Motown India April 2018

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VOL-8 • ISSUE-7 • APRIL 2018 • `100/-

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Steering through the Backwaters

INDIA

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FIRST DRIVE

MERCEDES-BENZ S 350 D

FIRST RIDE

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TVS APACHE RTR 160 4V

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EDITOR Punnoose Tharyan (Roy) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------News Coordinator - Jisha P Spl. Correspondent - Joshua David Luther Principal Correspondent (Auto & Gadgets) Aakash Paul Video Editor - Ramesh Kumar Content Manger - Vrinda Desai Digital In-charge Naveen Kumar Web Correspondents - Avdesh Kumar, Seema Paul Sr. Photographer - Afsar Baig Jr. Photographer -Neeraj Panwar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------For Editorial contact editorial@motownindia.com, editorial.motown@gmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR MARKETING & SALES CONTACT Head-Operations - Jisha P jisha@motownindia.com, +91-9958125645 advertising@motownindia.com, advertising.motown@gmail.com /+91-9811097399 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR ACCOUNTS CONTACT Ankit Sharma, ankit@motownindia.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTION CONTACT Dalip Singh Bagdwal subscription@motownindia.com / +91-9811305822 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Office Executive Ravinder ------------------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL DELHI OFFICE 145 B/9, First Floor, Kishangarh, Next to United Free Church, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, Tel: 011-26122756/58 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------DISTRIBUTED BY Central News Agency, New Delhi ------------------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL CONTENT The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the contents in the magazine are correct. However, he can accept no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions. Any unauthorised reproduction of Motown India content is strictly forbidden.

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s technology progresses, so do we. This April 2018 edition of Motown India magazine brings in a lot more excitement for our readers. Some of our drive and travel reports are carrying QR codes on the pages which once scanned can take you directly to their respective video coverage on our YouTube channel. We have

reviewed the Mercedes-Benz S 350D, the TVS Apache RTR 160 4v, the Yamaha YZF R15 v3.0 and the Okinawa Praise electric scooter.

We are also carrying an interesting report on the houseboats of Kerala where we have actually steered the huge boat on the backwaters of Kerala. Steering a boat the size of a twobedroom flat on water is not at all easy but it was exciting nevertheless. All these reports are carrying their respective QR codes and once these are scanned through your mobile phones, you can directly watch the Motown India videos. Do not forget to like and share the video and if you have not subscribed to the Motown India channel on YouTube, do so immediately.

We are also carrying a detailed report on the 88th Geneva International Motor Show wherein we have featured some of the show stoppers. Not to be missed are the latest B2B and technology related news.

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CONTE NTS VOL 8 | ISSUE 7 | APRIL 2018

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GLOBAL NEWS : Bugatti presents Chiron Sport2 at Geneva International Motor Show

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INDIA BIKE NEWS : All-new Triumph Tiger 800 XCx, XR line-up at Rs 11.76 lakh onward

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B2B NEWS: Force Motors, Rolls Royce sign JV agreement 4 | MOTOWN INDIA | APRIL 2018

WHEELZ & ROADZ : Mercedes Benz S 350 D

42

WHEELZ & ROADZ : TVS Apache RTR 160 4v

55

INDIA CAR NEWS : New Ford EcoSport Titanium+ (MT) for Rs 10.47 lakh

WHEELZ & ROADZ : Yamaha YZF R15 v3.0

66 TECHNOLOGY: Dainese, Pagani develop materials for Huayra Roadster soft top

72 TECHNOLOGY: Durr EcoInCure offers best possible top-coat quality for cars www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

Quality and precision in manufacturing are the strong pillars of our global presence. We believe that every customer has a specific need and therefore we invest in precise technology to manufacture each bearing. No wonder, the world sees us a Dependable Partner.

GLOBAL NEWS

Bugatti presents Chiron Sport2; Priced `21.29 crore

6 | MOTOWN INDIA | APRIL 2018

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88 TH GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW Bugatti has honed the Chiron1 and is offering a Sport version of its 1,500 PS super sports car two years after its world debut at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show. At the same venue this year, the French luxury brand is presenting the Chiron Sport2 which offers significantly improved handling and even greater agility with no change in the power or performance data.

For this purpose, Bugatti has developed a dynamic handling package and reduced the weight of its car by about 18 kilograms. As a result, the Chiron Sport reaches higher cornering speeds and can lap the Nardò handling circuit in the south of Italy five seconds faster than the Chiron. The main differences between the appearance of the Chiron Sport and the standard version are a new wheel design and new fourpipe exhaust deflector.

The basic price of the Chiron Sport is Euros 2.65 million net (Rs 21.29 crore approx.).

A base price of US$3.26 million including transport, customs duties, taxes and fees has been set for the US market. In addition, there is an optional colour and trim package allowing customers to individually tailor the sporty appearance of their Chiron Sport. It is planned to deliver the first vehicles to customers at the end of the year.

A red “16” is positioned prominently on the black-painted grid of the radiator grille – referring to the number of cylinders which gives

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 7

GLOBAL NEWS

the Chiron engine its unique position.

The windscreen wiper arms developed

by Bugatti for the Chiron Sport are an interesting technical detail. This is the first production car to feature windscreen wiper arms made from carbon fibre. This new development means that Bugatti no longer needs the articulated joints which normally feature on conventional wipers.

The function of these joints has been integrated into the carbon fibre structure of the wiper arms. In addition, the wiper arm tips, which are made from aluminium, are produced by a weight-saving 3-D printing process. This means that the new carbon fibre wipers are 77 percent or 1.4 kg lighter than their predecessors.

In addition, thanks to the new material, the wiper arms have a new profile that allows improved aerodynamic properties.

At first glance, the Chiron Sport can be recognised by its new “Course”

8 | MOTOWN INDIA | APRIL 2018

alloy wheel rims and the new exhaust deflector, which has four round tailpipes instead of the rectangular design used on the Chiron. In addition, the Sport version has a number of design features that underline its identity as a Chiron Sport. For example, the engine starter

button and the driving mode selector knob on the steering wheel as well as the marketing plate have an anodised black finish, the “Sport” logo is in evidence on the door sill strips and there is an insert on the central console with an embroidered “Chiron Sport” logo.

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GLOBAL NEWS

World debut of Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro

Aston Martin has played the ultimate top trumps card at the Geneva Motor Show with the world debut of the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro - the sensational track-only evolution of the marque’s spectacular hypercar.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro was unveiled by Adrian Newey, Chief Technical Officer of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal, Christian

10 | MOTOWN INDIA | APRIL 2018

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GLOBAL NEWS

Horner. Joining them were Reichman and Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of TAG Heuer - the official watch partner of Aston Martin and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.

Full technical details of the Valkyrie AMR Pro will be revealed in due course, but those headline figures that can be disclosed provide a remarkable statement of intent. Key to the car’s unprecedented track performance are its lightweight construction and high-downforce aerodynamics - a combination that will result in a car that weighs 1000kg, yet is capable of generating more than its own

weight in downforce.

To achieve this remarkable figure all the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro’s aerodynamic surfaces have been revised in the pursuit of significantly increased downforce. Most obvious changes are wider bodywork and much larger front and rear wing elements, which together with revised active aerodynamic control strategies tailored for the demands of track driving. In order to save weight this bodywork uses a lighter construction of carbon fibre. Likewise the removal of items such as the heater/de-mister blower and infotainment screens fitted to the road

12 | MOTOWN INDIA | APRIL 2018

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88 TH GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW

car, and through the fitment of new ultralightweight track-specific components such as a polycarbonate windscreen (with heater elements) and side windows, carbon fibre suspension wishbones, moulded race seats and a lighter exhaust system ensure the AMR Pro hits its 1000kg weight target.

Calibration changes to the 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine’s emission control systems and re-programming of the Energy Recovery System control software will result in a combined power output of more than 1100bhp - more than the Valkyrie road car and a figure than

comfortably exceeds the magic 1:1 powerto-weight ratio. That’s to say more than 1bhp to propel every kilogram of mass.

The single-minded pursuit of top speed has never been part of the Valkyrie ethos, yet even in high-downforce track configuration the AMR Pro is still capable of hitting 225mph (362kmph approx.). Of far greater benefit to lap time is the trackonly Valkyrie’s ability to achieve lateral acceleration in excess of 3G - a figure far beyond that of any other car derived from a fully homologated road car.

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 13

GLOBAL NEWS

Ferrari 488 Pista comes with track-level power

14 | MOTOWN INDIA | APRIL 2018

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88 TH GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW The Ferrari 488 Pista is powered by the most powerful V8 engine in the Maranello marque’s history and is the company’s special series sports car with the highest level yet of technological transfer from racing. In fact, the name, meaning ‘track’ in Italian, was chosen specifically to testify to Ferrari’s unparalleled heritage in motor sports.

Technically, the Ferrari 488 Pista encompasses all of the experience built up on the world’s circuits by the 488 Challenge and the 488 GTE. For over 25 years, Maranello has been organising the most prestigious of all one-make championships, the Ferrari Challenge, in which over 100 drivers split into three continental series do battle at the wheel. Last year saw the introduction of the 488 Challenge, the first model in the series to be equipped with a turbo engine. The Ferrari 488 GTE is instead the car fielded in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the pinnacle of GT racing, where it has won two consecutive GT Manufacturers’ titles and no less than five titles in total since the championship’s inception in 2012. Thanks to wins in both the Pro and Am categories, the 488 GTE has taken no fewer than 35 out of the 50 races run to date.

The new car’s engine adopts numerous solutions from that of the 488 Challenge and its power output has been increased to 720 cv (approx. 710hp). It is also lighter, thanks to new titanium con-rods and carbon-fibre intake plenums. The inverted radiator cooling system is also derived from the Challenge with the radiators raked rearwards (rather than forwards as in the 488 GTB), improving cooling and maintaining optimal performance levels even in high thermal stress situations.

The car’s aerodynamics are derived from both the 488 GTE and from Formula 1, specifically the S-Duct at its front, the rear spoiler and diffuser profiles which boost efficiency by 20% compared to the 488 GTB. Other solutions have been carried over from the track to shave off further weight, including the lithium battery (from the 488 Challenge) and also the new carbon-fibre wheel rims - a first for Ferrari. The overall result is that the 488 Pista is an impressive 90 kg lighter than the 488 GTB. As with the three previous special series, the Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale, this new berlinetta is the perfect marriage of extreme performance and track car-style handling.

The Ferrari 488 Pista can punch out 720 cv at 8000 rpm, giving it the best specific power output in its class at 185 cv/l, while torque is higher at all engine speeds, peaking at 770 Nm (10 Nm more than the 488 GTB). An extreme evolution of the turbo engine elected overall International Engine of the Year in both 2016 and 2017, this is the most powerful V8 in Ferrari history.

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 15

GLOBAL NEWS

All-new Lexus UX Crossover makes world debut Following recent launches of its stunning new LC flagship coupe, LS flagship sedan and three-row RX luxury utility vehicle, Lexus is opening a new gateway into the brand with the UX, its first-ever compact luxury crossover. The UX introduces a bold new design, ultra-efficient new powertrains and innovative luxury features.

The UX is the first Lexus to use the brand’s GA-C (Global Architecture – Compact) platform. The super-rigid structure and low centre of gravity help the UX deliver exemplary handling agility and ride comfort, along with a distinctive driving personality.

The 2019 Lexus UX will be available in two versions: the UX 200 introduces a new 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine coupled with a new Direct-Shift continuously variable transmission (CVT), while the UX 250h pairs the same 2.0-litre gas engine with a new fourth generation hybrid drive system. New technology that networks with navigation allows the UX 250h to proactively optimise hybrid operation

16 | MOTOWN INDIA | APRIL 2018

by learning, and adapting to the driver’s routes and driving habits.

space for passengers.

The UX makes a bold statement in a segment characterised by conventional SUV themes. The striking design, notable for its crisp, prominent sculpting and dramatically flared front and rear fenders, envelops a cabin that provides a driverfocused cockpit and a roomy, relaxing

Making urban exploring easier, the vehicle’s proportions allow for easy maneuverability, with a best-in-segment 34foot turning circle. A 103.9-in. wheelbase contributes to a smooth, stable ride and cabin roominess, while the 177-inch length lets the Lexus UX easily slip into convenient “compact only” parking spaces.

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88 TH GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW

Bespoke McLaren 720S by MSO

An award-filled year on from its world premiere at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show, the McLaren 720S again took the Geneva spotlight with a breathtaking-in-blue bespoke creation from McLaren Special Operations (MSO). This unique McLaren 720S in Atlantic Blue by MSO carries a price tag of British Pounds 281,260 (Rs 2.54 crore).

Providing the most focused driving experience thanks to innovations in aerodynamics, proactive suspension control, carbon-fibre construction and one of the world’s most potent 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engines, the 720PS (710bhp) 720S can deliver a top speed

of 212mph and despatch 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds. None of this is at the expense of comfort: heated electric seats, keyless entry, soft-close doors, cruise control, electrically adjustable steering column and advanced climate and connectivity systems are among the standard features Combining the deepest of deep blue paint finishes specially formulated for the car with a classic Saddle Tan leather interior, the McLaren 720S in Atlantic Blue by MSO presents the dynamism of the McLaren Super Series wrapped up in a timeless, luxury-accented allure.

McLaren Special Operations’ latest

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creation comes a year after MSO’s first bespoke project on the secondgeneration Super Series, the 720S Velocity by MSO, which was shown in Geneva in 2017. With a fusion of Volcano Red and Nerello Red paint colours, its explosive looks more than matched its performance. In the 12 months since – during which time the 720S has garnered five-star road test verdicts as well as awards including the world’s most beautiful supercar – few of the nearly 1,500 McLaren 720S delivered since launch have not borne at least some MSO influence. The earliest build allocation for a ‘standard’ car is currently July of this year.

APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 17

GLOBAL NEWS

Lamborghini unveils Huracán Performante Spyder Automobili Lamborghini unveiled the Lamborghini Huracán Performante Spyder at the Geneva Motor Show. With its 5.2 l V10 naturally-aspirated engine, the permanent four-wheel drive Performante Spyder accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.1 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 9.3 seconds, and with a top speed of 325 km/h matches its coupé stablemate. Braking from 100-0 km/h is mastered in 31.5 m.

Like the Performante coupé, the Spyder puts out 640 hp at 8,000 rpm, producing 600 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm, and with more than 70% of torque already available at 1,000 rpm. With a total dry weight of just 1,507 kg, the Spyder returns a weight-to-power ratio of 2.35 kg/hp, with

18 | MOTOWN INDIA | APRIL 2018

weight distribution front/rear of 43/57%.

The Performante design cues of Super Trofeo race cars and performance motorcycles with their naked, open-frame streetfighter characters remind that the Huracán Performante Spyder is a super sports car as capable on the track as the road.

The visible carbon fibre running throughout the aluminium body references the Huracán Performante Spyder’s lightweight character, contributing to a weight reduction of 35 kg over the original Huracán Spyder.

Forged

composite, with its ability to be shaped into complex geometrical shapes, features in front and rear spoiler, engine bonnet, rear bumper and aerodynamic diffuser: functional elements components within Lamborghini’s patented active aerodynamics system introduced on the Huracán Performante: Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva -- ALA. The Spyder’s soft-top does not compromise the ALA system, which varies aero load in

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88 TH GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW

conditions requiring either high down force or low drag, as well as enabling aero vectoring in high-speed cornering, thus providing excellent driving dynamics on track and on road in every condition.

Lamborghini’s Piattaforma Inerziale (LPI) system governs all the car’s electronic systems in real time, including the car’s set-up as well as activating the ALA system in less than 500

milliseconds, ensuring the best aerodynamic set-up of the car in every driving condition. Like the Huracán Performante coupé, the Spyder features an enhanced suspension system; recalibrated ESC; more responsive Lamborghini Dynamic Steering (LDS); permanent four-wheel drive maximising traction in all situations in conjunction with the ALA system; and revised ANIMA: Lamborghini’s driver-mode system comprising STRADA, SPORT and CORSA, which customizes the set-up of all the car’s dynamic systems.

