Loyalty that ends when polls are done and dusted

Congress leaders are aware that leaving Amethi may send the wrong message, which is why they claim that the Gandhi familys relationship with Rae Bareli is decades older than the one with Amethi.

Hyundai likely to debut Genesis brand in India by H2 of 2025

Hyundai has been planning to launch its luxury brand Genesis in India for a while now. According to a recent media report, we could see the brand drive into India by the second half of 2025. The report goes on to state that Genesis has already greenlit the proposal to enter the Indian luxury car segment. The plan is now said to be in its execution phase. The automaker is expected to focus on SUVs and is reportedly evaluating the GV70 and GV80. The upcoming GV90 flagship SUV could also be offered in India. Genesis SUVs will be imported into the country via the CBU route. However, reports do suggest that the vehicles will be eventually assembled locally at Hyundai's Sriperumbudur plant near Chennai. The Genesis GV70 will compete with models like the Mercedes GLC and Audi Q5, while the GV80 SUV-coupe will take on the likes of the Mercedes GLE and BMW X5. The GV90 is still in its concept phase but will eventually rival the Mercedes-Benz GLS. Source: Autocar India

India could become Citroen's 2nd largest market after France

Citroen expects India to become its second-largest market after France in the next 5 years. To achieve this, the carmaker plans to expand its network and introduce new products. Thierry Koskas, Global CEO of Citroen, said, India is an important market for Citroen, and in a few years, it will become the second biggest market for us after our home market France. Currently, India is probably in the top 10 markets for Citroen, more towards the 10th rather than upwards, he added. Koskas stated that if the company introduces new cars with the right level of quality, along with features that young customers want, the brand can grow significantly. He reiterated the need to build brand awareness, for which the company plans to sign up an ambassador to represent Citroen in India. As part of its network expansion drive, Citroen plans to increase the number of dealerships from 65 to 200 by the end of this year. Source: ET Auto

From 'Search: WWW' to 'Reply 1988': Korean Shows That Will Turn You Into A K-Drama Addict

From 'Search: WWW' to 'Reply 1988': Korean Shows That Will Turn You Into A K-Drama Addict

Netflix to air mini-series based on Ayrton Senna's life

Netflix will air a six-part mini-series based on the life of 3-time Formula 1 World Champion Ayrton Senna later this year. The first teaser of the upcoming series was released on Senna's 30th death anniversary. It features the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix, which Senna famously won. Netflix states, The 6-part series will showcase Senna's journey of triumphs, disappointments, joys, and sorrows, unveiling his personality and personal relationships. It begins with the start of the three-time Formula 1 champion's motor racing career, when he moves to England to compete in Formula Ford, and continues to his fatal accident in Imola, Italy, during the San Marino Grand Prix. The series has been produced by the Senna family, with Gabriel Leone in the lead role. Matt Mella plays Alain Prost, Patrick Kennedy plays McLaren team principal Ron Dennis, Steven Mackintosh is in the role of Williams boss Frank Williams, and Tom Mannion will play FIA doctor Professor Sid Watkins.

Entry-level Mahindra XUV700 Diesel 7-seater launched at Rs 15 lakh

Mahindra has introduced a new entry-level variant of the XUV700 Diesel 7-seater. The new MX trim is priced at Rs 15 lakh (ex-showroom). The new MX Diesel 7-seater variant costs Rs 40,000 more than the 5-seater but undercuts the AX3 7-seater by Rs 3 lakh. The XUV700 MX Diesel 7-seater comes equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto connectivity, an analogue instrument cluster with a 7-inch MID, tilt adjustable steering wheel, powered ORVMs and a centre armrest with storage. It is also expected to get AC vents for the third-row passengers. The new XUV700 MX 7-seater is available with a 2.2-litre diesel engine that produces 154 BHP and a 6-speed manual gearbox. Reports suggest that Mahindra might also offer the entry-level 7-seater XUV700 with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Source: Autocar India

Seeking wisdom at the Woodstock of Capitalism

In life, as in investing, it's not always about the immediate returns. Sometimes, the most valuable journeys are those taken for the joy they offer and the growth they foster

Industrial policy is back with a vengeance everywhere

Governments globally are intervening to prop up manufacturing but its efficacy is unclear. Indias government must address the real reasons behind the private sectors unwillingness to invest at home.

Heeramandi cast salaries: How much did the actors charge?

'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' explores pre-independence India through the lives of courtesans. Bhansali directs this Netflix series, revealing a world of romance, history, and politics. Cast salaries and production costs reflect the show's grand scale and ambition.

Brought home my Seltos X-Line DCT: 5 observations on ADAS post 430 km

BHPian Desi_Dybuk recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Finally I took delivery of my Kia Seltos X Line Petrol DCT last week. This is my first car purchase for myself in over 12 years & is joining my stable of 2011 Hyundai Verna Fluidic (very reliable & not a single issue in over 12 years and 1.9 lakh kms). Delivery experience was seamless with PPS Kia on Mysore Road in Bangalore. (Although, I have purchased cars like Fiat Linea & Maruti Baleno for my dad & Maruti Baleno for my spouse over the years, this is my first car purchase for myself in 12 years) I had booked my car via Acko Drive & didn't visit the dealership till PDI! I am going to write a separate post on the comedy of errors & frustration that was Acko Drive. (TLDR: Avoid services like Acko Drive & save yourself the stress) Before delivery, I confirmed that the model was a 2024 manufactured on (by checking the 10th digit of VIN as R) and the month of manufacturing was Feb 2024 by checking the VIN number under the front seat which had -B stamped on the sheet metal after VIN. I have driven 690 kms so far now since I drove to my native for Ugadi festival. Before purchasing the car, I was thinking that ADAS would be useful, marginally at the max, on the highways. Now having driven the vehicle on both highways & city streets, I am a convert to the logic of ADAS. First things first: ADAS isn't for you if you are the sort who weaves in & out of lanes on highways without signalling & shadowing other vehicles closely. And it isn't for you if you drive like our notorious Bangalore Auto Annas without discipline. If you are, you are better off turning off ADAS because sooner or later, you are going to get yourself in trouble in real hurry. Now, I consider myself a very sedate driver & I am someone who likes to stick by rules. Having driven in lots of countries, I am a strong believer of defensive driving. If it takes someone 45 minutes to get from point A to point B, I would rather spend additional 15 minutes extra & arrive safely by following rules of the road. (I get made fun of by my friends on this, but I am least bothered). The last ADAS equipped vehicle I drove was a Tesla in US & KIA's limited system was comparable for the feature set it offers (of course, Tesla is much much more advanced). So, I drove the 430kms between Bangalore & Dharwad for the Ugadi festival & I kid you not, it was the most relaxing drive I have ever had. This was the method I followed;I would select the middle lane & the Seltos would recognise the lane lines & ADAS would keep the car centered in the lane.I never took my hand off the steering wheel & would give a light tug on the steering wheel once in a while.I set Smart Cruise Control to 90 or 95 (I never drive over 95 on India roads unless it's an expressway) & would camp happily in the center lane. If there was a slow-moving truck, I would put the blinkers on, move over to the next lane, let ADAS pick up the lane lines & then let Seltos handle the drive.If I wanted to make a lane change, the lane departure & blind-spot monitor worked perfectly. The forward radar also worked beautifully & I kept the distance to the vehicle ahead to the shortest possible distance.Even in the city, I drive sedately & I don't shadow people. ADAS is unintrusive. I haven't turned off any of the ADAS features even in city. In short, if you are a rule following driver, ADAS will make your drive a lot less stressful & will make you a better driver. On a very interesting sidenote: My very first car I bought with my own money was a Kia Sephia in US when I was a student there. While all other Desis went for Toyotas or Hondas with 6-digit miles, I bought a 3-year-old Kia Sephia with hardly 31,000 miles on it & with full warranty left for another 2-3 years from a disgruntled husband who was selling his ex-wife's car. During those days, Kia & Hyundai were considered very poorly in US. That little Kia served me loyally for few years till I totalled it on Houston freeway. And because of how trouble-free my experience with the Kia Sephia was, I have only bought Korean cars across continents since then; Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Azera, Hyundai Verna & now a Kia Sephia. Goes to show how much initial impressions last a lifetime. Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

A winner-takes-all economy is bad for innovation and art

An intellectually homogenous establishment that determines how artists are rewarded can cramp diversity of thought. Conventional thinking doesnt create art.

India Inc has exciting opportunities to tap in its Viksit Bharat journey

The country has laid a firm foundation for growth through infrastructure development, a manufacturing push and the easing of business. Now, boosting research, judicial capacity and workforce diversity could pave our path to prosperity.

Manu Joseph: How do noble proposals like an inheritance tax arise?

They usually emerge from a class struggle between the top two slabs of a countrys pyramid.

Tesla conducting massive layoffs, including senior executives

According to media reports, American EV maker Tesla is said to be massively downsizing its workforce. Having already reduced its global workforce by 10% earlier, fresh reports now suggest that Tesla is laying off even more employees - this time including senior executives and long-time veterans of the brand. Tesla is also said to have laid off its entire Supercharging team, along with the executive who negotiated NACS adoption across the industry. The layoffs are said to be quite broad across the company. Tesla has shortened production shifts at its Texas Gigafactory and fired several teams associated with critical projects, along with some important executives. These include Drew Baglino, who was with the company for 18 years and led the 4680 cell project and the other being Rohan Patel, head of Policy and Business Development. Reports also state that Tesla has fired its entire ad team as well. In addition to this, more layoffs have been finalised through an email from Elon Musk. As per this, Tesla's Senior Director of EV charging, Rebecca Tinucci, will be leaving the company along with her nearly 500-person team (a few of them though, will be reassigned to other teams). As per reports, Elon Musk stated that he wants Tesla to be absolutely hardcore about headcount reduction and wants to relieve those who don't pass the excellent, necessary & trustworthy test. Source: Electrek

Base-spec 2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift LXI looks like this

Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to launch the fourth generation Swift in India later this month. Reports suggest it will be offered in five variants - LXI, VXI, VXI (O), ZXI and ZXI+. Until now, you may have seen the higher variants of the Swift equipped with dual-tone alloy wheels, LED headlamps and more. Now, here's what the base LXI variant looks like. The latest images of the Swift reveal the entry-level variant of the hatchback. It looks decently equipped despite being the base trim. The car has projector headlamps with LED DRLs, but misses out on the fog lamps, while the dual-tone alloys make way for steelies. Other exterior details include black ORVMs and door handles. Inside, the base LXI variant is expected to get power windows, a manual AC, internally adjustable ORVMs, tilt steering, adjustable front headrests and a 12V power socket. Safety features like ESC, Hill Start Assist, dual front airbags, and curtain airbags could be offered as standard across all trims. The 2024 Swift will be offered with a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine that produces 80 BHP @ 5,700 rpm and 112 Nm @ 4,300 rpm. The engine is expected to be paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox and an AMT. Source: The Amaze Guy

America is not yet declining but appears willing to let itself down

Concerns of US declinism have been around for long but its time to worry now. Its political resilience, university excellence and openness to immigration are all under threat.

Data sharing among authorities, taxpayers can help improve I-T dept AIS functionality: Deloitte

Information about the taxpayer relating to specified financial transactions such as cash deposit/ withdrawal from bank accounts, sale/purchase of immovable property, time deposits, credit card payments, purchase of shares, debentures, foreign currency, mutual funds, buyback of shares, cash payment for goods and services etc.

Old big-bored TVS Apache: Restoring and using it for daily commutes

BHPian SunnyBoi recently shared this with other enthusiasts. The Apache belonged to a very good friend and I have been seeing it since it was new. Sometime in 2015, he received a surprise birthday gift from his wife - a RE Thunderbird 500. Since then, the Apache has taken a backseat. Two years later in April 2017, we were discussing something when the matter of the Apache came up. He told me, why not take it? At that moment, I did not have a bike in Bangalore and gladly took him on that offer. So I went to his place later that week with a new battery in hand since the old one would have been toast. The bike of course did not start. The old fuel had gunked up the carb. We got it opened up by a mechanic and the pilot jet was just jammed and the head came off, making it impossible to take out with a screwdriver. Oh well, somehow we got it started and I rode it home. Why is this Apache special? Apart from its history, the engine had been modified. It was bored out, new sleeve and a bigger piston put it, effectively making it 193cc instead of the standard 149cc. A bigger carb from a Pulsar 200 was also used along with a K&N Filter. This bike was the perfect sleeper. Looks like any other Apache on the road but goes like no other! The day after it reached my house, after a good clean Workhorse gets its first service! I got a great deal of Motul 300V from Amazon and ended up buying 8 or 9 liters of it. Ever since 300V has been the only oil it's running on. The damaged pilot jet was replaced with a new unit and the workhorse was ready to release all those horses! New Rubbers. Zapper FY1 from the R15 doing duties in the front The venerable Michelin M45 does duties in the rear Workhorse experiencing the David and Goliath moment with an Africa Twin parked at home next to it The instrument cluster came off It was upgraded with all LEDs and a polished lens making it look better than new! Workhorse even did light touring whenever it was needed It was time for a serious brake upgrade All done! Ironically the Apache had a bigger rotor and better feel than the RX despite the same pads and caliper. May 2023. I come to Bangalore by bike for a couple of days and I meet up with a good friend at his house. Finally got to see his Duke 200 in the flesh. He did tell me he was looking to upgrade to a 390 Adventure at the end of the year. Hmm, this looked like a good contender for the next workhorse, especially after experiencing first-hand working on a Duke myself and the ease of getting parts for it. Around June 2023, I was back working in Bangalore. I had a long 50KM commute every day and the workhorse took it on like a champ. However, the cracks soon began to appear. All this while for the past 5 years, I've only been changing the oil and basically not doing any other maintenance. Small things started to fail. The side stand would droop too much, one-way clutch would break down and have to resort to kick-starting. One of the days, the bike refused to start after a routine grocery shop stop and I could hear loud puk puk noises when starting, as if there was a major exhaust leak. Spark plug intact, exhaust intact, still why? Turns out the carb just fell off the manifold, sigh. It worked itself loose and I never saw or felt the signs. In no way were these faults of the workhorse, but a testament of my negligence. All this while. the Duke 390 was getting superb treatment. Fading into the sunset? At this point, I was thinking about what next with the workhorse. Should I replace it with a newer bike? Or go all out and get it modified in other aspects to overcome its current shortcomings? I wished the suspension was better on the workhorse and I needed to do something about the foot-forward stance, I needed rear-set footpegs. Suspension from the Himalaya/Xpulse and rear set footpegs from the RTR? Or do I get a different bike? I was happy with the power it put out and the 35-36KMPL I would get from my daily commute. While mulling over these, I was returning from work one day, late October 2023 and the clutch cable snapped. I somehow rode for another 10KMs, parked the bike when I couldn't ride anymore then took the metro and reached home. In my closet was a brand new clutch cable, still sealed and purchased 2 years ago and I was too lazy to change it despite the obvious signs since then. Enough was enough. The workhorse desperately needed a proper service and it was time. Heading back to Mysore for its fixes I rode back with my Duke 390. I have used the Duke in Bangalore for a couple of days at most, but never on a daily 50KM commute, 6 days a week. Riding the bike every day finally after putting so much effort into rebuilding it was great. However, filling up the bike every 3 days with 800 Rs of XP95 wasn't. The duke served me for 3 weeks in Bangalore while the workhorse was getting serviced. List of fixes. Head rebuilt to fix slightly leaky valve stem oil seals. While in there, why not put fresh piston rings, timing chain, chain pads and tensioner? new valves, clutch plates, rear shock absorber rebuild and slight fork bend were also corrected. A new complete one-way clutch was sourced and I could use the self-starter again. The next day, I rode back the workhorse slowly, varying speed between 40-60KMPH to seat in the rings. Power had definitely increased thanks to the new top end and rings! I was told to follow the running-in procedure for about 800KMs. At the end of 800KMs, I slowed down a lot and didn't feel like going fast. Maybe I've become older and an uncle now but hey, all for the better. All this said, The ergonomics still irritated me. I couldn't shake off how much better the Duke felt in terms of suspension and ergonomics. The brakes? Workhorse was far ahead in a different league even with the Duke and its new master cylinder and EBC pads. I still love the brakes on my workhorse too much. Another 2 weeks go and I hear my friend with the Duke 200 moving away from Bangalore. This probably meant he would sell his Duke for sure. I deliberated for two days and messaged him. ...but wait, what happened to the workhorse? It may be retired for now but it will get its moment of glory soon with a proper cosmetic restoration. The chassis has surface rust on many spots since it's over 17 years old now. More things will get fixed and it will do duties back in Mysore whenever I'm there. The workhorse for me is a permanent addition to my stable. The Dukes may go but the workhorse will never leave. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

800 km trip on my V-Strom 250 SX with pillion & luggage: 6 observations

BHPian KeepTraction recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Rode the V-Strom 250 SX on an 800 km trip with a pillion and luggage (two Rynox saddlebags) covering Bengaluru -> Pulicat Lake -> Chennai -> Bengaluru via the Kolar-Chittoor highway. Observations and updates:The motorcycle had clocked 7000 km before the trip started. With 'two-up' riding, 12kgs luggage, and cruising at 80-95 km/h, the console indicated 38.8kmpl for 817 km upon finishing the trip.The Rynox Nomad V2 saddlebags have endured time and use since 2014. Except for the drawstrings of the net pockets, nothing else needs to be repaired. Outstanding quality by this ten-year-old product that remains fully usable now.I used the STHIRA Motorcycle Seat Cushion with a High-Density 3D Honeycomb structure and FEGO air seat for the pillion. Both performed very well in reducing seat fatigue.The motorcycle performed wonderfully. The suspension continues to remind me that it will be pliant only with two riders and luggage.Diversions around construction spots exist while crossing Narsapura, Mulbagal, Chittoor, and Sriperumbudur. The remaining portion of the travel was on good tarmac.The Pulicat Lake's beach on the TN side is cordoned off due to the construction of a mini-harbour, according to the locals. To start any boat ride, one must cross the Pulicat Lake bridge and reach the lighthouse area. Some fishermen are willing to give you a boat tour of the sandbars, the mangrove forest full of migratory birds, and the Pulicat Lake (1000Rs and above, based on the fuel and time). To see the migratory birds, start the boat ride before 7 am. Carry water, snacks, umbrella, and sunscreen.Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Why we switched from a Polo to a 2nd-owner Etios: Experience so far

