Toyota will launch the Glanza premium hatchback in India in early June. The Toyota Glanza is a badge engineered version of the Baleno but changes are minimal. Apart from a new front grille with extra chrome and new badges at the front and rear, the Glanza is stylistically very similar to the Baleno. It also shares the same interiors but for the Toyota badging on the steering wheel. Here are the clearest pictures of the Toyota Glanza from one of Toyota’s dealerships. Yes, Toyota has begun dispatching display cars to dealerships across the country.

The Glanza is Toyota’s first badge engineered product for the Indian market. It will sit in the premium hatchback alongside the Baleno, but will be pricier. The higher price is meant to carve out a distinct position for the car, and not directly cannibalize sales of the Baleno. The Glanza could also be exported to other emerging markets. The car will feature fewer engine and gearbox options than the Maruti Baleno. It will be available in petrol-only trim. What remains to be seen is whether Toyota offers the car with the 1.2 liter mild hybrid DualJet petrol engine or if it sticks to 1.2 liter K-Series petrol. What’s certain though is the fact that 5 speed manual and CVT automatic gearboxes will be offered in the car.

The Toyota Glanza sold in India will be offered in two trims: J and V. Both trims will get safety features such as twin airbags, ABS, seat belt reminders, ISOFIX child seat mounting points, speed alerts and reverse parking sensors as standard. The higher V trim will also get a reverse parking camera. A touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will also be on offer. Automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, automatic climate control, a push button start and keyless entry will be key features on offer. The Glanza will be produced at Maruti Suzuki’s Gujarat factory, and will be shipped to Toyota, which will dispatch these cars to its dealerships across the country.

Toyota has plans to sell about 2000 units of the Glanza in India each month. Maruti and Toyota have yet to reach an agreement about which one of them will take credit for monthly dispatches. Apart from the Glanza, the Vitara Brezza compact SUV, the Ertiga MPV and the Ciaz C-Segment sedan will be badge engineered by Toyota. The two companies are in a partnership that will go beyond badge engineering. Toyota is expected to supply hybrid car technology to Maruti Suzuki, which will be used on next- generation cars built by the latter. Also, both car makers are likely to work together for parts sourcing and platform sharing in future.

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

Tata Harrier, the latest SUV from the Indian brand has gained quite a traction in the market. Even though the Tata Harrier looks extremely good and has an amazing road presence, there are a few features that are missing from the car. Tata officially does not offer factory-fitted sunroof with the Harrier, which is a dealbreaker for many. However, you can now install aftermarket sunroof and here is the first example of Webasto H-300 sunroof on the Tata Harrier.

The vehicle seen here gets the H-300 sunroof that costs Rs 75,000 to install. Webasto is a very known brand when it comes to the aftermarket and it offers top-notch quality products with a warranty. This seems to be an automatic sunroof, which means it is electrically operated and does not require any manual interference. The cost of the sunroof is Rs 75,000 but as per the post, you can get a summer discount of Rs 5,000 on the price of the roof if you pre-book the product. Also, you can get a Map My India navigation device worth Rs 7,500 for free. The exact dimension of the sunroof is not known but from the pictures, it seems that the roof is quite big in size.

It should be noted that installing aftermarket sunroofs in the vehicles can void the warranty. Installing the sunroof alters the vehicle’s structure, which causes the manufacturers to void the warranty of the vehicle. If the car is new and if you’re worried about the warranty, always check with the manufacturer and the installer about the warranty details.

A sunroof is quite helpful when one needs to recycle the air inside the cabin without opening the windows. Keeping the sunroof open ensures that the occupants of the vehicle do not face the wind blast at high speed. It is like driving the vehicle with the windows open but not facing the severe wind blasts at high speeds.

The sunroof has become a common feature in the cars in the Indian market now. Even affordable vehicles have started offering the sunroof as a factory-fitted feature. However, most of the cars only offer the top-end variant with a sunroof. The lower or more affordable variants do not offer a sunroof. However, more of such low-variant car buyers are choosing the aftermarket sunroof as an accessory to ensure that they get the luxury of an open roof.

Even manufacturers have started offering the sunroof as an optional accessory through their dealership network. Tata offers the sunroof with Nexon that can be fitted at the dealer level. However, if you’re planning to get an aftermarket sunroof, always ensure that you get it from a reputed place and from the professionals as it requires altering the body of the vehicle and wrong installation can cause more harm to the structural integrity of the car.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan denied entry into Radisson 5 star hotel: Angry biker videos the incident

Royal Enfield has just announced a recall for the Bullet 350, Bullet 500 and Electra models. This recall is meant to replace a faulty brake caliper bolt. The repair  and the recall will be carried at no cost to the customer. The recall covers motorcycles built between 20th March 2019 and 30th April 2019. It’s not known if these motorcycles feature ABS – a recently introduced safety feature in all Royal Enfields. We urge the owners of the motorcycles affected by this recall to immediately get their bikes fixed.

Meanwhile, Royal Enfield made the following statements in an offial press release,

This is because service investigations revealed that the torque maintained on brake calliper bolts, as supplied by the vendor, on a few of these motorcycles were not as per stringent Royal Enfield quality standards. Brake calliper bolt is an essential part of braking system securing the brake hose and brake calliper. This voluntary service action will be undertaken on close to 7,000 motorcycles that were retailed during the said period. All concerned customers are being called for a service intervention, and various stakeholders are being informed accordingly.

The Bullet 350 and Electra are among Royal Enfield’s better selling motorcycles, second only to the Classic range. The Bullet 350 and Electra use a 346cc, unit  construction four stroke petrol engine with 19.8 Bhp of peak power and 28 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 5 speed manual gearbox. It gets a carburetor for fueling. The Bullet 500 uses a bored out, 499cc version of the unit construction engine, and makes 24 Bhp-40.5 Nm. Fuel injection is standard, and so is a five speed manual gearbox. The Bullet 350 and Electra are priced at Rs. 1.21 lakhs and 1.35 lakhs while the Bullet 500 is a lot more pricier, at Rs. 1.88 lakhs.

