Nissan launched the all-new Magnite in the Indian market earlier this year. The first sub-4m compact SUV from the brand has gained massive popularity and in some cities, there is already a waiting period of up to 9 months depending on the variant. ASEAN NCAP has tested a Nissan Magnite and the result show that the car has scored an impressive 4-star rating.

A-NCAP has not revealed details of the test but has posted officially that the Magnite is a four-star rated vehicle. The scores for the test and the video or pictures are not out in the public domains yet. It is not known that the exact product that A-NCAP has tested. However, the A-NCAP does not tests India-specific version of the cars. That said, Nissan is yet to start the export of the Magnite to foreign markets. Also, the Magnite is currently only made in Nissan’s Indian plant. It is highly likely that it is an India-spec product however, there is confirmation for the same.

Nissan Magnite

Also read: Nissan Magnite compact SUV”s waiting period shoots up to 6 months

The Nissan Magnite is the most affordable car in the segment and is priced below the Kia Sonet. The Magnite offers two airbags across the variants as standard. Even the base version of the car offers the same two airbag system. The Magnite also offers safety features like ISOFIX anchor points for the child seats, ESP, traction control, ABS, and more. Nissan is also the only manufacturer to offer a 360-degree camera system with the Magnite. Also, there is a tyre pressure monitoring system, rear parking sensors and more.

The Magnite is available in a wide range of variants in the Indian market. It is only available with two engine options and both of them are petrol. The less powerful variants get the 1.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 72 PS and peak torque of 96 Nm. This engine option is only available with a 5-speed manual transmission. Nissan also offers a more powerful 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. It generates a maximum power of 100 PS and a peak torque of 160 Nm. This engine option is available with all the variants except for the base version. It offers a five-speed manual or a CVT automatic transmission.

The car has become one of the biggest successful products from the brand in recent times. There is a long waiting period on the vehicle that extends to months depending on the location and the variant. It comes with a decent list of features as well. In the fully-loaded version that is priced at Rs 9.59 lakh, ex-showroom offers LED headlamps with sleekest lamps in the segment. Also, the car also offers an 8.0-inch touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It is the first car in the segment to offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also offers a wireless mobile charging system. Nissan Magnite also offers loads of cabin space which is missing from a lot of competitor vehicles.

Also read: Upcoming Tata Hornbill HBX micro SUV front & rear in new spy shots

Mahindra will launch the all-new Scorpio in the Indian market later this year. Before the official launch, the testing of the all-new SUV continues in different parts of the country. Here is the latest set of pictures that show the all-new Scorpio up close and a more production-ready version of the car.

The all-new Mahindra Scorpio is much bigger than the current version of the vehicle. The new spy pictures reveal the front-end of the car. Even though it remains camouflaged, the pictures by T-BHP show that the new Scorpio will get a newly designed grille at the front. The new Scorpio also gets new twin-pod headlamps and this is the first time that the design of the all-new Scorpio is spotted on the vehicle. The headlamp cluster also get LED daytime running lamps.

The rear gets wraparound tail lamp. The Scorpio also gets ORVMs with integrated turn indicators, roof rails, side steps and multi-spoke alloy wheels. The Scorpio also gets regular door handles instead of the flush-type handles spotted on the new Mahindra XUV500.

Also read: 2021 Hyundai Creta 7-seater compact SUV spied on Indian roads

In terms of changes on the outside, the all-new Scorpio will retain the upright design stance that makes it look boxy and butch. However, the body design is all-new and Mahindra is using new body panels to make the SUV look different from the current-generation. Compared to the current model, the all-new Scorpio will be wider and longer too. This definitely means a much bigger cabin space, especially the third-row seats. The all-new Scorpio will also get a cladding around the body to make it look rugged and tough.

On the inside, the all-new Mahindra Scorpio will get a new dashboard. The new dashboard gets a large touchscreen infotainment system. Mahindra is also likely to offer a fully-digital instrument cluster on the top-end version. The higher-end variants will also offer connected features like the MG Hector, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and more such cars in the segment.

Mahindra Scorpio 4X4

The all-new Mahindra Scorpio will continue to offer the ladder-frame chassis. The vehicle will get powered by both petrol and diesel engine options. There will be the new 2.2-litre diesel engine that also powers the Mahindra Thar. It generates a maximum power of 132 PS and peak torque of 320 Nm. Mahindra will also offer petrol-powered variants with the all-new Scorpio. The variants will be powered by the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine which is also available with the all-new Thar. It generates a maximum power of 152 PS and a peak torque of 300 Nm. Both the engine options will offer a manual as well as automatic transmission options.

Mahindra has discontinued the 4X4 variants with the Scorpio. However, the feature may come back in the all-new version. Since the platform, engine options and the transmission are the same as the Thar, Mahindra may offer the 4X4 feature with the top-end version of the Scorpio. Mahindra also never offered an automatic transmission with the Scorpio 4X4 but that can change with the all-new version of the car. The all-new Scorpio will become expensive than the current version. It will take on the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and the likes directly when launched next year.

Also read: All-new 2021 Mahindra XUV500: What it”ll look like

According to the recent reports, Kia is developing a new MPV or Multi-purpose vehicle specifically for the Indian market. It is being called “Kia KY” internally. The new MPV is supposed to launch in January 2022 and it will be a 7-seater. This means that there will be no launches from the manufacturer this year. The new MPV will be competing with some top-end variants of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, XL6, Mahindra Marazzo and some variants of the Toyota Innova Crysta. So, the Kia KY will be positioned below the current Carnival.

Kia India has been doing fairly well in the Indian market especially for a newly launched brand. The Seltos and the Sonet are already a huge success in the Indian market. Both of them have been selling in very good numbers. They also launched the Carnival which was a bit surprising from Kia because after launching two SUVs they introduced a MPV. However, the Carnival performed well in the Indian market for a premium MPV.

Also read: Maruti & Toyota to build Hyundai Creta rival for the Indian market: Launch in 2022

The new MPV is expected to be based on the Kia Seltos’s platform. It will get the same engine options that we have seen on the Seltos. So, there will be a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine capable of producing 115 PS of max power and a peak torque output of 144 Nm. There will also be a 1.5-litre diesel engine on offer that will produce 115 PS of max power and 250 Nm of peak torque. Kia is also expected to offer the 1.4-litre turbocharged, direct-injection petrol engine which produces 140 PS of max power and a peak torque output of 242 Nm. The engines are also shared with the Hyundai Creta. Carry forwarding the engines and the platform will help in lowering the production costs of the vehicles.

