Cars can be used for several years at a stretch but many feel that it gets boring to drive the same car for years. If you have reached the same stage and want to make your car feel sporty and fresh, here are a few aftermarket accessories that you can use. Here are ten such accessories.

Aftermarket gear knobs

If you drive a manual car, gear knob is one thing that you have to use a lot, especially on the city roads. If you want to have a sportier feel while shifting gears, here is something that might interest you. This is an aftermarket metal gear knob that can replace the stock unit and make your gear shifts feel sportier.

Buy it here

Also read: Maruti 800 modified to look like the Honda 660 & a Lamborghini (Video)

Drilled pedals

Almost all the sporty luxury cars and sports cars offer drilled pedals. The aluminium pedals will go quite well with the aftermarket gear knob and make the cabin look significantly sportier. However, there is not much of a difference until you get wide pedals and practice heel-toe method on it.

Buy it here

Sporty antenna

Antennas on the car always attract a lot of puzzled looks. Well, to make the car look different, you can use this black coloured aftermarket antenna that can fit on the hood or boot lid of the car. It is a bolt-on antenna that can be removed easily. There are shark fin antennae, and other types of antennae available too.

Buy it here

Door sill stickers

Door sills are prone to scratches and over the years, it can get badly damaged due to the shoes rubbing against them. Well, instead of expensive door sills, you can go for affordable stickers that look sporty and will serve the purpose.

Buy it here

Trunk spoilers

Trunk spoilers on sports cars and high-performance vehicles work to generate downforce and get more traction. However, on regular cars, they do not have much use apart from making the car look sporty. They do enhance the overall look of the car.

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Turbo whistle

Turbo whistle is a sweet sound that many high-performance cars produce. You may even get to hear them on the trucks and buses because of the size of the turbocharger. Well, if you want to replicate the same in your regular car, you will have to upgrade to a bigger turbocharger or you can simply get this accessory that will fit in your exhaust and will produce the sweet turbo sound.

Buy it here

Steering cover

A good looking steering cover with all the other aftermarket accessories will surely make the cabin look. Here is a steering cover that will fit almost all the cars. It has a chessboard pattern but you can browse and get something that you like the most. There are several more options for steering wheel covers you can find at the link below.

Buy it here

Chrome tip exhaust

Most mass segment cars do not draw attention to the exhaust tips since they do not sound sporty. However, you can always get an aftermarket tip to make you car look sportier and get all the looks on the streets. Here is a 1-into-2 exhaust tip that can be installed in any car.

Buy it here

Carbon fibre

Only high-end vehicles and high-performance cars make use of the extremely expensive carbon fibre. Since the carbon fibre parts can be extremely expensive, the mass-segment cars can get similar looks by using carbon fibre vinyl wraps. These are high-quality wraps and many of them are even textured to make it feel real.

Buy it here

Handbrake cover

Handbrake can look like an eyesore in many cars. Well, you can use this carbon fibre handbrake cover to fit on your handbrake that will go very well with the exterior carbon vinyl. This is just a socket type fit that can be removed at any time. There are many more choices on Amazon too. You can find them all at the link below.

Buy it here

Also read: Jeep India MD reveals plans for 3 new SUVs

Hyundai is the second largest car manufacturer in the country and had recently launched their all-new Creta in the market. Just like older generation Creta’s the new generation version is also a big hit and has already become a very common sight on our roads. Just like older version, people are going for lower trims and modifying it with aftermarket accessories to make it look like a top-end trim. Here we have video that shows how a base trim Creta is modified and gets a unique feature that even the top-end trims also does not get.

The video has been uploaded by Rohit Mehta Sai Auto Accessories on their youtube channel. The video shows the installation part and also the finished product. This version of the car gets modifications like a set of aftermarket speakers and sub-woofers. All the doors get 3 layer damping for better audio experience and a illuminated scuff plate is also installed on the door. Other major change that it gets is the wheels itself. As it is a base variant, it comes with steel rims and that has been replaced with a 17 inch aftermarket alloy wheel. A silver colour roof rail has also been installed.

Also read: Hyundai India sells over 11,500 units of Creta SUV in July

No other major modifications are made to the exterior of the car. Moving inside, the seat, steering, floors, ambient lighting are all redone to give it a premium or upmarket feel. The touchscreen infotainment screen is an aftermarket fitment and comes with a unique feature of 360 degree camera. This is a feature that is available in cars like Kia Seltos and Nissan Kicks but, Hyundai Creta misses it.

The camera’s are fixed one on the front grille, one at the rear and one each under the wing mirrors. The whole 360 degree mode can be controlled using the touchscreen without using any physical buttons. The view from the camera looks pretty clears and the camera also shows a 3D image of the car itself. The screen supports both audio and video.

The video also shares the prices of these modifications. Starting with the android touchscreen with 360 degree camera, it costs around Rs 25,000 and the leather seats are about Rs 15,000. The floor mats cost around Rs 8,500 and the illuminated scuff plate on all four doors cost Rs 3,000. The roof rail is Rs 4,000 and the whole speaker set with sub-woofer costs Rs 20,000. The 17 inch tyres and the alloy wheels are priced at Rs 40,000.

The all-new Creta is available with a 1.4 litre turbo petrol 1.5 litre naturally aspirated petrol and 1.5 litre diesel engine. The turbo petrol version is available with a 7-speed DCT gearbox as standard whereas the 1.5 litre petrol and diesel get CVT and torque converters along with manual transmissions respectively.

Also read: Toyota RAV-4 SUV launching in India soon: Tata Harrier to be 2 times COSTLIER than Fortuner

Toyota Fortuner is one of the popular SUV in the segment. It competes with the likes of Ford Endeavour, Mahindra Alturas Isuzu MU-X in the segment. Ever since its launch in our market, Fortuner has been a popular choice among buyers because of its rugged looks, off-road abilities, reliability and relatively low cost of maintenance. It has also been a car that many buyers love to modify to bring out the wild side of the SUV. The current generation Fortuner that we have on sale is much more premium looking than before and here we have an example that has been modified in a way that it looks like it wants to be Lexus.

