Innehållsförteckning för April 2021 från Car India

VOLKSWAGEN INDIA HAVE LAID OUT THEIR PLAN FOR THE forthcoming months with the focus on SUVs. The German giant, now settled in with the MQB-A0-IN platform at their facility at Chakan, near Pune, has a slew of launches lined up in the SUV space. The new range will see more units of the CBU T-Roc compact SUV brought in after the first lot got sold out in almost no time. Their other CBU offering, the Tiguan Allspace seven-seat urban SUV, will also have more units brought in for sale. Another big move is the re-introduction of the five-seater urban SUV, the Tiguan, with still very generous normal space. The big announcement, though, is the fourth offering: the all-new Taigun. The Taigun will sit below the Tiguan and take on the…

THE ALL-NEW ŠKODA KUSHAQ HAS BEEN REVEALED TO the world. The new compact SUV is the Czech challenger in the burgeoning segment and should make for an exciting new choice. The name “Kushaq” is derived from the Sanskrit word for “king” or “emperor”. Based on the MQB-A0-IN transverse-front engine platform, it will be made in India for the world. The Kushaq, inspired by the crystalline design language, looks premium as well as bold and muscular. It is 4,225 mm long, 1,760 mm wide, and 1,612 mm high, with a long 2,651-mm wheelbase. A ground clearance of 188 mm and a sizeable 385-litre boot are reassuring numbers, too. Inside, the Kushaq packs a smart interior with a new steering wheel, ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, 10-inch touchscreen, wireless Smartlink, Apple CarPlay,…

The Buyer’s (Usual) Dilemma Which of these two would prove a better option: The Tata Nexon XM S or the Kia Sonet HTK+? My priorities include good performance and low maintenance. My budget can go up to Rs 9 lakh (ex-showroom). Please advise me. Spandan Das, via social media Dear Spandan, Based on your requirements, we believe the Kia Sonet will suit you best. It has good performance, a nice interior, and it fits your wallet too. As we always advise, do take a test-drive before making the final decision. The ‘Rubber Band Effect’ What is the “rubber band effect” that people often mention while describing the performance of a continuously variable transmission (CVT)? Meghabarna Thiyam, via social media Hello, Meghabarna, Simply put, “rubber band effect” is used to describe…

How is the India 2.0 Project coming along? Right from the product design and the features that we wanted in it – a lot of local voice there, compared to the past. Other than that, everything that goes into making the car, right from who your tool makers are going to be? Who your equipment suppliers are going to be? We worked very hard to move from our traditional sources which were far more expensive, to others who were equally effective and who focused on things that really matter not just in the car but also in everything that is there in the factory, in the tooling, to get it to a level where we can now have a car that has everything that a VW has but at the…

MCLAREN ARE WELL able to talk at length about precisely what it is that makes their very best cars special. (And let’s be clear, one or two have been very special indeed; notably the P1, the 720S, and the 675LT.) But what does McLaren mean to you? Because almost regardless of your answer, positive or negative, the Artura, which represents a hard reset for the Woking car-maker (new carbon tub, new electrical architecture, new infotainment, new powertrain) looks like progress of the positive kind. If you have never understood McLaren’s range, the Artura should bring clarity. Most obviously, it has a name, not a number, and the baffling old Super Series/Sports Series classifications are gone. Going forward, McLaren will offer GTs like, erm, the GT, supercars (for now a two-car…

MEN GO FOR A HAIRCUT AND EMERGE from the barber’s looking as if a lawnmower has done a number on their scalp. Meanwhile, women look almost the same before and after their trip to the salon. The same can be said of the Maruti Suzuki Swift’s makeover. On the visual front, the changes are limited to a slightly reworked front end and, for the first time in a Swift, a dual-tone paint job. The red-and-black combination looks particularly appealing on this familiar bodywork and the car spread across these pages also features a few extra accessories such as chrome highlights, tail-lamp shrouds, and a spoiler. Inside the cabin, nothing has changed. Nothing major, anyway. The Swift continues to retain its robust build quality and everything in the cabin feels like…

