Hey, Your Top Automobile News for 10 September, 2020

Your Daily Automobile updates From Around The World [img]  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [img]( [The Automobile News]( [QOTD: Would You Ever Consider China’s Best-Selling EV?]( While Tesla’s Model 3 sedan is supposedly taking the world by storm, some hot competition has been reported in China. The Hongguang MINI EV has eclipsed the offspring of Elon Musk to become the country’s best-selling electric vehicle. Though at just 28,800 yuan ($4,200), it hardly seems a fair comparison. Tesla’s minimalist sedan is larger and costs roughly 10 times what SAIC Motor, General Motors, and Liuzhou Wuling Motors decided the MINI EV was worth. That’s right, it took the combined strength of three automakers to birth this baby and we’re wondering what it would take to get you to drive one home if they were offered here. According to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), Tesla only shifted around 11,000 Model 3s in August. But SAIC-GM-Wuling sold 15,000 of their two-door electric vehicles during the same period, making it the hottest little automobile on that market — at least so far as battery-driven cars were concerned. Ludicrously low pricing seems a big help. While we’re fairly certain SAIC-GM-Wuling accounts for Chinese EV subsidies in its advertised price, offering a hatchback that seats four and costs roughly the same as a motorcycle is an achievement even if it happens to be the size of a Kleenex box. Measuring just 2,917 mm (114.8 in.) long, 1,493 mm (58.8 in.) wide, and 1,621 mm (63.8 in.) high, the Hongguang MINI EV is quite petite. Targeting those trapped in an urban landscape, the MINI EV uses a 27 hp electric motor that’s optimized for efficiency. It pairs with a compact 13.8 kWh battery pack that delivers a claimed 120 miles of range. Basic versions, closer to that $4,200 starting price, don’t have as wide of an operating area and need to be charged somewhere around 75 miles — thanks to their less-advanced 9.2 kWh energy packs. Assuming August wasn’t a complete fluke, it’s interesting to see a vehicle like this catching on. Chinese auto sales have been in a bad state recently, with electric vehicles taking a particularly severe hit as subsidies were walked back. Heavy discounting in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic has helped bring customers back into the showroom. Data suggests August sales actually shot up by 8.9 percent against the previous year. But critics have claimed this is the result of the Chinese government pressuring the CPCA to enhance the numbers as a way to reduce the annual shortfall that’s already guaranteed. To be fair, we’ve found the China Association Of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) much more adventurous in its counting of cars than the China Passenger Car Association has been. Shenanigans or no, both groups are predicting a return to strength for the Chinese automotive market and suggesting a sustained period of growth over the next few years. [Read more…]( The post [QOTD: Would You Ever Consider China’s Best-Selling EV?]( appeared first on [TheAutomobileNews.com](. [Read Full Story]( [Most-Awaited New Launches From India’s Top 5 Carmakers]( Maruti Suzuki is the biggest automobile manufacturer in India with over 50% market share in Indian passenger car market. Hyundai Motor India stood at number second and holds the title of India’s top exporter to countries across Middle East and Africa. The third, fourth and fifth spots are grabbed by the Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Kia Motors India. Here are the most anticipated new car launches from India’s top 5 car manufacturers that are set to arrive in the coming years. 1. MARUTI SUZUKI COMPACT SUV The Indo-Japanese carmaker is planning to foray into the premium compact SUV space to challenge dominance of the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Reports suggest that the company will bring in a new model based on the Toyota Raize’s DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) platform. It will measure around 4.3m in length and will be offered with both petrol and diesel engine options. While the petrol model might come with a 1.2L turbo or 1.5L K15B unit, the diesel variant could be packed with a 1.5L motor. It‘s expected to hit showrooms sometime in 2022 and will be sold via Nexa dealerships. 