Expected new launches after the lockdown: Part I
We don’t know when the lockdown will end but we do know what cars and motorcycles will be premiering in Nepal after this lockdown. Given below is a list of those launching after lockdown, which might just help you make up your mind if you are thinking of getting a new vehicle post-lockdown.
Yamaha will launch the all-new Fascino 125, the successor of the out-going Fascino 110 scooter. With this Yamaha has shifted its focus from the 100cc segment to the 125cc segment. Design-wise, the scooter follows the same silhouette of the current Fascino 110, but has a more defined form with prominent chrome accents, giving the scooter a more mature and premium look.
On the feature front, the scooter is equipped with larger 21-liter underseat storage, wider seat for better comfort, multi-function key fob with seat opener, and a side stand engine cut-off switch. Upgrading to a larger 125cc motor, which is 30 percent higher than the 110cc model in terms of displacement, the BS6 compliant motor is capable of churning out 8 bhp and 9.7 Nm of peak torque. In terms of efficiency, Yamaha claims the Fascino 125 is capable of returning a mileage of 58 kmpl, 16 percent more than the 110cc version.
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 
Jeep is looking to launch one of the most iconic off-road vehicles in the world: The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. The Wrangler is Jeep’s wildly popular 4×4, available as a two-door or four-door SUV, the latter known as the Wrangler Unlimited. The two-door model has room for four people, while the Unlimited version seats five. A standard 285 bhp, 3.6-liter V-6 engine pairs with a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic. There’s also an optional 270 bhp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that delivers 400 Nm of torque with the eight-speed automatic.
A turbo-diesel 3.0-liter V-6 that works with an eight-speed automatic is new in the Wrangler Unlimited. Four-wheel drive is standard. The Wrangler is all about off-road driving, or at least the image of it. While it has a rugged image, available comfort features include heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen multimedia system that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity.
Tata will be launching its anticipated premium hatchbacks, the Altroz. It is the first vehicle developed on the new ALFA architecture and the second sporting the Impact 2.0 design language. Tata Altroz is also the recipient of the 5-star adult safety rating from Global NCAP, the world’s top global car assessment program.
The Altroz will be available in a petrol engine configuration only. The BS6 compliant 1.2-liter, 3-cylinder Revotron petrol engine produces 86 bhp and 113 Nm of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The car also comes with Eco and Drive modes as standard. In terms of dimensions, the Altroz measures 3,990 mm in length, 1,755 mm in width, and 1,523 mm in height. It comes with a 2,501 mm long wheelbase and an unladen ground clearance of 165 mm.
Other features include dual-tone alloy wheels, projector headlamps with LED DRLs, LED fog lamps, auto climate control, auto headlamps and rain sensing wipers, multi-function steering wheel, front and rear armrests, and rear AC vents with a 12 volt socket.
Volkswagen Polo & Vento TSI
The Polo and Vento have been among the best-selling cars from the Volkswagen stable since their introduction in India and in Nepal, and the brand recently introduced the BS6 lineup across the two carlines. Now the company will be launching the TSI variants of the Polo and the Vento. These variants will be powered by the 1.0l TSI BS6 engine and mated to a new 6-speed manual transmission that makes a peak power of 110 bhp and delivers 175 Nm of torque. The TSI editions of the two cars exhibit a stylish honeycomb grille, sporty body side graphics, and bold TSI badge across the passenger doors, as well as stunning black ORVM, and glossy black roof and spoilers.
Suzuki Vitara Brezza Petrol 
The newest Vitara Brezza offers an enhanced design language, bolder looks, stronger stance, upgraded interiors, and a host of new features. The Vitara Brezza shares its 105hp and 138Nm, 1.5-litre K15B petrol engine with its other siblings like the Ciaz, Ertiga, and XL6. The compact SUV will come with a 5-speed manual and advanced automatic transmission with Smart Hybrid.
The Vitara Brezza gets a fresh front-end, there’s new design detail below the chrome grille that extends to the front bumper, the fog lamp housings are larger, and the turn indicators are near the headlight unit. While there isn’t much that has changed on the sides you do get new alloy wheels and the rear also gets a redone bumper.
On the inside, you have an all-black cabin and a new SmartPlay Studio 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, cruise control, and automatic wipers. The safety kit remains unchanged, with dual airbags and ABS being part of the package. The compact SUV will be available in three new dual-tone color options: Sizzling Red with Midnight Black roof, Torque Blue with midnight Black roof, and Granite Grey with Autumn Orange roof.