BHPian Ayu8648 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. I'll divide this post into three parts:Why the Etios, that too a 3rd handThe carOur experience so far(Note- It's my aunt's car so it was she making the majority of the decisions, I was the one giving suggestions)Reason to go for the EtiosSo search for a new car started somewhere early in 2022 after we had to part ways with our beloved VW Polo 1.2 TDI 2012 model unwillingly because of its sudden gasket failure which happened so suddenly when the car was doing well otherwise. The repair costs quoted were exorbitantly high and we had no option but to sell it on point (I wasn't even able to see it for one last time). Letting that car go was/is the hardest thing EVER, mainly because of a special place I have for her in my heart and forgetting a car which you've had an association with for one long decade is impossible and even more so when it's your first love, which happened to you when you were as small as 6 years old! I still remember walking into the VW showroom with my tiny feet having zero interest in the Polo and leaving with only her in my heart (Also the Jetta!). Well, that's a story for some other day.These were the cars we checked out:(I wasn't present in any of the test drives so the showroom experience is from my Aunt's point of view) Kia SonetIt was a car my aunt insisted on test driving, but I wasn't as keen because it just wasn't the right upgrade to the Polo but she anyway test drove the 1.2 IMT and was okay with the performance of the car. The car overall was good but the quality was clearly a downgrade and the waiting period stretched to almost 6 months! And that wasn't okay because we wanted the car immediately, so the Sonet was kept on hold. Nissan MagniteAgain a fantastic car. Nicely designed, offered great value but was struck out pretty easily as soon as my aunt closed the doors, The car literally shook and a friend who was accompanying her had to remind her that it was a Magnite and not the Polo. Despite knowing that it's a 4-star rated car, she just wasn't confident about its build. She didn't even bother to test drive it, Magnite was clearly off our minds. VW TaigunNow the Taigun wasn't on our list due to the price and also otherwise but she couldn't resist checking it out when the showroom was just opposite. Test drove the 1.5 GT plus and understood what the hype was about my aunt was really impressed with it but a downside that even she noticed was the build that was just slightly lower than the Polo but that was manageable. The Taigun looks absolutely Fabulous in the Curcuma Yellow. It was just the right car to upgrade to but what wasn't manageable was the price even the base Taigun Comfortline cost 13.50 OTR and hence there was no question about the Taigun. We did see other cars but none picked our interest. Now we were in a dilemma as to what next. My Aunt had the Sonet 1.2 Turbo petrol IMT on her mind, she was in a place where she wanted to try a new brand car but outweighed the negatives of the car which were in LOADS. The only thing putting her off was the waiting period of 5 months (which was good for me). I wasn't even remotely impressed by the Sonet. Knowing Kia as a brand I knew we were settling for something less. Honestly, there weren't any great cars to upgrade to, the only car that could possibly be an upgrade was the Taigun, I wanted it to be the Taigun anyway (Now the Virtus!). Also, the feeling we get while buying a new car was absent. One of the reasons being the Sonet. We gave it a thought and to my relief, we decided to go for a second-hand car wait for a few years and ultimately go back to VW. From here the journey of hunting second-hand cars started, this was around March 2022. Now with a budget of 3-4 lakhs we checked out a few cars. Our priorities weren't many apart from the obvious ones - safety, built, preferably petrol and one of the main ones was having a higher ground clearance making ingress and egress easy for the elderly in our family. This being the first second-hand car in the family we didn't know much about the criteria of inspecting the car. Some people in the know suggested cars like Celerio or the Wagon R according to our budget but there was no way we were buying any of the two for 3-4 lakhs. We knew we would get a better car at the same price and continued our search. Checked out the City 2013 model, this car got an immediate green flag from me because of the comfort it offered and I personally liked the styling of the car but the problem was that it wasn't maintained well and GC was not enough either. Next was the EcoSport which again got a BIG yes from me but was struck off because my aunt feared getting the same service experience as VW. Moreover, Ford's absence in the country only added to the concern. Saw the Duster and it was just perfect but that demanded us to stretch our budget quite a bit. After all of this, we came across a 2011 Etios VX, second owner and 66000 km driven. It immediately grabbed our attention because it was comparatively less driven and frankly, for a Toyota, 66000 km is nothing. And most importantly it was immaculately well maintained, there were a few small dents but they weren't any sort of deal breakers and also the price was well into our budget. In fact, almost half of it! There was no way we were letting this car go. We had a look at the car and were very satisfied with it. So the Etios it was, got the paperwork done and bought her home on Akshay Tritiya on 3 May 2022. The carExterior The car as I said before was extremely well-maintained. It didn't remind the fact that it had changed a couple of owners. There were two dents below the ORVMs and a small one on the boot lid, the headlamps had turned yellow and that was the only thing that needed replacement, which we replaced in the first service. It looks okayish on the front but a hundred times better than the rear. My most favourite part ahead is the Innova-derived cute smiling grill. On the back, the car looks too much like the Logan/Verito sedans and moreover, I am not a fan of those stubby triangle-shaped taillamps and to add to my discomfort, the car came with black bumper protectors which I hate. To me, they spoil the look of the car. What I personally liked is the Serene Bluish Silver shade as Toyota likes to call it, it's an interesting colour where sometimes in direct sun it comes upon as various shades of blue and silver. From the side the car looks pretty proportionate, doesn't look like a Liva with a boot stubbed forcefully on it. I like how the shoulder line continues its way from the A-pillar all the way back to the C-pillar. The side skirts definitely do good to this car and add a hint of sportiness. The alloys do a good job of filling the wheel arches but in my opinion, a set of 4 chunky alloys would look just great. Built wise the car is very light, the doors are feather light they just won't hang on the way and are always on the way to close themselves quite the opposite of the doors on the polo which had three steps for opening and closing. Like everybody says the Etios is a very plain-looking car. It doesn't try hard to impress you. Toyota certainly played it safe with the design but to me, I think it's a kind of design that grows on you after a while. It's a car where a car is the way it is, it does not die to grab your eyeballs. It's having that kind of an attitude like 'I am the way I am, if you like me then that's great, if you don't then that's your problem'. I think Etios is that type of car and I've come to like it, moreover, the smiling grill only adds to my appeal.InteriorNow this is a part where I think Toyota messed up big time. The interior design as well as the quality feels horribly cheap, especially after getting used to the quality of the Polo, the Etios felt extremely inferior. Problem isn't with the no-nonsense approach but the way things have been put together and the tacky quality. For eg - the buttons do not have a reassuring feel to them. Aesthetically the dash looks just okay not a fan of having the instrument cluster in the centre, but I like the round AC vents though. Equipment wise, this car doesn't offer much, just the necessary things like air conditioning, power windows, central locking and a few others including a cooled glove box. This being the VX it came with leather seats and red fabric inserts on the door pad. What I like the most about being inside though is the space, there's acres and acres of space, and it's by far the most comfortable car in our family. In the Polo due to the low ground clearance and limited space, my grandparents used to find it uncomfortable to get in. Initially, we doubted if this car would be comfortable in case of ingress and egress for them but we were more than happy when we got a thumbs up from them. Seating 3 abreast is not at all a problem, in fact fitting 4 skinny people for short distances is possible. Also, the cushioning of the seats is perfect. The fact that the seats are not contoured adds to the comfort of the middle passenger. The boot is HUGE by every standard, everybody always complained about the small boot in the Polo and how they couldn't fit their luggage while on trips but with the Etios they can fit all their world and can sleep in the boot themselves! On a serious note, Etios' boot can really put some executive sedans to shame. Overall the whole interior was stock apart from the tacky steering wheel cover the previous owner had put. The only change that We made was the Audio system which according to my Aunt looked old and weird, I personally don't like to mess up with the electricals of the car and prefer to keep it stock and I tried to convince her to keep the stock system but... anyway. Etios under the cracked skies Mechanically the car does well. The 1.5 motor does a good job being under the hood, the car feels peppy to drive and it's a joy when you receive the power in a quick and linear way. This 1.5 motor feels much more active than the sluggish 1.2 TDI which used to get alive only past the 2000 rpm mark and used to need working the gears under heavy conditions, the light weight of the Etios helps a lot to make it light on its foot. It feels more drivable than the Polo. What it cannot match is the course stability and the handling dynamics of the Polo. Etios just doesn't give the confidence on high speeds the way Polo gave. Comparing them would be an idiot's task. The ride quality is very nice, soaks up all the bumps and this is even when the shock absorbers are not in their ideal condition. The thing that messes up the experience is the poor sound insulation, the wind noise is clearly audible even when you aren't at high speeds, which takes away the sense of the otherwise comfortable interior. Etios with her very old relativeThe Experience It has been almost 2 years with the car and it has given us no issues whatsoever (it's a Toyota after all, what else do you expect), we've crossed the 85000 kms mark and are looking forward to making it upto the lakh mark. The car serves its promise of being practical and importantly reliable. We get around 10 kmpl in the city and 16 kmpl on the Highways, it drives well and is considerably fun to drive, especially with having the 1.5 motor in such a light car it actually feels breeze-like to drive. It is exactly the 'Fill it shut it and Forget it' type of car, totally tension-free. It's a relief to own her, especially after owning a German car for so many years, which gave me a new problem every month (hey, I am not complaining!). My Aunt finds the fact that the earth would not end if this car is not serviced on time oddly uncomfortable. Just the regular service at 6-month intervals because of the high running. It's doing great, even maintenance-wise the bill hasn't crossed the 10k mark, and we haven't changed anything mechanically yet. We only replaced the audio system and the headlamps which was worth the 3000 bucks because now the car looks a thousand times better. Tyres are the same, suspension also doesn't need any work. So basically the car is all good to go for 1 more year before it is set to be replaced. A hearty thanks to the previous owners of the car for treating her so nicely. Whenever the time comes I hope she goes to an owner who will continue to treat her as nicely. Etios and long drivesThings I wish were improvedQuality- Even if it is a 4-star rated car, the build doesn't inspire confidence. I am sure a bit more weight wouldn't take a hit on the fuel Economy. The quality of interior trim reminds me of cars that are well below the segment. On high speeds over the highways when you go over a few rumble strips, the whole dashboard vibrates as if it's going to fall apart anytime. In some places like the boot and the front doors the panel gaps are clearly evident, the first time I noticed the gap on the bootlide I thought the boot was actually open. Toyota didn't have to make the fact that 'the Etios twins are built to a price' public.Equipment- I am not much of a techy person but would certainly not mind having a few basic useful features like a Bootlamp, keyless go, rear reading lights, Rear fog lamps and a nice pair of keys.Rear End- I do not have any problem with the look of the car but the rear end is something I can't stand. For me, the front and rear do not compliment each other. The split tail lamp-like effect that Toyota tried to give with the Platinum Etios polished things a bit but there was a whole room for improvement even further.Sound Insulation- Now this comes under quality but it deserves a special mention. All the wind noise is clearly audible at high speeds, as it is Etios does not inspire much confidence at high speeds and the poor sound insulation adds to that.Desirability- All the above-mentioned things I wish were improved. It isn't a desirable car by any means. It's genuinely a good car but you understand that only once you live with it. Toyota became so strict with the car that it was deprived of desire.Interestingly, when you think about the two cars, the Polo and the Etios, you realise that despite them being so different they are yet too similar. The biggest similarity is the strict no-nonsense approach, you don't get unnecessary crap like 10 air purifiers, 100 colour ambient lighting, 50 wireless chargers to tickle your fancy, the two offer the stuff that you require and then some more. Both the cars are well-built and safe, Etios takes a small step back in the former though. You'll have fun in the driver's seat of both these machines, the Polo gives you a sudden bang after a considerable turbo lag whereas in the Etios power delivery is linear. Most importantly both of them are very respectable cars, both of them have strong fan bases who swear by these machines. Also, The two cars fabulously depict the values of their respective brands then may it be the Tough build and the German engineering of the polo or the Japanese reliability of the Etios. The best angle of the car Honestly, I wasn't happy with the idea of getting the Etios initially because it didn't feel right after experiencing a VW for a decade. Also, its Uber image didn't go well with me but over time when I looked at the Etios as an independent car I came to like it because firstly it's a fantastically engineered car, if you see, it's a car which has got all the basics right and how! - Comfort, Ride quality, safety, peppy to drive and space, everything thing that matters is more than perfect. This car doesn't have the flash, both technologically and aesthetically that some other cars have but it's more than perfect in the areas it must be. Etios is an introvert who is shy to interact with others but is quite confident and capable of doing great things. Toyota actually did an exceptional job considering that the Etios twins were their first small cars but they outdid themselves to a great extent that it misfired. All the positives became negatives. The twins were so good that they found more taxi drivers than private owners, Don't forget the Toyota badge that cemented the trust even more. Of course, nobody wants to be seen in a car which is so common in Taxis. Most of the time people just pass it on as if it's something utterly inferior by saying it's a Taxi car and fail to understand how remarkably well-built the car really is overall. It's a shame that people really didn't care about the car, how comfortable, how spacious, how balanced it was, all they were bothered about was the image. The fact that people never truly understood the potential of this car, my friends, breaks my heart. Etios says Bye! Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan appointed as UNICEF India's National Ambassador

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift variants & features leaked ahead of launch

Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch the 4th-gen Swift in India later this month. Bookings are now open, and the first units have already started reaching dealerships. According to a media report, the new Swift is likely to be offered in five variants - LXI, VXI, VXI (O), ZXI and ZXI+. Features like halogen projector headlamps, rear defogger, ESC, Hill Start Assist, dual front airbags, and curtain airbags could be part of the standard package. The base LXI variant is expected to get power windows, a manual AC, internally adjustable ORVMs, tilt steering, adjustable front headrests and a 12V power socket. The mid-spec VXI and VXI (O) trims are likely to get features like a 7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, steering-mounted control, height-adjustable driver seat, and electrically-adjustable ORVMs. The VXI (O) will get additional features like telematics, keyless entry with engine start/stop button and power-folding ORVMs. The ZXI variant of the Swift is expected to get LED projector headlamps with LED DRLs, 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control with rear AC vents, a wireless phone charger, a rear washer and wiper and a 60:40 split folding rear seat. The top-spec ZXI+ trim will get additional features like a 9-inch touchscreen with Arkamys audio system cruise control, colour MID and machined alloy wheels. Source: V3Cars

Headline: Three stock recommendations Rajesh Palviya for next week

One should use this volatility to buy and accumulate good quality stocks in this decline. We are optimistic that we could again resume the uptrend and possible target for May series could be towards 23,000 to 23,200, says Rajesh Palviya, Axis Securities.

Traded in my 2021 Nexon EV 30 kWh for a Mahindra XUV400 39 kWh

BHPian vickster recently shared this with other enthusiasts. I traded in my 2021 Nexon EV 30kw for a 2024 XUV400 39kw recently hoping to benefit from the longer range. I have run around 1000 km. Here is a summary of the range I have got until now. The first time I charged it up to 100%, I got 196.2kms with 7% remaining. This was mostly in D and L mode in FUN. The driving style was not very aggressive but not conservative either. The second time I charged it to 100%, I ran 214.4kms with 17% remaining. This was in D mode in FUN and mostly slower speeds of 50kmph and very sedate throttle inputs which is quite boring and cannot be sustained. My understanding is that better range is achieved on highways rather than cities. In my Nexon with the 30kw battery, I was averaging 180kms with 10-15% remaining. XUV in comparison so far has not been impressive on the range front. I should try a longer highway trip to truly understand the range. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Attended my first track day at the Sydney Motorsports park with my R1

BHPian Mr.Ogre recently shared this with other enthusiasts. I attended my first track day at Sydney Motorsports Park in Sydney and I am very excited to share my experience. While I am eager to straight away start sharing my pictures, however I think I should write a little about myself and my riding history. Please bear with me and I will try and make it concise. Even though I had been riding motorbikes since 2005 it was not until 2011-12 when I got my Duke 200 followed that by a R15 when I actually started focusing on technicalities of riding. Before that I had been riding Pulsars 150-220 and Karizma and it was just clutch, throttle, brake and gear and surprisingly I survived. Anyways long story short, riding the Duke 200, R15, Ninja 300, Yamaha R3, 650 made me realize how much I wanted to enjoy riding fast but in a controlled environment. Thus began my interest in riding on the tracks. I have been following MotoGP and WorldSBK for more over a decade and always wanted to be able to ride like those riders. As much as I wanted to go to the tracks in India, it was tough to find time to ride to South India. Hence I tried a couple of track days organised by Vortex racing in Kolhapur on my Yamaha R3. It is a small go karting track, but is good enough to get your techniques right. The sessions with Vortex racing turned out to be addictive and I wanted to do more of it. But life happened and I moved here, and ever since I had deep rooted desire to hit the track in Sydney. The Sydney Motor Sports Park is barely 30 minutes from where I stay, however it took me 6 whole years to finally be able to ride a superbike on a track. Never had I ever imagined in my wildest dreams that I would live to experience this moment. Even though I am 40+ it was hard to behave my age when I was at the track. Grinning ear to ear like an idiot and trying to soak up the environment. To summarize the track, it is a venue that is visited very often by motorsports lovers (cars and bikes). The facility is spread across and has very good amenities and facilities (toilets, garages, cafeteria etc.) Also, the track days are open events where you choose the riding group based on your skill and experience. If you select a group faster than your skill level you are automatically demoted. Having said that I chose the slowest group - white. This is not a riding program like CSS. It is an open event where the organizers are more than happy to coach riders and help them come up to speed by working on the technicalities. Before the on-track session you are made to attend a briefing session where they explain to you about various flags and do's and don'ts. And for first timers like me there is an additional 15 minutes session on the track to make you aware of the track layout. Overall for $355 a day I think it is totally worth it, as it gives you a safe and controlled environment to ride your heart out. Since this was my first time there, my main objective was to come back home with my bike in one piece. I was not in a mood to try and break lap records. Having said that I did pretty good times. I started with 2:17 and by the time I ended the day, I was doing 2:00:00. Regular racers clock 1:40 at this track, and as you can see from the pictures I am still very stiff so clearly there is lot of room to grow. I went there with my R1 which I had brought a few months ago when I realized I was ready to start doing track session. I will be visiting the track again this Sunday, however I plan to take my Ninja 1000. Enough of the boring stuff, I hope you enjoy the pictures. Continue reading BHPian Mr.Ogre's post for more insights and information.

BMW drops 'i' from its petrol cars; to be used only on EVs

BMW has officially confirmed that it will drop the i at the end of its petrol-powered vehicles names. The change in nomenclature is to make its model names less confusing in the future. So, instead of BMW 330i, the model will simply be named BMW 330. The i will be exclusively used on BMW's EV offerings. The i suffix at the end of its petrol-powered models was first introduced in the 1970s to denote fuel injection and has been used on every petrol model since. Going forward, it will only be numeric, with the first number indicating the model and the last two indicating the engine. The i in electric vehicles stands for innovation. BMW already has a number of electric vehicles in its product lineup, ranging from the iX1 to the i7. Bernd Korber, Senior VP of Brand Management, BMW, stated, Historically, even though our interpretation of BMW i was always different, it's more innovation, not necessarily only electric, and we historically had injection at the end [of the badge], we said, we would like to keep 'i' as an asset, and we would like to keep it as a signature to indicate you're driving an electric car and that was the logic that we had. Source: BMWBlog