The Huracán Performante Spyder roof opens in just 17 seconds up to a driving speed of 50 km/h). The rear window can also be electrically

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opened, which functions as a windshield when closed. When the roof is down, the Huracán Performante Spyder’s design incorporates two movable fins, which rise out of the folding roof casing and continue the roofline from seatbacks to the rear of the car, lending the Spyder its distinctive silhouette. An integrated duct within the fins reduces turbulence in the headroom during open-top driving. Two additional, removable wind guards damp lateral aerodynamic pulsations, ensuring perfect acoustic comfort that allows conversation even at high speeds. The Huracán Performante Spyder, with roof open or closed, is equally a driver’s car in challenging dynamic situations, as well as a thrilling lifestyle experience.

APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 19

GLOBAL NEWS

BMW unveils Concept M8 Gran Coupe, a sporty and luxurious car The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe shown at the Geneva Motor Show illustrates the meaning behind the letter “M” at BMW in impressive style: it stands for “more”, more of everything. As well as dynamic excellence, the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe embodies a new facet of luxury for the BMW brand – ultra-sporty, extrovert and polarising.

The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe is more than simply a luxury sports car with four doors. Like the BMW Concept 8 Series before it, the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe shows off BMW’s new design language, headlined by expressive surfacing that accentuates the car’s dynamism more vividly than before through its bodywork.

A small number of precise character lines underline the graphic arrangement of the surfaces.

Low to the road and broad instance, the

20 | MOTOWN INDIA | APRIL 2018

eye-catching front end of the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe delivers an immediate promise of an exceptional performance experience. The muscular surfaces and precise contours of the bonnet hint at the driving capability bubbling intently under the skin.

The face of the new BMW 8 Series is evident in the new Concept’s front-end graphic. The contours of the radiator grille kidneys broaden as they descend towards the road, emphasising the car’s low centre of gravity. As on early BMW coupes, the kidney elements are linked by an unbroken grille surround, creating a large single element. The headlights are positioned slightly higher than the kidneys and give them the impression of sitting lower, which further emphasizes the car’s closeness to the asphalt. In contrast, the gold-coloured kidney surround brings an added air of exclusivity to the front end. Within the

headlights, the lighting technology familiar from the M8 GTE endurance racer provides a dynamic, hexagonal interpretation of BMW’s signature four-eyed front end, distilling elements of modern-day motor sport and luxurious quality into its inner details.

Meanwhile, brawny air intakes in carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) guide the air to where it is required.

Being every inch the BMW M car, the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe has a roof made from CFRP – which lowers the car’s centre of gravity both visually and physically – and aerodynamically optimised exterior mirrors.

The Salève Vert paint finish, whose colour appears to change from green to greyish blue in different lights, creates a hugely effective surface composition and teams up with the gold-coloured window graphic, hallmark M gills, gold coloured brakes, wheel rims and M twin exhaust tailpipes to give the car a head turning, all-new look.

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88 TH GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW

World premiere of Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo

With the Mission E Cross Turismo, Porsche unveiled the concept study of an electrically driven cross utility vehicle (CUV). The strengths of the four-door Cross Turismo include an emotional design with striking offroad elements as well as an innovative display and operating concept with touchscreen and eye-tracking control. Measuring 4.95 metres in length, the concept vehicle has all-wheel drive and an 800-volt architecture, prepared for connection to the fast charging network.

energy storage system. Additionally, the debut of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS heralds the arrival of one of the most radical high-performance sports cars today. It produces 520 hp (383 kW) from a four-litre capacity.

Two permanent magnet synchronous motors (PSM) with a system output of more

than 600 hp (440 kW) enable the Mission E Cross Turismo to accelerate to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds and to reach a speed of 200 km/h in under 12 seconds. Furthermore, the level of continuous power is unmatched by any other electric vehicle: multiple accelerations are possible in direct succession without loss of performance.

It can also be charged by induction, at a charging station or using the Porsche home

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 21

GLOBAL NEWS

Range Rover SV Coupé world debut

Land Rover is defining a new genre with the world’s first full-size luxury SUV coupé: the limited-edition two-door Range Rover SV Coupé. Created by Land Rover Design and Special Vehicle Operations, SV Coupé is an exemplar of Range Rover design, craftsmanship and capability. It features a seductive body allied to the next-generation of cabin luxury – with the peerless all-terrain ability expected from Range Rover. No more than 999 will be hand-crafted by SVO for clients worldwide.

SV Coupé’s purity of line is perfectly

22 | MOTOWN INDIA | APRIL 2018

complemented by elegant power-close doors with frameless glass. This is in combination with the panoramic roof, light floods into the cabin, accentuating the relaxed, sophisticated and contemporary ambience.

Carefully curated body colour combinations, including a new Contour Graphic available in four duo-tone colourways, are offset by unique side vent and grille designs. This is also the first Range Rover with a 23-inch wheel option.

Enhanced luxury and exquisite

craftsmanship extends inside too, with semianiline leather front seats bringing Range Rover’s already premium interior to a new level of luxury: accommodation comparable to private jets and yachts. Their gradated diamond quilt design is unique to SV Coupé.

Each SV Coupé will be hand-assembled to the client’s personal specification by the fastidious experts at the SVO Technical Centre in the UK – a first for Range Rover.

SV Coupé is also the fastest-ever full-size Range Rover, with a 165mph top speed.

Powered by an exhilarating 565PS 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 petrol powertrain, the most powerful ever placed in a full-size Range Rover, means SV Coupé hits 60mph in just 5 seconds.

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88 TH GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW

Nissan unveils Nissan IMx Kuro, a concept vehicle The acceleration of electrification was the key theme at the Nissan stand during this year’s Geneva Motor Show. Taking centre stage was the world premiere of the allelectric ABB FIA Formula E Championship race car, seen in its concept livery for the first time. The car will make its city circuit debut at the start of the 2018/19 season later this year.

Nissan has confirmed that under its new Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022 midterm plan, it will offer electrified powertrains within the next generation of its best-selling crossovers.

Kuro, which means black in Japanese, comes to life on the IMx, which was first revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2017, with new look black trim and wheels, an updated grille and a new dark gray body colour.

At the core of the Nissan IMx KURO’s technological features is a future version of ProPILOT that offers fully autonomous operation. When ProPILOT drive mode is selected, the system stows the steering wheel inside the dashboard and reclines

all seats, giving the driver more space and allowing the vehicle’s occupants to relax and enjoy their commute. When Manual drive mode is selected, the vehicle returns the steering wheel and seats to their original position, seamlessly transferring control back to the driver.

The B2V technology featured in the Nissan IMx KURO promises to speed up reaction times for drivers and will lead to cars that keep adapting to make driving more enjoyable.

Also for the future is the Nissan IMx Kuro, a concept vehicle that showcases Nissan’s leadership in both electric vehicles and crossovers. The model has been updated since its Tokyo Motor Show debut and now features Nissan’s pioneering Brain-toVehicle (B2V) technology.

Nissan reveals concept livery for its Formula E debut season

Nissan IMx KURO concept vehicle

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 23

GLOBAL NEWS

Renault EZ-GO, a Robo-vehicle concept makes world premiere At the Geneva Motor Show, Renault introduced a robo-vehicle and ridehailing concept, with an iconic design meant to integrate into the environment, and maximize new ways of moving around congested cities.

A first of its kind, Renault EZ-GO, an electric, autonomous, shared robovehicle concept is both a vehicle and a service that allows people to hail a ride either from a fixed or mobile location.

Renault believes vehicle-service integration combined with connection to city infrastructure - leveraging sensors, data analytics, connected services, multimodal systems and more - will be a key characteristic of successful mobility solutions and smart cities of the future.

EZ-GO is the first of a series of Renault concept cars focused on mobility services that will be unveiled during 2018. EZ-GO follows the successful introduction of Renault’s electric, connected, level-4 autonomous drive demo car for individual ownership, Symbioz.

Available on demand, via an application as well as through permanent stations throughout the city,

the robo-vehicle combines the flexibility and comfort of individual cars with the efficiency, safety and worry-free driving delegation offered by public transport.

EZ-GO’s innovative architecture and cocoon-like styling was designed to maximize the field of vision of the autonomous system’s sensors, and allow natural light through the panoramic glass roof. The robo-vehicle’s height does not interfere with pedestrians’ view of the city. Once connected to

its station, EZ-GO offers a wide flat floor flush with the boarding ramp, making it easy to get onboard, whether walking or with wheels.

The characteristics of EZ-GO make it possible to change usage and user scenarios, keeping with the “Easy Life” approach which is at the heart of Renault’s DNA.

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88 TH GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW

McLaren Automotive unveils track-only McLaren Senna GTR Concept

McLaren Automotive, the British creator of luxury sportscars and supercars, is to offer a track-only version of the new Ultimate Series McLaren Senna, to be called the McLaren Senna GTR. Upto 75 examples of the most extreme McLaren car ever will be hand-assembled in Woking, England, during 2019.

Expressions of interest were taken at the Geneva Show and thereafter, with exact technical details of the McLaren Senna GTR confirmed later this year. Based around the same carbon fibre Monocage III structure as the McLaren Senna to ensure the core strength and rigidity needed for a top-flight track car, the McLaren Senna GTR will be similar in weight to the 1,198kg lightest dry total of the road-legal McLaren Senna. With more power and greater

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torque from the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine than the 800PS and 800Nm developed in the road car – horsepower will increase to at least 825PS – the car will be faster than the ‘standard’ model in a straight line. The additional benefit of a race-style transmission, revised double wishbone suspension and Pirelli slick tyres – together with up to 1,000kg of downforce – will ensure that the McLaren Senna GTR will also post the quickest McLaren circuit lap times outside Formula 1.

The design of the doors benefits aerodynamic efficiency, the outer skin being ‘pushed in’ as far as possible towards the centre of the car to better channel airflow. Unlike the road-legal McLaren Senna, the McLaren Senna GTR will feature a polycarbonate ‘ticket’ window.

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GLOBAL NEWS

Tata Motors world premiere of E-Vision Sedan Concept Celebrating its 20th year at the 88th Geneva International Motor Show, Tata Motors unveiled three next generation concepts and introduced two completely new vehicle architectures.

Making its premiere in the European markets, the first unveil was the ‘H5X concept’ - a 5-seater premium SUV developed on the company’s new ‘Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced’ Architecture , in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover. The second showcase was the ‘45X concept’ - a premium hatchback, which is an amalgamation of futuristic design, advanced technology, intuitive connectivity and great performance. The 45X will be built on the– ‘Agile Light Flexible Advanced’ Architecture , which is capable of developing multiple body types.

The H5X and the 45X concepts are globally benchmarked cars that will create future international business opportunities for Tata Motors. Developed under the new Impact 2.0 design language, these concepts offer extraordinary exteriors, luxurious interiors, intuitive features, future ready connectivity and infotainment, meeting the growing aspirations of the customers.

The third ‘InnoVision’ was the E-Vision Sedan, which is an electric concept, for the future connected generation and the best so far from the IMPACT 2.0

design philosophy. Leveraging the strength of the OMEGA architecture, the E-Vision Sedan Concept is built on a modified, dedicated EV architecture - a modular, scalable and flexible architecture to address the range of performance attributes for long-range travel with class defining interiors.

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88 TH GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW

McLaren Automotive, Richard Mille launch timepiece for `1.2 crore McLaren Automotive and Richard Mille revealed their first jointly-commissioned timepiece. The RM 11-03 McLaren Automatic Flyback Chronograph was unveiled at show, during a reception hosted by McLaren Automotive CEO, Mike Flewitt and Richard Mille CEO, Richard Mille. Limited to just 500 pieces globally and priced at 180,000CHF(Swiss Francs) (Approx Rs 1.24 crore) plus tax, the watch will be made available mainly to McLaren Ultimate Series clients.

snorkel and bearing the McLaren logo, adorn the bezel. The complex grade 5 titanium crown is shaped like a McLaren lightweight wheel and the McLaren Speedmark logo is incorporated into the rubber strap specifically developed for this watch.

The RM 11-03 McLaren features the automatic RMAC3 calibre mechanism, first launched in 2016, with a flyback chronograph and 55-hour power reserve.

The instant return of the counter to zero makes it possible to quickly restart the stopwatch function.

Richard Mille created a baseplate and bridges for the RM 11-03 McLaren made from PVD-treated grade 5 titanium, enabling the gear train to function effortlessly. The dial features an annual calendar and oversized date, as well as a 12-hour chronograph and countdown counters.

The RM 11-03 McLaren, created in close collaboration between McLaren Design Director Rob Melville and Richard Mille Engineer Fabrice Namura, has been in development since McLaren Automotive and Richard Mille partnered last year, uniting a mutual interest in unique design, the use of new materials and modern craftsmanship. These influences, as well as design cues taken from McLaren’s range of luxury sportscars and super cars, are reflected in this special timepiece.

The case of the RM 11-03 McLaren is made of Carbon TPT interlaced with Orange Quartz TPT, resulting in an extremely resistant and lightweight case while paying tribute to a colour that is synonymous with McLaren.

The Carbon TPT enhances the mechanical performance of the RM 11-03 and offers resistance to harsh environments.

The titanium pushers fitted to the Carbon TPT case echo the design of the distinctive headlights of the McLaren 720S. Titanium inserts, similar in shape to the iconic McLaren F1’s air-intake

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 27

INDIA CAR NEWS

New Ford EcoSport Titanium+ (MT) for `10.47 lakh In a bid to expand its line up and capture a greater chunk of the ever growing compact SUV market, Ford India has introduced a new top of the line Titanium+ petrol variant of the EcoSport with a manual transmission. The new model has been priced at Rs. 10.47 lakh (ex-showroom India). The Titanium+ variant is powered by Ford’s latest 1.5L Ti-VCT three cylinder engine, this petrol powered motor comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Ford’s Titanium+ variant features 17 inch alloy wheels and also offers buyers 6 airbags ensuring all-round safety of its occupants. The petrol powered Titanium+ variant until now was only being offered to consumers as a 6-speed automatic version. The new 1.5L petrol engine marked its debut in India when the EcoSport was launched in November last year. The new engine achieves a 7pc reduction in CO2 emissions an returns nearly 17kms to a litre of fuel.

Jaguar XE, XF now powered by Ingenium petrol powertrain in India

Mahindra prices new KUV100 Trip at `5.16 lakh onward

Jaguar Land Rover India has introduced the Jaguar XE and XF in India with the lightweight all-aluminium Ingenium petrol powertrain. The new 2.0 l (litre) Ingenium petrol motor is offered in both 147 kW (197hp) and 184 kW (247 hp) outputs and is mated to an 8-Speed Electronic Automatic Transmission with Jaguar Sequential ShiftTM and All Surface

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. launched the KUV100 Trip, a new variant of its compact SUV. The KUV100 Trip is ideally suited for fleet and business owners and will be available in both BiFuel (Petrol & CNG) and diesel mFalcon engine options. It is priced at Rs 5.16 lakh for bi-fuel variant and Rs. 5.42 lakh for diesel variant (both prices ex-showroom Delhi).

Progress Control. The Jaguar XE powered by the Ingenium petrol starts from Rs 35.99 Lakh while the Jaguar XF starts from Rs 49.80 lakh.

Datsun India introduces GO, GO+ Remix Limited Edition Datsun India has announced the launch of Remix Limited Edition of Datsun GO and GO+, priced at Rs 4,21,000 and Rs 4,99,000 respectively.

With new hood and roof wraps, all black interiors and new dual-tone colour combinations, the Remix editions will be available at all Nissan and Datsun dealerships across-India starting. Remixed inside out, the limited edition models come with nine new features such as Remote Keyless entry, Hands-free Bluetooth audio, trendy seat cover, all black front grill, stylish black wheel covers, piano-black interiors, rear sporty spoiler, stylish chrome exhaust finisher and chrome bumper bezel. The Datsun GO and GO+ models are equipped with a 1.2L engine. They both offer a robust performance, comfort, style and vigour to the consumers on the GO. The 5+2 seating of GO+ offers class leading spaciousness for an average Indian family at the best price in the industry. Both models are loaded with features like follow-me-home headlamps, speed sensitive electric power steering, powerful air conditioning, front power windows, auxiliary-in and USB charger ports, and central locking.