The manufacturer plans to sell 50,000 units per year in India. They also plan to export 26,000 units per year, making the total sales number to 76,000 units per year. The MPV still does not have a name but the name that they use will be used globally just like with the Seltos and the Sonet. It will be manufactured at the Anantapur production plant that is located in Andhra Pradesh. The facility has a production capacity of 3 lakh units per year.

We do know that the Kia KY will get Kia’s unique tiger-nose grille, LED headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lamps, alloy wheels, LED tail lamps and a lot more. Feature equipment will also be extensive just like other Kia models. There will be ventilated front seats which will be the first-in-segment. Kia will also offer other equipment such as an electric sunroof, rear parking camera, rear parking sensors, multiple airbags, multi-information display, touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Kia will also be offering its UVO connected car technology which offers many remote features. The manufacturer has already sold more than 1 lakh cars with connected car tech. They say that one in every two cars sold by them is equipped with the UVO connected car tech.

Source

Also read: All-new 2021 Mahindra XUV500: What it”ll look like

Also read: Maruti & Toyota to build Hyundai Creta rival for the Indian market: Launch in 2022

Ford and Mahindra announced the end of the discussion for their joint venture today after the “longstop” date of 31st December 2020 has passed. During a conference today, Mahindra’s top honchos gave us a few details including the status of the upcoming W605 (Ford’s SUV based on the next-generation Mahindra XUV500) and the supply of petrol engines to Ford for the use in EcoSport. Here are the details.

Dr Pawan Goenka, MD, Mahindra and Mahindra said that the Ford and Mahindra were discussing the new products way before the joint venture announcement in October 2019. However, due to the fallout of the JV talks, both the companies will now look at these strategies before moving ahead. Ford and Mahindra will plan the future products irrespective of the JV discussion coming to an end. Now Dr Goenka has also said that the products will be launched only if feasible and there are products that are in almost completion stage. However, a few products can be axed while others may get launched in due time. Mahindra also said that they will look for other ways to collaborate with Ford in the future but furnishing any details on the same.

Ford – Mahindra products status

Also read: Ford”s XUV500-based SUV will look like this: rendering

According to Dr Pawan Goenka, two Ford products are almost nearing completion stage. The Ford C-SUV, which gets the codename W605 is based on the Mahindra W601 or the next-generation XUV500. According to the details, the W605 is almost ready and is only 6 to 9 months behind the W601 in terms of development. The product already has a significant amount of money invested in it. It should be noted that Pininfarina, a world-renowned design firm owned by Mahindra is working on the design of the all-new SUV. So if the manufacturers make the decision of continuing the W605 development, it is likely to launch in 2021.

The second product that is almost complete is the turbocharged petrol powered next-generation EcoSport. Mahindra says that even this product is in its advanced stage of completion. If the development remains on track, the product will be ready for the market in less one year. Even this product has a significant amount of investment involved.

Mahindra also planned to electrify the Ford Aspire platform and launch an all-new electric sedan. That plan is now on hold. While mobility solutions from the manufacturers are also on hold. The Connectivity Solutions is already working in a few Ford and Mahindra vehicles as per Dr Goenka.

Mahindra’s future plans

Mahindra has announced that they will go back to their core targets – which is the SUVs. Mahindra has said that they will focus on the SUVs and not the softroaders in the future. Also, the manufacturer is working on brand-new electric SUVs that will be launched in the coming months. Later this year, two all-new vehicles based on new platforms will be launched too. These are likely to be the all-new XUV500 and the all-new Scorpio.

The press conference also gave an update on the Thar. According to the manufacturer, more than 50% of the Thar bookings done are for the automatic variants. In the month of December, more than 6,500 bookings were made for the vehicle.

Ford is yet to comment on the plans for future products and reveal more details on the development.

Also read: Upcoming Tata Hornbill HBX micro SUV front & rear in new spy shots

MG Motor India has announced a total sales of 4,010 units of vehicles in the month of December 2020. The manufacturer has also announced that 3,430 units of Hector were sold during this period. This is a growth of 33% over the sales in December 2019 and a colossal 77% growth in the total sales in 2020 compared to 2019.

The manufacturer has also announced that they have received 5,000 bookings for the Hector in December. MG does not classify Hector and Hector Plus sales so the exact numbers remain unknown. It is the highest bookings gathered by the MG for the Hector till now. Also, the MG ZS EV has received 200 bookings for the December 2020 period.

Commenting on the sales performance, Rakesh Sidana, Director – Sales, MG Motor India, said,

We have ended the year on a high note with customers continuing to choose the best-in-class premium products from MG’s stable. Going forward, we will have more excitement for the customers in January. We expect the momentum to continue as the MG brand enters more markets in 2021.

MG will keep the Halol plant shut for the first 10 days in January. This is because of the annual maintenance of the plant in Gujarat and no production will happen. MG has also said that with restrictions in the supply chain, the deliveries to the customers can get delayed in the future. However, the manufacturer did not say how much time the deliveries can get delayed.

The Hector remains the best-selling vehicle from the manufacturer. MG has sold over 25,000 units of the Hector in the 2020 calendar year. The MG ZS EV has clocked 1,243 units in the 2020 calendar year.

MG launched the all-new ZS EV, Hector Plus and the Gloster in the Indian market in 2020. In 2021, the brand plans to launch a slew of SUVs again. The first vehicle coming from them is the Hector Plus – 7-seater version. MG is also working on the facelifted version of the Hector and that is likely to offer a 4X4 system, which the competition does not offer. We are not sure if the 4X4 system with an AWD only or a proper 4X4 with a low-range transfer case. Nonetheless, MG also plans to equip the new Hector with Advanced Driver-Assistance System or ADAS. It is already available with the Gloster but we are not sure if the same level of technology will be available with the Hector too.

The Gloster offers Level 1 Autonomous Driving that allows various functions including lane assist, automatic emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control system and more. The Gloster is the only vehicle in the segment to offer these features while the vehicles like Fortuner and the Endeavour do not offer any of these.

MG also plans to launch the Creta-challenger later this year. The SUV to take on the Creta and the Seltos will be the petrol version of the ZS. It is already on sale in the international markets and will launch in India soon. MG also plans to launch an all-new MPV to take on the Innova but the exact timeline of the same remains unknown.

Mahindra 2020 Thar continues to be a good performing product for the homegrown manufacturer. In fact, it exceeded Mahindra’s expectations due to which the SUV is facing some high waiting period issues. However, this did not stop people from buying the 2020 Thar. The SUV has received 6,500 bookings in the month of December alone. Due to this the waiting period for the 2020 Thar has hit 10 months. Over 50 percent bookings have been done for the automatic gearbox of the LX variant. The LX variant is aimed towards the people who will be using the SUV as a daily driver.

