Category: Maxxd News

oi-Dennis Abraham James

Published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 10:57 [IST]

India’s
love
affair
with
SUVs
continues
to
rise
to
unheard-of
levels
as
we
desis
continue
to
fall
in
love
with
the
boxy
boxes
on
wheels.

Most
of
the
timeline
of
this
overt
love
affair
has
seen
the
boxy
menaces
grow
in
size.
However,
Tata
Motors
bucked
that
trend
by
hopping
onto
the
micro
SUV
bandwagon
with
the
Punch.

The
Punch
joined
the
Mahindra
KUV100
in
this
segment
of
small,
boxy
cars
on
stilts,
helping
Tata
Motors
subvert
a
new
breed
of
car
buyers
into
the
SUV
class.

The
carmaker
most
affected
by
the
Tata
Punch
arriving
on
our
roads
was
Hyundai
which
saw
the
Mumbai
firm
inch
close
and
sometimes
surpass
it
on
the
monthly
sales
charts.

Deciding
to
fight
fire
with
fire,
Hyundai
has
taken
the
plunge
into
the
world
of
micro
SUVs
with
the
all-new
Exter.
So
does
the
Exter
have
what
it
takes
to
bring
Hyundai
to
new
sales
highs,
or
is
it
all
style
and
no
substance?

Hyundai
Exter
Design
&
Features:
Boxy
But
In
A
Mad
Way

The
Hyundai
Exter
shares
its
underpinnings
with
the
Grand
i10
Nios
hatchback
and
the
Aura
sedan.
However,
unlike
its
stablemates,
the
all-new
Exter
travels
down
a
different
design
path.

The
Hyundai
Exter
follows
the
firm’s
parametric
design
language
giving
it
a
distinct
look.
This
unique
design
is
most
evident
in
the
front
of
the
new
micro
SUV,
where
the
split
headlight
setup
and
parametric
grille
dominate
the
landscape.

Sitting
on
either
side
of
the
parametric
grille
are
bi-functional
projector
headlamps.
The
position
lamps
with
the
in-built
H-shaped
LED
DRLs
sit
slightly
higher
on
the
front
bumper
of
the
Exter.

Other
highlights
at
the
front
of
the
Exter
include
the
silver
skid
plate
on
the
lower
section
of
the
front
bumper,
underneath
a
small
air
dam.
The
Hyundai
badge
sits
on
the
bonnet,
while
the
Exter
nameplate
sits
between
the
split
lighting
setup.

The
sides
of
the
Exter
SUV
feature
flared
wheelarches
which
play
host
to
15-inch
diamond-cut
alloy
wheels.
Also
seen
are
black
roof
rails,
a
shark
fin
antenna,
body
cladding,
and
parametric
design
highlights
on
the
C-pillar.

The
rear
section
of
the
Exter
sports
LED
taillights
with
the
H-shaped
signature
element.
The
taillights
connect
with
the
Hyundai
badge
with
the
help
of
a
plastic
section
sporting
Hyundai’s
parametric
signature
design.

Other
highlights
at
the
rear
include
the
rear
skid
plate
in
silver
and
the
roof-mounted
spoiler
in
black.
The
spoiler
hosts
the
third
brake
light.

You’re
greeted
by
a
familiar
sight
when
you
enter
the
Exter’s
cabin.
The
interior
of
the
Exter
SUV
is
quite
similar
to
the
i10
and
the
Aura
but
features
a
blacked-out
theme
for
the
lower
sections
–
dashboard
and
door
panels.
The
upper
section
is
in
the
usual
white
scheme.

The
dashboard
plays
host
to
the
centrally-mounted
8-inch
touchscreen
infotainment
display.
This
system
supports
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay.
The
setup
also
allows
access
to
Hyundai’s
Blue
Link
Connected
Car
setup
and
the
built-in
navigation.

Other
features
include
a
digital
instrument
cluster
with
a
4.2-inch
MID,
voice-activated
commands,
an
electric
sunroof,
automatic
climate
control,
wireless
charging,
a
two-way
dashcam
and
over-the-air
(OTA)
updates.

