You must have seen Bull Bars installed on many vehicles in our country. They are banned in India but still, some people are using them on their vehicles. There is a good reason for banning the bull bars. However, there is a proper way of designing and making a bull bar which was not followed in our country. Here, is a video uploaded by 4WD 24/7 and it shows us how a proper bull bar is designed.

Prevent airbags from working

A properly designed bull bar does not interfere with the airbags. There are sensors placed in the front of the vehicles that trigger the airbags in case of an accident. However, if a bull bar is not designed properly then there is a high chance that the impact may not reach the sensor or just travel around it. The airbag, not opening can cause severe injuries to the occupants.

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

Affects crumple zones

Manufacturers spend a lot of time figuring out the crumple zones in a car. Crumple Zones are crash zones that are there to absorb most of the impact in case of an accident. They reduce the impact that travels to the cabin. However, if you fit an improper bullbar then its design affects the crumple zones because the crumple zone is now covered and the impact from the accident will not reach the crumple zone. Due to this, the shock and impact from the accident will travel to the rest of the vehicle. Crumple Zones are there to absorb the energy and get destroyed in the process.

Originally designed for Australia

Bullbars were originally designed for use in Australia. They were meant to protect the vehicle from animals particularly Kangaroos. In Australia, there are open roads and the population is also less. Because of the open roads, animals would pop out suddenly out of nowhere and hit the vehicle. Due to this, people were stranded in the middle of nowhere. So, in Australia bull bars that are specifically designed for vehicles are allowed.

Not allowed in India

In India, the case is very different. Here people use bullbars to give an aggressive and off-road look to their vehicles. Or they do it to protect the bumpers of their vehicles. These bullbars are just stainless steel pipes guards which are attached to the vehicle with clamps. Now, the bullbar makers have started using different materials for the bullbars but still, they do not comply with the vehicles.

Also, the Indian population is much higher than that of Australia. So, there is a high chance of hitting someone. The makers do not think of airbag deployment or crumple zones. So, in case of an accident, the impact could be deadly. Then there are pedestrians, there are norms that consider pedestrian safety and installing a bullbar in front of your bumper do not comply with that norm. The metal in the bull bars can severely injure the pedestrians.

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

Hyundai launched their seven seater SUV Alcazar in the market recently. The SUV is based on Hyundai Creta and it competes with cars like Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus in the segment. Hyundai Alcazar is the most feature rich SUV in the segment and just like its 5-seater sibling, Alcazar also became popular among buyers in a short span of time. Ever since its launch we have seen several videos of Hyundai Alcazar online. Here we have one such video where a vlogger tries to find out how fast Hyundai Alcazar’s diesel version actually is.

The video has been uploaded by HEAT 17 on their YouTube channel. In this video, vloggers test 0-100 kmph timing of the all-new Hyundai Alcazar. For this test, he chooses an empty stretch of road. The road seems wet as it was raining. Vlogger gets in the vehicle and prepares for the launch. The Alcazar seen in the video is a top-end Signature trim Alcazar with a diesel engine. It is powered by a 1.5 litre turbocharged diesel engine that generates 115 Ps and 250 Nm of peak torque.

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

Vlogger then launches the car from the start line. Hyundai Alcazar moves off the start line and speed starts increasing. Vlogger had opted for a straight road with no traffic so that he can touch 100 kmph without any interruptions. Hyundai Alcazar smoothly accelerates and  touches the 100 kmph mark in 13.44 seconds. This is not the best 0-100 kmph timing but, it is good for a 7-seater SUV in its segment.

With a longer wheelbase and added third row seat, Hyundai Alcazar is heavier than a regular Creta. If Hyundai had offered a bigger engine or the same engine in a different state of tune, then it would have hit the 0-100 kmph mark even quicker. The diesel engine is normally opted for its torquey and fuel efficient nature. The 1.5 litre diesel engine in Alcazar does that job pretty well.

If you are looking for performance then the petrol version might fulfill your needs. Petrol version of Hyundai Alcazar is powered by a 2.0 litre naturally aspirated engine that generates 159 Ps and 191 Nm of peak torque. Both these engine options are available with manual and automatic transmission options. The automatic versions also get paddle shifters with them.

Hyundai has made some changes to the exterior of the Alcazar. It now gets a much more matured and premium looking front grille and the headlamps and split LED DRLs looks better on Alcazar than in Creta. The SUV gets machine cut alloy wheels, all LED tail lamps and many other features.

On the inside, Hyundai Alcazar is available in 6 and 7 seater configurations. the 6-seater version gets a center console in the second row which offers cup holders, arm rest and wireless charging for phones. Other features include large panoramic sunroof, ventilated front row seats with electrical adjustments, multi-function steering wheel, tan colour leather upholstery, dual tone dashboard, automatic climate control, fully digital instrument cluster, blindspot detection system, 360 degree camera, reverse parking sensors and camera, cruise control and so on.

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

Tata launched their all-new three row SUV Safari in the market earlier this year. The SUV is doing quite well for the brand and it competes with cars like MG Hector Plus and recently introduced Hyundai Alcazar in the market. Toyota Innova Crysta is a very popular MPV in its segment. It has actually been ruling the segment for a quite some time. People relate Toyota Innova Crysta with reliability, comfortable ride and low cost of maintenance. We have seen several videos of Safari and Innova Crysta online and here we have a video where both these cars that belong from two different segments are competing with each other in a drag race.

The video has been uploaded by Ashish Yadav on his YouTube channel. Vlogger starts by talking about the engine specifications of both the vehicles. Toyota Innova Crysta used here is a BS6 diesel version which is powered by a 2.4 litre turbo diesel engine. The engine generates 148 bhp and 343 Nm of peak torque. The Tata Safari is powered by a smaller 2.0 litre turbocharged diesel engine that generates 168 Bhp and 350 Nm of peak torque. Both vehicles come with manual and automatic transmissions and the one used in video is manual.

Also read: Hyundai Santro owner upgrades to all new Tata Safari: Ownership review (Video)

The race is conducted in three rounds and the vlogger chose an empty stretch of road for this. Both the vehicle lined up for the first round and both vehicles move off the line at almost the same time when the race starts. Both vehicles were in Eco mode for the first round. Toyota Innova Crysta actually took the lead and was performing quite well. After covering some distance, Tata Safari started gaining and soon overtook Innova Crysta.

