CARMA. Issue 2 by Praveen Srikanth

CONTENTS

MARUTI SUZUKI page 6

PAGE 67

BLITZEN BENZ

BUGATTI VEYRON

page 71

46 OLD CAR PRICE LIST

PAGE 63

page 51

HONDA CITY 1.5

HELLO!! DIRECTOR’S CUT

EDITORS’ NOTE

FEEDBACK

THE TEAM

FEATURES CARMA. NEWS

NITROGEN

GADGET ZONE

READER’S CORNER

CARMA. QUIZ

YOU CLICK WE PICK

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CARMA. ISSUE STATS No. of Subscribers : 115 No. of Views : 165 No. of Downloads : 164 Just in case you didn’t catch Issue 1 of CARMA. Visit

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DIRECTOR’S CUT As the rest of the automedia trains its fickle atten-

tion on the Auto Expo in New Delhi, it may seem a little odd that we at CARMA have come out with a special on the Maruti Suzuki. So, this issue will be devoid of the customary glitz that seems to accompany every Expo, numbing our minds with glossy pictures and pompous praise. We have chosen to trade such cosmetic analyses for a tangible tribute to a national hero. Sure, the Expo has an abundance of content that may genuinely interest the reader, but can it surpass a 30 year legacy of putting Indians on wheels? We don’t think so. There is something about the Maruti that kindles a sense of being Indian and the car is looked upon as being one of our own – a relative. It definitely is a matter of pride that an organization which originated in the murky years of the licence-permit raj, at a time when auto manufacture was a nebulous dream, has come this far. For the wonderful product they provide and for the impetus they gave to the Indian auto industry, CARMA salutes the Maruti management. The fascinating evolution from the maker of the humble yet ubiquitous 800 to a behemoth with its foot in every sector makes for an enthralling read. Maruti built strong bonds with its customers by offering vehicles suited to our meandering, bumpy and dusty roads. They designed an ineffable Indianness into their vehicles. So, is it not appropriate to set aside flashy cars and flashier models and remind ourselves of the pioneers that started it all? We certainly hope so. Here’s to the Maruti – may your service continue.

For all the trivia-bugs out there, we have an autoquiz compiled by our friend R.S. Mukunth from NIT, Trichy. We thank him for his generosity in sharing his interesting material with us. Another interesting feature that we are sure you will relish is a collection of vintage pictures of automobiles by Mr. Royce Ramsey. Mr. Ramsey is an ace automotive photographer and works with Mercedes-Benz corp. We invite you to take a journey through antiquity and a beauty which only time can impart, a beauty captured and enhanced so elegantly by Mr. Ramsey’s lens. We thank him profusely for his contribution and the invaluable glimpse it provides us into auto-history. As CARMA enters its second issue, we would like to thank our kind readers for their ardent support and honest feed back that helped us correct our errors from last time. We pledge not to repeat them. We sincerely hope that you keep writing to us as we enter unexplored territory and carve out a special niche in automotive literature. Do send in your feedback for this issue to feedback@ autocarma.in . Enjoy your read!

Vignesh Venkatakrishnan Ramakrishnan Co-Founder/CEO CARMA. vignesh@autocarma.in

This issue will focus primarily on a detailed analysis of all the cars that Maruti has produced to date. Since the manufacturers are known for their ability to roll out a robust and rugged product, we decided to test cars that are over 2 years old. What better way to display the qualities of a car that, regardless of whether it is carressed or tortured, continues to chug along loyally? If ever you’ve given away a Maruti, you’re sure to have experienced a vague melancholy. Such is the depth of the bond that Indians and their Maruti’s share. We hope this tradition continues. It reminds us how far we’ve come.

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EDITOR’S NOTE First of all I would like to thank you guys for the

phenomenal response we got for issue 1. Yes, we did receive our fair share of brickbats and bouquets; all encouraging nevertheless! This issue packs quite a punch too. We’ve gone down memory lane by doing this Maruti special and we really couldn’t ask for more when the Bugatti Veyron came in. Last month I had to drive down to the airport at 3 in the morning to pick up my aunt. I was ready for this a week before, that’s how excited I was!! I even charted out a longer route which would take me through some of Chennai’s best roads and corners. What happened? That drive was so refreshing it keeps me going till now. Then I began to think about the people who work during this time of a day. Murderers, robbers and prostitutes were all that came to my head. And you know what? All these people are highly successful in what the do! Yes, you’re probably saying that these people are caught in the end and I’m talking like an idiot. But, when do these people get caught? During the daytime when there is a certain component called Traffic. I watch my dad and many other people leave for work at 9 in the morning. Irritated. It’s obvious that the traffic plays a major component in their work. People feel lazy to go out and meet clients citing traffic as a reason. People employ chauffeurs, who ultimately get irritated. How do they show their irritation? When you’re not sitting behind, they drive like crazy hyenas. So its obvious that Road Rage is one form of venting your anger. However, it’s not the best in a country like India where everyone resorts to it and someone gets hurt in the end.

The part I’m happy about? This problem is not limited to India. This exists everywhere from the overpopulated Beijing to the eloquent Los Angeles. Its obvious that tiny, mice like interest rates are driving people to buy cars. I think Shashi Tharoor once said that if people stop driving SUV’s, the traffic and pollution could be contained. Well Mr.Tharoor, with NO respect whatso-ever, do you know that there are 30,000 brand new Maruti Alto’s, 14,000 Wagon R’s, 11,000 Nano’s and 8000 Eon’s added to our roads every month? This represents the chunk of the small car community and I have just named the Top 5. These are the cars that lead to traffic, NOT a Scorpio or CRV or a XUV500. It would be very stupid, if I end this without giving a suggestion. So here it is. Dictatorship. Thats the answer. Cut out the democracy, bring back the good ol’ Hitler. Start by making us the Transportation Heads and we promise to have roads exclusively for super cars! Enjoy this month’s issue !

Anjan Ravi Editor CARMA. editor@autocarma.in

At this point, you’re probably saying that its the governments fault and that the roads should be improved. You’re 50% correct. Yes, they can improve the quality of the roads. However, this traffic menace will continue. Take the OMR expressway for example in Chennai. 25kms of 6 lane Malaysian engineered roads. Make the mistake of entering this road during office hours, and you’ll wish you were dead. I once ran out of petrol while waiting for the 1 hour signal!

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YOUR FEEDBACK We would like to thank everyone who sent us their feedback on our first issue. It helped us to work for issue 2 in a big way. We received a lot of feedback in our facebook page which we are not publishing here. Please send your feedback for this issue to feedback@autocarma.in

Hi!! The first issue is great. The content is good, but Salute to CARMA founders and the team,

there are a few minor grammatical errors. I wish to focus my feedback mainly on the design. The layout is very good, but the images used should be of a better quality. And, some of the images are skewed. Keep up the good work. -Suraj Barthy

Hey CARMA team, This is Ambarish from Chennai; like all of you, I too have a passion for cars and bikes as well. The reason I mailed you guys is that I wanted to inform you that every now and then there are vintage car rallies conducted in Chennai. Many classic cars and old beauties make it to these rallies and I’ve seen car lovers go wild. I do not have any vintage car, nor am I not a member of that club. But I have been regularly attending such rallies for the past 3-4years and I feel it’d be nice if you could write articles on them too. -Chilkuri Ambarish

A letter from your sincere fan!! First of all I was literally shaken by the efforts I could see behind the details of many things in the first issue of CARMA. I really like the name CARMA and the cover design of INDIA’S first e-magazine on automobiles. But I happened to find some glitches which probably escaped your eyes during the editing of the magazine. I am one of the people looking forward to the next issue and so I just wanted to highlight on those errors so that the next issue turns out really cool. First of all, being pretty much inclined to automobile, I feel the kind of technical stuffs you brought about is too negligible. Bringing in a little more details would attract a lot more people, now that you will be aiming at wider audience profiles from the subsequent issues. In general all the topics under technical stuffs need quiet a lot of work to enhance themselves. Lastly in the section where you talk about driving styles to increase the fuel efficiency, you have mentioned about driving in the highest gear possible that can reduce the lifetime of the clutch and the pressure plate according to my knowledge. Finally the articles about the F1 highlights were really astounding and I feel the INDEX page needs some attention from the designer’s point of view. Moreover avoid shrinking of pictures you take from some other article, because it reduces the originality of the magazine. Hope you guys don’t mind about the remarks and I am honestly looking forward to the next issue. -Bhuvanesh Sainath

OOPS!!

In the previous issue’s Trick or Treat Colum there was a statement saying “Use the Highest Gear Possible” which raised a lot of questions. We are extremely sorry for not explaining it in detail. What we meant to convey was that its better to drive at a higher gear at higher speeds. BEWARE!! Higher gears at lower speeds will lead to damage to the key components such as the clutch. 4

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would like to thank our publicity correspondents for their exceptional efforts in promoting CARMA.

PUBLICITY CORRESPONDENTS ABISHEK ANANTH RUCHIRA SURESH JANANI VENKATESH DHANYA RAMASWAMY DHEERAJ MURRAMSHETTI R S RAJA A ADARSH SRIRAM MURALI R K KAILASH AVINASH RAJENDRAN AHAMED RASMI NANDA KIRAN We would like to thank

DHANYA RAMASWAMY ABISHEK ANANTH ASHWIN RAVI KRISHNASWAMY JANANI VENKATESH

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THE CORE TEAM VIGNESH VENKATAKRISHNAN RAMAKRISHNAN

PRAVEEN SRIKANTH ANJAN RAVI ARAVIND VENKATAKRISHNAN RAGHAVAN RAVI SAI SRINIVASAN ARVIND RAMANATHAN SHREYAS HANDE

for their assistance in ensuring the quality of the content published in CARMA.

CARMA. is on Facebook. Just click here to visit our page. Or Follow us on twitter carmaauto For queries contact us at carma.automagazine@gmail.com or visit www.autocarma.in For Advertising contact Vignesh (+919500768435) or Anjan (+91-9840847120) or mail us at ads@autocarma.in

The CARMA. logo and the magazine are properties of their respective owners. No part of it can be 5

history lesson is in order ! On the 14th of December 1983 the first iconoclastic car was rolled off the Maruti’s plant near Gurgaon. The Maruti 800. The 800 signifies much more than a car. It represents a renaissance brought about in Indian thought. Cars were only for the champagne and wine drinkers, but the toddy lovers were looked down upon and had no means, and then God said let there be light ! Light it was indeed, when the company along with the Government released the Maruti 800. With the Prime minister of that time, Mrs. Indira Gandhi giving away the car keys to the first buyer, publicity for the car was blooming and they have come an enormous way after that as is evident in the issue. The joint venture of Maruti and Suzuki has been fruitful for both ends and their eye for nurturing the needs of the middle and upper societies of the country has been immaculate.

CARS INSIDE: 1. 800 2. Zen 3. Baleno 4. Esteem 5. Alto 6. Gypsy 7. Omni 8. Wagon R

7 9 12 13 15 17 18 20

9. Zen Estilo 10. Eeco 11. Swift 12. Swift Dzire 13. SX 4 14. Kizashi 15. A-Star 16. Ritz

MARUTI SUZUKI SINCE 1983

22 25 27 31 35 40 42 44

2005 onwards its been a cake walk for the company as the statistics will tell you. The sedans like Swift Dzire, SX4, Kizashi will tell you that a whole lot of their big bucks is going into research and development of design added to the fact that the middle class (their main target) love it and they can afford it speaks for their success. Even after the globalisation of the 1990’s when the car makers from all over the world poured in and posed a threat to the company’s stand in the Indian market they still prevailed. Needless to say they are a mighty force to be reckoned with by any contender who wants to do business here. Right from their ads to their cars their quality of service has been remarkable. With their future ready plant in Manesar and their plants working overtime to meet our demands and needs, no doubt Maruti will give us what we need and Dzire ! 6

MARUTI 800 INDIA’S EVERGREEN It was the fag-end of 1983, in the cold winter of

North India, when one Harpal Singh of New Delhi was handed the keys to a small, never-seen-beforein-India, hatchback by the then Prime Minister, late Mrs. Indira Gandhi. What in any other circumstances would have been just an ordinary car launch turned out to be the start of the automobile revolution in India. Since the launch of Maruti 800, the company, Maruti Suzuki has been consistently progressing. When the 800 was introduced, there were other auto-brands like Fiat and Hindustan Motors ruling the domestic car market. But these cars were meant for the rich class. Maruti 800 became the first Indian car that could make the car buying dream true for a common man. Even today, Maruti 800 is the first choice of millions of Indians. Due to the emission norms parameters the 800 has been recently phased out from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Surat, Kanpur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune and Agra, but rest of the Indian automobile enthusiasts are still testing the flavor of this Indian automobile courtesy. Maruti Suzuki 800 Versions i) 800 AC Uniq ii) 800 Duo Std. LPG iii) 800 Duo AC LPG iv) 800 AC – BS III

Engine, Specifications and Performance Maruti Suzuki, the largest car maker in India, has embossed the 800 hatchback with a 796 cc 3-cylinder four stroke cycle, water cooled SOHC petrol engine inline that has potential to toss maximum power of 37 bhp at 5000 rpm and maximum torque of 59 Nm at 2500 rpm. This street killing small two-box stands on MacPherson Strut & coil spring front suspension and rear Coil spring with gas filled shock absorbers suspension. Moreover, Maruti 800 has unloaded weight of 665 kg and loaded weight of 1000 kg. Being a 796 cc power churner, Maruti 800 has great efficiency to stir efficient power and possesses great paddle acceleration. Maruti 800 has potential to attain top speed of 125 km/h (78 mph) and it can attain speed slot of 0 – 100 km/h 12.8 second.

