The number of petrol compact SUVs which have 4WD is abysmal and their lack of space is stifling. The bigger vehicles also seem to shy away from it (Scorpio N, XUV700 available only in diesel).

BHPian bik1906 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Ok, so this is the background. I've been perfectly peaceful with my 2018 Brezza diesel as most of my drives were on my own or max with a friend to indulge my passion for fishing. Suddenly the wife and kids decided they wanted to get in on the long drive bandwagon (much to my surprise!) and this has recently completely exposed the chinks in the Brezza and therefore led me to look out for a new car.

An SUV it needs to be because even the daily commutes for a family of 4 are now becoming a chore in terms of space (school bags, tuition bags, laptop bags, gym bags). The addition of a 4WD would make sense as I go fishing on stretches where frequently there are no roads and I have on occasion found myself sliding towards an alarmed farmer and his bullock cart in the mud after sudden rains.

Now I am pretty clear that after Delhi the whole diesel ban issue will come to the forefront in the next couple of years across the rest of the country. What I can't understand is why the market is not swapping to Petrol in terms of 4WD SUVs. The number of petrol Compact SUVs which have 4WD is abysmal and their lack of space is stifling (Gypsy, Vitara and its Toyota offspring) and the bigger vehicles also seem to shy away from it (Scorpio N only in Diesel, XUV also only in Diesel). The only petrol version seems to be the Tiguan which is any way out of my budget as it is above 35L on road.

Does anyone have any update on whether the Duster will be out in 4WD? Since it's been clear that the new Duster will not have a diesel version. Albeit it's a year away from launch. Also, any other suggestions which can fit into my specs?

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

Wait for the 4-door Thar. You might get just what you are looking for. I have a strong feeling Mahindra will offer the 4x4 with the Petrol Thar (unlike the Scorpio-N).

Why the lack of options? Simple = extremely low demand for AWD / 4x4. Manufacturers are in the business of giving customers what they want and AWD / 4x4 variants have minuscule orders.

Here's what BHPian SmartCat had to say about the matter:

Because features like soft touch interiors, panoramic roofs and 36 color ambient lighting are far more important than a stupid AWD system that can get you farther on a slippery road or save your life sometimes under wet conditions or cornering on hilly roads.

Customers will open up their wallets if they can see/touch/feel the features. Meanwhile, the AWD system is an "invisible" feature whose utility cannot be easily explained without going into boring physics behind car traction.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say about the matter:

AWD, or any kind of four-wheel drive has been a taboo in general. Choice of fuel is inconsequential. Only a select minuscule few choose this option when an option is there. Right from OG Safari and Scorpio to the current Hyryder/Grand Vitara to the Fortuner and Gloster. The 4x4 market is very niche, it sells only when it is standard equipment like in Kodiaq or high-end cars. Casual buyers are not willing to pay extra for a non-visible feature that they will rarely use. Sales of the Thar RWD are testimony to this.

That being said, petrol 4x4 will see rising demand, as diesel goes out of favour. It is a miss on Mahindra’s part to not offer petrol AWD/4x4 on the XUV700 and Scorpio N. Would have garnered more demand from the crucial Delhi NCR market.

Here's what BHPian fhdowntheline had to say about the matter:

Unfortunately in India, we can't have space, a proper 4x4, petrol and reasonable price and serviceability all at once. If you compromise a bit on space, then Jimny or the petrol Thar are the candidates for you.

Here's what BHPian JediKnight had to say about the matter:

One reason could be mileage. 4WD tranny increases transmission losses. Petrol mileage drastically decreases as vehicle weight increases and a 4WD would make it unviable. That is the reason you will never see a petrol HCV even in countries where petrol is actually cheaper than diesel.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

A few days ago, we had reported the leaked prices and details of the Tata Safari Storme with the Varicor 400 engine (link to news article). Tata has now formally announced the launch of this SUV with a more powerful heart.

The talking point of this update is the 2.2L Varicor 400 engine which produces 154 BHP and 400 Nm of torque. It is mated to a new 6-speed manual transmission and is equipped with a 260mm self-adjusting clutch. This SUV can propel from 0-100 kph in under 13 seconds and has an ARAI rating of 13.9 kmpl.

The Storme will be available with the VX variant with both - 4x2 and 4x4 options. The 4-wheel drive version can be engaged on-the-go with its ESOF (electronic shift-on-fly) feature and the SUV is also fitted with a limited slip differential.

The Storme VX also boasts of features such as the new infotainment system with 6-speakers by Harman. It gets Bluetooth, CD, MP3, USB, Aux-in and i-Pod connectivity, audio streaming and a reverse parking sensor display.