Mahindra has already discontinued the entry-level AX and AX Std variants. This was done because these variants were offered with side-facing seats. So, the vehicle could seat 6 people. However, the side facing seats are not safe and Thar had already scored 4-stars with front-facing seats. So, it makes sense for the manufacturer to discontinue the AX variant. Also, the AX variant was not really selling well and had poor demand.

The waiting period for the 2020 Thar is already very high. In fact, the SUV is sold out till May 2021. The bookings for the soft top model is already closed. The waiting period for convertible top is 22-24 weeks, the waiting period for hard-top diesel is stretching upto 39-40 weeks. Whereas if you opt for the hard-top petrol variant you would have to wait for 40-41 weeks. This is one of the few reasons why the Thar is so successful. People wanted a petrol engine in the Thar and now Mahindra finally launched it. The icing on the top is the automatic transmission that is offered with both the engines. So, now people are opting for the automatic gearbox because it provides a hassle-free experience while driving in bumper to bumper traffic. Mahindra has also worked extensively on making the Thar a better daily driver. They reworked the ladder-frame chassis, suspension, NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) levels, insulation, engines, comfort and a lot more. All of this came together as a much-improved product that can be used on daily basis. Mahindra also offered front-facing seats for the rear occupants so that they can sit comfortably and can at least cover the decent distance without feeling any fatigue. The manufacturer also added a lot of comfort features such as automatic climate control, cruise control, steering mounted controls, multi-information display, LED Daytime Running Lamps, touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and much more. Thar also comes with a washable interior and removable roof panels.

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

Powering the 2020 Thar is a new set of engines. There is a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine and a 2.0-litre turbocharged, direct-injection petrol engine. The diesel engine produces 130 PS of max power and 300 Nm of peak torque. The petrol engine produces 150 PS of max power and a peak torque output of 300 Nm. Both engines are offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. Being an off-road-oriented vehicle Thar comes with 4×4 system as standard with low-range option. Mahindra is also testing some new colours for the Thar. There will be white colour and silver colour that might get launched in the future.

Also read: All-new 2021 Mahindra XUV500: What it”ll look like

Also read: All-new 2021 Mahindra XUV500: What it”ll look like

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is the most popular SUV in the sub-4 meter segment. It has maintained the pole position and is the highest selling sub-4 meter compact SUV in the segment. Then there is Tata Nexon which gained popularity among buyers for its build quality. It was the first vehicle in sub-4 meter SUV segment to get a 5-star rating. Both the SUVs are quite popular in the segment and they compete with cars like Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV300, Ford EcoSport and recently launched Nissan Magnite. Here we have a video that shows a drag race between the Vitara Brezza diesel AMT and Tata Nexon AMT.

The video has been uploaded by Daily Auto Life on their youtube channel. The video starts by showing both the cars. Both the cars were diesel powered and they both come with an AMT gearbox. Maruti used to offer Brezza only with a diesel engine till 2019. The diesel engine version was discontinued in 2020 as it was compliant with the new BS6 emission norms. The 2020 version of Brezza is available with a 1.2 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with manual and automatic transmission options.

Also read: Upcoming Tata Hornbill HBX micro SUV front & rear in new spy shots

Tata Nexon seen in the video is a pre-facelift model. The facelifted version looks a lot more sharp and premium than the version seen here in video. Tata Nexon was always available with a petrol and diesel engine options and both petrol and diesel offered manual and AMT gearbox options. Maruti Brezza diesel is powered by a 1.3 litre turbocharged engine that generates 89 Ps and 200 Nm of torque. The Nexon diesel on the other hand gets a much more powerful 1.5 litre turbocharged engine that generates 110 Ps and 260 Nm of peak torque.

In order to conduct the race, vlogger chooses a stretch of road with no traffic on it. The race was conducted in three rounds. Before watching the video it felt like the Nexon was going to win the race as it was a lot more powerful but, the results were quite surprising. In the first round, vlogger had put the Nexon in City mode which reduces the power and torque of the vehicle to provide for efficiency.

As soon as the race started, the Nexon took the lead and it felt like Nexon was winning the round but, within few seconds, Maruti Brezza started catching up and overtakes it very smoothly. The Brezza maintains the lead and takes the round. In second round, the Nexon is put into sport mode which makes the acceleration and gear change a bit more aggressive. In this round, the Brezza clearly won the race because the Nexon was not performing well. According to the vlogger, the Brezza had come back after a major service but, it was due on Nexon.

This could be the reason why Nexon was not performing well. In the third round, the Nexon performed well and won the round by a very slight margin.Vitara Brezza’s performance was consistant throughout the race. One of the reason behind Nexon not winning the race was of course the condition of the vehicle. Next was the weight. Nexon is a lot more heavier than Brezza and a light weight body definitely helps a car during a drag race.

Also read: MG Hector Facelift to be launched in 2021

India has become one of the largest automobile markets in the world over the years. However, during the initial days, a lot of manufacturers including the international ones and the homegrown Indians worked to launch a slew of new cars. While there a few foreign manufacturers that launched in India and later packed their bags, there were quite a few handfuls of Indian manufacturers that tried and failed. Here is one such Indian manufacturer that launched India’s first electric vehicle – the Lovebird.

Eddy Electric series launched the Lovebird way back in 1993. The vehicle was showcased at the Auto Expo in Delhi and also received a few awards at the event. The Indian government also gave a green signal to the car. However, due to the low sales, the manufacturer shut its shop in India.

Also read: IPL cricketer”s Ford Mustang GT loses control; HITS two cars on flyover

Built by Eddy Current Controls (India) Ltd in collaboration with Yaskawa Electric Mfg. Co. from Tokyo, Japan. The car was built in the Chalakudy, Kerala and Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The two-seater Lovebird offered direct current electric motor powered by a rechargeable portable battery. Since the battery packs were not as advanced back then, a lead-acid battery pack was used. The exact number of the cells is not known and there is no information on the power of the battery too. It also came with electronic chopper control that provided a smooth speed control system to the driver.

The car also came with a transmission. It had a four-speed with reverse gear to provide the maximum efficiency. According to the details, the Lovebird could travel 60 km on a single charge. The manufacturer aimed to target customers who solely want cars for city usage. There was no fast-charging system back then and the battery pack took about 8 hours to charge completely. The electric car also had other restrictions including a grade limit of 15 degrees. It means that the car could not climb steep inclines if needed. However, back then, there were almost no steep flyovers to challenge the car.

Why was it discontinued?

The sale of the Lovebird never crossed three-digit figure back then. Also, the success of the electric cars at present is not a secret to anyone and we all know how the buyers stay away from the EVs. Back then, power outage, proper electricity supply and other factors must have caused this vehicle to sink. The government had also stopped the subsidy to the car buyers, which made it very expensive too.

