Being India’s second largest car manufacturer in terms of sales, Hyundai has seen its fair shares of successful products as well as failed products in the market. The Korean automaker is currently busy in making preparations of its latest product for India, the Venue sub-4 meter SUV. It will be followed by a number of other launched like the Kona EV and the Tucson facelift which indicates that Hyundai will have a busy time ahead. As many of you might already know, not all cars by Hyundai were received very well by the public and have been forgotten since long. In this post, let’s take a look at 10 forgotten Hyundai cars that were sold in India.

Getz

The Hyundai Getz was launched in 2005 in India. The hatchback had a pretty decent ride quality and came with generous space on the inside. It is remembered by many enthusiasts for its powerful 1.5-litre diesel engine that produced 110 Bhp of power and 235 Nm of torque. At a time when Hyundai thought they finally had a winner in their hands, Maruti Suzuki launched the Swift which slew every other car in the segment at that time, including the Getz.

Accent Viva

You might well remember the Accent sedan as it was quite popular during its days. However, it had a notchback cousin too which was known as the Hyundai Accent Viva. The Accent Viva was aimed at buyers who were looking beyond the regular family sedan. However, it turned out that not many buyers were actually looking beyond family sedans at that time which led to the car’s failure. The Viva was powered by a 1.5-litre CRDI engine that produced 81 Bhp of power and 187 Nm of torque.

Elantra (fourth generation)

While Hyundai is yet to launch the facelifted version of the sixth generation Elantra in India, it was the third generation Elantra that started the nameplate’s journey in India. Launched in 2004, the Elantra wasn’t as successful as the company thought it might be. A reason for behind this was the success of the Toyota Corolla, which was the choice of customers at that time. The polarising design of the Elantra didn’t help matters either and the third-gen Elantra was discontinued in India in 2010.

Sonata Gold

The Hyundai Sonata Gold was a good looking car of its time and had a pretty rear end along with those Mercedes-Benz inspired headlamp design. It was launched in India in 2001 but despite having Shahrukh Khan associated with the Hyundai brand, it never went on to become a raging success in the country. Rivalled by the likes of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry it performed poorly at sales and was finally discontinued in 2005.

Sonata Embera

The Hyundai Sonata Embera was launched in 2004 and was an upgrade from the Sonata Gold.  The fifth-generation Sonata was the most expensive sedan sold by Hyundai in India at that time. Despite it being a decent car, the Sonata Embera was again a complete sales failure and is as rare as a Rolls Royce on streets. It was discontinued four years after its launch due to unimpressive sales, a major reason for which was the Honda Accord.

Fluidic Sonata

Hyundai again tried to capture the executive sedan market in India by launching the sixth-generation Sonata in India in 2012. It was priced at Rs. 18 lakh (ex-showroom). The car was definitely a looker and was one of the first cars in the company’s stable to get the fluidic design treatment. However, a thirsty petrol engine and the steep price tag didn’t help the Sonata’s case in India though it came with nice interiors with several great features.

Tucson (first generation)

The First-generation Hyundai Tucson had a slightly quirky design. It was launched in India in 2005 and was more of a luxury soft-roader than a proper SUV. At that time though, the Indian market wasn’t quite ready for a vehicle like it and therefore the first-gen Tucson found a few takers. The company, therefore, decided not to launch the second-gen Tucson here it was only in 2016 that Hyundai launched the third generation Tucson in India. Later this year, Hyundai will also launch a new facelifted version of the current generation Tucson.

Terracan

Hyundai launched the Terracan SUV here in 2004 and it was positioned as the flagship vehicle in the company’s model lineup in India. Powered by a 2.9-litre turbocharged engine that churned out 148 bhp and 343 Nm, it used to be the torquiest full-size SUV on sale in the country. The ladder frame SUV with AWD drivetrain, however, came a bit ahead of its time and hence, didn’t find many takers. The

Santa Fe (second generation)

The second-generation Hyundai Santa Fe arrived in India as a CBU import and therefore commanded a rather hefty price tag. Unfortunately, premium SUV buyers were not enamoured with either the price tag or the fact that this was an SUV from a company best known for cars like the Santro. Most opted to go for the more capable and popular Toyota Fortuner, which meant that the Santa Fe tanked when the sales charts came out. With not so many sold in India, it comes as no surprise that the second-gen Santa Fe has made this list.

Santa Fe (third generation)

With the second generation Santa Fe failing to capture the market, Hyundai replaced it with the next generation model. The third-gen Santa Fe’s was styling more aggressively and was a looker thanks to Hyundai’s Fluidic design philosophy. While the 3rd gen Santa Fe did a lot better than its predecessor, the SUV still could not match the Toyota Fortuner and was finally shelved later on.

Also Read: India's first used Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 for sale!

The sales of passengers have seen a slowdown in recent times in India. There are various reasons for the slowdown. However, manufacturers are giving a push to sales by offering discounts on vehicles. Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest carmaker is also offering discounts on almost all the cars in its range. Here are all the discounts offered by Maruti Suzuki India for the month of May.

2019 Maruti Suzuki Alto 800

Discount: Up to Rs 35,000

Maruti Suzuki recently launched the updated version of the Alto 800 with updated front-end and the mandatory feature list. The car now looks very different and fresh. Maruti is currently offering a discount of Rs 15,000 cash discount and Rs 20,000 exchange bonus on the Alto 800. The discount is available through the variants of the Alto 800.

2019 Maruti Suzuki Alto K10

Discount: Up to 45,000

Maruti also launched the new 2019 version of the Alto K10 earlier this year and it is also available on a discount. The more powerful version of the Alto gets powered by a 1.0-litre engine. The manual version of the car gets Rs 20,000 cash discount while the AMT automatic version gets Rs 25,000 discount. Both the variants get an exchange bonus of Rs 20,000.

Maruti Eeco

Discount: Up to Rs 15,000

The Maruti Suzuki Eeco is a popular car in the commercial segment. It offers oodles of space and comes in various different seating configuration 5o suit different kinds of needs. Maruti Suzuki India is offering a cash discount of Rs 5,000 and exchange bonus of Rs 10,000 with the Eeco in the month of May.

Maruti Celerio

Discount: Up to Rs 45,000

Maruti Suzuki is offering a discount of up to Rs 45,000 on the Celerio in the month of May. There is a cash discount of Rs 25,000 plus an exchange bonus of Rs 20,000. The discount is applicable to both manual and automatic versions of the car. Maruti Suzuki Celerio is currently only available with a petrol engine as Maruti Suzuki earlier discontinued the diesel-powered Celerio due to low sales.

All-new Maruti WagonR

Discount: Up to Rs 15,000

Maruti Suzuki launched the all-new WagonR in the Indian market earlier this year. It is based on the all-new HEARTECT platform and is much bigger than the last generation vehicle. Maruti is not offering a cash discount but there is an exchange bonus of Rs 15,000.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Discount: Up to Rs 35,000

The all-new Maruti Suzuki Swift is a popular car in the market. It is available in both petrol and diesel engine options and gets AMT automatic option with both the engine options. Maruti is offering a maximum of Rs 15,000 cash discount with all the variants of the car and Rs 20,000 extra exchange bonus with the car.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Discount: Up to Rs 40,000

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire became extremely popular in the market and even reached the top of the sales chart for quite a few months. Maruti Suzuki Dzire has become the best-selling sedan in India. It offers AMT automatic transmission with both petrol and diesel engine options. All the variants get a discount of Rs 20,000 and Rs 20,000 exchange bonus.

