The Indian market has skipped a whole generation of emission compliance and will implement the BS6 compliance norms on 1st April this year. While many manufacturers have already launched their BS6 compliant products in the market, other manufacturers are rushing to launch the products before the deadline. Mahindra is working on the BS6 compliant XUV500 that will be launched in the market soon. Here are all the details of the upcoming SUV.

According to ACI, the Mahindra XUV500 BS6 is ready for the market and it will reach the showrooms in the coming weeks. The report also reveals that the 2.2-litre mHawk engine that powers the XUV500 and the Scorpio will get various systems to make it compliant to the stricter emission norms.

The 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine option available with the XUV500 will get the selective catalytic reduction system or SCR and the diesel particulate filter, which is also known as DPF. Even with the addition of the new systems to meet the emission norms, the power output of the vehicle is expected to remain the same. Currently, the Mahindra XUV500’s 2.2-litre engine produces a maximum of 155 PS and it is expected to remain unchanged in the updated BS6 compliant XUV500 too.

Initially, Mahindra will launch only four variants of the BS6 compliant XUV500. There will be W5, W7, W9 and W11 variants on sale. However, all the variants that will go on sale will be Front-wheel-drive only. Mahindra will not launch the AWD version of the XUV500 when the upgraded version arrives.

Also, the BS6 compliant XUV500 will only get the 6-speed manual transmission. The report claims that Mahindra will not initially offer any automatic version of the XUV500 BS6. It should be noted that the government will stop issuing registration number to any BS4 compliant vehicle on 1st April 2020. Mahindra discontinued the petrol engine option of the XUV500 last year and it is not expected to return in the BS6 compliant version too.

Apart from these mechanical changes, the XUV500 BS6 will look identical to the current BS4 variants. With the additional equipment on-board to meet the new emission compliance, the price of the BS6 compliant model will go up significantly. However, the exact price increase is not known.

It should be noted that Mahindra is already working on the all-new, second-generation of the XUV500 in the Indian market. The upcoming car has been spotted testing on the Indian roads under camouflage. Mahindra may showcase the upcoming vehicle at the 2020 Auto Expo but the launch of the all-new XUV500 is scheduled to happen by the end of this year.

Also Read: Toyota Fortuner and Innova Crysta BS6 bookings to open soon

Toyota Innova Crysta and the Fortuner are the two most successful vehicles from the Japanese brand in the Indian market. With the upcoming BS6 emission norms that will implement on 1st April 2020, Toyota will launch the new compliant version of both the vehicle soon. The manufacturer will start accepting bookings for the BS6 compliant Fortuner and the Innova Crysta in the Indian market from next week.

According to ACI, Toyota will officially start taking bookings for both the upcoming vehicles from 6th January 2020. The launch of the BS6 compliant Fortuner and Innova Crysta is expected to happen by the end of February. It should be noted that various Toyota dealerships in India have already started accepting the bookings unofficially. Dealerships taking official booking amounts are charging about Rs 50,000 for the upcoming vehicles.

Both Toyota Fortuner and the Innova Crysta carry a premium price tag. However, to make them BS6 compliant, additional equipment will be installed on the vehicles. This will increase the overall cost of the vehicles by at least Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakhs.

To make the diesel engine BS6 compliant, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system will be installed. Also, the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) will be installed in the diesel engines of the Fortuner and the Innova Crysta. Both these equipment are very costly and are very advanced. This is the reason for such a price hike of the Fortuner and the Innova Crysta in the Indian market.

Toyota has decided to discontinue all other diesel-powered variants of the models in India. Currently, only the Etios sedan is powered by a diesel engine apart from these two vehicles. It will be phased out in the coming times. Other Toyota vehicles like the Glanza and the Yaris are powered only by a petrol engine option.

In the future, Toyota is expected to favour petrol-powered vehicles instead of diesel engines in the Indian market. The Japanese manufacturer will launch the all-new Vellfire in India later this year and it will not get a diesel engine option. Instead, the luxury MPV will get a petrol-hybrid engine option. Toyota also sells the Land Cruiser in India but it is a CBU import and it will continue to sell without any changes.

Toyota is the best-selling brand in the segment when it comes to Fortuner and the Innova Crysta. However, with the price hike, the sales may get affected. However, both the vehicles are expected to continue to lead the segment in the future too.

Also Read: Toyota Fortuner and Innova Crysta BS6 bookings to open soon

Travel, they say, makes a person better at many levels. We agree and can attest to the fact that it has the same effect on cars. Don’t believe us? Then answer is this. What do you think is the secret ingredient in Toyota’s formula for consistent, universal success?

It’s travel. Extensive travel. The kind of extensive travel that covers five of the seven continents in the world. The kind that can only be powered by a philosophy that guarantees perfection.

To the world, the 5 Continent Drive may well seem as an ongoing on-road activity that has covered Australia, America (North & Latin), Europe, Africa and Asia. But for Toyota it’s the pursuit of its philosophy, Genchi Genbutsu – a Japanese term that translates to Go and See.

Toyota 5 Continent Drive

Go and see what, you ask? Terrain and road conditions, of course; from the Toyota Kirloskar Motor Plant at Bidadi in Karnataka, all the way to New Delhi — taking in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan along the way.

In terms of road diversity, the convoy — which was flagged off in September — zoomed over the smooth highways down south, threaded across the dizzying switchbacks of the Western Ghats, tackled post-monsoon potholes in cities, and suffered the gruelling ‘stop&go’ traffic in metropolises.

