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CAR NEWS
Land Rover Defender 90 launched at `76.57 lakh
BIKE NEWS
New BMW R 1250 GS, BMW R 1250 GS Adventure motorcycles launched at `20.40 lakh onward
18 ON THE COVER Hyundai Alcazar review
The Alcazar does resemble the Creta a lot, since it is build on the same platform, but is wider and bigger in size.
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2021 BMW 530i M Sport
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60 FEATURES & TRAVEL T-Roc-in the Mountains
When we got our hands on the Volkswagen T-Roc SUV, we could not think of any other destination but the mountains. Manali and Rohtang Pass came to our mind.
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CAR NEWS
LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 LAUNCHED AT `76.57 LAKH Jaguar Land Rover India has announced that following a successful launch of Defender 110, sales of Defender 90 have begun in India. The Defender 90 is available in three powertrain options, 2.0 l petrol delivering power of 296hp and torque of 400 Nm, 3.0 l petrol delivering power of 394hp and torque of 550 Nm and 3.0 l diesel delivering power of 296hp and torque of 650 Nm. Prices of Defender 90 start from Rs 76.57 lakh, ex-showroom in India. The Defender 90 offers six seat practicality thanks to the innovative front central jump seat. It embraces 21st century technologies and features Land Rover’s Pivi infotainment system with an intuitive interface and its own back-up battery for always-on responses. Advanced software-over-the-air updates also ensure customers benefit from the latest software at all times, wherever they are in the world. Configurable Terrain Response allows drivers to fine-tune the set-up of the vehicle to suit the precise off-road conditions like never before. The Terrain Response 2 system also includes a new Wade programme to provide the ultimate reassurance when driving through water by optimizing all of the vehicle systems accordingly.
The New Defender 90 is available in several models including Defender, X-Dynamic and Defender X. Furthermore, Defender and X-Dynamic will come with S, SE and HSE Specification Packs. Customers will be able to personalise their vehicle in more ways than any previous Land Rover with four Accessory Packs, the Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban Packs, giving each Defender a distinct character with a specially selected range of enhancements.
JEEP REVEALS IMAGES OF ALL-NEW 2022 ELECTRIFIED JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4XE On July 8, during Stellantis EV Day 2021, the Jeep brand revealed the first images of its all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid. The fifth generation of the Grand Cherokee, which over the past 30 years has become the most awarded SUV in history, earning countless industry accolades and achieving more than 7 million in global sales, will be officially unveiled at the 2021 New York International Auto Show and will include the full range of the Grand Cherokee lineup. The introduction of the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is another step toward expanding electrification and strengthening the Jeep brand’s vision of “Zero Emission, 100% Freedom” in a year in which the Jeep brand celebrates 80 years of achievements and innovations.
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CAR NEWS
NEW RANGE ROVER EVOQUE INTRODUCED AT `64.12 LAKH ONWARD Jaguar Land Rover India has begun deliveries of the new Range Rover Evoque in India. The new Evoque is available in R-Dynamic SE trim on Ingenium 2.0 l petrol and the S trim on 2.0 I diesel powertrain. The new Range Rover Evoque pricing starts from Rs 64.12 lakh, ex-showroom in India The 2.0 l petrol engine delivers a power of 247hp and 365 Nm of torque and the 2.0 l diesel engine delivers a power of 201hp and 430 Nm of torque. The new Range Rover Evoque comes with new features such as 3D Surround Camera, Cabin Air Ionisation with PM2.5 filter, Wireless Device Charging with Phone Signal Booster and new Pivi Pro infotainment system. A new dual tone interior colour called Deep Garnet / Ebony has been introduced for the first time in Range Rover Evoque.
BMW M5 COMPETITION LAUNCHED IN INDIA AT `1.62 CRORE BMW India has launched the new BMW M5 Competition in the country. The power-packed sedan will be available as completely built-up unit (CBU) and can be booked exclusively on shop.bmw.in. The exshowroom price of the new BMW M5 Competition is Rs 1,61,90,000 The new BMW M5 Competition features retuned chassis, new shock absorbers, track mode, active M differential with centralised intelligent control, bespoke engine mounting, M multifunction seats and set-up button that come together to offer even better driving dynamics and superior comfort levels. Customers can choose from five new paint finishes: Brands Hatch Grey and Motegi Red metallic, as well as the optional with Tanzanite Blue II metallic, Aventurine Red II metallic and matt Frozen Bluestone metallic finishes from BMW Individual. The Champagne Quartz metallic shade offered previously has been renamed Alvit Grey metallic.
The new BMW M5 Competition gets newly designed BMW Laser lights, L-shaped light tubes connecting towards the kidney grille in narrow streaks and black styling details all over the exterior. The BMW kidney grille surround, M-specific double bars, the mesh on the M gills, mirror caps and the additional rear spoiler on the boot lid all have a high-gloss black finish. Black M5 Competition badges adorn the kidney grille, the gills and the boot lid, while the door sill plates have an illuminated version. The rear design features new 3D rear lights with densely illuminated LED bars which give a new interpretation to BMW typical “L-shape”. The rear apron includes black inserts. The tailpipes of the standard M Sport exhaust system are finished in Black Chrome. The high performance V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo Technology under the bonnet of the new BMW M5 Competition goes about its business in racing-car-derived, high-revving style. It imposes muscularity and supreme power delivery. Specially designed bespoke engine mounts with a stiffer spring rate result in even more rapid engine response offering greater directness and precision. The engine generates maximum output of 625 hp and peak torque of 750 Nm with 0-100 kmph acceleration in just 3.3 seconds. With the eight speed M Steptronic transmission the driver can use both the selector lever and the shift paddles on the steering wheel to intervene manually. The damper response settings vary according to the mode selected with the Driving Experience Control switch, that allows the driver to choose between different modes to suit the driving conditions. The new two-button operating concept in the centre console originates from the BMW M8.
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CAR NEWS
Tata Motors is out with its Dark Series of vehicles Harrier Dark, Altroz Dark, Nexon Dark, Nexon EV Dark Having tasted success with the dark Harrier way back in August 2019, Tata Motors has, as part of the New Forever Philosophy, extended the dark franchise to the two other brands in its portfolio. The models include its hatchback Altroz, Nexon, and the Nexon EV, besides the Harrier. The dark theme on the exteriors and interiors of the Harrier created a unique identity for Harrier Dark. Other changes like distinctive dark finishes, special Blackstone Matrix dashboard and premium Dark upholstery were well appreciated and helped Harrier Dark stand out in the crowded SUV segment.
puncture repair kit, as a priority customer offering, to increasing the convenience quotient in the range.
The Dark range is now available at dealerships and is open for bookings. All Tata Motors authorised dealerships are decorated in the Dark theme for customers to indulge into this exclusive experience. Additionally, to add aesthetics and accentuate the styling, the company is also introducing exclusive merchandise, which will consist of dark branded premium leather jackets and T-shirts. Furthermore, keeping absolute safety in mind the company has also introduced a tyre
Vivek Srivatsa, Head Marketing, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors said, “Harrier #Dark which was launched as a limited edition product initially, did extremely well and on popular customer demand became an integral part of the Harrier portfolio.It offered an exciting& unique package to the customers. We are confident that the extended dark range is equally compelling and cater to customers who are looking for bold & stylish cars this festive season.”
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THE DARK RANGE ALTROZ DARK: Altroz Dark, the new top of the line variant comes in a new cosmo black exterior body colour with dark tint finish on R16 alloy wheels and premium dark chrome across the hood. The granite black interior theme with metallic gloss Black mid pad and the leatherette upholstery with deep blue tri-arrow perforations and deco blue stitching, all add to the premiumness of the Altroz Dark. The dark mascot on the exterior and the dark embroidery on the front headrest accentuate
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CAR NEWS
the theme. The Altroz Dark will be available in the top variant XZ+ for petrol (NA and iTurbo).
NEXON DARK: The Nexon in its dark avatar sports new charcoal black R16 Alloys, dark mascot, sonic sliver highlights on the body along with matte granite black cladding to accentuate its exterior. The interiors offer special dark interior pack, premium leatherette upholstery with tri-arrow perforations on seats and door trim. The front headrests sports special dark embroidery in line with the theme of the interiors. The new Nexon Dark will be offered in XZ+, XZA+, XZ+(O) & XZA+(O) variants, in both petrol & diesel fuel options. NEXON EV DARK: The Nexon EV Dark theme will be available on the Nexon EV XZ+ and the XZ+ LUX variant. These variants will adorn a premium midnight black exterior colour with satin black humanity line and beltline, dark mascot and an all-new charcoal grey alloy wheels. The interiors of the car are also accentuated with dash of dark themed glossy piano Black mid-pad with premium dark themed leatherette upholstery with Triarrow perforations on seats and door trims, highlighted by EV blue stitches (on the seats) and a leatherette wrapped steering wheel. The car will also get iTPMS (Tyre pressure monitoring system). Additionally, the Nexon EV XZ+ variant will have rear seat central armrest with cup-holders, 60:40 rear seat-split and www.motownindia.com
adjustable rear seat headrests.
HARRIER DARK: The Harrier Dark offers all-new oberon black colour with a tinge of deep blue adding to the stunning looks of Harrier. It also sports the bigger R18 blackstone alloys complimenting the sporty stance of the Harrier. On the interiors, Harrier Dark offers a premium dark theme with exclusive touches to the key interior elements. It sports a complete dark upper environment in line with the latest trend in the premium luxury car segments. The Benecke Kaliko Leatherette upholstery carries a special tri-arrow perforations with deep blue
undertone to it enhancing overall premiumness of the interiors. Also the front seat headrests sport a special dark embroidery complementing overall dark theme on the interiors. Harrier Dark will be available in 3 trims XT+, XZ+ & XZA+.
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CAR NEWS
There’s a low rumbling in the air that grows to into an inescapable thundering sound. A moment later, the ground begins to vibrate and the Chiron Super Sport whizzes past and disappears into the horizon. The new hyper sports car from France is being tested at up to 440 km/h on the high-speed track. The cockpit is occupied by experienced development engineers who are giving the Chiron Super Sport the finishing touches with tuning drives, designed to achieve the unique combination of top speed, luxury, and comfort beyond the 400 km/h mark, too. During high-speed testdrives conducted over several
days, the engineers fine-tune the mechanics, damping, and aerodynamics before the first models of the new Chiron Super Sport being produced by hand in Molsheim will be delivered from end of August 2021 onwards. The Chiron Super Sport starts at 3.2 million euros (net) (approx. Rs 28.35 crore). It counts within the production run of 500 units of the Bugatti Chiron. A large variety of options for personal customization is available. “Following successful road tests at up to 380 km/h, we are now refining the handling of the vehicle at up to 440 km/h to allow the Chiron Super Sport to perform with uncompromising safety, even at this incredible top
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speed, and give the driver a good, and above all, safe feeling at extremely high speeds,” explains Jachin Schwalbe, Head of Chassis Development at Bugatti. This comes down to multiple technical modifications and optimizations. Various parameters can be modified and compared based on variable settings for the rear wing angle, vehicle height, damping, and electrically assisted steering. This is done lap after lap, all in top speed mode. Up to six engineers then discuss the perfect setup. “Our engineers are from a wide variety of specialist backgrounds, enabling them to comprehensively verify our assessments, ensuring the best
possible result and therefore maximum performance for the future owners while ensuring there is maximum testing safety,” says Jachin Schwalbe. This is exclusive work – at 440 km/h, the Chiron Super Sport is the world’s fastest production sports car. Michael Bode, part of the Bugatti team responsible for overall vehicle testing, attends to the measurement technology in order that objective data can be evaluated in addition to subjective impressions. Approximately 100 additional sensors record various data during the test-drives, such as the temperature and pressure. “With the incredible power output and high speeds, the uplift and the thermodynamics
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BIKE NEWS
change depending on the different pressure levels. We therefore monitor all the parts at top speed and full load, and then optimize them if necessary. We owe this level of work to the customers who buy this extraordinary and exclusive vehicle,” explains Michael Bode. The Chiron Super Sport differs from the Chiron and the Chiron Pur Sport among other things due to its extended and aerodynamically optimized bodywork, which has been designed for extreme high speeds beyond the 420 km/h mark. The extended rear holds the laminar flow to the automobile for longer, resulting in a significantly smaller trailing
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surface. This reduces drag and improves the aerodynamics – complex work at top speeds of over 400 km/h The idea of a long tail emerged in summer
2019 when the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ became the first production vehicle to breach the threshold of 300 miles an hour – a speed record for production vehicles that it
still holds to this day, having hit exactly 490.484 km/h to make it the fastest production sports car around. The series production run of the Super Sport 300+, limited to 30 units, was immediately sold out.
