Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2022 i Car India

BMW’S M DIVISION HAS BEEN ON A ROLL, M-ING ELECTRIFIED BIMMERS AND PERFECTING their upcoming super SUV. The German carmaker has taken drapes off their latest project to bear the revered “CSL” badge, the M4 CSL. Sitting at the very top of the 4 Series mountain, this M4 is the most powerful one ever. With the motto of weight reduction, BMW have managed to sculpt the essence of aggression with the M4 CSL. The sport coupé gets a list of carbon goodies such as a roof, front splitters, and chiselled indents in the bonnet. The yellow-tinted BMW Laserlight beams are an optional extra, but they look stunning. Standard on the new M4 CSL are forged lightweight M alloy wheels; 19-inch fronts and 20s at the rear. Under the hood, the…

THE ELECTRIC VERSION OF CITROëN’S FORTHCOMING C3 CROSSOVER dubbed the “C-Cubed” is projected to be the first EV from Stellantis, the automotive conglomerate, after they announced their aspirations for India as part of their Dare Forward 2030 worldwide strategy. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares announced that the company’s first electric vehicle for India would arrive in 2023. In India, Citroën will take the lead on electrification at Stellantis, with Jeep following later. The Citroën EV is expected to have a battery large enough to provide a certified range of roughly 450 kilometres. The available features and comforts are projected to be comparable to the future C3. Over the next two years, the C3’s modular architecture is planned to provide a compact crossover SUV as well as a seven-seater MPV. There will…

A MAN OF MANY TALENTS AND ONE OF THE MOST GENUINE PEOPLE TO HAVE GRACED our company, Zal was very energetic, always had a smile on his face, and constantly lifted the spirits of those around him. His humour would find a way to cheer everyone up in just about any situation. It’s now been years that I have known Zal and there never was a dull moment with him around. He might be 39, but had the spirit of a teenager. To me, he was more than a colleague. He was a big brother who always looked out for me and went out of his way to keep me safe on our many adventures together. Zal vouched for me when I applied and, because of him, I was able…

Driver's Sedans In today's market, which is the driver's car among the sedans? Mohan T, via social media Hello, Mohan, We believe that the Škoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus are the definitive driver's cars in this segment. They feel taut and are extremely engaging to drive as compared to their rivals. Tyre Bubble The other day, I was cleaning my car and noticed a massive protrusion on one of the tyres. The tyre is not losing pressure and I have no idea when this occurred. Could you shed some light on how this happened, how it can be fixed, and how I may avoid a recurrence in the future? Simon Tharakan, via social media Hello, Simon, When driving over a sharp lip on the road, manhole cover or even a…

INDIA IS ONE OF THE MOST VIVID COUNTRIES I’VE BEEN lucky to explore. Every region has a unique identity of itself—be it the facial features of the people or the atmosphere, it changes drastically. One such region we’ll be talking about lies at the north-eastern tip of our gorgeous country. It is the land that sees the sun before the rest of the country. The place I’m talking about is Arunachal Pradesh. This time around, Arunachal Pradesh Tourism were kind enough to invite us for the second iteration of their adventurous Trans Arunachal Drive, an epic journey that begins from the lush forests or Pangsau, mapping to the snowcapped mountains of Tawang. Mahindra Adventure have been a constant supporter of such events and just like the previous years, they were…

THE TATA NEXON EV WAS THE BEST-SELLING ELECTRIC VEHICLE IN 2021.Tata Motors sold 9,111 units of this electric vehicle last year. The company recently unveiled the Nexon EV Max, priced from Rs 17.74 lakh. In simple terms, the Nexon EV Max is a long-range version of the Nexon EV. With this model, Tata Motors look to extend their dominance in the EV segment. The Nexon has been the silent hero for Tata Motors with its year-on-year sales growth and especially with the EV model that has now become the largest selling EV in India, this new variant will be a great addition to the line-up. Customers have been waiting for this long-range variant of the Nexon for quite some time. On the outside, not much has changed and the two…