Kia Carens Diesel MT replaces my Ertiga: Booking & ownership review

BHPian kaustavguha recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Hello everyone, this is my first ever review/ report on Team BHP so kindly bear with me and correct me where I have made mistakes. I have tried to divide the post into various sections to make It easier to navigate. The needWe were proud owners of a 2016 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZXI+ which was serving us well, we bought it in February of 2016 just after the facelift for the 1st generation Ertiga was launched, back then our running was quite low because I was still doing my masters and did not need a car to commute to college and my father doesn't drive and did not want to hire a driver to commute to work hence we picked the petrol version(Maruti still sold diesels back then.)Fast Forward to 2020, COVID-19 happened, and both my father and started commuting to work together in the Ertiga after the lockdown was relaxed for obvious fears of travelling by public transport.I am a 1st generation driver in my family so using a car for daily commutes was never something we ever thought of until the pandemic.Our workplace is roughly 50 kms from home and we were clocking close to 2000 kms a month!For the 1st 4 years of the Ertiga, it had run 19 k kms, and the year after it had run close to 25 k kms just in 1 year!The need for a diesel/ car with better mileage began in early 2022 when the Ertiga clocked 45 k kms.The searchAs in most Indian families, no matter how old you are, you need the blessings of your parents before taking any big decision and in June of 2022, we began our search after my parents and better half agreed to a new car.Our requirements were simple, a comfortable 7-seater, preferably diesel within 20 Lakhs.The test drives Mahindra XUV 700The first car that came to my mind was the new XUV 700, in my opinion, it was a really good-looking car with a spacious interior and a premium up-market feel; I went to the Mahindra dealer closest to home and was promptly offered a test drive of the diesel automatic.The drive was really good, the AC was really good (quite an important deciding factor as I live in Kolkata), the boot space was really good with the last row folded down and the car had a great road presence. When asked when I get the car, the SA said that there is a minimum of 6 months waiting for the diesel auto but the wait could be more. Quite disheartened by the wait, I decided to explore some other options.Hyundai AlcazarWent to the Hyundai showroom, and asked for the TD of the Alcazar, the SA said that the diesel TD car was unavailable and I did not want to TD the petrol one because I had no intentions of buying a petrol; however I sat in the display vehicle in the showroom and I have to say, the interiors feel like that from a segment above, but the 3rd row is quite cramped, there isn't much space, although we will rarely need it, I still wanted a spacious 3rd row, after some thought decided to drop the Alcazar.Kia CarensRight next to the Hyundai Showroom is Eastern KIA, this time I took my wife along with me so that I could come to a conclusion.Had already talked to an SA over the phone and he said that the TD cars would be available.After reaching the showroom, we were shown a Diesel Manual Carens, at that point in time I was not even considering the automatic.Drove the car for a good 15 kms and the SA kept explaining the different features to my wife and me throughout the drive and he never asked me to cut the TD short.Returned to the showroom and asked about the waiting period for the Luxury Plus 7-Seater Diesel Manual, the SA said on the booking form it would be 24 weeks but we may be able to get one within 8 weeks.Went home and after a discussion with my parents we decided to book the car, the following Saturday we went to the showroom, showed the car to my parents and the SA offered another TD, we happily went on another TD and now everyone was on board. Came back to the showroom and booked a Carens Luxury Plus 7-Seater Diesel Manual in Imperial Blue. The slight hiccupWe had booked the car in the last week of June and in the 1st week of September our SA called me and asked me to come for PDI, overjoyed I went to the showroom the very next day but I saw that Kia had started providing one smart key along with the cars and the second key would be provided within 6 months, I found this to be unacceptable, in some unfortunate incident if the smart key is lost or damaged, the car can only be unlocked with the second key, but it cannot be started; I told the SA I have no issues in waiting but I want both the keys along with the car; the SA agreed after some back and forth with the GM.The DeliveryIn early November I got a call from the SA and he said that a Carens Luxury Plus 7-Seater Diesel Automatic in Imperial Blue was available and I could have it immediately, I was a bit confused as I had never driven an automatic before, but I also wanted the car and the price difference wasn't that much of a concern, so I asked for a TD of the automatic.After the TD I really wanted the automatic, the convenience it provided in city traffic and it was very smooth in the shifts (it is a torque converter).We finalised the car after PDI and the registration-related formalities were done and the 28th of November 2022 was decided as the D-Day.We arrived at 3 PM at the showroom, and after a quick second PDI, checked all the documents and the accessories requested; we went for the delivery. The LikesVery spacious for a family of 4, being a large individual, space was a priority.The A/C is an absolute chiller; even for the 3rd row occupants thanks to the roof-mounted A/C Vents.The 2nd row type C charging ports.The ventilated seats.The upmarket and premium feel of the interiors, the piano black dash looks like that from a segment above.The torque converter AT box is smooth.The DislikesAt 20 Lakhs+ OTR a 360-degree camera would have been nice.The headlights are good for the city but on the highways, they feel quite dim.A fabulous infotainment system but no wireless Android Auto/ Apple Car Play?At that time the UV Cut glasses were not being offered, a necessity in the era sun-film ban.The gauge cluster is a bit basic for a car at this price.Despite the dislikes, the Carens fit our requirements and budget the best, hence no other cars were given a second thought. The booking and delivery experience was really good at Eastern Kia Newtown, Kolkata; they were courteous and attended to most of my requests.On the day of delivery took a nice pen for the SA and his team leas and a box of sweets for the dealership. The cost break-up:Variant: Kia Carens Luxury Plus Diesel Automatic 7-SeaterEx-Showroom Kolkata 17,99,900.00Road Tax. 1,79,990.00Registration 740.00Insurance 62,605.00Accessories 7,496.0Extended Warranty 26,532.00 (4th and 5th Year, Unlimited km)Fastag 500.00Total 20,77,763.00 No discounts were being offered at all, the showroom provided me with the 3D Mats complementary. I opted for the lifetime road tax, in West Bengal you can choose to pay the road tax at 5-year intervals or lifetime as it made more sense to me. I opted for the Extended Warranty for unlimited kms 4th and 5th year as Kia is still new to the Indian market and I just wanted that peace of mind; unlimited kms because my running right now is quite high; 2000-2500 kms per month, mostly on the highway. The safetyThe car has a lot of safety features as standard like ABS, EBD, Hill Hold, Hill Decent control, and 6 Airbags.It did score a 3-star safety rating which is a bit concerning but I always take GNCAP ratings with a pinch of salt.The Features This is probably the best part, the feature list goes on and on, I will try to list the most prominent ones:Ventilated seats, work really really well.Apple Car play is really difficult to imagine the infotainment without it.The 10.8-inch infotainment system is really smooth.The Bose sound system, for someone like me, who isn't an audiophile is very good.The ambient lights look soothing at night and the brightness and colour can be controlled.The Keyless entry makes everything a lot more convenient.Charging ports in every row.The reverse camera is of very high definition and the adaptive guidelines make life a lot easier.The front parking sensors are a lifesaver on narrow streets, although a 360-degree camera is missed!The front cup holders are cooled and in summer they are quite efficient in keeping a bottle of water cool.The driver's seat is adjustable for everything except the lumbar support.The Steering wheel is tilt and telescopic adjustable.Being an automatic the gear knob is nice and chunky, and the different positions are clearly demarcated and easy to understand.The driving modes do make a difference between throttle response and gear shifts quite noticeably between normal sport and eco.Kia Connect sends and alarm to your phone if you forget to lock your car or if a door boot or bonnet is open.With Kia Connect you can remotely do a lot of functions but most importantly lock, unlock, and start your car along with the A/C.The Automatic headlights and wipers work like a charm, and once you get used to it, it is difficult to remember to turn off the lights.The looksI think the car looks very good for an MPV, especially in imperial blue(when clean).The DRL is large and very bright and they double up as indicators that in LED looks cool!The tail lights have a connected design which makes the car look very premium.Overall a very upmarket look for an MPVThe built quality is good there are no creeks or squeaks anywhere in the car, and nothing shakes or rattles(as of now).The panel gaps are very consistent and the paint finish seems to be very good.The car comes with 16-inch alloys which IMO looks good in with the car, the MRF Wanderers are pretty good although for the next tire change, I will probably go for the Bridgestone B390s.The InteriorThe interior is very well put together the leather-wrapped steering wheel, and the piano black finish on the dash all look really good.The front seats provide good adjustment, anyone could be comfortable in this; under-thigh support is also good.The 2nd row is also adjustable and has very good knee and headroom; it is wide enough for 3 adults of average built.The cream colour seats go very well with the navy dash and door cards.The soft-touch part of the doors feels very good.The 2nd and 3rd row both have adjustable recline which is a major plus.Lots of bottle holders and cubbies for your cell phones etc.The 2nd row curtains are a good size and prove a good shield from the sun.It is very easy to find a comfortable driving position and there are not many blind spots. The boot is extremely spacious with the 3rd row folded down but with it up, a few mid-sized bags will fit. The PerformanceWith 250 nm of torque and a smooth auto box, it pulls and pulls, you will reach the speed limit before the engine runs out of power.The torque converter auto box is really smooth, at 80 kmph the engine is at 1700 rpm which is very fuel efficient.If you need to overtake and you floor the accelerator the gearbox shifts down pretty quickly.If you put it in sport mode the car will hold gears longer and also the throttle feels more responsive.The brakes have a good bite to the pedal and the braking performance is also good.The engine is super silent for a diesel, most petrol bunk attendants mistake it for petrol.I have driven the car for 30 k kms at the time of writing this and most of that has been on the highway.The car is reasonably easy to manoeuver in city traffic but on narrow streets, it gets a bit tricky.The NVH levels are good, you hardly hear any road noises or wind noises.The all important kitna deti hain?The mileage in city traffic is 12 kmpl and on the highways, if driven conservatively it will return 16 kmpl.This is with my driving style.The ride quality is very good, feels a lot better than the Ertiga.It absorbs small bumps on the road very well, you will only feel the sharper ones.The serviceFor all the service and body work I went to Eastern Kia.At the 1k kms service it is just a basic checkup and wash, which took around 2 hours, the SA asked me if I had any issues with the vehicle, but I did not.The bill came out to zero and the car was washed very well.At the 10k kms service the usual work like engine oil, oil filter, air filter, ac filter was changed, I asked the SA to get the wheel alignment and balancing done as well. The labour was free on this service.The service took around 4 hours and pick up and drop was available but I decided to go in myself.The bill was Rs. 4,514.At the 20k kms service the same things were done and the SA recommended AC evaporator cleaning, I was skeptical at first but decided to get it done, and it did improve cooling, the route that I travel on has a lot of dust so I thought of getting it done. The labour was free on this service as well.I also got the wiper blades changed.The bill was Rs. 6,814At around 28 k kms there was a whistling noise coming from one of the front wheels, took it to the service centre and the front brake pads had nothing left in them and a small rock had got stuck between the brake pad and disc causing lines on the disc, the SA recommended to change the discs and the brake pads and I agreed.The bill came out to Rs. 16,789.At the 30 k kms I got all the wiper blades changed, the wheel alignment, wheel balancing, and the AC evaporator cleaned as mentioned earlier; this was in addition to the usual service jobs.The bill was Rs. 15,253Overall I am happy with the service experience.The Body Shop ExperienceUnfortunately, in November of 2023, I had a slight graze with another car near home, and the rear right door was dented, sent the car for bodywork and there was a bit of delay due to the Diwali holidays but the work was done flawlessly and the insurance company paid for everything, I only paid the mandatory deductible.A few days after I got the car back, at a signal a Tata ace smashed against the left-side ORVM and broke it completely, thankfully no one was injured. This time as it was just the mirror, I did not want to go through insurance for this because it meant leaving the car with the service center again for 3-5 days, I asked the SA to paint the ORVM cover and let me know when it is ready to be fitted, and 2 days later I went in for around 10 mins and the job was done.Overall I am very happy with the car and would recommended it to anyone looking for a 7-seater in this price range.Thank you so much for reading, if you have any questions please do ask! A few pictures of the delivery and the blessings of the almighty at Adyapeath. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Evolution of leadership: Embracing unvanguard principles in the modern world

The timeless concept of leadership has been adapting to contemporary demands, fostering collaboration, innovation, and purpose-driven cultures

Parted with my 2009 Accord due to the NGT rule: Final thoughts

BHPian ritedhawan recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Last Chapter: Final thoughts Well, it's been more than five years, and one has driven the car to 58K km and there has not been a single reason ever, when I regretted this purchase. It was a handed down purchase but the single reason it refused to give up ever whether on our relatively open highways, or on the hills, or on the plains, etc was pre-emptive or preventative maintenance! Without which the car would have left us stranded. We never solicited the services of car cleaner who would pick up the keys in the morning and then use his used car cloths to clean our car, the thought of someone applying the same car cloth which he already used on someone else car and then applying the same on our car would give me sleepless nights! I have been assiduously following a regimen of car cleaning on my own, which included use of three 3M cloths and all one needed was less than ten litres of waters to clean this car inside out. Once a year, the car went to a 3M car care where one asked for the rupees 2000 cleaning which included vacuuming the inside of the car, engine bay cleaning, and applying a single coat of semi-solid polish. That would have been suffice for a few months until one intervened and performed the same job on my own, and yes it took two to three hours of laborious effort, but then again it felt equivalent to a good workout done in the gym! As I type this post, a week prior to it, one did the same job and let me share some pictures, that should do the talking: I had purchased the 3M car kit which has been of good quality in terms of the results. I never applied the Dashboard dresser which came along with the kit and yet lets look at some pictures without it: The chuckable steering wheel and the all too dependent paddle shifters which are indispensible on the hills: Everything works just the same on the center console, although I never used the CD player. Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Epic Bhutan road trip on my BMW R 1200 GS: Covered 5500 km in 16 days

