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TEST RIDE: LEMOTO LRF250 & LRF250M | TEST DRIVE: SUZUKI CELERIO X ROADTRIP: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (POWERED BY HYUNDAI) | FEATURE: ENGINE OIL 101, HOW TO BE A GOOD PILLION, FREESTYLE FRENZY IN THE DESERT, UNDERSTANDING THE CAR LANGUAGE | LEGENDS: THE LEGENDARY DUNLOPS | DIY: THE MECHANICS OF CHANGING OIL | IN CONVERSATION WITH: SALIL SHRESTHA (D-LIFESTYLES) | EVENTS: 10TH ENFIELD RENDEZVOUS AND POKER RUN | RIDING GEARS: AUTOLIFE HELMETS MAY/JUNE 2018 1 facebook.com/AutolifeNepal SR MEDIA
DUCATI PANIGALE V4
A New Opera The new Panigale V4 Speciale completes the range and takes the concept of Italian sports bikes to an extreme. An exclusive and dedicated livery;Â Ducati Performance titanium racing exhaust by Akrapovic for 226 hp of power;Â components in carbon and aluminium worked from the solid. ducati.com 187 NaranchaurMarg, Naxal Kathmandu Email: info@turbomotors.com.np Phone: 4435720, 9842040340 & 9811148959 2
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EDITORIAL M AY 2018 VOLUME 6 ISSU E 1 2
6TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
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This month we mark six years of service to our readers and clients, and it makes us proud to say that we at Autolife are just as passionate about our mission today as we were when we first started out. The mission being, to be the biggest automotive community in the country. We take pride in how far we’ve come and will always be grateful for the experience. Moving forward, our biggest achievement just came in before we ringed this 6th anniversary. It is also our pleasure to announce that SR Media (the publishing company of Autolife and TNM magazines) has now come under Kantipur Media Group’s umbrella. KMG’s fierce, bold and visionary leadership has positioned them as the leading media group in the country, and we believe Autolife will continue to flourish further, reaching new and unimaginable heights. We have big things in store for you in the days to come and we can’t wait to unveil them, but for now let’s hold our horses for the right time. However, all of this excitement has not changed how we approach our issues. As you may have noticed, we have the exclusive review of the All American Muscle the Ford Mustang GT gracing our cover; which perfectly reflects the notion of go big or go home in this anniversary issue. Lest we forget, we also had the chance to drive another exclusive Ford vehicle with the all new Ford Freestyle CUV in the Media Drive event held at Jaipur, India. Similarly, for the adventure that is to come, we also share our experience of the unforgettable trip to Chitwan with the Hyundai Creta and the i20 Active. Also, to keep you occupied we bring you our take on the fresh new motocross contenders from LeMoto and a test drive of the new stylish hatch in town the Suzuki Celerio X. There’s a lot more inside, and we do mean a lot more with feature articles regarding oil changes to a guide on how to be a better pillion. So, for the ones who have stuck by our sides through all these years, we cannot thank you enough. Without your love and appreciation, we would not have made it this far. Once again, thank you all. In the magazine industry six years is a lifetime but at Autolife, it’s only the first act. We can’t wait to see what the coming years will bring. Enjoy the issue.
HEAD OF BUSINESS & OPERATIONS EDITORIAL TEAM
Keyush Shrestha Ankit R. Tuladhar Prashant Manandhar Shaquille Ghotane Nishant Pradhan Shreeya Sangroula Nirveek PPJ Shah
CONTRIBUTORS
Kalash Tuladhar Ashish Sinha
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORIAL DESIGNER BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Gaurav Sunuwar Saurav Thapa Shrestha Rupesh Shrestha Biraj Shrestha
FOUNDERS/ADVISORS
Ajay Dhoj Thapa Shraddha Rajbhandari
EDITORIAL ADVISOR
Ayush Dhaubanjar
CTP & PRINT ScanPrint, Pulchowk, Tel: 01-5010801
DISTRIBUTION Kasthamandap Distributors, Tel: 01-4247241
GENERAL ENQUIRIES hello@autolife.com.np
EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES editorial@autolife.com.np
ADS AND MARKETING ENQUIRIES marketing@autolife.com.np
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.
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CONTENTS T H E H IGH LIGH TS
26 Feature
Freestyle Frenzy in the desert
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30 Feature
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Understanding the car language
34 Launchpad
SWM Motorcycles
38 Feature
How to be a good Pillion?
40 Test Ride
The Formidable Twins LeMoto LRF250 & LRF250M
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46 Legends
All or Nothing, The Legendary Dunlops
48 My Autolife
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Rupesh Lama, Head of Logistics at R.M Trading
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CONTENTS T H E H IGH LIGH TS
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Galloping to Fame, Ford Mustang GT
Test Drive
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Galloping to Fame, Ford Mustang GT
66 Test Drive
The Stylish Hatch, Suzuki Celerio X
72 Feature
Engine Oil 101
74 DIY
The mechanics of changing oil
76 Roadtrip
Welcome to the Jungle, Autoife Roadtrip powered by Hyundai
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82 In Conversation with:
Salil Shrestha, Marketing Officer at D-Life Styles Pvt. Ltd.
84 Riding Gears
Series 2: Helmets
90 Events
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10th Enfield Rendezvous and poker run, The Thump that Binds
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AUTOLIFE NEWS
2018 AUDI RS5 COUPE LAUNCHED IN INDIA The second generation of Audi RS5 Coupe has been launched in India. The 2018 RS5 Coupe is powered by a 2.9-liter bi-turbo V6 TFSI petrol engine which delivers a maximum power of 456 PS and a maximum torque of 600 Nm. This engine is powering all four wheels with Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard. The RS5 Coupe is the newest member in the Audi A5 family in India, joining the likes of Audi A5 Sedan, Cabriolet and the S5 Sportback. The 2018 RS5 comes with 19-inch wheels as standard, and also comes with the option of 20-inch alloys. RS emblems can be found on the seats, the steering wheels, the sill panel strips and on the gear lever. The RS5 also comes with virtual cockpit with digital display.
KAWASAKI INDIA LAUNCHES THE NEW NINJA 400 The styling of the new Kawasaki Ninja 400 is much sharper and sportier than its predecessor. The motorcycle features split-LED headlights which are its standout design element. It receives a part-analogue-part-digital instrument cluster with a large analogue tachometer taking center stage. 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 400 is powered by an all new 393cc twin cylinder, liquid cooled engine that produces 44.8 bhp peak power and 38 Nm torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission with slipper clutch as standard. Kawasaki Ninja 400 is built on a steel trellis frame, which helps in delivering unmatched riding dynamics. Ninja 400 gets inverted telescopic front forks and rear monoshock suspension setup. It gets a front disc with 310mm diameter which is the largest in its segment and ABS is offered as standard. Other design elements include a more muscular fuel tank with distinctive crease lines, a narrow tail section with LED tail lamp and mounted canister exhaust. With 45hp and 38Nm, the Kawasaki Ninja 400 will compete against the likes of Yamaha YZF-R3, Benelli 302R and the KTM RC 390 in India.
FACELIFT REVEALED: 2019 CHEVROLET CAMARO IN US Chevrolet’s muscle car, the Camaro, has received some major changes including the updated front and rear. The new variants are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a 3.6-liter V6 engine. The vehicles have a taller upper grille, and a restyled and more complex front fascia. The V8-powered SS models have received an even more controversial makeover, thanks to its single frame-style grille, which is bisected by a black bar and features an open “flow tie” Chevrolet emblem. At the rear, all Camaro models feature prominently redesigned taillights, revised rear bumpers, and
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new diffusers for RS and SS variants. Under the skin, the V8 Camaro can now be ordered with a 10-speed automatic in place of the current model’s eight-speeder. Those wanting to shift gears manually can still opt for a six-speed transmission. On the technology front, the updated Camaro range, now features the company’s latest Infotainment 3 system with either a 7.0-inch or 8.0inch touchscreen. Forward collision warning, a high-definition rear camera, and revised performance data recorder system are newly available.
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AUTOLIFE NEWS
2018 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID LAUNCHED IN INDIA
The 2018 version of the Camry Hybrid has been quietly launched by Toyota in India. For the 2018 version, the Camry Hybrid receives a few new changes to the interiors and new features. The car’s interior has been updated and now it includes touchscreen infotainment system with USB, Aux-in and Bluetooth technology, and all of it is paired with a 12 speaker music system. The Camry now comes equipped with new tan upholstery and faux wood trim for the dashboard, center console, arm rest and steering wheel. Under the hood, the Camry still remains the same with 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine. The engine produces 159 HP and 213 Nm of torque assisted by an electric motor that produces 142 HP and 270 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to an E-CVT and comes with two driving modes: Eco and EV where the vehicle is turn through the electric motor. There have not been many changes in the exterior and the safety features of the 2018 Camry. The model still continues to get chrome grilles with LED headlamps, LED fog lamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, wraparound tail lights and a chrome garnish on the boot lid. On the Safety front, the model includes nine airbags, vehicle stability control (VSC), ABS with EBD and brake assist, ISOFIX child safety, electronically controlled brake system(ECB) and hill start assist (HAS).
FORD FREESTYLE LAUNCHED IN NEPAL G.O Automobiles Pvt Ltd, authorized distributor of Ford Motors in Nepal, have launched their latest product, Ford Freestyle on the 1st of May at Labim Mall. The all new exciting Ford Freestyle was showcased at Labim Mall for three days from May 1-3, 2018, and to make it more extravagant, the launch was accompanied with various performances and acts by international artists. The Freestyle comes in as a fresh new contender in the CUV market here in Nepal and with the right pricing G.O. Automobiles plan to reign over the segment with the vehicle. The CUV runs on three-cylinder 1.2L TiVCT petrol engine from the Dragon series on offer, producing 96 PS of power and a 120 Nm of torque. The Freestyle also comes with 1.5L TDCi diesel engine that generates 100 PS of power and 215 Nm of torque. On the safety front, the Freestyle receives six airbags, high ground clearance, traction control system, anti-lock braking system with electronic brake force distribution and uniquely tuned EPAS. The Active Rollover Prevention (ARP) has also been introduced which is combined with Electronic Stability Control to make things even better. The Ford Freestyle will also feature Ford’s in-car infotainment system, SYNC 3 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen compatible with Apple Carplay and Android Smartphone. The CUV even comes loaded with features such as push button start, key-less entry, auto headlamps, rain-sensor wipers and 15-inch alloy wheels. Planning to reign over the CUV segment, astonishing prices have been set for all the 4 variants at offer: Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium +. The price quoted for each of the variants are Rs. 26.99 lakh for Ambiente, Rs. 28.50 lakh for Trend, 29.99 lakh for Titanium and 32.49 lakh for Titanium +.
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AUTOLIFE PRODUCT WATCH
The Renault Duster is one of the most popular compact SUVs in the Nepalese market and one of Renault’s top-selling model. Making its public debut at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor show, the 2018 Renault Duster comes with a host of new design and styling updates along with a bunch of new features.
RENAULT
DUSTER
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For the 2018 model, the entire front fascia of the Duster has gone through a massive makeover and the most prominent changes include a new grille with chrome embellishment. The grille is flanked by Renault’s signature LED daytime running lights divided into three sections and highlight the headlamp cluster. The fog lamp housing has also been redesigned on the new Duster. The front bonnet with sculpted crease line gives a rugged appearance to the new Duster. The front bumper has also been restyled and gets more plastic claddings that add to the SUV DNA. To add on to the SUV characteristics, the new Duster receives a larger scratch resistant front skid plate. Along the side, the new Duster features higher belt-line and the windscreen has also been pushed ahead by 100mm and is more steeply raked to offer a spacious cabin. The SUV also features new aluminum roof rails and new 17-inch alloy wheels with more prominent wheel arches. For the interior, only a few changes have been made; the SUV receives four traditional looking octagonal shaped vents and the design for the steering wheel has also gone through a slight change. Renault has redesigned many of the easy-to-access storage spaces to make travelling a lot easier, including the new 2.8-liter storage tray situated under the passenger seat. The new Renault Duster 2018 will feature two petrol and one diesel powertrains. The petrol engine options include a 1.2-litre turbo motor with a power output of 114 PS and 156 Nm torque, and a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated engine with 125 PS of power and 205 Nm of torque. The base model will feature the 1.2-litre engine mated to a 5-speed gearbox powering the front wheels whereas premium variants will feature a 6-speed gearbox with allwheel drive options.
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The new Duster carries over the off-roading credentials from its predecessors that has helped to make the model such a popular success with its 4x4 capabilities. There is a host of driver aids like multi-view camera, hill descent control, 4x4 monitor, and Renault’s Driving Eco2. The new Duster also comes with a host of new features such as automatic climate control, keyless entry, Blind Spot Warning and the vehicle even comes with remote engine start. The new Duster model sees substantial changes from its predecessors, making it stand out even more. Seeing how the recent Duster is doing in the market, it would be an understatement to say that the 2018 model would bring in a tough competition in the SUV segment.
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AUTOLIFE NEWS
HYUNDAI OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT 2018 Laxmi Intercontinental Pvt. Ltd., the sole authorized distributor of Hyundai cars, have organized its annual Hyundai Open Golf Tournament at Gokarnna Golf Resort on 27th & 28th April, 2018. Hyundai also sponsors different golf tournaments worldwide; one of them being the PFA tour, which is one of the world’s most prestigious tournament. Two formats have been set for the golfers competing at the Open tournament, “18 Hole” on stable fold format and ¾ Handicap format. With an approximate of 130 golfers competing in the tournament, it has been scheduled on Friday and Saturday to house the large number of participation. This year’s categories of prizes will be title winner (net), first runner-up, second runner-up, best gross, ladies’ winner, Hyundai owner’s category winner. Along with other categories like senior winner (60 and above), junior winner (17 years and below), longest drive, closest to the pin and most birdies. Special prizes will also be awarded, where the winner of the Hole in One will be awarded with Hyundai Grand i10 along with a special prize for the Hyundai Owners Category.
MAHINDRA’S E-SUPRO LAUNCHED IN NEPAL Agni Group’s subsidiary Agni Energy has recently inaugurated a Service Center and also launched Mahindra Supro Electric Passenger Van. The 8 seat capacity van has been set up in the Nepali market at a price of Rs. 24.15 Lakhs. Even though the van is powered by electricity, it delivers quite an impressive power. The e-Supro has a 25 KW capacity which is able to perform quite well in most of the routes of Nepal. The Supro is able to climb any type of inclined roads as well. The battery employed in this vehicle is a high-quality lithium battery, which on a full charge can be driven up to 106 km. The battery takes about 8 hours and 30 minutes to fully charge.
ISUZU MU-X LAUNCHED IN NEPAL Continental Trading Enterprises Pvt Ltd., authorized distributor of Isuzu motors in Nepal have launched a new SUV, Isuzu MU-X with a price tag of Rs. 1.09 crore. Isuzu MU-X has a 3.0 litre in-line 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine with DOHC setup and 16-valves that delivers 174 HP of power and 380 Nm of torque. The MU-X provides a ground clearance of 230 mm and has a 7 seat capacity. The front part of the SUV receives projector headlamp, fog-lamp, ORBM and power steering among other amazing features. The Isuzu MU-X has a six-way adjustable automatic seats and the middle segment of the seat can be folded to increase the boot space capacity from 230 liters to 670 liters.
The Supro is currently not available for purchase as the company are conducting road tests. It will only be available for sale after the completion of the road tests. Senior manager Pramod Bhandari stated that after the successful completion of the road tests the Supro will be good for various schools, colleges, corporate houses and travel agencies. According to the company, customers can buy the Supro on 35 percent down payment and 65 percent financing. Agni Energy first entered the electric vehicle business in 2010 with Mahindra Reva. Under this segment the company has launched e2o, e2o sportz and e2o plus, and now they have brought e-Supro in the Nepalese market. Looking at the positive response of the electric vehicle in the Nepalese market, the company has been trying to bring e-Supro to the market for the past 6 months.
On the safety front, the Isuzu MU-X receives dual air-bags, ABS, EBD, electronic security control and hill start features. A 10inch infotainment system, roof AC, roof sound system and cruise control are some of the other features that the MU-X has to offer. Entering into the competitive SUV market, the Isuzu MU-X will have to face off against Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Ford Endeavour.
