Autocar India
•3y

How can the Force Gurkha and the recent Citiline be sold without airbags? I have three old cars: a Tata Manza, Nano and Nissan Micra. Which one would be the best candidate for an electric conversion? Once the conversion is done, what happens to the ICE components? Can they be resold as spares? I also have a 2019 Honda Amaze i-DTEC CVT and want to install the new projector LED headlamps without cutting or damaging the factory wiring. Is there a way to do this?

Verified
•4m
The Force Gurkha and Citiline are not sold without airbags. They get the mandated front airbags, although they do not offer the six-airbag setup found on many newer passenger cars.
Of your Manza, Nano and Micra, the Micra would be the most sensible candidate for an EV conversion. It is relatively light and compact, so a reasonably sized battery and motor should be sufficient for city use. The Nano is lighter, but its small size and packaging make it less attractive as a conversion project, while the heavier Manza would need a larger battery and motor to deliver useful performance and range.
However, EV conversions are still quite uncommon in India, particularly for private passenger cars. A proper conversion involves considerably more than replacing the engine with an electric motor. The battery pack, BMS, motor controller, charger, DC converter, wiring, braking system and thermal management all need to be properly integrated. Plus, the converted car also needs the appropriate certification and RTO endorsement. The economics therefore need to be considered carefully.
The removed ICE components can be sold as used spares, provided they are in good condition. The engine, gearbox, starter, alternator, fuel system and other components can have some value, although you should not expect a large return from selling the complete powertrain.
For the 2019 Honda Amaze iDTEC, the projector LED headlamp upgrade can be done without cutting the factory wiring. Look specifically for a plug-and-play headlamp or conversion harness designed for the Amaze. Avoid cutting, splicing or tapping into the original wiring, and retain the original headlamps.
Force Gurkha 5 Door

Force Gurkha 5 Door

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•1d

I am planning to buy an adventure bike but am confused between the Honda NX500 and KTM 390 Adventure. I used to ride a Suzuki Fiero about 25 years ago, from Thane to Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central. After a long gap, I purchased a Duke 390 about 7 years ago, which I used for around a year before selling it, as I didn’t find enough time to ride it. I am currently 52 years old and want to start riding again. My rides would be occasional city rides and weekend rides of around 25-50 km to start with. I have tried Royal Enfield bikes, but the engine didn’t click with me. Please suggest.

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•11h

Considering that the KTM 390 Adventure is a bike that (at most) costs Rs 4 lakh, while the Honda NX500 E-Clutch is nearly Rs 7.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi prices for both), there's little to be compared between the two on these terms. The KTM is surely the more sporty, the more off-road ready and the more feature-laden bike of the two, but at the same time its polarising looks, buzzy and gruff engine and mediocre suspension (on the 350cc and 398cc X variant) are some areas where it should do better. Since you bought a first-gen 390 Duke and you didn't gel with it, perhaps that could very well ring true for the 390 Adventure as well. The NX500, on the other hand, is a calm, smooth and composed machine but isn't what you'd call exciting. It is definitely more road-biased and is best thought of as a tourer that can handle bad roads than an out-and-out off-roader. We'd recommend you take a look at the BMW F 450 GS too, if you're shopping in this category as it brings a different flavour to the table.

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•18h

Hi everyone, I am looking for a reliable automatic upgrade for my parents. My budget is strictly capped at Rs. 17 lakh (on-road, Hyderabad). The lower, the better. I will be selling our 2019 Ford Figo Titanium petrol manual. Our use case & priorities: Primary drivers: My parents Usage: We live on the outskirts, so the car will see mixed usage, mostly in mild traffic. Priorities: Low maintenance, low running costs, and a hassle-free, smooth driving experience. Shortlisted options: Honda Amaze ZXi CVT, Honda Elevate V CVT, Maruti Brezza ZXi AT, maybe Mahindra XUV 3XO

Verified
•13h

With your requirement of keeping the purchase cost as low as possible while also getting something reliable, go for the Honda Amaze CVT. The CVT is smooth, the car is easy to drive, and Honda’s ownership experience is among the best in the segment. It will also be the most affordable option on your shortlist, which fits your budget constraint perfectly. It should be more than sufficient for your parents and their usage, but bear in mind, it's not much larger than the Figo they're moving from, so it may not feel like as much of an upgrade. Also, make sure entering and exiting the vehicle are not an issue for them, as it is quite low-slung.The Elevate CVT is the largest vehicle here, and as such gives a bit more space and comfort than the others, and it meets your other requirements, but if you're locked in on the V CVT variant, it might feel a bit barebones. The V CVT is well within your Rs 17 lakh budget, so consider going up a variant, as that would make it worth your while.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza, however, might be your best bet. The ZXi AT is great value for money; efficiency and hassle-free ownership are Maruti hallmarks, and the 6-speed AT gearbox is as smooth, if not smoother, than Honda's CVT. It's compact enough to be easy to drive, yet almost as spacious as the Elevate, with easy ingress and egress. We feel this will be the best fit for your parents.

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Posted on: 7 Oct 2026