This SUV is available in 5 colours - Arctic Silver, Urban Bronze, Pearl White, Astern Black and Arctic White. 3 year or 1,00,000 km warranty is standard on the Storme (extendable upto 4 years or 1,50,000 kms).

Ex-showroom Delhi prices for the Storme Varicor 400 are:
4x2: Rs. 13,25,530
4x4: Rs. 14,59,952

In case you have missed our official review for the 2015 Safari Storme, click here.

By no means has the Quanto been a range leader for Mahindra. The Xylo based compact UV is one of Mahindra's weakest sellers in India. While the Quanto is expected to get a facelift and an AMT in India, Mahindra's Italian division has offered the Quanto with major upgrades in the form of the 2.2L mHawk engine (118 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 290 Nm of torque @ 1,600 - 2,800 rpm) and a Borg Warner 4x4 system as well!

The Italian Quanto gets a 4x2 system with a 5-speed manual transmission as standard, with the optional 4x4 variant weighing around 100 kg more. Apart from producing 18 BHP / 50 Nm more than the 1.5L, 3-cylinder model, the 2.2L engine equipped Quanto also rides on 215/60 tyres with 16-inch wheels vs the Indian spec's 205/60 tyres with 15-inch wheels.

The equipment list also includes ESP, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, seatbelts with pretensioners, cruise control with steering wheel controls and a sound system with steering mounted controls.

Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) along with Nissan are in the race to replace the Maruti Gypsy 4x4 off-roader used by the Indian Army, reports HT Mint. The price bids for the Indian Army tender will be opened once technical clearance is given to the prototypes, it adds. 

The 2 companies will provide their sample offerings by April 15th and vehicle testing will begin by the end of this month. Tata's offering is based on its Safari Storme platform, the Mahindra offering is based on the Scorpio while Nissan is providing a variant based on its X-Trail platform. The chosen vehicle will replace the Gypsy in a time-bound manner from 2017 onwards. The Indian Army requirement is for 30,000 units (worth Rs 3,000 crore) that will gradually replace Maruti's Gypsy (over 27,000 sold to the Indian Army).

The requirement for what the Army calls 'General Service' vehicle is for an 800 Kg vehicle, instead of the 500 Kg class that the Gypsy falls in. The Army is also understood to have asked that the vehicles on offer come with Diesel engines with at least 120 BHP and are Bharat Stage (BS) III & BS IV compatible. 

The creature comforts that have been asked for include AC/HVAC, bucket seats, power windows, central locking, five doors and a hard top, along with safety features such as ABS and airbags. Specifically for off-roading, differential locks, improved gradeability (not less than 25 degrees) and side slope capabilities (not less than 15 degrees) have been requested.

This will be the end of the road for Maruti's Gypsy as it remains in production mainly to meet military requirements and clocks in sales of approximately 3000 units every year. 

Mahindra's 4x4 Quanto has been spotted testing in Pune by motorbash.com. It was a 5-seater version with no jump seats at the back.

While there aren't any giveaway badges on the body of the vehicle, the eagle-eyed photographer caught the '4WD' inscription on the front wheel hubs. These auto-locking hubs indicate a Borg Warner part-time 4x4 with shift-on-the-fly controls. 

The Quanto 4x4 is rumoured to be running a 2.2L mHawk diesel under its hood, as opposed to the Quanto 4x2's 3-cylinder 1.5L motor.

We can safely assume about 150+ kilos in added weight. With a larger engine, the 4x4 variant will lose out on sub-4 meter excise savings which were the primary reason behind the Quanto's existence! 

A BHPian had spotted the Xylo 4x4 being tested earlier (related thread (4X4 Mahindra Xylo! EDIT : PICS on page 4)), although it was never launched in the market.

If & when the Quanto 4x4 debuts, the primary focus will be on export markets. Mahindra has plans to export the Quanto to Europe & South America.

Mahindra's compact SUV has clocked respectable numbers and has outsold its bigger sibling, the Xylo. Just over 8,000 units were sold between December 2012 and February 2013. 

Link to our Mahindra Quanto Review. 

Actor Daniel Craig unveiled the New Range Rover Sport at a promotional event held in New York. New York as the venue was quite apt, as America makes for the Range Rover Sport's largest market. The new model goes on sale in the third quarter of 2013 and is likely to hit the Indian market at the same time.

An option for 3rd row seats to make it a 7-seater will increase its appeal in India. An economical 4-cylinder diesel is a possibility too. 

75% of its components are shared with the Range Rover; that's a lot in common between the two SUVs. The Sport is now lighter by 420 kg as a result of extensive aluminum construction and is quicker, more fuel-efficient and eco-friendlier than its predecessor. 