Apart from this electric vehicle, there are many other Indian manufacturers like Sipani, Kazah, Aravind, and Meera. There were quite a few roadblocks to launch a new car and post the Maruti Suzuki 800 era, the Indian market changed completely.

Electric cars in India

After the launch of the Reva in the Indian market, the electric car bandwagon got some steam. However, the journey of the Reva did not last very long. It was acquired by Mahindra and the E2O was launched. At present, Tata, MG and Hyundai offer electric SUVs in the market. However, there are a few electric cars that will launch in 2021 and in the coming years.

Also read: Upcoming Tata Hornbill HBX micro SUV front & rear in new spy shots

2021 will be the year when many manufacturers will be launching their products. This year also we saw many launches despite the fact that there was a lockdown throughout the country. That did not stop the manufacturers from launching new products in the Indian market. January 2021 will be an exciting month for automotive enthusiasts because we will be getting a lot of launches from different manufacturers. So, today we list down a few cars that will be launching in January 2021.

Toyota Fortuner Facelift

Toyota recently launched the facelift of the Innova Crysta. The other vehicle that is due for a facelift is the Fortuner. Fortunately, the facelift of the Fortuner will be arriving soon on January 6th. They will also be launching the Fortuner Legender which will be a more aggressive and powerful version of the Fortuner. It will get more striking styling and some minor tweaks to the interior. There will be a new grille, aggressive bumper, LED headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lamps and new alloy wheels. The diesel engine will be producing 204 bhp of max power and a torque output of 500 Nm. The Fortuner Legender is expected to start from around Rs. 43 lakhs ex-showroom.

Also read: MG Hector Facelift to be launched in 2021

Jeep Compass Facelift

Jeep Compass was falling behind when compared to the rivals. So, the American brand decided to give it a facelift which was due for quite some time now. The changes will only be cosmetic rather than mechanical. So, it will continue to get the 2.0-litre Multijet diesel engine capable of producing 170 PS of max power and a peak torque output of 350 Nm. The 1.4-litre turbo petrol will produce 160 PS of max power and a peak torque output of 250 Nm. The cosmetic changes will include a sleeker set of LED headlamps and grille with design elements carried forward from the Trailhawk. There will also be a new set of alloy wheels. The interior will get more premium materials and a new floating 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system which will support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Jeep Compass Facelift will be launching on 7th January. The prices of the Compass Facelift will be higher than the current Compass which starts from Rs. 16.49 lakhs ex-showroom.

MG Hector Plus 7-seater

MG Hector Plus is also scheduled to launch in January of 2021. There will be no changes cosmetically or mechanically. The Hector Plus will just get a bench seating for the second-row. This will make the SUV more practical for family use. It will continue to get the same 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine that produces 143 PS and 250 Nm. The Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre diesel engine produces 170 PS and 350 Nm. The cost of the Hector Plus is expected to come down a bit because of the bench seat. However, MG Motors is increasing the prices of its products by upto 3 percent.

Tata Altroz Turbo

The much-awaited Altroz Turbo will finally be here on 13th January. There would be no cosmetic changes to the premium hatchback except for some new colours. Tata will be using the Nexon’s petrol engine for the Altroz Turbo. However, the engine will be detuned. The 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine will produce 108 PS of max power and a peak torque output of 140 Nm. It will be offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox. It is also expected to get a 7-speed Dual-Clutch Automatic gearbox. We expect the Altroz Turbo to start from somewhere around Rs. 7.99 lakhs ex-showroom.

Tata Gravitas

Tata Gravitas is the bigger sibling of the Harrier and it will be the new flagship for the homegrown manufacturer. It is basically a longer and taller version of the Harrier. It will get a lighter beige cabin rather than a brown coloured cabin that we have seen on the Harrier. It will be powered by the same 2.0-litre Fiat-soured Kyrotec diesel engine capable of producing 170 PS of max power and 350 Nm of peak torque. Tata Gravitas is expected to launch on 26th January and it will be priced from little under Rs. 15 lakh, ex-showroom.

Mahindra XUV300 Petrol AMT

Mahindra’s XUV300 is one feature-loaded compact-SUV which still offers many first in segment features and best in class torque output. Currently, Mahindra does not offer an automatic transmission with the petrol engine of the XUV300. However, it is expected that the homegrown manufacturer will soon be pairing the petrol engine with an AMT gearbox and will be launching the new variant in January 2021. We expect that Mahindra will be offering the AMT gearbox from the W6 variant and it will cost around Rs. 9.4 lakhs ex-showroom.

Also read: Upcoming Tata Hornbill HBX micro SUV front & rear in new spy shots

Two-wheeler advertisements have always been important in the Indian market. Many manufacturers have been known to come out with excellent advertisements, many of which are now a Classic. Motorcycles such as Hero Honda CD100 was one of the first four-stroke motorcycles that were affordable for the general public. The sales got an additional push when Salman Khan himself came out to advertise for the CD100. The year was 1985 when the advertisement was released.

The motorcycle was advertised as the most fuel-efficient motorcycle in India. The video shows that the CD100 travels 400 km on a single tank and still has some fuel left in it. The actor did 3 advertisements for the CD100. All of them featuring the same song which talks about how the CD100 is the most efficient bike in town. It was true that the motorcycle was known for its excellent fuel efficiency. People claimed that the motorcycle could deliver somewhere around 80 km to a litre. The motorcycle helped many people to get their first motorcycle as it was affordable when compared to the competitors. CD 100 was known for its reliable engine, solid build quality, impressive price tag and lightweight. Its famous slogan was ‘Fill it, Shut it & Forget it.’ The design was kept simple by Hero Honda. It got spoked 18-inch wheels, square-shaped halogen headlamp and an analogue instrument cluster. Braking duties were performed by drum brakes on either side. Suspension duties were carried out by hydraulic telescopic forks in the front and hydraulic dampers at the rear. The motorcycle weighed a mere 116 kg. It was powered by a 97 cc, 4-stroke, SOHC, single-cylinder petrol engine. The engine produced 7.5 BHP of max power at 8,000 rpm and 7.2 Nm of peak torque at 5,000 rpm. It was mated to a 4-Speed Constant Mesh transmission.

Also read: Hero Xtreme 160R naked street motorcycle launched

However, now Hero Honda has broken their partnership and are performing as independent firms. There is the Hero MotoCorp and Honda Two-Wheelers. Recently, both the manufacturers were in the news as two dealerships of both the brands were banned from selling motorcycles by Chhattisgarh Transport division. The dealerships are located in Raipur and Gariyaband districts in Chattisgarh. You can read more about the ban by clicking here.

