The new 2020 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza was revealed at the Auto Expo recently. The facelifted version of the Vitara Brezza will soon receive a petrol engine option and the diesel engine will no longer be available. Maruti Suzuki has officially revealed the specifications of the upcoming car and now the prices will be announced on 15th February 2020.

The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is the best-selling vehicle in the segment since its launch in the market. The sub-4m compact SUV takes on the likes of Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Venue and more such vehicles in the Indian market. However, the 1.3-litre diesel engine, which will the only engine available with the car will no longer be available. Instead, the 1.5-litre petrol engine unit, which also powers the vehicles like Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and the Ciaz will be available with the sub-4m compact SUV. With the launch of the new model, the Vitara Brezza will only be available with a petrol engine option.

The BS6 compliant 1.5-litre K15B engine produces a maximum power of 105 PS and peak torque of 138 Nm. It will be available with a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission system. With the 4-speed automatic version, Maruti Suzuki will offer the start-stop SHVS mild-hybrid system too. The manual version returns a maximum of 17.03 km/l while the automatic version will return a maximum of 18.76 km/l.

The new version of the Vitara Brezza gets a few cosmetic changes as well. The car now gets a set of new headlamps that come with integrated LED DRLs. This adds a new look to the vehicle. The headlamps are all-LED now with the top-end variant of the car. The car also gets new bumpers at the front and the rear. At the front, the fog lamp housings have been updated too.

The new Vitara Brezza also gets new 10-spoke dual-tone alloy wheels that look quite interesting on the whole package. At the rear, there are not much of an update apart from the new LED tail lamps. The sharp-looking tail lamps lift the way the vehicle looks. Maruti Suzuki has also added two new paint schemes to the car and it will continue to available with the dual-tone paint job schemes. Also, the iCreate online configuration system will be available with the new Brezza.

The cabin of the new Vitara Brezza looks identical to the previous version. It gets the updated version of the 7.0-inch Smartplay Studio infotainment system with the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The car also retains all the features from the previous version of the car including climate control system, cruise control, multiple information display, keyless entry with push start, steering mounted audio controls and more. The vehicle will continue to offer the ABS with EBD and dual airbags as standard.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza petrol launch date revealed

The Volkswagen Polo hatchback and Vento C-Segment sedan are all set to lose the 1.2 liter-4 cylinder TSI turbocharged petrol engine and the 7 speed twin clutch DSG automatic gearbox. What they’ll get instead is a 1 liter-3 cylinder TSI turbocharged petrol engine and a 6 speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The 1 liter TSI motor will make about 115 Bhp-200 Nm, a significant step up from the 105 Bhp-175 Nm outputs of the 1.2 TSI motor. The new engine will also get a 6 speed manual gearbox.

Smaller is better is what Volkswagen seems to be saying with this engine swap, and that’s perhaps how far turbocharged petrol engines have advanced in the past few years. The new motor is Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms ready, and is all set to be offered in the Polo and the Vento in the coming weeks, well ahead of the April 1st deadline for the old BS4 emission norms.

The other big change, of that of the 7 speed DSG automatic being replaced by the 6 speed torque converter automatic gearbox, is meant to do three  things. 1. Improve long term reliability 2. Reduce maintenance costs and 3. Make both the Polo and Vento a lot more affordable. We expect the Polo TSI and Vento TSI to become cheaper by at least Rs. 50,000, making them more affordable and attractively priced for hatchback and sedan buyers. Given the fact that both the Polo and Vento are over the hill when it comes to freshness (Polo introduced in 2010, and Vento in 2011), the price drop, additional performance and a new gearbox could help these cars motor on for a year more, before replacements are lined up.

The 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that was offered on both the Polo and Vento will be dumped come April 2020. Volkswagen India has not made the 1.5 liter TDI diesel BS6 compliant. Meanwhile, the Skoda Rapid will also gain the same 1.0 TSI turbo petrol engine and the 6 speed automatic gearbox combination, dumping the 1.6 liter MPI petrol and the 1.5 liter TDI turbocharged diesel engines in the process.

While Volkswagen has decided to dump the 7 speed twin clutch DSG DQ200 automatic gearbox – an enthusiast’s favourite given its lightning quick gear shifts – from its cheaper cars, it remains to be seen whether the new compact SUV that the brand is bringing into India will get the DQ250 twin clutch gearbox, which can handle more torque than the discontinued DQ200 gearbox. The Volkswagen T-Cross compact SUV – shown at the Auto Expo 2020 – will be launched in India next year with two turbo petrol engine options: 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI units.

Also Read: Nissan India releases fresh teaser of sub-4 meter compact SUV: Maruti Brezza rival

Supercars are becoming quite common on the Indian roads in recent times. Due to the limited infrastructure and unavailability of tracks, most of the owners of such supercars and superbikes take their rides on the public roads and often accelerate on the crowded roads posing danger to themselves and the vehicles around. This also causes accidents. A Lamborghini Gallardo owner from Bangalore got caught in a similar incident where his vehicle got out of control and crashed on the road.

This Lamborghini Gallardo owner, identified as 28-year old Sunny Sabharwal crashed the vehicle into a traffic police kiosk in Bengaluru. The vehicle went out of control at the CTO Circle, across the Cubbon Park Metro Station at about 2:30 PM on Sunday. The car hit the kiosk at a high speed and the impact caused the wall of the kiosk to break down.

At the moment of the accident, the owner of the car abandoned the vehicle and fled from the scene. However, a few hours later, Sunny Sabharwal returned to the location and posed with the severely damaged kiosk. He also posted the pictures on the social media platform. Soon the post became viral and Sunny had to take it down.

Video footage taken by another motorist on the road shows that the Lamborghini driver was in a convoy with other supercars when the accident happened. When the traffic signal turned green, the Lamborghini tried doing a stunt and the car went out of control to hit the police kiosk. The police arrested the owner of the car Sunny Sabharwal and have seized the vehicle too. The cops have not announced the charges that they have registered against the owner of the vehicle. Sunny Sabharwal is the co-owner of the Fun World, which is one of the oldest amusement parks in the city.

