Motown India October 2019

VOL-10 • ISSUE-1 • OCTOBER 2019 • `300/-

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FIRST RIDE

2019 INDIAN FTR 1200 S

FLAT OUT WINNER

INDIA

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

FIRST DRIVES

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FORD HANDS OVER CONTROL TO MAHINDRA IN INDIA THROUGH NEW JOINT VENTURE | SIAM CONVENTION 2019 - GADKARI LEAVES BEHIND A BELLIGERENT TONE AND ASSURES AUTO INDUSTRY

Artwork created by MPPL team

Kerala beckons!

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EDITOR Punnoose Tharyan (Roy) ptharyan@motownindia.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------News Coordinator - Jisha P Video Editor - Ramesh Kumar Content Manger - Vrinda Desai Digital In-charge Naveen Kumar Web Correspondents - Avdesh Kumar, Seema Paul Photo Journalist - Afsar Baig ---------------------------------------------------------------------For Editorial contact editorial@motownindia.com, editorial.motown@gmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------FOR MARKETING & SALES CONTACT Head-Operations - Jisha P jisha@motownindia.com, +91-9958125645 advertising@motownindia.com, advertising.motown@gmail.com /+91-9811097399 ---------------------------------------------------------------------FOR ACCOUNTS CONTACT Ankit Sharma, ankit@motownindia.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------FOR CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTION CONTACT subscription@motownindia.com / +91-9958125645 ----------------------------------------------------------------------Office Executive Ravinder ----------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL DELHI OFFICE 145 B/9, First Floor, Kishangarh, Next to United Free Church, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070 ----------------------------------------------------------------------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 owned by Motown Publications Private Limited and published from 4058 / D-4, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070. Motown India magazine is printed at Geetanjali Printers, H-1536, C.R. Park, New Delhi - 110019

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

----------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL ADVISORS Alexander T. & Annie Jacob

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T

P. THARYAN (ROY) his is our 9th anniversary issue. The Indian auto industry is bleeding and this has impacted businesses connected with it. These include the ancillary business, the logistics business and even the business of printing auto magazines. Advertisement budgets have been slashed cruelly and only those

media houses with deep pockets are able to survive.

In the midst of the several upheavals, Motown India is celebrating its 9th anniversary October 2019 issue. Apart from our print exposure, Motown India is active in the digital space with a presence on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and our very own websites including www.motownindia.com.

We have put together an 84-page issue with the latest news from the auto industry. I want to personally thank the managements of Indian Motorcycle, Honda Cars India, TVS Motor Company, iCAT and the tourism office of Lakeland Cruises in Kerala for supporting us in this issue despite trying times in the industry.

Thank you everyone for supporting us in this nine-year journey. As a journalist, I learnt a lot, dabbled in the field of entrepreneurship and enjoyed all the challenges thrown at me.

I have gathered immense knowledge in the last nine years in several fields. I shall treasure them as I continue my journey in the field of automotive journalism.

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 3

CONTE NTS VOL 10 | ISSUE 1 | OCTOBER 2019

8

20

30

CAR NEWS: Bugatti Chiron breaks 300 mph barrier

BIKE NEWS: Motoroyale launches MV Agusta Dragster Series

WHEELZ & ROADZ: Maruti Suzuki S-Presso

36

40

WHEELZ & ROADZ: Datsun GO, GO+ CVT

WHEELZ & ROADZ: Renault Triber MPV

46

60

WHEELZ & ROADZ: Maruti Suzuki XL6 MPV

70 B2B NEWS: Mahindra, Ford form new Joint Venture

6 | MOTOWN INDIA | OCTOBER 2019

WHEELZ & ROADZ: Indian FTR 1200S

78 CV NEWS: Escorts Esclusive 2019

79 TECHNOLOGY: Hyundai Motor develops centre side airbag

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CAR NEWS

BUGATTI CHIRON BREAKS 300 MPH BARRIER

A near production Bugatti Chiron prototype reached 304.773 mph for the first time. This is a worl;d record. Bugatti is the first manufacturer ever to break the 300-mile-per hour barrier with a pre-production vehicle of a new Chiron1 derivative.

Achieving a speed of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h), it was test driver Andy Wallace who secured a place for himself in the record books.

“What a record! We’re overjoyed to be the first manufacturer ever to have achieved a speed of more than 300 miles per hour. It’s a milestone for eternity. I would like to thank the whole team and driver Andy Wallace for this outstanding performance,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti.

8 | MOTOWN INDIA | OCTOBER 2019

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CAR NEWS

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 9

CAR NEWS

FERRARI 812 GTS, THE V12 SPIDER RETURNS Like its historic predecessors, the Ferrari 812 GTS sets a new benchmark in terms of performance and exclusivity. Sporting Ferrari’s majestic 800 cv V12, it is not merely the most powerful production spider on the market, but also the most versatile, thanks to its retractable hard top, a unique feature in this segment which also guarantees a larger boot capacity.

Exactly 50 years on from the debut of the last spider in the Ferrari range to sport a front-mounted V12, the 812 GTS hails a triumphant return for a model type that has played a pivotal role in the marque’s history since its foundation.

The Ferrari V12 spider story features many iconic models and began in 1948 with the 166 MM, an authentic thoroughbred competition GT that won the two most prestigious endurance races in the world in 1949: the Mille Miglia and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The last in that long lineage was the 1969 365 GTS4, also known as the Daytona Spider because of Ferrari’s legendary victory in the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona when two works 330 P4s and the NART-entered 412 P took the chequered flag side-by-side to occupy the top three places.

The front-mounted V12 architecture

10 | MOTOWN INDIA | OCTOBER 2019

has not been used in a Ferrari seriesproduction spider since the 365 GTS4.

The retractable hard top (RHT), which opens in just 14 seconds at speeds of up to 45 km/h, does not impinge upon the interior dimensions, thus maintaining the donor car’s roomy cockpit. The electric rear screen, which acts as a wind-stop, makes the car truly useable with the top down while, with the top up, it can be left open to allow occupants to continue to luxuriate in the naturally-aspirated V12’s unique soundtrack.

The 812 GTS is the spider version of the 812 Superfast which unleashes a massive 800 cv at 8500 rpm and 718 Nm of torque.

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CAR NEWS

WORLD PREMIERE OF PORSCHE FIRST FULLY-ELECTRIC SPORTS CAR TAYCAN Porsche presented its first fully-electric sports car to the public with a world premiere held simultaneously on three continents.

The first models in the new series are the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo. They are at the cutting edge of Porsche E-Performance and are among the most powerful production models that the sports car manufacturer currently has in its product range. Less powerful variants of these all-wheel drive vehicles will follow this year. The first derivative to be added will be the Taycan Cross Turismo at the end of next year. By 2022, Porsche will have invested more than six billion euros in electromobility.

The flagship Turbo S version of the Taycan can generate up to 761 hp (560 kW) overboost power in combination with Launch Control, and the Taycan Turbo up to 680 hp (500 kW).

The Taycan Turbo S accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, while the Taycan

12 | MOTOWN INDIA | OCTOBER 2019

Turbo completes this sprint in 3.2 seconds. The Turbo S has a range of up to 412 kilometres, and the Turbo a range of up to 450 kilometres (according to WLTP in each case). The top speed of both all-wheel-drive models is 260 km/h.

The Taycan is the first production vehicle with a system voltage of 800 volts instead of the usual 400 volts for electric cars. This is a particular advantage for Taycan drivers on the road: in just over five minutes, the battery can be recharged using direct current (DC) from the high-power charging network for a range of up to 100 kilometres (according to WLTP). The charging time for five to 80 percent SoC (state of charge) is 22.5 minutes for charging under ideal conditions, and the maximum charging power (peak) is 270 kW. The overall capacity of the Performance Battery Plus is 93.4 kWh. Taycan drivers can comfortably charge their cars with up to eleven kW of alternating current (AC) at home.

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CAR NEWS

MAHINDRA BOLERO POWER+ SPECIAL EDITION Mahindra & Mahindra has launched a Special Edition of its flagship brand, the Bolero Power+. The special edition comes with several new features.

The new features include Special Edition Decal, Special Edition Seat Cover, Special Edition Carpet Mats, Special Edition – Scuff Plate Set, Steering wheel cover, Front Bumper add-on Fog Lamps, Spoiler with Stop lamp Apart from the personal segment, the Bolero is popular among various armed forces as well as para-military and internal security forces. The Bolero was recently upgraded with safety features such as Airbag and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). It also meets crash compliance which comprises Full Frontal Crash, Offset Frontal & Side Impact as applicable for crash norms from October 1, 2019. Bolero is the highest sold UV in India with the highest car park of almost 12 lakh owners. The Bolero range starts at Rs 7.86 lakh ex showroom Delhi.

RENAULT INDIA LAUNCHES ALL-NEW KWID AT `2.83 LAKH ONWARD. Renault India has launched an all new 2019 Kwid with enhanced features and style. The new Renault Kwid continues to come with an option of an 800cc as well as a 1.0 litre SCe or Smart Control Efficiency engines.

Both the models get a manual transmission but it is the 1 litre model that gets an automatic transmission or an AMT. The AMT variants of the new Renault KWID Range comes equipped with the essential Traffic assist which helps the vehicle to crawl forward in slow moving traffic and prevents it from rolling back on slopes. The Easy-R Gear Box is a 5-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) technology. The first-in-class floor mounted AMT dial is designed to make driving effortless and comes with three modes, Reverse – Neutral – Drive.

TATA TIGOR EV WITH EXTENDED RANGE AT `9.44 LAKH ONWARD Tata Motors has launched an extended range Tigor EV Electric Sedan, with a range of213 km, certified by ARAI. It will be available in three variants – XE+, XM+ and XT+ – for both fleet and personal segment customers. The electric car will be available at a starting price of Rs. 9.44 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi (after deducting government subsidies). This vehicle qualifies for a FAME II incentive for eligible commercial customers. The new extended version offers an enhanced driving range, low cost of ownership, connectivity, comfort of a sedan and zero emissions.

BATTERY - 21.5 kWh battery capacity - Battery cooling system is designed to ensure consistent performance even in extreme ambient temperature conditions - The car has 2 charging ports - fast charging as well as slow AC charging On the safety front, the vehicle will be equipped with dual airbags (XE+ variant with Driver Airbag only) and an ABS as standard safety features. The vehicle also comes with an in-built warranty of 3 years or 1.25 lakh kms, whichever is earlier.

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 13

CAR NEWS

NEW LEXUS RX 450HL UNVEILED AT `99 LAKH Lexus India has unveiled the all-new RX450hL luxury SUV. Now in its fourth generation, the car boasts of an additional third row seating, and an elegant exterior, combined with a highly functional interior. The new model is priced at Rs 99,00,000 (Ex-showroom New Delhi).

The RX 450hL continues to have its powerful appearance, while the character line that runs from the front of the vehicle to the rear has been improved. Thus, the exterior is now elegant and dynamic. The luxury car is powered by a BS VI compliant 3.5-liter engine. The V6 Atkinson Cycle engine features Dual VVT-i and advanced D-4S fuel injection system to deliver the right performance along with better fuel efficiencyand reduced emissions. The new RX 450hL offers improved handling that creates a unity with the vehicle through its steering response and ride comfort. It was realised by making a lightweight, high rigidity body structure from hot-stamp, high-tensile steel and aluminum, with strategically positioned reinforcements, the extensive use of spot welds and body adhesives, and advanced production technologies including laser screw welding.

LIMITED EDITION TATA TIAGO WIZZ LAUNCHED AT `5.40 LAKH Tata Motors has announced the launch of its limited edition Tiago Wizz. The Tiago Wizz will be available at an attractive price of Rs. 5.40 Lakh, ex-showroom Delhi in a 1.2 litre Revotronmulti-drive petrol engine. The Limited edition with Titanium Grey body color will consist of 10 new special features to its interior and exterior.

NEW EXTERIOR

NEW INTERIOR

Black Contrast Roof

Full fabric seats with Canyon Orange deco-stitch

Canyon Orange Grille Inserts

Granite Black inner door handle

Hyperstyle wheels with Canyon Orange accents

Titanium Grey gear shift bezel

Canyon Orange ORVM

Titanium Grey Air Vent bezel

Chrome WIZZ badging

Canyon Orange side and centre Air Vent Ring

TATA NEXON EV TO DEBUT AS FIRST EV WITH ZIPTRON TECHNOLOGY AT AROUND `15 LAKH Tata Motors has announced that it would soon be debuting the Nexon EV powered by the recently introduced Ziptron technology in the personal electric vehicle segment. The car is expected to be launched in Q4 FY19-20. Gearing up for the launch, Tata Motors has signed-up power couple Milind Soman and Ankita Konwar to experience the all-new Ziptron Technology as they drive around different terrains of India and share their experience with near-production ready Nexon EV. Nexon EV will be an aspirational SUV for customers looking for a thrilling and connected drive experience. This EV will target a range of about 300 km to address range anxiety. Powered by the state-of-the-art Ziptron technology, Nexon EV will be equipped with an efficient high voltage system, zippy performance, fast charging capability, battery and motor with warranty of 8 years, and adherence to IP67 (dust and water proof) standard. The Nexon EV is expected to be priced between Rs 15 to 17 lakh.

14 | MOTOWN INDIA | OCTOBER 2019

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CAR NEWS

MARUTI SUZUKI LAUNCHES S-PRESSO AT `3.69 LAKH Maruti Suzuki has launched its Mini-SUV S-Presso for the Indian market at an introductory price of Rs. 3.69 lakh (ex-showroom) . The Mini SUV was launched in the presence of Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India. S-Presso is built on the 5th generation Heartect platform and comes with a BS6 compliant 1.0 L K10 engine. The SUV is equipped with both Manual and AGS (Auto Gear Shift) options. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso will be sold through ARENA retail network and the prices are as follows:

MT

STD

LXI

VXI

VXI+

`3,69,000

`4,05,000

`4,24,000

`4,48,000

`4,67,500

`4,91,000

AGS

(For First Drive details go to page 30)

NEW ‘FULLY CONNECTED’ 2019 HYUNDAI ELANTRA UNVEILED Hyundai Motor India has unveiled 34 Hyundai Blue Link features of India’s first fully connected and BS6 compliant premium executive sedan – The New 2019 Elantra.

The Hyundai Blue Link in the new Elantra has 34 features out of which 10 features are exclusively India specific. The Hyundai Blue Link is Hyundai’s global technology based on the theme – ‘Your Connected Friend on the Go’, enabled by Artificial Intelligence and State-Of-TheArt Server Based Voice Recognition technology that has the ability of Interactive voice recognition with Indian English Support and Natural language Understanding. The new 2019 Elantra is equipped with the most reliable BS6 petrol engine with low vibrations, superior performance and high fuel efficiency offering cleaner emissions and efficient performance.

LAMBORGHINI DELIVERS 50TH URUS WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF LAUNCH Lamborghini has delivered its 50th Urus super SUV in India, making a new record for the fastest 50 deliveries within the first 12 months since the first Urus was delivered in India. The Lamborghini Urus sports a new front-mounted, 4.0 litre V8 twin-turbo engine delivering 650 hp at 6,000 rpm, maximum 6,800 rpm, and 850 Nm of maximum torque at 2250 rpm. With 162.7hp/l the Urus claims one of the highest specific power outputs in its class and the best weight-to-power ratio at 3.38 kg/hp. The Urus accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 12.8 seconds and with a top speed of 305 km/h it is the fastest SUV available. Braking is no less impressive: the Urus decelerates from 100 km/h to 0 in 33.7 m. The Urus has up to six driving modes. The Tamburo driving mode selector on the center console controls all dynamic vehicle systems and allows the selection of driving dynamics according to surface conditions or drivers’ preference, via Strada, Sport and Corsa as well the additional Neve (snow) mode. As an option, two further off-road settings are offered.

