The diesel variants of MG Hector and MG Hector Plus have received the highest price cuts of up to Rs 1.37 lakh
Prices of MG Hector have been reduced by up to Rs 1.21 lakh.
It is now priced from Rs 14.73 lakh to Rs 21.73 lakh.
Hector Plus, on the other hand, has seen a price reduction of up to Rs 1.37 lakh.
MG retails it from Rs 17.50 lakh to Rs 22.43 lakh.
All prices are ex-showroom Delhi
The MG Hector and MG Hector Plus have recently received significant price cuts, making them more affordable by up to Rs 1.37 lakh. The diesel models have received the most significant reductions in price. Here’s a breakdown of the revised prices for each variant of these SUVs.
Hector Petrol
Variant
Old Prices
New Prices
Difference
Style
Rs 15 lakh
Rs 14.73 lakh
(- Rs 27,000)
Shine MT
Rs 16.34 lakh
Rs 15.99 lakh
(- Rs 35,000)
Shine CVT
Rs 17.54 lakh
Rs 17.19 lakh
(- Rs 35,000)
Smart MT
Rs 17.16 lakh
Rs 16.80 lakh
(- Rs 36,000)
Smart CVT
Rs 18.35 lakh
Rs 17.99 lakh
(- Rs 36,000)
Smart Pro MT
Rs 18.65 lakh
Rs 17.99 lakh
(- Rs 66,000)
Sharp Pro MT
Rs 20.11 lakh
Rs 19.45 lakh
(- Rs 66,000)
Sharp Pro CVT
Rs 21.44 lakh
Rs 20.78 lakh
(- Rs 66,000)
Savvy Pro CVT
Rs 22.39 lakh
Rs 21.73 lakh
(- Rs 66,000)
Hector Diesel
Variant
Old Prices
New Prices
Difference
Shine MT
Rs 18.85 lakh
Rs 17.99 lakh
(- Rs 86,000)
Smart MT
Rs 19.94 lakh
Rs 19 lakh
(- Rs 94,000)
Smart Pro
Rs 21.29 lakh
Rs 20 lakh
(- Rs 1.29 lakh)
Sharp Pro
Rs 22.72 lakh
Rs 21.51 lakh
(- Rs 1.21 lakh)
The base-spec Hector petrol variant has the least price reduction of Rs 27,000, while the mid-spec Shine and Sharp variants see price cuts of up to Rs 36,000.
The more loaded Smart Pro, Sharp Pro, and Savvy Pro variants of the Hector petrol have become affordable by up to Rs 66,000.
Hector Plus Petrol
Variant
Old Prices
New Prices
Difference
Smart 7S MT
Rs 18 lakh
Rs 17.50 lakh
(- Rs 50,000)
Sharp Pro 6S MT
Rs 20.81 lakh
Rs 20.15 lakh
(- Rs 66,000)
Sharp Pro 7S MT
Rs 20.96 lakh
Rs 20.15 lakh
(- Rs 81,000)
Sharp Pro 6S CVT
Rs 22.14 lakh
Rs 21.48 lakh
(- Rs 66,000)
Sharp Pro 7S CVT
Rs 22.29 lakh
Rs 21.48 lakh
(- Rs 81,000)
Savvy Pro 7S CVT
Rs 23.24 lakh
Rs 22.43 lakh
(- Rs 81,000)
Hector Plus Diesel
Variant
Old Prices
New Prices
Difference
Smart 7S MT
Rs 20.80 lakh
Rs 19.76 lakh
(- Rs 1.04 lakh)
Smart Pro 6S MT
Rs 22 lakh
Rs 20.80 lakh
(- Rs 1.2 lakh)
Sharp Pro 6S MT
Rs 23.43 lakh
Rs 22.21 lakh
(- Rs 1.22 lakh)
Sharp Pro 7S MT
Rs 23.58 lakh
Rs 22.21 lakh
(- Rs 1.37 lakh)’
The price of the Hector Plus petrol has been reduced by up to Rs 81,000.
All diesel models of the Hector Plus have received price cuts of over Rs 1 lakh, with the top-spec Sharp Pro 7-seater diesel variant receiving the highest price reduction of Rs 1.37 lakh.