Auto dealers in Nepal extend warranties
With the repeated lockdown extensions, automobile dealers in Nepal have extended their service and vehicle warranty periods to give customers some relief in aftersales services.
Addressing the ongoing lockdown, Hyundai Nepal has introduced a service hotline where you can talk about issues regarding your Hyundai vehicle. Further, the company has introduced a new program called the “Hyundai CARE”. In the wake of the current Covid-19 crisis, this program has been initiated to help the Hyundai owners who may face difficulties in vehicle maintenance.
The Hyundai CARE program ensures all original warranties on Hyundai vehicles will be extended by two months. The offers include Free Service, Basic Vehicle Warranty, and AMC Services. Hyundai says it prioritizes the health of its customers in line with the company’s firm commitment to ‘progress to humanity’; the company says it is also committed to providing better service and minimizing inconvenience.
Another Korean manufacturer has also announced an extended warranty program. Kia Nepal has launched the KIA Promise program for its customers whose warranty expires in February-April 2020, plus those who have failed to repair their vehicles due to Kia dealer closure. This group of customers can now repair their vehicles until 30 June 2020. However, extended warranty is limited to customers when they visit and request repair at Kia dealer.
Toyota Nepal has limited services strictly to ‘appointment only’, until further notice, considering the health and safety of their customers and employees. The services are especially for Toyota Ambulances, Health-care service staffs, and essential service providers.
CG Motocorp, the sole authorized distributor of Suzuki vehicles in Nepal, has announced that the company will be running a seven-day check-up camp as soon as the government ends the ongoing lockdown. The camp will provide a special discount on engine oils and other consumables. The company has also announced an increase in warranty period and free service, by two months. Similarly, the company has started Express Service program for emergency vehicles. These vehicles include ambulance and other health care vehicles, vehicles that carry food, and other important utilities, and security vehicles.
As of now, this express service has been started at Suzuki's service center in Dhobhighat, even as the company is preparing to open other service centers. Also, to address the queries of customers about their Suzuki vehicles, the company has brought into operation a hotline number (9801571571) should they need any assistance.
Similarly, if you have a Tata vehicle and its warranty period expired after 15 March 2020, no need to worry. Tata Motors has extended your vehicle warranty period by 60 days, as per the terms and conditions of the standard warranty.
Agni Energy Pvt. Ltd., the official dealer of Mahindra electric cars for Nepal, is providing in-house services to its customers. The group has requested people to contact certain numbers (9801136203, 9801909237, 9801909242) to get this service.
Likewise, Datsun Nepal has introduced emergency servicing facilities for all frontline health workers and government officials. Similarly, Ford Nepal has extended the warranty period till 30 June 2020 along with extension in free service and periodic maintenance schedule service.
Best free cooking apps
Cooking is a useful life skill. Even if you don’t know how to cook, it’s not rocket science and can be acquired with some practice. Especially when you’re locked down at home and have run out of things to do, cooking can be refreshing, meditative, and perhaps even palatable with a little effort.
Don’t know where to start? Let us guide you to some mobile applications. And don’t worry about having to register or pay, as they are all free.
The BBC is not only a solid source of Covid-19-related news and information; it’s also a useful guide to good food. BBC’s Good Food offers a huge database of over 10,000 recipes accessed easily via the app available both on iOS and Android. With both user-submitted recipes and tried-and-tested recipes from the BBC Good Food team and celebrity chefs, users can create their personalized accounts and save their favorite recipes into custom collections, as well as rate and save recipes for later. The step-by-step guides in the app are of great help. You may also share your favorite recipes with family and friends.
The Tasty app, available on both iOS and Android platforms, is one of the most popular cooking apps. And chances are, you’ve likely seen a related tasty video or two on social media. If you have, you don’t have to go back in time to find the video again. The app allows you to search from its huge database and will let you find exactly what you’re looking for with multiple filters like vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and what not.
You can personalize the app and benefit from its step-by-step instructions, keeping your phone screen awake while it does so.
BigOven
BigOven makes cooking simple with more than 350,000 recipes on offer via its iOS and Android platforms. With this cooking app, you’ll not only be inspired to cook, but also be mighty organized in the kitchen. You can navigate the massive BigOven library of recipes with ease, and the app allows you to add snapshots of your recipes. Plus there is the option of making a grocery list based on the recipes you want. You can also type in three ingredients you have in your kitchen, and BigOven will show you what you can make with them. How convenient!
