The Royal Enfield Himalayan is one of the most affordable adventure tourer motorcycles in the Indian market. It has been selling well for the manufacturer. Royal Enfield is working on a slew of motorcycles. One of which is “Scram”. It will be a scrambler version of the Himalayan. The new motorcycle’s test mule was recently spotted for the very first time.

We can see from the pictures that the basic design of the Scram is very similar to the Himalayan. To make the Himalayan look like a scrambler, the manufacturer has replaced the front 21-inch wheel with a smaller one. It looks like it is running on an 18 or 19-inch wheel. Gone is the front windscreen and the fork gaiters to provide a more clean and naked look.

The fuel tank is also slightly different. The frame-mounted on the fuel tank is now gone and is replaced with tank shrouds. The frame mounts came in handy when you had to mount the jerry cans on them. Another deletion is the raised front mudguard which we typically see on adventure tourers.

Other things that we can notice from the spy shots are the same panniers that you can get for the Himalayan from the Make-It-Your-Own programme. It is using the same LED tail lamp and halogen turn indicators as the Himalayan. The motorcycle looks in the early stages of development. It is using a disc brake for the front as well as rear.

Also read: Royal Enfield Classic 650: What it”ll look like

The engine is also the same as the Himalayan with its upswept exhaust. The engine has a capacity of 411 cc unit that is an air/oil-cooled unit. In the Himalayan, the engine produces 24.3 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 32 Nm. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

The engine is the one thing that people have criticized the Himalayan for. The engine feels like it runs out of steam because of the heavyweight of the Himalayan. The motorcycle weighs 199 kgs which is quite a lot for an engine that produces 24.3 bhp. While Royal Enfield has made some improvements to the engine since its launch but still the motorcycle can feel a bit sluggish to some enthusiasts.

As of now, nothing from Royal Enfield has been announced regarding the upcoming motorcycle. However, what we know is that they filed a trademark for the “Scram” name. So, we know that there is a scrambler upcoming which will be based on the Himalayan. The motorcycle will be aimed towards people who will be mostly using their motorcycles daily for city commutes whereas the Himalayan is for people who are into touring and off-roading.

Himalayan 650

According to the rumours, Royal Enfield is also working on a 650 cc version of the Himalayan. The motorcycle is not yet spotted on the Indian roads because it is being developed at Royal Enfield’s UK technology centre. The test site of the manufacturer is closed to the general public so the manufacturer can work and test the motorcycle there. It will be using the engine from the 650 twins. So, it would be much more powerful than the current Himalayan.

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Also read: Meet “Kush”, a custom built, track-ready KTM RC390 from Rajputana Customs

Honda Cars India Ltd. which is one of India’s popular car manufacturing brand announced that they have enhanced the connected car experience for the fifth generation City sedan by introducing Google Assistant. Honda has improved the Honda Connect by introducing Honda Action on Google. The feature is an extension of integrated Connected technology offered in fifth generation Honda City which already comes with Alexa remote capability. With the introduction of the Honda Action on Google, the fifth generation City now works with ‘Ok Google.’ Honda Cars India Ltd. also mention that they have enriched the Honda Connect platform with 4 new functionalities and all the 36 features deliver enhanced safety, convenience and peace of mind to their customers.

Talking about new development, Mr. Rajesh Goel, SVP & Director, Sales and Marketing, Honda Cars India said, “Consumers are increasingly seeking products and solutions that make their life easier and caters to their on-the-go lifestyle in a seamless manner. As we celebrate the anniversary milestone of our successful 5^th Gen Honda City, we are delighted to introduce voice based Google Assistant interface with our Honda Connect platform which will offer convenience to stay connected with your car while performing daily routine activities.”

The newly introduced Honda Action on Google offers 10 voice enabled features which can be executed via Google Assistant enabled devices like Google Nest Speakers, Android phones, etc. This Action is also supported by iOS devices. These 10 features can be used with text based command functionality of Google as well.

Also read: Almost-new 2020 Honda City sedans for sale

Newly introduced features in Honda Connect include Valet Alert, Fuel Log Analysis, Cost of Maintenance Analysis and Enhanced options for Service Products. Honda says that the advanced Honda Connect platform has been developed keeping in mind customer’s hyperactive lifestyle and their growing interaction with advanced technology, offering instant and seamless communication between the customer, car, his family and Honda.

Honda launched the fifth generation City sedan in the market last year post lockdown. It was entirely different from the older version and offered more space on the inside. Honda did not discontinue the fourth generation and continues to sell it with a petrol engine in limited trims. The fifth generation Honda City competes with cars like Maruti Ciaz, Hyundai Venue, Skoda Rapid and Volkswagen Vento in the segment.

In terms of features, Honda offered all LED headlamps, dual function LED DRLs, LED tail lamps, machine cut alloy wheels,  leather upholstery in higher variants, connected car features, touchscreen infotainment screen, digital instrument cluster, multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, automatic climate control and so on.

Honda offers City in two engine options. There is a 1.5 litre petrol and a 1.5 litre diesel engine on offer. The 1.5 litre petrol engine generates 121 Ps an 145 Nm of peak torque. It is available with a manual and CVT gearbox option. The diesel version is powered by a 1.5 litre motor that generates 100 Ps and 200 Nm of peak torque. Honda does not offer an automatic transmission with diesel engine even as an option. Price for fifth generation Honda City sedan start at Rs 10.99 lakh, ex-showroom and go up to Rs 14.94 lakh, ex-showroom.

Also read: Skoda Kushaq SUV”s official launch & price announcement timeline revealed officially

In India, it is mandatory to have an insurance plan for your vehicle. The absence of the same can lead to heavy monetary penalties. Choosing a policy that best satisfies your requirements and provides complete protection can be a challenging feat to achieve. To help you get the best experience and assistance, add-on covers over and above the insurance policy are made available. They provide extra layers of protection for your bike and even yourself by boosting the basic policy cover by offering an extension in the coverage. This additional benefit would mean a little extra pay for the policy’s premium but ultimately would go a long way in helping during the time of need and claim process.

Types of  add-on covers

Zero Depreciation Cover: As is well-known, depreciation is a reduction in an asset’s value that occurs over time. Bearing the burden of the cost of depreciation can be stressful for the owner of any bike. A zero depreciation cover enables relieving you of this stress. It ensures compensation of the depreciation amount of fibre, plastic, or rubber components of your two-wheeler by your insurance providers.

Consumables Cover: Consumables include two-wheeler parts such as buts, bolts, clips, bearings, distilled water, oil filters, engine oil, screws, etc. A standard insurance policy doesn’t cover the cost of repair/replacement of these consumables, which can be pretty expensive. An add-on cover for these in your insurance plan can be quite a useful support.