Royal Enfield sells a slew of other motorcycles. The Classic 350 and 500 are two such sub-brands that have many models under them. These bikes have different styling and paint finishes but nearly the same mechanicals as the Bullet 350/500. Royal Enfield also sells an on-off road motorcycle with a 411cc, overhead camshaft driven engine called the Himalayan. The brand has introduced two new twin cylinder bikes – the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650. Both bikes are among India’s cheapest high performance, twin cylinder motorcycles, and are also among the best built Royal Enfields. They are powered by a newly developed 647cc, twin cylinder engine that makes 47 Bhp-52 Nm. It’s paired to a 6 speed manual gearbox that gets a slipper clutch as standard.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan denied entry into Radisson 5 star hotel: Angry biker videos the incident

The Hyundai Verna has emerged as India’s best selling C-Segment sedan in the month of April 2019. Hyundai sold 2,932 units of the Verna while Maruti managed to dispatch 2,739 units of the Ciaz. The Honda City was far behind, with 2,394 units sold in the same month. The rest of the C-Segment sedans failed to manage four figures. The Skoda Rapid, Volkswagen Vento, Nissan Sunny, Toyota Yaris and the Fiat Linea put together sold well under 3,000 units. Clearly, the real battle is between the Verna, Ciaz and City.

The third generation Hyundai Verna was launched in india last year, and been turning out strong monthly sales numbers each month. The car looks more premium than the version it replaced, and is larger as well. Hyundai offers a range of petrol and diesel engines with the car. The entry-level variant gets a 1.4 liter petrol engine with 99 Bhp-134 Nm on tap. A 5 speed manual gearbox is standard with this engine. The other engines of the Verna include the 1.6 liter and turbo diesel units with 121 Bhp-151 Nm and 126 Bhp-260 Nm outputs respectively. Both engines also get 6 speed manual and automatic gearbox options. Hyundai also offers a 1.4 liter turbo diesel engine with 89 Bhp-220 Nm, and a 6 speed manual gearbox. Prices of the Verna start from Rs. 8.09 lakhs.

The Maruti Ciaz has been one of the Verna’s strongest competitors, beating the Hyundai car on many occassions. Prices slightly lower than the Verna, the Ciaz is larger but less powerful. In terms of features too, the Ciaz is less equipped than the Verna but value pricing and the Maruti badge have ensured that the car is one of India’s best selling sedans. Maruti recently introduced a brand new 1.5 liter, turbocharged diesel engine in the Ciaz, which makes 94 Bhp-225 Nm. The engine is paired to new 6 speed manual gearbox. The Ciaz gets a smaller diesel (1.3 liter, 89 Bhp-200 Nm), and a 1.5 liter petrol hybrid engine (104 Bhp-138 Nm). Both engines get 5 speed manual gearboxes as standard while the petrol offers a 4 speed torque converter option. Prices start from 8.2 lakhs.

The Honda City, once invincible in the C-Segment sedan space, continues to put up a strong show despite bein at nearly the end of its life cycle. There is an all new City sedan in the works for a 2020 launch, with a mild hybrid powertrain option. For now though, the current City features petrol and turbo diesel engines, and offers a CVT automatic gearbox option on the petrol model. Priced at a premium, the City is also one of the best looking cars in its segment. The car’s 1.5 liter petrol engine makes 117 Bhp-145 Nm, and gets 5 speed manual and CVT automatic gearboxes. The turbo diesel motor makes 98.6 Bhp-200 Nm, and is paired to a 6 speed manual gearbox. Prices start from Rs. 9.94 lakhs.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan denied entry into Radisson 5 star hotel: Angry biker videos the incident

Royal Enfield’s all-new 650 twins have become popular around the world. Both the bikes have been well-received in developing markets like India and developed markets like the UK. The all-new Interceptor and the Continental GT 650 will have been launched in the USA market too and it has received a good response there too. Jay Leno, one of the most recognisable names in the world of automobiles recently reviewed the Royal Enfield Interceptor and the Continental GT 650 on Jay Leno’s Garage. Here’s what he has to say about the bikes.

Jay Leno also invites Rod Copes, who is the President of Royal Enfield North America. Both Jay Leno and Rod Copes talk about the history of Royal Enfield and how the brand has developed over time. They also talk about how the brand originally from England shifted to India and has remained the oldest motorcycle brand name in production ever. After casually talking about the Royal Enfield brand, Jay Leno also gets interested in the Royal Enfield Himalayan and talks about it too.

However, in the end, he only rides the Royal Enfield Interceptor and the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650. Jay Leno first rides the Continental GT 650 and says that he likes the bike very much as it is very smooth and the engine is very under stressed. Jay Leno also talks about the minimal instrument cluster design that only offers a tachometer, speedometer, and a fuel gauge. Jay Leno also talks about the throttle response and says that it is responsive and linear.

He then talks about the height of the bike and how he feels that it is perfect for the riders. Also, he mentions about the smooth engine and how there are no vibrations on the handlebar, which is a fact mentioned by almost all the Royal Enfield 650 owner. The bike also does not generate excessive heat instead of getting only air-cooling and oil-cooling systems in place.

Jay Leno does not ride the Interceptor but as both the Continental GT and the Interceptor share most of the parts, he gives a combined verdict of them. Jay Leno remains highly impressed by the price of the bikes. For $6,000 that translates into around Rs 4.2 lakhs, he says that the bikes are a perfect choice for many and the bikes are fantastic.

Back home, both the bikes have gathered a massive interest with a long waiting period. In India, the Royal Enfield Interceptor is the most affordable twin-cylinder bike. Both the bikes remain powered by the same 649cc, oil-cooled and air-cooled engine that generates a maximum power of 47 Bhp and 52 Nm of peak torque. It gets a 6-speed manual transmission as standard with disc brakes on both the bikes and ABS as standard.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan denied entry into Radisson 5 star hotel: Angry biker videos the incident

The used car market has become extremely expansive in India. With the numerous used cars available in the market, a few options are quite interesting and tempting too. If you’re in the market looking buy a brand-new Maruti Suzuki Swift, you might be in for a surprise if you look at the options in the used car market. Here are five compact SUVs that you can get at the price of a top-end Maruti Suzuki Swift, which is priced at Rs 8.86 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi.

Tata Nexon

Price: Rs. 7.5 lakh in Delhi

Tata Nexon has gained quick popularity in the market due to various reasons. It gets powered by both petrol and diesel engine options and both the engine options get an automatic AMT transmission too. The Nexon also gets segment-leading infotainment and speaker system with a floating-type screen. It is also the only 5-star safety rated car in the Indian market, which was awarded by G-NCAP last year. It is also a value-for-money product is one of the best-selling cars in the segment. You can find a few examples of used Tata Nexon that is well within the ex-showroom price of the top-end Swift.

Ford EcoSport

Price: Rs 6 lakhs in Surat, Gujarat

Ford EcoSport is also a popular car in the segment and it is known for its precise steering feedback and solid build quality. This Ford EcoSport from Surat is on sale and it has only 60,500 km on the odometer. The three-year-old car is with the first owner. The EcoSport is available with both petrol and diesel engine options but the one seen here is a diesel variant and is the Titanium variant.