Safari maintained the lead and the won the first round without any problem. For the second round,  Innova was put into Power mode and Safari was in Sport Mode. Second round starts and it looked like the Safari driver did not move off the line quickly. Innova Crysta was quite quick took the lead instantly. Safari struggled at the beginning but, it did manage to cover up some ground. By the time, Innova was near the finish line Safari was right behind it. If the track was a bit more longer, Safari might have won the second round too. Unfortunately that did not happen and Toyota Innova Crysta won the round.

For the last round, both the SUVs were lined up and they both move off the line at almost the same time. Once again, it looked like Innova Crysta was going to win the round, after some time both vehicles were fighting hard to cross the finish line first. In this battle, Tata Safari won the third round by a very small margin. Both Innova Crysta and Tata Safari have a similar kerb weight. However, the smaller engine of Tata Safari producing more power and torque actually helped it win the race. If the driver had not struggled in the second round, Tata Safari might have won all three rounds.

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RFC or Rainforest Challenge is one of the toughest off-road competitions that is held in India. Off-roading as well know is still not that popular among people. It is an extreme adventure sport and Rainforest challenge is one of them. Although, we Indians love SUVs, only a small percentage of these owners take their SUVs off-road. There are several groups who are now organising off-road trips so that, they can experience how good or bad their vehicle is off the road. RFC as mentioned above, is a very tough challenge and the participants in this event prepare their vehicles for this competition. Here we have one such RFC prepped custom build Jeep that makes off-roading look like a piece of cake.

The video has been uploaded by Booosted on their YouTube channel. In this video, vlogger who is also an avid off-roader talks about all the modifications that are done to his Jeep. He can be seen driving off-road in this Jeep without any problems. The Jeep shown in the video is called Sloth. The Jeep is actually a Mahindra MM550 and several modifications have been made to the SUV as part of the championship regulations.

Also read: Forgotten Hyundai cars & SUVs: From Terracan to Sonata Gold

Video starts by talking about the engine of the Sloth. It uses a 3.0 litre turbocharged diesel engine that was used in Fortuner before. The gearbox is also borrowed from Fortuner. This is a custom build vehicle and it uses parts from several other vehicles. The front grille gets metal bar which protects the grille in case of an impact.

There are two winches installed on the Jeep. There is a twin motor winch at front whereas the rear gets a triple motor winch. LED headlamps and auxiliary lamps are also installed as part of competition regulations. Coming to the suspensions, it gets a custom build four link oil overs suspension and bump stops. The metal bonnet has been replaced for a light weight aluminium unit.

Doors, roof and all areas where metal sheets were being used on the  body have been replaced with thick light weight aluminium sheets. The front differential is from a pickup truck while the rear is from Mahindra Scorpio. Propeller shaft on this SUV is a customised unit from a Toyota Land Cruiser. It uses 35 inch off-road tyres.

Wheelbase on this Jeep has been shortened and the chassis has been modified too. The roof has been lowered for improving stability. Snorkel, upgraded air intake and exhaust pipes are all installed in this car. As this a competition build, safety has been given importance too. There are roll cages all around the Jeep along with rock sliders and several mounting points. All metal parts and mounts have been reinforced too.

The cabin in this Jeep gets rally spec seats with 4-pointer seat belts and a custom made dashboard. The dashboard gets water proof switches for various purposes. There is an engine kill switch and the steering wheel used in this Jeep is from a JCB. It uses a hydraulic tractor steering which is only useful for such competitions.

At the rear, there are spare wheels, hi-lift jack is also mounted at the rear. Overall, the Jeep looks like a beast and it can be seen doing off-roading without any issue in the video. These cars are specially built for competition and are not meant to be driven on the road.

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

Hyundai Creta is one of the best selling mid-size compact SUV in the segment. Ever since its launch, it has been ruling the segment. Hyundai Creta competes with cars like Kia Seltos, Nissan Kicks, Renault Duster, MG Hector in the segment. Hyundai Creta is so popular that within weeks after the launch of current generation Creta, aftermarket accessories had started to arrive and people had already started modifying it. We have seen several examples of modified Hyundai Creta on our website. In most of the cases a base variant Hyundai Creta is modified to look like a top-end variant. Here we have one such video, where a base variant Hyundai Creta SUV is modified with genuine accessories to look like a top-end trim.

The video has been uploaded by VIG AUTO ACCESSORIES on their YouTube channel. In this video vlogger talks about all the modification that has been done to the car. He starts with the front and here the lower variant grille has been replaced for a unit that is seen on higher versions of Creta. The single projector headlamps have been replaced with tri-beam LED headlamps with LED DRLs.

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

Lower variants of Creta does not get fog lamps. That has also been added to this Creta along with air ducts. The front bumper now gets silver coloured skid plate which is now missing in the lower variants. Moving to the side profile, steel rims on Hyundai Creta E varaint has been replaced with Hyundai original 17 inch dual tone alloy wheels. There are chrome garnishes on the door handles and lower cladding.

The ORVMs now get integrated LED turn indicators and the ORVM itself is now electrically adjustable. E trim of Hyundai Creta now gets turn indicators on fender. That has been moved to the ORVM and the fender now gets fake air vents covering the turn indicator part. The roof and ORVMs have been blacked out to give it a dual tone finish. Roof rails and shark fin antenna have also been installed in this car.

As we move to the rear, the tail lights have been replaced. It now gets LED tail lamps that are normally used in higher trims. A rear parking camera, silver colour skid plate and LED reflector lamps have also been installed on the car. Moving inside, the inner door handles have been replaced. Other modifications include a high infrared heat rejection clear film, ultra soft seat covers, multi-function steering wheel with cruise control, aftermarket touchscreen, floor mats, damping, Alpine speaker setup and so on. The original dual tone theme of the cabin has been retained in this Creta.

Overall, the work done on this Creta looks very neat and a person looking at the car will be surprised to know that it is a base variant Creta. Hyundai offers Creta with three engine options. There is a 1.5 litre naturally aspirated petrol that comes with manual and CVT gearbox option. Next is a 1.5 litre turbo diesel engine that comes with manual and automatic gearbox option. Third engine on offer is the 1.4 litre turbo petrol which comes with a 7-speed DCT gearbox as standard.

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

SUVs are gaining popularity in the Indian market and globally. Car manufacturers have slowly started shifting their focus from sedans to SUVs due to increasing demand. Although, they are focussing on this segment, most of the SUV that are currently sold in the market are two wheel drive cars. Only a small portion of buyers opt for 4×4 SUVs and even smaller section from these buyers actually explore off-road capabilities of their SUVs. Off-roading is slowly gaining popularity and we have several SUV groups that organise off-road trips and we have feature some videos of this category on our website as well. Here we have a video where a 2021 Toyota Fortuner gets stuck in sand in Ladakh’s Nubra valley.

