In recent times, the arrival of affordable performance bikes in the Indian market has changed the motorcycling scenario completely. Now there are several performance bikes in the market that can be considered as budget bikes. For speed-seekers, this new breed of bikes is a blessing as they are very quick off the mark too. How quick? Well, some of these bikes can even beat a BMW 3-Series 320d in a drag race! The BMW 3-Series 320d is the best-selling variant of the model and gets powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine. The inline-four cylinder engine produces a maximum of 184 Bhp and 380 Nm of peak torque. It can reach 100 km/h from standstill in just 7.2 seconds!

KTM 390 Duke

Price: Rs 2.44 lakh, ex-showroom

The KTM 390 Duke is a pocket-rocket that has become a preferred choice of many youngsters. The high-performance engine, features and the value-for-money price tag make the bike a very tempting choice. KTM 390 Duke gets powered by a 373cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that produces a maximum of 43 Bhp and peak torque fo 37 Nm. It is very quick off the mark and can do 0-100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds! KTM also offers a standard slipper clutch with the six-speed transmission of the bike.

KTM RC390

Price: Rs 2.41 lakh, ex-showroom

The KTM RC390 is the fully-faired version of the 390 Duke but the absence of features like full-LED headlamps and full-TFT console, it is priced lower than the naked version. The raw power of the RC390 makes it the perfect entry-level track bike. It is powered by the same 373cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that powers the naked version of the and it can do 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, which is slightly more than the time taken by the naked version. It is due to the added weight of the fairing.

Yamaha YZF-R3

Price: 3.5 lakh, ex-showroom

The Yamaha YZF-R3 is the elder sibling of the R15 and follows the same aggressive design language of the Yamaha YZF-R1. It is one of the best-selling bikes in the segment and has outsold the rival Ninja 300 on several occasions. The R3 is the most affordable parallel-twin engine powered by the brand in the Indian market. The 321cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine produces a maximum power of 41.4 Bhp and the torque peaks at 29.6 Nm. The six-speed transmission in the R3 is extremely smooth and it can do 0-100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds.

Kawasaki Ninja 300

Price: 2.98 lakh, ex-showroom

Kawasaki massively slashed the price of the Ninja 300 in India after the Japanese brand parted ways with Bajaj and started manufacturing the bike in India. With a sticker price of Rs 2.98 lakh, it is much cheaper than the Yamaha YZF-R3 and now has become the best-selling bike in the segment by a huge margin. The Ninja 300 gets powered by a 296cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine that churns out a maximum power of 38.5 Bhp and peak torque of 27 Nm. It can hit the ton in just 5.5 seconds.

TVS Apache RR310

Price: 2.23 lakh, ex-showroom

The TVS Apache RR310 was the first product from the TVS-BMW partnership in India. It is also the first fully-faired bike from the brand and gets powered by an all-new reverse-mounted engine that allows a long swingarm length but a short wheelbase. The 312.2cc engine in the bike produces a maximum power of 34 Bhp and a peak torque of 27.3 Nm. It gets a six-speed transmission and can propel the bike from 0-100 km/h in less than 7 seconds, making it slightly quicker than the 7.2 seconds timing of the BMW.

BMW G310R

Price: Rs 2.99 lakh, ex-showroom

The BMW G310R is the most affordable bike from the brand in the world. It is essentially the naked version of the TVS Apache RR310 and gets powered the same engine mounted on the same chassis. The streetfighter bike can do 0-100 km/h in an impressive 6.8 seconds and gets the same 34 Bhp – 27.3 Nm producing 312cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine.

Royal Enfield Interceptor

Price: Rs 2.51 lakh, ex-showroom

The Royal Enfield Interceptor has become the most affordable bike powered by a parallel-twin engine in India. The newly developed engine of the bike produces a maximum of 47 Bhp and 52 Nm and gets a six-speed transmission. The 648cc, parallel-twin engine of the bike is air-cooled but gets fuel-injection system. The Interceptor can do 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, making it quite quick in the drag races.

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650

Price: Rs 2.66 lakh, ex-showroom

The Continental GT 650 is based on the Interceptor and is a cafe racer version of the bike. It is for the people who want a stylish looking bike but the seating position of the Continental GT650 makes it extremely difficult to ride on the long distance journeys. It shares platform and engine with the Interceptor can do the 0-100 km/h run in the same 6.5-second mark.

Honda CB300R

Price: 2.41 lakh, ex-showroom

The Honda CB300R is the newest launch from the Japanese manufacturer in the Indian market and it has already become quite popular in the Indian market. Powered by a 286cc, single-cylinder engine, the Honda CB300R can do 0-100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds. It gets a maximum of 30.4 Bhp and 27.1 Nm on the tap.

Bajaj Dominar 400

Price. Rs 1.74 lakh, ex-showroom

Bajaj launched an updated version of the Dominar 400 in the Indian market earlier this year. The bike gets multiple updates including new telescopic upside down front suspension, updated instrument cluster and updated engine too. It gets the same 373cc, liquid-cooled engine but it is now tuned to produce 40 Bhp and 35 Nm. There is not official 0-100 km/h figure available for the bike but several tests done on the road suggests that it can do a 0-100 km/h run in just 7 seconds. It is the most affordable bike that can beat a BMW in India.

Also Read: 10 BIGGEST misconceptions about SUVs such as Mahindra XUV500, Toyota Fortuner & more

The 2nd generation Honda Amaze, launched at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo, has gone on to become the best selling car in India for the Japanese automaker. The compact sedan clocked 85,601 unit between April 2018 and March 2019, making it the 2nd best seller in its segment, behind the Maruti Dzire. The Honda Amaze beat the Hyundai Xcent and the Tata Tigor to reach this number. The Honda Amaze’s sales represents a whopping 293 % year-on-year increase. So, why’s the Amaze so popular among compact sedan buyers. Here are some reasons.

Fresh design.

Honda took an unconventional approach with the 2nd generation Amaze’s design, and this seems to have paid off. The car, with its coupe-line plunging roof line, looks very different from other compact sedans. This does make the Amaze stand out on the road, attracting plenty of attention. If design can sell cars, the Amaze has plenty of stuff going for it on this front.

Automatics, both with petrol and diesel.

The Honda Amaze offers CVT automatic options with both the petrol and diesel engines. The CVT gearbox, with the  diesel engine, is particularly effective in the city. The low end torque of the diesel engine cancels out the lag of  the CVT automatic gearbox, making the Amaze Diesel Automatic quite a responsive car on city streets. The petrol CVT is more affordable, giving buyers more options.

Well priced.

While Honda typically takes a premium pricing approach with most of its cars sold in India, the automaker hit the  value pricing button for the Amaze. Variant to variant, the Amaze is priced quite close to the segment leading Maruti Dzire, and this is helping when it comes to monthly sales. Prices of the Amaze start from Rs. 5.91 lakhs, ex showroom Delhi. Prices of the Dzire start from Rs. 5.71 lakhs. The automatic variants of the Amaze do command a premium but that’s because of the inherently expensive CVT automatic gearbox that makes the drive very smooth and seamless, quite unlike the AMTs and the jerky 4 speed automatic gearboxes that the competition offers.

Most affordable Honda in India.

