Motown India January 2021

VOL-11 • ISSUE-4 • JANUARY 2021 • `300/-

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INDIA

BEGINS WITH A BANG! WHEELZ & ROADZ

2021 VOLVO S60 | VOLKSWAGEN BS6 VENTO | HONDA HORNET 2.0 | RE HIMALAYAN

IMMERSE IN

Nirvana

KERALA

Artwork created by MPPL team

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CONTE NTS VOL 11 | ISSUE 4 | JANUARY 2021

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WHEELZ & ROADZ : 2021 VOLVO S60

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WHEELZ & ROADZ : TATA ALTROS BS6

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WHEELZ & ROADZ : HONDA HORNET 2.0

38 COVER STORY : 2021 begins with a bang!

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FIRST DRIVE

2021 VOLVO S60

KEY TO SAFETY

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Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig / P Tharyan

SPECIFICATIO NS ENGINE 1969cc / 4 inline petrol TRANSMISSION Geartronic automatic 8-speed FWD

MAX POWER 190hp PEAK TORQUE 300Nm TYRES 235/45 R18

T

he luxury car segment in India is full of fascinating cars that offer the best of indulgence to its customers. These are literally electrically fortified with so many electronic features, it’s as though you are driving a computer on four wheels and they offer you a host of luxury features. The new 2021 Volvo S60 sedan, true to its iconic Swedish badge, offers all this and it redefines safety too in a big way.

To begin with Volvo Cars of Sweden have decided that they would be limiting the speed of all their street legal cars to a maximum of 180kmph. That makes a lot of sense. This car will be competing against the likes of the Audi A4, the Mercedes-Benz C Class, the Jaguar XE and the BMW 3 series, among others.

Though globally, this Swedish brand is dong relatively well, in India its story is a bit different. Among the upmarket players in India that include the Mercedes, Audi, BMW and JLR, Volvo Cars has a lot of catching up to do in terms of domestic sales.

We took the 2021 Volvo S60 T4 Inscription petrol model for a short spin and our impressions of the car follow. Volvo Cars India will be offering the S60 in only one petrol variant, i.e. the T4 Inscription. It is a fully loaded car with all bells and whistles and it will come with four keys.

EXTERIORS The exteriors of the 2021 Volvo S60 are all too familiar with its Inscription grille with vertical slats, the large Volvo badging, the Thor hammer shaped DRLs, and the fully colour adapted sills and bumpers. The door handles come with illumination and there are also puddle lights. LED headlights with automatic bending, fog lights in front spoiler, emergency braking light, large tail lamps with flashing brake light with hazard warning during emergency braking and dual integrated tail pipes make up for some of the features. The car sits on 18 inches 10-multi-spoke black diamond cut alloy wheels.

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INTERIORS The interiors are plush, to say the least, with driftwood decor inlays, Illuminated vanity mirrors, soft leather dashboard, leather steering wheel with 3 spoke, leather gear lever, wireless charging and automatically dimmed inner and exterior mirrors, among other features.

The soft leather driver and passenger seats are power adjustable with memory. These seats also have a cushion extension that can be power operated.

The unique Volvo switches on the centre console, especially the engine start and stop button which is a knurled knob, the knurled Drive Mode switch, the AC louvers and the designs, give the vehicle an up market feel. Storage space is plenty for bottles and cups. Both the front and rear arm rests offer spaces to put in knick knacks. The centre arm rest at the rear comes with cup holders and

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storage. There are two USB slots in the front arm rest, a 12V outlet near the gear knob and the luggage space too has a 12V outlet.

The new 2021 Volvo S60 comers with 4-zone electronic climate control, clean zone (air quality system) and a large panoramic sun roof with power operation.

You get a tab like 9 inches touch screen and a 12.3 inches driver display in the instrument panel. This highresolution screen showcases key information for the driver and can vary the size and shape of the readouts it shows, depending on how you are using your car. For example, if you are using the navigation system, the display for that becomes enlarged, so you can focus on your directions more easily. The driver display also adapts

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its brightness according to exterior light sources. And with Voice Control, you can access many functions of the S60, while keeping your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road at all times.

The 9-inch centre display with touch screen allows you to intuitively control the functions of the car and stay connected. The touch screen surface is so responsive that you can operate it wearing gloves. You can use it to operate the navigation, entertainment, climate control and your smartphone. The system allows Apple Car Play and Andriod Auto function.

The S60 gets a Harman Kardon Premium audio system powered by a 600W digital amplifier and 14 speakers.

Volvo Cars have been known for their upmarket Bowers & Wilkins audio system.

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ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE The S60 is powered by an 1969cc, 4 inline petrol engine that churns out around 190hp and a peak torque of 300 Nm. The engine is mated to an eight-speed geartronic automatic transmission. The car if front wheel drive and the ride and handling it offers is top notch. The vehicle’s dynamic chassis technology offers a good balance between suspension comfort and road handling.

It’s some of the features of this car that makes it stand out in the crowd. Its advanced driver assistance technology is of great use to driver. Pilot Assist helps to reduce some of the effort required at higher speeds (up to 130km/h) or in stop-start traffic, so journeys are more enjoyable. It keeps the S60 at a set speed and distance from the vehicle in front, and uses steering inputs to help keep you in the centre of your lane. Pilot Assist is connected to the Drive Modes of the S60, so in ECO mode there is the possibility of improved fuel efficiency, while if in Dynamic mode, it will quicken the response to the speed of the vehicle in front.

Pro-active safety technology in the car is of great significance. At the heart of this technology is City Safety. City Safety can identify other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and large animals ahead of you, even at night. It warns you if needed and can brake automatically to help avoid a collision or reduce impact. The car’s advanced oncoming mitigation by braking technology – a Volvo Cars safety world first – can detect if there’s another vehicle driving towards you and brakes automatically to mitigate the impact. The car can also support if you’re forced into a rapid evasive action at speeds between 50 and 100km/h. As you begin to steer away, City Safety can help you do it as effectively and safely as possible by braking the inner wheels individually and reinforcing your steering input. Of course, here we are talking about its very critical features that we thankfully did not have to experience.

Though a common feature ins many luxury cars today, the Volvo S60 too has Lane Keeping Aid that can gently help steer your car back into its lane if it senses you are about to inadvertently cross into a different lane. If this is not enough or if you keep steering across the lane markings, you’ll be alerted with vibrations in the steering wheel.

There is also Run-off road Mitigation which detects you’re about to leave the road unintentionally, it can provide steering input and, if necessary, brake support to help guide you back on track.

The car comes with airbags for driver and passenger, Side Impact Protection System airbags and inflatable curtains, Emergency Brake Assist, EBA, Intelligent driver information system (IDIS) etc.

VERDICT To sum it up, the 2021 Volvo S60 is a perfect combination of comfort and safety. Every time Volvo makes their cars look a lot more chic, they work on its safety features too, ensuring the safety of not just the occupants but also those outside who may likely get impacted in a collision. It’s always safety redefined for Volvo Cars!

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A BOLD STANDARD DRIVEN

TATA ALTROZ HATCHBACK

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Report: Hari Kudchadkar

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ou know, when you’re least expecting for things to fall into place, they surprisingly do! That moment is priceless. So is the moment when a car turns out to be exactly what you had imagined it to be. For once in my life, I just managed to trash every word thrown at me, by my friends and colleagues about ‘That Tata Car’, just so that I could see for myself, whether Tata had actually created a modern, funto-drive, and practical hatchback for us picky Indians.

Any doubts whether the Tatas could make great cars were put to rest for ever with the Nexon and the Harrier. What about the Altroz? Could it match the products of its Korean and Japanese rivals? It was time to put the Altroz through its paces.

We decided to drive the Altroz from the heart of Pune to the roads that lead to Lavassa. I found this an Ideal setup to test the car, mainly because it lets me take it through traffic, highways, pothole infested roads, uphill and downhill setups and obviously more Rush Hour traffic on the way back. We were driving the BS6 Diesel Altroz in its top trim.

EXTERIOR The BS6 upgrade did not come with any exterior upgrades, mainly because it did not need any! The exterior design is so modern and mature with lines stretching from the front, all the way to the rear. What I specifically loved was the somewhat aggressive shark-nose front end and the sporty looking rear end with the smoked taillamps and the black finish on the trunk. Who said Tata Cars cannot be sporty? Because I for one feel this exterior is very appealing. Yes, even when compared to the Hyundai Elite i20 and the Maruti Suzuki Baleno.

