BBC TopGear India 2013-08

WWW.TOPGEAR.COM

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 11

AUGUST 2013 `120

EXCLUSIVE: DOES THE REFRESHED AUDI RS5 RETAIN ALL THAT THUNDER AND LIGHTNING? PG 120

NEW MERC E-CLASSOLD ROOTS, NEW LOOKS,

MORE GOODIES

AUDI A3ENTRY-LEVEL LUXURY.

THIS TIME WITH A BOOT

V40 CROSS COUNTRYYES , VOLVO IS SERIOUS

ABOUT INDIA. HERE’S PROOF

GALLARDO INDIA SPECIALE

ONLYTHE RAREST CARS IN THE WORLD ARE ALL COMMON THIS MONTH

MERC A & B DIESELS, TATA NANO,FIAT LINEA T-JET, THUNDERBIRD 350TESTED

GHOST CENTENARYWE TAKE A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN

ROLLS-ROYCE UP THE STELVIO PASS

ONLYIN TG

BY INVITATIONALSO DRIVEN

THEY MADE ONLY SIX. WE DRIVE ONE

MA

GZ

TER

CO

PY

0 0 2 AU G U S T 2 0 1 3 T O P G E A R . C O MWorldMags.netWorldMags.net

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M AG Z T E R C O P Y

‘INDIA IS A HOTBED FOR MOST CARMAKERS AND CONSIDERING THE

POTENTIAL, NO ONE SEEMS TO BE GIVING UP THE FIGHT’

IGNITION

Bigger is better. Or so they say. I recently had the opportunity to meet a bigwig from consultancy firm Deloitte. And he is probably the first non-Indian who agreed when I said that while the world thinks Indians love small cars, they would prefer bigger ones if they could afford it. The resounding success of the new Ford EcoSport is proof. It’s a relatively small car but it is an SUV, and when you can get an SUV at the price of a small car, why bother with the small car?

And while the everyday car is going bigger, the rich man’s car is getting smaller. Cars like the Merc A- and B-Class are perfect to give people a taste of luxury without intimidating them with the price of the badge. Audi too will join the bandwagon with the A3, a proper small sedan at a price that would make the VW Passat look overpriced.

Plenty of action then, even against the backdrop of dismal sales figures throughout the spectrum of car and bike manufacturers.

But India is a hotbed for most, and considering the potential, no one seems to be giving up easily. Take Lamborghini, for example. Who would have ever thought that the legendary Italian marque would do a run of India Special Editions of the Gallardo? We got an exclusive run in the car and I am sure the story will blow your mind.

And it’s not just supercar makers. There’s one more people’s car coming to India. Next year, we’ll see the advent of the Datsun Go, a sub-`4 lakh car that Nissan hopes will give it the volumes that have so far been the privy of only Maruti Suzuki, and to some extent, Hyundai. Interestingly, Nissan itself is playing the price card very well now with the Micra Active, and if Datsun can offer the levels of refinement that a similarly-priced Maruti Suzuki does, it’s got a fight on its hands.

Of course, that’s next year. Right now, in this issue, we also bring you another exclusive story on the new Audi RS5, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class and a World Exclusive – a Jaguar that can strike fear into the hearts of a lot of supercar makers.

Enjoy the issue.

GIRISH KARKERA, EDITORTwitter.com/karkeragirish

MAGZTER COPY

0 0 3T O P G E A R . C O M AU G U S T 2 0 1 3WorldMags.netWorldMags.net

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SPECIAL

OFFER ON PAGE

012SUBSCRIPTION

52Lamborghini GallardoIndependence Day is in August. Perfect time to take an extremely limited India Speciale out for a spin

TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE

Gadgets & Safety Guide Yes No Optional *Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai

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Bangalore

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NEW CAR GUIDE TOP GEAR

*Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai Yes No Optional Gadgets & Safety Guide

Remote lo

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ABSAlloy

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Engine

Gearbox

Max. Pow

er (Bhp)

Max. To

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)(Kpl)

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DB9 6.0 V12 na na na 190* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 470 600 304 4.6 na /10 DB9 6.0 V12 Volante na na na 200* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 470 600 304 4.6 na /10

DBS 6.0 V12 2d na na na 265* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 570 510 305 4.3 na /10 DBS 6.0 V12 Volante na na na 275* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 570 510 305 4.3 na /10

Rapide 6.0 V12 4d na na na 220* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 470 600 295 5 na /10

Vantage V8 4.7 Coupe na na na 155* 8cyl 4735cc 6A 430 361 302 4.7 na /10 Vantage 4.7 V8 Roadster na na na 165* 8cyl 4735cc 6A 430 361 302 4.7 na /10 Vantage 4.7 V8 420 Roadster na na na 152* 8cyl 4735cc 6A 420 346 288 4.7 na /10 V12 Vantage na na na 190* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 510 570 305 4.2 na /10

Virage 6.0 V12 Standard na na na 220* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 490 420 300 4.6 na /10 Virage 6.0 V12 Volante na na na 230* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 490 420 300 4.6 na /10

1.8 TFSI na 27.69* na 36.54 4cyl 1798cc 6A 160 250 218 8.6 9.4 6/102.0TDI na 29.6* na 38.98 4cyl 1968cc 6A 143 320 210 9.4 10 5/102.0 TFSI na 29.6* na 38.98 4cyl 1984cc 6A 180 320 226 8.2 9 6/103.0 TDI Quattro na 37.7* na 49.31 6cyl 2967cc 6A 240 500 250 6.2 na 6/103.2 FSI Quattro na 36.7* na 48.06 6cyl 3197cc 6A 261 330 250* 7.6 6.5 4/10

3.0 TFSI Quattro na 47 na 55.02 6cyl 2995cc 7A 300 440 250 6.68 8.69 /103.0 TDI Quattro na 46.95 na 54.96 6cyl 2967cc 7A 245 500 250 6.98 9.9500 245 7A 6.98 /102.8 TFSI na na na 46.79 6cyl 2773cc 6A 207 280 240 7.7* na /102.0 TDI na na na 44.23 4cyl 1968cc 6A 177 380 240 8.2* na380 177 6A 8.2* /10

3.0 Tdi Quattro na 62.8* na 62.8* 6cyl 2967cc 7A 245 500 250 6.3 na500 245 7A 6.3 7/10

DB9: Overshadowed by the DBS and undercut by the Vantage, the DB9 is still the quintessential Aston. Build: Import

TG Choice: y fi yWell not the Volante. So that only leaves the fixed head. Which will do nicely.L: 471cm, W: 188cm. Boot: 186 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari California and Maserati GranTurismo.

DBS: Bespoke tailoring for the Premiership, the DBS offsets engineering genius with very un-Aston bling. Build: Import

TG Choice: Avoid the Volante. And remember you are not James BondAAvoid the Volante. And remember you are not James BondL: 472cm, W: 191cm. Boot: 186 litres, Fuel Tank: 78 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari California and Maserati GranTurismo.

Rapide: A ball-aching beauty of a saloon and a proper poke in the eye for Porsche’s Panamera turbo. Build: Import

TG Choice: y g p qThere is only one and it’s got a 470bhp V12 with 600Nm torque. So we’ ll take it.L: 502cm, W: 193cm. Boot: 317 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche Panamera, Ferrari FF, Maserati Quattroporte

Vantage : The car that took on the 911. And lost. But hey, it’s an Aston. Build: Import

TG Choice: f p g p p pp yThe full 510bhp V12 Vantage experience please, with attendant terror. No latte drinkers need apply.L: 438cm, W: 187cm. Boot: 300 litres, Fuel Tank: 80 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche 911.

Virage: What do you get if you cross the DB9 with the DBS? Why, the Virage of course. Build: Import

TG Choice: fWe’ll take the Volante, which has lots of leather.L: 470cm, W: 190cm. Boot: 184 litres, Fuel Tank: 78 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari California and Maserati GranTurismo.

A4 : Design of the year was TG’s vote, the new Audi design theme is absolute class - eye catching too.GG Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 3.2 Quattro y p f f y f is a monster. Every drop of fuel that burns in the belly of this beast attains Nirvana.L: 470cm, W: 183. Boot: 480 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C -Class

A6 : Good-looking, accomplished executive saloon – now with that beardy front grille after the redesign. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI has loads of torque to play with, while still managing a figure of 9.6kplhas loads of torque to play with, while still managing a figure of 9.6kplL: 491.5cm, W: 187.4cm. Boot: 546 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre, Ground Clearance: 11.8cm Also try: BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S80

A7 : Perfect mix of sportiness, comfort and styling evokes instant desire. You’ll never feel you’re in a four-door. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI Quattro, p f p f f g yis powerful and sips fuel frugally. L: 496cm, W: 191cm. Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 75 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes CLS.

Aston Martin to Audi Audi to Bentley

4.2 FSI Quattro na 89* na 91.8* 8cyl 4163cc 8A 366 445 250 6.7 5.3445 366 8A 6.7 /103.0 TDI na 76.85* na 76.85* 6cyl 2967cc 8A 201 400 235 6.5 7.4400 201 8A 6.5 6/10

2.0TFSI Quattro na 39* na 51.25 4cyl 1984cc 7A 155 350 222 8.89 na350 155 7A 8.89 5/103.0 Tdi Quattro na 45* na 58.42 6cyl 2967cc 7A 240 500 225 6.5 12.2500 240 7A 6.5 5/10

4.2TDI Quattro na 67* na 67* 8cyl 4134cc 6A 322 760 231 6.4 5.5760 322 6A 6.4 6/104.2FSI Quattro na 66.5* na 65.3* 8cyl 4163cc 6A 345 441 244 7.4 7.4441 345 6A 7.4 na/103.0TDI Quattro na 53.4* na 54.4* 6cyl 2967cc 6A 230 500 210 9.1 9.6500 230 6A 9.1

RS 5 na 76* na 74.59* 8cyl 4134cc 7A 444 430 280 5.32 4.6430 444 7A 5.32 8/10

4.2 V8 FSI na 117* na 117* 8cyl 4163cc 6A 414 317 300 4.6 na317 414 6A 4.6 /105.2FSI V10 na 127* na 127* 10cyl5204cc 6A 525 530 316 530 525 6A 4.1 na /10

Spyder na 127* na 127* 10cyl5204cc 6A 525 530 313 530 525 6A 4.1 7 /10

GT na 190* na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 567 700 318 4.8 6.2 /10GT Speed na 200* na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 600 750 326 4.5 6 /10GT Super Sport na 225* na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 621 800 329 3.9 5.9 /10Flying Spur na 165* na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 552 650 312 5.2 5.8 /10GTC na 224* na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 552 650 312 5.1 5.8 /10

Mulsanne na 290* na na 8cyl 6752cc 8A 505 1020 296 5.3 5.9 /10

A8 : You can’t ask for a more perfect car than this. Not for ordinary mortals. Build: Import

TG Choice: p gNNo choice out here but we are not complaing, the 4.2 FSI f ft g g feels butter smooth. Downshift to get the V8 to growl.IL: 526.7cm, W: 194.9cm. Boot: 510 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: 12.4cm Also try: BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Q5 : It may not have the panache of the Q7 that Bollywood loves, but the Q5 does mean business. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI Quattro, with the engine carried over from the Q7 but feels a whole lot quicker, thanks to half a tonne less weight with the engine carried over from the Q7 but feels a whole lot quicker, thanks to half a tonne less weightL: 462.9cm, W: 188cm. Boot: 540 litres, Fuel Tank: 75 litre, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: BMW X3, Mitsubishi Montero

Q7 : Odd-looking and enormous seven-seat sports utility vehicle that’ll put the frighteners on Mercedes and BMW. Build: Import

TG Choice: 4.2 TDI Quattro g y p is big on muscle and since it’s a diesel it won’t burn a hole in your pocket.L: 509cm, W: 198cm. Boot: 755 litres, Fuel Tank: 100 litre, Ground Clearance: 20.5 cm Also try: BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover,

RS 5: Artful lesson in understatement, the Audi A5 coupe does desirable minus the flash. Build: Import

TG Choice: Just hand us the keys to the 444bhp V8. Thank you. JJust hand us the keys to the 444bhp V8. Thank you. L: 464cm, W: 186cm. Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 75 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMWM5

R8 : The supercar to have right now. Beautiful, sophisticated, quick as the wind and comfortable to boot. Build: Import

TG Choice: yBBuy the V10 f g f p, it’s borrowed from the Lamborghini Gallardo and sells at half the price.00L: 443cm, W: 190cm. Boot: 100 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911

Continental: Sumptuous, superb over distances, with more appeal to younger millionaires. Build: Import

TG Choice: The p pGT Super Sports j fi g gg jshould be just fine. It will be good to the enviorment as it runs on ethanol too. Tree huggers, rejoice.sL: 480.0cm, W: 274.5cm. Boot: 310 litres, Fuel Tank: 96 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Other Bentleys, really? That’s about it

Mulsanne : Replacement for the Arnage, and every bit as opulent. Build: Import

TG Choice: Depends on how you want to spec it. The rich are spoilt for choice (aren’t they always?).DDepends on how you want to spec it. The rich are spoilt for choice (aren’t they always?).L: 557.2, W: 192.6,cm. Boot: 443 litres, Fuel Tank: 96 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Rolls Royce Ghost, Megan Fox

9/100

Audi Dealers 13 Warranty 2yrs Website www.audi.in

India sales in 2010: 3003

For full listings and data please visit:www.topgear.com

Company description: Classy and understated alternative to the driver-oriented BMW and the staid Mercedes. Oozing Teutonic quality.

TG Awards: Design Awards 2009 Audi A4Comes with LED lights that scream "A4" from a mile away. And the design language has spilled over on to the rest of the Audi group.

Aston Martin Dealers 1 Warranty 3yrs Website www.astonmartin.com

India sales in 2010: na


Company description: Arguably the UK’s most desirable marque, currently going through a renaissance, thanks to genuinely good supercars.

nana/1/10555/1010/1

Audi continued

Bentley Dealers 1 Warranty na Website www.bentleymotors.com



Company description: Has got a new lease of life with an injection of Volkswagen cash, but still as British as the monarchy.

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60 AUDI A3

78 CB TRIGGER vs FZ-S

84 JAGUAR C-X75

92 AUDI RS5


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08

THE CARS THAT MATTER. DRIVEN, TESTED AND RATED THE TOPGEAR WAY

OUR CHOICE OF THIS MONTH’S TOP-SPEC STUFF

CONTENTS

“I once met a chap who’d driven 300km in a car that had no brakes”

CLARKSON

48 HTC ONEThe superphone that doesn’t need a giant screen to be themost premium-feeling handset in the market today

50 GRAN TURISMO 6Even 15 years since Gran Turismo’s inception, thegame has it all to make it the best car simulation ever

FIRST DRIVES

OPTIONS LIST

20 DATSUNThe brand comes back to life at the global launch in India. What do we think?

23 ABHISHEK MISHRAOn the features that he thinks will show upon most cars in India in the next five years

29 SRIRAM NARAYANANMatch-fixing and gambling are illegal –but we gamble all the bloody time

24 HIMALAYAN ODYSSEYA reunion in the lap of the Himalayas,with Royal Enfield for company

14 BMW 4 SERIESThe 3 coupe gets rechristened. World,welcome the new 4 series

18 VANQUISH VOLANTEThought the Vanquish couldn’t look anybetter? Wait till you see the Volante

18 NISSAN TERRANOMade to navigate the urban jungle, built on the Renault Duster template

17 FIAT 500The 500 for The Great Indian Family.The Art of Living, Italian-style

17 SUZUKI SWIFTPresenting the all-new Swift!Okay, not all-new, just new LEDs in front

PLANET TOPGEAR

14

18 17

36

4920

THE NEWS

36 VOLVO V40VVSomething for the BMW X1 to worryabout. This time from Sweden

38 MERC B-CLASS DIESELSpace, comfort and a practicalapproach to life. Welcome to Plan B

40 LINEA T-JET Turbocharged engine, sharp handling, sorted ride. What’s new here, then?

42 MERC A-CLASS DIESELThis flamboyant looking hatch was already too tempting, and now it’s got a diesel

38

EVERYTHING YOU NEEDTO KNOW ABOUT NEWCARS THIS MONTH

STORIES FROM OUR WEIRD WORLD, WITH ADDED BITS FROM THE TELLY BOYS

50

48


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AD SALESDIRECTOR AD SALES &

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTJyoti Verma

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NEW IN TOPGEAR.COM FORD ECOSPORT VIDEO REVIEW tinyurl.com/ecosport-video-tg

JAG F-TYPE vsPORSCHE 9111 vsBOXSTERtinyurl.com/supercomparo

INBOX

W A N T T O B E O N T H E S E H A L L O W E D P A G E S ? S E N D Y O U R W O R D S A N D P I C T U R E S T O T O P G E A R @ W W M . C O . I N

The July issue should be called “Evolution Special”. Takethe example of the most eyecatching S class ever! W222probably stands for the number of “W”onderful LEDs that havegone in! Yes, the design is a

refreshing change and probably the most appealing (personally speaking) is the dash. BMW has now been left far behind in its evolution with the rear-wheel drive X5; fewer LEDs here, though.

And as far as the Japs go, well, someone in the design department at Toyota has woken up. There were many interesting reactions to this car’s looks, but overall, not a bad job by Toyota. They’ve alwayswanted the Corolla looking not too different from its bigger siblings, and the rear treatment is a bit close, though the front and the dash look nice. Hopefully, they sacked the guy who worked on the tail lights of the existing Altis.

Mahindra’s entry into hatches with the VeritoVibe was also expected. The buy-off of the Logan platform would have cost Mahindra’s design teamloads of money. Maybe that’s why, they might atbest, play around with the lines, but they won’t throw the boxy design into the bin and work on a fresh one. However, this car will surely sell.

Finally, we also have a Mercedes that looksgood in red, and it’s one that you’d look better posing next to in tees and loafers than a pin-stripe suit. The A-Class is certainly stirring the same emotions in the aspiring buyer that the X1 and the Q3 did; however, given the appeal of the Mercbadge, this one seems a bigger bang for your buck.Interesting times ahead!Ashirbad Praharaj, Chennai

It's good to hear our readers' opinions on our articles and features. Take Ashirbad here for example...

Our feature on the Isuzu MU-7 got some interesting responses from you guys...

engines are very durable. Hope the rest of their package suits the engine.

Danny Singh: Made in Thailand, styled in the Philippines, used by Japan, destroyed by India.

Sumant Maskey: Isuzu is quite famoushere in Bhutan... and I love their cars and trucks. Awesome engines...


WorldMags.net



JEREMY CLARKSON


WorldMags.net



0 0 9T O P G E A R . C O M J U N E 2 0 1 3

IGNITION

There seems to be a great deal of debate at present about immigrants. Some

say that if we don’t welcome new arrivals from abroad, the fruit will remain unpicked this summer and a pot of raspberry jam will shoot up to `6.4 lakh. Others say the National Health Service is already bursting at the seams and simply can’t deal with even one more new boy.

The argument seems split, and both sides seem to have a point. Business says British people are now too busy watching Cash in the Attic on their state-sponsored plasma televisions to turn up for interviews, and that low income workers from Romania are essential. Schools say that while this may be so, the classrooms are already too full.

It all seems to be based on the economy. We need new workers to help Britain thrive. Or we can’t afford new workers in case they don’t get jobs and end up on benefits. I’m sure these are jolly important issues. But nobody seems to be addressing the most critical issue: what will happen to the standard of driving if we turn our borders into a free-for-all?

At present, Britain is home to the best driving in the world. Don’t listen to the road-safety ‘charities’ or the speed-camera enthusiasts. Take it from someone who’s driven in more countries than pretty well anyone else: we are brilliant.

Of course, there are exceptions and, at weekends when the Peugeot-

driving bridge-set head for the DIY superstore, things can be a bit wonky, but, for the most part, we understand lane discipline, we understand the importance of not going into a yellow box, we make allowances for cyclists and we don’t routinely drive in bus lanes. Well, I do. But that’s for personal, political reasons.

It is emphatically not like this anywhere else. The French are belligerent, the Americans are hopeless, the Italians are mad, the Germans drive far too close to the car in front, the Australians are drunk, the Scandinavians crash constantly and the rest of the world hasn’t got the hang of it at all. Not even slightly. Not even a tiny bit.

Let me give you a recent example from Romania, a country that seems to be dominating the immigration debate at the moment. James May was lost, as usual, and threading his Lamborghini carefully, as usual, along a dusty track in the north of the country. From way off, we could see a local approaching, and he must have been able to see the Lamborghini. But for reasons known only to himself, he chose to drive into it. Perhaps he had no idea what the middle pedal in his car was for. Who knows? But, one day, it’s possible he will bring this driving style to a town or a village near you.

Then, there’s India. I once interviewed a very well-to-do chap who said he once drove 300km cross country in a car that had no brakes at all. He said he had prayed to his God

‘THE FRENCH ARE BELLIGERENT, THE AMERICANS ARE HOPELESS, THE ITALIANS ARE MAD, THE GERMANS DRIVE FAR TOO CLOSE TO THE CAR IN FRONT...’

Britons lead the world in driving standards. This is good. But to

keep it that way, says JC, we must take action...

before setting off and accepted that if he had a head-on accident and was killed, “it was my day to die.” And the chap coming the other way? “Well,” he reasoned, “it was his day to die as well”. It’s a logical argument I suppose, but is in no way a realistic replacement for the MOT test.

In another part of India, I met a man driving a truck that plainly had a faulty radiator. So he had one of his sons sitting on the bonnet pouring water into the top, and another son fastened to the front bumper, catching it as it poured out of the bottom, and then passing it back up to his brother. It was working, no doubt about that. But would it work on the M4, I wonder?

Moving on, to Uganda. You arrive at a dual carriageway and you want to turn right. But you can’t. You have to turn left and drive for several miles in the wrong direction, until you reach a roundabout. That’s a waste of time and a waste of fuel. So what you do is simply turn right anyway, and drive against the flow of traffic. That’s deemed acceptable there. Everyone does it. Which means Ugandans will do it when they get here too.

In Bolivia, I drove a Range Rover that had no lights, no silencer, no wipers, broken power steering and suspension that had been jacked up in a shed the night before, past a policeman. He nodded approvingly.

Over the border in Chile, I was stopped immediately. “You can’t drive that here,” said the officer. He was most insistent up to the point when he discovered I was British. “Mrs Thatcher!!!” he exclaimed before saluting and waving me on.

In Vietnam, traffic lights count down to the moment they change. This is brilliant. It lets pedestrians know how long they have to cross the road. Except that nobody pays the slightest bit of attention. Traffic

lights in the ’Nam are simply decorative items. Tinsel.

In Egypt, you drive without lights at night because it wears out the battery. In Jordan, you race every other car on the road. And then we get to California. You are in the middle lane of an interstate and signs are saying your turn-off is a mile away. So, you indicate to let the chap on your inside know you need to move over. He doesn’t notice. Or he does, but chooses to do nothing about it. So you start to ease over a bit and he doesn’t respond to that either.

When the turn-off is inches away, you are forced to act and he responds as though you’ve goosed his wife and assaulted his dog. He goes mental. This is because when an American is in a car, nothing at all happens outside. That’s why, in LA, you can buy laptop cradles that attach to the steering wheel.

But, for me, Rwanda takes the biscuit. In some kind of oil deal, the Chinese have built a spectacularly good new road that cuts the country clean in half. The asphalt is smooth, there are crisp white lines and even large viewing areas where drivers can pull over to admire the remarkable scenery. Lovely. Except it’s used by farmers, mostly, as a place where they can dry their crops.

So. Let’s just say the Department for Transport does build a new road to take the pressure off the M6. It’s opened in 2019 and, immediately, all of the people who’ve moved here from Rwanda start using it as a giant radiator.

That’s why I have a suggestion. At the moment, there’s talk of introducing some kind of citizenship test to make sure the new arrivals have some inkling of what life is like in Britain and how they should behave. Hmmm. I wonder. Would it not be better to pop them behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Astra and ask them to drive round a roundabout?

Because, let’s be honest, if a few of them defraud the DWP out of a plasma television, that’s not really the end of the world. But if they end up going north on the southbound carriageway of the M1, with their kids on the bonnet drip-feeding the engine with water – that sort of is.


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use the last half mile. I believe that they are doing

this because they share the same indignation borne by the morons who, on seeing a sign telling them that two lanes will be reduced to one further down, pull immediately into the lane that will remain and get cross with anyone sensibly continuing to use the other lane up to the point where the two merge and we are supposed to filter in turn to form one line. It is, needless to say, an idiotic pursuit that only lengthens the traffic jam,often extending back across a roundabout or a junction, causing more gridlock and mayhem. A couple of things bother me about this habit of truckers: Firstly, whoin hell appointed them as guardians of the right-hand lane? Possessing aT-shirt and an extra large bottle of cola does not make you right. In fact, in this case, they are entirely wrong. The lorry driver sitting in the middle of the lanes indulging his Judge Dredd fantasies to uphold what he mistakenly saw as the law at the very start of the M50 last week lengthened the tailback so that it ran the risk of circling the roundabout at the junction behind him, from where the queue would eventually back up on to the M5 andrisk complete and eternal gridlock for the West of England and all of Wales. And secondly, if truckers

always ready to treat with care andconsideration the smallest thingson the road. And I have noticed on approaching lines of traffic that it is always the lorry driver who spotsme first on my bike and is alwaysthe first to move over or do what he can to accommodate me, like a hippo shifting a buttock to allow a mouse to pass. And that’s all very nice. But something is going very, very wrong on the roads and I’msorry to say, that it is entirely thefault of an apparent vigilante group of those same bike-friendly,essential service providers.

Twice this week when I usedthe motorways, I came up behind traffic forming at the point where two lanes were filtered down to one. At least, it would’ve been forming at the point where the two lanes went to one but it was actually forming half a mile or so back from there because there was a lorry straddling both lanes, the driverplacing his bulk in the way of cars in the right-hand lane so they couldn’t

want to uphold the rules, wwhy focustheir energies on this? Whyy don’t they go and inspect peoplee’srecycling bins, or spend theeir daysoff in parks, stopping peopple littering, or go help the muuch maligned highway traffic officerstidy up all the shredded lorrry tyres and shattered glass litterinng the few stretches of motorway thatt don’t have roadworks on them wwith a lorry driver deciding it’s his duty to block a lane and protect the good people of wherever from geetting to work or home or school onn time.

There is only one way foorwards:If nothing changes in two wweeks, I suggest that we all call a strrike.Lorry driver strikes havedevastating effect, bringingg untold inconvenience and misery y in the cause of healing the driverss’grievances. Fair enough, sttriking is their right. But it is ours tooo and think of the effect our strikke would have on lorry drivers. I shalll refuse to eat, wear, sit on, look at oor otherwise consume anythiing delivered anywhere by lorrry for amonth or until they stop thhis habit. It will be tricky. I shall probbably starve and my wife shall moournterribly the lack of a daily pparcel of horse equipment and childdren’s clothes but it shall work annd we shall break them of it.

Irespect truckers. It’s a difficult job, they drive millions of miles, their

re slow and they have to lorries arpatient as they deliver the be very pls that we all need in daily essentialow all this. Truly, I do and I life. I kno

bear in mind when I get always bhind one on the Astuck beh 40AA thatdelivering the very things they are

my family need or, more me and mhat we don’t actually need likely, th

my wife has ordered from but that n and expects to receive the Amazony so she can get on with next dayging it for return to Chinarepackagit’s the wrong size/colour/because

e and leaving it by the frontlanguagehere it will remain forever door, wh

who the hell visits a post because ese days? Truckers dooffice thent work, they are a importanry service and I respectnecessarr that. Also, as a biker, I like them forthat I enjoy a privilegedto think ship with them. The largest relationsn the road are, it seems, things on

‘WHO IN HELL APPOINTED THE TRUCKERS AS GUARDIANS OF THE RIGHT-HAND LANE? POSSESSING A T-SHIRT AND AN EXTRA LARGE BOTTLE OF COLA DOES NOT MAKE YOU RIGHT’

IGNITION

Truckers: not just Yorkie-eating suppliers of the essentials of everyday life, but also self-appointed moral guardians. Hmm

RICHARD HAMMOND


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permanent speed cameras areexactly where you’d expect them tobe, so avoiding a fine is just a matter of intelligence. Speeding is like farting – you have to know when it’s inappropriate. However, I’vefind one camera truly unacceptable.It’s on the A303 somewherebetween Stonehenge and my mum and dad’s house, so that’s beyondthe stone age but not quite in the modern world.

A bit of background: much of this road is single-file stuff, but there is the occasional two-lane section so you can drop it down a couple and get past the Peugeot.One such section appears on ashort uphill stretch.

This was a good idea, especially if you’re behind a lorry full of localproduce being delivered some-where else. The problem is that theroad reduces to one lane again just over the brow of the hill, and it narrows from the right.

To my mind, this is a truly criminal bit of road engineering, apparently designed with the express purpose of killing people.The answer, then, is to get pastwhatever is in the left-hand lane absolutely as quickly as possible.There may be others behind youwanting to do the same. They must be given a fair chance of survival.

So, incredibly, there is a speedcamera just before the top, theeffect of which is to make people

leap into it unexpectedly. But why shouldn’t they? It’s their road, andit’s my responsibility not to run over any of them.

The motorway limit formodern cars should be 145-150kph,because, in fact, it is. That’s whatpeople are doing, and the people police the law. We can’t all bewrong about this.

Finally, there’s the countryside,which is for driving through and looking at, generally at high speed.Not the hamlets, of course, becausethere are people there whom youmight run over, but, apart fromthat, the sticks are for speed. By going quickly, you see more of it and pass rapidly through the smelly bits, and everyday rural folk will beglad that you’re gone sooner.

So: speed cameras. I hate this subject, because the first speedcamera in Britain was on a route to work I took 20 years ago, and I’ve been listening to people whine about them ever since. In my experience, the vast majority of

brake in a panic and crest thhe rise on the wrong side of the rooad and alongside a truckload of shheep.Everyone behind has to braake aswell. Each time I drive this bit of road, I’m amazed when I doon’t find a massive heap of crashed ccars torival the ancient monumennt further back. It’s lethal.

Well, some of you may bbethinking, if whatever is in the left-hand lane is at or very nearr the speed limit, just stay behinnd it. Rubbish. I’m not going to ddrive to Devon behind a truckload oof horse feed. Spoils the view.

Whoever is responsiblee for thisnonsense has tempted us wwith avital overtaking opportuniity and then snatched it from us, pputting the open jaws of a monsterr just over the hill for good measure. TThey provideth, and they takethh away, which is out of order, becauusethey’re not God. Why not just put aspeed hump halfway up annd havedone with it?

There’s a good case here for a reverse speed camera – it snapsanyone doing less than 1455kph inthe outside lane and bans tthem for a year. There should be a signn at thebottom of the hill saying: “YYou have 400 yards. Give it the berriees! Oryou’ll be staring into the abbyss of eternity with nowhere to ggo!” Or something a bit more conccise.

Sometimes, speed saves.

When I was younger, I craved the unqualified love of women, hedonistic

nces and the odd supercar.experienw I realise that actually I’dBut now

another drink, and my only just like ang ambition is to reach the remainin

my life without running over end of my. This ought not to be too anybody: pay attention, and drive difficult:rately, following the only considerwill be in force in May’slaw that

namely, don’t be a prat.Britain; now, tediously and inevitably, So not consider the issue of speedwe mustthink they tend to suggestlimits. I tves to a large extent. Slow isthemselvund towns and villages,cool arouit’s full of people whombecause

ht run over.you mighe honest, I don’t even mind To be

the odd 323 kph limit, especially he day –during th 48kph downrsmith’s high street is Hammerly too fast, because thedefinitel

of Hammersmith like topeople oaround in the road and even wander a

‘THERE’S A GOOD CASE HERE FOR A REVERSE SPEED CAMERA – IT SNAPS ANYONE DOING LESS THAN 145KPH IN THE OUTSIDE LANE AND BANS THEM FOR A YEAR’

IGNITION

Road safety is just a case of common sense. So, says James, let’s do away with speed limits and police ourselves

MAYJAMES


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E d i t e d b y A B H I N AV M I S H RA

PLUS AM VANQUISH VOLANTEP18 Still looks like anAston Martin DB7, but we love it all the same

FIAT 500L LIVINGP17 Like the 500, but needspace for the wife, kids, dog and luggage? Get this

NISSAN TERRANOP18 We got the sketch thismonth. The real thing is onefestive season away

SUZUKI SWIFTP17 Joins the me-toobandwagon, adds LEDs infront, calls it a refresh

BMW 4 SERIESP14 I The new word for performance at BMW is 4. Picks up from where the 3 series coupe left off

THENEWS


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BMW 3 SERIES COUPE – this is your life

What’s in a name, you say?

The 3 p series Coupe has moved p , g yup in life, and it goes by a new name now –

the 4 p series CoupeWords: Amaan Ahmed

The E30 was the first 3 series to also be available as a four-door sedan – the epic M3 was born, and the rest is history.

E30 (1981)

This is when the 3 series moniker came into being, and the E21 was sold as a coupe only. A centre console angled towards the driver set the trend for future BMWs.

E21 (1975)


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THE NEWS

‘Head on, you’d probably be unable to tell if it’s the coupe or sedan’

The BMW 3 series Coupe was, it goes without saying, a brilliant little thing. It always held its own, and had a near-cult following, despite always having lived

in the shadow of its four-door sibling, much like a supporting actor.

As they say, all good things come to an end, and the two-door 3er naturally had to follow. But the engineers sat down to decide what could be done with the 3 series Coupe, when some bright mind suggested a new name thatwould be in line with BMW’s saloon-derived coupe naming habits (6 series based on the 5, the last 8 series based on

the 7, probably a 1.5 seriesCoupe in the future).

By that logic, this new two-door 3 would be called… yes, the new 4 series Coupe. And to think people call ze Germans unnecessarily complex.

This time, BMW is making its intentions clear with the Four, at least when it comes to the car’s stance. However, the Four is so close to its sedan sibling in terms of looks that you’d probably be unable to

tell if it’s the coupe or the sedan, looking at it head on.It is based on the 3 series, like all 3 series-based coupes

before, and yes, it does get a muscular new bumper with swoopy fog lamp housings. But if you don’t notice that the Four sits lower on its wheels, flaring its kidney-shaped nostrils a little more than usual, you might as well think of it as a 328i Sport Line. Which is not a bad thing actually,because the standard 3 series is a handsome-looking vehicle, all said and done.

The Four is, as expected, lower, longer, with a stretched wheelbase, and considerably wider than its predecessor, to confirm its sporting pretensions. Moving towards the side, you find, apart from the two-door layout, new drag-reducing air intakes behind the front wheel arches, called ‘Air Breathers’.

The rear sports mildly redesigned tail-lamps (the difference again would only be apparent to the sort of guy who spends his days sifting through BMW’s media site). Apart from that, this is standard 3 series fare. Might distinguish itself on the inside, then?

In LHD markets, the E46 of-fered the option of four-wheel drive, and the SMG gearbox that employed an automated clutch. Not an option we’d tick…

E46 (1999)

It so happened that the E36 was sold as a sedan first, and the coupe came along later. The E36 M3 was also the first four-door M3.

E36 (1991) The E92 coupe, apart from having its very own design, also had a convertible sibling with a metal folding roof. V8-powered M3 was a pocket rocket.

E92 (2006)

Wait, did I just step into a

3 series or 4?


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THE NEWSWell, yes and no. It retains most of the Three’s interior

elements – from the dashboard and infotainment screen down to the steering wheel and instrument cluster. The iDrive controller is now touch-sensitive, and the Four getssnug, more driver-oriented seats, but you can also have theFour in “Luxury Line” and “Modern Line” guises with more relaxing interior fittings – apart from the morein-your-face “Sport Line” and “M Sport” embellishments.

The bit that sets the Four apart is that it’s a 2+2 seater, or a rather polite way of telling your friends to use public transport instead of hopping in for a joyride. There is abackseat, yes, but you wouldn’t really want to put much more than a couple of kids, or if you’re feeling suicidal,your mother-in-law back there.

Initially, the Four will be available with a choice of three engines: the 3.0-litre, 302bhp in-line-six petrol with the435i, the 242bhp 2.0-litre, four-pot petrol in the 428i, and a420d, a diesel-propelled Four whose bonnet is home to a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder motor that churns out 181bhp.

The petrols will crack the ton in under six seconds, while the diesel will do it in 7.5 seconds. We might justget all three engine options here in India, but when itcomes to the drivetrain, we’ll only get the eight-speed

automatic ’box – if you want the six-speed manual, you’ll have to move to Europe.

However, it is rear-wheel drive, gets four driving modes (including a thrifty Eco and a nifty Sport+), and has 50:50 weight distribution, which means you should feelthe fizz just about every time its determined snout gets a whiff of twisty road.

The Four, as the name suggests, is now the entry point to BMW coupe ownership, so when it does come to Indiasometime next year, it’ll cost less than a 6 series Coupe,but still truckloads more than the sedan it is based on. What the Four will also do is draw the curtains on a truly epic car of the Driving Enthusiast world – the M3.

Yes, there will be no M3, but an M4 is in the works. A disappointment for some, but hey, one of the world’sdeadliest assault rifles also goes by the same name, so atleast you know what BMW is pointing at.

‘Want a six-speed manual? Well... move to Europe then’

This is a 2+2, sojoyriders are invited to take public transport


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We all remember the iconic Fiat 500 as a small but quirky little hatchback from times gone by. It was quite a hit with the

female driving fraternity. As the years passed, the cute little 500 grew bigger and bigger and bigger.

First came the 500L, an extended version of the modern 500, with four doors and five seats. And now we get the 500L Living, a seven-seater MPV, or as we would like to call it, the 500XL. At 4.35 metres, the 500L Living is 210mm longer than the 500L, which should now let you carry half of your kid’s cricket team in comfort and style. Comfort because it comes with 5+2 seating, plus extra luggage space. And style because it’s a derivative of the modern iconic 500, so good looks are a given.

Under the hood, the Living will have a choice of two petrol units – a 94bhp 1.4-litre, a 104bhp 0.9-litre TwinAir Turbo – as well as two turbodiesels: a 104bhp 1.6-litre MultiJet II, and an 84bhp, 1.3-litre MultiJet II, the latter also with automatic transmission.

Fiat claims its new MPV retains all the charm of the 500, the agility of a city car, the

dimensions and comfort of a small sedan, and the space and versatility of an MPV. Sounds a lot like something we Indians wouldn’t mind looking at.

The 500L Living will make it to Italian showrooms this month, followed by a rest-of-Europe debut. It’s highly unlikely the extended 500 family will make it to India anytime soon. But who knows, seeing the way the Mini is filling its coffers in India, Fiat may just pull this one out of its hat too.

No, we aren’t kidding. This is the new Suzuki Swift. Seriously

A FEW SWIFT CHANGES

We wouldn’t blame our readers for assuming we goofed up badly by publishing this ‘new Suzuki Swift’ story – two years after its launch. Let

us clarify. This isn’t an old news piece accidentally carried over from 2011. This is indeed the new Swift officially unveiled by Suzuki.

Since this is not a model change – just a mid-life refresh – not much has changed inside out. No, don’t jump with joy, you weren’t the only ones to spot the difference. Yes, there are new LED daytime running lights integrated into the fog lamps and a slightly altered front bumper. And yes, the DRLs do strongly resemble the ones on the Hyundai i20.

Since there are no styling tweaks to the profile and the rear, the overall look and feel remains the same. Not much new inside, either – the change of colour on the instrument panel sums it up.

For the European market, the engine options would be a carryover from the current model, which means a 94bhp, 1.2-litre petrol and a 75bhp, 1.3-litre diesel. While the diesel option is similar to the one running on our roads, we wouldn’t mind the more powerful version of the 1.2 K-series motor making its India debut with the new model. The petrol motor also gets an automatic variant and it’s likely that the Indian version will get it too. We’re expecting the refreshed Swift to come to India after its European launch by the end of 2013.

Promises 500’s charm, sedan

comfort and MPV versatility

THE 500 LIVES ONThe 500 was for chicks, the 500L for nuclear families. And now, the 500L Living, for typical Indian families

TWITTERLIVE TWEETS, EXCLUSIVE EVENT COVERAGE AND ALL THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES GOSSIP EXCLUSIVELY ON TWITTER. FOLLOW US @TOPGEARMAGINDIA


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If you’ve managed to take your eyes off the pictures and are actually reading this,

congratulations – you’ve got great control over your senses. This is the new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, and it is the automotive equivalent of Anne Hathaway in a Catwoman leather suit – by her ankles.

It is the first Volante with full (read gorgeous) carbonfibre skin, which also makes it the stiffest open-top motor to have rolled out of AM’s Gaydon HQ. The Volante keeps the hardtop’s bombastic 6.0-litre V12 that puts out 565bhp and takes it from standstill to 100kph in a little over four seconds.

The light fabric roof is quick too, taking just 14 seconds to do its origami and disappear behind the tonneau cover. Roof or no roof, with that sonorous V12 and looks that could paralyse, you’d still attract eyeballs by the hundreds, whether you chose to cruise through Las Vegas or Marine Drive.

Remember your friendly neighbourhood municipal commission, which promises pothole-free

roads every year before the monsoon? That promise may sound like a distant dream, but not if Indian carmakers have anything to do with it.

After the Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport, Nissan is doing its bit for your back. Post-monsoon, Nissan plans to launch its mini SUV, the Terrano.

More a badge-engineered Duster than an outright new model, the Terrano will get a mildly redesigned front grille, while all the Renault badging will be replaced with Nissan.

Engine options will be a carryover from the Duster, so expect the same 110bhp 1.5-litre diesel unit with a six-speed manual. And given Renault-Nissan’s approach to pricing, expect the Terrano to be priced a bit more than the Renault Duster.

BADGE IT UP It’s raining compact SUVs, people!

In a mass-produced world, a tribute to the labour of human hands

BORDERING ON OBSCENE The Vanquish makes jaws drop. The topless Volante makes sure they never slot back into place again


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0 1 9T O P G E A R . C O M J U N E 2 0 1 3

PLANET TOPGEAR

E d i t e d b y S R I RA M N A RAYA N A N

S T O R I E S F R O M O U R W E I R D W O R L D , W I T H A D D E D

B I T S F R O M T H E T E L LY B O Y S

HIMALAYAN ODYSSEYP24 Riding a Royal Enfieldis always fun. With mountainterrain, it only gets better

SRIRAM NARAYANANP29 We Indians really know how to live life on the edge. Match-fixing had to be our thing

DEEPA MALIKP26 She is differently abled.And very few have the guts to do what she does

ABHISHEK MISHRAP23 Cars have come a long way in 20 years. They have enough tech now to launch a shuttle

PLUS

DATSUN IS REBORNP20 I India is the global capital for small and budget cars. Perfect location for the global relaunch, then


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OF A GUNDATSUNYou could say Datsun is the father of Nissan. And when the son grew big, the father was put to rest. But it’s back, as Nissan’s younger sibling. Meet Ashwani Gupta, Program Director for Global Datsun Business, and part of Nissan’s league of extraordinary gentlemen, tasked with making the brand successful. And more importantly, relevant.

PHOTOGRAPHY NITIN ROSE

PLANET TOPGEAR


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WO R D S : S R I R A M N A R AYA N A N

The Datsun name has a lot of history to it. But this is a rebirth. What are the core values that will form its new DNA?Datsun cars were sold in 190 countries for 50 years. The original vehicles were developed as “Durable, Attractive, Trustworthy”. New Datsun offers a similar approach. “Dream, Access and Trust” reflects the core brand values – making the dream of first-time car ownership a reality; providing access to the peace of mind that comes from worry-free car ownership; and delivering trust by ensuring transparency, sincerity and reliability.

What were your major challenges in reviving an oldbrand that isn’t necessarily well-known?When we decided to change the brand name to Nissan in 1981, the separate brand recognition of Nissan or Datsun became blurred. Establishing a strong brand identity has been, and will be, a key pillar of our activity. With three brands – Datsun, Nissan and Infiniti in place, we had to make clear the brand proposition of our products to serve different customer needs under different circumstances.

Why revive a brand that was deliberately stopped?Datsun is a precious asset for our company, though we haven’t used it from the early 1980s. The brand represents the founding spirit of our company – durable, attractive and trustworthy vehicles with modern styling. We were waiting for the right time to bring it back and capitalise on this asset. The world is rapidly changing with the emergence of very optimistic up-and-coming women and men in high growth economies seeking better value propositions in the products they choose. These products need to support not only their daily needs, but also fulfill their hopes for a better tomorrow. Nissan aims to provide offerings that meet the needs of these people in line with the value we delivered with the Datsun brand to similarly optimistic customers in Japan, America and a large part of the world throughout most of the 20th century. So the decision to return Datsun was quite natural.

You are making the car keeping in mind some veryspecific countries. All are big markets but aren’t they very different too?The markets are different, but in all those markets we see the emergence of a new group of the customers we call “risers” (including India). Although Datsun models will be individually developed for different markets, the products’ concepts will share a common inspiration. All Datsun models will offer an ownership experience that creates peace of mind and accessibility – right and transparent pricing, and a competitive cost of ownership. The new Datsun offers an enhanced brand proposition – accessibility, reliability and modernity, which is built on the foundation of its heritage.

Renault-Nissan badge engineering is now well known.Will Datsun join the badge engineering party?There is no plan to have Datsun cars cross-badged with other brands.

