Issue 12 - Nov 2012 by AutoLife (Nepal)

Events: Paris Motor Show | The Intermot Show Testimonials

November 2012 Issue 12 NRs. 100

PASSION OBSESSION LIFESTYLE

BIG GUNS!

November 2012 Issue 12 NRs. 100

first ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

MOTORCYLCING IN NEPAL

BOND CARS

A RIDER’S APPEAL

STYLE UPDATE Essential Accessories for Drivers/Riders

autolife timeline

stuntmaniacs

KENNY FROM THE BLOCK BLOCK THE

PLAY THE

QUIZ QUIZ

BIG GUNS! PLAY THE

FROM KENNY

timeline autolife

stuntmaniac

APPEAL A RIDER

for Drivers/Riders

Essential Accessories CHECK STYLE

CARS BOND

READY FOR THE MUSCLE DADDIES?

IN NEP MOTORCYLC

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA FORD FOCUS DODGE CHALLENGER VW-timeline | al cyclist-prakash subedi

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

FACEBOOK

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

first ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

Editorial

Greetings fellow motor heads. We hope that this year’s Dashain brought on you and your families a shower of blessings and prosperity. Shifting back to working gear after Dashain is always a gargantuan task for all of us. It always has been and it always will be. However, powering on through the Dashain hangover for us at AutoLife was slightly easier this year. And the only reason: we were practically oozing with enthusiasm to get working on our anniversary issue.

VOL 1 ISSUE 12 NOVEMBER 2012 SOFTROCK MEDIA PVT LTD BALUWATAR, KATHMANDU, NEPAL TEL: 977-01-4415746 REGD: 84553/068/069

Founder/Managing Editor Ajay Dhoj Thapa

Executive Director Shraddha Rajbhandari

Editorial & Photography Ankit Shakya Ayush Dhaubanjar Niren Tuladhar Saurav Nepal

Business Development Ankit Shakya Yunus Joshi Ayusha Shrestha

CTP & Process

It is a surreal feeling to have finally touched our first birthday and there is a huge thank you in order. Thank you for giving us the honor and opportunity of writing this editorial note to commemorate the 12th issue of our magazine. As the first English automotive magazine in the country, it was amazing to get such a great response from the readers. And the fact that you guys have stuck around throughout our journey is what has motivated us the most. So, our first and foremost note of appreciation goes out to our readers for their support throughout this beautiful journey.

Contributors: Kushal Goyal Ashish Sinha

Well, we hope you devoured a healthy amount of meat this Dashain, because you are going to need all the protein you can get to stomach the muscle in this issue. Yes, we are bringing out the BIG GUNS. This issue brings to you an insight on the new Chevrolet Captiva which will soon be gracing its menacing presence on the roads of Nepal.

General Enquiries

Grab the front seat on our review of the new gentleman on the road: The Ford Focus. And, with the American elections coming to an end (Congratulations Mr. Barack Obama), we decided to further up the testosterone levels in this magazine by bringing you an American Legend, the Dodge Challenger.

marketing@autolife.com.np

We are pretty sure you guys know about the close shave we had with the government don’t you? We are talking about the law that almost passed, preventing the import of anymore motorcycles above the 500cc grade. Thankfully, the government came to its senses and the law never came into effect. And we would like to believe that our efforts through the Biker’s Appeal may have contributed in some way or the other. Hope you enjoy going through this issue as much as we had enjoyed making it. Thank you once again for your love and support. Finally, we would also like to wish you all a very Happy and safe Tihar.

AUTOLIFE team 8 AUTOLIFE

November 2012

Creative Head Ajay Dhoj Thapa

Designer

Niren Tuladhar

ScanPrint Pulchowk Tel: 01-5010801

Distribution

Kasthamandap Distributors Tel: 01-4247241

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Editorial Enquiries

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Ads and Marketing Enquiries

Autolife is an automotive magazine (DAO Regd 213/067/068), published 12 times a year by Softrock Media. All rights reserved in respect of all articles, illustration, photographs, etc published in Autolife Magazine. The content of this publication may not be reproduced on whole or in any part in any electronics or print form, in any language, without the written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, who cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omission.

Autolife has a dedicated review team for all test drives and rides. We research, study, plan and execute our tests and publish our real experience without any influences. We have our loyalty towards our readership and are not biased or inclined towards any specific brands or services. All advertisement insertions are a part of our marketing campaign, due to their relevance with the magazines content; and published only after authorization from clients or their respective media agencies. www.autolife.com.np

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

CONTENTS

issue 12 november 2012

26 news and updates

REGULARS 38

events: paris motor show

stuntmaniacs: ken block

chevrolet captiva

events: intermot

volkswagen: the timeline

Stuntmaniacs

AL Cyclist prakash subedi

80 96 DIY dodge challenger 98

92 complete buying guide

TESTS 40 chevrolet captiva

56 ford focus

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dodge challenger

56 ford focus

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

CONTENTS

issue 12 november 2012

FEATURES

14 testimonials

18 autolife evolution

36 A biker’s appeal

motorcycling in nepal

50 years of bond in motion

must watch movies

AL Cyclist: prakash subedi

INTERACTIVE

readers’ submitted photos

70 quiz

72 78

must watch movies

style update 12 AUTOLIFE

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

testimonialS

autolife

We had asked all our regular readers to share their views, feedbacks and suggestions regarding our one year drive and this is what they had to say.

Lex Limbu

Popular Blogger

When I first came across AutoLife, I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe it was actually a Nepali magazine. Not only does it look great but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a great read. Huge congratulations for the one year mark and best wishes to many many years ahead. See you on the road!

Kalash Tuladhar

Equitable, precise, sleek and smart are few adjectives that springs to mind while describing Autolife. With the introduction of Autolife, finally I have been able to cancel my annual subscription to Auto Magazines from India. Thank you.

Regular Reader

Prabin Khatiwada

Manager, PCBU Sipradi Trading Private Limited

Siddharth Man Shakya Regular Reader

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Every month I look forward to two things. One is obviously spending time with the people close to my heart. And yes, the second is to that day when a person comes to my door step and hands over my copy of AUTOLIFE magazine! Happy Birthday AutoLife. You have rocked in your first year and without any doubt you will continue to rock on.

AutoLife is like a diamond in the rough which has been shining brighter as the issues roll by. Reading the magazine has helped me fill a void while studying abroad. The information of the automotive scene back home was earlier always an uncertainty and hard to keep up with. I am glad that AutoLife now gives me that information through a fun medium. Your views and opinions are fun to read and helps keep me sane, knowing that at least something is going right for the country. I wish the whole team the best for future issues. Keep up the good work!

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Udeep Shrestha Managing Director Turbo Motors Trading

I would like to congratulate AutoLife on their first anniversary and for keeping us constantly updated with the latest in the industry. The spot-on reviews and the quality editorial content definitely makes AutoLife a must read. Once again, congratulations and my best wishes for the years to come.

Nearly a year back, I had met a young enthusiastic group at Mike’s Breakfast. I could feel the energy and passion in each and every member of this group and I thought to myself - This is what you call ‘being really passionate about your work’. I was assured that this magazine would do well in the future. It’s been a year now and my thoughts have proved to come Joseph Sebastian out right. Every issue of AutoLife has been better Business Head than the previous one. From the paper, print and KTM Motorcycles Nepal picture quality to the editorial contents, all have been thoughtfully placed for the reader’s delight. AutoLife is a true magazine with the right focus and right delivery. I would though like to suggest a “Critical Analytic Study” of different cars and bikes in your forth coming issues. It would be great to read the comparisons of vehicles in the same categories. Do keep up the good work and looking forward for more and more enlightening issues in the future.

AutoLife Magazine has proven to be a very important asset in the marketing of Mountain Biking Industry in Nepal and beyond. We have heard from many new clients and previous clients who have revisited us for their additional projects. What we have noticed is that people really look forward to reading the magazine and actually go through the content and ads. AutoLife team did take the time to understand our unique position in the industry, which manifested into a masterful design process for our ads & articles each month. We consider the AutoLife Team a vital partner in the continued growth of our industry for the future as well as a wonderful medium to deliver information to our biking community. Partnering with Auto Life Magazine has proven to be one of the best decisions of our nine years in existence. You folks are simply the best at what you do, and we are blessed to be a long term client.

Ashish Shrestha

Executive Chairman LEON Motors Private Limited

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Rupesh Shrestha General Manager Epic Mountain Bike

To establish a successful business in the auto industry of Nepal is really a competitive and challenging task. It is in fact this competiveness and challenge, which drives me and my company to constantly evolve with creative ideas and establish Mitsubishi Motors as a prominent brand in Nepal. I had always wished for a quality automotive magazine to be a part of this challenge too. Over the years, I did come across various individuals who came up with magazines focused on our industry. Frankly, hardly any met to my idea or vision of a magazine that would be fun and informative to flip through. But this changed when I met the dynamic and passionate AutoLife Team in their early stages. Within the first few minutes on being briefed about their vision, I was convinced that these guys would fill the vacuum that I had felt in the auto magazines of Nepal. Seeing their drive and passion for automobiles, I decided for a long-term association with them on that very day itself. It has always been my ideology to support anybody who can bring about positive differences and looking back at AutoLife’s one year progress, I definitely made the right decision. Hence, I would like to heartily congratulate the AutoLife team on their 1st Anniversary. Keep up the good job and do keep generating new ideas which will make the difference!

AUTOLIFE November 2012

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

Feature

Passion

Obsession

Lifestyle

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April /May 2012 Issue 6 NRs. 100

NEPAL

REVIEW

ALL NEW

SKODA FABIA

CYCLIST

SALUTES LANCE ARMSTRONG

WISHLIST

Road Trip

Harley Davidson

THE CULT TESTED

HYOSUNG GV650

TOYOTA AVANZA

life

Auto

HYUNDAI EON

pal

July 2012 Issue 8 NRs. 100

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MY AUTO LIFE

ANIL K SHAH

LIKE US ON Autolife Nepal

AL CYCLIST

HIMALAYAN OUTDOOR FESTIVAL

OWNERS FEEDBACK

DUCATI

MONSTER 796

PLUS WE DRIVE TATA VISTA

ROAD TRIP

RIDE TO

SERMATHANG

HUMMER H3 July 2012

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August 2012

September 2012 Issue 10 NRs. 100

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Issue 9 August 2012

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September 2012

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Reviews

*As of November 2012

Four-Wheelers 13

Motorcycles 8

Road-Trips

Cycle

Official Event Coverages

Digital Platforms Website: www.autolife.com.np

40k+ 3k+ Total Visitors

Monthly Unique Visitors

Global Reach www.issuu.com/autolife Free online versions of first 7 issues

www.magzter.com Buy issues online.

Compatible with all iOS and android devices

Readership Growth 300% growth on subscriptions and distributions

first issue

current issue

Business Growth

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*All above statistics are generalised from the progress report of various platforms mentioned up until November 2012.

total number of associated clients and brands: 100+ sectors: automobile, tourism, recreation, food and dine, hotel and resorts, clothing brands, consumer products and miscellaneous AUTOLIFE November 2012

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READERS’ PHOTOS

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

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GET IN TOUCH hello@autolife.com.np

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

autolife

news updates

EURO III STANDARD IMPLEMENTED In a bid to control carbon emission, the government has implemented Euro-3 standard by amending the Euro -1 standard in vehicle emission implemented 16 years ago. The European emission standards define the acceptable limit of particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emission in the vehicles sold in EU member countries to control air pollutants. The new standard recommended by Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MoEST) says carbon emission must be limited to 0.64 gram per litre for diesel engines. The Euro-3 standard aims to ban import of substandard vehicles which emit carbon dioxide above the limitation. A latest international air quality index ranked Nepal as the third worst performer in maintaining air quality. A recent local study also shows that 60 percent of air pollution in the capital is contributed by vehicles. Carbon emission is the main reason behind climate change and UN has asked member countries to minimise carbon emission. India has already implemented Euro-4 standard. Vehicle traders welcomed the Euro-3 decision but want workshops on new standard to implement it.

THE SOCIAL SIDE AT FLO RIDERZ Flo Riderz is a local motorcycle club which claims to be not just a community devoted to the various aspects of motorcycling, but a platform for encouraging social work in the society as well. Their latest event ‘A Step towards Humanity - Old Age Home Support Program’ was held on October 18, 2012, in the premises of Tapasthali Old Age Home located at Chapali. The event’s motive was to assure that the elderly citizens sheltered at the Tapasthali Old Age Home

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could happily pass away the chilling effect of the upcoming winter. Thus, with no sponsors or donations from other people apart from their own club members, the Flo Riderz team thoughtfully provided every elderly person and the helpers with adequate warm blankets, woollen caps and socks. The team also interacted with the residents who opened up to share their wonderful life stories and heart-rending rejections by their own family. All in all, it was an emotional affair that not only boosted the self esteem of the team members but as well showed the

nepal

GEELY EMGRAND EC7 COMING SOON

Saakha & Universal Automobile, the sole authorized distributor of Geely in Nepal, is planning to roll out the Geely Emgrand EC7. Geely Emgrand EC7 has achieved a 4-star rating on the Euro-New Car Assessment Program (Euro-NCAP) and that is the highest rating ever achieved by any Chinese cars so far. Emgrand EC7 is equipped with an I4, 16 V DOHC, CVVT engine which generates maximum power output of 185 bhp at 6,200 rpm and a peak torque of 172 nm at 4,200 rpm. The car is fitted with MacPherson front and hybrid link rear suspension. The car´s interior has various attractive

features such as mechanical non-dazzling interior mirror, full automatic air conditioning system with dust and pollen filter, front door speakers and high solar energy absorbing front windshield glass. It has a variety of safety features which includes antilock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution system (EBD), double bumping bag, three-point rear seatbelts with automatic/emergency locking retractors for all passengers. The car to be launched in Nepal will be the same as those running on European roads and will be available in the Nepali market at starting price of NRs 2.2 to Rs 2.4 million approximately.

good and socially beneficial aspects of motorcycling. Flo Riderz Motorcycle Club promises to commit to such social cause and we wish them all the best in their endeavours. Photo Credit: Pratik Rana

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

autolife

news updates

international

ARIEL UNVEILS ATOM 3.5 Ariel Motor Co has unveiled its latest, the Atom 3.5. This new Atom is said to have tweaks to its chassis with a greater degree of torsional rigidity and revisions accorded to the suspension and engine mounts. A 2.0-litre Honda-sourced engine powers the car and is available in both naturally aspirated and supercharged forms with 245 and 315PS power outputs respectively. Cosmetic changes include new twin projector headlamps, taillights and LED turn signals. The hood has also been updated. Details about prices and production are yet to be revealed.

HONDA 500’s SPOTTED This might not be the stuff of race-replica dreams, but it is an excellent formula for a fuel efficient and affordable high capacity motorcycling. Imagine all the fun you can have on a CBR 250R and multiply it by two. That’s what the all-new Honda 500 series appears to be all about. Believed to have been spotted during the filming of an advertising campaign, the three new machines are due to receive their official public unveiling. The bikes are: the sporty, fully-faired CBR500; the naked CB500R roadster and the crossover-styled CB500X. All use the same new, liquid-cooled, parallel twin 500cc power plant which is expected to produce peak power of around 47bhp. The variants also use the same basic, budget-minded chassis, comprising conventional telescopic forks, single wavy front disc and rear monoshock. The CB is the naked version that will be slotted bang in between the KTM 390 Duke and the

BMW UNVEILS ANNIVERSARY K-BIKE Back in 1983, BMW launched the K 100, the first BMW motorcycle to use an inline four cylinder engine and the first in their longrunning line of K-bikes. Now, they’ve announced a 30th anniversary bike to celebrate. BMW has released images and details of the 30th anniversary K1300S, which will be available in 2013 to mark the 30th anniversary of the K-series. BMW is building the anniversary special K1300S with a special colour package of Alpine White/Sapphire Black Metallic and Racing Red with tinted windshield. The model, called the 30 Jahre K-Modelle, gets a raft of accessories as standard including electronic suspension adjustment, automatic stability control, ABS, HP shift assister, heated grips, onboard computer and an Akrapovic exhaust. Purchasers can also add items from BMW’s standard accessory lineup, but they can’t change the paint options. Kawasaki Ninja 650R. The CBR is, of course, the fullfaired version that imitates the CBR 1000RR in terms of looks but is actually more in a sports tourer mould. The CB500X is a cross-tourer which looks much like a scaled-down version of the NC700X.