The video has been uploaded by We Luv Thar on their YouTube channel. The video shows a Toyota Fortuner that gets stuck in loose sand in Nubra valley and how it was recovered using an older generation Mahindra Thar. In this short video, it is shown how Mahindra Thar recovers Toyota Fortuner that is royally stuck in the sand.

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

Just like many others, it looks like the group in Toyota Fortuner was on a road trip after the second wave of Corona virus. The group had reached Nubra valley in Union Territory of Ladakh. Nubra valley is known for its scenic views Bactrian camels and sand dunes. The group was travelling in a Toyota Fortuner 4×4. It is the facelifted model that Toyota launched earlier this year. It looks like the group wanted to try off-road capabilities of the Fortuner and they moved away from tarmac and tried entering the sand.

It is not clear whether tyre pressure on the SUV was lowered or not. The SUV looks in stock form and as it was entering the sand, it got stuck in it. The SUV was not going to the front or rear. When the video starts, Mahindra Thar guys have already reached the spot and had started helping Toyota Fortuner. Thar had tow rope in it and it was tied at the rear of the car. The Fortuner was then slowly pulled out of the sand without any problem.

Toyota Fortuner is a capable SUV but, we have mentioned in another article that the 2021 Toyota Fortuner come with Highway Terrain tyres which are not suitable for off-road. That could have been one of the reason why it got stuck in sand. Driving off-road is entirely different and tricky. If you are driving off-road for the first time, it is always recommended to have an experienced driver with you who can guide you during the drive.

Another important rule of off-roading is to not go alone in such adventures. Getting stuck while off-roading is quite common but, if you get stuck while off-roading alone, things can get worse as there is no backup vehicle to recover your SUV. In this case, the Fortuner was on sand near road and that is why Mahindra Thar could easily spot the SUV and recover it.

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Olympian Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win a gold medal in Athletics. The whole nation started celebrating the only gold medal at the 2020 Olympics. As the nation celebrated and announced prizes for the new gold medalist, Mahindra Group’s Chairman, Anand Mahindra also promised to gift a Mahindra XUV700 to the ace javelin thrower.

Anand Mahindra announced the same while responding to a w tweet on the social media platform. A follower of Anand Mahindra asked him to gift the upcoming Mahindra XUV700 to Neeraj Chopra. Anand Mahindra said “Yes indeed, it will be my personal privilege and honour to gift our Golden Athlete an XUV700”.

While responding to the Tweet, Anand Mahindra even tagged Mahindra’s Executive Director Rajesh Jejurikar and Mahindra CEO, Automobile Division, Vijay Nakra. Anand Mahindra asked them to keep the XUV700 ready for the Olympian.

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

Customised XUV700

Following the response of Anand Mahindra, Pratap Bose, the newly appointed head of design at Mahindra and Mahindra hinted that they will make a customised version for the Olympian. He even said that the team at Mahindra have a few ideas cooking up and they will share the same.

Mahindra is known to gift vehicles to successful sports personalities in India. In the past, many have received brand-new vehicles from Anand Mahindra. The brand has even gifted customised Thar to the 2016 Olympics medal winners – PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik.

Mahindra XUV700

As Mahindra is working to launch the all-new XUV700 in the Indian market, we may see him announcing the all-new vehicle as a gift to the new champions. The all-new Mahindra XUV700 will be revealed in the Indian market on around 15th August and the launch is expected to happen in the following weeks.

The all-new Mahindra XUV700 will come with some state-of-the-art technology and many segment-first features. The seven-seater will become the new flagship of the manufacturer. The all-new XUV700 will be positioned as a premium product from the brand and will offer a plethora of luxurious features.

However, the all-new Thar remains high in demand in the market and depending on the city and the variant you choose, you may have to wait for months and even more than a year.

The all-new Thar is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 150 Bhp and a peak torque of 320 Nm. The 2.2-litre diesel engines offer a maximum of 130 PS and a peak torque of 320 Nm. Both the engine options are available with a manual as well as an automatic transmission option.

The SUV is available with three rooftop options. There is a hardtop, a soft rooftop and a convertible soft top. The cabin also gets a slew of new additions like front-facing rear seats, a touchscreen infotainment system, ABS, airbags, and two airbags, cruise control, traction control, VSM and more. Mahindra Thar is the first off-road vehicle in India that has scored a 4-star safety rating.

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

Volkswagen is ready with the Taigun – the all-important car specifically made for the Indian market. Volkswagen first showcased the car at the 2020 Auto Expo and then revealed the exterior of the production version. This time, we got to drive the pre-production units of the Taigun, which are 99.9% similar to the production version of the upcoming Taigun. Volkswagen will launch the Taigun with two engine options. There will be a 1.0 TSI and a 1.5 TSI. While the 1.0 TSI was not available at the media drives, we drove both manual and automatic variants of the 1.5-litre unit. Here is what we think about the upcoming Taigun.

Volkswagen Taigun: Looks European

The Taigun’s design looks unmistakably Volkswagen signature design. At the front, it gets a bold grille with horizontal slats. Since we drove only the GT Line variants, Volkswagen will offer two variants under the GT group. The fully-loaded GT gets more chrome than the lower-end variant. There are other differences too.

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

The top-end GT variant gets full projector LED lamps with DRL positioned below the lamps while the lower-end gets DRL above the lamps like brows. Also, the lower-end version gets halogen lamps. Overall, the front looks compact and quite interesting on the roads.

Coming to the side, there is a GT badge on the fender. There is a chrome window line, chrome door handles and deep creases on the body that makes the Taigun look clean yet sporty. The top-end gets 17-inch alloys with red-painted front callipers while the other variant gets 16-inch wheels. The roof rails are functional and can hold up to 50 kg of weight.

The rear of the Taigun is the best angle to look at the car in my personal opinion. It gets sporty tail lamps with a sweeping lightbar that connects both the lamps. The exhaust tips remain hidden but the whole set-up looks very sporty at the night. The design of the tail lamps with black cladding especially takes a lot of attention.

