Ssangyong Tivoli spotted testing near Chennai

Ever since Mahindra acquired Ssangyong, many believed their Indian lineup would be bolstered with the infusion of models from the South Korean brand. With Utility Vehicles being the area of expertise for both the brands, that seemed the logical next step to fuel Mahindra's growth and aspirations. In came the Rexton, Ssangyong's flagship SUV, soon afterwards, adding fuel to those beliefs. 

Since then though, things have taken a long pause. Neither the Korando nor the Tivoli, Ssangyong's first new model under Mahindra's ownership that was widely speculated to be launched in India, made it here.

But, Mahindra hasn't given up on the Tivoli yet, it seems. Spotted testing on the busy GST Road in the outskirts of Chennai, this Ssangyong Tivoli test mule indicates that something's brewing at the Mahindra Research Valley, not far from where this vehicle was seen.

The Tivoli might not come to India as it is, given its compact size and hatchback-like proportions that's clearly evident in the shot below. But its well within Mahindra's reach to develop an all-new compact SUV based on the Tivoli's platform. Right now, the Nashik-based car-maker does not have a direct rival to the likes of Hyundai Creta, Renault Captur and Maruti-Suzuki S-Cross and the Tivoli-based SUV could fill in that gap nicely. 

Another possibility could be Mahindra using the Tivoli to just test the Ssangyong's gasoline engine for Indian conditions. The 1.5-liter petrol engine that powers the Tivoli globally would be a welcome addition to Mahindra's still-nascent gasoline engine lineup. Don't let that small displacement fool you. This Tivoli was being driven quite aggressively and the vehicle had no problems picking up speed or darting in and out of lanes to pass slower-moving traffic, hinting at enough grunt under the hood.

Whatever their plan with the Tivoli is, Mahindra should act quick. Rivals including Maruti-Suzuki, Tata, Jeep and Volkswagen are rumored to be working on compact SUVs for India that could leave the Scorpio-manufacturer jostling for space.

Mahindra XUV5OO facelift seen testing near Chennai

Say what you want about their fussy and often overdone design elements but there is no denying the fact Mahindra is one of the most proactive car-makers out there in the country. Be it constant facelifts, regular feature updates or incremental power and torque outputs, the Nashik-based brand has always ensured its lineup is fully geared up to tackle rivals.

The XUV5OO, Mahindra's flagship premium SUV, is due for one such update, it seems. Caught testing in the outskirts of Chennai over the weekend, this partially camouflaged vehicle had no intentions to hide its identity. Look closer and you'll know why. 

From the rear angle shots here, the changes appear to be minimal. The shape and pattern of the taillights, the dual exhaust pipes, the windshield and the bumper are all carried over from the existing model. Having said that, the area around the license plate seems to have changed slightly. The profile has no noticeable changes too. Though there are no pictures to prove, our reader who sent us these spyshots confirmed that the front end has gone under the knife with a new radiator grille being the biggest visible change.

Does that mean the folks at Mahindra are cooking up something under the hood? They could well be, if the recent changes to the Scorpio lineup are any indication. Reports elsewhere indicate the XUV5OO could see a bump in its power and torque outputs, similar to what was done to the Scorpio. The 2.2-liter mHawk engine, that generates 140 horsepower and 330 Nm of peak torque in the XUV5OO currently, might be tuned to produce around 170 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. That would make the XUV5OO a real quick SUV!

The interiors are unlikely to see significant changes although Mahindra might use this opportunity to add a few features here and there.

The XUV5OO made its debut way back in 2011 with Mahindra giving it a substantial facelift in 2015. A petrol engine was recently added to the lineup. While its time for the second-generation model to take over, these sort of minor facelifts should keep Mahindra's flagship going until the all-new model comes along.

KTM Duke 390 wins the '2018 Indian Motorcycle of the Year' title

With the 2018 Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) announced, the Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) can't be far behind, can it? Amidst much fanfare and excitement, the same event that honoured the best of four wheels crowned the best of two wheels as well. 