The journey was not all fun and games but was in fact a learning experience for the drivers, experts, employees, technicians, and partners — who together, made up the team. They experienced first-hand the challenges that millions of Indian car owners face on a daily basis; it truly was a study that cut across states and car segments.

Toyota’s flagship, the LandCruiser 200, led the convoy; followed by the Innova Crysta, Innova Touring Sport, Fortuner, Camry Hybrid, Corolla Altis, Yaris, and the recently launched Glanza. Additionally, the Suzuki Vitara Brezza that accompanied the convoy was a testament to the close relations that Toyota and Suzuki share in various markets across the globe.

This crucial information is the bedrock on which Toyota has built its world-class manufacturing facilities. And it is the Genchi Genbutsu philosophy that underlines its best practices of quality control. The result is there for all to see: Cars built to rule undiscerning roads and serve discerning buyers.

In Toyota’s books, though, a perfect car alone does not make a happy owner. That’s why the 5 Continent Drive team also reached out to dealers and customers during their journey through India. Getting the whole picture is what allows the company to ensure a seamless, even pleasurable, after-sales experience.

Toyota considers India as one of its most important markets, and it’s such on-ground activities that allow our existing customers and prospective customers a peek into the company’s dedication in ensuring the highest QDR (quality, durability, reliability) standards.

Watch the below videos to know more:

Full Recap

The Toyota 5 Continent Drive was created with one goal in mind: to make ever-better cars for their customers. They traveled the length and breadth of this wonderful nation for 10 days to understand it better – the culture, the roads and, most importantly, you.

Customer First

Toyota has always been a customer-first company. And behind the Toyota 5 Continent Drive’

Made For India

Toyota and India – a beautiful 20 year long journey with many more miles to cover. And the 5 Continent Drive was essential for to understand this wonderful country’s ever-changing nature.

Ever Better Cars

Roads train people, people build cars. This was the mantra of the 5 Continent Drive, which enabled the team to travel passionately throughout the world with their signature go-and-see philosophy (genchi genbutsu) to find solutions that help make ever better cars for their customers.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV500 BS6 variants revealed before official launch

Like other two wheeler manufacturers in the country, Royal Enfield is also working on its next-generation BS6 motorcycles. The bikes have been spotted testing on our roads many times and they are likely to launch these models later this year. Here we have a video today that shows what all changes will be there in the updated BS6 variant of a Royal Enfield motorcycle. The video has been uploaded by Bullet Guru on their Youtube channel that takes a closer look at the upcoming BS6 Royal Enfield Classic 350.

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 in the video is a gunmetal grey BS6 variant. The bike looks very similar to the Classic 350 currently on sale in India. The changes however lie in the engine. The video then focuses on the changes that makes it different from the BS4 variant. The BS6 variant in the video has several new components added to make it compliant with the upcoming BS6 emission norms.

First component is that one would notice is the Electronic Fuel Injection or EFI. The cover to the same is visible right below the fuel tank. It is similar to the one found in Interceptor 650. EFI systems usually allows much tighter control of the exhaust’s air-fuel ratio, and thus substantially enhance the operational efficiency of the catalytic converters.

Next visible change is the addition of carbon control sensor on the bend pipe and the addition of an extra filter is also seen here. The addition of extra filter will be a big disappointment for many Royal Enfield lovers as it will reduce the iconic thump sound from the exhaust for which Royal Enfields are known for.

Other change that is seen in the bike is the wheels. It now gets an alloy wheel instead of conventional spoke set up. The black couloured alloys look great on the motorcycle. Switching to alloy wheels from spoke also means that the bike now gets tubeless tyres which will add to the convenience of the rider.

Royal Enfield will be launching the BS6 variants of their motorcycle later this year and is expected to be priced higher than that of BS4 variants. The Classic 350 will still be powered by the same 346-cc, 4-stroke, twin-spark engine that generates 19.8 Bhp and 28 Nm of peak torque. Royal Enfield is working on a new platform of retro motorcycles aimed primarily at woman buyers. The Explorer brand could be brought back later this year for this new foray.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV500 BS6 variants revealed before official launch

After the new MV Act implemented in India last year, motorists showed their dismay in various ways. Just after the new amended MV Act was implemented in India, a youth set his motorcycle on fire after the cops issued a challan. A similar incident happened in Delhi today and the youth has been arrested by the cops.

The incident happened in South Delhi after the youth was stopped by Delhi Traffic Police. The cops flagged down the youth, who has been identified as Vikas. The cops spotted the rider without a helmet near Savitri cinema and asked him to stop. The cops issued a fine receipt to the young rider, who is said to be only 20-year-old. Vikas argued with the cops on the spot and when the cops did not listen to him, he poured fuel on the bike and set it on fire. The police have now impounded the motorcycle.

Following the incident, a case was registered against Vikas at C R Park police station. The cops have also arrested the youth who showed anger and stopped the cops from doing their jobs. However, it is not known if he was carrying all the documents of the motorcycle. Vikas works as a food delivery agent but the cops have not revealed if he was on duty when the incident happened.

The new MV Act was implemented throughout India last year. However, many motorists showed their dismay over the increased fine rates. It should be noted that under the new MV Act, motorists have to pay a much higher amount. As per the government, the increase in the fine amount will ensure that the motorists follow the rules and regulations on the road, which in turn will reduce the number of accidents.

Many states have not implemented the new rules due to the uproar among the citizens. However, we strongly believe that stricter laws and higher fines will ensure better driving habits and less number of violations on the roads.