The modifications have been done by Coimbatore based KitUp Automotive. The chief  objective behind this modification was to make Toyota Fortuner look more premium like a Lexus. Looking at the images, it seems like KitUp has done a good job. Starting with the front, SUV gets a body kit that retain its butch look but at the same time make it look more premium. The bumper has been completely redesigned and it now gets a huge Lexus like grille at the front. The grille gets chrome outlines and the lower part of the bumper gets boomerang shaped LED DRLs,

Also read: Toyota Fortuner TRD official teaser released before launch in India

The design of the headlights remain the same and there is a fog lamp placed on the lower part of the bumper. The side profile of this Fortuner is the same as before. Only noticeable changes here are the aftermarket alloy wheels and footboard. It also gets updates like chrome door handles, rain visors.

Moving to the rear, just like at the front there is a body kit that totally changes the look. The rear bumper has been revised and it gets reflector lights in them. It also gets chrome garnish around tail lights, below number plate and spoiler that gives it a sprty character. The LED pillar lights are also aftermarket fitment. No information regarding the interior of this Fortuner is available at currently.

Toyota Fortuner is available with both petrol and diesel engine options and both engines are now BS6 compliant too. Petrol version of the SUV is powered by a 2.7 litre engine generating 163 Bhp and 245 Nm of torque. The diesel version uses a 2.8 litre unit generating 174 Bhp and 450 Nm of peak torque. Both petrol and diesel are available with manual and Automatic transmission whereas only the diesel version gets 4×4 option. Toyota will soon launch a refreshed version of the current gen Fortuner in our market.

Also read: Toyota Urban Cruiser looks like a mini Fortuner: Bookings open from 21st August

Over the years, Hyundai has introduced a slew of features in various segments in India. While listing all of them will take some time, I will tell you the ones that I clearly remember. Hyundai introduced the automatic headlamps, wireless charging, rear parking camera, automatic wipers, ventilated seats and the list goes on. Hyundai has introduced yet another all-new feature and this time, it is the industry-first Intelligent Manual Transmission or iMT. The new iMT is currently only available with the Hyundai Venue 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and we have spent a few hours with the car to find out how it is different from all other kinds of transmissions available in the market and answer a few questions that you may have about the new kind of transmission in the Indian market.

Hyundai Venue iMT: What is it?

Imagine any regular car with a manual transmission but there is no clutch pedal in it. Weird right? Well, that is the Hyundai Venue iMT. The car offers a regular H-pattern 6-speed manual transmission gear lever sticking out of the central console while there are only two pedals on the floor. Yes, you do not get any clutch with the iMT and I know that makes you think of a lot of questions. We will try to answer a few of them for you and if you have more questions, just leave them in the comment box and we will get back to you.

How do you drive the iMT?

Also read: Hyundai Venue IMT compact SUV video reviewed

If you have driven an automatic car before, this will be a pretty much familiar step for you. To start the Venue iMT, you have to put the gear lever in the neutral position, press the brake pedal and push the engine start button. The petrol engine comes to life without a sound or vibration. Now to move the car forward, you have put the gear lever in the first gear position and just like automatic cars, you have to release the brake slowly and the vehicle starts to move forward slowly. No jerks, no stalling, you get a smooth launch forward. To shift to the higher gear, simply lift off your foot from the accelerator and shift up. When you have to downshift, simply reduce the speed or do it while braking.

Driving in traffic:

The biggest concern of most car buyers is drivability in the traffic. We drove the car during the notorious peak hours in Delhi-NCR and the vehicle sailed through the sea of cars. There are no jerks at the slower speeds and driving in start-stop traffic is actually quite simple and easy because the Venue iMT crawls ahead just like the cars with automatic transmission. At most times, you do not even require to press the accelerator, the Venue iMT moves ahead slowly as soon as you release the brake.

Driving aggressively:

If you’re someone who drives aggressively and does not care about fuel efficiency much, is the Venue iMT right choice for you? Yes, you can. The Venue iMT even touches redline and you can upshift at that moment too. You can also drive around aggressively while not redlining all the time. We drove around for quite some time aggressively and the gear shifts are smooth even at 4-5k rpm.

Mileage?

We cannot tell you the exact fuel efficiency of the Venue iMT because the car was idling for a long time during our shoot. However, since the new transmission is not much different from the manual gearbox that Hyundai offers. So you drive around the iMT aggressively, you will get less efficiency while driving it sedately will give you higher efficiency. It is for certain that the Venue iMT offers more fuel efficiency than any conventional automatic transmission like DCT, CVT, Torque convertor and more.

How does the iMT feel to drive?

Since it is new technology and is not available with any other car in the market at present, you definitely will take some time to get used to the clutch-less manual shifts. I personally kept looking for the clutch every now and then or forgot to shift to the higher or lower gears. But spend a couple of hours driving around and that’s it. Since it is not very different from the manual transmission, you will not feel like you’re in an alien car.

Also, most people get tired in the stop-go traffic because of the use of the clutch pedal. If you do not have to use the clutch pedal and only shift the gears, the tiredness level decreases substantially, especially compared to a manual car.

You cannot stall the Venue iMT. As soon as the car detects that you are in the higher gear and need to downshift, you will get a warning message on the instrument cluster to downshift. Even while rolling the car from a standstill, you need to be in the first or second gear or you will see a Please Shift Down warning on the instrument cluster.

Who is it for?

Till now, we could categorise transmissions in two segments broadly – automatic and manual. People who wanted convenience chose the automatic transmission while people who want an engaging drive or simply higher fuel efficiency chose the manual. The iMT changes all of that because it beautifully mashes up the best of both worlds and offers something unique. The iMT transmission offers convenient clutch-less shifting while offering similar fuel efficiency, maintenance and affordability of a manual. So this would be perfect for people who drive through congested city roads daily and do not wish to pay for an automatic or lose the fuel efficiency advantage of manual cars.

Cost advantage

Hyundai has positioned the iMT-equipped variant quite smartly. There is not a single trim where you will find the DCT and IMT together. The base Venue iMT is available with the SX variant that is priced at Rs 9.99 lakhs, which makes it only Rs 20,000 more expensive than the manual variant. Comparing it with the least-expensive Venue DCT automatic variant, the iMT comes out to be about Rs 1 lakh cheaper, which is a lot of money. All the prices are of the variants based on the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

Does it look any different?