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 15

CAR NEWS

MAHINDRA INTRODUCES AUTOSHIFT (AMT) ON W6 VARIANT OF XUV300 AT ` 9.99 LAKH Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has introduced the Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) with autoSHIFT technology on W6 Diesel Variant of the XUV300. Priced at Rs. 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai), W6 autoSHIFT will be available across India at all Mahindra dealerships with immediate effect.

Engineered by Italian automotive experts Marelli, the new XUV300 W6 autoSHIFT technology offers segment-leading torque of 300 Nm. Its 1.5L turbo diesel engine with an electronic variable geometry turbocharger delivers 116.6 PS of power, optimising the automatic gearshifts for peppy acceleration and overtaking manoeuvers. It is also equipped with additional features, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Hill Start Assist, which further add to the superior safety and control of the XUV300.

SKODA AUTO INDIA INTRODUCES KODIAQ, SUPERB (DSG) CORPORATE EDITIONS Skoda auto India has introduced the Skoda Kodiaq Corporate Edition and the Superb (DSG) Corporate Edition at an introductory ex-showroom price of Rs 32.99 lakh and Rs 25.99 lakh respectively.

Equipped with the 2.0 TDI (4x4, AT) diesel engine, the Kodiaq Corporate Edition generates 150 PS of power and 340 Nm of torque. The Superb (DSG) Corporate Edition is offered with the 1.8 TSI (AT) and 2.0 TDI (AT) engine options,generating180 PS and 177 PS of power, and 250 Nm and 350 Nm of torque, respectively The Kodiaq Corporate Edition offers 9 airbags and the Superb (DSG) Corporate Edition features 8 airbags. The Kodiaq Corporate Edition will be available in four colours: Quartz Grey, Moon White, Lava Blue, and Magic Black. The Superb(DSG) Corporate Edition will be offered in two paint schemes: Candy White and Magnetic Brown.

The Skoda KKodiaq Corporate Edition

16 | MOTOWN INDIA | OCTOBER 2019

features a bold interplay of elegant lines, sporty contours, and robustness. The vehicle gets a chiselled hood, massive and elegant front butterfly grille with chrome surround and distinctive adaptive headlamps with LED DRLs. It gets black roof rails. The wheel arches are slightly angular – a key element of the Skoda’s SUV design language. The rear lights also feature the C-shaped design. This SUV from Skoda comes equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels with disc brakes, featuring inner cooling in

the front. The Kodiaq Corporate Edition has electrically-adjustable panoramic sunroof.

The front view of the Skoda Superb (DSG) Corporate Edition is characterised by a wide radiator grille, an elongated bonnet, wide headlights, and razor-sharp front fog lights.

It has large glass areas and headlamps sweeping around the sides. The rear of the car depicts a skilful play of convex and concave forms. It has dark brushed décor with the stone beige leather upholstery.

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CAR NEWS

TOYOTA FORTUNER TRD ‘CELEBRATORY EDITION’ LAUNCHED AT `33.85 LAKH Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has launched the new Toyota Fortuner TRD ‘Celebratory Edition’ on the occasion of completing 10 years of the SUV’s journey in India for a price of Rs. 33,85,000 (Ex showroom Delhi). The Celebratory Edition is available in diesel variant automatic transmission in pearl white with attitude black dual tone exterior. New Style Features include Stylish Front Bumper and rear bumper spoiler, TRD radiator grille garnish, dual tone roof, R18 charcoal black alloy wheels, sporty black & maroon leather seats interiors, red stitch accents on upholstery, Fortuner ‘10 years‘ Leadership Emblem and a red TRD emblem. The Fortuner is powered by a 2.8L, 2755cc 4-cylinder diesel engine generating maximum torque of 450 Nm @ 1600 – 2400 rpm with maximum output of 175hp @ 3400 rpm. It is available with a 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential & paddle shift. It has an automatic idling stop/start function. Safety and security features include VSC [Vehicle Stability Control] with BA [Brake Assist], 7 SRS airbags, Impact absorbing structure with pedestrian protection support, Hill Start Assist Control (HAC), ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Signal, among others.

AUDI Q7 BLACK EDITION LAUNCHED AT `82.15 LAKH ONWARD Audi India launched the Black Edition of its flagship SUV the Audi Q7. The limited-edition Q7 comes packed with a host of added features and accessories. The Audi Q7 Black Edition is priced from Rs 82,15,000 and only 100 units are available for booking across India.

The Audi Q7 Black edition comes with radiator grille frame, horizontal radiator grille struts and lateral air intake struts in titanium black gloss. The door trim strips feature in titan black glossy with quattro embossing.

The frame moldings on the side windows and roofline boast high-gloss black and the rear diffuser feature is titanium black matt. Adding to the overall look, the roof rails and the alloy wheels are also in black.

Further to the launch of the Audi Q7 Black Edition, Audi India is also starting its festive season celebrations under the campaign #TogetherwithAudi. For customers who wish to take advantage of Government of India’s added 30% depreciation schemes, Audi India has rolled out special offers for a limited time period till September 30, 2019.

Audi India also recently launched the Audi Shop www.audiindia.in/audishop where fans and customers can buy Audi merchandise as gifting options.

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 17

CAR NEWS

TATA MOTORS LAUNCHES NEW LIMITED EDITION NEXON KRAZ AT `7.57 LAKH ONWARD Tata Motors announced the launch of an all-new limited edition Nexon Kraz to celebrate the 1 lakh sales milestone of the Nexon brand. This is the second limited edition of Nexon, which comes after the success of the earlier Kraz edition, launched last year.

In this new avatar, the Nexon Kraz gets tangerine color highlights on both exteriors and interiors. The new limited edition will be offered in two versions – the Kraz (Manual) and Kraz+ (AMT), available at a Rs. 7.57 lakh and Rs.8.17 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi, respectively.

The Nexon Kraz comes powered with 110PS turbocharged engines – 1.5L Revotorq (diesel engine) and 1.2L Revotron (petrol engine) mated with a 6-speed Manual/AMT transmission. Additionally, the limited edition Nexon comes equipped with a 4-speaker infotainment by Harman, Bluetooth and steering mounted controls, reverse parking sensors, a multi-utility glovebox and a central console for organized storage.

EXTERIOR

INTERIOR

All-new TROMSO Black body with Sonic-silver roof color.

Tangerine accents on seat fabric

Tangerine-colored Outside Mirrors

Contrast tangerine colored seat-stitching

Tangerine Grill inserts

Piano black dashboard with tangerine colored air –vent surrounds

Tangerine Wheel accents

Piano black door and console finishers

KRAZ badging on Tailgate

Piano black steering accents

BYD INDIA FORAYS INTO ELECTRIC VAN SEGMENT WITH LAUNCH OF ELECTRIC MPV BYD (Build Your Dreams) India, a subsidiary of BYD Group, China, the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) maker, has announced its foray into India’s pure electric van segment with the introduction of two new pure EVs – M3 pure electric passenger MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) and T3 pure electric commercial logistics minivan.

The M3 MPV and M3 minivan models adopt BYD’s proprietary battery technology.

The vehicle offers the best configuration available in the market, which features keyless entry, push-button start, a music system with Bluetooth connectivity, reverse parking camera and sensors, and well-designed spaces for cargo storage or passengers. The vehicles are equipped automatic transmission, which makes them among the most easily operable vehicles.

Both models also come with advanced safety features like Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electric Parking System (EPB), Brake Override System (BOS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and more. The regenerative braking system helps to improve range and save energy, while the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus communication system provides smart management and maintenance.

18 | MOTOWN INDIA | OCTOBER 2019

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CAR NEWS

TOYOTA KIRLOSKAR MOTOR LAUNCHES IMPROVED YARIS WITH NEW FEATURES Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) announced the launch of the enhanced version of the Yaris‘The Happenin’ New Yaris’. The new Yaris has been redesigned for extra comfort. The Yaris now comes with new dual tone (first in segment) option. The bookings for the all-new Yaris are open. The new features of the all new Yaris include Dual tone exterior, Glossy Black finish (Grille + OVRM), Premium leatherette seat, Centre Console Box, Leather wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob and Diamond cut alloy wheels The Yaris is powered by a 4 cylinder petrol engine with max power of 107 PS @ 6000 rpm and max torque of 140 Nm @ 4200 rpm. Transmission options are 6-speed Manual Transmission & 7 speed CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Fuel efficiency is at 17.1kmpl for the MT variant and 17.8 kmpl for the CVT model.

The Yaris now available in grade- J Optional, starts from Rs. 8,65,000 for the Manual Transmission (MT) and Rs. 9,35,000 in the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), pan India price. The Yaris grade- V Optional, which offers a New Dual-Tone & Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels, is available at Rs. 11,97,000 for the Manual Transmission (MT) and Rs. 13,17,000 for the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

2019 VOLKSWAGEN POLO & VENTO LAUNCHED AT `5.82 LAKH & ` 8.76 LAKH RESPECTIVELY Volkswagen has launched the new Polo and Vento at an introductory price of Rs. 5.82 lakh and Rs. 8.76 lakh respectively for the Indian market. The cars were launched in the presence of Steffen Knapp, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars.

The new Polo and Vento now features GTI inspired honeycomb front grille and bumper, new sporty side skirts and new smoked tail lamps. The cars will now be available in a brand new color ‘Sunset Red’ and a new GT Line edition featuring Black roof, GT Line side foil & fender badge, Black ORVM cap and rear spoiler. The Volkswagen Connect feature is now standard in the Highline Plus and GT variants of the new Polo and Vento.

The cars come with safety features like speed alarm, rear parking sensors, seat belt warning and dual airbags.

INTRODUCTORY PRICES OF THE 2019 VOLKSWAGEN POLO & VENTO MODEL

PETROL VARIANT PRICE (`)

DIESEL VARIANT PRICE (`)

Polo

5.82 ~ 7.76 Lakh

7.34 ~ 9.31 Lakh

Polo GT TSI / GT Line

9.76 Lakh

9.88 Lakh

Vento

8.76 ~ 13.17 Lakh

9.58 ~ 14.49 Lakh

Vento GT Line

13.17 Lakh

14.49 Lakh

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 19

BIKE NEWS

THUNDER STROKE 116 ENGINE NOW STANDARD IN SELECT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE MODELS Indian Motorcycle of the US will have the new Thunder Stroke 116 (1901 cc) engine now available in select models, a completely redesigned Ride Command system, and the introduction of the aggressively styled Roadmaster Dark Horse and redesigned Springfield Dark Horse. The Indian Motorcycle 2020 heavyweight lineup is bigger, better and badder than ever, said a company release.

“The majority of these new features and upgrades are a result of our consistent communication with riders, listening to their feedback and incorporating it wherever possible in our ongoing product development efforts,” said Reid Wilson – Vice President for Indian Motorcycle.

“Today’s rider wants more power and expects cutting-edge technology, all packaged in a modern look that’s tough and aggressive. That’s exactly what we’re delivering in 2020,” he added.

THUNDER STROKE 116 For the first time in the company’s history, Indian Motorcycle will offer the Thunder Stroke engine in a 1901 cc (116 cubic-inch) variation. Straight from the factory, the new 1901 cc aircooled V-Twin engine features a new high-flow cylinder head – delivering class-leading performance with 168Nm of torque. The Thunder Stroke 116 will now be standard in the majority of Indian Motorcycle’s lineup, including Springfield Dark Horse, Chieftain, Chieftain Dark Horse, Chieftain Limited, Chieftain Elite, Roadmaster and Roadmaster Dark Horse.

RIDE COMMAND For 2020, Indian Motorcycle

20 | MOTOWN INDIA | OCTOBER 2019

introduces Ride Command with Connected Services – a completely redesigned version of its industry-leading infotainment system. Still measuring seven inches, with glove-touch technology, Ride Command features a new quad-core processor to provide the fastest infotainment experience available. New features include traffic and weather overlays, so riders can plan their ride to avoid traffic and poor weather conditions.

Additionally, Ride Command features Google-like, predictive destination search

capabilities and improved customisable ride screens. Indian Motorcycle’s Ride Command is the industry’s largest, fastest and mostcustomisable infotainment system on two wheels. The navigation feature is available only in select countries.

ROADMASTER DARK HORSE With blacked-out finishes and just enough chrome to stand out from the 2020 lineup, the Roadmaster Dark Horse features a streamlined fairing, slammed saddlebags, 19-inch front wheel with an open fender, an extended reach Rogue gunfighter seat, blacked-out engine and matte paint colour schemes.

Powering this mean touring machine is the Thunder Stroke 116, while premium touring amenities abound, including a touring trunk, lower fairings, heated grips and a midadjustable windscreen.

SPRINGFIELD DARK HORSE Following extremely positive rider feedback from the 2019

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BIKE NEWS

Limited Edition Indian Springfield Dark Horse that was launched at Daytona Bike Week, Indian Motorcycle is now offering a similar design package for the 2020 Springfield Dark Horse. While the Thunder Stroke 116 delivers unrivalled power, the bike gains an enormous level of attitude with slammed saddlebags, Rogue seat, 12-inch mini apes and premium blacked-out finishes.

CHIEFTAIN ELITE As it has with previous iterations, the Chieftain Elite is an ultra-premium bagger – combining style, technology and performance. For the first time in the Chieftain Elite’s history, the ultra-premium bagger will feature Indian Motorcycle’s modern and aggressive body styling, including the streamlined fairing and slammed saddlebags. The 2020 Chieftain Elite packs the Thunder Stroke 116 and Indian Motorcycle’s booming PowerBand Audio Plus system with integrated fairing and saddlebag speakers. PowerBand Audio produces crystal-clear sound that is 50% louder than Indian Motorcycle’s standard audio system. The 2020 Chieftain Elite’s premium styling includes a two-tone Thunder Black Vivid Crystal over Wildfire Candy paint with matching motor highlights and badging, Precision Machined Elite wheels, Pinnacle Mirrors, Select Rider Floorboards, and a Flare Windshield.

Furthermore, the complete 2020 heavyweight lineup features additional updates. Firstly, the Chief Dark Horse and Chief Vintage will now share the same chassis as the Springfield and Springfield Dark Horse. The result is improved handling and an adjustable rear suspension for both Chief models. Secondly, the Springfield and Chief Dark Horse will each come standard with a 17-inch front wheel for improved stability.

Lastly, the 2020 Roadmaster receives a lighter weight and redesigned trunk rack for added style.

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 21

BIKE NEWS

MOTOROYALE LAUNCHES MV AGUSTA DRAGSTER SERIES AT `18.73 LAKH ONWARD Motoroyale by Kinetic, the exclusive distributors of MV Agusta in India, has launched the MV Agusta Dragster Series.

The series includes three variants, 800 RR, 800 RR America and 800 RR Pirelli. The Dragster 800 RR is available in an ice pearl white & dark matt grey and a nardo grey &dark met grey color scheme at an ex-showroom price of Rs 18.73 lakh. The 800 RR America too is priced at this level.

MV Augsta Dragster 800 RR Pirelli is a street fighterdesigned superbike which comes in two color schemes; Matt black & Pirelli yellow and Ice pearl & American blue.

This model is priced at an exshowroom price of Rs 21.50 lakh.

fender’s side supports are made of aluminum, like the tank damper.

The headlight has a new integrated light guide and the tail light is singleunit. The rev limiter is set at 13,200rpm with a fluid delivery at lower revs and an extraordinary acceleration.

DRAGSTER 800 RR AMERICA: The name America has a special place in the history of MV scheme, a mica blue base with iridescent reflections and horizontal graphic cuts. These are produced only in 200 units across the globe, making it a true special edition. It also comes with a lightweight, compact inline three-cylinder engine. The balance shaft, primary gears, valves and cam phasing have been revised to elevate performance and reliability.