2. HYUNDAI CRETA 7-SEATER Hyundai Creta 7-seater is surely one of the much-awaited car launches of the next year. If reports are to be believed, its production-ready version might be named Hyundai Alcazar. Compared to its 5-seater sibling, the Alcazar will be 30mm longer and more cabin space to offer. A few cosmetic changes will also be made to the vehicle. The Creta 7-seater will carry a new chrome studded grille, smaller skid plate, bigger lower air intake, revised headlamps, flatter roof, new side sills and roof rails. Besides an additional third row of seats, the SUV will offer some extra goodies. Engine setup is likely to be borrowed from the 5-seater Creta – i.e. 1.5L NA petro, 1.4L turbo petrol and 1.5L diesel. 3. TATA GRAVITAS Tata Gravitas, the upcoming 6/7-seater SUV from the home-grown carmaker, will be put up against the newly-launched MG Hector Plus and Mahindra XUV500. The model is slated to launch in the first half of the next year. Based on Harrier’s platform, the Gravitas will come with the 168bhp, 2.0L diesel engine with manual and automatic gearbox options. It will measure 4662mm in length, 1894mm in width and 1786mm in height, thus making it 63mm longer, 72mm wider and 80mm taller than the Harrier. The SUV will also receive noticeable changes inside and out. Some of its key features will include a cascading grille with honeycomb mesh, squared wheel arches, side body cladding, roof rails, LED taillamps, a roof-mounted spoiler, Benecke-Kaliko oak brown leather seat upholstery, JBL audio system and the signature-style oak brown dual-tone dashboard. 4. NEW-GEN MAHINDRA THAR [Mahindra Thar 2020 Video (1)] The second-generation Mahindra Thar has been slated to launch on 2nd October, 2020. The off-road SUV has received several new features for the first time including a new petrol engine, automatic gearbox, factory hard top, front facing rear seats, automatic climate control, touchscreen infotainment system, rear disc brakes ad cruise control. The 2020 Thar will come in three variants – AX, AX (O) and LX – powered by 2.0L mStallion turbo petrol and 2.2L turbo diesel engines. While the gasoline unit is good enough for 150bhp and 320Nm, the oil burner makes 130bhp and 320Nm. The SUV is claimed to offer better off-road performance with features such as high ground clearance, updated suspension setup, better approach, departure and ramp-up angles and improved water wading capacity. [Read more…]( The post [Most-Awaited New Launches From India’s Top 5 Carmakers]( appeared first on [TheAutomobileNews.com](. [Read Full Story]( [Afzal Kahn and Chelsea Truck Company have given this rugged off-roader a premium twist]( The Jeep Wrangler is one of the most sought-after vehicles for tuners and aftermarket companies, thanks to its mod-friendly nature. While Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts offer hundreds of accessories for this off-roader, there are a lot of aftermarket companies that customize it in their unique ways as well. One such unique, impressive build comes courtesy of none other than Afzal Kahn of the Chelsea Truck Company. Although the SUV is right up there in terms of ruggedness, what makes this different is how luxurious it is on the inside, something that’s uncommon on the Wrangler. WHAT MAKES THE CHELSEA-KAHN BUILT CJ400 SPECIAL? This military-inspired truck is given a new exterior 3D Texture Black Military paint. It features a four-slot grille up front with exposed carbon fiber and a vented hood for the engine to breathe. Called the CJ400, the SUV also has horizontal-running LED headlights. The steel bumpers seem to have a matte, anodized finish to them. While the SUV is structurally the same, Kahn did add stuff like 20-inch Mondial Retro Wheels painted in the same shade as the rest of the body. These tires are wrapped in Cooper Discover All-Terrain 3 tires. The fuel filler cap is also swapped for one with the Chelsea Truck branding. At the back, the tailgate-mounted spare tire is wrapped in a Chelsea-branded cover that also incorporates the rearview camera. To wrap the changes on the outside, Kahn has replaced the stock exhaust system with Quad Crosshair Exhaust with 100 mm tailpipes finished in black ceramic. The seats, door and center armrests, and the glovebox are reupholstered in 3D modular quilted leather. This orange shade is quite contrasting to the black shade on the outside and there’s nothing subtle about it, but it looks super classy. There are some orange accents on the center console as well that complement the seats. [Read more…]( The post [Afzal Kahn and Chelsea Truck Company have given this rugged off-roader a premium twist]( appeared first on [TheAutomobileNews.com](. 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