Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 to Launch on July 17

Royal Enfield is all set to launch the Guerrilla 450 on July 17 in Barcelona. The launch announcement has been made officially by Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director and Govindarjan Balakrishnan, CEO of Royal Enfield.

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 July 17 Launch – What to Expect?

Spy shots of the test mule have already revealed the hardware on the upcoming Guerrilla 450 which includes some of its features like a round LED headlight, a single-pod instrument cluster, a big fuel tank and a one-piece seat.

Only time will tell whether the single-pod console will be similar to the TFT instrument cluster on the Himalayan 450. The tank and rear sections are quite identical to the Himalayan, hinting towards a similar design. But unlike the ADV’s spoked wheels and tube tyres, the upcoming bike is equipped with alloys and tubeless tyres. Also, it replaces the USD seen on the Himalayan with a gaitered telescopic fork on the Guerrilla.

Furthermore, it will use the same Sherpa 450 engine that powers the Himalayan with a few tweaks to match the character of the Guerrilla 450. For reference, a unit in Himalayan generates a 452cc, single-cylinder engine that churns out 40 hp and 40 Nm of Torque, paired with a 6-speed transmission.

source https://motomotar.com/bike-news/royal-enfield-guerrilla-450-to-launch-on-july-17/

Mahindra Thar 5-door Enters Production

The Mahindra Thar 5-door AKA Thar Armada which is one of the highly-anticipated launches for 2024 in India has reportedly entered the production phase at the Mahindra’s Chakan plant.

Mahindra Thar’s 5-door Production begins

The brand has already increased the production capacity for the Thar 5-door in response to the high interest from interested buyers that has been conveyed by dealers. The company earlier planned a monthly production of around 2,500 units initially which now increased to more than double at 5,000 to 6,000 units a month. This could take the annual production of the Thar 5-door from around 30,000 units to 70,000 units.

The upcoming 5-door Thar will be a more practical variant of its existing 3-door model. It will feature a longer wheelbase with more cabin space along with more boot space, something missing on the Thar 3-door.

Thar Armada will also get a wide range of features including advanced safety tech compared to its 3-door model which includes multiple airbags and Level 2 ADAS. Furthermore, there will be options in infotainment screens depending on variants, LED lighting, upholstery, new alloys and even a panoramic sunroof.

Similar to the standard Thar, Mahindra will set the Thar 5-door at multiple price points due to a wide variety of powertrain options that will be on offer including an entry-level RWD 1.5-litre diesel and a higher-spec 2.2-litre diesel units alongside a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.

Some dealerships have already started accepting bookings for Thar Armada, despite no official booking announcements from Mahindra.

source https://motomotar.com/car-news/mahinda-thar-5-door-enters-production/

Hyundai Inster EV SUV Debuts Globally

Hyundai has revealed the details and images of the new Inster EV, the brand’s entry-level EV for global markets. The Inster looks quite identical to the popular Casper sub-compact car, the main difference lies in size, with the Inster being the bigger car.

Hyundai Inster EV- Hyundai’s New Mass-market EV

The Inster will act as Hyundai’s mass-market EV model upon its arrival in the market. The SUV shares most of its underpinnings with the Casper, which is currently sold with a sole petrol powertrain in South Korea. Hyundai has increased the Casper’s platform by 230 mm for the Inster, with 180 mm going to the wheelbase. The increased dimensions provide extra cabin space and additional space for the underfloor battery pack.

The Inster is 3.8 m long, 1.6 m wide and 1.6 mm tall, which is a bit shorter than the 3.9 m long than the Citroen eC3. It is quite a practical 5-seater with versatile interior configs, as per the brand. The 4 seats are fully foldable and the 2 rear seats can be slid and reclined to maximise legroom or even the boot space.

Talking about the features, it’s on par with the competition and Hyundai even believes it will stand out for its tech. Two 10.25-inch displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen are standard among all the variants with the option the unlock and start using a smartphone as a key.

