Naked wolf howling around: pulsar 200 ns 2017

This is a very good news for all motorcycle enthusiasts especially pulsar maniacs that pulsar 200ns is back as 200ns 2017 with dual tone color scheme matte and gloss paints are combined to get perfect finish .
It now sports an engine cowl and always on head lamps . Eventually the specs of bike is not disclosed yet and I'll be uploading as soon as they officially unveils it ..

BAJAJ DOMINAR : THE POWER CRUISER

FINALLY.. Bajaj has launched its most awaited 400 cc bike in India a very good news for Indian bikers but not with a "Pulsar" tag but it is named "DOMINAR".
It is based on Bajaj cs400 concept , yes It is a  big bike and has a wide instance to get its cruiser capabilities but its borrows its heart from KTM 390 engines which is down powered from 43Bhp to 35Bhp but has a same torque counting 35Nm ,this will get its more linear power delivery which is required in a power cruiser else then a punchy 43Bhp motor which is  more suitable for a street fighter or sport bike , bike is designed on Lion body type which makes it more aggressive and mature , it even has a LED cluster headlamp which makes your bike visible from 2KM which is mind blowing and first in India, It also sport a day time running light which is also a first in its class
and most importantly a slipper clutch which is first in a Indian made bike .
Bajaj has given us surprises since 2012 after launch of 200ns and its one of those, So without any further delay lets go through the price tag , specifications and features of this bad boy.

PRICE : INR 1,36,000 (ex-showroom Delhi)

SPECIFICATIONS

Frame:                           Beam Type Perimeter Frame
Displacement:               373.3 cc, 4 stroke
Max power:                   35 bhp @ 8000 RPM
Max torque:                   35 Nm @ 6500 RPM
Top Speed:                     148Kmph
0-100:                             8.23secs
Mileage:                          30-35 Kmpl
Fuel System:                 fuel Injected
Cooling:                        Liquid Cooled
Lubrication:                   Wet sump
No. of Gears:                  6
Clutch:                            Slipper Clutch
Gear type:                       Constant Mesh
front Brake:                   320 mm disc
Rear brake:                    230 mm disc
Front Suspension:         43mm telescopic fork
Rear suspension:           Multi Stage adjustable  Mono Shock
Instrumental Console :  All Digital
Mileage :                       43 Kmpl  
Type:                              Naked
Fuel tank capacity:         13 Liters

weight:                            183 Kg

head light:                       LED with auto headlamp on
Tail Light:                       LED
Front Tyre:                      110/R17
Rear Tyre:                        150/R17
Ground Clearance:           157 mm
overall Length:                2156 mm
overall height:                  1112 mm
overall width:                   800 mm

                                          pic: motoroids
Tubeless tyre:                    yes
Alloy Wheel:                     yes
 ABS:                                 optional

          This bike sport a 10 spoke alloy wheels which is directly from cs400 concept but it is missing
those upside down twin forks with a large brakes seats are comfortable and soft for long rides wider tyres for grips and optional dual channel ABS which is optional the has a quite wide riding instance
at last lets see how it performs further in long  term review .
   

The New Naked: FZ-25 .

The world renowned Motorcycle manufacturer YAMAHA has launched its light weight 250cc naked bike in India  .As its older brothers but smaller in engine size has already got a grip in market and alot of fans so Yamaha has launched its very awaited ,A 250cc Yamaha fz25, bringing joy to most of the Yamaha lovers especially fz lovers, So lets go straight check out the Specifications ,price and feature of this new bike.

Price:                             INR 1,19,000(Ex-Showroom)

SPECIFICATIONS

Displacement:               249 cc, 4 stroke
Max power:                   20.6 bhp @ 8000 RPM
Max torque:                   20 Nm @ 6000 RPM
Fuel System:                 fuel Injected
Cooling:                        Air Cooled
Lubrication:                   Wet sump
No. of Gears:                   5
Gear type:                       Constant Mesh
front Brake:                   282 mm disc with 2-pot caliper
Rear brake:                    220 mm disc with single-pot caliper
Front Suspension:         telescopic fork
Rear suspension:           Mono Shock
Instrumental Console :  All Digital
Mileage :                       43 Kmpl  
Type:                              Naked
Fuel tank capacity:         14 Liters

weight:                            148 Kg
head light:                       LED
Tail Light:                       LED
Front Tyre:                      100/80-52 ps
Rear Tyre:                        140/70-66 ps
Ground Clearance:           160 mm
overall Length:                2015 mm
overall height:                  1075 mm
overall width:                   770 mm
Tubeless tyre:                    yes
Alloy Wheel:                     yes

DESCRIPTION

pic: carandbike.com

This bike in first sight gives resemblance of its bigger brother fz-09 from front but the big tank and tank couls gives it mighty feel .This bike also sport a split and comfortable Seat, bar handles and LED lamps both front and back makes it more attractive. It also have bigger front disc but no ABS 

which can be a down side.