Low cost will be one of the major USPs of your cars. Intoday’s India, with a growing emphasis on brand power,does a ‘budget’ brand pose a problem?Definitely not. We brought back Datsun to offer value to customers currently constrained in choice. Datsun is a

legendary brand of Nissan Motor Company, backed by 80 years of automotive experience. We also wanted to create a product suited to local needs and accessibility in terms of price, supply, market conditions and taste. That is why R&D and engineering were carried out at our local facilities in India, in close cooperation with local suppliers.

Recently, we’ve seen models from even established andstronger brands fail because they didn’t feel upmarketenough. What have you done to save Datsun this fate?The base principle for Datsun products is ‘made local, sourced local’, to ensure accessibility in terms of cost and supply, and also for local expertise. For up-and-coming Indians, buying a car is a strategic investment. We have devoted plenty of time and energy to listen to Indian customers – we will be able to offer a modern and attractive product line-up as well as services.

Will Datsun’s run in India be shackled by price barriers,considering Nissan operates just above it?Vehicle pricing for Datsun has not been disclosed yet, but we can confirm the Datsun offering for India will be priced significantly lower than `4 lakh. Our first hatch is being developed for those aspiring to a premium first purchase. The target audience for Datsun and Nissan are different in their needs, aspirations, and purchase patterns.

Where has the car been conceived?While styling was done at our studio in Japan, the R&D and engineering was entrusted to our local engineering resources as well as suppliers to ensure the product suited local needs. The Datsun GO was fully engineered in India, by our RNTBCI engineers, led by a Chief Vehicle Engineer based in Chennai, in collaboration with locally established suppliers, as part of our sourcing and industrial strategy.

Are you in a position to start production in India with zero imported parts?Our approach to developing new-gen Datsun cars has been to create vehicles for the local market. We’re using local engineering and manufacturing to ensure maximum customer satisfaction, factory-to-market speed, and cost efficiency. The buyer benefits from local target customer insight, competitive technical discovery and the best industrialisation, including sourcing. The GO is fully engineered by our team in Chennai, along with 100 per cent locally-established suppliers.

Will you have your own dealer network or will itbe like Nissan?We’re still in the preparatory stage and cannot talk about network strategy. We can confirm that existing high-performing Nissan brand dealers will get priority. Datsun cars will be sold in a fully branded environment. We will announce the marketing and sales plan and organisational details closer to the start of sales.

What platform will Datsun’s new India models use?The GO is an all-new and specific vehicle development.

How soon can we look at owning a Datsun?The GO will hit showrooms early 2014.

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PLANET TOPGEAR

‘The Gois its firstcar afterDatsun’s rise fromthe ashes’

We all want more in life for less. With the Go, born-again Datsun is promising just that

The sub-`4 lakhsegment has enoughMarutis and Hyundaisto leave you a bit

confused. Add a new name tothat – the Datsun Go. Nissan hasresurrected the Datsun brand, andthis time around, it’s focusing on thebudget end of the Indian market.

We’re all familiar with the Datsunbrand, but the Go is its first car afterits rise from the ashes. Nissan claims the Go is a completely indigenousmodel based on the previous-genMicra (the B-platform). The Go’sstyling is completely new and Datsunseems to be trying to create an allnew-design language.

To snag the interest of its targetaudience – first-time buyers and theyoung – the Go gets an aggressivefront, with sharp-looking headlampsand a distinctive grille dominating the front. Fog lamps are missing (as acost-control measure, we presume).The profile showcases a play of linesthat complements the aggressivestyling up in front.

The rear is dominated by largetail lights on either side of the Datsun badge. In keeping with the hatchbacktrend, the number plate has beenmoved to the bumper. The design

looks much fresher than the currentcrop of cars that the Go will competewith, but broadly, the styling doesecho the Micra’s, especially the frontthree-quarters.

Inside, the colour of choice isbeige, to lend some premium feel.The functional cabin is well laid out and comes with a holding slot for your phone. Adding an element of space, the front passenger gets abench seat rather than a bucket, withthe gear lever and parking brakeintegrated into the center console, to further free up legroom.

We didn’t get a chance to check out the plastics and legroom at the

back, but from outside, the sub-four-metre Go does seem to be up to thejob of ferrying four adults around indecent comfort.

As for the mechanicals, the Gogets a 1.2-litre petrol motor. Datsunhasn’t said anything about the power figures, but we reckon it’ll be thesame three-cylinder motor found inthe Nissan Micra but detuned hereto make around 68bhp. As of now,diesel is not on the cards for the Go since pricing will be an issue – as italways is. Don’t lose hope though,because Datsun is planning 10 moremodels by 2016; expect the 1.5-litrediesel motor to make its way here in a few of those vehicles. The Datsun Gowill be on sale by early 2014.

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No glove box, but optimum use of space with the gear lever in the console

New badge in the middle of sharp-

looking headlamps and distinctive grille

WORDS ABHINAV MISHRA


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ABHISHEK MISHRAA few thousand rupees per car is all it would take for manufacturers to make their customers feel happier. And safer

PLANET TOPGEAR

‘TYRE BURST-RELATED ACCIDENTS HAVE INCREASED BECAUSE OUR ROADS NOW ALLOW US TO TRAVEL FASTER FOR LONG PERIODS’

ometime back in the 1990s, the only ‘luxury’ a ‘luxury’ car came with was a factory-fitted

air-conditioner. The 1.3-litre Maruti Esteem was launched with power nothing and even the fuel cap had a lock and key mechanism. The last 20 years have made things a lot more convenient for the Indian driver. Almost every car sold in this country comes with power steering – you could count on your fingers the ones that don’t.

Today, cars like the Ford EcoSport come with an automatic emergency dial service that is activated in the event of an accident. And the Mahindra e2o lets you make good use of your smart phone to control pretty much every aspect of the car. Still, there are some gaps that need filling on all cars. So here are some features that I think will be offered (mostly as standard fitment, definitely as options) on all cars in the next five years.

Rear-view cameras: Now how difficult is this to do really? Hyundai, of course, has made rear-view cameras standard across all Verna variants. And embedding the display in the rear-view mirror is a brilliant touch. They’ve offered this as an

option on the i20 as well.Rear-view cameras work much

better than sensors because it’s always better to see rather than rely on beeps to tell you where the car is going. I see more and more cars coming with rear-view cameras and hope these manufacturers do as nifty a job of incorporating the displays as Hyundai has done.

Cooled leather seats: I understand that leather seats in cars mean luxury for most people, but in a predominantly hot country like ours, they’re neither practical nor comfortable. If carmakers must offer leather seats – and they really must, given how much customers love them – the least they can do is make sure they’re ventilated and cooled.

Fat cats will especially appreciate. If their car is parked in the sun even for a while, leather seats get really hot. And while the AC at full blast may cool the cabin quickly, they’ll still get out with a sweat patch on their back. Again, ventilated seats are not something new. Lower-end luxury cars like the Hyundai Elantra and VW Passat already offer these on some variants. So I’m sure cars costing more than `30 lakh will offer this as a standard feature too.

Tyre pressure monitors: This is a huge safety feature that I’m surprised hasn’t already made it to a lot of cars. The security of knowing that there’s a system that continuously monitors tyre pressure is priceless. The number of accidents due to burst tyres has risen in the last 10 years or so because we’ve built roads that allow us to travel at high speeds for long periods of time.

Warning systems like these could alert the driver before things get out of hand. Cars as cheap as the Mahindra Scorpio have offered this option for years now. I think it will be offered on all cars that are likely to be used for long-distance travel.

Those are three features that in my book will be offered with cars in India in the near future. Of course, there are other minor things as well. Steering-mounted controls, for example, really make driving more convenient. Being able to access the car’s

entertainment system without taking your hands off the steering wheel is much appreciated by drivers.

As smart phones get smarter, I think there will be better integration with a car’s infotainment system. I’m not talking only of Bluetooth phone connectivity here. I’m talking of custom apps that pair with the car’s diagnostic system and tell you when your next service is due, what your average speed was, or what fuel efficiency you’re getting.

In the next five years, there’s a good chance that we will see all these options on all cars sold in the country. And probably by then, the authorities will make ABS and airbags compulsory too – despite our healthy disrespect for life, I’m sure anyone involved in an accident will appreciate these two important safety features.

[email protected]

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WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY ABHINAV MISHRA

Delhi to Leh to Delhi in a posse of Royal Enfields. Plug out of the grid, lay somebiker stereotypes to rest

PLANET TOPGEAR

am gunning along towards the mountainsup in the distance.In front of me is 40km of freshly laid tarmac. The Thunderbird 500

huffs and puffs as I wring the throttle.The motor feels out of breath, andso do I. Which is when I rememberwhat they told us in the morning briefing: “Make a conscious effort to breathe”. Turns out, 13,000 feetabove sea level, the air is extremely thin, and breathing is something you have to work at.

I’m no stranger to highway riding,but this trip has turned everything Iknow about long-distance biking on its head. This is the 10th edition of the Himalayan Odyssey, a bike runorganised by Royal Enfield (RE). And as most RE fanatics know,the Odyssey is one of the most

challenging rides in India, withparticipants starting preparationsmonths in advance.

The 17-day journey begins inDelhi, goes up to Leh and then back to Delhi, covering 2,700km along theway. This year’s event has drawn 100riders, split into two groups. For therecord, riding to the hills is not allstraight lines; there’s bad roads as well, and sometimes no roads at all –for instance, when you approach Rohtang Pass, where landslidesare common.

I mentioned breathing upfront because the most direct fallout of thin air is altitude sickness, which isa critical factor in any circumstance,competitive or otherwise. And then of course, there’s the weather,which at these altitudes canchange dramatically, with nowarning whatsoever.

These challenges aside, I discoverthat riding a bike, especially a cruiserlike the Thunderbird, is a lesson inthe joys of keeping it simple.

We wake up in the morning,assemble for a route briefing andset off. The collective rhythmicthumping settles down into a comforting pattern as we ride acrossterrain that is sometimes scenic,sometimes hostile.

Because of the scarce populationand hilly terrain, mobile phone networks are yet to arrive here. Andsoon enough, you begin to appreciate that. Since you’re not compulsively

jabbing at a three-and-a-half-inch screen, you put that time to betteruse – talking to your fellow riders,hearing their stories, sharing laughs.

In the chilly morning air of day four, I’m inspecting my bike beforewe set off, when I get talking withRavi Sevak, the rider of the bikeparked next to mine. Ravi’s on an Enfield Classic 500 Desert Storm – and turns out, the soft-spoken,slightly-built young man is anassistant professor who teaches engineering in Baroda in Gujarat. Gives the hairy biker stereotype adecent burial.

ODYSSEY UNPLUGGED

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Mountains, serenity and nirvana all in one trip

PLANET TOPGEAR

This guy spends more time sniffing chalk powder than exhaust fumes, soI’m curious how he became part of this trip. “I’ve been anything but a die-hard biker for most of my life,”he says. “Then, a year ago, I was returning from college when I saw an RE parked next to my car and fellin love with it.”

So he researched REs on sale andzeroed in on a 350 Classic. On his way to buying the bike, his father, who waswith him, asked him, “Isn’t a 500ccbike better than a 350?” Point taken.And that is how the mild-mannered professor ended up with a 500Desert Storm.

Then there’s Hide Okamoto, whocouldn’t be more different from Ravi if he tried. Hide is from Tokyo, andhe’s been a motorcycle test rider –yes, on a full-time basis – since age 16. Over the last three decades, he’stested the whole spectrum of bikesthat you and I only dream of. Thelatest being the Vyrus C3 series. His less glamorous work includesconsulting for TVS Tyres, which he’sdone for over a decade now.

Hide knew nothing about the Odyssey till a few months ago. Onefine day, in Tokyo, he met an RE dealer (yes, an RE dealer in Tokyo), who toldhim about the Odyssey and said hewas looking to send someone from

Japan for the trip.Adventure junkie that he is, Hide

volunteered right away. He rented an RE Classic 500 and has managed fairly well on it so far. He says he likes it. Iassume he’s just being polite, but heexplains, “This bike is meant for roaduse only, but over the last 1,000km, I’vedriven it on everything except roads”.

This is a proper road motorcycle,definitely not built for terrain like this. Hide is so impressed with theRE Classic, he’s thinking of buying one when he goes back. His biggestdisappointment is that after all theseyears of coming to India, this is the firsttime he’s discovered masala papad.

It’s eight days since we left Delhi,and we rumble into Leh, on our way to the reunion site where the two groupswill meet. There’s music playing at thesite where we’re joining up. I park and take pictures of some customisedEnfields. It’s a day of rest, a day tostretch, relax, party before setting off back to Delhi.

Around me are bikers being unruly bikers. In the distance are snowcappedmountains bouncing sunlight off. I’m going to miss all this. I’ll missHarsimran Singh Kohli, who I met atthe flag off at Delhi. Harsimran waspart of the very first Odyssey, riding ona red 1980 RE Deluxe 350. He was 50then, and as excited as a teenager about

taking his bike to Leh. He’s been doing this route since 1988, butmostly on a scooter.

Now 66, that excitement and his appetite for adventure are showing no signs of dimming. He’s already planning next year’s trip, having arranged a Thunderbird 500 for thejob. He asks me to join him on that ride. Now, that’s what you call anoffer you can’t refuse.

This is what I rideon weekends and

bank holidays

‘HE REGRETS NOT DISCOVERING MASALA PAPAD ALL THESE YEARS’


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Inside the harsh world of her disability, DeepaMalik saw – and seized – the opportunity tolive life on her own terms

PLANET TOPGEAR

ust clouds rise as a hard-charging Safari completesa tight figure-eight on theSambhar Lake, at the TharExperience Drive. Itcomes to a perfect stop

behind a line of cars. And instead of some broad-shouldered man in atight t-shirt, out comes a wheelchair.Followed by an attractive, sporty-looking 43-year-old Deepa Malik,complete with infectious smileplaying on her face. “I love driving. Who says you can’t live your passionjust because you’re paralysed?” she says at the question apparent on everyone’s face.

She was born in Bangalore, andwith her father in the Army, Deepatravelled extensively – her temporary bases have included Naseerabad inRajasthan, Pune, Kota, Calcutta,Akhnoor in Jammu, and Ajmer – in

trucks, Jeeps and Jongas, and the auraaround these four-wheelersmesmerised her.

“I’d sit for hours at a site watching these vehicles load and move in convoys,” she reminisces. And soonenough, she developed a passion forbikes as well, secretly learning to rideone in her backyard. But her realriding time started when she got her Luna, in her teens. “I was anoutdoorsy, always-on-the-road kindof girl. I’d take my Luna everywhere,and even started running errands for the house when dad wasn’t around,”she says.

Deepa’s love for bikes isconnected to more than just the thrill of the riding experience. It alsointroduced her to Bikram Singh Malik – a fellow biker whom sheended up marrying.

Around age 18, she hung out with

bikers, who tended to be men who were older than she was: “Back then,bikes were only owned by men, not young boys, the way it is these days,”she says. And one of these oldermen was Bikram, then 24 and acaptain in the Army. In one of their early meetings, riding in on herLuna, she asked him if she couldride his bike, an Ind-Suzuki, and he laughed her off. He stopped laug-hing though, when he saw her skillsand confidence.

After they were married, Bikram retired from the army as a colonel tosupport his wife’s sports career. Now

that Deepa is well established, heworks as senior manager atHindustan Construction. Soon afterthe marriage, and as promised, Deepagot her first motorbike, a 100ccKawasaki Bajaj. But that biking experience was short-lived.

Following the birth of her second child in 1995, Deepa was diagnosed with a spinal cord tumour. After threesurgeries, she was left paralysed from the chest downwards. “More than theillness, being relegated to a room andnot being able to drive again was disturbing,” she says.

In 2003, while based in

WORDS SHRUTI NAGBHUSHAN

WHERE THERE’S A WHEEL

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Ahmednagar – home to the ArmouredCorps Centre and School, in whichher father-in-law was a general – shebegan a delivery service for homefood. Her customers were primarily the hundreds of young cadet traineeswho didn’t have the time to dress formally for the Mess Hall, and preferred eating in their rooms whenthey studied for exams.

That service grew into a properrestaurant, soon populated by young cadets riding bikes that had beenworked on. Deepa remembers one of them, who came to an IndependenceDay party at her restaurant on a bikewith the British flag on the tank. “TheEnglish took us for a ride for 200 years. Now it’s my turn to return the favour,”he explained.

In the company of this newfoundbiking fraternity, Deepa rediscovered aserious interest in bikes. And despitethe various tubes running into herbody, a spinal paralysis, a recurring tumour, and poor lung capacity andcirculation, Deepa’s mind was set onthe Raid de Himalaya. “People keptseeing me as a patient; I wanted to do something crazy to announce that I was hale and hearty. I wanted to breakthe myth that life stops after you’reparalysed,” she says.

Impressed by her ability andpassion, the army officers encouragedher to customise her bike and start

riding again. After a long struggle forfinancial, engineering and media support, Kaulson Racing Productsagreed to customise her bike. “They would conduct trials on All-TerrainVehicles to see how much support Ineeded, and what build the bike needed to be”. In 2007, Deepa got herfirst chance to ride her modified bikeon MTV Roadies, and she hasn’tstopped since.

By then, sponsorship was coming in much easier, and Deepa decided topush the challenge further and moveon to cars. In 2009, she attempted theRaid de Himalaya as navigator – shecouldn’t complete it because of a freakaccident, but she earned a True GritAward in the process. After this, having secured her disability license formotorsport driving, she drove in – and finished – the Desert Storm rally in2010, in a Maruti Esteem customisedfor complete hand driving by AUTOMATE.

Shashi Garcha, regional director(north India), Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, recounts hisfirst meeting with Deepa. “It was atreat to watch her on the tracks. As faras her safety was concerned, weensured she got her motorsportlicence only after her doctor hadcertified her health, and after she’ddone a few test drives on off-roadcircuits to check her reflexes and her

“I WANTED TO BREAK THE MYTH THAT LIFE STOPS AFTER YOU’RE PARALYSED”


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car’s mechanicals.”Deepa went on to participate in

meets of the Paralympic Committeeof India, from 2006 to date, (including the Commonwealth and AsianGames), often competing for cashprizes at par with those of able-bodiedathletes. “And then, I took all my prizemoney and did something crazy – Ibought myself a Tata Safari andheaded off to Leh-Ladakh,” she says.The route was to go through Kargil,that year being the 10th anniversary of both, the Kargil war and her ownbattle with her tumour. She went onto cover nine high-altitude peaks in nine days, and created another recordin the process.

Still, the challenges are never toofar away. The absence of spinalsupport continues to disrupt Deepa’storso balance, requiring her tosupport her body weight using only her shoulders, which she strengthens

with regular swimming and exercises.Also, her damaged motor nerveshave left her mirror perceptionimpaired. “I can’t drive a car whoseend I can’t see. So I prefer hatchbacks,otherwise I need proper seatelevation,” she explains.

Despite those odds, she drives in atleast one rally every year. Ashish Gupta, director of CougarMotorsports beams proudly when hesays, “Deepa has participated in long trails in Delhi, Kutch and the Tharevery year, unfailingly. She absorbs every aspect of an experience with a smile”. In addition to all this, she alsohelps with a biking event called ‘Ride for Safety’, which is held every winterin Mumbai.

Early this year, at the India BikeWeek in Goa, she was named Biker of the Country. “I have everything now.What more do I need?” she beams.

More high-altitude miles clocked than most of us

With MTV Roadies Rannvijay Singh (left)

and Raghu Ram

Receiving the CavinKare Ability award

PLANET TOPGEAR

Three Limca records: swimming theYamuna river (1km) against the current, riding a special bike in 2009,and driving across nine high-altitudepasses in nine days.Castrol Most Passionate Biker Hunt(2009) – Star Rider TrophyMaruti Raid de Himalaya (2009) –

True Grit AwardBajaj Allianz Inspirational Women Driver Hunt 2011 – WinnerWorld Ranking second for shot put,third for discus throw and third forjavelin throw (2010-2012)Asian Ranking first in shot put, discus throw and javelin throw (2010-2012)

FASTER, HIGHER, STRONGER


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The Indian cricket fan shouldn’t get bogged down by gambling and match-fixing. It’s in our blood and our spirituality. Look at our roads

ow that the Indian cricket team has won the Mini World Cup Champions League Trophy Series or

whatever this thing that the Indian cricket team has won was called, I am sure everything will be back to normal. M S Dhoni can continue holding stakes in a company that manages player endorsements.

N Srinivisan, who ‘stepped aside’ so that investigations over match-fixing in the IPL can be conducted in a free and fair manner, can come right back. And S Sreesanth, who is currently on a pilgrimage to every temple in the land, can go back to snorting into towels, scratching his bum or whatever he does before bowling a, erm, coughspecialcough over.

To all of you shocked at the presence of gambling, fixing and conflicts of interest in Indian cricket, all I have to say to you is this: Don’t like it? Don’t watch it. Because you, dear reader, can’t quite appreciate how we walk that fine line between danger and adventure. When we construct houses, we look at floor space index, the number of the house, or the floor, feng shui and vaastu.

I am sure all of your houses have been planned based on one

or all of this. But how many of you have a fire escape, or sprinklers or even a small fire extinguisher hung on a wall in your homes? So you see, we thrive on taking a gamble, fixing things in a way that assumes they are not to occur naturally, or logically.

When people see a guy gunning down the road with his wife and two or three toddlers on his motorcycle, what the narrow-minded among them will see is a guy putting the life of his own self and some very small children in grave danger. People who understand the Indian psyche, though, will say he is just reaping the benefits of his karma.

Since he has committed no sin in his past life, he can ride with his wife and kids with him standing on the fuel tank for all he wants, and he’d still be in no danger. It is this confidence that eggs him on to not think one bit before taking the gamble of carrying his entire family on two wheels. And a gamble worth taking, because he commutes with his entire family without spending money on buses, cabs, or worse, a car.

What do you do when you are turning at a roundabout and suddenly see a vehicle coming right at you from the opposite

direction? Mouth expletives? Panic brake? Frantically veer out of the way? With this rash behaviour of yours, you entirely miss the saintly, apologetic smile of the driver coming the wrong way.

It’s a smile that mirrors a refreshing outlook to life. It’s an outlook that says, what has to happen, will happen, despite our best efforts. So do what you have to do and do not worry about the results. The saintly chap was only doing what he had to do. And because you veered away, his gamble paid off. By coming the wrong way, he reached his destination a couple of minutes faster, saved fuel by traversing a shorter distance, and made you believe in miracles and god.

India’s 2011 population census says you and I are two out of the 121,07,26,932 people who call this country home. So shall we say 121 crore, or 1.21 billion people? Out of this humungous

number, only 4.97 lakh accidents occurred in 2011. Of this, only 1.42 lakh people died and only 5.11 lakh were injured in 2011.

Still, these figures are miniscule, given the number of people that we are as a country, and considering how Regional Transport Offices all over the country issue licenses after driving tests that involve simple procedures like starting the car or turning the wheel in either direction. The sensitive among us will lament the needless loss of life, but the great minds that work across the nation will think the RTO’s gamble is a risk worth taking. It’s so much less bother than actually learning to drive – or teaching it – properly.

So really, when we religiously, piously and vociferously put our lives on the line inside and outside our homes, what’s a few lakh rupees, or a reputation or two over a simple cricket match?

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‘WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE TURNING AT A ROUNDABOUT AND SUDDENLY SEE A VEHICLE COMING AT YOU FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION?’

SRIRAM NARAYANANN


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A D V E R T I S E M E N T F E AT U R E


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WHAT’S THE ONE THING TO PACK FOR A TRIP FROM BANGALORE TO

OOTY VIA MYSORE AND BANDIPUR? THE i DIESEL, OF COURSE

Words and Photography: Debabrata Sarkar


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astaggering 40-odd hairpin bends needdnegotiating before you finally make it to this little lake in the middle of the Nilgiris.Avalanchi isn’t as close to Ooty as the

map may have you believe, especially when you are tryingto get there late in the evening after a long day of wandering around, which gets worse if you are following Google maps blindly.

And along the way from Bangalore, are a fair manysights that demand your attention and are likely to keep you for a while. The royal and now bustling city of Mysore,,the magnificent forests of Bandipur and Mudumalai, and finally the magnificent drive up to Ooty, all have a way of delaying your progress, but never in a bad way. The thing iss, though, to get your choice of car spot on – and for thisparticular drive, the i20 diesel checks all the boxes.

Now, it isn’t a secret that if you want to get out of Bangalore, without having to spend half your life squabbling with traffic, you need to wake up at the crack of dawn andget moving before the city realises you are trying to make a getaway and sucks you back in. The i20 makes thatparticularly easy, the boot can hold plenty of weekend baggsand the cabin is easy to get comfortable in.

It also has lots of storage spaces, cupholders and the liketo keep all your stuff organised. With that out of the way, the wide open road to Mysore awaits. This may only be a statee highway on paper, but it is a dual carriageway and in prettty good shape. The only problem is the number of cars that seem to use this road and of course the number of speedbreakers along the way, presumably a result of many reckless incidents.

The 140km stretch up to Mysore is presumably where youyoumake time. The drive is pretty flat and there aren’t many things tohold your attention apart from all the fast food joints, which makea rather strong connection with your rumbling stomach. The i20, on the other hand, remains unstressed, sipping on its little diesel tank gently and keeps the kilometres ticking over.

The 1.4-litre diesel engine delivers power in a linear fashionand makes short work of moving along at reasonable triple-digitspeeds. If you like changing gears, well, it has a slick shifting six-speed manual gearbox to satisfy that itch. While fifth and sixth areexcellent for cruising, you do need to shift down for quick passingmanoeuvres.

After a quick breakfast and a few more kilometres, you chance upon Mysore. There are a few ways to get around, but we strongly suggest you head straight into the city and park at the palace for awalk around before you carry on. It is well worth the time you

The new LEDs on the i20 give it added character

i20’s design is asstriking as that of the famousMysore PalaceMysore Palace


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‘TO GET YOUR CHOICE OF CAR

SPOT ON, THE HYUNDAI i DIESEL

CHECKS ALL THE RIGHT BOXES‘spend there and also breaks the monotony of driving. If you are there on a Sunday evening, the illuminated palace is one of thegreat sights to behold. Once you’ve taken the tour, drive around the palace to Chamundi Hill. It’s a well laid, twisty road that takesyou away from the busy highway, although only briefly, and offers a beautiful panoramic view of Mysore. It is also a delight forenthusiastic drivers. The i20’s compact dimensions make it easy to drive on the narrow hill road.

It’s a pretty straightforward drive to Gundulpet from Mysore,but it is from here that things get really interesting. It isn’t long before you are greeted by a large gateway in the middle of theroad, welcoming you into Bandipur forest. Apart from slowing down to keep to the speed limit inside the protected sanctuary,you almost instinctively roll down your windows and sort of squint for binocular vision.

Thankfully, the i20’s refined diesel motor plays along, doing itsbest not to disturb the calm of the forest as you cruise along. The b

orests of Bandipur and Mudumalai, of course, never fail to deliver foand it isn’t long before you spot a herd of deer grazing just metresaoff the road. There’s of course no dearth of monkeys merrily o

itting around, either. However, it is the elephants that you want to sook out for. These magnificent beasts love wandering around andlo

often get pretty close to the road, especially in the evenings.oHaving had your fill of wildlife, you have two options, both

heading up to Ooty – going left takes you on an awesomeh363 -hairpin adventure that is difficult to parallel, while turning rightgoes up a more gradual, boring route. Choose the one that suitsgyou better and be on your way. Go left.y

The quality dual-tone interior and feature-rich cabin feel great


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‘WITH CLEVER INTERIOR DESIGN, LUGGAGE

SPACE AND FEATURES, THE i DIESEL IS

PERFECT FOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS’

The initial bit of road leading past Masinagudi is a single-lane stretch with pretty bumpy edges. But when the local shuttle cab drivers come barrelling towards you, there isn’t much option butto yield. Thankfully, the suspension is pretty well set up to handle bumps without much discomfort. The light and easy controls serve you in good stead through the narrow twisty road just after, as you negotiate hairpin after hairpin, only pausing to take in the views and, of course, the barrelling taxis.

The wilderness gives way to rows of tall eucalyptus trees along the road as you make your final approach towards Ooty. Thediesel motor’s strong mid-range pulls effortlessly on these slopes,making quick work of slow moving vehicles. Ooty arrives not longafter and with it, places like Fern Hill and Finger Post.

You just can’t miss these names when you get there. The collectorate has to be the prettiest part of town with some grandold buildings and the beautiful St. Stephen’s Church at thecrossroads. And when in Ooty, you cannot miss the toy trainmaking its rounds. There are also a fair number of goodrestaurants peppered around town and Kings Cliff gets our votefor a delicious meal in its glass house restaurant.

Avalanchi is a further 20 kilometres from Ooty, on a side that islittle known and even less explored. This is the back of beyond of Ooty, and not many know such a thing even exists. The roads arepotholed and you end up playing dodge trying not to lose a wheelor scrape a bumper, but even here, the i20 manages rather well.

Fortunately, this also means there are no crowds to wrestle with and this pristine lakeside has a single farmstay called Destiny, whereyou can unpack your bags and pass into a parallel world where life is simple and full of good things. Not only do you get to see a livingfunctional farm, you also get to be a part of it. Head over to the ‘MooHouse’ for a taste of fresh milk, the little riding track to play cowboy

or just laze by the little pondwith a line, hoping something will bite into the end of it and make your day.

If you’re a bit more adventurous, there are morning

treks to a log cabin at the top of a neighbouring hill, rock climbing,

monkey crawling and such to get some adrenaline pumping.However, we suggest you take long walks around the farminstead, stretch out at the spa or just read a book in the balcony and keep an eye out for some wandering wildlife.

All the distractions apart, the few extra kilometres to Avalanchi are absolutely worth it. It’s a perfect long weekendgetaway and you aren’t really that far from Ooty, in case you dofeel the need for some claustrophobia. There’s plenty to do and afair selection on the menu to sample. It’s one of those places that you just don’t want to leave, and when you do, you promiseyourself you’ll come back.

The i20 on the other hand may make perfect sense in the city,but it isn’t a slouch out on the highway either, and handled the badbits quite well too. The 1.4-litre diesel is a frugal companion andwith all the clever interior design and luggage space, not tomention the incredibly long list of features, it’s perfect forweekend getaways as well.


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ALTO 800 VXiP40 More features to make your life easy. But will it be enough to e easy. ut t be e oug torun with the best in the market?

T H E C A R S A N D B I K E S T H AT M AT T E R . D R I V E N , R I D D E N , T E S T E D A N D

R AT E D T H E T O P G E A R W A Y

B-CLASS DIESELP38 Practical, spacious andnow diesel-flavoured as well. This keeps getting better

THUNDERBIRD 350P46 The panache of the 500but with a smaller heart. Still no complaints, though

TATA NANOP41 Hyper-budget car gets a new interior and a longerlist of goodies

VOLVO V40 P36 Sweden takes aim at the B-Class. Hopes compact dimensions and a great drive are ammunition enough

PLUSA-CLASS DIESELP42 Gorgeous styling andfrugal engine. Will the brain decide, or the heart?


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In India, it’s been a while since the Swedes concocted a four-wheeled formula worthy of a win

against stiff competition from the parts of Europe collectively known in the automotive world as Germany. The Volvo army has always looked prepped for the challenge, but on the field, as time has shown, this European battle was anything but hard fought – it all boiled down to the company’s insufficient number of dealerships.

The Volvo V40 Cross Country proves to be yet another potent explosive in the Swedish carmaker's artillery, and with

good reason. At first glance, the V40 will definitely put a smile on your face. It’s got aggressive headlamps, a handsomely long, protruding bonnet, and a steeply-raked windscreen.

Adding further sporty intent to the car’s appearance are small roof rails that flow seamlessly to the Volvo’s beautifully sculpted posterior. There’s also lots of plastic cladding on the front and rear bumpers and the side-skirts to save the panels from denting whenever it goes off tarmac. The overall look may not be all that new, but the V40 most certainly looks unique on the road, and grabs as much attention as… well, any curvaceous Swedish beauty would when she strolled down the street.

Open the keyless-entry doors and get into the driver’s seat, and you feel as though you’ve settled into a sportscar – with that long dashboard and the bonnet. Up front, there’s a high floating two-tone brown-and-beige dashboard with silver plastic inserts all around, comfortable, electric-powered leather seats and a simple layout to the entertainment,

air-con and vehicle configuration console. The seats at the back are as welcoming as those in front, but on long drives, the less-than-ideal under-thigh support will prove unwelcome.

Volvo claims the V40 is a five-seater. However, we would recommend you deduct one from that equation for the sake of comfort since the centre seat is uncomfortable, mainly because of that hard backrest and the drive shaft tunnel intruding into foot space. Even with its low-slung design, headroom is sufficient for most passengers, unless they are over six feet.

Behind the chunky steering wheel lies a large, red backlit tachometer, which is the centre of attention on the instrument fascia, with a digital speedo readout in the middle. There’s loads of other information on display as well, such as trip and fuel consumption readings and a gauge that shows you the level of pressure on the accelerator pedal, along with other vehicle settings. Plenty of technology goodies too – climate control, fixed sunroof, heated seats, cruise control and safety equipment including ABS, EBD, ESP, eight airbags, rear wiper and a rear camera with parking sensors.

The V40’s build quality is fantastic

Volvo’s latest creates a new segment, takes the company from Swede safe to Swede sporty Wo rd s C H R I S T O P H E R C H AV E S

VOLVO V40 CROSS COUNTRY

STORAGELots of odds-and-ends spaces and cupholders

all around

BOOTEasy to access, with

split-folding seats, but no spare wheel

REAR DESIGNIts voluptuousness

makes Kim Kardashian look so last year

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0 3 7T O P G E A R . C O M J U N E 2 0 1 3

and on par with the other top European brands. Interior quality and design here is definitely above average, but not the best. The 320+ litre boot and split-folding rear seats can accommodate a lot, but sadly, the Cross Country comes only with a puncture repair kit – there's no spare tyre.

The car has a five-cylinder 1,984cc D3 motor mated to the responsive six-speed auto 'box. It develops 148bhp and 350Nm of torque. There is a hint of turbo lag initially, but just like a sleeping canine that’s suddenly been woken up by an exploding cracker, the V40 shakes it off and is on the charge.

Stick the transparent LED-lit gear leaver in ‘S’ or Sport mode, give it some stick, and the V40 holds on to each gear up to the 5,000rpm mark with a resounding battle cry from its chrome-tipped dual exhausts. There’s not much diesel engine grunt entering the cabin at low revs, but engine noise does increase past 3,000rpm, which is partially acceptable considering it’s around that point that a real sense of urgency kicks in with the motor.

With 225/50 R17 Michelin

shoes on, the V40 feels firmly planted in a straight line at any speed, it’s just that the feel of the electric steering weighs up much better on the bends. Ride

quality is a bit bumpy at low speeds thanks to the stiff suspension and 2,646mm wheelbase, but pick up the pace to around 60kph and this is negated. The V40 is one of those cars you don’t mind driving all day long because you’ll still be fresh enough to paint the town red at night. And its audio system sounds good enough to make even some cranky House music sound good.

The Volvo V40 Cross Country comes across as a

very unconventional car from a company seemingly shackled by ‘safety’ chains. Once more, the Swedes have put forth a worthy challenger in an effort to pull the crowds away from the Germans, this time in the guise of a soft-roader hatch. The Cross Country shows its winning potential by ticking a lot of boxes across a range of categories that will appeal to potential buyers. All the Swedes need now is for their sales and service department to catch up.

MERCEDES B-CLASS

THE RIVAL

This German hatch is good at nearly everything it does. Practicality, efficiency and space.

THESPECSVOLVO V40

CROSS COUNTRYTHE NUMBERS

5cyl, 1,984cc, diesel, 148bhp, 350Nm,

6A, FWD, 0-100kph – 9.3s (claimed),

1,578kg, 14kpl (est)

THE COST`28.5 lakh

(ex-showroom, Delhi)

THE VERDICTNot exactly a

spacious car, but balanced by sorted driving dynamics. And with the Volvo badge, safety is up there with the best.

7 10

LIFE ON

THE INSIDE

01

SILVER PLASTIC LINING Complements the two-tone interior

well but feels a tad downmarket

02

DASHBOARD High floating

dashboard is trademark

Volvo

03

CENTRE CONSOLE Easy to use, good

quality audio even with limited equaliser options

04 GEAR LEVER

LED-lit lever looks and feels

classy. Especially in S mode

05

STEERING Electric steering supplies decent

feedback around corners

06

ACCELERATOR PEDAL Thrill provider. Next best thing after a Swedish

foot massage

FIRST DRIVES02

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FIRST DRIVES

lmost a year ago, Mercedes-Benz first showed India the B-Class. Clearly a family car back in Europe, in India, it

was positioned as a Sports Tourer. Not many people bought the idea, but they surely bought the car – the company claimed that its first lot of 200 cars was already booked by the time they announced the price.

Of course, there’s no way to confirm if all those bookings translated into sales. But we have little reason to believe otherwise, because the B may not be a Sports Tourer in its own right but it is a very practical car for the entire family.

Borrowing underpinnings from the

same platform that goes into everything from a smaller hatch to a compact SUV to a coupe, the B-Class has a sound foundation. In terms of looks, there’s no real wow factor save for those daytime running LEDs, which on a cloudy day or at night would put some menace in there.

The proportions are typically big hatchback. In fact, it looks a bit like a smaller R-Class. Otherwise, it’s pretty ordinary looking except for that CLS-ish crease on the side. Ordinary doesn’t mean ugly but if you go to a Three-Point Star showroom, you may just miss it amongst all the other wonderful looking Mercs.

But ignore it at your own risk because the B-Class makes a strong case for itself as a well-built and relatively exclusive family car that offers the Mercedes-Benz experience to a wider audience. There’s lots of room inside for five passengers, plus there’s a big, wide boot. The base is high so it’s easier to load things but it’s not deep enough, so the space-saver spare wheel needs to be strapped there, which is a bit odd. You could keep the spare in the garage if you’re out on city

runs but for long distances, there’s no option but to make room for it along with all your other luggage.

Unlike the petrol version, which was then launched in two variants – 180 and 180 Sport, the 180 CDI will come in a single trim – Style. So what you won’t get compared to a ‘Sport’ version are broadly a sunroof, a sportier instrument cluster and dual chrome-plated exhaust ends. Which is something you can live without.

What you will get is an elegant cabin decorated with quality soft-touch plastic, leather and chrome bits. We especially like that one-piece wood panel adorning the dashboard. And you get all the regular Merc features, so there’s a high-end multimedia system with Bluetooth, steering controls for audio, phone and cruise control, and seven airbags including a driver-side knee bag.

However, some corners have been cut to keep the price in check. For example, there are no reverse parking sensors, and the front passenger seat has only manual controls. While the multimedia system has an inbuilt option for GPS, Merc has left that out as well, which is odd considering this is being pegged as a luxury tourer.

Under the hood is the same 2,143cc unit that goes by the name of 180CDI in

If the A-Class was too racy for you, here’s a more practical small Mercedes-Benz to head for Words GIRISH KARKERA

B-CLASS DIESEL

ENGINECalled 180 CDI but

is a 2.2-litre common-rail unit

SEAT CONTROLSDials to adjust

backrest. Have a good workout

DESIGNWithout the LEDs,

blink and you’ll miss the car

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the A-Class, and as 250CDI in the C and new E-Class. Of course, the tune levels are different. The B 180 CDI’s 250Nm and 107bhp are good for a 0-100kph of 10.65 seconds and a top speed of 190kph. And you can really feel all the power coming through.

The engine is mated to a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic gearbox that has an AMG connection. However, it isn’t phenomenal in slow traffic – the shifts feel lethargic and the car generally quite heavy. At slow speeds, the electromechanical steering feels on the heavier side and could do with more assistance. It’s the same with slow-speed ride, which is too hard. The suspension is a state-of-the-art multi-link setup that is effective but also noisy while dealing with our potholed roads.

The B-Class, surprisingly for a family hatch, is at home on the highway. Floor the throttle once you hit open road and the car changes character in a manner that would make Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde look pale in comparison. The revs build quickly, and power comes in linear and hefty enough to make it clear that you’re not driving an ordinary hatchback.

The DSG ’box goes through the seven speeds happily. And when you want better control while overtaking slow traffic, just blip the paddle shifter and prod the B on – it’ll hurtle towards its top speed with minimum fuss. The 180 CDI is a good case study for the idea that what’s important is not the number of

horses on call but the way they leave the stable. Somehow, the Germans are still masters of the game when it comes to autobahn manners.

What also surprises is the way the B handles. If not for the body style, this is dynamically a serious challenger to many saloons. It’s tight and well controlled around corners and during quick lane changes. Body roll definitely is as minimal as it

can get for a car this type. And understeer is hard to achieve. It’s all very confidence-inspiring when it matters most.

At `22.6 lakh (ex-Mumbai, pre-octroi), the B is not cheap. It doesn’t help that Merc has left out bits like GPS and parking sensors, which seem like hygiene in most cars now. It’s not a hot looking car, but get past that and the amazing combination of sorted dynamics and proper diesel performance makes the B-Class a much more delightful proposition.

VOLVO V40

THE RIVAL

Not a ‘luxury tourer’ but this ‘Cross Country’ is an option to look at. Better equipped but for a few lakh more.

THESPECSB180 CDI STYLE

THE NUMBERS2,143cc, 4-cyl

common-rail diesel, 107bhp, 250Nm,

7A, FWD, city kpl: 13.7, highway

kpl: 18.9; 0-100kph: 10.65s, 30-50kph: 1.90s, 50-70kph: 2.35s; 80kph-0: 25.99m

in 2.36s, Top speed: 190kph (All performance

figures in the wet)

THE COST`22.6 lakh

(ex-Mumbai, pre-octroi)

THE VERDICTA no-frills car that

is more focused on offering the

Three-Point Star experience through

hardcore basics like performance,

dynamics and compact proportions.

7 10

LIFE ON

THE INSIDE

01

INTERIORElegantly designed

and a fine mix of quality materials

02

DISPLAYExpensive-looking

4.5-inch display but no GPS

03

CLIMATE CONTROLNo ‘auto’ option.

Not as effective as the Japs or Koreans

04 COLUMN SHIFT

Simply elegant… maybe a bit too

elegant for this car

05

PADDLE SHIFTERSA boon. Auto ’box only happy when

moving fast

06

INSTRUMENT CLUSTERNo fancy finish.

Just the way we like it, thank you

Space-saver spare strapped into the boot. Rather odd solution

FIRST DRIVES

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ALTO 800 VXi

For years now, the older 800cc Alto has been on a spree of sorts, setting and breaking sales records. But by now,

it’s been on the road for so long, it’s in urgent need of some sprucing up. With the Alto 800, launched last November, it got new styling but it wasn’t enough to set any records. Primarily because the new styling didn’t prove to be as popular as Maruti would’ve liked, and the car lacked some essential features – like central lock-ing and an audio system.

But now, there’s a new top-of-the-line variant, the VXi, that offers both those as standard, plus a rear spoiler and side mouldings. What is skips, annoyingly enough, is a keyhole on the front left door. Why would you do that, Maruti?

The integrated audio system gets two speak-ers. With that, the Indian car market has evolved to a point where even a super-compact hatch (well, a variant, at least) gets an audio system, without the need to go to the aftermarket. The VXi will appeal to anyone who looked at the Hyundai Eon only because it was heavier on features.

THESPECSMARUTI ALTO 800 VXI

THE NUMBERS

3cyl, 796cc, petrol, 47bhp, 69Nm, 5M,

FWD, 0-100kph: 16.86sec,

city kpl: 14.4, highway kpl: 18.8

THE COST`3.58 lakh

(ex-Mumbai)

THE VERDICTAlto 800’s

new variant gets features it sorely lacked. Is better

value now

5 10

India’s favourite hatchback gets a top-of-the-line variant and some features that it desperately neededWo rd s AG A S T I K AU L G I

P H O T O G R A P H S : N I T I N R O S E

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The turbocharged Linea is back. The 2013 model sees almost no change. No complaints, thoughWo rd s AG A S T I K AU L G I

FIRST DRIVES

We loved the earlier T-Jet. It was quick, handled well and looked good too. It

was the first affordable turbocharged petrol car in the country, but it barely registered on the sales charts.

Now, there’s a new Linea T-Jet, the 2013 model. It’s almost the same car, with the same engine, same styling, only now, it’s available in three trim levels, unlike the two earlier.

The top-end T-Jet gets discs all-around, auto headlights and wipers, and an audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, among other goodies. It also rides on 16-inch wheels while the lower variants get 15-inchers. Ground clearance is now

190mm/185mm (top-end/other two trims levels), keeping our challenging road conditions in mind.

The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine churns out 112bhp and 207Nm of torque, which takes it to 100kph in just 11.1 seconds. The motor feels a bit sluggish till the turbo boost kicks in at 2000rpm, but after that, it’s seriously quick.

The steering is light but communicative and entertains you well if you throw it around bends. The ride too is good, with the car easily gliding over bad roads. The T-Jet starts at `7.69 lakh and goes to `8.94 lakh (both ex-Delhi).

LINEA T-JET

THESPECSFIAT LINEA T-JET

THE NUMBERS4cyl, 1,368cc,

112bhp, 207Nm, petrol, 5M, FWD, 0-100kph: 11.1sec, 80-0kph: 25.87m,

2.33sec, city kpl: 10.8,

highway kpl: 14.1

THE COST`8.94 lakh (ex-Delhi)

THE VERDICTThe T-Jet

was always a fun car. This new

avatar livens things up

with a bunch of options

7 10P H O

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After its early glory days, the Nano lost momentum. This update hopes to regain some lost groundWo rd s AG A S T I K AU L G I

TATA NANO

petrol block that’s good for 37bhp and 51Nm. It’s mated to a four-speed ’box that channels power to the rear wheels. The output feels just about sufficient, but the motor needs to stay on the boil to keep up with traffic on open road. It’ll climb a ghat without the AC needing to be switched off, but only if you choose your gears right.