The vehicle involved in the accident is the limited edition Lamborghini Gallardo, which was launched in India in 2013 as a part of the 50th anniversary of the brand. The India Limited-Edition Gallardo LP550-2 came with a price tag of Rs 3.06 crore and it comes with the tricolour stripe running through the middle of the car. It is a rare car and only six such vehicles were made.

It comes powered by a massive V10 engine that generates a maximum power of 543 Bhp and peak torque of 540 Nm. It can reach a top speed of 320 km/h and can accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds.

Also Read: Nissan India releases fresh teaser of sub-4 meter compact SUV: Maruti Brezza rival

Leading the ‘India 2.0’ strategy for the whole Volkswagen Group, Skoda will launch a slew of vehicles in the Indian market this year. Apart from the sedans like the Rapid and the Octavia 245 RS, Skoda will focus on the SUVs, which are becoming popular in India. Their first SUV that will be launched in the Indian market will be the Karoq and it will be launched in April 2020, just after the BS6 emission norms come into place.

The Skoda Karoq will be launched in the Indian market as a Completly Built Unit (CBU) initially. However, after assessing the demand for the vehicle, we may get to see the car coming in as CKD, which will reduce the price of the vehicle and make it competitive in the segment. The Skoda Karoq will target the likes of Jeep Compass in the Indian market but the price of the vehicle is expected to be around Rs 18-20 lakhs because it will be imported. The Indian government has allowed manufacturers to launch their products in the Indian market up to 2,500 units without the need for homologating it and Skoda will utilise this rule to launch the Karoq.

The Karoq looks very much like the Kodiaq in terms of design but there is a stark difference in the size. It gets large alloy wheels to add the butch stance. Skoda will launch the Karoq to replace the Yeti, which was discontinued from the market years ago. The cabin also looks well laid out just like other Skoda cars in the market. It offers soft-touch panels and much intelligently designed parts.

Skoda has not revealed much about the vehicle that will be launched in the Indian market but it is likely to get a single variant that will offer a long list of features. The vehicle was showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo and it attracted a lot of visitors too. The Karoq is 4.3 metre in length similar to the length of the Jeep Compass.

The car will come powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 150 PS and peak torque of 250 Nm. Since it will be launched in s single variant, Skoda will offer the 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission with the car. There will not be any diesel variant or manual version of the model in the Indian market. Skoda also offers the car in 4X4 version in the international market but we will not get the same in India.

Also Read: Nissan India releases fresh teaser of sub-4 meter compact SUV: Maruti Brezza rival

Maruti Suzuki is India largest car manufacturer and Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the most popular and highest selling sub-4 meter compact SUV in the segment. At the Auto Expo this year, Maruti Suzuki unveiled the facelifted Maruti Brezza. The Brezza BS4 version was only available with a diesel engine. But, the BS6 version now comes with a petrol engine for the first time and replaces the diesel engine. Maruti Suzuki has released three official video on their official Youtube channel that focuses on the looks, engine and the bookings of the facelifted Vitara Brezza.

The first video released by Maruti focuses on the exterior changes made to the BS6 version of the Brezza. Starting from the front, it gets a redesigned bumper with LED fog lamps. The faux skid plate adds to the SUV character of the car. The indicators have been re-positioned and are now with the DRLs. The grille at the front also gets redesigned and has chrome garnishes with Suzuki logo in the middle. The headlight design remains same but it now gets dual projector type headlamps which was missing earlier. design of the alloy wheels are also new. At the rear, it gets LED lights with redesigned bumper and skid plate.

Second video released by Maruti is all about the engine. As mentioned above, the BS4 version of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza used to come with a 1.3 litre fiat sourced diesel engine. Fiat had announced earlier last year that they won’t be making the 1.3 litre unit BS6 compliant and would be discontinuing it. Maruti Suzuki meanwhile had developed a new petrol engine in-house and had equipped facelifted Ciaz, Ertiga and XL6 with the very same engine. The Brezza facelift also gets the very same BS6 compliant 1.5 litre unit that produces 104 bhp and 138 Nm of torque. It is available with a 5 speed manual or a 4-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The automatic version gets the mild hybrid system.

Maruti Suzuki has already started accepting bookings for the all-new Brezza petrol version. The facelifted Brezza looks bolder than before with all those minute changes and the petrol engine is efficient too. The manual Brezza has a claimed economy of 17.03 kmpl whereas the automatic has an impressive 18.6 kmpl economy because of the SHVS set up. Maruti Suzuki will be announcing the price of the facelifted Brezza on the 15th of February. Bookings are already open across all Maruti Suzuki ARENA dealerships in India.

Also Read: Nissan India releases fresh teaser of sub-4 meter compact SUV: Maruti Brezza rival

2020 Auto Expo saw limited participation from the manufacturers in India due to the slowdown in the market and many other reasons. Well, there were quite a few manufacturers who showcased some breathtaking products at the Auto Expo to attract the crowd. Which of these vehicles were the showstoppers? Which ones attracted the maximum number of the crowd? Well, here are a few cars that became quite popular at the 2020 Auto Expo.

Hyundai Creta

The Hyundai Creta is probably one of the most popular cars that launched in the Indian market in the past decade. The Creta single-handedly sweep the sales numbers and stayed on the top of the sales chart until the arrival of the Kia Seltos last year. Well, all-new Creta is due for a launch in the Indian market and Hyundai showcased the much-awaited car at the 2020 Auto Expo recently. The unveiling of the car saw a large number of crowd. It will be launched in the market next month.

Kia Sonet

Codenamed as QYI, the Kia Sonet will be launched in the Indian market by the end of this year. The all-new Kia Sonet will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Hyundai Venue and is expected to increase the competition in the segment. The Sonet will offer a host of all-new features to disrupt the segment and it will become the first car in the market to offer a clutchless manual transmission. The design of the Sonet and expectations from the car made it a crowd-puller.

