CFMoto stepped foot on our shores with three motorcycles catering to different segments and are looking forward to extending their portfolio in our country. Design leaks and speculations surrounding the CFMoto 300SR have been floating around the internet for quite some time now but CFMoto has finally taken the wraps off this all-new motorcycle. The complete specs of CFMoto 300SR are out in the open too as they have already started accepting bookings of this faired sports bike in Vietnam.

Also read: Upcoming Bike Launches Post the Covid-19 Lockdown

The 300SR is one handsome looking motorcycle with a fully faired design complimented by proportionate lines. The lifted rear end looks quite sporty too. The SR in its moniker stands for Sports Racing and the overall design philosophy does justice to the name. This motorcycle is available in two colours – Nebula Black and Turquoise Blue. The specs are quite decent and make a strong case for this new kid on the block. It derives power from a 292.4cc, single-cyl, liquid-cooled engine producing 28.70 HP at 8750 RPM and 25.3 Nm at 7250 RPM mated with a 6-Speed transmission.

CFMoto 300 SR comes with a 110/70/17 tyre at the front and a 140/60/17 tyre at the rear with a 292 mm front disc and a 220 mm rear disc coupled with the safety net of ABS. Suspension duties are handled by 37 mm upside-down forks up front and a mono suspension at the rear. Other specs include a seat height of 780 mm, ground clearance of 135 mm, kerb weight of 165 kgs and a fuel tank capacity of 12-litres.

The best thing about this motorcycle is that it is India bound and we can expect CFMoto to bring this to our markets as soon as this lockdown is lifted. Once it gets launched, it will lock horns with the likes of KTM RC 200 and the TVS Apache RR 310. It surely isn’t going to be an easy battle for the CFMoto 300SR.

The transition to more stringent BS6 norms has resulted in many manufacturers discontinuing a lot of their motorcycles, including Suzuki. They recently took a lot of their big capacity motorcycles off their website including the likes of GSX R1000, GSX S750 and the mighty Hayabusa. It saddened a lot of Suzuki fans but Suzuki is planning to introduce updated models for some of these motorcycles in the next few months. They recently teased the launch of V-Strom 650 XT on their official website which will now be BS6 compliant.

Also read: Suzuki Paints The GSX-R1000R In MotoGP-Inspired Livery

When they first launched the V-Strom 650 in India, it faced direct competition from Kawasaki Versys 650 which was the go-to choice for someone looking for a middleweight ADV-tourer. Suzuki had some major advantages over the Versys, the inclusion of Traction control and spoked rims to name a few. The reason why it became an instant hit among touring aficionados. Suzuki hasn’t revealed any details regarding the BS6 compliant V-Strom 650 XT but it will most likely retain the much-acclaimed 645cc, parallel-twin motor in a slightly tweaked form to comply with the BS6 emission norms. The BS4 iteration of this Japanese middleweight ADV-Tourer produced 71bhp and 62Nm. We can expect the new model to have slightly revised power figures.

It will offer an analog-digital instrument cluster, adjustable windscreen, and rider aids like three-level traction control, Easy Start System and Low RPM Assist. It is likely to continue with the same set of cycle parts including 43mm adjustable telescopic forks and rebound and preload-adjustable monoshock for suspension. The braking duties in the BS4 iteration were performed by dual-310mm discs up front and a 260mm disc at the rear along with dual-channel ABS. Colour options are also expected to be unchanged and the BS6 V-Strom 650 will be offered in Champion Yellow and Pearl White Glacier paint options.

There are a lot of motorcycle launches slotted for the coming few months and we are pretty excited to ride all of them after the lockdown is lifted, including the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT.

Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has finally launched the BS6 compliant version of the Santro. Offered in four variants- Era Executive, Magna, Sportz and Asta, prices start from Rs 4.57 lakh for the entry-level Era Executive trim. It goes all the way up to Rs. 6.20 lakh for the range-topping Sports CNG trim (both prices, ex-showroom New Delhi). The hatchback is available in petrol and CNG fuel options.

The Hyundai Santro continues to derive its power from a 1.1-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which is good enough to produce maximum power output of 68 bhp at 5,500 rpm and 99 Nm of peak torque delivered at 4,500 rpm. The powertrain is connected to a five-speed manual transmission as standard and a five-speed AMT as an option. To address a wide range of buyers, the Santro is offered with a CNG unit as well. With the factory-fitted CNG kit, the five-seater hatchback develops 58 bhp at 5,500 rpm and 84 Nm at 4,500 rpm from the same 1.1-litre petrol engine. However, it is paired only with a five-speed manual transmission.

Hyundai hasn’t brought any other changes to the Santro, and the vehicle continues to feature a cascading grille with chrome surrounds, sweptback headlamps, fog lamps, and a redesigned bumper at the exterior. The rear end of the Santro BS6 models features a large windshield, a new tail lamp cluster, a high stop lamp, and redesigned bumpers that feature plastic inserts and reflectors on either side.

The interiors continue to feature a dual, black and beige treatment on the dashboard and door trims. The cabin features silver inserts around the air conditioning vents, the gear lever & steering wheel, and features an ‘elephant’ inspired center console. On the equipment front, the Hyundai Santro gets a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto & Bluetooth, electronically adjustable ORVMs manual AC, rear AC vents, central locking steering mounted audio controls, foldable rear seats, and a rear washer and wiper.