Both manufacturers have been doing well in the Indian market. Honda reported a growth of 9 percent in November 2020 when compared to the sales of November 2019. Honda launched the H’ness CB350 in the Indian market, which is a retro classic motorcycle and is currently on sale through the BigWing network of dealerships of Honda. The motorcycle starts at Rs. 1.85 lakhs ex-showroom. Whereas, Hero MotoCorp saw a 12.9 percent growth in November 2020 when compared to the sales of November 2019. They also launched products like the Xtreme 160R which is priced as a premium sporty commuter. The motorcycle is underpowered when compared to its rivals such as the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. However, its lightweight and agile handling make up for less power output. The Xtreme 160R is priced at Rs. 1.04 lakhs ex-showroom.

Also read: This Harley Davidson Forty-Eight is actually a 125cc Yamaha Enticer

Car modification is not very popular in India, especially after the Supreme Court ruling a couple of years ago. In more recent times, we have seen police seizing heavily modified vehicles and forcing the owners to ensure that they change the vehicle to stock condition again. However, there are many enthusiasts who still modify their vehicles to make it a living beast. Vikramjeet Sharma, the owner of ORAZ off-road cafe owns this unique Contessa 4X4 and we assure you that there is no other vehicle in India like this. The Contessa 4X4 is regular on the off-road circuits and can climb some serious sections without creating a fuss.

This bright orange coloured Contessa is a real-life beast. As the pictures shared on 4X4 India and the video show, it can take on extreme challenges and can go off-roading like no other Contessa in this world. It also looks very different from the regular Contessa. To start with, it gets a much higher ground clearance compared to the regular Contessa while there are off-road spec tyres, bumpers, a new grille with flyscreen, and more. However, the biggest change is the body style. It is now a two-door car and looks extremely good.

Also read: Meet India”s first MPV – the Kajah Kazwa (Video)

Powered by a V6 engine

The stock Hindustan Contessa came powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine sourced from Isuzu. This off-road spec Contessa here takes the power to the next level. It replaces the stock engine with a much more powerful 2.7-litre V6 engine. Yes, you guessed it right. It is from a Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7. The most expensive SUV from Maruti Suzuki ever and it was launched in 2003 in India as CBU. Nonetheless, the same engine generates a maximum power of 183 Bhp and a peak torque of 245 Nm. It came with two transmission choices – a 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed automatic. The Contessa here uses manual transmission. The drivetrain is 4X4 just like the Vitara. It gets shift-on-the-fly 4X4 and that is what makes this Contessa a dream project for many.

Not road legal

The amount of effort that went into turning this humble Contessa into an off-roading monster is massive. There are several structural changes to the body of the Contessa to fit the drivetrain of the Grand Vitara to this. Also, a massive amount of work is needed to fit a different engine and transmission. This is why the Contessa 4×4 is not road legal as per the MV Act and court decisions.

However, the owner of this vehicle does not takes it out on the public roads. If you keep such project vehicles away from the public roads, you really do not break any rules and regulations. You can own and drive any modified car in a private place like an off-road track. So next time you plan to modify your vehicle like this, make sure that you do not get on the public roads. Police can seize such vehicles immediately and issue a massive challan if they spot you with such modified vehicles on the public roads.

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Chevrolet had left Indian market few years back. They had number of vehicles in their line up and one of them was Chevrolet Beat. It was the entry level offering from Chevrolet in India. Although Chevrolet has stopped selling cars in India, the manufacturer still offers support for its existing customers. Talegaon plant of Chevrolet is still operational and manufactures vehicles for export purposes. Coming back to Chevrolet Beat, it was popular a popular hatchback among youngsters for its unique design. It was a mod-friendly car and we have seen several modified examples of Beat in the country. Here we have a modified Chevrolet Beat that gets a custom made wide body kit.

The images have been shared by AK Customs. The Chevrolet Beat as mentioned above was already a sporty looking small hatchback. AK customs has done multiple modifications on this hatchback to give it a sporty look. It gets a Satin Pearl White wrap all over the car. This gives it a very elegant look. Starting with the front, the white Beat has red accents on places like the Chevrolet logo, front grille outline and around the fog lamps. The headlamp has been smoked and there are projector lights in it. A red garnish is also seen inside the headlamp as well.

Also read: ABS saves Kia Seltos from hitting a Chevrolet Beat: Who”s fault was it? (Video)

The grille has been completely blacked out and the lower grille on the front bumper has also been slightly redesigned. The fog lamp has a yellow tint and the front bumper gets a skirting as well. Below the bumper skirting, a splitter has also been installed with connecting rods. There are bumper locks on this Beat as well. The bumper locks and the connecting rods get candy red paint job.

The Chevrolet Beat looks a tad bit wider than the stock version and that is because of the custom made metal fenders. This is probably the first Chevrolet Beat in North India to get a wide body treatment. The new fenders do add to the sporty stance of the vehicle. The stock wheels have been replaced with a set of wide aftermarket alloys. The black alloy with chrome lip looks good on the car. The new custom made fenders nicely cover the wheels and it also leaves an impression that the car has been lowered. The tyre also gets custom made stickers on it.

The car has not been lowered however, it gets a stiffened suspension with custom made springs. There are red stickers seen on multiple places on the car. Coming to the rear, there is a roof mounted spoiler and an aftermarket LED tail light.  The lights does add a premium look to the car from rear. Coming down, there is a black diffuser on the rear bumper. Apart from these, modifications, there are no other noticeable changes on the car.

It is not known whether any sort of customisation has been done to the interior of this car. Coming to Chevrolet Beat, it was available with petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol version was equipped with a  litre naturally aspirated unit that generated 76 Bhp and 106 Nm of torque. The diesel version used a 1.0 litre turbocharged engine that generated 56.3 Bhp and 142 Nm of peak torque. Both engine options were available with a manual gearbox only.

Also read: Hyundai”s Maruti S-Presso rival spied again

Mahindra Thar has been one of the most discussed topic on internet in the last couple of months. Mahindra launched this most awaited product in the market couple of months ago and ever since then, the response from buyers has been overwhelming. The demand for this SUV has increased so much that Mahindra had announced that they will be increasing production and the Thar is currently sold out till May 2021. Just like in the case of older Thar, aftermarket accessories for new-gen Thar has also started to arrive in the market and we have already seen couple of modified examples too. Here we have a 2020 Mahindra Thar that gets a very unique treatment than others. This is probably India’s first Thar to get s a PU bullet liner paint job.