Mahindra Funster

In every Auto Expo edition, we get to see a wild conception from Mahindra. In 2016, it was the Mahindra XUV Aero and this year, it was the Funster! A convertible car with scissor doors. The Funster is a concept vehicle but its design captured the imagination of a lot of people. The Funster took the Mahindra’s centre stage at the 2020 Auto Expo.

Tata HBX

The Tata HBX concept was showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo and the fact that it is about 97% similar to the production version made many enthusiasts pay a visit to check out the car. The all-new HBX will be launched in production form by the end of this year and will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Ignis and Mahindra KUV100. The HBX attracted a larger portion of crowd visiting the 2020 Auto Expo.

Tata Sierra

Tata unveiled a Sierra concept paying tribute to the original version of the SUV. The Sierra became a major crowd puller at the 2020 Auto Expo and most of the people visited the concept vehicle and appreciated the design of the car. The Sierra is likely not become a production vehicle in the coming years but since a number of people showed their interest in the vehicle, we may get to see the Sierra on the roads in the future.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki showcased the Jimny at the Auto Expo to get the feedback of the market. The all-new Jimny has become a global sensation and there is a waiting period running into months on the car in the European countries. Maruti Suzuki is likely to replace the now-discontinued Gypsy with the all-new Jimny and showcased the car to see how many people actually show their interest.

Skoda Vision IN

The concept Vision IN will be the first car in the Indian market to be based on the MQB-A0-IN platform. The all-new Skoda Vision IN will be launched in the production form by the end of this year or in early 2020. It will take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta in the Indian market and will offer a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. It will be the most affordable SUV from the brand and the design of the car attracted many at the 2020 Auto Expo.

Volkswagen T-Roc

Volkswagen will bring in the funky looking T-Roc to the Indian market to take on the likes of Jeep Compass. The all-new vehicle will be launched as CBU in the market and will be priced at around Ra 18 lakhs. It will be launched in a single version. The unusual Volkswagen design made it a popular vehicle at the 2020 Auto Expo.

Force Gurkha

Force Motors showcased the new Gurkha BS6 at the 2020 Auto Expo and it will be launched in the Indian market next month. The upcoming Gurkha looks quite astonishing, especially with the intimidating front-end and new headlamps with DRLs. The Force Gurkha and its modified cousin saw a large number of crowd flocking towards the stall at the 2020 Auto Expo.

Mercedes-AMG GT63 S

Mercedes-AMG launched the most expensive car at the 2020 Auto Expo. Priced at Rs 2.42 crore, ex-showroom, the AMG GT63 S is one the fastest 4-door cars in the world. It is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine that generates a massive 639 PS and 900 Nm of peak torque.

Also Read: Nissan India releases fresh teaser of sub-4 meter compact SUV: Maruti Brezza rival

Earlier this year Toyota launched the Innova Crysta that meets the BS6 emission compliance norms at a price that is much higher compared to the BS4 version. The brand has also launched the BS6 emission compliant Toyota Fortuner in the Indian market priced at Rs 28.8 lakhs, which remains unchanged compared to the BS4 model. The new Fortuner comes powered by both 2.7-litre petrol and 2.8-litre diesel engine options similar to the BS4 model.

The new BS6 Fortuner is available in six variants in total. There are two variants and four diesel variants. Here is a detailed price of all the variants.

Toyota Fortuner BS6

2.7L 4×2 MT Petrol Rs 28,18,000

2.7L 4×2 AT Petrol Rs 29,77,000

2.8L 4×2 MT Diesel Rs 30,19,000

2.8L 4×2 AT Diesel Rs 32,05,000

2.8L 4×4 MT Diesel Rs 32,16,000

2.8L 4×4 AT Diesel Rs 33,95,000

The variants powered by the 2.7-litre petrol engine option gets a maximum power of 164 PS at 5,200 rpm while the torque maximizes at 245 Nm at 4,000 rpm. The diesel variants get powered by the 2.8-litre engine that generates a maximum power of 174.5 PS and peak torque of 420 Nm with the manual transmission and 450 Nm with the automatic transmission. The automatic transmission is available with both 4X2 and 4X4 variants of the diesel-powered Fortuner.

Other than the changes to meet the BS6 emission norms, everything else remains identical to the BS4 compliant Fortuner. It gets exactly same exterior, same feature list and the cabin. Just like earlier times, the Fortuner will offer two cabin – dark brown and Chamois (beige) – just like before. The feature list includes a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with embedded navigation, paddle shifters with the automatic, 7 airbags, vehicle stability control system, brake assist, hill-hold assist control, ABS, EBD and more such features in the higher variants.

The BS6 compliant Toyota Innova Crysta, which was launched recently in the Indian market received a price hike of around Rs 1.5 lakhs. Surprisingly, the price of the BS6 compliant Toyota Fortuner remains the same. The Fortuner remains the best-selling vehicle in the segment and has been on the top of the sales chart since its launch in the Indian market. It is currently in its second-generation and takes on the likes of Ford Endeavour, Isuzu MUX, Mahindra Alturas, and more. Ford will soon launch the BS6 compliant Endeavour with a downsized 2.0-litre diesel engine to meet the emission norms. The small 2.0-litre dual-turbocharged engine of the Endeavour will come powered by a 10-speed automatic transmission in the Indian market, which may translate into higher fuel efficiency.

Also Read: Nissan India releases fresh teaser of sub-4 meter compact SUV: Maruti Brezza rival

The illegal number plates are rampant in India. Even though the number plates have to follow a standard format in India to make them uniform and allow others on the road to reach them properly, there are many who choose designer registration plates. Most of these designer number plates can be found on the vehicles with VIP single-digit numbers. The rule in the MV Act allow the cops to book such vehicle owners and issue a fine but Hyderabad Police chose a way to make the public aware of the rules without issuing a fine.

Punjagutta Traffic Police caught one such vehicle with illegal registration plate yesterday. The vehicle with a single digital registration number flaunted it by making the single numerical ‘9’ bigger than any other font on the registration.