Tata has not worked on the NVH levels – the new Nano is still atrociously noisy inside the cabin. Being the budget car that it is, the running costs are tempting. The Nano will go 18.1kpl in the city and 20.4kpl on the highway. The update’s top-end goes for `2.68 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) and despite that `20,000 increase over the earlier model, it’s still the cheapest car in India. And if you want even better running costs, the CNG version will be out in two months.

FIRST DRIVES

sually, there’s chaos in the TG office when there’s a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive car to be tested. The rule with

unattended keys is finders keepers. But this time, none of that happened. The keys have been lying there for a week with no takers.

Before its launch, this rear-engine, RWD car was anticipated to be a game-changer. But its early success was short-lived. For two years now, the Nano has failed to find enough buyers. To address that, Tata has this update, which it’s calling the new Nano.

Outside, barely anything has changed. Chrome strips now run on the hood and the boot. The rear sports a new mesh grille. The top-end variant gets new wheel caps. Inside, there are substantial changes, especially to the dash, which gets

a completely new design with two gloveboxes and the instrument cluster in the middle. There are two speakers at either end. Plastic quality has improved. Nothing feels as flimsy as it did on the earlier Nano. No panel gaps inside, either.

Tata has added a few features to the top-end to appeal to buyers looking for something a little more premium. It now gets remote locking, plus a new audio system that can pair with your Bluetooth device, and gets CD, AUX, USB inputs. But with our limited expertise with electronics, we couldn’t manage to pair our phones to the audio system despite several attempts.

Cabin space is quite good for this car’s dimensions, but what should’ve been boot space is used up by the engine. No mechanical changes here. This update still doesn’t get power steering, which is essential in city traffic. Sigh.

The ride is comfortable as long as you don’t take it over sharp potholes or bumps, and it tends to get choppy at high speeds. The weedy tyres don’t offer much traction if you get into a corner a little too quick. But not a big concern, because the engine rarely gets quick enough to give you a heart-in-mouth moment.

This is the same twin-cylinder, 624cc

THESPECSTATA NANO

THE NUMBERSTwo-cyl, 624cc,

37bhp, 51Nm, 4M, RWD, 0-100kph:

29.57secs (damp), 30-50kph (3rd): 6.86, 30-50kph (4th): 12.30sec, 50-70kph (4th): 13.54, 80-0kph:

40m, 3.8sec, city kpl: 18.1, highway kpl: 20.4, 105kph

THE COST`2.68 lakh

(on-road, Mumbai)

THE VERDICTFor cut-price

motoring, there’s nothing to beat the Nano. Now,

you’ll get a feature list worth talking

about.

3 10

Plastic quality doesn’t feel cheap by

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FIRST DRIVES

e’ve said this earlier when we tested the A-class Sport in August, and we’ll say it again: “If looks could kill, the A-Class

would be behind bars”. Look at this Mercedes hatchback from any angle and it looks exceptional. The styling is a radical departure from the conventional Merc designs we’ve become used to. Safe to say this is the best looking Mercedes yet.

So then, after spending nearly a quarter of an hour ogling its curves and character lines, we finally take the best seat in the house – more on that in a bit. For now, the interior. Even among premium hatchbacks, it’ll be hard to find

a cabin as attractive as this one – can’t go wrong with a design inspired by the SLS AMG’s now, can you?

But we've noticed one thing – there's a vast difference between the front and rear seats. The front seats are extremely supportive and comfortable, and you can adjust the driver’s seat in whatever manner you wish to. It can also memorise up to three individual settings.

Slide on to the rear seat and you realise it’s only half as interesting as the front. The low-set seat is comfortable, but a little too upright. The bench is on the shorter side and lacks thigh support. Plus, the huge front seats obstruct most of the frontal view, and both, the windows and the rear windscreen are small. Apart from operating the rear window switches and cursing the people sitting ahead, there’s not much to do at the back.

The A featured here is the A180 CDI Style, powered by a four-cylinder 2.2-litre turbodiesel that churns out a modest 107bhp and 250Nm. That may not sound great on paper, but coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the A180 CDI can push off in some style.

Start the motor, and you’re greeted by

that typical diesel murmur while idling, which easily makes it into the cabin. And slotting the 7G DTC ’box into D and stepping on the gas only makes things louder. And it’s not exactly music to the ears. Not to ours, at least. Also, you won’t be pushed back into your seat when you take off – acceleration from standstill isn’t great. The A180 CDI Style does 0-100kph in 9.9sec, making it 0.15sec slower than its petrol sibling.

But this diesel motor isn’t about outright performance. The manner in which it builds up speed and the way the seven-speed ’box responds to your right foot indicates how relaxed and well mannered this four-pot motor is.

It is not a car you want to take to a drag strip, but it can surely spice things up on the roads, where it will spend most of its living years. Driving in the city is effortless, since power delivery is quite linear and available from as low as 1500rpm. Part-throttle response is quite adequate to amble around town. And while you’re doing that, you could bask in the glory of the A-Class’s stunning looks.

However, out on the highway, the engine and gearbox combination doesn’t feel all that impressive. D mode comes across as leisurely for the occasion, and S mode also doesn’t feel as quick as you want a dual-clutch transmission to be.

Here's a Merc hatchback with brilliant handling and great styling inside out. Plus, its a dieselWords DEVESH SHOBHA

A-CLASS DIESEL

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DIESEL ENGINEIs very noisy and

easily heard inside the cabin

ALLOYSThe most stylish 17-inch

alloys we’ve seen on a hatchback

PARKING ASSIST Missing on a premium

hatchback? That’s a shame

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LIFE ON THE

INSIDE

THESPECSMERCEDES A180 CDITHE NUMBERS

2,143cc, 4cyl turbodiesel, 107bhp, 250Nm, FWD, 7A, 0-100kph – 9.9s,

30-50kph – 1.86s, 50-70kph – 2.86s,

city kpl: 11.9, highway kpl: 16.1, 80-0kph – 26.81m /2.74s,

190kph*

THE COST`21.93 lakh

(ex-showroom, Mumbai)

THE VERDICTDon’t look at the

A as the cheapest Merc. Look at it as a premium hatch with luxury and

class in an attractive package. And for once, the diesel

variant is cheaper than the petrol.

8 10

THESPECSHONDA DREAM NEOTHE NUMBERS

109cc, single-cylinder, 8.25bhp,

8.63Nm, 4M, 105kg, 74kpl*

THE COST`55,550

(on-road, Mumbai)

THE VERDICTA no-nonsense

everyday commuter. Good build quality,

and a worthy alternative to made-in-India entry-level

motorcycles.

6 10

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01

QUALITY Top-notch

interior. Soft-touch plastic and leather

trim all-round

02

AIR-CON VENTS SLS AMG-type

vents look killer. Cooling is

effective at the back too

03

SEATS Comfortable

driver seat gets electronic adjust and

memory

04 CLIMATE CONTROL

Not fully automated. Manual AC

knobs feel good to use, though

05

AUDIO SYSTEM 20-CD system gets

5.8inch TFT screen, Bluetooth,

USB and Aux connectivity

06

AIRBAGS Seven of them. Promises best protection for

driver and occupants

hen Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India launched the Dream Yuga in 2012, it started a whole

new chapter in the Indian motorcycle industry. Honda is clearly aiming for the top of the podium, a position that its erstwhile partner Hero has occupied for years now. And for the mission, Honda is banking big on its ‘Dream’ series of motorcycles.

The Dream Neo is the cheapest Honda motorcycle in India, slotted below the Yuga and competing with Hero’s Splendor and Bajaj’s Discover T. But the cheapest Honda doesn’t feel cheap in any way. Build quality and fit and finish are top notch, and while the styling may look similar to the Yuga’s, its new tail section gives it a new identity.

At the Neo’s heart is a refined 110cc motor good for 8.25bhp and 8.63Nm. The Neo is the first motorcycle based on the revolutionary Honda Eco Technology, which improves power output and efficiency. Honda is claiming 74kpl for the Neo, but we’re yet to validate that.

On the move, the lightweight Neo feels nimble and its responsive engine will put a smile on your face. Ride and handling is typical Honda – it soaks up bumps effortlessly, and the butter-smooth handling only heightens the experience. A smooth four-speed ’box complements the engine.

The irritant here is the absence of an optional front disc brake – drum brakes can never give you the reassurance of discs.

W O R D S A N D P H O T O G R A P H Y: D E V E S H S H O B H A

FIRST DRIVES

HONDA DREAM NEOW

ONE COUNTRYMAN

THE RIVAL

Mini's largest hatchback offering. Now assembled locally. Has more cabin and boot space

01

06

0304

05

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But then, there’s a manual mode that obeys your commands quite well. Still, it’s heartbreaking to see the 2,143cc motor – which does duty in the C-, E- and M-class – detuned for this A-Class. For once, the A rides and handles like a wannabe sportscar, and when you’re in the mood to take things to the other side of sanity, the lack of outright power is evident.

That brings us to ride and handling, which is a mixed bag. The heavy steering wheel weighs up well with an increase in speeds, but feels a bit weighty at city speeds. Also, the A-Class points its nose in whatever direction you want it to.

The stiffer suspension setup is all good while cruising at high speeds, taking a fast corner or navigating twisty hill roads. But it comes at the cost of low-speed ride, which is a bit choppy.

Still, that’s a small price to pay for the bucket loads of fun that the A-Class diesel promises to be on open road. For those who won’t sleep well until they hear of the efficiency figures – the A180 CDI returned a healthy 11.9kpl in the city, and 16.1kpl on the highway.

The Indian in you will also like the fact that Mercedes has priced the diesel

variant cheaper than the petrol. At `21.93 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), the A180 CDI Style is almost a lakh cheaper than the petrol variant. But then, apart from the various active and passive safety features, the Sport variant gets the additional panoramic sunroof and signature diamond grille. In the Style variant featured here, that grille is an optional extra.

If you’re looking for a Mercedes-Benz that’ll fit into a relatively smaller garage without drying up your bank

balance, this new A should do the trick. Yes, it’s a hatchback that costs upwards of `20 lakh, but then, it is one stunning looking package, offering luxury associated with cars in higher segments. Plus, its sporty drive and excellent handling manners are definitely worth it.

than the petrol.

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Over the years, Mahindra has earned areputation for offering great value-for-money products in the passenger carsegment. Products with powerful yet

efficient engines and segment-first features havebeen Mahindra’s forte in its four-wheeleroperations. And with its recent foray into the motorcycle market, Mahindra has shown acommitment to emerge as a serious player in theIndian two-wheeler market.

As part of its bottom-up strategy, we saw the 110cc commuter, the Pantero, launched inearly-2013. This was followed by the recent launchof a more premium 110cc commuter, the Centuro.When it was unveiled, Mahindra Group ChairmanAnand Mahindra said, “The Centuro is aconfluence of customer feedback, out-of-the-box thinking and indigenous design”. And that’s what it felt like during my tryst with the Centuro.

The first thing I noticed were those golden ribs under the fuel tank, resembling the ones onMahindra’s soon-to-be-launched 300cc Mojo. Theribs are a unique design element, making the bike

As if its good looks weren’t enough, theMahindra Centuro also has features that

,,

rewrite the rules of the game

Ride-and-handling is the Centuro’s strong suit

stand out in the crowd of commutermotorcycles. Since it is positioned as a stylish,feature-rich commuter, the Centuro will spendthe majority of its days doing daily chores,city and highway commutes, trips to the malland school runs.

And while in doing so, rest assured theCenturo will do it in comfort and style. Comfort because its long, soft seat will keep both, riderand pillion comfortable. This, along with its softsuspension setup, promises to gobble up mostmoderate-size potholes. And thanks to the bike’slong wheelbase, it stays composed on unfinishedstretches of roads that are an integral part of our road infrastructure.

For a 110cc commuter, the Centuro is a stylishpackage. The bikini fairing, stylish headlamp, LEDpilot lamps and tail lamp, digital console, chiseledbody, tattoo-like decals and all-black colourtheme make the Centuro quite a looker. Andthose golden ribs round things off nicely.

Those good looks are complemented by asmooth and refined 106.7cc MCi-5 engine that is

RAISING THE GAME


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Single-cylinder, 107cc, 8.4bhp, 8.5Nm, `45,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Tech

Sp

ec


good for 8.4bhp and 8.5Nm of torque. This unit has very smooth and linear power delivery with a meaty low- and mid-range. Coupled to a tall-geared four-speed gearbox, it helps the Centuro return exceptional fuel economy when ridden sanely.

And with its claimed 0-60kph time of under 9secs, the Centuro is a decent combination of performance and economy. The company claims an ARAI figure of 85.4kpl. If this was any other bike, we would have stopped right here. But since theCenturo comes with a host of segment-first features, it’s worth mentioning here.

Imagine you’ve just stepped out of a cinema hall or a shopping mall and are headed towards the parking lot. You don’t remember where youparked, and searching for a bike in a sea of bikes canbe annoying as well as embarrassing. Good for you that the Centuro comes with ‘find me’ lamps thathelp you easily locate the bike even in crowdedparking lots, just with the click of a button. The Centuro gets a flip key with a remote. The key-fobalso comes with a small LED torchlight that will helpyou find the ignition slot, incase you park in an ill-lit parking space.

It also sports a ‘guide lamp’ that came to myrescue when I had to walk out of a badly lit parking

lot on my way to a friend’s place. The guide lamp stayed on even after the ignition was switched off, allowing me to find my way in the dark.

I was meeting friends, and as we chatted late into the night, while my friends had to continuously keep an eye on their bikes parked across the streets, I was utterly relaxed because the Centuro comes with safety features thatmost other bikes lack – an anti-theft alarm. I was confident that if someone tried to steal the bike, the anti-theft system along with the 96-bitencrypted remote key would simply sound an alarm and lock the engine. And even if a duplicate key is made, turning the ignition ‘on’ with a key without the encryption wouldn’t be possible. Peace of mind, then.

One more feature that really helped was the Centuro’s distance-to-empty feature. Mostriders, including yours truly, tend to keep riding a motorcycle for miles enough after the tank had gone into reserve.

And on the analogue gauges that commuter bikes come with, it’s difficult to guess how far you could go after reserve has been reached. But the Centuro’s digital dashboard has an in-built algorithm that continuously keeps calculatingcu

distance-to-empty and gives you a real-time figure depending on your riding pattern.

It also comes with an indicator for economy mode, which should help you get the best mileage out of your bike. All of which means if you’re ridinga Centuro, it’ll be really hard to run out of fuel!

Plus, for the lazy rider in you, you don’t even have to bother remembering the next scheduled visit to the Mahindra service centre – the Centuro comes with a service indicator that prompts you when the bike needs expert examination.

From the looks of it, the Centuro promises to set a new benchmark in the entry-level commuter segment. Priced at Rs 45,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), it’s a premium 110cc motorcycle that offersa host of features earlier available only in four-wheelers. And, it comes with a five year warranty. At the end of our little tryst with the Centuro, we won’t hesitate to say it’s a class-defining productthat should please the ever evolving Indian two-wheeler buyer.

Distance-to-empty feature comes in quite handy

First-in-class remote key with foldable fob is a welcome feature

Smooth and refined MCi-5 motor feels at home in all conditions

‘THE CENTURO PROMISES TO SET A NEW BENCHMARK IN THE ENTRY-LEVEL COMMUTER SEGMENT’


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Want a Royal Enfield Thunderbird but are on a budget? The 350 delivers the goods nicelyWo rd s A B H I N AV M I S H RA

swingarm keeps the bike good in a straight line and agile around corners. This is the best handler in the Enfield stable, whether rounding a corner or gunning straight ahead. And thanks to those front and rear disc brakes that come standard, the 350 can scrub off speed as soon as it can gather it. In emergency braking, the bike kept its composure, aided by those grippy MRF Zapper tyres.

After a day of riding the Thunderbird 350 in varied conditions, it was clear the bike can’t compete with the 500 on sheer torque, but whatever power it has, it uses well. It didn’t feel lacking on any other count compared to the more expensive 500, and first-gen TB350 owners will be more than impressed with the new 350.

At `1.45 lakh (on-road Mumbai), it’s `40,000 cheaper than the TB500 while offering the same refinement as its bigger sibling.

FIRST RIDES

Cruisers never go out of style, and that’s true not just for those long-stroke V-twin Harleys. Ask Enfield, which

came up with the Thunderbird 350 at the start of the century. Enfield purists didn’t like it very much, but it did bring in new buyers who had not considered the Royal Enfield brand until then.

The second-gen Thunderbird was launched with two engine options – a fuel injected 500cc and a carburetted 350cc. We tested the 500 when it was launched; now we got our hands on the 350, Enfield’s bread-and-butter model.

It looks exactly like the 500, and the design is an evolutionary change over the previous-gen TB. It’s well proportioned and the fuel tank gels well with the rest of the bodywork, unlike the first-gen bike. The projector headlamp and five-bar LED tail lamp give this TB some character. For

colour options, there are three kinds of black to chose from: matt, gloss and twilight (black with a blue hue).

Very much like the 500 so far, but when you set off from a red light, the distinction starts becoming clear. The 350 doesn’t leave traffic behind as easily as the 500. Which is not to say the 350cc motor lacks power. On paper, it makes 19.8bhp and 28Nm, which is more than enough for city as well as highway riding. At cruising speeds, the 350 comfortably hums along at 80kph. Vibrations are minimal and the engine sounds stress-free. Wring the throttle further and you’ll come close to 120kph.

The five-speed gearbox is smooth and trouble-free, but it did hit false neutral on two or three occasions on our 250km-long test ride. The higher ratios have been designed with touring in mind. This also ensures the engine sips rather than gulps fuel from the 20ltr tank. In combined city and highway riding, the 350 returned an impressive 32.3kpl – which means the 350 can do close to 650km on one top-up.

Ride has been one of the strengths of the 500, and the 350 is no different. The suspension soaks up most of the bumps and the well padded seat lets you ride for long hours. The redesigned rear

THESPECSROYAL ENFIELD

THUNDERBIRD 350THE NUMBERS

Twin-spark, single-cylinder

350cc, 19.8bhp, 28Nm, 5M, 32.3kpl, 120kph, seat height:

775mm, 192kg

THE COST`1.45 lakh

(on-road, Mumbai)

THE VERDICTNeed a budget

cruiser that doubles as a fuel-

efficient, urban commuter? The

TB350 it is, then.

6 10

350’s motor low on torque, but high on efficiency

THUNDERBIRD 350


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THIS IS IT!P48 HTC proves that you don’t need a giganormous screen to be premium

NEVER SAY DIE... HARDP50 It’s out on DVD andBlu-Ray. We tell you exactly how we feel about that

FERRARI CANSP49 Ferrari coming out yourears? Get these. And listen tomusic while you’re at it

REALLY REAL RACINGP50 A next-gen-looking racing sim that doesn’t require anext-gen console

TURBOCHARGED COFFEEP49 It won’t change the taste of your coffee, but we’ll takethis over Lavazza any day

PLUS

O U R C H O I C E O F T H I S M O N T H ’ S

T O P - S P E C S T U F F

ROMAIN JEROME MOON ORBITERP48 Couldn’t be an astronaut? Don’t fret, here’s a watch made of Apollo 11 and moon dust

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1/ HTC ONE

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WATCHLISTTHIS MONTH: DIGI-DASHES

ROMAIN JEROME MOON ORBITERMade using steel from Apollo 11 spacecraft,

and genuine moon dust.

`70 LAKH; ROMAINJEROME.CH

Case flips open to reveal a compass.

`4.2 LAKH; PORSCHE-DESIGN.COM

PORSCHE DESIGN COMPASS P’6520

Dimensions: 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mmWeight: 143 g gDisplay: Super LCD3, 4.7 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels, 468 ppiMemory: 2GB RAMStorage: 32/64 GB

THE NUMBERS Camera: 4MP (Primary), 2.1MP (Front)Video: 1080p@30fps, 720p@60fps, HDRAndroid OS: v4.1.2, upgrad-able to v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)Battery: Non-removable Li-Po 2300 mAhChipset: Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600, Quad-core 1.7 GHz

You can pack all the tech you want into a phone, but if it looks and feels cheap, then not even

a giant screen can make it feel premium. Some manufacturers seem to be absolutely fine with that but thankfully, the HTC One feels like the phone your money deserves.

The HTC One gives you quality and great form factor over size, so while you have a 4.7-inch screen, it has a super-crisp full HD display and a high pixel density of 468ppi, which makes even the smallest text appear super smooth. The phone design itself feels just right. The slim form and minimal bezel make the phone easy to use with one hand – it doesn’t feel like you’re slapping a tablet on to your face when taking a call.

We’re not usually big fans of manufacturer interfaces, but the HTC Sense UI, after a few initial gripes, does seem to be the most intuitive Android front end out there, besides stock, of course. The app tray manages all your icons, and unlike

other interfaces, we didn’t particularly feel the need to crowd the home screen with app launchers.

But the biggest attraction of the new Sense UI is the Blink feed on your main home page. Not only does it work as a pretty good news aggregator, it also matches the One’s clean look and feel. Design done right means a lot, and here, the HTC One scores pretty high.

The camera on the HTC One can be quite controversial, with its modest 4MP resolution. Also, while other manufacturers insist on giving you oversaturated ‘happy’ pictures, the results we got from the HTC One under regular lighting conditions were more naturally toned. Though we prefer that, it’s not hard to imagine users wondering why the reds and yellows aren’t popping in their pics. That said, the picture quality is superior to a lot of the competition in terms of image sharpness.

The Beats Audio label at the back was not particularly impressive at first, but the audio quality of the

phone’s in-built speakers turned out to be far superior to any other handheld device we’ve heard in recent times. Looks like Beats Audio isn’t just all hype after all.

With just about every manufacturer launching their halo phones in the `40,000+ price range, the competition is all about the phone that is right for you. And while most people may have their hearts set on Samsung, Apple or even Blackberry, it’s the HTC One that comes across as a truly premium device that’s powerful as well.`42,499; htc.com/in

MECCANICHE VELOCI CHRONO DRIVERCase swivels within a carbon frame so you

can angle it towards you while driving..

`3.25 LAKH; MECCANICHEVELOCI.COM


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SOME MORE THINGSOPTIONS LIST

2/ V12 COFFEE MACHINE

Half-scale V12 Grand Prix engine dispenses a shot of

espresso from a titanium exhaust tip. Its oil filter

doubles as a grappa reservoir, should you like your coffee

with a kick.`8.15 lakh;

espressoveloce.com

4/ FERRARI SCUDERIA P200 HEADPHONES

Want to hear Ferrari engine sounds all day? Then ignore

these headphones. But if you want to listen to high quality audio from headphones that

carry your favourite car brand (we assume it’s Ferrari, why else are you so interested?),

go ahead and get these.`18,990; ferrari-by-

logic3.com

6/ Garmin Nuvi 52 LMNew, slimmer design, updated

maps and a host of new discovery features make the

new Garmin GPS navigational devices better than ever.

Besides, have you tried asking for directions in our cities?

Nothing’s worth that. `9,990; garmin.co.in

3/ LG JAZZ TV 32LN5650Slim TVs are not usually known for good quality audio, but LG promises to fix that with its latest 32-inch Jazz TV. Featuring a 2.2 channel sound system, this should give you the boom that’s been missing from your TV viewing.`37,000; lg.com/in

5/ Basecamp Go Travel outdoor speaker caseOutdoor music can be tricky, or really expensive. If you’re in the mood to play your favourite tracks while sipping some Old Grey on the balcony, these speakers are ideal for creating the right mood. The right mood being Justin Bieber. `2,080; basecamp.in

7/ Blaupunkt Velocity VX 652 speakersThe new range of Velocity car audio speakers boasts a number of good features, including oversized magnets and high-quality materials on all the speakers for perfect reference quality surround sound. `7,999(approx); blaupunkt.com

2

5

8/ Porsche Design P’3135 Titanium Pen

We’ve yearned for an indestructible pen all our lives. Well, not really, but it’s one hell of a conversation starter if you have one. Besides the titanium

body, the pen also has an 18 carat gold nib and a scratch resistant coating. `65,000;

porsche-design.com

worth buying this month...

3

4

7

6

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If the original PlayStation made gaming acceptable, the originalGran Turismo proved it could also be for grown-ups. It has been

15 years since the first outing of Kazunori Yamauchi’s game-changing racer and, from the initial information, the sixth edition promisesto sort the men from the boys. To mark the announcement that Gran Turismo 6 will be 6coming to the PS3 later this year, we visited Silverstone – one of seven new tracks in the game – to have a quick play.

So. The news. All the cars from GT5 are being carried over, but the list has been beefed up to 1,200, with more added online. An updated ‘course maker’ function now includesmany square miles of Andalucia in which to make your own circuit. There’s a new rendering model promising to “push the limits of the PS3”(until the PS4 arrives within the next year orso). And in the usual obsessive attention to detail we’ve come to expect from Kazunori-san, Yokohama tyres and suspension company KW Automotive have acted as consultants on

ven if you have only 10 words in yourvocabulary, you stand a chance of grasping the dialogue in this, the fifth of the

Die Hards. Thankfully, we didn’t start the DVDexpecting much of an intellectual workout. We also watched it through the mild fog of a hangover, which turned out to be the perfect way.

Sprawled on a sofa with a fresh set of batteriesin the remote, we put together our very own director’s cut. This involved fast-forwarding anything resembling acting. It also involved much rewinding, in an attempt to fathom just how they inflicted destruction on Moscow with a vastfleet of wheeled things.

In total, 132 vehicles were destroyed during themaking of the film. Another 518 received generous damage, most of which came courtesy the DartzKombat – a six-wheeled road tank capable of vaporising anything in its path. More came from a G-Wagen, which at one point drives over a traffic jam, crushing roofs like a monster truck, beforetaking on the mighty Dartz (which in turn is chasing an unusually well-driven Merc Sprinter van).

The Rotten Tomatoes review blog gave it onestar. We’d add another one to that, in appreciationof the stunty stuff. If you like car chases – and if you have a functioning remote – you will enjoy it.Well, some bits, anyway. – DR`499`̀ (DVD), `999 (Blu-Ray)

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the technical side, with the developerspromising even more dynamic realism.

And from this encounter, it seemsas if they could be right. The same clumsy squirts of manhandling and power that’d lose you seconds behinda real steering wheel, just as easily makea monkey of you behind the virtualcounterpart. As a taster, this was brief.But it looks as if it could be a decent Christmas… `2,699

FILM

10/0 A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD

GRAN TURISMO1997

On the original PlayStation,

featuring 140 cars and 11 tracks

GT21999

Still on the original PS, now

with 650 cars and 27 tracks

GT3: A-SPEC2001

Fewer cars this time, but far

better dynamics on the PS2

GT4 2005

Gathering steam now, with 722

cars and 51circuits

GT5 2010

Launched on the new PS3

with 1,086 carsand 73 tracks

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WORLD EXCLUSIVE

Think staying out of the way of rushing bulls in

Spain is difficult? Try staying out of the way of the

world’s rarest Gallardo in the narrow lanes of

Banganga

WORDS SRIRAM NARAYANAN

PHOTOGRAPHY NITIN ROSE0 5 2 AU G U S T 2 0 1 3 T O P G E A R . C O M


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0 5 3T O P G E A R . C O M J U N E 2 0 1 3

Gallardo LP 550-2 India Speciale


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he Hyundai Elantra was behaving strange. I was doing 5kph in it when I dabbed at the brake pedal

for a U-turn. But I was thrown forward in my seat as if I had stomped

on the brake from 205kph. When I turned the steering it rotated as if it wanted to unscrew itself out, and when I pressed the throttle to slowly inch ahead, the 1.6 diesel engine revved to an insane 3000rpm. Good thing my left foot was on the clutch. Which is when I realised it was all because of the Gallardo.

To be specific, the Lamborghini Gallardo Longitudinale Posteriore five-hundred-and-fifty dash two, fiftieth Anniversario India Serie Speciale. If you’ve just tuned in, Longitudinale Posteriore signifies the longitudinally-mounted engine at the car’s posterior; five-hundred-and-fifty is the power the engine makes in PS; dash two is the number of wheels the power goes to; fiftieth Anniversario is a reminder that 2013 is Lamborghini’s 50th year.

Then of course, there is the India Serie Speciale. To celebrate 50 years, and as homage to India, Lamborghini India has released an extremely limited number of Gallardos that have the Indian tricolour on the nose, India-specific badging inside the cabin and green and orange stitching on the seats. You will get the India edition only in orange, white and green colours, and there are only six – that’s right, six – in the entire world.

If I have to be utterly honest with you, I’d have to admit this to be a gimmick. But then, anything that sits so low, has so many sharp edges, has a V10 in the middle and makes 543 horses and 540Nm of torque is a gimmick. Ferrucio Lamborghini did not get into the car business to save the world, eradicate

‘FERRUCIO LAMBORGHINI DID NOT GET INTO THE

CAR BUSINESS TO SAVE THE

WORLD, ERADICATE POVERTY OR

SPREAD PEACE, YOU KNOW. SO…’

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poverty or spread peace, you know. So…But take it from me. In a couple of

decades from now, the India Speciale will find buyers willing to pay way more than the `3.80 crore it costs now, plus inflation. What makes it rarer is that the India Speciale will only be right-hand drive and, in the rarest kind of Lamborghini – a rear-wheel-driven one.

Now, when the Gallardo was unveiled in 2003, the world was very different. Forget the changes in your personal life, politics, or the economy. If you just look at it in car terms, between 2003 and now, Ferrari has had the 360, the 430 and now the 458. But the Gallardo still looks like it was designed yesterday. And it definitely drives like it’s from another era.

In the past decade, I have driven quite a lot of fast cars, and while all of them have varied between fast and emotional, fast and indifferent, fast and rewarding, all of them have shared one trait – they never demanded too much from you. Once you got around the fact that you’d be doing 100kph in four seconds instead of 14, you could pretty much potter around town or gun it down an open road. This includes the Lamborghini Aventador and the Koenigsegg Agera.

The Gallardo though, still expects the driver to make some effort. The steering is heavy, the pedals are heavy, the ride is hard. If driving a supercar is as challenging as

Turbos, valve-timers,

superchargers need not apply

This is what you get when you climb to

the top


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riding a bicycle uphill, driving this Gallardo is like riding a bicycle uphill with weights tied around your ankles. No wonder I was having problems with the Hyundai I mentioned earlier. My ankles and arms were so tuned to the shoving and wrestling in the Gallardo that they were doing the same in the light and easy-to-use Hyundai Elantra on my way home.

But in a strange sense, all that difficulty was satisfying because once you make the effort, this Gallardo is properly rewarding. The engine doesn’t have any turbos ruining the note, the heavy steering is full of feedback around corners, and the heavy throttle pedal allows you to minutely manipulate the amount of fuel gushing into the 10 cylinders, on its way from full tank to empty. And in an era when most brake pedals behave like an on/off switch, the one in the Gallardo behaves like a regulator, letting you nicely shave off speed before you pile it back on in a jiffy, or slam it into the floor and make the machine come to a dead halt.

I drove this car a couple of years ago on the F1 track at Shanghai. It was sensational. But now that it’s here as the India Speciale, we thought we’d give it the India Speciale treatment at Banganga, one of the most unique places in Mumbai. It’s a freshwater spring located a few metres from the salty Arabian Sea. You could call it a mini Varanasi with its temples, narrow lanes and small houses.

But all of this is right in the middle of Malabar Hill, Mumbai’s toniest, most expensive piece of real estate and one of the richest Parliamentary constituencies in India. And in the middle of all that wealth is this buzzing, middle-class neighbourhood – with a mid-engined V10 supercar doing its utmost to not go on a rampage.

Navigating the Gallardo in these lanes is like walking a leashed lion in the middle of a hyena pack. If things get out of control, they are both capable of damaging each other. And in those lanes, the heavy steering, heavy brakes and heavy accelerator were giving my knee and ankle muscles a thorough workout. Of course, the car caused a sensation.

But the most touching aspect of life in Banganga was the trust and co-operation in the neighbourhood. When we needed to move some cars that were in our

India Speciale gets orange stitching for driver’s seat


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‘NAVIGATING THE GALLARDO

IN THESE LANES IS LIKE

WALKING A LEASHED LION IN

THE MIDDLE OF A HYENA PACK’

LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP 550-2 INDIA SPECIALEPRICE: `3.06 crore (ex-Maharashtra)ENGINE: 5,204cc, V10 petrol, POWER: 543bhp at 8000rpmTORQUE: 540Nm at 6500rpm, TRANSMISSION: 6A, RWD0-100KPH: 3.9 seconds*, TOP SPEED: 320kph*

FUEL EFFICIENCY: If you have to ask…FUEL CAPACITY: 90 litres, WEIGHT: 1,380kgPROS: Super rare, superb driver feedback, very rewarding to drive, no optional frillsCONS: Hard ride, Audi-ish centre console, fixed steering paddlesBOTTOMLINE: If you have to get yourself a Lamborghini, this is the best version to go for

9/10

* clai

med


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photographer’s frame, all we had to do was ask around, go to the house and they just gave us the keys to their cars. They didn’t know us. They didn’t know we were there with a Lamborghini. And they still just handed over their car keys to complete strangers.

It is a mindset that is by now alien to the rest of the city, even to Banganga’s immediate neighbours – massive skyscrapers. Banganga’s is a mindset that refuses to give in to temptation and convenience. Despite being a World Heritage site, it still has some of the grime and squalor typical of a small Indian town. But the people who live here are so used to this way of life, they’d have it no other way. Because they’ve been living in the heart of south Mumbai for centuries, in a place that hasn’t lost touch with that era when people talked to their neighbours, compared to today’s single-floor apartments and security cams.

Just as the Gallardo is from a different era. After having driven so many user-friendly supercars, this rear-wheel drive Gallardo is a welcome handful. You cannot drive it to work. You cannot do the airport or school run in this. And if you want a quiet drive down the highway cruising at 100kph, with the engine doing 1000rpm, well, forget it. This car would rather spit you out and pull over. This is not an all-rounder. What it wants is a lot of free road, a lot of fresh air and a driver who doesn’t talk on the phone, reply to IMs, or keep taking one of those ‘Me and my Lamborghini’ pictures for his Facebook.

No. We didn’t dare try a

handbrake turn in here


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The car isn’t without faults, though. The centre console is way too Audi and the car has fixed paddles. Which isn’t a problem by itself because so do Ferraris and Maseratis. But their paddles are long and can be reached irrespective of steering position. The Gallardo’s are too tiny and should have moved with the wheel, instead of staying fixed.

So, allow me to stick my neck out and say, this is the best driver’s Lamborghini available right now. It’s definitely better than the open-top Lambo Spyder, in which the steering doesn’t feel as true. The Aventador is breathtaking but is comparatively easier to drive and is not a hardcore driver’s car. The Gallardo 570-4 comes close, but you are never going to be using those additional 20 horses or its all-wheel drive capabilities.

I guess the replacement for the Gallardo, the Cabrera – to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in a couple of months – will be faster, lighter and more powerful. And I reckon it will be easier to drive. Which is not a bad thing. But it also means that the 550-2 will be the last of its kind.

No such worries for Banganga, though. Its heritage status ensures that its centerpiece, a water tank, built in the 12th century, will never fall to the onslaught of development and fancy apartments.

Now, it’s either by providence or design that India got these rare India Speciales in the form of the Gallardo 550-2. Just the thing to ensure that they are preserved somewhere in the world, just for the rarity and the Indian iconography. And in a few decades, you could tell your kids, “Back in my day, this is how they made supercars.”

‘IF YOU WANT TO CRUISE AT 100KPH, THIS CAR WOULD RATHER SPIT YOU OUT AND PULL OVER’

No. We didn’t dare engage Corsa (race)

in here


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RingNEW

IN THE


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Ingolstadt’s popular baby hatchback has grown a boot. But this new sedan is not just about that WORDS GIRISH KARKERA


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id you know thatBudapest, the capital

city of Hungary, isactually three towns in

one? It’s an amalgamation of the towns of Buda and Obuda on the west of the enchanting Danube river, and Pest (not surprisedthe residents would want a new name) to the east.

Once on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain, today, Budapest in particular and Hungary as awhole are on the rise. It’s very European in its mix of people and their way of life, but there is still that old-world charm to its numerous buildingsand relatively easygoing way of life. Especially when you compare it to Europe’s other bustling cities. The old and the new seem to coexist in perfect harmony. So, is it just a coincidence that we are here to drive Audi’s new A3 sedan?

The marquee from Ingolstadt has somehistory in Hungary. It is in the northwesterntown of Gyor, which houses one of the world’s biggest automotive engine manufacturing units. The first A3 sedan was also made here – at thevery place that also made the earlier Audi TT.The A3 name isn’t new on the world scene. It first came to life in 1996 as a premium hatchback.The model is now in its third generation and starts with a three-door hatchback, going to a five-door Sportback (a mini estate version of sorts) and now this sedan.

Now, hatchbacks growing up into sedans isnot big news. We’ve seen that happen aplenty in various segments – a boot simply gets plasteredonto the rear of the hatch version. Some aretastefully done, others not. More importantly,sitting inside or even looking at it from the front,you may find it difficult to pinpoint the difference.And it’s here that the Audi starts being different.

There is no mistaking the Audi family look here, with the single large grille and thosepiercing LED headlamps. But surprisingly, thesedan version of the A3 doesn’t share a singlebody panel with the hatch versions. Audi’s Headof Design, Wolfgang Egger has been one of thestaunchest supporters of bringing in a sedanversion of the popular A3. Not surprisingly, he’s made sure it emerged as something special.

Describing the process, he says designing thecar was like sculpting – “the piece is only perfectonce you have removed everything that doesn’t belong there”. While it’s hard to say what they have removed, what’s easy to notice are thosedynamic lines that run through the length of thecar, giving it a strong muscular look. None of those lines, as the designers point out, end in nothing – take, for example, the ‘tornado’ line below the window sill, which starts from theheadlamps and ends at the tail-lights. Or, thelower angular dynamic line that joins theextra-flared wheel arches.

There is that underlying resemblance to anA4AA , yet in reality, it’s distinct enough to stand out on its own. At the front and rear is a prominent,

D l

No quattro here, but still a firm grip on the road

Distinctive enough to stand

out on its own


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The sedanversion of the A3

shares not a single body panel with

the originalhatchback

‘‘

Audi A 3horizontally accentuated design layout to give asense of width to the compact dimensions. At just under 4.5m long and just over 2.5m wide, theA3 sedan isn’t a particularly big car. But it’s notsmall either. In fact, it is smaller than a VW Jettain length but a few millimetres wider. Of course,there is little in common between these two cars.

Typically, the A3 uses a heady mix of high-strength steel (in places such as the passengercell frame) and aluminium, to keep weight incheck where it can – for example, the bonnet. And all the manufacturing attention to detail showsbecause the A3 feels very nimble and agile,irrespective of engine spec.

Speaking of which, there are three engineoptions as of now. A new-gen 1.4 TFSI, a lighter 1.8TFSI and finally, a 2.0TDI. Lighter, more fuel efficient and spewing less CO2, the new engines feel at home doing their job of making the A3 a fast sedan.All three engines can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed S-tronic automatic.

The 1.4 may be relatively low displacementbut it outputs a healthy 140bhp and 250Nm, enough to do the dash to 100kph in just 8.4sec. This engine also has something called the

Just enough room for five. But nicely done


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AUDI A3 SEDANSP E C S

7/10LxWx xWW H.................................................................................4456 x 1796x x 1416MMxWHEELBASE...............................................................................................2637MMBOOT SPACE..........................................................................................425 LITRESWHEELS..............................................................................................16-19 INCHESTURNING CIRCLE............................................................................................10.9M

PROS - LOOKS GOOD ON THE ROAD, WELL-APPOINTED INTERIOR,ENGINES, PERFORMANCE, CHASSIS

CONS - LIGHT STEERING, FIRM RIDE, ALL THOSE WONDERFULGIZMOS ARE OPTIONAL

BOTTOMLINE - NOT JUST A HATCHBACK WITH A BOOT.TT THIS ISAN ALL-NEW CAR THAT TRIES HARD TO OFFER A LUXURY SEDAN

EXPERIENCE IN A COMPACT PACKAGE. DOES REASONABLY WELL

140bhp

180bhp

150bhp

8.4s

7.3s

8.7s

12.5

10.5

14.5

217kph

235kph

220kph

250Nm

250Nm

320Nm

1395cc

1798cc

1968cc

1.4TFSI

1.8TFSI

2.0TDI

Engine KPL (est)Top speed0-100kphPower TorqueDisplacement

The A3 isnot just

a smaller A4. It is a

proper Audi experience

‘

‘

cylinder-on-demand system, which basically switches off the second and third cylinders when not needed and lets the A3 coast on just twocylinders. This improves fuel efficiency, albeitmarginally. The diesels also feel quite free-revving and if not for that distinct note, there’s hardly any difference between the diesel and petrol engines in the way they propel the car ahead.

We could go on and on about the technology, but really, it’s the way the Audi moves that’sexhilarating. It’s like a free bird soaring in the sky. You think it’s gliding along but it’s actually hunting for prey, ready to swoop down whenever it needs to. The A3 can be a bit like that. The electromechanical steering is speed-sensitive –it’s supposed to get heavier as speed builds butit’s still on the lighter side.

Nevertheless, it is precise. What helps is the nimble chassis, which never complains whenyou feel like throwing the car into a corner. Steering feel is the only Achilles heel in thecorner-hard driving experience. But thanks togizmos like the electronic transverse lock – which is part of the ESP – you won’t be part of thescenery unless you try really hard. Electronic transverse lock gently slows down the inner frontwheel to reduce understeer. Then there’s theoptional Audi Drive Select on S-Tronic-equippedmodels, which lets the driver choose betweendifferent drive modes – Comfort, Dynamic,Efficiency, Auto and Individual.

The A3 sedan is not supposed to be just a

OTHER DETAILS

ngine KPL (est)Top speed0 100kphPower TorqueDisplacement

A3 cockpit inspired by the real thing

Lots of driver aids – like side assist –

to choose from


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Audi A 3smaller car. It is supposed to be a proper Audiexperience. Which means there are loads of technology bits and even equipment that we’ve so far found only in slightly more luxurious models.The MMI system in this Audi, in fact, is a newergeneration and comes with a unique touch dial onwhich you can magically enter information by justrunning your fingers through. Of course, this isoptional fitment, but then, it’ll be optional onmany other Audi models below the flagship sedan.

The cockpit can genuinely be called a cockpitbecause it seems to be inspired by one. There is noelaborate set-up, no mish-mash of buttons. Thecentre dash is low set and has aero dials forair-con vents. The seven-inch multimedia screen pops out of nowhere and contains a huge grocery list of driver assist systems to choose from. Theinterior is well-appointed and if taken care of, could last a lifetime.

The A3 sedan will come to India by the middleof next year. So, there’s still time. And that time iswhat Audi India needs to get its business plan right for this car. Because right now in Europe, itsells for `20-22 lakh. Add our own import duty ona CBU and the A3 won’t make sense, howevergood it may be. And good it is because this is a proper Audi experience, with practicality to boot.

Boot! That reminds me, there’s also 425 litres of cargo area. And that can be doubled if you havejust one co-passenger, because the rear seats canbe split folded. You may think that’s no big dealconsidering everything else the car offers. LikeI said earlier – this is not your regular story abouta hatchback getting a boot.

Highly useable boot – 425 litres of space


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Mercedes E-Class

WORDS AGASTI KAULGI PHOTOGRAPHY NITIN ROSE


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ANTI-AGEING FORMULA

With more flamboyant styling and a bunch of extras that the earlier car didn’t have, the new

E is getting younger with time0 6 7T O P G E A R . C O M AU G U S T 2 0 1 3


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ometimes, for some products, there’s one brand that is almost a synonym for that product. Like in India, Bisleri for mineral water or Cadbury for chocolate. And when we hear the term ‘luxury car’, for most of us,

the first image that comes to mind is the three-point star. Mercedes-Benz has been in business in India for

about 17 years, but following the arrival of the other Germans in that space, Mercedes has had to raise the bar.

And that brings us to the new E-Class. The E has always been the most popular Merc in India. Since the 1990s, the W123 and W124 models have had an army of admirers in India – both models are popular in the used car market even today. All in all, 23,000 people have bought the E in India since the model was launched in 1996.

The new E-Class is not an all-new car. What’s new is the styling. From up front, it’s almost impossible to tell this is the same E under the skin. The twin quad headlamps have been ditched for large single-unit ones. The daytime running LEDs have been moved up from the bumper and are now integrated into the headlamps.

These headlamps, with daytime LEDs, are now in sync with the new Merc design theme, and immediately distinguish the new model from the older one. The three-point star sits in the middle of that wide grille with two horizontal slats. Oh, and it’s now illuminated. Which looks awesome once the sun goes down. Pity the illuminated star is an optional extra, though.

In profile, the new car looks almost identical to the earlier one, with sharp sweeping lines running all the way to the C-pillar. At the rear, Merc says LED and optical fibre technology has gone into designing the new-shape tail-lamps. But apart from those tail-lamps and the slightly altered bumper, the designers haven’t messed too much with the rear.

