motornews

Tata Motors is currently ruling the electric passenger vehicle segment with over 85% market share. In total, Tata Motors is at third position in the list of top passenger vehicle manufacturers in the country. The company has announced that all its ICE vehicles will receive electric derivatives in the near future. In order to further boost sales & strengthen its position in EV space, the homegrown passenger vehicle maker is planning to launch 5 new SUVs with both ICE & electric powertrains. New Tata Nexon Tata Motors is preparing to launch the new Nexon sub-4 meter SUV in the Indian market. In fact, the new Nexon has been caught testing numerous times on the Indian roads. The spy images reveal that the new Nexon will share the styling cues from the Curvv SUV Coupe concept, which was unveiled at the 2023 Auto Expo. The new model will also receive significant changes inside the cabin. It will have a bigger 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, a digital driver display and a...

Tata Tiago EV is the official partner of IPL 2023. Continuing this association for the sixth consecutive year with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Tata Motors will leverage this prestigious platform to increase awareness of EVs, while showcasing and driving engagement for its recently launched premium electric hatch – the Tiago EV. The Tata IPL 2023 is scheduled to begin on March 31st, 2023. This year’s matches will also play host to the exciting Tiago EV Electric Striker Award – where the player with highest strike rate of the match will take home the coveted trophy along with a cash prize of INR 1,00,000. Furthermore, the Tiago EV Electric Striker of the Season will get a chance to drive home a brand new Tata Tiago.ev. Additionally, each time the ball hits the Tiago EV car on display, Tata Motors will donate INR 5,00,000 towards enhancing the biodiversity of Coffee Plantations in Karnataka by planting saplings. Rewarding the early adopters of EVs for their contin...

Odysse Electric Vehicles has launched a new electric motorbike Odysse Vader in the Indian market. The Vader is India’s first motorbike to feature a 7-inch android display and can be controlled by an Application and Bluetooth connectivity. This made-in-India electric motorcycle is available at an introductory price of Rs 1.10 lakh (ex-showroom Ahmedabad). The Odysse Vader is claimed to offer a range of 125km on Eco mode and is powered by the Odysse EV App which is available on Android. This EV App comes with connectivity features such as Bike Locator, Geo fence, Immobilization, Anti-theft, track & trace, Low battery Alert among many other utilities that are essential for ease in navigation for two-wheeler users. The electric motorbike is available in five colours – Midnight Blue, Fiery Red, Glossy Black, Venom Green and Misty Grey. The Odysse VADER is powered by a 3000 Watts electric motor that has a top speed of 85kmph. The electric motorcycle comes with combi braking system (CB...

Honda India had teased its upcoming mid-sized SUV in January 2023. Scheduled to be launched by mid-2023, the new mid-sized SUV will be positioned against the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, VW Taigun, Skoda Kushaq and the MG Astor. The new Honda SUV is scheduled to make its global debut in the next couple of months. Ahead of the official launch, few Honda dealerships have unofficially started accepting pre-orders for the new SUV. The new Honda SUV is expected to be called “The Elevate”, as the name has already been registered in India. However, official details are yet to be revealed. The new model will be based on the fifth generation City platform and will be manufactured at the company’s Tapukara based plant in Rajasthan. The company aims to increase its production capacity from 540 units per day to up to 660 units, starting from April 2023. The teaser image reveals that the new SUV will share styling cues from the global-spec CR-V and...

Kia has revealed full details of the Kia EV9, its first three-row seat electric flagship SUV that brings fresh thinking, design, and technology to the sector and spearheads the brand’s rapid transformation to a sustainable mobility solutions provider in the era of electrification. Based on the game-changing Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV9 ensures athletic performance, complemented by a targeted all-electric range over 541 km , according to the World harmonized Light vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP). Ultra-fast 800-volt charging capability enables the EV9 battery pack to be replenished with sufficient charge to power the vehicle for 239 km in approximately 15 minutes. Numerous technological breakthroughs include the Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) system, available in the Kia EV9 GT-line in the future, enabling conditional Level 3 autonomous driving in selected markets. It also introduces the Kia Connect Store, which enables customers to purchase digital features and se...