Volkswagen Taigun: Cabin and features

The Taigun’s cabin is much similar to the Kushaq as both the vehicles share a lot of parts. However, Volkswagen has made changes to give it a different identity. The two different variants get different looking dashboards. The top-end trim gets carbon fibre and silver inserts while the lower variant gets red coloured highlights on the dashboard. The top-end version also gets a fully digital instrument cluster that shows a lot of information while the lower-end variant gets the analogue-digital instrument cluster like the Kushaq.

There is a touch-sensitive infotainment system in the middle while the climate control system looks exactly the same as the Kushaq. The touch-sensitive controls do work well. The car also gets a wireless phone charger. There is a lot of space too. There are two cup holders in the middle and more space under the front sliding armrest. Even the doors get ample space.

The front two seats are bucket seats with ample side bolstering. You do feel very confident and comfortable with the seats cocooned around your body. That’s the same story for the rear seats as well. Volkswagen gives ample space for the rear passengers but there is not for the third passengers. The bolsters and the rear AC vents intrude with the space of the third passenger, which makes it difficult to fit an adult third passenger in the rear. You do get C-Type USB chargers, ample space in the doors and rear seat pockets to keep the small items.

A few differences that we found between the two GT Line variants – instrument cluster, cruise control, sunroof, keyless start/stop, alloy wheels and headlamps. Volkswagen is yet to officially announce the distribution of the feature.

Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 Manual and DSG: Drive and performance

The 1.5-litre is a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 150 PS and a peak torque of 250 Nm. It comes with a special cylinder deactivation system that improves the mileage of the car by deactivating two cylinders when there is no load on the engine. The deactivation and activation are so smooth that one does not even get to know the difference except for the notification on the screen of the car.

We drove the manual first. It is a six-speed manual transmission that slots well and the gear throw is very short and sharp. The 1.5-litre engine’s noise filters inside the cabin but it does feel sporty. If you’re driving through traffic situations, you may not require to shift as much because of the wide torque band. However, if you need to change the gears, the light clutch comes in handy.

The 7-speed DSG is overall an all-rounder transmission. It is quite good when it comes to traffic but if you’re looking for aggressive driving, then you may find the manual transmission better. Pressing the accelerator to the metal will make the engine rpm rise in the DSG but the actual power starts to flow with a delay. You can change that by entering the sports mode or the manual mode in the transmission, which will allow you to shift with the help of pedal shifters. However, I found that if you want to drive enthusiastically and extract the last bit of performance, the manual is better.

The handling of the Taigun is supreme. It takes corners at more than 100 km/h with ease and even sharp turns at high speeds will not shake your confidence. Also, at high speeds, the vehicle feels planted to the roads and you get more confidence to take it to the higher speeds. There is no other car in the segment that will give you this feeling.

Should you wait for one?

Volkswagen will start the production of the Taigun on 18th August and will start accepting the bookings for the car soon after. The launch will happen next month and that is when the price announcement will happen too. Yes, the Taigun does not offer the long list of features that some of the rivals do. There is no panoramic sunroof and few other features but the Taigun offers a driver’s centric sporty car that may not ever give you a dull moment. The prices of the Taigun are likely to undercut the Kushaq, especially for the lower-end variants.

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

Hyundai has just teased the launch of their N-Line vehicles in India. They have announced that they will be launching the first N-Line product in 2021 and more products will follow in subsequent years. The first product will be the i20 N-Line as it has already been spied on test in India quite a few times. The i20 N-Line should be launched in India this year only.

Mr. S S Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said, “As the country’s leading smart mobility solutions provider, Hyundai has been redefining the mobility landscape with products that take customer aspirations to new heights. The introduction of our N Line range to India, will induce sporty experiences like never before, making every drives a fun experience with products that personify excitement and athleticism. As an organization committed to India, Hyundai has been introducing superior products and services for customers. We have surpassed customer expectations and assumed leadership across various segments by winning the hearts and minds of our most valued customers. With N Line, Hyundai Motor India will continue to challenge new boundaries and introduce new cars that amplify the aspirations and personalities of new age Millennial and Gen Z buyers.”

The first product to come under the N-Line range will be the i20. Hyundai is emphasising three differentiating factors for the N-Line. The N-Line products will have

Motorsport Inspired Styling Cues          

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As we have seen from i20 N-Line that is sold in the international market. It gets sportier and has deeper front and rear bumpers. This will make the stance of the i20 much more aggressive than the regular i20. The front grille gets an all-black theme with an N-Line badging. It also runs on different alloy wheels and it also gets side skirts. At the rear, there is an integrated diffuser and twin exhaust pipes. The interior is also expected to get some sporty touches.

Accessible for All

Currently, there are not many “sporty” or enthusiast-focused vehicles in India. Hyundai is bringing N-Line vehicles to target those people only. People who want to have a bit more fun without having to spend a huge amount of money. Yes, the N-Line vehicles would cost a bit more than the regular variants of the i20.

Everyday Excitement

The N-Line vehicles would come with the more powerful engine that Hyundai now offers. So, the i20 N-Line would come with a three-cylinder, 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The engine produces 120 PS of max power and 172 Nm of peak torque. It is still not known if the N-Line will be offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Hyundai would also retune the suspension of the N-Line vehicles. So, they would run a bit stiffer setup than the regular variants. This would make the ride quality a bit firm but the driver would be able to have more fun in the twisties.

It is still not known what other vehicles would Hyundai bring to India in form of N-Line. In the international market, Hyundai sells N-Line variants of Grand i10 Nios, Elantra, i30, Kona, Tucson and Sonata. We expect Hyundai to launch the N-Line version of Grand i10 Nios in India. Then they might work on N-Line versions of the Creta and Verna too.

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After the COVID-19 pandemic wave crippled India last year, the President of India’s office decided to adopt austerely measures. One part of the measures was to keep the presidential car and not upgrade it to the new Mercedes-Benz S 600 Pullman Guard. While the President of India – Ramnath Kovind was expected to receive a brand-new vehicle before the Republic Day celebrations that happened in January 2021, the new car is here just before the Independence Day celebrations on 15th August.

The single picture of the car posted on Instagram shows the brand-new Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard. Until now, President Kovind was using the Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard based on the W221 model. This vehicle made its debut globally in 2011 and was inducted in the presidential services when Late Pranab Mukherjee was the president of India. Even though the current vehicle still provides tank-like protection to the occupants with its VR7-level ballistic protection level, the vehicle was due for an upgrade.

The new Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard that just landed in India was spotted in Delhi. It seems like the car already has customisations required by the Special Protection Group or SPG that is in charge of the safety and security of the president of India.

