Readying itself to unleash upcoming products which are built for India, as a part of the India 2.0 Project, Volkswagen India is celebrating a long-standing association with one of its dealers. The carmaker commemorated its 10th year of association with Unique Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. in Kolhapur. The decade-long partnership has been driven by distinct principles encompassing Volkswagen’s core DNA of safety, build quality and fun-to-drive experience.

Together, the brand has consistently strived towards providing the best customer experience in sales & after-sales services within the region. Starting with a single Volkswagen touchpoint, Unique Automobiles has expanded into three sales facilities in the state of Maharashtra. Collaboratively, the partnership has resulted in more than 5,500 happy Volkswagen customers across carlines. Under the leadership of Mr Rahul Chordia, Managing Director, Volkswagen Kolhapur, the dealership has been awarded multiple accolades in the categories of customer care management, after-sales and continuous improvement in service.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Steffen Knapp, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars said, “Over the years, the Kolhapur region has tremendously grown in its businesses, leading to an increase of aspirational value among customers. This continuous growth gives us the opportunity to offer potential customers Volkswagen carlines and an impeccable service standard. We’re glad that through our longstanding partnership with Unique Automobiles we are able to provide customers with a delightful purchase experience.”

Commenting on this decade long association, Mr Rahul Chordia, Managing Director, Volkswagen Kolhapur, Unique Automobiles Kolhapur Pvt. Ltd., said, “Our association with Volkswagen has been extremely valuable and rewarding. At each step, there is an opportunity to expand further by aligning ourselves with the brand’s pursuit of providing premium accessible mobility. We continue to enhance our offerings and are confident of delivering the Volkswagen brand promise over the next decade.”

The Volkswagen Group, led by brand Skoda in India, will give us a glimpse of their first all-new product at the upcoming Auto Expo 2020. The new mid-size SUV, built on the MQB-A0-IN platform, will be shared by both brands. The group is spending more than a billion dollars for this new beginning, where all their future products for India will be tailored to suit local tastes.

As Delhi chokes under heavy smog, there are some companies taking the initiative of doing something about the problem. Many will blame crop burning for the problem of air pollution but role of vehicular pollution can not be ruled out. Two-wheelers are the largest contributor of a city’s vehicular pollution. One company trying to solve this piece of the puzzle is Hero Electric – India’s biggest electric brand.

They have announced the commencement of its #CodeGreen initiative to highlight the importance of e-mobility in the conservation of environment. This initiative coinciding with ODD-EVEN campaign by Delhi Government to increase awareness towards greener and cleaner ways of transport.

Under #CodeGreen initiative, any customers who buys a Hero Electric Scooter gets free green colored helmet. The riders sporting these green helmets would be ‘ECO-HEROES’. Not only the riders be safe but also raise awareness about electric mobility to people on the road. Every helmet would carry a personnel message from the company acknowledging the contribution the customer has made to the environment. The company intends that these ‘ECO-RIDERS’ would be ambassadors who will further drive the message that everyone deserves to breathe in clean air including the future generations.

Commenting on the initiative Mr. Sohinder Gill, CEO, Hero Electric, India said, “We all keep talking about our worsening air quality yet only few do something about it. The helmets are a symbol of this cause. We believe that every person contributing towards the environmental conservation is a Hero – an Eco Hero, and a Hero deserves to be seen, and there’s no better way for that than for him to sport a bright green helmet amidst the sea of black and grey”.

Personal Message on each Green Helmet

Every time one uses an electric scooter, one contributes a tiny bit to a better environment and that’s what the code green is about. CODE GREEN aims to celebrate the users of Zero Emission, Zero Fuel, Hero Electric Scooter and be seen as the Hero they are and what better way to stand out than be seen sporting your contribution in a crowd full of grey and black. We hope that if enough people adopt #CodeGreen we won’t need to sound Code red forair pollution next year.

We asked Mr Gill about entry of Bajaj Chetak into the market. He said “We welcome big brands like Bajaj into electric scooters market as it would only benefit the entire industry with more awareness about electric mobility among customers”.

We hope this initiative increases awareness not just about air pollution but also about electric mobility and leads to growth in electric vehicle sales so that there is no code red for air quality in our cities

The Blue Circle, an exclusive leadership community, in association with Avendus Capital, Hero Electric successfully hosted EVConIndia – Electric Vehicles: Mapping the Indian Terrain and Charting the Course – India’s Premier Electric Vehicle (EV) Conference (Exclusively for Leaders) at The Leela Ambience, Gurugram on 9th October 2019.Avendus Capital is India’s leading investment banking firm and, Hero Electric is a leading manufacturer of Electric Vehicles. The conference was attended by 100+ CEOs & CXOs, Experts, Investors and Innovators came together to share their ideas and thoughts on EV technologies, energy generation solutions, battery technologies, charging infrastructure solutions, technical and resource challenges that EV manufacturers are currently facing.

The conference was addressed by eminent industry leaders and experts including Sunjoy Joshi, (Chairman, ORF), Pavan Choudary (Public Intellectual & MD Vygon India), Kavan Mukhtyar (Partner & Leader, PWC), Naveen Munjal (MD, Hero Electric), Vinit Bansal (Founder & MD, EV Motors India), Anil Srivastava (Principal Consultant and Mission Director – Mobility, Niti Aayog), Ayush Lohia (Chief Executive Officer, Lohia Auto), Akash Gupta (Co-Founder & CEO, Mobycy), Atul Arya (Head–Energy Systems Division, Panasonic India), Rajeev Chaba (President and Managing Director, MG Motor India), Sanjay Aggarwal (MD, Fortum), Vinay Piparsania (Director, Counterpoint), Ravindra Dayal (Executive Director, Maruti Suzuki), Sameer Pandita (Director, BEE, Ministry of Power), Koushik Bhattacharyya (Director and Head, Industrials, Investment Banking, Avendus Capital), Sohinder Singh Gill (Chief Executive Officer, Hero Electric India), Anant Nahata (Managing Director, Exicom Power Solutions), Vignesh Nandakumar (Partner, Lightstone Aspada), Rajesh Ramaiah (Partner, Premji Invest), Nitish Arora (Research & Policy Lead, Ola Electric), Kanv Garg (Director-Renewables & Electric Mobility, Ernst & Young), Anil Arora (Country Head, Clean Motion India), Awadhesh Kumar Jha (Vice President, Fortum), Piyush Gupta (Chief Executive Officer, Lithion Power), and Saurav Kumar (Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Euler Motors).