This bike is a challenges pulsar 200 series , Apache RTR 200 and KTM Duke 200 these bikes already has their grip in market now this the time to see that how this bike performs in front of its competitors.          

pic: carandbike.com

After 2 years 😎

It's been 2 years since I posted my last blog , due to some personal reasons but hey am back now with some latest updates on All Wheel Driven world.
Subscribe for latest update

ITS ALL NEW PULSAR 200RS N ITS RIVALS

Bajaj Auto, with the help of Mattighofen-based sportsbike manufacturer – KTM – has developed its new 200cc Pulsar called the RS 200. The motorcycle is fully faired, and is rumored to have the same engine as the Pulsar 200 NS. Bajaj will launch the new Pulsar RS 200 on the March 26 in Mumbai. We take a closer look at the bike and compare it to rivals – the KTM RC200 and the Honda CBR 250R – on paper.

Displacement

All the motorcycles in the comparison make use of single-cylinder, four-stroke and liquid-cooled engine. While we are aware that the Pulsar RS 200 and the RC200 use the same 199.5cc engines, jointly developed by Bajaj and KTM, the difference is that KTM uses a single spark plug to start its engine, and the Pulsar uses three. The Honda CBR 250R definitely has a displacement advantage over the rest, with its engine developing 249cc, about 50cc more than the rest.

Motorcycle	Displacement
Bajaj Pulsar RS 200	199.5cc
KTM RC200	199.5cc
Honda CBR 250R	249cc

Power

The Honda CBR 250R makes 26bhp at an early 8,500rpm, clearly at the top, but the smaller capacity KTM RC200 makes 24.7bhp at 10,000rpm, which is achieved rather quickly, close to the larger CBR. The Pulsar RS 200 is close, producing 24.2bhp at 9,750rpm.

Motorcycle	Power
Bajaj Pulsar RS 200	24.2bhp at 9750rpm
KTM RC200	24.7bhp at 10000rpm
Honda CBR 250R	26bhp at 8500rpm

Torque

The CBR 250R makes the maximum torque of 2.3kgm at 7,000rpm. The KTM RC200 and the Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 make the same amount of torque – 1.9kgm at 8,000rpm.

Motorcycle	Torque
Bajaj Pulsar RS 200	1.9kgm at 8000rpm
KTM RC200	1.9kgm at 8000rpm
Honda CBR 250R	2.3kgm at 7500rpm

Suspension

KTM has given the RC200 upmarket USD forks up front and a monoshock does duty at rear. The Honda CBR 250R and the Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 use conventional telescopic forks upfront and a standard monoshock at rear. This setup also does its duty well on the two bikes.

Motorcycle	Front suspension	Rear suspension
Bajaj Pulsar RS 200	Telescopic forks	Monoshock, box section swingarm
KTM RC200	USD forks	Monoshock, alloy swingarm
Honda CBR 250R	Telescopic forks	Monoshock, box section swingarm

 

Fuel tank capacity

Both the Bajaj RS 200 and the Honda CBR 250R have decent fuel tank capacity, both capable of carrying 13 litres of fuel. The KTM RC200 is equipped to carry 9.5 litres of fuel.

Motorcycle	Fuel tank capacity
Bajaj Pulsar RS 200	13 litres
KTM RC200	9.5 litres
Honda CBR 250R	13 litres

Brakes

Honda's CBR 250R and Bajaj's RS 200 get ABS equipped disc brakes up front and at rear.
Also, Honda provides a combined braking system on its CBR 250R also. KTM however, does not provide ABS brakes on the RC200.

Motorcycle	Front brakes	Rear brakes
Bajaj Pulsar RS 200	300mm petal disc (ABS)	230mm petal disc (ABS)
KTM RC200	280mm disc	230mm disc
Honda CBR 250R	296mm disc (ABS)	220mm disc (ABS)

Weight

The lightest motorcycle in the comparison here is the KTM RC200, weighing just 154kg, it also has the best power to weight ratio in the comparison. Bajaj’s Pulsar RS 200 weighs 165kg, and the Honda CBR 250R, weighs 167kg only. 

Motorcycle	Kerb weight
Bajaj Pulsar RS 200	165kg
KTM RC200	154kg
Honda CBR 250R	167kg

Dimensions
The Honda CBR 250R is the longest and the tallest here in the competition. The Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 is the widest of the three but the KTM has the most compact stance of the motorcycles compared here.

Motorcycle	Dimensions
Bajaj Pulsar RS 200	1999/765/1114mm
KTM RC200	1978/688/1098mm
Honda CBR 250R	2032/720/1127mm

Price
Bajaj has just priced its Pulsar RS 200 at Rs 1.18 lakh, for the non-ABS variant, and the one that is equipped with ABS braking is priced at Rs 1.30 lakh. The new and fully-faired Pulsar RS 200 provides good value for money for those looking to purchase a sportsbike that is not as aggressive as KTM’s RC series and has a fresher and newer appearance, compared to Honda's CBR 250R. The KTM RC200 is priced at Rs 1.77 lakh and the Honda CBR 250R is priced at Rs 1.88 lakh (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).

