Why buy when you can lease, right? Well, it doesn’t work like that for most buyers whose prefer to own a car rather than lease/rent one. But for those who want to lease Jeep SUVs in India, a new option has opened up for them. Jeep India has tied up with a taxi company called Orix to offer the Compass, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee SUVs under a leasing scheme. While the exact leasing cost is unavailable for now, expect it to be quite high as in India, leasing is more expensive than buying in most cases. Leasing makes sense for corporates who can show this as a business expense and claim tax benefits on it. For the individual buyer though, buying is usually a better option in most if not all cases.

Initially, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) India and Orix will offer leasing services for the Jeep Compass, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee SUVs in five cities: Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Pune. Depending on the response to this program, Orix will consider expanding to more Indian cities. For now, the taxi cab and car leasing company will offer a range of benefits that include: road tax payments, insurance and renewals, breakdown assistance, accident repairs, end-to-end maintenance and the pay-as-per-use model for a period of two to five years. These features are aimed mainly at business users.

Kevin Flynn, President and Managing Director, FCA India, said:

This innovative partnership will enable customers to lease the award-winning Jeep Compass without having to pay for the vehicle outright and enjoy the cash flow benefits. This partnership strengthens our commitment to providing the Jeep ownership experience to our Indian customers through innovative avenues.

Sandeep Gambhir, MD & CEO- ORIX Auto Infrastructure Services Limited, said:

We are proud to partner with FCA India. We look forward to strengthening our leasing solutions and to providing innovative benefits to customers, enabling them to experience premium products and avail of value-adds. We hope to play an important role in meeting today’s customer expectations.

Jeep builds the Compass SUV at its Ranjangaon factory, off Pune. This SUV is also the brand’s best seller, and is available with petrol and diesel engines. Prices of the Compass start from Rs. 15.4 lakhs. A top-of-the-line TrailHawk variant of the Compass will soon be launched. As for the Jeep Wrangler off roader and Grand Cherokee luxury SUV, both vehicles are imported into India through the completely built unit (CBU) route. Both SUVs are offered with petrol and diesel engines, four wheel drive layouts and automatic gearboxes. They are priced at upwards of Rs. 58 lakhs.

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Hyundai is working on refreshing its Indian model lineup along with preparing to launch a few new models too. This includes the Venue and the Kona EV, of which the Venue will be launched on the 21st of this month. The manufacturer is currently offering good discounts on its model range in order to boost sales, which have gown downwards for the whole industry. If you are planning to buy a new Hyundai car this month, here are all the Hyundai models which have discounts running on them.

Santro

Max offer value: Rs. 31,000

Starting off the discount list for Hyundai is the Santro, the company’s most affordable offering in the country right now. Launched back on 23rd October 2018, the Santro has been fairly successful in its segment. As for the discounts on it this month, Hyundai is giving offers worth up to Rs. 31,000 on it. The discount offer on the car includes Rs. 11,000 as direct cashback along with an additional Rs. 20,000 being given as exchange bonus.

Grand i10

Max offer value: Rs. 96,000

Next in line is the Grand i10, which is Hyundai answer to the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Swift and the Ford Figo among others. A regular feature in the monthly top 10 selling cars, the Grand i10 is currently being given away with a huge discount worth up to Rs. 96,000 over its head. Breaking down the discount scheme, Rs. 61,000 are being offered as direct cashback while Rs. 30,000 are being given as exchange bonus. Further, select MNC employees are being offered a discount worth Rs. 5,000 as a corporate bonus while government employees get Rs. 5,000 discount too.

Elite i20

Max offer value: Rs. 25,000

The Elite i20 has been the best selling vehicle for Hyundai in India for some time, toppling even the segment leader Maruti Suzuki Baleno on a few occasions.  The premium hatchback is being given away with a total discount of up to Rs. 25,000 this month. Speaking of which, the discount is being given in the form of an exchange bonus worth Rs. 20,0000 along with a corporate bonus worth Rs. 5,000.

i20 Active

Max offer value: Rs. 20,000

The i20 Active is a more rugged version of the regular i20 hatchback and comes with enhanced ground clearance and body cladding among other design changes to suggest its more tough nature. It rivals the likes of Toyota Etios Cross and Fiat Avventura in its segment. This month, Hyundai is offering it with a discount offer up to Rs. 20,000. The discount being offered is given in the form of an exchange bonus worth Rs. 20,000.

Hyundai Xcent

Max offer value: Rs. 90,000

The sub-4 meter sedan offering from Hyundai is being offered with a discount value up to Rs. 90,000 this month. The Xcent rivals the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and the Honda Amaze among others in its segment, though its sales have been nothing to write home about of late. Coming to the discount offers on the car, it gets Rs. 50,000 in the form of direct cashback and an additional Rs. 30,000 as exchange bonus. For select MNC employees, the company is further offering a discount worth Rs. 10,000 while government employees get Rs. 5,000 discount too.

Verna

Max offer value: Rs. 50,000 

The Hyundai Verna came back to the top spot in sales of its segment last month after quite a long time. The C-segment sedan is currently being offered with a maximum discount value of Rs. 50,000 this April. The discount value offered on the car is being given in the form of an exchange bonus worth Rs. 30,000 along with a corporate bonus worth Rs. 20,000.

Elantra

Max offer value: Rs. 2 lakh

The Elantra is getting the highest discount among all Hyundai cars this month. The company is offering a discount offer valued up to Rs. 2 lakh which includes different schemes. The current generation Elantra will be replaced by an all-new model by next year which will strengthen Hyundai’s position in the D-segment sedan game. The recent onslaught by the Honda Civic has resulted in low sales for the Elantra but the new generation model, which also is quite a looker, could make things better for the South Korean manufacturer.

Tucson

Max offer value: Rs. 1 lakh

The launch of the new facelifted Tucson is just around the corner now. This is probably why the company is offering massive discounts up to Rs. 1 lakh on its flagship vehicle in the Indian lineup. The new facelifted Tucson will come with several changes both on the exterior as well as the interiors. This includes new cascading grille, LED headlights and taillights along with a sharper overall design. The interiors will also gain multiple new features along with a redesign as well.