Roadside Assistance Cover: This cover is convenient and comes to your rescue in case of a roadside emergency. It protects you from unwanted situations such as breakdown, empty fuel tank, flat tyre, etc., in the middle of the road.

Personal Belongings/Accessories Cover: To avail benefits of recovering any monetary loss suffered or in case of any damage/theft to the accessories of your two-wheeler such as a helmet, the personal belongings cover, and the accessories cover will provide suitable assistance.

Return to Invoice: In case of total loss or theft of your two-wheeler, the return to invoice covers allows you to get the total invoice price of the vehicle from the insurance provider.

Key Protect Cover: This cover will help you replace the key of your two-wheeler in the event of any damage/theft. It will even provide you with a spare in the minimum possible time.

Benefits of Add-on Covers

Personalised Bike Insurance: Add-on covers help enable the freedom of choice to pick the add-ons as per your requirements and personalise your bike insurance policy with enhanced coverage and peace of mind.

Higher Claim Amount: The multiple add-ons lead to increased coverage in your bike insurance policy, which further equips you in claiming for a higher amount at the time of claim settlement.

Enhanced Protection: As compared to a bike insurance policy without add-ons, policies with add-on coverage

Keeping in mind these types and benefits will help you make the most suitable, profitable and personalised decision for shielding your bike as well as your well-being. At Chola MS, to ensure that our customers and their bikes are safeguarded to the fullest extent at all times, unique additional add-ons are offered with the two-wheeler insurance policy.

Also read: Meet “Kush”, a custom built, track-ready KTM RC390 from Rajputana Customs

Also read: Royal Enfield Classic 650: What it”ll look like

Toyota Fortuner is one of the most popular SUV in its segment. It competes with cars like Ford Endeavour, MG Gloster, Isuzu MU-X in the segment. It is a capable off-roader and we have seen several videos proving the same on internet. This year, Toyota launched the 2021 version of the Fortuner and much more premium looking Legender version. We have seen several videos and images of modified Toyota Fortuner and here we have images of a conversion kit from 360 Motoring that lets you convert your Fortuner into a Legender.

The images have been shared by 360motoringindia on their Instagram page. This is an imported conversion kit that helps in easy conversion of a normal Toyota Fortuner into a Legender. The pictures shared by 360 Motoring show how neatly conversion can be done on the Fortuner. The conversion kit consists of Headlights, front bumper, grille and rear bumper.

Also read: All-new Toyota Fortuner Legender SUV reimagined as a police car

The rear bumper on regular Fortuner does not come with the L shaped reflector bars. The front grille on the Legender is a split unit which gives it an aggressive stance. The headlights on the Fortuner will be replaced with Legender style LED headlamps with LED DRLs integrated in it. The fog lamps and turn indicators will be placed on the lower part of the bumper as usual.

Kits imported from Taiwan and China are available at 360 Motoring. In comparison to the regular Fortuner, the Legender version does not have any chrome elements. All those chrome elements are either removed or blacked out in the Legender for the sporty appeal. The tail lamps are the same but, they are now slightly blacked out. The chrome strip running between the tail lamps is also be blacked out.

360 Motoring also mentioned the price of this conversion kit. The cost of the Fortuner to Legender conversion kit is approximately Rs 1.55 lakh. If you want to convert your Fortuner into a Legender, you can get in touch with 360 Motoring on Instagram or call them on 96334 66480.

It should be noted that In India, Toyota offers Legender in 2WD format only. The SUV is available with diesel engine which is paired to an automatic gearbox. Toyota Legender is priced at Rs 38.30 lakh, ex-showroom and is expensive than any other Fortuner variants. If you want Legender look to your Fortuner without spending a lot, this conversion kit can be a great solution.

Toyota Fortuner is available in both petrol and diesel engine options. The diesel version is offered with 4×4. The  petrol version of the SUV is powered by a 2.7 litre engine that generates 163 Bhp and 245 Nm of peak torque. The petrol version of the SUV is available with both manual and automatic transmission option. The diesel version of the Fortuner is powered by a 2.8 litre turbocharged diesel engine. This is the same engine as before but, Toyota has made minor changes and it now generates more power and torque. The engine generates 204 Ps and 500 Nm of peak torque. The engine is available with both manual and torque converter automatic gearbox option.

Also read: India’s famous Tesla owners: Mukesh Ambani to Riteish Deshmukh

Bajaj Pulsar might be the most popular motorcycle in the Indian market. It brought the idea of performance commuters to the general public. It has been almost 10 years since the Pulsar range got a new significant upgrade. Finally, the homegrown manufacturer is in its final stage of testing a new Pulsar. It is rumoured that the new motorcycle will be called Pulsar 250F. It was recently spied up close while it was on test in Pune.

The Pulsar 250F will be a semi faired motorcycle just like the Pulsar 220 F. It will be the first Pulsar to get an LED headlamp. We can see in the images that it using an LED projector setup. There would also be some LED Daytime Running Lamps. Even the turn indicators are now using LED bulbs.

The headlamp design itself is new. It still looks like a “wolf-eye” inspired design but has been modernized so that it looks modern. There is also a windscreen that is larger than the Pulsar 220 F. So, it should provide better protection to the rider from the windblast.

Also read: Upcoming Bajaj Pulsar 250: What the upcoming motorcycle could look like

The fairing is also all-new and has an angular look to it and it also integrates better with the bodywork. There is a new engine cowl and new rearview mirrors. Just like the NS 200, it gets a slim leg guard. The riding triangle looks comfortable with footpegs being set not too far back. The clip-on handlebars now sit higher providing a more comfortable riding position to the rider.

The rear looks unmistakenly “Pulsar” with its clean tail and there is also a new LED tail lamp. It seems like the tail lamp now forms an “X”. The grab rail for the pillion is also a split unit. The Pulsar 250 F should be based on a new frame. The alloy wheels measure 17-inches in size and are derived from NS200. The same could also be true for the braking setup. So, there is a disc in the front as well as the rear. This will help Bajaj in saving some costs.

The 250F is still using conventional telescopic forks at the front but a new mono-shock at the rear that connects to the box-section swingarm. The exhaust is very similar to the Dominar 400 but is a sleeker and compact unit. It still has a double-barrel design that should sound throaty and bassy.

The engine will be one of the biggest changes. It is expected to be a 250 cc unit that will be air/oil-cooled. Bajaj will not be using a liquid cooler because it will increase the cost of the motorcycle and they do not want that despite liquid cooling would help them in extracting more power output from the engine.

