Vicky.in Blog

Celebrating the spirit of life and freedom, Vespa is delighted to announce the launch of its special edition scooter in India – Vespa Elegante 150 CC. Symbolizing elegance, style and sophistication; the new Vespa is set to create a benchmark in the premium scooter category in the country. Exuding the luxurious feel of Italian craftsmanship, the design aesthetics of the bike is set to appeal to the Vespa enthusiasts. It adds to the already existing Vespa portfolio of SXL, VXL.

Priced at INR 95,077/- ex showroom Pune, the new Vespa Elegante Special Edition reflects the classy and irreverent side of the brand. Inspired by the pristine beauty of the beaches of Italy, the scooter is available in a unique ‘Beige Unico’ colour apart from the ‘Pearl White’. It is also equipped with colour co-ordinated twin leather finished seats, tinted fly screen and an exclusive ‘Elegante Badge’. The Vespa Elegante Special Edition is powered by a 150cc engine and has 12” alloy wheels that come with tubeless tyres. The bike also comes with additional accessories such as a colour co-ordinated helmet and all round chrome guard kit along with a front bumper guard.

Commenting on this launch, Mr Stefano Pelle, CEO and Managing Director, Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited (India) said, “Piaggio is delighted to offer to its fans in India, the stylish special edition Vespa Elegante 150 CC. The special edition Vespa Elegante symbolizes Piaggio’s ownership of the premium scooter segment that the group has successfully created in the Indian market. With its classy yet modern designs, Vespa Elegante will be a proud possession of the Vespa enthusiast.”

The new Vespa Elegante Special Edition is available exclusively at all the Motoplex stores and at the Vespa / Aprilia dealerships across India. The Motoplex Stores offer the Group’s full range of prestigious brands (Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi), representing a completely innovative multi-brand flagship store formula, in line with the new global strategy for in-store experience that the Piaggio Group is developing in the principal metropolitan areas around the globe. The new Vespa Elegante Will also be available online via PayTm where Vespa enthusiasts can avail of exciting cash back offers, the branded apparel, accessories and helmets are available exclusively at the Motoplex stores, at the Vespa / Aprilia dealerships across India and online on Amazon India

Isuzu Motors India launched the much-awaited ISUZU ‘mu-X’ premium full-size 7-seater SUV in India, today. The ISUZU mu-X is powered by a 3.0 litre ISUZU engine and provides a maximum power output of 130 kW (177 PS). It provides a maximum torque of 380 Nm that is designed with a significant flat torque curve. The mu-X will be offered in both 4×2 and 4×4 variants with a sequential shift Automatic Transmission. The mu-X will be built at ISUZU’s new state-of- the-art manufacturing plant at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh.

The All Muscle – All Heart SUV is a perfect combination for those buyers who seek not only style, power and a dominating road presence but also want to have the best-in- class space and comfort for their family.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, Director of the Board and Managing Executive Officer, Isuzu Motors Ltd, said, “India is a key market for ISUZU globally and is also a future hub of our global manufacturing operations. We will continue to invest in the Indian operations and also bring in the best technology and engineering that ISUZU has to offer globally. ISUZU is globally renowned for making tough, reliable and fuel efficient vehicles that are known to be engineered for life. The mu-X embodies these characteristics and will be built at our state-of- the-art manufacturing plant at Sri City with the same exacting quality standards that have made ISUZU a trusted brand all over the world.”

Mr. Hitoshi Kono, Deputy Managing Director, Isuzu Motors India, added, “The ISUZU mu-X is the perfect SUV for the modern Indian SUV buyer and it has been designed to offer the perfect combination of style, power and road presence while also providing excellent space and comfort. The Indian market for SUVs is now coming of age and we are excited to be present here in these times with our latest offering. We are confident the mu-X will set a new benchmark for full size premium SUVs in India.”