Both SUVs are offered with two engine options: a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (143PS/250Nm) paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT, and a 2-litre diesel engine (170PS/350Nm) mated to a 6-speed manual transmission only.
Rivals
MG Hector competes with the Tata Harrier, 5-seater variants of the Mahindra XUV700, and Jeep Compass, while the Hector Plus takes on the Tata Safari, 7-seater variants of the Mahindra XUV700, and Hyundai Alcazar.
The 2023 Tata Nexon has been launched with some improvements, including better fuel efficiency compared to its previous version. The updated subcompact SUV is available with both petrol and diesel engine options and offers four transmission options.
The petrol engine is a 1.2-litre turbo unit with a power output of 120PS, while the diesel engine is a 1.5-litre unit that produces 115PS. The transmission options include a 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 6-speed AMT, and a 7-speed DCT.
In terms of features, the 2023 Tata Nexon comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, ventilated front seats, and a 360-degree camera. The prices for the new Nexon range from Rs 8.10 lakh to Rs 15.50 lakh (introductory, ex-showroom).
When it comes to fuel efficiency, the petrol engine of the 2023 Nexon offers slightly better mileage compared to the pre-facelift version. However, there is negligible difference in fuel efficiency for the diesel engine.
In terms of safety, the new Nexon is equipped with six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, hill hold assist, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and a 360-degree camera with a blind view monitor.
The 2023 Tata Nexon competes with other subcompact SUVs like the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Maruti Brezza, and Mahindra XUV300. The prices for the Nexon start from Rs 8.10 lakh and go up to Rs 15.50 lakh (introductory, ex-showroom).
Overall, the 2023 Tata Nexon offers improved fuel efficiency, updated features, and a competitive price range in the subcompact SUV segment.
The United Kingdom is considering a delay in implementing the ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars, with a possible shift to the year 2035. This would extend the original target of 2030 for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as reported by the BBC.
The 2030 target was introduced in November 2020 as part of then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plan for a “green revolution.” However, despite reassurances from senior minister Michael Gove as recently as July, the British government is now contemplating a departure from this ambitious timeline.
During Climate Week NYC, Volvo announced its decision to cease the production of diesel vehicles by early 2024. This move indicates the rapid changes occurring in both the automotive industry and consumer demand in response to the climate crisis.
In the past, diesel-powered cars made up the majority of Volvo’s sales in Europe, as was the case for many other car manufacturers up until 2019. Electric vehicles had a minimal market share at that time. However, the situation has now completely shifted. Currently, most of Volvo’s vehicles either utilize fully electric technology or employ a plug-in electric hybrid powertrain.
The Tata Nexon offers the most powertrain and transmission options in its segment and even has a diesel automatic variant
The prices for the Tata Nexon facelift have been revealed, starting from Rs 8.10 lakh (introductory ex-showroom). This updated version of the Nexon comes with significant improvements, making it a strong contender in the subcompact SUV segment with premium features and enhanced safety.
Let’s compare the prices of the Nexon with its main rivals.
Petrol-MT
Nexon
Venue
Sonet
Brezza
XUV300
Smart (5MT) – Rs 8.10 lakh
E MT – Rs 7.77 lakh
HTE – Rs 7.79 lakh
LXI – Rs 8.29 lakh
W2 – Rs 7.99 lakh
Smart+ (5MT) – Rs 9.10 lakh
S – Rs 8.94 lakh
HTK – Rs 8.70 lakh
W4 – Rs 8.67 lakh
Smart+ S (5MT) – Rs 9.70 lakh
W4 TGDi – Rs 9.31 lakh
Pure – Rs 9.70 lakh
S (O) – Rs 9.76 lakh
HTK Plus – Rs 9.64 lakh
VXI – Rs 9.64 lakh
W6 – Rs 10 lakh
Pure S – Rs 10.20 lakh
HTK Plus Turbo iMT – Rs 10.49 lakh
W6 TGDi – Rs 10.51 lakh
Creative – Rs 11 lakh
SX – Rs 10.93 lakh
ZXI – Rs 11.04 lakh
Creative+ – Rs 11.70 lakh
HTX Turbo iMT – Rs 11.45 lakh
W8 – Rs 11.51 lakh
Creative+ S – Rs 12.20 lakh
W8 TGDi – Rs 12.01 lakh
Fearless (PR) – Rs 12.50 lakh
SX (O) MT – Rs 12.44 lakh
HTX Plus Turbo iMT – Rs 12.75 lakh
ZXI Plus – Rs 12.48 lakh
W8 (O) – Rs 12.61 lakh
Fearless S (PR)/ Fearless +(PR) – Rs 13 lakh
GTX Plus Turbo iMT – Rs 13.09 lakh
W8 (O) TGDi – Rs 13.01 lakh
Fearless + S(PR) – Rs 13.50 lakh
The Hyundai Venue has the lowest starting price, while the Maruti Brezza’s entry-level variant is the most expensive.
