NEET प्रदर्शनकारियों को सुप्रीम कोर्ट से बड़ी राहत! नाबालिगों की रिहाई का आदेश, छात्रों पर नहीं होगी दंडात्मक कार्रवाई

Supreme Court relief for NEET protesters: सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने मंगलवार (28 जुलाई) को उन छात्र प्रदर्शनकारियों को रिहा करने का निर्देश दिया, जिनकी उम्र 18 साल से कम है और जिनका कोई आपराधिक इतिहास नहीं है। शीर्ष अदालत ने अधिकारियों से यह भी कहा कि वे नीट पेपर लीक को लेकर हाल में देश भर में हुए आंदोलन से जुड़े इलेक्ट्रॉनिक और डिजिटल सबूत संभालकर रखें। सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने कहा, “दिल्ली सरकार दर्ज की गई FIR की जांच जारी रख सकती है, लेकिन कोई दंडात्मक कार्रवाई नहीं की जानी चाहिए।”

चीफ जस्टिस ऑफ इंडिया (CJI) सूर्यकांत की अगुवाई वाली पीठ ने कहा कि छात्रों के खिलाफ पुलिस की ज्यादती के आरोपों की पहली नजर में निष्पक्ष और स्वतंत्र जांच होनी चाहिए। प्रदर्शनों के दौरान पुलिस की बर्बरता का आरोप लगाने वाली कई याचिकाओं पर सुनवाई करते हुए, शीर्ष अदालत ने कई अंतरिम निर्देश जारी किए।

पीठ में जस्टिस जॉयमाल्य बागची और जस्टिस वी मोहना भी शामिल थे। पीठ ने उन सभी राज्यों को सीसीटीवी फुटेज, ड्रोन रिकॉर्डिंग, बॉडी-कैमरा फुटेज, वायरलेस कम्युनिकेशन रिकॉर्ड, पीसीआर लॉग और प्रदर्शन से जुड़े दूसरे डिजिटल सबूत संभालकर रखने का निर्देश दिया जहां प्रदर्शन हुए थे।

कोर्ट ने यह भी आदेश दिया कि प्रदर्शनकारियों से संबंधित इकट्ठा किया गया कोई भी डिजिटल डेटा संभालकर रखा जाए। लेकिन उसे सार्वजनिक नहीं किया जाए। पीठ ने अधिकारियों को प्रदर्शनकारी छात्रों के खिलाफ कोई भी बलपूर्वक कार्रवाई करने से रोक दिया। साथ ही कहा कि आपराधिक पृष्ठभूमि वाले लोगों को सुरक्षा नहीं मिलेगी।

‘बलपूर्वक कोई कार्रवाई न की जाए’

पीठ ने दिल्ली सरकार को दर्ज FIR के मामले में जांच जारी रखने की इजाजत दी। लेकिन कहा कि कार्रवाई लंबित रहने तक प्रदर्शनकारी छात्रों के खिलाफ बलपूर्वक कोई कार्रवाई न की जाए। अदालत ने याचिकाओं में लगाए गए आरोपों पर दिल्ली, महाराष्ट्र, बिहार, केरल, मध्यप्रदेश और उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्य सचिवों से भी जवाब मांगा। चीफ जस्टिस ने कहा, “आरोपों की पहली नजर में निष्पक्ष और स्वतंत्र जांच पर विचार करने की जरूरत है, जिसमें 200 से ज्यादा घायल पुलिसकर्मियों के परिवारों की चिंताओं को भी दूर किया जाना चाहिए।”

पीठ ने कहा कि केंद्र और संबंधित राज्यों को निर्देश दिया गया है कि वे विरोध प्रदर्शनों के दौरान हिंसा की सभी घटनाओं की निष्पक्ष, पारदर्शी और पूरी जांच सुनिश्चित करने के लिए एक स्वतंत्र समिति या विशेष जांच दल बनाने पर विचार करने से पहले अपने बयान रिकॉर्ड पर रखें। शुरुआत में, अदालत ने पूछा कि पुलिस की ज्यादती के आरोपों की स्वतंत्र जांच क्यों नहीं होनी चाहिए। पीठ ने कहा, “जिसने भी ज्यादती की, कानून अपने हाथ में लिया, उसे सजा मिलनी चाहिए।”

‘जांच के लिए SIT गठित की जा सकती है’

सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने मामले की सुनवाई के दौरान यहा भी कहा कि हालिया छात्र विरोध प्रदर्शनों के दौरान हुई हिंसा की सभी घटनाओं की निष्पक्ष, पारदर्शी और गहन जांच सुनिश्चित करने के लिए एक विशेष जांच दल (SIT) का गठन किया जा सकता है। शीर्ष अदालत ने कहा कि निर्धारित प्रोटोकॉल का उल्लंघन होने पर कानून को अपना काम करना चाहिए।