Hyundai Creta

Price: Rs 8.8 lakhs in Mumbai, Maharashtra

The Hyundai Creta is the best-selling car in the segment and it outsells its nearest competitor by a huge margin every month. The Hyundai Creta is available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine, 1.4-litre diesel engine and a 1.6-litre diesel engine. Here is a 2015, first-owner model available in Mumbai that is priced much lower than the top-end version of the Swift in the market. This Hyundai Creta is powered by the 1.6-litre petrol engine and has done only 2,000 km on the odometer.

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

Price: 8.5 lakhs in Delhi

The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is India’s largest selling Utility Vehicle. It gets powered only by a 1.3-litre diesel engine that generates a maximum of 90 PS and 200 Nm. The Vitara Brezza seen here is a 2017 model, which makes it almost new and it has done around 42,000 km on the odometer. The Vitara Brezza is an extremely popular car. The car seen here also gets a less-common blue shade that will catch a lot of eyes on the roads.

Renault Duster

Price: Rs 5 lakh in Kolkata, West Bengal

The Renault Duster is a great value-for-money vehicle but due to the lack of updates, the popularity of the SUV went down consistently in the market. There are numerous Renault Duster SUVs available in the used car market now. Here is one such Renault Duster from Kolkata that has run 70,000 km. It is a 2014 model car and gets powered by an 85PS generating 1.5-litre diesel engine.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan denied entry into Radisson 5 star hotel: Angry biker videos the incident

Driving in heavy traffic can be tiresome, more so if you are driving a manual gearbox equipped vehicle. For an automobile enthusiast like me, however, any time I get with a car is good, be it in a traffic jam or an open track, the latter is much better though. A manual box is a welcome addition. True, heavy traffic conditions don’t allow one to open the throttle and vamoose, but a car is much more than that. However, the car I would choose for my daily commutes should definitely be a great car to drive, which means it should have enough power, right handling and great gearbox. While finding a car that matches all these criteria can be hard, it is mostly the budget constraints that make getting them impossible.

For the same, we have compiled a list of 5 cars that can be bought for under a lakh rupees and offer 100 Bhp or plus power. Obviously, we are treading the used car territory here but there are some gems out in the market that can give you the thrills without thrilling your wallet. Now don’t get jittery over spares, maintenance cost etc man. These cars offer good performance and are great to drive but have some attitude problems too. If you are looking for a 100 Bhp car under a lakh, you need to take care of the extra charges you might incur while owning them.

Fiat Palio 1.6 GTX

Talk of hot hatches in India and the name of the Fiat Palio 1.6 GTX will pop in between the conversation. The petrol powered hatchback was one of the original “hot” hatchbacks in India as it came with a 100 bhp engine. Further, it had an excellent steering feel and handled pretty nicely. The suspension was slightly stiff which added to its sporty appeal. Spares for the Palio are a little hard to come by now, and that has reduced its value even more in the resale market. Used Palio 1.6s are tough to find in the used car market but here is one example for you.

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Hyundai Getz 1.5

The Palio might have taken the ‘first hot hatch’ tag in the country, but it was the Hyundai Getz 1.5 CRDI that was India’s first diesel hot hatch. The car was powered by 1.5-litre diesel unit which put out 110 Bhp of peak power and 237 Nm of peak torque. This was the same engine that Hyundai used on the Verna sedan of that time. However, despite being a powerful car, the Getz was not exactly a driver’s car because of the very light steering it came with. This meant that it was more of a straight line rocket than a corner carver. Click on the link below to check out a used example of the hatchback available for under Rs. 1 lakh.

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Ford Fiesta 1.6

The Ford Fiesta was a popular sedan in India, though the later models were not as successful as the older generation model. Talking of the Fiesta 1.6, the car came with a lovable body design and was a great handler. The corner carver was available in three engine variants – 1.4-petrol, 1.4-diesel, and 1.6-petrol. Out of these, the 1.6-petrol is the most fun to drive. The interiors of the car were decently equipped and comfortable for its time too. Click the link below to checkout out an example that’s going quite cheap.

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Mitsubishi Lancer

Next in line is the Mitsubishi Lancer which has become quite rare nowadays. The Lancer is arguably one of the best affordable sporty nature sedans to ever be on sale in our country. Very popular among the modification circuits, the Lancer was available with three engine variants during its time – 1.5-petrol, 1.8-petrol and 2.0-diesel. Among these, the 1.8 was the most powerful and came with a Tiptronic transmission. Finding one nowadays is a tough feat and maintaining it also could be a bit costly but all of it is worth it. Check out an example of the Lancer by clicking the link below.

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Honda City VTEC

What the Honda City is today is unlike what it was when the company first launched it in India. It was still a sedan with comfortable interiors but more than that, the Honda City VTEC was a driver’s car too. It also had that typical understated yet elegant design that helped it to become a classic. Well-maintained examples of the car are a head turner even today, though there is nothing special in how it looks. It was a fun-to-drive sedan and came with a brilliant 1.5-litre petrol engine. Being a Honda, it is easy to maintain and is quite reliable compared to the other cars of its age and time. Click the link below to check out an example of this cult classic sedan.

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Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan denied entry into Radisson 5 star hotel: Angry biker videos the incident

A Skoda dealership in Bangalore sold a regular Skoda Rapid to a customer saying that it is the limited edition Black Package car and after 3 years, Skoda has finally given a brand new Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo to the customer. In a bizarre incident, Team-BHP member Suhas Manjunath decided to buy a brand-new car in 2016 and he chose the Skoda Rapid over others because of its superior build quality and affordable price tag. However, he decided to inquire about the limited edition Black Package Skoda Rapid in Bangalore. After a dealership told him that they don’t have the Black Package Rapid, Suhas went to Vinayak Skoda. He was told that they have the Skoda Rapid Black Package in stock and they have only one car in stock, which is why the customer should hurry.

Suhas bought the Skoda Rapid 1.6 MT Black Package in Candy White colour from Vinayak Skoda after finalising the discounts. The car was sold for Rs 11.8 lakh, on-road price and Suhas paid Rs 20,000 as the booking amount on 14th October 2016. On 18th October, the dealer asked for Rs 30,000 more to produce a proforma invoice and fully block the car. On the same day, he paid the Rs 30,000 demanded by the dealership and got his loan approved too. On 24th October, the dealer said that the car will be ready for delivery on 26th October. However, he finally received the Rapid on 31st October.