Exterior The New Maruti Suzuki 800 is adorned with a completely new grill stressed by the Suzuki trademark. Moreover, the clear lens headlamps, rear combination lamps, and its sleek dimension gives this otherwise sober car a pleasant look.

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Comfort and Convenience In the interior , dual tone upholstery exude warmth along with a host of functional amenities available. The reclining and sliding front seats, glove compartment, sun visors, front door pocket, floor and luggage room carpets, and cabin light add comfort to every journey. Though the tiny little car is not equipped with host of innovative technologies it is definitely one of the best city commuters with the just more than enough features for ensuring a refined and pleasurable ride.

12 – 13 kmpl in city conditions and 16 – 17 kmpl on highways.

PRICE From the point of price, Maruti Suzuki 800 is one of the cheapest cars available in the Indian sub-continent. It comes in the price tag range of Rs. 1.97 lakhs to Rs. 2.35 lakhs (Ex–showroom approximate).

Drawbacks

Mileage

With the modern time, the 800 has not been able to get the latest features and fine interior trims. The leg Maruti 800 is one of the most economical cars availroom space of this car is another setback and the Airable in the Indian market. The 0.8 liter petrol inline of conditioner too is not as effective as other small cars this car delivers mileage of 16 – 17 kmpl in city conavailable in India. ditions and 19 – 20 kmpl on highways. The available LPG variant of Maruti Suzuki 800 gives mileage of

THE MARUTI

800

Vehicle Courtesy Mrs. Padma, Chennai

The Maruti Zen was built to piggyback the success

of Maruti 800 and create a niche in the Indian market for itself. It lived up to the expectations did exactly the same when it was launched in 1993. Did you know that ZEN is actually an acronym for Zero Engine Noise? It also stands for the Japanese word “Zen”, derived from the Sanskrit word “Dhyana” which means ‘to figure out something through meditation or enlightenment’. We happened to test drive a Zen bought in 2006 (the year Maruti stopped its production), having 35540 on the odometer. Here are the results.

Detailed Geometry: When the Zen was first launched, it had retro looks which frankly looked like a Chrysler with round head lights but Maruti kept changing its looks over the years and finally concluded with a sober looking face. It is built on the same platform as the famous Maruti 800. The headlights are standard ones and not very stylish which adds to the innocent and sober looking face. The tail lamps appear to be taken straight from the Maruti 800. Box type lamps emphasize the fact that this is a budget friendly model. Zen is a 5 door hatchback and therefore comes only with the front wipers similar to many other cars in the segment. The vehicle we tested had all those functioning perfectly.

THE MARUTI ZEN WHO SAID THE MONK NEEDS A FERARRI? How does it feel on the inside? The dash is very basic and has been made of average quality plastic resulting in a cheap look. It is evident that a little too much cost cutting has been done while designing the Zen. All the knobs are functional but again box like. Dummy buttons exist too. The fully analog instrument cluster is very simple and quite sufficient although the inclusion of the tacho would have been well appreciated. In this particular model, all the electronic parts and knobs were fully functional. Zen also has accessories like ORVM on one side (which can be controlled within the car), cup holders, glove boxes, power windows (although present only in the front) and factory fitted stereo. The rear leg space isn’t ample and as some people would describe it, you have to be legless to fit in! An adult of even an average build cannot sit at the back and the hard seats make the matters worse. The ride height is low and isn’t senior citizen friendly. The boot space is enough for a family picnic but the rear seats aren’t foldable. Ground clearance is just sufficient and the ride quality is satisfactory and definitely isn’t as bad a spine crusher one would think of it to be, although the suspension could damp better. The handling part is decent although power steering isn’t very effective. Body colored bumpers and grill, along with the chrome finishes, add to the beauty of the car. Of course, in today’s world, the above mentioned features would seem obsolete, but for the Zen’s 9

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days, it was pretty much a big thing.

Some of technical specs • Engine 1.3 liter MPFi engine. • Transmission 5 speed manual gearbox. Sharp and slightly glitchy. • Tyres The factory fitted tires are 140/85 R 13 • Suspension Hard, could damp a little a more. • Performance 0-60 kmph-> 9 s with A/C

VERDICT Overall this is a car for small families and is meant for city driving and occasional long drives. This sensible car which earned the ‘world car award’ within 1 year of its launch will definitely be missed on Indian roads.

THE MARUTI SUZUKI ZEN

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MARUTI SUZUKI BALENO WHY DIDN’T IT CATCH ON? We initially thought of not writing about the Bale-

no because when you talk about the greatness of a company we didn’t want to bring in one of their failure models into discussion. But when we were researching about the car we figured out that as a matter of fact most of the owners of this vehicle are willing to recommend it. This can translate to only one obvious conclusion. The car was actually good and the reason for its bad sales was not because of the car as such. The Baleno was Maruti’s first entry into the segment now called the mid segment, and it was released against some stiff competition with vehicles such as the Honda City, Mitsubishi Lancer and the Ford Ikon. It was initially called the Cultus in Japan and at that time was their biggest passenger car. It was not the best looking at that time as the Ikon would walk past it in a race of looks. But being a Maruti it would have been good value and economical.

The interiors on the other hand were plain and simple. Not something that one would expect when they pay 7 lakhs for a vehicle. It did not even have rotary controls for the A/C which were then becoming popular. The tyres in the Baleno were a big issue. It was factory fitted with 165/80 R13 s. For a vehicle of this kind, it was never possible to use the power without spoiling your tyres or worse, crashing. So, most people had to upgrade to wider tyres for better grip. Initially there was only the Vxi variant for the Baleno when they released it out in the 2000. But very soon they released a new version with a facelift like alloy wheels and rear spoilers in an attempt to boost the sales. Finally in 2004 they came up with the Lxi version which at a little under 6 lakhs was a very good deal to go with. So it is not that the Baleno is a bad car. It’s just that people preferred the City or the Ikon which were better looking and had more value for the money. Maruti could have done wonders with this car with a little bit of introspection.

The Baleno came with a 1.6 L, 16 Valve Petrol Engine and was comparable to the Rocam engine of the Ford at that time. It was powerful yet economical and produced 91bhp and 130Nm of torque. It even had a top speed of 175 kmph. So clearly it was not bad perfor- Maruti brought down the curtains of the Baleno production in early 2007. mance that let the Baleno down.

VEHICLE COURTESY Mr. Ramanathan, Chartered Accountant, Chennai ODOMETER READING 58589 KMS

MARUTI SUZUKI ESTEEM MY DADDY’S BIG CAR The Esteem, one of the flagship models of Maruti was given a facelift in styling and introduced back in the Indian market back in 2004. We got hold of a 5 year old Esteem ( Lxi ) and this is what we have to say about it

people and also ensure they have a comfortable sleep.

How does it feel from the inside?

Some of the Esteem’s features include headlamp levelling, collapsible steering column, lockable glove box, Detailed Geometry child proof rear door locks, halogen headlamps, prisThe Esteem’s design is good for the cars of its days. We matic day-night inside rear view mirror etc. There is felt a special retro character while driving around in no factory fitted music player. the old esteem. Your mind draws a quick comparison on how manual operations became electronic. A small The interior of the car is equipped with plush fabric recreational lap in it gave us a quick history lesson on upholstery, centre console box, Ashtrays (front and how cars were, especially automotive technologies, rear) and many more. The dash quality is good with when we were born and how they are now. Maruti has good amount of utility space. The instrument clusgiven the Esteem a few cosmetic modifications from ter employs a tacho and an analogue odometer. The time to time. The design has mostly been kept the sticker scale and Maruti’s green back lighting took us same. In this specific model that we tested, there are on a nostalgic ride. no fog lights. The whole of the interior gives an impression that it’s The headlamps and tail lamps are Maruti-standard built on an almost flat chassis. All the knobs and airones, meant for its functionality and not for the style. con vents are completely maruti-ish. Back then, in the 1990s, headlamps and tail lamps styling was never a concerning issue. Clearly, times The driving position is low thanks to the low ride and clearance of the esteem and gives a feeling of sitting have changed. just a few inches above the ground. Sometime you get The esteem comes with wipers installed only in the the feeling that you are driving a go-kart because you are seated very low and your legs are comparatively front. In the vehicle we tested, they worked fine. flat. The seats are comfortable. The suspensions are Checking on the boot you will find that it is very quite hard and don’t tackle the road irregularities to huge and could have been cut down a little to make a great extent. Prolonged experience to this is sure space for the rear seats. It can accommodate up to two to give you back aches. The rear leg space is also a 13

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concerning issue. When the seats are completely pushed to the back, there is absolutely no space to sit comfortably, of course that’s unless you are sitting cross legged. Little more homework on space management and Maruti can do wonders. This is a major let down for the car marketed as a big family car. But still this car can seat upto 5 people in total. The steering feels mildly heavy, but well within the acceptable range. The EPS assist proves it’s mettle in this vehicle. Tackling corners is a piece of cake. The ride quality is moderate. You can feel the vehicle’s vibrations when the car has been running idle for some time. Engine noise finds its way into the cabin. Some sound insulation at some key places is very necessary.

GOING TECHY Engine 1.3L MPFI. Transmission 5 speed manual. Easy shifting. The clutch needed overhauling. Tyres 175/70 R 13 Performance N/A

VERDICT

The esteem is no longer in production and we suggest you to spend a bit more and consider the SX 4 or the Dzire which are a completely change from the esteem and have the ability to satisfy you more.

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MARUTI ALTO EVERY INDIAN’S RIDE

VEHICLE COURTESY Mrs.Radha Venkatakrishnan, Chennai.

The Maruti Alto was launched in the local Indian

one you see in older Marutis. The lights and warnings are working perfectly. The knobs look box-like with market in 2000 and crossed the 1 million production an old fashioned console and there is not much utility figure in February 2008 becoming the 3rd Maruti space. model to cross the million mark in India after th3 Maruti 800 and the Maruti Omni. The driving position is low but at the same time comLast week, we test drove a seven year old Alto having 54618 on the Odometer clearly indicating that it’s a second car in a household and is not very frequently used.

Exterior

fortable. However, this sort of a driving position may not suit everyone. The maneuvering is good with EPS assist posing no problems, which is excellent for a small vehicle. But in the vehicle we tested, we observed that brakes tend to lock the wheels quite often with just a minor push of the pedal. The suspensions and shocks are not as bad as we expected and damped road irregularities in a mildly convincing manner.

The Maruti Alto is merely an upgrade to the M800 and was meant to replace it. It’s a different issue that The alto comes with hard and averagely comfortable they coexist. seats. The air-con is satisfactory which exceeded our expectations. There is poor space for an adult in the The Alto resembles the 800 and the Zen with the lat- rear though. At an overall level, it fills basic expectater being the closest possible twin. It is compact and tions for a family of two adults and two kids. The boot proves practical for city driving. There is nothing space is sufficient for a family picnic. It’s pretty much much to modify out there. The headlights of the Alto the same you get in the other cars in its class. It does and the tail light styling are quite basic and don’t add not have rear split able seats. much to the visual rating factor. They are installed more for the functionality than style and we can’t exTechnical Stuff pect more from a budget car. The ground clearance is low so the belly is expected to take a few bumps Engine and battery on large speed breakers unless you glide the vehicle 3 cylinder Mpfi 1L petrol engine. The battery is in a over the bump like an aircraft landing in cross winds good condition as well. condition. The alto comes only with the front wipers which were rusted in the vehicle we tested and hence Transmission didn’t function effectively. The washer was also not 5 speed manual gear box. The shifting is floppy and functioning and had no fluid. not fluid which adds to a mechanical feel. The clutch is worn out.

Interior

Tyres 145/80 R12 MRF ZVTS.

The features are minimal which include Air-Conditioning and cup holders in the doors. It doesn’t come with power windows and central locking system. It PERFORMANCE does have Electric power steering though. 0-60 kph : N/A The dash is nothing great. You have a very basic plasticy finish, if I can call it that, and it results in an over- Overall Rating 5.5/10 dose of cost cutting. Well, it is meant to be inexpensive, so no offense there. You’ve dummy buttons as well. The instrument cluster is the same conventional 15

Maruti Alto

Maruti Gypsy is one of the most successful 4X4s

built by Maruti and was launched in the year 1986. Made by Maruti Udyog, the trusted name in Indian Automobile Industry created waves when it was launched. It’s available in soft-top, hard top and Ambulance variants. Maruti Gypsy is ideal for adventure treks and for going on a long night drive. Even the city cops and VIP personnel use it. It gave a tough break for the TATA Sumo. This car is a favorite amongst tourists who want to feel the India terrain. This 4 wheel drive was launched with 970 cc 4 cylinders and its tough design and superior performance places it among the few vehicles favored to combat difficult terrains and win competitions like the “raid de Himalaya”. In fact its performance over the years has ensured that the vehicle is used in several government departments including armed forces and police. Over the years Maruti has made quite a few changes to this particular model. They upgraded the engine by introducing MPFi. The present engine produces 80 BHP at 6000 RPM with a displacement of 1298cc. It also produces a maximum torque of 103 Nm at 4500 RPM. The engine is made with a material of high thermal conductivity which helps in starting the engine quickly even in cold weather conditions, which is one of the reasons why it became quite a hit in the chilly Himalayas. Maruti Gypsy has been modified over the years to offer more functionality. Maruti Gypsy is a hardcore off-roader and therefore lacks comfort features. This

MARUTI GYPSY - THE MEAN MACHINE vehicle has basic functional interiors and has a lockable glove box along with handy grab rail. The front seats of the vehicle are high set which allows for excellent view of the road. The soft top variation of the vehicle has two benches that are centre facing while in the hard top variation the vehicle has a conventional bench. The back seats of the vehicle are not as comfortable as the front seats. It gives a modest mileage of 8-10 kmpl. The ground clearance of this vehicle is 210 mm which ensures that it provides excellent off-road handling. Another excellent aspect of this vehicle is its Diaphragm Spring Clutch which allows the vehicle to handle high rotational speeds with ease and this in turn makes sure that the parts do not wear down easily. The stock tires have specifications of 205/70R15 (no alloys) making it ideal to combat rough terrain. The steering wheel of the vehicle comes equipped with steering damper to prevent sudden jerks due to bumps and potholes on the roads, from being transmitted to the steering wheel. Its low weight and excellent power to weight ratio provides great pick up. These features also ensure that the vehicle can easily tackle muddy and rocky terrains with ease. All these factors are sufficient to prove that it is an excellent off-roader. This mean machine was not built to be a family car. If you are a loner who loves off-roading and have some extra cash lying around then install some wide wheels and start ruling the roads. 17

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THE MARUTI OMNI WHEELING DOWN THE MEMORY LANE WRITTEN BY T RAJAGOPALAN

It was the year of 1988, rather, the summer of 1988, in

Delhi. I was on transfer from Assam to Delhi, to work in the oil regulatory body. I didn’t possess any vehicle, and Delhi being a place of distances and due to nature of my job, I had to buy one. My choice instantly fell on Maruti & model Omni (introduced in 1996) due to two reasons—very few other new generation car manufacturers (other than Hindustan Motors/Premier Automobiles, possibly Daewoo) existed at that point of time, and secondly, Maruti-800, being the only other car manufactured by Maruti had a waiting period of 6 months, though Omni was available off the shelf.

