Tata Motors has given the Tiago JTP and Tigor JTP new features after receiving customer feedback. The upgraded cars also see significant price increases. The Tiago JTP now starts at Rs. 6.69 lakhs, which is a Rs. 30,000 price increase over the pre-upgrade version while the Tigor JTP now starts at Rs. 7.59 lakhs, which is a Rs. 30,000 price hike. Coming to the additional features, both cars now get power folding wing mirrors finished in contrast colours, automatic climate control, a touchscreen infotainment console with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additionally, the Tigor JTP gains a shark fin radio antenna. Mechanically, these cars remain unchanged, and are available at select Tata Motors dealerships across India. The Tata Tiago JTP and Tigor JTP are sold in the following cities: Ahmedabad, Bangalore,Calicut,Chandigarh,Chennai,Cochin,Coimbatore,Delhi,Gurgaon,Hyderabad, Indore, Kangra, Kannur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Noida, Pune, Thane and Thrissur.

Commenting on the launch of the new JTP variants, Mr. Nagbhushan Gubbi (CEO), JTSV said,

Last year has seen the JTP brand establish as an exciting prospect and a brand which has carved its own cult following in the auto performance segment. It is now time to switch gears and speed ahead. With immense excitement, we are elated to announce the launch of the new avatar of the JTP twins. This launch reflects our commitment to constantly improve and push boundaries to achieve better. We’re positive that this move will be warmly appreciated by our customers and will only extend the legacy of a #RacerAtHeart.

The Tata Tiago and Tigor JTP use the 1.2 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine borrowed from the Nexon compact SUV. On the JTP twins, this engine has a different state of tune, and makes 112 Bhp-150 Nm. The 5 speed manual gearbox has revised gear ratios for better low end and mid range grunt. The suspension has also been tweaked with stiffer springs for better road grip and handling.

Ground clearance has been reduced as well, for a sportier drive. All in all, the Tiago JTP and Tigor JTP are among the least priced high performance cars that money can buy in India. There’s talk of Tata Motors and Jayem Tata Special Vehicles (JSTV) developing high performance versions of the Nexon and Harrier as well. However, a clear timeline on when the Nexon and Harrier would get the JTP treatment is not available currently.

Tata Motors also sells a long list of regular Tiago and Tigor variants, which are available with naturally aspirated petrol and turbocharged diesel engines. Tata even sells the Tigor’s electric version to cab aggregators and government agencies. The Tiago has been Tata Motors’ best selling car for years now, and is all set to get a major makeover sometime next year. The Tigor will also get a facelift soon.

Also Read: Maruti WagonR Electric launching next year but you CAN'T buy it: Here's why

Maruti Suzuki had hinted a few months back that it would not carry diesel engines in its lineup come April 2020, which is the deadline for BSVI emission norms mandate. The company is already working to upgrade its model lineup to be BSVI ready and now, the manufacturer has discontinued the 1.3-litre diesel engine variants of the Ertiga MPV. Though Maruti Suzuki offers another diesel engine in the form of a 1.5-litre unit, the variants carrying this engine are about Rs. 1 lakh expensive than the now-discontinued 1.3-litre counterparts. The prices for the diesel-powered Ertiga, therefore, now start at Rs. 9.86 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

To let you know, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is the best selling MPV of India with the diesel variants constituting a major part of its sales. The 1.3-litre diesel which has been given a farewell from the Ertiga has been long in service for the company and was available with the Ertiga since the MPV was launched in India for the first time back in 2012. This engine is, in fact, one of the most common mills found on Maruti cars. The Fiat-derived unit once powered cars ranging from the Ignis and Swift to the Ciaz and S-Cross. However, the upcoming stricter BSVI norms mean this engine had to be let go of since upgrading it would result in too much expenditure.

The Ertiga is now available with two engines, both of which are 1.5-litre units. One is a 1.5-litre petrol unit that churns out a good 103 Bhp of power along with 138 Nm of torque. This engine comes mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed torque-convertor automatic gearbox. The engine also gets the Mild Hybrid system that helps in increasing fuel efficiency and make the vehicle much more frugal. The diesel engine, on the other hand, churns out 94 Bhp of power along with 225 Nm of torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. This engine will also be axed from the lineup before the April 2020 BSVI emission norms implementation deadline.

As of now, Maruti Suzuki is readying an all-new sporty and premium version of the Ertiga that will be launched on the 21st of this month. Called the XL6, it gets a new face along with a more rugged-looking body design and is a tad bigger in size compared to the Ertiga, though the wheelbase remains the same. On the inside, the XL6 will come with 6 seats with the mid row featuring two captain seats. Maruti Suzuki will offer the 1.5-litre petrol engine on the XL6 and there will be no diesel mill on offer. The interiors will get black and plum coloured finish and the car is targeted towards those who want a more luxurious MPV without spending too much.

Also Read: Maruti WagonR Electric launching next year but you CAN'T buy it: Here's why

Maruti Suzuki will launch the electric version of the popular WagonR hatchback in India next year. The 2020 Auto Expo is likely to be the big event when Maruti launches the WagonR Electric. What will come as a bummer though is the fact that the car would be available only to cab aggregators such as Ola and Uber, and government agencies, and not for private buyers. R.C. Bhargava, the Chairman of Maruti Suzuki, just made this very clear when asked about the launch of the WagonR Electric during an interview with CNBCTV18.

In the interview, Mr Bhargava says that the cost of electric cars are still too prohibitive for most private car buyers, and this is especially true of small hatchbacks such as the WagonR Electric. He goes on to say that the battery pack for these cars are still quite costly, and these cars are currently meant for people who can take risks in terms of afforability. In other words, people running a business with electric cars are those who can afford the additional cost of replacing batteries and the lower range per charge. Private car buyers looking for affordability will have to wait as the WagonR is not likely to be priced under Rs. 10 lakhs. This high price tag, and a limited range of under 200 kilometers would make this car impractical for most private car buyers despite the huge savings on fuel costs.

Maruti Suzuki will focus on CNG powered cars for now. Electric cars are still a few years away from becoming practical for private car buyers, according to the Maruti Suzuki chairman. Currently, Maruti offers CNG on a slew of cars including the Alto, WagonR, Ertiga and Dzire models. Going forward, more cars with the CNG-Petrol dual fuel option would be launched, as an affordable, cost effective alternative to diesel powered cars. The Indian government is also pushing for more CNG powered cars. However, CNG dispensing infrastructure is yet to be available in most parts of the country, and only the bigger cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata have adequate CNG fuel stations.

Meanwhile, Hyundai is working on an affordable electric car for the Indian market, and the vehicle in question could be an SUV. The automaker has already marked its presence in the electric vehicle segment with the Kona Electric SUV, which has received tremendous response. Tata Motors is said to be developing a higher range Tigor EV sedan for private car buyers, and the Altroz and Nexon will also get electric variants shortly. MG Motor will launch the eZS electric SUV later this year, as a Hyundai Kona rival.