The cops flagged down the vehicle and instead of issuing a challan for the non-standardize number plate, they changed the plate with a new one that meets the regulations. The team of police who did the job clicked before and after pictures and made it viral on social media to create awareness among the motorists.

It is not known if the vehicle owner paid for the registration plates. Often cops ask the vehicle owners to get it done on their own and ask them to take the vehicle to an RTO or a police station for a physical inspection. However, it seems that the whole exercise was done at the spot by the Hyderabad Traffic Police.

Don’t take chances

It seems like the cops were in in the awareness mode, which is why they let go the Toyota Fortuner owner in the pictures. However, if they start implementing the rules strictly, the documents can get seized and a fine can be handed to the owner of the vehicle. The cops then ask the vehicle owners to change the number plate to meet with the compliance set by the government. In many cases, people twist the numerical to make them into a word and that’s illegal too.

The state governments are rolling out the High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) around India, which has become mandatory for new cars in many states. The HSRP is tamper-proof and cannot be removed from the vehicle without damaging it. Many states have even made it mandatory for older vehicles to install the HSRP. The new plates will ensure that the vehicles do not get designer number plate at all.

Often traffic police teams run special drives to check the illegal number plates on the roads. Last year, similar drives by the cops saw issuances of hundreds of fines on a single day. It is always a good idea to keep the vehicle in compliance with the regulations set by the government and rules to avoid any such inconvenience on the roads.

Also Read: Nissan India releases fresh teaser of sub-4 meter compact SUV: Maruti Brezza rival

Nissan India has just released a fresh teaser of its upcoming, sub-4 meter compact SUV, which will take on the likes of the Maruti Brezza and Hyundai Venue. The new mini SUV, which is likely to be priced at under Rs. 7 lakh, for the base trim, is meant to give Nissan a solid shot at boosting sales. Muscular styling, a tall ground clearance, a turbo petrol engine and multiple gearbox options are likely to be on offer in the new Nissan SUV. Meanwhile, check out the latest teaser that Nissan has put out, showing the tail lamp of the new mini SUV.

The launch of the new Nissan mini SUV is slated for mid-2020, and the vehicle is likely to be based on the CMF-A platform, which it’ll share with the likes of the Renault Kwid, Triber and the upcoming HBC code-named compact SUV. The engine is likely to be the 1.0 liter-3 cylinder SCe turbocharged petrol engine, with about 100 PS of peak power and 160 Nm of peak torque. This motor was showcased at the 2020 Indian Auto Expo by Renault, and will soon make its way into the Triber compact MPV and the upcoming Renault HBC compact SUV.

A 5 speed manual gearbox could be offered as standard while a CVT automatic is expected to be offered as an option. The new Nissan compact SUV will be front wheel driven and will get a monocoque body. Interiors are expected to be quite cheery, with plenty of features to make it at par with competition, which includes the best selling Hyundai Venue and the feature-rich Mahindra XUV300. With the new SUV, Nissan is starting with a clean slate. A fresh new vehicle that’s attractive to a wide swathe of buyers is what we’re expecting. More news and teasers around the new Nissan SUV is likely to surface in the run up to launch.

The Japanese automaker is betting big on SUVs to turn around its India business, which is currently facing significant headwinds on the back of falling sales and slowing exports. By using the CMF-A platform as the basis for the new mini SUV, Nissan will be able to share parts and the production facility with Renault. This should cut costs, and allow Nissan to price the new mini SUV very competitively. With an ex-Maruti and Hyundai veteran, Rakesh Srivastava, heading Nissan India, the automaker may finally be on its way to a big turnaround in the Indian market.

Also Read: Nissan India releases fresh teaser of sub-4 meter compact SUV: Maruti Brezza rival

The auto landscape in India is undergoing rapid transformation. Customers expect their cars to be cleaner, safer, smarter, and reliable to meet the needs that are both unique and myriad.

For that to happen, the entire automobile ecosystem needs to up its game. And Bosch is doing exactly that with a plethora of technologies and services in the area of mobility solutions.

On one hand, it is collaborating with OEMs to help them roll out BS VI compliant vehicles while on the other, it has rolled out electric mobility solutions that make it easier for OEMs to develop electric vehicles.

Broadly, Bosch has rolled out solutions in four areas that are key to the transformation in the automobile industry

Embracing an electric future

While imperative to go electric is obvious, developing electric vehicles cost-effectively and within reasonable timelines is not easy. After all, it involves a completely new set of technologies. That’s where Bosch comes in. For instance, Bosch has devised an integrated system for Light electric vehicles with performance classes ranging from 1 to 20 KW, to have an all-in-one solution that enables a safe and dynamic ride experience. The motor, control unit, battery, and innovative connectivity functions synergize perfectly to ensure a balanced between vehicle performance and range. It also offers other sub-systems such as one for battery management that accelerates the deployment of electric powertrains.

The rise of green technologies in the automotive industry

A range of solutions has been deployed to reduce emissions from conventional engines. Broadly, this is being done by innovations around the existing powertrains that increase efficiency and reduce emissions. Another way is to adopt Smart Hybrid solutions, which ‘support’ the engine under certain conditions and therefore reduce the ‘load’. This, in turn, helps increase mileage and reduce emissions.

Bosch has led the charge in both approaches. Its powertrain systems help bring the best out of conventional engines while its 48V hybrid system serves as a perfect bridge to a fully electric world of the future.

Connected cars for a connected future

Bosch offers a secure and reliable solution to deploy the ‘Connected Car’ feature that is now a must-have for most car buyers. These solutions include a 3D display, Driver and Passenger Monitoring (AI), Battery in the Cloud, Convenience Charging, and Perfectly Keyless solutions enhanced with advanced security.

Another noticeable solution from Bosch is the eCall, an emergency call system for cars, which enables a faster emergency response in case of accidents and other emergencies. Bosch already delivers this service to Daimler across 50 countries and in 18 languages and is now expanding its services to the rest of the world.

