With the SUV market in India booming, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has introduced yet another SUV, albeit in a compact form called as the Urban Cruiser Taisor. 

Made at Maruti Suzuki manufacturing facility as part of the global cooperation framework between Toyota Motor Corporation and Suzuki Motor Corporation, the new compact SUV from TKM positions itself in a segment that is quite competitive and has the presence of not just the Maruti Fronx (its close cousin) but also the likes of Tata Punch.

Designed to be stylish with a bold Toyota grille that has (twin LED) daytime running lamps at either corner and head lamps that are arranged at either lower corner in a form of three-square lenses, the Urban Cruiser Taisor draws attention with its ‘higher up the ground’ stance as it rides on 16-inch diameter wheels. The machined alloy wheels look quite smart too. 

The sides are not very different than that of the Fronx to look at, particularly with that roofline which tapers down at the rear. The rear styling, much like that of front, is interesting. It also hints at clever packaging. 

Complementing its SUV stance are styling touches such as a front and rear skid plate, roof rails and body cladding on the wheel arches and doors. 

Available in two-tone colour shades as per the trim level, the Urban Cruiser Taisor could be had with a 90 PS 1.2-litre petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission or a 100 PS 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission. 

Besides the two petrol powertrains, the compact SUV with front-wheel drive configuration could be had with a 1.2-litre CNG unit as well. Coupled to this unit is a five-speed manual transmission. To note: The manual transmission of the vehicle features an ‘Intelligent Gear Shift’ (IGS) function.   

With deliveries scheduled from May 2024 (booking is already open) onwards, the compact SUV’s modern interior can seat five people. The dual tone dashboard with silver metal accents and premium seat fabric adds a nuance of exterior styling to the cabin. Also does the flat-bottom leather-wrapped steering wheel (with tilt and telescopic adjustment).  

While the driver’s seat is height adjustable, the rear bench seat is 60:40 split to provide better storage space at the rear. 

Featuring wireless charger, paddle shifters (on auto transmission variants), keyless entry, push-start/stop system, electrically adjustable (and foldable) ORVMs, steering wheel-mounted controls, power windows with anti-pinch function, fast USB charging points, a head-up display, 360-degree camera, nine-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system display, ‘ARKAMYS’ surround sound system with six speakers and wireless connectivity via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the Urban Cruiser Taisor is replete with the Toyota ‘iConnect’ system. 

The ’iConnect’ system provides a one stop intelligent solution for integrated and seamless experience in terms of remotely controlling functions such as climate control, lock/unlock, hazard lights and headlamps etc, and is fully compatible with smartwatches and Hey Siri voice assistant. 

Equipped with vehicle stability control, hill hold assist, roll over mitigation, six airbags (including side and curtain airbags), reverse parking sensors (with graphic display as well), ABS, EBD, an anti-theft security, Isofix points for child seats, over speed alert and door and lock status, the vehicle is priced upwards of INR 773,000 ex-showroom. 

Masakazu Yoshimura, MD and CEO, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, and Regional CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), said, “The Indian market has always been of paramount importance to us, both in terms of product offerings and introduction of advanced technologies. This emphasis was further underpinned by the recent creation of a new region where the Indian market plays an even more crucial role acting as the hub of the new ‘India, Middle East, East Asia and Oceania Region’. At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, we believe that the company is strategically positioned to capitalise on its 25-years excellence legacy backed by an aspiration to establish new standards in the Indian automotive industry.”

“Looking ahead, our business strategy in the market will be to continue to focus on contributing to national priorities of localisation, developing a highly skilled workforce and achieving carbon goals. Furthermore, the customer first culture will continue to define our market strategy for years to come. With the newly introduced all-new Urban Cruiser Taisor, we are underlining our commitment to the customers by expanding choices to cater to their distinct needs thus delivering ‘Mass Happiness to All’,” he added. 

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JSW MG Motor India has introduced the all-new MG Hector SUV featuring a revised exterior with new front and rear bumper designs, a new grille design and new alloy wheels at prices starting INR 1.19 million (ex-showroom) for limited units. The SUV comes in two new colours – Celadon Blue and Pearl White.

The interiors feature a Dual Tone Ice Grey Theme in the 5-seater trim and Dual Tone Urban Tan for the 6 and 7-seater trims. Exterior details include the new Aura Hex Grille, a hexagonal structure that symbolises strength and precision. New Aura Sculpt Bumpers at the front and rear deliver a muscular, assertive stance and also the Aura Bolt Alloy Wheels.

