Motown India November 2014

VOL-5 • ISSUE-2 • NOVEMBER 2014

WWW.MOTOWNINDIA.COM

B2B SECTION Pages 61-82

FIRST RIDE

50

INDIA INDIAN SCOUT

Scout Master

TO K10 MARUTI SUZUKI NEW AL

TESTED & REVIEWED MERCEDES-BENZ GLA 200 SPORT POLARIS RZR XP4 900 EFI INDIAN CHIEF VINTAGE

CHEVROLET SAIL SEDAN & HATCHBACK

GLOBAL NCAP ASKS NISSAN TO WITHDRAW DATSUN GO FROM INDIA

FIRST DRIVE

National Engineering Industries Ltd., Khatipura Road, Jaipur – 302006 CIN: L29130WB1946PLC013643 | Phone: +91 141 222 3221 | Fax: +91 141 222 1926 | E-mail: neisales@nbcbearings.in

P. THARYAN

M

otown India magazine is into its fifth year now. In this November 2014 issue of Motown India we are carrying some fine reports on three great products from Polaris. One is their four-seater RZR XP 900 EFI all terrain vehicle. This vehicle was put to good use in the aftermath of the floods that ravaged Jammu. It’s truly

a “National Hero”. We also rode two motorcycles from the Indian stable. These were the Indian Chief Vintage and the Indian Scout. If Indian gets its act together, they can give very tough competition to Harley-Davidson. Polaris should not have a half-hearted approach to its India strategy. Their bikes may be limited in terms of model range, but the few they have are fabulous. Polaris should think of investing in India like the way Harley has done in Bawal, Haryana. That would change their business dynamics in India. A bike like the Indian Scout has huge potential in India, because it meets the aspirations of hundreds of thousands in India who are keen to move up the value and experience chains.

We have also road tested cars like the new Alto K10, the Mercedes GLA, the new Sail hatchback and sedan, among others. The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 is a fine small car and will now attract more people because of its very exciting prices and a new automatic transmission. If there is any car today that offers immense value to the vast Indian population, it is the Alto. This K10 will bring lot of cheer to Indian families. As for the Chevrolet Sail, they are fine cars, but lack the power as compared to their rivals in their respective segments. There is something surprisingly wrong with the way General Motors is conducting business in India.

For a company so powerful and resourceful, I have always wondered why they are not among the leaders in India. Why is it that they are not making money here?

Their products definitely need to be fine tuned to appeal to the Indian customers.

In the B2B section we have the latest from Global NCAP. They have come down heavily on the Datsun GO. The independent safety testing global body has asked Nissan to withdraw their Datsun GO from India and other markets where they have been introduced, because of its weak and unsafe structure. I am surprised that a man like Carlos Ghosn who has always talked so big about new technology has literally short changed Indians with this car. Mr. Ghosn do you have an answer?

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Editor

EDITOR P. Tharyan -----------------------------------News Coordinator Jisha P Senior Photographer Mohd. Nasir Correspondents Joshua David Luther, Rahul Kapoor S. Madhavan, Tripti Singh, Jasbeer Kohli Web Correspondents Avdesh Kumar, Seema Paul ------------------------------------------For Editorial contact editorial@motownindia.com editorial.motown@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------For Marketing & Sales contact Head-Operations Jisha P (sales@motownindia.com / +91-9958125645) ---------------------------------------------For Accounts Contact Ankit Sharma (ankit@motownindia.com / +91-9654005547) --------------------------------------------For Circulation & Subscription Contact Dalip Singh Bagdwal (subscription@motownindia.com / +91-9811305822) ------------------------------------------EDITORIAL DELHI OFFICE 145 B/9, First Floor, Kishangarh, Next to United Free Church, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, Tel: 011-26122758/59, Tele Fax: 011-26122757 ------------------------------------------DISTRIBUTED BY Central News Agency, New Delhi ------------------------------------------EDITORIAL CONTENT The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the contents in the magazine are correct. However, he can accept no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions.

Any unauthorised reproduction of Motown India content is strictly forbidden.

------------------------------------------Motown India is printed, published, edited and owned by Punnoose Tharyan and published from 4058 / D-4, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070.

Printed at Pearl Printers, C-105, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase 1, New Delhi.

------------------------------------------This issue of Motown India magazine contains 84 pages including both covers.

------------------------------------------EDITORIAL ADVISORS Salil Sharma, Alexander .T & Annie Jacob

November 2014 I 3

Contents B2C SECTION

FIRST DRIVE - CHEVROLET SAIL SEDAN & HATCHBACK

SMOOTH SAILING

PAGES 6-60

22

NEWS

6

New Maruti Alto K10 launched for 3.06 lakh

8

Harley-Davidson brings 49.23 lakh CVO, plus 2 more

10

EICMA 2014 - Drool Part 2

B2B SECTION NEWS

64

Diesel holds sway in India & EU, while China prefers gasoline

66

North India Special

71

Volvo launches new truck range in India

28

FIRST RIDE - INDIAN SCOUT

SCOUT MASTER

MOTORSPORT

WHEELZ & ROADZ

18

Rosberg’s Brazilian GP win puts him back in contention for title

32

Indian Chief Vintage Maharaja

18

Hulkenberg stays with Force India

36

Maruti Suzuki New Alto K10 Love of the common people

20

Mohali man Amartej Buwal wins 16th Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya

40

Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 Sport - GLA-Mourös Bestie

PAGES 61-82 GLOBAL NCAP ASKS NISSAN TO WITHDRAW DATSUN GO FROM INDIA

TECHNOLOGY

78

Honda SENSING Advanced Driver-Assistive System

78

Ford pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection

4 I November 2014

61

CAR LAUNCHES New Maruti Alto K10 launched for 3.06 lakh Maruti Suzuki India Limited launched the new Alto K10 at 3,06,000 ex-showroom Delhi on November 3, 2014. The Alto K10 has been launched in four variants – LX, LXi, VXi and Vxi (O). The Vxi model is also available with an Auto Gear Shift (AGS) model which is available for a price of 3,80,187 ex-showroom Delhi. The LXi variant is also available in a CNG option for a price of 3,81, 687 ex-showroom Delhi.

The new Alto K10 comes with redesigned interiors and exteriors. On the inside the new K10 gets a piano finish stereo system featuring a CD, USB, AUX and Radio. The steering wheel gets new silver accents and the news Suzuki S logo in the centre. There is a new storage compartment in the centre console and a neat looking instrument cluster with an RPM meter.

The interiors are dual tone black and beige and the centre console also comes with dual cup holders. The Vxi variant comes with front power windows which have been located on the centre floor console. The new Alto K10 has a redesigned dashboard and has an IP upper tray to store small items.

Fiat Avventura launched for 5.99 lakh Fiat Group Automobiles India Pvt. Ltd has launched the new Avventura in the country. The new crossover from Fiat, based on the recently launched Punto Evo, is now available in 5 variants with 2 engine options with prices starting from 5.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) which puts it right into the battle ground of the Cross Polo, Etios Cross, Ecosport and Duster.

The ex-showroom Delhi prices of the different variants are: PETROL: Active 1.4 FIRE: 5,99,064 Dynamic 1.4 FIRE: 7,05066 DIESEL: Active 1.3 MULTIJET: 6,89,065 Dynamic 1.3 MULTIJET: 7,65,064 Emotion 1.3 MULTIJET: 8,17,065 The Avventura will be powered by the same 1.4L FIRE petrol and the 4 cylinder 1.3L turbo charged MULTIJET diesel engine that’s found in the Punto Evo producing 88bhp for both engines with 115Nm of torque for petrol and 209Nm for the diesel.

GLA 45 AMG launched for 69.6 lakh Mercedes- AMG has launched yet another car this year. This time it’s the CLA 45 AMG’s dirty elder sister the GLA 45 AMG. Priced at 69.6 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai), the GLA will have the same ground breaking 2.0L four cylinder engine as the CLA 45 AMG. The 2.0 litre four cylinder engine found in the GLA 45 AMG produces 355bhp, making the most powerful 2.0 litre engine in production to date as Volvo’s engine is still a concept. The torque generated in this adrenaline pumping compact SUV is 450Nm hence the ‘45’ in the name tag. Despite its size and weight, it can do 0-100kmph in 4.8 seconds and goes all the way up to 250kmph only as it is limited. The ground breaking engine is mated to AMG’s double clutch Speedshift DCT 7-speed sports transmission. This compact SUV an handle roads and also the rough stuff that’s to Mercedes’ 4matic drive system, which is basically a front wheel drive cars, but power is sent to the rear wheels when rear traction is required.

New Swift to cost 4.42 lakh onward

New Toyota Etios for 5.74L ; Etios Liva for 4.76L

Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has launched an updated version of the Swift in India with a more refined engine. The new Swift now gives 10pc better fuel economy. The new Swift is priced in the range of 4.42 lakh to 6.95 lakh.

Incidentally, the company has sold 12,08,000 Swift cars in the country since it was launched in 2005. Prices of the new Swift are as follows:- Petrol -LXi – 4,42,000, LXi (O) - 4,49,000, VXi – 5,08,000, ZXi – 5,90,000. Diesel-LDi – 556,000, VDi – 599,900, ZDi – 695,000. The prices are ex showroom Delhi.

Toyota Kirlosker Motor has launched the facelifted Etios and Etios Liva with prices starting at 5.74 lakh and 4.76 lakh respectively. All prices are ex-showroom Delhi. Both the cars come with dual SRS airbags as standard across the range. Coming with a 3 year warranty the prices range of the cars are as follows: Etios (petrol): Etios (diesel): Etios Liva (petrol): Etios Liva (diesel):

6 I November 2014

5,74,081/- to 6,84,081/- to 4,76,142/- to 5,94,642/- to

7,06,567/8,16,567/6,57,105/6,95,460/-

BIKE LAUNCHES DSK Motowheels brings in Benelli motorcycles DSK Motowheels of India has partnered with Italian motorcycling legend Benelli to establish DSK Benelli in India. DSK Motowheels will play a pivotal role assembling and selling Benelli bikes across the country and supporting them with a backup of service and spares. DSK Benelli will set up exclusive dealerships in 20 cities over the coming 6-8 Months. An Initial round of dealerships will come up in the Indian cities of Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai and Kolkata in next 3-4 months.

This landmark Indo-Italian tie-up paves the way for a high-end biking experience through Benelli’s extensive bike range.

On this occasion, the company showcased the largest range of distinctively Italian flavored bikes seen in India to date, including the sporty looking Tornado Naked TRE, or TNT superbikes that include the in-line, two cylinder TNT 302, the in-line, four-cylinder 600cc TNT 600 i as well as TNT 600 GT, the 898cc, in-line, threecylinder TNT899 and 1131cc, also in-line, three-cylinder engine powered TNT1130R, a 155bhp plus superbike.

Kawasaki ER-6n & Z250 for 4.78 lakh, 2.99 lakh India Kawasaki Motors (IKM) has launched two of its naked models, the ER-6n and the Z250, in India. The ER-6n will have a price tag 4,78,000/and the Z250 will cost 2,99,000/-. All prices are exShowroom Delhi. With the ER-6n and the Z250, IKM plans to further strengthen its presence in the premium two-wheeler market in India.

Both of the new bikes will be imported as CKD (completely knocked down) units from Thailand. IKM will manufacture the ER-6n and the Z250 and retail the bikes through the existing Probiking Showrooms operated by Bajaj Auto Limited.

Kawasaki had launched the Ninja ZX-14R, ZX-10R, Ninja1000, Z1000 and Z800 marketed through its exclusive Kawasaki network. This time, these two new models of ER-6n and Z250 are targeted to strengthen model lineup of Probiking sales network which are currently marketing Ninja300 and Ninja650. Commenting on the launch, Yoshitaka Tamura, Managing Director, IKM said that due to the positive response from the previously launched five Kawasaki superbikes, now the ER-6n and the Z250, two globally renowned bikes, will make Kawasaki more affordable for the Indian consumers as the premium two-wheeler market offers tremendous growth opportunities.

Yamaha introduces SZ-RR Version 2 Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd. has introduced a stylish commuter motorcycle SZ-RR Version 2.0– an upgrade to its existing SZ-RR bike launched last year. The new model based on Blue Core development ideal is powered by a newly designed air-cooled 149cc 4-stroke, SOHC, single-cylinder engine. The bike is targeted at married men between the ages of 24-35. The motorcycle will be available in Red Dash, Ivory White and Green Arrow and will cost 65,300/- (ex showroom Delhi).

Masaki Asano, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd, said Yamaha’s ‘Mission 10000KM’ has been a great journey not only to re-discover India but also “re-discover our own selves”. He said that the official vehicle for this initiative was the company’s recently launched fuel injected ‘Yamaha FZS - FI Version 2.0’ featuring the new technology concept called ‘Blue Core’ which stands for fun riding and economy.

Harley-Davidson brings 49.23 lakh CVO, plus 2 more Enthusiasts and fans of the legendary Harley-Davidson brand have more reason to cheer as the company has lunched three new motorcycles in the country. The big daddy of the three is the limited edition, custom built, hand crafted CVO that comes to India at a price of 49.23 lakh. There is also the Street Glide Special at 29.70 lakh and the Breakout model priced at 16.28lakh. All price are ex-showroom Delhi. Harley’s CVO family bikes are hand built and fully customised as every year the company gives free right to its engineers to go all out as far as they can. The CVO Limited is the most expensive Harley in India, and will be available from 2015. Powered by the same 1,690cc V-twin with a peak torque (138Nm), the Street Glide Special is a fully loaded version of the existing normal model already available in India. The new addition to the Softail family is the Breakout.

The only bike of the three that will be locally assembled in the Harley Davidson facility in Haryana, will be powered by a 1,690cc air-cooled V-twin with 130Nm of torque to dig a grave with the rear tyre for anyone who rebels against this rebel.

8 I November 2014

NEWS

EICMA 2014

DROOOOOL...PART II

Harley-Davidson electric bike

Report: Joshua David Luther, Photography: EICMA

I

n the October 2014 issue of Motown India we carried some great pictures of the 2014 Intermot motorcycle show in Cologne, Germany. Now we have a report from Milan in Italy where the EICMA 2014 was held. More than 1000 exhibitors from all over the world presented their products at the EICMA 2014 motorcycle show in Milan, Italy. EICMA is the marketing body of Italy’s National Association of Bicycles, Motorcycles and Accessories (ANCMA). The show was held from November 4 to 9, 2014. HERO MOTOCORP and ROYAL ENFIELD from India were among the big wigs of the two-wheeler world, present at the show.

With its one-cylinder engine with 535 cc, air-cooled, steel double cradle frame and 184 kg weight, Continental GT is the motorcycle that, last year, celebrated the opening of the brand new production plant

10 I November 2014

in Chennai. As every Royal Enfield, this cafĂŠ racer too needs seven days to be ready, not because Indian factories might be slower, but because every bike is handcrafted and tested on a circuit near the factory.

PEUGEOT SCOOTERS, now part of the MAHINDRA GROUP, was also very much present at the show. Peugeot showcased products like the Metropolis and the Speedfight.

Other names included the likes of M V Agusta, Aprilia (Piaggio), Benelli, BMW, Ducati, Honda, Husqvarna, Harley-Davidson (the company showcased its first electric motorcycle), Indian Motorcycles (Polaris), Kawasaki, KTM, Peugeot, Piaggio, Suzuki, Terra Motors, Triumph, Victory (Polaris), Moto Guzzi, Kymco and Yamaha, among others. Italian company Quadro4 displayed its four-wheel scooters, with rear traction.

Window Vacuum

The Home & Garden cleaning equipment range covers primarily smaller products than the Professional sector.

Home & Garden offers basically cleaning equipment for cleanliness in and around the house. In this segment you’ll find the well-known yellow Kärcher products.

Karcher Cleaning System Pvt. Ltd. Head Office: D-120, Sector 63, Noida - 201301, U.P. India.

Ph: +91-120-7111800 I Fax: +91-120-7111900 I e-mail: home.garden@karcher.in /Karcher /karcher.india.33 Toll Free Number :1800 1234 180 Follow us on Ahmedabad I Baroda I Bangalore I Chennai I Cochin I Hyderabad I Kolkata I Mumbai I Noida I Panchkula

NEWS

EICMA 2014

A host of motorcycle accessory makers from apparels, helmets and performance parts makers were also present at the show.

EICMA celebrated a century of life with its 280,000 sqm of exhibition area both outside and inside, 1053 brands that represent 34 countries, with 23pc of exhibitors debuting this year.

Hero MotoCorp Ltd (HMCL), the world’s largest manufacturer of two-wheelers, announced its plans to enter the European markets by the end of 2015. The company made this announcement at EICMA. In the first phase of its foray into Europe, Hero MotoCorp aims to launch its products in Italy, Spain and France; followed by the UK and Germany in the next phase of expansion. To begin with, the company will launch its first serial-hybrid scooter “Leap” in these markets, and subsequently bring more models including scooters and motorcycles.

Hero MotoCorp had recently announced an investment of US$ 800 million in building capacity across the globe in the next few years. Expanding aggressively over the past three years, Hero MotoCorp is already present in over 20 countries across Central & South America, East & West Africa and Asia.

Italy is home to two of Hero’s strategic alliances – Engines Engineering and Magneti Marelli -both based at Bologna. Engines Engineering is a technology partner of Hero MotoCorp while the latter has a joint-venture with Magneti Marelli in India for developing fuel injection technologies.

YAMAHA MOTOR CO., LTD. unveiled its new flagship YZF-R1 and high-end YZF-R1M supersport motorbikes.

Those present at the unveiling were Yamaha Motor Co. CEO and Presdient Hiroyuki Yanagi and riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

Both the motorcycles feature an entirely new 998 cubiccentimeter liquid-cooled, in-line four-cylinder engine with a crossplane crankshaft.

The all-new 2015 YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M are based on Yamaha’s “High Tech Armed Pure Sport” concept of an all-out supersport model fully armed with advanced technology. These bikes are designed to be the fastest machines on the circuit. They allow riders to experience firsthand the technical philosophy behind Yamaha’s MotoGP racing machine, the YZR-M1. With 200hp at its disposal, these are the world’s first two commercial motorcycles with a 6-axis position sensor that detects 3-axis angular velocity and 3-axis acceleration. Coupled with advanced control technology, Yamaha’s sophisticated sensor provides high-dimension handling and performance, allowing the rider to devote more attention to pure riding.

These two motorcycles incorporate hot features from the YZR-M1 MotoGP machine and its design is an entirely new R-DNA based on Yamaha’s “Speed Racer” concept, which combines a small silhouette, rider-machine unity and headlight-less front face. The high-end YZF-R1M also boasts an electronically controlled suspension, lightweight carbon fairing and a digital interface that records valuable racing information.

The European market for 1,000cc supersport models 12 I November 2014

Kawasaki Ninja H2

Yamaha R1 BMW S1000 XR

Kawasaki Concept

NEWS

EICMA 2014

has grown considerably, led by users with a passion for riding their machines on racing circuits. Loaded with signature technologies from Yamaha Motor, the YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M will appeal not only to developed markets, but also to emerging markets and beyond where they are expected to help drive the Yamaha global brand.

The two models will be released in Europe in early March 2015 and later in North America.

One of the most interesting news from Yamaha at EICMA was called MT-09 Tracer, heir of the glorious Yamaha TDM, a bike which, years ago, gave birth to a segment that is very successful nowadays: the crossover ones.

MT-09 Tracer shares with the other naked MTs chassis, suspensions, wheels and brakes, apart obviously from the three-cylinder engine with 847 cc, which in this case has been adapted to a different use with dedicated mapping. The electronic equipment is impressive for MT-09 Tracer, since it adds, to the already known YCC-T (Yamaha’s Ride by Wire) and D-Mode (triple mapping), the ABS and traction control (that can be disconnected anytime), both included in the bike’s equipment.

In comparison with the other three versions, MT09 Tracer shows a touring attitude, with a bigger tank with 18 lt capacity, an autonomy of 300 km and low consumptions; windshield is adjustable on three positions, without using any tool; the bike also disposes of central easel and 12 V electric plug.

BMW F 800 R

BMW S 1000 XR – ALL GOOD THINGS COME IN FOURS. Following on from the S 1000 RR and HP4 superbikes as well as the S 1000 R roadster, BMW Motorrad unveiled the fourth member in the BMW Motorrad line-up of high-power motorcycles with straight-fourcylinder engines and a distinctly sporty bias. The company brought out the S 1000 XR, which offers this repertoire of core characteristics in a brand-new blend dubbed “adventure sport”. This encompasses dynamic touring qualities, sporty performance and high levels of comfort as well as outstanding everyday usability. In short, the new S 1000 XR serves up its own individual mix of sporting and touring flair at the same time as injecting a generous dose of emotion.

The straight-four-cylinder engine on the new BMW S 1000 XR is basically derived from the S 1000 R roadster. It has an output of 160 hp at 11,000 rpm and generates maximum torque of 112 Nm at 9,250 rpm.

To enable the riding characteristics to be adapted to the prevailing road conditions as effectively as possible, the new S 1000 XR already comes with the “Rain” and “Road” riding modes as standard. The standard-fit Automatic Stability Control (ASC) ensures a high standard of riding safety by optimising traction.

The new S 1000 XR can be equipped ex-works with the Pro riding modes option, which includes the additional riding modes “Dynamic” and “Dynamic Pro” along with

14 I November 2014

Ducati Scrambler : Voted

Moto Guzzi

the most beautiful bike of

the 2014 EICMA show

NEWS

EICMA 2014

Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and ABS Pro. Malossi Hyper Racing of Italy, specialised in special parts and racing set up for scooters, displayed among others, the new RC-one kit; very popular are also all components dedicated to old Vespa’s generations, oriented to the consistent circulating original Vespa scooters from the Seventies and Eighties, and to the relative world of competitions, which are still very popular today.

Paton S1 project was born one year ago and has now become a fascinating reality: the S1 is the first road bike born under Paton’s brand. Equipped with a twin-cylinder Kawasaki engine with 650 cc, it represents the fulfilling of what Giuseppe “Pep” Pattoni, Paton’s founder, would have been a dream. The Paton team created this bike, inspiring to the Sixties’ design and to the idea of “Road Race Spirit”. The point was to transfer to the rider typical sensations and handling of a racing bike, and of having to deal with an extraordinary creation.

Harley-Davidson, the legendary American brand presented among its several models, the much awaited LiveWire, the futuristic project of an electric motorcycle, unifying look and sound. It was visible for the first time in Europe during EICMA 2014.

“With project LiveWire, it’s like looking at the first electric guitar”, said Mark-Hans Richer, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “It’s an expression of individuality and iconic style, and it’s electric. Project LiveWire is a strong message on our side, as a company and as a brand.”

Choosing not to follow the electric silent mainstream, the sound of the new Harley-Davidson will have a fundamental role in characterizing the bike. “The sound is a distinctive element, it was created to be different from the one made by combustion engines or other electric motorcycles’ engines already available on the market”, says Richer Apart from all the bike manufacturers, accessory big wigs included the likes of TCX, Sidi, Gaerne Gore-Tex and Stylmartin for all kinds of riding boots, Flash Evo, H&H, Shark and Givi for helmets, and Acerbis and Alpinestars Tec-Ait for protective body wear.

DAINESE AND PEUGEOT SCOOTERS signed an important partnership to strengthen motorcycling safety at the the EICMA show. The two brands displayed a Metropolis D-air on the Peugeot stand. The model features after-market D-air Street equipment, which is Dainese’s state-of-the art airbag technology designed to protect motorbike and scooter riders.

Peugeot Scooters had no hesitation in opting for the Dainese D-air Street system - a system that has passed the strict certification tests set by TUV Sud, the German certification body and that obtained five stars from the French certification body SRA (Sécurité et Réparation Automobile).

16 I November 2014

Eye candies

MOTORSPORT

Rosberg’s Brazilian GP win puts him back in contention for title

T

he field for the F1 2014 championship is still open as Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Nico Rosberg romped home to claim a dramatic Grand Prix win in Brazil on November 09, 2014. Thus, Nico’s teammate Lewis Hamilton has still to fight on to claim his season’s title. Nico Rosberg has kept his Formula One title hopes alive after his superb performance.

With the Brazil win, Rosberg is now just 17 points behind Hamilton, with 50 up for grabs in the title decider in Abu Dhabi in a fortnight.

Do remember, it’s a double point victory at Abu Dhabi as per the new norms of F1. Thus, if Rosberg wins there, Hamilton would have to finish second in order to clinch the title.