The cabin has also got the treatment. The dashboard is wrapped in black or beige leather, as are the seats. An aluminium-finish strip runs along the width of the dash, end to end; the centre console is also aluminium-finished. Plus there’s the option of a wood-finish strip instead of aluminium.

The earlier E-Class lacked some essentials, but the new

S THE NEW E IS NOT AN

ALL-NEW CAR – IN FACT, FROM

UP FRONT, IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE

TO TELL THIS IS THE SAME

E-CLASS UNDER THE SKIN


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Mercedes E-Class

car addresses that quite well. There’s an updated COMAND system to deal with all your music and Bluetooth connectivity needs – this one can play music via your Bluetooth device. Also, this COMAND system has an in-built sat-nav. Another must-have, a reversing camera, is now standard, which should make parking less torturous than it is right now. And speaking of parking, the E-Class also gets Park Assist for automatic parking, much like in VW’s Passat. Only, this one is not as user-friendly as the VW system.

The front seats remain big and comfortable and have memory settings along with electric adjustment. The rear bench too is comfortable and has decent under-thigh support. The rear has AC vents with dedicated temperature control.

Merc has cut down the number of engine options on the new E, which now has only one petrol and one diesel option. This, Merc says, was done to reduce the complexity of inventory management

New styling weaves edgy

and traditional into one juicy

package

Optical fibre and LEDs

do their magic at the tail end

of business


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Mercedes E-Class

7/10PROS: Ride, features, stylingCONS: Steering feel, gearbox, handlingBOTTOMLINE: The new styling makes the E look younger and more flamboyant than before. It was an easy 8/10 if it had a quicker ’box and sharper handling.

M E RC E D E S E 2 5 0 C D IENGINE: 2,143cc, 4-cyl, dieselPOWER: 202bhp TORQUE: 500NmGEARBOX: 7A, RWD

0-100KPH: 7.5 seconds (claimed)TOP SPEED: 242kph (claimed)LxWxH (MM): 4,879 x 1,854 x 1,474KERB WEIGHT: 1,800kg

COMAND system gets

better at what it already

did well

WITH THIS NEW DESIGN THEME, MERC IS READY

WITH A PROPER RESPONSE FOR ALL THOSE WHO SAID, “MERCS ARE FOR OLDIES”


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across all its models. The petrol is the 182bhp, 300Nm 2.0-litre block; the diesel is a 2.2-litre turbo-charged oil burner, good for 202 horses and 500Nm of torque – most of which can be felt 1800rpm onwards. Power delivery is linear, with very few surprises in store. This is one refined motor, nicely muted through most of the rev range, intruding into the cabin only after 3800rpm.

Till last year, this engine was mated to a five-speed automatic ’box, which has since been replaced by a seven-speed unit. Unlike the engine, the gearbox is no genius. It’s not the quickest one in the game – it takes a moment before downshifting when you push the throttle into the floor. On the plus side, the added cogs keep the motor in its comfort zone most of the time. And the well-sorted ratios mean the fuel efficiency, especially while cruising on the highway, should return a respectable number (TG test pending). Shown the beans, the E250 CDI hits a claimed ton from standstill in 7.5 seconds.

The new E rides extremely well over broken roads, with only the really sharp bumps making it to your spine. And all of this despite running on 18-inch wheels wrapped in low-profile rubber. The springs and dampers do a wonderful job of creating a comfortable ride even on pothole-ridden roads.

On the flip side, what’s not amazing is the steering feel, which is a tad too light for my taste. Feedback too isn’t great. Push it hard through a series of bends and it feels unsettled. The softer setup of the suspension has resulted in noticeable body roll. And a fair bit of vertical movement. I would’ve ranked the new E higher than I do now, if only it handled as well as the C-Class while giving you the comfort and space on offer in the E.

While the styling and added features have turned the new E-Class into an improved package, naturally, the sticker price has also changed – fortunately, it’s now dearer only by `20,000. The new E250 CDI will set you back by `44.48 lakh, the E200 CGI is `41.5 lakh (both ex-showroom, Delhi). If you’re one of the first 100 to book the new car, you can have a German-made E-Class for `49.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), brought in as a CBU.

With the new car’s refreshed design theme, added goodies, comfort and space, Mercedes looks ready with a proper response to all those who said, “Mercs are for oldies”. Still, while it’s a good thing for Mercedes to be attracting younger buyers, I’ve decided to hunt down the man or woman who took that illuminated logo out of the standard feature list.

Sophistication and impeccable

quality are still standard

features...

... but illuminated

star is not part of the package.

Grrr


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India ExclusiveP

HO

TO

GR

AP

HY

MA

NU

FAC

TU

RE

RS

PARANO


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WORDS SRIRAM NARAYANAN

WE TAKE THE WORLD’S RAREST ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST TO THE WORLD’S MOST BREATHTAKING ROAD

– THE STELVIO PASS

RMALACTIVITY


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n my nearly decade-long career, I have always pretended to be busy whenever a

Rolls-Royce story was around the corner. Not that I have anything against the cars. But

personally, the concept of extreme luxury is something I have never understood. So me trying to

gauge a Rolls is a bit like a teetotaler trying to write about the intricacies of a single malt.

If you are inside a car that’s called the Rolls-Royce Ghost Alpine Trail Centenary Edition, you’d find it intimidating. What I found intimidating, though, was driving the car itself. I have driven Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis on crowded Indian roads. None of them were as intimidating as getting this Ghost out of the underground car park of a hotel in Innsbruck, Austria. And it’s just for this that the Ghost has a camera each under the wing mirrors to give you that helicopter view for getting out of tight spots. And trust me, in a Ghost, even your most routine spots are going to be tight.

The Ghost you see here is the Alpine Trail Centenary Edition made to commemorate 100 years since Rolls-Royce first embarked on the Alpine Trail in 1913. So the Centenary mirrors a certain James Radley’s original Silver Ghost, which survived the 2,912km event, and won. Which is why you have the retro blue paint, the black grille and wheels, the topography of the first Alpine Trail etched on the dashboard and some other bits that pay homage to the original car. Mechanically, there isn’t much difference from the 2012 car… just an updated media interface and the facility to write names and numbers on the screen via a touchpad. At which point, you wouldn’t think much of this Rolls. I didn’t.

I


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Rolls-Royce Ghost

The topography of the Alpine Route from the 1913 Alpine Trail

So the Ed knows I was working

and not goofing off on office time

Till I realised I was in one of only 35 of these cars in the entire world. And if I scratch such a rare car just on the way out of the car park, the people from Rolls-Royce – who welcomed me with a lot of warmth – would probably have just taken me to the Alps, got me out of the car on some pretext, and driven off. Anyway, I got out without incident and in a few kilometres, I got this very electric feel from the car. No. I don’t mean hair-raisingly electric, but smooth, sensation-less electric. The car has a mighty V12 engine, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, a suspension, axles… but when it moves, you don’t sense any moving parts. The only trace of motion the Ghost does not hide is the view outside the glass.

If you shut your eyes, you can’t feel, hear or sense anything to convey that you are in motion. The Ghost doesn’t seem to move on the road, it simply appears to hover over it. Which automatically means the car should bestow you with carpet-like ride. And it does. Despite riding on runflat tyres. Which automatically means the car will roll around corners like a wheel rolls down a flight of stairs. Well, it doesn’t.

The only other cars that have less roll around corners than this Rolls are ones that have Ferrari, Porsche or Mini on the label. Don’t get ahead of yourself. This is not a driver’s car. The Rolls’s habit of taking away all traces of motion also takes away all traces of feel from the driver. This car can surely be hustled, but neither you nor the car is going to enjoy it.

What the Ghost does enjoy is wafting down at a pace that will get you a speeding ticket in Europe. Yet, its power reserve indicator will still show about 99 per cent of its 562 horses. A BMW M5 makes 552. But while any car with this much power is always straining at the leash, the Ghost is a high-frequency shriek. You may not be able to hear or feel it, but windowpanes around will crack. The Ghost never gives you the sensation of frantic motion.

But if I mention the speeds it carelessly takes you to, I might get a ticket sent to me in India.

Then there’s that gearbox. Quite thankfully, you don’t have any Sport or Manual modes. All you get is a steering-mounted lever to engage Drive, Reverse and Park. Needless to say, it shifts gears without you realising that the transmission is working. The party trick here is that the transmission has a hotline to the GPS. So if it detects you are on the motorway, the car automatically keeps the gears high and engine revolutions low. If it detects you are, say, on the Stelvio Pass, the gears are retained for longer and the car will never bother going to fifth.

‘THE GHOST DOESN’T SEEM TO MOVE ON THE ROAD, IT SIMPLY APPEARS TO HOVER OVER IT’


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The Alpine Trail used to be a gruellingendurance competition, started more than a century ago. Call it a LeMans lasting more than 24 hours and over 3,000km of public roads, mostly through mountain terrain inEurope. The stakes weren’t high and thedrivers were only private enthusiasts whowere in it for the fun and the challenge ratherthan endorsements or money. It is said that a car that could survive the Alpine Trail could survive anything. A couple of thousand-odd kilometres may not mean much today, but with the roads and car technology that existed a century ago, the Alpine Trail did separate the men from the boys.

This Silver Ghost currently belongs to collector John L Kennedy.

‘ONCE YOU REACH THE TOP, THE SIGHT YOU SEE WILL PUT THE WORD ‘MAGNIFICENT’ TO SHAME’

100 YEARS AGAIN


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Ah, the Stelvio Pass. The road that properly had me in a sweat. Now, the Ghost is currently RR’s smallest car. There is,of course, the Phantom. Then there is the Ghost ExtendedWheelbase. But being the smallest doesn’t mean much when youare nearly 18 feet long and over six feet wide. And this car on the Stelvio is like watching those one-run-required-in-one-ball kindof cricket matches.

The Stelvio is extremely narrow and going around its hairpins islike climbing the stairs to your apartment. To complicate thingsfurther, there are a whole lot of picnickers, unruly bikers andtourist mini buses in your way. And quite a few parts of this Passhad nothing to stop you from going off the road and being swallowed by the mountains.

Frankly, it’s not a road you can carry much speed through.Nor can you attack those hairpins with other traffic around. Theofficial speed limit is 60kph. The way the road was, I’d call 60kph less of a speed limit and more of a dare. But once you reach the top, the sight you see will put the word ‘magnificent’ to shame.You overlook quite a lot of Europe and that dangerous road thatgot you up here looks like a harmless piece of ribbon that’s justfallen off the sky and coyly settled amidst the nooks and crevicesof the mountains.

At first, it seems like a crazy idea to take the Ghost up the Stelvio. But the best way to tackle the Ghost up Stelvio is, erm, notto drive it. In fact, the best way to enjoy the Ghost is to just notdrive it. The way this car cocoons you from the world outside, I guess, the only other time you felt so calm and protected may havebeen in the maternity ward, just after you were born. In fact, withthe Ghost, for the first time ever in my life, I spent more time in theback seat than in the driver’s seat.

I have never got my head around the fact that somebody would want a motorcar that suppresses rather than enhances thesensation of motion. But on those two days, through the most beautiful parts of Austria and Italy, over a road as challenging asthe Stelvio, I could think of no better place to be in than the back seat of that Ghost. It’s a bit shameful for a motoring journalist toadmit, but there you have it. With quite a sense of regret, I now understand the point behind extreme luxury. I just hope I canshake it off in time.

And if you want to get yourself one of these 35 Centenary cars, you may need to hurry. As I write this, there are only two remaining.

ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST ALPINE TRAIL CENTENARY EDITIONPRICE: `3 crore approx (only two remain)ENGINE: 6,592cc V12 turbo-petrol, POWER: 562bhp at 5250rpmTORQUE: 780Nm at 1500rpm, 0-100KPH: 4.9 secondsTOP SPEED: 250kph (limited), TRANSMISSION: 8A, RWD, WEIGHT: 2435kg

James Radley’s original Silver Ghost,

which did this a century ago

BUILT

1820ELEVATION

2,757 METRES

LENGTH

24.3KM

HAIRPINS

48SPEED LIMIT

60KPHUNOFFICIAL

YOU’D HAVE TOBE GREAT ORFOOLISH TO TOUCH 60

THE STELVIO PASS IN NUMBERS

PROS: Extreme silence, extreme comfort, extremely rareCONS: A pain to manoeuvre around tight spots, you will never want to drive itBOTTOMLINE: Now that clocks have grown more sophisticated and quieter, youcan’t even hear the clock tick in this Rolls.

8/10


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Honda CB Trigger vs Yamaha FZ-S


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0 7 9T O P G E A R . C O M J U N E 2 0 1 3

This Japanese duo has a common goal – to spice up the 150cc commuter segment. Both are pretty good at that,

but what if you need to buy just one?

WORDS DEVESH SHOBHAPHOTOGRAPHY PARAG PARELKAR


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FZ-S’s chunky fuel tank and aggressive

headlamp design give it a sporty look

Tiny tail lamp doesn’t go well with

FZ-S’s overall stout appearance

f you see a mobile phone dating from when these phones first came to India, it reminds you of simpler times when phones were

used mainly to make and receive calls. You didn’t have too many models to choose from, and it was quite likely that the phone in your pocket was similar to the one used by your father-in-law.

Then, suddenly, the market evolved and mobile devices started to do things we’d never expected them to. The number of manufacturers too increased manifold, and today, the market is flooded with phones of every size and shape catering to a whole range of whims and fancies.

The motorcycle market in India is more or less singing the same tune. Earlier, every player in the market had one contender catering to a particular segment. But with time, the market evolved, and cutthroat competition and customer demands gave birth to a dizzying range of sub-segments. Today, every manufacturer has more than a couple of models catering to the same segment with similar specs but slightly different looks and features.

Take, for example, the Yamaha FZ-S. It looks identical to the FZ16 but promises to offer more than its sober 150cc commuter cousins, the SZ-S and SZ-RR. Honda too has an answer to this premium 150cc segment in the shape of the CB Trigger, which is the expensive alternative to the Unicorn. So, Yamaha’s FZ-S and Honda’s CB Trigger were born with similar goals – to offer more than a regular 150cc commuter.

Along with practicality, these motorcycles come across as sporty and stylish alternatives to their respective 150cc siblings. But which one is more fun? To find out, we put them through a mixed week of torturous daily commutes to work, run some errand and a trip to the mountains for a well deserved break.

So we start with the styling. Despite being more than three years old, the FZ-S doesn’t look a day older than the first time it rolled out of the Yamaha factory. All credit to the evergreen FZ1-inspired styling and the new body graphics, which complement the FZ-S’s aggressive stance.

The CB Trigger looks a bit sedate in comparison. Sure, it’s got modern styling, but a closer inspection reveals the headlamp with bikini fairing and the sculpted fuel tank with pseudo air intake resemble the ones on the Yamaha. Inoffensively designed, the Trigger is a

decent bike to look at, but out in the open, the FZ-S is more likely to turn heads.

Both have single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke units. Both have five-speed gearboxes, and while both make 14bhp of power, the FZ-S’s 153cc unit churns out 13.6Nm of torque, compared to the Trigger’s 12.5Nm developed from its 149cc motor.

Get astride these bikes and their intentions are clear almost instantly. Both have comfortable seats but the Honda has the edge. And while the FZ-S, with its low-set handlebar, gives you a tipped-forward riding position, the Trigger’s upright riding style with its conventional handlebar is more commuter-friendly. So if your daily travel involves peak traffic, the Trigger will prove more comfortable.

The incessant rains in Mumbai have taken apart its already crumbling roads. There isn’t a single street, bylane or stretch of highway that is not riddled with potholes. And in such conditions, you need a bike that’s extremely flickable (to evade potholes) and a suspension that saves your backside (if you can’t evade a pothole in time). The FZ-S and the Trigger, with their telescopic front forks and rear monoshock, make easy work of these treacherous conditions. But with its softer setup, the Honda has the better ride. Yamaha’s slightly stiffer setup lets the rider know what the bike is going through, but that’s only at slow speeds.

The Japs are pretty evenly matched on engine performance. While the Honda unit feels refined and responsive, the Yamaha’s is free-revving and, surprisingly, the quieter of the two (the Trigger has the meatier exhaust note). On the move, both bikes feel agile and quick off the block.


I


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Refined engine and Combi Brake work great. Cheap switchgear is a let-down

Both bikes are great fun on and off the road. But

don’t blame us if you get stuck in the muck

Get astride these motorcycles and their intentions are clear almost instantly


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The Trigger matches the FZ-S’s every move. But the Yamaha has a bit more drama

YAMAHA FZ-SSP E C S

7/10ENGINE ............................................................. ..AIR-COOLED, 4-STROKE 153CCPOWER .....................................................................................14BHP @ 7500RPMTORQUE ................................................................................13.6NM @ 6000RPM TRANSMISSION...................................................................................................5M WEIGHT ............................................................................................................135KGFUEL EFFICIENCY.......................................................................................36.4KPLFUEL CAPACITY.........................................................................................12 LITRES

TYRE SIZE (F/R).......................................................100/80-R17 / 140/60-R17PRICE.....................................................................`81,000 (ON-ROAD, MUMBAI)

PROS - STYLING, SPORTY RIDING POSITION, HANDLING, TYRE GRIP CONS - POOR HEADLAMP ILLUMINATION, TAIL-LAMP STYLING

BOTTOMLINE - THE FZ-S FEELS SPORTY TO RIDE, HANDLES WELL AROUND CORNERS AND IS A BETTER OVERALL PACKAGE


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Audi A 3

And given a decent stretch of road, they can easily touch three-digit speeds. But, while the Honda unit revs up to 9000rpm, the Yamaha struggles a bit after 8000rpm.

With the grinding working week coming to a close, we decide to reward ourselves with a little trip to Lonavala. The trip consists of around 200km of open highway mixed with flowing, winding corners, and both bikes are up to the task. The Yamaha is impressive. Its free-revving engine, sporty riding position and precise gearshifts make riding the FZ-S out in the open a treat. The grip from the MRF 100/80 in front and 140/60 at the rear is phenomenal too. Not once did the Yamaha lose composure, whatever the surface it was on.

The Honda matched the Yamaha’s every move. Well, almost. Open the throttle, and the Trigger’s refined motor reaches out for its redline in every gear. With smooth shifts and that eagerness to gobble up the kilometres, the Trigger impressed us right away. But as the favourable road conditions start to change, the Trigger goes on the back foot.

The MRF 100/80 rubber upfront and 110/80 at the rear, surprisingly, offer good grip. But you tend to get a bit cautious on slippery surfaces – the Trigger lacks the confidence to attack a corner. Also, its upright riding position means hard cornering is ruled out. And when you’re in the mood for some spirited riding, the toe-heel gearshifter is most annoying.

Now, most of us have seen our share of the lunatics who monopolise our highways – changing lanes indiscriminately, abruptly taking U-turns, and charging down the wrong lane. And of course, children and livestock running across the road without warning. All of which needs a braking system that’ll keep you out of trouble. Both bikes manage to stop in time, but the combination of Honda’s Combined Braking System (CBS) and the rear disc brake on the Trigger is more effective and reassuring.

Compared to the regular 150cc commuters, these two bikes are meant to spice up our riding, so we wandered off the highway in search of some fun. The FZ-S was happy rolling up and down the slippery gravel and slush. Ditto the Trigger, which easily handled whatever it encountered, but not as effortlessly as the FZ-S. Both motorcycles are great fun but temperamentally different. The FZ-S is the teenager, dressed in jeans and t-shirt

and bouncing around the dance floor. The Trigger is the guy in shirt, trousers and loosened tie enjoying the music and a scotch at a well placed table.

After riding the two motorcycles for more than 500km in varied conditions, we find this is one close fight. The Yamaha FZ-S is a flamboyant 150cc designed to offer that extra bit of spice that’s missing from your average 150cc commuter. The Honda CB Trigger is a worthy rival to the FZ-S, quite capable of matching the Yamaha’s every move. But the Trigger lacks an important ingredient that buyers in that segment want – drama.

Plus, at `90,800, the top-end Trigger (with CBS) isn’t exactly cheap. It’s more than `9,000 over what Yamaha charges for a package that does absolute justice to what the FZ-S was born to do – entertain. And we were entertained all right.

HONDA CB TRIGGERSP E C S

7/10


ENGINE............................................................AIR-COOLED, 4-STROKE, 149.1CCPOWER....................................................................................14BHP @ 8500RPMTORQUE.................................................................................12.5NM @ 6500RPMTRANSMISSION...................................................................................................5MWEIGHT............................................................................................................137KGFUEL EFFICIENCY.......................................................................................37.6KPLFUEL CAPACITY........................................................................................12 LITRESTYRE SIZE (F/R)............................................................100/80-R17 /110/80-R17

PRICE...................................................................`90,800 (ON-ROAD, MUMBAI)

PROS - REFINED ENGINE, COMFORTABLE SEAT, BRAKES CONS - LACKS DRAMA, SWITCHGEAR

BOTTOMLINE - THE TRIGGER DOES EVERYTHING THE FZ-S DOES. BUT IT LACKS DRAMA AND TILTS MORE TOWARDS BEING A

COMMUTER THAN A SPORTY INDIAN MOTORCYCLE


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This is the Jaguar hybrid hypercar that was meant to crush the 918, P1 and LaFerrari. Sadly, Jag put it on ice. But not before we got a drive...

WO R D S : PAU L H O R R E L L \ P I C T U R E S : L E E B R I M B L E

Jaguar C-X75


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is, crucially, entirely relevant to Jaguar and Land Rover’s future mass-production cars.

Does the fact that it’s now a science project rather than a production prototype make it less interesting? The Saturn V rocket was a science project that added immeasurably to mankind’s knowledge, and NASA never offered them for sale to the public and stopped building them after the 17th. That makes the five-off C-X75 look properly exclusive.

Can we agree it’s the most beautiful of the hypercar bunch? OK, it’s quite subtle as these things go. It doesn’t jump out and ambush your eyeballs with outlandish proportions or a jutting forest of aerodynamic devices. Instead, it snares you more slowly and grips your gaze tightly and at length. There’s no way it’s retro, but it does have a Jaguar look. Design chief Ian Callum says, “Jaguar aesthetics were born out of Malcolm Sayer’s notion of aerodynamics. Unfortunately, it was a flawed notion.”

Every single line and surface drips elegance and fluency, at least until you get to the back, where there’s a honking great diffuser, which is all about purpose, not beauty. There’s also a rear wing with multiple positions for downforce and cooling, which at rest sits flush with the body so as not to disrupt the lovely curves of the car’s hips and lower back. These things have been added since the concept car, but they didn’t pain Callum. However, he looks at the wing mirrors as if they’re a moustache on the Mona Lisa. “They muck up the design and cause noise, drag and turbulence”. Worse was to come. “One of the hardest things of all was finding a legal space for a rear numberplate.”

The scissor doors open into a cabin that doesn’t ask you to bend to its will. You sit straight without having to crick your neck or distort your spine. In other words, Jaguar has resisted the temptation to chip away at the human-package space to make room for the engine, battery, motors, 14 radiators and all this car’s bulky mechanical complications. Yet Jag has stayed close to the look of the original 2010 Paris show car, which everyone clamoured for Jaguar to build.

Everyone quietly ignored the fact that the concept car

hinking about it afterwards, another 3.2kph would have been nice. Because 3.2kph more would’ve taken me to 188kph, which keen students of unit conversion will recognise as a nice round 300kph. The car certainly isn’t the limiting factor, its big digital speedo’s digits scrolling hungrily away towards the maximum of about 220. But right now, 294kph looks like a big enough number to me. My mind is on other matters: it’s streaming with rain, a corner is approaching – fast – and I’m driving a car that’s precious and irreplaceable… albeit, I’m thinking, not as precious as my passenger and me. Brakes.

We were always expecting to be driving the C-X75 in different circumstances from this. And not only better weather. Jag built five C-X75s to test and prove the technology

and check if this amazing hypercar was suitable for production. In 2011, it announced a run of 250 of them. As a rival to the LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and Porsche 918, it’d have made a quarter of the very mother and father of group tests. But at the end of last year, part way through the programme, in this four-way face-off of hypercar giants, Jaguar blinked first, concluding that in a fragile world economy there wouldn’t be enough buyers for them all. The production car was, as the official coinage euphemised, “indefinitely suspended”.

Jaguar could have quietly shoved the prototypes into a locked shed right then and walked away in hangdog embarrassment. But it didn’t. There’s so much technology in the C-X75 that its development continues virtually unabated, by a team from Jaguar and Williams Grand Prix’s Advanced Engineering consultancy division. Honestly, there’s stuff in this car – electric motors, battery tech, electronics, composite construction, the astoundingly powerful and revvy combustion engine and more – that’s not only more radical than what Porsche is using for the 918, but

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‘The Jaguar C-X75 is a six-seconds-to-96kph car, even before the engine has started’


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Batteries regenerate in 40mins. Pity the tyres won’t do the same

Take a look at the nicest cabin Jag will never make. Cry a bit

Why do the beautiful die so young? Why not the Rodius, Lord?

Jaguar C-X75


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DRIVING THE PORSCHE 918

IN MANY WAYS, THE PORSCHE 918 SPYDER is very similar to the C-X75. It too has a carbon body, a powerful noisy petrol engine, a rear electric motor that drives through the same gearbox as the engine but can be clutched independently for electric drive, and another electric motor at the front. But there are intriguing differences.

Porsche takes the electrical bit less far than Jag. Its motors are weaker (total electric power is 278bhp when both motors are at optimum speed for the Porsche, 400 for the Jag). Its battery has less than half the capacity. But its engine has 609bhp rather than the Jag’s 500, and is a 4.6-litre V8, making 132bhp per litre with normal aspiration.

Given that engine has nearly three times the capacity of the Jaguar’s, and twice the number of cylinders, their character differences are less than you’d expect. But that’s because both get electrical help. Sure, the Porsche has the more interesting sound, but it’s not the most melodious V8 in history, and in both the Porsche and the Jag, what really excites is the hard-edged revving.

And the hair-on-fire acceleration. The 918 is a bit quicker than the Jag, with Porsche claiming 0-200kph in 8.0secs. The Porsche’s twin-clutch transmission also shifts smoother. Its engine power has been tweaked since they announced its initial specs, so the system total is 887bhp, because, say the engineers, they found they could. Nothing to do with the fact that Ferrari and McLaren have since laid claim to 900+bhp.

The 918 feels amazingly agile. In standard form, it’s 1,700kg, same as the Jag, but I drove the Weissach Pack, which slims it to 1,640kg. What really helps the Porsche is its four-wheel steering, like on the next-gen 911 GT3. This countersteers in tight bends, simulating a shorter wheelbase and giving it lightning reflexes, but at higher speed, it same-phase steers to settle and relax the car. I tried it at Porsche’s Leipzig track, and didn’t have the straight to try it going as fast as I did the Jag. Mind you, the Jag’s radical motors mean the front one can keep pulling and stabilising the car up to top speed. The 918’s front motor has to declutch above 216kph, so it’s 2WD only from then on.

But the 918 is wonderful in tight twists. When I overdid it in the wet, it watched my back, the combination of 4WS and ESP and 4WD allowing a fair bit of slide before reining things back. Huge fun. In the dry, the 918 just gripped and gripped, giving terrific chassis feel all the while, but I fancy not quite the steering feel of the Jag. I might be wrong: these were short drives on different tracks.

– jet-powered, you might remember – was hardly a well-grounded exercise in packaging feasibility. Or any kind of feasibility, really. Alister Whelan, who created the concept along with Matt Beavan and head of advanced design, Julian Thomson, was given the job of protecting it into production.

Having harnessed the grand prix team’s aero expertise, the final car respects aerodynamics as any 352kph car must, both in terms of air going around it (for drag and downforce) and air going through it (for cooling). The aero guys had almost no freedom on the visible bits – apart from thatrear diffuser. But underneath, and around the engine bays and within the cooling pathways, they were allowed to fill their boots. Speaking of boots, there isn’t one. You want a slinky shape, you want it to fit an engine, two electric motors, a battery, a fuel tank, 14 radiators, inboard bell-crank suspension, a habitable cockpit and a boot? Getouttahere.

The multimedia screen is the usual one on top-end Jags. Climate controlis operated via the nice bank of switches out of the F-Type. The transmission selector is a simple series of buttons: P, R, N, D, a cloak of simplicity over the dizzying complexity of the mechanism it controls. The TFT cluster showsbattery, fuel and subsidiary info, and a digital speedo clear enough to be read in a hurry. There’s also a large rev-counter and a power meter.

Jaguar and Williams started the project with the following four simple but wildly contradictory goals. The looks of that Paris concept. The performance of a Veyron: 0-100kph in 3.0secs, 0-160kph in six. The pure-electric rangeof an Ampera/Volt: 64km. The official-cycle CO2 of a Prius: 89g/km. Other than that, because they realised jet turbines were, for the moment but not indefinitely, out of the question, they had complete engineering freedom. Beyond the steering wheel, entertainment screen and aircon controls, there’s hardly anything bigger than the nuts and bolts lifted from any other Jaguar. Any other vehicle with number plates, for that matter.

So they ended up with a 500bhp, four-cylinder, 1.6-litre engine. It’s a blank-sheet job, not derived from a road or race unit. Up to 5,500rpm, it’ssupercharged. After that, it hands over to a turbo, which keeps going to the limit of 10,200rpm. That is not a misprint. There are two electric motors: one at the rear feeding through the seven-speed gearbox, another in front. They make almost 200bhp each. And 407Nm of torque. Again, that’s per motor. Thisis a six-seconds-to-96kph car, even before the engine has started.

I get a few demo laps around the snakier bits of Jaguar’s Gaydon track in electric mode. The thrust is eager and true. Such is the rpm range of the car’s special motors that it never needs to shift: the rear motor stays in second,

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Where Jaguar bowed out gracefully, Porsche carried on. This is Very Good News


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Jaguar C-X75

The Porsche gains efficiency by taking lots of energy from deceleration: up to 0.5g can be recuperated when you hit the brakes before the ceramics kick in. This gives an oddly inconsistent pedal feel, but Porsche says it’ll be fixed in time.

Otherwise, it felt more like a finished car than the Jaguar. But, then, it is: Porsche has made 25 prototypes, not five, and is now readying to build the first customer car this September. So the 918 rolls a bit more quietly than the Jaguar, and has better door-shutting noise and a nicer nav/comms screen – a new interface that will be rolled out across all Porsches in the next few years.

Throughout its development, there’s been a crescendo of chatter around the 918 that compares it unfavourably with the purity of the Carrera GT. Anyway, the sniping goes like this: “Why doesn’t Porsche just chuck that 350kg of hybrid cobblers and make a proper hypercar. Those buyers don’t need or want plug-in or electric range.”

For a start, that argument has gaping technical flaws. Without “hybrid cobblers”, the 918 and C-X75 would need considerably bigger engines (or a turbo for the Porsche) to get extra torque. That would add weight, and they’d lose the

accelerator response from the electric motors. They’d need mechanical 4WD to be as friendly in slippery weather – call that 100kg. They’d need bigger tanks carrying a heavier fuel load. Plus starter motors and alternators and bigger 12V batteries and – in the case of the Jag – a reverse gear. So the weight saving would be less than the idle snipers suggest.

Even so, doubtless a 918 would weigh somewhat less if it had an all-combustion RWD powertrain, which means it could doubtless go around the Nürburgring a little faster. But, heck, if that’s all you care about, don’t buy a hypercar. A Formula Ford with a three-cylinder EcoBoost, numberplates, lights and road tyres did a 7:22.

These are road cars, so let’s try to see them in the context of the drama and excitement and beauty and engineering innovation that has gotten us excited about supercars all these years. The Jaguar and Porsche compel your attention whenever you drive them, and not just flat-out. Thinking about the way the energy flows around their systems stimulates you into a new involvement with the way you use the throttle and brakes, and harness momentum. These are early versions of the technology, and new tweaks and features and efficiencies will doubtless be added in later iterations – and that very immaturity might well be what’s putting many buyers off.

But, really, they’re looking forward, not back. They are not merely last decade’s hypercar done a bit better. If you want to get to the future with all possible speed, these are your cars.

Screen displays new Porsche nav. And new Angry Birds levels

m he

e.r. nd er.

accelerator response from the electric motors. They’d need mechanical 4WD to be as friendly in slippery weather – call that 100kg. They’d need bigger tanks carrying a heavier fuel load.

PH pilots Porsche’s 25th – and final – 918 prototype. Carefully


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and we’re good for nearly 160kph. Because the front motor is at a fixed gear about equivalent to sixth in the rear, you have a significant natural torque bias to the rear, though vectoring (switched out at the moment because calibration continues) could alter that if needed. Anyway, there’s loads of traction, even in the wet. But when the engine does start... oh, my. We switch to a different prototype, one without such a pretty paint job but with a roll cage. It’s the one for hard use.

The engine sounds like a superbike at low revs: rattly, like it’s ingested gravel, but eager on the exhaust. Barely any flywheel effect, partly because there’s no starter or alternator or aircon pump or power steering pump. This makes the throttle razor-sharp, but the engine gets a bit jangly around idle. Indeed, at suburban speeds around the track access roads, it feels and sounds coarse, with gravel hitting the carbon-fibre tub and the sharp-edged engine and gearbox effects.

Jaguar’s head of set-up, Mike Cross, takes me for a couple of circuits of the infield course. Oh, good grief. Several corners are inches deep in water, and it’s a channel of Armco only a couple of car-widths wide. Traction is strong, and the torque bias is clearly still to the rear so that power slides are repeatedly on. But I’d rather drive it where there’s more room for error, so we swap places and I head to the big airfield-runway-based track.

One of the really nice things about this car – one of many characteristics it shares with the 918, in fact – is the driving position and subsequent visibility. You’re not scrunched up like a hostage or semi-blindfolded. You can operate your limbs comfortably, and there’s enough vision. The topography of the wheel-arch humps isn’t only handsome, it gives you a good reference about where the car is on the road.

An exploratory lap finds power that’s immense but not

quite savage. Cross encourages me to use the revs. Swinging it up through 5,500rpm in fourth, where the supercharger declutches and the turbo takes charge, there’s no step in the delivery. But anyway, the rear e-motor alone makes more torque than the engine at its 6,600rpm peak value. Having verified how this feels for the sake of interest, there’s no reason to drop below about 7,000 anyway, not once we’re on the big track. By this time, the engine sounds wonderful and hair-raising, flying up beyond 10,000, then accepting each upshift with a bang in your back.

There’s no delay, just a simple serration in the acceleration as each gear is switched. It’s a bespoke single-clutch transmission: a twin-clutch would have weighed significantly more, and its extra bulk would have interfered with the airflow through the rear diffuser. Oh, and there’s no reverse gear. The engine simply declutches and the motor current is reversed. Driving gently around the access roads, the shifts make your head nod, but there’s a potential fix in programming the front motor to fill the torque hole.

Cross reaches over and presses a button that he calls “full-fat mode”. Now the electric system gives its absolute all, even if it means borrowing performance from the future: it depletes the batteries so you’ll be a bit slower later until they’ve recharged, either by plugging in or driving more moderately and using spare engine power to recharge.

Here’s the savagery. Out of corners, hauling up the straights, the whole effect is significantly emboldened. The type of acceleration, the shape of it, isn’t greatly different, but the magnitude is amplified. Barrelling up the straights etches itself deeper into the memory, and slowing at the end becomes a job that demands more insistently that you don’t mess up.

The chassis is terrific. Yes, at urban speeds, the stiff springs make it pretty hard, but you can always feel the body is reassuringly rigid so, as you get some speed into the suspension movements and the inboard dampers begin to do their work,

How could Jaguar shelve a car this elegant? How very dare they?

A priceless prototype hits Follow-Through. Horrell rapidly follows

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‘Back on the track, Cross reaches over and presses the ‘full-fat mode’ button’


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you notice the precision. It rounds off sharp impacts and breathes nicely over dips and crests. At speed, the aero pushes you into the track and tightens everything up.

Best of all is the steering. Its calibration of weight and directness is spot on, both for easing into fast arcs and for bigger forays into the lock for tight bends. And even if the assistance is electric, there’s plenty of road feel, so as the car begins to drift out as it hits a light crest or a slipperier patch, you’re kept in the loop. That’s a lovely characteristic in a fast car on a wet day. There’s no significant understeer. As a matter of fact, with much throttle on, things tend to gentle oversteer. But every time it pays me a visit, its warning and progression help me out.

And all this is the fundamental chassis we’re talking about, without any overlay of electronic gizmology. There’s an e-diff on-board, and there’s the possibility of torque-vectoring front to rear. Williams’s chassis engineer Simon Newton has been separately calibrating them, but he doesn’t want anyone to try them until he’s settled the voodoo of making them work to reinforce one another.

We come back in to charge it up – via a three-phase 20kW contraption that’ll fill the battery in 40 minutes. A good time to talk to Paul Newsome, project head, about why they selected the balance of engine power, electric power and battery size. At one extreme, couldn’t they have just stuffed the V8 in there and forgotten the rest? “The V8 won’t fit,” he says before the question has fully left my lips.

“We aren’t just delivering a supercar, we’re developing real-world technologies,” Newsome says. Indeed. These axial-flux motors are a huge step ahead. So are the electronics and their cooling: instead of using heat sinks into conventional water-based coolant, the coolant is non-conducting, so it can be passed directly through the electronics without shorting it all out. The effectiveness of

that cooling means the battery and motors can run at full power – nearly a quarter of a megawatt, don’t forget – for sustained periods. Then there’s all this downsizing tech on the engine. Remember, Jaguar Land Rover is presently building a giant factory in Wolverhampton to make four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. They might not boast 500bhp, but they’ll still have healthy performance and strong economy, thanks to findings from the C-X75.

And with one of these electric motors between them and the gearbox, they’ll answer the accelerator pretty smartly too.

One more thing. The carbon-fibre structure of the C-X75 isn’t a one-piece thing like a 918’s or a McLaren’s. Those use a process called resin-transfer moulding because it’s relatively cheap and can be made in high numbers. The Jag was designed to be made from panels and sections of compression-moulded carbon fibre, a technique from Williams. Uniquely, such carbon parts can be easily incorporated, says Newsome, into an aluminium body shell. Who’s the world leader in aluminium body shells? Jaguar Land Rover. Just saying.

The decision to kill C-X75 production must have felt to Jaguar like strangling a puppy. But there simply weren’t likely to be enough buyers for this and the Porsche and the McLaren (and there still aren’t, even if Ferrari, characteristically, is exempt from such struggle). But the fast-track engineering it embodies will certainly live on in hundreds of thousands of people’s Jaguars and Land Rovers. In very, very few years from now. Even so, right now I’m very sad that we’ll never be given the chance to have our day brightened by the sight of its wonderful shape gliding by, or experience it disappear in a vision-blurring, ear-splitting testament to the new-world power it embodies.

Jaguar C-X75


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Audi RS5


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Our favourite Audi, the RS5, has got a mid-life refresh.

Do we love it any less?

WORDS SRIRAM NARAYANAN PHOTOGRAPHY NITIN ROSE


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Audi RS5

RS5 equation: Up >120

+ Down <80 = fun at all times

A udi are turning out to be outright liars. The last time we drove an RS5, in July 2011, we were expecting the thing to stop accelerating at the German

gentleman’s limit of 250kph. But it went to 275. For the new RS5, I have it on paper from Audi that the car is limited to 250kph. Guess what? We again caught it flirting with 280. And they say the Germans lack humour. So with the top speed setting the pace for things, allow me to introduce you to the new RS5.

In fact, a refresh would be more like it. Mechanically, the 2013 RS5 has nothing different from the 2011 RS5 – yeah, it just feels nice to keep saying RS5 repeatedly. Anyway, so it has the same 4.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 petrol. And despite the new R8 V8 now developing 424bhp, the RS5 continues putting its mid-engine supercar cousin in those I-don’t-know-where-to-look situations at family gatherings.

What’s new are the looks – headlights, grille, tail lights and bumpers. Which is nothing much.

But there are two reasons why we have lavished eight pages on the RS5. One, it has a Launch Control system. With ordinary petrol, the Launch Control gets the car to 100kph in 5.07 seconds – a considerable jump from the 5.32 seconds the earlier RS5 took. We reckon that with 97 octane, this might actually get to the claimed 4.5 seconds to 100. And second, to give you and our own selves some perspective on where it stands with the current lot of high-performance cars.

You see, when we first drove the RS5, we fell in love with it and thought it worthy of being TopGear’s car of 2011. Since then, we have driven the Maserati GranTurismo, the Ferrari FF, Merc’s E-Coupe, Jaguar’s XK-R and XKR-S, Porsche’s 911 and Bentley’s Continental V8 and W12. All of them, like the RS5, are two door, 2+2 cars. In the face of such fine machinery, does the RS5 hold its ground? Did we get carried away by the first RS5 because we didn’t know any better?

At first, this car threw some surprises. Like I said, the speedo needle kept climbing beyond 275kph. And activating Launch Control needed


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Prod here to listen to

petrol-head heavy metal

‘With ordinary petrol, the Launch Control gets the car to 100kph in 5.07 seconds – a considerable jump from the 5.32 seconds the earlier RS5 took’


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Audi RS5

leafing through the owner’s manual. But once we got it, each one of those 444 horses were doing everything to ensure that all of their power reached the road, instead of going up as smoke or burnt rubber. And the roar as the needle crosses 100 gives you the same goose pimples that you got from the previous RS5 a couple of years ago.

The new RS5 doesn’t have any finesse. It’s not a naturally sporty car. It is based on an A5, which is based on an A4, and it has been heavily worked on to make it perform the way it does. Its performance comes more out of hard work than natural flair. And everything it does has a touch of brutality and violence to it. The way the engine starts up, the way it gurgles and rumbles as it slowly inches out of a parking lot, the way the gears change at full throttle… the RS5 is like a high-pressure valve on a high-pressure water pipeline. It sits on that thin line between pumping water and exploding. Precisely why it looks so comfortable here in a valve manufacturing facility in the middle of Nasik’s industrial zone.

However, since it isn’t a naturally sporty car, it has a huge boot, it has practical touches like rear seats that fold flat to give you a massive boot, and it doesn’t scrape over that badly laid speed bump or the steep ramp coming down from your apartment block.

The rear seats aren’t as spacious as the ones in a Ferrari FF, Maserati GranTurismo or even a Merc E-Coupe. But the RS5 can definitely accommodate two adults in the back. A couple of friends who travelled a good distance in the car with me said they felt claustrophobic but were comfortable. However, if all four were six-feet-plus, I reckon things could get tight in this Audi. Yet, compared to stuff like a 911 or even a Bentley, the RS5 is a proper four-seater.

And as I drive it, I sense the conflict between two strong ideologies – practicality and sportiness. The conflict shows when this car takes a corner hard. Instead of effortless motion, you can feel the effort from the steering and the heavy nose.

Unlike most front-engine sportscars that have their engines tucked slightly behind the front axle, the RS5’s V8 is right on it. A few inches further in would have made the car that

‘Its performance comes more out of hard work than natural flair. And everything it does has a touch of brutality and violence to it’


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We thank Indian Valve Pvt Ltd (www.ivc-valves.com) for allowing the RS5 to run amok in its facility. The company manufactures and supplies valves to water boards, sewage plants, thermal/atomic power stations and other industries.

AUDI RS5

PRICE: `95.28 lakh (ex-showroom, Maharashtra)

ENGINE: 4,163cc V8 petrolPOWER: 444bhp at 8250rpm

TORQUE: 430Nm at 4000-6000rpmTRANSMISSION: 7A, AWD

WEIGHT: 1715kgBOOT CAPACITY: 455 litres (min)

829 litres (max)FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 61 litres

S P E C S

9/10TG PERFORMANCE TEST

0-100KPH: 5.07secs30-50KPH: 1.51secs50-70KPH: 1.28secs

80-0KPH: 23.48mtrs, 2.12secsFUEL EFFICIENCY

CITY: 5.8kplHIGHWAY: 3.7kpl (you can’t stick to

2000rpm on an open road)AVERAGE: 4.5kpl

VERDICT

PROS: Fun to drive, great to hear, good handling, practical

CONS: Pricier than before, no spare wheel – only puncture repair kit

BOTTOMLINE: It’s as much fun as a roller coaster, and never wavers from its tracks


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Audi RS5

‘The RS5 has a demeanour that’s pleasingly monstrous and evil. You’re always half expecting it to do something wayward and violent. But it doesn’t’


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much more of a handler, but that would need a bigger engine bay, which would come at the price of cabin room.

Despite that, the RS5 provides such fun around tight corners, you will find it as implausible as a Rajnikanth stunt. It has this ability to pull off a sportscar-worthy manoeuvre with you in total control of everything. The steering isn’t perfect, but it does provide feedback when you set Audi’s Drive Select to Dynamic.

Which is the other thing. After my time with the Porsche Cayman last month, I have realised that buttons are no compromise for good engineering. A well-engineered chassis should ride and handle well without buttons or computers adjusting the set-up for you. And if anyone tells you that you need a hard suspension for perfect handling, they aren’t working hard enough.

The RS5 in its softest Comfort setting is hard. Not uncomfortably hard, but hard nevertheless. Good thing you have the Individual setting. In this, you can set the steering, engine and gearbox to Dynamic and the suspension to Comfort. Letting buttons allow you to select the best setting is good. But having the best setting as default is better.

Coming back to the perspective on the RS5… since all that time and all those cars, does the RS5 look diluted compared to all the other machinery we have been driving? It doesn’t. Save for the Ferrari FF and the Maserati GranTurismo, the RS5 – to this day, even with a minor refresh – is way better than an entire lot of 2+2 grand tourers, including the Bentley Continentals and Jaguar XKs.