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

Discount: Up to Rs 30,000

The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is the best-selling UV in India. It is only available with a 1.3-litre diesel engine but there is an optional AMT automatic transmission available with the SUV too. Maruti is offering Rs 15,000 cash discount and Rs 15,000 exchange bonus on the car.

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

Discount up to Rs 30,000

Maruti Suzuki Ignis was updated earlier this year with minor visual changes. Maruti Suzuki also stopped offering the diesel engine option with the Ignis line-up. Currently, it is available with a cash discount of Rs 15,000 and Rs 15,000 exchange bonus. There is an additional corporate discount of up to Rs 2,500 too.

Maruti Suzuki S-Cross

Discount up to Rs 45,000

The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross is available with a discount of up to Rs 45,000. The S-Cross gets powered only by the 1.3-litre diesel engine with a Mild Hybrid system. It gets a cash discount of Rs 20,000 plus an additional exchange bonus of Rs 25,000. Customers can even get a corporate discount of up to Rs 10,000.

Maruti Suzuki Ciaz

Discount up to Rs 40,000

Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is a popular choice in the market. Currently, the manufacturer is offering up to Rs 40,000 discount on it. The Sigma, Delta and Zeta manual versions get Rs 15,000 cash discount while the automatic Alpha and Alpha manual get no cash discount at all. However, all the variants get Rs 25,000 exchange bonus and an additional corporate discount of Rs 10,000

Also Read: India's first used Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 for sale!

Just days ago, we brought you a story about India’s first Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 for sale. Now, it’s the  Continental GT 650’s turn to hit the used bike circuit in India. India’s first used Royal Enfield GT 650 is priced at  Rs. 2.85 lakhs, which is negotiable. It’s run 747 kilometers, and is less than 2 months old. The seller, in this case  Saraswati Motors of Karol Bagh, Delhi, claims that the motorcycle is scratch-less, and in showroom condition. The  used Continental GT 650 gets a 5 year insurance, 3 year warranty, and has completed a first service at a Royal Enfield authorized service center.

So, why should anyone buy a 747 kilometers run Royal Enfield Continental GT 650?

Two words: Waiting period. Suppose you want to buy a brand new Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, you will have to  wait for a minimum of 2-4 months after booking one as the demand for this motorcycle is quite high. If you wish to skip the waiting period, a good option is to pick a pristine example from the used motorcycle market. In addition to company warranty and free services, such motorcycles also give the buyer significant savings. In this case, the buyer will get a straight 10 % discount on the on-road price of the motorcycle thanks to its ‘used bike’ status.

Who should avoid this motorcycle?

Those who want relaxed ergonomics should stay away from the GT 650. The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is a cafe-racer styled motorcycle that gets rear set foot pegs, clip-on handlebars and a riding position that requires the  rider to crouch and stretch out. While a lot of riders who’re fit will enjoy this riding position, which allows them  to corner more aggressively, others will find the riding position a little too aggressive. So, the GT 650 is not for them. They can instead consider the Interceptor 650, which has relaxed ergonomics.

The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 was launched late last year, alongside the Interceptor 650. Both motorcycles  have the same mechanicals and cycle parts while styling and ergonomics are different. Both bikes use a 647cc,  parallel twin engine that Royal Enfield has just developed. This motor makes 47 Bhp-52 Nm, and is the most modern  unit that Royal Enfield has ever produced. It gets four valve heads running on a single overhead camshaft, and is  fuel injected.

There’s air-oil cooling on offer, and the motor is paired to a 6 speed manual gearbox with a slipper clutch as  standard. Telescopic front forks, twin gas charged rear shock absorbers, twin exhausts, disc brakes on both wheels  with dual channel ABS and spoked wheels are key features of both the GT 650 and Interceptor. Both motorcycles are  capable of hitting top speeds of over 160 Kph, with the 0-100 Kph sprint coming up in under 6 seconds. Royal Enfield not only sells this bikes in India but exports it to countries around the world.

Also Read: India's first used Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 for sale!

There are many cars that have run for lakhs of kilometres and still have the juice to run for many more but most two-wheelers do not reach that kind of mileage in their lifetime. Here is a Bajaj Platina that has reached an exceptional mileage of 2.87 km and here’s what the owner of the bike thinks about it.

The video uploaded by KHOZ INDIA shows the owner of the bike talking about the bike. This is 2015 Bajaj Platina and belongs to Jagannath Shinde who belongs from Satara district in Maharashtra. Jagannath Shinde introduces himself as the son of a farmer and says he has always been an enthusiast for long distance touring. According to Jagannath, he has dreamt of exploring on a motorcycle since childhood.

After buying the bike on 15th August 2015, he left for his first trip in September where he covered states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttrakhand and other adjoining states. Jagannath has also done the Ladakh region on the very same Platina. According to him, on his way to Leh, he was stopped at Manali because of the small capacity bike. After that, he requested the DC of Manali who allowed him to go on the journey. The Platina has also reached the Khardung La top, which is quite a feat.

Jagannath plans to complete a total of 5 lakh km on the Platina in the coming years. He says that the Platina that he is riding is extremely comfortable and does not feel any discomfort on the bike. In one stretch, he has completed more than 800 km in 18 hours from Pune to Mysore.

Jagannath says that the engine is stock and no work has been done on it yet. He changes the engine oil every 4,000 km to keep it in the top condition. The clutch is also in stock condition. He says that the front tyre of the bike has been replaced 6 times and the rear tyre of the bike has been replaced 10 times during the lifetime of the bike. He gets a fuel efficiency of over 80 km/l on the highways and 60 km/l on the mountain roads. He then shares his best moments with the bike saying how both of them survived the worst roads in the North Eastern states. He remembers that it took him 7 hours to cover 25 km and even after falling down multiple times, the bike never failed.

The Bajaj Platina seen in the video looks in stock form. However, it gets a few additions like a top box in the rear to keep the essentials safe during the trips. He has also pasted various stickers on the bike that he has collected during his journeys to the different corners of the country. People who are wondering about why odometer showing only 87,000 km should note that maximum odometer reading that can be displayed on the Platina is 99,000 and after that, the odometer resets to zero!

Also Read: Hyundai Creta has longest waiting period & Renault Duster has shortest among compact SUVs

SUV sales have been going strong despite the market slowdown and therefore the auto manufacturers are planning to bring in new SUVs in the market. However, apart from the new models, several current SUVs will also be getting facelift treatment while others will get a new variant. Let’s us move on to the list below which talk about the 7 upcoming SUV facelifts and variants that will be launched this year.