There were seven sessions in the entire conference which deliberated upon the relevant aspects of EV ecosystem. The conference also had a Start-up Accelerator program where seven startups participated and showcased their ideas.

Siddharth Anand, Founder and CEO, The Blue Circle said, “We are glad that EVConIndia has received tremendous response among participants and has achieved its objective to bring Industry Leaders, CEOs & CXOs, Subject Matter Experts, Investors, Innovators, Leading Start-ups, Top Government Officials & Policy Stakeholders all together to discuss, debate and analyse the growing possibilities and future of EV in India. The conference not only a well-considered dialogue but also advanced the agenda concretely forward where an leading incubator evaluated startups in this space to nurture further.”

In his opening remarks, Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman, Observer Research Foundation said, “It is always a pleasure be at a Blue Circle event and I have attended 2 earlier events by the Blue Circle and I have always been impressed by how the blue circle gets the top leaders to attend and engage, people who actually have to take the final decisions in their companies. It is hats off to the blue circle for creating and launching a platform like EVConIndia. Emission free vehicles like EVs are surely the writing on the wall.”

Panel Discussion during EVConIndia 2019

Speaking on the occasion, Pavan Choudary, Public Intellectual & MD Vygon India said, “Just like the light bulb, a powerful product like EV will bring in to being the infrastructure required for its adoption. The current weaknesses in EV technology should not be made reasons to stop progress”. He added, “Just as Banks are investing in Block Chain Technology which might disrupt them, entrenched players in the ICE markets should also put greater energy behind developing EVs. Citing the instance of how Dupont was co-opted in the discovery of alternatives to CFCs, and exhorting the policy makers for inclusive innovation, he said, “Those segments of the industry which are disrupted should be made beneficiaries of the new technology”. The EV is also a preventive Healthcare device and hospitals will participate in its development by providing their parkings as charging grounds”, he added.

While speaking in the first session: 2-Wheeler Mass Adoption, Naveen Munjal, Managing Director, Hero Electric said, “Inadequate awareness about electric vehicles is a bottleneck which should be overcome. Many questions like how will I charge? How will I use it? And the service network that comes along with it are questions to be answered.  In the IC category 70% of the vehicles are financed but for EVs its only about 3%. We are trying to overcome them all and will make a proper ecosystem for Electric Vehicles.”

Panel Discussion on Electric Two Wheelers

Outlining the issues related to mass adoption of EVs in India, Anil Srivastava, Principal Consultant and Mission Director – Mobility, Niti Aayog stated, “We have to realize that the mobility which was developed in the country through the ages and in the recent history for colonial exploitation, now that mobility has to switch over to economy for the people and EVs or more broadly speaking, low emission vehicles are the clear writing on the wall.”

During his remarks on the session: Cutting Edge 4 Wheeler: The Big Growth Segment of Electric Passenger Vehicles, Rajeev Chaba, Managing Director, MG Motors said, “The government definitely has made sure that everyone understands that EVs are going to come, will stay and rule the roaster. Also, the new guidelines released last week by BEE look much better considered. But the policies around EV need sustained clarity. Hope BEE will provide this consistency.”

Panel Discussion on Electric 4 Wheelers

The Start-up Accelerator Program supported by Huddle, a leading startup incubator was participated by innovative and promising start-ups companies which presented their ideas. Shortlisted companies will be announced soon and they will get the opportunity to raise funds and get incubated.

Recent announcements by government have shown a definite push towards EV’s. Reduced GST, FAME II policy and push towards charging infrastructure means EV’s are here to stay. We at Motoroids have been EV enthusiasts and recent happenings in the industry has made us even more interested in the space.

We have explored the possibility of using an E-Scooter instead ICE driven scooters when we rode the Hero Electric Optima. Further in this series we test the Avan Motors XERO+. Avan Motors was established in 2015 and is pushing forward with their electric scooter lineup and 40 dealers selling their products.

Avan Motos Xero+ Electric Scooter

How it looks

Among all the electric scooters we have ridden so far, this felt the smallest and most compact. It’s exoskeleton-ish chrome frame tries to hide the compactness of the scooter but it doesn’t help. The design is typical of any other scooter with handle mounted LED headlamp, a clean front apron which has a black insert breaking the monotony. The LED indicators are mounted behind the apron and get almost lost. As electric scooters get more and more design heavy, the XERO+ does not try too hard. However, it’s chrome frame does make it stand out. The rear mounted box which comes as a standard does provide some uniqueness to the Xero+. Tail lamps get lost below the utility box.

The instrumental console is fully digital displaying speed, voltage of the battery, battery status, gear indicator (riding modes – explained late) and odometer.

Avan Motos Xero+ Looks

What’s it got?

The Xero+ gets a 48V 800W BLDC Motor. The electrical power comes from a 24 AH Lithium Ion Battery. It is available in single battery and double battery configuration. With a single battery, the range is 55 Kms and with two batteries 110 Km. It gets three ‘gears’, which basically mean three riding modes. In Gear 1, the maximum speed is 35 kmph, in Gear 2, 40 kmph and in Gear 3, 45 kmph.

The batteries are mounted under the floorboard and the under seat storage is oddly designed. It is quiet deep but not wide enough for even a half face helmet. That is when the rear mounted storage box comes in handy. For the three weeks I had the scooter, I kept my helmet in the box itself, not having to carry it up and down from my apartment. I even used it for some grocery shopping. The total weight carrying capacity of the scooter is 150 kgs which is more than enough unless you are a Sumo wrestler.

Avan Motos Xero+

Riding it around town

Though it has hydraulic telescopic front suspension, the ride quality isn’t something to write home about. Due to it’s weight os only 85 kgs and stiff suspension setting, the rider feels all the pot holes and undulations on the road.  With floor mounted batteries with lower centre of gravity, the scooter is quite flickable in traffic. It squeezes through thin gaps in traffic quiet easily. It was a perfect tool for local grocery runs, commutes and in most situations that one might use their scooter for. However, where the top speed of 45 kmph does feel a little bit slow is long commutes or on empty roads. However, there is a hidden advantage of having limited top speed. Just close to my place on a wide and relatively open stretch of a road, there is a newly installed speed camera. When I drive my car or ride my bike, I have to be conscious and look at speedo to make sure I am sticking to speed limit. However, with a Xero+, I was giving it the full beans and now have to worry about getting a traffic challan. While the floor mounted batteries

The side stand cuts of the power to the motor. So if the stand is down, the e-scooter won’t move. A nifty little feature we see in some high end petrol scooters off late.

