News & Top StoriesThe launch date of BYD Seal India has been confirmed
- The e-Platform 3.0, which supports the BYD Atto 3, is the foundation for the BYD Seal.
- The 82.5 kWh battery pack included in the global-spec version of the Seal has a 570 km (WLTP-rated) range.
- It has drivetrain choices for both all-wheel drive (AWD) and rear-wheel drive (RWD).
- A panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch driver’s display, and a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen are among the features.
- Additionally, the BYD Seal received a flawless 5-star safety rating in the Euro NCAP crash test.
After making its premiere in India at the Auto Expo 2023, BYD has now officially announced that the all-electric car will go on sale in the country on March 5, 2024. The BYD e6 MPV and the BYD Atto 3 SUV are the company’s previous two offerings in India; the Seal will be its third. Let’s examine the products that BYD Seal plans to sell in India.
Additionally, the BYD Seal received a flawless 5-star safety rating in the Euro NCAP crash test.
Design
The BYD Seal has some oddball design aspects mixed in with a sleek, aerodynamic appearance. It has a U-shaped headlight cluster up front with LED DRLs at the bottom and connected all-LED taillights with a dot matrix LED pattern down the back. It also has aerodynamic elements on the front and back bumpers, which give it a slightly sporty look.
The BYD Seal appears to be a fastback from the side thanks to its gently sloping roofline that combines into a short rear end. Its 19-inch dual-tone alloy wheels support its 0.219 air drag coefficient.
Cell-to-Body (CTB) Technology Acquired
By directly integrating the battery pack into the vehicle’s structure, the BYD Seal’s CTB (Cell to Body) technology enhances the sedan’s handling and driving dynamics. It is constructed upon the e-Platform 3.0, which is the basis for the Atto 3 electric SUV as well.
Interior & Features
Speaking of the interior, the BYD Seal has sporty seats and a dual-tone dashboard style. Its massive 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment system, which is even larger than the ones included with the Atto 3 and e6 MPV, is the primary feature inside. A 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system is also included.
A 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, a panoramic sunroof, an 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, a 6-way electrically adjustable co-driver seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and dual-zone air conditioning are among the other high-end equipment available on the global-spec Seal.
The vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability that powers your external gadgets using the vehicle’s stored energy is another feature that comes with the Seal.
Battery Pack, Range & Charging
The 82.5 kWh battery pack used in the global-spec BYD Seal is available with two different powertrain options:
| Battery Pack | 82.5 kWh | 82.5 kWh |
| Drivetrain | Rear wheel drive | All wheel drive |
| Power | 313 PS | 530 PS |
| Torque | 360 Nm | 670 Nm |
| Claimed Range (WLTP Combined) | 570 km | 520 km |
| Acceleration 0-100 kmph | 5.9 seconds | 3.8 seconds |
Both variations have a maximum speed restriction of 180 kmph. As shown in the table, the BYD Seal is compatible with a variety of charging alternatives.
| Charger | Charging Time | |
| Drive Type | Rear wheel drive | All wheel drive |
| 11 kW AC (0-100 percent) | 8.6 hours | 8.6 hours |
| 150 kW DC Fast Charging (10-80 percent) | 37 minutes | 37 minutes |
The 82.5 kWh battery pack in both versions is the same, hence the charging time is the same.
received five stars from Euro NCAP
After undergoing crash testing in 2023, the BYD Seal received a complete 5-star safety certification for both adult and kid occupant protection from Euro NCAP. The comprehensive crash test report for the electric sedan can be found by clicking on this link. In addition to a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), a 360-degree camera, seven airbags, and a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) with features like automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane change and departure aid are all part of its safety package.
Expected Price & Rivals
In India, the BYD Seal can cost as much as Rs 60 lakh (ex-showroom). Being far less expensive than the BMW i4, it will be considered a rival to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.
News & Top StoriesThe Tata Nexon Facelift Receives a 5-Star Global NCAP Safety Rating
The September 2023 debut of the redesigned Tata Nexon has recently received a 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP. The upgraded subcompact SUV was one of the final automobiles manufactured in India to undergo crash testing by the international organization before the introduction of Bharat NCAP. Even while the Nexon has accomplished this before, it’s even more remarkable now that it’s been tested using the most recent GNCAP protocols. The score breakdown is as follows:
A rating of five stars (32.22 out of 34) for adult occupant safety
In both the frontal offset crash test and the barrier test, the new Nexon provided front adult passengers with good overall protection as well as sufficient protection for the chest. Both its body shell and footwell area received stable ratings, with the latter being able to support more loads.
