Innehållsförteckning för August 2022 från Car India

WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OF Maharashtra? That is a question that we intended to answer by touring this massive state in the compact and capable Hyundai Venue. Using a car equipped with the latest technology and design to experience history and culture, that’s almost poetic. Unlike our choice of wheels, our choice of dates for this trip was far from ideal because we found ourselves in the middle of an early onset of monsoon with imminent alerts along the charted route. However, we were in a car that could handle the weather and, on that trust, we headed for Aurangabad with some rain and an open highway for company. On this stretch, the Venue munched miles effortlessly, the three-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine was in its element and delivered a steady wave…

GOA’S COASTLINE IS ALMOST 100 kilometres long and its beaches have become quite well-liked vacation spots. But Goa offers much more than just the beach. It is wonderful from June to September when it is monsoon. The rain offers romance and relaxation and Goa develops a more traditional feel as nature grows. You may experience the monsoon in Goa the traditional way if you go there during that time. Our ride for this road trip was the Nissan Magnite in Vivid Blue with a Storm White roof that really stood out amongst the grey monsoon clouds. The Nissan Magnite is remarkable in every way. With the huge, brash, and gorgeous SUV, we got to see Japanese engineering in action. You’re hooked with just one glimpse. With its powerful lines and…

WHAT THE HECK. LET’S GO FOR IT. Can this car really reach 200 km/h in eight seconds flat? Hit 100 km/h in a time-warp 2.8 seconds? Exert enough stopping power to send your eyeballs out on stalks? Open the g-force floodgates and flush the brain from one side of the skull to the other? Yes, it can. It asks the driver to commit and rewards that commitment with a fantastically thrilling experience. Judged purely in 2022 supercar terms, it never truly excels on winding B-roads because of its size and ride quality And just look at it. The limited-edition Countach LPI 800-4, based on the discontinued Aventador, is not one of Sant’Agata Bolognese’s more over-the-top specials, but pays neat homage to Marcello Gandini’s bedroom-poster favourite. The comeback Countach’s appearance is…

ADMIT IT. WE’VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT Lexus cars over time and a lot more about electric cars over the recent years. After spending time with the premium Japanese models, however, any prejudice tends to vaporise. With the latter in terms of a “fuel”, there is still a lot left wanting. Electric charging is still in a nascent, chicken-and-egg stage. However, as a power source, there are some inherent—and undeniable—benefits. Electric motor cars are quick! The Lexus UX is the smallest model with an SUV body style in the premium Japanese brand’s line-up. At less than 4.5 metres long with a 2,640-millimetre wheelbase, the UX has a rather compact footprint. Yet, it’s wide but low, making for good road presence and an aerodynamic form. The new take on the…

YOU DO NOT KNOW what you have got until it is gone. Not literally gone in the case of the combustion-engined Mercedes E-Class and BMW 3/4 Series, but clearly beating a hasty retreat from decades of loyal service. Decades in which we have got very excited about the flagship AMG and M versions, but also come to trust the lesser models and to take for granted their all-round excellence. By hanging on to elements of the styling and the naming, both manufacturers are clearly hoping to carry over some of that goodwill to their electric equivalents. In the case of the BMW, it is not all smoke and mirrors. The i4 is based on the same Cluster Architecture (CLAR) as the 4 Series and both inside and outside it looks…

British GP “Smooth Operator” Carlos Sainz of Ferrari lived up to his nickname during the wet British Grand Prix qualifying. One perfect lap around Silverstone gave the Spaniard his first-ever pole position. Behind him, Max Verstappen in the Red Bull and Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari had moments on the track when they spun their cars but they managed to qualify in second and third places respectively. Verstappen’s choice of soft tyres allowed him to get the jump over Sainz’s choice of mediums at the start and the defending world champion led the race straight away. Behind them, Lewis Hamilton gained two places off the line in his Mercedes and went straight to third place. This was immediately followed by one of the most horrific crashes during this season when…

Sporty Appeal The Swift’s design is contemporary modern and reflects its inner sporty character. The fresh lines and curvy bodywork are unlike any other and it shines through in final form. The stunning looks make for limitless sporty appeal. The LED projector headlamps stand out, while the LED rear combination laps leave a distinct signature. The dual-tone paint finish is complemented perfectly by the snazzy new two-tone alloy wheels and black mirror caps. Youthful Exuberance The essence of a car makes itself clear upon spending just a few moments within. The Swift’s sporty aura never fails to draw in the youth who see their car as a reflection of themselves—young, vibrant and full of energy. The Swift brings all those elements and then some, offering remote keyless entry with smart…