A brief technical specs recap is as under: Length x width x height 3370mm x 1410mm x 1640 mm Wheel base 1840 mm Track front/rear 1280/1295 mm. Kerb weight 785-800 kgs Ground clearance 165 mm Turning radius 4.1m Fuel capacity 36 litres

The spacious small car is powered by a four stroke combustion cycle, featuring three cylinders, 796cc and has six engine valves that ensure fuel efficient perforI made the decision to go for Omni van, sky blue in mance with maximum power of 35 BHP @ 5000 rpm colour—I believe from hindsight that the choice was and maximum torque of 6.1 kgm @3000 rpm. With spot on the dot. I daresay this, as I am using the same a small turning radius of 4.1m, it can navigate easily vehicle after 23 years, and still going strong for sil- through the congested roads of Indian cities. ver jubilee! I must confess, that I have a special affinity with the vehicle, as this was the first (and hope- It had drum brakes at the front and rear then, while fully last!) car, though my children are pressing for a now it is endowed with booster assisted disc brakes at change to the next gen vehicle. This was the vehicle I the front and drum at the rear. I’m not sure if the front learnt my driving on my own, on the broad roads of suspension had McPherson Struts. But all in all, it has New Delhi and within a week’s time precisely, I had had a wonderful innings with me, having run around started taking it to my office. 1 lakh kilometres. 18

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Some important milestones are as under: >> Not a SINGLE breakdown in my entire ownership! >> Last time, the Amaron battery lasted for about 10 years, which was replaced a few months back >> Has been fitted with LED headlights, in addition with a separate cut out. >> Original paint, not touched upon even once, though the car has been parked in open space facing the vagaries of the weather at Delhi and Chennai! I must mention that as I was associated with the automobile industry directly or indirectly having had my innings with the oil industry and subsequently, an automotive component manufacturing company, I have been lucky to have the maintenance of my vehicle attended to by a good service team, both at Delhi and Chennai, both being Maruti Associated Service Stations (MASS !) Some may call it a relic, or an antique piece—but to me its the “old, faithful warhorse”, who has not let down his master at any point during its service. As clichéd as it may sound, old truly is gold! However, if under any circumstances I’m forced to buy another car, I would be parting with my trusted friend with a heavy heart and fond memories!

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THE MARUTI SUZUKI WAGON R THE BLUE EYED BOY FROM THE MARUTI STABLE Maruti might have had timing issues at the launch of

the WagonR in India. Despite being one of the world’s first tall-boy mini-van styled passenger car from Suzuki, Hyundai won the race to launch the first tall boy stance hatchback in India with the Santro. Due to this, the WagonR recorded very slow sales growth and the Santro/Xing continues to be its long time rival.

lids, electronically adjustable ORVMs, adjustable tilt steering and tubeless tyres. Maruti has felt free to experiment with the WagonR well. The WagonR DUO hybrid variant runs on petrol and LPG. The WagonR Green variant, again a hybrid, runs on petrol and CNG. These two variants have helped Maruti find a new sector of target buyers to please– The taxi walas.

When simply put, the WagonR comes in like a brother to the Zen Estilo. They look almost the same with the tall boy stance and high ride. Maruti Suzuki has given The latest facelift of the WagonR, that was launched the WagonR a number of makeovers and cosmetic in April 2010 boosted Maruti’s sales to a great extent. surgeries ever since it’s initial launch in 1999. The WagonR production crossed 1 million units within just a year, making it the fourth vehicle from the The latest upgrade to the WagonR variants was the in- Maruti stable to do so. stallation of Maruti’s successful K-series engine. Currently, the WagonR comes in 3 variants: The WagonR 2010 comes installed with the K series • WagonR Lx engine that ensures a very stable balance between • WagonR Lxi performance and fuel economy while churning out a • WagonR Vxi with ABS and airbags. load of 67 bhp. This combination has clearly worked for India. The highest variant, the Maruti VXi comes loaded with CD players, foldable rear seats, rear defogger, WagonR, as Maruti puts it, is the blue eyed boy inpower windows central locking ,remote boot and fuel deed.

Maruti Wagon R

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wagon R, as Maruti puts it, is the blue eyed boy indeed.â&#x20AC;?

MARUTI SUZUKI ZEN ESTILO Si Señor ODOMETER READING 29651 KM YEAR OF PURCHASE 2007 VEHICLE COURTESY Dr, V.K. Ramadesikan, Professor, Stanley Medical College OVERALL RATING 7/10

The size of the headlamps is pretty huge, aided by a mildly mature styling. The arrangement of the reflectors inside the lamp unit is noteworthy. The tail lamps look like right triangles that go along the sides of the boot lid.

Coming to the wipers section, Estilo comes with mohe tiny build (It really is tiny!) Maruti Suzuki Zen tors only in the front. With respect to the vehicle we resigned from production in early 2006 after selling tested, the motor operation seems to be fine, but the for almost a decade only to be replaced by a tall boy blades need some replacement and the left sprayer is Zen. And he came in with a Spanish last name. Estilo. slightly out of focus. Style, when translated to English.

What is in?

Detailed Geometry Well, I won’t be surprised if you look at it and say the Estilo is a box on wheels. To be honest, it does appear like one. Unlike the spoilt Swift, this one looks very loyal and innocent. It does what it is meant to and nothing more; a textbook version of the Swift, perhaps. A roof scoop could probably give it a slightly cooler character, but no. Maruti wants it this way. One issue that I would like to point out is the mounting of the A-pillar. It creates a blind spot on the right for the driver, where a crucial part of the windscreen is blocked by metal.

Open the slim and light weight doors and you see the upmarket dashboard coloured black with a small portion of beige. The aircon vents for the driver and passenger sides are circular. They are different from the standard budget vent designs. Our vehicle, being the highest variant available, had no dummy buttons to be found. It was a good change for us, comparing it with all the other vehicles we tested. The cluster of instruments has some large font labelling. The sticker scales in the speedo and tacho are very obvious. Maruti could have worked a little more on that, but chose to overlook it. It’s acceptable in low end versions, but not in the highest one. 22

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Estilo comes loaded with Electric Power Steering Going techie (EPS) assist, power windows for all doors and ORVMs Engine: (Outer Rear View Mirrors) that can be electronically FWD 1061 cc with MPFi. positioned. Definitely not as much as the Swift, but it does live up to its purpose. Transmission: 5 speed manual with easy shifting. Being a tall boy, it offers a high ride with some very good road visibility, apart from the A-pillar issue. It Tyres: strikes high in the comfort factor as well with some 155/65 R 13 Non –alloys. very good seats and cushioning unlike the hard and butt hurting ones like in the Alto and M800. It is also senior citizen friendly. It is not very hard to get on and get off of it, considering its size. However, the rear leg room is a disappointment and would definitely pose a problem for 6 footers. The boot space is exceptionally >> Ride quality good. There’s your reason for the compromise in rear >> Comfortable seats leg room.

Good

The ride quality offered is pretty good. You don’t feel the vibrations when you are at a high gear for low speeds, but you definitely get the sensation of the speed with which the vehicle is driven unlike in the Polo which has quite a solid build. The suspensions are, to an extent, on the harder side. It could be set to over damp just a little more for getting some more points in this parameter. The manoeuvring is excellent. The EPS assist does wonders to your steer ability, making bends and corners almost effortless to tackle. An issue with the clutch was evident in the vehicle we tested. It seemed to have some over-play, but it did engage gears without any problems.

>> Manoeuvring >> Dash quality

>> >> >> >>

No good Rear leg room A-pillar mounting Hard suspensions Clutch issues

Maruti Zen Estilo

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THE MARUTI EECO - A MARUTI BY ALL MEANS Maruti Eeco is a multi purpose vehicle in the mar- basic transportation vehicle or a family’s weekend veket that resembles the Versa. But it is more pocket hicle. You get a good air-con system with 2 speakers in friendly than the latter (therefore, the name) and Be- the front, but no music system. ing a Maruti product, its reliability factor is high. The Eeco shares its dash board with the 800 and Alto and has an instrument cluster that only shows you the Exterior speed, engine temperature and the fuel gauge. If you thought the Estilo was a box on wheels, you wouldn’t have another word to describe the Eeco’s design better. Given the box like design (I really don’t know how else one can key it out) and the long wheel base of the Eeco, chances of employing it with Maruti’s Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist are lost. Its headlamps give the vehicle a sober and slaved look. The tail lamps have standard unattractive designs indicating the point that they have been fixed just because of the ARAI standards. Considering the fact that Eeco is a multi utility vehicle (MUV) and used primarily for goods transportation, its looks do not come into picture at all. As long as the purpose is served, all is well and good. One cannot expect distinctive styling in such vehicles. Coming to the ground clearance, there is absolutely nothing to complain about. It is built on a high platform that can save itself from road irregularities. In the vehicle that was tested, the wipers and sprayers (only in the front) worked convincingly well.

The lack of EPS does affect the manoeuvring and of course, demands much more effort from the driver’s part to turn the resisting steering wheel. The seats are on the harder side, but manageable. They can be relied upon for long journeys. The performance of the air-con is good, but it does take its own sweet time to cool the whole vehicle. The rear leg space is also good, but you might want to stretch your legs from time to time because you keep them almost flat throughout. There is no such thing as a boot for the Eeco, but if you consider the portion of the vehicle behind the B pillar as one, it would prove to be a huge boot if there aren’t any seats.

How does it feel inside?

ADVICE

The Eeco does not come with many features. It restricts you to nothing more than what is required from a

The ride quality is satisfactory. The Eeco offers a very high driving position which enhances road visibility. The suspensions and shocks filter the road irregularities to a minimum bearable level. The external noise finds its way into the cabin, only to irritate you.

If you need a multi-purpose vehicle, just go for it.

VEHICLE COURTESY Badhiri Narayanan

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Going techie. •

Engine and battery

RWD with 4 cylinder inline engine mounted under the body. •

Transmission

5 speed manual gear box with easy shifting. The clutch is also in a good condition. •

Tyres

The tyres are 155, R13 which are uniformly worn. •

Performance

Acceleration from 0 – 60 without air-con: 7.8 Acceleration from 0 – 60 with air-con: 6.5 The tests were performed with an average load of 3 persons. Eeco lives to its name and is the most economical multi-purpose vehicle available in the market and most importantly, it is a Maruti. If your priorities demand such a car, as stated earlier, simply go for it.

THE MARUTI SUZUKI SWIFT DIESEL

VEHICLE COURTESY Mrs.Rama Venugpal, Value Added Corporate Services Pvt. Ltd. ODOMETER READING 4518kms

Its a Maruti ++ 27

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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2

resemble a pair of eyes with raised eye brows. This sort of a design shows a sign of over confidence and domiThe Swift is definitely the most favourite car of the nance, which is a completely justified possession. The student fraternity; for the sole reason that it is fun to tail lamp styling is quite different as well. Similar to drive around in. We happened to get hold of a diesel the SX4, the lamps extend to the rear end body. variant and the fun just multiplied. Spend a few minutes behind its wheel and it becomes a part of you. It is The Swift comes only with the front wipers and with well responsive, adaptive and cooperative. A glimpse respect to the one that were tested, they work perfectof the Swift makes you realize that this is no mere ve- ly. The washer is in a good condition too. hicle you can redraw with a pair of engineering drafters. It gets rounded towards the rear and is definitely HOW DOES IT FEEL? a very young spirited vehicle, filled with energy. But had the front grille been bigger, more character would Focussing on the dash board, there is nothing attrachave been revealed by speaking through the visuals. tive about it. Swift isn’t too bad to make your buy look cheap but it doesn’t give you an up-market feel either. The Swift is the most after-sales modified vehicle on It hangs somewhere in the middle. Strips of chrome Indian roads. If Maruti capitalizes on that and starts stuck here and there give an impression of a “try” giving their own mod-kit, profits are certain to go up rather than a style appeal. There are also dummy butby 30%. Ground clearance, which is a concerning pa- tons to kill your mood at times. The instrument cluster rameter with respect to car purchasing, is quite good. is the same conventional one you see in its brothers. Speed bumps? No problem. You can save all your worries for the fuel price hike. The mild tall boy stance The Swift could make the other hatches of its time look helps in giving the driver a good driving position as up to it with jealousy thanks to one particular feature. well. Yes, ABS. Internationally speaking; ABS is in the list of basic safety features that a car should be equipped with. One glance at the headlamps and you realize that they

CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED The swift is furnished with fairly comfortable seats. Our backs settled in well. One should not expect more comfort from a Maruti stable hatch. The air-con is good and the cooling is quick and effective. On the whole, the ride quality is commendable. Inside the cabin, one can hardly hear any external noise or even the engine. Filtering has to be appreciated. The Electric Power Steering assist supplements the light steering wheel well. Hence it can be manoeuvred effortlessly. The compact frame adds to this advantage. On the other hand, the suspensions and shocks are not very satisfactory. A taste of Kotturpuram road in Chennai would leave you with a backache. The rear leg space is just enough for an average build adult and the boot space is good. No complaints on this front.

