The MG Hector was launched back in June this year and the SUV has already climbed the to top spot of the sales game in its segment. According to the sales data of July, the Hector was ahead of its main rival, the Tata Harrier, by more than double the units. This comes as a piece of good news for MG especially at a time when the whole industry is witnessing a massive sales slowdown. So what are the reasons behind the success of the MG Hector? Read along to find out.

Most affordable vehicle in its segment

India is a price-sensitive market and MG did no mistakes in pricing the Hector accordingly. Currently, it is the most affordable vehicle in its segment with its base variant priced at Rs. 12.18 lakh. It undercuts both the Mahindra XUV500 and the Tata Harrier in terms of pricing and yet is the most modern SUV of the lot. It is said that if you play the pricing game well in India, half of the work is already done and the same has been proved by MG now.

Biggest SUV in the segment with a most spacious cabin

The MG Hector is also the largest vehicle in its segment which is another feather in its cap. It measures a whopping 4,655mm in length which makes it longer than all the other vehicles in its price range including the Tata Harrier. The MG Hector measures 1,835mm in width and 1,760mm in height and has a ground clearance of 192mm. Further, the Hector also offers the longest wheelbase of 2,750mm, which means it has the largest cabin space. Apart from this, the boot space capacity of Hector is massive at 587 litres which is enough to gobble almost any luggage you throw at it.

Offers a ton of features

Talking about features, the Hector has no dearth of them. MG made sure to pack its debut vehicle in India to its brim with features and the SUV comes with several segment-first features as well. Speaking of which, the Hector offers 8 colour ambient lighting, reclining rear seats, a huge panoramic sunroof, 10.4-inch touch infotainment system, 360-degree camera, LED projector headlamps and fog lamps, and heated ORVMs among others.

Guaranteed 60% buyback scheme

Another major attractive point for the customers buying the Hector is the guaranteed 60% buyback scheme the manufacturer is offering. This assured buyback plan offers a buy back value of 60 per cent of the original ex-showroom price of the SUV after 3 years of ownership. There are a few clauses to this plan and it needs to be bought during the purchase of the car but it is a pretty decent scheme if you plan brief ownership of the vehicle. The cost of this scheme ranges from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 85,000 depending on the variant and powertrain.

Best in class warranty

Apart from offering the buyback scheme, the MG Hector also comes with a 5-year/unlimited km warranty as standard which is the best in its segment. For commercial buyers, there is a mileage restriction of 1,50,000 km. Compared to its rivals, Hector’s standard warranty is undoubtedly the best by quite a margin. The 12V/48V batteries get a 1-year warranty while the 10.4-inch touch infotainment system gets a 3-year warranty.

Both petrol and diesel engines on offer along with a hybrid option

MG offers both petrol and diesel engine options with the SUV. The petrol engine is a 1.5-litre petrol unit that pumps out 143 PS of power and 250 Nm of peak torque. The diesel engine, on the other hand, is a 2.0-litre Multijet unit that produces a maximum power of 170 PS and 350 Nm of peak torque. MG also offers a 48V hybrid system as an optional feature with the top three petrol variants and the Hector is the only vehicle in its segment to come with a hybrid drivetrain.

Automatic gearbox option with petrol engine

One of the major shortcomings of the Tata Harrier is that it does not come with an automatic gearbox even as an option. MG, however, didn’t make the same mistake and offers a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission as an option on the petrol variants. So while the diesel engine only comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox, there is an automatic box available with the Hector which means that the buyers won’t have to look at other options.

Most fuel-efficient diesel engine

The 2.0-litre diesel engine powering the Hector is found on two other SUV, the Jeep Compass and the Tata Harrier. Despite Harrier offering less power and the Compass being a much smaller vehicle, it is the Hector which offers the maximum fuel efficiency among all of them. The 2.0-litre diesel engine on the Hector has an ARAI certified fuel efficiency score of 17.41 km/l which is also the best in the segment.

The only vehicle to offer internet-connected features in the segment

The MG Hector comes with an integrated M2M module which keeps it connected to the internet constantly. It is the first SUV in this segment to come with such a feature. It makes the Hector quite a smart car and it can give live location updates to the user’s phone. Further, the smartphone app can be used to turn on the AC, control the engine and set-up features like geo-fencing. The Hector can also download the system updates and upgrade the software just like smartphones. Moreover, the vehicle gets AI-based voice recognition that can be used to control several features of the car including the windows, AC, navigation, sunroof and many more.

Cheaper to maintain

We now know that the MG Hector is quite affordable, comes with a buyback scheme and a 5 year/unlimited km warranty. That’s not it though because MG offers 5 free services on the Hector and owners will not be charged for labour costs on the first 5 scheduled services either. Further, the manufacturer offers two maintenance plans. The Classic plan covers routine maintenance while Premium plan covers wear and tear (excluding tyres, batteries and collision repairs) in addition to routine maintenance. MG claims that the Hector has an ownership cost of Rs 0.45 per kilometre for the petrol and Rs 0.49 per kilometre for the diesel models which is again best-in-class.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki XL6: Bookings for the Ertiga-based MPV are now open, new details revealed

The Maruti Ciaz has outsold the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna in July 2019, and in a big way. While Maruti sold 2,397 units of the Ciaz C-Segment sedan in July 2019, Hyundai could manage only 1,890 units of the Verna. As for the Honda City, 1,927 units were sold in the same month. Sales of all three cars are coming under big pressure from the severe slowdown the Indian car market has been witnessing over the past year or so. While sales of the Ciaz improved marginally by less than 200 units month on month, sales of the Honda City and Hyundai Verna have seen significant dips from June 2019. The City is due for an all-new model next year, and sales are unlikely to pick up. As for the Verna, the car is likely to get big discounts in the coming months as it’s the newest in the segment, and Hyundai is expected to put its full weight behind it to push more stock.

The Ciaz sold in India currently is the facelifted version, which was introduced a year ago. The facelifted Ciaz gets 3 engine options: 2 in diesel and 1 in petrol. The diesel engines offered with the car include the 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet unit with 89 Bhp-200 Nm, and the in-house 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged unit with 94 Bhp-225 Nm. By April 2020, the Ciaz could become a petrol-only car given the fact that Maruti Suzuki is planning to phase out all diesel engined cars from its line-up in India. The Ciaz’s petrol engine is a 1.5 liter K-Series unit with 104 Bhp-138 Nm. This engine gets a mild hybrid unit, and is offered with 5 speed manual and 4 speed torque converter automatic gearbox options. The Fiat Multijet diesel gets a 5 speed manual while the in-house diesel engine gets a 6 speed manual. Prices of the Ciaz start from Rs. 8.2 lakhs.

Variant to variant, the Ciaz is cheaper than both the Hyundai Verna and the Honda City, and this attractive price tag is a big reason why the car is so popular in the Indian market. Other strengths of the Ciaz include spacious interiors which are now much plusher than before, a mild-hybrid petrol engine that’s quite fuel efficient, excellent after sales service by Maruti Suzuki, good resale value and top-class reliability. The Ciaz comes with twin airbags, ABS, speed alerts, reverse parking seat belt reminders and ISOFIX child seat mounts as standard across trims. Higher trims offer a reverse parking camera and a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In future, the Ciaz is likely to get a more powerful hybrid powertrain. Also, a rebadged version fo the car will be supplied to Toyota for badge engineering and re-selling in India with the Toyota badge.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki XL6: Bookings for the Ertiga-based MPV are now open, new details revealed

Breaking traffic laws is a common practice in India. Gurugram is one of such cities where the traffic police put on regular check posts to keep such lawbreakers off the road. Recently, a couple from Gurugram, who was flagged down by the cops at a road in the city was trying to escape and in the process, dragged an on-duty policeman on their car.