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The highly unpredictable Indian roads can throw in surprises at any moment at the motorists. This makes the Indian roads one of the most dangerous in the world. Thousands of accidents take place in India every year and most of them turn out to be fatal. Here is one such incident that shows the close moment when the rider of the Honda CBR250R suddenly applied the brakes after spotting a dog on the road.

The video uploaded by TBC Motovlog on YouTube shows the rider on an empty but badly shaped road surface. Since the road is empty, the biker can be seen speeding on it and he even shows the speedometer indicating more than 130 km/h. The helmet-mounted camera of the rider first shows speed and then as soon he points the camera towards the road, we can see a dog taking a brisk walk across the road.

As soon as the rider sees the dog, he applies the brake of the bike. He keeps on trying to avoid the dog and keeps on hoping that the dog will get out of the way. It should be noted that the Honda CBR250R used by the rider in the video is more than 5 years old and it does not get an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), which is specially made for such situations. Since there is no ABS in play, the rider does an excellent job of avoiding panic braking on catching a glimpse of the dog and he also maintains his line and stays on the straight line. Maintaining a straight line ensures that you do not confuse the animal or the pedestrian in front of your vehicle.

After showing 130 km/h on the speedometer, the camera catches a glimpse of the speed, which seems to be around 54 km/h but it cannot be confirmed as the image quality is blurred. In the end, the rider steers away from the dog successfully but only in the last moment.

The Honda CBR250R is a pretty capable touring motorcycle but on the open highways, one should always stick to the speed limits to avoid such incidents. Hitting the dog would have increased the chances of getting him thrown. However, he avoided it with quick thinking.

While in India, there are a few things that should be kept in mind while driving or riding. One of the most important things motorists can do is not to over speed on the highways. Especially, if the highway is going through a town or a village. Not only stray gods but stray cattle and even pedestrians can appear suddenly on the roads, making it difficult to avoid them at high speeds.

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Launched on 23rd January 2019, the Tata Harrier has already become a very popular car in the Indian market. The all-new Tata Harrier has become the best-selling car in the segment and is currently outselling competitors like the Mahindra XUV500 and the Jeep Compass. The all-new car is priced at a value-for-money Rs 12.69 lakh for the entry-level model and is it gets a range of features. While Tata has equipped the all-new Harrier with an AWD system, it has developed an equipped car with Terrain Response System (TRS). But how good is the TRS and does it really make the Harrier more capable? Here’s a video showing the Tata Harrier doing various challenges to show how capable it is off the road.

The video put up on channel Travel,Food & Entertainment shows the Tata Harrier taking on various off-road challenges. It is demo car of Tata Motors showroom and it can be seen taking on pretty testing obstacles. The first challenge shows the Tata Harrier taking on a steep off-road incline. The FWD SUV can be seen taking the challenge successfully. In the process, the front tyres of the vehicle do skid for a bit but the TRS kicks in and the vehicle continues to complete the climb.

The SUV then takes a U-Turn and goes down the climb without much problem. The car is loaded with four passengers and with the load, the Harrier’s 205mm of ground clearance keeps the body away from the apex of the steep slope. The Harrier then climbs the same incline in reverse to show off its how good the departure angle and approach angle of the vehicle are. Even though all the occupants except for the driver get down of the vehicle during the attempt, it remains a difficult challenge. The Harrier can be seen struggling for a bit but with enough power and right steering angle, it climbs the slope.

The Tata Harrier’s TRS was developed for the Harrier and it utilises the vehicle’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to make it more capable than the most other 2WD SUVs available in the market. The system works by detecting the loss of traction on any of the front wheels and applying brakes on that so that the power can be supplied to the other wheel that is in contact with the ground. In most vehicles, the wheel, which is in the air or has low traction starts moving freely, making the vehicle stuck. However, the TRS in the Harrier eliminates that by applying the brake on that particular wheel and sending all the power to the other wheel.

Tata’s answer to not offering an AWD system on the Harrier is simple. They say that there is not enough demand for such vehicles in the Indian market. According to Tata’s current sales, only 1% car sold by brand every month comprises of the 4X4 or AWD vehicles, which is quite low in numbers. However, if the demand rises or Tata starts selling the Harrier in a country where the demand for 4X4 system is better than India then we can definitely expect Tata to launch more capable version of the SUV in the Indian market too.

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Toyota has begun dispatching demo cars of the Glanza premium hatchback to dealers across India. A video of the badge engineered car, which is essentially a Maruti Baleno under the skin has just surfaced. The video also shows a Toyota Etios Liva next to the Glanza, and indicates that the latter will be a much larger car than the former. The Toyota Glanza will go on sale in the Indian market from June 2019. The car is expected to be pricier than equivalent variants of the Maruti Baleno. Save for the new front grill and Toyota badging, the Glanza is virtually a Maruti Baleno, and this is true of the interiors and features as well. The Glanza borrows the same interiors and features of the Baleno.

It will be available only with a petrol engine. What remains to be seen is whether Toyota borrows the 1.2 liter K-Series motor or if it opts for the 1.2 liter DualJet petrol engine with a mild hybrid, from Maruti Suzuki. For now, it appears that the Toyota Glanza will use the 1.2 liter K-Series engine with two gearbox options: a 5 speed manual and a CVT automatic. The car will be offered in two trim levels, with both the manual and automatic options. One trim level will be named G and will be the entry-level model while the other – V – will be the top-end trim. Maruti Suzuki will supply the Glanza to Toyota from its Gujarat factory. Toyota may even export the Glanza to specific emerging markets around the world.

The Glanza will not be the only re-badged Toyota car for the Indian market. Toyota’s new partnership with Suzuki means that there are 3 more rebadged/badge-engineered  Maruti cars that will soon wear Toyota badges. The Vitara Brezza compact SUV, the Ciaz C-Segment sedan and the Ertiga MPV are the three other cars that will get Toyota badging in the coming years. In return, Toyota will offer hybrid and electric car technology to Maruti Suzuki, which will deploy them in its future cars. Maruti has already declared that it will no longer produce diesel engined cars from April 2020, and will instead focus on petrol, CNG, LPG, hybrid and electric cars. Toyota is expected to assist Maruti in this dramatic shift.