This is not the first incident of a violator setting his vehicle on fire after getting a traffic fine. In Delhi, there has been at least two similar incidents in which the rider has set fire to the vehicle. In Uttar Pradesh, a young rider started hammering his motorcycle after receiving the fine and was later consoled by the policemen.

Even after the higher fines, India remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Thousands of accidents are reported in India every month while many of them turn to be fatal.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV500 BS6 variants revealed before official launch

Tax evasion is not something that the government takes lightly. However, a BJP Member of Parliament, Suresh Gopi reportedly evaded tax on his Audi Q7. The cops have now filed a chargesheet against the politician.

Suresh Gopi, who is a Rajyasabha MP, bought a brand-new Audi Q7 soon after he was elected to the upper house of the parliament. Gopi allegedly forged documents and registered his vehicle in Puducherry instead of Kerala, where he resides. Suresh Gopi registered his Rs 80 lakh worth Q7 luxury SUV in Puducherry on January 2010.

The Kerala Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) sent a notice to Suresh Gopi and asked him to explain the same. The notice asked him for reasons to register his vehicle in Puducherry. Suresh Gopi could not give any satisfactory answer, which is why a chargesheet has been filed by the Crime Branch in Thiruvananthapuram court on Tuesday. The MP applied for anticipatory bail and the court has granted him the same. However, if Suresh Gopi is found guilty, he can face up to seven years in prison.

Kerala MVD has become very active to nab the vehicles that are registered outside the state. According to the Crime Branch, there are about 380 such cases and this will be one of the first cases of vehicle tax evasion in the state.

The Crime Branch has accused Suresh Gopi of falsifying the documents that claim that he had leased a residence in Puducherry. However, after investigation, the apartment owner and the apartment manager said that they did not know Suresh Gopi and they were not aware that the MP had claimed to be a resident of the apartment.

Suresh Gopi also registered a second Q7 in May 2016 in Puducherry after he was elected as an MP. The Crime Branch will file the second chargesheet for this case in about a week. The notary lawyer who had testified on the documents has claimed that his signature and seal have been forged by the MP.

Josy Cheriyan, Deputy SP, Kerala Crome Branch said to TNM,

“If a person registers their luxury vehicle in Kerala, they have to pay Rs 20 lakh as vehicle tax whereas it costs just Rs 1 lakh in Puducherry. There is a racket that helps people get the registration done, we have not been able to catch them as there is no proof that a particular individual was involved,”

The registration tax in Kerala is much higher than Puducherry, which is a Union Territory. To get the tax advantage, many use false papers and forge documents to register their luxury and expensive vehicles in Puducherry instead of Kerala. In the past, the MVD, police and RTO have even seized vehicles that wrongfully bear the registration number of neighbouring states and union territories.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV500 BS6 variants revealed before official launch

Kia has become one of the top manufacturers in India soon after entering the Indian market last year. With its first car, the Seltos, Kia is currently selling more vehicles than many other manufacturers in the country. This truly shows the popularity of Seltos in the Indian market. Kia launched the Seltos at an introductory price and now the manufacturer has announced the price increase of the model.

The price increase is applicable on all the variants of the Kia Seltos including the base version of the car. The base version now costs Rs 10.19 lakhs instead of Rs 9.99 lakhs. It is Rs 20,000 hike over the introductory price. GaadiWaadi has shared the full price list of the updated Kia Seltos and here are the details.

Kia has increased price by Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000 depending on the variant. The highest price hike is applicable on the Tech Line Diesel variants. The Seltos became extremely popular in the Indian market, especially because of its price. With the hike in price, the RTO charges will also increase and a few variants will fall under a different tax slab altogether. The on-road price increase can be around Rs 60,000 for the top-variant.

It should be noted that Kia dispatched the lowest number of Seltos in the month of December. The exact reason for the low dispatches is not known yet. However, it should be noted that there is a huge waiting period on the Seltos and there are many who have booked the vehicle a while ago and are still waiting to get the delivery. It should be noted that the customers who booked their vehicles before the price hike will have to pay the revised price when they get the delivery of the car.

Nonetheless, the Kia Seltos is expected to remain at the top of the sales chart for the time being. Hyundai will launch the all-new Creta in the Indian market later this year, which will directly take on the Seltos.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV500 BS6 variants revealed before official launch

Mahindra XUV500, which was launched in the Indian market a few years back remains one of the favourite choices of the customers. Mahindra will soon launch the BS6 compliant model of the SUV. Here are all the variants that will be available with the updated XUV500 and all the details that you need to know.

As per a document accessed by IAB, the Mahindra XUV500 will be available in four variants. There will be a W5, W7, W9 and W11 variant. All the variants will be 2WD and no AWD variant will be available with the updated model. The document further reveals that the BS6 compliant XUV500 will also get the same engine option that powers the current version of the XUV500 and there will no be change to the power and torque outputs too.

The 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine will get additional equipment like the DPF and SCR. These new systems will help the XUV500 to meet the new emission compliance. The engine currently produces a maximum power of 155 PS at 3,750 rpm and peak torque of 360 Nm of 1,750-2,800 rpm. The document shows that the upcoming XUV500 will produce a maximum power of 155 PS but the document does not show the torque output. Only a 6-speed manual transmission will be available with the BS6 compliant XUV500 and there will be no automatic transmission available.

Everything else in the upcoming XUV500 will not be changed. It will have the same exterior dimensions and the wheelbase will also remain the same. With the additional systems in the diesel engine of the XUV500, the price is expected to rise by about Rs 40,000-Rs 50,000. But the exact prices will be revealed officially by the manufacturer soon. The current version of the Mahindra XUV500 starts at Rs 12.3 lakhs for the W3 variant. The W5 variant is priced at Rs 12.91 lakhs. All the new variants will carry a substantially higher price tag.