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INDIA CAR NEWS

2018 Maserati Ghibli in India for `1.34 crore onward Maserati has brought the restyled and power-packed 2018 version of its best-selling sedan to India – Maserati Ghibli. Two new distinctive trims, GranLusso and GranSport, have been included in the model range.

With the new Ghibli, Maserati packs a strong punch for its 2018 range in India which started the year with the launch of Maserati Quattroporte GTS and its most anticipated SUV, the Levante.

The ex-showroom prices for the 2018 Maserati Ghibli in India are: Ghibli Diesel - Rs. 13,387,856/-, Ghibli Diesel GranSport - Rs. 13,881,858/- and Ghibli Diesel GranLusso – Rs. 14,247,814/-.

While the Ghibli GranLusso is distinguished by enhanced exterior finish and an option of luxurious interior with Ermenegildo Zegna silk upholstery; the Ghibli GranSport was conceived to reflect Maserati’s racing heritage displaying sportier exterior design and interior contents.

The first diesel engine in Maserati’s history, the 2018 Ghibli is powered with a 3.0-litre V6 with Common-Rail direct injection exclusively developed by Maserati in collaboration with VM Motori. The Euro 6 homologated unit includes AdBlue technology and Auto StartStop to reduce overall fuel and CO2 emissions by up to 6%. An Active Sound System gives the V6 engine a thrilling exhaust growl.

This engine produces best-in-class power output of 275 hp, while still achieving a CO2 emissions of 158 g/km. Combined fuel consumption of 5.9 litres/100 km and a 70-litre tank ensure a long range of over 1,000 kilometres, making the Ghibli Diesel a car that really serves customer needs for long-distance travel in style and comfort.

The Ghibli Diesel boasts a maximum torque of 600 Nm between 2,000 and 2,600 rpm with over-boost turbocharging. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h.

Tata Motors unveils special edition Zest Premio at `7.53 lakh onward

Volkswagen introduces limited edition Polo Pace, Vento Sport

Tata Motors added a premium touch to its Zest range by introducing the Zest Premio – a special edition car with 13 new features. With more than 85,000 Tata Zest cars already on the road, the Zest Premio comes as a special edition to celebrate the success. The new model is available at a starting price of Rs 7.53 lakh for the diesel version (ex-showroom Delhi) across all Tata Motors sales outlets, in India.

Volkswagen India has announced the introduction of the limited edition Polo Pace and Vento Sport with a host of exciting new features.

Adding a dash of style, the Polo Pace and Vento Sport comes equipped with newer offerings for rapidly evolving consumers. The Vento Sport will be equipped with features like Glossy black spoilers, Glossy roof foil, Black carbon finish ORVM, 16” Portago Alloy wheels, Stylish side foils and Chrome Badge “Sport” on Fender. The Polo Pace will be equipped with 15” Diamond Cut Alloy wheels – “Razor”. The

debuts with a host of first-insegment premium features like dual tone roof in glossy black, piano black hued outside mirrors on the exterior, and a chic tan finished mid pad on the dashboard in the interior. The car comes with two exterior colours – Titanium Grey and Platinum Silver.

The Zest Premio

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limited edition Polo Pace and Vento Sport are available at all Volkswagen dealerships across India without any additional cost to customers. The Vento Sport will be available in the following trims: 1.2 L TSI HL, 1.2 L TSI HL +, 1.5 L TDI HL MT, 1.5 L TDI HL DSG and 1.5 TDL HL + DSG. The Polo Pace will be available in 1.0 L MPI CL.

APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 29

INDIA BIKE NEWS

All-new Triumph Tiger 800 XCx, XR line-up at `11.76 lakh onward Triumph Motorcycles India has launched the all-newTiger 800 XCX and XR line-up.

The bikes have undergone massive technical enhancements that have resulted in better off-road capability and rider comfort. While the new Tiger 800 XR will cost Rs 11.76 lakh, the Tiger 800 XRx will cost Rs 13.13 lakh and the Tiger 800 XCx will cost Rs 13.76 lakh.

The company claims that more than 200 upgrades have been made to the chassis and engine. Now it is a more responsive and optimised Triple engine.

The new shorter ratio 1st gear enables enhanced off-road traction, low-speed manoeuvrability and acceleration. As for the exhaust, it’s a lighter, free-flowing silencer with improved exhaust note.

There is a new “Off Road Pro” riding mode, with a choice of up to six riding modes. The screen is now adjustable for five different positions. The bikes also come with a new signature LED lighting, new illuminated, ergonomically designed, backlit switchgear and five-way joystick control. There is also a new updated cruise control.

Vimal Sumbly, MD, Triumph Motorcycles India Pvt. Ltd.

Besides the bike comes with a new premium bodywork, new high quality badges, graphics and detailing, new colours and a more contemporary and dynamic stance.

Harley-Davidson debuts Flat Track experience in India Upholding the legacy and showcasing its commitment to fuel excitement for motorsports in the country, HarleyDavidson India debuted its very first Flat Track experience in India for motorcycle enthusiasts.

Led by Marco Belli, the International Flat Track legend and master of the Di Traverso school in Italy, a special tw- day masterclass and training session was conducted for a select few at John Singh Speedway in Shahpura (near Jaipur).

The enthusiastic bunch shared a great camaraderie on and off the track as they learnt tips and tricks from Marco Belli while being trained in the techniques

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of handling a Flat Track motorcycle. Day one was dominated by introduction to Flat Track and training sessions while Day two saw thrilling races amongst the participants.

the street to a purpose-built Flat Track motorcycle with modified handlebars, seat units, fuel tank, exhaust, wheels and tyres.

Flat Track racing calls for motorcycles that can cater to the unique requirements of the sport. For this purpose, four Harley-Davidson Street Rod motorcycles were specially customised by Vijay Singh Ajairajpura of Rajputana Customs. Under his expertise, the Street Rod showcased its versatility, from being the master of

Flat Track Racing, one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing has its roots in the early 1900’s and it slowly gained immense popularity during the 1920’s.

Unlike motocross or road races where the riders are spread out over a large area, a spectator in the stands at a flat track race has access to thrilling action at all times.

This popular sport also shares a storied legacy with Harley-Davidson.

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INDIA BIKE NEWS

New 2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V launched for `81,490 onward

TVS Motor Company has launched the new 2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. The new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is the most powerful 160cc motorcycle, creating a new benchmark in the segment. The new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is born of the six-time Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (INMRC) winning motorcycle – (Group B RTR 165) and gets the 4-valve, oil-cooled engine that offers best-in-class performance.

The motorcycle has been priced at Rs 81,490/- for the Carburetor version with disc in front and drum brake at the rear, Rs 84,490/- for the carburettor version with disc brakes on both wheels and Rs 89,990/- for the fuel injected version with discs on both wheels. All prices are ex showroom Delhi.

(Read Review report on page 38)

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V Race Edition 2.0 now with A-RT Slipper Clutch TVS Motor Company has rolled out the new range of TVS Apache RTR 200 4V with ‘Anti-Reverse Torque (A-RT) Slipper Clutch’ technology. This motorcycle is termed as Race Edition 2.0. The Apache RTR 200 4V Race Edition 2.0 will also sport new racing-inspired graphics. The series now boasts of a fly-screen for enhanced aerodynamics.

The TVS Apache RTR 200 4V Race Edition 2.0, is the first motorcycle in its class to be equipped with the advanced ‘A-RT Slipper Clutch’, a race-derived technology which is a testimony to the racing DNA of the RTR 200 4V engine. The ‘A-RT Slipper Clutch’ technology, accentuates the

motorcycle’s performance, with 22% reduction in clutch force for quicker upshifts, enabling the rider to achieve better lap times.

The technology also aims at ensuring rider safety in highspeed downshifts, avoids wheel-hopping while cornering, and improves vehicle stability with the back-balance torque limiter effect. With exciting racing performance on offer, the introduction of the Slipper Clutch in TVS Apache RTR 200 4V Race Edition 2.0, also promises sharp and precise gear shifts with minimal effort.

The motorcycle continues to be powered

by a 197.75cc single-cylinder motor which is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The engine develops 20.5 PS (Carb) / 21.0 PS (EFI) of power at 8500 RPM and 18.1 Nm of torque at 7000 RPM.

Mahindra launches new Mojo UT 300 for `1.49 lakh Mahindra Two Wheelers launched a new variant of its popular Mojo motorcycle in India - Mojo UT 300. The bike has been introduced with a price tag of Rs. 1.49 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The Mojo UT 300 is slated as a universal tourer and has been designed to take on different terrains.

torsional rigidity. Also on offer are 320mm petal disc brakes for the front wheel and

Powering the Mahindra Mojo 300 is a liquid cooled, single cylinder engine with a compact digital panel and carburettor fuel delivery system. The motorcycle has been built on a twin tube frame that gets high

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17inch tubeless tyres. The rear wheel has been bolted on a high pressure gas charged offset mono shock with a separator floating piston.

The new Mojo UT 300 also gets a 21 litre fuel tank which is the largest in its class of motorcycle. Mahindra has also added another variant to their Mojo lineup, the Mojo Xtreme Tourer (XT) 300 which comes fitted with Upside Down Fork front suspension, Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and Pirelli Diable Rosso II tyres.

APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 31

INDIA BIKE NEWS

New colours in Yamaha Cygnus Ray ZR scooter

India Yamaha Motor (IYM) Pvt. Ltd. has introduced new colour options to the Cygnus Ray-ZR portfolio as an add on to its style and bravura. The design realises the Real Boys’ Scooter concept by balancing the deeply-sculpted and powerful front mask, effortlessly-layered straight lines, and tail surround accentuated with a sense of speed. The Drum Brake model of the Cygnus Ray ZR comes at a cost of Rs 53,451 while the Disk Brake model is priced at Rs 55,898.

Hero MotoCorp launches new Super Splendor for `57,190 Hero MotoCorp Ltd has introduced the new Super Splendor motorcycle. The motorcycle has been priced at Rs 57,190/- (Ex-Showroom Delhi).

Powered by a new air-cooled, 4-stroke single cylinder OHC 125cc TOD (Torque-onDemand) engine, the commuter motorcycle engine produces a maximum power output of 11.4 PS @ 7500 rpm and maximum torque of 11 Nm @6000 rpm. The motorcycle also features Hero i3S technology (idle stop and start system).

The motorcycle offers 27% more power and 6% more torque than its previous generation. The bike reaches a maximum speed of 94 km/h.

Hero MotoCorp launches new Passion Pro, Passion XPro Close on the heels of launching the new Super Splendor, Hero MotoCorp has commenced retail sales of the new Passion Pro and Passion XPro across markets in the country. The new Passion Pro is priced at Rs. 53,189/- (Ex-Showroom Delhi) and the new Passion XPro at Rs. 54,189/- (Ex-Showroom Delhi).

The new 110cc Passion Pro is loaded with an array of convenience, safety and utility features, which integrate seamlessly to offer a hassle-free riding experience. The new Passion Pro draws its performance from a BS-IV compliant 110cc TOD (Torque on Demand) engine, producing a maximum power output of 7.0 (9.4) kW (PS) @ 7500 rpm and maximum torque of 9.0 Nm @ 5500 rpm. This represents 12% more power and torque than its previous generation.

Gauge and All Time Headlamp On (AHO).

The new motorcycle comes with a BS-IV compliant 110cc (Torque on Demand) engine, producing a maximum power output of 7.0 (9.4) kW (PS) @ 7500 rpm and maximum torque of 9.0 Nm @ 5500 rpm. The bike, which races from 0-60 km/h in 7.45 seconds only, also features Hero’s intuitive i3S (Idle-stop-start system), making it performance oriented and more efficient. The motorcycle is available in both Drum and Disc variants.

The new sharper Passion XPro features include a new sharper Fuel Tank with Flush fuel lid, dynamic shrouds, sporty real cowl, duel-tone mirrors, LED Tail Lamp and Digital-Analog meter with digital Fuel

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INDIA BIKE NEWS

Honda launches 2018 editions of CB Shine SP, Livo, Dream Yuga

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. has launched three 2018 editions of its motorcycles – Livo, Dream Yuga and CB Shine SP. These vehicles were unveiled In February at the Auto Expo 2018.

The new 2018 edition of CB Shine SP gets new style with an aggressive tank shroud, new sporty graphics for a sportier look, a new instrumentation cluster with Service Due Indicator and clock and a new low maintenance seal chain. . The 2018 edition

of CB Shine SP prices start at Rs. 62,032 (Exshowroom, Delhi).

The 110 cc Livo which is Honda’s bestseller in the 110cc commuter motorcycle segment, now gets more style courtesy the new stylish sporty stripes. Upping the game is the new analog-digital meter console with added convenience of Service Due Indicator, clock and low maintenance seal chain. The 2018 edition of Livo is priced Rs.

56,230 (Ex-showroom, Delhi) onward.

The 2018 edition of Dream Yuga Honda’s premium 110cc commuter motorcycle now gets refreshed graphics, an elegant meter design and body coloured rear view mirrors.

It now comes with new HET tyre (Low Rolling resistance tyre) for improved overall efficiency and the new low-maintenance seal chain. The 2018 Dream Yuga is priced at Rs. 52,741 (Ex-showroom, Delhi) onward.

Suzuki launches new 2018 Gixxer, Gixxer F Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. (SIMPL) has launched the all new 2018 series of Gixxer and Gixxer SF motorcycle in India. The Gixxer has been priced at Rs. 80,928 (ex-showroom Delhi) while the Gixxer SF has been launched for Rs. 90,037 (ex-showroom Delhi).

The new 2018 models come with new graphics, The Moto GP inspired Metallic Triton

Blue Gixxer SF gets the ECSTAR logo. The new 2018 models of the Gixxer and Gixxer SF will also get Candy Sonoma Red, Metallic Sonic Silver and the previous Glasss Sparkle Black.

Both the new 2018 models are powered by the light 155cc single cylinder engine. The Gixxer series in India has been built on a chassis developed by the engineers who designed the GSX-R series.

Suzuki Intruder Fi launched at `1.06 L

Suzuki Motorcycle India has introduced a Fuel Injection (Fi) variant of its cruiser - Intruder.

The Intruder, which was launched in November 2017 now comes equipped with Suzuki Advanced Fuel Injection Technology with 6 sensors that calculate the optimum amount of fuel required for better combustion, and hence providing an accurate throttle response at all RPMs. The new Intruder -Fi is available in two colours – Metallic Oort/Metallic Matt Black No 2, and Glass Sparkle Black/Metallic Matt Titanium Silver; and is priced at Rs 1,06,896 (ex-showroom, New Delhi). Since its launch, the Intruder has sold around 15000 units.

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 33

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

MERCEDES BENZ S 350 D

A CUT ABOVE Report: Joshua David Luther Photography: Neeraj Panwar

I

t has been nearly four years since the 6th generation Mercedes Benz S-Class was launched in India and I had just arrived at the opulent Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad to drive the 2018 Mercedes Benz S-Class. Essentially a mid life facelift, the new S-Class does not feature too many cosmetic changes to distinguish it from its predecessor but under the hood lies a gargantuan overhaul that makes the cut for it.

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EXTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES The facade is still distinctly S-Class but the list of changes include those made to the headlamps, grille and bumper.

Mercedes has now introduced a tri LED DRL setup on the new headlamps as opposed to the single strip on the previous model. The company has stated the main beam is capable of throwing

light over 650 meters. It also features Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus which enables the main beam to be left on at all times without dazzling other road users and uses 84 individually controllable LEDs to light up the way precisely where required. The headlamp cluster looks more suave and modish than before. A larger and sportier front grille also adds a touch of panache to the face of this new S Class and the reworked bumper

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#MERCEDESBENZS350D

We drove the diesel powered 350 D which is also remarkably the first BS-VI made in India. Another major change to be noted in the engine is the in-line 6 cylinder layout as opposed to the V6 format of the previous mill. The highlights of this new engine are that it produces 286hp, that is around 28hp more than the previous motor. The 6-cylinder behemoth turns 600Nm, which also caters to its surprisingly volant performance.