Toyota has already moved away from diesel engined cars globally. In fact, none of its cars barring some pick up trucks and large SUVs, in Europe have a diesel engine on offer. Toyota has shifted to petrol-hybrids in a big way, and Maruti Suzuki is expected to follow suit. For the Indian market though, Toyota will continue offering diesel engines on its best selling cars such as the Innova MPV and Fortuner SUV. But apart from these cars, diesels are more of less on their way out from Toyota’s Indian line up as well. The Japanese automaker is a world leader in hybrid cars, with the Prius being the most popular Toyota hybrid.

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The Tata Altroz premium hatchback, which will be launched in India during July-August 2019, could take a diesel-only approach, at least initially. The car is likely to borrow the 1.5 liter diesel engine from the Nexon compact SUV. On the Nexon, this engine makes 108 Bhp-260 Nm. If Tata Motors offers this engine in the same state of tune, the Altroz will become the most powerful hatchback in its segment. On the other hand, if Tata detunes this engine to 92 Bhp-201 Nm, like a new report claims, it will still make it a reasonably powerful motor. It’s unclear as to why Tata will not offer a petrol engine at launch in the Altroz. The automaker has both naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions of the 1.2 liter-3 cylinder petrol engine. It offers this engine in the likes of the Tiago, Tigor and Nexon.

It’s said that Tata will eventually offer a petrol engine in the Altroz. The exact timeline of this is yet to be known. Tata Motors’ approach to initially launch the  Altroz as a diesel-only car is quite surprising. Car makers across the spectrum are talking of moving away from diesel engines for their small cars. In fact, Maruti  Suzuki – the country’s largest automaker – has announced that it wil stop building diesel engined cars from April 2020 even as the Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms kick in. Even Mahindra is planning to discontinue the 1.2 liter-3 cylinder turbo diesel engine that is offered on the KUV100. In such circumstances, Tata’s decision to launch the Altroz as a diesel-only car comes as a surprise.

In a while though, we expect the car to get the 1.2 liter turbocharged petrol engine from the Nexon. This motor makes 108 Bhp-170 Nm on the Nexon, and could be offered in the same state of tune on the Altroz. The Altroz will be Tata’s first premium hatchback for the Indian market. It was first showcased as a concept at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo. The production version of the car was shown at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, and the actual launch is just months away. The Altroz will be a rival to the likes of the Maruti Baleno, the Honda Jazz and the Hyundai Elite i20.

While Tata is yet to reveal the features that the Altroz will pack in, we’re expecting the car to be feature-packed. From the latest touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a stereo with 6-8 speakers, automatic climate control, rain sensing wipers, reverse parking camera, automatic headlamps to ABS, 6 airbags, speed alerts and cruise control, the Altroz is likely to be at par with the segment leaders, if not better in terms of the sheer range of features on offer. The car is likely to be priced lower than all these cars as Tata could take a value-pricing approach to its latest offering as well.

Via Team-BHP

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Toyota’s upcoming premium hatchback has been revealed to quite an extent in the recent spy shots. Named Glanza, the car is almost identical to the Maruti Suzuki Baleno apart from the badge change and the new front grille. The interiors and engine options too are expected to remain the same. Now, a report suggests that the Toyota Glanza may come with a mild-hybrid petrol engine. This will be in addition to the 1.2-litre K12B petrol engine that is found under the hood of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno.

The mild-hybrid engine we are referring to is the 1.2-litre K12C DualJet engine which is equipped with Maruti Suzuki’s Smart Hybrid system. This engine churns out 90 Hp of power along with 113 Nm of torque which in fact makes it slightly powerful than the other 1.2-litre petrol unit (K12B). The Smart Hybrid system also provides a torque-assist function that improves acceleration along with an engine start-stop system. This system switches off the engine at idle to boost fuel efficiency. The lithium-ion battery also gets recharged by a brake-energy regeneration function when the car is decelerating. All this makes this engine more fuel efficient than its counterparts.

The DualJet Smart Hybrid engine has a fuel efficiency score of 23.87 km/l compared to 21.01 km/l of the non-hybrid 1.2 unit. Maruti Suzuki recently launched this engine on the Baleno which made it the first car by the company to be BSVI compliant. On the Baleno, the hybrid engine setup is only available on in two variants presently: Delta and Zeta. However, the DualJet engine variants cost a significant Rs 89,000 more than the equivalent K12B variants.

Talking about the Glanza, it is expected to be offered in two variants, ‘V’ and ‘G’. The ‘V’ variant will likely be the top-spec model based on the Baleno’s Alpha trim level while the ‘G’ variant will be placed lower and will be based on the Baleno Zeta. It will be priced higher than the Baleno and come with a longer standard warranty, which is the main point of difference between both the cars. The Glanza is expected to come with a three-year/1,00,000km warranty as standard. On the other hand, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno comes with a standard two-year/40,000km warranty.

As for its launch, the hatchback is expected to launch in 2019. As already mentioned, the Toyota Glanza will be priced higher than than the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the car will come in only two high-spec variants. The price difference though will not be much. It will be interesting to see how the sales of the Glanza turn up since its essentially a rebranded car with very little changes all around. The Glanza will be followed by other rebranded models like the Vitara Brezza and the Ertiga.

Source

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Hyundai is busy testing the all-new i20 of its official launch next year. The all-new i20 was recently spied testing in Europe, at the Nurburgring race track, leading to speculation that Hyundai is also developing a high performance, N version of the new car. As far as the Indian market is concerned, the i20 Elite will be offered in regular trims. The third generation i20, which will be known as the i20 Elite here, is expected to be a petrol-only car thanks to the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms making diesels too pricey for small cars. The car is expected to be an evolution over the current version, in terms of looks, features and mechanicals.  Here is a speculative render that shows what the third generation Hyundai i20 premium hatchback’s N variant could look like. The overall design of the new i20 and the N variant will be similar.