नीट पेपर लीक होने को लेकर देशभर में छात्रों के प्रदर्शन के दौरान पुलिस की ज्यादतियों के आरोपों वाली कई याचिकाओं पर सुनवाई करते हुए CJI सूर्यकांत की अध्यक्षता वाली पीठ ने हिंसा की कई घटनाओं का जिक्र किया।

सुनवाई के शुरुआत में जस्टिस जॉयमाल्य बागची और जस्टिस वी. मोहना की सदस्यता वाली पीठ ने सवाल किया कि इन आरोपों की स्वतंत्र जांच क्यों नहीं होनी चाहिए। वकीलों की दलीलों पर संज्ञान लेते हुए पीठ ने कहा कि विरोध कर रहे नीट छात्रों पर पुलिस की ज्यादतियों से जुड़े सभी आरोपों की निष्पक्ष और स्वतंत्र जांच जरूरी है।

पीठ ने कहा, “अगर तय प्रोटोकॉल का उल्लंघन होता है, तो कानून को इस पर कार्रवाई करनी चाहिए।” CJI सूयकांत ने कहा कि पीठ सभी आरोपों की स्वतंत्र, पारदर्शी और गहन जांच कराने पर विचार कर रही है। अदालत ने कहा कि 250 पुलिसकर्मियों पर हुए हमलों की भी जांच होनी चाहिए और यह पता लगाया जाना चाहिए कि ये हमले छात्रों ने किए थे या कुछ उपद्रवी तत्वों ने।

सॉलिसीटर जनरल तुषार मेहता ने कहा कि छात्र पुलिसकर्मियों के खिलाफ हिंसा में शामिल नहीं होंगे, लेकिन कुछ उपद्रवी इन घटनाओं में संलिप्त हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि हत्या, दुष्कर्म और एनडीपीएस मामलों में वांछित उपद्रवी विरोध-प्रदर्शन में शामिल हुए और उन्होंने पुलिसकर्मियों के खिलाफ हिंसा की।

2 reasons to buy the Maruti Brezza turbo and 2 reasons to skip it

Maruti Suzuki Brezza front quarter cornering

The Maruti Brezza may be one of the oldest compact SUVs in the market, but it remains one of the best-selling ones by a reasonable margin. Maruti has now given it a fresh lease of life with a mid-cycle update for 2026, bringing a brand-new engine option and thereby addressing one of the biggest gripes about the Brezza – lack of multiple engine options. It’s the Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine from the Fronx, finally bringing the Brezza in the sub-4m tax slab and also a much-needed dose of performance. So, here are two reasons why you should consider buying the new Brezza Turbo, and two reasons why you might want to look elsewhere. 

Reasons to buy the Maruti Brezza Turbo 

1. Boosterjet engine is smooth and tractable 

The 1.0-litre, three-cylinder Boosterjet engine produces 110hp and 170Nm on the Brezza, which means the numbers are up by 10hp and 23Nm compared to the Fronx. What’s most impressive about this engine on the Brezza is its refinement and driveability – it gets off the line effortlessly, with almost no lag.  In fact, you can set off in second or even third with little issue. It’s only when you wring it out that you’ll get some hint of three-cylinder thrum. The 6-speed manual gearbox offered with this engine is also a joy to use, offering satisfying and progressive shifts, and the clutch too is light and easy to modulate. 

The Brezza’s faimiliar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine also remains on offer alongside the new Boosterjet engine, but it’s expectedly more expensive as it attracts a higher 40 percent GST. 

2. Spacious interior and boot 

Packaging has always been one of Maruti’s strengths, and it has been true for the Brezza as well. Not much has changed on the inside of the updated Brezza, which means it remains one of the more spacious models in its segment. It’s still one of the few models where you can sit three adults abreast at the rear in reasonable comfort, and the front seats are suitable for large frames, too. Maruti has also introduced a new brown and black leatherette upholstery with this update which looks more premium and classier than before. That said, seat comfort is only adequate, erring more on the firm than the outright soft side. 

As for the boot, overall volume remains the same at 328 litres, and as always, its square shape offers up more practicality than the number suggests. 

Reasons not to buy the Maruti Brezza Turbo 

Lacks the outright punch of a turbo engine 

While performance from the new turbo engine is smooth and linear, it doesn’t have outright punch you’d expect or what some rivals offer. In our preliminary tests, the 1.0 Turbo accelerated from 0-100kph in a modest 12.36sec, just 0.3sec quicker than the old 1.5 NA petrol manual version (with the 5-speed manual). We also found ourselves downshifting one or two gears to overtake out on the highway, and through the rev range, some flat spots and hesitation did appear.