As the race began, Rosberg who was in pole position, maintained his lead throughout despite Hamilton snapping at his heels.

Rosberg withstood every attempt by Hamilton to overtake him and finally avenged his defeat of the previous Austin race in the US. Felipe Massa of Williams-Mercedes fought hard to finish third and got his first podium of the year.

Jenson Button of McLaren-Mercedes came in fourth, followed by Sebastian Vettel

of Red Bull RacingRenault, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg of Sahara Force India and Kevin Magnussen of McLaren-Mercedes, all making it to the first ten positions in the race.

Hulkenberg’s teammate Sergio Perez was only able to get a 15th position in the race.

Massa was the first of the frontrunners to Nico Rosberg. Picture Courtesy: Daimler take off his starting soft tyres on lap six and rejoined in P16. It was a troubled visit to pit Lotus’ Romain Grosjean and Sauber’s Adrian lane, however, as he was immediately handed Sutil. a five-second stop and a penalty for speeding Hulkenberg was the first of the medium tyre in the pit lane. His switch to medium tyres led starters to pit on lap 17 and two laps later to a rush of pit lane activity, with the bulk of Kvyat ventured into the pit lane. the field pitting for the prime tyre. Those who Vettel’s teammate ran into trouble on lap refrained from changing included Toro Rosso’s 39. Dainel Ricciardo slowed and radioed that Daniil Kvyat, Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, he had a brake issue. He pitted on lap 40 and retired. Romain Grosjean of LotusRenault too had to pull to a halt as smoke engulfed his Lotus on Lap 64.

But for the home crowd of Sao Paulo their favourite was Massa who took the final podium place 2014 Brazilian Grand Prix Race.

Hulkenberg stays with Force India Formula One team Sahara Force India has confirmed that their driver Nico Hulkenberg will remain with the team for the 2015 FIA Formula One World Championship. The 27-year-old German is enjoying his best season to date in 2014. He has scored points in all but three Grand Prix races. He currently sits eighth in the drivers’ standings.

18 I November 2014

MOTORSPORT

Mohali man Amartej Buwal wins 16th Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya

A rally participant

M

ohali man Amartej Buwal, driving a Maruti Gypsy, finally won the 16th Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya. The Raid raced to a finish at Manali on October 10, 2014 after covering 2,200 kilometers approximately over six days. Reigning rally champion Suresh Rana crashed out of the rally after a miscalculated turn on Day5.

Bollywood showman Sohail Khan, who competed in Raid Adventure, said the 16th Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya was one of the best, most beautiful experiences of his life. “The Raid is a life-changer. You learn at every turn. Mujhe rally ka keeda lag gaya hai (I am bitten by the rally bug). I now want to be part of Rally Xtreme at the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, and definitely also the Raid next year,� he said.

20 I November 2014

Buwal topped Raid Xtreme (4X4) with a time score of 10.35.41 hours. Capt Ajay Vir Singh Gill lost the top position to Buwal by under two minutes, and ranked second with a time-score of 10.36.51 hours. Karan Jung of Sitarganj in Uttarakhand was third in this category with a time-score of 10.50.10 hours. Both Capt Gill and Jung were driving Maruti Gypsy.

Jagmeet Gill of Chandigarh, with navigator Chandan Sen, scored a hat-trick by standing first-overall in Raid Adventure, driving a Maruti Gypsy. Jagmeet has won his three Raid Adventure titles driving the same Gypsy. His total penalty this year was 3.20 hours. Second in Raid Adventure was Subir Roy of Kolkata with navigator Neerav Mehta, with total penalty of 3.40 hours, also driving a Maruti Gypsy. Third was Ashish Budhia of Ranchi with navigator Arindam Ghosh, at total penalty

of 4.53 hours.

In Raid Adventure (cars category), Rajesh Chalana of Sriganganagar with navigator Yogesh Gupta of Kolkata was first, driving a Maruti Swift. Chalana was also the defending champion in this category.

In Raid Xtreme (Motorcycles), Nataraj R of Bangalore, riding a TVS RTR 450, was first with a time-score of 9.50 hours. Suresh Babu of Delhi, riding a Suzuki RMX 450 Z, was second with a time-score of 10.29.01 hours. Sourabh Handa of Ludhiana, riding a KTM Duke 390, was third with a time-score of 10.49.28 hours. Nick Sarao, an NRI from Canada riding a WR 450, ranked fourth with a time-score of 11.05.09 hours. Sandeep Matharu of Chandigarh, riding a Bajaj Pulsar 200, ranked fifth with a time-score of 11.15.30 hours.

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Filters & Lubricants

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

CHEVROLET SAIL HATCHBACK & SEDAN

SMOOTH SAILING

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

Photography: Mohd. Nasir

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eneral Motors India recently launched the new Chevrolet Sail hatchback and sedan. While the Sail hatchback is priced between 4.41 and 6.81 lakh, the Sail sedan is priced between 5.19 and 7.64 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). Motown India got an opportunity to review both the cars together and for an automobile magazine there is no better opportunity than to kill two birds with one stone…errr…drive two cars at one time. That’s called smooth Sailing!

The Sail comes with Chevrolet Corvette-inspired dual cockpit design and therefore incorporates seats with new leatherette upholstery. The new icy blue illumination complements the new luxuriously blended black and beige dual-tone interior with highlights in silver and chrome.

The car has been designed to accommodate five adults in comfort.

Short front and rear overhangs along with the fuel tank’s position in the middle of the car maximise interior space and provide ample legroom for passengers in the rear seat. The car has a high roof design and smart storage spaces as well as a spacious boot. The new 2–DIN music system has Bluetooth functionality. It supports up to five phone pairings and music streaming. The 1.3-litre SDE Smartech turbo-charged common rail diesel engine powers the new Sail. The 1.2-litre Smartech petrol engine was created by the GM Technical Centre-India in cooperation with GM India’s powertrain plant in Talegaon, Pune. The engine features aluminum cylinder heads, a deep skirt cylinder block and lightweight pistons with low-tension rings, which decrease weight and maximise fuel economy.

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SAIL SEDAN LT ABS Report: Joshua David Luther

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n the automotive industry heritage is something that can never be replaced no matter what new technology comes in to replace the old.

Building a car is an art and who would know how to build one better than a race car driver. Chevrolet was founded in 1911 by Swiss race car driver and automotive engineer Louis Chevrolet.

The cars that Chevrolet makes have ever since carried the heritage and genes of the racers of yore. When you look at a market such as India we have some very diverse requirements. We want cars to be fast at the same time light on the pocket, we want them to look macho on the outside and classy on the inside and we want cars which are light yet sturdy enough to withstand the Indian road conditions. Not every automobile manufacture has got it right when it comes to India and many players have come and gone but the people at Chevrolet seem to know us Indians very well.

We drove the Sail diesel LT ABS and it was a treat. At the heart of this car is a 1,248cc 4 cylinder engine which produces 74bhp peaking @ 4000rpm and a massive 190Nm of torque @ 1750rpm. If you skip all the figures this is one mean machine. The engine is very responsive to throttle inputs and does not feel stressed even on steep hill climbs (yes we tested it on some

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hilly terrain as well!). Even though the engine is powerful, peppy and fast the Sail still returns 22.1 km to the litre which is quite impressive and it has a 40 litre fuel tank which gives it a very good range. The 5-speed manual transmission on the Sail is smooth to say the least and shifting seems like sliding over butter. The suspension on the Sail is a McPherson strut in the front and a twist axle in the rear. The car has been named Sail probably because it will glide over some of the worst roads one can imagine and still leave you feeling like you are cruising over a European highway. The Sail has twin-tube gas filled shock absorbers which do their job very efficiently.

Braking is facilitated by front discs and rear drums and is accurate to a centimeter. The tyres are 175/ 70 R14s and the turning radius is 5.15m which makes handling a really pleasurable experience.

The design and styling of the Sail is contemporary with smooth flowing curves from the front running all the way to the rear end. It has a new bold and edgy front design on the hood and front quarter panels. The head lamps give the car an aggressive look and the subtle chrome highlights add flavor to an already spiced up broth. The rear has symmetrical flowing lines from the doors which are carried on to the

SAIL SEDAN LT ABS SPECIFICATIONS

Engine & Transmission 1.3L SMARTECH TCDI (Turbo Diesel) / 5-speed manual

Power & Torque 74Bhp@4000rpm 190Nm@1750rpm

Fuel Efficiency 22.1 Kmpl

Fuel Tank Capacity 40 Litres

Price 7,65,700/(ex-showroom Delhi)

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

boot. With body coloured ORVMs and chrome cased fog lamps, the Chevrolet Sail has been chiseled to be a stunner. The Chevy Sail now comes with a new 12-spoke design alloy wheel which adds class to the appeal this car carries.

On the inside the Sail has new dual tone black and beige interiors and leatherette upholstery.

The Sail has a new leather wrapped three spoke steering wheel. The window operation buttons are illuminated and now come on the center floor console. There are cup holders under the door arm rests and on the center

floor console. The instrument cluster is has a new blue backlit illumination. The audio system is equipped with Bluetooth phone integration for communication and audio streaming apart from a usual USB and AUX input option. The ORVMs are internally power adjusted and have been conveniently placed on the right side panel besides the steering console. The rear comes with an arm rest and cup holder in the center. The Sail has a keyless entry system with a central locking mechanism.

The new Chevy Sail is packed with a host

of exciting features which enhance the drive and feel of the car. The styling quotient on the Sail is aggressive and the interiors have a very classy appeal. The engine is peppy and does not let you down, while the handling is precise.

The build quality on the new Chevrolet Sail is great and the ride is smooth over bad terrain as well. The cabin is very roomy and has ample of leg room both in the front and rear. The price tag on the Chevy Sail is set at 7,65,700 (exshowroom Delhi) and it comes with two front airbags (driver and co-driver).

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SAIL HATCHBACK SPECIFICATIONS

Engine & Transmission 1.3L SMARTECH TCDI (Turbo Diesel) / 5-speed manual

Power & Torque 74Bhp@4000rpm 190Nm@1750rpm

Fuel Efficiency 22.1 Kmpl

Fuel Tank Capacity 40 Litres

Price 6,81,250/(ex-showroom Delhi)

SAIL HATCHBACK LT ABS Report: Rahul Kapoor

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t the outset I would like to point out that Chevrolet has renamed the erstwhile Sail U-VA as Sail Hatchback, which now for some reason makes perfect sense. We decided to take the new Sail out for a voyage. It was a local village version of the movie Titanic without all the sex and romance or a sinking ship.

We tested the car on the outskirts of Delhi on the Faridabad Highway. The journey to the location was brilliant. But before I get to the climax of the story, let me just tell you all about

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the car.

The Chevy Sail Hatchback is a chirpy little car with a 1.3L 4 cylinder turbo diesel engine which produces a humble 74bhp and 190Nm of torque and this red little car looks pretty good too. With the signature split Chevy grille at the front and the golden Chevy cross logo in the centre, there is a sense of character which other cars in the category lack. The styling is modern yet a bit retro at the same time, layered with a perfectly sprayed red paint that just

gives the car a beautiful glow.

But what I like most about this car is its interior. The dashboard looks like it was designed and finished by an elegant man obsessed with quality, the finish is top notch and the plastics looked of good quality. The steering is quite interestingly shaped in a V with two horn buttons which are immensely convenient in countries like India. In this country, I feel all cars should have the horn near the thumbs and all other buttons in the

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

centre of the steering wheel. That’s how it should be made, because in India you have to use the horn more than the throttle. Apart from that, the icy blue instrument cluster lights the backlit buttons and entertainment system are just so intriguing; I spent five minutes just pushing all the buttons rolling the windows up and down, changing the radio stations. But the bluetooth connectivity or connecting my phone to play music didn’t really work too well.

Wonder why it did not work?

The seats are lined in leatherette upholstery look and feel absolutely brilliant. The advantage of artificial leather is that the colour won’t fade and it is Hindu sentiment friendly if you are into that sort of thing. The rear seats are seemingly finished the same way as the front and feel just as comfortable.

What is also brilliant about the seats is that it folds down flat. It does take a while but its folds down completely flat and you can use the full 1,134 litre cabin space, or if you have some convenience baggage and want to seat 5 people but your boot is full, just put them under the rear seat which has lots of room for two full duffle bags.

Setting Sail in the car, we headed towards Faridabad from Gurgaon, where we were filming and doing our photo shoot. Along the highway, the little hatchback felt quite comfortable and the steering was perfectly weighted. The suspension was soft and gooey and my weak 90-year-old back was giving me troubles. So we drove further into a road off the highway which was well paved and isolated. We took some shots on that road and decided to keep going further. A few kilometers down the road, we met with a steep motorable paved road so we decided to use it and it just got steeper and steeper. The car handled it

brilliantly. About 100 meters down hill drive led us to a small village called Mangar. On the small narrow roads, with sudden pot holes and speed breakers we could only manage to drive no more than about 30 kmph. We gingerly went on to a location our photographer knew, took some amazing shots in the hills of the Faridabad Aravali range.

On our way back we encountered yet another speed breaker. But this one was dangerous. Right along the other side of the hump was a dip which wasn’t visible and a rock was protruding right in the centre. My car went over the hump and fell right on the rock splitting the steel oil pan underneath the car like a tin can of baked beans. The oil spilled out gradually and I started to sweat like a pig in a sauna. If I drove further without any oil, it could stall or worse, lead to an engine seize altogether. But thanks to the ECU and advanced modern technology, the electronics cut the ignition all together so the engine wouldn’t start. That solved one problem of the engine, but how was I to get it back?

A tow truck was summoned and it arrived as darkness began to set in. The underpowered tow truck was unable to pull the car up the steep incline. Finally with the help of some locals we managed an Eicher tractor that pulled it up the road from where the tow truck took charge. I had made a terrible mistake.

A wonderful hatch had been sent to the workshop because I had underestimated the hurdles that an average Indian motorists confronts every day of his life--- bad roads, pot holed roads, deep ditches, stray cows, rabid dogs, ill-designed speed breakers, protruding rocks, jaywalkers…the list is endless. No good car needs to meet a fate like this, at least not a smooth SAILing hatch!

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SCOUT MASTER FIRST RIDE - INDIAN SCOUT

Report: P. Tharyan, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

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had just about finished riding the Indian Chief Vintage and the experience was awesome. The bike was incredibly heavy but then it was thrilling too, especially when it paced on long stretches.

It was a true Indian Maharaja. A couple of days later I got a call from the company telling me that the Indian Scout was ready for me.

I padded up again hoping to flex my muscles to ride this one. But the moment I got on to it and started it, I realised it was as light as a butterfly. Or it felt like one. It was rightly perched with a seat height of 635mm, as compared to 660.4mm of the Vintage. This means that an Indian with an average height like mine (a couple of inches short of six feet) can easily sit on the bike and have his or her feet planted firmly on the ground. There is no better assurance for a biker than to have his feet well entrenched on the ground while in a stationery position. It puts you in a commanding seating position and gives you a sense of authority.

The seats can be adjusted for both short as well as tall riders.

The bike design is simply superb, especially with the stylish fenders and the split dual chrome exhaust. The black headlights with chrome trim matches well with the other blacked-out elements. The 2015 Indian Scout also features a tank badge similar to the iconic tank badges found on Scouts since the 1920s.

The Indian Scout is a must buy for all those who are keen to step into the world of men but are unsure of entering this elite club. It looks majestic, has a superbike look, rides like one too. While it is affordable compared to the 20 lakh plus bikes, it is also easy to manoeuvre. This bike weighs much less than the 364 kg Vintage at a mere 244 kg.

On the looks front it scores good number of points, especially on its

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Engine & Transmission Liquid cooled V-Twin 1130cc / 6-speed / Gear Drive Wet Clutch

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Power & Torque 100bhp 97.7Nm@5900 rpm

Tyres Front/Rear 130/90-16 72H 150/80-16 71H

Fuel tank capacity 12.5 litres

Price 12.05 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

right side where its chrome plated split dual exhaust with cross over looks amazingly gratifying. It perks up the bike’s image. The liquid cooled V-twin 1130cc (69CU) with a closed loop fuel injection (60mm bore) churns out 100bhp and a peak torque of 97.7Nm @ 5900rpm. Yes its liquid cooled, different from its air-cooled engine that Indian makes.

Bad roads are well taken care with the bike’s 120mm telescopic fork suspension in the front and dual shock absorbers (76mm) at the rear. While it manages to accelerate past 100km in a matter of a few seconds, the large ventilated discs bring the bike to a halt in a jiffy. Though the bike comes only with a pure leather rider seat, a pillion seat too can be attached from the accessory store. A lot of accessories like windshields, saddlebags, driver as well as pillion back rests, etc are available to build up this motorcycle. The good thing about this Indian Scout is that it is a Scout Master because it lords over long distances as well as short distances with considerable ease. Simply put, it does not

tire you like some of the very heavy cruisers.

And because of its low centre of gravity, one can execute some high speed cornering on this bike, provided you are sure of the terrain.

One should not forget the legacy that goes with the Scout. Sometime around 1967 Burt Munro of New Zealand had set the world’s land speed record on this heavily modified 1920 Indian Scout at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats. The bike was built just for speed and had no safety equipment.

Burt’s feat, it is said, inspired the making of the film, “The World’s Fastest Indian.”

But the Indian Scout in its modern avatar is far different from Munro’s Scout. This one’s safe, paces at reasonably good speed, has a comfortable riding position and ensures your absolute safety with its 298mm rotor brakes in front and rear. But the spirit of Munro is very much alive in this motorcycle. The Scout, to be fair, is not a racing bike, nor is it a cruiser, nor a commuter, but it has a distinct element of all these….several reasons for one to love this bike!

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INDIAN CHIEF VINTAGE

MAHARAJA Report: P.Tharyan, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

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hen you have a bike that is named Vintage, you get the feeling that this fella is old and beautiful and carries with him the glory of days gone by. Yes, the Indian Chief Vintage does carry the majesty and glory of not just the days gone by but also of our modern times. For those of us bad with the ‘History’ subject, let me tell you that the Indian brand came into being in the US way back in 1901. The company was originally known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company but was renamed the Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company in 1928. Decades later in 2011, off-road giant Polaris took over the company.

In March 2013, Indian unveiled its new 111 cubic inches “Thunder Stroke” engine, which now powers the Indian Chief Vintage, the Indian Chief Classic and the touring bike Roadmaster. The Indian Vintage we drove had all the trappings of a maharaja. Maharaja? Yes, as part of its standard equipment it had genuine leather seats, quick release lexan windshield, quick release vintage leather saddle bags and, fender badge and a whole host of exciting features.

The bike looked majestic from all angles. For practical purposes, the bike comes with an ABS, cast aluminum frame with integrated air-box, cruise control, highway bar, an Indian script tank badge, keyless start, among other things.

The Indian Chief Vintage is no small motorcycle in size. It is 2634mm in length (tip of exhaust to tip of its front fender) and is 660.4mm tall (seat height) till the base of its pillion seat, with a 1729.7 mm wheelbase. Now that’s not an easy bike to handle unless you are mentally prepared to ride it.

As you plant yourself on to the bike and firmly put your feet on either side on the ground, you have got to understand the motorcycle before pressing the start button. There are two broad foot pedals or floor boards on either side that ensure that you can rest your foot comfortably for you to change gears as well as apply your brakes. On top of it you have a highway bar with two extended foot rests that come into use when you are on cruise control and have no plans to change gears for a very long time. You simply lift your feet and place them on these. It’s like riding a sofa on the road!

The bike is heavy, it’s almost 379 kg. Unless you handle this weight with great care, you can definitely go crashing. The turning radius of the bike is not small by any means, hence one needs to be extremely careful taking a u-turn while on the move. On narrow patches, if you need to make such a turn, it would also require pushing back the bike with your feet, which could be a tough exercise.

Whether you like it or not, motorcycles like the Indian Chief Vintage are not meant for the faint hearted with muscles the size of peanuts. You need to have a bit of brawn, besides, of course the brains. Yes, a cool and

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One of the things that impresses is the horn of the Indian Chief Vintage.

It is loud enough to wake up your entire neighbourhood. It’s not raucous, it’s not irritating, it’s like the Maharaja telling you to step aside so that he can move on.

Engine & Transmission 1811 cc (111 cu in) / 6-speed

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Torque 138.9Nm @26003000rpm

Tyres: Front & Rear Dunlop American Elite 130/90b16 67h Dunlop American Elite 180/65b16 81h

Fuel Tank Capacity 20.8 Litres

Price 28,49,600 onward (ex-showroom, Delhi)

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matured temperament only makes riding this bike a pleasure.

I rode the bike just as morning was breaking. I wanted to avoid the morning traffic rush. The last thing you want is getting stuck on the road with a motorcycle the size of an armoured tank! The moment I started the machine, it roared into life. The bike has a keyless ignition and a mere push of a button wakes this giant instantly.

As you shift the gear, the distinct clunky sound emanates from the gear box and the dial tells you that you have moved on to gear ‘1’. The bike delivers an incredible torque of 138.9Nm at rpms over 2600. The Thunder Stroke 111 engine has you engaged all along.

The leather seats and the leather saddle bags make you feel as though you have embarked upon a great journey. The sound from the dual exhaust is loud and commanding. It does not scream, it simply roars.

Highway cruising is fun on this bike. It simply eats up long distances as it rides on. With an Anti Lock Braking System in place, you are confident that braking is a serious business for the Indian Chief Vintage.

If the leather seats and saddle bags are one major attraction of the motorcycle, so are the generous coatings of chrome. Virtually every surface that could be chromed has been chromed. It simply ups the style quotient of the bike. As you speed along and change your gears with a comforting clunky sound, you realise that the bike does not seem to tire. The front windscreen protects you from the gush of wind and also the miniscule insects that can be found in such large numbers in the air. For a blue blooded Indian (I am talking about myself and there are millions like me) one of the things that impresses is the horn of the Indian Chief Vintage. By jove, it is loud enough to wake up your entire neighbourhood. It’s not raucous, it’s not irritating, it’s like the Maharaja telling you to step aside so that he can move on. I was truly impressed by this.

Though it was a short ride, and the road was wet after a brief spell of rain, I came back satisfied with the motorcycle’s road handling abilities. Even on wet patches and gravel infested roads, the bike rode with ease. The Indian Chief Vintage is a handsome bloke and it can be made even more handsome with a lot of additional accessories. These run into almost 100 different accessories like leather motorcycle wraps, leather floorboard trim, front and rear mud flaps, leather handlebar bag, messenger bag, leather fork bag, upper saddlebag fringe, motorcycle wraps, leather lever wraps, leather floorboard trim, pinnacle horn cover, pinnacle heel shifter, pinnacle seat bolt cover, etc. It’s like topping up your Subway sandwich; it only gets better with each topping. This Maharaja too is something like that!

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MARUTI SUZUKI NEW ALTO K10

LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE I Report: P.Tharyan, Photography: Mohd. Nasir n the 1980s an English pop singer Paul Young stole the hearts of millions with his song “Love of the Common People”. The lyrics of the song went something like this “….’cause she’s living in the love of the common people, smile’s from the heart of a family man.

Daddy’s gonna buy you a dream

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to cling to, Mama’s gonna love you just as much as she can and she can…” That’s Maruti Suzuki, for the millions of Indians. It’s the love of the common people in India and it’s a dream millions in India cling to. The dream has just got a bit more hip with the company offering you an automatic in the small car. An Automatic Gear Shift

(AGS) or an automated manual transmission is now driving the new Alto K10.The car also comes with a 5 speed gear box, all this mated to a 998cc engine. There is also a CNG variant.

Basically, the small car comes in a manual transmission (in the Lx, Lxi, Vxi and Vxi (Optional)), an Automated Gear Shift (offered in

the Vxi variant) and CNG (offered in the Lxi). The AGS is the same one that bought fame and success to the Celerio. Even Maruti Suzuki was surprised when the demand for automatic Celerio surged, the moment it went up for sale. They really could not cope with the rush.

The Alto is anyway a success story for Maruti Suzuki, outselling all

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

other cars in any segment, More than 2.6 million Altos (both with 800cc as well as 1000cc engines) are the love of the common people and the K10 powered Alto launched in 2010 accounts for a sizeable 40pc of the total Alto sales.