Towards an era of safe and automated mobility

The concept of safety has evolved from protecting the passengers in case of mishaps to prevent accidents in the first place. Driver assistance systems are the starting point for safety in mobility. Bosch’s precision systems greatly increase safety and assist drivers throughout their journey.

Bosch’s driver assistance systems are enabled by data fusion and smartphone integration, which makes it possible for all OEMs to support drivers in complex and critical traffic situations. Features such as the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), predictive emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and traffic jam assist guarantee enhanced driving safety and comfort.

While cars and bike makers hog the limelight, Bosch is working behind the scenes to quietly shape the future of the mobility. As Dr. Markus Heyn, Member of the Board of Management, Robert Bosch GmbH puts it, “Bosch is a company with vast experience in mobility and beyond. We not only focus on creating an automated, electrified and connected mobility ecosystem, but also strive towards making vehicles a smart and safe companion in the future.”

Also Read: Chinese car manufacturer Haima to enter Indian market with an Electric Vehicle

Hyundai India will launch the all-new creta compact SUV on the 17th of March, 2020, which is about a month away. Media drives for the 2nd generation Creta are scheduled in March, post which we’ll be able to give you our driving impressions of the all-new SUV. The 2020 Creta shares its platform and engines with the Kia Seltos, which has turned out to be a best seller in its segment. Hyundai showcased the 2020 Creta at the Auto Expo, and the SUV was unveiled by long-term brand ambassador of the brand Shahrukh Khan.

Many dealers in India are already taking unofficial bookings for the new, 2020 Creta. Those who book early will be able to jump the queue after launch as the new SUV is likely to attract big demand, at least in the initial months. All said, Hyundai is yet to officially commence pre-bookings for the new SUV, which is expected to start from around Rs. 10 lakhs for the base trim. The new Creta will take on the Kia Seltos, Renault Duster and Maruti S-Cross. A fair bit of price overlap between the new Creta and bigger SUVs such as the Tata Harrier and MG Hector will widen the competition for Hyundai.

The 2020 Hyundai Creta is expected to be offered with three engine options, all four cylinder units: a 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol with 113 Bhp-142 Nm, a 1.4 liter turbocharged petrol with 138 Bhp-242 Nm and a 1.5 liter turbocharged diesel with 115 Bhp-250 Nm. Sounds familiar? Well, the same engines are offered on the Kia Seltos.

The 2020 Creta is also likely to share its gearboxes with the Seltos, which means that all three engines will get 6 speed manual transmissions as standard. The 1.5 liter petrol will get a CVT automatic option while the turbo petrol will be offered with a 7 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox. The diesel will stick to a 6 speed torque converter automatic option. All variants will be front wheel driven, and Hyundai has no plans to offer an all wheel drive variant, which will be offered internationally.

The 2020 Creta is likely to be feature-packed, like most other Hyundai cars, and also the outgoing version. From a panoramic sunroof to on-board air purifier to a brand new touchscreen infotainment system and 6 airbags, the 2020 Creta is expected to match or better the Kia Seltos in the sheer expanse of features on offer. The compact SUV has a huge fan following in India, and the new version is expected to see a lot of current owners upgrading to it.

Also Read: Chinese car manufacturer Haima to enter Indian market with an Electric Vehicle

Driving in developing countries like India may not seem like a big deal for the people staying in those countries but it sure is for foreigners from developed countries. Apart from under-developed infrastructure, the motorists in India lack discipline and almost everyone breaks the rules every day. How a foreigner from the USA feels like driving on the Indian roads? Well, here is a video that will show you the same.

The video uploaded by Kishanell shows the American national Shanell driving in Punjab and taking the vehicle through the narrow lanes of Ludhiana. Shanell visited India with her boyfriend who allowed her to drive the vehicle through the public roads. It should be noted that most Americans drive the automatic transmission cars and driving a manual transmission is a big deal for them. However, Shanell seems very familiar with the manual transmission and from the conversation she had with the co-passengers, it seems like she owned a manual transmission car in the past.

While driving the Mahindra XUV500, Shanell seemed pretty confident for driving manual vehicles. She took the car in the narrow lanes but her biggest fear seemed to the stray cows that were roaming freely on the roads and were not paying any heed to the vehicles. Well, that may seem pretty much a common sight throughout India for us but in developed countries, such scenarios are pretty rare.

Shanell also seemed a bit wary about the bikers who were buzzing around the car and the camera that was recording the whole drive experience of the lady showed that bikers were entering the lane from everywhere and were even going in the wrong direction. She also got stuck behind a cyclist but she did not honk at him.

The drive of Shanell lasted for a few minutes in the video and she was very amused by the scenarios on the road. Initially, she did not take the right turn because it seemed like a difficult job for her. The video shows that the roads are pretty empty and there were not many cars when compared to the office hour traffic of the metropolitan cities.

Traffic rules are one of the most important things that everyone should follow to decongest the roads and bring down the number of accidents. It should be noted that India has one of the highest accident rates in the world. Last year, the new MV Act caused a stir among the motorists due to the increased amount of fines. The central government brought the amended MV Act to ensure that people follow the rules properly and imposed huge fines of the motorists who did illegal activities. However, due to the strong opposition, many state governments had to roll back the fines in India.

Also Read: Chinese car manufacturer Haima to enter Indian market with an Electric Vehicle

Hyundai Motor Company, the parent company of Kia Motors will soon discontinue the small 1.4-litre diesel engine in India. This diesel engine powers the vehicles like Hyundai Venue, Hyundai Creta, Hyundai Elite i20 and even the Hyundai Verna in the Indian market. Due to the upcoming BS6 emission compliance norms, Hyundai will discontinue the 1.4-litre diesel engine option. While the Hyundai will soon offer the all-new Creta and the facelifted Verna in the Indian market, the diesel engine in the Elite i20 and the Venue will get replaced with the 1.5-litre diesel engine. It should be noted that Hyundai will discontinue the Grand i10 NIOS diesel after the BS6 emission norms are put in place. A similar treatment will be given to the Hyundai Aura too.