The DRAGSTER 800 RR is a muscular, mean and has a street fighter look. Its powerful three-cylinder engine develops 140Hp at 13,100 rpm and a maximum torque of 87 Nm at 10,100rpm. The front

Agusta. After the success of the first 3 cylinder Brutale America, the CRC (Claudio Castiglioni Research Centre) came up with a different interpretation of the Dragster 800 RR. The Dragster 800 RR ‘America’ features the same eyecatching colour

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DRAGSTER 800 RR PIRELLI: Its gritty design with a black and yellow base and the distinctive Pirelli logo is exclusive to this model. The tank and fairing are made of rubber specially formulated by Pirelli Research and Development technicians, to ensure superior resistance to scratches and rubbings. It continues to use the 798 cc liquid cooled 3-cylinder engine which pumps out about 140 hp and 87 Nm of extreme torque.

Here, the engine is redesigned to a six-speed gearbox with a slip assist clutch, for a quicker and easy shift.

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BIKE NEWS

ALL-NEW BMW R 1250 R, BMW R 1250 RT LAUNCHED IN INDIA BMW Motorrad has launched the all-new BMW R 1250 R, BMW R 1250 RT in India.

While the BMW R 1250 R offers a great riding pleasure, the BMW R 1250 RT offers supreme luxury touring.

The all-new BMW R 1250 R and the all-new BMW R 1250 RT will be available as completely built-up units (CBU). The ex-showroom prices are as follows – BMW R 1250 R : Rs 15,95,000 and BMW R 1250 RT Pro : Rs 22,50,000.

The BMW R 1250 R is available in Black Storm metallic colour. A stylish paintwork is also available in Style Exclusive, Pollux metallic matt. The R 1250 RT is available in Option 719 Blueplanet metallic / Option 719 Sparkling Storm metallic colours with strong metallic effect as well as a hand-lining.

The all-new BMW R 1250 R is a naked bike with altered body elements. Many details in black complement the harmonious overall look of the roadster. Front-wheel cover, front spoiler, tank side trim and rear side panels receive the subtle body finish. A touch of high-end flair is provided by new model inscriptions as well as the black seat with

embossment on the passenger seat. All trim panel components are painted in Pollux metallic matt.

For the all-new BMW R 1250 RT a particularly intense metallic effect is created by the two Spezial Option 719 finishes – Blue Planet metallic and Sparkling Storm metallic. Chrome elements such as the handlebar weights and windshield trim element underscore the luxurious character of the new R 1250 RT. It has elaborate handdrawn lines. Option 719 seat in brown is available on BMW R 1250 RT.

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Both motorcycles are fitted with front spoiler. They come with golden brake calipers, radiator cover and stainless steel tank cover. Both models feature the powerful 2-cylinder in-line Boxer engine with a displacement of 1254cc, producing a powerful output of 136 hp at 7,750 rpm, generating a maximum torque of 143 Nm at 6,250 rpm.

The presence of a new power unit is demonstrated by the means of newly designed cylinder head covers bearing the inscription ‘ShiftCam’ as well as the pipe ducting of the new exhaust manifold system. The variable camshaft control BMW ShiftCam is an entirely new technology which provides supreme rideability along with an additional increase in power across the entire engine speed range, reduced emission and fuel consumption levels, optimised running smoothness and refinement. Riders of the BMW R 1250 R and the BMW R 1250 RT have two riding modes available as standard in order to be able to adapt the motorcycle to individual rider preferences. The standard Automatic Stability Control (ASC) ensures a high level of riding safety due to best possible traction.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS Pro) offers even greater safety when braking, even in banking position. The set-off assistant Hill Start Control is likewise a standard feature in both models, enabling convenient set-off on slopes.

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BIKE NEWS

DUCATI MULTISTRADA HITS 100,000 MARK, THAT DESERVES MULTI STARS! Sixteen years after the first Multistrada motorcycle rolled off the assembly line, the family has now reached the 100,000bike milestone. Ducati Multistrada number 100,000, a Pikes Peak version of the 1260 with a customised laser marking on the top yoke, was handed over to Dave Hayward - a German Ducatista who had ordered his Multistrada from the Düsseldorf dealership by none other than Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali in person.

With no less than 7 versions, today’s Multistrada family has never been more complete: two 950cc (115 hp) bikes and five 1260cc (160 hp) ones.

Presented in 2019, the new Multistrada 950 - also available as an S version - is designed to put Multistrada performance within everyone’s reach while maximising versatility, thanks also to the 19’’ front wheel.

The most recent interpretation of the original dual-purpose sports concept, the Multistrada 1260 combines the comfort and load capacity of a dual-purpose bike with tyre sizes, wheels and brakes that are, instead, typical of sports motorcycles.

Equipped with Öhlins suspension, forged wheels and a carbon fibre end pipe, the Pikes Peak model offers maximum sports

performance.

For those, instead, who love adventuring, Ducati has come up with the Multistrada 1260 Enduro, designed to take on the toughest terrain and longest journeys thanks to the 30-litre tank, long-travel suspension, 19’’ front rim and, of course, the hard-wearing spoked wheels.

Development is ongoing, and in 2021 the Multistrada family will expand to see the twin cylinder 1260 and 950 motorcycles joined by a version with a new, specific V4 engine.

MULTISTRADA MILESTONES • • • • • • • • •

2003 Multistrada 1000 DS 2005 Multistrada 620 2007 Multistrada 1100 2010 Multistrada 1200 2015 Multistrada 1200 DVT 2016 Multistrada 1200 Enduro 2016 Multistrada 950 2018 Multistrada 1260 2019 Multistrada 1260 Enduro

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BIKE NEWS

90TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION JAWA MOTORCYCLE LAUNCHED Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd has introduced Jawa ‘90th Anniversary Edition’ motorcycle in India. This limited edition motorcycle will carry the same price tag as that of a regular Jawa dual channel ABS motorcycle. The Jawa and Jawa forty two are priced at Rs 1,64,000/- and Rs 1,55,000/- respectively (ex-showroom, Delhi) and the Dual Channel ABS variants are available at Rs 1,72,942/- & INR 1,63,942/- respectively. The motorcycles are manufactured at the company’s Pithampur plant in Madhya Pradesh. It was in 1929 that František Janeček had laid the foundation of Jawa Motorcycles in the erstwhile Czechoslovakia and conceived the Jawa 500 OHV, the brand’s first motorcycle. The launch of the anniversary edition is to mark the 90th anniversary of this occasion. Limited to 90 units, the motorcycle will have a special 90th anniversary colour scheme inspired by the Jawa 500OHV. The limited edition will be based on the Jawa dual channel ABS variant.

Every motorcycle will also feature a 90th Anniversary commemorative emblem on the fuel tank along with its individual serial number.

BENELLI LAUNCHES LEONCINO 250 AT `2.5 LAKH Premium bike maker Benelli and Adishwar Auto Ride India – Mahavir Group, have launched the neo-retro motorcycle Benelli Leoncino 250 in India. The all-new Benelli Leoncino 250 is launched at Rs. 2.5 lakh. The Leoncino 250 is a compact motorcycle that comes in contemporary style with the edgy character and innovative lines typical of the Leoncino range. Benelli India is offering the Leoncino 250 with ‘3-Year Unlimited Kilometre Warranty as Standard’. Customers can book the Benelli Leoncino 250 for Rs. 6,000 (Fully refundable), through online and offline means. The Leoncino 250 is available in 4 colours – White, Grey, Red and Brown. The Benelli Leoncino 250 comes with a singlecylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 249cc engine. The bike features double overhead camshaft with 4-valves per cylinder, electronic fuel injection with a 37mm throttle body and a 6-speed gearbox. Maximum power and torque are respectively 25.44hp @ 9250rpm and 21Nm @ 8000rpm.

RETRO-CLASSIC BENELLI IMPERIALE 400 BOOKINGS OPEN IN INDIA AT `4000 Benelli, a leading globally player in the superbike segment, has announced the opening of pre-bookings for the Imperiale 400. The Retro-Classic motorcycle is a reinterpretation of the Benelli-MotoBi range produced in the 1950s.

The deliveries of the Imperiale 400 are scheduled to start from Diwali festival onwards, across all the exclusive Benelli showrooms in India. The customers can book the Imperiale 400 with a minimum booking amount of Rs. 4000 and the booking can be done at the nearest authorised Benelli showroom and online. The Imperiale 400 is backed up by 3 years unlimited kilometre warranty as standard and is offered in three colour options – Red, Black and Chrome.

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 25

BIKE NEWS

KTM LAUNCHES 790 DUKE IN INDIA AT `8,63,945 Premium motorcycle brand KTM has launched the 790 Duke model.

Since its entry into India in 2012, KTM has grown it’s presence across 365 cities and 460 stores.

KTM 790 DUKE HIGHLIGHTS • Extremely powerful parallel twin, 4-stroke, 799 cc DOHC engine with electronic fuel injection with dual balancing shafts and ride-bywire throttle for a smoother and more refined response.

• Ultralight tubular Chromium Molybdenum steel frame with a cast aluminum subframe for weight savings • Powerful braking systems featuring Cornering ABS by Bosch with lean angle sensitive Motorcycle Stability Control (MSC) • Quickshifter+ with Motor Slip Regulation (MSR) for smooth clutchless upand down-shifting.

• 4 Ride Modes (Sport, Street, Rain and Track) with varying Throttle Response &Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC) • Track mode offers utmost customization for the refined Riders with9 step adjustable traction control, Adjustable Throttle Response, Switchable ABS with launch control.

Other exciting features: • 43 mm open-cartridge upside downfront forks by WP for excellent response and stability.

• High quality gas assisted WP rear shock with progressive spring and preload adjustment.

• WP steering damper fitted as standard and setup to feel as natural as possible, giving the rider a secure feeling while keeping the agile riding character of the bike.

• Multifunctional dashboard with full-color TFT display is bright and clear.

• Tapered aluminum handlebar is adjustable in 4 positions on the triple clamp and can be rotated in three further positions.

• Die-cast, open-lattice swingarm is precisely manufactured and has been optimized for stiffness and stability while still offering excellent flex characteristics.

• LED headlight and LED daytime running lights.

• Sharp aggressive styling runs from the front to the rear for a look that is pure DUKE.

TVS NTORQ 125 RACE EDITION LAUNCHED AT `62,995 TVS Motor Company has launched the TVS NTorq 125 Race Edition at Rs. 62,995 ex-showroom, Delhi. The Race Edition now comes with Signature LED DRLs and LED headlamp. Additionally, it is equipped with a hazard lamp which can be enabled by a redcoloured hazard switch.

The vibrant chequered flag graphics along with the ‘Race Edition’ emblem on the scooter accentuates the TVS Racing pedigree. The scooter comes in a three tone combination of matte black, metallic black and metallic red colour.

TVS NTorq 125, India’s first Bluetooth connected scooter, is paired to an exclusive application – TVS Connect and the race edition users can access special race inspired user interface. Launched in February 2018, TVS NTorq 125 comes with CVTi-REVV 124.79cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 3-valve, air-cooled SOHC engine, that churns out 9.4ps@7500 rpm and 10.5Nm@5500 rpm.

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BIKE NEWS

TVS MOTOR COMPANY LAUNCHES RADEON SPECIAL EDITION TVS Motor Company announced the launch of ‘Commuter of the Year’ celebratory special edition of TVS Radeon – the most awarded commuter motorcycle of the year. The special edition comes in two colours Chrome-Black and Chrome-Brown. TVS Radeon ‘Commuter of the Year’ celebratory special edition comes in both Disc and Drum variants and is priced at: Drum: Rs. 52,720 / Disc: Rs. 54,820 (ex-showroom Delhi).

The edition, with its chrome accent, comes with range of exciting features such front disc brake, new robust thigh pad design, new petrol tank cushion with emblematic ‘R’, new metallic levels, chrome rear view mirrors and chrome carburetor cover. The refreshed premium graphics further accentuate its stylish look.

Launched in August 2018, TVS Radeon has upped the choice for everyday commuters and boasts of a customer base of over 2 lakh customers. TVS Radeon is powered by a 109.7cc Dura-Life engine, which is designed to offer an optimum combination of power and fuel economy. The motorcycle churns out 8.4 PS of power @ 7000 rpm with a torque of 8.7 Nm @5000 rpm. TVS Radeon is equipped with a 10-litre tank and clocks a fuel economy of 69.3 kmpl.

HONDA ACTIVA 125 BS VI LAUNCHED AT `67,490 ONWARD Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) launched its first BS VI two wheeler, the all new Premium Activa 125 BSVI. The price of this model starts at Rs 67,490, ex showroom Delhi.

The scooter was launched in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, & MSME, Government of India, Minoru Kato, President, CEO and Managing Director and Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India.

The scooter gets a new smarter engine, 125cc HET BSVI PGM-FI engine powered by eSP or enhanced smart Power. The mileage of the new BSVI Activa 125 is up by 13%due to a completely new engine. It also gets a new silent start system. The patented ACG starter motor ensures quick, silent, jolt free start every time.

A new technology incorporated in the scooter is the Idle stop system and side stand indicator with engine inhibitor. There is also a digital analogue meter which has interactive display with real time informatics

on instant and average fuel efficiency.

As part of the new styling, the scooter has a redesigned signature LED position lamp enhancing premium style.

The new signature accents include a premium front chrome chest and embossed Activa logo on tail light.

The Activa 125 BS VI is available in three variants: Standard, Alloy and Deluxe.

The new Activa 125 BS VI has a full metal body with a chiseled tail lamp and grab rail. It has a Combi-Brake System (CBS) with equaliser and 3-step adjustable rear suspension. As another industry first, Honda will also be offering a special 6-year warranty package (3 years standard + 3 years optional extended warranty) on Activa

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125 BSVI.

PRICE, VARIANTS & COLOURS Activa 125 BSVI will be available in three variants (Standard, Alloy and Deluxe) and 4 colours (Rebel Red Metallic, Midnight Blue Metallic, Heavy Grey Metallic& Pearl Precious White). The all new Activa 125 BSVI prices start from Rs. 67,490 (Standard). The other two variants Alloy & Deluxe are priced at Rs. 70,990 and Rs.74,490 respectively, (prices ex-showroom, Delhi).

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AUTO STUFF

PIONEER India introduces high-end car infotainment system at `24,490 Japanese manufacturer of car infotainment Pioneer India has launched DMHZ5290BT, a high-end car infotainment system, packed with dozens of features. With a 17.6 cm wide display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, Smartphone videos via WebLink, Full HD video playback via USB, Hard Drive playability, compatibility with Spotify, this model has a lot of other dynamic features for car lovers. Also, DMH-Z5290BT has 13-Band EQ for advanced audio settings, 3-way network mode, and advanced sound retriever. The product is priced at Rs 24,490.The DMH-Z5290BT has dual camera inputs, quick smartphone charging, and video out option for rear-seat display.

BOSCH vans unveil power of cordless Bosch Power Tools India, a front runner in the power tools market segment that caters to construction, woodworking and metalworking industry, is set to amplify its consumer experience by enabling users to get hands on experience of the cordless range through mobile van demonstration vehicles.

An extension of the recently launched user campaign, Cordless Matlab Bosch, Bosch power tools is campaigning across multi-cities for six months till March 2020.

Adding to the 40 cities covered by the previous ‘Cordless Matlab Bosch’ demo zones through channel

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partner outlets, Bosch power tools plan to expand its outreach to 50 more cities in India by the end of the month with the product experiential mobile vans campaign.

The mobile campaign kick starts this September in locations, Kolkata, Delhi, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Ludhiana and Lucknow. These experiential mobile vans will not only engage and educate consumers on the availability and benefits of quality cordless power tools in the market but also improve accessibility and availability of the range by reaching across cities through the experiential vehicles.

AUTOFURNISH LAUNCHES 7D LUXURY CAR FOOT MATS AT `8900 AutoFurnish has launched 7D luxury car foot mats for the festive season. The 7D Luxury Car Foot Mats by AutoFurnish are made of PU leather which makes it durable, easy to clean, environmentfriendly, non-toxic and odor-free. The mats are priced at Rs 8900 for a full set. Some key advantages of these foot mats are that they are waterproof, dust-proof, shock & sound absorbent, heat insulators and most importantly they follow the vision of ‘Make in India’. 7D Luxury Car Foot Mats are available in four colours namely beige, black, tan & coffee for 100+ cars ranging from variants like hatchback, premium, sedan, SUV/ MUV on the AutoFurnish website.

