Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2019 i Car India

AROUND THE TIME THE NEW S60 WAS introduced for the 2018 model year, Volvo announced that they would not be offering diesels. However, while diesel is still vastly seen as a dirty fuel, the real-world threat of climate threat and rising CO2 and NOx, the lack of abundant clean energy generation, and the sense in trying to phase out fossil fuel in a smooth transition rather than stop its use altogether, mean that diesel is still viewed by some as the ideal fuel of the present. That’s mainly because compression ignition diesel engines have an inherent torque advantage and the new emission control technologies, including selective catalytic reduction, that make it emit next to zero NOx apart from extremely low CO2. That said, the new Volvo XC90 B5 steps in…

COME 2020, FORD WILL INTRODUCE AN ALL-NEW SUV, INSPIRED BY the iconic their sports car the Mustang, with an all-electric powertrain. The new Ford electric SUV is presently undergoing testing in harsh environments and promises a range of up to 600 km. Furthermore, the new SUV aims to do away with range anxiety from charge level with variable traffic conditions – what many still consider majors concerns – by allowing users to check their range for travel needs based on daily routines on the company’s new all-electric website to their destination and get an idea of how much they can actually do on a single charge or how often they need to charge their car. Ford have a slew of electric, plug-in hybrid, mild-hybrid and hybrid models in the pipeline,…

WITH TRAFFIC CONDITIONS DETERIORATING AND ROAD-USER ETIQUETTE AT AN ALL-TIME low, the new Ford Discover Band Road Safety Campaign #DiscoverMoreInYou hopes to bring about the change we want to see. While adults have the responsibility to be, um, responsible road users, clearly that isn’t happening. So, the latest activity from Ford India sees them trying by reaching children and promoting road safety by means of the city police, radio stations, schools and authorized dealerships. After conducting traffic awareness surveys in some cities, the ball of implementation has finally begun rolling. After Lucknow, it was Pune’s turn to have the initiative take off. The results of the Ford “Cartesy” survey were disturbing, to say the very least. More than half the people surveyed (51 per cent) think they don’t need to…

ŠKODA AUTO INDIA WILL INTRODUCE THE KODIAQ SCOUT, A MORE off-road oriented variant of their premium crossover SUV. The “Scout” name has been used by the Czech major for many models internationally, including the Octavia. It should bring in more butch elements such as front and rear skid-plates, side-skirts and, perhaps, redesigned bumpers for enchanced approach and departure angles. The 2.0-litre TDI 4x4 driveline, with an electronic differential lock, should continue as is.…

An Electric Conundrum I am interested in buying a premium EV. The Hyundai Kona seems promising but I have heard that the MG eZS EV will be launching soon. Which one of these electric SUVs is the complete package and why? Also, considering that the Kona is priced at 23.72 lakh, what could the expected pricing of the eZS EV in India be? Aman Rajat, Mumbai Hi, Aman, We haven't driven the MG eZS EV yet so we can't really tell you which of the two cars is the better bet. We can confirm that the Hyundai Kona did impress us when we drove it. It is the best EV offering in the sub-25 lakh price bracket, although we found the ride quality to be a little bit on the…

THE SUB-FOUR-METRE SEGMENT STARTS AT THE VERY BOTTOM with the Maruti Suzuki Alto and the Renault Kwid and goes up to the sub-four-metre sedans like the Dzire and Honda Amaze and everything in between. There are a few manufacturers who think out of the box and Renault are among them. They created the mid-size SUV segment with the launch of the Duster and now they have launched the Triber in the sub-four-metre segment with a seven-seat option and with a lot of seating and loading combinations to make it a multi-faceted car. The Triber and Kwid are based on Renault’s CMF-A platform. The platform may be the same as the Kwid’s, but the Triber has a longer wheelbase and a wider track as compared to the Kwid. The sculpted short…

