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The 2026 Maruti Suzuki Baleno has been launched at a starting price of Rs 5.99 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. As part of this mid-lifecycle update, Maruti’s premium hatchback gets a slightly tweaked exterior, additional features, an upgraded safety suite and a new petrol engine. Here, we take a closer look at the new Baleno’s variants and the features. 2026 Maruti Baleno: Prices and powertrains New Maruti Baleno ex-showroom prices in Delhi (in Rs lakh) Trim Petrol MT Petrol AMT Petrol-CNG MT Petrol-CNG AMT Sigma 5.99 - - - Delta 7 7.5 7.92 8.32 Zeta 8 8.5 8.92 9.32 Alpha 9.1 9.6 - - Alpha (O) 9.5 9.99 - - Maruti has deployed its Z12E 1.2-litre 3-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine to power the new Baleno, and it produces peak outputs of 83hp and 112Nm. Both 5-speed manual and 5-speed AMT options are available with this engine. As before, a factory-fitted CNG option is also offered. In CNG mode, power and torque fall to 70hp and 102Nm, respectively, while gearbox duties are handled ...

Halfway into FY2027, the sub-4-metre SUV category continues to register the same momentum it displayed in FY2026 when it sold a record 14.7 lakh units. The difference, though, is that with 8,13,657 sub-4-metre SUVs sold in April-September 2026, the YoY growth is a robust 28 percent. The Top 10 models in H1 FY2027 – Tata Punch and Nexon , Maruti Fronx and Brezza , Hyundai Venue , Kia Sonet , Mahindra 3XO and Bolero , Hyundai Exter and Mahindra Thar (3-door) – with sales of 7,27,773 units and 30 percent YoY growth dominate. This popular lot accounted for 89 percent of the 8,13,657 units sold in the past six months. H1 FY 2027 sub-4-metre SUV sales Rank Model H1 FY2027 H1FY2026 YoY% change 1 Tata Punch 1,23,287 73,455 68% 2 Tata Nexon 1,11,919 89,557 25% 3 Maruti Fronx 1,10,135 76,805 43% 4 Maruti Brezza 80,516 84,902 -5% 5 Hyundai Venue 68,836 49,978 38% 6 Kia Sonet 56,929 47,168 21% 7 Mahindra 3XO 52,851 44,400 19% 8 Mahindra Bolero 51,720 39,794 30% 9 Hyundai Exter 46,156 32,967 ...

BMW Motorrad has filed a design patent for its Vision CE electric scooter concept in India, suggesting the German manufacturer is at least evaluating the country as a potential market for the radical two-wheeler. The Vision CE was originally unveiled at IAA Mobility 2025 as a concept vehicle presenting BMW’s vision of electric urban mobility and has since been patented in multiple markets. Vision CE features an integrated protective cage Self-balancing system keeps the scooter upright when stationary What we know about the Vision CE concept The patent doesn’t necessarily confirm that an India launch is in the pipeline The centrepiece of the Vision CE is a safety concept built around a metal tubular cage, which BMW says, when combined with an integrated seatbelt, is designed to allow riding without a helmet or riding gear. BMW drew a direct parallel with its C1 scooter from 25 years ago, which used a similar philosophy of protective bodywork in place of conventional riding gear. The Vi...

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"Forget diesel, go hybrid," Renault Group India CEO Stephane Deblaise told us in an interview at the launch of the Duster hybrid. Renault claims that hybrid is the perfect replacement for diesel. The 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine was instrumental in the first-generation Duster's sales success; out of the nearly 200,000 units sold, nearly 90 percent were powered by the diesel engine. However, the K9K was axed in 2020, when the stricter BS6 emission norms went into effect.  First-generation Renault Duster's K9K 1.5L diesel engine. Renault Duster hybrid leads in claimed mileage than rivals In addition to the Renault Duster , the Toyota Hyryder, Maruti Grand Vitara and Victoris are currently the only other mid-size SUVs to offer a hybrid powertrain option. The Duster hybrid's ARAI-rated mileage of 29kpl is 1.03kpl higher than what the Grand Vitara and Hyryder claim. Meanwhile, the Victoris comes closest to matching the Renault SUV's figure, with a margin of just 0...