Still missing some features, lack of a spare tyre 

The Brezza has seen the addition of some key features with this update, including front ventilated seats, a larger touchscreen, updated UX/UI and also new safety features. But while all these are welcome additions, there are still many sought-after features offered by rivals that are missing on the Brezza. These include powered front seats, rear window blinds and a panoramic sunroof – the Brezza continues with a single-pane unit. It also doesn’t get a full ADAS suite that’s offered by some rivals, but only a few driver assist features such as blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

Maruti has also removed the spare tyre from the Brezza, and is now only offering a puncture repair kit and a tyre inflator. This is because CNG models have moved to an underfloor tank design to free up more luggage space, and that’s resulted in the removal of the spare tyre in all models.

जंतर-मंतर प्रदर्शन के बाद CJP का पार्टी वीडियो वायरल, फंडिंग पर उठे सवाल; क्या बोले तवलीन सिंह और सौरव दास?

mahesh jethmalani, tavleen singh and saurabh dass on CJP party viral video

दिल्ली के जंतर-मंतर पर कई दिनों तक चले विरोध प्रदर्शन के बाद कॉकरोच जनता पार्टी का एक वीडियो सोशल मीडिया पर वायरल हो रहा है। इसमें सीजेपी से जुड़े कई लोग एक होटल में पार्टी करते दिखाई दे रहे हैं। इससे अलावा प्रदर्शनस्थल पर सीजेपी कार्यकर्ताओं के जश्न मनाते वीडियो भी जमकर वायरल हो रहे हैं। इन वीडियो पर मचे बवाल के बाद सीजेपी के मुख्य प्रवक्ता सौरव दास और प्रख्यात लेखिका तवलीन सिंह के जवाब भी चर्चा में है। ALSO READ: धर्मेंद्र प्रधान पर पोस्ट से BJP में बवाल! अपराजिता सारंगी की बेटी अर्चिता राहर घिरीं, पार्टी नेताओं ने जताई नाराजगी

 

महेश जेठमलानी ने उठाए फंडिंग पर सवाल?

इस वीडियो को सुप्रीम कोर्ट के सीनियर एडवोकेट महेश जेठमलानी ने अपने सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफॉर्म पर शेयर किया है। वायरल वीडियो में CJP के कुछ लोग एक होटल में पार्टी करते हुए दिखाई दे रहे हैं। वहां जश्न का माहौल है और नाच-गाना भी चल रहा है।

महेश जेठमलानी ने अपनी पोस्ट में लिखा, 'क्या सच में ऐसा हो रहा है? CJP की लीडरशिप दिल्ली के एक होटल में पार्टी दे रही है। राजधानी दिल्ली में कई दिनों तक विरोध प्रदर्शन हुए। ऐसे में सवाल यह है कि इनके ट्रैवल, खाने और रहने का खर्च किसने उठाया? इनकी फंडिंग किसने की? ALSO READ: 'बेटी के बयान से दुखी हूं, लेकिन पिता को दोष नहीं दे सकते'— केशव महंता के बचाव में बोले हिमंत बिस्वा सरमा

तवलीन सिंह ने दिया जवाब

तवलीन सिंह ने एक्स पर अपनी पोस्ट में कहा, भाजपा अब कॉकरोच को एक 'फाइव-स्टार होटल' में पार्टी करते हुए दिखाकर उन्हें बदनाम करने की कोशिश कर रही है। क्या हम यह पूछ सकते हैं कि इतने सारे भाजपा मंत्रियों और उनकी संतानों के पास डिजाइनर कपड़े और कार्टियर के चश्मे खरीदने के लिए पैसे कहाँ से आते हैं? ALSO READ: प्रधान के बाद अब गडकरी निशाने पर! 100% शुद्ध पेट्रोल के लिए 'E20 जनता पार्टी' मैदान में

 

क्या बोले सौरव दास?

कॉकरोच जनता पार्टी के मुख्य प्रवक्ता सौरव दास ने जंतर-मंतर पर प्रदर्शन के बाद सीजेपी के कार्यकर्ताओं साथ पार्टी और डांस करने के वायरल वीडियो पर की जा रही टिप्पणियों पर प्रतिक्रिया दी है। सौरव दास ने सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफॉर्म एक्स पर लिखा, 'इससे एक बार फिर साफ़ हो जाता है कि सरकार और गोदी एंकर, जेन-ज़ी और नई पीढ़ी की सोच और भाषा को समझ ही नहीं पा रहे हैं।'

 

उन्होंने कहा कि हम जितने दिन जरूरत होगी, उतने दिन सड़क पर बैठ सकते हैं। हम नाचते-गाते हुए भी प्रदर्शन कर सकते हैं। हम हाथ में कोल्ड कॉफी लेकर भी आंदोलन को संगठित कर सकते हैं। बदलाव के लिए लड़ने के लिए हमारा वैसा दिखना जरूरी नहीं है, जैसा पिछली पीढ़ियां किसी आंदोलन से उम्मीद करती हैं।