BHPian cjt2012 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. This trip was on my mind for a couple of years, after having planned the trip last year, we dropped the plan a few days before the trip due to the extreme heat in May. This year, however, we decided to venture on the trip towards the end of March. A road trip is always about the adventure and thrill of the journey and not just about the destination. As a group of four (Parvez Patel Age 70 - 2022 BMW R1250GSA, Khodaram Zandbaf Age 62 - 2017 BMW R1200GS, Darayus Dastoor Age 61 - 2022 Kawasaki Versys 1000 and myself Clement Thomas Age 48 - 2017 BMW R1200GS); we started planning for the trip at the beginning of January 2024, a WhatsApp group was made and that was about it. It was not until 14 days before the trip that we really sat down and did some groundwork on the possible routes and arrangements in Bhutan. One of the group members had his sister undertake the journey by air last year, so we decided to employ the services of the same travel company, to arrange our Hotel bookings, bike clearances and meet us at the Indo-Bhutan border. Odometer Reading the day before the trip Loading the Base attachment of the Moskomoto Reckless 80 setup Initially, inside Bhutan we were contemplating renting Bhutan-registered RE Himalayan, however, thankfully better sense prevailed once we reached Bhutan. Some arrangements inside Bhutan are mandatory a brief list of requirements as listed below:A Bhutanese tourism department-approved guide is mandatory to accompany tourists along with a Taxi and driver for the guide.Passports or Voter ID is required to enter Bhutan. We used our Passports which were duly stamped upon entry. Tourist must pay a sustainability fee at Immigration of Rs1200/- head/ night of stay in Bhutan (For Indians, Srilankans and Maldivians). For all other nationalities, USD 250/- night must be paid as sustainability fees.The tour operator has to present Proof of hotel reservations. All hotels for tourists have to be three-star and above. Travel insurance is also required which is set at Rs700/- per person for the duration of the stay.Original RC of the bike, Valid insurance, PUC, Original Valid Indian Driving license card, are the necessary documents for any Motor vehicle including Motorcycles.It is preferable to have the motorcycle in your name otherwise you may need an authorization letter from the owner permitting you to ride in Bhutan.Rs 4500/- per Night of Stay in Bhutan for Motorcycle/Motorcar is to be paid in cash at the Regional Transport office in Phuentsholing.These documents have to be submitted to the RTO in Bhutan who will then issue the Route Permit.Indian Currency is accepted, and the exchange rate is 1:1One very important point - Make sure you have your bank cards cleared for transactions in Bhutan (generally on most Indian bank-issued cards - it's written in the small print that the cards cannot be used in Nepal and Bhutan). You will be required to call your Bank helpline number and ask them to allow usage of the cards in Bhutan.Please also ensure that you have sufficient INR currency at hand, as everything has to be managed by cash inside Bhutan.My bike is generally well-kitted for long trips, but I did a small service at home only wherein I, changed the Oil, cleaned the K&N air filter, Cardan shaft removed and greased, Cardan Oil changed, Checked torque values on all crucial nuts and bolts and Tyre pressure checked. I have both Aluminium Panniers and Soft Luggage and for this trip, I decided to go with the soft luggage basically to manage the weight (Panniers tend to be heavier) Some very essential generic requirements on the motorcycle are as below:USB Charging port 12V (My bike has 3 USB ports)Aux LightsHeadlight guards / protectorsThe Connected cradle to accommodate the phone is a very essential requirement when using a Phone for Google map Navigation.In hindsight, I should have probably used a Tail bag instead of the dry bag in my Moskomoto Reckless 80 set up along with the two dry bags on the side. Pack one bag with all necessary travel essentials (preferably the tail bag) which should contain everything that you may require for the night stay at the hotel and your next day's morning routine, The other bags can be left secure on the Motorcycle itself, this saves you time and effort to get back on the road the next morning.Ensure you have a good set of riding gear, this is non-negotiable - I was using Klim Adventure Rally Pro Jacket, Klim Badland Pants, Rynox Gloves, Scorpion AT950 modular helmet, Rynox Dry Innerwear (Not a big fan of this product- I found it to be a little uncomfortable as it sticks to your body after sweating, I rather prefer a cotton t-shirt inside in this heat).All four of us were using the Parani intercom, but the pairing was not as seamless as they claimed and the four of us could never get connected with each other. Only two of us could always remain paired. I am not entirely sure if we were pairing it the correct way, but it was very frustrating after having invested in a new intercom only to see it unable to connect all four of us.Other equipment carried were: Sony Action cam with loop recording charged by the bikes 12v USB port, essential tools, a Puncture repair kit, a compact air compressor (12V supply from the bike), a jump starter, Cable ties (very important), straps, bungee chords, Essential first aid and medicines, Spare Brake pads front and rear, Spark Plug set, key fob spare battery, Emergency key. Throughout the trip, only regular fuel was used on my bike, however, my friends used 95 octane wherever possible, but as we realized on the highways it was not easily available. The only thing unanimously decided was that we would not be riding late into the night, and that, we should find a decent hotel with safe parking by sunset.Day 1: 24.03.24 Mumbai (MH)- Akola (MH) (583Km)As usual, group members were not exactly on time. By the time we congregated and started the trip, it was 6:15, getting out of Mumbai in the early hours of the morning was easy, however, roads after Thane for about 30-35 km are under repairs and have a lot of diversions. Lack of route planning meant that we were just following Google and it did take us through some villages. Not a very smart idea, and we decided that the route needed to be better thought out, We all decided that, we would stick to National Highways only, and if they were not available, only then take a State Highway. For the most part, the roads were good. We stayed at the Grand Jalsa resort off the highway at Akola.Day 2: 25.03.24 Akola (MH) - Rewa (MP) (780km)After the previous day's experience, we decided to only stick to NH, and the route took us via Nagpur, Seoni, Jabalpur, Katni to Rewa. By far, the best National Highway in the entire trip, first NH53 until Nagpur (absolutely brilliant roads ) then NH 44 and NH 30 towards Rewa, The roads were so good that I could engage Cruise control at 100kmph and leave it for up to 15min on some stretches. The motorcycle being absolutely planted and stable, it just gobbles up distances effortlessly. We stayed at Hotel Chandralok, the hotel is owned by a Sikh gentleman and he is a bike enthusiast. Nice hotel and good food. The festival of Holi was around and this meant that traffic on the road was not as bad, but this would impact us the next day. Near Pench Tiger Reserve - Hydration stop At Hotel Chandralok Rewa - Brilliant Hospitality specially for Bikers Day 3: 26.03.24 Rewa (MP) - Muzaffarpur (BR) (530km)Started late from Rewa due to the good hospitality, Again sticking to NH as planned we made rapid progress, However, soon we realized a serious problem, It was Holi and it was a very big festival in Bihar. So big in fact, that everything, and I mean every damn thing is closed in the entire state of Bihar. This meant that Petrol would become an issue, and sure enough, three of the bikes were down to one line on the fuel gauges (The GSA with 31ltr fuel tank was very comfortable / not concerned) and no petrol pumps were open, we had already started riding very conservatively but we were very concerned with our fuel situation. Towards late afternoon, we found a petrol pump which was closed, however, there was a pushcart next to the pump and they were selling petrol in Black, Selling 750ml whiskey bottles filled with petrol (say about 700ml per bottle) at Rs150/-. We bargained and were able to strike a deal for one bottle of petrol at Rs110/- . We bought 6ltrs each, enough to propel us until Patna. This entire fuel fiasco meant that we wasted a lot of time trying to find a petrol station. Contrary to popular belief, Roads were very good initially via Hanumana, Mirzapur, Mughalsarai, Mohania, Arrah, Patna towards Muzaffarpur, NH30, NH135, NH35, AH1, NH319, NH922, NH22. We got some traffic on the outskirts of Patna. As dusk set in we stopped for the night at Hotel The Premier in Muzaffarpur (BR). Don't even ask how rubbish that hotel was, but nonetheless a place to stay the night. Near Mirzapur - road side eatery Highway services after a Toll plaza Day 4 27.03.24 Muzaffarpur (BR) - Bagdogra (WB) (438km)Started later than planned, got very heavy traffic to exit the town, following NH only as planned, The roads were, for the most part, good. Towards evening, we were tired and decided to stop for the night at Bagdogra. Route taken was Darbhanga, Phulparas, Forbesganj, Araria, Purnia, Dalkhola, Kishanganj, Islampur, to Bagdogra. That is NH27 all the way. The section of road after Dalkhola until Kishanganj was no so good with some potholes. The night was spent at Orbit Hotel, which had decent facilities with food. Near Purunia - The best and simple Dhaba food experience during the trip Day 5 :28.03.24 Bagdogra (WB) - Jaigaon (WB) (158km)We had a leisurely breakfast and left the hotel late since this was the last leg to Bhutan, we took the most scenic and stunning northern route, surprisingly the roads were excellent and through some densely forested areas with tall trees on both sides, after which started the tea gardens, we crossed the famous Coronation Bridge on the Teesta river, which is a sight to behold, towards evening we reached Jaigaon. At Jaigaon, as we were approaching the border the roads were very bad with chaotic traffic. We have a friend who is a businessman and an avid motorcycle rider at Jaigaon, so we had a good evening tea and snacks while we waited for our Guide to take us into Bhutan. After the immigration process, we proceeded to Hotel Gardhen, Since Parvez was tired and exhausted, he decided that he would not be riding the motorcycle inside Bhutan and instead sit in the car with the Guide and Driver, and to give him company, Khodaram also decided that he will also not ride inside Bhutan. Both the bikes were left at Jaigaon with our friend and only Darayus and I got our bikes into Bhutan. As mentioned in the beginning, we were contemplating renting Bhutan-registered RE Himalayan, but when we saw the bikes on offer, we quickly changed our mind and decided to use our own bikes. The difference between Jaigaon and Phuentsholing is stark and you will be amazed at how clean and quiet Bhutan is. Tea Gardens in West Bengal Jaigaon/Phuentsholing Border Entry gate to Bhutan Day 6 : 29.03.24 Phuentsholing - Thimpu (150km)We checked out of the hotel at 9:00 am and went to clear immigration which was a time-consuming process, Indians make up the bulk of the tourists who visit Bhutan, and Immigration clearance took about 1.5hrs. Then we went to file the route plan and clear the paperwork for the two motorcycles which we intended to ride, it was also a slightly lengthy procedure which took about an Hour to complete, we paid Rs22500/- per bike for the 5 nights route plan inside Bhutan. Formalities completed, and we started our trip to Thimpu. The quality of the roads is excellent and they are completely built and maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, the roads are totally winding in nature and are a real pleasure and fun experience. On the way we stopped at Takthikoti canteen operated by BRO on the invitation by Chief Engineer of Project Dantak, towards evening we reached Thimpu and checked into Hotel Nordenma. One of the fellow riders knew Kelly Dorji (Actor and Model), he invited us to his Restobar in Thimpu called Grey Area, we had some great food with impeccable hospitality from Kelly. A huge thanks to him for inviting us. Enroute to Thimpu - Kawasaki Versys 1000 and the BMW R1200GS Day 7: 30.03.24 Thimpu Local SightseeingStarted the day visiting the Buddha Dordenma, Simply Bhutan, Royal Takin Pzeserve (Takin is the national animal of Bhutan), Bhutanese Cuisine at an authentic restaurant, and some local shopping. Buddha Dordenma at Thimpu- Angels look mesmerizing Day 8: 31.03.24 Thimpu - Punakha (73km)Again a day on the motorcycle, with excellent roads and breathtaking scenery, The two of us on the motorcycles would take off using Google maps and reach the pre-determined meeting point. as discussed with the guide, driver and our two other friends. We stopped at Dochula Pass which is a monument with 108 stupas in memory of the fallen soldiers. The bikes always generate a lot of interest among the public wherever we stop, At Dochula, we saw a lot of tourists, specially a group of Ladies only tourists group from various parts of India, we ended up meeting the same group a few times more along the trip in the next couple of days. We also met a group of three German riders who rented RE bikes locally and were exploring Bhutan. Onwards we rode to Chime Lhakhang The Divine Madman temple, whilst there, we witnessed a freak accident, burning down and gutting the Monastery which was being newly constructed for the Monks, we chipped in to help in any way we could to remove combustible material from the immediate vicinity. This put us behind schedule to visit a few more places in Punakha, We later went to our Hotel and called it a day. We stayed at Hotel Lobesa, it had a beautiful view outside the windows, a good balcony and big rooms, by far the best hotel we stayed at in Bhutan. Punakha Fort Entry - Note the large honeybee comb Day 9: 01.04.24 Punakha - Paro (115km)Started after breakfast, since we missed a few sightseeing locations the previous day due to the fire at the Monastery, we went to the Punakha Fort. This is an impressive structure with unmistakable Bhutanese architecture, a sight not to miss is the school of Trout fish which you can see from the bridge leading to the fort, after spending some time at the fort we were on the road again back along the same road for most of the way. Stopping again at Dochula Pass, the cafe is very good and since the sky was a bit more clear than the previous visit, we were able to see a few of the tall Himalayan mountain peaks at a distance. The highlight of the day was our invitation from the Chief Engineer of Project Dantak to visit the headquarters. We were deeply honored and thrilled to have received his Invitation, we had a very good interactive dialogue with the Chief Engineer, who was kind enough to explain the various aspects of the BRO's mandate in Bhutan, the history behind the entire project and the Museum. We were presented with a coffee table book consisting of the entire history of Project Dantak. Deeply honored and Salute to our soldiers who work in such extreme terrains. We then took to the road leading to Paro, as usual, the roads were brilliant with swooping curves at every turn. Paro is a beautiful town located in the Valley, this is also the town with the International Airport. Towards evening we reached our Hotel. We stayed at Hotel Ratna Vara, a decent hotel, However, the food could have been better. We retired early as the next day was the big trek to Tiger's Nest.Day 10: 02.04.24 Paro Local sight seeingWe left the Hotel early to the Tiger's Nest base, but before that, we stopped and had a refreshing breakfast at a local diner. Tiger's nest by far symbolizes Bhutan, it's a must-do trek for tourists arriving in Bhutan. It's by no means easy, and definitely not for the faint-hearted, and you need to be relatively fit to attempt such a Trek. The base camp is at 7300ft and the Nest is at 10500ft, the trek itself is about 5.5km, Parvez, the oldest among us chose to sit this one out, We started climbing at about 8:40 am and finally reached the summit at about 12:00, spent about an hour in the temples on top, the view of tiger's nest from any direction is breathtaking and beautiful. The trek consists of trails and steps both paved and stone steps. The cafe midway is a good place to rest your legs and re-energise. The trek down was also quite daunting, by the time we reached the base it was about 2:30pm, and we were all tired and decided to head back to the hotel. In the evening, we went out for a bit of souvenir shopping. Tiger's Nest - A Bhutan trip - must do trek Day 11: 03.04.24 Paro - PhuentsholingWe had a leisurely breakfast and then headed back on the road to the border town of Phuentsholing. We again had the same invitation to refresh and recharge at the Takthikoti GREF canteen which we accepted. Reached Phuentsholing towards evening, and headed to the same Hotel (Hotel Gardhen). Parked the bikes and came out to Jaigaon to have tea at our friend's place. After that, we headed back to the Hotel in Phuentsholing and retired early since we planned an early start for the return road trip.Day 12: 04.04.24 Phuentsholing - Darbhanga (BR) (530km)The previous night's food did not seem to go down well with my gut. I felt sick in the stomach and threw up a few times in the night. My friends did not think I was fit enough to ride, but, that was not a choice. The friend in Jaigaon was also riding with us for a few hundred kms on his Triumph Tiger 800, he offered to take me to a hospital on the way. By 10:00am my condition had worsened, I had thrown up about 5 times and was feeling severely dehydrated, I spoke to a doctor's friend, and she prescribed Tab Ondem and an Antibiotic to fight the food poisoning. The tab immediately helped and I was feeling a lot better, thus decided to continue as much as possible, and took the same roads back so we knew that the roads were good. By nightfall we were in the town of Darbhanga and decided to stop for the day at Hotel Garcia International, It was a very nice hotel and we had a nice peaceful night.Day 13: 05.04.24 Darbhanga (BR) - Hanumana (MP) (500km)I felt a lot better in the morning, starting at about 8:30 am roads were good as we were taking the same road back, the afternoon heat was too much and we were stopping often to hydrate and stretch our legs as we were having cramps. Passed UP in the evening, it was very sad to see the lack of any hotels after Mirzapur, by nightfall we had passed Mirzapur but could not find any hotels, so we kept pressing ahead, it was only after entering MP we saw a newly built hotel, we took the rooms even though it did not have any AC, it was about 9:30 pm by the time we reached the hotel, had dinner and retired for the day. We stayed at the Highway Treat Hotel.Day 14: 06.04.24 Hanumana (MP) - Nagpur (MH) (598km)Road were as good as they could be, made rapid progress. These bikes on such wonderful roads are really a treat and a dream ride. The skies were overcast and that also meant that the heat was a little lesser than usual. Reached Nagpur by sunset and called it for the day.Day 15: 07.04.24 Nagpur (MH) - Wadner (MH) (370km)Since we were not in a tearing hurry to reach, we took it easy with the riding, the day time heat had again started to rise, the roads were excellent and by early evening we decided to stop for tea at a roadside hotel which had just newly launched, since rooms were available with AC we decided to stay put there. Stayed at Hotel Gurukripa.Day 16: 08.04.24 Wadner (MH) - Mumbai (MH) (520km)Started around 7:30am and took a slightly different route than when we had left from Mumbai, using NH53 passing through Bhusawal, Jalgaon, Dhule then onto NH60 towards Malegaon, Nashik, Igatpuri, Thane and Mumbai. NH60 was good but every intersection has multiple speed breakers and as such has to slow down. The real agony was the poor condition of roads leading to Thane which starts about 30km before Thane and the afternoon traffic with the scorching heat was really unbearable. Finally reaching home by 6:00 pm. The epic round trip was about 5500km, In hindsight, we could have accomplished this trip in 2 weeks, but with a group of riders, we have to cater to the pace at which everyone is comfortable. The bikes which accomplished this trip were the real gems, each of the motorcycles did not miss a beat or give us any kind of mechanical trouble. The benefit of shaft drive was amply apparent as the Versys chain needed to be lubed before the return trip. The superior comfort of the GS/GSA is also something I wish to highlight, the suspension is truly an engineering marvel. Without a doubt, the BMW GS/GSA is one of the best motorcycles ever made. I wish here to thank my fellow riders for such a great trip, a memory etched forever in my mind. Before I conclude, I have to say that our Highway systems have seen a remarkable improvement, they were simply fantastic. One takeaway for anyone planning a road trip - stick to the National highways for as long as you can before you consider altering to SH or any other roads. Few more photos for your viewing pleasure Enroute to Thimpu - On Arguably the best purpose-built motorcycle At Takthikoti GREF Canteen Enroute to Thimpu One of the Few waterfalls on the route to Thimpu With Mr Anil, Road trip back to Mumbai somewhere in the forest of Jalpaiguri All the bikes in formation, a nice photo opportunity William Tell is aiming for the Apple on the head of Mr Parvez Finally After an Epic trip - Odometer on arrival back home A small Bhutan sticker to highlight the achievement Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Are you happy with your turbo-petrol car? Owners share pros & cons

BHPian 1LR-GUE recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Hi all, I drive a Skoda Rapid 1.0 TSI AT since December 2020. Of late, I have been thinking about this particular engine and here are my observations after driving around 50% in the city, 20% on highways and the remaining 30% in mixed road conditions: LikesGood performance.DislikesAbsurd running costs.NVH is not as great as an NA petrol.Turbo lag in low RPMs is difficult to manage in mixed driving conditions.Unknown maintenance costs.Mileage is very sensitive to throttle inputs.Mileage is very sensitive to outside temperature ( I get better mileage at night than afternoon with the same driving style).Conclusion - My next purchase is NOT going to be a turbo-petrol. I will consider EVs, hybrids or a simple NA petrol + AT only. So my question to all members of Team bhp will you buy a turbo petrol as your next car? Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:I own two turbo-petrols and am extremely happy with both of them. These are 2.0L turbo-petrols mated to ATs in the Superb & Thar.Fast performanceExcellent torque & driveabilityPunchy mid-rangeDSG / AT that makes great use of the torque.I am NEVER going back to a naturally-aspirated petrol. Once you get used to the torque & punch of turbo-petrol, NA engines feel very boring (sole exception = City 1.5L petrol). Drive the Fronx 1.0L turbo-petrol & 1.2L NA back to back and I can assure you, you won't touch the 1.2L NA with a barge pole. Power delivery is more effortless with turbo-petrol, unlike NA petrol where you have to rev & wring the necks off, for speed. The Superb has a decent FE for its size. The Thar is a royal guzzler, but keeping its weight + bricklike aerodynamics + power + fatter tyres in mind, I guess 6 km/l is alright. I also drive my cars with a heavy right foot, so FE has never been a priority. The Rapid 1.0 TSI is a w-i-l-d car! It's a 3-cylinder turbo-petrol and is known to be full of noise, vibrations & feel. We mentioned as such in our review of the Rapid 1.0 TSI. However, you cannot paint all turbo-petrols with the same brush. The 4-cylinder turbo-petrols I have are so smooth, you can't even tell the motor is running! Again, something specific to the VW 1.0 TSI. This is the no.1 downside to turbo-petrols. Drive a turbo-diesel hard and you'll still get great FE. Drive a turbo-petrol hard and you'll get 5 - 7 kmpl. That being said, keep in mind that you are driving a torque-converter AT and 90% of torque-converter Petrol ATs offer poor efficiency. Most of the cons you have mentioned in the Rapid 1.0 TSI AT were already mentioned in our Official Review. I think you bought the wrong car, and not the wrong engine type (i.e. turbo petrol) per se.Here's what BHPian Maky had to say on the matter:I drive a Turbo Petrol in my VW Tiguan. Mine is the 2.0 TSI gem of an engine mated to the excellent 7-speed DQ381-7A gearbox. I am extremely extremely pleased with it. Right from when I first drove it in the Octavia, one of the many other vehicles I TD'd before the final purchase. ProsExplosive PowerExcellent fuel economy, for what it is.ConsWhile the turbo lag is very well contained, being someone who has driven NA all his life. I do miss the instant acceleration of the NA.You kind of need to learn driving all over again when switching to a Turbo unit after a lifetime of NA driving, I felt.Here's what BHPian Dr.AD had to say on the matter:I am very happy with the turbo-petrol engine in my Thar. It is a lovely engine, and in fact, this engine is one of the highlights of the car. As @GTO pointed out, most of the issues OP mentioned are specific to that 1.0 TSI turbo-petrol engine. A very small displacement, 3-cylinder engine is bound to have some issues even if it is turbocharged. It is understandable to a large extent. But in general, 4-cylinder turbo-petrols are great! I will never go back to a naturally aspirated engine now. Both my cars are turbocharged (one turbo-diesel and one turbo-petrol), and both the engines are fantastic! There is no going back to NA once you get used to a good turbo engine! Yes, the fuel economy in turbo-petrol engines can be poor when driven hard. But that is a well-known thing and that is the price one has to pay for everything else that a turbo-petrol engine offers that is good. Further, it is not always the case that naturally aspirated petrol engines give great mileage when pushed hard. For example, my previous car was a Maruti SX4 with a 1.6L NA petrol engine with a 5-speed manual. Whenever I drove that car hard on a highway or through the hills, it returned about 9km/l to 10km/l. Compared to that, my Thar (with a 2.0L turbo-petrol engine and 6-speed AT) gives about 8km/l to 9km/l in similar conditions. I do not think the difference is that big. Overall, yes, I am absolutely happy with the turbo-petrol engine in my Thar.Here's what BHPian Rajeevraj had to say on the matter:Voted Yes. 10+ years and 85000 km with the 1.2 TSI DSG and I am extremely happy with it and am fairly sure my next cars have to be turbo petrols. Several of your negatives are definitely specific to the 3-cylinder TSI. The 1.2 tsi is extremely quiet and has a nice sing to it when you rev. Mileage can fluctuate as you mentioned, but for me, that has not been a big criterion.Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The elegant Godrej split: A blueprint for India Inc?

The Godrej reorganization is marked by elegance and could serve as a model for others. Indian business groups should also examine models used in the West and East for ways to ensure that ambitions of gaining size and going global are not compromised in the process.

Best Monitor Deals: Save Hundreds on LG, Acer, Asus and More - CNET

When it's time to increase your screen size, don't overpay for a top-rated monitor.

Best Mattress Deals: Upgrade Your Old Mattress With These Epic Deals - CNET

There are tons of discounts right now on mattresses, pillows and other bedding needs from top brands that you know and love.

Best Flower Delivery Deals: Order Now in Time for Mother's Day Delivery - CNET

Mother's Day is fast approaching so don't sleep on these offers.

Don't Sleep on These Refurbished MacBook Deals Including the Super-Speedy M2 Max - CNET

It's easy to spend thousands on a new laptop if you're shopping at the high-end models, but these refurbished options are a great way to save some cash.

Mahindra XUV700 Blaze Edition prices start at Rs 24.24 lakh

Earlier today, we shared details of a new limited-edition version of the XUV700 called 'Blaze Edition'. According to the latest reports, the SUV will be offered in three variants, with prices starting at Rs 24.24 lakh (ex-showroom). The XUV700 Blaze Edition is said to be based on the AX7 L variant. It will be offered in Petrol AT, Diesel MT and Diesel AT versions. Reports also suggest that the production is likely to be capped at 2,500 units. The XUV700 Blaze Edition will be offered in a single Matte Blaze Red exterior colour with a Napoli Black roof. The SUV will also feature a black grille, black ORVMs and alloy wheels. The Blaze Edition gets an all-black interior with red highlights. These include red stitching on the seat upholstery, red trims around the centre console and AC vents. Powering the SUV will be a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 197 BHP and 380 Nm. It will be paired with a 6-speed automatic. The Blaze Edition will also be offered with the 2.2-litre diesel engine with a choice of either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.Mahindra XUV700 Blaze Edition ex-showroom prices:AX7 L Petrol MT 7-seater - Rs 25.54 lakhAX7 L Diesel MT 7-seater -Rs 24.24 lakhAX7 L Diesel AT 7-seater - Rs 26.04 lakhSource: Autocar India

AncestryDNA Kit Hits New Record Low of $39 at Amazon - CNET

Learn about your history for less with this impressive 61% discount at Amazon

Save Up to 78% on Top Web Hosting Platforms With These Promotions - CNET

Some of our favorite hosting services like Hostgator and Namecheap are offering steep discounts right now.

Get This Costco Gold Star Membership and Nab a $40 Gift Card for Free - CNET

You can save yourself some money in the long-run and also get a free $40 gift card with this membership.

Selling two vintage cars to an enthusiast who plans to restore them

BHPian Jeroen recently shared this with other enthusiasts. My good friend Berndt had decided to sell a few of his oldtimers. Berndt had asked me and two other friends, Marco and Kees, to come and help extract them from his garage. Those of you who follow this thread will be familiar with Berndt's garage. It is not easy to find anything in there, let alone get anything out. The new owner showed up with his son and his granddaughter Mila, who was very excited about it all. They already owned an Austin. They acquired it some 40 years ago and have restored it themselves. Both of Berndt's cars are going to require some major work too. But nice to see these two cars go to an enthusiast who will restore them and make them road-worthy again. We had the first car out and on the trailer within 25 minutes. They drove off to take it home, we went for another round of coffee. Next, we started extracting the second car from the garage. It was parked all the way, stuck in a corner. We had to use a trolley jack to swing the rear out. I was surprised to see the tyres still held their air when we pumped them up. Even more surprising, the brakes were still working. I had expected them to be completely seized. British engineering at its best! After about an hour and a half the new owner returned with the trailer for oldtimer number 2. As we were about to load up on the trailer, a bunch of one-HP vehicles came pass! Nice old registration plate. Look carefully, it is mounted on a contraption that can swing. So if you lower the boot, the registration plate will swing and remain vertical and visible. Myla insisted she would winch the car all the way up onto the trailer! Strong little girl, she just kept on going! On it goes Berndt has a couple of lockups where he keeps more cars. We are going to move some more of his cars. One of these currently hidden cars needs a new gearbox. Berndt being Berndt doesn't have a new gearbox, but he has several old ones. So we will be doing some swapping to see if we can find one that fits and works. In the Netherlands cars over 50 years of age do not require an annual inspection APK (MOT) anymore. This last car still has its Dutch registration so as soon as it is road-worthy, all it needs is insurance, and can be driven once again. It will take some work as the head gasket was blown a couple of years ago. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Mahindra Thar 5-door: Checkout the rear seat legroom & boot space

Having launched the XUV 3XO, Mahindra is now gearing up for the next big launch scheduled for August 15 - the Thar 5-door. The Thar 5-door will be positioned as a more practical alternative to the 3-door version. To achieve this, Mahindra has extended the wheelbase and added a pair of doors. The latest spy images provide a better idea of the rear seat legroom in the Thar 5-door. As you can see, there is enough space between the front and rear seats for a large jerry can. The other image shows the boot space. The Thar 5-door has quite a spacious boot with a flat floor. It appears to have enough space for a few large suitcases. The wheel arches do take up some space though. Being a family SUV, the Thar 5-door will be equipped with several comfort and convenience features. The SUV is expected to get electrically adjustable and ventilated front seats, automatic climate control with rear AC vents, reading lamps for rear passengers, a 10.25-inch touchscreen paired with a 9-speaker Harman-Kardon audio system, a digital instrument cluster and an auto-dimming IRVM. The Thar 5-door will be offered with the same engine options as the 3-door version. These include a 2.2-litre diesel producing 130 BHP and 300 Nm and a 2.0-litre petrol that makes 150 BHP and 300-320 Nm. Both engines are likely to be offered with 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions. Thanks to Ankur for sending these images in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing them with other enthusiasts via this Team-BHP share page!

