Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2017 i Car India

WE’VE SEEN THE V40 AND ITS jumped-up Cross Country version. Now it’s time for the real deal: the XC40. The all-new XC40 is the smallest crossover from the Swedes, and it enters a segment that’s been immensely crowded for a while. The compact luxury urban SUV space has quite a few front-biased offerings and the XC40 will have to hit the ground running to battle the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes GLA-Class, and MINI Countryman, among others. What has got Volvo so confident? First off, the XC40 is the first car to use the Group’s second modular platform: CMA or Compact Modular Architecture, co-developed with Geely, which will underpin all the smaller models from the 40, and potential 30 and 50 lines, apart from LYNK & CO,…

THE INDIAN CHAPTER OF WORLDWIDE partner for the Olympics, Bridgestone, announced Olympic medallist P V Sindhu as their new brand ambassador. This move by Bridgestone India seems to be in line with their Olympic manifesto, ‘Chase Your Dream’. Currently 22 years old, Sindhu continues to exemplify dedication, grit, and hard work as a sportsperson. A recent example of her commitment would be the silver medal that she won at the World Badminton Championship in Glasgow. Sindhu has currently signed a contract for the next three years during which time she will be an active part of Bridgestone India’s promotional events, customer service campaigns, and the organisation’s brand-enhancement activities.…

DR RAGHUPATI SINGHANIA, CHAIRMAN AND MD OF JK TYRE AND Industries, was recently presented with the business leadership award for Excellence in Global Entrepreneurship at the 13th Indo-US Economic Summit, organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi. The prestigious award was given to Dr Singhania for his visionary leadership that has propelled JK Tyre and Industries to a new height. The company recently made a foray into the two-wheeler market and has received immense praise in the Indian market. We hope to see Dr Singhania continue to lead jK and further do India proud on the world stage. We congratulate him on this award.…

Audi Q7 40 TFSI quattro Audi India have introduced the petrol-powered Q7 luxury SUV, the 40 TFSI, starting from Rs 67.76 lakh (ex-showroom). The new Q7 steps in armed with Matrix LED headlamps, a panoramic sunroof, and 19-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the cockpit is focused towards the driver. In the Technology variant, standard features include MMI Touch with navigation and a high-resolution display, a Bose 558W surround-sound audio system, together with Audi phonebox. A four-zone climate control, 30 ambient lighting colours, seats in cricket leather, a powered third row, and standard air suspension are offered. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder TFSI turbo-petrol engine makes 252 PS and 370 Nm. An eight-speed tiptronic automatic drives the quattro all-wheel-drive system. The two variants available are Premium Plus at Rs 67.76 lakh and Technology at…

I have been thinking about investing in a small car to commute to work. Being on the farther side of 50 years and an inexperienced driver, I feel a compact petrol car with modern creature comforts will be an ideal fit for me. Also, I would prefer the convenience of an automatic transmission. My budget is Rs 6 lakh, which I can extend to Rs 7 lakh at best. Please advise me. Sreedhar Babu, Coimbatore Hello, Sreedhar, Considering your budget, and since you’re looking to travel through the city, an auto hatchback would make perfect sense. Your options range from the Maruti Suzuki Ignis and Hyundai Grand i10 to the Tata Tiago as a slightly more cost-effective option. Hope that helps.…

THE THING WITH A POINT OF VIEW IS THAT EVERYONE has one. And, what’s worse, in close proximity, you’re handed a slice of said opinion whether you want it or not. Thankfully, some points of view are appreciated. Even more so because of how they translate into the real world. What one likes to hear, and what one believes others like to hear are two ideas that do not always share a path. However, some people get it right, sometimes, and the rewards of that effort are great. So what if it’s an entry-level idea. The beauty of a roadster is its ability to make you smile when the top is down. Yes, open-air motoring is a bliss in itself, but when you have an engine with a soundtrack as…

EVERYONE’S DOING IT. WITH DIESEL becoming the baddie of propulsion, petrol power is making a comeback with more carmakers introducing spark-ignition variants to cater to growing customer bases with purchase decisions fuelled by petrol. While there are those who offer sensibly priced alternatives alongside mammoth V8 versions with eye-watering price tags, Audi have gone the other way and taken the step towards the very roots of sensible, rather than the audacious. This move comes as a result of growing competition, and not just from fellow German rivals. The Q7 40 TFSI, then, is actually a new model globally, sold as the 2.0 TFSI in some markets such as the United States, Malaysia, and Singapore. It packs just as much equipment and comfort features as its larger V6 TDI sibling, even…