Driving a battery-electric heavy-duty distribution truck from the Arctic Circle to Stuttgart is something special – even for experienced developers. In future, customers are not likely to use the Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 as a tractor unit for this kind of a long journey. However, being able to test the vehicle in real operation for several days at a time under the most varied climatic and topographical conditions is the best opportunity for the developers to derive measures for possible optimisation of the functions and systems. The experts from Mercedes-Benz Trucks covered around 3,000 kilometers in March with a near-series prototype of the eActros 300 as a tractor unit. The electric truck, which was specially designed for flexible use in heavy-duty distribution haulage, celebrated its trade fair premiere at IAA Transportation 2022 in Hanover. Its start of production is scheduled for autumn this year. Before the 3,000-kilometer journey, Mercedes-Benz Trucks engineers had already...

The small car market is expected to witness a sales growth for the first time in nearly five years, thanks to the new models and healthy GDP growth. In between April – December 2022, a total of 994,000 units of small cars were sold in the country. The sales figures are likely to increase up to 1.37 millions units by the end of this month (i.e. March 2023). India’s top 3 car manufacturers – Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata – have planned a range of new compact cars for this year. Let’s take a look at the upcoming models. Upcoming Compact Cars In 2023 Maruti Fronx The Fronx compact crossover will go on sale in April 2023 (possibly in the first week). It will be a Nexa exclusive offering that will come with the 1.0L turbo petrol and 1.2L naturally aspirated petrol engines. While the turbo-petrol unit makes 100bhp with 147.6Nm, the naturally aspirated motor is good enough for 90bhp and 113Nm. Both manual and automatic gearboxes will be on offer. The Maruti Fronx model lineup will be mad...

Mahindra has announced that its iconic off-roader, the Mahindra Thar, has reached a significant production milestone of 100,000 units. With its unmissable presence, powerful performance, and versatile features, the Thar has become an aspiration for today’s new-age Indian buyers. The All-New Thar has achieved this production milestone in less than 2.5 years, and it highlights the popularity and success of this SUV in India. The All-New Thar has captured the imagination of people with its impressive design, features, and capabilities. The SUV while maintaining its all-terrain capabilities, also offers a more comfortable and plusher ride, making it a lifestyle SUV that is perfect for city and highway driving as well. The Thar has changed the definition of a lifestyle SUV, offering customers the best of both worlds - the thrill of adventure and the modern dynamics of an SUV. The Thar is now available in both 4x4 and RWD variants, providing customers with more options to choose from. T...

Hero MotoCorp, TVS and Bajaj are the only mainstream two-wheeler makers offering electric scooters in the Indian market. Honda has confirmed that it will launch two new electric scooters in 2024 , while Yamaha is also readying an e-scooter for the Indian market. Suzuki is also testing the Burgman electric scooter on the Indian roads. Now, the Suzuki Burgman e-scooter has been officially revealed along with its specifications.  The previous patent images revealed that the Burgman e-scooter will come with a fixed type battery pack. However, the production-spec e-Burgman comes with a swappable battery pack. Suzuki hasn’t revealed the capacity of the swappable lithium-ion battery; however, the Burgman is claimed to offer a range of 44km when ridden at a steady speed of 60kmph on a flat surface. While this range appears significantly lower compared to the rivals, the final model is expected to offer a much higher range.  The Suzuki Burgman e-scooter has a swappable battery pack,...