Motorcycle	Price
Bajaj Pulsar RS 200	1.30 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
KTM RC 200	1.66 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Honda CBR 250R	1.88 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

HYUNDAI 4S VERNA

Tech Specs

While the current engine options – 1.4- and 1.6-liter petrol and diesel units – will continue to power the Verna, they have become a bit more powerful and fuel efficient. Even the automatic gearbox, which is currently a 4-speed unit, has not been upgraded to the 6-speed version that can be seen in the larger Elantra.

With the rather invincible Honda City having swept the market, Verna has lost its market leadership this year. A cosmetic update aimed to ensure continued sales momentum for the next 2-3 years, before the introduction of next generation model. The diesel motors of the car are the major sales spinners for the C-Segment sedan in the Indian car market. Therefore, expect some attention to be devoted to the Verna Diesel variants when Hyundai India gives the car a mid-life makeover.

We will keep you posted with further developments, until then do let us know what you think of Hyundai Verna facelift!

Specifications Summary

Engines

1396 cc, Diesel, 90 bhp @ 4000 RPM power

1396 cc, Petrol, 109 bhp @ 6300 RPM power

1582 cc, Diesel, 128 bhp @ 4000 RPM power

1591 cc, Petrol, 123 bhp @ 6300 RPM power

Gearboxes

4-speed, Automatic, FWD

5-speed, Manual, FWD

6-speed, Manual, FWD

Seating Capacity

5 seater

Steering

Power steering

Price List

Petrol –

• Base 1.4 Petrol – INR 7.73L
• S 1.6 Petrol – INR 8.84 L
• S (O) 1.6-litre Petrol – INR 9.38 L
• SX 1.6-litre Petrol – INR 10.15 L
• S (O) 1.6-litre Petrol Automatic – INR 10.11 L

Diesel –

• Base 1.4 Diesel -INR 8.95 L
• S 1.6-litre Diesel – INR 9.99 L
• S (O) 1.6-litre Diesel – INR 10.59 L
• SX 1.6-litre Diesel – INR 11.46 L
• SX 1.6-litre Diesel Automatic – INR 12.19 L

earn by promotion

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Mahindra XUV500 Hybrid Preview

Mahindra, our home grown manufacturer, is on a roll to introduce new technologies in the Indian market. During the 2014 Auto Expo it showcased a hybrid version of its flagship XUV500 SUV and is expected to put it into production within the next year or so. The SUV features all the standard elements but also includes an electric motor which works in conjunction with the 2.2-litre mhawk diesel engine making this the first diesel hybrid in the Indian market.

Exterior

The Hybrid XUV on the outside looks exactly the same as the standard car but we expect that in the production version, there will be at least one or more hybrid badges in addition to the standard badging of the XUV500. The side and rear profile as seen in the concept car are exactly the same as the standard vehicle. However with the car getting the addition of an electric motor, battery and brake regeneration unit, we expect that this car will weigh significantly over the standard XUVs 1785kgs.

Interior

Like the exterior design, we expect that the XUV500 hybrid will get the same interiors as the standard car but with the addition of the relevant gauges for the hybrid system. We also expect that Mahindra will start offering driving modes to make optimum use of the hybrid technology for the XUV500. Standard features are also expected to include climate control, 2-DIN music system with reversing camera, leather seats and the usual host of buttons and gadgets.

Engine

The XUV500 hybrid will continue to be powered by the 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine that produces 140bhp and 330Nm of torque. In addition to this, the SUV will also get an electric motor (whose output is still unknown) that will be powered by lithium-ion batteries. Mahindra has also included regenerative braking as part of the hybrid drive train. While the standard XUV500 is offered with a six-speed manual, we expect Mahindra will fit this car with an AMT (from the Quanto AT) to get maximum from the hybrid system.

Price

It is likely to be offered only in the W8 all-wheel drive variant and will be priced Rs 1 lakh? over the price of the standard W8 all-wheel drive variant. We expect Mahindra will launch this car by the middle of next year for the Indian market.

Toyota Fortuner 4x4 Automatic launched

Toyota has equipped the 4x4 variant with a 5-speed automatic gearbox. The 4x4 AT Fortuner is priced at Rs 26.59 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi and will be available in one variant only. Toyota hasn’t introduced a TRD Sportivo variant for the automatic. An automatic for the 4x4 was something the Fortuner lacked but it was a conscious decision as it would be an expensive proposition. But the Fortuner is well established and selling way better than all its rivals put together so the price isn’t much of a concern now. And with no real threat in sight till Ford introduces the new Endeavour, the 4x4 AT adding to the lineup will only benefit the Japanese carmaker.