The couple was arrested for allegedly dragging the traffic police officer on the bonnet of their vehicle. The cops also said that the couple also assaulted the police officers present on the spot. The incident took place at 9:45 AM at Vatika Chowk, Sohna Road. The couple in a silver Honda City jumped a traffic signal when the police constable Sunil Kumar spotted them and flagged them down. The driver of the vehicle stopped the car. The couple, who were sitting behind the vehicle stepped out of the car. However, the woman sat in the driver seat suddenly while the husband also got into the co-driver seat. The woman started driving in a bid to escape from the spot.

The constable, who stopped the vehicle jumped on the vehicle to stop the couple from escaping. However, the lady kept on driving. The police say that the personnel was dragged for about 45 meters. The driver, who jumped the signal was standing near the vehicle when the couple tried to get off from the spot. The driver did not say anything or did anything.

The cop, who got dragged said that he raised the alarm and asked the colleague to intercept the car with his motorcycle. This is when the woman finally stopped the vehicle and slammed the brakes. However, the couple started abusing Sunil Kumar and also threatened that if he ever tried to stop their car, they will kill him.

The police have identified the couple and the 28-year old lady is a Chartered Accountant while the 32-year old husband is an engineer. Both are residents of Gurugram Sector 90. However, the names have not been revealed to give them privacy. However, since it was the last day in the office for the husband, the woman was going to drop the husband at his workplace.

Two journalists, who were crossing the spot at the same moment spotted the fiasco and started making a video of it. The woman spotted the journalist making a video and then snatched the camera. The woman also abused the journalist and assaulted him in full public view. Since there was a lot of commotion in the area, it attracted a lot of attention. A few onlookers started recording videos of the incident, which are now available on various social media and video platforms. One clip also shows the woman assaulting the traffic officials and two journalists as other officers try to control them.

Minor injuries were sustained by the constable who hung on the vehicle. The cops have registered a case under various sections including sections 186 for obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions, 332 voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty, and 353 assault or criminal force to deter public servant, 323 causing hurt, 307 attempt to murder, 427 causing damage and 506 of the Indian Penal Code at Sector 50 police station. This is not the first time that a police officer was dragged in Gurugram. In the past, the cops have arrested such lawbreakers.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki XL6: Bookings for the Ertiga-based MPV are now open, new details revealed

Hyundai India has officially revealed what the all-new Grand i10 will look like. The all-new hatchback will be launched on August 20th and at a later date, the carmaker will also launch the all-new Xcent. Currently, the Hyundai Xcent is based on the Grand i10, which makes it pretty certain that the all-new Xcent will be based on the hatchback too. However, it should be noted that the arch-rival – Maruti Suzuki Dzire was designed from grounds up and it gets an all-new shape, which is completely different from the Swit. Hyundai may follow the same suite. However, if the next-generation Xcent is based on the Grand i10, this is how it may look like.

The next-generation Hyundai Xcent has been spotted testing in Europe. While the all-new Grand i10 NIOS will be launched in the Indian market this month, the Xcent is expected to be launched only in 2020. Shoeb Kalania has made a rendering image that shows what the all-new Xcent will look like when it is launched in the Indian market. The production version of the car might be quite different. This rendered image shows the Xcent based on the Grand i10 NIOS. The image does not show much difference in the all-new Xcent from the Grand i10, except for the addition of the boot in the rear, which also causes the roofline to change by a bit.

Hyundai will introduce all the modern-age features like projector headlamps, newly designed LED DRLs integrated to the grille, dual-tone diamond-cut alloy wheels among others in the all-new Hyundai Xcent. Hyundai has announced that the Grand i10 NIOS will not replace the current version of the Grand i10 in the Indian market. Instead, it will be sold alongside. Hyundai may follow the same strategy with the launch of the Xcent. We may get to see two versions of the vehicle put on sale in the Indian market.

On the inside, we expect the all-new Xcent to get a range of changes, similar to the Grand i10 NIOS. This includes a new dashboard, a new infotainment screen, a new steering wheel and a host of new features. Even though Hyundai is yet to officially release the official feature list of the Grand i10 NIOS, we could make out features like wireless charging from the official pictures. The all-new Xcent will also get similar features.

Engine-wise, there will not be much of a change. It will remain powered by the 1.2-litre petrol and a U2 1.2-litre diesel engine option. However, Hyundai will offer only BS6 compliant engines. The petrol engine option will also get an option of automatic transmission.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki XL6: Bookings for the Ertiga-based MPV are now open, new details revealed

Jeep entered the Indian market with three Completely Built Units (CBU) namely the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and the Grand Cherokee SRT. While they were not meant to break the sales record, these three vehicles surely paved the way for the Compass, which became the grand success for the American manufacturer. Now, Jeep branded vehicles are known for their off-road capabilities and Jeep officially offers TraikHawk-rated vehicles, which are known for their extreme off-road capabilities. Even the Compass model recently got a TrailHawk-rated model. Well, for the uninitiated, Jeep offers the magnanimously powered Trackhawk, which is a 700 Bhp family mover and the first car has now arrived in India.

This is India’s first-ever Jeep Trackhawk vehicle which came to India on special order. Similar to the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, this is also a fully-imported model. The delivery to the customer will happen soon as per our sources but we cannot tell you about this special customer yet.

The red-coloured Jeep Grand Cherokee TrackHawk arrived in India recently and the video shows it coming out of the trailer. What powers this monster? Well, It gets a massive 6.2-litre Hellcat V8 engine and a lot has gone into the engine to squeeze out every bit of power it can produce. It gets a maximum power of 700 Bhp and a massive torque of 875 Nm. The result? It is one of the quickest SUVs in the world and can do 0-100 km/h in just 3.62 seconds.

The power goes to all the wheels through an all-wheel-drive system. The power goes through an eight-speed automatic transmission, which has been upgraded to withstand the extra power from the engine. Since there’s a lot of power involved, the vehicle gets an electronically controlled limited-slip differential for the rear wheels.

Looks-wise, we can call it a sleeper. It gets the signature 7-salt grille in black chrome finish with LED projector headlamps. Since a lot of cooling is needed to keep the engine at the optimum temperature, an extra slat can be seen below the regular grille. The front bumper is slightly different and adds a muscular look to the car. Also, the body-coloured flared arches add a wide-body kit look. The Grand Cherokee TrackHawk gets 20-inch black alloy wheels, which makes the whole set-up look grand. On either side of the vehicle, the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk badging makes sure that the vehicle arrives in style while at the rear, a quad exhaust system is installed, which sounds sweet.

Since a lot of updates have been done to the exterior, the cabin gets changes like an 8.4-inch instrument cluster, Trackhawk exclusive screens that can monitor the performance of the vehicle and stock Nappa Leather upholstery. There is also a choice between black and dark ruby red colours.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki XL6: Bookings for the Ertiga-based MPV are now open, new details revealed

India’s top car maker Maruti Suzuki will launch the Ertiga-based XL6 luxury MPV within days from now. The automaker has just opened bookings for the XL6 across all its dealerships in India. New details about the Maruti XL6 have also been revealed. The booking amount has been pegged at Rs. 11,000, and the MPV can be booked through the official NEXA website, and even through the NEXA app. Of course, customers wanting to book at their nearest Maruti Suzuki dealership are also free to do so.

Commenting on the occasion Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India said,

At Maruti Suzuki, we have always focused on bringing out products that match the customers’ demand. The XL6 is an exclusive 6-seater premium MPV, designed to meet the aspirations of evolved and discerning NEXA customers. With XL6, we bring NEXA’s first premium MPV, which is high on comfort and convenience along with an array of safety features. The XL6 will further strengthen our NEXA products portfolio and provide our customers with a range of products from hatchbacks, Sedan, SUV and now a premium MPV at NEXA. We hope our customers enjoy the experience of our latest offering.

Coming to the new details revealed about the XL6, it’s now clear that the MPV will be a petrol-only offering, in line with Maruti Suzuki’s strategy of phasing out diesel powered cars by April 2020, when the Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms come into effect. The petrol engine in question will be the same 1.5 liter-4 cylinder naturally aspirated K-Series unit seen on the likes of the Maruti Ertiga and Ciaz. This petrol engine will be offered with the Suzuki Hybrid Vehicle System (SHVS) mild hybrid powertrain as standard. There will be two transmission options on offer: a 5 speed manual and a 4 speed torque converter automatic. Both gearboxes will drive the front wheels of the MPV.