Both Hyundai Venue and the Elite i20 get only the 1.4-litre engine option for the diesel variants. Whereas the cars like the Hyundai Verna and the Creta also get the 1.6-litre diesel engine option.  Hyundai will not invest in the 1.4-litre engine to make it BS6 emission norm compliant. Instead, they will power the Hyundai Venue and the Elite i20 with the new 1.5-litre diesel engine that powers the Kia Seltos in the Indian market.

The 1.5-litre diesel engine produces a maximum power of 115 PS and peak torque of 250 Nm in the Seltos. Since the Hyundai Venue belongs to a lower segment compared to the Seltos, the engine will be detuned to make it suitable for the model. The current 1.4-litre engine available with the Venue produces a maximum of around 90 PS and the new 1.5-litre diesel engine from the Seltos will be detuned to offer a similar 90 PS output. The same output is expected to be available with the Elite i20 too.

The all-new Hyundai Creta and the Verna facelifted version will be launched in the Indian market next month. Both the cars will now get powered by the 1.5-litre diesel engine option from the Seltos. In the Creta and the Verna, the engine is expected to offer a similar 115 PS of maximum power with 250 Nm of peak torque. The Creta will even get the 1.5-litre petrol engine option from the Seltos and the Verna is expected to get the same.

Hyundai and Kia are sister brands but both work independently in the markets around the world. The upcoming Hyundai Creta will share the same platform that underpins the all-new Kia Seltos in the Indian market and in the future, we will get to see a lot of technology and feature sharing between the two brands.

Also Read: Chinese car manufacturer Haima to enter Indian market with an Electric Vehicle

The Tata Sierra concept became a crowd-puller at the 2020 Auto Expo and it was applauded by everyone who could catch a glimpse of the vehicle. In 2018, we used our imagination and talent of our in-house artist Vipin Vithoopan to show what the modern Sierra may look like if it ever becomes a reality. Fast forward to 2020 and the concept Sierra gets an uncanny similarity with the rendering picture that we had shared. Taking it forward, we bring you yet another rendering from Vipin Vithoopan that imagines the Tata Sierra concept after going through changes required to go into full-blown production.

It was in 2007 when Pratap Bose, the current Vice President of Global Design of Tata Motors joined the brand, a full 7-years after the discontinuation of the Sierra. During the 9 years, when the Sierra was still in production, it failed to attract the customers around the world. However, most enthusiasts appreciated the design of the car.

The huge glasses of the three-door SUV became an iconic design and no car ever carried the same design ever again. In 2018, Pratap Bose shared his wish to work on the design of the two Tata icons – the Sierra and the Sumo. In 2020, the Sierra nameplate took a rebirth on a concept “artwork” of Mr Bose.

Tata has got into a habit of launching the production version that remains almost similar to the concept designs so it was not a real big task for us to imagine the production model. Our rendering image shows the car powered by an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). Even though the Sierra Concept showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo is an electric version, Pratap Bose revealed that the Sierra will get both petrol and electric versions if it ever enters into production.

Keeping the curved glass roof on a production specification vehicle can be a challenge and can also increase the price of the vehicle by multiple times. The rendering version gets curved glasses similar to the original Sierra. It gives an illusion of covering the roof but in reality, both the glasses only cover a part of the roof. The front-end is designed according to the latest Tata’s IMPACT design language too. And yes, the sliding door that we saw on the concept vehicle is retained on the rendering image.

It should be noted that Tata Motors has not officially said anything about making a production version of the Sierra. If at all this vehicle enters the production, it will take years to form the final product. But if the car does get a green signal, it will surely create ripples in the market, just like the original Sierra did in 1991. We do hope to see the Sierra in the production form in the coming years and keeping the icon alive for many more years after that.

Also Read: Chinese car manufacturer Haima to enter Indian market with an Electric Vehicle

This year at the Auto Expo couple of Chinese manufacturers had also showcased their models. One such manufacturer was Haima  who had showcased three models namely 7x, 8s and E1. Out of all the three models displayed at the Expo, Haima E1 would make more sense to Indian customers as it is likely to be the first model that the manufacturer would be launching in India. The Haima E1 is an all-electric vehicle and is expected to hit Indian shore late 2021 or early 2022.

Haima E1 is a small hatchback that when launched will rival with cars like Mahindra eKUV100. The E1 has a simple boxy looking design with a shoulder line line starting from the front wheel arch and ending at the rear of the car. The headlights are projector type with LED DRLs. The design is similar to that of an ICE car except for the front where it has the flap to plug in the charger. Haima E1 is powered by a electric motor that produces 54 Bhp and 140 Nm of torque. It has 28.5 Kwh lithium ion battery that has maximum range of 301 km when fully charged.

During his conversation with the media, Mr. Williams Dong, GM, Haima Automobile International Corporation said, “Innovation is a key pillar of HAIMA’s business strategy in India. This is reflected by a clear product strategy to enter the Indian market with its new avant-garde brand image with product offerings that showcase cutting edge technology .I am confident that HAIMA will continue its innovation journey in India, developing products that shape the future of India’s automobile transformation.”

Haima Automobile group is not a new name in the Chinese market. It is a leading Chinese manufacturer with over 32 years of experience in the sector. Haima had cooperated with Mazda from 1992 to 2006 and has now developed into a modern automobile group integrating R&D, production, sales, service, logistics, financial business, etc.

Haima as mentioned above will launch the E1 in India by the end of 2021 or early 2022. It will be brought in as a completely knocked down product and will be assembled at their plant in India. The Haima E1 will be an afordable electric vehicle and will be priced around Rs 10 lakh.

The electric car market in India are seeing a slew of new offerings. However, they’re yet to take off in a big way given the fact that charging infrastructure is still at its infancy.