Speaking of safety features, the Santro comes with ABS with EBD, dual airbags, a rear parking sensor and camera, a day/ night IRVM, speed sensing auto door locks, impact sensing auto door unlock, and a rear defogger.

The South Korean auto major brought back the iconic Santro nameplate after years of absence to celebrate the brand’s two decades of presence in the Indian market in October 2018. The third-generation Hyundai Santro endured a pretty good start to its life by averaging around 7,000 units in its initial months although the sales volume decreased gradually due to a slowdown in 2019. The new generation of the popular tallboy hatchback offers premium interiors and quite a few segment-first features.

In what comes as a piece of immensely shocking news, Rudratej Singh, President and Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group India, passed away today. The reason for his death could not be ascertained, yet. Rudy, as he was fondly called, had joined BMW in August 2019, and was the first Indian President & CEO of BMW in India. This is the second untimely demise of a high-ranking executive at the company this month. On April 7, BMW Group India’s Sales Director Mihir Dayal (40) had passed away after a battle with cancer.

Prior to this, he worked at Royal Enfield as the Global President for four years and six months. He was credited for the successful trans-continental debut of the Himalayan and Twins bikes – Interceptor & Continental GT. In order to be specific, Rudy had joined the Chennai-based manufacturer in January 2015 and left his position in June 2019 to pursue his new role at BMW. Before entering the Indian automotive industry, Rudratej Singh had 16 years of experience at Unilever. Rudy had joined Unilever as Area Sales Manager of West UP zone in 1998 from where he rose to become the Vice President of the South Asia region in October 2012. Prior to joining Unilever, Singh also served as Senior Product Manager at Dabur India Limited for two years.

As far as education was concerned,  Rudratej Singh did MBA in Marketing and Finance from Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad. Singh was a graduate from Delhi University. As one can see, with over 25 years of experience, Rudratej Singh held a number of leadership positions, both in the automotive and non-automotive industries. The demise of Rudratej Singh is certainly a big loss for the Indian automotive industry.

“Our prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult period. He will always be remembered as an inspiring and compassionate human being,” BMW said. “His transformational vision and strategic orientation played a crucial role in navigation of BMW Group India in a challenging business environment. His demise comes at a crucial junction when we were in midst of implementing strategic measures for strengthening the dealer network across India,” 

Motoroids India extends its heartfelt condolences to Rudy’s family, friends and colleagues.

Maruti Suzuki has silently introduced minor upgrades to the Swift and Ertiga by updating the models’ multimedia functionalities. Maruti has replaced their ageing SmartPlay infotainment system with the latest SmartPlay Studio system and can be found across the company’s more contemporary offerings. The new touchscreen presents a slicker user interface that’s easier to operate while on the move.

In addition to features like an image viewer and video player, the infotainment system also offers enhanced smartphone integration through a dedicated SmartPlay Studio app available for download via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The SmartPlay system also allows conventional connectivity via Bluetooth, Aux-in and USB.. It now comes with navigation which is supported via the connected smartphone. Owners can utilise this functionality to access offline navigation, Aha music streaming and get news, sports and weather updates. The SmartPlay Studio app also allows the phone to be used as a remote control for the infotainment system.

Also READ: Maruti Suzuki Eeco Cargo CNG BS6 Specifications Revealed

Despite the shift to newer hardware, the touchscreen size remains unchanged at 7″. As before, the interactive multimedia system can only be had on the range-topping ZXi+ trims of both the hatchback and the MPV. Features such as Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, steering-mounted controls and USB and AUX connectivity have also been carried forward as before. With the recent update, a majority of the automaker’s models boasting of touchscreen functionality have made the switch to the latest Smartplay Studio system, with only the Ciaz making use of the previous-gen hardware. The mid-size sedan as well as the S-Cross, which is due for an update in the coming weeks, will most likely gain the new touchscreen soon enough.

Almost all the models including the entry-level models are now equipped with this modern infotainment system. All the top-end variants of- Alto, S-Presso, Celerio, Wagon-R Vitara-Brezza and Dzire have been equipped with the SmartPlay studio in the recent past.

There are no other changes in any of the two vehicles. The Maruti Ertiga is offered with a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that produces 105 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 138 Nm @ 4,400 rpm. It is also offered in a CNG variant which develops 91 BHP and 122 Nm. Transmission duties are handled by either a manual or torque converter automatic gearbox. The automatic transmission is additionally equipped with Suzuki’s SHVS mild-hybrid tech. On the other hand, the Swift is powered by an 83hp, 1.2-litre K12B petrol engine mated to either a manual or an AMT-automatic gearbox.

American SUV manufacturer Jeep entered the Indian markets with their Compass a few years ago. It became an instant hit among the Indian masses and clocked some good numbers in an otherwise very competitive segment. Despite facing competition from the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Tata Harrier, it held its own. Now that the BS6 emission norms have kicked in, Jeep has finally launched the BS6 compliant range of the Compass. Prices start from Rs 16.49 lakh and go up to Rs 24.99 lakh ex-showroom, making it Rs 89,000 dearer than its BS4 counterpart.