सौरव दास ने कहा कि यही इस पीढ़ी की पहचान है-आत्मविश्वासी, रचनात्मक, जुझारू और ऐसी, जिसे किसी एक तयशुदा छवि में बांधा नहीं जा सकता। अंकल-आंटी चाहे जितनी शिकायत करते रहें, उन्हें हमारी इस पीढ़ी के साथ जीना और हमें स्वीकार करना ही होगा।

Maruti Brezza new vs old: Differences and similarities explained

Maruti Brezza new vs old models compared

Four years after replacing the Vitara Brezza, the ‘Brezza’ nameplate has received its first lifecycle update. With this, the 2026 Maruti Brezza offers buyers a multitude of new features and styling tweaks that the brand hopes will keep its compact SUV competitive among segment rivals that include the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Skoda Kylaq and Tata Nexon. Having said that, let’s find out the main differences between the new Maruti Suzuki Brezza and its predecessor.

Maruti Brezza new vs old: Exterior design

Changes on the outside are mostly limited to the soft parts

New Maruti Brezza front
Old Maruti Brezza front
 

To help differentiate the 2026 Brezza from the old model, Maruti Suzuki has given it a few noticeable styling tweaks. For starters, there’s a new grille at the front and it’s finished in dark chrome. The front bumper has been redesigned as well, and it comes with an additional silver plastic garnish. Maruti has also re-done the front fog-lamp design. The LED units now sit inside a cone-shaped housing and have been moved further up the bumper compared to the old Brezza.

New Maruti Brezza rear quarter
Old Maruti Brezza rear quarter
 

Along the sides, the 2026 Brezza features new 16-inch alloy wheels with a two-tone finish and dual-tone body cladding. The rest of the styling details remain identical to the old model. Maruti has done away with the Brave Khakhi and Exuberant Blue mono-tone colours, replacing them with Vivacious Orange and Lustrous Beige tones. The Sizzling Red with Bluish Black Roof dual-tone colour remains, but the other two options are now Lustrous Beige and Pearl Arctic White with the same ‘Blueish Black’ roof. The rear of the 2026 Brezza looks largely similar to the old model. Finally, the new Brezza Turbo gets red accents all around and different door cladding, along with ‘Turbo Boosterjet’ branding.

Maruti Brezza new vs old: Interior design and features

Few styling tweaks and new features add to this interior’s overall appeal

New Maruti Brezza interior design
Old Maruti Brezza interior design
 

The overall design and layout of the Maruti Brezza’s interior hasn’t changed with the 2026 facelift. However, some of the tweaks that the brand has made are quite easy to spot. The first amongst these is the new 10.1-inch touchscreen head unit, which features the Suzuki SmartPlay Pro X infotainment system. For reference, the previous mode’s SmartPlay Pro+ system came with a 9-inch touchscreen. The silver-coloured plastic trim on the dashboard and doors in the old Brezza have given way to gloss-black trim in the 2026 model. These look nice and premium but are a magnet for fingerprints and scratches.

New Maruti Brezza touchscreen
Old Maruti Brezza touchscreen
 

Further down the centre stack, the Brezza facelift gets a new HVAC panel with physical, piano-style keys and a single rotary dial – this has been borrowed from the Victoris. Although stylish to look at, it no longer has a dedicated display to show the temperature and blower speed – these have been moved to the infotainment screen. The climate control does get a PM2.5 filter with an AQI display now, though.

New Maruti Brezza front seats
Old Maruti Brezza front seats
 

While the design of the steering wheel and instrument cluster remain unchanged, the Brezza now gets suction-type front-seat ventilation, 64-colour ambient lighting, dual-tone part-leatherette seats, Suzuki Navigation built-in, and new driver-assistance features like safe-exit warning, blind-spot warning, lane-departure alert and rear cross-traffic alert.

Maruti Brezza new vs old: Engine and gearbox

Differences between the old and new Brezza are more than skin-deep

Maruti has carried over the K15C four-cylinder petrol engine with the automatic engine stop-start system from the pre-facelift Brezza. In the 2026 Brezza, this 1.5-litre mill continues to produce 103hp and 139Nm. In its CNG avatar as well, the Brezza facelift’s engine output of 88hp and 122Nm remains the same as the old model. However, the difference with the new model is that it gets underbody CNG tanks, which don’t eat up boot space.

New Maruti Brezza front quarter
Old Maruti Brezza front quarter
 

The other difference between the 2026 Maruti Brezza and its predecessor is the inclusion of a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with direct injection. Also used in the Fronx, this ‘Boosterjet’ powerplant has been retuned for the Brezza, so it now makes 110hp and 170Nm. The Turbo and CNG versions are only offered with the new 6-speed manual gearbox, which replaces the old 5-speed unit. Meanwhile, the naturally aspirated engine can be paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission, which was available with the pre-facelift model as well.