Motown India got to drive the new Alto K10 for a short distance from Chandigarh in Haryana to Timber Trail in Panchkula and back, a total distance of barely 60 odd kilometres. But before I recount the drive experience, let me explain to you what the different variants of the new Alto K10 have to offer to the consumers. It’s only the top end Vxi (Optional) that has a Driver airbag, keyless entry and body-side moulding as standard fitments. But what the Vxi and the Vxi (Optional) have in common as standard features

Automatic Gear Shift transmission

Engine & Transmission K10B 998cc / 5 speed manual / Automatic Gear Shift (AGS)

Power 67bhp@6000rpm (57bhp@6000rpm for CNG)

Torque 90Nm@3500rpm (78Nm@3500rpm for CNG)

Fuel Efficiency 24.07 kmpl (petrol/ AGS)/ 32.26 km/kg (CNG)

Price 3.80 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

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are a tachometer, B-pillar black out tape, full wheel covers and silver accent. The silver accent is there on the side louvres, steering wheel, inside door handle, console garnish ring, panel instrument cluster garnish and door trim arm rest. All the variants share as standard features things like high mounted stop light, immobilizer, fuel lid opener, rear console bottle holders, instrument panel tray, etc.

Barring the Lx variant, all others have features like chrome front grill and body-coloured bumper.

The moment you set your eyes on the new Alto K10, you do not realise that the car has become a wee bit smaller in length yet has become a lot more spacious inside plus it has a better head room.

Seating for the rear passenger too has got better with smart interior

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designing of the front seats! The styling has definitely improved and has become lot more contemporary, especially with the smart front chrome grill. Engineers at Maruti Suzuki have worked hard on the interior as well as exterior of the car to make it a lot classier.

Even the engine compartment has undergone changes with a lot of light weighting thrown in.

While the front grill makes the car look chic, the newly designed tail light makes the rear look smart.

The sweptback headlamps add to the richness of the front looks.

It’s a new tail light cluster that has been fitted in the new Alto K10. Sideways, subtle changes have been made to it with sharp aerodynamic lines making it look leaner and agile.

Step inside and you are treated to a fresh looking dashboard

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

5-speed manual transmission

that makes the car seem much wider. The car now comes with a new piano finish stereo. The dual tone interior adds to the smart ambience. Like I mentioned, the speedometer now comes with an RPM meter and the silver accents all around simply enhances the over interior looks. There are a lot of small storage spaces, including dual cup holders, bottle holder and storage box. The new Alto

K10 now comes with front power windows and the buttons are, on popular demand, fixed near the gear lever area, between the front two seats. I simply detest that positioning. Are not power windows supposed to be near the window? There are other conveniences like internally adjustable ORVMs, rear console bottle holder etc.

An automatic (AGS) in the K10

has simply added to the overall appeal of the car. Automatics are no more feared by Indians; rather it has become extremely popular among the expensive cars. Now it’s time for the common man to enjoy the benefits of an automatic gear shift. The moment you step on the accelerator the car gets into effortless action. This AGS also has a manual option, in case one wants to move out of

the automatic mode and shift to manual mode. It’s bound to excite a lot of people in the country who have never ever dreamt of driving an automatic one day. The Alto continues to impress you with its agility and road handling. It’s a small car that not only drives fast and smartly but handles well in congested traffic. The Alto has proved that it’s Prince Charming, having sold so many cars in India.

With this new Alto K10, it will simply prove that the common man has no love lost for their Prince Charming!

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MERCEDES-BENZ GLA 200 SPORT

GLA-MOURÖS BESTIE 40 I November 2014

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MERCEDES-BENZ GLA 200 SPORT SPECIFICATION

Engine & Transmission 1991cc 4 cylinder, Petrol / 7G-DCT 7 speed dual clutch with paddle shift

Power & Torque 135bhp@5500 300Nm

Fuel Efficiency 13.7 kmpl

0-100Kmph 7.6 Seconds

Price 36,00,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Report: Rahul Kapoor, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

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MW and Audi have ruled the 35 lakh compact luxury SUV segment for years now, for reasons beyond human comprehension. All this while Mercedes sat out of this fight in India for far too long but now have decided to squeeze into this fight as well with the new GLA. Available in 3 variant with 1 petrol version and 2 diesels, the GLA is priced in the range of 32 lakh to

37 lakh. The problem with this segment has been the high asking price with no kit to support it.

But it’s been the reputed German badge which has ensured the segment achieves its relative success. So is it the car or the badge with this one? Does it sneak past with the three pointed start at the front or the rest of the car behind it? So the only way to find out was to drive one.

I was able to get my hands on

the mid range model, the petrol version the GLA 200 Sport. In terms of size, you realise it’s not really as small as an A-class, nor is it any bigger than a B-class. So it’s somewhere in the middle. With a large bonnet, that houses the 2.0L 4 cylinder engine, the GLA looks quite subtle and reserved and the front greets you with a face as happy as a 5 year old who gets to keep all the candy at Halloween. It’s a bit scary, but at

the same time it’s lively. The big front grille with the chrome strips makes the three pointed star feel at home at the centre, placed beautifully between the perfectly sculpted head lamps with LED daytime running light brows on both sides. The bold air-dam at the front is lined with chrome accents and two more bold ducts to cool the brakes on either side. The side profile does make the GLA look quite bulky with the plastic

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bottom skirting and bold lines; the GLA also gets roof rails which will probably come in handy for people who love the outdoors.

What stands out more are the 18 inch wheels which gives the GLA a more off-roader look. From the back is where the GLA shines.

Despite the compact size, the rear delivers the real presence of the car. With similarities from the A-class, the GLA just looks a tad bit bigger. In the segment, the GLA is the prettiest, but the questions remain; does it get any kit along with the price and how does it actually fare on and off the road?

In terms of kit, the GLA is quite passenger safety friendly with 7 fluffy airbags. The interior, just as every Mercedes, feels expensive and high quality by a person with keen eye and OCD. It feels quite German, where everything is exactly where it’s supposed to be. The dual panoramic roof light up the cabin beautifully but the legroom is compromised a bit in the back. The single display screen greets you with the Mercedes logo, but it’s not as user friendly as you

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would hope. It takes a German mind to figure out things that aren’t that obvious and same goes to the digital screen in the driver’s instrument cluster. The navigating through the settings isn’t very user friendly and some things just don’t make sense. For your permanent display next to the clock you can either have outside temperature, or speed in MPH which is a bit odd.

The main display in the instrument cluster can only do one thing at a time, you can either have a digital

speedo, or navigation directions, audio controls or car settings. So if you have a speedo set, you can’t browse through your music with the buttons on the steering wheel.

What is also annoying is that you have to go through all those setting in the cluster to turn off the traction control. The GLA comes with blue tooth connectivity, a dial pad to manually dial someone, or voice command that doesn’t really work that well and comes fitted with a brilliant Harmann audio system to

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blare your taste in music. What I did find astonishing is that in a car with a price tag of 35 lakh, you don’t get a very important button, which is automatic climate control.

But it’s sort of a compromise, I personally am willing to make.

Partly because it has 7 airbags which cost a lot to make and put into a car and partly because the way this thing drives on the road.

The GLA weighs only 1500kgs so with 135bhp, the GLA isn’t really a slouch. The GLA comes with 3 modes Eco mode, Sport

and Manual. In all modes you have the option to use or not use the Eco stop start function. In Eco/ Comfort mode, the GLA cruises along quite well, it rides quite comfortably and feels quite soft and tender to drive as the 7 speed automatic dual clutch gear box shifts economically at 3000rpms.

Putting your foot down does make the transmission hold the revs for longer but in sport mode, it red lines and responds much quicker.

But my favourite is the Manual mode, where you have total control

of the gearbox. You can red line the rpms as much as you want but the transmission can be a little bit faster than it is. The GLA has a top speed of 225kmph but in manual or sport mode, it gets to 200 in 4th gear and then runs out of puff. That extra 25 is just a bit too hard to achieve. But what I do admire for a car and engine of its relative size, the 0-100kmph what I can verify, is under 8 seconds.

Off road, the car feels at home too. The 4matic AWD system from Mercedes works well on the

rough stuff and with ample ground clearance of 183mm, you’d be surprised over the size of rocks this baby can handle with that 5 year old kid’s smug face.

So it doesn’t fare too well with equipment, nor do any of the controls make sense, but the consolation of power, feel, speed and performance is exhilarating enough to keep me in the driver’s seat. Let me put it this way, if I had to get a small luxury SUV, I’m GLAd this glamorous beast has arrived.

November 2014 I 43

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

44 I November 2014

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

POLARIS RZR XP4 900 EFI

NATIONAL HERO Report: Rahul Kapoor, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

A

t 7 in the morning, on one of the most perfect days for some off-road fun, with a slight drizzle of rain and overcast skies, we found ourselves in the middle of a barren forest land near the Delhi-Haryana border and we were given the mighty Polaris RZR XP4 900, which had just returned from Jammu & Kashmir after rescuing lives during the after math of the horrific floods that left numerous people homeless.

If you live in the real world and do watch television or keep an eye on the news, you must probably know that recently in September in the northern state of India -- Jammu & Kashmir-- a massive flood had broken out, destroying 2600 villages, leaving many homeless, helpless, stranded and hungry. With no food, no potable water, harsh temperatures and bad weather, many people went missing, some dead bodies left unidentified and many more lives lost with around 600 people dead. The numbers of deaths were increasing day by day.

There were many people trying their best to help as much as they could.

Polaris pitched in here with their all terrain vehicles to assist in the rescue operations. But thanks to some of these brave people and the Indian Army who at least tried, the death toll was controlled in some ways.

Many rescue operations were launched like air lifts and aerial food drops. The small fleet of Polaris ATVs donated to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) helped them out in the rescue mission. Some of the vehicles were the Polaris Ranger Pick-up, the Polaris Ambulance and the RZR XP4 900.

Once they were brought back to the city we were asked if we would like to have a go at one of them, so we naturally obliged. Because we think it should be illegal to say no to anyone or anything who/that is a true National Hero.

So we took the 900 for a spin.

Technically it is almost identical to the XP 900, but the XP4 900 has a longer wheelbase and two more seats so it can accommodate 3 passengers with the driver.

Of course these ATVs can handle all terrains; sand, slush, dirt, rock and road, but it’s an all-terrain vehicle that isn’t allowed on all terrains. The problems with the ATVs are they aren’t road legal and hence can’t be registered with a number plate. But on my way to the off-road location, I can’t help but wonder; how well this car is perfectly suited to Indian road conditions. The ride is damn near perfect on the road, normal pot holes feel like ant hills with the massively wide tyres. But if I had to drive

November 2014 I 45

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

Engine & Transmission 875cc 4-stroke 2 cylinder DOCH / Automatic PVT with P/R/N/L/H

Tyres Front/Rear 27x9-12/27x11-12 ITP 900XCT with cast aluminium rims

them on the road I would prefer the optional windscreen with wipers, a roof, some side view mirrors, indicators and a horn. In India, it’s more vital to have a horn than an engine.

You can’t drive without a horn! Maybe one day we could see some of these on the roads with some road tyres. I’m very hopeful for that. But before all that, this one’s a left hand drive, it has to be a right hand drive one before it can be registered in this part of the world.

Back to the where the XP4 900 is meant to be off the tarmac and on to the rough stuff. With an 88 horsepower 4 stroke 875cc 2 cylinder engine, mated to a variable transmission and mounted on an extremely

46 I November 2014

Power 88bhp

light-weight chassis the power is more than enough for a vehicle that weighs as little as this. I mean it just drives the way it looks. A full blown monster and that plastic body looks so radical, like it would bite your head off if you approach it from the front and startle it. So the best way to enter the vehicle is to strap on your helmet and gloves then slowly approach it with caution from the sides, un clamp the side nets and strap yourself in. Adjust the steering wheel, ignite the fuel in the liquid cooled engine put it into ‘H’ (high range) to set off. I thought I was going to be gentle with it at first to get grips with the machine but it came to my notice that the car has 2 modes; stationary

Ground Clearance 317.5mm

Price 24,10,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

or cardiac arrest.

A gentle dab on the throttle in 2WD mode spins the rear wheels as it gains traction on the loose surface and belts down to where ever you point the precise NON POWER ASSISTED steering wheel and because of it you actually have to drive it. You can’t wait for the electronics to do the work for you. You need brute force, it’s no child’s play this… Turn the wheel hard enough with the throttle on and you could do a well-choreographed drift and thanks to a longer wheelbase you can fishtail it even more in rear wheel drive compared to the smaller 2 seater 900. No need for gym membership, drive this for an hour every day

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

and you will have sweat out all your fat and got you 6-pack abs. But it almost makes you feel like a better driver than you already are.

Remember, there are no electronics, to correct your mistakes on this crazy Go-Kart, on a flat surface, any one would think they are a Driving God. On the hills, doing a bit of proper off-roading, it would be a lot harder and would require bigger nads than mine to drive at those speeds as I dream of doing myself. So until further notice, I’ll leave that to the pros.

The RZRs also come with on-demand AWD, just pop the switch on the dashboard and you get the best kind of traction you can possibly get from any Range Rover that costs 7 times more. Put this bad boy into low range and you can climb any hill of any incline you can throw at it and it will conquer with ease without

a fuss. So it was in its natural habitat in J&K when it rescued lives, families and delivered food to the stranded and helpless.

But I would also like to point out that I would also spend a little more on some better seats on the list of options if I was to go proper offroading. Not because it was uncomfortable but because I had a sore behind the following day.

Should you buy one? I’ll admit you can’t drive it on the road, you can’t get it registered and unless your wife is Vijay Mallya’s girlfriend, she would scream at you for taking the kids out in it in fear of killing them and it costs around Rs.24.1lakh. But in your defence, which I would vouch for completely, there is no car out there that will let you have this much fun, you can take it for a rally for a weekend getaway instead of a cheap hotel. Because it has 4

seats, you can still take your family and a boot so it’s practical. So it’s now up to you, a Toyota Corolla Altis, or this? I’d pick this any day of the week. But I have a mental aptitude of a 5-year-old so what do I know?

November 2014 I 47

FEATURES & TRAVEL

PUNJABI BY NATURE NISSAN TERRANO 1ST ANNIVERSARY DRIVE Report & Photography: Joshua David Luther

I

woke up to a dreamy Wednesday morning. Grabbing my bags, I rushed to the airport to catch my flight. We were heading to Punjab, the land of five rivers which is known for its food, culture and the bravado of its people. Punjabis are flamboyant by nature and we all know of their fierce ancestry. We were to start our drive from this wonderful land. Punjab being a fertile land has a large number of prosperous farmers, the so called ‘sons of the soil’. In a way, the Terrano too represents the character of the Punjabi people– rugged, bold and aggressive. I could not help but call my Terrano ‘Punjabi by Nature’. The Terrano essentially is a compact 4X2 SUV but don’t let the numbers confuse you the Terrano has been built ground up to take on any

48 I November 2014

challenge, to be aggressive and to rough it out on the dirt.

We took the Nissan Terrano from Amritsar to Punjabiyat and finally on to Jammu.

Punjabiyat is 70 odd kilometers from Amritsar en-route to Jammu and is a vast fertile plain for farming of wheat and sugarcane.

While at Punjabiyat we partook in some traditional Punjabi cuisine seated in the fields on “charpoys”. One of the joys of such indulgence is that you get a chance to be one with nature, to escape city lifestyle and live life like ‘the sons of the soil’. While off road in the fields of Punjabiyat, the Terrano felt as though it was at home cruising over dirt and sand without a glitch. As evening set in we headed north towards the great Himalayas. The route to Jammu is very good

with smooth flowing traffic and clean roads.

The only hiccup is that most of the drivers on the roads have almost zero road sense. They will drive on the wrong side and in the fast lane and glare at you as if you are coming the wrong way. At about nine in the night we reached Hari Niwas in Jammu. The hotel has a very scenic view of Jammu.

The Nissan Terrano has completed one year in production and as a part of the first anniversary drive we experienced this Japanese marvel on and off the roads of Punjab and Jammu. We at Motown India are reputed for taking vehicles to some of the most impenetrable spots one can imagine.

This time we decided to take the Terrano to the banks of Chenab which flows through the city of Jammu. All though it was dry

FEATURES & TRAVEL

Punjabi by nature

and there was hardly any flow of water. The Terrano sailed over the rocks and pebbles.

The remarkable part is that the Terrano is very agile over various terrains hence I would give Nissan brownie points for the appropriate nomenclature. The Terrano looks like it has just arrived in a corporate office all suited and booted but take it off road and you will find Hercules under the hood--- something like ‘Hulk Hogan’ in a suit and tie.

The 1.5 litre diesel Terrano produces 108.5bhp @ 3900rpm and 248Nm of torque @ 2250rpm. This version of the car comes with a 6 speed manual transmission. The Terrano will pull cleanly till 3900rpm after which it begins to tail off. Unlike most SUVs, the Terrano gives you a sense of confidence that it is capable and knows its limits. The steering is highly responsive and precise, body roll is minimal and it feels very agile in and around traffic or on turns. The Terrano has a braking combination of front discs and rear drums which are very efficient and the suspension is moderately stiff which makes the drive pleasurable. The part which makes the Terrano a real joy to drive is the amount

of torque the engine produces in the low range combined with the electro-hydraulic power assisted steering.

If you do end up driving this in the hills you are in for a real treat, no hill ascent would seem too great a task and cornering in bends can be done with your pinky finger. The ground clearance on the Terrano is 205mm and it has a very decent stance compared to some of its competitors. The minimum turning radius is 5.2 meters so when you do go off road, maneuvering is actually quite easy as this SUV is not obnoxiously long set at just 4331mm of length.

Finally the time had come to bid adieu to the phenomenal weather of Jammu and I left behind some fond memories of being able to go almost anywhere. One of the reasons why I love the Terrano is that it just doesn’t give up and simply pushes forward. For those of you who dream to break the shackles of city life and escape, I can only say that the Terrano is your get-away-car.

Statue of Maharaja Gulab Singh

November 2014 I 49

FEATURES & TRAVEL

RESPLENDENT RENDEZVOUS ROYAL ENFIELD RIDE

Report: Joshua David Luther, Photography: Ajay Sood

I

t is an amazing feeling when you come across a person who lives by a passion.

When you do observe, commune, witness and partake in this passion your bond with them runs thicker than blood. The spirit which dwells within us was not born to be tamed.

This world was not created to cage us but to set us free. The very existence of mankind has culminated down to one single act shared throughout history “we are born to be free, we are born to be limitless and we will break all forms of tyranny”. We are explorers, we seek

50 I November 2014

the wild outdoors, we break boundaries and push forward, we don’t look back, we are the riders of Royal heritage.

When I first met the riders of Chase My Wheel, I was apprehensive. I have always been a lone ranger and little was I aware that a bond so strong could be weaved out of nothing but the steady thumps of a Royal Enfield. The riders in Chase My Wheel come from a very diverse cultural and professional background but when you see the unity amongst them, it is nothing short of brotherhood. So strong is

the bond you make when you ride together that you are defensive and protective of each other. Imagine a pack of 20 wolves running in the wild nothing would stand in their path not elephants, bears or lions. This run will forever live within my memories as the days we broke free.

It began on a sleepy Thursday morning, the crimson sun tingling the tiny hairs on my hand, the October morning breeze bringing promises of a cold winter and slow thump of ten thousand Royal horses. As riders poured

FEATURES & TRAVEL

in from every corner of the city one could sense the growing anticipation amongst us.

When the meet and greet was done with, the riders hopped onto their saddles. Within a few seconds you could hear a thunderous rumble as 20 odd Royal Enfields came to life and shattered the morning silence. Our first stop was to tank-up so we rode from Hyatt Regency to the pump at Dhaula Kuan. All along the way my sixth sense was prodding me of the gaze.

This is no ordinary gaze I speak of. It is the same gaze which we fix upon something we desire as it passes us by. In the heart of every

Indian man and some women as well there is a tiny desire which dwells, the desire to be part of a pack and as we rode by I saw that tiny flame in so many eyes well up into a burning lust. While everyone on the road was about their mundane corporate activities we were breaking free.

There were miles to go before we could sleep and the road was beckoning us with open arms. The NH8 according to some is an architectural marvel but for one who has mastered this route knows of the dangers which lie in wait. The stretch from Manesar all

the way to Dharuhera is filled with potholes, incomplete flyovers and annoyed Indian motorists who are willing to bite your ear off at the slightest hint of aggression. When you do ride in a pack there is a reputation which precedes you – the badass rebel. So for given reasons motorists even truckers and the notorious ‘Haryana Roadways’ buses will maintain a safe distance. Our usual stop midway to Jaipur is Hotel Highway King. It’s a neat little motel with a decent restaurant but unfortunately three hours into the ride and we still had another 45 km to go. So we

November 2014 I 51

FEATURES & TRAVEL unanimously decided to stop at the first decent place we find. To our luck just up ahead was hotel Tirupati. As we entered the premises it seemed like time just froze for the on lookers.

One after another after another you could hear the slow deep thumps of the Enfields like the battle drums of an army. After a scrumptious Indian breakfast all were set to hop on to their horses and head out once again. At about four in the evening we finally entered Jaipur.

Jaipur is a city rich with the heritage of Rajasthan. It was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727. Initially the capital was Amber fort but with a growing population and shortage of water the Maharaja decreed the construction and planning of Jaipur which incidentally is also the first planned city of India. Our hosts for the evening and the entirety of the stay were none other than the Keys Hotels group. Established in 2006 this young group of hotels is making waves across the industry.

The reason is simple they have got their ideology latched onto the pulse of exactly what the travelers today are looking for. From concept hotels, resorts and clubs to business hotels, a stay at any Keys property is something you can look forward to with ardour. A synonym of their ideology is being obsessed with perfection. From the luxury suits to the cafĂŠ every nook and cranny has been done up tastefully. The cafĂŠ serves a global variety of cuisines and the food is exceptional. One of the features of this hotel which caught my eye was the roof top pool which gives you a breath taking view of the city. The staff at the hotel is courteous to say the least and the service is phenomenal.

As dawn breaks and the morning mist begins to settle we congregate around the well rested bulls with cloths and tools tending to them with care. The itinerary for the day is a tour around the various historic sites in Jaipur including the Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort. At about two in the afternoon we gathered in front of the Mansagar Lake from where we were to ride off to Ajmer. A vast expanse of free flowing highway lay ahead. The Jaipur-Ajmer route is jaw dropping. I did not find a single pot hole and yes I looked! Cruising at about 90 kmph we finally got to show a bit of skill

52 I November 2014

behind the bars of our bulls. From a three-bythree formation to two single rows occupying the whole highway we were not short of rock stars on wheels. The other motorists sharing the highway with us did pay their respects to the riders and awed at us with longing smiles but there is always that special kind of stupid, a run of the mill idiot who will want to ruin the fun by honking their way through trying to grab some attention.

After a solid three hour ride we entered Ajmer with the splendid colours of Rajasthan displayed before us by the locals indulging in the festivities of Dusshera. Ten kilometers out of Ajmer and we were running along the valleys of the Aravali Hills. For a good distance we could see nothing but the winding road and desert shrubs here and there. Then out of a bend we saw it nestled in a brae -- the glamorous Pratap Palace. Tucked in a corner of Earth is this architectural marvel which

the longer is four in the morning, I snuck away for a solo ride in the night. There is something about the air in the night, the cool breeze, the eerie silence and the star studded sky which is like a tonic for the nerves. Before anyone could notice my absence I returned to the singing and laughter of my mates.

I woke early the next morning to leave for Pushkar, the songs we sang the night before still ringing in my ears as I grabbed my gear in a hurry and ran to the lobby. Pushkar is famous for the Brahma Temple which is the only one you will find in India and after a short visit we rode back to the resort for some grub.

As we bid our hosts a fond farewell and rode off into the horizon we knew this was not good bye. The Pratap Palace is not a place you will visit once and forget but would want to go again and again, bringing new people to indulge in its beauty. Before we left Ajmer we planned a visit to the famous Dargah Sharif which is the shrine of the revered Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti born in 1141 AD. At about three in the afternoon we were out of Ajmer and once again were on the Jaipur Ajmer Expressway. We rode for four hours with a single five minute stop for water. At about seven in the evening we cleared Jaipur and stopped Pratap Palace (Keys Resort), Ajmer for tea. Riding in close formation and has been carved out so carefully it oozes of waiting on each other we slowly battled our talent and finesse. I am sure the management way through trucks and traffic. The highway spared no expense when it came to the is bad at night and oncoming traffic does not conceptualization and construction of this care two hoots about your safety they just property. As we all rode up the front porch a blaze their high beams at you as they drudge grand welcome of garlands and traditional folk along. Through the snarls of commercial dances awaited us. Built at a juncture between traffic and the dusty highway we chugged Ajmer and Pushkar the Pratap Palace is known onward. At around nine thirty at night we for its rich architectural heritage combining stopped for dinner at the famous Sagar an essence of Rajasthani and Mughal design.