The top-end petrol-manual variant of the Nexon is pricier than its rivals in the subcompact SUV market.
The Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, and Mahindra XUV300 offer a turbo-petrol engine, with the XUV300 having the highest power output of 130PS.
Maruti Brezza is the only model in this comparison that offers a 1.5-litre engine and the option of a CNG variant with a manual transmission.
The Nexon and XUV300 have the most variety in terms of variant choices within a Rs 12 lakh budget (on-road).
The Nexon’s lower variants come with a 5-speed manual gearbox, while the higher variants have a 6-speed transmission.
The Kia Sonet is the only model in this segment that offers the unique combination of a turbo-iMT (manual transmission without clutch pedal).
The Nexon is the only model in its class with two automatic transmission options. The higher variants come with a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), while the lower variants feature an automated manual transmission (AMT).
Hyundai and Kia offer the turbo-petrol engine with a DCT automatic transmission, while Maruti provides a 6-speed torque converter automatic option.
The Nexon offers nine automatic variants, while its competitors have a maximum of 2-3 automatic variants.
The XUV300 has the most affordable automatic variant, while the Sonet offers the most expensive entry-level automatic option.
Diesel-MT
Nexon
Venue
Sonet (iMT)
XUV300
Pure – Rs 11 lakh
S Plus – Rs 10.46 lakh
HTE – Rs 9.95 lakh
W4 – Rs 10.21 lakh
Pure S – Rs 11.50 lakh
HTK – Rs 10.69 lakh
W6 – Rs 11.01 lakh
Creative – Rs 12.40 lakh
SX – Rs 12.20 lakh
HTX – Rs 12.25 lakh
Creative+ – Rs 13.10 lakh
SX (O) – Rs 13.19 lakh
W8 – Rs 13.01 lakh
Creative+ S – Rs 13.60 lakh
HTX Plus – Rs 13.55 lakh
W8 (O) – Rs 13.93 lakh
Fearless (PR) – Rs 13.90 lakh
GTX Plus – Rs 13.89 lakh
Fearless S (PR)/ Fearless + (PR) – Rs 14.40 lakh
The Brezza does not offer a diesel engine, but the Nexon and other competitors still have the option for a diesel-manual transmission.
The Sonet is the most affordable diesel subcompact SUV, followed by the XUV300 and Venue. The Sonet only offers the intelligent manual transmission (iMT) as standard and does not have a manual transmission option.
All models feature a 1.5-litre diesel engine with similar power and torque specifications.
Diesel-AT
Nexon
Sonet
XUV300
W6 AMT – Rs 12.31 lakh
HTX AT – Rs 13.05 lakh
W8 (O) AMT – Rs 14.61 lakh
The Venue does not offer a diesel-automatic transmission, leaving the Nexon, Sonet, and XUV300 as the only options in this category.
The XUV300 W6 is the most affordable diesel-automatic option, while the Nexon Fearless+ S is the most expensive surpassing the Rs 15 lakh mark.
The Sonet comes with intelligent manual transmission (iMT), while the Nexon and XUV300 have an automated manual transmission (AMT).
The Tata Nexon is now one of the more expensive subcompact SUVs. It comes loaded with premium features such as a large 10.25-inch touchscreen, a digital driver’s display, a 360-degree camera, six airbags as standard, and a JBL sound system. The Nexon now offers features that are on par with its rivals, which is a positive development for Tata. However, the Venue has the advantage of offering advanced driving assistance systems, along with features like a power-adjustable driver’s seat and ambient lighting.