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AUTOLIFE NEWS
PININFARINA BACK ON MANUFACTURING WITH MAHINDRA
Designing firm Pininfarina, which was used as outsourced car assembly work by companies like Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Cadillac, Peugeot, Maserati, Mitsubishi and many more has started a fullyfledged car manufacturing company known as Automobili Pininfarina. Mahindra has backed up this company with a $100 million investment, where the new luxury car brand will set itself apart by purely focusing on sustainable technologies, mainly electrics. Michael Perschke former Audi India chief, has confirmed that the company will start with the launch of an all-electric hyper car in 2020. Codenamed the PF-Zero, the hyper car is said to rival the Bugatti Chiron in terms of performance and style. Automobili Pininfarina will be leveraging in the design expertise and solutions of Pininfarina’s team in Europe. Rimac, Mahindra’s Formula E team and electric sports car manufacturer will provide the electric powertrain knowledge. Alongside Michael Perschke, who will be taking the helm at Automobili Pininfarina, former NEVS (National Electric Vehicle Sweden) executive Per Svantesson will perform as the company’s COO. Pininfarina will begin manufacturing cars again after a gap of almost a decade with the establishment of the new company.
RENAULT INAUGURATES NEW SHOWROOM IN NAXAL Advanced Automobiles PVT. Ltd., Renault’s authorized importer and distributor of Nepal has launched a new modern state-of-the-art showroom in Naxal, Kathmandu. Committed to provide the customers with optimum value for their purchase, the new showroom makes it easier for the customers to access Renault cars, spare parts, accessories and to provide quicker service. The showroom was inaugurated by Mr. Nikunj Agrawal and Mr. Naveen Mishra during a ceremony on 4th April, 2018. Advanced Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. is determined to provide high quality sales, service and spares to all its customers. They are extremely delighted to see the confidence shown by Nepalese customers in Renault, said Mr. Naveen Mishra, Head Export & Business Development at Groupe Renault.
Service Camp Organized by Nepal Lube Oil Limited and Gulf Lubricants It’s a hassle in our busy daily life when you have to travel far for something so simple. Henceforth, Nepal Lube Oil Limited in Association with Gulf Lubricants authorized distributor, Sayapatri Stores in Dhangadi performed a 2W Service camp which started from 9th of Baishak, 2075. This camp was carried out with a vision to promote local business and corporate social responsibility towards their first customer and their end customer. The service camp went on for 5 days in Roj Motorcycle Workshop for two wheelers. As for the four wheelers, passenger and private cars, motor oil service camp were initiated for 3 days at Shree Bir Betal Autoworkshop. Around 150 motorcycles were given the service and 70 passengers/private cars were serviced during this camp. To make this camp interesting, discounts on lubricants and spare parts were available and gift items to end consumers. This 9 day camp has created a vision that you can trust your local workshop that they can take good care of your automobiles.
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AUTOLIFE LAUNCHPAD
Suzuki Swift 2018
The Suzuki Swift has undoubtedly been one of the best-selling cars in Nepal. Showcased in the Auto Expo 2018, Suzuki’s showstopper, the all-new Swift, is on its way to Nepal. With numerous award under its belt since its initial launch in 2005, the new Suzuki Swift 2018 is third in its generation. The new Suzuki Swift is built on the 5th generation Heartect platform which is also the base for the likes of Baleno, Ignis and Swift Dzire. For Nepal, the petrol option of the new Swift will only be available. The evolutionary design of the new Swift has seen the biggest and most prominent change as compared to the older variants of model. Suzuki has made sure that the new Swift model looks sportier with new front and rear profile. The front fascia of the new Swift features a large hexagonal grille with all-black horizontal slats and a newly designed headlamp with projector lights and LED DRLs. The aggressively designed bumper with large circular fog lamps provide a striking look to the new swift. The side profile has received minimal changes in the new Suzuki Swift. The side profile looks identical to
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the second generation Swift, and also gets a floating roof design with the window frame mounted door handle which makes the design look clean and clutter-free. However, the rear section of the new swift has been revised with a compact tailgate, redesigned LED taillights, rear spoiler and revised rear bumper design. The new Swift gets the same engine but with the introduction of an AMT transmission. The 1.2-litre four-cylinder K-Series petrol engine produces 83 BHP of power and 114 Nm of peak torque and comes mated to 5-speed manual and an AMT gearbox. The new Suzuki Swift 2018 carries over the design changes on the interiors as well with the new flat-bottom steering wheel, twin-pod instrument cluster, touch-screen display on the center console and new layout for the dashboard. The car gets new fabric upholstery for the seats, improved legroom, headroom and shoulder room. The length of the new Suzuki Swift is 3,840 mm, width 1,735 mm, height 1,530 mm and wheelbase 2,450 mm. Â This makes it 10 mm shorter but 40 mm wider than its predecessor and the capacity of the boot has also been increased by 58 liters.
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AUTOLIFE FEATURE
For the 2018 model, the revamped Swift gets a complete makeover of the features and comes equipped with top notch safety equipment. The 2018 Swift features a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, leather wrapped multi-functional flat-bottom steering wheel, automatic climate control system, rear parking sensors and reverse camera, multi-information display (MID), engine start/stop button and keyless entry among others. And on the safety front the new Swift comes loaded with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts and Brake Assist as standard across the range and seat belts with pre-tensioner and force limiter. We certainly think that the new upgrades to the Swift will only make it more appreciable than it already is. Seeing how the older generations of Swift performed in the market, it certainly seems like the new one is only waiting to take the market by storm.
SPECIFICATIONS Engine: 1197 cc, VVT, K-series, 4 cylinder, 16-valve Maximum Power: 83 Bhp @ 6200 rpm Maximum Torque: 115 Nm @ 4000 rpm Overall length: 3840 mm Overall Width: 1735 mm Overall Height: 1530 mm Fuel Tank Capacity: 37 litres Front Suspension: MacPherson strut Rear Suspension: Torision Beam Ground Clearance: 163 mm
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AUTOLIFE FEATURE MOTOR SPORTS
FREESTYLE FRENZY IN THE DESERT
WORDS & PHOTOS: AL TEAM 26
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It’s not every day that we get to visit India to preview a new car. However with the grace of Ford Motor Company India and G.O. Automobiles Nepal, we got a chance to participate in the global ‘Go Freestyle’ event which was held at Jaipur, for the media launch of the much-anticipated Ford Freestyle. The all new Ford Freestyle is a CUV (Compact Utility Vehicle) which is based on the Figo hatchback but with an aggressive styling, bolder design and more equipment. We aren’t totally alien to these events though, before this, we at Autolife have been fortunate enough to be invited by Ford Motor Company India and G.O. Automobiles Nepal twice before this event. One was for the media event of the EcoSport held at Park Hyatt, Goa and the other being the Ford Aspire event at Trident, Udaipur. This time around, our stay was at the Marriott Jaipur. With being able to attend the ‘Go Freestyle’ event and having driven the Freestyle, here we present you with the highlights of both the event as well as the all new CUV from Ford. After a delayed flight and a memorable 5 hour drive from Delhi to the majestic city of Jaipur, we found ourselves at the venue in the evening of 5th April with three other media colleagues from Kantipur, The Himalayan Times and Nepal Travels. We checked into our rooms at the hotel and after a quick refreshment, everyone was called in for an extensive technical briefing on the Ford Freestyle at the lawn of the luxurious Marriott. A revolutionary product calls for an equally revolutionary unveiling. To start off, we must say that this event was
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A REVOLUTIONARY PRODUCT CALLS FOR AN EQUALLY REVOLUTIONARY UNVEILING. TO START OFF, WE MUST SAY THAT THIS EVENT WAS NOTHING LIKE THE USUAL PRESS RELEASE.
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nothing like the usual press release. The evening started with an icebreaker session where all the media people and Ford customers were made to play the Djembe, led and helped by the professionals. This was something to lighten up the mood for everyone and with an icebreaker like this all of us forgot all of our hassles. After the icebreaker session, the event continued with presentations from Ford India’s Managing Director, Mr. Anurag Mehrotra who briefed us about the all new Ford Freestyle and Mr. Manish Tikekar Director- Product Programs who explained the entire design language and the design philosophy applied to the Freestyle. They say that it’s always best to hear from people who know best and that what these presentations were all about. Everything about the Freestyle, from the first in class intelligent technology, Active Rollover Prevention (ARP), Ford’s in-car infotainment system and SYNC 3 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, was passionately explained with captivating audio/visual aid and that these explanations were so well detailed that it left the audience without any questions. The media briefing was followed by a lavish cocktail reception, with the executive members of the Ford team mingling with the invitees over drinks, snacks and dinner. Over this conversation the Ford India team were quite eager to know about how the Ford Freestyle would perform in our ultra-competitive Nepali market. Now having learned everything there was to know about the Freestyle, we called it a night, looking forward to tomorrow’s test drive session. AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018 27
The next day, two journalists were allotted one Ford Freestyle each, with the drive route and designated driver for each route clearly marked by the organizers. The cars were numbered serially and we had to drive accordingly in a convoy, with a Ford EcoSport as the Pilot car setting the pace up front. The 106 km drive from Marriott Jaipur to Sambhar Lake took us through a variety of terrains from traffic logged city roads, bumpy patches, fast two lane highways and narrow village routes giving us an ample amount of opportunity to get a feel of the car in various conditions. The Freestyle felt very easy to drive with the SUV like towering view from the inside and the peppy ready-to-move three-cylinder 1.2L TiVCT petrol engine from the Dragon series on offer producing 96 PS of power and a 120 Nm of torque. Though the 96 PS might not sound like much but considering a car of this proportion and it being powered by a 1.2 liter three cylinder engine the power it churns out seems pretty impressive.
The handling was pretty light and responsive which made the car feel very nimble to zip through tight spaces. 190mm of ground clearance which is claimed to be the best in class comes in really handy while tackling bad patches of roads. Ford has made sure to put safety on the top of the priority with first in class features like the ARP system, EPAS (Electronic Power Assisted Steering) and the hill launch assist. The ARP system works with Electronic Stability Control and applies brakes on relevant wheels to decrease engine torque and help prevent any potential rollover situations. The EPAS system is what give the steering a very light feeling that helps in the nimble nature of the car. While the hill launch assist makes sure that when you are stopped in an inclined angle you won’t roll back we trying
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to go up. The electronics will make sure that you don’t roll back while trying to go up. The titanium + model features up to 6 airbags, with the inclusion on TCS (Traction Control System), ABS (Antilock Braking System) and EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution). From our experience, we are pretty sure that the Freestyle will not only set a new benchmark in its segment, but will stand as a strong alternative for similarly priced cars in other segments too. Considering that the Nepali market is more inclined into buying CUVs, who would not want to have this crossover at a reasonable price! Now we can’t wait for it to launch in Nepal and put it through its paces on our roads for a detailed review.
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SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Displacement: 1194cc Transmission Type: 5-speed Manual Maximum Power: 96PS @ 6500 rpm Maximum Torque: 120NM @ 4250 rpm Engine Description: 3 incline Cylinder Compression Ratio: 11.2:1 Overall Length: 3954 mm Overall Width: 1737 mm Overall Height: 1570 mm Wheelbase: 2490 mm Kerb Weight: 1062 kg
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AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018 29
AUTOLIFE FEATURE EVENTS
UNDERSTANDING THE
CAR LANGUAGE
I NEED HELP
WORDS: ANKIT R. TULADHAR
They say for any relationship to prosper, a proper communication plays a vital role and that it can have a make it or break it effect. The relationship between man and machine is a sacred one and it shouldn’t be trifled with. But, somehow miscommunication always finds its way in and ruins it all, more so when the involved ones don’t even speak the same language. Thus for the relationship to be healthy, man must learn the language of cars in which it can tell you if something is not right through different ways with visual cues like check engine light and other audible noises it makes to signal that not everything is going great under the hood. These cues and signals if not noticed on time can cause a bigger problem and can even lead to a literal breaking point. To stop this from happening and to save Renault Trezor Concept the hassle, one must know these common issues and signals.
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THE THUMP:
The thumping sound when going over bumps or pot hole is mostly due to the shock absorbers not being able to cope up with its duty. When it bottoms it usually creates these type of sounds. Shock absorbers are a really important part of a car as it effects the handling and the comfort of the car when it’s not working properly. Shock absorbers can be very expensive to repair and replace. So, avoiding the big bumps and checking the shocks as soon as they start squeaking or making the thumping sound is advisable.
THE ENGINE RATTLE
This problem is not as easy to pin point the cause of the issue because there can be a lot of reasons for the rattling sound coming from the engine. When you hear this sound pray that it is just a loose bolt because when there is rattling inside the engine it signifies that something is seriously wrong with your engine and it could break down at any time. This is one of the sounds that you wish you don’t hear because it signifies something big is coming and is going to be a very expensive repair. When you get the slightest hint of a rattling engine make sure you take it to the workshop as soon as possible.
THE LOUD WHINE:
The loud whine that usually comes after you start up the car is associated to the fan belt or the timing belt. When the belt is worn out it will not be able to grip the camshaft pulley, thus the slipping sound is what creates the whining sound. The rotation of cam shaft is very important in the proper functioning of the engine. The cam shaft does the job of opening and closing the valves and also operates the pistons. So, when the cam belt is worn out it can cause the valves to not open and close on time which can cause the piston to collide with the pistons and bending or breaking the valves in the process. It can also damage the cylinder heads, so this issue can not be taken lightly; make sure that the moment you hear this type of whining sound coming from the engine get it checked as soon as possible.
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“
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAN AND MACHINE IS A SACRED ONE AND IT SHOULDN’T BE TRIFLED WITH
THE BUMP AND POP
Have you ever noticed that at times while driving your car it feels like there is no fuel passing to the engine and it jerks a lot? This can be a sign of the fuel pump/carburetor not being able to pump fuel to the engine or the sparkplugs not being able to burn the fuel being sent to the engine resulting in the loss of power at times. This can sometimes cause back firing, it is when the unburnt fuel is burnt in the exhaust chamber and there is popping sound when it burns. This shows that either the motors are choking for fuel or the spark plug is not being able to burn the fuel being sent. This issue can affect the power of your vehicle while also affecting the fuel economy. So, it is wise to get it checked. These are some of the common examples of your car trying to say that there is something wrong within the vehicle and that it should be sent to the workshop for a proper checkup. It is best if you do not procrastinate and just make matters worse than it already is, because trust me if you wait long enough for it to spread to other parts of the vehicle then you will be looking at one expensive repair bill in the future.
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AUTOLIFE LAUNCHPAD
SWM MOTORCYCLES GYAN GROUP INTRODUCES
IN NEPAL
Founded in 1971 in Italy, SWM began its journey with manufacturing enduro, trails and motocross motorcycles. Soon after its inception, SWM tasted an instant success on the race circuit, winning the 1972 Italian motocross championship in the 125cc category. Later, SWM went on to score a trials world title and several Italian championships in motocross and trails. What seemed like an instant success that would lead to amazing stardom in the motocross world, this success was only short-lived. Despite of all this, SWM wavered in the early 1980s and went into liquidation in 1983 and seemed like a lost legend. Now fast forwarding to three decades later, SWM received a new life and a hope of reasoning given by the Chinese two-wheeler manufacturer, Shineray in 2014
and showcased revamped new motorcycles at the 2014 EICMA in Milan, with six new dirt and street bikes ranging in size from 300cc to 650cc. As of now, with the Chinese funding, Ampelio Macchi, a former Cagiva, Husqvarna and Aprilia engineer is driving the resurgence of the SWM brand and is planning to take back the market by storm just as it did during its initial years. Gyan Group is bringing in the SWM brand in Nepal and are introducing an exciting fleet of three motorcycles; RS 300 R, Silver Vase 440 and Super Dual 650. It seems like SWM is going to take over with motorcycles in every segment, giving riders to choose from an enduro, a classic scrambler and an adventure tourer.
RS 300 R The RS 300 R comes in as an enduro segment motorcycle from the brand. Powering the RS 300 R is a 297.6cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valve, single cylinder engine. The motorcycle produces an impressive max power of 37 HP and is mated to 6-speed transmission. Kayaba suspension is used in the bike for extreme off-road conditions.
