ever. According to Porsche, this will result into better agility and high sped stability of the car. Also for the first time is the steering mounted drive selector, like the Manettino dial in Ferrari cars, albeit a bit different here.

As for the engine and transmission, the all-new 992 series 911 gets powered by a 3-litre twin-turbocharged, flat six petrol engine, which now produces around 30 Bhp more than before. The engine churns out 444 Bhp of power along with 530 Nm torque. Now mated to a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic (the outgoing generation had a seven-speed). The engine comes mated to either a 7 speed or 8-speed dual clutch transmission. The engine has also been reworked upon extensively and gets a completely new intake and exhaust systems along with bigger turbos. The engines now also come fitted with a particulate filter to help cut emissions.

Speaking of the performance of the car, the 0-100 km/h sprint time of the new Porsche 911 Carrera S reaching is just 3.7 seconds. The top whack of the Carrera S is 308 km/h and all the performance figures are better than the model it replaces. Further, the optional Sport Chrono Package reduces the acceleration figure by 0.2 seconds. In the price range, the new Porsche 911 will chiefly take on the likes of the Mercedes AMG GT and the Audi R8 among others.

Also Read: 2019 Force Gurkha launched in India with additional safety equipment

Just like many developed countries, the police forces in India keep on upgrading their equipment to ensure that they can catch all the illegal activities on the roads. One of the latest uses of such advanced technologies is the e-surveillance systems used by the police forces of various states in India. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and more use a network of cameras to keep an eye on the public roads through central control rooms. These control rooms get the feeds from various cameras that can be used by the cops to issue fines to the owners of the vehicle electronically. Here is a group of bikers who were enjoying a ride late in the night but were stopped by local police after they were directed by the control room.

The video by Vlogs with Ronak shows a group of superbikes riding on the streets of Mumbai late in the night. Many owners of performance bikes and cars choose to go out in the night because the traffic becomes thin and the open roads allow the bikers to enjoy the roads to the fullest. The bikers can be seen revving around on the roads and then they come to a stop due to a traffic signal.

The video recorded from the helmet camera shows cops coming towards the bikes who were waiting for the light to go green. A single cop walking towards the bikers ask a few bikers to park the bike on the side and this was the moment, the traffic signal went green and the other superbikes left the spot. A total of three riders were stopped and all of them were riding performance bikes. The Triumph Daytona 675, Kawasaki Ninja Z900 and a Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R riders parked the bike on the side of the road.

The cops asked for the documents and told them that they have been directed by the control room to stop the bikes at the traffic signal. After the bikers keep on asking questions to them, the cops ask them to wait. The cops present at the check post get to know from the control room that the group of bikers were speeding and that’s why they have been stopped.

The bikers were asked for the papers and driving license. One of the bikers even says that these are performance bikes and that’s why they sound so loud even at slow speeds. However, the cops insist to check the documents of the bikers. When the documents are presented, the cops issue fines to all the three bikers for speeding.

Cops have been using such surveillance for issuing e-challans to the red light signal jumpers, overspeeding, stopping, halting and even overspending. However, this is first-of-its-kind surveillance challan where the control room asked to stop the bikers and issue fines on the spot. It should be noted that many of these control rooms operate round the day, which means that even in the middle of the night, rashly driven or overspeeding vehicles can now be fined by the cops.

Also Read: 2019 Force Gurkha launched in India with additional safety equipment

With the electric mobility looking like a promising future of the automobile world, manufacturers have started planning the launch of electric vehicles in India. However, electric vehicles can be expensive to buy. A start-up, which is known as E-Trio and based out of Hyderabad, Telangana, has got a solution for the same.

The start-up offers kits for various vehicles that can transform them into electric vehicles. Until now, E-Trio was working with the fleet-cars but now the first car converted by them has been registered in the Telangana state as a private vehicle.