The
seats
of
the
Hyundai
Exter
feature
leatherette
upholstery
and
are
comfortable.
There
is
enough
room
at
the
rear
for
even
the
taller
ones
among
us,
though
three
adults
will
have
to
play
musical
chairs
to
get
a
good
fit.

The
Hyundai
Exter
comes
packed
with
a
host
of
safety
tech
that
includes
six
airbags,
ESC,
hill
assist
control,
ABS
with
EBD,
rear
parking
sensors
and
camera,
three-point
seatbelt
and
seatbelt
reminders
for
all
seats,
and
ISOFIX
child
seat
anchors.

Hyundai
Exter
Specs
&
Dimensions
–
Embracing
The
Micro
Theme

The
Hyundai
Exter,
as
mentioned
earlier,
is
a
micro
SUV.
The
Exter
measures
3,815mm
long,
1,710mm
wide
and
1,631mm
tall.
The
wheelbase
is
2,450mm
long,
while
the
ground
clearance
is
185mm.
The
Exter’s
boot
swallows
up
391
litres
of
luggage
(petrol
only).

The
all-new
Exter
borrows
its
engine
from
its
stablemates.
The
Exter’s
1.2-litre,
four-cylinder
engine
is
a
bi-fuel
unit
that
runs
on
petrol
and
CNG.

In
petrol
mode,
the
Kappa
series
engine
produces
81.8bhp
and
113.8Nm
of
peak
torque.
These
figures
drop
to
67.7bhp
and
95.2Nm
when
the
engine
switches
to
CNG.

The
Exter
petrol
comes
with
both
manual
and
AMT
gearbox
options,
while
the
CNG
version
makes
do
with
only
the
manual
(all
5-speed).
In
petrol
guise,
the
Exter
returns
a
mileage
of
19.4km/l,
which
drops
to
19.2km/l
with
the
AMT.
The
Exter’s
CNG
version
delivers
a
mileage
of
27.1km/kg.

Hyundai
Exter
Driving
Impressions
–
Micro
But
Mighty

We
got
to
drive
the
Exter’s
petrol
AMT
version
during
our
time
with
the
all-new
micro
SUV
in
and
around
the
capital
of
Rajasthan,
Jaipur.

On
the
move,
the
Exter’s
1.2-litre
engine
felt
smooth
and
refined,
staying
calm
even
at
triple-digit
speeds
on
the
highway.
The
output
from
the
powerplant
was
linear,
and
it
climbed
smoothly
through
the
rev
range.

The
AMT
gearbox
shifted
through
the
gears
with
ease.
Unlike
similar
transmission
options
from
other
carmakers,
it
didn’t
feel
jerky.
However,
we
wished
it
was
a
bit
quicker
through
the
gears.

The
steering
is
light
at
lower
speeds
allowing
you
to
move
through
lanes
with
light
inputs.
As
the
numbers
on
the
speedo
go
higher,
the
Exter’s
steering
wheel
weighs
up,
giving
you
the
confidence
to
drive
it
on
the
highway.

Hyundai’s
suspension
setup
for
the
Exter
is
slightly
stiff,
but
it
is
not
so
harsh
that
your
hindquarters
hurt
when
the
micro
SUV
encounters
a
pothole.
The
slightly
stiffer
suspension
setup
works
wonders
when
you
push
the
Exter
through
a
bend,
though
the
body
roll
is
still
a
slight
issue.

The
brakes
on
the
Exter
do
their
job
rather
well.
The
initial
bite
is
good,
and
the
pedal
feels
progressive
as
you
push
it
to
the
floor.
A
slightly
grippier
set
of
tyres
would
improve
this
further,
but
we
understand
why
Hyundai
went
with
the
tyres
it
used
(cough ‘mileage’ cough).

Final
Thoughts
On
The
Hyundai
Exter:
A
New
King
Of
The
Micro
SUVs
Is
Here

The
Hyundai
Exter
sees
the
South
Korean
firm
dive
headlong
into
battle
with
the
Tata
Punch
as
it
looks
to
keep
its
spot
on
the
sales
charts
far
away
from
the
rampaging
Mumbai
firm.