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO* * • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Playstore to view the video.

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 35

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

SPECIFICAT IO N S ENGINE 2925cc, in-line 6 Cylinder,

Diesel

TRANSMISSION 9-speed

Automatic

POWER 286hp@3400-4600rpm TORQUE 600Nm@1200-3200rpm TYRES 245/50 R18 PRICE `1.33 Crore (Ex-Showroom Delhi)

with larger air intakes just goes further to add to this flair. One can easily notice a large black panel in the centre of the grille which serves as a housing unit for the ADAS (Advance Driving Aid Sensor) installed on the new S-Class.

The rear has been enhanced with a new design in the tail lamp cluster which also features a crystal finish that is plainly elegant. The jewel like glow from the tail lamps is sure to bedazzle onlookers and rounds off the luxurious allure. The rear bumper has also been redesigned and a chrome strip running seamlessly between the twin exhausts adds a voguish touch to the saloon. The side profile is still the same but a new set of 18 inch 5 twin-spoke alloys with high sheen finish give the S Class a jaunty look.

INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES As is norm in this segment, the rear seat

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of the new S Class is still the space to be in. The interiors offer warm and earthy tones and the designers at Mercedes Benz have done a splendid job of integrating technology with a very retro theme in the cabin. The facelift of the S Class does not offer any major changes but there are a few obvious ones, one of them being the new three spoke steering wheel wrapped in Nappa leather and adorned with a host of controls. The two 12.3 inch displays in the front look seamlessly connected thanks to a single glass frame. One screen serves as the infotainment unit while the other displays driver instrumentation.

The cabin of the S Class can rival that of a luxurious private jet and the regal retro scheme of things just brings more life to the cabin. A single solid block of wood runs across the dash and holds the circular AC vents along with an analogue clock.

The infotainment unit also offers Android

Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity to consumers. Continuing the grandeur offered on the S Class, Mercedes is offering 64 different ambient lighting options as well as a fragrance package that lets you choose the scent you want circulated in the cabin.

Qi enabled devices can also be wirelessly charged both at the front and in the rear.

Other highlights are multiple massage functions, separate climate controls of the rear seat occupants, 10.2 inch individual infotainment screens, panoramic sunroof and electrically operated sun blinds. The rear seat can also be reclined upto an angle of 43.5 degrees and gets an extendable footrest turning it into a lounge like chair that offers 77mm of knee room.

SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE We drove the diesel powered 350 D which is also remarkably the first BS-VI made in India. Another major change to be noted in the engine is the in-line 6 cylinder layout

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#MERCEDESBENZS350D as opposed to the V6 format of the previous mill. The highlights of this new engine are that it produces 286hp, that is around 28hp more than the previous motor. The 6-cylinder behemoth turns 600Nm, which also caters to its surprisingly volant performance.

The engine has been mated to a 9 speed automatic transmission which is seamless in its operation and caters to butter smooth acceleration. The power delivery is surprisingly linear with the turbochargers tuned to precision, rendering a sporty drive. The 3.0L diesel engine gets common rail direct injection with piezo injectors that can achieve an injection pressure of upto 2500 bar. Drive modes being offered on the S-Class include - Sport, Eco, Comfort and Dynamic.

Another highlight of the performance and a crucial one for this segment is insulation. The new S-Class has definitely set the benchmark when it comes to insulation and refinement. The ride is smooth, silent and immensely stable. This in part is also due to the Airmatic suspension incorporated on the new S-Class. The suspension eagerly gobbles up almost all undulations and renders a floating feeling to cabin occupants. The ride height of the S-Class can also be adjusted by upto 30mm. In Sport mode the suspension is automatically leveled beyond 100kmph and in comfort by 10mm when it crosses 120kmph additionally by another 10mm when it crosses 160kmph. This has also increased the control rendered to the driver at high speeds thanks to the improved lower centre of gravity.

Speaking about control, here comes the juicy part, the new Mercedes Benz S-Class comes with ADAS. The radar based safety technology being offered on the saloon has made it immensely safe and capable. The multiple driver aides include Distronic which enables the driver to control the distance from the car infront with speeds of upto 210kmph, starting from 20kmph. The system also incorporates active steering behind the vehicle which it is following. Another radar based safety features added are Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Steering Assist, Active Braking Assist which includes warning, situation dependant braking assistance and autonomous braking. The S-Class also features completely autonomous parking where in the driver does not need to even change gears or brake.

VERDICT Despite the few changes made on the design front, the S-Class continues to look ever so glamorous and contemporary. The new diesel engine has surpassed our expectations and is most definitely a cut above the rest. But what really walks away with the cake is the flawless manner in which all the ADAS systems function. We got to sample each one and were thoroughly convinced of the safety and reliability of the radar based safety tech.

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 37

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

TVS APACHE RTR 160 4V

Report: Aakash S. Paul, Photography: Afsar Baig

T

here is a racer resting in each of us.

Some nurture it while some deny its existence but it is there, waiting for the perfect opportunity to reveal itself, waiting for the perfect tool to act as the launch pad.

The new TVS Apache RTR 160 4v promises to be that catalyst to set your inner racer free. It looks more like its elder sibling, the 200 4v and also comes as a byproduct of TVS trying to bring their racing line RTR 165 DNA onto the streets. But does it deliver?

DESIGN, STYLING AND FEATURES The moment you lay eyes on the new Apache RTR 160 4v, you will recognise the familiar silhouette that is also seen on the Apache 200 4v. The resemblance between the two bikes is uncanny and while it is good news for people who will go for the 160, I am not sure if the Apache 200 owners will share the same opinion. Regardless, the new RTR 160 4v looks stunning and I am glad that the old headlamp cluster is gone and TVS has used a

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setup similar to the 4v.

be quite easy to ride daily.

Though you get smart looking DRLs on the side, the main unit is still a halogen bulb.

The whole front has a very aggressive look but an all-LED headlamp would have been like icing on the cake. Moving over to the side you can witness that the fuel tank has also changed its appearance and the Apache logo has been replaced with the TVS badge.

The Apache logo now sits on the slightly less impressive grey coloured side panel. There are some fake vents on the front and side of the fuel tank to give the bike more appeal along with a chequred flag design. The seat is a single piece unit keeping practicality in mind and even with a 6 feet tall person like me riding, there seemed to be enough space for a person at the back. The handlebars are also more conventional and not clip-ons like the one on the Apache 200 4v. Combined with a seat height of 800m and an excellent ground clearance of 180mm, this bike should

Coming back to the handlebar, the switches are simple and in reach. The finish is pretty good except for a few places but altogether I have no major complaints. The new Apache RTR 160 4v gets a full digital display this time around. The display shows you your speed, odometer, tachometer, trip meter, time, 0-60 time and more. The EFI version of the bike however gets a lap timer and even a gear position indicator, the latter of which is sorely missed on the carbureted version.

Both bikes however, get a gear shift indicator on the top right of the display panel. Something which I almost missed was an ABS indicator on the meter console. While the current version of the bike does not come equipped with ABS, the company does intend to do that in the future. The indicator has been added to so that the company does

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#TVSAPACHERTR1604V

SPECIFICATION S ENGINE 159.7cc single cylinder, 4 stroke, Oil cooled TRANSMISSION 5-Speed POWER EFI:16.5hp@8,000rpm Carbureted: 16.3hp@8,000rpm

TORQUE 14.8Nm@6,500rpm TYRES 100/80 R17 Tubeless 140/70 R17 Radial Tubeless PRICE `81,490/(Ex-Showroom Delhi)

The 17 inch tubeless tyres on the new 160 4v do a praiseworthy job of maintaining a good grip at all times.

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SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO* * • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 39

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

not have to manufacture an entirely new unit once the bike does come with ABS. One thing I must commend TVS for is the build of the instrument panel which feels very sturdy and does not budge even on pressing hard.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE TVS is bringing out the new Apache RTR 160 4v in a total of three variants as of now – Carbureted with rear drum brake, carbureted with rear disc and EFI. We got to ride the carb with disc and the

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EFI, which comes only in a disc brake variant. The engine within the new bike is a 159.7cc oil cooled, single cylinder that is capable of producing a maximum power of 16.5hp @ 8000 rpm in the EFI version while it produces 16.3hp at the same rpm on the carb version.

The torque output on both the bikes remains the same at 14.8Nm which can be felt at 6500 rpm. Both the bikes are spirited and do not require you to rev them to the moon in order to get some result. This means that these bikes while

packing a lot of punch, will still be home in the slow and crowded city streets.

Surprisingly enough, the engine on both bikes felt very refined and there was no sign of any major vibrations. The EFI is definitely a bit more refined and delivers power in a more liner fashion. While the carb version is a lot more fun to ride and you can push it better at triple digit speeds. I was actually surprised to find that the EFI seemed to struggle a lot more at 111kmph when compared to the carb version. But then that is natural as

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#TVSAPACHERTR1604V the company itself claims that the carb is faster from 0-60 kmph.

The 17 inch tubeless tyres on the new 160 4v do a praiseworthy job of maintaining a good grip at all times. There is a 100/80 at the front while at the rear you get a 130/70 but if you opt for the base variant with drum brake then you get a slimmer rear trye. This when combined with the Showa tuned suspension makes for a very stable and confident outing on the bike. At the relatively small track I was able to cross triple digit speeds on the bike and quickly lean in for a long loop in a swift movement.

Even while I was pushing the bike on a curve, it stayed true to its line and not for once did I feel even a hint of wobble. This is a handling dream come true in this segment. I would suggest that you try and stay away from the base variant if you plan to buy this bike as the dual discs are required to bring this bike to halt, considering the speeds it can achieve.

There is no doubt that TVS has delivered a true champion here and has priced it competitively as well. The new Apache takes on a much sleeker and more impressive look from its elder brother, the Apache 200 4v and also managed to impress me with its surefootedness. It is a bike that is practical with its comfortable riding position and high ground clearance and at the same time you can have the pleasure of riding a fast motorcycle with a simple twist of the throttle.

VERDICT I would suggest you to stay clear of the carbureted with drum brake variant that costs Rs 81,490 (ex-showroom Delhi) as you can just put in three thousand more and get the much more fun and safe carb with disc variant for Rs 84,490 (ex-showroom Delhi). But if you want a smoother ride and the handy gear shift indicator the then EFI is the way to go and will cost you Rs 89,990 (ex-showroom Delhi)

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 41

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

YAMAHA YZF R15 V3.0

TRACK MATE! SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO* * • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Playstore to view the video.

S P EC I F IC ATI ONS ENGINE 155cc Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve TRANSMISSION 6-Speed POWER 19.3hp@10,000rpm TORQUE 15Nm@8,500rpm TYRES Front:100/80 R17 Tubeless Rear: 140/70 R17 Radial Tubeless PRICE `1.25 lakh (Ex-Showroom Delhi)

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#YAMAHAYZFR15V3.0 Report: Aakash S. Paul, Photography: Afsar Baig

T

he race track is a place for bikes with big muscles, generally with motors as big as 800-900cc ruling the circuits.

So at first it felt odd to be seated on a 155cc bike in the pit lane. Sure the new Yamaha YZF R15 v3.0 looks like a thoroughbred racer but does it move like one? There was only one way to find out and that was to go a few laps around the Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT), in Chennai under the burning hot sun.

DESIGN, STYLING AND FEATURES Yamaha has managed to top the looks of the R15 v2.0. The new R15 draws a lot of inspiration from the R1. This is most evident at the front as the twin headlamps have become sleeker and now get LED lights in place of halogen bulbs. There is a triangular fake air vent between them and even the nice big wind screen is just like the one found on R1. The fuel tank looks sharper and gets gills just above the fuel fill cap. Even the LED

tail-lamp has become slimmer and looks better. The pillion seat has been pushed down a little while the rider seat height has gone from 800mm to 815mm. While not immediately evident, the clip-on bars are slightly lower and the foot pegs pushed back. All of this makes for a very aggressive riding position and leaning in is fairly easy.

However, I am not too sure if this aggressive position will make for a comfortable ride in the city.

The R15 v3 comes with an all-digital LCD instrument panel which is a departure from the part digital part analogue setup on the previous bikes. The moment you start the bike, the display says “Hi buddy� and you can program it to display your name, although it would be a bit hard to do with just two buttons. Apart from that the display projects a lot of information such as your current speed, rpm, trip distance, lap timer, current and average fuel consumption, time

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and VVA status. There is also a white light above the display that acts as a gear shift indicator. Optionally you can get a USB charger as well. My only complaint with this otherwise fantastic instrument panel is that the plastic holding it is not of the best quality and pressing any of the buttons to toggle between modes can cause the display to budge from its position.

While I did like what Yamaha had done with the design and styling of the R15 v3, I feel they could have diverted some more attention to the finish of the bike as well.

At places you can see traces of welding, the plastic is not always top notch and the controls on the handlebar could have done with illuminated switches.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE The Yamaha YZF R15 v3.0 has a 155cc single cylinder, liquid cooled engine in place of the older 149cc engine. This increase in

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

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#YAMAHAYZFR15V3.0

displacement as well as some more improvements made to the engine has resulted in a higher power output of 19.3hp@10,000rpm. This is about 3hp more than the v2.0. However, the engine continues to produce a peak torque of 15Nm@8,500rpm. While this is a high revving motor, the addition of Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) has made things a little more exciting throughout the rpm band. There are two cams, out of which the low cam is active at lower rpms in order to provide a more torquey performance in the low to mid range. At 7,400rpm the motor switches to the high cam which facilitates for better power delivery at higher revs. The R15 v3.0 felt very liner when I stretched its legs on a straight and there was enough power at my disposal when exiting corners. However, I would have definitely liked it if the engine pulled a little more at lower speeds. The 6 speed transmission is a delight to navigate through. Part of that can be attributed to the assist and slipper clutch which makes the up shift effortless and gives you the ability to downshift quickly without using the clutch.

The 6 speed transmission is a delight to navigate through. Part of that can be attributed to the assist and slipper clutch which makes the up shift effortless and gives you the ability to downshift quickly without using the clutch.

While on the Indian version of the R15 v3.0 we do not get the fancy upside down forks in the front, we do get fatter, 41mm conventional telescopic forks. At the rear is a dual link mono shock. The suspension setup, overall, is stiff enough to provide a stable and agile performance. This is nicely complemented by the fatter 17 inch tyres. The front is a 100/90 while the rear is a 140/70. One thing to note is that our bike was fitted with a track purpose Metzeler tyre while you get MRF tyres as stock. The wider profile almost allowed the bike to dance around the corners with immense confidence and grace.

The disc brakes also ensured that I was able to control the bike when needed. Despite the lack of ABS, the 280mm disc in the front and the 220mm disc brake in the rear packed a lot of bite.

VERDICT Yamaha has given the R15 v3.0 a price tag of Rs 1.25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) which I feel is quite justified.

The bike is a worthy and respectable track machine and gets commendable handling. While it does miss out on features like USD forks and ABS, it still pack in a lot of goodies like VVA, assist and slipper clutch and a very functional digital meter console. If the lack of ABS is the only gripe you have with the new R15 then you are in luck as the company does intend to bring out an ABS variant sometime in the future. After a couple of laps around the MMRT, I found that the bike did feel at home on the track but I would love to test it out on the cruel city streets to see if it comes out on top there as well.

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 45

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

OKINAWA PRAISE

LONG DISTANCE PLAYER Report: P.Tharyan, Photography: Afsar Baig

E

lectric two wheelers are evolving in the country in terms of styling and technology. The Okinawa Praise is one fine example of a fairly evolved e-scooter. We check it out on the roads of Delhi.

DESIGN, STYLING AND FEATURES If one were to go by the looks alone, this e-scooter is stylish to some extent. The tapered front nose, side profile and the rear have sharp design lines. Apart from the LED DRLs, the e-scooter comes with LED headlamps and smart rear lights with LED winkers. The plastic claddings on either side of the rear wheel give the impression that the scooter has dual exhausts.