It should be noted that Mahindra is also working on an all-new version of the XUV500 that will be launched in the Indian market by the end of this year. This is why the BS6 compliant XUV500 will not get any visual updates. The feature list of the upcoming BS6 compliant Mahindra XUV500 will also remain unchanged. There will not be any change to the cabin of the vehicle too.

The all-new Mahindra XUV500 will be bigger than the current version and it will also get powered by an all-new 2.0-litre diesel engine option. Mahindra will also launch all-new Thar and the all-new Scorpio later this year.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV500 BS6 variants revealed before official launch

Hyundai is India’s second largest passenger car manufacturer and their latest offering for the market is the sub-4 meter compact sedan Aura. Hyundai had unveiled Aura officially at an event last month where we only got a preview of the exteriors of the car. It will compete with cars like VW Ameo, Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Tata Tigor and Ford Aspire in the segment. Hyundai has now announced that they have started taking the bookings for the upcoming Hyundai Aura.

Hyundai India has started taking booking for Aura compact sedan from today and interested buyers can directly book the cars by paying a booking amount of Rs 10,000 at the nearest Hyundai dealership or on the website. Hyundai has also announced that the global launch of Aura will be held in India on 21 January 2020.

Commenting on the Hyundai AURA booking announcement, Mr. Tarun Garg, Director – Sales, Marketing & Service, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said

Today we mark the beginning of the new decade with the commencement of bookings for the Hyundai AURA. The Hyundai AURA propagates ‘Sensuous Sportiness’. With its Modern Unique Design, inspired by the ‘Spirit to go the distance’ and the ‘Zeal to go beyond limits’, we are confident that Hyundai AURA will make a mark in its segment.

Hyundai Aura is basically a compact sedan that is based on Grand i10 Nios which was launched last year. The car looks very similar to the B-segment hatchback from the front. It gets twin boomerang shaped LED DRLs at the front, wide grille, projector type headlamp and foglamps at the front.

From the side design remains similar to the hatchback till the C-Pillar, after which the roof starts sloping down and joins the boot at the rear. The rear gets a distinctive design with a uniquely styled tail lamp unit.  Hyundai Aura when launched, will be one of those compact sedan to get segment first features like Wireless charging, leather wrapped gear knob, Air curtain etc.

Hyundai Aura will be available with three engine options – a 1.2L Kappa petrol engine producing 83 Ps of power and 113 Nm of torque, a 1.2L ECOTORQ diesel engine generating 75 PS and 190 Nm of peak torque. Third is a 1.0L turbocharged petrol engine producing 100 PS and 171 Nm of torque. All the engines are BS6 compliant and the 1.2 petrol and diesel get an option of 5 speed manual as well as an AMT gearbox whereas the Turo petrol model only gets 5-speed manual.

Aura is unlikely to replace Xcent in the market. Hyundai will probably be offering Xcent exclusively for the cab market in the coming time and place Aura above it as a more premium option.

Also Read: Hyundai Aura compact sedan's TVCs released: Bookings now open [Video]

India’s largest utility vehicle manufacturer Mahindra has been working on a next-generation Mahindra Thar for quite some time now. Mahindra is testing the upcoming Thar extensively and as part of those tests, Thar has been spotted with heavy camouflage at various parts of the country many times. Mahindra will be most likely showcasing the new Thar in the upcoming Auto Expo which is scheduled to happen next month. Once again, Mahindra Thar has been spotted testing and this time around we have a clear video of how the interiors of the new Thar would look like.

The video has been uploaded by Automobile Enthusiast’s on their youtube channel. We have seen the Thar from the outside many times in the past but, this is one of the first time that we get to see the interiors of the new Thar. The video first shows the redesigned interiors of the Thar. From the video it is very clear that Mahindra has extensively worked on improving the look and feel of the cabin.

In this video, the dashboard area, door pads have been completely camouflaged but, the touchscreen infotainment screen, chrome garnish on AC vents, The steering wheel is also updated and it now gets cruise control switches on it. The infotainment screen is likely to support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The control switches for the infotainment screen is also seen in the video. The gear knob is also seen with power windows switches behind it.

In Comparison to the outgoing model, upcoming Thar is larger and wider. 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. It is will also get alloy wheels.

The upcoming Thar is likely to be powered by a brand new 2.0L, 4-cylinder engine which will be BS6 compliant. The engine will produce around 140 Bhp which is a major upgrade from the current 105 Bhp 2.5L engine. The Thar will continue to get 4×4 and low-ratio transfer case. The upcoming Thar with all these changes will definitely be pricier than the current generation.

Also Read: Renault Triber: Turbo petrol and AMT variants' launch details revealed [Video]

Indian politicians are one of the most influential groups of people in the country. They move around in some of the most expensive and safe SUVs in the world. While many politicians choose high-end luxury sedans for their daily commute to work, the others prefer the big bad SUVs. Here are ten politicians and their SUVs.

Narendra Modi

Toyota Land Cruiser

Prime Minister Narendra Modi upgraded from his BMW 7-Series High-Security to the Land Rover Range Rover Sentinal. Currently, the most important person of the country uses an armoured Toyota Land Cruiser SUV. The black colour Toyota Land Cruiser used by Prime Minister Modi is armoured to stand against bullets and even small bombs. The vehicle has become part of the prime minister’s convoy and is regularly used by him.