Also read: All The 5-Seater SUVs Which Are About To Get Two More Seats

They just haven’t revised the prices as they have also made some crucial changes in the trim levels of the Compass. In its BS6 avatar, Jeep has bid goodbye to the base level Sport variant and the Sport plus now serves as the base variant. It offers considerably more features than the Sport variant including alloy wheels, touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone AC and so on. Apart from the Sport variant, they have also discontinued the Longitude (O) and Limited variant. Jeep Compass BS6 is now offered in Sport Plus, Longitude, Longitude Plus and Limited Plus trims.

It comes with some pretty good features as standard including two airbags, rear disc brakes, traction control and ESC. The engine has been slightly tweaked to meet the BS6 emission norms. It retains the same old engine options though which means the diesel Compass continues to draw power from a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine, good enough for 170 Bhp and 350 Nm of peak torque. It also retains the same 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine which generates 160 Bhp and 250 Nm of torque. Both petrol and diesel variants of the Compass get manual and a DCT gearbox option and the diesel variants except for the Sport Plus get 4×4 option.

Reports suggest that Jeep is also planning to bring the Grand Compass to India which is the 7-seater version of the regular Compass that we have here. The petrol Compass faces direct competition from the recently launched Volkswagen T-Roc and will also rival the Skoda Karoq while the diesel version is a direct rival to the Tata Harrier.

Tata Motors has reported a slump in its global sales figures. The company has released a statement saying its group global wholesales, including Jaguar Land Rover, stood at 2,31,929 units in the January-March quarter, lower by 35 percent compared to Q4 figures in 2019. Global wholesales of Tata Motors’ brand of commercial vehicles, as well as those of the Tata Daewoo range, plunged 49% from the year earlier to 72,608 units.

Tata Motors said that the global wholesales of all passenger vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2019-20 were at 1,59,321 units. This is lower by 26 percent from the same period a year ago. Global wholesales for British luxury carmaker JLR stood at 126,979 units in the quarter, which included 6,288 vehicles sold by the Chery Jaguar Land Rover joint venture in China.

The figure comprised 32,940 units of Jaguar brand of vehicles and 94,039 Land Rover wholesales. JLR had on Saturday reported a 31% y-o-y drop in retail sales in the March quarter at 109,869 units. Retail sales in FY20, however, fell at a comparatively modest pace of 12% to 508,659 units as the Tata Motors unit saw double-digit growth in China during Q2 and Q3 of the last fiscal.

For the most part of the Q4, sales of all car manufacturing companies hit their lowest point due to the outburst coronavirus pandemic. In March, Tata Motors sold a total of 12,924 vehicles in India, compared to 74,679 units the company sold in the same period in 2019. Tata Motors’ domestic wholesales for FY20 stood at 442,052 units, down 35% y-o-y. This included a 34% y-o-y drop in commercial vehicle sales at 310,855 units and a 38% y-o-y decline in passenger vehicle sales at 131,197 units.

Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors Ltd. said, “Vehicle sales was affected by the Covid-19 outbreak and the subsequent nationwide lockdown. However, the customer response to our newly launched models – the Altroz and the refreshed BS6 range is encouraging.” He added that he would be handing over his reigns to Shailesh Chandra who would have the responsibility of delivering an exciting customer experience and building on the strength of the NEW FOREVER product portfolio.

Yamaha Motor India will be launching the BS6 updated version of the FZ25 in the domestic market soon and its details have surfaced online. Additionally, there is the FZS 25 which will have more features to differentiate itself from the standard FZ25. With the competition in this segment of 250 cc bikes growing, Yamaha is doing its best to address the needs of modern consumers.

The Japanese manufacturer has kept the proportions of the BSVI compliant FZ25 intact and the prices of both the motorcycles are expected to be revealed soon. The 2020 Yamaha FZS 25 will be offered in three different colour options – White Vermillion, Patina Green and Dark Matt Blue. The FZ25 will be offered in two colour options – Metallic Black and Racing Blue. The White Vermillion was also recently introduced to the MT15.

Also READ: Electric Two-Wheeler Makers in India You Should Care to Know About

In terms of performance, both these motorcycles continue to be powered by the same 249cc, single-cylinder, fuel-injected engine which has been updated to meet the upcoming BS6 emission norms. It generates a maximum power of 20.8PS at 8,000rpm and a peak torque of 20.1 Nm at 6,000rpm. The power and torque figures of both these bikes are exactly the same as their BS4 counterparts while the engine remains mated to a 5-speed transmission. The bikes continue to be equipped with telescopic forks at the front and a mono-shock absorber at the rear end. The braking duties are handled by disc brakes at either side which is further mated to a dual-channel ABS unit as standard.

The fuel tank capacity, seat height and tyre size remain identical as the BSIV FZ25 that endured a decent success in the Indian market unlike its faired sibling, the Fazer 25. The 2020 Yamaha FZ25 and FZS 25 will feature bi-functional, Class D-type LED headlamp which has a single unit for both high and low beam. LED Daytime Running Lights are common but the FZS 25 gets noteworthy additions such as a taller windshield and knuckle guards.

In addition to that, the bike features a negative LCD display for the instrument console, an underbelly cowl and a side-stand engine cut-off switch. Also, gold wheels are available only for the FZS 25 in Patina Green & Dark Matte Blue.