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BIKE NEWS
New BMW R 1250 GS, BMW R 1250 GS ADVENTURE motorcycles launched at `20.40 lakh onward
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BIKE NEWS
BMW Motorrad India has launched the new BMW R 1250 GS and BMW R 1250 GS Adventure motorcycles in India. The new BMW R 1250 GS and the new BMW R 1250 GS Adventure will be available as Completely Built-up Units (CBU) and can be booked at BMW Motorrad dealerships from today onwards. The introductory ex-showroom price for the BMW R 1250 GS Pro is Rs 20,45,000, while for the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure Pro is Rs 22,40,000. The new BMW R 1250 GS and new BMW R 1250 GS Adventure are available in a basic colour scheme, style triple black variant and style Rallye variant. Additionally, also on offer is the limited edition special “40 Years GS” edition that celebrates the anniversary of the BMW GS family. The optional Style Triple Black enhances the masculine nature of the two motorcycles in and the Blackstorm
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metallic / black / agate grey colour combination. The black-coated drivetrain is surrounded by the main frame in metallic matt agate grey, a black rear frame and the black anodized tubular handlebars.
are available as optional equipment.
In addition, front panel carrier, luggage carrier, slider tube and brake callipers are designed in black. The optional Style Rallye lends a sporty nature with the light white solid paint/ racing blue metallic / racing red solid paint colour combination, they present themselves particularly dynamically as off-roadspecialist touring endures.
Both models feature the powerful 2-cylinder in-line Boxer engine with a displacement of 1254cc, producing a power output of 136 hp at 7,750 rpm for dynamic performance and generates a maximum torque of 143 Nm at 6,250 rpm. The variable camshaft control BMW ShiftCam is an entirely new technology which provides supreme ridability along with an additional increase in power across the entire engine speed range, reduced emission and fuel consumption levels, optimised running smoothness and refinement.
The new full LED adaptive headlight design lends a striking visual appeal. The X-shaped light icons included in the new headlights makes the new BMW R 1250 GS and new BMW R 1250 GS Adventure look unique when the headlight is switched on and while riding. New lighting functions, cruising light and function-integrated turn indicator bulbs
The new BMW R 1250 GS and new BMW R 1250 GS Adventure are now equipped with the Pro riding modes. With the two ‘Rain’ and ‘Road’ riding modes, the riding characteristics can be adapted to varied conditions. The new standard ‘Eco’ riding mode increases the efficiency with soft throttle curve and moderate torque limitation.
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BIKE NEWS
BMW MOTORRAD showcases new BMW CE 04 electric two-wheeler With the new BMW CE 04, BMW Motorrad continues to consistently pursue its electromobility strategy for urban conurbations. The BMW CE 04 opens up a whole new chapter in two-wheel urban mobility. With a maximum output of 42 hp, the new BMW CE 04 has a powerful motor and offers outstanding riding pleasure. For the classic “traffic light start” discipline from 0 to 50 kmph, it takes just 2.6 seconds. Even in the reduced output L3e-A1 vehicle class, 31 hp drive power is available. The maximum speed of both versions is 120 km/h. The new BMW CE 04 has an ample battery cell capacity of 60.6Ah, providing a range of some 130 kilometres (reduced output version: 100 km). The new BMW CE 04 has a permanent magnet electric motor mounted in the frame between the battery and the rear wheel, as used in a similar form in BMW cars such as the 225xe Active Tourer. The lithium-ion battery is charged using the integrated charging device either at a regular household socket, a wallbox or a public charging station. When the battery is completely flat, charging time ideally lasts 4 hours and 20 minutes. With the quick charger available as an optional extra with an output of up to 6.9 kW (2.3 kW is the standard level), charging time is reduced to just 1 hour and 40 minutes when the
battery is completely flat. If the battery level is only 20 per cent and the battery is charged to 80 per cent, the charging time is reduced to just 45 minutes with the optional quick charger. The BMW CE 04 gets increased riding stability through slip control by means of ASC (Automatic Stability Control). DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) is an ex works option. This traction control is comparable to the Automatic Stability Control in BMW motorcycles with combustion engine. ASC limits engine torque in relation to rear wheel slip. Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), available as an optional extra, provides even greater riding safety. DTC enables even more safe acceleration, especially in banking position. Three riding modes “ECO”, “Rain” and “Road” for efficient, day-to-day use come as standard. “Dynamic” riding mode is offered for further enhanced riding pleasure as an ex works option. The new BMW CE 04 gets directionally stable suspension with onepiece tubular steel main frame for smooth handling and a high level of ride comfort. The main
frame is a tubular steel construction. The front wheel is controlled by a telescopic fork with a slider tube diameter of 35 mm. Rear wheel control consists of a singlesided swing arm. At the rear, suspension and damping are performed by a directly controlled, fully covered spring strut. The new BMW CE 04 is fitted with generously sized tyres, with 120/70 R15 67H at the front and 160/60 R15 56H at the rear. Powerful brake system with latestgeneration ABS. ABS Pro with banking capability come as an ex works option. At the front, a twin disc brake ensures secure deceleration, supported by a single-disc system at the rear. In addition, BMW Motorrad ABS ensures a high level of active safety. ABS Pro, available as an optional extra, goes even further: By means of a banking sensor, ABS Pro also controls braking on bends, thereby offering the greatest possible safety. The new BMW CE 04 comes fitted as standard with a 10.25-inch TFT colour screen with integrated map navigation and connectivity. The lighting units on the new BMW CE 04 are based on state-ofthe-art LED technology. They include a headlamp for high beam and low beam at the front. In addition to a rear light featuring LED technology, there are also LED turn indicators. The indicator lamps likewise use LED technology.
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BIKE NEWS
NEW TECH-LOADED, POWERFUL TVS NTORQ 125 RACE XP AT `83275 TVS Motor Company has launched the new TVS NTorq 125 Race XP. The TVS NTorq 125 Race XP comes in a tri-tone colour scheme and is priced at Rs. 83,275(Ex-showroom, Delhi). The TVS NTorq 125 ushered in a new era of connectivity, power, and style to the Indian scooter industry. The new TVS NTorq 125 Race XP is set to redefine it. It has a new technology deployed on its SmartXonnect connectivity platform (innovative Bluetooth-enabled technology paired with an exclusive TVS Connect mobile App, available on Android and iOS platforms), its renewed drive train with ride modes and light weighting.
lighter, too, which adds to the performance and drive quotient. The TVS NTorq 125 Race XP comes with Race Tuned Fuel Injection (RT-Fi) engine that churns out 10.8 Nm @ 5,500 rpm torque. Customers also have an option of choosing between two Riding modes,Race mode and Street mode, with a flick of a switch. The Race mode allows riders to experience the accentuated performance of the scooter on highways, with a top speed of 98 kmph. The Street mode, on the other hand, is for ideal city commute and traffic conditions. When activated, it increases mileage and offers a smooth riding experience.
The new TVS NTorq 125 Race XP comes with the first-of-its-kind Voice Assist feature. This covers various connectivity functions, including mode change, navigation, console brightness adjustment and DnD. It brings a new set of benchmarks to get the Indian twowheeler industry on the accelerated path of connected mobility. In addition, TVS NTorq 125 Race XP is the only scooter in the 125cc segment to have more than 10ps power. The power delivery is enhanced, thanks to significant improvements in the gas flow dynamics and combustion. The new toggle ride modes allow the rider to access additional delivery from the vehicle on demand. In addition, with the use of advanced engineering polymers, high strength steel and alloy steel, the TVS NTorq 125 Race XP is
BAJAJ AUTO CUTS PRICE OF DOMINAR 250 BY `16,800 Bajaj Auto has announced a new price of Rs 1,54,176/for its Dominar 250 motorcycle. Dominar 250 now costs Rs 16,800 less than its previously listed price. Dominar 250 has a liquid cooled 248.8cc DOHC engine, delivering 27 PS power and 23.5 Nm of torque. Further, it retains all the state-of-the-art class-leading features of Dominar 400 like the up-side down (USD) forks that provide superior handling and comfort along with a muscular look, the twin barrel exhaust that produces a throaty exhaust note with a heavy bass, enhancing the sports tourer feel. It also features innovative bungee straps tucked under the seat to help secure gear during long distance touring, a redesigned secondary display showing timeand trip information, and spacecraft inspired tank pad decals. Dominar 250 is available across all Bajaj Auto dealerships in Canyon Red and Charcoal Black colour options.
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BIKE NEWS
HONDA launches 2021Gold Wing Tour at `37.20 lakh onward
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India launched the 2021Gold Wing Tour at Rs 37.20 lakh onward. The new model will make its way to the Indian market through CBU route (Completely Built-Up) from Japan. The 2021 Gold Wing Tour will be available in two variant options - Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) with airbag & Manual Transmission. The motorcycle is powered by a 1,833cc liquidcooled 4-stroke 24-valve SOHC flat-6 engine produces peak power of 125hp@5,500rpm and peak torque of 170Nm@4,500rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. There is also an option of a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
FOR A BL JOURNE FIRST DRIVE
HYUNDAI ALCAZAR
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
Text: Roy Punnoose Tharyan / Photo: Hyundai
T
he word Alcazar is basically a Spanish word which in fact is derived from the Arabic word al-qaṣr that means “the fort, castle, or palace”. This word in turn is derived from the Latin word Castrum which means “fortress” or a “military camp”. So with such a solid meaning, we have got to see how strongly the Hyundai Alcazar performs in India’s growing SUV market. The Alcazar has already been launched with prices starting at Rs 16.30 lakh and going up all the way to around Rs 19.99 lakh. It is being offered in both petrol as well as diesel engine options. Each of these engine options will again have a choice of a manual transmission as well as an automatic transmission, besides coming as a seven- seater or a six-seater. We took turn driving a diesel sevenseater first and then the petrol six-seater.
