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Toyota Kirloskar Grows 92% in Domestic Sales in Jan 2021 #ToyotaSales

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor early on Sunday announced that it had registered a 92% growth in domestic sales in January 2021, with a total of 11,126 units sold, as compared to 5,804 units recorded in January 2020.

The Indian subsidiary also reported that it has sold over 50,000 units of the Glanza premium hatchback and Urban Cross compact SUV till date. For those of you in the dark, Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s Glanza and Urban Cross are rebadged versions of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno premium hatchback and Vitara Brezza compact SUV.

Both these models are sold by the TKM, as part of the Toyota-Suzuki global partnership that allows platform and model sharing between these two brands.

Commenting on the sales performance in January 2021, Naveen Soni, Senior Vice President, TKM, said, “The new year started on a positive note for us and our sales growth stands testimony to the same.

Our wholesales have been very encouraging and the booking orders have also witnessed a significant rise.” Soni also said that the newly introduced updated Fortuner and Legender along with the new Innova Crysta that was launched in November 2020 have received a good response from the consumers.

These cars have helped the automaker to post 92% sales growth in the domestic market in the last month. “Last month, we also achieved a significant milestone of clocking total sales of over 50,000 units for the Toyota-Suzuki alliance models, Glanza & the Urban Cruiser, ever since the launch of Glanza in June 2019.

Both the models have proved their popularity in their respective segments and have also allowed us to welcome many new customers into the Toyota family”, Naveen Soni further added.

Globally, Toyota has reached the No.1 position in 2020 in terms of global volume sales after a tedious five years, leaving behind Volkswagen. The Japanese carmaker sold 9.528 million vehicles in 2020, while Volkswagen retailed 9.305 million cars last year.

What are your thoughts on this growth? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Tata Tiago Special Edition launched in India

Limited Edition Tata Tiago launched in India at ₹5.79 lakh #TiagoLimitedEdition

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Tata Motors on Saturday, launched a new variant of its popular hatchback Tiago. The hatchback, which is called Tiago Limited Edition, celebrates the one year anniversary of the new Tiago refresh. The limited-edition Tata Tiago has been launched at a price of ₹5.79 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Earlier in 2020, Tata launched the BS 6 version of the Tiago which is part of its ‘New Forever’ range., the Special Edition Tiago 2020 gets slight design upgrades and the car is available in both manual and AMT options. Under the hood is the new Revotron 1.2L BS 6 petrol engine.

In terms of the Tiago Limited Edition, it will be available in manual, with three colours on offer, the hues being Flame Red, Pearlescent White & Daytona Grey.

As for the changes to the limited edition Tiago, they include a new 14-inch bold black alloy wheels, a 5-inch infotainment touchscreen that has 3D navigation through Navimaps, reverse parking sensor with display, voice command recognition and image and video playback. There is also a rear parcel tray.

Commenting on the launch of this new variant, Vivek Srivatsa, Marketing Head, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors said, “Since its launch in 2016, the Tiago has been very successful in its segment and has been appreciated by all.

Following the same, the product’s BS6 version was introduced in 2020 which also received a 4-star safety rating by GNCAP at launch, making it the safest in its segment.

With more than 3.25 lakh happy customers on the road, the Tiago has evidently received tremendous market response. We are confident that through the introduction of this limited period variant and in alignment with our New Forever philosophy, we will continue to bring excitement in this space while catering to the ever-evolving demand of our consumers.”

What are your thoughts regarding the new limited edition Tiago? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: On Tesla’s Debut, Audi head says More the Merrier

Tata Motors Set to Launch Special Edition Tiago Today, Launch teased #TiagoSpecialEdition

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Tata Motors is gearing up for the launch of the Limited Edition Tiago hatchback, which will take place today. The carmaker shared a teaser video of the Limited Edition Tiago yesterday and made the announcement.

The Limited Edition Tata Tiago is likely to get sportier with new design upgrades to make it stand out from the regular model.

Tata’s Tiago has been a strong performer for the Indian carmaker, considering the company rolled out the car’s 3,00,000th unit from its Sanand plant in Gujarat last year. Launched back in 2016, the Tiago was the first product under the company’s IMPACT design philosophy.

The car forms an important part in Tata’s entry-level product offerings and has managed to find many takers, over three lakh to be exact, in the four years since its first launch. Tata says that the car’s looks, as well as a good feature list, is what has helped it connect with prospective buyers while its starting price of ₹4.69 lakh (ex-showroom) also helps it take on direct rivals.