SPECIFICATION
Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valve, single cylinder Displacement: 297.6 cc Max. Power: 37.5 HP Transmission: 6-speed Suspension (Front/ Rear): Kayaba Fully Adjustable Forks 50 mm/ Kayaba Fully Adjustable Monoshock Absorber Dimension (L/W/H): 2268/820/1285 mm Wheelbase: 1495 mm Seat Height: 963 mm Ground Clearance: 300 mm Fuel Capacity: 7.19 litres
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SILVER VASE 440 The Silver Vase remains faithful to the street scrambler style. The scrambler is powered by a 445.3 cc, SOHC, 4-valve, single cylinder engine that delivers max power of 30 HP @ 7000 rpm and max torque of 33 Nm @ 5500 rpm. The motorcycle comes mated to a 5-speed transmission. Although Silver Vase is air-cooled, the engine does feature fuel injection.
SPECIFICATION:
Engine Type: Air/ Oil cooled, SOHC, 4-valve, single cylinder Displacement: 445.3 cc Max. Power: 30 HP @ 7000 rpm Max. Torque: 33 NM @ 5500 rpm Transmission: 5-speed Suspension (Front/ Rear): FastAce Telescopic Forks Fully Adjustable/ Dual Rear Shock Absorbers Dimension (L/W/H): 2142/813/1170 mm Wheelbase: 1441 mm Seat Height: 820 mm Ground Clearance: 191 mm Fuel Capacity: 23.5 litres
SUPER DUAL 650 The Super Dual has all the conventional elements of a capable adventure motorcycle. The motorcycle comes with aerodynamic design and windshield, long suspension travel and spoke wheels to complete the rugged look. Powering the Super Dual is a 600cc, single-cylinder, four-valve, DOHC, liquid-cooled engine that delivers 54 HP of max power and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
SPECIFICATION:
Engine Type: Liquid cooled, DOHC, 4-valve, single cylinder Displacement: 600 cc Max. Power: 54 HP Transmission: 6-speed Suspension (Front/ Rear): 50 mm Marzocchi Telescopic Hydraulic Forks Fully Adjustable/ Sach’s Fully Adjustable Single Rear Shock Absorber Dimension (L/W/H): 2240/905/1240 mm Wheelbase:1510 mm Seat Height: 860 mm Ground Clearance: 180 mm Fuel Capacity: 19 litres
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AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018 37
AUTOLIFE FEATURE
HOW TO
BE A
GOOD
pillion While riding a bike, the control of the motorcycle is with the rider but when the motorcycle contains a passenger, the actions of the person seated on the pillion seat matters a lot. A rider has to learn how to ride the motorcycle and has to pass the license test, whereas a pillion can be anyone that can just swing their legs on to the back seat. Everything changes with a double load; from the way the bike handles to the way it performs. So, it is important for any passenger on the pillion seat to be aware of this and learn to be a good passenger because an unaware and uninformed pillion rider may ruin the whole riding experience and can lead to deadly consequences.
Let’s start out with what a good pillion passenger is? As mentioned earlier, the actions of a pillion can determine the rideability of the motorcycle. So, first and foremost a good pillion needs to be someone who can trust the rider and their ability to ride. A good pillion passenger is someone who needs to be aware and go along with the ride. They have to be uid and not be a nuisance to the rider. If in case you are not comfortable with the ride or the rider, just communicate and maybe just take another mode of transportation.
WORDS: PRASHANT MANANDHAR
FIND YOUR FOOTING: Almost every motorcycle will have a fold-down passenger foot-pegs. Find where they are situated and get a proper footing on them and if you are confused just ask the rider. The trick here is to always have your feet on the foot pegs even during stops. Your footings can ever so slightly affect the balance of the motorcycle, so be careful of where your feet tread.
A good pillion passenger is someone who needs to be aware and go along with the ride
Not everyone is acquainted with the proper protocols to be a pillion but there are some pointers that can help you to be a better pillion rider. So, before you hitch a ride on your friends bike lets dive into some aspects that we think are of good advice to be a good pillion.
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ALWAYS GET ON FROM THE LEFT SIDE: Just like the rider always gets on from the left side with the stand on, a pillion must too get on from the left side. First always let the rider saddle the motorcycle properly before you get on so that they can hold the motorcycle to be stable.
DON’T MOVE AROUND EXESSIVELY: A two-wheeler is always sensitive to uneven weight distribution and if the pillion moves around unnecessarily, it will throw the motorcycle off balance. So, always be careful to not move around too much and if you are uncomfortable communicate to rider first and then move around to a position that is more comfortable.
ALWAYS BE ALERT: A pillion needs to be just as alert and aware as the rider and pay attention to what is on the road. Also, the pillion needs to be aware of things coming right ahead, be it a corner or a junction stop, so that the pillion doesn’t get shocked right at the moment and act in certain manners that could affect the ride experience. The pillion even needs to be aware of how the riders body is moving and needs allow for free agility of the rider to do swift maneuvers.
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NEVER PUT YOUR BODYWEIGHT ON THE RIDER: The pillion needs to aware that they aren’t putting their body weight onto the rider. This can cause ex-cessive stress and strain the rider leading to unpleasant ride experience for both. Do not rest your body on the back of the rider specially during braking, instead grab on to the grab rails or put your hands on the tank to avoid putting excessive pressure on the rider.
LEAN WITH RIDER: Motorcycles lean through corners, so to make sure that you don’t throw the motorcycle off balance, lean with the rider. You need to go with the flow of the rider to prevent any accidents from happening. If you pull away in the opposite direction, it will only make the motorcycle really difficult to steer and if you lean in too much, the motorcycle could just slide into an accident. So, its better to just go along with the rider and lean with them.
DON’T FALL ASLEEP OR BE TOTALLY DRUNK: This is more of a common sense, that if you would fall asleep, you might just cause hindrance to the rid-er or maybe you could just fall off the bike. It’s the same with being out right drunk as well, you can lose your balance and fall off.
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AUTOLIFE TEST RIDE
THE THE FORMIDABLE FORMIDABLE TWINS TWINS WORDS & PHOTOS: AL TEAM
LEMOTO LRF250 & LRF250M 40
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Motorcycles are such machines that can entice a thrill among riders and wake up their inner adrenaline junkies. Street riding has perks of its own, but for some one seeking to get on the adventurous side of things, sometimes, street motorcycles just don’t cut it and they are not just capable enough to provide them the thrill that they want. Motocross riding, thus, is something to consider to get into to explore that adventurous side. Motocross motorcycles have always been able to provide its riders with capabilities to conquer any kind of roads. Even in Nepal, we can see many people follow this cult of wanting to own a motocross styled motorcycle, some for aesthetic purposes and others for the outright raw performance that they deliver. There was once a time when there weren’t many options and brands to go to for in this segment, but as of now that has changed. There are more and more brands coming up and we certainly believe that this competition is proving to be good for the consumers. Stepping up fresh in the segment is the all new brand, Lemoto, brought to the country by Rai Motors Pvt. Ltd. facebook.com/AutolifeNepal
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AUTOLIFE TEST RIDE The LRF250 and LRF250M are motocross styled Enduro and Motard models offered by the British manufacturers, Lemoto. The translation in Italian for Lemoto is Motorcycle and the brand focuses on dirt bikes and small capacity motorcycles. This time around we got our hands on the twins and here we have put our thoughts on how both have performed. We took both the motorcycles out on a ride to Shivapuri, and with the drastically changing weather with all the unpredictable rain, the uphill roads were all covered in mud and debris, perfect for putting these machines to test.
DESIGN AND FEATURES A first glance is all it takes to show the imposing styling of the LRF twins. Both carry the same design cues and are offered in only one finish; red, blue and white. Even with all the bright colors the motorcycles seem to stand out with the vibrance that they resonate. The motorcycles stay true to motocross styling with a tall stance and light construction. Take a closer look and the whole finish is done with stickers, claimed to be from 3M. The handlebars are wide and set up high giving it a proper dirt bike feel. The only difference that you will notice between the two motorcycles are the tires which gives them a slight height difference which is almost negligible. The twin exhaust pipe set under the seats add to the aesthetic appeal of the motorcycles. Lemoto have decided to go with the philosophy of keeping things as minimalistic as possible on the features department. The motorcycles come with basic features such as disc brakes on both ends but misses out on necessities such as ABS, which might be apparent as being a motocross styled motorcycle. The motorcycles come equipped with an all-digital console with tachometer, speedometer and trip meter but doesn’t have a gear indicator or even a fuel indicator. However, the motorcycles come with both electric starter and a kick start. The bikes also come equipped with hand guards as standard.
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ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE Both the LRF250 and LRF250M are powered by the same 249.6cc engine. The motorcycles come loaded with a single cylinder, 4-stroke engine with a SOHC setup with 4 valves. With a compression ratio of 11.6:1, the 249.6cc engine on the twins produce maximum power of 34Hp at 9,500 rpm and maximum torque of 23Nm at 7,000 rpm. The LRF engine comes with liquid cooling and is mated to a 6-speed gear box. The engine specs on the motorcycles are impressive, taking into consideration a kerb weight of only 112kgs which means a really good power to weight ratio. But how do the motorcycles actually perform? The twins indeed have nice torque feel upfront but the power delivery response is a tad bit on the slower side of things; you don’t get the raw aggressive power output that you would expect from a 250cc motocross motorcycle. The gears seem to be really short but still would use a little more burst of acceleration through out the gears. The LRFs accelerate in decent manner but on uphill roads the torque on the motorcycle won’t let you down. These twins effortlessly pulled up the steep rough roads of Shivapuri. However, the engine did feel a little buzzy and heated up quite too often; also the lack of power could be felt. Overall, the performance was adequate enough so much so that it will not be intimidating to many riders.
BRAKING AND SUSPENSION For the braking duties, both the Enduro variant and the Motard variant get a 240mm disc at the front and a 240mm disc brake at the rear. The front brakes are really progressive and lack the initial bite but they do the work pretty well. However, the front doesn’t have all the stopping power required at high speeds; the brakes seemed to lose the bite at high speeds. The bikes could have been better using bigger diameter front brakes. Whereas, the rear brakes did offer adequate bite that you can actually lock up the rear tires with ease and slide your way through with the bike.
The engine specs on the motorcycles are impressive, taking into consideration a kerb weight of only 112kgs which means a really good power to weight ratio.
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Both the Enduo variant and the Motard variant come with upside down forks. These are fully adjustable for rebound and compression, with the forks measuring up to 910mm and a suspension travel of 275mm. As for the rear suspension, both the motorcycles come with a single shock absorber with piggyback adjustable rebound, compression and spring preload adjustments. The suspensions are carried out well on these motorcycles and give a plush feel, making the rideability much more enjoyable. Overall, the suspensions are well versed at dealing with undulations on any kind of terrain. AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018 43
COMFORT AND HANDLING At first, being on the taller side, getting on and off the motorcycles were of some hassle but once on the saddle everything else seemed comfortable. The seats are long and narrow having enough padding to ensure a comfortable ride. The handlebars are set up high and are significantly wide, giving the rider an upright seating positing with an imposing feel. Being a light weight motocross style motorcycle, it was pretty easy to be in full control of these twins even if they had a tall stance. The tires provided enough grip and wouldn’t slip and slide out of control, even for the Motard. These motorcycles were really easy to flick around and once you get used to how these twins handle, we are definitely positive you will be in for a joy ride.
VERDICT Many people have wanted to explore new places on a motorcycle to get that thrill of riding experience. The LRFs twins are now an addition to the market and they are just capable to be the companion to the explorer in the riders. These motorcycles aren’t as intimidating and will be something for new riders on which they can get adventurous with. Both the LRF250 and LRF250M comes with a price tag of Rs. 6,05,000/-. Overall, these twins will not disappoint and will be something to look forward to the growth of the motorcycle industry. With so many brands out there in the market, Lemoto is now another option, giving more choices to choose from to all the motorcycle enthusiasts.
“ A first glance is all it takes to show the imposing styling of the LRF twins.” A first glance is all it takes to show the imposing styling of the LRF twins. 44
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Specifications
Engine: Single cylinder, 4-stroke liquid cooled engine Timing System: SOHC 4-valve Displacement: 249.6cc Bore & Stroke: 77mm X 53.6mm Compression Ratio: 11.6:1 Max Power: 26 kW / 34 bhp @ 9500 RPM Max Torque: 23 Nm @ 7000 RPM Transmission: Constant Mesh, 6 speed, Claw actuated Wheelbase: 1400mm Overall Length: 2120mm
Overall Width: 810 mm Overall Height: 1250 mm for Enduro, 1170 mm for Motard Seat Height: 920 mm for Enduro, 900 mm for Motard (40 mm adjustable on both) Min. Ground Clearance: 320 mm for Enduro, 270 mm for Motard Dry Weight: 112 Kg (253. 53 lb) Fuel Tank Capacity: 8 L Tires: 80/100-21 and 110/100-18 Dunlop Tires for Enduro, 110/70-17 and 150/70-17 Pirelli Tires for Motard Brakes: 240mm front and back Price: Rs. 6,05,000/-
Contact:
Rai Motors Pvt. Ltd., Baluwatar (Next to Russian Embassy), Kathmandu Tel: 4410062, 4427970 Email: info@rcgroupnepal.com Website: www.rcgroupnepal.com facebook.com/AutolifeNepal
AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018 45
AUTOLIFE LEGENDS
Joey Dunlop was regarded as the second most influential icon in the racing industry after Valentino Rossi
all or nothing
THE LEGENDARY DUNLOPS COMPILED BY: ANKIT R. TULADHAR
H
Have you heard about the Ulster Grand Prix? No? The North West 200? No? Then you must have surely heard about the historic Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy). Yes, it is that race where an entire island is closed for a week for a breath taking race on the island roads. There are no separate track for the race, the race is held in the very same public roads of the Snaefell Mountain Course. With the first race taking place in 1907 it has a 100 years of history and the 2018 edition which will be held from the 26th May 2018 will be the 99th edition of the famous race. The Snaefell Mountain Course is a 37.73 mile (60.72 Km) long race. The most notable name that comes up as soon as we talk about Isle Of Man is the Dunlop family. They are not related to the tire company “Dunlop” by any means other than the fact that they share the same name and the fact that Michael Dunlop is sponsored by Dunlop tires. The Dunlop family are one of the most renowned families in the racing industry, with 4 of the family members being very famous racers. Out of the 4 the most famous and successful has to be William Joseph Dunlop popularly known as Joey Dunlop brother of Robert Dunlop. William Dunlop and Michael Dunlop are the sons of Robert Dunlop. Joey Dunlop has a record high 26 wins in the Isle OF Man TT race, 13 North West 200 wins and 24 Ulster GP wins under his belt. Joey Dunlop died in 2000 while leading a 125cc class race after crashing into a tree and dying on the spot. Robert Dunlop had a pretty successful stint at racing too winning 5 Isle OF Man TT races, 15 North West 200 titles and 9 Ulster GP championships during his time. Like his brother, Robert Dunlop also met his ill fate onboard a motorcycle in 2008 in the practice rounds of the 250cc class. Both William and Michael Dunlop the sons of Robert Dunlop were present the next day to take part in the race. In which Michael
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Michael is regarded as road racing undisputed current king and is keeping the legacy of the Dunlop name alive with his efforts
Dunlop was able to take home the win in the honor of his late father. William Dunlop was not as successful in the Isle Of Man TT as his father, uncle or his younger brother with zero wins. He did win 3 North West 200 races and 7 Ulster GP races. Michael Dunlop holds the record for the fast lap around the Snaefell Mountain Course (Isle Of Man Track) with the timing of 16 minutes 53.929 second set in the year of 2016. Michael has won 11 Isle Of Man TT races while winning 4 North West 200 races and 6 Ulster GP races. Michael is regarded as road racing undisputed current king and is keeping the legacy of the Dunlop name alive with his efforts. Joey Dunlop was regarded as the second most influential icon in the racing industry after Valentino Rossi. There were over 50,000 people present at his funeral mourning the loss of a legend. There is a statue of Joey Dunlop onboard his Honda overlooking the Isle Of Man circuit. Seeing his brother die Robert was devastated but, “Better being killed on a motorbike than lying for six months unwell and dying at the end of it,� were his exact words after the incident. William will be racing on board the Yamaha R1M and R6 machines in 2018. Michael Dunlop set the lap record on the 2016 BMW S1000RR but switched to Suzuki onboard the GSXR1000R for 2017 but is back to BMW for the 2018 season.