Do not mistake the new 250 cc engine with the KTM’s 250 cc mill that Bajaj is using for the Dominar 250. The engine will produce less than 25 bhp of max power. Currently, the Pulsar 220 F produces 20.4 bhp of max power. It is not known if Bajaj will be upgrading to a 6-speed unit or not. The engine would also be using VVA technology.

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Also read: Royal Enfield Classic 650: What it”ll look like

The Urus is the best selling vehicle for Lamborghini. It is a very successful SUV in India too because many people have bought it. It is one of the sportiest SUVs that a person can buy but still, there would be someone in our country who would ask “Kitna deti hai?” or how much fuel efficiency does the vehicle deliver. These vehicles are owned by rich people generally and they can afford the fuel bills. Here, is a video in which the person has tested the fuel efficiency of the Lamborghini Urus.

The video is uploaded by Catch a Mile on his YouTube channel. In the video, we can see that the host enter’s his friend’s Lamborghini Urus. The Urus is finished in black exterior colour with neon green brake calipers. The interior is also finished in black and neon green colour that complements the exterior of the SUV. In the video, we can also see the 360-degree parking camera in action. The driver uses the bird’s eye view to navigate the Urus out of the parking garage.

Also read: India”s first Maruti Baleno with “air suspension” looks gorgeous (Video)

The host asks the driver of the car about the fuel efficiency that the Urus returns. However, before the driver shows the fuel efficiency he floors the throttle and in a matter of few seconds, the SUV was doing 120 kmph. This would have caused the fuel efficiency to drop further. Finally, the driver reveals that the Urus returns just 2.4 kmpl and in the Corsa mode the fuel efficiency further drops down to 1.3 to 1.8 kmpl.

Engine and transmission

Urus is powered by a 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine that has been twin-turbocharged. The engine produces 641 Bhp of max power and an enormous 850 Nm of torque. All this power is transferred to all four wheels through an 8-speed gearbox. Yes! Urus comes with an all-wheel-drive system that directs 40 percent of the power to the front wheels while the rear wheels get the rest 60 percent of the power.

This engine has been used in many SUVs that are under Volkswagen. Audi uses it in RS7, RS6 Avant, RSQ8. Porsche uses it in the Panamera and Cayenne. Even Bentley uses this engine for the Bentayega SUV and Continental GT. Every manufacturer tunes the engine differently. So, the power and torque figures in every vehicle are a bit different and even the engine behaves differently in every car.

Despite weighing a humongous 2.2 tonnes, Urus can propel from 0 to 100 kmph in just 3.6 seconds. The top speed of the SUV is 305 kmph but we have seen videos of Urus hitting 317 kmph on the NATRAX testing facility. The difference could be there because of some speedo error.

Lamborghini has sold more than 100 units of the Urus in India alone. It is so successful because it provides the best of both worlds. Urus has good ground clearance that ensures that it can tackle our bad roads fairly easily. It has decent practicality with a huge boot and it can seat 4 occupants comfortably. Then there is sports cars like looks and exhilarating performance.

Also read: Tata Nexon goes off roading in the Himalayas (Video)

A 35-year old businessman – Anwar was saved by a joint police operation of Karnataka and Kerala Police. A video shows how the cops set up barricades to catch the kidnappers when they were transporting the hostage. The police rescued the businessman 16 hours after the kidnapping incident.

Anwar, who is a resident of Malappuram was abducted by a gang from outside a lodge located in Uduma in Kasaragod district. The joint operation of the police from two states were able to track the four abductors and carry out the rescue operation.

Also read: 3 Volkswagen Touareg 4X4 Diesel V6 luxury SUVs selling cheaper than 2020 Hyundai Creta

The police said that Azad Anwar had visited Uduma with his boss, Nazar, who is a resident of Karipur and operates a fertilizer company. They collect hair from barbershops in the district that are used as raw materials for fertilizers.

Both of them were staying in a lodge. Some people believed that they had a lot of money with them and a helper in the lodge gave the information to the abductors. When the gang came to abduct them, Nazar managed to escape but they got hold of Anwar.

When the gang realised that the duo doesn’t have any money on them, they demanded Rs 2 lakh as ransom to set them free. They used Anwar’s phone to call his wife to ask for the ransom. The wife then informed Kasargod police. The cops then traced the mobile phone to know the location of the kidnappers.

The locals saw the kidnapping and informed the police. Nazar also filed a complaint with the police station. The team tracked the abductors and got to know that they entered Manguluru.

Joint operation

Mangaluru police tried to catch the gang. As they were travelling in the new Hyundai Creta, the cops put up barricades in various places. However, the gang managed to escape the barricades. They even crashed into several barricades at many places on the road but the cops were unable to stop them.

The police then decided to use bigger barricades to stop the car. They used a truck to block the road. The video shows that the Hyundai Creta slowed down in front of the truck, which was kept as a barricade and then took a U-Turn

When it slowed down at the barricade, a police officer opened the rear door and helped Anwar to escape from the kidnappers. Even though the Hyundai Creta sped away from the spot, the kidnappers felt the noose tightening around them and after a few kilometres, they abandoned the vehicle and escaped from the spot.

Police have identified the four kidnappers but they believe that there were more people engaged in this kidnapping.

Also read: All New Tata Safari: Can a tall adult comfortably sleep in it? (Video)

Tata Motors is gearing up for the launch of the Tiago NRG. It is slated to launch on August 4. The NRG will be a more rugged-looking variant of the Tiago. The new variant is based on the facelifted Tiago which was launched last year. The hatchback has already started arriving at the dealerships. Here are the clear spy shots of the upcoming Tiago NRG that was spotted at a dealership.

In the pictures, we can see that the Tiago NRG is finished in a black and white paint scheme. Tata has cleverly used the paint. The body is white but the cladding, door handles, outside rearview mirrors, a portion of the C-pillar and the roof is finished in black.

It now gets a body kit that runs all around the car. There is also black plastic cladding over the wheel arches that provides a more rugged and tough look to the Tiago. Tata has also designed new alloy wheels for the NRG variant. They are finished in dual-tone paint and are 5-spoke. You also get a non-functional pair of roof rails.

Also read: 2021 Tata Tiago XTA automatic launched

At the rear, there is a black plastic piece that connects both the tail lamps. The bumper is also slightly different with a large faux skid plate. Tata could also jack up the suspension slightly to give the NRG a more crossover look. The rest of the design stays the same.

In the interior, we get a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that will support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The infotainment system is expected to be connected to Harman sourced speakers. We can also see a multi-function steering wheel, push-button to start/stop, a rearview camera with parking sensors, manual air conditioning and a digital instrument cluster. There are also piano-black accents on the steering wheel, air conditioning vents and around the head unit.