Honda has quite some badge value in India, and the badge alone is enough to drive buyers to showrooms. The Brio  hatchback is no longer built and the Amaze is the least priced Honda in India. This also means that most buyers  looking for an affordable Honda car have to settle for the Amaze. In terms of maintenance too, the Amaze is among the least expensive Honda car in the long term.

Also Read: 10 BIGGEST misconceptions about SUVs such as Mahindra XUV500, Toyota Fortuner & more

Honda has just unveiled the facelifted BR-V compact SUV in Indonesia. The SUV is expected to arrive into the Indian  market by the end of this year. Here is the TVC of the Indonesia-spec, facelifted Honda BR-V, which is available in  petrol-only guise in that part of the world.

For the Indian market though, the BR-V will get both petrol and diesel engines, as is the case with the pre-facelift  version that’s currently on sale. The Honda BR-V sold in India is offered with 2 engine options: a 1.5 liter i-VTEC  petrol with 117 Bhp-145 Nm. This engine is offered with 2 transmission options: a 5 speed manual and a CVT automatic.

There’s a 1.5 liter i-DTEC turbocharged diesel engine also on offer. The diesel makes 98.6 Bhp-200 Nm, and is paired  to a six speed manual gearbox. The engine and gearbox combination offered on the BR-V is a straight lift off from the Honda City sedan.

The BR-V is the only SUV in its segment to offer a 7 seat layout. The SUV rivals the likes of the Hyundai Creta and  the Renault Duster, and is much bigger than both these SUVs. However, the MPVish looks of the BR-V means that it  hasn’t found the same kind of success as the Creta, or to a more limited extent, the Duster. The facelift is meant to  inject some macho styling elements to the BR-V. The SUV now gets revised front end with the grille and bumper getting sharper. The rear end styling also gets a sharper bumper but the rest of the SUV is more or less unchanged. Clearly, the facelift is a mid-life makeover at best.

The interiors of the facelifted BR-V also see a revision in terms of the colour schemes used. However, the overall  layout remains unchanged, and the older dashboard is carried over. The BR-V gets twin airbags and ABS as standard  safety features. The facelifted SUV will also meet the BNVSAP crash test norms when launched in India. While the  changes on the BR-V does give it an element of freshness, the SUV is still not something that has changed  dramatically. So, it remains to be seen if the facelift does enough to actually boost sales of the BR-V in the Indian  market in a big way.

Later this year, Honda will launch another SUV for the Indian market. It’ll be called the HR-V, and will be a 5 seat  offering that will sit in between the BR-V and CR-V in terms of price and positioning. The HR-V will be a lot more  premium than the BR-V, and will be sold in petrol-only guise. Once the HR-V makes it to the market, Honda will have SUVs to address almost all segments of the Indian market. The entry level space will be handled by the WR-V, with people wanting a compact SUV getting the BR-V. The HR-V will sit in the Tata Harrier-Jeep Compass segment while the CR-V already operates in the Toyota Fortuner segment.

Also Read: 10 BIGGEST misconceptions about SUVs such as Mahindra XUV500, Toyota Fortuner & more

Petrol power is gaining rapidly in the SUV segment, which has traditionally been dominated by diesel engined  vehicles. India’s best selling compact SUV – the Hyundai Creta, gets 40 % of its sales from the petrol powered model.  In other words, two out of five Hyundai Cretas that are sold in India are petrol powered. The petrol version of the  Hyundai Creta uses a 1.6 .liter-4 cylinder naturally aspirated engine with 121 Bhp of peak power and 151 Nm of peak torque. This engine gets two gearbox options: a 6 speed manual and a 6 speed torque converter automatic.

As tighter Bharat Stage 6 emission norms kick into effect from April 2020, the shift from diesel to petrol SUVs in  most segments under Rs. 20 lakhs is likely to happen in a big way. Why, even the country’s best selling SUV – the  Maruti Brezza, which is currently available only with a diesel engine, will soon get a 1.5 liter petrol mild hybrid  option. Many other automakers are also scrambling to introduce petrol engine options on SUVs that have been available only with a diesel engine in the past.

Meanwhile, RC Bhargava, the chairman of Maruti Suzuki had this to say about the impending boom in petrol powered SUVs in India,

A SUV does not have to be diesel to give the kind of performance you want. In US, SUVs, even trucks run mostly on  gasoline. If we extrapolate from what has happened in Europe (fall in sale of diesel cars) post implementation of  Euro VI and from the fact that India is a price sensitive market, we feel petrol is likely to be the more popular choice…

Expressing similar sentiments, Vikas Jain, the National Sales head of Hyundai India, had this to say,

The ban on larger diesel vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR) three years back triggered sales of petrol  powered SUVs. That coupled with the fact that the price differential between the two fuels have been closing in, the  ban on use of diesel vehicles for more than 10 years have made consumers reconsider the value of diesel vehicles.

All in all, diesel powered SUVs could become limited to only the larger ones that weigh a couple of tons or more. All  other SUVs sold in India could predominantly go petrol from 2020 although some automakers will continue to offer BS6 compliant diesel engines to offer more choice to the buyer.

Apart from the Maruti Brezza, which will go petrol soon, other SUVs that will get a petrol engine option are the Tata  Harrier, the Maruti S-Cross, the all-new 2020 Mahindra Thar and the Skoda Kodiaq. Most other new SUVs to be launched in India are also likely to offer a petrol engine option as standard.

Via ETAuto

Also Read: 10 BIGGEST misconceptions about SUVs such as Mahindra XUV500, Toyota Fortuner & more

The Force Tempo Traveller is a popular choice of families going on holidays and fleet operators in India. It is available in various sizes and is the best-selling bus in the segment. Even though there are luxurious alternative choices available in the market, people prefer buying the Force Traveller and then modify it to meet their requirements. Here is a similarly modified Force Traveller that has been modified and gets the Toyota TRD looks.

The Traveller seen in the video by Vijin Vinod shows thorough modifications done to the vehicle’s interior and exterior. All the changes are very tasteful and make the traveller look very sophisticated. Starting at the front, it gets a new blacked-out grille that looks heavily inspired by the Toyota Land Cruiser. The front also gets a customised bumper that gets the integrated lamps. Even the headlamps have been given a smoked effect with LED inserts. With the changes, the Force Traveller looks much more premium and much different from the stock version of the vehicle.

On the sides, the traveller gets a lot of new additions too. The most eye-catchy change in the modified Traveller are the alloy wheels. The aftermarket alloy wheels add a new look to the minibus and make it look extremely good. Other additions on the side are the steel pipes that protect the body in case it hits a rock or a divider and gives a very premium look to the bus. It also gets a new window line that is illuminated and can be switched on at night to make the bus look special.

At the rear, the modified Force Traveller gets a new add-on plastic grille that mimics the design of the grille placed at the front. It also gets a “TRD” badging on it. The rear windows are now tinted in dark colour, giving a very premium look to the set-up. It gets a new bumper in the rear with integrated LED lamps and chrome-tipped dual exhaust tips. Also, there is a roof-mounted spoiler that also gets an integrated LED lamp that works as a brake lamp.

Just like the exterior, the interior of the Traveller has been modified too. It gets leather-wrapped 3X2 seating. Also, there is ambient lighting, retractable window curtains, and an LCD TV mounted in the front alongside four speakers. It sure looks very premium. The features like AC vents and other plastic parts have been updated to make the cabin feel more premium. The whole roof has been turned into a beautiful art piece with soft light falling from behind.