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Of the three trim levels that the Alcazar is being offered, the Prestige, Platinum and the top end Signature, the seven-seater petrol and diesel variants do not have a Signature model, only the Platinum. The six-seater has a Signature version. Thus the 7 seater Platinum 1.5 litre diesel model that we drove first did not have all the features that are offered in the six-seater 2 litre petrol Signature model. We drove the diesel six-speed manual transmission model first before hopping on to the 2 litre petrol model with automatic transmission.
EXTERIOR The Alcazar does resemble the Creta a lot, since it is build on the same platform, but is wider and bigger in size. All trim levels and variants get a dark chrome exterior finish on the large signature cascading grille, fog lamp garnish, outside door handles and tailgate garnish. So do they get body colour
dual tone bumpers, front and rear skid plates, A-pillar piano black finish, B-pillar black out tape and C-pillar garnish piano black finish. What’s common across the variants include trio beam LED headlamps, LED positioning lamps, crescent glow LED DRLs and LED turn indicators on ORVMs. Features like the integrated roof rails, shark fin antenna, front and rear skid plates, rear spoiler and twin tip exhaust also come as standard fitment, though it dons a dual tone colour in the Signature trim. The Platinum and Signature trims also comes with R 18 (D-462mm) diamond cut alloy wheels. These also get puddle lamps with Hyundai logo projection. The vehicle has a length x width x height of 4500 x 1790 x 1675mm (With Roof Rails) respectively. The wheelbase is 2760mm. The vehicle also gets a side foot step, but that is confined to the Signature and Platinum trims and that too for the automatic six-seaters.
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S P EC IFIC ATI O N S ENGINE Petrol 2.0 litre MPi (1999cc) Diesel 1.5 litre CRDi (1493cc) TRANSMISSION Petrol - 6MT/6AT Diesel - 6MT/6AT
POWER Petrol - 157hp@6500rpm
Diesel -113hp@4000rpm TORQUE Petrol - 191Nm@ 4500rpm Diesel - 250Nm@@ 1500-2750rpm
FUEL EFFICIENCY
Petrol - 14.5kmpl / 14.2kmpl Diesel - 20.4kmpl / 18.1kmpl
PRICE To be announced
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience INTERIORS The interiors of the Alcazar are chic with tech savvy features. The premium dual tone cognac brown interiors look good and uber and you think the dashboard has got a lot of leather on it. But when you touch it, you realise it is good quality plastic. This is standard across the trims. The Platinum and Signature models get the 10.25 inches multi display digital cluster. There is also a 10.25 inches touchscreen infotainment system. You get perforated leather D-cut tilt & telescopic steering, perforated gear knob, piano-black interior finish, Bose premium sound system with 8 speakers and voice enabled panoramic sunroof. As for the seats, they are spacious, comfortable and offer decent leg room and head room. The driver gets a 8-way power seat . The front seats in the six-seater top end are ventilated. The six-seater with captain seats gets a console armrest with smartphone wireless charger and headrest cushion. The front row seatback table with retractable cup holder & an electronic device holder come handy for the second row occupants. These seats are sliding and reclining. There is also a rear window sunshade. To get to the third row, the car offers a 2nd row one touch tip and tumble seats (captain & 60:40 split seats). The third row seats are decently comfortable. The 3rd row seat has 50:50 split fold There is provision of 2 USB chargers and 3rd row AC vents with speed control (3 stage) here in the 3rd row. Other features in the cabin include electric parking brake with auto hold, smartphone wireless charger (1st Row) and front row sliding sunvisor. Hyundai Alcazar enables customers to remotely turn on the engine (for both MT & AT) and cool the cabin before entering
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
the car by pressing the smart key engine start button. There is also an auto healthy air purifier in the cabin. Not to miss are the 64 colours ambient lighting (crashpad, front doors & rear doors). The Alcazar comes with Hyundai Blue Link with enhanced voice recognition commands and over-the-air updates. Through the Blue Link App, customers can avail enhanced safety, security and convenience, while enjoying a vast list of 60+featuresthat offer up a seamlessly connected drive experience.
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ENGINE & PERFORMANCE The Hyundai Alcazar has two engine options that come with a total of four powertrain options. The 2.0 l MPi petrol engine has an option of a six-speed AT as well as a six-speed MT. The transmission offers are same with the 1.5 litre CRDi diesel engine. The diesel mill surprised me with its strong performance. The NVH levels were surprisingly under control and the cabin well insulated. The engine was extremely responsive and the gear shifts were smooth.
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The highways drive I experienced with the diesel MT model was quite enjoyable. It was not just the speed and the acceleration, but the overall comfort of the SUV that took me by surprise. Ride and handling were perfect to say the least and the suspension was very well tuned to take on the rough and the smooth. As for the petrol mill and the six-speed automatic transmission, the drive experience was quite enjoyable. I did experience a bit of lag during acceleration but then the paddle shifts came in quite handy while pulling ahead whenever I wanted. The automatic I drove had the choice of Drive Modes that included Comfort, Eco and Sport, along with Traction Control Modes like Snow, Sand and Mud. With its smart characteristics, I feel that the Alcazar has all the making of a perfect long distance SUV.
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The Hyundai Alcazar also comes with several safety features. My favourite is the Blind View Monitor. Besides, this it has surround view monitor with 360° camera, six airbags (dual front + front side + curtain), front & rear parking sensors, electronic stability control with VSM, hill start assist control, Disc brakes on all four wheels, ECM with emergency telematics function, child seat anchor and tyre pressure monitoring system, among others.
VERDICT The Hyundai Alcazar is a perfect package on four wheels. It offers oodles of space, comfort, great driving experience, a sound engine, great acceleration and above all decent fuel efficiency. For those keen on travelling often with their families to different locales, the Alcazar can be your ideal companion.
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SIMPLY CLEVER! FIRST DRIVE
SKODA KUSHAQ
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he new Skoda Kushaq SUV was launched recently in the country as part of the company’s India 2.0 Project. Prices of this vehicle start at Rs 10.49 lakh (ex showroom, pan India) and is available in three trim levels – Active, Ambition and Style. We got our hands on the Style top variant and it comes with a 1 litre TSI petrol engine.
EXTERIORS Overall, the vehicle looks impressive and has a very robust design. The front has an impressive Skoda signature grille with 13 vertical slats.
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The grille has a chrome surround. There are also chrome highlights on the front bumper air intake for the top trim level. Not to be missed are the silver armoured front and rear diffuser. The Kushaq gets automatic front wiper system with rain sensor. As for the lights in front, the top variant Kushaq gets crystalline LED auto headlamps with day time running lights but its halogen when it comes to front fog lamps with static cornering function. The top variant also gets automatic ‘coming or leaving home’ lights.
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The side profile of the vehicle exudes a muscular character. You cannot miss the Skoda badge with chrome surround on front fender. Then you have door handles in body colour with chrome accents, functional roof rails in silver, electrically foldable body coloured ORVMs which are also anti-glare, glossy black plastic cover on B-pillar and C-pillar, window chrome garnish, black side armoured cladding, shark fin antenna and the smartly designed 17 inches alloy wheels. The spare wheel is however only 16 inches. Another feature in this SUV is KESSY or Keyless Entry, Start and exit SYstem control unit that recognises the key up to 1.5 metres away from the car. The vehicle unlocks automatically when the door handles and tailgate are operated. The front doors also have a tiny button which is usually there only on the driver side. But here the button is on both the front door handles. As long as the key fob is with you near the vehicle you can lock or unlock the vehicle by pressing on the tiny button.
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Now for the rear, the vehicle comes with crystalline split LED tail lamp, though this tail lamp has elements of halogen when it comes to indicators, brake light and reverse light, and it also has rear LED number plate illumination, trunk chrome garnish, besides rear wiper and defogger.
INTERIORS The interiors of the Kushaq are pretty refined and innovative, besides being very practical. Before you enter the cabin you notice the front scuff plates with Kushaq inscription. There are bits of chrome everywhere. You get to see a chrome dashboard line, chrome décor for interior door handles, chrome ring on the gear-shift knob, chrome insert under the gear-shift knob and handbrake handle button , chrome trim surround on side air conditioning vents and insert on steering wheel and even chrome trim on air conditioning duct sliders.
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The front seats are ventilated black leather with perforated grey design and you get height adjustable head restraints at front and rear. It is the driver seat only that gets height adjustment. The Kushaq comes with power windows in front and rear, while the driver side gets controls for all four of them separately. The one touch automatic operation and bounce-back system for the window is only available for the driver side. Other interesting, yet useful features include LED reading lamps for both front and rear, ambient interior lighting in areas around dashboard and door handles, besides an auto dimming interior rear view mirror. Three-point seatbelts on all seats, dual-tone warning horn, front centre armrest with storage, glovebox compartment with cooling, sunglass holder in roofliner, all new 2-spoke steering wheel with chrome scrollers, a steering wheel adjustable for rake and reach, paddleshifter, etc make up some more of the features of the Kushaq. The Kushaq also gets a climatronic-auto AC with control touch panel and AirCare function. There is also a decent sized electric sunroof. For ease of driving and travelling, the Kushaq AT comes with dead pedal for foot rest, cruise control, rear view camera - with static guidelines, parktronic sensor at rear, 12V power socket in front centre console, two USB-C sockets in front for data and charging, wireless charging. The front sun visors have vanity mirror on co-driver side and not to be
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missed are the four foldable roof handles. There are a lot of tidy storage spaces and innovative features. On the floor in front you have a smartgrip bottle holder that is designed to hold your bottles firmly in place, even allowing you to open them with one hand. Then there is this SmartClip ticket holder at the side of your windshield that is ideally meant to tuck away your ticket for easy access. The vehicle door features an elastic string to hold your documents. There are reflective safety tape on all four doors that come handy when you open the door in low light. These features are not only innovative, but have an element of convenience and safety. There is a decent storage compartment in the doors with bottle holders, The rear seats are 60:40 split. The foldable centre armrest has cup holders. The front seat back pockets that also have a smartphone pocket. The rear occupants get adjustable dual rear AC vents, two USB-C sockets for charging, coat hook on rear roof handles and a parcel shelf. The rear seats are very comfortable for two people but one more could be a squeeze. Since the Kushaq has the largest wheelbase in its segment, it means there is plenty of leg room for the rear occupants. Headroom too is decent. There are Isofix mounts on the two rear seats. As for the boot, you get 385 litres of boot space with two fixed hooks and two tether points. The trunk space can be expanded by folding the rear 60:40 split seats as per your wish. The rear seats can also be folded using a remote release button located in the luggage compartment. The two hooks in the trunk incidentally can carry 2kg bags each.