Render courtesy Kleber Silva

As the render indicates, the all-new Hyundai Elite i20 N will get a new front end inspired by the brand’s new design language that gives prominence to the waterfall front grille. The headlamps are likely to get sharper with LED projectors on offer. The render does not show this detail though. The front end of the car will also see a new bumper, revised fog lamp positioning and new DRLs. The car’s profile could also change with the roofline showing specific changes. The rear is also expected to get a complete redesign with a new bootlid, revised tail lamps, new bumpers and revised placement of exhaust tips. Changes are likely to be extensive on the car’s interiors as well.

Under the hood, we expect the new 1 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that will first be seen on the Hyundai Venue compact SUV, to be offered on the new i20 as well. While this motor makes 118 Bhp-172 Nm on the Venue, it is likely to be detuned to suit the i20, which will be a lighter car. The car is also expected to gain a new 7 speed, twin clutch automatic gearbox with this engine – a combination that will be seen first on the Venue. A 6 speed manual gearbox will also be on offer. It remains to be seen if Hyundai offers a 1.4 liter turbo diesel engine on the new i20. The Bharat Stage 6 emission norms, whic h come into effect in April 2020, are expected to make diesel engined cars about Rs. 2 lakhs pricier than equivalent petrol engined cars.

At such a big price difference between petrol and diesel cars, buyers are likely to overwhelmingly prefer petrol engined cars. This could prompt most car makers to dump the diesel engine entirely in small cars. So, Hyundai could also follow suit by offering the new i20 Elite as a petrol-only car. The i20’s chief competitor and the segment’s best selling car – the Maruti Baleno – will take a petrol-only approach from April 2020. Another competitor – the next-gen Honda Jazz – will be sold as a petrol hybrid. So, it’s safe to expect that Hyundai will also take a similar approach with the new i20. Also, the car is expected to be ready to accept hybrid and electric powertrains.

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Bajaj Auto has just launched the Avenger 160 – India’s cheapest cruiser motorcycle with ABS. The Bajaj Avenger 160 gets a single channel ABS as standard, and is priced at Rs. 82,253, ex-showroom Delhi. At its price point, the Bajaj Avenger 160 does not have any competition although the Suzuki Intruder 150 is a similarly powered, albeit much more expensive motorcycle. The new motorcycle replaces the Avenger 150 in Bajaj Auto’s cruiser line up. Bajaj also offers a bigger engined version of the bike – called the Avenger 220, which is also much pricier. The Avenger 160 gets two colours: Ebony Black and Spicy Red. The motorcycle gets a bunch of changes: LED DRLs, new decals, black alloy wheels and a rubberized rear grab handle.

Mr. Narayan Sundararaman, Vice President (Marketing) – Motorcycles, Bajaj Auto Ltd said,

As the segment leader, Bajaj Auto believes in the strategy of differentiation and category expansion. Avenger Street 160 with ABS provides contemporary styling whilst retaining its classical roadster design. The discerning customer gets a definite step-up into the world of classic biking. This will open up choices to the entry-level sports customers.

The Avenger 160 is powered by a 160cc, four stroke air cooled, single cylinder engine that puts out 15 PS of peak power and 13.5 Nm of peak torque. A five speed manual gearbox is standard. The power and torque figures compare favourably with the Avenger 160’s chief rival – the Suzuki Intruder – whose 155cc motor makes 14.6 Bhp-14 Nm. The Bajaj Avenger 160 weighs 150 kilograms, and has a ground clearance of 177 mm, which should be ample for Indian conditions despite the motorcycle’s long wheelbase. The Avenger 160 is aimed primarily at commuter motorcycle buyers who want an easy riding bike for everyday riding on city streets. The bike’s relaxed riding position and cruiser looks are its biggest selling points.

Bajaj, along with Royal Enfield, made cruiser motorcycles popular in the Indian market. The former first brought in the Kawasaki Eliminator 175 to the Indian market. The Eliminator, during its time, was the most expensive Bajaj motorcycle on sale in India. The Eliminator had a high level of import content, which Bajaj reduced by localizing the motorcycle significantly, and relaunching it as the Avenger 180. The Avenger 180 borrowed its engine from the Pulsar 180 DTSi. Ever since, there have been multiple editions of the Bajaj Avenger, including the range topping 220cc variant. Bajaj Auto is said to be working on the next generation Avenger, which could have a 250cc, liquid cooled engine.

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Honda launched the Amaze sub-4 meter sedan quite a few years ago. Based on the Brio hatchback, the car fared the same as its hatchback counterpart due to uninspiring interiors (the later facelift improved upon that) and quirky design. The new generation Amaze, however, is a different story altogether and is the second best selling vehicle in its segment. The sedan is not a popular car in the mod circuits though, which actually none of the sub-4 meter sedans is. Mumbai based Executive Modcar Trendz (EMT) had different ideas though. They have thus created a Nissan IDX Nismo replica based on the older generation Honda Amaze.

For reference, the original Nissan IDX Nismo has been featured below. It is a concept car showcased at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show and is supposedly inspired by the Datsun 510. The Amaze based modification job here, however, seems a bit off to say the least. The effort put in by the guys at EMT is commendable as they have made a ton of changes on the car, including revamped interiors. The end result though looks more of a parody of the Nissan IDX Nismo.

The body panels, headlights, profile etc have been painstakingly worked upon so as to bring the car as near to the original car as possible. However, the shape and body dimensions of the Honda Amaze don’t quite match with the car and it ends up looking like a cheap kit car. Among the major change done on the Amaze here is the reworked side body profile and the deletion of the rear doors. Yes, there are now only two doors on this car mimicking the original car.

The front end gets a huge transformation with LED DRLs, custom fabricated body panels among other things. The car now runs on stylish alloy wheels shod on with low profile tires. The wing mirrors are stylish sleek units to give the car a sporty profile.