LAMBO SUPER TROFEO RACER The future is aerodynamics. Plain and simple. We say this because Lamborghini has just announced the brand new and very yellow Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo racer. And while it sits on the same chassis as its predecessor, there are a few aero changes that will says Lambo - make significant benefits for down force. The ‘surface geometries’ have been re-profiled, and there are a few adjustable aero devices including that monster, ten-position rear wing, that help this new 2013 model achieve a 120 per cent improvement in aero efficiency over its predecessor. Lamborghini has also remodelled the brake ducts, thereby improving thermal performance by 50 per cent. You’ll also notice the 2013 Super Trofeo racer gets the new Gallardo face, with all its triangley charms, while underneath there’s still that rather lovely 5.2-litre V10 with 570 horsepower. It will be used in the Blancpain sponsored Lamborghini one-make series.

autolife

news updates

international

SPECIAL EDITION SLS AMG GT3 To mark its 45th anniversary of the first SL, Mercedes has launched a special edition SLS AMG GT3. Handmade in Affalterbach, Mercedes will be building only five examples of it. Features differentiating it from the regular SLS AMG are a special graphite magno matte paint job, carbon fibre composite doors, trunk lid and hood. The car’s entire race cage is also painted in the same exterior colour and both the occupants get carbon-shell seats. Bernd Schneider will be supplying the 6.2-litre V8 engine for the SLS AMG GT3. Schneider will be also giving a tour of the Merc factory in Affalterbach to the five lucky customers. It can’t get better than this!

NEW MV AGUSTA BRUTALE RANGE MV Agusta’s four-cylinder Brutale range will be simplified to just three models for 2013 and all will be 1090cc. The three models available are the Brutale 1090, Brutale 1090R and Brutale 1090RR. All the three share similar styling elements with the changes limited to the engine/chassis departments. The Brutale 1090 will make 114bhp and comes with rebound and preload adjustable 50mm forks and 310mm front discs. The 1090R has the same spec but the indicators are moved to the mirrors and the paintwork is different. The top of the range RR makes 158bhp and comes with fully-adjustable suspension and 320mm Brembo brakes at the front. A multi-plate clutch and removable cassette style 6-speed constant mesh transmission handle the transmission duties. The RR has a slipper clutch unit though. There are also separate radiators for both water and oil cooling and all three bikes have new daytime running lights above the main headlight. A composite trellis frame made of ALS tubular high-strength steel forms the chassis unit for the Brutale 1090 models.

YAMAHA’s CAGE-SIX CONCEPT

Serious riders would never mistake Yamaha’s XJ6 for a stunt bike. Yet that’s exactly what was used as the base for the Yamaha Moto CageSix Concept Motorcycle. The concept features a garish paint scheme, exposed framework, and car tire-carrying rear wheel. But since it’s only a concept, it’ll probably never make it to production, which is too bad for bike enthusiasts. Loud, audacious, loud, likely prone to wheelie, and loud; these are the words you will likely use used when describing the Cage-Six. Yamaha’s Moto Cage-Six Concept, a design study made for stunt riding, certainly does illustrate how far a little imagination can go. While the foot pegs, the reinforced rear swing arm, streamlined seating arrangement and rear car wheel leave little doubt over its purposeful design, the concept is quite practical since it’s still largely a derivative of Yamaha XJ6. It first made its appearance at this years’ INTERMOT Show, and Yamaha will be showcasing the Moto CageSix Concept through various motorcycle shows throughout the year.

VW BEETLE CABRIOLET UNVEILED Volkswagen has unveiled the 2013 Beetle Cabriolet. It has an upright windshield and flatter roofline which gives the car a silhouette similar to the original Beetle Cabriolet. Company officials claim that the roof can be stowed away in place within 10 seconds. Moreover, the engineers have ensured twincomputer controlled bars behind the rear bench which act as a rollover support system in the event of a rear-end collision. A choice of seven engines will be offered with the 2013 Beetle Cabriolet including a 170PS 5-cylinder 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-litre and a 4-cylinder 140PS turbo diesel. All the engines will be mated to a 6-speed DSG with a 6-speed manual available as an option.

autolife

news updates

india

CHEVROLET SPARK FACELIFTED Chevrolet India has finally launched the updated version of their Spark hatchback. The design changes were carried out at General Motors’ technical centre in Bangalore. The new Spark features a new face, with a split honeycomb grille, fresh new bumper and addition of silver garnish. The interiors are jazzed up too with a centrally mounted, wing-designed, instrument cluster. The new Spark also gets a double-DIN audio system with USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The upholstery has been updated as well, but the dual tone beige-black theme remains the same. It seems that all the changes are limited to design, as the engine is the same 1-litre motor with 63bhp of power on tap. Prices for the Spark start at IC Rs 3.26 lakh, while the next in line LS comes in at IC Rs 3.52 lakh. The top of the line LT costs IC Rs 3.81 lakh. All the mentioned prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.

FORD FIGO ARRIVES IN NEPAL FORD has launched its new Ford Figo with enhanced kinetic design, new colours and additional smart features. The new Figo builds on the sporty and sophisticated personality of the original, featuring several key changes including new styling elements. It integrates with the global Kinetic design DNA – with its new look front fascia with a hexagonal grill, redesigned headlamps and tail lamps and several other style changes. The car gets cosmetic design changes like the front fascia with a hexagonal grill, redesigned headlamps, tail lamps and two new colours (bright yellow and kinetic blue). On the inside, the two-tone dashboard now gets a blue colour which replaces the reddish-orange. The driver can now operate the audio system from the steering, thanks to the steering mounted audio controls. The hatchback will continue to be powered by the same 1.2-litre Duratec and 1.4 Duratorq motors. However, Ford claims it has improved engine calibrations for better acceleration in city traffic. The hatch continues to be offered with a 2-year/100000km warranty.

HONDA BRIO GOES AUTOMATIC

Honda Cars India Limited has launched the automatic variant of its Brio hatch. The Brio A/T gets a five-speed torque converter autobox, similar to the one doing duty in the Honda City. Honda claims that it offers an impressive overall fuel economy figure of 16.5kpl. Prices for the Brio A/T start at IC Rs 5.74 (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the S Option variant. The automatic version of the Brio is also offered in a higher-spec ‘V’ variant that comes with alloy wheels, dual airbags, fog lamps and dual-tone beige interiors with silver inserts. It is priced at IC Rs 5.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Apart from the auto variants, Honda has also launched an all new EX version with the manual gearbox of the car. This will slot above the base E version, and will come equipped with a factory fitted stereo and two front speakers, as noticeable extras over the base car.

NEW COLOURS FOR THE DUKE

Here is good news for those who didn’t want the KTM Duke 200 in its standard KTM orange colour. You can now order your KTM Duke 200 in either a black or a white-orange decals. The black comes with white and orange decals, while the white comes with orange-black decals. The two new colours for the KTM Duke 200 look very good indeed and infuse freshness in the Duke 200. The price of the Duke 200 has also been hiked between IC Rs. 8000 – 13,000 in India. So there could possibly be another price hike here in Nepal too, when the new lot of the KTM Duke arrives. The KTM Duke 200 is being actively promoted by the company in India, with orange days being kept in major cities to boost awareness and build a cult following for the Austrian brand. The Duke 200 also took part in the Raid De Himalayas competition rally and clinched all the first, second and third title in its category.

autolife

news updates

india

REVISED MARUTI ALTO 800

NEW THUNDERBIRD IN RE’S ARSENAL

Maruti has officially announced the arrival of their all-new Alto. Visually the front end is new, headlights are mounted higher and there is black detailing inside. The grille has a chrome strip running right across the middle. At the rear too there’s new tail lamps and bumper which give the car a very distinctive look. The rear window has become a bit smaller and the entire car has grown significantly taller. The Alto 800 has a lot of changes under the hood too. The plastic intake system, lighter crankshaft, cylinder head, piston rings and gearbox are all new. All this combined boosts the output to 48Bhp and 69Nm which is an 11 per cent increase from the previous model. The price of the car starts at IC Rs 2.44 lakh for the standard version, IC Rs 2.76 lakh for the LX variant and IC Rs 2.99 lakh for the top-end LXi version. The top-end LXi also gets the option of a driver’s side airbag, but that will obviously cost a little extra. Maruti claims that the Alto will deliver a fuel economy figure of 22.74kpl.

Royal Enfield has launched the muchawaited Thunderbird 500 in India at a price of IC Rs 1.82 lakhs. As shown earlier at the 2012 Auto Expo, a new projector headlamp unit, forks and seats are the major changes in the Thunderbird 500. Other goodies include the analogue-digital instrument display with two trip meters. The Thunderbird also gets hazard lamps which should be useful when the bike is parked next to the road in case of a breakdown. The engine is a carryover from the Classic 500 and makes 27.2bhp and 41.4Nm of torque. It has a 20-litre fuel tank which the company claims will last for a good 500kms before needing a refuel. There are three black colours on offer - matte black, black and blue-black. Royal Enfield has also updated the design of the Thunderbird 350.

TATA SAFARI STORME UNVEILED Tata Motors has launched the new Safari Storme. First seen at the Auto Expo 2012, the Safari Storme incorporates some serious changes to make it more desirable, especially considering the ever-increasing competition in its segment. The Safari Storme uses an improved suspension and a modern ladder-frame chassis similar to the one that underpins the Aria. It continues to be powered by the same 140bhp 2.2-litre DiCOR motor, but the engine has been made a lot more responsive. The five-speed G76 manual gearbox has also been tweaked for better refinement. On the inside, the interiors have been reworked with clean, mature and minimalistic touches all-round. It also manages to retain the previous-gen Safari’s key quality - passenger comfort. The pricing of the Tata Safari Storme ranges from IC Rs 9.95 lakh for the base LX 4X2 variant to IC Rs 13.66 lakh for the VX 4X4 variant.

TOYOTA FORTUNER SPORTIVO LAUNCHED Toyota has launched the Sportivo TRD edition of the Fortuner in India. Available in both 4x2 manual and automatic transmissions, the limited edition Fortuner Sportivo is priced at IC Rs 21.75 lakh and IC Rs 22.60 lakh in Delhi. There are two colour options to choose from - Super White and Silver Mica Metallic. Only 600 units of this will be made and sold. Cosmetic features over the regular Fortuner include aerodynamic front and rear bumper spoilers, rear roof spoiler and TRD Sportivo emblems. The whole new range of limited edition vehicles has been introduced to provide customers with something new and trendy. The Fortuner Sportivo TRD is powered by the same 3.0-litre diesel engine which produces 171Bhp of power and 343Nm of torque.

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

autolife

FEATURE

A BIKER’S

appeal WORDS:AYUSH DHAUBANJAR

This article was meant to be an appeal towards the government to remove the ban imposed on motorcycles above 500cc capacity. A brief version of this article was also published on The Himalayan Times daily on 16th October, 2012. Coincidentally while we were going to print, the ban was lifted by the government on 31st October, 2012. Our voices were heard and entertained after all!

very true blue motorcyclist desires to own a high-end exotic motorcycle at some point in life. In fact, those of us for whom motorcycling holds a special place in the heart, this desire serves as one of the core motivations to successfully achieve well and prosper in life. I too dream of some day riding down our scenic highways on board one of those technologically advanced sports motorcycle. And I bet that most passionate motorcyclists wouldn’t beg to differ on that. However, it is sad to see that this difference between ‘passion’ and ‘need’ was so overlooked by our ‘honourable’ policy makers; as justified by their recent move to ban any further import of motorcycles above 500cc engine capacity. This sudden enforcement of the ban, without much convincing reasoning, came as a sudden bolt from the blue to thousands of enthusiastic motorcyclists like me across the nation. So, on behalf of all, I think it’s fair enough to stand up to the negative coverage given to technologically advanced high capacity bikes by giving you the other side of the story too. All I demand here is a sensible explanation to why this move was given a green signal without any second thoughts?

It was stated that the decision was put to effect in a bid to reduce road accidents. Yes, it is commendable that our government is concerned over the abuse of such immense power available in these sport motorcycles. But what’s shocking is that this unfair solution happened to be the only outcome of the meeting that was convened at the Prime Minister’s Office to find ways to reduce road accidents. Maniacal public vehicle drivers not a problem? Unenforced traffic regulations not a problem? Careless pedestrian road crossing not a problem? Broken down roads not a problem? Most of the major accidents on our roads involve public vehicles, pedestrians, smaller capacity motorcycles from 100-250cc and private cars. I doubt if a 500cc+ motorcycle has ever been involved in any major accidents so far. In fact, active motorcycles over the 500cc segment do not exceed more than a couple of hundreds and that is not even a mere one percent of the total vehicles out on our roads. With the high prices that are set for these machines, it is highly unlikely that the numbers would increase exponentially anytime soon too. So does imposing a ban on motorcycles above 500cc to reduce road accidents make any sense at all? It does not really take a rocket scientist to figure out that the fatality rate for those who drive a general motorcycle, fourwheeler or get on a public vehicle is actually much more. If we were to even buy the government’s reasoning, does this

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mean that the authorities are looking to gradually ban all vehicles off the road? Surprisingly there has also been mention of these high capacity motorcycles for being too loud and traffic policemen regularly fine owners of these motorcycles. Well, these motorcycles are louder because the engines are exposed and due to their small combustion chambers, the exhaust gas explodes on their way out. So much cannot really be done to make them quieter, as suggested by some authorities. The

With the high prices that are set for motorcycles above 500cc, it is highly unlikely that the numbers would increase exponentially anytime soon too. So does imposing a ban on these to reduce road accidents make any sense at all? www.autolife.com.np

It’s high time that it’s understood that road accidents can happen in a car or just any motorcycle, because it’s just not about only the power available. When it can be clearly seen that even the prospect of broken bones and death haven’t kept people off their vehicles, it isn’t difficult to make out that ultimately it’s all about the vehicle operators’ right foot/hand, mentality and awareness level. louder sound does actually protect the riders by making other drivers on the road more aware of their presence, and help avoid car-bike accidents in which the driver usually does not realize that the bike was there. And here’s a little bit of scientific info too. A sports motorcycle makes a noise in the range of 80-100db and since these bikes are a luxury item in Nepal, they are usually taken out on the roads only on the weekends. Ironically, a political public speech session can generate a crowd noise of up to 120db and the sirens on top of those ‘VIP’ vehicles, which are out on a daily basis, blare out at a range of 100-130db. So, should the sound of those very few super bikes on the roads really be considered a major racket? Another interesting bit is that there has also been the mention of super bikes being unfit for our roads and not being a suitable mode of long distance transportation. If we were to really believe this too, aren’t there actually much more powerful four wheelers out on our roads? In fact, most of them are a popular choice among our government agencies themselves. And regarding super bikes not being a suitable mode of long distance transportation, I think the concern authorities should be introduced to several personalities like Paolo Pirozzi, Charley Boorman, Nick Sanders, etc who have proved the touring capabilities of these motorcycles, on their several rides around the world. What I am trying to express here is that if the concern was for general road safety, why weren’t more serious issues that needed attention considered? It’s high time that it’s understood that road accidents can happen in a car or just any motorcycle, regardless of the roads or power available. When it can be clearly seen that even the prospect of broken bones and death haven’t kept people off their vehicles, it isn’t difficult to make out that ultimately it’s all about the vehicle operators’ right foot/hand, mentality and awareness level. An outright ban will have little deterrent value on the mentality of a person. A person who lusts for speed will still go out and try out on a smaller capacity motorcycle. And when such motorcycles go beyond their handling capabilities, it becomes more lethal. So, to tell you frankly, you don’t need a 600cc or a 1000cc bike to go dangerously fast. Quite simply, a 200cc or lower motorcycle could be equally dangerous. So you see, a ‘ban’ is never a solution to the problem. Driving/riding is a privilege we have earned. A proper regulation, awareness level and monitoring is the need of the hour. First, our license issuing system needs a serious overhaul to relate to real-life driving conditions on the road. Like in the western countries, riding/driving courses

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should differ as per the category of vehicles. A progressive license issue system could also be introduced for the roads users to gradually progress to higher capacity vehicles with experience. For example, some countries restrict access to high-powered sports bikes to riders less 23 years-old or with less than five years of riding experience. Furthermore, the government should also encourage extension of proper riding/driving trainings by the distributors themselves. The important thing is that people should be taught to calculate the risks and be taught how to minimize or avoid them. Surprisingly, the government had opened the import of high capacity motorcycles just about some years ago. Over this time, quite a few company and entrepreneurs invested a lot of money in researches, expertise and setting up world class facilities to sell these exotic motorcycles. So does this mean that all that time and money invested by some of these enterprising people in this segment, will now go down the drain? If this is how investments in the country could actually come to such an abrupt end, I don’t see a reason why most of our educated folks rather prefer to work and stay abroad. It was easy to quickly impose this ban. But I wonder if there has been any consideration on the future prospects that could be lost from this decision. The sudden ban does not put just enthusiastic motorcyclists at a loss. In fact, the country also loses out on various other promising prospects like high clientele motorcycle tourism, motorsports development, tax revenues, employment opportunities, technological expertise, foreign investors, etc and indirectly discourages long term investments in other new sectors. So as a going forward strategy, the authorities should relook in to this and repeal this capacity restriction on motorbikes, and perhaps impose a more reasonable regulation. I hope that a fairer system that does not discriminate or make a scapegoat of the biking public is implemented. This way everyone walks out a winner. Biking enthusiasts can get on with riding their motorcycles and the government continues to benefit from all the various prospects. This is how our ways of arguing and reasoning should be in this 21st century. If our stakeholders still continue to falsely over represent such a minority group in accident statistics to reduce road fatalities, then death by accidents will continue to hog headlines with disturbing regularity. Power is a pathway to prosperity. Point isn’t to keep it out of reach. But it should be regulated to proper use. Let superbikes be out on the roads!