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

Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard

The new Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard is more than 6 metres long, which makes it longer than most other cars on the roads. It is the flagship and most expensive vehicle from the Mercedes-Maybach.

The new car is a mix of the new design and the old design and that is because Mercedes-Benz takes about 1.5 years to 2 years to deliver the car after you order it. The vehicle offers the highest level of protection, which is VR9 level. The design is of the car is such that the protection features are not visible at all. It looks like a regular car.

While Mercedes-Benz has designed the car in-house, Brabus is involved in extending the vehicle. The car gets high level armoured and even the chassis is strengthened. The vehicle gets strobes, sirens, two-way radio and a host of other features. With the new facelifted model, Mercedes-Benz has added the new intelligent LED headlamps system.

The car gets powered by a twin-turbo V12 engine that generates a maximum of 523 PS and a peak torque of 900 Nm. Since it weighs more than 5,000 kg, the top speed is restricted to 160 km/h. The doors are electrically operated since they are quite heavy.

On the inside, it gets a quilted dashboard with twin screens for the instrument cluster and the infotainment system. The rear gets four seats facing each other. The rear cabin is absolutely opulent and offers seat massagers, cup holders that can warm or cool your drinks and more.

Coming to the armour of the car, it can withstand 15kg of TNT from a distance of 2meters. Also, the windows can withstand bullets from assault rifles like AK-47. There are a lot of modifications and customisation options that go in the car but since it belongs to the president of India, these options remain a closely guarded secret.

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

MG Motors launched the all-new Gloster in the Indian market last year. MG has now announced the addition of a new variant to the model line-up. MG Motors has added the new seven-seat version of the Gloster, which is called the Savvy. The vehicle is priced at Rs 37.28 lakh, ex-showroom, New Delhi. This has now become the most expensive variant of the Gloster.

The new Gloster Savvy gets the 2+3+2 seating configuration, which makes it a seven-seater. There are no changes to the car on the outside or the inside. It looks the same. Until now, MG offered the Gloster with Super, Smart, Smart and Savvy trims. While the six-seater variant is standard with all the trim levels, only the Super and Sharp trims were available with both six and seven-seater layouts. With the introduction of the Savvy 7-seater, the Gloster has become more accessible to more customers.

Speaking about the launch, Gaurav Gupta, Chief Commercial Officer, MG Motor India, said,

“We are introducing the Gloster Savvy with a 7-seater configuration in response to requests from our customers. With this addition to the existing Gloster Savvy with 6-seater configuration, we are offering our customers the power to choose a vehicle as per their needs and preferences.”

The car comes with the same 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel engine that generates a maximum power of 200 PS and a peak torque of 480 Nm. Feature-wise, the Gloster remains the leading car in the segment. It is the only car in the segment to offer the ADAS or the Advanced Driver Assistance System. The ADAS scans the road ahead using high-tech cameras and sensors to offer features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and automatic parking assist.

MG Gloster Savvy

The Gloster continues to offer high-end features including the 64 colour ambient colour option, three-zone climate control system, a massive panoramic sunroof, driver seat massager and several other features.

The premium SUV also comes with a unique, industry-first MY MG Shield ownership package, which has revolutionised and personalised the car ownership experience with flexible after-sales needs of customers. Besides providing customers with a choice to customise additional services and maintenance packages from 200+ options, MY MG Shield’s standard 3-3-3 package includes a warranty of three years/100,000 kilometres, three years of roadside assistance and three labour-free periodic services.

MG will also launch the petrol version of the MG ZS EV later this year. The new car will take on the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and the newly launched vehicles like the Skoda Kushaq and upcoming Volkswagen Taigun.

In the last couple of years, van life has become popular in India. Several travel vloggers are now opting to travel in vans to reduce the cost of such trips. One such popular vloggers from Kerala were E Bull Jet. Kerala based vloggers and their van Napoleon is quite popular in the YouTube community. Recently, E Bull Jet made some modifications to their Force Traveller and ever since then, things are not going good for the YouTubers. Kerala MVD recently seized their Caravan and now YouTubers Ebin and Libin have been arrested too. A clear picture of what is happening is not available at the moment.

Several videos explaining the incident have surfaced online but, a clear picture of the whole incident is not available. In the first video, vloggers explain the whole incident. They had recently modified their Traveller and it is a vehicle that has camper permit or Caravan permit. As per the video, MVD visited vlogger’s house and told them that the permit for the vehicle has expired and they are taking the vehicle with them. Vlogger’s can pay the permit amount and take the vehicle but, when vlogger verified the documents, the permit had not expired and later they brought the Caravan back to their home.

Also read: Tastefully modified used 2019 Force Gurkha 4×4 SUV for sale

Next day, when they were shooting a video, MVD arrives at a their house once again and mentions there is some issue with the documents of the vehicle and they are taking the vehicle once again. Officers asked them to come to Kannur RTO to clear all the confusion related to the document of the vehicle.

In the next video, the whole scene changes, the tax problem is not mentioned anywhere, vlogger can be heard saying in the video that the officers at RTO have been harassing them because they have modified their vehicle. The original colour of the van seen in the video was White and now it has been repainted in black colour. It is not known whether YouTubers had legally changed the colour of the vehicle on RC after re-painiting. They have also installed LED bar lights and auxiliary lamps on the roof of the van.

According to reports, vloggers engaged in verbal conflicts with the officers. The vloggers had also posted on their Instagram profile that the officers have seized their vehicle and are harassing them. After watching the online video, several followers came to the RTO in support of the vloggers and this created a scene at the office. MVD officers ca be heard saying in the video that the vloggers broke COVID-19 protocol in the office compound and they also interrupted the work at the RTO.

After things started becoming worse, MVD got in touch with Kannur town Police who came to the spot and took both the vloggers in custody. Vloggers had mentioned in one of their video that they are being targeted and they also mentioned in their Instagram profile that they are stopping van life vlogging from now on. It is still not clear whether the van was taken in custody for not paying the taxes, modification or for both.

Video source: 1, 2, 3, 4

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

Mahindra and Mahindra have unveiled their new logo. They are calling it the ‘Twin Peaks’ logo. The upcoming XUV 700 SUV will be the first vehicle to use the new logo. The new logo looks like two mountains. Hence, the name “twin peaks”. The manufacturer also released a new video on their YouTube channel to showcase the new logo.