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FEATURES

HERO CYCLES launches Lectro EHX20 e-cycle powered by Yamaha Hero Cycles has collaborated with Japan’s Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd to launch Lectro EHX20 - the first centre motor e-cycle for the Indian market. The e-cycle powered by Yamaha is an addition to Hero Cycles’ popular e-cycle range Lectro.

Lectro EHX20 is centre motor powered Pedal Assist Cycle which runs on a combination of manual pedaling with battery assist. The centre motor is positioned directly between the pedals that improve the performance of the cycle making it suitable for extreme adventure sport. It can run up to 60-70 kms on a charge time of 3.5 hours.

Lectro EHX20 is the first product of the three-way strategic alliance between Hero Cycles Ltd, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The partnership is aimed at creating technologically superior high performance products through collaboration between Hero Cycles’ and Yamaha Motor’s electric drive

units, with go-to-market sales, distribution & marketing support by Mitsui & Co. Ltd. The motor is imported from Yamaha’s electric drive unit and the cycle is manufactured at Hero Cycles’ Ghaziabad unit.

POLARIS INDIA inaugurates 91st Polaris Experience Zone Polaris India Pvt. Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Polaris Industries Inc., has inaugurated its 91st exciting off-road adventure track Polaris Experience Zone (PEZ) in Gurugram. With this announcement, the Yansh Adventure Motorsports has become the 91st PEZ in India.

The PEZ was inaugurated by Pankaj Dubey, Managing Director and Country Head, Polaris India Pvt. Ltd.

slopes & inclines, and slush providing riders, a challenging and exciting trail for fun. The presence of skilled trainers at the zone make sure that the rider gets a chance to experience the Off-Road Vehicles, ATVs and feel the adrenaline rush within a safe environment.

These highly skilled trainers not only ensure complete safety of the riders but also help them in honing their ATV riding skills.

Spread over an area of 1 acre in Gwal Pahari, Opposite Valley view estate, Gurugram Faridabad road, Gurugram, Haryana, Yansh Adventure Motorsports is an adventure zone with several thrilling activities. It not only offers the thrill and exhilaration of Polaris OffRoad & ATV vehicles but the enthusiasts can experience rides on the specially designed track and trails. The PEZ is equipped with the fleet of Polaris Sportsman 90, Outlaw 90, Sportsman 400, Trailboss 330, Pheonix 200, RZR 170.

The Yansh Adventure Motorsports is equipped with artificially created undulated tracks with exciting hurdles including tapered

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 29

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

FIRST DRIVE

MARUTI SUZUKI S-PRESSO

VERY EXPRESSIVE Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

M

aruti Suzuki which launched the S-Presso recently in the country is offering the car with a 998cc petrol K10B engine.

There is an option of either a 5 speed manual transmission or an AMT or Automated Manual Transmission. Maruti calls its

AMT as Auto Gear Shift. We got the top end VXi+ mated to an AGS. Maruti is offering a standard version, an LXi, a VXi with both manual transmission and AGS and a VXi+ also with MT and AGS. The VXi and VXi+ variants get bigger tyres at 165/70

R14, while those below get only 145/80 R13 tyres. The dimensions for all the variants are similar except for the height of the VXi and the VXi+ which is 1564mm, the other two being 1549mm. The length of the model is 3565mm, the width is 1520mm and the wheelbase is 2380mm.

EXTERIORS The vehicle definitely has a high stance and looks a lot tough and aggressive from the front.

The bold fascia and the twin chamber headlights, make up for the front, with a muscular looking bonnet. As an extra accessory, one can get DRLs too with a switch to operate it inside.

SP EC I F ICATIO NS ENGINE 998cc K10B petrol engine TRANSMISSION 5-Speed AGS POWER 67hp@5500rpm TORQUE 90Nm@3500rpm TYRES 165/70 R14 tyres PRICE `4.91 lakh (Ex-Showroom Delhi)

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A driving experience

Then there are the body coloured bumpers. The side profile looks good with its side body cladding and the decent ground clearance. Being the top end variant it gets body coloured ORVMs which are adjustable from inside. Mind you, this adjustable feature is only for the VXi+ variant. Then there are body coloured outside door handles and B-pillar black out tape. The vehicle sits on

non alloy tyres with full wheel covers. The squarish wheel arches are quite noticeable.

There is a roof antenna too.

As you move to the rear, the car looks a bit narrow and not as smart as the front. But then there are these signature C-Shaped tail lamps. Overall, the vehicle has an impressive look. Maruti Suzuki calls it a mini SUV. Here I may not at all

agree with them. That’s being a bit too ambitious. It’s a solid looking small car.

INTERIORS When you step inside, you realise that it is no pushover in terms of features. The interiors look very decent and what really stares at you when you are inside is the huge circular centre console on the smart looking dashboard, a

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la BMW Mini kind. But this is huge by any proportions and this houses the infotainment system and the instrument cluster. But hey, why are the speedometer and other such gauges not in front of the driver? Well, Maruti Suzuki thinks this is cool and I did find this very cool. When you are driving your car, you are at the most bothered about your speed, and since the screen

OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 31

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

32 | MOTOWN INDIA | OCTOBER 2019

displays the speed in a very large font, I don’t think anyone, young or old will be complaining.

they have no role to play to support you head. There are no charging points at the rear, nor are there any AC blowers.

The front seats are good with decent thigh as well as lumbar support. All seats have an integrated head rest. At the rear, there is very good space for two adults, though three would be a squeeze. The rear headrests serve as a mere showpiece as

The instrument cluster has a digital display where apart from speed, you get to see fuel consumption figures both instantaneous and average, headlamp on warning, gear position indicator and distance to empty.

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A driving experience

The car comes with an air conditioner and heater, storage spaces in front as well as rear floor console, a glove box, limited spaces on the inner door panels and a large boot space. This top variant also gets a parcel tray. It gets a USB and Aux in front along with a 12V socket. Power windows are there for the front ones which are controlled by two switches on the dash, while the rear windows get a manual adjustment.

The non adjustable power steering wheel gets steering mounted audio and voice controls. The vehicle has a 7 inches touch screen infotainment system. This is only offered in the VXi+ variant. It is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible and has Bluetooth connectivity. With a simple touch of your finger you can select your music from various sources, you can call anybody through the pared phone for hands free conversation, there is navigation, and one can also turn your smartphone into a remote control for using this screen by downloading SmartPlay Studio App. The screen also displays your vehicle alerts where you get details of driving range, fuel average and other parameters of your vehicle performance. Also, if your door is open at any stage while the car is moving, there is a door alert message that is prompted on the screen.

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 33

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT

3565mm x 1520mm x 1564mm

WHEELBASE

2380mm

TYRE SIZE

165/70 R14 tyres

SUSPENSION

Front: MacPherson strut with coil spring Rear: Torsion beam with coil spring

BRAKES

Front: Ventilated disc Rear: Drum

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A driving experience

PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY An AMT is fun if you understand it well.

There is no Park mode in it, but you get Neutral, Drive Mode, Reverse and Manual. On the road, while the cabin was relatively insulated to sound of passing vehicles, the engine did sound a bit as though it was whining. The 998cc petrol engine produces a peak power of 67hp @ 5500rpm and a peak torque of 90Nm@3500rpm.

Now all you out there who are driving an AMT for the first time, you should realise this car comes with a crawl or a creep function, when you take the foot off the brake and the car creeps forward and this function is a boon in choc a block traffic scenario.

The problem comes when you have to suddenly go fast or overtake. I had to keep up with my cameraperson who was speeding ahead in another car. While that car went like a rocket, in order to keep up with him I had to get into M or Manual mode. That was the only way to pick up speed. The car’s suspension was on the stiffer side, and tiny bumps on the road did not matter. The brakes have a decent bite. They comprise of ventilated disc in front and drum at the rear. The front suspension comprises MacPherson strut with coil spring and torsion beam with coil spring at the rear.

Now if one were to simply floor the

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accelerator pedal in Drive Mode, the results will be disastrous. There is something known as a kickdown which is essentially a downshift which is activated when one pushes the car’s accelerator to the floor. Instead of getting higher speeds, the car jerks and then as though it is taking a deep breath, it moves ahead.

That’s wrong style of driving and nothing to do with the AMT flaw. Here is how it sounds when you floor the pedal.

One should remember that an AMT does not work like a CVT or a more modern automatic gear box. But since it is a lot more affordable and is easy to maintain, most of the entry level cars get this transmission.

Built on the HEARTECT Platform, the S-Presso has several safety features like pedestrian protection, Immobiliser, speed sensitive auto door lock, child proof rear door lock, airbags for front passengers, ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensors, speed alter system, low fuel warning (In SmartPlay Studio), Door ajar warning (In SmartPlay Studio).

Except for the whining I found the little fellow quite a speedster. As for calling it a mini SUV, I tossed the car around a bit on a barren track. It took the punishment quite gracefully. The S-Presso is not a mini SUV, but definitely a smart, strong and cool vehicle, just as invigorating as an espresso coffee and very expressive.

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PERFORMANCE TEST

DATSUN GO, GO+ (CVT)

AN AUTOMATIC WITH PANACHE Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

T

wo of the most affordable cars in the Datsun stable, the five-seater Datsun GO and the seven-seater Datsun GO+ will now get a new automatic transmission. Unlike the Automated Manual Transmissions offered for entry level cars by competitors, Datsun will be offering a CVT or a continuously variable transmission.

CVTs are currently offered in a segment above the entry level for cars like the Nissan Micra, the Honda Jazz, Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Hyundai Elite i20.

Thus, as a first in the segment, both the GO and the GO+ will come with a CVT. Currently both the models are offered with a 5 speed Manual transmission only. For those who are not aware, Datsun is an automobile brand owned by Nissan of Japan. Renault of France, Nissan of Japan and Mitsubishi of Japan have cross holdings in each others’ companies and operate as one global entity i.e. Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance.

In India it operates as a Renault and Nissan joint venture company called Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd. While Renault and Nissan operate as two different entities worldwide and in India in terms of product offerings, they share among themselves several platforms.

Coming to Datsun, this brand offers at the entry level the Redi-GO which comes in both 800cc and 1 litre variants. The 1 litre Redi-

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S P EC IFIC ATIO N S GO has an option of an AMT. The CVT is thus being offered in the GO and the GO+.

Let me get straight to the point of its performance. I am impressed by it. While AMTs have a few things not going in its favour like lags while shifting gears, noisy

ENGINE 1198cc, 3 cylinder HR12 DE engine, Naturally Aspirated 12V DOHC EFI PEAK POWER 76hp@6000rpm TORQUE 104Nm@4400rpm FUEL EFFICIENCY GO- 20.07kmpl (CVT) / GO+ 19.41kmpl (CVT)

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engines, jerks while shifting gears and a park mode missing, this CVT includes a Sports Mode, negligible lag while accelerating, low engine noise and definitely a smooth shift in gears.

I first drove the car without the sport mode and it did accelerate furiously. The engine noise was definitely there but it was very tolerable. It upped the 100kmph mark rather easily. But the Sport Mode got me all excited. The little engine whine that was there, almost vanished, and the gear shifts were quick and the feel was almost like cutting through butter. The Sport Mode can only be deployed in the Drive Mode. Once you shift the lever to this mode, you can press a tiny button on the shift lever and get the car moving.

The car handled well, though I felt the electric operated power steering was a bit hard at slow speeds. But I definitely felt the 1198cc petrol engine behaved a lot better with this new automatic transmission.

While the same engine was producing around 67hp peak power at around 5000 rpm

with the manual transmission, with the CVT the engine power had increased to 76hp at around 6000rpm.

That’s a neat jump I felt.

The peak torque that the engine earlier achieved at 104Nm at around 4000 rpm is now achieved at 4400rpm with the CVT. The figures are identical for both the GO and the GO+. For the GO model, the fuel efficiency has increased to 20.07kmpl with the CVT from the earlier 19.72 kmpl with the MT. For the GO+, the fuel efficiency has decreased to 19.41kmpl with the CVT from the 19.72kmpl with the MT. Though the company has not tinkered with the exteriors and interiors majorly, what it has done apart from the introduction of the CVT is that there has been a crash performance enhancement.

Thus, there has been a

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front and pedestrian protection reinforcement, side crash performance and reinforcement and roof reinforcement.

entering the cabin. It was quite evident when I was driving. The cabin is well insulated and outside noise is blocked to a great extent.

And in order to improve NVH levels, the company has incorporated a high performance isolation package in the cars for low wind noise within the cabin. There is also improved isolation and less body holes that prevent noise from

The two models also get speed sensing auto door lock as a new feature.

All other features primarily remain the same and I shall just be mentioning the main ones here.

FEATURES

DATSUN GO (CVT)

DATSUN GO+ (CVT)

LxWxH

3788mm x 1636mm x 1507mm

3995mm x 1636mm x 1507mm

WHEELBASE

2450mm

GROUND CLEARANCE

180mm

LUGGAGE SPACE

265 litre

347 litre (3rd row folded)

KERB WEIGHT

913kg

950kg

EXTERIOR

Chrome Front Hexagon Grille, Hawk Eye headlamp, Follow me home headlamps, LED DRLs, Body coloured bumpers, ORVM, door handles, Roof Antenna

SUSPENSION

Front- McPherson Strut with lower transverse link, Rear- Twist beam suspension with coil spring, Front & Rear shock absorbers- Twin tube telescopic

BRAKES

Front-Disc, Rear-Drum

TYRE

165/70 R14 Diamond Cut Alloys wheels • •

INTERIORS

•

Sporty urbane theme accentuated interiors Front Door with map pockets and bottle holder Full Floor console- Front 2 cup holder, rear I litre bottle holder

• • •

Premium dual tone accentuated interiors Front Door with map pockets and bottle holder Full Floor console- Front 2 cup holder, rear I litre bottle holder

7 inches capacitive touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, voice recognition, HD video playback, Bluetooth connectivity, radio front speakers, USB & Aux-in connectivity, Power outlet in front, Power windows with auto down for driver only, Airbags for front to passengers

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FIRST DRIVE

RENAULT TRIBER MPV

BORN TO LEAD Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

R

enault Triber MPV is a seven-seater sub 4 metre vehicle that could bring about a massive change in the lifestyles of middle class people. With four different variants -RXE at one end, RXL, RXT and RXZ, the car costs Rs 4.95 lakh for the lowest variant to Rs 6.49 lakh for the top variant RXZ. The Triber’s one litre petrol engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or an Easy-R AMT. We drove the top end variant that had a manual transmission. So what is the seven – seater like when it comes to features and driving experience? Let’s check it out.

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EXTERIOR The Triple Edge Chrome front grille with the Renault badge looks cool. There are no fog lamps, instead Renault has put DRLs there. You get projector headlamps but they are halogen.The Triber has a smart new front-bumper, while the bonnet is sculpted. There are front and rear skid plates. The roof rails smartly cover the roof drop. Then there are black plastic wheel arch protections and lower protective door panels. The Triber has a ground clearance of 182 mm.

The side profile of the vehicle is very sporty like an SUV while the vehicle sits on R15 tyres. The lower variants get

S P EC IFIC ATIO N S ENGINE 999cc, 3 cylinder petrol engine TRANSMISSION 5 speed manual POWER 71hp@6250rpm TORQUE 96Nm@3500rpm FUEL EFFICIENCY 20kmpl TYRES 185/65/R15 PRICE `6.49 lakh (Ex-Showroom Delhi)

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165/80/R14 tyres. A lot of features go missing in the lower variants.

The two-part rear Eagle beak tail lamps extend onto the outside of the wings and taper to point to the centre of the tailgate, giving it a wider stance.

INTERIORS The interiors come in two-tone colors, from deep black for the upper part of the dashboard to a beige and white tone for the lower part and door trims.

Details such as the chrome trim on air vents, air-conditioning dials, the start/stop button, silver accents on the dashboard and the feel of the silver door handle and door armrests covered with pleasant-to-the-touch fabric, add to the overall visual appeal of the car.