Even the driver’s cabin has been updated with various additions. It now gets a touchscreen infotainment system at the front for the convenience of the driver.

Also Read: 10 BIGGEST misconceptions about SUVs such as Mahindra XUV500, Toyota Fortuner & more

SUVs are getting increasingly popular because of several reasons. They offer good ground clearance, have a great road presence, are mostly equipped with powerful engines and offer tons of space on the inside. Apart from these reasons, there are many other factors that potential buyers have in mind when shopping for an SUV. However, not all of them are true and can be deemed as misconceptions. Here are ten of the biggest misconceptions people have in mind for SUVs.

SUVs can get out of any situation

However good and powerful they might be, an SUV in stock form is not a battle tank that can conquer any terrain. It is true that a proper SUV with 4WD system and other off-road equipment can go into places where regular cars can’t even think of going but then again, considering them as invincible is a mistake. There have been many instances of 4WD SUVs like the Mahindra Scorpio and the Toyota Fortuner getting stuck. Also, the driver’s skill matter a lot in off-road conditions.

Also, some of the SUVs like the Renault Duster or the Mahindra XUV500 are often considered to be off-road ready SUV as they are equipped with AWD drivetrain. However, that is not the case as AWD is quite different from 4WD. AWD basically means that all four wheels are powered whereas when talking about 4WD, other equipment like high-low ratio transfer case, locking differentials etc are also included. This extra equipment is what gives SUVs with 4WD an edge over other vehicles when going off the road.

All big, tall cars are SUVs

No sir, they are not. The term SUV expands to Sports Utility Vehicle and it was originally meant to be used for vehicles that not only have a big and tall stance but also come equipped with a fully functional 4WD system to do light or heavy off-roading. However, the marketing departments slowly began using the term SUV for any big, tall car.

To let you know, cars that look like an SUV but do not have important features like 4WD among others are called crossovers. In the Indian automotive scene, nearly every other big car with good ground clearance is called an SUV. Manufacturers have even started manufacturing hatchback-SUV crossovers which are marketed as ‘Urban SUVs’. Vehicles like the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and even the Tata Harrier are just regular cars with an SUV-inspired body and stance.

SUVs are slow!

They were. There was a time when SUVs used to be slower than sedans and other cars due to less powerful engines and their heavy weight. However, modern SUVs are no slouch and have a performance that is on par with sedans and hatchbacks. They may look big and lazy but modern day engines along with advanced engineering have made sure that these vehicles are extremely fast and quick.

The current fastest production SUV in the world, Bentley Bentayga Speed, has a top speed of 306 km/h and can do the 0-100 km/h run in just 3.9 seconds. The Lamborghini Urus is another performance SUV that has a top speed of 305 km/h and does the 0-100 km/h run in 3.6 seconds. Other powerful modern day SUVs like the Land Rover Range Rover SVR, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and Porsche Cayenne Turbo S all are very fast vehicles and almost touch the supercar category in terms of performance.

You have to spend a lot on fuel

Again a misconception when talking about the current day SUVs, this belief originated from the fuel-guzzling SUVs of old. If you choose the right SUV now, you will not have to worry much about the fuel bills of your SUV. The Volvo XC90 T8 is a shining example of the same. The SUV has 407 Bhp power output, and yet it returns a maximum fuel efficiency of 57 km/l. Even conventional powered SUVs like Ford Endeavour come with an ARAI rated mileage of 14.2 km/l, which is decent given the size of the vehicle.

SUVs are difficult to drive

Not at all. Modern day technology, electronics and assists have ensured that SUVs are very easy to drive and control, unlike older SUVs. Many, however, still believe that SUVs are not easy to drive because of their size and weight. But modern SUVs like the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour among others are pretty easy to drive. Due to their high centre of gravity, they may not be as agile as sedans and hatchbacks in cornering and fast lane changing but they drive like regular cars. Even people who have not driven an SUV before get comfortable driving it fairly quick. Further, additional assists such as rear camera and parking sensors make it incredibly easy to park the vehicle even at the tightest spots.

SUVs are built ‘tough’

They do look tough but built? Not all of them. SUVs look bulky and muscular due to their size and stance but they may not be built in the same way. The heavy SUVs are always regarded as safe vehicles that will keep the occupants unhurt from any kind of crash but in reality, that’s not true. One such example is the Mahindra Scorpio. A tough looking vehicle that scored Zero in the NCAP testing for safety. Also, its body structure was rated ‘unstable

SUVs are extremely comfortable

There’s an almost obvious like feeling among most of the people generally that SUVs are very comfortable vehicles to be in. They actually do absorb a lot of potholes and deliver a comfortable ride but show them curvy roads and they become a pain. The high seating position coupled with the high ground clearance results in high centre of gravity in SUVs. This, in turn, results in body roll that can ruin the comfort over long travels.Take into account the softer suspension set-up and the body roll becomes more serious.

Rear passengers are especially affected and do not feel very comfortable due to the body roll. So all the SUVs are not very comfortable especially on curvy roads, like mountains. However, many SUVs have now started offering drive modes which change the suspension firmness so in the coming time, this niggle will be ironed out and regular SUVs too will become as comfortable as high-end SUVs.

SUVs mean diesel fuel

Many auto enthusiasts and car lovers maintain a distance from SUVs because of many reasons, one among them being the general perception that diesel engines power all the SUVs. It is also true that diesel engines lack refinement when compared with their petrol counterparts.

However, this general perception that diesel engine power all SUVs is completely wrong. Many SUVs nowadays offer petrol engines as an option instead of diesel. They are low on popularity due to their lower fuel efficiency, but they’re still on sale. One typical example is the latest Toyota Fortuner that is also offered with a 2.7-litre petrol engine, which develops a maximum power of 164 Bhp and 245 Nm of peak torque.

They have a high maintenance cost

This is no longer true. In fact, most of the modern-day SUVs are pretty affordable to maintain. Some of them are having bigger service bills still, but most of the manufacturers have now ensured that their SUVs don’t have big service bills. One example of the same is the latest Ford Endeavour. Ford claims that regular servicing till 60,000 km costs less than Rs. 50,000 in total including the labour cost and parts. That, in fact, is cheaper than many lesser-priced sedans and hatchbacks.

Bigger tyres and high seating position are good things

The huge tires, high ground clearance and high seating positions are some of the factors which are considered to be the main attractions of the SUVs. However, though all of them contribute to the butch stance an SUV has, it can be a deadly combination in reality. The high position and high ground clearance of SUVs result in the centre of weight of the vehicle situated much away from the ground which makes it extremely prone to rollovers. It is not safe to take high speed turns in an SUV due to the same reason.’.

Also Read: 10 BIGGEST misconceptions about SUVs such as Mahindra XUV500, Toyota Fortuner & more

MG Hector, the first vehicle to be launched from the British manufacturer in India has been caught on video without any camouflage. The all-new car was spotted in Gujarat where the manufacturing facility of the brand is located. Until now, only heavily camouflaged versions of the MG Hector were caught on camera. This is the first time that the SUV has been spotted without any camouflage on video by E Shock.

The MG Hector will take on the likes of Tata Harrier, Mahindra XUV500 and Jeep Compass in the Indian market. However, dimension-wise, the Hector is much larger in size. The official dimensions are not out yet but visually, the Hector looks very appealing and has an extremely high road presence. The Hector will be the largest SUV in the segment.