Ratna. The ride ahead was worse. There were From the lush green courtyard to an amazing no lights on the road and there were patches view of the wilderness every aspect of Pratap under construction. Finally battle wary and Palace is designed to woo your senses and tired we saw those lights. Home was not far sooth your soul. The grand welcome was now, to us the lights of the Gurgaon high rises followed by a gala evening of cocktails and were like beacons of a lighthouse to sailors socializing. The unity of this group was strung lost at sea. We stopped at Rajiv Chowk in around their passion for Royal Enfield and Gurgaon to say that final goodbye but we Living in close quarters with the bikers at knew this was not the end. The echoes of Chase My Wheel taught me what it was to their victorious cheers over the thousand have a family away from family. While some kilometers resounded in my ears as we all of us decided to stay on longer to be precise rode off into the darkness of the night.

BUYERS’ GUIDE

Buyers’ Guide * Prices (Ex-Showroom Delhi)

OFF-ROAD VEHICLE PRICES SEGMENT

MODEL

ENGINE (CC)

PRICE (RS.)

POLARIS Outlaw 50

49

2.64 (Lakhs)

Phoenix 200

196

4.89 (Lakhs)

RZR 170

169

5.29 (Lakhs)

Sportsman 400 H.O

445

7.25 (Lakhs)

Sportsman 500 H.O

498

7.67 (Lakhs)

Sportsman 570 EFI

567

7.94 (Lakhs)

Sportsman 850 H.O

850

14.72 (Lakhs)

ATV & Youth Mode

Sportsman Big Boss 800

760

15.35 (Lakhs)

400

455

11.14 (Lakhs)

Crew 500 EFI

498

13.97 (Lakhs)

Crew 800

760

18 (Lakhs)

Ranger Diesel

904

20.48 (Lakhs)

Ranger EV

NA

12.82 (Lakhs)

RZR S 800

760

22.85 (Lakhs)

RZR XP 900

875

21.13 (Lakhs)

RZR XP4 900

875

24.10 (Lakhs)

Widetrak LS

488

10.86 (Lakhs)

Ranger

Ranger RZR

Snowmobile

CAR PRICES MODEL

VARIANTS

ENGINE*

FUEL*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

ASHOK LEYLAND Stile

ASTON MARTIN DB9 Rapide Vantage

Vanquish AUDI A3

A4

MODEL

1.5 1.5 1.5

D D D

20.07 20.07 20.07

7.49 8.49 8.99

DB9 Rapide S V8 Vantage V8 Vantage S V8 Vantage N430 V12 Vantage S V12 Vanquish

6.0 6.0 4.8 4.8 4.8 6.0 6.0

P P P P P P P

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

1.8

P

16.30

30.05

2.0

D

20

22.95

2.0

D

20

27.05

2.0

D

20

31.05

2.0

D

20

33.05

1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0

P D D D D D D D

15.64 17.11 17.11 17.11 17.11 17.11 14.94 14.94

31.30 29.45 30.10 35.45 37.71 39.74 55.02 57.82

A8 L

Q3 1.8 TFSI Premium Plus + Sunroof 2.0 TDI Attraction 2.0 TDI Premium + Sunroof Edition 2.0 TDI Premium Plus + Sunroof 2.0 TDI Technology Pack + Sunroof 1.8 TFSI Premium Edition 2.0 TDI Special Edition 2.0 TDI Standard Edition 2.0 TDI Premium Edition 2.0 TDI Premium Plus 2.0 TDI Technology Pack 3.0 TDI Quattro Premium Plus 3.0 TDI Quattro Technology

ENGINE*

FUEL*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

A6 LE - 8 Seater LS - 7 Seater LX - 7 Seater

VARIANTS

Q5

Q7

RS5 RS7 R8 R8 Spyder

2.0 TFSI Premium Edition 2.0 TDI Business Edition 2.0 TDI Premium Edition 2.0 TDI Premium Plus 2.0 TDI Technology Pack 3.0 TDI Quattro Premium 3.0 TDI Quattro Premium Plus 3.0 TDI QuattroTechnology 4 .0 TFSI quattro 3.0 TDI quattro 4.2 TDI quattro W12 TDI quattro 2.0 TFSI S 2.0 TDI 2.0 TDI Quatrro Premium 2.0 TDI Quatrro Premium Plus 2.0 TDI Quatrro Dynamic 2.0 TDI Quatrro Premium 2.0 TDI Quatrro Premium Plus 2.0 TDI Quatrro Technology 3.0 TDI QuattroTechnology 3.0 TDI Quattro Premium 3.0 TDI Quattro Premium Plus 3.0 TDI QuattroTechnology 4.2 TDI Quattro Technology 4.2 FSI Quattro 4.0 TFSI Quattro V8 4.2 FSI V10 5.2 FSI V10 5.2 FSI

2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 4.0 3.0 4.2 NA 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 4.2 4.2 4.0 4.2 5.2 5.2

P D D D D D D D P D D D P D D D D D D D D D D D D P P P P P

NA 17.60 17.60 17.60 17.60 14.50 14.50 14.50 9.20 6 NA NA 9.89 17.3 15.73 15.73 15.73 14.10 14.10 14.10 13.20 12 12 12 11.30 9.20 NA 8 7.60 7.70

44.20 39.90 46.52 48.29 51.91 55.80 60.78 63.13 1.33 (Cr.) 1.14 (Cr.) 1.23 (Cr.) 1.81 (Cr.) 27.40 25.49 32.54 36.80 38.40 47.16 49.46 53.44 60.11 61.35 66.59 72.35 80.94 1.05 (Cr.) 1.33 (Cr.) 1.66 (Cr.) 1.95 (Cr.) 2.14 (Cr.)

November 2014 I 53

EXPOSE

YOUR TRUE

HORSEPOWER

New Arrivals

2014 Audi RS7

2007 Rolls Royce Phantom

2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4

2014 Mercedes-Benz S500 Launch Edition

2013 Range Rover Vogue SE

sales@bigboytoyz.com www.bigboytoyz.com

CAR PRICES * Prices (Ex-Showroom Delhi) MODEL

VARIANTS

ENGINE*

FUEL*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

S4 S6 TT BENTLEY MOTORS Continental

Flying Spur Mulsanne BMW 1 Series

3 Series

5 Series

6 Series

7 Series

X1

X3 X5

M Z4

BUGATTI Veyron CHEVROLET Beat

Captiva Cruze

Enjoy

Sail Hatchback

Sail Sedan

3.0 TFSI Quatrro 4.0 TFSI Quattro 2.0 TFSI Quattro

3.0 4.0 2.0

P P D

10.30 NA 12.40

52.64 89.95 55.15

GT W12 GT V8 GT Speed W12 GT V8 S GTC W12 GTC V8 GT Speed Convertible GT V8S Convertible Flying Spur V8 Flying Spur W12 Mulsanne

6.0 4.0 6.0 4.0 6.0 4.0 6.0 6.0 4.0 6.0 6.8

P P P P P P P P P P P

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

116i Prestige 118d Prestige 118d Sport Line 118d Sport Plus 320d Prestige 320d Sport Line 320d Luxury Line 328i Sport Plus 320d GT Luxury Line 520d Prestige 520d Modern Line 520d Luxury Line 525d Luxury Plus 530d M Sport 640d Convertible 650i Convertible 640d Coupé 650i Coupé 640d Gran Coupé Eminence 730 Ld Eminence 730 Ld Signature ActiveHybrid 7L 750Li Eminence 760Li Eminence sDrive20d Expedition sDrive20d Sport Line sDrive20d xLine xDrive20d Expedition xDrive20d xLine xDrive30d Expedition xDrive30d Design Pure Experience M5 M6 Gran Coupé sDrive 35i sDrive 35i Design Pure Traction

1.6 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 5.0 3.0 5.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 5.0 6.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 3.0

P D D D D D D P D D D D D D D P D P D D D P P P D D D D D D

16.28 20.58 20.58 20.58 18.88 18.88 18.88 14.59 19.59 18.48 18.48 18.48 17.09 14.69 17.54 10.86 11.23 18.18 17.54 16.46 16.46 13.85 11.62 7.46 17.05 17.05 17.05 18.56 18.56 NA

22.65 25.60 28.55 32.50 34.30 37.90 37.90 42.50 42.75 46.90 49.90 49.90 55 59.20 NA NA NA NA 1.11 (Cr.) 1.03 (Cr.) 1.22 (Cr.) 1.35 (Cr.) 1.40 (Cr.) 1.87 (Cr.) 30.75 36 36 44.90 49.90 64.90

3.0

D

15.35

70.90

5.0 4.3 3.0

P P P

10.10 10.10 10.37

1.30 (Cr.) 1.75 (Cr.) 71

3.0

P

10.37

72

Veyron Grand Sport

8.0

P

NA

12 (Cr.)

1.2 PS 1.2 LS 1.2 LT 1.2 LT Option 1.0 PS 1.0 LS 1.0 LT 1.0 LT Option 1.2 LS LPG 1.2 LT LPG LT LTZ LT (MT) LTZ (MT) LTZ (AT) 1.4 LS - 8 Seater 1.4 LS -7 Seater 1.4 LT - 8 Seater 1.4 LT - 7 Seater 1.4 LTZ - 8 Seater 1.4 LTZ - 7 Seater 1.3 TCDi LS - 8 Seater 1.3 TCDi LS -7 Seater 1.3 TCDi LT - 8 Seater 1.3 TCDi LT - 7 Seater 1.3 TCDi LTZ - 8 Seater 1.3 TCDi LTZ - 7 Seater 1.2 PS 1.2 LS 1.2 LS ABS 1.2 LT ABS 1.3 TCDi PS 1.3 TCDi LS 1.3 TCDi LS ABS 1.3 TCDi LT ABS 1.2 PS 1.2 LS

1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.2 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2

P P P P D D D D LPG LPG D D D D D P P P P P P D D D D D D P P P P D D D D P P

18.61 18.61 18.61 18.61 25.44 25.44 25.44 25.44 13.30 13.30 14.60 12.12 17.30 17.30 NA 13.70 13.70 13.70 13.70 13.70 13.70 18.20 18.20 18.20 18.20 18.20 18.20 18.20 18.20 18.20 18.20 22.10 22.10 22.10 22.10 18.20 18.20

4.01 4.27 4.68 5.17 4.82 5.10 5.51 5.94 4.52 4.97 23.75 25.85 13.79 15.28 16.30 5.81 5.83 6.36 6.38 7.16 7.18 7.05 7.08 7.50 7.52 8.20 8.22 4.41 4.88 5.10 5.77 5.38 5.88 6 6.81 5.19 5.71

MODEL

VARIANTS

ENGINE*

FUEL*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

Spark

Tavera

DATSUN Go

FIAT Avventura

Linea

Linea Classic

Punto Evo

FORCE Force One

Gurkha

FORD Classic

Ecosport

Endeavour

Fiesta

Figo

HONDA Amaze

1.2 LS ABS 1.2 LT ABS 1.3 TCDi PS 1.3 TCDi LS 1.3 TCDi LS ABS 1.3 TCDi LT ABS Spark 1.0 LS LT Neo 3 -10-BS3 Neo 3 Max -10-BS3 Neo 3 Max -7-BS3 Neo 3 LS-10-BS3 Neo 3 LS-7-BS3 Neo 3 LS-7(C)-BS3 Neo 3 LT-9-BS3 Neo 3 LT-8-BS3 Neo 3 LT-7(C)-BS3

1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5

P P D D D D P P P D D D D D D D D D

18.20 18.20 22.10 22.10 22.10 22.10 16.20 16.20 16.20 13.58 13.58 13.58 13.58 13.58 13.58 13.58 13.58 13.58

6 6.48 6.39 6.78 7.07 7.65 3.45 3.72 4 7.34 8.19 8.32 8.95 9 9.10 10 10.44 10.69

D D1 A T

1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2

P P P P

20.63 20.63 20.63 20.63

3.12 3.15 3.46 3.79

Active Fire Dynamic Fire Active Multijet Dynamic Multijet Emotion Multijet Active Fire Active T-Jet Dynamic T-Jet Emotion T-Jet Active Multijet Dynamic Multijet Emotion Multijet Classic Fire Classic Multijet Classic Plus Multijet Active Fire Dynamic Fire Emotion Fire Active Multijet Dynamic Multijet Emotion Multijet Sport 93 PS

1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3

P P D D D P P P P D D D P D D P P P D D D D

14.40 14.40 20.50 20.50 20.50 15.70 15.70 15.70 15.70 20.40 20.40 20.40 14.90 19.50 19.50 15.80 15.80 15.80 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20

5.99 7.05 6.89 7.65 8.17 7 7.45 8.54 9.03 8.17 9.29 9.74 5.88 6.86 7.40 4.56 5.12 6.66 5.27 6.21 6.83 7.20

EX 6 Seater LX-ABS 6 Seater SX-ABS 6 Seater SX-ABS 5 Seater Hard Top (4x4) Soft Top (4x2) Soft Top (4x4)

2.6 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.6 2.6 2.6

D D D D D D D

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

9.38 14.02 12.41 12.49 8.50 6.26 8.35

LXi Duratec CLXi Duratec Titanium Duratec LXi Duratorq CLXi Duratorq Titanium Duratorq Ambiente M/T Trend M/T Titanium M/T Titanium A/T Titanium Ecoboost Titanium (O) Ecoboost Ambiente (D) Trend (D) Titanium (D) Titanium (O) (D) 2.5L 4x2 M/T 3.0L 4x2 A/T 3.0L 4x4 A/T Ambiente Trend Titanium LXi Duratec EXi Duratec ZXi Duratec Titanium Duratec LXi Duratorq EXi Duratorq ZXi Duratorq Titanium Duratorq

1.6 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4

P P P D D D P P P P P P D D D D D D D D D D P P P P D D D D

14.09 14.09 14.09 19.68 19.68 19.68 15.80 15.80 15.80 15.60 18.90 18.90 22.70 22.70 22.70 22.70 12.67 10.70 10.70 25.01 25.01 25.01 15.22 15.22 15.22 15.22 19.99 19.99 19.99 19.99

4.89 5.58 6.36 6.20 6.67 7.36 6.46 7.31 8.27 9.29 8.66 9.19 7.44 8.17 9.17 9.71 20.32 21.76 23.54 7.87 8.70 9.44 3.87 4.41 4.72 5.11 4.83 5.38 5.70 6

E M/T EX M/T S M/T SX M/T VX M/T S A/T VX A/T

1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2

P P P P P P P

18 18 18 18 18 15.50 15.50

5 5.32 5.71 6.25 6.64 6.72 7.55

November 2014 I 55

CAR PRICES * Prices (Ex-Showroom Delhi) MODEL

VARIANTS

ENGINE*

FUEL*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

Brio

City

CR-V

Mobilio

HYUNDAI Elantra

Eon

Grand i10

i10

Elite i20

Santa Fe

Santro Xing

Sonata Verna

E M/T EX M/T S M/T SX M/T VX M/T E M/T EX M/T S M/T V M/T VX M/T VX A/T E M/T S M/T SV M/T V M/T VX M/T SV CVT VX CVT EMT SMT SVMT VMT VXMT 2WD M/T 2WD A/T AWD A/T AWD A/T AVN E S V V (O) E S V V (O) RS RS (O)

1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.4 2.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

D D D D D P P P P P P P P P P P P P D D D D D P P P P P P P P D D D D D D

25.80 25.80 25.80 25.80 25.80 19.40 19.40 19.40 19.40 19.40 16.50 17.80 17.80 17.80 17.80 17.80 18 18 26 26 26 26 25.10 13.70 13.70 12 12 17.30 17.30 17.30 17.30 24.20 24.20 24.20 24.20 24.20 24.20

5.97 6.26 6.71 7.13 7.49 4.06 4.25 4.60 4.94 5.33 6.13 7.20 7.83 8.41 8.97 9.91 9.41 10.96 8.38 9.01 9.55 10.11 11.05 20.25 21.25 22.88 24.36 6.49 7.51 8.77 9.46 7.89 8.60 9.76 10.45 10.86 11.55

S M/T SX M/T SX A/T L M/T S M/T SX M/T SX A/T D-Lite D-Lite+ D-Lite+ LPG Era+ Era+ Lpg Magna+ Magna+ LPG Magna+ 1.0L Kappa Sportz Kappa Era Kappa Magna Kappa Sportz Kappa Sportz A/T Kappa Asta Kappa Asta A/T Kappa Asta (O) CRDi Era CRDi Magna CRDi Sportz CRDi Asta CRDi Asta (O) 1.1 Era 1.1 Magna 1.1 Magna LPG 1.1 Sportz 1.1 Sportz LPG 1.2 Kappa Era 1.2 Kappa Magna 1.2 Kappa Sportz 1.2 Kappa Sportz (O) 1.2 Kappa Asta 1.4 CRDi Era 1.4 CRDi Magna 1.4 CRDi Sportz 1.4 CRDi Sportz (O) 1.4 CRDi Asta 2WD M/T 2WD A/T 4WD A/T GL Plus GL Plus LPG GLS GLS LPG 2.4 GDI M/T 2.4 GDI A/T GL CX

1.8 1.8 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.0 0.8 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 2.2 2.2 2.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 2.4 2.4 1.4 1.4

P P P D D D D P P P/LPG P P/LPG P P/LPG P P P P P P P P P D D D D D P P P/LPG P P/LPG P P P P P D D D D D D D D P P/LPG P P/LPG P P P P

16.30 16.30 14.30 22.70 22.70 22.70 19.10 21.10 21.10 21.10 21.10 21.10 21.10 21.10 20.30 21.10 18.90 18.90 18.90 18.90 18.90 18.90 18.90 24 24 24 24 24 19.81 19.81 19.20 19.81 19.20 18.60 18.60 18.60 18.60 18.60 22.54 22.54 22.54 22.54 22.54 14.74 13.01 13.01 17.92 13.45 17.92 13..45 13.04 12.35 17.43 17.43

12.92 14.13 15.10 13.37 14.09 15.27 16.24 2.88 3.16 3.41 3.29 3.55 3.59 3.84 3.87 3.86 4.40 4.58 4.96 5.68 5.23 5.94 5.53 5.27 5.45 5.83 6.10 6.40 3.95 4.15 4.42 4.43 4.70 4.90 5.42 5.94 6.25 6.47 6.10 6.62 7.14 7.45 7.67 25.60 26.41 28.41 3.73 4.04 3.95 4.13 18.75 20.78 7.39 8.29

56 I November 2014

MODEL

VARIANTS

ENGINE*

FUEL*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

Xcent

ISUZU D-Max

MU-7

JAGUAR F-Type

XF

XJ

XK

LAMBORGHINI Aventador Huracan LAND ROVER Discovery 4 Freelander 2

Range Rover

Range Rover Evoque

Range Rover Sport

MAHINDRA Bolero

Getaway Quanto

EX SX SX A/T SX (O) CRDi GL CRDi CX CRDi EX CRDi SX CRDi SX A/T CRDi SX (O) CRDi SX (O) A/T 1.2 Kappa Base 1.2 Kappa S 1.2 Kappa S (O) 1.2 Kappa S (O) A/T 1.2 Kappa SX 1.2 Kappa SX (O) 1.2 Kappa SX (O) A/T 1.1 CRDi Base 1.1 CRDi S 1.1 CRDi S (O) 1.1 CRDi SX 1.1 CRDi SX (O)

1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1

P P P P D D D D D D D P P P P P P P D D D D D

17.01 17.01 15.74 17.01 23.50 23.50 22.32 22.32 19.08 22.32 19.08 19.10 19.10 19.10 16.90 19.10 19.10 16.90 24.40 24.40 24.40 24.40 24.40

8.35 8.79 9.51 9.73 8.56 9.49 9.64 9.98 10.68 11.01 11.73 4.73 5.39 5.64 6.36 6.29 6.54 7.26 5.62 6.28 6.53 7.18 7.43

D-Max Single Cab D-Max Space Cab Flat Deck D-Max Space Cab Arched Deck BS3 4x2 MT BS3 4x2 MT HI Pack BS4 4x2 MT BS4 4x2 MT HI Pack

2.5 2.5

D D

NA NA

5.89 6.09

2.5

D

NA

6.99

3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

D D D D

NA NA NA NA

19.69 21.65 19.99 21.95

F-Type Coupe F-Type S Coupe F-Type R Coupe F-Type V6 S Covertible F-Type V8 S Covertible XF 2.0 XF 2.2 XF 3.0 XFR 5.0 2.0 Premium Luxury 2.0 Portfolio 3.0 Premium Luxury 3.0 Portfolio XKR Coupe XKR Convertible XKR - S

3.0 3.0 5.0 3.0 5.0 2.0 2.2 3.0 5.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 5.0 5.0 5.0

P P P P P P D D P P P D D P P P

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 9.4 NA NA NA NA NA

1.22 (Cr.) 1.34 (Cr.) 1.82 (Cr.) 1.49 (Cr.) 1.75 (Cr.) 49.08 49.39 57.51 NA NA 93.76 92.62 99.21 NA NA NA

LP 700-4 LP 700-4 Roadster LP 610-4

6.5 6.5 5.2

P P P

6.3 6.3 NA

3.69 (Cr.) 4.77 (Cr.) 3.43 (Cr.)

3.0 V6 SE 3.0 V6 HSE TD4 S BE TD4 SE TD4 SE Sterling Edition TD4 HSE TDV6 HSE TDV6 Vogue SDV8 Vogue SE SDV8 Autobiography V8 SC Autobiography TDV6 Vogue LWB SDV8 Vogue SE LWB SDV8 Autobiography LWB V8 SC Autobiography LWB

3.0 3.0 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 3.0 3.0 4.4 4.4 5.0 3.0 4.4 4.4 5.0

P P D D D D D D D D P D D D P

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

1.05 (Cr.) 1.14 (Cr.) 39.74 43.38 44.92 48.72 1.73 (Cr.) 1.97 (Cr.) 2.35 (Cr.) 2.43 (Cr.) 2.50 (Cr.) 2.08 (Cr.) 2.44 (Cr.) 2.56 (Cr.) 2.63 (Cr.)

Pure

2.2

D

NA

55.36

Prestige Dynamic Dynamic Coupe

2.2 2.2 2.0

D D P

NA NA NA

65.47 64.64 NA

SDV6 S

3.0

D

NA

1.10 (Cr.)

SDV6 SE SDV6 HSE SC Autobiography

3.0 3.0 5.0

D D P

NA NA NA

1.25 (Cr.) 1.43 (Cr.) 1.66 (Cr.)