AUTOLIFE November 2012

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events 2

The Paris Motor Show was a spotlight for the latest in design and automakers showed off their latest concept cars, green cars and supercars. 38 AUTOLIFE

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Audi Crosslane Coupe Concept Bentley Continental GT3 Concept Racer Chevrolet Trax Citroen Numero 9 Ford Mondeo Honda CR-Z Jaguar F-Type KIA Pro-cee’d Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Lexus LF-CC Concept Maserati GranTurismo MC McLaren P1 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive Mini Paceman Nissan TeRRa SUV Concept Peugeot 208 R5 Rally Car Peugeot Onyx Concept Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Wagon Concept Range Rover Renault Clio RS

2012 PARIS

MOTOR SHOW The Paris Motor Show (French: Mondial de l’Automobile) is a biennial auto show held in Paris, France. This year the show took place from 29 September through 14 October, 2012. The show was the first motor show in the world, started in 1898 by industry pioneer, Albert de Dion. It is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The Paris Motor Show was a spotlight for the latest in design and automakers showed off their latest concept cars, green cars and supercars. These are some of the most flamboyant and interesting cars that was revealed at one of Europe’s premier car shows - The Paris Motor Show.

AUTOLIFE November 2012

test drive

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CHOOSE YOUR TURF words | photography: al review team

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CHEVROLET CAPTIVA www.autolife.com.np

AUTOLIFE November 2012

Nepal is a SUV loving nation. No doubt! Don’t most of us genuinely swear by big burly SUV’s? Yes, they consume much more fuel than your average hatch or sedans. But after all, the roads out here aren’t really laid out smooth like autobahns and nothing else makes an iconic statement as rolling down the streets on a SUV with massive road presence. So not being the ones to stay back in the race and miss a pie of this lucrative high-end segment, the Chevrolet dealers here have introduced the latest variant of their successful Captiva SUV. Say hello to this more powerful and refined American hunk in town – The Chevrolet Captiva 2.2 LTZ AWD.

EXTERIOR The first noticeable change in the new Captiva is unquestionably the muscular signature Chevrolet grill. Chevrolet has been thoughtful enough to give the Captiva one of the best nose jobs in the auto industry. The new dual-port grille features black honeycomb inserts, chrome surrounds and a distinctive Chevrolet bow-tie logo sits strikingly on a body coloured frame that divides the grill. Apart from the muscle car like grill, it also gets a boldly contoured bulging hood, redesigned clear-lens projection headlamps, new bumper and flared wheel arches. Otherwise, externally the car remains unchanged. Apart from the awesomely revamped front end, the other change towards the back is a new side grille on the front quarter panels. The rear end too could have sure done with some touch ups here and there. Nevertheless, the new Captiva looks much more aggressive and intimidating compared to the older model with more pronounced styling all around. 42 AUTOLIFE

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“ The new Captiva looks much more aggressive and intimidating compared to the older model. ” INTERIOR

Step inside and you’re treated with some more changes. The instrument cluster has been completely redesigned with a more modern layout. The complimenting faux carbon-fibre strips cuts through the centre console and creates two separate areas; one for the multi-function display along with the stylish clock and the other for the music player and climate controls. The Captiva LTZ is the range-topper variant and gets features such as Bluetooth, electric sunroof, remote locking, climate control, full leather trim, cruise control, reverse parking assist, steering mounted controls, automatic lights and wipers, solar observing windshield, automatic anti-dazzle rear view mirror, onboard computer, built-in compass, electric parking brake, cruise control and 6-CD front-loader with 8 speakers. www.autolife.com.np

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AUTOLIFE November 12

The Captiva’s interior is spacious and storage-rich with well-chosen seat leather and dash trims. There are plenty of adjustment options for the seat and the steering wheel as well. You can also get the high driving position that 4x4 users love. One of the best cabin features is the vehicle’s flexible seating layout for up to seven people. The Captiva maintains a 5+2 seating option which features a 50/50 split folding middle row and a split collapsing third row to make room for luggage. Both the middle and third row can be folded down to the floor completely for more boot space. And when loading items into the boot, there are two options. The tailgate can either be opened normally or just the tailgate glass can be flipped up with the touch of a button for stashing in smaller items. A glove box cooler, a deep centre console bin, a rear centre console storage area and handy door bins adds to the storage capacity. Overall, there are plenty of nice touches in the interiors which sum up the stylish and comfortable quotient of the car.

“ The Captiva’s interior is spacious and storage-rich with well-chosen seat leather and dash trims. ” PERFORMANCE Under the hood is a new 2.2 litre diesel motor. The diesel engine is a wise move for a SUV. Petrol engines are good, but they’re usually quite a lot on the thirsty side. The power plant is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox and offers 184 Bhp of power and 424 Nm of torque from an on-demand all wheel drive system. The Captiva’s on-demand all-wheel drive system makes use of front-wheel drive in ordinary driving conditions, but

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once more than 14 percent of front-wheel traction is lost, the system begins to split power to all four wheels. This automatic system is a treat, especially in road conditions like ours, where vehicles have to constantly juggle between on- and off-road capabilities. Should you find yourself suddenly in slush or mud, it will automatically help you get out without having to manually switch to 4x4 function, and immediately switch back to two wheel driving mode when you find traction. The 6-speed tiptronic transmission helps to improve the overall vehicle dynamics, cornering and drive efficiency in highways. The turbocharged diesel engines are more powerful and result in lower CO2 emissions. But if you want to take it seriously off-road, the low profile sporty tyres might not just be your best bet. There’s good all-round vision, especially aided by the high-set seating position. An Eco Mode keeps the Captiva composed and focuses on fuel saving. Disable the mode and you get to marvel in the exact return for putting your foot down, at the slight compromise on fuel economy. The Captiva gets moving briskly once you dial in the revs. But at low revs in the automatic mode, you can feel the transmission in a higher gear initially and having difficulty in darting the heavy mass ahead. The automatic gearbox though works just fine when you’re cruising on open roads. Should you wish to rush ahead, knock the lever to manual override mode and

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“ The automatic gearbox though works just fine when you’re cruising on open roads. Should you wish to rush ahead, knock the lever to manual override mode and take control of the gear selection. ” take control of the gear selection. That being said, the Captiva does feel quite easy to drive with the smooth gear changes aided by the transmission system. On our brief drive of the Captiva, we went quite a lot of soft-roading too and it did feel at ease. The Captiva felt pretty comfortable with the suspension doing a good job of soaking up most bumps. Handling is surprisingly good with lesser body roll, considering the size of the Captiva. The speed-sensitive power steering makes it easy to steer the Captiva even at low speeds. But the steering could do with a little more weight and feel at higher speeds. The Captiva is also very quiet for a diesel engine. Even when you rev them hard, the engine remains impressively silent. At a gentle press, the brakes though feel like they lack a bit of bite and requires to be pressed harder. Finally, safety is taken care of by a whopping six airbags, Anti-lock Disc Brakes, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Electronic Stability Program, Descent Control System and Traction Control.

AUTOLIFE November 2012

VERDICT So, the Captiva isn’t just a refreshed face-lifted model with the unique imposing signature grill that reminds of the American muscle car era. Along with enhanced styling and more comfort, there’s also improved power and refinement on offer. This latest iteration of the Captiva has more appeal than its predecessor and makes for a comfortable, fun and absolute pleasure to drive. What more could you ask? You really can’t go wrong with this one when choosing your turf...

“ This latest iteration of the Captiva has more appeal than its predecessor and makes for a comfortable, fun and absolute pleasure to drive. ” 46 AUTOLIFE

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SPECIFICATIONS

PRICE: Nrs.77,00,000/-

ENGINE Type: CRI, DOHC 4 Cylinder Diesel Displacement: 2231cc Fuel Type: Diesel Maximum Power: 184 Bhp @ 3800 rpm Maximum Torque: 424 Nm @ 2000 rpm Transmission: 6 Speed Automatic

COLOR OPTIONS: Carbon Flash, White Pearl, Olympic White, Smokey Eye Grey, Switch Blade Silver, Placid Grey. ALTERNATIVE CHOICES: Subaru Forester, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota RAV4, VW Tiguan, Honda CR-V, KIA Sorento

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Length: 4673 mm Width: 1870 mm Height: 1755 mm Wheelbase: 2707 mm Tyre Size: 235/65 R17 Suspension Front: MacPherson Struts Suspension Rear: Independent Four Link Brakes Front: Ventilated Discs Brakes Rear: Ventilated Discs Dry Weight: 1903kg Fuel Tank: 65L

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

autolife

stuntmaniacs

ith just a few points to his credit in the World Rally Championship, it’s obvious that you might have never spotted Ken Block showering himself with a bottle of champagne in the WRC post-race victory sessions. But chances are high that you have seen the professional rally driver in his adrenaline pumping and insane Gymkhana internet videos; crazily drifting his Monster and DC Shoe liveried car through various obstacles around studios, ports, autodromes, airfields, streets, etc and performing a bevy of impressive technical moves all along the way. Born on November 21, 1967 in Long Beach, California, Ken Block is a professional rally driver currently associated with the Monster World Rally Team. A car enthusiast from a young age, Block was already jumping and sliding his parents’ cars as soon as he could drive. From an early age, he developed a keen interest in rallying and began following national events. However, it was in the world of extreme sports where Block established a foothold. He first forged a long and reputable career as an accomplished skateboarder, snowboarder and motocross rider. In 1993, Block then co-founded one of action sports most successful companies, DC Shoes. Ten years later DC Shoes was sold and while Block is still associated with the brand as their Chief Brand Officer, he finally had the time and the resources to indulge in his passion for rallying. Ken Block’s rally career began in 2005 after he entered his first Rally America National Championship. His skill and car control became quickly apparent and Block aptly nabbed Rookie of the Year in the Rally America Championship. Since then, Block has continued to race in the series with numerous podium appearances and healthy

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wins each season. In addition to this, Block also boasts of quite a few X-Games medals. He competed in the first ever X-Games rally event at the 2006 X-Games XII and Block ended up finishing third. Block continued to participate in the X-Games rally event and placed second in the X-Games XIII and tied for third place finish with Dave Mirra in the X-Games XIV rally competition. On July 1, 2012, Block again took the silver medal for Rallycross at X-Games XVIII behind Sébastien Loeb. It was in the 2007 season that Block made his WRC debut, when he entered in a few rounds of the World Rally Championship in Rally Mexico and Rally New Zealand. On January 6, 2010 the Monster World Rally Team announced Block as their regular driver for the World Rally Championship in the Monster/ Ford Racing Focus RS WRC 08. In doing so, Block became the first ever American driver to campaign for the World Rally Championship and at the Rally de Espana he earned his maiden 2 points in WRC. He has shown incredible speeds at various world rally stages, but his wild carefree attitude to go flat out at every spot and jump has marred his campaign with plenty of crashes. No doubt, he has achieved global recognition for his performances in the X Games, WRC, and other rally championships. But it is his

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Ken Block might seem like a plain and simple personality in the world of rally motorsport, but nothing Ken Block does has ever been plain and simple. promotional endeavours that make him not just everyone’s favourite shoe-salesman, but a viral internet sensation as well. Ask anyone where they’ve heard the Ken Block name and it’s likely to be from his viral Gymkhana videos. Block’s video series of hair-raising feats of precision Gymkhana driving on You Tube has achieved a cult following and the millions of views is a testament to the fact that when you think Gymkhana, you now think Ken Block. His other promotional efforts includes a record-setting 171-foot jump for an episode of Discovery Channel’s Stunt Junkies and a heart-thumping driving spot for the 2009 opening episode of UK’s Top Gear TV show, in which he took James May out for Gymkhana-style driving in

his stunt course at Inyokern Airport. Ken Block also commissioned the creation of the world’s fastest snow cat called the STI TRAX, in the form of a modified Subaru STI. Block’s keen branding and marketing acumen has allowed him to achieve global fame through his wildly successful videos. Ken Block might seem like a plain and simple personality in the world of rally motorsport, but nothing Ken Block does has ever been plain and simple. Today he is an icon in the action sports world and known for both his rally racing prowess and furious gymkhana driving skills. Though his career as a rally driver continues to follow an upward trajectory, Block is more popularly for his starring role as the stunt driver in his series of Gymkhana videos. Surprisingly, Block manages to find the time for his drifting antics balancing between his responsibilities as DC Chief Brand Officer and a professional rally car driving career. PS: If you haven’t actually witnessed Ken Block’s drifting antics in his overly popular Gymkhana video series, then better put the magazine aside and YouTube for it immediately. Just words really cannot do justice to the insane capabilities of this creatively talented rally driver.

AUTOLIFE November 2012

IMAGE CREDIT: www.dcshoes.com

THE GYMKHANA STORY It might seem like we’re a bit obsessed with Ken’s Gymkhana videos. But who isn’t? So we thought it was necessary to tell you more about the insanely cool things that he keeps coming up with. The Gymkhana videos are a display of his driving expertise, exhibiting pinpoint accuracy and creativity. Along with the several sets of tyres, they are designed to burn up the internet as well. The DC Ken Block Gymkhana Project is now a viral phenomenon with nearly 150 million and increasing views worldwide. Ken Block had built his Subaru STI for a gymkhana racing series, which later became defunct. So in 2008, Block decided to take it to El Toro airfield, and have some fun. Fortunately for us he took along a camera crew and that led to the birth of the first video in the now famous Gymkhana series. Ken released the second Gymkhana video, filmed at the Port of Los Angeles, in 2009 and it went on to become one of the most viral YouTube videos of the year. On September 14, 2010, Block’s third Gymkhana video, featuring a Ford Fiesta drifting around an Autodrome in France, was released on YouTube. On August 16, 2011, the fourth Gymkhana video, The Hollywood Megamercial was released, featuring Block driving around the Universal Studios back lot. On July 9, 2012, Block released his fifth Gymkhana video, drifting and jumping his Ford Fiesta in the streets of San Francisco. After 24 hours, the video was viewed 5.1 million times!

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autolife

test drive FORD FOCUS

WORDS: AYUSH DHAUBANJAR | PHOTOS: NIREN TULADHAR

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The

Ford Focus is a popular car among car enthusiasts. But most of us are only aware of the hatchback version with the limelight in the series being constantly hogged by the pocket rocket Focus ST hatchback and the legendary Focus WRC. So when GO Ford Nepal introduced the Ford Focus sedan here at the 2012 Nada Auto Show, most of us were caught off-guard with the sedan offering. But without doubt, the Ford Focus sedan easily stole the show at the expo and visitors frequently stopped by to gape at the beauty in black. Though the car is yet to be commercially launched in Nepal, we could not really stop ourselves from having a go in the only Focus available in the country. So much thanks to the enthusiastic owner Akash Golchha, we were gladly handed over the keys to his automatic 2012 Ford Focus Titanium 1.6.