Riding the Avan Motos Xero+ Electric Scooter in City

Battery Switching and Charging

The electric scooter just like other electric scooters comes with a battery charger which can be plugged into any 5 AMP domestic electric socket. It takes about 4-5 hours for the battery to be fully charged.

The unit we had did not have flick and switch battery option. So, if you run out of juice in one battery, you have to manually change the battery connections to the other one. There was set of MCB’s under the seat which looked like was designed to switch from one battery to other, but it was not functional. Changing the battery was not easy at all. One has to first disconnect the battery, lift it out, put the second battery (placed right next to it, under the floor board) and connect it. When one reaches home, one has to again switch the battery to charge the discharged one. However, the effort can be saved by removing the battery and charging it separately in your home. It would also come in handy for people living in apartments who might not have charging points at the parking spot. If one does have a charging point near the parking, plug the charger into the electrical point, and put the charging cable into the charging port located below the seat.

Verdict

Avan Xero+ is a nifty little electric scooter which would be perfect for youngsters and women who have short commutes. It does it job from going from Point A to Point B, the rear storage box is extremely useful. However, it would be uncomfortable for taller and people with bigger frame. It does need a functional battery switching mechanism which would really add to it’s usability and ease of ownership. Xero+ is almost there but just misses out on a few things.

The new BS-VI norms will take effect on the 1st of April, 2020. However, auto manufacturers have moved into the transition phase already and the latest to do so is Yamaha India. The bikemaker has introduced the BS-VI compliant Yamaha FZ-FI and FZS-FI in India. Their first product to meet the new norms, the company will further announce the launch of other BS-VI compliant line ups in coming time. All colour models of both, the FZ-FI and FZS-FI will be available in the BS-VI line up. Additionally, the FZS-FI will offer two new colours – Darknight and Metallic Red.

The Yamaha FZ-FI and FZS-FI are powered by a 149 cc engine with a compression ratio of 9.6:1. The motor delivers a 12.4 PS power @ 7,250 rpm and 13.6 N.m torque @ 5,500 r/min. The new FZ-FI and FZS-FI BS-VI version will feature single-channel ABS, paired with rear disc brakes along with a monochrome LCD instrument cluster and a single piece, two-level seat. In comparison to the BS-IV bike, the engine now emits considerably lesser amounts of carbon monoxide and Nox. However, the same engine on the BS-IV bike used to crank out 13.2 PS @ 8,000 rpm. The engine has gained in terms of torque though and now makes 0.8 Nm more than it did before. Since peak power also arrives early, we expect the bike’s mid-range to be stronger.

Also Read: Yamaha India To Launch A New Product In December 2019; What Could It Be?

In terms of pricing, the BS-VI Yamaha FZ-FI is priced at INR 99,200 (Ex-showroom), a hike of INR 4,200 in comparison to its BS-IV version. The FZS-FI asks for INR 1,01,200 and INR 1,500 more for the Darknight edition (Ex-showroom prices). The FZS-FI’s BS-IV version was priced at INR 97,000 upon launch, earlier this year.

Commenting on the new launch, Mr Motofumi Shitara, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India Group of companies said, “Our commitment towards customers in India is underlined in exciting products and experiences by The Call of the Blue that stimulates a stylish motorcycling culture. As Yamaha reveals from its new product line up, the BS-VI compliant FZ motorcycles will be available across Yamaha showrooms from November 2019. FZ is an iconic brand and many motorcyclists have been brought up well from its cradle. This popularity served more concern to the company while planning for its BS-VI variant. Yamaha strived for optimum cost control and achieved to peg it around 2.5% higher, only to let FZ’s excitement stay unrestrained in India. The new BS-VI models in 150 cc are also expected to yield Yamaha’s strong presence in the deluxe class 2W category.”

At the recently concluded EICMA 2019, some of the World’s most exciting new two-wheelers were revealed. The one which has been picked as the show stealer is the Ducati Streetfighter V4, which has been selected as “Most Beautiful Bike of the Show”. The verdict was decreed by the general public, which participated in large numbers, crowding the pavilions of the Milan-Rho International Fair in its five days of opening, and who voted at the Show or online.

The “Vote and win the most beautiful bike of the Show” competition, organized by the Italian magazine Motociclismo in collaboration with EICMA, reached its fifteenth edition this year, and for Ducati, this is the tenth victory. Over 14,500 enthusiasts expressed their preference and the Streetfighter V4 was the most voted motorcycle by both visitors to the Fair and users of the Motociclismo site. The new super-naked Ducati took first place with 36.7% of voters and a considerable advantage over the second-placed bike.

The ballot of the votes received took place on Sunday 10th November, the final day of the show, and was followed by the official ceremony outside on the stage of MotoLive in the presence of Giacomo Casartelli, Executive Director of EICMA and the Editor-in-Chief of Motociclismo Federico Aliverti, who presented the prestigious award. The ceremony for the “Most Beautiful Bike of the Show” was the last act of an intense week of exhibition and events that saw over half a million visitors at EICMA, an increase compared to 2018, confirming the positive signs of recovery coming from the motorcycle sector.

Also Read: Say Hello To The New Ducati Streetfighter V4

The Ducati Streetfighter V4 is a super-naked with high and wide handlebars. Tipping the scales at 178 kg, it is powered by a Desmosedici Stradale 1,103 cc engine with 208 hp, biplane wings and a latest-generation electronics package. In addition to the Streetfighter V4, the Panigale V2 and the 2020 Panigale V4, five new versions have also been introduced for 2020: the Multistrada 1260 S Grand Tour, the Diavel 1260 in the new “Dark Stealth” colouring and the Diavel 1260 S in “Ducati Red”, the Monster 1200 “Black on Black” and finally the Scrambler Icon Dark.