What do you think of the prices of the Tata Nexon facelift? Which sub-4m SUV are you planning to buy? Let us know in the comments below.
In today’s world, we are accustomed to seeing cars powered by traditional fuels like petrol and diesel, as well as electric vehicles. However, hydrogen cars, also known as hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), are emerging as a potential option for the future.
This guide aims to provide you with all the necessary information about hydrogen cars, including their advantages and disadvantages, along with insights into their future prospects.
What is a Hydrogen Car?
A hydrogen car is a type of vehicle that uses hydrogen fuel as its power source. The hydrogen is stored in a tank at high pressure (700 bar) and is used to generate high-voltage electricity, which is then stored in a small buffer battery for acceleration purposes.
These cars utilize a fuel cell stack, where hydrogen and oxygen react to produce electricity, which is then sent to an electric motor, providing power to the vehicle. One significant advantage of hydrogen cars is that they emit zero tailpipe emissions, making them a much cleaner option for drivers.
Currently Available Hydrogen Cars
At present, there are only two hydrogen cars available for sale in the UK. However, several car manufacturers have plans to introduce hydrogen-powered vehicles in the future. Back in 1998, Mercedes-Benz launched the first road-legal FCEV called the Necar, based on the A-Class model.
Toyota Mirai
The Toyota Mirai was first introduced in 2015 and has sold 10,000 units since then. The second-generation model was launched in 2021. The latest Mirai features a fuel stack capable of storing 5.6kg of hydrogen, providing a WLTP range of up to 400 miles.
Despite its larger size and weight compared to the previous generation, the Mirai can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 8.7 seconds and reach 100mph in 25.5 seconds. It has a powertrain that delivers 180bhp and 221lb ft of torque.
However, the Mirai comes with a hefty price tag of £64,995, and ordering directly from Toyota is currently not possible.
Hyundai Nexo
Hyundai has been involved in the development of fuel cell technology since the 1990s, and the Nexo is their first production hydrogen car. Priced similarly to the Mirai at £65,995, the Hyundai Nexo has a powertrain that delivers 161bhp and 291lb ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.6 seconds.
The Nexo can store up to 6.33kg of hydrogen, which powers a 1.56kWh battery. It offers a range of approximately 380 miles and has been praised for its driving dynamics and smoothness on the road. However, like the Toyota Mirai, the Hyundai Nexo is not currently available for order.
In the automotive world, diesel is not an uncommon fuel. Many car manufacturers still produce diesel cars, pickups and trucks, so why has diesel power for motorcycles never taken off? Why have the likes of BMW not ripped the diesel motorcycle market wide open? Diesel engines are fantastically economical, produce massive torque, are simple to maintain, and are generally very reliable.
On the downside, a diesel engine can be quite heavy and environmentally unfriendly, but is that enough to explain why there have been so few diesel-engined motorcycles in history, when you consider all the positives? To celebrate these manufacturers which dared to be different, here is our list of the top diesel-powered motorcycles.
Pulling data directly from manufacturers, historical archives, reputable news organizations and other reliable sources, we’ve put together a list of the best diesel motorcycles ever created.
Updated September 2023: It’s not too often that we get a diesel powered motorcycle, nowadays. But they do appear from time to time, as well as new information unearthed about older models. To keep our readers up to speed on these developments, this article will be updated from time to time.
It looks like a classic 60s British bike, but the German Sommer 462 is actually available to buy brand-new. Sommer has been building these motorcycles since the early 2000s and if it looks very much like a Royal Enfield, then that is no illusion as the inspiration for the model came from the Royal Enfield diesel model of the late 1990s. When Royal Enfield pulled out of the diesel market due to poor sales, Sommer took up the reins, sourced a 462cc single cylinder diesel engine, installed it into a Royal Enfield frame, and used other RE components.
The engine might only produce 11 horsepower and the top speed is a slightly pedestrian 65mph, but it will do 300 miles on a very tiny tank of diesel! There are four gears in the transmission and the final drive is via belt. The Sommer 462 is handmade in Germany and that pushes the price up to around $13,000, but what you lose in performance, you’ll gain at the pump.
