Lexus LM 350h luxury MPV launched in India, prices start at ₹2 crore

Lexus LM 350h luxury MPV launched in India, prices start at ₹2 crore

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Lexus LM 350h luxury MPV launched in India

It’s noteworthy to mention that the Lexus LM 350h shares its underpinnings with the Toyota Vellfire that retails at ₹1.2 crore (ex-showroom). Both models are based on the GA-K modular platform but the Lexus looks a lot more exotic with its futuristic styling. The massive spindle grille takes centre stage, flanked by sharply styled LED headlamps and vertically stacked fog lamps. The rear sports a full-width LED taillight with a boxy design aimed to maximise cabin space.

Also Read : New-gen Lexus LM bookings cross triple digits ahead of launch

The Lexus LM 350h gets a 48-inch TV, 23 speakers, sensor-based climate control and an adaptive suspension

Speaking about the launch, Tanmay Bhattacharya, Executive Vice-President – Lexus India, said, “The debut of the all-new Lexus LM in India marks a pivotal moment for us, as we embark on a journey into the realm of ultra-luxury mobility. Upon announcing the commencement of its bookings last year, the new Lexus LM had become an instant hit in the country reiterating our belief that India is home to ultra HNIs who yearn for heightened indulgence & experiences. The majestic LM, with its exceptional comfort, innovative design, and unparalleled craftsmanship is poised to redefine the ultra-luxury mobility experience, meeting the expectations of our esteemed guests in India. We thank our guests for their patience as well as their faith in the brand and are confident that we will be able to begin deliveries of the majestic new LM by mid of this year.”

The LM name stands for ‘Luxury Mover’ and the four-seater configuration ensures the best is packed in the cabin. This includes a partition between the front and rear passengers. It also gets aircraft-style recliner seats, a 23-speaker surround sound system, pillow-style headrests, a refrigerator and a 48-inch television. Other features include fold-out tables, heated armrests, USB ports, wireless phone chargers, reading lights, vanity mirrors, and an umbrella holder.

Lexus LM 350h
The Lexus LM 350h is based on the GA-K modular platform shared with the Toyota Vellfire but gets futuristic styling, setting it apart

ower on the Lexus LM 350h comes from the 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-hybrid engine that develops 246 bhp and 239 Nm of peak torque, paired with an eCVT automatic transmission. The engine works with a nickel-metal hydride battery for higher efficiency. Power goes to all four wheels via the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

The Lexus LM also gets an adaptive suspension for a pliant ride, while there’s a new sensor-based climate control that will adjust the temperature according to the passenger’s body. Furthermore, the MPV gets noise-reduction tyres, active noise control, and a digital rearview mirror. On the safety front, the LM 350h gets the Lexus Safety System+ 3 ADAS suite bringing a host of active and passive safety features.

Lexus LM 350h
The Lexus LM 350h competes against a host of luxury SUVs at its price point

The Lexus LM 350h sits right on top of the MPV segment in India with its jaw-dropping price tag. The model does not have a direct rival at the moment, but it does compete with top-of-the-line luxury SUVs including the Land Rover Range Rover, Mercedes-Maybach GLS, Bentley Bentayga, and the like.

First Published Date: 15 Mar 2024, 18:36 PM IST


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Lexus LM 350h luxury MPV launched in India

Women’s Day: Maruti Suzuki Arena sold over 9 lakh cars to women

Women’s Day: Maruti Suzuki Arena sold over 9 lakh cars to women

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Maruti Suzuki Arena sold over 9 lakh cars to women

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 08 Mar 2024, 18:58 PM

  • Maruti’s new initiative is aimed at celebrating the growing number of women drivers and influencers in vehicle decisions across the country.
Maruti Suzuki Arena sells majority of manufacturer’s vehicles.

On account of Women’s Day, Maruti Suzuki has announced that they have sold more than 9 lakh cars through their Maruti Suzuki Arena dealerships. In FY23-24, 28 per cent chose Maruti Suzuki’s cars which is up from 18 per cent in FY17-18. The brand will be launching a new campaign called ‘Arena Journeys’ under the Maruti Suzuki Arena. This initiative is aimed at celebrating the growing number of women drivers and influencers in vehicle decisions across the country.

The campaign will include short stories from four well-known women directors such as Tanuja Chandra, Alankrita Shrivastava, Sonam Nair, and Tahira Kashyap Khurrana. The directors will be narrating interesting stories of women.

The first short story will debut on 8th March. Commenting on the launch of the ‘Arena Journeys’, Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, said, “As industry leaders, Maruti Suzuki India Limited is proud to shine a spotlight on the rising number of women taking charge of the roads. We are proud of the fact that over 9 lakh women buyers have found their right match with Maruti Suzuki Arena. More than 28% of women in FY23-24 chose the brand value of Maruti Suzuki as a reason to purchase. Arena Journeys is more than just a campaign; it’s a testament to the brand’s dedication to inclusivity, empowerment, and customer-centricity.”

