Motown India October 2014

4th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

WWW.MOTOWNINDIA.COM

INDIA

VOL-5 • ISSUE-1 • OCTOBER 2014

FIRST DRIVE

NEW MAHINDRA SCORPIO

Desi Tadka

50

TESTED & REVIEWED NEW AUDI A8L • SKODA RAPID • CHEVROLET CRUZE • SUZUKI GIXXER • MAHINDRA GUSTO • YAMAHA FZ-S • HERO ELECTRIC PHOTON • TVS SCOOTY ZEST •

2014 PARIS MOTOR SHOW

Y

2014 INTERMOT, GERMAN

EXCLUSIVE

DELHI-JAIPURDELHI IN A MOTOR HOME

TRAVEL

RIVERSIDE PARADISE

B2B SECTION Pages 93-126 SIAM/ACMA CONVENTIONS | AUTOMECHANIKA FRANKFURT | 65TH IAA CV SHOW

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

THIS ONE’S FOR YOU MODI SIR

T

his 4th anniversary issue of Motown India is dedicated to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The story of Narendra Modi is one of hope and accomplishment, of impoverishment and hard work, of dedication and sacrifice and of grit and determination. One could never ever have imagined that a person from a humble background, with hardly any wealth to boot and with no English speaking public school background, would one day become the bossman of India.

The story of Motown India and its people is similar. We had no tie up, foreign or otherwise, to boast of. We had no major fund managers giving us loads of money to indulge. Yet, with perseverance and honest commitment to journalism, we completed four years of our publishing journey in the country. But mind you, it did not happen without its share of humiliation, struggle and pain. Not that we deserved all of that.

Just when we started Motown India magazine, the internet started becoming very powerful. With internet, the number of social media sites started mushrooming.

Facebook, twitter, linkedin, etc started erratically influencing the world of journalism.

Tweets, hash tags, retweets, facebook postings, facebook likes, etc began to dictate the making of journalism. Some of the solid principles of journalism were thrown out of the window and in came the social media site principles. Auto majors started believing in “facebook followers”, “tweets” and “hash tags”.

Automobile majors have been trying to outwit each other with tweets, facebook likes and sundry other internet-based exercises. Herd mentality at its best, I must say!

Meanwhile, all publications, auto portals and television channels have to depend on auto majors to provide them their vehicles to test. We are at their mercy. While they offer cars and bikes to a select few even before the vehicle is launched at times, several others are simply shunned. We have to grin and bear this humiliation. Yet, we have survived till now this growing indiscrimination. Be fair, my friends. Clout and arrogance does not take a person far.

In all humility I want to thank my team and all my well wishers for their steadfast support and faith they reposed in me and my magazine. Today Motown India is the only automobile magazine offering a clean mix of the automotive world. Maybe we did not get the Porsche and Mercedes cars to drive, but we had our share of fun in the Maruti cars!

As for Mr Modi, I simply am inspired by the man who taught us how to value things ‘Made in India’. Motown India is one fine example of that!

www.facebook.com/MotownIndia @MotownIndia

Editor

EDITOR P. Tharyan -----------------------------------News Coordinator & Head-Operations 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 Anuj Srivastava (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 128 pages including both covers.

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

October 2014 I 3

Contents B2C SECTION

PAGES 6-90

52

MAHINDRA NEW GENERATION SCORPIO

DESI TADKA

36 NEWS

BORN OF A LEGEND

WHEELZ & ROADZ

MOTORSPORT

40

2014 Chevrolet Cruze Unicorn status

86

Hamilton wins Japanese GP; Jules Bianchi car rams recovery vehicle

2014 Paris Motor Show

56

Mahindra Gusto - Gutsy Gusto

88

Beijing heralds the beginning of Formula E race

2014 Intermot Show

60

Hero Electric Photon - Smart Green Wheels

90

Vettel to quit Red Bull team for Ferrari

Maruti Suzuki launches Ciaz at 6.99 lakh

20 28

6

FIRST DRIVE - SUZUKI GIXXER 155CC

B2B SECTION NEWS

102

Mahindras to acquire 51pc in Peugeot Motocycles

104

UM Motorcycles –Lohia JV to make cruisers

105

Panasonic and Uno Minda JV for batteries

PAGES 93-126 SIAM & ACMA 2014 CONVENTIONS

TECHNOLOGY

120

Continental unveils smartphone integration

120

Delphi ‘s wireless vehicle communication technology

4 I October 2014

94

CAR LAUNCHES

Maruti Suzuki launches Ciaz at 6.99 lakh

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aruti Suzuki launched its new premium sedan model, the Ciaz, in the mid-size segment at an extremely competitive price of 6.99 lakh onward. The prices of the different variants are as follows: Petrol—V for 6.99 lakh, V+ for 7.55 lakh, Z for 6.24 lakh and Z(O) for 8.59 lakh. The petrol automatic V+ AT model will cost 8.65 lakh while the Z AT model will cost 9.34 lakh. The prices of the diesel cars are as follows—V for 8.04 lakh, V+ for 8.63 lakh, Z for 9.45 lakh and Z(O) for 9.80 lakh.

The prices are all ex showroom Delhi and are introductory.

The Ciaz is being offered in both petrol (K14VVT engine 1372cc) as well as diesel (DDis 200 engine 1248cc) versions. The car is in a segment dominated by the likes of Honda City and Hyundai Verna. The Ciaz is expected to do wonders, especially with its host of features and some great fuel average.

The car is being offered in seven colours including new ones like ‘Sangria Red’, ‘Dignity Brown’ and ‘Pearl Snow’. The petrol

6 I October 2014

car will be available in both 5-speed manual transmission as well as 4 speed Automatic Transmission. The diesel car will be available only in 5 speed manual transmission.

The Ciaz will be the longest and widest saloon in its segment with a length of 4,490mm and a width of 1,730mm. The car will have a height of 1,485mm with a wheelbase of 2,650mm. It will have a ground clearance of 170mm and a boot space of 510 litres.

With regards to fuel efficiency, it will offer 20.73kmpl for the petrol version and 26.21kmpl for the diesel version, again the segment best. The petrol car engine will deliver a power of 91.18bhp@6000rpm while the diesel will generate as much as 88.76bhp @ 4000 rpm. Torque for the petrol and diesel variants would be around 130Nm@4000rpm and 200Nm@1750rom respectively.

The car now comes with a host of smart features like SmartPlay in car infotainment system, auto day/night IRVM, projector headlamps, glass integrated antenna,

reverse parking sensors, reverse parking camera, electric trunk lid opening and intelligent key (push start/stop).

The premium black and beige interior theme, with luxurious wooden garnish looks elegant and upmarket. The car has loads of cubby holes and smart storage spaces such as sunglass holder, illuminated front console box, etc. The central armrest in the front seats has a neatly concealed console box.

To make things more comfortable for rear passengers, the car also comes with rear AC vents, rear accessory socket, rear sunshade, rear centre armrest with cup holders and twin personal reading lamps. To add to all this are auto AC, foot well lamps and plush leather upholstery.

On the move, the car has quiet cabin space, thanks to the adequate use of noise dampeners at the right places. The car will be launched during the Diwali season and is expected to considerably push up the company’s present share from the current level of 39.5pc in the mid-size segment.

CAR LAUNCHES Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class debuts at 32.75 lakh Mercedes-Benz new E 350 CDI for 57.42L

Mercedes-Benz has introduced its latest SUV, the GLA-Class, in the luxury SUV segment in India. The GLA-Class 200 CDI Style is priced at 32.75 lakh, the 200 Sport is priced at 36 lakh and the 200 CDI Sport is priced at 36.9 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom Delhi The SUV was launched by Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India in New Delhi.

The GLA-Class will be available with two engine options--- the 2.0 litre petrol and the frugal 2.2 litre diesel. The GLA will be available in two equipment lines-- the Style and Sport. The diesel GLA 200 CDI will be available in Style and Sport lines, and the petrol GLA 200 in Sport only. The GLA’s four-cylinder engines with turbocharging and direct injection are mated to a 7G-DCT 7 speed dual clutch transmission. The dual clutch transmission combines the comfort of a 7-speed automatic transmission with that of a manual transmission.

Mercedes-Benz India has launched the ‘Intelligent Superpower’ the E 350 CDI at its Pune plant. The new E 350 CDI is priced at 57.42 lakh and is available across India.

The new E 350 CDI diesel is equipped with a V6 engine that has a displacement of 2987 cc that generates which generates a peak power of 192bhp @ 380 rpm and a peak torque of 620Nm @1600-2400 rpm. The vehicle attains the speed of 0-100 km/h in a mere 6.6 seconds. The new E 350 CDI was launched for the Indian market by Eberhard Kern, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Ralf Mungenast, Director, International Inbound Supply Chain, Daimler AG.

New Chevy Sail sedan, hatch for 5.15 & 4.41lakh General Motors India has 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).

The Sail model was first introduced in 2012 in the country.

The car was built on a global passenger car platform that was created especially for India and other fast-growing emerging markets. The platform has crossed the 1 million sales figure in July 2014, according to a GM India press release.

The Chevrolet Corvette-inspired dual cockpit design incorporates seats with new leatherette upholstery. The new icy blue illumination complements the new luxuriously blended black and beige

8 I October 2014

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. There are new chrome surrounds for the AC vent bezel and HVAC control knobs along with silver surrounds for door handles and the gear

shifter. The Chevrolet signature golden bowtie on the new black steering wheel lends a sporty touch.

The car has hawk wing style headlamps and shooting star style front fog lamps with chrome garnish surrounds. It has wideopening rear doors that give the car the feel of a much larger car. It is also equipped with a chrome strip on the boot-lid for added visual appeal from the rear. The 1.3-litre SDE Smartech turbo-charged common rail diesel engine

powers the new Sail. It delivers power of 74bhp @ 4,000 rpm and torque of 190 Nm @ 1,750rpm along with fuel economy of 22.1kmpl. The engine has a lightweight aluminum alloy DOHC cylinder head, lightweight pistons with graphite-coated skirts and anti-friction properties, and lowtension piston rings that decrease weight and increase fuel economy.

The engine’s short-skirt compact cast iron cylinder block with an aluminum bedplate enhances stiffness. The engine’s advanced common rail fuel injection system, close-coupled diesel oxidation catalyst and electrically operated, water-cooled external EGR with pneumatically controlled EGR bypass effectively limit emissions.

CAR LAUNCHES New generation Scorpio for 8.40 lakh onward With an all new platform, several new technological changes, matched with both new interior and exterior styling and features, Mahindra & Mahindra has launched the new generation Scorpio. The starting price for the new Scorpio will be 8.40 lakh (ex showroom Delhi) for the S2 variant. However, the S2 variant will be powered a M2diCR engine and not by the popular and powerful 2.2 litre mHawk engine which delivers 118.35 bhp and a peak torque of 280Nm which will be powering the S4, S4+, S6, S6+, S8 and S10. The S2 model powered by the M2diCR engine will have LED tail lamps, micro hybrid feature, digital immobiliser, hydraulic assisted bonnet and power steering. The other variants will come with an MHawk engine. (Read the full review on page36).

Skoda new Yeti SUV for 18.99 lakh Skoda Auto India has introduced the new Yeti at 18.99 lakh ex showroom Delhi. This is for the Yeti Elegance 4x2 model. The Yeti Elegance 4x4model costs 20.53 lakh. Skoda has now extensively redesigned the Yeti and the vehicle is being offered with two diesel engines for the Indian market-- the 2.0 TDI producing around 109 bhp of power approximately. This is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The other is a 2.0 TDI producing 138bhp of power approximately. This has an all-wheel drive fitted as standard and is mated to a manual six-speed gearbox. The twowheel drive model gives a fuel mileage of 17.72Kmpl, while the four-wheel drive one gives 17.67 kmpl. For the first time the Yeti will also feature cruise control and the KESSY system. Light Assist, a clever feature is added to the redesigned Yeti for the first time. The redesigned Yeti sports the brand’s new design philosophy and a new logo.

Made in India Jaguar XJ to cost 93.24 lakh Jaguar has launched an XJ that is made in India.

Priced at 93.24Lakh (ex-showroom-Mumbai), this jaguar is probably the most expensive car manufactured in the country. The Indian made XJ will have a 2.0L i4 6 cylinder, turbo charged petrol engine which they claim is “state-ofthe-art”. The turbo petrol engine produces 237Bhp@5500rpm while producing 350Nm of torque at only 1750rpm. The desi XJ also gives an ARAI certified fuel economy of 9.4kmpl which is quite fair. The locally made Jaguar XJ also gets an ear drum blasting 825 Watt Meridian Surround Audio System with a 10.2 inch LCD screens at the rear.

10 I October 2014

Renault Duster All Wheel Drive for 11.89 lakh Renault India launched an All Wheel Drive (AWD) Duster at a starting price of 11,89,499 for the RxL variant while it will be 12,99,499 for the RxZ variant (Delhi exshowroom). With an all wheel drive feature, the Duster becomes a blue blooded SUV. The Renault Duster AWD flaunts the i Drive Technology. The AWD will enable the SUV to intuitively access the road and constantly engage all wheels. It will come in shift-by-fly options of 2WD, Auto & 4WD. The Renault Duster AWD will be powered by a 1.5 dCi THP diesel engine (common rail direct injection) delivering 108bhp @4000RPM of maximum power and peak torque of 245NM@1750RPM.

New-look Ford Figo for 3.87 lakh onward There is a new-look Ford Figo in the market and it’s for new exterior styling with smoky stealth finish accents and rejuvenated interiors that come with cyber blue trim. Ford India has introduced this model around the festive season and will be a available at a starting price of 3.87 lakh for petrol and 4.83 lakh for diesel. The car will be available in eight different colours.The new-look Ford Figo will have smoky stealth finish exterior styling elements.

New Skoda Rapid launched for 7.2 lakh Skoda Auto India has launched the new Rapid in India with prices starting at 7.2 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) with two engines on offer, a 1.5L Diesel and a 1.6L petrol, both available in manual or automatic transmissions. The Rapid’s 4 cylinder 1.6 MPI petrol and the 4 cylinder 1.5L TDI diesel, which can be found on the recently updated Volkswagen Vento and Polo, both produce the same amount of power of 103bhp with 153Nm and 250Nm of torque for petrol and diesel respectively. The transmissions on offer are Volkswagen group’s 7-speed DSG Dual-Clutch Automatic for the diesel, 6 speed tiptronic automatic for the petrol and both engines are also available with a 5-speed manual as well. The astonishing thing about the 1.5L TDI engine is its 21.66 kmpl of fuel economy with the DSG automatic gearbox. The 5 speed manual petrol variant gives a fuel economy of 15kmpl. The new rapid is available in four variants.

BIKE LAUNCHES

KTM RC 390 launched for 205,000

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Pictures by Campelli M, courtesy KTM

he KTM RC series of supersport motorcycle made its entry into India with the launch of the RC 390 at a price of 205,000.

The bike has strong racing genes and is a superbike in its own right, the 373.27 cc, 4 stroke, 1-cylinder engine producing 43 bhp power and 35Nm of torque. It has a host of premium features like ABS by Bosch, Metzeler tyres, upside down forks by WP and an aluminum swingarm. With an advanced aerodynamic design and a power to weight ratio of 258bhp /tonne, the RC 390 provides a pure racing experience.It has a Bosch EFI fuel system. The engine has a 6-speed constant mesh transmission.

Weighing 159.5kg (without fuel), the bike has Metzeler Sportec tyres with 110mm front profile and a 150mm rear tyre profile. The fuel tank capacity is 9.5 litres. The bike boasts of 157mm ground clearance.

The KTM RC 390 will be backed by a rapidly expanding network of 140 exclusive KTM dealerships in India.. Amit Nandi, Sr. Vice President Bajaj Probiking said that KTM has grown by 120pc in the current financial year. With the RC’s he expected KTM to be the fastest growing motorcycle brand in India. Booking for the bike has commenced from September 10, 2014 at all KTM showrooms.

KTM RC 200 for 160,000 Bajaj Auto Ltd. has launched the RC 200 in the country. The RC 200 will cost 160,000 ex-showroom Delhi. KTM, Europe’s No. 1 motorcycle brand, has more than 240 world championship titles under its belt and comes from a rich world of motorcycle racing. Incidentally, all KTM motorcycles are built with direct race experience fed into them. The RC Supersport series comes with KTM’s vast experience and knowledge gained in the world of Moto3 which is the 250cc segment of MotoGP racing. KTM won the championship in 2012 with top 2 out of 3 positions and followed it up with a victory in the 2013 season by securing all the top 3 positions, said a press communication from Bajaj Auto.

12 I October 2014

BIKE LAUNCHES

Hero Motocorp new Splendor Pro Classic & Passion Pro TR for 48,650 & 51,550

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ero MotoCorp has rolled out India’s first 100cc motorcycle which carries the styling quotients of a café racer and a 100cc on & off road bike. The 100cc Café Racer has been dubbed the Splendor Pro Classic and the on & off road bike has been named the Passion Pro TR both the bikes have been designed to generate excitement in the 100cc segment with their youthful styling, performance and safety features.

The bike costs 48,650 (ex-showroom Delhi).

The Passion Pro TR costs 51550/- (exshowroom Delhi).

At the heart of the Splendor Pro Classic is an air-cooled, 4 stroke, single cylinder, OHC engine that which produces 8.24bhp @ 8000 rpm and maximum torque of 8.05Nm @ 5000 rpm.

The styling on the Splendor Pro Classic has been borrowed from vintage café racers with a classic single seat, a café cowl, a sporty handle bar, a classy round headlight and tail light and a round speedometer. You can find chrome trims on the front and rear fenders, winkers, suspension cover and the round shaped rear view mirrors.

The bike is available in two classic color combinations – Solid Maroon and Carbon Black.

The Passion Pro TR is a bike offering an adventurous ride to the young Indian bikers.

This is an offering to entice the wanderers of today as it has the ability to go off road. The thumper under its belly is an air-cooled, 4 Stroke, Single Cylinder, OHC engine which can churn out a maximum of 7.7 bhp @ 7500 rpm and maximum torque 8 Nm @ 4500 rpm.

Some of the new features on the bike include sturdier handlebars with a cross brace, a high front fender with a hugger, a knee pad for better grip, a headlight grill, hand guards for added protection, a special tyre tread for better road grip, a bash plate to shield engine, a designer knuckle guard and fuel tank pads.

The new colours in which the Passion Pro TR will be available are Electric Red, Sports Red & Black with Sports Red.

Mahindra Gusto launched at 43,000

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ahindra Two Wheelers has launched the new Gusto scooter at an introductory price of 43,000 (exshowroom Delhi). The Gusto is powered by an 110cc engine.

The aluminum M-Tech 110cc 4-stroke engine that beats in the heart of the Gusto is air cooled and churns out 8bhp@ 7500rpm and produces 9Nm of torque @ 5500rpm. The new Gusto from Mahindra has a unique road presence and bold styling separating it from the average run of the mill scooters out there.

With bold new innovations from Mahindra Two Wheelers, the Gusto comes with a first time in segment height adjustable seat and locking mechanism to prevent the seat from falling while filling petrol or using the under seat storage area. The height adjustment on the VX variant of the Gusto ranges from 770mm to 735mm providing a very comfortable seating position. Another first in the segment provided

by Mahindra Two wheelers are day time running lights (DRLs) on the new Gusto. The

14 I October 2014

scooter also gets a front dashboard to store your mobile phones and other pocket sized items. Some added features on the Gusto are bag hooks in the front leg space and in the under seat area.

The new Gusto comes with 12 inch tubeless tyres and 130mm mechanical drum brakes in the front and rear. The front suspension is a telescopic air springs-hydraulic type and a long stroke hydraulic type at the rear. Another added advantage for consumers on the new Gusto is a front kick which enables you to start the scooter without getting off the vehicle in case the self-start does not do the job.

The scooter has a 6 litre fuel tank and gives 63kmpl of fuel economy giving it an impressive range. The new Gusto will come with Mahindra’s flip key which has the follow me home and find me functions like the Mahindra Centuro.

With Mahindra’s entry into the two wheeler industry six years ago and the setup of their state of the art R&D centre in Pune three

years ago, Mahindra Two Wheelers is making its presence felt strongly in the two-wheeler segment with its lineup of bikes and scooters like the Centuro and the Rodeo and now the all new Gusto. This is also the first global scooter to be developed by Mahindra’s R&D center in Pune.

BIKE LAUNCHES Suzuki 155cc Gixxer motorcycle for 72199/Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL), a subsidiary Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan rolled out the 155cc Gixxer for 72,199 (ex showroom Delhi). The Gixxer is a stylish ‘Street Sport’ motorcycle. Styled on the famed GSX-R series including the extremely sporty GSX-R1000, the Gixxer boasts of special features like a sporty dual muffler and a trendy, smartphoneresembling digital speedometer.

Bookings for the motorcycle have started and will exist along with the GS-150 from the Suzuki stable.

The Gixxer is powered by a 155cc, single cylinder, air cooled engine with a five-speed gearbox.

The engine delivers a broad low-end torque and adequate mid-range power for strong acceleration. Suzuki claims the bike provides not only Suzuki’s legendary riding dynamics but also rider ergonomics.

Yamaha Fazer FI Version 2.0 for 83,850 Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd. launched the new Fazer FI Version 2.0 on September 17, 2014 for a price of 83,850 (Ex-Showroom Delhi). The new Fazer FI Version 2.0 comes with a redesigned air-cooled 149cc, 4-stroke, SOHC, single-cylinder, fuel-injected engine which produces 12.8bhp of power and 12.8Nm of torque. The bike has been built on a lightweight frame to bring the product in line with concept of a sharpener and power-packed new FZ. Yamaha has incorporated their Blue Core engine technology in the new Fazer FI Version 2.0 which will now be available in Red Dawn, Black Hawk and White Cloud colours. The Fazer FI Version 2.0 has been designed on the same platform as the global Fazer series. The tagline of the new Fazer FI Version 2.0 ‘Open your heart to the touring spirit’ is appropriate as the bike is known for its touring abilities and riders can enjoy a week end getaway on it. The Fazer FI Version 2.0 new engine offers enhanced acceleration and an increase in fuel efficiency by almost 14pc.

Thunderbird LT from Triumph at 15.75 lakh Triumph Motorcycles India Private Limited unveiled its premium classic cruiser, the Thunderbird LT, for the Indian market at a price of 15.75 lakh (ex showroom Delhi). The company had introduced 11 international models earlier this year. The Thunderbird LT is expected to further strengthen the cruiser line up from Triumph Motorcycles and join the Thunderbird Storm Rocket III Roadster.

The bike is powered by the world’s largest parallel twin motorcycle engine, as found in the existing Thunderbird Storm and based on the original Thunderbird. At 1699cc, the LT’s eight-valve DOHC motor produces 93bhp at 5400rpm and 151Nm of torque at 3550rpm. The enormous thrust from its pair of saucer-sized forged pistons and uneven, long-stroke 270° firing interval create a classic big-twin feel, perfect for propelling the LT over long distances with a natural, easy-going groove. The LT’s engine potential is harnessed by a progressive throttle, highly accurate fuel mapping, sequential fuel injectors, a six-speed gearbox and a belt final drive for the convenience of low maintenance and long life.