Out of the twenty new motorcycles launched in 2017, twelve made it to the final jury round held earlier this month. The finalists in fray for the title were, in no particular order, Bajaj Dominar 400, Bajaj Pulsar 160 NS, Suzuki Intruder 150, KTM Duke 390, Triumph Bonneville Bobber, Triumph Street Triple RS, Harley-Davidson Street Rod, Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin, MV Agusta Brutale 800, Yamaha FZ25, Benelli 302R and Hero Glamour 125. All the contenders were evaluated on multiple parameters including price, fuel efficiency, styling, safety, performance, practicality, innovation and suitability for Indian consumers and riding conditions. 

In what turned out to be a rather easy win in the end after all the assessments were done and the scores tallied, the KTM Duke 390 was declared the winner. Yamaha's FZ25 finished a distant second while Triumph's Street Triple RS rounded off the podium positions.

The Duke has been an instant success in India, bringing in racing ethos in a value-for-money offering. The second-generation model launched this year acts on every single weakness its predecessor had while retaining all it's strengths. Offering 43 horsepower for a very reasonable INR 2.25 Lakhs, the bright, light and nimble Duke 390 is a pocket rocket in the right hands. Show it a race track and the super-fun Duke 390 would reward you with a big, wide grin lap after lap.  

2018 IMOTY Results

1. KTM Duke 390 - 107 points
2. Yamaha FZ25 - 77 points
3. Triumph Street Triple RS - 68 points

Previous IMOTY Winners

• 2017 - TVS Apache RTR 200 4V
• 2016 - Yamaha YZF R3
• 2015 - Harley-Davidson Street 750
• 2014 - Royal Enfield Continental GT
• 2013 - KTM Duke 200

This isn't the first time a KTM has won the prestigious IMOTY title. The smaller Duke 200 was bestowed with this way back in 2013. With this victory, the Duke 390 succeeds the TVS Apache RTR 200 that won the title last year.

2018 marks the tenth year of existence of the IMOTY award that has now become synonymous with excellence in the Indian automotive industry. Modeled on the lines of prestigious international titles, the IMOTY award brings together a jury panel comprising of automotive journalists and experts representing multiple publications. 

The jury panel for the 2018 IMOTY included Abhik Das & Rahul Ghosh (Auto Today), Arup Das & Jared Solomon (Auto X), Aspi Bhathena & Sarmad Kadiri (Bike India), Aninda Sardar & Sirish Chandran (Evo India), Pablo Chaterji (Man's World), Raunak Ajinkya & Kartik Ware (Motoring World), Abhay Verma & Shubhabrata Marmar (Overdrive), Devesh Shobha (Top Gear) and Vikrant Singh.

Hyundai Verna wins the '2018 Indian Car of the Year' title

As the curtains come down on another fantastic year for the Indian automotive industry, its time to look back and zero in on the best new car launched this year. That's precisely what the 2018 Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) title, announced last evening at a glitzy event in Delhi. 

Sixteen new cars launched in 2017 qualified for the award out of which nine made it to the final jury round held earlier this month. The top nine finalists were the Honda WR-V, Hyundai Verna, Jeep Compass, Maruti-Suzuki Dzire, Maruti-Suzuki Ignis, Renault Captur, Skoda Kodiaq, Tata Nexon and Volkswagen Tiguan. All the contenders were evaluated on multiple parameters including price, fuel efficiency, styling, safety, performance, practicality, innovation and suitability for Indian consumers and driving conditions. 

At least four of those cars - the Hyundai, the Jeep, Maruti-Suzuki's Dzire and the Tata are remarkable launches this year that have not just done well for their respective brands but also moved the segment goal posts forward. Each of them would be a deserving winner had they come out on top.  

In what turned out to be the closest contest witnessed by the ICOTY jury panel yet, it was the Hyundai Verna that came out on top by a solitary point. Yes, a single point made all the difference out of 450 that were handed out. Maruti-Suzuki's Dzire was the first runner-up and the Jeep Compass finished third once the results were tallied and the votes counted.

Launched this September, the new Verna is a class act in the mid-size segment and an improvement over its predecessor in almost every single aspect. The newest Hyundai is a complete all-rounder offering power, fuel-efficiency, comfort, practicality and features unheard of in this price range. That it rivals two of the strongest competitors there are - Honda City and Maruti-Suzuki Ciaz - make the Verna's success all the more credible.  