On 31st October, Suhas received the car but found out that the price on the documents does not match the price told by the dealer. On the tax invoice, Suhas found out that there is a difference of around Rs 48,000 as the dealer has put an ex-showroom price of Rs 9.24,740 instead of Rs. 9,72,617 as mentioned by the dealership. He also found out that on the documents, the limited edition or Black Package was not mentioned alongside the name of the car. The dealership asked him to come back on 2nd November due to the public holiday on the days in between. Nonetheless, due to the price difference mentioned by the dealership, Suhas was offered a debit note of Rs 67,605 in total but he did not take the amount the same day. However, after a few heated arguments with the dealership, the officials of the bank had a direct conversation with the dealership people and accepted the debit note.

Suhas was still unaware of how genuine the car was and on 18th November 2016, he found out that the headlamp’s flash and high beam are not working. Since none of the documents mentions the Black Package, he called up the dealership and told them about the malfunction he is facing. The dealership edited the tax invoice and sent him a copy where the “Black Package” gets mentioned and they ask him to share the same invoice with the service centre too.

He visited the showroom on 27th December but the technicians were unable to find out the problem. They asked for 8-10 days to figure out the problems and asked Suhas to use the car normally. On January 6th, the service centre showed them how the regular Skoda Rapid headlamps are working alright with the car but the projector lamps that are offered with black package are not working. This is when Suhas realised that the dealership changed a few parts in the car and replaced them with the parts that are available only with the black package version to sell the car as a limited edition vehicle. Suhas was told on 20th January by the dealership that they are ordering specially made headlamps for his car but Suhas checked the VIN of his car on MySkoda app, which showed that his car is a regular version, not the limited edition.

Suhas filed the case with consumer court for unfair trade practices and cheating. After a long battle in court, earlier this year, a settlement was reached between Skoda and Suhas where a new car was to be given to him. Suhas also faced a lot of trouble during the case and Skoda even claimed that they have delivered the new car to Suhas towards the end. Suhas even rejected a few cars showed to him in the end as a settlement vehicle as they had deep scratches on the body. The court ordered Skoda to get new set of cars for Suhas and close the case. On 19th March, Suhas did a Pre-delivery inspection of the car he was expecting to get and on 23rd March, he finally took the delivery of the car. On 27th March, all the parties fighting the legal battle filed a document mentioning the issue has been settled.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan denied entry into Radisson 5 star hotel: Angry biker videos the incident

The Mahindra XUV300 is now India’s second best selling sub-4 meter compact SUV, displacing the Tata Nexon and second only to the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. In March, the XUV300 moved past the Ford EcoSport in terms of sales and in April, it has pushed the Tata Nexon to 3rd place. In April 2019, Mahindra sold 4,200 units of the XUV300 while Tata Motors managed to sell 3,976 units of the Nexon.

The Tata Nexon – a well priced SUV and India’s only 5 star rated vehicle for safety in the affordable segments – is doing decently well despite the XUV300 coming in. The Maruti Vitara Brezza is continuing its dream run despite an increase in competition. The SUV managed to sell a whopping 11,785 units in April 2019. In 4th place was the Ford EcoSport with 3,200 units sold. Soon, a new sub-4 meter compact SUV will be launched in India in the form of the Hyundai Venue. Hyundai estimates to sell about 8,000-10,000 units of that SUV each month.

The XUV300 is Mahindra’s latest SUV, and was launched in February 2019. Mahindra has loaded up the SUV with features and opted to go for relatively bhigher starting price of Rs. 7.9 lakhs for the base petrol model. The SUV is available in a total of 8 variants spread across two engine options. The petrol engine is a 1.2 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged unit with segment leading torque of 200 Nm while peak power is rated at 110 Bhp. The diesel engine is a turbocharged, 1.5 liter-4 cylinder unit with 115 Bhp of peak power and 300 Nm of peak torque, both segment leading figures. The XUV300 gets a 6 speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels on both engine options. An AMT unit is in the works, and will be launched with both engines by the end of this year.

As for features, the XUV300 is easily the most equipped SUVs in its segment. The SUV is particularly big on safety. Features on offer include 7 airbags including a driver’s knee airbag, ABS+EBD, tyre pressure monitoring system, automatic dimming wing mirror, heated wing mirrors, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a reverse parking camera, hill hold, electronic stability program, anti rollover protection, seat belt reminders for all five seats, speed alerts and ISOFIX child seat mounting points. That the XUV300 is based on the Ssangyong Tivoli – an SUV that sells in Europe – has helped Mahindra offer best-in-class safety features, many of which will take at least a couple of years to be offered on competitors’ SUVs.

As for creature comforts and stylistic bit, the Mahindra XUV300 leads the segment again. Prominent features on offer include an electric sunroof, leather-clad seats, touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual zone automatic climate control, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, full folding rear seat with a 60:40 split, multiple steering feel settings, LED headlamps, daytime running LEDs and 17 inch alloy wheels. The strong feature set could be one reason why customers are opting for the XUV300 despite the higher price tag. Customers seem to be seeing value in the pricing of the SUV. The coming months will tell us where the sales of the XUV300 settle. For now, they’re on line to close in on 5,000 monthly units – Mahindra’s target for this SUV.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan denied entry into Radisson 5 star hotel: Angry biker videos the incident

For motorcycle enthusiasts, touring on bikes is one of the best activities to rekindle their lives. Though it is easier said than done, especially considering the extreme temperatures among other issues, a lot of people tour on their bikes round the year across India. During long hauls, a good stay is what can refresh one’s body and make it ready for the next day’s adventure. For the same, bikers usually prebook hotels along their biking route if the whole trip is preplanned. Good rest and healthy food are essential for the body in order to stay attentive on the road while riding the bikes and therefore a good sleep along with a healthy meal is a must.

The guys in the video below also had the same opinion and hence booked a hotel to stay before they started the next leg of their adventure. However, their experience at the hotel turned sour and the reason for it was them being on motorcycles. Absurd? Watch the video below before we get on to the details.

This video by Vikhyat shandilya actually shows a weird situation which would annoy any biker. The video starts with the guys giving a good look of their room and the amenities provided by the hotel. The hotel in question here is Radisson Blu Jodhpur. For the uninitiated, Radisson Blu is among the top 5-star hotel chains in India. However, a little later, the guys start addressing the problem they faced while checking into the hotel.

The video then switches to black and white mode to signify the timing of the incident, which happened on the previous day. The two guys were riding the Royal Enfield Himalayan each with full set of luggage in the form of saddlebags and tank bags. The Himalayan is quite a popular adventure tourer in India and has become the choice of many who like to go on long bike rides regularly.