The e-scooter comes with lots of interesting features but before I go into them I must tell you I was not the least impressed by the key fob. It’s black in colour and though it offers four different functions, the buttons on them are not at all appealing in terms of visual clarity. The all-black shade should have been replaced by luminously designed buttons for each of the four functions the

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#OKINAWAPRAISE SPECIFICAT IO N S MOTOR 1000 Watt, BLDC Motor

POWER 2500 Watt TYRES 90/90 - 12 Tubeless

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO*

PRICE `74,500 (On Road Delhi)

* • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Playstore to view the video.

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 47

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

fob offers.

The functions these buttons offer per se are very useful. One is for remote locking the e-scooter; one for remote unlocking and one has a “find my bike” function which once pressed gives out a high pitched sound wherein you can spot your bike. The fourth button pressed twice activates your scooter batteries and you can ride your e-scooter without actually inserting your keys into the key slot. In short, it’s keyless riding!

Under the seat is a miniature circuit breaker which when flipped, turns off your batteries completely when you park it somewhere.

The Praise also has a USB port to charge your mobile phone and an aluminium grab rail in the midst of so much plastic all

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around. This aluminium grab rail comes handy for the rear passenger to grab and also for the rider to grab and pull the scooter on to the main stand.

Another issue I felt needed to be addressed immediately was the foot mat on the e-scooter. My advice to the company is that it needs to be made from some anti skid material or needs to be screwed on to the floor board, else there can be a tendency where your feet slides in front along with the mat which in turn could lead to some serious safety issues. Also, there are no foot pegs for the pillion rider in case the rider wants to sit with both legs on one side only.

The Praise comes with storage space beneath the seats and also in front where

there are deep cavities for storing everything from your mobile to other knick knacks.

There is a mobile charger outlet too. For safety reasons, the e-scooter refuses to budge when the side stand is deployed.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE When you hop on to the saddle and start the silent horse, you may feel a bit awkward with the floor board. You realise your legs stick out, but then as you ride the e-scooter, you understand that you are supposed to place your feet in front till you hit the edge of the board in front where your feet are well ensconced. At that point you begin to love your ride. The Praise also comes with something called a motor walking assist function. In short, it means that with your key on and without any pressure it can be walked

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#OKINAWAPRAISE easily. As for the brake levers, these are adjustable. The CNC machined levers can be adjusted in such a way that your palm and fingers are not stressed out, or stretched out, to be more precise.

The Okinawa Praise is powered by a 1000Watt BLDC motor. The Praise sits on 90/90-12 tubeless tyres both in front and rear. It has a digital console with a speedometer, an odometer, a trip meter and a battery indicator which shows the different levels of charge left. It’s like your fuel indicator. The only sad part of the trip meter is that each time you switch off your scooter and start again, your earlier trip reading is wiped clean. Ideally the trip meter should come with a provision to reset it when the rider so desires.

The Praise comes with double disc brakes in front and a single disc at the rear. The rear wheel has the mechanism to recharge your battery during braking. It’s called regenerative braking.

There are two ride modes --one is the Economy mode where your speed is restricted to 35kmph and sport mode where the speed increases to a max of 65 km per hour.

And when you are in the sport mode you can also press the turbo button which is on the left part of the scooter handle wherein for 30 seconds you can get a boost to your drive with speed increasing to around 75 kmph. Though I was riding single, I was not able to hit the 75kmph speed. I had to be content with a top speed of 72kmph. The e-scooter, by the way has a load capacity of 150kg.

The Praise has hydraulic suspension in front with gas charged telescopic shockers and at the rear it’s a double shocker with dual tube technology and coil springs. Unlike a lot of electric scooters I have driven in the past, this one’s a lot better in terms of suspension though it’s still a tad stiff and can make your ride a bit uncomfortable on rugged roads. But the moment you hit smooth roads, the suspension ensures a dream ride without any hitch. Braking came easy on this scooter as was expected because of the disc brakes.

The Okinawa Praise draws its power from a 72V/45Ah VRLA battery. Though this battery offers a mileage of around 170km to 200km as the company claims, it takes almost 6 to 8 hours to recharge from zero. The company will soon be introducing the Lithium ion batteries for this scooter and those can be charged in just about an hour. But then it would also mean a higher price tag for the e-scooter!

VERDICT If the Okinawa Praise indeed gives the mileage the company claims of around 200km, it can definitely be termed as a long distance runner in every sense of the word. As for the body panels made of plastic, the company needs to ensure they are of good quality in terms of durability.

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 49

TRAVEL

It looks easy when you sit behind the wheels of a houseboat. There are no pedals, no brakes, only a large steering wheel that is a lot bigger than the one you see in a car. It’s made of wood and looks like a piece of antique.

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TRAVEL

KERALA HOUSEBOATS

Steering through the Backwaters

T

Report & Photography: P.Tharyan

he moment we got an invite from Alleppey based Lake Land Cruise, a leading house boat operator in Kerala to review their boat and capture their hospitality on camera, I did not think twice. I immediately packed my bags and took a direct flight to Kochi from Delhi where I undertook a two hour journey by car to Alleppey (Alappuzha).

I had always nursed this idea of steering a boat some day. Driving a car or riding a bike on a track has its own share of fun. But then you only get to see the world go by at the speed of lightning. Manoeuvring a vehicle through a crowded street is a nightmare no one enjoys. But what about a boat? It’s like driving an entire house at a speed no faster than you can walk briskly. The only difference here is that you are in deep waters.

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO* * • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

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Tourists can choose from several interesting cruise routes in Kerala.

You can opt for a one-night cruise on Punnamada Lake or go bird watching on the Alappuzha to Kumarakom route, or spot the toddy tappers on the Alappuzha to Kottayam route or visit historical places between Alappuzha to Thottappally.

The moment I stepped into the houseboat that went by the name of Kochi Rajav, I was pleasantly surprised by the decor inside and the comfort it offered. The small dining area was all lit up and with all the wood carvings around, it looked very traditional and beautiful. The

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TRAVEL air conditioner was on and I was really not bothered about the humid climate outside.

Lake Land Cruise offers house boats of all shapes and sizes. They are categorised into Deluxe, Premium and Luxury. All the three categories offer air conditioned bedrooms. The premium houseboats offer air-conditioning in the dining space too.

As for the luxury houseboat, the entire boat is air conditioned. Again, there are boats with two bedrooms to as many as ten bedrooms with a conference on top than can accommodate around 150 people.

Houseboats have to compulsorily dock in the evening till early morning. At night fishermen cast their nets to catch fish and hence the government does not permit any house boat to operate after sun down. By early morning once we were up and about, the boat ride commenced. Houseboats are usually manned by three people, a captain, a cook and a helper. Once the houseboat is docked at night and the tourists retire to their respective bedrooms, these men sleep in different areas of the boat so as to make sure no one walks out at night and attempts to indulge in any foolhardy exercise.

We had a staff of four people at our

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disposal. While Das the Captain and Ravi the engine driver took turns steering the boat, Satheesh, the chef along with Rajkumar his helper took care of the food. The beautiful part of Kerala and its people is that the tourists can be assured of 100pc safety.

Kochi Rajav is a houseboat with two decks. The lower deck has two bedrooms with attached bathrooms, one dining area, a small sitting area in front and a kitchen.

The upper deck has a huge covered space from where one can get a good view of the backwaters and the surrounding scenery.

STEERING IS FUN Even before the sun was out, the men were ready to move. The air conditioners were switched off and the doors of the rooms opened wide to bring in a wave of fresh air. The boat we were in was powered by an overhauled Ashok Leyland 370 diesel engine which produces around 90hp.

The captain told me that most of the houseboats numbering around 1,500 in the region ran on similar Ashok Leyland engines and Mahindra gensets including an inverter.

It looks easy when you sit behind the wheels of a houseboat. There are no pedals,

no brakes, only a large steering wheel that is a lot bigger than the one you see in a car.

It’s made of wood and looks like a piece of antique. The wheel is used to change the angle of the rudder which in turn helps change the direction of the boat. The wheel is connected to a mechanical or hydraulic system. Next to the wheel are two long levers like the ones you used to see in old buses and trucks with which the driver used the change the gears.

One lever when shifted up accelerates the boat, while the other lever is the gear rod which has basically two functions, forward and reverse. If you shift the lever forward, the boat moves in front and when you move it backward, the boat engine gets into a reverse mode. Since there are no brakes, the only way to dock and stop the huge boat is to put it in reverse and tactfully steer it against the wall, at which point one of the guys in the boat jumps out and with the help of a rope ties to a pillar or a tree so that the boat does not drift away.

I did not make any attempt to dock the huge houseboat, lest I crashed it into the wall. It requires a lot of steering skills to dock a boat. You can imagine how tricky it is to steer a houseboat the size of a double

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TRAVEL storey building through water!

The torque high engine of Ashok Leyland does not go fast here. The boat travels at a speed of around 3 knots which is a little more than 5 km per hour. Though all the boats carry mandatory pollution certificates from the Kerala Pollution Control Board, I could later make out that the air had a strong whiff of diesel smoke, especially when all the houseboats were travelling close to each other. The state government, I guess needs to seriously implement pollution control norms before the air turns foul.

After I spent some time steering the boat through the placid backwaters, I decided it was time to take a back seat. I could see that the captain was relieved to get his seat behind the huge steering wheel.

ENJOYING THE RIDE In the morning we steered towards the Vembanad lake where one usually gets to see the sunrise. Vembanad lake covers an area of more than 2000 Square kilometres and has a large network of canals that meander through the region of Kuttanad.

The sky was very cloudy and I was not complaining. The scenery was too breathtaking. We docked at a serene place and had our breakfast. After a very delicious breakfast comprising of some tasty Kerala dishes and the usual bread and eggs, we were off to explore the vast backwaters of Kerala. The real cruise began for us.

The cruise started from the Pallathuruthi Jetty covering Kannitta, Kuppapuram, Allappey Finishing Point, Punnamada Lake, Vembanad Lake, C Block R Block , Nedumudy, Champakkulam, Kanjipadom and back to Pallathuruthy.

As the boat made its way silently through broad and narrow routes, you got to see boats of all shapes and sizes, both motorised as well as the traditional row boats. I spotted a lot of motorised boats, even small ones.

Homes dotted both sides of our route.

Temples and churches were to be seen at some places. Thankfully, there were no high rise buildings!

View from the upper deck

Upper deck seating area

A houseboat ride is all about unwinding.

Whether you spend your time taking selfies, or simply reading a book or just staring at the beautiful scenery, a Kerala houseboat ride will definitely energise you immensely.

Comfortable seats

Bedroom with twin bed

Kerala cuisine for breakfast

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B2B NEWS

Force Motors, Rolls Royce sign JV agreement for gen sets JV PARTNERS TO INVEST RS 300 CRORE

Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Pune-based automobile manufacturer Force Motors have signed a joint venture agreement in which Force Motors will hold a 51% and Rolls-Royce Power Systems a 49% stake. The new joint venture will be named ‘Force MTU Power Systems Pvt. Ltd.’ The joint venture company will produce MTU’s renowned 10 and 12-cylinder Series 1600 units with power outputs from 545 to 1050HP (400 to 800 KW). Series 1600 engines are particularly suitable for power generation and rail underfloor applications.

Besides manufacturing Series 1600 units, the JV will also build Series 1600 generator sets for the Indian and global markets.

Generator sets built and supplied by the JV to customers in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka will carry the ‘Force - MTU’ brand while those destined for the rest of the world will be sold under the name ‘MTU Onsite Energy’. The engines will continue to have the brand MTU. The partners are investing more than Rs. 300 crores (40 million Andreas Schell-CEO Rolls-Royce Power Systems Pvt. Ltd and Prasan Firodia-MD, Force Motors Ltd. at the announcement of the joint venture. euros) in the JV in proportion to their respective stakes. To meet Rolls-Royce Power Systems’ exacting Series 1600 generator sets for end users in reciprocating off-highway engines, and standards, the JV is to build a dedicated India, Nepal and Sri Lanka territory, while Force Motors’ long-standing experience in state-of-the-art manufacturing facility Rolls-Royce Power Systems will handle sales top quality manufacturing with access to the at Chakan near Pune. The facility will be and service in the Rest of World territory.

Indian market. For us, it’s the perfect fit,” equipped with nearly all core functions and Andreas Schell, President and CEO of said Schell. is to operate as a stand-alone enterprise.

Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said: “This Prasan Firodia, Managing Director of Force The new factory is expected to launch serial Joint Venture opens new opportunities for a Motors said, “It’s a matter of great pride production by the third quarter of 2019. bright future with our Series 1600 products. and honour for us that Rolls-Royce Power The JV will use Force Motors’ expertise to In Force Motors we have found a reliable Systems has chosen to partner with Force lead localisation efforts and aims to achieve partner whose excellent production quality is Motors not only for production of engines consistently high local content without proven by decades of experience in building but also for production and engineering compromising on quality. engines for premium automotive brands.” of the whole genset system. This tie-up MTU launched its Series 1600 engine “Once serial production capabilities for comes after our successful cooperation family in 2009 and now has thousands of 1600 units have been established within the with Mercedes and BMW and will open up units in service. Renowned as a state-ofjoint venture, we will have opportunities to numerous opportunities for growth and the-art engine for its common rail injection, add other applications, engines and power diversification. I see exciting times ahead, turbocharging and electronic control, it is systems to the JV portfolio,” he added. since we are set to play a pivotal role in well-established in the market for power “Our joint venture combines the strengths bringing to India and making in India generation and rail applications. of the two partners: Rolls-Royce Power cutting-edge, top-of-the-line engines for The JV will handle sales and service of Systems’ cutting-edge technology in multiple applications.”

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 55

B2B NEWS

Adient , Arvind form JV to manufacture and sell automotive fabrics in India

Pictures Courtesy: Adient

Michigan (US) based Adient, a global leader in automotive seating which produces and delivers automotive seating for all vehicle classes and all major OEMs has formed a joint venture with India’s Arvind Ltd, one of the world’s largest textile-to-retail conglomerates, to develop, manufacture and sell automotive fabrics in India.

The joint venture company, Adient Arvind Automotive Fabrics, which will be based in Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat, India, will manufacture high-end performance fabrics for automotive seating systems at a world-class fabric manufacturing facility.

Adient is the majority stakeholder in the new company with a 50.5 percent share and expects the joint venture to be included in its consolidated financial statements. Arvind and

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Adient will each have representation on the board of directors of Adient Arvind Automotive Fabrics.

The joint venture will benefit from synergies between Adient and Arvind, each bringing industryleading technology and design capabilities in their respective fields. Working closely with its customers on long-term product road maps, the new company will provide Indian and global automakers with unrivalled product quality and innovative solutions in fabrics, enabling them to deliver new levels of comfort, aesthetic variety and design versatility to end users in India.

“Adient is committed to delivering new value to our customers while enhancing our fabrics product portfolio through continuing advancements. This partnership with Arvind Limited gives us an exciting opportunity to do just that in India’s rapidly growing automotive market,” said Jef Vercammen, vice president, Global Fabrics at Adient.

“Combining Adient’s global fabrics design and technological resources with Arvind’s extensive manufacturing capabilities will enable us to accelerate the pace at

which we bring innovative automotive fabrics products to market in India,” he noted.

“We are transforming our business quickly through technologies and partnerships that enable us to explore and create new opportunities across our business divisions. One of our key pillars is to extend textile manufacturing into newer frontiers outside of fashion and into various spaces like human protection, construction and transport. This partnership is a watershed moment in this journey. The partnership will leverage Adient’s market presence and automotive expertise with Arvind’s textile manufacturing capabilities to provide customers superior and highquality automotive seating solutions,” said Punit Lalbhai, executive director, Arvind Limited.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Arvind, a well-respected leader in the textiles industry with a long history of manufacturing excellence, from yarn production through to innovative textile products,” said Murali Rajagopalan, director and country manager, Adient India, adding that “Through this collaboration Adient will gain a strong position from which to serve our Indian and global customers and ultimately offer more value to consumers in India.”