Hyundai Venue IMT variants look exactly similar to the other variants apart from the new moniker. There is nothing different in terms of features or looks. We, however, drove the Sport variant of the Venue, which was recently launched. It offers a few sporty-looking elements like red accents on the grille, red-painted front brake calliper, red accents on the wheel arches and the roof rails. It sure turns a lot of heads on the roads as we found out while driving.

Should you buy it?

If you can of any disadvantages of the Venue iMT, do let us know in the comment section because we could not find any. The iMT is a new technology and the only drawback that I could think of is the life of the clutch. Since it will be operated automatically by the car and there will not be any kind of modulation possible. This might impact the life of the clutch by say 10% but it would not be a big of a deal for the amount of convenience that the new transmission offers. Yes, it is a new technology in cars but it is based on tried and tested manual transmission and there should not be any reliability issues.

The IMT is much smoother than AMT, the price difference from the manual transmission is not much and the car behaves extremely well in the start-stop traffic because you control the gears. This definitely can be a choice for many who do not want jerks of an AMT or low fuel efficiency with the high cost of a fully-fledged automatic.

Also read: Kia Sonet mid-spec variant compact SUV spied

Movie star Allu Arjun, who bought the new Land Rover Range Rover last year has modified his vehicle. The actor loves to customise his rides and he even owns a personalised vanity van worth Rs 7 crore. Allu Arjun got his Range Rover Vogue modified by RaceTech India and here are the first pictures of the modified SUV.

This is the latest-generation Range Rover Vogue, which looks quite intimidating even in its stock form. However, the modified version that we see here gets upgrades from Startech and beautiful looking Vossen forged wheels with customised wheel caps.

Also read: Mahindra Marazzo BS6 Diesel MPV launching soon

The car now gets multispoke forged wheels from Vossen and they do look extremely beautiful. The red brake calliper adds to the looks. What makes this interesting is the customised wheel caps on the car that has got the logo of Arjun Allu. Now that’s what makes the car completely different from the any other Range Rove out there.

The vehicle has been given an all-black treatment too. The front grille, brand logos and everything else in the vehicle that was in chrome finish have been turned to black and it sure looks extremely good on the SUV. The vehicle also has a body kit from Startech and few things have been added. However, the exact details of these changes and additions are not known.

This is the Land Rover Range Rover Vogue, which is one of the most popular choices in the segment. This costs close to Rs 2 crore, ex-showroom and the on-road price with optional extra features can cost a few lakhs more than that. There are a number of engines available with the Range Rover in India and it is the favourite SUV of many Bollywood celebrities and actors.

Land Rover Range Rover offers a 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged diesel engine that generates a maximum power of 258 Bhp and peak torque of 600 Nm. There are more powerful engine options too. There is a 4.4-litre V8 turbocharged diesel engine that produces a maximum power of 440 Bhp and peak torque of 700 Nm. Land Rover also offers a 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol engine that generates a massive 335 Bhp and 450 Nm of peak torque. Then there is the most powerful 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 543 Bhp and peak torque of 625 Nm. All the engine options come with an 8-speed ZF torque converter automatic transmission.

Also read: Kia Sonet mid-spec variant compact SUV spied

Royal Enfields have always been very close to the hearts of motorcycling community and they also serve as a perfect donor motorcycles for various modification projects. We have seen several tastefully modified Royal Enfield motorcycles in the past both from India and around the world. Royal Enfields still have that cult following and the Himalayan is one of the affordable adventure tourer motorcycle available in the segment and it is often modified too. Here we have a video of a custom made Himalayan motorcycle that is known as Marlboro Man.

The video has been uploaded by Ricochet Motorcycles on their youtube channel. The video shows the whole modification process of this bike. The whole bike is rebuilt in a way that it can handle any type of terrain without compromising the on-road ride comfort. Himalayan is heavy motorcycle and the customisers had be replace almost all the components. The rear sun frame has also been replaced.

Also read: Royal Enfield Thunderbird X based “Trike” comes with a reverse gear (Video)

The front suspension on the RE Himalayan was replaced with USD forks with custom made springs. This helped them increase the ride height by about 2 inches. The wheelbase of the motorcycle also decreased and that helped in improving the handling part. Next, the 21 inch stock wheels on Himalayan was replaced with chunky looking 18 inch spoke wheels with matte black and brushed aluminium finish to it.

Braking duties are now handled by a Brembo caliper. The exhaust on this motorcycle is a custom made unit and the bend pipe was hand built to increase the back pressure and initial torque. The rear sprocket on this motorcycle has also been replaced with a unit with more teeths. This has improved the gearing ratios and thus resulting in increased initial acceleration.

The air filter on this bike was also replaced with a K&N unit for better intake. There is a custom made 3 dimensional race plate with number  9 on the side of the bike. A custom made engine bash plate  was also installed on the bike to protect the engine. The only thing that this motorcycle retains is the old 15 litre fuel tank and that was done as per owner’s suggestions as he likes to take this motorcycle for long distance riding. The odometer on this motorcycle is also a digital unit and the headlamps and front mudguard have also been replaced. Overall, the modified Himalayan or ‘Marlboro Man’ looks beautiful and is motorcycle that can be ridden hard off-road.

Also read: Beautiful Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 for sale: CHEAPER than new

Mahindra will launch the all-new, 2020 Thar off road SUV on the 2nd of October this year. The 2020 Thar was unveiled earlier this year, on the 15th of August, 2020. Photoshoppers have been busy ever since, and have been imagining the new Thar in various forms. The latest imagination of the new SUV is in Police Jeep form, a duty that Mahindra Jeeps have been fulfulling for decades. Here, check it out.

Render courtesy Motorbeam

The all-new Mahindra Thar, in AX trim, may actually be a great police jeep, and here are a bunch of reasons for that.