The all-new Hector's infotainment system, featuring a 14-inch HD portrait touch screen, receives a performance boost through Smart Boost technology. The system features the i-SWIPE Touch Gesture Control, enabling intuitive multi-touch operations for AC, music and navigation. Further convenience is provided by the Digital Bluetooth Key and Key Sharing capability along with Predictive Maintenance Alerts, Remote AC Control. A Full Digital Cluster with a 17.78 cm Embedded LCD Screen provides a driver interface.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, “The Hector was our maiden nameplate and quickly became synonymous with the MG brand, emerging as one of India’s most loved SUVs with 150,000 customers since its debut. With the All-New MG Hector, we take this legacy a notch higher by enhancing its design, comfort, and technology, offering an unmatched value proposition. We believe truly advanced mobility should not be an exclusive luxury reserved for the few. With this superior package, The All-New MG Hector will further democratize technology while setting a new benchmark for what a premium SUV can deliver.”

The new Hector also features a 360deg HD Camera with Wheel View, offering surround visibility along with tyre-level perspective. In terms of standard it gets ABS, EBD, ESP, TCS, Hill Hold Control and Brake Assist. The SUV is powered by a 1.5L Turbocharged Petrol engine (CVT & MT) offering 143 PS Power and 250 NM Torque.

Launched in 2019 as India’s First Internet Car, the MG Hector includes features such as a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a 35.56 cm (14-inch) HD infotainment system, 8-colour Ambient Mood Lighting, and MG’s advanced i-SMART connected technology with 70+ features, and an advanced ADAS suite. Further features include Push Button Engine Start/Stop with a Smart Key and Anti-Theft Immobilisation, automatic powered tailgate, air purifier with PM 2.5 filter, rain sensing wipers, Remote Control for Audio, AC & Mood Light in i-Smart App and front parking sensors.

The prices for the diesel variant of the all-new Hector SUV will be announced next year.

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The Tata Sierra has entered the India Book of Records for maximum fuel efficiency in 12 hours. In a certified run at NATRAX Indore, the Sierra delivered an exceptional 29.9 kmpl mileage, surpassing the previous national benchmark. The feat was executed by the Pixel Motion team, that drove the 1.5-lire Hyperion-engine powered Sierra continuously from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on 30 November 2025 with brief halts for driver swaps. The record was officially validated the same day.
The new 1.5-litre Hyperion petrol engine, engineered to deliver high efficiency without compromising refinement, performance or drivability, has an advanced combustion system, torque-rich performance band and friction-optimised architecture. 
The compact SUV also achieved a top speed of 222 kmpg at the track under specified test conditions. 
“Setting a national efficiency record so early in the Sierra’s journey is a proud moment for us. The Hyperion engine platform was built to push the boundaries of what petrol powertrains can achieve, and this milestone validates that effort. It strengthens the Sierra’s value proposition for customers and underlines TMPV’s commitment to bringing advanced, efficient and future-ready technologies to the market," said Mohan Savarkar, Chief Product Officer, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles. 

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Matthew Bowden is concluding a successful four-year tenure as Director of Škoda UK, departing to assume the role of Head of International Sales for Škoda Auto. Under his leadership, the UK market achieved significant growth, rising to become the brand's third largest global market and consistently exceeding performance records while maintaining a market share beyond four percent.

His successor, Eric Boutin, will join the Volkswagen Group UK board of management as Director of Škoda UK in the first quarter of 2026. Boutin brings extensive international experience from pivotal markets including Canada, China and United States. He is currently responsible for Škoda Auto's global customer experience programme, with direct oversight of the worldwide retail network and omnichannel integration, and is spearheading the brand's overarching customer centricity transformation.

This strategic leadership transition aims to leverage Bowden's commercial acumen on a global scale while injecting Boutin's specialised customer-focused expertise into the UK operations.

Damien O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Volkswagen Group UK, said, “Matthew has made a significant contribution towards Škoda’s evolution and growth over the past four years. I’m grateful for all he’s done for the brand and the Group and wish him well in his new role. I’m looking forward to welcoming Eric to the UK board of management and am sure his global experience and customer focus will support the brand’s future ambitions and Human Touch proposition.”

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Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has revealed that it will launch the XUV 7XO, which is based on the XUV 700, on 05 January 2026. A premium SUV segment vehicle, the XUV 7XO, the company claims, will be a gamechanger. Said to have been crafted to inspire and engineered to excite, combining the proven strengths of the XUV700 with superior design, technology, comfort and performance, the XUV 7XO is expected to be a feature a fascia with the new signature grille design and '7'-shape sleeker LED head lamps. 
Claimed to draw an amount of design and styling details from the new seven-seater electric SUV the company introduced recently, the XUV 7XO is expected to built on the technologies that made the XUV 700 a competitively priced tech savvy SUV with monocoque construction and an option of an AWD. As an ICE vehicle the 7XO is expected to further the gamut of features found on the XUV 700, including the ADAS Level 2 suite. 

The XUV 7XO is expected to replace the XUV 700 over a period of time if not immediately. 

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