16 I October 2014

New Limited Edition Vespa Elegante soon

The new Vespa Elegante which generated a substantial amount of hype in the scooter market was unveiled on September 16 , 2014 in Pune by Piaggio Vespa. The new Vespa Elegante will be a limited edition offering from Piaggio and is soon to be launched in India.

The existing Vespa scooter prices start at 67,000 and goes up to 75,000. The new Vespa Elegante will be available in two new metallic colours – Marrone Crete Senesi (brown) and Bianco Perla (white). The Elegante will now also be offered with a helmet to match the colour of the scooter.

It will also have colour coordinated leather finished twin seats, an all round chrome guard kit and a limited edition Elegante badge on it.

On the mechanical front the Elegante has not witnessed any changes from the VX variant of the scooter.

NEWS

Polaris showcases Indian Scout at Bike Festival of India

T

here was no denying the fact the cricketer time. Mohammed Riyaz won the wheelie class drag Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the cynosure championship. of all eyes at the Bike Festival of India held Dhoni was the face of the festival and he enthralled at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida the audience with his biking antics and his ride on October 4 and 5, 2014. But among the bikes on the tracks on Yamaha R15. BFI showcased a displayed there, it was the Indian Scout from Polaris special garage for Dhoni which had 12 bikes from family that attracted more than its share of admirers. his personal collection on display including the very The Bike Festival of India was an initiative by Event famous and rare model, Hellcat X132 Confederate.

Capital & Rhiti Sports. It was the first time that the Dhoni visited his garage and put on his biking gear to Indian Scout was displayed in an event in the country. hit the tracks. g his riding Cricketer MS Dhoni wearin Polaris showcased four bikes in the two-day The Bike Festival of India is the first biking event gear festival including the Indian Scout , Indian Chief to be regulated by a motorsport body, FMSCI. Classic, Indian Chief Vintage and Indian Chieftain BFI is powered by Gulf from the stable of Indian Motorcycle.

Oil, Courage Partner – “The launch of the Indian Scout has stirred a wave Mountain Dew, festival of enthusiasm in India. The bike festival gave us a Partner – KTM. perfect platform to display the Indian Scout for the TVS Motor Company was first time in India. We are confident that it would be a one of the exhibitors along huge success here. The Indian Scout will be available with Indian Motorcycles, at an ex showroom Delhi price of 11.99 lakh.

Aprilla, Triumph and Moto Bookings for Scout are open and delivery will start Guzzi. Bikes displayed at from January 2015,” said Pankaj Dubey, Managing TVS team building included Director, Polaris India Pvt. Ltd. the Apache RTR, RTR 160 Equally excited was Sandeep Bansil, Dealer road racing bike and RTR Principal, Indian Motorcycle Gurgaon. “We 300 FX supercross bike. are extremely thrilled about Indian Motorcycle Arun Pandey, CMD, Rhiti participation in this biking extravaganza. It is a unique Sports said the Bike festival platform to foster biking culture in the country and we of India was an initiative to are happy that the Indian Scout is being displayed for bring together people with r, my friend? where is your protective gea the first time in India at this event,” he said. passion for biking.

Stunt show in progress. But The Indian Scout has a liquid-cooled engine – an efficient and reliable 69 cubic Pankaj Dubey, Managing Director, inch V-twin engine offering 100 bhp of Polaris India Pvt. Ltd. and Sandeep performance for impressive power on Bansil, Dealer Principal, Indian demand.

Motorcycle with the Indian Scout Meanwhile, the second and final day of BFI at the Buddh Circuit saw Atinder Jeet and Anirudh Rived winning the XDL Championship finals, which were being judged by stars of stunt biking, Chris Tice and Aaron Twite. The Drag racing championship had 28 participants whereas the Top gun saw 22 riders battling it on the tracks for a podium finish organised by Rongom Tagore, Founder Elite Octane. The three winners in Top Gun Championship were Imran Khan, Simran, and Gurvinder who recorded the fastest lap time in 3 different categories (250-400CC, 650-800CC, 1000CC and above respectively). The Drag Champions were Rizwan Khan for two categories while Riyaz Khan recorded the fastest

18 I October 2014

NEWS

2014 PARIS MOTOR SHOW

ASTON MARTINS TO VOLKSWAGENS, THE SHOW IS AWESOME! Report: Rahul Kapoor

P

aris, the uncrowned fashion centre of the world, threw open its arms to more than a million spiffy visitors from around the world and hard core car-struck automobile enthusiasts and journalists at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. While journalists had a select preview of cars a couple of days before the show, the public had their chance to ogle at the models from October 4 to 19, 2014.

From Aston Martin to Volkswagen, almost every car maker had a surprise for the crowds with a new model launch.

Aston Martin V12 Vantage S

ASTON MARTIN’S newly appointed CEO Andy Palmer stepped into the thick of glamour and excitement with his company showcasing several smart products. It was the European show debut for the new V12 Vantage S Roadster and the public unveiling of the new Vanquish Coupe Carbon Black special edition.

Fresh from the global media launch of the new 15MY Vanquish and Rapide S, Aston Martin arrived in Paris with a lot to show. The V12 Vantage S Roadster is Aston Martin’s most potent, quickest and fastest-accelerating series production convertible yet. It is equipped with the latest 565bhp Aston Martin AM28 6.0-litre V12 engine, featuring state-of-the-art Bosch engine management. The car is capable of doing 0-100km in about 4.1 seconds.

As for the Vanquish Coupe Carbon Black special edition, it is a brand’s ultimate GT with a powerful road presence to match its 321km -plus performance.

AUDI showed its much loved Audi TT formula which was remixed to incorporate five doors, a longer wheelbase and a 395bhp version (450Nm of torque) of the punchy 2.0-litre TFSI engine. Obviously, Audi drew inspiration from its five-door A5 and A7 Sportback models to make this TT Sportback concept, which made its world debut at the show. The engine is mated to a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission with a quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, helping to peg the 0 to 100kmph sprint time at just 3.9 seconds.

Audi Sportback Concept

Bentley Mulsanne Speed

BENTLEY unveiled a new flagship model, the new Mulsanne Speed which is the fastest ultra-luxury driving experience in the world. Joining the Mulsanne Speed at the show was Bentley’s powerful four-door sedan - the Flying Spur - and two dynamic Grand Tourers, the Continental GT V8 S and the GT Speed.

Completing Bentley’s presence in Paris was the signature Mulsanne model, also enhanced for 2015.

The Mulsanne Speed is tailored for the driver, with 530bhp, 1,100Nm and selectable sports suspension and steering on demand. The reengineered powertrain, featuring Bentley’s mighty 6¾-litre twin-turbo V8, propels the Mulsanne Speed from 0-100 kmph in 4.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 305 kmph.

20 I October 2014

BMW i8

2014 PARIS MOTOR SHOW

NEWS

BMW had no major surprises except for the green BMW i8 and the MINI five door from its MINI stable.

BUGATTI had on display the Bugatti Veyron Ettore Bugatti Legend Edition.

DAIMLER through its Mercedes-Benz brand had on display the Mercedes-AMG GT and the Smart cars.

FERRARI had on display the 458 Speciale A (A as in Aperta),

Smart ForTwo tailor made

Ferrari 458 Speciale A

Fiat 500X

a new limited edition special series. Dedicated to just 499 Ferrari collectors, the 458 Speciale A is the most powerful spider in Prancing Horse history, effortlessly marrying extreme performance with the sublime pleasure of drop-top driving. Its aluminium retractable hard top, which takes a mere 14 seconds to deploy or retract, helps reduce the weight difference with the Speciale coupé to just 50 kg.

The 458 Speciale A sports the most powerful naturallyaspirated road-going V8 engine ever built by Ferrari. The three international Best Performance Engine awards the V8 has won are acknowledged on a special plaque in the cockpit. The new car sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds.

FIAT unveiled the all-new Fiat 500X in two different versions – one for those with a spirited, metropolitan outlook and the other for active, stylish adventurers. A broad range of petrol and diesel engines, plus a choice of transmissions and drivetrain configurations are available with this car. It is also available with five- and six-speed manual gearboxes, as well as advanced six-speed twin-clutch and nine-speed automatic transmissions.

There are three drivetrain options: front-wheel drive; “Traction Plus”-equipped front-wheel drive or advanced all-wheel drive with fuel-saving rear axle disconnect.

The engine range of the new Fiat 500X in EMEA countries comprises four petrol engines and three diesels: Front-wheel drive, petrol-powered models are either equipped with a 110hp, 1.6-litre “E-torQ” engine with a five-speed manual gearbox or a 140hp, 1.4-litre Turbo MultiAir II petrol engine with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed twin-clutch transmission.

All-wheel drive petrol models, which are equipped with a ninespeed automatic transmission as standard, are powered either by a 170hp, 1.4-litre Turbo MultiAir II engine or the 184hp, 2.4-litre Tigershark engine.

The front-wheel drive diesel range consists of the 95hp, 1.3-litre MultiJet II turbo diesel, equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox and the 120hp 1.6-litre MultiJet II turbo diesel equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox. The four-wheel drive diesel option is the 140hp, 2.0-litre MultiJet II turbo diesel, which will be available with a six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic transmission.

Fiat also had on display its handsome Jeep range of vehicles.

FORD’S new Ford Mustang made its public debut in Paris.

The first Mustang confirmed to go on sale across the region after 50 years of production will arrive in 2015. The car comes with a 5.0-litre V8 engine as well as an all-new fuel-efficient 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine.

Ford Mustang

HONDA revealed the HR-V--prototype of new small Urban SUV for Europe, prototype of new Jazz for Europe, a refreshed October 2014 I 21

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2014 PARIS MOTOR SHOW

CR-V, Honda’s first Formula One car—the RA271. Coupé like design combined with the versatility and stability of an SUV, the new HR-V uses centre fuel tank location to maximise cabin roominess while Honda Magic Seats exploit interior space. The HR-V is Honda’s new entry into Europe’s fast-growing small SUV segment.

HYUNDAI from South Korea premiered its new generation i20 to be equipped with new 1.0-litre T-GDI engine in 2015. Designed, Europe, the new generation i20 is a truly has confirmed that the new generation be enhanced with a new downsized three-cylinder petrol engine in 1.0-litre T-GDI is the first of a new turbocharged petrol engines, performance, driving pleasure Developed at Hyundai’s European in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the 1.0 produces up to 118bhp and 172 To reinforce its position at development of sustainable also displayed a fuel-efficient 1.4-litre turbo petrol direct injection (T-GDI) engine, a 48-volt Hybrid version of the i40 and a new generation i30 powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).Of course, the Hyundai Intrado, a concept SUV was also showcase,

developed and built in European car. Hyundai i20 engine line-up will 1.0-litre turbocharged 2015. The new Kappa generation of small offering enhanced and efficiency.

Technical Centre litre T-GDI engine Nm of torque. the forefront in the mobility, Hyundai

Honda HR-V

Hyundai Intrado

Jaguar XE

Nissan Pulsar Nismo Concept

Porsche 919 Hybrid

22 I October 2014

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2014 PARIS MOTOR SHOW

Renault Eolab

Phantom Metropolitan Collection

though it was shown in February at the Geneva Motor Show.

JAGUAR LAND ROVER, a Tata Motors owned company, showcased its new XE. The XE now completes the Jaguar saloon car range, sitting below the XF and XJ model lines.

It also had on display the Land Rover Discover Sport, besides its other offerings.

NISSAN made the global debut of the Nissan Pulsar Nismo Concept. It was Nissan’s desire to bring the Nismo philosophy to the broadest possible

audience. Shown in public for the first time, the dramatic design study explores the styling and engineering possibilities of a sporting flagship for the Pulsar range. The Pulsar Nismo Concept brings an exciting new performance dimension to the Pulsar range. Although the concept is only a design study at this stage, Nissan is committed to developing its Nismo line-up with the ambition of delivering bold new performance models to a new generation of drivers.

PORSCHE had on display its Porsche 919 Hybrid, the Cayman GTS and the Macan S diesel.

RENAULT showcased its new Espace, Renault’s flagship model which has undergone a comprehensive transformation.

The new Renault Espace combines the sweeping lines of a large crossover with an elegant yet robust stance. The brand’s innovative new crossover places the emphasis on emotion and takes its inspiration widely from the Initiale Paris concept car which was presented this time last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

It is up to 250kg lighter than the previous Espace. The new Renault MultiSense system in the car coordinates the different technologies

24 I October 2014

devoted to driving pleasure and travelling comfort, including the 4Control chassis, electronic damper management and cabin lighting and sound ambiences that the driver can personalise and select to match his or her mood of the moment. The new Espace boasts of several new technological changes of the modern kind.

Renault also introduced the Eolab Concept, a ‘concept’ version of the Eolab research prototype that has been developed to push back the boundaries of ultra-efficient fuel consumption.

Having been measured at 1 litre/100km in the NEDC’s combined cycle tests, the Eolab prototype is Renault’s response to a twofold challenge. The first was the French government’s invitation to develop vehicles capable of covering 100km on less than two litres of fuel by 2020. The other concerned Renault’s own determination to bring ultra-low fuel consumption to as many motorists as possible in the future.

ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars unveiled the Phantom Metropolitan Collection that features exquisite hand-crafted design inspired by the modern metropolis. Just 20 of these beautifully crafted motor cars will be available to commission.

The Phantom Metropolitan Collection pays homage to the world’s great metropolises through the meticulous application of marquetry – the art of inlaying small pieces of wood veneer to form decorative motifs.

When open, Phantom’s signature picnic table presents occupants with an elevated view of the city, created through the expert application of 500 individual wood veneer pieces. Indeed, the process of hand-cutting, colouring, shaping and applying is so complex these unique objects d’art take an expert wood craftsperson several days to complete. On closing the tables, a different perspective of the cityscape is offered – reflecting the view one gets when

NEWS

2014 PARIS MOTOR SHOW

effortlessly travelling in the rear of a Phantom.

Meticulous care is taken when selecting the individual wood veneers.

Minute imperfections such as knots and flecks lead to instant rejection.

Adjustments to the colour of each piece are made through the traditional hand-process of hot-sand shading before a final inspection under magnification on a light box to ensure perfection.

SSANGYONG, like JLR is owned by an Indian company. This one’s owned

by Mahindra & Mahindra. SsangYong showcased two concepts, XIV-Air and XIV-Adventure. The XIV-Air and XIV-Adventure are equipped with several new technologies including a Stop/Start fuel saving system and three mode smart steering with electric power assistance, in addition to an all-wheel drive (AWD) system which SsangYong offers on all its SUV models.

The XIV comes with a choice of 1.6 litre petrol and 1.6 diesel Euro 6 engines to ensure low emissions.

The design of XIV-Air and XIV-Adventure has been inspired by the association of the power and dynamism of nature, and SsangYong’s new design philosophy, ‘Nature born - 3 Motion’ - the central theme of the brand’s vehicle design language.

SsangYong XIV-Adventure

SUZUKI, a household name in India that gets tagged along with Maruti, showcased an all-new Vitara which has smaller dimensions to meet contemporary needs. It incorporates Suzuki’s Allgrip four wheel drive system and advanced safety and connectivity equipment, it also enables owners to express themselves through various personalising options.

The new Vitara will go into production at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary in early 2015, and will then make its market debut across Europe. It will later be exported around the world as Suzuki’s global compact SUV. The new Vitara inherits the styling of its series and Jimny series and brings it up to date in a brand new exterior design. Also on display were the Celerio and the Swift, brands which are extremely popular in India.

Suzuki Vitara

TOYOTA showcased its new C-HR Concept that made its world debut at the motor show. The new study for a hybrid-powered compact crossover model was featured on the Toyota stand alongside the Fuel Cell Sedan, making its European debut with a production-ready exterior, prior to being launched worldwide in 2015.Toyota’s technology innovation was further represented by the i-Road all-electric personal mobility vehicle – PMV. This urban three-wheeler appeared at the show shortly before taking to the road in Europe in a pilot urban transport scheme in Grenoble. The Toyota stand also displayed its newly launched, European-built Aygo and Yaris.

VOLKSWAGEN had the world premiere of the XL Sport. This 270kmph driving machine is based on the XL1, the most efficient car of all time. At the rear of the XL Sport sits one of the finest achievements in engine technology Toyota C-HR Concept – the V2 adapted from the new Ducati 1199 Superleggera, the world’s most powerful two-cylinder motorcycle. Like the XL1, of which only 250 units will be built, the Superleggera is also being manufactured in a limited edition (500 units), in a process that embraces hand fabrication and high-precision industrial manufacturing technologies alike. The XL1 and the Superleggera, two icons of lightweight carbon and magnesium design technology, thus unite to create a unique sports car.

With the XL Sport, the group brands Volkswagen and Ducati impressively demonstrate how high-tech developments can lead to synergies between brands and be used by both parties as modules for new concepts. Along with the XL Sport, Volkswagen also presented the new Passat GTE2 in Paris. This is the first Passat to be offered as a plug-in hybrid, which comes Volkswagen XL Sport with a TSI engine combined with an electric motor.

26 I October 2014

NEWS

2014 INTERMOT SHOW

DROOOOOOOOL!!!

Report: Joshua David Luther, Photography: Courtesy Koelnmesse

T

he International Motorcycle, Scooter and E-Bike Fair (Intermot 2014) in Cologne, Germany held from October 1 to 5, 2014 saw around 900 providers from 35 countries showcasing around 1,200 brands and the latest

28 I October 2014

2014 INTERMOT SHOW

NEWS

Stunt shows

October 2014 I 29

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2014 INTERMOT SHOW

models and products.

The providers included all the industry’s top players. The Intermot offering ranged from motorcycles, scooters, e-bikes, internal combustion and electric propulsion, trailers and sidecars to parts and accessories for motorised two-wheelers, engines and engine parts, electrical equipment, tools, workshop and retail outlet equipment, lubricants and maintenance products as well as motorcycle-related tourism and Victory leisure offerings.

The multi-faceted event programme with its various test-drive tracks, outrageous stunt shows and demo races saw hundreds and thousands all over the world converge at the fair to get a glimpse of their favourite machines.

The exhibitor list read like a “who’s who” of the motorcycle industry.

Those who participated included the likes of BMW, Ducati, HarleyDavidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Piaggio-Gruppe and Triumph. KTM Honda NM4 and Yamaha increased their exhibition space for this year’s event to show off their models to even greater effect.

But Husqvarna and Polaris as well with their Victory and Indian brands had their new products displayed for the media and fans. Daytona, Held, iXS, Nolan, Rukka, and Schuberth were among those presenting their latest clothing products.

In the parts/accessories segment, names like Alpha Technik, Matthies, Niemann + Frey, Parts Europe, Ducati Scrambler Rizoma and Öhlins were represented, among others. Prominent returnees as well as new exhibitors included Akrapovic (parts/accessories), Bridgestone (tyres), Kabuto (helmets), Locatelli/Airoh (helmets), Metzeler (tyres), Rev’lt (clothing) and Yuasa (batteries).

Intermot Cologne is and remains the place where the international industry meets. Of the registered providers, 30 per cent were from Germany and 70 per cent from abroad, an increase of 5 per cent.

The strongest contingents were from China, Taiwan, Great Britain, the Netherlands, the USA and France.

The Intermot Cologne occupied Halls 5-10 of the Cologne exhibition centre with a total gross floor area of

30 I October 2014

Indian Motorcycles

KTM 1290 Super Adventure

NEWS

2014 INTERMOT SHOW

118,000 square metres. The market leaders were spread between all the halls. As usual, BMW and Yamaha exhibited in Hall 6. Newly ensconced in the hall was Polaris with the Victory and Indian brands. The Piaggio Group, Suzuki and ZERO were represented in Hall 7, a newcomer in Hall 8 was Kymco, alongside Ducati and Kawasaki. KTM together with BMW R1200 Husqvarna, Honda, HarleyDavidson and Triumph caused quite a stir in Hall 9. Hall 10 was earmarked for Intermot’s spectacular themed areas.

Additional indoor events for youngsters were to be found in Hall 5.1 while 5.2 was all about electromobility with Intermot e-motion.

Kawasaki

INTERMOT E-MOTION Intermot e-motion was the main focus of the electrically Custom bikes driven two-wheeler offering.

Among those showcasing their alternative mobility models and propulsion motors were new exhibitors like brose, Giant, my Stromer and Polaris. The topic of electro-mobility was encountered in all Intermot halls, including also at BMW, which confidently exhibited its E-model among the classic motorcycles in Hall 6. Also present were the international LEV (light electric vehicle) association with a joint stand. An international conference programme specifically Suzuki Fuel Cell addressing the topic was on offer to specialists and trade visitors, hazarding a glimpse into the future and providing information on forthcoming developments in the safety and electromobility arena. The LEV conference was held on October 3, the biggest international gathering of the light electric vehicle industry. This was preceded on October 2 by the presentation of the ‘E-Bike Award 2014’ by initiators RWE Germany and the ExtraEnergy e.v Bridgestone tyres association.

For the first time at Intermot

Triumph Strees Triple 675

Metzeler tyres

Continental tyres

32 I October 2014

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

2014 INTERMOT SHOW 2014, a trade visitor day took place on October 1, 2014. The newly instituted trade visitor day served to focus fully on business.

For the first time this day was “reserved” for trade visitors and importers. On this day, private visitors only had access to the trade fair through a limited ticket allocation. There was no outside event programme on the trade visitor day.

INTERMOT COLOGNE: THE EVENT FAIR

iXS

iXS

RST biker shoes

Held riding gear

Drag Racing

34 I October 2014

Bell helmets

Daytona

But private visitors as well got their money’s worth at Intermot Cologne 2014. As an event fair, it offered the full programme with freestyle MX and stunt shows, tests and special shows and test ride tracks for grownups and little ones, whether or not they had a motorcycle licence. There was a total of 70,000 square metres of outdoor space available as an activity area. The AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building in the indoor area and the team trial show in the outdoor area were some of the premiere highlights this year.

Incidentally, this year Intermot was also celebrating itself. With ‘50 Years of the Motorcycle Fair in Cologne’, the organisers cranked up the action on October 2 at the official Intermot 6 to 9 party.

From 06:00 p.m. onwards in this anniversary year all exhibitors and visitors were invited to join in the celebrations on the trade air boulevard accompanied by live music.

Outside the exhibition site, the ‘Night of the Jumps’ in the Lanxess Arena witnessed a top event of the moto cross scene.

The best riders of the International Freestyle Motocross Federation (IFMXF) battled for world cup points on October 4.

For 90 years, Koelnmesse has been bringing people and markets together. Today Koelnmesse has the world’s fifth-largest exhibition complex and organises approximately 75 trade fairs in Cologne and all over the world.

WHEELZ & ROADZ

48

DRIVEN AUDI A8L The styling of the A8L is quite brilliantly conspicuous. It’s big in size and it looks just like any other Audi. But the questions is - is the new face lifted Audi A8L the best in its segment?