KENWOOD Flagship ModelDMX9720XS With a revolutionary 10.1 inch display, this top-end model offers crystal clear picture quality 10.1 inch HD floating display Smartphone-centric (non-DVD model) Floating panel mechanism with three-way position adjustment (depth, height and tilt) Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay Wireless Android Auto Smartphone Mirroring for Android (wireless) Hi-Res Audio for high-quality sound experience (wireless also available) Can play MPEG1,2 & 4/H.264/MKV/ WMV video formats and FLAC/DSD/ MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV audio formats Around-view-monitoring ready by E-Lead (optional KCA-2020AVM unit to be purchased separately) Dash cam link (optional dash cam DRV-N520 to be purchased separately) Four-camera inputs with HD Camera input/AV in/video out Parametric EQ/13-band graphic EQ/time alignment/thee-way X’Over/high voltage 5.0V three-preouts HD Display with 1280 x 720p LCD panel with high luminance white LED backlight and superior wide viewing angles, is…

FEATURE Safety in the Honda City THE HONDA CITY IS A NAME THAT NEEDS no introduction. With style, performance and safety features that are truly best-in-class and even first-in-class, the innovative new City takes things further. The Honda City is a cutting-edge modern sedan that makes a special place for comfort and safety with technology at its core. The ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body utilizes ultra-high-strength tensile steel plates in the frame, including super-high formability grade steel to provide better rigidity and, thus, more stable driving—and also to absorb impacts during high-speed collisions. The new Honda City features a slew of active safety aids to ensure that a crash or any untoward incident is avoided in the first place. These include the first-in-segment Agile Handling Assist along with Vehicle Stability…

I MUST SAY SOME THINGS ARE LOOKED FORWARD to more than many others and, for me, the new Tucson was one of those. Ever since its international reveal some time ago, the unique front end and lighting had me in awe of the detail. The desire to drive it was fuelled by much more, though. The previous Tucson was an incredible car to drive. It was sturdy, had a high-quality and well-appointed interior, and even the option of an all-wheel-drive variant. However, the world has turned round several times since then and a lot has changed. Hyundai have decided to step it up a few notches—again—and that brings me to the all-new Tucson. The all-new Tucson is the fourth generation of Hyundai’s SUV bestseller. It is the third iteration to…

WITH THE COMPETITION RUNNING amok, offering not one but several iterations of their luxury and super-luxury limousines—and in petrol, diesel, and even hybrid guises—it was time for Audi to counter-attack with a luxury saloon flagship as well. The new A8, then, represents the pinnacle of Audi’s vorsprung durch technik in this day and age, with a focus on design and technology that envelops interaction, connectivity, safety, and comfort. The variant we have here is aptly called “Technology”. The fourth-generation A8, introduced in 2017, raised Audi’s saloon to a new level with respect to power, style, and equipment. With a sharp new design for the face, a chrome-laden and bolder front grille, and a revised tail, Audi have ensured that the A8 L has a greater presence while embodying an elegant…

AUDI INDIA RECORDED A STAGGERING 101 per cent increase in sales in 2021 as a result of their EV launch frenzy last year. Sales for Audi have increased by 49 per cent just in the first half of this year. Compared to their luxury automaker competitors, Audi India, who have already entered the EV market in the country, provide the broadest selection of electric vehicles currently. Audi have said that from 2033, they will only be concentrating on electric automobiles. This suggests a switch from internal combustion engines to electric power. They will no longer produce internal combustion engines as a result of this. But you need not worry, the 2022 Audi e-tron Sportback, the crown jewel of the e-tron line-up, combines outstanding Audi Sport performance with a set of…

WITH HIS VICTORY in Estonia one year ago, Rovanperä broke the record for the youngest rally winner in the WRC. His magnificent victory brought him one step closer to becoming the series’ youngest champion in its 50-year history. The 21-year-old Finn extended his points lead to 83 after seven of the 13 rounds of the four-day gravel road competition by finishing one minute and 00.9 seconds ahead of Toyota GR Yaris teammate Elfyn Evans. In Friday’s final rain-soaked speed test, Rovanperä took the lead after Evans had held the advantage. He rattled off seven straight fastest laps to distance the Welshman and more than treble his margin after fine-tuning his car’s set-up on Saturday morning. In the final part of Sunday, rain again guaranteed slick conditions, but Rovanperä was unwilling…