Mahindra XUV300 AT

Expected launch by: Q4 2019

Mahindra launched the XUV300 in February this year and the sub-4 meter SUV has already become the second best selling vehicle in its segment. Available in both petrol and diesel engine variants, the XUV300 comes with only a six-speed manual gearbox as no automatic option was made available on the SUV at the time of its launch. Mahindra will launch an AMT equipped version of the SUV this year in order to increase the SUVs market appeal. It is also being said that the company will replace the AMT box next year with a torque converter unit after the BSVI norms kick in.

Renault Duster facelift

Expected launch by: Q4 2019

Renault will not launch the new generation Duster in India but a facelifted model that will arrive here by the end of this year. The Duster Facelift will look quite the same but will get projector headlamps with LED DRLs, raised bonnet, new roof rails, new alloy wheels, new tail lamps, and slightly updated body panels to make the Duster look new. The new facelift may even add an option of a sunroof on the SUV. Renault may not offer the 85 PS version of the 1.5-litre diesel engine with the new Duster. Instead, the 1.5-litre petrol and the 1.5-litre diesel engine are expected to be updated to meet the upcoming emission norms.

Mahindra Thar ABS

Expected launch by: Q2-Q3 2019

The Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP) norms have kicked in from the 1st of April 2019, which means that the Thar cannot be registered in any state of India in its current form. Mahindra is already developing the new generation Thar and the lifestyle vehicle has been spied testing numerous times. Before discontinuing the current generation model, Mahindra will launch a special model of the Thar which will come equipped with ABS. However, it is not yet known whether this model will also sport other safety equipment like parking sensors and airbags among others or not.

Tata Harrier AT

Expected launch by: Q4 2019

The Tata Harrier is already selling like hot cakes but Tata is working towards improving the whole package further. For the same, it will launch an automatic transmission option on the SUV which is one of the major drawbacks of the SUV till now. The launch is likely to happen before the end of this year. The gearbox we are talking about will be a 6-speed torque converter unit sourced from Hyundai, which will also be found on the Cassini. Speculations are rife that Tata is also working upon an AWD version of the Harrier but there is no official word on that yet.

Jeep Compass Trailhawk

Expected launch by: July 2019

The launching of the Compass Trailhawk has been on hold since 2018 but reports suggest that the company will finally launch the SUV by July this year. The Trailhawk moniker it carries means that this compass will come with Active Drive Low 4×4 System, which is a proper four-wheel-drive system and comes with a low range, a rear-locking differential, hill-descent control and an additional Rock mode for the Selec-Terrain system. It also gets a higher ground clerance as well as better water wading capacity. It will be powered by a BSVI compliant 2.0-litre diesel engine that comes paired to a new 9-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The four-cylinder, turbocharged engine produces 170 Hp of power and 350 Nm of torque in the Euro-spec variant. We expect that the Jeep Compass Trailhawk will be priced around the Rs. 27 lakh mark when launched.

Hyundai Tucson facelift

Expected launch by: Q2-Q3 2019

The Tucson facelift has been delayed by Hyundai for long now but will be finally launched by the end of the second quarter this year. Though not a big seller, the facelifted version comes with sharper styling, LED lamps, new alloys and cascading grille upfront along with a host of new features. On the inside, the new Tucson will come with new driver-assistance features like autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera. There will also be a new 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and the car will continue to be powered by the same set of engines.

Volkswagon Tiguan AllSpace

Expected launch by: Q4 2019

Volkswagen will introduce the long-wheelbase variant of the Tiguan here by the end of this year. This LWB version of the Tiguan may be called the AllSpace as Volkswagen calls its other LWB vehicles in Europe. It will come with an extra row of seat and will be similar to the Skoda Kodiaq. With the launch of the new car, Volkswagen may reposition the regular Tiguan to make it more affordable in the market. Volkswagen currently uses a 2.0-litre diesel engine to power the Tiguan in the Indian market. It produces a maximum of 148 Bhp and a peak torque of 340 Nm. The 4WD SUV gets a seven-speed DSG transmission. The same set-up can be expected in the upcoming Tiguan AllSpace.

Also Read: Hyundai Creta has longest waiting period & Renault Duster has shortest among compact SUVs

Hyundai will launch the Venue sub-4 meter compact SUV in India on the 21st of May, 2019. The SUV has already been unveiled, and bookings are now open across all Hyundai dealerships in India. The Venue will be available in a slew of variants across engine and gearbox options. The diesel engined version, which will be powered by a 1.4 liter CRDI turbocharged motor, will make 89 Bhp-220 Nm, and will get a single transmission option: a 6 speed manual gearbox.

The petrol powered Hyundai Venue variants will get two engine options: a 1.2 liter VTVT naturally aspirated petrol with 82 Bhp-114 Nm, and a 1 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged motor with 118 Bhp-172 Nm. While the naturally aspirated petrol engine will get a 5 speed manual gearbox, the turbo petrol motor will get 6 speed manual and 7 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox options.

What are the variants in which each of the Venue’s engine options be available in? Here are details!

Hyundai Venue E: 1.2 Petrol 5MT, 1.4 diesel 6MT

• 15-inch steel wheels
• Dual front airbags
• ABS
• Central locking
• Single horn
• Rear parking sensors
• Speed-sensing door locks
• Full wheel covers
• Cloth upholstery
• Adjustable front seat headrests
• Fixed rear seat headrests Manual air-con
• Tilt steering
• Front power windows
• Front 12V outlet
• Tachometer

In addition to the above features, Hyundai Venue S will receive: 1.2 petrol 5MT, 1.0T petrol with 6MT and 7DCT and 1.4 Diesel with 6MT

• Keyless entry
• Rear defogger
• Body-coloured wing mirrors
• Roof rails
• Chrome grille
• Double stitch cloth upholstery
• Front armrest with storage
• Luggage lamp
• Rear parcel tray
• Rear AC vents
• Power wing mirrors
• All four power windows
• Rear blower outlet below rear AC vent
• Cooled glove box
• Sun visors with mirrors
• 2 DIN audio with CD, FM/AM, USB and Bluetooth
• Steering mounted controls
• Four speakers with two tweeters
• Micro antenna

In addition to the above features, Hyundai Venue S DCT will receive:

• ESC and vehicle stability management
• ‘Supervision’ instrument cluster

In addition to the above features, the Hyundai Venue SX will receive: 1.0T petrol 6MT and DCT, 1.4L Diesel with 6MT

• 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels
• Front projector fog lamps
• Auto headlamps
• Projector headlamps with cornering function
• LED daytime running lamps
• Wing mirrors with turn indicators
• LED tail lamps
• Adjustable rear seat headrests
• Leather wrapped gear knob
• Leather wrapped steering wheel
• Height adjustable driver’s seat
• Power folding wing mirrors
• Rear camera display on Audio player
• Cruise control
• Power sunroof
• Map lights
• 8-inch display with Arkamys system
• Shark fin antenna
• USB charging
• Voice recognition

In addition to the above features, Hyundai Venue SX+ will receive: 1.0T Petrol with 7DCT only