A driving experience

FIRST DRIVE - MAHINDRA NEW GENERATION SCORPIO

DESI TADKA

Engine & Transmission 2179cc 4 cylinder mHawk diesel engine, variable geometry turbocharger with intercooler / 5-speed manual

36 I October 2014

Power & Torque 120bhp @ 4000rpm 280Nm @1800-2800rpm

Fuel Efficiency

Fuel tank capacity

15.37 kmpl

60 litres

Price 11.95 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

52

FIRST RIDE SUZUKI GIXXER 155CC

FIRST RIDE HERO ELECTRIC PHOTON

Suzuki has been tirelessly working towards winning the hearts of its patrons. With that single thought in mind it seems they have launched the Gixxer - The Street Sport Bike.

Hero Electric has come up with yet another electric joy, the Photon. The electric scooter even comes with remote lock, a novel feature in the two-wheeler industry in India.

60

Report: P. Tharyan, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

I

n Hindi language the word ‘Tadka’ means tempering of mustard seeds, turmeric, cumin seeds, red chilli powder and other ingredients in cooking oil. The tadka is usually added to an Indian dish like dal or kadi to make it taste amazingly yummy. You simply drool even while eating! That’s what the Mahindra new generation Scorpio is all about in the Indian passenger vehicle segment. Ever since it was launched in 2002, the vehicle has caught the imagination of the Indian driver, young and old.

It is a favourite among Indian politicians too and Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister could never have reached so far in his political journey had it not been for his trusted Scorpio vehicles that took him safely to places across the landscape of India.

Now the Scorpio comes in an entirely new outfit. Exterior-wise it has undergone some aesthetic changes in front and rear, which is quite evident in its clear head lamps, front grille and rear lamps etc. But what has changed the most is the technology that had been driving this muscular SUV for so long. First and foremost, the new generation Scorpio comes in seven different variants. These are the S2, S4, S4+, S6, S6+, S8 and S10. While the S2 is powered by a 2523cc M2diCR diesel engine, the rest are powered by the amazingly powerful and fuel efficient 2179cc mHawk engine which delivers 120bhp and a peak torque of 280Nm. We got the top end S10 for a drive and by jove, it made me weak in the knees when I first saw it. As the molten red coloured Scorpio was driven into the locality where I lived, I noticed every driver sitting under the tree, keeping an eye on their masters’ Audis, BMWs and Mercedes-Benz’s, come running to take a look at the car. Now that is why I say, this one’s a desi tadka. Only a proud Indian will understand the

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

beauty of a Scorpio. Incidentally, the molten red and regal blue are two new colours added to the options available for customers.

Though I had a S10 version, it was not the with a shift on fly four wheel drive. Mine was a 2-wheel drive. But I was in no mood to complain, the vehicle’s dynamic personality just told me to enjoy the drive.

The S10 version comes with all the beautiful features that a Scorpio can hold. In fact, it simply builds up on the features as it reaches the S10 level. The S2 model powered by the M2diCR engine has LED tail lamps, micro hybrid feature, digital immobiliser, hydraulic assisted bonnet and power steering. The S4 variant has all the features of an S2 and comes with a MHawk engine and has a shift on fly four wheel drive (optional).

The S6 comes with add ons like 2 DIN audio system,

38 I October 2014

ski rack, voice assist system, panic brake indication, speakers with tweeters, spoiler, rear wash and wipe, rear demister and body coloured exteriors. The S8 additionally has projector headlamps, dual airbags, ABS, alloy wheels, fog lamps and reverse parking assist. The fully loaded S10 has advanced static bending technology, LED eyebrows, advanced 6� touch screen infotainment with GPS navigation, fully automatic temperature control, rain and light sensors, steering mounted audio and cruise controls, etc.

The new Scorpio is the fourth generation model. In 2002 when the Scorpio was launched it gave a fuel average of 11.2kmpl of diesel but in 2014 the figure has gone up to 15.37kmpl. This could not have happened without the tweaking of the engine and everything that is connected to it.

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

To top it, this SUV comes in a new 17 inches alloy wheels, silver-finished fender bezel, new wrap around bonnet, new bonnet scoop with low drag intake design, new road armour bumpers, new fog lamps and side cladding with silver embossing. There is also the tyre-tronics, a sophisticated measuring system that enhances the safety by providing live updates of exact air pressure and temperature in each tyre.

After having driven the old Scorpio for a long time and enjoying it thoroughly, this one

comes as a breath of fresh air. There is a huge improvement on the driveability front. The moment you tweak your engine into life, the power steering eases your efforts in driving and thereafter the engine simply does its job smartly. The new 5MT320 gearbox shifts into the different gears with great ease. The turning radius of the vehicle too has come down to 5.4 metres. That makes this big fella easy to manoeuvre even in narrow lanes.

While the driving has definitely improved as compared to its predecessor, the ride and handling too has remarkably become top notch. The new Scorpio comes with an all new platform including cushion suspension and antiroll technologies. The cushioning makes your journey on rugged roads rather comforting.

As for pick up and speed, yes there is hardly any turbo lag and whatever little is there

gets cleared out as one sees the rpm meter go beyond the 1500 range. It then becomes quite linear and responsive. The door window controls are thankfully on the door handles which is a great relief as it was earlier at the centre near to the gear knob. I was not too happy with the hand rests for the driver seat, it was not comfortably placed. Nor were some of the seat adjustment levers by the side of the seat...they were almost inaccessible when the door was closed...my hand could hardly slide in the gap to reach them! The inside door handles too are a bit tacky and uncomfortable to hold and pull. Any changes to this model would only require the insides to be slightly refurbished.

Except for a few of these drawbacks, I think the new Scorpio is an outright winner on the Indian roads. Without this tadka, life loses its zing!

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE

UNICORN STATUS

Engine & Transmission 1996cc 4 cylinder VCDi DOHC / 6-speed Automatic

40 I October 2014

Power & Torque 163 bhp@ 3800rpm 360 Nm@ 2000rpm

Fuel Efficiency 17.3 kmpl (M)

Tyres 205/60 R16

Price 16,30,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

Report: Rahul Kapoor, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

I

always had a notion that American car companies don’t pay much attention to detail.

They just make a body for the car; put a giant engine which doesn’t produce enough power with barely any fuel economy, weighing as much as the moon, with a philosophy of “that’ll do” in quality standards division. But I realised how terribly wrong I was when I started driving the new Chevrolet Cruze.

When it came to this cheese burger and fries eating beast, there was something different about the Chevy Cruze. It somehow stood out like a unicorn in a herd of donkeys wearing ponchos. The difference wasn’t much from the looks of it at first glance. It looks good, the design is nice. The shape of the headlamps are sharper and some chrome bits here and there so it’s a lot like every other car out there with its own distinctive character. But there was something about it what lurks inside this little Unicorn that caught my eye…a giant turbo. The turbo is so big it makes the 2 litre engine seem small to the eye, in fact it’s probably the biggest useful component in the car, which is probably the secret of this Unicorn’s performance. Because of the giant turbo which is like the horn on its forehead, this Unicorn has the power of 163 horses inside and it gallops with 360Nm of torque. Thanks to that horn on this magical car, the surge of power is majestic. It is gradual at first and when it catches the rpms it just drives away into the sunset.

The great performance is also the reason why this car is actually quite a successful racing car as well. The Chevy Cruze has 4 World Touring Car Championships (WTCC) on the trot for the past 4 years in the hands of Yvan Muller and Robert Huff while being a British Touring Car legend in its own right winning the championship in 2010 with Jason Plato behind the wheel. The Cruze was also the 2011 Scandinavian Touring Car Championship winner. The Cruze achieved another milestone in August 2014 when the company sold 3 million units world-wide with the Indian market also contributing to this achievement.

So what this car is, is a fast little magical creature to drive but the question remains how it fares in the real world? Well for starters, it handles brilliantly. You almost get the same amount of body roll in a car of the same segment that costs 3 times more. The steering though is a bit light, it feels like a feather in your hands when you’re going straight but when you turn at high speeds, it pulls back and becomes

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

heavier and come to think of it, it’s actually quite genius. Then when you want to put it into sport mode, you can’t. There is no switch that says sport and I’m glad there isn’t only because if the car is this good on its own, why ruin it with a ‘Sport’ button? Your sport mode is your throttle pedal, be gentle with it, and you have comfort, floor it and you awaken all the 163 horses this unicorn ate for lunch. It’s not a child’s play this car; it’s a Gentleman’s racer. The more aggressive you are, the more aggressive it gets.

The finish inside the cabin is stupendously good. The leather upholstery is stitched beautifully and feels like a perfectly hairless woman’s legs after she uses all her million dollar moisturisers. The centre console, the dash, the instrument panel are all brilliant, but it doesn’t come with Sat-Nav even though it has a digital screen, and when I tried to use the USB port to charge my phone and play music, none of the buttons on the console did anything. The only way to control it is from the phone. Or you could also pair it via Bluetooth and then use the buttons. There are several clever little cubby holes for storage laid out around the cabin, and a sunglass holder placed cleverly above the driver’s door.

To drive this car, is totally different from any other out there. Like I said before there is something in this car that most others in the market lack. The Cruze has character, a sense

42 I October 2014

of its own and a place of its own, distinguished from anything else out there. But it’s not really practical in the real world; it’s nowhere close to what its competition has to offer in terms of being practical. There are cheaper options that have better fuel economy as well, so the questions looms why would anyone buy one?

Would I buy one? Yes! Why? Because firstly it rubbishes my pre-historic notion that all American cars are badly built, and secondly

a car is a direct reflection of its owner’s personality, it shows if the owner is interesting or not. So if you are the kind of person who likes to stand out from everyone else in the crowd with something different, to feel a little distinguished from the herd of donkeys in ponchos the Chevy Cruze is the Unicorn to have and it’s not just an image booster, the amount of fun you get for your money, makes this car priceless.

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

FIRST DRIVE - NEW Ĺ KODA RAPID 1.5 TDI 7-SPEED AT (DSG)

RAPID RENAISSANCE Report: Joshua David Luther, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

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s we land at the scenic Goa International Airport little are we aware of what lies beyond the busy baggage counters and security checks. We exit the airport and wait for our taxi to the hotel. Skoda had planned a big surprise for us - the new Skoda Rapid in gleaming cappuccino beige is waiting for us to drive. The

Engine & Transmission 1,498cc, TDI turbocharged diesel, in-line, 16V DOHC / 7-speed automatic (DSG)

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new Skoda Rapid is much like the previous version of the car except for a few changes like a bolder looking Skoda badge and a new set of 5-spoke alloys. What really had us excited were the changes Skoda had made under the hood.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE The new Skoda Rapid now comes with a 1.5

Power & Torque 103 bhp@ 4400rpm 250 Nm@ 1500-2500rpm

Fuel Efficiency 21.66 kmpl (AT)

litre TDI which churns out 103bhp @ 4400rpm and 250Nm of torque @1500-2500rpm. The engine has been mated to the famed 7 speed DSG gear box. One of the first points you would notice on the new Skoda Rapid is that even though the engine is smaller than the previous version of the car the output has not changed. The 1.5 TDI in the Rapid has

Fuel Tank Capacity 55 litres

Price Elegance Black package 10,97,424 (ex-showroom Delhi)

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been manufactured by Bosch and Audi. It is the same engine you will find in the new Polo and the new Vento. When driving the 1.5 TDI you can feel the surge of power hit you in the mid range. While the Rapid is in drive mode it will pull cleanly from 3000rpm – 4000rpm after which it begins to tail off but if you choose to shift manually the car will pull cleanly till about 4400rpm after which the DSG does not allow you to redline and will up-shift automatically.

The new Rapid has a refreshed drive experience thanks to the new 7 speed DSG gearbox. One of the biggest advantages of owning an automatic is the sheer level of comfort even while stuck in a traffic jam you don’t have to worry about clutching and shifting. The DSG however is even better, it is so smooth that you can barely feel the

shifts between gears and it has been tuned to maintain higher rpm levels in the sports mode. The Rapid however does not seem well insulated and the noise from the 1.5 TDI does penetrate into the cabin which can be a drawback for those with a finer taste. One of the biggest advantages from the 1.5 TDI automatic is that it is one of the most fuel efficient versions of the car which is currently available giving 21.66 km to the litre. The fuel tank can hold 55 litres which gives the car a range of almost a 1000 km. The 1.5 TDI is a very chirpy engine and feels exciting to drive.

The Rapid indeed is as engaging and thrilling as its name is.

HANDLING & SUSPENSION The new Rapid much like the older version of the car handles very well. The suspension is moderately stiff and the ride comfort of the car like most Skoda and Volkswagen cars is really good. Be it bumpy roads or cornering at high speeds the car simply feels planted to the ground. The front suspension is a McPherson with lower triangular links and a torsion stabiliser. The rear has a compound link crank-axle which tends to jump if the back seat is empty. The brakes on the Rapid are very efficient. The front has disc brakes with a floating calliper while the rear has drum brakes. The chassis of the Rapid complements the drive and handling of the car and unlike the Japanese competitors the car does not tend to float at higher speeds.

The new Rapid has 185/ 60 R15 wheels, which give it a proud stance and also complement the profile of the car. The car has a 168mm of ground clearance and has a

turning circle diameter of 10.6m. The steering on the new Skoda Rapid is a direct rack & pinion with an electro mechanic power assist. The steering feels sporty and is a bit on the heavier side but is very responsive none the less.

DESIGN & STYLING The design aspect of the new Skoda Rapid is like its previous versions and is an extended form of the Skoda Fabia. The car literally has borrowed its styling from other cars in the VW family. The side profile of the car looks like the Vento while the back has horizontal linings on the boot to differentiate it from the Vento. The looks of the Rapid are of any typical Skoda however the vehicle is not coming on the MQB platform like the new Superb and Octavia. It has a good road presence and the design is bold and aggressive. The new Rapid is now being launched with a Black Package. The Black Package adds to the sporty feel of the car with new smoked projector headlamps, black painted 12 spoke alloys, black coloured ORVMs, black fog lamp housing and optional black roof and side graphic strips. The Black Package offered on the new Skoda Rapid gives the vehicle a very bold and sporty look.

One of the new styling changes offered on the other variants of the Rapid are a new set of 5-spoke alloys. With decent pricing the black package on the new Skoda Rapid is an added advantage over the VW Vento and it costs less than its sibling rival.

FEATURES & SAFETY The new Skoda Rapid comes packed with

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host of new features like a magnetic card holder, cruise control, parking sensors, etc.

The Rapid is one of the few vehicles in the segment to offer a driver airbag as a standard safety feature. Thumbs up to Skoda for such proactive measures! Apart from air bags for the front passenger and the driver, the Rapid also comes with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), Dual Rate brake assist, fuel supply cut off in a crash, over speeding warning, rear park assist, etc. Some key convenience features on the new Skoda Rapid are a GSM sim with Bluetooth integration, multi-function steering with telephone controls, climatronic air conditioning, SD/ MMC card reader, USB and CD 2-Din music system, front centre armrest and cruise control. The colour options available on the new Skoda Rapid are in Brilliant Silver, Candy White, Cappuccino Beige, Deep Black Pearl, Flash Red and the new Toffee Brown.

THE VERDICT While there are not many changes on the design front of the new Skoda Rapid barring the additions found on the Black Package, the 1.5 TDI mated with the DSG gearbox is a real joy to drive. The engine and performance of the new Rapid may have the same output but definitely feels refreshed in terms of pick-up and efficiency thanks to the 7-speed DSG. Skoda has priced the Rapid Elegance at 10,84,324 (ex-showroom, Delhi) and the Elegance Black package at 10,97,424 (ex-

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showroom, Delhi) which is very competitive when compared to other vehicles in the segment and what they have to offer. One of the drawbacks is the cabin insulation which

does feel a bit noisy. The new Skoda Rapid is a fun, sporty and practical car to drive. Do not over look this as an option if you are planning to buy a vehicle in this segment.

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

AUDI A8L 3.0TDI QUATTRO

DISCRETELY ELEGANT Report: Rahul Kapoor, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

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hen it comes to luxury, the term refers to the highest standards of quality, refinement and elegance while being extremely expensive.

So the question is---Is the new face lifted Audi A8L the best in its segment?

Well for starters, compared to its direct competitors, it’s the most expensive of the lot.

Priced at 1.14 crore, it ticks the “being really expensive” box quite well. But does it live up to the price tag?

The styling of the A8L is quite brilliantly conspicuous. It’s big in size and it looks just like any other Audi. Only someone with a keen eye can figure out which is which from Audis’ other models, to the A8. But the A8L just has a little more elegance to it and it doesn’t stand out too much which is exactly what some buyers would like. The Matrix LED head lamps are brilliant, when the car senses that another car is approaching, it turns the beams away from it so that it doesn’t blind the oncoming driver while still giving a full beam of light.

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The J shaped Day Time Running lights look gorgeous as well. At the front you will also notice the big Audi grille with the Audi logo on it with the tiny Quattro badge. A slim strip of chrome that runs along the chin at the front of the car adds a feel of slight elegance to the A8L. The door mirrors are shaped quite nicely with a thin strip of LEDs for indicators but they don’t provide a good field of view which one will eventually get used to. The side profile of the car is simple and elegant and gives the car a really long look. The back of the car is also shaped brilliantly with signature Audi styling but what is interesting is that the indicators glow pointing towards the way you indicate which is quite interesting with more chrome strips at the back, dual exhausts and a black roof. The car stands sleek and low on 10-twin spoke, 18 inch alloy rims with 235/55 Goodyear tyres.

The elegance continues in the interior which is lined with lush smooth leather evenly stitched perfectly and a wooden panel that runs along the dash at the front. But the one

thing that catches the eye is the gear selector which is probably designed by a genius. You just want to touch it and poke it every time you see it and it fits in your hand brilliantly. The A8 also offers an MMI system which is more advanced than the other models but it does have some tiny features missing from the A8s that sit higher in the price range. It has four

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

seats, two screens at the back and one retractable one in the front with quad zone climate control.

What also catches the eye, apart from the cleverly designed layout of the knobs, buttons and dials, is the Bang & Olufsen Stereo system, as the tweeters rise out from the top of the dash which gives the car quite a few bragging rights. One can also fiddle with the settings and concentrate the balance of volume in the cabin to a specific place or seat. With lots of storage in and around the cabin, and sunglass holders in the four doors, the A8 also comes with a refrigerator in the middle of the back seat. Charging points are cleverly laid out even in the rear, near the legs in the centre at the back, which can pop out from both sides when desired. The seat massagers though are not something one should brag about as

Engine & Transmission 3.0L V6 TDI Turbo Diesel / 8-speed Tiptronic Automatic with paddleshift

they don’t really do much apart from faintly tickling your back even at the highest intensity. The four electronically adjustable seats make the cabin a wonderland to spend time in as you can either use the DVD player to watch movies, with dedicated Audi head phones, on the screens for the rear passengers, or stare up at the sky through the panoramic sunroof. The heads up display though could offer a bit more information.

Power & Torque 246 bhp @ 4000–4500 rpm 550Nm @1500–3000 rpm

Fuel Efficiency 7.7 kmpl

Top Speed 250 Kmph (0-100kmph in 6.2 Seconds)

Price 1.14 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi)

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But it’s clearly visible to the driver.

Performance-wise somehow, it doesn’t really fare too well. The problem is, the A8L is extremely long and heavy. The 3.0L TDI engine feels so refined and power delivery is instant, which it would be with 550Nm of torque. The power is where it just feels sluggish, it just seems like an asthmatic, it gives all it’s got at the beginning, but when it gets to high RPMs it starts wheezing. It just can’t get to the finish line. The savage power at the beginning is enough to keep you happy. What I’m not happy about is the automatic gearbox. I love it, but it’s sort of bittersweet. You just don’t get 100pc manual control of it. Just at the red line, it shifts on its own. Even in manual sports mode, just when you think “I am gonna wait until the last moment to shift” and it shifts on its own, then a millisecond later, you click the paddle and you double shift up, so you have to down shift again to bring the RPMs up and you lose out.

At high speeds, there is a tiny bit of body roll in comfort mode, but in dynamic mode it’s stiff but still quite comfortable. The steering is light and brilliant, but I personally would like a little more feedback. The Quattro drive is brilliant. It’s just finds insane amount of grip from somewhere and sticks to the ground, but

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then it would since it weight is just a bit more than the moon, yet the traction control does give a little bit of slip to slide the back out just, to give out a loud tyre squeal. Turning off the traction control would probably let it slip and slide more. You can change the setup of the car from ride, steering and performance between Comfort and Dynamic or Auto, but in all of them, the A8L struggles to cope with the bumps. But lowering the ride height does soften the blows a bit.

So does it have the highest standards of quality? Yes, the cabin and the panels all feel expensive and of German grade quality. Is it refined? There is a fair bit of cabin noise, the ride is a bit bumpy, and the engine could use a bit more power. But what it does best is be elegant. It just looks perfect for a long expensive saloon and yet

is discreet about it. Other cars in the segment are either too loud and blingy, or just too plain and boring. Which is like a delicious vanilla icecream, its plain and white, but you will never get enough of licking it!

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

FIRST RIDE - SUZUKI GIXXER 155CC

BORN OF A LEGEND

Engine & Transmission 155cc, 4 – Stroke, SOHC / 5-speed, Manual

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Power & Torque 14.6bhp @ 8000rpm 14Nm @ 6000rpm

Fuel Tank Capacity 12 litres

Kerb Weight 135 kgs

Price 72,199 (ex-showroom, Pune)

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

Report: Joshua David Luther, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

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hen you have names like Gixxer, Ciaz, Hayabusa, etc you tend to go to your best friend Google and ask him what the hell does it all mean. For those who are yet to fathom what Gixxer means, you got to know that Suzuki has in the past come out with a range of sport bikes under the GSX-R series. Thus, there were the likes of GSX-R600, GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, GSX-R1100. The famed Hayabusa is a GSX 1300R. In short, Gixxer is just an easy way to pronounce GSX-R! Thus the Gixxer we rode from Pune to Lavasa on a rainy day, is actually born of a legend.

Why I say legend is simply because the Gixxer comes from the lineage of the famed GSX-R series, the sporty GSX-R1000 being one of them. The Gixxer has been crafted and designed by the same engineers who conceptualised the GSX-R series and have put a great amount of research and thought into developing a motorcycle for the Indian rider.

This bike is not ordinary neither does it let you feel that way! Every rev of the engine and every blast of air leaving the smart twin exhausts have a direct link to your pulse. The faster she goes – the faster goes your pulse. It seems as though every inch of this bike has been chiselled and sculpted aesthetically.

Suzuki has been tirelessly working towards winning the hearts of its patrons. With that single thought in mind it seems they have launched the Gixxer - The Street Sport Bike. The Gixxer has been designed and conceptualised to be dead set in the centre of what the Indian bike rider desires… performance and economy.

The styling cues, like I mentioned earlier, have been borrowed from the

likes of the legendary GSX-R1000. The overall styling of the bike is such that everything is conveniently positioned - be it the instrument cluster, the handles or the riding position of the bike. Designing has been perfect keeping the rider in mind. The pillion rider can have all the fun hanging on!