TIME GOES A LITTLE BIT CRAZY sometimes, running like a freight train when you desperately need some more of it and moving at a snail’s pace when it is imperative that it pass. In today’s chaotic, a-minute-a-mile urban lifestyle, the latter is an absolutely rarity, and the former is too common for comfort. It seems like the hands of the ticking clock are almost distorting the concept of time, moving as they please. In situations like this, you need something to ground you, something to remind you that time is not your master and, maybe, just maybe, not as significant as you make it out to be either. I went in search of that reminder, that totem to help bring back some perspective. This meant an early morning, of course,…

TOTAL IS A leading name in the oil and gas space, specialising in lubricants, special fluids, fuel additives, and fuels. You might have seen their logo in motor sport, for they provide lubricants to the Renault F1 team. The company is always in the process of developing new products for the ever-changing market, and the Technical Centre Asia Pacific (TCAP) is Total’s R&D centre dedicated to product development for the entire Asia-Pacific region as well as the Middle East. Established in 2012 at Mahape, near Mumbai, the TCAP was set up as a strategic advancement in the region to assist with product development, analysis, product training and field testing. The key functions of the facility include the development of adapted products and technical support to key industrial customers and OEMs…

MRF LIMITED HAVE ENTERED the luxury car tyre space with the new Perfinza range of premium tyres which have been released in India before being made available in international markets. The tyre was unveiled by the company’s top management in the presence of cricket legend AB de Villiers, who has been roped in as the global brand ambassador. These are the first indigenously produced tyres made by an Indian company to be approved by a leading luxury car manufacturer. The development of the Perfinza tyres has been made possible by MRF’s continued commitment to investment in R&D within India and abroad, and the tyres have undergone extensive testing under wet and dry conditions in India, Germany, and the IDIADA proving grounds, Europe’s most comprehensive independent testing centre near Barcelona in…

Belgium: Hamilton on Top at Spa Date, Extending His Advantage Italy: Hamilton Shines in the Sun after Four-hour Wet Qualy in Monza Singapore: First-corner Disaster Makes Ferrari See Red, Hamilton Wins DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP Lewis Hamilton 263 Sebastian Vettel 235 Valtteri Bottas 212 CONSTRUCTORS’ CHAMPIONSHIP Mercedes-AMG 472 Ferrari 373 Red Bull Racing 230…

NEW THIS MONTH AUDI Q7 40 TFSI Petrol power comes to the Audi Q7. With a 252-PS turbo-petrol, there's even more refinement on offer, from Rs 67.76 lakh ŠKODA OCTAVIA vRS The most powerful iteration of the new Octavia is here, packing a credible 230 PS. Yours from Rs 24.63 lakh LEGENDS PRICES Ex-showroom, Pune (subject to change) BO: Available only By Order NA: Price not available FEATURES F: Front only D: Driver airbag only O: Optional equipment ASTON MARTIN BENTLEY BMW FERRARI FIAT GENERAL MOTORS GENERAL MOTORS HYUNDAI HYUNDAI LAMBORGHINI LANDROVER MAHINDRA MAHINDRA MASERATI MASERATI MINI NISSAN RENAULT RENAULT TATA MOTORS TATA VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN VOLVO…

MERCEDES-BENZ HAVE LAUNCHED UPDATED VERSIONS OF THE new S-Class Coupé and Cabriolet, sharing engines with the recently introduced S-Class luxury saloon. The new ‘560’ badge appears, with a 4.0-litre V8 BiTurbo bringing the power. The AMG versions, on the other hand, receive a more aggressive Panamericana front grille. The S 63 4MATIC+ is powered by the new M177 4.0-litre BiTurbo V8 that replaces the old 585-PS 5.5-litre BiTurbo V8. The new motor makes 612 PS, 27 PS more than the outgoing model, and is paired to the new AMG Speedshift 9G-Tronic multi-clutch transmission. The S 65 continues with the 6.0-litre BiTurbo V12 with 630 PS and 1,000 Nm. The S 65 is paired to the AMG Speedshift 7G-Tronic transmission.…

