Group Renault unveiled their B SUV Kiger in India. This is the company’s third global product after the Kwid and Triber first launched in India, followed by other markets.

With the Kiger, Renault will demonstrate its commitment to ‘Make in India’ displaying its design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities. Stunning, Smart and Sporty are the core ingredients behind the design philosophy of the Kiger.

The new car carries forward the front facia from the Kwid and the Triber with changes to the headlights and the grille. The upper strip formed by the front grille and the LED daytime running lights gives the car an elevated stance. The bumper has been divided into two areas, each featuring three LED headlights encased in a chrome octagonal unit with PURE VISION and a chrome reflector. At the rear, the vehicle sports an all-new LED taillight with double C-shaped lighting signature and glossy black inserts adding modern and distinctive appeal.

The sculpted bonnet and the black sills, muscular wheel arches and the wings with their pronounced shoulder lines complete the B-SUVs bold look. The high ground clearance (205 mm) and the functional roof bars add to the SUV look.

The Kiger’s large 16-inch wheels on the higher trims have a black diamond-cut finish adding a sporty but stylish look. The wheels on the car have been pushed to the four corners providing increase stability and also a long wheelbase of 2500 mm that offers optimum comfort for each passenger and boot volume of 405 Litres that is the largest in the segment.

The slender windscreen which extends into a floating roof and the steep-sloping rear window give the car a coupe look. The aerodynamic spoiler at the rear and the shark fin antenna and 3D graphic finish to the front grille with honeycomb-shaped chromed effects adds to the sporty character of the Kiger.

Customers also have an opportunity to customise their Kiger with a Mystery Black Roof option available with all trim levels and with all body colours.

The interior of the Kiger is a blend of technology, functionality and roominess. The SUV builds on its CMFA+ platform and offers segment-leading roominess, cabin storage and cargo space.

The clearly defined curves of the interior show the impression of the floating cockpit. The piano-styled control dials, suspended air conditioning controls accentuate the floating cockpit feeling. The SUV features a central an 8-inch touch screen system for infotainment and a 7-inch Multi-Skin Reconfigurable TFT colour display for the driver’s cockpit.

The central touch screen offers wireless smartphone replication for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at higher trim levels. The Multi-Sense setting available at higher trim levels changes colour and widget of the 7-inch TFT display based on the driving mode selected. Audio is taken care by the Auditorium 3D Sound system by Arkamys, with eight onboard speakers that diffuse 3D sound tailor-made to suit the passenger compartment’s materials and shape.

The Kiger offers hands-free door open, close and engine start with the key card. The car also includes a door auto-lock function when drivers walk away from the vehicle adding to the user convenience. Other features on the inside include a radar sensor and reverse camera with guiding lines offering greater visibility and precision when reversing or manoeuvring for parking. Also helping to manoeuvre is the 5.02 meters turning radius. Another feature unique to this SUV is the first segment PM2.5 Clean Air Filter fitted into the ventilation system providing good air quality inside the vehicle.

The car offers a roomier cabin with the best-in-segment distance between the front seats and legroom at the rear. The vehicle also features a host of smart storage spaces including four 1L water bottle holders and 2 cup holders.

The all-new Kiger will come equipped with the tried and tested 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that outputs a 100PS of power and 160Nm of torque. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox for now with an X-TRONIC CVT automatic expected to arrive soon after the vehicles commercial launch.

Another engine option will be the 72PS, 1.0-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine available with either a five-speed manual or the EASY-R five-speed AMT gearbox.

In terms of safety, the Kiger comes two front airbags for the driver and passenger and two side airbags. The vehicle also features seatbelt reminder for both the front seats. (MT)

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Nissan Motor India, a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced the Phase 2 rollout of its CNG retrofitment kit for the Nissan Magnite SUV 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol model.  

It was in May 2025, the automaker had first rolled out the CNG option for Magnite SUV at INR 74,999 at its authorised dealerships in 7 states – Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala and Karnataka.

Now, the company has expanded the availability of the CNG kit in Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu. With this the company will cover 13 states in India with more to be added under Phase 3.