There is no word on the pricing yet though one can expect the updated model to get a price hike of around INR 7,000 to INR 10,000 over the outgoing BS4 model which was last available with an ex-showroom price tag of INR 1.35 lakh. The FZS 25 will be slightly more premium than the FZ 25 upon arrival.

Bavarian manufacturer BMW Motorrad has a very diversified line-up in India ranging from the affordable G310 twins to a litre-class superbike and the mighty GS. They recently released a teaser of their upcoming sport-tourers F 900 XR and S 1000 XR. Both have been developed keeping just one thing in mind, to decimate miles while being agile. They might look a bit similar but are very different when it comes to their underpinnings and powertrain.

Also read: Say Hello To The 2021 BMW G310 Twins

We will get to the smaller F 900 XR first which is powered by the same 895cc parallel-twin engine which does the duty in F 850 GS but in a different set of tune to match its sport-touring characteristics. In the F 900 XR, it churns out 105 PS and 92 Nm of torque. BMW Motorrad has loaded the F 900 XR with a comprehensive set of electronics which includes traction control, cornering ABS, ride by wire with riding modes, cruise control, keyless ride, and adaptive cornering lights. BMW is renowned for using top-of-the-line cycle parts in their motorcycles and F 900 XR belongs to the higher end of the spectrum. Needless to say, it also uses quality components like an optional electronic rear suspension with dynamic adjustment. At the front, the 850 GS derived chassis of the F 900 XR is suspended by 43mm forks.

S 1000 XR’s looks might fool you into believing that it’s very similar to the F 900 XR but that is not the case as it packs a lot more punch. The beefier bodywork and the huge front radiator is a testimony to the fact that it packs the same powerplant from its S 1000 RR supersport sibling and the 999cc motor produces 164 PS and 114 Nm of torque. It gets the same electronics package as the F 900 XR and packs a few more goodies like wheelie control, hill start assist and a new 6.5-inch TFT instrumentation with four changeable themes. Expect the pricing of the F 900 XR to hover in the Rs 15-18 lakh bracket while the S 1000 XR is expected to be priced between Rs 18-21 lakh ex-showroom.

The scare of the novel coronavirus has taken its toll on the entire society and can be witnessed each and every day with the rise in the number of positive COVID-19 cases. In the wake of the pandemic, Tata Motors has extended the warranty for its commercial vehicle customers worldwide, thus becoming the latest auto company to join the list.

The company is also working to the best of its capabilities to extend technical support to keep the vehicles up and running in these challenging times. As part of the extension of services for the commercial vehicle customers, Tata Motors would be offering a host of benefits for its customers in India. Firstly, the company would provide a two-month extension for free services previously scheduled during the period of national lockdown also additionally extending the warranty period by two months for all those whose warranty would expire during the period of national lockdown . Secondly, Tata Motors would be extending the Tata Suraksha AMC for all those with an expiry during the period of national lockdown and also for those with active contracts by one month.

Also Read: Tata Motors Group Global Sales Slide By 35% In Q4 FY20

Apart from this, Tata Motors has also generated a toll-free helpline number – 1800 209 7979, for the trucks carrying essential commodities, as specified by the Government, during the period of the national lockdown so that they could address their difficulties and the supply chain is not affected. Earlier, Ashok Leyland had also provided a toll-free number for their commercial vehicle customers so that they could be provided assistance during a breakdown of their trucks.

Furthermore, Tata Motors will also be extending the warranty period of its global commercial vehicle customers, as per standard warranty terms & conditions. The company will extend the warranty period of customers located in South Africa, Middle East, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, North-west African countries and Latin American countries for those whose vehicle warranty expired or will expire after 15th March 2020. For customers in Bangladesh, the warranty would be extended by two months for those whose warranty expired or would expire after 20th March 2020. Similarly, customers in countries like Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia could avail two months of extension of warranty if their warranty expires after April 1, 2020. 

It has sort of become a standard for manufacturers to hike prices of their BS6 compliant vehicles because the transition to more stringent BS6 emission norms requires a lot of R&D and inclusion of upgraded parts. Flowing away from the mainstream, Triumph Motorcycles India has announced that it will not hike prices of its BS-VI compliant motorcycles until July 2020. The move comes amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic which has impacted the overall market sentiment and economic conditions.

Also read: Triumph India To Launch The 2020 Street Triple RS On April 22nd

Furthermore, to ease the customers’ worries Triumph announced that it will extend the warranty as well as the extended warranty on motorcycles which were due to expire between 20th March – 3rd May 2020, till 30th June 2020. Additionally, the warranty of the bikes would not be affected due to delay in periodic maintenance in this lockdown period provided these customers get the vehicle serviced within the next 30 days of the lockdown opening.

Speaking about the announcement, Mr. Shoeb Farooq, General Manager, Triumph Motorcycles India Pvt Ltd said, “Triumph Motorcycles has decided to defer the upcoming BS-VI price increase amidst the current difficult and unprecedented circumstances due to the COVID19 pandemic. We also understand that our customers would have been concerned with their motorcycle warranties expiring in March & April and services lapsing in the lockdown period, hence to ease their concerns we’ve decided to extend the expiring warranties until 30th June 2020 & any lapsed periodic maintenance during the lockdown will not impact warranty as long as customer gets it done within a month of the lockdown opening. At the back end we are preparing our dealerships to handle any increased service volume post the lockdown and we’ve put processes in place to ensure a smooth customer experience. These are trying times and as a brand we want to offer as much support to our customers as possible. Triumph prepared well in advance for the BSIV to BSVI transition. We don’t have any unsold BSIV inventories and we will have ensured robust BSVI availability – In next 2 months Triumph will have a strong representation across all segments with BSVI complaint motorcycles”.