Taking the honours for being the first BS-VI motorcycle to go on sale in the country, the new Hero Splendor iSmart has found its first customer already. Indra Prakash Singh of Delhi received the keys to the motorcycle from Naveen Chauhan – National Head of Sales at Hero MotoCorp. Launched just last week at INR 64,900, the new Hero Splendor iSmart has been developed in-house at Hero’s R&D facility in Jaipur and combines the bikemaker’s i3S start/stop technology with a fuel injection system. After the Hero Splendor, the Yamaha FZ-FI and FZS-FI have been introduced in BS-VI avatars too.

The new Splendor iSmart conforms to the strictest emission standards for two-wheelers in the World and now emits 45% less carbon monoxide and 88% lesser Nitrous oxide, compared to the BS-IV bike. It is powered by a 110cc engine which cranks out 9.89 Nm of torque @ 5,000 rpm, which is a 10% increase in comparison to the predecessor. In terms of power, the engine continues to deliver 9 PS at 7,500 rpm. Hero also claims that this new Splendor is also more fuel-efficient than the outgoing bike and its ground clearance has been increased from 165 mm to 180 mm, without any change in seat height.

Also Read: Hero Xtreme 1R Concept And Xpulse Rally Kit Introduced At EICMA 2019

The Bike’s FI system employs 6 sensors which include an oxygen sensor, an air pressure sensor in the manifold, an air inlet temperature sensor, a throttle position sensor, an engine oil temperature sensor and a bank angle sensor. The front forks now offer 120mm travel, 15mm more than the earlier bike, while the bike’s wheelbase has been extended by 36 mm to enhance straight-line stability. The Hero Splendor 110 iSmart FI tips the scales at 116 kilos and has been fitted with a 9.5-litre fuel tank.

The bike’s diamond-type frame is also all-new and has been tweaked for more agility. Hero Motocorp has also enhanced the lighting system to make the headlight brighter and the bike comes fitted with a 240 mm front disc brake and a 130 mm rear drum, governed by the bikemaker’s IBS system. The bike runs 80/100 tubeless tyres at both ends on alloy wheels. Instrumentation is via a semi-digital instrument console which includes an analogue fuel gauge and a speedometer and a digital display for the odometer and other readouts. The bike will be available Nationwide at Hero dealerships in the coming 3-4 weeks.

Launched as a genuine 7-seater earlier this year, the Renault Triber has become quite a popular vehicle for what it offers. It looks like another growth story in Renault India’s books, as sales of the Triber have crossed the 10,000 units mark within 2 months of launch. The carmaker sold 11,516 units last month, which has resulted in a 63% growth for the month of October 2019, compared to the same month in 2018.

The smart-looking MPV’s top-spec RxZ variant has been upgraded with 15-inch wheels, replacing the 14-inch units which were offered earlier. The bigger wheels now come wrapped in 185/65 section rubber, compared to the 165/80 section tyres it came fitted with earlier. The upgraded wheels are still the steel-type though and 14″ alloy wheels continue to be optional. This lone change has hiked the price of the car by INR 4,000 from the earlier INR 6.49 lakh (ex-showroom) sticker price.

Also Read: Renault Triber Features & Variants Explained – Which One Should You Buy?

The Renault Triber is offered in four trim levels – RxE, RxL, RxT and RxZ, each priced with a gap of INR 50,000 from the other. Prices start at INR 4.95 lakh for the base trim and go up to INR 6.53 lakh for the top-spec variant. Powering all variants is a petrol engine which is a 1.0-litre, naturally-aspirated, 3-cylinder unit which also powers the Kwid. In its pumped-up state of tune, the motor cranks out 72 HP and 92 Nm of torque, mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox. An AMT variant for the top-spec variant could be introduced later.

The car’s’ fuel economy has been rated for 20 km/l by ARAI. In terms of boot space, the Triber offers 84 litres with the third row up, and up to 625 litres with seats still up for 5. Space is optimised with 100+ seating configurations and the main seat combinations feature four modes – the 5-seater Life Mode, the 7-seater Tribe Mode, the 4-seater Surf Mode and the 2-seater Camp Mode. Going forward, the Triber’s engine will be tweaked to meet the upcoming BS-VI norms when they come into effect on the 1st of April, 2020. As of now, carlines like the Captur are being offered with huge dealer-level discounts to clear BS-IV stock.

A much-awaited motorcycle in India, the KTM 390 Adventure will be revealed at the India Bike Week, on the 6th of December 2019. It is being said that the 390 Adventure will become the first BS-VI KTM motorcycle to go sale in India. Built upon the 390 Duke as the base, the bike gets long-travel suspension and comfort-oriented ergonomics to serve its image of being an adventure tourer. However, many have been wondering about its off-road capabilities, given the fact that it comes fitted with alloy wheels, instead of the usual spoke-type which are more ideal on such type of motorcycles. This video should help clear some of those doubts.

Powering the KTM 390 Adventure is the same motor as the 390 Duke. A 373.2cc, single-cylinder, DOHC unit, it cranks out 44hp at 9,000rpm and 37Nm at 7,000rpm. Those figures are identical to the Duke, however, there is still no confirmation if KTM has made any alteration to the gear ratios. This new KTM will come fitted with ride-by-wire, a slipper clutch and a switchable traction control system. The bike will come fitted with taller, adjustable USD forks upfront and a monoshock at the rear. The front forks are adjustable for compression and rebound, offer 170mm of travel, while the spring at the back can be adjusted for rebound and pre-load and offers 177mm of travel.

Also Read: All You Need To Know About The KTM 390 Adventure

Those suspension bits add cushion to a trellis frame. The KTM Adventure 390 also comes fitted with an engine guard and a bash plate underneath. The bike gets a 100/90-19 tyre at the front and a 130/80-17 tyre at the rear, both of the dual-purpose type, mounted on alloy wheels. In terms of electronics, it will feature an LCD display for instrumentation which also allows pairing with a smartphone via Bluetooth. The fascia gets a Duke 390-like headlight which comes fitted with LEDs for illumination. Protecting the display and the rider from the oncoming wind is a windscreen which is adjustable for two positions.

Braking is via a 320 mm disc up front and a 230 mm unit at the back. The front unit is grabbed by a Four-piston, radially-mounted, fixed calliper, while the rear gets a single-piston, floating calliper. The system is governed by Bosch 9M+ Two-channel ABS which includes an offroad mode and is also disengageable.