Why is it here? Because the 992-gen 911 remains the definitive four-seat performance car, and because the M3 and 911 grudge match predates the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yes, the 911 is a sports car and the M3 a sports saloon, and yes the Carrera S is some £20k (Rs 20 lakh) more expensive than the BMW, but if the non-S Carrera (£83k) (Rs 83 lakh) is closer on price it’s also out-gunned, mustering just 385 hp to the M3 Comp’s 510 hp. The £94k (Rs 94 lakh) PDK Carrera S brings 450 hp to the party and, courtesy of its lighter weight (1,515 kg DIN versus the BMW’s 1,730 kg DIN) and rear-engined layout, pips the more powerful M3 Comp’s 3.9-sec 0-100-km/h by 0.2 of a second, or…

THE M3 TAKES THE VALUE-FOR-MONEY trophy — that is as clear as a melt-water stream. By comparison, the 911 is a disappointing exemplar of extreme de-contenting and almost eye-wateringly ambitious pricing. If you choose the Carrera S then certainly you can create a more affordable example of the breed than this car, and give away very little in the process. The only chassis-related option to be considered a must-have is the rear-wheel steering. Its almost imperceptible good work burnishes the already agile yet stable 911 with more of both, giving it a crucial edge against the BMW on give-and-take roads. It’s one reason the Porsche manages to feel more firmly planted than the M3 more of the time (the BMW fields an immaculately balanced 50:50 weight distribution), helped of course…

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I FELT THIS WAY while driving a car in this segment. The drive out of the city was comfortable but the run up the hill was exhilarating. The eyes gathered information in heaps, the brain worked overtime to process it and then relay the right messages to my limbs. Part of me remained calm and enjoyed the drive to the maximum because I was fully convinced that the car would go as the hands directed it and that horsepower would come galloping when beckoned by the right foot, thanks to the turbo that spun like a kid who had too much sugar. What is even more remarkable was that the car I was driving was not entirely new. In fact, so little has changed…

JEEP HAVE INTRODUCED their new flagship with a focus on sophistication, authenticity, and modern mobility. The large SUVs will be available in a number of variants, Series I, II, and III, several option packs, seven or eight seats, rear- or four-wheel drive, and V8 petrol engines. Wheel sizes of 18 inches (with the Off Road pack), 20 inches, and 22 inches are offered. The Wagoneer duo offer comfortable seating for up to eight occupants, a modern interface with advanced Uconnect 5, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and immense cargo capacity from 776 litres with all seats up and with as much as 3,304 litres up to the first row. Air suspension is also on offer. The Wagoneer gets a 5.7-litre V8 mild-hybrid engine with 397 hp and 548 Nm and…

WE VISITED THE JAGUAR-LAND ROVER SHOWROOM IN Mumbai to experience something truly special: the Jaguar I-Pace. We’ll have to wait a little longer to drive the car, but here’s our first impression of the British brand’s first all-electric car. It’s also India’s second luxury EV after the Mercedes-Benz EQC. And like the Mercedes, the I-Pace will be imported as a completely built-up unit (CBU) and, as expected, bears a hefty price tag of Rs 1.06 crore (ex-showroom). The design remains true to the Jaguar philosophy with pronounced front wheel-arches, a sloping roof-line, and a neat rear diffuser, not to mention this also helps this electric car slice cleanly through the air. Powering this luxury EV is a 90-kWh battery that sends power to two electric motors, one powering the front…

CITROËN BELIEVES THAT LA MAISON CITROËN Phygital Showroom will disrupt the trend of traditional automobile display in India. They say that its sole purpose is to give its customers a comfortable experience with its warm, friendly, and colourful ambience. The interior features a natural wood finish and colourful inscriptions that invite customers to experience the Citroën brand and its century-old legacy while making them feel right at home. Meanwhile, a giant screen placed on the façade will play intriguing visuals that attract ardent car enthusiasts and the curious passer-by alike. The phygital showroom is fully compliant with Citroën India’s ATAWADAC experience (Any Time Any Where Any Device Any Content) and is equipped with a high-definition 360-degree 3D configurator. Features such as the ATAWADAC reception bar, high-definition 3D configurator, and Citroën…