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AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018 47
AUTOLIFE MY AUTOLIFE
MY AUTOLIFE WITH:
RUPESH LAMA
HEAD OF LOGISTIC AT R.M. TRADING
WORDS: ANKIT R. TULADHAR PHOTOS: GAURAV XHOMPATE SUNUWAR
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Mr. Rupesh Lama, who looks after the logistics department for R. M. Trading, believes that apart from fitness the two major aspects of working out is to 1. Look good and 2. Is to increase your power. Mr. Rupesh Lama who is very dedicated in working out believes that this fact can be carried over to the auto world as well so he likes his automobiles to look good and have great performance. Mr. Lama goes the extra mile to make sure that he himself and his machines are always in top form from every aspect. So we sat down to have a chat with him about his Autolife.
How much of an auto enthusiast are you?
I have always loved anything with wheels from four wheelers to two wheelers, but I prefer the two wheelers more. I love going on rides and tend to do that on weekends mostly. I find peace when I’m behind my wheels so you can say I’m a pretty big auto enthusiast.
What is currently parked in your garage?
There are two primary vehicles as of now in my garage a Kia Sportage that I use as a daily driver and a commuter. The other vehicle is a BMW S1000RR that I recently purchased, I ride it sparingly on weekends or on some occasions.
What was your first encounter with driving and riding?
I learned driving in the Mazda 3, this was a long time back and I have been driving ever since and as I have stated earlier, I have owned 7 cars before the one that I am currently driving around. The first bike I learned to ride was on a Yamaha RX100. The legendary 2 stroke 100cc engine was a great platform for me to improve my riding skills before moving on to bigger and meaner machines.
Previously, how many vehicles have you owned?
As I have mentioned before I am a very big auto enthusiast, I have owned quite a lot of cars and bike. To be precise I have owned 7 cars and this is my 18th bike. I tend to change vehicles quite a lot. The very first bike that I owned was a 2008 CBR600RR after that I have changed 5 CBRs alone, the last one being a fully modified 2010 CBR600RR.
Do you prefer driving by yourself or do you have a driver?
This question to me feels like asking a carnivore whether it would like to have salad for dinner. Being such a big auto enthusiast I like to be in command behind my wheels. I know having drivers makes life much more convenient but that convenience will not make up to the sheer pleasure of driving by yourself.
In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of owning a premium set of wheels?
There are many advantages of owning a premium set of wheels such as the comfort, power, safety features, braking power, quality of the product and the looks of it to mention a few. There are equally a lot of disadvantages of owning premium vehicles, the main factor being the terrible road conditions of Nepal. Even though the vehicles are capable of doing so much more we are limited by the road conditions. Other cons include the occasional harassment by the traffic police and the rumors that fly around when you drive/ride around in an expensive vehicle. facebook.com/AutolifeNepal
Till date, on which car and bike have you had the best experience driving? The best driving experience that I have had on is the Land Rover Freelander 2, this is due to the comfort/luxury, power, ease of driving and safety features. Talking about bikes most people might think it’s the S1000RR but it was my 2010 CBR600RR that I had fully customized. There was a lot of emotion attached with that bike and I had the best riding experience on that bike.
If you had to choose, which car would you want to own as a dream car? My dream car is the Lamborghini Aventador! I would love to own and drive an Aventador in the near future. The crazy looks! The Crazy Sound of the naturally aspirated V12 engine! The crazy performance is what attracted me towards the Lamborghini Aventador.
What is one of the craziest things that you have done behind a steering wheel?
The craziest thing that I have done behind a steering wheel is drifting in an open ground for fun! And if you talk about bikes than it has to be the moment when the bike started to power wheelie due to the sheer power of the bike while riding it.
Where do you think is the best destination to drive/ ride in Nepal?
The road to Pokhara from Malekhu has to be one of the best roads to ride your bike while the road to Butwal is probably the best destination to go on your car in my opinion.
If you were given complete control of the country, what changes would you bring about in the automotive scene? The first thing that I would do if I had full control is apply strict driving/ riding rules to make it safer for everyone. I would rather open up tracks and riding/driving academy to improve riding/driving skills and go fast on a track rather than the public roads. The other thing would be lowering the import tax, if lowering the tax is not possible then I would make sure that the tax being collected is being put into making excellent roads for the public.
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MR. LAMA GOES THE EXTRA MILE TO MAKE SURE THAT HE HIMSELF AND HIS MACHINES ARE ALWAYS IN TOP FORM FROM EVERY ASPECT
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AUTOLIFE TEST DRIVE
GALLOPING
TO FAME
FORD MUSTANG GT
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THE FORD MUSTANG HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND REMAINS, A BIG, CHUNKY, ALMOST-PRACTICAL MUSCLE CAR POWERED BY A BIG, GRUMBLY V8 ENGINE AND NOW THE NEW MODERN MUSTANG IS MORE REFINED, RAPID AND REWARDING
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It seemed like a farfetched dream to see an iconic American muscle car roaming the narrow and pot hole filled streets of Kathmandu anytime soon. However Ford Nepal with the introduction of the Mustang GT have fulfilled the dreams of many to see this beast of a car in the flesh. It is a car whose name transcends beyond automotive enthusiasts and with its introduction here in Nepal it has become the talk of the town. The Mustang was first introduced in 1964 and since then there has been no looking back. With the Mustang gaining fame very early in its life, it went from strength to strength with new updates to keep it up to par or even better than its closest rivals. It was so successful that it single handedly created a new segment “The American Muscle Car” with the likes of Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger, all built to emulate the success of the Mustang. This is a car that is bought by the heart rather than the head. It looks spectacular and is head turning to say the least and driving it you will have a massive grin across your face. The Ford Mustang has always been, and remains, a big, chunky, almost-practical muscle car powered by a big, grumbly V8 engine and now the new modern Mustang is more refined, rapid and rewarding. We at Autolife had exclusive access to review this American metal and without any further ado let us take you to the main reason to read this article, to know how it was to drive the 5.0L V8 beast.
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THE EXTERIOR:
The Mustang looks every bit of a muscle car with the long bonnet and a fastback styled rear. Even though it has opted for a far more sleek and modern look, it pays homage to the Mustangs of old, with some styling cues still present from the past which makes it unmistakably still a Mustang. One of the first things that we noticed is how striking it looked in the yellow shade. When you are up-close with the vehicle there is some kind of aura coming out of the car that just pulls you towards it, like it has some sort of human magnet. The aggressive front end looked like it was ready to eat anything that dares to come in front of it. The projector headlight with three led strips look very menacing. A pacing horse, the iconic logo of the Mustang sits in the center of the grille with the long bonnet just adding to the aggressive stance of the car. The low slung nature makes it look that much sportier and the blacked out 19 inch rims just add to that feeling. The chrome 5.0 badging on the sides of the car clearly state what is underneath the long bonnet. Moving to the rear are the distinct three split LED tail lights of the Mustang and the big GT badge in the center. Below the two taillights is where the magic happens, with a dual exhaust setup, it starts up with a roar unlike any other. The V8 coming into life was better than the hottest drops in today’s music scene.
THE INTERIOR:
With the low slung body came the low slung seating position. The sporty seats hold you tightly so that you won’t move around while driving this car. The whole interior has a retro-modern theme to it and all the controls are ergonomically spot on. The dash, the steering wheel, the seats everything felt like it was ready to rip through the atmosphere in mind bending speeds. Everything has a premium feel to it as it should be when you are charging NRs. 1.69 crores for a car. The soft touch dashboard and the leather wrapped steering wheel gives a very premium feeling when you touch it. The seats are very comfortable and do a great job of holding you in place. There are two seats in the back but it’s meant for kids as a normal sized adult would just be able to squeeze in those seats. But even though we managed to squeeze in, it would be very uncomfortable to travel long distances that way. When you look through the front windshield you can see the massive bonnet in front to accommodate that 5.0L V8 engine. There are some blind spots due to the coupe styling and the car is quite long and wide for our narrow roads, so you have to have full concentration while driving this machine. Also the ground clearance might be another factor that you will have to be wary of while driving this car.
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EVEN THOUGH IT HAS OPTED FOR A FAR MORE SLEEK AND MODERN LOOK IT PAYS HOMAGE TO THE MUSTANGS OF OLD WITH SOME STYLING CUES STILL PRESENT FROM THE PAST
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THE PERFORMANCE
The main point of the Mustang is performance of its 5.0L V8 which produces a staggering 460 PS of power and 530 Nm of torque. The power is present even from the low rpms and the torque is very evident. The 530 Nm of torque is felt from the get go and it is so much that you can start rolling from the second gear without any hiccup. The Mustang can get to 100 KMPH in 4.5 seconds and the top speed of the Mustang is electronically limited to 155 MPH (250 KMPH) due to rules and regulations. This monstrosity of an engine, paired with a six speed manual gear box meant ultimate driving pleasure. Ford really nailed the gearbox on the Mustang as the 6 speed unit is very smooth and the fact that the gearbox is a short throw unit means that the shifts are effortless and very fast. On top of that add the fact that the Mustang is a RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) vehicle it meant that you can wreak havoc with this combination, the moment you push the accelerator hard it pins you to your seat and if you turn off the traction control then it’s just an open invitation for the rear tires to break traction and move sideways. To stop this car they have opted to fit the Brembo six piston calipers with a 15 inch disc in the front and a 13.8 inch disc in the rear wheel. The Brembo calipers do their job exceptionally and match the performance of the engine.
THE VERDICT
As we said earlier the Mustang is a heart-over- head car and if you have NRs. 1.69 crores of spare cash lying around and you want something that will give you sheer driving pleasure and thrill every time you take it out than just go for it. There isn’t anything else on offer in the market that will give you the thrill, which this car can. That is if you have other cars that are more practical to drive for family trips and going on rough patches of the roads. If that is the case, then you will be more than happy with the Mustang but if you are planning to drive it on a daily basis then it will prove to be very heavy on your wallet due to the poor fuel economy. A sports car’s main priority isn’t to be very practical, its main agenda is to provide the best driving experience possible. So if you will look for practical aspects in this car then be ready to be disappointed. However the boot is pretty big for a sports car and can fit a lot of luggage. If there is the need then the rear seats can be folded down to open up even more cargo space! However the awkward opening space of the boot means that you will have to figure out how to squeeze in the luggage in the first place. The Mustang is a car unlike any other in the Nepali market and Ford has ticked all the right boxes that are relevant for a modern muscle car. It is surreal to see a thoroughbred American muscle car in Nepal and this car will surely leave a mark in the Nepali automotive industry and can prove to be the harbinger of other iconic sports cars.
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SPECIFICATION: Engine: 5.0L Naturally Aspirated V8 Transmission: 6 Speed manual gear box Max Power: 460 PS Max Torque: 530 Nm Top Speed: 250 KMPH (electronically limited) Brakes: 15-inch disc (Front) 13.8-inch disc (Rear) 6 piston Brembo Calipers Rims: 19-inch Alloy Price: Rs. 1,69,00,000/- (Introductory Price)
CONTANT:
G.O. Automobiles Private Limited PHONE: 01-4244254, 01-4257001 EMAIL: info@ford.com.np WEBSITE:www.ford.com.np
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NEPAL’S BIGGEST AUTOMOBILE COMMUNITY
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AUTOLIFE PRODUCT WATCH
TOYOTA
YARIS 2018
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The Toyota Yaris has been prominently available in the market since 1999 but it has only seen slight changes and updates through these past years. The Yaris has always been known in the market for its affordability and reliability, and as a car that comes with more standard features than many rival models and even includes standard active safety technology. The new 2018 model brings European styling cues with a more aggressive and sporty facade. Beyond the facelift, we can even see some tech updates and added standard features; the refreshed Yaris remains quite similar to the outgoing models. The Japanese auto giant finally unveiled the Toyota
Yaris sedan at the Auto Expo 2018.
The Toyota Yaris has been prominently available in the market since 1999 but it has only seen slight changes and updates through these past years. The Yaris has always been known in the market for its affordability and reliability, and as a car that comes with more standard features than many rival models and even includes standard active safety technology. The new 2018 model brings European styling cues with a more aggressive
and sporty facade. Beyond the facelift, we can even see some tech updates and added standard features; the refreshed Yaris remains quite similar to the outgoing models. The Japanese auto giant finally unveiled the Toyota Yaris sedan at the Auto Expo 2018.
AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018
The 2018 Yaris is receiving a bunch of first in the segment features including 7 airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, gesture control for the audio, faux leather seats with power adjustable driver-side seat, a roofmounted air recirculation vent with LED highlight for rear passengers, parking sensors up front, cruise control, and disc brakes on all wheels. The all-new Toyota Yaris will be powered by a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, DOHC, EFi petrol engine which delivers max power of 107 PS at 6000rpm and 140 NM of max torque at
The 2018 Yaris is receiving a bunch of first in the segment features including 7 airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, gesture control for the
4200rpm which is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed CVT. The automatic transmission will be available on the Yaris from the base J variant onwards, however, the steering-mounted paddle shifters will be available on the top VX variant only. On the outside, the 2018 Yaris features a number of notable changes. The L and LE trims come with a new bold front fascia as well as a new front grille with chrome accents. The SE trim offers a sporty front fascia with a new piano black mesh pattern grille surround and chrome accents. The 2018 Yaris SE also has 16-inch machined alloy wheels with dark accents. All new Yaris models feature
audio, faux leather seats with power adjustable driver-side seat, a roofmounted air recirculation vent with LED highlight for rear passengers, parking sensors up front, cruise control, and disc brakes on all wheels. The all-new Toyota Yaris will be powered by a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, DOHC, EFi petrol engine which delivers max power of 107 PS at 6000rpm and 140 NM of max torque
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at 4200rpm which is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed CVT. The automatic transmission will be available on the Yaris from the base J variant onwards, however, the steeringmounted paddle shifters will be available on the top VX variant only. On the outside, the 2018 Yaris features a number of notable changes. The L and LE trims come with a new bold front fascia as well as a new front grille with chrome accents. The SE trim offers a sporty front fascia with a new piano black mesh pattern grille surround and chrome accents. The 2018 Yaris SE also has 16-inch machined alloy wheels with dark accents. All new Yaris models feature a redesigned rear end with wider horizontal tail
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lamps that are integrated into the rear hatch. Along with a bunch of first in the segment features, it also receives ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) standard across all variants, front and rear parking sensors, 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display, stability control, auto projector headlamps, rear camera, touchscreen navigation with smartphone connectivity, hill start assist, vehicle stability control, paddle shift on the CVT, steering mounted controls, rear power outlets and start-stop button. When launched it is expected to go up against the likes of Hyundai Verna, Maruti Ciaz, Honda City and Volkswagen Polo.
SPECIFICATIONS Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, DOHC, EFi petrol Maximum Power: 107 PS at 6000rpm Maximum Torque: 140 NM at 4200rpm Overall length: 4425 mm Overall Width: 1730 mm Overall Height: 1475 mm Fuel Tank Capacity: 42 liters Front Suspension: Mcpherson strut with stabilizer Rear Suspension: Torsion Beam with coil springs
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AUTOLIFE TEST DRIVE
SUZUKI CELERIOX
WORDS & PHOTOS: AL TEAM
THE STYLISH HATCH
Maruti Suzuki Concept Future S
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Have you ever had that feeling where you wish you had a smaller car just so that you could fit into that narrow street or squeeze into that tight parking space? The combination of narrow roads and high number of automobiles plying in the streets is a deadly combo leading to more traffic jam. The urge to be traveling in a small compact car is very strong at times like these. The small hatchback class is actually in a very good spot right now. It currently has two markets in its sight, the first one are the people looking to shop for their first small budget car and the other being the second car buyers for their everyday commuting. This trend is catching up very fast and people are understanding the benefits of having a small hatch at their garage. This is really helping in boosting the sales of these small hatches. The Celerio X is looking to take the market by storm with new updates, focusing mainly on the styling front to attract buyers who want a dash of style in the everyday hatchback. With the market already filled to the brim with a lot of competition from other brands, can the Celerio X make the cut? We find out in this review.
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THE DESIGN LOOKS LIKE IT WAS MAINLY FOCUSED TOWARDS ATTRACTING THE YOUNGER CROWD.