The 16-inch dual-color alloy wheels fit perfectly under the slightly puffy wheel arches adding to the striking design and sporty stance of the Altroz. What you would notice is that the grab

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handle is integrated into the rear door pillar, which in terms of design flows pretty well. However, I feel it could have been a tad bigger.

INTERIOR The doors on the Altroz open 90 degrees for better ingress. Once you’ve settled in, you would notice that the interiors are quite humble as opposed to the sporty exteriors. The flat-bottom steering

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wheel is what mattered most to me. The layered dash, the shiny silver finish, the placement of all the buttons and the quality of materials used are on point but the panel gaps were a bit inconsistent.

Placed high up in your line of sight is the 7-inch infotainment screen which looks very premium and so is the part digital part analog instrument cluster.

There are enough door pockets to stash

your belongings, but the armrest could do with much more space inside it. The cabin is spacious, the seats up front are large, comfortable and surprisingly have good thigh support. Even the rear seats are quite comfy, with enough knee room for tall passengers and comfy enough for the middle passenger too. One more downside is the thick A-Pillar which creates a huge blind spot for the driver.

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Who said Tata Cars cannot be sporty? Because I for one feel this exterior is very appealing. Yes, even when compared to the Hyundai Elite i20 and the Maruti Suzuki Baleno.

SP EC I F ICAT IO NS ENGINE 1.5L Turbo-Diesel (1497cc) TRANSMISSION 5-Speed MT MAX POWER 88bhp@4000rpm PEAK TORQUE 200Nm@1250-3000rpm FUEL EFFICIENCY 25.11kmpl PRICE `6.99 lakh - XE 1.5 D

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ENGINE & PERFORMANCE This is what I was most eager to test out, the 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel motor that meets BS6 emission norms. Not the most powerful hatch, but makes a decent 88bhp @4000rpm and 200Nm of torque between 1250-3000rpm. It has two driving modes, Eco and City.

The motor isn’t the noisiest of the diesel lot, but did seem on the edge close to and over 4000rpm. While the grunt below 1300rpm (which is when the Turbo kicks in) was sloppy, the power delivery was linear and the immediate power surge post 1300rpm made up for it.

Another applaud worthy mention is the 5-speed manual that was super slick, reminding me of the Maruti Suzuki Swift. The shifting was precise even during a spirited drive.

The motor felt very comfortable cruising on the highway, munching mile after mile and also returning an average of 20kmpl which was commendable considering I had never let go of the throttle. Switch to Eco mode and it manages a few more kms per litre for you. Then again, the Eco Mode does limit the power output. It could do with a Sport mode too, that could possibly reduce turbo lag and let loose from the get go. The clutch was light, but not as much as its petrol counterpart. All-in-all the motor seemed tractable when kept in its comfort zone which takes a while and a bit of rhythm especially when on a spirited drive darting up and down Mulshi.

I did not have to deliberately take the Altroz through a rough patch, because soon enough the rough patch deliberately found me. The ride quality was plush, not too soft, and not too stiff, and managed to soak in bump after bump. No scrapes either, thanks to the 165mm ground clearance. Here comes the weird

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part. I had the Swift in my mind while testing the handling, because i still feel it’s the benchmark for fun-todrive hatchbacks and Tata have managed to make this quite a fun car! The steering is precise, point and go when you chuck it into the corners that lead up to Lavassa thanks to the heavier nose of the diesel. I love how the steering feels so connected to the wheels, and much like the Nexon, stiffens up at high speeds. You can also chuck it into corners coming in hot and have a bit of sideways fun. Told ya I loved the steering!

The stability at high speeds is commendable even on our unsettling highways. If this was a straight up match, i would, without doubt give this an 8 on 10 in this segment.

Maybe even more if the 185 section Goodyear tyres were grippier.

VERDICT Hell Yes! With prices starting at Rs 5.44 lakh for the Base Petrol variant and Rs 6.99 lakh for the base diesel variant, it is more affordable than its Korean competitor by almost a lakh.

The top of the line XZ Urban variant would set you back Rs 9.09 lakh. There is no doubt that the Tata Altroz is an impressive hatchback, Made in India for the Indians and their bitter road conditions. There is no better way to say this, but I am proud that Tata has come a long way, making better cars that can take the fight to its rivals.

Not to mention, the Altroz is currently the safest hatchback in India, with a 5-star Global NCAP rating, following in the footsteps of its older sibling, the Nexon which was the first Indian car to bag a 5-star Adult Occupancy Safety rating in India. So, to sum it up, the Altroz is fun-to-drive, can do everything that its competitors can and is affordable as well. Even for enthusiasts, I feel a good set of dampers, a remap and stickier set of tyres would work wonders.

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DRIVEN

VOLKSWAGEN BS6 VENTO

THE CAR FULL OF BEANS! Report: P.Tharyan, Photography: Afsar Baig

T

here are two types of car buyers in the country, one who buys cars and the other who buys Volkswagen cars.

Volkswagen cars are known for their zippy performance, its exciting design, its robust build quality and its ride and handling.

Earlier this year, like every other car manufacturer in the country, Volkswagen India too upgraded its engine to BS VI emission levels. In the process, their compact sedan Vento too came with a BS VI engine. The Vento is powered by a one litre petrol TSI engine and comes with an option

of a six-speed manual transmission and a six-speed automatic transmission. Vento prices start at around Rs 9 lakh, ex showroom.

The company also launched a limited edition TSI edition. TSI stands for Turbocharged Stratified Injection (TSI) technology. This engine delivers up to 108.5hp and 175Nm of peak torque. This limited edition Vento (Highline Plus variant) comes with a new 6- speed manual transmission.

Basically, this new limited edition Vento scores on the design front with a stylish honeycomb grille, sleek

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air dam, sporty body side graphics, bold TSI badge across the passenger doors, black ORVMs, glossy black roof and a neat and slim black spoiler. The TSI engine gives a fuel efficiency of 17.69 kmpl and is priced at around Rs 11 lakh.

The Vento also comes with LED headlamps with DRLs, fog lamps and static cornering lights and has electronically foldable side mirrors with integrated turn indicators. The large tail lamps look bold and give the rear a chunky look. .The new sleek side skirts with R16 ‘Portago’ alloys enhance the side profile of the

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S P EC IFIC ATION S ENGINE 999cc, Turbocharged Stratified Injection (TSI) Petrol TRANSMISSION 6-Speed MT MAX POWER 108.5hp@5000–5500rpm PEAK TORQUE 175Nm@1750–4000rpm FUEL EFFICIENCY 17.69kmpl TYRES 195/55 R16

(Spare wheel - 175/70 R14)

PRICE `12.36 lakh - Highline Plus - MT

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vehicle. Not to be missed are the body-coloured door handles with chrome strips. The car key fob lets you remote lock and unlock the car and one button for remote opening the boot lid.

INTERIORS The dual tone interiors, the leatherette upholstery, an intuitive touchscreen infotainment system, auto dimming rear view mirror and a multi-function console ensure that you are comfortable and satisfied.

The leather wrapped steering wheel has a flat-bottom and it comes with controls on either side that take care of your radio channels, volume, voice command, and MID functions.

Cruise control buttons are tucked away on the left lever that also has the indicator functions. This Vento model also comes with reverse parking

camera and your touch screen doubles up as the screen display.

It has auto-dimming Interior Rear-view Mirror, and rain sensing wipers. Both in front and rear the seats are comfortable. The rear has more than adequate leg space for even tall people and the rear seats come with a foldable arm rest, AC vents, a glass holder next to it and a 12V charging socket.

There is plenty of storage space with a cup holder, bottle holder, a concealed front centre armrest for essentials like mobile phones, cooled glovebox and a 494-litre boot. There are lights in the footwell area and inside the glovebox which is very practical.

In our app crazy world of ours, the Vento too can be connected through

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My Volkswagen Connect app on your mobile phone which opens up your world to several functions like finding out fuel pump locations, getting real time location of

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your car, getting notified every time your car goes out of an area or at a time that you haven’t permitted it to, an anti-theft alarm system that sends notification straight to your phone anytime someone tows it away, getting information like how efficiently your car was driven, kilometres travelled, halt locations and average travel speed and much more.