The video has been uploaded by Vinay Kapoor on his youtube channel. The video shows a brand new Mahindra Thar SUV that has got an PU bullet liner paint job. It looks entirely different from the regular paint job that we see on our cars. This PU coating bullet liner leaves a matte finish on the car which looks like a matte paint job or wrap.

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

It may look like a regular paint or wrap job but it is much more than that. It is basically a chemical that is sprayed on to the car just like paint. The main benefit of this bullet liner is that it saves the car from scratches and even protects the body from dents. The vlogger even shows a small clip that explains how strong this paint actually is. It shows a person hitting the bonnet of car with a hammer. Even after hitting multiple times, no major dents can be seen and the paint has also not chipped away.

In this Thar, PU coat bullet liner has been sprayed evenly and that gives it a very rugged look. According to the vlogger, it is more durable than the regular paint and the warranty of this paint totally depends upon the thickness of the coat that it gets. On an average, the paint will stay there for at least 4-5 years. The video says that, it is quite easy to manage as well. Unlike regular paint, there is no need to wax or polish the surface on a regular intervals.

This Thar can be cleaned using a jet spray and water. He also mentions that the cost of getting this done on a car is less than a regular paint job and it can be had did different shades as well. every panel was removed and painted individually to get an even finish. Even the thick side cladding get the same coat. The Mahindra Thar with this matte PU coat looks like an armoured vehicle and definitely enhances the butch SUV look on the SUV.

Mahindra Thar is an all-new SUV. It is available in AX and LX trims. LX trim gets a company fitted hard top as well. It is available with a petrol and diesel engine too. There is a 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine that generates 150 Bhp and 320 Nm of torque. The 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine generates 130 Bhp and 320 Nm of torque. Both engines come with manual and automatic gearbox options along with 4×4 transfer case.

Also read: All-new 2021 Mahindra XUV500: What it”ll look like

Station House Officer (SHO) of Kanpur’s Bithoor police station is found using a car that was stolen two years ago. In a bizarre incident, the owner of the car who lost the vehicle two years ago got a feedback call from the service centre. Stunned by the shocking incident, when he asked more about service details, the service centre personnel said that the vehicle had been returned to the station officer of Bithoor Police Station.

Via HT

The SHO identified as Kaushalendra Pratap Singh is using the stolen vehicle for personal use. A case of the lost car was registered two years ago by the owner Omendra Soni. Interestingly, SHO Kaushalendra Pratap Singh was also involved in the Bikru Ambush, in which eight policemen were killed by the gangster Vikas Duber and his men on July 3rd this year.

Also read: Mumbai police cancels 2,000 driving licenses of those who have not paid e-challan fines

Omendra Soni reported that the car was stolen from a car washing centre on December 31st 2018. He lodged an FIR with the Barra police but the case was closed after the police could not find the lost vehicle. It is not known if Omendra received any kind of insurance claim on the lost vehicle.

On Wednesday, Soni got a call from KTL service centre asking if he is satisfied with the service of his vehicle. Omendra said he was shocked when the service centre personnel shared the exact details of the vehicle which he lost two years ago. The service centre told him that he is getting the call because of his WagonR, which he lost was service a few days ago and it is a feedback call.

Omendra went to the service centre to get more details. To his surprise, the service centre told him that they returned the vehicle to SHO Bithoord, Kaushlendra Pratap Singh on December 22 after service. Soni was wondering why the police did not inform him after they recovered the stolen vehicle.

Vehicle found lying abandoned

SHO Singh, in his defence, says that he found the car abandoned at a roadside. He seized the vehicle because there was no one to claim the car. He did not reveal where did he find the car lying abandoned and the exact date and time of the event. As per procedure, Bithoor Police should have informed Barra Police about the recovery of the vehicle. However, no such intimidations were made.

Police cannot use seized vehicles

The Kanpur IG range – Mohit Agarwal confirmed that the vehicles seized by the cops in any kind of case cannot be used by the personnel. It is against the law but it is not the first of its kind incident happening in Uttar Pradesh. Currently, an inquiry is initiated by Mohit Agarwal and he also confirmed that serious action will be ordered if anyone is found responsible for this incident. The police have not shared any information on the charges that they will press against the SHO and what kind of action will be taken by them.

In March 2020, three police officials took a seized Mahindra Scorpio to “investigate a case”. The owner of the Scorpio found out that the vehicle is on the road and got suspicious. He used his GPS security system to track the vehicle and locked the SUV remotely that trapped the police officers in the car for hours.

Also read: All-new 2021 Mahindra XUV500: What it”ll look like

Looking at the growing popularity and tax benefits in the sub-4 meter car segment, German car manufacturer Volkswagen had launched their first even sub-4 meter compact sedan Ameo in India back in 2016. It was launched to expand Volkswagen’s portfolio as well as to fill the gap between Polo and Vento. It was the most affordable sedan from the manufacturer and was available with a petrol and diesel engine options. The car however is discontinued as it was not compliant with the BS6 emission norms. Here we have a video that shows a modified Ameo sedan which is probably the most powerful Ameo in the country.

The video has been uploaded by The Driver Seat on their youtube channel. The video generally talks about the things that must be kept in mind while modification and also shares details about the modification that is done to the car. From outside, the car looks pretty normal but, a lot things have gone into it. This is the 1.5 litre turbo diesel version with DCT gearbox. It generates 110 Ps and 250 Nm torque when in its original state of tune. After all the modifications, the engine now generates a whopping 183 Ps.

Also read: Underage teen puts red beacon on father”s Volkswagen Ameo and drives it for Tik Tok; Now DETAINED

The Ameo seen in the video belongs to Mr. Aswin who own ICD tuning in Chennai. The car has undergone Stage 3+ tuning and as part of the modification, Aswin has upgraded lot of hardware inside the car. Starting with the intake, the stock air intake has been replaced with a short ram intake unit. The other major update here is that it now gets a bigger turbocharged and a bigger intercooler with custom charge pipes. The complete exhaust system has also been modified. As the engine was tuned, the DSG or DCT gearbox was also Stage 2 tuned and it also gets a launch control.

Other than that, it now rides on 17 inch team dynamics motorsport light weight alloys. The wheel itself has changed the overall stance of the car. As the car is now a lot more powerful than before, the braking has been improved too. It now gets disc brake on all four wheels with Audi S1 brake kit. The suspension on this sedan has been upgraded and it now sits 15mm lower than a stock vehicle.

Looking at the vehicle, it does not look like a car that generates 183 Ps of power. It looks like a regular family sedan with a large alloy from outside. Moving inside, the stock seats have been upgraded to electrically adjustable seats with memory function. The regular flat bottom steering on the Ameo was also replaced with a GTI steering an bigger paddle shifters. The stock instrument cluster on the Ameo was also removed and replaced with a unit from Seat Toledo. Apart from that, it gets an aftermarket touchscreen infotainment system and a dashcam.