The Maruti XL6 will get two rows of captain seats, and will get a different interior colour scheme when compared with the Ertiga. The new MPV is expected to be available only on the top-end trim, and will get a slewof safety features as standard, including twin airbags, ABS, reverse parking sensors, a reverse parking camera, speed alerts, seat belt reminder and ISOFIX child seat mounts. The MPV will be sold through Maruti Suzuki’s NEXA chain of dealerships, and will get styling to sufficiently differentiate it from the Ertiga. In terms of pricing, the XL6 is likely to be about Rs. 50,000 pricier than a comparable Maruti Ertiga variant. It’ll be pitched as a luxurious, low cost alternative to the Toyota Innova Crysta.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki XL6: Bookings for the Ertiga-based MPV are now open, new details revealed

Suzuki Motorcycles India has just launched the Gixxer 250, the naked sibling of the Gixxer 250 SF, which was launched a few months back. It’s priced at Rs. 1.6 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi, which makes it pricier than the Yamaha FZ25, its key rival. The Yamaha FZ25 is priced at Rs. 1.34 lakhs. Like the FZ25, the Gixxer 250 is a motorcycle that is aimed at people wanting a fast bike that can do both city commutes and highway runs with ease. In terms of looks, the Gixxer 250 is similar to the smaller engined Gixxer 155. Key changes include larger dimensions overall, bronzed engine cases and a new instrument cluster.

The Gixxer 250 uses the same 250cc, air-oil cooled single cylinder four stroke engine borrowed from the Gixxer 250 SF. Peak power is rated at 26.5 Bhp and is produced at 9,000 rpm while the peak torque of 22.6 Nm comes in at 7,500 rpm. A 6 speed manual gearbox is standard with this engine, which also gets a four valve head and fuel injection. At 156 kilograms, the Suzuki Gixxer 250 is lighter than its fully faired sibling by 5 kilograms. More than the reduction in kerb weight, the lack of a fairing should make the motorcycle easier to park in crowded city conditions.

Speaking at the launch of the Gixxer 250, Koichiro Hirao, company head, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd., said,

In the last five years, Gixxer brand has become synonymous with Suzuki’s attributes of quality, style and performance. It is our constant endeavour to bring a fresh perspective and value to this brand. Today, we are thrilled to launch a stylish and powerful biking experience to our patrons in the form of the Suzuki Gixxer 250. This product is a true reflection of Suzuki’s legacy in developing high-performance motorcycles of superior quality, backed by cutting-edge technology. With this addition to the Gixxer portfolio, we look forward to ride upwards and continue the growth momentum.

The Suzuki Gixxer 250 will make the small capacity motorcycle range of the Japanese two wheeler major complete. Apart from the naked sportsbike, Suzuki sells the Intruder 155 cruiser, fully faired versions of the Gixxer 155 and 250, and the Gixxer 155 naked commuter bike. In the coming months, an Intruder 250 based on the Gixxer 250’s engine is expected ro be launched. The Intruder 250 will be positioned as a reliable, affordable cruiser that borrows looks from the iconic Intruder 1800. Watch this space for more details.

Also Read: Best Used Compact Sedans Under 6 Lakh with under 70,000 Kms in Hyderabad From Cartoq TRUE PRICE

Royal Enfield is currently the segment-leader above the 350cc segment in India. However, with the recent slump in the sales of automobiles, Royal Enfield has been affected too. Currently, all the Royal Enfield motorcycles are priced well above Rs 1 lakh, which makes it inaccessible to many. The manufacturer has now launched the Royal Enfield Bullet 350X and it is priced at Rs 1.31 lakh, ex-showroom, cheaper than the Bullet 350, which is priced at Rs 1.21 lakh, ex-showroom and about Rs 1.4 lakh, on-road. The electric starter version of the Royal Enfield 350X is priced at Rs 1.44 lakh, on-road.

The Bullet 350X simply gets a few cosmetic changes over the regular Bullet. The main differences are the blacked-out parts that replace the shiny chrome parts of the Bullet. Even the engine block is now black alongside the parts like crankcase. The wheels are identical to the standard Bullet 350 and there are alloy wheels available with the bike. It should be noted that the ThunderbirdX, which is based on the regular Thunderbird gets alloy wheels and tubeless tyres.

For the first time ever, the Royal Enfield Bullet also gets new colours. Since the standard Bullet is only available in black colour, there will be a slew of colour choices with the Royal Enfield Bullet 350X. The Royal Enfield Insignia on the fuel tank also changes depending on the body colour of the bike. However, the classic pinstripe, which is an iconic and indispensable part of the Royal Enfield Bullet is missing from the bike. Royal Enfield has also skipped the insignia on the side panels of the bike, which gives it a simple look. There is not much change in the bike compared to the regular version of the Bullet.

Mechanically, the bike remains untouched. It gets powered by the same engine that powers all the other Royal Enfield 350s in the Indian market. The engine 346cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine of the bike produces a maximum power of 19.8 PS and peak torque of 28 Nm. It gets a 5-speed transmission as standard. Royal Enfield is working on the new-age BS6 engines but that will take some time before they are launched in the Indian market. All the BS6 models from the brand will be fuel injected and will offer a smoother engine too. However, the BS6 bikes are expected to be launched only by next year.

Royal Enfield is also working on a slew of all-new motorcycles that will utilise the all-new 650 Twins. The new-generation Interceptor and the Continental GT 650 have become quite popular in the Indian market and new motorcycles based on them will be launched in the market soon. Even the ADV motorcycle, the Himalayan is expected to get the same platform and engine in the coming future. However, the exact timeline of the launch of these products is not known as of now.

Also Read: Best Used Compact Sedans Under 6 Lakh with under 70,000 Kms in Hyderabad From Cartoq TRUE PRICE

Do you want to purchase a used compact sedan but have a tight budget? Are you looking solely at cars below 6 lakhs to fit your bill? Are your demands specific to Hyderabad? If yes, then this is the one stop destination for meeting all your requirements. You might think your demands are too specific, but even with your specific needs you will be left more confused than convinced on leading car websites. Moreover, they will have listings of cars that have not been precisely sorted, and hence are not in a position to give you the best deal. How do you decide which car suits you best then? Used car websites are usually of little use, even with their multiple filters. The onus of sorting the information is still yours, and who wants to handle so much data? Fortunately, we have got just the right solution for you through the Cartoq TRUE PRICE. By deploying the Cartoq TRUE PRICE, we help you identify the best deals. 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, and car type.

With all factors accounted for, the model predicts the TRUE PRICE, which then becomes the basis of comparison across cars. The best deals are those where listed price is lower than the TRUE PRICE. So, we scan through the car listings across major used car sites, compute their TRUE PRICE, and present the best deals for you. The shortlist for this article was based on the analysis we ran on August 6, 2019; so, by the time you read this article, there is a good chance that the specific car may no longer be available. However, this list still provides plenty of useful pointers even if certain specific cars have already been sold out.

Honda and Maruti take it in turns to vie for your attention on this list, which means:
• Both manufacturers produce top class options that are extremely competitive.
• Honda edges out Maruti in a tight contest, not only with an extra car, but also by grabbing the spot at the summit.

Without further ado, let’s check out our top recommendations.

Recommendation #1: Honda Amaze 1.2 VX AT i-VTEC 2014

Year: 2014 / Mileage: 43,837 / List Price: Rs. 416,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 755,000

Why buy: Equipped with automatic transmission, this car runs on petrol and currently belongs to its first owner. With a healthy mileage and an affordable price, this vehicle ticks all the right boxes and is a deserving occupant of top spot.

Buy it here

Recommendation #2: Honda Amaze 1.2 VX AT i-VTEC 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 38,005 / List Price: Rs. 454,720 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 758,000

Why buy: This first owner sedan also comes with automatic transmission, is fueled by petrol, and sports a stunning white colour. Despite being six years old, it has not taxed the odometer much, ensuring that it still has a number of great years of service to offer.