The level of detailing can be seen in the side exhaust vents the Amaze has been equipped with, which resemble the one found on the IDX Nismo. The roof has been redesigned towards the end to match the IDX Nismo’s body profile. All these efforts make us appreciate the modifiers and think about the hard work done to create this car. The only sad part is that it looks quite disproportionate and quirky, to say the least.

The interiors too have been given a revamp but they have not been inspired by the IDX Nismo in any sense. A combination of bright yellow and sky blue colour shades now cover the whole interiors landscape. The door pads have been given a faux carbon fibre finish so as to suggest the sporty intentions of the car.

If the front and the side body design do invoke even a little bit of appreciation from you, the rear end of the car will definitely make you slightly numb. No more superlatives adjectives for the car now folks. As an end note, the hard work and long hours put in building this car are praiseworthy but the Honda Amaze cum Nissan IDX Nismo here is one hell of a wacky mod job.

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Jeep India is currently the only successful brand under the FCA umbrella and soon, it might remain the only brand under the Italian brand in the Indian market. Jeep currently offers three models in the market – Jeep Compass, Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Soon, Jeep will launch the more capable version of the Compass in the form of the Jeep Compass Trailhawk. Now the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has also been spotted testing on the Indian roads by Team-BHP and we may get to see the new SUV in the Jeep India’s line-up soon. Since it will be a fully imported Completely Built Unit (CBU), Jeep may just launch it in India to strengthen the model line-up.

The Jeep Rubicon is a much more capable version of the standard Wrangler and comes fitted with features that improve the off-road capabilities of the vehicle. The vehicle was caught on the test and it was completely uncamouflaged. The Rubicon variant of the Wrangler is positioned higher than the Jeep Wrangler and is available in both 3-door and 5-door variants. The model caught testing in India is a 3-door variant.

The Rubicon version of the Wrangler looks much more aggressive than the standard option available in the Indian market. It gets a huge sticker job on the body announcing its Rubicon connection. The Wrangler Rubicon also gets 17-inch wheels with factory-fitted 33-inch off-road spec tyres. Even the front bumper is different from the standard variant of the Wrangler and it looks chunkier and much more muscular.

There is a set of foglamps that are placed on the plastic fenders adding a more intimidating look to the vehicle. Also, there are Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) and Rubicon logos on both sides. At the rear, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon also gets a spare wheel and plastic bumper. The integrated reflectors make the SUV adds a proper road presence to the vehicle.

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon gets powered by a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine as standard. The engine produces a maximum power of 285 Bhp and peak torque of 353 Nm. It gets a 6-speed manual transmission as standard while there is an 8-speed automatic gearbox available as an optional unit. Jeep also offers a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine in the International markets that produce a maximum power of 270 Bhp but that is unlikely to be launched in India. The extra features in the Rubicon variant also consist of features like Rock-Trac system that gets high-performance suspension and locking differentials. Other features include rock rails, fuel tank skid plate shield and transfer case skid plate shield as standard equipment. Even the sway bars of the Rubicon Wrangler can be disconnected to ensure that the tyres keep on the surface all the time.

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The Tiago is the best selling car in Tata’s India model lineup. The hatchback rivals the likes of the Maruti Suzuki WagonR and Hyundai Santro in its segment. It is among the new age vehicles by Tata and even gets a more powerful JTP version which has been specially tuned for driving a pleasure. Tata, however, does not have any MPV/station wagon in its model lineup. Given the growing popularity of MPVs in the country, an MPV from the manufacturer makes sense. On Tata’s part though, there has been no such word. But what if Tata decided to make a station wagon based on the Tiago hatchback platform? The same has been illustrated via a render in the video below by SRK Designs

The concept of a station wagon based on the Tiago is not bad if we think about the current market scene. The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is the leader in the affordable MPV segment and a challenger by Tata in the form of the Tiago Station Wagon can be worked upon. Renault will launch the Triber MPV in the coming months which is based on the same concept. The Tribe is built on extended Kwid platform and will compete with the Maruti Ertiga, though it will be priced lower. Datsun also offers the Go+ compact MPV which is built on the extended Go hatchback platform. Therefore, the Tiago Station Wagon here is something that will be welcomed in the market.

Talking about the Tiago Station Wagon render featured here, it is based on the Tiago hatchback but gets a host of changes to give it the typical Station Wagon look. The most obvious of them is the enlarged rear profile. The render now features an extra pillar at the rear while the roofline now does not droop low after the C-pillar. The extra space created by extending the length can be used to accommodate an extra row of seats. A roof box has been added on to enhance the luggage carrying capacity of the car.

The lower end of the front and rear bumpers along with the ORVMs have been blacked out to give a more rugged look the Tiago Station Wagon. The wheel arches and lower side panels too get black cladding. What is really commendable here is the fact that how proportionate the car looks and the way in which the design has been balanced. For this, the render artist definitely deserves a thumbs up from our side.

As of now, Tata has no plans to launch such an MPV in the market. Tata’s future plan is to launch the Altroz premium sedan and the Cassini SUV this year. Next year, the manufacturer will launch the Altroz EV which will be later followed by the Hornbill micro SUV. A Hyundai Creta rival is also under developments and has been given the name of Blackbird for now. However, that will not be launched in 2020 but rather later in 2021.

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Car and bike modification harks back to the origin of internal combustion engine vehicles itself. In fact, before major companies were set up, most of the pioneers of this field were actually trained engineers or tuners. Taking a jump to the current modification scene, now it has developed into a booming industry apart from being a popularly pursued hobby of many. The biggest factor involved in modifications is the passion of the vehicle owner rather than how expensive the car actually is. The Maruti Suzuki Alto featured here is a great example of the same. Take a good look at this gorgeous beauty before we move further on its details.

Finished in a shade of yellow, this Alto looks amazing for sure. A major eye candy here are those Lamborghini-esque scissor front doors which provide massive appeal. A lot of modified cars have been getting these scissor doors of late and the reason behind that is quite obvious. The ones on this Alto are not exactly scissor doors but rather an amalgamation of butterfly and scissor door. Nonetheless, they look quite cool without a doubt.