• ESC
• Security alaram
• Chrome door handles
• Supervision cluster
• Wireless charging
• 8-inch audio-video
• Navigation
• OE telematics
• Day/night auto internal mirror
• Smart key with push button start
• Air purifier

In addition to the above features, Hyundai Venue SX Dual Tone will receive: 1.0T petrol with 6MT and 1.4 Diesel with 6MT

• 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels
• Leather seats (fabric and PU)

In addition to the above features, Hyundai Venue SX (O) will receive:  1.0T petrol with 6MT, 1.4 Diesel with 6MT

• 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels
• Side and curtain airbags
• ESC and vehicle stability management
• Brake assist system
• Chrome door handles
• Sliding centre armrest
• Supervision cluster
• 60:40 split rear seats
• Smart key with push button start
• Wireless charging
• Air purifier
• Rear wiper and washer
• Rear seat armrest with cup holders
• 8-inch audio-video navigation
• OE Telematics with remote

Via ACI

Also Read: Hyundai Creta has longest waiting period & Renault Duster has shortest among compact SUVs

Hyundai is betting big on ride-hailing smartphone apps. It has just earmarked over Rs. 2,000 crores to invest in Ola,  a Bangalore-based smartphone ride-hailing app. The South Korean automaker is now working on electric cars that are meant specifically for Ola. This electric car will be developed under Hyundai’s Smart EV program, and work has  already begun on this front. The electric car meant for Ola will be launched sometime in 2021. Hyundai could even  advance the launch timeline to 2020, according to sources cited by LiveMint.

Here are some comments made by sources said to be close to the EV development at Hyundai India,

The investment in Ola was made with an intent of testing these vehicles as electric mobility in India will gain traction in cab services rather than personal usage. The electric vehicles will be launched most likely in 2021, but with Hyundai’s capability, it can hit the market in 2020 as well. Hyundai knows that in India and other parts of the world, electric mobility will be first adopted by cab service providers and other commercial fleet operators. The investment in Ola gives it a ready-made platform to test its vehicles. While, for Ola, this will help it induct quality but low-cost electric vehicles, custom made from one of the leading manufacturers in the world.

The Indian government has announced that the FAME-2 (Faster Adoption and Manufacture of Electric Vehicles) subsidy will be aimed mainly at the taxi/commercial vehicle segment. This also means that electric cars operating with the taxi-plate will get maximum subsidy, which is why Hyundai is also developing electric cars to address this specific market. Personal car buyers are likely to take more time to make the switch to electric cars and cab operators are expected to be more willing to make the switch.

Hyundai’s first electric car for the Indian market, due later this year, will be aimed at the personal car buyer  though. A presence market of sorts, the Hyundai Kona electric SUV will be launched by thge end of this year, and is likely to be priced at about Rs. 20-25 lakhs.

It’s meant to be a demonstration of Hyundai’s capability in the electric vehicle space. The Kona Electric will offer  a battery range of about 250-300 kilometers, making it a great intra-city alternative to petrol and diesel cars. It’ll be assembled at Hyundai India’s Sriperumbudur factory, off Chennai.

The electric cars that Hyundai will produce to supply to Ola will be heavily localized, and also manufactured in  India. This will ensure that the electric cars are priced within affordable levels for the cab market, and also keep maintenance costs low.

Also Read: Hyundai Creta has longest waiting period & Renault Duster has shortest among compact SUVs

The Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 is perhaps one of the most inexpensive ways to own a new four-wheeler in the country. The entry-level hatchback is quite popular and among the best selling cars in India. However, terms like modification and customizations are not something that one associates with the Alto 800 generally. But the Alto 800 featured here today can set your pulses racing in no time with its mean looks and unforgiving stance. Take a look at the video below by Inshallah Motors which shows the car in its full glory.

Painted in glossy black, this Alto 800 is one radical looking car for sure. According to the video, the whole process of modifying a stock Maruti Alto 800 into this form took 5 days. Talking about the exterior changes made on the cars, it gets new half smoked headlamps with red LED DRLs. The Suzuki logo has been painted dark blue while the radiator grille has been replaced by a honeycomb designed unit. The grille also features BMW M spec red and blue racing strips on its side. The lower bumper end has been fitted with an LED light bar too.

The sides feature hot looking black alloy wheels with red rim end highlights. Alloys add quite a bit of appeal to any car and the same is the case with this Alto here. Apart from the alloys, the rest of the side profile remains the same save for several stickers on either side. The roof of the car has been wrapped with a multi-shade reflector chrome wrap that further adds to the looks of the car.

Coming to the rear end of the car, a new set of tail lamps have replaced the stock units for good. These aftermarket LED units look quite good, especially so at night. A custom diffuser is also seen towards the bottom with faux exhaust tips. The interiors of this Alto 800 have also been upgraded and look far more attractive than on the stock car. Red highlights are now present in several areas like the AC vents which hint towards the sporty nature of this mod job. The steering wheel is an aftermarket unit which also looks sporty.

The dashboard now features several meters on the opposite side of the instrument console which displays various information like temperature and engine revs. Moreover, a touchscreen infotainment system from Pioneer completes the interior mod job while adding functionality to it. Talking about the Alto 800, Maruti is working on the new generation model of the hatchback which is expected to launch in 2020. This new model will have a tall boy design and is based on the Future S concept showcased by the company at the Delhi Auto Expo some years back.

Also Read: Hyundai Creta has longest waiting period & Renault Duster has shortest among compact SUVs

Toyota launched the Fortuner here back in 2009 and the demand for the SUV was such that the Japanese manufacturer had to shut down the bookings for a short interval. Fast forward to a decade ahead in 2019 and the demand of the Toyota Fortuner is still very strong. Despite having strong rivals like the Ford Endeavour and the Skoda Koidaq among others, the Fortuner is much ahead in terms of sales. However, the SUV is an expensive affair and even for the base model, one has to shell above Rs. 30 lakhs. But what if you could easily buy the SUV in less than the price of a top end Tata Nexon.

For the record, the Tata Nexon costs Rs. 10.90 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the top end variant. For that amount, one could easily buy a used Toyota Fortuner in good condition. While it is true that the running and maintenance cost of a used Fortuner will be higher than the Tata Nexon, what you’ll get is a much bigger, luxurious, and powerful SUV. The road presence of the Fortuner is a further plus. The resale value of this SUV is quite good and you can sell it again at a good rate after you’re done with it. Let’s now check out five examples of used Toyota Fortuner SUVs that are available for less than the top end Tata Nexon.

1. 9.60 lakhs

Starting off the list is this black Toyota Fortuner which is a 2012 model. It is the facelifted model of the Fortuner that the company launched late in 2012. Powered by the 3.0-litre diesel engine, it has a manual transmission and comes with a 4×4 drivetrain. It is currently with its third owner in Ahmedabad. As for the odometer readings, it shows that this black Toyota Fortuner has run a total of 1.31 lakhs km till date. As it has seen three owners in its life, such an odo reading is nothing extraordinary. Click on the link below to check it out yourself.

Link

2. 10 Lakhs!