Extending the festive cheer, Tata Motors announced the launch of its new ‘India ki Doosri Diwali’ campaign, to celebrate the success of its SCV range. Under this offer, for every Tata Motors SCV and Pickup (PU) vehicle bought during the month, the buyer will receive an assured gift through a scratch card system. These gifts range from prizes like gold vouchers of varying denominations worth 5 lakhs, 3 Lakhs & 1 Lakh INR and many more gifts like LED TV, Washing Machine, Mobile Phone, Juicer Mixer & Fuel coupons. The Assured Gift is in addition to the consumer offers on the entire SCV Cargo & Pickup range. The campaign is valid until November 30, 2019.

The special offers are applicable to the Tata Motors SCV cargo & pickup range of products comprising of brands such as Ace Gold, Ace HT, Zip, Mega, Super Ace Mint, XL Range, Yodha and the newly launched Tata Intra. The range consists of multiple fuel variants (Diesel & CNG) and applications (ARAI certified Container body, High Deck Load Body, various municipal applications, etc.

Also Read: Tata Motors At The Auto Expo 2020: What To Expect?

The campaign has been launched to commemorate the success of Tata Ace, which has sold over 22 lakh units and is the number 1 CV brand in India. Celebrating this achievement, the company has announced a variety of lucrative offers for its SCV, cargo and Pickup customers. Speaking on the campaign, Mr Rajesh Kaul, Head – Sales & Marketing, Tata Motors said, “At Tata Motors, we always believe in making customer-centric offerings and maximizing revenues of our customers. Our SCV range offer superior safety, versatile performance in varied conditions, comfort and cost-effectiveness to its customers. We are glad to offer products that have positively changed lives by helping people start and grow their businesses. The buzz around this campaign has led to an increase in footfall across showrooms. We look forward to a boost in sales of all Tata SCVs owing to the ongoing festive spirits as well as the attractive incentives offered on every SCV purchased in this month.”

Hyundai Motor India has unveiled the name of its upcoming new sedan. To be called the Hyundai Aura, according to the official information, the name is inspired by the ‘Vibrance of Positivity’ and ‘Spirit to Go the Distance’ of the young and passionate achievers. The official information also states that for aspirational Indian customers, the new sedan is crafted to deliver a superior experience than its rivals and is a blend of modernism with comfort, safety, style and technology with convenience. The carmaker suggests that it will portray a confident, stylish, yet caring and protective individual’s personality.

Now, all the marketing language aside, our guess is that this could be an extended version of the i10 NIOS, like the Xcent is to the older-gen Grand i10. The Grand i10 NIOS was launched in hatchback form earlier this year, with prices starting at INR 4.99 lakh, going up to INR 7.99 lakh for the top-spec, diesel-powered Asta variant. It was the first Hyundai car to come fitted with a BS-VI compliant petrol engine, while the diesel continues to be a BS-IV unit.

Also Read: Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS: Top 6 Features

The sedan version will in all probability be powered by the same BS-VI compliant petrol engine as the hatchback. The 1,197 cc engine generates 83 PS of peak power at 6,000 rpm and 113 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox or AMT. A diesel engine is offered on the i10 NIOS too, however, our guess is that it won’t be available in the BS-VI era and the Aura could only be offered with a petrol engine. The 1,186 cc oil burner generates 75 PS of peak power at 4,000 rpm and 190 Nm of torque from 1,750 to 2,250 rpm.

In terms of styling, expect the Hyundai Aura to retain the appearance of the i10 NIOS, except for the rear, where a proper boot will be added for that 3-box look. Inside the Hyundai Aura, expect the cabin layout and features to be similar to how things appear inside the NIOS. Features like the 20.25 cm, touch-enabled infotainment screen, voice recognition, automatic climate control, rear AC vents, eco coating technology, wireless charging, and the Arkamys sound system should make it to the sedan version too. In terms of pricing, expect to pay a small premium over the NIOS. We’ll come back with more updates,

Having launched premium two-wheeler tyres in India, TVS Srichakra showcased their TVS Eurogrip Off-Highway product range at the AGRITECHNICA 2019. The range includes Off-Highway Tyres for construction, industrial and agricultural use including farm implements. The show is being held from 10th November – 16th November in Hannover, Germany.

Marketed under the TVS Eurogrip brand, TVS Srichakra is showcasing a range of tyres that include Industrial Pneumatic Tyres, Skid Steer Tyres, Multi-purpose Tyres, Floatation Tyres, Tractor Industrial Tyres, Tractor Radial Tyres etc. AGRITECHNICA is the world’s leading trade fair for agricultural technology, organized by DLG and all the leading companies in the industry present their innovations. It is the showcase of the global agricultural engineering industry and a forum for the future of plant production.

Also Read: TVS Srichakra Launches Premium Two-Wheeler Tyres Under New TVS Eurogrip Brand

Speaking on the participation at AGRITECHNICA 2019, Mr P. Vijayaraghavan, Director, TVS Srichakra LTD., said, “We are glad to be part of AGRITECHNICA again. Our TVS Eurogrip range of Off-Highway Tyres, which are designed keeping in mind the latest technological advancements and innovations in tyre manufacturing are tailor-made to suit the needs of the customers and take the next step towards a sustainable and efficient future. We believe that the show serves as an ideal platform for us to understand the markets better, thus leading to the design and realization of a dynamic product range for the European markets. With this show, we will also be able to further strengthen our presence in the global markets.”

In August this year, TVS Srichakra Limited announced the launch of ‘TVS Eurogrip’ premium two-wheeler tyres. The new brand is born out of extensive consumer research and significant investments in global R&D, design and technology platforms. A design and innovation centre for the brand is being set-up in Milan. TVS Eurogrip tyres are designed with global expertise, are made in India and will be sold across the globe. The brand has launched 19 premium tyres that include industry-leading zero-degree steel-belted radial tyres in the country. Under the TVS Eurogrip umbrella, these extreme performance two-wheeler tyres provide excellent stability at high speeds and are rated to run at speeds of up to 270 kmph.