1. In AX trim, the 2020 Thar will get a 6 seat layout, with side facing seats at the rear, and that’s exactly what police forces across the country want. A 6 seat layout with side facing benches makes it easy for police personnel to get in and out of the vehicle, and also transport criminals.
2. The 2020 Mahindra Thar is also available with a soft top, which is something that police forces across the country favour.
3. Even as most car makers in India operating in the affordable vehicle segment have shifted away from diesel engines to go petrol-only, Mahindra is among the handful of automakers to offer a diesel engine even on affordable cars. The 2020 Thar gets the 2.2 liter mHawk turbo diesel engine along with a 2 liter turbo petrol engine option. The diesel engine makes 130 Bhp-300 Nm, and comes with a 6 speed manual gearbox as standard.
4. The Mahindra Thar, just like its previous version, is an open canvas with a lot of possibility for customization. Customization to fit specific accessories suitable for police forces is one of the major requirements, which the Thar is expected to fulfill seamlessly.
5. The base trim of the Thar is expected to be priced at about Rs. 10 lakh, making it quite affordable.
6. Mahindra has a long history of supplying Jeeps (4×4 utility vehicles) to military and paramilitary forces of India. The 2020 Thar could be the latest in the illustrious line of Mahindra utility vehicles to support India’s military and paramilitary forces.

The Thar will be offered in two trims: AX and LX. Both trims will get 2.2 liter turbo diesel and 2 liter turbo petrol engine options. However, the 6 speed automatic gearbox will be offered only on the LX trims. The AX trims will be aimed at off roaders and those on a tight budget. Also, the AX trim will have fewer features, both in terms of creature comforts and safety. Those who want a fully loaded 2020 Thar will have to opt or the LX trims.

Also read: Toyota RAV-4 SUV launching in India soon: Tata Harrier to be 2 times COSTLIER than Fortuner

Also read: Buying a pre-owned Mahindra Thar is better than buying a new one: 5 reasons

Mahindra unveiled the all-new Thar in the Indian market recently and due to the popularity of the all-new Thar, there are many who have made plans to book the all-new vehicle. The first Mahindra Thar was launched ten years ago and since then, it has remained one of the most modified vehicles in the country. There are many who have even made aftermarket grille for the all-new Thar even before its official launch. Well, here is an artist rendering showing what if all-new Thar is converted into a 6X6 pick-up truck like the G-Wagen. Well, here is the rendering image that shows a heavily modified Mahindra Thar that has been transformed into a 6X6 pick-up truck.

The rendering is made by SRK Designs and is shared on the official YouTube channel. While it shows the whole process of transforming the look of the SUV, the end-result looks extremely dramatic. The final rendered image shows the Mahindra Thar with a much longer wheelbase than the stock. This allows an extra set of wheels to be fit in without any problem. Also, the modified vehicles get the double-cabin with the pick-up flatbed that sure makes it very practical for hardcore work.

Also read: Buying a pre-owned Mahindra Thar is better than buying a new one: 5 reasons

There are a lot of other changes too. The front grille, which has received a lot of criticism because of its design has been updated to an all-black horizontally stacked grille. The vehicle also gets a new dual-tone paint job and a host of auxiliary lamps on the rooftop.

The end results in look like a beast and if this turns into a reality, it will be a sight to hold on the roads. However, this will be extremely expensive modification to do and in India, it will not be road legal.

It should be noted that there are a few examples of SUVs that have been transformed like this in India before. However, powering the new axle can be a challenge. An extra live axle on a vehicle will translate into higher fuel consumption and does not really serve the purpose. Such a set-up can be useful during off-roading and dune bashing when the weight of the vehicle is equally distributed on more number of tyres and there is extra traction available. But a vehicle that you drive daily with this 6X6 set-up can be extremely uncomfortable and difficult to drive too. What do you think about this modified Mahindra Thar rendering image? Do let us know in the comments section below.

Also read: Toyota RAV-4 SUV launching in India soon: Tata Harrier to be 2 times COSTLIER than Fortuner

Honda launched the all-new fifth generation City sedan in the Indian market a few months ago. Honda City is a popular choice among customers in the mid-size sedan segment and competes with cars like Maruti Ciaz, Hyundai Verna, Skoda Rapid in the segment. Honda launched the fifth generation initially in Thailand and by the time we got our hands on the City here in India, a number of aftermarket kits were available. We have seen several modified examples of all-new Honda City and here we have one such car from Malaysia.

The pictures have been uploaded by Malaysia based Nous Garage on their Facebook page and the kit definitely looks very sporty. The Honda City gets seen in the images gets a Type R kit which gives the whole car an aggressive look. Starting from the front, the whole front bumper has been completely removed and replace with a new unit that comes with air vents, black mesh garnish around fog lamps and a gloss black lip spoiler with red highlights.

Also read: Toyota Innova 2.8 vs Hyundai Verna 1.6 in a drag race on video

This is a regular Honda City and the front grille has been replaced with a unit from the RS variant. The headlamps and other elements remain the same as before. The side profile of the car shows an aftermarket 8 spoke alloy wheels. It also receives a gloss black skirting with red accents. The windows are all tinted black and the goes well with the white paint job on the car. The rear of the car reveals, the smoked tail lamps. Type R bumper with a huge air vent on either ends.

The rear diffuser gets a gloss black finish and a chrome finished triple exhaust tip is also seen. Apart from all these modifications, this Honda City also gets decent sized spoiler on the boot which gives it a sporty look. It is not known whether any changes are made on the inside or not. The Honda City sold outside India gets an RS version which is powered  by a 1.0 litre, three cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. The City sold in India comes with a new DOHC 1.5 litre naturally aspirated petrol and a 1.5 litre diesel engine. The petrol version gets CVT gearbox option. We will soon get to see such wildly modified Honda City on our streets too. Next year, Honda will launch the City Hybrid in India.

Also read: Mahindra XUV300 is now Rs. 1 lakh cheaper

The Bollywood fraternity in India is one of the highest-paid group. There are many who drive around in most expensive cars that you can imagine and own several vehicles to take them around. However, there are still many who own practical mass segment cars that are best suited for the Indian conditions. Which are these cars? Let’s find out.