GENUINE ICONS? THEY ARE FEW AND FAR between. Porsche have at least one and so too do Land Rover. Their flagship, the luxury-meets-utility Range Rover, may be more than half a century old but it is only now into its fifth iteration. Trends, corporate owners, rivals, prime ministers—they come and go yet the Range Rover remains; aloof yet desirable, aspirational yet practical, contemporary yet timeless. Tempting though it must be to consider your icon a creation beyond comparison, Land Rover have resisted such complacency and with good reason: the luxury SUV sector heaves with quality rivals and glittering debutants (here’s looking at you, Lotus and Ferrari). We know from our first drive that this new Range Rover is much more than a cut-and-paste exercise in marginal gains. Instead, it looks,…

FOR THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF THE VODAFONE Rally de Portugal, the Finn trailed long-time leader and Toyota GR Yaris teammate, Elfyn Evans, before relegating to last position the Welshman on Saturday evening. He extended a narrow lead to win by 15.2 seconds on the short final leg. Rovanperä’s victory on the first gravel event of the season came after victories on the snow and ice in Sweden and the asphalt in Croatia. After four of the 13 rounds, he has a 46-point lead in the championship. Rovanperä, who started Friday’s first leg first in the order, appeared to be on his way to a near-impossible victory. The 21-year-old dodged difficulty on the tough rock-strewn sections before pouncing on Evans, cleaning the sandy roads to leave more grip for those…

Maserati MC20 Cielo The new Maserati MC20 Cielo brings drop-top excitement to the super sport coupé, acting as a meeting point between Maserati audacity and the infinite sky. The Cielo gets a state-of-the-art electro-chromic smart-glass window that instantly transforms from clear to opaque. The roof has an opening and closing speed of just 12 seconds. The Nettuno twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 with 630 hp continues to do duty. Cambolive Takes Over as Renault COO Fabrice Cambolive has been named the Renault brand’s new Chief Operating Officer (COO), beginning 1 June 2022. He will report to Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo. Cambolive will lead the Renault Management Committee and drive the brand’s operations in his new capacity. His primary tasks will be to define and manage Renault’s medium-term strategy across all…

MERCEDES-BENZ HAVE INTRODUCED THEIR NEW GLC-CLASS luxury mid-size SUV in six powertrain flavours: two petrol mild-hybrids and plug-ins each and one each of a diesel mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well. A nip and tuck on the styling front results in a face similar to its sedan counterpart with a more butch take on the grille. The GLC now sports Digital Light headlamps with minimalistic daytime lights. The wheelbase has been extended by 15 mm followed by the overall length of the vehicle, which stands at about 60 mm more than that of its predecessor. The big changes, however, lie under the skin. The new EQ Boost models use a more potent 17-kW (23-hp) integrated motor with 200 Nm of torque assist. There are a GLC 200 and 300 petrol,…

THE NEW-GENERATION SCORPIO will make its global début in India on 27 June. Internally codenamed “Z101”, the new model will be called the “Scorpio-N”, while the current model will also be sold alongside as the Scorpio Classic. The new Scorpio-N is predicted to outperform the current-generation vehicle by a wide margin. It has grown in size, gained new powertrain options, and added a slew of technological enhancements. The official photos suggest that, like the XUV700, the new Scorpio-N will have an upright silhouette with a powerful six-slat chrome-studded grille and Mahindra’s new “Twin Peaks” emblem in between. The Scorpio-N is projected to have the same powertrains as the XUV700, albeit in a lower state of tune. A 2.0-litre “mStallion” turbo-petrol engine and a 2.2-litre mHawk turbo-diesel engine will be available.…

BMW i4 The all-new BMW i4 has arrived in India, priced at Rs 69.90 lakh (ex-showroom). The i4 is the electric version of the 4 Series Gran Coupé and comes to India in eDrive40 guise first. The new electric four-door coupé has a bold presence with a sleek and sporty silhouette. It measures 4,763 millimetres long with a wheelbase of 2,856 mm. The rear-wheel-drive powertrain packs a single motor with 250 kW (340 hp) and 430 Nm of torque. The high-voltage battery has 83.9 kWh of gross energy content and a slim design specially for the i4, positioned low in the floor. High 116-kW max recuperation and 205 kW max DC charging rate should make for a longer range more quickly. It has a limited top speed of 190 km/h…