Himalayan 450 & 411 go on a trip: KTM 390 ADV owner shares observations

BHPian Jaggu recently shared this with other enthusiasts. So after a long wait, I finally got my hands on the New Himalayan Sherpa over the weekend. Thanks to ex-mod Khan_Sultan who has picked up one, so along with his Gen 1 Himalayan we did a ride of Uttarakhand hills. Starting from Noida > Abbott Mount > Munsiyari > Almora > Noida. This gave a good mix of all terrains and roads that one would encounter during ownership. These are my notes and the easiest comparison would be with the 390 Adv I own, comparing it to the GSA 1200 (my other bike) would be unfair I guess.Chassis and handlingThis is one area where the bike has really trumped the cards, compared to the old bike, the new Sherpa is leagues apart. Though the bike may feel top-heavy (which it is), it is just a brilliant handler. Almost as nimble as the KTM, but more mature Vs the hooligan nature of the KTM. Personally, I prefer this, slightly heavier feel which gives it a big bike feel. Yes, it will need a little more effort during prolonged curve carving but what a bike! I would give 8.5/10 for this. Even in city use the handling is very friendly as long as you are moving. The larger size of the bike helps with longer visibility and respect from other fellow commuters.SuspensionAgain one of the good things, it's sprung on the stiffer side but kind of takes on any kind of terrain without a fuzz. The bike was running slightly higher pressure since Khan had done a tubeless conversion and wanted to put some buffer during the testing phase. Still, it was pretty good, though at higher highway speeds bike did float a bit, just like the KTM's. Crosswinds were high, so I really can't blame the bike, plus higher pressure. All day sitting at 100-120 Kmph should be a breeze for this suspension.BrakesLook Ma I finally have brakes! We were swapping bikes and moving from new to old Himalayan is outright scary. The new one brakes on the dot, very precise. Add rear brakes and it can be quite grabby also for those emergency stops. Fortunately, we did not have any panic brake situations, but am sure they will work just fine. Regarding the feel of the brakes I would rate the New Himalayan better than the KTM Adv 390.Engine & GearboxThis is one major upgrade, but honestly apart from the power I was not really impressed. The said bike has upgrades done that include 1) Fuel X piggy back 2) exhaust expansion box delete on stock end can and 3) free flow air filter. These mods are 100% recommended! Stock map (at setting 3) bike feels vibe like hell, left pegs vibrate more than the right, so it is not even vibed lol. Even a 20-30 kms on the stock map was downright irritating on the plains. Move the setting to 8 and the bike just transforms, not only does the initial response improve by two fold, but the vibes reduce to a very very acceptable level. I think it is the new BS6 norms that are the culprit here. If they sort this, the engine would be a lovely one. Mind you, it is not a high-revving 12k rpm motor like KTM. Just let the revs goto about 6-7 k RPM and work through that smooth gearbox for a fun-filled ride. People who are used to Gen 1 Himalayan gearbox would take some good time to get used to the nature of the new 6-speed box. One has to really work it and keep the engine in the right revs to have some good pace.Side standYes, this needs a special mention under the flops! Thanks to the design of the central stand and placement, the side stand is weirdly bent. It looks cool, but the bike ends up being too low on the side. Add the top-heavy nature, and the bike is a real pain in the arsu, rather than legs and hands to lift up. If there is a slight incline to the left, then you are done! with some luggage on top, well you can dial a friend for help. One of the worst designs one can have on a touring bike. Khan is contemplating removing the central stand and designing a longer more upright side stand, which is the level of pain. For me being used to the big fat cow, could manage. But trust me if you are of small build and for fellow lady riders, this could be a real downer while making the purchase decision.Rider fittingRoyal Enfield really needs to learn here. This bike has a riser fitted so the handlebars were kinda sorted. But hello if you need to adjust the switch gear to sync up with new handlebar position or even lever positions, you can't! The switch gear has a small plastic locator stub, that goes into a corresponding hole at the bar end. Smart Alecs in RE never thought that people actually need to adjust levers and switch gears for comfort and safety. Yes, one can file off the plastic stub and then tighten the switch console back while adding some 3M tape, but how lame can this be??!! Next is the gear lever, the lever end is almost 1/4 inch taller than foot pegs (with rubber), with riding boots one has to lift legs and kick the lever down More impressive is the way in which the lever is attached to the shifter rod. The adjustment is as old school as it can be, one has to remove the whole pedal off the splines and reinsert it. Which is fine, but once you remove the bolt the lever just refuses to come out. You will need a lever or thick screwdriver to be shown inside the clamp side and spread the hole to get it off. We did not have this, so had to put back the bolt and ride on with that awkwardly positioned lever. Compared to this the old Himalayan has a nice adjustable link which can be used to set the lever position by undoing the bolt with an open 10 mm spanner! Seats though they are firm (my liking), are not comfortable over long rides. Not even as comfy as the bare bench 390 adv. The reason being 1) the seat is tilted and one will land up sliding down. 2) The bigger issue, the rear part of the front seat which is wide and where your bum should be... the scoop of the plastic base pokes the bum hard exactly there. The cushion just doesn't have any place to flex and the plastic eventually leaves its mark on your bum. This can be fixed by a good seat guy, and Khan is planning for something.Overall verdictI loved it minus the engine! but what Khan has done has kinda made it good. This can be a good one-bike solution for 200-400km/day touring and city use. I would not dare say, it can compete with 800 to 1200 cc bikes, that would be just Khayali pulao (wishful thinking), but is a good ead economical alternative... if you don't want to spend a fortune, procuring even preowned big bikes that cost more. Is it a KTM Adv killer? Not really, coz the character is very different. This bike may not really be to the liking of younger or a real fast rider if you ask me. KTM is much more refined and polished overall and a hoot to ride. Will I trade my KTM Adv 390 for this? Well yes if someone offers a flat exchange to my bike with this. But I will definitely get those tweaks copied from Khan's bike. PS: A big thanks to Khan_Sultan for letting me ride this beauty and his old Himalayan! Love you bro and this was yet another awesome ride. Classic example of side stand, the old Himalayan wouldn't park proper at this incline if it's facing the other way around like Sherpa. Which is the way it should be. Where as Sherpa nicely sitting down even with raised road bank on that side. Also to lock the steering to opp side to lift the bike off, you will need some serious muscle thanks to the front and top heaviness of the bike. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 service & engine oil change at 5,000 km

BHPian aviator1101 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Ownership Update: Bagheera crosses 5000 kms Second Service done All inspections are as per schedule. Following additional activities were also carried out:- Chain slack adjusted Engine oil (2.1 litres) was changed though it was not part of the second service schedule. When the oil was drained, it was found in very bad condition. RE recommended oil change interval is 10000 kms. However, the condition was pretty bad even at 5000 kms, which even the technicians checked and agreed to. Thankfully, there were no metal shavings or sludge deposition in the suction filters. Though my bike ran mostly in hilly terrain, ie low gears, low speeds, and more loads, the condition of the oil was not expected to be this bad in just an interval of 4500 kms. After seeing the quality of the OEM liquid gun oil, even in plains and cruising on highways or normal city use,I would prefer to change the oil to a max of 6000-7000 kmsfor preserving engine health and peace of mind in the long run. The footpeg rubbers also came off in view of the upcoming rides amidst the onset of monsoons. The total amount for the second service Service Kit = 250.00 Engine oil = 1,150.00 Total = 1,400.00 The service centre gave me a separate bill for the engine oil and the oil change wasn't entered in the service record either. Strange ways of RE Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Rivers older than the flow of blood in our veins

These sustainers of life and cradles of civilization are suffering from both climate change and human neglect. They predate the evolution of our species by millions of years and we must awaken to the rights and protection they deserve.

Took my Jimny to Himachal with 4 adults & luggage: 10 observations

BHPian prateekswarup recently shared this with other enthusiasts. I've almost completed 6k in my Jimny MT Alpha White. Hence, I thought it was a good time to write in a mini-review of the same. My previous vehicles have included a Grand Vitara 2.0, Polo GT TSI and currently a Mitsubishi Outlander. Prologue I have followed the Jimny launch with keen interest but did not bite the bullet once the prices were announced. However, with the Thunder Edition and yearly discounts, I finally took the plunge and bought one on 24th Dec'23. Usage Till Now As soon as I bought it, I took it with 4 adults and 1 kid to Mashobra in Himachal for 5 5-day trip. Post that it has been my daily driver for the office commute in Gurgaon (~11kms one way). In the last week of Mar'24, I recently completed a 2,000km road trip to Spiti Valley from Gurgaon. We were 2 adults and a boot full of luggage along with water, petrol jerrycan, the works. Initial Impressions My Jimny is stock - no changes in tyres, no accessories except the rear defogger wire protectors. I wanted to have a pristine driving experience for a bit before I started looking at mods. The one change that I have made is adding a GAN tuning chip to the OBD port that gives better performance & drivability. Putting down a few points after 6k of drivingInitially, I felt that the gears were a little hard, but the gearbox-clutch has smoothened out post 3.5kThe suspension setup is lovely and is a boon in Gurugram's pot-holed roads. In the hills, it has taken the bad roads with aplomb. At high speeds, on speed breakers or cornering you do feel the rear step out a bit and initially it was a bit unnerving but now I've understood it better.Engine braking is really good and the more one drives this in the hills, the more you begin to start using the same.The high-rev nature of the engine puts a smile on your face. I kept the revs above 2k on my hill drives and hardly ever felt the loss of power. There were patches and steep inclines where you needed to shift to 1st to get momentum, but almost all the other cars in our convoy also struggled. This is where I feel a little more torque would make the Jimny outstanding.The stock tyres are adequate. On rough roads around Kaza, I did get sidewall puncture. Other Jimny's in the convoy had 215s Contis and 235 Yokos and they fared better. But for now, even with river and snow off-roading, the stock tyres felt adequate. An upgrade to 215s is on the cards in the near future.Cabin storage for small items is abysmal. I managed to put some soft foam sheets on the front door pockets to help slide in a phone without rattling and damage. Cupholders get used. The front grab handle with the leatherette wrap also helps in holding the passenger phone. Apart from these changes, I do feel the need to add more storage options to the front.The rear seat belt warning is a pain. I do not want to tamper with airbags deployment and keep them buckled in when not in use.Boot storage is adequate and swallows up 2 mid-size suitcases and 2-3 duffle bags with ease.Traction control is quite aggressiveAuto-start-stop in the hills can get intrusive. In city traffic, it's easy to use.I love the size and footprint along with the commanding view of the road. It is small enough to get through most gaps, narrow hill roads and offers a very old-school SUV experience. I learnt my driving on a Gypsy and it has a similar feel.Letting a Few Pictures do the talking: Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Why I got my 5th-gen City bumper repainted instead of replaced

BHPian ndp88 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Hello everyone, update here. Not a happy one. Got delivery today and as we were bringing home a brand new car making the last turn, some underage kid dashed it from behind tearing apart the rear bumper. He was without a licence, driving without headlight in his XUV700. The panel is broken. Taking it to the Honda Service Centre tomorrow. I think Replacement is the only option here. Any idea how much this will cost? Repair update: Since this Car was a gift, we wanted to drive it down over the weekend and present ourselves to father in our hometown. That is why Delivery on Gudi Padwa was critical (which took a different fight altogether with the dealer). And so after the whole ordeal of the accident late into the night, I was convinced that now I needed to get the Panel replaced by checking with ASC tomorrow. We were thoroughly disheartened and kept wondering why this happened to us. But I was confident in my heart that the decision to forgive the kid was correct. In the morning, I took a look at the car in full daylight. Fortunately, only the rear bumper was damaged and broken. No impact on the underbody guard quarter panel or wheel assembly body. My biggest worry was structural integrity and not the cosmetic look. Again by god's grace, there was no serious damage to the structure and only the Fibre Plastic part was damaged. In my assessment, the kid was at speed and tried to control impact at the last moment by breaking, a steep right-turn to the steering wheel. Had it been a full 180-degree impact, maybe the car would've been pushed ahead and damage would have been everywhere from the Boot panel to the entire back body. Maybe airbags might've also been deployed. I felt grateful that no major accident happened both of us were safe, no injury to anybody else either. I called Viva Honda (where I purchased) for Service centre contact before I actually drove down, in case of appointment is required. Perhaps it was too early for them, and nobody called back after promising a call-back. Then I called another Honda ASC, the girl promptly directed the call to the Service site head who took down the details. I sent photographs etc. He reached out immediately after 10-15 minutes, saying the Panel needs to be replaced which costs 15k+ GST including painting, labor, and everything. The only catch is the part is not available, and would take 3 days for stock availability. I called another Centre and they also said part is not available in Mumbai altogether. Strange. So in meanwhile, I had already registered an Insurance claim late last night. Now I was confused mind, what to do. It was important to me the panel be fixed immediately as our travel plans were aligned accordingly. But good repair was also extremely important. Another factor was claiming Insurance, this would've meant letting go of the No Claim Bonus and adding accident history to the Car within the first 24 hrs. While I am not averse to claiming insurance and have done so in past, the above factors were important as well. One may disagree, but avoiding the claim was my personal preference. I decided to bring my local garage guy just to get an opinion on repair. He examined it and showed readiness to fix it. I quizzed him for half an hour as to how the process would go and to what extent he could fix it. He showed me a few example videos of past jobs. He assured me that if the progress is not up to satisfaction, I can withdraw and go for full panel replacement. It seemed like a good idea to try at least. I was worried about the broken patch of the bumper, even though the damage was limited to only a small area. I made up my mind and gave go-ahead. Since the damage was limited to fibre plastic, I thought this could be fixed. What followed was 8 hours of gruelling job, which I personally sat throughout with each technician till the Car was fixed. It became good as new. Nobody could tell (except me) if there was any damage to the bumper. These chaps did amazing work, must appreciate their skills. Such a job typically takes 2-3 days to complete, but guys were willing enough to put aside other tasks and focus on this one car alone. Only polishing work was pending, which I got done a day later since you need to let the surface dry a little more and settle. I was overall satisfied with the repair, there was no sign of damage or shoddy fix. The whole thing cost me 6.5K, I didn't take compensation from anybody. By looking at the result of the repair, I had already forgotten the whole unpleasant experience of last night. I was happy again. I was looking forward to weekend and driving this beautiful baby on the Samruddhi Expressway. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Brought home my Virtus 1.5L GT DSG: Impressions post 2,000 km

BHPian adith97 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Choice of car I was looking to buy my first new car as my old car, which was my father's Duster, had become too old. I wanted to buy a sedan because growing up, we had City & Verna in our family which I absolutely loved driving. Comfort & performance wise, I feel sedans are the best. Plus I just got married & it is a small family, just me & my wife. This is the best time to have a sedan. I can always upgrade to an SUV once my family grows.Unfortunately today there aren't many options in the C segment. We only have Virtus, Slavia, Verna and City. I shortlisted Verna & Virtus after the first round of test driving. I am 6ft 3in height & I was worried sedans won't fit me. But except City, both Virtus & Verna were quite comfortable. I had to keep the seat at its lowest position. Verna feels a lot more spacious inside & has a ton of features like ADAS, lane keep assist, collision warning etc etc, which honestly I don't care for. Virtus, on the other hand, is a lot less spacious. Two people can sit comfortably in the second row, not more than that. Three for short distances only. I selected the 1.5L turbo petrol engine in both the cars. I did two more test drives on both the cars. I requested for a long test drive the third time on a highway & that sealed my decision. Virtus on highways is an absolute beast! Once you hit that sport mode, the car just pulls you like anything. Pair that with the DSG gearbox with almost instantaneous shifts, it makes you want to reach illegal speeds. The car asks you to press more. The handling, cornering, brakes are top class. Verna is almost equally good but Virtus was a level above. My only concern was the DSG DQ200 gearbox which has had a lot of issues in the past but it seems they have refined it to make it more reliable. My driving use was 60% highways, mostly trips to Chennai from Bangalore & 40% city, office commute 2-3 days a week. So it made sense to go for 1.5L TSI engine & DSG automatic because I was fed up of driving a manual in Bangalore traffic. Variant Virtus has two lines- one for the 1L TSI engine called Comfort line & one for the 1.5L TSI engine called Dynamic Line. Within these two lines, they have variants. In Dynamic Line, there are primarily two variants - GT & GT Plus. The only important difference is that GT comes with 2 airbags while GT Plus has 6 airbags. Apart from that, GT Plus also has sunroof (I don't like them), ventilated seats, electric adjustable seats, rain sensing vipers, automatic headlamps, cruise control etc. Virtus has 5 star safety rating with 2 airbags itself. So I went ahead with GT variant itself as I don't care for any of the other features. Dealership Experience I bought the car at KUN Volkswagen dealer, JP Nagar. The experience was decent. They were not very proactive in following up. I always had to call them up & follow up for everything.I bargained a lot with them to get discounts. I told them that I would take insurance outside, after which they reduced it significantly all the way from around 80k to 40k. This included bumper to bumper zero depreciation, Engine protect, Cost of consumables, Return to invoice, NCB etc.I also sold my Duster to KUN motors, for which I bargained too & got a 20K exchange bonus. I thought the price was a little low compared to if I had sold outside in Cars24 or Spinny. But the process was smooth & hassle free, the amount directly went as downpayment. So I just did it.I also got extended warranty & standard accessories free as well.Another thing I checked was the road tax between KA & TN. I thought if it was significantly less, I would get it registered in TN. But turns out, it is pretty close to KA & the difference was a mere 10K. It wasn't worth it, so I did it in KA itself.The car was in stock already & was handed over to me in two weeks. I had told them that I would buy only if the car was in stock & that I would go to another dealer if I had to wait. I didn't like waiting for the car.I requested for a PDI before the car was sent to registration, which they allowed. The sales person rushed me during the PDI as he had other work but I took my sweet little time to do it.The delivery was done smoothly with no issues, with a cake & the car reveal.Driving/Ownership Experience - 2000kms It has been one month since the delivery & I have driven almost 2000Kms. ProsVehicle performance is amazing. It is a joy to push this 1.5L beast of an engine. As mentioned above, it clocks high speeds without breaking a sweat. Handling, cornering is amazing. I keep wanting to take it out for a drive.Gear shifts are instantaneous with DSG gearbox.Amazing brakes. Gives you confidence to go at high speeds.Silent cabin.Good steering control.Amazing ground clearance for a sedan. Never had to worry about the bottom hitting the road.5 star safety rating. You can feel the build quality with the door thud.Decent mileage. Better than expected really. As an experiment, I drove light footed & maintained 100Km/hr through one long drive. I got 17kms/l. Generally I get around 10 in highways, which is mainly due to the speeds I go at.Huge boot space is very practical.Looks gorgeous. I think this is the best looking car in this segmentAC is very effective. Looks like they have fixed the AC issues now. It is effective even in Chennai.Fabric seats are really comfortable.Red themed interior looks classy. Ambient red lighting looks cool as well. Lot of space is nice.Warning sound after 120 is not that intrusive. With music, you won't even hear it.Infotainment system with Android auto is good & useful.Volkswagen app is nice. Tells the location of the car as well as if the engine is switched on or off. Has a theft informing system too.Music system is good.Vehicle has built a reputation as an enthusiast car. Whenever I tell anyone that I have bought Virtus, they are always surprised & say what a good car it is.ConsDSG gearbox in bumper to bumper traffic is a pain. There is the known DSG lag at low speeds plus it gets real confused between 1st & 2nd gear. It is also known to heat up a lot in such traffic. I think people who primarily drive inside cities should think a lot before getting DSG.Transitioning to automatic has been frustrating at times. This is a personal issue. After being a manual driver for the past 10 years, with the DSG issues mentioned above, I feel like I have no control over the car. It is just driving itself. I guess, with time, I will get used to it.Automatic start stop system is absolute rubbish. I always switch if off as soon as I start. It is tuned so aggressively that the engine switches off even for speed breakers.I feel the suspension is a little stiff. Not sure if it is just me.There is a small noise that comes from the brake pedal when I disengage it. I asked the service person at VW & they said that it is expected. But I am pretty sure it wasn't there initially.My wife calls this car he kidnap car. It is because the lock/unlock functionality for all the doors is with the driver. The passengers can't unlock their doors themselves.Boot door doesn't stay put. You have to open it all the way up for it stay put. Have gotten hit a couple of times already.Occasionally android auto gets disconnected. But this has been very very rare.Overall, I am very satisfied with the car so far & I can't wait to keep driving it. Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Want Extra Income? 5 Side Hustle Ideas From 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' Author Robert Kiyosaki