The vehicle an unorthodox design which was first seen on Tata Harrier in the Indian market for the first time. It gets separate housings for the DRL while the main headlamp cluster is located below in the bumper. The front-end has an imposing look altogether. On the side, it gets a tapered window line. It gets blacked out pillars that add a floating roof effect to the upcoming SUV. Also, the machined alloy wheels look extremely good on the SUV and give it a massive road presence.

At the rear, the MG Hector Hector gets large tail lamps that are connected with each other through a chrome strip. There is a black bumper in the rear with a silver diffuser that adds a muscular look to the vehicle.

The MG Hector will be quite feature-rich and will offer numerous first-in-segment features. It will become the first connected car in the segment and will offer an integrated eSIM based infotainment system. The large 10.4-inch Tesla-like infotainment system will get Artificial Intelligence that will be able to control the functions of the vehicle. The eSIM will provide a number of functionalities to the vehicle including live GPS tracking, geo-fencing, live traffic updates, over-the-air software updates and remote functionalities that will allow the users to control certain features of the vehicle through a smartphone.

The MG Hector will also get a panoramic sunroof that covers the whole roof of the vehicle. It also gets anti-glare IRVM and a full digital 7-inch driver instrument cluster, which again is a first in the segment. Other features including voice-based commands that will allow the users to control features like sunroof and infotainment system. It also is the first vehicle that will get electronically controlled tailgate.

Engine-wise, MG Hector will get a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 143 PS and peak torque of 250 Nm. It will also get the 2.0-litre Multijet diesel engine that also powers the Jeep Compass and the Tata Harrier in the Indian market but the power output in the Hector is not known. Both the engine options will offer a 6-speed manual transmission as standard while the petrol engine will also get a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Also Read: Base variants of cars that you should SERIOUSLY consider: Tata Harrier to Mahindra XUV300

The KTM 390 Duke is arguably one of the best performance oriented motorcycles in India under Rs. 3 lakh price tag. Ever since its launch in India, the bike has done quite good in terms of sales too and is popular due to its sharp styling, sharper handling and its powerful engine. Now, a new set of spy shots have surfaced which show the all-new KTM 390 Duke being tested without any camouflage. Though the bike in these spy shots is not the final production version, it gives a pretty good idea of how the bike will look like.

This is probably the first time that the new KTM 390 Duke has been spied so clearly. Talking about the bike in these pictures, the basic design DNA of the current generation model is present all over the new bike. However, look more closely and you will notice a host of changes and upgrades on the bike. To let you know, KTM first launched the 390 Duke here in 2013 which was then followed by a new model in 2017. This new generation model then is on time and will probably be showcased at the 2020 EICMA.

The biggest change visible on the first glance is the all-new Trellis frame. Compared to the current generation 390 Duke, the test bike’s frame gets more closely and evenly spaced tubes. The frame could possibly also be a bit larger in size, though that can not be said for sure. Then there is the new aluminium swingarm, which is easily visible in the spy shots. The design of the swingarm is also new. The test bike rode on the Metzeler M5 Sportecs, which are the same units as on the current generation bike. Given the excellent grip they offer, we have absolutely no issues with KTM continuing to offer them. As already mentioned, this is not the production spec motorcycles which explains why are there so many quirky designed panels and body parts on this bike.

Many parts of the bike are still in the development stage as is clear by these pictures. According to reports, the engine head, as well as the exhaust system of the new KTM 390 Duke, will see a change. This would probably lead to a boost in power as well as lower emissions. As for its India launch, expect it to be available for buying by 2021 here. A price bump is quite obvious and the bike will cost upwards of Rs. 2.50 lakhs when launched here. The host of mechanical and aesthetical upgrades, however, will justify the higher price tag. As of now, KTM is planning to launch the new 390 Adventure in India in the coming months. It is the adventure tourer version of the regular 390 Duke.

Source

Also Read: Base variants of cars that you should SERIOUSLY consider: Tata Harrier to Mahindra XUV300

Underage driving in India is illegal but it is a rampant trend in many major cities of the country. In Hyderabad, Telangana, the traffic police is conducting a special drive to catch such minors. A few days back, the traffic police department of the city booked as many as 172 minor boys for violating the Motor Vehicle Act rules and riding without a valid license.

The city police of Hyderabad conducted the drive on 22nd and 23rd April but latest updates from the Cyberabad Police page indicates that they are continuing the drive. According to the traffic police department, the drive will continue randomly for the next two months. The drive against the minors saw the cops booking as many as 172 illegal motorists. As per a report on Hans India, 69 minors were caught in the West/Central Zone of the city while 60 minors were caught in the East Zone. The South Zone saw 43 minors booked.

All the boys who were booked during the special drive were given detailed explanations on why it is dangerous to drive or ride without a valid license and the repercussions of accidents if any. All the booked minors were asked to take an oath and promise that they will not repeat the offence. The police have also requested the parents to keep a check on the minors and make sure that they stop them from driving illegally.

It is not known if the parents of the minors were contacted by the police force. In March 2018, a similar special drive against the minor motorists was launched by the Hyderabad Police and as many as 45 parents of minors were sent behind the bars for allowing their children to operate an automobile. No such steps have been taken this time though. Out of 172 minors, 160 were given special counselling session. The minors were called at the Red Rose function hall in Nampally were counselled.

It should be noted that under Motor Vehicles Act, an underage person driving or riding a vehicle can be jailed for 3 months or can be fined Rs 500. In extreme cases, both the punishments can be given to the minors. Parents, who are the vehicle owners and allow their children to drive the vehicle without a valid license will get a punishment of Rs 1,000 or jail of 3 months or both.

Many accidents involving the minors have turned out to be fatal in the recent past. Minors who drive without a valid license do not get any insurance cover too, which makes it extremely dangerous when they get involved in accidents. It is not only Hyderabad but many major cities in India have this very same problem of underage driving.

In India, the MV Act does not permit any person below the age of 18 to get a driving license. However, a driving license can be granted to the person above the age of 16 years to operate any vehicle with an engine capacity not exceeding 50cc. Minors can operate vehicles in closed circuits like racing tracks after obtaining a relevant license in India, however, driving on the public roads remains strictly illegal.

Also Read: Base variants of cars that you should SERIOUSLY consider: Tata Harrier to Mahindra XUV300

Hyundai unveiled the Venue sub-4 meter SUV a few days back which will be the first car by the company to feature the BlueLink technology. The BlueLink technology actually is a connected vehicle system developed in-house at Hyundai. With this, Hyundai will be the first manufacturer to offer a smart connectivity cum assistant option on a vehicle in India when it launches the Venue next month. The upcoming MG Hector will also come with a similar smart connectivity feature. The video below by Tech Harbour shows us some of the benefits of the BlueLink technology in Hyundai cars.

The video above actually is a compilation of four Hyundai TVC’s. Each of the clip in the above video highlights a particular function in an interesting manner. Depicting the BlueLink AI is a lady dressed in a sharp blue body suit. She assists a couple, who own a Hyundai car, in their various trips. In the first clip, we see the push map feature of BlueLink Technology. The couple gets lost out somewhere while driving and then select the push maps option which immediately brings the BlueLink AI (depicted by the lady in a blue body suit) into action and suggests the right path to take the car towards. The push map feature comes under the umbrella of location-based services which also include live traffic information and share the destination among others.