The Inster also gets Hyundai’s complete suite of driver assistance tech which includes a 360-degree parking camera and adaptive cruise control alongside a blind spot monitoring system that displays an image of the rear quarter view on the instrument panel.

As for the powertrain, the Inster gets two battery and motor options. The entry-level variants have a 96hp front-mounted drive unit that can go 0-100 kph in just 11.7 seconds and a top speed of 140 kph. It is paired with a 42 kWh battery pack with a range of around 300 km (claimed).

The higher-spec variants have a rather long range of 350km with boosted power to 113hp and 49kWh. The top speed is up to 150 kph, reducing the 0-100 kph sprint time to 10.6 seconds.

source https://motomotar.com/car-news/hyundai-inster-ev-suv-debuts-globally/

Tata Nexon CNG to Launch in FY2025

Tata Motors will launch the Nexon Compact SUV with a CNG powertrain within FY2025, the brand confirmed recently. Earlier this year, the Nexon CNG was showcased as the Nexon iCNG concept at the Bharat Mobility Show.

Tata Nexon iCNG to Launch in FY2025

Tata Nexon CNG to Launch in FY2025 – What to Expect?

The Nexon CNG will be similar to the standard Nexon when it comes to both outside and inside as well as features and specifications. However, there will be a few tweaks for the CNG powertrain which includes changes to the suspension and a couple of iCNG badges here and there to identify it among its lineup.

The CNG-powered Nexon will get the same 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged engine from the petrol variants, meaning it will be the first-ever CNG vehicle with a turbocharged engine in India. Furthermore, Tata recently introduced the AMT variants of the Tigor and Tiago CNG, hence the Nexon CNG might also get an AMT transmission.

Once launched in India, the Nexon will be the only car in India to provide a wide variety of powertrain options to choose from which includes petrol, diesel and CNG with multiple transmission options as well as a fully electric variant. The Nexon CNG will directly compete with the Brezza CNG in the Indian market.

source https://motomotar.com/car-news/tata-nexon-cng-to-launch-in-fy2025/

Hyundai Discontinues Kona Electric in India

Hyundai has discontinued the Kona Electric in India, 5 years after launching it in July 2019. Although the Korean carmaker sells the new-gen Kona Electric in foreign markets, it will replace the electric crossover with the more affordable Creta EV by 2025.

Hyundai Kona Electric – Overview and What Next?

The Kona Electric was first brought in as CKD units with a Rs 25.30 Lakh onwards price tag at launch. Although Hyundai reduced the prices by approx 2 lakh prior to its discontinuation, the entry of smaller and more affordable EV SUVs in the market such as the MG ZS EV, Tata Nexon EV and Mahindra XUV400 made Hyundai’s offering a high-end product which also contributed to the low sales of the Kona.

In India, the Kona Electric came with a 39.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack powering a motor which sent power to the front axle, producing 136 hp and 395 Nm. The ARAI-rated range is 452 km on a single charge. The time the Kona was on sale in India, 59 months to be exact, it sold 2,329 units in total.

While global markets like Indonesia will get the new-gen Kona electric soon, there’s no such news of the launch of this new-gen model coming to the Indian market. However, Hyundai will bring in a mass-market EV SUV to India which will be the Creta EV, scheduled to go live by January.

Next-Gen Hyundai Kona Electric

The Upcoming Creta EV will share a few things with the Kona Electric such as body panels, platform and a few other elements from the ICE Creta to save costs. Hyundai will also use Kona’s battery, motor and some interior elements on the Creta EV.

The heavily localised Creta EV, unlike the Kona Electric, will be introduced at a lower price range and will rival the likes of the upcoming Tata Curvv EV.

source https://motomotar.com/car-news/hyundai-discontinues-kona-electric-in-india/

Kawasaki W230 Unveiled In Japan

Kawasaki is all set to launch a new retro motorbike in the 200cc segment in Japan. Named “W230”, this bike will follow the same design as the other models in the W range by the brand. The W230 brings a classic look to the table, making it a bike to look out for old-school lovers.