The central storage area is refrigerated and so is the lower glove compartment.

There is an upper glove compartment

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with a capacity of more than 4 liters, more than double of what is usually available on similar-size hatchbacks.

The Renault Triber has a storage compartment of up to 31 litres. The cup holders are accessible to everyone between the first and second seats.

While it has one USB port for front passengers, there is one 12V socket each for the 2nd and 3rd row seats.

That makes a lot of sense as children are expected to sit at the back.

Renault Triber’s 8 inch multimedia touch screen features the MediaNav Evolution connected multimedia system. With its smartphone replication feature, it is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and their numerous driving and entertainment apps. The multimedia system also allows videos to be played through USB plug.

The fully digital LED instrument cluster (a first in this segment) comes with a 3.5 inches LCD screen framed by three virtual gauges for the tachometer, fuel level, and engine temperature. The vehicle comes with rear parking sensors and reverse camera.

With the convenient hands-free card which is the car key, doors can be opened and closed and the engine started with a smart start stop button, without making any physical contact with the key. The sensors in the card mean that the doors can be locked and unlocked without having to take the card out of a pocket or bag or pressing a button. The hands-free system includes an auto-lock function when drivers walk away from the vehicle.

The MPV offers boot capacity

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(625 litres) in the five-seater configuration. Boot capacity remains 320 litres in six-seater configuration and 84 litres in the seven-seater configuration.

Renault Triber also comes with functional roof rails with a load carrying capacity of 50 kg.

Renault Triber has a smart packaged twin Air conditioning system ensuring cooling comfort across the rows. The second row customers get dedicated vents on centre pillars and the third row has specific air vents located on the ceiling. The knob to control the air flow for the second row and third row is a single one situated on the floor console and accessible to 2nd row passengers.

While I found the first row and second row very comfortable for bulky adults, the third row was definitely a big squeeze.

The vehicle offers sliding, reclinable, foldable and tumble second-row seats along with the large door opening angles

(74° on rear doors) which provide the best level ingress and egress of its segment.

The two third row seats can be unlatched and taken out either in part or in whole. Yes, if you do not want the back rest, you can take it out and make more room for the boot. And if you don’t want the entire seat at the third row you can unlatch it and keep it in your garage. There are several permutations and combinations when it comes to seat configuration.

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PERFORMANCE & SAFETY The Triber is fitted with a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder petrol energy engine generating 71hp and 96Nm of peak torque. Since it is a small engine with three cylinders, it has its own limitations. The moment I accelerated the car, there was this very grating sound of the engine screaming its heart out. The little fellow did its best to surge ahead. But I am a little doubtful whether this machine can comfortably take seven fully grown adults on some hilly tracts. . With shorter gear throws, the torque is available from low revs and this in turn ensures decent acceleration. With

dismal speed limits the order of the day in India, this car has nothing to worry. But the car handled well at high speeds and NVH levels too were very decent. The ride quality is a lot above average.

The vehicle complies with all the safety requirements for the Indian market. You get 3-point belts in all rows, with those in rows 1 and side seats in row 2 equipped with a retractor. The rest of the seats get very normal non retractable seat belts. The driver’s belt is also equipped with a pretensioner and load limiter. The Renault Triber is fitted with 4

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airbags: driver, passenger, and front sides.

VERDICT If I were to sum up, I would say that the Renault Triber is a great effort from the Renault engineering team. With growing competition and in a desperate bid to win the hearts of the large middle class in India, they have offered 7 seats with plenty of air conditioning and decent features. It’s set a new benchmark in the entry level MPV segment. It’s born to lead.

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FIRST DRIVE

MARUTI SUZUKI XL6 MPV

PLUSH JOURNEY Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

M

aruti Suzuki India launched a new premium MPV, the XL6 based on the Ertiga platform. This vehicle is a wee bit bigger in dimension that the Ertiga with a lot of sophisticated features. Let us check out the new features.

FIRST DRIVE

EXTERIOR This six-seater MPV from Maruti Suzuki has a very stylish exterior and the vehicle has a subtle resemblance to an SUV. The vehicle has been priced at a starting tag of Rs 9.79 lakh. The XL6 has a length of 4445mm, a width of 1775mm, height of 1700mm and a wheelbase of 2740mm. It has turning

radius of 5.2 metre. Except for the wheelbase and the turning radius which is the same, the length, width and height are a tad more than the Ertiga.

The XL6 MPV has a raised hood and a unique grille with bold cross-bar design element sweeping into the

RENAULT TRIBER

BORN TO LEAD Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

R

enault Triber MPV is a seven-seater sub 4 metre vehicle that could bring about a massive change in the lifestyles of middle class people. With four different variants -RXE at one end, RXL, RXT and RXZ, the car costs Rs 4.95 lakh for the lowest variant to Rs 6.49 lakh for the top variant RXZ. The Triber’s one litre petrol engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or an Easy-R AMT. We drove the top end variant that had a manual transmission. So what is the seven – seater like when it comes to features and driving experience? Let’s check it out.

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EXTERIOR The Triple Edge Chrome front grille with the Renault badge looks cool. There are no fog lamps, instead Renault has put DRLs there. You get projector headlamps but they are halogen.The Triber has a smart new front-bumper, while the bonnet is sculpted. There are front and rear skid plates. The roof rails smartly cover the roof drop. Then there are black plastic wheel arch protections and lower protective door panels. The Triber has a ground clearance of 182 mm.

The side profile of the vehicle is very sporty like an SUV while the vehicle sits on R15 tyres. The lower variants get

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SPECIFICAT IO NS ENGINE 1462cc, K15B Smart Hybrid, BS6 petrol engine TRANSMISSION 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic POWER 103.25hp@6000rpm TORQUE 138Nm@4400rpm FUEL EFFICIENCY 19.0 kmpl - Alpha MT 17.99kmpl - Alpha AT TYRES 185/65 R15 PRICE `10.36 lakh Alpha MT,

`11.46 lakh Alpha AT (Ex-Showroom Delhi)

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head-lamps ending with the inset LED DRLs. The XL6 has signature Quad LED headlamps and tail lamps with LED light guide. It has stylish all black alloy wheels, roof rails and side claddings. The tyre size is 185/65 R15.

INTERIOR The story of the XL6 does not start and end with the exteriors.

The interior is bound to leave you pleasantly surprised with its plush character.

It is all black interiors, with premium stone finish and rich silver accents sweeping across the cabin.

It has leather wrapped flat bottom steering wheel with easy access controls and cruise control switches.

The comfortable seats are bolstered with premium leather upholstery.

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The 3-row seating has captain seats in 2nd row and reclining 3rd row seats. The 3rd row passengers have ease of ingress and egress, thanks to one touch recline and slide mechanism on the 2nd row seats. There is also a rear AC. There is ample utility space within, such as ventilated cup holders, overhead console and accessory sockets in each row along. Boot space is 209 litres with all three rows up, 550 litres with 3rd row folded and 692 litres with 2nd row and 3rd row folded.

The vehicle comes with a slim wide Instrument panel.

A connected infotainment system connects the vehicle to the cloud. The customizable 7 inches SmartPlay Studio touchscreen enhances the driving experience with Smartplay Studio application. The system is completely integrated with the car displaying key vehicle information such as low fuel alert, fuel economy etc.

PERFORMANCE & SAFETY Since nothing has changed under the hood for the XL6 compared to the Ertiga, the performance is more or less unchanged too. But the ride has definitely become a lot

plusher with the savvy interiors. There are a lot of safety features in the car too. The vehicle comes with only a petrol engine that will have an option of either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. The BS6 petrol engine is the K15B Smart Hybrid 1462cc powering the Ertiga and it delivers a fuel efficiency of 19.0 kmpl for the manual transmission and 17.99kmpl for the AT. The K15 engine offers peak power of 103.25hp@6000rpm and maximum torque of 138Nm@4400rpm. Brakes are similar to the Ertiga with ventilated discs in front and drum at the rear. The vehicle has a fuel tank capacity of 45 litres.

Safety features are plenty in this car as it is based on Suzuki’s 5th Generation HEARTECT platform. The allnew XL6 is compliant with all Indian safety regulations like frontal offset impact, side impact and pedestrian protection. It is equipped with a host of safety features such as dual front airbags, ABS (Anti-lock-Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution), front seat belts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, high speed warning alert, reverse parking sensors as a standard fitment across all variants. ESP (electronic stability programme) with Hill Hold function is offered as a standard feature in automatic variants only.

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FIRST DRIVE

HYUNDAI GRAND I10 NIOS

A FEATURE-RICH TREAT Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

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T

he new Grand i10 Nios has been launched with one basic reason, to beat Maruti Suzuki Swift in its game. So let’s do a comparison.

The Grand i10 Nios is definitely bigger in dimension than the existing Grand i10. The length of the Nios is 3805mm, which is 40mm more than the length of the Grand i10. But the length of the Swift is 3840mm. The width of the Nios is 1680mm, 20 mm more than the Grand i10. But the Swift is 1735mm in width which is more. The height of the Nios is 1520mm, similar to the existing Grand i10. The Swift is again a tad higher at 1530mm. As for the wheelbase, the Nios is 2450mm, 25mm more than the Grand i10 and similar to the wheelbase of the Swift.

Both the Grand i10 Nios and the Swift are offered in two engine options, a BS 6 1197cc petrol engine for both while the Nios has a 1186cc diesel engine and the Swift has a 1248cc diesel engine.

Both engines have an option of a 5 speed manual transmission as well as an AMT. Incidentally, for the Nios as well as the Swift their engines produce similar power at around 82hp for petrol and 74hp for the diesel engine.

And mind you, the Nios has got a lot more advanced features compared to the existing Grand i10. But compared to the Swift which is marginally larger in dimension than the Grand i10 Nios, the latter scores big time when it comes to several unique features. There are around

S P EC IFIC ATIO N S ENGINE 1,197cc, BS6 Kappa petrol engine TRANSMISSION 5-speed MT POWER 82@6,000rpm TORQUE 114 @ 4,000rpm FUEL EFFICIENCY 20.7kmpl TYRES 165/70 R14 PRICE `6.38 lakh Sportz MT (Ex-Showroom Delhi)

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20 unique features in the Grand i10 Nios.

On the outside, the Nios has projector fog lamps compared to the normal ones in a Swift. It scores again when it comes to shark fin antenna, roof rails, chrome outside door handles, impact sensing auto door locks, rear chrome garnish and air curtains. Air curtain technology allows air to flow through a vent underneath the headlamps and out around the wheel. Horizontal slots underneath the headlamps channel air from the front of the car through ducting to openings in the wheel wells – directing it across the outer surface of the wheel and tyre. This reduces drag and ensures better fuel efficiency too.

The Nios also has an Emergency Stop Signal or ESS. The ESS causes the hazard lights to flash at high speed if the driver suddenly brakes when travelling at high speed. This helps prevent collisions. Of course, since it was raining heavily we were not able to test this feature out on the potholed roads of Udaipur.

USB charger, 5.3 inches digital speedometer and MID, glovebox cooling, driver rear view monitor, rear ac vents, rear power outlet, eco coating, among others.

Though the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios comes with two engine options which again have options of a 5 speed manual and automatic transmissions, we were able to drive only the petrol powered Nios with a manual transmission in a rain soaked Udaipur. We shall be reviewing the automatic petrol in the days to come and will give a detailed insight into the vehicle.

The 1.2 litre petrol engine produces 82hp @ 6000rpm and a peak torque of 114Nm @ 4000rpm. The manual transmission gives a fuel efficiency of 20.7 kmpl. While I was impressed about its ride and handling, the seats too were very comfortable with bolstering on the sides and good under thigh support. The large tail gate glass, the reduced size of the A pillar and the large ORVMs helped a great deal with the outside view.

Coming to some of the interiors, the Nios has an 8 inches touch screen compared to the 7 inches in a Swift. It has an Arkamys premium sound system, wireless charger,

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FIRST DRIVE

2019 ISUZU D-MAX V-CROSS

INTERESTING FEATURES Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

N

o, this is not the V-Cross with the new powertrain. This one was launched a couple of monhs back and it merely comes with 20 new features.

In this report, we shall be concentrating on these new features and see if they have missed out on some that should have been

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incorporated.

But before I go any further I have a confession to make. Among all the vehicles that there on the Indian roads today, the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross stands apart for its looks and personality. I find this butch vehicle very majestic. It offers 5 seats, a

large open deck that can carry luggage and the only thing you need to do is to plan your vacation with this vehicle.

The all new V-Cross carries the same price tag of the previous model at Rs 15.54 lakh (standard variant) and Rs 17.06 lakh (Z variant), ex-showroom, Delhi. We drove

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the Z variant with a ruby red colour.

Sporty looking grille

The two trim levels are basically ‘Standard Grade’ and ‘High Grade’ (Z) and come with two new colour options – Sapphire Blue and Silky Pearl White.

THE NEW FEATURES It now has a very sporty looking grille along with Bi-LED headlamps and distinctive sharp lines. The fog lamps have chrome bezel that adds style to its function. The vehicle comes with new diamond cut 18” alloy wheels housed in flared wheel arches.

Bi-LED headlamps and fog lamps with chrome bezel

New diamond cut 18” alloy wheels housed in flared wheel arches

sporty roof-rails and a new sharkfin antenna

The vehicle gets sporty roof-rails and a new shark-fin antenna. The newly designed side-step adds to the overall appeal and functionality, while the all-black B-pillar adds to the good looks. The upgraded rear chrome bumper and embedded LED tail-lamps complement the new design lines flowing through the rear.

The new V-Cross comes with sporty full black interiors on both the standard and high-grade (Z) variants. I found that the newly contoured perforated leather seats in the high grade z variant provided premium comfort. The dual-cockpit design is further enhanced by

the contemporary instrument cluster housing the new 3D Design Electroluminescent Meter and Gear Shift Indicator.

The dashboard, centre console and door highlights have this piano black garnish. The second row USB charging port enables the rear seat occupants to charge their devices at their own convenience.

The V-Cross now comes with PESS (Passive Entry & Start Stop System). The PESS feature allows easy access to the vehicle while adding convenience of starting & stopping the engine at the press of a button. The new V-Cross is powered by a 134 hp, BSIV compliant, high pressure Common Rail Fuel Injection Diesel Engine, the powertrain is mated to a 5 speed Manual Transmission that delivers a maximum torque level of 320 Nm @ 1800-2800 rpm.

Since it is the same powertrain, I shall not be talking about it, except tell you all that the engine is quite a capable one and the ride and handling too pretty good for a vehicle of this size.

The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is equipped with off-roading features like 4WD (shift-on-fly) drive mode,

Newly designed side-step, upgraded rear chrome bumper and embedded LED tail-lamps

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High Ride suspension that offers higher ground clearance, wider track with longer wheel base. The chassis frame is designed with iGRIP feature (Isuzu Gravity Response Intelligent Platform) that ensures greater stability even at hi-speeds and sharp curves.

The new V-Cross also comes with steering mounted audio controls and a 7� touch screen audio system with USB input, DVD, AUX, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity.

the floor level. I wish it had rear AC vents. I wish there were at least two USB chargers for the rear passengers.

There is only one. I also wish there was an adjustable head rest for the middle passenger at the rear. There is none.

All in all, the vehicle continues to impress me with its shape, size and attitude. I am now eagerly waiting to drive their new automatic version of the V-Cross.

The new V-Cross is equipped with a host of safety features including the seat-belt with pre-tensioner and load limiter, speed sensitive auto door lock, co-driver seat belt reminder, HSA (Hill Start Assist) and HDC (Hill Descent Control), among others.

THE MISSES Besides the 20 new features this vehicle has got, I would have preferred a few more. It could have had cup holders in the rear centre arm rest, though there are a couple of them at

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A driving experience

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

FIRST RIDE

2019 INDIAN FTR 1200 S

FLAT OUT WINNER Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

I

ndian Motorcycle of the US, part of the Polaris Group has a very distinct image in the country.