Buy it here

Recommendation #3: Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire VDi 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 68,074 / List Price: Rs. 445,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 673,935

Why buy: Armed with comprehensive insurance and embellished with leatherette furnishing, this diesel sedan currently belongs to its second owner. Available in a stylish grey, the only concern for this otherwise impeccable car is the considerable distance it has clocked on the odometer.

Buy it here

Recommendation #4: Honda Amaze 1.2 VX AT i-VTEC

Year: 2014 / Mileage: 47,616 / List Price: Rs. 465,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 755,000

Why buy: Another vehicle with a grey look that features automatic transmission, this is a first owner car that runs on petrol. Apart from its compactness and on road efficiency, it is relatively fresh and has impressive endurance, making its slightly inflated price worth paying.

Buy it here

Recommendation #5: Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire VDi 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 68,074 / List Price: Rs. 465,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 673,935

Why buy: This second owner car is powered by diesel, comes in a sleek silver shade, complete with leatherette furnishing and comprehensive insurance. The only concern for this vehicle, which puts it at the bottom of this list, is its hefty price and mileage ratio.

Buy it here

In Summary

As expected, this segment becomes a showdown between the Honda Amaze and the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, a battle that is closely fought for the most part. While Honda has the greater flair and power, Maruti, arguably, has better efficiency and economy, making this collection open to being decided by brand loyalty.

Also Read: Best Used Compact Sedans Under 6 Lakh with under 70,000 Kms in Hyderabad From Cartoq TRUE PRICE

Skoda’s most expensive vehicle in India – the Kodiaq is a quite popular choice among the buyers who want a classy looking luxurious vehicle. Skoda is now working to launch the Skoda Kodiaq Scout, which will be much more capable than the regular Kodiaq. The new launch will target vehicles like Toyota Fortuner and even the Jeep Compass Trailhawk. However, the Kodiaq Scout will not get a low-ratio transfer case, which is what comes in handy during the most challenging off-roading situations.

The new Skoda Kodiaq Scout will be launched at around the festive season. To be precise, the vehicle will be launched at around Diwali, which will be around the end of October. Skoda earlier launched the L&K edition of the Kodiaq in the Indian market, which came with added luxury features. The Scout, on the other side, will be a more rugged version of the vehicle and will also offer features that will aid in off-roading.

The changes in the Skoda Kodiaq Scout include a raised ground clearance of 194mm, which is 6mm more than the regular version of the Kodiaq. Also, the front and rear bumper of the Skoda Kodiaq Scout has been modified in a way that the approach and the departure angles are now better than the regular version. In addition to all these changes, the Kodiaq Scout will also offer an off-road mode. This particular mode will change the vehicle behaves off-the-road. It changes the throttle response and also changes the dampers settings. The updated damper settings are focussed for the hill-ascent and descending capabilities.

The exterior of the Skoda Kodiaq Scout gets a different set of alloy wheels. Also, there are the silver details on the grille. There is protection on the front and rear underbody. Also, the vehicle gets roof rails, which can be used to put up a lot of things. The vehicle also gets dual-tone ORVMs. On the inside, the Skoda Kodiaq Scout gets an all-black interior with wooden trim and insignia with the word “Scout” on the seats, backrests and glove compartment.

Coming to feature list, the Skoda Kodiaq will come loaded to the brim. It will get all-LED headlamps, ESC, 6 airbags, keyless entry with start/stop button and power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats. Features like 360-degree parking camera, auto headlamps with rain-sensing wipers and 12-way electrically adjustable front seats with memory function may not be available in the Scout. All these features are standard with the Skoda Kodiaq L&K.

The Kodiaq Scout will get powered by the same 2.0-litre diesel engine option that powers the other vehicles. It generates a maximum power of 150 PS and peak torque of 340 Nm. It will get a 7-speed DSG transmission as standard.

Also Read: Kia Seltos 1.4 GDI Turbo-Petrol & 1.5 Diesel SUVs in CarToq's first drive review

We drive three versions of the upcoming Kia Seltos ; the 1.4 GDI turbo-petrol MT and DCT as well as the 1.5 diesel MT. Here’s our review of what could be the best offering in the mid-size SUV market in India.

The Seltos needs no introduction now. Post its world debut right here in India, a lot has been said about the car. This by both the Indian media and international counterparts. Yes, this is a global product but it is of great importance to Kia India and why not. The Seltos is their first product offering for the country and right from the word Go, they want to make it right.

Things have been very busy at Kia’s manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh. It took them just about 2 years to set-up the entire place which is a mean feat in itself. And the cars we drove weren’t mere prototypes but the ones you and I can walk into a showroom and take for a spin. So while Goa did welcome us with rains, we being the journalists we are, managed to scoop out ample time with various versions of the vehicle. Is it worth the wait over its rivals? Click the video below or continue to read on…

The design part

Calling the Seltos just a good looking vehicle will be doing injustice to it. This one competes with the likes of the Harrier and Hector but thankfully there are enough elements to make this stand out and grab enough street cred. Though the body shell isn’t very radical or different, its the execution of the front and rear of the Seltos that gets the attention it deserves.

DRLs and LEDs are the reason for this. Up front, the DRLs are not only placed inside the headlamp assembly, but the thin horizontal strip extends all the way to the centre of the grille. Likewise, the indicators have a lovely design to them and look oh so bling. But we aren’t done yet because down there in the bumper, you also have the ice cube fog lamps, something we have seen in other Kia models sold internationally.

This same effect can be seen at the back – the indicators have a 5 step design and the DRLs create their own magic. And then the dual diffusers in the bumper finish up the rear. The side profile, as I said earlier, isn’t too radical and the only thing that gets your attention are the alloy wheels. The variant you see here is the top spec GT Line which means larger alloy wheels and red inserts at places including for the brake calipers – would I have imaged this for a mid-size SUV till a couple of years back? Hell No!

The GT Line version also gets red inserts at the lower end of the bumpers and on the side cladding of the doors. The badge is also prominently placed in the front grille and on the boot lid. In terms of dimensions, the Seltos is longer than its distant cousin, the Creta by about 45mm though its shorter in length to the Hector and Harrier. The same thing applies in terms of width and height. Also, believe it or not but the Seltos is an aerodynamic SUV with cd of just 0.35 which Kia says is lower than its rivals!

The interior game

Now the Seltos has fierce competition in terms of the rivals it will rub shoulders with. The good report is that the cabin does live up to the price the Seltos will sell for. Before I get further into details, during and before the test drive, it was evident that some automatic variants (like the 1.4 DCT petrol) will not be offered in a true top end and hence will miss out on features like ventilated seats, 360 surround camera, powered drivers seat and a sunroof. The same has been said in the video above. However, now it seems that Kia will eventually roll out all the automatics in a proper top end version too. Good going!

Given the number of engine-transmission-trims on offer, customers also get to experience different colour themes on the inside. For example, the GT Line will come with all-black interiors with sports leatherette seats for the lower versions and Black-Beige interiors with sports leatherette seats for the higher versions. Likewise, other models (non GT Line) will come with all-black interiors with premium fabric seats for lower versions and black-beige interiors with premium leatherette seats for the higher versions. Before it starts sounding confusing, lets move to how the cabin actually feels.

Nice, very nice. There are no rough edges and overall quality of panels is up there with the best. A lot has been said about the endless feature list and hence I will not waste time with that. Yes, the Bose system sounds epic and the mood lighting works well for everyone in the car and this Korean giant even manages to taunt premium brands by offering the largest HUD (heads up display) screen ever seen in India. Top marks there guys.

In terms of front comfort and visibility, I will rate the Seltos very high. True it doesn’t have a proper, towering seating posture that will give your ego a massage but the way it makes you feel, cocoons you and puts everything into place is remarkable. Ergonomics are excellent and so is the visibility – the windows arent too high, the A pillar not too thick and the outside mirrors are functional and do not come into the line of your side vision.