Mercedes-Benz recently unveiled its latest performance SUV, the all-electric AMG GT SUV . As the second model based on the 800-volt AMG.EA platform, the AMG GT SUV touts some serious numbers, particularly when it comes to power and performance. We take a look at how the AMG GT SUV stacks up on paper against its key rivals: the Porsche Cayenne Electric and Lotus Eletre . For this comparison, we've selected the top-spec, most potent versions of each electric performance SUV, specifically the AMG GT 63 SUV, Cayenne Turbo Electric , and Eletre 900 Sport . Mercedes-AMG GT SUV vs rivals: Powertrain and performance   AMG GT 63 SUV Cayenne Turbo Electric Eletre 900 Sport Battery capacity (kWh) 106 / 128 113 112 Motor layout Triple Dual Dual Power (hp) 721 (up to 1,169) 857 (up to 1,156) 905 Torque (Nm) 2,000 1,360 (up to 1,500) 985 Gearbox 2-speed automatic 1-speed automatic 2-speed automatic Drive layout AWD AWD AWD Claimed 0-100kph time (sec) 2.7 2.5 2.95 Claimed top speed (kph) 270* ...

The Kawasaki Z300 is the Japanese brand’s new entry-level street naked, which will sit at the bottom of its Z lineup, drawing styling cues from the larger Z900. It is built on the same platform as the Ninja 300 and brings a parallel-twin engine to a segment largely dominated by single-cylinder bikes, going up against the KTM 390 Duke and TVS Apache RTR 310. 1. What engine does the Kawasaki Z300 use? The Z300 is powered by a 296cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine producing 39hp and 26.1Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed gearbox. The engine is shared with the Ninja 300, but the Z300’s upright ergonomics, largely thanks to a wide, single-piece handlebar, should give it a more relaxed character than its faired sibling. 2. What features does the Kawasaki Z300 get? The Z300 gets a new instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity, which should be an upgrade over the dated yet charming analogue semi-digital console on the Ninja 300. During the launch livestream, we spotted more than o...

The Kia Sorento recorded 1,739 units in domestic wholesales in September 2026, its first month on sale after launching on September 4. It was Kia India’s fifth best-selling model that month. Including 365 units dispatched to dealers in August ahead of the launch, the Sorento’s total wholesales stood at 2,104 units. Kia India recorded its highest-ever monthly wholesales of 32,017 units in September, up 41 percent year on year. This was the first time the company had crossed 30,000 units in a month, surpassing its previous record of 29,556 units in October 2025, which was the first month after the GST 2.0 rate cuts kicked in. Kia Sorento: All you need to know The Sorento is priced between Rs 27.99 lakh and Rs 40.39 lakh (ex-showroom). It is offered with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol strong-hybrid powertrain or a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine. The hybrid setup pairs a 180hp, 265Nm petrol engine with a 65hp, 264Nm electric motor, while the diesel mill produces 193hp and 442Nm. The SUV is ava...

If you are considering either of these motorcycles, chances are you are also considering the other, especially since they both cost about the same. After the Triumph 400cc bikes were downsized, the Tracker 400 now uses a 349cc engine, while the Guerrilla 450 Apex is a sportier variant with more aggressive ergonomics and grippy, road-focused tyres, which I think suit the bike much better than those on the earlier variant. On paper, the Tracker makes 40hp and 32Nm, while the Guerrilla produces 40.02hp and 40Nm. The Triumph is a lighter, more compact motorcycle, while the Royal Enfield has a larger engine with more torque and offers a stable, planted feel. So, which one makes more sense for someone looking for a sporty, entertaining roadster? Design and Features Both motorcycles have very different visual identities, and that is probably the first thing you’ll notice. The Tracker 400 is inspired by flat-track racers, with a flat seat, side number boards and a wide handlebar. But this isn...

MG recently launched the Hector Tomahawk EV with a 69.2kWh battery, promising a claimed range of 517km. The 3-row electric SUV is positioned squarely against the Mahindra XEV 9S , which is one of the most popular EVs in its price range, and has a larger battery capacity and a higher claimed range of 679km. But in real-world conditions, does the Mahindra XEV 9S offer higher range than the MG Hector Tomahawk EV? We find out.  MG Hector Tomahawk EV vs Mahindra XEV 9S: Specifications, price Tomahawk EV has a smaller battery, but weighs less than XEV 9S and is more affordable MG Hector Tomahawk EV vs Mahindra XEV 9S: Specifications, price   MG Hector Tomahawk EV Mahindra XEV 9S Battery pack (kWh) 69.2 79 No. of motor(s) 1 1 Drivetrain FWD RWD Power (hp) 204 286 Torque (Nm) 310 380 Kerb weight (kg) 1,908 Over 2,201* Price (in Rs lakh) 19.50-23.50 22.65-30.15 *The XEV 9e has a kerb weight of 2201kg, so the XEV 9S, being a 3-row offering, will be heavier. The MG Hector Tomahawk EV ...