After its 5-star performance in Global NCAP last year, the compact SUV has done the same in the stricter Latin NCAP
The Volkswagen Taigun is the safest compact SUV in India right now with its 5-star Global NCAP safety rating. Following its impressive performance, it has just been crash tested in the more strict Latin NCAP, where it also scored a 5-star safety rating. Let’s see how it performed:
Safety Equipment
The Taigun that was crash tested was equipped with six airbags and electronic stability control (ESC) as standard. The crash-tested unit also had optional autonomous emergency braking, which is not offered on the India-spec model. The made-in-India Taigun gets other safety features like ISOFIX child seat anchors, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and a rearview camera.
In adult occupant protection, the SUV scored 92 percent (39.99 points), which includes the overall scores of both frontal and side-impact tests. This test came with a 5-star adult occupant protection rating.
Frontal Impact
In the frontal impact, the driver and passenger got ‘good’ protection on the head and neck. Chest protection was ‘good’ for the passenger and ‘marginal’ for the driver. Knee and tibia protection for both was ‘good’ and both of the driver’s feet also got ‘good’ protection.
Side Impact
In the side impact test, the driver gets ‘good’ protection on the head, chest, abdomen and pelvis.
Side Pole Impact
Just like in the side impact test, the driver gets ‘good’ protection on the head, abdomen and pelvis, but protection on the chest was ‘marginal.’
Child Occupant Protection
In child occupant protection, the Taigun got 92 percent (45 points). Here is how it performed:
Frontal Impact
In the frontal impact test, the child seats for both the 3-year-old and 18-month-old were installed facing the rear. In both cases, they were able to prevent head exposure and offered ‘good’ protection. For the younger child, the seat provided full protection.
Side Impact
In this test, both the child restraint systems (CRS) offered full protection. The Taigun has ISOFIX anchorages as standard and also has all the necessary markings. All seats are also equipped with three-point seatbelts.
The Volkswagen SUV scored 55 percent (26.47 points) in this aspect. Here, in most parameters, the Taigun got ‘good’, ‘marginal’ and ‘adequate’ protection. While protection on the lower leg was ‘good’, the upper leg protection was ‘weak’, which might be the reason for its low score.
Safety Assist
The Latin NCAP also tests the safety assist features of a car and the Taigun scored 83 percent (35.81 points). The SUV comes with seatbelt reminders for all passengers and electronic stability control (ESC) as standard. Although the Taigun does not get a full suite of ADAS features, the crash-tested model had autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as optional, thus meeting Latin NCAPs requirements.
Taigun In India
The India-spec Volkswagen Taigun comes with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC) and tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) as standard. Depending on the upcoming regulations, it could also be updated to offer six airbags as standard. It is currently priced between Rs 11.62 lakh and Rs 19.46 lakh (ex-showroom).
In a recent social media announcement, Toyota hinted at the return of the Land Cruiser to the US market. Now, the automaker has released teaser images of an unnamed mid-size, off-road SUV. Although Toyota has not officially confirmed that these images depict the upcoming Land Cruiser, the mention of 65 years of off-road history suggests that it could be the case. Considering that the iconic FJ40 was introduced in 1960, it is likely that the new Land Cruiser will be a 2025 model.
Interestingly, the 2025 Land Cruiser for the US market will have a different appearance compared to the globally debuted 2022 model, known as the 300-Series. This is because the US version of the legendary off-roader is expected to share its platform with the 2024 Lexus GX 550, which is the luxury brand’s newly redesigned mid-size SUV. It is worth noting that the Land Cruiser Prado, which has a similar heritage to the GX, was recently teased for the European market. As a result, it is highly likely that the US-market Land Cruiser will be nearly identical to the European version.
The teaser images reveal some key features of the new Land Cruiser. It shares the upkicked beltline with the GX, which enhances off-road visibility and maneuverability. The Land Cruiser also has a tall stance and a relatively short wheelbase. However, there are some design elements unique to Toyota. The front end of the 2025 Land Cruiser features a separate bumper, unlike the integrated grille-bumper combination found on the GX. Additionally, the Land Cruiser lacks the roof spoiler present on its Lexus counterpart, giving it a more retro look. By brightening the image, you can also see that the Land Cruiser has large, square taillights and a chunky grille. It is possible that the Land Cruiser does not have rocker steps in order to improve clearance over rocks.