Triumph’s Bonneville range, which is also its highest selling, is already available in BSVI variants; this includes the Triumph Bonneville Street Twin, the Bonneville T100, Bonneville T120 and the Bonneville Speedmaster. Triumph has deferred the price hike of these models and additionally has launched attractive finance schemes to make it easy and comfortable for the customers. This again has been curated keeping in mind that quite a few customers still have a high purchase intent and the scheme is to facilitate their buying decision. Triumph dealerships across the country are working remotely and enquiries on current and upcoming models can be made with the dealerships or by calling the Triumph customer care on 1800-1020-104.

The ongoing pandemic has proved to be a challenging period of time for the society. Therefore auto companies have come up with numerous initiatives to help ease the challenges faced by their customers, their vendor parties, dealers and their employees. The latest to join the bandwagon is Kia Motors.

Kia Motors India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kia Motors Corporation has announced several measures to support its dealer partners in difficult times of COVID-19. The company announced a program to help its dealers steer through the challenging phase, which includes multiple initiatives to sustain and improve the cash flow to the dealer partners. Kia Motors India has evaluated the current situation and looked at various areas of the business where it can support its dealer partners.

In terms of support on inventory, the company will support the interest cost of dealer stock, including vehicles in physical & transit stock. As far as reversal of inventory funding amount is concerned, the unutilized dealer funds lying with the company have already been remitted back to the dealer’s current account. Speaking of warranty and NVI claims, all the accepted Service Claims for warranty have been credited to the dealers’ account. All the extended warranty payments have been credited to dealers and the company announced priority clearance within 15 days post lockdown for all dealer invoices

Also READ: Know More About An Upcoming Brand: Haima Automobile’s Plans for The Indian Market

Commenting on the measures introduced, Mr. Kook-Hyun Shim, Managing Director and CEO – Kia Motors India said, “Our dealer partners are one of the key pillars of growth for us and form a foundation for Kia to connect with the consumers in the country. We are committed to offer our continued support in these testing times and will undertake all necessary steps to help them navigate through the situation together with us. Dealer viability and stability is at the core of this program and we hope to spread positivity through it.”

Moreover, to promote online sales, Kia Motors India will be taking multiple initiatives. In addition, to encourage customers to book their favourite Kia cars online and reduce physical interaction points. A detailed guideline has been issued by the company to its dealerships to prepare them to operate in accordance with the government norms of distancing and sanitation, post the lockdown. The dealerships will be supported with 50,000 masks to help them face the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to this, Kia Motors India has taken several measures to ensure the safety of its customers and employees by promoting social distancing. The brand has suspended its operation at all its offices and dealerships, extended the period of free warranty service by 2 months for its customers. The company has also donated INR 2 Crore to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, along with 1 Lakh masks to the government for its COVID-19 initiatives. The company is also considering numerous other activities in order to help the society at large fight the COVID19 pandemic. Recently, the South Korean carmaker has started a campaign – #RewindKia to communicate to the people of India to stay at their homes and be safe during this pandemic.

Fulfilling its commitment towards the COVID-19 relief efforts, Honda India Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of all Honda group companies in India handed over 800 units of Honda engine-powered High Pressure Backpack Sprayers in Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Gujarat. These High Pressure Backpack Sprayers are built with 4-stroke technology and Honda’s reliable engine. The environment friendly machines and portable machines can be used easily in multi-storey buildings and helps in completing the sanitization process much faster as the spray can reach to distant areas through its high speed capacity.

Additionally, the company understands the need of the hour and supports those most in need as major services stay disrupted. Therefore, in order to take care of the poor and underprivileged in these difficult times, Honda started the distribution of 1,000 food packets each day since 3 April, 2020 to the people of Khoh Village (Dist. Gurugram) & Mohindergarh (Haryana) and to the villages of Vitthalapur, Gujarat. Supporting the Karnataka Police who is risking their life for the safety of people, Honda started distributing over 500 food packets each day beginning 1 April, 2020. Lastly, catering to the poor and homeless at this crucial time, Honda provided a total of 8,760 food packets during a period of 22 days to the local administration of Tapukara & Greater Noida.

Also Read: In Fond Memory Of – Honda CBR250R

The company also announced that following the guidelines issued by Government of Kerala, few workshops in the state have resumed partial operations. So far, Honda workshops have served over 500 customers using Honda two-wheelers during their duty as part of engagement in essential services in the ongoing lockdown. This is in line with the Kerala Government’s order dated 8th April 2020 which allowed two-wheeler workshops and spare parts shops to resume service-related work of immediate nature. Currently, over 50 authorized Honda service workshops across the state are serving customers with their immediate repair, maintenance and spare parts needs, every Thursdays and Sundays (from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm). As a socially responsible corporate, all Honda workshops are adhering to strict safety & health protocols and preventive measures for the safety of its customers and workshop staff as well, while ensuring social distancing between staff and customers to effectively ‘Break the Chain.’