Mechanically remains the same

There are no mechanical changes made to the NRG variant. It will still come with a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine. The engine is capable of producing 85 bhp of max power and 113 Nm of peak torque. Transmission options will include a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed AMT gearbox. The AMT gearbox also comes with a creep function and a Sports mode.

Price and competitors

The price of the Tiago NRG will be revealed on August 4. As of now, the Tiago starts at Rs. 4.99 lakhs ex-showroom and go all the way up to Rs. 6.95 lakhs ex-showroom. The Tiago goes against Maruti Suzuki WagonR, Hyundai Santro, Maruti Suzuki Celerio and Datsun Go.

Upcoming CNG variant

Tata Motors is also focusing on introducing factory-fitted CNG variants of their vehicles. The first vehicles to do so will be the Tiago and the Tigor. Recently, a Tiago with an emission kit installed was spied which could be the CNG variant. Also, the Tiago and Tigor have been spied with camouflage at a CNG station. So, we know that Tata is working on the CNG variants of both vehicles. We would just have to wait for the official announcement.

Source

Also read: Citroen”s 3 new cars for India DETAILED

Tesla will officially launch its first car in the Indian market – the Model 3 in the next few months. The officials at Tesla India and the union government are still talking about the import duties and taxes on electric cars. Around the world, the Tesla brand has become quite popular. In China, our neighbour, Tesla has started a Gigafactory and the Tesla models have also gained massive popularity in the country.

You’ve probably watched this clip from China already but many of you may not know driver & passengers were saved thanks to the wading capability of Model 3, which was coming out of a completely flooded tunnel where there were still some vehicles trapped inside. pic.twitter.com/1xMMIjJ21q

— Ray4Tesla (@ray4tesla) July 23, 2021

In the recent floods through the Chinese cities due to the unprecedented rains, Tesla cars were spotted crossing the flooded streets like a boss. Several videos show the Tesla cars, mostly the Model 3 taking on the flooded roads successfully while other vehicles got stuck due to the high level of water. Here are a few videos of the same.

Also read: India”s first Maruti Baleno with “air suspension” looks gorgeous (Video)

In one of the several videos, a Tesla Model 3 driver is spotted driving without caring about the extremely high water level. The water level is so high that it is even hitting the windscreen. However, the driver does not care much and keeps on driving.

当特斯拉摁下了航海模式，

立即刹车失灵穿越洪泛区。

全国骂声叫不住，

四轮已过浊浪波！ pic.twitter.com/CWcYKYt5rH

— ▹藍軍◃ (@_LanJun) July 24, 2021

In another video, a white Tesla Model 3 drives through a flooded section of a road underneath a bridge and doing it quite successfully. The video also shows extremely high wind speeds, which is causing water to splash all over and all around. However, the Tesla Model 3 does not stop and keeps on going ahead.

There is another video that shows several other vehicles stuck in the flooded roads. But the Tesla Model 3 keeps on going and it seems like nothing will be able to stop it.

Musk said Telsa can float

Another Tesla seen from inside wading on a flooded highway in China. Not recommended but works. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/EGnIrQKynK

— Ray4Tesla (@ray4tesla) July 25, 2021

Way back in 2016, when similar videos became viral on the Internet, Elon Musk said that he is impressed by Tesla’s ability to float for a short period of time and the tyres act as thrusters. Well, it was a joke back then but the new videos do show that the Tesla electric cars do wonderfully well on the flooded roads.

Since electric cars do not require air to burn the fuel and propel the vehicle ahead, there is no problem of getting hydro locked on the flooded roads.  That is why other vehicles are stranded while the Tesla Model 3 makes progress on the flooded roads without any trouble.

But should you do it then?

Driving through flooded roads is not the best idea for many reasons. The number 1 reason is that you can’t see what lies underneath. So if you hit a pothole or a manhole, it can be a disaster. Also, water levels can rise within a few minutes, which can definitely trap any electric car.

Even though the batteries of the Tesla are waterproof and are rated, they are still mounted on the floor of the vehicle. Any leakage in the insulation can be disastrous. Also, the electricals can get fried if they come in contact with the water.

Also read: Tata Nexon goes off roading in the Himalayas (Video)

You might have heard rumours of Ford leaving India. Well, now according to new media reports the American manufacturer has reached out to over half a dozen of Indian automobile manufacturers for partnership opportunities, facility sales and contract manufacturing. They are doing this to reach the mid-term target of 8 percent EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) margin by 2023. This information was shared by Jim Farley who is the global CEO of Ford.

Ford India has got in touch with other big manufacturers like Tata Motors, MG Motor, Skoda-Volkswagen Group and Changan Automobiles. They even got in touch with the electric vehicle startups, the biggest of which includes Ola Electric who have just revealed their new scooter.

According to sources, the export volumes are decreasing and Indian operations are struggling. Ford has made up its mind to sell one of its plants. The reason behind the struggle is the dated product portfolio. If you would notice the Ecosport, Aspire, Figo and Freestyle have not received any major upgrade in many years. Due to this, their products lack features and does not look as modern as the competitors.

Also read: FIROZPUR-JAIPUR JAISALMER Trip in FORD FIGO, By Rahul Verma: CarToq Travelogues

Ford’s worst-case scenario would be shutting both plants. Then they would be only focusing on the CKD or Completely Knocked Down units. This would turn India into a niche market operation. They would only be selling products like Endeavour, Ranger pick-up truck and Mustang. However, they would keep an eye on the EV market and might bring an EV into the Indian market.

Earlier, there were rumours that Ford is looking to import some of their vehicles into the Indian market. They were looking to import the Ranger pick-up truck. Ranger is based on Endeavour’s platform. The pick-up truck was even spotted in India. Even the Raptor variant which is the high-performance variant of Ranger was expected to come to India. The rumours also suggested that they will be bringing the Focus hatchback to India. Then there was the Focus ST which is a high-performance hot hatchback version of the Focus. It was also expected to come to India.

The best-case scenario for Ford would be that another manufacturer helps them by forming a joint venture or Ford may sell some of their stakes to them. This would be till their new SUVs codenamed B744 and B745 hit the road in 2023. The SUVs are all-new and are based on a new platform and are still in the development phase. So, it would take some time for them to hit the markets. The SUVs could be the new generation of Ecosport and a new mid-size SUV.

Ford was earlier working on a mid-size SUV when they were in a joint venture with Mahindra. The new SUV would be based on the W601 platform on which the upcoming XUV 700 is based. The SUVs would share the engine and transmissions too. The Ecosport and the Figo were also expected to get the 1.2-litre mStallion petrol engine from Mahindra. However, last year the joint venture broke.