DESIGN AND STYLING A top view of the bike reveals smooth flowing lines that run from the front to the rear while the rider’s position has been designed in a manner to enhance the aerodynamics of the bike. The tank is shaped in such a manner that the rider can simply close in comfortably. Even a 6 ft tall guy will not have a problem crouching as there is ample room to tuck your legs and you can rest on the dome when accelerating to higher speeds. The single tube-light weight chassis is inspired by its GSX-R predecessors. The Gixxer has a curb weight of just 135 kgs making it the lightest bike in its class. The Gixxer also has a first in its class dual exhaust muffler which has been designed to improve exhaust efficiency and also enhances the purr of the engine.

The Gixxer rests on a 7 step adjustable-mono shock swing arm suspension in the rear while the front has a 41mm (diameter) telescopic suspension. The tyres are tubeless with a 100/80 R17 in the front and 140/60 R17 in the rear. The alloy wheel design is a three spoke “Y” shaped one which has also been borrowed from the GSX-R1000 series. The riding position of the pillion however is a bit high set and feels cramped for room. One of the features worthy

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of real praise on the Suzuki Gixxer is the instrument cluster which is unique and very handy while riding. It has a completely digital instrument cluster and displays fuel levels, rpm levels, current speed and gear position. It also houses turn indicators, neutral position indicator, high beam indicator and an rpm peaking indicator.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE At the heart of the Gixxer is a 155cc light weight, high performance SEP (Suzuki Eco Performance) engine which produces 14.6 bhp@ 8000rpm of power and churns out 14 Nm@ 6000rpm, making it one of the most peppy and fun to ride motorbikes out there. The amount of torque produced by the bike combined with its light weight makes it ‘a jump on and zoom’ bike. We drove the Gixxer from Pune to Lavasa and it was a real pleasure to drive on the hilly stretches. The weather conditions were tough for riding and maneuvering, we went through heavy rain, cloud covered stretches, high incline climbs, bumpy roads, gravel and high wind speeds.

All the way through the Gixxer simply sailed over these without flinching even once. Even through heavy rain and wet roads cornering at 50-60 kmph was a piece of cake. The rider’s position and aerodynamic design allows the rider to crouch and get streamlined with the bike and even

though you get hit by wind speeds of 30-40 kmph the Gixxer is nothing but stable, effortlessly edging forward. The 155cc engine gives a fuel economy of 63.5km to the litre which is facilitated by a smaller combustion chamber leading to combustion efficiency.

The rear tyre is on the wider side and provides great handling and stability.

The front tyre has a very accurate disc brake while the back has a drum brake which does the job well. The brakes on the Gixxer are ByBre, a brand from the famed house of Brembo, known for mastering the art in stopping the world with their brakes. ByBre is short for By Brembo and this brand is dedicated to manufacture braking solutions for the sub 600cc segment of motorcycles specifically for the BRIC (Brazil, India, Russia and China) nations and a few other Asian markets.

THE VERDICT The Gixxer is a force to reckon with and nothing about this bike feels lacking. The pricing seems pocket friendly and not over exaggerated at 72,199 (ex-showroom Delhi). The ride handling and stability is exceptional in almost any terrain, while the engine output and performance is brilliant for its class of bikes. The features provided on the Gixxer set it apart from other competitors and the design elements on the bike are nothing less than futuristic.

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FIRST RIDE - MAHINDRA GUSTO

GUTSY GUSTO Report: Joshua David Luther, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

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dreamy morning set amidst the lost dunes in the desert at Khimsar,Rajasthan. We await the arrival of our ride. The all new Mahindra Gusto, one of the first indigenous scooters built by the two wheeler unit of Mahindra & Mahindra, has been generating some hype ever since the camouflaged versions of the product started testing on the roads. There has been a great deal of chatter about this new scooter from Mahindra because of the claimed innovative design and features. Finally the time comes and we hop on to the refreshing and edgy new Mahindra Gusto.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE At the heart of the new Gusto is a powerful aluminum M-Tech 110cc 4-stroke, air cooled engine which produces 8bhp @ 7500rpm and churns out 9Nm of torque @ 5500rpm.

From the moment you say go and just rev this peppy little engine the Gusto does not fail to amaze you. It will pull cleanly from 0-70kmph without even breaking a sweat. The Gusto on the engine front is a perfect scooter for the average city goer as it does not fail to please you in terms of performance and pick up. But it does feel out of breath once it crosses the 70kmph mark. We took the Gusto to 83kmph before breaking but unlike most scooters the

Engine & Transmission 110cc, 4 – Stroke, Air-cooled / CVT

engine did not shudder which goes to show how good the build quality is. The Gusto will take its sweet time to reach the 83kmph mark but none the less it will get you there and maintain that speed if you demand it to.

This peppy little 4-stroke has been designed and engineered in Mahindra’s very own R&D facility in Pune which was set up three years back. The Gusto is light and zippy even though it has one of the longest wheel bases in the segment at 1275mm. The Mahindra Gusto also has been built for heavy duty use and as one of the stipulated parameters of testing we took the scooter over rugged terrain. Shockingly the Gusto held its own even over rough ground and through the desert sands.

RIDE & HANDLING The new Gusto comes with some of the most innovative features in the two wheeler segment. Mahindra has once again shocked the industry with another patented innovation which is added to the Gusto, a height adjustable seat. The Vx version of the Gusto will get this height adjustable seat.The height adjustment will adjust the rider’s position between the 770mm to 735mm range. This is one feature which gives the rider a more comfortable riding position and options to adjust their seating position depending on

Power & Torque 8bhp @ 7500rpm 9Nm @ 5500rpm

Tyres: Front & Rear 90/ 90-12 Tubeless

their need. Keeping a unisex clientele in mind Mahindra Two Wheeler’s new Gusto is definitely an option you would want to consider as it is convenient to drive for both male and female riders. The 12 inch tubeless tyres give the scooter a good stance.The ground clearance of the Gusto is 165mm and it has a very sturdy and balanced ride.

Over smooth roads and rugged terrain the Gusto feels very comfortable with a telescopic air suspension in the front and hydraulic long stroke suspension in the rear.

The Gusto seems to draw its genes from one of those mighty Mahindra SUVs as it seems to decimate all that is thrown in its path. Even when you are cornering at around 50-60kmph the scooter feels very stable and one does not fear to dig deeper. One area where I would give the Gusto a ten on ten is the braking department. The scooter has the best stopping distance in the segment and the brakes are very efficient. Both brakes are 130mm mechanical drum brakes and Mahindra has claimed it would make a front disc brake variant soon.

LOOKS & STYLING One of the areas which was a disappointment is the styling. The new Gusto may be refreshing and different but it is certainly not original. Mahindra acquired Kinetic Motors in

Fuel Tank Capacity 6 litres

Price 43,000 (ex-showroom Delhi)

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2008 and the front end of the Gusto seems to have drawn a lot of styling cues from Kinetic’s line up. The scooter definitely has a very bold outlook and does hold a certain amount of road presence but it is not something which will make your jaw drop. The Gusto comes with a first in segment daytime running lights (DRLs) and a new locking mechanism on the seat which will prevent it from falling while you are filling petrol or accessing the under seat storage area. Another very handy feature on the Gusto is a first in segment front kick start which allows you to kick start the vehicle while you are seated on the scooter and you do not need to get off and perform a kick start like the traditional scooters. Do not mistake this as the lack of a self-start button. The Gusto has also got a first of its kind glove box in a scooter which is handy to store your mobile phone and other pocket sized items. Mahindra comes with the same flip key which comes on the Centuro and you can easily access the follow me home and find me functions of the scooter with this

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handy flip key. The Gusto comes with large side view mirrors which allow you to easily view the traffic at your rear. Over all the Gusto seems to be a rugged yet innovative scooter but Mahindra could have improved the oomph quotient a little more.

THE VERDICT The Gusto comes with a price tag of 43,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) which is an introductory price and is filled to the brim with handy features. The scooter does not disappoint on the performance front and seems to have drawn the macho genetics of the mighty Mahindra SUVs. Mahindra has made the scooter as convenient to own and ride as possible and is definitely a game changer as both men and women can easily ride this with minimal discomfort. The styling does feel a bit lacking but it does have some subtle combinations of curvy and edgy looks which is not offered by any competitor.The Gusto has a fuel tank of 6 litres and can give 63km to the

litre giving it a very impressive range. All this for a price tag of 43,000 is not a bad bargain but hurry this is just an introductory price. Go for the gutsy Gusto!

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

HERO ELECTRIC PHOTON

SMART GREEN WHEELS T Report: Joshua David Luther, Photography: Mohd. Nasir o be very honest you would not be very thrilled when you hear an upcoming review of an electric vehicle but I am one of those petrol heads who cares a bit more. The Earth is not getting any greener… the only green which has increased are the green house gases. Nature was not really built to sustain the increasing amounts of carbon emissions we are pumping out. Somewhere there is a growing urgency to wake up and smell the not so fresh air. Yes you may not have as much fun driving it compared to a turbo charged V8 but every drop in the ocean counts. Hero Electric has come up with yet another electric joy, the Photon. The electric scooter even comes with a remote lock, a novel feature in the two-wheeler industry in India.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE The juice flowing in the veins of the Photon comes from its 1500 Watt BLDC battery unit. On a full charge the Photon runs a distance of 50km when ridden in a power mode. If you drive it in economy mode it will go an additional 30km very impressive considering the fact that you can select the driving mode. The battery is a VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) 33 AH/ 48 Volt unit. It may not be as peppy or spirited as its petrol counter parts but the Photon is not one to lag behind. It takes some time to catch up to a healthy speed but will certainly maintain that speed when achieved. When I switched on the scooter there was no sound so you don’t really know if it is on or not but just by chance my hand was on the accelerator. With a slight grunt it comes to life surging forward silently. While cruising on it I was reminded of the good old times where cycles moved on the power of a man’s leg and ships sailed with the winds of the seas. It may not be a great escape vehicle but it certainly has the element of surprise if you are sneaking up on someone or just sneaking out, let me see you do that on a Bullet! The top speed one can achieve on the Photon is

Motor Output (Watt) / Battery Type 1500 W BLDC / VRLA 33 AH/ 48V

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45kmph not much but a health concern none the less.

RIDE & HANDLING

The Photon has a very comfortable seating position and one will not really feel the stress of riding it. It is one of the lightest scooters I have ridden and feels effortless to ride. The wheels are 3.00-10 inch and do the job pretty well, keeping the ride balanced and comfortable.

The maximum load the tyres can carry is a 150kgs and has the capacity to endure a maximum speed of a 100kmph. To compliment the wheels are telescopic suspension which enhance the feel of the ride and the comfort offered to the rider. Bumpy Delhi roads are not much of a concern and braking in an emergency has been facilitated by a set of very accurate disc brakes in the front and a large drum in the rear. Even when cornering at the top speed the Photon is stable and surges forward.

DESIGN & STYLING This is certainly one of the key ingredients when you are making a hot broth of a two-wheeler and Hero Electric has done the job well enough. The head lamps are an oval clear lens with a bright beam. The tail lamp is a curvy semi circle. The turn indicators both at the back and the front are simply phenomenal to look at and compliment the headlamps and tail lamps very well.

The styling comprises of subtle curves which enhance the smooth and silky ride of this scooter. The saddle is broad and feels very comfortable. Seating capacity is for two people but single riding is advisable for best performance. The instrument cluster a large back lit rectangle which comprises of the speed-o-meter, the turn indicators and the high beam indicator. The controls of the turn indicators and the lights are located very conveniently for ease of operation and the turn indicator now has a convenient button on it to stop the indicator signs.

Range Power Mode-50km/charge, Economy Mode- 80 km /charge

Wheels 10 inch x 3 inch Steel Alloy

Price 54,110 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

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THE VERDICT If you are one of those people who spares a thought for the environment please consider this as an option when you are thinking of buying a scooter. The price tag of the Photon is set at 54,110 (ex-showroom Delhi), steep by normal standards,

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but perfect when you know it is being bought with a purpose. The range on the Photon is 80km and it’s a pocket friendly economical ride. With zero emissions this is a step towards healthier mobility and my only plea to the government is to encourage the makers of these vehicles.

www.lumaxworld.in

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

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TVS SCOOTY ZEST 110CC

YOUTHFUL ZEST Report: Joshua David Luther, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

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he new TVS Scooty Zest is all about youth and fun. Mind you, this one is not a commuter but commutes with a panache. You have to be really young at heart to ride one of these. The Scooty Zest is a no frills attached fun to ride automatic two-wheeler which has some of the best features in the industry in its segment, remarkable performance and drop dead gorgeous styling quotients which one can expect on a scooty.

TVS feels that not all youths need a throbbing V twin engine in the machines they ride. The likes of the Scooty too have their own plusses.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE The power house of the new Scooty Zest is a 110cc CVTi, 4-stroke, air cooled engine which produces almost 8bhp @ 7500rpm and almost 9Nm of torque @ 5500rpm. The facts are pretty simple the vehicle is very light with a curb weight of 98.5kgs and some really impressive performance figures, the Scooty Zest is simply a pleasure to ride. From the moment you say go the power which backs this scooty will take you by surprise. Don’t make the mistake of accelerating while not seated properly you may just be thrown off.

RIDE & HANDLING The Scooty Zest stands tall with a 90/ 100 – 10 tubeless tyres in the front and 90/ 90 – 10 tubeless tyres in the rear. The wheel base is 1250mm long and the riding position is set at 760mm. While sitting on this scooty you will not feel out of place or would want to re adjust.

The saddle is broad and comfy while the rider does not experience any discomfort over longer rides due to the convenient positioning of the handles and the seating height. A very stable frame and chassis has been complimented by sturdy tyres and suspension.

The front has a telescopic type suspension while the rear gets a Double rated Hydraulic Mono Shock. The Scooty handles well over bumpy terrain and off-road

Engine & Transmission 110cc, 4 – Stroke, Air cooled / CVTi

Power & Torque 7.9 bhp@ 7500rpm 8.8 Nm@ 5500rpm

Fuel Tank Capacity 5 litres

Kerb Weight 98.5 kgs

Price 42,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

conditions. The brakes are accurate and the suspension is mildly stiff. The wide profile of the tyres compliments the ride balance and is a confidence booster for newbies.

DESIGN & STYLING The reason why the Scooty Zest has been deemed suave in this review is the styling quotient it carries along with it. A very chic automatic scooty with some of the most genius design concepts incorporated. Keeping a very young buyer in mind TVS has designed this scooter for the generation of today knowing well that looks matter the most. But unlike many competitors they have not compromised on the quality of what lies under the packaging. The instrument cluster has bold numbers on it and is very legible. The scooty has the trade mark TVS econometer on it for riders to be able to identify what driving style is the most economical. The front of the scooter is sleek with aggressive looking turn indicator and a smart new headlamp. The rear view mirrors are large and minimise the rider’s blind spot. The saddle is very comfy and will easily accommodate two people. The rear of the scooty again has very bold and edgy style lines making it easily distinguished in traffic. There are two bag hooks one under the handle and one under the seat near the front foot rest. The underseat storage is roomy and can easily accommodate a full face helmet with a capacity of 19 litres. The tail lights are LED and the pillion foot rest have been designed to be tucked away easily.

VERDICT The overall build quality and finish of the Scooty Zest is very good. The pricing is attractive and at just 42,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) the Sooty Zest is an ideal buy for the young generation of riders. The fuel tank can hold 5 litres of petrol and the scooter returns 62km to the litre. The styling is progressive and makes a statement no matter who the rider.

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www.elof ic.com

Growing With Green Ideas

Filters & Lubricants

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

YAMAHA FZ-S FI V2.0

CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK! Report: Joshua David Luther, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

S

ince its inception in India several decades ago (1985 to be precise), Yamaha has been synonymous with speed and excitement. Mileage was never a bother for the riders as they simply looked at heady pickups and raw speeds. But then those were the days when two-stroke engines were the order of the day and the likes of RX100 and RD350 ruled our world. Since then bikes from Yamaha have become more caring towards the environment and more frugal when it comes to fuel consumption.

One of the most solid bikes from the Yamaha stable in recent times has been the FZ range of bikes. But what has surprised me is that when a company upgrades a bike’s façade why not the performance or the heart that makes it thump? Yes, minor tweaks are made here and there but surely there are several like me who would always anticipate and look forward to something faster and more powerful apart from those bold lines and the aggressive styling.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE At the heart of the new FZ-S FI V2.0 is a 149cc, single cylinder, air-cooled, 4-stroke fuel injection engine which produces 12.9bhp revving at 8000rpm and produces 13.6Nm of torque at 6000rpm. The engine has been mated to a constant mesh 5-speed gear box. The gear box is smooth and you can feel the refinement over the previous version with a light action clutch which feels as slick as a rich man’s bow-tie.

The throttle response of the bike is crisp and precise and you can pull the engine cleanly till about 8000rpm after which it begins to tail off. The most fun aspect about this bike is the engine, for its capacity it produces a good amount of torque which caters for a very spirited ride. When you are powering out of a corner the sheer volumes

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of torque and the light weight of the FZ-S V2.0 performs honorably. Incidentally, the V2 is a few lighter than the earlier version.

Off the line the Yamaha FZ-S V2.0 will give you nothing but pleasure to ride. The single cylinder air-cooled engine is definitely not one of the fastest around but none-the-less will not leave you behind in competition.

My only complaint is why not a variant with a bigger engine, every competitor is on to that play and I feel its time Yamaha woke up to this reality. While others are introducing more powerful models Yamaha has powered down their FZ by one bhp.

The earlier variant had a 153cc engine while the present one has dropped by 4cc. The exhaust system on the FZ-S V2.0 has not changed will still produce that same grunt as the previous model.

RIDE & HANDLING There are only a handful of Indian bikes which can claim a good riding position and a comfortable crouch. The FZ has been a name in the Indian biking world which practically reinvented the way the bikers would look at the riding position and comfort. The bike has a low set riding position and broad handles as before to give the rider a comfortable riding position and makes handling the bike a pleasurable experience. The curb weight of the bike has been reduced from the previous model to 132kgs making it very zippy in corners.

The FZ-S V2.0 like the previous model has a pair of robust front telescopic forks and a monocross rear fork. FZs are known for their good handling ability and Yamaha has always had good build quality but what is an addition to this new FZ-S V2.0 is the new MRFs in the front and the usual broad radials at the back offering enormous amounts of traction and grip to the tarmac.

The front discs are highly effective and

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

Engine & Transmission 149cc, Air cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve / Constant mesh 5-speed

Power & Torque 12.9bhp @8000rpm 13.6Nm@6000rpm

Fuel Tank Capacity 12 litres

Kerb Weight 132kg

Price 78,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

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when combined with a large rear drum brake the bike gives you a higher level of confidence while riding.

DESIGN & STYLING When you hear the name FZ you know it is going to be a great looking bike. So what exactly can you do to improve an already beautiful looking bike? There have been some subtle changes which have been made on the new FZ-S V2.0 which are not too distinguished to amateurs. The bike has more edgy lines while the headlamp has been made to look more aggressive. The vinyls on the bike now bear the proud FZ-S V2.0 badge. The bike has a split riding saddle which is broad and comfy. The bike is very muscular and macho, with very few panels and trims and it is one of the snazziest looking naked bikes out there.

The tyres profiles are 100/ 80 R17 in the front and 140/ 60 R17 in the rear. Both wheels have slim five spoke light weight black alloys which add elegance to the profile of the bike.

The instrument cluster is new with bolder looking symbols and easy visibility the cluster provides more convenience and comfort while viewing it on a ride. The cluster also displays an eco-mode to help you monitor your driving style and fuel consumption. The fuel tank can hold 12 litres of petrol and has been designed to add comfort while riding. The tank is designed to provide enough room to tuck in your legs and crouch. The rear view mirrors are broad and give a good view of the back.

The palm grips on the bike have a good grip and the flip switches are easy to operate and have been located conveniently. The overall design of the bike compliments its profile well and adds to the value Yamaha is offering on the new FZ-S V2.0.

THE VERDICT With a price tag of 78,000 ex-showroom Delhi, the latest FZ from Yamaha is good but could have been priced a little better to be more competitive. It is mainly the loyal Yamaha fan follower who has a true biker’s spirit who will know why the FZ or any other Yamaha for that matter of fact is worth the extra cost.

The design and styling of the bike remains jaw dropping, the performance has been improved in terms of shifting and light weighting but the compromise made on the engine front will not really push it ahead of the previous versions but rather keep it at par. The new fuel injection technology does definitely add value to the biking experience and the overall feel of the bike is a notch better than before. For a biking enthusiast who will admire the ancestry and heritage which Yamaha has to offer this is the ideal bike if you

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have the same price bracket in mind. The Yamaha FZ-S FI V2.0 is definitely the chip off the old and sacred Yamaha block!

FEATURES & TRAVEL

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Report: Joshua David Luther, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

W

hen you say the words road trip what immediately comes to your mind is cruising on the highways in your sedan, hatch back or SUV. Well we at Motown are a bit off beat. For this year’s anniversary issue we thought of doing something a bit more adventurous than just a road trip to Jaipur. We wanted to experience Jaipur from a completely different angle. So we decided to take PCP Motors Private Limited’s Terra Home Car, in short a caravan home car, to Jaipur. The freedom which this vehicle gives you is remarkable.

You can practically stop anywhere you wish without the worry of booking a hotel or having to worry about luggage and other essentials you tend to bag and tag when you are on a road trip.

So what we basically did was to take a home with us where ever we went.All along it was a home aaway from home.

For those readers who are new to the concept of a caravan its nothing but an oversized flatbed pickup fitted with a cabin in the rear to accommodate much more than just seats. The

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The Terra Home Car from PCP Motors Private Limited is the answer to those of you who are looking to break free and not limit yourself to the stationary location of a hotel. One of the most remarkable aspects of the Terra Home Car is the amount of space this vehicle has. It can easily accommodate four adults or two adults and three children without the feeling of being cramped.

reason why we chose to take a caravan was simple we did not want to be limited to a hotel which was pre booked. We at Motown India have an adventurous spirit and are always looking for the thrill and excitement of exploring the wilderness, going off road and finding new roads to some of the most exotic locations the Indian subcontinent has to offer. Well keeping that in mind what else would be better than a caravan. We can practically take all the essentials we require in it and do not need to worry about plumbing either.

The Terra Home Car from PCP Motors Private Limited is the answer to those of

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you who are looking to break free and not limit yourself to the stationary location of a hotel. One of the most remarkable aspects of the Terra Home Car is the amount of space this vehicle has. It can easily accommodate four adults or two adults and three children without the feeling of being cramped. The Terra Home Car has a television, a micro wave, two separate air conditioning units, a refrigerator, a toilet, a shower(ooh la la), a table, loads of cubby holes, cupboards and storage space, an awning if you want to sit and admire nature, a generator for power back-up, three sofas which convert into a gigantic bed and an upper sleeping deck

which accommodates two adults. So while we were cruising in the lap of luxury and the other commuters were all cramped up in their overpriced cars and SUVs, we simply lazed along the whole way without breaking a sweat.