Earlier in 2020, Tata had launched the BS 6 version of the Tiago which was part of its ‘New Forever’ range. The Tiago (2020) gets slight design upgrades and the car is available in both manual and AMT options. Under the hood is a new Revotron 1.2L BS 6 petrol engine.

With all of these additions, Tiago is claimed by many to offer the bang for the buck, and, the safety of a tank, or so some say.

What are your thoughts regarding the Special Edition? Are you excited about the same? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: F1 Race Timings announced

Revised Timings For F1 2021 Announced, Complete List Here #F1Timings

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Formula 1 has finally confirmed that the shift in race start times will be taking place for this season, after shifting from the regular grand prix timings, which were set at 3.10pm.

Do note, one of the first moves made by new owners Liberty Media in 2018 was to shift the series away from a 2pm local time race start in favour of the later slot. It was felt that shifting races back later than 2pm would be better for boosting American television audiences.

It was also felt that starting the races 10 minutes after the hour would aid the broadcasters, as they could schedule their pre-race programming to begin on the hour shortly before the action started.

At the time, a statement from F1 said: “Some broadcasters usually go on air precisely on the hour, hence missing the tension and emotion that characterize the minutes before the start of each grand prix.

“Thanks to this change, television viewers will be brought closer to the teams and the drivers and fully enjoy the spectacle offered just before the red lights go out.”

As Autosport reported recently, the matter was discussed with teams in question and there was support for reverting to the previous start timings. F1 decided again going all the way to the original 2pm race start slot though. From 2021, the majority of European races will start at 3pm, but not all races will begin then – with Baku getting a 4pm slot.

The season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix will have a 6pm start, while the night race timings for Singapore (8pm) and Saudi Arabia (7pm) will be later than normal. Canada, Japan and America will start at 2pm, with Mexico getting the earliest slot of the year at 1pm.

To add to all of this, F1 also confirmed that Friday practice sessions timings are being cut back to two one-hour sessions.

2021 F1 Race Timings

Date Grand Prix Qualifying Race
GMT Time GMT Time
28-March Bahrain* 15:00 15:00
18-April Italy – Imola 13:00 13:00
02-May TBC 13:00 13:00
09-May Spain 13:00 13:00
23-May Monaco** 13:00 12:00
06-June Azerbaijan 18:00 18:00
13-June Canada 13:00 13:00
27-June France 13:00 13:00
04-July Austria 14:00 14:00
18-July Great Britain 13:00 13:00
01-August Hungary 13:00 13:00
29-August Belgium 13:00 13:00
05-September Netherlands 13:00 13:00
12-September Italy – Monza 12:00 12:00
26-September Russia 13:00 12:00
03-October Singapore 06:00 05:00
10-October Japan 21:00 19:00
24-October US 19:00 19:00
31-October Mexico*** 18:00 17:00
07-November Brazil 06:00 06:00
21-November Australia 16:00 16:00
05-December Saudi Arabia 13:00 13:00
12-December Abu Dhabi 13:00 13:00
  • Daylight Saving time starts in UK/Europe on Saturday night/Sunday morning
    ** FP1 & FP2 in MONACO will take place on Thursday
    *** Daylight Saving time ends in UK/Europe on Saturday night/Sunday morning

Also Read: Benelli TRK 502 launched in India

Benelli Rides in 2021 TRK 502 BS6, Priced at ₹4.80 lakh #TRK502

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News Desk
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Bike maker Benelli, on Friday, announced another BS 6-compliant product in India in the form of the updated TRK 502. The adventure touring motorcycle has been priced at a pricey₹4.80 lakh (ex-showroom, India).

The company said that it is an introductory price which will go up in the future. For those wondering, earlier Benelli retailed only the Imperiale 400 BS 6 which was launched in India in July last year.

In terms of the options available when it comes to the colours of the bike, one can avail the bike in Benelli Red, Pure White and Metallic Dark Grey. While the Metallic Dark Grey colour has been priced lowest at ₹4.80 lakh, the Pure White and Benelli Red colours cost ₹4.90 lakh.

Commenting on the TRK 502 launch, Mr Vikas Jhabakh, Managing Director, Benelli India, said, “We are delighted to introduce the BS 6 TRK 502.