The front end of the car gets a number of changes which includes a new bumper and blacked out grille among others. The sides feature custom side skirts which give a lowered stance to the car. It also features flared fenders all around with scoops on the front fender for an additional sporty touch. There is no lack of visual drama on this car and what further makes it special is that not many Altos have been modified to such an extent in our country. This Alto runs on stylish alloy wheels shod on with low profile tires.

Moving to the rear, the bumper here has been replaced by a sporty looking aftermarket unit complete with sharp cuts and fins. It also gets an aftermarket diffuser finished in black. Chrome lined exhaust tips have been placed on either side of the diffuser, complimenting the sporty look of the car. The interiors have been spiced up a bit too as can be seen in the picture below.

The centre dashboard has been given the same yellow treatment as on the exteriors while the steering wheel has been wrapped in a black and yellow leather cover. A roof spoiler a the rear would have further accentuated the car’s look but in its current form too, this Alto looks radical.

Talking about Alto, Maruti Suzuki is currently developing a new generation model of the car which will comply with the upcoming BNSVAP standards. This new Alto is based on the Future S concept and has been spotted testing already. The spy shots reveal that Maruti has ditched the classic Alto design in favour of a taller, Kwid like design.

Image Credits – _mr.yel_low_ on Instagram

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Maruti Suzuki launched the Ciaz back in 2014 in an attempt to capture the C-segment sedan territory. The company’s previous attempt in the form of the SX4 failed to take off as did the older Baleno sedan and Kizashi premium sedan. The Ciaz, however, turned out to be just what the doctor ordered and gave Maruti a taste of success for the first time in the segment. It is a pretty good looking sedan that now looks even smarter thanks to the facelift it received last year. Though the Ciaz is not a very popular car in the modification circuits across India, some pretty good examples have popped up of late. For the same, here are 5 best modified Maruti Suzuki Ciaz sedans of recent times.

1. Hot Shot Maroon

First on the list is this hot looking Ciaz wrapped in a shade of maroon. It has been modified by the well known 360 Motoring mod house from Kollam, Kerela. The front end of the car now sports an aggressive looking blacked out grille section with honeycomb mesh pattern. The bumper is also a new piece and gives the car a slightly lowered stance. The headlights have traded places with aftermarket units while side skirts along with a rear spoiler have been attached to give the car a more sporty look. The alloys on this car are stock units but nonetheless, they look quite good.

2. The Blue Camo

The first thing which catches ones attention on seeing a car is probably its body paint/wrap. The owner of this car seems to have taken this fact quite seriously and wrapped his car in a unique camouflage wrap. The blue-grey-white colour scheme further makes it stand apart and we are sure that this Ciaz is the only one of its type in the country. The rest of the car is more or less stock save for those blacked out headlamps.

3. Yellow Menace

This is probably one of the best mod jobs done on a Ciaz across India. Done none other than the Kollam-based 360 Motoring, it looks quite sporty and very desirable as well. To let you know, this car belongs to a petrolhead and automotive engineer  Vaheen Azeez. Talking about changes, it gets a full custom body kit which includes new bumpers, side skirts and rear bumper along with the custom diffuser. A huge rear wing, sharp looking headlamps and those gorgeous spoked rims make it stand a class apart. The bright yellow paint shade further enhances it looks.

4. Lowrider Ciaz

Talk of car modification and the discussion is incomplete without a lowrider car. Same is the case here and the Ciaz above is one of the best lowrider mods on this sedan we have seen. The car literally hugs the ground thanks to those low profile tires, lowered suspension and low body kit. Those gorgeous rims further take the heat up and so does the aftermarket bonnet top cover. The side skirts along with the front and rear bumper give it a ground swooping stance and we absolutely love it.

5. The Evil Twins

Being the last entry, we decided to include not one but two cars in this slot. What then could be better than these evil twins, which sport a similar menacing look. In fact, they are the most aggressive looking Ciaz examples here. Both of them sport black paint shade which augments their evil persona but the one on the right gets a red strip running along its centre. Further, they sport custom aftermarket headlights, an aggressive looking honeycomb grille, custom bumpers and lip spoilers finished in white.

Image Source – 1, 2, 4, 5

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Mahindra has begun testing the all-new, 2020 Scorpio SUV on Indian roads ahead of its official launch sometime next year. The spy shots reveal that the new Scorpio will sit slightly lower than the current model but will be longer than the outgoing version. The new Scorpio will move a generation ahead and will use a brand new ladder frame architecture. The platform of the vehicle will also be new and will be shared with a range of upcoming utility vehicles and SUVs from Mahindra including the all-new Thar. The all-new Scorpio will continue to be a seven seat SUV but is likely to become more spacious with better leg room for the second and third rows of passengers. The SUV is expected to ditch the side seat layout for the final row and instead opt for front facing seats.

As for mechanicals, there will be a full revamp as well. The 2020 Scorpio will have to meet the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) will norms from April 2020, and will also have to be prepared for new norms under the real time driving emission (RDE) regime that will come into effect from 2022-23. These requirements will require the SUV to use new engines. Mahindra has developed a brand new, 2 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged diesel engine for use in the new Scorpio, Thar and XUV500. This engine is expected to be more powerful than the 2.2 liter mHawk diesel, and more fuel efficient as well. It will be BS6 norms compliant, and is expected to make about 160 Bhp-400 Nm on the new Scorpio.

What this also means is, the 2020 Mahindra Scorpio will be the most powerful version of the SUV ever built and sold in India. Mahindra is also expected to build a new pick-up truck based on the all-new Scorpio. It’s expected to replace the Getaway. The all-new Scorpio is also expected to be offered with a BS6 compliant petrol engine. On whether it will be the BS6 compliant 2.2 liter mHawk turbo petrol engine already available on the XUV500 or a brand new, 2 liter turbo petrol engine remains to be seen. We expect the new Scorpio to be at least Rs. 2 lakh pricier than the outgoing model thanks to the new platform, new engines, additional emission compliance equipment and additional features.