Headroom, even for tall drivers is good and even hefty adults like me won’t be rubbing shoulders up front. That said, I would have loved a bigger sunroof for airiness and the extra black gloss finish around the central screen is a dirt and fingerprint magnet. Will be hard to keep this part of the car clean in the long run.

At the back, things are equally good. First, the legroom / knee room on offer is more than ample with about 5-6 inches of gap left between my knee and the back of the front seat. Yes, the front seat was adjusted for my height and I stand 6 feet tall. Next, seat comfort (back and under thigh support) is reasonably good. The rear seat also has a split and can be reclined individually and you even get manual sun blinds! Both the front seats get rear pockets and the parcel shelf is large enough to throw in a lot of stuff. I am beginning to like this car a lot!

In terms of boot space, the Seltos offers about 430 litres which is more than the Creta and ample for your weekend runs. No, no powered tail gate here like the Hector.

The drive

Its good to see manufacturers experimenting with engine and transmission options. If you are into cars, you must have realised by now that the Seltos will be offered with three different engines and an automatic will part of the package in all of them. On the drive I had the chance to sample the 1.5 diesel and the 1.4 turbo petrol and that is what I will talk about now. Do note all the engines are BS6 ready (do not meet BS6 regulations yet, but are ready to do so with some changes)

The 1.5 diesel is good for 115 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque. These figures are less than some of the rivals but surprise, surprise! On the move, the Seltos diesel not feel underpowered at all. Infact, the flat torque curve, from as low as 1500rpm to about 3000 rpm is what makes your city runs very effortless. Further, NVH levels or noise, vibration, harshness levels are well under control and this is one area where Kia has done a lot of hard work. I drove the manual version only due to lack of time and the gear shift quality was top notch. This is one area where even the Creta diesel has won a lot of hearts.

Next was the 1.4 GDI petrol version that I drove and thankfully managed to experience both the manual and auto models. With 140 PS of power on hand and almost same levels of torque as the diesel motor, were grinning moments part of the package? Given the price segment, definitely yes. And with a flat max torque curve that starts at 1500rpm and extends till about 3200 rpm, city runs are a breeze. At slower speeds you can potter around in a higher gear without any unwanted stress or drones from the engine. And though the stick-shift is preferred by enthusiasts, the 7 speed DCT is a gem of a unit. I remember my drive in the Hector DCT and can safely say, this one feels a generation ahead. Shifts are quick and the Seltos can a hoot to drive both on city roads and open highways. No paddle shifters here but you can take charge but flicking the gear lever to the right.

But the comfort?

No issue here either. But let me add that enthusiasts will be disappointed. Why? Kia has worked hard to ensure the ride remains comfortable and even the GT Line variants with 17-inch wheels ensure you aren’t tossed around. Infact, at times, with the 16-inch wheels, ride seems plush without the rear moving all over the place. Body roll is limited too but the steering is more family-person oriented than for young guns. Dont get me wrong here. Kia knows a majority of buyers seek comfort and that is what the Seltos offers.

The 1.4 petrol GDI DCT has an ace up its sleeve and that is the knob next to the gear level. Drive modes and traction modes is what you get and I was surprised (for the good) to know that shifting to Sport mode does alter the steering behaviour too. We have seen this before in the XUV300 and the same thing happens here. The steering does weigh up more and gives you that extra dose of confidence.

Summing it up.

I am impressed with the Seltos. There, I said it. It does have a late mover advantage in the segment but Kia has done its homework right. If they can price it from about 10-10.5 lakh onwards, they have a winner on their hands. 22nd August isn’t far away and we already have enough hints from the top management that the segment will be in for a change of sorts. Watch this space for more!

Also Read: Kia Seltos 1.4 GDI Turbo-Petrol & 1.5 Diesel SUVs in CarToq's first drive review

Compact SUVs are one of the most highly sought-after categories of cars. They are admired because of their dazzling appearance as well as their on-road durability. Have you been looking for used compact SUVs but cannot get the right deal? Is your budget cap placed at 6 lakhs? Are you car hunting specifically in Delhi-NCR? If yes, then this is where you will find the answers to all your questions. You might think your demands are too specific, but even with your specific needs you will be bombarded with innumerable options on leading car websites. Moreover, they will have listings of cars that have not been neatly sorted, and hence are not in a position to give you the best insights. How do you narrow down your options from a plethora of cars? Used car websites are usually of little use, even with their series of filters. The onus of sorting the information remains on you, and who wants to be drowning in data? Fortunately, we make choosing your ideal car simple for you through the Cartoq TRUE PRICE.

By deploying the Cartoq TRUE PRICE, we help you identify the best deals. 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, and car type. With all factors accounted for, the model predicts the TRUE PRICE, which then becomes the basis of comparison across cars. The best deals are those where listed price is lower than the TRUE PRICE. So, we scan through the car listings across major used car sites, compute their TRUE PRICE, and present the best deals for you.

The shortlist for this article was based on the analysis we ran on August 7, 2019; so, by the time you read this article, there is a good chance that the specific car may no longer be available. However, this list still provides plenty of useful pointers even if certain specific cars have already been sold out.

All the cars on the list belong to the same manufacturer, which means:
• Ford is miles ahead of the rest of the pack in this category.
• The Ford EcoSport Titanium is this compilation’s most valuable car with four of its variants making it to this list.

Without further ado, let’s check out our top recommendations.

Recommendation #1: Ford EcoSport 1.5 TDCi Titanium

Year: 2017 / Mileage: 22,500 / List Price: Rs. 500,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 1,002,999

Why buy: Coming in a dashing grey colour and equipped with comprehensive insurance, this first owner SUV runs on diesel and is a gamechanger on a number of counts. Just two years old and having covered very little distance, it has a lot left in the tank. At an economic price and with plenty of power, it has the potential to deliver impeccable performance for a number of years.

Buy it here

Recommendation #2: Ford EcoSport 1.5 Titanium TDCi

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 43,746 / List Price: Rs. 410,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 862,000

Why buy: Just like this list’s topper, this car too comes with comprehensive insurance, belongs to its first owner and runs on diesel. Sporting a sleek silver colour, it has both price and mileage on its side, though its age means a certain amount of wear and tear is possible.

Buy it here

Recommendation #3: Ford EcoSport Titanium 1.5L Ti-VCT AT 2014

Year: 2014 / Mileage: 50,352 / List Price: Rs. 500,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 928,999
Why buy: Residing with its first owner, this grey SUV is fueled by petrol and comes with automatic transmission. The most appealing aspect of this car is efficient performance, which combined with a healthy showing on all the major parameters should boost its desirability.

Buy it here

Recommendation #4: Ford EcoSport Titanium 1.5L TDCi 2015

Year: 2015 / Mileage: 48,636 / List Price: Rs. 575,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 1,044,000

Why buy: Powered by diesel, this is another first owner car that is available in grey. With a series of overlapping features with the cars above, what makes this slide down to number four is its hefty mileage and substantially higher price.

Buy it here

Recommendation #5: Ford EcoSport Trend 1.5 L TDCi 2015

Year: 2015 / Mileage: 33,000 / List Price: Rs. 514,500 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 869,999

Why buy: Another spick and span vehicle in this category, this grey SUV is currently placed with its first owner and also runs on diesel. A compact car from all angles, this is more than a reasonable fall back at number five, especially considering its age and mileage.

Buy it here

In Summary

Although this list effectively becomes a showcase of Ford, that in itself is a validation of how well the manufacturer has been performing in this sector. If you are looking for reasonable and efficient compact SUVs in Delhi-NCR, look no further than the Ford EcoSport. This list should help you nitpick the subtleties and settle which version of Ford EcoSport suits you best.

Also Read: Best Used Ford EcoSports Under 6 Lakh with under 55,000 Kms in Delhi-NCR From Cartoq TRUE PRICE

Royal Enfield, the largest motorcycle manufacturer above the 350cc segment in India has launched its most affordable motorcycle in the Indian market today. After the launch of the Royal Enfield Bullet 350X, the brand has also announced the reduction of maintenance charges of the bikes. Royal Enfield bikes are now up to 40%  cheaper to maintain.