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B2B NEWS

Maxxis Tyres inaugurates `2640 crore India manufacturing plant Report & Photography: Aakash S. Paul Maxxis Rubber India, a sub-company of Maxxis Group, the largest two-wheeler tyre manufacturer in the world, inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in Sanand, Gujarat. The plant was inaugurated by Vijaybhai Rupani, Chief Minister, Gujarat, in the presence of Tsai-Jen Lo, Chairman, Maxxis Group, Cheng-Yao Liao, President, Maxxis India and Jia-Ciao Liou (Gary), Spokesperson, Maxxis India.

Maxxis is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cheng Shin Rubber Ind. Co. Ltd., the largest two-wheeler tyre manufacturer and the ninth largest tyre company in the world. The company has its presence in six continents with 21 manufacturing plants and five R&D Centres worldwide, serving customers across 180 countries The plant with an investment of over $400 million (Rs 2,640 crore), is spread across 106 acres. The facility is currently dedicated to manufacturing of two-wheeler tyres and tubes and will have a capacity to produce around 20,000 tyres and 40,000 tubes per day. With this size and capacity, the company is targeting a market share of at least 15% of India’s tyre market within five years. The Ahmadabad plant took less than a year to complete construction.

Out of the $400 million investment, about $320 million has been used and 70pc of the total land has been put to use. The rest of the area would be used for expansion.

Currently the plant is not running at the full capacity but the company intends to change that in the near future. In phase two, which is to go underway next year, the production would be ramped up to 40,000 two-wheeler tyres along with 40,000 tubes per day which would then be then raised to 60,000 twowheeler tyres in the third and final phase in which will be completed by 2021. Along with the 60,000 two-wheeler tyres, the company also intends to produce 12,000 four wheeler tyres separately.

As of now, about 98pc of the raw materials used is imported but the company is looking to locally source

the materials in future. Maxxis is targeting to employ 85-90pc locals in their Ahmadabad plant.

Cheng-Yao Liao, President, Maxxis India stated that Maxxis Global is targeting to Senior officials of Maxxis with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani become one of the top five equipment tyre supplier to India’s number tyre manufacturers in the world by 2026 and one selling model, Honda Activa, since 2015.

India market will play a vital role in their Jia-Ciao Liou (Gary) said the Sanand growth. facility, an integrated manufacturing plant “We are fully committed to the offers all facilities from mixing to tyre government’s Make In India initiative and building and curing, all under one roof. our intent is to Make In India for the world.

“With a rich global experience of over fifty We monitored the market for over two years, Maxxis utilises the most advanced decades and then devised the strategy for manufacturing equipment and engineering entering India. The manufacturing plant in facilities in the industry. We are committed Sanand is only the first step of Maxxis’s full to delivering the same world class quality range appearance in the country,” Cheng-Yao products and services that customers in Liao asserted.

India expect and deserve,” Gary stated.

Maxxis currently serves as an OEM tyre “The plant currently employs a workforce supplier to Honda (Two-wheelers), Maruti of 600 people and we are working to extend Suzuki, Mahindra, Tata and Jeep in India. our manpower to 2000 human resources Apart from catering to the domestic tyre within a span of five years”, he added. market, the product portfolio from the The Sanand facility boasts of the most facility will be exported to South Asia, and efficient Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and will further expand to Africa and Middle East Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) that gives the countries in the coming years. plant the status of a ‘Zero Liquid Discharge’ Maxxis has been selected as the original facility.

Maxxis’s global product portfolio includes tyres for passenger cars, two-wheelers, light trucks, trucks, buses, ATV’s and agricultural & industrial vehicles. Globally, Maxxis’s high standards for quality, efficiency and innovation have been acknowledged with numerous honours and awards. The group has its presence in six continents with 21 manufacturing plants and 5 R&D Centres worldwide and develops its diversified tyre products for customers across 180 countries.

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 57

B2B NEWS

MG Motor India to launch SUV in Q2 calendar 2019 TO INVEST RS 5000 CRORE IN SIX YEARS TIME

MG Motor India will be launching its first vehicle, a sports utility vehicle (SUV), in India in the first quarter of calendar 2019.

The company which has already announced in September 2018, an investment of Rs 2000 crore for the purchase of the erstwhile GM India Halol plant in Gujarat, has also noted that it would be pumping in an additional Rs 3000 crore in the next six years, thereby taking its total investment in India to Rs 5000 crore.

This was disclosed by Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India at a press conference in New Delhi. “We shall be launching an SUV in Q2 of calendar 2019 which would be very contemporary, great value for money and would be ahead of its time,” he said.

MG Motor India is a fully owned subsidiary of SAIC Motor Corporation of China. The Chinese corporation is the 7th largest automobile manufacturer in the world and the largest automaker in China. It recorded a turnover of US $110 in 2017 and sold roughly 6.93 million vehicles in 2017. SAIC enjoys a market share of 23pc in China.

SAIC’s affiliated vehicle companies include Morris Garages, Roewe, SAIC Maxus, SAIC Volkswagen, SAIC-GM, Shanghai General Motors Wuling (SGMW), NAVECO, SAIC-Iveco Hongyan and Shanghai Sunwin Bus Corp (SUNWIN).

Chaba, who was at one time the President and Managing Director of GM India, told journalists that his company would bring electric vehicles too into India for which it will be talking to the Indian government.

After the launch of the SUV in 2019, MG Motor India would be launching one new passenger model every year.

“In terms of products, we are very confident, in fact, over confident. We have things in place,” said Chaba, but admitted

that “We are going to face many challenges in India”. “Competition always keeps you on your toes. We are going to be different from others,” said P.Balendran, Executive Director, MG Motor India. He is an old GM India hand and a veteran in the Indian automobile industry.

Pointing out to the large choice before them in terms of the various SAIC sub brands, Chaba noted that “We will pick up a platform (L) Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director with P.Balendran, best suited for India. We Executive Director MG Motor India will make changes on that platform”. The SUV to be launched in a differentiated service commitment that India in early 2019 will have a high level of surpasses the industry standard and sets localisation, he said. new benchmarks.

Giving details of the Halol plant which MG Motor India is looking to build a SAIC acquired from GM India for MG Motor future-ready organisation that sets the India, Chanba said that the first phase of industry benchmarks not only in terms of a the investment would be towards a new young and smart work culture, but also in press shop and a new vendor park besides terms of diversity; female employees already rebuilding the existing assembly lines, paint account for 22 percent of the company’s total shop etc. “We have purchased the assets workforce. “We aim to increase the number of Halol plant,” he said and with regards to of female hires in the near future. This the erstwhile GM India workers, he pointed will make a difference and put them in the out that they were offered a package which driver’s seat in the company, thus breaking some of the workers accepted while the the monotony in this industry,” Chaba said. remaining were absorbed in the GM India MG Motor India had recently launched ‘MG Talegaon plant.

Drives Innovation’, a program designed to MG Motor India has also started inviting identify, nurture and support innovations in dealer prospects for its Dealer Road Shows auto-tech and mobility solutions. scheduled to be conducted in Mumbai on 28th March, in Delhi on 6th April, and in Bengaluru on 16th April. The company is looking at partners who possess a hunger for growth and have the capability to deliver Maxus T60

CARS FROM SAIC STABLE

Maxus D90

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MG ZS

MG GS

Roewe

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B2B NEWS

Volkswagen Group to produce electric vehicles worldwide on massive scale

The Volkswagen Group will be stepping up its e-mobility drive with 16 locations around the globe getting ready to produce battery powered vehicles by the end of 2022. This was announced recently by Matthias Müller, CEO of Volkswagen AG, at the Group’s Annual Media Conference in Berlin. The Group currently produces electric vehicles at three locations, and in two years’ time a further nine Group plants are scheduled to be equipped for this purpose.

To ensure adequate battery capacity for the massive expansion of environmentallyfriendly electric mobility, partnerships with battery manufacturers for Europe and China have already been agreed. The contracts already awarded have a total volume of around EUR 20 billion. A supplier decision for North America will be taken shortly.

“Over the last few months, we have pulled out all the stops to implement ‘Roadmap E’ with the necessary speed and determination,” CEO Müller explained in Berlin. When “Roadmap E” was launched last fall, Volkswagen announced plans to build up to three million electric vehicles annually by 2025 and market 80 new electric Group models. This year, another nine new vehicles, three of which will be

purely electric-powered, will be added to the Group’s electric portfolio of eight e-cars and plug-in hybrids.

A number of innovations from the Group were presented at the Geneva International Motor Show, among them the Audi e-tron, the Porsche Mission E and the I.D. Vizzion, another member of the Volkswagen I.D. family. From 2019, there will be a new electric vehicle “virtually every month”, Müller said: “This is how we intend to offer the largest fleet of electric vehicles in the world, across all brands and regions, in just a few years.”

The CEO made a point of emphasizing that this did not mean Volkswagen was turning its back on conventional drive systems. Modern diesel drives were part of the solution, not part of the problem, he stressed – also with regard to climate change. “We are making massive investments in the mobility of tomorrow, but without neglecting current technologies and vehicles that will continue to play an important role for decades to come,” said Müller, adding that “We are putting almostEUR 20 billion into our conventional vehicle and drive portfolio in 2018, with a total of more than EUR 90 billion cheduled over the next five years.”

A separate Committee chaired by CEO Müller is advancing digitalization in the Group, a key issue for the future. “The future of mobility is gradually taking shape, as is the future of the Volkswagen Group,” Müller said. The best example of this is SEDRIC, which has enabled the Volkswagen Group to demonstrate the potential of fully autonomous driving for the first time.

SEDRIC was designed in the Group, but will soon be “leaving the Group for refinement into a series product at one of our brands,” Müller announced.

The Volkswagen Group kicked off “Roadmap E”, the most comprehensive electrification drive in the automotive industry, last year.

Volkswagen Group brands include Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Seat, Bentley, Porsche, Scania and MAN Commercial vehicles.

Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 59

B2B NEWS

Faurecia, Clean Air Asia partner for clean air solutions

Faurecia, a global leader in areas of automotive seating, interior systems and clean mobility has partnered with Clean Air Asia to explore effective technology solutions to improve air quality and enhance industry awareness of clean city solutions.

Clean Air Asia is leading the regional mission for better air quality, and healthier, more livable cities throughout Asia.

The collaboration will focus on three key aspects across Asia: • Clean Cities Initiative: Utilising Clean Air Asia’s extensive regional air quality network and its years of experience in guiding national and city-level air pollution reduction, Faurecia will provide its leading air quality management solutions.

• Clean Fleets Initiative: Faurecia will bring its expertise in eco-driving and emissions reduction solutions to support Clean Air

Asia’s Green Freight and Logistics Program, which is at the forefront of the establishment of regional and national green freight programs and initiatives.

• Communication: Faurecia and Clean Air Asia will facilitate multi-stakeholder actions to manage air pollution at the city level.

Effective air quality management starts with robust monitoring that can provide reliable data for risk assessment and prevention. Faurecia and Clean Air Asia are exploring the possibility of providing such monitoring through sensors and software.

“The signing of the MOU with Clean Air Asia today marks a new positive milestone to deepen the collaboration in Asia we started three years ago,” said Christophe Schmitt, Executive Vice President of Faurecia Clean Mobility. “As a global leader in Sustainable Mobility, Faurecia has the clear objective

of driving mobility and industry towards zero emissions. As part of our constantly growing open innovation ecosystem, the partnership with Clean Air Asia will enable us to achieve the shared vision of reducing the environmental impact of air pollution,” he added.

“Through this cooperation, we aim to help urban cities in Asia chart a cleaner, greener and more sustainable industrial trajectory,” said Bjarne Pedersen, Executive Director of Clean Air Asia. “Clean Air Asia boasts high-level expertise in air quality management. The launch of this partnership with Faurecia will assist us in our aims to promote the broader uptake of cleaner fuels, vehicles and freight technologies, support more conducive transport strategies and policies, and encourage other manufacturers to embark on more environmentally sound development,” he noted.

Ducati India introduces Ducati Financial Services Ducati India Pvt. Ltd., in partnership with Volkswagen Finance Private Limited (VWFPL), has launched Ducati Financial Services (DFS), which offers Ducati customers a personalised financing solution through the Ducati dealer network across India.

Ducati Financial Services will offer competitive interest rates, flexible loan tenures and tailored finance products that allow customers to finance their Ducati in line with their personal budget. Accessories financing will also form a part of this financing programme.

“We are constantly endeavouring to add more value to the Ducati buying and ownership experience. This year, we have

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already introduced the unlimited kilometres roadside assistance service and Ever Red - a two years extended warranty programme for our customers”, said Sergi Canovas, Managing Director of Ducati India. “With this partnership, our customers will be able to access bespoke financial products specifically tailored for them”, he added.

“With our unique financing solutions coupled with the marvel of Ducati bikes, the intent is to offer a one stop solution to the customers. One which is tailored to the financial and aspirational requirements of the customers”, said Patrik Riese, Managing Director and CEO of Volkswagen Finance Pvt. Ltd. India.

To celebrate the launch of Ducati Financial Services, Ducati India has announced a zero percent interest rate plan for select models. For a limited period, customers will be required to pay monthly EMIs starting as low as Rs 19,999. Ducati Financial Service advisors are present at all Ducati dealerships across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi and Kolkata.

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B2B NEWS

Mercedes-Benz sharpens focus on Tier II, Tier III markets Strengthening its outreach to the emerging Tier II and Tier III cities, India’s largest luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz India, announced the launch of its unique customer centric programme – ‘Mercedes-Benz Brand Tour’. Brand Tour focuses on reaching out to regions with potential customers who have always aspired to own a Mercedes-Benz, but have not had the chance to experience the brand due to an absence of a showroom in their city. The Brand Tour aims at engaging with customers by offering an overwhelming brand experience such as test-drives, off-roading, and showcasing the entire product portfolio, along with providing Mercedes-Benz Certified, Customer Service and flexible financial services.

A uniquely curated brand experience, Brand Tour acts as a brick and mortar showroom for potential customers, enabling them to witness the world-renowned Mercedes-Benz commenced the Brand Tour by travelling to Aurangabad, Udaipur and Allahabad and will travel to 11 more cities including Haldwani, Ranchi, Arunachal, Shimla, Thirunalveli, Vizag, Gandhinagar. Vapi, South Goa, Kannur and Shimoga.

Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “India’s growth has given a major economic boost to its Tier II and III markets and with this growing economy, we now have an expanded customer base and favourable wealth distribution in the country. Mercedes-Benz is known for its customer centric approach,

and Brand Tour is one such concept, which helps us, creating a stronghold in the largely untapped Tier II and III emerging markets.

With Brand Tour we aim to unlock the market potential of smaller cities while providing customers easy access to the unique and renowned Mercedes-Benz experience. We are confident that the initiative will help the brand expand its footprint and penetrate deeper into the Indian market.”

EESL to issue fresh tender for additional 10,000 electric cars

Royal Enfield forays into Argentina

Minister of Power, New and Renewable cater to this growing demand. With these Energy, R K Singh launched the National 20,000 electric cars, India is expected to E-Mobility Programme in India. In line save over 5 crore litres of fuel every year with the Government of India’s vision of leading to a reduction of over 5.6 lakh 100% e-mobility by 2030, Energy Efficiency tonnes of annual CO2 emission.

Services Ltd (EESL) will issue a fresh tender The Minister said, “India has embarked for additional 10,000 e-vehicles, the on an ambitious e-mobility plan and the Minister announced. The announcement government has taken the leadership in took place in the presence of Secretary, enabling e-mobility in India. The National Ministry of Power, Ajay Kumar Bhalla; Joint E-Mobility Programme is a step towards Secretary, Ministry of Power, Aniruddha ushering in an era of clean, green and Kumar along with Chairman, EESL, Rajeev future-oriented technologies in the Sharma; Managing Director, EESL, Saurabh country.”

Kumar at the Ministry of Power, Shram Shakti Bhavan, New Delhi.

EESL concluded the first tender for procuring 10,000 e-vehicles last year. Following the successful completion of the first tender, EESL envisions a growing demand from various government Flag off of Tata Tigor EV by R.K. Singh, Minister of Power at the departments. The new tender National Launch of Electric Mobility Programme of EESL for 10,000 e-vehicles will

Motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield has announced its entry into Argentina, the second biggest motorcycle market in Latin America. With Buenos Aires representing the largest motorcycling community in the country, Royal Enfield launched its first flagship store in the heart of Buenos Aires thereby commencing its full operation, including after sales, spares and service.