Engine options for the UK include two versions of the TDV6 3.0 Liter Diesel developing 258 BHP and 292 BHP respectively, along with the massive 5 Liter Supercharged Petrol that develops 510 BHP. In the USA, only two engine options are available, both supercharged petrols; the first, a 3.0 Liter Petrol developing 340 BHP and the other is the same 5 Liter Petrol sold in the UK.

Prices in the UK start at £51,550 for the base Range Rover Sport SE with the 3.0 Liter Diesel Engine. They go up all the way to £81,550 for the top-of-the-line Autobiography Dynamic with the 5.0 Liter Supercharged V8 Petrol. 

Keeping with its off-roading tradition, two choices of four wheel drive systems will be offered. One is biased towards driving on tarmac, is 18 kg lighter and has a 42:58 torque split between the front & rear wheels. The other 4x4 system has superior offroad capability with a low-range box, equal torque split between the front and rear wheels and locking capability.

A big shout-out to Bijoy B S for sharing these pictures of the 4WD Duster. Bijoy spotted the Duster 4WD in Trivandrum, Kerala and the car looked production ready. Its launch is just around the corner. 

Renault already makes the 4 wheel drive variant of the Duster at its Chennai factory for export markets. The Duster's 4WD version sold in the UK comes with what Renault terms as an 'intelligent 3-mode all-wheel drive system'.

The three mode 4WD was developed using Nissan's technology, and the different driving modes can be chosen via a rotary switch on the dashboard. Interestingly, boot space on the 4WD version is reduced to 408 L (compared to 475 L on the 4x2 version). 

The part-time 4WD system operates in the following modes

2WD: Engine torque sent to front wheels only, will ensure that fuel consumption is acceptable in city driving.

AUTO: Engine torque automatically distributed to all four wheels only when required. Provides best grip in all types of road conditions. Best used during heavy rains or if snow, mud or ice are encountered. 

Lock Mode: Used for rough terrain at speeds less than 80 kph. Engine torque is provided continuously to all four wheels. 

Renault could charge a premium in excess of a lakh for the Duster 4WD. The nearest competition is from the Mahindra Scorpio & Tata Safari, both of which are more serious body-on-frame 4x4 SUVs with a low ratio transfer case. 

The Duster has been Renault's sole success in India, having sold 28,497 units in the last 6 months alone. 

Related Link: Renault Duster Official Review

It is raining discounts at Tata Motors and here's the latest one, a massive Rs 2.5 Lakh dealer discount on the Tata Aria.  

We spoke to Tata dealers to learn more and here is what's on offer:

• Rs 2 Lakh discount on Tata Aria vehicles manufactured between July & December 2012 (indicates inventory buildup)
• Rs 2.5 Lakh discount if it is a 2011 model!
• A further Rs 50,000 discount as part of an exchange bonus on the above
• The above offer does not apply to the base Aria Pure LX model
• Rs 50,000 discount on Aria Pure LX vehicles manufactured between July and December 2012, with a further Rs 50,000 exchange bonus
• All Aria variants produced in 2013 get just the Rs 50,000 exchange bonus
• The offers above are subject to dealer availability of stock and the dealers confirmed that deliveries would be completed within 15 to 20 days

A 2012 model Tata Aria Pleasure 2-wheel drive which is priced at Rs 13.75 Lakh (ex Bangalore) can be had for Rs 11.25 Lakh after all discounts. The top end Aria Pride 4 wheel drive after discounts will come in at Rs 14.75 Lakh (ex Bangalore).

The Aria has been a disaster for Tata Motors and a cruel blow to their ambitions to take the brand upmarket. The Aria posted the following sales numbers from September 2012 to February 2013; 25, 147, 341, 5, 52 and 4 respectively. That is a total of 574 units. In comparison, during the same period, Mahindra sold 23,919 units of its XUV 500 while Toyota raked in the moolah with 35,446 Innovas sold. 

Read the comprehensive Team BHP review on the Tata Aria. 

At the time of its initial launch, most enthusiasts were dismayed with the lack of a factory-fitted air conditioning option in the Mahindra Thar (along with the Jeep's high price and shoddy fit & finish levels). Mahindra has finally launched the Thar 4x4 with a factory fitted Air-Conditioner and an Engine Immobilizer. The latter should keep owners cool, and the former this open Jeep safe. This kit only comes on the Thar CRDe, and not in the cheaper Thar DI. The Thar A/C is priced at Rs. 6.86 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi (Rs. 87,000 higher than the non-AC 4X4 version). That's got to be the most expensive air-conditioner in town! 

Links:

• Extremely detailed guide on fitting an AC to the Thar, straight from a senior Mahindra executive, Mr. Behram Dhabhar.
• The Official Team-BHP review of the Mahindra Thar.