Skoda’s most affordable car in India – the Rapid C-Segment sedan will get a brand new, 1 liter-3 cylinder TSI turbocharged petrol engine. This motor, which is already available in Europe, gets two states of tune: 95 Bhp-160 Nm and 115 Bhp-200 Nm. Skoda is likely to go with the higher state of tune in the Indian market. This is because the 1 liter TSI turbo petrol motor will not only replace the 1.6 liter, naturally aspirated MPI petrol engine currently available on the Rapid but also replace the 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged diesel motor. Yes, you’re reading right. There’s a very good chance that Skoda and the Volkswagen group as a whole would begin dumping the TDI diesel engine across car models and brands even in the Indian market, opting for CNG, petrol-hybrid and electric powertrains instead.

Here’s what Zac Hollis, director – sales, service and marketing, Skoda Auto India, told ACI,

We will not have a diesel in the Rapid but will replace that with a very efficient petrol engine – a 1.0-litre TSI. It is an extremely efficient engine giving a much better fuel economy than the current MPI, which has often been criticized a little for the fuel economy and efficiency. The investments in BS6 for diesel will force the price of cars to go up in the future. For a customer, it actually that makes the business case for buying a diesel a lot less weaker than before. In my personal opinion, the market will move more towards petrol going forward.

The 1 liter TSI turbocharged petrol engine will be offered with a 7 speed twin clutch DSG automatic gearbox, along with a 6 speed manual. The same motor is also expected to make its way into the Volkswagen Vento, which is also expected to move away from the 1.6 liter naturally aspirated petrol and the 1.5 liter TDI turbo diesel. It remains to be seen if the 1.2 liter TSI petrol engine, which is offered on the Volkswagen Polo – the group’s largest selling car in the Indian market – also gets the 1 liter TSI. This seems likely as the localization of this engine will give maximum returns only when it’s offered in the best selling car from the Volkswagen group.

Also, Volkswagen and Skoda have bigger plans for this engine post 2020. In 2021, when Skoda launches its first compact SUV in India – the Kamiq – the vehicle will exclusively feature the 1 liter TSI motor. Similarly, the Volkswagen T-Cross compact SUV will also get this engine sometime in 2021, when it’s launched in India. The replacement models for the Vento and Rapid will also receive this engine. All these factors seem to suggest that the 1 liter, TSI turbo petrol engine could be the only one on offer across a range of Volkswagen and Skoda affordable cars. This engine is also likely to be offered with petrol-CNG dual fuel trim.

Also Read: Watch Naga Chaitanya taking his Ferrari 488 GTB supercar for a ceramic coating job

There is a substantial overlap in prices of premium hatchbacks and compact sedans on the new car market with comparable models of the latter being only slightly expensive. Does that mean you can get shop for either within the same budget—let’s say Rs. 4 lakh? How do the options compare when you put a kilometers usage limit of 50,000 km? There are no easy answers to this question—unless you can find a way of first identifying the best deals in each category and then comparing them.

That’s what we did using Cartoq TRUE PRICE for Delhi/NCR. The Cartoq Data Science team has built a Machine Learning model that estimates the TRUE PRICE of a used car, after accounting for all sorts of variables – brand, model, age, mileage, car type.

With all factors accounted for, it predicts the TRUE PRICE, which then becomes the basis of comparing across cars. The best deals are those where listed price is lower than the TRUE PRICE.

The best deals listed below are based on our analysis on May 17, 2019. These specific cars may or may not be available by the time you read this. But the list offers useful pointers for your search:

• If you are looking for a diesel, you are more likely to find one amongst premium hatchbacks, that too without expending your entire budget.
• But if diesel is not a must, then there are excellent deals available in the compact sedan category as well.

Let’s now look at the Three Best Deals each in premium hatchbacks and compact sedans:

PREMIUM HATCHBACKS

Recommendation #1:Ford Figo 1.4 TDCi Titanium

Year: 2014 / Mileage: 48,000 / Asking Price: Rs. 318,500 / Original Price: Rs. 768,000

WHY BUY: This spacious, fun-to-drive Ford is available for less than half the new car’s price. And since it’s a diesel, your fuels bills too would be reasonable. The Titanium variant is well appointed.

Buy it here

Recommendation #2: Ford Figo 1.4 TDCi Titanium

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 45,000 / Asking Price: Rs. 302,900 / OP: Rs. 768,000

WHY BUY: This Ford—the same variant as above—is a year older that the first entry but has similar number of kilometres and comes with a asking price that’s nearly a lakh under your budget.

Buy it here

Recommendation #3: Maruti Swift VDi

Year: 2014/ Mileage: 40,233 / Asking Price: Rs. 375,000 / Original Price: Rs. 696,000

WHY BUY: Substantial premium over the Ford’s listed above puts this Maruti Swift in the third place on our list. Other than that, there is much to like about this iconic car—good drivability, excellent fuel economy, low service costs and solid build quality.

Buy it here

Recommendation #4: Toyota Etios Liva V

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 33,792 / Asking Price: Rs. 310,000 / Original Price: Rs. 718,600

WHY BUY: Any used Toyota going for less than half the new car price is gold dust—such is their build quality. And when you have one with just 33,000 km, you are looking at another 1 lakh km—usually 10 years—of trouble-free ownership. Yes, it’s a bit bland but is far more spacious and rides far better than the other entries—the two Swifts—on this list.

Buy it here

Compact Sedans

Recommendation #1:Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire VXi AMT

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 28,024 / Asking Price: Rs. 330,000 / Original Price: Rs. 705,000

WHY BUY: It’s Maruti, that too an automatic, with less than 30,000 km at less than half the price of a new one. Need we say more.

Buy it here

Recommendation #2: Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire ZDi

Year: 2013/ Mileage: 33,111 / Asking Price: Rs. 400,000 / Original Price: Rs. 817,000

WHY BUY: This is the most expensive of the lot, sitting right at the top end of your budget. But it’s also the only diesel entry on this list plus you get the top-end variant. And it’s still less than half the new car price.

Buy it here

In Summary:

If diesel is not a must, and it shouldn’t be unless you drive a 1,000 km-plus every month, there are as many great buys Compact Sedans as Premium Hatchbacks.

Also Read: Watch Naga Chaitanya taking his Ferrari 488 GTB supercar for a ceramic coating job

Contrary to the reports suggesting Ford’s partial exit from India, the US manufacturer is planning to invest a huge sum of Rs. 7,000 crores or $ 1 Billion in the Indian market for the development of new products among other things in the next 5 to 7 years according to a report. Ford has already entered into a partnership with Mahindra for the development of vehicles as well as technology exchange. The company is currently developing a new vehicle which will act as a replacement for the Ecosport both in India as well as the international markets. The render below, courtesy Kleber Silva on Behance, gives us a good idea of how the Ecosport replacement and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza rival would look like in production form.