The Terra Home Car from Paracoat has been built on the Mahindra & Mahindra Geneo and is also available on the Toyota Hi-Lux and the Isuzu D-Max. We took the Geneo version of the Home Car and we were actually surprised by the power and pickup this vehicle offered. The Mahindra Geneo version of this car is available for a cost of approximately Rs. 32 lakh in Delhi,

FEATURES & TRAVEL

while other models are more expensive. If you are not so keen on owning one you can always rent it at the price tag of 10,000 per day not a bad bargain considering what you are getting in exchange. Fuel consumption on the vehicle is not too good as it returns only 8-9 km to the litre but none-the-less it is too comfortable to crib about anything. The two separate air conditioning units on Paracoat’s Home Car serve a dual purpose. While the vehicle is in motion one air conditioner runs on the vehicle’s engine and when the vehicle is stationary the other air conditioner will run on the generator’s power.

Both air conditioners are equally effective. The fridge has ample of storage space for food items

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FEATURES & TRAVEL

Time to chill

Time to work

Shut eye for our lensman!

and water or other liquids if you know what I mean. The microwave can only be used to warm precooked food but there is enough space to store a barbeque grill to cook your own food. The television is a bit small but then again when you are in the outdoors would you really need to watch TV? Besides these are all custom built options so you can choose to put the kind of accessories you require.

The bathroom in the Caravan is comfortable it is bigger than the ones you have on an airplane and you can easily shower in it without banging your hands and legs on the sides. The vehicle has two ventilation exhaust systems one for the bathroom and one for the main cabin. The Home Car also has three windows, two large ones on the sides and one small one at the rear. There is also a window in the front to communicate with the driver of the vehicle which rolls up to become sound proof as well.

We left for Jaipur from DLF cyber city at around eight in the morning and within

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an hour’s time we were hit by a series of traffic jams after Daruhera, which ran for almost 2km but we cleared it in a span of 20 minutes. At about 10 AM we reached the toll at Shahjanpur which was very close to our decided stop point for breakfast. On the route to Jaipur you will come across many boards which say Hotel Highway King, the location is about midway to Jaipur. Hotel Highway King is a small motel with a restaurant and some factory outlets of Adidas, Nike and Reebok.

The food is decent and the sanitation levels are manageable. At about 2 PM we hit the outskirts of Jaipur City.For those of you who don’t know Jaipur is the capital and also the largest city of Rajasthan. It was founded in 1727 AD by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.

With a population of 3.1 million Jaipur is also famously known as the Pink city of Rajasthan.

Today, of course, the pink is overshadowed by several other colours!

When you travel in something that is just short of an innovation and looks smart on the road as well you tend to have people ogle at you. We were even stopped by some to enquire exactly what our caravan was, as the whole concept is a new one in India. When we finally entered the city of Jaipur one of our first concern was where do we park this, you would not exactly want a road side location.

Soon the explorer in me was waking up. So I began asking some locals of forest locations and scenic places to visit in Jaipur. What came up a lot was the Nahargarh Fort which

FEATURES & TRAVEL

was the old residence of many Maharajas of Jaipur. So we made our way to the Nahargarh Fort which is on the outskirts of the city.

The Fort at Nahargarh is nestled in a corner of the Aravalli Range surrounded by a lush green forest and a manmade water body.

The location is actually a wildlife preserve in the amber hills at Jaipur and you will need special permission to camp there. We found a quiet little spot for ourselves at the edge of the forest from where we could view the fort as well. Let me see you get that kind of a premium location from any five star hotels or resorts. Well a long journey deserves some

rest and we had earned it, so cut off from the world in our own small corner we set up camp and got a good nap. We woke up to the evening calls of the birds and animals in the amber forest which beckoned us to rise.

Soon we were roasting some chicken (not hunted we bought it from a chop-shop) and assorted veggies on my barbeque grill. After a lavish dinner in the outdoors we sat in the pleasant surroundings of our caravan camp just admiring the night sky.

Early next morning by quarter to eight we were all showered, shaved and ready to hit the road again. About an hour later we were out

of Jaipur and making our way back to Delhi.

At heart I am a person who loves being one with nature and this Terra Home Car which has been created by PCP Motors is really a dream come true for me. There are endless possibilities for one to explore with this vehicle and something I would really look forward to is a trip to Leh & Ladak in this home-away-fromhome. I think for someone crazy about road trips and exotic locations where you are cut off from the world this would be the ultimate weapon which will allow you to just simply break free from all bonds and really bring out the explorer in you.

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FEATURES & TRAVEL

RIVERSIDE PARADISE IN LUV WITH AN ERTIGA

Report: Rahul Kapoor, Photography: Mohd. Nasir

T

here comes a time in one’s life when one needs a break from the same eight to nine hour routine, a time one needs to catch up with oneself and nature, get away from the digitised and polluted fast paced urban world that doesn’t seem to care about itself or others. One needs to go to a place where the digital

world hasn’t caught up, but isn’t too far away from home either. One needs a place where a long hard breath lets you inhale pure clean air and not fumes and dusts, to do activities which are alien to his everyday life, like go fishing, or take a hike, maybe even a swim in a natural water body or just sit back to relax and enjoy the view with good company.

We went to a riverside paradise about 510Kms away from Delhi, a small village called Gushaini in Tirthan Valley and our car of choice was the almighty Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. We took the Ertiga and left at around 11pm from Delhi heading towards Manali on GT Karnal Road and we continued on NH1 to Ambala which we reached by 2:45am.

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FEATURES & TRAVEL Unfortunately here we made a mistake and instead of taking NH21, we took the left for NH21A which was a horror. After reaching Pinjore the road was destroyed for 40Kms all the way to New Nalagarh. From there due to lack of any visibility, we continued to go on the same road hoping that it will get better. It only got worse.

Tarmac just disappeared for another 35Kms as we started to climb up the Himachal hills. In the powerful beam of the Ertiga, all we could see was a loose surface road, and rocks on both side and construction vehicles. After a drive on spine breaking terrain, which the Ertiga coped tremendously well, the road finally met with our intended route from NH21 in Swarghat. The locals told us that the road was being rebuilt and broadened to make a 4 lane road.

After crossing Bilaspur at 7:30am, we drove further and by 8:45 we were greeted by a sight which was magnificent, a modern world in natural wilderment. Across the river we saw a colossal manufacturing plant called the Gagal Cement Works Plant, the sheer size of it seemed gigantic, but Mother Nature had her way of showing down on it with her the sheer size of her own mountains. The road we drove in the night caused us a two and a half hour delay, so by 12pm we had reached the tunnel for Manali which we drove past, straight towards Banjar. From there, Gushaini was about 35kms on a narrow and decently paved road with nearly minimal traffic. With the Tirthan River guiding us and the reassurance from the extremely friendly locals, we were confident that we were on the right track.

By 1:30pm we reached our destination where we spent the night, a small home stay cottage called Trishla Resort owned by a local

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FEATURES & TRAVEL

Gagal Cement Work

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FEATURES & TRAVEL who goes by the name of Gyan Singh. His property had us awestruck. The property has a beautifully designed cottage with a red sloped roof, a sheltered dining area, a patio, which was right on the river bed. Gyan Singh has also made a breakfast table in the middle of the river with some plastic chairs and a stone table with an umbrella, surrounded by the sand from the river. But one would argue there could be more relaxing places in and around the place, but we failed to find any that separated us from the digital world. Here we didn’t even find any cell phone reception, a boon for those who want to stay disconnected for while! With no family, bosses or annoying urban folk to disturb you, we relaxed throughout the day after an amazing lunch prepared by the caretakers of the resort. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the caretaker told us that we could go fishing as well for a tiny price of Rs. 300/- for fishing rod and a Rs.100 license which was issued by the local authority. If you’re skillful, patient and lucky, you could actually catch a trout or two. When no trouts came our way we [jokingly] blamed the caretaker for catching and eating them all. Later we abandoned all hopes of catching a fish and went inside for a cup of tea.

As night fell and we started to get hungry. Dinner was even better than lunch. We hogged on the food and hospitality before we went to bed and woke up early morning. After spending time on the river bank, we were given amazing parathas with peach pickle for breakfast. We spend a lot of time enjoying the scenic spot, realising that we had to get back to the real world of work, work and more work.

On our journey back, we made sure we didn’t take the same route we came and stayed on the NH21 all the way to Kiratpur Sahib. The road connected itself to the Chandigarh highway which we reached at sunset. As darkness fell, we had reached Chandigarh and soon after we were in Ambala. On our way to Karnal, we confronted torrential storm and heavy rain. With barely any visibility in the dark, the Ertiga just devoured the distance, but due to the wet conditions, we did have to back off the throttle just a bit. By 12 midnight, we arrived in Delhi.

The Ertiga had coped with broken roads, no roads, rock on the river bed, cows, muscled past lorries, and got itself drenched in the rain. Were these not reasons good enough to fall in LUV with the Ertiga?

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FEATURES & TRAVEL

D-MAX CONQUERS INDIAN TERRAIN IN ‘ISUZU MAX RUN CHALLENGE’ Report & Photography: P. Tharyan

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ith an endeavour to complete at least 1000 km on a full tank of diesel fuel, the Isuzu Max Run Challenge, the three-day drive organised

by Isuzu Motors India Private Limited between Vijayawada and Mumbai successfully culminated in Mumbai on September 25, 2014. Starting from Vijayawada, three Isuzu D-Max pick-up trucks drove though Hyderabad, Solapur and Pune before reaching Mumbai, thus covering a distance of more than 1000 km in one full tank. Motown India was part of the convoy that travelled this long distance.

The Isuzu D-MAXvehicles covered a total distance of 1050 km without

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refuelling and clocking a mileage of 19.6kmpl under real world conditions that included hilly terrains, uneven and pot holed roads and waterlogged stretches.

The vehicles faced some inclement weather too on its way, with torrential rains enroute bayashi, Deputy (R) & Shigeru Waka adding on to the challenges of Takashi Kikuchi, MD n of the drive ia at the culminatio the weather during the drive. The MD, Isuzu Motors Ind vehicles were equipped with the GPS Telemetry System in order to facilitate the exact kilometres travelled India. Kikuchi noted that the Isuzu Max and track the drive in real time.

Run Challenge is a global initiative that In Mumbai, the vehicles were has been successfully undertaken in welcomed by Takashi Kikuchi, President Australia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia & Managing Director and Shigeru and the Middle East. “World over the Wakabayashi, Deputy MD, Isuzu Motors Isuzu D-Max is known for its excellent

FEATURES & TRAVEL

The vehicles after crossing a toll booth in Maharashtra

The vehicles faced some inclement weather on its way, with torrential rains enroute, not to speak of the bad roads.

fuel efficiency, power, “The three day drive has not only facilitated in demonstrating the USP of the vehicle, which is fuel efficiency and vehicle performance but has also established the fact that with correct driving technique, anyone can get the best out of an Isuzu.

Isuzu has conducted fuel efficiency training in different countries and we would like to extend this for the Indian customers too,” he added.

In India, the pickup truck segment is one of the largest and fastest growing segments in Commercial Vehicles (CV), accounting for 35pc of the total CV market. Maharashtra is the biggest pickup truck market in India and an integral part of Isuzu’s growth strategy. On the first day, the drive was flagged off by Toru Kishimoto, Vice President, Isuzu Motors India at Vijayawada. Three professional drivers drove through the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Karnataka and Maharashtra covering diverse terrain of India from the east coast to the west coast.

The Isuzu D-Max range comprises three models with two cabin options and two deck options. The Isuzu D-Max Single cab is available in flat deck and the Isuzu D-Max Space Cab is available in both flat deck and arched deck variants.

The vehicles are powered by a 2499cc, 4-cylinder intercooled turbocharged diesel engine, mated with a 5-speed manual transmission. The engine pumps out 134 hp @ 3600 rpm and 294 Nm torque @ 1800-3200 rpm range, which enables it to carry a payload of 1.2 ton effortlessly. It has a 76 litre fuel tank.

At present, Isuzu has a contract manufacturing agreement with Hindustan Motors (HML) under which HML is contract assembling CKD kits of Isuzu’s sports utility vehicle MU-7 and pick-up truck D-Max, at its Thiruvallur, Chennai plant. Isuzu began civil works on its proposed manufacturing plant site in SriCity, TADA, Chitoor, AP. The company had acquired 107 Acres of land in 2013 after signing an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh State Government in order to start automobile manufacturing operation in India. This new facility is likely to commence commercial operations by early 2016, with the initial production capacity at 50,000 units/ year. Isuzu will scale up the production capacity to 120,000 units/ year, with the accumulated investment of 3,000 Crore, and is expected to generate 2000-3000 jobs.

Isuzu Motors India plans to achieve 100pc percent localisation within three years of commencing production in 2016.

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MOTORSPORT

Lewis Hamilton wins Japanese Grand Prix; Jules Bianchi car rams recovery vehicle

T

he 2014 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, a race that had more than its share of rain and rain related woes, saw Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes AMG Petronas being declared the winner.

The Round 15 of the season was held at the legendary 5.807km Suzuka circuit in Japan and did not see the completion of the 53 laps.

Apparently the race was stopped because Jules Bianchi of Marussia-Ferrari was rushed to the medical centre after a crash that ended the race a few laps before the stipulated rounds. It is believed that Jules Bianchi’s car hit a recovery vehicle that left him unconscious, when reports came in last. Apparently he was rushed by road under police escort to the hospital because helicopters could not operate under such

adverse weather conditions.

Under highly unusual conditions, Hamilton won in Japan after 44 laps. Second to come in was his teammate Nico Rosberg, while Sebastian Vettel of Infiniti Red Bull Racing came in third. With this win, Lewis has extended his championship lead to 10 points.

Even as the race was to begin, Typhoon Phanfone was threatening to wash out the race. It began raining heavily as the race was to begin and the race started behind the safety car, with all drivers on wet tyres. On the grid were Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG Petronas who started from pole position for the eight time this season, with teammate and championship leader Lewis Hamilton alongside him on the front row. Valtteri Bottas of Williams Mercedes was third, his teammate

The safety car being deployed in the rain affected Formula One race in Japan. Picture Courtesy: Daimler

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Felipe Massa was fourth. Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button of McLaren-Mercedes were in row four with Sebastian Vettel of Infinit Red Bull ninth and Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari completing the top ten. This was Vettel’s final Japanese Grand Prix for Red Bull. He has announced that he would be leaving the team at the end of the year.

Conditions were slippery from the word ‘Go’ with Force India’s Sergio Perez spinning off during his lap to the grid but thankfully made it back on track after a brief trip through the gravel. Marcus Ericsson of Caterham-Renault spun in lap 2 and was stationary at the final turn. The Swede managed to spin turn and rejoin the proceedings. With the red flag out, the race was suspended in the pit lane. All the cars came into the pits, led by the safety

MOTORSPORT Jules Bianchi suffers “diffuse axonal injury” and is “critical” car. Around lap 3 stage the race was suspended and many drivers opted to get out of their cars. It resumed after 10 minutes.

Soon after when the race was about to begin, Alonso stopped his car on the track and got out with a technical problem. The Ferrari was then cleared from Turn 5. Later Alonso reported that it was an electrical problem that stopped his Ferrari. By Lap 9, the safety car peeled off and Nico Rosberg led the restart. By lap 29 Hamilton is able to sweep around the outside of Rosberg

into Turn 1 to take the lead.

As the race progressed, rains continued to pelt down on the cars. Adrian Sutil is in the barriers at Turn7 in lap43, signalling the end of the race for him. His damaged SauberFerraro car is cleared. The safety car is deployed. Sutil is safely out of the car.

By lap 46, the red flag came out for the second time and the cars come into the pit lane. The safety car leads the field into the pit lane where they queue behind it in race order. By lap 47, it was decided that the race will not be resumed.

ning trophy in Lewis Hamilton with his winrtesy: Daimler Cou ture Pic an.

Jap , uka Suz

J

ules Bianchi, Formula One driver for Marussia team who was critically injured in the F1race on October 5, 2014 at the Suzuka circuit in Japan is reported to be still in the Intensive Care Unit of the General Medical Center in Yokkaichi, Japan. According to a statement made by Bianchi’s family, he “suffered a diffuse axonal injury and is in a critical but stable condition” According to medical experts, Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is one of the most common and devastating types of traumatic brain injury. The damage in this case occurs over a more widespread area than in focal brain injury. DAI, which refers to extensive lesions in white matter tracts, is one of the major causes of unconsciousness and persistent vegetative state after head trauma. It occurs in about half of all cases of severe head trauma. The outcome, experts say, is frequently coma, with over 90pc of patients with severe DAI never regaining consciousness. Those who do wake up often remain significantly impaired, experts observe.

Bianchi was operated after he sustained severe head injuries when his car crashed into a recovery vehicle that had come to lift the stalled Sauber car of Adrian Sutil.

Meanwhile, as Bianchi fights for his life, his family members have reached the hospital in Japan.

The following statement was provided by the family of Jules Bianchi, in conjunction with the Mie General Medical Center, and was distributed on their behalf by the Marussia F1 Team.

“This is a very difficult time for our family, but the messages of support and affection for Jules from all over the world have been a source of great comfort to us. We would like to express our sincere appreciation.

Jules remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi. He has suffered a diffuse axonal injury and is in a critical but stable condition. The medical professionals at the hospital are providing the very best treatment and care and we are grateful for everything they have done for Jules since his accident.

We are also grateful for the presence of Professor Gerard Saillant, President of the FIA Medical Commission, and Professor Alessandro Frati, Neurosurgeon of the University of Rome La Sapienza, who has travelled to Japan at the request of Scuderia Ferrari. They arrived at the hospital today and met with the medical personnel responsible for Jules’ treatment, in order to be fully informed of his clinical status so that they are able to advise the family. Professors Saillant and Frati acknowledge the excellent care being provided by the Mie General Medical Center and would like to thank their Japanese colleagues.

The hospital will continue to monitor and treat Jules and further medical updates will be provided when appropriate.”

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MOTORSPORT

Beijing heralds the beginning of Formula E race

FormulaE race in progress. Picture Courtesy: FIA Formula E

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MOTORSPORT

T ning the race.

Brazilian Di Grassi after winFIA Formula E y: rtes Cou ture Pic

he world’s first ever fully-electric singleseater race took place in Beijing, heralding the beginning of an electric season of the FIA Formula E Championship that will now witness nine more races, the final one concluding in London on June 27 2015.

The Beijing Evergrande ePrix was held on a temporary race track built around the city’s iconic Olympic ‘Bird’s Nest’ Stadium. The winner was Audi Sport ABT’s Lucas di Grassi. According to an FIA press release, around 40 million are believed to have watched the race worldwide on television with 75,000 attending on site and one billion social interactions recorded around the race.

Brazilian Di Grassi won the race after race-leader Nicolas Prost (e.dams-Renault) and Venturi’s Nick Heidfeld touched on the final corner of the final lap in the battle for the lead, sending Heidfeld into a spectacular crash which he walked away from unharmed.

Andretti driver Franck Montagny finished runner-up, three seconds after di Grassi with team-mate Daniel Abt crossing the line third, only to later have it taken away from him after failing short of the required 28kw power consumption usage. Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird was eventually promoted to claim the final place on the podium.

Mahindra Racing’s Indian driver Karun Chandhok finished fifth in the pack of 20 drivers, a remarkable feat by itself. For Mahindras, the performance will definitely be a morale booster as the company is the only Indian car maker committed to making electric cars in India.

Lucas di Grassi said that he was happy more so because Nick [Heidfeld] is fine and it also shows how safe these cars are. He said he was lucky to be at the right place at the right time. “I’m extremely happy to be the first ever winner of a Formula E race,” he said.

Round two of the new Formula E series takes place in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on November 22 2014.

The release further said that Formula E is the FIA’s new fully-electric single-seater championship designed to appeal to a new generation of motorsport fans.

Competing entirely on city-centre circuits all over the world, it uses cars capable of speeds in excess of 225kph. Its 10 teams feature some of the leading international names in motorsport including Alain Prost and Michael Andretti, along with high-profile environmental supporters including Sir Richard Branson and Leonardo DiCaprio. Meanwhile, it’s driver-line up boasts an array of former Formula One stars such as Jarno Trulli, Jaime Alguersuari, Sebastien Buemi, Lucas di Grassi and Bruno Senna.

Organisers hope the new series will also help increase the interest in electric vehicles and promote sustainability, as well as accelerate the technology available which, over time, will filter into the road-going electric vehicle market.

The success of Formula E has attracted many top global partners including the likes of Michelin and Renault, both leaders in their field, with Renault providing the expertise behind the Spark-Renault SRT_01E Formula E car.

October 2014 I 89

MOTORSPORT

Ferrari’s Luca Di Montezemolo steps down

L

uca Di Montezemolo has decided to step down from his post of Chairman of the Italian super car giant Ferrari. After giving 23 years of his life to the brand and its Formula One team, Di Montezemolo indicated that his decision was influenced by the flotation plans of Fiat Chrysler Group, the parent company of iconic Italian marquee.

Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of parent company Fiat is being expected to take Di Montezemolo’s place at Ferrari.

The Italian stated that it’s the end of an era and has decided to leave his position as chairman, while remembering the time spent at Enzo Ferrari’s side in the 1970s. He continued to say that Ferrari is the most wonderful company in the world. It has been a great privilege and honour to have led the company for so long, he said.

Di Montezemolo, who took over as chairman in 1991 also paid tribute to the staff at Ferrari who had worked with and alongside him. He also went on to thank the fans of Scuderia for their continued support even in the hardest times who still stayed loyal to them with their immense enthusiasm.

In the statement made on the Ferrari website, he stated that “This is the end of an era and so I have decided to leave my position as Chairman after almost 23 marvellous and unforgettable years in addition to those spent at Enzo Ferrari’s side in the 1970s.

“My thanks, first and foremost, to the exceptional Ferrari women

and men from the factory, the offices, the race tracks and the markets across the world. They were the real architects of the company’s spectacular growth, its many unforgettable victories and its transformation into one of the world’s strongest brands.”

“Ferrari is the most wonderful company in the world. It has been a great privilege and honour to have been its leader. I devoted all of my enthusiasm and commitment to it over the years. Together with my family, it was, and continues to be, the most important thing in my life. I wish the shareholders, particularly Piero Ferrari who has always been by my side, and everyone in the Company the many more years of success that Ferrari deserves,” his statement read.

Vettel to quit Red Bull team for Ferrari

R

edBull Racing has confirmed that Sebastian Vettel, the defending Formula 1 champion, will leave the team. Danil Kvyat will be promoted to RedBull next year, to drive alongside Daniel Ricciardo, leaving another empty seat in Scuderia Torro Rosso.

Rebull has announced that Danil Kvyat will be promoted from Torro Rosso to Vettel’s seat in 2015. The other Torro Rosso driver Jean-Eric Vergne had lost his young Max Verstappen who made his F1 Debut at the age of 16 in Suzuka in a practice session during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. Thus, Torro Rosso has only one driver now.

With speculations around Vettel and Alonso in the past couple of months looking for other opportunities in the F1 Paddock, Sebastian Vettel and the RedBull team have confirmed that the German will not race for the team, where he won all his four world title. For unconfirmed reason’s, Vettel’s decision was probably prompted by the poor performance of his RedBull racing car all year, and probably the fact that his teammate Daniel Ricciardo out performed him all season.

Vettel himself hasn’t announced his future plans as yet, but Christain Horner, Team Principal of Infinity Redbull racing hinted that Ferrari has made him a good offer. So it is possible to see the German in Red Overalls next to his good friend Kimi Raikkonen in Ferrari.