Sonia Gandhi

Land Rover Range Rover

Sonia Gandhi, one of the most prominent leaders in India uses a black Land Rover Range Rover. Her vehicle is stationed in Delhi and it is quite often that she uses the SUV to reach different places in the city. While travelling outside the town, she uses an armoured Tata Safari that has been provided to her by the authorities.

Raj Thackrey

Toyota Land Cruiser

Raj Thackrey is known for his flamboyance and is a well-known political leader in India. The Thackrey family moves around in some of the most exotic vehicles in the country. Raj Thackrey is fond of driving and he uses a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV to go around the town. He drives the Land Cruiser most of the time. Other vehicles in Raj Thackrey’s garage include a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Rahul Gandhi

Toyota Land Cruiser

Rahul Gandhi is one more politician who has put his faith on the sturdy and invincible Land Cruiser SUV. The former president of Indian National Congress, Rahul moves around a lot to address the masses and he has been spotted using the white coloured Land Cruiser on many occasions. He also has been spotted in the good old armoured Tata Safari.

Navjot Singh Siddhu

Toyota Land Cruiser

Another famous politician who uses a Land Cruiser is Navjot Singh Sidhu. Like many other politicians, even Sidhu uses a white LC. The ex-cricketer has been seen driving his Land Cruiser to the Parliament on many occasions. Thanks to the mix of performance and comfort that his Land Cruiser offers, Navjot, like many other politicians, loves this SUV.

Omar Abdullah

Land Rover Range Rover

The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah is very fond of his vehicles. He owns quite a few luxury vehicles and SUVs. However, most of the time, he has been spotted in the luxurious black coloured Range Rover SUV. Omar has also been spotted driving his vehicles.

Kiran Bedi

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Currently serving as the governor of Pudducherry, Kiran Bedi is India’s first woman IPS. She moves around in a luxurious Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. It is an old vehicle and since then, Mercedes-Benz has changed the nomenclature. The current version of GL Class is known as the GLS.

Hema Malini

Mercedes-Benz ML-Class

The Mercedes Benz ML-Class badge has been discontinued and a facelifted model with the GLE moniker will soon replace this luxury SUV in India. Hema Malini, who happens to be an Indian actress, politician and Dharmendra’s second wife, has the outgoing generation version of the ML-Class SUV, a popular luxury SUV option.

Rajnikanth

BMW X5

Rajnikanth is one of the finest and the biggest movie stars India has produced, which is probably the reason why he is known in every nook and corner of the country. The Tamil film industry icon-turned-politician owns a BMW X5 which acts as his luxury set of wheels. He also owns an older generation Toyota Innova MPV.

Pawan Kalyan

Mercedes-AMG G55

Well-known Telugu actor and politician Pawan Kalyan is another celeb who owns a Mercedes G-Wagen in India. His SUV is also finished in white, like the one Ranbir owns. However, the model he owns is different and is the G55 AMG which was the predecessor of the previous-gen G63 AMG. The Mercedes AMG G55 is powered by a 5.4-litre V8 engine that pumps out 507 Bhp and 700 Nm of torque. It was earlier being reported that the actor has sold his car but that was not confirmed by him.

Also Read: Renault Triber: Turbo petrol and AMT variants' launch details revealed [Video]

Tata Altroz is the latest and one of the most anticipated car from the manufacturer launching this month. It is a premium hatchback that will compete with cars like Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Hyundai Elite i20, Honda Jazz etc. Tata Altroz is a good looking feature loaded premium hatchback and is one of the first cars to launch this year from Tata Motors. Talking about the features here is a video from Tata Motors featuring one of the advanced feature where one can talk to the Altroz using Google assistant.

The video starts by showing model/actress Barkha Singh talking about the Altroz. She introduces Altroz as a car that can talks to you and tells everything that one needs to know. She then starts driving the car and gives command ‘Talk to Altroz’ to Google Assistant. She then asks the voice bot to describe the interiors of the all new Altroz. The voice bot describes the interiors as tastefully crafted , comfortable and spacious. It also talks about the ambient lighting on the dash board. The voice bot also describes almost everything about the upcoming Altroz. In short the voice bot touches up on all the points that why one should consider buying Altroz.

The Voice bot is the Altroz can be enabled by connecting an android smartphone to the to the infotainment screen using Android Auto. One can also ask the Google Assistant on the phone directly to know more about the Altroz. The voice assistant provides details to the passegers like colours, bootspace and booking a test drive and so on using voice commands.

Tata Altroz is based on the 45X concept that was showcased in Auto Expo few years ago. It is built on Tata’s Advanced Modular Platform (AMP). It offers a bunch of unique features like Drive modes, 90 degree wide opening doors, 7-inch digital instrument cluster, Automatic rain sensing wipers and a wearable key that the competition currently does not.

Tata will offer Altroz with two engine options: a 1.2 liter naturally aspirated 3-cylinder petrol with 86 Bhp-113 Nm, and a 1.5 liter 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel with 89 Bhp-200 Nm. Both engines get 5 speed manual gearboxes as standard. No automatic transmission is available as of now. Tata has already started taking bookings for the Altroz and will be launching the same on 22 January 2020. The car will challenge the likes of the Maruti Baleno, Hyundai Elite i20 and the Honda Jazz in the premium hatchback segment.

Also Read: Renault Triber: Turbo petrol and AMT variants' launch details revealed [Video]

Mahindra introduced Scorpio SUV in Indian market back in 2002. Ever since then it has been a sales hit for the brand. Even after so many years of its launch Mahindra Scorpio is still very popular among people because Mahindra made sure that they keep updating the car timely so that it does not feel outdated. Scorpio is famous among people for its butch looks, road presence, value for money factor and of course modifications. many people buy Scorpio and give it a personal touch by modifying it to their taste. Here we have one such video that shows a Mahindra Scorpio with a great audio set-up.