AutoCarPro has put up the first registration details of India’s first retro-fitted electric car. The car is registered at an RTO in Telangana. E-Trio also claims to be the first such company that has received approval from ARAI for the kits. The start-up currently offers retrofitted kits for the cars like Maruti Alto and WagonR hatchback. The Maruti Suzuki Alto retrofitted by E-Trio has become the first car in India to get a registration certificate.

The certificate mentions all the details about the vehicle. It says that the Maruti Suzuki Alto was first registered in 2006 and was registered as a 5-seater BS-III vehicle. On the column of fuel type, the registration certificate mentions battery. The brand also offers kits for the Dzire and soon ARAI approved kits will be available for cars like Tata Indica, Hyundai Santro, Maruti Suzuki Ritz and more.

It should be noted that ARAI approved CNG and LPG kits can be installed in the cars too but they have to be endorsed on the RC of the vehicle to make it legal. However, the changes done in the vehicle to install a CNG or LPG kit compared to the changes done to install an electric kit is massive. The regular engine of the car is removed to install the aftermarket electric car kit. The opening from where the fuel is filled in a regular vehicle gets a charging socket instead. Also, the batteries are installed under the body of the vehicle to ensure maximum usability of the limited space. E-Trio installs electric motor and lithium-phosphate batteries to power the motor. The batteries are imported from North Korea at the moment but with a growing business, E-Trio plans to assemble the battery packs right here in India, which will also bring down the costs.

Other features in the car like AC and the music system work as regular but the instrument cluster is replaced with a new one that shows the battery level and gets a speedometer too. Currently, E-Trio offers a 150 km range kit but if the customer requires a larger range, extra batteries can be installed at an additional cost. According to the brand, it takes 4-5 hours to charge the vehicle completely.

Also Read: 2019 Force Gurkha launched in India with additional safety equipment

Volkswagen is all set to pull off the unexpected, by bringing in the T-Roc SUV to India by the end of 2019. The T-Roc  is a Hyundai Creta-sized compact SUV that is sold mainly in developed markets of Europe. Volkswagen plans to take the completely built unit (CBU) route for the T-Roc SUV in India.

The German automaker will use the leeway that the Indian government gives to car makers, allowing them to import upto 2,500 vehicles without having to go through the India-specific homologation process. So, all that Volkswagen has to do is import the right-hand drive version of the T-Roc compact SUV to India, and pay the required import duty.

What will it be priced at?

Rs. 17-20 lakhs, reports Car&Bike, which makes it quite a pricey vehicle, especially considering the fact that the  Volkswagen T-Roc is smaller than a Hyundai Creta. In India, it’ll rival the Hyundai Tucson and the Jeep Compass. The  Compass’ prices start from Rs. 15.45 lakhs while the Tucson’s prices start from Rs. 18.74 lakhs.

Obviously, these prices will make the T-Roc India’s priciest compact SUV, and this will also mean that the vehicle  will be more of a brand builder for Volkswagen, than something that can bring in meaningful volumes. If anything,  it’ll give SUV buyers a taste on what to expect from a Volkswagen SUV, and the automaker will hope that a positive  impression of the T-Roc will translate into good sales for the T-Cross, which will be a much cheaper SUV – priced  between the Hyundai Creta and the Tata Harrier.

However, the T-Cross will be launched only in 2021, with an official unveil of the India-spec model expected to  happen sometime next year. Notably, Volkswagen India is yet to begin testing the T-Cross on Indian roads, an  indication that the SUV is about a couple of years from debut. While the T-Cross will use the Indian-ized version of  the MQB platform called MQB A0, the T-Roc will be built on the Euro-spec MQB platform.

To justify the super steep price tag, the Volkswagen T-Roc will be stuffed with features, and we expect it to outdo  most other compact SUVs in the sheer range of features and creature comforts on offer. Under the hood, there will be a turbocharged, direct injected petrol engine as standard. In Europe, the Volkswagen T-Roc gets 3 turbo petrol  engines – in 1 liter (113 Bhp-200 Nm), 1.5 liter (148 Bhp-250 Nm) and 2 liter (187 Bhp-320 Nm) displacements.