“North America is moving to EVs, the EcoSport for the US market is not needed beyond 2022. So, with less than 5,000 units a month of domestic volumes and falling demand for exports, how can one justify such large operations? Hence tough decisions are likely to be taken.” said a person familiar with the situation. Ford is yet to announce their future.

Source

Also read: Ford Freestyle: What an international lady journo thinks about the crossover (Video)

Tata Nexon EV is one of the most popular electric SUVs in the country. It competes with other electric SUVs like G ZS EV, Hyundai Kona EV in the segment. Tata Nexon EV is currently the most affordable electric SUV in the segment and that is one of the reason why it quickly became so popular among buyers. It is based on the Nexon compact SUV which is one of the safest SUV in the segment. We have seen several ownership experience video of Tata Nexon EV on internet but, here we have a video where a Nexon EV owner drives the SUV to Kaza in Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh from Delhi.

The video has been uploaded by Anjnay vlogs as per the vlogger, this is probably the first Tata Nexon EV in the country to reach Spiti. When the video starts, vlogger had already reached Kaza and was now travelling back to Delhi.

Also read: Tata Nexon goes off roading in the Himalayas (Video)

Vlogger mentions throughout the video that he was pretty happy with the overall performance of the car. It was performing well in rough road conditions. When the video starts, vlogger had already started driving towards Kalpa and had reached Nako. They had stopped here for some refreshments and when they started the car, it was showing a 50 per cent battery and 89 kms of driving range.

One of the main advantage that vlogger had in this trip was the road itself. It was mostly downhill which meant, he did not have to accelerated hard and drain the battery. He was carrying a speed of 50-60-70 kmph. As he was driving downhill, regenerative braking had started to work and driving range had increased.

After driving it for some time, the battery charge had increased from 50 to 52 percent. The driving had almost doubled to 163 kms. They were almost 89 kms away from Kalpa and as these are mountain roads, there were good patches as well as patches with no tarmac on them. Nexon EV handled all these without any problem.

Distance from Kaza to Kapa is around 210 kms as per maps. It takes around 5 to 6 hours to cover this distance in a vehicle. Vlogger managed to drive between these two places in a single charge which is commendable specially considering the road conditions and gradient. As per the video, it was dark when they reached their hotel in Kalpa.

The battery consumption increased as he reached Reckong Peo and driving towards Kalpa. The climb became quite steep and when they finally reached Kalpa, Nexon EV was still left with 19 percent of battery charge. Vlogger had covered around 230 kms on that day in a single charge.

Next day, he charges the Nexon EV and starts his journey towards Delhi via Chandigarh. Vlogger claims that, it is India’s first Nexon EV to reach Kaza or Spiti and he could be right as there are no such record that we know of. Tata Nexon EV is powered by Ziptron technology. The EV is powered by a 30.2 kWh battery pak that powers the electric motor. The motor generates maximum of 129 Ps and 245 Nm of peak torque. Nexon EV’s top speed is limited to 120 kmph and has a certified driving range of 312 kms on single charge.

Also read: Tata Hornbill HBX micro SUV: What its electric version will look like

Earlier this month, Ola Electric announced that it has received more than 1 lakh bookings for its upcoming electric scooter. With the booking amount set at Rs 500, Ola Electric received these many numbers of bookings only in 24 hours to make a record. However, Vinkesh Gulati, President, Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) says that direct-to-consumer sales is a point of concern.

In an interview with Autocar Professional, Gulati said that statements like the ‘biggest factory in the world’ and thousands of crores of investment create attention and that is a good strategy. However, Ola is yet to reveal the specifications, mileage and other features of the upcoming scooter.

Gulati feels that Ola Electric has generated a lot of interest, which will ensure that the competitors remain on their toes and fast-track the launch of their products in the market.

Also read: India”s first Maruti Baleno with “air suspension” looks gorgeous (Video)

Direct-to-consumer sales model not sustainable

Ola plans to sell the scooter direct to the customer without any involvement of the dealerships, which act as a middleman. However, Gulati claims that it is not a sustainable model and may fail.

Since the dealerships work on the registration charges and insurance, direct-to-consumer products will require a larger infrastructure from the manufacturer. One of the ways is to do the registration centrally but Gulati doubts that Ola will be able to handle such a large number.

Gulati also says that he does not believe that mass-segment products will have any success in the direct-to-consumer sales model. He elaborates that in a vast country like India, it will be a difficult task to handle so many units of vehicles while adhering to the compliances laid by the government.

But he does think that 10 years down the line, this can become a reality. FADA is working on digitalising the showrooms and online registration across the country. Even after the digitalisation of these processes, there is a need for some kind of support to the customer on the lines of what Tesla is doing.

Following the Tesla route

Tesla was the first major automobile company to eliminate the dealership culture. The brand started selling vehicles directly to the customers who ordered them online. There is no third party involved in the sales of the Tesla vehicles and that allows the manufacturer to ensure that the customers get the best experience.

Tesla does have very few showrooms but you cannot buy a car from there. The Tesla showrooms display the cars and will have an online configurator to book the vehicle and get the delivery but you cannot drive a car home from the dealership.

It will be interesting to see how that model will work in India where people do like to check out several vehicles physically before settling on one.

Also read: Tata Nexon goes off roading in the Himalayas (Video)

Kia is one the most recent automotive manufacturers to enter the Indian market. Despite that, it has been one of the most successful manufacturers. According to a survey conducted by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), it was revealed that Kia’s dealerships are the happiest in the country. The most unhappy dealerships were of Honda.

After Kia Motors, there is MG Motor which is also one of the recent entrants in the Indian market. Both the manufacturers have given special attention to their dealerships ensuring that they are also happy. Kia Motors received 879 points out of 1000 whereas MG Motors got 778 out of 1000. Then on the list is Toyota which also scored identical 778 points.

Renault was in the fourth position with 767 points and Tata Motors was in the fifth position, having 729 points. Hyundai scored 711 points and took the sixth position whereas Maruti Suzuki got 699 points. Then there was Mahindra and Ford with 687 and 669 points respectively. At the last position was Honda with just 562 points which are quite less when compared to any other automobile manufacturer.

Also read: Maruti Suzuki Discounts on Nexa cars for March 2021: Baleno to Ciaz

FADA says that dealers have an effect of 27 percent on Business Viability. Dealers are the ones who spends one of the highest times with the product. They have to meet the customer’s requirements in terms of quality and range. So, it is important to continuously update the product. You might have read a recent story in which a Ford Aspire owner cancelled its booking of the Ford Ecosport because the dealer was not able to give a proper explanation regarding Ford exiting the Indian market.