A recent report by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has revealed that supermarkets raised fuel prices by an average of 6p per litre last year. The report states that weakened competition allowed supermarkets to take advantage of the situation and inflate pump prices. CMA chief Sarah Cardell expressed concern over the impact of these higher prices on vulnerable individuals, especially those residing in areas with limited fuel station options.
The investigation found that Asda, which was fined £60,000 for lack of cooperation, and Morrisons, the two cheapest fuel retailers, were responsible for initiating this increase. Both supermarkets made the decision to target higher profit margins in the past year. Asda aimed for a fuel margin in 2023 that was more than three times what it had been in 2019, while Morrisons doubled its margin target within the same period.
However, other retailers such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco did not respond to these changes in the way one would expect in a competitive market. Instead, they raised their prices in line with the inflation introduced by Asda and Morrisons. The CMA report concluded that these developments indicated a weakening of competition and emphasized the need for swift action.
In addition to petrol, diesel prices also experienced a slow decrease in 2023. Asda was accused of “feathering” its prices by reducing them at a slower rate compared to falling wholesale costs. Furthermore, other companies failed to respond competitively to these market dynamics. The CMA estimates that diesel drivers paid 13p per litre more from January to May 2023 than the historic average, due to inflated margins.
In light of these findings, CMA proposed the implementation of a “fuel finder scheme,” which would provide drivers with access to real-time fuel prices at different stations through their mobile phones or sat-navs. This scheme aims to revitalize competition within the retail road fuel market.
The last 50,000 units of the Mahindra XUV700 were delivered in the last 8 months
The Mahindra XUV700, Mahindra’s flagship SUV launched in 2021 as a successor to the Mahindra XUV500, has achieved a significant milestone. It has delivered 1 lakh units to customers in India. The XUV700 achieved this milestone in just 20 months, which is quite impressive considering its fairly premium offerings and popular variants priced around Rs 20 lakh. Since its launch, the XUV700 has faced a significant waiting period. Mahindra received 50,000 bookings in the first three hours, and it took 12 months to deliver those units. The next 50,000 units were delivered in 8 months. The waiting times for the XUV700 are still high, and Mahindra is now working on increasing production capacity to speed up the delivery of the next 50,000 units, according to their statement.
What does it offer
The Mahindra XUV700 comes with a host of features, including an integrated 10.25-inch screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, and a 12-speaker 3D sound system by Sony. In terms of safety, it offers seven airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), a 360-degree camera, reversing camera, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and high-beam assist.
The Mahindra XUV700 is available with two engine options: a 2-litre turbo petrol engine (200PS/380Nm) and a 2.2-litre diesel engine (up to 185PS/450Nm), both paired with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. The top-spec diesel variants also come with an all-wheel-drive drivetrain.
Price & Rivals
The prices for the Mahindra XUV700 range between Rs 14.04 lakh and Rs 26.18 lakh (ex-showroom pan India). Its rivals in the market include the Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus, and Hyundai Alcazar. The lower variants of the XUV700 also offer a 5-seater configuration, competing with 5-seater SUVs like the Tata Harrier, MG Hector, and Hyundai Creta.
The McMurtry Spéirling, a record-breaking electric track car, has taken the EV scene by storm. Designed and produced by British-based manufacturer McMurtry Automotive, the Spéirling PURE is the first-ever electric fan car that customers will be able to own and drive. After its spectacular performance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, pre-orders have started pouring in from around the world.
The McMurtry Spéirling’s Unmatched Cornering Grip Takes Precedence Over Sheer Top Speed
The McMurtry Spéirling is a special type of car known as a “fan car,” which utilizes a specially designed fan mounted at the rear to generate downward force and enhance grip on the racetrack. This unique fan system can generate over 4,400 pounds of downward force, providing exceptional cornering grip that enables the car to accelerate and take on corners with incredible ingenuity.
While the Spéirling’s top speed is impressive, it is the exceptional cornering grip on low-speed corners that thrills drivers and spectators. The car’s ability to achieve 3G cornering forces allows drivers to navigate even the harshest corners with minimal deceleration.
Lest We Forget The Incredible Performance At Goodwood Festival Of Speed
The Spéirling gained massive attention after its record-breaking hill climb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Videos of the event showcased the car’s incredible speed and agility, leaving viewers in awe. The car can go from 0 to 60 mph in under 1.4 seconds and 0 to 186.4 mph in just nine seconds, making it one of the fastest cars in existence.
