Toyota Fortuner TRD Celebration Edition 2019

Toyota has launched the Fortuner TRD Celebration Edition  2019 recently to mark 10 years since the launch of the SUV in India. The car is priced at 33.85 lakh (ex-showroom) and only available as a diesel 4x2 Automatic.

Exclusive Features of the Fortuner TRD Celebration Edition 2019

Dual tone body colour

This Fortuner TRD Celebration Edition only comes with a dual-tone exterior finished in pearl white and attitude black.

TRD emblem

The vehicle has a red TRD emblem and TRD branding on the radiator grill.

Leadership Insignia

The vehicle has a ‘10 Year Leadership’ insignia apart from the TRD emblem.

New black alloy wheels

The new Charcoal Black 18 inch alloy wheels are the most sporty highlight of the vehicle apart from the revised front bumper, skid plates and the rear spoiler.

Sporty black and maroon leather seats with red stitching

The cabin of the TRD Celebration Edition is also refreshed with black and maroon leather seats with red stitching.

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New BMW 3 Series (G20) 2019 Launched in India.

New BMW 3 Series (G20) 2019 Launched in India.

Overview

The BMW 3 series has always been the pick of people looking for a sporty entry-level luxury sedan. However, sportiness is not the only highlight of the 2019 BMW 3 Series (G20) now, it is a lot more comfortable and luxurious too. It’s safe to call this BMW 3 Series the most well rounded and complete one yet.

What’s New?

On the outside

The latest BMW 3 Series has seen a substantial growth in size. It’s a whooping 76mm longer than the outgoing 6th generation model and even the height is up by 1mm. The wheelbase has been increased too. However, the low ground clearance is the same as before which might and might not appeal to people based on their tastes and preferences. Like other new BMW models, the grill is the point of focus up front, which is the largest on a BMW 3 series yet and highly appealing to my eyes at least. The grill only has one chrome surround now unlike the dual surrounds in the predecessor model and also serves as a cooling apparatus for the engine when need be. The headlights are fully LED now and add to the sporty vibe of the car as well as the T Shaped fog lamp like elements. All trims of the 3 series are well equipped but the M Sport variant is the real deal providing the full BMW luxury experience.

On the Inside

 

Maintaining the 3 series lineage even the G20 model seats one low offering a sporty driving position. The low dash and thin pillars help get a full view of the road. The dash has all the modern nitty gritty that one could ask for apart from being well integrated. The quality of the materials used inside including the wooden and chrome accents make this new BMW 3s cabin a pleasant place to be in. The previously analogue instruments cluster is now completely digital and to me at least it’s a welcome change. The touchscreen is customizable and the navigation pad has a touchpad over it which can be used to scribble inputs, of course that would be a huge challenge for right handed drivers. BMW’s latest voice activated personal assistant is also on offer in the new 3 Series which can be activated on the go by saying ‘Hey Bmw’ making it a cool and useful feature. Talking features, the 3 Series gets plenty as standard, but there are variations between the variants. The base 320d Sport is well stocked with features such as automatic LED headlights, LED fog lamps, 17-inch alloys, three-zone automatic climate control, power adjustable front seats with a memory function,  an electric sunroof, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with a 10-speaker audio system, a rear parking camera and rain sensing wipers. However, it does miss out on the Apple CarPlay-compatible 10.25-inch infotainment system, the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and ambient lighting for the cabin that comes as standard on the 320d Luxury Line.
Now, coming to the rear seat. It’s quite an exercise onto the 3 Series’ rear seats, so ingress and egress aren’t the easiest of tasks. That said, comfort is much better than before. There’s that slightly more legroom and headroom, cushioning is great, the backrest’s recline angle is perfect and there’s great thigh support on offer. The middle passenger will surely feel that they have got a raw deal due to the high centre tunnel, but as a place for two, the 3 Series rear seat works really very well.

Pricing

3 Series (G20) prices start at Rs 41.40 lakh, with the 320d topping off at Rs 46.90 for the Luxury Line trim – the 330i M Sport is the range-topper of the model's range and costs Rs 47.90 lakh. When compared to the competition - Audi A4, Mercedes C Class and Jaguar XE, it’s clear that BMW have priced the vehicle aggressively and plan to dominate sales in the Indian market.

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India’s Leap From Bharat Stage IV to Bharat Stage VI Emission Norms

What Are The Bharat Stage Emission Standards

Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BSES) are emission norms given by the Government Of India to control the output of pollutants from automobile engines. The standards and the time span for enforcement are given by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

To read in depth about the norms, you can visit wikipedia

How is Bharat Stage VI Different?

Bharat Stage VI (BS VI) is an emission norm that is bound to bring much-desired changes in the Indian automobile industry in terms of pollutant emissions. With this emission standard coming into play, India will come at par with the United States, most European countries and other top notch automotive markets across the world.
India currently follows BS IV norms that were adopted in 2018 across the country.
Bharat Stage VI norms includes a wide list of technological advancements under the hood, the most significant being making On Board Diagnostics (OBD) mandatory for all vehicles.

Why the Jump From BSIV to BSVI?

