Mahindra launches eVerito, India's first full electric sedan

Despite all the noise about polluted cities, ban on diesel engines above 2000 cc and Delhi’s infamous odd-even policy, fact is the automotive landscape in India is still heavily dependent on fossil fuel. A combination of non-existent infrastructure, lack of clarity from policy-makers and complacency from car-makers have meant there are just a handful of hybrids and a sole full electric car on sale in our country. Yes, after all these years, Mahindra e2o is the only electric car we Indians could buy. 

That scenario has changed now with Mahindra launching the eVerito, the first full electric zero-emissions sedan in the country. First shown to the public at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi, it has taken quite some time for Mahindra to bring Verito’s electric sibling to the market.

Available in three trim levels - D2, D4 & D6, the eVerito would be available in select cities in India including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Pune, Jaipur and Nagpur. Mahindra is in the process of setting up charging stations in each of these cities which should come as a big relief to prospective customers. Post state subsidies and FAME incentives in New Delhi, the eVerito retails for INR 9.50, 9.75 and 10.00 Lakhs respectively for the three trim levels. Without the subsidies given by the state governments, expect the prices in other cities to be comparatively higher. 

The eVerito is powered by a 72V 3-phase AC induction motor that generates 41 horsepower and 91 Nm of torque. Transferring the power to the front wheels is a direct drive single speed transmission. The battery pack comprises maintenance-free lithium ion batteries with 200Ah capacity. The eVerito gets a claimed top speed of 86 km/h and a driving range of 110 km on a full charge. While regular charging on a 15A power socket would take 8 hours and 45 minutes, the fast charging system-equipped D6 variant can go from 0 to 80% in just 1 hour and 45 minutes. There is no doubt the eVerito is a car strictly for intracity usage.

Mahindra has equipped the eVerito with ‘Regenerative Braking’ system that generates power and charges the batteries every time the brakes are applied. An interesting piece of tech called ‘Revive’ enables the eVerito to travel an additional 8 kilometers that helps owners get to the nearest charging station if they run out of charge. It can be activated from the instrument cluster but can be used just 5 times over the life of the battery pack. The eVerito also features ‘Telematics’ for remote diagnostics and monitoring the vehicle’s performance and a 'Boost Mode' for sudden spurts of power.

With the global car-makers hardly taking steps to launch hybrids and full electric cars in India, we are glad Mahindra has taken this bold step forward. The fact that they have started setting up charging stations in key cities across the country shows their commitment towards popularizing electric cars. Instead of the Verito, the same drivetrain in one of the newer, more popular Mahindras like the KUV 1OO or TUV 3OO would have made a bigger impact in the market.

With its solid underpinnings inherited from Logan, spacious interiors that can accommodate five passengers and their luggage and running costs as low as INR 1.15 per km, the eVerito is a practical zero-emissions city car for a typical Indian family and a step in the right direction. But, it’s also old and lacks safety features like ABS and airbags. Add to that the limited range and the time it takes for a full charge, you know Mahindra has made eVerito's life tougher.

Mercedes-Benz launches the GLC in India; 'Edition 1' priced between INR 50.70 - 50.90 Lakhs

Mercedes-Benz might have been on a launch spree in India in the last couple of years but there was one big gap in its portfolio. Amidst rising popularity of luxury SUVs, the Stuttgart-based luxury car-maker lacked a midsize SUV to take on the likes of Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60. With the launch of the all-new GLC, the gap is finally plugged. In trademark Mercedes-Benz fashion, the first few hundred units of the GLC would be imported as Completely Built Units (CBU) and will be called ‘Edition 1’. Eventually, the GLC is likely to be assembled at the car-maker's facility here in Pune. 

The GLC is available with two engine options - a petrol and a diesel, with just one trim level each. The petrol GLC 300 4Matic is priced at INR 50.90 Lakhs while the diesel GLC 220d 4Matic retails at INR 50.70 Lakhs (ex-showroom, Pune).

Based on the Modular Rear Architecture (MRA), the GLC is Mercedes’ second-generation midsize SUV that replaces the GLK internationally. It slots perfectly in between the GLA and the GLE in Mercedes’ SUV lineup.

Visually, the GLC is just another new Mercedes-Benz. All cars with the three pointed star are looking very similar these days and the GLC is no exception. It’s a jacked-up C-Class which itself is a shrunken-down S-Class. The fascia borrows heavily from the C with the headlights, grille and bumper lifted straight off the midsize luxury sedan. The thin cladding and the higher ground clearance gives the GLC its much-needed SUV traits while two subtle character lines spruce up the otherwise simple profile. The curvy rear houses a pair of sharp taillight clusters that extend into the tailgate and a chunky bumper applique with integrated dual exhausts.