PERFORMANCE Like all Volkswagen cars, this too scores big on performance. With city speeds in India restricted to a mere 50kmpl on almost all roads, the six speed gearbox is almost left underutilized. In just four gears, you can move at great speeds, the fifth and the sixth can be reserved for the highways. It’s kind of frustrating

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that you have so much power on the tap, but the lurking cameras tell you to be careful and not carried away by the engine power.

In short, this car is out and out an enthusiast’s vehicle and there will never be a dull moment with this car. The ride and handling is perfect and its suspension is well tuned to absorb the nasty pot holes many of are so familiar with on India roads.

The engine is extremely peppy and once you drive a car like this, your personality too may just change for the better. I am not kidding!

As for safety, though the vehicle comes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), the company should ideally have given disc brakes at the rear too, considering the power of the TSI engine. The Vento has discs in front and drum brakes at the rear. The Vento comes equipped with dual front airbags as well as side airbags and rear parking sensors. It also comes with an electronic immobiliser anti-theft device as standard. Simply put, the BS6 Vento is a car full of beans!

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FIRST RIDE

HONDA HORNET 2.0

SPEED PART II Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

A

s long as the emission norms were BS4, Honda bikers had to be content with the Hornet 160R. That meant the engine was around 162cc that delivered a max power of around 15hp and a peak torque of 14.5Nm. But the moment BS VI emission norms were made mandatory, Honda upped the game with its new Honda Hornet 2.0 with better features and a more powerful engine.

FEATURES

The motorcycle gets a new fully digital negative liquid crystal meter. It displays information like Gear Position Indicator, Service Due Indicator, Battery Voltmeter and comes with customisable brightness (can be adjusted manually up to 5 levels).

Then there is the new engine stop switch for convenience during brief stops. It gets a new aerodynamic design that ensures better handling of the motorcycle. The bike has an aggressive forward leaning design with a chunky tank. It gives you a race bike kind of feel when you are seated on it. The sporty character is further accentuated with the short muffler, sporty new alloy wheel design and alloy foot pegs.

To begin with, the Honda Hornet 2.0 has a lot of things that are different compared to the outgoing Hornet that had a 162cc engine. If you look at the dimensions, the length is 2047mm as compared to 2041mm, the width remains same SPECIFIC ATIONS at 783mm, the height has decreased to 1064mm from ENGINE 184.40cc,4 stroke, SI engine, BS VI 1091mm and the wheelbase has marginally increased to TRANSMISSION 5-Speed 1355mm as compared to 1346mm in the CB Hornet MAX POWER 17hp@8500rpm 160R. What else has changed?

PEAK TORQUE 16.1Nm@6000rpm The Honda Hornet 2.0 gets new LED headlamp with position lamp, new LED winkers and X-shaped LED tail lamp. It gets a Golden Upside Down (USD) front fork, which incidentally is a first in sub 200cc segment. It gets a monoshock rear suspension.

SUSPENSION Front: Upside down Fork (USD), Rear: Monoshock TYRES Front: 110/70-17 (Tubeless) Rear: 140/70-17 (Tubeless)

PRICE `1.26 lakh (ex-showroom Haryana)

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The Hornet 2.0 comes with a new key on tank feature. There is also a new sporty split seat. Other features include dual, petal disc brakes with single channel ABS, wider tubeless tyres with the front at 110mm and rear at 140mm. The motorcycle also comes with a hazard switch. And to top it all, the motorcycle gets a new 184cc HET BSVI PGM-FI engine.

PERFORMANCE Despite a more powerful 184cc PGM-FI HET (Honda Eco Technology) engine, compared to the 160R, the kerb weight of this motorcycle has marginally gone up by a mere 1 kilo at 142 kilograms. Thus it continues to be light and easy to handle. The PGM-Fi system uses 8 onboard sensors to constantly inject optimum fuel and air mixture to provide greater performance and superior efficiency.

The moment you start your journey on this motorcycle, you realise that it exudes a very muscular and sporty stance. It is so easy to ride and gives you immense confidence on the move, thanks to the broad tubeless tyres.

The engine has been perfectly tuned for city riding where you need bursts of initial power and massive mid range torque. Do remember, that with the government getting very strict about city speed limits all over the country, this bike does not tempt you easily with very great speeds. It’s got adequate speeds for our highways and streets. In fact, the gear throws are so short that

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you actually feel that you have run out of gears after the fifth. Reaching speeds of around 70 and 80kmph is a cakewalk for this machine. But it does kind of take a bit of time to cross the 100kmph mark.

I would say, Honda has made a very practical motorcycle.

Smooth power delivery is ensured with a roller rocker arm which helps in reduction of friction losses. The new engine also comes equipped with a piston cooling jet that acts as heat absorbent hence improving engine thermal efficiency and giving good fuel efficiency.

Ride and handling is so endearing on this bike. And the bike is very planted on the road at high speeds which instills a lot of confidence in the rider. Braking too comes easy with disc brakes and ABS. Since the bike comes with a seal chain, it needs less frequent adjustments and has a low maintenance cost.

Honda is offering a special new 6-year warranty package (3 years standard + 3 years optional extended warranty) on the Hornet 2.0. This motorcycle will be available in four colours -Pearl Igneous Black, Matte Sangria Red Metallic, Matte Axis Grey Metallic and Matte Marvel Blue Metallic.

VERDICT The Honda Hornet 2.0 is a perfect city bike. The 184cc engine produces perfect mid range torque that is ideal for speeds on our streets. With it dynamic design and sporty stance, it is bound to attract youngsters who are keen to experience a bit of race like feel. It offers great stability at high speeds and has several safety features that will go a long way in boosting the confidence of both the rider and the pillion.

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RIDDEN

ROYAL ENFIELD HIMALAYAN BS6

UNBRIDLED FUN Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

T

he Royal Enfield Himalayan has been in India for the last four years and this motorcycle has undergone some very interesting, yet critical modifications since its inception.

In 2016 when the company got into the adventure segment in a serious way, after having convincingly mastered the affordable cruiser segment, a lot was expected from it with the Himalayan. The Himalayan was launched in its BS 3 avatar in a carburetor version and it surely had its niggling problems. We rode that in some snowy, inhospitable conditions and were impressed with it.

This was followed by the Himalayan BS4 version which got a fuel injected engine and sometime during the fag end of its life, it got the ABS feature.

It was then that we were part of a team of Royal Enfield Himalayan riders who that participated in an extensive North East tour of India. That tour reinforced our faith in this adventure motorcycle.

The BS4 Himalayan did not come with a switchable option for the ABS. It is now for the BS VI Himalayan

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S P EC IFIC ATION S ENGINE 411cc, Type Single cylinder, 4 stroke, SOHC, air-cooled, fuel injection TRANSMISSION 5 speed constant mesh MAX POWER 24.3bhp@6500rpm PEAK TORQUE 32Nm@4000-4500 rpm TYRES Front 90/90 - 21” Rear 120/90 - 17”

PRICE `2.27 lakh

to iron out all the shortcomings of its earlier versions. So, let’s get straight to the changes in 2020 Himalayan and talk about its performance.

The 2020 BS VI Royal Enfield Himalayan gets three new colours – two of which are dual tone

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(Lake Blue and Rock Red; apart from single tone Gravel Grey). Depending on the colour, the prices vary. We got the Gravel Grey Himalayan and this costs around Rs 2,27,881 on road.

CHANGES IN THE BS VI ROYAL ENFIELD HIMALAYAN Since this is a BS VI, this obviously means this engine now meets BS VI emission norms. It is the same 411cc single cylinder engine now produces 24.3 hp@ 6500 rpm. It is marginally (0.2 hp) less than what the BS4 model produced. Peak torque remains unchanged at 32Nm@ 4000-4500rpm.

The bike has a Digital electronic ignition and the engine is mated to a

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5 speed constant mesh gearbox. This electronic fuel injected machine has an electric start. Kick is now a passĂŠ for several Royal Enfield bikes.

Because of some of the changes in this motorcycle, the Himalayan has become a bit heavier than its BS 4 sibling. The BS4 was 194 kg and now this modern avatar weighs 199 kg.

These are kerb weights with 90 percent fuel and oil.

Coming to a very important change, every off-road biker loves to have fun while experiencing the bike. Now all the sliding and sudden twists can only happen if you can switch off your ABS.

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If the ABS is not switched off, the rides are very predictable and disciplined. But since this Himalayan gets switchable ABS, off-roaders and hard core bikers can actually have loads of fun switching off the ABS. There is a tiny button near the instrument cluster that can be activated once you are stationery and then off you can go and indulge in all the sporty riding. Thus, with the rear ABS can be switched off during off-road excursions and trail riding.