While the smallest motor gets a 6 speed manual gearbox as standard, the 1.5 liter unit gets both 6 speed manual and 7 speed twin clutch automatic gearboxes. The 2 liter motor gets a 7 speed, twin clutch DSG automatic as standard. The bigger engine also gets an all wheel drive system while the smaller ones drive only the front wheels. It remains to be seen which one of these engines Volkswagen picks for use in the T-Roc that will be launched in India.

Also Read: 2019 Force Gurkha launched in India with additional safety equipment

The Mercedes Benz G-Class, or G-Wagen as it’s popularly called, is an iconic off road SUV and it’s about to get a full crore cheaper. No, Mercedes Benz isn’t planning to build or assemble this legendary off-roader in India. What they’ll instead do is bring the entry-level 350d, turbo diesel engined model to India as a completely built unit. This is expected to make the Mercedes Benz G63 AMG cheaper by about a crore. Currently, the Mercedes Benz G-Class G63 AMG is priced at Rs. 2.19 crores, ex-showroom India. On road, the price of this SUV hits 2.52 crores, making it the priciest off roader that money can buy in India.

The G-Class 350d version of the SUV will use a 3 liter, V6 turbocharged diesel engine that puts out 282 Bhp of peak power and a whopping 600 Nm of peak torque. The SUV will accelerate from standstill to 100 Kmph in just 7.2 seconds but the brick-like aerodynamics and sheer height of the G-Wagen means that its top speed will be electronically limited to 199 Kmph. The engine will be Bharat Stage 6 emission norms compliant right from the word go. It’ll be paired to a 9 speed torque converter gearbox that Mercedes Benz calls 9G-Tronic, and this gearbox will drive all four wheels of the SUV in a full time 4WD mode.

On the inside, the Mercedes Benz G-Class 350d will be luxuriously appointed, with leather and wood dominating the interiors. As a differentiating factor, the interiors of the 350d trim be a touch below the G63 AMG in terms of overall luxury. With the 350d trim for the G-Class, Mercedes Benz will be hoping to sell more of the SUV, blunting the edge that Land Rover currently has in the super luxury SUV segment with the Range Rover Sport and Vogue models. The butch lines of the G-Class has its fair share of fans in India, and the practical, everyday diesel engine and lower price tag is expected to make the SUV a lot more appealing to buyers.

Originally built for the Shah of Iran as a military vehicle, Mercedes Benz got Magna Steyr (formerly Steyr-Daimler Puch) in Austria to contract manufacture this legendary vehicle. Over the years, the G-Wagen has gone through multiple generations and the 3rd generation model was launched in India last year, in top-of-the-line G63 AMG trim. The off-roader’s G63 AMG trim uses a 4 liter, V8 turbocharged petrol engine with 577 Bhp of peak power and 760 Nm of peak torque. This motor uses the same 9 speed automatic gearbox that’s on offer with the diesel engine. A permanent four wheel drive system is standard.

Weighing over 2.5 tons, the massive Mercedes Benz G63 AMG will hurtle towards the horizon at a very, very quick pace, dispatching the 0-100 Kmph sprint in just 4.5 seconds. Top-speed, again due to the brick-like aerodynamics, is electronically limited to 220 Kmph. While it can do scarily fast speeds, the G-Class is best enjoyed at sane speeds close to 100 Kmph, and also off the road rather than on it.

Via Overdrive

Also Read: 2019 Force Gurkha launched in India with additional safety equipment

Love for automobiles is something that binds us and our readers together. For many, this love affair with cars, bikes or any other automobile starts at a later stage of life. However, many are born with this love in their hearts and are auto fanatics from a very small age. Start soon or late, but the purity of this passion is not determined by time alone but also by its intensity. Why we are talking about this today is because of a recent incident in which Ford made a kid’s dream come true in real life. The company surprised a kid on his birthday with one of his favourite cars, the Mustang, and allowed him to take a ride in the car too. Take a look at the video below to see the emotions flow out of the child’s eye.