PERHAPS IT’S A SMALL, MOSTLY harmless manifestation of our all-consuming desire to impose order on the natural and fairly chaotic way of things, but there’s something deeply attractive about a round number. 283 km/h, 285… Hands fight to stay relaxed on the BMW’s steering wheel. My attention is focused so intently on the speeding grey scar of autobahn ahead that I think my conscious self left the steel-and-aluminium confines of the M3 a while back — it now gazes down on the world and this shimmering emerald projectile as if from a drone. Munich grows small behind us and the mountainous Austrian Tyrol draws closer at a quite breathtaking rate, the M3 Competition’s throttle pedal at the full extent of its travel with a level of commitment that surprises even…

THE VOLKSWAGEN POLO HAS HAD AN UP and down story in the premium hatchback segment in India. Known for its build quality and handling, the car was hailed by many but sold to few. Today the competition has become stiffer than ever with the Koreans having just launched their latest offering with enough goodies to indulge even the “one percenters” of modern civilisation. So, can the current Volkswagen Polo GT make it in the premium hatchback segment today? Well, on the whole, we’d say ‘lukewarmly’, but, the Polo GT that we have just driven still comports itself for a fair standing which does hold firm. Let’s start with the design which has remained more or less unchanged since its inception, give or take a facelift or two. Regardless of that…

PETROL IS BECOMING A MAINSTAY IN THE LINE-UP FOR many car manufacturers regardless of the size of their vehicles. Some still offer diesels but that’s not what this is about. Is the arrival of a petrol engine in the BMW X3 all about being quieter and more refined? Or is it more to cater to those who only buy petrols? Regardless, it’s quite a potent thing and it deals with all surfaces well. We decided to show it some more town, some rough stuff, and even take it off the beaten path for a little while. The X3 has always been mid-size crossover SUV, or “Sports Activity Vehicle” as BMW refer to it, that never grew on me. It seemed compromised and ugly, not to mention pointless, until the new…

THE ARCTIC RALLY FINLAND BEGAN WITH a stunning performance by Ott Tänak (Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team). The Estonian was in top form and established his dominance by winning the opening speed tests. When he returned to the overnight halt in Rovaniemi, he had a solid 16.2-second advantage over his teammate, Craig Breen. Behind the duo, Kalle Rovanperä ended the day in a well-deserved third place. Breen’s speed was remarkable considering that he had been out of action for four rallies. In fact, in the initial stages, Breen was faster than Tänak but missed the opportunity to claim the lead because he made a mistake mid-way. Championship leader Sébastien Ogier (Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team) finished in ninth place. A major part of the rally took place on…

INDIAN RACING DRIVER, AKHIL RABINDRA, HAS been confirmed with the AGS Events Racing Team for the 2021 European GT4 Championship. The 24-year-old Bengaluru lad will start his first race at the legendary Monza circuit in Italy in his Aston Martin Racing V8 GT4 machine. Akhil is a product of the highly respected Aston Martin Racing (AMR) Driver Academy, the only Asian to do make it in the past two years. He made his début in the French GT4 championship before joining this year’s European championship. Akhil will be joined by the young Frenchman, Hugo Conde, in the team. The European GT4 Championship will consist of 12 races in six countries, starting on 16 April, where AGS Events Racing Team hope to continue their successful début, being the reigning Silver, Pro-Am,…

THE NEW, ALL-ELECTRIC KIA BRINGS IN A MORE EXCITING TAKE ON THE EV. BUILT ON the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the exterior represents the “power to progress”: an evolution of Kia’s strength in design and a culmination of expertise. The sleek, modern front sees sharp daytime lights; a part of the “Digital Tiger Face” meant to evoke the signature tiger-nose grille for the electrified era. The side profile is crossover-inspired and is meant to appear modern, sleek, and aerodynamic. The platform allows for a futuristic interior with an innovative use of increased space. A curved high-definition audio, video, and navigation screen adorns the dash. The simple form language of the screen and the slim dashboard give an open feel. It displays an instrument cluster in front of the driver…