THINK AUDI Q8, BMW X6, MERCEDES GLE Coupé. Then think Porsche Cayenne, until now more Stuttgart’s answer to the Q7, X5, and GLE than a genuinely sporty SUV with a capital S. It took Weissach R&D one full Cayenne life-cycle to conclude that Porsche also had to create the kind of machine that’s proved such a licence to print money elsewhere. When Matthias Müller was still in charge, two SUV coupés were in the making: a smaller one based on the facelift Macan and a bigger, Cayenne-based creation. The Macan-based remix may yet resurface in 2024, as a version of the upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron built on the electric PPE architecture. But you can order your Cayenne Coupé now. In the metal, the low-roof Cayenne is in-your-face: wider, ground-hugging, arguably…

THE DATSUN GO+ HAS ALSO received the new CVT option and is the only sub-four-metre, compact seven-seat vehicle to offer that choice. Essentially a 207-mm longer, tweaked Go, the Go+ has the added advantage of more rear cargo room (347 litres) or the potential of having two more occupants, albeit compact, in the third-row bench. There are two front airbags, but none of the rows have adjustable head-rests and, as such, it’s best that children or short adults sit in rows two and three, with the rear of their cranium resting within the support borders. The Go+ uses the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine as the Go CVT, which means the added power is here as well: 77 hp and 104 Nm of peak torque. Even so, the delivery is…

PURISTS. WHAT DO THEY WANT? Unadulterated performance? Sport-luxury with a pronounced emphasis on “sport”? Essence of Bimmer distilled and fed into a spark-ignition motor driving a prop-shaft to the rear axle of a small-ish car with a lot of oomph going to the wheels? Precisely. Perhaps. This is the new G20-generation 330i petrol. The quintessential BMW for many. The car that defines the brand and their sheer driving pleasure mantra. So, what of the new car? We drove the 20d turbo-diesel only last month and, here, now, is the petrol with an identical displacement, an identical peak torque output and 68 more horsepower! More importantly, this is the new BS VI-compliant petrol engine. This enhanced output is presently available here only in the 630i GT and it’s mighty impressive even…

PORSCHE TAYCAN The Porsche Taycan has been under development and testing for a while now and has arrived in two iterations: Turbo and Turbo S. No, none of them have any turbos or even a combustion engine. What’s under those Mission-E based lines is an 800-volt electrical system, a 93.4-kWh battery pack low down in the floor, two electric motors – one on the front axle and one on the rear axle – for four-wheel drive, including two separate transmission units – the rear packing a two-speed unit for low and high ratios. The powertrain consists of two electric motors that incorporate the control electronics as well, two transmission units, a large battery pack and the provision for an Overboost function. The permanent-excited magnet synchronous motors are powered by modules…

AFTER A SHAMBLES of a Q3 where slipstream dictated the pace, it was Renault right up there with the fastest names but, eventually, it was Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari on pole after a parade to get the advantage failed to materialize and Kimi Raikkonen in his Alfa Romeo suffered an accident. The session saw all kinds of interruptions but, in the end, it was the two Mercedes-AMGs of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in the next two places. As the final red light went out, Leclerc got a great start as the two Mercedes cars challenged. Bottas nosed ahead was alongside for the lead, but had to tuck in for Turn One as Hamilton got ahead. The Renaults of Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg were behind them, with Sebastian…

RAGHUL RANGASAMY DOMINATED most of the races and retained his title in the MRF F1600 category. Dhruv Mohite from Rayo Racing becomes the youngest International Touring Car (ITC) champion. Ashwin Datta takes home the Formula LGB 1300 title and Rithvik Thomas becomes the Super Stock class champion after dominating the final race weekend. ›› MRF F1600 Sohil Shah (Bengaluru) had grabbed the win in the one and only race that was held on the previous race weekend. Raghul Rangasamy from Mahabalipuram managed to pile up 138 points over this race weekend and, in turn, secured the championship title for the second consecutive year. Here is what went down in the races. Race One After finishing the races of the previous round on Friday, the first race of the final round…