Model Highlights
Classic British bike looks
Modern construction and capabilities
11 hp, 65 mph and 300-mile range.
2Hero Motorcorp RNT
There seems to be a rule among major manufacturers that any new motorcycle concept has to be as ugly as possible and no one has ever really explained why this should be! Surely you would want to generate as much interest as possible and, while challenging looks might get the bike noticed, it likely as won’t help it sell! Hero Motorcorp is one of the largest producers of motorcycles in the world and the RNT is much more than simply a diesel-powered scooter.
It’s actually a diesel hybrid as it not only comes with a 150cc single-cylinder diesel engine that produces 13.5 horsepower and 26 pound-feet of torque, but also features a 1.3 horsepower electric motor in the front hub, making this a two-wheel-drive scooter. If you can get past the looks, it appears to be rugged and versatile with various luggage-carrying options. The engine can also be used as a generator to provide electricity if you are out in the wild which, of course, you would be on a scooter! There’s no word on whether it will ever make it to production, but if it did, it would be one of the more interesting motorcycles on the road.
Model Highlights
Diesel hybrid, with 150cc single-cylinder engine with 1.3 hp electric front hub motor
The Track T800CDI is proof that innovation doesn’t have to equate to ugly or outlandish design, looking for all the world like an adventure bike – a cross between Yamaha and BMW, we’d say – it has a whole dose of real-world practicality, despite its advanced specification. It uses the turbocharged three-cylinder, 800cc engine from the Smart Car, producing 45 horsepower and 78 pound-feet of torque.
Acceleration – not usually a diesel engine’s forté – is brisk at four seconds for 0-60mph and this is accompanied by an excellent 140 miles per gallon gas mileage. Tall suspension, steel trellis frame, and Brembo brakes are all the right ingredients, but none of those features amounted to a successful seller. The company started selling motorcycles in 2009 and reportedly sold 50 examples before stopping production in 2012, presumably so the company could concentrate on developing new models, perhaps in the electric field. A lost opportunity, we’d have to say.
Model Highlights
Turbocharged three-cylinder 800cc engine
45 hp and 78 ft-lb of torque
140 miles to the gallon range
4Royal Enfield Taurus
Very likely the most famous diesel motorcycle ever produced, and almost certainly the only such bike produced by a major manufacturer. RE produced its own 325cc diesel engine for the bike, which used standard Bullet chassis and running gear. However, despite diesel engine’s reputation for good torque characteristics, it could only muster a weak 6.5 horsepower and 11 pound-feet of torque. That isn’t much to push forward a 432-pound all-in weight.
Despite those flaws, it was able to record up to 200 miles per gallon, even if it would take you all day to do those 200 miles. Top speed for the RE was 40mph. It vibrated badly, but it was rugged, simple, and reliable. The inevitable death knell eventually sounded though, when the Taurus failed to meet India’s emissions regulations. With its luck run down, the Taurus was discontinued in 2000. A brave attempt to do something different and not likely to be repeated.
Is there anything the venerable Kawasaki KLR can’t do? Apparently not, because it is still popular and going strong, despite having little to no significant changes done to it over the many years it’s been in production. But one of the weirder feathers in its cap, was that it became the basis for one of the toughest and most successful diesel machines ever made. A military bike.
Using diesel power for a motorcycle makes sense when talking about military applications. All the usual benefits are there – economy and reliability – combined with, in the case of the Hayes M1030, the ability to run on a variety of fuels – truck diesel, biodiesel, gasoline and even jet fuel. And such adaptability is ideal for a military vehicle, given that you never know what fuel might be available at any one time in the field. The 670cc liquid-cooled engine will propel the bike to 90mph, while returning 96 miles per gallon. The US Marine Corps bought over 400, and they are also used by the British and other NATO forces as well. A civilian model was planned, but the number of military orders prevented that idea from going any further.