The step up from a 5-speed manual gearbox to a 6-speed unit also means that the 2026 Brezza offers better fuel economy. The pre-facelift Brezza with the naturally aspirated engine and manual gearbox had a claimed mileage of up to 17.80kpl, while its 2026 equivalent claims a figure of up to 21.09kpl. The 2026 Brezza CNG also has a higher claimed fuel economy of 26.90km/kg, where the old model’s was 25.51km/kg. Maruti claims that the new Turbo variants of the Brezza have a fuel economy of up to 20.47kpl.

Maruti Brezza new vs old: Prices

Despite the various updates and additions that the 2026 Maruti Brezza gets over its predecessor, its new Turbo version starts at an introductory price of Rs 7.40 lakh. This is lower than the base price of the pre-facelift model, which started at Rs 8.26 lakh. The 1.0-litre engine of the new Turbo variants make them eligible for higher tax breaks – the old Brezza’s 1.5-litre engine didn’t allow for this. That said, Maruti Suzuki is yet to disclose the prices of the rest of the variants of the 2026 Brezza.

Prices are ex-showroom, Delhi

Also read

2026 Maruti Brezza: All that’s new over its predecessor

3 reasons to buy the Honda ZR-V, and 3 reasons not to

3 reasons to buy the Honda ZR-V, and 3 reasons not to

Honda ZR-V

Honda is set to launch the ZR-V hybrid SUV in India as the Japanese carmaker’s new flagship offering for our market. The ZR-V will be sold in India as a fully imported CBU model, and is expected to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Tayron, Jeep Meridian, and Skoda Kodiaq. How compelling a package is the ZR-V at that price? We’ve compiled the upcoming Honda’s most notable strengths and weaknesses below.

Pros

Punchy and refined powertrain

The ZR-V comes with a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol-hybrid powertrain that outputs a combined 184hp and 315Nm, which is routed to the front wheels via an e-CVT. During our BIC track drive of the ZR-V, we found that the SUV deploys all of its torque from the off, which makes it feel rather zippy. Power flows to the wheels in a smooth and linear fashion, and part-throttle inputs feel responsive too.

Overall refinement is excellent, with barely any engine, road, or tyre noise making its way through to the cabin. Provided there’s enough charge in the battery, the ZR-V can even run in pure electric mode at low speeds, thereby reducing NVH levels further. Moreover, Honda claims a 22.8kpl fuel efficiency for the ZR-V, which will likely be appreciated by buyers seeking lower running costs.

Relatively agile handling

Despite its higher-up centre of gravity and front-wheel drive layout, the ZR-V felt nimble and enjoyable to drive around the Buddh International Circuit. The well-weighted and precise steering rack ensured stable and predictable handling around corners, and the ZR-V even held its own around a slalom course, with body control kept well in check.

Well-built interior with good ergonomics

Step inside the ZR-V and you’re greeted by a smartly laid-out dashboard with a plethora of soft-touch materials and premium-feeling trim pieces. The 10.25-inch digital driver’s display also looks neat and well-executed, the front seats feel nicely padded and comfortable, and the low-set dash enables great visibility.

The ZR-V’s dashboard layout isn’t as flashy or tech-laden as some of its rivals, but this isn’t all that bad, as it’s packed with tactile physical controls for nearly every function. There’s a lot of storage space too, including a decently sized glovebox and door bins, and a bridge-type transmission tunnel with a cubby underneath.

Cons

Misses out on some crucial features

A downside of not being as tech-laden as its rivals is that the ZR-V lacks quite a lot of features that buyers may expect at this price point. First off, the ZR-V has a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is bright and works perfectly fine, but is quite small by segment standards – even the much cheaper Honda City has a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen.

The ZR-V also doesn’t get a panoramic sunroof or heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats (the City offers ventilated front seats), and its 360-degree camera is quite low-res too.

Rear seat comfort feels lacking

While the ZR-V’s low-set rear bench makes ingress rather easy, it also means that you sit in a somewhat knees-up position, which may not be comfortable over extended periods. There are no rear sunshades to block harsh sunlight either, and the tapering roofline limits headroom for occupants over 6 feet tall.

Expected to be expensive

Since the ZR-V will retail as a CBU, pricing is anticipated to land at around Rs 45 lakh (ex-showroom). At that price, and with all the aforementioned drawbacks, the ZR-V could end up being a hard sell, especially when rivals like the Tayron, Kodiaq, and Meridian are bigger, more feature-loaded, and can even be had as 7-seaters.

2026 Maruti Brezza launched at Rs 7.40 lakh

2026 Maruti Brezza

Maruti Suzuki has launched the 2026 Brezza at a starting price of Rs 7.40 lakh. The carmaker’s compact SUV gets major updates, including a new engine option, gearbox, feature additions and minor changes to its exterior. The 2026 Maruti Brezza will take on the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Skoda Kylaq, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Kia Sonet and Syros.