The mu-X is powered by the 3.0 litre ISUZU Ddi VGS Turbo Hi-Power engine which gives a maximum power output of 130 kW (177 PS) and a maximum torque of 380 Nm with a superior flat torque curve. The mu-X will be available in both 4×2 and 4×4 variants with a 5 speed sequential shift Automatic Transmission. The 4×4 variant sports a ‘shift-on- the-fly’ 4×4 select dial for an excellent off-roading capability.

Lexus’ range-topping LX can be yours for Rs 2.32 Crore (ex-showroom, Delhi). That puts the on-road price in the whereabouts of Rs 3 Crore.

The four-wheeled leviathan is among the poshest things money can buy. But, before we get on to that, let’s discuss the mechanical gubbins. Now, the little ‘d’ in the nameplate means the big SUV is driven by diesel. And since this is the best Lexus has to offer, it isn’t a piddly four-pot or a V6. It’s the full-fat 4.5-litre V8 engine producing 265PS of power and 650Nm of torque. Here’s some perspective – the torque figure is 50Nm more than the fastest car to lap the Nurburgring, the Huracan Performante

Of course, the big Lexus has nearly thrice the weight to lug around as well. It’s unabashedly heavy, tipping the scales at 3350kg. Power is sent to all four wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. Lexus also claims that the LX450d will return 9.6kmpl. We will take that with a pinch (or packet?) of salt, though

By now, you must’ve figured out that the Lexus’ mantra is ‘go big or go home’. Gargantuan is possibly an understatement to describe the size of this thing. At 5080mm x 1980mm x 1865mm (l x w x h) – it is 285mm longer and 125mm wider than a Toyota Fortuner – something we consider to be a big SUV. It is based on the Toyota Land Cruiser (which we hear has just set a world record) and the overtones are hard to miss. But, there are unmistakably Lexus elements that include the massive front grille, all-LED headlamps with the trademark L-shaped daytime running lamp, and the LED tail lamps. And, while we’d have loved to see the gorgeous 20-inch wheels that other markets get, the 18-inch wheels are definitely more pothole-friendly. On a related note, there’s air suspension on all four corners to make sure you don’t feel any of them.

As one would expect of a Lexus, there are leather and wood trimmings everywhere and a bucket load of tech to go along with it. Highlights include a moonroof, four-zone climate control, electric adjust for the front seats and the steering wheel (with memory) and wireless charging. Then there’s the 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, and the rear screens that should keep the seth ji happy.

ike most things Japanese, Lexus is known for its bullet-proof reliability. The LX is expected to be no different. As a matter of fact, the manufacturer is offering a 3 year / 100,000 km warranty on the big SUV. Yes, Rs 2.32 Crore is a hell lot of money. But, you can’t really put a price on peace of mind, can you? It looks like Lexus has, though

As per some media reports, Kia will be showcasing 3-4 models at the 2018 Auto Expo. The South Korean automaker has already announced its plans to enter the Indian market in the next couple of years. The company is also setting up a production facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.

The models that will be showcased at the auto expo will likely include a compact SUV and sedan, which are expected to make it into production in 2019. Moreover, speculations suggest that Kia might also showcase some models in the higher price range, so that customers don’t treat it as a low-cost car brand.

Kia has already announced an investment of US$ 1.1 billion in India, which will be used for setting up its manufacturing facility. The automaker is currently aiming to start local production in the second half of 2019. Once the entire production plant is set up, it will have an annual capacity of 3 lakh units.

Kia will be operating as a separate automaker in India. As a result, production, sales and service will be independent of its sister concern brand – Hyundai.

In the second round of crash tests by Global NCAP the base variant of the Renault Duster has received zero stars for adult occupant protection while it received 2 stars for rear child occupant protection.