The Ford Focus immediately casts a good first impression on the observer with its well balanced blend of both sporty and executive styling.

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EXTERIORS Looks account for quite a lot in a sedan and Ford designers seem to have worked their magic here. The Ford Focus immediately casts a good first impression on the observer with its well balanced blend of both sporty and executive styling. At the front, the model sports a huge centre air intake and a grinning grille with chromed-finished fog lights and wrap-around headlights incorporated with daytime running LED brows. The large centre air dam and the triangular air dams on the side give the Focus a muscular and aggressive aspect up front. The side profile hints of some elements from Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kinetic Design Concept and the huge 17-inch alloy wheels along with chrome strips on the window lines completes the executive styling. The rear end of the sedan is a much simpler affair, but completes and enhances the chic polished image. All AUTOLIFE November 2012

ON THE INSIDE

this makes the Focus definitely one of the better-looking sedans in its segment, if not the best.

INTERIORS The cabin of the focus is a nice place to be. The soft-feel cockpit like extended dash, array of buttons and switches cleverly clustered in the piano black centre, dual-zone climate control, appealing trim materials and premium entertainment options combine to provide an upmarket ambience. The Bluetooth compatible Sony audio system with Mp3, Aux-in/USB/iPod port and nine speakers completes the entertainment package while a 4.2-inch colour TFT multi-function display provides vehicle information like distance to empty, average fuel consumption, average speed and outside temperature. A multitude of switches are found in the steering wheel to toggle between various information and entertainment functions. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too hard for you to keep track of all the switches, the Focus has in place a competent system for voice-control too. The rake-and-height adjustable steering column with the power adjustable seat will make any driver easily feel at home. The seats have been cleverly bolstered in a combination of cloth and soft leather for a more comfortable feel and both the front seats are heated. The rear cabin offers spacious head and legroom even with the front seats pushed far back. Interestingly, a roof-mounted cabin lighting hub enables the driver to control the ambient lighting, change the colour and set the brightness level as per the mood. Boot space is generous and the rear seats can be folded 60/40 to extend space. In-cabin storage is good too, with a deep centre console box, sizable glove box, sunglasses holder, map pockets, door bins and cup holders at the front and rear. All the interior fittings and switchgears feel secure, solid and well-engineered. The Focus is absolutely laden with features and technology that you expect to find in a high end sedan.

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On the safety side, driver, passenger and side airbags are offered as standard across the range, along with rain sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, anti-lock braking (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and emergency brake assist (EBA), dynamic stability control (DSC) with traction control (TCS) and hill launch assist (HLA).

PERFORMANCE On paper, the 1.6 engine on the Focus Titanium available in Nepal musters 124 bhp at 6600rpm with a torque peak of 159 Nm at 4000 rpm. The power plant pulls eagerly when getting off the line and when trailing behind traffic in the city, the PowerShift automatic works well with seamless gear shifts. But the less potent aspect of the automatic is felt during overtaking, where power delivery initially feels somewhat hesitant to respond. But that’s due to the automatic gearbox which is programmed to run in a higher gear for fuel efficiency. But fret not enthusiastic drivers, as the double clutch PowerShift automatic also offers manual gear shift buttons available on the side of the gear stick. By tapping a toggle button on the gear lever back and forth, gear changes can be made manually and there is also a sport mode which livens up the gear shifts and keeps revs higher. In manual mode, the revs matched well and the transmission shifted quite nicely. The car felt right at home in this mode, especially while cruising along the highway to Bhaktapur. The ride quality is great and very comfortable. The engine was surprisingly quiet even when revved and the cabin does well to efficiently shield off all the noise, vibration and harshness from our roads. Handling was good with minimum body roll when turning fast, and thanks to its dynamic ‘torque vectoring control’ system that increases vehicle stability in turns by applying slight braking force to one side, the Focus can carry higher speeds into a corner. The steering feels nicely weighted, and there’s loads of traction and grip on offer from the tires on the massive 17 inch rims. There are disc brakes behind each wheel and along with the several electronic traction aids the Focus possess good stopping ability. It’s a good enough car for city potholes and doesn’t get much upset when it hits bumps too. www.autolife.com.np

The ride quality is great and very comfortable. The Engine was surprisingly quiet even when revved and the cabin does well to efficiently contain all the noise, vibration and harshness from our roads.

AUTOLIFE November 2012

The Focus is a stylish VERDICT executive sedan that It sure is by no pure luck that the Focus series managed to become the world’s best selling and has met with glowing reviews worldwide. The Focus is a stylish executive sedan doesn’t skimp on model that doesn’t skimp on practicality or quality and distinctly stands out in its segment. The practicality or quality Focus offers a good drive on a great looking car with near the top of its segment interior The best part is that the new Focus maintains the same design globally and the sedan and distinctly stands quality. will be identical to the one offered elsewhere in the world. So do check out the Focus range if you are searching the market for a sporty, stylish and feature-filled sedan. out in its segment. 60 AUTOLIFE

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SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type: In-Line 4 Cylinder 16V DOHC Displacement: 1596cc Fuel Type: Petrol Maximum Power: 124 Bhp @ 6600 rpm Maximum Torque: 159 Nm @ 4000 rpm Transmission: 6 Speed PowerShift Automatic

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Length: 4534 mm Width: 2010 mm Height: 1484 mm Wheelbase: 2648 mm Tyre Size: 215/50 R17 Suspension Front: Independent MacPherson Struts Suspension Rear: Independent Control Blade MultiLink System Brakes Front: Ventilated Discs Brakes Rear: Discs Dry Weight: 1324kg Fuel Tank: 55L

PRICING

Nrs.57,00,000/-

ALTERNATIVE CHOICES Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

Offer valid till Tihar only

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

events

autolife

BMW R1200GS

Ducati Diavel

Aprilia RSV4 Factory ABS

Ducati 1199 Panigale RS13

KTM 1190 Adventure Honda CB1100 Zero S Suzuki V-Strom 1000 Concept

Triumph Street Triple Kawasaki Z800

2012

Honda CRF450 Dakar Rally

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INTERTMOT is a global trade show for motorcycle manufacturers that takes place every two years. The show is a popular event among motorcycling enthusiasts and manufacturers for major unveilings of several new production models and concepts. The 2012 edition of the INTERMOT Cologne was a great success and attracted a record number of visitors - more than 2,03,000. For five days, from 3rd to 7th October 2012, the motorized twowheeler sector presented an impressive number of world premieres and thrilled motorbike and scooter fans from all over the globe. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our quick pictorial round-up of the top launches by major manufacturers.

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

BOOKING OPEN

P.O. Box 5623, Gyaneshwor, Kathmandu Tel: 01-4411900, 4435688, 4440362 Fax: 01-4413838 automobiledivision@padmashree.com.np

Features: - Idle stop system (i-stop) - AT Kickdown switch - Rear vehicle monitoring System - Bose Premium Audio System - Voice command audio - Bluetooth handsfree and email function

SAN Automobiles Company Pvt. Ltd. Shivachowk, Pokhara Tel: 061-523499 / 98560-29068

Sub Dealer:

The first SUV to combine agility and performance of a sports car with amaging SKYACTIVE TECHNOLOGY to give you class-leading fuel efficiency. Its lighter yet safer and loaded with innovation.

ED TO R E E ENGIN OMISE Y L L U R F CARE ATE COMP N ELIMI

FEATURE

autolife

WORDS: AYUSH DHAUBANJAR | ILLUSTRATION: NIREN TULADHAR

W Forget cruising through buttersmooth roads, but be prepared to bump into crater-filled roads which could actually put the surface of the moon to shame. 68 AUTOLIFE

November 2012

ho doesn’t wish to speed through the finest roads astride powerful sports bikes and munching up miles at triple figure speeds or maybe just lazily cruising around? But when Nepal is brought into the equation, it becomes a wish almost impossible to achieve. These obsessions of a Nepalese biker will undoubtedly remain a pipe dream here in Nepal for many years to come. Sadly our ground realities are potholed and unsafe roads, chaotic traffic system, insignificant road rules, mysteriously styled low-powered bikes and a risky ride everyday. Unlike developed countries, ours is a nation where road infrastructure development is under a big question mark. Forget cruising through buttersmooth roads, but be prepared to bump into crater-filled roads which could actually put the surface of the moon to shame. What’s more shameful is the fact that we pay one of the highest automobile tax rates in the world and yet get no significant privileges in return.

Forget the conditions of the roads, but thanks to the same insane taxation policy, even them dream superbikes become too expensive to own. A few financially blessed and passionate riders do manage to fulfil a bit of their wish by daring to ride these dream machines in Nepal; but obviously dodging between bad roads, heavy traffic and the lack of high octane fuel, easily available spare parts and experienced service mechanics, etc. What’s worst? Being stuck in congested roads and having to watch Splendor’s or Scoots (with not even half the horsepower) easily navigating past them sports bikes. Indeed a complete letdown on the super biker’s ego! But celebrity level attention on the roads and the thrill of buzzing through the highways on board one of those technologically advanced motorcycles easily guarantees that much required ego boost. So, what the better part of the population has to make do is with the widely available Indian, Korean and Chinese bikes. Talk about the general bikes available here and it’s nothing more than 250cc’s. But our bikers will still never fail to exploit every bit of that limited power, should they find an open road. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see these little puny machines compete with buses, trucks and fast cars. To many bikers here, red lights means go and speed breakers are a place to try out little Travis Pastrana inspired jumps. Rash riders will never think twice before cutting off any vehicle in any direction and hopelessly zoom away only leaving a thick cloud of dust behind. No wonder it’s mostly bikers who manage to make it to the accidents statistics. Bike accidents occur in alarming www.autolife.com.np

One’s got to remember- it’s not speeding recklessly that makes a good biker but it’s being able to control the machine in any given situation that makes the best bikers. numbers across the country, but the better part of the road users still ride away on a motorcycle. It reminds me of the popular saying, “When somebody tells he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a GORKHALI”. Now this is one of those situations where the saying truly applies. It is high time that bikers here realize that riding motorcycles can be a lot of fun, but without proper awareness it can be equally dangerous. They should learn to take precautions themselves realizing that they are aboard the smallest and most vulnerable vehicle on the road. Preparing oneself for some of the dangers is a great way to help prevent them from happening.

riding around in the roads of Nepal is no less than involving oneself in a virtual game where many a time death passes you by just a few inches. www.autolife.com.np

Keeping a few of these pointers in mind should help in staying safer on the road. Foremost, full vision should be continuously applied to what’s happening around the front as well as the rear of the motorcyclist. When overtaking, a biker should never cut in a vehicle too soon to prevent being run over and make it a habit to check below the wheels of any stationary vehicle for signs of pedestrians before overtaking. It’s a popular misconception among many riders who boast of having dodged oncoming traffic while overtaking. Actually what happens in most of these situations is, the oncoming vehicles slow down for the sake of those reckless motorcyclists. But not every vehicle shall courteously slow down and that’s when the bikers get unlucky. So extreme attention and reasoning should be applied especially when speeding through populated areas and one should always be on the lookout for children and animals on the roads. Also make full use of the rear view mirrors before changing lanes or stopping your motorcycle. Practice emergency braking situations and be aware of the mechanical aspects of your motorcycle. It is very important to keep in mind that the road is not the place to race and when in group riding sessions, one should always ride at one’s own comfortable speed. Lastly always maintain a safe distance between the vehicle both in front of and behind you. One’s got to remember that it’s not speeding recklessly what makes a good biker, but it’s being able to control the machine in any given situation that makes the best bikers. These pointers will not guarantee 100% safety, but it will definitely go a long way in preventing many life threatening situations. Also road traffic surveillance in the country is very bad and the citizen’s knowledge of basic road rules much worse. In fact there isn’t a dearth of respect even for the few existing rules. So it isn’t surprising to bump

into vehicles which suddenly stop just anywhere on the road, or pedestrians crossing the road as if they were taking a walk in the park. People fearlessly and casually make road-crossings without the slightest fear of how fast a vehicle could be approaching them. Even if not the people on the roads, likely a cow will be fearlessly basking in the sun on the road or a dog will be loitering around. And there are the national highways which are in a better maintained condition, but come with added risks. Almost every road is single-laned on both sides with just enough space for two trucks to pass by together. So one should always be prepared to tackle and face oncoming vehicles plying on one’s side of the road many a times. Riding here in Nepal is indeed a herculean feat. What is called ‘commuting on a motorcycle’ in developed countries would perhaps qualify for an ‘adventure’ here in Nepal. I am pretty sure that even professional riders would think twice before setting out on a bike in the Nepalese roads. Well this is the reality of motorcyclists here in Nepal. So riding around in the roads of Nepal is no less than involving oneself in a virtual game, where many a time death passes you by just a few inches. But having ridden to many beautiful places across Nepal, I can assure that Nepal could be one of the best countries in the world to ride around, for the scenic vistas and dramatic landscapes the land has to offer. It’s an unforgettable experience to ride alongside raging rivers with the Himalayas constantly watching you dive into the corners. In spite of the challenging road conditions, motorcycling is one of the best ways to discover the diverse countryside and explore the labyrinth of tracks, terrains, and trails of Nepal. It’s just that the riders need to be extremely careful and cautious while blasting through the wind on their two wheeled contraptions. AUTOLIFE November 2012

quiz

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win QFX cinemas tickets

www.qfxcinemas.com

3) Which motor show is featured in this issue? a. Paris Motor Show b. Auto Expo India c. Beijing Auto Show d. NADA Auto Show

1) What is Gymkhana? a. Famous World Wide Gym b. A Restaurant in New Road c. A Popular Automotive Sport d. A Mix of Gymnastics, Dance and Food

2) What is Dodge Challenger? a. A wild Texas Bull b. An American Muscle car c. A battery charger d. A reality show on AXN

4) Which SUV is featured in this issue? a. Toyota Fortuner b. Chevrolet Captiva c. Ford Everest d. Hulas Mustang

5) What is Aston Martin DB5? a. An American automobile company b. James Bond’s Ride c. A British nobleman d. Rajnikanth’s toy

HINT: ALL ANSWERS TO THIS QUIZ CAN BE EASILY FOUND SPREAD ACROSS THIS ISSUE ITSELF. EVEN GOOGLE WILL NOT FIND YOU SOME OF THE ANSWERS! SO UNLESS YOU HAVE RAJNIKANTH’S PERSONAL NUMBER, THERE’S NO ANY OTHER OPTION THAN TO MAKE SURE YOU READ THROUGH THE MAGAZINE BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS QUIZ. BEST OF LUCK.

LAST MONTH’S WINNERS Kaushal Neupane Ashish Niroula Dibbesh Lacoul 3 winners will receive 2 tickets each from QFX Cinemas

autolife

must watch movies

CARS

This computer-animated feature may have only been released five years ago, but it already qualifies as a cinema classic for gearheads of all ages. Cars has a fresh new set of characters, a whole new story, exceptional visuals and the voice acting from the likes of Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy and the late Paul Newman and George Carlin are top notch. Lightning McQueen is a little red race car who is really going places. His victories have been big, but his dreams are even bigger. Lightning McQueen may be just a rookie, but he’s convinced that he can realize his dream of zooming by the checkered flag if he can only make it to California in time to compete in the upcoming Piston Cup Championship. The hot-shot race car aspires to win the Piston Cup, dump his lousy sponsor, and become a racing star. Though on his way to the big race, a turn of events finds Lightning stuck in the sleepy town of Radiator Springs, just off of Route 66. He accidentally damages a road that runs through the town, and Lightning is sentenced to repair the road before he can leave. Life in Radiator Springs moves at a much slower pace than Lightning’s used to, and the citizens have nothing better to do with their time than to watch Lightning lay down blacktop and offer unsolicited advice on life. An enlightening stop off the beaten path helps Lightning see that maybe there is something bigger than the Piston Cup. At first, Lightning’s big dream is the only thing that is important, and the backwoods town people are the annoying obstacles standing in his way. Inevitably though, he gets to know the other cars and the forgotten town that had once been a highway hot spot. Lightning McQueen has to work hard and finds friendship and love in the simple locals, changing his values during his stay in the small town. After befriending quirky Radiator Springs residents such as Sally the Porsche, Doc Hudson the 51 Hudson Hornet and Mater the Tow Truck, the eager young racer learns that sometimes life is more about the voyage than the outcome of the race. A pedal-to-the-metal race car determined to prove his worth on the tracks, discovers that life isn’t always about crossing the finish line first in this mechanically minded tale of friendship and loyalty.