Moving to the main issue here, the bikers are stopped by the guards at the hotel’s entrance when they approach it. On being asked, they said they had booked a room in the hotel and are checking in now. To this, the guard says that they can’t take their bikes in as that is not allowed as per the protocols. The guys then reply that they have a lot of luggage on their bike and will park them in the designated place once they unload the luggage but the guard does not let them pass. Meanwhile, we see a Toyota Innova Crysta and a Mahindra XUV500 entering the hotel premises without any issues.

They are later allowed on the premises after they talk to higher authorities of the hotel administration. By now, they are clearly frustrated over the fuss created over this petty issue. Why were the bikes not allowed inside the hotel premises is something which can be deemed as an internal policy of the hotel, the issue here is that how is someone supposed to carry their luggage all the way to the hotel when on a bike. This comes as a clear misunderstanding of protocols among the hotel staff.

This comes as an example for other bikers and one should always ask for parking provisions before booking a hotel. If you are travelling by a superbike and the hotel you have booked does not provide proper parking, that is a big issue. Also, while facing in a similar situation like the one here, ask the hotel staff to either allow the bikes inside in order to unload the luggage or else send a car to the parking in order to load the luggage.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan denied entry into Radisson 5 star hotel: Angry biker videos the incident

The Mahindra Roxor, as most of you might already know, is a bare basic version of the Thar that is sold in India. The Roxor is currently assembled and sold in the USA where it has become fairly popular due to its off-road prowess and old-school looks. Mahindra has been doing a great job in marketing the Roxor too which is a big reason for the success of the vehicle. Some days back, we even brought to you a Roxor which had tank tracks fitted on it instead of tires. Anand Mahindra recently took to Twitter in order to share a video which showcases a unique use of the Mahindra Roxor. Check out his tweet below along with the video before we get on the details.

Very cool stuff. Hey @IPL what about doing this out at the matches here?? (Of course only soft souvenirs! ) https://t.co/fl1uD5P4es

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) May 8, 2019

That is some really innovative marketing strategy for sure. Mahindra and Mahindra’s US arm, which goes by the name of Mahindra Automotive North America, partnered with Detroit Tigers. The latter is a well-known baseball club in Uncle Sam’s place. The video shows a Mahindra Roxor shooting souvenirs towards the crowd during a game between Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs at Comerica Park. Take a look at the video below by  to get a better look at this special Roxor.

As seen in the video, the rear bay of the Roxor has been fitted with a large turret gun that shoots souvenirs at the crowd. These souvenirs are actually Detroit Tigers club branded merchandise which includes t-shirts and balls. The Roxor has been painted in orange with tiger prints around the body which hints towards the partnership with the club. To further elevate the theatrics, it has been equipped with smoke guns which attract attention towards it. Though Anand Mahindra retweeted this today itself, this happened last year in August.

Talking about the Mahindra Roxor, it is assembled in Michigan and costs around $ 15,000, which is around Rs. 9 lakhs in India. It is powered by the 2.5-litre turbocharged direct injection diesel engine that produces a maximum of 62 Bhp and a peak torque of 180 Nm. The engine gets a five-speed manual transmission and the 4WD can be engaged through a manual level. It also gets a low-range transfer case and comes with disc brakes at front and drum brakes at the rear. Further, it gets full-floating axle at the front and leaf springs in both the axles. At the rear, the Roxor gets the semi-floating axle.

All this now makes us wish for a similar concept to be applied during the Indian Premier League matches too. Even Mr. Mahindra hinted towards the possibility in his tweet, which read – “Very cool stuff. Hey @IPL what about doing this out at the matches here?? (Of course only soft souvenirs! )”. As the Mahindra is not available in India, a Thar is best suited for the job. It will also be a fitting sendoff to the lifestyle UV as it will soon be discontinued and replaced by a new generation model next year.

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Ather Energy, a Bangalore-based electric mobility company has just announced that its vehicles are eligible for the FAME-2 subsidy. FAME stands for faster adoption and manufacture of electric vehicles, and is a program that receives a subsidy from the Government of India. The FAME-2 subsidy for the Ather 450 is said to be around Rs. 27,000. Ather Energy has passed on Rs. 5,000 this subsidy to the customer. The S450 now costs Rs. 1.23 lakhs, on road Bangalore. For its part, Ather Energy has already begun deferring deliveries to ensure that buyers get the scooter at a new price.

Ather Energy is an IIT Madras Start-Up that now employs dozen of engineers, technicians, assembly line staff and corporate staff. Hero MotoCorp and Flipkart founder Sachin Bansal hold significant equity in the company. In the years to come, Ather could build a electric sportsbike and other forms of electric mobility vehicles. For now, Ather plans to expand its footprint to more Indian cities in order to widen the market for its two electric scooters: the S340 and the S450.

Both scooters get the same styling and cycle parts with only their battery packs, torque ratings and range/charge distances differing. While the S340 is powered by a electric motor with 5.8 Bhp-14 Nm, and a battery that offers 60 Kms of range, the S450 is significantly more powerful with a 7.1 Bhp-20.5 Nm electric motor and a 75 kilometer range/charge. An automatic gearbox is standard. The battery on both bikes will last for around 50,000 Kms.

The Ather S340 is priced at Rs. 1.09 lakh, on-road Bangalore, while the S450 is priced at Rs. 1.23 lakh. Both scooters offer conventional cycle parts that include  telescopic front forks, a monoshock rear shock absorber, tubeless tyres and disc brakes on both wheels. The scooters also get the most advanced infotainment interfaces when compared to other scooters, with navigation, Bluetooth, service alerts and more.

Currently, Ather sells these scooters only in Bangalore. In the next few months, the EV maker will expand into other Indian cities such as Chennai and Pune. The  start-up aims to be the Tesla of the Indian electric vehicle market, by launching very well designed, desirable and cutting edge electric vehicles. They plan to set-up 6,500 charging stations across 30 cities by 2023. Here is an official statement by the company,

Ather Energy today announced that their flagship intelligent scooter, Ather 450 is FAME 2 compliant and will receive an increased subsidy of Rs. 27,000. Though orders for the scooter have continued in Bengaluru through the month of April, deliveries had been held off by the company so the new subsidy benefit could be passed on to the owners. Consumers can expect their Ather 450s to start being delivered in the next couple of weeks, with the new on road price of Rs. 1,23,230. Ather Energy is one of the first auto companies in India to design and build its scooters and charging infrastructure locally. The auto player was the first one to introduce high performance intelligent vehicles in the market and is redefining consumers expectations of electric vehicles. Ather 450 and Ather Grid will be available in Chennai in June and will be followed by more cities in the coming year. Ather Energy will install 6500 charging points across the country and will be operational in 30 cities by 2023.