Kia 

Kia currently has only three models on sale in India. The most affordable and the most recent launch is the Sonet which is a compact SUV. They also have the Carnival premium MPV which was a surprise launch as premium MPVs don’t really sell well but Kia proved us wrong. Kia’s first product and the most successful one is the Seltos. It is a mid-size SUV that dethroned the Creta from its top position when it was first launched.

Upcoming launch

We know that Kia is working on a new MPV which has been codenamed KY. It is expected to share its platform with the Seltos. The design of the KY will be different from other MPVs. It will not look like your typical MPV. It is a similar approach that Maruti Suzuki did with the XL6. It will have a very modern look and will measure 4.5 metres in length. The KY is expected to be priced between the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Toyota Innova Crysta. Some regular people do not want to buy the Ertiga because it is too common and looks like a proper MPV and they cannot afford the Innova Crysta because it costs a bit too much. The Ertiga starts at Rs. 7.81 lakhs ex-showroom whereas the Toyota Innova Crysta starts at Rs 16.52 lakhs ex-showroom. So, there is a window of opportunity here for Kia. The KY should get unveiled by the end of this year.

Source

Also read: Citroen”s 3 new cars for India DETAILED

Tesla, which will officially launch its first car in the Indian market later this year had a talk with the Indian government to reduce the import duties and taxes. Hyundai Motor India has backed that request and has supported Tesla. While Tata Motors and Ola did not like the idea of reducing the duties on imported vehicles.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla reinforced the fact that Tesla is willing to set up a factory in India. However, that depends on the success of the vehicles that the company will import as CBU to the country. But the success of the imported vehicles depends on their price. He requested the Indian government that imposes massive duties on imported vehicles, to considerably reduce them for electric vehicles. He also said that the government’s vision of climate control does not match with the high import duties on EVs.

Also read: Hyundai”s micro SUV AX1 to launch as an Electric Vehicle

Industry divided

The industry remains divided on the request. While Hyundai India feels that the government should reduce the duties, Tata and Ola Electric think otherwise.

Hyundai Motor India MD and CEO, S S Kim said in an interview with ACI,

“We have heard that Tesla is seeking some duty cuts on imports of CBUs. So, that would be very helpful for the manufacturers to reach some economy of scale in this very price competitive segment. It will take manufacturers time to localise EVs by 100 percent. We are developing made-in-India affordable mass-market EVs but at the same time, if the government allows some reduction in the duty on imported CBUs, that would be very helpful for all of us to create some market demand and reach some scale.”

Meanwhile, Hyundai is also planning to launch an affordable electric car in the Indian market by 2024. Without giving out the details, the all-new EV will have an ICE-powered cousin. More details will be revealed at a later date. Hyundai already offers the Kona EV in the Indian market, which became the first electric SUV in the Indian market.

Pawan K Goenka, who is retired MD of Mahindra also tweeted in favour of reducing the taxes and import duties for electric cars.

Tesla wants import duty reduction. I think Govt should consider lowering 100% slab to 60 % for EVs. @PiyushGoyalOffc

— Pawan K Goenka (@GoenkaPk) July 24, 2021

Tata and Ola oppose the move

Tata Motors,  currently the leading electric vehicle manufacturer in India said on Monday that it expects the government to be consistent and follow the policies that it designed. Tata approached the central government after Tesla wrote to the ministries to lower the import duty on the cars.

P Balaji, CFO, Tata Motors said,

“From Tata Motors’ perspective, the Indian government through the FAME II incentives, eligibility criteria have been very clearly set for the direction in which the country should take to accelerate the adoption of EVs. This has always emphasised affordable EVs and also localisation as per the phased manufacturing plans. I am sure the government will remain consistent to that particular philosophy and the principles of FAME II. This is what all of us are working towards.”

Bhavesh Agarwal, Co-founder, Ola, opposed the request on Twitter.

Strongly disagree with both. Let’s have confidence in our ability to build indigenously and also attract global OEMs to build in India, not just import. We won’t be the first country to do so! https://t.co/n6k7ShYeJX

— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) July 27, 2021

Also read: All New Tata Safari: Can a tall adult comfortably sleep in it? (Video)

Jawa Motorcycles entered the Indian market in late 2018 with the Jawa Jawa and Jawa 42. The motorcycle brand is already working on a new electric motorcycle which means that Jawa is considering going electric in the future. Jawa’s CEO, Ashish Singh Joshi revealed that the manufacturer has a new development centre in Coventry, UK. It has a team of 12-15 employees working for BSA. The electric technology that the motorcycle will be using is currently being developed at this R&D centre. Jawa’s first electric motorcycle is expected to hit the market in mid-2022.

Ashish Singh said, “We’ve established our small R&D Centre in Coventry, we now have between 12 and 15 people working from our side. So they’re BSA employees who are working on it, plus there are numerous people who are contracted, numerous others who are helping us. We have a consortium of us plus five partners in there. So all of us have put in similar kind of people in our R&D centre. So that’s the (place) where we’ll be seeing electric technology on the motorcycle emerging and putting up. So, I think Jawa, again electrification is something which is a very natural progression from where we are, both from an environmental perspective, again, and also from emissions, regulatory perspective.”

Jawa will be focusing on localization because that will help in pricing the new motorcycle competitively in the Indian market. The design of the motorcycle is expected to look retro with some modern touches that will indicate that it is an electric motorcycle. So, there can be blue accents on the motorcycle just like Tata does with Nexon EV to differentiate with the Nexon.

Also read: Tata Motors to supply 600 Military Trucks with 4X4 to Thai Army

The headlamp is expected to be an LED unit with an LED Daytime Running Lamp. The battery will be stored where usually the engine goes i.e. under the fuel tank. There will be a pseudo fuel tank that will house some electronics. The capacity of the battery pack is not yet known. The battery pack should deliver a riding range of 200 to 250 km on a single charge.

Jawa motorcycles

Jawa currently has three motorcycles in its portfolio. There is Jawa Jawa which is their most affordable and retro-looking motorcycle. Then there is the 42 which is based on the Jawa but is more modern looking. Both the motorcycles are powered by a 293 cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine. It is capable of producing 27.33 PS and 27.02 Nm. The engine comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox.

Jawa Jawa is priced at Rs. 1.78 lakhs ex-showroom for the single disc variant whereas the double-disc variant costs Rs. 1.78 lakhs ex-showroom. The Jawa 42 is priced at Rs. 1.69 lakhs ex-showroom for the single disc variant. The double-disc variant is priced at Rs. 1.78 lakhs ex-showroom. Recently they launched the 42 2.1 with some improvements and cosmetic changes. It is priced at Rs. 1.83 lakhs ex-showroom.

