The new modern-day SUVs, in true terms, are nothing more than enhanced cars. They mostly offer better ground clearance, and some even offer an all-wheel-drive system. But you can’t think of doing serious off-roading with them as they are simply not made for that; at best they can blaze through dirt or a gravel track. Well, Jeep has decided to bring some seriousness to the SUV segment by launching one of the most iconic off-roaders in the world, the Wrangler. Jeep India has started assembling it at FCA’s Ranjangaon manufacturing plant near Pune and has become only the second plant in the world to roll out this 4x4 after the Toledo factory in Ohio, USA. The Wrangler is available in two versions—the Unlimited and the Rubicon. The former is priced at INR 5,390,000 and the latter at INR 5,790,000, both ex-showroom India. The new completely knocked down unit (CKD) is now almost INR 1,000,000 cheaper than the previous completely built unit (CBU) versions.

Commenting on the launch of the locally assembled Wrangler, Dr Partha Datta, Jeep India Managing Director, said, “Indian customers have always desired the legendary Jeep Wrangler, and I am pleased that today we are able to bring this to them, assembled in India. We have extended our points of sale and service for the locally assembled Wrangler to 26 across the country. I’m also happy to announce that we have introduced a MOPAR-original suite of over 120 Wrangler accessories and value packs which customers can order at our dealerships.”

Dr Datta added, “Jeep Wrangler’s capability is unmatched because our engineers always have and continue to test and improve our 4x4 technology to make it a global benchmark. This capability is complemented with a timeless design, modern comforts, the latest in infotainment technology and open-air freedom.”

The Wrangler has a colossal presence with its typical squarish design, the classic round headlamps, which are now all-LED, the imposing seven-slate front grille, raised wheel arches housing daytime running lights (DRLs) along with LED indicators and, of course, the solid-looking chunky bumper with LED front foglamps. The Wrangler is only available as a five-seater in India, but it comes in both hardtop and open-roof options.

Both the variants are powered by a 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that has an output of 265 bhp at 5,150 rpm and torque of 400 Nm at 3,000 rpm. It comes standard with an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

Wrangler Rubicon

The top variant, the Rubicon gets state-of-the-art RockTrac Full Time 4x4 technology. This sophisticated system is operated by an electronic clutch which engages and disengages automatically depending on the amount of traction required. With a mechanical shifter, the gear range can be changed from 2H to 4L, 4H Auto and Part-Time 4L. 4H Part-Time and 4L modes. The Rubicon gets a Dana 44 front axle, which is ideal for off-roading due to its increased thickness of the axle tube, making it rigid and durable. To ensure that off-road trails don’t spring a nasty surprise at the Rubicon, Jeep has also installed TruLok electric front- and rear-axle lockers to neutralise any extreme condition.

The Front Sway Bar in the Rubicon can be electronically disconnected, allowing the front suspension to travel up to an additional 30 percent. With a press of a button, the Offroad+ feature lets the Rubicon adapt to different terrains by making adjustments to the throttle, Selec-Speed Control which uses hill-ascent and hill-descent control, traction control and transmission shift mode. It also sports a crawl ratio of 77:1 with a 4:1 low range ratio. The Rubicon gets 17-inch alloy wheels for extreme off-roading conditions and thick gauge boron steel underbody skid plates to protect its underbody.

Wrangler Unlimited

The Unlimited is a capable off-roader and can tackle the urban jungle as well.

Equipped with the Selec-Tran 4x4 system, the Wrangler Unlimited can automatically switch from 2WD to 4WD depending on the requirement of the conditions. It also sends power to the wheels with the optimum traction to overcome challenging driving situations. Like the Rubicon, it also comes with the Smart Lock feature for constant 4WD mode when needed. The Unlimited version comes with 18-inch aluminium alloys with all-season tyres.

The Rubicon boasts a ground clearance of 217 mm, while the Unlimited offers 214 mm. While both the variants have the same water wading capability of 760 mm (at 8 km/h), approach and departure angles at 36 degrees and 21 degrees, but Rubicon’s break-over angle is one degree superior to the Unlimited at 21 degrees.

Both the Wrangler models offer an array of features like an 8.4- inch touchscreen that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-inch multi-information display in the instrument cluster that reads out active safety and security features, vehicle speed, navigation, radio information as well as full-framed removable doors, a three-piece modular hardtop and a fold-flat front windshield. Both the models come equipped with two USB ports on the dashboard, another one in the centre armrest and additional ports for rear passengers. For additional practicality and safety, both the glove box and centre console are lockable.

In India, the Wrangler’s direct competition is the Land Rover Defender, which is available in both petrol and diesel and is priced from INR 7,657,000 lakhs to INR 11,200,000, ex-showroom India. (MT)

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Mumbai-headquartered SUV major Mahindra & Mahindra has upgraded its popular offering, the Scorpio-N Z8L variant, with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) tech.

This will see the Scorpio-N Z8L variant coming with Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Smart Pilot Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and High Beam Assist features.