  1. New 1.0-litre ‘Boosterjet’ engine produces 110hp and 170Nm.
  2. 5-speed manual gearbox replaced by a new 6-speed unit.
  3. Front seat ventilation, air purifier, larger 10.1-inch touchscreen on board.

2026 Maruti Brezza powertrains 

Finally gets a turbo-petrol and an underbody-mounted CNG kit 

The biggest update for the Brezza comes under its hood. It gets a new 1.0-litre ‘Boosterjet’ direct-injection turbo-petrol engine that develops 110hp and 170Nm. The previous version’s 103hp, 139Nm, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine has been retained with the option of pairing it with a CNG kit. However, CNG versions now feature an underbody-mounted kit like the Victoris, which saves boot space. All powertrains are paired with a new 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, while only the 1.5-litre petrol engine offers a 6-speed automatic transmission. 

2026 Maruti Brezza exterior updates

Mild updates bring a revised fascia and new alloy wheel designs

On the outside, Maruti has introduced minor styling updates for its compact SUV. The revised fascia gets a newly designed grille with a panel connecting the headlamps finished in dark chrome. The bumper is slightly redesigned with dark chrome elements and a new look for the faux skid plate. While the LED headlamps with L-shaped DRLs have been carried over, the fog lamps have been positioned slightly upwards and sit in a new triangular housing. 

In profile, the lower sides of the doors feature new dual-tone cladding and the 16-inch alloy wheels have a fresh design. It’s at the rear where the 2026 Brezza does not see as many changes, as it gets the same tail-lamps and bumper design as before.

2026 Maruti Brezza dimensions 

Length (mm)

3,995

Width (mm)

1,790

Height (mm)

1,685

Wheelbase (mm)

2,500

2026 Maruti Brezza interior and feature updates  

Gets a larger infotainment display and front seat ventilation 

Inside, the 2026 Brezza’s cabin gets a revised look. While the same black-and-brown theme is retained, there are newer trim materials, and silver trim pieces from the previous version are now finished in gloss black. The dual-tone leatherette-finished seats feature updated upholstery, and there’s a new set of HVAC switches borrowed from the Victoris.

In the features department, new additions include a larger 10.1-inch (up from 9-inch) Smartplay Pro X infotainment system with built-in navigation and Alexa, 64-colour ambient lighting, front-seat ventilation, air purifier and active cooling for the wireless phone charger. On the safety front, the Brezza now features a tyre pressure monitoring system, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning and parking sensors at the front. 

.2026 Maruti Brezza launched at Rs 7.40 lakh

Maruti Brezza front quarter static

Maruti Suzuki has launched the 2026 Brezza at a starting price of Rs 7.40 lakh. The carmaker’s compact SUV gets major updates, including a new engine option, gearbox, feature additions and minor changes to its exterior. The 2026 Maruti Brezza will take on the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Skoda Kylaq, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Kia Sonet and Syros.

2026 Maruti Brezza powertrains 

Finally gets a turbo-petrol and an underbody-mounted CNG kit 

The biggest update for the Brezza comes under its hood. It gets a new 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that develops 110hp and 170Nm. The previous version’s 103hp, 139Nm 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine has been retained with the option of pairing it with a CNG kit. However, CNG versions now feature an underbody-mounted kit like the Victoris, which saves boot space. All powertrains are paired with a new 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, while only the 1.5-litre petrol engine offers a 6-speed automatic transmission. 

2026 Maruti Brezza exterior updates

Mild updates bring a revised fascia and new alloy wheel designs

On the outside, Maruti has introduced minor styling updates for its compact SUV. The revised fascia gets a newly designed grille with a panel connecting the headlamps finished in dark chrome. The bumper is slightly redesigned with dark chrome elements and a new look for the faux skid plate. While the LED headlamps with L-shaped DRLs have been carried over, the fog lamps have been positioned slightly upwards and sit in a new triangular housing. In profile, the lower sides of the doors feature new dual-tone cladding and the 16-inch alloy wheels have a fresh design. It’s at the rear where the 2026 Brezza does not see as many changes, as it gets the same tail-lamps and bumper design as before.

Turbo-petrol powered versions feature minor cosmetic upgrades, bringing some distinction with a ‘Turbo’ badge on the tailgate along with red accents for the grille, faux skid plates, wheel arches, and ‘Turbo Boosterjet’ stickers on the rear quarter glass. Maruti has also introduced new Vivacious Orange and Lustrous Beige paint options along with dual-tone finishes with a black roof on these colours as well.