The interiors are shared with the other Mercs as well with the steering wheel, instrument cluster, air-conditioner vents, COMMAND infotainment system and the switchgear being very similar to the ones offered on the C-Class. Feature list includes a three-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, mood lighting with three colour choices and a full safety suite. The GLC gets five driving modes for everyday driving - Comfort, Eco, Sport, Sport + and Individual and three for off-roading - Off-road, Incline and Slippery. The latter, together with the standard 4Matic All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) systems, would ensure the GLC performs off the beaten path if desired.

As its nomenclature indicates, the GLC 220d is powered by a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine that generates 170 horsepower and a substantial 400 Nm of torque. The GLC 300 on the other hand gets a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine that churns out 245 horsepower and 370 Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to the new 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission that’s said to have smoother shifts and better fuel efficiency than the 7G-TRONIC transmission that we are used to in India. 

Mercedes-Benz has hardly put a foot wrong in India in the recent past and its sales has been on the rise continuously. The GLC is yet another step in the right direction and would have no problems adding a sizable chunk to an already impressive sales roster.

LeEco unveils its vision of a smart electric car of the future, and it's called the LeSEE!

Thanks to Flipkart and those multiple full page adverts in leading newspapers, most of us Indians need no introduction of LeTV, one of the many new smartphone makers from China to have landed on Indian soil. But not many are aware this Chinese tech company, that recently re-branded itself as 'LeEco', has an interest in automobiles too.

If you're wondering how, LeEco made headlines earlier this year with its investments in Faraday Future, an electric car start-up that made a splash of its own at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and partnership with Aston Martin to jointly develop the RapidE electric luxury sedan. 

That doesn't make LeEco an aspiring automaker, does it? Ah well, put an end to such thoughts right away! Just look at the brand's own electric car concept 'LeSEE' below and you will know why we said that.

Sleek, futuristic and minimalist aren't words that we generally use when discussing the design and styling of Chinese cars. LeSEE makes us use all that and more. Used to seeing cars with thick chrome grilles and air dams, the LeSEE's fascia might appear bland to most trained eyes out there. But then, Tesla has made us immune to bland-faced cars. Coming back to the LeSEE, it's the car's gorgeous profile and the sexy rear that impressed us a lot. We know this is just a concept and there is absolutely nothing to read into it. Still, the LeSEE is one impressive automobile.

With suicide doors at the rear, touchscreens at the front and the rear, a steering wheel that can be folded down when not in use, rear seats that can apparently adapt to the shape of passenger's bodies and the capability of providing isolated environments for each passenger, LeSEE's interiors scream 'concept car crazy'. LeEco even has ideas to incorporate automated driving, self-learning, face recognition and a whole lot of stuff in the LeSEE along with grand plans to have a fleet of autonomous taxis based on this car. Now you know why the car is called LeSEE, the last three alphabets standing for Super Electric Ecosystem.

At the moment, this is just a tech company formally announcing its intentions to make it big in the automotive industry. Neither the car's specifications nor a firm launch timeline has been announced. But, if the short demo that LeEco showed a packed audience at an event in Beijing last month is any indication, the LeSEE looks good as it is and there is no reason why this can't be developed into a full-fledged mass-production electric car with a whole ecosystem to support its existence.

Tesla, Google and a handful of established automakers including Toyota, General Motors, Ford, Daimler, Jaguar and Land Rover are already moving ahead in the path of electric cars, autonomous capabilities, car-to-car connectivity and smart mobility solutions. Has LeEco got what it takes to fight with the biggies and convert the impressive LeSEE from concept to production? We hope it does, just to see the beautiful LeSEE roam on public roads!

Honda launches BR-V in India between INR 8.75 - 12.90 Lakhs

Honda's much-awaited entry into the compact SUV segment finally became a reality with the launch of the BR-V today. Priced between INR 8.75 and 12.90 Lakhs ex-showroom Delhi, the BR-V has a slew of competitors to tackle - the Maruti-Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Ford Ecosport at the lower end and the Hyundai Creta, Maruti-Suzuki S-Cross, Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano at the upper end of its price band.

Like most recent Hondas that have made it to India, the BR-V is based off the same platform as the Brio hatchback, the Amaze compact sedan and the Mobilio MPV. Crucially, the BR-V gets an unique front end that doesn't resemble the Brio family. The bold and upright fascia gets the trademark thick chrome grille flanked by sharp wraparound headlights with projectors and LED light guides. The bumper gets a rather large air dam and chrome-ringed fog lamps. At the rear, the split taillights connected by a reflector strip and the layered tailgate look interesting while the plastic cladding all around and skid plates at the front and rear gives the BR-V its 'SUV' armour. The long profile that's straight off the Mobilio doesn't gel well with the overall design and looks more like a MPV rather than a SUV, the BR-V's 210 mm of ground clearance notwithstanding. 