This Audi is not a precise driving machine like a Porsche, but it provides driver engagement in an entirely different manner. And even the best Porsche can’t match the drama and sensations that this brute delivers.

The RS5’s demeanour is pleasingly monstrous and evil. You’re always half expecting it to do something wayward and violent. But it doesn’t. Forget tail-slides, you can try as hard as you like but it won’t even spin its wheels. The RS5 has been criticised for not being as perfect and precise as a BMW M3 or any of the Porsches.

But that doesn’t make it any less fun. Only, the fun is delivered as a sensory assault on your ears, eyes, ankles and wrists. And this sort of sensory assault makes up for the lack of decimal point precision.

Your ears will yearn for the growl of that naturally-aspirated big-capacity V8. Your eyes will struggle to decipher the fast-moving scenery around you. Your ankles might ache after some heavy acceleration and braking. And after some hard driving, the wrists with which you steered the car will, for a while, keep reminding you that you have just driven something that isn’t ordinary.

And none of those precise driving machines will let you carry four people and a lot of luggage, allow you the flexibility of foldable rear seats, and not grate over routine speed humps. The RS5 is as wild as a roller-coaster. The good thing is, like a roller-coaster, it never wavers from its track.

Issues? Well, the price. In 2011, the RS5 was about `75 lakh off the showroom. Thanks to the latest Finance Ministry, and the fall in the value of the rupee, it’s now nearly a crore off the showroom. Yet, it’s way cheaper than other European exotica, and perhaps the only sportscar that can serve as a family’s single car. Moreover, when you hear the gearbox downshift and the engine gain revs, you’ll want nothing more from life.

Oh, and if you do decide to buy one and want to try out the Launch Control, refer to page 78 of the RS5’s user manual. That’s TopGear’s consumer advice for the month.

Anarchy begins at 10 o’clock. Peaks at two o’clock

Angry V8 in front and you

want to bother with the MMI


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T H E R E A L - W O R L D , LO N G -T E R M S E C R E T T E S T S I LO O FT O P G E A R M A G A Z I N E. G A D G E T S T E S T E D , C L A I M S V E R I F I E D .

A N D I F B I T S FA L L O F F, W E S P I L L T H E B E A N S…

FORD FIESTA P101 All hail Ford’s flagship sedan in India

FEATURINGHONDA ACTIVA

P103 How I’m keeping my boots and trousers clean

ALTO 800P102 Small is beautiful.

As proven by a Sonata

HYUNDAI SONATAP104 Continues to spoil us.

Welcome back

HYUNDAI ELANTRAP103 Nice piece of kit

but clean up your act, Hyundai

VESPA LX 125P102 Delhi's women still

haven't gotten over the looks

TVS PHOENIX 125P104 Going soon. Just

when I was beginning to enjoy it


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RAIN DANCE

VESPA LX 125

TESTTEST NNOOTTEEES

VESPA LX 125

An automatic is mind-numbinglyconvenient and many of them are rather good. And since driving the Merc E coupe, theMerc GL and the Hyundai Sonata, and having done a lot of other automatic car stories, I realised it’s been a few months since I drove a manual. I’m not a phenomenal driver, so I do need to be reassured from time to time that I can still do the petrolhead ritual of engaging clutch and changing gear without throwing everything in the cabin into disarray.

And what a transmission the Elantra has. Short, precise throws, and being a six-speeder, you can easily slot it in sixth and cruise at 60kph, at about 1500rpm – I got a good 14kpl in the city, despite a lot of idlingduring the summer when it’s impossible to switch off the engine with the outside temperature at 36-38 degrees Celsius.

I did have a problem with the windshield washer spray. And when I handed it over, I

had requested a simple clean-up of the interior. The wiper washer was sorted. But the cabin wasn’t even vacuumed. Hyundai? Frankly, in the one month it’s been with me, I find it to be an incredible buy as an entry luxury car under `20 lakh. But something as basic as an interior clean-up not done?

HYUNDAI ELANTRA

TOPGEAR GARAGE

GOOD STUFF

More kilometres per tank

Acceleration

Looks and build quality

BAD STUFF

Engine vibration at low rpm

Weak front brakes

Price

‘THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS FIXED, BUT SOMETHINGAS BASIC AS THE INTERIOR CLEAN-UP WASN’T DONE’

ARRIVED: November 2013 SPEC: 1.6 diesel SXPRICE: `18.02 lakh (on-road, Mumbai)MILEAGE: 7,600km TEST KPL: 14.1WHY IT’S HERE: To see if it lives up to our‘Saloon Car of the Year’ accoladeBY: Sriram Narayanan

ARRIVEDMarch 2013

SPEC 125cc

PRICE

`59,990 (EX-SHOWROOM, DELHI)

MILEAGE

4,000km

TEST KPL

44

WHY IT’S HERE

To see if it has the go to match the show

WRITTEN BY Nitin Rose

love your scooter, dude,” this girl shouted with her head sticking out

of a car as I rode away from a café. The Vespa turns heads wherever you take it, and when you return to where you’ve parked, you’ll often see someone knocking on the body panels to check if they’re plastic or metal, or running some other kind of inspection. That will invariably be followed by a round of questions, followed by compliments and a “goodbye”.

By now, I am seriously considering printing out its price and fuel economy and pasting it in front of the scooter, the way Abhinav did on the Ducati 848 Evo story a couple of issues ago.

Meanwhile, I recently discovered a side-stand, which I believe the dealership installed the last time I took the Vespa for a service. It’s really handy when you need to make quick stops

along the way, or park on an uneven surface.

The other day, I’d been out since morning, riding it around the beautiful roads of central Delhi. In the evening, on my way home, the sky suddenly opened up, and the under-seat storage came to the rescue of my phone, wallet and bag.

The one downside is those small, slim tyres, which tend to lock and lose grip on wet roads under sudden braking. And with all that water collecting in large pools during and after every big shower, I’ve been indulging my inner child and using the Vespa as a rollercoaster, speeding into those pools and getting a nice drenching when the spray rises in a wall and crashes all over my face.

That didn’t last long, though. These days, it’s hot and muggy, and I’m waiting for the skies to go overcast again, so I can get some more rollercoaster action.

‘‘I

1. “Your 29-inch

is nothing compared to my

wheelspin”

1


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FORD FIESTA ATFIESTA AT

TEST NOTES

No long ago, otot ttoostrapped an FoFordrd gearbox into auauto

new Fiesta. It ththe ndidn’t find many takers because diidd ’ fi ddof the ‘high’ price tag and the fact that a better priced Hyundai Verna broke cover around the same time. Hyundai still clocks big numbers with the manual Verna. Ford, meanwhile, is coasting along at reasonable speed.

We loved the new transmission in the Fiesta when it was launched. So, even as Ford’s recently launched EcoSport hogs the limelight, we revisited the Fiesta AT to check out its everyday credentials.

The Fiesta couldn’t have come to TG at a better time. City traffic in Mumbai is at its worst in the monsoon – crawl speed, mostly – making it the best time to really appreciate an automatic gearbox. The Fiesta,

despite being a sedan, isn’t a very big car. It’s the right size for daily city use. Yes, the big boot is rarely used during the office commute, but parking-wise, it’s little trouble. Even on the move, it is narrow enough to squeeze into spaces where only smaller hatchbacks will go.

The Fiesta AT gets two trim levels – Style and Titanium+, which is pretty much like the manual petrol and diesel trim levels. We have the top-of-the-line Titanium+ at TG. Under the hood is the 1499cc, four-cylinder, DOHC unit. It’s made of aluminium alloy, so it’s lightweight – but bit noisy.

Still, it’s free-revving, with power peaking at a humble 80bhp and torque at 140Nm. This is mated to a modern six-speed automatic transmission that Ford calls Powershift Automatic. It is claimed to be sealed for life and would

normally require maintenance only after a good 2,40,000km.

So, most first-time owners may never have to worry about expensive transmission maintenance costs. Also, this is a dual-clutch unit, like the onesones seen in many VW cars, withh one supporting the odd geaars and the other, even. It is a higgh-h-

it but on our test carr,, iit ttech unit erratic during quicckk was a bit

ation. More on that iiin accelerao come.issues tonwhile, we’re gettinng Mean

around 10.7kpl, which is pretty decent for an automatic seddan pottering around in a rain-ravaged metro. It’s also encouraging us to hit the highway, high petrol prices notwithstanding.

1. With 430 litres,plenty of boot space

2. Reading lights only in front here

3. Fits into mostcompact spaces

GOOD STUFF

Convenience of an auto ’box Decent fuel

efficiency on our first run – got

10.7kpl in the city Peppy engine.

Good enough for quick getaways

BAD STUFF

Maintenance-free ’box doesn’t feel as bulletproof as we’d expected

Only 80bhp, so you may miss a bit of top-end whack

Well-specced but oddly, no rear reading lights

1

1

3

‘WE’RE GETTING AROUND 10.7KPL, WHICH IS DECENT

FOR AN AUTO SEDAN CRAWLING AROUND A

RAIN-RAVAGED METRO’

HELLO: FORD FIESTA AT

TOPGEAR GARAGE

THE UNDERDOGARRIVED

June 2013

SPEC AT Titanium+

PRICE

` 11.73 lakh (ON-RD MUMBAI)

MILEAGE

14,750km

TEST KPL

10.7

WHY IT’S HERE

To see if this petrol

automatic proves itself

WRITTEN BY Girish Karkera


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HONDAACTIVA

TESTNOTESNOTES

T’s a myth heherere’

ched to riding atatttaccters in the scscoo– that it’s raain –em when not sas fef to o riide th

it’s pouring because “scooters tend to lose their footing more often than motorcycles”. Rubbish! My half-knowledge friends too are of the same opinion. More so because they’ve had more embarras-sing moments with scooters than bikes. But I feel a lot of it depends on the rider.

And I’m happy to say the Activa arrived in my garage at the right time. Let me explain. I don’t ride fast when it’s raining. I don’t want my boots and trousers dirtied with all that water and muck flying off the front wheel. And I definitely don’t want the dry clothes in my backpack to get wet by the time I reach work.

So then, the little red Honda scooter fits the bill really well. Early monsoon showers have left the city’s roads filled with potholes and monstrous

HONDA ACTIVA

ARRIVED: January 2013 SPEC: LXiPRICE: `3.60 Lakh (on-road, Mumbai)MILEAGE: 8427km TEST KPL: 14WHY IT’S HERE: To show us what Maruti’s next bestseller has to offer BY: Abhinav Mishra

The monk may have sold his Ferrari, but have you heard of someone trading in a Hyundai Sonata for an Alto 800? Well, it just happened, to yours truly.

A few days ago, I was handed the keys to the swanky Sonata. And I loved it for the two days that I had it. It’s got a powerful engine, it’s a head turner and it pampers you with lots of features. What it does not do is find parking space as quickly as it finds triple-digit speeds. The Sonata needs an acre of real estate to park, plus you can’t just leave it anywhere you please.

After two days of the painful Sonata parking experience, I ’d had enough and exchanged it for the Alto 800. My life is much easier now. The 800 may not have creature comforts like Bluetooth hands-

free and central locking, but it has one thing that makes it a winner – it fits in some really tight spaces. And in these rains, our traffic jams are only getting longer – just the challenge for the 800’s little dimensions.

Within the first month after the monsoon arrived, the 800 has gone through pretty much every pothole in our city. And the torture is starting to show – the brake light flickers even when the brake is not engaged. Time for a service, then. And yes, now I know why the monk sold his Ferrari – ’cause it’s a pain to park.

MARUTI ALTO 800

craters. So our traffic is moving at a crawl – ideal conditionsto ride the most belovedscooter in India. It soaks upbumps and road irregularitieswell, the wide seat is quitecomfortable and it can cruiseall day long at 60kph. My pantsstay dirt-free thanks to thefront apron and the footboard.And most importantly, I canstow spare clothes, mobilephone and wallet in thestorage space under the seat,which keeps them dry.

However, over longerrides, the Activa leaves mewith an aching back. Not analarming one, but enough tomention here. Maybe there’ssome defect in me, not thescooter... I’ll just have to livewith it, I suppose.

Our Activa has returnedfrom its first service and feelsbetter. The engine now opens up nicely, surely anindication that the Activawill end up munching many more miles than I hadoriginally intended it to.

GOOD STUFF

Engine is peppy, and acceleration is

quite delightful Comfy wide seat

means wife is happy to ride pillion Grippy tyres

very handy in rain

BAD STUFF

Ride is a bit choppy, could have been better

Unusual vibrations from left mirror. Needs a quick fix by local mechanic

‘IT MAY LACK SOME LUXURIES, BUT ITS WINNING CARD IS THAT IT FITS IN SOME REALLY TIGHT SPACES’

MONSOON RIDER

ARRIVEDFebruary 2013

SPEC 109cc automatic

PRICE

`51,000 (ON-RD MUMBAI)

MILEAGE

961km

TEST KPL

47

WHY IT’S HERE

To see if India’s top-selling

scooter has gotten better

WRITTEN BY Devesh Shobha

1. Brake lock is fiddly to use;

I’ve mostly been getting it wrong

1


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ARRIVED: May 2012ySPEC: GDiPRICE: `24.3 lakh (on-road, Mumbai)MILEAGE: 14,500km TEST KPL: 6WHY IT’S HERE: To see if this is the best Hyundai everBY: Agasti Kaulgi

So it’s back with me, the Sonata.After I had it for a few months and did lots

of driving in it, in and out of the city, itchanged a couple of hands, betweenSriram and Abhinav, before coming back tome. Turns out both of them enjoyed theSonata’s luxury but were annoyed with thepoor fuel economy.

What did I really miss when it wasn’twith me? First off, the comfort. The sheersize of the cabin and the user-friendlinessof everything make it one of the mostcomfortable cars you can buy with thissort of money. Second, the features.Everything from the auto headlamps to the

ventilated seats had just spoilt me silly.Only after the Sonata went to Sriram did Irealise that life is not so sweet without it.Third, the ride. The Sonata goes over undu-lations with such ease that you don’t feel athing inside.

Now to the things that I didn’t reallymiss. The fuel economy. By way of per-spective – I was driving the Alto 800 afterthe Sonata was gone and I ended up savingalmost two-thirds of what I spent on fuelfor the Sonata. And that pretty much endsthe list of what I haven’t missed.

HYUNDAI SONATA

‘ONLY AFTER THE SONATA WENT TO SRIRAM DID I REALISE LIFE ISN’T TOO SWEET WITHOUT IT’

TOPGEAR GARAGE1

2

TVSPHOENIX

TESTNOTES

Aer a month of ftftee

t riding any nono TGrage bike, I gotgagary hands on the mymy

TVS Phoenix. It’s quite a climb TVT S Phhoeeniix Itdown, going from the Yamaha R15 and Bajaj Pulsar 200NS to a 125cc. Then again, having two wheels for the daily run isalways welcome even if it’s a no-nonsense commuter bike.

The Phoenix 125 is TVS’slatest entry in this highly competitive segment, and itimpresses. Given my long hours of commuting, I really appreciate the handlebar,which gives you an upright seating position. And the soft, almost flat seat leaves no painin the behind even after extensive riding.

The design follows a very conservative theme. Once, having parked at a mall, Ireturned and took almost 15minutes to locate it in the massof other bikes around it. By way of distinction, the bike getsLED parking lights upfront. Not very visible by day, but it

grabs attention at night. Theengine is draped in black, and the alloy wheels and petal discbrake in front give the bike a sporty look and feel.

The instrument cluster, aswith most modern bikes, isall-digital. Still, I would haveliked a rev meter and an analogue speedo, as opposedto the digital indicator, which is hard to read in sunlight.

The gears are well sortedand the Phoenix can putter around town in third gear,from as low as 20kph to ashigh as 60, which is perfect for rush hour. The shifts are smooth but the absence of afifth gear is annoying – especially on the highway,where I’m very sure Iwould’ve got more than the48kpl that I did in town.

And just as I’m getting used to having a commuter bike around, the Phoenix’s time at TG is up. TVS, can youget the 200cc bike that you guys developed with BMW atad sooner?

GOOD STUFF

Long and wide seat great for

extended riding Ride and

handling is quite impressive

Engine is responsive even

at low revs

BAD STUFF

Needs a fifth gear, especially for highway riding

Conservative styling makes it another faceless commuter bike

ARRIVEDJanuary 2013

SPEC 125cc

PRICE

`61,200 (ON-RD MUMBAI)

MILEAGE

1,345km

TEST KPL

48

WHY IT’S HERE

To see if this is the most practical

premium bike in its segment

WRITTEN BY Abhinav Mishra

THE SIMPLE LIFETVS PHOENIX 125

1. Hmm...looks nicebut;‘Kitna

deti hai?’2. Blacked out125cc engine

and alloysadds to thesporty feel


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01 Company descriptionJust who are you dealing with here? The low down on the company behind the automobile.

02 India SalesDon’t just go by what we write. See how fellow buyers treated the company in the recent past.

03 Price in your cityIndicative ex-showroom prices. On-road for Mumbai and Delhi. Accurate at the time of going to press.

04 TG ChoiceChoosing the right variant can be confusing. It’s not necessarily the cheapest one. . . or the diesel.

05 More stuff to readAdded insight into the world of TopGear via these little oases of slightly grumpy opinion

06 The TG RatingSimply translated: how good is the vehicle in numbers? Out of say, 10?

07 Fuel efficiency‘Average kitna hai?’ The real-world figure for real-world situations.

08 DimensionsMaking sure you know if your car will fit in your parking slot. Yeah, that’s going to be important too.

BUYING A CAR? OR A BIKE? OR JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW FAST, THIRSTY OR HOW MUCH?WELCOME TO TOPGEAR’S GUIDE TO ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CARS

THE ONLY GUIDE WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION

THE GUIDE TO USING OUR GUIDE


*Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai and Delhi Yes No Optional Gadgets & Safety Guide

Remote lo

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ABSAlloy

s

Fog lamps

Engine

Gearbox

Max. Pow

er (Bhp)

Max. To

rque )

(Nm)

Climat

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0-100kph (se

c)

Fuel efficiency

)(Kpl)

Leather s

eats

Audio syste

m

TG Rating

Power windows

Price Features

Max speed (K

ph)

Numbers

Chennai

Delhi(o

n road)

Bangalore

Mumbai

(on ro

ad)

rbags

2.2d SE 4.93 38.70 34.74 48.5 4cyl 2179cc 6A /102.2d H 3 44.50 39.46 45.43 4cyl 2179cc 6A /10

3.6 62.9* 110 62.9* 8cyl 3628cc 6A 271 640 198 9.2 na 640 271 6A 9.2 /104.2 V 104.9* 113 104.9* 8cyl 4197cc 6A 396 560 208 7.5 6.3 560 396 6A 7.5 /10

3.0L TDV6 HSE 75.4 28cc 6A 272 640 208 8.6 na 640 272 6A 8.6 /105.0L Supercharged 86.7 97cc 6A 502 625 222 7.4 na 625 502 6A 7.4 /10

6.38 7.06 6.24 7.19 132 27.6 11.5 195 27.6

6.87 7.58 6.73 7 132 27.6 11.5 195 27.6

ZLX 7.02 7.75 6.88 132 27.6 11.5 195 27.6 3/10

1.4 G2 4.85 5.34 na na na na 110 na /101.4 G4 5.1 5.61 na na na na 110 na /101.5 D2 5.76 6.33 na 6 165 17.4 18.9 160 65 17.4 /101.5 D6 6.62 7.45 na 7.79 165 17.4 18.9 160 65 5M 17.4 /10

LX 8.5 9.24 8.5 8.95 4cyl 2179cc 29120 5M 6/10SLE 9.5 10.56 9.5 10.43 4cyl 2179cc 2120 5M /10Vlx 4X2 10.4 12.49 10.45 11.76 4cyl 2179cc 120 5M /10Vlx 4X4 11.4 13.42 11.45 12.89 4cyl 2179cc 120 5M /10AT Vlx 4X2 1 11.42 11.27 12.93 4cyl 2179cc 120 6A /10AT Vlx 4 12.5 12.25 14.04 4cyl 2179cc 120 6A /10

T 6.97 6 6.98 4cyl 2498cc 5M 112 235 138 15.2 na 235 112 5M 15.2 /10

W6 10.96 13.00 10.91 12.62 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 190 12.3 11 330 140 6M 12.3 /10W8 12.13 15.00 12.07 13.97 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 190 12.3 11 330 140 6M 12.3 /10W8 AWD 13.07 15.55 13.02 15.06 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 190 na na 330 140 6M na /10

D2 7.1 8.43 7.12 8.08 4cyl 2498cc 5M 112 240 235 15.2 na 240 112 5M 15.2 6/10

Freelander 2: Your first ascent up the true blue off-roading hill.

TG Choice: The 2.2d HSE gas this might be a crossover but can still handle oL: 484.8cm W: 201cm Boot: 755 litres Fuel Tank: 68 litres, Ground Clearance: 21cm Al

Ra est SUV; will go anywhere, in total luxury.

TG yy, y fl y y y as you want to flaunt your money in style.L: 4 : 100 litres, Ground Clearance: 22.5cm Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes GL Class, BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne

Range Rover Sport: Big Rangie’s smaller, sportier brother – more practical and clever in some ways, but not quite as charming.

TG Choice: The p5.0L Supercharg g grom red light to red light.L: 479cm W: 193cm Boot: na Fuel Tank m Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

osaur bones, but surprisingly competent. Cheap, rugged, but cramped.

he SLE y yas economy works best on a utility vehicle.74.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Chevrolet Tavera, Tata Sumo Victa

Verito: Spacious, solid and a super ride. To top that, it comes with mouth-watering price tags.

TG Choice: The 1.5 D2 g g y p has a good diesel engine, which is low on maintenance and easy on the pocket.2L: 424.7cm W: 174cm Boot: 510 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres : Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, Tata Indigo

Scorpio: Ever-improving SUV offers great value, excellent practicality for India and now-decent road manners. Top car.

TG Choice: The SLE p g f y as it provides good value-for-money. EL: 443cm W: 181.7cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Tata Sumo

T o-anywhere attitude.

T ppon would’ve been appreciated.L k: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Mahindra Tractor

XU he right place, but the dynamic chinks need ironing out.

TG Ch f p p g g g p git comes with feature list that runs in to multiple pages and it manages to do that at a mind-blowing price tag.L: 450cm W: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.6cm Also try: Tata Aria, Tata Safari

Xylo: Innova slayer with the sedan market in sight. Big, spacious and value-for-money

TG Choice: D2 f p p y p f as it will be more of a people mover than your personal set of wheels.2L: 450cm W: 185cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.6cm Also try: Chevrolet Tavera, Toyota Innova, Tata Sumo Victa

Land Rover to Mahindra

Mahindra Dealers 150 Warranty 1 year, unlimited km Website www.mahindra.com

India sales in April: 15,549


Company description: Have just crossed the fence from crude to refined. With SsangYong, though, they do look like making it on the world stage over the decade.

TG Awards: Family car of the year 2009: Xylo‘ The Xylo offers what most families in India want - a vehicle that's big enough to take them all, plus relatives and a couple of tonnes of luggage'

FEBRUARY 2012 / TOPGEAR.COM / 163

2.2d SE

reelaTG ChoiceL: 484.8cm W

3/103/103/10

3/10

MahinCompany desfrom crude to rdo look like ma01

unlimited km W

India sales inFor full listingswww.topgear

02

34.93 38.70 44.50

s this mlitres Fuel 03

0406

super ride.

ood diesel enuel Tank: 50 l

11.5 6

11.5 7.6

11.5 7.6

SLEX

TG ChoiL: 410.7cm

05

07

08

ENGINE Engine configuration – either V, W or F (flat), otherwise in-line – plus the number of cylinders and capacity in cubic centimetres.

POWER (BHP) Engine’s maximum power output in brake horsepower. (Hybrid cars show combined elec/fuel bhp figure).

TORQUE (Nm) The engine’s peak torque figure – measured in Nm.

0–100KPH Our very own test time in seconds to reach 100km from a standing start.

TOP SPEED As the title suggest, the fastest a car can go.

SAFETY & GADGETS

* Indicates EX-showroom prices mumbai and Delhi

Yes No Optional

THE TOPGEAR NEW CAR & BIKE GUIDE


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Gadgets & Safety Guide Yes No Optional *Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai

Remote lo

cking

ABSAlloy

s

Fog lamps

Engine

Gearbox

Max. Pow

er (Bhp)

Max. To

rque )

(Nm)

Climat

e control

0-100kph (se

c)

Leather s

eats

Audio syste

m

TG Rating

Power windows

Price Features

Max speed (K

ph)

Numbers

Chennai

Delhi(o

n road)

Bangalore

Mumbai

(on ro

ad)

Airbags

Fuel efficiency (K

pl)

DB9 6.0 V12 na na na 190* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 470 600 304 4.6 na /10 DB9 6.0 V12 Volante na na na 200* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 470 600 304 4.6 na /10

DBS 6.0 V12 2d na na na 265* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 570 510 305 4.3 na /10 DBS 6.0 V12 Volante na na na 275* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 570 510 305 4.3 na /10

Rapide 6.0 V12 4d na na na 220* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 470 600 295 5 na /10

Vantage V8 4.7 Coupe na na na 155* 8cyl 4735cc 6A 430 361 302 4.7 na /10Vantage 4.7 V8 Roadster na na na 165* 8cyl 4735cc 6A 430 361 302 4.7 na /10Vantage 4.7 V8 420 Roadster na na na 152* 8cyl 4735cc 6A 420 346 288 4.7 na /10

V12 Vantage na na na 190* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 510 570 305 4.2 na /10

Virage 6.0 V12 Standard na na na 220* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 490 420 300 4.6 na /10 Virage 6.0 V12 Volante na na na 230* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 490 420 300 4.6 na /10

2.0TDI na na na 43.77 4cyl 1968cc 8A 143 320 210 9.47 13.1 6/101.8 TFSI na na na 40.50 4cyl 1798cc 8A 170 320 210 8.77 9.5 6/103.0 TDI Quattro na na na 38.00* 6cyl 2967cc 8A 245 500 na na na 6/10

S4 na na na 45.31* 6cyl 2995cc 7A 333 440 na na na 6/10

3.0 TFSI Quattro na 47 na 58.56 6cyl 2995cc 7A 300 440 250 6.68 8.69 /103.0 TDI Quattro na 46.95 na 71.74 6cyl 2967cc 7A 245 500 250 6.98 9.9500 245 7A 6.98 /102.8 TFSI na 39.90* na 51.01 6cyl 2773cc 6A 207 280 240 7.7* na /102.0 TDI na 37.7 na 59.55 4cyl 1968cc CVT 177 380 240 8.2* na380 177 CVT 8.2* /10

3.0 Tdi Quattro na 64* na 62.8* 6cyl 2967cc 7A 245 500 250 6.3 na 500 245 7A 6.3 7/10

DB9: Overshadowed by the DBS and undercut by the Vantage, the DB9 is still the quintessential Aston. Build: Import

TG Choice: y fi yWell not the Volante. So that only leaves the fixed head. Which will do nicely.L: 471cm, W: 188cm. Boot: 186 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari California and Maserati GranTurismo.

DBS: Bespoke tailoring for the Premiership, the DBS offsets engineering genius with very un-Aston bling. Build: Import

TG Choice: Avoid the Volante. And remember you are not James BondAAvoid the Volante. And remember you are not James BondL: 472cm, W: 191cm. Boot: 186 litres, Fuel Tank: 78 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari California and Maserati GranTurismo.

Rapide: A ball-aching beauty of a saloon and a proper poke in the eye for Porsche’s Panamera turbo. Build: Import

TG Choice: y g p qThere is only one and it’s got a 470bhp V12 with 600Nm torque. So we’ ll take it.L: 502cm, W: 193cm. Boot: 317 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche Panamera, Ferrari FF, Maserati Quattroporte

Vantage : The car that took on the 911. And lost. But hey, it’s an Aston. Build: Import

TG Choice: f p g p p pp yThe full 510bhp V12 Vantage experience please, with attendant terror. No latte drinkers need apply.L: 438cm, W: 187cm. Boot: 300 litres, Fuel Tank: 80 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche 911.

Virage: What do you get if you cross the DB9 with the DBS? Why, the Virage of course. Build: Import

TG Choice: fWe’ll take the Volante, which has lots of leather.L: 470cm, W: 190cm. Boot: 184 litres, Fuel Tank: 78 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari California and Maserati GranTurismo.

A4 : Audi’s bestseller gets plastic surgery. And becomes a nagging worry for other Germans in the game. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 2.0 TDi g f y p p ff fas its a great value-for-money proposition and runs on a more affordable fuel.iL: 470cm, W: 183. Boot: 480 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre, Grond Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C -Class

A6 : Good-looking, accomplished executive saloon – now with that beardy front grille after the redesign. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI has loads of torque to play with, while still managing a figure of 9.6kplhas loads of torque to play with, while still managing a figure of 9.6kplL: 491.5cm, W: 187.4cm. Boot: 546 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre, Ground Clearance: 11.8cm Also try: BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S80

A7 : Perfect mix of sportiness, comfort and styling evokes instant desire. You’ll never feel you’re in a four-door. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI Quattro, p f p f f g yis powerful and sips fuel frugally.L: 496cm, W: 191cm. Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 75 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes CLS.

ASTON MARTIN TO AUDI

9/10

AUDI Dealers 20 Warranty 2yrs Website www.audi.in

India sales in June 2012: 718


Company description: Classy and understated alternative to the driver-oriented BMW and the staid Mercedes. Oozing Teutonic quality.

TG Awards: Design Awards 2009 Audi A4Comes with LED lights that scream "A4" from a mile away. And the design language has spilled over on to the rest of the Audi group.

ASTON MARTIN Dealers 2 Warranty 3yrs Website www.astonmartin.com



Company description: Arguably the UK’s most desirable marque, currently going through a renaissance, thanks to genuinely good supercars.


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AUDI

4.2 FSI Quattro na 89* na 167.7 8cyl 4163cc 8A 371 445 250 6.7 5.3445 371 8A 6.7 /103.0 TDI na 100* na 140.9 6cyl 2967cc 8A 250 550 235 6.5 7.4550 250 8A 6.5

4.2 TDI Quattro na na na 161.4 8cyl 4134cc 8A 351 800 250 5.16 8800 351 8A 5.16

2.0 TDI Base grade na na na 44.05 4cyl 1968cc 7A 177 380 210 7.94 11380 177 7A 7.94 /102.0 TDI High grade na na na 49.24 4cyl 1968cc 7A 177 380 210 7.94 11380 177 7A 7.94 7/102.0 TFSI Base grade na na na 27.37* 4cyl 1984cc 7A 211 300 230 7.18 8.25300 211 7A 7.18 /102.0 TFSI High grade na na na 32.66* 4cyl 1984cc 7A 211 300 230 7.18 8.25300 211 7A 7.18 7/10

2.0TFSI Quattro na 44.89 na 54.25 4cyl 1984cc 8A 225 350 222 8.89 na350 225 8A 8.89 5/103.0 Tdi Quattro na 52.10 na 71.58 6cyl 2967cc 7A 245 580 225 6.5 12.2580 245 7A 6.5 5/10

4.2TDI Quattro na 66.65 na 67* 8cyl 4134cc 8A 340 800 231 6.4 5.5800 340 8A 6.4 6/103.0TFSI Quattro na 59.40 na 65.3* 6cyl 2995cc 8A 333 440 244 7.4 7.4440 333 8A 7.4 na/103.0TDI Quattro na 55.40 na 89.82 6cyl 2967cc 8A 245 550 210 9.1 9.6550 245 8A 9.1 5/10

RS 5 na 76* na 74.59* 8cyl 4134cc 7A 450 430 280 5.32 4.6430 450 7A 5.32 8/10

4.2 V8 FSI na 134* na na 8cyl 4163cc 7A 430 430 300 4.6 na 430 430 7A 4.6 /105.2FSI V10 na 157* na na 10cyl 5204cc 7A 525 530 316 530 525 7A 4.1 na /105.2FSI V10 Plus na na na 205 10cyl 5204cc 7A 542 540 316 540 542 7A 4.1 na /10

Spyder na 173* na na 10cyl 5204cc 7A 525 530 313 530 525 7A 4.1 7 /10

Audi TT na NA na 48.36* 4cyl 1984cc 7A 211 350 250 350 211 7A 6.24 8.9 /10

A8 : You can’t ask for a more perfect car than this. Not for ordinary mortals. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 4.2 TDI g y g f y pgives you a great mix of luxury and power.L: 526.7cm, W: 194.9cm. Boot: 510 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: 12.4cm Also try: BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Q3 : The Q3 is capable, practical and versatile. BMW and Land Rover, have your nightmares begun? Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The g gHigh grade, y y f f f comes with a easy-to-use MMI system and a bunch of other useful features.L: 438.5cm, W: 183.1cm. Boot: 460 litres, Fuel Tank: 64 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW X1

Q5 : It may not have the panache of the Q7 that Bollywood loves, but the Q5 does mean business. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI Quattro, with the engine carried over from the Q7 but feels a whole lot quicker, thanks to half a tonne less weightwith the engine carried over from the Q7 but feels a whole lot quicker, thanks to half a tonne less weightL: 462.9cm, W: 188cm. Boot: 540 litres, Fuel Tank: 75 litre, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: BMW X3, Mitsubishi Montero

Q7 : Odd-looking and enormous seven-seat sports utility vehicle that’ll put the frighteners on Mercedes and BMW. Build: Import

TG Choice: 4.2 TDI Quattro g y p is big on muscle and since it’s a diesel, it won’t burn a hole in your pocket.L: 509cm, W: 198cm. Boot: 755 litres, Fuel Tank: 100 litre, Ground Clearance: 20.5 cm Also try: BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover,

RS 5: Artful lesson in understatement, the RS5 does desirable minus the flash. Build: Import

TG Choice: Just hand us the keys to the 444bhp V8. Thank you.JJust hand us the keys to the 444bhp V8. Thank you.L: 464cm, W: 186cm. Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 75 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMWM5

R8 : The supercar to have right now. Beautiful, sophisticated, quick as the wind and comfortable to boot. Build: Import

TG Choice: Buy theBBuy the V10 f g f p, it’s borrowed from the Lamborghini Gallardo and sells at half the price.00L: 443cm, W: 190cm. Boot: 100 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911

TT : Still the cheapest two-seater sportscar around. Now even more thorough. Build: Import

TG Choice: Audi doesn’t want you to have choices here.AAudi doesn’t want you to have choices here.L: 418.7cm, W: 184.2cm. Boot: 290 litres, Fuel Tank: 60 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW Z4, Merc SLK, Nissan 370Z

Audi continued

6/108/10

Buyers Guide continued

CAR CHOOSERYOU CAN GO THROUGH A HUNDRED SPECS AND OPTIONS... OR JUST SELECT THE CAR YOU REALLY WANT USING THE CAR CHOOSER ON TOPGEAR.COM. YOU DECIDE.


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GT na 210* na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 567 700 318 4.8 6.2 /10GT Speed na na na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 600 750 326 4.5 6 /10GT Super Sport na na na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 621 800 329 3.9 5.9 /10Flying Spur na 188* na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 552 650 312 5.2 5.8 /10V8 na na na na 8cyl 3993cc 8A 500 660 303 4.8 na /10GTC na 225* na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 552 650 312 5.1 5.8 /10

Mulsanne na 322* na na 8cyl 6752cc 8A 505 1020 296 5.3 5.9 /10

320d 28.9 33.68 28.9 37.1 4cyl 1995cc 8A 184 380 235 7.33 14.2380 184 8A 7.33 /10320d Sport line 31.5 36.65 31.5 42.0 4cyl 1995cc 8A 184 380 235 7.33 14.2380 184 8A 7.33 /10320d Luxury line 31.5 36.65 31.5 42.0 6cyl 1995cc 8A 184 380 235 7.33 14.2380 184 8A 7.33 /10320d Luxury line Plus 36.9 42.83 36.9 45.69 4cyl 1995cc 8A 184 380 235 7.33 14.2380 184 8A 7.33 /10328i Sport line 37.9 43.96 37.9 48.0 4cyl 1995cc 8A 245 350 250 6.16 10.3350 245 8A 6.16 /10

523i 38.9 45.65 38.9 46.6 6cyl 2497cc 8A 215 270 242 7.9 9.7 270 215 8A 7.9 /10535i 58 65.75 58 74.6 6cyl 2979cc 8A 305 400 250 6.7 6.1 400 305 8A 6.7 /10520d 36.9 43.49 na 52.0 4cyl 1995cc 8A 187 380 226 8.3 na380 187 8A 8.3 /10530d 45.9 45.89 45.9 67.3 6cyl 2993cc 8A 258 560 248 6.8 na 560 258 8A 6.8 /10

650i Convertible 95 109.3 95 95* 8cyl 4395cc 8A 407 600 250 5.39 5.6600 407 8A 5.39 /10 650i Coupe na 120 na 140 8cyl 4395cc 8A 407 600 250 na na600 407 8A na /10 640d Coupe na 75* na 104.4 6cyl 2993cc 8A 313 630 250 5.5 na630 313 8A 5.5 /10

640d Gran Coupe na 75* na 104.4 6cyl 2993cc 8A 313 630 250 5.5 8.1630 313 8A 5.5 /10

740Li 79.6 99.47 79.6 109 6cyl 2979cc 6A 326 450 250 6.9 8.2 450 326 6A 6.9 /10 750Li 86.8 113.3 86.8 125 8cyl 4395cc 6A 407 600 250 6 7.9 600 407 6A 6 /10730Ld 73.6 96.06 73.6 105 6cyl 2993cc 6A 326 500 245 7.7 9.1500 326 6A 7.7 /10760Li 129 150.7 129 167 12cyl 5972cc 6A 544 750 250 4.6 7.3750 544 6A 4.6 /10

30 d 64 65.10 64 82.32 6cyl 2993cc 8A 245 540 240 7.13 5.3 540 245 8A 7.13 /10

Continental: Sumptuous, superb over distances, with more appeal to younger millionaires. Build: Import

TG Choice: The p pGT Super Sports j fi g gg jshould be just fine. It will be good to the environment as it runs on ethanol too. Tree huggers rejoice.sL: 480.0cm, W: 274.5cm. Boot: 310 litres, Fuel Tank: 96 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Other Bentleys, really? That’s about it

Mulsanne : Replacement for the Arnage, and every bit as opulent. Build: Import

TG Choice: Depends on how you want to spec it. The rich are spoilt for choice (aren’t they always?).DDepends on how you want to spec it. The rich are spoilt for choice (aren’t they always?).L: 557.2, W: 192.6,cm. Boot: 443 litres, Fuel Tank: 96 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Rolls Royce Ghost, Megan Fox

3 series : The 3 has always been the best sport saloon since it was born. The new 3 is still so. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The p320d Sport Line y g p y p pvisually striking with its sporty cues and has the all purpose 2-litre diesel. eL: 462.4cm W: 181.1cm. Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class

5 series : A return to form for the ‘5’, with more palatable styling, a better ride and BMW’s stock-in-trade quality.. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: f qWith 500Nm of torque, the 530d f y yis the most fun you will have in a 5 series, unless you throw the M5 into the mix.dL: 484.1, W: 203,cm. Boot: 520 litres, Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: 14.2 cm Also try: Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S80

6 Series: The best all-round touring convertible in India. Just be prepared for frequent fuel stops on your ‘grand tour’. Build: Import

TG Choice: For now available in a 4.4 litre twin-turbo-charged variant, but we’ll wait for the M6 before we announce a verdict.FFor now available in a 4.4 litre twin-turbo-charged variant, but we’ll wait for the M6 before we announce a verdict.L: 489cm, W: 189cm. Boot: Na, Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: 123cm Also try: Mercedes SL class

7 Series: Much improved. BMW’s super saloon is now a half-decent match for the class-whipping S-Class. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 730Ld fi should be fine, as it’s a car to be driven in.dL: 517.9, W: 213.3,cm. Boot: 520 litres, Fuel Tank: 88 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class

GT 5: According to BMW the GT 5 is for an older BMW buyer who has a family and children to ferry around. Build: Import

TG Choice: A BMW for the ageing? For this price, you can get the ‘530d’ and the K1200R bike.AA BMW for the ageing? For this price, you can get the ‘530d’ and the K1200R bike.L: 499, W: 190,cm. Boot: 520 litres, Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: none

BENTLEY TO BMW

BMW Dealers 21 Warranty 3yrs Website www.bmw.in

India sales in 2012: 6246


Company description: A model of German efficiency, the firm still prides itself on making supremely engineered cars aimed at the driver.

TG Awards: Executive car 2010 : 5 series‘ Then 'Joy' made an appearance and reinvented the 5. It's become more of a shrunken 7 Series and less of a streached 3 and the CEOs sure are loving it'

BENTLEY Dealers 1 Warranty na Website www.bentleymotors.com



Company description: Has got a new lease of life with an injection of Volkswagen cash, but still as British as the monarchy.



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20d NA 27.9* NA 35.5 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 205 7.18 12380 181 8A 7.18 /1020d XLine NA 32.5* NA 41.4 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 205 7.18 12380 181 8A 7.18 /1020d SportLine NA 32.5* NA 41.4 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 205 7.18 12 380 181 8A 7.18 /10

20d 41.20 41.20* 41.20 56.5 4cyl 1995cc 8A 184 380 220 9.47 11380 184 8A 9.47 /1030d 47.90 47.90* 47.90 64.6 6cyl 2993cc 8A 258 560 Na Na Na 560 258 8A Na /10

50i 78.6 81.25 78.6 89.3 8cyl 4395cc 8A 402 600 240 6.5 7.4600 402 8A 6.5 /1030d 55.7 62.25 55.7 68.2 6cyl 2993cc 8A 245 540 210 8.3 10.8540 245 8A 8.3 /10

50i 84.1 98.49 84.1 109 8cyl 4395cc 8A 402 600 240 5.4 7.1600 402 8A 5.4 /1030d 66.9 79.35 66.9 87.3 6cyl 2993cc 8A 306 600 240 6.5 6.3600 306 8A 6.5 /10

Veyron 8.0 W16 Super sport na 1600* na na 16cyl 7993cc 7A 1184 1106 428 2.5 na1106 1184 7A 2.5 /10 Veyron 8.0 W16 na 1000* na na 16cyl 7993cc 7A 999 922 407 2.5 na922 999 7A 2.5 /10

LT ABS Petrol 5.73 6.11 5.73 7.28 4cyl 1198cc 5M 85 113 na na na113 85 5M na 5/10LT ABS Diesel 6.80 7.53 6.80 8.13 4cyl 1248cc 5M 75 205 na na na205 75 5M na 5/10

X1: Right size, right price, perfect for the urban yuppie. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The20dee p f f q g f y g y gwill be perfect . 350Nm of torque is more than enough for city and highway driving.dL: 445, W: 180,cm. Boot: 420 litres, Fuel Tank: 80 litre, Ground Clearance: 19.4cm Also try: Audi Q5

X3: A well-sorted car tailored for the world we live in. If only they had a button that said ‘BMW’ for the outcasts of the world. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 20d p p p y, as it has ample power and is cheaper by Rs. 7 lakh.dL: 464.8cm W: 188 cm. Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 67 litre, Ground Clearance: 19.4cm Also try: Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Land Rover Freelander

X5: Fatter new seven-seat X5 places it firmly in a size category above the X3 now – thankfully, it’s bigger inside too. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 30d j g p g ffi.should work well as this car is more at home in the urban jungle’s stop-and-go traffic.ddL: 485.4, W: 219.7cm. Boot: 620 litres, Fuel Tank: 85 litre, Ground Clearance: 21.2 cmAlso try: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport

X6: It’s an SUV! No, it’s a coupe! No, it’s both. BMW has gone over-the-top with stretching the boundaries for a ‘niche’ product. Build: Import

TG Choice: g gGo all guns blazing with the 5.0i g f g fas the car doesn’t make much sense to begin with. But it’ll at least be fast while being confused.L: 487.7, W: 198cm. Boot: na, Fuel Tank: 85 litre, Ground Clearance: 21.2 cm Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport

Veyron: The fastest, most expensive car in the world. Enough said... Build: Import

TG Choice: Super Sports, 1200bhp, 0-100kmh in 2.5 seconds 428+ kph top end. Guinness world record holder, job done.SSuper Sports, 1200bhp, 0-100kmh in 2.5 seconds 428+ kph top end. Guinness world record holder, job done.L: 446cm, W: 199cm. Boot: na, Fuel Tank: 100 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: The space shuttle, hard drugs

Sail U-VA: It’s a no-nonsense car in a country with way better no-nonsense cars

TG Choice: LLT Diesel p g pas it has a proven engine, rides well and is spacious. (Available in Base and LS variants too)L: 394.6 cm W: 169cm. Boot: 220 litres, Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Ritz, Skoda Fabia

BMW TO CHEVROLET

BUGATTI Dealers 2 Warranty 2yrs Website www.bugatti.com



Company description: VW-owned purveyor of the fastest, most extreme hypercars on the planet. Builder of the fastest car in the world, the Veyron Super Sport.

CHEVROLET Dealers 279 Warranty 3 Website www.chevrolet.co.in

India sales in June 2012: 7364


Company description: Just about starting to make its mark with confident design and products like the Cruze and the Beat. Buyers are slowly showing that confidence too.