Honda is one of the few two-wheelers makers that doesn’t have an electric offering in our market. However, the Japanese maker has confirmed that it will launch two new electric vehicles in FY24.  The new Honda electric vehicles will be based on a dedicated platform, codenamed Platform ‘E’. This new platform will be used to produce multiple electric vehicles with varying battery packs and installation. Set to be launched in FY24, the first Honda electric vehicle will be a mid range electric scooter with a fixed battery.  The first electric scooter could be an affordable model. The new scooter is rumoured to be called the Honda Activa Electric. Honda has recently filed patents for a fixed battery and hub motor, which could preview some elements used on this upcoming e-scooter. Honda has also confirmed that its second EV for India will come with a swappable battery. The company will set up multiple battery swapping points across the country. Honda will be setting up charging ...

BMW India has launched two new diesel variants of the 2023 BMW X3 – X3 xDrive20d xLine and X3 xDrive20d M Sport. The new diesel versions are locally produced and available across BMW dealerships. While the xDrive20d xLine is priced at Rs 67.50 lakh, the xDrive20d M Sport variant is tagged at Rs 69.90 Lakh.  The new BMW X3 diesel is available in 4 metallic paintworks – Mineral White, Phytonic Blue, Brooklyn Grey and Black Sapphire. It features Sesatec Perforated Upholstery as standard in two combinations – Canberra Beige | Black and Cognac.  The new BMW X3 xLine comes with the iconic kidney grille, an adaptive LED headlight set-up, and sculpted tail-lights that extend up to the boot. The M Sport variant features sportier front and rear bumpers, and a gloss black finish on the roof rails, and an M branding across the interior and interior. The xLine variant has aluminium-finished roof rails. Instead of 20-inch wheels, the new X3 xLine gets 19-inch bicolour style alloys. The M...

BMW India has launched two new diesel variants of the BMW X3 – X3 xDrive20d xLine and X3 xDrive20d M Sport. These diesel variants are locally produced and are available across BMW dealerships. With an emphasis on classic X-elements, the BMW X3 has a modern look along with the exhilarating zeal of performance and a powerful presence. The two-litre four-cylinder diesel engine of the BMW X3 produces an output of 140 kW / 190 hp and a maximum torque of 400 Nm at 1,750 – 2,500 rpm. The car accelerates from 0 -100 km / hr in just 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 213 km/h. The eight-speed automatic Steptronic sport transmission performs smooth, almost imperceptible gear shifts. For even greater driving pleasure, it is available with steering wheel paddle shifters, cruise control with braking function and Automatic differential brakes (ADB) with electronic differential locks as standard. The BMW Performance Control system increases the stability of the car by targeted braking of the wheels. ...

Dacia UK is celebrating 12 months of the Dacia Jogger shaking up the car market. In the space of a year since launch, the versatile seven-seater has introduced the nation’s car buyers to a whole new concept of a family car, won eight awards, formed the basis for the brand’s first-ever hybrid, become the UK’s only new Wheelchair Accessible Car, and literally given customers the option to enjoy a good night’s sleep! Completely unique in the family car segment, the Dacia Jogger has quickly gathered momentum. Over 100,000 have now been produced in Dacia’s historical plant in Mioveni, Romania. The 100,000th vehicle was a seven-seat Jogger HYBRID 140 Extreme in Dusty Khaki. With over 6,000 UK sales since its launch in March 2022, the previous range-topping Extreme SE trim level has resonated most with the nation’s car buyers, accounting for more than 62% of sales and reaffirming that Dacia customers favour the most generously equipped variants. The Jogger’s impact has spanned the length...

Maruti Suzuki India Limited crossed the milestone of cumulative exports of 2.5 million vehicles. Suzuki Philippines will receive Jimny's made in India instead of Japan from now on The company made a modest beginning in the export market with neighboring markets like Bangladesh and Nepal in FY 1986-87. The first big consignment of 500 cars was shipped to Hungary in September 1987. Exports to advanced markets helped the company to benchmark its performance against international standards to continuously improve the quality of products and services offered in the Indian market. With support from the parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation, the company has gradually expanded its presence across other countries. Today, Maruti Suzuki exports to nearly 100 countries. Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East are important export markets for the company. Speaking on the milestone Mr. Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, “The landmark...