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The Toyota Innova Crysta is the vehicle of choice for many when considering a big, comfortable vehicle for daily use. The MPV even outsells other SUVs like the Tata Harrier, Mahindra XUV500, and Tata Hexa among others in its price range by a big margin. The reason for its popularity among the masses is its comfortable and feature-rich cabin, solid build quality and refined engine options among others. It is also the choice of ride for many politicians, actors and other known celebrities across the country. To further enhance its comfort, Executive Modcar Trendz has introduced an interior revamp for the Toyota Innova Crysta.

As seen in the pictures here, the interior modification on this Innova is done on the lines of a luxury meeting room style. This is unlike the various lounge style based interior mods we have seen. The lounge-style interior revamp are quite good but are costly and can be too flashy for corporate use. If you plan to use your Innova Crysta for business trips or office car and have a habit of bringing your work out of the office, the meeting room style interior mod job here fits the bill for you.

The interiors carry a shade of white which has a mild effect on the mind after tiring day at work. Most importantly, the car now has two rows of comfortable lounge-like seating facing each other. This is perfect for carrying out important discussions with your team while on the move. The car now features USB ports and 3-pin power sockets in the passenger area which will ensure that your laptop does not run out of juice while in the midst of an important discussion.

The leather upholstery further compliments the luxuriousness of the interiors. The interiors of this Toyota Innova Crysta get various other amenities and features as well including foldout tables, cup holders, and music system. It also comes with a privacy partition which cuts off the driver area with the passenger area. For communication between the driver and the passenger, there is an intercom in place too.

The seats are can be reclined as per the wish of the passengers, though they are semi-reclining units. These seats are very comfortable even during long journeys and will keep your body fresh when arriving at the office for a meeting. All in all, the modified interiors on the Innova Crysta, based on meeting room style, are quite good and offer a heap load of practicality. If you are interested in getting this mod job for the interiors of your Innova Crysta, you can get in touch with the people at Executive Modcar Trendz by clicking here.

Also Read: Mini Cooper JCW launched in India: Priced at Rs. 43.5 lakh

The Yamaha R-15 is the most powerful and technologically advanced 150 cc bike on sale in India. Though the price tag of the bike is a bit high, it easily smokes other 150 cc and even several 200 cc bikes easily. A major gripe which many of the R15’s owners shared was the lack of ABS on the bike. However, Yamaha launched the ABS-equipped version of the bike a couple of months back and it is a dual channel unit. However, like many other queries that arise in one’s mind randomly, have you ever wondered whether the ABS system on a bike work with the engine turned off. Or if the ignition is turned off too. Check out the video below by Indian Asphalt, which tests the ABS system of the Yamaha R15 V3 in both these situations.

Since the new R15 V3 comes with a dual-channel ABS system, this means that both the front and the rear wheel of the bike will not lock and slip under heavy braking. For performance-oriented bikes like the R15, ABS is a must as it greatly reduces the risk of slipping or sliding of the bike due to intense braking. Let’s now talk about what happens in the video and whether the ABS system works when the engine is off.

Kill Switch set to off

In the first round, the rider takes his bike to one end of the road and quickly accelerates up to a speed of 60 km/h. He maintains the speed for a bit and then hits the engine kill switch which shuts off the engine. After this, he applies both the brakes heavily but the bike does not slip or lose its line. This means that the ABS system works fine and is not dependent on the engine.

Ignition turned off/Key removed

In the second round, the biker again starts from one end of the road, takes up his bike to 60 km/h and maintains the speed for some time. However, this time instead of killing the engine, he removes the key from the ignition slot. Immediately after removing the key he applies both the brakes heavily. This time thought he bike loses its line and the rear wheel locks up, resulting in a slight skidding of the tire. This validates that removing the key or turning off the ignition completely results in the ABS being non-functional.

The ABS system on a bike, like other electric components, depends on the battery and hence when the ignition is killed, the access to power is killed too. The sensors which detect the wheel lockup require power and turning off the ignition means no power is being supplied by the battery. However, the mere act of turning off the engine does not cut the battery access for the electricals and hence the ABS works in that case.

Talking about the Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0, it gets powered by a 155 cc liquid cooled engine that puts out 18.7 Bhp along with 15 Nm). The engine comes mated to a six-speed gearbox and gets a slipper clutch as well. It comes equipped with a dual-channel ABS, VVA (Variable Valve Actuation) and weighs a mere 139 kg. The VVA technology Yamaha has introduced on the bike is responsible for its strong high-end performance. Not getting much into the technical details, the VVA enables the camshaft to change the timing of the opening and closing of the vales after a certain set RPM.

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The Indian summers is a slow season for the car manufacturers. To give a push to the sales, auto manufacturers offer discounts on their products which is what India’s one of the leading manufacturers – Mahindra and Mahindra is also doing. Except for their new products like the XUV300 and the Alturas G4, Mahindra is offering discounts across the range of its products. Here are all the discounts offered by Mahindra in the month of May.

Mahindra KUV100

Discount up to Rs 70,000

Mahindra’s entry-level passenger car KUV100 is available in both petrol and diesel engine options. Designed like a micro SUV, the KUV100 has a lot of road presence. It is available in various trim levels and depending on the trim, Mahindra is offering various discounts. For the base K2 Mahindra is offering Rs 20,000 discount while the K4 trim level gets Rs 26,000 discount. The top-end trims K6 and K8 get a cash discount of Rs 40,000. Additionally, Mahindra is offering exchange bonus of Rs 29,000.

Mahindra TUV300

Discount up to Rs 78,000

Mahindra recently launched the facelifted version of the TUV300 in India but only the pre-facelifted models are available with a discount. Mahindra is offering up to Rs 63,000 cash discount across all the variants of TUV300 in the market. It is only available with a 1.5-litre diesel engine that produces a maximum of 100 Bhp. There is an additional exchange bonus of Rs 15,000 on the car.

Mahindra TUV300 Plus

Discount up to Rs 65,000

Mahindra also offers a 7-seater, extended wheelbase version of the TUV300 in the Indian market, which is known as the TUV300 Plus. Mahindra is yet to launch the facelifted version of the TUV300 Plus. It is available with a cash discount of Rs 40,000 plus an exchange bonus of Rs 25,000.

Mahindra Bolero Power Plus

Discount up to Rs 25,000

Mahindra Bolero is an iconic name in the Indian car market and it was once the best-selling Utility Vehicle in the market. It still is a popular model in the market. Mahindra is currently offering a cash discount of Rs 15,000 with the Bolero Power Plus plus Rs 10,000 exchange bonus.

