Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2018 i Car India

NISSAN RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THEIR LATEST ADVANCEMENT, called Brain-to-Vehicle technology. The new tech tries to connect the human brain with the car in a way that will improve the way we drive. The Brain-to-Vehicle technology comprises artificial intelligence and brain-wave mapping to help the driver in various situations. The system employs a skullcap that measures brain-wave activity which is then transmitted to a computer that is connected to the car’s system. This system features artificial intelligence (AI) that anticipates the driver’s moves based on their brain’s activity, which then commands the autonomous systems on board to steer or slow down — as much as 0.2 to 0.5 seconds faster than a human being. The system also detects the brain’s panic patterns and automatically takes measures to calm the driver down by…

PAGANI AUTOMOBILI HAVE OFFICIALLY OPENED THEIR NEW ATELIER and the Horacio Pagani Museum, which runs through the steps of the Argentinean designer through a collection of his most legendary and exclusive creations. The brand that took the supercar world by storm hopes that the experience of visiting the Museo Horacio Pagani and the Atelier Pagani Automobili will let visitors relive the tribute to passion, dreams, and determination, a true inspiration, and, overall, a tribute to automotive art. Made with typical Italian material, such as Carrara marble and antique bricks as a replica of the typical Modenese bricks, each architectural and stylistic detail of the new building was designed by Horacio Pagani and his team. Inside, one will find the very first Zonda models, dating back to 1998, as well as…

THE ALL-NEW VOLVO XC60 HAS BEEN CROWNED THE BEST performing large off-roader and the car with the best overall performance of 2017 in the prestigious Euro NCAP 2017 Best-in-Class safety awards. The XC60 scored a near-perfect 98 per cent in the Adult Occupant safety category and, in its ‘Large Off-Road’ class, had a clear advantage in Safety Assist with a score of 95 per cent — 20 percentage points higher than the nearest ‘Large Off-Road’ competitor — underlining Volvo Cars’ position as a leader in automotive safety. The Swedish car-makers also announced their best ever sales in a year with a record 571,577 cars sold globally. The all-new XC40 compact luxury SUV will be launched in a phased manner across the world this year and will also arrive in India.…

IN WHAT WILL BE A MAJOR IMAGE makeover, all existing showrooms of Maruti Suzuki (Nexa not included) will be upgraded to ‘Arena’. Employing the learning from their Nexa showrooms, Maruti Suzuki hope to offer buyers a more premium experience. Since most young car-buyers do their research online, the company is looking at integrating the digital experience into their showrooms. This year alone, 80 new dealerships will be converted to sport the ‘Arena’ tag, while a comprehensive revamp of all dealerships will take place over the next couple of years.…

AUTOMATION IS THE FUTURE, THEY SAY, but is it really true? Well, I can say that at least the car industry in India and other parts of the world believes so. India is a long way from having autonomous cars; however, the car companies here want to introduce automation to as many customers as possible. And the first step towards that is an automatic transmission. You see, a number of car-makers are currently offering automatic or automated manual transmissions in their cars and the latest one to join the list is Datsun. Recently, they invited us to the capital city to drive their redi-GO 1.0 AMT. I still remember the time when automatic transmission was considered a thing of luxury. But today, companies like Datsun are offering such a convenience…

THE FIRST-GENERATION Q5 WAS LAUNCHED SOME SEVEN YEARS ago and it immediately won the hearts of luxury car-buyers. It was a time when people were looking for a premium SUV that offered refinement, style and top-class craftsmanship. Something the Audi furnished in abundance. Sitting in between the larger Q7 and the entry-level Q3, the Q5 became a major contributor to help Audi India hit the 10,000-unit target. However, last year was particularly challenging for the German car-maker, with the existing Q5 nearing the end of its life-cycle and competition in the segment piling up with models such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC, Volvo XC60, and the Lexus NX 300h. Audi had to launch a counter-attack soon enough. So, in January this year, even before we could finish writing down our New…