The rising economy and increasing buying power, customers are now opting for bigger, better equipped and more premium cars. This shift has forced automakers to introduce their global products, which were earlier not suitable for the Indian market. Seeing surge in demand for such vehicles, India is set to get a slew of cars priced under Rs 20 lakh. If you are planning to upgrade to a new car, wait for these upcoming cars under 20 lakhs that will be launched in India in the next one year. Upcoming Cars Under 20 Lakhs 1. Maruti Jimny 5-Door Maruti Suzuki will launch the long-awaited 5-door Jimny lifestyle SUV in the country in by May 2023. The SUV was unveiled at the 2023 Auto Expo. It will rival the likes of the Mahindra Thar and the Force Gurkha, which will also receive 5-door versions. The new model ride on longer wheelbase and the length has been increased to accommodate second-row seats. The larger dimensions will help Maruti Suzuki to create more space inside the cabin. It will ...

Toyota has recently re-introduced the Hilux lifestyle pick-up truck in the Indian market. It is available in 3 variants – 4×4 MT Standard, 4×4 MT High and 4×4 AT High – and the former is only for commercial buyers. The base model is priced at Rs 30.40 lakh, while the 4×4 MT High and 4×4 AT High are priced at Rs 37.15 lakh and Rs 37.90 lakh respectively.  Now, the company has announced an exciting buyback offer for the Hilux lifestyle utility vehicle. Customers looking to buy the Hilux can now choose an attractive low EMI option starting from Rs 32,886 or opt for an assured 70% buyback after 3 years, from the date of purchase of Hilux, which are made available exclusively through the Toyota’s Financial Services.  Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Atul Sood, Vice President of Sales and Strategic Marketing – Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “With the recent announcement of restart of Hilux bookings opening, we are once again overwhelmed with the good customer response. Owning t...

Maruti Suzuki aims to boost sales of its premium Nexa dealership and make it the second largest automobile brand by next year. In order to achieve its target, the company will bring in more Nexa exclusive models including a range of SUVs and MPVs. The Indo-Japanese carmaker is ready introduce the all-new Fronx compact crossover in April and Jimny 5-door SUV later this year. Here’re all key details of the aforementioned upcoming Maruti Suzuki cars. Maruti Suzuki Fronx The compact crossover will come in five trims, namely, Sigma, Delta, Delta+, Zeta and Alpha. Its engine setup includes a new 1.0L, 3-cylinder turbo petrol Boosterjet and a 1.2L, 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol unit. While the former makes a top power of 100bhp and 147.6Nm of torque, the latter delivers 90bhp and 113Nm. There are three transmission options – a 5-speed manual (standard), a 5-speed AMT (only with the naturally aspirated petrol motor) and a 6-speed torque convertor automatic (only with the turbo-petro...

Kia EV9, the first three-row electric flagship SUV from the South Korean automaker, has finally made its global debut via official pictures. Its bookings will be commenced in Korea in the second quarter of 2023, followed by European, American, Middle East and select Asian markets. As of now, the carmaker has no plan to bring in its global flagship EV in India. The South Korean automaker says that its new electric SUV “transcends all aspects of traditional SUV thinking and represents the pinnacle of Kia’s design and engineering capabilities.” The model underpins the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and comes with Kia’s fourth-generation battery technology. It can be had with either a 76.1kWh battery or a 99.8 kWh battery pack. While the former is offered exclusively with the RWD Standard version, the latter is available with both RWD long-range and AWD variants. The RWD long-range model features an electric motor that’s good enough for 150kW and 350Nm. It can accelerate 0 to ...