The Scorpio, first introduced in 2002, has been one of Mahindra’s best selling vehicles. To this day, the Scorpio manages 4,000 units, and the Scorpio brand is very strong both in urban and rural markets. In fact, a large chunk of the Scorpio sales comes from the S3 trim, which uses a 2.5 liter M2CRDE turbocharged engine with only 75 Bhp-200 Nm on tap. This cut price version sells very well in rural and semi-urban India. Even cab operators opt for this variant in cities, and the continued strength of the Scorpio’s sales is due to this. It remains to be seen if Mahindra will continue to offer a cut price version of the all-new, 2020 Scorpio.

Via MotorVikatan

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Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, which is a mid-size sedan is not built for off-road and challenging terrains. However, with a little caution and driving skills, it sure can go to places it is not made for. Here is a video of Maruti Suzuki Ciaz taking on extremely bad roads in Himachal Pradesh.

The video by KHARDUNGLA BIKERS GROUP shows the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz taking on the rough terrains in Gramphu, Himachal Pradesh. The town falls on the to Ladakh from Manali and also on the crossroads of Spiti Valley. The video shows the Ciaz taking on the extremely bad terrain. Such points on the roads to the mountains are quite common. In the local language, they called “Nullah” or water crossings. Since the roads are located at high altitude, the snow melting on the peaks of the mountains become a stream of water and flow across the roads. The flowing water makes it difficult to keep the surface in good shape, which is why such water crossings are often a cocktail of bad roads too.

The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz can be seen taking on such extremely bad and broken road. This is why most people prefer taking SUVs and 4X4 vehicles on such routes. However, the driver of the Ciaz did a commendable job of ensuring that the vehicle comes out safe without getting stuck. At the first point, when there was a drop, people used stones to ensure that the Ciaz comes down slowly and the underbody does not get hit by the bad road surface. Such obstacles can be easily crossed with a vehicle with high ground clearance but can be extremely challenging for low slung vehicles. The Mahindra Bolero Pick-Up following the Ciaz can be seen taking the terrain quite easily. For reference, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz has only a ground clearance of 170 mm.

The second part of the video shows the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz going through a deep water crossing, which it crosses without much problem or help. It can be seen going through the stream.

Such water crossings can be extremely dangerous for the vehicles as the road surface under the water. Most bikers face difficulties crossing such streams as the front wheel can deflect due to the rocks. The same happens with cars too but it can be managed since the cars are more stable.

There are many such water crossings in the region, which makes the roads one of the most dangerous in the whole country. Taking small hatchbacks and sedans to such roads is not impossible but it sure is very dangerous and extremely difficult. Taking such cars may require a spotter who can direct the driver to put the wheels at the right directions to ensure the safety of the vehicle.

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Mahindra has begun shipping the ABS equipped Bolero to its dealerships across India. The Mahindra Bolero ABS is the safest version of the MUV built, and is meant to comply with tighter safety norms under the Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP) regime. The exact pricing details of the Mahindra Bolero ABS are yet to be revealed. We expect a modest upward revision in prices thanks to the addition of ABS. The Bolero has traditionally suffered from weak braking/wooden brake feel. The addition of ABS is expected to make hard braking under emergency conditions a lot more safer on the MUV. Also, ABS will shorten braking distances in the wet and allow the driver to steer the vehicle around obstacles even under hard, emergency braking. Overall, buyers of the Mahindra Bolero will be pleased at the new safety feature addition.

Youtuber Ujjwal Saxena, who has shared these images, will soon upload a video showing the upgraded, 2019 Mahindra Bolero ABS in detail. The video should give us details as to whether Mahindra has also added other key safety features such as a driver airbag, speed alerts, reverse parking sensors and passenger seatbelt reminder. Notably, all these safety features, in addition to ABS, are now mandatory on all cars sold in the Indian market under BNVSAP norms. More stringent safety provisions will come into place later this year, and next year. So, Mahindra, like other automakers in India, will have to equip its best selling vehicle – the Bolero – with all the mandatory safety features for it to sell in India.

For nearly 2 decades since its introduction in 2001, the Bolero has consistently been Mahindra best selling vehicle. The MUV does around 7,000 monthly units on an average. It is Mahindra’s bread and butter offering in rural and semi-urban markets across India. It is bought primarily as a people mover, with seating capacity of up to 9 adults. A rugged build, bomb proof reliability, high fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs are the hallmarks of the Bolero, and the biggest reasons why the Indian market laps up with dated but highly effective design. The Bolero is likely to get a major redesign in 2020, to meet the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 emission norms and also new safety norms under BNVSAP.

The MUV is currently offered with 2 engine options: a 1.5 liter-3 cylinder twin scroll turbocharger equipped diesel engine with 70 Bhp-195 Nm and a 2.5 liter-4  cylinder M2DICR turbocharged diesel engine with 63 Bhp-180 Nm. Both engines get 5 speed manual gearboxes as standard and drive the Bolero’s rear wheels. The BS6 norms will see Mahindra upgrading one or both of these engines with emission control equipment, which is expected to push up prices of the vehicle. So, pre-2020 is the best time to buy the Bolero for buyers looking to beat the price hike.

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Modern cars come with a lot of electronic safety and driveability enhancing aids embedded in them by the manufacturer. Though some purists may argue against it, the electronic aids on modern cars make them a lot safer to drive for everyone. Some of these features are ABS, EBD, traction control, and ESP among others. ABS here stands for Anti Lock Braking system, EBD for Electronic Brake Force Distribution, and ESP for Electronic Stability Program. Coming to traction control, it is something that is quite obvious by its name itself. However, many have a wrong idea of what it is and how it works. For the same, take a look at this video by it’s me BISHNOI which illustrates the working of traction control using a Toyota Innova Crysta.