The second clip shows us a different feature, called interactive voice recognition. The AI based voice assist system included in the package has been specially programmed to understand India-accented English. This means no more repetition and frustration when using voice controls. The third clip shows another very useful feature, called vehicle tracking and immobilization. This is a really important feature as through this one can monitor the location of their car very easily and immobilise the engine if some tries to steal it.

The last clip shows several features like remote engine start/stop, remote climate control, and find my car. All these features will be part of a total 33 features in the upcoming Venue. Moreover, 10 features of all the 33 features in the BlueLink system are developed specifically for India. The upcoming Venue will be the only car in the segment to offer connected features. The Venue will offer Blue Link connectivity solution that will allow the owners to control the vehicle remotely as well as make the vehicle much more convenient to drive around.

The Venue will also get an eSIM that, however, will be available only with the DCT automatic variants of the Venue. It will allow users to track the car, add geo-fence, get updates about overspeeding, tow-away, time fencing, the vehicle remote on a smartphone, SOS calls, customer support, real-time traffic information, remotely check the car status, find the car and India-specific voice assistance.

Also Read: Base variants of cars that you should SERIOUSLY consider: Tata Harrier to Mahindra XUV300

Royal Enfield is one of the most popular motorcycle brands in India and has a significant brand reputation internationally too. Before becoming an Indian company, Royal Enfield was a company based in Great Britain (now the UK). This is also one of the reasons why it is quite well known internationally too. Royal Enfield bike fans are often quite loyal to the company as the brand name also has a lot of heritage attached to it. For the same, Maisto sells diecast scale model of Royal Enfield bikes which are bought by many enthusiasts and collectors for their collections. BUY IT HERE.

The bike model shown in this video is the Royal Enfield Classic 500. It measures 17.5 cm in length, 6.5 cm in breadth and 10.5 cm in height. The weight of this scale model is 250 gm, which is just about right for its size. Talking about size, it is a 1:12 scale model and can be operated by one hand easily. For children, it is safely recommended for kids above the age of eight. The model shown in the video is painted in black but other options are also sold by Maisto. This one gets black paint all around with white finishing on the fenders.

Moving on, the scale model looks pretty decent and has most of the design DNA of the original bike in it, including the instrument cluster and mirrors. It also gets a functional rear suspension, though it is not operated by the dual spring shocks at the rear but rather by a single spring placed inside the bike and is not visible directly. Nonetheless, it gives a good feel when pushing the bike up and down. IT has been built using a combination of metal and plastic panels and gets a functional side stand as well.

The tires at both the ends are made from rubber and have a similar pattern on them as on the original bike. The handles are turnable and the saddle on this scale model is a single piece unit. The build quality, however, could have been a bit better as it has been priced at Rs. 1,200. While it is not bad exactly, it does not do full justice to the price tag.

Talking about the actual Royal Enfield classic bike, the company also offers another model in the series with a smaller engine, called the Classic 350. The company is currently working on a new generation model of the Classic series which has been spotted testing multiple times. The new Classic bikes will come with several changes compared to the current generation model which include the tail light section, seats and other body panels. The chassis will also be altered along with the engine, which will be made to comply with the BSVI emission norms. Expect the launch of the new Classic series by the first quarter of the coming year.

Also Read: Base variants of cars that you should SERIOUSLY consider: Tata Harrier to Mahindra XUV300

Hindustan Contessa is one of the most iconic cars in India. Even several years after the vehicle was officially discontinued from the market, there are many beautifully modified and well-kept examples of the Contessa can be spotted on the roads. There are many enthusiasts who have restored or resto-modified the Contessa immaculately. Here is an example that was modified by Modsters on video.

Based on the Vauxhall VX sedan, the Hindustan Contessa became popular because of its muscle car-like design. There are many who have modified their vehicles to look like true muscle cars. The Chennai-based modifying garage Modsters has done a similar modification job on the Contessa and it looks extremely good. The Contessa seen in the video gets numerous updates that completely changes the look of the vehicle while keeping its DNA intact.

The front-end of the Contessa gets a new bumper with integrated spoiler, which is much more aggressive looking than the stock steel bumper. Even the front grille and the air intakes have been updated. All the aftermarket used in the vehicle is custom made, which makes this Contessa truly unique when it comes to the looks. The headlamps have been updated too and it now gets red Daytime Running Lamps that guarantee to catch all the attention on the road. The headlamp is new and can be controlled through Bluetooth.

The Contessa retains its iconic shape when it comes to the side of the sedan. It gets minor tweaked like new rear view mirrors, chrome outline for the windows and even new sporty looking all-black alloy wheels. Apart from that, the rest of the side-profile remains stock. It also retains the fuel lid but it has now been painted in black to match the overall colour scheme of the vehicle. The new 10-inch alloy wheels shod with low-profile tyres add a completely new look to the car.

At the rear, the Contessa gets H-shaped brake lamps with turning indicators placed in between. It looks pretty modern from the rear and gets a new aggressively design spoiler mounted on the boot lid. The rear bumper is also new and ensures that the rear-end of the vehicle compliments the other modifications.

The interior of the vehicle is not on the video but it has been redone too. It now gets tan-coloured interior and all the seats have been upgraded to offer a much more comfortable ride. On the outside, it gets an all-black gloss paint that shines like a mirror.

The Contessa remains one of the favourites in the Indian market and is an iconic choice. The car was available in the Indian market from 1984 and was taken off the market in 2002. Even though it was not very powerful, the muscular design of the Contessa made it popular as the “first muscle car of India”.

Also Read: Base variants of cars that you should SERIOUSLY consider: Tata Harrier to Mahindra XUV300

Blue hot. Yes, not red hot but blue hot. The Volkswagen Vento featured here is such a looker that we were bound to jot it down as blue hot, though it is actually painted in a shade of Cyan. The German sedan has always been a smart looker thanks to its sharp design and typical European looks. During its initial days after being launched, it was also a hot seller but lack of a solid facelift/update policy from Volkswagen along with other issues ensured that the car went downhill in terms of sales. Nonetheless, it is still quite popular among enthusiasts for its looks and driving experience. Take a look at the video below by GOKZ MOTOGRAPHY and see the car in its full glory.

Now the Vento is already a good looking car but this one definitely takes the game up to a whole next level. On the front, it gets a new sporty bumper with air scoops and LEDs along with a big lip spoiler. The headlights are custom units and get stylish LED DRLs in them. The frille has been blacked out as so has been the Volkswagen logo in the centre.

The cyan colour shade is uncommon but fits the bill perfectly here. Talking about the side profile of this beauty, it gets gorgeous multi-spoke rims painted in white, shod on with low profile rubbers, enhancing its sporty intentions. Custom side skirts are also present which giver it a slightly stanced look. The front and rear fenders get air scoops behind them which are an added sporty touch.

A sunroof is a must on modified cars these days and this gorgeous Vento does not let us down on that too. Moving to the rear end, It gets a custom diffuser along with a boot lid spoiler to spice things up. The tail lights are also aftermarket LED units and look quite good on the car. Another noteworthy aspect here is how clean the whole car looks and the modifications done on it simply enhance its look rather than exaggerating them to a point where many may find it too radical.