As far as cosmetic updates go, the 17 inch alloy wheels for the 4x4 AT get a grey tinge, it gets silver accents to the Fog lamps and comes with smoked headlamps and taillamps. On the inside, you get all black interiors and a touch screen DVD player with navigation and voice recognition. 

The Fortuner 4x4 AT is powered by the 3.0-litre 4-cylinder oil burner pumping out 171PS of max power at 3,600rpm and 360Nm of max torque from 1,400-3,200 rpm. In addition to the AWD automatic, Toyota has also announced standardization of dual front airbags across all variants of all models in the portfolio.

Besides the introduction of the automatic, Toyota has also revised prices of the Fortuner to accommodate the increased excise duty. The base variant costs Rs 24.27 lakh, a little over Rs 2 lakh more than pre-excise rollback rates. Each variant will be costlier by at least Rs 2 lakh now. While 6 percent of it is added excise, the rest of it is a year-end price increase.

Ford Endeavour 2015 expected launch in India by FEB 2015

American car major, Ford had officially revealed the production version of its new 2015 Endeavour last month. Ford Endeavour is a popular model in India, which is known as the Everest in some markets. The next generation Ford Endeavour will be launched in a number of car markets including China, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and India.
The next generation Ford Endeavour was first previewed as the 'Everest concept' model last year in Sydney, Australia. Ford then went ahead with the concept’s official unveiling at the Bangkok Motor Show this year. Now, that Ford has revealed the vehicle’s production ready version as well, the all new Endeavour seems to be very close to its official launch date. The production version of the 2015 Ford Endeavour is exactly the same as its concept, except the new alloys.

The new Ford Endeavour is based on the company’s Edge design philosophy. The next-gen model is expected to be more premium than its precursor. The vehicle will also offer enhanced off-road capabilities owing to its new ladder frame chassis. Ford has also endowed new independent coil-spring system at the vehicle’s rear to enhance its drive experience. The new Endeavour will boast of the new 'Terrano Response' 4 wheel drive system with adjusting traction control and other technological improvements that will really deliver an overall enhanced off-road performance.

The new Ford Endeavour’s interiors are expected to be inspired by the design of the Ford F-105 pickup truck. The next-gen Endeavour will get the company’s new SYNC2 multimedia setup and a large 8 inch display for the infotainment system.

Ford Endeavour 2015 Engine & transmission

In the global car markets, the all new 2015 Ford Endeavour will be equipped with two engine choices comprising of a 2.2 liter four cylinder diesel and a 3.2 liter five cylinder diesel motor. For India, the new Endeavour will be carrying forward with the existing 2.5 liter and 3 liter diesel mills. To improve its performance and fuel efficiency Ford is likely to replace the current 5 speed manual and automatic transmissions with a 6 speed gearbox.

Ford Endeavour 2015 Expected mileage

The next-gen 2015 Ford Endeavour is expected to offer the combined fuel efficiency of 12 to 14 km per liter.

Ford Endeavour 2015 Expected price

The all new Ford Endeavour is expected to be tagged in the price bracket of Rs. 18 to Rs. 25 lakhs in India.

Ford Endeavour 2015 Expected launch date

The next-gen Endeavour is expected to have its Indian launch in February 2015.

The new Honda CB Unicorn 160 launched in India at Rs 69,350

Honda has launched the new CB Unicorn 160 in India at Rs 69,350. There are two variants on offer, one is the standard with a front disc brake and rear drum while the other is the Combi-Brake System trim which is priced at Rs 74,414, ex-Delhi.

The new Honda CB Unicorn 160 has an overall styling which is quite similar to the CB Trigger. The head and tail lamps have been slightly modified while the rest of the panels apart from the fuel tank and saree guard being new units. Cycle parts of the new Unicorn are painted in black with the front suspension being a telescopic unit while the rear is a monoshock.

Mechanically, as the name suggests, the CB Unicorn 160 has a new 163cc HET-enabled engine which makes 14.71PS of power and 14.61Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed heel and toe shifter. Honda claims that the CB Unicorn 160 will do a genuine top speed of 106kmph while the fuel efficiency will be 62kmpl

Features

Speedometer	Digital
Tachometer	Yes
Tachometer Type	Digital
Shift Light	No
Electric Start	Yes
Tripmeter	Yes
No Of Tripmeters	--
Tripmeter Type	Digital
Low Fuel Indicator	--
Low Oil Indicator	--
Low Battery Indicator	Yes

Colors

Imperial Red Metallic, Pearl Black, Geny Grey Metallic, Sunbeam White

Fuel Gauge	Yes
Digital Fuel Gauge	Yes
Pillion Seat	Yes
Pillion Footrest	Yes
Pillion Backrest	No
Pillion Grabrail	Yes
Stand Alarm	--
Stepped Seat	No
Antilock Braking System	No
Killswitch	No
Clock	Yes