The current flagship of Jawa is the Perak. It is the only affordable bobber available in the Indian market. It uses a 334 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that is derived from other Jawas. The engine produces 30.64 PS and 32.74 Nm. It also comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox. Jawa Perak is priced at Rs. 2.06 lakhs ex-showroom.

Source

Also read: Royal Enfield engines cleaner than ones built by BMW, Ducati, KTM & more: We explain (Video)

In the past few years, the number of sports cars in India has increased. This is because of the improved roads and highways. Supercar owners are taking their supercars to morning drives and weekend meetups more. You would always spot a supercar on a highway or on smooth tarmac. Well, here is a video in which a person decided to take his Audi R8 to a bad patch of the road.

The video is uploaded on YouTube by Catch A Mile. In the video, the owner of the Audi R8 is going to Coorg from Bangalore. The vlogger decided to take this road trip in pre-monsoon season. Due to this, the conditions of the roads are very bad as we can see in the video, there is sludge and mud everywhere. The driver shows immense patience while driving the supercar. He stays calm and does not push the accelerator hard. The conditions are bad even for a regular vehicle, it must have been tough for the Audi R8 to go through such roads.

Also read: India”s first Maruti Baleno with “air suspension” looks gorgeous (Video)

It was a very brave decision by the owner to take a supercar to an unknown place. He says in the video that there were many instances where he thought that the Audi would get stuck in the slush. It was a new experience for him and it must have been terrifying to drive such a multi-crore vehicle through such roads. It is said that the road conditions to Coorg do not remain in the best condition around the year.

Audi R8

The R8 was launched as the halo car by Audi. R8 did its job by bringing many new customers to Audi’s dealerships. Yes, they all were not buying the R8 because they could not afford it. However, the manufacturer at that time had an all-new lineup of vehicles to complement the R8. They had similar elements such as the unique LED Daytime Running Lamps, unique paint schemes and you could also get affordable performance vehicles like the S4.

R8 has always been a practical vehicle, unlike other sports cars. Where other sports cars were not so reliable and did not have good ground clearance and there was no storage, the R8 came with a decent ground clearance of 160 mm. It had decent storage space in the front trunk and behind the seats.

What also helped in increasing the appeal of the R8 was its futuristic looks. When it was first launched, there was nothing like it on the road. It was sporty, sleek and looked amazing. Audi used big vertical panels behind the doors that they called “side blades”. Customers could get the vehicle in different colours and the side blade could feature a different colour or they could even get it in carbon fibre. Audi R8 has also been the hero car for Iron Man. You can see Robert Downey Jr. driving the R8 in every movie.

Finally, there was the performance. Audi offered it with a V8 and a Lamborghini derived V10. You could also get it with a manual gearbox and if you did so then you get a beautiful gated shifter. In its current generation, the Audi R8 produces 602 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 560 Nm. The sportscar is not on sale in India anymore.

Also read: Tata Nexon goes off roading in the Himalayas (Video)

Billionaires of the world are known to live lavish lifestyles. They would have big houses and many expensive cars. Now, you would be able to find all this information on the internet quite easily. However, the internet was not always there. Back then there was a time when rich people would travel in exotic vehicles and regular people would not even know about it. Only true enthusiasts would know about the car and the owner of the vehicle. Here are some of the exotic cars that were owned by JRD Tata, Dhirubhai Ambani and Ratan Tata.

JRD Tata’s Mercedes-Benz 190D 

JRD Tata was one of the first rich and successful businessmen from our country. He used to travel in a Mercedes-Benz 190D. This was the vehicle that was later renamed and became E-Class as we now know it. The vehicle was imported by JRD Tata from Germany. The vehicle is finished in white colour. The 190D still looks quite elegant and stands out from the crowd. The vehicle was bought in 1961 and arrived in 1962. The vehicle was still able to hit 120 kmph.

Dhirubhai Ambani’s BMW 750i XL L7 Limousine

Ambani family is known to own a lot of exotic vehicles. Dhirubhai is the one that created what we today know as Reliance. He was also a big automobile collector especially limousines. He had many of them imported from America and Germany. He used to have a BMW E38 750i XL L7 which was spotted a few years ago.

Also read: 2021 Skoda Octavia launch timeline revealed

This vehicle is a special one because only 899 were only made for the whole world. It is even rare in India because it is the only example that was brought to India. The 750i XL L7 in the South-East Asian, European and Middle Eastern markets. As the name suggests, the XL stands for the extended wheelbase version of the 750i. You can also see the length in the video. The length of the car was a humongous 5.37-metres. When compared, the current 7-series measures 5.3 metres in length.

Ratan Tata’s Buick Skylark

Ratan Tata is one of the reasons why Tata Motors has been a successful automobile manufacturer. He has a collection of exotic cars which includes Cadillacs, Ferrari California, Corvette, Land Rover Freelander, Maserati Quattroporte and Mercedes-Benz 500 SL. From his collection, we can see he is a big automotive enthusiast.

He also owns a Buick Skylark which is a rare vehicle. Ratan Tata’s Skylark is a 1978 model. When it was first imported to India, it was the only such car on the Indian roads. Buick used a massive 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine in the Skylark. However, because of the lack of technological improvements the engine produced only 145 bhp of max power. Now, you can get more power from 2.0-litre turbo petrol in a Skoda Octavia. When the vehicle was last spotted it was still in good condition. It has been to many exhibitions and different car shows in India.

Also read: Skoda Kushaq compact SUV launches today: What it”ll look like from the front & rear

Electric vehicles are going to be the future of mobility. In the last couple of years we have seen major developments in EV space. We saw the launch of three electric SUVs and popularity for electric scooters also increased over time. Brands like Tesla have also decided to enter Indian market and Indian government has started pushing or promoting the use of electric vehicles. We currently have Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona EV in the electric SUV segment. Tata Nexon EV is the most affordable and popular SUV in this segment. Now, Tata Motors reports that there has been an increase in demand for Nexon EV in recent times. It currently has demand equal to that of diesel variants of Nexon.

According to reports, Nexon EV had registered its highest sale back in June. The manufacturer was able to sell around 650 units of Nexon EV SUV in just one month. Nexon EV also witnessed highest quarter sale in the period April to June 2021. Tata sold 1,715 units of Nexon EV during this quarter. Increasing fuel prices and lower running cost of electric vehicles could be the reason behind this rising demand.