It is the perfect amalgamation of an innovative technological phenomenon, unmatched ergonomics, enhanced functionality and uncompromised quality. With the transition to BS-VI norms, we are confident in further strengthening our footprint in the premium touring segment.”

The TRK 502 is now open for bookings, at a token amount of ₹10,000. Customers can get the bookings done at any of the authorised Benelli dealerships in India. There are currently 38 showrooms in India.

As this is a mere yearly upgrade, the adventure bike has gained a new BS 6-compliant 500 cc twin-cylinder engine which can churn out 47.5 PS of maximum power at 8500 rpm along with a peak torque of 46 Nm at 6000 rpm.
The transmission option includes the previously available six-speed gearbox.
What are your thoughts regarding the TRK 502? Let us know in the comments below.

On Tesla’s India Debut, Audi says “More the Merrier”

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Tesla, the world-renowned auto company that is famous for its electric vehicles announced that it would be making it’s India debut soon. The company then went on to register in Karnataka and hired three employees for the same.

This is quite worrying for the other EV makers in India, because of the name and fame that Tesla holds in foreign markets. That being said, it seems Audi, one of the companies biggest rivals is far less worried than we thought.

Speaking at an HT Auto webinar, Balbir Singh Dhillon, the Head at Audi India said that there is massive motorization awaiting India and that Tesla’s entry is not a concern for the German brand.

“It does not worry us. In EV space, the more the merrier,” he said. “The key actually is the infrastructure to support EVs. We are cautiously optimistic but we have to be careful as well because people have range-related anxieties.”

Also Read: Triumph launches Speed 1200RS

Luxury space is very tiny in India. Unless we have a minimum threshold, we cannot produce locally. There is import duty, GST – it is a multi-layered tax on tax system,” he outlined. “We need to break the shell of high costs of running luxury cars.”

Dhillon went on to talk about how important it is to make the decision of which EV product the company must launch in India. “It is difficult to bring back a product that is not successful. The entire ecosystem is important. Depreciation benefits need to be extended not just to businesses but people buying cars too.”

For those of you unaware, Audi is planning to launch it’s E-Tron EV in India in 2021. This offering is already selling in several markets, with the car having sold 17,641 units in the first half of 2020.

Are you excited for Audi’s electric debut? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Tesla Model S updated with major interior changes

Ford India Expresses Gratitude Towards Chennai Customs after Getting Recognition for Exports #InternationalCustomsDay

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On Wednesday, Ford India expressed it’s gratitude towards Chennai customs after getting recognition for exports, that too on the occasion of International customs day.

For those of you wondering, on the occasion of International Customs Day (ICD), the Office of the Chief Commissioner of Customs in Chennai appreciated the role of Ford India and provided a citation for its excellent contribution to global trade.

One of India’s leading exporter and advocates of Make-in-India, Ford India featured in the INR 10,000 Crore Market share category and hailed for its cooperation in ensuring the flow of goods across the world borders.

In case you missed it, back in 2020, the company had shipped 26,089 units to overseas markets during the April-September period, down 63.69 per cent from April-September last fiscal.

Also Read: Dacia Bigster concept revealed

This was mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the implications that it had on the market. Regardless, Ford did export some cars, which is a feat on it’s own, considering production too was hit drastically during the period.

Some cars that the company exports to external markets include the Ford Ecosport, the company’s most well-known SUV in India, the Ford Figo and the Figo Aspire, the cars being a hatchback and a sedan, respectively. They sell quite well in India, with the Ecosport being a popular offering.

To add to the numbers, back in April of 2020, the Ecosport became the topmost exported Indian car, with 88,200 units being exported from India to other markets.

What are your thoughts regarding the recognition of the company? Are you happy with the role that Ford plays in the export market? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Renault Unveils Kiger in India, Pricing to be announced soon.

Tesla’s Model S receives Slew of Updates with Radical changes to the Interior #TeslaModelS

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News Desk
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Tesla, the EV maker has confirmed late on Wednesday that its popular electric sedan, the Tesla Model S is receiving a slew of updates which could make it even more appealing to prospective buyers.

A handful of these are part of the interior and the cabin, rather than an external change. Some major updates are in terms of the infotainment centre and the steering wheel.

