Top 5 Car Stories Of The Week: Hyundai Venue Named, MG Hector Teased And More

This week, we finally saw Maruti launching the 1.5-litre diesel engine in the Ciaz, bringing up its power and torque figures on par with the competition. Also, after a couple of teaser videos, Hyundai has finally revealed the name of its upcoming Vitara Brezza rival SUV. The MG Hector has also been teased in a video which confirms some of the features that were earlier expected to be a part of the package. Also in the headlines was the new Isuzu D-Max V-Cross and the Ford Aspire Blu. Have a look.

Maruti Ciaz 1.5-litre Diesel Launched; Available In Three Variants

Maruti-Suzuki has launched the Ciaz with a new 1.5-litre diesel engine. Available in the top three variants, the new DDiS 225 engine is currently being sold alongside the older 1.3-litre DDiS 200 engine. The Delta DDiS 225 is priced at Rs 9.97 lakh, the Sigma DDiS 225 costs Rs 11.08 lakh, while the flagship Alpha DDiS 225 comes with a price tag of Rs 11.37 lakh, all ex-showroom Delhi. The important thing to know is that the DDiS 225 is not offered with SHVS micro-hybrid tech, which the DDiS 200 comes with. The 1.5-litre engine makes 95PS of power at 4,000rpm and 225Nm of peak torque between 1500- 2500rpm, and is available with a new 6-speed manual gearbox. For more info and mileage, check out the complete story here.

Hyundai’s Vitara Brezza Rival To Be Called Venue!

You will no longer have to refer to Hyundai’s upcoming SUV as the QXi, as the South Korean carmaker has announced its official name. Christened Venue, the Vitara Brezza rival will make its India debut on the same day as its global showcase at the New York International Motor Show on April 17. With a claim to pack ‘next-gen’ connectivity features, the Venue is expected to be one of the most feature-loaded SUVs in the segment. It is confirmed to get automatic climate control, LED DRLs, rear AC vents, touchscreen infotainment system and a sunroof. More details here.

MG Hector Teased Again; More Features Revealed

The season of SUVs is upon us. After Hyundai teased us with the Venue, MG Motor too decided to give us a peek of some action as well. The Hector SUV is claimed to be the first connected SUV of the country with features like its own operating system, an eSIM card through which it will be connected to India-based servers for features such as biometrics, navigation, traffic information, car health status, AI assistance and over-the-air updates. The compact SUV will rival the likes of the Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass and the Hyundai Creta. Details here.

Ford Aspire Titanium Blu Spied, Launch Expected Soon

After introducing the Blu variant in the new Figo, Ford is planning to give the same update to the Aspire as well. The Aspire Blu has been spotted testing with similar decals and blacked out wheels. While it's still unclear which variant will the Blu be based on, the “Titanium Blu” badge suggests that the blacked out variant will not pack the features of the top-of-the-line variant. Inside the car too, the blacked out treatment will continue with new seat covers, black dashboard and possibly a leather-wrapped steering wheel. More details here.

Exclusive: Isuzu D-Max V-Cross 1.9 4x4 AT Spied; Launch Soon?

If you are an adventure enthusiast looking for your next lifestyle pickup, we have some interesting news. Zigwheels has spied the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross facelift with a 1.9-litre, 4-cylinder BSVI-ready diesel engine. Paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, the pickup will feature a shift-on-the-fly 4x4 system. Spotted with a new ‘Prestige’ badge, the V-Cross facelift will come with updated leather interior upholstery, 7-inch touchscreen with rear parking camera display, climate control, parking sensors. It also gets cosmetic changes resembling the ones seen internationally since 2017. Details here.