The base variant of the Renault Duster has received zero stars for adult occupant protection in the latest Global NCAP crash tests for Indian-made cars. The Duster also received 2 stars for rear child occupant protection. This is the second round of crash testing of cars that are made in India, for 2017. The first round saw the Chevrolet Enjoy and Ford Figo Aspire being crash tested. Global NCAP has been conducting a series of crash tests of popular Indian market models since 2014. India adopts new crash test norms from October this year that will meet the UN testing protocol of 56 kmph frontal offset and side impact crash norms. However, Global NCAP mandates testing at 64 kmph, and most regional NCAP programmes have adopted those norms. India’s current norms are dated and only require a 48 kmph frontal test. The Renault Duster sold in India does not have airbags as standard – which is why it has failed this most recent crash test.

The Renault Duster with the driver side airbag received a 3 star rating in the Global NCAP crash test

David Ward, Secretary General, Global NCAP, said: “It is troubling that during the UN Road Safety Week we yet again encounter a zero star car in our crash testing in India. Renault produces the Duster in a number of markets and yet it seems content to provide a version for India which falls so far short on safety.” After the results were shared with Renault, the French manufacturer requested Global NCAP to also crash test a mid-variant that has a driver-side airbag fitted on. This second test has yielded the car a 3 star rating which is much better of course. The rear child occupant rating remains 2 stars in this case to of course. But this is where Global NCAP noticed something different about the car. The same model Duster made in Colombia for the Latin American region had previously received a 4 star rating for its driver-side only variant too in the Latin NCAP crash test from September 2015. A quick investigation revealed the reason – the LatAm market Duster gets a bigger sized airbag than the Indian car does.

The test done in 2015 saw the Made-in-Columbia Duster receive a 4-star safety rating

The smaller airbag sees the driver dummy’s head not striking the centre of the airbag when it inflates – as it should. This causes more potential injuries – some of which a larger airbag would prevent. The Latin American Duster’s airbag (being a larger size) covered the head and chest of the driver. Latin NCAP says, “With the head in maximum forward excursion the airbag still shows containment to the head protecting it from the steering wheel.” This is some cause for worry when it comes to the Indian model. The top end versions of the car have dual airbags as part of standard equipment of course. The Duster has ABS and EBD as standard on 4 of its 5 variants. The airbags only kick in from the RxL (driver-side only) variant. The RxS, RxZ have dual airbags. Renault was last involved in these crash tests with its Kwid last year. That car also received zero stars for its base version, while the driver-side only airbag had also scored low with just 1 star.

In a response to our query, Renault India issued a statement stating, “We are already future-ready in terms of technology, design and engineering for enhanced safety for all our vehicles. Indian Government has announced that the crash test regulation for the existing cars will come into effect in 2019 and for the new cars in 2017. Renault fully supports this.”

The India-made Renault Duster bagged 0-stars for non-airbag variant

Global NCAP has so far crash tested several models from several manufacturers based in India, like Maruti Suzuki, Tata, Ford, Hyundai, Mahindra, Datsun, Renault, Volkswagen and Honda. Results have shown that some cars have had sound structural quality but lack of safety equipment as standard has earned them zero stars anyway. Ever since the first test there has been a huge turnaround in attitudes towards the need for better-built and equipped cars. Consumers are demanding safer cars, and the government has finally issued policy changes that will result in much safer cars coming on our roads. And the industry has stepped up – Mahindra offers safety as at least optional on all variants now. VW, Toyota and Ford have made airbags standard across variants on all models.

Renault Duster Global NCAP Crash Test Results

And market leader Maruti Suzuki has made huge changes – investing in its own crash testing facility now 6 of its models now meet the proposed crash test requirements well before the October 2017 deadline. Rohit Baluja, President of the Institute of Road Traffic Education, said, “The maximum speed limit for passenger cars in India has been notified as high as 100kph. Highways in India are witnessing very high speeds of Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) and therefore it is of utmost importance that our new generation cars are built to the highest safety standards. All new models from that date must carry airbags, ABS as standard, and meet crash test norms. All existing models need to transition to the same capability by October 2019.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor today announced the launch of all new Innova Touring Sport – a dynamic and sporty offering, for the first time from the brand Innova. As an MPV with a SUV-like styling, the new Innova Touring Sport is a blend of dynamic exterior design, sporty interiors along with superior safety and performance features. The Innova Touring Sport makes a distinguished statement with a dynamic new design that’s aimed at people who prefer a distinctive style.