Also Read: Chinese car manufacturer Haima to enter Indian market with an Electric Vehicle

Skoda is currently heading the India 2.0 strategy under which the brand is leading the Volkswagen Group’s India expansion plans. Under the new plan, the group plans to acquire more market share and to do so, Skoda will launch a slew of new cars in the Indian market. One of the new cars that will be launched by the manufacturer is the Skoda Rapid BS6 variant and the car was showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo too. While the new Skoda Rapid will be available only with the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, a high-performance variant of the sedan can be launched in the Indian market at a later stage.

Skoda will soon re-launch the Octavia RS245 in the Indian market, which will remain the sole RS product from the manufacturer in the market. The Czechoslovakian manufacturer is currently working on the all-new, next-generation version of the Rapid that will be launched in the Indian market next year. With the all-new model, Skoda is expected to launch the high-performance RS version of the car that might get launched in the Indian market too.

However, there is a catch. Skoda says that they will launch the Rapid RS only if there’s a demand for the vehicle in the market. Last time when Skoda launched the Octavia RS in the Indian market, the car got sold out quickly and Skoda had to launch more units of the vehicle in the market. However, the Octavia RS serves a premium segment of the customers, who look beyond the fuel efficiency of the cars that they own. However, the Rapid serves a segment that is more concerned about the fuel efficiency of the vehicle rather than the performance.

If the Skoda Rapid RS becomes a reality and launches in India, it will get powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The four-cylinder engine will produce a massive 180 PS of maximum power! The transmission can be a 6-speed or a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic. We may not get a manual version of the car.

Since the RS badged cars are aimed at the enthusiasts, there are quite a few handfuls of changes visually too. For example, the RS variant is expected to get new bumpers, alloy wheels, a boot lid-mounted spoiler and more. We do hope that it becomes a reality though.

The all-new Skoda Rapid will be revealed in the international market later this year. It will get a tweaked chassis and the exterior design of the car is expected to be similar to the Skoda Octavia. In the Indian market, the all-new Rapid will continue to get powered by the 1.0-litre turbocharged engine option. The new engine is BS6 compliant and generates a maximum power of 115 PS and peak torque of 200 Nm.

Also Read: 10 things you don't know about the Kia Sonet compact SUV

Kia showcased the all-new Sonet concept sub-4m compact SUV at the 2020 Auto Expo. The vehicle made its world debut in India and will be launched in the market in the coming times. The Kia Sonet looks quite interesting but here are ten facts that will tell you more about the car and ten facts that you did not know about the Sonet.

Will come with a diesel automatic

The automatic transmission is becoming quite popular in India and even the affordable cars are now offering AMT automatics to attract the customers. Well, Kia Sonet will take will cater to the customers who want the high fuel efficiency of a diesel vehicle and leisure of automatic transmission. The all-new Kia Sonet will offer a 1.5-litre diesel engine, which will come with a 6-speed torque convertor. The petrol-powered Sonet is likely to get a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Lanch time revealed

The all-new Kia Sonet will mark its entry in the Indian market soon. Kia announced that the production version of the Sonet will be launched in the Indian market in the coming months. The Sonet is likely to be launched in mid-2020 and it will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue and more such cars.

First-in-segment features

Kia introduced a slew of first-in-segment features with the all-new Seltos last year and attracted a large chunk of customers. With the Sonet, the brand will do the same. Kia revealed two first-in-segment features during the unveiling of the car but the production version may get more. According to Kia, the Sonet will get an audio system from Bose and will also come with ventilated seats. Both these features are first-in-segment.

Engine options revealed

Kia will power the all-new Sonet with three engine options. There will be a 1.2-litre petrol engine that is available with the likes of Hyundai Venue and Grand i10 NIOS, a 1.5-litre de-tuned diesel engine fr0m the Kia Seltos and a high-performance 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine from the Hyundai Venue.

Same platform as the Hyundai Venue

It should be noted that Kia and Hyundai Motor Company are sister brands and both offer vehicles based on each other’s platform in the global market. The all-new Sonet will utilise the platform of the Hyundai Venue, which was launched last year in the Indian market but both the vehicles look completely different from each other.

First-of-its-kind transmission

Kia announced during the unveiling that the production version of the Sonet will offer iMT or intelligent Manual Transmission. This will be a clutchless manual transmission that will allow drivers to change the gears without using the clutch pedal. It will be quite a relief to drive this vehicle during the peak hour traffic. The iMT will also allow Kia to keep the cost of the vehicle highly competitive.

Largest screen in the segment

The Sonet will come with a massive 10.25-inch measuring infotainment system, which is similar to the Kia Seltos. The display will be biggest in size in the segment and will offer a range of features including the Kia UVO Connect and more.

Sonet Concept is 90% production version

Kia Sonet concept that was showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo is around 90% similar to the production version. Kia did not reveal the interior of the vehicle. However, without the features like flush door handles, massive alloy wheels and aggressive bumper design, the car looks ready for production.

Sportier than Hyundai Venue

Kia will put a sportier suspension set-up in the Sonet compared to the Venue. The production version of the car will be aimed at the youths, which is why it will be much more aggressive to drive and will offer sharp handling and steering feedback.

Most affordable Kia!

The Sonet will become the most affordable vehicle from Kia’s stable in the Indian market. The all-new car will get a price of around Rs 7 lakhs and since Kia is not planning to enter the sedan and the hatchback segment in India, the Sonet will remain the most affordable choice from the brand for a long time.

Also Read: 10 things you don't know about the Kia Sonet compact SUV

Hyundai India has just launched its first turbo petrol hatchback in the form of the Grand i1o NIOS. Showcased at the recently concluded Auto Expo, the Grand i10 NIOS borrows the 1 liter turbo petrol engine from the Venue compact SUV. On the Grand i10 NIOS, this motor makes 100 Bhp of peak power and 172 Nm of peak torque.