Spy shots of the upcoming Ecosport replacement have surfaced quite a few times and they suggest a sleeker profile of the vehicle. This could be because this new Ecosport replacement will be based on the Ford Fiesta platform and hence will sport a sleek design language as compared to the current butch stance of the sub-4 meter SUV. Talking about the design, the front end of the car in the render looks somewhat similar to the Ford Freestyle crossover. The headlights, bumpers, grille design and the C shaped black plastic insert above and around the fog lamps are all reminiscent of the Freestyle. However, this being a render, the production version of the vehicle may look different.

Moving on, it gets black cladding on the lower body panels all around. The lower window line rises all the way up to meet the roof and the C-pillar, a design feature we have seen on the Tata Nexon. The roof has been painted white and gets black rails over it. It rides on stylish multispoke rims while a silver bash plate has been added at the front suggesting its rugged intentions. We also see a sunroof in this render, which is not a surprise given the Ecosport also comes with one. As for the interiors, not much information is available yet but expect them to be feature rich. The upholstery and the dashboard layout will be revised too.

Talking about the engine, there are no factual details about the powertrain as of now. However, it is expected that the EcoSport replacement will continue to be powered by the 1.5-litre Dragon series engine which was introduced last year. The all-new three-cylinder engine is BS VI compliant. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine may also stay on the offer. The same could not be said about the diesel unit as several of the manufacturers in India are dumping diesel engines in the lower end models due to the cost of BSVI upgrade.

Also Read: Watch Naga Chaitanya taking his Ferrari 488 GTB supercar for a ceramic coating job

Hyundai India has begun dispatching the Venue compact SUV to dealerships across India in full swing ahead of tomorrow’s launch. The first sub-4 meter SUV from Hyundai will rival the Maruti Brezza, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport and the Mahindra XUV300. A grey colour Hyundai Venue was recently spotted at a dealership, and this is a colour that makes the SUV looks quite classy and understated. Considering that grey is a popular colour on the likes of the Hyundai Grand i10 and the i20 Elite, expect to see plenty of Venue SUVs in this shade. The pictures also show the sides and rear of the Venue, and from the looks of it, the compact SUV is quite a handsome vehicle even without studio lights. Hyundai’s designers seems to have gotten the proportions spot on, and the SUV is a mix of butch and curvy.

Images courtesy Team-BHP

The Venue will be a global offering, and many other emerging markets around the world are likely to get it. India will be the first market where the Venue goes on sale though. Bookings have been open at Hyundai dealerships for the past few days, with very good response. Leaked prices suggest that Hyundai will take a premium pricing approach with the Venue, and that the SUV will be pricier than the Maruti Brezza – the segment’s leader by a long shot. While pricing the Venue at a premium, Hyundai will also offer enough features on the SUV, making it one of the best equipped vehicles in the segment, behind the Mahindra XUV300, which is totally stuffed with safety features and creature comforts.

The Hyundai Venue will be offered with three engines, two in petrol and one in diesel. The entry level petrol will be the 1.2 liter VTVT naturally aspirated engine borrowed from the i20 Elite and Grand i10. This motor will make 82 Bhp-114 Nm, and get a 5 speed manual gearbox as standard. The other petrol engine will be a new, 1 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged unit with 118 Bhp-172 Nm. It’ll get two gearbox options: a 6 speed manual and a 7 speed twin clutch automatic. The third engine on offer will again be borrowed from the i20 Elite, and will be a 1.4 liter turbocharged diesel with 89 Bhp-220 Nm. The diesel motor will be paired with a 6 speed manual gearbox. A front wheel drive layout will be standard on the Venue.

While Hyundai has no plans to offer an all wheel drive layout to the Venue, even as an option, the compact SUV will be well rounded when it comes to other features on offer. It will get 6 airbags, ABS+EBD, ESP, hill hold, speed alerts, cruise control and a whole host of other safety features on the top-end trim. Electrically folding wing mirrors, auto dimming inner rear view mirror, touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cooled glove box, center arm rest for the driver and co-passenger, automatic healamps, rain sensing wipers, in-built sim card and smartphone connectivity to start the car, locate it, disable it in case of theft, operate AC, windows and sunroof, etc, will be offered. The SUV will also get an electric sunroof.

Also Read: Watch Naga Chaitanya taking his Ferrari 488 GTB supercar for a ceramic coating job

Naga Chaitanya, a famous actor from the Southern part of India is a Ferrari fanatic. Since many years, Naga Chaitanya owned the Ferrari F430 and roamed around in it in. Last year, the popular actor bought a brand-new Ferrari 488 GTB. Recently, he was seen driving in his brand new car and taking it to the Ceramic Pro coating garage, most probably to get a coating all over his vehicle. However, it is not known what exact coating job for his Ferrari.

Ferrari launched the all-new 488 GTB in India in 2016 at a price of Rs 4.88 crore, making it one of the most expensive cars in the Indian market. The all-new car gets powered by a 3.9-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 670 Bhp and massive torque output of 760 Nm. It is a rear-wheel drive vehicle and gets an automatic 7-speed gearbox. The car can do 0-100 km/h in flat 3 seconds, which is extremely quick. The vehicle can reach the 200 km/h from standstill in just 10.53 seconds. It gets an F1 inspired dual-clutch system that ensures quick gear changes without any problem.

Aftermarket coating is becoming a common choice of people in India. Such coatings can cost quite a lot depending on the size of the vehicle. The hydrophilic coatings claim that they keep the original paintwork intact and saves it from any minor scratches. However, the coating is not for a lifetime and has to be renewed after a few years of use. The coating also does not saves the vehicle from damages due to the accidents.

The Ferrari 488 GTB looks heavily inspired by the Ferrari 458 Italia. However, it gets additional changes including better aerodynamics, better engine and a much more efficient aero-pillar that makes it much better than the Ferrari 458 Italia, the model that it replaced.

Naga Chaitanya owns quite a few luxury and performance cars and is an avid bike lover too. He owns a Ferrari F430, Ferrari 488GTB, Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography, Land Rover Range Rover Vogue, Nissan GT-R, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen and more. Naga Chaitanya, who is the son of Nagarjuna is a huge car fanatic just like his father. Nagarjuna also owns cars like BMW 7-Series, Audi A7 and BMW M6.

Naga Chaitanya is a motorcycle enthusiast too and owns bikes like MV Agusta F4, Aprilia RSV4, Triumph Thruxton R, BMW R9T, Yamaha YZF-R1 and many more such bikes. He is often spotted with his brother and other actors on weekend rides and drives near his home.

Also Read: Watch Naga Chaitanya taking his Ferrari 488 GTB supercar for a ceramic coating job

The number of supercars in India has increased exponentially in recent times. Even though the number of cars has increased on the roads, cars still remain very expensive due to the extremely high import taxes imposed by the Indian government on such cars. However, there are many passionate celebrities who own supercars in India and are often seen driving around on public roads. Here are ten such supercar owners caught on video in their supercars.