Going techie

India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2

VERDICT The Swift comes with its own ups and downs. But you should keep in mind that it’s after all a Maruti Namma Maruti. Maruti, over the years has created such an image for themselves that when you sit in one, it’s like “Ah, feels like home.” The Indian-ness cannot be recreated or matched by any other. With the 24 month/40000km Warrenty it looks like a real deal to consider

SHOULD YOU BUY IT? Definitely worth every paisa. Above all, it’s a Maruti! Enjoy being an Indian. RATING 8.6/10|

• Engine and battery FWD with 4 cylinder in-line direct injection diesel. • Transmission 5 speed manual gear box. The shifting is easy.

•

Tyres

Evenly worn 165/180 R14 – non alloys.

•

Performance

Acceleration from 0 – 60 without air-con – 6.3 seconds Acceleration from 0 – 60 with air-con – 7 seconds.

What we liked • Looks • In Cabin Noise Filtering • EPS & Maneuvering • ABS

What we didn’t like • • • •

Chrome Strips Dash quality Rear leg room Dummy Buttons • Suspension not satisfactory

Maruti Suzuki Swift

THE MARUTI SWIFT D

HAVE MARUTI

DZIRE

FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT?

VEHICLE COURTESY Mrs. Meera Sivaramakrishnan, Violinist, AIR 32

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view of the road and long drives are possible without the risk of a bad back. The aircon worked very well in our test car and tackles Chennai’s Mercury boiling temperatures very well. The car we tested had done more than 8000 kms on its ODO and we must say the suspension worked brilliantly still. There is a difWhile it is a great car, it was obvious that the Swift was ference in the way the hatch and the Dzire ride over lacking in space and Maruti’s immediate answer was the bumps and potholes and I feel the Dzire is the the Swift Dzire. We Indians are not un-familiar with comfier car to be in. Manoeuvring this car is same the cut and paste boot job (I re-read what I typed and as driving the hatch. You never feel that extra weight I agree it sounded funny). Tata started this trend with or length at all and this is a highlight especially for their Indica, which became Indigo and the Indigo hatch owners considering a trade up (do not buy the became the Indigo Marina. Maruti designed this car Dzire now though as it is getting a replacement in a (Yes, not Suzuki, the Dzire is a product made and sold week). only for India) and I must say, they have done a pretty good job. Though at times, I do feel they could have The Dzire is available in the 1.2 Petrol K-Series or the 1.3 Diesel DDiS. Both have their positive attribmade it look better and a bit more eloquent. utes. Where the petrol is smooth and delivers power That said, the car retains most of the common parts of linearly, the diesel has good amount of torque and the Swift and this is a good thing as much as it is bad. delivers good mid-range performance. Vibrations are Good because the Swift looks good and bad because almost nonexistent in the petrol and a slight amount of vibrations exist in the diesel which is perfectly you’re paying quite a lot for only a boot! In the Dzire, the taillights are the only distinctive part normal. Whichever engine you pick, you won’t be at the rear. The wiper blades on our test car were worn making a mistake though. The gearshift is one of the and noisy and this is a problem faced in all Maruti best in class and provides smooth and quick shifts products. In a place like Chennai we hardly use wipers enhancing the driving aesthetics. The handling is and yet they bill me for new ones each time I get my certainly better than cars such as the Indigo, Etios or even the Sunny. SX4 serviced. aunching the Swift in 2005 was the turning point for India’s ‘Budget’ Car Manufacturer - Maruti Suzuki. After a lean period, which saw various cars come into the market without creating much of a stir, they rose in the market again with the launch of the Swift.

Interior wise, the car is a photocopy of the Swift. Again, good and bad. Maruti could have done something different but they didn’t. The dash board quality is pretty decent and at this price one cannot expect anything better. (Oh hang on, the i-10’s got a much better one). Otherwise, the features are impressive and you get the standard kit of Power windows included with Dual Airbags, ACT, steering mounted audio controls, AUX-in, Alloy wheels and ABS. This comes in the top end model of course. These are essential features these days and even the Dzire falls short on features when compared to a i-20, Micra or a Sunny. Speaking of the Sunny, its the closest competitor to the Dzire. When the news that the Dzire is going to be launched, made people expect that the Dzire would have extra leg and knee room at the rear as compared to the Swift, and boy, they couldn’t have been more wrong. As in the case of the Indica and the Indigo, MSIL wanted to add a boot. The space you get in the rear is almost similar to the hatch save for a few mm. Its still a bit tight to squeeze in three big adults at the rear. Up in front, the driver’s seat is nice and comfy with a good

Coming to the most important point which makes people go for the Dzire against the Swift - the boot space. Is it really worth it? Yes it is! I was amazed to see the boot, which is extremely deep, wide and has good length as well. The boot of the Swift hatch could only accommodate your i-Pod nano. With the Dzire, you could almost rob an entire i-Store and still have room left for a kidnap. Its that good and something MSIL has not messed up. Overall, the Swift Dzire comes across as a great car. The price difference is quite acceptable between the hatch and the sedan. The current competitors include the Indigo, Etios, Sunny and the Logan. Given the option, I would go in for the Sunny. Thats not to say the Dzire isn’t bad. Its amazing. I just don’t like the thought of a Swift with a boot. And the Sunny is better than the Dzire in many key areas. However, MSIL is launching the new Dzire, which could even be out by the time you’re reading this. The 2012 model would be shorter than 4m and this would make it a lot cheaper than the outgoing model as well. If you’ve immediate plans to buy the Dzire, please wait. 33

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Maruti Swift Dzire

THE MEN ARE R 3835

REALLY BACK!

THE MARUTI SUZUKI SX 4 Vehicle courtesy

Mr.Ravi Krishnaswamy (Consultant, South East Asia, New Zealand Dairy)

ODOMETER READING 9621kms RATING 8/10

Many don’t know that the SX4 is actually a cross over.

SX4 stands for “Sports X-over 4 all seasons”. Not quite the name you keep for a sedan, but who cares? It’s Maruti Suzuki’s Indian muscle! Let’s check it out. We got a two year old, not very used SX4 out on a test drive last week. Here’s what.

DETAILED GEOMETRY This tall boy from the Maruti Suzuki stable is quite distinctively styled. For a starter, you know that it is just not another car. If you can spot a SX4 from a distance - that’s a battle half won for Maruti. Some Maruti enthusiasts look at it as its muscle. Pitch in a rear spoiler, side skirts and front splitter, remove the rear seats and replace the front ones with racing seats and you have got yourself a sports car and a very decent one at that. The headlamps suit the vehicle well. They present a mean and powerful character filled with road rage, reflecting what is below its huge and cramped hood. The tail lamps ask for some special mentioning. They aren’t the cliché box type that Maruti employs in its budget friendly models. The lamps extend to the rear body showing some commendable effort by the Autocad addicts in the design department. The SX4 is a mid-segment car and therefore comes only with front wipers similar to most other cars in its segment. With respect to the one that was tested, the wipermotion seemed to be as per text book, but the blades however were in poor condition and needed replacement. The ground clearance department is something you definitely don’t have to worry about. As mentioned earlier, it is a tall muscle and has its six pack abs quite safe.

How does it feel? The dash is of good plastic quality and doesn’t give the car a cheap look like the ones found in the Etios and Liva. The knobs and buttons are typical Maruti designs. Though primitive, there are no complaints in their functioning. A little more of less cost cutting and Maruti could have 36

done wonders in this department as well. The instrument cluster is quite simple and conventional. But the chrome lining originally meant to improve the visual rating fails. The SX4 comes with a built in stereo system with an aux port and 4 speakers, rear parking sensors, central and remote locking, electrically adjustable mirrors and offers almost everything a basic mid segmented car is expected to serve. On the whole, the ride is high and you sit at an elevated level. The

seats are good and comfortable. The air-con also performs well and cooling is quick. Long road trips will be a piece of cake with this car. To a good extent, it is senior citizen friendly as well.

Suspensions are faintly towards the harder side, but the damping is good enough to take on those road irregularities. The rear leg space is just sufficient to comfortably seat a 6 footer whose head will otherwise scrape the roof while he is seated at the rear. Which means the rest can sit like a king!

Getting to the ride quality, no external noise was heard in the cabin. The filtering is applaudable. The steering wheel feels light and turning is almost effortless, thanks to an over-servo-ed EPS. The ma- The boot is huge, really huge. And noeuvring is certainly good con- just like its buddies from its segsidering this beastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s size. ment, the SX4 does not come with 37

CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED rear foldable seats. Coming to think of it, is it really necessary?

Going TechIE •

Engine and battery

•

Transmission

•

Tyres

•

Performance

India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2

• • • • •

FWD 4 pot in-line 1.6 litre with VVT (Variable Valve Timing). 5 speed manual gear box. The shift is easy.

The stock tyres are R15/195. No alloy wheels.

Acceleration from 0 to 60 without air-con: 6 s Acceleration from 0 to 60 with air-con: 6.6s

THE GOOD

Ground Clearance Ride Quality Maneuvering Responsive Engine Huge Boot

THE BAD • Insturment Cluster • Hard Suspensions • Interior knob design could be better VERDICT

The Maruti cars are designed just for the Indian roads. They are extremely reliable and go on and on however horribly you treat it. It’ll never let you down. It definitely is India’s wonder of engineering. The SX4 is again, Maruti’s. Go for it with your eyes closed!

HISTORY OF MARUTI AND ITS FLAGSHIP MODEL “THE 800” 1. The initiation of the people’s car idea happened in 1970s when Sanjay Gandhi was awarded a contract to build the car. Unfortunately the car never went into production. Maruti Udyog Limited was then struggling for its existance 2. Excitingly, the journey between the concept and production of M800 was very small. Maruti took only 13 months to go from the design to production of the 800. 3. After persistent efforts and strong determination, MUL launched its first passenger car, christened as ‘800’ on December 14, 1983. 4. The first M800 was sold to Harpal Singh at a cost price of Rs 48,000. The lucky car owner received the keys from the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. 5. The first 800 rolled out from the production lines was actually Suzuki’s SS80 which was known as the Fronte in Japan and Alto in other international car markets. The car was powered with a 796 cc three-cylinder engine that generated 39.5 bhp at 5500 rpm.

6. The old Maruti was then rejuvenated in 1986 with an additional cost price of Rs 15,000. This facelifted version of the 800 came with a air conditioner and music system. 7. In the first year (1984) of production, M800 witnessed sales of 852 units, the sales increased to 20,269 units between 1985-86 and reached 31,314 units. After the car was revamped with a completely new look, it experienced sales of about 52,344 units in1986. 8. The first export of Maruti 800 began in 1987. It is said that during this period almost 500 cars were exported to Hungary. Later, it was also exported to South East Asia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and South America. 9. The M800 was India’s largest selling passenger car that witnessed accelerated growth with escalating sales every year. The car sales soared from about 63,763 units in 1987 to about 1, 89,061 units in 1999. 10. Since the first launch in 1983, Maruti has rejoiced total sales of about 25, 20,020 units of 800s till date. 38

Maruti Suzuki SX4

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THE KIZASHI - “WHAT WAS MARUTI THINKING WHEN THEY MADE THIS CAR?” E

ver heard of a book by Chetan Bhagat called ‘Three Mistakes Of My Life’ ? Well, Maruti Suzuki can write a similar book! They have made their fair share of mistakes like any other. In chronological order, it started with the Baleno. The car never sold like how MSIL wanted it too. Then, the Grand Vitara. Even Hyundai was laughing at them. Re-launching the Grand Vitara made me think George Bush was in control of Suzuki. Not launching a ZDi variant of the old Swift. And last, but not the least...the Kizashi. Ironically, Kizashi is a Japanese word which means ‘All things good to come’. I think it means ‘LOL’. The Kizashi was launched last year and MSIL announced it would be a CBU (Completely Built Up Unit) and it would compete with the Honda Accord. It would be a car which proved that a m a nu f a c t u r e r such as Maruti could build expensive and luxurious cars as well. The car was a complete disaster. I had the chance to drive a Kizashi Automatic around Chennai. Here’s how it went. First of all, I’m a fan of the design of the car which resembles the SX4 in places and I think it has the looks to match the Accord. Exterior wise that is. You get Xenon lamps and 17in alloy wheels and the styling is neat. Something that caught my eye- there is no ‘Maruti’ name anywhere on the car! The rear of all MS cars feature a badge which has the names ‘Maruti’ on top and ‘Suzuki’ at the bottom. I’m sure all of you know it. This car just has a ‘Suzuki’. Anyway, the car is just a bit longer than a Honda Civic and The rear of all MS cars feature a badge which has the names ‘Maruti’ on top and ‘Suzuki’ at the bottom.

