Hyundai announced earlier last month that it had sent three models voluntarily to the newly formed Bharat NCAP for crash tests. Autocar India confirms that the Tucson SUT SUV is one of the very first cars to be tested by BharatNCAP. , The Exter micro-SUV will follow Tucson, and the results should be available in the coming months.
- Tucson is the first of three Hyundais to be tested by Bharat NCAP
- Six airbags are standard on all trims, and ADAS is available as an option.
Hyundai Tucson BNCAP Crash Test: Aiming for 5-stars
Euro NCAP has tested the current-gen Tucson in 2021, and Latin NCAP will do so in 2022. The Tucson scored three stars and five stars, respectively, in the first and second NCAP. This is because the testing and scoring methods are slightly different.
Both NCAPs gave the Tucson, which came with six airbags, a stable rating. The car also met pedestrian protection standards. Tucson also passed the side-pole impact test, where it did well. It even boasts an advanced safety assistance system that includes functions such as autonomous emergency braking and lane assist. The Latin NCAP did not have the safety assist score in the overall rating because it did not meet the minimum requirements.
Hyundai is aiming for a 5-star rating in India for the India-spec Tucson, which comes with six airbags as standard. It also has ABS, ESC, and three-point seatbelts. Seatbelt reminders are included for each seat. Tucson’s top-spec model comes with ADAS, but Bharat NCAP (which is based on the latest Global NCAP protocol) does not factor in advanced safety assist systems when calculating the overall rating.
Exter is expected to follow the Tucson in its crash test. The Exter is also likely to do well in the Bharat-NCAP test, as it comes with the same safety features that are standard on the Tucson.
Hyundai is under increasing pressure to improve its safety record. It has not been able to achieve more than three stars in Global NCAP protocols until it launched the 5-star rated Verna.
Bharat NCAP testing was delayed slightly
Bharat’s NCAP protocols should have started on October 1. However, as there are no results yet available, the program is still delayed. The manufacturers are working hard to get units ready for crash tests despite supply shortages. Bharat NCAP is said to be able to begin crash testing around mid-December. This means that the first reports are expected at the end of this year or early next.
Toyota Land Cruiser Gdj76 Powertrain
The Land Cruiser GDJ76 is very similar to the Land Cruiser 70, which was unveiled recently. The Land Cruiser GDJ76 is powered by the tried-and-tested 2.8-litre 4-cylinder Toyota GD6 diesel engine. This unit was also used in the Fortuner SUV. The GDJ76 is capable of 201hp and comes with a six-speed auto as standard.
Toyota claims that this engine is 30% more fuel-efficient than the inline-six diesel engine used by the Land Cruiser HZJ6. Toyota will continue to sell the HZJ6 as long as the current orders last.
Land Cruisers GDJ76 are not sold individually but in bulk to humanitarian agencies. TGS will customize the cabins according to each order. Optionally, the list includes a bulletproof variant that can be made to order. Customers can purchase the Land Cruiser 70, which has more creature comforts. It is also sold in many markets abroad.
Let us know if you think Toyota should bring the Land Cruiser to India by leaving a comment.
Linger in Champagne
Book a training ticket for the high-speed TGV to Reims (45 minutes away, with WiFi on board) once you’re ready to head north. Reims is one of France’s Top French Cities, meaning that it’s a shining example of joie-de-vivre. Rent a car at the Reims station (book in advance for automatic transmission rentals). If you don’t have a car, it’s difficult to travel around the Champagne region. Taxis are also not readily available. You can hire iGoVE to chauffeur you around Champagne in a Tesla if you don’t feel like driving (because of the booze, obviously). Visit the Reims Cathedral. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was where French kings from 1027-1825 were crowned.
Your Champagne home is Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, a 49-room property that opened just this summer. Royal Champagne, located in Champillon, is perfectly situated between Reims and Epernay. This is where you will find many of the tours and tastings. You’ll be unable to leave the Relais & Chateaux Hotel, which is so comfortable. The sommelier can help you sample the 200 bottles of champagne at the hotel bar or enjoy the view of rolling vineyards in the Montagne de Reims while relaxing by the outdoor pool. Royal Champagne hired Jean-Denis Rieubland to oversee the hotel’s culinary program, which includes Le Royal, a fine-dining restaurant decorated with portraits depicting the most significant women in Napoleon Bonaparte’s life.