Saif Ali Khan

Audi R8 Spyder

The Nawab of Pataudi is a major car fanatic and owns a range of luxury vehicles including a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. Saif also owns an old Mustang that he imported from the USA among many other cars. Saif used to be spotted quite often with the previous Audi R8 Spyder. The red-painted Audi R8 Spyder is the weekend ride of Saif Ali Khan and he has even been spotted with Kareena Kapoor Khan in the car. The vehicle is powered by a 5.2-litre V10 engine that produces a maximum power of 525 Bhp and peak torque of 530 Nm. It car can do 0-100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds.

Nag Chaitanya

Ferrari 488GTB

Nag Chaitanya owns a couple of Ferraris including a Ferrari F430 and the latest Ferrari 488GTB. Nag Chaitanya uses both his Ferraris often and is often caught on videos on the roads. The car was launched in 2016 in India priced at Rs 2.88 crores. It gets powered by a 3.9-litre V8 twin-turbocharged engine that develops a maximum power of 670 Bhp and peak torque of 760 Nm. It gets a 7-speed Dual-Clutch transmission that sends the power to the rear wheels of the vehicle.

Virat Kohli

Audi R8 V10 Plus

Being a brand ambassador of Audi India, Virat gets to drive and keep a lot of Audi luxury cars. He even has a couple of Bentley saloons. Here is a video of Virat Kohli driving around in an Audi R8 V10 Plus. Virat Kohli can also be seen on camera giving his thoughts about the new Audi R8 V10 Plus. It is powered by a massive 5.2-litre, naturally-aspirated V10 engine that produces a maximum power of 610 Bhp. It gets a Quattro all-wheel-drive system that gets power through a seven-speed S-Tronic transmission. The car can do 0-100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 330 km/h.

Sanjay Dutt

Ferrari 599 GTB

Sanjay Dutt is a luxury car lover too and owns a few exotics including a Rolls Royce Ghost. Earlier, he owned a Ferrari 599 GTB that was also used in the movie “Ferrari Ki Sawari“. Sanjay Dutt here in the video can be seen explaining to the actor Sharman Joshi who was the lead actor in the movie. The Ferrari 599 GTB is powered by a 5999cc V12 engine that generates a maximum power of 618 Bhp.

Gautam Singhania

McLaren 720S

Gautam Singhania is the only person in India who owns a Ferrari 458 Challenge. Gautam Singhania owns a range of cars in India and his other residence in Dubai. He got the second McLaren 720S to India last year through carnet from Dubai. The McLaren 720S is powered by a 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 710 Bhp and peak torque of 770 Nm. It can do 0-100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds.

John Abraham

Nissan GT-R

John Abraham bought a unique Nissan GT-R Black Edition, which is fondly known as “Godzilla” in 2016. He a major automobile enthusiast and owns numerous cars and bikes. He also owned a  Lamborghini Gallardo in the past. John currently owns a score of superbikes and an all-black Nissan GT-R. The car is powered by a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 motor that generates a maximum power of 565 Bhp and peak torque of 637 Nm.

Ranveer Singh

Aston Martin Rapide S

Ranveer Singh is a Mercedes-Benz brand loyal and owns the GLS, GL-Class and the flagship Maybach S500. His other cars include a Range Rover Vogue, a Jaguar XJ L and an Aston Martin Rapide S. He’s the first Bollywood celebrity to get the Rapide S. The car gets powered by a 6.0-litre V12 engine that generates a maximum power of 560 Bhp.

Yuvraj Singh

Lamborghini Murcielago

The dashing Indian cricketer owns tons of exotic cars including a BMW X5M and a BMW M5 Convertible. Yuvraj, in the past also owned a Lamborghini Murcielago that he used quite often to set lap timings at the Budh International Circuit, which is India’s only Formula1 spec track. The Murcielago LP640 gets a maximum power of 631 Bhp from the 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 petrol engine.

Sachin Tendulkar

BMW i8

Sachin has been associated with the BMW brand for a long time now. Sachin is a major car guy and received a Ferrari as a gift from the legendary racer Micheal Schumacher. In the past, he owned vehicles like BMW X5M and currently owns a host of current-generation BMWs including the i8. The i8 is a hybrid supercar and gets powered by a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine mated with a complex hybrid system. The petrol engine alone generates a maximum power of 321 Bhp and 321 Nm of peak torque while the electric motor generates an additional 131 Bhp and 250 Nm. Combined, the vehicle gets a maximum power of 362 Bhp and 570 Nm of peak torque. It can do 0-100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds.

Suresh Raina

Porsche Boxster

Suresh Raina, the star player of the Indian cricket team and IPL franchise – Chennai Superkings, owns his cricket club team colour Porsche Boxster. The convertible car is often spotted during the Indian Premier League matches when Suresh uses it reach practise sessions. Even the captain of the team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been spotted driving the car quite often. It gets powered by a 3.4-litre, 6-cylinder, flat engine that generates a maximum power of 326 Bhp and peak torque of 361 Nm. It gets a choice between a 7-clutch PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox or 6-speed manual transmission.

Also Read: India's COSTLIEST Nexon has Rs. 5 lakhs worth modifications in it: Check it out [Video]

Ever since the Jawa brand made a comeback to the Indian market last year, it has attracted a lot of attention in the market. The comeback of the brand after 25 years puts it directly against the Royal Enfield brand, which has been enjoying the market share along for a long time now. Jawa currently offers only two motorcycles in the market – Jawa and Jawa 42 but both of them use the same chassis and engine. In comparison to Royal Enfield 350 and 500 series, the engine powering the Jawa bikes is very different and much more advanced. Since both the Jawa bikes are powered by a 293cc, single-cylinder engine, on paper, they take on the Royal Enfield 350 series. Both Jawa and Jawa 42 offer much more power than the Royal Enfield 350 series. But the torque output of the Royal Enfield bike is same as the Jawa bikes. How do they both compare when it comes to acceleration? Well, here is a drag race to show you just that.

The video by Footloose Dev shows a drag race and then detailed comparison between both the bikes. While we have compared both the bikes quite a lot in the past, this is the first time that a new Jawa and a Royal Enfield are doing a race against each other. The video shows the drag race shot on a public road. Even though the road is empty, public roads can be unpredictable and anything can come on the way unannounced. It is always better to do such acceleration tests in controlled environments like a race track or a closed road. Nonetheless, this video is just to indicate the difference in acceleration between the two bikes.

The video shows Jawa 42 winning by a massive margin in the drag race. Looking at the specifications, the Jawa 42 gets powered by a 293cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that generates a maximum power of 27 Bhp and peak torque of 28 Nm. It gets a 6-speed transmission. The Royal Enfield Classic 350 Signals is powered by 346cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that generates a maximum power of 19.8 Bhp and peak torque of 28 Nm. It gets a 5-speed transmission as standard. The Royal Enfield engine is differently built when compared to the Jawa’s engine. Since it is a long-stroke engine, the engine characteristics are different. The Royal Enfield engine revs at a lower RPM and generates peak torque at a much lower RPM than the Jawa engine.

Also, the Jawa gets 6-speed transmission, which means that the first gear of the bike is a lower ratio than the Royal Enfield 350. The lower ratio gear ensures a quicker pickup. However, the Royal Enfield’s torque-oozing engine ensures minimal gear changes in the traffic. Both the bikes have their own pros and cons but comparing solely the speed and acceleration of both the bikes, the Jawa comes out to be a winner.