Also Read: Maruti WagonR Electric launching next year but you CAN'T buy it: Here's why

In a recent interview to business TV channel CNBC TV18, the Chairman of Maruti Suzuki, RC Bhargava, had interesting comments to make about diesel engined cars. He noted that Maruti Suzuki would not have diesel engined cars in April 2020, when the Bharat Stage 6 emission norms come into force. However, the 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that the automaker has deployed on the likes of the Maruti Ciaz and the Ertiga is likely to achieve BS6 compliance. While this is unlikely to happen by April 2020, Maruti is very likely to make this diesel engine meet BS6 emission norms a few months down the line. In the video, Mr. Bhargava also says that buyers should not wait for the BS6 diesels as that is not likely to be launched in the near future. All along, he does not rule out BS6 diesel engines after a while, which means Maruti could still bring back diesel engines to its best selling cars a few months after the BS6 norms come into place.

It seems as if history is repeating itself. Back in 1999, when Bharat Stage 2000 emission norms were about to come into effect in India, Maruti Suzuki maintained that fuel injection (which was essential to meet the emission norms back then) was too complicated for India. It wasn’t Maruti Suzuki but Hyundai who introduced fuel injection to affordable cars in India.

The Santro was the first fuel injected affordable car. In 2019, Maruti Suzuki is saying that it doesn’t see a future for diesel engined cars but is likely to eventually make the 1.5 liter diesel engine BS6 compliant. So, if anything, expect a temporary pause in diesel engined cars from Maruti, like how it happened with fuel injection.

Here are a few reasons why Maruti simply can’t afford to dump the diesel engine.

1. It’s the market leader and not having a diesel engine on its top selling cars such as the Vitara Brezza, Dzire, Ertiga and Ciaz will impact it massively. The competition – read Hyundai, Mahindra and Tata Motors – has already confirmed diesel engines for its cars ahead of the BS6 deadline in April 2020. Maruti will not want to lose marketshare, and this means that a BS6 diesel will eventually arrive from the automaker.

2. The 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged diesel engine was developed by Maruti Suzuki at a time when the Indian government announced that BS6 norms would come into place from April 2020. The engine was introduced earlier this year on the Ciaz, and is now offered on the Ertiga as well. There’s no reason for Maruti to invest money into developing the new diesel engine when it plans to use it for just a year. Clearly, this isn’t the game plan. Don’t be surprised if Maruti actually manages to bring in a BS6 diesel close to the BS6 deadline in April.

3. CNG and petrol hybrid can’t really replace diesel engined cars in the current scenarios. Petrol hybrids are expensive and not available on most affordable cars while CNG dispensing outlets are quite limited in their accessibility across India. This leaves buyers with no choice but to opt for diesel engined cars. Clearly, there’s a market for diesel engined cars.

Also Read: All-new Mahindra Thar: New spyshots show production version of the off-roader ahead of 2020 launch

Mahindra XUV500 has been around in the market for a long time now. Recently, a slew of new SUV has been launched in the market to take on the XUV500. Tata Harrier is such an SUV that takes on the Mahindra XUV500 in the market. Even though the Harrier is not a seven-seater vehicle, both of them are priced similarly. While the Tata Harrier is powered only by a diesel engine option at the moment, the Mahindra XUV500 gets both petrol and diesel engine options. However, the diesel version of the XUV500 is much more popular than the petrol version. Here is a video that compares the acceleration of the diesel version of both the SUVs.

A comparison video of the instrument cluster of both the vehicles has been put up side by side on the Drive King channel. It clearly shows the acceleration of both vehicles. However, since this is not a GPS measured figure, the result can be inaccurate. However, it is clear from the test that the Mahindra XUV500 is a bit slower than the Tata Harrier.

It should be noted that the Mahindra XUV500 used for this video is a new-generation model that gets the updated, more powerful engine. The 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine used in the XUV500 produces a maximum power of 155 Bhp and 360 Nm of peak torque. According to the official ARAI figures, the XUV500 returns a maximum fuel efficiency of 15.1 km/l. The Tata Harrier, on the other hand, uses a 2.0-litre KRYOTEC engine, which is a rebadged version of the Fiat Multijet engine. This is the same engine that is available with the Jeep Compass and the MG Hector in the Indian market. However, in the Harrier, the engine has been detuned. It produces a maximum power of 138 Bhp and peak torque of 350. Both the vehicles are available only with a 6-speed manual transmission in the Indian market. It should be noted that the Tata Harrier gets a lower power and torque figures than the XUV500.

The video, which only covers the instrument console of both the vehicles shows that the Tata Harrier is quicker than the Mahindra XUV500. The Tata Harrier completes the 0-100 km/h mark in just 10.768 seconds while the XUV500 does in 11.010 seconds. The Harrier completes the 0-120 km/h mark in 15.759 seconds while the XUV500 is slightly 15.094 seconds. The Harrier becomes slower than the XUV500 after crossing the 120 km/h mark.

The XUV500 reaches the 140 km/h in 20.905 seconds while the Harrier reaches the same speed in 21.404 seconds. It should be noted that both the vehicles are shown crossing the 160 km/h mark too. The Harrier crosses the mark in 31.225 seconds while the XUV500 reaches the same speed mark in just 29.524 seconds. Tata is expected to launch a more powerful version of the Harrier in the coming months and it will produce around 170 Bhp, which is similar to the Jeep Compass and the MG Hector.

Also Read: All-new Mahindra Thar: New spyshots show production version of the off-roader ahead of 2020 launch

The Hyundai i20 Sportz is a favorite among car lovers for a number of reasons. From efficiency to economy to compactness, it delivers on all the fronts that make it ideal for navigating traffic in a busy cities. Are your looking for the best deals for used Hyundai i20 Sportz cars? Are your needs based in Hyderabad? If yes, then this is the one stop destination for your requirements. 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 deal. How do you decide which car suits you best? Used car websites are usually of little use, even with their multiple filters. The task of analyzing and interpreting the information remains yours, and who wants to be digging a data mine? Fortunately, we have got just what you need 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 9, 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.

The Hyundai i20 Sportz is reliable and efficient as always, which means:
• All five cars have the trademark Hyundai durability.
• Compactness and comfort are top priorities, both big pluses for potential purchasers

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

Recommendation #1: Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.4 CRDi 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 35,000 / List Price: Rs. 385,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 726,127

Why buy: Equipped with insurance, this second owner car runs on diesel and comes in a soothing white colour. Despite its age, it has not taxed the odometer much, and its affordable price means it will be a hit with all kinds of buyers.

Buy it here

Recommendation #2: Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.4 CRDi

Year: 2014 / Mileage: 66,008 / List Price: Rs. 400,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 709,000

Why buy: Not the most glamorous car featured here, this first owner car runs on diesel and is impressive because of its efficiency and endurance. Despite clocking a fair amount of distance on the odometer, this car provides the right balance between price and utility.