THE NEW PLUG-IN HYBRID VERSION OF the Volvo XC40, the T5 Twin Engine, marks two firsts for the Swedish major, a front-wheel only hybrid driveline and an all-new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Volvo XC40 compact luxury SUV is one of their most popular models worldwide. We knew a T5 Twin Engine was coming. What we didn’t know was that it would bring these two big changes. The T5 Twin Engine driveline pairs the “T3”-spec 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine, codenamed “B3154T”, with a 60-kW electric motor and a 10.7-kWh battery pack. The combustion engine puts out 180 hp and 265 Nm. The new e-motor adds 82 hp and 160 Nm leading to a peak hybrid output of 262 hp and 425 Nm. An all-new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic box sees a…

THE ALL-NEW MERCEDES-BENZ GLE SUV HAS arrived with even more advanced innovations and better aerodynamics. The design has been revamped to make the car appear sportier and the interior is now more spacious and comfortable. A third row of seats will also be available as an option. One of the highlights of the new GLE is the ‘E-ACTIVE Body Control’ – 48-volt system based active suspension that is the only system at present where the spring and damping forces can be individually controlled at each wheel. Not only does that counteract body-roll, but also pitching and squat. This suspension technology is first-in-class and offers the highest level of comfort. The new GLE gets a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The OM 656 diesel 2.9-litre six appears first, available in…

THE NEW FERRARI F8 SPIDER IS THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE Prancing Horse’s range of open-top V8 cars that begun with the 308 GTS in 1977. The new F8 Spider uses the same a 3.9-litre, twin-turbo V8 petrol engine as the Tributo coupé, producing 720 hp and 770 Nm, mated to a seven-speed, dual-clutch, F1-derived gearbox driving the rear wheels. This allows a sprint from 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 340 km/h. The F8 Spider has taken its aerodynamic inventions from Ferrari’s GT and Challenge racing experience. The position of the front radiators are rearward-angled, unlike the 488 Spider, which helps cooling but, at the same time, shrinks the underbody surface area that can be used to generate downforce. Ferrari…

THE ARJUNA AWARD IS AMONG THE TOP HONOURS FOR SPORT IN India. This year, the prestigious award has been bestowed upon ace rally driver Gaurav Gill, who has won numerous accolades for over two decades in both national and international stages. He also became the first personality from the realm of Indian motor sport to win this award. Gill’s greatest achievements thus far have been him winning the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) thrice and winning the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) six times. He has also made a name for himself at a global level in WRC 2. This award may be a big feather in Gill’s cap but it is also a bright beacon of hope for young motor sport aspirants in the country; a reminder that hard…

Young. Energetic. Trendy. Dynamic. A graduate from UCLA, Anubha Gupta is the CEO of The Furniture Republic that sells limited edition decor pieces and furniture. Taking craftsmanship to a different level and introducing art inspired pieces, Anubha has successfully taken up the brand juggling different roles like meeting clients personally to checking the look of the store and handling customisations etc. This 24-year-old decor enthusiast loves to travel and explore different cuisines, and is passionate about sustainable product designs. Anubha Gupta “Of course the BlueLink app that makes Venue the company’s first connected car in India is the talk-of-the-town. I can easily access the doors for my grandparents while I am on the driver’s seat. From starting the engine to stopping it, and many other features, I feel this is…

THE 991 IS DEAD — LONG LIVE THE 991. Before the era of the biggest-selling generation of 911 truly ends, Porsche will build a limited run of Speedsters, 1,948 of them, hand-crafted in Zuffenhausen. Shown last year as a concept, it’s carried the core elements through to production, with only a few details changing and no softening of the focus. This is a mouth-watering combination of GT3 engine and 911 R front wings and bonnet, with styling that echoes Porsche’s first Speedster of 1954 and a lack of flab that shames some of the other Speedsters that have appeared at odd intervals in between. The naturally aspirated 4.0-litre engine drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, the hood (replacing the concept’s tonneau) is manually operated, and the steering…