Plus Non Ac BS3 / BS4 Plus Ac BS3 / BS4 Ex Non Ac BS4 Ex Ac BS4 DI Non Ac BS3 / 4WD Non Ac BS3 DI Ac BS3 SLE BS3 / BS4 SLX BS3 / BS4 ZLX BS3 / BS4 Getaway 2WD / 4WD C2

2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5

D D D D

15.96 15.96 15.96 15.96

6.27 / 6.54 6.64 / 6.92 6.18 6.57

2.5

D

15.96

6.02 / 6.44

2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.6 1.5

D D D D D D

15.96 15.96 15.96 15.96 15.96 17.21

6.28 6.81 / 6.95 7.30 / 7.45 7.46 / 7.60 7.91 / 8.85 6.10

CAR PRICES * Prices (Ex-Showroom Delhi) MODEL

VARIANTS

ENGINE*

FUEL*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

Rexton

Scorpio

Thar Verito

Verito Vibe

XUV 500

XYLO

C4 C6 C8 RX5 MT RX6 MT RX7 AT S2 S4 / S4 4WD S6 / S6 PLUS S8 S10 / S10 4WD Thar DI 2WD / 4WD 4x4 CRDE D2 D4 D6 ABS D6 ABS EXECUTIVE D2 D4 D6 W4 FWD W6 FWD W8 FWD W8 AWD W8 FWD SPORTZ D2 BS III / BS IV D2 MAXX BS III / BS IV D4 BS III / BS IV H4 BS IV / ABS BS IV H8 ABS BS IV / ABS AIRBAG BS IV H9 BS IV

1.5 1.5 1.5 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.5 2.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.2

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

17.21 17.21 17.21 11.18 11.18 11.18 NA NA NA NA NA 18.06 18.06 20.08 20.08 20.08 20.08 20.08 20.08 20.08 15.10 15.10 15.10 15.10 15.10 14.88 14.88 14.88 14.02

6.94 7.38 7.87 18.91 20.35 21.59 8.40 8.99 / 10.11 10.15 / 10.43 11.32 11.95 / 13.05 4.83 / 5.31 7.37 6.42 6.64 7.31 7.77 5.71 5.97 6.57 10.83 12.05 13.63 14.68 13.85 7.72 / 7.86 7.52 / 7.66 8.14 / 8.27 8.53 / 8.77

2.2

D

14.02

9.75 / 10.12

2.2

D

14.02

10.93

E

NA

5.95

E

NA

6.82

P P P P P P CNG CNG CNG

22.74 22.74 22.74 22.74 22.74 22.74 30.46 30.46 30.46

2.37 2.73 2.94 3.10 3.07 3.25 3.10 3.31 3.49

MODEL

T01 T2

MARUTI Alto 800

Alto K10

Celerio

Ciaz

Eeco

Ertiga

Grand Vitara Gypsy Omni

Alto 800 STD Alto 800 LX Alto 800 LXI Alto 800 LXI Airbag Alto 800 VXI Alto 800 VXI Airbag Alto 800 STD CNG Alto 800 LX CNG Alto 800 LXI CNG Alto 800 LXI Anniversary Edition Alto K10 LX Alto K10 LXi Alto K10 VXi Alto K10 VXi (O) Alto K10 VXi (AGS) Alto K10 LXi (CNG) Celerio LXI Celerio LXI AMT Celerio VXI Celerio VXI AMT Celerio GREEN VXI Celerio ZXI Celerio ZXI (O) VXi VXi Plus ZXi ZXi (O) VXi Plus AT ZXi AT VDi VDi Plus ZDi ZDi (O) Eeco 5 Seater Eeco 5 Seater Ac Eeco 7 Seater Eeco Flexi Green Eeco Green 5 Seater Non Ac Eeco Green 5 Seater Ac Ertiga LXI Ertiga LXI CNG Ertiga VXI Ertiga VXI ABS Ertiga VXI CNG Ertiga ZXI Ertiga LDI Ertiga VDI Ertiga ZDI Grand Vitara MT Grand Vitara AT King Soft Top King Hard Top Omni 5 Seater

Electric Motor Electric Motor 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8

P

22.74

2.98

1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 2.4 2.4 1.3 1.3 0.8

P P P P P P/CNG P P P P CNG P P P P P P P P D D D D P P P CNG CNG CNG P CNG P P CNG P D D D P P P P LPG

24.07 24.07 24.07 24.07 24.07 24.07 23.10 23.10 23.10 23.10 31.79 23.10 23.10 20.73 20.73 20.73 20.73 19.12 19.12 26.30 26.30 26.30 26.30 15.10 15.10 15.10 20 20 20 16.02 22.80 16.02 16.02 22.80 16.02 20.77 20.77 20.77 10.40 9.24 11.96 11.96 10.90

3.06 3.22 3.38 3.57 3.80 3.82 3.76 4.14 4.05 4.43 4.68 4.34 4.79 6.99 7.55 8.24 8.59 8.65 9.34 8.04 8.63 9.45 9.80 2.98 3.27 3.15 4 3.62 3.97 5.80 6.40 6.56 6.64 7.14 7.35 7.22 7.85 8.49 22.68 24.60 5.79 5.93 2.47

ENGINE*

FUEL*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

Ritz

Swift

Swift Dzire

WagonR

WagonR Stingray

MAHINDRA REVA e2o

VARIANTS

MASERATI Gran Turismo

Quattroporte

MERCEDES-BENZ A-Class B-Class C-Class

C 63 AMG CLA45 AMG CLS-Class E-Class

E63AMG G 63 AMG GL-class GLA-class

GLA45 AMG ML-class ML 63 AMG S-class SLK-class MINI Mini Cooper

Mini Cooper Countryman

MITSUBISHI Pajero Sport NISSAN Evalia

Micra

Omni 8 Seater Ritz Lxi Ritz Vxi Ritz Vxi ABS Ritz Vxi AT ABS Ritz Zxi Ritz Mc Ldi Ritz Mc Vdi Ritz Mc Vdi ABS Ritz Mc Zdi Swift Lxi Swift Lxi (O) Swift Vxi Swift Zxi Swift Ldi Swift Vdi Swift Zdi Swift DzireLxi Swift Dzire Vxi Swift Dzire Vxi AT Swift Dzire Zxi Swift Dzire Ldi Swift Dzire Vdi Swift Dzire Zdi WagonR Mc Lx WagonR Mc Lxi WagonR Mc Lxi CNG WagonR Mc Vxi WagonR Mc Vxi ABS WagonR Duo LPG Stingray Lxi Stingray Vxi Stingray Vxi (O)

0.8 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

P P P P P P D D D D P P P P D D D P P P P D D D P P CNG P P LPG P P P

14.70 18.50 18.50 18.50 17.16 18.50 23.20 23.20 23.20 23.20 20.40 20.40 20.40 20.40 25.20 25.20 25.20 19.10 19.10 17.40 19.10 23.40 23.40 23.40 20.51 20.51 26.60 20.51 20.51 14.60 20.51 20.51 20.51

2.40 4.23 4.57 4.80 5.76 5.15 5.27 5.59 5.76 6.15 4.42 4.49 5.08 5.90 5.56 6 6.95 4.85 5.44 6.34 6.31 5.78 6.51 7.32 3.48 3.79 4.31 4.04 4.34 4.13 4 4.28 4.55

Gran Turismo Gran Turismo Sport Gran Turismo MC Stradale Gran Cabrio Gran Cabrio Sport Gran Cabrio MC Quattroporte S Quattroporte S Q4 Quattroporte GTS

4.2 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 3.0 3.0 3.8

P P P P P P P P P

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

A 180 Sport A 180 CDI Style B 180 Sport B 180 CDI C 200 Avantgarde C 220 CDI Classic C 220 CDI Sports C 220 CDI Avantgarde C 250 CDI Avantgarde C 63 AMG CLA 45AMG CLS 350 E 200 CGI Avantgarde E 250 CDI Avantgarde E 350 CDI Avantgrade E 63 AMG G 63 AMG GL 350 CDI GL 63 AMG GLA 200 CDI GLA 200 Sport GLA 200 CDI Sport GLA 45AMG ML 250 CDI ML 350 CDI ML 63 AMG S350 CDI SLK 350 SLK 55 AMG

1.6 2.1 1.6 2.1 1.8 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 6.2 2.0 3.5 2.0 2.1 3.0 5.5 5.5 3.0 5.5 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.0 2.1 3.0 5.5 3.5 3.5 5.5

P D P D P D D D D P P P P D D P P D P D P D P D D P D P P

15.50 20.06 14.91 18.98 11.74 NA NA 14.84 NA NA NA 9.26 13.82 14.21 NA NA NA NA NA 17.90 NA NA NA 14.80 8.70 10.41 NA NA NA

26.56 25.64 28.87 27.75 38.10 NA NA 40.50 NA 1.07 (Cr.) 68.50 91.90 46.33 48.47 58.50 1.29 (Cr.) 1.85 (Cr.) 74.90 1.70 (Cr.) 32.75 36 36.90 69.60 54.80 65.80 1.50 (Cr.) 1.09 (Cr.) 71.90 1.26 (Cr.)

Mini Cooper Mini Cooper S Mini Convertible

1.6 1.6 1.6

P P P

NA NA NA

27.90 31.50 34.80

Mini One Countryman

1.6

P

NA

26.55

Mini D Countryman Mini D Countryman Hightrim Mini S Countryman

2.0 2.0 1.6

D D P

NA NA NA

28.55 31.40 38.75

Di-D

2.5

D

NA

23.50

Evalia XE Evalia XE+ Evalia XL Evalia XL Option Evalia XV Evalia XV Option Micra XL

1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.2

D D D D D D P

19.30 19.30 19.30 19.30 19.30 19.30 18.44

8.63 9.13 9.92 10.17 10.59 10.84 4.90

November 2014 I 57

CAR PRICES * Prices (Ex-Showroom Delhi) MODEL

VARIANTS

ENGINE*

FUEL*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

Micra Active

New Sunny

Teana Terrano

PORSCHE 911

Boxter Cayenne

Cayman Macan Panamera

PREMIER Rio

RENAULT Duster

Fluence Koleos

Pulse

Micra XL COMFORT Micra XV CVT Micra DCI XE Micra DCI XL Micra DCI XL COMFORT Micra DCI XV Micra DCI XV PREMIUM Micra Active XE Micra Active XL Micra Active XV Micra Active XV SP New Sunny XE New Sunny XL New Sunny XL CVT New Sunny XE D New Sunny XL D New Sunny XV D New Sunny XV D Premium Safety New Sunny XV D Premium Leather Teana MID Teana UPPER Terrano XL Terrano XE D Terrano XL D Terrano XL D PLUS Terrano XL D THP

1.2 1.2 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

P P D D D D D P P P P P P P D D D

18.44 19.34 23.08 23.08 23.08 23.08 23.08 19.49 19.49 19.49 19.49 17.97 17.97 17.97 22.71 22.71 22.71

5.53 6.52 5.54 5.88 6.52 6.91 7.15 3.38 4.19 4.48 4.79 6.99 7.74 9.06 8.12 8.74 9.45

1.5

D

22.71

9.77

1.5

D

22.71

9.97

2.5 2.5 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

P P P D D D D

11.07 11.07 13.24 20.45 20.45 20.45 19.01

21.14 24.89 9.68 9.63 10.66 11.02 11.26

Terrano XV OPTION D THP Terrano XV OPTION D THP Premium

1.5

D

19.01

12.20

1.5

D

19.01

12.50

Careera Careera S Careera 4 Careera 4S Careera Cabriolet Careera S Cabriolet Careera 4 Cabriolet Careera 4S Cabriolet GT3 Turbo Turbo S Boxter S Cayenne Diesel Cayenne S Cayenne Platinum Cayenne S Diesel Cayenne S Hybrid Cayenne GTS Cayenne Tiptronic Cayenne Turbo Cayenne Turbo S Cayman S Turbo S Diesel Panamera Panamera Diesel Panamera 4 Panamera GTS Panamera Turbo

3.4 3.8 3.4 3.8 3.4 3.8 3.4 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.4 3.0 4.8 3.0 4.1 3.0 4.8 3.6 4.8 4.8 3.4 3.6 3.0 3.6 3.0 3.6 4.8 4.8

P P P P P P P P P P P P D P D D P P P P P P D D P D P P P

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 10.80 15.80 NA NA NA NA NA

1.29 (Cr.) 1.51 (Cr.) 1.42 (Cr.) 1.61 (Cr.) 1.47 (Cr.) 1.68 (Cr.) 1.57 (Cr.) 1.78 (Cr.) 2.14 (Cr.) 2.20 (Cr.) 2.67 (Cr.) 92.02 79.06 99.92 86.50 1.02 (Cr.) 91.05 1.16 (Cr.) 71.17 1.60 (Cr.) 2.09 (Cr.) 94.51 1.09 (Cr.) 98.18 1.20 (Cr.) 1.23 (Cr.) 1.22 (Cr.) 1.61 (Cr.) 2 (Cr.)

GX GLX DX LX Multijet

1.2 1.2 1.5 1.5 1.5

P P D D D

15 15 13 13 20

6.31 6.59 7.02 7.30 6.70

RXE RXL 85 PS RXE 85 PS RXE Adventure 85 PS RXL 85 PS RXL Plus 85 PS RXL Option 110 PS RXL 110 PS RXL Adventure 110 PS RXL AWD 110 PS RXZ 110 PS RXZ AWD 110 PS RXZ Plus 110 PS RXZ Option E2 E4 4x2 MT 4X4 MT 4X4 AT RXE RXL RXZ RXL

1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5

P P D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D P P P D

13.24 13.24 20.64 20.64 20.64 20.64 20.64 19.01 19.01 19.72 19.01 19.72 19.01 19.01 20.04 20.04 17.15 16.26 14.56 18.06 18.06 18.06 23.08

7.86 9.12 8.70 9.26 9.69 9.99 10.93 10.80 11.91 11.89 11.39 12.99 11.86 11.91 13.99 15.49 22 25 26 4.46 5.19 5.77 6.16

MODEL

ENGINE*

FUEL*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

Scala

ROLLS-ROYCE Ghost

Phantom Series II

Wraith SKODA Fabia

Octavia

Rapid

Superb

Yeti TATA Aria

Indica

58 I November 2014

VARIANTS

Indigo eCS

Manza

Nano

Safari Safari Storme

RXL ABS RXZ RXE RXL RXL CVT RXL CVT Travelogue RXL Travelogue RXZ CVT RXZ CVT Travelogue RXE RXL Travelogue RXZ RXZ Travelogue

1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

D D P P P P P P P D D D D

23.08 23.08 16.95 16.95 17.97 16.95 16.95 17.97 16.95 21.64 21.64 21.64 21.64

6.34 6.99 7.24 8.02 9.16 9.70 8.56 10.07 10.61 8.35 9.39 9.75 10.29

Ghost SWB Ghost EWB Ghost V-Specification Phantom Phantom EWB Drophead Coupe Coupe Wraith

6.6 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.6

P P P P P P P P

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Active Plus 1.2 MPI Ambition Plus 1.2 MPI Elegance 1.2 MPI Elegance 1.6 MPI Active Plus 1.2 TDI CR Ambition Plus 1.2 TDI CR Elegance 1.2 TDI Ambition 1.4 TSI Elegance 1.8 TSI AT Ambition 2.0 TDI CR Ambition 2.0 TDI CR AT Elegance 2.0 TDI CR AT Active 1.6 MPI Ambition 1.6 MPI Plus Elegance 1.6 MPI Elegance 1.6 MPI Black Package Ambition 1.6 MPI AT Plus Elegance 1.6 MPI AT Elegance 1.6 MPI Black Package AT Active 1.5 TDI CR Ambition 1.5 TDI CR Plus Elegance 1.5 TDI CR Elegance 1.5 TDI CR Black Package Ambition 1.5 TDI CR Plus AT Elegance 1.5 TDI CR AT Elegance 1.5 TDI CR Black Package AT Elegance 1.8 TSI MT Elegance 1.8 TSI AT Elegance 2.0 TDI CR AT Elegance 2.0 TDI CR 4x2 Elegance 2.0 TDI CR 4x4

1.2 1.2 1.2 1.6 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.6 1.6 1.6

P P P P D D D P P D D D P P P

16.4 16.4 16.4 14.8 21 21 21 16.80 14.70 20.60 19.30 19.30 15 15 15

5.03 5.43 6.29 6.60 6.24 6.65 7.51 15.60 18.90 17.23 18.23 20.13 7.22 8.32 8.72

1.6

P

15

8.85

1.6 1.6

P P

14.30 14.30

9.30 9.68

1.6

P

14.30

9.81

1.5 1.5 1.5

D D D

21.66 21.66 21.66

8.39 9.40 9.74

1.5

D

21.66

9.87

1.5 1.5

D D

21.66 21.66

10.50 10.84

1.5

D

21.66

10.97

1.8 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0

P P D D D

13.10 13.70 17.20 17.72 17.67

20.91 22.48 25.39 18.99 20.53

Pure LX 4x2 BS IV Pleasure LX 4x2 BS IV Pride 4x4 BS IV ev2 LS BS III / BS IV ev2 LX BS III / BS IV emax GLS BS IV emax GLX BS IV GLX BS IV GVX BS IV LS LX VX emax GLS emax GLX Safire GLS Safire GLX Safire GVX Safire GEX Quadrajet LS Quadrajet LX Quadrajet VX Quadrajet EX Nano STD Nano CX Nano LX New Nano CX New Nano LX Nano Twist XT Nano CX CNG Nano LX CNG Dicor EX BS 3 / BS 4 Dicor LX BS 3 / BS 4 Storme EX BS 4

2.2 2.2 2.2 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 2.2 2.2 2.2

D D D D D P/CNG P/CNG P P D D D P/CNG P/CNG P P P P D D D D P P P P P P P/CNG P/CNG D D D

15.05 15.05 15.05 25 25 NA NA 15.64 15.64 25 25 25 NA NA 13.70 13.70 13.70 13.70 21.02 21.02 21.02 21.02 25.34 25.34 25.34 25.34 25.34 25.34 NA NA 11.57 11.57 14

9.95 12 14.74 4.17 / 4.44 4.52 / 4.85 3.89 4.16 4.92 5.20 5.04 / 5.38 5.39 / 5.57 5.95 4.87 5.14 5.92 5.95 6.34 7.28 5.96 6.70 7.35 8.30 1.41 1.86 2.10 1.96 2.21 2.34 2.33 2.58 9.32 / 9.74 8.29 / 8.50 11.08

CARS/TWO WHEELERS * Prices (Ex-Showroom Delhi) MODEL

VARIANTS

ENGINE*

FUEL*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

Sumo Gold

Vista

Xenon XT Zest

TOYOTA Camry Corolla Altis

Etios

Etios Liva

Etios Cross

Fortuner

Innova

Innova LE

Land Cruiser LC 200 Land Cruiser Parado

Storme VX BS 4 (4x2 / 4x4) Storme LX BS 4 CX BS 4 CX - PS BS 4 LX BS 4 EX BS 4 FX BS 4 GX BS 4 LS BS 3 LX BS 3 Quadrajet LS BS 4 Quadrajet VX Tech BS 4 XT EX 4x2 XT EX 4x4 XE Revotron 90PS XM Revotron 90PS XMS Revotron 90PS XT Revotron 90PS XE Quadrajet 75PS XM Quadrajet 90PS XMS Quadrajet 90PS XT Quadrajet 90PS XMA Quadrajet 90PS

2.2 2.2 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 2.2 2.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D P P P P D D D D D

14 14 15.30 15.30 15.30 15.30 15.30 15.30 22.30 22.30 16.70 21.12 13.49 13.49 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

12.43 / 13.70 9.93 6.24 6.41 6.50 6.93 7.28 7.55 4.82 5.26 5.27 5.95 9.51 10.50 4.64 5.25 5.43 5.99 5.64 6.27 6.45 6.99 6.99

2.5 A/T Hybrid 1.8JS 1.8G 1.8G (CVT) 1.8GL 1.8 VL A/T D4-DJ D4-DJS D4-DG D4-DGL J PS G V VX D-4D JD D-4D GD D-4D VD D-4D VXD J PS G V VX TRD Sportivo D-4D JD D-4D GD D-4D VD D-4D VXD D-4D TRD Sportivo Cross G Cross V D-4D GD D-4D VD 4x2 M/T 4x4 M/T 4x2 M/T (TRD Sportivo) 4x2 A/T 4x2 A/T (TRD Sportivo) G Euro IV 8 Seater GX Euro IV 8 Seater VX Euro IV 8 Seater E Euro IV / Euro III Non AC 8 Seater E Euro IV / Euro III Non AC 7 Seater E Euro IV / Euro III PS 8 Seater E Euro IV / Euro III PS 7 Seater

2.5 2.5 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.4 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

P P P P P P P D D D D P P P P D D D D P P P P P D D D D D P P D D D D D D D P P P

12.98 19.16 14.05 14.05 15.22 14.05 15.22 21.45 21.45 21.45 21.45 16.78 16.78 16.78 16.78 23.59 23.59 23.59 23.59 17.71 17.71 17.71 17.71 16.78 23.59 23.59 23.59 23.59 23.59 17.71 16.78 23.59 23.59 12.55 12.55 12.55 11.88 11.88 10.35 10.35 10.35

25.09 29.12 11.99 13.74 15.04 15.38 16.89 13.07 13.64 15.04 16.68 5.74 6 6.44 7.06 6.84 7.14 7.54 8.16 4.76 4.93 5.43 5.94 6.57 5.94 6 6.46 6.97 6.95 5.95 7.35 7.13 7.43 22.25 23.52 22.88 23.25 23.88 10.20 11.59 13.70

2.5

D

13.31

9.97 / 9.72

2.5

D

13.31

10.01 / 9.76

2.5 2.5

D D

13.31 13.31

10.50 / 10.25 10.54 / 10.29

G Euro IV / Euro III 8 Seater

2.5

D

13.31

10.94 / 10.69

G Euro IV / Euro III 7 Seater

2.5

D

13.31

10.89 / 10.64

GX Euro IV / Euro III 8 Seater GX Euro IV / Euro III 7 Seater VX Euro IV / Euro III 8 Seater VX Euro IV / Euro III 7 Seater ZX Euro IV / Euro III 7 Seater GX Euro IV / Euro III 8 Seater Silver GX Euro IV / Euro III 7 Seater Silver GX Euro IV / Euro III 8 Seater Bronze GX Euro IV / Euro III 7 Seater Bronze

2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5

D D D D D

13.31 13.31 13.31 13.31 13.31

12.51 / 12.26 12.46 / 12.21 14.58 / 14.33 14.53 / 14.28 15.07 / 14.82

2.5

D

13.31

12.95 / 12.71

VX 200 Premium Parado VX-L

3.0

2.5

D

13.31

12.91 / 12.66

2.5

D

13.31

13 / 12.76

2.5

D

13.31

12.96 / 12.71

4.5

D

9.65

1.13 (Cr.)