There has also been some speculation that Fernando Alonso might be in talks with McLaren to make a return to the Woking based team again as the team prepares to use power units supplied by Honda who will make their debut with the team in 2015. McLaren still hasn’t confirmed any drivers for next year.

90 I October 2014

No Indian Grand Prix in 2015

T

ough luck for Indian F1 fans!

For those who have been hoping with their fingers crossed for the Indian Grand Prix to return in 2015, well, you’ll have to keep them crossed a little while longer as the calendar for the 2015 Formula 1 season is out, and India is not on it.

The FIA has confirmed the year will feature 20 races in 2015, but India is nowhere to be seen on the calendar.

The season will start at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia on the March 15, 2015 and the calendar is exactly the same as it is for 2014 with the addition of Mexico on November 1 before the Brazilian leg of the season. Mexico returns to the F1 calendar after a gap of 22 years and will be held at the same circuit where the last Grand Prix was held back in 1992 at Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

The season will conclude on the November 29, 2015 at Abu Dhabi.

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October 2014 I 93

COVER REPORT

SIAM & ACMA 2014 CONVENTIONS

Govt would invest heavily in road transport system, highways Report: P. THARYAN, JOSHUA DAVID LUTHER & RAHUL KAPOOR Photography: MOHD. NASIR

S

ounding extremely optimistic about the Indian automobile industry, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, stated that the Indian auto industry has the ability to convert the various challenges into opportunities. The Minister said his government would invest heavily in road transport system and highways in order to spur the growth of the automotive industry.

Gadkari was speaking to leaders and experts of the Indian and global automotive industry at the 54th SIAM Annual Convention in New Delhi. The plenary session of the convention was inaugurated by Vikram Kirloskar, President, SIAM and Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor. The convention was attended by industry stalwarts and policy makers.

Gadkari noted that exciting times were ahead.

He pointed out that massive investments to the tune of 100,000 crore had already been cleared by his Ministry for road building, highways, bridges, etc. The New Motor Vehicle Act Draft will be released on September 13 for public comments and the Ministry intends to pass the same in the Winter Session of the Parliament.

He mentioned that safety, lower emissions and alternative fuels shall be the prime concern of his Ministry in future. He emphasised the need to reduce crude oil imports, currently worth almost 6 lakh crores as soon as possible to contain the fiscal deficit. He urged the industry to produce fuel from waste as well as switch on to alternate fuels like bio-diesel and ethanol. He further added that the country is capable of manufacturing these alternative fuels indigenously. All this will present huge opportunities for the Indian auto industry he added.

Pawan Munjal, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Hero MotoCorp, in his concluding

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94 I October 2014

SIAM & ACMA 2014 CONVENTIONS remark assured the Minister that the industry shall convert all its challenges to opportunities based on a roadmap. He further added that the industry feels encouraged with the aspirational targets that it has set for itself and shall work towards achieving these.

Anant Geete is also optimistic Earlier in the inaugural session of the convention, Anant Gangaram Geete, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, promised that it will be the golden age of the Indian automobile industry for the next five years.

Geete vowed to extend unconditional support to the industry in every way possible and support the promise made

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making India a hub for manufacturing for the industry. He said that with the huge potential of the market and well-channelised efforts of the government the industry shall not only be able to generate employment for the country and help its economy but itself experience a golden period in the next five years to come. He further added that the success of

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the heavy industries ministry shall depend majorly on the success of the automobile industry.

Vikram Kirloskar thanked the government for its unending support to the industry which has helped the industry to “not only survive but thrive and flourish”. Kirloskar stressed on fiscal policies, emissions, safety roadmap, competition laws, vehicle technologies and fuels and trade policies, “the five key areas that will have to be addressed to ensure a robust and healthy growth of the automotive industry in future”.

Ramesh Suri, PresidentDesignate, ACMA and Chairman, Global Autotech also addressed the attendees.

The inaugural session was concluded by a Vote of Thanks from Vinod K Dasari, Vice President, SIAM & Managing Director, Ashok Leyland wherein he thanked all the dignitaries for being there through the thick and thin of the industry. He also said that the industry shall experience growth in the coming years with collaborative efforts of all the stakeholders of the industry.

AMP 2016 performance targets to fall short of 20-25pc The sluggish macro-economic factors during the last three years have led to a significant slowdown, which is amongst the worst that the Indian automotive industry has witnessed. This has impacted the pace of growth resulting in underachievement of some targets envisaged in the Automotive Mission Plan (AMP) 2016, while a few more are on course to be achieved by end of 2016.

Based on the expected growth rate for the remaining period of AMP 2016, the overall performance of the industry will be short of the targets by around 20 to 25 per cent. However, this shortfall can be reduced to around 13 to 17pc if the government supports demand through a few interventions.

These findings were revealed in an exercise undertaken by the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Government of India. The Ministry had formed an Inter-Ministerial Group and invited ACMA, SIAM, TMA to review the achievements and determine the areas of deficiencies that need to be addressed to reach AMP 2016 targets. ACMA and SIAM brought in an independent knowledge partner IMaCS who has

conducted a review of the AMP 2016. The details of the findings were released at a session during the 54th annual convention of SIAM in the Capital.

As per the Mission Plan 2006 – 2016, India was “To emerge as the destination of choice in the world for design and manufacture of automobiles and auto components with output reaching a level of US$ 145 billion accounting for more than 10pc of the GDP and providing additional employment to 25 million people by 2016.”

As per the findings of the review, many interventions as envisaged under AMP 2016 have been implemented but some of the interventions have progressed slowly or could not be taken up.

Further, several new issues have emerged that need immediate attention of both the government and the industry.

In order to spur growth in the auto sector a few interventions on the part of the government have been suggested like: • Continuation of current excise duty rates for cars, 2Ws, CVs and lowering of excise duty on key components • Introduction of accelerated

depreciation scheme • Quick roll out of next phase of JNNURM • Implementation of fleet modernization scheme • Ban on overloading and strict enforcement of the same • Facilitation of affordable vehicle finance • Support for exports of automobiles through dedicated export promotion schemes Other areas on which the industry and government should focus are: • New and alternative vehicle technologies viz. Electric Vehicles, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and others • Setting up a technology acquisition fund for acquiring latest technologies and making it available to the industry for commercial purposes • Regulations pertaining to automotive aftermarket to check spurious parts • Regulatory framework for setting up of independent garages and repair establishments • Scheme for technology upgradation and R&D focused on increasing fuel efficiency, reducing emissions and improving vehicle safety

While the last decade was predominantly driven by domestic demand going forward, industry is geared up to meet both domestic and global demand.

Considering this, Government of India has started working on the next phase of AMP i.e. AMP 2016-26 so as to address the unfinished agenda of AMP 2016 and target new initiatives keeping in mind the current and expected market dynamics. This will enable industry to plan and realise future potential thereby contributing more to the Indian economy The Indian automotive industry witnessed significant growth during the first half of AMP 2016 i.e. FY06 to FY11. During this period all vehicle segments registered a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in excess of 10pc.

However, from FY11 the slowdown in global economy coupled with weakness in the fundamental growth drivers has resulted in decline in growth across vehicle segments except for two wheelers, which posted a CAGR of 4.6pc. This has resulted in gaps between actual performances of the industry vis-à-vis targets envisaged under AMP 2016, according to the recent review undertaken.

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Doing business in India is complicated: Fumihiko Ike A day after Honda Motor Co. Chairman Fumihiko Ike met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he went hammer and tongs against the Indian government’s way of doing things, stating that doing business in India remains a difficult proposition and the process involved in this exercise were “complicated” and “burdensome”.

Ike was speaking at the 54th Annual Convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) held in New Delhi. Ike is also the Chairman of the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).

Ike categorically stated that the new government needs to address issues like poor infrastructure in the country and its complicated tax structure in order to improve the investment climate in the country. It is time to “improve the business environment for investments”, he

stated. For Modi, who recently went to Japan to visit its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Ike’s words would not have come as a surprise because Modi is well aware of the current business climate in the country and is trying is very best to improve that by all means. The Road Transport & Safety Bill 2014 is a step in overhauling the country’s transport sector and the draft has just been made available in the public domain for people to give their views on it. The final bill will be introduced in the winter session of Parliament.

In fact during his Japanese visit, Modi had promised to replace the red tape by a red carpet for global investors. Ike too mentioned this and recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to create a better investment climate. Ike said that Japanese investors were enthused by Modi’s call

Fumihiko Ike with PM Narendra Modi to increase investments in India. “This (Modi’s assurance) makes us optimistic on making investments,” he noted.

Ike said both component suppliers and automakers encounter problems in getting business permits and setting up their plants and that the entire process was “complicated” as of now. This needed to be simplified, he said. As for the

tax regime in the country, he said it was “burdensome” when compared to other countries. He sought an early rollout of a single goods and services tax.

But despite these difficulties face by the company. Honda is planning to set up its third plant in Gujarat, a state which Modi had made very investment friendly when he was the Chief Minister.

Interview with Nirmal Kumar Minda Chairman & Managing Director, Uno Minda The mood in the current SIAM convention is quite upbeat.

What are your expectations from the new government? It’s been a few months now, do you feel a great element of hope for the country?

I am very optimistic, I think there was a policy paralysis in the last 3-4 years, and no decision was being taken on the infrastructure.

The construction of roads per day started from 12km and went down to 3km and now I am told it has increased to 15km per day. That has been the focus and it was spoken about at the ACMA conference and as well at the SIAM conference. As for the manufacturing sector, Mr. Modi has himself said “Make in India”. I think all of these are very positive

96 I October 2014

signs. We are very optimistic that action will happen and swiftly.

us how long it would take to have theses security measures in place.

Do you see these actions happening or are they mere positive words from the ministers?

These are the actions we see happening. We recently had a meeting with Mr. Gadkari (Nitin Gadkari is Minister of Road Transport & Highways) and he said that they have a review every Monday with the Prime Minister on road infrastructure and the progress on different regulations.

Mr. Gadkari was pushing us for the being prepared for making safety equipment and asking us our level of preparedness on air bags and air brakes, ABS and other safety products. He asked

Recently there was a seminar organised by ACMA on the opportunities in the defense sector for Indian auto component players. Do you see any opportunities there?

If you look at it from the manufacturing point of view there is a synergy between component makers and defence. We have past experience working in the defense sector for supplying to defense vehicle manufacturers, but not defense equipment as a whole. One has to really understand the specifications and requirements, it is not that easy but yes there is a synergy from the manufacturing point of view. There

are products which will have easy synergy with the auto sector and there are some products which have a different synergy, so what products and what focus should be kept in mind is essential.

There is no doubt that there is an opportunity and demand in defense as well as aero sector but the focus, capacity and synergy are a concern.

The N.K. Minda group has gone on a very ambitious path to achieve a huge turnover. Can you tell us briefly about the progress of your company?

We have grown in the last couple of years from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore, we have added many new product lines like alloy wheels, air brakes, fuel caps, air

SIAM & ACMA 2014 CONVENTIONS bags and steering wheels. We also have a lot of joint ventures, about 14 to be exact and 35 plants set up globally. Our vision was definitely Rs 10,000 crore by 2017-18 and I think it would take another year or so. In the last 2-3 years the market was stagnant and we were not spending enough money on expanding operations, but we are now going to set up new plants and increase capacity.

The new regulations which are expected to come, will give us good opportunities as our present collaborators are manufacturing many parts but are not localised as of now. With the new regulations of the government coming in, we will have more opportunities to explore.

What about exports?

As of now product exports are at around 17-18pc. We have a target of 25pc. This is not only export but also includes the products which are manufactured abroad, like in Indonesia, Vietnam and Spain. We are also conducting a feasibility study for a new plant in Mexico.

These plants which you have abroad, are they meant to supply to local OEMs there or are they into further exports from there?

Primarily these plants have been set up to supply locally, but let’s say it this way - the need for the Mexico plant has come up due to parts being exported from Spain for the North American customers like GM, Ford, etc. They wanted us to set up plants locally therefore Mexico is one of the low cost options we are considering.

How many different kinds of products are you making today and what is the major product in your line up?

We are making a total of 16-17 products and switches is the major product we manufacture, out of our total sale 50pc is from switches, but it is reducing as others are increasing. But we still have a major market share in switches.

When you speak of a Rs 10,000 crore turnover by 2017-18 where do you see the business coming from?

Like I said before, the cost of alloy wheels per car is around Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per vehicle while the air brake costs around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 in commercial vehicles, air bag and controls are some of the high

COVER REPORT

value products, so the turnover will definitely be much more in these products than our present products which have low value per car.

Our switch products generate revenue of almost 50pc of the revenue but this will come down to 25-30pc in the near future.

What do you think is the potential for this country, we have always compared our country to China which has grown really big, we never had that infrastructure push.

Assuming the Modi government does that what is the potential like for a country like India?

I don’t think we should be left behind China, the question is when. China today is producing almost 21 million cars and 23 million two wheelers while we are at 3 million which is 7 times less. I feel we should not be left behind China, if the GDP is growing, if our infrastructure is growing and manufacturing sector support is

increasing, I don’t foresee any reason why we should not beat China their GDP was 11-12pc and continuously increasing while ours went down from 8-9pc to 4pc. So I am very bullish on the growth. The real question is when, which is very difficult to say, may be 5 years, 6 years or 10 years.

The prime minister’s main agenda is growth and that is why I am so optimistic.

Interview with Deepak Jain Managing Director, Lumax Industries Can you briefly tell us the current progress of Lumax in terms of revenues and product portfolio?

Fundamentally the revenues of the total group is about Rs 2500 crore. We have about seven entities in the automotive sector two of which are in the listed space, they are Lumax Industries and Lumax Auto Technologies.

About 55pc of revenues of the company come from lighting while 45pc comes from non lighting products. Lumax Industries has had a stable growth. We are the

market leaders in the lighting segment and we have a joint venture partner which is Stanley Electric Co. of Japan with whom we have incidentally completed 30 years of relationship. It all started in 1984 because of Hero which was Hero-Honda at that point of time and Maruti Suzuki (erstwhile Maruti Udyog Ltd). Today we are fortunate that Hero is the number one motorcycle manufacturer and Maruti is the number one car manufacturer. So Lumax Industries itself is quite stable, it enjoys a good customer base

and with Stanley Electric a good relationship. So that company has been having a fundamentally stable growth in line with what the industry growth has been.

The last two years have been challenging but I think the effort in Lumax Industries in lighting had been more on the technology front. Lumax Industries just yesterday won the technology award, the silver trophy for the technology front. In Lumax Industries the order books are quite healthy so we are still maintaining the market share. In

terms of Lumax Auto Technologies that’s where the promoters hold directly 55pc, it is again a listed trading company and we see a lot of potential for fast track growth.

Lumax Auto Technologies has a 100pc subsidiary which is Lumax DK which is in the business of plastics and two wheeler lighting, especially for Bajaj. Then again our company has been investing in our multiple joint ventures, one is with Italian company Cornaglia which develops intake systems.

That company has also done substantially well and recently

October 2014 I 97

COVER REPORT registered good growth. Some of its customers are Volkswagen, Suzuki, GM, Tata Motors etc.

We recently hived off into a new entity in the gear shifter business.

Our current technology partner has become our equity partner which is Mannoh of Japan and we made a new entity called Lumax Mannoh Auto Technology Ltd. (LMAT), which basically started this April. While the relationship has been going on for the past 5 years, we are also incidentally now the leaders in gear shift systems in India and we see a huge opportunity going forward, as we see the market is changing from a manual to an automatic to maybe AMT CVT, so the transmission business is changing and that’s what is going to give us a new opportunity for this venture going forward.

We just concluded a new joint venture with a Korean American company called Gill Austem and it is now called Lumax Gill Austem Technologies Limited (LGAT). Gill Austem is a leader in seat mechanisms, so we are not into seating systems but we are making seat mechanism systems like recliners, sliders, head rests or anything to do with seat mechanisms and that’s what our expertise would be.

It is like a tier two relationship.

Obviously a lot of integration and design goes with the OEM as well and we have already secured a business with Ford and the facility will start next year somewhere in the centre of Pune area. We have another company which manufactures wiring systems but that is for internal consumptions so that is a Lumax ancillary as well. Over all I think what we have been doing is that Lumax Auto Technologies itself has a business which is also doing a lot of electronics related manufacturing for example - destination boards, we have also got some orders for set top boxes, although it is not auto related but we have actually done that. Our idea is that the group wants to see

98 I October 2014

SIAM & ACMA 2014 CONVENTIONS

electronics as a long term player and we will basically go in that domain in electrical, because any way lighting is electrical so going forward electronics which complements that. We are also currently in discussions with another company called Alpine which is into audio systems and we have concluded the agreement on getting into the aftermarket, so we will be their aftermarket distributors for India and we will see if that relationship can be strengthened for the Indian market as well.

Where are your plants currently based?

We are all over India, so as a group we have 24 manufacturing locations, so I can say very simply we are as close to our customers as possible. We already have a presence in Gujarat although we have infrastructure present in Gujarat, off course in terms of state our main concentration is Haryana, Maharshtra, Uttrakhand, Karnataka and Gujarat, basically in all major auto hubs. We don’t have any overseas plants yet, but there are three opportunities we see where our overseas play will come in the future. One would be like a follow OEM strategy where I believe there are a lot of OEMS in India who have plans to now start manufacturing facilities overseas and we believe that this will give us an opportunity to go along with them. For example Ashok Leyland, Vinod Dasari yesterday announced that please follow me I have some plans and aspirations.

So I think that in going forward this will give the group an opportunity as we have a very strong OEM connect. Secondly I also think with so many partners and product lines we are also looking at certain requests from partners to support on the overseas business that is a relationship of trust which we have built, I think that may also give us an opportunity there. Thirdly if a customer does see an opportunity for acquisition, but again I am not

going ahead by ourselves we are saying that it will be customer specific and customer driven.

We do see certain opportunities in aftermarket exports as well so maybe we need a presence out there. There are multiple ways where we have an export and overseas strategy, currently the group does OEM exports to Europe and the US, which contributes about 4pc, but that is more to also not just support but sensitise the company about the export, the quality of export required and the global market.

Is your business always going to be inclined towards to lighting taking the major share?

As I said before 55pc is for lighting, so if you see 5-10 years back it used to be 80pc.

As I said in lighting we have a major domination. Our idea is to keep this up and continue to be the market leader in India and obviously since we are in all segments and we have very strong partners, we feel that lighting will definitely be a major as the brand is known for lighting and the fast track growth will come from other product lines which we are building up. We don’t want to do everything that is the group’s philosophy, we want to specialize in our core competence so even if you see the product lines as

well as other product lines which are coming up be it gear shifters, be it audio systems, be it intake systems, they are largely into three domains which is plastics, electrical, electronics and light assembly products which require also maybe surface treatment or specialized surface treatment so this is the domain which we want to play in and become a specialist and that is what the play is so don’t want to get in to everything or every opportunity and we are picky about that.

Do you have an internal target?

We have just been in the process of completing the vision 2020 which does give us some revenue and profitability targets, but more important is the underline theme which is we want to be a company that is well respected and is a leader in all product categories which we choose to operate in and if we cluster all the product categories they should also have a lot of synergies with domain competence. When I say domain competence I mean plastics, electronics and electrical. There are some other groups which have gone into every segment, we don’t want to do that we want to stay away from it and be specialists in certain domains and grow our product range in that.

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SIAM & ACMA 2014 CONVENTIONS

Yashodhara Raje, R C Bhargava, Anant Geete, Vikram Kirloskar, Pawan Munjal

Hironori Kanayama MD Honda Cars India

Kenichiro Ayukawa MD & CEO MSIL

Nagesh Basavanhalli President & MD Fiat Chrysler India

P Balendran with GM delegates

DK Jain, Anmol Jain, I V Rao and Deepak Jain

CV Raman, ED, MSIL

Dr. Pawan Goenka

100 I October 2014

NEWS

Mahindras to acquire 51pc in Peugeot Motocycles

M

ahindra Two Wheelers Ltd. (MTWL), an unlisted subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra has made a binding offer to acquire a 51pc stake in Peugeot Motocycles (PMTC), part of the Euro 54 billion PSA Group based in France, according to a press release issued by Mahindra Two Wheelers.

PMTC (a.k.a. Peugeot Scooters), a key player in urban mobility in Europe for 116 years, is the oldest motorised twowheeler manufacturer in the world. Peugeot Scooters offers one of the most comprehensive range of scooters and mopeds, from 50cc to 400cc, including the successful three wheeled scooter – Metropolis, in the European market.

The transaction between MTWL and PSA, subject to Works Council consultation, as part of the employee dialogue process and anti-trust law, would involve infusion of Euro 15 million (Rs 116 crore approx) into PMTC to finance projects implemented through the strategic partnership, and further sale of shares by PSA which would allow MTWL to take a 51pcstake in PMTC. Commenting on the development, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra said that the coming together of Mahindra and Peugeot is a win-win for the two wheeler

businesses of both companies. He said Mahindra would offer access to the India market, mass market product technology and competence in marketing while Peugeot would bring its premium range, a strong European footprint, and a globally recognised brand. “This partnership would enable both MTWL and PMTC to speed their international expansion by driving synergies and leveraging respective strengths of both parties,” he added.

Over the past few years, Mahindra has strengthened its position in the two wheeler segment globally. Mahindra Racing competes at the highest level of global motorcycle racing in the Moto3 category of MotoGP, while Mahindra GenZe recently revealed its electric two wheelers in the US market that offer sustainable urban transport solutions to a new generation of US consumers.

In addition, MTWL has introduced several innovative technologies in its award winning range, including recently launched Gusto. MTWL also has sales and distribution operations in Latin America, Africa and South Asia.

The company has assembly operations in many of these markets.

The release said that MTWL would be committed to the current leadership team at PMTC. This would be similar to the approach that Mahindra group has followed in other global transactions such as the acquisition of Korean automaker SsangYong.

A rich heritage: For more than

a century, Peugeot Scooters has created innovative mobility solutions that meet the individual needs of each of its customers.

The year 1898 marked the introduction of the first Peugeot motor scooter and as years went by it forayed into electric scooters in 1996 with the launch of the Scoot’Elec, the first electric motor scooter. In 2002 it came up with Elystar, the first 125 scooter equipped with standard ABS brakes. The year 2011 saw the launch of the the new-generation, all-electric e-Vivacity scooter and in 2013, the French company launched the Metropolis, the brand’s first three-wheeler.

New direction for India, stiff penalties in 2014 Transport Bill

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he Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has finally come out with a draft of the Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014 which will be tabled in Parliament during the Winter Session. The draft bill has been released to the public to seek their views and comments before it is finally presented in Parliament.

Apart from the hefty fines that have been proposed for traffic

102 I October 2014

violations, for faulty vehicles and other offences, the bill also seeks to provide a framework for safer, faster, cost effective and inclusive movement of passengers and freight in the country thus enabling the mission of ‘Make in India’. The measures mooted in the draft bill hopes to save 200,000 lives in first 5 years due to reduction in road traffic accident deaths. It could also lead to 4pc GDP improvement

on account of increased efficiency and safety of road transport sector, besides creating 10,00,000 or 1 million Jobs with increase in investment in the sector. The draft bill has mooted steep fines for violations of traffic norms and other irregularities committed by motorists. Auto companies too will face penalty for faulty vehicles. The setting up of a Unified Driver Licensing System

and a Unified Vehicle Registration System has been suggested.