Royal Enfield has appointed Grupo Simpa as its official dealer-partner for Argentina and will look after all market development and support activities such as marketing and aftersales, for the brand in the country.

As a part of its growth strategy and focused international thrust of leading and expanding the global mid-sized motorcycle market, Argentina is the third country after Brazil and Colombia in the Latin American region to have an exclusive Royal Enfield store.

Royal Enfield in Argentina will be present with a lineup of four of its widely popular models featuring single-cylinder engines currently up to 535 cc.

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 61

B2B NEWS

Maruti Suzuki achieves cumulative sales of 35 lakh with Alto Leading car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki has achieved a unique milestone by selling a cumulative 35 lakh units of their entry level hatchback - Alto. The company has been able to achieve a stable growth rate 6pc and a dominant market share of 33pc in 2017-18. The Alto hatchback has been the best-selling car in India for the last 14 years consecutively.

R S Kalsi, Senior Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki, said, “Brand Alto continues to remain fresh, relevant and as exciting as it was in 2000.

Since 2006, every two years, Alto is adding 5 lakh new happy customers. In 2008, we clocked 10 lakh units. In 2010, it touched 15 lakh units and today in 2018, we have crossed 35 lakhs of cumulative sales.”

The Alto brand has been the choice for most first time customers and this according to the company is thanks to its modern design, affordability and high fuel efficiency.

The company has also consistently introduced new designs and has regularly upgraded technology on the Alto. In the year 2017-18 almost 55pc of customers selected the Alto as their first car and nearly 25pc customers buy the Alto as an additional car.

The hatchback is also known to have democratised features like power steering, front power windows, integrated stereo, internally adjustable ORVMs among other fitment. The Alto is available with two engine options 0.8L and 1.0L petrol power plants.

The Maruti Suzuki Alto is also offered with a CNG variant. The company introduced two

pedal technology on the Alto in 2014, in the form of the Alto K10 AGS (Auto Gear Shift).

At present 18pc of the total Alto sales comes in the form of the Alto K10 AGS. According to company statistics nearly 44pc of Alto sales comes from customers under the age of 35years. This contribution has grow by nearly 4pc in the last 3 years.

Anindith Reddy is FMSCI National Motorsports Person of the Year Hyderabad’s speed sensation Anindith Reddy was crowned ‘FMSCI National MotorSports Person of the Year 2017’ at a glittering function in Chennai March 11, 2018. The 26-year-old, who has been scorching the domestic circuit since his debut in 2014, had a spectacular run last season, scoring a unique double and winning the MRF FF 1600 and the Euro JK 17 titles, in the two National Racing Championships.

FIA world motor sport council member Gautam Singhania and its president Akbar Ebrahim presented the coveted award to him in the presence of the country’s foremost racers, rallyists and officials.

KD Madan, a former FMSCI president and K1000 champion, was conferred the FMSCI Lifetime Achievement Award for his immense contribution to the sport in the country.

The country’s outstanding performers during the year were felicitated at the FMSCI Awards Nite, including Arjun Maini, Jehan Daruvala, Aditya Patel, Armaan Ebrahim, Gaurav Gill and Abhilash PG. A number of women, who have been doing well at the national level, were also among the awardees, led by Aishwarya PM, Rhyana Bee A, Kalyani V Potekar and Mira Erda.

In the two-wheeler categories, Amarnath Menon (racing; Super Sport Indian 300-400cc), Jagan K (racing; Super Sport Indian 165cc); R Nataraj (rally), Sanjay Kumar (rally; super bike), Vinit Sharma (rally; Super Sport 550cc), Jagan K (drag racing; 4-Stroke up to 165cc), Rameez Khan (drag racing; 4-Stroke Above 1051cc), Hemanth Muddappa (drag racing; Stroke Unrestricted), Rugved D Barguje (dirt track; Group A upto 500cc - Open); Harith Noah (SuperCross; Class 1 SX1 - Gp A Up to 250Cc {2Stroke} & 500C {4-Stroke}) were some of the

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prominent winners.

In the four-wheeler categories, Arjun Narendran (Indian Touring Cars), Arya Singh (F1300), Chittesh Mandody (LGB Formula 4), Gaurav Gill (INRC), Rahul Kanthraj (INRC 2), Dean Mascarenhas (INRC 3) and Radha Selvarajan (drag racing; Indian Open) proved to be some of the best drivers this year.

Aaroh Ravindra (Senior Max), Yash Aradhya (Junior Max) and Arjun Rajiv (Micro Max) were the champions in the Meco National Rotax Max Championship.

Toyota Innova Crysta for Govt employees under ‘Drive the Nation’ campaign Toyota Kirloskar Motor has further extended the benefits of its special initiative for government employees - “Drive the Nation” to its MPV Innova Crysta in the new year. So far applicable on the Etios series and Corolla Altis, the campaign has been highly appreciated across the country contributing to around 7% of the total sales and 11% to Etios sales in the personal segment.

Rolled out in 2016, the “Drive the Nation” campaign offers a range of benefits starting from affordable funding solutions focused on low customer acquisition cost, attractive offers on Toyota Protect Insurance and Toyota Genuine Accessories and unmatched extended warranty. Now, the benefits under the campaign will be applicable to the Etios series, Corolla Altis and Innova Crysta.

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Swaraj Tractors launches all new Swaraj 963 FE with 2WD & 4WD Swaraj Tractors, part of the Mahindra Group, launched an all new tractor platform in the high power category, ranging from 60 HP to 75 HP tractors. Tractors based on this platform will be introduced over a period of time, beginning with the launch of the Swaraj 963FE. The Swaraj 963FE will be available across Swaraj’s wide network of 875 dealers, at a starting price of Rs. 7.40 lakh ex showroom Mohali.

The Swaraj 963 FE has been designed indigenously by Swaraj’s in-house R&D team and is its flagship product in this category.

The Swaraj 963 FE is best suited for a wide range of applications starting from land preparation to post harvest operations. It is highly compatible with Rotary Tillers, MB plough, TMCH, Potato Planter, Dozers, Balers, Banana Mulchers, etc. The Swaraj 963 FE will be available in both 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive options, catering to the diverse requirements of its wide farmer base.

The Swaraj 963 FE will be available in Punjab, AP, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh to begin with and will be rolled out pan India by the end of 2018 in a phased manner.

ABOUT THE SWARAJ 963 FE • Unique features: 540 PTO, 540 Economic PTO and multi speed forward with reverse PTO, Easy Hitch, Tractor Forward and reverse within single range (Single Lever Operation especially for TMCH).

• Better Performance: The Swaraj 963 FE runs on a powerful 60HP engine that delivers 15% extra torque than other tractors in the same category. It delivers required power and speed for various applications and soil conditions. This tractor also comes with industry best 400 hours service interval, thus reducing the cost of ownership and allowing more time for operations by lowering visits to service stations. A bigger radiator ensures enhanced engine cooling that allows farmers to work longer hours without running the engine hot.

It is equipped with best in class 2,200 kg lifting capacity, powerful naturally aspirated (Non Turbo) engine with bigger radiator for efficient cooling. Creep speed of 0.5 km/hour makes it suitable for applications such as

banana mulching and onion transplantation.

• Higher Productivity: Swaraj 963 FE’s advanced transmission offers a 12F x 2R gear box, offering a wide range of gear selection from 0.5 km/ hr to 31.5 km/ hr which makes it suitable for all kinds of applications, ensuring better productivity.

This tractor also possesses high lift capacity hydraulic systems making it suitable for various ploughing and sowing operations. The higher capacity hydraulic pump allows quick lifting and the tractor boasts of best-in-class lifting capacity of 2200 Kg. •Technology: It comes with independent PTO Clutch with bigger size (12 inch), Synchromesh Transmission, 3 Range Speed options (offering 12F and 2R), Precision Hydraulic with higher Pump Flow for faster lifting.

•Comfort & Ergonomics: The Swaraj 963 FE is designed to set new benchmarks in style, operator comfort and convenience. It has a single lever operation that makes the harvesting application highly convenient and easy to execute. The tractor comes with a big platform, ergonomic seating, suspended pedals and side shift gear levers that ensures a fatigue free driving experience for long hours in the field. The tractor is high on the style quotient as well with its well-designed

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instrument cluster and a single piece bonnet with a streamlined look.

•Aesthetics: Better aesthetics and visibility, stylish new look (single piece bonnet), new digital dashboard with service reminder feature and multi reflector lights • Cost of Ownership: 400 hours service interval for reduced cost of ownership • Safety: Safety is an integral aspect of the 963 FE which is demonstrated through a starting safety switch, Casted front axle bracket and a Differential lock. The starting safety switch ensures that the tractor can be operated only when the transmission is disengaged with the engine. The front axle bracket allows for better stability of haulage and ease of linking external attachments.

Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “Swaraj as a brand is well differentiated from competition because of its strong bonding with its stakeholders. It is a highly trusted and reliable brand in the market today and lives up to the ‘Make in India’ promise. At the same time it also stands for world-class quality and product excellence. Today’s launch will further strengthen the brand and help build a much stronger portfolio of tractors that will cater to a wide range of farming applications and geographical markets.”

APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 63

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

End of the road for Multix and Eicher Polaris Pvt Ltd In what could be termed as one of the quickest decisions by a company in the corporate world to shut down operations, Eicher Motors Limited (EML) has announced that the board of directors of Eicher Polaris Private Limited (EPPL), a joint venture between EML and US-based Polaris Industries Inc., has decided to close the operations of EPPL. In short, it means that it is that it is the end of the road for EPPL and the Multix vehicle. The Multix was launched barely three years ago. At a meeting held on March 9, 2018 the board of directors of EPPL passed a resolution to close the operations of the company with immediate effect.

EPPL was incorporated in October 2012.

In June 2015, the company launched “Multix”, India’s first personal utility vehicle, purpose-built for the independent businessman. Given its unique positioning and differentiated product features, Multix initially generated significant interest from customers. However, the initial interest could not be sustained and the subsequent sales performance was significantly slower than the company’s expectations.

Despite several initiatives, the company’s performance could not be revived. Hence, the board of EPPL has concluded that in the present circumstances, it is in the best interest of all stakeholders to close the operations of the company, the press release said.

In the coming days, the company will engage with all its valued stakeholders including customers, suppliers, employees and channel partners to implement the closure. The company will continue to provide spares and service support for the fleet of Multix vehicles on the road.

As of December 31, 2017, EML had invested Rs. 289.50 crore in EPPL. The sums invested so far, together with additional investments, as required to close down the operations, shall be written- down in accordance with the applicable regulations.

During the year ended March 31, 2017, EPPL’s net loss amounted to Rs. 91.83 Crore; 50% of which was consolidated with the Profit After Tax of EML.

Alstom completes most powerful all-electric “Make-In-India” locomotive Alstom announced the completion of its first all-electric locomotive from its state-of-theart locomotive facility at Madhepura in the State of Bihar , on schedule. In line with the Government’s and Indian Railways’ target towards 100% electrification and towards sustainable mobility, these new locomotives will not only bring down operating costs for the Railways but will significantly cut down greenhouse gas emissions as well.

This first locomotive is part of a €3.5 billion order (Rs 27,997 crore approx.)

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comprising 800 electric double-section locomotives signed in 2015 which contributes to the Ministry of Railways’ public-private partnership programme to modernise the country’s rail infrastructure.

This agreement remains the largest Foreign Direct Investment in the railways sector to date and has a strategic role in creating a multiplier effect on the economy. This contract is also one of the biggest contracts in the history of Alstom.

Thanks to its 12,000 horsepower, each

double section locomotive, part of Alstom’s Prima locomotives family, has a hauling capacity of 6,000 tonnes and speed of 120km/hr, allowing faster and safer movement of heavier freight trains across the country, thereby reducing congestion for passenger train services and freight.

Equipped with IGBT based propulsion technology , these locomotives will be compliant with Indian standards of freight transport and will have the ability to endure tough Indian climate and conditions.

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TECHNOLOGY

Bentley Bentayga now comes with biometric security stowage

Those who buy Bentley cars are super rich. And super rich people carry very, very expensive things with them, be it their diamond studded watches, or wallets containing credit cards with no limits at all. Now if they ever want to leave these expensive items behind in their car, they can do so without losing their peace of mind.

Bentley is introducing capacitive fingerprint sensor technology with a secure stowage unit in the Bentayga model. Developed

by Bentley’s personal commissioning division, Mulliner, the fingerprint sensor technology has been applied to a high pressure die-cast aluminium secure stowage unit located in the cabin.

This discreet and unobtrusive locker creates the ideal place to stow valuables while at the beach, on the ski slope or utilising valet parking services.

With two USB ports and an auxiliary socket, it can also be used for connecting and charging mobile devices both inside and outside of the unit, enabling occupants to access Bentayga’s extensive infotainment technology, including Apple CarPlay.

Uday Senapati, Mulliner’s Head of Technical Operations, said, “The Mulliner Biometric Secure Stowage unit is hidden from view.

We are incorporating the familiar capacitive fingerprint sensor technology from smartphones that can store multiple fingerprints, allowing the user to control who accesses their valuables.” www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 65

TECHNOLOGY

Dainese, Pagani develop sophisticated materials for the Huayra Roadster soft top Dainese, an Italian manufacturer of protective gear and clothing for sports, including motorcycling, mountain biking, winter sports and horseriding, made its R&D department available to Pagani Automobili, an Italian manufacturer of supercars and carbon fibre components. with the aim of identifying and creating the best possible materials for the fabric and structural parts for the soft top on its Roadster models.

Sharing the know-how of these two Italian brands translates into developing sophisticated technical solutions on a par with cars such as the Pagani Huayra Roadster.

“Innovation is in Dainese’s DNA and the development of highly sophisticated technical solutions is the direct consequence of this,” says Cristiano Silei, Dainese Group CEO, adding that “To give life to something valuable, and to do so in collaboration with a prestigious brand like Pagani Automobili, makes us proud yet again.”

Inspired by the first flying machines designed by Da Vinci, the Ornitottero, and by certain well-known, contemporary architectonic and engineering works, the soft top is a combination of components in High Elastic Modulus Carbon Fibre developed by Pagani, which is connected by means of aluminum and titanium billet joints that stretch the technical fabric developed by Dainese.

The ‘Pagani Fabric’ and the structure are the result of a joint development by Dainese and Pagani, the two firms working together to achieve absolute perfection, on both a

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technical and aesthetic level. Dainese’s extensive know-how in the world of technical fabrics enabled the creation of an innovative material made up of different layers of refined material and waterproofed using technology specially developed by the Vicenza-based firm’s R&D department. The aim was to achieve the right balance between flexibility and resistance across every single zone.

As the soft top is closed, predetermined folding areas make it possible for the fabric to follow the folds of the structural members, like origami. This system ensures the durability of the fabric over time and reduces the amount of storage space needed in the car to a minimum. The soft top equipped on the Huayra Roadster offers both a comfortable driving experience and a one-of-a-kind look.

“Creating the reserve soft top for the Huayra Roadster was a real technical challenge,” confirms Horacio Pagani, Chief Designer at Pagani Automobili.“Our goal was to provide customers with a folding roof solution, one that takes up minimal space when stored in the car. The soft top was conceived as a lightweight, resistant tensostructure, in which every single element contributes to carrying out the overall function through tension,” he said.

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TECHNOLOGY

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APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 67

TECHNOLOGY

Hyundai Motor winter test proves electrified vehicles in Swedish Lapland At Hyundai Mobis Proving Ground in Sweden, just an hour’s drive away from the Article Circle, Hyundai Motor Company subjects its latest electrified vehicles to the most extreme sub-zero conditions. Rigorous testing ensures winter-proved operation of Hyundai’s electrified vehicles in temperatures as low as -35°C. Extreme cold can adversely affect various functions of electrified vehicles, such as the ability to start the vehicle, manage thermal control of the electric powertrain, heating and ventilation and maximize the drive range.