Want Extra Income? 5 Side Hustle Ideas From 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' Author Robert Kiyosaki

Kawasaki KLX 230 S dual-sport bike caught testing in India

Kawasaki seems to be working on the KLX 230 S dual-sport bike for the Indian market. It is expected to be locally manufactured alongside the Versys-X 300. The KLX 230 S is currently sold in several overseas markets. Kawasaki has made a few modifications to the Indian version though. The test bike is equipped with a saree guard and a front number plate, which is required by law. This also means that the bike will be road-legal. The KLX 230 S is based on a steel perimeter frame suspended by a long travel fork at the front and a mono-shock at the rear. The bike rides on 21-inch and 18-inch wire-spoke wheels at the front and rear, respectively. It offers a ground clearance of 210 mm and the seat height is 830 mm. The KLX 230 S is powered by a 233cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine. On the non-road-legal version, this unit puts out 19 BHP @ 8,000 rpm and 20.6 Nm @ 6,000 rpm. Source:@hekpomaht_

350 km Sunday ride on my Interceptor 650: My observations & experience

BHPian parrys recently shared this with other enthusiasts. So, I went for a 350+ km ride on Sunday with the Interceptor 650. Ride Details: Thane - Panvel - Lonavala - Pawana - Tamhini Ghat - Kolad - Mandwa - M2M Ferry - Thane. Total distance covered, 363.2 kms.Here are some observationsStarted to get a hang of the weight. Now I am able to lean into a corner more confidently. Did overshoot a couple of corners, but nothing scary. As the mind always keeps telling me you are on an INT 650 & not 390 ADV anymore.The touring seat kept me happy. Did not have a sore bottom after coming back home.Do miss the gear position indicator. The INT 650 is so smooth higher up in the revs as well, that sometimes I was riding in 5th, and then noticed that I still had another upshift left. So I hope, RE offers this with their updated meters on the newer models.Love looking at the needles. Hard on the throttle, nothing more satisfying than watching the speed & RPM needle climb. And the dials look good to me.Riding posture for me, my height of 5'8''; no problem at all. At times I feel that the tank is LONG, when I look down. It makes me wonder does this make me sit too far? But the posture, I find nothing wrong with it.It does heat up at slow speeds. No denying that fact.End up kicking the left bend pipe often while trying to get the side stand down.Not even once have I used the USB charging yet. I must at least try to see if it is functional.Ceat Tyres - HORRIBLE. Not enough grip for fast cornering. Forget corners, while riding at 80-90 kmph, I once encountered a very very small wet patch. The tyre went sliding for a split second. Experience helped me maintain the line, but a scary moment for sure. Especially when you have no traction control. RE must surely reconsider the rubber. These Ceats, I will plan to change soon.Headlight looks good, when you look at it. The illumination at night, very poor.Mileage, around 27 kmpl. Not bad at all. Including slow crawls, high revving speeds and cruising too. Satisfied.Brakes surprised me. Even with the weight, I now have enough confidence to put the anchors down. Decent bite for my riding style.On Sundays, we bikers spend thousands of rupees. Why? To ride our motorcycle for hours. Food cost is almost 10-20% of fuel cost. But worth it. Every single time. Most of you here on this post, might have seen the Tanners Pride custom leather tank protector. It went flying off at triple-digit speeds. Thank god it did not hit someone else riding behind. Never going the magnetic route ever again. This was my first and last time. And this, while flying off, or when I picked it back and placed it on the tank; HAS SCRATCHED THE TANK. So it has defeated the whole purpose. Tamhini Ghat route is so beautiful. It was raining last weekend around Pune. So we got lovely weather throughout this section. Even after having seen that scratched tank, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The bike kept flowing smoothly, and the AEW 102s kept playing some sweet music. I can never get tired of this. My dad owned a Yezdi Roadking when I was a kid. I guess I have had a thing for twin pipes since then. Looks iconic. Or maybe, twin pipes look right (symmetry). Also noticed, the number plate mounting is crooked. Need to fix it soon. Mesh gear always. Summer or winter. This is my Rynox set. My other RevIt is also maximum mesh. So, here's the heartbreaking bit from Sunday. Scratches on the tank. 2-3 spots like these. I think I had tears in my helmet when I saw this. The cut was deep. So no amount of detailing could resolve this. So had to go the PPF way. Not my thing. But no choice. Got a black PPF. Surprisingly, it matches the colour 100%. But, one will always notice the PPF cut / edge line. Which again, troubles my OCD. Before I placed the magnetic tank cover, I had also ordered this unit from Sahara Seats. So this is a placeholder, to ensure that I don't spot those PPF cuts easily. The PPF is cut wider than this cover, so the cover does not damage the paint. My friends say I have gone crazy. More to follow, about how I maintain my tank. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

New car launches in India in May 2024

4th-generation Maruti Suzuki SwiftEarlier this week, Maruti Suzuki opened bookings for the fourth-generation Swift in India. Dealer dispatches have now commenced as the carmaker gears up for the launch in the coming days. The 2024 Swift will be offered with a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine that produces 80 BHP @ 5,700 rpm and 112 Nm @ 4,300 rpm. The engine is expected to be paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox and an AMT. Related ThreadTata Altroz RacerThe Tata Altroz Racer, a sporty version of the Altroz hatchback, was unveiled at the 2023 Auto Expo. Latest reports suggest that the car might be launched soon. The Altroz Racer is expected to use a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine from the Nexon. It produces 118 BHP and 170 Nm and is likely to be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Related ThreadMercedes-Benz C200 PetrolMercedes-Benz will be introducing the C 300 petrol in the Indian market later this year. The new petrol variant will replace the C 300d in Q2 of 2024. The C 300 will be powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine paired with a mild-hybrid system and a 9-speed automatic gearbox. This engine produces 254 BHP with an additional 23 BHP provided by the mild-hybrid system. Peak torque is rated at 400 Nm, which is 150 Nm less than the C 300d. Like the C 300d, the upcoming C 300 petrol might also be offered in a single, full-loaded AMG line variant. Related Thread3rd-gen Porsche PanameraPorsche revealed the prices of the third-generation Panamera back in November 2023. However, the carmaker is expected to commence bookings and deliveries this month. Related ThreadMahindra XUV700 Blaze EditionMahindra is likely to introduce a new limited-edition version of the XUV700 called the 'Blaze Edition'. The Mahindra XUV700 Blaze Edition comes in a unique exterior colour called 'Matte Blaze Red'. The SUV gets a Napoli Black roof, along with black ORVMs and black alloy wheels. You also get the impression of a floating roofline thanks to the blacked-out B, C and D pillars. Related ThreadForce Gurkha 5-DoorForce Motors has announced the prices for the updated Gurkha. The off-roader is available in 3-door and 5-door body styles priced at Rs 16.75 lakh and Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom), respectively. The Force Gurkha receives several updates for the 2024 model year. The Force Gurkha is powered by a 2.6-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine that produces 138 BHP and 320 Nm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 4x4 system. The company claims that the improved power and torque enable it to cruise on expressways at triple-digit speeds. Related Thread2024 Isuzu V-Cross pick-upIsuzu has launched the 2024 V-Cross pick-up truck in India. The updated model is priced from Rs 21,19,900 (ex-showroom). Isuzu has made several changes to the V-Cross for the 2024 model year. The new V-Cross is powered by a 1.9-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine that makes 163 BHP and 360 Nm. The engine is paired with either a 6-speed manual or a torque converter automatic. The pick-up truck is also available with a 4-wheel drive system. Related Thread2024 BMW M4 Competition M xDriveBMW has launched the 2024 M4 Competition M xDrive in India. The updated sports coupe will be imported via the CBU route and is priced at Rs 1.53 crore (ex-showroom). At the heart of the M4 Is the S58 turbocharged 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine that produces 523 BHP @ 6,250 rpm and 650 Nm @ 2,750-5,370 rpm. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic and BMW's xDrive four-wheel drive system. BMW claims the M4 can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. Related Thread

Generative AI: Five ways companies in India can fully exploit its potential

CEOs are racing to leverage technology for gaining a competitive edge, but they need to broaden application of generative AI to more strategic goals in order to build resilience and open new pathways of growth.

Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z launched at Rs 1.85 lakh

Bajaj Auto has announced the launch of the Pulsar NS400Z, the most powerful Pulsar ever. The bike is priced at Rs 1.85 lakh (ex-showroom). The Pulsar NS400Z has a sporty design with a striking headlamp that features thunderbolt-style LED DRLs and an LED projector light. The muscular fuel tank has extensions on either side with the 'NS' decal, a 2-piece stepped seat and a tiny chin fairing with a '400' decal. The NS400Z comes with a digital instrument console that offers Bluetooth connectivity. By pairing their smartphones, riders can access features like turn-by-turn navigation, incoming calls, missed calls and SMS alerts. It also gets four riding modes - Road, Rain, Sport and Off-road, switchable traction control and dual-channel ABS. The Pulsar NS400Z uses the same 373cc single-cylinder engine that powers the Dominar 400. It produces 39.4 BHP @ 8,800 rpm and 35 Nm @ 6,500 rpm. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox via an assist and slipper clutch. The NS400Z is equipped with a 43 mm upside-down fork and a gas-charged mono-shock with adjustable preload. Braking is handled by a 320 mm front disc and a 230 mm disc at the rear.

Driving an NA petrol car after 16 yrs: Our new Hyundai i20 Asta (O) iVT

BHPian biplab3110 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. I brought home an i20 Asta (O) iVT on the 20th of April. Here is some background to the purchase and my experience with the car so far.BackgroundI had a Kia Seltos GTX DCT bought in September 2019 (prebooked, from the first lot). This was followed by two years of complete inaction due to Covid. Once Covid was in the past, routines have changed. I now travel to the office not more than two days a week. In the meantime, I also bought an Audi Q3, in October last year. So, the Seltos was reduced to a car for doing daily rounds of the market, and other chores around an 8km radius of Thane City. It was also not feasible to take the Q3 around for these trips, so a second car was needed. Hence, I was looking for something smaller. The idea was to sell the Seltos (4.5 years, 23,000km on the ODO), buy a small car and save some money. But things turned out a little differently. The question was what to replace the Seltos with? Criteria - it has to be less than 4m, and it has to be an automatic. There is no way I am driving an AMT. A DCT would be expensive (the discontinued i20 DCT, the Venue, or the Sonet). Plus, the car is primarily for driving within Thane City where the internal roads have a speed breaker at every 100m. Hence my preference was for a CVT which will be easy to drive around. There were four choices - Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger, Honda Amaze and Hyundai i20. The first two were not even considered due to their poor fit and finish and doubtful future. The Amaze was in consideration, but the current generation Amaze seems like a decade old. Waiting for the next generation seemed waiting for uncertainty. Hence the choice was limited to just the i20 iVT. Did a test drive and it seemed to tick the necessary boxes for my requirements. I was waiting for a deal on my Seltos to book an i20 Sportz iVT. However, it is the selling experience of the Seltos that made me change my mind and book the Asta (O) iVT. I value five features of the Asta (O) over the Sportz (Keyless entry, Push button start, wireless charger, rear washer and wiper, alloy wheels), which does not add up to the price difference, but still I booked the Asta (O) iVT for the sunroof (which I personally don't value). Must say, the BOSE speakers are a bonus!Booking & DeliveryBooking experience was mostly uneventful. Took a quote from two dealers. Both dealers were keen to push the SPORTZ variant in Starry Nights colour, for which they had stocks. However, I was not willing to compromise on my choice of colour - Titan Gray. Both quotes came with hefty insurance. However, one was willing to remove it and let me buy my own insurance, the other was willing to match the price and features of any quote that I share. The bigger and more renowned dealer said the car will be delivered in 3 months and offered a lower discount. The other dealer assured me of a delivery in one month and offered a higher discount. So, the decision was made easy. As promised, the car was available for PDI in a month, and delivered in two days after PDI. This is a car manufactured in April 2024. This car is going to be with me for some time. Hence bought it with 7 years Extended Warranty and 5 years Shield of Trust which covers parts not covered by warranty. A horror story about CVT Failure on Team-BHP also triggered this decision. I gave some specific instructions for delivery:No polishing the car, internal or external, since the car would immediately go for ceramic coating.No dealership stickers on the car.Car to be delivered with a full tank. I would pay Rs 3500 for fuel at the time of delivery (else the car would be delivered with less than 5L of fuel and I would have to run to a pump immediately after delivery).33PSI pressure to be maintained.First three were followed. There was no way to verify the fourth at the time of delivery. The moment I took delivery and went out on the road I could sense something was wrong. The ride felt very stiff, I could feel every undulation on the road as if I was driving on solid tires. I checked the TPMS and all tyres were showing a pressure of 48PSI!! I immediately took the car to my regular garage where I fill Nitrogen, deflated the tyres completely and filled them with Nitrogen at 33PSI (later on I reduced it to 32 and the ride feels much better now).DriveI am driving a car with an NA Petrol engine after 16 years. Last one was an Alto 800 which I sold in 2008. Since then, I have driven the Ford Fusion (Turbo Diesel), Skoda Rapid (Turbo Diesel) and Kia Seltos (Turbo Petrol) and hence used to driving with both power and torque being available at lower revs. I don't remember revving the engines beyond 2500RPM during regular drives. However, this car would rev to 3000+ RPM with the gentlest tap on the accelerator, with no delivery of power or proportional increase in speed. For the first few days, I was almost regretting the purchase and felt I should have gone for a used Turbo Petrol with DCT. However, after a few days, I got the balance. Exactly how much pressure on the accelerator will deliver what kind of results - mental calibration started to form. I must say, it is still a work in progress. However, I am being able to get to 50kmph (which is the max I may be able to drive at in my city drives) at 1500 rpm. I am also getting realistic with my ambitions - this is not my Q3 in which I can do sudden overtakes. Moreover, where is the space to overtake in city drives? I have heard and read a lot of observations about the low bonnet and it not being visible to the driver. However, since I am used to driving cars with much longer bonnets, it is not an issue for me. There is one aspect of the drive that I did not anticipate at all. I don't know if this is the normal nature of any CVT - the concept of engine braking seems to be missing!! I observe this every day. As I go down the ramp from the parking in my building the car just picks up speed even when not accelerated at all!! Every time I have to apply brakes to slow it down. How does someone drive this downhill? The brakes would wear off in one trip to the Ghats!Likes & DislikesThese are a few things I like about the car:Looks! This is the best-looking hatchback in the market, beyond any doubt.Fit and finish.Back Seat space - almost at par with sedans.Seating position - not too low.The BOSE Speakers - simply awesome in a car of this size.The audible reminder to turn on headlightsThese are a few things I dislike:No auto-dimming IRVM. This is expected in a car at this price.The armrest is too low and hence almost useless.Only driver's window button is backlit.The AC is always at very high fan speed in Auto mode.Here are a few photographs of the carAt the time of PDI Soon after delivery After detailing Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Mahindra XUV700 Blaze Edition details leaked!

Mahindra is likely to introduce a new limited-edition version of the XUV700 called the 'Blaze Edition'. The Mahindra XUV700 Blaze Edition comes in a unique exterior colour called 'Matte Blaze Red'. The SUV gets a Napoli Black roof, along with black ORVMs and black alloy wheels. You also get the impression of a floating roofline thanks to the blacked-out B, C and D pillars. The Blaze Edition gets an all-black interior with red highlights. These include red stitching on the seat upholstery, red trims around the centre console and AC vents. The XUV700 is available with two engine options. These include a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 197 BHP @ 5,000 rpm and 380 Nm @ 1,750-3,000 rpm. The second option is a 2.2-litre diesel that puts out 153 BHP / 182 BHP and 360 - 450 Nm depending on the transmission. Both engines are offered with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Thanks to BHPian RavenAvi for sharing these images with other enthusiasts!

