Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL), India's premier luxury automobile manufacturer, has received E20 (20 percent ethanol blended) petrol compliance certification for all of its current models, including the Honda Elevate, Honda City e:HEV, Honda City and Honda Amaze. It also includes the E20 compliance certification gained for the 2nd Generation Honda Amaze in January 2025.

Since 2009, HCIL has adopted E20 fuel, and as of 1 January 2009, all Honda vehicles built in India are compatible with E20 materials. This shows the company's constant dedication to its consumers by giving them access to the most cutting-edge international goods and services first. Customers may utilise E20 petrol in their current Honda vehicles without worrying about the car's longevity or needing to replace any parts. In order to meet current pollution standards, the Indian government has required that all gasoline-powered mono- and bi-fuel cars with positive ignition engines, including hybrids, built on or after 1 April 2025, be certified using ethanol (E20) fuel.

Kunal Behl, Vice President – Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd, said, "At Honda Cars India, we are committed to driving sustainable mobility solutions, and all our cars have been E20 material compatible since Jan 2009 enabling our customers to seamlessly adopt the greener E20 fuel without any modifications. The latest compliance certification for all our current models ahead of the pan India E20 fuel introduction aligns with the Government of India’s goal to implement greener fuels. As India moves towards a cleaner and more sustainable future, HCIL will continue to remain at the forefront.”

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Renault India has revealed the new generation Duster in Chennai, marking the return of the nameplate to the Indian market. The vehicle is the first product launched under the Renault International Game Plan 2027, a strategy positioning India as a hub for the company's operations outside Europe.

The SUV is built on the Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP), with 90 percent of its components designed specifically for the Indian market. The vehicle features a 2,657 mm wheelbase and 212 mm of ground clearance, with approach and departure angles of 26.9deg and 34.7deg respectively.

The Duster introduces three engine options, including a hybrid variant for the first time in India. The Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 pairs a 1.8L engine with a 1.4 kWh battery, designed to operate in electric mode for a claimed up to 80 percent of city driving.

Two petrol options are also available: the Turbo TCe 160, producing 163 PS and 280 Nm of torque and the Turbo TCe 100. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with a wet clutch.

The cabin features a driver-centric layout with a 10.1-inch OpenR Link multimedia system. This system incorporates Google built-in, providing native access to Google Maps, Assistant, and the Play Store. A second 10.25-inch TFT display serves as the instrument cluster, capable of replicating navigation data.

Additional interior features include:

• Ventilated and electric front seats.
• Dual-zone automatic air conditioning with a PM2.5 air quality filter.
• Panoramic sunroof and electric tailgate.
• 17 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) functions.

Fabrice Cambolive, CEO, Renault Brand, said, “As part of the Renault International Game Plan 2027, we are making India a key pillar of our growth outside Europe. We now have a strong ecosystem in Chennai, bringing together design, engineering, manufacturing, and local operations at the highest level - making India one of the most complete and powerful hubs in Renault’s global network. The new Renault Duster is the first step in Renault’s renewal in India.”

Stephane Deblaise, CEO, Renault Group India, added, “With the new Renault Group Modular Platform, Renault brings an advanced hybrid technology and top-tier safety engineering. With Renault Forever program, we also offer our customers a significantly improved ownership experience. New Renault Duster is the start of a renewed product cycle and for an exciting trajectory for Renault in India. Renault is back.”

The vehicle comes with an industry first 7-year or 150,000 km warranty under the Renault Forever programme. Pre-bookings are open via the 'R Pass', with official pricing expected in mid-March 2026. Deliveries for petrol variants will commence in April 2026, while the Strong Hybrid version is scheduled for release during Diwali 2026.

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Stellantis-owned electric vehicle brand Leapmotor recently showcased its new range of product offerings at the Brussels Motor Show.

The OEM utilised the platform to display its latest vehicle technologies and models as part of an expansion strategy within the European market. The lineup featured both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) equipped with range extenders.

The event saw the European debut of the B03X, a model designed to showcase the brand's approach to electric technology. Additionally, Leapmotor provided the first public viewing of the B05 interior, highlighting a design philosophy focused on digital integration and materials.

Leapmotor launched the B10 Hybrid EV, which employs a range extender system. Unlike conventional hybrids where the internal combustion engine frequently powers the wheels directly, this architecture uses the electric motor as the sole source of propulsion. The engine serves as a generator to produce electricity for the battery when required and is never mechanically connected to the drivetrain.

This configuration is intended to provide the torque and noise levels of a pure electric vehicle while addressing infrastructure limitations and range anxiety. The system manages energy automatically, allowing for long-distance travel without a reliance on fast-charging stations. Leapmotor positions this solution as a practical transition for regions with varying levels of electrification readiness.

In a standard HEV, the engine drives the wheels, with the electric motor acting in a supporting role. Conversely, Leapmotor's system maintains a consistent electric driving experience because the engine does not provide mechanical drive.

By removing the mechanical complexity of traditional hybrid drivetrains that switch between multiple modes, the company claims a more refined operation. The range extender is designed to operate only in ideal conditions to optimise efficiency and reduce noise.

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Japanese automotive component supplier Toyoda Gosei Co, has announced that its curtain airbag has been adopted for the LS9, a luxury battery electric vehicle (BEV) from the Chinese brand IM Motors.

This marks the first instance of a Chinese manufacturer utilising an airbag system produced by the Japanese company.

The curtain airbag is designed to deploy across windows during side collisions to reduce head impacts. The unit developed for the LS9 is 15 percent smaller in volume compared to previous versions. Despite the reduced size, the component meets the safety criteria of the Chinese New Car Assessment Programme (C-NCAP).

To meet the development timelines required by Chinese manufacturers, Toyoda Gosei used Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) technology during the design phase. This allowed the company to simulate performance and refine the product without the need for extensive physical prototyping.

The company is expanding its development capacity in China to compete with emerging manufacturers and the growth of the electric vehicle sector. By providing safety systems that meet regional requirements, Toyoda Gosei intends to increase its presence within the Chinese automotive market.

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has introduced the Thar Roxx Star EDN at prices starting INR 1.68 million for the diesel variant (manual transmission), INR 1.78 million for the petrol variant (automatic transmission) and INR 1.83 million for the diesel automatic.

This marks the expansion of the Thar Roxx range, which now features updated design elements on the interior and exterior.

The new variant incorporates a piano black front grille and matching R19 alloy wheels to update the appearance. The model introduces a Citrine Yellow colour option alongside existing shades of Tango Red, Everest White and Stealth Black.

The interior features black leatherette seats with suede accents. Standard cabin features include ventilated front seats, a sliding armrest and a 26.03-cm HD touchscreen infotainment system. The technology suite comprises a digital instrument cluster, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and Adrenox connected car features with Alexa integration. For safety, the vehicle is equipped with six airbags, a surround-view camera, and parking sensors at the front and rear.

The Thar Roxx Star EDN retains the engine options from the standard range, featuring the G20 TGDi mStallion petrol engine and the D22 mHawk diesel engine. The petrol unit produces 130 kW and 380 Nm of torque, while the diesel engine delivers 128.6 kW and 400 Nm. These variants are available with a rear-wheel-drive system and a choice of manual or automatic transmissions.

The SUV is built on the M_GLYDE body-on-frame platform and includes selectable terrain modes for snow, sand, and mud. It also features a brake locking differential to assist in various driving conditions.

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