They are respected for their cruisers of all sizes and shapes. These motorcycles are known for their power, their size, their girth and their attitude.

But young India loves products that are nimble, sporty, hot looking and have power like nobody’s business. The FTR 1200 S is one such bike that could possibly change the fortunes of Indian Motorcycle company in India.

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A riding experience

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 61

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

The company recently launched the 2019 FTR 1200 S and the FTR 1200 S Race Replica. We got to ride the former.

There is also another variant that is FTR 1200 but that will not be brought into India unless the market craves for it.

The FTR 1200 is the street version of the FTR 750 which is basically a race bike that has won several accolades at the American Flat Track Professional racing series.

EXTERIOR Let me describe the bike’s design and features. It looks brilliant with its very

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race ready kind of looks. The bike comes with a trellis frame around which is built the entire bike with a sporty riding position. The scooped down riding seat and the aerodynamically built fuel tank allow the rider to take a thigh hugging stance while riding. Incidentally the fuel tank is just a dummy, it is an empty redesigned shell which covers the fuel tank beneath it. Yes, the real fuel tank has been built so smartly that it ensures a perfect centre of gravity character to the bike and thereby helps in a stable ride. The tank has a fuel capacity of 13 litres.

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A riding experience

The almost flat handle bars are ideal for both a crouched position as well as chest out position while riding. It all depends on what roads and what speeds you are riding.

becomes black and everything displayed on it is in white. In the auto theme, everything happens automatically and it changes from white to black as the day progresses.

The bike has a wheel base of 1524mm, a seat height of 805mm/850mm. It has a ground clearance of 183mm. The overall length is 2287mm, the overall width is 850mm. The weight without fuel is 225kg.

Now interestingly, the touch screen can be operated with your gloves on and that is quite a relief for the rider. The touch screen functions can also be operated through two switches on both sides of the handlebar.

Talking of switches, there are not many in this motorcycle and that is quite a relief.

The left has the cruise control buttons, the screen function buttons, a combined button for indicators and hazard light and a button for the horn. The right switch has a start/kill function for the engine, apart from another switch for the screen functions. The front brake lever can be adjusted for your grip.

It has full LED lights. The front DRLs in the shape of a half moon has the name Indian prominently displayed at the base. The rear LED lamp too has the Indian name printed prominently. The FTR 1200S gets a 4.3 inches ride command touch screen, 3 ride modes that are sport, standard and rain, a fully adjustable front and rear suspension, lean sensitive traction and stability control.

Apart from the LCD touch screen display we have bluetooth and fast charging USB port, digital tachometer, odometer, trip meter, engine temperature and low fuel lamp.

For the screen you can choose a day theme or an auto theme or a night theme. In the day theme the screen becomes white and the figures and indicators become black.

Everything stands out very clear even during a very bright day. In the night theme, the screen

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The front suspension comprises inverted telescopic cartridge fork with 150mm travel, while the rear is a monotube IFP with 150mm travel. The suspension for the front and rear can be fully adjusted. The front brakes consist of dual discs with a 4 piston caliper while the rear is a single disc with a 2 piston caliper. The front tyre is 120/70 R19 60V and the rear is 150/70 R18 70v. The sporty twin exhausts are strategically inclined upwards for redefining the sporty character of the bike.

OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 63

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience PERFORMANCE The FTR 1200S is powered by a liquid cooled V-twin engine with a 1203cc heart with an electronic fuel injection. It generates a peak power of 123 hp and a peak torque of 120Nm @ 6000rpm. The bike comes with Brembo brakes, Dunlop tyres and a host of other features.

True to its sporty design, the V twin too performs very sportingly. The moment you slot it into the first gear and move, the acceleration is quite evident and reaching speeds beyond 100kmph comes in a flash. Unlike the real flat track racer this one is quite tamed and thankfully rides steady on roads.

Since the new traffic norms had kicked in by the time we got our hands on the FTR 1200S, we had to be careful about pushing it too hard.

The seating position is very comfortable and those less than 5 feet 10 inches in height will have to really stretch their feet to plant it on the ground when the bike is stationery. The riding position is again amazing with the handle bars placed perfectly for both a speed run as well as cutting through normal traffic.

What I really like about the bike is that everything is very minimalistic. You have to choose from three different ride modes sport, standard and rain. It’s least complicated. The speed digits are prominently displayed on the screen for the rider to glance down even at high speeds. Even when I hesitatingly touched 132kmph, I knew the bike had lots and lots of juice left for it to go a lot further.

The disc brakes sure had a lot of bite. And coming down from a hundred to a zero kmph was very exact.

We tried out the standard and sport modes and got to experience the change in character of the bike.

The standard mode can get you all excited with its throttle response, while the sport mode is simply the icing on the cake. Riding through the thick of traffic is not much of a hassle for this chunky bike but despite the engine being liquid-cooled, the heat dissipation can get you a tad uncomfortable. But that is bearable.

While I enjoyed the flat track character of the bike on the road, I did take it on some loose soil and switched off the ABS and traction control. That brought its own fun. The FTR 1200S is truly a very capable bike and for Indian Motorcycle it’s going to be the cherry on the already strong line up in India.

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S P EC IFIC ATIONS ENGINE Liquid cooled V-twin engine, 1203cc, electronic fuel injection PEAK POWER 123 hp PEAK TORQUE 120Nm TYRES Front tyre: 120/70 R19 60V Rear tyres: 150/70 R18 70v

PRICE `15.99 lakh (Ex-Showroom Delhi)

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A riding experience

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 65

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

FIRST RIDE

AVAN MOTORS XERO TREND-E

LAST MILE FUN! Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

A

t the outset let me explain some critical parts of an electric scooter wherein you understand what it signifies.

For example in an internal combustion engine run vehicle , apart for the aesthetics like looks, interior comforts,

features, a very important part is the engine and transmission. Words like engine capacity in cc, the power in hp and torque in Nm, etc are so important.

In an electric vehicle, it’s similar, except that there is no engine or transmission.

Here we have something called the lithium ion batteries, the electric motor and the controller.

Now to understand the power of an electric two-wheeler I shall be comparing it with the fancy electric Revolt RV 400

SPECIFICATION PERFORMANCE Performance

45kmph

Max Loading

150/kg

Range per charge

110km( Double Battery)

Gradability

7 degree

MECHANICAL Dimaensions (L*W)

1750*680 mm

Tyre size

16*3

Wheel type

Alloy

Break type-Front

Disc

Break type-Rear

Drum

Front Suspension

Hydraulic Telescopic

Rear Suspension

Coil Spring

ELECTRICAL Battery Type

Lithium-Ion Buttery

Battery Voltage

48 V

Battery Capaity

24 Ah

Motor Power

800 watt

Drive Type

BLDC Motor

Speedometer

Digital

Charge Time

4 hours

Charger

AC 220V 50 HZ

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A riding experience

motorcycle. The RV400 is touted as a very good high performance electric motorcycle.

In simple terms the RV400 is powered by a 3.24 KWh Lithium Ion battery that generates 72V of power and has an electric motor of 3 KW power. The 3.24 kilo watt hour capacity is basically 45 Amp Hour.

The Avan Xero Trend E has a 24 Ah battery with a Voltage of 48 V. The electric motor power is 800 watt. An amp hour (Ah) is used to define capacity. It’s used to estimate the amount of energy a

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 67

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

battery can hold. In simple terms, it’s used to define the amount of current a battery can supply in an hour until it runs out of current.

is the electric motor of the vehicle. While the RV400 has a 3 KW motor (which translates to 3000 watt), the Xero TrendE has a 800 watt motor.

So a 24Ah battery can draw 24 amp for one hour before it runs out, or 48 amps for half an hour, or 12 amp for two hours.

The watts of a motor watt tell you how much mechanical power the electric scooter motor is capable of producing.

A higher motor watt rating, in general, means the motor will accelerate more quickly, carry more rider weight, and climb steeper hills.

Voltage of a battery indicates how much potential is in a battery, but that potential is not a measure of energy.

Energy comes from the battery capacity. If you were to compare the Xero to the Revolt motorcycle, the former is a very tamed machine.

Now what is equally important like the batteries,

The watts also indicate how much power the motor is capable of consuming. A motor with high watt rating will be able to consume a lot of energy in a short amount of time. The more energy a motor consumes

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the more mechanical power it will produce.

The controller is the brain of your electric scooter. It receives inputs from your controls and translates that into a current that is sent to the motor. The controller is interfaced with the throttle switch and the brake switch (if you have regenerative or electronic brakes). The Xero Trend-E does not have regenerative braking.

EXTERIORS The Xero Trend-e electric scooter is a good looking twowheeler. It has a DRL, smartly designed headlamp, colourful lights on both sides in front, a smart nose and an impressive

rear, with LED tail lamp. The Trend E comes equipped with a hydraulic telescopic front suspension and a coil spring rear suspension. Additionally, the scooter comes with alloy wheels, besides disc and drums brakes on the front and rear wheels, respectively.

There are a few storage spaces in the scooter with a hook in front, a couple of cavities in the front to keep your mobile or some knick knacks. There is bit of storage under the seat too. The switches are very handy and the vehicle comes with a digital instrument panel where you get to see the speed, the different gears (1 to 3), the battery range and the total distance.

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WHEELZ & ROADZ

A riding experience

The floor board, I found was a bit tacky with cheap metal strips. They should replace the floor design with a simple strong, anti slip mat.

PERFORMANCE The Xero Trend-E is powered by a lithium-ion battery and boasts a top speed of 45 Kmph.

The electric scooter covers a distance of 60 Kms with single battery and 110 Km with double battery, and the charge time for the scooter’s lithiumion battery is 4 hours. The max load each scooter can take is around 150 kgs.

This electric scooter comes with two batteries. These batteries work separately,

which means that you can switch from one battery to another through two separate circuit breakers, switches for which are under the seat. Once you realise that one battery is losing its power, you can stop the scooter, pull the seat up with the help of the ignition switch (you have to move the switch back gently) and then switch on the circuit breaker.

You can never switch on both the MCBs (miniature circuit breakers). You have to switch off one and switch on the other, which signifies that the battery has to be used one at a time.

The same procedure for the switches works when you have to charge the batteries directly to a charging point.

You can also take the two batteries out from under the seat and carry it to your home or office and charge them one by one with the help of a charger which comes with the scooter. Each battery weighs a little less than 10kgs.

When you a riding the scooter, you can can toggle between gears one to three with the help of a switch on the right side. When you are in gear one, you cannot go beyond 35kmph or so. The maximum speed you can achieve is at gear 3, where you can go up to 45kmph. I managed to get 46kmph.

The sad part of this twowheeler is that it cannot carry

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bulky people. A total weight of 150kg is the maximum it can carry. Anything heavier and the scooter may find it hard to haul and the batteries will be depleted very fast.

This electric two-wheeler is not strong enough for our normal roads. It looks and feels too fragile. But in gated areas like offices, institutions and colleges with large acres of space, this two-wheeler is ideal. It will keep the environment safe with zero pollution and with its limited speed, will prove to be a boon for safe riding. The Avan Xero Trend-E electric scooter is an ideal vehicle for last mile journey.

OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 69

B2B NEWS

Ford hands over control to Mahindra in India through new joint venture Motown India Bureau

F

ord India will be transferring its Indian operations, including its personnel and assembly plants in Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Sanand in Gujarat, as well as the Global Business Services unit, Ford Credit and Ford Smart Mobility to a new joint venture company which will be formed with Mahindra & Mahindra. The latter will have a 51pc controlling stake in the JV company, while the remaining 49 per cent will be with Ford.

Pictures for representation purpose only.

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited and Ford Motor Company have signed a definitive agreement to create a this joint venture that will develop, market and distribute Ford brand vehicles in India and Ford brand and Mahindra

brand vehicles in high-growth emerging markets around the world.

Mahindra brand and operate its own independent dealer network in India.

The joint venture will be valued at Rs 1,925 crore (US$275 million). The joint venture is the next step in the strategic alliance forged between Ford and Mahindra in September 2017 and is expected to be operational by mid2020, subject to regulatory approvals.

The joint venture will be operationally managed by Mahindra, and its governance will be equally composed of representatives of Mahindra and Ford.

The joint venture expects to introduce three new utility vehicles under the Ford brand, beginning with a new midsize sports utility vehicle that will have a common Mahindra product platform and powertrain.

Meanwhile, Ford will continue to own the Ford brand, and its branded vehicles will be distributed through the current Ford India dealer network.

Mahindra will continue to own the

Another area of focus for the joint venture will be electric vehicles.

Ford and Mahindra will collaborate to develop vehicles to support the growth of sustainable mobility across emerging markets.

“Mahindra and Ford coming together is a testament to the long history of cooperation and mutual respect between the two companies. Our combined strengths – Mahindra’s expertise in value-focused engineering and its successful operating model, and Ford’s technical expertise, global reach and access to future technology – are a potent recipe for success. At its core, the partnership will be driven by the shared values of both companies, which are focused on caring for our customers, associates and our communities,” said Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group.

“Ford and Mahindra have a long history of working together, and we are proud to partner with them to grow the Ford brand in India. We remain deeply committed to our employees, dealers and suppliers, and this new era of collaboration will allow us to deliver more vehicles to consumers in this important market,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company.

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B2B NEWS

“At Ford, our purpose for 116 years has always been to drive human progress, and that won’t change. But to continue to do that, we need to evolve with new and faster ways of not only delighting our customers around the world but also solving their very different needs. Strong alliances like this play a crucial role in assuring we continue to achieve our vision while at the same time staying competitive and delivering value to our global stakeholders,” said Jim Hackett, Ford president and CEO. Driving greater economies of scale across the automotive value chain including sourcing, product development and access to relevant technologies, the joint venture is expected to achieve enhanced efficiencies to strengthen the Ford brand in India. In addition, the joint venture will be a catalyst for growth for the Ford and Mahindra brands in emerging markets, which are growing at double the rate of the global industry.

The joint venture will use the Ford brand distribution network in emerging markets to extend support for export of Mahindra products, in addition to Ford branded vehicles. Exports today form about7 percent of Mahindra’s auto business revenues and its products are exported to South Africa, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Chile, among other nations and areas.

“Emerging economies including India are expected to account for one in three future vehicle sales,” said Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited. “The joint venture will have a distinct product portfolio with shared platforms

and powertrains, the newest technology, high quality and engineering standards from both Mahindra and Ford, at optimized costs. This winning combination will enable the joint venture to successfully position its vehicles in India, as well as unlock the potential of other highly competitive emerging markets”.

“The creation of this joint venture is a pivotal moment in both our companies’ histories.

Strong alliances such as this play a crucial role for Ford to compete profitably in the high-volume, affordable vehicle segments so popular with our diverse customer base. By combining our respective talents, we will offer more vehicles to more customers in more places than ever before and deliver profitable growth to both Ford and Mahindra,” said Jim Farley, president of Ford New Businesses, Technology & Strategy.

Ford’s newly established International Markets Group (IMG) business unit will play a key role in the process.

IMG brings together 100 high-potential, emerged and emerging markets including India Australia, ASEAN, Middle East, Africa and Russia. In addition to the established Ford Ranger and U.S. import businesses in IMG, the formation of this joint venture will add to IMG’s portfolio vehicles specifically tailored for emerging markets, and it places India very much at the centre of Ford’s strategy for IMG. Mahindra has led the utility vehicles segment in India for the past seven decades. The spirit of ingenuity has driven Mahindra to be among the few global companies pioneering the development of clean and affordable technology and it is the only player with a portfolio

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of electric vehicles commercially available in India. Expanding its global presence, Mahindra owns a majority stake in Ssangyong Motor Company in Korea.

Mahindra also has entered into the shared mobility space with investments in ridesharing platforms in the United States.

Ford was among the first global automakers to enter India in 1995. As one of the largest exporters of vehicles from the country, Ford manufactures and exports vehicles and engines from its facilities in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Sanand, Gujarat.

