New Delhi, Friday, February 07, 2014
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ACCESSORIES Maruti and Renault had some of the best acessories. A special highlight on day one was Mini India launching John Cooper Works, with accessories that include special exterior accents, interior features and an aerodynamic package
ONE HECK OF AN AUTO ADVENTURE!
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BUSES The yet-to-be launched colourful double decker from Tata was hard to miss
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CONCEPT CARS The Kuuid from Renault stole the show, thanks to its aerodynamic appearance. Suzuki Ciaz, Datsun Concept (codename: I2), Honda XS-1 are others worth a mention
DIGITAL PRODUCTS ENGINE DISPLAY
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Audi’s digital products stood out. Be it a cigarette lighter or a tyre inflator, everything is a button, or shall we say a click away Revotron, a 1.2-litre turbo petrol unit, used by Ferrari and Tata, was showcased on the opening day
Set at an all-new venue in Greater Noida, Asia’s largest motor show is sleeker, sassier and edgier this time
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mahim.gupta@hindustantimes.com
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he entire city’s talking about it, so we thought it’s time we got you the best stuff from the biggest auto show in town. The 12th edition of the Auto Expo, which opens for the p ublic in Greater Noida today, has on display 23 car and SUV exhibitors, 47 vehicle exhibitors, 10 Commercial Vehicle exhibitors and 6 electric vehicle exhibitors. It is the second-largest auto show in the world, next only to the Frankfurt Motor Show. The two media preview days that have passed at the Auto Expo have seen much action on the star attraction front too, with the likes of Priyanka Chopra, Sachin Tendulkar, Kareena Kapoor and Narain Karthikeyan turning heads. Here’s our rundown of the A to Z of the show that caught our eye on the opening day.
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ZOOMING ZONES Speed doesn’t scare you? Good. You can experience velocity up to 200 kmph at the gaming center simulators
YAMI GAUTAM Dressed in refreshing casuals, the actor posed for us at the show
X FACTOR From state-of-the-art facilities to the neverseen-before auto property, this year’s edition may just make Germany lose its standing of hosting the numero uno motor show
WORKSHOPS
Check out the many free virtual workshops at the carnival that tell visitors about the nitty-gritty of auto manufacturing
(INPUTS BY ARUN CHANGRANI)
FACT FILE WHAT: 12th Auto Expo 2014 WHERE: India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida ON TILL: February 11 TIMINGS: 1pm onwards on weekdays, 10am onwards on weekends NEAREST METRO STATION: Noida Golf Course metro station on the Blue Line
f The apple of the race-enthusiast’s eye is the Lotus Renault F1 car, weighing 642 kgs
The venue is an hour’s drive from Connaught Place
FORMULA ONE CONNECT
Auto Expo sign boards on Noida roads are helpful Restaurants apart, there are several kiosks spread out at the mart for a quick bite
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INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE Crossover cars are a rage at the exhibition. The SX4 S-Cross from Maruti was launched on the first day
JAMMING
Before you know, there would be an impromptu gig in front of you. A song-and-dance tribute to MJ caught our fancy on the opening day
UNIVERSITY TALENT
20 concept cars and projects at the expo are thanks to students-turned-car modelers who are showcasing their interesting auto creations
TECHNOLOGY
Heads-up display (HUD), a transparent or miniaturized display, used for navigation was a popular display on the first day
From `150-200 in 2012, tickets have risen to `200-300
One electric model that caught fancy was car maverick Dilip Chhabria’s new EM4. Tata’s Starbus Hybrid was also launched
HATCHBACKS
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Masthe Classic (above) glowed in gold. Rolls Royce, Hudson and Jaguars from the yore were also displayed
VINTAGE CARS
There is a spacious public car parking at the venue
GO GREEN
Mahindra Reva and Maruti Ritz were unveiled with a makeover. Maruti Celerio and Chevrolet Beat are available with three fuel options. Figo presented its new hatchback
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KAREENA KAPOOR She might not know how to drive, but her presence created quite a stir at the event
SACHIN TENDULKAR
The maestro’s connect with cars goes a long way. He came for the BMWi8 launch PHOTO: AP/SAURABH DAS
RESTAURANTS There is a food court, and there are cafes and bars. But with most things expensive, CCD had the maximum rush
QUIRKINESS
The gimmicks are getting smarter. Hyundai displays a screen where you can show your creative side and paint their car the way you wan. Another attraction is that when you approach the TVS counter, you can experience their dirt bike virtually by putting on funky 3d glasses
PRIYANKA CHOPRA
With the Bollywood heartthrob in attendance, who was watching the Land Rover LWB she unveiled?
OPEN SPACES
The spread-out expo mart as the setting gives the fair a whole new status
PHOTO: PTI/SHIRISH SHETE
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LOUNGES From Wi-fi facility to medical aid, all little things are taken care of at the expo. The halls had luxurious lounging areas that have hitherto been unseen at the Pragati Maidan editions. The international visitors seemed pleased
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The SUVS, with their muscular exterior design, big power and ample comfort, are some of the key features of SUVs at the show. Hyundai’s Sante Fe, Mercedes GLA and BMW M5 are some bold, big mean machines that deserve a mention
How can India’s best racer be missing from the scene? The Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe was unveiled by India’s star racing driver
PHOTOS: WASEEM GASHROO, DESIGN: PUNEET KUMAR