HYUNDAI WROTE THEIR INDIAN SUCCESS STORY BY providing the discerning masses with a practical and comfortable hatchback, the original Santro, all those years ago. Since then, the Korean manufacturer has gone from strength to strength, cementing its position in our market with an extensive range of feature-packed small cars to suit every pocket and requirement. Hyundai’s current hatchback range includes the all-new Santro, Grand i10, Elite i20, and i20 Active; however, the company felt the need to give its customers yet another option and recently launched the Grand i10 Nios. This all-new car is bigger, has more interior space and features than the current Grand i10, and, with the price ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh (ex-showroom), will likely replace the Grand i10 in the firm’s line-up.…

I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF WHEN I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO cover the Mahindra Adventure Great Escape in Sakleshpur last year. The event witnessed a bunch of Mahindra owners drive through part of the stunning Kadamane Tea Estate. The Mahindra team kept reminding us that if we really wanted to get to know the art of off-roading and obstacle driving, we should take part in their training course that takes place at Igatpuri in Nashik district. That is exactly what was in store for me last month (September 2019) and I have to say that I was quite excited about it. The Global Explorer–Batch 04 was held over a period of three days at Mahindra’s Igatpuri, covering driving techniques to be used in sand, slush, sticky mud, river-crossing, and rocky…

THE HAT-TRICK OF pole positions for the young, determined Monegasque Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc, sadly did not lead to a hat-trick of wins as the team’s decision to pit their “number one” driver, Sebastian Vettel, first meant he got the crucial undercut and the lead. The race began under the lights at the picturesque Marina Bay circuit where the double-race winner for Ferrari, Leclerc, made a clean getaway with the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari teammate in tow. It was an unusual situation for the defending world champion as he had to defend his position as well with Ferrari’s new-found speed making life very difficult for the Mercedes at the front. Behind that duo were the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Alex Albon, sandwiching the second Mercedes…

THE FOURTH AND FINAL ROUND of the Volkswagen Ameo Class came to an end after a nail-biting battle for the championship. Volkswagen Motorsport India are working closely with their motor sport team in South Africa and have initiated a drivers’ exchange programme. Jeffery Kruger and Tasmin Pepper were the drivers from South Africa chosen to race alongside the drivers in the Ameo Class. This programme was initiated in order to give the drivers an understanding of how they perform on an international level. It also helps the Indian drivers to pick up helpful tips and tricks from the South African drivers. Jeffery and Tasmin put on a great show for the spectators while racing in an extremely clean manner so as not to disrupt the championship contenders, Jeet Jhabakh, Pratik…

THE EHRA-LESSIEN TEST TRACK WAS ONCE AGAIN THE venue for a record to be shattered and, unsurprisingly, it was a Bugatti; more specifically, a new Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, a pre-production, heavily updated Chiron Sport in more ways than one. For starters, the Bugatti Chiron Sport it builds on receives a new 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine with 100 hp more; for a total of 1,600 hp – the same as the new highly-limited Centodieci. The aerodynamics have been further optimized. Safety was also a priority and test driver Andy Wallace was secured by a six-point harness and an additional safety cell. Bugatti had help from race specialists Dallara and Michelin, who developed the tyres for this outstanding feat. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres were subjected to extensive…

VOLVO HAVE ALSO INTRODUCED THE NEW mild-hybrid diesel B4 and B5, the latter also available with all-wheel drive. The new mild-hybrid system uses a 10-kW electric motor that not just helps recuperate kinetic energy but also provides additional power to the driveline, to the tune of 14 hp and 40 Nm, to compensate for turbo-lag, making for instant response when accelerating. So what of PowerPulse in the B5? Volvo have confirmed upon asking that the extra little cylinder has not made it to the new engine, simply codenamed D420T2. After all, the torque boost should work just as well, if not better. The B4, only available with front-wheel drive, has the D420T8 engine that now makes 197 hp and 420 Nm. The total power output under boost is 211 hp…