The ADAS tech will further enhance safety quotient for the Scorpion-N with exclusive features such as Speed Limit Assist and Front Vehicle Start Alert, marking a first for Mahindra ICE SUVs.

Furthermore, the company has also expanded the Scorpio-N line-up with the introduction of the Z8T variant at INR 2.02 million. The new variant will sit between the Z8 and Z8L variants. It comes with a compelling mix of premium features, including R18 diamond-cut alloy wheels, a 12-speaker Sony-branded audio system, front camera, front parking sensors, 6-way powered driver seat, electronic parking brake (EPB), ventilated front seats and an auto-dimming IRVM.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has achieved a new milestone in its aftersales service. The company recorded servicing (free and paid) over 2.45 million vehicles in May, the highest in a single month in its history.

The feat was achieved through the company’s vast network of over 5,400 service touchpoints.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “This is the first time in the company’s history that we have serviced over 24.5 lakh vehicles in a month, an achievement that reflects scale, depth, and efficiency of the service network. It is a result of the tireless efforts of our service teams and dealer partners across the country.”

“Good quality aftersales service is critical to maintain vehicle health, leading to a delightful car ownership experience and strengthen customer retention. Even before we started mass sales of vehicles in India, our focus was on building a robust service network, a foundation that continues to support us as we expand our business further. Going forward, we aim to expand our service touchpoints to 8,000 by FY 2030-31 and introduce innovative formats to cater to the requirements of diverse customer needs. This will help in our EV launch as well. We are preparing 1,500 EV enabled service workshops covering over 1,000 cities with specially trained manpower and special equipment to extend all EV related support to our customers,” he said.

Maruti Suzuki India has through its dealer partners introduced several innovative and industry-first service formats, to address the smallest query to full-car service needs ranging from traditional brick-and-mortar workshops to mobile workshops. Over the years, it has also created a dedicated Quick Response Team (QRT) to provide emergency on-road assistance across the country.

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Mercedes-Benz India, the German luxury car brand, has announced a significant organisational change, effective from 1 August 2025, with the appointment of Brendon Sissing as the new Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. He will take over from Lance Bennett, who has moved to Mercedes-Benz Middle East as their Chief Financial Officer.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, "We are excited to welcome Brendon Sissing as the Head of Sales & Marketing for Mercedes-Benz India. Brendon takes over the responsibility from Lance Bennett, who has joined Mercedes-Benz Middle East as the CFO. Brendon brings rich experience from the world of financing and insurance, as he successfully steered Mercedes-Benz Financial Service India, doubling its portfolio, driving record profit and business transformation, while elevating the integrated customer journey. We are confident Brendon will continue the growth momentum of Mercedes-Benz in this highly diverse and dynamic Indian luxury car market. We thank Lance for his immense contribution and wish them both, the very best in their respective new roles."

Brendon Sissing previously served as the Head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India, where he was instrumental in doubling the company's portfolio and achieving record profits. He is recognised for his strong advocacy of digital transformation and risk management, leveraging his expertise in credit risk to drive operational excellence. He has extensive experience within the Mercedes-Benz group, having worked with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Mercedes-Benz South Africa, leading Credit Operations in both markets. He also held roles in Credit Underwriting and Key Accounts at Daimler Mobility, Stuttgart, before joining Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India in 2022.

The German brand stated that under Sissing's leadership, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India significantly enhanced customer journeys through integrated online and offline platforms. He is also noted for his passion for coaching and mentoring, fostering high-performing team environments. Sissing holds a B. Tech degree in Cost & Management Accounting from Technikon Pretoria, South Africa and a Diploma in Credit Management from the Institute of Credit Management. He is also a founding member of Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia, established in 2012.

A South African national, Sissing has worked in various international locations, including Malaysia, South Africa, Germany and India.

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Honda Cars India has launched a new variant of its popular mid-size sedan, the Honda City Sport, adding a dynamic and youthful edge to the City line-up. Priced at INR 1.48 million (ex-showroom, Delhi), the City Sport is positioned as a limited-edition offering designed to appeal to style-conscious, spirited drivers.

The new variant will be exclusively available with a CVT automatic transmission and is offered in three colour options — Radiant Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, and Meteoroid Gray Metallic.

Sporting a blacked-out exterior theme, the car features a Sporty Black Grille, Glossy Black Shark Fin Antenna, Trunk Lip Spoiler and multi-spoke grey alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin gets an all-black treatment with red stitching, leather seats and ambient lighting for a premium, performance-inspired feel.

Under the hood, it retains the 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine, delivering 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque, with a claimed fuel efficiency of 18.4 kmpl. The model also comes equipped with Honda Sensing, the brand’s advanced driver assistance suite.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “The new City Sport has been crafted to meet the aspirations of young buyers who value individuality and a spirited driving experience. It embodies a perfect blend of sporty exterior and interior style, fun to drive performance and the everyday usability that Honda City is known for, at a price that makes it even more compelling.”

The City Sport is being positioned as a limited-unit, exclusive edition for customers seeking distinction in both design and driving dynamics.

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