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S P EC I F I C ATIO NS ENGINE 1.0 TSI Petrol, in-line, 4 Stroke Positive Ignition Direct Injection Engine TRANSMISSION Front wheel drive six-speed Automatic | CLUTCH : Hydro Dynamic Torque Converter POWER 114hp / 5000 - 5500rpm TORQUE 178Nm /1750 - 4500 rpm PRICE Style 1.0 (AT) variant -
`15.79lakh. (ex-showroom Delhi)
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CLUSTER , SCREEN & APPS The 10 inches infotainment system with its touch screen provides a slew of functions with Skoda Play apps, wireless SmartLink connectivity that lets you connected through Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Sound output comes through an audio system with six high performance speakers and subwoofer. In fact, the 10 inches infotainment system is equipped with touch and gesture control with which you can navigate, make calls, browse the menu and drive without a worry. The four downloadable apps include Audiobooks, Booking.com, Gaana and Sygic , the latter being an offline navigation app powered by MapMyIndia. You get both a 2D and 3D view here. You also get a Valet Mode, a feature that starts recording the movements and behaviour when the Kushaq is in the hands of a valet. It keeps a check on the car and alerts the owner at every step. When this feature is activated, the user can block all infotainment functions. As for the inbuilt MySkodaConnect mobile online services can be accessed at any time via the MySkoda Connect app. MySkoda Connect displays a vehicle health report on the smartphone. The system automatically stores important data every time the ignition is switched off. Functions include ‘Track your Car’, real time speed tracking, geofence breach notification, roadside assistance, SOS, Route Tracking, Locating your car in crowded parking areas, device tampering alert, real-time information on driving behaviour eg: harsh braking, sharp turns, over speeding, rapid acceleration, etc. You also get a tow alert in case your car is being towed away. As for the instrument cluster, it’s a basic one with a 4-dial set up that has both analogue as well as digital readings. You get a 3.5 inches TFT display that gives you a plethora of information some of which can be retrieved using the buttons on the steering wheel. The TFT screen displays information relating to gear-shift indicator, multifunctional segment display, basic travelling time, distance travelled, average speed, immediate consumption, average consumption, travel distance before refuelling, service interval, outside temperature and clock, among others.
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ENGINE & PERFORMANCE Testing any car in crowded streets of Delhi and surrounding areas is any driver’s nightmare. The speed cameras and congested roads always play spoilsport. But luckily for us we got the Noida-Agra Expressway to dash around and test the power of the one litre petrol engine. The one litre petrol engine is quite a robust engine with great response. The high torque achieved at a relatively low rpm range of 1750 to 4500, ensures that you have adequate aggression at almost all speeds. The six speed automatic transmission is smooth and responsive. We did not really have to shift to paddle shifts or the Sport mode to get more juice out of the engine. It came in easy even in the normal D mode. But yes, for those who have more than their generous share of adrenaline rushing through their veins can enjoy the Sport mode or the use paddle shifts. But what separates this engine from the rest in the competition is the active cylinder technology or ACT which shuts off two cylinders at cruising speed, resulting in better fuel efficiency. With petrol prices leaping beyond the Rs 100 mark for a litre, this technology can help us to conserve fuel without compromising on performance. The Kushaq has a well tuned suspension, and offers quite a comfortable ride. NVH levels are well contained, while the steering is quite responsive even during high speeds. It’s not light at all and gives adequate feedback from the surface. On the safety front too, the Skoda Kushaq has lots to offer. These include Electronic Stability Control as standard, along with Roll over Protection and Multi Collision Braking (MKB).Then there are features like Hill-Hold Control and two front airbags, besides brake assist features like ABS (Anti-Lock Braking), EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution), along with varied segment first features like EDS with XDS & XDS + (Electronic differential lock – advanced differential lock), HBV (Hydraulic brake-boosting), BSW (Brake disc wiping). Unfortunately tyre pressure monitoring system and extra airbags like curtain airbags and front side airbags are offered only in the top variant with manual transmission.
VERDICT The Skoda Kushaq SUV is a good looking vehicle with clever genes. The reason why I say it is clever is because it offers so many clever features, whether it is on the technology front or on the practicality front. It’s a perfect package in its segment that contains all the elements of good looks, sound technology, performance, convenience, safety and practicality.
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AN OFF A GENT FIRST DRIVE
2021 BS VI ISUZU D-MAX V-CROSS
Text: Roy Punnoose Tharyan / Photo: Afsar Beg
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E
ven though Isuzu has launched the 3rd generation Isuzu D Max V-Cross Adventure Utility Vehicle globally which, incidentally, is quite a butch looking vehicle, India continues to have the second generation model. The only significant change in the recently launched V-Cross is that it comes with a BS VI compliant engine. In order to make the vehicle a bit more affordable to off-roaders in the country, an allnew Isuzu Hi-Lander model has been launched priced at around Rs 16.98 lakh ex showroom. But this model comes as a 2 wheel drive with six-speed manual transmission. The V-Cross, in the meantime is available as a 4x2 with just a six-speed automatic transmission option. This model costs around Rs 20.06 lakh ex showroom Delhi. On-road price of this model is around Rs 24.19 lakh. This is the Z variant. Then you have the Z Prestige which is a 4x4 that comes with an option of a 6-speed AT as well as a 6-speed MT. The former costs Rs 24.59 lakh ex showroom , Delhi. On road prices of this model is around Rs 29.55 lakh. The price of the 4x4
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MT is Rs 21.07 lakh ex showroom, Delhi. We drove both the V-Cross 4x2 as well as 4x4, with automatic transmission.
EXTERIOR The Isuzu V-Cross has not lost its good looks. It continues to exude confidence with its bold exteriors. The familiar chrome is there on the grille, the ORVM cover, the door handles as well as the tailgate handle. The 4x4 which we drove had the additional factory fitted deck cover and it looks quite chunky and neat. Both the models get bi-LED projector headlamps, LED DRLs, halogen fog lamps with chrome bezel and LED tail lamps. It has power foldable and adjustable ORVMs with turn indicators. The side profile gets enhanced by the prominent wheel arches, the R 18, 6-spoke alloy wheels, the roof rails, the shark fin antenna with gun metal finish and the side steps. The B-pillar has a black out film and as you move to the rear you get to see partial rear chrome bumper on the 4x4. The 4x2 does not get that, it’s an all black plastic bumper here.
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S P EC IFIC ATI O N S ENGINE 1898cc, 4-cylinder, common rail, vgs turbo intercooled diesel TRANSMISSION 6-speed AT 2WD / Shift-on-the-fly 4WD POWER 163hp@ 3600rm TORQUE 360 Nm @ 2000-2500rpm TYRES R 18 alloys, 255/60 PRICE Z variant - `24.19 lakh. Z Prestige - `24.59 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
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Isuzu D-Max V-Cross 4X4 interior
INTERIOR The two-row cabin of the V-Cross is quite spacious and comfortable. It’s like getting into a monstrous truck where you feel safe and protected. The 4x4 AT we drove has sporty dual tone brown and grey leather seats. The 4x2 AT gets sporty black fabric seats. But the seats in both the models are comfortable with the front seats being bucket seats with decent bolstering. It’s only the 4x4 AT that gets a 6-way electrically
adjustable driver seat, while the others get 6-way manually adjustable driver seat. Common features for the two models include an integrated 7-inch touch screen audio system with USB input, DVD, AUX, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, which when compared to those in the sedan segment, looks dated and primitive. The V-Cross variants are equipped with Reverse parking sensors and a rear camera for ease of parking. The vehicle gets 60:40 split rear seats, cup holders and storage compartments, power outlets, USB ports, etc. The rear passengers get two cup holders, an arm rest and a power outlet but rear AC vents are missing. Now coming to some features up front, the models get a 3D Design Instrument Cluster with Chrome Rings. The 4x4 AT gets steering mounted controls which include ones for cruise control. The 4x2 AT just gets steering mounted control for the audio. But all these controls and buttons look a bit dated.
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Isuzu D-Max V-Cross 4X2 interior
The V-Cross models have PESS or Passive Entry & Start Stop System for convenience and safety. This is basically a hands-free access and start system that allows the driver to automatically lock and unlock the car doors by pressing a button on the door handle, without taking the key out of a bag or pocket. The engine is started simply by pushing the ignition button.
The vehicle is powered by an 1898cc, 4-cylinder, common rail VGS turbo intercooled diesel engine. It produces around 163hp@3600rpm and a peak torque of 360Nm@2000-2500rpm. The early level torque enables it to overcome steep hurdles easily. The engine is tuned in
ENGINE & PERFORMANCE The V-Cross is not like your dandy car. This has a well defined purpose and is meant for the macho personality. Which other vehicle you can think of can offer you the pleasure of a sedan when it comes to seating and comfort, the utility of a mini truck when it comes to carrying load, and the agility of a hiker when it comes to offroading? There is only one and only one D-Max V-Cross and that is the reason why it is so unique.
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such a manner that the NVH levels are lower in the cabin, adding to the overall comfort of all occupants. The 6-Speed Automatic Transmission offers intelligent transmission with adaptive grade-logic control keeping the vehicle in right gears thus avoiding over-revving. But when you are cruising on smooth tarmacs, the direct drive ability in the 3rd to 6th gears at steady speeds ensures high fuel efficiency. I found both its on-road as well as its off-road capabilities brilliant. Everything comes easy to the V-Cross; it’s both an officer and a gentlemen. When the situation demands, it goes off-roading with absolute ease, and when the roads turn good, it offers a lovely ride. While we took both the 4x4 as well as 4x2 up a hilly tract on some very rough paths, both performed remarkably, while the 4x4 definitely had an edge because of its 4 wheel drive ability. I only wish the rear suspension comprised hydraulic coil spring shock absorbers rather than leaf springs. The ride could have been a lot smoother.
The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross 4WD model is equipped with terrain command feature Shift-On-Fly drive mode. The 4L mode came quite handy when we crawled our way to the top on a hilly tract. The 4x2 model too surprisingly followed without a fuss!
SAFETY FEATURES A tough vehicle needs to be safe too for its occupants. The new V-Cross comes with ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution or EBD. It is equipped with emergency brake assist (EBA). Electronic Stability Control or ESC is available only on the 4x4 AT. Exclusive to this variant is Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Descent Control (HDC) and side and curtain airbag. Common features include dual front airbags, pre-tensioners with load limiters front seat belts, rear view camera with sensors, Isofix anchorages for child seat, rear child lock, side antiintrusion bars, chassis and cabin with crumple zones, collapsible steering wheel, BOS (Brake Override System) which cuts power to the engine in case of panic braking, among others.
VERDICT The BS VI Isuzu D-Max V-Cross continues to play the role of an officer and a gentleman. Its capabilities are unique. Its utilities are vast. The V-Cross remains distinct in its offering, its purpose and its overall personality. Adventure can be rest assured, when you are off on an Isuzu D-Max V-Cross vehicle.
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SHIFT LOCK BUTTON, THE EMERGENCY BUTTON FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC VEHICLE Automatic cars are fun to drive. All you have to do is to shift the gear to Drive position, step on the accelerator, and just move on without having to bother with the hand and foot exercise so common with cars with clutch and manual gears. Manual gears can be shifted to any gear position even when it is stationery and even if your your ignition key is switched off. The reason is simple, everything is mechanical and there are no electrical inputs, except when you start the ignition. But in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, things are a bit different. Here there is no clutch pedal and the gear shifts can only be moved to the respective gear whether it is the Neutral or Drive or Reverse or Parking when you switch on the ignition. Here there is an electrical input to the shift lever. The moment you switch off your ignition, you will not be
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able to move the gear shift lever. As long the battery is charged and your electricals are functioning properly, there is nothing to worry. But what happens when your electricals fail and the vehicle battery is dead? How do you push the vehicle to a nearby place or push it on to a flatbed to take it to a workshop? The vehicle cannot be pushed in any gear, except in Neutral position. Now since the gear shift lever does not budge, you may not be able to shift the gear lever to Neutral position so as to disengage the gears. This is where a shift lock comes handy. You simply push the shift lock and move the gear lever to Neutral position which in turn will help the vehicle to be towed to the nearest workshop. In short, the shift lock is like an emergency button to help you to put the vehicle in Neutral position.