The video has been uploaded by Musafir Aka Joshi on his youtube channel. The video starts by showing the basic modifications that the owner has done to the exteriors. The Scorpio used here is a 2019 S9 model and it gets 21 inch alloy wheels with low profile tyres. Apart from that no other changes are made to the exteriors.

Then there is the audio set-up that which is installed after removing the third row seats. The set up itself is so huge that the owner had to remove the last row seats. There are 2 woofers installed at the rear that produce 3000 RMS each. The whole set up in this Scorpio is from Sundown audio. There are 2 amplifiers installed one for the woofers and the other is the 4 channel speaker amp. All the woofers,amp draw power from three dry battery as the car battery alone cannot produce enough power for such heavy set ups.

The video claims this to be one the loudest Scorpio in the country at the moment. The speakers are placed on the doors which are redesigned to accommodate the speakers and tweeters. The front door do not get the speaker set up as of now but, according to the video the car will soon be going to the shop to install the same set up on front doors. The video then shows how loud this set up is. The audio set-up is so loud that the sound can be heard from a distance. The bass is so strong that the windows and the ORVMs vibrate vigorously whenever a song is played. According to the video, owner is very passionate about sound in his cars and had spent over Rs 8-10 lakh on the audio set up itself. This is probably the most money anyone has spent to modify the Scorpio’s audio set-up.

Also Read: Renault Triber: Turbo petrol and AMT variants' launch details revealed [Video]

There are massive protests going on in India against a new act that was passed in the country last year. The protests have been taking place on all the major places and even the public roads. While protests can cause a lot of inconvenience to the people who are not a part of it, a large group of protestors in Kerala showed empathy by quickly making way for an ambulance.

The exact location of the protest and the incident is not known but it is from the Kerala state. The video shows that the protestors who gathered to make their voice heard parting up to give way to an ambulance. The video, which is taken from the balcony of a building shows the beautiful act of the protestors who did not cause any disruption to the ambulance and let it go peacefully.

The protestors can be seen seamlessly parting away to give way to the ambulance and then merging back. This looks extremely stunning, especially the movement of the crowd. Giving way to the emergency vehicles including Fire trucks, ambulances and police cars is something that should be everyone’s priority on the road. Emergency vehicles can save lives and even a few minutes matter a lot.

This is not the first time that we have seen such a gesture from Keralites. In the past, during a religious procession, the crowd seamlessly gave way to an ambulance in a similar way and then merged back to celebrate. Ambulances are very critical and should not be stopped for any reason including VVIP movements.

There are rules and provisions in the law book that allows the cops to take legal actions against the people who cause any kind of disruption to the movement of emergency vehicles, especially ambulances. In the national capital, Delhi, the ambulances have dashboard cameras that can record the registration number of the vehicles and the information is later given to the cops who issue huge fines on such vehicles. Even in the new MV Act, which was imposed in the country last year, blocking any emergency vehicle on the road attracts a fine of up to Rs 20,000.

Such videos truly touch the heart. During the protests in Hong Kong, similar videos became viral where the protesters can be seen giving way to the ambulances without causing any disruption. We do hope that people watch the video and learn to give way to the ambulances and other emergency vehicles on the road. Since India does not have any dedicated emergency lanes, the motorists should be aware and always be ready to give way to the emergency vehicles.

Also Read: Renault Triber: Turbo petrol and AMT variants' launch details revealed [Video]

Tata Motors is all set to make an entry into the premium hatchback segment with the launch of Altroz hatchback later this month. Altroz will compete with cars like Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Hyundai Elite i20, Toyota Glanza, Honda Jazz in the segment. Tata Motors has already started taking bookings for the car and will be launching the car on 22 January 2020. couple of weeks ago we got a chance to experience this premium hatchback from Tata Motors and you can have a quick look at the review clicking here.

Now, a report from Team Bhp shares an information that in future the Tata Altroz might get more powerful. According to the report, Tata Motors is planning to introduce the Nexon state of tune in its diesel engine. what this means is that Altroz will still be getting the 1.5L diesel engine but it will generate more power than the current one. Report also suggests that manufacturer will only be considering about launching the Nexon state of tune diesel engine on the basis of sales volume of Altroz. The 1.5L diesel engine in Altroz currently produces 89 Bhp and 200 Nm of torque. If the engine gets upated to meet Nexon’s state of tune, then it will generate 108 Bhp and 260 Nm of peak which is huge for a car in this segment.

Tata Altroz is based on 45X concept that was showcased in Auto Expo couple of years ago. Altroz is the first car from Tata to utilise their ALFA platform, ALFA stands for Agile, Light, Flexible and Advanced. This platform is designed to accommodate various body styles like sedan, compact SUV, hatchbacks what this means that we can expect to see ALFA platform in many of the upcoming Tata cars.

Tata Altroz has a very striking design with upswept headlamps, kinked window line, blacked out boot, uniquely designed tail lamps and dual tone alloy wheels. On the inside, it gets a 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, speakers from Harman, rain sensing wipers, keyless entry, push button start and so on.

The Altroz when launched will be available with a 1.2L naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 85 Bhp and 113 Nm of torque and a 1.5L turbocharged diesel unit producing 89 Bhp and 200 Nm torque. It will only be getting a manual transmission but an automatic is likely to follow in future. A twin clutch automatic gearbox is under development for the Altroz.