The all-black interiors, again, are similar to the recently launched Amaze facelift which is a definite improvement over the Brio-based interiors that the Mobilio has. The top-end variant gets features like a heat-absorbing windshield, leather upholstery, keyless entry with push button start, automatic climate control, power folding mirrors, 2-DIN audio system with Bluetooth functionality and driver's seat height adjustment. A touchscreen infotainment system is conspicuous by its absence, given that most of the BR-V's competitors have one. Driver and passenger airbags are standard across the range while Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) is standard on all but the base petrol variant. The BR-V's USP is likely to be its generous interior space and the presence of proper third row bench, making it a genuine 7-seater.

Powering the BR-V are the familiar set of engines that power the City and the Mobilio. The 1.5-liter i-VTEC petrol engine produces 119 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque while the 1.5-liter i-DTEC diesel engine is good for 100 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque. Both the engines are mated to a 6-speed manual transmission making the BR-V more suited for long-distance cruising. The petrol engine also has the option of a Continously Variable Transmission (CVT). Interestingly, this variant gets steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, a first in the segment. The ARAI-certified fuel efficiency figures are 15.4 km/l for the manual petrol, 16 km/l for the automatic petrol and 21.9 km/l for the diesel variant.

The BR-V is available in four variants - E, S, V and VX in a palette of six colours - Carnelian Red Pearl, Orchid White Pearl, Urban Titanium Metallic, Taffeta White, Golden Brown Metallic and Alabaster Silver Metallic.

With Honda's strong brand image and the never-ending craze for SUVs and crossovers in India, the BR-V makes a strong case for itself. Despite losing out on some features compared to its key rival, the Creta, the BR-V makes up by undercutting its Korean rival in terms of pricing. This H vs H battle is going to be an interesting one!

Toyota launches Innova Crysta in India between INR 13.83 - 20.77 Lakhs

Few vehicles have dominated their segments as much as the Toyota Innova did in India. Ever since its launch more than a decade back, the Innova overcame all odds including multiple upward price revisions, a slew of competitors aimed squarely at it, modest power output and sparse equipment list to become India’s most-loved Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV). If Toyota hadn’t stopped production, the Innova might have continued its joy run for a few more years, we bet! 

After ruling the MPV segment for a 11 whole years, the second generation Innova, now with the ‘Crysta’ suffix, has replaced the ageing first generation model. After showcasing the vehicle to the public at the Auto Expo in New Delhi earlier this year, Toyota announced the prices of the Innova Crysta yesterday with bookings and test drives at dealerships starting immediately afterwards.

Based on an all-new International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) platform, the Innova Crysta has underwent a complete transformation inside and out compared to its predecessor. One quick look is all it takes to realize the Crysta is far more sharper, modern and imposing than the vehicle it replaces. Much of that is due to that striking front end that feature a new dual-slat chrome grille, large swept-back projector headlights and the massive air dam in the bumper. The profile is characterized by a strong shoulder line that clearly splits the sheet metal and the windows. Talking of the windows, the sharp upward kink at the rear gives the Innova Crsta an unique identity. The long rear overhang gives it a proper ‘van’ look while the interestingly-styled taillights are sure to split opinions either sides. 

The interiors, as we said before, are a massive step forward from the ageing cabin of the old Innova. Following the same ‘retro’ theme that debuted in the new Corolla, the Innova Crysta finally gets a cabin befitting its price tag. The flowing dashboard design and the dual-tone colour theme are impressive and so is the feature list. A host of ‘first in class’ features including automatic LED projector headlamps, interior ambient lights, cooled glove box, one touch tumble second row seat, easy slide front passenger seat and rear automatic air-conditioning with digital display make their way into the Innova Crysta. Some of the other features in the flagship ‘ZX’ variant are a 4.2-inch TFT Multi Information Display, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, keyless entry and go and reverse parking sensors and camera.

Standard safety feature on all trim levels include driver and passenger airbags, driver knee airbag, Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), three point seat belts for all occupants and ISOFIX child restraint system. The top-end ‘ZX’ variant has seven airbags, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Hill-start Assist Control in addition.

Replacing the crude and modest 2.5-liter diesel engine from the old Innova are a pair of new-generation 4-cylinder diesel engines from the ‘GD’ family. The smaller 2.4-liter unit is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and produces 148 horsepower and 343 Nm of torque while the bigger 2.8-liter mill generates 172 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque. Mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission, the latter is available only in GX and ZX variants while the former is available across the range.

Available in six variants with two powertrain options and two seating configurations, the Innova Crysta’s prices have seen a significant upward revision as well. While the base ‘G’ variant starts at INR 13.83 Lakhs, the top-end ‘ZX’ retails at INR 20.77 Lakhs ex-showroom Mumbai. That’s a whopping 6 Lakh Rupees between the base and top variants and a solid 2-3 Lakhs higher than the outgoing Innova. But then, with Toyota’s brand reputation and Innova’s legendary reputation for reliability, we have no doubt that the Innova Crysta is going to enjoy the success its predecessor had. 

Having said that, Toyota has left the INR 8 – 13 Lakh price bracket wide open for its competitors to enjoy. Does that mean the Avanza is on its way here to occupy the space the Innova originally did in 2005? We have our fingers crossed.