Specs

Engine
Displacement (cc)	163
Cylinders	1
Max Power	14.5 bhp @ 8000 rpm
Maximum Torque	14.6 Nm @ 6000 rpm
Bore (mm)	57
Stroke (mm)	63
Valves Per Cylinder	--
Fuel Delivery System	Carburetor
Fuel Type	Petrol
Ignition	--
Spark Plugs (Per Cylinder)	--
Cooling System	Air Cooled
Transmission
Gearbox Type	Manual
No Of Gears	5
Transmission Type	Chain Drive
Clutch	Wet Multiplate
Dimensions & Weight
Kerb Weight (Kg)	135
Overall Length (mm)	2045
Overall Width (mm)	757
Overall Height (mm)	1060
Wheelbase (mm)	1324
Ground Clearance (mm)	150
Seat Height (mm)	--
Fuel Efficiency & Range
Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres)	12
Reserve Fuel Capacity (Litres)	--
FuelEfficiency Overall (Kmpl)	--
Fuel Efficiency Range (Km)	--

Chassis & Suspension
Chassis Type	Diamond
Front Suspension	Telescopic
Rear Suspension	Spring Loaded Hydraulic Type
Braking
Brake Type	Disc
Front Disc	Yes
Front Disc/Drum Size (mm)	240
Rear Disc	No
Rear Disc/Drum Size (mm)	130
Calliper Type	--
Wheels & Tyres
Wheel Size (inches)	17
Front Tyre	80/100-17
Rear Tyre	110/80-17
Tubeless Tyres	Yes
Radial Tyres	--
Alloy Wheels	--
Electricals
Electric System	--
Battery	12V 4Ah
Headlight Type	--
Headlight Bulb Type	12V 35/35W
Brake/Tail Light	LED Tail Lamp
Turn Signal	Yes
Pass Light	Yes
Performance
0 to 60 kmph (Seconds)	--
0 to 80 kmph (Seconds)	--
0 to 40 m (Seconds)	--
Top Speed (Kmph)	106
60 to 0 Kmph (Seconds, metres)	--
80 to 0 kmph (Seconds, metres)	--

New Mahindra Scorpio vs Tata Safari Storme comparison

In a grudge match that started over a decade ago, these two brutes have been trading blows year after year. That’s no exaggeration either, as ever since the launch of the Safari and the Scorpio all those years ago, both Tata and Mahindra have made it a point to update them bit by bit, to cater to changing technology, emission regulations and, of course, customer preferences. A new engine here, a facelift there – it all added up in the end, and for almost every update, we’ve put them head to head. But then in 2012, instead of just the usual minor updates, Tata Motors went and gave the Safari a whole new chassis and suspension setup. Called the Safari Storme, this car went up against the Scorpio and won. Now Mahindra has done the same with the Scorpio, and along with sharper looks and a much better interior, this is the biggest improvement to the popular SUV since it was launched way back in 2002. So naturally, we’ve brought them together once more, to see if the impressive new Scorpio can take the trophy back from the Safari this time.

When the Safari Storme was first shown at the 2012 Auto Expo, there was a tinge of disappointment about the fact that it looked far too similar to the previous Safari. Fortunately that’s not quite something you can say of the new Scorpio. The basic shape is the same, of course, but the details are all new, and though some of them are a little gaudy, we think the overall look is a good step forward. The only place the Storme doesn’t look similar to the old Safari is at the rear where the spare wheel has been shifted from the tail gate to under the floor. But nothing tells you that there’s a new chassis and the design doesn’t really turn heads. However, the sheer size does give it a lot of presence.

On to the insides, and let’s start with the new Scorpio, whose interior has come a very long way from the last car’s. Quality is a huge step up, and though there are still some low-rent bits, they’re not right in your face anymore. The design is much cleaner and more modern too, with a good use of various materials, including chrome accents. Many of the ergonomic quirks have been addressed, but other flaws have cropped up. The wider seats have left no space between them and the doorpads, which forces you to, quite ridiculously, open the door to access the seat adjusters or the door pockets. There’s also almost no useful storage for front passengers and the pedals are placed a bit too high for most drivers. The Scorpio still feels very much like an old-school SUV and that’s because the cabin is still basically shaped like a box – all right angles and vertical surfaces. It’s a much better appointed box, no doubt, but it feels like the premium bits have just been bolted onto a basic structure.

The Safari doesn’t have this problem. Its cabin is laid out much more like a modern car, the dash flows out towards you and the door pads are contoured. Where it feels decidedly truck-like is the seating position – it’s almost too high, and you have to clamber up into the seat. The visibility is superb and towering over ‘lesser’ motorists is a powerful feeling, but it can initially be a bit disconcerting having all the car’s weight moving around beneath you. It’s like going on an elephant ride.

Speaking of which, climbing into these tall SUVs is a distinct two-step exercise; but it’s much easier to hoist yourself into the Scorpio. When you’re in the Safari though, you’ll find a surplus of space and seats that are very well contoured. The Safari offers more comfort, despite the firmer seat cushions. The Scorpio’s seats are much softer but could be better engineered. The rear seat squab is angled a bit too high and, in a bid to improve thigh support, Mahindra engineers have been over-generous with the seat squabs – if you’re short, they’ll dig in behind your knees.