Clearing a few PDI queries before taking delivery of my new Kodiaq

BHPian dkaile recently shared this with other enthusiasts. I did the final PDI of the Kodiaq yesterday for final delivery on Monday. I have a few queries regarding the same, if buddies here can comment: They did the following PDI jobs on the vehicle The Battery was checked. Battery Test Report. Seems OK? The Engine Oil was checked and was up to his thumb level in the photo Now this is the L&K kit you get FREE with the car which includes Textile Floor Carpet Mats, 2 Rear Lounge Steps, 1 Blanket, Boot Nets, First Aid Kit, and Warning Triangle; Is is OK? And this is the 23k Accessory Pack items - All Weather Floor Mats+Mat over Tunnel, 4 Mudflaps (installed), Document Holder, USB charger and cable, car care kit, Wet tissue wipe, Microfiber cloth, Tissue Box, Car Perfume, Sling Bag, Body Cover (was a surprise as it was not mentioned initially) and 2 Pillows. Is this all OK? They then attached the car to the laptop and some OBD wireless connectors and scanned for any updates. They said there were none. The technician removed the Transport Mode to get all normal functions going. And scanned the car, removed all previous errors due to transport mode, and scanned again, with no errors. Is that all? The mud flaps were properly fitted. The front mud flaps instructions said to drill a hole to insert a plastic lock, which I avoided and just made a small hole with a screwdriver and drove one of the small OE nuts (that were replaced by longer ones in the kit) removed for support. Seems sturdy to me on checking. Also changed AUTO AC profile to HIGH. It was on Medium from the factory. I think all of us should do that immediately for Indian summers. Sorry, forgot to click a picture, will post soon. The AC was chilling just like my Superb on Auto High after that. 1 important point - Now I asked the technician to switch on the Passenger Airbag. He said that it is switched on by default. But when I later checked, the Passenger Airbag OFF light was ON below the AC control knobs on the centre console, when we switched on the car. I checked the passenger door and the slider key was in the OFF position from the factory (Sorry, forgot to take a picture). I along with the Showroom Manager removed the metal key from our remote and changed it to ON position. Now on restarting the car, the Passenger Airbag light on the console switched to ON. Did we do it right? Is that OK and Normal behaviour? Does that light stay ON or go away while driving? Anything else that needs to be done or checked during PDI? Urgent replies will be most appreciated as we have to pick up the car on Monday. Thanks in advance. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift reaches dealership ahead of launch

Earlier this week, Maruti Suzuki opened bookings for the fourth-generation Swift in India. Dealer dispatches have now commenced as the carmaker gears up for the launch. The new-gen Swift was recently spotted at a Maruti Suzuki showroom, allowing us to take a closer look at the new hatchback. The new Swift features a redesigned exterior with a low-slung grille, a clamshell bonnet and a floating roofline. It has large projector headlamps with L-shaped DRLs and LED fog lamps. The new Swift looks quite familiar from the rear. It has wide haunches with clear lens LED taillights and a wraparound rear windshield. This car is equipped with dual-tone alloy wheels. Moving to the interior, the new-gen Swift gets a more driver-focused cabin with a 3-spoke steering wheel, a twin-dial instrument cluster and an upright touchscreen infotainment system in the centre. The 2024 Swift will be offered with a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine that produces 80 BHP @ 5,700 rpm and 112 Nm @ 4,300 rpm. The engine is expected to be paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox and an AMT. Source: @iammharshvlogs

1 year with M'lore's last delivered Octavia: Pros & cons of ownership

BHPian abaliga recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Having completed 1 year since we welcomed our 2023 Octavia L&K 2.0 TSI, I would like to share my ownership experience of this very special car with the esteemed forum members and viewersHighlights:This was the last Octavia delivered in Mangalore! We purchased this car only because it was being discontinued and were not in a rush as our Ecosport was running trouble-free with only 25k on the odometer, Skoda was selling this without any discounts despite the rumours about the discontinuation! I was hardly able to bargain as I was not ready to walk away from buying the car (I knew it was unlikely to be launched again, even if relaunched getting it as a CKD with 2.0 TSI is a fat chance).Car has run only 6K in its first year! too less for my liking, but I have enjoyed every kilometre I have driven it.Extremely well built and worth every rupee we paid for (despite being priced slightly higher than desired, it is hard to find a car that is as good for a budget of 35-40 lakh on-road today).Though looks are subjective, Octavia has a timeless design with a nice 3 box silhouette, something that cannot be beaten by any of the SUVs/Crossovers.Absolutely no issues to report, has proven to be a reliable companion to date(knock on wood), and hopefully, it remains that way throughout my ownership (I do not plan on selling the car for the next 10-12 years)!Extremely high safety standards, has received 5 Stars from Euro NCAP, L&K has 2 additional airbags for rear seat occupants in addition to the standard safety suite.Service Experience:The 1st-year service was uneventful, I was charged around 12k included Oil change (did not get the car washed and declined the wheel alignment), and I did not let the car out of my sight for the entire 3 hours it was at the workshop and was standing outside the workshop door to respect their rules, I had informed the SA to not go on a test drive without me being present, Tafe Access Mangalore honoured my requests without any hesitation.Likes:Minimalistic dashboard design with high-quality bits that should age well (Notwithstanding the piano black inserts that are impossible to keep scratch-free).Sweet powertrain with 190PS and 320 NM of torque that can keep most enthusiasts happy. The only fly in the ointment is the wheel spin and torque steer raising its ugly head when one floors the gas pedal. RS tune for the engine with an AWD would have given a 330i/li a run for its money.Cushy ride quality at higher speeds, Low-speed ride is a bit stiff though, maybe the stock Goodyears are to be blamed.Decent space for folks with an average build, taller folks will find it a bit cramped in the rear seat that is if a person above 5'10 is seated in the front.Retractable sun blinds for rear windows and rear windshield (missing on 3 series).Well-designed digital instrument console with round dials (I hate the new age angled designs!).Powered trunk lid and an accommodating 600-litre boot.Compact turning radius that is shorter than our previous ride (Ecosport), very manoeuvrable for a 4.7m car.Did I mention good fit and finish inside out already? it's hard to find this level of quality for the price I pay these days.DSG performs very well in most situations (97%), at times one can feel the jerks at speeds below 30 km/h as the box is hunting for the right gear to be in, this can be noticed only by keen observers.Neutral handling characteristics (nowhere as fun as our Ecosport was, but that had a harsh ride), the ride and handling balance on the Octavia is appreciated more than the fun we could have on the Ecosport.Very refined overall, NVH levels are very well controlled even at 3-digit speeds, Motor sounds sweet when revved! This is one reason we had to drop the VAG 1.5 TSI cars from contention, I hate the boomy nature of 1.5 TSIs at revs higher than 3.5k rpm and wish VAG sorted this out (their 1.2 TSIs sounded much better at higher rpm too).Ground clearance at 137mm is more than adequate, as long as one is not rushing through speed breakers/potholes, this is easily manageable and the suspension tune does not let the car scrape its belly easily.Full LED headlights and tail lights that look nice when lit up.Ambient lighting for the dashboard gives the cabin a premium vibe.The well-thought-out dash cam port behind the IRVM is a blessing, no warranty issues stemming out of aftermarket installation!Wireless car play and Android Auto are standard.Wireless phone charger is standard as well.Dislikes:Ingress/Egress is a little tricky for seniors, and not as comfortable/easy as some of the monocoque crossovers.Stitching on the seats and the steering is not consistent, and hard to notice, but keen observers can find minor anomalies (I am nitpicking here).Single-digit fuel economy for the most part, the bumper-to-bumper drive will yield only 7-7.5 km/l, one can get a decent 10-12 km/l if the average speed is above 30 within city limits, Highway economy is decent at 15-16 km/l if one is a saint, although we (myself and my dad) have not been able to fetch more than 10-11 km/l on a highway run where one is driving fast (within speed limits), the car gulps fuel if one is slowing down frequently and picking up speed quickly! Turbo petrols are not meant for high-mileage users.The driving range with a relatively thirsty motor and 50 litres tank is limited to about 500 kms (Tank capacity should have been at least 60 litres).205/55 R17 size tyres are skinny, I find the profile and the diameter to be adequate for our roads, but the width should have been 225mm at the minimum! Will need better rubber next time around.The absence of physical HVAC controls is a trend I hate, however, there is an option to add a widget on the home screen of the infotainment for HVAC controls including the blower speed which makes it easier than navigating across menus.Wheelspin on aggressive launches, a typical trait of a front-wheel drive, I feel this dilutes the premium car experience at times.Low beam on the headlights was awful, and this is despite the upgraded headlights for L&K, I got the beams raised a bit during the first service, but have not been able to test whether there is any improvement as yet.Unacceptable cost-cutting measures like not providing ambient light, and soft feel plastics on the rear door pads (although the general quality of door pad plastics is superior all around).I do not mind the absence of a sunroof, but not providing ventilated seats on a car that costs almost 38 big ones is unacceptable.Requirement of minimum 95 Octane fuel, finding this was tricky on our 2200 kms trip from Mangalore to Shirdi, ended up fueling regular 91 Octane fuel 2-3 times, luckily the motor performed well regardless of the octane rating! Availability of good quality high-octane fuel is always on the back of my mind during road trips as some owners have faced issues with this motor being sensitive to fuel quality. Also, the fuel cap says the car is only E10 compliant, God help us if there is no availability of E10 fuel in the country a few years down the line.It was cheap of Skoda to delete the extremely desirable Canton music system and the child lock controls from the driver door! As if these deletions were not enough, Skoda increased the prices subsequently adding insult to injury, I am an audiophile and greatly appreciate quality music, deletion of the Canton system is something I still can't get my head around after owning the car for a year, the stock music system is alright but not great, I guess I will bite the bullet eventually and upgrade the speakers and install a sub.All in all, I am very happy with the purchase, 4th generation Octavia is an excellent offering that can give the luxury German Marques a run for their money! Brand Octavia has been the default choice for enthusiasts who are on a budget, unfortunately for many of them, the car is discontinued as of today, I am hoping this will be re-introduced soon (has to be in the CKD form as it does not make any sense as a CBU!) as this was the car that had established Skoda in India. I would also like to urge Skoda India to manage the lead time required for procuring parts of their CKD options better, Have heard too many stories of delays over 3 months, this is simply unacceptable in a globalized world with a super fast supply chain. And finally, Here are some pictures I have clicked over the past year, please do not mind the quality as all of them were clicked on my phone, Thank you all. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Indian wheat was poised to feed the world. It now grapples to replenish reserves

India's wheat policy requires a comprehensive review to ensure the production and procurement balance is maintained.

Bidens take on Indias economy is both bizarre and bothersome

On the campaign trail, the US President said xenophobia was responsible for stalling economic growth in India, China and Japan. His comment is puzzling, especially in India, which has the worlds fastest-growing major economy and prides itself on inclusivity.

Betting on these 2 PSU banks; Godrej Properties can be a SIP candidate: Abhijit Chokshi

Abhijit Chokshi from Stockifi.in recommends Aarti Pharmaceuticals in midcaps for caffeine APIs. Also bullish on PSU banks like SBI, PNB, rural plays like Dabur, and sectors like power, ports, and shipping.

The Godrej split: Brand sharing holds the key

The familys asset division plan has done well to minimize scope for a wrangle over a brand prized for elasticity across markets. Like a Mbius strip, the brand can be splitbut not apart.

Biden is off the mark on xenophobia

US President Joe Biden clubbed India with China, Russia and Japan as countries he claimed were too xenophobic for their own good. Such statements lose him credibility, especially when Americas own vaunted openness seems in such bad shape.

AT&T announces $7 monthly add-on fee for Turbo 5G speeds

AT&T Turbo puts you in a faster lane but requires unlimited data and extra fee.

Best Laptop Deals: Get Big Savings on Lenovo, MacBooks, Acer and More - CNET

It doesn't matter what kind of laptop you're after, you can find some huge savings on them today.

India's mineral production rises 8 pc in Feb

India's mineral output surged 8% in February. The mining index reached 139.6, up by 8%. April-February growth stood at 8.2%. Key highlights include gold production, copper conc growth, and negative growth in iron ore, lead conc.

Bajaj Pulsar NS400 official images leaked ahead of launch

Bajaj is all set to launch the most powerful Pulsar yet on May 3. But official images of the bike have already leaked online. The images reveal a familiar design, adopted from other models in the brand's NS range. The bike has a sporty headlight with lightning bolt-shaped LED DRLs, a muscular fuel tank with extensions on either side with the 'NS' decal and a 2-piece stepped seat. It also has a tiny chin fairing with a '400' decal. The Pulsar NS400 rides on an upside-down fork with a gold finish and a mono-shock at the rear. The bike is fitted with stylish alloy wheels that have a multi-spoke design and a rear tyre hugger. It has disc brakes at both ends. The Pulsar NS400 is expected to use the same 373.3cc single-cylinder engine that powers the Dominar 400, making it the biggest Pulsar ever. It will be paired with a 6-speed gearbox via a slip-and-assist clutch. The NS400 will come with a digital instrument console offering smartphone connectivity and dual-channel ABS, among other features. Thanks to BHPian payeng for sharing these images with other enthusiasts!

2024 Force Gurkha launched at Rs 16.75 lakh

Force Motors has announced the prices for the updated Gurkha. The off-roader is available in 3-door and 5-door body styles priced at Rs 16.75 lakh and Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom), respectively. The Force Gurkha receives several updates for the 2024 model year. These include a single-slat grille with 'Gurkha' lettering, circular LED headlamps with integrated LED DRLs and fog lamps with a cornering function. The SUV rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and is equipped with a snorkel, a roof rack with an integrated ladder, a tailgate-mounted spare wheel and a tow hook. Inside, you will find a familiar-looking dashboard. However, it is now equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and a digital instrument cluster. The SUV is also equipped with a tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel, dual airbags, ABS with EBD and TPMS. It can carry up to 7 persons. The Force Gurkha is powered by a 2.6-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine that produces 138 BHP and 320 Nm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 4x4 system. The company claims that the improved power and torque enable it to cruise on expressways at triple-digit speeds. The new Gurkha offers a ground clearance of 233 mm, which is said to be the highest in the segment. It can drive up a 35-degree incline and can wade through 700 mm deep water. The Gurkha also gets new independent suspension at the front, fully locking mechanical differentials on both the axles and Electronic shift-on-the-fly.

Save $50 on Our Top Mini Boom Box Speaker From Anker - CNET

The Soundcore Motion X600 is loud for its size and returns to its best-ever price with this deal.

Future Mercedes-Benz models to ditch next-gen Apple CarPlay

In a recent interview, Ola Kallenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, confirmed that the carmaker will not offer the next-generation CarPlay in its future models. Instead, the brand has decided to focus on its own Operating System. Apple, which will introduce its next-generation CarPlay later this year, had initially named Mercedes-Benz as one of the carmakers to receive the software. However, the company CEO has confirmed that they have chosen not to adopt the upcoming CarPlay update in its models. Kallenius described Mercedes' proprietary OS as the central nervous system of the vehicle's software architecture. Mercedes aims to offer a holistic approach, integrating all of the vehicle's functionalities seamlessly, to offer a superior experience, which, as per Kallenius, can only be achieved by the manufacturer itself. Having said that, Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that it will continue supporting the current generation of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on its vehicles. Customers will get the option to choose the platform which best suits their preference. Apple has confirmed that the first carmakers to get the new-generation CarPlay software later this year are Porsche & Aston Martin. Source: TheVerge

2024 Isuzu V-Cross pick-up launched at Rs 21.20 lakh

Isuzu has launched the 2024 V-Cross pick-up truck in India. The updated model is priced from Rs 21,19,900 (ex-showroom). Isuzu has made several changes to the V-Cross for the 2024 model year. The pick-up truck gets a new front bumper guard, engine hood garnish, rear combo lamp garnish, fender lips, and black alloy wheels. Significant improvements have been made when it comes to occupant safety. The V-Cross now features traction control, electronic stability control, hill descent control and hill start assist. It also gets rear seat occupant detection sensors with 3-point seat belts for all three rear seat occupants and a seat belt warning indicator. Speaking of passengers in the rear, the V-Cross is fitted with new rear seats that offer a higher degree of inclination. The new V-Cross is powered by a 1.9-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine that makes 163 BHP and 360 Nm. The engine is paired with either a 6-speed manual or a torque converter automatic. The pick-up truck is also available with a 4-wheel drive system.2024 Isuzu V-Cross ex-showroom prices:Hi-Lander - Rs 21.20 lakhZ AT 2WD - Rs 25.80 lakhZ MT 4WD - Rs 25.52 lakhZ Prestige MT 4WD - Rs 26.92 lakhZ Prestige AT 4WD - Rs 30.96 lakh

Attended a Radio-Controlled Model Tugboat Gathering

BHPian Jeroen recently shared this with other enthusiasts. I thought some of our members might be interested in this: I visited an RC model event. A couple of times a year they organise a tugboat event. Anybody with an RC tugboat can come and sail it at the club's beautiful little lake! Modelbuilding is a huge industry, with many different models, topics, scales and what have you. There are quite a few people who build model boats. Statis and or floating models. From the very small to the very large. Within that group, the tugboat model boat folks take a very prominent position. Tugboats have always been popular in the Netherlands. In the 30-50s ocean-going tugboat skippers were famous.People would follow their adventures. All long before the internet. This was through talks on the radio and articles in newspapers, magazines, and so on. The Dutch have always been BIG on ocean towage and salvage. For decades there was immense competition between two companies, Smit and Wijsmuller. There was never a job too big, too dangerous, too complex, or Dutch salvage teams managed to succeed. There is even an excellent book, considered proper literature, about this fierce competition and how an independent tug boat captain tried to break into the market. The book is called Hollands Glorie. Dutch Glory. Even today Hollands Glorie still stands for whatever outstanding achievement the Dutch have and or do. So many people are interested and there are several model-built boat kits out there. Many builders will not build a kit, but get hold of the original ship's drawings and build everything from scratch!Whatever, pardon the pun, floats your boat. Here you see part of the club's pond. Pretty big. A huge model of a NedLLoyd container vessel. Not sure if this one is made to sail under its own power, or whether it is there to be towed. This is the Smit Rotterdam. One of the last ocean-going tugs Smit was built in 1974. About 75 meters long it packed 22000 HP. Which made it the most powerful oceangoing towing tug in the world. She had a sister ship, Smit NewYork Seen from above: It is a model kit, provided by the famous brand Billing Boats, www.billingboats.com/index.p...smit-rotterdam Billing boats are always wooden boats. The hull is made up of many ribs and bulkheads and you place small wooden planks horizontally across them. People build them as just a nice static model to be displayed. Or like here, put an RC kit into it. These days that means two individually controlled main engines, a rudder, bow thruster. working radar, towing winch, anchor winch, lights, and engine sounds!! Here something quite different. A proper steam tug, with a real steam engine, all Radio Controlled!! There were a few other types of boats on display as well. Next to towing, dredging is the other thing the Dutch are famous for. So there are people who build model dredgers, that fully functioning.To the best of my knowledge, there are no model kits, so this is all completely hand-built, from drawings, or perhaps even just old photographs. The club puts out these market stalls where everybody can display their pride and joy, when not sailing! This is one of the most popular kits around, the SmitLLoyd 109. I have sailed on her twice. The so-called original 100-Series of SmitLLoyd were very famous in their days. They are so-called suppliers/Anchor Handling Tugs. Extremely robust, and capable of handling ice conditions, with about 14000 HP they were far more versatile than the dedicated oceangoing tugs such as the Smit Rotterdam. Notice the big anchor on the deck. This is an anchor used by an oil rig. The oil rig would be anchored to the sea floor with 10-16 of these anchors. It was the job of vessels such as the 109 to run out those anchors and retrieve them if and when the rig had to be moved. Very tough and very dangerous work! I loved it. As one of the engineers, I would work the winches or help out on deck.Working with the massive anchor chains also involved welding and a lot of cutting with acetylene torches and later plasma cutters. Enter little ol me! On a rolling and pitching deck As I mentioned, a very popular model. Many people have built it, in various forms. Some have used a different model, e.g. 112, or 117. Because they sailed on it, or because they liked it better. All these 100 boats had some small differences from one another. SmitLLoyd and Smit were separate companies for a long time. At some point in time, they merged and the typical SmitLLoyd pink chimneys were painted in the Smit colours. Real SmitLLoyd crews hated it. But it got worse as they ultimately merged with Wijsmuller as well, and the company and ships became known as SmitWijs. Here you see the 109 in original Smit-LLoyd colours and the later and short-lived Smit colours. I liked this cute little tugboat. I chatted to the owner. It is a complete fantasy boat. He built it from all kinds of scratch materials. He has three more like this. But the finish and attention to detail is fantastic!! Also a lot of harbour tugs. Very often Smit harbour tugs. There are a few more harbour tug operators, but Smit has always been the biggest and most famous one. These are the sort of tugs that assist the largest container vessels and tankers in Rotterdam harbour. Look at the detailing, under the waterline as well. I did not see any today, but I know there are RC model tugboats that have proper model Voith Schneider propellers. Here is another oceangoing tug I sailed on, very briefly. It was called Happy Hunter at the time. Again, taken over by Smit. Next to the Smitlloyd 109, the Happy Hunter is probably the second most build model kit. Both are plastic or rather polyester kits. The hull comes in one piece. Even so, building a boat like this is very labour-intensive and it will take hundreds and hundreds of hours. A rough estimate says less than half of the model kits bought are ever finished. You can buy many of these kits, half or less finished at online marketplaces! This particular club, the host of this event, has fantastic facilities, you can see the pond, the jetties and so on. But they also have a roomy clubhouse, workshops, and so on! One of the few Wijsmuller boats out there today. Very nice model. The Wijsmuller boats are often very very pretty This size RC model boat can weigh up to 20-25 kilograms. They all take a lot of weights, just to sit low and correctly in the water. The RC equipment and batteries are not heavy enough by themselves. All these boats have a lot of lead on board! For every 10 minutes of sailing your RC model, it takes 20 minutes of fiddling with the electronics and so on. I love these steam-powered tugs! There is entertainment for the kiddies too. They always have some boats that can be sailed by kids! Lots of very proud owners. Most of them have built their own boats. Some buy them ready-made from others. I have been here before and I usually run into old colleagues. Not today though. There were also fewer boats than usual, not quite sure why. Leaving you with another very nice model!! This is a video from last year, all in Dutch I'm afraid but nice images! Video And another video where you can see some huge models of more modern/current AHTs Video Jeroen Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Why are there no company-owned & company-operated service networks?