THE GERMANS ARE QUITE THE ENGINEERING MASTERS BECAUSE whatever they create turns out to be scintillatingly marvellous. Just look at Volkswagen’s entry-level premium car, the Passat. The eighth-generation Passat might not look much different from the previous gen; however, it is quite new. You see, the tank-like reference perfectly suits the Passat as it is one tough car to flaw. We spent a day with it to discover if it really was flawless in every way. First of all, the design of the Passat is absolutely stunning but not in a trendy or avant-garde way. Rather, it looks gorgeous from a mature mind’s perspective. It is minimal with hardly any sharp lines that the young bunch seem to prefer. It takes you into a German person’s mind which is full…

AFTER A HECTIC TRAVEL SCHEDULE FOR THE PAST three months I wanted to take a few days off to unwind and relax. This time I wanted to tick off one of the destinations on my bucket list and that was the Gir forest in Gujarat, home to the Asiatic lion. Before I could head to Gujarat, however, I had to drive down to Goa for the India Bike Week (IBW). This year we had invited the living legend, ‘Fast Freddie’ Spencer, for IBW so that it would be possible for Bike India readers and fellow bikers to meet the icon and interact with him. Needless to say, I had to provide a suitable mode of transport for a man of his stature. The solution to this problem was one phone…

AFTER 12 YEARS’ STERLING SERVICE, THE OLD VANTAGE has finally been put out to pasture. Its replacement is this vision in eye-melting lime green, and it’s by no means just a styling refresh — the new Vantage is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from AMG (as deployed in the V8 DB11), uses a new aluminium architecture with a shorter wheelbase than a 911’s and boasts of a gorgeous interior with infotainment pinched from the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Admittedly, the new car shares parts with the DB11 — suspension, for example — but 70 per cent are bespoke. The days of Aston photocopying old blueprints and changing the scale are gone. Take a look at the personnel involved and your hopes drift even further skywards. Marek Reichman (ex-BMW and Land…

FORD MUSTANG BULLITT Ford have honoured 50 years of the iconic movie, Bullitt, with a special limited-edition model. The new car sports the iconic details of the famous 1968 Mustang GT Fastback driven by Steve McQueen, such as the Dark Highland Green exterior colour and the unique black-trimmed Recaro racing seats with green stitching. Under the hood the car is powered by the 5.0-litre V8 motor which develops 480 PS and 570 Nm. Power goes to the rear wheels through a specially developed manual transmission. Along with the unveil of the tribute model, Ford unveiled the original 1968 Mustang GT from the film, whose whereabouts have remained a mystery for almost 40 years. Ford also offered a sneak preview of the incoming Shelby Mustang GT500 which looks set to pack…

DAKAR 2018 WAS THE 40TH EDITION OF THE toughest rally raid in the world and, incidentally, it was held in South America for the 10th time. In the Dakar you will rarely find participants who are shocked at the prospect of racing across countries, usually traversing treacherous terrain in equally dangerous conditions. The line-up boasted of previous winners, accomplished Dakar veterans, and rookies who were keen to experience the fabled life-changing experience of the Dakar. The race was flagged off in Lima, Peru, and drew to a finish at Córdoba, Argentina, after crossing three countries (Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina), covering almost 9,000 km. On to the action then. The first stage was flagged off from Lima at the Las Palmas air base. The route comprised a section along the Pacific…

THE ALL-NEW BMW 8 SERIES COUPé HAS BEGUN DYNAMICS testing in Italy. The German manufacturers announced that they are testing the prototype car. The high-performance variant, M8, and the race car, M8 GTE, are being developed side by side. The M8 GTE made its racing début at the ‘Rolex 24 at Daytona’, the opening round of the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportCar Championship held over the last weekend of January 2018, with BMW Team RLL. It will also participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. The 8 Series Coupé and its higher performance M8 sibling are currently being developed in close coordination before the final production versions of these cars are revealed. BMW are currently teasing enthusiasts with glimpses of the final production version of the 8 Series.…