But it’s not just a switchable ABS that is new, the company has also ensured better braking in the BS VI Himalayan. Royal Enfield has worked on the overall braking of the motorcycle. The braking mechanism has been reworked for shorter stopping distance when brakes are applied. This bike now oozes with confidence.

An equally important change is with the side stand of the vehicle. It’s an improved side stand that one gets to see in the new RE Himalayan and this makes the bike stand confidently on almost all terrains.

Least but not the last, the BS VI Himalayan gets a hazard switch that can come very handy when the rider wants to

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alert others while riding or in situations he feels best.

With these changes, the Himalayan has just got a lot better than what it was earlier. The Himalayan is an adventure motorcycle, an off roader and we spent a considerable amount of time having fun with it in an undisturbed off road trail.

The large tyres, the very effective ABS, the broad and comfortable seats, the sturdy foot pegs and the power of the engine made such an ideal combination for fun and all we did was to switch off the ABS to move to the next level of unbridled fun! They have already the kings of the cruising world, now they have extended their dominance over the vast off-road terrain.

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A riding experience

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A riding experience

FIRST RIDE HERO OPTIMA HX S12A E-SCOOTER

GREEN

CHAMP Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

H

ero Electric has been the pioneer in the electric two-wheeler space in India. Earlier, they ruled the space with lead acid batteries, today their world is dominated by lithium-ion batteries. Their 2020 Hero Optima HX S12a variant electric scooter costs around Rs 71950 but because of a special offer available, this is available at Rs 57560 only. Well, at that price, it is a steal!

FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS The electric scooter looks neat, is rather slim in appearance, looks decent from all angles, has LED headlamps, halogen indicators and tail lamps, besides a large single seat for two adults with a chunky grab rail for the pillion. The vehicle comes with a digital instrument cluster and a USB charging slot near the right handle. There is a large cavity storage space in front but I only wish this had a cover of

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sorts to ensure that the things I put there are protected in rain.

Unlike the Athers of the world, Hero electric two-wheelers are more sedate and practical. Thus, this electric scooter is not for enthusiasts since the top speed is around 42kmph, though we did manage to ride it a lot faster. And when I say 42 kmph, I am sure a lot of you out there would be sniggering. But I must say, this Naveen Munjal controlled Hero Electric is the smart one, because speed limits in major cities of India is around 50kmph on almost all streets.

The Otpima electric scooter comes in different variants. The Optima HX series has variants like the S12a which we rode. This has a battery range of around 82 kms per single charge. Then you have the HX-S12b with a 122km range and the S32a with a 95km range on a single charge.

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

With telescopic suspension in front and double shocker with coiled spring suspension at the rear, this e-scooter sits on 90x90x12 inches tyres in front and rear. Like all electric vehicle, the Optima too has the Lithium-ion battery as its critical component. The battery is a 51.2V/ 30Ah lithiumion one and running the e-scooter is a motor of 550w with a peak watt of 1200. This enables the vehicle to achieve a top speed of 42kmph. The battery has a charging time of four hours.

CHARGING THE BATTERY The key to start the scooter is also used to open the seat, under which is stored the battery. You also get a charger, a pair of remote control keys, a tool kit and user manual with the e-scooter, all of which we found under the seat. Under the seat, on one side you see a small plastic lid and the moment you remove that you get to see

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A riding experience

SP EC I F ICAT IO NS MOTOR 550w | peak 1200w BATTERY 51.2V/ 30Ah lithium-ion (charging time - 4 hours) RANGE (WLTP) 82km per charge TOP SPEED 42 km per hour TYRES 90x90x12 inches PRICE `57,560/-

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

the MCB and the Controller. Before unplugging or plugging the battery, make sure to turn the MCB to ‘Off’ position or else the connectors can produce a spark which in turn can unnerve you.

The battery is quite heavy and it is like a vertical box with a metal handle. The handle is akin to the one that used to be on old metal trunks, especially the ones used by army men. I found this metal handle very small and inconvenient and if one were to carry this battery for long, you are bound to hurt your fingers. I wish the company had made broader, softer handles for the battery so it would have been easier carrying it around.

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A riding experience

Now, there are two ways to charge an electric vehicle.

Either you can charge the e-scooter directly to a 6 amp wall socket through a charger or take the battery out and charge the battery directly to a 6amp socket in your home or office through the same charger. The battery has a round 3 pin female socket and the charger has a round 3 pin male plug. In order to charge the e-scooter directly, you have to connect one end of the charger to the 6amp wall socket and the other round 3 pin male plug to the 3-pin round female socket located outside near the floor board. There is also a square shaped 3 pin charging point next to this round female socket. You do not have to be bothered with that.

A company spokesperson said this is an “additional future provision for different battery and charger connector�.

Though the large plastic cover with a handle that covers the entire battery area is decently designed and made, the battery cavity area is a bit disorganised. The two straps with Velcro and the lose connector prove to be a nuisance while putting the charged battery back. Since the space is so narrow, putting in the heavy battery with all three pulled out is quite a strenuous exercise. Ideally, the Velcro straps and the connector should not originate from inside the cavity, rather all three should be outside the cavity.

Coming to the performance of the e-scooter, well it is ideal for both short and long errands but should be avoided on rugged roads. The suspension is slightly rigid and all the shocks you receive from the roads are passed on to your body and not fully absorbed by the shockers. That leaves you all rattled and tired. But if the roads are smooth and the tarmac well laid out, this vehicle rides like a breeze. Obviously, this e-scooter will be picked up by responsible riders who are keen to follow the speed limit rules of this land very religiously.

At Rs 70 odd thousand this e-scooter may sound a tad expensive, but at around Rs 50 to 50 odd thousand, it is a very decent buy.

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COVER STORY

2021

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COVER STORY

BEGINS WITH A BANG! ROY PUNNOOSE THARYAN

U

nlike the January of 2020, where car companies were desperately trying to sell their stock to gear up for the new BS VI emission norms, the January of 2021 is different. While 2020 was a period of gloom and introspection, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, the first month of 2021 is a harbinger of hope and action, thanks to several new car launches, some of them in January, some of them slated for the coming months.

January 2021 started on a positive note, thanks to increased vehicle sales in December 2020. The December 2020 registrations for the first time in FY20-21 witnessed positive growth of 11% (YoY) largely due to festival spill over demand and pre-buying due to announcement of price hike in January 2021, according to the data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA).

With no further price hike shocks, demand spurring budget by the Central Government, Covid vaccine’s effectiveness to fight the current and the new strain of virus with no/minimal side effects, FADA noted that it remains guarded in its optimism for auto sales during last quarter of this fiscal year i.e. January to April 2021.

The month of January 2021 will be seeing the launch of the 2021 made-in-India Jeep Compass, the 2021 MG Hector, the 2021 Toyota Fortuner, the BMW 3 series Gran Limousine and several other products from companies like Tata Motors and Volkswagen.

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COVER STORY

FCA INDIA Incidentally, FCA India has not only confirmed the launch of several models in the coming months in India but has also committed and investment of $250 million (Rs 1828 crore approximately) towards the production of four new Jeep SUVs. The all-new local vehicle line-up includes the 2021 made-in-India Jeep Compass, a locally produced and global-first three-row Jeep SUV, as well as the iconic Jeep Wrangler and next generation Grand Cherokee flagship, which will both be locally assembled in FCA’s joint venture manufacturing facility in Ranjangaon, Maharashtra in western India. The four new products will be on Indian roads by the end of

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2022. The 2021 Jeep Compass was unveiled on January 7, 2021 and production has already commenced. The luxury seven-seat mid-size Jeep, codenamed H6, will be launched in 2022.

The new Jeep Compass will continue to be locally manufactured in India at FCA’s joint venture manufacturing facility in Ranjangaon, near Pune. Production of the new Jeep Compass has already begun and is ready for India market launch. Dispatches of the SUV to Jeep brand dealerships across the country will commence shortly. The new Compass will be available for customer test drives, nationwide, by end of January 2021.

On the exterior, the 2021 Jeep Compass

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continues to sport the Jeep brand styling elements including the seven-slot grille and the trapezoidal wheel arches. Preserving the core personality of the Jeep Compass, the exterior styling has been refined to be more modern, younger and a more urban look.