The best automotive movies for the lockdown
Let’s start by saying that we deeply appreciate everyone who is following the government lockdown orders. That said, this lockdown has been one long boring vacation that we wish ends sooner rather than later. Today we have a list of auto movies that will help you pass time and satisfy your inner petrol head during the lockdown. Given below, in no particular order, are some we think are totally worth a watch... or two.
Bullitt is a 1968 American action thriller directed by Peter Yates and produced by Philip D'Antoni. Legendary Steve McQueen stars as Frank Bullitt, a tough San Francisco police lieutenant assigned to protect a mob witness. The star of the movie, a 1968 Mustang Fastback, was sold at Mecum Auctions for a record $3.4 million ($3.7 million including auction fees) on 10 January 2020.
The Italian Job (1969)
The Italian Job is a 1969 British comedy caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley, and directed by Peter Collinson. The movie or the job is a plan to steal a gold shipment from the streets of Turin by creating a traffic jam. Using three Mini Coopers, a couple of Jaguars, and a bus, the goal is to bring Torino to a standstill, steal the gold, and escape.
Le Mans (1971)
Le Mans is a 1971 film featuring a fictional 24-Hour Le Mans auto race starring Steve McQueen. Directed by Lee H. Katzin, it features actual footage captured during the 1970 race. In focus is the duel between German Stahler in Ferrari 512LM and American Delaney in Gulf Team Porsche 917.
Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)
Gone in 60 Seconds is an American action heist film starring Nicolas Cage as a retired master car thief who must come back to the industry and steal 50 cars with his crew in one night to save his brother's life. These cars include fast Lamborghinis, precious Ferraris, luxurious Porsches, and Eleanor—a rare Ford Shelby Mustang GT500.
The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2001)
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a 2006 American action film directed by Justin Lin. It stars Mitsubishi Evo 9, Nissan Silva, Ford Mustang, RX 7, Toyota Chaser, Lucas Black, Bow Wow, Nathalie Kelly, Sung Kang, Sonny Chiba. The F&F franchise has now become no less than a superhero movie where Dominic Toretto and his family save the world from different threats. Tokyo Drift was different as it brought tuner cars and drifting to international exposure. It was a no-nonsense story driven by some of the best cars in the tuner world that created an exclusive car culture.
The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
The World's Fastest Indian is a 2005 New Zealand biographical sports drama film based on the story of New Zealander Burt Munro played by the extraordinaire Anthony Hopkins, who spent years rebuilding a 1920 Indian motorcycle. This helped him set the land speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967.
Senna (2010)
Senna is a 2010 British documentary that depicts the life and death of Brazilian motor-racing champion and driving legend Ayrton Senna. Directed by Asif Kapadia, it shows Ayrton Senna become a three-time Formula One racing champion and Brazil's national hero before his untimely death at 34.
TT: Closer to The Edge (2011)
TT: Closer to the Edge is a British documentary by first-time director Richard de Aragues. The film is narrated by Jared Leto and charts the Isle of Man TT motorcycle race that takes place on the Isle of Man every year. It follows the leading riders in the 2010 race, most notably Guy Martin and Ian Hutchinson. Motorcycle racers reveal their motivation for competing for the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, after what is the most dangerous and deadly race in the sport.
Rush is a 2013 biographical sports film centered on the rivalry between Formula One drivers British James Hunt and Austrian Niki Lauda during the 1976 season. Hunt and Lauda, two extremely skilled racers, have an intense rivalry. Their mutual enmity that pushes them to their limits.
Need for Speed (2014)
Need for Speed is a 2014 sports action thriller film directed and co-edited by Scott Waugh, and written by George and John Gatins. It is the film adaptation of the racing video game franchise of the same name by Electronic Arts. Fresh from prison, a street racer (Aaron Paul) who was framed by a wealthy business associate joins a cross-country race. His purpose: redemption, recognition from the world of racing, and solving his problems. But above all, revenge. This is a story about love, redemption, revenge, and motor oil, all swirled together.
Ford V Ferrari (2019)
Ford v Ferrari is a 2019 American sports drama film directed by James Mangold and written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and Jason Keller. American automotive designer Carroll Shelby and fearless British race car driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary vehicle for the Ford Motor Co. Together, they plan to compete against the race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24-Hour Le Mans in France in 1966.