2018 ICOTY Results

1. Hyundai Verna - 118 points
2. Maruti-Suzuki Dzire - 117 points
3. Jeep Compass - 87 points

Previous ICOTY Winners

• 2017 - Maruti-Suzuki Vitara Brezza
• 2016 - Hyundai Creta
• 2015 - Hyundai i20
• 2014 - Hyundai Grand i10
• 2013 - Renault Duster

Remarkably, this is Hyundai's fourth title triumph in five years. From 2014 to 2016, the South Korean car-maker won a hat-trick of ICOTY titles with the Grand i10, i20 and Creta. The Tucson finished runner-up to the Maruti-Suzuki Vitara Brezza last year and with the Verna's victory this year, the ICOTY title is back in Hyundai's lap.

This is the thirteenth edition of the award that has now clearly established itself as one of the most coveted and sought-after in India. Modeled on the lines of prestigious international titles like the North American Car of the Year and the European Car of the Year, the ICOTY award brings together a jury panel comprising of automotive journalists and experts from a myriad of publications. 

ICOTY 2018 had the maximum number of jury members in the history of the award including Yogendra Pratap & Rahul Ghosh (Auto Today), Dhruv Behl & Ishan Raghava (Auto X), Aspi Bhathena & Sarmad Kadri (Car India), Sirish Chandran & Aninda Sardar (Evo India), Kartik Ware & Raunak Ajinkya (Motoring World), Bob Rupani & Rohit Paradkar (Overdrive), Girish Karkera & Agasti Kaulgi (Top Gear) , Muralidhar Swaminathan (The Hindu Business Line), Pablo Chaterji (Man's World), Vikrant Singh and Hani Musthafa.

Volvo launches the new XC60 in India at ₹55.90 Lakhs

Volvo's desirable lineup of vehicles in India has yet another addition in the form of the all-new XC60. 

Based on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) that also underpins the latest XC90, S90 and V90, the second-generation XC60, launched in New Delhi yesterday, is only available in the top-spec 'Inscription' trim level, priced at ₹55.90 Lakhs ex-showroom across the country.

Powering the XC60 is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder twin-turbocharged diesel engine that generates 235 horsepower and a peak torque of 480 Nm. Employing Volvo's Power Pulse technology that uses compressed air to spool up the turbochargers instantly to overcome lag, this 'D5' diesel engine is mated to a 8-speed automatic transmission. While the car is front-wheel-driven by default, the intelligent All Wheel Drive system can deliver power to all four wheels when necessary. Five different driving modes - Eco, Comfort, Dynamic, Off-Road and Individual can be chosen depending on the terrain to be tackled.

Internationally, the XC60 is also available with a T6 petrol engine and a T8 petrol-hybrid powertrain.  

With contemporary styling and exquisite detailing, this generation of Volvos look absolutely gorgeous and the XC60 is no exception. Sporting design cues similar to the bigger XC90, the new XC60 looks desirable and distinct. Playing a major part in that is the large chrome-lined grille with vertical slats up front, flanked on either sides by sleek LED headlamps. Featuring the signature 'Thor's Hammer' DRL elements inside, they look aggressive and intimidating. Trademark L-shaped LED taillights that follow the contours of the tailgate means you will not mistake the XC60 for anything but a Volvo.

Complementing the gorgeous exteriors are all-new interiors that take the game forward. Similar in design and execution to the plusher and more expensive XC90, the XC60's cabin looks unlike any other in the segment. The three-spoke steering wheel, the two-tone dashboard and the simple center console featuring unique vertical air-conditioner vents look great and feature excellent attention to details. Instrument panel comprises of a 12.3-inch digital display while infotainment functions are taken care of by the 9-inch touchscreen in the center console. 

The launch version gets a long list of equipment including air suspension, Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats with massage function, 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, 4-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof and a hands-free powered tailgate. 

Volvos are amongst the safest automobiles in existence and the plethora of safety features on board make the XC60 live up to the brand's reputation. ABS, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), an array of airbags, cross-traffic alert, Blind Spot Indication System (BLIS), steering assist, City Safety System which includes pedestrian and cyclist detection and automatic braking to avoid collisions up to 50 km/h, oncoming lane mitigation to avoid head-on collison and what not.. this is one fully-loaded vehicle!

Arriving in a segment full of competent rivals like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Jaguar F-Pace, the pressure was on Volvo to put their best foot forward to stand a chance of success. With the new XC60, the Swedish car-maker has delivered just that. 

Here's to seeing more and more of these on road!