2026 Maruti Brezza dimensions 

Length (mm)

3,995

Width (mm)

1,790

Height (mm)

1,685

Wheelbase (mm)

2,500

2026 Maruti Brezza interior and feature updates  

Gets a larger infotainment display and front seat ventilation 

Inside, the 2026 Brezza’s cabin gets a revised look. While the same black-and-brown theme is retained, there are newer trim materials, and silver trim pieces from the previous version are now finished in gloss black. The dual-tone leatherette-finished seats feature updated upholstery, and there’s a new set of HVAC switches borrowed from the Victoris.

In the features department, new additions include a larger 10.1-inch (up from 9-inch) Smartplay Pro X infotainment system with built-in navigation and Alexa, 64-colour ambient lighting, front-seat ventilation, air purifierand active cooling for the wireless phone charger. On the safety front, the Brezza now features a tyre pressure monitoring system, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning and parking sensors at the front. 

Honda expands electric scooter lineup with QC3

Honda QC3

Honda has unveiled the new QC3 electric scooter, expanding its electric two-wheeler lineup to three models. The QC3 will sit above the QC1, offering a larger battery, more range and a higher level of equipment.

  1. Uses a 3kWh battery with a claimed IDC range of 145km
  2. Full charge takes 5 hours
  3. Gets a TFT display with Honda RoadSync connectivity

Honda QC3 India details

The QC3 sits above the QC1 in terms of range and features

Honda currently sells two electric scooters in India – the QC1 and the Activa-e – both of which are currently available through select dealerships in limited cities, with a nationwide rollout underway. The QC1 is Honda’s most affordable EV, with prices starting at Rs 90,708. It uses a fixed 1.5kWh battery, offers a claimed IDC range of 80km and has a top speed of 50kph. The Activa-e, meanwhile, uses two removable 1.5kWh batteries for a combined capacity of 3kWh and a claimed IDC range of 102km, and is priced from Rs 1.20 lakh.

With its fixed 3kWh battery and claimed IDC range of 145km, the QC3 becomes Honda’s longest-range electric scooter in India, suggesting that it will also sit above the existing models in terms of pricing. While Honda is yet to reveal motor specifications, it has confirmed that the battery can be charged from 0-80 percent in 2 hours 40 minutes, with a full charge taking 4 hours. The scooter also gets a TFT display with Honda RoadSync connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation, setting it apart from the more basic instrument cluster on the QC1.

As with the QC1 and Activa-e, the QC3’s availability is likely to be phased. Honda is yet to announce pricing or a launch timeline for the new scooter, and we’ll update this story as more details are announced.

Honda ADV 160 and Rebel 300 Expected to Launch Tomorrow

Honda Rebel 300 and ADV 160

Both products are likely to be locally manufactured although the extent of localised components is not yet clear.

  1. Rebel 300 and ADV 160 likely to be launched in India.
  2. Competitive pricing expected considering that the models are under 350cc.
  3. More new products could also be launched at the event.

Rebel 300 Cruiser

The Rebel nameplate is not entirely new to India. Honda had previously introduced the Rebel 500 in the country as a CBU model, pricing it at Rs 5.12 lakh (ex-showroom). However, its premium price tag made it out of reach for many. 

With local manufacturing expected for the Rebel 300, Honda could position it at a much more accessible price point, making it a stronger rival to other popular bikes in the market like the Royal Enfield Classic 350, Meteor 350 and Bullet 350. 

The Rebel 300 makes use of a 286cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine making around 30 hp and 27.5Nm. It has an accessible 690mm seat height and a kerb weight of 165kg. Currently, in many international markets, the 2027 model features Honda’s E-Clutch system. It remains to be seen if this E-clutch model makes its way here or whether they use a more affordable system to keep costs in check – something that Tsutsumu Otani, managing director, president & CEO of HMSI told us the company was exploring for the Indian market.  

This is the same engine that is used in the Honda CB300R which used to be on sale in India. Given the fact that that bike’s price was reduced to Rs 2.19 lakh (ex-showroom prices) after the GST rate reduction, Honda could also price the new Rebel 300 quite aggressively.

ADV 160 Maxi-Scooter

We first broke the news that Honda would bring the ADV 160 to India over a year back and the vehicle is now finally ready for launch. The new ADV 160 will sit at the top of Honda’s scooter range in India. The adventure-style maxi-scooter will likely be aimed at buyers looking for a more premium and performance oriented alternative to conventional commuter scooters. Pricing will be crucial, and it remains to be seen how aggressively Honda positions it in the market. It will go up against the likes of the Yamaha Aerox (Rs 1.45 lakh to Rs 1.48 lakh ex-showroom) and the Hero Xoom 160 (Rs 1.43 lakh ex-showroom).

Internationally, this scooter uses a 157cc, liquid cooled, single-cylinder engine making 16hp and 14.7Nm. It has a seat height of 780mm, a kerb weight of 134kg and 27-litres of underseat storage. The scooter also features an adjustable windscreen and single-channel ABS as standard. 