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S P EC I F I C ATIO NS ENGINE 1998cc TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder BS VI engine TRANSMISSION 8-speed steptronic sport automatic transmission POWER 252hp@5200-6500rpm TORQUE 350Nm@1450-4800 rpm FUEL EFFICIENCY 15.56 kmpl PRICE `62.90 lakh(ex-showroom Delhi)
5SE FIRST DRIVE
2021 BMW 530I M SPORT
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ERIES SUBTLE CHANGES
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Text: Roy Punnoose Tharyan / Photo: Afsar Beg
he new facelifted 7th generation BMW 5 series car comes with a display key that continues to fascinate me. For a moment it brought out the boy in me and I simply indulged in its brilliant capabilities. I mean it is not just opening and closing the car doors and windows and the tailgate, it was about moving the vehicle like a remote controlled toy. The versatile key gets a separate mention in another article. For now, let me tell you about the new facelifted BMW 5 series car. The models on offer are the 530i (petrol), the 530d and 520d (both diesel). We drove the new 530i M Sport. Though it is just a 530i, this one gets an M Sport character package.
EXTERIORS The vehicle looks almost identical in shape and size to its predecessor. The width, height
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and wheelbase are unchanged, but the length is a tad extra at 27 mm. To be more precise, the length is now 4963mm, the height is at 1497mm and the width is 1868 mm, excluding the ORVMs. The wheelbase is at 2975mm. The proportions are very BMW and the car continues to boast of a drag coefficient as low as Cd 0.23. The car has a revised front end with a bold BMW kidney grille with modified contouring. The grille takes a new, octagonal form, adding extra width and height and is framed by a single- piece surround. Not to be missed are the vertical bars, the top sections of which kind of protrude further out. It gets new laser lights with L-shaped DRLs. These comprise of LED low-beam headlights and high-beam headlights with laser module with up to 650m range. You will notice the blue laser
design element and exclusive BMW Laserlight signature. It also has cornering light function and LED turn indicators. The M Sport Package in this car ensures that the air breather is in satinised aluminium, the vertical slats in the grille and the front bumper are in black high-gloss. The ‘M’ is displayed on the front side panels. As part of the M Aerodynamics package, the front apron, side skirts and rear apron all come with diffuser insert in dark shadow metallic. As you move away from the front you get to see M door sill finishers, with the mirror base, B-pillar finisher and window guide rail in black high-gloss. The car sits on 18” M light alloy wheels double-spoke style 662 M with mixed tyres. Mixed tyres imply that the tyres come with different tread depths. A closer look will reveal M Sport brake with dark blue brake calipers with M imprint.
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Move to the rear and you get to see the new L-shaped light graphic. With a black edging the rear lights and brake lights are integrated into a single light fixture. Regardless of the equipment line and engine specified, all models of the new BMW 5 Series come with trapezoidal tailpipe finishers, but since this one has an M package, the same comes in high gloss chrome. As for the car paint, the new 5 series is being offered in new paint finishes and the one we drove came with a new addition that goes by the name phytonic Blue metallic..
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INTERIOR Once you step inside the cabin, its elegance all the way. The car now has a bigger 12.3-inch screen as standard. You also get a fully digital instrument display with 12.3 inches diagonal display adapted to individual character design for drive modes. As for the touchscreen infotainment display on the dashboard, it can take you through a range of features and functions. One can also set the ambient interior lighting as there are six selectable light designs. The new BMW 5 series is an electrically controlled treat with
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its new BMW Operating System 7. With the help of the iDrive Touch Controller, the steering wheel control, voice control using the BMW VirtualAssistant or BMW gesture control, one can control the vehicle, its infotainment, and communication and navigation functions. The car’s system is now both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. The car also gets a multifunction M leather steering wheel that can be electrically adjusted. Wireless charging space for your mobile phone and other charging outlets make up some other features of this car. Then there is a power socket (12 V) in the rear centre console with
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a socket in the luggage compartment with double USB adapter. The front arm rest comes with a storage compartment while at the rear you get foldable centre armrest with two cup holders. There is more than adequate space for all passengers to travel in comfort, though the rear seat that accommodates three people may be a tad uncomfortable for the person sitting in the middle. The cabin is well insulated and comes with four-zone automatic climate control. The car gets sports seats with sensatec
covers. The front seats come with electrical adjustments. Apart from moving it in front and back, the seat can be adjusted for height, width, backrest rake and headrest height. It has well padded side bolsters and manually adjustable thigh support. The memory function is only for driver seat. You also get lumbar support for driver and front passenger. The buttons on the centre console now have surfacing in high-gloss black. You also get a glass roof and electrically adjustable roller sunblind for rear side windows and the rear windscreen. The Tailgate can be opened manually or with the help of the display key button or with a foot movement.
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The new BMW 5 Series is fitted with optimised lightweight brakes featuring single-piece four-piston fixed aluminium callipers at the front, with lightweight discs, and single-piston fixed callipers with an integrated electromechanical parking brake at the rear. The new BMW 5 Series is fitted as standard with driving and parking assistance features including Parking Assistant Plus, Remote Control Parking, Reversing Assistant, cruise control with brake function and the Attentiveness Assistant.
SAFETY FEATURES slick and effortless. Since the government has enforced very strict speed laws with the help of speed cameras at strategic locations, we really could not push the vehicle behind the 100kmph mark. But the little experience convinced us about the prowess of the engine and the effectiveness of the suspension. Features like Auto Start Stop, cruise control, electric parking brake with auto hold proved to be very practical. Mind you, the Auto Start Stop function is not a plain Jain feature, rather in the new 5 series, the Auto Start Stop function reflects the advanced degree of connectivity in the car, as it uses information from the navigation system, stereo camera to prevent the engine from being switched off in situations where that would be inefficient or unwarranted, such as at roundabouts or T-junctions.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE The new BMW 530i M Sport is powered by a 1998cc TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder BS VI engine that churns out a peak power of 252hp@5200-6500rpm and a peak torque of 350Nm@1450-4800 rpm. It accelerates from 0 to 100kmph in just about 6.1 seconds. Average fuel consumption works out at 15.56 kmpl. The engine is mated to an 8-speed steptronic sport automatic transmission. The transmission now comes with increased gear ratio spread, thus even at higher gears and reduced engine speeds you achieve better efficiency. Gear movement too seems
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Driving can be experienced using the different modes that include Sport, Comfort, Eco Pro and Adaptive. In the new Adaptive Mode, the steering, Adaptive Suspension and Steptronic transmission are automatically adjusted to the driving style and, depending on vehicle specification, also to the route. Besides, for those who want a bit of excitement you also have launch control function, paddle shifters and the manual sport mode. Though the car comes with Adaptive Suspension with independent damping for enhanced driving comfort, I felt it was a bit too soft for parts of our roads, especially where there were terrible speed breakers. The car tends to bottom out if one is not careful while going over these humps.
A car like the 5 series also comes with a plethora of safety features. These include airbags for driver and front passenger, side airbags for driver and front passenger, head airbags, front and rear knee airbag. The front passenger side airbag can be deactivated via the key. Then you have the usual Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist and Dynamic Braking lights, Cornering Brake Control (CBC), crash sensor, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Electric Parking brake with auto hold function, among others. The new Tyre Pressure Monitoring System is an intelligent system that uses sensors in each wheel to warn drivers when air pressure drops below acceptable levels. Accessible through iDrive, this system allows drivers to monitor their tyres individually.
VERDICT The new facelifted 5 series from BMW continues to remain a sophisticated car, providing immense driving fun as well as cabin comfort. Electrically, there are a zillion functions you play around with. The 5 series strikes a perfect balance when it comes to safety, sophistication and fun. But before signing off, I was not able to understand one feature about the new 5 series I had with me. I noticed it comes with a valvetronic exhaust. But strangely when the car started in the Sport mode, the flaps within the exhaust line remained shut and refused to open up even when I stepped on the accelerator. That’s strange. Is it not supposed to open up and deliver a loud throaty exhaust note? I have asked BMW to revert to my query.
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BMW DISPLAY KEY A SMART KEY THAT
COSTS `45,000
F
irst and foremost, please don’t lose the display key that comes with your expensive BMW 530i M Sport. Or else you may have to shell out around Rs 40,000 to Rs 45,000 for a new key. It will have to come all the way from Germany and may not be easy to come. Like all conventional keys, the BMW display key locks and unlocks the car with the press of the lock and unlock button respectively on the key. Now let’s check out the other features. On the left slim side of the key you have a slot on the top half. Once you open the tiny cover, you get to see a charging port. The key can be charged through this port with the help of a cable or it can be put on the wirelesss charging pad on the dash near the centre console while you drive and it will automatically get charged. Below that charging port is a tiny button which once pressed will activate the display key. The display screen comes alive. Before we explain you the details and functions on the screen, let me take you back to some more buttons on the display key. On the broad face of the key, on its left is the boot opening button. You press that with your finger and the boot lid of the car opens. On the
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top there are two buttons for unlocking and locking the car. A long press of the unlock button will roll down the windows and slide open the sunroof. A long press of the lock button will do the reverse. The diamond or rhombus shaped figure on the right of the key is mainly for the welcome lights that can be configured from the idrive. Before we come to the right slim side of the key, let me explain the display functions. The moment you press the bottom button on the left slim side of the key, the display screen comes alive. The time is displayed on top with the battery charge level. The letters BMW are displayed prominently with a message and arrow which says, “slide up to unlock display”. Once you do that, it displays some security information. Now this information is basically to tell you whether the car is secured or not. Of course, there is a distance that needs to be maintained between the car and the key for it to function. If you are too far away from the car, the key may not respond. The touch functions now come into play. With your finger tip, you gently touch “secured” and then you get the information that the vehicle, its doors and boot are closed.. You can touch the “back” or “return” sign on
the bottom of the screen and then touch on the second word “closed”. Once you touch that, it lets you know whether your windows and sunroof are closed or open. Touch “return” sign again. Now you are back to the screen which shows secured and closed. Now you need to swipe your finger to get to the next function as if you are flipping to the next page. Now two different functions pop up under “vehicle information”. It says OK and Off. Once you touch ok, you get to see signs of engine oil, brake fluid, vehicle check. If all of them are in green it means all of them are in perfect condition. These signs are also found on the instrument cluster and if one of them malfunctions, the respective sign has a constant glow on the panel. You touch the “back” button and now touch on the “off” sign. On the screen you get to see a “Lights off”
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WHEELZ & ROADZ
A driving experience
information with side, parking left and parking right in the ‘off” position. This again implies that your vehicle is secure and all lights are off. Touch the “back” button once again and them immediately swipe your finger and you get to see the range information on the screen. On the screen before you, you can see 699km, which means that the petrol inside the 530i M Sport can take you another 699km i.e. if you drive in a civilised manner. If you swipe the screen once more from right to left, you get to see a “preconditioning setting” with words like set time, next departure, etc. Preconditioning time is meant to set the heating in the car. It’s unfortunately not for air conditioning. Since this function is meant for heating and is ideally meant for cold European climes, this function has been disabled in India.