Suzuki Motorcycle India has officially teased the launch of its BS6-compliant quarter-litre motorcycles, Gixxer 250 and the Gixxer SF 250. Apart from featuring a coming soon tag on their official website hinting that they will soon launch the 250 twins in India, they have also updated their specs. Their specifications were already known before, courtesy a brochure leak but now the official website has confirmed the specs. It is expected that Suzuki will launch both these motorcycles after production resumes post lockdown but it is also possible for them to reveal the prices beforehand.

Also read: BS6 Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT Teased Ahead of Launch

We can expect a slight bump in price and not a steep hike the 150s experienced. Suzuki gave the Gixxer 150 and Gixxer SF 150 a price bump of nearly 11,000 because the transition of the 150s to BS6 required a bunch of mechanical tweaks while the 250s don’t. Suzuki has still revised the engine a little to make it BS6 compliant and according to the updated specs, The power stays the same at 26.5hp but comes in 300rpm later. Not only this, the torque has gone down by 0.4Nm but comes in 200rpm early. The engine still continues to be a 249 cc single-cylinder SOHC unit.

What came as a surprise that even after being BS6 compliant now, both the motorcycles continue to weigh the same. Over the past few months, we have witnessed that most of the motorcycles which became BS6 compliant tipped the scale more than their BS4 counterparts but that isn’t the case with Gixxer 250 and Gixxer SF 250. The kerb weight stands the same at 161 kg for the SF 250 and 156 kg for the Gixxer 250. There is no change in terms of features and both the bikes get an all-LED headlight, fully-digital instrument cluster, dual-port exhaust, 17-inch alloy wheels, disc brakes at both ends and dual-channel ABS. Apart from the changes mentioned above, chances are that Suzuki will introduce their MotoGP livery with the Gixxer SF 250.

Audi AG has revealed the India-bound 2021 MY avatar of its popular entry-level compact sedan. The all-new Audi A3 Sportback made its debut a few weeks back and now the German automaker has officially revealed the new A3 sedan. Compared to its predecessor, the 2021 Audi A3 sedan gets a lot of significant changes on the outside, inside, and under the hood with mild-hybrid powertrains.

Stylistically, the next-generation A3 sedan is only subtly updated over its predecessor, but it is intended to have a more coupé-like appearance. The 2021 Audi A3 is based on the MQB Evo platform similar to the Volkswagen Golf and it is 40 mm longer, 10 mm wider and 10 mm taller than the outgoing car while the boot space remains unaltered, at 425 litres. This platform is claimed to be lighter yet also more rigid than the one it replaces. The design sees an evolution over the older model and the body gets some sharp elements much in line with some of the newer Audis. In spite of getting edgier boundaries, extended fenders and fresh bumper components, the overall silhouette remains typically A3 — compact and coupe-ish.

On the outside, the all-new Audi A3 receives digital daytime running lights, made up of 15 LEDs, for the first time. Certain trim derivatives have an individual light signature to set them apart. Aerodynamics are better than the outgoing model’s, thanks to a higher rear end and a large diffuser. The car achieves a Cd value of 0.25, which is 0.04 better than before. A controllable cooling-air inlet, with two electrically actuated louvre modules behind the grille, regulate the flow of air, according to the situation.

Also Read: Bajaj Avenger 220 Street No Longer Listed In Portfolio

The interior also sees a big change in terms of layout and equipment. The basic design of the older A3 has made way for a new and very futuristic-looking dashboard. As first seen in the Sportback, Audi has decreased the number of physical controls and ditched its familiar rotary controller in the centre console. For those models with a dual-clutch box, there is a new shifter sitting in a glossy black surround. Also, present in the minimalist centre console is a sensory volume controller that reacts to circular finger movements. We like how those two AC vents hug the instrument console and allow the touchscreen to be placed closer to the driver for easy access.

There’s a 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen infotainment system that’s angled slightly towards the driver, a 10.25-inch digital instrument console, Audi Pre-Sense Front, Adaptive Cruise Assist, Efficiency Assist, Exit Warning, Cross-Traffic Warning and a host of other features. The infotainment system, the third-generation MMI Navigation Plus, promises computer power 10 times better than that of its predecessor. Features include up to six user profiles, a Wi-Fi hotspot, online traffic information and improved natural voice control. Also, standard connectivity features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also compatible. 

In international markets, the Audi A3 sedan will get two engine options – a 1.5-litre TSI petrol unit and a 2.0-litre TDI diesel mill. While the petrol unit makes 148bhp and 250 Nm of peak torque, the diesel unit produces a good 148 bhp and 360 NM of torque. Both these engines are mated to a 7-speed S Tronic DSG transmission. The petrol engine is also offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The petrol DSG variant gets a 48V mild-hybrid system too which can bump up the torque by 50 NM. 

Audi claims the new sedan has been tuned to be sporty and “a touch more precise” than the first-generation model. This is largely attributed to a new, centralised dynamic handling system that ensures optimal interaction between all components. Alongside the standard setup, there is a sports suspension option and a suspension with adaptive dampers, which promises a breadth between highly comfortable roll motion and agile handling.