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Skoda is all set to reveal the 2020 Superb sedan this week at Slovakia, during the Ice Hockey World Championship. That makes it two days from now,  which is the 23rd of May, 2019. However, a lot of details about the car along with the latest set of studio shots have surfaced recently, giving us an early peek at Skoda’s plans. Thanks to Xcar, the engine range and spec sheet of the sedan for the Chinese market is out in open now along with the images you see here. As was being said previously, the car has grown slightly in size while the overall look is sharper compared to the outgoing model.

Speaking of changes on the exteriors, the facelifted 2020 Skoda Superb is now reportedly 8 mm longer and 1 mm wider than the car it replaces. The wheelbase of the car is the same and the differences in the dimensions are most probably due to the tweaked design. Coming to the aesthetics, the headlights are now sleeker and are LED units, something which Skoda has decided to offer on all variants of the new car. The grille is also slightly tweaked and gets a thicker chrome bar at the top. More importantly, the bumper now gets a slightly updated design along with LED DRLs.

The new alloy wheels are multi-spoke units with a machined finish and look good. The profile of the car is more or less the same while the rear end gets a few alterations. This includes the redesigned tail lights and a chrome bar running between them. The rear bumper is a revised unit with new exhaust outlets. Skoda has removed its logo from the boot lid and instead goe for bold lettering on the lid declaring its name. The interiors will also get a boost with the center console and the infotainment unit likely to be updated.

In China, the 2020 Superb will come equipped with 1.4 T and 2.0 T petrol engines in China. The 1.4-litre unit produces 150 PS of power while the 2.0-litre unit churns out 186 PS in a lower state of tune and 220 PS in higher tune. Talking about the transmission, it is expected to be a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic unit. On the contrary, the Superb currently sold in India comes with two engine options: the 1.8-litre TSI turbocharged petrol with 175 Bhp-320 Nm and the 2 litre TDI turbocharged diesel engine with 175 Bhp-350 Nm.

For the Europen markets, a plug-In hybrid powertrain borrowed from the Passat GTE could be the biggest change. As for the India launch, expect that to happen by the end of this year or by early next year. For now, all hands are on the deck for the reveal set to happen this week on the 23rd.

Also Read: India's COSTLIEST Nexon has Rs. 5 lakhs worth modifications in it: Check it out [Video]

Mahindra has been constantly updating the XUV500 luxury crossover and the latest update was the addition of a new, entry level W3 variant that made the XUV500 cheaper than the Tata Harrier. By the end of this month, the flagship Mahindra vehicle will get another update, but this time around the update will involve the higher variants. Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity option will be added to the higher variants of the Mahindra XUV500 on the 31st of May. With this, the vehicle will have both the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity for its touchscreen infotainment system. Android and Apple iOS are the two most popular smartphone operating systems in the market presently.

The addition of Apple CarPlay to the XUV500’s infotainment system will allow users of iPhones to mirror their phones to the infotainment system. A variety of functions such as navigation, messaging, app access and calling will be available with CarPlay. What has to be noted is the fact that Mahindra plans to offer the Apple CarPlay interface only on the top-end W11 (O) variant of the XUV500, which is surprising considering the fact that Android Auto is available on multiple XUV variants, W7 upwards.

The Mahindra XUV500 sold in India gets 12 variants in total: 11 in diesel and 1 in petrol. While there are 5 diesel automatic variants on offer, the rest are diesel-manual variants. The petrol engined XUV500 gets a single, automatic gearbox equipped front wheel driven variant while the diesel variants offer both front wheel drive and all wheel drive options.

The Mahindra XUV500’s diesel engine is a 2.2 liter-4 cylinder, turbocharged unit with 154 Bhp of peak power and 360 Nm of peak torque. This engine gets 6 speed manual and torque converter automatic options, and supports both front wheel drive and all wheel drive layouts. The petrol powered XUV500 gets a 2.2 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged unit with 140 Bhp-320 Nm on tap. The petrol motor gets a 6 speed torque converter automatic as standard and is available only in front wheel drive trim. The XUV500 got a major facelift last year, and is at the fag end of its lifecycle. Introduced in 2011, the XUV500 has been the best seller in its segment for years. Now though, the likes of the Jeep Compass and the latest upstart – the Tata Harrier – are putting pressure on XUV500 sales. Mahindra is working on an all-new XUV500. The second generation model is likely to debut next year. It’s expected to share its platform with the latest Ssangyong Korando.

The second generation Mahindra XUV500 will get Bharat Stage 6 compliant, turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. A major design revamp is also on the cards for Mahindra’s first monocoque SUV, which will continue to use a monocoque layout but could grow in size. Expect a slew of new features, better refinement levels all around, improved handling and ride quality, and better fuel efficiency from the all-new model. a

Also Read: India's COSTLIEST Nexon has Rs. 5 lakhs worth modifications in it: Check it out [Video]

After a wait of around 1 month since its unveil, Hyundai has finally launched the Venuw sub-4 meter SUV in India today. The much-awaited challenger to the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza has been priced at Rs. 6.5 lakh (ex-showroom, India) for the base E variant while the top of the line SX+ variant with turbo petrol and 7-speed DCT is priced at Rs. 11.10 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The Venue sits below the Creta in Hyundai’s India lineup and is the first of its type here from the Korean manufacturer. It is available in 4 trim levels and three engine options which means one can choose from eleven variants in total. The Maruti Brezza’s average ex-showroom price in India is Rs. 7.85 lakhs, making it slightly costlier than the Venue. Take a look at the variant wise pricing of the Venue listed below.

Talking about the design and dimensions of the Venue, it resembles the Creta when viewed from the side but has a totally different styling at the front and rear. The front has an imposing waterfall grille and the headlamps are high-set projector unit. The bumper also has projector fog lamps and DRL LED surrounds. At the rear, tail lamps of the Venue are distinctly styled. The SUV measures a little under 4 meters in length, at 3,995 mm. The width and height of the Venue stand at 1,770 mm and 1,590 mm. The wheelbase, on the other hand, is 2,500 mm, which is around 100 mm less than the segment leader Mahindra XUV300 (2600 mm) but same as of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza.

The front wheel drive sub-4 meter SUV gets a host of first in class features and is filled to brim with features in typical Hyundai style. The Venue is also India’s first connected SUV. It gets Hyundai’s BlueLink smart connectivity which has a total of 33 features under its umbrella, out of which 10 are Indian specific. The car gets e-SIM too along with the BlueLink connectivity feature. Other features include a twin zone automatic climate control unit, wireless charging, automatic headlamps, smart key, push button start, rain sensing wipers, air purifier, cooled glovebox, electric sunroof and a touchscreen infotainment unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Hyundai has also stacked the car well in terms of safety. The top variant gets 6 airbags, ABS+EBD, traction control, vehicle stability management (ESP), hill hold assist, cruise control, reverse parking sensors and a reverse parking camera. The interiors of the Venue get an all-black design theme with silver accents on the dashboard and other places. The dashboard is dominated by the high set infotainment unit flanked by AC vents on either side. Placed below the infotainment are audio controls among other buttons below which are the AC controls.