The new initiative to bring down the cost of ownership of the Royal Enfield motorcycles will ensure cheaper ownership and maintenance cost for the range of Royal Enfield motorcycles. Royal Enfield’s range of motorcycles including the Bullet, Classic and Thunderbird will be cheaper to maintain. However, no such reductions have been announced for their twin-cylinder powered motorcycles – Interceptor and the Continental GT 650.

To reduce the cost, Royal Enfield authorised service centres will start using a new process and new technology. The authorised service centres will now start the use of a new mix of semi-synthetic oil for servicing. This will increase the oil replace interval, which in turn will increase the service interval too. Currently, the Bullet, Classic and Thunderbird range have a service interval of 3 months or 3,000 km. The new service interval will be 6 months or 5,000 km. It will significantly reduce the ownership cost, which according to Royal Enfield is about 40%.

The oil change interval will now be 12 months or 10,000 km, which is a significant increase from the current 5,000 km or 6 months period. The new strategy will help customers save a lot of money and Royal Enfield has estimated up to 40% savings over a period of 3 years. This new regime is applicable to all the bikes powered by the Unit Construction Engine motorcycles.

Royal Enfield is a popular brand in the Indian market and has a cult following. The Royal Enfield’s Interceptor and Continental GT650 have gained extreme popularity in India and the international markets. The new 649cc, the twin-cylinder engine from Royal Engine is the first from the brand in modern times. However, due to a slump in the automobile markets, the overall sales of the brand have come down by a lot. Royal Enfield still stays ahead of all other manufacturers above the 300cc segment in India. In the future, a lot many more bikes are planned on the new 650 Twins platform. Royal Enfield is also expected to bring in new models like Himalayan 650 and Classic 650 in the future. However, it is not known when exactly the launches will happen.

With the reduced ownership cost, Royal Enfield is expected to attract a larger number of customers. Currently, there are about 930 dealership touchpoints in India and there will be 250 more dealer touchpoints that will be inaugurated in India in the near future.

Also Read: Royal Enfield motorcycles are now cheaper to maintain: Here's how

The German four-ringed brand Audi is known for making uber-luxurious sedans and SUVs. It’s model lineup also consist of souped-up sporty versions of its sedans but Audi also makes a supercar in the form of the R8. Now the R8 needs no introduction and is among the most well-known supercars across the world. It is known for its everyday usability along with its killer looks and relatively spectacular performance. In India, several well-known celebrities own the Audi R8 ranging from movie stars to business magnates to sports stars. Today, we bring you the famous Audi R8 owners of India.

Virat Kohli

The current Indian cricket team captain and a well-known face across the world, Virat Kohli is a big Audi fan. He owns multiple Audi cars apart and also the white Audi R8 you see above. However, he sold that vehicle a few years back and the latest reports suggest that it is in dire conditions.

Another R8 he owns though is the R8 LMX. He also owns a Lamborghini Gallardo apart from multiple other cars. He is also the brand Ambassador of Audi in India and one of his latest cars is the Audi RS5.

Ranbir Kapoor

Flamboyant actor Ranbir Kapoor owns a number of expensive vehicles including the Land Rover Vogue but the sportiest among them is the red Audi R8 seen in the image above. He also owns the mad Mercedes Benz G63 AMG SUV which speaks volumes about his taste in automobiles. Ranbir was often spotted in his R8 a few years back in Mumbai after midnight when the traffic flow is less and the car can be driven around like it shoud be.

Saif Ali Khan

Saif Ali Khan is another prominent Bollywood actor who maintains an impressive garage. He owns several luxury vehicles including the wild Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. Among the other expensive cars in his garage, Saif Ali Khan also owns the Audi R8 Spyder.  The man also has a Ford Mustang that he’s seen driving around South Bombay.

Sanjay Dutt

When it comes to cars, Sanjay Dutt probably has the best garage in Bollywood. This man owns a Ferrari 599 GTB, a Rolls Royce Ghost, and a few high end luxury SUVs. While the Ferrari is the more exotic option, the more practical ride is the Audi R8, which is also found in Sanjay garage.

Ronit Roy

Next up is Ronit Roy who is a popular TV actor and well-known is Bollywood for his Antagonist roles. The stylish actor is yet another celebrity who owns a convertible version of the R8. His R8 is finished in bright yellow and the actor also owns several other cars, though none is as exotic as the R8.

Vikram

[Image courtesy Team-BHP]

Famous actor Vikram is among the few South Indian actors to own a supercar, apart from Naga Chaitanya and Dulquer Salman. Vikram owns a ravishing white Audi R8 and the man went the whole hog to get a registration plate that bears the number TN03-R8.

Raj Kundra

Raj Kundra, who is a successful British businessman and hubby of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, also owns an Audi R8 supercar finished in a shade of grey. Though he owns the R8, Raj gifted his wife Shilpa a much more sporty car in the form of the Lamborghini Gallardo finished in electric blue. To let you know, the R8 and the Gallardo are near cousins and share multiple mechanical as well as technical parameters.

Bhushan Kumar

Bhushan Kumar’s latest choice of ride is the Rolls Rolls Cullinan which is also the most expensive SUV of India. The music industry mogul also owns a magnificent Audi R8 Spyder. He has quite a few convertible supercars in his garage and one of his favourite supercars is the Ferrari 458 Italia, though of late he has not been seen with the car much.

Also Read: Famous Audi R8 supercar owners of India: Virat Kohli to Sanjay Dutt

A youth in Haryana received a BMW sedan as a gift from parents. The youth wanted a Jaguar instead and in a fit of anger, he drove the vehicle into a river and made a video of it. The video is currently going viral on social media.

The exact model of the BMW sedan is not known, however, it seems like a 3-Series or a 5-Series. Both the vehicles are quite expensive and are priced more than Rs 50 lakhs. The youth from Yamuna Nagar received the car as a gift from the parents. However, the occasion for the gift remains unknown. Since it is raining a lot nowadays, the river was extremely swollen and the vehicle was swept away due to the flow.

The youth reportedly pushed the car in the river and also made a video of it. He uploaded the video on social media websites to show his anger. However, after the vehicle got stuck on a patch of tall grass on a natural island in the middle of the river, the youth took the help of the locals and tried recovering the vehicle. The video of the same has been uploaded on the Internet too.

The exact identity of the youth is not known and the police are yet to reveal the details. However, the youth belongs from Yamuna Nagar in Haryana according to the reports. The cops have also taken the youth into custody but it is not known if he has been arrested yet. Also, it is not known which sections will be imposed on the youth if he gets arrested. The father is a landlord in Haryana but the exact identification could not be established. It is also not known if the car was recovered by the administration.

The age of the youth also remains unknown but it seems like he is quite young and did the whole thing to show his protest. Luxury cars like BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz have become a common sight in many interior parts of Haryana. Landlords and farmers receive a huge sum from the government on selling the lands for the infrastructure development plans like making new roads. Many families just get such luxury cars with the money. In some cases in the past, such vehicles have been found abandoned as the maintenance cost is quite high and people do not take that into consideration while buying the vehicle.

The names of the luxury car brands like Audi, Jaguar, BMW are used very often in the local songs and Punjabi songs that further influence the youths to own and drive such vehicles.

Also Read: What's 'Highway Hypnosis', & how it can affect anyone: We explain

After months and months of testing on Indian roads, Jeep has finally launched the legendary Wrangler JL on-off road SUV in India. The American SUV maker got former Indian cricketing great Kapil Dev to do the unveiling honours late yesterday. The latest generation Wrangler (Called the JL) replaces the JK Wrangler, and comes with a slew of changes thanks to the all-new, JL platform. It’s priced at Rs. 63.94 lakhs, ex-showroom India, and is sold through 10 Jeep Destination stores across the country. This makes the Wrangler JL about Rs. 8 lakhs pricier than the outgoing model’s petrol trim.