Emphasizing on sporty design, the new Innova Touring Sport comes with a perfect combination of design elements. The all-black front grille gives a distinct appearance and together with the smoked chrome headlamps and front bumper spoiler adds to the style quotient of the car. The red stitches on seat and console box along with the exclusive red illumination combimeter lends a sporty look and feel inside the cabin. The Innova Touring Sport will be offered in a new colour- Wildfire (Red) along with White Pearl Crystal Shine.

In terms of performance, the Innova Touring Sport carries forward the performance strength of the Innova Crysta. The Innova Touring Sport is available in two diesel engines and one petrol engine.The 2.8 L diesel engine is offered with a 6 speed automatic transmission with sequential shift, while the 2.4 L diesel engine is offered with a 5 speed manual transmission. The petrol variant of Innova Touring Sport is available with a 2.7 L engine offered with 6 speed automatic transmission along with sequential shift and a 5 speed manual transmission.

Present at the launch, Mr. N. Raja, Director & Senior Vice President (Sales & Marketing) Toyota Kirloskar Motor said “We are glad to introduce the Innova Touring Sport which is the flagship model from the Innova stable. Brand Innova has maintained its No. 1 position in the segment ever since its launch in 2005 and the Innova Crysta continued this legacy. The Innova Touring Sport enhances the same brand equity by offering a distinct style to a market that wants both the comfort and feel of a MPV and the style of a SUV, thereby enhancing customer delight.

We have paid significant attention to styling and the overall look. The new Innova Touring Sport has been conceptualized, designed and developed to symbolize a modern and sporty MPV with a distinguished statement for the young and modern customers. We are confident that the Innova Touring Sport will set new benchmarks in this competitive segment.

Launch of Innova Touring Sport also marks another milestone for Toyota in India as the Innova Crysta successfully completes its first anniversary in India. The Innova Crysta has received an overwhelming response and has sold more than 85,000 units in just one year of its launch in India. The MPV segment has always been dominated by Toyota products be it the Qualis back in 1997 and later the Innova since 2005. The brand Innova has maintained its leadership positioning in India and this has been further enhanced by the Innova Crysta launched this very day last year. The Innova Crysta has become a household name and today as we celebrate its one year anniversary in India, we would like to thank our loyal customers for their persistent support and trust in brand Innova.

As a brand that is always listening to its customers we realized that the market is looking for something more to differentiate, and the new Innova Touring Sport fulfils the customer and market requirement of an MPV with the styling like SUV. The Innova Touring Sport makes a distinguished statement with a dynamic new design that’s aimed at people who have a distinctive taste & style. The new Touring Sport combines sporty design, advanced technology and sophistication that are bound to delight our customers. We are certain that with this new offering from Toyota, we will further enhance the brand’s appeal in India”, he further added.

Competitively priced in the range of Rs. 17, 79,000 to Rs. 22, 15,500 (Ex-showroom Delhi) booking deliveries will begin from today.

Hyundai has started accepting online bookings for its range of cars in India. Customers can now book any Hyundai car, ranging from the entry-level Eon to the flagship Santa Fe, through the company’s official website. Booking amount for the cars ranges from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 1 lakh.

With the facility to book cars through its website, Hyundai is aiming to enhance the virtual experience of its customers. This will enable prospective owners to book any car, without the need to visit the company’s dealerships. The company is also claiming that this new platform will make booking a car much easier and faster.

Online bookings for Hyundai cars have commenced from Tuesday, May 2, 2017. In order to register a booking, customers need to select the car’s model, colour, variant, fuel type, state, city and preferred dealership. Customers can book any Hyundai car through the desktop as well as mobile versions of the website.