THE VOLKSWAGEN TAIGUN HAD BEEN teased for some time and created quite a buzz of its own—pun most certainly intended. The much-awaited car finally went on sale last year and got the ball rolling for Volkswagen. It won hearts for everything from its styling and capability to its new-generation engines, advanced technology, safety, and convenience. It’s made right here at Chakan, about 40 kilometres east of where I’m sitting as I write this. It is key to note that the Taigun won not one but two prestigious awards at the Car India Awards: the Compact SUV of the Year and the big one, the Automobile of the Year. And it wasn’t just us. Many of our peers across the industry felt the same way. So, what does the Taigun bring…

WEST BENGAL IS WELL-known for its diverse culture and heritage. Kolkata, the state’s capital, is one of the country’s oldest cities, known not only for Durga Pooja but also for its wonderful local street food, unique variations of roshogolla, trams, and architectural splendour. However, if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, you can take a road trip from Kolkata. There are a number of spots in West Bengal where you can relax and unwind. For our journey, this time, our mobility partner, Hyundai India, lent us a stunning new Verna premium sedan in a Fiery Red colour. The Hyundai Verna is a very popular sedan in its category. The car has a fresh design language that is both sensual and athletic. It’s also…

WITHOUT WISHING TO SOUND puerile, this plug-in hybrid S-Class knows it is all about length in the limousine game—whether it be literally (you can only get the new S 580 e in long-wheelbase form) or the size of the Terms and Conditions you are asked to read when making a Mercedes Me account to get the best out of the car’s features or the amount of time you are happy to stay on board, being pummelled by massaging seats. This has a 28.6-kWh battery, huge for a PHEV, meaning it can claim up to 100 kilometres of electric range. And those claims are mostly on point; our time wafting in the electrified S saw 92 km without the straight-six up front stirring. Small journeys are a breeze and guilt-free—an odd…

T HE VIRTUS IS THE SECOND MODEL TO be released as part of the “India 2.0” initiative and it is built on the MQB-AO-IN platform with up to 95 per cent localisation. Comfortable and sporty sedans have become an almost forgotten category in a market where vehicle makers must now focus on SUVs. Things appear to be changing now as sedans seem to be making a comeback, with some promising and purpose-built models. This sporty sedan, which is based on the Taigun’s underpinnings, will compete with its cousin, the Škoda Slavia, as well as the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. It’s bigger and more luxurious than the sedan it replaces. While it shares its underpinnings with the recently introduced Škoda Slavia, it has a different look and…

ON THE ARDUOUS ROCK-strewn roads of the Mediterranean island, the Hyundai Motorsport driver was in command, bringing his hybrid-powered i20 N Rally1 vehicle home one minute and 3.2 seconds ahead of the M-Sport Ford driver, Craig Breen. Tänak’s victory in the championship’s fifth round had been a long time coming. He last stood on the top step of the podium 462 days ago, at the Arctic Rally Finland, powered by CapitalBox in 2021. Since then, he had been struggling to find rally-winning form, mainly owing to mechanical troubles. On Friday’s truncated first leg, the Estonian was in front from the start, trading the lead with GR Yaris driver Esapekka Lappi. He only had three-wheel drive due to a mechanical problem on the penultimate blast and he trailed the Finn by…

THE MODERN-DAY SUCCESSOR TO THE FAMED DELOREAN DMC-12 FROM THE FABLED “BACK to the Future” franchise, the gull-winged sport coupé is back like never before. This time round, the DeLorean project, called Alpha 5, is an all-electric effort. The company says the DMC-12 was never meant to be a static interpretation of the brand; the brand would constantly evolve. The Alpha 5 (or V for those familiar with Roman numerals) is the first of five new concept models. The Alpha 5 brings a sleek form with two gull-wing doors and a drag coefficient of just 0.23. Underneath the stunning exterior is a 100+kWh battery pack that should be good for more than 480 kilometres of range. While there are no power figures, DeLorean quote a 0-96 km/h time of 2.99…