The second one is this 2016 model finished in white, which also happens to be the most popular colour of the Fortuner in India. It is powered by a 2.8-litre diesel mill that comes mated to a manual transmission. The drivetrain on this Fortuner is 4×2, which means it is best to run it on the roads. Currently, it is in Ludhiana with its first owner and it has been driven for over 1.40 lakh km. Most of the Toyota Fortuners run for well over a lakh km in their lifetimes on an average and still come out strong due to the excellent build quality of Toyota.

Link

3. 8.82 lakhs!

The third example here today is another white Fortuner which is a 2011 model. It is powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine that is mated to a manual gearbox. The drivetrain, however, is 4×2 here which means it can’t be taken for weekend off-road rides. It is currently in Delhi and in possession of its second owner. As for the odometer readings, this Fortuner has run for a total of 90,240 km on the road. Compared to some other examples here, that is not much. Click on the link below to take a look at it yourself.

Link

4. 9.55 lakhs!

Moving on, we have this black Toyota Fortuner which is a 2011 model. It gets powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine and comes equipped with a manual transmission. It is currently with its first owner only in Noida, which is a good thing as the car has not changed hands before. Talking about its odometer readings, this black Toyota Fortuner has run for a total of 87,000 km. Moreover, it comes with a 4×4 drivetrain which makes it fairly capable off the road too. Check out the example by clicking on the link below.

Link

5. 9.45 lakhs!

Finishing off the list is this cyan Toyota Fortuner, which is a welcome change from the sea of black and white Fortuner SUVs on our roads. It is a 2009 model, which is also the year when Toyota launched the Fortuner in India. It is powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine that comes mated to a manual transmission. It is currently with its second owner in the city of Ahmedabad. As for the odometer readings, it has been driven for a total of 1.70 lakh km. Given that it is a 2009 model, the 1.5 lakh km plus distance it has run for is quite understandable.

Link

Also Read: Hyundai Creta has longest waiting period & Renault Duster has shortest among compact SUVs

Tata Motors could move away from diesel engines for its small cars such as the Tiago hatchback and Tigor compact  sedan. The Nexon compact SUV, which is also a sub-4 meter offering from the automaker, is expected to carry on with the 1.5 liter turbocharged diesel engine.

It remains to be seen if the upcoming Tata Altroz premium hatchback – due for launch in the second half of this year  – will get a diesel engine. If the Altroz does end up having a diesel engine option, we expect it to be the Nexon’s  1.5 liter-4 cylinder unit rather than the 1.1 liter-3 cylinder motor that is offered on the Tiago and Tigor.

The decision from Tata Motors to steer away from diesel engines on its small cars has to do with tightening of  emission norms from April 2020. Bharat Stage 6 norms will come into force from April 2020, and this will make diesel engined cars significantly more expensive than petrol powered cars.

The price difference between petrol and diesel engined cars could be nearly Rs. 2 lakhs once the new emission norms kick in. This makes diesel engined cars impractical for most buyers in the small car segment. In fact, the country’s leading automaker Maruti Suzuki has already announced that it will not offer diesel engines on its small cars.

Mayank Pareek, Tata Motors’ president of the passenger vehicles business unit, had this to say about the shift away  from diesel engines in small cars,

We feel that low demand for entry- and mid-size diesel models will not justify the high costs involved in developing  a new small capacity engine. Given that these high costs will ultimately have to be passed on to the end customer,  the sale of diesel vehicles will logically see a decline in the industry.

Tata Motors will continue to offer diesel engines on its larger SUVs such as the Hexa, Harrier and upcoming Cassini.  This is an approach most car makers in India are likely to take – abandoning small diesels while continuing to offer  bigger diesels.

Ford has announced that its diesel powered cars including the Figo and Aspire will continue to be sold even post  April 2020, and that it was confident of meeting the April 2020 deadline for BS6 norms. Similarly, Hyundai will also  continue offering a diesel engine on most of its offerings save for entry-level hatchbacks. Mahindra is also ready  with BS6 diesel engines for many of its SUVs, which will also gain electric variants shortly.

Via LiveMint

Also Read: Hyundai Creta has longest waiting period & Renault Duster has shortest among compact SUVs

Toyota Glanza, which is the first product to come out of the Suzuki-Toyota partnership soon after its launch next month has been revealed through numerous spy pictures. Earlier pictures showed what the upcoming rebadged version of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno will look like in production form. Now, new pictures also reveal the interior of the upcoming hatchback completely.

The new pictures on MotorOctane reveal the interior of the first premium hatchback from Toyota completely. The cabin of the upcoming Toyota Glanza will be identical to the Maruti Suzuki’s cabin, except for the monikers. The dashboard layout of the Glanza is identical to the Maruti Suzuki Baleno with the same cabin theme and even the identical steering wheel.

The touchscreen infotainment screen placed in the middle is also identical to the Maruti Suzuki Baleno but since it was not on, we are not sure if it uses the same SmartPlay UI like the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. However, most likely the Toyota Glanza will use the exact same SmartPlay infotainment system that is available with the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. At most, Toyota will replace the brand logo in the software.

It should be noted that even the exterior of the Glanza is also identical to the Maruti Suzuki Baleno except for the brand logos. Even the bumper, grille and alloy wheels are kept the same. Since all the features and looks are same, the feature list of both the vehicles is expected to remain identical too. Toyota will not add or customise any extra features in the upcoming Glanza that is manufactured at Maruti Suzuki’s Gujarat plant and will be supplied to Toyota.

The engine details of the upcoming Glanza are not confirmed. However, it is known that it will get only the petrol engine. Maruti Suzuki is most likely to supply only the BS-VI compliant 1.2-litre DualJet VVT engine to Toyota. The new engine was recently launched with the Baleno and will be sold alongside the regular 1.2-litre petrol engine.  The new engine also gets the SHVS mild hybrid system, which is highly likely to make way to the Glanza too. Maruti Suzuki is yet to officially reveal the power and torque figures of the new engine but it produces around 90 Bhp and 120 Nm of peak torque. It is only available with a 5-speed manual transmission and there’s no option of getting an automatic transmission with the new engine. In the future, Toyota may launch an automatic variant of the Glanza in the market but for now, it will be available only with a manual transmission. Toyota will offer the car in two trims and both of them will be higher-spec variants loaded with the features.

Since Toyota has not made any changes to the vehicle, it can price it aggressively in the market. However, the price will remain higher than the Maruti Suzuki Baleno’s price. It should be noted that the new spy pictures also reveal the key of the Glanza, which looks exactly the same Baleno’s key with a different logo.

Also Read: Hyundai Creta has longest waiting period & Renault Duster has shortest among compact SUVs

If you want a compact SUV off the shelf, you’re better off buying the Renault Duster rather than the Hyundai Creta,  which has waiting periods ranging from 2 weeks to 12 weeks depending on the location you buy it from. The longest  waiting period for the Creta is in Faridabad – 12 weeks, while the shortest waiting period for this SUV is at Chennai – 2 weeks.