The headlights now come with reflectors as well as LED projectors, depending on the variant. The Jeep Compass now with its enhanced styling looks a lot more impressive.

All-new interior The design surfaces come together with precision craftsmanship and the interior now has enhanced functionality and comfort. The elegant cabin is equipped with an exhaustive list of comfort, convenience, purposeful and user friendly features. The interior design sports a beautiful mid bolster piece surrounded by metal brow. The design is spacious and open, elevating the in-cabin experience. The choice of materials, the attention to detail including fluted shapes and clear lines, convey enhanced elegance.

The overall look and feel of the all-new interior reflects Jeep brand’s continued pursuit to deliver a premium ambience with a simple, intuitive, user experience for its occupants.

The new dashboard design, with its accented mid bolster, gives a sense of horizontality which makes the interior visually more exquisite and modern. The sleek metal accent underneath the bolster makes the dashboard look more integrated.

The New Compass has double the storage inside the passenger cabin and a wireless charging spot for a smart phone.

The centre console water fall has been designed to make navigating it ergonomically smoother.

It accentuates the technology features and the functionality inside the vehicle. The mid bolster houses slender air vents, which are neatly tucked under the brow of the dashboard and are embellished with a brushed metal strip which gives them linearity with the overarching styling. The SelecTerrain selector is now a toggle in chrome and has a more modern, digital feel. Control knobs for the air-con and the circular periphery of the engine stop-start button are detailed with intricate striped pattern ‘fluting’. Function switches are more ergonomically placed and modernized.

This kind of detailing, makes the interior visually less cluttered and more appealing and adds more

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COVER STORY

to the touch of luxury. The steering wheel has been redesigned and the Jeep brand badge now is placed in a horizontal strip surrounded by chrome.

The all-new interiors in the 2021 Jeep Compass will be offered to customers in dualtone and full black combinations in leather and fabric upholstery, depending on the selection of trim and variant.

The new user experience in the interior is highlighted by the new generation 10.1inch high-definition display UConnect-5 system with enhanced functionality and personalization. It floats on top of the mid bolster.

UConnect-5 is a powerful foundation that is developed to accommodate future technological updates. The hardware in the UConnect system is five times faster than its previous generation, and can accommodate over-the-air, real time updates. It runs on an Android operating system which is compatible with a host of applications and operating systems. The new UConnect-5 system also offers enhanced personalization and

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customization. The New Jeep Compass comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

• Stolen Vehicle Assist that remotely disables the vehicle in case of theft

The multi-function instrument cluster behind the steering wheel is now a much larger, 10.25-inch digital display and has 24 configurable content screens in it. The content screens can be accessed from the buttons provided on the newly designed steering wheel.

Other new features such as 360-degree remote camera, cruise control and a buttonoperated powerlift gate will be offered in the 2021 Jeep Compass.

In all, passengers in the 2021 Jeep Compass can enjoy more than 20 inches of high resolution digital screen space in the cabin.

Customers can also interact with the vehicle remotely, with a mobile app which has the following functionality: • Locking and unlocking of the doors •Vehicle health report which will help customers know the condition of their Jeep Compass and plan their trips accordingly • Driver analytics which will help the driver monitor and improve their driving style • Location services which provide a geofencing feature to monitor the drive radius • A Safety Service feature to inform an emergency contact in case of an accident

The New Jeep Compass has over 50 safety and security features. Key features are: • Automatic headlamps and rain-sensing wipers • Electronic parking brake • Hill hold and hill descent control • SelecTerrain 4x4 system • Hot stamped & laser welded panels with special TRIP steels • Frequency damped suspension - a technology used in sports cars • Six airbags • Electronic stability control • Panic brake assist • Brake lock differential • Electronic roll mitigation • Hydraulic boost compensation • Ready-alert braking • Rainy brake support

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MG MOTOR INDIA This month also saw the launch of a new Hector SUV from MG Motor India. MG Motor India, the British car brand, has seen a successful journey in India with its products like Hector, Hector Plus and the ZS electric car.

MG Motor India has launched the all-new Hector 2021 range starting at Rs. 12.89 lakh.

Hector 2021 now comes loaded with several first-in-segment features, dual-tone exteriors and interiors, and a plethora of options to choose from.

India’s first internet SUV now has an allnew bold thermopressed front chrome grille, luxurious champagne and black dual-tone themed interior,18-inch stylish dual-tone alloys, updated i-SMART with industry-first Hinglish voice commands and many more features that add to its style statement.

As part of the Hector 2021 range, the vehicle is now available in its newly launched 7-seater avatar along with 5 and 6-seater options. The vehicle was launched in the presence of Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India.

Hector 2021 5-Seater prices start at Rs 12.89 lakh.

The Hector 2021 5-seater comes with an all-

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new Bold Thermopressed Front Chrome Grille, which adds a sense of depth to its stance. It’s looks further get enhanced with larger 18-inch Stylish Dual-Tone Alloys, a Dark Rear Tailgate Garnish, and Gunmetal Finish on front & rear skid plates. It also gets other new features like front ventilated seats, wireless charging, auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror and industry-first Hinglish voice commands. It also gets a luxurious Champagne and Black DualTone themed interior option.

All-New Hector Plus 2021 7-seater (starts at Rs 13.34 lakh) The newly introduced 7-seater variant of Hector Plus is an Internet SUV with a Panoramic Sunroof and gets updated 18-inch Stylish Dual-Tone Alloys. It provides room for more occupants with 2nd row bench seats for 3 adults and the 3rd row for two children. The 7-seater will come in Style, Super, Smart, and a new ‘Select’ trim level.

HECTOR Plus 2021 6-seater with Captain Seats (starts at Rs 15.99 lakhs The HECTOR Plus 6-seater with captain seats also gets updated 18-inch Stylish DualTone Alloys, Front Ventilated seats, wireless charging, and Auto-Dimming IRVM. i-SMART Updates MG Motor has introduced an upgraded

i-SMART with Hinglish Voice commands. MG Hector 2021 is equipped with engine start alarm and an in-car voice alert for critical tyre pressure. The internet SUV can now also understand and respond to 35+ Hinglish commands that control various in-car functions such as Sunroof (“Khulja Sim Sim”), FM (“FM Chalao”), AC (“Temperature Kam kar do”) and many more.

MG Hector 2021 comes with 60+ Connected car features with newly added features like i-SMART app on Apple watch, voice search for songs in Gaana app, Wi-Fi connectivity, Weather forecast by Accuweather, and many more.

MG Hector is India’s first internet car that introduced several industry-firsts and established new benchmarks in its segment.

They include OTA update capability & sophisticated 48V mild-hybrid architecture alongside others. The vehicle continues to come with 25+ safety and security features as standard including Electronic Stability Program, Traction Control, Hill Hold Control, Rear Wiper & Washer and Rear Defogger.

MG has retailed more than 40,000 units of the feature-rich internet SUV so far with strong customer demand on a national level.

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COVER STORY

CITROEN INDIA And in the midst of all these launches, the industry is also awaiting the launch of the new CitroĂŤn C5 Aircross SUV in India. This SUV is long overdue with its launch. The Citroen C5 Aircross SUV will finally be launched in February 2021.

TOYOTA KIRLOSKAR MOTOR TKM launched a new Fortuner SUV, the flagship product from the Bidadi (Karnataka) based company. TKM launched the new Toyota Fortuner and a new Legender. The Fortuner SUV has an over 53% segment share today in the country. While the Fortuner prices start at Rs 29.98 lakh, the single Legender variant costs Rs 37.58 lakh, all ex showroom pan India, except Kerala. The new Legender is available in a 2.8 litre two-wheel drive version and comes with an automatic transmission.

The new Fortuner is available in 2.8 L diesel engine with 6-Speed Automatic and 6-Speed Manual Transmission with Intelligent Manual Transmission options and 2.7 L Petrol Engine in 6-Speed Automatic and 5-Speed Manual Transmission. The Fortuner Automatic Transmission variants provide a peak torque

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of 500 Nm and 204 PS (201hp) of Power while Manual Transmission variants generate 204 PS (201hp) of power and 420 Nm torque.

The new Fortuner boasts of new exterior features like a tougher-looking new front grille, sculpted side-pontoon shaped bumper, new

headlamp design with distinctive sharp led line guide, Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) and multi-axis spoke alloy wheels with super chrome metallic finishing.