TG Awards: Saloon of the year 2009: Cruze‘ That the Cruze is a better buy than its immediate competitors - Civic and Corolla - will be as obvious to you as Salman Khan's biceps"


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TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDECHEVROLET

1.2 5.08 4.99* 5.09 5.99 4cyl 1199cc 5M 85 113 na na na 113 85 5M na 5/101.2 LS ABS 5.90 5.70* 5.90 7.50 4cyl 1199cc 5M 85 113 na na na113 85 5M na 5/101.2 LT ABS 6.53 6.41* 6.52 8.28 4cyl 1199cc 5M 85 113 na na na113 85 5M na 5/101.3 TCDi 6.40 6.29* 6.40 7.66 4cyl 1248cc 5M 77 205 na na na205 77 5M na 5/101.3 TCDi LS ABS 7.02 6.80* 7.02 8.39 4cyl 1248cc 5M 77 205 na na na205 77 5M na 5/101.3 TCDi LT ABS 7.65 7.51* 7.64 9.13 4cyl 1248cc 5M 77 205 na na na205 77 5M na 5/10

Base 3.94 4.19 3.94 4.68 4cyl 1199cc 5M 79 108 150 na na 108 79 5M na 4/10LS 4.22 4.49 4.22 5.00 4cyl 1199cc 5M 79 108 150 na na 108 79 5M na 5/10LT 4.70 4.97 4.70 5.55 4cyl 1199cc 5M 79 108 150 na na 108 79 5M na 5/10LT Opt 5.20 5.29 5.20 6.14 4cyl 1199cc 5M 79 108 150 na na 108 79 5M na na/10Base Diesel 4.79 5.11 4.80 5.75 3cyl 936cc 5M 57 150 150 na 17 150 57 5M na 5/10LS Diesel 5.09 5.42 5.10 6.10 3cyl 936cc 5M 57 150 150 na 17150 57 5M na 6/10LT Diesel 5.57 5.88 5.56 6.66 3cyl 936cc 5M 57 150 150 na 17 150 57 5M na 6/10LT Opt Diesel 6.07 6.07 6.07 7.26 3cyl 936cc 5M 57 150 150 na 17 150 57 5M na na/10

2.2 LT 19.07 21.88 18.99 29.17 4cyl 2231cc 5M 183 424 178 na na 424 183 5M na /102.2 AWD LTZ 25.0 25.62 25.03 31.88 4cyl 2231cc 5A 183 424 178 na na 424 183 5A na /10Extreme 19.82 22.69 19.74 24.87 4cyl 2231cc 5A 183 424 178 na na 424 183 5A na /10

LT 14.01 14.30 14.01 16.94 4cyl 1998cc 6M 163 380 200 9.83 12 380 163 6M 9.83 5/10LTZ MT 15.03 16.11 15.03 18.38 4cyl 1998cc 6M 163 380 200 9.83 12380 163 6M 9.83 5/10LTZ AT 16.02 17.10 16.02 19.47 4cyl 1998cc 6A 163 380 200 9.5 11.5380 163 6A 9.5 5/10

1.6LS 7.65 8.24 7.59 8.75 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 148 180 13.3 9.2148 103 5M 13.3 3/101.6LT 8.71 9.35 8.65 9.96 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 148 180 13.3 9.2148 103 5M 13.3 3/10

1 3.37 3.51 3.37 4.01 4cyl 995cc 5M 62 90 145 16.9 13.690 62 5M 16.9 /10

1.0 LS 3.65 3.89 3.64 4.33 4cyl 995cc 5M 62 90 145 16.9 13.690 62 5M 16.9 /101.0 LT 3.94 4.21 3.94 4.67 4cyl 995cc 5M 62 90 145 16.9 13.6 90 62 5M 16.9 /10

LS Petrol 8STR 5.59 5.49* 5.59 5.76* 4cyl 1399cc 5M 103 131 na 13.9 12.1 131 103 5M 13.9 6/10LS Petrol 7STR 5.64 5.54* 5.65 5.82* 4cyl 1399cc 5M 103 131 na 13.9 12.1131 103 5M 13.9 6/10LTZ Petrol 7STR 7.00 7.12* 7.14 7.34* 4cyl 1399cc 5M 103 131 na 13.9 12.1131 103 5M 13.9 6/10LS Diesel 8STR 6.81 6.69* 6.81 7.02* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 76 187 na 19.7 15 187 76 5M 19.7 6/10LS Diesel 7STR 6.88 6.76* 6.88 7.09* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 76 187 na 19.7 15 187 76 5M 19.7 6/10LTZ Diesel 7STR 8.14 8.00* 8.14 8.39* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 76 187 na 19.7 15 187 76 5M 19.7 6/10

Sail: Pocket-friendly pricing, neat styling and good ride. Should put Chevrolet back in to the entry-sedan game

TG Choice: 1.3 TCDi LT ABS g f y f f fas it gets all the safety features and decent amount of features.L: 424.9 cm W: 169cm. Boot: 370 litres, Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki DZire, Mahindra Verito, Ford Classic

Beat: Another smart new Chevy design. Tries hard to play city car and highway cruiser roles. Succeeds reasonably.

TG Choice: The LT p f f ppacks a lot of features at a reasonable price .TL: 364 cm W: 159,cm. Boot: na, Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Hyundai i10, Maruti Suzuki Ritz

Captiva: At long last, Chevy is adding new cars to Daewoo knock-offs. This seven-seat SUV isn’t a bad effort either. Build: Import

TG Choice: pTwo lakh cheaper than the AWD variants, the 2.0 LT has no all-wheel-drive, but hey, you won’t need one in a city SUV. has no all-wheel-drive, but hey, you won’t need one in a city SUV.TL: 466 cmW: 187,cm. Boot: 465 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre , Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X-Trail

Cruze: This car can leave wet spot marks on the trousers of the Civic and the Corolla.

TG Choice: The LTZ MT f for the true enthusiast.TL: 459.7 cm W: 178.8cm. Boot: na Fuel Tank: na Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Skoda Laura

Optra Magnum: Face-lifted Optra now with a cracker of a diesel unit. Reasonably priced exec saloon.

TG Choice: The 2.0 LT TCDI f y f p f gas it comes with all the safety features and a powerful diesel engine.L: 450cm W: 173,cm. Boot: 450 litres, Fuel Tank: 60 litre, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Cedia, Toyota Corolla Altis

Spark: Cute, cheap runabout, now with the oomph to keep it up in town thanks to the new one-litre engine. Also available: PS & LS LPG.

TG Choice: 1 p f ff y g fi pgas it is the cheapest of the lot and other variants do not offer any significant upgrades.L: 349.5, W: 149.5,cm. Boot: 104 litres, Fuel Tank: 38 litre , Ground Clearance: 17 cm Also try: Hyundai Santro Xing, Maruti’s tall boy pair

Enjoy: The Enjoy is Chevrolet’s answer to the Maruti Ertiga. Petrol pretty quick, diesel decently efficient. Reasonably priced too.

TG Choice: LTZ Diesel ff g f f g g f p as it is offers a good mix of features along with the goodness of diesel. Mid-spec LT trim available too.lL: 430.5, W: 168cm. Boot: 195 litres, Fuel Tank: 50 litre , Ground Clearance: na Also try: Maruti Ertiga, Mahindra Xylo, Nissan Evalia

5/10

TT


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NEW CAR GUIDE TOP GEAR FERRARI TO FIAT

California 4.3 V8 na 222* na na 8cyl 4297cc 7A 454 485 310 3.9 na 485 454 7A 3.9 /10

599 GTO 6.0 V12 na 357* na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 612 608 328 3.7 na 608 612 6A 3.7 /10

FF na 342* na na 12cyl 6262cc 7A 651 683 332 3.7 na 683 651 7A 3.7 /10

458 Italia 4.5 na 257* na na 8cyl 4499cc 7A 562 485 324 3.4 na 485 562 7A 3.4 /10458 Italia Spider na 291* na na 8cyl 4499cc 7A 562 485 na na na 485 562 7A na /10

Active 7.25 7.85 7.23 8.32 4cyl 1368cc 5M 90 115 168 15.6 8115 90 5M 15.6 /10Dynamic 8.27 7.95 8.25 9.48 4cyl 1368cc 5M 90 115 168 15.6 8 115 90 5M 15.6 /10Active D 8.30 9.12 8.28 9.69 4cyl 1248cc 5M 91 209 na na na209 91 5M na /10Dynamic D 9.35 10.25 9.23 10.90 4cyl 1248cc 5M 91 209 na na na 209 91 5M na /10Emotion D 9.72 10.66 9.70 11.33 4cyl 1248cc 5M 91 209 na na na 209 91 5M na /10T-Jet 8.82 9.65 8.92 NA 4cyl 1368cc 5M 113 207 165 12.3 na207 113 5M 12.3 /10T-Jet plus 9.32 10.19 9.43 NA 4cyl 1368cc 5M 113 207 165 12.3 na207 113 5M 12.3 /10

Active 1.2 5.14 5.45 5.13 5.96 4cyl 1172cc 5M 67 96 na na na 96 67 5M na /10Dynamic 1.2 5.38 5.69 5.37 6.23 4cyl 1172cc 5M 67 96 175 na 13 96 67 5M na /10Emotion 1.4 6.95 7.52 6.94 8.02 4cyl 1368cc 5M 89 115 175 12.5 13115 89 5M 12.5 /10Active D 5.85 6.25 5.84 6.88 4cyl 1248cc 5M 75 197 na na 17197 75 5M na /10

California: A Maserati in everything but the name, the California is a lovely but clearly overpriced drop-top tourer. Build: Import

TG Choice: f yWill wait for the new SL. Thank youL: 456cm W: 190cm Boot: 240 litres Fuel Tank: 78 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi R8, Maserati GranCabrio, Porsche 911 Turbo.

599: A stonking good car and arguably the best front-engined Ferrari since the 250 GTO. This is genius. Build: Import

TG Choice: y fWe’d say the limited GTO version if it wasn’t almost certain to kill us.L: 467cm W: 196cm Boot: 320 litres Fuel Tank: 105 litre , Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Aston Martin DBS.

FF: A Ferrari grand tourer, but not as we know it. This is the first ever AWD Ferrari, and it’s an estate. Build: Import

TG Choice: yThere’s only one version.L: 490cm W: 195cm Boot: 450 litres Fuel Tank: 91 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Aston Martin Rapide, Bentley Continental GT.

458: The finest sportscar of the past five years. Utterly mind-blowing. Build: Import

TG Choice: g g f g yCan’t go wrong with either of the variants. We’d have ours in titanium grey.L: 453cm W: 194cm Boot: 230 litres Fuel Tank: 86 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Aston Martin Vantage, Porsche 911 Turbo.

Linea: Big sedan loaded to the brim with features at a bargain price. Also Available: Emotion Pack for petrol and diesel.

TG Choice: T-Jet fi.should have been here the first time around – still, better late than never.ttL: 456, W: 173cm Boot: 500 litre, Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Honda City, Ford Fiesta, VW Vento

Punto: Looks incredible, drives well, priced competitively. Needs better engines, though.TG Choice: The Emotion D Pk p p fas it is a whole lot cheaper than the 90hp and still as much fun.kL: 398.7cm W: 168.7cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance 19.5cm Also try: Skoda Fabia, Maruti Swift, Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo

FERRARI Dealers 1 Warranty 3yrs Website www.ferrari.com



Company description: Iconic Italian marque with a huge back-catalogue of fabulous cars and motorsport successes. The envy of the automotive world.

FIAT Dealers 64 Warranty 18months Website www.fiat-india.com



Company description: Seems to make characterful and beautiful cars even in their sleep. The Punto and Linea are brilliant products. Service continues to put some people off.

TG Awards: Most improved car 2010: Linea T-Jet‘ Fiat's always been making great cars. But with this T-Jet, it seems to have acquired a new skill - listening to people’

9/10

9/10



Buyer Guide continued


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Ford continued

Dynamic D 6.51 7.16 6.50 7.65 4cyl 1248cc 5M 75 197 na 15.7 17 197 75 5M 15.7 /10Emotion D 7.15 7.86 7.13 8.38 4cyl 1248cc 5M 75 197 na 15.7 17197 75 5M 15.7 /10Emotion D Pk 90 hp 7.53 8.27 7.52 8.82 4cyl 1248cc 5M 90 209 na 15 17209 90 5M 15 /10

Emotion 90hp Sport na 7.58* na 7.36* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 90 209 170 13.65 12.6209 90 5M 13.65 /10

One 10.84 10.64* 10.79 10.72* 4cyl 2149cc 5M 140 321 na na na321 140 5M na /10

Hard-top 4x4 8.65 8.50* 8.61 8.50* 4cyl 2596cc 5M 81 230 na na na 230 81 5M na /10

Soft-top 4x4 8.49 8.35* 8.46 8.35* 4cyl 2596cc 5M 81 230 na na na 230 81 5M na /10

Soft-top 4x2 6.36 6.25* 6.33 6.25* 4cyl 2596cc 5M 81 230 na na na 230 81 5M na /10

2.5L 4x2 20.01 21.29 20.01 24.43 4cyl 2499cc 5M 142 330 na na na 330 142 5M na /103.0L 4x2 19.50 22.89 19.41 22.74 4cyl 2953cc 5M 153 380 160 na na 380 153 5M na /103.0L 4x4 AT 23.29 24.82 23.29 28.38 4cyl 2953cc 5A 153 380 165 13.5 7.5380 153 5A 13.5 /10

1.5 Ambiente 7.60 8.28 7.60 9.04 4cyl 1499cc 5M 109 140 na 12.1 12140 109 5M 12.1 /101.5 Titanium + 9.31 10.12 9.31 11.02 4cyl 1499cc 5M 109 140 na 12.1 12140 109 5M 12.1 /101.5 diesel Style 9.45 10.79 9.45 11.44 4cyl 1498cc 5M 89 204 na na 13 204 89 5M na /101.5 Diesel Titanium + 10.50 12.20 10.50 12.79 4cyl 1498cc 5M 89 204 na na 13 204 89 5M na /10

Style AT 9.45 10.32 9.45 11.19 4cyl 1499cc 6A 89 204 na 13 11.3 204 89 6A 13 /10Titanium + AT 10.04 11.10 10.04 12.16 4cyl 1499cc 6A 89 204 na 13 11.3 204 89 6A 13 /10

1.6 LXI Duratec 5.84 6.15 5.83 7.03 4cyl 1596cc 5M 99 146 175 11.2 12.3 146 99 5M 11.2 /101.6 cLXI Duratec 6.49 7.05 6.50 7.81 4cyl 1596cc 5M 99 146 175 11.2 12.3 146 99 5M 11.2 /101.6 SXi Duratec 7.75 7.35 7.52 9.04 4cyl 1596cc 5M 99 146 175 11.2 12.3146 99 5M 11.2 /101.4 LXI Duratorq 7.04 7.82 7.04 8.61 4cyl 1399cc 5M 67 160 155 17.1 16.1 160 67 5M 17.1 /101.4 cLXI Duratorq 7.48 8.29 7.48 9.12 4cyl 1399cc 5M 67 160 155 17.1 16.1160 67 5M 17.1 /10

1.2 Lxi 3.96 4.30 3.96 4.83 4cyl 1196cc 5M 71 102 na na na 102 71 5M na /101.2 Exi 4.35 4.70 4.35 5.28 4cyl 1196cc 5M 71 102 na na na102 71 5M na /101.2 Zxi 4.65 5.10 4.66 5.64 4cyl 1196cc 5M 71 102 na na na102 71 5M na /101.2 Titanium 5.16 5.60 5.16 6.22 4cyl 1196cc 5M 71 102 na na na102 71 5M na /101.4 diesel Lxi 4.96 5.45 4.96 6.10 4cyl 1399cc 5M 68 160 150 na na 160 68 5M na /101.4 diesel Exi 5.35 6.19 5.30 6.56 4cyl 1399cc 5M 68 160 150 na na160 68 5M na /101.4 diesel Zxi 5.67 6.28 5.73 6.93 4cyl 1399cc 5M 68 160 150 na na160 68 5M na /101.4 Diesel Titanium 6.17 6.69 6.17 7.52 4cyl 1399cc 5M 68 160 150 na na 160 68 5M na /10

One: Mechanically sound car, refined engine and good ride. Let down by interior quality and cabin design execution.

TG Choice: Single variant comes packed with a long list of features.SSingle variant comes packed with a long list of features.L: na W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Tata Safari, Mahindra Scorpio

Gurkha: Want a luxurious off-roader? Look away. Want a no-frills, no-holds-barred mountain goat? Step right this way.

TG Choice: Soft-top 4x4 will let you fit in one more friend, apart from looking a little cooler than the hardtop.SSoft-top 4x4 will let you fit in one more friend, apart from looking a little cooler than the hardtop.L: 399.2cm W: 182cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 63 litre, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Mahindra Thar

Endeavour: Big hunky old-school SUV, just revised. New interior and punchier engine lifts it up considerably.

TG Choice: fGo for the 2.5 4x2 y f g y g and save Rs 3 lakh, as this SUV will mostly be used for highway driving.2L: 506cm W: 178.8cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 71 litre, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Mitsubishi Pajero, Tata Safari

Fiesta: The new Fiesta is a changed animal but still familiar. Cooler features. Smarter styling.

TG Choice: The 1.5 diesel Titanium + q pp f q p gequipped with all the frills is quite a package to reckon with.L: 429 cm W: 172cm Boot: 430litre Fuel Tank: 43 litre, Ground Clearance: 15.6cm Also try: Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Maruti Suzuki SX4.

Classic: Ford’s big player in India is a well-sorted, well thought-out car. Facelifting has made it expensive. Still competent.

TG Choice: The 1.6 S f f is what BMW would look at if it needed a low-cost front-wheel-drive car.SL: 428.2cm W: 168.6cm Boot: 430litre Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea.

Figo: Not the best-styled hatch out there, but it worries everything from the tiny i10 to the premium Polo.

TG Choice: The 1.4 diesel Titanium g g p g p g y yis an honest-to-goodness car with great pricing, space and highway ability.L: 379cm W: 168cm Boot: 284litre Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Swift, Fiat Punto, Volkswagen Polo.

FORCE TO FORD

FORD Dealers 65 Warranty 2yrs Website www.india.ford.com

India sales in June 2012: 7,000


Company description: Makes some of the best driver’s cars in India. Right now in a period of transition with the old cars being phased out, and new cars coming in. Good thing is their best is yet to come.

TG Awards: Small car of the year 2010: Figo‘ The Figo is a harbinger of things that haven't been around for quite some time.'

FORCE Dealers NA Warranty 2yrs Website www.forcemotors.com

India sales in April 2012: na


Company description: After selling UV to the rural market, Force has decided to join the ranks of Tata and Mahindra for a piece of the home grown SUV pie.


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1.5 petrol Ambiente 5.68 5.59* 5.68 5.86* 4cyl 1499cc 5M 110 140 na na na140 110 5M na /101.5 petrol Trend 6.61 6.5* 6.61 6.81* 4cyl 1499cc 5M 110 140 na na na 140 110 5M na /101.5 petrol Titanium 7.64 7.51* 7.64 7.87* 4cyl 1499cc 5M 110 140 na na na140 110 5M na /101.5 petrol Titanium AT 8.60 8.45* 8.60 8.86* 4cyl 1499cc 5A 110 140 na na na140 110 5A na /10EcoBoost Titanium 8.04 7.90* 8.04 8.28* 3cyl 999cc 5M 123 170 na na na 170 123 5M na /10EcoBoost Titanium + 8.43 8.29* 8.43 8.69* 3cyl 999cc 5M 123 170 na na na170 123 5M na /101.5 diesel Ambiente 6.81 6.69* 6.81 7.01* 4cyl 1498cc 5M 90 204 na na na 204 90 5M na /101.5 diesel Trend 7.74 7.61* 7.74 7.98* 4cyl 1498cc 5M 90 204 na na na 204 90 5M na /101.5 diesel Titanium 8.77 8.62* 8.77 9.04* 4cyl 1498cc 5M 90 204 na na na 204 90 5M na /101.5 Diesel Titanium + 9.16 9.00* 9.16 9.43* 4cyl 1498cc 5M 90 204 na na na 204 90 5M na /10

2.4 MT 20.90 23.20 20.80 24.11 4cyl 2354cc 5M 177 222 223 10.4 na 222 177 5M 10.4 /102.4 AT 21.71 24.07 21.60 25.06 4cyl 2354cc 5A 177 222 na na na 222 177 5A na 4/103.5 V6 28.05 30.65 27.76 NA 6cyl 3471cc 5A 271 339 215 8 7.5339 271 5A 8 /10

E 5.08 5.24* 5.13 6.14 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na 109 87 5M na /10S 5.71 5.62* 5.77 6.89 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na 109 87 5M na 6/10VX 6.69 6.60* 6.73 8.04 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na109 87 5M na /10S AT 6.71 6.62* 6.77 8.07 4cyl 1198cc 5A 87 109 na na na109 87 5A na /10VX AT 7.61 7.50* 7.70 9.10 4cyl 1198cc 5A 99 100 na na na100 99 5A na /10EX i-DTEC 6.44 6.24* 6.49 7.83 4cyl 1498cc 5M 98 100 na na na100 98 5M na /10S i-DTEC 6.78 6.67* 6.85 8.21 4cyl 1498cc 5M 98 100 na na na100 98 5M na /10VX i-DTEC 7.68 7.60* 7.73 9.22 4cy l 1498cc 5M 99 200 na na na 200 99 5M na /10

EcoSport: This compact SUV will be a game changer for the company. Looks good and drives well too.

TG Choice: The EcoBoost Titanium + g y g f p f fgives you the right combination of performance and features.L: 399.5cm W: 176.5cm Boot: 346litre Fuel Tank: 52 litre, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Renault Duster

Accord: Accord is bigger, better and a little less exciting. But oh-so-damned perfect for the Indian luxury car buyer. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The V6 j p f fi p ywould just be perfect as it strikes a fine balance between power and economy.6L: 495cm W: 184.5cm Boot: 396 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: 15.5cm Also try: Hyundai Sonata Transform, Nissan Teana, Toyota Camry, VW Passat

Amaze: Honda’s answer to Maruti’s DZire. First oil-burning Honda to hit Indian shores

TG Choice: The VX i-DTEC g g ffi g g as it gets the much talked about diesel engine that’s efficient and gets all the goodies too.CL: 399cm W: 168cm Boot: 400 litres Fuel Tank: 35 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Maruti DZire, Chevrolet Sail, Toyota Etios

HONDA

HONDA Dealers 80 Warranty 2yrs Website www.hondacarindia.com

India sales in July 2012: 4386


Company description: Enjoys a brand value only premium German cars can beat. City and Civic continue to dominate their segment. But its cars lack the soul they had when it first came in.


SUBSCRIPTION PORTALGET ALL THE TOPGEAR ACTION DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR DOORSTEP. EXCELLENT SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS ONLY ON MAGS.TIMESGROUP.COM/TOPGEAR.HTML

NEW ENTRY Ford EcosportFord’s offering to the compact SUV segment

Ford is following the recent trend in the market with a compact SUV. Small is the new big for Ford. This one doesn’t have the typical Ford drive feel of Ford but on theplus

side has features in bucket loads and rides well. With that combination, the EcoSport promises to get the Ikon days back for the company. And yes, it has a lot of variants on offer.


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E 4.21 4.12* 4.21 4.36* 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na109 87 5M na /10EX 4.37 4.28* 4.38 4.54* 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na 109 87 5M na 7/10S 4.70 4.60* 4.71 4.89* 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na 109 87 5M na /10V 5.16 5.06* 5.18 5.38* 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na 109 87 5M na /10VX 5.46 5.34* 5.48 5.67* 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na109 87 5M na /10VX AT 6.24 6.12* 6.27 6.49* 4cy l 1198cc 5A 87 109 na na na109 87 5A na /10

S MT 8.72 9.55 8.72 10.16 4cyl 1497cc 5M 118 146 175 10.7 12146 118 5M 10.7 /10V MT 9.26 10.11 9.26 10.78 4cyl 1497cc 5M 118 146 175 10.7 12146 118 5M 10.7 /10

S AT 9.47 10.35 9.47 11.03 4cyl 1497cc 5A 118 146 175 11.52 10.8146 118 5A 11.52 /10V AT 10.86 10.92 10.86 12.75 4cyl 1497cc 5A 118 146 175 11.52 10.8146 118 5A 11.52 /10

2L MT 21.21 19.95* 21.18 24.98 4cyl 1997cc 6M 154 190 na na na 190 154 6M na /102L AT 22.15 20.85* 22.12 26.08 4cyl 1997cc 6A 154 190 na na na190 154 6A na 6/102.4L AT AVN 25.28 23.85* 25.25 29.76 4cyl 2354cc 6A 187 226 na na na226 187 6A na 6/10

GLE 5.24 5.75 5.26 6.22 4cyl 1495cc 5M 93 124.5 170 14 10.9124.5 93 5M 14 /10

Era 4.19 4.49 4.20 4.93 4cyl 1086cc 5M 66 99 140 15.5 1499 66 5M 15.5 /10Magna 4.35 4.65 4.35 5.10 4cyl 1086cc 5M 66 99 140 15.5 14 99 66 5M 15.5 /10Magna 1.2 4.53 4.82 4.53 5.31 4cyl 1197cc 5M 79 112 na na na 112 79 5M na /10Sportz 5.15 5.15 5.15 6.02 4cyl 1197cc 5M 79 112 na na na 112 79 5M na /10Sportz Auto 5.42 5.70 5.42 6.34 4cyl 1197cc 4A 79 112 na na na 112 79 4A na /10Asta 5.60 5.95 5.60 6.54 4cyl 1197cc 5M 79 112 na na na 112 79 5M na /10Asta WS AT 6.35 6.92 6.35 7.41 4cyl 1197cc 4A 79 112 na na na112 79 4A na /10

Magna 1.2 P 5.38 5.52 5.47 6.46 4cyl 1197cc 5M 80 112 155 15.5 11.8 112 80 5M 15.5 /10Sportz 1.2 P 5.95 6.45 6.04 7.11 4cyl 1197cc 5M 80 112 155 15.5 11.8112 80 5M 15.5 /10Asta 1.2 P 6.87 7.11 6.97 8.19 4cyl 1197cc 6M 80 112 155 15.5 11.8112 80 6M 15.5 /10Magna 1.4 D 6.54 7.32 6.72 8.09 4cyl 1396cc 6M 90 220 165 11.9 15220 90 6M 11.9 /10Sportz 1.4 D 7.11 7.89 7.29 8.76 4cyl 1396cc 6M 90 220 165 11.9 15220 90 6M 11.9 /10Asta 1.4 D 7.58 8.35 7.76 9.30 4cyl 1396cc 6M 90 220 165 11.9 15220 90 6M 11.9 /10

Sportz 1.4 P AT 7.90 8.69 8.00 9.33 4cyl 1396cc 4A 89 220 155 13.1 10.5220 89 4A 13.1 /10

D-Lite 2.92 3.10 2.94 3.50 3cyl 814cc 5M 55 75 na na na75 55 5M na 5/10D-Lite + 3.22 3.40 3.23 3.90 3cyl 814cc 5M 55 75 na na na75 55 5M na 5/10Era + 3.37 3.60 3.38 4.00 3cyl 814cc 5M 55 75 na na na75 55 5M na 5/10Magna + 3.67 3.90 3.69 4.36 3cyl 814cc 5M 55 75 na na na75 55 5M na 5/10Sportz 3.96 4.15 3.98 4.70 3cyl 814cc 5M 55 75 na na na75 55 5M na 5/10

Brio: A complete young family hatch, comes with an aggresive price tag.

TG Choice: The VX MT f yshould work well as it comes with all the features you’d want.TL: 361cm W: 168cm Boot: Na Fuel Tank: 35 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Ford Figo, Chevrolet Beat, Maruti Ritz

City: Solid, sensible, well thought-out sedan has space, economy and quality but very little flair or excitement.

TG Choice: Definitely theDDefinitely the V MT f f ffi p p– manuals are lots more fun, fuel efficient and cheaper than their automatic counterparts..L: 442cm W: 169cm Boot: 405 litre Fuel Tank: 42 litre, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna, Maruti Suzuki SX4

CR-V: Suave, comfortable, handles well and has a great engine. It has a terrific image as well. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 2L AT is the pick of the lot, but where the hell is that diesel?is the pick of the lot, but where the hell is that diesel?TL: 454.4cm W: 182cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 58 litre, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Chevrolet Captiva, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X-Trail, Outlander.

Accent: The design looks dated and the only endearing bit is the price. Also Available: Eco LPG.AATG Choice: The GLE g y p p g is still a good entry-level proposition, but now a bit long in the toothEL: 425cm W: 167cm Boot: 380litre Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 17.2cm Also try: Mahindra Verito, Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire.

i10: Another excellent compact hatch from Hyundai. Massively practical, very sophisticated for such a small car.

TG Choice: The gMagna 1.2 f q p p has the best combination of equipment and price2L: 358.5cm W: 159.5cm Boot: 235litre Fuel Tank: 35 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Maruti Suzuki’s twins.

i20: Hyundai is getting dull because everything it churns out is really quite good. The i20 is as good as most others in the class.

TG Choice: The gMagna 1.4D makes for good value for money considering it’s a big diesel hatchback makes for good value for money considering it’s a big diesel hatchbackDL: 394cm W: 171cm Boot: 295 litre Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Skoda Fabia, Honda Jazz, Maruti Suzuki Swift.

Eon: The Eon is an interesting little entry number. It has what you want from an entry-level city car, even if not in the best possible way.

TG Choice: SportzSSportz f p gas it has all the features that a premium hatchback should get.zL: 349.5cm W: 155cm Boot: 215 litre, Fuel Tank: 32 litre, Ground Clearance: 17 cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Maruti Alto, Maruti Suzuki A-Star

HYUNDAI

HYUNDAI Dealers 240 Warranty 2yrs Website www.hyundai.co.in

India sales in April 2012: 31,636


Company description: Service and support have always been good, now with the i10, i20 and the new Verna, their cars are actually scoring on the desirability quotient, too.

6/10

Hyundai continued


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1.8 S VTVT 12.92 14.39 12.92 15.02 4cyl 1797cc 6M 147 177 na na na177 147 6M na 6/101.8 SX VTVT 14.17 15.75 14.17 16.06 4cyl 1797cc 6M 147 177 na na na 177 147 6M na 6/101.8 SX AT VTVT 15.19 16.89 15.19 17.08 4cyl 1797cc 6A 147 177 na na na 177 147 6A na 6/10

1.6 CRDi 13.32 15.15 13.33 15.09 4cyl 1582cc 6M 126 260 na na na260 126 6M na 6/101.6 S CRDi 14.07 15.96 14.07 16.08 4cyl 1582cc 6M 126 260 na na na260 126 6M na 6/101.6 SX CRDi 15.30 17.44 15.30 18.02 4cyl 1582cc 6M 126 260 na na na260 126 6M na 6/101.6 SX AT CRDi 16.32 18.55 16.32 19.04 4cyl 1582cc 6A 126 260 190 11.37 12.2260 126 6A 11.37 6/10

2WD 23.79 26.07 23.80 28.06 4cyl 2199cc 6M 195 420 210 9.5 11.5 420 195 6M 9.5 /104WD 25.97 28.45 25.97 31.02 4cyl 2199cc 6M 195 420 210 9.5 11.5 420 195 6M 9.5 /104WD AT 26.94 29.59 26.95 32.03 4cyl 2199cc 6A 195 420 190 9.54 10420 195 6A 9.54 /10

GL Plus 3.78 4.01 3.78 4.23 4cyl 1086cc 5M 62 96 na na na96 62 5M na 5/10GLS 4.01 4.27 4.01 4.49 4cyl 1086cc 5M 62 96 na na na 96 62 5M na 5/10

1.4 VTVT 7.36 7.99 7.36 8.64 4cyl 1396cc 5M 105 135 na na na 135 105 5M na 4/101.6 VTVT 8.30 8.85 8.30 9.80 4cyl 1591cc 5M 121 155 na na na 155 121 5M na 5/101.6 SX (O) VTVT 9.50 10.33 9.50 11.01 4cyl 1591cc 5M 121 155 na 11.4 na155 121 5M 11.4 5/101.6 SX(O) VTVT AT 10.02 11.09 10.02 12.00 4cyl 1591cc 4A 121 155 na 11.4 na 155 121 4A 11.4 4/10 1.4 CRDi 8.62 9.55 9.40 11.02 4cyl 1396cc 6M 89 220 na na na 220 89 6M na 5/101.6 CRDi 8.29 10.65 9.66 11.05 4cyl 1582cc 6M 126 260 na 11.07 na260 126 6M 11.07 6/101.6 SX CRDi 10.87 11.21 10.87 13.01 4cyl 1582cc 6M 126 260 na 11.07 na260 126 6M 11.07 6/101.6 SX (O) CRDi AT 11.61 13.15 11.61 13.08 4cyl 1582cc 4A 126 260 na na na260 126 4A na 5/10

Manual 19.11 21.20 19.11 22.03 4cyl 2359cc 6M 198 255 200 9.7 9.2255 198 6M 9.7 6/10Automatic 21.23 23.52 21.23 25.00 4cyl 2359cc 6A 198 255 200 9.54 10 255 198 6A 9.54 7/10

MU-7 24.76 NA NA NA 4cyl 3000cc 5A 160 333 na na na 6/10

Elantra: Hyundai brings the Elantra back from the dead. This time, way more flamboyant and with a lot more features Build: Assembled

TG Choice: SSX Auto g fas it gets all the bells and whistles and the convenience of an auto ’box.L:453cm W: 177.5cm Boot: 420 litre, Fuel Tank: 56 litre, Ground Clearance: 15 cm Also try: Chevrolet Cruze, VW Jetta, Toyota Corolla

Santa Fe: Hyundai takes the fight to Honda CR-V’s door step. Also comes with diesel engine. Build: Import

TG Choice: g gGo the whole hog and get the 4x4 and it’s not that expensive eitherand it’s not that expensive eitherL: 466cm W: 189cm Boot: 969litre Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Mitsubishi Outlander, Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail.

Santro Xing: Comfortable, refined, user-friendly hatch, it a bit dull looking. Also available: GL & GLS LPG.

TG Choice: fGo for the GLS g fthat at least gets some featuresSL: 356.5cm : W: 152.5cm: Boot: 218litre : Fuel Tank: 35 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai i10, Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Maruti Suzuki Estilo.:

Verna: Hyundai’s champion mid-size warrior. Fiesta-beater? Oh, yes!

TG Choice: The Diesel manual g f p y y g gives the best combination of power and economy. The Auto’s nice in the city, thoughlL: 437cm W: 170cm Boot: 465 litre Fuel Tank: 43 litre, Ground Clearance: Na Also try: Ford Fiesta, Honda City, VW Vento, Fiat Linea, Maruti SX4.

Sonata: Finally, a D-segmenter from Hyundai that takes the fight to its rivals

TG Choice: The automatic fl ppy p fwith its flappy paddles and feature-rich interiors scores over the manual versioncL: 482cm W: 184cm Boot: Na Fuel Tank: 70litres, Ground Clearance: 15.5cm Also try: Skoda Laura, VW Jetta

MU-7: Think Fortuner, but not from Toyota. Lots of space and brute force. Build: Import

TG Choice: y p g y pThey are importing it. So, there is only one optionL: 499.5cm W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Toyota Fortuner

HYUNDAI TO ISUZU

ISUZU Dealers 2 Warranty na Website na



Company description: You know them for their low-cost, but reliable diesel engines. The Japanese auto maker's SUV now comes to India, via Thailand. CBU route. Full manufacture begins in 2015.


6/10

ZINIO/MAGZTERREAD TOPGEAR INDIA MAGAZINE ON YOUR PC, MOBILE AND iPAD. BUY THE DIGITAL COPY ON ZINIO AND MAGZTER.


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TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE JAGUAR TO LAND ROVER

JAGUAR Dealers 5 Warranty na Website www.Jaguar.in



Company description: Now under the stewardship of Tata but still turning out brilliant driver's cars. The XF is lovely, and the new V8 petrol and V6 diesel engines are as good as anything out there.

TG Awards: Interior of the year 2009: XJ‘ The only problem with this cabin is you can't take it to bed with you’

3.0L D 83.77 98.11* 84.86 150.5 6cyl 2993cc 6A 274 600 230 6.6 na600 274 6A 6.6 8/105.0L 92.98 101* 94.18 151 8cyl 5000cc 6A 379 515 250 5.8 na 515 379 6A 5.8 7/105.0L SuperSport 114.9 126* 113.4 220.5 8cyl 5000cc 6A 503 625 250 4.9 na

5.0L 51.22 67.07 51.86 102 8cyl 5000cc 6A 385 515 250 5.7 na 515 385 6A 5.7 7/10 2.2 D na na na 54.30 4cyl 2179cc 8A 188 450 225 8.5 na 450 188 8A 8.5 7/10

3.0L D 64.95 54.4 65.77 61.87 6cyl 2967cc 6A 238 500 250 7.1 7.8 500 238 6A 7.1 8/10R 5.0 79.63 75.8* 81.30 126 8cyl 5000cc 6A 507 625 250 4.7 na 625 507 6A 4.7 8/10

5.0L 94.18 100.4 95.39 150 8cyl 5000cc 6A 503 625 250 4.8 5.9625 503 6A 4.8 7/105.0L Convertible 99.9 104.6 101.2 159 8cyl 5000cc 6A 503 625 250 4.8 5.9625 503 6A 4.8 7/10

XKR-S na na na 205 8cyl 5000cc 6A 543 680 300 4.4 5 680 543 6A 4.4 8/10

LP700/4 na 370* na 364* 12cyl 6500cc 7A 691 690 350690 691 7A 2.9 4.3 9/10LP700/4 Roadster na 477* na na 12cyl 6500cc 7A 691 690 350690 691 7A 3.0 4.3 9/10

LP560/4 na na na na 10cyl 5204cc 540 560 6M 325 3.7 na 8/10

Discovery 4 3.0 62.36 82 63.14 92.80 6cyl 2993cc 6A 254 442 180 8.99 6.7442 254 6A 8.99 9/10

Pure 45.19 51.1 45.75 65.07 4cyl 2179cc 6A 188 420 na 9.8 10.5 420 188 6A 9.8 7/10Prestige 52.30 61.2 52.95 75.61 4cyl 2179cc 6A 188 420 na 9.8 10.5420 188 6A 9.8 7/10Dynamic 51.35 61.9 52.01 74.57 4cyl 2179cc 6A 188 420 na 9.8 10.5420 188 6A 9.8 7/10Dynamic Si4 (Coupe) 57.17 67.1 57.95 81.91 4cyl 1999cc 6A 238 340 na na na 340 238 6A na /10

Jaguar XJ: British engineering at its finest, good option for buyers looking for a big non-German luxury sedan. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 33.0L D y pas this car is more about luxury than sheer power.L: 512cm W: 189cm Boot: 520 litre Fuel Tank: 82 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 7-Series, Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Jaguar XF: This model has brought Jag to the same level as its German counterparts. It drives as good as it looks. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The R 5.0 f y g pfor those rare moments when you get to use all that power.L: 496cm W: 187.7cm Boot: 500 litre Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 5-Series, Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Jaguar XKR: Recently face-lifted and the new engines make things better with the R version getting staggeringly fast. Build: Import

TG Choice: Definitely theDDefinitely the Convertible f p f p for that perfect pleasure drive.eL: 539cm W: 212.5cm Boot: 374 litres Fuel Tank: 96 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes SL, Porsche 911

Aventador: Stays true to its illustrious supercar heritage. Brute force meets top notch luxury. Build: Import

TG Choice: Depends on whether you care about your hairdo or not.DDepends on whether you care about your hairdo or not.L: 434.5cm W: 190cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 90 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Riding a bull, Ferrari 599 GTB

Gallardo: Tiny but lethal, the baby Lambo packs an incredible punch. Build: Import

TG Choice: LLP560 p f p to keep it ahead of the Audi R8 V10 pack.L: 434.5cm W: 190cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 90 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi R8, Ferrari 458 Italia

Discovery 4: Thirsty but rather good-looking and fantastic all-round. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 3.0 pas there are no options available.L: 483cm W: 200.9cm Boot: 535 litres Fuel Tank: 84 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Volvo XC90, BMW X5

Evoque: If looks could kill, the Range Rover Evoque would be it. Build: Import

TG Choice: The yDynamic SD4 p p fi y ffi gas it is a proper five-door and has a decently efficient engine.L: 435.5cm W: 212cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na Ground Clearance: na Also try: Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Volvo XC60, BMW X5

LAND ROVER Dealers 4 Warranty na Website www.landrover.com



Company description: Builder of the best 4x4 by far? An old advertising slogan that’s now coming true with the latest range of Landies.

LAMBORGHINI Dealers 1 Warranty na Website www.lamborghini.com



Company description: Audi-owned Lambo is firing on all cylinders, with its strongest model range yet and enough attitude to keep devotees happy.

7/108/10

d


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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNELYOUTUBE.COM/BBCTOPGEARINDIA

2.2d SE NA NA NA 46.99 4cyl 2179cc 6A 150 400 179 10.9 13.4400 150 6A 10.9 7/102.2d HSE NA NA NA 56.54 4cyl 2179cc 6A 190 420 181 9.76 8.9420 190 6A 9.76 8/10

3.0 TDV6 NA NA NA 185.3 6cyl 2993cc 8A 256 600 215 7.9 na600 256 8A 7.9 8/104.4 L TDV8 Vogue NA 172* NA 251.3 8cyl 4367cc 8A 334 700 215 6.9 na 700 334 8A 6.9 8/104.4 L TDV8 Autobiography NA 180* NA 259.8 8cyl 4367cc 8A 334 700 215 6.9 na 700 334 8A 6.9 8/105.0L V8 Supercharged NA 190* NA 267.5 8cyl 4999cc 8A 503 625 230 5.4 na 625 503 8A 5.4 8/10

3.0L TDV6 HSE 75.4 81.63 76.3 119 6cyl 2993cc 6A 242 600 208 8.6 na 600 242 6A 8.6 8/105.0L V8 Supercharged 86.7 94.41 87.8 137 8cyl 4999cc 6A 503 625 222 7.4 na 625 503 6A 7.4 9/10

SLE 6.88 7.06 6.75 8.28 4cyl 2523cc 5M 63 195 132 27.6 11.5 195 63 5M 27.6 5/10SLX 7.40 7.58 7.27 8.90 4cyl 2523cc 5M 63 195 132 27.6 11.5 195 63 5M 27.6 3/10ZLX 7.56 7.75 6.44 9.10 4cyl 2523cc 5M 63 195 132 27.6 11.5 195 63 5M 27.6 3/10

T0 7.05 6.44 6.79 7.05 3-phase DC AT 25 53 80 na na53 25 AT na 5/10T2 7.05 6.75 7.13 7.05 3-phase DC AT 25 53 80 na na53 25 AT na 5/10

Freelander 2: Your first ascent up the true blue off-roading hill. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 2.2d HSE g ff yas this might be a crossover but can still handle off-road very well.L: 484.8cm W: 201cm Boot: 755 litres Fuel Tank: 68 litres, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: BMW X3, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60

Range Rover: Still the Rolls-Royce of the SUVs. Now, in a much lighter avatar, with a much heavier price tag. Build: Import

TG Choice: g p y4.4L TDV8 Autobiography, y f q p y g g as you loads of torque to play with and gets all the gizmos under the sun.L: 499.9cm W: 207.3cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 105 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes GL Class, BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne

Range Rover Sport: Rangie’s smaller, sportier brother – more practical and clever in some ways, but not quite as charming. Build: Import

TG Choice: The p g5.0L Supercharged f g gto smoke the other cars from red light to red light.dL: 479cm W: 193cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 84 litres, Ground Clearance: 22.7cm Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Bolero: Dinosaur bones, but surprisingly competent. Cheap, rugged, but cramped.BBTG Choice: The SLE y yas economy works best on a utility vehicle.L: 410.7cm W: 174.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Chevrolet Tavera, Tata Sumo Victa

e2o: If you’re the kind who loves the Arctic icebergs and is concerned about global warming, this one is for you.eeTG Choice: The T2 p g y p yas it has space-age toys to play with.L: 328cm W: 151cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Trikke

MAHINDRA Dealers 150 Warranty 1 year, unlimited km Website www.mahindra.com

India sales in July 2012: 42,799


Company description: Have just crossed the fence from crude to refined. With SsangYong, though, they do look like making it on the world stage over the decade.

TG Awards: Family car of the year 2009: Xylo‘ The Xylo offers what most families in India want - a vehicle that's big enough to take them all, plus relatives and a couple of tonnes of luggage'

5/10

NEW ENTRY Landrover FreelanderGets a facelift and better equipment to keep you safe both on and off road

There’s no doubt that the Freelander takes its rivals hands down when it comes to going off the road. Now, LR has decided to give a midlife facelift. And the changes are not

only skin deep. It also sees changes inside the cabin. Apart from that, there are now new toys which help the Freelander manage the rocks and the mud better than it did earlier.