BEYOND THE LIMITS OF RESTRICTION, THAT’S WHAT THE PAGANI Huayra R is. The successor to the track-only Zonda R, the Huayra R aims to raise the performance benchmark yet again. A super-light body, bare carbon-fibre, light but high-strength components, and a new V12 engine are only the tip of the iceberg. The Huayra R monocoque was specifically developed to guarantee total involvement and the unadulterated driving experience of a racing car. It incorporates the seats fully with six-point safety belts. All essential controls are immediately available on the quick-release steering wheel, with the gear-shift paddles mounted at the rear. The use of Carbo-Titanium HP62-G2, Carbo-Triax HP62 and chrome-molybdenum alloy steel in the construction, monolithic wheels and brake calipers, and carbon-ceramic brakes sees a dry weight of just 1,050 kilograms. The…

THE LUXURY SEDAN. AH, YES. THAT GLEEFUL option for the mature soul, offering a pleasant and pampered journey. With a blend of opulent grandeur and performance, these machines generally come with a price tag that scares most people. What one would need is a halfway point between the demand made on one’s wallet and plushness. What one needs is a new sedan that screams this very point. What one needs is the new Škoda Octavia. Ever since its launch two decades ago, the Octavia has always retained luxury as one of its characteristics. Well-built, sturdy, a supremely comfortable interior and a full set of features to make competitors wobbly in the knees were the aspects at the core of the Octavia’s selling point. Now, in 2021, we are about to…

PICTURE THIS. A CONVOY OF HONDAS snaking through some of the most amazing driving roads in the south-western state of Karnataka, making overnight stops at serene locations and doing it all over again the next day. Sounds like a far-fetched dream, doesn’t it? I would agree, except that I did live this dream for three days in a row. Along with other journalists, I drove from Bengaluru to Goa, exploring whatever lay in between, taking some nice photographs, sampling the local food and, of course, trying out all the cars in Honda India’s current line-up. We started from the Bengaluru airport and headed for the hills, Chikmagalur to be precise. My innings began at the wheel of a petrol-manual Amaze and the car’s plush ride quality and infotainment options kept…

Modular engines. Modular platform. Flexibility. Yet something’s different. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé has a petrol variant in India and, surprising or not, it’s a 220i and it packs near about 200 hp. That’s a decent amount for a 1.5-tonne family car. Especially considering it brings a more than decent 280 Nm of torque to go with it. But a front-transverse engine and wheels powered and steered ahead of the driver make for a different experience. We’d driven the 220d turbo-diesel version not too long ago. This one feels different. Very different. A petrol-engine family car from a premium brand has a special ring to it for many. Especially someone stepping up for the first time. It’s sleek, turns heads, and looks fast standing still. It’s got compact proportions…

AFTER A TOUGH PREVIOUS YEAR AND A rather anxious start to 2021, the racing season kicked off in full swing with Max Verstappen and the Red Bull Racing Honda team showing they were right up there on pace with the reigning world champions, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes-AMG Petronas. After setting top times in the practice sessions and clinching pole position, things were looking on the up for Verstappen. However, with the Mercedes-AMG cars right up there and the McLarens of Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo now with Mercedes power, it looked certain to be quite a spectacle. Furthermore, with the new Aston Martin Racing team of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll with Mercedes powertrains, the returning double world champion Fernando Alonso in the refreshed Alpine F1 team…

IN THE FIRST F2 RACE OF THE WEEKEND, JEHAN started from fifth but, when the race got under way, quickly moved up into fourth after which he stayed behind the podium pack at the front. He drove intelligent laps to conserve his tyres and did not push his car. Halfway through the race, the German racer, David Beckmann, was in his sights. He took third by pushing him into the corner and then going around the outside. The French racer, Theo Pouchaire, who had started on pole, was next in line. Jehan quickly closed the gap and, just as he was about to make a move, Theo’s car suffered a technical issue, thus allowing Jehan to move up to second. Liam Lawson of New Zealand was in the lead by…