India is the third-largest Ford employee base globally, with more than 14,000 people working across the Ford India and Global Business Services operations in Delhi, Chennai and Coimbatore.

Under the new structure, Ford will continue its support for all corporate social responsibility initiatives.

OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 71

B2B NEWS - 59TH ANNUAL SIAM CONVENTION

Gadkari leaves behind a belligerent tone and assures auto industry Motown India Bureau

F

or Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, it’s been a journey from taking on a confrontationist attitude to one of being benign and accommodating. At the 59th Annual Convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), held in the Capital on September 05, 2019, the Minister assured the ailing, bleeding and battered Indian auto sector of pro-reform policies for revival.

It was exactly two years back in September 2017 that at a similar

1

annual convention of SIAM the Minister had stated that “petrol diesel banaane walo kaa band baajaa bajaana hai” (I will take to task the makers of petrol and diesel vehicles).

With the Indian auto industry in the dumps and sales of vehicles slipping for the last nine months, the Minister thankfully changed his script while addressing the leaders of the Indian auto industry gathered at the SIAM convention. “I also want to clarify that though there have been talks that government is planning to ban petrol and diesel vehicles, we are not

going to do anything like that,” Gadkari stated.

He also assured the automobile industry of support from the government and said that he will take up the industry’s demand of GST reduction with the finance minister.

“GST on electric vehicles has been reduced from 12% to 5%. I will propose to the finance ministry to make the same benefit available for hybrid vehicles,” he told the gathering.

Gadkari was speaking at the SIAM convention titled “Building the Nation,

2

3

4

CAPTIONS: 1: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at the 2019 SIAM Convention in New Delhi 2: Rajiv Chaba of MG Motor India with Gurpratap Boparai of VW, Skoda Auto India.

3: T.K. Balaji of Lucas-TVS with Mahesh Babu of Mahindra Electric 4: Martin Schwenk of Mercedes-Benz India with Prasan Firodia of Force Motors

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B2B NEWS - 59TH ANNUAL SIAM CONVENTION

Responsibly: Moving into a New Era of Auto Industry”. At the convention, Chief Guest Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport& Highways and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Government of India said, “The industry has asked that there should be reduction in GST of petrol and diesel vehicles considering the forthcoming increase in prices of vehicles and the BS VI norms deadline. Even if GST is reduced for some time, it will help the sector to increase vehicle sales.”

Talking about the issues related to auto financing, Gadkari asked the auto industry to establish their own, proprietary financing arm to boost sales.

Gadkari assured that the government is trying to bring

out the scrapping policy quickly, which will lower production costs to a huge extent.

Rajan Wadhera, President, SIAM & President (Automotive Sector), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd reiterated the need to reduce GST on automobiles to Gadkari.

He also highlighted the need for the government to consider a single nodal regulatory ministry for the auto industry.

“The automotive industry is integral to economic and social development of the nation. With BSVI norms coming into effect from April next year, restrictions on different vehicles based fuels needs to be removed for the auto industry to be at par with the best in the world when it comes to pollution,” he said.

He added that, “The automotive industry constitutes almost 50% of manufacturing GDP, 15% of GST revenue and employees 37 million people directly and indirectly.

Till now, 15,000 contractual manufacturing jobs and have been lost and another million are at risk if the slowdown is not reversed.”

Uday Kotak, PresidentDesignate, CII and Managing Director & CEO, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd said, “Auto industry needs to emphasise on exports to boost supply. This will help to overcome the stress present in the domestic market. The rupee which is weak at present will also favour this method.”

Speaking on the auto

5

6

component industry, Ram Venkataramani, President, ACMA & Director, Amalgamations Component Group, noted that the auto component industry crossed the 57 billion dollar mark in 2018-19. Talking about the importance of the sector, he said “The industry currently employs 50 lakh people and contributes 2.3% to the country’s GDP. The current transition to BS VI norms has also impacted our revenues to an extent.”

Kenichi Ayukawa, VicePresident, SIAM and MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, appreciated Gadkari’s assurances to help the auto industry and highlighted the need to collaborate with various stakeholders to break through the crisis.

7

8 CAPTIONS: 5: Deepak Jain of Lumax with Prasan Firodia & Ravi Chopra of Piaggio Vehicles 6: Nirmal Minda of Uno Minda with V Sridhar HMSI 7: Raman Kumar Sharma of Honda Cars India with Gurpratap Boparai 8: Dr. Pawan Goenka of Mahindra & Mahindra

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 73

B2B NEWS

Mercedes-Benz India digitising customer experience Mercedes-Benz is getting closer to its customers, both through online and offline means. As part of the global sales initiative “Best Customer Experience 4.0” the brand is digitising the entire ‘Customer Experience’ in India. Mercedes-Benz announced the roll-out of its connect features ‘Mercedes me Adapter’ and ‘Mercedes me connect’ in a phase-wise manner, and the commencement of the e-commerce business in India. The digital initiative was announced by Martin Schwenk, Managing Director, MercedesBenz India.

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE With “Customer Experience” Mercedes-Benz is now conveniently available on numerous channels along their journey - online and offline. This includes the three key phases of Exploration, Purchase and Ownership. Mercedes-Benz India’s new digital initiatives revolve around these phases to create an immersive luxury experience for customers.

A. EXPLORATION:

A.1 DIGITAL SIGNAGE: Driving digitalisation of Retail,

The Mercedes-Benz e-commerce portal www.shop. mercedes-benz.co.in, will have new cars as well as certified cars, and collection items for online booking. MercedesBenz India has got into an agreement with Roadster Inc. a US based e-commerce platform for bringing in online sales solutions for MercedesBenz cars in India.

C. OWNERSHIP

Mercedes-Benz is introducing Digital Signage as today’s customers demand superlative and immersive retail experience.

Digital Signage content will be brand-aligned, centrally customised and controlled for each individual screen. The centrally controlled content for Digital Signage is one-of-its kind in the automotive industry and offers an in-depth view of Mercedes-Benz’s offerings. It helps consumers visualise and also configure the car of their choice.

A.2 CAR CONFIGURATOR: The Mercedes-Benz Online Car Configurator allows customers to experience the entire MercedesBenz portfolio digitally. The Car Configurator makes buying a car comfortable and easy with three

simple steps: Configure – Contact - Collect

A.3 CAR APP: The cAR app uses Augmented Reality technology, which allows customers to explore and virtually test-drive a realistic 3 Dimensional Mercedes-Benz model. The cAR app will be launched in India soon

B. PURCHASE Mercedes-Benz India has launched its e-commerce solutions for pre-owned cars and new cars. The former has started on October 1, 2019, while the latter begins on January 1, 2020 in India.

B.1 MERCEDES-BENZ OFFICIAL E-COMMERCE PORTAL:

C.1 ‘MERCEDES ME CONNECT’ INDIA:

Mercedes me has a very important role for the MercedesBenz brand, as this digital eco-system directly addresses decisive success factors. As part of this ‘Mercedes me connect’ enables customers to connect with their vehicles from anywhere and at any time.

C.2 ONLINE SERVICE ESTIMATOR: This feature allows esteemed customers of Mercedes-Benz to find the price of services offered

by Mercedes-Benz authorised dealer network. It gives complete transparency to customers about cost of service as it includes periodic maintenance, add on repairs and Car Detailing Services.

BMW Smart Video to enable customers during servicing cars As a first in the Indian luxury car segment, BMW India has introduced BMW Smart Video, an exclusive app-based smart video and image solution where customers can give real-time approvals for service and repairs. BMW Smart Video solution has already benefitted more than 10,000 customers with high rate of customer satisfaction. Through BMW Smart Video, the dealership technicians are able to make a video of the vehicle explaining the service / repair requirements and share the quotation online.

Customers receive a link where they can understand the service requirements through the video and give an approval online without the hassle of visiting the dealership again.

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B2B NEWS

Citroen Lease introduced in India

Citoren car brand from Groupe PSA has introduced ‘Citroën Lease’ in India. Thecar company will offer full leasing services for its customers in India in an exclusive partnership with ALD Automotive, a globally renowned automotive leasing and fleet management company. The leasing solutions will be provided for individuals, small and medium -sized businesses, corporate and public sector. Before the end of 2020, Citroen will be launching C5 Aircross SUV. Commenting on the new leasing initiative, Roland Bouchara, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Citroën India says, “We are inspired by India and we are committed to provide the best-inclass car ownership experience to our customers.

Leasing is one of the favourite ways to have a car across the world and in India, it is slated to grow at a rapid speed. Citroën Lease will be available across the entire product line-up at an attractive monthly lease rental. We are confident that our customers will benefit from this collaboration.”

Over 2 lakh BS6 compliant Maruti Suzuki vehicles sold Maruti Suzuki India Limited has set a new milestone with the sales of over 2 lakh BS6 compliant vehicles. The sales milestone has been achieved in just six months of launch of the first BS6 compliant vehicle. Maruti Suzuki launched its BS6 range with Alto800 and Baleno in April 2019, almost one year before the government stipulated timeline of April 2020.The complete range of Maruti Suzuki BS6 compliant petrol models now includes: Alto 800, Baleno, WagonR (1.2 L), Swift, Dzire, Ertiga and the recently launched XL6 and S-Presso. The BS6 compliant petrol vehicles will lead to a substantial reduction of nearly 25% in Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions. The BS6 compliant petrol vehicles can run on BS4 petrol also. The BS6 petrol cars from Maruti Suzuki have been extensively tested with BS4 fuel and there is no operational concern.

1 millionth Maruti Suzuki car exported from Gujarat’s Mundra Port Maruti Suzuki India Limited announced that it has achieved the milestone of one millionth car exports from the Mundra Port in Gujarat. An Oxford Blue colour popular sedan Dzire left for Chile from Mundra.

Mundra port majorly serves for exports to Latin American, Far Eastern and European markets of Maruti Suzuki.

Mundra port is Maruti Suzuki’s second car terminal port and commenced exports in 2009. Maruti Suzuki has a Pre Delivery Inspection (PDI) facility along with stockyard at Mundra port. Currently, Maruti Suzuki export range includes 14 models with Alto K10, Celerio, Baleno, Ignis and Dzire taking a prominent share.

Maruti Suzuki also exports vehicles from Mumbai port.

Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director

& CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, “Within a decade of commencement of exports from Mundra, we achieved the significant milestone of shipping one millionth car. At Maruti Suzuki, we have always aligned our exports strategy to keep pace with the changing market scenario. Maruti Suzuki exports are aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship vision of “Make in India”.

The efforts by Maruti Suzuki reflect India’s capabilities of manufacturing cars that meet global standards of quality, safety, design and technology.”

Tata Motors announces its EV technology brand ‘Ziptron’ Tata Motors announced its electric vehicle technology ‘Ziptron’, which will power a range of aspirational Tata electric cars, starting with a new launch in Q4 of FY20. Ziptron, a soon to be introduced EV powertrain technology, embodies distinctive characteristics: efficient high voltage system, zippy performance, long range, fast charging capability, battery with warranty of 8 years, and adherence to IP67 standard.

Ziptron technology comprises of a highly efficient permanent magnet AC motor providing superior performance on demand. It also offers best in industry dust and water proof battery system meeting IP67 standards. Further, Ziptrop

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utilises smart regenerative braking to charge the battery while on the drive.

With the launch of Ziptron, Tata Motors also rolled out the Ziptron Freedom 2.0 campaign. This campaign aims at highlighting how this technology breaks existing barriers and provides freedom from pollution, addresses range anxiety, and offers electrifying driving performance.

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B2B NEWS

Volkswagen Finance picks up 25% stake in Kuwy Technology Volkswagen Finance Pvt. Ltd. (VWFPL)India has recently entered into a strategic alliance with Kuwy Technology Service Pvt Ltd. by picking up a 25% equity stake in the latter.

Kuwy Technology is one of India’s leading instant lending digital platform and through this alliance which came into effect on September 3, 2019, Volkswagen Finance Pvt Ltd will now have access to Kuwy’s pan India network on car financing. The acquisition of stake is also in line with the India 2.0 strategy of VWFPL in a quest to offer better value to the consumer. VWFPL’s

Apollo Tyres has introduced the all-terrain tyres, Apollo Apterra AT2, for SUV enthusiasts. This allterrain tyre complements Apollo’s existing Apterra range including specialised Highway Luxury (HL), Highway Terrain (HT), High Performance (HP) and the All Terrain (AT) tyres for the SUVs.

association with Kuwy will help improve efficiency in processes and reduce the loan processing time making it a win-win for both dealers and customers. The alliance will also offer finance, insurance and warranty products for Volkswagen group customers on Kuwy platform.

GoMechanic inks services, maintenance partnership with Revolt Motors GoMechanic, a network of technologyenabled car service centres announced a services and maintenance partnership with Revolt Motors, makers of India’s first AI-enabled electric motorcycle.

The partnership is part of the “Electric Future” ethos for which GoMechanic will be making major infrastructure renovation at its workshops to accommodate dedicated EV servicing bays.

In the first phase, GoMechanic will extend service infrastructure through its network of workshops across Delhi.

A select few of these workshops will also host state-of-the-art battery swapping infrastructure and there will be training by Revolt of its mechanics and technicians for EV diagnosis, service and repairs, a press release stated.

A brainchild of two IIM-A graduates Kushal Karwa and Amit Bhasin, GoMechanic, founded in 2016, is currently India’s largest network

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Apollo Tyres Introduces SUV all-terrain tyres, Apollo Apterra AT2

of technology-enabled car service centres, offering a seamless car service experience at the convenience of a tap. GoMechanic’s asset light model with centralized bulk procurement of spare parts from OEM’s, zero realestate overheads and technologydriven efficiency, results in significant savings which are passed onto the customers. GoMechanic has 150+ car repair workshops across DelhiNCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru. It currently services 1+ million cars and is targeting 10 million customers by 2021.

Satish Sharma, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA), Apollo Tyres Ltd unveiled the tyre in the presence of the media, company’s business partners and the sales/marketing team.

Designed and developed as a collaborative effort between the two Global R&D Centres -- in Enschede, the Netherlands and in Chennai, India -- and a cross-functional team comprising members from R&D, Manufacturing, Service, Business Quality and Marketing, Apterra AT2 will be produced at the company’s Vadodara unit in Gujarat. This tyre has been thoroughly tested in the toughest of conditions in South Africa before being introduced today.

The company is looking at catering to the allterrain market of approximately 15,000 tyres/ month in India, and is introducing 8 sizes in phase 1, which are targeted towards vehicle like Endeavour, Fortuner, Pajero, Force One, Scorpio, XUV 500, Hexa and others. Another 6 sizes of Apollo Apterra AT2 would be launched in phase II, and together, the range will cover over 90% of the allterrain vehicle market.

Equipped to handle obstacles both on-road and off-road, the Apollo Apterra AT2 is designed to outperform on all terrains. It has a patented tread design with 3D interlocking sipes, tread with DPF technology and the shoulder design with SAWTooth technology, which provides a higher level of traction. Triplex casing and high tensile steel belts makes the tyre highly durable and impact resistant.

The herringbone grooves of the tyre ensure efficient water drainage on wet roads and provide better control during off-roading. The wider tread width provides stability during cornering.

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Lightweight Air Springs for buses from Continental Global technology company Continental has taken a major step toward reducing the weight of buses and trucks with its air spring system featuring an integrated plastic roller piston. Continental is confident that the on-trend concept of lightweight construction harbors significant potential for air spring system solutions.

Saving fuel, reducing CO2 emissions and ensuring outstanding ride comfort are just some of the potential benefits, the company states. This view is shared by others on the market, as one current example demonstrates: Bus manufacturer EvoBus is equipping its entire fleet of buses with a lightweight air spring featuring an integrated plastic roller piston.

These innovative roller pistons ensure outstanding ride comfort thanks to maximum utilisation of the inner air volume and their special design. Instead of steel or aluminum, plastic components made from polyamide are used. This helps to reduce weight without compromising the outstanding ride comfort.