Toyota Innova

The Toyota Innova is an MPV that has been widely popular in the mass market. The Innova is easy to maintain, offers excellent ride quality, lasts for years and provides a lot of space. There are a few notable Bollywood actors who own the Innova and move around in it. Malaika Arora owns a petrol-automatic variant of the Innova Crysta. She has been spotted driving in the car all by herself too. Jackie Shroff also owns a Toyota Innova and uses it quite often. The veteran movie star Madhuri Dixit also owns a Toyota Innova that has been transformed into a lounge by DC Design.

Also read: 10 celebrity car nuts of India

Tata Harrier

Launched in the Indian market last year, the all-new Tata Harrier has a decent fanbase in India. The Harrier is a mid-size SUV that is positioned lower than the Mahindra XUV500. Fatima Sana Shiekh, who made her debut in the movie Dangal owns a Harrier Dark Edition.

Toyota Fortuner

The good old Toyota Fortuner has been around for ages in the Indian market and no other vehicle in the segment could replace the Fortuner from the top spot of the sales chart. The Fortuner is extremely popular and is used by many Bollywood celebrities like Amir Khan, who owns a latest-generation Fortuner while Bipasha Basu owns an older-generation Fortuner.

Maruti Suzuki Gypsy

The Maruti Suzuki Gypsy is an enthusiast’s car. Widely used by the armed forces, the lightweight Gypsy is one of the most capable SUVs in India. John Abraham, who is a big automobile aficionado own quite a few high-end motorcycles and cars. The Maruti Suzuki Gypsy is one of them.

Jeep Compass

The Jeep Compass is the best-selling product in the Indian market from the American manufacturer. It is a well-rounded product and is quite popular in the market too. There are many Bollywood celebrities including Akshay Kumar and Jacqueline Fernandez who owns a Jeep Compass. Even Sara Ali Khan drives around is a Jeep Compass.

Tata Nano

The Tata Nano was launched in India to make the roads safer for the commuters by offering an affordable car. While the car did not become very popular in the market, there are many who understood the practical worth of the Nano. The small size of the car makes it agile in traffic and it is highly fuel-efficient too. Kim Sharma owns a Nano and she uses the car quite often.

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is undoubtedly the most comfortable vehicle in the segment. It has been a choice for many in the past but is not as popular as it used to be. Even many Bollywood celebrities own the CR-V. Akshay Kumar and Sara Ali Khan own CR-V. Sara used to be spotted with the SUV quite often until recently while Akshay uses the petrol-powered CR-V every now and then.

Mahindra Jeep CJ4

Nana Patekar who has done several critically-acclaimed movies is a man of simple choices. Nana moves around in a humbler Royal Enfield Bullet and also owns a Mahindra Jeep CJ4A. The classic jeep is powered by a 2.2.-litre petrol engine and gets a three-speed transmission.

Also read: This Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 has modifications worth Rs 2.83 lakh (Video)

A couple of days ago, two students of pharmacy died after an accident while riding a superbike. The 22 and 20-year-old students of first-year crashed into a divider after failing to negotiate a turn and crashed. Authorities in Noida are now taking actions to stop super bikers from Noida-Greater Noida Expressway during the weekends.

According to a report on TOI, the Noida authorities are taking action against these bikers and stopping them from entering the expressway. It should be noted that no such order has been passed by the court or the government. The Gautam Budh Nagar traffic police have decided to stop such bikers for allegedly racing on the expressways during the weekend.

The authorities say that the bikers from Delhi and NCR ride to the open empty roads of the expressways and race against each other. While it is true that many riding groups come out for a group ride during the weekends, it is not known if they race against each other.

Also read: Royal Enfield Thunderbird X based “Trike” comes with a reverse gear (Video)

Apart from setting up pickets at the starting of the Noida-Greater Noida expressway, the cops were also stationed at the entry point of Yamuna Expressway, which is one of the longest expressways in India.

Inspector Ashutosh Singh said that the teams of police were strategically deployed at different locations. The teams were in position at 4AM on Chilla, DND and Yamuna Expressway entry point. He also said,

“Since the implementation of weekend lockdown in UP, these bikers were told not to enter the state. Around 60-70 of these bikers tried to enter from the Chilla border while around 25-35 tried to enter from the DND Flyway. They started coming from 5am and the last batch was spotted at 8am. We tried to ensure that even if they manage to enter, they shouldn’t be let go without a challan”

He also said that the bikers made all kind of excuses to get past the picket. Many bikers said that they have to go to Greater Noida while many others said that they have to reach Agra. The cops also said that there were as many as 30 cops deployed lead by traffic sub-inspectors a the borders to stop such bikers from entering UP.  The police also said that about 70% of the bikers were registered in Delhi and Haryana.

According to a TOI source, the cops have decided to take such actions against the bikers as issuing a challan is becoming a big challenge. Since many of the bikers ride at an extremely high speed on the expressways, even the speed cameras fail to take the picture of the registration plates. However, it should be noted that no such order has been passed by the courts or the government until now. Since there is no law against it, the bikers might use different ways to get on the expressway. Both Noida-Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressways have multiple entry and exit points. However, the entry-points on the Yamuna Expressways are controlled by the staff.

Also read: Beautiful Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 for sale: CHEAPER than new

MG Motors launched the all-new Hector Plus in the Indian market earlier this year. MG is now working to launch its flagship product in the Indian market, which was officially showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo. The all-new MG Gloster will take on the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Mahindra Alturas G4 and the likes. The all-new Gloster is likely to be launched later this month as the festive season is approaching and most customers plan to purchase their vehicles during this time of the year.

The new pictures on T-BHP show that MG has already dispatched Gloster a few dealerships in India. This indicates that the launch is imminent and soon official unveiling of the vehicle will happen where the specifications and features will be announced.

The new pictures also reveal a few things about the upcoming SUV. To start with, it gets the ADAS badging, which stands for Advanced Driving Assistance System and it is a semi-autonomous feature in the vehicle. The system is considered as 2nd level of autonomous driving where the vehicle itself would be able to control the speed and steering but the driver will have to keep an eye out for the obstacles and such things. Such systems use radar-based technologies and we are not sure if the same will be offered in the Indian-spec Gloster. The ADAS is already available in the MG ZS EV and few other cars on sale in the international markets. Also, the exterior of the Gloster gets quad exhaust tips and multi-spoke alloy wheels that look extremely good.