Incidentally, the Hyundai Creta is built at Sriperumbudur, which is now a suburb of sorts for Chennai. The Renault Duster is also built at a Chennai suburb – Oragadam in this case, and the SUV is readily available off the shelf in that city. The average waiting time across 20 cities for the Hyundai Creta is 5.75 weeks while that of the Duster is just 1.45 weeks.

Another compact SUV that has little or no waiting time is the Renault Captur – a slow selling model that usually is  in stock with most dealers. The Captur is a more premium version of the Duster, which also has totally different looks and interiors.

It shares the engines, gearboxes and platform with the Duster but doesn’t get as wide as range of powertrains as the Duster. It’s pricer as well. A lot of Renault dealers are offering large discounts on the Captur to get it moving out of showrooms. 2018 model year Captur SUVs can be had with discounts of over Rs. 2 lakhs. The average waiting time for the Captur is 1.55 weeks.

The recently launched Nissan Kicks is another compact SUV that does not have long wait times in most cities across  India. This SUV is essentially the rebadged and restyled version of the Renault Captur. While the feature set of the  Nissan Kicks is more extensive than that offered on the Captur, the former shares its engines and the B-Zero platform  with the latter. The Kicks is also similarly priced. It’s Nissan’s flagship offering in the Indian market, and has been selling more than the Captur right from the word go. Waiting times for the Kicks range between 6 weeks in Pune and immediate delivery in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Thane and more.

The Maruti S-Cross, which is India’s second best selling compact SUV behind the Creta, is a high demand vehicle.  Waiting times for the S-Cross range between 3-4 weeks across most parts of India. Only in Pune, Chandigarh and Indore is the S-Cross available off the shelf.

The compact SUV is also the only vehicle in this list to be available with a single engine-gearbox (diesel-manual) combination. Despite this, the vehicle’s competence and the Maruti badge on the bonnet is attracting a lot of buyers. Also, the S-Cross is the only mild-hybrid SUV in this list, and will soon get  1.5 liter petrol and turbocharged diesel engines.

Via CarDekho

Also Read: Hyundai Creta has longest waiting period & Renault Duster has shortest among compact SUVs

There’s no doubt in the fact that Tata Harrier has become a popular SUV in the market. The eye-catchy design of the SUV and big dimensions make it stand out on the roads and it sure. Tata has also launched a few good looking colours for the Harrier including some new and unique colours like Thermisto Gold and Teslesto Grey that catch a lot of attention on the roads. However, once a popular colour for the SUVs, Tata has stayed away from an all-black paint scheme.

Presenting here is a brutal looking satin black wrapped Tata Harrier, which is India’s first black wrapped unit of the vehicle and it sure looks like a sinister. As per the video posted on YouTube by Rishabh Tiwari, the cost of the wrap is Rs 50,000. The place from where the vehicle got wrapped and the exact details of the wrap itself are not known. The Tata Harrier looks very bold in real life but with the new all-black paint scheme, it has become a real head-turner.

Tata Harrier is the first car that has been designed according to the new IMPACT 2.0 language. It gets a separate housing for the LED DRL that form the extended grille of the vehicle. The all-new Harrier gets the main headlamp cluster placed below in the bumper of the vehicle. While there is no black colour from the factory, Tata offers the Thermisto Gold and Telesto Grey colours, which are the darkest shade available with the car from the factory.

Getting a wrap on the vehicle is much easier and the legal way of changing the whole look of the vehicle. It should be noted that painting a vehicle other than the colour mentioned in the RC of the car is illegal and can be seized by the cops. Wrapping, on the other hand, keeps the original colour of the car intact while giving it a completely new look. Wrapping also saves the original paint of the vehicle. Wrapping can take hours to days depending on the work done by the professionals on it. It may even take days if the whole body of the vehicle has to be wrapped. Also, the wraps can be changed whenever needed.

The Tata Harrier has become one of the best-selling vehicles in the segment. It currently gets powered by only a 2.0-litre KRYOTEC diesel engine, which is a Multijet engine supplied by Fiat. The engine produces a maximum of 140 PS and 350 Nm in the Harrier, which is lower than the power output in the Jeep Compass. Also, Tata currently only offers a 6-speed manual transmission as standard with the Harrier but soon, it may get the 6-speed automatic transmission from Hyundai too. Tata Harrier will also get a 7-seater version soon, which will be known as the Buzzard in the Indian market.

Also Read: Maruti Baleno-based Toyota Glanza: CLEAREST pictures of the new car

Hyundai has officially started accepting the bookings for the all-new Venue compact SUV in the Indian market. The price of the all-new Venue will be announced on 21st May and it will take on directly on the vehicles like Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV300. Hyundai has officially announced that the production of the Venue has started and the first-ever made-in-India was rolled out from the factory today.

In just two days after the Korean brand started taking the bookings online and through dealerships, Hyundai received 2,000 bookings. Since it is a high volume model for the brand, Hyundai is expected to create a good stock of the car before the start of deliveries. Due to the extremely high popularity of the Venue, there might be a long waiting period on the car when it is launched in the market. It is the first-ever sub-4m compact SUV from the brand around the world.

Commenting on the first production roll-out, Mr S S Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said,

“This is a proud moment for us at Hyundai. On this day 23 years ago, Hyundai entered India with a promise to make cars that will set new benchmarks in the industry. And today we are set to create history again with the Global First – roll out of VENUE, which will usher the future of connected mobility in India. Our future-ready plant is excellently equipped with smart engineering technology to create a Game Changer SUV, the Hyundai VENUE for our customers. VENUE, with its striking looks and connected technology, will definitely appeal to the new generation customers eagerly waiting for a product that mirrors their lifestyle and aspiration to lead a Happy Life”,

The Hyundai Venue will be available in 13 variants at the time of the launch. There are three engines available with the all-new Venue that will be spread across the variants. There are two petrol engine options and a single diesel engine option available with the Venue. There is a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that generates a maximum of 82 Bhp and peak torque of 114 Nm. The second petrol engine option is also the most powerful choice with the Venue. It is a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that develops a maximum power of 118 Bhp and peak torque fo 172 Nm. The 1.2-litre engine will be available with a 5-speed manual transmission only while the 1.0-litre engine option will get a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed Dual-Clutch automatic transmission.

The diesel variants of the Hyundai Venue will carry the 1.4-litre engine that produces a maximum of 89 Bhp and 220 Nm of peak torque. It also gets a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. Hyundai will also offer a range of first-in-segment features with the Venue alongside regular features like sunroof and cruise control to attract the customers. It is likely to be priced attractively in the market as the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine will be available with only the base variants of the car.

Also Read: Maruti Baleno-based Toyota Glanza: CLEAREST pictures of the new car

The Mahindra XUV300 sub-4 meter compact SUV has just bagged 26,000 bookings in India. Launched in February 2019, the XUV300 even became the second best selling SUV in India during the same month, pushing down the Tata Nexon and the Ford EcoSport. Now though, the Nexon has retaken the second spot, leaving 3rd place for the XUV300.