THE NEW MACAN TURBO IS ONE OF THE FEW CARS THAT CAN manage multiple roles with aplomb and deliver the goods when needed. That said, it gets a major change under the bonnet. Out goes the 3.6-litre V6 (which made 400 hp and 550 Nm) and in comes a smaller, more efficient and much more powerful 2.9-litre V6, with all of 440 hp and 550 Nm, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with all-wheel drive. The Macan Turbo is actually a few millimetres shorter in length than the S, but retains all essential traits. It weighs in at 1,945 kg, a tad more owing to the additional emission regulation equipment. The acceleration, however, is superior, dismissing 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds – 4.3 with the optional Sport Chrono pack –…

A PUNE-BASED START-UP CALLED DECCALEAP TECHNOLOGIES HAVE launched new fire safety solutions for cars and domestic use. ‘F-Protekkt’ is for cars while ‘Thro’ caters to domestic fire safety. The former is priced at Rs 10,500 while the latter costs Rs 1,770 for a packet of four. The F-Protekkt is a compact fire-safety solution for cars and fits neatly under the bonnet of a car. In the event of a fire in the engine bay, the temperature sensor will be set off, triggering the fire-extinguisher. Deccaleap claim that their products are harmless to humans and do not leave any residue either. In addition to saving lives in case of a fire, the F-Protekkt could also significantly curb fire damage to property. The Thro on the other hand is a small fire…

Audi Q7 Black Edition The Audi Q7 Black Edition is based on the Technology variant of the luxury SUV and is priced from Rs 82.15 lakh (ex-showroom). The Q7 Black Edition is available based on the 45 TDI Technology turbo-diesel and the 45 TFSI Technology turbo-petrol models and commands a premium of about Rs 1 lakh over their respective Technology variants. For the extra money, you get special bits such as the Titanium Black gloss finish on the front Singleframe grille and slats, and also on the air intakes. To highlight the dynamic off-roading capabilities of the Q7 Black Edition, the door trim gets glossy black strips and have ‘quattro’ embossed on them. Keeping with the glossy black theme, the frame mouldings on the side windows and roofline also get…

THE SUN IS A SOURCE OF SEEMINGLY INFINITE RENEWABLE ENERGY. While humans are some time away from recreating photosynthesis, one quick solution is surely to put all those batteries we’re creating to good use. A huge dent in the environment is created from mining for all the materials that go into making a battery. Using clean, sustainable, and renewable sources of energy to generate electricity to recharge the batteries is the best way forward and the only way to offset that dent. That’s where photovoltaic cells, or solar panels, come into play. Lightyear, a company based in Katwijk in the Netherlands, claims to have created the world’s first long-range solar-powered car. Called the One, it promises a long driving range of 800 kilometres, depending on the type of use. As…

MYSTIC MONSOON MAGIC. ROLLING greens, fresh, petrichor-infused scents wafting through the air, and a clean, twisting blacktop devoid of traffic. Monsoon drives are an event unto themselves and an absolute fun day out. Of course, the fun factor is highly dependent on the car you choose to take on this journey and I think I made a wise choice with the new Toyota Yaris. As I left the congested city streets of Pune behind, my destination was the famous Lavasa Township in the hills, about 55 kilometres away. But with the whole day and a full tank at my disposal, I was always likely to stray off the path to follow something that caught the eye. The first of these excursions took me to the gorgeous Manas Lake. Reaching the…

MONEY HAS LOST ITS VALUE AND VALUE HAS LOST ITS meaning. This has been the case for over a decade now. Today, prices are soaring and consumption patterns have changed drastically. The gift of space is no longer a gift. At present, it’s a luxury. Further, what’s changed is the perception of value. Where Rs 7 lakh would net you a decent sedan over four metres long about 15 years ago, that same amount barely gets you a good, well-finished, and well-equipped hatchback today. Through the challenges of evolving mobility, there is one constant — the combustion engine still makes up the essence of mass personal mobility. The new Datsun Go CVT is the latest offering to get convenience up the priorities list. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is joined by…