For those of you wondering about the car’s placement in the Tesla lineup, the Model S is for the luxury sedan buyer, having done brisk business in many of the markets it is available in. The updates to the EV could further improve it’s sales and making it a bigger hit.

At first glance, you may think something is woefully wrong in the cabin, but, the auto maker has confirmed that the design of the steering wheel has been completely redone and is now flat-bottomed and console-like, taking a rather aviation-related route. There are no stalks and for steering tasks, the car makes use of AI and force touch buttons.

These are what one would also use for turn indicator, high beam, honk, for wipers and voice command functions.

Moving on to other parts of the interior, the vertical layout of the infotainment screen has been changed for a rather conventional screen which is bigger at 17 inches and far more vivid and vibrant with support for 2200×1300 resolution.

The AC vents are now hidden, and so are the HVAC controls so as to provide a cleaner aesthetic. The car is also packed with a large number of speakers,  22 speakers to be exact, all of them being part of a 960-watt audio system with active noise cancellation feature.

As for the exterior, contrary to popular belief, there are some minor tweaks to the bumper at the front and new set of wheels. This is done so as to provide an aggressive look to the car.

Also Read: Renault Kiger unveiled in India, Prices to be announced later

Renault Unveils Kiger, Pricing yet to be revealed #RenaultKiger

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News Desk
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Renault was in the headlines today as it launched the Kiger SUV, which had been teased for some time.

In terms of the raw appearance, the car appears to be closely related to its concept version showcased earlier. It carries over the horizontally stacked headlamps mounted over the front bumper and sleek LED DRLs which lend it a high bonnet effect.

For other design elements, the signature front grille towards the front borrows it’s styling from the Kwid. As for the wheels, the funky looking alloys sit under muscular arches which add to its bold appeal. Renault has also used black plastic cladding on the doors and wheel arches for a meaner look.

The roof comes in a dual-tone effect which is supposed to be limited only to the higher-specs variants. To the back of the car, the inverted C-shaped LED tail lamps look sharp and modern.

For power, the Kiger depends on two engine options, a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine delivering 100 PS and 160 Nm, and another 1.0 L petrol engine with an output of 72 PS and 96 Nm.

The transmission option will include a five-speed manual and a five-speed EASY-R AMT on the 1.0 L petrol engine, and five-speed manual and 5-speed X-TRONIC CVT on the 1.0-litre turbocharged unit.

“After Duster, Kwid and Triber, we are now preparing for the launch of Renault Kiger, a modern SUV that is a perfect fit for the Indian market. It combines the best Renault has to offer.

Our expertise in innovative cars with the creativity and in-depth knowledge of customer needs. A strong proof that Renault really is a game-changer,” shared Fabrice Cambolive, SVP, Renault Brand, Sales & Operations.

What are your thoughts regarding the Kiger? Are you excited for it’s launch? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Triumph Rides in 1200RS in India

Triumph Rides in Speed Triple 1200 RS, Priced at Rs 16.95 lakh #Triumph1200RS

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News Desk
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Triumph Motorcycles India on Thursday launched it’s newest bike, the Speed Triple 1200 RS in the country, for a starting price of ₹16.95 lakh (ex-showroom, India). According to the company, the new Speed Triple 1200 RS is the most powerful variant of the Speed Triple’ series, period.

In terms of power, the bike has been tweaked heavily. In terms of the engine, the bike gets its power from a completely fresh and higher capacity 1160 cc triple-cylinder powertrain. This engine as per the bike maker has been ‘developed with insights from its Moto2 race engine programme.’

As for the weight, the bike weighs 198 kgs which is approximately 10 kgs lighter than the previous model. As per the Triumph, the new bike can boast the highest power-to-weight ratio ever in the Speed Triple’s history.

In terms of the tech present on the bike, it sports an all-new 5″ TFT instrument screen with multi-display layouts available, a standard My Triumph Connectivity System, a new Cornering ABS, full keyless system, switchable Cornering Traction Control (with IMU), new distinctive full LED lighting, and 5 new riding modes.

The Speed Triple 1200 RS comes with two new paint and graphics schemes, namely Sapphire Black, with red and silver graphics, or Matt Silver Ice, with black, silver and yellow graphics.

It has a service interval period of 16,000 km and is offered with two years unlimited mileage warranty.

What are your thoughts regarding the Speed Triple 1200RS? Is it a bit of an overkill? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Nissan commits to Carbon Neutral goal by 2050

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