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has ditched their diesel powertrains ahead of the BS6 era. Even the BS6 Volkswagen Polo and Vento come with just petrol options. Hence, Audi India is likely to bring the new A3 sedan in just its petrol format, with no mild-hybrid assist in the lower variants. Until quite recently, Audi India had the previous generation of the A3 sedan and A3 Cabriolet on sale. For now, Audi’s range in India consists of just the A6 sedan, and the flagships – A8L sedan and Q8 SUV. This next-gen Audi A3 sedan is expected to arrive in India in mid-2021. Upon its launch, it will rival the likes of  BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé and Mercedes-Benz A-class Limousine, both of which will come to India soon.

The whole world might be experiencing a turmoil because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the automobile industry isn’t spared either. Launches are being postponed, roads are locked down, and all these factors have made the automobile enthusiasts a sad lot. Amidst this health crisis, several automobile manufacturers are trying their best to provide assurance to their customers by adopting a customer-centric approach. In the latest turn of events, Ducati India today announced a respite in price hike of extended warranty on its motorcycles till 31st May 2020. Due to the ongoing global pandemic – COVID-19, the price hike on the extended warranty will now come into effect from 1st June 2020.

Also read: The Latest Lego Technic Model Is A Ducati Panigale V4 R

To make the service seamless and available for all, the offer will be extended for customers whose motorcycles will be out of warranty during the lockdown period of 24th March – 3rd May. Mr Bipul Chandra, Managing Director of Ducati India said, “Due to the current lockdown, we understand that the entire country is going through a tough time, including Ducatisti. We at Ducati, are fully committed to providing the best services to our customers and will stand together with them during this global pandemic. With the relaxation in the extended warranty price hike, we hope to add support to our Ducati family.”

The extended warranty program can be activated on the purchase of a new Ducati or during the standard warranty period, ensuring a hassle-free ownership experience for new as well as the existing Ducatisti in India. The offer is valid across Ducati dealerships in Delhi – NCR, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

Such steps are deemed necessary to assure the existing customers as well as the potential ones that all is not lost. Ducati, over the past few years, has managed to grow a dedicated fan base in India and they look forward to maintaining their relationship with fellow Indian Ducatisti. They have a very diverse portfolio on offer in our country, ranging from the naked Monster range to Multistrada and the supersport Panigale series.

After a long wait, Triumph India has finally launched the Street Triple RS. This top-of-the-line middleweight naked from Triumph Motorcycles has been priced at INR 11.13 Lakh. The price might sound a bit too similar because guess what? The BS4 version of Street Triple RS was priced the same so now we basically get an updated Street Triple RS with exactly the same sticker price! In the international markets too, Triumph didn’t ask for any premium over the previous iteration but we expected a minor price hike.

Also read: Triumph Motorcycles Holds Price Hike Of BS6 Motorcycles Until July 2020

The Street Triple RS continues to get powered by Moto2 derived engine but in a different state of tune. Triumph has now fiddled around with the internals and remapped the engine for better mid-range performance, 9 per cent more as Triumph claims it to be. It also now gets a bi-directional quick-shifter as standard. The Street Triple RS has received some cosmetic upgrades too, in the form of newly designed sharper headlamps. The changes don’t end here as there’s also new bodywork, new graphics and to improve the overall aerodynamics, the 2020 Street Triple RS gets a new flyscreen.

More power in the mid-range will improve the riding experience which was already good before. Street Triple RS is critically acclaimed for its day to day practicality and now with more power in the mid-range, it gets even more desirable. The throttle response is said to be better than before too.

Triumph is particularly famous for using top of the line components while developing their motorcycles and that doesn’t seem to change with the new 2020 Street Triple RS as well. It will continue to use the top-spec M50 four-piston Monobloc front callipers so that braking is sorted. It will also come with a quick-shifter as standard while there will be riding modes on offer which can be switched on the fly. The 2020 Street Triple RS will be available in two colour schemes, namely matte jet black with aluminium silver and yellow decals, and silver ice with diablo red and aluminium silver decals.

Amidst the growing scare of COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, vehicle manufacturers have been extending their support to their dealers and customers who are facing numerous challenges. In light of the nationwide lockdown, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has announced a two month extension for warranties and extended warranty repairs and thus becoming the latest automobile company to join the bandwagon. Earlier Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland also announced similar measures for their heavy vehicle customers.

BharatBenz vehicles with Warranty / Extended Warranty contracts ending between 15th March 2020 and 15th May 2020, or having their next service schedule during this period, now have an extra two months leeway. This will especially be of great benefit to customers with vehicles lying idle during the lockdown.

Mr. Satyakam Arya, Managing Director and CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles: “Even during the lockdown, some of our BharatBenz customers are transporting essential commodities in order to support the community. To support them in turn, we decided to extend both service and warranty repairs by two months.”

Also READ: Kia Motors India Announces Measures To Support Dealer Partners

In an additional move to support BharatBenz customers, DICV tied up with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to support stranded drivers. Drivers who are on the road away from home can dial the 24*7, toll-free number (1800-120-380380) and request basic support. BharatBenz collects information on the driver’s requirements, which include secured parking, water, fuel, bathing and shelter. This information is then passed on to the nearest HPCL team, who contacts the driver and offers the required support.