Kawasaki W230 Unveiled – Highlights

The W230 showcases a simple, minimalistic design with features such as a circular LED headlight, dual analogue clusters with a digital display and lots of chrome accents in areas like the exhaust pipes, handlebar, headlight bezel and more. While the feature set might seem basic, let us not forget this is a proper retro-themed motorbike with a Kawasaki spirit, so it’s understandable.

The motorcycle dons white paint with a black stripe on the fuel tank and a two-tone seat cover. Apart from that, the bike also sports chrome-finished spoke wheels, enhancing its retro appeal even more.

The W230’s suspension is handled by a gaitered telescopic front fork and dual rear shocks, while the braking is taken care of by front and rear disc brakes with dual channel ABS. The brakes are mounted on an 18-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheel.

Speaking of powertrain, the W230 is powered by a single-cylinder, 233cc engine based on the KLR230 which is rated for 20 hp at 8,000 RPM and 20.6 Nm at 6,000 RPM, although the official output figures for the W230’s unit are yet to be disclosed.

Currently, Kawasaki has introduced the W230 for the Japanese market only with no details about its launch in India.

source https://motomotar.com/bike-news/kawasaki-w230-unveiled-in-japan/

Maruti Fronx Velocity Edition Expanded, Now Starts at Rs 7.29 Lakh

The Maruti Suzuki Fronx Velocity Edition has been added to all 14 petrol and CNG variants of the Fronx, with prices starting at Rs 7.29 Lakh for a limited time. This edition adds a sporty character to the Crossover SUV without changing the foundation. Earlier, Maruti also introduced an accessories pack for just the Fronx Turbo variants which added some cosmetic changes to the exterior and inside of the car.

Maruti Fronx Velocity Edition Expanded: Available in Lower Trims

The starting price for the Fronx Velocity edition is now Rs 7.29 Lakh when it is based on the base Sigma variant, undercutting the standard trim by Rs 23,000. The Velocity edition adds a contrasting garnish on the front bumper, headlamps, grille and wheel walls, despite the lower price.

For the Delta, Delta+ and Delta+ (O) trims that are powered by the 1.2-litre motor (available in 90hp petrol and 78hp CNG), the Velocity Edition gets red side mouldings, a spoiler in red/black finish, garnishing on the rear doors, red ORVM covers, a red dash mat and illuminated door sills.

Moving on, the 100 hp Turbo variants get the same cosmetic updates as before with a red and grey exterior styling alongside a carbon-fibre finish on the inside in addition to the changes in the lower Velocity trims.

source https://motomotar.com/car-news/maruti-fronx-velocity-edition-expanded-now-starts-at-rs-7-29-lakh/

Audi Q6 e-tron Spied for the 1st time in India

The Audi Q6 e-tron was recently spied on in India for the first time. This India-bound barely camouflaged test mule of the e-SUV has been spotted during its test runs in Mumbai and will likely arrive in the country by the end of this year or early 2025. It will have no direct competitors upon launch.

Audi Q6 e-tron spied in India – Highlights

The Q6 e-tron test mule in the spy shots is a left-hand drive model and seems to have the same specs as the one sold globally. In foreign markets, the Q6 e-Tron Quattro gets a 100 kWh battery pack that powers 2 electric motors, one on each axle, putting out a combined 388 hp.

The model seen in the pictures looks like the one revealed earlier this year, from the typical Audi design to the separated headlamps and DRLs. The tail lights feature a continuously animated pattern, which changes according to situations and can be set to a specific pattern.

The only noticeable differences between the international model and the Q6 spotted here were the alloy design and a silver finish surrounding the front fog lamps and on the rear bumper.

Apart from that, the India-spec variant is likely to be powered by a smaller 83 kWh battery, however, the e-SUV is expected to get similar charging capabilities as the international model whose 100 kWh battery pack can charge 10 to 80% in just 21 minutes with a 270kW charger. Although the range and output are yet to be known, it will likely come with a single, rear axle-mounted electric motor.