If we are asked for a good looking, clean Vento modification, we will certainly point towards this car which has us swooning over it. Talking about the Vento, Volkswagen will bring in a new facelifted version of the car in the coming months with slight changes to the exteriors and the interiors. However, a completely new Vento, which is sold as the Virtus in the international markets, will grace our shores by 2021. The car looks great and has a pretty decent spec sheet too. If Volkswagen prices it right, they can have a winner in their hands yet again.

Image Credits – Gokz Motography

Also Read: Base variants of cars that you should SERIOUSLY consider: Tata Harrier to Mahindra XUV300

Toyota Kirloskar’s first badge engineered car for the Indian market – the Glanza premium hatchback – will be launched in India during June. Un-camouflaged Spyshots of the car have surfaced, and from the leaked pictures, it’s clear that the Glanza has minimal changes compared to the Maruti Baleno. Save for the front grille and the Toyota badge replacing the Suzuki badge, the Glanza is an exact replica of the Maruti Baleno. The same holds good for the rear of the car, whose only changes are the Toyota badge and the variant badge. The spyshots indicate that the Glanza would be sold in a V trim, which is likely to compare with the top-end Alpha trim of the Baleno.

Toyota is also expected to offer a G variant of the car, which could compare with the Zeta variant of the Baleno. The  Toyota Glanza is also expected to use the same interiors as the Baleno with probably minor changes such as different  fabric trim and colour finishes.

The Toyota-badged car will continue to have the same strengths as that of the Baleno – light kerb weight, high fuel efficiency and peppy performance. The car will be a petrol-only model, and the latest report suggests that it will be powered by a 1.2 liter-4 cylinder K-Series petrol engine that produces 82 Bhp of power and 113 Nm of peak torque.

The Baleno with the Toyota badging will feature two gearbox options – a 5 speed manual and a CVT automatic. As for features, the Glanza will continue with the same set of features that are offered on the Baleno. This means a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, twin airbags and ABS across trims,automatic  climate control, rear parking sensors and camera, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers and more. The car will be sold as a spacious, well finished hatchback that will sit above the Toyota Liva in terms of price and positioning. Maruti Suzuki will supply the Glanza to Toyota, which will then dispatch to its dealerships.

Notably, there’s some confusion regarding who should take credit for the wholesale numbers that the Toyota Glanza  will clock each month. While Maruti Suzuki is saying that it’ll add the number of Glanza hatchbacks supplied to Toyota to the Maruti-badged Baleno’s numbers, Toyota has stated that it’ll consider the Glanza’s numbers as its own dispatches.

RC Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki, told the HinduBusinessline:

We will show the cars sold to Toyota as a wholesale number and will report that accordingly in our monthly sales.”  He said that till the time reporting of numbers to SIAM is in wholesale numbers, we will report the number of cars  supplied to TKM as Maruti’s wholesale number.

Taking a different view of this, N Raja, Deputy Managing Director of Toyota Kirloskar Motors, said:

Maruti cannot count the Glanza sales as wholesale numbers because we will do that … it will be billed to dealers  and then to the customers. We will report them as wholesale numbers every month.

Also Read: Base variants of cars that you should SERIOUSLY consider: Tata Harrier to Mahindra XUV300

There is always a perception that bikes, not the bikers are important when it comes to being capable. Here is a video that shows how important the rider is when it comes to controlling the bike. Here is a video from the popular video channel –JS Films that show the importance of the rider’s skills.

The video is from Bhutan where the group from India is currently visiting and updating their journey through YouTube vlogs daily. This particular video shows a small water crossing and how different bikes handle it. The water crossing in the video is quite deep and has the round river pebbles, which are very slippery and can even make walking through them difficult.

The first bike to attempt the water crossing is a Royal Enfield Himalayan. The bike goes through but gets stuck midway. However, the rider himself gets it free and reaches the other side after a bit of struggling. The second bike to take on the water crossing is a KTM 390 Duke. Now, the Duke is pure street bike but the rider of the bike navigates through the rocks to take it to the other side. The bike does struggle a bit but reaches the other side without much of a problem.

After the 390 Duke goes through, the Royal Enfield Interceptor attempts to clear the water stream. The biker goes through the stream halfway and then gets stuck there badly. After the Royal Enfield Interceptor gets stuck, another person goes through to help the biker and takes his bike to the other side. It is Bullu Biker from YouTuber riding the Interceptor, he is quite experienced and has ridden in various terrains. Sometimes, even experience and skills do not come in handy in such situations and it may just go out of control. It does not mean that the rider has lower skills or is less experienced, it simply means that things always don’t work out as planned.

Nonetheless, in the end, the mighty Hayabusa attempts to cross the stream. The rider keeps the bike stable all through the stream and carefully navigates through the bed of rocks and the deep water crossing. The Suzuki Hayabusa weighs a massive 270 kg and it is extremely difficult to handle on the bad terrains, especially on slow speed. But one cannot ride at a fast pace through a water crossing because the tyre can hit a rock and disbalance the bike. Nonetheless, the rider of the Hayabusa is very experienced and has been riding superbikes for a long time now. The Suzuki Hayabusa is a touring bike and it is made to munch on miles on the open highways. Even though it is not designed to take on the river crossings and bad roads, the rider skills ensured that the Hayabusa went through it without a problem.

Also Read: Base variants of cars that you should SERIOUSLY consider: Tata Harrier to Mahindra XUV300

Car prices have touched the ceiling nowadays with most of the manufacturers having increased the prices during the end of the Fiscal year 2018-19. This has also affected their sales and the auto industry is facing a massive sales slowdown, both for four-wheelers and two-wheelers. As a buyer, it becomes tough for many people to go for their choice of car and many have to settle for a car in the lower segment due to the high prices.

However, you can always consider the base variants of some of the cars which come equipped with decent features instead of settling down for a lower segment car or digging your pockets for higher variants. This not only saves you quite a good amount of money but also gives you the option of going for aftermarket accessories to load up the car, all the while saving some big bucks. Here are some of the cars which offer decent kit on their base variant and can be seriously considered as an option if you are a bit tight on the budget.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR

The good old tallboy WagonR recently received a generation update and the new car is better in every aspect. The base LXi 1.0 variant of the hatchback is priced at Rs. 4.19 lakhs while the top end ZXi 1.2 AMT retails for Rs. 5.69 lakhs. Though the ex-showroom prices of both cars have a difference of less than Rs. 2 lakhs, the difference increases in the on-road prices of both cars.

The base variant of the WagonR comes equipped with a single front airbag along with ABS and EBD. These have been made mandatory under the new safety regulations along with some other safety features like seat belt warning among others. Other features on the car include central locking, rear parking sensor, power windows on the front doors, body coloured bumpers and gear shift indicator. For a car of its price, not many manufacturers offer power windows for even the front doors or body coloured bumpers.

Ford Figo

The newly launched Ford Figo facelift rivals the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Swift and the Hyundai Grand i10 in its segment. The base Ambiente 1.2 variant of the Figo retails at Rs. 5.23 lakhs while the top end Titanium Blu 1.5 variant retails for Rs. 7.55 lakhs. This means that there is a difference of nearly two lakhs in the two variants. The base Ambiente 1.2 variant is powered by a 1.2-litre engine churning out 95 Bhp and 120 Nm while returning an ARAI certified mileage of 20.4 km/l.