Model Highlights
Based on the Kawasaki KLR
Economic and reliable
Able to run on variety of fuels
6Neander Turbo Diesel
Let’s say money is no object, and you want something different in your garage? Well, the Neander Turbo Diesel might just fit the bill. Produced by Neander Motors, known primarily for manufacturing diesel boat engines, this bike was full of extremes. It had a turbocharged parallel twin, 1,340-cc engine, which generated 112 horsepower and 144 ft-lb of torque. As impressive as that was, it paid dearly for it with weight, which was a rather porky 650 pounds. And because of that, it could only record around 50 miles per gallon.
It was designed as a muscle cruiser, and was considered a premium, going for a low, low price of $133,000! At that level, you’d have to do a lot of mileage to make your money back, but maybe that’s missing the point entirely of this one of a kind machine.
Some of the claimed figures were also quite high, as it was slated to do about 140mph, achieving 95 miles per gallon along the way. But the economy wasn’t what the makers had in mind, as this was designed to be a powerful and fast bike. Unfortunately, that dream was ultimately left unfulfilled as it never went into production.
Premium features like Brembo brakes, carbon wheels and high-end suspension
Claimed 140 mph top speed
8Sidney Diesel
The Sidney Diesel of 1950 could very well be the first diesel-powered motorcycle. The brainchild of one Arthur Sidney, he designed his own single-cylinder diesel engine which produced 14 hp, although the top speed was a meager 35mph. As the contemporary BMW R68 would top 100 miles per hour on 35 hp, the Sidney Diesel was very slow and there is no record of what kind of gas mileage it got, although it was surely impressive for the day. However, the gas price wasn’t an issue in the early 50s, maybe the Sidney Diesel was a bike before its time.
Model Highlights
First diesel-powered motorcycle
Single-cylinder diesel engine produced 14 hp
Top speed of only 35 mph
9Boccardo Aero
The Boccardo Aero was the brainchild of Louis Boccardo, who used both petrol and diesel engines from the Citroen AX back in 1987. Only five were ever built: two with petrol engines producing 97 horsepower and three with diesel engines, producing 59 horsepower, all using shaft final drive. As with many small-production motorcycles, styling was not the Aero’s strong point, though there’s definitely something familiar and 80s about its looks. The diesel engine produced sufficient torque to make the fitting of a sidecar a logical development. However, it never got past the limited run stage, and like so many other diesel bikes, it was never mass-produced.
Model Highlights
Limited run of only 5 units, 3 of which were diesel powered
59 hp with shaft final drive
10Sooraj 325
Another Indian diesel-powered motorcycle, the Sooraj Sunbeamer was manufactured between 1990 and 2010. It was not the most attractive bike ever designed, the 325cc single-cylinder diesel engine was serviced by a 20-liter tank which would give the bike an approximate 400-mile range. But judging by its longevity and twenty year production life, and perhaps despite its vintage, if not pedestrian, looks, it must have had its own share of fans.
Model Highlights
Long production run of twenty years
400-mile range
Inexpensive, popular commuter, despite its utilitarian nature
FAQ
Q: Why are there no diesel motorcycles?
Diesel engines tend to be slow revving, noisy and heavy, with a lot of vibration, making them unsuitable for motorcycle installation, where light weight is seen as being of paramount importance.
Q: Does Kawasaki make a diesel motorcycle?
No, there is currently no major motorcycle manufacturer producing diesel production motorcycles.
Q: Is Royal Enfield a diesel?
Royal Enfield did produce a diesel-engined motorcycle in the 1990s, but production had to stop in 2000 when it couldn’t meet emissions regulations.
Q: Are there any diesel motorbikes?
There are, but they are produced in tiny numbers by specialist companies and tend to cost a lot of money.
The world’s largest reciprocating diesel engine is manufactured by Wärtsilä Corporation, a Finland-based company, and it is specifically designed to power colossal cargo ships.
With a height of almost 43 feet and a length of 85 feet, the RT-flex96C is a 14-cylinder giant that weighs a staggering 2,300 tons. The crankshaft on its own weighs 300 tons, and each piston, towering at nearly 20 feet, weighs over five tons. To put its immense size into perspective, the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles stands at 45 feet tall, while the typical blue whale measures 80 to 90 feet in length. Interestingly, even 13 blue whales combined weigh less than this engine, at about 2,000 tons.