For the interior, superior suction based seat ventilation system (Front Row) and a

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COVER STORY

larger Smart Playcast Touchscreen Audio with Android Auto/Apple Carplay and a JBL 11 speaker w/ subwoofer system [4X4 variants only] are some of the key changes.

For added driving comfort and convenience, the new Fortuner comes with Auto Limited Slip Differential (AutoLSD) that enables maximum power without breaking traction, Variable Flow Control (VFC) Power Steering that allows customers to dynamically change steering dynamics with drive modes [Eco, Normal, Sport] and Front Clearance Sonar to safely navigate when parking in tight spaces.

The 4X4 (AT and MT) variants further enhance their off-road credentials with a Lockable Differential as an additional feature to ensure firm footing when navigating in extreme terrains.

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TATA MOTORS Tata Motors said it would be launching a new Tata Safari (the vehicle was earlier codenamed Gravitas) and bring in a new Tata Altroz with a turbo engine.

Tata Motors has announced that it is bringing back its iconic brand ‘Safari’ with its forthcoming flagship SUV, (codenamed as the Gravitas). For over two decades, Safari has represented prestige and performance, and in its new avatar, the Safari will carry forward this rich idea and its strong legacy.

The Safari will be arriving in showrooms in January and the booking for the new Safari will begin shortly.

The Safari further builds on the legacy of prestige and performance by combining Tata Motors’ Impact 2.0 design language with the proven capability of OMEGARC, an architecture derived from the D8 platform from Land Rover, which in itself is the gold standard of SUVs worldwide. This adaptive

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architecture allows for further drive train enhancements including all-wheel drive and possibilities of electrification in future.

Celebrating the first anniversary of its premium hatchback, the Altroz, Tata Motors has unveiled the new Altroz iTurbo. The new Altroz iTurbo will be powered by a new 1.2L Petrol iTurbo engine and a new top of the line XZ+ trim which will flaunt all the new features.

The Altroz in its 2021 avatar will also sport the new Black and light Grey interiors accentuated with perforated leatherette seats to elaborate on the premium feeling of the cabin. The Altroz will also be equipped with the iRA tech – a connected car technology by Tata Motors.

Apart from 27 new and additional features, it

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also comes with a natural voice tech, through which the car understands and processes voice commands not only in English or Hindi, but also in Hinglish.

The new Altroz iTurbo will have a 1.2 L

turbocharged petrol BS6 engine which produces 108.50hp@ 5500 rpm and a peak torque of 140Nm@1500- 5500 rpm. It will have multi drive modes: Sport / City. The Altroz iTurbo will be available in XT, XZ and the new top of the line XZ+ variant.

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BMW INDIA Towards the end of the month, BMW India will be launching the BMW 3 series Gran Limousine, Obviously, this 3 series Gran Limousine from BMW will be offering a lot more space, comfort, luxury and features compared to the already loaded 3 series. The BMW 3 Series – the ultimate sports sedan – will be officially launched in a Gran Limousine avatar in India on January 21, 2021. With a longer wheelbase, enhanced space and comfort, the new BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine will be the longest sedan in its segment and will set new standards in terms of luxurious ambience.

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VOLKSWAGEN INDIA too has announced the launch of the new Taigun which is expected to be launched in the first half of this year.

SKODA INDIA has christened its midsized SUV, the first vehicle designed and developed under the purview of the ‘INDIA 2.0’ project, as the Skoda Kushaq. The naming nomenclature derives its origin from Sanskrit, an ancient language of the Indian subcontinent.

The word Kushaq denotes ‘King’ or ‘Emperor’. In its stance, and mannerism, the powerful new Skoda Kushaq personifies its moniker, and at the same time, reflects upon its 125 years of rich history and heritage - a legacy that substantiates the brand claim ‘Driven by Inventiveness and Clever Ideas Since 1895’. Further, the anointment with ‘K’ at the very start and ‘Q’ at the very end coherently resonates the virtues of the Skoda SUV family: Kodiaq, Karoq, and Kamiq.

mobility for the Skoda Auto led Volkswagen Group in India, based on state of the art and locally developed Modulare Querbaukasten (MQB) A0 IN platform. The latest offering, Skoda Kushaq, will also steer the way for a series of vehicles, proposed to be introduced over the next 18 months, tailored to the needs and demands of discerning customers from the domestic market as well as other emerging economies from the world over.

RENAULT KIGER: After showcasing the Renault Kiger Showcar, Group Renault will be globally premiering the Renault Kiger in India on January 28, 2021 The B-SUV segment Renault Kiger will be first launched in India, followed by other markets.

Renault Kiger has a distinctive styling, which is sporty, masculine and modern. Built

on the CMFA+ Platform, Renault Kiger will come loaded with several smart attributes and features which will include some best-in-class offerings that will complement the design and styling of the car. Renault Kiger will be powered by an all new turbo engine.

Renault Kiger will be the latest in the line of products launched by Renault in India like the Duster, Kwid and Triber. Renault Kiger will be launched in the B-segment which accounts for more than 50% of the total industry sales and will be instrumental in growing Renault’s presence across the country.

A collaboration between the Corporate design teams in France and Renault India design, Renault Kiger will be the third global car from Groupe Renault to be launched in India first, followed by other markets.

Zac Hollis, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India said, “The new Skoda Kushaq will offer a compelling combination of the brand’s timeless design ideals, unmatched performance, superior build quality, exemplary value proposition, and enhanced safety and security. It is deemed to be the best seller in its class, setting the benchmark for functionality, practicality, spaciousness, and convenience.”

With the Kushaq, the Czech automobile manufacturer leaps forward into a new era of

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AUDI A4 40 TFSI: German luxury car manufacturer Audi India has launched the sporty Audi A4 sedan at a starting price of Rs 42.34 lakh, ex showroom, India. The new Audi A4, in its fifth generation, boasts a new design and a more powerful 2.0-litre petrol engine that generates 190 hp of power and 320 Nm of torque.

running lights comes as standard on the new Audi A4. It has a single-frame grille that is now broader and even more eye-catching. The new Audi A4 is on offer in two trims: Premium Plus and Technology, and customers can choose from five exterior colors, including a new Terra Grey. The new Audi has exclusive piano black inserts and leather leatherette upholstery.

The new Audi A4 40 TFSI can hit 100 km/h from a standstill in just 7.3 seconds and can attain a top speed of 241 km/h. The 12V Mild Hybrid System minimizes fuel consumption.

This Mild Hybrid System comes with a belt alternator starter which shuts off the engine while coasting up to 10 sec between 55 & 160 kmph. There is also brake recuperation.

The new Audi A4 comes with a glass sunroof.

It has a large MMI touch display which is the control center for the new operating system.

The contour/ambient lighting package adds highlights to the interior in the dark with 30 color options to choose from. The new comfort key allows keyless entry and gesture-based boot lid opening for maximum convenience.

LED headlights with signature daytime

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Then there is the Audi Phone box with

wireless charging for your smartphone.

Other features include park assist with parking Aid Plus, power front seats with memory feature for driver’s seat and 3 Zone climate control.

The MMI touch display has acoustic feedback with a high-resolution TFT display measuring 10.09 inches. Audi Smartphone Interface is standard on the new Audi A4. The MMI search is based on free text input and returns hits rapidly. Natural-language voice control, another function of the new system, understands many of the phrases used in everyday speech. The MMI Navigation Plus features all-digital Audi Virtual Cockpit plus and is controlled using the multifunction steering wheel. The Audi Virtual Cockpit plus comes with a new ‘Sport’ display option.

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JAGUAR LAND ROVER’S first foray into Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), the I-Pace is now a step closer to being launched in India. The first unit of the all-electric performance SUV has landed in India at JNPT near Mumbai, for extensive testing and validation across the country.

The first Jaguar I-Pace in India is finished in stunning Firenze Red and is a top-of-the-line HSE variant. Equipped with a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery, the I-PACE produces 294 kW and 696 Nm torque, helping it accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 4.8 s.

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MERCEDES-BENZ INDIA Mercedes-Benz India launched the S-Class ‘Maestro Edition’. The company launched the 2021 Mercedes me connect, the latest version of its Mercedes me connect (Mmc) technology, integrated with home automation and voice assistance. The company introduced this latest Mmc in an updated version of its flagship product, the S-Class ‘Maestro Edition’. The price of the S-Class Maestro is Rs. 1.51 crore (ex-showroom all India)

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With the “Mercedes me” app on the phone, the customers can track the location of the vehicle, remotely lock or unlock, open windows sunroof, track their vehicle’s location, set speed alerts for other users and enjoy plethora of other connect services. The integrated e-Call/SOS button ensures emergency services 24x7 across India through our dedicated emergency call services. In addition, the in-car “Me” call button ensures seamless connection to the customer assistance center for feature queries, breakdown and on-road assistance.