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THE EXTERIOR
Visually the only notable changes to the front of the Celerio X is the black highlights under the headlights and around the fog lamps, it gets a slightly different looking front grille than the normal Celerio. Moving to the sides, this is where there are some notable changes like the black cladding on the wheel arches and the door panels. The Outer Rear View Mirror (ORVM) has been finished in black unlike the body color finish on the Celerio. The 14 inch alloy rims are also finished in black to give it a much sportier look. On the roof, a black roof rail is added to give it a little bigger feeling. Looking at it from the rear portion we can see that the rear bumper is different. The Celerio had a one piece bumper color matched to the body while the Celerio X has kind of a split two piece bumper, the upper portion is matched to the body color while the lower portion is blacked out. There is also the addition of rear light reflectors on the new bumper along with a silver skid plate like effect. These are the main exterior changes on the Celerio X, it is however available in 5 different yet attractive colors. The design looks like it was mainly focused towards attracting the younger crowd with its bold design.
THE INTERIOR
The interior is mostly untouched and carried over from the Celerio. The main difference being the orange highlights on the seats and a triangular patterns on all the seats. Other than the seats, the Celerio X has an all-black interior to give it more of a sporty appeal. If you expect it to have luxurious amounts of space than you are wrong. The Celerio X is a small vehicle and it is pretty evident while you sit inside the car. The dash is made out of hard plastic and there is no soft touch materials used in the dash. This has been done to keep the manufacturing costs of the Celerio X down and price it aggressively. The space available in the cabin is pretty tight but considering the size of the vehicle I must say it is pretty good. The seats are decent and provide adequate support, however they are a little thinly padded so if you have a tall passenger sitting behind you then you will feel their leg rubbing against your back rest. Like mentioned earlier, taller passengers sitting in the back might have a little issue with the leg room available and the car being quite narrow, three
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THE CELERIO X HAS AN ALL-BLACK INTERIOR TO GIVE IT MORE OF A SPORTY APPEAL
at the back will be a tight squeeze. The boot space is pretty decent though with 235 liters of space available. Interior space is an important part when buying a car but when buying a Compact crossover hatch you have to keep in mind that you will be compromising on the space, the car is designed to be small and very practical so it offers what it was set to do. The Celerio X comes equipped with Bluetooth feature so playing songs and taking calls will be easier on the move. The steering wheel also has the audio controls mounted on them to make it more efficient. It has manual A/C and it does its job very well, the A/C kept us cool from the increasing heat of Kathmandu city.
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The Performance
Powering the Celerio X is a three cylinder 1L K10B petrol engine putting out 67 Bhp @ 6000 RPM and 90 Nm of torque @ 3500 rpm, these figures might not look like a lot but when you look at the kerb weight being only 850 Kgs it has a pretty decent power to weight ratio. The 3 Cylinder petrol engine feels very lively and is happy to rev but is a tad bit on the nosier side and that noise does make into the cabin too. This noise only gets prominent when you are in the higher rev ranges otherwise it is not very loud. There are two gear box options that you can choose from, the 5 speed manual gearbox and the AMT automatic gearbox. The vehicle we reviewed was the manual car and the gearbox was pretty impressive. It was very light and smooth to operate, making shifting very easy even when you have to constantly change gears. The clutch pedal was pretty light to making life in stop and go traffic a little more bearable. However if you want to commute in a more relaxed way then you should opt for the automatic version of the car with Suzuki’s Auto Gear Shift (AGS) technology. Again coming back to the point of this vehicle, it is not a hardcore performance machine rather a practical everyday commuter. The claimed mileage for both the manual and the automatic variants is a very respectable 23.1 KM/PL (Kilometer Per Liter.). We couldn’t do a real life test of the mileage it was returning but checking at the kilometers driven and the amount of fuel that had been used we know for a fact that this is a very efficient car.
The Verdict
The Celerio X is focused to those who want a little style while commuting in possibly the most efficient way. The Celerio X is only available in its top spec variant the ZXI (O) and it is priced at Rs. 26,99,000/- Even at this price point the Celerio X comes with ABS (Anti BrakeLock System) and two airbags for the front. The Celerio X is a very good option for the people who are looking to buy a small compact hatchback and want a bit of style with it. With good mileage and decent driving experience the Celerio X should be definitely on your list of cars to look at in this segment.
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SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 3 cylinder K10B Displacement: 998cc Max Power: 67 Bhp @ 6000 RPM Max Torque: 90 Nm @ 3500 RPM Transmission: 5 Speed MT / AMT Kerb Weight: 850 Kgs Tyres: 165/70 R14 Brakes: Ventilated disc (Front)/ Drum (Rear) Boot space: 235 liters Fuel Tank: 35 liters Ground Clearance: 165 mm Price: Rs. 26,99,000/CONTACT: CG | Motocorp PHONE: 01-5547165, 01-5547166 EMAIL: info@chaudharygroup.com WEBSITE:www.chaudharygroup.com
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AUTOLIFE FEATURE
ENGINE OIL 101 WORDS: KALASH TULADHAR
The engine, the heart of any automobile, is a collection of synchronized moving metal parts that have to function under strenuous conditions for an extended amount of time. The basic function of an engine is to produce power for locomotion. It does that by producing a combustible mixture of air and fuel within a complex engineering marvel put in a way a five-year-old would understand. Underneath the hood, lies thousands of moving parts that are interconnected to the pistons, the valves, and the gearbox. All these parts moving around with tight tolerances, and controlled explosions happening thousands of times a minute, it’s a miracle that these parts don’t wear out immediately or overheat and seize up. This magic is performed by an underdog, the engine oil.
WHAT IS AN ENGINE OIL?
There are many brands of engine oils to choose from on the market, but they are almost the same in composition. An engine oil is made up of a base oil that is enhanced with chemical additives that give it different properties suitable for use in an engine. Some of the commonly found additives include anti-wear additives that help reduce wear and tear inside an engine, detergents that clean up the insides of the engine, rust inhibitors that fight off corrosion, and viscosity index improvers that help the oil retain its consistency. Lubricating the engine is not the only function of engine oil, it also acts as the housekeeper inside the engine by cleaning up the by-products of combustion that are left on the cylinder walls and also carry away some of the heat produced by the combustion process.
WHAT IS VISCOSITY?
Normally when we go buy engine oil for
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a vehicle due for an oil change, we refer to the manufacturer provided operator’s manual. Under the oil specifications sections, you will see the term viscosity. The recommended viscosity for a particular vehicle would be listed as something along the lines of 10W-40. We then go to the store looking for oil with that number and get an oil within our budget. But what do those numbers actually mean? Ok, let’s think of engine oil as just some ordinary thick fluid that is capable of pouring out of a bottle easily at room temperature; for example, a bottle of coconut hair oil. On normal days, coconut hair oil pours out easily. Now take that same bottle on a cold winter day or put it in the refrigerator for a few hours, we find that everything inside has solidified to the consistency of soft butter. Viscosity is exactly that, the ability of a fluid’s resistance to flow. Water is a low viscosity fluid, honey is a high viscosity fluid, coconut hair oil is a low viscosity fluid at warm temperatures whereas it is a high viscosity fluid at
cold temperatures. Similarly, engine oil is also a high viscosity fluid during colder temperatures and low viscosity fluid during higher engine operating temperatures. For ideal protection of the engine, we can’t have the oil behave like butter and remain solid during cold mornings and have extremely low viscosity during high temperatures; we need it to remain as consistent as possible over a wide range of temperatures. These are maintained by viscosity index improvers. Their sole purpose is to make oil behave like a low viscosity fluid at cold temperatures and maintain that viscosity level at higher temperatures so that it can perform as if the temperature inside the engine hasn’t changed much. Looking at Figure 1, we can see that a 10W-40 oil has an operating temperature range from -20°C to 50°C, it is because of this wide usable range most manufacturers’ recommended oil weight happens to be 10W-40. So from the above figure we can see that for a moderate climate of Kathmandu, we can get away facebook.com/AutolifeNepal
by using 5W-40 to 15W-50 weight oils without having any negative impact on the engine, although it is best to stick to the manufacturers’ recommended weight specification. But for a hotter climate like the Terai region, a 5W-40 weight oil would not be necessary as the winter temperatures do not drop that far.
synthetic oils and a superior level of protection for the engine, synthetic oils seem to be the logical way to go when in a dilemma between choosing mineral oil vs synthetic oil.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING OIL?
So with all that information at hand, we must be at a better position to make a judgement call when choosing oil for our next service. There are however a few technical terms we need to look at before we go about buying engine oil. If we look at the engine oil specifications provided in the owner’s manual there are a few details, we need to take into consideration. Mainly engine oils for cars and motorcycles are totally different products. Motorcycle engine oils have the 4T designation mentioned visibly (for use in motorcycles with gearboxes that are not a separate unit from the engine itself like in Harley Davidson motorcycles). This is because the wet clutch systems in normal motorcycle engines function in an oil bath with oil that is designed to produce enough friction between the clutch plates during operation. Not using it will result in reduced performance of the clutch system to even premature clutch wear. Let’s take a look at a motorcycle engine oil specification found in an owner’s manual (this is only for reference, please refer to your own manual) Recommended Engine Oil
4-stroke oil (USA and Canada) or equivalent motor oil API service classification: SG or Higher JASO T 903 standard: MA Viscosity: SAE 10W-30
Figure 1: Suitable temperatures for different multi-grade oils
SYNTHETIC OR MINERAL?
Many of us enthusiasts might have heard that regular mineral based engine oils are inferior to synthetic blends, or the rumour that once you put synthetic oil in your engine you can’t go back to using regular oil again without performing an engine flush. Is it really true? Is synthetic oil better than mineral oil? Let’s find out… Without getting too technical, mineral oils used in engines are made of petroleum hydrocarbons derived from crude oil and is then mixed with additives to make it perform better. Since mineral oil is derived from natural substances, the size of the molecules varies. Viscosity is the result of these molecules; the bigger the molecules the thicker the oil and vice versa. Since the molecules vary in size, the average sizes determine the advertised viscosity of the oil. As the duration of the usage increases, the molecules get smaller over time, and thus results in a thinner oil after a certain time of use. Unlike mineral oils, synthetic oils are manufactured in such a way that the size of the molecules are consistent and therefore give predictable results. Which means synthetic oils have better mechanical properties at high and low temperatures. With these properties already inherent, they need less additives which are greatly affected by the higher operating temperatures inside the engine resulting in a lubricant that does not degrade as much or as fast as conventional mineral oils. This is evident from tests done on synthetic oils and mineral oils, and are also advertised by the manufacturers as extended use oils with oil change intervals as far as 24,000km. It may seem that synthetic oils cost more than their mineral counterparts, but a quick calculation will suggest that with the increased range offered by facebook.com/AutolifeNepal
American Petroleum Institute (API) sets the minimum requirements for the performance of engine oils. The current classifications are SJ, SL, SM, SN. Category
Status
Service
SN
Current
Introduced in October 2010, designed to provide improved high temperature deposit protection for pistons, more stringent sludge control, and seal compatibility. API SN with Resource Conserving matches ILSAC GF-5 by combining API SN performance with improved fuel economy, turbocharger protection, emission control system compatibility, and protection of engine operating on ethanol-contatining fuels upto E85
SM
Current
For 2010 and older automotive engines
SL
Current
For 2004 and older automotive engines
SG
Current
For 2001 and older automotive engines
The next specification JASO MA is created by Japanese Automotive Standards Organization (JASO) for specific use in motorcycles with wet clutches and MB for use in engines with Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) found in scooters. The MA standard is further classified into MA1 and MA2. In my personal and professional environment, I have tried and tested numerous manufacturers’ various offerings of oils over the years. I’ve bought in to many marketing gimmicks just for the fun of it and I’ve experimented on a few of them to satisfy my own curiosity. Out of all of them, one brand always delivers the best performance on any motorcycle I use it in, Shell Advance Ultra (Fully Synthetic). Now, with all this information on hand, and sticking to a periodic maintenance schedule, the life of an engine can be greatly prolonged. Just keep in mind that an expensive bottle of oil might not always be the best oil, but the best oil that will most benefit the engine is the one that is specified by the manufacturer and changed at regular intervals mentioned. AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018 73
AUTOLIFE DIY
THE MECHANICS OF CHANGING OIL WITH KALASH TULADHAR DIFFICULTY: INTERMEDIATE It may seem that an oil change is a complicated job, but like the name it’s just that; an oil change. Remove dirty used oil from engine, pour in fresh oil with a new filter, ta-da you’ve just done your first oil change. Although the job isn’t very complicated and just about any one that is good with a wrench can get this job done, and trust me there is very little in the world that is as satisfying as working on your own vehicle, at least for me. So for all you DIYers out there that want to change oil at home, here are some steps and tips to get it done properly.
With all the required items in front of you, take a look at your vehicle around the engine area. Look for leaks from the sides of the engine or cracks on the engine. If you see any leaks or find that there is no oil inside the engine, please go to your nearest repair shop and have it fixed, oil leaks create a lot of problems real fast and cost a lot if found at the later stages. If everything looks good, it is safe to proceed with the oil change procedure. Always wash your vehicle before working on it, to get rid of dirt and debris that might get in to critical engine components while changing engine components. Be sure to wash the bottom of the engine too so that the engine oil drain bolt is visible. Doing this also helps you get an idea of where the drain bolt, the oil filter, and the oil filler cap is located.
Mr. Kalash Ratna Tuladhar is a graduate from the Minnesota State University in Automotive Engineering Technology. He formerly worked for MV Agusta and Bikers Nepal as the Head of after sales. Currently he is planning to open his own workshop “Iron Monk Moto” at Gairidhara, Kathmandu
TOOLS REQUIRED A good quality socket set (metric or standard sizes depending on your motorcycle) A screwdriver (Phillips or Flathead depending on the fasteners used) A pair of paddock stands (if a double stand is not on the motorcycle) A jack and a set of jack stands (for cars) A funnel A measuring can A pair of latex gloves A pair of safety glasses Required amount of oil (read owner’s manual for oil specifications) An oil filter Oil filter removing tool A container to catch used oil from the engine A container to store used oil that is leak free Rags to clean things along the way
Once you find all three of these, fire up the engine and let it idle for a few minutes to get the oil warmed up and easy to exit. Now that your engine is warmed up (CAUTION: never touch a hot engine, serious burns will occur, the engine should be warm to the touch), position the vehicle in such a way that you have easy access to the drain bolt and the filter by using jacks and stands as necessary. With a socket that fits snuggly on the drain bolt, use a ratchet to get it loosened up, once loosened place a container wide enough below the drain or a funnel underneath the drain and place the end of the funnel into the container. Remove bolt and washer while letting the old oil drain into the container. (Physics tip: Open the filler cap to help drain the oil faster). Some drain bolts have magnets attached on the end of the bolts to catch metal shavings, inspect the magnet for unusual item and wipe off clean if normal.
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To remove canister style filters, turn counter clockwise to remove, whereas internal filters require the removal of an oil filter cover, held in place by 2 or more bolts. During removal of the filter, a few more millilitres of oil will drain out, be ready with the container to catch it.
- Wipe off any oil that might have run off on to the engine surface or on the exhaust pipe. -
Wipe the mating surface of the oil filter clean of any debris to get a good seal when the new filter goes in place. Canister style oil filters require oil to be applied on the rubber O-ring gasket,
and some oil filters require the oil filter to be pre-filled before installation (be sure to read the directions on the manual or on the oil filter).
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Hand tighten the canister filter snuggly until you can’t turn it anymore. For internal oil filters make sure that the mating surfaces are clean and the gaskets are in working condition, if not then replace them.
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After the filter is done being tightened, replace the drain bolt along with the washer and tighten to its recommended torque specification. Do not over tighten the drain bolt, as the oil pan where the drain bolt sits can crack if over tightened.
- Put a funnel (if required) on the oil filler and fill the engine with the required amount of oil. Sit the vehicle upright and look at the sight glass or dip stick, to make sure the oil is in between the high and low marks. - Start the engine and let it idle for about 3 minutes meanwhile checking for any leaks from the filter and drain bolts. After shutting off the engine and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes, recheck oil level and refill as required to bring oil back to level. - Once the level is correct and no leaks are present, the oil change is complete. Repeat the oil change at the recommended intervals mentioned by the manufacturer. Happy riding, until next time. Adios!