Factors such as ever-stricter legal requirements for pollutant emissions, the growing demand for electric vehicles and hybrids as well as the desire for enhanced ride comfort and optimised vehicle dynamics are pushing the lightweight construction industry to deliver new innovations.

“We are facing some tremendous challenges in the automotive industry, with business models and markets undergoing major and rapid upheaval,” says Diethelm Bauch, who heads Air Spring Systems in Continental’s Commercial Vehicles Original Equipment segment, adding, “Lightweight design can make a key contribution, especially when it comes to energy efficiency and CO2 emissions. I see no end to this trend.

Our lightweight air springs have in one fell swoop given bus and commercial vehicle manufacturers a solution that offers much greater design flexibility. Plastic offers much greater design freedom and the capacity for customized, comfort-oriented design.”

This is a key advantage, especially in the e-mobility segment where the batteries themselves are very heavy and so all the other components need to be designed to offset the weight of the batteries and extend the vehicle range.

BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RELIABLE LIGHTWEIGHT AIR SPRINGS EvoBus has recognised these benefits and is now installing the lightweight comfort air springs in its buses, which operate all over the world. With this technology, Continental is a pioneer in lightweight construction and the first company ever to use comfort pistons made from polyamide. In addition to the reduced weight, outstanding ride comfort for the passengers and high

reliability of the air springs, it was above all the material expertise that prompted the bus company to make Continental their partner of choice. The Continental solution is also helping the company to meet the requirements of the EU’s Euro 6 emissions standard, which makes provisions for substantial reductions in pollutant levels for trucks and buses and has been mandatory for newly registered commercial vehicles since 2014. The extra weight added by increasingly complex exhaust gas after treatment systems can be effectively offset thanks to lightweight components.

Force Traveller Smart Citibus inducted into BEST fleet Force Traveller Smart Citibus was inducted into the BEST fleet for Mumbai commuters from metro and local stations.

The first lot of five Traveller Smart Citibuses (a part of 500 such Smart Citibuses planned

by BEST) were flagged off and dedicated to the Mumbai commuters at a grand ceremony by Uddhav Thackeray - President, Shiv Sena in the presence of local dignitaries and BEST officials.

The fully air-conditioned, 21 seater (+7 standees) Force Traveller is a hi-tech solution for public City Bus operations. The large, normal, single or double decker buses are plagued by

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low occupancy ratios and hence unprofitable to operate on feeder routes.

The Force Traveller has over the last three decades established itself as the market leader in the 9 to 25 seater van and minibus category.

It is today the preferred platform for school bus, staff bus, ambulances and tour/travel applications.

The major differentiating unique features of the Traveller is a proven monocoque panel van and it is powered by the proven Mercedes derived powertrain that offers most reliable performance besides best in class fuel economy.

OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 77

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Escorts to launch RIDER rural transport vehicle in 12 months at `3.5 lakh India’s leading engineering group Escorts Limited will be launching a multi-utility Rural Transport Vehicle (RTV) named Rider in the next 12 months in the price range of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh. This vehicle will be exported too. The company will also be commercially launching a hybrid tractor in the next two years. This was announced by Nikhil Nanda, Chairman & Managing Director, Escorts Ltd. Nanda was speaking to a large gathering of dealers, employees and suppliers at the company’s annual innovation platform, Esclusive 2019 held in Gurugram. The Esclusive annual show started in 2017 and it had then unveiled a concept electric tractor. The company has now started making this tractor. In the following year in 2018, the Esclusive platform showcased an autonomous tractor, which Nanda said will be launched in 2020 in India and abroad.

At the Esclusive 2019 event, Escorts unveiled three new prototype vehicles for the rural segment. These included a multi-utility Rural Transport Vehicle (RTV) concept named Rider, a hybrid concept tractor and a hybrid backhoe loader concept.

Escorts showcased India’s first multi-utility Rural Transport Vehicle, RTV concept named “Rider” to address the required mobility in rural farming and hard terrain maneuvering. The RTV will also enable applications in haulage, construction, agriculture produce logistics, and various other utility segments offering a payload capacity of 750 KG and an optional four-wheel drive mode.

The hybrid tractor is India’s first Hybrid Concept Tractor powered by fuel and battery both. The company is launching this in the range of 70-75 HP which can be boosted up to 90

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HP with the help of its hybridisation feature. This unique ability in a tractor brings to the market a product that reduces the emission and increases the efficiency for the customer. The company also displayed a range of tractor driven mini sugarcane harvester and self-propelled spraying technology, reaffirming its thought leadership in farm mechanisation and precision agriculture space.

Escorts’ Hybrid Tractor has four operating modes. In Hybrid mode, the machine uses two sources of energy, diesel, and electric, to propel the vehicle. In pure electric mode, the tractor can run only on batteries with zero emissions. In ICE direct mode, the tractor is driven and operated as a conventional tractor. It has three charging modes – Regeneration, when excess power is available while working, ICE (through Internal Combustion Engine) and plug-in mode, in which the vehicle in standstill

Nikhil Nanda, Chairman & Managing Director, Escorts Ltd. at the Escorts Esclusive 2019

Below: Hybrid backhoe loader

position is connected to a standard wall socket with a charging device..

The company also showcased a hybrid backhoe loader concept, India’s first, for smarter and greener construction equipment space. The loader is in the range of 50HP engine along with hybrid technology which can provide up to 75HP power. The machine has Regenerative mode which send back the energy to the battery during the excess power available in engine. It has three working modes – Hybrid, ICE -Diesel and Electric -Excavator only.

Ashok Leyland gets BS-VI certification for full range of heavy duty trucks Ashok Leyland, one of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturers in India, has become the first Indian OEM to meet the BS-VI emission norms across the full range of heavy duty trucks (GVW of 16.2T and above). Dr. N. Saravanan, Chief Technology Officer, Ashok Leyland, received the certificates, confirming compliance to BS-VI emission standard, from Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

ARAI is the leading automotive R&D organization of the country set up by the Automotive Industry with the Government of India. It is an autonomous body affiliated to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India, which offers comprehensive certification and homologation services for all kinds of vehicles.

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TECHNOLOGY

Hyundai Motor Group develops centre side airbag One wonders why no one thought about this all this while. Yes, Hyundai Motor Group has developed a new centre side airbag, further enhancing the safety of its vehicles. The airbag works to separate the space between driver and passenger. The Group will roll out the technology in upcoming vehicles.

At present cars have all kinds of airbags for the front driver and passenger- front, side, knee, etc. But the space between the driver and the co passenger in the front row was never seriously considered.

This new, additional airbag expands into the space between driver and passenger seats to prevent head injuries of passengers in the front row.

If there is no one in the front passenger seat, the airbag will protect the driver from side collision coming from the right side. The centre side airbag is installed inside the driver’s seat and will deploy once the impact is sensed.

The new centre side airbag is expected to diminish head injuries caused by passengers colliding with each other by 80%. According to the European

Automobile Manufacturers’ Association’s statistics, the rate of secondary damage caused by these kinds of collisions or from hitting interior materials is about 45%.

The Group has applied newly patented technology to maintain reliability but reduce the weight and size of the airbag.

Airbag has an internal component called tether which allows the airbag to maintain its form and withstand the passenger’s weight. Hyundai Motor Group has developed

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a new technology to simplify the design and reduce the weight of component produce an airbag which is about 500g lighter than the competing products. Thanks to the smaller size of the airbag, the Group’s design teams will have more flexibility in the type of seat design they envision for future products.

Upcoming Euro NCAP is expected to include side impact into its consideration beginning year 2020 and Hyundai Motor Group’s airbag is expected to work favorably in such evaluation.

OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 79

TECHNOLOGY

MulticoreWare, Uhnder to help accelerate automotive radar development MulticoreWare Inc. has collaborated with Uhnder to help drive both software and hardware development of Uhnder’s radar technology.

MulticoreWare, Inc. is the leading provider of products like Lipsync, x265, UHDKit and software development services targeting multicore architectures, handling data from various sensor types, and creating artificial intelligence solutions.

This collaboration entails MulticoreWare operating offshore development centres (ODC) for Uhnder and working with Uhnder and its customers on radar related development and support.

Uhnder is developing the first digital automotive Radar-onChip (RoC). The Uhnder RoC operates at 76-81 GHz and uses Digital Code Modulation (DCM)

that offers 4D High Contrast Resolution (HCR), which delivers range and accuracy not possible with other solutions currently on the market.

MulticoreWare offers development, porting and optimization of computation intensive algorithms running on Multicore CPUs (Central Processing Unit), DSPs (Digital Signal Processing) and GPUs (Graphical Processing Unit). The Uhnder ODC at MulticoreWare

continues to hire dedicated engineers for Uhnder to perform chip development, DSP software development, algorithm development and testing associated with the Uhnder Radar-on-Chip.

“Because of MulticoreWare’s flexibility and agility, plus their ability to quickly scale, we’re able to work with them on high-value projects that span the gamut from chip to hardware to software

to testing,” said Manju Hegde, CEO and Cofounder of Uhnder, MulticoreWare’s complementary ecosystem supports Uhnder’s activities across the board. In addition to the ODC operations, MulticoreWare has collaborated in several key product development efforts.

MulticoreWare has a proven track record in object detection and tracking using radar data through traditional imaging algorithms and neural network based algorithms.

“Our team in India has delivered world class software solutions for video compression and Image processing use cases. As we scale, our current team, as well as new additions will have the opportunity to work on exciting frameworks for Sensor data processing frameworks and deep learning” said AGK Karunakaran, CEO and Cofounder of MulticoreWare, Inc.

STMicroelectronics, Arrow Electronics release complete reference design ECU for EFI To help the automotive industry meet the upcoming emissions regulations for single- and twin-cylinder gasoline engines, STMicroelectronics, with Arrow Electronics, has released a complete reference design ECU (Electronic Control Unit) for electronic fuel-injection (EFI). The SPC5-L9177A-K02 ECU Reference Design targets small engines for motorcycles, scooters, and three wheelers, which must satisfy upcoming

Euro 5, Bharat Stage VI (BSVI), and China IV and beyond, and can also address generators, nautical engines, and agricultural engines equipped with EFI ECU. The reference design key components are ST’s SPC572L Line 32-bit Power Architecture automotivepowertrain microcontroller and L9177A high-integration IC hosting power supplies, interfaces and load actuators, which are specifically designed

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for the application and market needs. ST’s STGD18N40 IGBT and L9616 CAN interface IC are also included. The board is ready for customers to develop their applications, coming with a full ecosystem, including SPC5Studio Integrated Development Environment (IDE) which includes low-level drivers, a Generic Timer Module (GTM) configurator for the SPC572L Line, and powertrain libraries for engine crank

position sensor and actuations.

To overcome the complex challenges associated with electronic fuel injection, a basic application software developed in association with ST Partner eMoticom helps users start and manage a single-cylinder engine.

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TECHNOLOGY

IONITY introduces new high power charger IONITY, a joint venture of BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and the Volkswagen Group with Porsche AG, recently presented its innovative and new High-Power charger and also welcomed an additional shareholder Hyundai Motor Group on board.

IONITY welcomed onboard Hyundai Motor Group as their latest shareholder in the joint venture. Hyundai Motor Group which includes the Hyundai and Kia brands will be joining existing partners BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and the Volkswagen The joint venture’s mission is to make pan-European electromobility a reality. IONITY’s new, award-winning High-Power chargers are instantly recognisable thanks to their lighting concept and deliver a significantly improved user experience compared to what is currently available in Europe. The innovative styling is the result of intensive user research carried out by Designworks and is intended to make the charging experience more comfortable, more secure and less hassle.

advanced Human Machine Interface (HMI) screens, making the process of charging a vehicle as simple and stress-free as possible. Information is presented to the customer in a structured menu, which is easy to understand with commonality across all European markets. The IONITY HPC chargers which have already been installed across Europe will be updated accordingly in order to be able to incorporate the same menu.

Customers can select from up to ten languages across Europe . This is supported by a 24/7 hotline which from October will be able to respond in the seven most-frequently used European languages. The charging cable management system is now far more user friendly thanks to the helpful repositioning of the cable so that it feeds from above. In addition, this makes the cable more flexible

when approaching your vehicle and plugging in. The new chargers won the gold award at the 2019 iF Design Awards where 67 experts from more than 50 countries honoured the IONITY product design and said that, ‘ the IONITY electric charger is a highly aesthetic answer to one of the key issues of e-mobility: long distance travel.’

Michael Hajesch, IONITY CEO, said: “We are confident our new IONITY High-Power chargers will make a significant contribution to e-mobility in general and to the European IONITY HPC network in particular.

Forward-looking product design with innovative lighting solutions, userfriendly cable management, advanced digital user interface and classleading architecture will make EV charging more convenient and safer for customers.”

The IONITY High-Power charger with its iconic looks and improved easy-touse functionality – supports its vision to accelerate e-mobility by leading High Power Charging. At 2.6 metres in height, the all-new IONITY High-Power charger features a unique multifunctional LED light ring – The Halo – acting as a beacon on the highways at night and making it easier for drivers to find stations on forecourts.

The light ring communicates the chargers availability depending on the colour as well as providing a well-lit area helpful for drivers charging their cars during the hours of darkness. It communicates the state of charge by changing colour. As well as its distinct LED beacon, the new IONITY High-Power charger features

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OCTOBER 2019 | MOTOWN INDIA | 81

TECHNOLOGY

Dürr presents first automatic guided vehicles for paint shop of future Automobile production of the future is moving away from the production line and toward modular workstations. An important feature is flexible automatic guided vehicles or AGVs for short. Dürr presented for the first time an AGV specifically designed for paint shops as a new solution for more intelligent production at its Open House, which recently took place at the company’s headquarters in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany.

The Dürr Group has had a direct representation in India since 1997, and Schenck RoTec has since 1986. Dürr India, based in Chennai, offers painting, application, final assembly and energy efficiency technology products as well as exhaust-air purification systems.

Since April 2015, Dürr India has also been offering on-the-job as well as classroom training in paint and application systems to customers at its new training centre. Schenck RoTec India, in Noida, is responsible for balancing technology as well as for testing and filling technology.

painting lines, the process time for all car bodies depends on the model that requires the longest time in the individual stations. This results in waiting times for other bodies, which can be avoided with a modular process. Instead of transporting bodies using conveyor technology laid rigidly in the ground, they are moved independently and in parallel formation between work decks, like spot repair or polishing, and intermediate storage.

EcoProFleet enables a modular painting process in which different processing times for the car bodies no longer cause waiting times.

The resulting cost benefits are all the greater the more different and individual the bodies are constructed and painted. Downtimes caused by sudden malfunctions are also reduced to a minimum, since AGVs can be redirected to a different workstation or a different painting booth.

“Scalability and flexibility are becoming increasingly important in paint shops.

With EcoProFleet we have designed

the first AGV for paint shops and thus created an important enabler for these requirements,” says Jens Reiner, Director R&D and Product Management at Dürr, describing the significance of the new development.

EXACT FULFILLMENT OF PAINT-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Durr EcoProFleet AGV

EcoProFleet is the first AGV that has been specifically optimized for the needs of paint shops. Its paintand solvent-resistant platform is just 225 mm high. This low height means that the AGVs can go under all typical workstations and conveyor systems in order to drive a car body into a workstation, hand over, or pick up bodies, and thus work together perfectly at the interfaces. In order to transport the heavy loads, the EcoProFleet AGV is designed with an unladen weight of 850 kg in good proportion with the maximum load capacity of 1,000 kg. The integrated technology with laser scanner and safety limit speed guarantees a high level of safety.

EcoProFleet combines tried-andtested industrial components with innovative ideas, like a new energy storage concept. This means that the AGV is ready for operation around the clock – without breaks for charging at the power outlet.

Whether it’s small cars or SUVs, with electric motors or combustion engines, the range of vehicle models painted in a plant is ever-increasing.

Manufacturers want to be able to easily integrate new vehicle types into the production process. This desire for flexibility and scalability is pushing linear production to its limits.

The necessary migration to modular production is requiring manufacturers to rethink production logistics. In rigid

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