Buy it here

Recommendation #3: Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.4 CRDi

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 68,031 / List Price: Rs. 450,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 726,127

Why buy: Residing with its first owner, this silver hatchback is a feasible option for a family car, given its good condition and dependable performance. This can also be an ideal solution for buyers caught in a dilemma between cars one and two on this list, although the mileage and price combination remains an issue once again.

Buy it here

Recommendation #4: Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.4 CRDi 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 59,000 / List Price: Rs. 460,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 726,127

Why buy: Available in a dazzling red colour, this first owner car is powered by diesel and is one of the most visually appealing cars in this collection. Its mileage is not as high as the cars above it, which might be reason enough to overlook its inflated price.

Buy it here

Recommendation #5: Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.4 AT 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 25,035 / List Price: Rs. 600,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 797,515

Why buy: Engineered with automatic transmission, this silver hatchback is fueled by petrol and is currently placed with its first owner. With a paltry mileage, it is certainly a good investment for the long term. The only concern is its significant price, a factor which slides it down to the bottom of this pack.

Buy it here

In Summary

Age and mileage are two hindrances that pop up every now and then on this list. But in the overall picture, they should not take away from any of the cars, all of which are in impeccable condition and all set to perform reliably for a number of years.

Also Read: All-new Mahindra Thar: New spyshots show production version of the off-roader ahead of 2020 launch

In the world of bike modification, cruisers have made a distinct name for themselves and are among the most popular bike styles. The low slung stance coupled with those muscular lines and stretched out design is something that makes enthusiasts go weak in the knees for obvious reasons. There is an even wilder style of cruisers that are termed as choppers and they take the low slung, stretched out design to a whole new extent by frankly, choppers are not everyone’s cup of tea. Unlike cruisers, though, which almost every biking enthusiast enjoys riding around in. The point of this discussion today is the badass cruiser motorcycle featured here that looks absolutely ravishing.

It is based on a Royal Enfield 350 cc bike and the mod job has been carried out by the guys at XLNC CUSTOMS, which is a Delhi based mod house. Finished in matte black, the bike has been given a whole new look and is among the best Royal Enfield based custom cruisers we have seen of late. Another thing to note here is that the body proportions which are pretty balanced and the bike doesn’t feel to be modified too much from any angle.

Talking about the changes made on the motorcycle, the swingarm has been stretched to give the bike the typical cruiser look while the front triple tree has also been changed with a wider unit. Both the front and the rear tires are now much fatter units shod onto stylish multi-spoke rims that again carry the matte black paint shade.

The handlebars have been mounted on riders and get upside down, bar-end mounted mirrors which enhance the aesthetics of the bike at the cost of practicality. The tank piece is a custom made unit that gets a pointed fuel filler cap, suggesting the devilish intentions of the bike. Both the front and the rear fenders have been custom made with a chopped short design.

As is the case with the whole bike, the engine has also been blacked out as is the casing of the aftermarket retro headlamps. An engine guard has been mounted at the front to protect the engine from hits and small rocks which can damage it since the ground clearance of the bike is quite low now. A custom saddle follows the sleek ending tank and the bike also has space for a pillion to enjoy the ride.

The modifiers have also added an aftermarket air-filter housed inside a conical metal structure. Disc brakes have been given on both the ends for that extra stopping power. Completing the whole build is the custom slim pipe exhaust which not only looks great but we are sure that it is a pretty nice sounding unit too.

Also Read: All-new Mahindra Thar: New spyshots show production version of the off-roader ahead of 2020 launch

The prices of luxury cars are highly depreciative. Over a few years, a new luxury car’s value can depreciate quickly. There are numerous such luxury cars that are available in the market and can be bought at affordable rates but a few of these deals are so amazing that one just cannot overlook them. Here is an Audi A4 S-Line, which is available at a cheaper price than a brand-new Maruti Suzuki Swift.

It is a 2008 Audi A4 S-Line powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine. The car has done 1.04 lakh km and is currently with its third owner. The advertisement on Facebook Marketplace also reveals that the car is an exceptional condition and there are no scratches on the body. The white coloured car can be seen in the pictures and there is not a single scratch on the body of the vehicle as seen in the pictures.

The white coloured vehicle is in impeccable condition. It also comes with six months of engine warranty under standard driving condition. Since the vehicle is out of the manufacturer’s warranty, 6 months of warranty is a pretty good time to know the problems in the car. The seller is also offering personal loans and also take care of the after-sales service. If the vehicle is getting shifted to another city, the dealership also helps in the RTO documentation and gathering the papers.

The Audi A4 S-Line gets the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine option that produces a maximum power of 141 Bhp at 4,200 rpm and peak torque of 320 Nm at 1,750-2,500 rpm. It gets an automatic transmission that powers the front wheels of the sedan. The Audi A4 is a popular car in the market and is mostly used by corporates. It sure looks properly classy and ensures that it gets a lot of looks on the roads.

The asking price of Rs 5.95 lakh is way cheaper than a brand-new model of the car. A current-generation Audi A4 costs around Rs 50 lakhs. The S-Line Audi A4 adds a number of add-ons like a different bumper, side skirts and aggressive rear bumper. The interior also gets a few bits of luxury. The price tag of the used 2008 Audi A4 is cheaper than a brand-new Swift hatchback and many other entry-level mass segment vehicles.

However, buyers of such luxury vehicles should know that the maintenance cost of these vehicles is much higher than any mass segment vehicle. Also, repairing these vehicles can turn to be costly as their parts have to be imported. While many people get the thought of buying these vehicles due to the price tag, the maintenance cost of the vehicle is something that everyone should consider too.

Also Read: All-new Mahindra Thar: New spyshots show production version of the off-roader ahead of 2020 launch

Happy Independence Day Folks

On the 15th of August 1947, India became an independent country and the mega event, in the words of the first PM of India Jawaharlal Nehru, took place ‘At the stroke of the midnight hour’. Nehru welcomed the country’s independence with the famous Tryst with Destiny Speech and India thus became a free nation from being a British colony.

As an ode to the glorious 73 years that have passed till date, we at Cartoq take a look at the vehicles that have transported our Prime Ministers and the President, to these historic parades over the years.

The Early Years

The Presidential Car – Cadillac Country

Though India gained its freedom in 1947, it was only in 1950 that a constitution was adopted and the Governor-General was replaced by the President. As one might know, Rajendra Prasad became the first President of free India, or better say the Republic of India. At that time, the President rode on a convertible Cadillac Country. Over the years, several other cars by Cadillac have been a part of the President’s convoy but it was ultimately replaced by the humble Hindustan Ambassador.

The Prime Minister’s car – Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith

India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru moved around in various American and British car marques while travelling the nation before and after independence. Among them, the best-known car he used was a Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith. The story behind the Wraith is a fascinating one, as it was gifted to Nehru for use as the state car by none other than Lord Mountbatten himself. However, with Jawahar Lal Nehru’s socialistic approach to the economy, cars becam more expensive – a commodity than a necessity – and nearly kicked the car scene in India back into the stone age.

