Volkswagen ID.5 ALL ELECTRIC SUV-coupe teased ahead of mid-2021 debut

Mahindra is getting ready for one of its biggest launches this year with the Five-door Thar SUV. Recently spotted in testing, this new version is expected to be officially revealed next month. The latest spy shots show several new features of this SUV, which will compete with the Maruti Jimny and Force Gurkha. The new model is likely to be called the Thar Armada, a name Mahindra recently patented.

The Five-door Thar will have updated designs compared to the three-door version. The spy shots, taken in Kerala, show a different grille with a mix of traditional five slats and a vertical bar, a design not used in other Mahindra SUVs. At the rear, the SUV features a large cover on the spare wheel and redesigned LED taillights to distinguish it from the smaller version. Additional design updates include new LED headlights, circular DRLs, LED fog lamps, and 18-inch alloy wheels similar to those on the three-door Thar.

Inside, the Five-door Thar will offer more space due to its longer wheelbase. Mahindra plans to introduce a new touchscreen infotainment system, likely the same as in the XUV400 Pro. Other updates include a new steering wheel, climate control, and an electric sunroof.

The Five-door Thar is expected to debut on August 15, aligning with the launch date of the new generation three-door Thar four years ago. The new model will be priced higher than its smaller sibling, with an expected starting price of ₹12 lakh. Once launched, it will compete with SUVs like the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Force Gurkha in the lifestyle SUV segment.

Volkswagen is offering significant discounts on its popular models – Virtus, Taigun, and Tiguan – throughout July 2024. These offers include cash discounts, exchange bonuses, and corporate benefits. Here are the details for each model:

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen’s flagship SUV, the Tiguan, is available with benefits of up to Rs 3.40 lakh for MY2023 models this month. Customers can get a cash discount of Rs 75,000, an exchange bonus of Rs 75,000, and a corporate benefit of Rs 1 lakh. Additionally, there is a free 4-year service package worth Rs 90,000 for these models.

The Tiguan is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 190 hp, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. MY2023 models also come with a cash discount of Rs 50,000 and an exchange bonus of Rs 75,000.

Volkswagen Taigun

The Volkswagen Taigun MY2024 models have discounts of up to Rs 1.80 lakh on select variants. The 1.0-litre TSI variants offer benefits of up to Rs 1.30 lakh, while the 1.5-litre TSI trims come with a discount of up to Rs 1 lakh. The base-spec 1.0-litre TSI Comfortline (MT) variants include an exchange bonus and a loyalty bonus of Rs 20,000 each.

For MY2023 models, the Taigun has a cash discount of Rs 50,000. The Taigun GT 1.5-litre TSI MT Chrome MY23 model offers an exchange bonus of Rs 80,000 and a loyalty bonus of Rs 20,000. Additionally, selected two-airbag Taigun models come with an extra cash discount of Rs 40,000.

Volkswagen Virtus

The Volkswagen Virtus is available with discounts of up to Rs 1.45 lakh in July 2024. The MY2024 1.0-litre TSI variants come with cash discounts, exchange benefits, and loyalty bonuses. The base-spec Comfortline 1.0 MT is priced at Rs 10.90 lakh (ex-showroom) after discounts. The Virtus 1.5 TSI variants include an exchange discount and a loyalty bonus of Rs 70,000. Similar to the Taigun, the two-airbag Virtus variants have an additional cash discount of Rs 40,000.

Bajaj Auto has launched the new Freedom 125 CNG priced at Rs. 95,000 (ex-showroom, India). It’s the world’s first CNG bike featuring a 125cc engine that runs on both petrol and CNG and the idea behind launching the new Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG is reducing the cost of running, by up to 50 per cent, since CNG is a more affordable fuel and the motorcycle is aimed at the commuter class. Read on to know all the details about this all-new Bajaj CNG bike.

Dual Fuel System

The Freedom 125 is aimed at customers interested in fuel-efficient modes of transport at lower costs than conventional motorcycles. It features a compact petrol tank alongside a CNG cylinder, with a handlebar-mounted switch for fuel selection which will reduce the consumption by almost 50%. The 2 kg capacity CNG cylinder is positioned beneath the 2-litre petrol tank, with separate filler nozzles for each fuel type.

Impressive Range and Fuel Economy

Bajaj claims an impressive range of 213 km on CNG alone, complemented by an additional 117 km from the petrol tank, totaling a combined range of 330 km.

Engine and Performance

The Freedom 125 has a 125 cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel injection system and produces 9.4 bhp and 9.7 Nm of maximum torque. Power is transferred to wheels through a 5-speed gearbox. At the front, it comes with telescopic front forks and at the rear, it has a monoshock whereas for the braking system it is completed by a front disc and rear drum. It is mounted on 17-inch alloy wheels.

Color Range

Bajaj is providing 5 color options for Freedom 125 namely Ebony Black, Caribbean Blue, Cyber White, Racing Red, Pewter Grey.

Design and Features

The Freedom 125 boasts a simple yet modern retro design, featuring a round headlamp with DRL, a flat seat, wide handlebar, and centre-set foot pegs for a comfortable riding position. The CNG tank is structured compactly in a trellis chassis for enhancement in safety. A semi-digital instrument console provides essential information, including a CNG low-level alert and neutral gear indicator. Other features included on the Bajaj Freedom include digital speedometer and Bluetooth connectivity.

