Skoda launches a Special Edition for the Rapid

Highlights:

• With the launch of the Rapid Rider, Skoda tends to increase the sales numbers.

• This limited-edition model is based on the Rapid Active variant.

• It will only be powered with the 1.6-litre petrol mill and it will miss out on the 1.5-litre diesel unit. 

With the growing competition and the need to push sales, Skoda has launched a new edition for the Rapid. This is known as the Skoda Rapid Rider and it has been priced at Rs 6.99 lakh (Ex-Showroom, India). If we compare this costing with the Rapid Active petrol model it's about a lakh cheaper.

Making this limited edition model even exclusive, Skoda will be only making the Rapid Rider only available in shades of Candy White and Carbon Steel. In addition to this, this model will also get contrasting all-black grille, blacked-out B-pillar, black decals on the doors and to give it a sporty look it will also get a trunk lip as well. 

Moving inside the cabin, Skoda is providing the interior of the Rapid Rider with a dual-tone finish of Ebony sand and Ivory Slate. In which the upholstery gets the later scheme and the dashboard gets the former contrasting scheme.

In addition to this, the scuff plate on this model gets the inscription of Rapid on it. Speaking about the features and technology in this model, it will be all similar to the Rapid Active variant. In terms of safety features, the safety kit consists of front dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors etc.

Just like the standard Skoda Rapid models, the Rapid Rider will be powered with a 1.6-litre petrol engine that comes mated with a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox as an option only.

On the other hand, the Rapid Rider misses out on the 1.5-litre diesel unit that is comes matted with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox that is seen on the other Skoda Rapid standard models. 

With this, Skoda aims to shoot the sales numbers and also compete strongly with the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Hyundai Verna, Toyota Yaris, Volkswagen Vento and the Honda City in the Indian market. But looking at the pricing the Skoda Rapid Rider gives a tough competition to the compact sedans such as the Honda Amaze, Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and the Ford Figo Aspire.

Toyota is working on a Compact SUV

Highlights:

• Toyota is working on an all-new Compact SUV that may replace the Rush that is sold in the international market.

• It will be powered with a 1.0-litre motor and it is rumoured that it will be available in 2 wheels and 4 wheel drive options.

• The compact SUV is yet to be named and there is no confirmation yet if it will be launched in India.

According to some media reports, Toyota is working to launch a new product in the growing sub-four-meter compact SUV segment. This will be an all-new product and we are expecting to see its world premiere in the month of November this year.

It is said that this sub-four-metre SUV will be built by Daihatsu that is owned by Toyota and they will have their own version as well. With this, the upcoming compact SUV will most probably replace the Toyota Rush that is very popular in many of the markets abroad.

This all-new compact SUV will be a production model of the Daihatsu DN-Trec concept that was showcased back in the year 2017. It will carry over the same length of 3.98 metre which is similar to the length of the Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 300 and the Hyundai Venue.

It will be equipped with an LED headlight unit, LED fog lamps. Blacked out the roof and to give it a rugged look it will come with black cladding on both the front and rear bumpers and the sides of the body. 

Toyota will be powering this all-new compact SUV with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. What makes this model more interesting that it will come with drive options- Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive as an option according to some sources

As of now, there is no confirmation whether Toyota will be launching this Compact SUV in the Indian market. But if they do plan to get it own here, it will surely take the market by a storm. This compact SUV is yet to be named but when it will be launched it will lock its horns with the Suzuki Jimny in the international market. 

Datsun updates the Redi-Go

Highlights:

• Datsun the update the Red--Go to meet the new safety norms.

• With this, it will be able to sell and produce this hatchback up till the new safety norms come into place.

• For the new safety norms, Datsun may launch a facelift model for this hatchback as well.

Datsun updates the Redi-Go with this, the hatchback is complying with the AIS-415 safety norms. This budget hatchback now gets safety features such a driver-side airbags, rear parking sensors, seat belt reminder system for the driver and the passenger and a speed alert system as well.

The Japanese car manufacturer had also updated the Redi-Go back in the month of March 2019 and in that update, the hatchback was featured with ABS with EBD. The update new update that has been launched now makes this hatchback even safer than before.

With the addition of new safety features in the safety kit, the price tag on the Redi-Go has surely been increased. Now the updated Datsun Redi-Go retails at Rs 2.80 lakh (Ex-Showroom, India) up to Rs 4.37 lakh (Ex-Showroom, India). Hence we see that the price has gone up by Rs 12,000 whereas for the top-end trim level the price has gone up by Rs 4000.

In addition to the safety features, Datsun has also rejigged the Redi-Go line up as well. Previously, this hatchback was offered with a mid-T (O) trim level, that now has been discontinued. 

The update doesn't get any mechanical changes. Just like the previous model, the updated Redi-Go is powered with an 800cc petrol motor that generates 54 bhp of power and is mated with a five-speed manual gearbox.

It also comes with an option of a 1.0-litre engine that produces 68 bhp of power and is coupled with a five-speed manual gearbox and an optional AMT unit as well. 

With this update, Datsun will be able to sell and produce the Redi-Go until the next safety norms that come into place. This new safety norms will come into place from the 1st of October 2019 and this will include the crash test compliance as well.

According to some media reports, we are expecting that Datsun will bring out a facelift model for the Redi-Go and this model will meet the crash test and the pedestrian safety norms.

Tata Harrier to launch an automatic variant and sunroof with the seven-seater variants.

Highlights:

• Tata is working a new update for the Harrier which has been spotted testing.

• The test mule that was spotted featured a sunroof, a BS-6 compliant engine and an automatic gearbox as well.

The Indian car manufacturer is rigorously testing the powerful engine for the Harrier that will comply with the BS-6 emission norms. According to some media reports, it is known that this engine along with being compliant with the BS-6 norms, it will also get a bump in power figures.

We can expect that the engine will be able to generate around 170 bhp of power, hence this means that there will be an increase in power by 30 bhp as the ongoing model produces 140 bhp of power. 

Recently a spy shot of a heavily camouflaged test vehicle of the Harrier has been spied at the outskirts of Bangalore. The model spotted looks very much familiar in comparison with the ongoing model, but having a closer look gives us other information as well.

This particular test mule was fitted with a sunroof that isn't available in any of the ongoing models, also it has stickers indicating that there is a BS-6 compliant engine under the hood and it was coupled with an automatic gearbox.

Hence we can confirm that the new BS-6 compliant 2.0-litre diesel mill also comes matted with an automatic gearbox along with the optional six-speed manual seen in the current model. This automatic gearbox will be sourced from Hyundai and it will most probably be the six-speed torque converter. 

With the competition heating as we see the launch of the MG Hector and the Kia Seltos these upgrades are essential for the Harrier. Along with this, some media reports also suggest that Tata Motors is working a seven-seater version of the Harrier that will get a different name and it will mostly take over the Hexa.