Latest news with #Invicto
The Print
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Print
EVs can take their own sweet time. I'm more excited about hybrids—Kia, MG to Hyundai
It is not without reason that Hyundai—and possibly Kia too—wants to bring its hybrid technology to India. Even MG Motor, whose Windsor EV is the best-selling electric vehicle in India, has said that it intends to introduce hybrid vehicles. They are just following Maruti Suzuki and Toyota, with the latter's Innova Hycross becoming India's most popular hybrid vehicle, sold as the Invicto by Maruti Suzuki. While there are various types of hybrids, much of the commentary pits them against battery electric vehicles (BEVs). In an evolving market, such as in India, this debate is a zero-sum game–as evident from a recent HSBC Global Research report on the Indian automotive industry. Hyundai India has announced that it will launch 26 new products by the end of FY2030. Besides enhancements, including of the Venue, the rollout will include new models as well. The new lineup will also include hybrid cars, Hyundai's first in India. This comes at a time when many automakers are struggling to grow in the current market. Even in China, the world's largest EV market, various Chinese carmakers, including BYD, are offering an improved line-up of hybrids, particularly plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or PHEVs. Carmaker XPeng, too, is entering the hybrid space now. Maruti Suzuki and Toyota have quite a few hybrids lined up for launch over the next 12-18 months, starting with a hybrid variant of the popular Fronx crossover. Also read: Is India ready for hybrid cars? This is what the government is up to Hybrids vs EVs If I were to buy a vehicle today for commuting in and around the NCR, I would pick a small EV. But that's only because I have a car charger at home and it's not too difficult to find EV charging stations in Delhi-NCR or in other major cities. But, as I recently wrote, it isn't always smooth sailing. The biggest advantage with an EV—beyond zero tailpipe emissions—is its running cost. Charging Windsor EV at home costs just over a rupee for every kilometre. At public charging stations, the cost goes up to Rs 2.5 per kilometre. A neighbour of mine is sold on hybrids–owning the hybrid versions of both Innova Hycross and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. The Innova is a large vehicle, but with great fuel efficiency, its running cost, both within the city and on highways, is just Rs 4 per kilometre. The overall emissions from the car are also far lower than a petrol or diesel vehicle. And, as my neighbour never fails to tell me whenever he sees an electric vehicle, his self-charging hybrids hold a clear advantage over my EV, which requires five-six hours of charging at home. And therein lies the rub. Sure, improvements in battery technology allow for fast charging. Chinese battery manufacturer CATL recently announced that its latest battery can give over 500 kilometers of driving range with just five minutes of charging. It's awesome. But those batteries are not available in India yet, nor is the charging infrastructure. There is no shortage of chargers, including in small towns like Sirsa in Haryana, where EVs like Mahindra BE6 could be seen on the road. The issue, however, is the low charging speed. We neither have enough super-fast chargers in India nor do most EVs have the latest generation of batteries. Most Indians don't own more than one car, and many still do not buy an electric vehicle–barring some in urban centres. However, if you are bringing home a second car, especially with a dedicated parking spot available, buying an electric vehicle should be a no-brainer. For those buying their first vehicle, a hybrid car is the best choice–more than a CNG vehicle. Carmakers have realised this as well. So, while we wait for the arrival of Hyundai's electric vehicles, watch out for the hybrids in their future line-up. (Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
India Today
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Kia Carens Clavis: Indian consumer does not mind paying premium price if...