Rivals

While the Freedom 125 stands unique in its CNG offering, it will compete in the broader 125 cc segment against models like the Honda Shine 125, Hero Glamour, TVS Raider 125, and Hero Xtreme 125R.

The coming July 17, 2024 will see Royal Enfield presenting its long-awaited Guerrilla 450. This new Roadster which has been designed on the Sherpa 450 intends to conquer the single cylinder performance motorcycles market in competition with Speed 400, X440, Mavrick 440 and 390 Duke.

From the latest leaks it was discovered that Guerrilla 450 will feature a compact body and also it will be lightweight. The physical dimensions are 2,134 mm in length, 834 mm in width, and 1,115 mm in height; with a wheelbase of 1,491 mm; which is way smaller than the Himalayan 450. Measuring 183 kg it is 13 kg lighter than the ADV version but still lighter than others such as the Honda CB300R.

The Guerrilla 450 is powered by the same engine as the Himalayan 450, which generates 39.52 bhp at 8,000 RPM and 40 Nm of torque at 5,500 RPM. Its tyre profile is also unique for a commuter motorcycle with 120/80R17 at the front and 160/60R17 at the rear, common in touring or racing bikes. 

Talking of the equipment, expect the base model to come with a semi-analog instrument cluster with Tripper Screen provision while the top model is likely to come with the conventional Tripper Dash like in the Himalayan 450. 

It is expected that pricing will be fairly reasonable with projections of the base variant priced at Rs 2.3 lakh (ex-showroom). This positioning makes the Guerrilla 450 distinctive and suggestively positioned in the Increasing performance motorcycle segment in India.

In June 2024, the Indian two-wheeler market saw Hero MotoCorp maintain its top position despite a slight decrease in market share compared to last year. Here's a breakdown of the market share for major players:

This table now includes the units sold by each OEM in both June 2024 and June 2023, along with their respective market shares for comparison.

Hero MotoCorp Ltd

In June 2024, Hero MotoCorp retained its top position in the Indian two-wheeler market despite a slight decrease in market share compared to the previous year. The company sold 3,97,029 units, capturing 28.86% of the market, down from 32.50% in June 2023.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (P) Ltd

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (P) Ltd showed significant growth in June 2024, securing a market share of 25.54%, up from 21.56% in June 2023. With 3,51,422 units sold, Honda expanded its presence in the competitive market.

TVS Motor Company Ltd

TVS Motor Company Ltd maintained a stable position with a market share of 17.17% in June 2024, slightly down from 17.28% in June 2023. The company sold 2,36,180 units during the period.

Bajaj Auto Group

Bajaj Auto Group experienced a decrease in market share, falling to 11.16% in June 2024 from 12.44% in June 2023. The group sold 1,53,535 units, reflecting a competitive market environment.

Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd

Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd showed growth in June 2024, capturing 5.31% of the market in June 2024 with 73,048 units sold, up from 4.77% in June 2023. The company's strategic efforts contributed to its increased market presence.

Royal Enfield (Unit of Eicher Ltd)

Royal Enfield, a unit of Eicher Ltd, held a market share of 4.02% in June 2024, slightly lower than 4.74% in June 2023. With 55,249 units sold, Royal Enfield continued to be a significant player in the two-wheeler segment, focusing on its niche market.

Emerging Players

New entrants like Ola Electric Technologies Pvt Ltd made significant strides, capturing 2.67% of the market with 36,723 units sold, up from 1.35% last year. Ather Energy Pvt Ltd also showed growth, securing a 0.44% market share with 6,104 units sold, up from 0.35% last year.

Overall, the two-wheeler market in India in June 2024 saw Hero MotoCorp leading despite a reduction in market share. Honda made significant gains, while new players like Ola Electric Technologies showed promising growth. The market continues to evolve with electric vehicle manufacturers gaining traction alongside traditional players.

Jaguar India has pulled the all-electric I-Pace SUV and the F-Type sports car from its website, which suggests that it has stopped taking orders for these vehicles. This situation reduces Jaguar to a single model in India; the F-Pace SUV.

 The I-Pace came to India in 2021 as Jaguar’s first and only plug-in EV and the second luxury electric SUV under ₹1 crore ($140,000) after Audi e-tron and before Mercedes-Benz EQC SUV. Still, the I-Pace when launched initially did not receive any significant improvements for the three years of its presence in the market, unlike its competitors. It had a 90 kWh battery pack, and twin electric motors that developed 400 hp/696 Nm of torque and an approximate real-world range of around 410 km. 

In FY2024, Jaguar Land Rover’s I-Pace remained unsatisfactory with only 31 models sold contrary to BMW’s iX with 738 models sold in the same year. Currently, the I-Pace can still be bought in foreign markets but it would eventually be replaced by Jaguar’s new electric car lineup expected to be released in the international market from 2025. 

Company vehicles such as the F-Type sports car, whose production for the global market ceased in June 2024, have also been removed from the list. 

Jaguar’s transition to the next generation of EVs is a representation of its forward-thinking strategy, but the transitional period has resulted in the company having a relatively narrow range of products in India.