A similar service has been introduced by rivals Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland who have also generated a toll-free number each in order to facilitate the truck drivers and their grievances so that there is no disruption in the supply chain management.

Further adding to the discussion, Mr. Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Vice President Marketing and Sales added, “BharatBenz has always been at the forefront when it comes to supporting customers, especially in times when they require it the most. We were one of the first to extend the service and warranty repairs period to answer customer needs during this crisis. We are proud to tie up with HPCL to support our truck driver fraternity who may be away from their home location by providing support for their immediate basic requirements.”

Toll operators have revised charges after a long duration of 3 years as per a government gazette. Meanwhile, as per reports, toll collection has been resumed too after the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) gave a go-ahead on Sunday. Revised toll charges have come into effect on the Mumbai-Pune expressway as well which is considered as one of the busiest highways in our country. The revised toll charges have been applied to all the vehicle categories and they witness a substantial increase as compared to the previous toll charges.

Also read: Amrutanjan Bridge Demolished To Ease Mumbai-Pune Expressway Snarl

Charges for LMVs which include cars, jeeps and vehicles with a capacity of 12 passengers were increased from Rs 230 to Rs 270 while the fares for minibuses have seen a spike from Rs 355 to Rs 420; and buses, from Rs 675 to Rs 797. Mumbai-Pune Expressway recently made news when the 189-year old Amrutanjan bridge was demolished to ease the traffic flow.

Since the expressway is now shut for general traffic because of the lockdown, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation took the opportunity to bring the structure down, at a cost of INR 50 lakh. On a normal day when traffic is never thin even for a minute on the busy route, it would have otherwise cost the organization a massive INR 4 crore to complete the job. Goes without saying, the job would’ve required shutting down the busy route for many days. As of now, the demolition job has been executed and until cleaning activity is complete, emergency vehicles have been routed through the old Khandala route.

Explaining the demolition, a senior MSRDC official said, “The entire Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which is around 100 km, has six lanes. But the wide pillars of the Amrutanjan Bridge had made some stretch near it a four-lane road. The pillars had occupied the space of an entire lane on both sides, which used to slow down the traffic. The bridge would have completed 190 years in November this year. But since it was causing a lot of hindrance to the traffic on the expressway, it was demolished using explosives.”

The six-lane expressway between Mumbai and Pune was the most technologically advanced piece of road when it was first opened to traffic. It goes through well-lit and long tunnels which have been fitted with advanced ventilation systems and escape routes.

Amidst the countrywide lockdown due to the covid-19 pandemic, Mahindra has silently launched the BS6 version of the KUV100 NXT at a starting price of Rs 5.54 lakh (ex-showroom, India). With the BS6 update, Mahindra has discontinued the diesel variants of the ‘micro-SUV’ and it will now be available in petrol-only variants. Many manufacturers have been facing the challenge to upgrade their small and medium-sized diesel engines to the stricter emission norms and Mahindra’s story has been no different.

The Mahindra KUV100 NXT was available in 18 different configurations before the BS6 upgrade. Now, it is available in only 4 configurations-  K2+, K4+, K6+ and K8+. Apart from the diesel engine option, the 5-seat layout option is also missing and the car can only be had with a 6-seater option. Mahindra has also discontinued the K2 and K8 Dual Tone grades of the KUV100 NXT.

BS6 Prices variant-wise

Under the hood, there’s an upgraded, BS6 1.2-litre mFalcon G80 naturally-aspirated, three-cylinder petrol engine. Like the BS4 version, it produces 82 BHP of maximum power at 5,500 rpm and 115 Nm of maximum torque at 3,500-3,600 rpm. Similarly, it is available with only a 5-speed manual transmission. While there are no claimed efficiency numbers, the BS4 used to be rated for 18.15kmpl. Mahindra has discontinued the 1.2-litre D75 diesel engine. This engine used to make 77 hp of power and 190 Nm of peak torque.

Also Read: 2021 Audi A3 Sedan Revealed; India Launch Expected Next Year

The KUV100 Nxt carries forward the same feature list as its outgoing BS4 model. This means it includes a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, keyless entry, steering-mounted controls, 15-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, height-adjustable driver seat, etc. However, in terms of safety, Mahindra offers dual airbags and ABS with EBD as standard with the KUV100 whereas in previous iterations it used to only get a driver airbag as standard. Child safety locks on the rear doors is a standard feature.

The new Mahindra KUV100 NXT BS6 is available in six single-tone colour shades: Fiery Orange, Pearl White, Dazzling Silver, Flamboyant Red, Designer Grey and Midnight Black. Mahindra also offers two dual-tone colour choices: Flamboyant Red + Metallic Black and Dazzling Grey + Metallic Black. There are no other changes aesthetically and this means a feature-rich vehicle that takes on the Maruti Suzuki Ignis. At present, these are the only two BS6 micro-SUVs available at this price range. The Maruti-Suzuki S-Presso is more on the budget end. The KUV100 has been a slow-selling model for Mahindra. The company has also showcased its electric version, eKUV100 too at the AutoExpo this year. It is going to be India’s most affordable electric SUV at Rs 8.25 lakh (ex-showroom) at the time of its launch. Bookings have already begun on Mahindra’s official website for a token amount of Rs 5,000. However, deliveries will commence only after the lockdown measures are withdrawn which currently stands up to May 3, 2020.