Unlike the new car and bike sector, the pre-owned car and bike space has been witnessing a boom. What used to be an unorganised sector some time ago, the arrival of brands in the pre-owned space offers peace of mind to buyers and a one-stop solution to those who wish to sell. The latest name to enter this space is BikeBazaar, a company which will aim to address the needs of customers in the pre-owned two-wheelers industry.

BikeBazaar offers buyers with a wide range of scooters and motorcycles through their store and also provides an opportunity for sellers to sell the two-wheeler in a single visit with hassle-free document transfer. With Aluva, BikeBazaar has presently its stores in Kolkata and Rajahmundry and intends to have stores in more cities in the near future.

It has set its maiden multi-branded showroom in Aluva, Kerala. BikeBazaar aims to bring trust in the unorganized and fragmented pre-owned two-wheeler industry and offer certified two-wheelers with 6 Months Free Warranty at low-cost EMI options and several other benefits to the buyers. On this occasion, Mr Niraj Kumar Mishra, CEO, BikeBazaar said, “We at BikeBazaar are committed to our mission of bringing trust & transparency in the Buying and Selling of pre-owned 2-Wheelers through Tech & Domain Expertise. In our mission of providing quality pre-owned two-wheelers to buyers, we thoroughly inspect all the two-wheelers and refurbish it before selling.”

Also Read: Hero Splendor 110 iSmart FI Is India’s First BS-VI Motorcycle; Launched At INR 64,900

One of the largest two-wheeler markets in the World, the pre-owned two-wheeler sector in India is still dominated by the unorganised sector. With the arrival of organisations like Bikebazaar, the hassle involved in selling or buying a pre-owned two-wheeler will go down. Such operators offer a warranty on the products they sell, which goes a long way in calming the nerves while making a pre-owned purchase. Given the rate at which models are upgraded these days and the increase in spending power, the used market is set for growth in the coming days.

For a brand new car brand and its first car going on sale in one of the toughest markets in the World, the Kia Seltos has made a dream start. As a product, it has it all covered, ticking most checkboxes of the Indian car buyer. However, as it is with most new beginnings, there have been glitches which are being reported by owners and also those waiting in queue to bring home their new car.

DCT Heating Issues

The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which has been paired with the 1.4-litre turbo petrol motor is of the ‘Dry’ type. Given our weather and traffic conditions, many owners have been reporting of a gearbox overheating message on the MID. The remedy to this suggested by Kia Motors’ service advisors has been to shift the lever into ‘N’ or ‘P’ when the car is stationary while negotiating choc-a-bloc traffic, which is a practice followed by many who drive cars with such gearboxes. Although technologically superior, dual-clutch transmissions are known to throw up issues and do require precautions to be taken while driving.

Among people known to us who drive cars with a dual-clutch transmission, we know some who have faced issues, while some have nothing to complain and are enjoying every bit of the experience. On Kia Motors’ part, this issue should’ve been noticed while they were testing their cars prior to launch and buyers who have adopted this technology for the first time should’ve been informed about precautionary steps to avoid this situation. Some information in the owner’s manual about the possibility of such a thing happening could’ve easily avoided this problem.

Spares & Service Issues

Some Kia Seltos’ have been a part of an unfortunate crash and unavailability of spares and components have meant that cars have been eating dust at dealerships for almost 2 months! For being among the Top 10 carmakers in the World, Kia Motors should’ve ensured proper availability of spares, the day they launched their cars. We hope it’s the initial phase where it takes some time to iron things out. However, first impressions in this area do count if we consider carmakers who entered India in the past with great products and failed to impress in the after-sales department. While some are still trying hard to change that image, some have packed their bags and left.

Poor Dealership Experience & Delivery Delays

There are people who have booked their cars in the months of July, August 2019 and are yet to get their cars. Such an experience leaves a bad taste and although it’s the dealerships who have been making a mess, the carmaker should’ve refined the allocation and delivery process by now at least, since it has been some time that the car has been launched.

Attached commitment of ASM KIA, now he is not responding, i have tried to contact him many times. No response on whatsapp and trying to pass the ball. Kia, Please fulfill your commitment. pic.twitter.com/3W1z9Ti6V2

— Kumar Pranay (@KrpranayKumar) November 12, 2019

Image Source: Pressreader

Also, the attitude of their customer service department and the faces at their brick-n-mortar touchpoints hasn’t been professional in many cases. One gentleman in Mumbai was sold a car with fungal growth under the carpet and rust on the disc brakes. In addition to these instances, there are several people out there who are disappointed with the way they have been treated in person, or over the phone by Kia’s representatives.

BS4 Diesel Choking DPF Filter

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Since the Kia Seltos is the only diesel-powered car in its segment to be BS-VI compliant, even before the new norms are implemented, it has to run of BS4 diesel. Some owners have been reporting that the engine check light has been coming on frequently within the first couple thousand kilometres of driving. After performing tests at the service centre, it was found that BS4 diesel with high sulphur content was choking the Diesel Particulate Filter and triggering the check engine light. Existing owners will have to live with this until BS6 fuel is introduced at fuel pumps nationwide.

UVO Connectivity Down For 6 Days

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A connected car, the Seltos offers Kia’s UVO tech which offers features like Live car tracking, remote operation of certain features, car health status, stolen vehicle tracking, etc. For many owners, this e-sim based service has been down for nearly 6 days. Some problem with the Vodafone-Idea network has resulted in owners not being able to download driving-related data from the servers.

A cranky Infotainment system

Some owners have been complaining of the infotainment screen freezing repeatedly. It requires the car to be restarted or the system to be reset in order to make it work until it happens again. An owner has reported that the system freezes, every time the car goes over bumps or through potholes.

Another owner visited three different service centres for the problem to be fixed by the third, only to reappear again, apparently, with white smoke being blown out of the central AC vents. While some of the problems mentioned here are not new to the automobile industry, the way in which representatives of Kia Motors have been dealing with these customers has been the cause for discord. On the other hand, let’s take market leader Maruti Suzuki for example. A friend of ours got proactive calls from their executives to top-level regional managers, all in one day, just for a single complaint about a problem with the steering system of a Baleno. For a premium brand then, which is new and has gained great traction in a tough market, we hope these issues are addressed by Kia Motors as soon as possible.