Also read: Rs. 1 lakh discount on Tata Harrier BS6 Automatic

The cabin gets three-row seating with captain seats for the second row. Also, the images show that the Gloster will come with an all-digital instrument cluster, lane-departure warning system, and rear electronic differential lock. There is also a rotary knob to choose between the various traction modes and drive modes. The upcoming SUV will also come hill descent control, park assist, seat ventilation and wireless charging system. Like the Hector, the Gloster will get a massive panoramic sunroof too.

While the engine details are not out, the Gloster is likely to be powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine from FCA that also powers a range SUV in India. The same engine is currently available with the Tata Harrier, MG Hector and Jeep Compass. However, in the Gloster, it will produce a maximum power of 218 Bhp and a peak torque of 480 Nm. It will get an 8-speed automatic transmission too.

MG has always been known for keeping an extremely value-for-money price tag and the Gloster is expected to follow the same strategy.

Also read: Mahindra XUV300 is now Rs. 1 lakh cheaper

After launching the all-new fifth-generation City in the Indian market, Honda has announced that the older fourth-generation model of the car will be available as well. The fourth-generation City has been launched in two variants and the price starts at Rs 9.29 lakh, ex-showroom. The all-new City’s entry-level variant is priced at Rs 10.89 lakh since it comes with a long list of features as standard.

The fourth-generation Honda City will be available in two variants – SV and V. The base entry-level variant is priced at Rs 9.29 lakhs while the SV variant is priced at Rs 9.99 lakh. Both the variants will be available with a single drivetrain only.

The 1.5-litre petrol engine will be different from the all-new petrol engine that is available with the fifth-generation City. Honda will continue to offer the same 1.5-litre engine that was available with the fourth-generation model. The four-cylinder engine produces a maximum power of 119 PS and peak torque of 145 Nm of peak torque. It will only get a manual transmission and customers who are looking buy automatic variants will have to choose the all-new fifth-generation City.

Also read: Honda”s chief designer talks about spaciousness of the all-new City sedan on video

Mr Rajesh Goel, Sr. Vice President and Director, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd,

“While the All-New 5^th Gen Honda City has created a new benchmark of supremacy occupying the most premium position in the mid-size sedan segment, we had decided to continue selling the 4^th Generation Honda City as it continues to be a popular model with its contemporary styling and is also BS-6 compliant. With the continuation of 4^th Generation Honda City in SV and V grade, we have ensured that the City brand is available to a wider set of customers in terms of trims and different price points in the mid-size sedan segment.”

The Honda City has remained a very niche product in India since its launch more than two decades ago. The fourth-generation City was first launched in 2014 and till now, more than 3.5 units of the vehicle have been sold in the market. It is a widely popular vehicle in the Indian market and it takes on the likes of Hyundai Verna, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and the likes.

With the new model, it will be a first instance where Honda will sell two different generations of the City in the Indian market. The mid-size sedan remained on the top of sales charts for years before the competition became stiff. However, with the all-new City and the last-generation City selling side-by-side, Honda will be able to tap on a larger customer base and is likely to attract a lot of potential customers.

Also read: Maruti Baleno to Ciaz: NEXA car discounts for August 2020

It takes a lot of effort and hard-work to realise the dreams and that’s why fulfilling childhood dreams seem like a major accomplishment. Here is a story of a person who has a very humble background like most of us. However, the person who goes by the name of Tapesh Kumar worked hard to fulfil his childhood dream of owning a Jaguar XJ L.

Tapesh, who currently works as an airline pilot started his life with a lot of difficulties surrounding him. The family where he was born did not even had a two-wheeler. However, over the years, Tapesh worked towards his dreams and he recently brought a used Jaguar XJ L luxury saloon.

Also read: Used Maruti Dzire petrol and diesel automatic cheaper than a WagonR

Apart from the Jaguar XJ L, he also owns a humble Ford EcoSport and a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. While Tapesh does not tell the story of his struggling days and what hardships he had to go through to reach his dream, but he does talks about the Jaguar a lot.

It is a used Jaguar XJ L and it is the most powerful variant of the vehicle. It comes powered by a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine that produces a maximum power of 385 Bhp and peak torque of 625 Nm. There is an 8-speed automatic transmission. Jaguar does not sell the 5.0-litre V8 engine anymore.

Tapesh talks a lot about the car and shows the viewers how exactly all the controls work and how to change the drive mode of the vehicle. Also, he makes the viewers listen to the growling V8 under the hood. The blabber and the splatter from the V8 petrol sure sounds heavenly. The video also shows him parking the car in the middle of the road and a few children getting themselves clicked with the car.

It is not known the money he spent for the vehicle but a new Jaguar XJ L can cost more than Rs 1 crore. However, just like all other luxury cars in India, the value drops by quite a lot as soon the vehicle is delivered to a customer. There are quite a used Jaguar XJ L luxury sedans available in the used car market and the price of these vehicles depend on the condition of the car, odometer reading, service history, place of registration and many other such factors. A Jaguar XJ L in a good condition will set you back by at least Rs 40 lakhs. Also, it should be noted that the maintenance cost of such vehicles increases with the age and since the parts can cost a lot of money, they are quite expensive to maintain and use when compared to any mass-segment cars. Also, since most parts are imported, it takes longer time than the mass-segment vehicles to service the vehicle.

Also read: Used Porsche Cayenne luxury SUV selling cheaper than a new Jeep Compass

Maruti Suzuki has been offering a wide variety of cars in the domestic market for quite some time. They are also the largest car manufacturer in India. Apart from India, Suzuki also sell their models in international market and are manufactured in Japan. According to some reports, Suzuki Japan will soon be introducing new/next-generation models for Alto hatchback, WagonR hatchback and Vitara SUV. The next-gen version of these models are expected to be launched in the market by December 2021.