Referring to the new Carens Clavis as 'aspirational', Kia India Senior Vice President and National Head for Sales and Marketing Hardeep Singh Brar said that the Indian consumer does not mind paying the premium price if he is getting expanded its Carens portfolio by introducing the feature-loaded Carens Clavis last week. Bookings for the new model have also started across the carmaker's dealerships and official website. We expect its price to be announced early next Carens has done relatively well in the market since its launch in 2022. In three years, it has garnered sales of over 2,00,000 units, solidifying Kia's position in the MPV segment. With the Carens Clavis, Kia will look to take on the rather premium models in the MPV space, like Maruti Suzuki's Invicto and the Innova Hycross of Kia has not discontinued the Carens with the arrival of the Carens Clavis. While the Carens now remains a more affordable option with just a single variant on offer for Rs 11,40,900 (ex-showroom), the Carens Clavis will cater to buyers looking for a rather long list of bells and whistles."We are not keeping the entire range of the Carens. The fleet operators are very price-sensitive. The external looks do not matter to them. But the Carens Clavis would be very aspirational," Brar told India we heard from the customers is that the Carens is a great-looking car and it has good space, but they wanted it to be more SUV-ish. What we have tried to do is that we kept the functionality of the car but made it plusher, as the SUV customer wants the car to be plusher, both from inside and outside, and this is what Carens Clavis brings to the table. It is far more premium. It looks very close to an SUV," he said that the Carens Clavis comes with features like LED headlamps, connected LED taillamps, 17-inch crystal-cut dual-tone alloy wheels, a four-way powered driver seat, a 27-inch dual panoramic display panel, infotainment and temperature control swap-switch, an air purifier with AQI display, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and ADAS Level-2."The Indian consumer does not mind paying the premium price if he is getting features, and we have loaded the Carens Clavis with so many features. This was another piece of feedback that we received from the Carens customers. They love the Carens, but said it does not have some of the features available in SUVs," he to Brar, customers view Kia as the most premium brand in the mass market, made possible by the company's cars, technology, touchpoints and the company offers SUVs like the Sonet, Syros and Seltos, and MPVs like the Carens, Carens Clavis and Carnival. Its EV portfolio boasts the EV6 and the EV9. Kia has a network of 744 touchpoints across 329 cities in the country."We kept it in our minds since our entry that we want to be a premium brand in the mass market. And we have been successful in maintaining that image, and we only want to improve further on that image. While the prices are going up, we do not mind that, and customers also do not mind paying the price when they see premium cars with premium features and premium technology," Brar to Auto Today Magazine
NDTV
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara 7-Seater Coming Soon To Rival Hyundai Alcazar
Maruti Suzuki India is planning on adding a new model to the lineup of Nexa cars. The latest addition will likely come in the form of a new seven-seater SUV, anticipated to be the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara seven-seat version. When launched in the country, it will fill the slot between the Grand Vitara and the Invicto. Preparing the vehicle for launch, the automaker has consistently been the SUV on Indian soil. Based on the spy shots leaked earlier, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara seven-seat will follow the brand's design language. Being an iteration with extra seats, the SUV will be comparatively longer with looks that are shared with the current Grand Vitara. Along with this, the car will get an all-new front fascia with a new design for the rear end. However, the silhouette is likely to be the same, but with a new design for the alloy wheels. Also Read: In contrast to the Grand Vitara 5-seater's split headlight style featuring DRLs positioned on top and headlights below, the new 7-seater variant will feature traditional headlights with built-in LED DRLs. The 7-seater version also includes fog lamps, and we anticipate that they will have a cornering function. Apart from this, the SUV is likely to get an extended feature list. It might also get a suite of Level-2 ADAS features, making it among the first vehicles to have the safety system. This is because the lower grill houses front parking sensors. In terms of powertrain, the seven-seater Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara will likely be the same as the five-seater currently on sale. This means it will have a 1.5-litre NA petrol with FWD and AWD, with transmission options including a five-speed MT or a six-speed torque converter. There will also be an option of a 1.5-litre hybrid engine working with a CVT. Once launched, the vehicle will compete against rivals like Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari, and Mahindra XUV700 in the country.