BULLETIN AUTOMOTIVE NEWS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD A DARING CONCEPT CAR AKIN TO THE DELOREAN DMC-12 with a hint of Lancia Delta Integrale thrown in for good measure. Hyundai managed to win the internet upon announcing the N Vision 74 alongside RN22e Vision. In the future, Hyundai may offer hydrogen-hybrid vehicles that compete with sports car brands, as hinted by the stunning new concept built for the Busan Motor Show in South Korea. Hyundai’s N Vision 74 is the newest member of the fleet of rolling laboratories for scientific research. It exhibits what Hyundai’s engineers are imagining for the future and was inspired by a never produced vehicle. The number 74 is a reference to 1974, the year that renowned designer Giorgetto Giugiaro came up with both the Pony…

THE TIGUAN OFFERS NO-NONSENSE modern styling with an exceptional build quality and finish as well as a roomy, spacious, and functional interior with several thoughtful elements. It is based on the MQB (Modularer Querbaukasten or modular transverse matrix) architecture that underpins several VW Group vehicles, including premium luxury offerings. With its excellent exterior and creative interior, the new Tiguan is an example of what it means to continually reinvent oneself. It has outstanding skills thanks to intelligent technologies. It’s a dynamic SUVW with the newest technology and a fresh new style, so there are plenty of reasons to be thrilled. The Tiguan maintains its original silhouette as a discreet yet elegant-looking SUV. In its most recent update, it adds some bling by adding chrome to the grille and wearing the…

OVER 75,000 TREES WILL BE PLANTED nationwide as part of the Green Drive Project, an initiative by Auto Today and Mahindra in partnership with top automotive journalists and magazines with the goal of planting a tree at least once every kilometre of the project’s initial 17,000-kilometre-long journey across India in 24 Mahindra Scorpio-N vehicles. The northern part of the journey goes to the Nubra Valley in Ladakh, while the southern, eastern, and western convoys go to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), Kaho village (Arunachal Pradesh), and Lakhpat (Gujarat) respectively. We joined the western leg of this journey. To start this incredible journey for a great cause we were flagged off from Mahindra’s plant at Kandivali in suburban Mumbai. Everybody was ushered into the plant’s conference room for a briefing about the journey…

AS MANY AS 50,000 UNITS OF THE Renault Kiger have been produced. A memorable milestone for the French brand’s Indian journey and one worth celebrating. We were invited to be a part of this event and along with it we also got a chance to explore the serene and beautiful town of Kumarakom in Kerala behind the wheel of the 2022 Renault Kiger. Set against the calm and pristine locale of the backwaters, the Renault Kiger’s futuristic styling stood out in an enticing manner. Without altering the already popular design too much, Renault have given the Kiger a subtle makeover by adding a few elements around the car in addition to a new paint scheme. The car is now available in as many as seven colours (black being the latest…

THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED X LINE trim, which costs Rs 17.79 lakh for the petrol and Rs 18.10 lakh (ex-showroom) for the diesel, is the new top-spec variant of the Kia Seltos. It may be recalled that at the 2020 Auto Expo, Kia offered us a sneak peek of this car with the Seltos X Line concept. The Seltos is equally popular in both its petrol and diesel versions, with roughly 46 per cent of the customers opting for the diesel model. While the Seltos’ top variations account for 58 per cent of sales, the automatic version of the car accounts for only 25 per cent. Similar to what Tata did with their “Dark” editions (and some other brands have followed suit), Kia gave the Seltos X Line several aesthetic changes…

BUILDING A GOOD CAR IS NOT SO EASY. Building a smart car is even more of a challenge. And building one that can fulfil multiple needs, with cutting-edge tech, and keeping the development and product costs in check is one for the ages. We’ve said it before. Hyundai, and Kia, in fact, have gone from strength to strength. With sturdy build, no-compromise interior material, commendable ergonomics, frugal yet punchy engines, and more than decent handling make them competitors not just in their segment but also makes one draw parallels to higher-priced, more premium offerings that appear severely lacking in terms of equipment on offer, for easily thrice the price or more. There’s a reason the revered brands are up there, but, let’s be honest, how long is it before true…

FROM THE SECOND STAGE of the rally, the Estonian driver took the lead, finishing 6.8 seconds ahead of Toyota GR Yaris adversary Kalle Rovanperä and securing his third Finland victory. Tänak struggled to become comfortable in his Hyundai i20 N right away, but with hard work and perseverance, he was able to post top times all race long. Rovanperä, who started the race on Friday, struggled to get going but ripped off five stage victories on Saturday to move up to second place overall. He cut the deficit in erratic conditions and, at the end of the penultimate day, he was only 8.4 seconds behind. On Sunday’s last leg, dry conditions assured more frantic combat, but Tänak was in no mood to give in. He placed first on the podium…