As per BestCarWeb.jp, the first model to be launched will be the Alto hatchback. The international version of Alto is different from the one sold in India. The ninth generation of this hatchback is all set to be unveiled by December 2020.

Also read: Maruti Arena car discounts for August 2020

The car will retain its lightweight platform and is expected to be offered with a R06D type engine which is a 658-cc unit and generates 48 Bhp. Suzuki might also introduce a sportier version of Alto known as Alto works in the market. while the regular Alto will use a naturally aspirated engine, the sportier version will be getting a turbocharged version of the same.

Another vehicle that is sold internationally is the WagonR hatchback. This too is different from the version sold in India. The International version of this tall boy hatchback has been around since 2017 and in 2019 in received a R06D type engine. These versions are unlikely to be launched in India as Maruti launched the all-new WagonR in India back in 2019 only. Suzuki is expected to launch the new WagonR in December 2021.

Third model that Suzuki plans to launch is Vitara which is also known as Suzuki Escudo. Vitara has been discontinued from our market for various reasons but, is still available internationally. The upcoming SUV will be powered by a 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol engine with 48V mild hybrid system that Suzuki has developed. It will also be equipped with a 1.0 litre, three cylinder turbo petrol unit that will generate more power than the 1.4 litre unit. Apart from all these vehicle, Suzuki is also expected to bring a 5-door version of their popular SUV Jimny in India by the end of this year. Japan already has the three-door version and it is very unlikely that the 5-door version will be launched in the Japanese market. Instead, the 5 door model will be launched in India and other emerging markets.

Also read: Hyundai car discounts for August 2020: Santro to Aura

India is a country where motorists love to use the horn while on the road. It might be one of the top countries when it comes to the usage of the horns and that’s why the noise pollution is quite high. Because of this very same habit, most Indian check the sound quality of the stock horn and many even get aftermarket horn installed in their new vehicle soon after the delivery. A few other go overboard and import horn to install in their vehicles. Here is one such person who spent Rs 1 lakh to install and aftermarket horn on his Mahindra Thar.

This horn sounds like a train horn and is imported from Canada. The owner claims in the video that this horn sounds exactly like a train horn and uses quite a complicated set-up. For the horn, there is an elaborate set-up that is placed in the rear of the car. It consists of a portable air compressor and a network of pipes that blow into the horn, which is positioned in the engine bay of the vehicle.

Also read: Buying a pre-owned Mahindra Thar is better than buying a new one: 5 reasons

There is a separate button for the horn because you cannot use it on the public roads. Such loud pressure horns are banned in India, especially the pressure horns. In the past, such horns were quite common on the roads and were used by the roadway buses and truckers. However, over the years, random checking by the cops in different states ensured that most people do not have such loud horns installed in their vehicles.

According to the rules, the maximum loudness of a horn cannot exceed 112 dB. While we are not sure about the reading on a decibel meter when it comes to this particular horn but in general, such loud train horns are about 130-150 dB loud, which is quite extreme.

If you ask why such horns are used in a road-going vehicle. Well, it becomes quite useful while offroading at night. If you lose your way or trail in the dark and there is no other way of communication, you can attract attention by using such a loud horn. However, if used on the public roads, such loud horn can give anxiety attack to the people and may also permanently damage the ears. Since all the mechanism is well-hidden, the cops do not suspect road-going vehicles to have such pressure horns anyway.

The cost of this set-up comes to around Rs 1 lakh as per the owner. The horn trumpet costs Rs 25,000 while the compressor is for Rs 50,000. The rest of the money was spent on the installation and the shipping charges.

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Rolls Royce is considered as the pinnacle of luxury cars. While there are many who want to own the Rolls Royce and have made it their life goal, there are a few people who own more than one model of the British luxury car. We all know about the Indian in the UK who owns several Rolls Royce cars and matches his turbans with the colour of the vehicle. Well, here is another family from Kerala, India who own three Rolls Royce in three different colours.

The three Rolls Royce cars we are talking about belongs to T.S. Kalyanaraman and his sons Ramesh and Rajesh. All three of them are part of the famed Kalyan Jewellers who have stores across India and in many foreign countries too. The jewellers have retail chain concentrates in the Southern part of the country and is quite popular too. T.S Kalyanaraman started working at a tender age of 12 when he worked in his father’s textile shop to learn basics of business. Since then, the journey of Kalyan Jewellers has been emphatic and currently, they have a turnover of around Rs 8,500 crores.

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All three Rolls Royces in the family is used regularly by different people. T.S. Kalyanaraman drives around in a Rolls Royce Phantom Series II, which is priced at close to Rs 10 crores, depending on the customisation and optional extras chosen by the customers. His car is a black one. His sons also drive around in their respective Phantom Series II luxury sedans. One of the cars are in silver and the other one is in white colour. There are several videos that show all three Rolls Royce cars parked in the garage together.

Apart from the Rolls Royce Phantoms, there are not many other luxury cars in the garage though. Most of the times, they use the Rolls Royce to go around the town. However, T.S. Kalyanaraman also uses a Volkswagen Touareg, an SUV that is not available in the Indian market anymore. He also owns a BMW 5-Series. Apart from these few cars, we could not find any more vehicles that belong to the trio. It is quite possible that the other vehicles are parked in a different place.

Cars are not the only high-end mobility solution that they own. The family also owns a private jet and a helicopter that they use to go around the country whenever required. They own the Legacy 650 business jet and a Bell 427 helicopter.

Three Rolls Royce in the same family is quite rare around the world. In India, this might be the rare instance of a family having three modern-generation Rolls Royce cars. Even the richest family in India – the Ambanis own a Rolls Royce Cullinan, a Rolls Royce Phantom DHC and a Rolls Royce Phantom VIII but they do not come out of the garage much.

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Tata has introduced a new variant of the Nexon in the Indian market today. With the XM(S) variant, the Nexon has become the most affordable car in the Indian market to offer a sunroof. The price of the new XM(S) variant is Rs 8.36 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi.