The 80’s Wild Child

During his prime, Rajiv Gandhi was the flagbearer of bringing modernity to India and hence the man drove a Maruti 1000 (later called the Esteem) despite the Ambassador being the quintessential neta car. Later, he switched to a Range Rover Vogue which was given to him as a gift by the King of Jordan.

Modern Era

The 90s saw a change in the cars of the President and Prime Minister of India. this was after India opened up its borders to global brands. With Nehru’s India a thing of the past, cars have undergone a rather tectonic change with robust design and features involved.

The President’s Cars – The Armoured Three-Pointer

Shankar Dayal Sharma, K.R. Narayanan & APJ Abdul Kalam – W124 Mercedes S-Class

Shankar Dayal Sharma became the first Indian President to use an armoured version of the S-Class limousine. The President used a W140 S-class which was best known for its reliability and exemplary build quality among other things.

Due to its reliability and impressive functionality, the W140 generation armoured S-Class was passed onto the next two presidents, who were KR Narayanan and APJ Abdul Kalam.

Pratibha Patil, Pranab Mukherjee & Ramnath Kovind – W221 Mercedes S600 Pullman Guard

Pratibha Patil will always be remembered as the first female President of India. At the time she occupied the President’s chair,  the Presidential Limousine was given an upgrade to the W221 generation Mercedes S600 Pullman Guard armoured limosine.

The exact details and information regarding this car are considered a state secret. However, the civilian versions of the Pullman Guard can withstand machine gun fire, grenades and bombs. Later on, the same car was used by Pranab Mukherjee and is currently serving as the official ride of Ramnath Kovind.

The PM’s car – From Ambassador to the UK’s finest SUV.

Narasimha Rao, IK Gujaral, Dewe Gowda – Ambassador

After India opened up for foreign trade and exchange, the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao retained his ambassador despite the entry of various big foreign carmakers in India. The later PMs like IK Gujaral and Dewe Gowda did the same and proudly went around in their HM Ambassador.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee – Ambassador to Armoured BMW 7 Series

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one of the most respected figures in Indian politics and the first PM from the Bharatiya Janata Party. After the terrorist attack on the Parliament House in 2001, he was forced to ditch the typical ‘for-Netaji’ Ambassador for an armoured BMW 7 Series for better security.

Dr. Manmohan Singh – Armoured BMW 7 Series

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was succeeded in the Parliament by Dr Manmohan Singh. A world-renowned economist and responsible for many grace saving economic manoeuvres for India, Dr Manmohan Singh was the first Indian Prime Minister to exclusively use the armoured bomb-proof car.

Narendra Modi – Armoured BMW 7 Series to Armoured Range Rover SUV

The current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi uses an armoured Range Rover SUV and has ditched the BMW limo in favour of the big SUV. However, the BMW 760Li High Security still remains his official car.

Also Read: All-new Mahindra Thar: New spyshots show production version of the off-roader ahead of 2020 launch

Hyundai India is planning to dump the 1.2 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged diesel engine from the Grand i10 later this month, when the Grand i10 NIOS is launched. However, the Grand i10 NIOS will be offered with both petrol and turbo diesel engines. As per ACI, the decision to dump the diesel engine from the Grand i10 may have to with the fact that Hyundai is planning to sell the Grand i10 alongside its successor – the Grand i10 NIOS.

However, Hyundai will reposition the Grand i10 as a lower priced car, sandwiching it between the likes of the Santro and the Grand i10 NIOS. Notably, the South Korean automaker had adopted a similar strategy when it first launched the Grand i10 in India half a decade ago. Back then, the i10 hatchback was repositioned lower and the 1.2 liter petrol engine offered on it was dumped, and the car got a smaller 1.1 liter petrol engine with lesser power and torque.

This time around though, the diesel engine will get the boot, and the Grand i10 will soon go petrol only. The engine in question is a 1.2 liter unit in a triple cylinder layout, making 74 Bhp of peak power and 190 Nm of peak torque. The same engine will be made BS6 compliant and offered with the Grand i10 NIOS, whose petrol engine will be the 1.2 liter-4 cylinder unit with 82 Bhp-114 Nm.

Both engines will get 5 speed manual gearboxes as standard, and AMT options are expected to be offered on both engines. The AMT unit is likely to be borrowed from the Santro – Hyundai’s first car to get this option. The Grand i10 NIOS will be launched on the 22nd of August, and bookings are already open across all Hyundai dealerships. The car will compete with the Maruti Swift and Ford Figo, among other B-Segment hatchbacks sold in India.

The Grand i10 NIOS is the third generation version of the i10 brand, and gets a major stylistic revamp at the front and rear. The car is said to have grown in size, and should be more spacious on the inside. The interiors of the car are also totally different from what you get on the Grand i10. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be offered on the touchscreen infotainment system. The car will offer twin airbags, ABS, reverse parking sensors, speed alerts and seat belt reminders across all variants. Higher variants are expected to gain a reverse parking camera as well. The car is likely to start from Rs. 5.5 lakhs for the base petrol variant, occupying the same space that the outgoing Grand i10 will vacate.

Also Read: All-new Mahindra Thar: New spyshots show production version of the off-roader ahead of 2020 launch

Jeep India recently launched the most expensive version of the Jeep Compass in the Indian market. Named as the Jeep Compass Trailhawk, the vehicle boasts of some off-road specific changes and features that make it more capable than the regular Jeep Compass. However, is it as capable as the Ford Endeavour and Toyota Fortuner 4X4? Well, experienced off-road enthusiast, Anshuman Bishnoi has uploaded a video, which clearly shows the Jeep Compass Trailhawk’s off-roading capabilities.

In the video, the Jeep Compass Trailhawk can be seen trying to go up a trail. The vehicle can be seen steered by Anshuman Bishnoi who is also explaining the situation in the video. In the first attempt, the Jeep Compass Trailhawk gets stuck in a rut in the incline. Even after three attempts, the Jeep Compass Trailhawk could not come up the incline completely.

As per the video, the Jeep Compass Trailhawk’s engine traction control kicks in very strongly when it detects that the wheels are slipping. The engine traction control cannot be turned off in the Compass Trailhawk. Whereas in many other vehicles, the system can be shut down using a single button. With the engine traction control on, the power is not transferred to the wheels, no matter how much the accelerator is used. Anshuman Bishnoi also said that keeping the accelerator completely depressed also does not changes a thing.

Turning off the engine traction control keeps the brake-traction control system active. The vehicle’s brake-traction control works by using the individual brakes to stop the wheel spinning freely and transfer all the power to the other wheel on the axle. This is what makes SUVs more capable.