Hyundai has offered a total of 3 engine options for the Venue, two of which are petrol while one is diesel. The petrol engines on the Venue are a 1.2 litre 4 cylinder, VTVT, naturally aspirated petrol unit while the other is a 1.0 litre, 3 cylinder turbocharged unit. The former has an output of 82 Bhp-115 Nm while the latter puts out 118 Bhp-172 Nm. The diesel engine, on the other hand, is a 1.4 litre 4 cylinder, turbocharged unit that puts out a decent 89 Bhp of power and 220 Nm of torque. Speaking of gearbox options, the 1.4-litre petrol motor will get a 5-speed manual gearbox while the diesel will get a 6-speed manual unit. The 1.0-litre unit, however, gets a choice between either a 7-speed DCT unit or the 6-speed manual unit.

Talking about mileage figures, the 1.0-litre petrol engine delivers 18.27 km/l with the manual gearbox and 18.15 km/l with the 7-speed DCT unit. The 1.2 petrol engine has a fuel efficiency figure of 17.52 km/l while the 1.4 diesel unit is rated for 23.7 km/l. The Hyundai Venue comes with a 3 years/unlimited km warranty along with a 3 year Road Side Assistance (RSA) plan.

Also Read: India's COSTLIEST Nexon has Rs. 5 lakhs worth modifications in it: Check it out [Video]

Suzuki Motorcycle India has just launched the Gixxer 250 SF fully faired sportsbike, and at the launch event, the Japanese motorcycle maker indicated that a naked version is in the works. The naked sportsbike based on the Gixxer 250 SF will be launched by the end of this year, and will be cheaper than the fully faired model, which is priced at Rs. 1.7 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi.

The naked sportsbike will also dump the full fairing, instead opting for extended tank scoops to give it a muscular look. The absence of the fairing will also mean that the Gixxer 250 will be lighter than the SF variant by a few kilograms. The headlamp will be new, and so will the colour schemes. Overall, the unfaired bike will look very sharp, and every bit the street fighter that it’s meant to be.

As for ergonomics, they will significantly change as well. The handlebar will be raised, giving the rider a more comfortable, street-biased stance. The footpegs are likely to be repositioned slightly as well. These changes are meant to make the motorcycle a comfortable ride for everyday traffic in city conditions. Of course, there will be people who will hit the highways with this motorcycle on the weekends, and for them, a tall fairing could be available as an accessory, either from Suzuki itself or from one of the many aftermarket accessory makers operating in India. The split seat layout will be retained on the unfaired Gixxer though. Notably, the Gixxer 155 is also expected to borrow styling from the unfaired 250cc version.

As for mechanicals, the 250cc, single cylinder air-oil cooled motor with 26 Bhp of peak power and 22.9 Nm of peak torque will be carried over from the fully faired motorcycle. This engine gets fuel injection, a four valve had and a single overhead camshaft. The exhaust is a unique, twin barreled design that have become a staple across most Suzuki motorcycles, including ones operating in the commuter segments. Twin channel ABS will be standard on the disc brakes while alloy wheels, tubeless tyres, a full LCD instrument cluster, telescopic front forks and a monoshock rear shock absorber will be the other key bits on this motorcycle.

The unfaired version of the Gixxer 250 will rival the likes of the KTM Duke 250 and the Yamaha Fazer 250. It’s likely to be priced in between these motorcycles. We expect a price tag of around Rs. 1.55 lakhs for the brand new Suzuki motorcycle. Suzuki will be expecting it to sell as well as the Gixxer 250 SF or even better as the unfaired bike is more practical for everyday riding in Indian conditions. The motorcycle will be a global model, selling in India and many other markets around the world. Possibly, Suzuki could even use India as an export hub for both the Gixxer 250 and SF variants.

Also Read: India's COSTLIEST Nexon has Rs. 5 lakhs worth modifications in it: Check it out [Video]

Both Sedans and Compact SUV do a little more than just take you from point A to B—they do it in style. Each has its own strong points—sedans offer more space while compact SUVs are better equipped to wade through Mumbai rains. But sedans—on the new car market—are costlier, at least by 20 percent. Do things change if you switch to used car market? Would you find enough good deals for both if you had maximum budget of Rs. 5 lakh? Which category offers more bang for the buck?

To answer that question, you first need to find a way to identify best deals in both categories. And used car website don’t help much—they give you lots of filters but no way to compare cars across models, variants, age, usage.

You now have help. The Cartoq Data Science team has built a Machine Learning model that estimates the TRUE PRICE of a used car, after accounting for all sorts of variables – brand, model, age, mileage, car type. With all factors accounted for, it predicts the TRUE PRICE, which then becomes the basis of comparing across cars. The best deals are those where listed price is lower than the TRUE PRICE.

The best deals on sedans and compact SUVs listed below are based on our analysis on May 18, 2019. These specific deals might not be available by the time you read this.

But the list offers useful pointers—actually a big surprise—for your search:

• There is an acute shortage of Compact SUVs in the Rs. 5 lakh bracket so you would be lucky to find one.
• Honda City is your best bet since it was the undisputed market leader during 2010-2015 period.

Let’s now look at the Best 3 Deals each in sedans and compact SUVs:

SEDANS

Recommendation #1: Honda City 1.5 V AT

Year: 2012 / Mileage: 45,300 / Asking Price: Rs. 475,000 / Ex-showroom price: Rs. 12,31,000

Why Buy: It’s an Honda which means its well made. It’s got automatic—the smoothest and the most fuel efficient one in its generation. And is available for less than half the new car’s price.

Buy it here

Recommendation #2: Honda City 1.5 V AT

Year: 2011 / Mileage: 44,000 / Asking Price: Rs. 442,600 / Original Price: Rs. 12,31,000

Why Buy: This Honda—the same variant as above—is a year older that the first entry but has similar number of kilometres. And its Rs. 30,000 cheaper.

Buy it here

Recommendation #3: Honda City S MT Petrol

Year: 2013/ Mileage: 37,756 / Asking Price: Rs. 450,000 / Original Price: Rs. 10,27,000

Why Buy: A slightly newer and somewhat less used, this Honda comes with all the good bits you expect from a Honda. But its not an auto—perhaps the reason the Cartoq TRUE PRICE pushed it to third spot on the list.

Buy it here

COMPACT SUVs

Recommendation #1: Ford EcoSport Titanium 1.0 EcoBoost

Year: 2015 / Mileage: 21,896 / Asking Price: Rs. 500,000 / Original Price: Rs. 914,000

Why Buy: If you are a driving enthusiast, then the only entry on the list, Ford EcoSport Trend 1.0 [EcoBoost}, is just the SUV for you. You get great handling associated with Fords backed by great fuel economy and power of the EcoBoost engine. In fact, EcoBoost engine is one of the more advanced engines to have hit Indian market. And Titanium version comes loaded with features. With just 20,000 Km, and price tag that represents a discount of over 40% over a new car, this Ford is great value as well.