The newly appointed EVP and Chief Design Officer of Mahindra, Pratap Bose said, “The idea behind visual identity change is to express that liberating feeling, that you can go where you want, when you want – in complete style, control and security, taking your world with you. It brings a fresh dynamism as an exciting new era unfolds. The 2M’s within the logo symbolize an expansive and exciting future which is based on a solid heritage.”

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

The video shows us the logo in various different natural environments. The new logo is inspired by the brand statement ‘Explore the Impossible’. The video also gives us a hint that the logo will only be used on their SUVs.

Veejay Nakra, CEO, Automotive Division, M&M Ltd. said, “It’s not only a new logo but a representation of the rejuvenated spirit at Mahindra. What better platform than the new XUV700 to showcase it to the world. The visual overhaul of our identity will be carried in a phased manner across our SUV nameplates, and across virtual and physical touch-points where our customers interact with us.”

XUV 700

Mahindra has started the official countdown for the unveiling of the XUV 700. The countdown started with 7 days so that means that the SUV could unveil on 15th August. Just like the Mahindra Thar which was unveiled last year.

According to the rumours, the XUV 700 will get launched on 2nd October. This is the same timeline that was followed for the Thar. However, Mahindra has not yet officially announced anything regarding the launch of the SUV. They are just teasing the new SUV because they know that there is a lot of hype around it.

The XUV 700 is based on a new W601 platform. It is a monocoque platform and is all-new. The XUV 700 will be going against the Hyundai Alcazar, MG Hector Plus and the Tata Safari. Unlike its rivals, the XUV 700 is an all-new product and is not based on anything.

Engine and transmission

The XUV 700 will be the most powerful SUV in the segment. It will come with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and a 2.2-litre diesel engine. Both the engines will be producing class-leading power outputs. The petrol engine will put out around 200 PS of max power while the diesel engine will put out 185 PS of max power.

The torque outputs from the engines are not known yet. However, what we do know is that both the engines will come mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The XUV 700 will also be the only SUV in the segment that will be offered with an all-wheel-drive powertrain.

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

Maruti Suzuki is working on expanding its S-CNG range of vehicles. The test mules of Swift and Dzire have already been spied and recently the engine specifications of both the vehicles were also leaked. Now, the specifications of Vitara Brezza’s CNG variant has been leaked online.

Unlike, Swift and Dzire which are now using an older engine. The Vitara Brezza will be using the current 1.5-litre naturally aspirated, four-cylinder unit. The engine produces 104 PS of max power and a peak torque output of 138 Nm of peak torque. These figures are when the engine is running on petrol. On CNG the power output decreases to 92 PS of max power and torque decreases to 122 Nm.

The information is shared by car.spyshots on Instagram. The transmission will be a 5-speed unit that we have seen with the current engine. It is unlikely that the S-CNG variant of the Vitara Brezza would come with an automatic gearbox.

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

Variant and price

Just like other S-CNG variants, the Vitara Brezza is also expected to be sold in the VXi trim with CNG. It will sit higher than the regular VXi variant. The CNG variant should cost around Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 90,000 more than the regular VXi variant. The VXi variant of the Vitara Brezza is currently priced at Rs. 8.56 lakhs ex-showroom.

Rivals 

There will be no direct rivals to the Vitara Brezza’s CNG variant because no other manufacturer offers their compact SUV with a CNG drivetrain.  According to the rumours, there can be a CNG variant of the Tata Nexon but nothing is announced officially yet.

The regular Vitara Brezza competes against Ford Ecosport, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 300, Kia Sonet, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger.

Swift and Dzire’s CNG variant

Maruti Suzuki will also be launching the CNG variant of the Dzire and the Swift. The test mules revealed that the changes will be mechanical only because the test mules look exactly the same as the petrol counterpart.

Both the vehicles will get the earlier 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated, VVT petrol engine that puts out 70 bhp of max power and torque output of 95 Nm while running on CNG. On petrol, the power output is 81 bhp and it produces 113 Nm of peak torque.

Earlier, Maruti Suzuki upgraded the engines of both the vehicles to the DualJet 1.2-litre naturally aspirated engine that is doing duty on the Baleno. The engine produces 89 bhp of max power while the torque output stays the same at 113 Nm.

CNG vehicles in India

Maruti Suzuki has the largest line-up of CNG vehicles. They call them S-CNG vehicles. Currently, they sell factory-fitted CNG variants of the Celerio, WagonR, S-Presso, Ertiga, Alto and Eeco. They will be adding Vitara Brezza, Dzire and Swift.

Hyundai also offers some of their vehicles with a factory-fitted CNG. You can get Santro, Grand i10 Nios and the Aura with a factory-fitted CNG. Tata Motors is also working on introducing Tiago and Tigor’s CNG variants. Both the vehicles have been already spied.

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

Buying a car for the first time is always an intimidating process, regardless of whether you’re going for a brand new variant or a used one. Tons of proper guidance is required, along with adequate coordination with your dealer.

There is a lot of pressure to make a good decision as even when you go for affordable used cars, the investment is a big one. However, with the massive increase in demand for second hand cars in Delhi, Mumbai and other Indian cities, you can easily find your dream variant at affordable rates.

There is no one perfect car that will fit the bill of everyone out there, so taking a thorough look at all your options is the course of action you want to be taking. It is no hidden fact that the used car industry will give you some of the best options in the most affordable ranges. With that in mind, here are five great options under ten lakhs you should take a look at:

     1. Mahindra XUV500 W6 AT: This is an automatic diesel car under the range of 10 lakhs, which already gives it an edge because of how inexpensive it is. The vehicle has a mileage of 16 kmpl and has garnered excellent reviews from long term owners. It has very appealing features like a multi-steering wheel, touch screen functions, automatic climate control and more for the most convenient driving experience.

     2. Ford Ecosport Trend 1.5L TDCi: This Ford Ecosport model has a high-reliability score because of its high mileage of 23 kmpl among other features. This diesel car is one of the best used cars you’ll find under a price range of 10 lakhs owing to its sleek and trendy looks. Add to that, its cosy seating areas and smooth performance and you have the perfect family SUV at your disposal.

     3. Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza ZDi: Maruti Suzuki is known for making cars most suitable for the Indian population, and this car certainly comes through. With a large tank capacity and an efficient fuel economy, this stylish and spacious car is a mass favourite. You can easily go on a road trip with your family in this spacious car.

     4. Honda City V AT: This car is one of the best options on our list that will never disappoint. It has excellent safety options, so you should especially consider this if you have children. Additionally, it’s comfortable, has modern features, is spacious and has overall smooth performance.