The Jeep Compass Trailhawk is priced at Rs 26.8 lakh, which is much more expensive than the regular top-end Limited Plus Trim, which gets a price tag of Rs 23.11 lakhs. The vehicle is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine option that generates a maximum power of 170 Bhp and peak torque of 350 Nm. It is a BS6 compliant engine and gets a long list of features too.

The Jeep Compass Trailhawk offers different bumpers, which offer a higher approach and departure angle. The Trailhawk gets a ground clearance, which is 20mm higher than the regular version of the Compass. The vehicle also gets a black decal on the bonnet that ensures that no reflections from the bonnet fall in the driver’s eyes. The vehicle also gets a low-ratio transfer case, which increases the torque to 600 Nm. This is currently the only Jeep Compass diesel, which gets a 9-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Jeep Compass is quite expensive and is definitely more capable than the regular Jeep Compass but as per the video, it is not as capable as the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour.

Also Read: All-new Mahindra Thar: New spyshots show production version of the off-roader ahead of 2020 launch

We today are witness to the 73rd Independence day of this country which we so fondly call India. During all these years of progress and achievements, we have been through, our cars and bikes have also gone through a remarkable evolution in all these years. Therefore, as we celebrate India’s Independence day today, let’s take a look at 10 made-in-India cars and bikes that we as a nation should be proud of.

Tata Nano

The Nano, the brain child of Ratan Tata is a car that was built with a lot of hopes and aspirations. Since Mr. Tata wanted to provide an alternative to bikers, he decided to build a cheap car as a replacement for them.

While the company managed to meet their promise and price the car at Rs 1 lakh, that tag of being a 1 lakh car didn’t do so well for the company. Most of the car was developed inhouse with designing being done by I.D.E.A.

Reva i

The Reva I is a car that India should be proud of. The company was the first one to come up with electric cars in India and was designed and developed in India for the global market. It was built in India and exported to other markets around the world as well. While the global market didn’t really like the car much, it wasn’t very expensive due to the rebates it got for being an electric vehicle.

Mahindra Scorpio

The Scorpio was launched in 2002 to celebrate 50 years of existence of Mahindra & Mahindra. The vehicle also happened to be the first in-house vehicle made by the company. It was developed with inputs from AVL Austria and other consultants from Japan. Only 23 engineers worked on the whole project.

DC Avanti

The DC Avanti is India’s first home-grown sports car. Though it might not be to everyone’s liking, it is still a great initiative. DC decided he wanted to build an affordable sports car for the masses, and this was the answer. Power comes from a 2.0 liter engine making 248 Bhp and 350 Nm.

Tork T6X

Tork is the first Indian company to come up with an electric bike. The bikes comes from a Pune based start-up. It has an electric motor which is capable of taking the bike to 70 kmph. It manages to cover 100 kms on a single charge and can be charged to upto 80% in just 40 minutes. It is also modern having the ability to connect to the cloud.

Ather S430

Keeping in line with alternative fuel sources, India also got its first high-tech e-scooter, in the form of the S430. It is a futuristic looking scooter which has a touchscreen dashboard-cum-instrument cluster with info on speed, distance covered, navigation and it also allows the rider to customize the functions. It will have a top speed of 75 kmph and a range varying from 50-100 kms.

Royal Enfield Himalayan

The Himalayan was launched in 2016 year as a very different product from RE. The bike happens to be the first ever all-Indian on-off roader. Power comes from an all-new 411 cc four stroke engine producing 24.5 Bhp and 32 Nm. It also happens to feature a few interesting features like a compass, an ambient temperature gauge and LED parking lights.

Bajaj Pulsar

The Pulsar is a bike that made Bajaj popular among the youth. It was also a bike that happens to be among the most successful sport oriented bikes in the country. It was offered in a wide range of engines to appeal to all and hence everyone from youngsters to oldies liked the bike.

Tata Indica

The Indica is the first hatchback from Tata Motors which was globally showcased in 1998. The vehicle also marked the entrance of Tata Motors into the passenger car segment. What the company did was to provide a larger vehicle in terms of size at a smaller price point. This had so much appeal that Maruti had to cut prices of the Zen almost immediately. The company was designed by I.D.E.A and all R&D took place in India only.

Bajaj RE60/Qute

The RE60 (now called the Qute) is a quadricycle that was first showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo and then introduced in 2014 in production ready form. While this vehicle isn’t available in India yet (although it’s exported to many countries), it features a few unique touches. It has a 216 cc engine that makes 20 Bhp. The engine is mated to a 5 speed manual box. It will be offered in petrol, LPG and CNG format. It emits as low as 60 grams/km of CO2, making it among the least polluting vehicles in the country today.

Also Read: All-new Mahindra Thar: New spyshots show production version of the off-roader ahead of 2020 launch

Mahindra is all set to give the Thar a massive revamp. The revamp will involve a completely new generation off roader, design to succeed the current Mahindra Thar, which was first introduced in 2010. The all-new Thar will share its platform with the new Scorpio, and will also borrow many other key attributes such as the body-on-ladder frame, engine, gearbox, four wheel drive transfer case, brakes and possibly even the infotainment unit. The 2020 Mahindra Thar will be unveiled at the upcoming Auto Expo next year, which is also when it’s likely to be launched in India. The new Thar will be a global offering, and will be designed not just to meet Indian regulations but also global safety and emission rules. It will be Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) compliant right from launch, and is likely to be introduced with a diesel engine. A turbocharged petrol engine is likely to follow in due course of time. Here a bunch of new spyshots that show a 2020 Thar that seems nearly production-ready.

Spyshots courteay AnythingOnWheels

The all-new, 2020 Mahindra Thar will get front facing seats for the passengers at the rear, and will be a four seater. The top-end trim will get a factory fitted hard top, upmarket but hard wearing interiors, a touchscreen infotainment system – possibly with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, driver and passenger airbags and also ABS. A four wheel drive layout with a shift-on-the-fly feature from Borg Warner is likely. Low and high ratios will be offered with the four wheel drive transfer case.

A lower trim with bench seats and a soft top is expected to be launched, keeping semi-urban and rural markets in mind. The lower trim will also get essential safety features but will be quite utilitarian in terms of the interiors, features and creature comforts. It’s also expected to be much cheaper than the top-of-the-line hardtop 2020 Thar.

Under the hood, the 2020 Mahindra Thar is expected to feature a brand new, 2 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with about 120 Bhp-300 Nm on tap. This engine has been developed by Mahindra for a range of SUVs including the Scorpio and XUV500. The new engine will not only be BS6 compliant but will also be able to meet even tougher emission norms that will come into place in 2022, in the form of Realtime Driving Emissions (RDE) cycle.

A 6 speed manual gearbox will drive the rear wheels of the new Thar, and all four wheels will be powered when the four wheel drive mode is activated. A turbo petrol engine and an automatic gearbox are also in the pipeline for the new Thar. The new off roader is expected to be significantly more expensive than the outgoing model. We expect prices to be pegged at around Rs. 11-12 lakhs for the top-end trim.

