MOTORING
THE WEEKLY OBSERVER SUPPLEMENT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017
Feel-Good City Slicker Maruti Suzuki has found another winner in Ignis Aneesh Srinivasan
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aruti Suzuki has become synonymous with the family car. Their latest offering, the Ignis is one of its kind, with the design a mix of modern and retro. Their Nexarange of hatchbacks launched last year looks upmarket yet is affordable for the first-time car buyer. The torchbearer for this rangeis the S-Cross which is selling well. Then camethe Baleno, which still sellsvery well. The Ignis is the latest addition to the Nexa line up. Maruti has done a really job when it comes to the design. The front looks really aggressive and the headlampsare all new units, with LED DRLs that look uber cool. The rear however looks like that of a1980’s car, it looks vintage. This confluence of different styles makes it attractive. It has fish-like gills on the C-pillar, which itself is quite thick. The grille also looks sporty and the accents on the hood add to the overall sportiness of the car. The roofline is quite high, giving it the tall boy appearance that Maruti made famous with the Wagon-R. The flared wheel arches give it a beefy look, which is new for Maruti. When you get into the car, you’d be hard pressed to find one element that resembles the Maruti of yore. The designers seem to have torn up the playbook. The huge tablet like touchscreen infotainment system is what catches your eyes as you seat yourself in the driver’s seat. The dash
however is quite plain for a car in this price range. It has a plain white and black design. The driver seat itself is well padded and comfortable. Visibility from the driver’s seat is wonderful as you areseated quite high off the ground.
There is a rotary type control for the aircon vent and toggles for other controls, which makes you feel like you’re in the cockpit of a fighter jet. There are body coloured door handles inside the car and the cubbyhole is also colour coordinated with the exterior. The touchscreen infotainment system comes with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The rear seats are comfortable too with ample legroom and headroom. This is possible because of the overall boxy shape of the car. The rear seats can also be split 60:40 to
make more boot space. The engine is very familiar. The diesel and petrol engines are taken from the Baleno. The Ignis being lightweight helps it accelerate faster than the Baleno. The diesel engine produces 75 horsepower and 190 Nm, while the petrol churns out 84 hp and 113 Nm. The car is available with both manual and automated manual transmission configurations. The manual seems more responsive in the diesel while the AMT gearbox seems more eager to accelerate in the petrol motor. Variants use the same terminology as the Baleno and S-Cross. They are Sigma, Delta, Zeta and Alpha, with Sigma and Alpha being the lower and higher ends respectively. The best pick would be the Zeta AMT petrol, as it has a sweet combination of features and a reasonable price. Prices starts at Rs. 4.59 lakh for the petrol and goes up to Rs. 7.80 lakh for the top-end diesel. The top-end of the line features15-inch black-alloy wheels, SmartPlay Infotainment system, sunglass like front grille and headlamps and much more. The ride quality and overall usability of the car is unmatched. The small size lets you weave through traffic with ease. Combined with a peppy engine, it makes for an enjoyable city- driving experience. Sadly, on the highway manners the engine feels inadequately powered and the steering doesn’t weigh up well. In sum,I’d say that Ignis is a great car for the daily office commute or the occasional highway run. Considering the price and features, I think Maruti has another best seller on its hands.
Song of the Open Road Motoring getaways in south India Anjala Farahath
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eplace the soul-crushing grind of the everyday commute with a ride through picturesque landscapes on beautiful roads that run throughout the expanse of South India. From Karnataka to Kanyakumari, these state and national highways promise to lure the motor-head in you to head out of the city. For drivers who enjoy putting the pedal to the metal, here’s the low down on the best roads to explorein South India before summer sets in. Shimoga to Goa If Goa’s your destination and you choose this road, you're one step closer to an epic holiday. The 360-km drive is bound to give you an enthralling experience. The route via NH69 and NH66 highways offers you a mix of straight roads and ghats that traverse the Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Reserve, Jog Falls and Honavar, all of which are recommended stopovers. About 10 km from ShimogaliesKarnataka’s popular wildlife destination Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Reserve. For the wildlife enthusiast, there are safaris organised by the forest department. From here, the road gradually becomes a snaking two-lane highway, bound by lush green on either side that takes you uphill to Jog falls, an 829-foot drop carved by the watercourse of Sharavthi River. After you’ve crossed this mesmerising spot, the road descends to NH66, through the smoothPanvel-Kanyakumari highway that runs pastKarwar before reaching Goa via Palolem. Bengaluru to Coimbatore The Bengaluru-Coimbatore Road via Salem and Avinashi is a green corridor lined with coconut trees. The
350-km drive is one of the best in South India, with picture-perfect surroundings and a road that your machine will love. The road is alsolined with eateries and bakeries that offers great food and filter coffee. The untamed, windswept views along this smooth dual-carriage road are enticing.
Kolhapur-Belagavihighway is one of the best stretches among the country's four-way expressways. Passing through the suburbs, the road opens up into glorious countryside before reaching Belagavi. With tarmac on one side and concrete on the other, the dual-toned NH4 that connects Mumbai-Bengaluru almost seems to stretchendlessly. If you’re feeling a tad more adventurous, a little detour from the NipaniGhat will lead you to Goa. Although, it’s a drive of 114 km, this is a joyride. Coimbatore to Kanyakumari
Belagavi to Goa Belgavi in north Karnataka is just a stone’s throw away from Goa. Among the array of roads that radiate from Belgavi, the route via Khanapur, Anmod and Ponda breathes a sense of fresh air. The single carriageway cuts through awe-inspiring views of evergreen forests. During the monsoon, this road is a traveller’s delight.Regularly interspersed with eateries, the journey down this routeguaranteesstunning landscapes, and smooth and empty roads. Kolhapur to Belagavi The region around Belagavi, with its extensive network of well-laid roads, puts the rest of the state to shame. The
The scenic expedition along the Coimbatore-Dharapuram- Karur highway to reach the southern tip of the country, Kanyakumari, is a mandatory road trip for the motor-head. Although a handful of intersections interrupt this 440-km journe, it’s smooth sailing down a dual carriageway with breathtaking views of the Western Ghats. Bounded by windmills and lowhills, Karungkulam prepares you for the magnificent sunset at Kanyakumari. As you enter Kanyakumari, amidst the gradually increasing traffic you’ll be welcomed by a signboard you’ve been waiting for. It simply reads, “Road Ends” but what it means is Land’s End: a little carelessness and you could be fish feed in the mighty Indian Ocean. These beautiful roads not only offer spectacularly scenic views but combine variety, elevation and length, smooth and seamless driving, not to mention minimal traffic, that is a treat for your wheels. A trip on a city street is rarely a pleasurable one. About time we leave behind the potholes and the choking traffic for the elusive and fabled paradise of the open road.