I’m sure all of you know it. This car just has a ‘Suzuki’. Anyway, the car is just a bit longer than a Honda Civic and you get the impression that the Kizashi does not belong in the Accord category. Open the solid doors and step inside and you’ll start laughing. The car, as they call it, has the same steering as the New Swift, similar air con vents, Power Window switches and the same layout. The quality of materials is a bit better. How much better? Not much. I think I can confidently say the VW Polo has a better feel and quality. The Hyundai Verna has better quality materials inside. This car does not hold a chance even against the Civic, forget the Accord. Why would I spend INR 2.2 million on a car which looks like the INR 0.5 million Swift inside? MSIL would have to slip very expensive drugs in my coffee. The only changes are the additions of a few buttons. Cruise Control, Dual Zone ACT, a switch for Traction control, powered front seats and a Start/ Stop button which is cheaper than a Nissan Micra. The design of the instrument cluster caught my eye and it was the best part of the cabin as it had not been copied. Genuinely nice with good illumination and it looked the part. Space is decent at the rear. Similar to a Civic once again and maybe a few mm more. Once, you sit at the rear, you notice the inconsistent plastic quality. As I said, the VW Polo feels better built. View from the drivers seat is decent. You find yourself guessing where the front bumper is and leaving a good gap in traffic is better. Steering feel is very good and feels very sporty. The chassis of the car is brilliant once again and you can corner very hard and drive in 40

CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED a very enthusiastic manner thanks to the grip from the excellent 215 section tires. I drove the automatic which is a CVT(Continuously Variable Transmission) with paddle shifts for 6 pre-selected speeds with an option of a Tip-Tronic as well. The engine is very smooth and and the shifts are very quick. This is a 2400cc engine which produces 176bhp. I think someone stole 46bhp. The Civic has 130bhp and the Kizashi feels just like a Civic. Quick, but not 2400cc quick. More like 1800cc quick. Once you move the cheap quality gearbox to the manual mode, the paddle shifts are active and you can switch gears from here. You probably know this, but you’re highly mistaken. As soon as you shift with a paddle, the command needs to be approved by a computer. This is normal procedure and in most of the cars the delay is very minimal and the driver of the car wins 9 out of 10 times. In the Kizashi, the computer is like Anna Hazare. You’re doing 40kmph and want to shift to 5th. Nope, not allowed. Its very rare for the driver to win over this computer and it is highly frustrating. The handling as I said before is very good. The way the Kizashi handles Indian roads is brilliant and the way it glides over bumps and potholes is fantastic. To sum it up, I found the engine to be very smooth but underpowered. If you’re in the bank robbery business or even kidnapping, I suggest you take a Honda Civic.

India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2 Superb, VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata, Renault Fluence, Nissan Teana, Second hand Mercedes Benz CClass, VW Jetta, Skoda Laura (whew! Let me catch my breath) you would definitely buy the Kizashi! Word of advice: Buy the Civic. Invest your spare change of nearly 10lakhs in Gold or something. Before you know it, you’ll be driving a Merc, Audi or a BMW. Now you might think that the Kizashi is a very bad car. Truth is, it isn’t all that bad. You have the feeling primarily because you’re paying INR 2 million upwards. Had the Kizashi been priced similar to a Civic or a Corolla, I would have really liked this car. This is NOT a competitor for the Honda Accord, but for the Civic. The high pricing may be due to the CBU taxation and the Japs greediness to get rich. In fact, all those failure models like the Baleno and Vitara are very good cars. They were let down by the price. Towards the end of the Baleno’s life, MSIL revised the price to INR 0.5 million. Next day, there was a waiting list for the Baleno. I think MSIL should accept that they will never be a ‘Luxury Car Maker’ like Honda. They are good at what they do- Cars which offer amazing value and priced below 10lakhs. I have a SX4 and I love it. Getting the Kizashi and pricing it that steep was pushing it and MSIL knew it. They probly wanted to know how much we would pay for a ‘Maruti’. Looks like we draw the lines at 10lakhs.

Who would buy/Why would you buy the Kizashi? If Thus the Kizashi is, and will continue to be a good car. you’re chauffeur driven and take to the back seat and Abroad. In India, it will always be known as one of the ‘failure’ models. you hate the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Skoda

MARUTI SUZUKI KIZASHI

VEHICLE COURTESY Sidhanth Sharma, SRM University

THE MARUTI A-STAR - IS IT THE STAR OF THE SHOW?

The A-Star is known as the Nissan Pixo in Europe

of a car, but its a good figure. In gear acceleration is and is one of the cheapest cars available there for 6000 decent and thanks to the low weight it feels like drivPounds. When this car was launched in India, I didn’t ing a bigger car such as a Swift. What I loved about this like it all that much. I thought it was an overgrown motor was the efficiency. Even when driven in a zesty 800 and Maruti was overcharging us. They were using manner, the car managed astounding fuel efficiency. all sorts of fancy jargon such as K-Series (A-Star was It gave in excess of 16kmpl and that should keep most the first to get a K-Series motor in India) The positive of us satisfied. Out on the highway, you might find attributes were that of safety. This was the cheapest car the 5th gear to be sluggish while overtaking. Frequent on sale with Dual Airbags. Still, I found the price : size downshifts are necessary to pull off risky overtaking. Again not an issue and just needs one to get used to ratio rather absurd. the situation. Last year, I helped a friend pick out a car. Since he was going in for a pre-owned car, we didn’t have choice. Driving dynamics are pretty good too. The car has The A-Star was the best of the lot. I began driving this extremely skinny tires and this spoils the grip. Alloy car and all of a sudden changed my opinion. Firstly, wheels aren’t even an option on the ZXi. The handling the looks and the dinky dimensions work very well in is well composed and given fatter rubber, the drive the city. Not only is this very easy to manoeuvre, but it would be entertaining as well. Brakes are excellent. looks the part without being seen as a ‘small’ car. The Even on this VXi without ABS, the brakes are strong engine works. Powered by a 1 liter K-Series engine, it and have a nice feel to them. has enough power for the city. Enjoyable on the highways as well. You never find yourself short on power, Coming to the point that bowled me over. I thought thats the best feature of this engine. There’s always a this was an overgrown 800. Wrong. I wouldn’t be good push you get when you’re in the right gear. Flat wrong in saying that the A-Star has more legroom out it takes about 15 secs to reach 100kmph. Not that than the Swift! Seriously, the legroom on offer can match the Getz or even the i-20. However, I found the you’ll find yourself entering drag races with this sort 42

Maruti A-Star

rear seats to be narrow. Trying to fit three Indian medium built adults would be like Sunny Leone’s shirt if you know what I mean. Better to treat this as a four seater. The most disappointing factor was the boot space. You can probably fit a full size trolley bag and a duffel bag. Since this was meant to be used in the city extensively, boot space was not a major priority, butit would have been nice to get a more voluminous boot. The ZXi variant comes in at 4.9 lakhs on road Chennai. I wouldn’t recommend the A-Star

over cars such as the Figo, i-10 or the Brio. Nope. The A-Start competes with the Chevy Spark and Beat mainly. Its also a Maruti vs Maruti as the Wagon-R and Estilo are competitors as well. Over these cars, I would pick the A-Star any day as its truly a complete package. Its like an international product and makes the Beat, Spark, Estilo & Wagon R appear inferior. In an ideal case, I still think Maruti should price it lower and pare it against the Eon maybe. Perhaps 50-75k cheaper and the A-Star would ‘spark’ the sales figures! 43

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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2

Maruti Suzuki Ritz Ritzing the way in.

upmarket feel to the car with the utilization of good quality plastic. It disassociates the clichéd inexpensive look that comes with the Marutis. It scores high in the comfort and ride quality parameters as well with the exceptionally good air conditioning, utility space and boot space. The bucket seats in the front make you feel very pleased. The rear leg room is a disappointment, but given the design motive of the car is to serve a Suzuki called it the “Splash” but had to change it small family of 2 + 2, one can’t complain about it. soon after as Ford had already registered that name. Launched in India in 2009, the Ritz comes in a whole Some of the biggest plus points of this vehicle is lot of 9 variants, with both petrol and diesel options. it’s city practicality and exceptional manoeuvring. The petrol variants Lxi, Vxi, Vxi with ABS, Zxi, Genus The EPS assist installed reduces driver effort to a Vxi are powered by Suzuki’s K-series engines with a very comfortable level. The suspensions work well displacement of 1.2 Litres. The Diesel variants Ldi, at damping those irregularities and save you a back Vdi, Vdi with ABS, Genus Vdi are powered by Fiat’s ache. 1.3 Litre Multijet Diesel engines. The rev-happy engines variants are coupled to a 5 The Ritz is probably the only vehicle, after the Swift speed gearbox and produce an output of 85 bhp to have a high visual appeal. Its funky design with (petrol) and 75 bhp (diesel). Yes, the diesel engines the angled rear C pillar, huge front grille, large head are slightly underpowered but that loss of 10 bhp is lamp and tail lamp units proved to be it’s best USPs. not going to matter much in case of city driving. It is It’s tall boy stance results in a high ground clearance infact, more than enough to power a hatchback. and saves you some worry about the underside of the There is more to the Ritz. A complete review, in fact, vehicle. in Carma issue 1. Do check it out. Maruti Suzuki has also done some homework in the interiors department. The dash quality gives a very Building a car and selling it isn’t as easy as one would think. It’s about balancing a set of parameters that are almost always conflicting. And to get to a stability point, it sure is a huge task. Also, to make sure that joy factor isn’t killed is another balancing act that would conflict the stability point. A reasonable compromise of both is what the Ritz is all about.

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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2

VEHICLE COURTESY Mr. S. Mohan Kumar, Owner, System

ODOMETER READING 34,488 KMS

Maruti Ritz

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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2

PLANNING TO SELL YOUR MARUTI? CHECK OUT THIS GUIDE! Price (Based on age of the car) < 3 Years

> 3 Years

Maruti Suzuki

The Company that put India on wheels! MARUTI 800 AC BS III

` 1,71,700

` 1,48,000

AC UNIQ

` 1,66,000

DUO AC LPG

` 1,87,300

DUO STD LPG

` 1,72,600

STD BS III

` 1,61,000

` 1,39,200

AC BS II

` 1,45,000

EX 5 SPEED

` 1,30,000

STD

` 1,30,000

STD BS II

` 1,35,700

LXI

` 2,80,000

VXI

` 3,00,000

ZXI

` 3,30,000

LX BS III

` 2,11,000

` 1,90,000

LXI BS III

` 2,25,000

` 2,02,000

STD

` 1,89,000

` 1,68,000

5 STR

` 2,46,000

5 STR WITH AC + HTR

` 2,78,000

5 STR WITH AC + CNG

` 2,98,000

7 STR

` 2,68,400

MARUTI A-STAR

MARUTI ALTO

MARUTI EECO

All prices for vehicles in Chennai and having run an average of 15000km/year. Prices are indicative and depends on the condition of the car. 46

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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2 Price (Based on age of the car) < 3 Years

> 3 Years

2.0 AT

` 13,07,700

` 9,81,300

2.0 MT

` 12,12,000

` 9,10,000

2.4 AT

` 13,07,000

` 9,81,300

2.4 MT

` 9,10,800

XL-7 AT

` 12,12,000 -

` 10,28,300

XL-7 MT

` 9,73,000

KING HT

` 3,06,000

KING HT BS II

` 4,03,000

` 3,11,700

KING HT BS III

` 4,10,700

` 3,17,000

KING ST

` 2,97,200

KING ST BS II

` 3,91,600

` 3,02,500

KING ST BS III

` 3,99,000

` 3,08,300

5 STR BS III

` 1,84,200

5 STR BS IV

` 1,92,900

` 1,55,900 -

8 STR BS III

` 1,86,000

` 1,57,000

8 STR BS IV

` 1,89,900

CARGO BS IV

` 1,77,000

CARGO LPG BS III

` 1,70,000

` 1,44,000

LDI BS IV

` 4,01,600

LXI BS IV

` 3,07,000

VDI ABS BS IV

` 4,40,000

VDI BS IV

` 4,32,000

VXI ABS BS IV

` 3,50,000

VXI BS IV

` 3,31,900

MARUTI GRAND VITARA

MARUTI GYPSY

MARUTI OMNI

MARUTI RITZ

ZXI BS IV ` 3,82,100 All prices for vehicles in Chennai and having run an average of 15000km/year. Prices are indicative and depends on the condition of the car.

CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED

India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2 Price (Based on age of the car) < 3 Years

> 3 Years

LDI

` 5,32,000

LXI

` 4,29,000

VDI

` 5,76,000

VXI

` 4,65,100

ZDI

` 6,50,000

ZXI

` 5,48,000

GLAM

` 3,67,000

LDI

` 4,20,300

` 3,66,000

LXI 1.3

` 3,30,000

` 2,76,000

VDI

` 4,35,000

` 3,77,000

VDI ABS

` 4,36,000

` 3,85,000

VXI 1.3

` 3,50,000

` 3,00,000

VXI 1.3 ABS

` 3,66,000

` 3,10,000

ZXI 1.3

` 4,20,000

` 3,50,000

VXI

` 5,20,000

` 4,43,000

ZXI

` 5,72,000

` 4,86,000

ZXI LEATHER OPTION

` 5,96,000

` 5,08,600

` 3,45,000 -

` 2,93,900

` 3,76,000 -

` 3,18,500

MARUTI SWIFT DZIRE

MARUTI SWIFT OLD

MARUTI SX 4

MARUTI VERSA DX BS III DX 5 STR BS III DX 2 BS III DX 2 5 STR BS III STD 5 STR BS III STD BS III

` 2,89,200 -

` 2,95,000 ` 2,99,000 ` 2,46,000 ` 2,54,000

All prices for vehicles in Chennai and having run an average of 15000km/year. Prices are indicative and depends on the condition of the car.

CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED

India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2 Price (Based on age of the car) < 3 Years

> 3 Years

AX MINOR-06

` 3,26,000

` 2,77,000

LX MINOR-06

` 2,42,500

` 2,07,000

LXI MINOR-06

` 2,65,000

` 2,27,000

VXI MINOR-06

` 2,84,000

` 2,40,000

VXI WITH ABS MINOR-06

` 3,05,000

` 2,61,000

LX LPG

` 2,43,700

` 2,08,300

LXI LPG

` 2,65,600

` 2,25,000

LX BS IV

` 2,50,000

LXI BS IV

` 2,77,000

LXI CNG BS IV

` 3,20,000

VXI BS IV

` 3,00,000

VXI ABS BS IV

` 3,22,000

` 2,36,000

` 1,98,000

LXI

` 2,60,000

` 2,17,000

SPORTS

` 2,70,000

` 2,25,000

VXI

` 2,80,000

` 2,30,000

VXI ABS

` 3,10,000

` 2,52,000

` 3,20,000

MARUTI WAGON R

MARUTI WAGON R DUO

MARUTI ZEN ESTILO

MARUTI BALENO LXI BS III VXI BS III

` 3,50,000

All prices for vehicles in Chennai and having run an average of 15000km/year. Prices are indicative and depends on the condition of the car.

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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2

CARMA. NEWS UK BBC Top Gear USA Tata Nano reaches the US

JAPAN Suzuki

in Trouble!!

Kizashi 2012

INDIA Auto Expo, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

AUSTRALIA 1

Million cars sold in 2011

•

India : Auto expo at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

The auto expo at Pragati Maidan from 7th January 2012 to 12th January 2012 was the largest automotive show in India, ever. It had over 1500 participants from over 23 countries. The expo had its special focus on green and eco friendly technologies. What’s more? It completely covered all segments of the automotive industry.

•

USA : Tata Nano in the USA

TATA have gone far more ambitious with the Nano and there are confirmed news about the Nano entering the American markets in late 2012 after some intensive testing and features upgrading. The Nano in the US market is set to be the customer’s choice over choosing pre-owned cars.

•

UK : BBC TOP GEAR IN TROUBLE

BBC Top gear in trouble for cultural insensitivity following Jeremy Clarkson’s remarks on Indian trains, food and clothing.

•

Japan : SUZUKI KIZASHI 2012

Suzuki unveiled the 2012 Kizashi model. This one is equipped with a 2.4 litre petrol drinking motor, options of 2 WD and 4 WD automatic transmission.

•

AUSTRALIA : 1 Million cars sold in 2012

Australia’s new vehicle market has, once again, performed very well with 1,008,437 new vehicles sold across the nation in 2011. This is the fourth time Australians have acquired over one million vehicles in a single calendar year. 50

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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2

CHEVROLET CHEVEROLET TAVERA NEO3 The Auto Expo is a biennial automotive show held in New Delhi, India. It is Asia’s largest and the world’s second-largest motor show. It is the ultimate experience for auto buffs like us at Carma. This time the auto expo was held at Delhi and over 50 cars were showcased. The car makers this year have gone green and have introduced CNG and hybrid cars. The Expo involved a lot of activities this year. There were interesting games and quizzes organized by auto magazines, merchandise and gifts were being doled out by car companies, and glossy calendars were given as takeaway for car fans. But in the end its all about the cars, here are some of the cars which we think will feature in the Indian market in the near future.

The Chevrolet Tavera Neo3 is the updated version of the popular Chevrolet Tavera. The new Tavera Neo3 is available with a 2.5-liter direct injection insta-torque turbocharged engine (BS3) and an all-new 2.0-liter common rail direct injection diesel engine that is BS4 emission compliant. Both of the engines operate quietly and have excellent low-end torque, making them excellent in heavy traffic, along with excellent pick up. The Tavera Neo3 has low maintenance and running costs, with long service intervals, highly durable components and a long-life maintenance-free battery.

Chevrolet Captiva Alongside the Camaro Convertible, Corvette Stingray Concept, Cruze racing car and Captiva 2.2 AT, GM is also showing visitors the Chevrolet Cruze special show car and Chevrolet Beat that was the winner in the Adventure Category of the Raid de Himalaya 2011

The Chevrolet Captiva was launched in India at the 2008 Auto Expo. It has established a clear niche for itself in the premium SUV segment. GM India will soon launch the next-generation Captiva 2.2 AT. The new model includes a powerful 2.2-liter engine along with a six-speed automatic transmission. It also has a fresh new sporty and muscular exterior design and a jet-black interior. Among the new comfort and convenience amenities are cruise control; a dual-row heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system; an electric parking brake; rain-sensing wipers; and a stylish sunroof.

THE CHEVROLET SAIL HATCHBACK 51

CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED When General Motors India took the wraps off the Chevrolet Sail Hatchback at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo, it marked an important milestone for the American brand in India. Chevy sail is going to challenge Maruti Swift and the Hyundai i20, by replacing General Motors’ aging and outdated Aveo U-VA hatchback.The diesel engine will be a 1.3 Fiat Multijet. This refined, frugal and punchy turbo diesel engine is expected to displace 1,248cc and produce similar power and torque figures of the Maruti Suzuki Swift at about 75 Bhp-190 Nm. The other engine of course will be a 1.2 Liter, borrowed from the Chevrolet Beat.

India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2 The numbers speak for the car and with just 6 seconds to reach the hundred mark, this car is certainly quick. Did we also mention that Avanti can reach a top speed of more than 250 kmph but is limited electronically. The engine is paired with a 6-speed dual clutch transmission system. The car rides on 19” alloys. The engine and its ancillaries are all Euro 4 & 5 compliant. It could also be taken further to the incoming Euro 6 legislation with a slight change in the engine mapping characteristics. Hydraulically assisted rack and pinion steering gear will be standard fitment. The Avanti will be equipped with many safety features like ABS (anti-lock braking system), SRS air bag technology. 300 units of the Avanti will be produced in 2013-2014, Avanti will be available at the DC dealerships across five metros in India (Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad). An additional four outlets would also be opened in the course of 2012. Bookings will open soon, immediately after Auto Expo 2012, on a first-come-

FORD

DC AVANTI

FORD ECO SPORT SUV India’s first supercar and who better to unveil than the Big B. this is going to be one supercar which won’t be burning a hole in the owners pocket as it can be bought for 30lakhs . DC Avanti sports a Ford Ecoboost turbocharged 4-cylinder engine pumping out 265bhp and 270 Ib-ft torque for now. But later the car would get a 400 bhp turbo V6 Honda engine under the hood. The Avanti weighs around 1560 kgs but that does not make the car go any slower than the other supercars available around.

Ford India is bringing in its global EcoBoost powertrain technology to India for the first time in the form of its newest and smallest-ever EcoBoost engine. With only three cylinders and 1.0 litre of displacement, the latest EcoBoost engine will provide fuel-efficient power for the all-new Ford EcoSport. Despite its small capacity and proportions, the engine delivers power and performance that will shame a traditional 1.6-litre petrol engine while emitting less than 140g/km CO2.

CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED It will have 120 PS of power and 170 NM of torque and will be mated to a five-speed manual transmission, giving the Ford EcoSport a footprint that is small enough for urban driving yet robust enough for a trip out of the city.The new 1.0-litre is the latest addition to Ford’s global family of EcoBoost engines, which currently range in capacity from 1.6 to 3.5 litres. Downsized EcoBoost engines feature turbocharging, direct injection and other technologies and replace larger engines with no loss of performance and with lower fuel consumption. Ultimately, this all-new engine will be made available in Ford models in China, Europe, North America and other regions.

HYUNDAI

HYUNDAI SONATA FLUIDIC The Fluidic Sonata will be empowered by a powerful 2.4 litre engine produces 198 bhp and torque of 250Nm. This engine uses Hyundai’s GDI technology to boost power, fuel economy and engine response while cutting down on tail pipe emissions. The Sonata Fluidic will be available in both manual as well as automatic six speed gearbox versions. Exhaustive features list include front and rear seat ventilation, high intensity Xenon head lamps, cruise control, paddle shift, 10-way adjustable power seat and a 4-way power adjustable front co-driver seat, rear view camera and smart key with push button start.6 airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) , Electronic Stability Program (ESP) roundup the safety features.

India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2

Hyundai Hexa Space Concept The Hexa Space Concept features unique rotating seat arrangements and sliding doors. The center seat in first two rows is positioned slightly behind the other two seats allowing passengers to sit three side by side without feeling cramped. In addition to that, all seats fold flat to give you maximum storage capacity. The innovative design of the doors helps to get in and get out. The rear door lifts out and slides back to create wide open entry on each side. All the seats in the Hexa Space concept vehicle aka HND-7 have hexagonal shape and this helps in space utilization inside the car. If all seats were to be put together, it would look like a honeycomb. It has been designed keenly keeping the customers in 30-40 age groups in mind. The Hyundai Hexa Space Concept MPV also features contrasting surfaces and bold character lines.

HYUNDAI VELOSTER Showcased in the New Delhi Auto Expo 2008 as a concept car the Veloster is a premium crossover utility vehicle. It has bold looks with sporty and futuristic design elements. It comes equipped with 1.6 litre Gamma GDI engine and has 6-speed manual and automatic transmission. 53

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MAHINDRA

India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2 The Rexton encompasses all of SsangYong’s off-road knowledge and experience into one robust package, providing exceptional all weather, all terrain transport and class leading towing capabilities. The vehicle is powered by a 2.7 litre turbocharged common-rail diesel engine under the hood which is good for 184 PS of maximum power and a massive 402 Nm of torque. A premium SUV with a luxurious cabin, all of the Rexton’s controls are positioned for the driver’s convenience and offers three rows of seating making room for seven occupants. Innovative folding mechanisms also allow the second and third row of seats to be folded away to leave a vast luggage area.

XIV - 1 CONCEPT Taking centre stage at the Mahindra Pavilion is the innovative new compact crossover concept from Mahindra SsangYong – the XIV-1 Concept. The very objective of the XIV-1 Concept is to maximise the enjoyment of movement while also providing passengers with a moving communication space. Each of the concept’s four seats can rotate through 360 degrees in addition to moving forwards and backwards, enabling passengers to freely move and rotate all seats to tailor the cabin layout to their specific needs. Control of many of XIV-1 functions is via the interaction of Smart mobile devices and the vehicle itself. Using the kind of devices that a driver and passenger are likely to carry at all times.

KORANDO Presenting the vision of the future electric car of SsangYong Motor, the Korando E.It is a pure electric car concept model based on the Korando C. Up front is SsangYong Motor’s 3 Circle emblem, in which the image of Hi-tech EV and the symbol of SsangYong Motor are overlapped to emphasize the future orientation of SsangYong Motor’s design. Mobile devices can be used to control the functions of the car. The Korando E also enables interaction with smart devices, which form an important part of the modern lifestyle. Initially produced by a Korean company, the name Korando is a contraction of “Korea Can Do”.

REXTON

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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2

The Mahindra Group’s display ranged from its highest selling SUV, the Bolero to the iconic Scorpio and the tough and rugged off-roader Thar to its recently launched and much acclaimed XUV5OO.Mahindra also displayed its acclaimed pick-up, the Genio Double Cab version as well as the electric concept version of its popular sedan, the Verito.Mahindra also had an exciting augmented reality show where a virtual cheetah interacts with the crowd. While were there, the Cheetah was jumping onto the Yellow XUV on display.

The Mahindra Verito Electric concept car uses the technology which is common in Reva Electric, India’s foremost electric car maker. The Verito Electric is equipped with a 40 bhp electric motor enough for a range of 100 kilometers on a full charge lithium ion battery. The charging time of the battery is 6 hrs. An alternative option of quick charging the batteries partially up to 80% in about an hour and 15 minutes is also available. The Verito Electric can reach a maximum speed of 86 km per hour with an automatic CVT that omits the need for a manual clutch.

MAHINDRA VERITO

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MARUTI

MARUTI ERTIGA

MARUTI XA-ALPHA

Maruti had a less than fruitful year last year but this year they have started off with a bang! The Ertiga would be the first diesel MPV from Maruti’s stable and the MPV will be offered in two seating arrangements. i.e 5-seater and 7-seater. The Ertiga MPV will be available in both petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol Ertiga will be powered by a new 1.4 liter K-Series petrol engine that is coming to India for the first time through the Ertiga, while the diesel Ertiga will get a 1.3 liter Fiat derived Multijet Turbodiesel engine, the very same engine doing duty in the Maruti SX4 diesel. The 1.4 Liter K-Series engine is being utilized in markets abroad in the SX4 and the SX4 crossover. This engine produces a peak power of 94 bhp and a peak torque of 130 Nm. The Diesel 1.3 Multijet plant with variable geometry turbo produces a peak power of 89 bhp and a max torque of 200 Nm. These engines would be coupled with a five speed manual transmission. The mileage is expected to be off the charts.

The Maruti Suzuki XA-Alpha though in the concept form is 4 meter long, 1.9 meter in width and 1.6 meter in height. The XA-Alpha concept SUV stands on a wheels base that is 2.9 meter. These dimensions could and will probably make it to the production version. The concept SUV has 19” mammoth wheels.The XA- Alpha is a compact SUV which will be best suited for both off and on road driving habits. Very less information is known about the engine at the moment but the engine expected is the famed K-series petrol engine and the 1.3 Multijet diesel engine making way into the SUV later. The SUV will be designed to accommodate 5 passengers. The company hasn’t had a chance to price this car yet. Though the concept avatar of the XA-Alpha features a three door bodystyle, the production version will get a five door and if Maruti Suzuki would want to export the SUV to European countries, a 3 door coupe version cannot be ruled out.