Also Read: All-new Mahindra Thar: New spyshots show production version of the off-roader ahead of 2020 launch

The first generation BMW X1 has been replaced by the second generation model more than 2 years ago, and BMW is working on the third generation model. Resale value of the first generation compact luxury crossover plumetted when the 2nd generation model was introduced. Now, BMW X1s are selling for less than Rs. 7 lakhs, making them cheaper than new Maruti Swift hatchbacks. Well, here is one such example on sale in Pune. The asking price is Rs. 6.5 lakhs, and the luxury crossover is a 2011 model with 128,000 kilometers on the odometer, and is diesel powered. The Maruti Swift costs about Rs. 7 lakhs on-road for the base diesel trim. If you want to buy the X1, you can Whatsapp the following mobile number: +91-9960604755.

The BMW X1 20d is a rear wheel driven, diesel powered SUV. The 2 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged diesel engine is known for high reliability. However, on the X1, this engine can get loud on the outside. On the inside though, BMW’s thorough sound deadening makes the cabin a quiet place. This engine powers the rear wheels through a 6 speed torque converter automatic gearbox from ZF.

The 1st generation BMW X1 did not offer an all wheel drive layout for the Indian market. The second generation version does offer an all wheel drive option. For those of you who will predominantly drive on city roads, a rear wheel drive layout will more than suffice. In the wet, slow down as the grip levels of a rear wheel driven car will be much lesser than an all wheel drive car.

The best past about the 1st generation BMW X1 is its beautiful handling. The luxury crossover gets a hydraulic power steering and this makes it great fun to drive on twisty roads. The rear wheel drive layout, the longitudinal engine mounting, beautiful weight balance and the hydraulic power steering come together to make this car special to drive. Also, since it has an ample ground clearance of 193 mm, it can handle bad roads with ease.

This makes it an everyday car that can handle the occasional off road excursion, stuff that luxury sedan owners generally won’t risk. The suspension is on the stiffer side though, and has been tuned for better handling than ride comfort. The X1 has adequate space for four people and five people would be a squeeze as the rear bench seat is best suited for two adults. All in all, the X1 is a compact, fun to drive BMW car that has more than enough ground clearance and pep for Indian roads.

Also Read: Yezdi hits Instagram: Jawa-based Yezdi bikes launching soon?

Do you want to purchase a used compact sedan but have budgetary constraints? Are you looking solely at cars below 4 lakh to fit your bill? Are your demands specific to Ahmedabad? If yes, then worry no more, for we have you covered with a curated list for your requirements. You might think your demands are too specific, but even with your precise needs you will be presented with countless options 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 insights. How do you arrive at choosing the perfect car then? Used car websites are usually of little use, even with their never ending filters. The onus of sorting the information remains on you, and who wants to drown in data? Fortunately, we have got just the right recipe 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 14, 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.
Three manufacturers go head-to-head in this segment, which means:

• Ample variety among the options, both in terms of features as well as aesthetics.
• Maruti and Honda set the pace early on, before Honda takes over.

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

Recommendation #1: Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire VXi 1.2 BS IV 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 65,000 / List Price: Rs. 337,600 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 558,086

Why buy: Armed with insurance, this white sedan runs on petrol and is currently placed with its first owner. With an economic price, stellar on road record, and an impressive brake and suspension performance, this is a solid if not spectacular opening to this list.

Buy it here

Recommendation #2: Toyota Etios G 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 48,000 / List Price: Rs. 350,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 637,976

Why buy: Also covered with insurance, this second owner sedan comes in a soothing grey colour and is currently placed with its second owner. Available in impeccable condition, this petrol powered vehicle provides a decent price and mileage ratio and is a feasible challenger to this list’s topper for your attention.

Buy it here

Recommendation #3: Honda Amaze 1.5 S i-DTEC 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 58,000 / List Price: Rs. 390,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 673,000

Why buy: Residing with its first owner, this white sedan, running on diesel, is an excellent option for a family car, given its good condition and dependable performance. This can also be an ideal solution for buyers caught in a dilemma between cars one and two on this list.

Buy it here

Recommendation #4: Honda Amaze 1.5 E i-DTEC 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 45,000 / List Price: Rs. 396,900 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 603,000

Why buy: One of the most stylish cars in this segment, this sedan runs on diesel and belongs to its first owner. Sporting a bold black colour, it will stretch your budget to its limits, but makes for a sensible purchase given its efficiency and durability.

Buy it here

Recommendation #5: Honda Amaze 1.2 S i-VTEC 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 66,000 / List Price: Rs. 396,900 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 569,000

Why buy: Similar to the car placed immediately above it, and also sporting the same colour, this is an expensive option to round off the list, especially considering its hefty mileage. Having said that, in terms of the important parameters like reliability and efficiency, this vehicle fares reasonably well.

Buy it here

In Summary

This is an interesting list for the simple reason that no single manufacturer dominates the compilation. Honda may have a trio of cars, but none of them occupies the top two spots, meaning Maruti and Toyota will still hold sway over a substantial section of the buyers.

Also Read: Yezdi hits Instagram: Jawa-based Yezdi bikes launching soon?

The Ford EcoSport is one of the most high performing cars in the compact SUV segment. Combining power with precision and never lacking in style, it is a great option for long distance trips as well as daily commuting. Have you been pondering the purchase of used Ford EcoSports, of late? Are you looking for cars specific to Chennai? 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 struggle to choose the best car from among the 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 deal. How do you arrive at choosing the right car then?
Used car websites are usually of little use, even with their vast array of filters. The task of distilling a ton of information remains yours, and who wants to undertake such a hassle? Fortunately, we have got just what you need to land the perfect car 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 13, 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. Smooth, stylish, and smart, the Ford EcoSport is superb, as always, which means:

• The trademark Ford power is evident in all the five cars in this compilation.
• Different variants of the Ford EcoSport are united by one common thread- all offer good value for money.

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

Recommendation #1: Ford EcoSport 1.5 Ti VCT AT Titanium

Year: 2015 / Mileage: 22,500 / List Price: Rs. 500,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 993,000

Why buy: This is one of those dream cars that ticks all the boxes, and does so with aplomb. Protected with comprehensive insurance and equipped with automatic transmission, this vehicle runs on petrol and is currently with its first owner. Sporting a sparkling blue colour, it has a fantastic price and mileage ratio, and is unquestionably the stand out car in this segment.

Buy it here

Recommendation #2: Ford EcoSport 1.5 DV5 MT Titanium Optional 2013

Year: 2013 / Mileage: 55,000 / List Price: Rs. 558,600 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 900,000

Why buy: In spite of being with its third owner right now, this diesel powered SUV still has an acceptable mileage and a competitive price. Available in a sleek shade of grey, it is efficient as well as durable, a car that will keep most buyers interested till the end.