Move beyond the second row and both cars come up short. Our test Scorpio has a pair of side-mounted jump seats, although a conventional bench is an option. The Storme can only be had with jump seats, but a facelifted version is coming by the middle of next year, and we hear it will get a bench too. If two passengers must use the jump seats, though, they should prepare for interlocked knees in either of the cars, because legroom is very poor. However, the Safari’s rear section is narrower, much higher to climb into, and has far less headroom than the Scorpio’s.

Equipment is an area where the new Scorpio absolutely pummels the Safari, and we hope this is something Tata addresses with the facelift. The Tata SUV gets just the bare necessities, but even those, somehow, don’t seem up to scratch. For example, the Bluetooth, USB and aux-equipped audio system is a single-DIN aftermarket unit with limited functionality. You do at least get electric folding mirrors and rear parking sensors. Then in strolls the Scorpio with its custom, XUV500-sourced touchscreen that offers everything from satellite navigation, to voice controls, to a tyre pressure monitor. In fact, the car’s trip computer is in there too, and this is only the tip of the Scorpio’s equipment list.

Old-school grunt

An area where both these cars haven’t changed is their engines – they both use the same 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel engines as before; although the Scorpio is also available in its base trim with the 2.5-litre M2DiCR motor. The Safari’s 138bhp and 32.63kgm edge out the Scorpio’s 118bhp and 28.5kgm on paper, but out on the road, it’s not that black and white. The Scorpio’s mHawk engine has much better responses low down, meaning it’s good for cut-and-thrust city driving, darting forward eagerly at low revs. It’s got a pretty potent mid-range too, but cross 3,700rpm and it starts to become more noise than actual movement. Speaking of which, it’s not the quietest engine, but it edges out the boomy Safari on refinement.

The Storme’s engine is not as good at low revs, with not a whole lot of grunt off boost, so you have to work your way into the mid-range and use the gearbox to keep it there. However, once you hit about 2,200rpm, the power just wallops in nicely. It then pulls for a lot longer than the Scorpio’s engine, though, and doesn’t feel as strained at higher revs, thanks to the taller gearing.

The Scorpio is clearly the quicker of the two, despatching 100kph from rest in 13.44sec, which is almost 1.5sec quicker than the Storme. We do need to keep in mind, however, that our test Safari was a 4x4 version, which is a full 95kg heavier than the 4x2 version, but then, the Scorpio is almost 200kg lighter than even the lightest Storme.

The Scorpio also gets a new gearbox, the one introduced in the Xylo a little while ago. The good news is that it’s a whole lot lighter and smoother than before, but you still have to contend with a tall gearlever, which just makes the shift action feel a little utilitarian. The Safari’s short-throw lever is much more car-like to use, and falls quite easily to hand, but then, the shift quality isn’t great either.

Frame work

This is the area where a new chassis and suspension would really get a chance to prove themselves. The Safari Storme’s lighter, stiffer ‘X2’ chassis borrowed from the Aria did just that two years ago, and was a huge step forward for the big SUV. The thing is, the Scorpio’s feels like an even bigger jump over its predecessor. The old Scorpio was lumpy at low speeds, bouncy at high speeds and flat-out scary around corners, and this new chassis improves on those issues in a big way. Around corners, it’s impressively composed for a tall, boxy, ladder-frame SUV and this is helped by the new steering, which is far more direct and feelsome than before. Stability at highway speeds is much better and the suspension works really quietly to give a soft edge to it. Low speed ride is decent but the downside is that on a less than smooth road, the Scorpio is still quite bumpy. Speedbreakers and sharp edges toss occupants around a fair bit and the rear has a sharp kick which can levitate the luggage in the boot.

The Safari Storme’s ride quality is less animated and doesn’t have the sharp, short vertical movement of the Scorpio. The overall ride quality is a touch more settled, though less cushioned than the Mahindra. The Safari can smother bad roads amazingly well too, but sharper bumps are felt more in the Storme.

Both cars have an uncomfortably high centre of gravity and lots of body roll, but it’s the Safari that has alarming angles of lean and doesn’t feel as reassuring, especially when you pick up the pace. The Scorpio rocks a lot less and feels more tied down. The Tata’s steering too isn’t as good as its rival’s – it feels sloppy and light until you pile on a bit of lock, at which point it weighs up inconsistently. And though it’s a big step up over the old Safari, the Storme still doesn’t like being cornered hard and the high seating position only adds to the top-heavy feeling.

Home stretch

Despite sticking with their tried and tested formula of ladder-frame chassis and big, torquey four-cylinder diesel engines, both these cars have come a long way since their humble origins, and are now much better at delivering their original promise of being tough but liveable family SUVs. You’ll like a lot of things about the Storme – the huge presence that comes with its huge size, the space (for five) in the cabin and relaxed cruising ability. But its shortcomings are a bit too big to ignore. It’s looking dated inside and out, the cabin quality isn’t where it should be and it’s a bit cumbersome to drive in traffic.