Veejay Ram Nakra, Chief of Sales & Marketing, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said,

We are thrilled with the XUV300 receiving over 26,000 bookings in just over two months since its launch. Consumers are  finding the XUV300 to be an exciting and comprehensive package that offers thrilling performance, first-in-segment safety features and head-turning design, which is reflected in these impressive booking numbers. It is also encouraging to see that a substantial number of bookings are for the petrol variant. As a customer centric organization, we are constantly working to keep the waiting period at a minimum and to get our customers their XUV300s as soon as possible. I am sure that the XUV300 brand will grow from strength to strength in the years to come.

Key highlights of the XUV300’s orders include the fact that 2/3 people opting for this SUV have gone for the top-end trim, and that there is large demand for the petrol engined variants. The XUV300 is based on the Ssangyong Tivoli’s X100  platform, and has been restyled and shortened to under 4 meters in length by Mahindra. The SUV is offered with two engine options: a 1.2 liter-3 cylinder turbo charged petrol unit with 112 Bhp-200 Nm, and a 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged diesel unit borrowed from the Marazzo. The diesel motor makes a class leading 121 Bhp-300 Nm. Both engines get 6 speed manual gearboxes that drive the front wheels of the SUV.

Mahindra is also working on a 6 speed AMT option for the SUV. To be offered with both the petrol and diesel engines, the AMT option will be introduced by the end of this year. Mahindra is also working on both the petrol and diesel engines compliant with Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms kicking in from April 2020. The BS6 variants of the XUV300 will be pricier, more so the diesel, thanks to the extensive emission control equipment that needs to be installed to meer the much tighter norms. So, if you are considering the XUV300, it is best that you purchase the vehicle well before April 2020 to beat the price hike. The XUV500 is available in 8 variants.

Also Read: Maruti Baleno-based Toyota Glanza: CLEAREST pictures of the new car

Royal Enfield is the most customised brand in India and there’s no two way about it. There are quite a handful of motorcycle modders in India and EIMOR customs is one such customisation garage that remains on the top of the list. The custom garage has revealed an all-new modified bike named as Arsenal. It is based on the Royal Enfield Classic 500 and gets upgrades that completely change the way it looks.

The most eye-catchy modification about the new Arsenal is the dual-coloured headlamps at the front. The bike gets two different coloured headlamp pods with a protective grille at the front. To add a brute look to the bike, specially customised fenders have been added. It also gets aftermarket alloy wheels with knobby dual-purpose tyres that will give the best experience of both the worlds. The tyres get the name of the bike in white on the walls that further makes it look unique.

The Classic 500-based Arsenal gets the stock tank but everything else is customised and has been added to the bike to make more practical to ride. It gets a custom stitched flat seat with green stitching on it. The bike also gets custom leg guard with auxiliary lamps mounted behind them. These lamps will come in handy during the night trails.

The whole bike gets a custom paint job with camouflage print on the tank. The green colour has been extended to the handlebar grips. It also gets a custom twin-pod instrument cluster. There are no changes done to the engine of the bike, instead, a custom exhaust has been placed in the bike that surely changes the way it growls. Apart from these changes, all other things like the switchgear, suspension, brakes remain stock.

The exact price of the modification job is not known but you can contact the custom garage directly to get all the details you need. The Royal Enfield Classic 500 is powered by a 499cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that develops a maximum power of 27.2 Bhp at 5,250 rpm and peak torque of 41.3 Nm at 4,000 rpm. It gets a 5-speed manual transmission. The Classic range of Royal Enfield offers a combination of retro looks with modern engineering that makes it one of the most preferred choices in the market.

It should be noted that Royal Enfield also officially commissions modifications jobs from various custom motorcycle makers. It is the only brand in India to do so, which makes it even more popular among the riders who want to have a custom ride.

Royal Enfield is the best-selling brand above the 300cc segment in India and offers a range of motorcycles including the newly launched Interceptor and Continental GT 650, which are the most affordable parallel-twin engine powered bikes in India.

Also Read: Maruti Baleno-based Toyota Glanza: CLEAREST pictures of the new car

British car manufacturer, Land Rover has made some iconic vehicles in its long history. One of the most iconic vehicles from its early days is the Land Rover Series 3, which became the last vehicle in the Land Rover’s Series model. The iconic Series III started production in 1971 and remained in the market till 1985. Land Rover’s vintage vehicles often make an appearance on the movie screens and here is one more such movie where it will be spotted.

 

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A post shared by Katrina Kaif (@katrinakaif) on May 5, 2019 at 12:46am PDT

The new Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan starring Bharat will be released later this year. While we can’t say much about the movie, we can definitely talk about the vehicle used in it. In a recent tweet, Katrina Kaif posted a picture of her driving a Land Rover Series III with a man sitting in the co-driver’s seat. She put a caption saying “The man beside me is the actual owner of this classic 1960s Land Rover, who was convinced I couldn’t handle the car, while I was convinced I could”.

The number plate of the vehicle indicates that it belongs to the Middle East. The exact shooting location of the car is not known though. The car spotted in the picture is in immaculate condition and everything in the vehicle looks like stock except for the mirrors. Such a Land Rover Series III is likely to have a very high value in the market, which can easily run into crores.

The Series III was the best-selling vehicle from all the models available under the Land Rover Series umbrella. Land Rover produced as many as 4,40,000 units of the Land Rover Series III. The SUV received a 2.25-litre engine and the compression of the engine was raised from 7:1 to 8:1, which also increased the power of the engine slightly. It was the first ever vehicle to feature synchromesh on all four gears.

The exact role of the car in the movie is not known but since it is a high-action packed movie, it will surely have some stunts. Katrina Kaif reportedly drove the vehicle all by herself after she convinced the owner that she can handle the car carefully. Since these old-school cars are free of any assists and are not controlled by computers, they can feel little different when it comes to driving when compared to modern cars. And since this is a rare vehicle around the world, the owner must have felt uneasy. However, Katrina Kaif is a pro driver and she can ride motorcycles too.

Well, since we have now seen the Land Rover Series-III, we hope that there are many more such vintage and classy vehicles in the movie for the sake of car lovers!

Also Read: Maruti Baleno-based Toyota Glanza: CLEAREST pictures of the new car

Hyundai India has just launched a CNG version of the Grand i10 B-segment hatchback for private car buyers. The CNG version of the Grand i10 is available in a single, Magna variant. It is a dual fuel car that can also run on petrol. What this means is, the 1.2 liter VTVT petrol engine with 82 Bhp-114 Nm has been factory fitted with a CNG kit. While running on CNG, power and torque figures drop to 66 Bhp-98 Nm. The CNG powered Hyundai Grand i10 is costlier than the petrol version by Rs. 67,000, which places it in between the petrol and diesel models in terms of pricing. Talking of which, the Hyundai Grand i10 CNG is priced at Rs. 6.39 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi.

CNG is yet to be available pan-India, although the government is said to be working on making this fuel available at all locations of the country. Until this happens, the Grand i10 CNG will be a car that will be limited to specfic markets of India such as Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. The Grand i10 competes with the likes of the Maruti Swift and Ford Figo – two cars that offer petrol and diesel engines but not a CNG option. By offering the CNG option on the Grand i10, Hyundai seeks to make the car more attractive to those seeking a cost efficient, smooth car that’s cheaper than a diesel. Also, CNG will future proof the Grand i10, at least for the next few years.