Offences like jumping a red line could cost Rs 5000 fine, while using a mobile phone while driving could cost Rs 4000. Repeat offences could mean paying up even more heftier fines, suspension of licenses and even getting packed off to a refresher course. In extreme cases it could also lead to cooling your heals in jail.

NEWS

UM Motorcycles –Lohia JV to make cruisers

U

S-based motorcycle brand UM Motorcycles will be introducing its first motorcycle, a cruiser in India through a joint venture company it has formed with India’s Lohia Group. UM Motorcycles India has signed a strategic joint venture with Lohia Auto, an automotive division of the Lohia group. The definitive agreement was signed in New Delhi between Juan Villegas, Global Director-Business Development, UM Group of Companies and Ayush Lohia, Director, Lohia Auto industries. UM Motorcycles had displayed its products at the 2014 Auto Expo held in Greater Noida.

As per the agreement, the two companies will create a joint venture company with a 50-50 equity stake each. The joint venture company will market a full new range of motorcycles designed especially for the Indian markets. The bikes will be manufactured at the Lohia plant in Kashipur, Uttrakhand where Lohia Auto current facility has a capacity to produce 100000 units per year. The expected start of production will be around the second quarter of 2015.

The overall investment in the joint venture company over a definitive period will be approximately Rs 120 crore. UM International, through this joint venture, aims to foray into the burgeoning motorcycle market in India by offering consumers a new, fresh alternative, initially in the cruiser category and subsequently in other segments. In addition,

104 I October 2014

UM International will make its India operation an important export hub for its products to its global distribution network.

According to a press release, UML’s mission is to offer innovative, affordable, aspirational, safe and comfortable UM & Lohia Auto officials after signing the JV agreement motorcycles.

UML is confident about setting a firm foothold in the Indian parts of the world. We will continuously market with the “Made in India” branding. keep improving our products to be ahead Ayush Lohia, Director, Lohia Auto stated of the league in terms of performance and that the products of UM blend with his affordability. We will launch bikes in all company’s strength of manufacturing will segments including sports and touring as we definitely enthral Indian bike lovers. Juan move forward,” he added.

Villegas, Director UM International said his company is in the country to make difference in the Indian motorcycle arena. “We are looking at India with a long term perspective, with a vision to not to only cater to domestic need but to also export to different

NEWS

Panasonic and Uno Minda JV for batteries

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anasonic Corporation of Japan and Minda Industries Ltd. (part of Uno Minda group) have agreed to establish a joint venture company to develop, manufacture and sell lead acid storage batteries in India.

According to a company press release, India has a rapidly growing market of lead acid storage batteries. The new joint venture company will address the growing market of lead acid storage batteries for two and four wheeler vehicles and UPS in India with leveraging knowhow and technology owned by Panasonic as well as customer bases of both parties.

Panasonic has operating

production bases in Japan (Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture), Thailand (Samut Prakarn Province) and the People’s Republic of China (Shenyang City). While Panasonic aims to expand its overseas operations of its business through this JV, Uno Minda aims to cater to the growing need of batteries for its strong customer base.

Yoshio Ito, Senior Managing Director of Panasonic, stated that his company started the production of lead acid storage batteries in 1937. “Since then, we have consistently responded to requirements of various customers and achieved steady progress.

We believe our technology over the years will contribute to

development of the industry of lead acid storage batteries in India through the joint venture company with Uno Minda,” he said.

Nirmal K Minda, CMD, Uno Minda stated that the battery market in India is experiencing rising demand from various sectors, thereby providing immense opportunities to manufacturers to grow and operate in the market lucratively.

“Having strong footprint in India and with technical support of

Panasonic, a leading name in the Industry since 1937, we believe Uno Minda will be able to serve customers in multifarious ways,” he stated.

Panasonic and Uno Minda are aiming to establish the joint venture company in November, 2014 after obtaining regulatory approvals.

GM chairman Tim Solso, CEO Mary Barra meet Modi

G

eneral Motors Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra visited India along with the company’s non-executive chairman of the GM Board of Directors Tim Solso. The two high ranking officials met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his office in New Delhi on September 11, 2014.

In a separate meeting, Chairman of Honda Motor Company Fumihiko Ike also called on Prime Minister Modi at his office.

This was the first visit of Mary Barra to India as chief executive officer of General Motors Co. The GM officials were in India from September 9 to 11. Incidentally, Mary Bara was slated to be one of the key speakers at the annual convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) to be held on September 12, 2014 in New Delhi’s Taj Palace. However, on September 12, GM Executive Vice President and President, GM International, Stefan Jacoby will address the SIAM annual convention. He will discuss the positive economic

impact of the automotive industry and its importance for markets such as India.

Honda’s Fumihiko Ike is also one of the key speakers at the SIAM convention.

According to a press release, during stops in Mumbai and Pune, Barra met with political leadership, spoke with business leaders, held discussions with the company’s leading suppliers and spoke with employees at GM India’s largest manufacturing facility.

She was joined by Tim Solso, GM Executive Vice President and President, GM International, Stefan Jacoby and GM India President and Managing Director Arvind Saxena.

In a press statement, she said “India represents a great opportunity for General Motors.

With a relatively small vehicle population and rapidly growing middle class, India is expected to become one of the world’s three largest markets by 2020.

GM cannot remain a global leader without making a serious commitment to expanding our presence in India and other key

emerging markets.”

GM has invested about $1 billion in India to date. It’s Talegaon and Halol production facilities have a combined manufacturing capacity of over 280,000 vehicles per year. The GM Technical CentreIndia is carrying out engineering projects for GM on a local and global basis.

On September 10, Barra visited GM India’s Talegaon manufacturing facility in Pune. She congratulated employees on their recent achievements. In addition, she participated in the celebration of the production of the first Chevrolet vehicle for export at the plant. Vehicles will initially be exported to Chile starting later this year.

Barra also had the opportunity to sit down with several of the company’s top suppliers on the same day in Pune. Barra encouraged them to remain focused on driving excellence across their operations. She said

that GM will continue to leverage its domestic suppliers as it increases the localisation of its products manufactured in India.

On the final day of her visit, September 11, Barra met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Finance, Commerce & Industry. She congratulated Modi on his recent election victory and thanked him for his support of the growth of GM India’s Halol plant when he was chief minister of Gujarat, the release added.

She reiterated GM’s commitment to work with the Indian government to contribute to the development of an automotive industry that is globally competitive.

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NEWS

Delphi Automotive acquires Unwired Technology

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lose on the heels of Delphi Automotive acquiring US based Antaya Technologies Corp, it has announced entering into a definitive agreement to acquire media connectivity module supplier, Unwired Technology LLC, expanding its data and media connectivity capabilities. Antaya Technologies Corp is a leading supplier of proprietary on-glass connectors. The two acquisitions significantly enhance Delphi’s product offerings in the rapidly growing automotive electrical connectors business, giving it more ways to meet its customers’ needs, according to a press release issued by Delphi.

Rodney O’Neal, Delphi chief

executive officer and president said that media connectivity is a high-growth segment as auto manufacturers respond quickly to consumers’ increasing desire to integrate their smartphones and tablets in their vehicles. He noted that Unwired’s products strengthen Delphi’s overall electrical architecture and electrical connector offerings, which is supporting increased electronics content per vehicle.

As consumer electronics become more advanced, automakers are integrating increasingly complex modules and hubs. Unwired’s connectivity products provide two-way data connections between smartphones and tablets and

Apollo Tyres to invest ` 3744 crore in Hungary

A

pollo Tyres will be setting up a greenfield facility in Eastern Europe in Hungary. According to an Apollo Tyres press release, Hungary was chosen after a consideration of various factors over some of the neighbouring Central Eastern European and Asian countries.

Apollo Tyres will invest Euro 475 million (Rs 3744 crore approx.) over the next 5 years to setup this facility in the new industrial zone near Gyongyoshalasz, Hungary. Once completed, the plant will have a capacity to produce 5.5 million passenger car and light truck (PCLT) tyres and 675,000 heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) tyres per annum.

This facility will produce both, Apollo and Vredestein branded tyres, and will cater to the entire European market, and will complement Apollo Tyres’ existing facility in the Netherlands, said the release.

Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Apollo Tyres Ltd said that this investment would be the company’s first one into a greenfield facility outside of India and would be a significant milestone in the company’s international growth journey. “Our aim is to create a benchmark manufacturing facility, which would further increase our competitive strength in the European market,” he said.

Peter Szijjarto, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Government of Hungary said that Apollo’s Hungarian investment is an important step in the re-industrialisation of Hungary.

The chosen site is less than 100 km from the capital city of Budapest and meets the needs of Apollo Tyres including having close proximity to various OEM manufacturers as potential customers.

The company will soon start the process of applying for necessary permissions and licenses to setup the facility. Similarly, the process towards Environmental Impact Assessment will be started soon. The construction of this plant is expected to start in the spring of 2015.

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in-car infotainment systems, allowing consumers to safely access content in the vehicle. These media connectivity modules can handle multiple devices, provide high-speed charging capabilities and enable seamless access to content through emerging infotainment software solutions, the release added.

Joseph Damato, chief executive officer and president of Unwired, stated that combining its highly-complementary media connectivity portfolios will strengthen the company’s growth opportunities and global reach.

“By leveraging Unwired’s and Delphi’s common commitment to innovation, engineering and product development, we will continue to provide the market with the highest quality media connectivity products,” he added.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Tata AutoComp, Magna tie up for seats

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ata AutoComp Systems Limited and Magna International Inc. have signed a 50:50 Joint Venture agreement to provide seating systems to the Indian commercial vehicle industry. In a press release, Tata AutoComp stated that the JV will be focused on delivering innovative seating systems to commercial vehicle manufacturers as well as buses.

The JV will be headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, India and will supply seating systems to customers in India.

Ajay Tandon, MD & CEO of Tata AutoComp Systems Limited said that his company has always been the front runner in offering cutting edge technologies to its customers through its partners. This partnership with Magna will expand its portfolio to now bring the latest in seating systems to the Indian commercial vehicle industry.

Arvind Goel, President and Chief of Operations and New Technology, Tata AutoComp Systems Limited added that the seating systems in commercial vehicles have not yet evolved in India. “With the rapid increase in infrastructure, we envisage more and more vehicles plying long distances. In such a scenario, the safety and comfort of both driver and passengers is paramount. Through this JV, we intend to address this increasing need of the industry,” he said.

Mike Bisson, President of Magna Seating said that his company was pleased to partner with Tata AutoComp Systems Limited, a leading player in the India auto-component industry. The combination of Magna’s seating expertise and Tata AutoComp’s knowledge of the Indian market provides both companies an opportunity for growth in the commercial vehicle market, he added.

“Leveraging our expertise in automotive seating and delivering it to the commercial vehicle market in India is an important part of our global growth strategy,” said Deepak Nagaraja, Vice President of Magna Seating.

NEWS

Spark Minda organises ACMA - Young Business Leaders’ Forum

A

n interactive session with Ashok Minda – Group CEO, Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group was organised for the members of ACMA - Young Business Leaders’ Forum recenlty at Minda Management Services Limited, Gurgaon.

According to a press release, the objective behind the forum was to groom young business leaders from auto component industry through sharing of experiences for meeting challenges in establishing and running a successful family owned business with special focus on succession planning.

The session was primarily a platform for sharing of experience of Ashok Minda during his journey of building up the Spark Minda Group. The session was distributed into five major phases wherein the discussion initiated with focusing on the legacy of Spark Minda Group (erstwhile Minda Group); major milestones

of the organisation; challenges and handicaps faced during implementation of growth plans; succession planning for the group followed by Minda’s expectations from the automotive industry and future expansion plans of the Group. During the discussion, the participants were also shown the famous book – ‘The Magic of Thinking Big’ which Minda considered the source of constant motivation for him.

The session was quite enlightening for all and some very crucial queries were raised by the participating members. Some of the most critical questions included those on deciding factors for selection of companies for joint ventures and acquisitions, Minda’s take on the current aftermarket scenario, maintaining organisation’s stability during lack of important resources, arranging of financial resources and handling the organisation during turbulent

Ashok Minda presenting the book The Magic of Thinking Big to the participants times, selection of the right advisor for the organisation and its selection process besides other queries.

The session was attended by many auto-components companies with around 35 participants who included Executive Directors from Steelbird Auto Components, PPAP Automotive Limited, Dorset KABA, Makino Auto Industries, Omax Autos Limited, Oswal

Castings Private Limited, AGRIM Tools (P) Limited and Victora Tool Engineering Private Limited among many others aspiring minds. Apart from Ashok Minda, members of management team from Spark Minda Group who contributed to this half day session included N K Taneja, Sanjay Thapar, D C Sharma and Lalitendu Samantha who shared their learnings and experiences during the growth of the Group.

TOP LEVEL CHANGES IN MOTOWN ANDREW PALMER (ANDY) who till recently was the member of Board of Nissan’s LCV joint venture companies with Ashok Leyland in India has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin Lagonda (“Aston Martin”). In a press release, Aston Martin made this announcement, stating that Andy will lead the company in its next phase of technology and product creation. Palmer was Chief Planning Officer, Executive VP and Member, Executive Committee, Nissan Motor Company.

MAYANK PAREEK has been appointed as President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit (PVBU), Tata Motors. His appointment is effective October 1, 2014. He will take over from Ranjit Yadav who will now head the International Business for Passenger & Commercial vehicles. According to a press release issued by Tata Motors, as President, PVBU, Pareek will be responsible for steering the passenger vehicle business. He will also be a member of the Corporate Steering Committee.

R S KALSI will take over as head of Domestic Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited. Kalsi is currently Executive Director, heading the Parts, Accessories and Outbound Logistics divisions of the company. Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director, will continue to head International Marketing for the Company. Both, Kalsi and Srivastava, will report to the Managing Director of the company, according to a press release issued by Maruti Suzuki.

GUILLAUME SICARD is the new President, Nissan India operations, effective October 1, 2014. Sicard has been serving as Nissan’s Deputy President in India since July, 2014. According to a press release issued by Nissan India, Sicard will report to Takashi Hata, Senior Vice President of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., in charge of Africa, Middle East and India region. Sicard will now lead Nissan in India and be responsible for all the company’s operations in the country

RAFAEL TREGUER has been appointed as Vice President Sales & Marketing at Renault India. Rafael brings with him more than 20 years of international experience in multi-dimensional roles within the Renault group. He joins from September 2014. Rafael has worked for Renault in varied roles at different locations with the Renault group. Before joining Renault India his last assignment was as GM Dacia Sales and Marketing in Renault Group (2010).

ANURAG MEHROTRA will take over from Vinay Piparsania as Ford India’s executive director for Marketing, Sales and Service. Anurag will lead the responsibility for all aspects of MS&S operations of Ford India including revenue, sales volume, market share, marketing strategy & launches as well as dealer development, after sales service and overall customer satisfaction. Vinay Piparsania is now Director Marketing, Sales and Service operations at Ford Global Business Services (GBS).

October 2014 I 107

INTERVIEW

Shekhar Chakravarti,

Managing Director, Conveyor & Ropeway Services Pvt Ltd Report & Photography: Rahul Kapoor Curvo non-linear ropeway sounds very exciting and revolutionary. Is this your brain child? How did you come up with this idea? Also, what are the technological challenges you faced with this product?

The concept is unique, because non linear Ropeway travelling over existing road routes in urban cities, would be the first in the world, and therefore, could be called revolutionary, as it would constitute a 2nd tier transportation system for cities.

It is exciting as well. You can well imagine the excitement at every

108 I October 2014

stage that myself and my co-workers went through, as we progressed from development to design and commissioning of the prototype, culminating into a heavenly joy, when the trial cabin went through the route of approx. 500mtr., negotiating two Angular Modules, unhindered during its up and down journey.

Is Curvo your Brain Child?

The concept was mine, I have to say.

Unless all the members working on the prototype implementation had adopted it, we could not have achieved the

success. So, it is a joint brain child of all the staff of CRSPL deployed on the non-linear prototype project.

What inspired you for something as ground breaking as Curvo?

It erupted from umpteen nos. of ills and miseries that the gasoline driven vehicular system inflicted on urban commuters. They are very glaring and damaging too, to urbanites 1. Vehicular accidents on city roads 2. Pollution from vehicular emissions of toxic gases,

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dangerously harmful to respiratory system of city dwellers 3. Traffic jams and loss of time from more and more vehicular induction on city roads, whereas, the existing road do not have any scope for expansion or widening 4. The sufferings, and I repeat, the sufferings that the urban commuters are undergoing, are also resulting in huge drainage of foreign exchange and subsidies thereon, for importing oil from Gulf countries, to run the fuming city buses.

My eldest daughter contacted asthma and dust allergy, about 20 years ago. It was

110 I October 2014

followed by my grandson’s about 8 years ago. They gave me the first jerk. The second and the most serious jerk that I experienced was when opening the morning newspaper, about 8 years ago, I was shocked to find two girls on way to school in the morning, were crushed under the wheels of two racing buses at the landing of No. 4 bridge near Park Circus Railway Station, Kolkata.

Earlier, it was thoughts which I expressed in various global forays on Ropeways, where I pleaded for the Industry’s entry into urban areas, in addition to serving for winter sport, mainly. All that, gave me conviction, and I

started serious work to find a solution.

Dealing with Aerial Ropeways in national and international arena for decades, my attention went to the space available above city roads, but realised that, to avail that space, a non linear system needed to be developed as roads routes are non linear only.

What technological challenges did you face during this project?

Achieving operating freedom of the rope grip structure, unitarily, while negotiating horizontal support rollers, providing both

INTERVIEW horizontal and vertical supports. The principle is simple, but its translation to CURVO reality took real working.

How many passengers can the cabins accommodate?

The hourly capacity per track, which according to our calculations is 2000/2500 passenger per hour (PPH) in each direction with a cabin capacity of 8-10 passengers per cabin.

If more than one track could be accommodated on a road, then for higher traffic like 4000-5000 or 6000-7500 PPH each way could also be transported. They will be equivalent to 70 and 140 busloads per hour on road, respectively.

Has it been implemented anywhere else in the world? Or is this the first of its kind?

No, Curvo technology has not been implemented anywhere in the world, this technology, of negotiating non-linear routes over roads, as tried out, is first of its kind in the world.

How are you so sure that this product will be a success? Has it been tested for efficiency?

Success and efficiency will depend on 3 issues; Firstly the ability to negotiate non-linear routeThis has been achieved and demonstrated, particularly, during the “TECHNOLOGY” launch ceremony on 6th September 2014. Secondly Cabin Capacity - On the Ropeways built by CRSPL at Bhopal in 2001 and for Adlabs Entertainments in July 2014 cabins of 9 and 8 passengers respectively are in operation.

World has record of 12 passengers cabins, operating on Monocable Detachable Grip Ropeways and lastly despatch and spacing rate of Cabin - 20-22 Seconds has been referred in the specification of our brochure for 2000pph capacity. CRSPL and Breco Ropeways Ltd, UK (under CRSPL control) have successfully achieved and implemented 12 seconds and 14 seconds carrier interval and time spacing on many Ropeways.

All three issues having been addressed, therefore, efficiency could be considered as achieved.

submitted, which are under examination for their suitability in respect of utilities etc.

The Government is favourably poised to implement the technology and showcase it to other cities in the country and other cities in the world as well. It is open to all for exploitation.

We invited Central and other State Government personnel to witness the TECHNOLOGY LAUNCH ceremony, by the MIC, Urban Development, Government of West Bengal.

Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” pitch, is expected to consider and nurse things developed and invented in the country, and we look up to him very much, being pro-infrastructure, to help and showcase it to the world. In other worlds, adoption of CURVO as a 2nd tier transportation system, through the Ministry of Urban Development, headed by Shri Venkataiah Naidu. We will take up the CURVO development with Central Ministries also, in due course.

What are the advantages of Curvo other than means of transport?

Metro has limited flexibility, whereas CURVO penetration ability is everywhere, having road services.

Single track CURVO ‘s capacity is nowhere near to METRO, but when considered in respect of its use on multiple routes in congested city areas, its total capacity could be more, compared to that of METRO. Further, CURVO being a considerably low cost

infrastructure, it will suit midsize cities. It can play a very important role, while planning the 100 smart cities.

Finally, CURVO with less gestation period and being economic compared to Monorail, Metro etc., and being totally disruption free of existing infrastructures and utilities, could be a preferable choice in many cases.

How are you planning to finance and execute this project, in case you get an approval. DO you have some time up with any major company or group?

We expect Government to organise infrastructural fund. We are in dialogue with our bankers and other agencies. They are comfortably poised with the scheme. We have also had some dialogue with the Tatas and they have shown some interest.

You also talked of this product having a global appeal, so will you be showcasing this at any international show or event?

Once we showcase one commercially operative Unit, the global appeal will grow. We plan to participate in International Fairs, with this product. Pollution is also a problem in Europe. Even Buckingham Palace in London is in the midst of toxic NO2, a product of diesel engine emission, and its pollution level is 4 times more than the acceptable level in Europe. So, Europe is also expected to welcome the scheme.

At what stage is your proposal with Kolkata government? Are you planning to showcase this idea with other states too? What about the Central government, we have Modi who is a pro infrastructure man or a Nitin Gadkari the minister of transport and highways....will you be discussing the same with them?

DPR for two routes, one between Sealdah Station and BBD Bag, and the other between Howrah Station and NABANNA, have been

October 2014 I 111

SPECIAL REPORT

AUTOMECHANIKA FRANKFURT

Record participants at Automechanika Franfurt

Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Petra Welzel

Report: Tripti Singh

T

he 23rd Automechanika show in Frankfurt, Germany organised by Messe Frankfurt from September 16 to 20, 2014 saw a record number of 140,000 trade visitors from 173 countries visiting the various stalls showcasing a multitude of innovations from the international aftermarket. They were shown the

latest automotive products and technologies during the five-day fair. And mind you, the show was not a boring one, especially with all the glamorous models and exciting products!

As for the exhibitors, there were 4,631 companies from 71 countries participating in the show, yet another record for the show.

Detlef Braun, Member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt noted that the ratings given by exhibitors have been outstanding with a significant impetus coming from outside Germany. “However, German companies also see the current economic situation in a more positive light than in 2012,” he remarked.

Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Jochen Günther

112 I October 2014

The number of international visitors rose by five percentage points to 60 percent. Particular interest was shown by visitors in subjects such as alternative power trains, fully automatic digital reception processes, energy efficiency, lightweight construction solutions with previously impossible loading capacities,

Hot Rod from Würth. Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Pietro Sutera

AUTOMECHANIKA FRANKFURT

SPECIAL REPORT

Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Petra Welzel accessories, customising, car media and 3D printing.

The latest developments in the electronics field were found under the motto ‘Mobility of the Future’ in Hall 10 where exhibitors from 12 countries showcased a broad spectrum of alternative power-trains, from hybrid and electric to LPG and natural gas.