The production-spec model based on the TVS Akula concept might be named as the Apache RR 310S. This name has surfaced through a new filing in the patent design and trademark department of the Government of India.

The Akula concept was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo. The production model has already been spotted a couple of times, revealing major design cues of the upcoming entry-level sportsbike. The Apache RR 310S will feature a fully-faired layout with a twin-headlamp setup at the front. The headlamp will likely get a full LED layout along with DRLs. The bike is also expected to get golden upside down forks at the front, a monoshock setup at the rear and a digital instrument cluster.

The Apache RR 310S has been jointly developed under the TVS Motors – BMW Motorrad alliance. It is based on the same platform as the BMW G 310R. Both these bikes also share the same engine, which is a 313 cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder block that is mated to a 6-speed gearbox.

Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL), a subsidiary of one of the world’s leading two-wheeler manufacturers, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, have launched the much awaited King of Sportbikes – the all new GSX-R1000 and GSX-R1000R in India. This is by far the lightest and fastest GSX-R ever made!

Being a complete model change, the all new GSX-R1000 comes in an aggressive new look with improved aerodynamics and many new features & improvements to match. These begin with an all new engine which is smaller and lighter with an increased and broader power range. It is also the first to boast Suzuki Racing Variable Valve Timing derived from Suzuki’s MotoGP machines. The engine fits onto a new chassis which is compact and narrower and gives a lighter feeling during handling, which is aided by the Showa Big Piston Forks, Brembo monoblock front caliper and Bridgestone RS10 Radial Tyres.

In addition to the above, Suzuki have loaded the GSX-R with a 6 direction IMU to aid with latest electronics such as a 10 level Motion Track TCS System, Motion Track Braking System with ABS, LED Headlight & Taillight and full LCD instrumentation.

And for those who are looking for more, there is the GSX-R1000R which adds Launch Control, Bi-directional Quick Shifter, Showa Balance Free Suspension, Lean ABS and LED Position Lights.

In the words of Mr. Satoshi Uchida, Managing Director, SMIPL, “After 3 decades and more than 1 million GSX-Rs sold worldwide, Suzuki is proud to launch the 6^th Generation GSX-R1000 for its enthusiastic customers in India. This is the most advanced and most exciting Suzuki GSX-R in history and embodies Suzuki’s passion for riding and racing motorcycles. We are sure the discerning riders will appreciate the legacy and enjoy the technology and riding pleasure from this cutting edge motorcycle.”

The GSX-R1000 will be available in Metallic Triton Blue and Metallic Mat Black and will retail for INR 1,900,000 Ex Showroom Delhi while the GSX-R1000R will be available in Metallic Triton Blue and Glass Sparkle Black and will retail for INR 2,200,000 Ex Showroom Delhi.

The Beat first launched at the beginning of this decade after featuring in the Transformers movie. Its compact dimensions, frugal diesel engine and massive discounts have kept it ticking in the last few years, but it’s gasping for breath. With the mid-life facelift, Chevrolet made a few changes to the feature list and took away climate control and adjustable rear headrests in return for a small price hike.

The new Beat is, of course, getting a new front and rear design along with fresh interiors. New features could include power mirrors and Chevy’s MyLink touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Considering that the new Beat will continue to use the existing platform, it’s expected to retain its wheelbase of 2375mm. Legroom for back seaters could still remain an area of concern.

The car will retain the tried and tested, 936cc 3-cylinder diesel engine and the 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with 5-speed manual transmissions. There’s little chance that we might see the new Beat with an automatic transmission. The diesel motor, while lacking punch, is still known for its frugal nature while the petrol offers good pull at the cost of fuel efficiency.

With stiff competition from the Tata Tiago, Chevrolet will have to get the pricing right to make any sizable impact on the sales of the Tiago. We’ll see the Beat for the first time by the end of May 2017 with the launch expected to happen sometime in July with a starting price tag of Rs.4.3 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi). The top trim of the Beat could stretch up to Rs.6.4 lakhs.