Furthermore, the Spéirling’s fan system adds a unique feature – a jet-engine-like noise that adds to the thrill of watching the car in action. This noise, typically absent in electric cars, provides the Spéirling with an unexpected yet necessary feature that adds to its overall appeal on the tracks.
McMurtry Spéirling PURE Specs
Weight: ~ 2200 pounds (1000kgs)
Peak Output: 1,000 horses
0-60 mph: Under 1.4 seconds
Top Speed: 190 mph
Battery: 60 kWh
Charge Type: Fast charge (under 20 minutes)
Chassis: Carbon Fibre Monocoque
The Spéirling’s impressive performance is a result of meticulous engineering inspired by Formula 1 and aerospace industries. The car’s lightweight construction and powerful engine give it a power-to-weight ratio of close to 1:1. Its streamlined body and exceptional tires provide maximum aerodynamics and grip on the track.
Production Car Will Be Even Better Than The Goodwood Car
The Spéirling PURE, an enhanced version of the Goodwood record-breaking car, will make its debut at this year’s Goodwood festival. Several improvements have been incorporated into the new version, including increased fan and gearbox efficiency, wider tires, and a better battery thermal management system. These enhancements allow the car to complete multiple full-race circuit laps and recharge faster during racing.
McMurtry Automotive plans to commercially produce the Spéirling, giving customers the opportunity to own and drive this exclusive car. However, production will be limited to only 100 pieces, each priced at a little over $1 million.
In recent years, the cost of buying a car has significantly increased, especially since the start of COVID. This has made it more challenging for new buyers to consider the financial implications of purchasing a vehicle. One significant expense to consider when buying a car is the cost of maintenance over the first ten years.
While many people focus on the initial cost and value of a car, it is crucial to consider the maintenance fees as well. Choosing a car known for its quality and reliability can save you a lot of money and give you peace of mind knowing that the car won’t break down constantly.
This list of the top 10 cheapest cars to maintain was compiled using data from CarEdge, Edmunds, NHTSA, and Car and Driver. All information is based on the newest model year for each car.
102023 Honda Civic
Honda
Front 3/4 of the 2023 Honda Civic Sedan in the desert
The Honda Civic has a storied history, and the 2023 model continues to live up to its name. It is an excellent compact car that offers great gas mileage and is fun to drive.
Reliability
Honda is synonymous with reliability, and the Honda Civic upholds this reputation. It has low maintenance costs, affordable price tag, and is known for its fun driving experience. In the 90s, the Civic was popular among teens as their first car due to its reliability and low cost of ownership.
Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $525
Total Est. Yearly Costs: $4,846
Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $5,245
Total Recalls: 0
Chance of Major Repair Costing $500 Or More: 15.57%
Worst Year To Buy Used: 2016 Honda Civic
92023 Toyota Supra
Toyota
A 2023 Toyota GR Supra parked on a racetrack.
The Toyota Supra is an incredible sports car, representing the best of old-school sports cars. It is quick, looks good, and features a six-speed manual transmission.
Reliability
While sports cars aren’t usually associated with cheap maintenance costs, the Toyota Supra breaks that stereotype. Despite being a sports car, it offers low maintenance costs and affordable ownership:
Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $495
Total Est. Yearly Costs: $9,687
Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $4,950
Total Recalls: 0
Chance of Major Repair Costing $500 Or More: 12.57%
Worst Year To Buy Used: Any MK4 Supra
82023 Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi
Side shot of the 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage
The Mitsubishi Mirage is an affordable and practical car. It offers low costs for buying and repairing, as well as excellent fuel efficiency. However, it doesn’t come with any luxury features or high performance.
Reliability
The Mitsubishi Mirage is one of the cheapest cars available, even among entry-level hatchbacks. It is perfect for those who want a reliable vehicle that gets them from point A to point B without any frills:
Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $493.90
Total Est. Yearly Costs: $4,488.40
Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $4,939
Total Recalls: 0
Chance of Major Repair Costing $500 Or More: 15.09%
The Honda Fit is an excellent entry-level car, offering practicality, fuel efficiency, and a spacious interior. While it lacks fancy features, it is perfect for those looking for an affordable, reliable vehicle.