Imagine sitting at home and knowing your vehicle’s location without even touching your smartphone. This is now possible with the 2021 Mercedes me connect on S-Class ‘Maestro Edition’ which offers 3 distinct new features: 1. Alexa home integration with Mercedes me connect 2. Google home Mercedes me connect 3. Parking Solution POIs in navigation system

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MINI INDIA Mini India introduced a special edition of the MINI 3-door hatch, the MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition in India. Offered as a Completely BuiltUp unit (CBU), only 15 units are available and can be booked exclusively on shop.mini.in. The MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition is available at an ex-showroom price of Rs 41,70,000.

In 1964, defying all odds, the classic Mini Cooper S clinched the first of three victories at the legendary Monte Carlo Rally. At the wheel was the then 30-year-old Northern Irish rally driver Patrick “Paddy” Hopkirk in the iconic No. 37 Red Mini Cooper S. A timeless tribute to the racing legend and his triumph of the Monte Carlo Rally, MINI brings back the iconic No. 37 to the starting line with the MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition.

Features exclusive to the MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition include the iconic No. 37 Sticker in white on both sides and No. 37 badging on Side Scuttles as well as the Keycap. The Paddy Hopkirk signature appears on the illuminated Door Sills, the C-pillars and on the Cockpit Facia along with a rear sticker in matt black.

A single Bonnet Stripe in white with Paddy Hopkirk’s signature and 33EJB badging of number plate further enhances the special edition’s exclusivity.

The MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition also includes the Panorama Glass Roof, Comfort Access System, Rear View Camera, and John Cooper Works Sport Leather Steering Wheel.

The 7-speed Steptronic Sport Transmission with double clutch and steering wheel paddles enables smooth gear shifts, optimised acoustic and vibration response and contributes to the sophisticated characteristics of the drive system.

The limited edition features a Chili Red exterior colour with Aspen White Roof, Black Mirror Caps, 16” Light Alloy Wheels Victory Spoke in Black and Exterior Elements in Piano Black (Bonnet Scoop, Door Handles, Fuel Filler Cap, Waistline Finisher, MINI Emblem Front & Rear, Kidney Grille Strut).

At the heart of the MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition is the MINI Cooper S 2-litre 4-cylinder Petrol engine with TwinPower Turbo Technology. It mobilises a peak output of 192 hp and a maximum torque of 280 Nm. The car sprints from 100 km/hr in 6.7 seconds and the top speed is limited to 235 km/hr.

One thing is for sure, the year 2021 is bound to see a whole host of new car launches that will keep car buyers in the country on their toes. If January 2021 car launches are an indication of things to come, then the rest of the year could be a clock buster year for new car launches in the country.

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Google Pixel 4a

Small wonder

Google’s only smartphone offering in India shines through Price: `31,999/Available on: www.store.google.com/in/product/pixel_4a

QUICK SPECS DISPLAY PLATFORM MEMORY CAMERA BATTERY

5.81 inches OLED, HDR OS - Android 10, Chipset - Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) Internal 128GB 6GB RAM MAIN: 12.2 MP, SELFIE: 8 MP Li-Po 3140 mAh, non-removable, Fast charging 18W

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n an era where a large sized screen is often thought of as a prerequisite in a phone by most people, the Google Pixel 4a presents itself as a breath of fresh air. And it is not just the screen size that’s unusual.

The Pixel 4a is unlike any other mid-range Android smartphone on sale right now.

Let’s start with how it feels in your hand. At a time when every other manufacturer offers a mix of glass and metal at this price point, Google chose to go with a polycarbonate back. Outrageous, you’d think. But actually, in more ways than one, that is an incredibly smart move. Compared to the huge slabs of metal and glass that we are used to holding, the Pixel 4a aided by its tiny dimensions seems featherlight and that can only be a good thing. With its soft touch finish and curved edges, it is also a lot easier to hold and use. The capacitive fingerprint reader is positioned perfectly and is a joy to use, unlike a number of in-screen ones.

Another advantage to the plastic build - it is a lot more resilient to drops.

Towards the front, the notch has disappeared (in favour of a small cutout for the front facing camera) and the bezels are a lot more palatable. The 5.8-inch display and the small bezels mean that it is extremely easy to use the phone single-handedly. The OLED panel is bright enough and has good colour reproduction. There’s no

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DIGI LIFE fancy high-refresh rate here but you hardly miss it.

Enthusiasts would scoff at the Snapdragon 730G that does duty inside but, clearly Google knows a trick or two that other Android manufacturers don’t.

The Pixel 4a never struggled in day-to-day tasks and coupled with Google’s slick UI, everything seemed like a breeze. True, it did have the occasional frame drop while playing resource intensive games but that is hardly what this phone is intended for. The 3140mAh battery was easily able to handle a day’s worth of browsing, calling, messaging, social media and photography with no trouble.

The rear-facing camera – notice the singular use of the word – produces outstanding images with great clarity, sharpness and good colour. In fact, it is very

close to the current flagships in this regard, closer than a mid-range smartphone has any right to be.

Google’s image processing tech is simply outstanding.

The 8MP font shooter also produces great image with good exposure, lighting and colours. The 730G’s limitations however mean that you have to wait a tiny bit longer for the photos to be processed once shot.

The Pixel 4a, in my opinion, has everything most people would ever need in a smartphone. In fact it has a number of additions over and above that make it truly special. With a seamless UI, well matched hardware and a great camera, the Pixel is hard not to recommend.

(Words by Afzal Rawuther)

Google Nest Audio Google’s long-awaited replacement for the Home improves massively over its predecessor Price: `7,999/Available on: https://store.google.com/in/product/nest_audio

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t has been more than four years since Google first introduced the Google Home to the world. While Google’s voice recognition software has improved drastically over these four years, the hardware has more or less stayed the same. Google introduced the Nest Mini and the Home Max, but the Google Home has received no updates. Sure, the Nest Mini has grown to be the mainstay of the line with its lower price point but the sweet spot of price and functionality that the Google Home offered is appealing to a large group of users.

With the Nest Audio, Google is trying to fix that.

With the Nest Audio, Google has opted for a simple, elegant design that doesn’t draw too much attention to itself. The housing is made from partially recycled aluminium and magnesium, that’s wrapped in a recycled plastic mesh fabric material that is great to the touch. Three capacitive buttons are placed towards the front at the top of the

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device and are hidden underneath the fabric.

Beneath the front of the fabric cover are four LED lights to indicate volume levels, when the speaker is listening to an instruction and if the microphones are muted – you can do that with a hardware toggle on the unit itself.

Google has made significant improvements when it comes to the sound quality and the Nest Audio sounds eons better than the Google Home. The Nest Audio has a 75mm (threeinch) woofer and a 19mm (0.75-inch) tweeter, as opposed to the lone 50mm (two-inch) driver on the original Home. They combine to produce a much fuller, crisper sound. The Nest Audio sounds great even at max volume with no loss of clarity and no distortion.

The Nest Audio has three microphones and picks up voice commands well. Google’s voice recognition has, as I mentioned, improved tremendously over the years and that aids the

speaker in this regard. In our testing the Nest Audio picked up commands from across the room easily and even while playing music at full blast, it is easy to get the speaker to hear your instructions. Google’s machine learning engine has reduced the response time for voice commands. Playing music on the Nest Audio is easy but it becomes a lot more intuitive when your streaming platform of choice is YT Music.

The Nest Audio is a great speaker in the segment that it finds itself in. Period. The fact that it can do so much more while easing fading into the background in any indoor setting is reason enough to consider it over the Nest Mini.

JANUARY 2021 | MOTOWN INDIA | 55

OnePlus 8T

What’s not to like?

The 8T retains the essentials from the 8 Pro and adds 65W fast charging Price: `45,999/Available on: https://www.oneplus.in/8t

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nePlus has an unenvious job each year when it comes up with its mid-year refresh. The T models have to walk a thin line between offering great functionality and an affordable price point. And this time, with the lack of a Pro model, the 8T is the latest and greatest OnePlus device you can buy.