KIA INDIA MAINTAIN THEIR POSITION AS ONE OF the top five best-selling automobile brands in the country. After the Seltos, Sonet, and Carnival, their fourth model is the Carens, a people mover. Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury, and Luxury Plus are the five main trim levels. The seven-seater is standard, while the top-spec Luxury Plus comes with a six-seater option. We got to drive around Pune city to get a good look at the Kia Carens and check out all that the car has to offer. With the plastic wrapping around the wheel arches and a buff-looking front end, Kia designers have done a fantastic job of giving it some flair. One look at the Carens in profile or from the front three-quarter aspect and its RV (Recreational Vehicle) nature…

The Volkswagen Taigun has taken a lion’s share of awards in the automotive media sphere, including the big one, the Car India Automobile of the Year award. How does that make you and the team feel? Volkswagen India: Awards and accolades definitely make one feel elated and acts as a testament to the hard work and effort towards delivering sheer excellence to our customers. It is a moment of pride to witness this recognition, admiration and specifically the honour of winning the much revered ‘Car India Automobile of the year Award’. A vote of confidence, such as this, fuels our motivation to go above and beyond to continue delivering world-class products and services for the Indian market. Have the numbers been encouraging as we slowly but surely step away from…

THERE IS ALWAYS SOME VOID THAT NEEDS filling somewhere in our lives and certainly in humanity as a whole. Sometimes it is within our control while, most of the time, it is not. And while being clean is a choice, how it’s done is just as important. It’s no secret that most neighbours in an apartment building clean their balcony only to have the dirt thrown into or on to another’s property. Is that clean? To them, maybe. In the greater picture of things? It’s as far from it as one can imagine. In fact, it’s worse. EVs have instant torque and, in the correct set-up, can be just as fun if not more fun than their combustion counterparts While there is divided opinion on how clean an electric vehicle…

RAISING THE BAR HAS BECOME a sort of standard for the 136-year-old automobile marque. The luxurious and technologically advanced Mercedes-Benz S-Class and its even more luxurious and opulent Maybach avatar reset the benchmark in the luxury saloon segment. The E-Class sits below the S, while the C-Class, of course, sits below the E. While price brackets have evolved from what they were merely a decade ago, there is a lot that has changed. The next-generation Mercedes C-Class brings some attractive new styling with elements inspired by the S-Class. These include the Digital Light headlamps, sharp new grille design, and sleek body. The LED tail-lamp clusters, again similar to the S’, look sharp and the design of the wheels, too, is new. The shape almost seems bulbous from some angles, yet,…

ELECTRICS ARE BORING!” How many times have we heard that before! Truth be confronted, how many times have we said that before? Yet, it’s time to face reality. The electric vehicle (EV) is everywhere and it’s not the villain or even a mini version of one. From pedal-electric bicycles and higher-performance scooters with car-like torque figures to performance cars and SUV as well as buses, the e-motor—and accompanying heavy battery pack—look like they are slowly but steadily heading to become mainstream. Okay, so here we are. With this Cooper SE. Yes, it’s supposed to be the electric version of the popular, fun, and feisty Cooper S. Yes, it’s compact, it’s light, and it doesn’t have a huge battery pack to carry a family of seven for 600 km; that’s what…

THE NEW HYUNDAI i20 PLEASANTLY surprised me when I first drove it towards the end of 2020 on open highway and through some sharp twisties. It felt like an Indo-Korean take on the Golf and the fact that the very thought crossed my mind was enough to give me the urge to push it further. A few weeks later, it was my long-term car and, then, open highways and sharp bends made way for packed city roads with on- and off-road nature thrown in for good measure. Guess what? The car impressed. Yet, Hyundai weren’t quite done. The N Line version of the i20 arrived and it tightened the belt a few holes further, encompassing a slew of aspects which affected how taut, how raw and involving the i20 could…

MIAMI: VERSTAPPEN WINS THE FIRST-EVER F1 MIAMI GP Ferraris dominated the inaugural Miami Grand Prix by locking out the front row with Charles Leclerc taking pole position while the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez formed the second row. Eighteen drivers lined up on the grid for the race start while Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll started from the pit-lane. When the lights went out, Leclerc capitalized on pole position and took the lead into the first corner while his teammate Carlos Sainz yielded second place to Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes-AMG lost a couple of places after a lock-up into Turn One while Fernando Alonso in the Alpine moved up from 11th to seventh, making contact with Hamilton on the way. Two laps later,…