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NISSAN

NISSAN EVALIA Nissan Motor India has officially unveiled that it will be producing its internationally acclaimed urban minivan NV200 in India. The car will be called the Evalia, and is expected to be launched later this year. Nissan’s seven-seater urban minivan has had a long and illustrious history, but in its latest version it has already won an enviable number of international awards and accolades. Nissan has been tight lipped about the specifications of the car, but given its flexibility one can expect the 1.5-litre dCi engine as an option for sure. The car will come with smart features such as a rear-view reversing camera and smart key entry. The features are expected to help this car retain a private-vehicle image.

NISSAN LEAF Japanese car maker Nissan will display its Leaf electric car at the 2012 Indian Auto show. The electric family car developed by Nissan is said to be one of the prime attractions in its lineup for the major auto show. The Leaf small car is considered to be the competitor for Chevy’s Volt electric car.

India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2 Key characteristics of the LEAF include: 1) Zero-emission power train and platform 2) Affordable pricing 3) Distinctive design 4) Real-world range autonomy - 160km (100 miles) 5) Connected Mobility: Advanced intelligent transportation (IT) system Nissan LEAF is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm. This ensures a highly responsive, funto-drive experience that is in keeping with what consumers have come to expect from traditional, gasoline-powered automobiles.

NISSAN 370Z Nissan 370z will be available with two variants with both manual and automatic transmission option. Both variants of Nissan 370Z will be powered by the 3.7L, 3696cc, V6, CVVTCS (Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System) with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology on intake valves that delivers excellent engine power and performance. This engine can produce 332Bhp of maximum power at 7000rpm with 365Nm of maximum torque at 5200rpm. This higher level of power and torque results in excellent acceleration and high engine performance so that Nissan 370Z can cross the 100kmph mark in just 6.8 seconds and can touch the top speed mark of 257kmph.

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PREMIER

PREMIER RIO Premier Auto, the Indian auto company with deep roots in Indian automobile history, showcased its RIO compact SUV with a new look. The Premier Rio, which was displayed at the 11th Auto Expo, did grab a lot of eyeballs. This new SUV is equipped with three engine options. The 1.2 liter petrol engine produces 77 bhp power. The 1.5 liter diesel engine which produces 65 bhp power. The third engine provided is the 1.3 liter Fiat multijet diesel engine. The SUV is also equipped with many features that include power steering, front power windows, 15 inch tyres, electrically operated mirrors, central locking and CD/MP3 player. The higher models are equipped with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), alloy wheels and keyless entry. Rio is available in red, white, silver and black colors. The price of Rio varies from 4.7 lakhs to 6.35 lakhs (exshowroom Pune).

RENAULT DUSTER

Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 2

RENAULT

RENAULT PULSE Unveiled in October 2011 during the Indian GP by F1 drivers, Mark Webber and Karun Chandhok, the Renault Pulse has been launched at a price of Rs. 5.77 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi, for the base version at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. Designed at the Renault design studio in Mumbai, the Pulse is powered by the Renault K9K diesel engine mated to a 5-speed transmission that produces 62 PS of power @ 4000 rpm and 160Nm of torque @ 2000 rpm. The Pulse is the first-of-its-kind to be introduced in a diesel engine.Claimed to be the best-in-class engine in terms of performance and fuel efficiency of 23.08 kmpl.the top end version priced at 6.25 lakh will be fully loaded with safety and comfort features namely front dual airbags, automatic climate control, illuminated engine start/stop button, lock/unlock sensing folding outside rear view mirrors.

The Renault Duster has been unveiled and from the first international visuals it looks like a serious offroader but it has developed into a urban SUV. Renault wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be making compromises on the engine front. Expect the 1.5 dCi engine, seen on various Renault models already, in an 85-90 bhp state of tune or in the 104.5 bhp@4000 rpm spec as on the Fluence diesel. The 2.0-litre, 135 bhp petrol motor may also be an interesting option for the more performance inclined although we think Renault may just stick to the diesels to start with. Dual front airbags and ABS (with Brake Assist and EBD) are going to be standard. Other feature list are fog lamps, a rear defogger (with wiper and washer), electrically adjustable ORVMs and rear parking sensors. 58

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SKODA

SKODA FABIA MONTE CARLO SKODA RS 2000 ROADSTER Skoda India has unveiled the RS2000 Roadster at the Auto Expo 2012. The Fabia RS 2000’s exterior is inspired by Fabia Super 2000 which dominated both the S-WRC world championship as well as the IRC. The roadster dons 18-inch alloy rims, front and rear spoilers as well as a traditional green-and-white rally livery. The windows are placed at a lower height which enables the occupants of the car to get a 360 degree view and the wind can be felt better. The looks depict its sporty and powerful nature.The interior of the Fabia RS 2000 includes tight-fitting sports seats, a threespoke sports steering wheel, sporty shift lever sleeve and hand brake’s handle, black painted mirrors, the front door with running boards and stainless steel pedals.

Fabia Monte Carlo looks attractive with a sporty front end design which features black smoked headlights’ and foglights’ projector. The rear view mirrors are painted black. The entire roof, rear spoiler, and the sporty 16-inch alloy wheel rims are also covered in black. The ground clearance is low owing to its sports suspension. The interior is stylish and attractive and resembles that of Fabia RS’s interior. The engine options of Fabia Monte Carlo include five high-torque petrol engines and four diesel engines.

TOP CARS AT THE AUTO EXPO 2012 • • • • • • • •

Maserati Quattroporte Ducati Monster 795 Can Am Spyder Porsche Cayenne Ferrari California Ferrari FF Mercedes SLS AMG Audi Q3

SKODA FABIA SCOUT Skoda has come up with another variant of Fabia,“The Fabia Scout” at the Auto Expo 2012. It is a rugged makeover If you’re looking for a more rugged version of the Fabia Estate. The Fabia Scout has a matte black lower plastic cladding and a Safari Beige paint job. It has projector lampheads also. The car is equipped with 1.6 litre engine that produces 106.3 bhp power. The engine resembles that of Rapid.

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TATA

TATA PIXEL

TATA NANO CNG

Tata Motors unveiled the new concept called Tata Pixel, which is based on the Tata Nano at the 2012 Auto Expo. The diamond-shaped doors of the Pixel open in the northward direction to allow entry and exit for the passengers. The new four-seater city car concept features ‘Zero Turn’ drive that allows easy maneuverability and parking. The futuristic Tata Pixel is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine and comes loaded with high tech features such as optimized aerodynamic drag, low rolling-resistance tires, stop-start technology and intelligent battery charging.

Tata Motors showcased a new version of their Tata Nano at the 2012 Auto Expo. This CNG powered variant of the Nano makes the car more green than it used to be. The Tata Nano CNG ought to be available soon, although an exact date for the launch of the same is not yet known. The engine produces 37 bhp with a displacement of 624cc. The new thing apart from the engine in this Nano is the front disk brakes.it is built over the same base as the nano 2012. This car has been launched with plans of TATA expanding its base to Nepal,Myanmar,Sri Lanka. Addition of CNG variant will make this people car more economical and more Eco friendly. Tata Motors unveiled the new generation SUV, Tata Safari Storme at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi. The new generation 4WD Tata Safari Storme features a host of technologies and new exteriors and interiors. In the front there is a new grille, new projector headlamps, new chrome-tipped twin exhausts, new tailgate and new aerodynamic spoilers. The new Safari Storm is powered by a 2.2-litre 16-valve common rail (DiCOR) engine that produces 140PS of power and 320Nm of torque and is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Electronic shift-on-the-fly allows for shifting from 2WD to 4WD even on the move.

TATA SAFARI STORME

The company also showcased its alternate fuel technology capability by displaying four concepts, the Tata Nano CNG, the Tata Indigo Manza diesel-electric hybrid car, the Tata Starbus Fuel Cell (Hydrogen) and the Tata Magic Iris CNG. 60

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TOYOTA

TOYOTA FORTUNER The New Fortuner is certainly the undisputed king of its segment and this next gen SUV takes style and sophisticated luxury to a whole new level. The New Fortuner now has been introduced in 2WD with 5 speed manual transmission and 2WD with 4 speed automatic transmissions. The New Fortuner is available with a 3.0 litre D-4D Diesel engine in 4WD and 2WD. The full time 4WD with 5 speed manual transmission allows you to master that much needed power to maneuver all types of terrain while the 2WD with 5 speed manual transmission gives you a smoother driving experience in city conditions. The 2WD with 4 speed automatic transmission lets you cruise ahead conveniently even in congested city traffic while the 4WD gives the much needed power for all types of terrain.

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER

TOYOTA PRIUS Japanese car maker Toyota on Saturday launched a new version of its hybrid sedan Prius in India that is priced between Rs 27.39 lakh and Rs 29.41 lakh (exshowroom, Delhi). Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a front engine front wheel type for 5 passengers and a hatchback. It has a DOHC 16-valve inline-4 cylinder engine which produces 98 hp, with 80-hp permanent-magnet electric motor assist; combined power rating: 134 hp which is coupled to a continuously variable automatic gearbox. This vehicle goes from 0 to 100 in 11 secs with a top speed of 180kmph.

Toyota unveiled the new 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser at the Auto Expo, and the facelift version is expected to be launched soon. Toyota has not changed the engine and transmission and the SUV is still powered by 4.5-litre V8 diesel with power rating of 285PS and 650Nm of torque. The new Land Cruiser gets a LED stripe in the headlamp cluster along with a new front bumper and a redesigned tail. The important upgrades are for the performance as the SUV gets a multi-terrain ABS that monitors speed and manages braking more efficiently. TEMS (Toyota Electronic Modulation Suspension) control damping force to limit body-roll for a smooth ride. LC200 also gets Crawl Control System and Hill-Start Assist for even better handling on the rough terrains. The Land Cruiser LC200 comes to India as a CBU(Completely Built Unit), and once launched this new model will be available through all the Toyota dealers. 61

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VOLKSWAGEN

VOLKSWAGEN XL-1 The XL1 diesel hybrid concept claims to be the most fuel efficient concept car in the world which is powered by a two-cylinder, 800 cc TDI engine that produces 49.6 bhp power, supplemented by a 27.3 bhp electric motor to deliver over 111 kmpl. The TDI engine is linked to an electric motor and a seven-speed DSG gearbox with an automatic clutch mounted between each unit. The electric motor can either work independently of the TDI engine or in tandem when accelerating. In pure electric mode the XL1 can travel up to 35 km before the diesel engine cuts in. Accelerating from rest to 62 mph can be achieved in 11.9 seconds; the electronically limited top speed is 99 mph.

THE BEETLE

VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG Volkswagen has also showcased its flagship SUV model, the new Touareg. The Touareg is equipped with a 3-liter V6 diesel engine that produces 205 bhp and a peak torque of 550 Nm. The engine is coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission gearbox. Touareg has many safety features that include six airbags, electric stability control, ABS, ESP, hillstart and hill descent assist. Air suspension is provided better driving comfort. It will be launched in India in April 2012.

Known to many as the ‘bug’ because of it looks, did very well in the Indian market when it was introduced in 2009. Now at the auto expo, its updated model has been revealed. The new Beetle was debuted by Volkswagen at the Shanghai Motor show in April 2011. Volkswagen made sure that they didn’t let go of the car’s traditional looks. It is now longer and wider than the existing one. The new Beetle has two options for its engines- a 2 liter TDI engine which produces 138 bhp of maximum power and 320 Nm of peak torque and the 1.4 liter TSI petrol engine that produces 158 bhp power. The engines are connected to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. The new Beetle is expected to be launched in the second half of 2012. Volkswagen is planning to import the car a fully built unit into India. The price hasn’t been disclosed yet. 62

THE NEWS

THE HONDA CITY 1.5 L

aunched as a response to the strong demands of an Asian market spurred by boisterous economic growth in 1996, the Honda City has risen to one of the most successful vehicles in its segment. Such has been its popularity that many of the (uninitiated) laypersons often confuse Maruti’s and other sedan’s for the City. The City entered the Indian market in 1998 and its rise in the mid-segment has since been meteoric. The latest generation was launched in 2008, following a long series of tweaks to the original. Equipped with a new engine and a new design, its grandeur enhanced by additions to the cabin space and an unmatched consistency of performance, the third generation City is set to woo the Indian consumers all over again.

THE Engine The brand new edition of the Honda City is powered by the mature 1.5L, 4-cylinder new generation i-VTEC engine, which assures class-leading output and excellent fuel economy. The engine churns out a power of 118 PS @ 6600 rpm and a maximum torque of 146 Nm @ 4800 rpm and is E10 compliant while meeting the Euro IV emission standards. The engine produces a decent low-end torque, which is crucial for

city driving performance while not compromising on fuel economy.