In terms of price and dimensions, the Q6 e-tron will be placed between models like the Volvo XC40 Recharge and the BMW iX1 on one side and the Audi Q8 e-tron, BMW iX and Mercedes EQE SUV on the other. The expected price range will likely be Rs 70 – 85 Lakh, ex-showroom.

source https://motomotar.com/car-news/audi-q6-e-tron-spied-for-the-1st-time-in-india/

Mahindra To Equip Thar Armada With ADAS Level 2, Panoramic Sunroof

Mahindra’s highly awaited launch, the Thar 5-door which would likely be named Thar Armada is going to get a few segment-first features such as ADAS Level 2 and Panoramic Sunroof. Bookings are open unofficially at certain dealerships for now.

Mahindra Thar Armada to get Segment-first features

The ADAS Level 2 safety net might include lane-keep assist, forward collision warning & assistance, blind-spot monitoring and more. Only the higher-end variants of the Thar Armada will get the ADAS Level 2 alongside other high-end features like dual 10.25-inch displays (touchscreen infotainment and digital instrument cluster), and all-LED lighting, to name a few.

The recent spy shots also reveal that the Thar 5-door will feature a dual-pane sunroof, which is likely to be integrated into the top-end variant. The test mules that were spotted earlier all had a single-pane sunroof which is likely to be there in the mid-spec variant. Upon launch, the Thar 5-door will be the only ladder-frame SUV in India to come with a panoramic sunroof.

Apart from that, the SUV will be offered with 3 wheel designs – Steel ones for the entry-level variants, alloys for the mid-spec and diamond-spec alloys for top-spec.

The Thar Armada will have 3 engine options to choose from – an entry-level 1.5-litre diesel to provide a competitive price, a 2.2-litre diesel and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol. Expect the 1.5-litre diesel to have an RWD setup and the 4WD option to be offered with only the 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol variants.

Interestingly, unofficial bookings for the Thar Armada have already started at dealerships despite no announcement from Mahindra yet. Once it goes live, the SUV will lock horns with the new Force Gurkha 5-door and Maruti Suzuki Jimny.

source https://motomotar.com/car-news/mahindra-to-equip-thar-armada-with-adas-level-2-panoramic-sunroof/

New-Gen Skoda Kodiaq Spied in India Ahead Launch

Revealed globally in October 2023, the 2nd Generation Skoda Kodiaq has been spotted testing in India for the 1st time, giving us a hint of its launch nearing in India.

New Skoda Kodiaq Spied – Highlights

The new Kodiaq has been spotted without any camo meaning we get a clear picture at what the car looks like. The next-gen variant is slightly larger than its predecessor and gets a noticeable hexagonal grille, squared-off wheel arches, a redesigned Skoda logo, a heavily sculpted bonnet and new alloys. The headlights have also been refreshed. The back of the SUV has C-shaped wraparound taillights with Skoda written in the middle. The radar at the front also hints at the addition of the ADAS in the Koadiaq.

While the interior has not been revealed in the spy shots, it is expected to be similar to the Euro-spec Kodiaq, meaning a 13-inch freestanding touchscreen infotainment will take the centre, controlling most of the car’s functions. There will also be a fully digital driver’s display on offer along with 3 new physical smart dials. The outer 2 rotary knobs, each with a 32 mm colour display are used to adjust the full suite of climate controls for the drivers and passengers. The middle one can be adjusted to control the volume, map zoom, AC, and more.

The new-gen Kodiaq will likely retain the same 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine as the outgoing model that produces 190 hp and 320 Nm of Torque. However, expect the motor in the new model to be offered in a higher state of tune. The engine comes paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.

The Current-gen Koadiaq is available in a single fully-loaded L&K variant which comes at a price tag of Rs 39.99 Lakh (ex-showroom). Due to the changes in the new-gen, expect a price hike and upon its launch which is likely in 2025, the car will continue its rivalry with the MG Gloster, Jeep Meridian and Toyota Fortuner.

source https://motomotar.com/car-news/new-gen-skoda-kodiaq-spied-in-india-ahead-launch/