Besides charging infrastructure, charging management and plug and cable systems, the participants offered insights

into the latest developments in the fields of motors, electronics, lightweight construction, storage technologies, battery management, energy supply, financing, basic and advanced training, repairs and service.

The fair also presented the latest products and developments from the world market in the commercial-vehicle field. Vans with previously unheard of loading capacities and weight-optimised electric refrigerated vehicles were to be

XXL tool HAZET. Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Pietro Sutera Car wash. Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Pietro Sutera

October 2014 I 113

SPECIAL REPORT

AUTOMECHANIKA FRANKFURT

Testing and measuring instruments: Ducati bike. Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Petra Welzel seen at the show for the first time.

Our simulator fits perfectly in the ‘Truck The main themes at Automechanika 2014 Competence’ segment at Automechanika were: Mobility of the Future, Basic and Frankfurt. We are already looking forward to Advanced Training and Truck Competence. the next edition of the fair in 2016.”

Visitors were delighted by the great potential Particularly popular was the ‘Collision of exhibitors in the commercial-vehicle Damage Talk’, the best attended event in sector, which was to be seen under the the Automechanika Academy programme ‘Truck Competence’ label on over 1,000 with 600 participants. Key players from exhibition stands, and by the associated the insurance business, including HUK special shows revolving around ‘Truck Competence’.

Alexandra Sommer, Specialist Aftermarket Marketing, KnorrBremse Systeme für Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH, said, “Our concept for the fair was given a very warm reception and resulted in a significant increase in the number of visitors Augemented Reality Robert Bosch GmbH. to our stand compared Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Pietro Sutera to the previous fair.

114 I October 2014

Tyre installation.

Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Petra Welzel

AUTOMECHANIKA FRANKFURT

SPECIAL REPORT

Engine presentation. Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Jochen Günther Coburg and the newly founded German Partner Workshop Association (Bundesverband der Partnerwerkstätten – BVdP) and Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT) also made presentations.

The event was sponsored by paint manufacturers who returned to Automechanika after an absence of 12 years. “We have regained our confidence in fairs as a marketing tool and meet the world in Frankfurt am Main”, said Cromax Sales Manager Frank Forst.

More than 50 alternativedrive-chain pioneers from 12 countries presented their mobility concepts in Hall 10.

Another magnet for visitors

was the Galleria with a wideranging choice of basic and advanced training choices.

For example, over 650 trade visitors from 36 countries attended the practice-oriented workshops on collisiondamage management. As a participant reported, “The workshops exceeded my expectations! Messe Frankfurt has created a platform that not only provides specific information on topical issue but also enables visitors interested in these subjects to familiarise themselves with practical aspects of new technologies in a very short time.”

The next Automechanika Frankfurt will be held from September 13 to 17, 2016.

Lamborghini. Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Jochen Günther

October 2014 I 115

SPECIAL REPORT

65TH IAA COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Mega show with 322 world premiers Report: S. Madhavan

T

he 65th IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover, Germany was a mega show by all means with 2,066 exhibitors from 45 countries and a record 322 world premieres of products and vehicles. Exhibitors included global makers of trucks, light commercial vehicles that primarily consisted of delivery vans, buses, special motor vehicles, trailers,

116 I October 2014

bodies and containers, vehicle interiors, parts and accessories and diagnostic tools, besides those in the field of repair and maintenance,.

Some of the participants included the likes of Alisson Transmissions, Bosch, DAF Trucks, Daimler AG, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd, Fuso, Iveco, Magna, Mahle Powertrain,

MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Renault Trucks, Scania, Volvo, Wabco, Citroen, Ford, Fuso, Hyundai, Iveco, Magna, Adam Opel, Peugeot, Streetscooter and Volkswagen Europe and China headed the trade visitors’ league table. The first place went to Poland for the first time. At 8.3 per cent, the share of visitors from this country more

than doubled. It was followed by Holland (7.5 per cent) and China (6.3 per cent). One third of the Asian visitors came from China.

According to Matthias Wissmann, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), on an area of just under 265,000 square metres the IAA showcases the whole commercial vehicle

65 IAA COMMERCIAL VEHICLES TH

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October 2014 I 117

SPECIAL REPORT

value-added chain. “The suppliers alone – once again they make up the largest group of exhibitors – account for 70pc of the world premieres. And the manufacturers of trailers, bodies and buses also have a large number of innovations here,” he said.

“The number of exhibitors has increased by 9 per cent, to 2,066.

The entire world of commercial vehicles is represented – the exhibitors come from 45 countries.

This 65th IAA Commercial Vehicles

118 I October 2014

65TH IAA COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

has once again attracted about a quarter of a million visitors, which is around the average of the two previous IAA Commercial Vehicles,” he added.

Innovations were plenty for all to see as visitors had their first opportunity to see how a driver left his cab and simply controlled his 25 metre-long truck remotely with the aid of a tablet computer using one finger, and manoeuvred it backwards to the loading ramp.

“This IAA is also looking far

ahead – with the first automated truck in the world. It sounds like science fiction: the truck drives safely on the autobahn without the driver having to intervene; it communicates with its surroundings and ensures greater safety on the roads. It consumes less fuel and relieves the stress on the driver in monotonous situations. This is made possible by the intelligent networking of all existing safety systems, supplemented by

cameras, radar sensors and means of communication both between vehicles and with the infrastructure. There is a lot suggesting that this could be reality on our roads ten years from now. And many other exhibitors – suppliers in particular – have dedicated themselves to connectivity and automation. Highranking representatives from the carmakers Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford and Opel came to the IAA to discuss connectivity with IT

65 IAA COMMERCIAL VEHICLES TH

From Left: Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA, Klaus Bräunig, MD, German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), Vikram Kirloskar, President, SIAM, Matthias Wissmann, President, VDA, Ramesh Suri, President, ACMA, Vishnu Mathur, Director General SIAM, Birgitta Worringen, Deputy Director General, Environment and Transport, Federal Ministry of Transport, and Digital Infrastructure

experts and commercial vehicle representatives. Cars and trucks – both are driving these innovations forward,” said Wissmann.

Senior Indian auto industry leaders too were present at the IAA event so as to be part of the IAA India Day 2014. Senior executives of SIAM and ACMA including Vikram Kisloskar, Dr Vishnu Mathur, Vinnie Mehta were among those who were part of the India Day 2014 proceedings.

Wabco India Vice President, P.

SPECIAL REPORT

Wabco India Vice President, P. Kaniappan

Kaniappan, delivered a keynote presentation about India’s new role in a globalised commercial vehicle industry on October 1.

Belgium based Wabco Holdings Inc. is a leading global supplier of technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles.

Kaniappan’s keynote was at the invitation of VDA. “WABCO is proud to contribute to IAA India Day 2014 as it enables us to share our perspectives on the

commercial vehicle industry as well as best practices, based on our 50-year track record of market leadership in India,” said Kaniappan, adding that “Market dynamics in India are rapidly changing as global and domestic commercial vehicle manufacturers seek to thrive in the Indian market place or to pursue global opportunities with India as their launch pad.”

“Today, the commercial vehicle industry in India is

further globalising its standards, processes and capabilities.

India continues to differentiate itself as a high-quality, costeffective regional hub that strongly supports the growth strategies, technology roadmaps, engineering resources, and manufacturing needs of commercial vehicle makers in-country and from around the globe,” he said. The 66th IAA Commercial Vehicles will be held from September 22 to 29, 2016.

October 2014 I 119

TECHNOLOGY

Continental unveils smartphone integration

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martphones and driving usually do not go hand in hand. Despite the many bans in place, one can spot people using their smartphones while driving.

Safety stipulates that drivers use the vehicle’s onboard controls to make calls, read text messages, search the Internet, or update social media sites.

Now Continental has come to the rescue of those not keen to break the law. The multifunctional smartphone terminal (MFST) offers vehicle manufacturers all over the world the foundation for car drivers to use the smartphone functions easily, conveniently and safely in their vehicle.

In a press release issued

by Continental, Andreas Wolf, head of the Body & Security business unit, explains how the new terminal works, “The multifunctional smartphone terminal puts an end to tangled phone cables once and for all. All the driver has to do is place the smartphone in the box in the cockpit. He or she can then use the car’s controls to access all the relevant features during the journey. At the same time, the phone is charged wirelessly.” The

new terminal is to go into production in 2015.

The multifunctional smartphone terminal combines wireless charging of the smartphone battery, wireless antenna coupling, and near field communications (NFC).

According to the release, one key innovation is that these three features do not require a cable connecting the phone to the vehicle. Moreover, the modular design allows vehicle manufacturers to decide which features they want to offer in their models.

WIRELESS CHARGING There is help on the battery front, first. Anyone who often uses a smartphone knows how fast the battery can drain. This is why being able to charge a cell phone wirelessly in the car is such a relevant feature.

Compatible smartphones can be charged in the terminal, saving space and without any tangled cables.

The wireless charging system meets the “Qi” standard specified by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Continental believes this standard is ideal for use in vehicles.

For example, it offers similar charging currents

to standard USB charging connections and has similar charging times to those of cable charging systems.

Many smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S5, S4 and S3, the LG G2, and the Nokia Lumia 1020, 925, 820 and 720, can easily be equipped for wireless charging by simply replacing their back covers with a Qi-compatible one.

Qi-compatible cases are also available for the Apple iPhone 5S, 5, 4S, and 4.

Some models support the Qi standard right out of the box, without a special back cover. These include the

Nokia Lumia 1520, 930 and 920, the Google Nexus 5 and 4, and the LG Optimus G Pro.

WIRELESS ANTENNA COUPLING For the best possible connection, it is best to connect the smartphone to an antenna mounted on the outside of the vehicle.

This enhances the quality of the phone signal for receiving and transmitting, particularly where network coverage is poor. An external antenna reduces the electromagnetic load on the people inside the vehicle and also spares

the smartphone’s battery.

This is because the poorer the reception is, the more power a cell phone needs to send and receive.

NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) The Continental terminal also connects the smartphone to the vehicle architecture via near field communication (NFC).

NFC is a comparably recent wireless standard in smartphones. With NFC, smartphones can be used to authorise coupling processes or as a digital vehicle key.

Delphi ‘s wireless vehicle communication technology

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hey say talking on the phone while driving is wrong and can be fatal.

But when your car talks to another car, it’s a different matter altogether.

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Delphi, a leading global supplier of technologies for the automotive and commercial vehicle markets, will supply General Motors with connectivity technology

that will allow cars to talk with one another and provide drivers critical traffic information.

Delphi Automotive has announced that it will be first-to-market

with Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-toInfrastructure (V2I) communication technology that significantly advances driver alerts.

This wireless vehicle

communication technology extends the range of existing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) functionality. Radio signals transmit traffic data from car to car to alert drivers

TECHNOLOGY

New piston technology from Federal-Mogul

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of potential road hazards, even those beyond the driver’s line of sight or out of the vehicle’s sensor range. According to a Delphi press release, this technology can signal to the driver a number of traffic situations ahead including road condition hazards, road work, emergency vehicle warning, stationary or slow moving vehicles, traffic jams, accidents, as well as traffic signals or signage indicators.

According to Jeff Owens, chief technology officer, Delphi Automotive, the ability to detect and signal to the driver of danger ahead is a significant leap toward improving driver safety and traffic management. This technology also strategically positions Delphi to help automakers meet potential government regulations related to V2V communications for automated driving, he noted.

Delphi already provides vision and radar systems that warn the driver of a potential accident

risk around the vehicle or in its path. This may include another car drifting into the driver’s lane or helping the driver maintain a safe distance from the car ahead. Delphi’s V2V technology goes a step further by reading radio signals sent from cars that have already detected a traffic situation. This data is then sent to other cars in the vicinity to warn their drivers and provide detailed information about the situation, such as location and duration of a construction zone.

The release said that the development output of this system is highly flexible and can be packaged and partitioned in many different ways for other markets and customers. Global production is targeted for launch in 2016 for the North American market. India, will however, have to wait for its market to develop to even consider such a sophisticated technology to be implemented here.

ederal-Mogul Powertrain, a division of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation has developed a range of piston technologies designed to support heavy-duty diesel engine manufacturers in reducing fuel consumption and meeting the emission requirements of Euro-6 and beyond.

According to a press release from Federal-Mogul, advanced piston architectures, manufacturing processes, materials, and treatments that increase durability and reduce friction have been applied to both steel and aluminium pistons. The company will present its range of piston products at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hannover from September 23 to October 2, 2014.

Norbert Schneider, director, Piston Application Engineering, Federal-Mogul Corporation explained that the higher peak cylinder pressures (PCPs) used to increase combustion efficiency are only made possible through advances in piston technology that provide durable solutions under increased thermal and mechanical loads, “In addition to enabling more efficient combustion, our pistons contribute to further reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by operating with reduced friction,” he added.

Pistons made from aluminium or steel have some unique

properties. Aluminium is lighter and conducts heat better, and the higher strength of steel offers advantages when faced with very high peak cylinder pressure. Aluminium is still the first choice for smaller sizes of 120mm or below whereas steel is the established solution for truck applications with bore sizes of 130mm or more. A gradual trend is also visible for steel piston applications in the mid-size bore sector, especially for PCPs in excess of 210-220 bar.

Arnd Baberg, Chief Engineer, Piston Product Engineering, Federal-Mogul noted that while his company is the world’s largest supplier of steel pistons for heavy-duty trucks, its extensive range of proprietary technologies for aluminium pistons means it can provide customers with a greater choice of products when PCP is lower than around 220 bar.

ALUMINIUM PISTON TECHNOLOGY The press release further stated

October 2014 I 121

TECHNOLOGY that Federal-Mogul has extended the performance of aluminium pistons by improved cooling through advanced architecture that locates the oil-cooled gallery closer to the critically hot region than any conventional piston. This has been made possible by stateof-the-art 2D ultrasonic inspection techniques that ensure consistent casting quality in every finished piston.

The combustion bowl strength of any diesel piston often limits the maximum temperatures and pressures that can be safely used because fatigue cracking of the bowl rim and bowl base can occur, originating at free silicon particles in the aluminium. Federal-Mogul’s proprietary DuraBowl process uses a controlled re-melting of the

bowl rim and/or the bowl base to refine the grain size of the silicon to just one tenth of its original size, significantly extending the fatigue life of a cast piston.

To improve engine efficiency, Federal-Mogul has developed the EcoTough Diesel coating that reduces friction between the piston skirt and bore surface by up to 13 percent, compared with conventional graphite coatings. EcoTough Diesel uses solid lubricants and a carbon fibre reinforced polymer base to provide lower friction, higher scuff resistance and improved wear resistance.

STEEL PISTON TECHNOLOGY Tested at up to 300 bar PCP,

Federal-Mogul’s Monosteel pistons use the latest evolution of the company’s friction-welded architecture, that enables superior cooling efficiency and minimum weight. Having produced over eight million Monosteel pistons since their introduction in 2003, Federal-Mogul continues to refine the technology, which provides an optimal solution for the most arduous of applications.

The high loads carried by the piston pin in modern heavyduty engines means almost all pistons require a highly precise pin bore without using pin bore bushes. Federal-Mogul has developed a unique process using High Precision ElectroErosion Machining (HPEEM) which removes an exact amount of

material, thus precisely shaping the piston pin bore, enabling improved load capacity and reliability.

Steel pistons are available with the same EcoTough Diesel coating that reduces friction on aluminium pistons. In addition, FederalMogul has developed a bowlprotecting coating which contains nanodiamonds in a chrome layer to reflect heat and reduce carbon build-up and bowl rim erosion.

“Because we are market leaders in the technology of both steel and aluminium pistons for heavy-duty diesel engines, we can provide the optimum solution for each customer without compromise, based solely on meeting the specific requirements of the application,” said Schneider.

Lanxess makes your car glow right!

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ave you ever wondered the important role played by tail lamps in a car or as a matter of fact in any vehicle?

Tail lamps save lives and that is the reason why it is compulsory to have them in working condition all the time. Broken tail lamps can lead to accidents of grave nature.

Tail lamps too have their own story, especially the colour associated with these. Here begins the story of Lanxess and its role in colours.

In addition to its established portfolio of synthetic iron oxide pigments, Lanxess, the global specialty chemicals company, also offers soluble organic dyes in a variety of shades and is the only multinational manufacturer with this offering. Identified as brand Macrolex, these dyes dissolve in a molecular form in plastics. Apart from the excellent colour strength, they are easy to use (no dispersion and causes no mechanical damage to the polymer) and are stable even through changes in temperature.

They are ideally suited for the colouring of amorphous polymers such as PS, PC, ABS, PMMA,

122 I October 2014

PET and their blends. In fact, the transparent colouring of glassclear plastics is only possible with soluble dyes such as Macrolex, says a press release from Lanxess.

These include end applications like water bottles (PC), water and beer bottles (PET), PMMA/ PC car taillights and toys (ABS) among others. In India, Lanxess is particularly well-positioned to address the colorant needs of automotive plastics like electrical parts in cars through Macrolex dyes. It should come

as no surprise that Lanxess is a leading supplier of these dyes to masterbatch manufacturers in India and leads the market especially in the applications of red shade.

Macrolex dyes are used to obtain different translucent and opaque shades in combination with inorganic pigments and are suited for applications with high temperatures, where most organic pigments begin to degrade. These dyes dissolve completely in the plastics

which melt at the respective processing temperatures of the thermoplastic. In effect, this means maximum colour yield and high reproducibility of colour formulations; irrespective of the dispersing speed of the equipment used.

They are soluble in organic solvents like aromatics, esters, chlorinated hydrocarbons. They are insoluble in water or, in dilute aqueous solutions of acetic acid or alcohol. This property is important for consumer goods, food packaging and children’s toys made of coloured plastics, because the dye cannot bleed into the respective media.

Macrolex Gran is one of the first microgranulated dyes ever. They are efficient, cost-effective and are easier to process as compared to powder dyes. Lanxess is one of the few manufacturers in the world who has been able to achieve an all-round improvement in the quality of soluble dyes. Available in granules, Macrolex Gran offers brilliant tints, lightfastness and stability, besides several other advantages.

TECHNOLOGY

World’s first 3D-printed vehicle with SABIC material

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audi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has delivered the innovative materials and processing expertise needed to create a first-of-its-kind concept vehicle using advanced 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing). The car was displayed during the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago, US. This fully functional vehicle being printed from scratch and assembled by automotive design firm Local Motors, can be driven too.

The concept vehicle event stemmed from a Local Motor’s Design Challenge which resulted in the submission of over 200 entries from more than 30 countries. The winning concept, Strati, inspired the full sized 3D-printed prototype.

With sales of US $ 50.4 billion, Sabic ranks among the world’s top petrochemical companies.

The company is among the world’s market leaders in the production of polyethylene,

polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilisers.

Local Motors collaborated with Cincinnati Incorporated, a large-scale manufacturing system builder; Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a pioneer in advanced materials research; and SABIC to develop and validate the technology and materials needed to deliver large format 3D printing technology, said a press release from Sabic.

John B. Rogers, Jr., Local Motors CEO said that when the team was choosing its partners to produce the world’s first 3D-printed car, Sabic was an obvious choice because they would quickly and reliably deliver the proper materials needed to bring the Strati to life.

The release added that Sabic’s LNP Stat-Kon carbon fibre-reinforced compound was chosen for its excellent strengthto-weight ratio and high stiffness.

It minimises warping during the

3D printing process, enabling enhanced aesthetics and performance. Sabic’s expertise in this emerging technology, including material selection and validation, equipment specification and processing, were instrumental throughout the development process.

Andrew Jamison, CEO for Cincinnati pointed out that involving Sabic at the inception was critical to the project’s success. Visitors could get a firsthand look at the future of additive manufacturing and its possibilities to transform the industry with its Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) machine running Sabic material and printing polymer components 200-500 times faster and 10 times larger than today’s additive manufacturing machines.

Tony Cerruti,

Marketing Director, Americas, for Sabic’s Innovative Plastics business commented that Sabic’s materials and processing knowledge together with this advanced additive manufacturing technology will help to address the manufacturing challenges its customers are facing. “We believe that this technology has farreaching potential for applications across the multiple industries that Sabic serves, bringing designs to market faster and enabling mass customisation,” he added.

October 2014 I 123

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW PASSENGER VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA

(Total Domestic Sales + Exports in August 2014 = 2,00,348 Units) Others 1.40% Ford India 2.57%

GM India 1.12%

OTHERS Skoda Auto India Pvt. Ltd. (0.67%) Fiat India Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. (0.56%) Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (0.11%) Renault India Pvt. Ltd. (0.06%)

Toyota Kirloskar Motor 2.89% Tata Motors Ltd. 4.23% Volkswagen India 5.52%

Maruti Suzuki 46.80%

Honda Cars 5.72%

Nissan Motor India 5.81%

Hyundai Motor India 23.94%

UTILITY VEHICLES MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA

(Total Domestic Sales + Exports in August 2014 = 66,622 Units) GM India 2.97 % Renault India 5.16 % Tata Motors Ltd. 8%

Nissan India 2.40% Others 0.90 % Maruti Suzuki 25.51 %

Honda Cars India 8.68%

Toyota Kirloskar Motor 9.89%

Ford India 13.44%

124 I October 2014

Mahindra & Mahindra 23.05% OTHERS Force Motors Ltd (0.33%) Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (0.25%) Hindustan Motors Finance Corp (0.22%) Ashok Leyland (0.07%) Isuzu Motors (0.02%) Skoda Auto India Pvt. Ltd (0.01 %)

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW TWO WHEELER MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA

(Total Domestic Sales + Exports - August 2014 = 15,78,905 Units) Royal Enfield 1.69% TVS Motor Company 13.66%

Suzuki Motorcycle India 1.38% Others 0.99%

India Yamaha Motor 4.31%

Hero MotoCorp 35.38 %

Bajaj Auto 18.01%

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India 24.58%

OTHERS Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd. (0.80%) H-D Motor Company India Pvt. Ltd. (0.03%)

Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (0.15%) Triumph Motorcycles (India) Pvt. Ltd. (0.01%)

THREE WHEELERS IN INDIA

(Total Domestic Sales + Exports - August 2014 = 91,726 Units) Atul Auto 3.71% Mahindra & Mahindra 6.19%

TVS Motor Company 10.70%

Scooters India 1.04% Force Motors 0.19%

Bajaj Auto 57.28%

Piaggio Vehicles 20.89%

October 2014 I 125

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA (Total Domestic Sales + Exports - August 2014 = 36,048 Units) Piaggio Vehicles (1.40%)

SML Isuzu Ltd (0.82%)

Isuzu Motors (0.17%)

VECVs - Eicher (2.36%) Force Motors (4.84%)

Tata Motors (45.99%)

Ashok Leyland (6.80%) Mahindra & Mahindra (37.62%)

MEDIUM & HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA (Total Domestic Sales + Exports - August 2014 = 19,527 Units)

SML Isuzu Ltd. (1.78%)

Asia Motor Works Ltd. (1.23%) VECVs - Volvo (0.30%)

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (1.80%)

VECVs - Eicher (11.15%)

Ashok Leyland (29.88%)

126 I October 2014

Tata Motors (53.86%)

RNI No DEL ENG/2010/34562