D

11.13

84.57

MODEL

VARIANTS

ENGINE*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

FUEL*

PRICE*

* Engine in Litres | Fuel - Petrol (P), Diesel (D), CNG, LPG, Hybrid (H), Electric (E) | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs/Crore

Z5 Z6

1.8 1.8

P P

23.91 23.91

36.63 38.27

TSI Trendline TSI Comfortline TDI Trendline TDI Comfortline TDI Highline TDI Highline A/T Trendline Comfortline Highline Trendline (Diesel) Comfortline (Diesel) Highline (Diesel) GT TSI GT TDI Cross Polo Comfortline AT Highline AT Trendline Comfortline Highline Trendline Comfortline Highline Comfortline AT Highline AT

1.4 1.4 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.6 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

P P D D D D P P P D D D P D D P P P P P D D D D D

14.69 14.69 19.33 19.33 19.33 16.96 16.47 16.47 16.47 20.14 20.14 20.14 17.21 19.78 22.07 16.93 16.93 15.04 15.04 15.04 20.34 20.34 20.34 21.21 21.21

13.20 14.66 14.65 16.12 18.18 19.02 5.01 5.59 6.09 6.29 6.89 7.39 8 8 7.90 9.35 9.92 7.44 8.02 8.87 8.57 9.19 9.90 10.49 10.94

D4 Kinetic D4 Summum D4 Summum R-Design D5 Summum D4 Summum D5 Summum D3 Cross Country D4 Kinetic D4 Summum D4 Summum R-Design D5 Summum D5 Summum

2.0 2.0 2.0 2.4 2.0 2.4 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.4 2.4

D D D D D D D D D D D D

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

32.65 35.70 40.55 38.70 42.90 46.90 32.50 42.70 45.95 51.90 49.90 56

Prius VOLKSWAGEN Jetta

Polo

Vento

VOLVO S60

S80 V40 XC 60

XC 90

TWO WHEELER PRICES MODEL

ENGINE*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

99.27 94.38 102 102 124.6 124.6 124.6 124.6 144.8 134.66 149 178.6 199.5 220 219.89

90 91 76 87 82 82 72 77.10 72.30 68.10 65 58.10 58 54.20 49.80

0.37 0.44 0.46 0.48 0.48 0.50 0.55 0.52 0.52 0.59 0.67 0.70 0.85 0.82 0.77

1170 1170 1170 1170 1293 1293 999 1170 1649 1649

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

24.13 (Lakh) 27.15 (Lakh) 27.79 (Lakh) 29.73 (Lakh) 27.25 (Lakh) 29.41 (Lakh) 29.41 (Lakh) NA 34.35 (Lakh) 37.04 (Lakh)

803 803 1078 1078 803 1078 1078 992 1198 1198 1198 1198 1055 1055 1198

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

* Engine in CC | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs

BAJAJ AUTO Platina Discover 100 4G Discover 100 M Discover 100 T Discover 125 DTS-i (Drum) Discover 125 DTS-i (Disc) Discover 125 ST Discover 125 T Discover 150 DTS-i Pulsar 135LS Pulsar 150 DTS-i Pulsar 180 DTS-i Pulsar 200 NS Pulsar 220 Avenger 220 DTS-i BMW MOTORRAD R 1200 R R 1200 GS R 1200 GS ADVENTURE R 1200 RT K 1300 R K 1300 S S 1000 RR HP2 Sport K 1600 GT K 1600 GTL DUCATI Monster 795 Monster 796 Monster 1100 Monster 1100 S Hypermotard 796 Hypermotard 1100 Evo Hypermotard 1100 Evo SP GT 1000 Multistrada 1200 Multistrada 1200 ABS Multistrada 1200 S Multistrada 1200 T Streetfighter Streetfighter S Diavel

November 2014 I 59

TWO WHEELERS * Prices (Ex-Showroom Delhi) MODEL

ENGINE*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

* Engine in CC | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs

Diavel Carbon 848 1198 1198 S HARLEY DAVIDSON Street 750 Super Low Iron 883 Forty - Eight Night Rod Special Street Bob Fat Bob Fat Boy Fat Boy Special Heritage Softail Classic BreakOut Street Glide Special CVO Limited HERO MOTOCORP Pleasure Maestro HF Dawn HF Deluxe HF Deluxe Eco Splendor+ Splendor NXG Splendor PRO Splendor ISMART Super Splendor Passion Pro Passion XPro Glamour Glamour PGM - FI Ignitor Achiever CBZ Xtreme Hunk Impulse Karizma Karizma ZMR HONDA Dio DLX Activa DLX Activa i Activa 125 Aviator CB Twister Dream Neo Dream Yuga CB Shine CBF Stunner CB Unicorn CB Trigger CBR 150R CBR 250R CB 1000R CB 1000RR VFR 1200F VT 1300 CX HYOUSUNG GT 250R Aquila 250 GT 650R GT 650N Aquila PRO ST7 INDIAN MOTORCYCLE Chief Classic Chief Vintage Chieftain Scout KAWASAKI Ninja 300 Ninja 650 R Ninja ZX 10R Ninja ZX 14R Ninja 1000 Ninja Z800 Ninja Z1000 ER-6n Z250 KTM KTM 200 Duke KTM 390 Duke KTM RC 200 KTM RC 390 LML NV SPL NV LS STAR EURO 150 STAR EURO 200 MAHINDRA 2 WHEELERS

60 I November 2014

MODEL

ENGINE*

FUEL EFFICIENCY*

PRICE*

71.5 124.6 124.6 124.6 125 110 106.7 106.7 110

63.25 40 56.25 59.38 59 63 79.40 85.40 85.40

0.34 0.41 0.44 0.45 0.48 0.43 0.39 0.46 0.44

125 125 125 125

62 60 NA NA

0.67 0.71 0.75 0.79

346 499 346 346 500 346 499 499 499 535

53.40 NA 53.40 NA NA 53.40 53.40 39.35 39.35 NA

0.98 1.42 (Lakh) 1.10 (Lakh) 1.28 (Lakh) 1.63 (Lakh) 1.18 (Lakh) 1.51 (Lakh) 1.53 (Lakh) 1.60 (Lakh) 1.84 (Lakh)

124 112.8 124 112.8 124 149.5 154.9 250 1255 805 1783 1783 1340 999 1037

50.22 63 51 72 68.50 55.70 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

0.49 0.43 0.48 0.45 0.51 0.69 0.72 2.09 (Lakh) 10.75 (Lakh) 10.05 (Lakh) 15.95 (Lakh) 16.45 (Lakh) 15.95 (Lakh) 15.95 (Lakh) 14.95 (Lakh)

865 865 865 675 1050 675 675 800 1215 1699 2294

18.12 18.13 NA NA NA 16.37 16.37 17.56 15.93 NA NA

5.85 (Lakh) 6.75 (Lakh) 6.95 (Lakh) 7.65 (Lakh) 10.70 (Lakh) 10.30 (Lakh) 11.75 (Lakh) 12 (Lakh) 18.15 (Lakh) 13.50 (Lakh) 20.70 (Lakh)

87.8 87.8 109.7 109.7 99.7 109.7 109.7 125 159.7 177.4

65 65 62 62 87.70 83.90 62 67 NA NA

0.42 0.44 0.47 0.42 0.40 0.42 0.44 0.50 0.69 0.73

113 113 113 106 106 123 123 153 153 150 150 153 153 153 149 998 998 1498

NA 53 53 75.74 70.03 71.50 NA NA NA NA NA 62.40 NA 50.81 NA NA NA NA

0.48 0.46 0.48 0.38 0.45 0.51 0.55 0.71 0.73 0.77 0.79 0.61 0.58 0.78 0.84 10.72 (Lakh) 15.60 (Lakh) 1.17 (Lakh)

* Engine in CC | Fuel Efficiency in kmpl/kmpkg | Prices in lakhs

1198 849 1198 1198

NA NA NA NA

NA NA NA NA

749 883 883 1202 1247 1585 1690 1690 1690 1690 1690 1690 1801

NA 21.70 21.70 NA 15.80 18.18 17.85 17.85 NA 17.85 13.86 17.85 NA

4.30 (Lakh) 6.10 (Lakh) 6.99 (Lakh) 8.80 (Lakh) 21.86 (Lakh) 10.35 (Lakh) 13.01 (Lakh) 15.06 (Lakh) 15.78 (Lakh) 16.43 (Lakh) 16.28 (Lakh) 29.70 (Lakh) 49.23 (Lakh)

102 109 97.2 97.2 97.2 97.2 97.2 97.2 97.2 124.7 97.2 109.1 124.7 124.8 124.7 149.1 149.2 149.2 149.2 223 223

49 50 80 80 80 81 81 81 NA 83.10 79 60 81.10 NA 52.40 68 65.10 65.10 55 48.50 51

0.43 0.51 0.38 0.40 0.44 0.43 0.43 0.44 0.47 0.51 0.45 0.47 0.53 0.59 0.57 0.58 0.66 0.66 0.69 0.78 0.97

109 109 109.2 124.9 109 109 109 109 124.7 124.7 149.1 149.1 149.4 249 998 999 1237 1312

60 60 60 NA 60 70 74 74 65 NA NA NA NA 30 NA NA NA NA

0.45 0.46 0.44 0.53 0.47 0.48 0.42 0.44 0.47 0.56 0.63 0.73 1.17 (Lakh) 1.52 (Lakh) 11.81 (Lakh) 15.21 (Lakh) 17.63 (Lakh) 13.99 (Lakh)

249 249 647 647 647 678.2

NA NA NA NA NA NA

2.89 (Lakh) 2.74 (Lakh) 4.63 (Lakh) 3.73 (Lakh) 5.08 (Lakh) 5.79 (Lakh)

1811 1811 1811 1131

NA NA NA NA

25.50 (Lakh) 28.50 (Lakh) 32 (Lakh) 11.99 (Lakh)

296 649 998 1441 1043 806 1043 649 249

26 33 14 18 15 18 15 NA NA

3.60 (Lakh) 5.14 (Lakh) 16.40 (Lakh) 17.66 (Lakh) 12.87 (Lakh) 8.13 (Lakh) 12.87 (Lakh) 4.78 (Lakh) 2.99 (Lakh)

200 373 200 373

NA NA NA NA

1.31 (Lakh) 1.81 (Lakh) 1.60 (Lakh) 2.05 (Lakh)

149.56 147.55 150.82 199.89

NA NA NA NA

0.40 0.45 0.47 0.53

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B2B SECTION INDIA

Global NCAP asks Nissan to withdraw Datsun Go from India November 2014 I 61

Pictures Courtesy Global NCAP

COVER REPORT

Datsun Go

T

he worries for Nissan in India seem to have simply grown. Global NCAP Chairman Max Mosley has now written to Nissan Chairman and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, calling for an urgent withdrawal of the Datsun Go from the Indian and related markets. This is a first for NCAP and a major embarrassment for Nissan. The small car was touted as a beginning of good times for Datsun (a Nissan brand), especially in the emerging markets of the world.

The Datsun Go small car sold in India scored zero stars for adult occupant protection and just two stars for child occupant protection. The Datsun Go’s vehicle structure collapsed in the crash and was rated as unstable.

The car’s lack of airbags meant that the driver’s head makes direct contact with the steering wheel and dashboard – the dummy readings indicate a high probability of life-threatening injuries. And to make matters worse, the Global NCAP observed

that the failure of the body shell makes it redundant to fit an airbag.

Global NCAP is an independent charity registered in the United Kingdom. It serves as a global platform for NCAPs around the world to exchange best practice in consumer orientated vehicle safety initiatives. Global NCAP also provides financial and technical assistance to new programmes in the rapidly motorising countries and regions of Asia and Latin America. Global NCAP receives

financial support from the FIA Foundation, from International Consumer Testing and Research, from the Road Safety Fund and the World Bank Global Road Safety Facility.

Recently, the latest crash test results released by Global NCAP showed that while Nissan’s Datsun Go received a zero-star safety rating and the Maruti Suzuki Swift scored zero stars for adult occupant protection and just one star for child occupant protection.

Max Mosley, said in a

THE JANUARY 2014 BOMBSHELL

Ford Figo

62 I November 2014

Hyundai i10

Maruti Suzuki Alto 800

COVER REPORT press release, “It is extremely disappointing that Nissan has authorised the launch of a brand new model that is so clearly substandard. As presently engineered the Datsun Go will certainly fail to pass the United Nation’s frontal impact regulation. In these circumstances I would urge Nissan to withdraw the Datsun Go from sale in India pending an urgent redesign of the car’s body-shell.

“Applying the UN’s minimum crash test standards to all passenger car production worldwide is a key recommendation of the Global Plan for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. Given Carlos Ghosn’s responsibilities as Chairman and CEO of Nissan and President of the European Car Manufacturers Association, he should now demonstrate leadership both in Nissan and on behalf of the vehicle industry generally that corresponds to the UN’s legitimate expectation that automobile safety should be improved during the Decade of Action,” Mosley said.

GLOBAL NCAP MESSAGE FOR INDIA Earlier, Global NCAP had also welcomed the Indian Government’s initiative to launch a New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) but believes that this positive step should also be accompanied by action to apply the United Nation’s minimum crash tests standards.

India is now the fifth largest producer in the world of passenger

Tata Nano

cars but new independent crash tests show why the country should use internationally accepted safety standards. Crash tests of Nissan’s Datsun Go and MarutiSuzuki’s Swift demonstrate a high risk of life-threatening injuries with both cars receiving zerostar safety rating for their adult occupant protection. These risks would be significantly reduced if the cars had to comply with the UN test regulation for frontal and side impact, the Global NCAP statement read.

Mosley said, “India has the potential to be a world leader in the automobile industry but Indian consumers are not aware of how unsafe they would be in case of a crash. That is why we are pleased that India is launching an NCAP consumer testing programme.

This would be a step forward for safety but regulations based on the UN’s minimum crash test standards are also needed. If this happens every new car sold in India would have a proper crash structure and airbags.”

Global NCAP Secretary General David Ward said, “We welcome the initiative of the Indian government to launch its own NCAP and recommend that this positive step is combined with the application of the UN regulations for frontal and side impact. Prompt action like this would prevent the introduction of brand new models like the Datsun Go, which has body structure so weak that is pointless to fit an airbag.”

He added that “It is disappointing to see a global

company like Nissan launch a new complete both the regulatory car design in 2014 that so clearly and NCAP consumer information falls below UN safety standards. process not later than 2016.

This runs counter to the objectives THE JANUARY 2014 of the UN Decade of Action.”

BOMBSHELL Rohit Baluja, President of the Institute of Road Traffic Education In January 2014, the first-ever (IRTE) said: “Consumers are not independent crash tests of some yet aware of the safety aspects of India’s popular and important of the vehicle they purchase. small cars had shown a high-risk The consumer believes that the of life threatening injuries in road automobiles they are purchasing crashes. All the cars selected meet the best safety standards.

by Global NCAP for testing in a While deciding to purchase the frontal impact at 64km/h received vehicle the consumer does not zero-star adult protection ratings. yet consider safety as a deciding The models tested included parameter. This awareness India’s best-selling car, the needs to be created. It must be Suzuki-Maruti Alto 800. The Tata the responsibility of both the Nano, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10 and vehicle manufacturer and seller Volkswagen Polo also underwent to provide this information to the the safety assessment. Combined consumer and make this aspect sales of these five cars account the basis of marketing.” for around 20pc of all the new cars Referring to the Prime sold in India last in 2013.

Minister’s campaign “Make in Global NCAP chose the entryIndia”, the call is “not just make in level version of each model and India, but make the highest quality as a result none were fitted with of products in India which match air bags as standard. Around the the best of global standards.” same time the tests were carried Baluja complimented the Ministry out Volkswagen had decided to of Road Transport & Highways for withdraw the non-airbag version of their initiative with the Automobile the Polo from sale in India. Global Industry to start the process NCAP agreed to a request from of the Indian NCAP as well as VW to assess a version of the towards framing a regulatory Polo that had two airbags fitted as structure. Baluja, however, laid standard from then on. emphasis that while USA initiated the process of having an NCAP as early as 1979, and most automobile manufacturing countries have followed suit, India is far behind Maruti Suzuki Swift schedule and must

VW Polo

November 2014 I 63

NEWS

Diesel holds sway in India & EU, while China prefers gasoline

W

hile worldwide gasoline or petrol engines are the most popular powertrain, in India and the European Union (EU), every second new car is a diesel.

According to Bosch, a leading global supplier of technology and services, outside these core markets of Indian and Europe, diesel is becoming increasingly popular. In Japan, nearly every fifth new car now features a hybrid powertrain. This makes the country the undisputed pioneer of electrification. Powertrains that can drive on both gasoline and alcohol (ethanol) are especially

64 I November 2014

prominent in Brazil.

But there is definitely no match to gasoline engines as China leads the field wherein nearly 100 pc of all new car purchasers choose a gasoline engine. In the U.S. and Japan, the figure is roughly 75 pc. Engines with port-fuel injection still feature in more than every second gasoline-powered vehicle. Downsizing is becoming ever more popular, and with it the efficient and economical Bosch gasoline direct injection systems. Combining gasoline direct injection with downsizing can reduce fuel consumption by up to 15 pc. At the same time,

turbocharging helps the engine deliver more torque, especially at low engine speeds. This improves acceleration and adds to driving enjoyment.

For diesel consumption, the United States, for example, is a growth market. Bosch estimates that diesel’s market share there will rise from 3 pc today to as much as 10 pc in 2018. In South Korea as well, diesel is becoming more and more popular. For many Europeans, its benefits are already clear: a modern diesel consumes as much as 25 pc less fuel than a comparable gasoline engine, and delivers as much as 40 pc more

torque.

In just a few years, registrations of hybrids will be significantly higher outside Japan as well.

Bosch forecasts that of a predicted 113 million total vehicles sold worldwide in 2020, 6.5 million will be strong hybrids, 3 million will be plug-in hybrids, and 2.5 million will be all-electric (assuming a total of 113 million vehicles sold in 2020). Even now, Bosch is developing a broad product portfolio for this mass market. It ranges from hybrid systems to plug-in hybrids and powertrains for all-electric vehicles. In addition, Bosch is developing entry-level

NEWS hybrids based on a 48-volt electrical system.

Powertrains that can drive on both gasoline and alcohol (ethanol) are especially prominent in Brazil but the second largest market for this technology is the United States. The Bosch systems run on pure ethanol as well as any mixture of ethanol and gasoline. Drivers are more independent, since such a flex-fuel system allows them to choose the more affordable ethanol.

Worldwide, CNG powertrains are becoming increasingly popular.

For ten years now, sales have been growing worldwide by 25 pc.

In South Korea, CNG-powered vehicles have already captured an 11 percent share of the market.

Bosch offers a complete system that allows vehicles to run on this inexpensive fuel at all times. This is

a significant advantage for drivers, since CNG is up to 50 pc cheaper than gasoline, and can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25 pc.

Mobility Solutions is the largest Bosch Group business sector. In 2013, its sales came to 30.6 billion euros, or 66 percent of total group sales.

This makes the Bosch Group one of the leading automotive suppliers (NB: Due to a change in accounting policies, the 2013 figures can only be compared to a limited extent with the 2012 figures). Mobility Solutions largely operates in the following areas: injection technology for internalcombustion engines, alternative powertrain concepts, efficient and networked powertrain peripherals, systems for active and passive driving safety, assistance and comfort functions, technology

for user-friendly infotainment as well as car-to-car and Car2X communication, and concepts, technology, and service for the automotive aftermarket. Bosch has been responsible for important automotive innovations, such as electronic engine management, the ESP anti-skid system, and common-rail diesel technology.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In 2013, its roughly 281,000 associates generated sales of 46.1 billion euros. (NB: Due to a change in accounting policies, the 2013 figures can only be compared to a limited extent with the 2012 figures). Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Automotive Technology, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology.

The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 360 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 50 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. In 2013, the Bosch Group invested some 4.5 billion euros in research and development and applied for some 5,000 patents. This is an average of 20 patents per day.

The Bosch Group’s products and services are designed to fascinate, and to improve the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial.

In this way, the company offers technology worldwide that is “Invented for life.”

Bosch aims to double Asian business by 2020

O

ver the past ten years, Bosch has doubled its sales in Asia Pacific. By 2020, it is aiming to double its sales in the region again. This was stated by Dr. Volkmar Denner, Chairman of the Bosch board of management, during a press briefing in Bangalore, India. As for India, the Bosch Group is forecasting further strong growth for the country over the next few years, and expects to see positive economic development in the country over the medium and long term.

Dr Denver noted that the company sees India as a key pillar of its growth strategy in Asia Pacific. Dr. Denner forecasts that after registering projected economic growth of around 4.8 pc this year, India will likely grow by 6 pc in 2015. This makes the country one of the global engines of growth alongside China. “We expect to see India establish itself as the world’s fifth largest vehicle manufacturer by the end of this decade,” Dr. Denner said.

The Bosch Group has been

active on the subcontinent since 1922. In 2013, the company generated sales in India of approximately Rs 13,200 crore, a three-fold increase over ten years ago. Bosch currently employs 27,000 associates at ten production sites and seven R&D locations in India. Since 2010, the Bosch Group has invested around Rs 5,400 crore in the expansion of manufacturing and research facilities there, of which some Rs 1,200 crore were invested in the current year alone.

India is home to the technology and services company’s largest development centre outside Germany, employing 10,500 engineers. “We develop innovative solutions there which are used in products around the world,” said Dr. Steffen Berns, president of the Bosch Group in India. The rising number of patents filed testifies to the successful work at the centre: from 20 registered innovations in 2008, this figure rose to 220 last year. “That’s a more than ten-fold increase within five years,” Berns said. Among the innovations

developed by the Bangalore-based centre is a compact retina camera with special software that can detect conditions such as cataracts at Dr. Volkmar Denner, Chairman, an early stage. This Bosch Board of Management fast and cost-effective eye diagnostic tool was specifically designed to meet by the end of the decade. By the needs of the Indian market, comparison, Bosch forecasts that and can be easily put into use in some 110 million new cars will be similar regions as well. sold worldwide in 2020.

Against this backdrop, Bosch DYNAMIC GROWTH IN TWO- is also entering the global WHEELER MARKET motorcycle market with new Bosch also sees excellent powertrain systems. Especially opportunities in the booming in Asia and India, efficient two-wheeler market. Last year powertrains can play an important the company registered a growth part in reducing environmental rate of 14 pc, making it one of the impact. For this reason, Bosch most dynamic markets in India. has developed an affordable “We predict that the number and robust engine management of two-wheelers sold annually system that is specially designed on the subcontinent will reach for the Indian and Asian markets.

27 million by 2020,” Denner Currently, many machines in Asia said. Worldwide, the number of are still fitted with carburetors. It is motorbikes and electric e-scooters precisely here that Bosch believes sold is expected to increase from its technology offers a decisive 100 million today to 150 million advantage.

November 2014 I 65

north india

The Power of North Report: Avdesh Kumar

T

he turnover of the Indian auto component industry was 211765 crore (US 35.13 billion) for the period April 2013 to March 2014. The turnover comes from the several Tier I, II and II players that dot the different automotive clusters spread across India. There are several regional clusters for automotive components in India.

These include Western, Southern, Central, Eastern and NCR clusters.

NCR or the National Capital Region comprises of New Delhi and the urban areas surrounding it in the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. This region is home to some great automotive component manufacturers. Even beyond the boundaries of NCR, these component factories stretch out, for example in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand their products supplying some very critical parts to major OEMs in India as well as companies abroad.

While Delhi has one auto component cluster, Haryana has three and Punjab has four.

Rajasthan, a state in North India, has around four auto clusters and is increasing its footprint in the area of automotive business.

When one drives down the

Delhi-Jaipur National Highway 8, one can’t help but notice the immense industrial presence in the region. Both sides of the expressway are dotted with automotive component manufacturing facilities. Because of the presence of some auto majors like Maruti Suzuki and Hero MotoCorp, leaders in the four wheeler and two wheeler industries respectively, several automotive companies, big and small, have set up base in North India and are doing brisk business. Then there are also auto majors like Honda Cars India, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, JCB, Escorts, New Holland India, International Tractors Ltd & ICML (Sonalika group), India Yamaha Motor, Suzuki, TVS Motors (Nalagarh), SML Isuzu, Harley-Davidson, TAFE (Parwanoo), SML Isuzu (Punjab), Ashok Leyland (Alwar), Hero Electric, among others, sourcing components from several players in the northern region.

Catering to the demand from these OEMs and also those situated across the country and the globe, hundreds and thousands of automotive component manufacturers, both big and small, have been operating from North India. But today no auto component player is confined to one cluster. Each one of the big daddy has spread its wings to neighbouring states and has either entered into JVs abroad or have acquired plants overseas.

Prominent names in the auto components business as well as those catering to the auto industry in India include the likes of Amtek, Anand Automotive, APM

Interview with A.K. Taneja, Managing Director, Shriram Pistons and Rings There was a strike which took place at your plant earlier this year, how long did that strike last?

The strike started on April 15th 2014 and we resumed production on May 5, 2014, so the strike lasted for about three weeks.

How did this strike affect your production levels?

Our production was indeed impacted.

However, we managed to service all our OEM customers fully and completely by

66 I November 2014

transferring some of the products to be manufactured at the Ghaziabad facility and by putting in extra time. Many of our supervisors, officers and workmen did not want to participate in the unrest and with their help we were able to supply all our OEM customers in India and abroad. We did not miss a single schedule and let me add that when we set up this plant in Pathredi due care was taken to see that there was interchangeability of tools. We would be able to move models on short notice from

Technologies, ARB Bearings, ARO Equipments, Avtec Ltd., Brkaewel Automotive Components, Clutch Auto, Delphi, Denso, Elofic Industries, Eureka Forbes, GS Auto International, Guru Nank Auto Enterprises, Hilux Automotive, Hi-Tech Gears, Inventa Cleantec, JBM Motors, Karcher Cleaning System, Lumax Industries, Magneti Marelli, Makino Auto Industries, Minda Auto (Nirmal Minda Group) National Engineering Industries Ltd, Neolite, Nipman Fastener, Omax Autos, Senior Rubber, Shriram Pistons & Rings Ltd, Sona Koyo Steering, Spark Minda (Ashok Minda Group), Varroc Group etc.

NORTH INDIA place A to Place B. This was not done keeping in view the fact that there could be unrest. After all in our Ghaziabad plant we have not seen even one hour of loss in production in the last 25 plus years. So it was not done with that goal in mind rather we made this possible in order to maintain flexibility so that we can produce here or in the Ghaziabad plant.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the market, there is a lot of volatility in demand and you don’t know what to expect.

Can you elaborate on the root of the strike and how it was resolved?

The unrest was precipitated by elements outside our company.

When we spoke to our associates we found a majority of them who were interested to work peacefully.

They said they would happily welcome an additional package and that they were satisfied with the overall working conditions.

There is always an area of improvement which exists and that is why you have committees to discuss it. They were very satisfied with the way the management was dealing with their problems.

However in any enterprise where you have 1500 to 2000 associates working together you will find that many of them who are new to the enterprise and have very little experience are the ones who can be misled by outside elements for their own gain. This is exactly

what happened; there are some professional unions who do not have the interest of the enterprise at heart. They do not have the interest of the workmen at heart but they have their own agenda and they stepped in, they muddied the water, they created some turbulence and it took us a few weeks to control it. We lost some production but we did not lose a single customer. The situation is that we have a new look, a new approach, we are spending much more time in sensitizing the associates on what is business reality, what is expected of them, why it is expected of them, we are calibrating their aspirations with what is affordable, with what is happening in the industry around us, we are making them aware of how they can grow in their careers and we are communicating with them much more than before. We are making sure that if there is any grievance real or perceived it is attended to on time and we have encouraged them to compare the work conditions in this company with what is happening in the surrounding areas. I am happy to report that the feedback we have been getting is very encouraging.