‘Nothing can bring you peace but yourself’ It’s a sunny but cold afternoon in Barcelona as we head to the VIP Parking at El Prat Airport to drive the new Volvo XC40, the Swedish major’s latest compact luxury offering. It says ‘Volvo’ and ‘XC40’ and it even has the diagonal slat and Iron Mark on the grille, yet the company insists it’s more of a “cousin” to the XC60 and XC90. Why? It’s a new platform — Compact Modular Architecture or CMA (see box on page 34) — that has been designed with new parents Geely and will be used by other brands under their wing. We pull into the reserved lane and there is a line of sparkling new XC40s, all lined up waiting for us to drive them…

CAPTUR. YES, YOU ARE READING IT RIGHT; this is exactly how Renault spell the name of their latest SUV. And the company hopes that with this new and more lifestyle-oriented SUV they will be able to capture the Indian market, just as they did with the Duster. Will the Captur really captivate the imagination of the masses or will it simply go into history books as just another Renault? We try to answer this 1.4 million rupee question. It surely looks ravishing — from every angle it looks inviting, a design that I personally wouldn’t mind seeing in my driveway. The sharp flowing lines, bold creases, dual-tone paint job, sloping roof-line, and the sharply rising D-pillar give the Captur a smart and modern look that is way cooler than the…

You have the power. For us, you, the readers, come before everything else. So here’s a chance to pick your favourite four-wheeler for the Car India Readers’ Choice Award 2018. Make sure to vote, because you can win some amazing prizes. Dear manufacturers, please ensure that employees and other associated personnel refrain from participating in this vote so as to maintain the integrity of this award.…

WE’RE IN A TIME WARP, BACK TO THE DAYS OF Stirling Moss, with flimsy open-face helmets, open-back gloves, no seatbelts, goggles and smiling oil-stained faces. The romantic 1950s sports car style is perfect, right down to those roundels and racing stripes, patriotic green paint and those gorgeous Borrani wire wheels that sparkle in the bright autumn Norfolk sun. Then there’s the throaty straight-six engine roar and a nonsynchro short-throw four-speed gearbox. (Warning: great precision and heel-and-toe footwork are essential for shifts.) Steering is meaty, via a lovely wood-rimmed wheel the size of a ship’s helm — naturally there is no power assistance. Did Stirling Moss ever need poncy power steering? No power-assisted brakes, either. Heave to slow down. Inside a sweaty, noisy cabin — smell the oil and petrol —…

AROUND 40 SPORTS CARS INCLUDING the BMW M4, Nissan GT-R and BMW Z4, lined up in the parking lot of a beautiful resort tucked away atop a mountain near Idduki, Kerala. These scintillating cars came from afar, covering hundreds of kilometres to kick-start the drive that led the owners to Kochi for Pete’s Festival of Speed. For the novice, Pete’s Automotive is a big name in the country when it comes to tuning cars and giving them the performance they deserve. Every two years Peter K Chacko organises something called the Pete’s Super Sunday. This year, however, the name was changed to Pete’s Festival of Speed in association with MRF Tyres. The event was held at the CIAL Convention Centre near Kochi Airport, which is about 30 km away from…

IT WAS A BUMPER FIRST ROUND FOR M-SPORT Ford driver and 2017 champ Sébastien Ogier as the French rally ace bagged his fifth consecutive win at Monte Carlo Rally after a dramatic start. Ogier’s start at Monte was not one of his best as he spun on ice-affected SS1, sliding into a ditch and losing time. However, his recovery was amazing. He managed to pull himself together, having got a hand from spectators who pushed his Fiesta back on the road. Ogier did lose time and the person who benefited the most from this unfortunate situation was Ogier’s old team-mate, Ott Tänak, who has made the switch to Toyota Gazoo Racing for the 2018 season. Tänak had closed up the gap and, on Friday, he was just 14.9 seconds behind…