The
Exter
is
the
perfect
answer
to
the
Punch
from
Hyundai.
Hyundai
sure
looks
like
it
has
a
winner
on
its
hands
with
the
Exter’s
boxy
good
looks,
aggressive
pricing
and
impressive
features
list.

Source

oi-Dennis Abraham James

Published: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 15:54 [IST]

When
Suzuki
and
Toyota
inked
their
badge-swapping
deal
a
while
back,
the
larger
Japanese
firm
benefitted
from
the
partnership
by
gobbling
up
the
Brezza
and
the
Baleno
from
Maruti
Suzuki.

While
fans
of
Toyota
weren’t
the
biggest
fans
of
the
deal,
it
did
help
the
firm
shore
up
its
numbers
in
India.
However,
over
the
past
few
months,
the
shoe
has
been
on
the
other
foot,
as
Maruti
took
the
Hyryder
and
made
it
the
Grand
Vitara.

Recently,
Toyota
dropped
the
all-new
Innova
Hycross,
and
the
latest
iteration
of
the
King
of
the
MPVs
in
India
has
become
the
latest
product
from
Aichi
in
Japan
to
feature
an ‘S’ on
its
nose.

The
result
is
the
Maruti
Suzuki
Invicto,
a
rebadged
Innova
Hycross
that
tweaks
the
looks
of
the
Innova,
fits
it
with
smaller
wheels
and
rips
out
driver
aids
for
a
price
tag
no
one
a
decade
ago
would
have
pictured
next
to
a
Maruti
Suzuki.

So
do
the
changes
make
the
Maruti
Suzuki
Invicto
the
ultimate
cheat
code
or
are
the
changes
a
step
too
far
into
the
unknown
for
India’s
largest
carmaker?
We
drove
the
all-new
Maruti
Suzuki
Invicto
in
Rajasthan
to
find
the
answer…

Maruti
Suzuki
Invicto
Design
&
Features
–
Tweaking
The
Unbeatable

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Invicto,
like
other
vehicles
in
the
Toyota/Maruti
Suzuki
world
of
badge
swaps,
is
more
of
a
facelift
than
a
proper
face
swap.

Like
its
smaller
rebadged
siblings,
the
Invicto
redoes
the
face
and
a
few
other
bits
to
give
the
premium
MPV
a
distinctive
Maruti
Suzuki
look
that
has
become
a
trademark
for
the
firm’s
premium
Nexa
lineup.

At
the
front,
the
Invicto
features
a
different
grille
that
features
chunky
chrome
bars
connecting
the
Suzuki
badge
to
the
revised
headlamps
that
feature
new
triple
LED
daytime
running
lights.

The
new
grille
looks
similar
to
the
one
on
the
Grand
Vitara
and
the
new
Fronx
SUVs
and,
when
combined
with
the
smoked
look
of
the
headlamps,
gives
the
new
Invicto
a
distinctively
Nexa
look.
And
the
large
turn
signals
are
no
longer
dual-purpose
units.

Other
changes
on
the
new
Invicto
compared
to
the
Innova
Hycross
include
the
new
triple
LED
taillights
on
the
Maruti
version
of
the
MPV,
which
also
sports
smaller
17-inch
alloy
wheels.

The
interiors
of
the
Maruti
Suzuki
Invicto
are
a
near-carbon
copy
of
the
Innova.
However,
Maruti
Suzuki
has
added
a
few
champagne
gold
highlights
to
the
new
Invicto’s
cabin
that
give
it
a
more
premium
look.

However,
the
all-black
interior
and
the
silver
trim
on
the
steering
wheel
and
dash
look
slightly
less
premium.
The
seats
are
also
almost
identical.
While
the
front
seats
are
the
same
ventilated,
adjustable
(driver’s
only)
units,
However,
the
captain
seats
on
the
7-seater
version
of
the
new
Invicto
are
not
as
mad
as
the
ottoman
units
on
the
Innova.

The
display
for
the
infotainment
screen
remains
the
same
–
a
10.1-inch
touchscreen
with
support
for
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay.
The
7-inch
display
in
the
instrument
binnacle
has
also
been
retained,
as
has
the
dual-zone
climate
control
setup,
powered
tailgate,
large
panoramic
sunroof,
and
the
wireless
charging
pad
that
sits
above
the
glovebox.