What are the current production capacities of this plant in Pathredi?

The installed capacity for pistons is about 9 lakh a month or 11 million a year, the installed capacity for engine valves is 2.1 million per

month or 25 million a year and the installed capacity for rings is matching the pistons as we usually have three rings per piston so we have a matching capacity.

Can you iterate on some of the measures you are taking on training and development of your workforce?

We have a very well structured training program for all associates as well as for other employees -like supervisors and managers. At the associate level we start with basic training about shop floor discipline and about the need to observe safety regulations. We share with them not only what is to be done but how it is to be done, why it is to be done, what can go wrong and how to fix it. They are given a 360 degree view of how their work will contribute to the company and their personal growth. It is followed by on the job training there is a great deal of hand holding in the beginning, so that they can learn the right way of doing things. After they learn one operation they are encouraged to learn not only production but how to set the machine and when they learn to do that training is given to maintain the machine.

So we inculcate a concept of my machine. When the training is complete for one machine we train them on a second and a third machine, so that operations remain very flexible in case of

absenteeism or if workers have to be redeployed depending on demand then we have opportunities to do so. We have a well structured program in place where there is a periodic review and based on that we take the next steps in the training program.

We have similar programmes for our supervisory staff. Of course more needs to be done and it is being done.

There is a new government in place, are you optimistic on the economic development front?

The new government has brought hope for faster industrial growth and hope of a stable policy regime. This is required for making large commitments on the ground. The most important thing the new government has brought is hope. People were beginning to despair. All that we read every day in the morning news was about another scam which was unearthed or about a policy action which was did not come through. This government seems to mean business and the early signs are good. I have just returned from travels to Germany and Japan. I am delighted to see how the foreign investors are looking at India once again as a place to invest not only to service the Indian market but also to have a footprint in India for exports to other countries. A lot remains to be done but the early signs are very encouraging.

Escorts becoming leaner, more profitable

W

ith an operational focus on improving business performance, Escorts Limited has successfully implemented group wide future oriented VRS, aimed particularly at restructuring Escorts Auto Products. This largest ever VRS at Escorts was availed by 350 employees and will enable greater efficiencies and productivity due to rationalisation of deployment.

The exercise will cost around Rs 30 crore and will have a payback

68 I November 2014

of two years. The one time impact will be reflected in the company’s Q2 results. The exercise was closed within 30 days.

According to Ishan Mehta, Executive Vice President, HR & ER, “Our VRS offer was part of an overall group wide strategic initiative to make Escorts leaner and smarter organization. Through this, we have sought to become even more focused on productivity and improve our organizational efficiencies. “

Dipankar Ghosh, CEO – Escorts Auto Products said, “We at Escorts have embarked on ambitious programmes that focus on ‘lean’ management and consolidation of manufacturing facilities to create more profitable production methods.

Simultaneously, we are also engaged with chosen prospective partners for technology infusion to tap into the larger opportunities available within the auto sector.

I am sure, these initiatives will enable EAP to target higher market share by offering its high end products to domestic as well as international markets.”

NORTH INDIA

Hero Electric launches Avior e-cycles for 19290

H

ero Electric has launched Avior e-cycles in India bringing highly affordable eco-friendly mobility technology from Germany to the country for the first time. The male oriented Avior AMX will cost 19,290/- and the female oriented bicycle will cost 18,990/- (on-road Delhi) and are on sale in 5 metro cities in the country currently.

Both the Avior cycles come fitted with 250W BLDC rechargeable and detachable batteries which operate at 24V. Charging the batteries takes about 4.5-5.5 hours and last for a range of 25km with a top speed of 25kmph. The AMX is fitted with an electronic disc brake and the front, but the AFX comes fitted with drum brakes. The rear brakes are standard servo. The Avior cycles are very light weight; the AMX weighs 34kgs while the AFX weighs 33kgs.

The Avior pair also gets a 6-speed shimano gears.

Some exciting features fitted as standard are LED head lamps, Adjustable seats, tail lamps integrated into the battery box, and electric horn, as the AFX also has a metallic front basket. But maintaining the cycles is also interesting. The battery has a very long life and depending on the usage of the battery with the power assist mode or full electric mode, the battery has a life of max of 14 months. Replacement is also inexpensive at 2000/-.

Naveen Munjal, Managing Director of Hero Eco Group stated that the company is committed to provide green mobility to the country.

CEO Global Business of Hero Electric India, Sohinder Gill commented that the company has always prioritised innovation and quality and with the expected growth in the EV industry, the company is thrilled to introduce leading global technology in the country.

Maruti Suzuki 6th edition of Sustainability Report

C

ar market leader Maruti Suzuki unveiled the 6th edition of the Sustainability Report, which presents extensive economic, social and environmental performance of Maruti Suzuki for 2013-14. The report has been prepared as per the latest GRI G4 guidelines and has been externally assured, according to a press release issued by the company.

Adopting the theme, ‘Making it Matter’, the report outlines the company’s focus of taking action in the social, environment and economic sphere that makes a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of its stakeholders. The company is committed to set new benchmarks and build excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility, as in all areas of business.

Highlighting key focus areas, R.C. Bhargava, Chairman in his

address said, “Our CSR activities will be primarily in the areas of Village Development, Skill Development and Road Safety.

The Village Development will include construction of household toilets to prevent open defecation, upgrading Government Schools, separate toilets for girl students, upgradation of sanitation and water facilities in villages.”

He added, “The Company will focus on Skill Development initiatives to make students from Industrial Training Institute (ITI) industry ready. Under the Road Safety programme, we intend to create capacity for training drivers in large numbers, train the trainer and partner with Government to make select towns model from road safety point of view. We are also working on a scholarship scheme to support students orphaned due to road accidents.”

Sohinder Gill, CEO Global Business, Hero Electric India with Naveen Munjal, Managing Director, Hero Eco Group at the launch of Avior e-cycles in New Delhi

Hero MotoCorp “garden factory” in Neemrana

H

ero MotoCorp Ltd plant at Neemrana in Rajasthan has gone on stream.

The plant will contribute towards enabling the company to surpass 100 million units in cumulative production by year 2020. The plant will be officially inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje Scindia.

The Neemrana plant is Hero’s one-of-a-kind-garden factory. From efficient building envelope, to the Big Foot air handlers, to water and energy optimisation - the Garden Factory demonstrates HMCL’s environmental aspirations.

With this new plant, Hero MotoCorp now has four globallybenchmarked manufacturing units in India – Haridwar in the hill state of Uttarakhand, Gurgaon and Dharuhera in the northern state of Haryana, and Neemrana. The combined installed production capacity of the company has now risen-up to 7.65 million per annum. It is well in course to achieve the stated objective of 12 million annual capacity by year 2020.

Hero MotoCorp is also set to commence construction of its fifth & sixth manufacturing plants in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh respectively. When operational, all these plants – including the ones in Colombia and Bangladesh – will take the total installed capacity of Hero MotoCorp to 12 million units of two-wheelers.

November 2014 I 69

NEWS

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to spin off Ferrari

F

errari S.p.A., makers of the iconic Ferrari cars, is being spun off as a separate company by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and will in all probability be listed in the United States as well as a European stock exchange. The Board of Directors of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced that in connection with FCA’s implementation of a capital plan appropriate to support the Group’s long-term success, it has authorised the separation of Ferrari S.p.A.from FCA. There will be a public offering of FCA’s interest in Ferrari equal to 10pc of Ferrari’s outstanding shares and a distribution of FCA’s remaining Ferrari shares to FCA shareholders. The Board has

authorised FCA management to take the steps necessary to complete these transactions during 2015.

John Elkann, Chairman of FCA said that he was delighted to have taken this additional step in the development of FCA. “Coupled with the recent listing of FCA shares on the NYSE, the separation of Ferrari will preserve the cherished Italian heritage and unique position of the Ferrari business and allow FCA shareholders to continue to benefit from the substantial value inherent in this business,” said Elkann.

In a press release issued by the company, FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne stated that “Following our acquisition of the minority

interest in Chrysler earlier this year, the transformation of Fiat and Chrysler into FCA was completed earlier this month with our debut on the New York Stock Exchange.

As we move forward to secure the 2014-2018 Business Plan and work toward maximising the value of our businesses to our shareholders, it is proper that we pursue separate paths for FCA and Ferrari.”

Marchionne added that the “The Board supports management’s determination that this transaction represents FCA’s best course of action to support the long term success of the Group while at the same time substantially strengthening FCA’s capital base.”

John Elkann, Chairman,FCA The spin-off of Ferrari will be subject to customary regulatory approvals, tax and legal considerations, final approval of the transaction structure from the FCA Board of Directors and other customary requirements, the release added.

Tata Autocomp, Katcon JV for exhaust systems

MIFA files for insolvency; Hero Cycles deal off

ata AutoComp Systems Limited (Tata AutoComp) and Katcon Global have signed a 50:50 Joint Venture agreement to provide exhaust systems and emission after-treatment systems to the Indian automotive industry. The JV will be headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra. The joint venture will focus on designing and delivering innovative exhaust systems and emission after-treatment solutions to the Indian automotive industry that would include passenger cars, utility vehicles, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, busses, farm tractors and off-road vehicles. The product offering will include solutions for both the hot end and cold end of the exhaust system namely, catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters, selective catalytic reduction, mufflers and silencer modules.

Ajay Tandon, MD & CEO of Tata AutoComp Systems Limited said the partnership with Katcon will expand his company’s portfolio to now bring the latest in exhaust and emission after treatment solutions to the Indian automotive Industry.

Arvind Goel, President, COO & CTO, Tata AutoComp Systems Limited added that as the Indian automotive market evolves, automotive manufacturers in all segments will have to upgrade their emission systems to meet the rising Indian and global standards.

“Through this JV we will be offering our customers exhaust systems and emission after treatment solutions that are designed to meet Euro 5 and Euro 6 norms,” he said. Carlos Turner, CEO of Katcon Global said the combination of Katcon’s expertise in exhaust systems and emission after-treatment and Tata AutoComp’s knowledge of the Indian market provides both companies an opportunity for growth and serve the emerging needs of the Indian automotive industry.

Tata AutoComp Systems Limited (Tata AutoComp), promoted by the Tata Group, provides products and services to the Indian and Global automotive OEMs as well as Tier 1 suppliers.

itteldeutsche Fahrradwerke AG (MIFA), a leading bicycle maker based in Germany has not only called off its business deal with India based Hero Motors (part of OP Munjal Group) but has also filed for insolvency after it reported continued losses in its business.

With regard to the agreement with Hero Cycles, it was observed that “An essential part of the basic agreement that was concluded on 22 August with OPM Global B.V., a subsidiary of the Indian bicycle manufacturer Hero Cycles Ltd. .....to financially restructure MIFA could not be implemented as pledged.” In view of this, the board of management of MIFA decided to apply for insolvency proceedings in self-administration to continue the restructuring process of MIFA on its own and ensure trouble-free continuation of operative business.

MIFA, headquartered in Sangerhausen (Saxony-Anhalt), is Germany’s largest manufacturer of bicycles in terms of sales. The company offers a comprehensive range of bicycle models spanning entry price through to premium end. The components included in bicycle production are sourced from renowned suppliers and assembled at the company’s sole production site in Sangerhausen, Germany. Business in this context focuses on product-related order production for major retail chains and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) customers. E-bikes have also been manufactured since 2011. MIFA produces e-bikes for automotive manufacturer smart, manufactures for the Deutsche Post bicycle fleet, and supplies communal lending systems with multi-user vehicles, among other customers. In 2012, MIFA acquired Berlin-based e-bike manufacturer Grace and Bavaria-based cult bicycle forging company Steppenwolf, thereby intensifying its sales activities via specialist dealers. MIFA sells its bicycles predominately on its domestic German market.

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NEWS

Volvo launches new truck range in India Report & Photography: Joshua David Luther

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wedish truck maker Volvo has launched a range of new trucks in India under their 50:50 joint venture with Eicher Motors Limited on October 27, 2014. This is a new fleet of trucks being introduced into the market by VECV (Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles) and the range will comprise of the FH, FM and the FMX. The FH and FM are tractor trailers (Pullers) while the FMX is a tipper (dump-truck) primarily meant for mining and construction operations. Volvo has been synonymous in India for introducing and manufacturing premium segment trucks and the new range being launched is complimenting this position in India. Volvo is currently the market leader in terms of premium trucks sales in India with a 65 pc share of the market.

The company has made investments to the tune of US$ 3 billion and has dedicated fourteen

million engineering hours to this project. The new range of trucks has been tested for a whooping 21 million kilometers and Volvo has confidently launched this new range of premium trucks to storm the Indian market. The FH, FM and FMX are claimed to be technologically superior to their competitors in terms of productivity, fuel efficiency and safety leading to maximum uptime.

Volvo has also launched the new I-Shift technology which makes mining and construction operations easy. The automated I-Shift gearbox is easy to operate and provides optimum fuel efficiency.

FMX offers dual driving modes -- economy and performance.

Volvo has also introduced their Dynafleet telematics system to the new range which enables owners to access real time data of their fleet as well as driver logs. The Dynafleet telematics system allows owners to be able to monitor

fuel consumption, overtime, location of vehicles and a vehicles performance data.

The FH, FM and FMX have been equipped with a 12.8 litre in-line 6 cylinder direct injection diesel engine. However the performance configurations on the FH tractor trailer are higher. The FH produces 520hp @ 1500-1800rpm and churns out a 2500Nm of torque @1050-1450rpm while the FMX and the FM produce 440hp @ 1400-1800rpm and 220Nm of torque @ 1050-1400rpm. The FMX tipper comes with the automatic I-Shift gearbox which has 12 forward and 4 reverse gears while the manual version of the gearbox has 14 forward with 2 crawler and 4 reverse gears. The Manual is a synchronized range / splitter gearbox and is also on both the tractor trailers. The FH and FM come in a 6X4 configuration while the FMX comes in an 8X4 configuration and has twin heavy

duty front steerable axles. The rear axles on all the trucks are a drive tandem hub-reaction type with four planetary gears. The suspension on these trucks is an S-shaped parabolic leaf in the front and a multi-leaf spring at the rear. The FMX has a driver plus co-driver cab while the FH and FM can accommodate a driver plus a co-driver and have a sleeping bunk at the back. The FMX tipper now comes with a front towing device certified for 25 tonnes. The FH tractor can tow a payload of 200 tonnes while the FM tractor can tow a payload of 125 tonnes when they are coupled with suitable hydraulic axle trailers.

The new range of trucks from Volvo is set to make waves in the premium truck industry and offer a lot more to their consumers like a lower cost of ownership, higher up-time for drivers and the vehicles along with real time monitoring of vehicle and driver performance.

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NEWS

ACMA organises meet with African countries

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CMA, the apex body of the auto component Industry in India with support of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, organised the first ever reverse buyers-sellers meet with African auto component dealers and distributors.

Present at the meet were 38 key buyers from seven African countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Egypt and Botswana who are keen to source automotive aftermarket components from India. The African delegation comprised of OEMs, Auto Component Manufacturers, distributors,

importers and agents. Over 70 Indian component makers’ showcased ‘Made in India’ aftermarket products. This served as a platform for the visiting delegation to get an insight into the growing capabilities of the Indian auto component industry.

On the occasion, Ambuj Sharma, Additional Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India said, “The auto industry is a critical cog in the wheel of the Indian manufacturing sector. An initiative such as this will enable the auto component makers in India to expand business beyond shores and harness opportunities in the fast growing African market.”

Investcorp acquires safety apparel maker Dainese

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nvestcorp, a leading global provider and manager of alternative investment products, announced that it has reached an agreement with Lino Dainese, to acquire the specialist Italian retailer Dainese at an enterprise value of Euros 130 million ( 997 crore approximately). Dainese, will retain a minority stake in the business alongside Investcorp.

Founded in 1972, Dainese is the most recognised and respected brand for safety and quality in the motorcycle and other dynamic sports market. Dainese today provides protective gear for road and racing use alike, as well as for use in winter sports, biking and horse riding. In addition, through the AGV brand name, Dainese is also one of the leading protective helmet

manufacturers for the motorcycle market.

The company has its Dainese Technology Centre (D-Tec), an R&D technical centre for the study of protective technology and the development of innovative products.

Company founder Lino Dainese, is credited with inventing products such as back protectors, knee sliders and Dainese air bag (D-Air), an intelligent protection system which recognises a dangerous fall and deploys special airbags around motorcyclists’ bodies.

Spark Minda, Maruti Suzuki, Tihar Jail join hands for CSR integrated business model

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or the first time in the history of Indian automotive industry, an automotive component manufacturing unit has been set up inside Jail premises. Minda Furukawa Electric Pvt. Ltd (MFE), a joint venture company between Spark Minda (Ashok Minda Group) and Furukawa of Japan has set up an automotive component manufacturing unit at Tihar Jail, New Delhi.

This has been set up under PPP model Tihar Jail DG Alok Verma inspecting the MFE unit premises for its customer Maruti Suzuki India Limited. The facility was inaugurated recently by Tihar Jail Management comprising items, paper processing, furniture, carpentry DG Prisons, Alok Kumar Verma, IG, Prasad and etc . But this is the first time that an automotive Superintendent, Girish Pandey. Officials from component manufacturing unit has been set up MSIL and MFE management along with Spark in Tihar Jail.

Minda Group management -- A. Maenishi MFE is located at Bawal, Haryana and (President) & K.D Singh (Jt. President) and N.K it develops and produces the entire range Taneja (Group Chief Marketing Officer), were of wiring harness for four wheelers for its also present. customers, and components related to wiring Several projects are already successfully harness e.g. couplers, terminals, relay box, running inside the Tihar Jail premises which junction box, and steering roll connectors used includes, shoe making, chemical unit, bakery for the airbag systems etc.

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The investment at the jail includes machinery, raw material and other quality systems and procedures laid down as per policy and the facility will be run by jail convicts under the supervision of MFE. In this manufacturing unit, wire harness product, a key automotive component, will be manufactured by the jail convicts and will be supplied to MSIL. An MOU was been signed between MFE and Tihar Jail authorities on March 30, 2014 The operations commenced from April 1, 2014 and after successful completion of training to inmates, the production started with daily supply for part sets of 200250 wire harness. The finished product then goes for final inspection and quality check and is then transported to MSIL in Gurgaon.

As a next step, the Tihar Jail authorities have agreed to facilitate a bigger area for production inside their premises once the production will reach to its full capacity and bigger wire harnesses will come into production. This social enterprise will provide employment to approximately 200-250 convicts.

NEWS

Yokohama begins commercial production in Haryana

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yre manufacturer Yokohama India started their first phase of commercial production in India at their plant in HSIIDC, Bahadurgarh - Haryana. The current manufacturing capacity of the plant in Haryana is 2000 tyres per day and in the coming phases of growth the capacity can be scaled up to 6000 to 8000 tyres per day. Yokohama India has also introduced a new range of tyres called Earth-1. These have been

specially designed for Indian road conditions and are recommended for durability, mileage and noise comfort. Hikomitsu Noji, President and Representative Director of Tyre Business – Yokohama Rubber Company Japan stated that they required their own manufacturing facility here in India and had decided to set up their factory at Bahadurgarh - Haryana in 2012.

The international tyre manufacturer is currently operating

on a 2pc share of the total market.

Yokohama is only competing in the tubeless tyre market. The new Earth-1 tyre has been designed and manufactured to cater to most of the vehicles in the B, B+ and C segments. Takeshi Fujino, Managing Director Yokohama India said that the tyres are tough and can take on rough roads while providing a comfortable and a smooth ride at the same time.

The Earth-1 tyre is claimed to be

technologically advanced and uses a Wear Control Shoulder Design which reduces the wear and tear of the tyre with a vertical and horizontal grove pattern and this is claimed to also enhance the quietness of the tyres as well. The Earth-1 tyre comes with a bold side bar design and a thicker side rubber. The centre rib on the tyre helps in maximizing performance and the wide straight groves improve control in wet conditions.

TOP LEVEL CHANGES IN MOTOWN At international automotive supplier Continental, BERND MAHR took over as Executive Vice President of the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Business Unit based in Nuremberg, Germany. His appointment is effective from November 1, 2014.

The Business Unit, which is part of the Powertrain Division, develops and produces power electronics and electric motors for hybrid and electric vehicles. José Avila, who is head of the Powertrain Division and a Member of Continental’s Executive Board has been running the unit uptil now.

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has appointed DIMITROV KRISHNAN as Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Volvo CE, India, as of October 15, 2014. He takes on the reins from A.M. Muralidharan who moves to Singapore to assume the role of Vice President and head of Commercial Management and Dealer Development for Volvo CE in Region Asia Pacific.

Dimitrov Krishnan will be responsible to further strengthen Volvo´s leading positions in the premium segment of India´s construction equipment industry.

Apollo Tyres Ltd has announced the appointment of MATHIAS HEIMANN as President of Europe & Americas and CEO of Apollo Vredestein B.V. According to a press release issued by Apollo Tyres, Mathias, 48, is a German national with over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and production. His career within the automotive industry has included OE suppliers as well as retail and service organisations for large international automobile companies in Europe and Asia.

Group Lotus plc has appointed RUSSELL CARR as Head of Design for Lotus. Russell joined Lotus in 1990 and in that time has worked on many of the designs produced

by Lotus. Russell replaces Donato Coco who leaves Lotus on October 31, 2014. The appointment of Russell Carr as Head of Design is effective from November 1, 2014.

Russell Car said that is an honour to take on the role of Head of Design for Lotus.

“Design is extremely important to Lotus as it conveys the pure, competitive and unconventional values of Lotus,” he said.

CEAT Ltd., one of India’s leading tyre manufacturers, has appointed DEBI PRASAD DAS as Senior Vice President – Human Resources. Das will be based at the CEAT headquarters in Mumbai and will be responsible for Human Resources and Employee Relations functions at the company. Mr. Das’s appointment is part of the vision adopted by CEAT to have the best of the industry leaders at the helm of the company. He comes with a rich and varied heritage of 25 years of experience across Manufacturing and IT industries.

Hero MotoCorp Ltd. (HMCL) has appointed internationally-acclaimed automotive technology expert DR. MARKUS BRAUNSPERGER as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Dr. Braunsperger, who joins Hero MotoCorp as the CTO, comes from BMW, Germany where he spent 25 years in various roles covering the entire gamut of R&D, production and corporate strategy. Amongst other things, he led the entire R&D function for BMW motorcycles for several years and spearheaded the engineering division. During his term at BMW, he executed the largest implantation of new motorcycle models ever at the company. He was also the Head of BMW’s big model line including 4-wheeler models such as 5, 6 & 7 series cars & X3, X4, X5 and X6 SUVs.

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INTERVIEW

Scott Fallon,

General Manager, Automotive, SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business Report P. Tharyan SABIC is the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemicals, fertilizers, plastics and metals.

Ranked among the world’s largest petrochemicals manufacturers, SABIC is a public company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Around 70 pc of the Company’s shares are owned by the Saudi Arabian government, with the remaining 30 pc held by private investors in Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

SABIC began in 1976 by Royal decree. Today, the company has operations in over 40 countries with a global workforce of over 40,000 individuals. SABIC is composed of six business units, each headed by an Executive Vice President. These are: Chemicals, Polymers, Performance Chemicals, Fertilizers, Metals and Innovative Plastics.

SABIC’s Innovative Plastics is a world leader in providing engineering thermoplastics solutions.

To begin with can you give me details about SABIC’s India operations? How long have you been in India? What is your scale of operation here and the number of people working in your offices/units? Do you carry out any manufacturing here in India?

SABIC has had a presence in India since 1994. We have six strategic business units, of which five are active in India – Chemicals, Performance Chemicals, Polymers, Fertilizers and Innovative Plastics. We have hundreds of SABIC people spread out across 11 offices. We also have manufacturing operations in Vadodara and research activities in Bangalore. This technology centre, recently inaugurated, was built with an initial investment of $100 million USD. The centre is one of 19 global R&D centers of excellence for SABIC and home to several hundred scientists, who are carrying out cuttingedge research into new platforms for next-generation materials across industry sectors, including automotive. So, we are doing

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some very important work here in India, work that matters not only to the local industry, but to our customers worldwide.

SABIC produces chemicals, polymers and fertilizers and it serves diverse markets such as Healthcare, Transportation, Automotive, Electrical, Lighting and Consumer Electronics..... and it is a US$50 billion company. How much of these sales come from the automotive segment? Is it fair to say you are primarily a supplier to OEMs or do you also have an aftermarket share?