Renault have been among the most innovative marques in the world. Founded in 1899 by three brothers, their first car was the Voiturette, which was paired with a revolutionary direct-drive transmission. Since then, Renault have made great strides and achieved success in almost all their endeavours. Renault invented the gearbox, the turbocharger and the hatchback and MPV class of vehicles. The company has been changing the automotive scene since it began operations. In 1963, the Renault 8 was the first production car to be sold with disc brakes all round. Renault are among the very few car-makers to have competed in various forms of motor sport and emerged victorious. The French marque has won the triple crown, an accomplishment which just a handful of big names have managed: competing in…

Under the hood, the new Renault Captur is powered by the tried-and-tested K9K 1.5-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine which develops a substantial 110 PS at 3,850 rpm and 240 Nm at 1,750 rpm. This engine is incredibly refined, a testimony to which comes from the fact that it is found under the bonnets of cars from several major brands worldwide. In the Captur it comes paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The Captur has great mid-range grunt which makes overtaking a breeze. With its diesel motor promising a fuel efficiency of 20.37 km/l, it means more miles between fill-ups. Those who seek more refinement and an even smoother driving experience, there is the H4K 1.5-litre in-line four-cylinder petrol engine developing a maximum power of 106 PS at 5,600 rpm and…

WE KNEW IT WAS coming, but to see the new nomenclature evokes a new kind of excitement. The new ‘53’ AMG model line opens with the CLS-Class four-door coupé and the new E-Class two-door models, the E 53 Coupé and the E 53 Cabriolet, all of which feature ‘4MATIC+’ in their official nomenclature. The new CLS 53 features bold styling, with the third-generation CLS already wowing us with its return to the classic four-door coupé styling that created a new segment when the car first arrived. It gets a host of active aerodynamic elements and a new hybrid powertrain. The AMG 53 cars are powered by a new hybrid driveline comprising the 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine making 435 PS and 520 Nm, an integrated starter/alternator positioned between the engine and…

THE WRAPS WILL COME OFF A new compact SUV concept from India’s leading car-makers as Maruti Suzuki are set to reveal an all-new model based on their new HEARTECT platform. With stylish flowing lines and cutting-edge lighting, the Concept Future S looks set to set web trends on fire as it will mark the arrival of another potential all-road-ready creation that won’t be too heavy on the pocket. We expect to see a sub-four-metre car with a futuristic design language and bold detailing. Though the styling from the teaser appears to be a two-door, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a set of rear doors cleverly integrated in the production model. From what we’ve already seen, Maruti have worked wonders with the space available within four metres and have packed…

Lexus LS 500h LEXUS INDIA HAVE LAUNCHED THEIR FLAGSHIP, THE LS 500H, IN three trim levels starting from Rs 1.77 crore (ex-showroom). The LS is the fifth Lexus model to make it to the Indian market since the luxury car-makers made their début. The front is dominated by the unique spindle grille and sleek headlights with distinct LED daytime running lights. The cabin uses top-class material and fine craft and comes filled to the brim with driver aids and comfort features, including massage seats and a massive 24-inch heads-up display. The Lexus LS 500h is a hybrid, with a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine along with two AC synchronous electric motors working together to churn out 359 PS. Using a four-speed automatic gearbox in combination with a CVT, the transmission simulates…

LAUNCHED IN 2005, THE SWIFT HAS BECOME A household name in India. There are nearly 17 lakh of them on the road now. At the forthcoming Auto Expo, one of the attractions at the Maruti Suzuki pavilion will be the official launch of the third generation Swift in a trendy new avatar packed with features and practicality. The 2018 Swift, like the new Dzire, takes inspiration from the latest generation of the international Suzuki Swift Sport which was unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show last September. It’s a modern design and seems like an evolution of the existing design, with bolder character lines and new silhouette, giving it a sportier stance. The extended bonnet and a large single-piece grille add some European essence to the car. Other interesting design…

RVS OR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES are quite popular in the first world, where people have the time and money to indulge in specialist vehicles for cross-county road tripping. Well, in India, that’s not how we roll. Our country and her people are unique, singular, and one-of-our-kind, and we expect our cars to take the cue from there. We don’t, as a unified populace, care much for the sport of golf with its many clubs, each of which carries out a specific purpose; nah, we’re cricketing folk. Toss us a cricket bat and we’ll be out there slugging all day. Similarly, we don’t want many cars that each do just one thing; we want one car that does everything. And crossovers are exactly that kind of cars. So, when I saw the…