     5. Hyundai Creta 1.6 SX Plus: Last but not least, this Hyundai car is a great one if you are looking for a multipurpose vehicle you can take to work every day and out on the weekends. It has a ground clearance of 190mm, meaning it will give you a smooth experience even on India’s rough roads. Moreover, it is an affordable solution to your daily commute problems.

Certified dealers like Spinny present you with a multitude of second-hand car options whether you are in Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai or anywhere in India. The platform offers you a seamless buying experience no matter what your choice is. So start looking right away!

It was May’21 when the new generation of Scorpio was first spied. Over the year we have seen the test mules develop over to the point where the current test mules seem to be in the final stages of testing. Now, the SUV has been spied once again and the video reveals more details. The video has been uploaded on YouTube by AutoTrend TV.

We can see that the video is shot during the nighttime. We can clearly see the LED headlamps and the C-shaped LED Daytime Running Lamps that surround the LED fog lamps. Mahindra would be using a twin projector setup for headlamps. Both the projectors would be use LEDs. The tail lamps are a bit similar to the current Scorpio in terms of size.

Also read: Old Mahindra Scorpio converted to latest Scorpio for just Rs. 1.5 lakh (Video)

Dimensions

Another thing we can see is the sheer size of the SUV. The dimensions of the 2022 Scorpio looks larger than the current Scorpio. The SUV looks larger in terms of length, width and height. The increased size will help in opening up space in the cabin. So, expect more headroom, shoulder room and knee room.

Chassis

The 2022 Scorpio is also based on a reworked ladder frame chassis. This should help in improving the ride quality and handling of the SUV. So, the Scorpio should be a bit easier to live within the city and should also be able to handle off-road fairly well.

Engine and transmission

The Scorpio would be using a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and a 2.2-litre diesel engine. This will be the same engine as the new generation of Mahindra Thar. Because the Scorpio is a larger vehicle than the current Thar, the power outputs will be higher.

So, expect the petrol engine to produce around 170 to 180 PS while the diesel engine should produce 150 to 160 PS. The torque outputs are also expected to be in excess of 350 Nm. Transmission options would be a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The lower variants would be rear-wheel drive while the higher variants would come with a 4×4 drivetrain.

Features

From the spy shots, many of the features of the SUV has also been leaked. We know that it would come with a 360-degree parking camera,  electric sunroof, roof-mounted speakers and dual-zone climate control.

Other features include keyless entry, push-button to start/stop, rear wiper with washer, multi-information display, multi-function steering wheel, cruise control and much more. The upholstery would be finished in brown colour with orange stitching. This means that the 2022 Scorpio will be a big step up in terms of quality and features when compared to the current Scorpio.

The touchscreen infotainment system will also be new. It will come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The steering wheel will be wrapped in leather and will be a flat-bottom unit. The controls for the 4×4 system would be positioned below the climate control unit.

The Scorpio has been delayed and will not be launching in 2022. There will be no direct competitor to the Scorpio because of its size and 4×4 capability. However, the prices of the Scorpio can increase significantly because it will now be a more up-market product.

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

Volkswagen recently unveiled the Taigun which is a new mid-size SUV. Ashish Gupta, Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars India has announced that they will be opening the pre-booking for the Taigun from 9th August. The prices of the Taigun are still not revealed. We expect it to get priced from Rs. 10 lakhs ex-showroom to Rs. 17 lakhs ex-showroom.

Ashish Gupta (Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India) has some exciting news.

Pre-bookings for the New Volkswagen Taigun are opening from the 9th of August exclusively for the Taigun Squad. #TaigunSquad #NewVolkswagenTaigun #HustleModeOn #VolkswagenIndia #Volkswagen pic.twitter.com/lhSEVH4bOx

— Volkswagen India (@volkswagenindia) August 8, 2021

If you pre-book the Taigun then you get some benefits too. Volkswagen is offering Rs. 5,000 off on an extended warranty or service value package for 2 years or you can get accessory packages worth Rs. 5,000. The Taigun will be competing against the Skoda Kushaq, MG Hector, Hyundai Creta, Tata Harrier and Kia Seltos.

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

The Taigun will be offered in five different colour options. There will be Wild Cherry Red, Candy White, Carbon Steel Grey, Curcuma Yellow and Reflex Silver. The interior will get dual-tone leather upholstery with red stitching.

Engine and transmission

Taigun will get the same engine and transmission options as the Kushaq. So, there are two petrol engines that have a displacement of 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre. The 1.0-litre produces 115 PS and 178 Nm of torque while the 1.5-litre produces 150 PS and 250 Nm of peak torque. Both the engines would be offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. You would be able to get the 1.0-litre TSI with a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox while the 1.5-litre TSI would be offered with a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Volkswagen also offers paddle shifters with automatic gearboxes.

Features

Volkswagen is offering plenty of features with the Taigun. It gets the segment largest 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster which is configurable and shows various information to the driver. Then there is a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The infotainment is connected to 6 speakers. It also gets Wireless application connectivity and voice commands. There is also a wireless charger on offer.

Other features include keyless entry, push-button to start/stop, cooled glovebox, rear AC vents, automatic climate control with pollen control, multifunction leather steering wheel, cruise control, auto-dimming interior rear view mirror and much more.

For safety, Volkswagen is offering Electronic Stability Control, up to 6 airbags, Multi-Collision brakes, hill hold control, rear parking sensors with camera, tyre pressure monitoring system and ISOFIX child seat mounts.

You also get LED projector headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lamps, fog lamps, LED tail lamps with a light bar, ambient lighting, ventilated front seats and an electric sunroof. The lower variants get 16-inch alloy wheels while the top-end variant gets 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

Platform

The Taigun is based on the MQB A0 IN platform which is the same one as the Skoda Kushaq. The new platform is specifically made for India to reduce costs. It also complies with new emission requirements for India. Volkswagen has increased the localization level to 95 percent which is helpful in decreasing the prices. Despite using the same platform, the Taigun has a higher ground clearance.

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

Google Maps and navigation feature has now become a very commonly used application by people who are on the road. Most of the time, it comes up with the easiest route and make our lives easy while driving in city. There have also been incidents where people get in trouble, hit a dead end or get lost after following google maps. Some of you who are reading this article might have experienced it yourselves. We have featured some stories of similar nature on our website and here we have another incident from Kerala where tourists lost their way after using Google maps and ended up in forest.