PORSCHE HAVE TAKEN THE COVERS OFF THEIR NEW FLAGSHIP SUV: THE THIRD-generation Cayenne. The new Cayenne is 75 kg lighter than the outgoing model and features more family-oriented design this time round. A new selection of engines is on offer: a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-petrol engine making 340 PS and, in the Cayenne S, a new 2.9-litre biturbo V6 producing 440 PS. Both are paired to an all-new eight-speed gearbox. The new Turbo variant, meanwhile, gets propelled by the new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 making 550 PS, boasting of driving dynamics that challenge the laws of physics. The new Cayenne models will arrive in India soon. Watch this space for more.…

AN INDEPENDENT CROWD-FUNDED EFFORT TO BID ADIEU to what many consider the greatest American sports car, the Viper saw a privateer group take two stock Viper ACR from a Texas dealership and embark on a quest to cement the Viper’s spot in history. Driver Lance Arnold set a time of 7:01.3 on his first flying lap. The day Arnold set his time, one car suffered a seized diff, and the other crashed following a high-speed tyre failure. That the Viper could post a sub-seven-minute time was widely believed. This attempt makes it the fastest American, rear-wheel-drive, manual-transmission car around the gruesome circuit.…

“The Frankfurt Auto Show which was held in September had all the exhibitors flaunting their electric and hybrid models. Diesel models were relegated to the back of the stands” THE INDUSTRY WAS WAITING WITH BATED breath for the outcome of the government’s meeting of 9 September to fine-tune the GST rates. When the announcement came, it was apparent that the government had backtracked a little and that the full-blown effect of the proposed increase in cess was not going to be imposed. Instead, a two, five, and seven per cent cess was imposed on mid-sized cars, luxury cars and SUVs respectively. The response of the auto industry was mixed. While some companies heaved a sigh of relief, others kept mum and still others were vocal in their criticism. Is the…

VANILLA IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLAIN-Jane, the bland, even considered colourless. Yet, Vanilla isn’t so. It’s one of the more complex flavours, and getting it right — from the beans to the mix — is what truly contributes to the eventual creamy-smooth flavour. French Vanilla takes things one step further. No, it isn’t a Vanilla bean grown in France. Rather, it’s the addition of more flavour, and colour, from the egg-yolk that goes in. Distinct images come to mind of noted chef, Guillaume Brahimi, doing what he does best — besides adding more butter. French Vanilla, then, is more depth of flavour and technique than one sees at first. And renowned French car-makers Renault have given us one more contemporary example of how to bring beauty and depth of…

TATA MOTORS ARE GOING THROUGH A BIT OF A renaissance at the moment. It all began with the Tiago, a car that earned plaudits all around and set the bar for what to expect of Tata cars in the future. The brand even roped in football legend Lionel Messi as brand ambassador for the Tiago, a move that no one saw coming. Then came the Hexa and the Tigor soon followed, and now we have the latest product in this refreshed line-up, something that slots into that popular crossover segment. And, well, if they are going down the same FC Barcelona footballer route for the Nexon as well, then Leo’s team-mate, Gerard Pique, might be a more appropriate pick this time around, because you can draw many parallels between the…

LAST MONTH OUR COVER STORY WAS THE NEW Hyundai Verna first drive and it raised a pertinent question that the nation wanted to know: was it truly the best in this segment? So in our latest edition, we try to get you a definitive answer and, in addition, highlight facts about the best cars in the C-segment. We understand that this surely must have piqued your interest. Read on to know more... For our comparison, we took the recently updated Honda City, which, over the years, has made the segment popular in India; the built-like-a-tank European offering, Volkswagen Vento; and, of course, the 2017 Hyundai Verna. Sadly, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz wasn’t available during our comparison dates, but I feel it has similar characteristics as the City. So let’s kick…

This is what driving in the mountains is all about, challenging roads and picturesque locales A SHINY GLASS FACE BEARING THOSE unmistakable four rings signify my arrival at the Audi dealership in Chandigarh. A 2017 Q3 Premium, the petrol, FWD model in a snazzy shade of Red stood glistening in the afternoon sun. Our chariot awaited, so without further ado, I hopped into the driver’s seat, set the S tronic transmission into Drive, and we were off. The drive from Chandigarh to Manali was mostly uneventful, except for a spectacular sunset we caught as we neared that day’s destination. The drive into Mandi along the Beas River is always fun too. From Manali is where the real fun began, though: Rohtang pass and the daunting Himalayan landscape. Rohtang is arguably…