3/10


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TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE MAHINDRA TO MARUTI SUZUKI

C4 6.83 6.53* 6.80 7.97 3cyl 1493cc 5M 100 240 145 15.6 13.7 240 100 5M 15.6 6/10C6 7.33 7.05* 7.30 8.55 3cyl 1493cc 5M 100 240 145 15.6 13.7 240 100 5M 15.6 6/10C8 7.86 7.57* 7.82 9.16 3cyl 1493cc 5M 100 240 145 15.6 13.7 240 100 5M 15.6 6/10

LX 8.70 9.24 8.23 10.31 4cyl 2179cc 5M 120 290 145 18.7 na 290 120 5M 18.7 6/10SLE 10.04 10.56 9.94 11.98 4cyl 2179cc 5M 120 290 144 17.7 na 290 120 5M 17.7 6/10Vlx 4X2 11.20 12.49 11.14 13.40 4cyl 2179cc 5M 120 290 na na na 290 120 5M na 6/10Vlx 4X4 12.29 13.42 12.20 14.64 4cyl 2179cc 5M 120 290 na na na 290 120 5M na 6/10AT Vlx 4X2 11.67 11.42 11.57 13.90 4cyl 2179cc 6A 120 290 na na na 290 120 6A na 6/10AT Vlx 4X4 12.72 12.5 12.63 15.14 4cyl 2179cc 6A 120 290 na na na 290 120 6A na /10

Thar AC 7.24 6.97 7.21 8.72 4cyl 2498cc 5M 105 247 138 15.2 na247 105 5M 15.2 /10

1.4 G2 5.36 5.34 5.31 6.52 4cyl 1390cc 5M 75 110 na na na 110 75 5M na 5/101.4 G4 5.58 5.61 5.53 6.78 4cyl 1390cc 5M 75 110 na na na 110 75 5M na 5/101.5 D2 6.36 6.33 6.30 7.88 4cyl 1461cc 5M 65 160 165 17.4 18.9160 65 5M 17.4 6/101.5 D6 7.26 7.45 6.20 8.96 4cyl 1461cc 5M 65 160 165 17.4 18.9 160 65 5M 17.4 6/10

D2 NA NA NA 6.81 4cyl 1461cc 5M 64 160 na na na160 64 5M na 5/10D4 NA NA NA 7.12 4cyl 1461cc 5M 64 160 na na na 160 64 5M na 5/10D6 NA NA NA 8.01 4cyl 1461cc 5M 64 160 na na na 160 64 5M na 5/10

W6 12.26 13.10 12.26 14.83 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 190 12.3 11 330 140 6M 12.3 7/10W8 14.99 14.66 14.99 16.77 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 190 12.3 11 330 140 6M 12.3 7/10W8 AWD 13.87 15.65 13.87 18.10 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 180 13.1 10.8330 140 6M 13.1 7/10

D2 7.57 8.43 7.53 9.15 4cyl 2489cc 5M 95 220 155 na na 220 95 5M na 6/10D4 8.00 9.11 7.96 9.65 4cyl 2489cc 5M 95 220 155 na na220 95 5M na 6/10H4 8.77 9.74 8.73 8.47* 4cyl 2498cc 5M 112 240 155 15.2 na240 112 5M 15.2 6/10H8 9.98 10.21 9.94 9.64* 4cyl 2498cc 5M 112 240 155 15.2 na240 112 5M 15.2 6/10H9 10.82 12.06 10.78 10.45* 4cyl 2179cc 5M 120 280 165 13.0 na 280 120 5M 13.0 6/10

Std 2.51 2.44* 2.55 3.00 3cyl 796cc 5M 47 69 na na na 69 47 5M na /10LX 2.84 3.06 2.88 3.38 3cyl 796cc 5M 47 69 na na na69 47 5M na /10LXi 3.30 3.30 3.35 3.92 3cyl 796cc 5M 47 69 na na na69 47 5M na /10

K10 Lxi 3.37 3.49 3.42 4.00 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 145 13.3 15.4 90 67 5M 13.3 5/10K10 Vxi 3.50 3.65 3.55 4.16 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 145 13.3 15.4 90 67 5M 13.3 5/10

Quanto: Based on the Ingenio platform, the Quanto is the Xylo’s baby-brother. Still ferries seven, albeit at a pinch.

TG Choice: The C8 as it gets all the goodies that you’d want in your compact SUV.as it gets all the goodies that you’d want in your compact SUV.8L: na W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Premier Rio

Scorpio: Ever-improving SUV offers great value, excellent practicality for India and now-decent road manners. Top car.

TG Choice: The SLE p g f y as it provides good value-for-money.EL: 443cm W: 181.7cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Tata Sumo Grande, Tata Safari

Thar: Old-school SUV with go-anywhere attitude.

TG Choice: No choices, but it now comes with an aircon, no hard-top though.NNo choices, but it now comes with an aircon, no hard-top though.L: 392cm W: 171cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Mahindra Tractor

Verito: Spacious, solid and a super ride. To top that, it comes with mouth-watering price tags.

TG Choice: The 1.5 D2 g g y p has a good diesel engine, which is low on maintenance and easy on the pocket.2L: 424.7cm W: 174cm Boot: 510 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.2cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, Tata Indigo

Verito Vibe: A Verito minus the boot. But don’t mistake it for a hatch, it’s a super-compact sedan with 330litres of boot space.

TG Choice: The 1.5 D2 g g y p has a good diesel engine and easy on the pocket.2L: 399cm W: 174cm Boot: 330 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.2cm Also try: VW Polo, Maruti Swift

XUV 5OO: Its heart is in the right place, but the dynamic chinks need ironing out.

TG Choice: W8 AWD f p p g g g p g as it comes with feature list that runs in to multiple pages and it manages to do that at a mind-blowing price tag.DL: 450cm W: 185cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.6cm Also try: Tata Aria, Tata Safari

Xylo: Innova slayer with the sedan market in sight. Big, spacious and value-for-money

TG Choice: D2 f p p y p f as it will be more of a people mover than your personal set of wheels.2L: 450cm W: 185cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.6cm Also try: Chevrolet Tavera, Toyota Innova, Tata Sumo Victa

Alto 800: Maruti’s idea of cheap transportation. Gets the tried-and-tested engine and Alto’s platform

TG Choice: The LXi p g y as power steering and air-con is a must in the city.iL: 349.5cm W: 147.5cm Boot: 117 litre Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Tata Nano, Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Eon

Alto K10: New engine and transmission mean you can say “Alto” and “performance” in the same sentence.

TG Choice: The VXi g g g f ygives good bang for your buck.iL: 362cm W: 147.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Tata Nano, Maruti A-Star

6/10

7/10

/

MARUTI SUZUKI Dealers 1127 Warranty 2 Website www.marutisuzuki.com



Company description: A brand most Indians trust more than they do their spouses. And for good reason. Cars are good. Service and support, brilliant.

TG Awards: Urban car of the yar 2009: Ritz‘ Maruti's newest hatch is everything that its luxurious namesake in the hospitality industry is not. Ideal candidate then...’


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NEW CAR GUIDE TOP GEAR MARUTI SUZUKI


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LXi 4.00 4.15 4.00 4.65 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 160 na na 90 67 5M na 5/10VXi 4.26 4.53 4.31 5.01 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 160 na na 90 67 5M na 5/10ZXi 4.71 4.80 4.77 5.54 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 160 na na 90 67 5M na 5/10ZXi AT 4.76 5.10 4.82 5.60 3cyl 998cc 4A 67 90 160 na na 90 67 4A na 5/10

5 STR AC 3.67 3.69 3.64 4.18 4cyl 1196cc 5M 73 101 na na na 101 73 5M na 3/107 STR 3.53 3.56 3.51 4.04 4cyl 1196cc 5M 73 101 na na na101 73 5M na 3/10

LXi 6.33 6.55 6.31 7.21 4cyl 1373cc 5M 94 130 na na na130 94 5M na 7/10VXi 7.13 7.50 7.11 8.14 4cyl 1373cc 5M 94 130 na na na 130 94 5M na 7/10ZXi 7.88 8.14 7.85 8.71 4cyl 1373cc 5M 94 130 na na na 130 94 5M na 7/10LDi 7.81 8.39 7.79 9.07 4cyl 1248cc 5M 88 200 165 12.7 13.5200 88 5M 12.7 7/10VDi 8.47 9.12 8.45 9.85 4cyl 1248cc 5M 88 200 165 12.7 13.5200 88 5M 12.7 7/10ZDi 9.14 9.55 9.12 10.60 4cyl 1248cc 5M 88 200 165 12.7 13.5200 88 5M 12.7 7/10

MT 17.2 25.76 17.3 17.51* 4cyl 2393cc 5M 164 225 175 13.3 6.2225 164 5M 13.3 4/10AT 18.3 27.86 18.7 18.86* 4cyl 2393cc 4A 164 225 175 na na 225 164 4A na 4/10

MT na 18.65 na 20.54 4cyl 2393cc 6M 176 230 215 8.8 12.5* 230 176 6M 8.8 6/10AT na 19.76 na 21.77 4cyl 2393cc 6A 176 230 205 7.8 12.5* 230 176 6A 7.8 6/10

LXi 4.49 4.75 4.51 5.26 4cyl 1198cc 5M 85 113 na 13.8 na 113 85 5M 13.8 5/10VXi 4.06 5.15 4.08 5.61 4cyl 1198cc 5M 85 113 na 13.8 na113 85 5M 13.8 5/10ZXi 5.43 5.79 5.47 6.34 4cyl 1198cc 5M 85 113 na 13.8 na113 85 5M 13.8 5/10LDi 5.59 5.96 5.59 6.57 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na 14.6 16 190 74 5M 14.6 5/10VDi 6.10 6.30 6.11 7.17 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na 14.6 16 190 74 5M 14.6 5/10

LXi 4.60 4.97 4.66 5.43 4cyl 1197cc 5M 86 114 160 na na 114 86 5M na 6/10VXi 5.09 5.48 5.11 5.94 4cyl 1197cc 5M 86 114 160 na na 114 86 5M na 6/10ZXi 5.95 6.32 5.97 6.93 4cyl 1197cc 5M 86 114 160 na na 114 86 5M na 6/10LDi 5.79 6.20 5.75 6.83 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na 190 74 5M na 5/10VDi 6.28 6.90 6.27 7.40 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na190 74 5M na 5/10ZDi 7.08 7.76 7.10 8.34 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na190 74 5M na 5/10

A-Star: Perfect car for city dwellers, comes loaded with features and a zippy fuel-efficient engine.

TG Choice: ZZXi f y f j y manual as it comes loaded with all the safety fearures and is a joy to drive.iL: 350cm W: 160cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Hundai i10

Eeco: Don’t let the marketing gimmick fool you. The Eeco is a stripped-down Versa at a rock-bottom price.

TG Choice: 5STR AC y y y , you deserve to be treated like royalty.CL: 367.5 cm W: 174 cm Boot: 147.5 litres Fuel Tank: 40 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Watching the IPL instead on a dull evening

Ertiga: Maruti jumps on the people-mover bandwagon with the Ertiga. Drives like a car, seats seven and it’s compact. Need we say more?

TG Choice: The ZXi y f p f f p. as it’s actually fun to drive, perfect for those spirited white-van drivers.iiL: 426.5 cm W: 169.5 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Mahindra Xylo, Toyota Innova

Grand Vitara: A brand new Vitara that’s much more modern in terms of both appearance and driving dynamics. Build: Import

TG Choice: The AT as this is not a driver’s car.TL: 447 cm W: 181 cm Boot: 400 litres Fuel Tank: 66 litres, Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Chevrolet Captiva, Toyota Fortuner

Kizashi: Good all-rounder,strong engine, long feature list. Could have been priced better. Build: Import

TG Choice: The MT p fto unlock the true potential of this car.TL: 465 cm W: 182 cm Boot: 461 litre Fuel Tank: 63 litres, Ground Clearance: 14.6cm Also try: Honda Accord, Skoda Superb.

Ritz: If there’s ever a fill-it-shut-it-forget-it car, this is it.

TG Choice: The VDi f. As there is no ZDi variant for the Ritz.L: 371.5 cm W: 168 cm Boot: 178 litre Fuel Tank: 43 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Ford Figo, Chevrolet Beat

Swift : The most popular Maruti ever. Looks fab, drives well, has two great engines and lots of equipment.

TG Choice: ZXI ff f y f f as it offers all the safety features not found in the diesel variant.IL: 385cm W: 169.5cm Boot: 204 litre Fuel Tank: 42 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, Hyundai i20, Skoda Fabia



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TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE MARUTI TO MASERATI

LXi 4.97 5.44 5.02 5.94 4cyl 1197cc 5M 86 114 160 na na114 86 5M na 5/10VXi 5.55 5.99 5.61 6.57 4cyl 1197cc 5M 86 114 160 na na114 86 5M na 5/10VXi AT 6.80 7.55 6.87 7.96 4cyl 1197cc 4A 86 114 155 14.8 10.5114 86 4A 14.8 4/10ZXi 6.48 7.15 6.53 7.61 4cyl 1197cc 5M 86 114 160 na na114 86 5M na 5/10LDi 6.15 6.90 6.20 7.39 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na 190 74 5M na 6/10VDi 6.73 7.50 6.79 8.05 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na190 74 5M na 6/10ZDi 7.58 8.44 7.63 9.00 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na190 74 5M na 6/10

VXi 7.42 8.10 7.37 8.35 4cyl 1586cc 5M 102 145 175 12.5 13.5145 102 5M 12.5 5/10ZXi 8.22 8.92 8.16 9.21 4cyl 1586cc 5M 102 145 175 12.5 13.5 145 102 5M 12.5 5/10ZXi AT 8.98 9.69 8.92 10.04 4cyl 1586cc 5A 102 145 175 12.5 13.5145 102 5A 12.5 5/10

VDi 8.48 9.32 8.42 9.52 4cyl 1248cc 5M 88 200 160 13.3 14.8 200 88 5M 13.3 6/10ZDi 9.39 10.35 9.33 10.51 4cyl 1248cc 5M 88 200 160 13.3 14.8 200 88 5M 13.3 6/10

LX 3.60 3.92 3.60 4.06 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 155 15.4 na90 67 5M 15.4

Lxi 3.85 4.23 3.86 4.44 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 155 15.4 na 90 67 5M 15.4 5/10Vxi 4.06 4.52 4.10 4.73 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 155 15.4 na 90 67 5M 15.4 5/10

LX 3.50 3.79 3.50 3.94 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 150 16.2 12.5 90 67 5M 16.2 4/10Lxi 3.77 4.15 3.77 4.34 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 150 16.2 12.5 90 67 5M 16.2 4/10Vxi 4.00 4.39 4.04 4.64 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 150 16.2 12.5 90 67 5M 16.2 4/10

Quattroporte na 123* na na 8cyl 4244cc 6A 400 460 270 5.6 na460 400 6A 5.6 9/10Quattroporte S na 132* na na 8cyl 4691cc 6A 430 490 280 5.4 na 490 430 6A 5.4 9/10Quattroporte Sport GTS na 142* na na 8cyl 4691cc 6A 440 490 285 5.1 na490 440 6A 5.1 9/10

GranTurismo na 120* na na 8cyl 4244cc 6A 405 460 284 5.2 na460 405 6A 5.2 9/10GranTurismo S na 129* na na 8cyl 4691cc 6A 440 490 292 5 na490 440 6A 5 9/10MC Stradale na 163* na na 8cyl 4691cc 6M 450 510 301 4.6 na 510 450 6M 4.6 9/10

4.7 Auto na 142* na na 8cyl 4691cc 6A 440 490 295 5.3 na 490 440 6A 5.3 8/10

Swift DZire: Recently refreshed, looks better but reduces some of its boot space.

TG Choice: ZZDI f g y p f p p f f y fas it has a frugal yet powerful powerplant and comes with a set of safety features.IL: 399.5cm W: 169.5cm Boot: 316 litre Fuel Tank: 42 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Mahindra Verito, Tata Indigo, Nissan Sunny

SX4: Suzuki and Fiat came together to develop this car, and it’s worth it. Good value, reasonable to drive.

TG Choice: ZZDi ff g p as it offer the usual gizmos and leather seats optional.iL: 449cm W: 173.5cm Boot: 505 litre Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Chevrolet Aveo, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna, Honda City

Wagon R: More spacious than its predecessor and much nicer to look at. Definitely for the family man... or woman

TG Choice: The VXI ff f p poffers features available in more expensive cars at a reasonable price.IL: 359.5cm W: 147.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Santro Xing, Maruti Suzuki Estilo

Estilo: Maruti’s second tall boy. Not as fun to drive as the car it replaced.

TG Choice: The LXi f j y is a decent runabout, but we miss the soul of the old jellybean.iL: 360cm W: 149.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Santro Xing, Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Quattroporte: The big Maserati saloon still carries cachet and looks genuinely different. Build: Import

TG Choice: The pSport GTS f f p pfor the full-blown ‘porte experience.SL: 509cm W: 188.5cm Boot: 450 litres Fuel Tank: 90 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide

GranTurismo: Muscular but pretty coupe that is more GT than sportscar. Build: Import

TG Choice: Does not make crazy power like the German rivals, but with those sexy looks, who caresDDoes not make crazy power like the German rivals, but with those sexy looks, who cares ..L:L: 488cm488cm W:W: 192cm 192cm Boot:Boot: 260 litres 260 litres Fuel Tank: Fuel Tank: 86 litres,86 litres, Ground Clearance:Ground Clearance: NANA Also trAlso try:y: Monica Bellucci.Monica Bellucci.

GranCabrio: Tweaks make the GranCabrio slightly better , for relatively little cash. Build: Import

TG Choice: y g p fOnly one engine option available for now.L: 488.1cm W: 1915cm Boot: NA Fuel Tank: Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi R8 Spyder

MASERATI Dealers 1 Warranty 4yrs Website www.maserati.com



Company description: Italian company under the Fiat umbrella turns out consistently jaw-dropping cars, now with the quality to match the style.

5/10

Mitsubishi continued


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NEW CAR GUIDE TOP GEAR MERCEDES


CAR CHOOSERYOU CAN GO THROUGH A HUNDRED SPECS AND OPTIONS... OR JUST SELECT THE CAR YOU REALLY WANT USING THE CAR CHOOSER ON TOPGEAR.COM. YOU DECIDE.

A 180 Sport NA NA NA 22.73* 4cyl 1595cc 7A 121 200 na na na200 121 7A na 8/10

A 180 Style NA NA NA 21.93* 4cyl 2143cc 7A 107 250 na na na 250 107 7A na /10

B 180B 180 NANA NANA NANA 26.7726 77 4cyl 1595cc 7A 122 200 200 10.5 10.3200 122 7A 10.5 4 l 1595 7A 122 200 200 10 5 10 32001227A 10 5

B 180 Sport NA NA NA 31.69 4cyl 1595cc 7A 122 200 200 10.5 10.3200 122 7A 10.5 6/10

C 200 CGI Avantgarde 32.13 36.55 31.99 38.33 4cyl 1796cc 7A 186 285 200 8.6 9.4285 186 7A 8.6 7/10

C 250 CDI Avantgarde 35.15 40.00 35.00 42.62 4cyl 2143cc 7A 204 500 220 8.2 11.2500 204 7A 8.2 7/10

C LS 350 81.32 77.60* 80.96 103.52 6cyl 3498cc 7A 306 370 250 na na370 306 7A na 8/10

E 200 CGI NA 41.5* NA NA 4 cyl1991cc 7A 181 300 na na na300 181 7A na 7/10E 220 CDI Elegance NA 44.5* NA NA 4cyl 2143cc 7A 202 500 na na na500 202 7A na 7/10

GL 350 CDI - Launch Edition na 77.5* na na 6 cyl 2987cc 7A 258 619 na na na619 258 7A na 7/10

A-Class: Merc’s newest offering is dressed to kill. Now the stepping stone to Benz ownership. Build: Import

TG Choice: The pA 180 Sport g g g, as it’s got enough show to match the go.ttL: 429.2cm W: 178cm Boot: 341litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Fiat 500, Mini Cooper

B-Class: Merc’s B-Class is ultimately a large luxury hatchback. Now a more practical alternative to the A-Class. Build: Import

TG Choice: The pB 180 Sport q p p p, as it has the same equipment as the B 180 but comes with Sport pack enhancements.ttL: 435.9cm W: 178.6cm Boot: 486litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Audi Q3, BMW X1

C-Class: Excellent new C-Class returns to traditional Merc values and quality. As soothing as a champagne jacuzzi. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 250CDI g f q, as it has a brilliant 2.2 litre engine with 500Nm of torqueIIL: 459cm W: 177cm Boot: 475litres Fuel Tank: 66 litres, Ground Clearance: 12cm Also try: Audi A4, BMW 3-Series

CLS: Superb alternative to a luxury sedan. Goes well, turns heads too. Build: Import

TG Choice: No options available.NNo options available. L: 494cm W: 188cm Boot: 520litres Fuel Tank: 80litres Ground Clearance: 12cm Also try: Audi A7, BMW GT 5

E-Class: Fresh new styling with a touch of character, great engine and new features make it an irrestible offer Build: Assembled

TG Choice: Definitely theDDefinitely the E250 CDI g p y makes enough power and easy on the wallet too.IL: 486.8cm W: 185cm Boot: 540litres Fuel Tank: 89 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Volvo S80

GL-Class: All the creature comforts you need, and a boot that can easily swallow your camping equipment. Build: Import

TG Choice: j f f yThere’s just one variant for now. Don’t act fussy.L: 509.9cm W: 192cm Boot: 520 litres Fuel Tank: 100litre, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Audi Q7, 1BHK apartment.

MERCEDES-BENZ Dealers 59 Warranty na Website www.mercedes-benz.co.in



Company description: Still the definitive symbol of luxury and status in India. Good credibility too. But BMW, Audi are slowly eating into the sheen.

TG Awards: SUV of the year 2010: GL-Class‘ In the SUV category, size matters, and the GL deals that out in spades’

na/10

6666/10/10/100

NEW ENTRY Mercedes E-ClassThe popular luxury sedan gets a new face and a lot of goodies to play with

This is the car that taught us what a luxury car feels like. That’s back in the 1990s with the W124 and the W123. The E-Class has sported quite a few looks since then. And now,

there’s a new one. It’s not an all-new car but a major facelift. The new one gets a lot of added features like the reverse cam and sat-nav, which the earlier one missed out on


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TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE MERCEDES TO MINI

ML 350 CDI na 56.9* na 73.45 6cyl 2987cc 7A 254 620 225 na na 7/10 ML 250 CDI na 46.50* na 59.28 4cyl 2143cc 7A 204 500 na na na 7/10

R 350 60.50 71.26 61.03 79.53 6 cyl 3498cc 7A 268 350 230 8.3 na 4/10 R 350 CDI na 58.9* na 92.03 6 cyl 2987cc 7A 261 617 230 na na 4/10

S 350 CDI L V6 95 108 94.58 102.5 6cyl 2987 cc 7A 210 490 250 7.2 6.3 6/10 S 350 L V6 95 105 94.59 117.9 6cyl 3498 cc 7A 272 345 250 8.3 na 7/10 S 500 L 108 120 107 129.2 8cyl 5461 cc 7A 370 505 250 5.4 na 7/10

SL 350 na 98.5* na 114 6cyl 3498cc 7A 316 360 250 6.2 na 6/10

SLK 350 70.99 71.43 70.68 108.1 6cyl 3498cc 7A 306 370 250 6.6 7.6 6/10

SLS 256 200* 255 247* 8cyl 6208cc 7A 563 650 320 3.8 na 9/10

G63 AMG NA NA NA 218.4 8cyl 5461cc 7A 536 760 210 5.4 na 4/10

Cooper NA NA NA 24.90* 4cyl 1598cc 6A 120 160 na na na 7/10 Cooper S NA NA NA 27.90* 4cyl 1598cc 6A 181 240 220 7.23 9.5 9/10 Cooper Convertible NA NA NA 29.99* 4cyl 1598cc 6A 122 160 190 12.2 9.5 7/10

Countryman S NA NA NA 31.99* 4cyl 1598cc 6A 184 240 210 8.2 8 8/10 ONE 23.50 23.50* 23.50 23.50* 4cyl 1598cc 6A 90 215 na na na 7/10 Cooper D 25.60 25.60* 25.60 25.60* 4cyl 1598cc 6A 112 270 na na na 9/10 Cooper D High 28.90 28.90* 28.90 28.90* 4cyl 1598cc 6A 112 270 na na na 7/10

M-Class: Second-gen M is vastly better, great quality, good on-road. Build: Import

TG Choice: The Sport looks better, comes with brushed aluminium interiors.L: 480.4cm W: 192.6cm Boot: 690 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi Q7, BMW X5, Volvo XC90

R -Class: This is what Mercedes thinks people-carriers should look like. Build: Import

TG Choice: The R350 CDI, of course. Why would you want a petrol-guzzling R-Class anyway?L: 492cm W: 192cm Boot: 635litres Fuel Tank: 80 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi Q7

S-Class: Not just the best car in the world. It redefines what a car will be expected to do in the future. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The S350 CDi if you pay for the diesel bills.L: 509cm W: 187cm Boot: 560 litres Fuel Tank: 90 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi A8, BMW 7-Series

SL: Perhaps the best all-round, usable hardtop convertible on sale. Practical, fast, excellent quality and dynamics. Build: Import

TG Choice: With the new SL around the corner, we’re only left with this V6 for now.L: 456.2cm W: 182cm Boot: 235 litres Fuel Tank: 80 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 6-Series

SLK: The new SLK is now a proper baby SL. We like! Build: Import

TG Choice: Still waiting for the SLK 200 CDI which makes 400Nm of torque.L: 413.4cm W: 200cm Boot: 335 litre Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 6-Series

SLS: AMG-built two-door supercar with brilliant gullwing doors. More GT than supersports. Build: Import

TG Choice: In silver with red leather, please.L: 456cm W: 182cm Boot: 235-339 litres Fuel Tank: 80 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 6-Series

G-Wagon: The G-Wagon has been around for 30 years and is still going strong. The AMG V8 gives it hot-rod performance. Build: Import

TG Choice: The G63 AMGL: 410cm W: 201cm Boot: 300 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Army Tank.

Mini: It’s got its basics all wrong... transverse engine, front-wheel drive, but tell that to yourself when you are smiling end to end Build: Import

TG Choice: The Countryman is just not Mini, and the Cooper is a bit too soft. The Cooper S is perfect and the Mini-est of MinisL: 410cm W: 201cm Boot: 300 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Army Tank.

Countryman: When four-door practicality meets the Mini badge, what you have is the Countryman Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The Countryman is just not Mini, and the Cooper is a bit too soft. The Cooper S is perfect and the Mini-est of MinisL: 410cm W: 201cm Boot: 300 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes B-Class

MINI Dealers 2 Warranty na Website www. mini.in



Company description: The giants when it comes to small cars, Mini has actually managed what other makers struggle to do -- make a small, fun car, and charge a premium

TG Awards: na



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NEW CAR GUIDE TOP GEAR MITSUBISHI TO NISSAN



AT 42.06 48.00 43.76 55.89 4cyl 3200cc 5A 199 440 174 na na 3/10

Pajero Sport 23.07 24.43* 23.41 28.27 4cyl 2477cc 5M 178 400 200 13.3 9.5 7/10

MT 55.50 63.49 na 70.4 6cy3696cc 6M 363 336 na na 6.3 8/10 AT 56.50 64.77 na 71.6 6cy3696cc 7A 363 336 na na 6.3 8/10

XE NA 8.49* NA 10.78 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 160 15.5 11.9 5/10 XE+ NA 8.92* NA 11.31 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 160 15.5 11.9 5/10 XL NA 9.49* NA 12.10 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 160 15.5 11.9 5/10 XV NA 9.99* NA 12.72 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 160 15.5 11.9 5/10

XE 4.29 4.70 4.37 5.03 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 104 na na 13.3 3/10 XE Plus 4.57 5.00 4.66 5.61 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 104 na na 13.3 3/10 XL 4.94 5.42 5.03 6.03 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 104 na na 13.3 3/10 XV 5.61 6.15 5.72 6.83 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 104 na na 13.3 3/10 Diesel XV 6.06 6.67 6.18 7.05 4cyl 1461cc 5M 63 160 na 11.5 na 3/10 Diesel XV - Premium 6.52 7.41 6.64 8.04 4cyl 1461cc 5M 63 160 na 11.5 na 3/10

XE 6.07 6.59 6.18 7.45 4cyl 1498cc 5M 98 134 185 11.9 11 3/10 XL 7.21 8.01 7.34 8.80 4cyl 1498cc 5M 98 134 185 11.9 11 3/10

Montero: Expensive, but good value. Elephantine in the city, breathtaking off-road. Not for everyone, but superb. Build: Import

TG Choice: Please sell one with manual transmission as wellL: 490cm W: 187cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 88 litres, Ground Clearance: 23.5cm Also try: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

Pajero Sport: This is for those forever looking for shortcuts through the bushes. Fantastic off-road, adequate on it.

TG Choice: The only one on sale comes with all the goodies that you’ll ever want. L:469.5cm W: 181.5cm Boot: NA Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 21.5cm Also try: Toyota Fortuner, Nissan X-Trail, Renault Koleos

370 Z: Sharp handling, sounds great and goes like a rocket. Pure rear-wheel drive makes it delicious. Build: Import

TG Choice: Auto ’box for sure! Just so much better while downshifting through a corner.L:425cm W: 184cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 72 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW Z4, Mercedes SLK.

Evalia: A spacious MPV with decent on-road dynamics. But its looks are a challenge, and there’s already the Ertiga.

TG Choice: XV as it comes fully loaded. ABS, airbags and alloys come standard. No climate control though.L:440cm W: 170cm Boot: Na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo, Maruti Ertiga

Micra: Nissan’s budget small car armed with features you won’t see even in cars twice its price. Peppy and fun to drive too.

TG Choice: The XL is perfect, avoid the temptation of buying the dieselL:378cm W: 166cm Boot: 251 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: 15cm Also try: Maruti Swift, Maruti Ritz, Chevrolet Beat

Sunny: Lots of passenger space, safety features like driver airbag and ABS, even on the base variant

TG Choice: XE as it’s a head-over-heart decision as it comes with safety features, and you save up over Rs 2 lakh over the XV variant.L:442.5cm W: 169.5cm Boot: 490 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Maruti DZire, Toyota Etios

NISSAN Dealers 65 Warranty 2 years/ 50,000km Website www.nissan.in



Company description: A big Japanese car maker with a factory in England. Its portfolio becomes more respectable as each new model appears.

TG Awards : Interior of the year 2009: Teana‘ Step inside the Teana and you'll be reminded of plush lobbies and expensive suites’

MITSUBISHI Dealers 42 Warranty na Website www.mitsubishi-motors.co.in



Company description: Japanese industrial giant with a bunch of pointy-faced cars and the laudable inclination to go rallying. Evo is still as mental as ever.

TG Awards: Driver's car of the year 2010: Lancer Evo‘ This is one car that gets your heart pounding every time you mash your foot into the floor’

7/10

8/10

5/10



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TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE NISSAN TO PORSCHE

XV 8.03 8.92 8.19 9.76 4cyl 1498cc 5M 98 134 185 11.9 11 3/10 XL Diesel 8.29 8.11* 8.45 11.03 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na na na 4/10 XV Diesel 9.12 8.93* 9.29 12.10 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na na na 4/10 XV Diesel AT 8.48 8.49* 8.64 10.19 4cyl 1461cc CVT 85 200 na na na 4/10

250 XL 21.63 24.89 NA 26.51 6cyl 2496cc 4A 179 228 205 10.5 5.8 5/10 250 XV 25.47 29.28 NA 31.11* 6cyl 2496cc 4A 179 228 205 10.5 5.8 5/10

LE 20.3 25.40 20.3 29.31 4cyl 1995cc 6M 148 320 180 11.5 9.9 6/10 SLX MT 24.6 28.19 24.6 32.52 4cyl 1995cc 6M 148 320 180 11.5 9.9 6/10 SLX AT NA 30.24 NA 34.87 4cyl 1995cc 6A 148 320 180 10.8 9.9 6/10

Turbo 144 144* 144 144* 6cyl 3600cc 6M 480 620 310 3.9 7 7/10 Turbo Cabriolet 155 155* 155 155* 6cyl 3600cc 6M 480 620 310 4 6.9 8/10 GT3 123 123* 123 123* 6cyl 3600cc 6M 415 405 310 4.3 6.9 10/10

Boxster S 80.24 80.24* 80.24 80.24* 6cyl 3436cc 7A 315 360 277 5 6 7/10

Cayenne 60 60* 60 60* 6cyl 3598cc 6M 290 385 227 8.1 6.8 5/10 Cayenne S 75.7 75.7* 75.7 75.7* 8cyl 4806cc 6M 385 500 252 6.6 6.7 5/10 Cayenne GTS 86 86* 86 86* 8cyl 4806cc 6M 405 500 253 6.1 6.6 5/10 Cayenne GTS PDE 104 104* 104 104* 8cyl 4806cc 6M 405 500 253 6.1 na 5/10 Cayenne Turbo 117 117* 117 117* 8cyl 4806cc 6A 500 700 275 5.1 6.7 6/10 Cayenne Turbo S 150 150* 150 150* 8cyl 4806cc 6A 550 na 278 4.7 na 6/10 Cayenne Diesel 64.9 64.9* 64.9 64.9* 6cyl 2967cc 6A 240 550 214 8.3 na 7/10

Cayman S 66.2 66.2* 66.2 66.2* 6cyl 3386cc 6M 295 340 275 5.4 9.1 7/10

Panamera S 144.3 144.3* 144.3 144.3* 8cyl 4806cc 7A 400 500 285 5.6 5.6 6/10 Panamera 4S 149.8 149.8* 149.8 149.8* 8cyl 4806cc 7A 400 500 282 5 6 6/10 Panamera Turbo 205.5 205.5* 205.5 205.5* 8cyl 4806cc 7A 500 700 303 4.2 5.5 6/10 Panamera Diesel na 100* na na 6cyl 2967cc 8A 250 550 na na na 6/10

Teana: Elegant sedan with a luxurious interior and a refined engine. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: XV for the aircraft-style reclining front passenger seat .L:485cm W: 179.5cm Boot: 490 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 14.6cm Also try: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, VW Passat

X-Trail: Sweet, stylish SUV with a cracking engine and lots of equipment. Build: Import

TG Choice: SLX MT is a capable off-roader; avoid the CVT auto ’box.L:463cm W: 178.5cm Boot: 600 litres Fuel Tank: 65 litres, Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Chevrolet Captiva, Honda CR-V

911: Iconic. Instantly recognisable, fantastic to drive, near-perfect. (Also available in AT : PDK) Build: Import

TG Choice: Straight Carerra S. Just don’t order the PDK.L:443cm W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 64 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Nothing gets close

Boxster: Step 1 into Porsche-land is still a divine experience. Build: Import

TG Choice: Feels so inherently right. Just get a sport exhaust.L:432.9cm W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 64 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes-Benz SLK350

Cayenne: Big bad mutha. Perfect if you want a Porsche, but are scared of our roads. Build: Import

TG Choice: Go Turbo. The environment is doomed anyway.L:479.8cm W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 100 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz M-Class

Cayman: Baby 911 is a great sports car. Supernatural handling. Build: Import

TG Choice: The S for everyday driving.L:444cm W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 64 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: GranTurismo S

Panamera: A 911 for the family man, with two extra doors and a rear seat. Build: Import

TG Choice: The base S is actually quite good. Turbo is very fast.L:497cm W: na Boot: 820 litres Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes CLS AMG, Mercedes S-Class AMG

PORSCHE Dealers 7 Warranty na Website www.porscheindia.com



Company description: A big name in sports car manufacture and motorsport and deservedly so. It produces cars of immense capability and quality.

TG Awards: Luxury car of the year 2010: PanameraTravelling in the back seat of a Panamera is like being in a TGV when the other luxobarges are more like Rajdhanis



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NEW CAR GUIDE TOP GEAR PREMIER TO RENAULT


SUBSCRIPTION PORTALGET ALL THE TOPGEAR ACTION DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR DOORSTEP. EXCELLENT SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS ONLY ON MAGS.TIMESGROUP.COM/TOPGEAR.HTML

RENAULT Dealers 80 Warranty na Website www.renault.co.in



Company description: After a million partnerships with a million manufacturers, Renault has set down to proper business in India. Alone. They begin with the Fluence, which looks like no other car on Indian roads. But these are still early days for the French. Watch this space.

PREMIER Dealers 55 Warranty 3years/50,000kms Website www.premierrio.com



Company description: Premier is a company that has still survived despite all the odds. Gone are the glory days and the market share that the company enjoyed in the last century. Now a small comapny which survives on niche products.

Gx 6.33 6.92 6.15 6.67 4cyl 1173cc 5M 75 104 na na na 2/10GLX 6.61 7.22 6.42 6.97 4cyl 1173cc 5M 75 104 na na na 2/10DX Multijet 6.96 7.88 7.12 7.62 4cyl 1248cc 5M 72 183 na 15.03 14 4/10LX Multijet 7.24 8.20 7.41 7.93 4cyl 1248cc 5M 72 183 na 15.03 14 4/10

RXE 8.13 8.19 8.04 9.40 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 145 na na na 7/10RXL 9.09 9.29 9.00 10.49 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 145 na na na 7/10RXE D 85 8.89 9.18 8.79 9.43 4cyl 1461cc 5M 84 200 na na na 7/10RXL D 85 9.90 10.30 9.81 11.64 4cyl 1461cc 5M 84 200 na na na 7/10RXL PACK D 85 11.16 11.41 11.06 13.19 4cyl 1461cc 5M 84 200 na na na 7/10 RXL D 110 10.94 11.41 10.85 12.95 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 248 na 11.76 13.7 8/10RXZ D 110 11.86 12.94 11.77 14.04 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 248 na 11.76 13.7 8/10RXZ PACK D 110 12.40 13.30 12.30 14.65 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 248 na 11.76 13.7 8/10

Petrol 15.56 16.80 15.45 18.46 4cyl 1997cc CVT 135 190 180 10.2 13 4/10 E2 Diesel 13.86 NA 13.68 16.71 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 240 170 11.7 21 5/10 E4 Diesel 15.49 16.42 15.38 18.63 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 240 170 11.7 21 5/10

Diesel 24.41 27.90 24.33 29.73 4cyl 1995cc 6A 149 320 na na na 5/10

RXL 8.86 8.69* 8.86 10.68 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na 13.8 16 4/10 RXZ 9.77 9.57* 9.76 11.75 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na 13.8 16 4/10RXE Petrol 7.22 6.99* 7.22 8.45 4cyl 1498cc 5M 98 134 na na na 4/10RXL Petrol 8.01 7.85* 8.01 9.50 4cyl 1498cc 5M 98 134 na na na 4/10

Rio: If you are adamant on being different, this is your ride.

TG Choice: Gx as it is the cheapest. L: 397cm W: 157cm Boot: 454 litres Fuel Tank: 46 litres, Ground Clearance: 20 cm Also try: Maruti DZire ZXi, Honda Jazz X, Hyundai i20 Asta 1.2, Nissan Sunny XE

Duster: Finally a cheap SUV that won’t go belly up around a corner

TG Choice: The 110bhp RxZ. Cuts out leather and wood you get in the more expensive RxZ Option pack and gives you everything else you need. L: 431.5cm W: 182.2cm Boot: 475 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Mahindra XUV, Mahindra Scorpio

Fluence: Pretty safe bet of a car. Comfortable, refined and built to last.

TG Choice: The diesel is our pick of the lot.L: 462cm W: 180cm Boot: 530 litres Fuel Tank: Na, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Toyota Corolla Altis, Honda Civic.

Koleos: French take on the softroader, and a pretty good one at that. Build: Import

TG Choice: There is only one to choose from, so there!L: 452cm W: 185.5m Boot: NA Fuel Tank: 65 litres, Ground Clearance: 20.6 cm Also try: Chevrolet Captiva, Hyundai Santa Fe

Scala: The French version of the Sunny.

TG Choice: The RXZ as it comes with the goodness of diesel and all the features that you’d need. L: 442.5cm W: 169.5m Boot: 490 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.1cm Also try: Maruti DZire, Nissan Sunny, Toyota Etios

eed.


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TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE ROLLS-ROYCE TO SKODA

RXL 6.18 6.36 6.16 7.43 4cyl 1461cc 5M 63 160 na na na160 63 5M na /10RXZ 6.86 7.14 6.84 8.24 4cyl 1461cc 5M 63 160 na na na160 63 5M na /10RXE Petrol 4.47 4.25* 4.46 5.19 3cyl 1198cc 5M 75 104 na na na 104 75 5M na /10RXL Petrol 5.21 4.99* 5.19 6.13 3cyl 1198cc 5M 75 104 na na na 104 75 5M na /10RXZ Petrol 5.76 5.55* 5.74 6.78 3cyl 1198cc 5M 75 104 na na na 104 75 5M na /10

Phantom na 380* na 380* 12cyl 6749cc 6A 453 720 250 5.9 6.3 720 453 6A 5.9 9/10Phantom Coupe na 400* na 400* 12cyl 6749cc 6A 453 720 250 5.6 6.4 720 453 6A 5.6 /10Drophead Coupe na 450* na 450* 12cyl 6749cc 6A 453 720 250 5.8 6.4720 453 6A 5.8 8/10

Ghost na 280* na 280* 12cyl 6592cc 8A 562 780 250 4.9 na 780 562 8A 4.9 8/10Ghost EWB na 280* na 280* 12cyl 6592cc 8A 562 780 250 4.9 na 780 562 8A 4.9 8/10

1.2 Active 5.11 NA 5.11 6.10 3cyl 1198cc 5M 75 110 160 na na110 75 5M na /101.2 Ambition 5.53 5.68 5.52 6.57 3cyl 1198cc 5M 75 110 160 na na110 75 5M na /101.2 Elegance 6.40 6.89 6.40 7.58 3cyl 1198cc 5M 75 110 160 na na110 75 5M na /101.6 Elegance 6.71 7.35 6.71 7.97 4cyl 1598cc 5M 105 153 170 na na 153 105 5M na /10Active Plus D 6.35 6.25 6.35 7.65 3cyl 1199cc 5M 75 180 165 16.3 16180 75 5M 16.3 /10Ambition D 6.77 7.25 6.76 8.13 3cyl 1199cc 5M 75 180 165 16.3 16180 75 5M 16.3 /10Elegance D 7.64 8.35 7.64 9.15 3cyl 1199cc 5M 75 180 165 16.3 16180 75 5M 16.3 /10

1.8 TSI Ambition 14.91 16.00 14.91 17.59 4cyl 1798cc 6M 158 250 na na na 250 158 6M na /102.0 TDI Ambition 14.81 16.92 14.81 17.78 4cyl 1968cc 5M 110 250 na na na250 110 5M na /102.0 TDI Ambition AT 16.44 18.25 16.44 19.70 4cyl 1968cc 6A 138 250 na na na 250 138 6A na /102.0 TDI Elegance 16.70 18.69 16.70 20.00 4cyl 1968cc 5M 108 250 na na na250 108 5M na /102.0 TDI Elegance AT 17.98 19.93 17.97 21.50 4cyl 1968cc 6A 138 250 na na na 250 138 6A na /102.0 TDI L&K 19.61 22.07 19.61 23.42 4cyl 1968cc 6A 138 320 200 10 11320 138 6A 10 /10vRS NA 18.39 NA 19.78 4cyl 1798cc 6M 158 250 na 8.71* 8250 158 6M 8.71* /10

1.8 TSl Ambition MT 18.38 22.35 18.38 21.63 4cyl 1798cc 6M 158 250 210 9 8.7 250 158 6M 9 /101.8 TSl Elegance AT 21.85 24.00 21.85 25.86 4cyl 1798cc 7A 160 250 210 na na 250 160 7A na /101.8 TSI Elegance MT 20.22 NA 20.22 23.96 4cyl 1798 cc 6M 158 250 210 9 8.7 250 158 6M 9 /102.0 TDI 24.42 26.20 24.32 28.14 4cyl 1968cc 6A 140 320 206 10.38 11.8320 140 6A 10.38 /103.6 V6 FSI 25.2 30.50 25.2 33.62 6cyl 3597cc 6A 260 350 250 8.4 na350 260 6A 8.4 /10

Pulse: The masculine version of the Nissan Micra.

TG Choice: The RXL makes more sense, because you’d rather buy the Swift instead of the RXZThe RXL makes more sense, because you’d rather buy the Swift instead of the RXZL: 380.5cm W: 166.5m Boot: 251 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Nissan Micra, Maruti Swift

Phantom: Take first-class, multiply by 10, square that, and you’re getting close. Build: Import

TG Choice: Ideal for driving off with her from the wedding reception.IIdeal for driving off with her from the wedding reception.L: 583.4cm W: 199cm Boot: 460 litres Fuel Tank: 100 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Maybach 57S

Ghost: The baby Rolls isn’t much of a baby, really. Larger than most sedans and more luxurious than a private jet. Build: Import

TG Choice: y pThere’s only one, so we think we’ll have it, please. In black. With JeevesL: 583.4cm W: 199cm Boot: 460 litres Fuel Tank: 100 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Bentley Mulsanne

Fabia: Fun little hatchback, brilliantly built with a variety of engines to fit everyone’s budget.

TG Choice: Surely the SSurely the 1.6 as it is almost 6 ` 70,000 cheaper than the Polo 1.6 70,000 cheaper than the Polo 1.6`L: 400cm W: 164 cm Boot: 315 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 15.8cm Also try: Suzuki Swift, Hyundai i20

Laura: Skoda might tell you it’s new but it’s a face-lift really. Still, it’s refined, and the cheaper variants are reasonably priced.

TG Choice: 1.8 TSI f f yfor the weekend run to the mountains. Also a sober executive car for weekdays.L: 457 cm W: 176.9cm Boot: 560 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.4cm Also try: Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata.

Superb: The real big car for reasonable money at the high end of the market. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 2.0TDI f y p y g f f if you are paying for fuel.I V6 f p y p y fif the company pays for it.6L: 483 cm W: 181.7cm Boot: 565 litres Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 15.8cm Also try: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata

ROLLS-ROYCE Dealers 5 Warranty 4yrs Website www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com



Company description: A century after Mr Royce built his first car, the world’s most luxurious carmaker is still going strong, albeit in German hands.