Diesel engines on small cars are set to become a rarity from April 2020, when the Bharat Stage 6 emission norms kick in. India’s largest car maker Maruti has indicated that it will stop building diesel cars from April 2020, and will instead focus on petrol, petrol-hybrid and electric cars. Other car makers such as Tata Motors and Toyota have also indicated a move away from diesels, at least for their small cars.

Hyundai, for its part, has not signaled a shift away from diesel engined cars. However, it is very likely that Hyundai will stop offering small diesel engines on the  likes of the Grand i10 and Elite i20. The Grand i10 is currently offered with a 1.2 liter diesel engine that makes 74 Bhp-190 Nm. This engine is expected to be retired in 2020, which also explains why Hyundai has begun offering a CNG option on the car even for private buyers. Previously, the CNG option on the Grand i10 was restricted to the cab market.

Meanwhile, Hyundai is working on an all-new Grand i10 hatchback. Spied testing numerous times in India, the all-new car will make its debut by the end of this year. It will get a full design revamp, and is also expected to grow in size. The new Grand i10 is also expected to have more features on board. It will share parts with the new Xcent, which is expected to launch next year. Both cars are likely to see upward price revisions.

Also Read: Maruti Baleno-based Toyota Glanza: CLEAREST pictures of the new car

Tata launched the all-new Harrier earlier this year in the Indian market. The much-awaited car amassed a lot of bookings even before the price announcement and is consistently outselling its competitors like the Mahindra XUV500 and the Jeep Compass. In the month of April, Tata sold as many as 2,075 units of the Harrier while Mahindra XUV 500 found 1,508 customers and a total of 1,208 units of Jeep Compass were sold in the market in the same period. What are the real reasons behind the success of Tata Harrier in the market? Well, here are five reasons that make it more popular than the competitors.

Value-for-money

The Tata Harrier has a massive value-for-money advantage. The base version of the Tata Harrier is priced at Rs 12.69 lakhs, ex-showroom, which is much lower than the base price of Jeep Compass, which gets a tag of Rs 15.6 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi but that’s a petrol-powered variant. The most affordable variant of the diesel engine powered Jeep Compass is for Rs 16.61 lakh. The XUV500 is more competitively priced at Rs 12.66 lakh, ex-showroom but it misses out on several features.

The base XE variant of the Tata Harrier gets features like projector headlamps, dual-function daytime running lamps that work as turn indicators, door mirror-mounted logo projection, electrically-adjustable ORVMs, rear parking sensors, dual airbags, ABS and EBD. The base variant also gets telescopic adjustable steering and all four power windows.

Street presence

With the IMPACT 2.0 design language, the Tata Harrier looks unique on the roads. The trend of offering separate DRL housings and main cluster can be seen in many international cars but Tata Harrier is currently the only car in the segment to offer it. Also, Tata Harrier is huge in dimensions. It is even bigger than the XUV500 when it comes to the size, which makes it extremely intimidating on the roads and causes the heads to turn. The Harrier has a massive street presence when compared to any of the competitors.

Looks unique

Tata has now started designing extremely eye-catchy vehicles. Even the likes of Tigor and Nexon have these special characteristics that make them unique in the segment. The Tata Harrier is massive and Tata has given it a futuristic design. It is the first car that follows the IMPACT 2.0 design language of the brand. With its floating roof and thick chrome window underlining, the Harrier looks very premium. Also, the huge front headlamps and its unique positioning in the bumper add a character to the SUV. At the rear, the Harrier gets huge LED tail lamps that are connected with the help of a black stripe. The whole package of the Harrier looks extremely good.

Spacious

Since the Harrier gets the advantage of having a huge cabin, it also translates into big cabin space. The Tata Harrier offers 5-seats with a boot space of 425 litres, which is quite big for the segment. Also, there is ample headroom and legroom in the rear seats of the car to stretch out comfortably. The Harrier offers a lot of space when compared to the Jeep Compass.

Lots of safety features

Indian customers never kept safety as a critical point when choosing vehicles. However, the trend is changing. Last year, Tata Nexon became the first-ever made-in-India car to receive the 5-star safety rating from G-NCAP. In the Harrier, Tata offers numerous safety features like 6-airbags, solid build quality, off-road ABS, ABS+EBD, 14-function ESP with features like cornering ABS, disc wiping, automatic hydraulic brake adjuster, brake assist and much more. The Harrier is quite loaded when it comes to safety.

Also Read: Maruti Baleno-based Toyota Glanza: CLEAREST pictures of the new car

MG Motors, which will launch later this month in India with their first product – Hector has commenced the production. The video by MG Motors shows the first MG Hector rolling out of the facility from their Halol plant in Gujarat. As per MG Motors, the production of the Hector has started after the vehicle was tested for ten lakh km on the Indian roads in various road and climate situations. MG Hector is based on the Baojun 530 gets 300+ India-specific changes that truly make it customised for the Indian roads.

The all-new SUV will make its public debut on 15th May and the price will be announced in June. MG Motors will sell the all-new Hector through its dealership network of 65 showrooms across India, which are located in 50 cities.

Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India,

“We are proud to be rolling out the first made in India, feature-rich internet car, the MG Hector, from our all-new assembly line in Gujarat. Adopting the highest quality global manufacturing standards, the Hector has been specially customized to suit Indian customer preferences and road conditions. The MG Hector is poised to become a new benchmark in SUVs,”

MG Hector will target vehicles like Mahindra XUV500 and Tata Harrier in the Indian market. The all-new MG Hector will come loaded with features while many of them will be first-in-segment features. The all-new MG Hector gets a unique front-end with split headlamp design. The LED DRL is positioned as the extended portion of the grille while the main headlamp cluster is positioned down below in the bumper, which gives it a sleek look. The design is similar to Tata Harrier.

On the inside, the MG Hector will come equipped with a 10.4-inch vertically-mounted touchscreen infotainment system just like the Tesla models. Even the instrument cluster of the MG Hector is a semi-digital 7-inch screen with two analogue meters positioned on either side of the display. Other features include Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, 360-degree camera giving a bird’s eye view, Harman Infinity audio system, six-way electrically adjustable seats, push-button start, cruise control and safety features like airbags and ABS. The MG Hector will also become the first car in the segment to offer a connected infotainment system. The 5G-ready connected system with use an eSIM and will remain to the cloud all the time. It will offer various features like GPS fencing, live status of the vehicle, control of the features through smartphone and even over-the-air updates.

The MG Hector will get a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that will produce a maximum power of 143 Bhp and a 2.0-litre Multijet diesel engine that also powers the Jeep Compass and the Tata Harrier. However, the power of the diesel engine is not known for the MG Hector. The petrol variant will also get 48V mild-hybrid system that will be much more efficient than the regular version of the car.

Also Read: Maruti Baleno-based Toyota Glanza: CLEAREST pictures of the new car