But then, for all its improvements, the Scorpio is not perfect either. Despite all the new garnish – inside and out – you’re always aware that you’re in a boxy SUV with a rather utilitarian past. The ride errs a bit too much on the bumpy side, some of the styling (like at the rear) is a bit over the top, and many of the cabin’s ergonomic bugbears remain. However, the Scorpio is a lot easier to drive than the Storme now, thanks to its peppy engine, great steering and light, taut chassis. It’s more fuel efficient and there’s way more equipment too – a point that’s only made clearer by the fact that the top 4x2 Scorpio is almost Rs 50,000 cheaper than the top Safari 4x2. This combination of improved dynamics, superb value and a better feel-good factor are what let Mahindra walk away with the trophy. Until the Safari gets its next update in 2015, of course.

Top 10 fuel efficient diesel cars in India

A little while ago, we revealed the top 10 most fuel efficient petrol cars in India by taking into account the real-world mileage of each car achieved in Autocar India’s road tests. This data is collected by driving the car in actual urban and highway conditions in and around a typical Indian metro city. This means traffic, poorly paved roads and pollution, just like you might encounter in your car.

 

Now we have compiled a list of the top 10 most fuel efficient diesel cars in India, and no surprises here, it’s comprised entirely of hatchbacks and compact sedans. This has a lot to do with these cars’ relatively light kerb weights and smaller diesel engines, compared to larger sedans and SUVs.

 

Just for comparison, alongside our figures, we’ve also included each car’s manufacturer-claimed fuel-efficiency figure (as per ARAI testing conditions). These figures represent the fuel consumption a car could possibly achieve in perfect conditions, but they are calculated in a laboratory, and so don’t reflect the conditions that our cars really endure on Indian roads.

Finally, we’ve also included a running cost figure to see how much you’d spend on fuel each month. This is calculated based on the assumption that the vehicle is being driven for 1,000km a month, 50 percent of which is on city roads and 50 percent on highways, and that the cost per litre of diesel is Rs 65 (the current price in Mumbai, Maharashtra). This is also calculated using our real-world test figures, and not the ARAI rating.

 

So, are you the type of car owner for which fuel-efficiency is paramount? And if so, is your car on this list?

 

1. HYUNDAI XCENT

Autocar India City mileage: 16.2kpl
Autocar India Highway mileage: 20.3kpl
ARAI rating: 24.4kpl
Running cost per month: Rs 3561
Price (diesel range): Rs 5.56-7.41 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
The Xcent marked Hyundai’s foray into the popular compact sedan segment, up against the Honda Amaze and Maruti Dzire. Interestingly, while its 24.4kpl ARAI-rated figure is not nearly the highest on this list, our road test crowned it the king of the diesel roost. It managed 16.2kpl in the city – the highest figure here – and 20.3kpl on the highway, which is a touch shy of the Honda Amaze’s 20.8kpl. You can put that down to the Xcent’s smaller, 71bhp, 1120cc, three-cylinder, CRDi engine, which needs to be worked a little bit more out on the highway. 

2. HONDA AMAZE

Autocar India city mileage: 15.2kpl
Autocar India highway mileage: 20.8kpl
ARAI rating: 25.8kpl
Running cost per month: Rs 3611
Price (diesel range): Rs 5.97-7.54 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

The Amaze was Honda’s first car in India to be powered by a diesel engine. The made-for-India diesel motor, with an ARAI-rated fuel efficiency of 25.8kpl, gave Honda the bragging rights to India’s most fuel efficient diesel car, surpassed only by its sibling, the City i-DTEC, whose ARAI rating is 26kpl. During testing, the Amaze diesel’s 15.2kpl in the city and 20.8kpl on the highway (still the best here), made it the most efficient diesel car we’d tested, until the Xcent came along. Not bad for a relatively large, 1498cc, four-cylinder engine that makes 98.6bhp and 20.3kgm of torque. 

3. CHEVROLET BEAT

 

Autocar India city mileage: 16kpl
Autocar India highway mileage: 19.1kpl
ARAI rating: 25.44kpl
Running cost per month: Rs 3703
Price (diesel range): Rs 4.77-5.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

Considering this is the most compact car here with the smallest-capacity engine, some might think that the Beat diesel should be at the top of the list. Its ARAI rating of 25.44kpl is second only to the Amaze’s and in our city tests, its 16kpl is second only to the Xcent. However, out on the highway, the small 936cc displacement lets it down, needing to be worked hard to really get the best of it. Which is why its 19.1kpl highway rating lets down its overall FE performance.