Traction control is now equipped in many cars sold in India. Basically, it prevents loss of traction when the vehicle is accelerated. This is very useful in vehicles with powerful engines or those cars which are quite heavy. The powertrain on the Toyota Innova Crysta sends power to the rear wheels, which means that the MPV is a rear wheel drive vehicle. It is quite a hefty vehicles and weighs well over 1800 kg. All these factors contribute to traction loss in the Innova when accelerated hard over the non-linear surfaces or over inclined surfaces. Let’s now see how the traction system works.

As seen in the video, when the Innova is put into reverse gear and accelerated over an inclined surface, the wheel starts spinning resulting in tire burn (burnout). This translates into the loss of engine power, more pressure on the gearbox and moreover, loss of fuel. The traction control prevents the wheelspin from happening and provides grip to the tires so that the vehicle can move easily. It does this by means of a system of sensors and other electric equipment. The system judges when the wheel began to spin freely and stops it from spinning, which provides adequate grip to the wheels. Traction control can be turned off easily in cars and is done when burnouts and drifts among other stunts are to be performed.

Talking about the engine and transmission options on the Toyota Innova Crysta, the MPV comes with 3 engine options which consist of one petrol engine and two diesel units. The petrol engine on the Innova Crysta is a 2.7-litre unit that produces 164 Bhp of power along with 245 Nm of torque and is mated to 5-speed manual gearbox. The diesel options include a 2.4-litre engine and a 2.8-litre engine, producing 148 Bhp-343 Nm and 172 Bhp-360 Bhp power outputs respectively. While the smaller diesel gets only a 5-speed manual, the bigger diesel engine gets a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox too.

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Apart from Range Rover, who’s built a convertible based on the Evoque crossover, no other mainstream automaker in the world offers a small SUV, at least there’s no such SUV in the sub-4 meter category. XTomi Design has come up with a render of the Hyundai Venue Convertible, giving us a picture of what the sub-4 meter offering will look like in drop-top form. Hyundai’s sub-4 meter SUV, the Venue will be launched in India on the 21st of May. It’s already been revealed both in India, and in New York, and Hyundai has even listed out variant details to give buyers an idea of what to expect while pre-booking the vehicle. Meanwhile, check the render out.

In convertible form, the compact SUV loses its four door layout for a two door stance, and it suits the Venue quite well given its sub-4 meter length. The rear of the Venue droptop is also suitably raised, to give it a more muscular look. The SUV gets four seats, and there are roll bars at the rear. That’s pretty much it when it comes to design changes on the render. Now, considering the fact that this is purely a work of imagination of XTomi, don’t get your hopes high about seeing the Venue in this form. If Hyundai ever offers something like this, the automaker will be a complete outlier of sorts.

Coming back to the India-spec Hyundai Venue that will be launched very soon, it’s likely to be priced very competitively. We expect a sub-Rs. 7.5 lakh starting price for the base petrol model equipped with the 1.2 liter petrol motor. There will be two other engines on offer – a 1 liter-3 cylinder turbo petrol with 118 Bhp-172 Nm, and a 1.4 liter turbo diesel with 89 Bhp-220 Nm. All three engines will get manual gearboxes as standard and only the turbo petrol motor will offer a twin clutch automatic transmission as an option. The Venue will borrow its engines primarily from the i20 but Hyundai has not yet revealed the exact platform on which the SUV is based on.

What has been fully revealed is the feature set, and the interiors of the compact SUV. It gets high quality interiors – typical of Hyundai, and features a boat load of features. The most technologically advanced SUV in its segment, and probably two segments higher, the Venue gets its on-board SIM card that gives it a range of connectivity features: From automatic sunroof, window and start operations, to an emergency assist system. The Venue’s top-end variants will get 6 airbags, ABS, touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, hill hold, electronic stability program, traction control, keyless entry, automatic wipers, an electric sunroof and automatic headlamps.

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Skoda has revealed the launch timelines of its upcoming SUVs in India. The Karoq and Kamiq, as they are known, are the new SUV the manufacturer aims to sell in India. Both of them will be positioned in different segments but below the current company flagship SUV, the Kodiaq. As for their launch timelines,  the Karoq is expected to be here by mid-2020 while the Kamiq will be launch in 2021. While the Karoq will sit just below the Kodiaq in Skoda’s India model lineup and will rival the likes of the Jeep Compass, the Kamiq will be positioned much lower and will primarily challenge the Hyundai Creta.

To let you know, both of the SUVs have their names derived from the language of the Inuit people who live in northern Canada and Greenland. These SUV will help the company reach its new set target of selling 25 lakh cars annually by 2025. According to a senior company official, the Czech brand aims to sell one lakh vehicles per year in India from 2025. For the same, the company has planned to launch new models as well as facelifting the models on sale. Skoda Auto India Pvt Ltd director (sales, service and marketing) Zac Hollis said that under the India 2.0 project, the brand plans to heavily localise the production apart from expanding the portfolio.

Talking about the Skoda Kamiq, it is a compact SUV that will take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta and the Nissan Kicks among others. The Kamiq will be aimed at customers who want a feature-rich and premium alternative to its Hyundai counterpart. The upcoming Kamiq SUV will be based on the same platform that underpins the upcoming Volkswagen T-Cross, that is, the MQB-A0 platform. It has been already been caught testing internationally and Skoda is likely to showcase the SUV in production form during the 2020 Delhi Auto Show.

Coming to the Skoda Karoq, it will be a premium SUV offering that will sit below the Kodiaq and have a price range that is expected to start around Rs. 20 lakh. Skoda has already started the assembly of Karoq SUV in their Aurangabad plant. It too is based on Volkswagen’s MQB platform which we have already seen on other Skoda cars like Kodiaq, Octavia and Superb. On the outside, the Karoq looks like a smaller version of the Skoda Kodiaq SUV. Engine options on the SUV include a 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol unit and a 2.0-litre diesel unit. A BSVI compliant 1.6-litre diesel engine mated to a DSG gearbox could also be offered.

Both of these vehicles will be around 95 per cent localised which will help Skoda to price them competitively. Skoda is yet to decide on whether to stop the manufacturing of diesel cars or not so that means that the Karoq and Kamiq will get diesel powertrains as well.

Source

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