India has 10 of the most populated cities of the world and some of the most polluted too, this is one distinction we should not be proud of.
Vehicular emissions play a major role in the worsening air quality of Indian cities. Emission of NOx, SO2, CO2 and particulate matter takes a toll on people’s health. In cities like Delhi, the PM2.5 level is more than 6 times the prescribed levels by WHO.
In October 2016, India signed the Conference of Protocol also known as the Paris Climate Agreement. Being a part of the agreement, India is obligated to lower the carbon footprint by 33-55% from the levels recorded in 2005 in the forthcoming 12 years.
This lead to the need for a stricter norm criteria that could reduce the emissions majorly and put India on the path to meet the Paris agreement goals.
Ideally, BS V was planned to be rolled out by 2021 and BS VI in 2024 but leapfrogging to Bharat Stage VI norms by 2020 had to be planned because of the carbon footprint obligations.

Advantages of BS VI

BS VI is at par with Euro VI norms already adopted in European countries. In fact, this new emission norm also addresses one major drawback in the Euro VI norms that allows emission of higher PM (particulate matter) in diesel engines.

Given Below are some of the pros of BS VI Norms
NOx emissions will be reduced by approximately 25% for the petrol engine and 68% for the diesel engines.
The PM emissions will see a sharp decrease of 80% in diesel engines.
OBD will be mandatory for every vehicle and it will help monitor the pollution caused by the vehicle in real time.
RDE (Real Driving Emission) will be introduced for the first time that will check the emissions in real-world conditions and not just under test conditions.
Bharat Stage VI norms will also change the way particulate matter is measured. It will now be measured by number standards instead of mass standards hence, regulating the fine particulate matter as well.

Could Electric Cars be the Solution?
In most developed countries, Electric Vehicles have already seen a sharp rise in popularity and sales. World’s Number 1 Electric Cars | Tesla Vehicles have already made a name for themselves in most markets and are planning to make their way into the Indian automobile industry too.

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World’s Number 1 Electric Cars | Tesla Vehicles

Started by Elon Musk in 2003, Tesla is an American all-electric car manufacturer which has become the world's number 1 since the previous decade. The company's first car was the Tesla Roadster, which was introduced in 2008 to highlight the performance of an electric car. The Roadster used the bodyshell of the Lotus Elise sports car and came with an all-electric battery pack that claimed to deliver a range of around 320km. Just after, Tesla produced its first completely in-house developed vehicle - the Model S sedan in 2012, followed by the Model X SUV in 2015, enhancing its reach and prestige in the global passenger market. The most economical Tesla is also the one in highest demand, the Model 3, was launched in 2017 , with a waiting period of almost 12 months. Planning to expand globally, Tesla has been keen to enter the Indian market, but no plans or timelines have been revealed yet.Tesla currently offers no car available for sale in India. Upcoming Tesla Cars that are expected to launch in 2019/2020 include Model X, Model Y, Model S, Model 3.

 Electric Cars on Offer by Tesla

Tesla Model X

The Tesla Model X is an electric car and is one of the fastest SUVs that is currently available globally. Coming with an all-wheel drive setup (not to be confused with 4wd), the Model X is a seven-seater which can travel up to 475km in a single charge. The Model X accelerates from 0 to 97kmph in just a mere 2.9seconds. The last two rows of the vehicle can be folded flat to open up more boot space. In the US market, it is currently available as a five-seater, six-seater and seven-seater options.

It has features like GPS with real time traffic information, active safety technologies, including collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking, LED fog lights, three-position dynamic LED turning lights, largest glass panoramic windshield in production, automatic keyless entry and many more.

The Tesla Model X is powered by a 75 kWh or 100 kWh lithium-ion battery. The Tesla Model X price starts at $79,500 which is approximately 50 lakh rupees.

Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is the flagship model for the brand and has helped Tesla beat its competition such as the BMW 7 series, Audi A8 and Mercedes S Class not just in The USA but in the european markets too. The electric car with its liftback design form is available in a choice of three variants- 75D, 100D and the P100D which is the top most variant. The P100Dcan do a 0-100kmph from a standstill in a mere 2.5 seconds.

The Model S comes with autopilot capability, to provide a completely hands-free experience to the driver.

Tesla Model 3

Model 3 comes with the option of dual motor all-wheel drive, 20” Performance Wheels and Brakes and lowered suspension that offers optimum control in all weather conditions. A carbon fiber spoiler helps improve stability at high speeds, making the Model 3 capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in as little as 3.4 seconds. Tesla All-Wheel Drive has two independent electric motors. Unlike traditional all-wheel drive systems, these two motors digitally control torque to the front and rear wheels—for far better handling and traction control. Your electric car can drive on either motor, so you never need to worry about getting stuck on the road. If one motor stops working, you can safely continue to your destination with the second.

Tesla Model Y

Tesla All-Wheel Drive has two ultra-responsive, independent electric motors that digitally control the electric car's torque to the front and rear wheels—for far better handling, traction and stability control. Model Y is capable in rain, snow, mud and off-road. Model Y provides maximum versatility—able to carry 7 passengers and their cargo. Each second row seat folds flat independently, creating flexible storage for skis, furniture, luggage and more. The liftgate opens to a low trunk floor that makes loading and unloading easy and quick. It has a 300 mile range (EPA est.), 0-60 mph acceleration in 3.5 seconds and best-in-class storage

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