Reliability
The Honda Fit is an entry-level car with basic features. It is known for its fuel efficiency and spacious interior:
Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $491.50
Total Est. Yearly Costs: $5,522
Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $4,915
Total Recalls: 1
Chance of Major Repair Costing $500 Or More: 14.86%
Worst Year To Buy Used: 2008 Honda Fit
62022 Toyota Avalon
Toyota
3/4 action shot of the 2022 Toyota Avalon Touring
The Toyota Avalon is a flagship sedan known for its spaciousness, practicality, and V-6 engine. Although it may not be the newest model, it still offers excellent reliability and can be purchased at a fair price.
Reliability
The Avalon is Toyota’s near-luxury sedan, offering a spacious interior and well-equipped entry-level trims:
Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $440.70
Total Est. Yearly Costs: $6,732
Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $4,407
Total Recalls: 0
Chance of Major Repair Costing $500 Or More: 11.89%
Worst Year To Buy Used: 2006 Toyota Avalon
52023 Toyota Camry
Toyota
Front action shot of a silver 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE
The Toyota Camry is a standout in the midsize sedan class. It continues to top sales charts due to its reliability, fuel economy, and range of trim levels to suit different preferences.
Reliability
The Camry is renowned for its reliability, fuel economy, and availability in multiple trim levels:
Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $420.30
Total Est. Yearly Costs: $5,362
Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $4,203
Total Recalls: 1
Chance of Major Repair Costing $500 Or More: 11.89%
The Toyota Prius Prime is a hybrid version of the popular Prius model. It offers a blend of performance, practicality, and fuel efficiency. Despite being more exciting than ever, it remains affordable and environmentally friendly.
Reliability
The Prius Prime is reliable, fuel-efficient, and affordable to maintain. It is environmentally friendly and offers low maintenance costs:
Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $409.80
Total Est. Yearly Costs: $7,022
Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $4,098
Total Recalls: 0
Chance of Major Repair Costing $500 Or More: 11.22%
Last month, former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler admitted his involvement in the Dieselgate scandal to avoid a prison sentence. Today, a Munich court issued a verdict in the case, imposing a fine of over one million euros on Stadler and giving him a suspended sentence of one year and nine months.
When Stadler agreed to confess in May, he also agreed to pay a fine that Prosecutors had proposed to be as high as €2 million. However, the judge ruled that he would only have to pay €1.1 million ($1.2 million at the current exchange rate). Authorities arrested Stadler in 2018, and he has been on trial since 2020 for his role in the scandal that first came to light in September 2015.
In September 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced that it had uncovered Volkswagen’s violation of the Clean Air Act. It was not until November 2016 that the agency implicated Audi. The German automaker used software to manipulate US emissions tests on its diesel vehicles.
Stadler is the first Volkswagen board member to be sentenced for his involvement in the scandal. However, other employees also received sentences this week. Former Audi executive Wolfgang Hatz and an engineer were also found guilty and given fines and suspended sentences. There are still ongoing cases against former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn and other former VW managers.
The scandal has also been costly for the automaker. Volkswagen Group has been fined billions of dollars in the US and other countries where it sold its non-compliant vehicles. Recently, South Korea fined Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen for conspiring to cheat the country’s emissions standards.
Audi is making efforts to put the scandal behind it by focusing on electric vehicles despite lagging behind the competition. VW Group CEO Oliver Blume stated last week that he intends to accelerate the development of electric vehicles for the Audi brand, which has been plagued by “severe software problems”. Next year, the company will launch the Q6 E-Tron on a new platform and release its final combustion-powered car in 2025.
Remember Velocifero? We last heard from the Italian electric motorcycle startup in October 2022, ahead of its planned launch of the Jump model at EICMA in November of that year. Now that it’s June 2023, it seems that the firm has something completely different up its sleeve, that it’s hoping to impress the world by accomplishing.
So far, 2023 is proving to be a year for world record attempts on two wheels—and even if it’s a little bit new to the game, Velocifero wants in on the action. On June 30, 2023, the electric motorcycle company will make its first world record speed attempt on a prototype electric scooter at the world-famous Monza circuit in Italy.
Velocifero’s electric prototype machine has so far not been revealed, although the company claims that it makes the equivalent of about 200 horsepower. Timekeepers from the Italian Motorcycle Federation will be on hand for the occasion, keeping careful track of things like top speed, flying kilometer top speed, zero to 100 kilometer per hour (or 62 mile per hour) acceleration, and so on.
But Wait, Who’s Riding the Velocifero Prototype?
Here’s where it gets interesting. See, the pilot of the as-yet unseen Velocifero electric scooter prototype is Alexander Tartarini, who is also one of the folks behind the Velocifero brand. If you’re thinking that his name sounds a little bit familiar, you may be thinking of his dad, Leopoldo.