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AUTOLIFE ROADTRIP
Welcome To
T he jungle
AUTOLIFE ROADTRIP | POWERED BY HYUNDAI WORDS & PHOTOS: AL TEAM
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Everybody will agree to the fact that occasional vacations are mandatory. It helps you unwind and take a breather, away from the stress of working and all the hassles that you go through day in day out. By this we don’t mean working at Autolife is stressful, but everyone deserves a good holiday where they can reflect on themselves and just get away from all the hustle and bustle of a mundane life. So, we just decided that we need some time off and geared ourselves up for a vacation. That is when we decided we would be going to Chitwan to enjoy the jungle experience for 3 days. facebook.com/AutolifeNepal
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Like we said, a vacation is indeed necessary to break the hassle of daily schedules, forget everything and just enjoy travelling to new places. This road trip was all about it, to enjoy ourselves outside of work and the whole point of it all was to have fun. The very generous people over at Laxmi Intercontinental stepped forward and offered to make our journey even more comfortable. They provided us with two vehicles for the entire trip; the Hyundai Creta and the i20 Active. We went on the trip for 3 days and stayed at Temple Tiger Green Jungle Resort. There were 6 of us so we were split up so that 3 were in each
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car. We were a little skeptical at first about the i20 Active because the Creta was powered by a 1.6L petrol engine producing 122 Bhp @ 6400 RPM and having 154Nm of torque @ 4850 RPM, while the i20 Active was powered by a 1.2L petrol engine producing 82 Bhp @ 6000 RPM and 115 Nm of torque @ 4000 RPM. So, a difference of 40 Bhp and 39 Nm between the two cars had us assuming that the Creta would be up ahead and the i20 would be left behind. But our doubts were cleared as there wasn’t much difference between the two vehicles and the i20 could go toe to toe with the Creta. We started out early in morning, around 7 am and took off from Kathmandu. Because the way
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from Mugling was closed due to road maintenance works going on, we took a slight detour and took on the hills of Daman, full of twists and turns. The twisty up hills of Daman were where we thought the i20 Active would struggle the most to keep up with the Creta but surprisingly the Crossover kept up very well. The weight of the car also came into action, as the lower power and torque was compensated by the lighter weight of the vehicle overall. By this we’re not stating that the Creta underperforms but saying how good the i20 Active was on the roads. Both the cars had no issues going up the hills even with the A/C turned on full blast the whole way. The cars even handled bumps of the roads very well with only the big bumps unsettling the vehicles. After all the uphill travel we started to descend towards the Terai region and as we got closer to our destination the roads got wider and smoother, there started the straight stretch of the Terai highway. The i20 Active was a little behind the Creta on the straight roads because there was a clear gap in the performance but it did very well. It had the power to overtake other vehicles, especially the larger trucks plying on the roads. When we were in the Terai region our photographer opened the window to take a photo and that is when we felt the real heat and humidity of the Terai region. The A/Cs did such a good job in cooling the cabin that we forgot
SURPRISINGLY, EVEN AFTER OVER 10 HOURS OF DRIVING WE WEREN’T FATIGUED WHICH JUST SHOWS HOW WELL BALANCED THE CARS WERE
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we were in Terai already. We learned our lesson and kept the windows closed and relied on the A/C to keep us cool for the remainder of the way. Our stay at Chitwan lasted for 2 nights and 3 days with a lot of memorable moments. The first day, reaching Chitwan after 10 hours of driving, we reached our hotel somewhere around 5 pm in the evening where we were greeted by the staff with chilled refreshing drinks to beat off the heat. Surprisingly, even after over 10 hours of driving we weren’t fatigued which just shows how well balanced the cars were. For us, the evening was spent in enjoying the change in the scenery and taking a sigh of relief knowing that we were away from all the stress and all we had to do was enjoy ourselves. We were in for an amazing jungle experience and when we entered our rooms, it was made evident with there being no connection with the virtual world. Its actually a good thing that all of us got to disconnect with all the internet and social medias. Shortly after all of us freshened up, we were treated with a cultural program staged by the local Tharu community and just indulge ourselves in the whole experience of Chitwan. The second day started off with a heavy breakfast and we were all set for the jungle excursion planned for us. We were in for a jungle safari with boating across the Narayani river and had a picnic lunch in the old Temple Tiger Hotel in the middle of the jungle. After the excursions, we got back in our cars and went exploring into the Sauraha side. There were some road maintenance going on there as well and the conditions were not very good but the Creta being a compact SUV and the i20 Active being a Crossover Hatch, didn’t feel out of place on such conditions. It took on the rough patches of the roads very well and didn’t struggle one bit. Overall, both the vehicles showcased excellent capabilities on all kinds of roads that we threw at them.
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On the third day, after our breakfast we headed out early to head back home. We were thoroughly impressed by the i20 Active as we had been stating it earlier and expected nothing less from the Creta. The Creta didn’t disappoint either, the difference in power and torque was evident while driving back. The higher performance figures made overtaking that much easier. We had to cross Mugling by 10 before the road maintenance would re-start. The drive back through Mugling with the new roads were very smooth. We could actually feel how smooth the cars were. Both the cars felt very confident through corners and held the line very well. Both the vehicles were an ease and was comfortable for everyone. The spaciousness of the cars made sure that everyone was comfortable. The Hyundai Creta and the i20 Active just made this trip that much more worthwhile. It was a breeze to get by and reach Mugling effortlessly. Next up, we stopped for a little refreshment in Malekhu to enjoy the famous fish there and headed back to Kathmandu. After 8 hours of drive, we finally reached back to Kathmandu bringing back all the good memories from our vacation back at Chitwan.
OVERALL, BOTH THE VEHICLES SHOWCASED EXCELLENT CAPABILITIES ON ALL KINDS OF ROADS THAT WE THREW AT THEM.
It was indeed a much-needed vacation for everyone and the next day we were back to our offices with very little fatigue and revitalized energy from the trip. It has to be one of the most memorable trips made which was made even better with the amazing cars we got from Hyundai, thanks to Laxmi Intercontinental Pvt. Ltd.
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AUTOLIFE INTERVIEW
IN CONVERSATION WITH
SALIL SHRESTHA Marketing Officer at D-lifestyles Pvt. Ltd. WORDS: PRASHANT MANANDHAR PHOTOS: GAURAV XHOMPATE SUNUWAR
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D-lifestyles have set a statement with their Vespa scooters and now they have Aprilia to step up their game. The SR series of scooters by Aprilia has been in the market for quite some time with the presence of SR150 offering people with a sporty scooter. Now, D-lifestyles has brought in the second iteration of the sporty scooter, the SR125. We sat down with Mr. Salil Shrestha, Marketing Officer at D-lifestyles to know about the growth of the company and the SR series of sports scooter offered by Aprilia.
What has the journey of D-lifestyles been like till now? How would you explain the growth of D-lifestyles?
D-lifestyles was just established three years ago by a team of young and vibrant people. Ever since then we haven’t looked back and have been growing bigger and getting more successful year by year. Being the authorized distributor of one the most iconic scooters in the world, Vespa, the brand has been able to establish itself as the most desirable scooter and one of the most loved two-wheeler brand in Nepal. However, the recent growth of D-lifestyles has been even bigger in scale, with the introduction of the renowned Italian brand, Aprilia, with its crossover sports scooter being the very first of its kind in Nepal.
How has Aprilia as a brand developed in Nepal?
Aprilia has been renowned around the world for its high-performance motorcycles, with 70 years of legacy and innovation in the two wheeler industry. With the SR series of sport scooters, Aprilia has taken the Nepali market by storm. Aprilia SR series is a crossover that carries the attitude of a motorcycle with the comfort of a scooter, hence, we think that it can take over any roads in Nepal. In fact, Aprilia has been able to successfully change the twowheeler scenario in the Nepalese market with its best in class technology and design; something new and exciting for everyone to experience.
The SR150 has to be among one of the best sports scooters in the market right now, but let’s hear it from your side. How well has the SR150 been competing in the market?
We do feel there are lots of competition in the market currently. However, the SR150 is different with a class of its own and the scooter has been able to mark its own place in the 150cc scooter segment with its performance and uniqueness. We do see various brands entering
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into the market and it has been quite competitive for us in past two years.
With the recent launch of the SR125, what are your predictions for how well the scooter will perform in the market?
With the popularity and wide success of SR150, the Aprilia SR125 had been widely anticipated and awaited in the Nepali market. It has definitely created a standard in 125cc scooter category. We are hoping to cater the 125cc markets with a competitive price range and features of the SR125 like best braking system, higher ground clearance and wide tires. We believe that the SR125 has a lot to offer and will bring something exciting to the market with its bold colors and best in class features.
What are the main strategies that you have come up with for the SR125? SR125 is not just a regular scooter but it offers more to its riders who are looking to have fun in their daily rides and experience the quality and performance of a world-class brand. So, we are focusing on delivering a ride that serves more than just a purpose of commuting. Our campaigns itself suggest,” What the Fun!” which gives a sense of adventure and never-ending thrill of riding an SR.
Do you think that the introduction of the SR125 might affect the sales of the SR150 since there isn’t a very big price difference between the two? Current response from the market has shown us that SR125 and SR150 are equally good contenders when it comes to customers satisfaction. SR150 is loved by people who understand the mechanism of two-wheelers and seek the comfort of a scooter in a high-performing motorcycle and may be that is what sets it apart from other being a crossover. Whereas, SR125 is for people who are looking for comfort and something with a milder engine. The introduction of 125cc
has helped us reach out to a much wider customer base. Both scooters carter to different needs, thus the price difference doesn’t matter. Also, the difference is temporary because a new upgraded SR150 is in the pipelines, ready to take the market by storm.
What do you think will possess more threat to the SR125 with availability of various 125cc models from competitors?
SR125 is undoubtedly best in its class with all the features that it has to offer, be it the wheel size, ground clearance, or comfort, ease and handling. However, what we have learned is that it is the merit of the product that draws customers, and the customer’s want that they fulfill. Definitely with many 125cc in the market, we have a lot of competition, but we believe that our products are already standing out. If we were able to sell same product at 150cc, where we saw customers upgrading from 111cc with wider price gap towards our product, the market trend is showing easier movement to 125cc since now the number of people who can move from 111cc and 125cc itself is larger. So, it is a golden opportunity for us through which we seem to be sailing quite strongly, and we hope to continue to do so.
APRILIA SR SERIES IS A CROSSOVER THAT CARRIES THE ATTITUDE OF A MOTORCYCLE WITH THE COMFORT OF A SCOOTER AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018 83
AUTOLIFE GEARS
Riding Gears: HELMETS THE ESSENTIALS FOR THE RIDERS’ SAKE COMPILED BY: PRASHANT MANANDHAR
Just last month, in our previous issue we had talked about the essential riding gears and touched base on the 5 most basic gears; i.e. helmets, riding jackets, gloves, riding pants and boots. We talked about how people have always been investing so much on motorcycles but haven’t given a thought about riding gears to protect themselves from harm’s way. In our Riding Gears: Series 1, we showcased the importance of all the 5 gears and why you need to invest on them. This time around, for series 2 of riding gears, we look into the nitty-gritty of one of the most important riding gear, the helmet. Riding motorcycles has always been preferred as an easy means of transportation, specially with the massive traffic in Nepal. For many riders, it’s not just a means of commuting but they have been relishing on the freedom of riding a motorcycle and enjoy the thrill of riding. However, being a two-wheeler, motorcycles do have some risks involved in it. A motorcycle does not provide the structural protection that a car or any other four-wheeler would. A car would keep the driver from harms way but sadly that’s not the case with motorcycles. Thus, having riding gears is a necessity and to keep the rider safe in case of an accident. With the aforementioned perspective in mind, motorcyclists need to take extra precautions to protect their body and the most important place to start is by protecting the head. The head and brain are the
most vulnerable to injury during a motorcycle accident. Thus, we need to be careful and always wear a proper helmet to keep your head safe. It is important for riders to understand the risks of riding without a helmet which can include suffering traumatic brain injuries. According to a study published by Dietmar Otte, 45 percent of all impacts to motorcycle helmets occur around the face, in an area not covered by open-face or three-quarter-type helmets. Therefore, you want to be wearing a full-face helmet to get the best benefits, plus it will keep the wind from blasting right to your eyes and protect you face from nasty bugs. Choosing the right helmet is arguably the most important protective gear for any rider. Not only that, but helmets are mandatory for motorcycles and scooters globally. It’s always ideal to invest in a helmet that has DOT and SNELL certified ratings. Helmets are basically constructed with different layers of Expanded Polystyrene liner (EPS) to absorb the impact, which is beneath the main layer of the outer shell that is made out of tough and flexible Polycarbonate, Kevlar and fiber composites. Helmets are designed to destroy themselves in case of a crash so that the energy generated from the impact of crash is dissipated which otherwise would be transferred to the head. Sometimes a helmet can experience a crash without external signs of damage but still sustain unseen effects. To ensure that your helmet is fully capable of protecting you, always buy a new helmet from a reputable retailer and treat it like a baby. Generally, full face helmets can be divided into street/ sports helmets and dirt helmets. Street/sports full face helmets are the ones that comes first to your mind when you think about motorcycle helmets. These helmets come with a full-face lid protecting the whole face and are, by far, the safest. Off-road helmets are distinguished from regular full faces by their sun peaks and pronounced, angular chin bars. Dirt riding demands a high physicality from the rider, and it’s often done in warmer weather. So, motocross helmets are designed to minimize weight and maximize ventilation.
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Yes, they do protect your face, but that pronounced chin may exaggerate torsional forces in a crash. They’ll also be noisy and unstable at highway speeds. Choose the right helmet for the kind of riding you plan to do. But all of this doesn’t mean that you need to spend tons of money on branded helmets. Many manufacturers offer high-quality, high-spec helmets for not an excessive amount of money. You just need to make sure that have been through safety certifications and check if these helmets come with standard certifications, if so then you are good to buy these helmets. More expensive helmets generally cost more because they use more expensive materials for shell construction like a fiberglass/Kevlar/ carbon fiber weave. This can make them lighter but does not make them any safer. Every person’s head is of a different size and shape. You need to look for a helmet that fits well and should be snug around your cheeks and head. If the helmet wobbles around on your head then the helmet is too large for you or if it suffocating you then you just need to realize that your head is just too big for that size of helmet. Wearing a too tight helmet will be suffocating, especially during long rides. A nice fit also ensures low noise penetration inside the helmet and helps the rider concentrate on the road.
SERIES
2
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Always wear a helmet and be in the safe side. Just make sure to find the one that fits you perfectly and to keep it in top notch, making sure that you don’t damage the helmet and compromise on the safety. We hope to see you around in our next issue for the series 3 of riding gears, where we will be talking about another piece of the essential riding gear.
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AUTOLIFE LIFESTYLE
MOVIES TO WATCH WORDS: SHAQUILLE S. GHOTANE
We all know that one friend who just can’t seem to talk about anything other than bikes or cars. It’s like their brain was replaced with an engine and everything that comes out of their mouth are flurry jargons that make you feel like you’re watching Korean drama without subtitles. If you don’t know this feeling then you’re probably that friend. So for those who do not worship the automobiles, it can be alienating when the topic of “an engine’s size” or “top speed” pops up in a conversation. Well, it doesn’t really have to be that way. You don’t need to be an enthusiast in order to empathize with one. It’s not mandatory to spend thousands of hours going through each and every auto article or learning the different engine components along with its function. We understand that sometimes it feels like mission impossible to keep up with the burning passion of a motor head. But in all honesty, you don’t have to go all in to be able to appreciate automobiles. Here we’ve compiled a list of movies and documentaries that’ll give you a glimpse into the auto world and spark the hidden enthusiast in you:
WHY WE RIDE To put it simply, Why We Ride is a documentary highlighting the lifestyle of motorcyclists belonging to their respective genres. From sport bikes to dirt bikes, cruisers to adventure bikes, stunt bikes to the custom bikes, Why We Ride does not fail to take you through the lives of riders and their take on living with their motorcycle. I would definitely say it’s a great place to start if you’re just getting into motorcycles. If I were asked “what’s the one thing anyone can take from this documentary”, it’s Passion. The people interviewed expressed their emotions so beautifully and watching the documentary fueled my passion for motorcycles and I have a feeling it will do the same for you.