The CNG retrofitment kit is developed, manufactured and quality-assured by Motozen, a government-approved third-party vendor.  The customers can get their Magnite SUV fitted with CNG kit at the government-authorised fitment centres using a homologated kit compliant with local regulations and safety standards. Motozen is providing a 3-year/100,000 km warranty on the kit components.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “The New Nissan Magnite continues to be a key growth driver for us in India, and we’re committed to expanding its relevance in line with evolving customer needs. The Phase 2 rollout of our CNG retrofitment option reflects both the growing demand for cleaner mobility and our intent to offer credible, high-quality alternatives without compromising on the core strengths of the Magnite. With government-certified kits, authorised fitment, and extensive dealer network, this initiative enhances the Magnite’s value proposition while reinforcing our focus on accessible, sustainable solutions.”

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s popular offering the Innova HyCross has become a more attractive offering with the recent 5-star safety rating achievement for both adult and child occupant protection under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP). Since its launch in November 2022, the Innova HyCross has quickly become a segment leader, with over 135,000 units sold in India.

The certificate was formally presented in New Delhi by the Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari to Vikram Gulati, Country Head & EVP, Corporate Affairs & Governance and Sudeep Dalvi, CCO, SVP & Head State Affairs, Toyota Kirloskar Motor.

The Innova HyCross is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, which is said to be engineered for robust crash safety and structural rigidity. It integrates the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) suite, an advanced driver assistance system that includes features like a Pre-Collision System, Lane Trace Assist and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.

Further enhancing its safety credentials, the Innova HyCross is equipped with six airbags across all grades, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and ISOFIX child seat mounts.

 Varinder Wadhwa, Vice-President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, safety is the fundamental pillar of our product development, manufacturing process, and also our customer-first approach. The Innova HyCross embodies this commitment, delivering a mobility experience where ownership experience is just as important as performance and comfort. The 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for the Innova HyCross is a recognition of this philosophy as it assures our customers that they are not only investing in advanced and sustainable mobility but also one of the safest vehicles. With a safety mindset, we will continue to raise the bar in making advanced safety accessible, thus strengthening trust in the Toyota brand as a pioneer in safe and reliable mobility.”

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Geely-owned British-luxury brand Lotus Technology, a leading provider of intelligent and luxury mobility, is set to acquire the remaining 49 percent stake in Lotus Advance Technologies (Lotus UK) from Etika Automotive. This follows a similar move by Geely International (Hong Kong), which exercised its put option earlier.

With this, Lotus Technology will acquire 100 percent of Lotus UK through non-cash transactions based on pre-agreed valuations. This strategic acquisition, expected to be completed by the end-2025 pending regulatory approvals, will allow Lotus Technology to fully integrate all businesses and operations under the Lotus brand and consolidate Lotus UK's financial results.

Lotus UK is responsible for the manufacturing of Lotus's sportscars and hypercars and also houses Lotus Engineering, a consultancy providing services to various original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 suppliers worldwide.

The put options granted to Geely HK and Etika were part of a previous business combination agreement. These options became exercisable after Lotus UK and its subsidiaries exceeded 5,000 vehicle sales in 2024. The acquisition will involve Lotus Technology issuing new shares, valued at USD 10 per share, in exchange for the Lotus UK shares.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has reported its wholesales for June 2025 and Q1 FY2026.

The company sold 118,906 passenger vehicles in the domestic market in June 2025, 8,812 units in sales to other OEMs and 37,842 units in exports. This translates to a decline of 13 percent, 12 percent and growth of 22 percent YoY, respectively.

For Q1 FY2026, the company’s domestic volumes contracted by 6 percent at 393,572 units in the domestic market, as compared to 419,114 units last year. Sales to other OEMs, grew by 19 percent at 28,807 units, as against 24,248 units sold a year ago. The company grew its exports by a robust 37 percent at 96,972 units, as against 70,560 units shipped last year. Overall, the company reported flat growth at 527,861 units across categories and segments. 

Interestingly, the company witnessed a decline across segments, including SUVs.

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