The Volkswagen Group is restructuring its Sustainability unit; Dirk Voeste will be appointed as the new Chief Sustainability Officer with effect from April 1, 2023 and will report to Gernot Döllner, Head of Group Strategy and General Secretariat. Dirk Voeste succeeds Ralf Pfitzner, who after five years in the post is leaving the company at his own request to pursue new challenges outside the Group. The Group is also realigning the independent Sustainability Council in response to new challenges against the background of digital and sustainable transformation. The Volkswagen Group was the first automobile manufacturer to commit to the Paris Climate Agreement back in 2018. Its strategy and corporate targets are aimed at ensuring the entire Group has a net carbon-neutral footprint by no later than 2050. This objective encompasses not only vehicles but also factories and processes. Under the baton of Ralf Pfitzner, the Sustainability unit significantly drove the implementation of the d...

The mid-size SUV segment is currently one of the fastest growing segments in the Indian market. Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, VW Group, Hyundai and Kia are offering their respective models in the mid-sized SUV category. More brands will soon enter the segment, as two mid-sized SUVs are confirmed to be launched in our market in 2023.  1. Citroen C3 Aircross The French automaker has confirmed that its all-new mid-sized SUV will make its global debut in India on April 27, 2023. Rumoured to be called the new C3 Aircross, the new SUV will be the second product under the brand’s C-Cubed program. The new model will be offered in two seating layouts – 5 and 7-seats. While the former is positioned against the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, VW Taigun and others, the 7-seater model will rival the Kia Carens and the Suzuki XL6.  The new Citroen C3 Aircross will be based on the CMP (Common Modular Platform) platform, which currently underpins the C3 hatchback. It is likely to...

Mahindra has recently introduced the new RWD variants of the Thar lifestyle SUV with a smaller capacity diesel engine. The SUV line-up is currently offered in two trim levels – AX(O) and LX – with two diesel and one petrol engine options. A new media report claims that Mahindra could launch a new entry-level 4×4 variant that will be positioned below the AX(O). This model will be offered in two engine options – a 2.2L diesel & a 2.0L turbo petrol.  The RWD variant of the Mahindra Thar is available in 3 variants – AX(O) Diesel, LX Diesel and LX Petrol AT – priced at Rs 9.99 lakh, Rs 11.49 lakh and Rs 13.49 lakh respectively. The new entry-level 4WD variant – likely to be called AX AC – will be positioned below the AX (O) trim. This entry-level variant could miss out on some of the features available in the current model.  Mahindra had initially offered the entry-level AX trim, which was discontinued shortly. This variant was equipped with side-facing bench seats. The new...

Citroen has officially announced that it will unveil an all-new SUV on April 27, 2023. The company hasn’t revealed any details of the SUV; however, it is most likely to be the new C3 Aircross that has been spotted testing multiple times on the Indian roads. It will target emerging markets and will be the second model of the C-Cubed project.  The new Citroen C3 Aircross has already been spotted testing multiple times on the Indian roads. It will be offered in two seating layouts – 5-and 7-seat with later having bench-type seats in the second & third-row. The new model appears larger than the European-spec C3 Aircross and is expected to measure around 4.4 meters in length.  The new Citroen SUV will be based on the Stellantis CMP platform, which also underpins the Citroen C3 hatchback on sale in India. Going by the spy images, it is visible that the new model will share styling cues from the C3 hatchback. It will have a split headlamp setup with the daytime running lights...

For people who are looking to buy a new scooter, here's some good news. Honda has launched the 2023 iteration of the Honda Activa 125. This model of the popular brand is OBD2 compliant and is available in 4 variants. The 2023 Honda Activa 125 is powered by a 125cc single-cylinder engine that eSP and PGM-Fi technologies. Now, it is also OBD2 compliant. The scooter also features Honda ACG starter and Idling start stop system. In terms of features, the 2023 Honda Activa 125 has a Two Lid Fuel Opening System, 18L storage space, Open Front Glove Box, Honda SMART Key, Digi-Analog Instrument Cluster, full LED headlamp and restyled signature LED position lamps. The 2023 Honda Activa 125 is available in four variants (Smart, Disc, Drum Alloy and Drum) and 5 colour options (Pearl Night Start Black, Heavy Gray Metallic (Not available in Drum variant), Rebel Red Metallic, Pearl Precious White & Mid Night Blue Metallic). from Indian Autos Blog https://ift.tt/hQRAeSb via IFTTT