The
new
Invicto
from
Maruti
Suzuki
also
gets
the
firm’s
Suzuki
Connect
suite
of
connected
car
features.
These
allow
you
to
track
your
Invicto
and
know
when
it
is
being
towed
away
or
stolen,
along
with
a
host
of
other
functions
like
geofencing
and
door
lock/unlock,
which
can
be
done
through
a
connected
smartwatch.

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Invicto
also
comes
packed
with
quite
a
bit
of
safety
kit,
including
six
airbags,
ABS
with
EBD
vehicle
stability
control,
hill
start
assist,
a
360-degree
camera
with
dynamic
guidelines,
front
and
rear
parking
sensors
and
all-wheel
disc
brakes.

However,
Maruti
Suzuki
has
ditched
ADAS
once
again
with
the
all-new
Invicto,
which
we
feel
is
something
they
should
not
have
compromised
on
as
these
driver-aids
help
save
more
lives
on
the
road.

Maruti
Suzuki
Invicto
Driving
Impressions
–
More
Of
The
Same

Instead
of
borrowing
all
the
powertrains
on
offer
with
the
Innova,
Maruti
Suzuki
has
decided
to
stick
with
the
strong
hybrid
system
for
the
Invicto.
The
hybrid
setup
is
paired
with
an
e-CVT
gearbox
that
sends
power
to
the
front
wheels.

The
hybrid
setup
consists
of
a
2.0-litre
Atkinson
cycle
four-cylinder
engine
that
pushes
out
150bhp
and
187Nm
of
peak
torque.
The
engine
is
helped
along
by
a
single
electric
motor
producing
111bhp
and
206Nm
and
is
paired
with
a
1.7kWh
NIMH
battery
pack.

The
power
output
of
the
hybrid
setup
of
the
Maruti
Suzuki
Invicto
is
limited
to
184bhp.
The
Invicto
sprints
from
0-100km/h
in
9.5
seconds,
and
the
premium
MPV
delivers
a
mileage
of
23.24km/l.

The
Invicto
starts
on
electric
power,
and
it
will
easily
go
around
town
with
the
engine
only
coming
in
to
recharge
the
battery
or
to
give
a
bit
of
extra
boost
when
needed.
However,
when
the
speeds
go
up,
the
roles
flip.
With
the
engine
in
charge,
the
motor
adds
electrical
assistance,
and
the
combination
easily
goes
up
the
speedometer.

Initially,
the
response
is
linear;
however,
it
does
peter
out
at
higher
speeds
with
the
e-CVT,
making
the
powerplant
feel
a
bit
weirdly
strained.
However,
at
lower
speeds,
the
gearbox
feels
more
at
ease.

The
monocoque
chassis
setup
means
that
the
Invicto
drives
down
the
highways
with
ease.
The
17-inch
wheels
are
shod
with
215/60
tyres,
and
the
ride
of
the
Invicto
feels
slightly
plusher
than
the
Innova.

Turning
round
bends
is
also
quite
nice
for
a
vehicle
this
size.
However,
don’t
expect
any
miracles
when
you
push
the
Invicto
around
a
corner
despite
how
easy
the
power
steering
makes
it
seem.

The
brakes
on
the
Invicto
are
aided
by
the
regeneration
of
the
hybrid
setup.
The
regen
can
be
tweaked,
and
with
discs
all
around,
the
Invicto
comes
to
a
stop
with
relative
ease.

Final
Thoughts
About
The
Maruti
Suzuki
Invicto
–
Cheat
Code
Activated

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Invicto
seems
like
the
ultimate
cheat
code
for
fans
of
the
nation’s
largest
carmaker,
who
seem
to
be
getting
a
rebadged
Innova
for
around
Rs
1
lakh
less.

However,
while
the
Invicto
may
seem
to
some
as
an
imposter
with
an
S
badge,
especially
with
the
lack
of
ADAS,
Maruti
customers
will
still
find
it
to
be
a
rather
brilliant
deal.
At
the
end
of
the
day,
that’s
all
that
matters
at
the
end
of
the
day.