The Jeep Wrangler dumps the diesel engine, and is now available solely with a 2 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that makes 265 Bhp of peak power and 400 Nm of peak torque. Comparable outputs for the outgoing Wrangler’s 3.6 liter V6 engine were 280 Bhp-347 Nm. The new Wrangler JL uses a 8 speed torque converter automatic gearbox as standard, and gets a four wheel drive transfer case with low and high ratios as standard. Apart from the new engine and gearbox, the Wrangler JL has a slew of changes that make it significantly better than the outgoing model.

First, the styling changes. The new Wrangler JL gets a complete redesign on the outside but retains the traditional Wrangler looks including the 7 slat grille. However, the panels are new and the SUV is a lot more curvier than the version it replaces. It gets better crash worthiness, and is sold in India only in long wheelbase (Unlimited) trim. While Jeep has been spotted testing the short wheelbase variant of the Wrangler JL on Indian roads on multiple occasions, the launch of that version could happen sometime next year.

On the inside, the Jeep Wrangler JL gets a complete revamp and there’s a large touchscreen infotainment unit that dominates the center console, and offers a range of entertainment and connectivity options including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As for safety, there are 8 airbags, traction control, roll over mitigation, ABS, reverse parking camera and sensors, ESP with an off-road bias built in, hill hold assist and hill descent control. A true-blue Jeep, the Wrangler JL has some impressive off road credentials. It’s water wading depth is rated at 762 mm while ground clearance is a tall 215 mm. The approach, breakover and departure angles are rated at 41.8 degrees, 21 degrees, and 36.1 degrees. To ensure that the Wrangler JL gets Jeep’s Trail Rating, the off roader gets locking differentials at the front and rear, a Selectrac off road system with multiple off road modes and finally on-off road all terrain tyres.

Kevin Flynn, the MD of Fiat Chrysler India had this to say about the Jeep Wrangler JL’s launch in India,

We are pleased to present the legendary all-new Jeep Wrangler to our Indian customers who have been eagerly waiting for this New Generation model. The iconic Wrangler is an important vehicle for us to have in our portfolio as it is the flagbearer of Jeep values and has been part of the brand’s illustrious history for nearly eight decades, across the globe, and in India since its introduction in 2016.

Also Read: What's 'Highway Hypnosis', & how it can affect anyone: We explain

The condition of Indian roads over the years have improved immensely over the years. With hundreds of kilometres of new stretches getting added daily including the expressways and tolled roads, driving over long distances has become much smoother in recent times. However, since these new expressways and highways are designed for high-speed traffic, they are mostly straight. But why are they dangerous and why NHAI says that this can be dangerous? Because of the highway hypnosis.

What is highway hypnosis?

Highway hypnosis is a state of mind that is experienced by the driver while driving over the long distances. This causes when the routes are very smooth and are relatively traffic-free. It is something similar to “sleeping with your eyes wide open, while your body continues to hold the steering wheel and operate the accelerator without realising.”

It may sound very scary because it sure is. This happens to many without realising and there are a lot of stories out there where the drivers can be heard saying that they have no recollection of what they saw through the journey or how they did the journey. The highway hypnosis can happen to people who are driving alone the most. While you may not have realised it but if you go the highways often, you must have gone through a mild version of the highway hypnosis.

There are various factors that can cause the trance-like factor to the mind. This includes comfortable driving conditions, sealed cabin, quiet environment, and monotonous road without turns or corners. With the new highways and expressways in India, this phenomena is becoming common and there are a lot of reasons on why you should be worried.

What can highway hypnosis do?

When the person experiences highway hypnosis, the brain activity slows down drastically. The trance-like situation increases the reaction time by a lot and it can cause major accidents on the highways. Delayed or late reactions can extremely dangerous and the driver may fail to act when needed on the highways. Since vehicles move at a fast pace on the highways, things happen quite quickly and delayed reactions can make everything go downside.

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) conducted studies on NH2 in West Bengal. The study was done between the stretches of Barakpur and Dankuni and on NH6 between Kharagpur and Dankuni. The study revealed that 60% of accidents caused on this newly made, super smooth highway was due to highway hypnosis. This study was done a few years back but it sure is a wakeup call on how everyone should be aware of this on the long highways.

Can you prevent highway hypnosis?

Yes, with a few steps, the effects of highway hypnosis can be avoided. Here are a few steps that can be taken to avoid highway hypnosis.

• Take frequent breaks. A short break to stretch your legs every 90 mins will keep your concentration levels high.
• Avoid driving in the hours when your body is used to sleeping. Driving in later hours or early morning can be dangerous.
• High caffeinated products like Red Bull will push away your fatigue but once the effect of caffeine goes away, your body will suffer the same level of tiredness. The solution is a quick nap. Park the vehicle on the roadside, turn on the hazards and doze off.
• If you’re feeling sleepy, open the windows. Feel the sun, the air or the rain. Becoming uncomfortable in the car will keep your sleep away.
• If you feel that the route is becoming monotonous, pull over, play a game on your phone, talk to someone or just walk around!

Also Read: What's 'Highway Hypnosis', & how it can affect anyone: We explain

By early 2020, Maruti Suzuki could actually start producing the latest, 4th generation Jimny in India, as a replacement to the Maruti Gypsy (1st generation Jimny), which has been discontinued. According to Nikkei, Maruti Suzuki is developing a new SUV based on the Jimny Sierra, which will be sold as a competent off roader that is flexible and comfortable enough for everyday use. The Jimny was launched in Japan last year, and ever since, is available in multiple countries across the globe. Owners of the new Jimny have been full of praise for the off road capability of the new car, which is also a lot more modern, safer and more powerful than the version it replaced. Currently, the Jimny is built only in Japan, and exported to most parts of the world. Once Maruti Suzuki starts building the Jimny in India, the country could become an export hub as well.

In fact, there have been many media reports in the past suggesting that the Gujarat factory of Maruti Suzuki would be used to produce the right hand drive variants of the Jimny to meet global demand. Maruti Suzuki, for its part, is yet to confirm this development. Meanwhile, Suzuki of Japan is said to be working on an extended wheelbase version of the Jimny, which will offer a conventional 5 door seat up and more space on the inside.

The long wheelbase model could be the one that’s earmarked for India as the Jimny in three door guise could be unpractical for most people. Off roading in India is still a very niche segment, and to make sure that the new Jimny sells enough for Maruti to recover investments, a long wheelbase version of the vehicle would suit the Indian market better. We now await Maruti Suzuki’s statement on this latest development.

The Suzuki Jimny sold abroad is available with two engine options: a 660c, triple cylinder turbo petrol engine mainly for the Japanese market, and a much larger 1.5 liter-4 cylinder K-Series naturally aspirated petrol engine for the rest of the world. This engine is already on offer with many Maruti Suzuki cars including the Ertiga and Ciaz. Soon, it’ll be offered on the Maruti Vitara Brezza. This engine makes 104 Bhp-138 Nm, and gets a 5 speed manual gearbox as standard.

There’s a four speed torque converter automatic on offer as well. In the Jimny, this engine gets paired to a four wheel drive transfer case that has high and low ratios. The latest Jimny continues to be rear wheel driven, and part time four wheel drive vehicle. It gets a rugged ladder frame chassis, airbags, ABS, ESP, power steering, reverse parking sensors, air conditioning and a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Also Read: Used Fiat Punto Abarth is more than 60 % cheaper than new: Cheaper than WagonR

Amid the sales downfall that has been going on since some time now, the automotive manufacturers are devising various ways to counter the heat. One of the oldest tricks in the books to fight low sales is discounts and hence the manufacturers are offering massive discounts worth up to Rs. 4 lakhs this month. So if you have been planning to buy a car anytime soon, this August may be the time you finally did that. Let’s now take a look at the cars being offered with the maximum discounts this month.