The incident happened to Dr. Nawab and his family who were staying at a private resort in Munnar’s Devikulam area. Dr. Nawab along was accompanied by his wife and a relative in the car. They went to out for sigh seeing and visited Top station and Vattavada village. On their way back they used google maps to reach the hotel. The group followed Google Maps blindly as they were not familiar with the roads in the area. After driving for some time, they deviated from the main road and drove car through some tea plantations and rough roads.

They drove through the interior roads for almost five hours and by the mid night they were trapped in the middle of nowhere. Google Maps had shown them a different route than usual and that made them drive right into the forest. Once the car entered the forest, things became even more challenging . The group was travelling in a Maruti Suzuki WagonR. The hatchback got stuck in dirt and there was no way that they could get the vehicle out. By the time they realised that they are lost, they were already in the middle of the forest.

Also read: Maruti Suzuki reports 31 percent increase in sales of CNG models.

Dr. Nawab then started trying to reach Fire and Rescue Services department. As they were trapped in the middle of a jungle, the mobile network was quite weak. Dr. Nawab however managed to send his location and message to the Fire and Rescue team and a team of 9 personnel started searching the Kuttyarvalley area by 1:30 am. Although the team had started the search, they were unable to find the vehicle and passengers. The officers were unable to find the location that Dr. Nawab had shared with them.

The rescue team them drove to a higher ground and switched on their search light. meanwhile, officers got in touch with Dr. Nawab and once they spotted the search light, Dr. Nawab turned on the lights on his Maruti WagonR. Once this happened the rescue team spotted the group and went ahead to rescue them. BY 4 am, rescue team reached the spot and rescue the vehicle and people and brought them outside the forest.

The area where the family got stuck was known to have wild animals like elephants and Tiger. The family was lucky and they did not come across anything like that. It is always a good idea to not rely on Google Maps when you are driving through such areas. Always ask locals for directions or help. You can even join some forums who can help you with the routes if you are planning a long journey.

Via: Manorama Online

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

India won its first-ever gold medal in athletics at the highly competitive Olympics. Neeraj Chopra became the second Indian to win a gold medal in an individual event after Abhinav Bindra. While the whole nation is showing gifts to honour the achievement of Neeraj Chopra, a fuel pump owner in Baruch, Gujurat decided to honour the Olympian’s name in a special way.

Celebrating the historic win, the fuel pump has announced that anyone who is named Neeraj will get free fuel with Rs 501. As the price of the fuel is skyrocketing and has crossed the Rs 100 mark in many states and union territories across India, the announcement saw people queuing up at the fuel pump after the announcement.

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

According to the owner, this scheme is valid for two days. Anyone who shares the name with the gold medalist Javelin thrower will have to show a valid ID to claim the free fuel. This unique scheme has attracted a lot of motorists to the fuel pump and as the news spreads, there might be long queues at the fuel pump today.

Within the first few hours of the announcement, as many as 30 people claimed fuel for free through the scheme. The fuel pump owner, Ayub Pathan said,

“To pay tribute to Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold medal for India at Tokyo Games, we had launched a scheme for those named Neeraj. Petrol is being given for free worth ₹ 501 when people bring an ID proof with them. It is a very proud moment for us, when he won the medal. We started this two-day scheme on Sunday,”

Neeraj Chopra honoured

After Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal, state governments, union governments, sports authorities and businessmen did not make any delay to announce the prizes and gifts. While most of the state governments announced cash prizes, land at concession and government jobs, Anand Mahindra announced that Mahindra will gift a brand-new car to the player. Anand Mahindra took Twitter to announce the XUV700 as a gift to Neeraj Chopra. Mahindra is yet to officially unveil the car and announce its price.

Indigo airliner also announced that Neeraj Chopra can travel with them for free to take an unlimited number of flights for a year. Many other benefits and prizes were announced for the Olympic gold medal winner.

More such prizes and gifts are expected to follow in the coming times as well. The government officially welcomed the Indian contingent from the 2020 Olympics that landed in Delhi yesterday.

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

We all are aware that Royal Enfield is currently working on new models for Indian and international market. One of the upcoming models from the manufacturer is the all-new Classic 350. The 2021 version of the Royal Enfield Classic 350 motorcycle is more than a regular facelift. RE has made several changes to the motorcycle to give it a new look and feel. The launch of the all-new 2021 Classic 350 is schedule later this month. Here we have a small walkaround video of the upcoming RE Classic 350 motorcycle in its new matte black shade.

The video has been uploaded by MRD Vlogs on their YouTube channel. In this video, vlogger talks about all the changes that are seen on the 2021 RE Classic 350 motorcycle. The undisguised images of the Classic 350 had already surfaces online and here we have a similar video where it shows a new shade.

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

Royal Enfield will be offering the Classic 350 motorcycle with both spoke and alloy wheels. The one seen here in the video gets alloy wheels. The bike gets an all-black matte finish with red highlights on side panels and alloy wheels. The headlamp remains round as usual but, it now comes with an LED DRL in it. The instrument cluster on the 2021 version is revised as well. There is an analog speedometer with digital meter below it. The digital meter shows fuel level, trip and odometer readings on it.

Right next to the speedometer is the Tripper meter. This is similar to what we have seen in Meteor 350 and Himalayan. The switches on handle bar also similar to what we have seen in Meteor 350. The fuel tank retains the same old design and the seats now look well cushioned too. It will be offered with both singe seat and split seat options.

As we move to the rear, the fender at the rear has been redesigned. It gets a Meteor 350 like round tail light with halogen turn indicators placed next to them. In the images that had leaked earlier showed two version of Classic 350. One with disc brakes both at the front and rear and one with disc brakes only at the front. The one seen here comes with dual disc brakes.

The chassis of the 2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350 is different from the older version. It is now based on RE’s new platform. It is the same platform that we have seen Meteor 350. Similarly the engine used in this Classic 350 motorcycle is also the same unit from Meteor 350. This new engine and chassis setup is expected to make 2021 Classic a lot more refined and easy to handle.

Royal Enfield will be launching the Classic 350 motorcycle by August 30, 2021. The all-new version with all these changes is expected to be a lot more expensive than the current version. Other than Classic 350, Royal Enfield is also working on a scrambler motorcycle which is likely to be known as Scram 411. This is based on Royal Enfield Himalayan adventure motorcycle. Royal Enfield is also working on a 650-cc twin cylinder cruiser motorcycle. The same has been spotted testing couple of times.

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