Coming on to the features, it comes with two front airbags, ABS and EBD, central locking, tilt adjustable steering and power windows for the front doors. Moreover, Ford is also offering the new Figo with a first-in-class five-year or 100,000 KM warranty, which includes 2-year factory warranty and 3-year extended warranty.

Honda Amaze

The new generation Honda Amaze is among the best sub-4 meter sedans in the market now and is the second best selling car in its segment. The stylish compact sedan’s base E petrol variant retails for Rs. 5.86 lakhs while the top end VX CVT diesel variant retails for Rs. 9.56 lakhs, creating a difference worth Rs. 3.70 lakh in both the variants. The base variant is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine that outputs 89 Bhp and 110 Nm along with an ARAI certified fuel efficiency figure of 19.5 km/l.

It looks quite good due to the big chrome slab at the front and the good body design, though black door handles and ORVMs take down some of its appeal. However, that can be easily taken care of by aftermarket fitments. It comes equipped decently for its asking price and features two airbags at the front, ABS and EBD, rear parking sensors along with front and rear power windows. Honda also offers a 3 year/unlimited km warranty on the Amaze which adds to the peace of mind factor.

Mahindra XUV300

Mahindra’s latest vehicle in its lineup is the XUV300 which is also the most feature-rich vehicle in the sib-4 meter SUVs segment. The base 1.2 W4 variant is priced at Rs. 7.9 lakh while the top of the line 1.8 W8 (O) variant is priced at Rs. 11.99 lakh, which makes the base variant around Rs. 4 lakhs cheaper than the top variant. The base variant is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine that puts out 110 Bhp power and 200 Nm of torque while returning an ARAI certified mileage of 17 km/l. It looks pretty good too thanks to the new modern design, body coloured door handles and ORVMs, and LED tail lamps.

It comes with 16-inch steel rims, multi-mode steering, gear shift indicator, powered tailgate release, an integrated monochrome infotainment system with 4 speakers, power windows for all four doors, electrically adjustable ORVMs, ABS and EBD, twin airbags, central locking, and front seat armrest among others.

Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Yaris might not have turned out to be a big seller but it is a good car in its segment. Moreover, the base J MT variant gets discounts more than Rs. 1 lakh which makes it even value for money vehicle. The typical rugged Toyota built quality is an added bonus. The price difference between the base J MT variant (Rs. 9.29 lakh) and the top of the line VX CVT variant (Rs. 14.07lakh) stands nearly at Rs. 4.80 lakhs which grows even more when you take into account the discounts on the base variant.

The base Variant is fairly equipped too and comes with 7 airbags (a first in segment), ABS and EBD, remote central locking, tilt adjustable steering, height adjustable driver’s seat (manual), cooled glove box,  power windows on all four doors, electrically adjustable ORVMs, Body coloured door handles and ORVMs, projector headlamps with DRLs and armrests for both front and rear seats. The best part is that it gets factory fitted double din audio system which is quite rare in base variants. The car looks pretty good on the outside too and does not feel cheap or like a base variant/

Hyundai Creta

The Hyundai Creta has been the best selling compact SUV ever since its launch. The base E Plus 1.6 variant of the compact SUV retails for Rs. 9.99 lakhs while the top of the line SX 1.6 (O) Executive variant retails for Rs. 15.65 lakhs. The price difference of nearly Rs. 5.65 lakhs brings much more features and equipment on the top variant but the savings made by buying the base variant are quite good.

The base variant’s petrol engine is a pretty powerful unit churning out 122 Bhp and an ARAI certified mileage of 15.29 km/l. It is decently loaded too and comes with dual front airbag, ABS and EBD, remote locking, rear AC vents, tilt steering adjust, height adjustable driver’s seat (manual), body coloured door handles, power windows on all four doors and electrically adjustable ORVMs among others. A lot of people are going for the base variant Creta these days and then upgrading the car using aftermarket accessories and fitments.

Tata Harrier

The recently launched Tata Harrier is available in four variants with the base variant being the XE.  The price difference between the top end XZ variant (Rs. 16.25 lakh) and the base XE variant (Rs. 12.69 lakhs) is around Rs. 3.5 lakhs. If you want a proper big SUV like vehicle with a great road presence and good interiors without spending a fortune, the Harrier XE is perfect for you. The 2.0-litre KRYOTEC engine is the same on all the variants and so is the transmission, which is a 6-speed manual.

The base variant is decently equipped with features like dual front airbags, ABS and EBD, rake and reach adjustable steering, rear AC vents, power windows all over, height adjustable driver’s seat (manual), electrically adjustable ORVMs, projector headlamps and DRLs. On the outside, it looks pretty good even in the base variant due to Tata’s new IMPACT 2.0 design. The on-road prices of both variants will show even bigger savings to be made.

All prices mentioned are ex-showroom, Delhi

Also Read: Base variants of cars that you should SERIOUSLY consider: Tata Harrier to Mahindra XUV300

The success of the KTM Duke 125 in the Indian market has spurred the Austrian brand to consider another small  capacity yet high performance motorcycle for India – the RC125. The KTM RC125 will be th fully faired sibling of the  Duke 125, and will be mechanically similar to the latter. KTM India is said to be planning a June 2019 launch for the  RC125, according to BikeDekho sources.

Key changes will include styling and ergonomics. While the KTM Duke 125 has an upright riding position, the KTM RC 125 will have a much more aggressive and track-focused rider triangle. It’ll get a full fairing, clip-on handlebars,  projector headlamps and a split seat design. The motorcycle is likely to be priced at about Rs. 1.4 lakhs, making it  a cheaper rival to the highly successful Yamaha R15 sportsbike.

The Yamaha R15 is currently the best selling faired  sportsbike in India, across segments. Despite its price of about Rs. 1.4 lakhs, bikers are lapping up the Yamaha R15,  whose 3rd generation version was launched last year at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo.

The KTM RC125 will shares its engine and gearbox with the Duke 125. This means that it’ll use a 125cc, liquid cooled  four stroke engine with a twin overhead camshafts running a 4 valve head. This liquid cooled, fuel injected motor  will make 14.3 Bhp of peak power and 12 Nm of peak torque. A 6 speed manual gearbox will be standard with this  engine.

Like the Duke 125, the KTM RC125 is expected to offer dual disc brakes with single channel ABS as standard.  Suspension components will consist of upside down front forks and a monoshock rear shock absorber. The motorcycle is already being built for the export market at KTM’s Chakan factory, off Pune.

So, the introduction of the KTM RC125 will just be an exercise where Bajaj Auto and KTM will have to get the required regulatory approvals from ARAI, and simply produce more of the motorcycle for the Indian market. This was the case with the KTM Duke 125 as well, which was being exported from KTM’s Chakan factory to Europe and other export markets. Sales of the Duke 125, which was introduced in November 2018, has been exceedingly strong in India. The cheapest, entry level KTM has managed to clock an average of over 2,200 monthly units since launch, making it the Austrian brand’s best selling bike, and one that has outsold all other KTMs put together.