Car India (CI): What kind of music do you enjoy listening to? Your favourite artiste or band? Akitoshi Takemura (AT): I absolutely love rock music. I am a big fan of Freddie Mercury, the lead vocalist and co-principal songwriter of the rock band ‘Queen’. In fact, I would go a step ahead to say that Freddie was pure genius. I also have fond memories of listening to artistes like Bon Jovi and Michael Jackson during my schooldays. (CI): Which is your favourite sport team? (AT): Baseball is my favourite sport and The Hanshin Tigers is by far my favourite team. It is even more special since they are the local team from my birthplace in Japan. I have grown up watching their games and players, and they continue…

MRF, one oF IndIA’s leading tyre brands, has entered the premium tyre segment with the new Perfinza range. over the years, the company has been participating in and winning a number of motor sport events and has successfully utilised the learnings from the racetrack for application in its road tyres. no wonder, MRF has a history of developing and launching the finest tyres in various four- and two-wheeler segments and markets. Just like at the fiercely competitive APRC, where MRF has defeated international rally teams, the firm has entered the exclusive luxury-car tyre market and emerged victorious yet again with the Perfinza range. The owners of cars from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are never willing to compromise on quality and safety, and I am happy to note that the new…

VOLKSWAGEN MOTORSPORT INDIA HAVE concluded the first season of the Ameo Cup at the Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT), Chennai, with Karminder Singh of Delhi being crowned the champion. The races were incredibly challenging and saw the drivers having to prepare their cars to race in changing weather conditions throughout. RACE ONE The quickest time in qualifying was set by Saurav Bandyopadhyay of Mumbai (1:54.193), followed by guest racer Anning Sun from Shanghai, China, and Sandeep Kumar of Chennai. With the sun shining on the start-finish line all the cars got off to a good start, but contact between Aditya Pawar and Jeet Jhabakh, who ended up in the barriers either side of the track, meant the safety car had to spring into action on the first lap. Dhruv Mohite…

THE ‘PROJECT ONE’ WAS ALSO known by a few other names, including ‘R50’, and saw many a rendering surface around the Internet. Mercedes have put the entire speculative furore to rest and created a whole new buzz, officially revealing the concept of the 1,000+ PS Project One hypercar. The highlight? The 1.6-litre V6 hybrid power-unit straight off the F1 car; although there are some changes. First, the rev-limit has been toned down from 15,000 rpm to 11,000. This is to ensure a longer life and to compensate for regular Super Plus fuel — non-racing fuel. The engine is, essentially, a racing engine, with pneumatic valve actuation, spur gears for the overhead cams, direct fuel-injection, an electrically-assisted single turbocharger, and the two Motor Generator Units for Heat and Kinetic energy (MGU-H…

THE ALL-NEW DACIA DUSTER, POPULAR AS THE RENAULT DUSTER here in India, was showcased in its 2018 guise for European markets. A more contemporary design language with particular stylistic additions, such as the revised headlamps with three-section LED daytime lights, LED tail-lamp clusters, and 17-inch alloy wheels, make it stand out as a newer model that means business. Under the hood will be the familiar, proven 1.5-litre K9K turbo-diesel engine with a choice of outputs up to 110 PS, with a petrol engine also on offer in some markets. The efficient dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission that made its début on the last model continues in all its glory as an optional transmission on this all-road-ready crossover SUV that doesn’t shy away from the rough stuff.…

MERCEDES-BENZ HAVE A NEW LUXURY 3S FACILITY IN GOA, THANKS TO AN investment of Rs 10 crore by Counto Motors. The dealership boasts of a nine-car display and the facility to service 14 cars simultaneously. A total of 53 trained professionals will be present to ensure that the brand and ownership experience is intact. Located at Ribander, the dealership was inaugurated by Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, and Aakash Khaunte, Managing Director, Counto Motors. The 3S facility will sell and service all models of Mercedes-Benz cars in India. It will also offer services like free pick-up and drop across the state of Goa, and a customer lounge with TV and Wi-Fi access. Customers can also choose from a variety of official Mercedes-Benz accessories and merchandise.…

BARKING DOGS SELDOM BITE, THEY SAY. Exceptions, however, present themselves every now and then. One such beast just happens to be something rather suited to a racetrack, while also being offered as something that lets you live the race experience on tarmac. Not that we recommend racing on public roads, or a public display of traction, but some things can’t always be helped. Especially when there’s a drive mode selector position that says ‘RACE’ — not an initial like ‘C’ or ‘S’ but a full-blown four-letter mode not often seen on a Mercedes Dynamic Select drive-mode selector, even on AMG models. This one’s special. How special? Well, the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) was the best place for Mercedes-AMG to have the car with the hope to showcase at least some…