The RT-flex96C has a displacement of nearly 25,500 liters, which is equivalent to approximately 3,187 Bugatti Chiron engines. It generates an impressive 108,920 horsepower at 102 revolutions per minute (rpm) and produces a massive torque of 5.6 million pound-feet. This engine consumes 250 tons of fuel per day and utilizes over 39 barrels of oil per hour. Its cost per minute is $34, but this can vary based on the daily price of oil.
Ships powered by the RT-flex96C engine can transport 11,000 20-foot long shipping containers at a speedy pace of 25 to 31 knots, whereas most cargo ships typically cruise at around 20 knots. As a result, these ships can reach destinations such as China from the United States four days faster. As of April 2023, there were only 25 RT-flex96C engines in existence, and an additional 86 engines were under construction by Wärtsilä.
As diesel options continue to shrink, Hyundai’s SUV lineup carries on to offer the choice as per customer needs
Hyundai India COO, Tarun Garg, has confirmed that the carmaker’s diesel cars will continue to be sold.
Venue’s sales comprise 21 percent diesel buyers, while the same for Creta is 42 percent.
Majority of the Alcazar and Tucson buyers prefer going for the diesel variants.
The Venue, Creta, and Alcazar use the same 1.5-litre diesel engine, while the Tucson gets a 2-litre unit.
Hyundai plans to launch more diesel cars in the future, alongside EVs.
With emission norms getting stricter, car manufacturers are slowly shying away from diesel engines in their lineups. However, Hyundai stays adamant on offering a diesel option for its larger offerings, i.e., the SUVs, since it still sees a strong demand for the same.
In a recent report, Tarun Garg, COO of Hyundai India, revealed the petrol and diesel sales split between the models that still offer the latter – Venue, Creta, Alcazar, and Tucson.
Model
Diesel Sales
Petrol Sales
Hyundai Venue
21 percent
79 percent
Hyundai Creta
42 percent
58 percent
Hyundai Alcazar
66 percent
34 percent
Hyundai Tucson
61 percent
39 percent
This shows that the presence of a diesel engine is still appreciated in bigger SUVs. The strong initial torque and the extra fuel efficiency of a diesel car appeals to the buyers who frequently undertake long-distance journeys and tend to go off-roading with their SUVs.
It is also worth noting that the SUVs with a diesel-oriented buyer are not the volume drivers for Hyundai. Even with this rate of demand, diesel models only account for around 20 percent of the brand’s sales according to the same report.
In the case of the Hyundai Venue, there’s the Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, and Mahindra XUV300 that also offer the choice of a diesel motor in the subcompact SUV segment. But the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos (essentially the same cars under the skin) have the monopoly of a diesel option in the compact SUV space.
For even bigger SUVs like the Hyundai Alcazar and Hyundai Tucson, the majority of the demand is for the diesel variants. The report further states that the waiting period for diesel variants is higher than that of petrol ones, revealing the strong demand for the former.
Hyundai Diesel Engines
Models
Venue, Creta, and Alcazar
Tucson
Engine
1.5-litre diesel
2-litre diesel
Power
115PS
186PS
Torque
250Nm
416Nm
While the Venue only gets a diesel-manual combination, the Creta and Alcazar get the choice of an automatic as well. Since Hyundai uses the same engine for the three models, it can keep them updated with more ease.
While Hyundai has had to discontinue the diesel option in its smaller offerings like the Grand i10 Nios and i20 hatchbacks, the Korean carmaker further plans to add more diesel cars and will keep updating its existing lineup with the option of the same. At the same time, the brand is also committed to bringing cleaner models and EVs to India with big investments for local manufacturing, and developing charging infrastructure as well.
Land Rover is leading the way in the UK when it comes to premium diesel car sales. In fact, more than half of all diesel cars sold in the UK are from premium brands. This comes as volume brands are shifting their focus towards electrification and reducing their diesel offerings.
Among the top four premium brands – Audi, BMW, Land Rover, and Mercedes-Benz – they accounted for 56% of all diesel car sales in the UK during the first half of 2023. This is happening amidst a general decline in the popularity of diesel fuel.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), diesel sales in the UK dropped by 11% to 86,469 units by the end of July. This represents a new record low, with diesel cars making up only 7.9% of total car sales.
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