Buy it here

In Summary
There are great deals to be had on used sedans even though they cost much more than compact SUVs on the new car market. But if you want to check out your options amongst compact SUVs in Mumbai, read this. 

Also Read: India's COSTLIEST Nexon has Rs. 5 lakhs worth modifications in it: Check it out [Video]

Hyundai has launched the first-ever sub-4m compact SUV to take on the rivals like Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza and Mahindra XUV300. Hyundai has officially announced the prices of the all-new car in the market. Several Hyundai dealerships across India already started receiving the all-new Venue for deliveries some time back and most of the details about the car became public. However, here are five surprising facts about the Hyundai that you will leave you amazed!

Fastest car in the segment

The Hyundai Venue gets powered by three engine options in India. There is a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and 1.4-litre turbo-diesel engine. Of all the three engines, the 1.0-litre turbocharged, three-cylinder engine is the most powerful. It is also the only engine that offers a 7-speed Dual-Clutch Automatic transmission. According to the official presentation,  the Venue automatic can reach a top speed of 187 km/h, which means the speedometer indicates a speed of more than 190 km/h. The 1.0-litre DCT variant can also sprint from standstill to 60 km/h in just 5.1 seconds. The engine produces a maximum power of 120 PS and peak torque of 172 Nm.

Lowest maintenance cost in the segment

Hyundai has claimed that the Venue will be the most affordable car to maintain in the segment. The already crowded segment has cars from Mahindra, Ford, Maruti Suzuki and Tata. Off all, the Venue offers the lowest scheduled maintenance as per the manufacturer. The exact cost of the maintenance has not been revealed by the brand though.

Highly fuel efficient

Both petrol and diesel variants of the Hyundai Venue are highly fuel-efficient. The Hyundai Venue is powered by a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated engine that produces a maximum power of 82 Bhp – 115 Nm. It gets a 5-speed manual transmission and returns a maximum fuel efficiency of 17.52 km/l. The other petrol engine is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit that generates a maximum power of 118 Bhp and peak torque of 172 Nm. It gets a 6-speed manual transmission that returns a maximum of 18.27 km/l. The 7-speed Dual-Clutch automatic transmission with the same engine returns a maximum of 18.15 km/l. The sole 1.4-litre diesel engine is available with a 6-speed manual transmission and returns a maximum fuel efficiency of 23.7 km/l. All the fuel efficiencies are certified by ARAI.

Pricing

Hyundai Venue comes loaded with features and yet it gets an affordable and surprising price tag. The base variant of the vehicle, which is available with the 1.2-litre petrol engine is priced at Rs 6.5 lakh while the base turbocharged petrol variant is priced at Rs 8.21 lakh. The most affordable automatic variant is priced at Rs 9.35 lakh while the cheapest diesel variant will set you back by Rs 7.75 lakh. These prices levels are quite surprising for a Hyundai considering the fact that the brand always positions itself as a mildly premium option, at least in terms of pricing. The entry-level Maruti Brezza is  priced at Rs 7.85 lakh while the Tata Nexon base variant remains the cheapest vehicle in the segment with a price tag of Rs 6.48 lakh.

Unlimited warranty

The Hyundai Venue comes with a standard warranty of 3 years and unlimited kilometres. There is no other SUV in the segment that offers such an extensive warranty. The warranty can be extended by two years to make it a full 5 years/unlimited km warranty. Hyundai also offers free Roadside Assistance and free eSIM facility during the first three years. This speaks volumes about Hyundai’s confidence in the Venue, which could turn out to be very reliable offering in the segment.

Also Read: India's COSTLIEST Nexon has Rs. 5 lakhs worth modifications in it: Check it out [Video]

Hyundai India has just launched the Venue sub-4 meter compact SUV at a stunning starting price of Rs. 6.5 lakhs, ex-showroom all-India. The South Korean automaker has positioned the Venue at younger buyers, which also explains the emphasis on the vehicle’s status as India’s first ‘Internet SUV’. The Hyundai Venue’s TVC is also angled towards younger buyers. The TVC shows the various connectivity options of the Venue under Hyundai’s BlueLink program, and also the various features that the SUV is equipped with, many of them being class leading bits. Here, check it out.

Talking of the various youth-centric ‘smart features’ on offer with the Venue, the SUV gets a eSIM card that allows owners of the vehicle to control various functions through a smartphone. These features include starting the SUV remotely, operating the sunroof, power windows and air conditioning remotely. The SUV will also get wireless phone charging, tracking the car remotely, locating in a parking lot, and even immobilizing it in case of theft. The SUV’s other class leading features include a 3 year, unlimited Kms warranty, 7 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox and air purifier function for the air conditioning. Other key features on the SUV include push button start, keyless entry, LED DRLs, cruise control, 6 airbags on the top-end variant, ABS, EBD, ESP, hill hold and traction control.

The Hyundai Venue rivals a range of sub-4 meter compact SUVs in India, and this includes the Maruti Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV300. The compact SUV is offered with a range of engines: a 1.2 liter naturally aspirated petrol with 82 Bhp-114 Nm, a 1 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged petrol with 118 Bhp-172 Nm and a 1.4 liter turbocharged diesel with 89 Bhp-220 Nm. The 1.2 liter petrol motor gets a 5 speed manual gearbox as standard while the 1 liter turbo petrol gets 6 speed manual and 7 speed twin clutch automatic gearboxes on offer. The diesel motor gets a 6 speed manual as standard. All variants of the Venue sold in India are front wheel driven and there are no plans of an all wheel drive layout, even as an option.

The Venue is offered in 11 variants across the three engine options. While the 1.2 liter petrol is offered in E and S trims, and will be positioned as budget trims, the 1 liter petrol engined model is what will be offered in the maximum number of trims. The 1.0 MT variant is offered in S, SX and SX (O) trims while the 1.0 AT variant will be offered in S and SX (O). The diesel variants will get E, S, SX and SX (O) trims. While the least priced Hyundai Venue is pegged at Rs. 6.50 lakhs, the costliest variant – the turbo petrol automatic top-end trim – is priced at Rs. 11.10 lakhs.

Also Read: India's COSTLIEST Nexon has Rs. 5 lakhs worth modifications in it: Check it out [Video]

Tata Nexon, which is the first-ever sub-4m compact SUV from the Indian manufacturer has gained quite a popularity in the Indian market. The all-new sub-4m compact SUV offers best-in-class 8-speaker audio set-up from Harman in the top-end variants but for some, even the best-in-class is not enough. RM Car Decor, a specialist in professional car audio set-up and cabin modifications has released their latest work on a Tata Nexon and it is undoubtedly the most luxurious Nexon in India.

The total cost of the modifications including the audio set-up is around Rs 5 lakhs! But it sure makes the music system nothing less than amazing. The audio system costs Rs 3 lakh while everything else modified in the car is for around Rs 2 lakh. Here are all the details that you want to know about the modification job.