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WILD HOGS

Wild Hogs is a 2007 comedy film directed by Walt Becker. Woody, Doug, Bobby and Dudley are a group of suburban wannabe bikers. On the weekends, they hop on their shiny, barely ridden Harley motorcycles and cruise to a friendly restaurant to escape their otherwise mundane lives. They aren’t real bikers, but just fat embarrassing fathers, hen-pecked husbands and computer nerds with nothing better to do. John Travolta leads the ‘Wild Hogs’ pack as Woody, a man his friends think has it all; money, looks, and a supermodel wife. But he’s actually broke and about to get divorced. Desperate for a last-ditch way to rekindle better times, Woody then convinces his motorcycle pals - Bobby (Martin Lawrence), Doug (Tim Allen), and Dudley (William H. Macy) to take on a road trip. The middle-aged men then decide to take a road trip from Cincinnati to the Pacific, in order to get away from their lives which are leading them nowhere. Out on the road, our heroes are stalked by a gay traffic cop and eventually they stop in New Mexico for a drink at a bar that belongs to the ‘Del Fuegos’, a mean biker gang. When the Del Fuegos steal a bike that belongs to the Wild Hogs, the four men form a plan to steal their bike back. But they get more than they bargained for when the notorious Del Fuegos doesn’t take kindly to these weekend warrior types. Eventually they wind up in a fearful little town, where they must liberate the inhabitants from the same gang’s reign of terror, romance the locals and get in touch with their inner self. Woody discovers that there’s more to life than money, Bobby finds the courage to stand up to his shrieking shrew of a wife, Dudley builds up confidence to talk to Marisa Tomei’s spunky waitress, and Doug learns the importance of being himself. The mismatched group of bored suburbanites longing to escape the stress of their daily lives and embrace the freedom of the open road, ultimately finds that it takes more than polished chrome and leather jackets to truly experience the biker lifestyle. The ending also features an amusing cameo from the Easy Rider himself, Peter Fonda, who as a gnarly biker offers the weekend warriors two key bits of advice, ‘Ride hard or stay home’ and ‘lose the watches’. www.autolife.com.np

feature

DRIVING 007 50 YEARS OF BOND IN motion autolife

Words: Saurav Nepal is no stranger to anyone – “A man with in innate ability to perform any task with brilliance, chicanery and gracefulness “. Created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, the fictional character was inspired by James Bond, a famous American Zoologist. After 50 action-packed years, the most successful and longest running franchise in Hollywood still manages to kick ass. From 1962’s Dr No to this year’s Skyfall, this series has always embraced hot babes, exotic cars, picturesque locations and egomaniacal rascals. MI6’s best agent out of seven 00 agents, the 007 is channeled with mind-boggling gadgets, the trademark ‘shaken, not stirred’ martinis and loads of kiss kiss bang bang .

JAMES BOND

The Bondian fantasy is propelled by a fatally destructive mission to unusual locations, temptations by sultry women and high-energy action-packed fisticuffs with the antagonists. The sexy espionage saga is incomplete without exotic cars with bond’s cutting-edge rides constantly evolving over the course of decades. From the modest Ford LTD, uber-cool Lotus Esprit S1 submarine car to the swanky Aston Martin DB5, Bond has driven them all. Cars from Aston Martin, Ford, Lotus, GM and BMW have mostly been featured as Bondmobiles but only the Astons have became the applauded trademark statement.

think you know 007? James Bond was inspired by an American Zoologist and was created on a summer vacation. James Bond smokes – up to 70 cigarettes a day of his own custom blend.

James Bond was born in Germany, raised in Scotland and England. He considers himself to be Scottish.

James Bond’s astrological sign is Scorpio.

Former bond Roger Moore running in his seven Bond movies were performed by doubles because the actor felt he looked awkward.

Former Bond Roger Moore suffers from Hoplophobia (fear of fire arms).

Daniel Craig, 44 is the first Bond actor to have been born after the Bond series began.

It is Judi Dench’s seventh time playing the M character. Dench has played the role of M for seventeen years equaling Bernard Lee’s record although Lee appeared in 11 Bond movies.

There are only seven 00’s. Agents 002, 003, 004 and 009 are already dead. 008 is bond’s replacement should he die or be pulled off from a mission. The identity of 005 and 001 has never been disclosed.

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He has a golf handicap of 9, which he shares with his creator Ian Fleming. Sean Connery began losing his hair at the age of 21, so in all of his James Bond movies, he wore a toupee. As a struggling actor , Daniel Craig worked in the restaurant kitchens and as a waiter. Pierce Brosnan’s contract for Goldeneye specified that he could not appear in any other film wearing a tuxedo. Google wants everyone to know that Bond uses an android with Daniel Craig using Sony Experia T in Skyfall.

Bond’s favorite drink is the classic vodka Martini, ’shaken, not stirred’. In films up to Casino Royale, Bond drinks every 24.3 minutes. Bond speaks French and German fluently, as well as some Japanese and some Russian. The full line “The name’s Bond. James Bond.” has only been used in A View To A Kill and Casino Royale. Turkey has been featured in three bond movies making it the most shot foreign location. www.autolife.com.np

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

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Illustrations :uk.movies.yahoo.com

007â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s saga continues...

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

autolife

style update

The Newest Trend The Collectors piece

The Tom Ford Marko TF144 sunglasses

Olympic Collection London 2012: Omega 3313

The Tom Ford Marko TF144 sunglasses are worn by James Bond (Daniel Craig) in the movie SkyFall (2012). They are also worn by Daniel Craig on the film set, in between shoots. Craig was spotted with these glasses in Turkey while filming action scenes there, but the sunglasses aren’t visible in the Turkey scenes in the film. In the Bond on Set photo book, the glasses can also be spotted in on the set of the Death City scene, and the glasses are briefly worn in those moments in the film and in one other scene.

Self-winding chronograph movement with column wheel mechanism and Co-Axial Escapement for greater precision, stability and durability of the movement. Free sprung balance, with date, hour, minute and continuous small seconds hands, central chronograph hand.

A Perfect Winter Companion Men’s Handsewn Deerskin Driving Gloves By Fratelli Orsini Featuring classic Italian styling and the finest North American deerskin, these are among our best leather driving gloves for men. They are handsewn in Italy by the master artisans at Fratelli Orsini, and expertly crafted to include vent and knuckle holes and extraordinary details throughout. The snap closure on the back is the final detail that makes these the epitome of a classic driving glove, while the four available colors ensure that there’s a perfect choice for every driver throughout every season.

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

test drive

autolife

international

DODGE CHALLENGER

True

American Muscle

words and photos: ashish sinha

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www.autolife.com.np

The modern day Challenger closely resembles its’ ancestors not just only in appearance, but all the way down to the two Hemi V8 options as well.

ike many of the kids growing up in Kathmandu, I developed an interest in motor vehicles at a fairly young age. My fondest childhood memory was when I dodged my parents’ watchful eyes and pedalled my BMX bicycle to see a “Budo Motor Jatra”, as described by a fellow young accomplice. Sipping on a little pack of the ever -delicious Mango Frooti, my young eyes gazed at the elegant vehicles that drove into Nepal. A whole decade would pass before I realized that I was one of the youngest witnesses of the ‘Peking to Paris Vintage Car Rally’, that was passing through Kathmandu in 1997. After moving to the US in 2007, I grew fond of American Muscle Cars, particularly after I saw a Dodge Challenger up close for the first time at a local dealership. With the images of the legendary beauty well imprinted in my mind, little did I expect to be given the opportunity to drive the 2012 Dodge Challenger R/T, five years down the road. HISTORY The Dodge Challenger was first introduced in the 70’s as a late response to the already dominant Chevy Camaro and the Ford Mustang. While the hippie movement spread far-east towards our Freak Street in Basantapur, the Challenger was busy making a statement out west in North America. Thanks to the legendary HEMI V8 wrapped in classic era sheet-metal, that wasn’t too hard to accomplish. Forty-two years forward, the Challenger still stands before us. The modern day Challenger closely resembles its ancestors not just only in appearance, but all the way down to the two Hemi V8 options as well. Needless to say, this magnificent beast still reclaims its “Bad-Boy” status. EXTERIORS While the competing Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang barely hold on to their roots and have opted for a more futuristic look, the Challenger has preserved its overall appearance. At the front end, it houses a set of quadruple-round headlights with integrated turn signals and parking lights, where they do a great job of filling in the unmistakably-nostalgic front grille. The large front splitter and well placed functional hood scoops add up to serve a practical purpose as well as create a mean frontal appearance. A view from the side truly reveals the cars’ low-sporty-stance. The elongated bonnet follows the lines that swoop over the cabin with defining geometry www.autolife.com.np

AUTOLIFE November 2012

and end at the body coloured spoiler in the rear; helping the Challenger achieve its aerodynamic goals. The rear end contains the elongated strip of brake-lights with the Dodge initials perfectly centred over the reverse lights. All this creates the unmistakable look of the 70’s Challenger. In addition, bold curves and firm sheet metal add to the muscle car look, which helps it stand out from its competitors on the road. INTERIORS The cabin, only available in Dark Slate Grey, is rather unimpressive. The layout and quality of materials used on the dashboard, doors and centre console remind you of early model vehicles. However, if you’re willing to look past that, a fully loaded drivers’ seat, telescoping tilt-steering column, easy to reach buttons and controls makes you feel at home. Leather wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters and a few control buttons sit in front of the race track inspired ‘Four Bomb’ gauge cluster. The gauges provide a world of vehicle information and available options such as voice activation and Bluetooth integration. This being said, the true beauty of the cabin appears as the sun sets in the horizon. The white gauges transform into a shade of mellow blue, while glowing cup holders and centre console buttons help you find your way around the cabin. Overall, it creates the illusion of being in the cockpit of a small engine aircraft set to take you on a pleasant mountain flight to the Himalayas; something I think we could all get used to. With just two front doors available, access to the back seats requires some level of gymnastics skills. But all the seats are well padded and contour pretty well around the average sized occupant. In addition, clever angles create enough space for a generous boot space. To add a little luxury to your cruise, a 900-watt Harman Kardon surround-sound-system with 18 speakers has been introduced and the 12 channel Class D amplifiers deliver outstanding acoustics in the well-insulated cabin. Needless to say, you’re going to love your favourite AC/ DC album just a little more in here.

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PERFORMANCE & HANDLING

The optional paddle shifters add a bit of an aggressive sporty feel.

A remarkable blend of power and fine-tuned handling is what makes the Challenger R/T appealing to even the toughest of critics. Since most American Muscle Cars have always been looked down upon for only being able to perform well in a straight line, I drove the Challenger out to the Adirondack Mountain in Upstate New York. But the similar-to-Nepal winding highways, deep gorges, gravelled roads and the occasional potholes didn’t seem to be a challenge to this Dodge. With 372 bhp and 540 nm of torque available, a volcanic eruption of power is unleashed every time you agitate the legendary 5.7L HEMI V8 engine. Overwhelmed senses soon relax as the ‘Performance Tuned Suspension and Steering’ boasts its ability to create a smooth ride with little or no effort. The five-speed automatic transmission shifts as smooth as silk and does its best to please anyone who wishes to jump in the driver’s seat.

Although its long wheelbase makes for an incredible highway drive, the story drastically changes when you introduce it to an urban environment. The Challenger feels too big even on American city roads and navigating through traffic becomes a nightmare. The elongated hood seems to stretch as far as the horizon and leaves the driver with plenty of blind spots both at the front and rear. Controlling the surge of power becomes another problem in bumper to bumper traffic. But in order to make city driving less painful on the wallet, the Challenger comes equipped with a ‘Fuel Saver Technology’ which automatically switches off 4 cylinders when less power is needed. However, it is yet to receive an EPA mileage rating better than 7/11 kmpl. But to be fair, if you really worried about fuel economy you would be reading about a Toyota Prius instead.

VERDICT

SPECIFICATIONS

Overall, the Challenger makes for an excellent weekend toy. Even with Nepal in the equation, it could be a blast to drive in the open roads of the Terai region or on the windy stretch of highway towards Pokhara. But elsewhere in the cities it can be too powerful to handle and the low ground clearance will be another challenge. Though Dodge so far has not shown any interest in producing the Challenger in the Asian markets, with the growing number of car enthusiasts in the region don’t be surprised if you happen to spot one on the streets of Kathmandu in the near future. If you have an extra $29,995(excluding taxes) to spare, the R/T definitely makes for a great reincarnation of the classic muscle car that could be yours.

Type: V8 HEMI VVT Displacement: 5700cc Fuel Type: Petrol Maximum Power: 372 Bhp @ 5200 rpm Maximum Torque: 540 Nm @ 4400 rpm Transmission: 5 Speed Auto | 6 Speed Manual

Born and raised in Kathmandu, Ashish Sinha is an avid adventure motorcyclist and automotive enthusiast currently based in New York, USA. A graduate in Marketing and PR, Ashish frequently tours around the American countryside on his Honda XR650L. Reading, writing, and riding his way towards his dream of becoming a Moto-Journalist, he promises to bring you more international vehicle reviews and stories in the near future.

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Length: 5020 mm Width: 1920 mm Height: 1450 mm Wheelbase: 2950 mm Ground Clearance: 127mm Tyre Size: 235/55 R18 Suspension Front: Independent Suspension Rear: 5-Link Brakes Front: Discs Brakes Rear: Discs Dry Weight: 1850kg Fuel Tank: 72L U.S. Pricing: $25,195-$46,620/-

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

autolife

timeline

Volkswagen the TIMELINE

WORDS: SAURAV NEPAL

rom its inception in 1937, Volkswagen has carved their niche as an uber-cool, versatile and dependable brand. Much credit definitely goes to their Beetle brand, lovingly known to us as the ‘Bhyagutey Gaadi’, which still is the longest-running and most-manufactured car on a single design platform with global productions over 20 million. In 1933, Adolf Hitler had commissioned Ferdinand Porsche to develop a cheap ‘Volkswagen’ (literally, ‘people’s car’ in German) and that led to the birth of the brand, with the production of the first Beetle car. But of course, this famous German automobile manufacturer is a lot more than just the Beetle. Today, VW globally sells a range of vehicles from the likes of the Passat, Golf, Scirocco, Touran, Polo, Touareg, Tiguan, Jetta, Phaeton, Up etc. Interestingly, the names of most of their vehicles have all been derived from winds or weather gods. Apart from its own range of mind blowing vehicles, the Volkswagen Group is also the owner of various iconic marquees from Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, Ducati, MAN, Porsche, Scania, SEAT to Skoda. Here below is a brief timeline of Volkswagen’s evolution in the auto industry:

1938 The KdF-Wagen

The name “KdF-Wagen” was coined by Adolf Hitler. It was developed by Ferdinand Porsche. However, this could not be a successful model because it was too expensive in spite of the minimum weekly sum for the workers to afford. It was also called as the ‘Beetle’.

1946 Beetle

1940 Kubelwagen

The Kubelwagen or the “bucket seat car” was a wartime model built by Volkswagen during the World War II for the German military. It was a 4-door utility roadster on a rolling chassis and was based heavily on the Beetle.

1942 Schwimmwagen

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The Schwimmwagen or the “Floating / Swimming Car” were amphibious four-wheel drive off-roaders used by the German forces during the World War II .It is also the most mass-produced amphibious car in history. The drivetrain including the engine and the mechanics was based on the Kubelwagen.

The Beetle was a rear-wheel drive 2-door coupe based on the KdF-Wagen. It was designed in the 1930’s but production rose in numbers only from 1946. The Beetle had a top speed of 115 km/h with the engine producing 34 hp. The Beetle is also the most-manufactured and longest-running car of the single design platform in history.