Silence is the new luxury. Ask any new parent. Or ask any traditional luxury car maker forced to watch with frustration as Palo Alto upstart Tesla have made inroads into their market share (big ones, in the case of the Model S and European luxury saloon sales) and huge inroads into their cultural space. Since the Model S was introduced seven years ago, Tesla have been the go-to luxury EV brand. But seven years ago, Range Rover-driving reader Pritpal “Prit” Matharu wasn’t ready to make the switch to electric power. Now he is and the market has opened up. Manufacturers, including Jaguar and Audi, finally have Tesla rivals in their showrooms and others, including Porsche and BMW, aren’t far behind. We’ve three e-SUVs along for Prit to consider: Audi’s new…

NEW ENTRANTS THE LIKES OF KIA SELTOS ARE A ray of light in the rather gloomy situation the Indian automobile industry is facing currently. They’ve helped improve the sentiment, increased showroom footfall, and managed to sell over 6,000 units in the first month itself... yes, in this sluggish market. And among the numerous variants of the Seltos, the one that has generated the most curiosity is the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, priced at Rs 16 lakh (ex-showroom). And that’s precisely why we’re testing that first. This BS VI-compliant 1.4 unit is aimed squarely at those who live to drive with a heavy right foot. It makes 140 hp and 242 Nm and feels livelier than most other petrol engines available in the segment currently. It’s also one…

AFTER HEADING ALL the qualifying sessions and making a mark in the practice sessions, Charles Leclerc went on to take his first Formula 1 victory and end Ferrari’s win drought this season. Starting at the head of the order, Leclerc raced ahead as his teammate, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes were fighting for position. Vettel was squeezed off and Hamilton went on with Bottas in tow, leaving the other Ferrari to fight its way back. Further down, Kimi Raikkonen’s Alfa Romeo was bumped off the track as Max Verstappen in the Red Bull lined up on the inside and then made contact with the sidepod of the Alfa a moment before the rear wheel climbed up on to RB15’s front left and was bounced out as Max…

THIS ROUND MIGHT JUST BE the turning point for this season. It was not a great opening day for championship leader, Ott Tänak (Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team), because he finished in eighth place for the day. This slump breathed fresh hope into the championship for his rivals. The day’s route ran through rock-strewn mountain roads and progressed into rougher terrain with heavy rain for company. Tyre choices also made a huge difference in the downpour. Those who opted for the hard-compound Michelins had a noticeably tougher time than those running medium compounds. At the end of the day, Esapekka Lappi (Citroën Total World Rally Team) led the pack ahead of teammate, Sébastien Ogier, making it a Citroën one-two. Right behind them was Thierry Neuville (Hyundai Shell Mobis World…

After adding the prestigious Arjuna Award to his list of accolades, Indian rally ace, Gaurav Gill, set his sights on a WRC 2 outing with JK Racing. With Glenn Macneall in the co-driver’s seat, the duo tackled the stages in a new, barely-tested Ford Fiesta R5 Mk2. After a good start, Gill’s progress dwindled on the first day after his car suffered a mechanical failure, forcing him to forfeit a couple of stages for the day. Saturday was a better outing for him because he managed to fight back up to sixth place by the end of the day. His momentum spelled a shot at the podium as well. He was also consistent throughout the day with a few top three fastest finishes in some stages. Fate had other plans…

NEW THIS MONTH MAHINDRA XUV300 W6 autoSHIFT The popular XUV300 compact SUV has received a new entry automatic variant in India, the W6 autoSHIFT, priced at Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom). KIA SELTOS GTX+ AT/DCT Kia have introduced top-end GTX+ automatic variants of the Seltos for both the 1.4 T-GDI petrol and the 1.5 CRDI diesel at Rs 16.99 lakh (ex-showroom) 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 BMW BMW Fiat Fiat Honda Hyundai Jaguar Jaguar Land Rover Lexus Maruti Suzuki Maruti Suzuki Maserati Mercedes-Benz Mini Mini Renault Renault Tata Motors Tata Motors Volkswagen Volkswagen Volvo…