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That takes us back to the narrow parking feature. There are times when you want to park the car in a narrow place and you are uncomfortable doing that, then you can simply step out of the car and use this remote function. You can start the engine using the screen button. Once the engine is started, you have to move closer to the car and then with the help of the “P” button on the right slim side of the key, you can move the car forward or backward. But since this has to done carefully, you have to simultaneously touch the up or down key signs on the display screen. Thus, this operation is carried out using two hands. Also, keep in mind, though this remote function is something similar to a remote controlled toy car, don’t think you can take the car into a wall or reverse it into stationery object because the car has enough sensors
to prevent that. The car will automatically stop and not proceed, despite you trying your best to push it into a wall, either in front or rear. This shows the high level of safety that has gone into the making of the key and creating its functions. The key also has another function. We all know that cars that come with remote keys are started with the press of a button on the dashboard or the centre console as the case may be. But if the remote key is not inside the car, then the car refuses to start. Here too it is similar. But when the key battery is low for some odd reason, then you can place it by the side of the steering wheel and then press the start button. The car engine is likely to respond to the key and start the engine. You can then place the key in the wireless charging tray for charging.
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
MAXI CHARM FIRST DRIVE
MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
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WHEELZ & ROADZ
A driving experience
M
INI, a brand under the BMW umbrella had recently launched new models of the MINI that included the allnew Mini 3-door hatch, the all-new Mini Convertible and the all-new Mini John Cooper Works Hatch in India at prices starting at Rs 38 lakh. This allnew Mini range will be available in petrol engines as Completely Built-up Units (CBUs). We got our hands on the Cooper S convertible that has an ex showroom tag of Rs 44 lakh.
EXTERIOR The car we got came in a zesty yellow colour and it looked bright and youthful.
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The car continues to look charming in its topless form. The car gets a new hexagonal radiator grille and the round hallmark MINI LED headlights. The fog lights are now integrated with the LED headlights. The headlamp has a prominent chrome surround. The Mini logo is bang on the edge of the bonnet in front with words MINI written on it. Just above this is the bonnet scoop vent. On one side of the grille you have the letter S which says that this is a Cooper S model. The prominent arch around the grille that goes down into the bumper has a piano black finish and so are the two air vent frames on the bumper. The new air intakes are vertically integrated with the bodywork.
The short overhangs and the new contours of the prominent wheel arch surrounds enhance the side profile character of the vehicle. The top cloth cover has a Union Jack design that has been inspired by the British flag. The LED side indicators are integrated into the redesigned side scuttles where you also have the S badging for all to see. The vehicle sits on 205/45 R17 tyres that in turn are fitted on roulette spoke-two-tone light alloy wheels. The rear lights too have the Union Jack design. The rear fog light is now integrated into the rear apron as a narrow LED unit, making it aerodynamically
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
sleeker. There is a large chunk of piano black finish at the centre of the tail gate with the Mini logo and the letters ‘Cooper S’ written stylishly at the rear. The chrome tipped exhausts pipes position at the centre of the floor further enhances the rear looks.
INTERIOR The interior of the new MINI convertible is not too complicated with just enough knobs and buttons. The all too familiar round touch screen and the sporty buttons still adorn the convertible. The new multifunction steering wheel design integrates more functions yet reduces the number of control surfaces. An 8.8-inch colour touchscreen display, touch-sensitive favourite buttons and Piano Black highgloss surfaces are now standard features. In addition, the audio control unit and the function buttons for hazard warning lights and driver assistance systems are integrated into the circular control unit. In conjunction
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with the Ambient Light option, a new surface design with laser engraving accentuates the appearance of the LED light ring surrounding the central instrument. Below the large circular screen, you have the knobs for the air conditioning. Both the driver and the front passenger can set their own temperature settings. You also have the familiar start button with others for tractions control, deactivating the start-stop system, and the Sport and Green button for the drive mode of your choice. The operating system controller on the centre console now features an all-black surface in conjunction with a navigation system. The optional 5-inch multifunctional instrument display on the steering column gives the driver cockpit a whole new feel. Though the new MINI Convertible comes with two new standard upholstery options, we got the cloth-leatherette combination.
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A driving experience
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
The MINI may be a charmer to look at and drive, but when it comes to its seats, they are all manually adjusted. That is quite irksome when one has to adjust it often or move to the rear seat. The rear is simply not meant for an adult person, rather for kids. Also, for the front occupant to put on the safety belt, it’s an exercise that requires a very flexible body. One
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has to really stretch one’s arms back to retrieve the belt. You could end up with a stressed shoulder!
ENGINE & PERFORMANCE The MINI Convertible is powered by a 2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with TwinPower Turbo Technology which gives a peak output of 192hp and produces a
maximum torque of 280 Nm at 1,350 – 4,600 rpm. The MINI Convertible takes 7.1 seconds for 0 to 100 km/hr. The roof can be electrically rolled back or rolled in front even on the go, but for that the vehicle speed has to be really slow. When the car is stationery, one can perform this function with the button inside
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WHEELZ & ROADZ
A driving experience
S P EC IFIC ATI O N S ENGINE 2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with TwinPower Turbo Technology TRANSMISSION 7-speed double clutch steptronic transmission PEAK POWER 192hp MAX TORQUE 280Nm@1,350–4,600rpm TYRES 205/45 R17 PRICE `44 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
or even with your key fob.
spoil sports in our world of driving.
The car can sprint from the word go. In the sport mode, it lets out a loud grunt and roars past the 100kmph mark at the blink of an eyelid. The engine is extremely responsive and it’s easy to get carried away with its agility. Please watch out for those speed cameras which are turning out to be real
The 2 litre engine is mated to a 7-speed double clutch steptronic transmission and because of its broader gear spread and smaller engine speed steps, is extremely responsive. The car offers a very sports car kind of experience with great stability and speed. It’s exhilarating, no doubt!
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VERDICT With a new MINI Cooper S convertible in your garage, the message is loud and clear. It tells the world that you are young and sporty. The car may not offer you the best of certain convenience and comfort features, but what it definitely offers is some great driving and plenty of charm!
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FEATURES
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FEATURES
T-ROCIN’ the
Mountains The mountains beckoned us and we took an impromptu trip to Manali with the Volkswagen T-Roc. Tex & Photo: Hari Kudchadkar / OctaneX India (a Motown India initiative)
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W
FEATURES
hen we got our hands on the Volkswagen T-Roc SUV, we could not think of any other destination but the mountains. Manali and Rohtang Pass came to our mind, as the car was to be picked up from Delhi. A first glance at the T-Roc would have you a bit confused. It’s not a hatchback, but a subcompact crossover that falls under the mid-size
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SUV segment and is unlike any other VW you’ve seen. The modern design strikes you the moment you see it. You may just think it looks a bit funky. Everything on the T-Roc looks so precisely designed and fixed. As we made our way towards the hills and mountains, it was time to test powertrain. Can it handle all this somewhat non-stop pestering? Can the chassis, suspension and tyres take the brunt of bad roads? As we ran out of smooth tarmac, we encountered roads that had been dug
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FEATURES up, two-lane highways with unmarked diversions, deep potholes and what not. The T-Roc has a 1.5-litre TSI turbocharged petrol motor that chugged along happily with its 7-speed DSG swiftly changing through the gears. It knew exactly when I wanted to put the power down and how much. Foot down for overtaking long trucks and the DSG would shift down and the TSI motor would send all its 148bhp and 250Nm to the front wheels with only a dash of torque steer.
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There was nothing that couldn’t have been managed with the T-Roc. Bad roads? No problem, the chassis and suspension took the brunt and inside the cabin it was a different world. Want to cruise at high speeds? The stability at triple digit speeds was amazing. Need to go faster? The powertrain was a lethal combination, with on-demand power delivery and the 215 section wide tyres helping with immense grip across all surfaces. Well, of course not the slush. No worries about safety either, as the T-Roc gets 6-airbags, collision mitigation warning (needs to be tweaked
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FEATURES better for Indian traffic) and what I consider the safest of them all, disc brakes all around.
kept us comfortable, and the auto-hold function made mountain side traffic jams an easy affair.
It was only after we crossed Bilaspur that we started venturing onto unpredictable terrain. We said goodbye to straight highways and welcomed winding ghats which we were so eagerly looking forward to. What we were not expecting was a 3-hour delay thanks to an accident and a political rally in the area. Well, at least the Android Auto and the aircon
After the big delay, we charged on for Manali. The T-Roc had been giving great mileage on the highways and downhill (Thanks to the Active Cylinder Tech), but the uphill sections had forced it to chug on petrol. Hence we were forced to make a quick fuel stop at Swarghat in Himachal (to avoid fuelling up early morning) and we were back on the road.
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FEATURES
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FEATURES
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FEATURES
The 250Nm of torque from the turbocharged motor helped us push through some steep inclines and the brakes showed no sign of fading even with the constant late dive-ins into scary corners. Best of all, the 160mm ground clearance was enough in case I missed to see any rocks or speed breakers in my way. It was a relief to reach Manali during the night, as I had never travelled to Manali via this route (It had always been the other way around via Kaza). We rested for the night and left again next morning to get the feel of Rohtang’s Curves. It was easy to get there as we had bypassed the old route and headed towards the Atal Tunnel, which at 9.02km is the world’[s longest tunnel above 10,000ft. Manali to Khoksar took only an hour max. With the Pass closed, we had no other option but to soak in the beautiful snow-capped
peaks alongside the winding roads and leave Rohtang Pass for another day. This trip to the mountains was a much needed getaway and the Sport Utility VolksWagen made it even better and relaxing. The DSG didn’t make my left calves work, the steering didn’t pump my arms and the ride was plush enough for a drive like this. We wrapped up 550km in 16 hours with the last 3 hours being in pitch darkness. However, the T-Roc made it an easy affair, with no errors or troubles en-route. So the next time you want to take a trip to the mountains, try not to beat your head around which 4x4 you will need. With the T-Roc, it’s highly unlikely that you would get stuck anywhere unless you go out of your way to find trouble. Or better, get yourself an SUVW like the T-Roc. It is reliable and ever-so capable. Just don’t treat it like a 4x4. (The writer experienced this drive in the early months of 2021)
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FEATURES
FORCE TRAX & TRAVELLER AMBULANCE
SUPERHEROES
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FEATURES
ON FOUR WHEELS
T
Motown India Bureau
hey say a friend in need is a friend indeed. In the world of automobiles, it’s no different. The ambulance is like the unsung hero when compared to fancy cars and bikes with huge power and torque. It may not have features like voice command or gesture controls, psychedelic interior lights and plush seats, but
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for sure this vehicle is a like a friend who is at your service, the moment you are in trouble. Motown India picked up two ambulances from the Force Motors stable for a review, because these are the only fully factory built ambulances in the country today. We had brand new BS VI models of the Trax and Traveller
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FEATURES
ambulances for a full day to explore and to experience. Before we get into telling you all about these two ambulances, let us first reiterate that there are mainly three different categories of ambulances in the country today. This categorization is as per the Indian government. The basic ambulance comes under Type B category. This is the Patient Transport Ambulance. The Trax we were driving was a Patient Transport Ambulance. This ambulance is meant for transport of patients who are not expected to become emergency patients. Then you have Type C which is the Basic Life Support Ambulance meant for the transport and treatment of patients requiring basic monitoring and non-invasive airway management. The Force Traveller Ambulance we were driving was the Type C ambulance. The Type D ambulance comes with Advanced Life Support equipment which may include all kinds of monitoring systems, defibrillator, ECG machine, besides the oxygen cylinders, drip stands etc. Force Motors also offer another variant that goes by the name of Twin Stretcher T2 Ambulance. This has got a wider body and is meant for transport of two patients who are not expected to become emergency patients. The main difference in terms of dimensions between the T1 and T2 ambulances are the width which is 1900mm and 2225mm respectively and overall height which is 2550mm and 2670mm respectively. The wheelbase at 3350mm, length at 5615mm, and ground clearance at 200mm remain the same.
FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS THE BS VI TRAX AMBULANCE comes in both an AC as well as a Non AC variant. The BS VI model has got all-new interiors, new seats, dual tone dashboard and new instrument
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cluster. In the rear section where the patient is transported, it has foldable seats for convenient movement, swivelling fans and ample lighting. It also has an autoloader stretcher mounted through specially designed ramp. The Trax ambulance can accommodate the driver, one patient and five other people. The patient stretcher is basically equal to four seating positions and hence is very accommodating. There is even a
Force Trax ambulance interiors
small storage box in one corner of the cabin for putting some essential items. In Type B ambulance, which is what many other ambulances are which are manufactured by other auto majors, there is hardly any space to stand and provide any medical assistance. It’s basically a patient transport ambulance. Though I found the driver area comfortable and decently built, I
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FEATURES
wondered why the controls for the warning lights, siren and loudspeaker microphone were fixed near the driver seat near to his legs. Now that’s a big distraction for the driver when he is driving the vehicle carrying the patient and other people. It should ideally be fixed on the dash somewhere, and should be easily accessible to him, like the way it is fixed in the Traveller. The rear door can be opened wide for easy ingress and egress of the patient
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and those accompanying. It can also be locked in its open position for convenience. As for driving the vehicle, the vehicle is adequately powered and the gear shifts are easy and convenient. The engine produces 90hp of peak power at 3200rpm and the peak torque generated by the 2.6 litre engine is 250Nm between 1400 and 2400 rpm. This low end torque is ideal to carry load with considerable ease.
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FEATURES
FORCE TRAVELLER AMBULANCE, on the other hand, is a world apart compared to the Trax. It is a lot more spacious and drives a lot smoother and swifter than the Trax. The Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) interiors impart high strength to the ambulance while it also has antibacterial, disinfectant properties and aircraft-like interiors as against commonly used Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic or FRP. The lighting within the rear cabin is top notch and very practical. It has a floor height of 690 mm in T1 and 670 mm in T2 for loading foldable stretcher cum trolley which in turn is AIS – 125 Certified. The
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foldable trolley can be operated by a single person with great ease, both while taking it out as well as while pushing it inside. Since we were driving the Type C Traveller ambulance, the equipment here is not as elaborate as compared to what is found in Type D. Since it was a review vehicle, it did not come fixed with equipment. But one could see within the cabin, spaces earmarked for different medical equipment. There is also a deep cavity at the floor level where two 20 litres each oxygen cylinders can easily be fixed.
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FEATURES
Force Traveller ambulance interiors
ambulance is made entirely of pressed steel panels using robotic welding. With a monocoque design, the vehicle is ensured of an outstanding structural strength. The Traveller ambulance is powered by a Mercedes derived engine. It is a BS VI engine with a displacement of 2596cc which has 4 cylinders and a common rail direct injection. The engine produces a maximum output of 115hp@ 2950 rpm and a peak torque of 350Nm@1400-2200 rpm. The engine is mated to a G32-5, synchromesh transmission with 5 forward gears & 1 reverse.
This area can be accessed from a door outside. The good part of the Force Traveller ambulance is that since it is meant to transport patients who require some medical supervision, the paramedics can easily stand and take care of the patient as is done in a hospital. The cabin also comes with inbuilt power sockets to power different medical equipment. With a full length footstep, this ambulance has a 270 degree door opening with self locking, high intensity flasher & wailing horn and rear flashing lamps & spotlight. The Traveller
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In front it has dead rigid, I-beam & reverse elliot type axle while at the rear it has a live rigid axle. The front suspension comprises semi elliptical leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorber and anti roll bar, while at the rear also it has semi elliptical leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers. For driving ease, the vehicle comes with power steering. It has disc brakes in front and drum at the rear and also has a mechanical parking brake. Safety features include hydraulic, dual circuit, vacuum assisted ABS with EBD. Like I mentioned earlier, the ambulance is like the friend who is beside you when you are in real trouble, a vehicle that one can depend upon when your health takes a beating. The recent ongoing covid-19 pandemic has only highlighted the importance of this humble four-wheeler. The Force Motors ambulance may be a unsung hero in the Indian automotive space for a very long time. But the time has come for it to be recognised as a SuperHero on four wheels.
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FEATURES
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FEATURES
NEXZU ROMPUS+ ELECTRIC BIKE
Easy & Smart T
Motown India Bureau
he Rompus+ e bicycle from Nexzu Mobility is almost a plain Jain cycle with practicality written all over it. Come to think of it, today cycling as a fad has caught on big time, especially when the lock downs happened because of the pandemic. So people got into the habit of cycling around their localities to keep themselves fit.
But like all fads, be it cycling or going to the gymnasium, it is very difficult to sustain that healthy habit. Imagine if you were staying in Delhi and you started off early morning from your house in south Delhi to the India Gate. Initially, you will find the weather pleasant and the journey invigorating. But the moment you cover a few kilometres, you realise that all this strenuous pedaling is not your cup of tea. That’s where the Rompus+ ebike comes in as a breath of fresh air.
STYLING & FEATURES The Rompus+ 3-speed e-bike is a decently styled product. I was particularly impressed by its overall build and quality. In fact, the way it came packed in a box and the ease with which I could assemble it at home, demonstrates its overall simplicity. The company has done a great job when it comes to its paint. The paint seems to be of superior quality and has a distinct shine on it. Since it is an electric bike, it has an in-frame 36V, 5.2AH Lithium-Ion battery. The battery is tucked away neatly in its frame. The charging point is somewhere at the bottom of the bike near the base of the left pedal. The battery can be fully charged in just 2.5 to 3 hours. With a maximum speed of 25 kmph, it also comes with an auto cutoff feature. The frame of the e-cycle is made of cold roll steel alloy. The handlebar has a digital panel which consists of a ON/OFF button, a 4-light battery charge level indicator, ride mode button with indicators and 6km walk mode button. It also has an in-built horn and headlights. The e-cycle has 26” tyres with durable front suspension and dual disc brakes. With 18 months warranty for the motor and battery, the Rompus+
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FEATURES SPECIFICATIONS MODEL
Rompus+ 3-speed EV
MOTOR
36V,250 Watts HUB BLDC
BATTERY
In-frame 36V, 5.2AH LithiumIon battery
BATTERY DETAILS
750 cycle battery life and full charge in just 2.5 to 3 hours
TOP SPEED
25 kmph and auto cutoff feature.
RANGE
25km on throttle mode and 35km on eco pedelec mode
OTHER FEATURES
Cold roll steel alloy frame, In-built horn and headlights, 26” tyres with durable front suspension and dual disc brakes. Motor and battery have 18 months warranty.
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FEATURES
is the first electric to be born out of company’s new factory in Chakan, Pune in the state of Maharashtra. The Rompus+ is priced at Rs. 31,983. This price includes all basic accessories
RIDE & HANDLING To begin with, the Rompus+ e-bike has no fancy speed gears. Riding cycles with gears requires a lot of expertise and if you are to go wrong with engaging the right gear at the right speed, you can end up damaging the bicycle. None of that hassle here with the Rompus+ e-bike. The best part is that this cycle is electric. Thus no matter how tired you are, you can always engage the e mode and cruise along. Thus, there are different ways to ride this ebike. One is the conventional way, where you huff and puff and pedal with all your strength to wherever you need to go. Once you realise you have done with all that strenuous pedaling, you can switch on the e-mode by pressing the On/Off button on the digital display panel on the left of the handlebar. The moment you switch on the button, you get to see the battery power indicator lights glow. There are four levels. Thus, if all four lights are glowing, it means the e-bike is 100pc charged. You can now get into the pedelec mode. In this mode, you are not fully electric, you do not use the throttle at all, but all you do is pedal a bit and the lithium ion battery sends it power to the motor to help you cruise easily. Thus, pedelec is a combination of manual pedaling and electric mode. The pedelec mode is the best of both the worlds. You do a bit of pedaling and use a bit of energy from the motor. In the pedelec mode you can travel as much as 35 km on a single charge of the battery. Then you have the fully electric mode. You need not press any extra button but can simply stop pedaling and use the throttle on the right side of the handlebar. Hey presto, your bicycle now becomes something of an electric scooter . The electric mode is very interesting. Here the maximum range in ideal conditions is around 25kms and the top speed is also 25kmph. The three-speed ebike can be adjusted for Low, Medium and High speeds. When you set the speed to ‘high mode’, the battery uses up more of its juice. Interestingly, on the display panel you also get to see a button with 6km written on it. Well, that is like a creep mode in a car. In this e-bike, this is a walk mode button. When does one use this? Suppose you want to walk with the bike and you do not want to exert pushing and nudging your bike along. Here the bike keeps moving at 6kmph speed on its own. All you have to do is to catch its handle and walk along with it. You can just press the button and walk alongside the cycle as it moves at a walking pace. This mode also comes handy when you have a puncture and its obvious you cannot sit on it and ride it. Pulling along a punctured bike to the wayside puncture guy too is a strenuous exercise. This walk mode comes handy in such situations. There is also another important advantage of this walk mode. For example, if you are carrying too much baggage or cargo on the cycle, then using the walk mode you can walk along with the bike with hardly any effort.
VERDICT The Nexzu Rompus+ e-bike is an uncomplicated bicycle and with its electric prowess, it is also one of the most practical cycles in the country at a price that is very much affordable. The overall build and quality is a lot above average and seems easy to maintain. It’s a fun bike that comes with decent suspension and brakes. Not just for daily commute, but also for the weekend trips, this e-bike is an ideal companion.
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DIGI LIFE REVIEW
SONY BRAVIA 32W830 Sony’s most affordable Bravia TV doesn’t skimp on features Price: `31,999/-
I
have to be honest. My reaction when I first caught wind of Sony’s plans to launch the 32W830 was of utter disbelief. In a country that is receiving its fair share of low-cost, full-HD TVs, the move by Sony to launch its newest Bravia model at Rs. 31,999 seemed odd to say the least. Sony, however, was quick to tell me that the TV was much more than what its headline numbers suggest. Try it out they said and so I did. To my surprise, right at the outset, the 32W830 dispelled all the notions that I had created in my head. The Sony 32W830 is easily the best built 32-inch television out there. The plastics are of great quality, the construction is solid and feels way better than most other televisions even priced above it. The bezels are slim and the stand is sturdy unlike in many other models. Just as the screen came to life, it was easy to see why Sony was making such a big deal about this 32-inch model. A number of players might have entered the TV space and turned it into a fight to the bottom as far as pricing is concerned, but I have not yet seen picture quality of the calibre that Sony is offering here. Sony says that it is an amalgam of a number of technologies that makes this possible. Its picture processing tech X-Reality Pro coupled with HDR 10 deliver vivid colours and makes it hard for you to believe that this is not an
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HD-television. In fact, only the keen eyed could spot that it wasn’t which is testament to the quality on offer here. When viewing fast paced videos, the Motionflow XR 200 helped smoothen the action out and made for a better viewing experience especially when it came to streaming racing on the weekend.
from other brands. But there is one thing that stands out. Sony seems to have packed the TV with enough processing power to make it rather sprightly. Most other TVs of this size, and even this price point, are downright sluggish when it comes to navigating the Android TV menus.