TT3D CLOSER TO THE EDGE You must be aware of the level of risk you bear when it comes to riding a motorcycle at high speeds. Then you probably have also figured out the risks associated with motorcycles at race speeds. But how do you feel about participating in the arguably most dangerous race in the world? The Isle of Man TT is branded as the greatest motorcycle road race in the world and what better way to get to know more about it than TT3D: Closer to the Edge. This documentary will give you an insight as to why modern TT riders jeopardize their lives to earn the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. It has always been a challenge that’s far beyond lap times. It demands the great sacrifice on the rider’s part in his quest to conquer the Isle of Man. In TT3D: Closer to the Edge, you will see through the eyes of the rider and you understand what goes on in the minds of Isle of Man TT’s stars like Guy Martin and Ian Hutchinson. The Isle of Man is undoubtedly one of the most iconic motorcycle races in history and is definitely something you should get up to speed with. 86
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From the Company that hold Guinness World Record in Longest Journey By Motorcyle (35,511)
4strokeair cooled
Loncin RE 250 Engine
Dual Exuast
Spectacular Design
Bike Specification Model Displacement L*W*H/mm Wheel Base/mm Seat Height Sprocket Net. Weight/Gross. Weight
Tekken 250 223cc with inner balancer 2070*900*1110MM 1350 820MM Drive Sprocket:520-13T; Driven Sprocket: 520-42T
132KG/157KG
Transmission
Tyre & Brake
No. of Gears Gearshift method
6 Gears, manual clutch
Min. Fuel Consumption
2.2L/100KM
International
Tyre Size(Front) Tyre Size(Rear) Brake Type
110/90-17 thread tyres 130/80-17 thread tyres Front&rear hydraulic disc brakes
Head Office Kalanga Complex, Dhobighat-12, Lalitpur Phone No.: 01-5542934, 5539592 facebook.com/AutolifeNepal
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RUSH (2013) Ever wondered what Thor would look like if he were in a Formula 1 race car? Rush revives the historic rivalry between Formula 1 World Champions Nikki Lauda (played by Daniel Brühl of Captain America: Civil War) and James Hunt (played by Chris Hemsworth of Thor). The movie, based on a true life event takes us through an epic journey with Nikki Lauda and James Hunt on their road to becoming the World Champion. If you’re a car or motorcycle enthusiast and you haven’t watched this movie, this is it. You will never stop appreciating level of accuracy the movie has to the real life events and how well the actors have brought those moments in history back to life. I mean it is amazing that the events that transpired over several years was, dare I say perfectly delivered in 2 hours. Rush will keep you on your toes throughout its duration and will evoke a range of emotions. I don’t think I can do justice in any-way in telling you anything about this movie is so instead I ask you to watch it and let the movie speak for itself.
FASTER (2003) MotoGP, the Olympics of motorcycle racing. It is the platform for the ultimate two wheelers where they are designed to accelerate to 100kmph in 2.6 seconds, get past that record speed of 349.6 kmph, lean at a common angle of 65 degrees. Faster is a documentary about MotoGP. It leaves you with the general understanding to the sport of riding. The documentary also highlights the bitter rivalry between Max Biaggi and Valentino Rossi. You will witness their many head-butts that are captured both on and off the track. You will also find some of the heated clashes during interviews. Faster features other MotoGP stars like John Hopkins and Gary McCoy. Faster (2003) is an excellent throwback into the history of MotoGP and you can learn something which will make you sound like you know your stuff. Not to forget mentioning, you can also continue your journey with Faster’s sequel Fastest.
THE GRAND TOUR Car enthusiasts can follow The Grand Tour with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. The trios embark on an adventure around the world, driving new and exciting automobiles from manufacturers all over the world. The television series can highlight one or more cars along with their features and specifications. The show goes on to show how the featured automobile performs on the test track. To make things interesting they take on challenges like building their own eco-friendly car chassis atop a Land Rover engine base, unconventional races amongst the hosts, picking and driving certain types of cars along a route in a foreign area.
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BLOOM DESIGN STUDIO KATHMANDU
Interior Design & Furniture SHOWROOM: Dhobighat, Lalitpur. FACTORY: Bhaisepati, Lalitpur 977 1 5534241 | 977 9813504389 | 977 9808704026
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AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE SEPTEMBER 2017 SMART FAMILY2018 3789
S U O V Z E D N E R 10TH ENFIELD
AUTOLIFE EVENTS
: N U R R &T H EPT OH UKM PET H A T B I N D S WOR
MA NA NDHA DS: PR ASHA NT
R PHOTOS: GAUR
AV XHOMPATE SU
NU WA R
O
One of the most intriguing thing about motorcyclists is the brotherhood that binds them and this same statement is what Poker Run has always stood for. Now entering the 10th phase of becoming the biggest ride in the Himalayas. Enfield Rendezvous and Poker Run is an event dedicated to all the Royal Enfield riders around the world and creating a bond between all the motorcyclists from various backgrounds. And we must say, what Sacred Summits is doing with the Poker Run has been shaping into what can only be stated as an event to celebrate this exact bond. With more than 200 motorcyclists thundering through the Kathmandu valley for 200 kilometers to Pokhara, Poker Run has come a long way since its inception in 2009. Enfield Rendezvous and Poker is an annual event to celebrate the Nepali New Year along with a poker game throughout the ride and share the road with fellow locals and international riders. For the ride, all the riders ride in unison as what they call a bullet train with different pitstops. All the riders registered are in for a game of poker and every one picks a card at the pitstops and the winner is decided, having the best poker hand at the end of the ride.
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Let’s start off with how Poker Run has come around to be what it is right now. Poker Run was first started in 2009 by Rabi Thapa (CEO of Scared Summits Pvt. Ltd.) along with an Australian friend of his, Stewart Mclean in the memory of their friend late Binod Chhetri who was an avid Enfield rider and an adventure enthusiast. The idea of Poker Run came about when Rabi Thapa and Binod Chhetri sat down to talk about how motorcycle clubs abroad conduct such kind of event to celebrate riding and to have a fun game of poker. That is how Poker Run came to be and over the years this has been one of the most celebrated and must attend event for all the Royal Enfield riders. Up until now, Autolife has always made sure that we are a part of the Enfield Rendezvous and Poker Run. Even this time around, Sacred Summits had invited us to be a part of the celebration, and what more of a better way to enjoy the Nepali New Year than to be a part of a massive ride and enjoy yourself at one of the best hotels in Pokhara. For the 10th edition, the Poker run took place from 13th-15th April, 2018 at Hotel Pokhara Grande. But that’s not all, to make things better, Sacred Summits were generous enough to hand us the keys to a Royal Enfield Himalayan, which would be our companion for the next three days. And to add all the excitement, all the costs for accommodation and registrations were waived off, making the overall experience to be much more worthwhile. Just like the previous year, the event started off early on the morning of New Year’s Eve at Khula Manch. It was indeed a sight to behold, more than 200 motorcycles lined up together before the ride. The 10th Enfield Rendezvous and Poker had different sponsors as support with Khukuri Rum as title sponsor and Asahi Beer as drinks sponsor. All the participants were served with breakfast early at 8 am and was followed by a cultural program by underprivileged children.
WITH MORE THAN 200 MOTORCYCLISTS THUNDERING THROUGH THE KATHMANDU VALLEY FOR 200 KILOMETERS TO POKHARA, POKER RUN HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2009. 92
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AUTOLIFE READERS PHOTOS
The Guest of Honor for the day was MP Gagan Thapa who started with an inauguration speech. The speech was then followed by road safety rules and group riding rules given to the rider by our road captain, Pramod ‘Goofy’ Shrestha. After the heavy breakfast, all the riders swung their legs over their motorcycles and the convoy of 200 something motorcycles revved up so loud that it almost started to sound like a battle cry of thousands of armies. The event was flagged off around 8:30am and the convoy was then escorted by police personnel through the roads of Kathmandu, getting all the attention focused on the bullet train. It was a breeze to get through the busy roads and traffic of Kathmandu valley with the help of the police convoy up front, ensuring a hasslefree ride till Naubise. This year’s Poker Run saw a lot of riders from all over the world, with riders from India, Japan, Australia, Japan, England and USA, and from all around the nation. For this event, the main slogan was, ‘The Thump That Binds” and it was indeed what the event stated to be. It was indeed a sight to behold, to see all these motorcycles thundering up the highways in a single file. Our first pitstop was some 10-20kms further from Naubise for refreshments and the second poker hand was handed out at the same spot as well; the first one being at Khula Manch. After which, we headed out to our next stop, Mugling, where a big Thakali lunch awaited us. Being treated with delicious food, courtesy of Yeti Airlines, everyone got their energies back up and got back on the road to celebrate the New Year’s Eve at Hotel Pokhara Grande. Then we came to our final pitstop at Akela highway, where we were handed with a new natural energy drink Tenzing. It was almost 5 in the evening and the skies were starting to get dark. So, we rushed ourselves to avoid the rain but it seemed to be unavoidable. The rain was not something that could stop the bullet train. The clouds were creating their thunder up in the sky and here we had 200 different Royal Enfield motorcycles
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AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018
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AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018 95
creating their own thunder. Through all the turmoil due to the rain we finally reached Pokhara around 7 o’clock in the evening and thumping through the streets we finally had reached our hotel. Upon reaching there, all the motorcyclist started revving up their beasts, almost as declaring that they had finally conquered the open roads and now they can finally celebrate. With a warm welcome from the hotel staff, we were handed the keys to the luxurious rooms of Hotel Pokhara Grande. All the riders went into their rooms for a refreshment and after which a BBQ snack and drinks were in place at the event hall. As soon as we got inside the hall, we were greeted by the sweet aroma of the BBQ that we were soon to devour and a band was setting up stage to entertain everyone. The night went on with everyone getting drunk and it was almost midnight and just like that, we were counting off to bid the year goodbye and welcome a fresh new year. We all have heard how Pokhara’s weather can be so unpredictable. Thankfully the next day was warm and sunny, a perfect day to enjoy the serenity of the lake city. It was a free day at Pokhara for all the riders and you could see the lakeside being abuzz with all the Enfield riders. Also, Sacred Summits had organized a charity ride for underprivileged children in rural places of Pokhara. The charity ride had more than 20 Enfield riders, all excited and eager to go and donate to a local community school at the outskirts of Pokhara, near Kalika Bajar. This just shows how you get to meet some of the humblest people on a motorcycle. We were now nearing to the end of the day, and every one had gathered in the hall once again. The closing ceremony was in place and an award distribution ceremony was also in order. All the different awards were given out and the best poker hand was won by Luja Dangol. The lights were dimmed and it was now time for the DJ to take the stage and make the place electric. It was yet another long night with everyone enjoying themselves to the beat and partying on. And finally, the day came, when we all had bid farewell to the luxuries of the hotel, get on our motorcycles and get back home. 10th Enfield Rendezvous and Poker Run was nothing short of excitement and awesomeness, bringing in all the riders together to celebrate in harmony. The event indeed proved the statement of how everyone is bound by the thump. We only hope to see this event get bigger and better each year. We bid it farewell, until the next Nepali New Year. Just like they say it, Christians wait for Christmas, Hindus for Diwali and Muslims for Id, Enfielders here in Nepal now eagerly anticipate their loudest and biggest reunion – The Enfield Poker Run.
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NEW CAR BUYER’S GUIDE
Updated May 2018 Disclaimer: All prices are subject to change without prior notice. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy. Model
Displacement
Price
Continental Associates Pvt Ltd,Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu Tel: 01-4650794 | 44015653
ISUZU D-Max V-Cross
2499 cc
64,99,000
D-Max S-Cab
2499 cc
39,90,000
MU-X
2999 cc
1,09,00,000
Model
1198 cc
Go
Redi-Go
25,99,000
799 cc
15,25,000 to 19,99,000 9,75,000 to 20,25,000
Punto Pure
1172 cc
22,89,000 to 24,25,000
Punto Evo
1172 cc
31,80,000
Avventura
1268cc (Diesel)
40,95,000
Punto Abarth
1368 cc
39,95,000
Avventura Abarth
1368 cc
1499 cc
Eco-Sport Ford Endeavour
2198cc 3198cc
All New Figo
Ranger Figo Aspire
1497 cc
38,75,000 to
Cr-V RVSI
1997 cc
1,07,75,000
Mobilio
1497 cc
38,00,000 to 43,00,000
Civic
1598cc
68,00,000 to
WRV
1199 CC (Petrol) 1498 CC (Diesel)