With the RC 125, KTM will be looking to achieve a similar level of success, but the numbers are likely to be slightly  lower than that of the Duke 125 as the riding position of the former will mean that older buyers may not favour the  bike. Even if the KTM RC125 manages to bring in 1,000 additional units of sales each month, it’ll give brand KTM a  big boost in the Indian market by attracting younger buyers. The idea behind the Duke and RC125 is to get younger  buyers into the KTM brand, and move them to the brand’s bigger bikes in the years to come.

Also Read: 5 ways the all-new, 2020 Hyundai Creta could look like

Suzuki will officially launch the all-new Gixxer 250 on 20th May in India and the manufacturer has officially announced it. The much-awaited bike will take on the likes of Yamaha FZ25 and KTM 250 Duke in the market. The Suzuki Gixxer 155 has received a good response from the market and the same is expected from the elder sibling of the bike.

The Indian market will be the first in the world to get the all-new bike but the styling cues can be similar to the Gixxer 155. However, Suzuki will ensure that the Gixxer 250 looks much more muscular than the entry-level Gixxer in India. In fact, the upcoming bike can be inspired by Haojue DR300, which is an upcoming bike from Suzuki’s partner in China. The bike was revealed officially in the Chinese market and will go on sale soon. It gets a very muscular fuel tank with a sleek headlamp at the front. However, the Gixxer 250 can be completely different from the DR300.

Nonetheless, the Gixxer 250 is expected to get features like full LED headlamps and a fully-digital instrument cluster. Suzuki may even add Bluetooth functionality to the Gixxer 250 to stay ahead of the competition. Just like the Gixxer 155, the elder sibling will get an aggressive styling but the riding position is expected to be relaxed just like the Gixxer 155. Other quirky styling can include twin exhaust muffler and split grab rails.

The engine details of the upcoming Suzuki Gixxer 250 are also not known yet. Earlier, the patent of the 250cc engine was leaked. It suggests that the upcoming bike will be powered by a single-cylinder set-up with oil-cooling. It is also expected to get fuel injection system. The engine is expected to produce around 25 PS of maximum power and will get a six-speed transmission. To keep the cost in check, Suzuki may not add features like slipper clutch in the bike. Even the Yamaha FZ25 does not offer the slipper clutch. However, it will get disc brakes on both the wheels with a dual-channel ABS as standard.

The front suspension will be telescopic fork while at the rear a monoshock will be put on work. Suzuki is expected to price the bike aggressively to take on the rivals head-on. It should be noted that Suzuki may also launch a fully-faired version of the bike in the future, which will take on the likes of Honda CBR250 but that may take a long time to become a reality.

The number of affordable performance motorcycles has increased by quite a lot in the recent past in India. With the popularity of such motorcycles growing, we can expect to get more such launches in the Indian market in the coming years.

Also Read: 5 ways the all-new, 2020 Hyundai Creta could look like

Citroen, a part of the PSA Group will soon make its Indian debut. The manufacturer will launch the first car in the Indian market in 2020 and they have already started putting India-specific TVC to establish the brand in the country. Citroen is a well-known brand and will launch the AirCross C5 SUV in the Indian market as their first vehicle. The brand has already made an alliance with the CK Birla Group in India to set-up two manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu.

In their brand film, Citroen highlights the fact that they give importance to the Indian market and will ensure that the Indian customers get the perfect vehicle for use in Indian conditions. The AirCross C5 will be tweaked for the Indian conditions and all other vehicles that will follow the C5 in the Indian market will receive similar tweaks. The brand also highlights that they will ensure digital connectivity with the Citroen dealerships in India through various platforms and it will be a 24X7 service.

Currently, the brand plans to launch a new vehicle in the Indian market every year for the next year after their first vehicle is launched. To keep the cost low, Citroen is aiming to achieve a high level of localisation in India. In the coming times, the brand may be looking at 98% localisation, which will allow the brand to price their vehicles competitively in the price-sensitive Indian market. Citroen will produce the drivetrain and transmission in India which will allow the brand to put an attractive price tag on the vehicles.

Citroen is not planning to a niche brand in India but it will target the mass segment buyers. The price tag of the vehicles will play an important role in the success of the brand in the Indian market. Their first vehicle, the C5 Aircross is already available in the international markets but the Indian version can be tweaked heavily to keep the cost of the vehicle competitive. It is based on the PSA EMP2 platform that underpins other SUVs belonging to the PSA group. The Aircross C5 looks quite different from the regular vehicles on sale and can turn a lot of heads on the road. The international-spec Aircross C5 is quite loaded with features and offers LED headlamps, wireless phone charging, touchscreen infotainment system, hydraulic suspension, emergency assistance and more.

In the brand videos released by the group in India also invites prospective dealership partners to become a part of the group. PSA will launch their first product well after the dust of the upcoming BNVSAP safety norms and BS-VI emission norm settle down in India. Both the upcoming norms will see quite a few changes in the vehicles available in the Indian market.

Also Read: 5 ways the all-new, 2020 Hyundai Creta could look like

Yuvraj Singh, the famous Indian cricketer is also a serious car nut. He owns a number of sports and luxury cars and has even been spotted driving on the Buddh Internationa circuit a number of times. Now, the cricketer has acquired a BMW M5 sedan which is known for its powerful engine and driving pleasure. To let you know, this is not a brand new car but a used example that he has bought from Big Boyz Toyz (BBT). BBT uploaded the picture on its official Instagram account confirming that Yuvi has indeed bought the car.

View this post on Instagram

Another SuperStar with his SuperCar! Yuvraj singh with his Fully customized M5 @yuvisofficial Many more to come. Drive your dream car home today! Call/WhatsApp us now at 9999-9999-83 …. Or walk in to our showroom Anyday from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M. Gurgaon | Delhi | Mumbai #BBT #BigBoyToyz #SuperCarsForSuperStars #IPL #ipl #trending #cricket #BMW #M5 #customized

A post shared by Big Boy Toyz (@bigboytoyz_india) on Apr 29, 2019 at 10:40pm PDT

Wrapped in blue, the M5 that Yuvraj has bought is the E60 generation model. Yuvi previously owned a similar E60 M5 which he reportedly sold off. Talking about the car, it is powered by a 5.0-litre V10 engine that churns a maximum power of 500 Bhp along with 520 Nm of torque. It came with a launch control system and adjustable suspension among many other features. The engine came with two transmission options, a six-speed manual box and an SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) transmision.

The BMW E60 5-Series (not the M variant) was ridiculed by many enthusiasts for its overly complicated electronics, ‘Bangle’-ish design (Chris Bangle was the chief designer of BMW back then) among other issues. However, the M5 E60 was greatly loved because of the S85 V10 engine it came with. The later generations of the M5 began using twin turbos for induction while this beast of an engine was a naturally aspirated unit. More than anything, it was known for the outright grunt it offered and how good the car actually was for ‘Sheer Driving Pleasure’, which was BMW’s tagline before it was changed to ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’. The automatic SMG box, however, was a chink in the car’s armour as it proved to be laggy and not too enthusiastic for driving.

Moving on, Yuvraj owns a host of other sports/supercars too, apart from a few luxury offerings. Among the many cars he owns, some of them include the Lamborghini Murcielago, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, BMW X6 M, BMW E46 M3 convertible, Audi Q5 and the BMW 3 series. Yuvraj therefore is not new to the world of performance car and has been seen testing the limits of his orange Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640-4 on the Buddha International Circuit too.

Also Read: 5 ways the all-new, 2020 Hyundai Creta could look like