Tata Motors claim that in Maharashtra and Gujarat demand for Nexon EV is at par with the diesel version. The subsidies that are offered by state government also attract decent amount of customers. The total share of Tata Nexon EV has increased to 3 percent from 0.2 percent in the last two years. After looking at the Nexon EV sales, Tata Motors stated in one of their annual reports that the manufacturer will launch as many as 10 electric vehicles in the market by 2025. Tata Motors will also invest on improving the charging infrastructure.

Also read: Tata Nexon goes off roading in the Himalayas (Video)

Tata Nexon is one of the most affordable electric SUV on sale in India. Tata offers Nexon EV in three trims –  XM, XZ+ and XZ+ Lux. The difference between these three trims is the features only. Driving range and other mechanical parts remain same. Tata also recently introduced  Dark Edition in Nexon EV. It is only available with XZ+ and XZ+ Lux trims.

Nexon EV based on regular Nexon SUV which is one of the safest car in the segment. Nexon EV uses Ziptron technology. Depending up on the feature you choose, it offers features like drive modes, electric sunroof, leatherette seats, touchscreen infotainment screen, iRA, rear AC vents, Express cool feature, power windows and many more features.

It is powered by a 30.2 kWh battery pack. It powers the electric motor that sends power to the front wheel. The electric motor generates maximum of 129 Ps and 245 Nm of peak torque. Tata Nexon EV has a certified maximum driving range of 312 km on a single charge. In real life conditions the range may differ depending on various factors. Price for Nexon EV starts at RS 13.99 lakh, ex-showroom which is lower than any other electric SUV in the segment. Tesla who is entering the Indian market has asked government to lower import duties to price the cars competitively. Several mainstream manufacturers have supported Tesla’s demand.

via: Mobility Outlook

Also read: Tata Hornbill HBX micro SUV: What its electric version will look like

India is a growing market for automobile manufacturers and we have recently seen several new vehicles and brand entering our market. In late nineties when Hindustan Motors, Maruti and other manufacturers where ruling Indian roads. It was at this time, Kerala-based beedi manufacturer and ayurvedic healthcare service provider, Rajah group decided to enter the automobile sector. They worked on their first product which was an MPV named Kazwa. It was supposed to go on sale in Indian market but, due to various factors, the manufacture had to put a stop on production.

Here we have a video about one of the three Kajah Kazwa MPVs that is left in the country. The video has been uploaded by Talking Cars on their YouTube channel. In this video, both video presenters explore the Kajah Kazwa inside out.

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One of the things that the vloggers talk about the Kazwa is its design. It was a well thought out vehicle when it comes to design. Rajah Motors (now known as Kajah Motors) had launched this vehicle back in 1998 and in comparison to other vehicles in the market, Kazwa had a futuristic design. Even today, the design of this MPV does not look dated.

The design was inspired from many other vehicles like Renault Espace which is not a wrong thing. The main attraction of Kajah Kazwa is its large quarte glass on the A pillar which completely eliminates blind spot. The window line is quite low and that offers a good view to the passenger sitting inside the cabin. Kajah Motors had received orders for Kazwa and could only manufacture seven. Out of these seven only three of them are still there in the country and all three of them belong to Kajah group.

Kajah Kazwa had used components from other cars but, the chassis was a custom made unit. The body of the Kajah Kazwa was made from fiberglass which means the body won’t rust like other cars. These fiberglass panels were fixed on steel sheets for stability. The engine, braking and suspension was supplied from Hindustan Motors. It was one of the vehicles that offered optional features to its customers.

Kajah Kazwa offered sunroof, powered ORVMs, alloy wheels as an option. Other than these, Kajah Kazwa also came with features like dual AC, power steering, power windows, central locking features as standard. The one that is seen in the video gets a wired spoke rims which look extremely good on the MPV. Kazwa also came with two engine options. There was non-turbo and turbocharged 2.0 litre diesel engine. In terms of space, Kajah Kazwa is better than any other car that is present in the market today.

It is wider than a Toyota Innova and large window area gives cabin an airy feel. The seats were wide and offered good support to the passengers and even the fabric used on it was of good quality. Overall, Kajah Kazwa was a great product which was probably way ahead of its time. With the arrival of Toyota Qualis in 2000 the marker scenario completely changed. This could have also been a reason why Kazwa was not commercially successful even after being a great product.

Also read: 6 seat Maruti XL6 beautifully modified into a 7-seater MPV (Video)

For a long time now, Mahindra has been testing the upcoming XUV700 in the Indian market. It is scheduled to launch in the coming months but Mahindra is yet to announce an official launch date of the upcoming flagship. While Mahindra has started revealing the features of the upcoming vehicle, these leaked pictures show what the production version of the all-new XUV700 will look like in real life.

The pictures came as forwarded texts on WhatsApp. The overall design looks like an MPV with a strong face. At the front, Mahindra has placed its vertical grille design that extends to become the headlamps of the vehicle. The design of the headlamps is quite unique too. They form closed brackets with LED DRL flowing downwards.

The front grille is all-black but we are not sure if Mahindra will also add chrome to the production model of the upcoming car. The side of the XUV700 gets deep creases that form the wheel arches and a beltline connect both of them. The pillars are in black colour except for the A-Pillar, which is in body colour.

Also read: India”s first Maruti Baleno with “air suspension” looks gorgeous (Video)

The alloy wheels also get an interesting design, however, they do not seem like a good fit for the design of the vehicle. The window line also gets a small bump and there is silver beading that underlines the glasses.

The rear gets massive looking tail lamps in a tri-star design. We can also spot a sharkfin antenna on the vehicle. There is a panoramic sunroof on the vehicle but it is not visible in the leaked images.

2021 Mahindra XUV700

Mahindra has revealed quite a lot about the XUV700 through teaser videos. The feature list of the upcoming vehicle will be quite long. To start with, the all-new XUV700 will get the most powerful engines in the segment. There will be a mStallion 2.0-litre petrol engine that will generate a maximum power of 200 Bhp. The diesel variants will get the 2.2-litre mHawk and the maximum output will be around 185 Bhp.

The upcoming XUV700 will also get a dual-screen set-up on the dashboard. The widescreen will act as an instrument cluster and infotainment system. The design is inspired by the Mercedes-Benz models. The actual size of the massive screen remains unknown.

Officially, Mahindra has revealed that the all-new vehicle will offer features like smart door handles, which are inspired by Cheetah’s claw. The flush design handles do look premium on the car. Mahindra has also mentioned that the all-new XUV700 will offer the largest roof in the segment, which they call the sky roof. The vehicle will also get an automatic headlamp booster to illuminate dark roads and personalized safety alerts as well.

Also read: Tata Nexon goes off roading in the Himalayas (Video)