In the side pole impact test, the Nexon facelift provided good protection for the head and pelvis, with only moderate protection for the chest and sufficient protection for the abdomen. This is because it is equipped with six airbags as standard.
The rating for child occupant safety is five stars or 44.52 out of 49
The anchorages and a support leg were used to install the child seats for the 3-year-old and 18-month-old facing backward. Sufficient protection was provided in both circumstances since the child’s head was not exposed during the frontal collision. Additionally, in the side impact crash test, both vehicles’ CRS provided complete protection.
Additionally, the standard installation of the ESC and its evaluated performance met expectations. It also receives front and rear seatbelt reminders. The Tata Nexon facelift’s remarkable score from the more demanding Global NCAP crash tests was the combined consequence of all these factors. Global NCAP also expressed gratitude for the addition of a front passenger deactivation switch and 3-point seatbelts for all occupants to the most recent Nexon standard equipment list.
What’s Next For The Nexon?
Prices & Rivals
The ex-showroom price range for the Tata Nexon in Delhi is between Rs 8.15 lakh and Rs 15.60 lakh. It competes with vehicles such as the Nissan Magnite, Mahindra XUV300, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Renault Kiger, and Nissan Magnite, none of which have received comparable safety ratings according to the most recent Global NCAP crash test standards.
News & Top StoriesIn January 2024, more over 90% of Mahindra Scorpio purchasers selected the diesel drivetrain.
- The diesel and turbo-petrol engines are the same for all three vehicles.
- Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic are two of the Scorpio figures.
- Mahindra is unlikely to phase out its diesel engines anytime soon given the tremendous demand for its diesel-powered vehicles.
One of the largest automakers in India, Mahindra is renowned for producing strong and durable SUVs. The fact that most Mahindra SUVs come with a choice of gasoline or diesel engines is one feature that sets them apart from their competitors. Popular vehicles in the group, such as the Mahindra Thar, XUV700, and Scorpio N, are available with identical 2-liter turbo-petrol and 2.2-liter diesel engines in various levels of performance. Here, we examine the gasoline versus diesel sales breakdown of Mahindra vehicles for January 2024 to determine which fuel type is more in demand.
Maruti Scorpio and Scorpio N
| Powertrain | January 2023 | January 2024 |
| Petrol | 654 | 765 |
| Diesel | 8,061 | 13,528 |
The combined sales numbers for the Mahindra Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic are as follows. Here, there is a 4X4 option, manual and automatic transmission options, and a diesel engine.
One thing to keep in mind is that the petrol sales data only apply to the Scorpio N because the Scorpio Classic only comes with the diesel manual engine transmission combo.
| Powertrain | January 2023 | January 2024 |
| Petrol | 7.5 % | 5.4 % |
| Diesel | 92.5 % | 94.6 % |
The 2.2-liter diesel engine is preferred with this tough SUV, which had sales of over 14,000 vehicles in January 2024. Not only do the gasoline versions have lower sales numbers, but their sales have decreased when compared to the same month the previous year.
Mahindra Thar
| Powertrain | January 2023 | January 2024 |
| Petrol | 334 | 657 |
| Diesel | 4,076 | 5,402 |
Similar sales splits exist for the Mahindra Thar as well, with diesel vehicles outselling petrol ones in terms of client demand. The Mahindra Thar has three engine options—the 1.5-liter diesel, the turbo-petrol, and the diesel engines discussed earlier—but only when it comes to the RWD (rear-wheel drive) versions.
| Powertrain | January 2023 | January 2024 |
| Petrol | 7.6 % | 10.8 % |
| Diesel | 92.4 % | 89.2 % |
On the other hand, sales of the gasoline variants have climbed over the previous year, accounting for more over 10% of total sales.
Mahindra XUV700
| Powertrain | January 2023 | January 2024 |
| Petrol | 1,375 | 1,989 |
| Diesel | 4,412 | 5,217 |
Sales of the Mahindra XUV700 for both gasoline and diesel saw rise, but the demand for the diesel variants remained higher than the demand for the gasoline version. The gasoline units fell short of 2000 units, but the diesel units exceeded the 5000 unit sales threshold.
| Powertrain | January 2023 | January 2024 |
| Petrol | 23.8 % | 27.6 % |
| Diesel | 76.2 % | 72.4 % |
However, compared to January 2024, the sales percentage of its gasoline variations did experience an increase of almost four percent.