Our policy is not to disclose the percentage of sales from any one industry segment. That said, the automotive industry is very important to SABIC. We have served the global automotive industry for about 60 years.

During that time, we have helped the industry pioneer the use of thermoplastics across a wide variety of components and systems from bumper to bumper.

We collaborate primarily with OEMs and their suppliers on

application/vehicle programs, drawing upon our engineering design expertise to help them overcome a wide variety of challenges, from taking weight out of vehicles and meeting regulatory requirements to reducing system costs and manufacturing complexity.

Of the different regions of the world, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, etc., which region contributes the most towards automotive related sales? Is India a promising market?

Today, we have a strong automotive customer base across each of the different regions. More and more automotive production is moving to Asia Pacific, and we are committed to grow with automakers there to ensure that they have the support to meet their future needs.

The chemicals industry in India is one of the fastest growing industries in the country and India has a shortage of petrochemical materials, which makes it an interesting and promising market for SABIC. Today, we are working

with OEMs within and across various industries, including automotive, helping them develop solutions to meet their toughest challenges.

The automotive industry is very promising, particularly when you look to the growth in vehicle ownership in the country, which is among the fastest anywhere in the world. A growing middle class and the increasing affordability of vehicles contribute to a positive outlook. At the same time, this kind of growth comes with environmental challenges and so it is very important that the industry work together to develop technologies that contribute to greater efficiency and fewer emissions.

Increasingly, the industry is turning toward thermoplastics to help it meet new standards in fuel efficiency and environmental performance. SABIC is well positioned to help the industry with one of the world’s broadest selections of materials, lightweighting expertise and engineering design competence, all of which can help OEMs optimise

INTERVIEW systems, parts and processes.

Your product portfolio includes thermoplastic resins, coatings, specialty compounds, film, and sheet. How many of these products find their way into vehicles and within vehicles, where are these parts generally used?

We manufacture and compound a wide range of materials for the automotive industry. The good thing is that our problem-solving materials are versatile; they can be used in practically every application space that we serve today, including: chassis, electrical and electronics, exteriors, interiors, lighting, powertrain and fuel systems. So, our materials go into a wide variety of parts that you can see and some that you can’t: dashboards or instrument panels, door modules, tailgates, front headlights, body panels like fenders, fuel doors, front grilles, front and rear bumpers, engine components, wiring, and so much more. This is one of the advantages of working with a materials supplier like SABIC – we have one of the broadest range of thermoplastics materials, which can be used widely across the entire vehicle, and these problem-solving materials are complemented by the engineering design competence of our global team of automotive specialists.

relationships with some of the world’s largest OEMs, we work across the entire automotive industry and collaborate with both established and emerging automakers across the world.

In terms of product examples, one could look at the Range Rover Evoque. This vehicle features a range of SABIC materials, which help lighten the vehicle and support improved fuel consumption and fewer emissions.

SABIC plastics were used for the front fenders, the pedestrian energy absorber, the instrument panel and inner door modules, and the mirror system (see press release for more detail). Molding all of those parts out of SABIC’s materials contributed significantly to Jaguar Land Rover’s efforts to take weight out of the vehicle, while also providing greater design freedom and making possible part consolidation and system cost reduction opportunities as well.

Another product highlight comes from some pioneering work SABIC did with Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra. We helped this OEM produce India’s first injection molded plastic fenders, which were placed on the critically

acclaimed global XUV500 SUV. For these fenders, the OEM upgraded from steel to our lightweight, online paintable NORYL GTX resin, a blend of polyamide (PA) and modified polyphenylene ether (PPE) polymer technologies.

Using a plastic solution like this contributed to the weight target goals of the OEM and helped make this vehicle one of the lightest SUVs in its class. This particular fender solution is 27 pc lighter than if it were made out of steel.

There are a couple of other interesting parts to this fender story with Mahindra & Mahindra.

Because plastic can be molded into shapes that aren’t possible with steel, the OEM had the freedom to design aggressively flared fenders with accentuated curves and bold lines to create the muscular cheetah-like look that it wanted for the XUV500.

Also, this fender is much more durable and stands up better against minor accidents because of its impact strength, its ability to flex as well as the broad environmental resistance it offers.

We think this is a good example, right here in India, of what

SABIC thermoplastics and our engineering design competence can do to support automakers’ efforts to continually enhance their products, whether it’s improving fuel economy and lowering emissions through weight out, creating cutting-edge styling or enhancing durability.

Innovative Plastics makes the critical plastic parts for vehicles.

Obviously these are no ordinary plastics. Can these plastics withstand high temperatures and a high degree of wear and tear?

First, to clarify, SABIC does not make plastic automotive parts.

Rather, we make the plastic resins that molders use to make those parts. With that said, we are much more than a producer of plastics.

We are a solutions provides that collaborates with automakers and tier suppliers in the earliest stages of the part design process to help them maximize their desired results, whether it’s lightweighting taking the most weight possible out of a part, significantly enhancing durability, reducing part and manufacturing complexity or some other objective. The reason

SABIC has worked with some automotive brands like Volkswagen, Land Rover, Fiat, Mitsubishi and Hyundai to help develop new products. Do you continue working with them or does this list keep changing as per the requirement from the OEMs? Can you also tell us something about the products you have developed with some of the players?

We feel privileged to serve the automotive industry and have a distinguished track record collaborating with OEMs and suppliers across the value chain. While we have on-going

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INTERVIEW we can contribute at those early stages is that we can draw from the engineering design expertise of our teams across the world, including our team in India and Asia Pacific, which spans practically every major application space across the vehicle.

On plastics that can take the heat and offer a high degree of wear and tear, we offer a number of options. One example is ULTEM resin, a polyetherimide (PEI) material with outstanding high temperature resistance, high strength and stiffness and broad chemical resistance. Various grades of this resin are used today in automotive lighting applications, in which long-term heat resistance is important.

A good example of ULTEM resin in action in automotive lighting is use of the material in a fog lamp developed by automotive lighting supplier Hella Slovenia and Volkswagen for the Golf 7 and other select Volkswagen Group models. The design engineers needed a material that could withstand high temperatures in a compact space. A material in our portfolio, ULTEM AUT210 resin, which can withstand haze onset temperatures of up to 210oC, answered the call and also allowed Volkswagen to achieve the desired aesthetics and ensure a lightweight design. This is a good example of our ability to help part designers push the boundaries of what is possible.

ULTEM resin is not only used in lighting, but also in powertrain parts like transmission components, ignition components, sensors and more. Thermoplastic solutions like ULTEM resin have proven effective at withstanding high temperatures of harsh engine environments, allowing automakers to take weight out without compromising performance.

A second example of a rugged material that we offer is NORYL™ resin, a modified polyphenylene ether (mPPE) material. This is a very lightweight engineering thermoplastic resin from SABIC that can help ensure the long-term

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durability of battery components.

A number of vehicles on the road today use NORYL resin in battery parts, including Nissan’s all-electric LEAF. Nissan uses the material for key components of its Lithium-Ion battery pack system to save up to 20 percent in weight for those parts, but also to achieve long-term dimensional stability and enhanced flame retardancy.

Other vehicles on the road today that use NORYL resin include the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid and the Ford Focus Electric.

With emphasis on better fuel efficiency and stringent environment norms, do you see lightweight automotive parts, especially the ones made by you, replacing the traditional metal parts, yet meeting the highest levels of safety, etc.?

We will continue to see metal and heavier materials replaced as the global automotive industry moves to lighten vehicles in response to demanding fuel economy and emission standards. Today, our thermoplastic materials are used on more and more applications that used to be made out of steel.

Our materials not only help take out weight, but can also provide our customers with ways to enhance safety.

As an example, today, SABIC thermoplastics are used on front and rear energy absorbers, which

improve the crashworthiness of a vehicle in the event of a collision.

Ford uses XENOY resin from SABIC to construct a single-piece front bumper energy absorber for its 2014MY Fusion and Mondeo platform. With its stiffness, XENOY resin provides excellent energy absorption upon impact and can retain its structural integrity across a wide range of temperatures.

The part is 40 percent lighter and 10 percent less costly than a comparable part made out of steel.

The part, which was recognized by the Society of Plastics Engineers as one of 2013’s most innovative automotive plastic applications, is also designed to minimize the severity of injuries to pedestrians in the event of a collision.

In addition to replacing metal, another big opportunity is available to OEMs – replacing glass in vehicle windows with polycarbonate (PC). Replacing conventional glass solutions with plastic glazing can take out up to 50 percent in weight, depending on the design and complexity of a window part. Rear quarter windows can be a good place for automakers to start, and many are in production today, including those on the Citroën DS5 and the Fiat 500L. Each of these windows use LEXAN™ resin, a PC material from SABIC. PC glazing is also a great candidate for applying to front

quarter windows, roofs and spoilers. One window application that holds tremendous potential is the rear windshield or backlite.

This is an application where automakers can strive to take advantage of all the benefits made possible by PC glazing.

One of those benefits includes greater design freedom for the OEM to enhance the styling and aerodynamics of the vehicle and to take advantage of expanded possibilities for integrated other parts, such as the fixing for rear lighting, antennas and cameras on a rear windshield, for example.

We are seeing great interest from OEMs in exploring the use of PC glazing on various window applications, including rear windows.

Part of this interest, though certainly not all, has come from the all-plastic tailgate concept that we have shared with the industry.

This proposed tailgate design can save up to 30 percent in weight compared to tailgates made out of conventional materials like steel and glass. The tailgate concepts uses various thermoplastic materials from SABIC and is truly all-plastic with the rear window molded out of LEXAN resin. SABIC’s EXATEC™ plasma coating is used on the rear window to provide glass-like scratch and UV resistance and to enable automakers to meet homologation requirements for driver visibility.

In India, various industries consume your products… aerospace, automobiles, healthcare, fertilizers, etc. Does it mean your products cater to a wide variety of applications?

Yes. Our portfolio of products and technologies is diverse and also versatile in that it can be applied to a wide variety of applications within one industry and also across multiple industries. Today, in addition to serving automotive customers in India, we are working on solutions for customers in industries like construction, consumer electronics and mass transportation.

interview

Quah Beng Chieh,

Head of Marketing, Asia Pacific FARO Singapore Report Rahul Kapoor FARO a US company based out of Florida has changed how things are measured around the world, not only in the automotive industry, but almost every aspect of the world from architecture, to ship building, to aerospace to machine tools. After introducing the first articulated arm-measurement technology in 1984, Faro has grown into the world leading and most trusted source for 3D measurement, imaging and realisation technology since then. With new and more improved models now in their product lineup, FARO caters to 15,000 customers worldwide. With presence in over 15 different countries, FARO has a major presence in the Automotive Industry and also a huge presence in Indian Automotive sector as well.

Your products are used for 3D measurements, where exactly are these products used and what are their purposes?

Can you also give me some examples in automotive and otherwise?

We have a wide range of products; our best selling product is the FaroArm series which has an integrated Laser scan arm. The smaller version of the arm is called Gage; we have the Laser Tracker, 3D imager and the Laser scanner.

We have divided our products into two main categories. One range is what we call the Metrology range of products which is primarily in measurements, which includes your Arms, like the Gage, Laser tracker and the 3D imager. The Metrology product range is used for point to point inspection, and for simple scanning and inspection needs. These are high precision and come in different sizes depending how much space you have. Obviously a shorter arm has a higher accuracy because with a longer arm you introduce more error into it. So it all depends on what you need.

The laser s tracker is similar to the arm, and also for point to point measurements, but has a longer range. Our Laser Tracker can go up to 110 meters, so is used heavily in the ship building industry and even in machine tools where you need a long range. The 3D imager is primarily

used for reverse engineering. The other range of products we call 3D documentation series which is used widely in the survey industry, in architecture, mining where you need 3D laser scans.

Some of the key industries we cater to besides the automotive industry are the Aerospace, ship building, metal fabrication, mining, architecture, engineering and construction areas, forensic and law enforcement and the energy sector.

FaroArm has been our flagship product for over 30 years and with automotive being the core industry it uses a lot of our arms.

I would say most of the major car companies in the world have a FaroArm in their facilities.

These include Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche and Volkswagen in Europe. In the US we have General Motors, in Asia we have Toyota, Honda, Maruti and Tata.

They all have our products in their factories.

How versatile are your products?

It doesn’t really matter about the real industry itself, actually it’s the factory, the production line and the process is more important. What we do see is that regardless what the companies are producing components parts for the automotive sector, or the aerospace industry, or building parts for Harley Davidson, and so on, the processes are very similar.

Maybe the only difference is the amount of accuracy required might be different, but apart from that the processes are the same. So whatever has been developed for the auto component factory can be used for a motorcycle factory.

Where are your production facilities located and what operations are undertaken at a regional office in India? How important is India as a market for your products, especially the automotive industry?

Production wise we have plants in two key locations, one in Europe and one in US depending on the product. All the Arm products are made in the US and all the 3D documentation and scanning products are made in Germany.

The reason for doing that we want to keep the production centralised so we can keep the quality of the product consistent.

In India we primarily have sales¸ marketing and servicing offices. We have two offices now in India, the main office in Delhi and the 2nd office in Chennai. And besides having sales office, we are also doing servicing work. So the products that we sell to the

Which one of your products is the most popular choice in the automotive industry?

The FaroArm is the most popular in the automotive industry. The

customers, if they require to send them back for annual servicing it can be done within the country, they don’t need to send it to Singapore or US so it cuts down the down time for our customers.

Besides that we have remote engineers who work from home and are located all over India.

So they are close to most of our customers’ clusters so that these engineers can be onsite for any emergency 24 hours.

Do you have any plans to set up a manufacturing plant in India?

Not right now, as we want to keep the product quality consistent, secondly we do take in a lot of inputs from our customers and do future product development and we want to put in all our effort into enhancing our products as much as possible. But it might change depending on the business size.

If our business in India grows big enough which I think it will be soon, then why not?

Can you briefly talk about one or two automobile companies which have bought your products and directly benefitted by its use?

Within India itself we of course have Maruti Suzuki, Eicher, Tata, and even Toyota in India. So these are the bigger companies who we have helped reduce measurement time in the factory which in turn helps in overall time and efficiency.

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TECHNOLOGY

Honda SENSING Advanced Driver-Assistive System

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onda Motor Co., Ltd. of Japan has announced a new driver-assistive system, Honda Sensing.

This system will first be equipped to the all-new Legend that plans to go on sale in Japan before the end of this year, and then successively to more models in the future. Honda will continue evolving its advanced driver-assistive technologies on a global basis, adding the newly developed Honda Sensing, to further improve the safety and comfort of its products.

Honda Sensing was developed as another step

toward the realisation of a collision-free society. The pursuit of a collision-free society is a part of Honda’s global safety concept, “Safety for Everyone.”

According to a Honda press release, the system consists of two types of sensors with different characteristics.

One is millimetre-wave radar located inside the front grille, and the other is a monocular camera mounted on the upper, inside part of the windshield. The new millimetre-wave radar has expanded its scope of detection to include pedestrians regarded as being hard to detect due

to their low rate of radio wave reflection as well as the position and speed of target object. Moreover, the monocular camera identifies attributes and sizes of pedestrians and other target objects which come in range within 60m approximately ahead of the vehicle, achieving recognition with improved accuracy.

Six new functions such as the ‘Pedestrian Collision Mitigation Steering System’ were added to the existing driver-assistive system. To accommodate these versatile functions, the data processing

capability of the system was improved considerably. The system now recognises not only its surroundings but also the intentions of the driver and conditions of the vehicle. It then applies collaborative control over certain components of the vehicle

Ford pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection

A

vailable new technology from Ford – Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection – is designed to reduce the severity of and, in some cases, even eliminate frontal collisions involving pedestrians Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection – debuting on the 2015 Ford Mondeo in Europe – provides a collision warning to the driver and, if the driver does not respond in time, can automatically apply the vehicle brakes, according to a press release issued by Ford.

Other available Ford driverassist technologies include lane-keeping system with lane-keeping aid, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise

78 I November 2014

control and collision warning with brake support, and active park assist Ford Motor Company is rolling out a new driver-assist system that can reduce the severity of or even eliminate some frontal collisions involving vehicles and pedestrians.

Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection uses radar and camera technology to scan the roadway ahead and, if a collision risk with a vehicle or pedestrian is detected, provides

a warning to the driver. If the driver does not respond in time, the system can automatically apply up to full braking force to help reduce the severity of or even eliminate some frontal collisions. Pre-Collision Assist may help drivers avoid rear end collisions with other vehicles at all speeds, while Pedestrian Detection can help the driver avoid pedestrians at lower speeds – both may reduce the severity of forward collisions or even prevent certain forward collisions.

“This technology adds to the already impressive list of driver-assist technologies Ford customers benefit from today,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development.

including the braking system and steering wheel.

In the areas of vehicle speed / following distance control and lane keeping control, the system assists the driver during normal driving as well as in a risk avoidance manoeuvre in case of an emergency.

GM’s largest active automotive safety testing area

G

eneral Motors has revealed that the development of one of the largest active automotive safety testing areas in North America is nearly complete at its Milford Proving Ground campus. According to a GM press release, the $12 million project broke ground in June 2013 and is scheduled to be fully functional by December of this year.

This newly added, 52-acre facility was specifically designed for developing, testing, and validating Active Safety, or crash avoidance, features. It will include a 16-acre dynamics pad and various road networks to evaluate sensors, algorithms, and the performance of these features, including cutting-edge systems involving autonomous control and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

TECHNOLOGY

It has to be either electric or fuel cell cars in future: Study

B

y 2050, most vehicles will need to be electrically propelled, with a battery to store energy or an onboard hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity, if emission targets set by governments are to be met.

That’s the conclusion of an expert team responsible for giving inputs to a report “Towards Sustainable Road Transport” published

by Elsevier. The three authors are senior research chemists who have spent their professional careers working in the fields of energy and electrochemistry. More than 300 pages packed with information describe the growth and technical development of road vehicles during the 20th century, and the state-ofthe-art power sources and advanced vehicle designs now needed to meet the 80pc reduction required in global emissions over the next 35 years, and needed to protect the next generation.

“Over the past 25 years, the auto industry has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent from a 1990 baseline, which is less than 1 per cent a year,” says Patrick Moseley, president emeritus of the Advanced Lead–Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC), adding that “Over the next 35 years, the industry will have to sustain the 2 to 3 per cent annual reduction that it is now achieving.

That’s a tall order.”

Moseley’s co-authors are Ronald Dell, former head

of applied electrochemistry at the UK Atomic Energy Authority and David Rand, a former chief research scientist of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia. Their first edition book focuses attention on road transport, a key aspect of human activity among the many sectors – including agriculture, industry and power – that require attention if sustainable development on a global scale is to be achieved.

“Our work examines the prospects for an evolution of the global transport system, which currently consumes irreplaceable resources and degrades the environment, towards one with a modus operandi that will be both supportable and benign,” says Dell. “This is a considerable challenge.

The global fleet of motor vehicles of all types, including two-wheelers, is now around one-and-a-half billion, of which one billion are cars. This is expected to reach two billion soon after 2020, with a rapid increase in the number of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) anticipated in China and India, which is an

understandable increase given the aspirations of these two enormous populations,” he added.

“Automotive manufacturers face the conflicting demands of customers for vehicles with ever-improved performance, safety and comfort – but without any appreciable increase in cost,” says Rand, adding that “This is being resolved through advances in vehicle design

and in particular through refinement in propulsion technology. The trend is towards smaller internal combustion engines augmented by intelligent electrification with no decrease in power; this combination being especially effective in reducing both emissions and fuel consumption.”

All three authors have been heavily involved throughout their careers

in electrochemistry and the development of advanced battery designs and power sources. So not surprisingly they express their views on numerous advanced battery chemistries and supercapacitors being considered for use in road vehicles.

“Batteries in different categories of road vehicle are required to perform widely disparate duty cycles,” says Moseley. “In a conventional ICEV, the starting, lighting and ignition battery is maintained at almost a full state-ofcharge (SoC) of between 85 and 90 per cent. In battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the SoC of the cells declines throughout the journey from 100 to 20 per cent, and once their chemical energy is depleted they have to be recharged for the next journey. In hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) such as the Toyota Prius and especially the new breed of low-voltage (48V) super hybrids from Audi and Kia and other carmakers, the batteries are subject to a critical high-rate partial state-of-charge (HRPSoC) operation of between 50 and 70 per cent,” he says.

The above duty cycles

explain why lithium-ion batteries, with their highvoltage cells and high specific energy (Watthours per kilogram), are currently utilised for pure electric vehicles despite their high cost and need for cooling, while the recent breakthrough of advanced lead-carbon batteries is better suited to both stop-start and 48V vehicles. The book’s co-authors confirm that even though the search for more advanced battery chemistries continues, there appears to be little prospect in the short term of finding a battery system that can provide a BEV driving range between charges of much more than 150 miles (240 km), while withstanding rapid recharging for a satisfactory life and being manufactured at a competitive cost.

“It could be 20 years before possible nextgeneration lithium-air batteries make it out of the laboratory and into the car,” says Rand.

Given the limitations of BEVs and doubts about developing an entirely new and affordable battery with satisfactory performance and safety, the book describes why the automotive and transport industry meanwhile has turned its attention to hybrid vehicles, in which a battery powered motorgenerator is combined with a heat engine to provide a more efficient propulsion system without subjecting motorists to ‘range anxiety’.

November 2014 I 79

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW PASSENGER VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA

(Total Domestic Sales + Exports in September 2014 = 2,05,742 Units) Others (1.47)% Ford India Pvt. Ltd. (2.21)%

OTHERS Skoda Auto India Pvt. Ltd. (0.79%) Fiat India Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. (0.49%) Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (0.12%) Renault India Pvt. Ltd. (0.07%)

GM India 1.24%

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. (3.12)% Honda Cars India Ltd. (4.77)% Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd. (4.83)%

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (44.06)%

Tata Motors Ltd. (4.89)%

Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. (8.46)%

Hyundai Motor India Pvt. Ltd. (24.95)%

UTILITY VEHICLES MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA

(Total Domestic Sales + Exports in September 2014 = 75,435 Units) Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. (2.38)% Renault India Pvt. Ltd (4.61)% Tata Motors Ltd. (6.39)%

General Motors India Pvt. Ltd (2.27)% Others (1.01)%

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (28.31)%

Honda Cars India Ltd. (7.43)%

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. (10.12)%

Ford India Pvt Ltd. (12.18)%

80 I November 2014

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (25.30)% OTHERS Force Motors Ltd (0.48%) Hindustan Motors Finance Corp (0.24%) Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (0.18%) Ashok Leyland (0.04%) Skoda Auto India Pvt. Ltd (0.04 %) Isuzu Motors (0.03%)

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW TWO WHEELER MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA

(Total Domestic Sales + Exports - September 2014 = 17,96,688 Units) Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. (2.49)%

Royal Enfield (1.56)% Others (1.17)%

India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. (3.99)%

Hero MotoCorp Ltd. (33.62)%

TVS Motor Company Ltd. (13.45)%

Bajaj Auto Ltd. (19.31)%

OTHERS Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd. (0.98%) Triumph Motorcycles (India) Pvt. Ltd. (0.01%)

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (Pvt.) Ltd. (24.41)%

Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (0.15%) Kawasaki India (0.01%)

H-D Motor Company India Pvt. Ltd. (0.02%)

THREE WHEELERS IN INDIA

(Total Domestic Sales + Exports - September 2014 = 93,318 Units) Atul Auto Ltd. (4.45)% Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (6.84)%

TVS Motor Company Ltd. (9.82)%

Scooters India Ltd. (1.29)% Force Motors Ltd. (0.09)%

Bajaj Auto Ltd. (56.19)%

Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (21.32)%

November 2014 I 81

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA (Total Domestic Sales + Exports - September 2014 = 42,515 Units) Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (1.43)%

Force Motors Ltd. (4.25)%

SML Isuzu Ltd. (0.94)%

Isuzu Motors (0.18)%

VECVs - Eicher (2.31)%

Tata Motors Ltd. (45.60)%

Ashok Leyland Ltd. (5.97)% Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (39.32)%

MEDIUM & HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA (Total Domestic Sales + Exports - September 2014 = 21,782 Units) Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (0.93)% Asia Motor Works Ltd. (1.01)%

VECVs - Volvo (0.69)%

SML Isuzu Ltd. (2.41)%

VECVs - Eicher (10.08)%

Ashok Leyland Ltd. (30.43)%

82 I November 2014

Tata Motors Ltd. (54.45)%

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