Hindustan Times
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Auto recap, April 26: New Maruti Suzuki SUV on card, 2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 launched, Bajaj launching Dominar 400
Here is your quick check on the biggest developments in the world of automobiles. Here is your quick check on the biggest developments in the world of automobiles. Given the rapid evolution of the automobile industry, it can be challenging to remain updated. However, HT Auto is committed to providing timely information on significant developments within the sector. The key highlights from Friday, April 25, are summarised below. Maruti Suzuki confirms working on new SUV Maruti Suzuki has confirmed that they are working on a new SUV for the Indian market. They have not confirmed the name or where it will be positioned in the lineup. However, if we go by the spy shots, the brand is working on a 7-seater version of the Grand Vitara. As of now, the brand has not revealed any launch timeline for the new SUV. The new SUV will be positioned between the Grand Vitara and the Invicto. The brand has been pushing itself slowly towards the premium segment. This is not the first time that Suzuki will be making a 7-seater vehicle; the brand already has a few models in the global market. Considering that there is a demand for 7-seater SUVs, it makes sense why Maruti Suzuki decided to go this way. Also Read : Maruti Suzuki confirms working on new SUV. What it could be? 2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 launched at ₹ 1.49 lakh Royal Enfield has launched the 2025 Hunter 350 in the Indian market. The prices start at ₹ 1,49,900 (ex-showroom). For 2025, there are cosmetic changes as well as a few hardware changes. The Hunter 350 was first launched in August 2022, and since then, RE has sold 5,00,000 units globally. Currently, it continues to be the most affordable motorcycle in Royal Enfield's lineup. The manufacturer states that it sells 1 lakh units of the Hunter 350 every six months. Royal Enfield sold over 10 lakh motorbikes in the last financial year, 11 per cent of this number comes from international markets. Also Read : 2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 launched at ₹ 1.49 lakh Maruti Suzuki calls for small car revival to drive auto growth, banks on exports for near-term gains The Indian passenger vehicle market will continue to witness muted growth unless the small car segment sees growth, re-iterated RC Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India, during a recent press conference. The chairman of India's largest carmaker has been of the view that sustained growth for the passenger vehicle industry will only happen with entry-level vehicles getting back on track. During the conference, Bhargava pointed out that the government has begun recognising that without a revival of the small car market, overall car market growth in India will always remain limited. He debunked the popular belief that the shift from small cars to SUVs is driven by changing consumer aspirations and a preference for larger cars. In reality, he explained, the issue isn't about preference—it's affordability. Many people simply can't afford even small cars anymore. Also Read : Maruti Suzuki calls for small car revival to drive auto growth, banks on exports for near-term gains 2025 Bajaj Dominar 400 spotted at dealership ahead of launch Bajaj Auto is preparing to launch the 2025 Dominar 400 in the Indian market. The updated model was spotted recently at a dealership, which means that the launch and deliveries should happen soon. We can expect the pricing of the 2025 Dominar 400 to come soon. Also Read : 2025 Bajaj Dominar 400 spotted at dealership ahead of launch. Here's what is new Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape. First Published Date: 27 Apr 2025, 08:48 AM IST
Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Maruti Suzuki confirms working on new SUV. What it could be?
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara 7-seater is expected to be powered by the same engine as the current Grand Vitara. (motoring_world) Maruti Suzuki has confirmed that they are working on a new SUV for the Indian market. They have not confirmed the name or where it will be positioned in the lineup. However, if we go by the spy shots, the brand is working on a 7-seater version of the Grand Vitara. As of now, the brand has not revealed any launch timeline for the new SUV. The new SUV will be positioned between the Grand Vitara and the Invicto. The brand has been pushing itself slowly towards the premium segment. This is not the first time that Suzuki will be making a 7-seater vehicle; the brand already has a few models in the global market. Considering that there is a demand for 7-seater SUVs, it makes sense why Maruti Suzuki decided to go this way. Also Read : 2025 Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara launched with 6 airbags and more features As expected, the new SUV will be sold only through Nexa dealerships which is Maruti Suzuki's premium line of dealerships. Once launched, the new SUV will go against Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus and Kia Carens. At the rear, there would be a new set of LED tail lamps on the new SUV. (Insta/motoring_world) Powering the new 7-seater SUV will be the same set of 1.5-litre petrol engines that are doing duty on the Grand Vitara. So, there would be a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder mild hybrid petrol engine that is rated for 1.2 bhp and 137 Nm. It will come mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. On the other hand, the strong hybrid engine is a three-cylinder unit that is rated for 113 bhp and 122 Nm. It comes mated to only an eCVT automatic transmission. As of now, it is not known whether there will be an all-wheel drive and a CNG powertrain. Also Read : Maruti Suzuki e Vitara delivery timeline confirmed. Check details The spy shots have revealed that the new SUV will come with a design that is different than the Grand Vitara. There will be a new rear-end design with a new set of LED tail lamps, a rear bumper and a new overhang. Additionally, the wheelbase could be longer to open up more cabin space and there is also a possibility that the rear doors will be longer to make ingress and egress easier. As of now, the interior of the SUV has not yet been spotted. However, we can expect it to get a slightly redesigned dashboard when compared to the Grand Vitara. There could be new colours for the cabin as well as dashboard. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 26 Apr 2025, 08:00 AM IST