RM Car Decor says that modified Nexon gets a unique, high-end set-up, which can re-create the magic of a live concert. The car gets 3-way speakers with an active set-up. The active set-up uses individual output devices including the tweeters, speakers, mid-range and mid-woofer get individual amplifiers for optimal power supply. This, in turn, returns an excellent result and makes the car sound brilliant.

The aftermarket audio setup gets equipment like Audison 3-way component, Audison 2-way component, Hertz amplifiers, JL monoblock amplifiers, Rockford Fosgate P2 subwoofer, Helix DSP 2 Processor and Pioneer head unit. To enhance the whole musical experience, RM Car Decor has also added damping material from DrArtex, which insulates the cabin from the outside noise and enhances the audio quality too.

The new audio setup also adds a lot of equipment in the boot of the vehicle. The whole boot is full of light emitting equipment that makes it look very premium. The additional audio set-up is not all. The vehicle also gets an upgraded interior complete with a new dashboard fabrication that adds a second screen to the car.

Even the door trims, seats and steering gets leather inserts that add a very classy and premium look to the car. In fact, it also gets custom seat covers and the roof gets a starlit lining just like the Rolls Royce vehicles. The interior of the Nexon looks extremely good and plush with the modifications in place. There is now a lot of equipment inside the vehicle that emits light and the cabin feels nothing less than a discotheque on wheels.

The whole job has been done with immaculate precision and it looks like the work has been done with immense attention to the details. The RM Car Decor has done some extensive job on new and iconic cars like Hindustan Ambassador. If you want more details, you can contact them directly at +91-9843526888 or visit their Facebook page and contact them directly.

Also Read: India's COSTLIEST Nexon has Rs. 5 lakhs worth modifications in it: Check it out [Video]

Hyundai has launched the all-new Venue in the Indian market today at a surprise price of Rs 6.5 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. The Venue is available in eleven variants and top-end versions of the car are quite loaded with features. Here is a detailed image gallery that shows all about the new Venue.

The Hyundai Venue follows the latest design philosophy with the cascading grille at the front and separate housings for the turn indicators and the headlamp cluster. It gets a unique design in the segment.

From the side, the Hyundai Venue looks like a scaled down Hyundai Creta but it has its own identity and looks quite smart. The body gets deep creases on the sides.

The Hyundai Venue looks quite premium, thanks to the design of the car and its resemblance to the Hyundai Creta. It gets bright LED tail lamps and squared shaped rear foglamps.

The Hyundai Venue’s tail lamps get LED inserts with what Hyundai calls as Lenticular lens. It looks quite sophisticated and gives a unique identity to the car.

The cascade grille gets a new pattern grille in the Venue. The top-variants of the car get dark chrome, which looks very premium while the lower variants of the car offer the regular chrome.

The Venue gets uniquely placed DRL. The LED daytime running lamps surround the main headlamp cluster of the car, which is placed lower in the bumper. The squarish lamps make the Venue look unique in the segment.

The cornering lamps are integrated into the main headlamp cluster itself. The turn indicator is positioned on the top of the headlamp near the hood lid of the Venue.

The Hyundai Venue gets lamps in three stacks. At the lower point in the bumper, the segment-first projector headlamps are placed. The LED projector foglamps increase the visibility on dark stretches by a lot and are also very useful during low visibility conditions like fog and heavy rain.

The higher-end variants of the Hyundai Venue also offer shark fin antennas, that further uplift the premium looks of the model.

The top-end variants also get the factory-installed roof rails that look very good on the car and makes it look very sporty.

The Venue gets powered by three engine options. There are 1.2-litre petrol, 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol and a 1.4-litre diesel. The 1.2-litre petrol offers a 5-speed manual while the 1.4-litre diesel offers a 6-speed manual. The 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine gets both 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DCT automatic options.

The top-end SX(O) version of the Hyundai Venue offers the 60:40 rear split seats. It is not available with any other variant of the car.

The Hyundai Venue gets dual-tone 16-inch alloy wheels. The alloy wheels look very premium and add an aggressive touch to the car.

The Venue offers a neat dashboard with a floating-type 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It also gets 6 airbags, cruise control, sunroof, wireless charger and more such features.

The Hyundai Venue offers adjustable front and rear headrests. The middle seat headrest in the rear row is fixed.

The Venue also offers keyless entry through a one-touch push button.

There is a choice between three interior designs in the Venue.

A red themed interior with red piping on the seats and highlights on the infotainment console is also available.

A dual-tone dashboard with a sober white interior is also a part of the choice when it comes to the interiors of the Venue.

The Hyundai Venue offers segment-first high definition 8.0-inch infotainment screen with BlueLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The Hyundai Venue offers a muscular look with its deep creased body.

Also Read: Ford Ecosport Thunder Edition spied: India launch to happen soon

The Ford Ecosport was the vehicle that made the sub-4 meter SUV segment immensely popular a couple of years back. It still is a pretty decent option in the segment but with the onset of newer models like the Mahindra XUV300 and the Hyundai Venue, the Ecosport for sure has been feeling the heat. It has slipped past the top 3 selling sub-4 meter SUVs where once it was on the top spot. To rekindle buyer’s interest in the Ecosport, Ford is preparing a special edition model of the SUV. Called the Thunder Edition, a Youtube channel has gotten hold of a few pictures of the vehicle that suggests it is a cosmetic job mostly.

As seen in the pictures here, it gets a few alterations on the exterior to make it look beefier. The headlamps and the grille mesh have been blacked out while the lower bumper end gets a redesign. The roof rails, wing mirrors and B-pillar are painted in black colour as well. The bonnet gets a matte black sticker on top of it while the roof has been blacked out. The sides also get black stickers running on the lower end of the body while black cladding runs across the lower portion of the body covering the bumpers and sides.

The alloy wheels of the Thunder edition Ecosport here are blacked out as well. The tailgate gets a Thunder sticker printed on it. Overall, the car looks more intimidating than the regular Ecosport variants. Talking about the interiors, they are likely to remain the same. However, it could be that Ford gives it a few minor changes like Thunder branding on the upholstery and dashboard among others. The equipment and features, though, are unlikely to change.

This Thunder edition will most likely be based on the Titanium variant of the car that comes with a 1.5-litre TDCi four-cylinder inline DOHC diesel engine. This engine churns out 99 Bhp of power at 3,750 rpm and 205 Nm of peak torque delivered at 1,750 rpm. It is mated to a five-speed manual transmission with claimed fuel economy of 23 km/l.

The Ford EcoSport Thunder Edition could be priced around the Rs. 11.5 lakh (ex-showroom) price mark, which makes it slightly expensive than the Titanium variant. Shedding some light on the Ecosport’s future, Ford is currently working on a replacement for the Ecospsort that will be based on the Euro-spec Ford Fiesta platform. However, there is still some time before it finally surfaces. India launch will happen probably after 2020. As for the Ecosport Thunder edition, expect it to be launched here by the next month. It will be interesting to see how the Ecosports fares now, especially after the launch of the Hyundai Venue at quite competitive prices.