Also Read: Renault Triber: Turbo petrol and AMT variants' launch details revealed [Video]

Renault Triber is one of the most recently launched 7-seater MPV in the country and is also one of the most affordable MPV in its segment. Triber’s does not have a clear competitor when we look at the price, but when it comes to seven seater MPVs it competes with the bigger rivals like Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. Triber is a very practical MPV and one of the most stand out feature in Triber is that one can fully remove the last row of seats from the car and make more room for luggage if needed.

One of the main drawback that Triber currently has is the engine. Triber gets the same 1.0L three cylinder naturally aspirated engine that Kwid gets. It feels under powered in Triber, specally when the car is fully loaded. Renault has a now come up with a solution for this problem. According to a video by Auto Trend, Renault India has announced that they will be launching a new turbo petrol engine for their new sub-4 meter compact MPV Triber by March this year.

The turbo petrol engine will again be a 1.0L unit and is something already available in Nissan Micra in global market. Renault will also equip their upcoming HBC compact SUV with the same turbocharged petrol engine. The upcoming turbocharged petrol engine is expected to produce around 95 Bhp which is way more powerful than the current 72 bhp producing 1.0L engine. The new turbocharged engine is expected to be renamed and brought under Energy series.

According to the video, Renault has also confirmed that the Renault Triber will get an AMT gearbox, a few months after the launch of the turbo petrol unit. The combination of the turbo petrol engine and the AMT gearbox will make Triber more convenient for city as well as long drives.

Renault Triber has become very popular among people within a very short span of time because of it’s design, features it offers and the practical angle along with value for money proportion. It became so popular that it even outsold Kwid hatchback and became the best selling car from Renault. Currently prices for Triber start at Rs 4.95 lakh and go up till 6.49 lakh. With the introduction of a new turbo petrol engine there are chances that the prices may go up. Even after the price hike, the Triber is expected to retain its position as India’s most affordable MPV.

Also Read: Renault Triber: Turbo petrol and AMT variants' launch details revealed [Video]

Renault Triber which was launched earlier this year is the most affordable 7-seater MPV that one can currently buy in the country. This sub-4 meter MPV is based on CMF-A platform on which Renault Kwid is build. The Triber is a good looking, well proportioned MPV that uses Renault’s latest design language. Higher variants of the Triber is decently equipped when it comes to features, but what about the lower trims?, well here we have a walkaround video of the lower RXE variant.

The video starts by showing the exterior of Triber. Compared to the higher variants, the RXE variant misses out on LED DRLS, Silver skid plate, Alloy wheel like wheel caps, chrome on the door handles, black masking on the door that resembles side cladding, body colour RVMs and the roof rails. It continues to get projector headlamp setup, rear parking sensors, chrome at the front grille and the chrome strip at the boot lid as well. There is also a provision for installing a roof rails which is missing in lower trims.

Coming inside, the interiors is totally stripped down. Unlike higher trims where it gets silver inserts at places like on the dash board, steering wheel , AC vents and gear knob, the RXE trim gets an all black dual tone cabin. There is no infotainment system on offer as well. There is however a provision for installing an aftermarket music system with places to install four speakers on the door. Push button start and power window for the rear passenger is also not offered in RXE trim. Apart from that everything remains the same.

Higher trims of the Triber offer features like touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple carPlay, parking sensors with rear parking camera, airbags, ABS. Triber is an extremely practical car. It comes as a 7-seater and the second-row of seats can be folded down when not needed. Third row of seats can also be removed completely to make more boot space.

Triber comes with the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine that powers the Kwid. In  Triber it tuned slightly different. It produces a maximum power of 71 Bhp and peak torque of 96 Nm. It gets a five-speed manual transmission but there is no AMT automatic transmission even as an option. Renault will soon offer a 1 liter turbo petrol engine with the Triber, which is also expected to get an AMT option by the middle of this year.

Also Read: Watch Tata Motors' CEO & MD use the Altroz's Google Assistant feature [Video]

Paranormal activities are something that keeps many of us on our toes but then there are many who do not believe in these. Well, India is known for its rich culture and heritage and in many parts of the country, paranormal activities are experienced by the locals. It even happens to motorists and road users. Which are the scariest roads to drive in India? Well, here are ten of them.

Delhi Cantonment Road

Covered in thick forest, the Delhi Cantonment is one of the greenest places in the city. However, there are many stories of a lady dressed in white clothes from the vicinity. The lady apparently asks for a lift from the passerby and if someone does not stops, she starts running beside the vehicle. It is believed that the lady met with a fatal accident on this road several years ago.

East Coast Road, Chennai

The East Coast Road or commonly known as ECR connects Chennai and Puducherry and is one of the most beautiful roads in the country. The stretch remains unlit at night and is covered with trees. There have been a few sightings of a woman in white saree with a toddler who comes in front of the vehicle from many years now.

Blue Cross Road, Chennai

The Blue Cross Road near Beasant Nagar has a thick cover of trees. The single-lane road has seen a lot of suicides in the past for unknown reasons. The locals believe that this road is haunted and all the people who have died here come back at the night to scare others.

NH-209 through the Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary

This was a stronghold area of Veerappan, the infamous dacoit. A lot of people were killed in the area by him and the locals and villagers keep on reporting loud screams and ghost-like figures moving around in the area. It is not known if it is actually paranormal or activities are done by the troops of Veerappan.