For Italian motorcycle history nerds, the name Leopoldo Tartarini should ring several bells, and do so extremely loudly. Born in Bologna in August 1932, his father was a racer—and like father, like son, from an early age. In fact, Leopoldo started racing as a kid in smaller categories, just so he could get his international racing license and go on to compete in more major events as he aged into them.
Leopoldo Tartarini went on to a successful professional racing career with the likes of Benelli and Ducati. Unfortunately, in 1955, his promising racing career was ended after a serious crash during the Motogiro d’Italia while riding for Ducati, which nearly resulted in paralysis of both legs. The recovery was long, but he did eventually go on to walk again, even after doctors had believed it wasn’t possible. However, his racing career was over, and he was unable to pass the Italian Motorcycling Federation’s health tests to compete.
Just because he couldn’t compete didn’t mean that he couldn’t ride, however, and he was also still under contract to Ducati. Thus, he decided to ride around the world on a Ducati as a promotional exercise, along with his friend Giorgio Monetti. That groundbreaking trip, in turn, led Tartarini to decide to become a manufacturer himself. He founded the firm Italammezeta in 1960—which eventually went on to become Italjet.
You can take a racer off the roster, but you can’t stop them from wanting to compete. Since Tartarini also had a mind for promotion and publicity, in 1969, he put all three of those things together and went to Monza to break some World Speed Records of his own with “a three-wheeled cycle car …powered by a liquid-cooled CZ 250 engine.”
Back to 2023, and Alexander Tartarini, one of Leopoldo’s sons. Just as his dad attempted those speed records at Monza with his three-wheeled prototype machine some 54 years ago, Alexander will be doing the same thing with his electric Velocifero scooter prototype. What’s more, since it’s 2023 and not 1969, Velocifero will be livestreaming this world record attempt directly from Monza on its webpage, which we’ll link in our Sources.
The event is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. Central European Summer Time (CEST) on June 30, 2023, which is 5 a.m. Eastern. We’ll include a link in our Sources if you want to watch what happens and also see the new prototype scooter in action.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently proposed a new rule that would require automatic emergency braking (AEB) on passenger vehicles. Now, the agency is expanding its reach by suggesting that the same rule apply to heavy-duty trucks and buses weighing over 10,000 pounds.
According to NHTSA estimates, this technology could save around 155 lives per year and prevent over 8,800 injuries. The agency’s data shows that approximately 60,000 heavy-duty vehicles are involved in rear-end crashes, and implementing this technology could potentially prevent more than 19,000 of these accidents annually.
Passenger vehicles would also benefit greatly from this technological advancement. NHTSA believes that requiring AEB on all passenger vehicles traveling at speeds up to 62 miles per hour could save a minimum of 340 lives each year and reduce injuries by 24,000.
A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2022 found that pickup trucks equipped with AEB had a 43% lower rate of causing rear-end collisions and a 42% reduction in related injuries. Interestingly, only 8% of registered pickups in 2021 came with AEB as a standard feature. However, several major automakers, including Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, now offer trucks with AEB systems as standard.
While technology like AEB undoubtedly saves lives and minimizes injuries, a separate study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also revealed that vehicles equipped with crash prevention technology, including AEB, can be more challenging to repair. The research found that approximately half of the surveyed individuals encountered issues with these features even after completing repairs, raising concerns about their reliability and potentially increasing repair costs over time.
If the proposal for both passenger cars and heavy-duty vehicles is approved, it would take three years for the ruling to go into effect. However, NHTSA has not specified when a final decision will be made, so it may take several more years before customers see these changes implemented in new vehicles, regardless of size, as automakers continue to enhance standard safety features in their latest models.
Last year, Motowhips collaborated with Justin and his team to create a Gas Gas MC250 for the Mammoth Mountain Motocross. Due to the popularity of the “Chain Reaction” build, they decided to take it a step further this year by building two Gas Gas MC250 2-stroke bikes. Let’s take an exclusive first look at “The Motowhips Twins.” The #13 bike is called “Instigator” and will be raced by Matas Inda, while the #9 bike is named “Troublemaker” and will be piloted by Chase Marquier. Both builds feature components from top companies such as Dunlop, FMF, Motul, Renthal, WP Pro Components, Hinson, Faster USA, DID, SKDA, and more. Take a pictorial tour of both machines, and stay tuned for more details about each bike.
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