1949 Beetle Convertible

Initially, it was a rear-wheel drive 2-door convertible with a flat dropping rear and a top that could be lowered. Later after 1949, it was converted into a 4-seater convertible.

1952 Beetle

After 1952, the Beetle changed its looks. It got a partialsynchronised gearbox, two brake lights combined with taillights, a large oval-shaped window, brake lights integrated in the rear lights, a double exhaust and a PVC sunroof were added with time. www.autolife.com.np

1955 Karmann Ghia 2+2

1969 Volkswagen Type 181

1970 Volkswagen K70

1972 Volkswagen 412 Type 4

1973 Volkswagen Passat

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Volkswagen expanded its portfolio with the Karmann Ghia 2+2 coupe in 1955. Karmann is a German coach-building company. It was based on the Beetle with the rear-mounted air-cooled 1192 cc petrol engine and produced 30 bhp.It was styled by Carrozzeria Ghia, Italian automobile design and coach firm.

The Type 181 was a 4-door SUV Cabriolet or Convertible based on the Kubelwagen or the Beetle. It was a small light off-road military vehicle. It was famous worldwide and was known by the name of “The Trekker” in the United Kingdom, “The Thing” in the United States and “The Safari” in Mexico.

The Volkswagen K70 was a rebadged NSU K70 saloon after Volkswagen completed the takeover of the NSU company in 1969.The K70 was the first Volkswagen car to have a front mounted water-cooled petrol engine and a front-wheel drive. The K70 was a four-cylinder water cooled engine which produced 70 bhp.

The 412 Type 4 was a mid-sized car in two-door and four-door variants. It was a redesigned 411. The 412 had a larger 4-stroke 4-cylinder rear-mounted 1795 cc petrol engine. The 4-speed gearbox was all synchromesh and the car was built on a monocoque chassis. The engine produced 80hp and 132 Nm of torque.

The Volkswagen Passat was mechanically and technically based on the Audi 80. It featured a water-cooled 4 cylinder overhead camshaft petrol engine with a front-wheel drive. It offered twoand four-door sedans and threeand five-door hatchback versions. The Passat offered power from 55 hp to 84 hp.

1974 Volkswagen Scirocco

1974 Volkswagen Golf MK 1

1975 Volkswagen Polo

1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI

1977 Volkswagen Derby MK1

1979 Volkswagen Jetta MKII

The Scirocco was a 3-door sports coupe. It was based on the Golf platform. The Mark I models featured four-cylinder petrol engine ranging from 1.1 to 1.7 Litres. It was a successor to the Karmann Ghia coupe.

In 1974 Volkswagen launched the much-awaited “Golf” as a successor to the Beetle. The first model was a front-wheel drive and featured a 1.5- litre petrol engine producing 70 bhp. The Golf is still Volkswagen’s bestselling model.

The first Polo was a re-badged Audi 50.It was a low-specification model to the Audi 50.The Polo was powered by a 40 bhp engine. The production of Polo is spawned across 5 generations with numerous facelifts.

In this year, Volkswagen introduced a sensational model of the famous Golf named as the “Golf GTI”.It was a “hot hatch” because the legendary “GTI” had a 1.6 litre petrol engine offering 110 bhp of power and was also available in a 3 and 5-door version.

The Volkswagen Derby MK1 was a notchback version of the Polo. It was a 2-door coupe and was available from 0.9-1.3 litres 4-cylinder petrol engine with maximum power ranging from 40-60 bhp respectively.

The Volkswagen Jetta MK II was a compact saloon with a large boot. It was available either in a 1.3, 1.5, 1.6 or a 1.8-litre petrol engine. It was offered as a two-door or fourdoor saloon/sedan. Later, it was also available in a 1.8-litre diesel engine.

AUTOLIFE November 2012

1986 Volkswagen Polo G40 Coupe

1987 Volkswagen Passat Saloon

1988 Volkswagen Corrado

1991 Volkswagen Vento

1995 Volkswagen Sharan

1998 Volkswagen Bora

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The Polo G40 coupe was 3-door front-wheel drive coupe. The 1.3-litre supercharged petrol engine produced 115 bhp. The car is a collector’s item today because of its low kerb weight, sharp responses and a supercharged engine.

The Passat was a third generation variant of the original Passat. It is one of the world’s most popular family cars. The Passat Saloon was based on the Golf platform and was offered in a 1.8 and 2-litre fuel-injected petrol engine.

1998 Volkswagen Golf Estate MK IV

The Golf Estate is a 3-door or a 5-door hatchback offered in two petrol engines along with the first diesel powered GTI engine in a total of four different variants.

1998 Volkswagen Lupo

2001 Volkswagen Phaeton

The Corrado was a 3-door hatchback sports coupe with a 2+2 seating offered with a 1.8-litre petrol engine for the base model and a supercharged engine for the G60 version.

The Vento is the sedan or the notchback version of the Golf. The car is called Vento in Europe while it is called Jetta in North America. The original Vento was a 4-door model with improved aerodynamics and high level of safety features. It was a frontwheel drive and was available both in petrol and diesel variants.

2002 Volkswagen Touareg

2003 Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet

The Sharan is a 7-seat MPV with large boot space and is offered in a front-wheel drive/four-wheel drive petrol and diesel engine versions. It was offered in a 1.8-litre – 2.8-litre petrol engine and 1.9 - 2.0-litre diesel engine respectively. 2003 Volkswagen Touran

The Bora is a 4-door sedan and also called as the Jetta, Vento, City, and Atlantic worldwide. It is a compact sporty sedan and is also known as mini Passat. It is also the notchback version of the Golf. The Bora is offered with four petrol and three diesel engines.

The Volkswagen Lupo was the rebadged SEAT Arosa.It was offered from 1.0 -1.7 petrol and diesel engines respectively. The Lupo was Volkswagen’s environment friendly small city car. It was offered in a basic budget models to the supercharged GTI models.

The Phaeton is a full size luxury saloon based on the Bentley Continental platform. It is offered either in a 6 or a 12 cylinder petrol engine. The Phaeton is loaded with a host of premium features like draft less 4-zone climate system and an air-compressor suspension among others.

Touareg is Volkswagen’s first midsized crossover SUV combining the qualities of an off-roader with the comfort of a top-class sedan and the dynamics of a sports car. The Touareg is offered in four engines with either manual or automatic transmission.

The Beetle Cabriolet is inspired from the new Beetle. It is a 2-door compact car offering both petrol and diesel engines. The Beetle Cabriolet offers automatic rollover protection system fitted as standard with an electrohydraulic roof system.

The Touran is a compact MPV based on the fifth generation Golf platform. It is offered in either a 5-seat or 7-seat versions. It is a front-engine, front-wheel drive available in three petrol and four diesel engines. Initially, the gearbox was offered in a six-speed manual transmission or a doubleclutch DSG transmission.

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2005 Volkswagen New Beetle

2006 Volkswagen EOS

2007 Volkswagen Tiguan

2008 Volkswagen Passat CC

2009 Volkswagen Golf R MK VI

2010 Volkswagen EOS

www.autolife.com.np

The famous Beetle was again revamped in this year. The bumpers, wheel arches, headlights, front indicators and tail lights were restyled. The ‘VW’ emblems were also modified at the front and rear. The interior was made top notch with chrome and high-quality fabrics.

The Eos is a hard-top coupe available with a choice of one diesel and three petrol engines. It is a successor to the Golf Cabriolet. The transmission is either 6-speed manual or a 6-speed DSG.It is based on the Passat platform.

The Tiguan is Volkswagen’s first compact SUV and is based on the Golf platform. The 4-cylinder Tiguan features the awardwinning 4MOTION four-wheel drive and the electro-mechanical steering system developed by the group itself.

The Passat CC is the four-door “coupe” version of the Passat sedan. It is available with a 1.8 and 2-litre petrol engine, a 2-litre diesel engine and also a 3.6-litre V6 engine and 4MOTION drive train. The transmission is either a 6-speed Manual/Automatic or a 7-speed DSG.

The Golf R MK VI is the most powerful Golf ever built. This hatchback is equipped with a 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petro engine producing 270 bhp and a new 4-wheel drive system. The new Golf is also cheaper than its predecessor.

The 2010 facelift version of the EOS featured lots of technical and visual enhancements as compared with its predecessor. The 2 door coupe convertible is powered by four petrol and a single diesel engine.

2010 Volkswagen Jetta MK VI

2011 Volkswagen UP!

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 VW Golf GTI Cabriolet

2012 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack

2012 Volkswagen Polo R Line

The new Jetta is larger and cheaper than the old Jetta. The 4-door sedan gets a completely redesigned body. It is based on the Volkswagen Group A Platform and is offered in two petrol and two diesel engines. The Blue Motion technology is also available.

The Volkswagen Up! is a city car having a front-engine and front-wheel drive layout. It is based on the Volkswagen New Small Family (NSF) platform. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual/automatic transmission. Both engines are also available with the BlueMotion technology.

The 2012 Beetle is based on the Volkswagen A platform and is offered either in a 2.0-litre 140 bhp diesel or a 2.0 – litre 200 bhp turbocharged petrol engine. Both the versions are mated with sixspeed manual or six-speed DSG gearboxes. The petrol variant is offered in a Sport or Specialedition Turbo Black and Turbo Silver edition. Similarly, it also gets a 19-inch ‘Tornado’ alloys.

The new Golf GTI Cabriolet or Convertible incorporates all the design cues from its predecessor. It also sports a honeycomb radiator grille, distinctive fog lights, a bespoke rear diffuser, smoked LED tail lights and an 18-inch ‘Monza Shadow’ alloy wheels.

The Volkswagen Passat Alltrack is a bridge between the Volkswagen’s passenger and SUV range. It is based on the Passat Estate platform. It is offered in two petrol and two diesel engines respectively.

The new Polo R Line is available with just a single engine. The engine is a 1.2-litre petrol engine producing 105 bhp mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. AUTOLIFE November 2012

autolife

al cyclist

I AM A CYCLIST

INTERVIEW BY: ANKIT SHAKYA

Branch manager at the Pulchowk branch of Nepal Investment Bank Limited, Prakash Subedi is a perfect example of how cycling (particularly mountain biking) has made its transition into more of a lifestyle than the extreme sport it is considered to be. Armed with an Ellsworth Epiphany and Wilier Triestina, Mr. Subedi has been juggling the corporate jungle and his passion for cycling for the past seven years. AutoLife indulged in a little tête à tête with the passionate cyclist.

AL: First of all, tell us what cycling is to you. What is it that makes you so passionate towards it? PS: I bought a proper mountain bike in the year 1987 when I was studying at St. Xaviers College. Normal riding began right then and there. Then I went Prakash Subedi abroad to study and came back to the country to start my career, which was brought to frequent halts due to frequent bandhs. I was back to cycling and I bought a base line mountain bike for Rs12000. But it broke down 2 years later so I upgraded to a proper mountain bike and that just seemed to ignite the “passion” in me.

AL: Is it just a weekend hobby or do cycle on a daily basis? PS: Cycling is my only form of exercise so I make sure that I go on at least a 30km ride which takes up to 2 hours every day in the morning (unless it’s raining heavily or cold as the South Pole). I usually go to Chobar, Adinath Mandir. I also go on weekend trips and get back home by midday but once a month I go on a proper ride which takes at least 10 hours. If I could, I would ride to work as well, but getting back home is a little troublesome especially when it’s dark and there isn’t proper lighting in the city roads.

AL: What are the challenges for cyclists in Nepal? What is lacking? PS: Like almost everything else, the citizens of Nepal cannot enjoy cycling to the fullest. Top of the list: people don’t know (or don’t follow) the rules of the traffic. People are sauntering on the road meant for traffic when there is a deserted pavement right there. Secondly, motorized vehicles seem to bully cyclists all over the place, making our lives just that much more difficult.

AL: Give us your take on the road safety of the country for cyclists. PS: The first thing that comes to most people’s minds is the lack of cycling tracks. It wouldn’t be practical to ask for a cycling track in all the roads of the city but some places are in dire need of them: example the new 6 lane Arniko Highway. In my estimation, there are probably around 200 people that come from Bhaktapur to Kathmandu even just to sell vegetables. Sparing a 5 foot lane on the highway for cyclists is not too much to ask for for someone’s safety. It doesn’t even have to be pitched, gravel will do just fine. On the brighter side of things, the cycling track near the golf course that runs across the airport gate is a good indicator that there is a possibility of proper cycling tracks.

AL: It can’t be all bad. What’s in it for the cyclists of Nepal? PS: Once you get out of the city, it is practically cycling heaven in Nepal. I can’t really find any drawbacks riding out of the city!

AL: Cycling may have some hidden packages with it. It is an expensive hobby is it not?

PS: Cycling can be very much like buying a pair of shoes. If you are loaded enough you will go for an Armani, if you’re broke, a hattichap

90 AUTOLIFE

November 2012

www.autolife.com.np

Cycling can be very much like buying a pair of shoes. If you are loaded enough you will go for an Armani, if you’re broke, a hattichap chappal will suffice.

chappal will suffice. What I am getting at is, it all comes down to affordability. A Rs.20000 mountain bike will be plenty if you are a little strapped for cash, and if you are planning to spurge on your bike you can go up to more than Rs.500000 and still cough up some more for customization.

AL: How has cycling changed things for you in your life? PS: Passion turned to necessity when I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. So, I started jogging, but my ankles were taking a severe beating due to my weight. That’s when I depended even more on my cycling. Now, my blood pressure is fine and cycling has definitely added a few more years in my life. Also, due to cycling, there is our very own community. Some have their trekking groups; some are the party goers… I belong to the cyclists. Plus, I get to see our beautiful country which is a little difficult to do while dancing at parties.

AL: Is it ever difficult to juggle your work life, family and cycling passion? PS: I usually go cycling in the morning so I’m back home by 7:30am so it really isn’t a problem.

AL: Till date, which is the best ride that you have been on that is worth mentioning time and again? PS: It has to be the two-day trip I did with my friends from Kathmandu to Trishuli and back. It was a nice downhill ride with 15kms of plain land riding and 41kms of uphill. The uphill itself took us around 4.5 hours but it was well worth it.

AL: Where would you suggest is the best cycling route in Nepal? PS: There are so many places to go to just in and around the city. You’d probably find a new cycling track everyday of the year. It’s a different story that those tracks are being turned to jeep tracks overnight sometimes. The best tracks have to be Champi, Bhainsipati, Godavari, Lakhurebhanjyang, Shivapuri and if you have enough time around Kakani.

AL: Before you kick the bucket (touch wood), is there a dream track you would want to ride? PS: I think a ride from Muktinath down to Beni.

AL: Where do you see the cycling scene of Nepal going? PS: As much as I hate to say it, it is very difficult to envision a cycling future for Nepal like we see in foreign countries. The main hurdle here being the economic factor. Our currency has depreciated drastically which makes it that much more difficult to buy proper bikes that are already expensive. I see very few people in our country who would prioritize a mountain bike over a motorcycle. A proper downhill bike would probably set you back Rs.4 lakhs and a couple of downhill rides will render your brake pads useless. Changing these will cost you another Rs1200. Not to mention, servicing a mountain bike is more expensive than servicing a motorbike.

As much as I hate to say it, it is very difficult to envision a cycling future for Nepal like we see in foreign countries. www.autolife.com.np

Plus, if you have a proper mountain bike, you’ll want proper gears to go with it. Once again; not cheap.

AUTOLIFE November 2012

BLACK YAK STORE Tridevi Marg, Thamel Phone: +977-1-4416483 www.blackyak.com.np

92 AUTOLIFE November 2012 22 AUTOLIFE November 12

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

diy

autolife

GEAR INDEXING Tools Required: Opposable Thumbs

If your gears are mis-shifting then it’s almost certainly time to take a look at your gear indexing – the relationship between one click of the shifting lever and the distance moved by the front or rear mech. A correctly adjusted setup will mean your chain can pass smoothly from one cog to another. If you’re having trouble shifting up and down, chances are you’ll need to clean your gear cables or fit new ones. A new chain, and possibly a new cassette and/or chain rings might well be on the cards too.