It is evident from these sales statistics for well-known Mahindra models that Mahindra buyers favor purchasing diesel-powered vehicles. Therefore, it appears Mahindra’s diesel lineup is here to stay, despite the ongoing price increases for the diesel engines that will soon be required to comply with even higher pollution requirements. Which would you rather use: electric, gasoline, or diesel? Tell us in the comments below.
News & Top StoriesJanuary 2024: These Compact and Midsize Hatchbacks Were the Most Desired Models.
Though SUVs may have become more popular among today’s younger car buyers, tiny and midsize hatchbacks are still a common option. As usual, Maruti hatchbacks topped the sales table in January as well, with a few quirky variants from Tata and Hyundai rounding out the top spot. This is the comprehensive sales data for January 2024 for hatchbacks, including compact and midsize:
Models | January 2024 | January 2023 | December 2023 |
Maruti Wagon R | 17,756 | 20,466 | 8,578 |
Maruti Swift | 15,370 | 16,440 | 11,843 |
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios | 6,865 | 8,760 | 5,247 |
Tata Tiago | 6,482 | 9,032 | 4,852 |
Maruti Celerio | 4,406 | 3,418 | 247 |
Maruti Ignis | 2,598 | 5,842 | 392 |
Takeaways
- In January 2024, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R surpassed all other tiny and midsize hatchbacks in sales, with a month-over-month (MoM) rise of more than 100%.
- After the Wagon R, the Maruti Swift was the only other hatchback to sell over 10,000 units overall, having sold over 15,000.
- With almost 7,000 sales, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, the second-best-selling hatchback on the list, came in third. Although its MoM figure increased by 31%, its YoY number decreased by 22%.
- The Tata Tiago was the last model to sell more than 5,000 vehicles overall when it was shipped in January 2024, having sold nearly 6,500 units. The Tata Tiago EV’s sales are included in these figures.
- With more than 4,400 units shipped, the Maruti Celerio climbed to the fifth position on the leaderboard and experienced good YoY and MoM sales growth.
- The Maruti Ignis experienced a 50% decrease in monthly sales despite a significant YoY increase in sales data. In January 2024, its total sales number just about made it above 2,500 units.
News & Top StoriesThe Wait Time To Purchase A Subcompact SUV This February Is As follows
twoThere are long wait times in the subcompact SUV market, especially since the facelifts of the Kia Sonet and Tata Nexon were recently introduced. Longer waiting times are being experienced for popular subcompact SUVs from Hyundai, Kia, and Tata, among the eight models on the list. The waiting times for each model in India’s top 20 cities are listed here.
Waiting Period Table
| City | Tata Nexon | Maruti Brezza | Hyundai Venue / Hyundai Venue N Line | Kia Sonet | Mahindra XUV300 | Nissan Magnite | Renault Kiger |
| New Delhi | 1 month | 2-3 months | 2.5-3 months / 2-2.5 months | 2 months | 3 months | 1 month | 1 month |
| Bengaluru | 2-3 months | 3 months | 3 months | 2 months | 2-4 months | 1 month | 1 month |
| Mumbai | 3 months | 2-3 months | 2-3 months / 2.5-3.5 months | 3 months | 2-4 months | 1 month | 1 month |
| Hyderabad | 2 months | 2-3 months | 3 months | 1-2 months | 3.5-5 months | 2 weeks | 1 month |
| Pune | 2-3 months | 3-4 months | 3-3.5 months / 3 months | 2 months | 2-4 months | 1 month | No waiting |
| Chennai | 2 months | 3-4 months | 3 months / 2.5-3.5 months | 2 months | 2.5-3.5 months | 2-3 weeks | 1 week |
| Jaipur | 1.5 months | 2-3 months | 3-3.5 months / 3-5 months | 1-2 months | 3-4 months | 2 weeks | 2 weeks |
| Ahmedabad | 2 months | 2-3 months | 2 months | 1-2 months | 2-4 months | 1 month | 2-3 weeks |
| Gurugram | 1-1.5 months | 3-4 months | 2-3 months / 3 months | 1 month | 2-4 months | 1 month | 1-2 weeks |
| Lucknow | 2 months | 2-3 months | 3 months | 2-3 months | 3 months | 1 month | 2 weeks |
| Kolkata | 3 months | 3-4 months | 2.5-3.5 months / 2-2.5 months | 2-2.5 months | 3.5-5 months | 1 month | 1 month |
| Thane | 2 months | 2-3 months | 2 months | 2 months | months | 1 month | 1-2 weeks |