JAZZ 1.2
1199 CC (Petrol)
34,00,000 to 42,25,000
BRV 1.5
1497 CC (Petrol)
42,00,000 to 54,75,000
1,12,00,000 to 1,34,00,000
25,99,000 to 35,99,000 68,00,000 to
Elantra
1591 cc
59,96,000
Eon
814 cc
18,96,000 to
Grand I10
1197 cc
Santa Fe
2199 cc
Tucson
1998 cc
Veloster
1591 cc
75,96,000
New Verna
1591 cc
42,96,000 46,96,000
Xcent
1197 cc
30,96,000 to 33,56,000
Elite i20
1197 cc
30,96,000 to 36,96,000
i20 Active 26,90,000 to 34,90,000
Creta
29,90,000 to 38,90,000
Forester
2000cc
11,200,000
XV Crosstrek
2000cc
96,00,000 to
New Grand i10
Jazz BR-V
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AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018
Syakar Trading Company P. L Dhobighat Tel: 5549741 | 4225490 |4253522 34,00,000 to 1199 cc 42,25,000 1497 cc
42,00,000 to 54,75,000
26,96,000 to 99,96,000 to 81,96,000 to
1197 cc (Petrol) 1396 cc (Diesel) 1396 cc (Diesel) 1591cc (Petrol) 1582 cc (Diesel) 1197cc
37,96,000 to 42,96,000 42,56,000 to 61,96,000
26,96,000 to 32,56,000
Continental Associates Pvt Ltd,Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu Tel: 01-4650794 | 44015653
KIA
10,00,000
HONDA
Laxmi Intercontinental P.L Thapathali Tel: 4101556 | 4101557
21,99,000 to
72,00,000
41,25,000 to 49,50,000
1,02,96,000
46,40,000
3198cc
75,00,000
1,22,96,000
Vijay Motors Pvt. Ltd, Naxal, KTM Tel: 4414625 | 4425603
SUBARU
City
32,56,000
31,90,000 to
31,99,000
1495 cc (Diesel)
27,50,000 to 34,50,000
22,96,000
43,50,000
1196cc 1496 cc Petrol 1496 cc Diesel
1196 cc (Petrol)
1198 cc
HYUNDAI
Go Automobiles Pvt. Ltd, Thapathali, KTM Tel: 4244254 | 4257001
FORD
Brio
32,75,000 to
52,75,000
Life Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. Gairidhara Tel: 4004644 | 4004645
FIAT
1198 cc
22,39,000 to
1198 cc
999cc
Amaze
35,75,000
23,99,000 Go+ (T)
Price
Syakar Trading Company P. L Dhobighat Tel: 5549741 | 4225490 |4253522
HONDA
Pioneer Motorcorp Pvt Ltd, Thapathali, Kathmandu Tel: 6203567
DATSUN
Displacement
Picanto
998cc
24,99,000 to 30,49,000
Rio (Hatchback & Sedan)
1396 cc
41, 00,000 to
Sorento
2199 cc
48,00,000 1,25,00,000
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Disclaimer: All prices are subject to change without prior notice. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy. Model
Displacement
Price
MITSUBISHI
Displacement
Price
Leon Motors Pvt. Ltd, Shantinagar Tel: 4622074 | 4622485
Soul
1600 cc
55,95,000 to 59,95,000
Asx
1998 cc
Sportage
1998 cc
78,95,000 to
Outlander
2360 cc
1,14,00,000
Pajero
3200 cc
14,400,000 to
Pajero 3 Door
3200cc
95,75,000 to 99,50,000
96,95,000 Carnival
2092cc
75,00,000 to 80,00,000
Kia Soul EV
Electric Motor
56,00,000 to 58,00,000
MAHINDRA Bolero
Agni Incorporated Pvt. Ltd, Uttar Dhoka Tel: 4414626 | 4414628 2523 cc
1,62,50,000
MG MOTORS MG3
29,50,000 to
11,850,000
PARAMOUNT MOTORS PVT. LTD. Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-4783841 1498 cc
3,600,000
1796 cc
49,50,000 to
35,00,000 Bolero Camper
2523 cc
MG GS
19,25,000 to 23,90,000
Bolero Maxi Truck
2523 cc
69,90,000
16,25,000 to
2523 cc
17,95,000
Scorpio
2523 cc
38,60,000 to 59,95,000
Quanto
1493 cc
49,90,000
MG ZS
16,95,000 Genio
Pioneer Moto Corp Pvt. Ltd, Kamaladi, Kathmandu, 014427871
NISSAN
33,15,000 to
Micra Active
1198cc
25,99,000 to 28,99,000
Navara
2488 cc
72,99,000 to 79,99,000
37,55,000 Scorpio Pick-Up
2609 cc
31,45,000 to 36,65,000
Thar XUV500
2489 cc 2179 cc
37,85,000
Sunny
52,50, 000 to
X-trail
72,95,000 Xylo
2489 cc
KUV100
1198cc (Petrol) 1198cc (Diesel)
35,35,000 to
Terrano
43,20,000
TUV300
1493cc (Diesel)
26,95,000 – 31,95,000 31,45,000 – 36,45,000
RAPID
36,95,000 –
Padma Shree Pvt. Ltd, Gyaneshwor Tel: 4435688 | 4435631 Cx-5
1998 cc
92,50,000 to 1,05,00,000
Mazda 3
1600 cc
67,50,000
Bt-50
2499 cc
55,00,000
Mazda 6
2000 cc
81,00,000
Mazda 2
1498 cc
48,00,000
1498cc (Petrol) 1461cc (Diesel) 1997cc
38,99,000 to 40,99,000 1,15,00,000
1598cc (Petrol) 1461cc (Diesel)
42,99,000 to 53,99,000
M.A.W Enterprises Thapathali Tel: 4216835 | 4268788
SKODA
45,95,000
MAZDA
NEW CAR BUYER’S GUIDE
Continental Associates Pvt Ltd,Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu Tel: 01-4650794 | 44015653
KIA
Model
OCTAVIA YETI Superb Kodiaq
PEUGEOT
1598 cc (Petrol) 1498cc (Diesel)
36,95,000 to
1968 cc
76,44,00O
1968 CC
72,95,000 to
51,45,000 41,45,000 to 57,45,000
79,95,000
1968cc
1,16,00,000
1968cc
13,650,000
Shangrila Motors Pvt. Ltd Thapathali, Kathmandu 01-4101655, 4101559
508
1598cc
95,00,000
2008
1199cc
74,99,000 to
3008
1598cc
82,00,000 11,3,000 to 11,900,000
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AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018 101
NEW CAR BUYER’S GUIDE
Updated May 2018 Disclaimer: All prices are subject to change without prior notice. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy. Model
Displacement
Price
Model
IMS Motors Naxal (opposite to Police Headquarter) Tel: 01-4412055, 9802002750
SSANGYONG Tivoli
1597cc
XLV
1597cc
Safari Storme
68,99,000
2179 cc
Price 46,75,000 to 61,75,000
Nexon
56,99,000 to 65,99,000 58,99,000 to
Displacement
1198 cc Petrol
32,75,000 to
1498 cc Diesel
45,55,000
United Traders Syndicate, Dhumbarahi Tel: 4008801- 4008805
TOYOTA
79,99,000 to
Korando
1998cc
Actyon Sports
1998cc
61,99,000
Rexton
2157cc
11,199,000 to
95,99,000
Etios Cross
1496 cc Petrol
41,25,000
1364 cc Diesel
43,90,000
Fortuner
2755 cc
1,30,00,000 to 1,36,00,000
Hilux
2755 cc
80,50,000
11,999,000 CG|Motocorp, Jhamsikhel Tel: 5547165 | 5547166
SUZUKI
796 cc
Alto 800
15,99,000 to 17,99,000
Alto K10
998 cc
20,29,000
Land Cruiser
4461 cc
1,73,00,000 to 3,23,00,000
Celerio
998 cc
23,49,000 to
Land Cruiser Prado
2982 cc
1,84,00,000 -
Rav4
2494 cc
Hiace
2494 cc
Innova Crysta
2393cc 2755cc
26,99,000 1196 cc
Eeco
19,59,000 to
2,33,00,000
19,69,000 796 cc
Omni
10,49,000 to
1,30,00,000
14,29,000 1197 cc
Swift
27,49,000 to
1197 cc
Ciaz
1373 cc
New Wagon R VXi
998 cc
Baleno
1197cc
Vitara Brezza
1248cc
67,00,000 68,00,000
31,59,000 Swift Dzire
1,06,00,000 -
69,50,000 to 92,75,000
30,99,000 to 37,39,000 34,49,000 to
Pooja International Pvt. Ltd, Panipokhari Tel: 4006605 | 4006606
39,49,000
VOLKSWAGEN
22,69,000
Cross Polo
1598 cc
35,45,000
37,39,000
Amarok
1968 cc
82,00,000 to 92,00,000
37,29,000 to
Passat A/T Loaded
1798 cc
86,45,000
Polo
1198 cc
26,45,000 to
Tiguan
99,00,000 to
Touareg
1395 cc Petrol 1968cc Diesel 2967 cc
Vento
1598 cc
32,95,000 to
Ameo
1198cc
29,39,000 to
45,99,000 Ignis
1197cc
28,89,000 to 35,19,000
Sipradi Trading Pvt Ltd, Teku Tel: 4250610 | 4250612
TATA Indica
1396 cc
20,95,000 to 23,95,000
Hexa
2179 cc
77,95,000
Tata Bolt
Tata Tiago
Sumo Gold
1193 cc (Petrol) 1248 cc (Diesel) 1199cc
2956 cc
25,30,000 to
24,95,000 to 32,95,000
Zest
37,95,000 Tigor
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AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018
1199cc
24,95,000 to 32,95,000
1,55,45,000
31,95,000 to 35,45,000
Advanced Automobiles Pvt. Ltd, 9851229996 , 9801027012, Thapathali, Kathmandu
RENAULT Kwid
799cc to 999cc
17,20,900 to 21,48,900
Duster
1598cc
35,81,700 to 56,71,300
Lodgy Stepaway
1461cc
39,95,000*
32,50,000 to 31,55,000 to
1,28,00,000
44,45,000
34,55,000
33,25,000 1193 cc
39,45,000
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Model
ACE MOTORCYCLE Ace British Classic Ace British Scrambler
Displacement
Price
Classic Wheels Export Import Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu Tel: 9801024639
397cc
Model
397cc
SR150
6,10,000
154.4 cc
45,00,000 to
1299 Panigale
1285 cc
959 Panigale
955 cc
35,00,000
Diavel
1198.4 cc
41,00,000 to
Hypermotard
937 cc
28,50,000 to 35,50,000
Hyperstrada
937 cc
30,50,000
Monster 1200
1198.4 cc
32,50,000 to
Monster 696
696 cc
20,00,000
53,00,000
48,00,000
D-Lifestyles Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu 01-4423131/132
APRILIA
Price
Turbo Motors Pvt Ltd Naxal,Tel: 4435720
DUCATI
5,60,000
Displacement
2,54,946 to 2,64,946
42,00,000
Hansraj Hulaschand & Co. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4267759 | 4261200
BAJAJ Discover 150
144.8 cc
2,04,900
Monster 796
803 cc
22,00,000
Discover 100 M
94.38 cc
1,56,900
Monster 821
821 cc
29,00,000
Discover 125
124.6 cc
1,78,9001,87,900
Multistrada
1198.4 cc
40,00,000 to
Platina 100 E/S
99.27 cc
1,54,900
Scrambler Sixty2
399 cc
16,50,000
46,50,000
Pulsar 150 DTSI
149.01 cc
2,40,900
Scrambler
803cc
19,50,000 to 23,50,000
Pulsar 180 DTSI
178.6 cc
2,52,900
Panigale R
1198cc
70,00,000
Pulsar 200 NS
199.5 cc
2,93,900
Xdiavel
1262 cc
44,00,000 to 50,00,000
Pulsar 220F
220 cc
2,91,900
Pulsar RS200
199.5cc
3,99,900
AS 200
199.5cc
2,86,900
AS150
149.5cc
2,51,900
Avenger 150 Street
150cc
2,60,900
Avenger 220 Street
220cc
2,93,900
Avenger 220 Cruise
220cc
3,06,900
Bajaj V 15
149.5cc
2,14,900
Pulsar 160NS
160cc
2,61,900
Dominar 400
373.3cc
4,69,900
Turbo Motors Pvt Ltd Naxal,Tel: 4435720
DUCATI
Nepal General Marketing Pvt Ltd Jyoti Bhawan, Kantipath Tel: 4225377
HERO ACHIEVER
149 cc
1,92,000
GLAMOUR
124.7 cc
1,75,000 to
HF DELUXE
97.2 cc
1,45,000
Hunk
149.2 cc
2,11,000 to
Karizma R
223 cc
2,60,500
Karizma Zmr
223 cc
3,21,500
Passion Pro Tr
97 cc
1,68,000
Pleasure
102 cc
1,57,000
Splendor Ismart
97 cc
1,57,500
Dash
111 cc
1,67,500 to 1,71,500
1,80,000
2,16,500
Scrambler Cafe Racer
803cc
25,00,000
Splendor Pro
97.2 cc
1,56,500
Desert Sled
803cc
25,00,000
Splendor Pro Classic
97.2 cc
1,57,500
Monster 797
803cc
21,00,000
Super Splendor
124.7 cc
1,59,500
Multistrada 950
937cc
29,50,000
X-Treme
149.2 cc
2,19,500 to
SuperSport
937 cc
29,50,000
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NEW BIKE BUYER’S GUIDE
Disclaimer: All prices are subject to change without prior notice. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.
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2,30,000
AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018 103
NEW BIKE BUYER’S GUIDE
Updated May 2018 Disclaimer: All prices are subject to change without prior notice. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy. Model
Displacement
Price
Syakar Trading Company Pvt. Ltd, Kantipath, Tel: 4253522 | 4163501 | 4256199
HONDA
Model
Displacement
Price
Hansraj Hulaschand & Co. Ltd Naxal, Tel: 4415462
KTM
ACTIVA
109 cc
1,59,900
200 DUKE
200 cc
4,55,900
AVIATOR
109 cc
1,90,900
390 DUKE
373.2 cc
7,14,900
CB SHINE
124.7 cc
1,94,900 to
RC 200
199 cc
5,42,900
RC 390
373 cc
7,04,900
250 DUKE
248.8 cc
5,49,900
2,17,900
CB UNICORN
149.1 cc
2,49,900
RUNNER MOTORCYCLES CBR 250R
249 cc
5,29,900 to
Raman Motors Pvt. Ltd. Dhobighat, Kathmandu 01-5533054, 5538414
AD 80 Deluxe
80cc
1,44,999
5,99,000 (ABS) CRF 250L
250 cc
9,90,000 to 12,75,000
Cheeta
100cc
1,49,000
DREAM YUGA
109cc
1,64,900
Kite+
110cc
1,69,999
DIO
109cc
1,80,900
Knight Rider
150cc
2,14,999
CB Hornet 160R
162.71cc
2,65,900 to 2,89,900
Royal Plus
110cc
1,64,999
XR125L
124.7cc
3,90,000
Bullet 125
125cc
1,69,999
CB Unicorn 160
163cc
2,49,900
Bike RT
80cc
1,28,999
Activa-i
110 cc
1,59,900
Activa 125
125 cc
1,98,900 to 2,09,900
CB Shine SP
125 cc
2,17,900
CB 500F
500 cc
13,99,000
CRF 250M
250 cc
9,90,000
MSX
125 cc
5,99,000
XR 150L
150 cc
4,80,000
Navi
109.19cc
1,54,900
CBR 650 F
648.72
19,99,000
Eco
2000 Watt
1,38,000
CB190R
184cc
5,99,000 to 6,14,000
Acuto
3000 Watt
2,35,000
KTM International Trading Pvt. Ltd. Naxal, Kathmandu 01-4411439
BENELLI
104
TRK 502
499.6cc
12,00,000
TNT300
300cc
7,00,000
TNT600i
600cc
16,50,000
302 R
300cc
7,50,000
TNT 135
134.7cc
2,50,000
TNT 25
249 cc
4,50,000
Leoncino
499 cc
9,00,000
AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018
Anna International Pvt. Ltd. Naxal, Kathmandu
CFMOTO 150NK
149.4cc
2,99,000
400NK
400.4cc
6,40,000
650NK
649.3cc
10,00,000
St. Papio
124.5cc
2,25,000
250NK
249.2 cc
4,60,000
TERRA MOTORS
ROYAL ENFIELD
Fair Auto Pvt. Ltd. Durbar Marg, Kathmandu
Dugar Brothers & Sons Pvt. Ltd Balaju, Tel: 4362992
Classic 350
346 cc
4,49,000
Classic 500
499 cc
5,41,000
Classic Battle Green
499 cc
5,61,000
Classic Chrome
499 cc
5,81,000
Himalayan
411cc
5,61,000
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Model
Displacement
Price
Classic Desert Storm
499 cc
5,61,000
Continental Gt
535 cc
7,21,000
Electra
346 cc
Model
499 cc
7,21,000
Thunderbird 350
346 cc
5,77,000
Price
Import USA Pvt. Ltd. Gairidhara, Tel: 4004664
UM
3,70,000 to
Dsr 200
198.9 cc
Hypersport
199 cc
Renegade Commando
223 cc
3,75,000
Renegade Duty
124 cc
2,40,000
Renegade Sport
137.8 cc
2,50,000 to
Nitrox LS
124.1cc
1,85,000
3,99,000
4,32,000
Thunderbird 500
3,66,999 to 3,85,999
VG Suzuki Tripureshwor, Tel: 4233281
SUZUKI
Displacement
ACCESS 125
124 cc
1,89,900
Power Max
124.6 cc
1,85,000
GIXXER
154.9 cc
2,46,900
Renegrade Sport
180cc
2,85,000
GS 150R
149.5 cc
2,21,900
HAYATE
113 cc
1,69,900
LET’S
112 cc
1,75,900
SLINGSHOT
124 cc
1,84,900
SWISH
124 cc
1,79,900
Suzuki Gixxer SF
154.9 cc
2,76,900 to
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VESPA Aprilia SR 150
150ccc
Vespa VXL
125cc
2,95, 946
Vespa SXL
125cc
3,10,946
SXL 150
150cc
3,35,946
SCOMADI
154.9 cc
VXL 150
150cc
3,20,946
Elegante
150cc
3,59,946
SXL Matte Red
150cc
2,51,900 to 2,59,900
Avasha International Narayan Gopal Chowk, Kathmandu Mob:9801067999
TL125 General
124.6 cc
2,80,000
3,40,946
TL125 Chrome
124.6 cc
3,50,000
LX 125
125CC
2,49,946
Jagdamba Motors Pvt. Ltd. Teku, Tel: 4237057
TVS RTR 160
160 cc
2,35,900
JUPITER
109 cc
1,72,900
PHOENIX 125
125 cc
1,83,900
STAR CITY 110
109.7 cc
1,62,900
SCOOTY ZEST
110 cc
1,64,900
WEGO REFRESH
110 cc
1,73,900 to 1,75,900
RTR 180
180 cc
2,45,900
STAR SOPRT
100 cc
1,56,900
VICTOR
109.7 cc
1,67,900
XL 100
99.7 cc
1,12,900
RTR 200 4V
197,75CC
2,83,900
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2,54,900 to 2,64,900
2,89,900 Gixxer Dual Tone
NEW BIKE BUYER’S GUIDE
Disclaimer: All prices are subject to change without prior notice. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.
Morang Auto Works Teku, Tel: 4261160 | 4268252
YAMAHA FZ FI V2.0
149 cc
2,64,400
FZ-16 FI V2
149 cc
2,56,900
FZ-S FI V2 SE
149 cc
2,69,400
RAY Z-R
113 cc
1,89,900 to 1,96,900
SZ-RR
149 cc
2,17,900 to 2,19,900
YZF R15 V1.5
150 cc
3,55,900
FASCINO
113 cc
1,94,900
SALUTO
125cc
1,88,900
FZ25
249cc
3,49,900
CROSSFIRE XZ250RR
Classic Wheels Export Import Pvt. Ltd. Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu Tel: 980-1024639 250 cc 6,10,000
FIND. COMPARE. BUY. SELL. ANY VEHICLE IN NEPAL.
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䤀渀琀爀漀搀甀挀椀渀最 礀漀甀爀 漀眀渀 䜀唀䰀䘀 倀刀䤀䐀䔀 匀䌀伀伀吀䔀刀
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AUTOLIFE MAY/JUNE 2018
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