To start off, press the gear shifter while riding or on a bike work stand with the pedals pedalling. Unless your gear shift is working properly, one of the two results may happen:

Slow shift to larger cog If the shift is slow or the chain doesn’t shift at all, go to the adjuster in the gear shifter and unscrew it (anticlockwise from the driver’s side when working from the top) an eighth of a turn at a time until you are satisﬁed that the chain shifts quietly and smoothly. This will add cable length, making the mech move a little more per click.

Slow shifts to smaller cog As you might expect, this is the opposite of slow shifts to larger cogs so this time you will need to screw in the adjuster – turning it clockwise from the driver’s side – an eighth of a turn at a time until you’re happy with the improvement.

Winter Riding Tip: Wet weather riding can result in water seeping through the eyelets of your wheel rims. This adds excess weight, perishes rim tape, can seize nipples in place and makes puncture repairs a real mess. Next time you puncture, take the opportunity to wipe any excess moisture out from inside the tyres and rim tape. 94 AUTOLIFE

November 2012

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AUTOLIFE November 2012

TECHNICAL

Sunroof

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

Leather Seats

Steering Adjust

Climate Control

Remote Locking

ABS

Airbags

Top Speed (KMPH)

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Cubic Capacity (CC)

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRs)

NEW CAR BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Updated November 2012

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY Bama Motors Pvt. Ltd, Thapathali, KTM Tel: 4226655 | 4223022

Chery Models A1 1.3L

17,99,000 1297 5M 82 114 155 N Y N N Y N Y N N

QQ3 Full Option

17,90,000

Tiggo 2.0 A/T

36,75,000 1971 A 123 168 160 Y Y Y N Y N Y N Y

812

130

Vijay Motors Pvt. Ltd, Naxal, KTM Tel: 4414158

chevrolet Models Optra Magnum

29,75,000 to 32,00,000

1991

119

314

190

Aveo

24,99,000 to 29,90,000

1399

127

165

Beat 1.2

20,30,000 to 25,20,000

1199

108

150

Spark 1.0

18,60,000 to 19,50,000

995

145

Captiva 2.0 Automatic LTZ

70,00,000 1991 5A 148 320 175 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Aveo UVA1.2 LT

21,70,000 to 24,70,000

Cruze 2.0 LTZ VCDI Tavera

N/A 29,50,000 to 39,90,000

1150

110

160

1991 5A 148 327 200 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y 2499

186

125

Hansraj Hulaschand & Co Pvt. Ltd, Maitighar Tel: 4239641 | 4231985

Daihatsu Models Terios

48,99,000 to 55,00,000

1495

103

140

BATAS Brothers Pvt. Ltd, Gairidhara Tel: 4004644 | 4004645

fIAT Models Linea 2012 Model (Diesel)

35,89,000 to 40,79,999

1368

115

168

Punto 2012 Model (Petrol)

23,71,999 25,89,999

1172

175

Go Automobiles Pvt. Ltd, Thapathali, KTM Tel: 4244254 | 4257001

FORD Models Everest

69,99,000 to 2953 5A 153 380 165 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 75,00,000

All New Fiesta (Petrol)

34,00,000 to 1499 5M 107 140 NA Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y N 38,99,000

Fiesta Classic (Petrol)

24,50,000 to 1596 5M 99 146 175 Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N 29,90,000

Figo Petrol

Ranger Diesel All New Fiesta (AT) Petrol

18,49,000 to 22,99,000

1399

160

150

39,99,000

2499

266

38,99,000 to 41,50,000

1499 5M 107 140 NA Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y N Saakha and Universal Automobiles, Kupondole Tel: 5011500

Geely Models MK1.6

19,75,000 1587 5M 105 137 165 Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N

LC Panda

16,75,000 1342 5M 85 110 NA Y Y Y N Y N N N N

LC Cross 1.3

96 AUTOLIFE

November 2012

1342 5M 85 110 165 Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

www.autolife.com.np

Sunroof

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

Leather Seats

Steering Adjust

Climate Control

Remote Locking

ABS

Airbags

Top Speed (KMPH)

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Cubic Capacity (CC)

TECHNICAL

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY Himchuli Auto International, Kupundole Tel: 5521730

GREAT WALL Models Florid 1.5L VVT

20,75,000 1497 5M 103 138 160 Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

Wingle 5 2.5TCI SLX

29,95,000 2499 5M 107 300 140 Y N Y N Y Y Y N N

Hover SLX

N/A

2400 5M 135 200 N/A Y Y Y N Y N Y N Y

NEW CAR BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRs)

Updated November 2012

Syakar Trading Company Pvt. Ltd, Kantipath Tel: 5549741 | 4225490 |4253522

HONDA Models Accord 2.4 MT

78,50,000 2354 5M 180 222 225 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

City SMT

38,50,000 1497 5M 118 146 175 Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

Civic 1.8 SMT

58,00,000

CR-V RVI

76,00,000 1997 6M 167 218 180 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Jazz Select

32,50,000 1198 5M 89 110 175 Y Y Y Y Y N Y N Y

Brio VMT

26,69,000 1198 5M 88 109 N/A Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

1799

130

172

205

HUMMER

Saakha and Universal Automobiles, Tinkune

Models H3

3699 5M 242 328 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y Laxmi Intercontinental, Thapathali Tel: 4101556 | 4101557

HYUNDAI Models Verna 1.4

32,96,000 1396 5M 107 135 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y

Accent GL

29,96,000 1399 5M 94 124 170 N N N N Y N Y N N

i10 Magna 1.1

19,96,000 1086 5M 66 99 140 N N Y N N N Y N N

i20 Sportz

25,96,000 1197 6A 90 220 160 Y Y Y Y Y N Y N Y

Santa Fe GL Diesel

70,96,000

Santro GL+

17,96,000 1086 5M 62 96 NA N N N N Y N Y N N

Sonata GL

51,96,000 1998 6M 165 198 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Tucson GL

53,96,000 1998 6M 177 382 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Elantra GLS

46,96,000 1591 6M 130 157 NA Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N

Eon Era+

16,46,000 814 5M 56 NA NA Y N Y N N N Y N N

www.autolife.com.np

2199

194

420

210

AUTOLIFE November 2012

TECHNICAL

Sunroof

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

Leather Seats

Steering Adjust

Climate Control

Remote Locking

ABS

Airbags

Top Speed (KMPH)

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Cubic Capacity (CC)

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRs)

NEW CAR BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Updated November 2012

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY Choice Motors, Lazimpat Tel: 4441080 | 4441081

JONWAY Models UFO

28,25,000 1584 5M 100 135 150 Y Y Y N Y N Y N Y Continental Associates Pvt. Ltd, Tinkune Tel: 2054003 | 2054004

KIA Models Cerato 1.6L

42,49,000 1591 5M 123 156 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N

Picanto 1.2 EX I

24,49,000

1086

Rio N/B 1.4L

28,49,000

1399

125

Sorento 2.2L Diesel

76,49,000 2199 6M 197 421 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Soul 1.6L

43,49,000 1591 5M 124 156 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Sportage 2.0 L Diesel

58,49,000 - 63,49,000

1998

177

392

Agni Incorporated Pvt. Ltd, Uttar Dhoka Tel: 4414626 | 4414628

MAHINDRA Models Bolero LX MDi 4WD

27,95,000

2523

180

Scorpio VLX 4WD

51,50,000

2179

120

290

150

XYLO

32,65,000 to 40,15,000

2498

112

240

135

Thar

21,20,000 to 29,60,000

2498

112

235

140

Arun Intercontinental Traders, Jhamsikhel Tel: 5547165 | 5547166

SUZUKI Models Alto LX A/C

14,39,000

800

140

Alto K10 Vxi

16,95,000

1000

145

A-Star Zxi

21,33,000 1000 5M 67 90 160 Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

Eeco STD 7Seater

17,39,000

Grand Vitara MT

70,00,000 1995 5M 164 225 175 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Ritz VXI

22,35,000 1200 5M 75 190 NA N Y Y N Y Y Y N N

Swift VDi

25,97,870 1248 5M 75 190 160 N Y Y N Y Y Y N N

Swift Dzire Zxi

28,99,000 1248 5M 75 190 160 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

SX4 Zxi

33,19,000 1586 5M 102 145 175 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Kuleshwor, Global Bank Building Kathmandu, Nepal Phone : 00977-1-4289051 98 AUTOLIFE November 2012

1200

101

www.autolife.com.np

Airbags

ABS

Remote Locking Y

Climate Control

Top Speed (KMPH)

18,95,010

998 5M 64 84 150 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

800 Std

10,97,000

796 4M 37 59 NA N N N N Y N N N N

Sunroof

Zen Estilo Vxi

TECHNICAL

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

1061

Leather Seats

19,41,000

Steering Adjust

New Wagon R Vxi

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Cubic Capacity (CC)

Price (NRs)

NEW CAR BUYER’S GUIDE

Torque (NM)

Updated November 2012

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY Y

Padma Shree Pvt. Ltd, Gyaneshwor Tel: 4435688 | 4435631

Mazda Models BT-50

47,50,000 2499 5M 140 330 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N

Mazda 3 Full Opt

66,50,000

1598

103

145

Mazda 2 Full Opt

46,00,000

1498

102

135

Mazda 6 Full Opt

76,50,000

2489

170

226

CX-7

82,00,000 to 2488 5M 161 218 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 85,00,000 Leon Motors Pvt. Ltd, Shantinagar Tel: 4622074 | 4622485

MITSUBISHI Models ASX 4WD GLX

79,00,000 1998 6CVT 150 197 190 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Lancer EX GLX

66,00,000 1998 6CVT 150 197 200 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

L200 Sportero 4WD 48,00,000 2477 NA 135 NA 175 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Double Cab L300 Minibus L

38,00,000

2477 5M 75 150 120 N Y NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Outlander

84,00,000

2360 6CVT 170 226 190 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Pajero GLS 3.0 V6

Pajero Sport GLX

1,30,00,000

2972 5M 185 267 175 Y NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

85,00,000 2477 5M 175 400 N/A Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Dugar Automobiles Pvt. Ltd, Balaju Tel: 4362992 | 4350912

NISSAN Models Navara LE

44,00,000 2488 6M 175 403 170 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

New Sunny 1.5

37,50,000

110

148

Tiida Sedan M

1598

110

153

170

X-Trail

88,00,000 1995 6A 150 320 185 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Nemlink Int’l Traders Pvt. Ltd, Panipokhari Tel: 4006528 | 4410323

PERODUA Models MYVI SX

27,00,000 1298 5M 86 116 NA N N Y N Y N Y N N

Viva 850

19,45,000

847 5M 53 76 NA Y N N N Y N Y N N Constant Business Group Pvt. Ltd, Naxal Tel: 2297455

PROTON Models Savvy

20,75,000 1149 5M 74 NA NA N N Y N N N Y N N

Persona 1.6

30,75,000 1597 5M 110 148 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N

Gen 2 - 1.6

30,50,000

www.autolife.com.np

1597

125

150

AUTOLIFE November 2012

TECHNICAL

Sunroof

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

Leather Seats

Steering Adjust

Climate Control

Remote Locking

ABS

Airbags

Top Speed (KMPH)

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Cubic Capacity (CC)

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRs)

NEW CAR BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Updated November 2012

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY Skoda M.A.W, Thapathali Tel: 4216835 | 4268788

SKODA

Models

Superb

71,90,000 to 73,90,000

1968

140

320

206

Fabia

22,95,000 to 28,45,000

1200

110

Laura 1.8

53,49,000 to 56,49,000

1798

118

250

225

Yeti 2.0

61,90,000 to 63,90,000

1968

140

320

210

Constant Business Group Pvt. Ltd, Naxal Tel: 2297455

SSANGYONG Models Korando Active AWD

50,75,000 1998 5M 175 360 180 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Rexton

59,75,000 2696 5M 160 340 180 Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y

Actyon Sports

34,75,000 1998 5M 140 310 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y Vijay Motors Pvt. Ltd, Naxal, KTM Tel: 4414158

Subaru Models Forester

90,00,000 2498 5M 230 320 NA Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N 95,00,000 (A/T) Sipradi Trading Pvt Ltd, Teku Tel: 4250610 | 4250612

TATA Models Aria Prestige

53,85,000 2179 5M 138 320 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Indica V2 Xeta GLS

15,95,000 1193 5M 64 100 145 N N N N N N N N N

Indica Vista Q-JET

22,25,000 to 26,95,000

1248

190

160

Indigo CS

19,45,000 to 23,95,000

1405

135

165

Indigo Manza Q-JET

28,45,000 to 31,45,000

1248

200

Nano

8,58,000 to 11,88,000

624

105

Safari Dicor

33,45,000 to 46,95,000

2179

138

320

Sumo Grande

29,85,000 to 34,85,000

2179

120

250

140

Sumo Gold

24,90,000 to 28,90,000

2956

223

175

Xenon XT 4WD

30,30,000

2183 5M 138 320 160 N N N N Y N Y N N

United Traders Syndicate, Sinamangal Tel: 4478301-5, 4478003

TOYOTA Models Avanza

39,95,000

1298 5M 90 120 150 Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N

Corolla

72,50,000

1598 5M 104 145 170 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Fortuner

96,60,000

2928 5M 160 343 170 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Land Cruiser Prado 16,500,000 2982 5M 129 343 170 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Dual AC Land Cruiser GX

Rav 4 Auto

100 AUTOLIFE

November 2012

N/A

4461 5M 214 430 190 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

97,80,000

2362 5M/4A 167 224 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

www.autolife.com.np

Yaris Hatchback

Yaris Sedan

Sunroof

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

Leather Seats

Steering Adjust

Climate Control

Remote Locking

ABS

Airbags

Top Speed (KMPH)

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Price (NRs)

TECHNICAL

Updated November 2012

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY

1298 5M 86 120 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N

54,50,000

1298 5M 86 120 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N Pooja International Pvt. Ltd, Panipokhari Tel: 4006605 | 4006606

VOLKSWAGEN Models Passat CC

75,50,000 to 87,00,000

1798

158

250

223

Golf

48,00,000

1595 5M 103 148 120 Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N

NEW CAR BUYER’S GUIDE

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Cubic Capacity (CC)

Updated April 2012

Passat A/T Loaded 87,00,000 1798 6A 158 250 220 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Polo 1.6

22,95,000 to 29,45,000

1598

103

153

185

Tiguan TDI

69,75,000 to 86,00,000

1964

138

320

Touareg 3.0D A/T (Full Option) Vento 1.6

1,35,00,000 2967 8A 241 550 220 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

31,95,000 to 37,95,000

1598

103

153

185

Constant Business Group Pvt. Ltd, Naxal Tel: 2297455

ZOTYE Models Zotye Nomad II 1.5L 24,75,000

1500 5M 105 135 145 N Y N N N N Y N N

Fuel Tank (Litre) 3.5

N/A

109

5.2

N/A

1330

N/A

113

5.2

N/A

1320

150

173

N/A

Mileage (kmpl)

Dry Weight (KG)

Ground Clearance (MM)

Wheelbase (MM)

Height (MM)

Length (MM)

Top Speed (KMPH)

Gears

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Cubic Capacity (CC)

102

Models

SYM

Shrestha Company Pvt. Ltd, Teku, Tel: 4251202 Magic 110 rr

1,59,900

110

N/A

7.2/6000 4

orbit II

1,79,900

125

N/A

8.33/6500 CVT 91 1905 1238

1325

jet4

1,99,900

125

N/A

8.6/7000

CVT

1900

1040

5,99,900

250

N/A

23.1/6000

140

2005

1050

wolf sb250ni

ktm duke

Hansraj Hulaschand & Co. Ltd Naxal, Tel: 4415462 200 DUKE

3,70,000 199.5 25/1000 19.2/800 6 135 N/A 810 1350 165 126

Anna Lifan

80 1890 1090 1205 n/A

NEW BIKE BUYER’S GUIDE

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRS)

Updated November 2012

COOL BOY

DUE

apollo

Annapurna Lifan Company Pvt. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4241521 1,55,900 149.4 13.5/8500 8.5/7500 5 95 N/A 830 1680 250 120 10.5 50 99,900