Hyundai Xcent

Max offer value: Rs. 1 lakh

Starting off the list is the Hyundai Xcent. The sub-4 meter sedan is being offered with discounts worth up to Rs. 1 lakh this month. A rival to the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and the Honda Amaze among others in its segment, the Xcent is getting Rs. 60,000 in the form of direct cashback along with an additional Rs. 35,000 as exchange bonus. For government employees, the company is further offering a discount worth Rs. 5,000.

Volkswagen Vento

Max offer value: Rs. 1.14 lakh plus

Challenger to the likes of the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna among others, the Volkswagen Vento is getting discounts worth more than Rs. 1.14 lakh this month. The DSG automatic variants are getting benefits worth up to Rs. 1.14 lakh while the Vento cup edition models are being given at an offer price of Rs 9.24 Lakh. The cup edition variants are based on the Comfortline Trim and come with 15-inch alloy wheels along with leatherette seat covers.

Toyota Yaris

Max offer value: Rs. 1.95 lakh

The Toyota Yaris has become the sore point for the Japanese manufacturer despite being a decent overall package. In a bid to get the sales moving, Toyota is currently offering discounts worth Rs. 1.95 lakh on the C-segment sedan. However, only the 2018 manufactured models are getting such high discounts in the form of a cash discount worth Rs. 1.25 lakh, Rs. 20,000 as exchange/loyalty bonus and Rs. 50,000 as a corporate discount.  The newer 2019 models are getting discounts worth Rs. 70,000 which includes Rs. 30,000 worth of cash discount, Rs. 30,000 as a corporate bonus along with Rs 10,000 worth of Exchange / Loyalty Bonus for existing Toyota Car Owners.

Renault Duster

Max offer value: Rs. 1 lakh

Next up is the Renault Duster that is getting discounts worth up to Rs. 1 lakh this month. However, the Rs. 1 lakh discount scheme is only available with the pre-facelift models. Renault is offering Rs. 50,000 as exchange bonus and Rs. 50,000 as cash discount on the pre-facelift Duster models. The facelifted Duster, on the other hand, is getting a loyalty bonus worth up to Rs.10,000 or an exchange bonus worth Rs 20,000 upon exchanging the pre Facelift Duster with the new Duster.

Honda BR-V

Max offer value: Rs. 1.10 lakh

The Honda BR-V is currently running on huge discounts worth Rs. 1.10 lakh. The discount scheme available on the car includes an exchange bonus worth Rs. 50,000 and accessories worth Rs. 26,500 along with a cash discount worth Rs. 33,500 for the customers who will exchange their cars. For non-exchange customers, the company is offering accessories worth Rs. 36,500 along with a cash discount worth Rs. 33,500.

Hyundai Elantra

Max offer value: Rs. 2 lakh

The Hyundai Elantra is also getting big discounts this August. The D-segment sedan is running on a total discount value of Rs. 2 lakh this month which makes it a pretty attractive deal to grab. Speaking of which, Hyundai is offering a huge cash discount of Rs. 1.25 lakhs along with an exchange bonus of Rs. 75,000 on the Elantra this month, which means it is getting second-highest discount offers this month.

Toyota Corolla Altis

Max offer value: Rs. 1.7 lakh

Rival to the likes of the Hyundai Elantra, Skoda Octavia and the Honda Civic in its segment the Toyota Corolla Altis is also getting massive discounts worth up to Rs. 1.7 lakh this month. The discount offer on the D-segment sedan this month includes a corporate bonus worth Rs. 50,000 along with a direct cashback worth Rs. 90,000 and an exchange bonus worth Rs. 30,000.

Jeep Compass

Max offer value: Rs. 1.5 lakh plus

The Jeep Compass is a great option if you want a relatively small SUV with premium build and features. This month, the SUV is getting discounts worth up to Rs. 1.5 lakh and more. This discount scheme available on the SUV includes a cash discount worth Rs. 50,000 for the 2019 manufactured models. The older, 2018 manufactured models are getting a cash discount between Rs. 1.2 lakh to Rs. 1.5 lakh depending on the variant. Additional benefits are being offered in  the form of Rs 50,000 worth car insurance premium as per quoted price list.

Hyundai Tucson

Max offer value: Rs. 1 lakh

The Hyundai Tucson has been waiting for a long time now for its facelift and Hyundai will probably launch it in the coming months. Right now, Hyundai is offering a big discount worth Rs. 1 lakh on the SUV. The discount offer offered on Tucson is in the form of a cash discount worth Rs. 25,000 along with an exchange bonus worth Rs. 75,000.

Honda CR-V

Max offer value: Rs. 4 lakh

Since the last couple of months, Honda has been offering huge discounts with the CR-V crossover SUV in India. The softroader is a pretty good vehicle to own and run for personal usage but touches the Endeavour and Fortuner in terms of pricing which has directly affected its sales. This month though, Honda is offering a massive discount worth Rs. 4 lakh with the CR-V, all of which is being given away as direct cash discount.

Toyota Fortuner

Max offer value: Rs. 1 lakh

The Toyota Fortuner is one SUV that is rarely offered with discounts. However, with the market going all downwards, Toyota has decided to offer a discount worth Rs. 1 lakh on the Fortuner this August. The discount being offered is in the form of an exchange bonus worth Rs. 1 lakh available upon exchanging the old Fortuner with the new model.

Discount Source

Also Read: Used Fiat Punto Abarth is more than 60 % cheaper than new: Cheaper than WagonR

Bringing a new Fiat Punto Abarth home will set you back by about Rs. 12 lakhs, that is if you can find a dealer willing to sell you one considering the car’s no longer built by Fiat. For those who want to enjoy the thrill of the Punto Abarth at the smaller price than a Maruti WagonR, hitting up the used car market is a great idea. Here’s one such Fiat Punto Abarth, of 2015 vintage and with 38,000 Kms on the odometer. Asking price? Rs. 5 lakhs, and the first owner of the car is selling it. If you’re wondering what you get for this money, you get a well maintained, super sturdy high performance hatchback that will easily last you half a decade of great fun behind the wheel. To buy this car, you need to get in touch with Rasmeet Sahota.

If you haven’t been following cars, no problem. We’ll take you through a quick trip about what makes the Fiat Punto Abarth a special car. For starters, it’s the engine. The motor is a 1.4 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged unit that puts out 143 Bhp of peak power and 212 Nm of peak torque. A 5 speed manual gearbox is standard, and buying an after market short shifter for this gearbox is a great idea to make the car more fun while driving hard. Also, there are a lot of remaps available for this turbo petrol motor, most of which push up the power and torque numbers to around 160 Bhp-250 Nm. This is a safe remap considering the fact that the Jeep Compass SUV, which uses the same engine gets the 160 Bhp-250 Nm state of tune as its stock outputs.

The next great thing about the Punto Abarth is the way it handles. It’s got a well weighted hydraulic steering that makes driving on the twisties a joy while the suspension is supple enough to absorb bad roads while being stiff enough for sharp handling. The build quality is simply fantastic, and the car feels solidly put together, giving occupants a sense of safety. Twin airbags and ABS are standard safety features.

What the car can benefit from is lowering. While it may be impractical for most, a lowered stance really makes the Punto Abarth look more sporty and of course, handle even better. With a remap and a lowered stance, the Punto Abarth can be as much fun as an Octavia vRS. For thos who want a great project car, this Punto Abarth is a great buy. It’s also a great buy for those who want a sporty hatchback with a lot of usable horsepower for everyday use, at a very affordable price tag.

There are some dangers of buying a car like the Punto Abarth. 1. Resale value. This is not the car to buy if you want to use it for a year or two and sell it off in a hurry. Fiats have poor resale traditionally, and the Punto Abarth suffers from this even more considering that it’s an enthusiast focused machine. 2. Fiat service centers aren’t widespread and for people who live far away from one, this may not be the ideal car despite the long service intervals. 3. While Fiat is obligated to make parts available for at least 10 more years by Indian law, parts could get scarce in say 4-5 years. So, this car is best for those who intend to keep it for 4-5 years, and making the most of all that horsepower.

Also Read: Used Fiat Punto Abarth is more than 60 % cheaper than new: Cheaper than WagonR