The kid we are referring to is Abeer, who very recently turned 7. According to his parents, Abeer had a thing for cars from a very early age. He was elated when his father gifted him a toy car at the age of 2 and since then, this love affair has climbed new heights. His family and Ford, therefore, decided to surprise him on his seventh birthday and bring a real Ford Mustang as a gift for him. At the day of his birthday, he is blindfolded and taken to an open space. As soon as his blindfold is removed Abeer jumps with happiness after seeing a Red Mustang in front of him.

He then gets inside the car and gets a good look of its sporty interiors. Further, Abeer’s birthday cake is quite special as it features the car on it. The feeling of euphoria can be seen in his eyes. In Ford’s own words, that’s how to make a birthday surprise into a childhood memory.

Talking about the other protagonist of this video, the Ford Mustang sold in India is powered by a 5.0-litre V8 engine that churns out a maximum power of 396 Bhp along with 515 Nm of torque. This makes it the cheapest V8 engined car in India your money can buy. The engine comes mated to a 6-speed auto gearbox which channels powers to the rear wheels. To let you know, the Indian spec Mustang gets a slightly detuned engine as compared to its international counterparts. However, the almost 400 horses its V8 still produces are enough to set you racing in no time.

Seeing this video makes us wish so badly for the same to happen to us, even if are adults now. We auto enthusiasts may be adults and doing all sorts of stuff but a good car still brings out the child in us. A very happy belated birthday to Abeer then from Team CarToq and our readers.

Also Read: 2019 Force Gurkha launched in India with additional safety equipment

Maruti Suzuki has given the Alto K10 hatchback as boost in safety to meet Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment  Program (BNVSAP) norms. Along with additional safety features, prices of the car has increased to Rs. 3.66 lakhs for  the base LX model, ex-showroom Delhi. This represents a price hike of Rs. 10,000.

All variants of the Maruti Alto K10 now get a driver-side airbag, ABS, a speed alert system, seat-belt reminders for  driver and co-driver and rear parking sensors as standard. Apart from the addition of safety features, nothing else  has changed on the Maruti Alto K10 – both in terms of mechanicals and styling.

The Alto K10 is available with a 1 liter-3 cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that puts out 67 Bhp-90 Nm. Fuel efficiency is rated at 24.07 Kmpl. The same engine is also available with a petrol-CNG dual fuel option. In this  trim, the motor makes 58 Bhp-78 Nm while running on CNG.

A 5 speed manual gearbox is standard on both the petrol and CNG variants of the car. The petrol version also gets a 5 speed AMT option. The Alto K10 rivals the likes of the Renault Kwid 1.0, the Hyundai Santro and the Tata Tiago. The car is one of the least priced offerings from India’s largest car maker – Maruti Suzuki – and is aimed primarily at  first time car buyers.

Maruti adding safety features to the Alto K10 is to ensure that the car is able to be sold until the October of 2019,  when more stringent safety norms related to the structure of the car come into force. The Maruti Alto range is about  to get all-new models in the coming months. Maruti Suzuki has been testing the next-generation Alto on Indian roads for the past many months. Before October 1st, 2019, the date on which the more stringent safety norms come into force, the all-new Alto range will make its debut in India.

Notably, both the Alto 800 and Alto 1.0 will get major upgrades through this generation change. The 3rd generation  Alto models will get a totally different design. Said to be inspired by the Future S crossover concept that was shown  at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo, the new Alto range will get butch styling. Additional ground clearance and more  spacious interiors are other changes likely on the new car. The engines will be made Bharat Stage 6 emission norms  compliant, and both CNG and petrol options are expected to be on offer, as is the case presently. The new Alto’s  platform is also expected to support electric and hybrid options.

Also Read: 2019 Force Gurkha launched in India with additional safety equipment