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has launched the new OBD2 compliant 2023 Activa 125 at a starting price of Rs 78,920. The 2023 Honda Activa 125 has also received a new H-SMART variant, which is tagged at Rs 88,093 (ex-showroom).  2023 Honda Activa 125 Variant-Wise Prices Drum – 78,920 Drum Alloy – 82,588 Disc – 86,093 H-SMART – 88,093 The new Activa 125 is available in 5 colour options – Pearl Night Start Black, Heavy Gray Metallic (Not available in Drum variant), Rebel Red Metallic, Pearl Precious White & Mid Night Blue Metallic. Powering the scooter is the OBD2 compliant 125cc PGM-FI engine, which is boosted by Enhanced Smart Power (eSP). The eSP technology optimizes energy output by maximizing efficient combustion and minimizing friction with a silent start & smooth eco-friendly engine. The esP has unique Honda ACG starter that starts the engine jold free via the same AC generator used to generate current and charge the battery while riding. The 125cc engine...

Hyundai has recently launched the new-gen Verna sedan at a starting price of Rs 10.90 Lakh – 17.38 Lakh (ex-showroom). At the time of launch (On March 21, 2023), Hyundai had revealed that it received over 8000 pre-orders for the new Verna. The Korean giant is getting aggressive with its product strategy for the Indian market. After the new Verna, Hyundai will introduce two new SUVs in our market in 2023-24.  Hyundai has started testing an all-new micro SUV , internally codenamed Ai3 on the Indian roads. The company will introduce the Ai3 micro SUV in our market by festive season, before Diwali. It will be based on the Grand i10 Nios platform and will also share the engine option with the hatchback. The new model will look different from the Casper on sale in select global markets. It will share styling cues from the Venue compact SUV.  The new Ai3 micro SUV is likely to measure around 3.8 meters in length and will be positioned against the Tata Punch. Not just underpinnings...

BMW Motorrad commences its most awaited training program – GS Experience 2023 in Bengaluru. GS Experience will offer riders a unique opportunity to experience the exceptional capabilities of BMW Motorrad’s class-leading legendary GS range in its natural habitat. The two-day curated training sessions are designed exclusively for BMW adventure motorcyclists and will be held at Adventure Riders Den Enduro Park, Harohalli, Bannikuppe, Karnataka on 25-26 March 2023. BMW Motorrad will host this two-day immersive brand experience for GS enthusiasts across 11 cities – Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Bengaluru and Lucknow. Designed exclusively for BMW GS owners the two-day level 1 program will help riders to master basics of off-road riding. The day 1 training program is for BMW GS owners of 650 cc and above GS bikes. While the day 2 is for BMW 310 GS riders. The training includes basic familiarity of the motorcycle, understanding of correct ri...

Electric vehicles are claimed to be the future of the Indian automobile industry, and this is very evident from the rising demand for EVs in our market. Government of India is working on improving the infrastructure to make EVs more accessible to buyers. Currently, Tata Motors is ruling the EV segment with over 85% market share. Before the end of 2024, a wide range of EVs will be launched in our market. We pick top 5 electric cars to be launched in our market in the next 18 months – MG Comet EV MG Motor India is all set to launch the new Comet electric vehicle in the country in April 2023. This 2-door electric vehicle will be the country’s smallest car, measuring just 2.9 meters in length. It is even smaller than the Tata Nano. Expected to be priced somewhere around Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom, India), the new MG Comet EV will rival the likes of the Tata Tiago EV and the Citroen eC3. The MG Comet EV will share the battery pack options with the Wuling Air EV. The entry-level variant coul...