The owner then takes out Ameo for a spin and the moment it was turned on, the family sedan turned itself into a sports car. The sound from the turbo and the blow off valve was heard in the video and the exhaust note can also be heard in it. This is without any doubt the most powerful Ameo in the country and one of the best sleeper cars that we have seen in a while as well.

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We all know that Maruti Suzuki is a very popular brand in India. They have a variety of products in their portfolio and is currently the largest car manufacturer in India. Just like cars from any other manufacturer, Maruti also has couple of mod friendly options in their line up. They are Swift, Baleno, Ignis and so on. We have seen various examples of tastefully modified Maruti Balenos in the past. It is a premium hatchback that competes with cars like Hyundai i20, Tata Altroz, Volkswagen Polo and Honda Jazz in the segment. As we mentioned, we have seen several tastefully modified Baleno hatchbacks in the past but, here we have a modified Baleno that looks extremely hot.

This is without any doubt one of the best looking modified Baleno that we have seen in recent times. This belongs to Mr. Wasil Hussain on he has shared these images on his Instagram handle maverick_5100. Number of changes have been made to the hatchback to achieve this wild look. Starting with the front, the stock front grille was replaced with an aftermarket unit with mesh design in it. All the chrome elements on the car have either been removed or blacked out to give it a sporty look.

It gets projector headlamps with LED DRLs and the headlamp also gets an eye lid give it an aggressive look. The bumper remains the same as stock with a boomerang shaped aftermarket LED light in the fog lamp area. The owner has also gone for a front splitter which looks extremely good on the car. The whole car follows a black and white theme. The bumper, bonnet and the roof is blacked out and there are custom made decals on the side as well.

Also read: Maruti Suzuki Baleno: Why is it a superhit 5 years after launch?

Coming to the side profile, there is a sporty looking 17 inch alloy wheel which changes the overall look of the car. A side skirt along with blacked out ORVMs with integrated turn indicators can also be seen here. Coming to the rear, there is huge spoiler mounted on the roof and the aftermarket tail lights have also been smoked. There is a black garnish right below the rear glass as well as the lower part of the bumper. Below that, the straight pipe exhaust with HKS end can is also seen.

Overall, the Baleno looks sporty and has an aggressive look to it. It is not known whether the owner has made any changes to the interior of the car. Similarly, there is no information available regarding the engine as well. It is quite possible that this Baleno is still using the 1.2 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine in its original state on tune. The only modification under the hood that we know of is the HPI Megamax air filter which will improve the air intake in this hatchback.

Maruti Baleno is available with a BS6 compliant petrol engine. It is powered by a 1.2 litre, 4 cylinder engine that generates 82 Bhp and 113 Nm of torque. It is available with manual and CVT gearbox options.  Recently Baleno was spotted testing on our roads with strain gauge apparatus which could mean that Maruti will be launching a Strong Hybrid version of Baleno in the market.

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Royal Enfield motorcycles have a very cult following in our country. It is the oldest motorcycle manufacturer in the world and is quite popular around the world. They are known for their retro looking modern motorcycles. Couple of years ago, Royal Enfield launched their twin cylinder motorcycles in the market. Just like other Royal Enfield models, Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 also gained popularity among motorcyclists in a very short span of time. Some of them have even modified these motorcycles to their preference and here we have another modified Interceptor 650 that looks mean.

The modifications have been done by Eimor Customs. They are a well known name among motorcyclists and are based from Hyderabad. They have have worked on several projects based on Royal Enfield motorcycles in the past. This modification based on the Interceptor 650 is the latest one to roll out from their stable. According to Eimor Customs, the whole aim with this project was to make Interceptor 650 a lot more stealthier and sleeker. They have even named the bike and is known as ‘DCPTR’.

Also read: Alloy wheels for Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 twins CONFIRMED

They have done several changes to the motorcycle to achieve this. Starting with the front, the bulky looking stock headlamp unit has been replaced with a sleeker aftermarket unit. Similarly, the turn indicators have also been replaced with an LED aftermarket unit. The front fork remains the same but, the standard spoke wheels have been painted in matte black finish. The wheels are wrapped around chunky looking bobber tyres. This has made a huge difference in the overall looks and stance of the bike.

The whole motorcycle carries an all-black theme with silver accents at places. The tank bears laser cut aluminum decals which looks extremely good on the bike. The instrument cluster on the Interceptor 650 has also been replaced with single pod digital meter that has been set at an offset. The whole engine arear has been painted in black. The side panels have also been customised and gets silver accents and a vented aluminium plate. It also gets a custom exhaust that has been blacked out.

Moving to the rear, the seat frame has been chopped slightly and the seat gets a custom upholstery. Moving to the rear, Interceptor gets a custom made rear fender. This also elevates the overall look of the bike. This also gets an aftermarket LED tail lamp that gets a smoked effect. Eimor has also installed a grab rail for the rear passenger. Apart from that everything else in the motorcycle remains the same as before.

It looks like no changes have been made to the engine of the motorcycle. It is currently one of the most affordable twin cylinder motorcycle available in the market. It is powered by a  648-cc, parallel twin cylinder engine that generates a maximum of 47 Bhp and 52 Nm of torque. Royal Enfield is working on a number of new models for the Indian market and one of them is a 650-cc, twin cylinder cruiser motorcycle. Other than that, the Interceptor and Continental GT 650 would be soon getting a feature update. It would be getting a revised ripper meter which RE recently introduced in Meteor 350.

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Bangalore based start up Pravaig had recently revealed their upcoming electric vehicle Extinction Mk1. Soon after, it was revealed, the first gen prototype of the vehicle was spotted on the roads. Electric vehicles are gaining popularity and Indian and international car manufacturers have entered this space. Unlike Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona EV, Pravaig Extinction Mk1 is a sedan. It currently has no direct competitor in the market. Here we have a video that shows the Extinction Mk1 electric vehicle inside out in a walkaround video.

The video has been uploaded by Namaste Car on their youtube channel. The video starts with the exterior of the sedan. The video mentions that the car seen in the video is a first generation prototype and the production version will be a lot more different and improved than this. Pravaig Extinction’s production version is expected to be launched in the market by November 2021. The Extinction Mk1 gets a very unique looking front design.

Also read: Pravaig Extinction spotted on Indian roads!

It has an LED DRL bar running across the bonnet. The headlights are projector LED units and the turn indicators are also integrated inside the LED DRL. The grille at the front is very sleek and there are air vents seen at the front of the car. Moving to the side profile, the long bonnet of the Pravaig Extinction is revealed.  As this is an electric vehicle, there is no engine under the hood. The space under the bonnet has been nicely converted in a luggage space. As this is a prototype, the layout is quite different from what we will be seeing in the production version.