Also Read: Ford Ecosport Thunder Edition spied: India launch to happen soon

Harley-Davidson is one of the oldest bike manufacturers in the world after Royal Enfield. However, both the brands offer a similar theme of motorcycles. Classic looks with modern engineering is the idea behind both the motorcycle brands. However, until now, Royal Enfield operated in the affordable segment of the market while Harley-Davidson only offered twin-cylinder powered bikes that remained much more expensive than the Royal Enfield products. Recently, Royal Enfield launched the parallel-twin engine powered Continental GT and Interceptor, which is a step towards the Harley Davidson line-up.

Harley-Davidson is also almost ready with their all-new range of affordable motorcycles that will be launched in the market to take on the Royal Enfield products. As a part of their “More Roads to Harley-Davidson” strategy that will cause many new, affordable motorcycles to come from the brand for the developing countries like India.

Matt Levatich, President & Chief Executive Officer, Harley-Davidson, said,

More Roads progress in Q1 included steps towards a partnership for a premium small displacement offering in Asia, to expand our reach in that region. We are just over a year away from launching our first model that will help provide access to millions of customers in emerging markets in the region.

Currently in India, the entry-level Harley-Davidson bike is of 750cc; however, in the international markets, Harley-Davidson also sells the Street 500, which is a 500cc version of the bike. The new bike will be developed with the local manufacturer will be produced in collaboration. It will be a similar venture like the BMW-TVS and Bajaj-KTM. As of now, we are not sure which manufacturer will join hands with Harley-Davidson.

The exact details of the upcoming Harley-Davidson motorcycle are not known. However, it is expected to get the same “Street” branding as the current entry-level bikes from the brand. Since it will be an entry-level bike, we can expect quite a cost-cutting including the use of regular twin shock absorbers in the rear, a conventional instrument cluster, regular headlamps and such features. However, Harley-Davidson will not drop the legacy of powering their products with the V-Twin engines.

The all-new bike is expected to get a small displacement engine of around 250cc to 350cc with a maximum power output of about 25 Bhp. Other features like 6-speed slipper clutch transmission, dual disc brakes with ABS are expected to be standard in the upcoming bike.

Currently, the Royal Enfield 650 twins are the most affordable twin-cylinder motorcycles in the Indian market. Harley-Davidson may not take them directly but may price their entry-level product close to the Rs 2.5 lakh price tag of the Royal Enfield Interceptor. There are still no spy shots of the upcoming Harley-Davidson bike, but we do hope that the market gets to see the new product next year.

Also Read: Surprising used car deals for premium hatchbacks & compact sedans in Bengaluru from CarToq True Price Finder

The Honda Jazz is quite an expensive hatchback even by premium hatchback standards. It rivals the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Hyundai Elite i20 in the segment. Despite being a well-equipped and spacious car, the Jazz is not a big seller which can be attributed to its high asking price of Rs. 7.42 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). However, the Jazz is a pretty decent car for those who can adjust their budget. For the people who own a Honda Jazz, the video below by Turbo Xtreme shows attractive aftermarket lights for the car which transforms how it looks. Take a look at the video before we move on to the details.

As seen in the video, the Jazz here looks quite attractive with these matrix style aftermarket LED lights. The Jazz has a bit of an unconventional design which hated by some and loved by some. However, this one for sure looks dapper. The tail lights now extended all the way up to the roof while the bumper has also been fitted with stylish stoplights at either end. The tail lights light up in a pattern and are all LED units. The indicators also light up in a stylish manner and are sure to catch everyone’s eyes when the car is on the road.

The headlamps have been replaced too with aftermarket Ford Mustang inspired units. These lamps have HID projector units for low beam and full LED lights for high beam. The tri-strip pattern, inspired by the Mustang, acts as the LED DRLs and look quite stylish in doing so. The DRLs double up as indicators and light in a three-step pattern. The headlamps also get LED rings inside the glass housing, popularly known as angel eyes (corona rings is a more apt term though)

The foglamps at the front have been replaced too and are now LED units. They are inspired by the new generation Porsche 911’s headlamps, which have 4 LED beam units stacked up in a square. While Porsche’s lights are much different and high end, these foglamps mimic its design and do a decent job at illuminating the path ahead. If you are interested in getting these lights for your Jazz, you can check out the video’s description on Youtube which contains all information regarding the dealer and its location.

Talking about the Jazz, Honda is currently working on a new version of the premium hatchback that will be unveiled at the upcoming Tokyo motor show in October. It will come with a refreshed design as well as new interiors, though the profile is likely to remain quite the same as the current model. Expect it to be launched in India by next year.

Also Read: Surprising used car deals for premium hatchbacks & compact sedans in Bengaluru from CarToq True Price Finder

India offers a host of affordable off-roading vehicles. There are quite a few options for the off-roading enthusiasts who want a daily driving vehicle too. However, most of these vehicles offer a similar level of equipment on the paper. To see how capable they are and how do they differ from each other when they go off the road is quite interesting. Here is a video by Anshuman Bishnoi that shows various off-roading spec vehicles taking on the off-road terrains. The vehicles seen in the video includes Renault Duster AWD, modified new-generation Toyota Fortuner, old-generation Ford Endeavour, new-generation Ford Endeavour, Isuzu D-Max V-Cross and a Toyota Land Cruiser.

In the first challenge, only the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross was able to go through. It was a tough challenge and even the Isuzu V-Cross took some time and attempts to reach the top All other vehicles including a modified new-age Fortuner, modified old Endeavour, and stock new Endeavour could not reach the top. The main reason behind it can be the surface of the challenge. The Isuzu V-Cross took the challenge first and created a few ruts that became a problem for all the other vehicles that followed the V-Cross.

The second challenge in the video was straightforward and every other car did it except for the Duster AWD. Now, this shows the stark difference between the AWD and 4X4 drive layouts. The AWD drive systems simply send the power to all the four wheels while the 4X4 systems also get an extra low-ratio transfer case that increases the torque output to help the vehicle to get out of the sticky situations. AWD vehicles are good for light offroading and driving on slippery surfaces like snow but for serious off-roading, 4X4 set-ups are always recommended. Even the Duster eventually completes the challenge, which shows how capable it can be on some of the off-roading surfaces.

In the third challenger, the Renault Duster and the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross fail to climb up the challenge. The Isuzu V-Cross even gets stuck royally and had to be recovered by the Toyota Fortuner.

The last challenge was the most challenging of all. The challenge only saw a successful attempt made by the new Ford Endeavour. All the other vehicles including the Toyota Land Cruiser, old Ford Endeavour, and Toyota Land Cruiser. More than the capability of a vehicle, the driver instincts and skill levels. In off-roading, only a capable vehicle is not enough to cross the challenges. It is important to understand the whole course and know the limitations and capabilities of the vehicle to cross the challenge. Also, one should never do serious off-roading without a recovery vehicle on standby for rescue process. Doing off-roading without a rescue vehicle can be dangerous, especially if it is far away and secluded place.

Also Read: Surprising used car deals for premium hatchbacks & compact sedans in Bengaluru from CarToq True Price Finder