Other Product Launches

While the Rebel 300 and ADV 160 are expected to be the main launches, Honda is expected to have a few more surprises planned for tomorrow’s event. The company has been expanding its premium motorcycle portfolio in India, so additional product launches in that category could be on the cards as well as a third EV following the QC1 and Activa e. 
 

Range Rover GT: The Grand Tourer That Breaks The Mould

Range Rover GT

It’s not often that Range Rover adds a fresh member to the family. The last wholly new addition to the range was the Velar in 2017. Now comes something far more radical – the Range Rover GT, a grand tourer that ditches the SUV playbook, goes all-electric and pushes the brand into uncharted territory.

Shape of a new Range Rover

Even under the elaborate gold-on-black camouflage, the GT’s form is impossible to miss. The silhouette is long, low and almost coupe-like, with a roofline that seems to run on forever and exaggerates the car’s length.

Range Rover GT

Range Rover says the GT is longer than the standard-wheelbase Range Rover and, crucially, the lowest Range Rover yet. It also sits lower than a Porsche Macan while stretching beyond a Range Rover Sport. Those proportions immediately change what you expect a Range Rover to be. There’s still the familiar clean surfacing and tight detailing, but the GT comes across more like a fast, long-legged cruiser than a traditional go-anywhere SUV. And of course, like every Range Rover, it still drives all four wheels. The wheelbase looks to be well over three metres, which should suit the kind of high-speed stability and relaxed continent-eating ability the GT name promises.

Underpinning this shift is a clean break from the MLA architecture used by the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Electrics. The GT rides on JLR’s new EMA platform, a born-electric architecture that gives the design and engineering teams far more freedom than a chassis that is shared with ICE powertrains.

Born-electric, engineered for refinement

EMA’s packaging advantages are obvious here. Despite the low roofline, Range Rover says there’s enough headroom for six-footers in both rows, helped by a fixed panoramic glass roof, the largest the brand has fitted yet, which adds 40mm of headroom.

The battery uses longer cells in a single layer rather than a double-stacked layout, so the floor need not be pushed up. That should help keep the seating position natural, and the cabin feel properly spacious. There’s even a frunk up front, something you don’t get on the MLA-based Range Rover Electrics, which underlines how different this car is beneath the skin.

Range Rover GT

Refinement is clearly central to the brief. Martin Limpert, Managing Director of Range Rover, calls it “the quietest Range Rover yet”, claiming it to be 7dB quieter than the ICE Range Rover, which in acoustic terms is an exponential improvement. Besides, the inherent smoothness of an EV powertrain promises to give the GT a special calm, unhurried character that proper grand tourers are built on.

No hard figures have been released, but the wheelbase and EMA’s potential point to a sizeable battery pack and serious long-distance ability. Expect the GT to be built for fewer charge interruptions and more time spent crossing countries in near silence. Initially, the GT will be offered as a pure battery-electric vehicle, with a hybrid option planned later in the lifecycle.

A warm, reductive cabin

Range Rover GT

Inside, the GT continues Range Rover’s reductive design language, but in a more architectural, lounge-like way. The cabin is defined by strong horizontal lines, with a single central OLED screen paired with a compact driver display in place of a conventional instrument cluster.

Range Rover GT

That smaller display is not just a styling move. It is meant to cut clutter and reduce the amount of information the driver has to process. A concealed air vent runs the width of the dash, creating a clean horizontal graphic that ties the cabin together, while the dashboard is wrapped in a woven textile that hides the speakers within its form.

Range Rover GT

Range Rover talks about hidden technology and reduced visual and acoustic clutter, and that comes through in the way the cabin is put together. Purists may rue to the fact that there are very few hard buttons, but the controls are said to be simplified to make the interface more user-friendly.

Range Rover GT

Second-row legroom is said to be class-leading, and the stretched body and EMA packaging make that claim believable. This is clearly a car designed to make the rear seat a proper place to be, not just somewhere to sit while the driver has all the fun.

Camouflage, character and what it means

The prototype fleet now running global tests wears a bespoke camouflage inspired by the landscape around Gaydon, home to Range Rover’s design and engineering teams. The topographic pattern gives the car a graphic, almost digital feel, while also hinting at the shape beneath.

Range Rover calls the GT its most technologically sophisticated model yet. The EMA platform, deep software integration and a vast suite of driver assistance features should make it more advanced than any Range Rover before it.

Range Rover GT

Limpert’s point is that the GT is meant to blend effortless EV performance, long-haul refinement and all-terrain ability in a way no conventional GT can. That is the real story here. This is not just a lower, sleeker Range Rover. It is a new interpretation of what the badge can be when the brand is no longer tied to the old packaging rules.

Built in Halewood alongside ICE and hybrid models, the GT is the car that finally drags Range Rover’s grand touring ambitions fully into the electric era – and it does so with a shape and stance that make it look every bit as disruptive as the brief suggests.