97 5.5/7500 6.6/5000 4 N/A N/A 750 1208 140 95

4 70

Universal Super Impex Jyatha Tole, Tel: 4227337 Models Orion RX 250T

3,16,000 249.4 17.5/7500 18/5500 5 105 N/A 930 1420 280 118 8 35

Orion RX 250M

3,16,000 249.4 17.5/7500 18/5500 5 105 N/A 880 1420 280 118 8 35

www.autolife.com.np

AUTOLIFE November 2012

101

Fuel Tank (Litre)

Mileage (kmpl)

Ground Clearance (MM)

Wheelbase (MM)

Dry Weight (KG)

Bajaj

Height (MM)

Length (MM)

Top Speed (KMPH)

Gears

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Cubic Capacity (CC)

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRS)

NEW BIKE BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Updated November 2012

140

Hansraj Hulaschand & Co. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4220094 | 4261200 Models Avenger 220

2,46,900

Discover 100 DTS-Si

1,42,900 94.38 7.5/7500 7.85/5000 5 90 N/A 800 1305 165 108 8

Discover 125 DTS-Si

1,63,900 (Disk) 124.6 11/8000 10.8/5500 5 N/A N/A 800 1305 165

110

Discover 150

1,72,900

144.8

13/7500

12.75/5500

110

N/A

800

1305

115

Platina 100

1,22,900

99.27

8/7500

8/5500

N/A

805

1275

160

100

Platina 1,38,900 125 DTS-Si

124.58

9.5/7000

11/5000

100

N/A

785

1275

160

100

BOXER 150

1,39,900

144.8

12/7500

12/5000

100

N/A

803

1285

N/A

122

Pulsar 150 DTSi

2,09,900

149.01

15.06/9000

12.5/6500

115

N/A

785

1320

160

120

Pulsar 180 DTSi

2,26,900

178.60

17/8500

14/6000

120

N/A

785

1345

165

130

Pulsar 220F

2,49,900

220

21/8500

19/7000

135

N/A

795

1350

165

140

Pulsar 220 nS

2,64,900

220

21/8500

19/7000

135

N/A

795

1350

165

140

219.89 19/8400 17.5/7000 5

120 N/A 710 1475

DAELIM

169

165

80 N/A

AKU Nepal Enterprises Kalimati, Tel: 4288339 | 4286018 Models Roadwin 150R

2,88,500

150 15/10600 12.5/8400 5

5,00,000

249 23/9000 19/8000 5 140 N/A 780 1380 150 160

Roadwin R250 FI

120 N/A 780 1380

Demak

150

135

N/A

15 N/A

Agni Incorporated Pvt. Ltd Uttar Dhoka, Tel: 4420964 Models Cougar 250

3,95,000

249 19/7500 N/A 5 N/A N/A 760 1480 140 140 14 40

2,38,000

150 13/8500 10/7500 5 N/A N/A 840 1380 270 120 8.5 50

DMX-R

DUCATI

Turbo Motors Trading Naxal,Tel: 4435720 Models Hypermotard 796

18,50,000

803 81/8000 74/6250 6 200 N/A 825 1455 N/A 155 12.5 N/A

Monster 696

16,80,000

696 80/9000 69/7750 6 N/A N/A 770 1450 N/A 160

N/A

Monster 796

18,50,000

803 87/8250 79/6250 6 220 N/A 800 1450 N/A 167

N/A

848 EVO

N/A

849.4 140/10500 98/9750 6 N/A N/A 830 1430 N/A

168

15.5 N/A

1198

N/A

1198.4 170/9750 131/8000 6 N/A N/A 820 1430 N/A

171

15.5 N/A

Multistrada 1200 S

N/A

1198.4

150 / 9250

118 / 7500

N/A

850

1530

N/A

192

N/A

SportsClassic GT1000

N/A

992

92 / 8000

90 / 6000

N/A

810

1425

N/A

185

N/A

GLOBAL

Jai Shambu Automotives Pvt. Ltd Ravi Bhawan, Tel: 4289933 | 4277049

Models

102 AUTOLIFE

G-100

1,21,000

7.2/8000

6.5/6000

N/A

1280

150

100

N/A

UFO 150

1,56,500

149.6

8.5/7500

9.2/6000

Auto

N/A

1275

135

100

N/A

Xpression+

1,48,994

124

10.5/8500

8.4/7500

N/A

1280

140

100

N/A

November 2012

www.autolife.com.np

Dry Weight (KG)

Fuel Tank (Litre)

Ground Clearance (MM)

Wheelbase (MM)

103

N/A

860

1375

280

115

VR 200H

3,49,000

197

19/7500

15/6000

105

N/A

860

1375

290

130

Hartford

Height (MM)

Length (MM)

12.5/7500

Gears

13.5/8500

Torque (NM)

149

Power (BHP)

2,99,000

Cubic Capacity (CC)

VR 150H

Price (NRS)

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

International Motor Pvt. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4265336 | 4265337

Models

Hero

Nepal General Marketing Pvt Ltd Jyoti Bhawan, Kantipath, Tel: 4225377 Models CBZ X-TREME 2,03,900 (DD) 149.2 14.2/8500 12.8/6500 5 110 N/A 800 1325 145 135 15 60.25 CD Deluxe

97.2

7.2/8000

7.5/5000

N/A

790

1230

165

100

10.5

Glamour 1,70,900(DSS FI)

124.8

9/7000

10.35/4000

N/A

775

1265

150

115

Hunk 2,01,900(DD)

149.2

14.2/8500

12.8/6500

110

N/A

795

1325

145

135

12.5

2,36,900

223

16.5/7000

18.3/6000

125

N/A

1355

150

135

2,91,900

223

17.5/7000

18.3/6000

130

N/A

1350

160

145

1.24,900 (Self)

Karizma R

Karizma ZMR

795 795

NEW BIKE BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Top Speed (KMPH)

Updated November 2012

Pleasure 1,38,900 102 7/7000 7.8/5000 Auto 80 N/A 750 1240 125 95 5.5 50

Splendor NXG

1,42,900

97.2

Splendor +

1,38,900

97.2 7.4/8000 7.2/5000 4

85 N/A 775 1230 160

110 10.5

Splendor Pro

1,42,900

97.2

Super Splendor

1,54,900

124.7 9.13/7000 10.35/4000 4

7.7/7500

7.6/7500

7.6/6000

8.04/4500

100

N/A

100 N/A

Honda

785

1230

160

100

775

1230

160

100

775

1235

150

110

Syakar Trading Company Pvt. Ltd, Kantipath, Tel: 4253522 | 4163501 | 4256199 Models

Activa

1,54,900

110

8/7500

8.8/5500

Auto

N/A

765

1238

145

100

5.3

Aviator 1,59,900 110 8/8000 8.82/5500 Auto 85 N/A 790 1256 145 95 6 52

CB Shine 1,74,900(DCA)

125

10.3/7500

10.9/5500

100

N/A

790

1265

175

110

CB Twister

1,66,900(DSS)

110

9/8000

9/6500

N/A

800

1262

180

100

CB Unicorn

2,05,900 (DSS)

110

13.2/8000

12.8/5500

115

N/A

790

1340

180

135

CB Unicorn Dazzler

2,12,900

150

14/8500

12.8/6500

120

N/A

780

1328

162

125

CBF Stunner

1,82,900

125

11/8000

11/6500

100

N/A

790

1271

173

120

NEW Dio

1,55,900

110

7/7000

N/A

762

1235

145

100

CBR 250RA

5,14,900

250

25.3/8500

23 7000

155

N/A

780

1370

145

150

CBR 600

20,50,000

600

118/13500

66/11250

240

N/A

820

1369

135

156

CB 600F Hornet

16,99,900

600

102/12000

63.510500

210

N/A

800

1435

135

CB 1000R

CBR1000RR

7.8/5500 Auto

183

22,00,000 1000 125/10000 100/8000 6 240 N/A 825 1445 130 213 17 15

26,00,000

1000 175/12000 112/8500 6

N/A N/A 820

1410 N/A

200

17.7

NXR150 BROS

5,25,000

150 14/8000 13.6/6000 5 N/A N/A 830 1353 245

120

N/A

XR250

6,25,000

250 23.3/7500 23.7/6000 6

135 11.5

N/A

www.autolife.com.np

140 N/A 880 1427 281

AUTOLIFE November 2012

103

Fuel Tank (Litre)

Mileage (kmpl)

160

N/A

647 72/9000 61/7250 6 190 N/A 790 1435 185 200

N/A

11,10,900

647

72/9000

61/7250

200

N/A

830

1435

165

200

N/A

RT 125D

4,68,900

124.5

13.5/10000

11/8000

N/A

790

1350

230

135

N/A

GV250

6,49,900

249 27/10500 22/7500 5 N/A N/A 710 1508 150 167

N/A

GV650P

13,50,000

249 80/9000 67/7250 5 N/A N/A 705 1700 160 220

N/A

160

100

Power (BHP)

Hyosung

Height (MM)

155

Length (MM)

Dry Weight (KG)

Ground Clearance (MM)

Wheelbase (MM)

Top Speed (KMPH)

N/A

Gears

Torque (NM)

160

Cubic Capacity (CC)

175

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRS)

NEW BIKE BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Updated November 2012

Batas Motors Pvt. Ltd Naxal, Tel: 4004626 | 4004627

Models

GT250N

6,20,900

249

GT250R

7,05,900

249 26.35/9000 21/6750 5

GT650N

10,65,900

GT650R

26.5/9000

21/6750

150

N/A

830

1435

150 N/A 830 1435

Kawasaki

Hansraj Hulaschand & Co. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4220094 | 4261200

Models

Ninja 250R

7,49,900

249 32/11000 22/8200 6 160 N/A 790 1400 135

Mahindra 2 Wheelers

SG Global Pvt. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4251202

Models

Duro Rodeo

N/A

124.6

N/A

124.6 8/7000 9/5500 Auto 85 N/A 760 1245 155 106 4.5 45

PIAGGIO

8/7500

9/5500

Auto

N/A

PIAGGIO

770

1290

155

Anna Automobile Pvt. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4229855

Models

BYQ125

1,48,000

126.3

9.7/8500

8.6/7000

N/A

1295

180

115

Citypard 150

1,55,000

149

11.7/8000

11/6000

N/A

870

1400

150

115

1,49,000

6.5

iShine 100

96.21

N/A 6.81/6000 Auto N/A N/A N/A 1340 130

Rieju

Tunche Trans Himalayan Trading Concern Bhrikuti Mandap, Tel: 4268169 Models Marathon 185

3,88,000

125

115

Marathon 185 Pro

4,67,000

125

120 N/A 870 1395 n/a 115

6.5 N/a

Marathon 450

11,00,000

449

N/A

N/A N/A 900 1485 N/A

8.5

4,70,000 230 N/A

Tango 250

N/A

870

1395

N/A

115

6.5

N/a

N/A

N/A 5 N/A N/A 840 N/A N/A 100 5.5 N/A

Royal Enfield

Dugar Brothers & Sons Pvt. Ltd Balaju, Tel: 4362992

Models Classic 350

4,11,000

346

20/5250

28/4000

N/A

800

1370

140

170

13.5

N/a

CLASSIC CHROME Classic 500 desert storm

5,35,000 4,95,000 5,15,000

499

27/5250

41.3/4000

130

N/A

800

1370

140

170

13.5

N/a

Electra Twin Spark

3,95,000

346

20/5250

28/4000

115

N/A

800

1370

140

170

13.5

N/a

3,35,000

346

18/5000

32/3000

100

N/A

760

1370

140

150

14.5

4,11,000

346

20/5250

28/4000

115

N/A

770

1370

140

170

15.5

STD350 UCE

Thunderbird Twin Spark

Suzuki

Ganesh Enterprises Kamalpokhari, Tel: 4422818 | 4423444 Models Access 125

104 AUTOLIFE

November 2012

1,59,888

124

8.5/7000

9.8/5000

Auto n/a

N/A

780

1250

160

110

www.autolife.com.np

N/a

Power (BHP)

Torque (NM)

Gears

Top Speed (KMPH)

Length (MM)

Height (MM)

Wheelbase (MM)

Ground Clearance (MM)

Dry Weight (KG)

Fuel Tank (Litre)

Mileage (kmpl)

Cubic Capacity (CC)

10/8000

10/7500

Auto

N/A

745

1255

120

110

7.8

N/a

Models

AN 125HK

n/a

124

GN125H

1,67,888 124 12/8000 10/7500 5 110 N/A 735 1280 175 107 10.3 35

GS150R

2,07,888 149.5 13.8/8500 13.4/6000 6 110 N/A 790 1340 160 135 15.5 60

slingshot

1,65,888 (disk)

124

8.5/8500

10/6000

100

N/A

790

1265

160

115

B-King

25,00,000

1340

181/9500

146/7200

240

N/A

805

1525

120

235

16.5

N/A

Burgman 400

16,50,000 400 34/7300 36.3/5800 Auto 150 N/A 710 1585 125 210 13.5 N/A

GZ250

6,25,000

249

20/8000

18.7/7000

N/A

680

1450

125

140

N/A

DR200SE

6,00,000

199

15/8500

17.7/7000

N/A

810

1405

260

115

Hayabusa

N/A

1340

197/9800

154/10200

296

N/A

805

1480

120

220

GSR600 16,00,000 (ABS)

599

93/12000

65/9600

215

N/A

785

1440

130

185

16.5

GSX650F

16,50,000

656

85/10500

62/8900

240

N/A

770

1470

125

220

GSX-R600

22,00,000

599

125/13500

68/11500

265

N/A

810

1400

130

180

TVS

NEW BIKE BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRS)

Updated November 2012

AIT Pvt. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4253661 | 4261330 Models Apache RTR 160

2,11,900

159.7

15.2/8500

13.1/6000

120

N/A

790

1300

180

120

Apache RTR 180

2,26,900

177.4

17/8500

15.5/6500

125

N/A

790

1326

180

120

Scooty Pep+

1,29,900

87.8

5/6500

5.8/4000 Auto

N/A

740

1230

135

Scooty Streak

1,34,922

87.8

5/6500

5.8/4000

Auto

N/A

740

1230

135

4.7

Star City 110

1,43,900

109.7

8.2/7500

8.1/5000

N/A

790

1240

165

Jive

1,52,889

109.7

8.4/7500

8.3/5500 Auto

N/A

780

1260

165

Wego

1,56,900

109.7

8/7500

N/A

770

1275

150

100

8/5500

Auto

Yamaha

Morang Auto Works Teku, Tel: 4261160 | 4268252 Models

Enticer DLX

1,81,900

123.7

11/8000

10.4/6500

4 n/a

N/A

710

1375

140

105

13.5

N/a

Fazer

2,21,900

153

14/7500

14/6000

115

N/A

790

1335

160

130

13.5

FZ-16

1,99,900

153

14/7500

14/6000

115

N/A

790

1335

160

125

FZ-S

2,16,900

153 14/7500 14/6000 5 115 N/A 790 1335 160 125

SS 125

1,73,900

123

11/7500

10.4/6500

110

N/A

795

1295

155

110

SZ-R 1,88,900 (disk)

153

12/7500

12.8/4500

105

N/A

802

1320

165

120

SZ-X

1,74,900

153

12/7500

12.8/4500

105

N/A

802

1320

165

120

YBR 110

1,42,900

106

7.5/7500

7.8/6000

100

N/A

795

1290

173

115

YBR 125 DX

1,60,900

123

10.8/7500

10.4/6500

105

N/A

795

1300

180

115

13.5

YZF R15 V2

3,22,900

149.8

17/8500

15/7500

135

N/A

790

1290

160

120

YZF-R6

20,47,900

599

122/14500 65.7/10500

6 n/a

N/A

850

1375

130

175

XJ6

15,17,900

600

78/10000

N/A

785

1440

140

190

17.3

www.autolife.com.np

60/6100

N/A

AUTOLIFE November 2012

105

As a pioneer and leader in Nepal's ICT industry, Worldlink has proudly served the nation for 17 years. Thanks to your trust and support, the services that we started from two computers in a small room have now been expanded to

1897 villages and 56 municipalities in 58 districts. Our success has inspired countless and instilled hope during turbulent times. We started with a dream to connect every Nepali with high quality and affordable telecommunication services, and today, we reaffirm this commitment to our nation.

106 AUTOLIFE

November 2012

www.autolife.com.np

AUTOLIFE November 2012

107

108 AUTOLIFE

November 2012