Mahindra Marazzo

Discount up to Rs 35,000

Mahindra launched the all-new Marazzo in the Indian market to take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. The all-new Marazzo is offered only with a 1.5-litre petrol engine in the Indian market. It is a popular choice in the market but is not as popular as the Ertiga. Currently, Mahindra is offering free first-year insurance with the Marazzo while there is an exchange bonus of Rs 15,000.

Mahindra Thar

Discount up to Rs 6,000

Mahindra Thar is a very popular car and since it is not aimed at the mass segment buyers, Mahindra does not often offer a discount with the Thar in the market. Mahindra will soon launch a new limited version of the current generation Thar before replacing it with an all-new model in 2020. It is currently available only with Rs 6,000 corporate discount.

Mahindra Scorpio

Discount up to Rs 55,000

The Mahindra Scorpio is a living legend. It is almost an iconic car in the Indian car market and has been available for a long time now. Mahindra is currently offering Rs 30,000 cash discount on all the variants of the Scorpio while an additional Rs 25,000 exchange is also applicable on the car.

Mahindra XUV500

Discount up to Rs 61,000

Mahindra XUV500 is a very practical, very good looking and quite capable family mover, which is extremely popular in the segment. Mahindra is currently working on the next-generation XUV500 but the current version of the vehicle is available for Rs 36,000 cash discount and Rs 25,000 exchange bonus.

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Mahindra & Mahindra began its operations not as an automotive manufacturer but as a steel trading company back in 1945. It wasn’t before 1954 that the company began assembling Jeep vehicles in India under license from the US-based manufacturer. The CJ-3 was Mahindra’s first vehicle to be assembled and sold in India. It was then followed by the CJ-4/CJ-4A models and later by several other models. Talking about the Mahindra Jeep CJ-4, it was based on the CJ-3 model but had a longer wheelbase apart from some other improvements. The video below by Vintage Rider shows a 1970 model Jeep CJ-4 being started by hand which is rather interesting to see for those who haven’t seen this technique.

In the current age of push-button start vehicles, a small dose of automotive history like the one here hits one with nostalgia. This technique of starting vehicles by hand is called as hand cranking. The rod used for this purpose is usually referred to as the start handle. As seen in the video, the Jeep here is the CJ4 model made in 1970. It is in a pretty decent condition which suggests that it has been maintained properly over the course of time. Moreover, the engine on the Jeep starts after the second attempt of hand cranking, which suggests that the engine isn’t in a bad shape too.

In the video, we see a start handle is inserted in the aperture which came factory built on older cars like the Jeep here. When it fits properly, the handle is swung and when the engine compression is felt, it is given a firm swing. Doing so brings the engine too life as seen in the video. This technique actually requires a few other steps to be followed as well. This includes applying the handbrake, applying the choke and setting the ignition among others. Mostly all of the early cars came with start handles, supplied by the manufacturer itself.

Talking about the Jeep CJ4, it shared its engine with CJ3B, which is a 2.2-litre petrol engine developing around 72 Bhp of power and 154 Nm of torque. It gets a three-speed transmission and 4-wheel drive system. The off-road prowess of this vehicle, or other CJ series vehicles for that case, was exceptional and the current day Mahindra Thar has its roots somewhere in these vehicles only.

This video also shows how far we have come in automotive technology in the last 50 odd years. The latest technology now enables a car to be started by a remote from a distance. Several modern cars can even park themselves and navigate their way to the owner when summoned by the remote key. A couple of decades from now, driverless cars will become the norm and with that, the good old manual driven cars will become history.

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While most car owners blindly trust the authorised service centres, there are many proofs that they can turn out be to wrong. There are many cases in the past that have shown the wrong diagnostic of a problem by the authorised service centres and then owners getting it fixed for a fraction of the money quoted by the authorised centres. Here is one such similar case that happened with a Team-Bhp member – Manson who owns an eight-year-old Skoda Laura.

The owner says that the Skoda Laura powered by a diesel engine says that he was facing an issue of cranking up the engine and it would require a little more time than the other days. However, it was not so bad and the car would mostly start-up in a couple of cranks instead of a single try. However, the car for due for a service at JMD Skoda in Mumbai so he decided to get the battery checked from a neighbourhood shop. After getting confirmation that the 2-year-old Exide battery is in good shape, he continued using his car and made an appointment at JMD Skoda in Bhandup because his regular station at Navi Mumbai had shut down.

After making the appointment, Manson says that the vehicle’s glow plug light started blinking when he was driving the vehicle and it started losing power on the road. However, he managed to park the car on the side of the road. Since the owner has experienced the “Limp Mode” in the Laura before because of the DSG failures, he knew this was different and the car lost all the power within 20 seconds.

He noticed that the fuel indicator shows the level just above the reserve mark and the car showing Distance-To-Empty as 75 km. After he tried cranking the car for a couple of times, the owner called his brother to bring fuel for the car. Even after putting 5 litres of fuel in the car, it did not start and since it was late in the night, he towed the car back to his place.

Next day, the car was towed to JMD Skoda in Bhandup where the car was diagnosed. After a day of diagnostic of the vehicle, JMD Skoda called the next day and said that they have tested the fuel in the car and it was found to be adulterated. This has caused all the four fuel injectors, fuel pump, fuel lines and all other related parts to clog and all that will need to be replaced. With the high-pressure fuel pump costing Rs 60,580, the service centre gave an estimate of around Rs 3 lakh. However, the owner preferred to not get his vehicle repaired from there as the estimate was too high.

He then got the car towed back to his home and then towed it to a local garage Pai Auto. The mechanics at the local garage diagnosed the vehicle, put in battery jump cables and jump-started the car with changing the fuel in the vehicle. However, he found out that the fuel is splashing on the floor because the technicians at the Skoda service centre left it without reconnecting it. After reconnecting the fuel line, he took the vehicle out and filled in fuel before dropping it back at the service centre for regular service too.

The charge of the particular diagnosis is not known but it must be around Rs 100 or 200 or even free against the Rs 3 lakh estimate provided by the authorised service centre. Also, the owner was using Exide instead of the recommended Varta batteries due to unavailability. One should always use the recommended parts to ensure the smooth operation of the car. However, he says that the fuel indicator may have also shown wrong information on that evening and the car must have run out of fuel. The new-generation diesel cars use the fuel to keep the fuel pump lubricated and cool, which is why it is dangerous to always use the vehicle with low levels of fuel. One should always keep the fuel tank at the 1/4th level.

This is not the first case of authorised dealership giving a wrong diagnostic of the vehicle. Last year, an owner of another Skoda Laura was quoted Rs 1.68 lakh because of an engine problem. The car was fixed for Rs 1,000 from a local mechanic.