Hyundai’s two prominent electrified vehicles, Hyundai Nexo fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) and All-New Kona Electric, spearheaded the Hyundai’s winter test.

The previous generations of FCEV faced a significant technical challenge to be started in temperatures within -10° to -20° C. In order to overcome the technical challenge, the Hyundai engineers designed a new component to heat up the fuel cell stack of the Hyundai Nexo in sub-zero conditions.

Thanks to this clever thermal management strategy, the Hyundai Nexo can be started at -30° C, which is on par with any other types of internal combustion engine powered vehicles.

The other technical challenge typically found with FCEVs is ice formation within the fuel cell stack after the vehicle is turned off, as water is the only by product of electricity generation through hydrogen. Utilising a blower system attached to the fuel cell stack, when it is turned off, the Hyundai Nexo removes water before it becomes frozen.

The key objective of the winter test for a battery electric vehicle is to achieve the most efficient usage of electricity. In order to maximize the drive range, the Kona Electric incorporates clever engineering solutions to minimize electricity used for heating, ventilation and airconditioning (HVAC).

The HVAC technologies highlighted in the Kona

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Electric are a highly efficient new heat pump, smart air intake control, individual ventilation (for driver only) and a pre-conditioning ventilation system.

The Kona Electric’s heat pump system harnesses wasted heat emitted by electrical components and recycles it to increase the efficiency of the heating and ventilation systems. By minimizing electricity consumption from the battery, the heat pump contributes to the overall driving range of the Kona Electric in winter.

The smart air intake control system featured on the Kona Electric recycles heated air by controlling the amount of air entering and exiting the vehicle. By better controlling the air flow inside the vehicle, the HVAC system is able to heat the cabin more efficiently, thereby minimizing the amount of heating used during winter driving.

The individual ventilation system of the Kona Electric completely shuts off heating and ventilation to the foot-well and dashboard ventilation on the passenger side when driving alone. The system is activated by a ‘driver only’ button on the dashboard.

When plugged in, the pre-conditioning ventilation system allows the Kona Electric to be pre-heated, utilising electricity from the grid before the car is driven. Customers can schedule to pre-heat or pre-cool the cabin of their vehicles before driving.

At the apex of Hyundai’s eco-friendly vehicle line-up, Hyundai’s first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV, the Hyundai Nexo boasts the best range within the fuel cell and EV car segments, delivering an estimated 800 km from a single charge (under NEDC testing).

Featuring two different battery capacity options, the long-range version Kona Electric with a 64 kWh battery pack is going to deliver up to 482 km of drive range on a single charge, whilst the basic version with a 39.2 kWh battery pack is going to deliver up to 312 km (under WLTP regulations).

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TECHNOLOGY

New ceramic coating technology enables wider adoption of composite materials UK based Zircotec Group has developed the first plasma applied thermal barrier coating that can be used with composites that require a Class A display surface. The new technology allows vehicle manufactures to use the lightweight materials in places that have previously not been possible, such as aerodynamic aids near exhaust pipes or the exhaust shrouds themselves.

Zircotec is a specialist heat management company that was formally part of the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

The automotive industry is increasingly adopting composite components, largely to meet strict emissions regulations but also due to consumer demand for the aesthetic qualities of the materials. However, using composites close to heat sources has previously required some form of heat shielding, which adds components and is largely unaccepted by vehicle manufacturers looking to maintain the aesthetics of visible surfaces.

“With new manufacturing techniques starting to make carbon composites more affordable, the material is increasingly offering an ideal solution where high strength must be combined with light weight,” explains Graeme Barette, Zircotec Group Director. “One of the barriers to adoption continues to be the material’s vulnerability to high temperatures. This new technique is the result of a request from a vehicle manufacturer to solve this challenge and is now fully validated and ready to roll-out in higher volumes,” he adds.

The technology is an evolution of Zircotec’s proven plasma-applied ceramic coating, a result of development carried out at the company’s in-house R&D facility. The chemistry of the compound and the application process has been significantly modified specifically for application to composite materials.

“With combustion temperatures rising and more heat being retained

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in the exhaust to ensure efficient operation of turbocharging and after treatment systems, temperatures are not only rising under the bonnet, heat is also being carried back further than ever before,” adds Barette.

“That can be a problem in areas like air channelling Graeme Barette, at the rear of the car, Zircotec Group Director where prolonged exposure to high temperature exhaust gasses can discolour and degrade the superb finishes expected by the owners of luxury and high-performance vehicles,” he says.

The high-quality finish required for A Class surfaces has been achieved through specially-developed, high-precision automation of the application process and thorough quality control techniques. The automation not only ensures a consistent finish that meets OEM recognised standards but enables Zircotec to process 100,000 parts a year.

“Our proprietary application process requires specialised equipment and highly trained technicians,” continues Barette. “Although we have the capability to process large numbers of components here at our headquarters in the UK, the critical parameters are now sufficiently well understood to allow us to set-up a micro application facility in parallel with a vehicle manufactures production line,” he notes.

The coating has been extensively trialled with a number of Europe’s most demanding vehicle manufacturers and is now available for wider application.

APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 69

TECHNOLOGY

Continental develops third generation of ABS

Safe, controllable and optimum brake performance at all times – these are just some of the things that drivers want from their brake systems and hence result in increased automation. Technology company Continental has responded to this trend by developing a thirdgeneration ABS (ABS3), and securing additional safety potential for achieving the long-term goal of Vision Zero – the vision of accident-free driving.

This new generation adapts the brake pressure control with even greater speed and precision to suit changing road conditions. This means that the vehicle remains more maneuverable even when the brakes are applied sharply and optimum brake performance is ensured even under difficult circumstances. When the brakes are applied on road surfaces with different friction coefficients (μ-split situations) – for example, the lane on the right is covered in leaves, snow or gravel, while the lane in the middle has a much grippier surface – the ABS has to apply completely different levels of braking force to the wheels on the left and right 70 | MOTOWN INDIA | APRIL 2018

to ensure maximum deceleration without compromising vehicle stability.

“To ensure optimum brake performance and maneuverability at all times even under ever-changing conditions, ABS3 takes these changes into account more quickly and robustly when controlling the wheel dynamics,” said Felix Bietenbeck, head of the Vehicle Dynamics business unit at Continental. This means that ABS3 responds even more quickly than the previous generation to abrupt changes in the level of road grip. A typical example is a car whose driver executes a full braking manoeuvre starting on a slippery road surface and ending on a grippier one – a scenario known as a “low-μ/high-μ jump.” This causes the lock-up pressure level to change. “Even if this change occurs abruptly, ABS3 can handle this more effectively than ABS2 thanks to its dynamic response and adaptive controller structure,” said Bietenbeck.

During winter test drives conducted in four different vehicles – each equipped with ABS2 or ABS3 and fitted with

During winter test drives conducted in four different vehicles – each equipped with ABS2 or ABS3 and fitted with predecessor or current tyre models – at the Continental test site in Arvidsjaur in Sweden, the benefits of ABS3 for both tyre generations were clear to see.

predecessor or current tyre models – at the Continental test site in Arvidsjaur in Sweden, the benefits of ABS3 for both tyre generations were clear to see. The planned test manoeuvres included not only the μ-split and low-μ/high-μ jump, but also a lane change with the brakes applied.

ABS3 OFFERS NUMEROUS BENEFITS

ABS and ESC have made a key contribution to improving road safety and saving lives, which is why these systems are offered as standard by most manufacturers and today are generally considered as the most important step on the road toward safer driving. ESC in today’s version is an extension of the ABS. The ABS prevents the wheels from locking when the driver is braking so that the vehicle remains capable of being steered.

The ESC prevents the breakaway of the vehicle through targeted braking interventions by the electronics. Both systems complement each other to offer maximum safety and optimum driving stability within the physical limits. The generic concept behind ABS3 means that specific situations such as μ-split do not

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TECHNOLOGY need to be detected and applied. These benefits mean that the third-generation ABS is much easier than ABS2 to apply in different vehicle models.

“Thanks to the ability of ABS3 to quickly respond to changes, drivers can retain control over their vehicles more effectively at the crucial moment and feel much safer as a result,” said Jochen Müller, function developer at Continental.

“We are supporting recent trends, too – for example, if a driver decides to have tyres with optimised rolling resistance fitted to their car for environmental reasons, the ABS must be able to respond perfectly to this change. This is something else that ABS3 is designed for,” added Muller. This is made possible thanks to the adaptive controller in ABS3, which, using a model-based concept, more effectively allows for different tyre behaviours. With ABS3, drivers who decide to have tyres with optimized rolling resistance fitted to their car benefit from the fact that this allowance for changed tyre behaviour helps to improve the braking effect. “Most drivers probably aren’t necessarily aware

of this interaction. But with ABS3, they can be confident that they have the right safety system for their new tyres,” said Müller.

The tyre transmits power between the vehicle and the road in all driving situations. The ABS anti-lock braking system is representative for vehicle control systems. The ABS ensures optimum slip even during emergency braking, which means that the maximum possible braking force is transferred from the tyre to the road surface (µ-slip curve). Despite this, the vehicle remains manoeuvrable because the wheels are prevented from locking up. This control procedure is extremely demanding because it has to occur very dynamically. In addition to the manageability and steerability of the vehicle during emergency situations, the ABS must ensure, especially in the

The ABS ensures optimum slip even during emergency braking, which means that the maximum possible braking force is transferred from the tyre to the road surface (µ-slip curve).

longitudinal dynamics, that the friction potential of the tyre is optimally exhausted.

ABS3 pays particular attention to the fact that the interaction between the tyres and road surface is influenced by a whole range of factors, some of which – road friction, temperature, vehicle load and speed – change all the time. But, as drivers are all too aware from the annual tyre tests, the quality of the tyre itself also plays a key role.

Bentley collaborates with Philippe Starck for recharging unit Bentley has collaborated with renowned creator, Philippe Starck, to create a unique and intelligent recharging unit concept for Bentayga Hybrid customers – the Bentley by Starck Power Dock. The statement piece with its clean and refined design is conceived with the highest attention to detail from both Bentley and Starck, using sustainable and technological materials. The elegant surround is formed from pressed eco-linen with bio-sourced thermosetting resin, while the domed frontage is fashioned using a hotpressure aluminium casting.

electric-only range.

It is designed to keep charging cables neat and safe at home. Furthermore, it brings a sophisticated and timeless touch to the act of hybrid recharging, acting as a functional piece of art that will enhance any home.

Starck’s Power Dock concept – with its tactile surfaces and inviting aesthetic – will encourage Bentayga Hybrid customers to plug-in whenever they are at home, thus ensuring each journey begins with the maximum www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

Phillippe Starck, also a Bentley customer of many years, describes the ownership experience as “a love story”. “You don’t like a Bentley, you love it. The relationship with a Bentley is not about bio-design or horsepower, it’s a mental and sentimental relationship,” he explained.

Throughout his career Starck has demonstrated a unique and rebellious approach to product desigpn, and an unrivalled attention to detail that has made him one of the most revered creators of his generation.

Starck is one of the most revered creators of his generation and is responsible for many iconic designs.

APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 71

TECHNOLOGY

Durr EcoInCure offers best possible top-coat quality for cars World’s leading mechanical and plant engineering firm Dürr announced early this year the launch of EcoInCure that offers best possible top-coat quality and maximum process reliability by heating the bodies from the inside in combination with the innovative transverse mode of operation.

Car major Skoda will use the benefits of the new Dürr oven in the future in the Mladá Boleslav main plant in the Czech Republic. Dürr is supplying all the system and application technology, including the building, for the new paint shop.

EcoInCure features nozzles with long throw distances that blow hot air into the inside of the body through the opening for the windshield. The flow velocity around the outer skin of the body during this process is minimal. This results in an undisrupted paint appearance with maximum quality. At the same time, optimum transfer of heat inside the body enables extremely homogeneous heating of both thin sheet and mass parts.

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The result is up to 30% shorter heating times with minimised thermal component stresses, which is especially important for drying electric vehicles and multisubstrate bodies. The heating concept of EcoInCure reduces the electrical energy requirement by 25% and regulates the drying temperature with previously impossible precision and speed. The exhaust air from the ovens is purified via the integrated Ecopure TAR afterburning system with heat recovery and then used for the oven heating system. The entire plant including data acquisition,

EcoInCure features nozzles with long throw distances that blow hot air into the inside of the body through the opening for the windshield.

data evaluation, and plant monitoring is controlled by the Dürr software solution iTAC.MES.Suite.

The modular MES system provides detailed information on the production workflows and the consumption data at all times. For the first time, for example, Dürr is using the electronic quality card for the drying process, which makes it possible to track the drying quality of each body. This tried-and-tested technology from Dürr is already used to coat well over 10 million bodies worldwide each year.

The latest Dürr robotic generation is used in all process steps involved in painting.

From the primer to the base coat and the clear coat line, a total of 61 EcoRP thirdgeneration painting robots ensure efficient paint application. The exterior painting is done by the EcoRP E043i, the first painting robot where the seventh axis is integrated into the robot’s kinematics. Two or four robots are installed in each of the exterior painting cells. The stop-and-go painting process means that they do not need a rail. This enables a much better view of the booth, and eliminating the positioning axis significantly reduces the maintenance effort in the robot cell.

The interior painting stations are equipped with the six-axis robots of the type EcoRP L133i, which are mounted on a rail. The identically constructed EcoRP L033i model without rail is used for opening the hoods. The robots are assisted by Scara door openers. The latest Dürr robot

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TECHNOLOGY

The exterior painting is done by the EcoRP E043i, the first painting robot where the seventh axis is integrated into the robot’s kinematics.

generation has a modular structure. The only difference between the six- and seven-axis models is the additional axis of rotation in the main arm. The otherwise identical components simplify spare parts management, save storage costs, and make maintenance easier.

The robots are equipped with the latest Dürr application technology. The EcoBell3 atomizer series together with the associated EcoBell Cleaner D2 and the EcoLCC2 color changer delivers low paint and solvent consumption as well as fast color changes within the cycle time.

The third generation of Dürr robots is controlled by the also newly developed EcoRCMP2 process and motion controller.

The control platform combines a multitude of sensors and actuators in the painting robot and the higher-level maintenance or control systems. An integrated interface makes the robot “cloud ready” and provides all relevant data for current and future requirements in the Industry 4.0 landscape.

Even before the bodies get their layer of paint, the welding and gluing seams are sealed fully automatically. This ensures that no water can infiltrate into the vehicle interior later. Dürr is installing a total of 19 EcoRS sealing robots with the latest application technology at Skoda in Mladá Boleslav. These robots undertake the task of sealing the seams from below, inside the body as well as at the roof seams. The EcoDryScrubber, a dry separation system with limestone powder as the binder, will take over the paint overspray separation in the spray booth.

This system requires no manual handling as it is fully automated, robust, and easy to maintain, and requires no adaptation to different paint systems.

This makes it ideal for high-volume plants such as

at ŠKODA. An important point is the energy saving of up to 60% in the spray booth. By completely eliminating water and chemicals, up to 90% recirculated air can be used in production. This reduces the cost of conditioning fresh air and is the deciding factor in the outstanding energy efficiency of the spray booth.

The performance of the EcoDryScrubber is further improved through the use of the new V5.X system software. It enables the system to be self-regulating. As a direct result, optimum use is made of the limestone powder for binding the overspray, thereby reducing consumption.

The dry separation system results in highly concentrated and especially efficiently filtered

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exhaust air. This enables a very compact air purification system, consisting of a highly efficient VOC adsorptive concentration system (Ecopure KPR) with downstream thermal exhaust air purification system (Ecopure TAR). The energy needed for the Ecopure KPR system’s desorption air is recovered from the purified gas of the thermal exhaust air purification system. This reduces the investment costs for the exhaust air system by 60%. The energy requirement for exhaust air purification is reduced by 80% in this combination.

The plant is designed for a throughput of 30 vehicles per hour, and will be painting Skoda’s mid-range models from June 2019.

APRIL 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 73

PICTURE OF THE MONTH

Backwaters of Kerala. One Plus 5T Photography.

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