Also Read : Maruti Suzuki Jimny available with up to ₹1.50 lakh discounts

Currently, the brand is working on the launch of Swift which is expected to make its debut in the coming months. The hatchback will get some major revisions to the exterior and the interior will have some hints of the Baleno. The biggest change will be the new engine. It will be a new three-cylinder unit that will replace the current four-cylinder unit. Suzuki says that they did this in favour of better fuel efficiency and the engine is supposed to deliver better low-end torque.

First Published Date: 08 Mar 2024, 18:57 PM IST


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Hyundai Venue Executive Turbo launched at ₹9.99 lakh. Check what’s different

Hyundai Venue Executive Turbo launched at ₹9.99 lakh. Check what’s different

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Hyundai Venue Executive Turbo launched at ₹9.99 lakh

The Executive Turbo trim comes with 16-inch dual-tone stylized wheels, dark chrome on the grille, roof rails, shark fin antenna and an ‘Executive’ emblem on the tailgate. The interior gets a front centre armrest with storage, 2-step rear reclining seats, 60:40 split seats and adjustable headrests for all passengers.

There is an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which comes with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and voice recognition. There is also a digital cluster with a TFT MID for the driver.

For safety, there are 6 airbags, 3 point seatbelts with seat belt reminders, Electronic Stability Control, Vehicle Stability Management, Hill Assist Control, automatic headlamps, tyre pressure monitoring system etc.

Powering the new variant is the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. It puts out 118 bhp of max power at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque output of 172 Nm at 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. The Executive Turbo is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission. The engine also comes with an Idle Start/Stop system to enhance fuel efficiency.

Also Read : Hyundai Ioniq 5 facelift EV debuts with new N Line variant: See what has changed

Hyundai has also updated the Venue S (O) Turbo variant with an electric sunroof and map lamps for the passenger and the driver. This variant is available with a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The new variant and feature additions should help in attracting more customers. Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Tarun Garg, COO,Hyundai Motor India

Ltd. said, “Hyundai has always made India ‘Live the SUV Life’. As we move forward on a path towards democratizing SUVs, we are excited to announce the Executive Turbo variant of the Hyundai Venue. This variant is poised to offer an optimum combination of thrilling performance & enhanced convenience features for the value-conscious new-age buyer. We are confident that the addition of the Executive variant of Hyundai Venue will further fuel India’s love for SUVs.”

First Published Date: 05 Mar 2024, 14:36 PM IST

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First Honda electric motorcycle India launch confirmed in 2024

First Honda electric motorcycle India launch confirmed in 2024

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Honda Global has confirmed plans to launch an electric motorcycle equivalent to 110-125 cc commuters in India next year. The announcement was a part of Honda Motor Co’s new motorcycle electrification strategy, which will see the manufacturer invest $3.4 billion by 2030 on new products and development. The two-wheeler giant also revised its global sales target from 3.5 million to 4 million electric motorcycles by 2030.

By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor
| Updated on: 01 Dec 2023, 03:21 AM

Honda’s first electric motorcycle for India will go on sale next year, after the first two electric scooters are launched

The electric motorcycle will come with swappable batteries and will be built in India at the company’s existing manufacturing facility. It will be launched in India first, followed by other ASEAN markets, Japan and Europe. Honda announced electrification plans for India earlier this year promising two electric offerings equivalent to 110-125 cc offerings. While one e-scooter will get a fixed battery, the other model will come with swappable batteries.

Also Read : Honda to launch 2 electric two-wheelers in India in FY2024 with swappable battery.

Speaking during the presentation, Daiki Mihara, Executive Officer – Honda Motorcycle and Power Products Electrification Business Development Unit – Honda Motor Co., said, “Next year 2024, we will launch an electric motorcycle with swappable batteries starting in India and followed by ASEAN, Japan and Europe.”

Honda’s India operations will play a key role in the company’s motorcycle electrification strategy going forward. The company will use its existing facilities to build electric motorcycles from now till 2027 and plans to launch a dedicated plant beyond 2027 for electric motorcycles that will also manufacture important parts in-house to reduce cost. The new plants will have a production capacity of about one million units per year, per plant with an investment of 50 billion yen (approx. ₹2,800 crore) for each new facility.

Mihara further said that the two-wheeler maker will have a dedicated electric motorcycle plant in India, which will be followed up with another e-motorcycle manufacturing facility in the ASEAN region. Honda aims to reduce the cost of finished electric motorcycles by 50 per cent through optimising batteries, adopting modular platforms, and optimising production and procurement. The new assembly lines for electric motorcycles will be 40 per cent shorter when compared to ICE vehicles.

Furthermore, it plans to make major adjustments to its supply chains in order to achieve its goal of selling four million e-motorcycles by 2030 while achieving a 10 per cent operating profit margin. Honda also plans to repurpose its Kumamoto plant in Japan to produce larger-capacity electric motorcycles equivalent to 600-700 cc offerings.