4. HYUNDAI GRAND i10   

Autocar India city mileage: 15.4kpl 
Autocar India highway mileage: 19.6kpl
ARAI rating: 24kpl
Monthly running costs: Rs 3714
Price (diesel range): Rs 5.21-6.38 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Hyundai made some modifications to the 1.1-litre, three-cylinder diesel engine for the Xcent, and so its ARAI rating of 24.4kpl is better than the Grand i10’s 24kpl. In our tests, this difference is even more pronounced, with the hatchback’s 15.4kpl and 19.6kpl city and highway figures being some way behind the Xcent’s numbers. Although it must be noted that the Grand i10’s less aerodynamically efficient shape will have had some role to play here.

5. TATA INDIGO eCS

Autocar India city mileage: 15.3kpl
Autocar India highway mileage: 19.6kpl
ARAI rating: 25kpl
Monthly running costs: Rs 3724
Price (diesel range): Rs 5.38-5.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

The pioneer of the compact sedan segment, the Indigo eCS was always billed as a very fuel-efficient car, with a 25kpl ARAI rating that was for its time, pretty much as good as it could get. It’s getting on a bit now, but even so, our tested 15.3kpl in the city and 19.6kpl on the highway, are pretty impressive. The Indigo eCS is powered by the same 1396cc, four-cylinder diesel engine as the Indica that’s next on this list, and produces an identical 69bhp and 14.2kgm of torque. 

6. TATA INDICA

Autocar India city mileage: 15.3kpl
Autocar India highway mileage: 19.3kpl
ARAI rating: 25kpl
Running cost per month: Rs 3757
Price (diesel range): Rs 4.39-4.80 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Since its launch, the Tata Indica endeared itself to owners and fleet operators with its stellar fuel efficiency. While the Indica has an ARAI rated fuel efficiency of 25kpl, we achieved 15.3kpl while driving in the city and 19.3kpl on the highway (the only area where it falls slightly short of its compact sedan sibling, the Indigo). For such an old design, it really does deliver as a no-nonsense, practical hatchback, and the fact that it’s the cheapest car on this list only reinforces that notion.

7. MARUTI-SUZUKI SWIFT DZIRE

Autocar India city mileage: 14.6kpl
Autocar India highway mileage: 19.8kpl
ARAI rating: 23.4kpl
Running cost per month: Rs 3779
Price (diesel range): Rs 5.78-7.32 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

By far one of the most popular cars in the country, the Swift Dzire consistently outsells even its hatchback counterpart, month after month. A big reason for that is Maruti’s great reputation for reliability and good service, but an ARAI rating of 23.4kpl helps too. While driving in the city, our testers extracted 14.6kpl from the Dzire’s 74bhp, 1.3-litre engine. On the highway, it stretched that to 19.8kpl, which though not as good as the Xcent and the Amaze, is by no means terrible. 

8. NISSAN MICRA

Autocar India city mileage: 14.6kpl
Autocar India highway mileage: 19.5kpl
ARAI rating: 23.08kpl
Running cost per month: Rs 3812
Price (diesel range): Rs 5.78-7.03 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

The Micra’s inclusion on this list should give you some idea about just how under-rated and overlooked it is in India. It’s a hugely capable, practical and spacious hatchback that’s become even more desirable after its recent facelift. In our tests, it matched the Maruti Swift with 14.6kpl in the city and 19.5kpl on the highway. However, its ARAI rating is a little higher than the Maruti’s – 23.08kpl as opposed to 22.9. Put it down to the Micra’s flexible and frugal 63bhp, 1.5-litre diesel – closely related to the one in the Renault Duster SUV. 

9. MARUTI-SUZUKI SWIFT

Autocar India city mileage: 14.6kpl
Autocar India highway mileage: 19.5kpl
ARAI rating: 22.9kpl
Running cost per month: Rs 3812
Price (diesel range): Rs 5.45-6.70 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

The diesel Maruti Swift has achieved immense popularity among buyers owing to its fuel efficient and reliable diesel engine (oddly enough, sourced from Fiat). The Swift diesel claims an ARAI rated fuel efficiency of 22.9kpl.  During our fuel efficiency runs, it matched its booted sibling, the Dzire, with 14.6kpl in the city, although on the highway it didn’t fare as well, with 19.5kpl. However, these minor differences in fuel efficiency don’t seem to have hurt the Swift’s reputation as a premium, fun-to-drive and reliable hatchback.

10. MARUTI-SUZUKI RITZ

 

Autocar India city mileage: 14.6kpl
Autocar India highway mileage: 19.3kpl
ARAI rating: 23.2kpl
Running cost per month: Rs 3834
Price (diesel range): Rs 5.27-6.15 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

It’s not too surprising that after the Dzire and the Swift, comes the Maruti Ritz. It is based on the same basic platform and uses the same engine and gearbox, although it is a bit taller and ‘block-like’ in shape. Still, it managed to score higher than the Swift in the ARAI test with 23.2kpl, and it’s only a fraction behind it in the Autocar Road Test rating. It managed 14.6kpl in the city and 19.3kpl on the highway, putting it in a very close tenth place on this list of frugal diesel cars.