Buy it here

Recommendation #3: Ford EcoSport Titanium+ 1.5L TDCi 2015

Year: 2015 / Mileage: 21,788 / List Price: Rs. 700,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 1,044,000

Why buy: The steep hike in price from the top two cars might be putting off for some buyers, but this first owner SUV, which comes in a smoke grey colour and runs on diesel, makes for a sensible purchase. This can also be an ideal solution for buyers caught in a dilemma between cars one and two on this list, with its freshness and mileage being key.

Buy it here

Recommendation #4: Ford EcoSport Titanium+ 1.5 TDCi 2014

Year: 2014 / Mileage: 59,813 / List Price: Rs. 599,000 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 917,000

Why buy: Another first owner SUV that runs on diesel, this fares reasonably well on the leading parameters without being a spectacular recommendation. With a decent mileage and a middle of the range price, this remains a feasible fall back option in the second half of this list.

Buy it here

Recommendation #5: Ford EcoSport Titanium+ 1.5L TDCi 2014

Year: 2014 / Mileage: 60,000 / List Price: Rs. 700,700 / Ex Showroom Price: Rs. 1,044,000

Why buy: Another spic and span vehicle in this category, this grey diesel SUV is a powerful car, currently placed with its first owner. Despite its efficiency and impressive on road performance, what relegates it to the bottom of this list is its hefty price and mileage combination.

Buy it here

In Summary

The Ford EcoSport is one of the best SUVs to drive on the demanding roads of Chennai, and this collection of cars provides five fabulous options from which to take your pick. While most will side with one of the first three cars, numbers four and five are worth considering as they would also represent shrewd purchases, notwithstanding the potential deterrents mentioned earlier.

Also Read: Yezdi hits Instagram: Jawa-based Yezdi bikes launching soon?

Royal Enfield has become a household name in the world of motorcycle modifications. While there are thousands of Royal Enfield of custom Royal Enfield motorcycles in India, they are equally popular in the International modification circles. Here is a video of the Royal Enfield Interceptor, which has been brilliantly modified by BAAK Motorcycles, a popular custom motorcycle garage based in Lyon, France.

The video beautifully captures the journey of the Interceptor from stock to custom. At first, the video shows the sketches of the intended product and how the designer asks the employees to strictly stick to the design. The final product is quite astonishing. The Royal Enfield Interceptor looks quite classy in its stock form. But BAAK Motorcycles did an amazing job that turns it into a head-turner which is difficult to resist.

The changes are quite a lot. To start with, the fuel tank of the bike has been replaced with a custom design version. The design is simple yet transforms the look of the motorcycle. Custom side panels further make the bike look intense and extremely beautiful. The whole bike follows the simple white and maroon colour combination, which looks a class apart.

The headlamp has also been changed to a new unit with a chrome ring and body-coloured base. Also, it gets a custom leather seat, which has been carefully handstitched. The new rear panel also makes the bike look much shorter and in turn, gives it a compact look. That’s not all, even the handlebar has been updated with a new one and it allows the rider to sit upright and cruise on the highways without any problem. It also gets cafe racer-style bar-end mirrors that look extremely good on the bike and adds a clean look to the whole set-up.

The front fender has also been updated and it is now shorter than the stock version. While the same treatment has been given to the rear fender of the bike. Finally, the chrome multi-spoke rims have been updated too and it now gets a black colour, which looks great and classy. It is not known if any engine modifications have been done to the bike but it gets customised aftermarket exhausts, which are much shorter and thinner than the stock ones. With the exhausts becoming subtler, the bike definitely looks much sober and sophisticated.

Royal Enfield has been around for decades in the Indian market and there are thousands of customised bikes based on them. Even the new Interceptor and the Continental GT650 are receiving some grand modifications that lift the overall look of the bikes. Royal Enfield also organises official events where such motorcycles are put for public view.

Also Read: Yezdi hits Instagram: Jawa-based Yezdi bikes launching soon?

SUVs are the buzzword in the current auto market of the world and not only are we seeing cheap, sub-4 meter models but also a lot of hyper-expensive sports luxury SUVs. While most of you may have heard about the Lamborghini Urus and the Rolls Royce Cullinans of the world, today we present you the biggest and baddest SUVs available across the world.

Conquest Knight XV

Starting off the list is the Knight XV which is also the flagship vehicle of Conquest. The handcrafted luxurious armoured vehicle had a limited production run of only 100 units and each example takes around 4000 hours to build. The Knight XV came with both petrol & diesel engine options with the petrol engine being a 6.8-litre V10 unit making 326 Bhp & 578 Nm. The diesel, on the other hand, is a 6.7 litre V8 making 300 Bhp & 895 Nm. The feature list includes 6 electric leather seats, wool carpet, suede finish, ambient lighting & dual screens. There are a lot of options to customize the XV to suit everyone’s needs. It weighs a massive 5.9 tons and prices for the SUV started at Rs 4.2 crores plus.

Mercedes G63 6×6 AMG

The G63 AMG 6×6 is probably the most recognised and well known wild SUV here, thanks to Mercedes’s aggressive marketing pitch. The huge yet surprisingly controllable SUV is based on the regular G63 but has hit a steroid enriched diet. Produced in limited numbers, each of these behemoths has a price tag of Rs 3.8 crores plus (excluding duties). It is powered by a large 5.5 litre twin-turbocharged V8 from AMG making 536 Bhp & 760 Nm.

The SUV tips the scales at 3775 kgs and all 6 wheels are driven with 5 differential and massive 37-inch tyres. It has a ground clearance of 460 mm & water wading depth of 1000 mm. Due to its massive size, there are 2 fuel tanks present in case you want to go for a long spin because the fuel efficiency of this vehicle is nothing to write home about.

Paramount Marauder

The Marauder is so big that one should not consider it as an SUV but a weapon of mass destruction instead. Termed as the ‘most unstoppable vehicle’ by Top Gear UK (Richard Hammond), the Paramount Marauder is an armoured vehicle that has compliance to B7 level of ballistic protection. It gets powered a turbo diesel engine making 285 Bhp and a mind-numbing torque of 970 Nm. Its seating configuration is for 2+8 people and comes with front, centre as well as rear differential locks.

The go-anywhere capability of this vehicle is enhanced by 400 mm of ground clearance and a water wading capability of up to 900 mm. Further, the vehicle can be operated in temperatures between -20 degrees & +50 degrees C while an additional winter kit will make it work even in -45 degrees C. Its kerb weight is between 11 & 13 tons depending on the options chosen. Base price starts at Rs 3.20 crores plus.

Karlmann King

The Karlmann King has probably made more headlines than any other crazy expensive SUV in the last few years. This mega SUV made its debut at the Beijing Autoshow and is designed by IAT Design for a company called Unique Club. The company built 12 examples of this alien-like SUV with an eye-watering price tag of around Rs 14.3 crores (keeping current exchange rates in mind). The King is based on a Ford F-450 Super Duty pickup truck & is powered by a 6.8-litre V10 engine that puts out 362 Bhp of power and 620 Nm of torque. Though it has space only for 4 people, those 4 will definitely have the experience of a lfetime.