Kashedi Ghat

This is between Mumbai-Goa and it is one of the most scenic and tricky roads ever. A lot of accidents have been reported from this region in the past. As per the locals, a person suddenly appears in front of the vehicle asking them to stop. People who do not stop or run over the ghost are said to meet with fatal accidents.

Jamshedpur-Rachi NH33

The Naxalite activities have made this route extremely dangerous, especially at night. The Naxals stop people travelling on this stretch at night and loot them. There are also reports of ghost-like figures in the stretch. This is why there are a lot of temples located on the road and many visit the temples before travelling on the highway.

Beasant Avenue, Chennai

This is another road in Chennai which is said to be affected by paranormal activities. According to the people who live around in the city, a playful ghost hits and slaps the passerby randomly. Also, an unnatural force throws around people on the road.

Kasara Ghat, Mumbai-Nashik

The Mumbai-Nashik stretch has plenty of forest cover. The stretch has a lot of tree cover and people have reported that they have seen human figures sitting on the top of the trees. Many have also reported that they have seen a headless lady in white clothes on the tree.

Marve & Madh Road, Mumbai

Many believe that this road is haunted by a bride who was brutally murdered and dumped in the mangrove forest on the night of her wedding. The locals believe that the lady comes back and stands in front of the vehicles. Because of this, many accidents have happened where people have swerved to avoid her.

Igorchem Road, Goa

This road is located behind the church of ‘Our Girl of Snows’. Unlike all other places that are said to be paranormal at night, this road stays haunted even during the days. The area is said to be haunted by wandering lost souls.

Also Read: Watch Tata Motors' CEO & MD use the Altroz's Google Assistant feature [Video]

Off-roading and dune bashing are some of the ways for SUV owners in India and across the world to know capabilities of their vehicles. This is a fun filled activity if one has the right vehicle to do it. Just like any other off-road activity, dune bashing also includes some risk. If the driver does not know the right technique of riding on sand, then the chances of getting the SUV stuck in loose sand are very high. Here we have a video from Anshuman Bishnoi that shows how dune bashing is done properly with capable SUVs.

The video shows a bunch of SUVs like Isuzu VCross, Couple of Ford Endeavour’s (Both new and old models), Toyota Fortuner (Both old and new model) , Mahindra Thar, Maruti Gypsy and Tata Safari Storme. The video shows all these SUVs doing a section where the cars have to climb up a small dune. Ford endeavour does it first and climbs up effortlessely. It is followed by Maruti Gypsy, Safari Storme, Fortuner, Mahindra Thar and all the other vehicles.

Some of the vehicles did not climb up at the first attempt because the drivers had not build the momentum. Later as the tracks got deeper due to passing of the vehicles, some vehicles took a different line where the surface was comparatively smooth. The Isuzu V-Cross was the last car to go through that course and it did it effortlessly.

They keep on moving to newer and bigger dunes and keep pushing their SUVs to the limits. Most of the time SUVs were crossing those dune smoothly because they were taking a proper line and were using the right technique. They were also getting instructions on the radio whenever needed.

The video also shows a Fortuner, and Endeavour getting brutally stuck in sand which is normal. But within no time with the right technique and equipment like rope and electronic winch the SUVs were rescued within no time. That is why it is always recommended to go for such activities in groups. So that even if something goes wrong like there is always a backup vehicle to help them. If the Fortuner or the Endeavour owner’s were alone then they would have been in deep trouble. The video shows how the combination of right equipment, guidance and technique can make this adventure filled activity enjoyable and full of fun. Do take adequate safety precautions as well.

Also Read: Watch Tata Motors' CEO & MD use the Altroz's Google Assistant feature [Video]

The Hyundai Creta is unarguably one of the most popular compact SUV in its segment. It has been in the country for a while now and it never felt outdated. It is because Hyundai kept on coming up with minute changes and minor updates time to time. The Creta is a perfect SUV as it is not that big in size to roam around in the city with ample space on the inside. The Creta is also famous among people who love to customise their vehicles. We have seen many examples of the same in the past where the Creta has been tastefully modified. In this article we feature one such Hyundai Creta that gets some subtle modifications both on the outside and inside.

The video has been uploaded by Anil’s tec & auto youtube channel. The Creta shown in the video is a base E Plus trim which comes with no features that the higher trims get. The owner of the car had gone for accessories to make it look like an SX trim Creta. The list of accessories used in the car start from the front. The grille gets silver inserts and chrome borders, the E Plus trim does not come with fog lamps, so the owner had opted for original Creta fog lamp unit along with LED DRLs that also act as turn indicators. No changes are done to the headlamps.

At the rear, this Creta gets an aftermarket LED tail lamp unit which has Audi like sweeping indicators in it. LED position lamps are also installed on the bumper along with a chrome strip on the boot. On the side, this Creta gets genuine Hyundai Creta roof rails and chrome garnish on the door handles. Apart from that everything remains the same. The Creta in the video still gets the 16-inch steel wheel which according to the video, owner plans to change to 17 inch alloys.

On the inside, Creta gets various additions like a sunglass holder with lights which is otherwise missing on lower variants, steering mounted controls and the JVC touchscreen infotainment system is all aftermarket accessory. All these accessories have been installed pretty neatly and make the E Plus trim of the Creta look like a higher variant one.

Hyundai Creta is available in combination of three engine options. A 1.4L diesel, 1.6L petrol and a 1.6L diesel engine. Hyundai is currently working on next-generation Creta and is most likely to be launched in India this year. It has already been launched in International market and is known by the name ix25.

Also Read: Watch Tata Motors' CEO & MD use the Altroz's Google Assistant feature [Video]