Source

oi-Dennis Abraham James

Published: Monday, May 29, 2023, 10:50 [IST]

The
corner
of
the
Indian
car
market
powered
by
CNG
has
always
been
chock
full
of
compromises,
some
greater
than
others
but
still
compromises…

Customers
had
to
choose
between
power
and
mileage,
boot
space
and
more
CNG
and
of
course,
the
ever-present
fear
of
having
a
compressed
metal
cylinder
filled
with
methane
sitting
just
behind
the
passenger
seats.

But
those
were
compromises
the
Indian
CNG
car
following
had
gotten
used
to
as
well.
That
was
until
Tata
Motors
decided
to
upend
that
sorry
cart
of
compromises
with
its
new
twin-cylinder
tech
at
Auto
Expo
2023.

So
is
the
new
Tata
Altroz
iCNG,
the
sign
of
a
new
era
of
CNG
in
India
or
is
it
just
more
compressed
methane
escaping
into
the
atmosphere
that
isn’t
bovinely
exhausted?
We
got
behind
the
wheel
of
the
all-new
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
in
Goa
to
find
out
just
how
much
the
premium
hatchback
had
changed
with
compressed
methane
running
through
its
veins…

Tata
Altroz
iCNG
–
Is
It
Really
More
Practical?

The
Tata
Altroz
is
one
of
the
better-looking
hatchbacks
currently
running
on
our
roads
today
and
the
visual
changes
for
the
CNG
version
are
almost
non-existent
except
for
the
iCNG
badge
on
the
tailgate.

The
changes
on
the
inside
are
also
nearly
nonexistent
as
well,
except
for
the
new
CNG
button
on
the
central
console
that
lets
you
know
which
fuel
you’re
using.
The
voice-activated
single-pane
roof
is
a
first
for
any
CNG-powered
hatch
in
India.

Otherwise,
the
new
Altroz
iCNG
comes
packed
with
all
the
bells
and
whistles
the
petrol
version
of
the
hatch
comes
with.
Top-spec
versions
of
the
Altroz
iCNG
come
with
features
like
automatic
headlights
and
rain-sensing
wipers,
a
7-inch
touchscreen
infotainment
system
with
Tata’s
iRA
smartcar
setup
and
support
for
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay.

Other
features
on
the
top-of-the-line
Altroz
iCNG
include
a
wireless
phone
charger,
air
purifier,
leatherette
seat
upholstery
and
dual-tone
alloy
wheels.

The
biggest
change
in
terms
of
design
and
practicality
is
seen
when
you
open
the
tailgate
and
gaze
into
the
bowels
of
the
boot.
Tata’s
twin
30kg
CNG
cylinders
take
up
space
under
the
floor
of
the
boot.

Yes,
the
Altroz
iCNG’s
210-litre
boot
is
smaller
than
its
petrol
counterpart’s
345-litre
unit.
However,
before
you
all
start
picketing
my
office
tabletop
and
complaining
about
leading
you
on
about
the
compromises
in
the
introduction
to
this
piece,
210
litres
is
a
lot
more
than
having
no
space
at
all
with
a
regular
60kg
compressed
CNG
tank.

So
while
the
CNG
tanks
may
have
gobbled
up
the
underfloor
storage
area,
diminishing
the
available
volume
of
space
by
135
litres,
the
Altroz
iCNG’s
210-litre
boot
is
more
than
enough
for
the
grocery
and
mall
shopping
runs.

Tata
Altroz
iCNG
–
Has
The
Engine
Snoozed
Off
&
Just
How
Safe
Is
It?

The
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
is
based
on
the
firm’s
1.2-litre
naturally
aspirated
3-cylinder
revotron
engine.
When
drinking
down
petrol,
the
engine
produces
87bhp
and
115Nm
of
peak
torque.

When
inhaling
lungfuls
of
compressed
methane,
the
engine
output
dips
from
87bhp
to
72.4bhp,
while
torque
is
down
by
12Nm
at
103Nm.
Power
is
still
sent
to
the
front
wheels
via
a
5-speed
manual
gearbox.