One of the most stylish sports cars of its time, the Maserati GranTurismo will be replaced by a new-generation model in 2020. To celebrate the last day of production of the current-gen car, a special version called the GranTurismo Zèda has been created. The name ‘Zèda’ has been taken from the Modena dialect, where it stands for a bridge which connects the past, the present and the future. It pays tribute to Maserati’s roots and reminds that there is a new beginning for every ending. Renovation work has begun on the Modena Plant which will produce the new high-performance sports car. With this, production of the current-gen Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio has come to an end.

The new Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio, to be produced at the Turin manufacturing hub, will herald a new era of electrification for the Maserati range of cars, constituting the first models to adopt 100% electric solutions in the history of the Brand. The Zèda is a unique model, sporting futuristic exterior shades designed by Centro Stile Maserati. It tells the story of the dawn of a new era through colours and materials. Observing the model from the rear section to the front, the surfaces change and become richer, shifting from a light satin finish to a burnished “metallurgic” effect. The midsection slowly morphs once again, deepening all the way to Maserati blue.

Also Read: Maserati To Launch The Levante Trofeo SUV by End Of 2019

The end of production of the Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio marks the beginning of a new path for the Modena plant. Work is already underway to update the production line in view of a total renovation that will see the facility devoted to the construction of the new super sports model – a high-performance car, characterised by state-of-the-art technology and scheduled to be presented in 2020. In parallel, work has already started on a paint shop, a completely new addition to the facility, equipped with low environmental impact, innovative technologies and boasting a special design enabling customers to personally view the painting of their cars.

The GranTurismo, presented at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2007, represents a milestone in the history of Maserati. This four-seat, two-door coupé, designed by Pininfarina, is powered by a Ferrari-sourced, naturally aspirated, 8-cylinder engine and came into being as a modern interpretation of the Maserati A6 1500 of 1947. After various updates, the GranTurismo saw its final and last version with the MY18, in which an efficient restyling effort improved the aerodynamics, ergonomics and infotainment systems. More than 40,000 examples have been sold throughout the world, of which 28,805 are GranTurismos and 11,715 are GranCabrios.

In its endeavour towards developing a skilled workforce across its dealer network in the country, Toyota India conducted the ‘National Skill Festival 2019’ for all its dealership personnel across India. The event serves as a platform to reward exceptional sales, service, customer relations & U-Trust skills setting innovative skill standards in the industry. In line with the company’s commitment towards the Skill India initiative, the Skill Festival is another step by Toyota to bridge the growing skill gap in the dynamically changing Indian industry.

Held at three levels – across dealerships, In-dealer, regional and national levels, the contestants were assessed on various parameters such as knowledge, process demonstration, soft skills and proficient role plays in providing premium customer experience and human touch among others. Themed ‘Be Pro – Lead, Encourage, Create’ this year, the event witnessed encouraging participation of 6000+ dealer participants from Sales and Service Divisions. A total of 900+ candidates participated in Regional Skill Festival and 130 regional-level winners contested in the National Skill Festival.

A total of 27 winners, 3 from each category were honoured by the leadership team of Toyota who was present at the event held in Toyota plant premises. This year, the categories were Sales Consultant [New Car Sales], Dealer Instructor [Sales], Sales Consultant [Used Car Sales], Customer Relations, Body Technician, Paint Technician, Service Advisor [B&P], Dealer Instructor [Body] & Dealer Instructor [Paint] and the following final winners & runners were recognised for their specialised skill levels and awarded cash prizes, rolling trophy, winner plaque and gold medals.

Also Read: The Fourth-Generation Toyota Yaris Is A Looker

Sharing his views on the performance of the contestants this year, Mr Tadao Kidokoro, Vice President Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “My heartiest congratulations to all the contestants from the Sales, Service & Customer Relations teams for exhibiting exceptional enthusiasm, dedication and performance. Customer delight is the cornerstone of Toyota and to successfully provide a par excellence customer experience, it is essential to constantly enhance skill sets of our workforce. With over 6000 participants this year, we received an overwhelming response from our dealer partners showcasing ‘Accurate and Caring service’ to our customers. As a first off, this year we also invited our loyal customers to be a part of the Festival to witness how TKM inculcates a culture of customer delight amongst its employees.”

He added,” The National Skill Festival is a platform that not only recognizes and rewards the best performers but also gives our dealership staff an opportunity to sharpen their skill sets. It is a powerful tool to assess the training needs, to build a strong pool of skilled staff. We strongly believe that competitiveness will in- turn nurture a healthy work environment & develop each of our employees’ potentials, challenging them to aim higher & be the best in town. This further enriches the best-in-class sales and service levels at each customer touchpoint, eventually delivering the most premium customer experience.”

It is that time of the year when car buyers prefer to wait it out until the calendar changes and manufacturers look to clear inventory and boost year-end sales. However, this time, most carmakers are also clearing their BS4 stock and the discounts to be availed are massive. Volkswagen India is offering discounts of up to INR 2.5 lakh+ on select trim levels of the Vento and the Tiguan. The Polo and the Ameo carlines are being offered with discounts of INR 2.0 lakh+ on select variants.

Once the new BS6 norms come into effect on April 1st 2020, the Volkswagen Polo will be fitted with a new BS6 engine and all its current engine options will be discontinued. The 1.5-litre diesel engine in its 90 PS and GT tune will be discontinued altogether and even the 1.2-litre TSI motor will make way for a new engine which will probably be smaller in cubic capacity.

Going forward, Volkswagen India will focus on SUVs and all its future products for India will be heavily localised and built to Indian tastes. The carmaker has invested heavily for its India 2.0 project, under which, the first “Made for India” mid-size SUV will be introduced, based on the MQB-A0-IN platform. The company will most likely be presenting a pre-production version at the Auto Expo 2020, which will be held in New Delhi from 6 to 9 February 2020.

Operations for the Volkswagen Group In India are now driven by their new ‘INDIA 2.0’ project, under which, brand Skoda will take the lead going forward. The group announced the merger of its three passenger car subsidiaries – Volkswagen India Private Limited (VWIPL), Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited (NSC) and Skoda Auto India Private Limited (SAIPL). The merged entity will be referred to as ‘Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited’ (SAVWIPL). It has a strong brand portfolio which includes Škoda Auto, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini. These brands shall retain their distinctive identities, dealer network as well as implementing their own customer experience initiatives. However, they will be pursuing a shared vision and strategy for the Indian subcontinent.