This flexible nature makes the Škoda Octavia vRS a smart choice for daily use; one that can be used comfortably for commuting to work HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SPACIOUS, premium sedan with a European badge and a sports car-like performance. But here is the catch: it comes for a fraction of the price of a usual sports car. True to the Škoda tag line, the Octavia vRS is ‘Simply Clever’. Škoda have been cashing in on this winning recipe of more aggressive styling and power-packed performance in the vRS version of the Octavia. Unlike its predecessors, however, the latest iteration hasn’t been detuned for India, but offers the 2.0-litre TSI producing 230 PS, just like its international version. It’s not just an engine upgrade, the vRS rides…

HOW DO YOU ENCAPSULATE ALMOST 50 years of high-performance engineering excellence with a century of heritage in a brand-new car that replaces a soulful tribute to an icon? An icon not just for Mercedes-Benz but for the automotive world in its totality. The SLS AMG paid tribute to the mind-bending 300SL Gullwing. And the Mercedes-AMG GT stepped in as its successor. And, now, Mercedes-AMG have presented the ultimate incarnation of the high-performance vehicle, combining the two worlds of Formula 1 racing and their road car programme, the Project One. MERCEDES-AMG ‘PROJECT ONE’ Bringing F1 technology and engineering to the road is one thing, but making a road-legal F1 car? Now that’s something few manufacturers have attempted and fewer still have achieved. With the Project One, Mercedes-AMG are giving their F1…

THE BAVARIANS HAVE ALWAYS HAD SOME interesting cars in their portfolio. Some that entice people enough to hover around their showrooms just to get a glimpse. However, when the cars hit the road and are made available to drive for potential buyers, with the more prominent ones on apt pedestal displays, the result is a crowd-puller like few others. The 2017 BMW Experience in Pune kicked off with a familiar layout featuring two courses: off-road and dynamic drive. There was a fleet of X3 and X5 cars — with xDrive, obviously — for the off-road course, as well as the 3, 3 GT, and 5 Series cars, all 20d, for the dynamic course. The Z4 roadster, M4 Coupé, X5 M, X6 M, and the i8 were on display as well.…

TEAM MRF ŠKODA’S GAURAV GILL DOES seem to love driving in the APRC. The two-time champion won his first rally in this competition way back in 2008, and hasn’t looked back since. He’s well down the path towards his third Asia-Pacific Rally Championship title, and the latest round, the Rally Hokkaido, has helped him take one step closer to the winner’s trophy. On a day when four of his competitors, including MRF Škoda team-mate Ole Christian Veiby, bowed out at the third stage, Gill drove flawlessly. This meant that the podium, Gill and co-driver Stephan Prevot apart, had a decidedly different look. In second place and nearly 12 minutes behind was Robert Blomberg (Lars Andersson) of Mpart Mitsubishi Mirage. Third spot went to Fuyuhiko Takahashi (Mitsuo Nakamura) in their Subaru…

WE LANDED AT Kari for the penultimate round of the JK Tyre FMSCI NRC. Before the weekend began, Vishnu Prasad led the Euro JK 17 class with 64 points with Anindith Reddy only a point behind him. In the smaller LGB Formula 4 class, Chittesh Mandody and Vishnu Prasad were equally matched at 42 points. A mistake on the part of either of them could make all the difference for the other. Now, on to the drama. EURO JK 17 Race One The first race on Saturday saw Anindith Reddy (Hyderabad) start from pole. With Vishnu Prasad (Tamil Nadu) out of the race by the end of the first lap, Ricky Capo (Australia) filled the void left by him. Ricky claimed top honours, closely followed by Anindith, who also set…

MRF F1600 RACE ONE The result of qualifying saw Sandeep Kumar of Chennai sitting in pole position with championship leader Anindith Reddy of Hyderabad settling for third. As the race got under way all the drivers got away cleanly, but four laps into the race, Anindith found himself in a collision, the effect of which was that he lost the rear wing of the car and had to settle for a DNF. He still won the championship over Sandeep who was trailing by 32 points into this weekend. The final standings were Sandeep Kumar as the race winner, Keith Desouza of Goa finishing less than 0.5 seconds behind in second place and rounding up the podium was Arya Singh of Kolkata. RACE TWO The second race saw great driving from…