The side profile of the EV prototype shows the grey coloured 17 inch alloy wheels. All the four wheels come with disc brakes for better braking performance. The Extinction Mk1 is a 2-door coupe whereas the production version that will be launched in the market later will be a proper 4-door sedan. After launching Extinction, Pravaig also has plans to launch electric SUV and ATVs. The rear profile of the car looks very simple but, the LED lights look very unique on the sedan. There is a Pravaig logo on the LED tail light strip which glows when the lights are turned on. The rear of the EV is also expected to be re-designed for the production model.

As this is a prototype, the interiors on this electric sedan has also been not properly done. The production version will get 160 degree reclinable seats, electric sunroof, ambient lighting, leather seats, touchscreen infotainment system, premium audio system, electrically adjustable seats, digital instrument cluster and so on. The Pravaig Extinction Mk1 uses a 96 KwH battery pack which generates around 200 Ps or power. The car supports fast charging an just after charging for 30 minutes, it can be used for approximately 300 kms. The claimed maximum driving range on Extinction is 504 kms on full charge. The production version is also expected to get autonomous driving system, 8 airbags, front and rear camera, parking sensors and other features.

Pravaig means speed in Sanskrit and the car is claimed to have a top-speed of 196 kmph. Pravaig will only be providing the vehicle on lease, subscription or rental basis. The fleet would be managed online and Pravaig would only be setting up service centres. It will initially available in Delhi and Bangalore.

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Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar is a major automobile enthusiast and most of us know that. What most of us do not know that Sachin’s first car was a humble Maruti Suzuki 800, which he bought in the late 1980s and over the years he sold that vehicle to upgrade the garage just like rest of us. But Sachin is missing his first car and fondly remembers it. Earlier this year Sachin said in an interview that he dearly misses his first car and appealed to the viewers to help him find it back. Is it back? No, Sachin is still looking for it.

Talking on the Mudit Dani YouTube channel, Sachin said that he sold his first car years ago. There was a rumour that Sachin Tendulkar still has his first car but that turned out to be wrong information. While there are many well-restored and well-maintained Maruti Suzuki 800 from that era, there is no information on Sachin’s car at the moment.

Also read: What happens when 2 Maruti Suzuki WagonRs are taped together & driven around (Video)

Sachin said to Mudit on the channel,

My first car was a Maruti 800. Unfortunately it is not with me right now. I would love to have it back again with me. So people listening to me, feel free to contact and get in touch.

Sachin’s love for cars

In the interview, Sachin opened about his love for cars. He says that the love for automobiles and cars started at a very young age. He and his elder brother spent hours to spot cars from the balcony in their younger days. He also says that they used to visit a drive-in theatre together that was near their house to take a look at the cars parked there.

Over the years, the love of cars seems to have only grown. Sachin Tendulkar got involved in a slew of automobile advertisements and TV commercials in his younger days. A few years later, BMW India announced him as a brand ambassador. Since then, he is mostly spotted driving BMW cars and SUVs on the public roads. However, he also owned cars like a Ferrari 360 Modena. Formula 1 legend Micheal Schumacher gifted him the Ferrari and he sold it to a businessman in Surat a few years ago. Sachin also owned a Nissan GT-R in the past, which is a rare car in India and only entices the enthusiasts.

Maruti Suzuki 800

Now coming to the Maruti 800, it became the first car for many Indian families. Maruti Suzuki launched the 800 in India in 1983 and as we know it, the launch changed the whole market scenario. The 800 is the first front-wheel-drive car in India and was much cheaper than the options like Hindustan Ambassador that was available at that time in the market.

The Maruti Suzuki 800 became so popular that the manufacturer had to force out its production after 30 years to make space for the Alto in the line-up. It has been 37 years since the launch of the 800 and there are many first-generation cars that are in a top-notch condition. There are many celebrities who owned the 800 as their first car including the movie director Imtiaz Ali.

If you have any information on the Sachin’s 800, do share it in the comment box and help the cricketing legend to unite with his first car.

Also read: Hyundai”s Maruti S-Presso rival spied again

Two wheeler modifications are quite common on our country and we have seen several modified motorcycles in the past. One of the motorcycle that is commonly used for this purpose is Royal Enfield Classic or Bullet. These modifications are not just limited to Royal Enfield motorcycles and can be done on bikes from other brands as well. We have seen number of examples in the past were a humble looking commuter motorcycle is converted into a scrambler or a cafe racer. Here we have a video that shows how a simple looking Hero Splendor motorcycle is modified to look like a BMW R80 cafe racer motorcycle.

The video is uploaded by Reyansh Khichi on his youtube channel. The video shows all the modifications that were done to the motorcycle along with the time taken and cost. First impression after looking at the bike is pretty good. It does not look like a Hero Splendor anymore. The motorcycle has been completely modified to give it a scrambler look. The modification is done on a 2011 model Hero Splendor.

Also read: Hero Splendor modified into a scrambler motorcycle looks beautiful

Starting with the front, the rectangle like headlamps have been removed and replaced with round units with projector LED headlamps and LED DRL ring in it. The stock turn indicators have also been replaced with a small aftermarket units. The whole bike has been designed to look like a BMW R80 cafe racer. The front suspension on the motorcycle remains the same as before. The forks now get a golden paint job and a set of gaiters. The stock handle bar has been replaced with clip on units with custom made handle grips and bar end mirrors.

Moving to the side profile of the motorcycle, the Splendor fuel tank has been replaced and replaced with a R80 like unit. The finish on the fuel tank is not that great as it is custom made for this project. The fuel tank has a blue paint finish with white pinstripes and a BMW logo. The frame and the engine has all been completely blacked out. The side panels were also replaced with fabricated units Cafe racer written on them.

The chain cover has been completely removed and the rear springs are now red in colour. The rear suspension is also painted in golden colour. The rear sub frame has been chopped to give it a single seater look. The seat itself has been completely redone. It now gets a tan coloured well cushioned seats.

Moving to the rear, the tail light is actually an LED strip that is attached to the rear frame. The turn indicators are placed under the seat for a cleaner rear look. The motorcycle still has the same set of spoke wheels which has been painted in black. The tyres however have replaced with chunky looking off-road tyres. The work on the bike looks extremely good. It is definitely not an exact replica of original BMW R80 but, the efforts that the customiser had put in into this project is worth appreciating. The overall cost of this modification is around Rs 60,000 and the time taken to complete this project is around 1 month.

Also read: This Harley Davidson Forty-Eight is actually a 125cc Yamaha Enticer