Slated for a Global release in cinemas from April 2, 2020, in the U.K. and in the U.S on April 10, the 25th official James Bond film, No Time To Die, will be the first movie to feature the new Land Rover Defender. The makers have shared behind the scenes footage of stunt co-ordinator Lee Morrison and stunt driver Jess Hawkins, featuring the new Defender, captured during the filming of the upcoming movie. Britain’s biggest vehicle manufacturer has a long-standing partnership with EON Productions on the Bond films, which began in 1983 when a Range Rover Convertible appeared in Octopussy.

No Time To Die is the first movie to feature the New Defender, the latest vehicle to star in a James Bond car chase sequence. The New Defender has been tested by the 007 expert stunt team in the most extreme off-road conditions. Land Rover’s design team worked closely with Special Effects and Action Vehicles Supervisor Chris Corbould on the specification of the Defenders in the film. Based on the Defender X model in Santorini Black, with darkened skid pans, 20 in dark finish wheels and professional off-road tyres, they were the first Defenders to be built at Jaguar Land Rover’s new production facility in Nitra, Slovakia.

Also Read: The 2020 Land Rover Defender Is Here And It Can Wade Through 900 mm Of Water

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the movie stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his fifth film as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007. Alongside the Defenders, No Time To Die also features the Range Rover Sport SVR, Series III Land Rover and Range Rover Classic. Talking about the new Defender, Lee Morrison, James Bond Stunt Co-ordinator, said: “Designing and co-ordinating the action sequences for the Bond franchise requires a non-compromising mindset. We needed an unstoppable vehicle to help us battle against the elements, steep descents and river crossings so we chose the new Defender. I’m beyond impressed that the Defender is not only back but much, much better!”

The New Defender provides ground clearance of 291 mm and world-class off-road geometry, giving the Defender 110 approach, break-over and departure angles of 38, 28 and 40 degrees (Off-Road height) respectively. Its maximum wading depth of 900 mm is supported by a new Wade programme in the Terrain Response 2 system, so drivers can ford deep water with complete confidence. The new Defender should arrive in India, sometime in 2020.

The seventh such example in a series of Hyundai Design Centre’s concepts, Hyundai Motor today shared images of its new Plug-in Hybrid SUV Concept for 2019 AutoMobility LA. Called the Vision T, the compact SUV concept allows a peek into Hyundai’s future SUV designs. The SUV concept is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain indicating its eco-lifestyle focus and balance with the environment in which it is driven.

The two derivative sub-themes of the design concept are ‘Parametric Fantasy’ and ‘Transcendent Connectivity’. In these sub-themes, all parametric surfaces are connected from the body to either light or trim features. It features seamless connectivity free from distinct design boundaries. Ambient light reflects off these concave and convex lines creating an extreme sense of tension. Charisma is added with the evolution of a Hidden Signature Lamp derived from the Le Fil Rouge and Grandeur Face Lift. At higher speeds, the Parametric Air Shutter is an original developmental feature that actively adjusts both aerodynamics and design.

Also Read: Hyundai Aura Is The Carmaker’s New Upcoming Sedan

When stationary, the grille is closed and static. Once in motion, each individual cell of the grille design continues to move in a prescribed sequence, creating a dynamic, forward demeanour. This dynamic character includes the functional effect of controlling airflow to the powertrain, optimizing aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. Describing the concept, SangYup Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of Hyundai Global Design Center, says, “We pursue innovative solutions in design and add emotional value to our product experience through sensuous sportiness design language.”

For India, the carmaker announced the name for its new sedan which will be launched in the coming times. To be called the Hyundai Aura, it will be in all probability a sedan version of the recently launched Grand i10 NIOS hatchback. The Grand i10 NIOS was launched in hatchback form earlier this year, with prices starting at INR 4.99 lakh, going up to INR 7.99 lakh for the top-spec, diesel-powered Asta variant. It was the first Hyundai car to come fitted with a BS-VI compliant petrol engine, while the diesel continues to be a BS-IV unit. We’ll come back with more updates about this new Hyundai, stay tuned.

Tata Motors Ltd has inaugurated its state-of-the-art ‘Advance Power Systems Engineering Tech Center’ at the Engineering Research Center (ERC) Pune, India. This new tech centre will play a key role in engineering, testing and developing cutting-edge powertrain solutions for all its products, bringing in synergies across PV, CV and EV Businesses. This new world-class facility will primarily focus on the future development of BS6 (Phase 1 & 2), Real Driving Emissions (RDE), CAFÉ II, Hybrids, Electrification and BS7.

Spread over 12,000 square meters with future-proof design elements, this test facility is equipped to meet the development, calibration & type approval requirement for light & heavy-duty powertrains. It is also capable of testing – range, power, drivability and durability of electric vehicles. In addition to this new facility, the company’s state-of-the-art R&D centres and design studios are located in Pune (India), South Korea, Italy and the UK, and have many firsts to their credit. Tata Motors also houses Asia’s first anechoic chamber, India’s only full climate test facility and first full vehicle crash test facility, whose capability has helped develop India’s first 5 star rated passenger vehicle, the Tata Nexon.

Also Read: Tata Altroz – What Makes It Special?

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors Ltd. said, “We at Tata Motors have been consistently gearing up for the future through strategic investments in our product development and engineering capabilities. I am delighted to witness our new ‘Advance Power Systems Engineering Tech Center in Pune’ go live, which was established in a record time of 15 months. This facility will act as a hub to develop class-leading powertrain solutions for our vast product portfolio across ICE and Electric. This technical centre reiterates our commitment to offering our customers a wide range of clean, sustainable technologies, thus meeting their aspirations.”

Mr Rajendra Petkar, President & CTO, Tata Motors Ltd. said, “It’s a proud moment for us to introduce the world-class Power Systems Engineering Tech Centre in Pune. This facility is a strategic step to offer powertrain solutions across segments under one roof. With future-proof design elements, this facility will enable Tata Motors to offer differentiated products to the customers, with a strong focus on technology, innovation and desired product attributes. With the Auto Industry witnessing mobility disruptions around CESS (Connected, Electrified, Safe & Shared), this facility will go a long way in supporting our customer-oriented agenda.”