To
allow
the
engine
to
function
without
having
to
catch
its
breath
every
time
one
of
the
fuel
tanks
drops
low.
The
new
smart
ECU
automatically
shifts
between
petrol
and
CNG
on
the
fly.

The
new
ECU
switches
between
fuels
on
the
go
while
ensuring
the
best
efficiency.
The
new
ECU
also
allows
the
Altroz
to
start
off
the
daily
drive
in
CNG
mode.

Filling
up
the
tanks
is
also
a
quick
job
thanks
to
the
special
nozzle
fitted
to
the
Altroz.
Also
seen
is
a
small
micro
switch
that
shuts
off
the
fuel
to
the
engine
when
it
detects
the
fuel
filler
cap
opening.
The
Altroz
will
vent
the
CNG
into
the
atmosphere
if
a
thermal
issue
is
detected.

Other
safety
features
include
the
usual
array
of
airbags,
ABS
with
EBD,
Brake
Sway
Control
and
Sorner
Stability
Control
among
many
more
systems
that
keep
those
inside
the
cabin
safe
and
secure.

Tata
Altroz
iCNG
Driving
Impressions
–
Has
The
Drive
Been
Compromised?

The
short
answer
and
the
one
most
Altroz
iCNG
owners
will
say
is
no.
The
loss
in
power
and
torque
isn’t
really
felt
until
you
start
pushing
the
premium
hatchback
to
its
limits.

Despite
the
large
difference
on
paper
between
the
petrol
and
CNG
modes,
the
hatchback
offers
more
than
adequate
performance
in
the
city
when
running
on
natural
gas.

However,
if
you
find
yourself
low
in
the
rev
range
when
running
on
CNG
in
a
gear
higher
than
second,
we
recommend
shifting
down
if
you
need
to
get
back
into
the
powerband
urgently.

Switching
between
petrol
and
CNG
modes
happens
automatically
when
fuel
levels
are
low.
However,
drivers
can
switch
between
the
modes
by
just
tapping
the
CNG
button
on
the
dash.
The
new
Altroz
iCNG
can
start
journeys
in
CNG
mode,
which
is
quite
a
big
plus
point
over
its
rivals
from
Tata
and
Hyundai.

The
suspension
setup
of
the
iCNG
has
been
stiffened
compared
to
the
petrol
version
of
Altroz,
especially
at
the
rear
to
handle
the
weight
of
the
two
cylinders.
While
this
helps
ensure
the
Altroz
iCNG
does
not
drop
down
due
to
the
extra
weight,
going
over
bumps
and
ruts
can
be
problematic
for
your
back.

The
steering
is
the
same
as
the
petrol
model
and
provides
more
than
adequate
feedback.
At
higher
speeds,
the
wheel
weighs
up
quite
nicely
which
is
rather
reassuring.

The
braking
performance
from
the
disc
brakes
at
the
front
and
the
rear
drums
is
more
than
adequate
for
the
Altroz
iCNG.
However,
using
the
brake
pedal
itself
can
be
a
bit
cumbersome
thanks
to
its
close
proximity
to
the
clutch.

NVH
levels
inside
the
cabin
are
quite
manageable
for
the
most
part.
The
only
annoyance
comes
when
the
three-cylinder
runs
higher
into
the
rev
range.

Final
Thoughts
About
The
Tata
Altroz
iCNG

The
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
brings
about
the
savings
of
switching
to
CNG
to
the
Altroz
premium
hatchback.
Its
innovative
twin-cylinder
setup
ensures
that
owners
can
still
use
the
boot
while
the
onboard
safety
systems
ensure
that
you
can
run
on
compressed
methane
without
worrying
your
head
off.

Add
in
the
fact
that
the
Altroz
iCNG’s
in-city
performance
is
quite
similar
to
the
petrol
version,
and
the
only
way
you’ll
feel
the
need
for
petrol-powered
speed
is
on
the
highway.

Overall,
the
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
is
the
least
compromised
CNG-powered
car
we’ve
driven
in
a
while
and
that
is
what
makes
it
such
an
attractive
option,
especially
with
a
starting
price
of
Rs
7.55
lakh
(ex-showroom).

Source