Design And Comfort The subtle curves of the exterior are pleasing to the eye and refine the aerodynamics of the City. The rear end with its aggressive bumper and taillights has been shortened to give the car a sporty look akin to a mini BMW-3 series and at the same time honor the theme of aerodynamic efficiency. The front seems inspired by the European Honda Civic and the Honda FCX Clarity. It is refreshing to note that the designers have not compromised on the appearance and this makes the car a potent presence where ever it goes. The new version is longer, wider and sturdier than its predecessors. However, its height has been lowered by 15 mm, while the ground clearance remains unchanged. The streamlined front grille and sharp headlights are bold additions and do not fail to catch the eye. To sum up on the design and appearance front, the car is sleek yet sturdy, achieving a commendable balance between utility and beauty in its ‘arrowshot form’. Comfort has always been a priority for Honda and this car is no exception. The increased cabin space affords a luxurious ride for five people. 63

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Interiors

Last word

The interiors of the Honda City greet you with their trendy meter design. The soothing color contrast of the dual-toned dashboard betrays a laudable attention to detail. The car also features an advanced integrated audio system. It features the world’s first car audio that offers its users the liberty to integrate it with any platform such as the iPod, MP3 player, USB Memory or mobile phone. The audio system comes with a remote control and its controls are mounted on the steering as well.

Honda City 1.5 iVTEC is a safe, stylish and reliable car, and purchasing it can only bring a smile to your face. Go for it and don’t look back!

RATING 8/10

Standard safety features of the Honda City Honda City comes with a hoard of safety features; active and the passive ones which include ABS (AntiLock Braking System) with BA (Brake Assist), and dual front seat airbags, seatbelts with pre-tensioner for all seats. Then comes the G-CON (G-Force Control Technology) body which provides a crush-proof survival zone. In fact, Honda should be given all credit for being pioneer in offering safety features as standard rather than the optional features.

Deny for these reasons Plastics in the interior are a bit of a dampener. The lack of an auto A/C, especially considering the steep price tag is a bit disappointing. A great exterior is slightly blemished by tyres that lack muscle.

ARE YOUR TYRES FILLED WITH NITROGEN?

Not many are aware of the fact that Nitrogen fills up the tyres of aircraft and F1 cars. So, why is this important? Nitrogen can be used to fill your tyres too! So what with all this talk about nitrogen? Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and nontoxic gas that forms about 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere. The benefits claimed for using nitrogen over compressed air for inflating tyres are that it:

consumption by a considerable 5% giving you more mileage and lesser carbon-di-oxide emissions. Moreover nitrogen does not react with the metal parts of the tyres unlike oxygen and so the question of rust and the resultant wear and tear is ruled out. However this does not mean that the tyres wont wear out. Rather their life will improve considerably.

Ofcourse just as a coin has two sides, nitrogen also has its own downsides. The first such drawback is general awareness about its properties. Not many of us know that nitrogen can be used in place of normal air to inflate the tyres of our cars. Second is its availability. Though it has gained popularity in recent times, it is still not widely available like normal air. Very few gas The air that is filled in our car tyres contain oxygen and stations have the facility for filling nitrogen. Its benwater vapor which can cause corrosion due to presence efits must be publicized to further augment its use. of moisture and also the size of the oxygen molecules is very small, so they can easily escape from the tyre. This And next comes the cost. Nitrogen is not available for is where nitrogen comes into the picture. It performs free like normal air. The cost of filling nitrogen in one tyre can be between Rs. 50 to Rs 100 which is a tad better than normal air in your tyre. too high. But it’s worth the investment. Nitrogen slows the rate of pressure loss from tyres and helps to maintain the optimum tyre pressure for Finally filling nitrogen doesn’t mean that there is no a longer period. Also nitrogen being a dry gas helps need for you to stop checking the pressure regularly in keeping the tyre temperature down and thus im- as the risk of a puncture or a leak remains unchanged. proving the longevity of the tyres that would other- Once a tyre is filled with nitrogen , you should not wise cost a fortune to replace. Nitrogen increases the revert to normal air. This will reverse all the benefits life of the tyre by about 25 to 30% and reduces the fuel previously accrued. • • • • • •

Reduces the tyre’s running temperature Improves the ride quality Increases tyre life Keeps tyre pressures more constant Slows the rate of pressure loss Doesn’t react with the tyre and rim materials

CGZ

SOLAR CAR BATTERY CHARGER

CARMA. GADGET ZONE Gadget of the Month JANUARY 2012 So, you’re on a long vacation with the family, sipping a soothing drink as your muscles relax and your mind contemplates a sumptuous dinner served to you on a comfortable bed. But, all good things must come to an end and you return home to the drudgery of a normal lifestyle. When you start your car to head for work, it fails.

completely recharge a car battery but will cost a bit more. All you have to do is simply place it near a window or on top of your car’s dashboard to absorb sunlight during the day. Some solar car battery chargers connect directly to the battery, while others feed power to the battery via the cigarette lighter/mobile power socket. Another positive is that they are inexpensive and take energy from the sun so no additional cost is incurred. For the environment, it is entirely pollution free and a renewable source.

One of the biggest problems of not using your car for a long time is that it takes a while to start as the battery drains out after the inactivity. Well, one of the best solutions for this would be to disconnect one of the battery terminals, but this is hardly practical as most of us can’t navigate through the myriad wires that reside It gives you a peace of mind that your car battery won’t beneath the bonnet. And thus we are treated to the fail when you need it the most. You can get it from sorry sight of commuters pushing their cars for a roll Rs.2000/- onwards. start. You can avoid this stressful situation in the future by plugging in the solar battery charger. This will also extend the life of your car’s battery, helping you save money and protect your investment. A solar car charger, by principle, converts light energy into a DC current. It obtains energy from the sun, although it can also be used in low light or cloudy weather conditions. Portable solar chargers are used for trickle charging, which means that a low level current is fed continuously to the battery so that it maintains its charge. Some models though, can be used to 66

BLIT ZEN BEN Z

-Special Thanks to Mr. Royce Rumsey for his contribution-

7067

The year 2005 saw the introduction of the Bugatti Vey-

ron; a car which would later remain in the hearts of all those young and old, auto fans and critics, girls and boys. This, I can confidently say, is one of a kind. Sole purpose? To break the 400kmph record. And it did with aplomb! Now, we tend to forget why cars are built. On one hand, there is a race to build a car for the urban lady: Small, fuel efficient and low cost. Then we have a range catering only to the speed mentalist in you. Objective? Go faster than god! I now want to talk about the car which started this mad race in the first place. Meet the Blitzen Benz! First things first. The car is indeed a Mercedes Benz. Not quite. During 1909, it was just Diamler Motorren Gesselschaft(DMG). Mercedes, is the name of the designer Diamler hired! So anyway, the only priority was to make a car that could go faster than 200kmph. In the year 1909! Diamler also intended to use the car for motorsport. However, only six were built. Blitz is the German word for Lightning. So you know what this is about. Stats: 21.5 liter engine (Take that Veyron) producing 200bhp! The Veyron has an 8 liter engine! The car was made to be as aerodynamic as possible too. What aerodynamics could they possibly know during the 1900’s I don’t know. They got it right though! On the first test run by Victor Hemery, the car set an amazing record of 202.7kmph. Only to be broken two years later when Bob Burman set an astounding 228.1kmph!! This record wouldn’t be broken for the next ten years at least. Apart from that science talk which I just did, I would like to point out to the design aspects of the car. There is no design! Thats the beauty of it! All it has is a frame covering the 21,000cc engine and the driver. No fancy material like Titanium or Carbon fibre were used. The wheels. Plain simple wheels with extra strengthening to last the speed. Thats it. No fancy Magnesium Alloy wheels which will last only 50km. No run flats or any nonsense. The engine. Pure power. No stupid gibberish like VVT, or 23 Turbochargers were used. I truly love this for those very reasons. I would do anything to even start the engine! There is a saying in German (I made this up actually!). “Ein schnelles Auto ist eines, das schnell fährt”. A fast car is one that drives fast is what it translates to. That would be the best way of concluding this article!

>> The benchmark for absolute speed: in 1911 Bob Burman achieves a top speed of 228.1 km/h in the Benz 200 hp >> The record-breaking car overtakes the fastest locomotives and is twice as fast as aircraft >> The record set by the “Blitzen-Benz” in Daytona remains unbeaten for eight years

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READER’S CORNER

Need for More Safety Standards in Motor Sport WORDS OF R.Saianand II Year (Chemical Engineering) SASTRA University

Racing events in Motor Sport are actually a test of the

driver’s skills where he successfully handles obstacles in his path and overcomes them with his driving acumen. The bitter truth is that he does that at a very terrible price for he keeps his life at stake while driving. The nature of the sport is as in dangerous. His courage to take up the challenge to live up to his expectations and endurance to finish the task are the two things which keeps him in high spirits in due course of the race. In such a high intensity sport the safety of the driver must be given due consideration it deserves during a race. Most of the drivers often boast of sophisticated protective equipment and safety gear which most of the times does not serve the purpose anyways. There is also a safety car with all basic first aid in place with a team ready to help in case of an accident on track. But the question that still provokes debate is that whether this is enough? The past doesn’t have such a good story to support the argument. A lot of drivers have been a victim of Motor Sport accidents and some of them have even been even fatal in nature. The track has been the graveyard for the legendary Formula One Former Champion Aryton Senna who lost his life at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola. Recent additions to the still counting list are MotoGP driver Marco Simoncelli and IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon. This is surely a very alarming and ominous trend which has to be addressed to as soon as possible. The FIA , the governing body of World Motor Sport came up with new safety guidelines for drivers and it came up with a separate institute for the same so that it doesn’t make any compromise on players’ safety on the track. But the success rate of this highly ambitious project will have to go through the test of time. It is yet to be formally made a law as far as motorsport is concerned.

Controversy too ruled motorsport when a particular chicane was the cause of concern due to which it led a pullout citing safety concerns by teams using a particular brand of Tyres. The race was 2005 United States GP at the Indianapolis Motor Sppedway. All these ultimately boil to the most fundamental question of Safety during the race for which the question remains unanswered, still putting the lives of drivers at risk even today.

Send in your articles to editor@autocarma.in

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CARMA. QUIZ

? ? Compiled by R.S.Mukunth

The questions are in increasing order of difficulty.

1. ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ is the symbol of which automobile brand? 2. Which car is currently the fastest street-legal car in the world? 3. Which Indian company acquired a majority stake in SsangYong Motor Company in March 2011? 4. Peugeot is a major car brand from which European country? 5. Which Formula One racing team currently holds the World Constructors’ Championship? 6. If it is called Foxy in Pakistan and Fusca in Brazil, how do we know it in India? 7. With which family-owned business venture would you associate the legendary Dale Earnhardt? 8. Which Formula One venue witnessed the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994? 9. Which car was gifted to Sachin Tendulkar by Ferrari for equalling Sir Don Bradman’s record of 29 test centuries? 10. Which car was named after a fighting bull, that survived 28 sword strikes in a legendary bullfight in 1879? 11. The picture above shows an ancient sketch. A lot of cars use this now. Name the component/technology. Also name the person who sketched this concept as early as the 15th Century.

The answers to these questions will be published in the next issue. Mail in your answers to editor@autocarma.in

CA R

. EX CL

FOR....??

E !!

THIS IS WHAT I ASKED MYSELF WHEN I STARTED THINKING

ABOUT THE VEYRON. I'M A HUGE FAN AND ALL, BUT I FEEL THE NEED T0 DO SOMETHING SPECIAL. SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL. SO, THE TYPOGRAPHY YOU'RE SEEING BELOW WAS DONE BY ME!! yES, i ACTUALLY MADE THIS BUGATTI LOGO AND FILLED IT WITH STUFF I KNEW WOULD DESCRIBE THE CAR. tHEY SAY A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. tHIS HAS ONLY LIKE 500, BUT THE CAR HAS 1001 BHP! eNJOY YOURSELVES!

Words & Design : Anjan Ravi Photographers : Syed Ali Sufiyan Hussain, Shayan Hussain, Vamsi Chelamkuri 71

WARNING! ACHTUNG! ALERTE!

The next page contains images which could damage your eyesight, cause permanent blindness when you look at your car, heart attacks etc. Heart patients and pregnant women are advised not to view them. Turn at your own risk. Please contact your local Bugatti dealer if you are experiencing any discomfort. CARMA. will not be responsible for any suicides, murders or kidnappings which result. Viewer Discretion advised 72

Launch Party at Hyderabad Bugatti launched the Veyron Grand Sport in India. The standard Veyron 16.4 is sold out and hence the Grand Sport and the Super Sport are the only versions available. The car features a hard top which can be removed. Useful when Pink Floyd, Radiohead and Coldplay donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t entertain you anymore. The 8000cc beast will be more than happy to rev and make you wet your pants. These photos were taken at the launch by Syed Ali Sufiyan Hussain and Shayan Hussain. Two guys you can totally rely on if you want to stalk a super car! These guys actually chased the car the entire day so that you can enjoy these pictures! It goes without saying that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the CARMA. hall of fame!

The Drive Pictures by Shayan, Syed & Vamsi

No, we did not race them!

“At top speed this car can cover an entire football field every second”

“The Bugatti Veyron Supersport produces a whopping 1200bhp”

“Saarr, No front number plate”

Apparently the car had no problems tackling this speedbreaker!

This was definitely a drag race. The auto won! Okay, I lied.

Stairway to Heaven, Highway to Hell... Whatever works for you!

Still Think your Bose Sound System is better? Think again. This has the power to start/stop a war!

In typical Indian tradition, we have saved the best for the last. Once again, thanks photographers!

YOU CLICK WE PICK!

Old is Gold Indeed!! -Avinash The Audi R8 in Chennai -Vishal

Mail in your photos @ editor@autocarma.in if you want it to be featured in this section. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue. See you all once again in Febuary with the next issue. If you have any suggestions about this issue write to us at feedback@ autocarma.in

The 2011 Heritage Rally at the Marg Swarnabhoomi -Chilkuri Ambarish

Its a Jaaaaagggg! -Chilkuri Ambarish

The Chevy Camaro. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry this is not in India! -Avinash