JOHNNY MARR IS NOT A ROAD TESTER. Johnny Marr played guitar in The Smiths and continues to pursue a successful solo career. But when our group test of the new BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC gatecrashes his latest video shoot in Manchester, Marr finds time to assist. We’ve already decided that the BMW X3 has the best, most intuitive infotainment of the three mid-size SUVs, but we’re curious how easy it is to fathom for your average member of the public, or guitar god. After tuning in to Radio Manchester, we ask Marr if he can find BBC 6 Music under strictly timed conditions. He jumps to the task as if he’s deciding between snipping the blue or the red wire with seconds to spare. There are a…

DB4 GT THEY ’VE FAITHFULLY REPRODUCED THEIR ICONIC RACER — WE DRIVE IT VANTAGE AN EXCLUSIVE RIDE IN 2018’S MOST EXCITING SPORTS CAR VALKYRIE YOUR GUIDED TOUR OF ASTON’S HYPERCAR BY THE MEN WHO MADE IT…

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER the McLaren F1 reinvented the supercar, another British sports car-maker is set to do it again. As with the McLaren, the new Valkyrie uses cutting-edge Formula 1 technology to elevate speed and driver appeal. This time, though, it’s an Aston Martin that’s tearing up the template. Aston Martin have never had a reputation for technical ingenuity. In fact, for a big chunk of their history, they have been something of a laggard. Those meaty V8 Vantages of the 1990s, for instance, had the engineering sophistication of an old-school American muscle car, whose lantern-jawed styling they also mirrored. They also revelled in their olde-worlde heritage, from hand-wrought construction to Blower Bentley-style tally-ho supercharging. But the time-warp maker has gone high-tech, and the new Valkyrie is being built to…

NEW THIS MONTH AUDI Q5 Audi's second-generation Q5 has arrived, bringing with it new styling and an updated engine. From Rs 53.25 lakh LAMBORGHINI URUS The first modern SUV from Lamborghini also happens to be the fastest in the world, and with a turbo V8, too. From Rs 3 crore LEGENDS PRICES Ex-showroom, Pune (subject to change) BO: Available only by order NA: Price not available FEATURES F: Front only D: Driver airbag only O: Optional equipment ASTON MARTIN BENTLEY BENTLEY FERRARI FERRARI HINDUSTAN MOTORS HONDA HYUNDAI HYUNDAI LAND ROVER LAND ROVER MAHINDRA MAHINDRA MASERATI MASERATI MINI NISSAN RENAULT ROLLS-ROYCE TATA TATA VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN VOLVO…

The Captur has been wowing customers overseas for some time with its style and design language. In India, the Captur is a little different. It’s longer and higher, with a 210-mm ground clearance, making it the best in class. The face features a bold grille that tapers sharply, appearing like a welcoming smile. The LED headlamps with ‘floating’ turn indicators add to the luxury look of the car. The flowing lines envelop the air-dam and the LED daytime lights as they sweep towards the rear, accentuating the side profile. Paired with 17-inch Crystal-cut alloys wheels and flared wheel-arches, the Captur has a bolder stance, unlike anything in the segment. Furthermore, the car offers several modes of personalisation for customers who want to stand out of the crowd. Inside is an…

Renault were the first manufacturers to have their vehicle get a rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP Renault have always been among the leaders in safety worldwide. They were the first manufacturers to have their vehicle, a 2001 Renault Laguna, get a rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP crash safety assessment for occupant protection. Renault have always stated, globally, that their vehicles are among the safest in the world and the new Captur is no different. The European specification Captur scored five stars in its Euro NCAP assessment. In India, it boasts of incredible safety features as standard. It is filled to the brim with the latest safety technologies to keep passengers of all ages safe and sound. ABS (anti-lock braking system) is standard, along with…