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India’s first-premium hatchback – Honda Jazz has been around for a long time now. It made its comeback to the Indian market after it was discontinued for a while. Honda is working on an all-new four-generation Jazz and it will be showcased at 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, which is scheduled to happen in October. The all-new car is expected to be launched in India in 2020.

The all-new Honda Jazz, which is also known as the Honda Fit in various international markets will be unveiled on 24th October. The car is expected to retain its overall silhouette that will also keep its identity intact. However, it will get a new design, a new front-end design that will make it look much more modern and will ensure its similarity with the other Honda products that have already been updated to the brand’s latest design language.

Earlier, spy pictures of all-new Honda Jazz testing under heavy camouflage confirmed the shape of the vehicle. Honda will incorporate a sleek grille at the front with sleek headlamps that form an extended part of the grille itself. The next-generation Honda Jazz is also expected to get all-new tail lamps that are most likely to be powered by LED.

Honda will continue to offer oodles of space on the inside just like the current version of the car. A few glimpses of the car’s interior show the glimpses of the new dashboard with the all-new infotainment system that is now positioned as a floating console, which has become a trend in all the modern cars. The all-new Jazz is also expected to get a fully digital instrument cluster but the feature is expected to be offered only with the top trim level of the car.

Since India will soon get the stricter BS-VI emission norms, all the small diesel engines are likely to be culled from the market due to the development cost and price of low-capacity engines that will increase the overall cost of the car. To replace the diesel engines, which highly fuel efficient, manufacturers are taking the hybrid route. Interestingly, Honda will also use the Hybrid System in the next-generation Jazz and will bring it to India too. The all-new Jazz will get powered by the i-MMD dual-motor hybrid power system apart from petrol only version. The Jazz will get the hybrid system derived from the Accord and CR-V hybrid. The similar hybrid system also powers the Honda HR-V in the international markets.

Since it is an all-new powertrain, Honda has not said much about it. However, the next-generation Jazz is likely to get powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine. It should be noted that Honda already offers a hybrid system with the current version of the Jazz/Fit and it delivers a maximum of 37 km/l according to the Japanese test cycle.

Also Read: Mini Cooper JCW launched in India: Priced at Rs. 43.5 lakh

BMW owned Mini has launched the 2019 Mini Cooper JCW performance hatchback in India today. Priced at Rs. 43.5 lakh (ex-showroom, India), it is perhaps the most expensive performance hatchback on sale in India. The model was launched in India last year and now has been given a facelift treatment. Changes made on the car are both aesthetic as well as mechanical. The JCW moniker here translates into John Cooper Works which is a UK based tuning house for Mini car models. It is named after John Cooper, the guy responsible behind the first Mini Cooper hatchback.

Coming to the Mini Cooper JCW, the car is available only as a 3-door model and is the top of the line model in the Mini line-up. It gets a special JCW badge on its tailgate which announces its special genes. It is powered by the same old 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine which now gets new pistons, turbo and exhaust to boost its performance. this results in an output of 234 PS of power along with 320 Nm of torque. This is, in fact, an increase of 24 PS in terms of power over the Mini JCW Pro Edition, which produced 210 PS of power. The Mini Cooper S, on the other hand, has a lower power output by around 39 PS in terms of power and 40 Nm in terms of torque.

The engine on the Mini Cooper JCW comes mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. This unit is different from the Cooper S, which gets a 7-speed DCT unit. This car now does the 0-100 km/h run in just 6.1 seconds, which is quite impressive for sure. Talking of kit, the car gets bigger disc brakes by Brembo that are cooled by air vents placed in the front bumper. Further, it gets an adaptive suspension and better safety electronic kit.

The interior quality is typical premium affair as on the other Mini cars. However, the JCW models get racier interiors to remind you of the sporty nature of the car. As for the features and equipment on the interior front, the car gets an 8.8-inch central touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay connectivity, though Android Auto is missing here. Further, it gets JCW sports seats, heads-up display, and a Harman and Kardon music system which for sure will enhance the audio experience.

Priced at Rs. 43.5 lakhs and being a 3-door hot hatchback, the 2019 Mini John Cooper Works has no direct competition whatsoever. It still can be somewhat compared to the likes of the BMW 3-series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Audi A4 among others in terms of price. However, all these are luxury sedans which pose no direct competition to the Mini JCW.

Also Read: Mini Cooper JCW launched in India: Priced at Rs. 43.5 lakh

Tata Harrier has gained quite a popularity in the Indian market after launching in January this year. The all-new Harrier has become the best-selling SUV in the segment and is outselling cars like Mahindra XUV500 and even the Jeep Compass. However, the SUV has been criticised for missing out on features like AWD or 4X4. Since the demand for AWD or 4X4 vehicles is very low in India, Tata has developed the all-new Terrain Response System for the Harrier that makes it more capable than the regular 2WD SUVs. Here is a video the Harrier taking on a riverbed in Bhutan like a boss.

Tata Harrier on the river bed

The video from Imroz Baig shows the Tata Harrier from Bhutan. The video shows the Tata Harrier entering a river stream with an extremely rocky surface. Even though the depth of the water stream is negligible, the flowing water is making the surface very slippery. The slippery rocky surface is quite challenging and cannot be conquered by every other car. Since no other vehicle was present at the spot and tried the same course, we cannot comment if any other 2WD SUV could have made it look as easy as the Harrier did.

The video shows Tata Harrier taking the way like a boss and slowly crawling through the stream without any hiccup. Tata Harrier is an FWD SUV, which is why on a few occasions we can see the front wheel skidding for a microsecond and then finding back the grip. This is because of the Terrain Response System developed by Tata, especially for the Harrier.

The system utilises the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Traction Control to apply the brake on individual wheels that do not get enough grip from the surface. This ensures that without a differential lock in place, all the power is sent to the wheel, which is in contact with the ground. While it is not as effective as 4X4 set-up but it sure makes the Tata Harrier more capable than other 2WD SUVs. It should be noted that Tata Harrier is the first car built on the OMEGA Arc platform, which is derived from the Jaguar Land Rover’s D8 platform that underpins the Discovery Sport. Even though Tata has not equipped the car with a 4WD system, the manufacturer says there is a chance in future when Tata may launch the more capable variant of the vehicle if the market demands. For now, there are no such plans.

Tata also gets power modes that alter the power output of the 2.0-litre KRYOTEC engine that produces a maximum of 140 PS and 350 Nm in its most powerful tune. Tata also does not offer an automatic transmission with the Harrier at the moment but is expected to launch it soon in the market.

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