Although do bear in mind that the OnePlus 8 Pro is still the flagship of the range.

It is easier to understand and review the phone through the prism of what the manufacturer has chosen to exclude from the last generation. In the case of the OnePlus 8T, the wireless charging from the 8 Pro is given a miss and so is the IP certification. Both these exclusions however aren’t really that concerning. The 8T is positioned at a lower price point after all.

The moment you hold the phone in your hand, it is easy to see why OnePlus has found so much favour among buyers. Everything from the materials, to the fit and finish is immaculate and certainly up there with the very best. The design, although similar in layout to the OnePlus Nord is refreshing to see for a OnePlus product in this price range.

The curved display thankfully has made way for a flat one, helping you avoid those unintended inputs.

Internally, the OnePlus 8T is almost identical to the 8 Series but features

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revolutionary 65W fast charging that can charge it to 50 percent in 15 minutes and 100 percent in 39 minutes. The 6.55-inch 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution (2400 x 1080) itself is unchanged from the 8 series, delivering up to 1100 nits of brightness in auto mode and HDR10+. And that’s understandable. It is one of the best you’ll find in this category, and has great contrast levels, vibrant colours andgood levels of brightness for outdoor use.

The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 865 — just like the 8 and 8 Pro — and it has LPDDR4X RAM and a UFS 3.1 storage module (for the first time on a OnePlus phone). Performance is incredible and together with OnePlus’ effortlessly smooth UI, it feels lightning quick.

OnePlus has limited the number of changes on the camera front with its mid-cycle T refresh and the 8T retains the same 48MP Sony IMX586 primary sensor as the OnePlus 8. The OnePlus 8T gets new lenses though: there’s a 16MP wide-angle sensor that leverages the Sony IMX481.

You also get a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP monochrome lensthat’s almost hidden in the filters. Despite the old hardware, the cameras produce decent images given enough light and offer nice levels of colour accuracy and sharpness. The cameras do struggle in low light though.

QUICK SPECS DISPLAY

6.55-inch 120Hz Fluid AMOLED

PLATFORM

OS -Android 11, OxygenOS 11.0.4, Chipset - Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 (7 nm+)

MEMORY

Internal - 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM

CAMERA

MAIN: 48 MP (wide), 16 MP (ultrawide), 5 MP (macro) 2 MP (depth) SELFIE: 16 MP

BATTERY

Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable Fast charging 65W, 100% in 39 min (advertised)

The OnePlus 8T is a great overall phone and packs in incredible amounts of functionality at a price that is hard to say no to. And with OnePlus’ record when it comes to software updates and a strong service network, you do have to go looking for reasons to decide against it.

(Words by Afzal Rawuther)

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DIGI LIFE Asus ROG Phone 3

GAMING CHAMP Asus’ third attempt at a gaming phone is easy to recommend Price: `46,999/Available on: https://rog.asus.com/in/phones/rog-phone-3-model/

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ere’s a theory. With gaming smartphones, you invariably find top shelf hardware targeted towards enthusiasts. And with that top-shelf hardware comes high levels of performance that can easily be appreciated by not just gamers, but just about everyone. However, for all the promise that gaming smartphones have shown in the past few years, they have found it hard to penetrate the mainstream consumer phone market. But that is changing. And Asus’ ROG Phones are at the forefront of this change.

This brings me to the Asus ROG series of phones. Last year, the ROG Phone 2 pushed the envelope in several ways and made a gaming phone greatly desirable. The next iteration, the ROG Phone 3 has taken things up by several notches and we got our hands on it for a comprehensive review.

Straight off the bat, the first thing you notice is that the in-your-face design of the ROG Phone has been toned down in this iteration – possibly to entice non-gaming centric audiences. But that doesn’t mean, that the ROG Phone isn’t a looker anymore.

It stands out with its outlandish design and the illuminated RGB logo. The sheer size and heft(240g) of the device is noticeable too along with the large top and bottom bezels (by design, to give players a place to grip the phone without inadvertently touching the screenand also to incorporate the really good front facing speakers).

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QUICK SPECS DISPLAY

6.59 inches AMOLED, 1B colors OS - Android 10, ROG UI PLATFORM Chipset - Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865+ (7 nm+) MEMORY

Internal - 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM

CAMERA

MAIN (TRIPLE) : 64 MP (wide), 13 MP (ultrawide), 5 MP (macro) SELFIE: 24 MP

BATTERY

Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable Fast charging 30W Power Delivery 3.0 Quick Charge 4.0, 3.0 Reverse charging 10W

The massive real estate upfront is put to great use with a 6.59-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2,340 x 1,080and a 144Hz refresh rate to boot. It might not be the most colour accurate screen out there, but it more than makes up for it with a 10-bit colour display tuned for gaming. For those of us not keen on gaming, there are a number of display modes to choose from.

With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus overclocked to 3.1GHz and 8GB of GDDR5 RAM, performance is snappy and the ROG Phone 3 is among the fastest phones around.

Even with such beefy specs and a gigantic screen, the phone also manages to have great battery life, courtesy the 6000mAh unit. In our tests, it easily lasted more than a day and a half even under heavy use.

The cameras proved to be the surprise package here and performed admirably well.

For a gaming phone I wasn’t expecting much, but both the 64MP Sony IMX686 main sensor as well as the wide-angle sensor were truly impressive, and images consistently had great colour and good dynamic range while reproducing ample detail. The macro too produced sharp images with good levels of colour and contrast. The 24MP selfie camera does very well even in low light conditions.

The gaming-centric Air Triggers have improved considerably with support for upto eight programmable controls built in. Software improvements have got even better and Asus offers a ton of control for the enthusiast with X Mode.

Overall the Asus ROG Phone 3 offers great value no matter how serious a gamer you are and even if you aren’t. No wonder then, they are quite literally flying off the shelves right now.

(Words by Afzal Rawuther)

JANUARY 2021 | MOTOWN INDIA | 57

DIGI LIFE Sony WH-1000XM4 Sony’s class defining ANC headphones have become even better Price: `29,990/Available on: https://www.sony.co.in/electronics/headband-headphones/wh-1000xm4

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ow do you go about improving a product that is already the industry standard? With the WH1000XM4, Sony has given us an answer to that question. Don’t fix it, if it ain’t broke. This iteration only makes a few small, measured changes but they are very well executed.

built into the headphones to amplify the sounds around you – a super useful feature for anyone who travels quite a bit.

If you thought Sony just limited the improvements to the added features, you’d be so wrong. Sony’s engineers have worked on making the already incredible ANC even better and the XM4 is decidedly better at cancelling out low frequency sounds like the hum inside an airplane. The already good microphone stays largely the same and we couldn’t find any improvements in our testing.

The fact that Sony didn’t want to mess with a winning formula, is evident the moment you lay your eyes on it. It is difficult to point out the differences in design and construction unless you are holding the XM3s alongside. The earcups are now slightly thicker improving isolation even when noise cancelling is turned off.

The headband is now a little thinner. And that’s all the changes on the outside.

On the inside of the left earcup, there is a new sensor to detect if you are still wearing the headphones.

This is particularly useful as it pauses music when you take it off and works flawlessly each time.

Feature wise, there is the added ability to switch between two devices (Bluetooth multipoint) all without opening up the settings. This was something sorely missed in the last iteration and with it the XM4 becomes incredibly practical. There are other minor additions like the speak to chat functionality, which pauses media playback when it senses you speaking.

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Sound quality has improved incrementally and the XM4 has a flatter frequency response than the XM3. This ensures that the sound is not overpowered by the bass as in some other headphones and has a good, natural reproduction with a large sound stage.

Considering the fact that Sony also produces an entire range of audio products geared towards people who prefer that extra bass punch, it is commendable that its flagship ANC product takes a different, more rounded approach when it comes to how they sound.

If, however, you like a little more low-end emphasis, you can always play around with the EQ preset in the app.

The controls are nearly the same as well with the outside of the earcups acting as touch sensitive pads that react to a variety of taps and swipes. Cupping your hand over the left earcup activates ambient mode, which lowers the volume and uses the microphones

The Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best all round pair of ANC headphones you can buy at the moment. You get incredible sound quality, great active noise cancellation, stellar 30-hour battery life and a plethora of smart features baked in. It certainly wins our approval and are difficult to overlook even at a time when most major manufacturers are entering the crowded high-end ANC space.

(Words by Afzal Rawuther)

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