| Surat | 1.5-2 months | 3 months | 2 months | two months | 2-4 months | 1 month | 1 week |
| Ghaziabad | 2-3 months | 3 months | 3 months | 1 month | 2-4 months | 1 month | 2-3 weeks |
| Chandigarh | 3 months | 2-3 months | 2.5-3.5 months / 2-2.5 months | two months | 2-4 months | 1 week | 1 month |
| Coimbatore | 2 months | 3 months | 3 months | 2 months | 1-3 months | No waiting | 1 month |
| Patna | 1.5 months | 2.5-3 months | 3 months | 2 months | 2-4 months | 1 month | No waiting |
| Faridabad | 2-3 months | 3 months | 3 months | 1-2 months | 3.5-5 months | 1 month | 1 month |
| Indore | 3 months | 2-3 months | 3 months | 1-2 months | 3 months | 2-3 weeks | 3-4 weeks |
| Noida | 2 months | 2-3 months | 2.5-3.5 months / 2-2.5 months | 1-2 months | 2-4 months | 2-3 weeks | No waiting |
Key Takeaways
- As of February, waiting times for the Tata Nexon could take up to two months on average. However, consumers may have to wait up to three months to receive the Nexon in places like Bengaluru, Pune, and Kolkata subcompact SUVs.
- Three months is the typical wait period for the Maruti Brezza. The subcompact SUV from Maruti is in high demand in Pune, Chennai, Gurugram, and Kolkata, with wait times of up to four months.
- In most cities, the usual wait period for the Hyundai Venue and Venue N Line is up to three months. Within two months, customers in Ahmedabad, Thane, and Surat can accept the delivery of the venue Subcompact SUV.
- There is now an average waiting period of up to two months for the Kia Sonet, which was given a midlife upgrade in January 2024. However, supplies to consumers in Lucknow and Kolkata may be delayed by more than two months.
- As of right now, the Mahindra XUV300 has the longest waiting period—up to five months. Clients in Faridabad, Hyderabad, and Kolkata may have delays of up to five months. Within three months, the SUV might be delivered while in Coimbatore.
Here, the most accessible subcompact SUVs are the Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger, with a maximum waiting period of just one month. While inhabitants of Pune, Patna, and Noida need not wait for the delivery of the Renault Kiger, the Magnite is easily available for delivery in Coimbatore.
News & Top StoriesThe Mahindra XUV700 could soon get a base-spec petrol automatic variant.
- The Mahindra XUV700 comes in five different models: MX, AX3, AX5, AX7, and AX7L.
- The 6-speed AT unit will be standard on the base-spec MX petrol, with higher trim levels receiving it.
- Its new automatic variant will use a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.
- The premium over the corresponding manual variant will be approximately Rs 1.6 lakh.
- The base MX variant includes an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a four-speaker sound system, and dual front airbags.
The Mahindra XUV700 may soon get a more affordable petrol-automatic variant, according to an online document from the Transport Department, Government of the NCT of Delhi, which suggests that its base-spec MX petrol trim will be available with an automatic transmission.
Powertrain Details
engine image
As of now, the XUV700’s automatic variants begin with the one-above-base AX3 variant. Offering an automatic transmission with the base model will make the two-pedal setup more affordable. This automatic transmission, most likely a 6-speed torque converter, will be available with the 2-litre turbo-petrol engine (200 PS/380 Nm), but not the 2.2-litre diesel engine.
Base-spec Features
The MX variant of the XUV700 comes with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto, a height-adjustable driver seat, a type-C charging port for the rear seats, and a four-speaker audio system.
Safety features include dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.
Expected Price
The Mahindra XUV700’s base-spec MX petrol-manual variant costs Rs 13.99 lakh (ex-showroom), while the automatic variant is expected to cost around Rs 1.6 lakh more. The XUV700’s prices range from Rs 13.99 lakh to Rs 26.99 lakh (ex-showroom), and it competes with the Hyundai Alcazar, MG Hector Plus, Tata Safari, and its 5-seater variants against the Hyundai Creta, MG Hector, and Tata Harrier.