BHPian Quicksilver85 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. I am curious to understand, why are there no company-owned or company-operated service network in India? I see service quality as one of the aspects which could be a hit or miss with many car ownership experiences shared in this forum. Time and again, I see the same repeated even in Official reviews that sub-par service experience or ASS Horror stories with some OEMs. Also, there are so many threads about dealership frauds/mistreatment/poor service quality etc reported on this forum. Similar to how public sector oil companies like Indian Oil, and Bharat Petroleum claim to operate the so-called COCO (Company Owned & Company Operated) fuel stations which presumably deliver better quality and quantity of fuel to motorists. Why cannot there be say a COCO TATA motors service center or Skoda or Hyundai? Or maybe even premium players with low volume such as Audi and BMW? Are there some regulations that prevent OEMs from operating service networks? Or is the quantum of investment & manpower required to operate such a network that OEMs shy away from? Can someone please some light on this if you are from the automobile sector or have knowledge in this domain? Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:It's a dirty businessOEMs would rather hide behind a dealershipA dealership can do things to maintain profitability (overbilling, upselling, scamming) that an OEM never would / could.Push the liability onto the dealership.Of course, one of the biggest reasons is that OEM CEOs, COOs, heads of marketing etc. are used to talking numbers in the hundreds of crores (if not thousands), sales of thousands of cars etc. They have no interest in dealing with 50 cars a month or revenue of 10 crores/month. It's too small for their ambitions.Here's what BHPian SmartCat had to say on the matter:Probably because all car manufacturers know that if they want to generate decent returns from the automobile service business, they have to take the customers for a ride (Eg: brake pad cleaning, door panel anti-rust coating etc) It is best to let somebody else handle the dirty business.Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:Tata pioneered this model with its Concorde range of service stations. Hyundai too had tried this, they had a full-fledged company-owned dealership in Delhi. Unfortunately, the model didn't work out. Wasn't profitable in either case.Here's what BHPian IshaanIan had to say on the matter:The problem in India at least, is that in order to offer superior service they would have to reward their staff with better pay so as to ensure professionalism and quality. This would mean much higher labor costs in comparison and that would lead to fewer customers bringing in their cars for service as well as dealer partners being miffed about the company trying to steal customers away from them considering service is where all the money is made.Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Visited the new Payana Vintage Car Museum on the outskirts of Mysuru

BHPian vsrivatsa recently shared this with other enthusiasts.Payana - The Vintage Car MuseumA new Vintage Car Museum opened on the outskirts of Mysuru last week and I had the opportunity to visit this museum along with the family on the way to Mysuru today. This museum has been established by Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade and is now open to the public. The structure itself resembles the silhouette of a tyre! Payana - The Vintage Car Museum A zoomed-out view of the Car Museum Intro Flag The museum hosts a huge set of vintage cars on display from brands such as Fiat, Morris, Austin, Mercedes Benz, Willys, Toyota, Citroen and Hindustan Motors. The timings for the museum are from morning 9-00 AM until 8-00 PM in the evening and there is an entry charge of 50 per head for adults and it's free for children up to the age of 12 years. Guidelines The Ticket Counter The Ticket Right at the entrance is placed a car which was used by Dr Veerendra Hegde himself - the Standard Herald: Standard Herald used by Dr Veerendra Hegde during his College Days At the entrance - Evolution of Wheels The most Rudimentary Wheels Spacious Hall Spacious Hall - Additional View Spacious Hall - Additional View Walk away towards the Lower Level Mysuru Maharaja's car - Daimler DE 36 C V Raman's Car - Studebaker ChampionLocation:Payana is located in Brahmaputra which is about 6.5 kms from Srirangapatna Town. If you are coming from Mysuru, then it's about 14 kms from the Mysuru Palace. Continue reading about vsrivatsa's visit to the museum for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

AI-designed 'Turtle' soup unveiled by NotCo to highlight endangered species awareness

Chilean plant-based food company NotCo has developed a urtle soup using artificial intelligence, mimicking the taste of traditional turtle soup without using any turtle meat. This innovative creation aims to raise awareness about the endangered status of turtles. NotCo's AI analyzed numerous plant proteins to replicate the texture and flavor of turtle meat.

5 key observations of my Maruti Jimny during a recent Konkan drive

BHPian bj96 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Not a review as enough has already been said about Jimny in this thread. Just a few moments captured from my recent ride to Konkan, and a couple of observations.Small cabin and UV cut glasses helped auto climate AC, set at 25c, to keep us comfortable even at 44-45c ambient temperature in some sections e.g. near Mahad on the Goa Mumbai highway.12.9 km/l despite long ghat sections and the long weekend (city/toll) traffic.Start/stop can be easily controlled by modulating foot pressure on the brake pedal. No need to turn it off using the switch.Small footprint plus high GC meant we didn't sweat when Google directed us through the narrow lanes of Sangameswar bazaar and rural hilly terrains leading to Ganpatipule / Malgund.Enough space and engine grunt for two adults and one 14-year-old plus their weekend luggage. Was easily able to maintain triple digits when roads permitted.Delightful 5.7k kms on the odo so far (in ~4.5 months). Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

USA: All new cars to get automatic emergency braking from 2029

According to media reports, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has made Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) a mandatory safety feature on all new vehicles, starting in 2029. As per the new regulation, all new passenger vehicles sold in the USA & weighing under 10,000 lbs (4,500 kg) should come fitted with the safety tech. The US government implied that the inclusion of AEB in new cars will potentially help save up to 400 lives per year while preventing thousands of injuries. The legislation also states that the automatic braking system should enable a car to stop and avoid collision with the vehicle in front when travelling at speeds of up to 100 km/h; both in day and night conditions. The system should also apply brakes automatically, even at speeds of up to 145 km/h, if it detects that the car is about to collide with a vehicle in front. Also, the AEB system should spot and avoid hitting pedestrians at car speeds of up to 72 km/h. NHTSA states that the new tech will add $84 to the price of a new car. However, the agency will leave the choice of sensors used up to the carmakers. Automakers have till September 1, 2029, to meet the new regulations. Also, low-volume automakers will get an additional year as a grace period. Source: NYTimes

Is hiring just to meet diversity quotas an unfair approach?

Quick-fix recruitment at the base level doesnt always help overcome biases. Nor does it solve a problem of diversity attrition higher up the hierarchy. DEI needs to be a strategic mission.

Dabur explains why rural demand for its brands is growing at a faster clip than urban

FMCG giant Dabur has revealed that it has been investing in expanding its rural footprint which has driven the demand for its brands better by nearly 400 bps than in urban areas, the company said in a media release on Thursday.

EU announces $1 bn in aid for Lebanon to shore up economy, border security

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced $1 billion in aid for Lebanon during a visit, aiming to boost the country's socio-economic stability amid a severe economic crisis. The aid will support basic services like education and health. Von der Leyen also urged Lebanon to tackle illegal migration, emphasizing the EU's commitment to legal pathways to Europe while seeking Lebanon's cooperation in preventing illegal migration and combating smuggling. Lebanon hosts around two million Syrian refugees, facing challenges exacerbated by its economic collapse and political turmoil.

One-time Narendra Modi fan, comedian Shyam Rangeela to contest against PM from Varanasi

Originally named Shyam Sunder, he embraced the moniker Rangeela (which means colorful) early in his career. He gained prominence for his impersonations of various personalities, including PM Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi, on the comedy competition show 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge' in 2017. His exceptional performance earned him a standing ovation from superstar Akshay Kumar, who was a guest on the show.

Self-driving Teslas cant sneak around the US-China silicon curtain

Elon Musks visit to China got Tesla a deal with Baidu, but will it help? The EV race in Asia this year will be won by the cheapest hardware, not the most cutting-edge software.

2024 BMW M4 Competition launched at Rs 1.53 crore

BMW has launched the 2024 M4 Competition M xDrive in India. The updated sports coupe will be imported via the CBU route and is priced at Rs 1.53 crore (ex-showroom). The 2024 BMW M4 Competition gets updated Adaptive LED headlights and new LED taillights inspired by the M4 CSL. The massive kidney grille has been carried over and features a horizontal double slat design with a gloss black finish. An M graphic for the front and rear is available as an option. The M4 is fitted with a carbon fibre roof that helps reduce the centre of gravity. The car rides on M forged double-spoke-style wheels with brake calipers painted in gloss Blue. The M Carbon exterior package includes inserts for the front air intakes, a rear diffuser and a carbon rear spoiler. Inside, the M4 Competition features an M leather steering wheel, M sports seats with Active Seat Ventilation and the BMW Curved Display with OS 8.5. At the heart of the M4 Is the S58 turbocharged 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine that produces 523 BHP @ 6,250 rpm and 650 Nm @ 2,750-5,370 rpm. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic and BMW's xDrive four-wheel drive system. BMW claims the M4 can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds.

3,000 km with my Virtus 1.0L MT: How it continues to impress me

BHPian neoakshay recently shared this with other enthusiasts. I couldn't stretch for the 1.5 so settled for the 1.0 and it's been fantastic. I recently did Bangalore - Mangalore and on one good stretch the car effortlessly did 160 kmph without feeling strained or nervous. Very stable, planted and comfortable. I'm truly satisfied and now feel the 1.5 would have been dangerous in my hands This car has made me a very smooth and sedate driver and I only let loose on this recent trip just to feel the performance of the car. It really cocoons you with the quiet and comfortable interior and the frankly surprisingly good audio system (without subwoofer). I found that I'm usually driving with very little throttle and a harder input gives a good shove in the right gear. No comparison to the GT's aggressive acceleration, but adequately fun and safer for our unpredictable roads. The only thing I don't like is the slightly metallic rattly sound of this 1.0 engine at lower rpms and the engine honestly doesn't have a soulful sound at all, coming from a NA. I guess it doesn't matter when you're so comfortable and can play your favourite tunes on a long drive. I will hold on to this car for a long time, my previous car Santro lasted 19 years with me and was sold off to a new buyer who was very much happy to receive a car that was cared for in detail and still easily hits 120 kmph without a wobble. Wishing you many happy miles ahead with your GT! My wife finds it funny how excited I still get when I spot a GT and even she now knows how to tell the difference between the 1.0 and 1.5 I'm glad I chose this car and the fact that it's made in India solves the one problem of VW (or most German cars for that matter) - spares availability and cost. This one should be very easy to love and maintain for a decade or more. Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Trying to predict what the Indian voter will choose: A weathervane job?

Indias anti-defection law made elections about picking political parties more than individual candidates, which in turn has meant which way the electoral hawa or wind blows can make a significant difference to outcomes.

Volvo shows how safe its smallest car is when hit by its largest

According to a media report, Swedish automaker Volvo recently crash-tested its smallest electric vehicle offering, the EX30, by running its largest car, the EX90, into the side of it. The test was conducted at Volvo's in-house crash-test lab to prove a point about the EX30's safety. Volvo stated that the standard of safety in the EX90 is higher than any other model before it. The same was done for the EX30 as well. Talking about the EX30's safety, Volvo stated that the EV protects all its occupants hrough state-of-the-art restraint technology, as well as top-notch structural design that fulfils our ambitious in-house safety requirements - designed to prepare our cars for various real-world scenarios. As per reports, the Volvo EX30 has been designed to disperse all the forces around the structure of the car during an accident. Also, the lower structure on both the EX30 and EX90 are specifically designed to absorb most of the energy in a crash. This results in less damage than you might have expected from the larger car onto the smaller car. Volvo didn't release the interior view of the EX30 either before or after the crash test. However, Lotta Jakobsson, Volvo Cars Safety Centre, mentioned that wo small-sized females sitting on the struck side were well protected in the crash, suffering only minimal injuries. Source: Autoblog

Effect on MG ZS EV's range after 36,000 km and 3.5 years

BHPian doctorjee recently shared this with other enthusiasts. 3 and a half years driving an EV, and at what one might consider the half-life of a typical car in India It started as a gamble, yes, actually a gamble where one gives up the peace of mind of staying with the masses for the peace of mind that comes with driving comfort and saving a few pennies while at it...The biggest question: how will the battery hold up over the years?This is the 2020 Gen 1 model of the MG ZS EV, having a 44.5 kWh battery. At the time of purchase, the car promised 332 km on a full charge. I never really checked if it was true, but a number of online reviewers confirmed that it was very close to the actual numbers (and much better than the Hyundai Kona, which overpromised by a big margin). Also, the mode and style of driving heavily impact the mileage. We typically measure this as km/unit or km/kWh, and I would get anywhere between 5 and 9 depending on how I drive. That equated to a range between 222.5 km and 400.5 km. Some reviewers were even able to extract over 600 km on this model. Lighter EVs can extract much more from the battery, but this vehicle weighs >1600 kgs (for context, an Innova weighs 1730 kgs, a Creta weighs ~1400 kgs). So today I did a practical range test. Home-to-office drive in Mumbai traffic, a mix of city and highway driving. At full charge, the car now promises 324 km (an 8 km or 2% drop since Nov 2020). I started at 8:26 AM (a bit later than usual). It took me ~45 mins to drive from Andheri East to Airoli (21.5 km). Average speed 28 km/h. I drove at ~70 kmph on the entire EEH stretch (that's the speed limit). Efficiency was 8 km/unit. I reached the office with 305 km of range remaining. So, simple math - I was promised 324 km and I will be getting 326.5 km as projected. At an average of 7 Rs per unit of electricity in Mumbai, I have spent

Indian car scene: Dearth of all-new mainstream launches in 2024

GTO recently shared this with other enthusiasts. I'd posted this on the Trivia thread in Jan '24:Here's some trivia = I think Q4 2023 (October to December) was the only quarter that didn't see a single all-new car model launch. We only saw facelifts & the like. On the other hand, the motorcycle world has been on fire Unfortunately, Q1 2024 was no different. Other than Facelifts, Variants & EV versions, the all-new nameplates we reviewed last were the Honda Elevate & C3 Aircross back in August 2023!Since then, we've mainly been reviewing variants, facelifts, ATs, EV versions & a bunch of premium cars (BMW X1, BYD Seal)...the last of which carry very low relevance in terms of market reach or sales volumes due to their 50-60 lakh price.Am surprised we've seen no all-new nameplate in the mainstream segments for almost a year!Take a look at our Official Reviews, sorted by date:Gurkha 5-DoorWrangler Rubicon FaceliftBYD Seal (premium, low relevance)Creta N-LineTigor CNGGLA FaceliftC3 Aircross ATPunch EVCreta FaceliftSonet FaceliftBMW X1 (premium, low relevance, not an all-new nameplate)Safari & Harrier FaceliftsMagnite AMTEQE SUV (1.5 crore car)Compass 4x2 ATNexon EV / FaceliftC40 RechargeGloster BlackstormGLCC3 AircrossElevateHere's what BHPian Carpainter had to say on the matter:I think one of the main reasons being manufacturers are busy making EVs these days and are not looking at new models or even new generation for sometime now. Like how the Amaze has been so long in the market but no new facelift or new generation is on the horizon. Same for Compass, Ciaz etc. to name a few. Toyota has stopped making new cars except the Hycross and all their cars are mostly rebadged Suzukis. Same for Honda with only 3 models up for sale and two of which are already looking old now. Some cars that I can think of that will get facelift or new generation are Swift, Dzire and Fortuner. I think our market has stagnated a little here. Even some of the facelifts are carrying polarizing looks like those from Tata, Mahindra, Hyundai etc. I have a sparingly used 9 years old City and I don't see any car today even below 25 lakh bracket that can replace it for another 10 years. I really miss those D segment sedans. I just don't know why atleast Asian companies like Honda and Toyota don't launch their whole south East Asian range of models here. They launch so many variants in countries like Thailand, China, Malaysia etc but only a couple of models here in India with much bigger volume. I don't know how selling say 100 units of 2 models is more profitable than say selling 10 units of 10 different models each. They already share their platform and equipment but multiple models keep the customers happy and help retain a customer longer. I just don't understand their mathematics here.Here's what BHPian CentreofGravity had to say on the matter:You're right. And with upcoming launches like the Toyota Taisor, Mahindra XUV3XO (launched recently), Altroz Racer, Nexon CNG, Thar Armada and Magnite facelift, we're gonna see more variants and facelifts. However, the future isn't entirely bleak. We'll have all new models like the Maruti Swift, Dzire, Citron Basalt and Tata Curvv in the near future and cars like the Maruti EVX, Mahindra BE range, Kia Clavis and EV9, Renault Duster and its Nissan counterpart later on. The period so far may have been boring, but the future seems excitingHere's what BHPian Samba had to say on the matter:My hunch is, manufacturers are not clear about the future of cars. Whether the Indian govt will emphasize higher ethanol petroleum, EV or Hybrid or Hydrogen fuel, or even a diesel engine with some new emission norm! Till they get clarity, they are playing safe and updating the current models and engines rather than investing in a whole new model or engine. The positive part is, that some of the facelifts are worth it, the changes are substantial, not just mere cosmetic changes. Till the manufacturers get clarity about the future these facelifts are welcome.Here's what BHPian smartcat had to say on the matter:Most cars sold by manufacturers have a lifecycle of 6 to 8 years, before being replaced by a new model. Perhaps coincidentally, last year was such that no new model was due for replacement. Or perhaps introduction of new models have been delayed by X months due to internal issues (rather than market outlook). After all, development of a new model has a longish gestation period.Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say on the matter:Perhaps we should also see this as cyclical? We're a market where we have really have only 5 major / volume manufacturers (Maruti, Tata, Mahindra and Korean siblings) with even Toyota and Honda operating on the fringes and the many others brands sitting below even those two. So first and foremost its a consequence of the market having a relative lack of depth and range to start with in the volumes segment. Seeing the high number of launches in June 2022 - 2023, perhaps its not unusual that there were relatively less number in the following 12 months and its only by 2025 / 26 might see an uptick? I'm referring to mainstream models here of course - the sub 30 - 40 lakh segment - cars need to run their ordinary course life cycle out and maybe we're seeing a bunching up where such updates are not immediately due. My back of the envelope sense is the next wave of launches will come around 2025 - 26, which will see a mix of EVs and strong hybrids being offered respectively. Of course regular end of life cycle updates will continue in ICE too but the former is where perhaps the action will pivot to. The shift in dynamics between EVs and strong hybrids is also relatively recent so I do expect a slight lull before manufacturers figure out how they want to focus their strategy and energy. We're already seeing mainstay players like Hyundai, who had previously declared ambitious EV plans, now also speaking of a parallel strong hybrid strategy too. These kind of strategy shifts will also impact roll out timelines to account for the necessary lead in time.Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

2024 Harley-Davidson range launched starting at Rs 13.39 lakh

Hero MotoCorp has launched the 2024 Harley-Davidson range in India. A total of 10 bikes will be available in India priced between Rs 13.39 lakh and Rs 41.79 lakh (ex-showroom). On the lower end of the price spectrum are models like the Nightster, Nightster Special and Sportster S. These are priced at Rs 13.39 lakh, Rs 14.09 lakh and Rs 16.49 lakh, respectively. Harley-Davidson offers four models in the Rs 20-30 lakh price bracket. These include the Fat Bob 114, Pan America Special, Fat Boy 114 and Heritage 114. Besides these, the recently updated Street Glide and Road Glide models have been introduced priced at Rs 38.79 lakh and Rs 41.79 lakh, respectively. Both models get the updated version of the Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin engine with a new cooling system, revised intake and exhaust ports and tweaked suspension. The Breakout 117 has been reintroduced in the Indian market at a price of Rs 30.99 lakh (ex-showroom).