Honda’s future strategy includes bringing 30 new electric motorcycles globally by the end of this decade. The upcoming offerings will pack new technologies including advanced connectivity, OTA updates, and modern data collection systems. The company is also working on improving battery technology and will use LFP battery cells going forward, alongside NMC lithium-ion batteries presently seen on its electric offerings.

First Published Date: 01 Dec 2023, 03:21 AM IST



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2024 Porsche Panamera unveiled globally with major upgrades

2024 Porsche Panamera unveiled globally with major upgrades

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Porsche has unveiled the third generation of the Panamera in the global market. It is important to know that the 2024 Panamera is not an all-new car but Porsche has made enough changes that they are calling it a new generation. There are changes to the chassis, features, design, suspension and the engine too.

By: Paarth Khatri
| Updated on: 25 Nov 2023, 10:05 AM

The 2024 Porsche Panamera gets an all-new design while retaining its silhouette

The 2024 Panamera measures 5,052 mm in length, 1,937 mm in width and 1,423 mm in height. For the Executive versions, these figures will be bumped up to 5,202 mm, 1,937 mm and 1,428 mm. Up front, an additional air intake has been added above the number plate to help the engine breathe better and the window lines have been revised as well. Apart from this, there is a new set of headlamps and tail lamps as well. Overall, the 2025 Panamera looks sleeker and meaner.

The Panamera will now feature Matrix LED headlamps as standard. There is a new optional passenger display that measures 10.9 inches in size. The gear lever is mounted right next to the steering wheel and there are three driving modes – Normal, Sport and Sport Plus.

Powering the 2024 Panamera are four E-hybrid engines. The 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 has been revised and it produces 670 bhp of max power in conjunction with a new electric motor which itself produces 187 bhp. The total torque output is rated at 930 Nm and the engine comes mated to a redesigned eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission.

The Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid sprints to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and boasts a top speed of 315 km/h. Its battery capacity is now 25.9 kWh. This enables an equivalent electric range of up to 91 kilometres in the combined WLTP cycle. A new 11 kW on-board AC charger shortens the charging time at suitable charging points to 2 hours and 39 minutes.

Also Read : Porsche to integrate Google Maps, Assistant and other apps in future vehicles

The Panamera and Panamera 4 variants will also be available at the time of the launch. They use a 2.9-litre turbo V6 engine that produces 348 bhp and 500 Nm of peak torque. This is an increase of 22 bhp and 50 Nm when compared to the previous generation. It now takes 5.2 seconds to reach 100 kmph and has a top speed of 272 kmph. The all-wheel drive variants have a top speed of 270 kmph but they take 4.8 seconds to reach 100 kmph.

First Published Date: 25 Nov 2023, 10:05 AM IST



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We will be volunteering to get our cars crash tested: Maruti on Bharat NCAP

We will be volunteering to get our cars crash tested: Maruti on Bharat NCAP

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By: Paarth Khatri
| Updated on: 23 Aug 2023, 17:21 PM

The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari launched India’s own crash test norms on Tuesday. It is called Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) and it will be enforced across the country from October 2023. Now, Maruti Suzuki has announced that they will send out their vehicles to be tested under the Bharat NCAP crash test.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso in Global NCAP crash test

This information was confirmed by CV Raman, CTO, Maruti Suzuki India. Moreover, Mr Rahul Bharti, Executive Officer of Maruti Suzuki also said that they will offer at least three models for Bharat NCAP crash testing in the first batch. As of now, the name of the models has not been confirmed. However, it can be the manufacturer’s recent launches such as Grand Vitara and new-gen Baleno.

The past record of Maruti Suzuki is not very strong when it comes to crash test ratings. The S-Presso, Alto and Eeco have scored zero stars in the adult safety rating and two stars in the child safety rating. The WagonR and Swift scored two stars in adult as well as child safety rating whereas the Ertiga scored three stars. The safest car that the Maruti Suzuki currently makes is the Brezza with four and two stars for adult and child safety ratings respectively.

According to CV Raman, CTO, Maruti Suzuki India, “It is a welcome step and we are proud as we had been working along with the government and test agencies in the discussions around formulation of the standards. We will be volunteering to get our cars tested under the BNCAP standards, which are same as the revised GNCAP protocols.

“Any car that is launched in India follows the mandatory safety standards set by the government. For consumers seeking extra safety information the Bharat NCAP system is an authentic and objective rating system to empower the customer to make an informed choice. Maruti Suzuki welcomes this initiative of the Government and will offer atleast 3 models for BNCAP testing in the first lot itself. At the same time, we would request all users to fasten seatbelts whether in the front or rear seats as that is the most critical factor in keeping passengers safe.” said Mr Rahul Bharti, Executive Officer, Maruti Suzuki

First Published Date: 23 Aug 2023, 17:21 PM IST



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