Conquest Evade

Next up is the Conquest Evade, which was the manufacturer’s first unarmored vehicle. It was also offered on sale in India officially at a price tag of Rs 8.5 crores. The Evade is based on the Ford F550 Super Duty & has a body made up of a blend of aluminium-mild steel. It gets a 2+2 seating arrangement and comes with features like air suspension and 360-degree roof-mounted lights. It can be had with either petrol or diesel engines & comes equipped with 4wd.

Renault Sherpa

The Renault Sherpa is used by the Indian Army and the vehicle actually started life as a military vehicle. However, it can be bought in Russia, Africa & the Middle East on special order as a station wagon or a pick-up truck, depending upon need. Powring this humongous machine is a 4.8-litre diesel engine that churns out a relatively measly 215 Bhp of power but earth-shattering 815 Nm of torque. The SUV rides on large 34-inch tyres, has 400 mm of ground along with an approach angle of 40 degrees, though it had a cost surpassing Rs. 1.8 crores.

Rezvani Tank X

The recently unveiled latest model in the Rezvani Tank series is this huge SUV powered by an even massive 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine that does duty on the Dodge Demon. However, here this engine puts out an eye-watering 1,000 plus horsepower and 1,180 Nm of torque which makes it the most powerful regular production-spec SUV in the world according to Rezvani. Was someone mumbling Urus, huh!

Called the Rezvani Tank X, it comes with ludicrous extras including a thermal night vision system, off-road spec FOX suspension, full leather interior, dual battery setup, auxiliary gas tank, and a Rolls Royce styled headliner. What this essentially means that for nearly Rs. 3 crores (without the import duties applicable in India), this SUV will cocoon you up in a web of luxury while going over the toughest terrains mother nature could offer.

Dartz Prombron series

Dartz has long been in the game of making ultra-exclusive, ultra-expensive and majestic SUVs which are offered in full armoured versions too. While many of you might not have heard about the Russian manufacturer, most of you will have a better recognition when we tell you that a special, gold-plated edition of the Prombron SUV was used in the Hollywood flick ‘The Dictator’. Some of the special edition models of the Prombron series have even gone north of $1 million.

The engine used on these beasts is an 8.1-litre GM diesel unit producing 450 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, though the output changes according to the variants too. It gets bullet-proof wheels, bullet-proof windows, and underbody protection. Also, there is a choice of ten interior treatments, including snake, crocodile, whale, skat, chameleon, or elephant skins.

Also Read: Yezdi hits Instagram: Jawa-based Yezdi bikes launching soon?

From the 1st of September, 2019, Royal Enfield is likely to hike prices of the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650. Both motorcycles are expected to see a price hike of around Rs. 5,000. Both motorcycles will continue to remain very well priced though, and cheaper than almost every other comparable twin cylinder motorcycle sold in India including the likes of the Harley Davidson 750s and the Triumph Street Twins.

Even smaller engined twin cylinder motorcycles such as the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the Yamaha R3 are a lot pricier than the Royal Enfield twins. Notably, the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 have been outselling the 500cc single cylinder engined motorcycles from Royal Enfield thanks to their excellent pricing. These bikes have also been dominating the Rs. 2 lakh+ segment, outselling the likes of the KTM 390s, the TVS Apache RR 310 and even the Honda CB 300R.

Meanwhile, here are the revised prices of the Royal Enfield twins that will come into effect from September 1st, 2019, courtesy GaadiWaadi.

The Royal Enfield 650cc twins are not just selling well in India but have also been making waves in international markets. The motorcycles form a part of Royal Enfield’s strategy to dominate the mid-segment motorcycle space. The 650 twins are all-new motorcycles that use a newly developed 647cc, four stroke twin cylinder air-oil cooled engine that makes 47 Bhp of peak power at 7,250 rpm and 52 Nm of peak torque at 5,250 rpm. The engine is paired to a 6 speed manual gearbox with a slipper clutch offered as standard.

The engine is extremely refined and is known for its vibe free nature across most part of the rev range except the very top. Fuel injection, four valve heads and a single overhead camshaft are offered on the bikes. The Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 get telescopic front forks and gas charged shock absorbers, and are eequipped with a double cradle frame developed by Harris Engineering of the UK – a motorcycle frame specialist that Royal Enfield has now acquired.

Royal Enfield has begun testing the Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms compliant Interceptor and Continental GT 650s. The BS6 compliant bikes could see another price hike to account for the costlier emission control equipment. The entire range of Royal Enfield motorcycles are likely to meet the BS6 norms early next year, and the likes of the UCE 350 and 500 powered bikes such as the Classic, Thunderbird and Bullet range are likely to move to a brand new platform. The new platform will see major engineering changes as well. Expect better refinement levels, more power and torque, and also refreshed styling in the new bikes.

Also Read: Yezdi hits Instagram: Jawa-based Yezdi bikes launching soon?

Floods in the cities can be disruptive. It can bring the whole city to a standstill and cause major destruction to the properties and lives of the people in the area. Currently, many parts of Southern India are under the flood and life has come to halt. Emergency services have been working round the clock to rescue people and also take them to the hospitals. However, the task is not easy as the roads are submerged and it is extremely difficult to maneuver through such roads.

A 12-year boy, whose video became viral on the Internet was felicitated by the state government on Independence Day. Venkatesh who helped the ambulance cross the submerged bridge became a hero on the Internet overnight. He showed his presence of mind and saved the passengers in the ambulance too. The incident happened on 10th August when the floodwaters hid the bridge near Hireryanakumpi village in Deodurga of Raichur. The ambulance was reportedly carrying sick kids, and the body of a dead woman, and was trying to cross the bridge.

The driver of the ambulance asked if he can cross the bridge to a group of boys who were playing nearby. Venkatesh then offered help and showed the way by walking on the submerged bridge. He ran in front of the ambulance and guided the driver all through the way. As he walked on the bridge, the driver of the ambulance followed him through. The whole incident was recorded on the video and it became viral on the Internet.

Venkatesh is a student of class 7th at a local government school. Senior IAS officer, Captain Manivannan requested the Child Welfare Department to recommend Venkatesh for a bravery award this year. He was felicitated by the District Commissioner of Raichur for his bravery.

A flood can cause a lot of damage to the roads and one should be extremely careful while driving on the submerged roads. Earlier, a Mahindra Scorpio SUV got stuck in an underpass due to the high level of water and the occupants could not leave the vehicle as the electricals of the vehicles failed. Both the occupants died inside the vehicle. Also, massive potholes can develop during the heavy rains, which remain hidden under the water. Driving on such roads can cause massive damage to the vehicle. Water currents can also remove the manhole covers from the roads, which again can be extremely dangerous for any vehicle passing over it.

Flooded roads can cause the vehicle to get stuck, which can lead to other problems. Also, if the vehicle stops on the flooded road, never try to restart it as the engine can get permanently damaged.

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