The audio quality on offer here outperforms the competition as well. The 20-watt speakers are plenty loud and are tuned to be a little bass-heavy. We are told that the open baffle design of the speaker along with Dolby Audio helps with clearer and richer sound and I, for one, can attest to that. During the review period, I found it easy to listen to and follow movie dialogues at really low volumes. Now, it might not seem like much but it does make it far easier to binge content without turning the volume up to and uncomfortable level.
The 32W830 is the most affordable Bravia on sale today. And that says a lot about how Sony has gone about building this offering. The company could easily have given the expensive image processing tech a miss and offered something far more affordable. But they didn’t do that. The Bravia name here comes with much of what its far more expensive siblings bring to the table. This television might be on the pricier side but what it packs in makes it a great option for anyone looking to get an Android TV in 2021.
The 32W830 runs Android TV and as such the UI experience is nearly indistinguishable
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Omega Seiki Mobility, Forsee Power, sign MoU to enhance battery performance Omega Seiki Pvt Ltd, part of Anglian Omega Group of companies and Forsee Power, a global expert in smart battery systems for the electro-mobility market, announced a strategic partnership to provide lithium-ion batteries technology for OSM entire range of commercial vehicles. OSM currently manufactures electric three-wheelers for the cargo segment. The company has designed, developed and is now manufacturing its own 3-wheeler EVs under RAGE+ brand. The company also launched a refrigerated vehicle under brand name Frost recently to take care of vaccine and food deliveries.
OSM commercial electric vehicle equipped with Forsee Power GO 10 Li-Ion battery system –48V, 10 kWH – will give enhanced battery range of 120 Kms when fully loaded. Forsee Power develops innovative solutions with the latest and robust battery cells and best-in-class Battery Management Systems that integrate high-performance electronics, accurate voltage readings and efficient communication systems.
In May 2021, Forsee Power began the production in series of batteries for electric two and three wheelers in India. This is a significant step for the Group that entered the Indian market in 2020.
Mahindra launches new Supro Profit Truck range at `5.40 lakh onward Mahindra & Mahindra has launched its new range of Supro Profit Trucks. Developed on the successful Supro platform, this new range of cargo mover is affordable, more powerful, boasts of a greater payload capacity and higher mileage that assures higher profit to the customers. The Supro Profit Truck Mini starts at Rs. 5.40 lakh (Ex-showroom Mumbai) while the Supro Profit Truck Maxi starts at Rs.6.22 lakh (Ex-showroom Mumbai). The Supro Profit Truck Mini is powered by Mahindra’s powerful Direct Injection (DI) diesel BSVI engine. The four-stroke, 2-cylinder 909 cc displacement engine produces 26hp and peak torque of 55Nm . The engine is mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox. It also comes with a fuel smart technology with two options for Power and Eco mode, delivering class-leading mileage
of 23.30kilometers per litre. The Supro Profit Truck Mini comes fitted with 13-inch tyres and boasts 170 mm of ground clearance to deliver higher performance and greater pickup even with a full-load. The Supro Profit Truck Mini also come with CNG option. It comes with powerful 27hp engine, which offers 60 Nm torque and 23.35 km/kg superior mileage. It offers class leading 750 kg payload and best in class 3 years or 80,000kms warranty. The Supro Profit Truck Mini comes equipped with new transmission which gives car like gear shift. Further, it offers high level of safety with a robust 220 mm frontal nose design to minimise damage in case of frontal collisions and a tough and rugged body that enables
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it to traverse the most grueling terrain with ease. The new Supro Profit truck Maxi comes with 1050 kg higher payload, bigger R14 tyres, more ground clearance of 196mm and all new transmission. The Supro Profit Truck Maxi is powered by Mahindra’s powerful Direct Injection (DI) turbo diesel BSVI engine that delivers a superior power of 47HP and 100NM of torque, while delivering a mileage of 21.94km/ litre. This compact truck offers 1050 kg of payload carrying capacity in 8.2ft cargo box. This enables the Supro Profit Truck Maxi to carry higher payloads at lower operational cost, while at the same time improving turnaround time and thereby boosting earnings for owners. The Supro Profit Truck Maxi
is fitted with a comfortable day cabin with a deck body cargo option. It also comes equipped with many features such as air conditioning and power steering which make it a far more comfortable and easy-to-drive proposition than its competitors. It also comes equipped with new transmission which gives car like gear shift. Lower fatigue and customers can do longer trips and earn more. The Supro Profit Truck Maxi comes with X split breaks with dual LSPV for better braking, ELR seat belts and 220mm frontal nose design which is safe and enables it to traverse any terrain with ease.
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Dr. Andy Palmer ex Aston Martin CEO returns as “Dost” to Ashok Leyland Switch Mobility Fifty-eight-year-old Dr Andy Palmer, former CEO of UK luxury car company Aston Martin Lagonda has been appointed Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Switch Mobility Ltd, the new electrified commercial vehicles group backed by the Hinduja Group from July1, 2021.
In 2014 Palmer was appointed as Aston Martin’s new CEO. At that time, Dr Palmer, a Britishborn chartered engineer, chartered manager and businessman had with him 35 years of automotive industry experience, In May 2020, the Board of Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc announced that Dr Andy Palmer would be step[ping step down as President and Group Chief Executive of the company, paving the way for Tobias Moers to take over as the new Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin.
Dr Palmer, the former CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda and before that a global senior executive of Nissan Ltd, has always been a “Dost” of Ashok Leyland. Switch Mobility Ltd, the new electrified commercial vehicles group backed by the Hinduja Group announced its formal launch by combining the electric commercial vehicle operations of Ashok Leyland and the former Optare company to secure a leading global position in net zero carbon buses and light commercial vehicles. A new leadership team has been appointed to leverage the legacy manufacturing and innovation capabilities of Ashok Leyland and Optare, while applying cutting-edge technologies to provide customers with industry-leading low cost of ownership and net zero emissions transport solutions globally. Dr Andy Palmer has been appointed as Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from July 1, 2021, supported by an experienced team of experts to deliver the company’s ambitions to be a leader in urban e-mobility. This includes the appointment of Nitin Seth as Chief Operating Officer, Sarwant Singh Saini as Chief Planning Officer and Roger Blakey as Chief Technical Officer. Further Leadership appointments will be announced shortly.
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Andy Palmer begins his automotive career at age 16 Palmer started his professional career in 1979 aged 16, as an apprentice at Automotive Products Limited (UK). After six years with Austin Rover, he joined Nissan in 1991 and went on to a 24-year career culminating as Chief Planning Officer. In 2012, Palmer was named the automotive industry’s most influential British executive by Auto Express, and in 2013, the world’s third most influential Chief Marketing Officer by the CMO Influence Study, conducted by marketing firm Appinions for Forbes magazine. Palmer was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to the British automotive industry.
Switch has big dreams With the combined expertise of its teams in UK and India, Switch will build on its experience of having more than 280 electric vehicles in service with over 26 million miles covered. The company’s potential has been enhanced through technological collaboration with partners including Siemens to deliver e-mobility solutions that already offer the lowest Total Cost of Ownership for CV customers in India. As part of its rampup, Switch has already signed customer agreements with leading logistic operators and secured orders fo ra 2000-strong e-LCV fleet with customer trials starting this month. Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman of Switch Mobility, said, “Hinduja Group is focused on providing the needed thrust to our on-going initiatives in the rapidly growing zero carbon mobility sector. This is orchestrated through combining the advanced engineering and development skills in the U.K and India to address the demand in global markets. I am confident that with Andy Palmer at the helm, we will accelerate our vision to be at the forefront in this field soon.”
JULY 2021 | MOTOWN INDIA | 81
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Valeo, Omega Seiki join hands for 2 and 3 wheeler electrification Valeo, the world leader in automotive electrification technology, and Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM), part of Anglian Omega Group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), through which Valeo will provide the electric powertrains for OSM vehicle range. Valeo will provide its 48V electric powertrain system (reducer, integrated Motor and Inverter) along with the Powertrain Control Unit for Omega Seiki Mobility cargo three-wheelers “Rage+ and Rage+ Frost”. In addition, Valeo’s engineers
will provide the technology integration support to help Omega Seiki Mobility to go
to the market quickly. Valeo and Omega Seiki Mobility will further collaborate for the upcoming vehicle models to be manufactured by the company in India. Valeo, pioneer and world leader in 48V affordable systems, launched, in 2020, fully integrated compact 48V electric powertrain system in India to aid affordable electrification for small mobility vehicles two and three wheelers, that are extensively used for first and last mile connectivity in the country.
Mahindra launches new BSIV construction equipment range Mahindra Construction Equipment (MCE) of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd introduced BSIV compliant construction equipment with the launch of the new BSIV compliant Motor Grader-Mahindra RoadMaster G9075 & G9595 & Backhoe Loader -- and Mahindra EarthMaster SX and VX. The MCE BSIV range will have a robust iMAXX telematics solution providing customers with diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive fleet management along with many other category-leading features. True to Mahindra’s belief of providing disruptive services, it reaffirms its commitment to superior performance, higher uptime and lower operating and owning costs, and thereby higher profits. Mahindra Construction Equipment (MCE) is an Indian Construction Equipment OEM that designs and manufactures machines customized to the needs of Indian customers since 2011. With BSIV introduction the entire Earth Master Range of backhoe loaders is enhanced both in terms of productivity and features. Powered with a reliable 74 HP Cri Mahindra Engine, it now has 13% higher torque compared to BSIII leading to improved machine’s loader efficiency. With improved hydraulic system which has a higher flow handling capacity, and other improvements lead to overall production capacities improvement of 10%. SX Smart50
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is a product in a new low range HP category which is an optimum solution for the hirer segment. The product is created with proven Mahindra 50HP Ditech BSIII engine and optimized hydraulics to provide equivalent Backhoe productivity as 74HP. SX Smart50 compliments the requirement of price sensitive customer in a highly competitive low margin segment. The new EarthMaster Range comes with ergonomically designed keeping operator comfort at the forefront. With tinted glass, coat hanger, mobile and water bottle holder among others, improved feature packed cabin makes it comfortable and safe to our operators. The aim to provide more profit and property to our customers, EarthMaster range is designed to deliver the lowest maintenance cost in industry within their respective category.
Motor Grader is coupled with a 3 m (10 ft) wide blade and is optimized to deliver zero compromise grading at a fractional 40% cost as compared to conventional motor graders. G9595 is powered with 95 HP CRi Engine and increased torque up to 400 NM which is ideal for National Highway and their expansion process, rail corridor and industrial plot levelling. Keeping operator comfort in mind, G9595 comes with ergonomically designed air-conditioned cabin. It provides operator’s fatigue free operating experience helping them improve overall productivity.
New BSIV RoadMaster range offers an optimized solution and precisely caters to the road contractor’s grading needs for government flagship programs such as Smart city, Bharatmala, etc. as well as for major district roads, state highways, border roads and expansion of national highways. G9075 is powered with 74HP CRI Engine and increased torque up to 350 NM which is ideal for State highways, Rural Roads, District Roads, and other projects under PMGSY. This
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