The new XM(S) variant will attract a lot of customers who want a sunroof in their cars. The popularity of the vehicles with sunroof has increased quite a lot in recent times. Apart from the electrically controlled sunroof, the car has a long list of features. The Nexon XM(S) offers features like automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, steering-mounted controls. These are new features that have been added to the exiting feature list. The Nexon XM already offered features like LED DRLs, projector headlamps, electronic stability control (ESC), hill hold control, ConnectNext touchscreen infotainment system, drive modes – Eco, City, Sport and a range other features. The new variant is available with both automatic and manual transmission option. Here is a detailed price list of the new variants.

Commenting on the introduction of the Nexon XM(S), Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Head, Marketing, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit (PVBU), Tata Motors said,

“The Nexon has always been a product of pride for Tata Motors. It established us as the flagbearer of safety by becoming Global NCAP’s first Five Star rated car in India in 2018. The industry, media and customers alike have appreciated the car for its design and driving dynamics. With the launch of our ‘New Forever’ range of vehicles earlier this year, we promised to keep our products fresh and up to date with the changing customers’ demands. Keeping up with our commitment, we are elated to announce the launch of Nexon XM(S). A product that will now allow our customers to enjoy superior features such as the electric sunroof at a compelling price. With this addition to our Nexon range, we will provide our customers with a premium driving pleasure & state-of-the-art features at attractive prices, thereby making our products accessible to all.”

The XM(S) variant will be available with both petrol and diesel engine options. It should be noted that Tata launched a facelifted version of the Nexon earlier this year with a more powerful petrol engine. The petrol variants of the Nexon XM(S) will get powered by the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 120 PS and peak torque of 170 Nm. The diesel variants will come powered by the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that generates a maximum power of 110 PS of maximum power and 260 Nm of peak torque.

The launch comes days ahead of the arrival of the all-new Kia Sonet, which will become the latest vehicle in the sub-4m compact SUV segment and will take on the Nexon directly.

Also read: Kia Sonet mid-spec variant compact SUV spied

Kia will launch the all-new Sonet in the Indian market later this month. This will be the third product from the brand in the Indian market after the highly successful Seltos and the Carnival. The Sonet will take on the likes of Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Mahindra XUV500, Ford EcoSport and the likes. The launch will happen on 18th September 2020.

The all-new Kia Sonet will become the brand’s most affordable car in the Indian market. It will be available in two categories – Tech Line and GT Line just like the Seltos. Kia will offer as many as three engine options just like the Venue. The base variants will get the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine while the higher-end variants will be powered by the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Even though the diesel variants will get the same 1.5-litre diesel engine but the lower variants will get a lower-tuned engine while the higher-end variants will get a more powerful version of the same diesel engine.

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The naturally aspirated petrol engine will produce a maximum power of 83 PS and will be offered with a 5-speed manual transmission only. The 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine will churn out a maximum of 120 PS and will come with the iMT and 7-speed DCT only. There will be no pure manual transmission available with this engine option. The 1.5-litre diesel that will be available with the lower-end variants will produce a maximum of 100 PS and will come with a 6-speed manual transmission. The higher-end models will get the same diesel engine but it will produce a maximum power of 115 PS and peak torque of 250 Nm. It will come with a 6-speed torque-convertor automatic transmission only. No other manufacturer offers a torque convertor with a diesel engine in the segment.

Kia is extremely generous when it comes to the features and we have already seen it with the Seltos and the Carnival. The all-new Sonet will be no different. The car will get a slew of segment-first features like front parking sensors, 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, front ventilated seats, sound-connected ambient lights, Bose speaker and lot other features.

Officially, Kia has already started accepting the bookings for the all-new Sonet. On the first day itself, Kia announced that more than 6,500 bookings were made in India. The deliveries are likely to start in this month and Kia has already started dispatching vehicles to the dealerships. The segment will see many other launches like Toyota Urban Cruiser, Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger.

Also read: Rs. 1 lakh discount on Tata Harrier BS6 Automatic

Royal Enfield is working on a range of 650 cc motorcycles for the Indian market after tasting great success with the Interceptor and Continental GT 650 twins. One motorcycle among the slew of new models the brand plans to launch in India is a cruiser based on the 650 twins platform. The same was spotted testing on our roads a few days ago. Here are 10 key takeaways from the latest crop of spy pictures.

1. The upcoming cruiser motorcycle will be based on the 650 platform on which Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 are built.
2. The bike is expected to be using the same 650-cc engine but, it is not known whether it will be generating the same amount of power and torque as it does in the 650 twins.
3. Just like the 650 twins, it’s expected to be powered by a parallel twin engine with a 270 degree crank shaft, fuel injection, air-oil cooling. A 6 speed manual gearbox is likely to be standard.

Also read: This Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 has modifications worth Rs 2.83 lakh (Video)

3. From the images it is quite evident that the 650 cruiser motorcycle will be getting an upside down forks. This will be first time that any Royal Enfield motorcycle will be getting it.

4. Front forks have been raked which gives it a cruiser bike look and lazy riding ergonomics, and probably relaxed turning geometry.

5. Other key takeaways from the images are the twin exhaust with new design and the alloy wheels and wide tyres.

6. It’s easy to see that the seating position on the upcoming cruiser is low slung, just like it is on the Thunderbird.

7. From the images, it also seems as though the Royal Enfield cruiser was inspired by Harley Davidson Fatboy motorcycle.

8. The foot pegs are positioned in a way that it provides a relaxing riding position to the rider. Very cruiser-esque!

9. While Royal Enfield has not said anything about the launch of this new cruiser, word on the street is that the bike will be launched later this year or early next year.

Royal Enfield testing the 650cc cruiser is a sign that the brand is planning to expand their portfolio. This is something which was hinted by officials months ago. There is also a possibility that once the 650 cruiser has hit the market, Royal Enfield might consider building a 650cc Scrambler and a Himalayan adventure motorcycle on the same platform.

Overall, the upcoming Cruiser motorcycle looks quite good in the spy pictures and could give established brands such as Harley Davidson and Triumph a run for their monies. Just like Meteor, the upcoming motorcycle is also expected to get new instrument cluster with bluetooth connectivity features.

Images courtesy Maxabout

Also read: Drag Race between Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and KTM RC390 on video