This means that the power has been detuned from 118 Bhp (which is what this motor makes on the Venue) while the torque output remains unchanged. A five speed manual gearbox is standard, and there’s no automatic option. Prices of the Grand i10 NIOS turbo petrol start from Rs. 7.68 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. This represents a massive Rs. 1.2 lakh premium over the 1.2 liter petrol engined Sportz trims, and it remains to be seen if enough buyers would opt for the more powerful trim. Meanwhile, bookings are now open, and deliveries will begin shortly.

Changes on the inside of the car include an all-black colour scheme and contrast red stitching for the seat fabric. On the outside, the front and rear bumpers have gotten a mild restyling for a more aggressive stance while the grille goes all black, and also gains a turbo badge. The car also gets a dual tone option that costs an additional Rs. 5,000. The car is offered in Sportz and Sportz Dual Tone trims, and is aimed at those who seek a peppier drive on both city streets and highways.

The Grand i10 NIOS continues to be offered with two other engines: a 1.2 liter-4 cylinder naturally aspirated petrol (82 Bhp-114 Nm) and a 1.2 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged diesel (74 Bhp-190 Nm). Both engines are offered with 5 speed manual transmissions as standard. The Grand i10 NIOS is positioned above the Grand i10, which is likely to be discontinued shortly for the private car buyer market. The Grand i10 will then become a cab-only offering from Hyundai, aimed at Uber and Ola fleets.

The Grand i10 and NIOS models together do well over 10,000 monthly units for Hyundai, taking the fight to the Maruti Swift. There are a few gaps in the Grand i10 line up though. There are no automatic options available on the NIOS while the Swift offers AMT options on both the petrol and diesel engined variants. We expect Hyundai to fill this gap by adding automatic variants to the Grand i10 NIOS sometime this year. The Santro’s AMT unit could be a great fit for the 1.2 liter petrol.

Also Read: Maruti WagonR CNG BS6 launched in India

At the 2020 Auto Expo, Tata showcased a couple of concept vehicles, which gained a lot of popularity and attracted a large number of crowd. But if you have visited the 2020 Auto Expo and saw the Tata Motors stall and missed looking at the Garuda, which is a presidential vehicle then there’s nothing to panic. Talented students of the premier National Institute of Design (NID) showcased a concept scale model at the 2020 Auto Expo at their stall. It is the Garuda concept meant for the presidents around the world.

The scale model designed by the NID students is based on pure imagination but that’s how all-new cars are designed in the first place. It should be noted that the current Vice President, Global Designs of Tata Motors, Pratap Bose is an alumnus of NID. The students had designed a range of such cars and the Garuda caught a lot of attention of the visitors.

According to Times Now, the students designed the Garuda concept scale model as a presidential limousine. It is based on the Tata’s latest IMPACT design philosophy and the front of the vehicle clearly shows the design matches with the latest Tata vehicles and concept cars including the Sierra and the HBX. The scale model gets sleek DRLs and the main headlamp cluster is positioned below, just like the Harrier.

Also, the car gets 26-spoke alloy wheels that add a grandeur look to the limousine. There is Tata badging on the vehicle all around and since it is the vehicle meant for the president, there is an Ashoka’s Lion Capital on the last-pillar of the vehicle. At the rear, it gets body-wide LED lamps and tail lamps. The car gets a deep blue shade and looks extremely good.

It should be noted that presidents of countries like USA and Russia drive around in customised vehicles that are made by the manufacturer belonging to the same country. USA has the Cadillac One AKA The Beast as the presidential vehicle which is manufactured by General Motors. It is one of the safest vehicles in the world and keeping the safety of the president in India, specifications of the vehicles are not released by the company. Russia’s Vladimir Putin recently upgraded to the Aurus Senat limousine which is designed in Russia and is manufactured by a Russian carmaker.

In India, our Prime Minister’s vehicle was upgraded to the BMW 7-Series Hi-Security bulletproof vehicle from the bullet-proof Mahindra Scorpio. The prime minister also moves around in vehicles like the Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Rover Range Rover Sentinal. The president of India moves around in a Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard. We do wish to see the most important personalities of India in an Indian car in the future.

Also Read: Maruti WagonR CNG BS6 launched in India

This Year the Auto Expo was not that grand when compared to its last installments. This was mainly because many manufacturers did not show up at the expo. Even though we did not see many luxury or high-end cars in the expo, there were still some brand that came up with brilliant concepts that will come to India eventually. One such manufacturer was Kia Motors that unveiled their sub-4 meter SUV concept Sonet at the expo this year. When it makes to the production, Kia Sonet will be a compact SUV that will compete with cars Like Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Hyundai Venue in the segment.

Starting from the front of the Sonet, design looks quite new. It is nothing like the Seltos mid-size SUV that was launched in the market last year. Kia Sonet also gets the signature Tiger nose grille with gloss black grille and red inserts in it. The bumper looks quite sporty with two scoops where we would probably see the ice cube shaped fog lamps. Lower part of the bumper has the air dam with silver inserts and skid plates below it. The headlamp is an all lED unit with DRLs in it. Overall, front of the car looks aggressive and sporty.

Side profile of the car gets a proper SUV stance with bold looking wheel arches and claddings, roof rails and blacked out roof and the stylish looking alloy wheels with red inserts give the Sonet a premium appeal. Concept gets flush door handles, it is likely to be replaced with a normal door handle when it makes to the production line. Similarly the ORVMs would also be changed with a different unit.

At the rear, there is a black panel on both side of the rear glass which makes it look like a wide car from a distance. The tail lights like in any other Kia car are all LED. It is a single piece which is joined by an LED strip with Kia logo in the middle. The bumper gets reflectors and there is a skid plate and an aluminium garnish at the bottom of the bumper which gives it a sportier look at the rear.

Kia will be launching Sonet in the Indian market later this year. Sonet when launched is likely to get three engine options. One – a 1.0 litre turbo petrol engine, 1.2 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.5 litre diesel engine. Kia Sonet will also get iMT which is Intelligent manual Transmission which allows driver to shift gear without pressing the clutch pedal.

Also Read: Maruti WagonR CNG BS6 launched in India