SKODA Dealers 106 Warranty 2yrs Website www.skoda-auto.co.in



Company description: Has always had a premium image. New products like the Superb and Yeti make it rather exciting. But service and support still have issues.

TG Awards: Car of the year 2010: Yeti‘ The Yeti is people-carrier, hatch, load-lugger,corner-carver and terrain-basher all rolled into one'


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NEW CAR GUIDE TOP GEAR SKODA TO SSANGYONG


ZINIO/MAGZTERREAD TOPGEAR INDIA MAGAZINE ON YOUR PC, MOBILE AND iPAD. BUY THE DIGITAL COPY ON ZINIO AND MAGZTER.

Active 1.6 MPI 7.24 7.85 7.24 8.57 4cyl 1598cc 5M 105 153 195 11.3 10.7 153 105 5M 11.3 /10Ambition 1.6 MPI 7.88 8.36 7.88 9.29 4cyl 1598cc 5M 105 153 195 11.3 10.7 153 105 5M 11.3 /10Elegance 1.6 MPI 8.53 9.32 8.53 10.04 4cyl 1598cc 5M 105 153 195 11.3 10.7 153 105 5M 11.3 /10Ambition 1.6 MPI AT 8.49 9.46 8.46 10.09 4cyl 1598cc 6A 105 153 na na na 153 105 6A na /10Elegance 1.6 MPI AT 9.55 10.45 9.55 12.21 4cyl 1598cc 6A 105 153 na na na 153 105 6A na /10Active 1.6 TDI 8.54 9.38 8.54 10.24 4cyl 1598cc 5M 105 250 na na na 250 105 5M na /10Ambition Plus 1.6 TDI 9.17 9.40 9.17 10.98 4cyl 1598cc 5M 105 250 na na na 250 105 5M na /10Elegance Plus 1.6 TDI 9.93 9.90 9.93 11.87 4cyl 1598cc 5M 105 250 na na na 250 105 5M na /10

Ambiente AWD 17.00 18.10 17.00 20.36 4cyl 1968cc 6M 140 320 210 na na 320 140 6M na /10Elegance AWD 18.69 19.67 18.69 22.35 4cyl 1968cc 6M 140 320 210 na na 320 140 6M na /10Active 4x2 15.00 15.75 15.00 18.00 4cyl 1968cc 5M 110 250 190 na na250 110 5M na /10

Ambiente 4x2 15.84 16.72 15.84 19.00 4cyl 1968cc 5M 110 250 190 na na250 110 5M na /10

RX 5 NA 17.75* NA 22.64 5cyl 2696cc 5M 162 340 na na na340 162 5M na /10RX 7 NA 19.67* NA 25.55 5cyl 2696cc 5A 184 402 na 10.25 7.75402 184 5A 10.25 /10

Pleasure 4X4 14.07 16.16 14.00 16.05 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na na na320 138 5M na /10Prestige 4X4 15.76 18.06 15.68 17.95 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na na na320 138 5M na /10Pride 4X4 16.81 19.35 16.73 19.14 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na na na320 138 5M na /10Pure 4X2 12.05 NA 11.98 12.02 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na na na320 138 5M na /10Prestige 4X2 15.14 17.36 15.06 20.03 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na na na320 138 5M na /10Pleasure 4X2 13.40 15.45 13.32 16.02 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na na na320 138 5M na /10

Xeta GL P 3.39 3.67 3.30 3.85 4cyl 1193cc 5M 69 100 145 17.2 na 100 69 5M 17.2 /10

Rapid: Does most things right, very few wrong. With all the nice touches of the Vento, you can’t go wrong.

TG Choice: The Ambition 1.6 TDI p f y fas it is a lakh cheaper and comes with all the safety features.IL: 438.6 cm W: 169.9 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.8 cm Also try: VW Vento, Honda City, Maruti Suzuki SX4, Hyundai Verna, Ford Fiesta

Yeti: It’s cleaner, greener, smaller and smarter than any SUV out there. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: EleganceEElegance f g y for sure as it gets the cool touchscreen audio system.eL:422cm W: 179cm Boot: 416 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Tata Aria

Rexton: Packed with equipment, at a mouthwatering price.A big soft-roader that won’t eat into your wallet. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: RRX7 f pfor the extra power and a convenient auto transmission.7L: 475.5cm W: 190 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 78 litres Ground Clearance: 25.2cm Also try: Toyota Fortuner, Hyundai Santa Fe, Chevrolet Captiva

Aria: Big bully of an MPV. Nice engine and lots of gizmos to keep you interested.

TG Choice: PPride f ft g g g g f f j fifor sure, after giving into the crossover marketing gimmick and before the fall, Pride shall do just fine.eL: 478cm W: 189.5 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Toyota Innova, Mahindra XUV 500

Indica eV2: The Indica has more than delivered on the ‘more car per car’ promise. If only it were more refined.

TG Choice: For this price, its rivals have better cars.FFor this price, its rivals have better cars.L: 369cm W: 166.5 cm Boot: 220 litre Fuel Tank: 37 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Hyundai i10

SSANGYONG Dealers na Warranty na Website www.smotor.com



Company description: Korean car manufacturer mostly known for its Mercedes-derived SUVs around the world. It was bought by Mahindra a few years back. And now has entered India with the Rexton, the enitre SUV range will follow.

TATA Dealers na Warranty na Website www.tatamotors.com



Company description: Claim to fame is it makes the world’s cheapest car. Still struggling with quality and dynamics, but it has the best cars if you want the maximum for the minimum.

TG Awards: Surprise of the year 2009: Manza‘ The Nano may be hogging headlines all over the world. But the Manza is what will take Tata places'


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TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE TATA

Xeta GLE P 3.36 3.95 3.57 4.16 4cyl 1193cc 5M 69 100 145 17.2 na100 69 5M 17.2 /10Xeta GLS P 3.97 4.25 3.87 4.51 4cyl 1193cc 5M 69 100 145 17.2 na100 69 5M 17.2 /10Xeta GLX P 4.24 4.51 4.14 4.82 4cyl 1193cc 5M 69 100 145 17.2 na100 69 5M 17.2 /10L D 4.33 4.65 4.22 4.76 4cyl 1396cc 5M 70 140 145 15.03 na 140 70 5M 15.03 /10LE D 4.77 5.11 4.65 5.29 4cyl 1396cc 5M 70 140 145 15.03 na 140 70 5M 15.03 /10LS D 4.00 5.28 4.16 4.91 4cyl 1396cc 5M 70 140 145 15.03 na 140 70 5M 15.03 /10LX D 5.34 5.65 5.93 5.80 4cyl 1396cc 5M 70 140 145 15.03 na 140 70 5M 15.03 /10

GVX 65 P 4.99 4.50 4.96 5.70 4cyl 1172cc 5M 64 96 na na na96 64 5M na /10ZX D 6.44 7.30 6.44 7.60 4cyl 1248cc 5M 75 190 158 15 15.3 190 75 5M 15 /10VX D90 6.11 6* 6.09 7.11 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na200 89 5M na /10ZX + D90 6.94 6.83* 6.91 8.06 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na200 89 5M na /10

eGLS P 4.86 5.21 4.83 5.53 4cyl 1193cc 5M 64 100 na na na100 64 5M na /10eGLX P 5.09 5.45 5.93 5.78 4cyl 1193cc 5M 64 100 na na na100 64 5M na /10eLS D 5.36 6.20 5.68 6.68 4cyl 1396cc 5M 69 140 na na na 140 69 5M na /10eLX DI 5.87 6.45 5.08 6.93 4cyl 1396cc 5M 69 140 na na na 140 69 5M na /10

Nano 1.65 1.62 1.64 1.90 2cyl 624cc 4M 37.5 51 105 30.4 na 51 37.5 4M 30.4 /10Nano CX 2.02 1.93 2.01 2.32 2cyl 624cc 4M 37.5 51 105 30.4 na 51 37.5 4M 30.4 /10Nano LX 2.29 2.25 2.28 2.65 2cyl 624cc 4M 37.5 51 105 30.4 na 51 37.5 4M 30.4 /10

Safire Aqua 5.66 6.32 5.66 6.76 4cyl 1368cc 5M 89 115 na na na 115 89 5M na /10Safire Aura 6.02 6.72 6.02 7.54 4cyl 1368cc 5M 89 115 na na na 115 89 5M na /10Safire Elan 7.12 8.10 7.11 8.41 4cyl 1368cc 5M 89 115 na na na 115 89 5M na /10Quadrajet Aqua 6.44 7.55 6.44 7.16 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 160 14.22 14 200 89 5M 14.22 /10Quadrajet Aura 6.89 8.50 6.89 8.56 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 160 14.22 14200 89 5M 14.22 /10Quadrajet Elan 7.98 9.29 7.98 9.66 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 160 14.22 14 200 89 5M 14.22 /10

LX 4x2 10.30 9.95* 10.30 12.05 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 320 138 5M 14.2 /10EX 4x2 11.22 10.82* 11.21 13.13 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5320 138 5M 14.2 /10VX 4x2 13.00 12.40* 12.98 15.02 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 320 138 5M 14.2 /10VX 4x4 14.32 13.67* 14.30 16.08 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na na na 320 138 5M na /10

LX 8.11 8.41 8.03 9.40 4cyl 2179cc 5M 119 250 140 18.4 na250 119 5M 18.4 /10EX 8.56 8.86 8.46 9.90 4cyl 2179cc 5M 119 250 140 18.4 na250 119 5M 18.4 4/10GX 9.30 9.60 7.36 10.76 4cyl 2179cc 5M 119 250 140 18.4 na250 119 5M 18.4 /10

Automatic 24.96 23.80* 24.51 28.91 4cyl 2494cc 6A 179 233 210 8.93 9.8233 179 6A 8.93 /10

Vista: A huge leap in the life of an Indica. A completely new platform offering more space and refined new engines to go with it.

TG Choice: ZZX+ D90 g f with the brilliant diesel engine from Fiat.L: 379.5cm W: 169.5 cm Boot: 232 litre Fuel Tank: 44 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Swift, Fiat Punto

Indigo eCS: Smallest sedan on the market is more like a hatch with a boot.

TG Choice: eLSD the variant sounds cooler than the actual car.DL: 399cm W: 193 cm Boot: 300 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Inventing a segment.

Nano: Of the people, for the people, by the people.

TG Choice: The ` j fi g p p y 1.9lakh version should do just fine, as budget is top priority.`L: 310cm W: 150 cm Boot: 80litre Fuel Tank: 15 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Alto, Chevrolet Spark, public transport

Manza: Sedan derivative of the Indica Vista, the big rear means it can gobble down huge amounts of luggage.

TG Choice: f j q f fi f y q f yGo for the Quadrajet Aqua, as this will fulfill most of your requirements of a daily runabout.L: 441cm W: 170 cm Boot: 460 litres Fuel Tank: 44litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Mahindra Verito, Maruti DZire.

Safari Storme: Big, heavy, ponderous and somehow likeable. Colossal comfort, great off-road ability.

TG Choice: VX 4x4 g ff g p f gas it’s a great off-roader and can go places without fearing the terrain.L: 465cm W: 193 cm Boot: 980 litres Fuel Tank: 55litres, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Ford Endeavour

Grande: Utilitarian Sumo knocks hard on upmarket SUV doors. Really hard.

TG Choice: LLX f f y fffor the sheer value-for-money that the MUV offers.XL: 442cm W: 179 cm Boot: 150 litres Fuel Tank: 65 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Toyota Innova, Chevrolet Tavera

Camry: The handsome new Camry is fast and spacious, and has a great cabin. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: y g y y pToyota is no mood to give you any options here.L: 482.5 cm W: 182.5 cm Boot: 484 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Honda Accord, Nissan Teana, VW Passat

3/10

TOYOTA Dealers 152 Warranty na Website www.toyotabharat.com

India sales inJuly 2012: 14,574


Company description: Massive world-player that can do innovative and interesting, but also churns out the reliably unexceptional in frightening numbers.


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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNELYOUTUBE.COM/BBCTOPGEARINDIA

J 12.00 12.15 11.92 14.02 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na 173 138 6M na /10G 13.62 12.35 13.54 16.09 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na 173 138 6M na /10GL 15.09 15.95 15.00 17.08 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na 173 138 6M na /10V L 16.24 16.90 16.24 19.01 4cyl 1798cc 7A 138 173 na na na 173 138 7A na /10D-4D J 12.64 13.20 12.55 15.01 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na 205 87 6M na /10D-4D G 14.70 15.35 14.60 17.06 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na 205 87 6M na /10D-4D GL 16.01 16.60 15.92 19.02 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na 205 87 6M na /10

J 5.42 5.46 5.46 6.65 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 132 89 5M 11.2 /10G 5.97 6 6.03 7.26 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 132 89 5M 11.2 /10V 6.69 7.22 6.73 8.06 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 132 89 5M 11.2 /10VX 6.7 7.72 6.8 7.82 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 132 89 5M 11.2 /10GD 7.04 7.30 7.11 8.58 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na170 67 5M na /10VD 7.76 8.39 7.81 9.40 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na170 67 5M na /10VXD 7.87 8.90 7.88 9.16 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na170 67 5M na /10

GD 5.56 6.20 5.56 6.49 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 160 na na170 67 5M na 5/10J 4.70 4.48 4.71 5.64 4cyl 1197cc 5M 79 104 Na Na Na 104 79 5M Na /10G 4.92 5.12 4.94 5.90 4cyl 1197cc 5M 79 104 Na Na Na 104 79 5M Na /10V 5.71 5.63 5.71 6.81 4cyl 1197cc 5M 79 104 Na Na Na 104 79 5M Na /10VX 5.59 6.57 6.08 7.09 4cyl 1197cc 5M 79 104 Na Na Na 104 79 5M Na /10

4x4 Manual 23.62 22.93 23.57 28.09 4cyl 2982cc 5M 168 343 170 11.2 12 343 168 5M 11.2 /104x2 Auto 23.36 24.10 23.31 28.06 4cyl 2982cc 4A 168 360 Na Na Na 360 168 4A Na /104x2 Manual 22.36 24.50 22.31 27.04 4cyl 2982cc 5M 168 343 Na Na Na 343 168 5M Na /10

GX 7S D 12.56 12.33 12.58 15.01 4cyl 2494cc 5M 100 200 na na na 200 100 5M na /10Gx 8S D 12.62 12.37 11.80 15.16 4cyl 2494cc 5M 100 200 na na na200 100 5M na 6/10VX 7S D 14.66 14.38 14.61 17.06 4cyl 2494cc 5M 100 200 na na na 200 100 5M na 6/10VX 8S D 14.71 14.42 14.64 17.65 4cyl 2494cc 5M 100 200 na na na 200 100 5M na /10

Prado 77.18 60.3 na 64 4cyl 2982cc 5A 172 410 180 na 7.9 410 172 5A na /10

Corolla Altis: The new one is not all-new but still very good. Altis is a refined, comfortable businessman’s sedan.

TG Choice: The diesel GL j fi y ffwould be just fine, as Corollas are usually chauffeur-driven.L: 454 cm W: 176 cm Boot: 475 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cruze, Renault Fluence.

Etios: Made not to excite but just smack you with the practicality and comfort of a Toyota.

TG Choice: The V j fi f p p p gshould be just fine as this car is for people who put logic over excitement.VL: 426.5cm W: 169.5 cm Boot: 595 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Maruti Swift Dezire, Mahindra Verito

Etios Liva: A practical, no-nonsense family car that we need, but not necessarily want.

TG Choice: The V j fi f p p p g should be just fine as this car is for people who put logic over excitement.VL: 377.5cm W: 169 cm Boot: 251 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Maruti Swift, Maruti Ritz, VW Polo.

Fortuner: Brutal power and great value. Interiors are practical but not very well finished. Powerful engine though.

TG Choice: Despite two new variants, we would still stick to the old school 4x4 ManualDDespite two new variants, we would still stick to the old school 4x4 ManualL: 470.5 cm W: 184 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 80 litres, Ground Clearance: 22 cm Also try: Ford Endeavour, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Captiva

Innova: Incredible. Does absolutely everything, and does it with gusto. Also available in CNG variant for ` 85,000 extra.`TG Choice: VX 7S, f p as it comes with all the creature comforts, and captain seats at the back.L: 455.5cm W: 177cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Sumo Grande, Mahindra Xylo

Land Cruiser Prado : Big, thirsty and not ballerina-like on-road, but a great SUV despite that. Build: Import

TG Choice: y ffTry the Mitsubishi Montero, it’s a better SUV on and off the road. L: 471.5cm W: 187.5cm Boot: 620 litres Fuel Tank: 87 litres, Ground Clearance: 22cm Also try: Mitsubishi Montero, Volvo XC 90


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TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE TOYOTA TO VOLKSWAGEN

V8V8 117.5117 5 85*85* 118.1118 1 103103 8cyl 4461cc 6A 261 650 na 11.4 na650 261 6A 11.4 8 l 4461 6A 261 650 11 4 5/10/10

Z3 27 30.7 27 32 4cyl 1798cc 6A 98 149 na na na 149 98 6A na /10Z4 28 32.22 28 34 4cyl 1798cc 6A 98 149 na na na 149 98 6A na /10

Trendline 14.37 16.40 14.31 19.01 4cyl 1968cc 6M 139 320 206 na na 320 139 6M na /10Comfortline 15.79 18 15.72 20.09 4cyl 1968cc 6M 139 320 187 na na 320 139 6M na /10Highline 17.36 19.80 17.29 23.01 4cyl 1968cc 6M 139 320 187 na na 320 139 6M na /10Highline AT 18.18 20.68 18.10 24.02 4cyl 1968cc 6A 139 320 187 10.1 10 320 139 6A 10.1 /10Trendline P 13.84 13.60* 13.84 15.09 4cyl 1390cc 6M 121 200 na na na 200 121 6M na /10Comfortline P 15.33 15.07* 15.33 17.06 4cyl 1390cc 6M 121 200 na na na 200 121 6M na /10

Trendline Manual 21.16 24.1 21.07 26.05 4cyl 1968cc 6M 168 350 223 na na 350 168 6M na /10Comfortline Automatic 24.22 27.49 24.11 30.03 4cyl 1968cc 6A 168 350 223 9.28 12.5 350 168 6A 9.28 /10Highline 26.10 29.59 25.99 32.07 4cyl 1968cc 6A 168 350 223 9.28 12.5 350 168 6A 9.28 /10

Phaeton 78 86.8 76.96 95.7 6cyl 3597cc 6A 276 370 245 8.4 na 370 276 6A 8.4 /10

1.2 Trendline P 4.57 5.48 4.6 5.79 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 110 175 14.2 na110 74 5M 14.2 /101.2 Comfortline P 5.1 6.03 5.1 6.40 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 110 175 14.2 na 110 74 5M 14.2 /101.2 Highline P 6.04 7.10 6.1 7.01 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 110 175 14.2 na 110 74 5M 14.2 /101.6 Highline P 6.38 7.26 6.44 7.41 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 153 182 12.4 11.69 153 103 5M 12.4 /101.2 Trendline D 5.6 6.34 5.63 7.19 3cyl 1199cc 5M 74 180 164 14.4 14180 74 5M 14.4 /101.2 Comfortline D 6.1 7.11 6.15 7.80 3cyl 1199cc 5M 74 180 164 14.4 14180 74 5M 14.4 /101.2 Highline D 7.06 8.17 7.12 8.43 3cyl 1199cc 5M 74 180 164 14.4 14180 74 5M 14.4 /101.2 GT TSI na 7.99* na na 4cyl 1197cc 7A 103 175 172 10.8 12.7 175 103 7A 10.8 /10

1.6 Trendline P 7.12 8.03 7 8.06 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 153 185 na na153 103 5M na /101.6 Highline P 8.23 9.40 8.3 10.03 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 153 185 na na153 103 5M na /10

1.6 Highline AT 9.21 10.48 9.21 11.04 4cyl 1598cc 6A 103 153 183 na na153 103 6A na /10 1.6 Trendline D 8.12 9.14 8.06 10.00 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 250 186 16.4 16250 103 5M 16.4 /10 1.6 Highline D 9.23 9.30 9.31 11.08 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 250 186 16.4 16 250 103 5M 16.4 /10

1.6 Comfortline D 9.05 10.04 9.01 10.08 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 250 185 na na250 103 5M na /10

Land Cruiser: Bigger, thirstier version of the Prado, with a V8 under the bonnet. The best off-roader that money can buy. Build: Import

TG Choice: g f f f yComes with a long list of features to choose from, only one eng pgine option, the V8 diesel.llL: 495cm W: 187 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 83 litres, Ground Clearance: 22cm Also try: Mercedes GL-Class, Audi Q7

Prius: Toyota gets its green face to India at a price. Well, who said going green was cheap? Build: Import

TG Choice: Any variant you choose, you’ll have done your bit for Mother Nature.AAny variant you choose, you’ll have done your bit for Mother Nature.L: 446cm W: 174.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Nothing yet.

Jetta: More than just a bigger Vento, even if some equipment is missing. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: Highline AT, pity there’s no auto in the other variants.HHighline AT, pity there’s no auto in the other variants.L: 464.4cm W: 177.7 cm Boot:na Fuel Tank: 55 litres , Ground Clearance: 13.9cm Also try: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis

Passat: The slightly poorer man’s A4? The slightly richer man’s Laura? Whatever, it’s classy and well-built. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: HighlineHHighline for the car that parks by itselffor the car that parks by itselfeL: 476.9cm W: 182 cm Boot: 565 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 15cm Also try: Honda Accord, Skoda Superb, Toyota Camry

Phaeton: Another big German luxury saloon without the snob value. Great if you can live with the VW badge. Build: Import

TG Choice: y y ff fOnly reason you want one is to be different from the crowd, but a Merc is still a better bet.L: 517.5cm W: 190.3 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: 12.8cm Also try: BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class

Polo: Smart, sophisticated, German. Sticks to all the norms and is affordable too. No excitement on offer.

TG Choice: The GT TSI p f is our pick of the lot.IL: 397cm W: 168.2cm Boot: 280 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Hyundai i20, Skoda Fabia, Honda Jazz, Fiat Punto, Maruti Swift, Ford

Vento: Fantastic value for a VW sedan; tarmac-smothering ride and still a great looker.

TG Choice: g1.6 Highline diesel, f q y yfor German build quality with diesel economy.L: 438.4cm W: 169.9 cm Boot: 527 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Maruti SX4, Fiat Linea, Ford Fiesta

VOLKSWAGEN Dealers 110 Warranty 2yrs/ unlimited km Website www.volkswagen.co.in



Company description: The international giant has been getting good response in India , thanks to German engineering with an affordable pricetag.

TG Awards: Saloon car of the year 2010: Vento‘ The Vento is a handsome looking sedan whose visual appeal has every bit of the classy VW oomph’


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NEW CAR GUIDE TOP GEAR VOLKSWAGEN TO VOLVO


Kinetic D4 25.50 28.88 NA 35.66 5cyl 1984cc 6A 163 400 220 9 11.2400 163 6A 9 /10Summum D5 31.60 35.76 NA 43.98 5cyl 2400cc 6A 205 420 230 8.1* 14.1*420 205 6A 8.1* /10Summum T6 35.70 40.34 NA 44.60 6cyl 3200cc 6A 304 440 250 6.5* 9.8* /10Summum D4 28.5 32.32 NA 43.98 5cyl 1984cc 6A 163 400 220 9 11.2 400 163 6A 9 /10

D5 40.00 45.19 NA 53.11 5cyl 2400cc 6A 202 400 225 9 13.7400 202 6A 9 /10D4 Kinetic 33.90 38.32 NA 44.75 5cyl 1984cc 6A 163 400 240 9.6 10.8 400 163 6A 9.6 /10

D5 AWD 42.00 49.10 NA 58.92 5cyl 2400cc 6A 215 440 200 7.8 11.1440 215 6A 7.8 /10D4 Kinetic 35.95 40.62 NA 49.29 5cyl 1984cc 6A 163 400 220 10.5 10.2400 163 6A 10.5 /10

D5 38 43.18 NA 49.14 5cyl 2400cc 6A 202 400 225 9 13.7 400 202 6A 9 /10 D5 AWD 43.60 49.29 NA 67.29 5cyl 2400cc 6A 215 440 200 8.9 na 440 215 6A 8.9 /10

V40 Cross Country NA 28.5* NA NA 5cyl 1984cc 6A 148 350 na na na350 148 6A na /10

S60: The S60 comes as a breath of fresh air; it’s a comfortable tourer and a worthy adversary to the German trio. Build: Import

TG Choice: KKinetic D5 p y q pp, comes pretty well equipped minus the leather seats.55L: 462.8cm W: 209.7 cm Boot: 380 litres Fuel Tank: 68 litres, Ground Clearance: 13.6cm Also try: Audi A4, Merc C-Class, BMW 3 series, and perhaps a safety vault

S80 : Stealth luxury car that promises top-flight comfort and safety, and decent dynamics. At a great price. Build: Import

TG Choice: DD5 g g y p is a good engine, S-Class luxury at E-Class price.5L: 485.1cm W: 210 cm Boot: 480 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 14.8cm Also try: Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class

XC60 : If you crash this car, you’re either unfit to drive or you’re running an insurance scam. Build: Import

TG Choice: g f p fComes with a long list of optional features.L: 462.7cm W: 163 cm Boot: 495 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Audi Q5, BMW X3, Land Rover Freelander

XC90: Large, practical SUV that’s very much at home on tarmac, and reasonably priced for what you get. Build: Import

TG Choice: DD5 j just makes this sensible SUV even more sensible.5L: 462.1cm W: 163.2 cm Boot: 615 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Mercedes-Benz M-Class, BMW X5, Audi Q7

V40: Large, practical SUV that’s very much at home on tarmac, and reasonably priced for what you get. Build: Import

TG Choice: DD5 j just makes this sensible SUV even more sensible.5L: 437cm W: 178.3 cm Boot: 335 litres Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Mercedes-Benz B-Class

NEW ENTRY Volvo V40 Cross CountryAn attractive car in which even your grandmother would feel safe., while you dive into a corner.

Volvo cars are regarded as being some of the safest cars in the world. But the Swedish appear to have removed their contemporary thinking caps with the V40. With

a good 2.0-litre diesel heart, the road presence of an off-roader and the agility of a hatchback, this Volvo will appeal to those not interested in playing very safe.

Buyers Guide continuedB G id ti d

VOLVO Dealers 3 Warranty 2yrs/60,000km Website www.volvocars.com/in



Company description: Its buses are more famous than its cars. The company has been very subtle with its presence, just like its cars, but things are changing with the S60 and the XC60.


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Gadgets & Safety Guide Yes No Optional

DUCATI Dealers 1 Warranty na Website www.ducati.com

India sales in 2010: NaCompany description: Represented by official dealers, the Italian superbike maker is still finding its feet in India despite its legend status.

BAJAJ TO DUCATI

Discover : Bajaj’s salvo in the exec segment. Quite a looker if you opt for alloys and disc-brake variant. You can even go for the bigger 150 DTS-i now.

L: 204cm Seat Height: na. Wheelbase: 130.5cm Weight: 115kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10litres Also try: Gladiator, Victor 125, Glamour

100 T 0.40 0.40 0.41 0.53 1cyl 102cc 5M 10 9.2 na na na 6/10 125 DTS-I 0.45 0.45 0.46 0.58 1cyl 116cc 4M 13 18.3 na na na 6/10 150 DTS-I 0.49 0.49 0.49 0.59 1cyl 145cc 4M 13.1 11.9 na na na 6/10

Pulsar : Arguably, India’s most popular bike for those who crave power and flamboyance. Near-perfect bike, fast, fun and practical.

L: 210cm Seat Height: na. Wheelbase: 132cm Weight: 137-147kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15litres Also try: Unicorn, CBZ X-treme, Apache

135 DTS-I na 0.59 na 0.63 1cyl 134cc 5M 13.5 11.4 na na 35 7/10 150 DTS-I 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.56 1cyl 149cc 5M 15.06 12.5 na na 52.6 7/10 180 DTS-I 0.59 0.59 0.60 0.78 1cyl 178cc 5M 17 14.22 na na 45 7/10 220 DTS-I SF 0.80 0.8 0.81 0.86 1cyl 220cc 5M 21 19.2 na na 35 8/10 220 DTS-I S 0.80 0.8 0.81 0.88 1cyl 220cc 5M 21 19.2 na na 35 8/10 200NS NA NA NA 1.00 1cyl 200cc 5M 23 18.3 na na na 8/10

Avenger : The Eliminator with a Pulsar 220 DTS-i engine and of course the new badge. It’s swanky and seen as a true-blue affordable cruiser.

L: 201.2cm Seat Height: na. Wheelbase: 127.1cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10litres Also try: The Enfield range

220 na 0.77 na 0.85 1cyl 220cc 5M 19.03 17.5 na na na 7/10

Sport: Quite simply, the best litre-bike there is.

L: 205cm Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 204kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17.5litres Also try: Honda CBR1000RR, Suzuki GSX-R 1000

S 1000 RR na na na 24 4cyl 999cc 6M 193 112 na na na 9/10

Tour: Long-range missiles. The only question is, two cylinders or six?

L: 223cm Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 263kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 25litres Also try: Suzuki Hayabusa

R 1200 RT na na na 26.08 2cyl 1170cc 6M 110 120 na na na 7/10 K 1600 GT na na na 30.65 6cyl 1649cc 6M 158 175 na na na 8/10 K 1600 GTL na na na 33.62 6cyl 1649cc 6M 158 175 na na na 8/10

Enduro: A real-life legend. Will go on forever, taking a couple of armageddons in its stride.

L: 221/224cm Seat Height: 85/89cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 234/259kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 20/33litres Also try: Ducati Multistrada R 1200 GS na na na 21.16 2cyl 1170cc 6M 110 120 na na na 9/10 R 1200 GS Adventure na na na 23.56 2cyl 1170cc 6M 110 120 na na na 9/10

Urban: Hooliganism, the BMW way – pick a boxer or a more conventional inline-four.

L: 214/222cm Seat Height: 80/82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 227/243kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 18/19litres Also try: Honda CB1000R

R 1200 R na na na 18.99 2cyl 1170cc 6M 110 119 na na na 7/10 K 1300 R na na na 21.85 4cyl 1293cc 6M 173 140 na na na 8/10

Hypermotard : Perfect bike for Indian roads. Also played the role of motor terminator in Terminator 4

L: na Seat Height: 84.5cm Wheelbase: 145.5cm Weight: 179 Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12.4litres Also try: Honda CB1000R, Yamaha MT-01

796 na 13.5 na 12.65 2cy821cc 6M 110 89 na na na na/10

BMW Dealers 3 Warranty na Website www.motorrad-navnitmotors.in

India sales in 2012: NaCompany description: Today, Bavaria’s famed two-wheeled company still makes their ever-lovin’ boxer-engined monuments. However, they also have the world-beating S1000RR and that, we suppose, says it all.

BAJAJ Dealers na Warranty na Website www.bajajauto.com

India sales in 2012: NaCompany description: Wasn’t that long ago that they made only a scooter. The Pulsar saw them shoot to fame and they’ve kept the momentum going with frequent updates.


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DUCATI TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON

Monster : Italian flavour among crowd of Japanese bikes. Monster 696 is the budget bike in the Ducati range. If you can call it budget at `10 lakh.

L: 210cm Seat Height: 77cm Wheelbase: 145cm Weight: 161-169kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15litres Also try: Honda CB1000R, Yamaha MT-01

796 na 8.83 na 9.17 2cyl 696cc 6M 80 68.7 na na na na/10 795 na 12.87 na 13.26 2cyl 1078cc 6M 95 103 na na na na/10 1100 Diesel na 15.03 na 15.45 2cyl 1078cc 6M 95 103 na na na na/10

Super Bike : The 1198R sits at the top of the fuel chain. Has no natural rivals in this price bracket, unless you have a car in mind!

L: 210cm Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: 143cm Weight: 165-169kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15.5litres Also try: Suzuki Hayabusa, Honda CBR1000RR, BMW 3 series

848 na 13.4 na 13.9 2cyl 848cc 6M 98.5 96 na na na 7/10 1198 na 18.6 na 19.1 2cyl 1198cc 6M 170 131 na na na na/10 1198 SP na 22.1 na 22.9 2cyl 1198cc 6M 170 131 na na na na/10 1198 R na na na 22.9 2cyl 1198cc 6M 180 134 na na na na/10

Street Fighter : Possibly the best-looking sportsbike in the country that money can buy

L: 212cm Seat Height: 84cm Wheelbase: 147.5cm Weight: 167-169kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 16.5litres Also try: Honda CB1000R, Yamaha MT-01

1098S na na na 17.4 2cyl 1099cc 6M 155 115 na na na na/10

Multistrada : A tourer, cruiser and sportsbike all rolled into one.

L: na Seat Height: 85cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 192kg Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 20litres Also try: Suzuki Bandit

MTS 1200 na 18.0 na 18.5 2cyl 1198cc 6M 150 118 na na na na/10 MTS 1200 ABS na 19.1 na 19.6 2cyl 1198cc 6M 150 118 na na na na/10 MTS 1200 ST na 22.3 na 22.9 2cyl 1198cc 6M 150 118 na na na na/10

Diavel : One beast of an Italian power cruiser.

L: 223.5cm Seat Height: 77cm Wheelbase: 159cm Weight: 239kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17litres Also try: Harley-Davidson Night Rod

na na na na 2cyl 1198cc 6M 162 127.5 na na na na/10

CVO : The Big Daddy of HDs, the custom CVO gives you everything you can imagine on a motorcycle and then some.

L: 249cm Seat Height: 69.5cm Wheelbase: 161.3cm Weight: 419.2kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 22.7litres Also try: Soft tail range, Road King.

Ultra Classic Electra Glide na na na 40. 11 2cyl 1803cc 6M na 155 na na na na/10

DYNA: This one’s on a diet and has all unnecessary weight sawed off. Great if you aren’t much of a fan of bulky tourers

L: 235.7cm Seat Height: 64.7cm Wheelbase: 163cm Weight: 302.5kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 17litres Also try: Sporter range, Honda CB 1000R, Yamaha

Street Bob na na na 11.83 2cyl 1585cc 6M na 126 na na na na/10 Super Glide Custom na 16.2 na 13.60 2cyl 1585cc 6M na 126 na na na na/10 Fat Bob na na na na 2cyl 1585cc 6M na 126 na na na na/10

Softail: Must have one for all Arnie/Terminator fans. Lots of chorme and scope for customisation, not necessarily a comfortable ride.

L: 240cm Seat Height: 70cm Wheelbase: 164cm Weight: 328kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 19litres Also try: Suzuki Intruder, DYNA range.

Fatboy na 19.3 na 17.21 2cyl 1198cc 6M na 118 na na na na/10 Heritage Classic na 20.4 na 18.76 2cyl 1198cc 6M na 118 na na na na/10

HARLEY-DAVIDSON Dealers 5 Warranty na Website www.harley-davidson.in

India sales in 2012: NaCompany description: They define cruisers, and attitude is their middle name. Local assembly has allowed them to drop prices and made their bikes even more appealing.

na/10

/10



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HERO

Sportster: Still short, sharp-handling motorcycle, although bigger = more power, Always a good thing.

L: 218cm Seat Height: 99cm Wheelbase: 152cm Weight: 254kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Honda CB 1000R, DYNA range.sx

XL 883L na 7.9 na 6.48 2cyl 883cc 6M na 118 na na na na/10 Iron 883 na 6.5 na 7.62 2cyl 883cc 5M na 69 na na na na/10 XL 1200X Forty Eight na 8.5 na 9.90 2cyl 1202cc 5M na 98 na na na na/10

Touring: It’s quite literally what the name suggests. You can slap on a lot of touring gear to lug around your house with you.

L: 241cm Seat Height: 80cm Wheelbase: 161cm Weight: 368kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 22litres Also try: Heritage Classic, Ultra Classic.

Road King na na na 24.80 2cyl 1198cc 6M na 118 na na na 6/10 Street Glide na 23.1 na 26.67 2cyl 1198cc 6M na 118 na na na na/10

VR SCDX : HD fans have Porsche to thank for this one. One high-revving, smooth-pulling power cruiser, if that’s your thing.

L: 244cm Seat Height: 67.5cm Wheelbase: 170cm Weight: 302kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 18.9litres Also try: Ducati Diavel, Yamaha V-Max

NightRod Special na *** na *** 2cyl 1247cc 6M na 111 na na na 8/10

Passion : A facelifted effort which is still chugging along but for how long? The passion is all lost but the will to move on is in abundance.

L: 198cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 116kg Wheel size: 18 inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Platina, Discover

+ na 0.44* na 0.49 1cyl 97cc 4M 7.5 7.95 na na na 5/10 Pro na 0.44* na 0.49 1cyl 97cc 4M 7.5 7.95 na na na 5/10

CBZ Extreme : There’s nothing understated about the bike’s looks, quite unlike its predecessor. Decent power and lots of gizmos to boot.

L: 201.2cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 127.1cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12.4litres Also try: Unicorn, Pulsar 150, Apache

0.61 0.61 0.62 0.72 1cyl 149cc 5M 14.4 12.8 na na na 5/10

Hunk : Hero’s third variant in the 150cc category. We wonder whether the name makes sense at all

L: 208cm Seat Height: 79.5cm Wheelbase: 132cm Weight: 146kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12.4litres Also try: Unicorn, Pulsar 150, Apache

0.65 0.65 0.65 0.77 1cyl 149cc 5M 14.4 12.8 na na na 5/10

Ignitor : This is Hero’s attempt at stunning you. Looks a bit different, offers more features than the Stunner.

L: 201cm Seat Height: 109.5cm Wheelbase: 127cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: na Also try: Honda CBF Stunner

0.66 0.63 0.68 0.68 1cyl 124cc 5M 11 11 na na na 6/10

Impulse : The only option if you like it dirty

L: 136cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: na Weight: na Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 11.1litres Also try: Unicorn, Pulsar 150, Apache

na 0.66 na 0.78 1cyl 149cc 5M 13 13.4 na na na 6/10

Karizma : The only challenger to the Pulsar 200 DTS-i. Finally gets a much-needed facelift and fuel-injection system.

L: 212cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 135 Weight: 150kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Pulsar 220 DTS-i, Yamaha YZF R-15

Karizma 0.75 0.75 0.76 0.88 1cyl 223cc 5M 17.6 18.3 125 3.8 na 7/10 ZMR Fi na 0.94 0.94 1.09 1cyl 223cc 5M 17.6 18.3 126 3.7 na 7/10

Maestro : A testosterone-charged scooter aimed at men. Big size and proven mechanicals. If it doesn’t apply to you, look below.

L: na Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 124 Weight: 110 Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5.3litres Also try: Honda Activa, Mahindra Duro, TVS Wego

na na na 0.57 1cyl 109cc V 8 9.1 na na 43.6 6/10

Pleasure : Hero’s first automatic scooter is aimed at women only! And women are buying it with pleasure.

L: 175cm Seat Height: 76.5 Wheelbase: 127.1 Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 10litres Also try: Activa, Dio, Wave, Kinetic 4S

0.39 0.39 0.39 0.47 1cyl 102cc V 7 7.8 na na na 6/10

HERO Dealers na Warranty na Website www.herohonda.com

India sales in 2012: NaCompany description: ‘The Honda name has been striked out. Now its Hero vs Honda as the Japanese bike maker tries to grab market share from its old ally.

6/1011010000/10/10/10/101111100000/10/10/1001110101100000/10/1000/101/1011/1001001000110/101110/100000/100/1/110/101000/10010/101000/1101001000101101000100001010101000100101001000001/10101000000//10/111111010000//111000100/10/111111110001001110000011100010

5/10

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HONDA

CB Unicorn : Still the best powertrain in the business and boasts extremely good quality. Dazzler’s lighter and more fun - our pick.

L: 209.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 134cm Weight: 146kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 13litres Also try: Pulsar 150, CBZ X-Treme, Apache

CB Unicorn 0.60 0.72 0.70 0.69 1cyl 149cc 5 13.3 12.8 101 5 60 6/10

CBF Stunner : A performance bike packed in a 125cc bike? Take that with a pinch of salt. Looks sporty though.

L: 201.2cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 127.1cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10litres Also try: Gladiator SS, Discover, Glamour, Flame

Stunner 0.56 0.54 0.56 0.63 1cyl 125cc 5 11 11 na 5.2 na 7/10

CB Shine : It’s now got a fair bit of ‘shine’ with bits like alloy wheels, electric start and sporty decals. Engine refinement and finish needs some work.

L: 201.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126cm Weight: 122kg Wheel size: 12inches Fuel tank: 11litres Also try: Discover 125, Victor, Super Splendor.

0.54 0.52 0.54 0.61 1cyl 124.6cc 4 10.3 10.9 na 5.3 65 6/10

Aviator : Just like the Dio, it uses the same engine as in the Activa. But all-new bodywork that’s supposed to appeal to men. Really?

L: 180cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 125cm Weight: 120kg Wheel size: 12inches Fuel tank: 6litres Also try: Activa, Dio, Kristal, Access

DLX 0.52 0.5 0.52 0.58 1cyl 108cc V 7 8 na na na 6/10 STD 0.46 0.44 0.47 0.52 1cyl 108cc V 7 8 na na na 6/10

Activa : Bland styling that now looks dated in the face of fresher competition. You could swear on its quality and reliability though.

L: 176cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 102kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5.3litres Also try: Dio, Nova 135, Kristal, Pleasure, Access

0.45 0.43 0.46 0.51 1cyl 109cc V 8 9 na na na 7/10

Dio : The refreshingly new Dio is a stunner (heh heh). One of the best lookers in the country, though it needs more firepower.

L: 176cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 102kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6litres Also try: Activa, Nova 135, Kristal, Pleasure, Accesskg

0.41 0.39 0.41 0.47 1cyl 102cc V 7 8 na na na 7/10

Dream : Honda’s attack deep into Hero territory. Wing riding for the commuter biker.

L: 202.2/2009cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 128.5/125.8cm Weight: 108/105kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 8litres Also try:Hero Splendor

Yuga 0.51 0.52 0.49 0.56 1cyl 108cc 4 8.5 8.9 na na na 7/10 Neo na 0.47* na na 1cyl 108cc 4 8.5 8.9 na na na na/10

CB Trigger : Honda takes another shot at the urban buyer in the 150cc segment

L: 204.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 132.5cm Weight: 108 Wheel size: 17litres Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Bajaj Pulsar 150, Yamaha Fazer

na na na na 1cyl 149.1cc 4M 9 9 na na na na/10

Twister : Honda’s entry into the high volume 100cc segment. Hero MotoCorp better watch out!

L: 197.2cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126.2cm Weight: 108kg Wheel size: 17 inches Fuel tank: 8litres Also try: Bajaj Discover DTS-i 100, Hero Honda Splendor NXG

0.51 0.49 0.52 0.58 1cyl 109cc 4M 9 9 na na na 7/10

HONDA Dealers na Warranty na Website www.honda2wheelersindia.com

India sales in December 2012: 2,Company description: Japanese giants have decided to go the full hog themselves and have motorcycles in every segment. But it’s their scooters that make them king.

6/101011011111111101111100011011001100001011100010011001011100110010000

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7/10

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KAWASAKI Dealers na Warranty 2 years/30,000kms Website www.bajajauto.com

India sales in 2012: NaCompany description: Reviving an old partnership with Bajaj has seen them return to India. They are playing it safe but may be too safe for their own good.

KTM Dealers na Warranty na Website www.bajajauto.com

India sales in 2012: naCompany description: Hooligans par excellence come to India, courtesy Bajaj, and bring along their unparalleled sense of mayhem .

HYOSUNG TO KTM

KAWASAKI

CBR : The 250 has been around for sometime and now you get it in 150 too! If you still want a hardcore sports bike the Ninja and R15 it is.

L: 203cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 136.7cm Weight: 167kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 13litres Also try: Ninja 250. Yamaha YZF R15 2.0

150R 1.23 1.19 1.23 1.36 1cyl 149cc 6M 18 13 na na na13 18 6M na /10250R 1.7 1.68 1.7 1.9 1cyl 249cc 6M 25 22.9 na na na22.9 25 6M na /10

CB 1000R: The most pocket friendly and usable litre bike that you can buy today. Crazy single-side swingarm takes the cake

L: 210.5cm Seat Height: 82.5cm Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 217kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17liquid Also try: Ducati Monster, Yamaha MT01

1000R na 9.5 na 11.2 4cyl 998cc 6M 123.3 100 na na na 100 123.3 6M na /10

CBR 1000RR: Another insanely quick bike to tear up our roads. No airbags yet, but it has ABS and an instant fuel consumption read out!

L: 208cm Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 199kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17.7litres Also try: Suzuki GSX 1000R, Yamaha R1

1000RR na 12.5 na 14.69 4cyl 999cc 6M 175.6 112 na na na112 175.6 6M na /10

VFR : Brilliant all-rounder, the V4 engine and the dual-clutch transmission makes this bike extra special.

L: 225cm Seat Height: 81.5cm Wheelbase: 154.5cm Weight: 267kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 18.5litres Also try: Yamaha V-Max, Suzuki Hayabusa

1200F na 17 5 na 20 5 4cyl 1237cc 6M 170 129 na na na1291706M na /10

Aquila 650: A V-twin 650cc cruiser that offers bling, power and value for money

L: 243cm Seat Height: 70.5cm Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 218kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 16litres Also try: Harley-Davidson Super Low

650 na 4.99 na na 2cyl 647cc 5M 74 62.1 na na 23 62.1 74 5M na

GT: Looks exactly like the GT650 but comes at half the price. A poser bike for all those who want a looker and could not care less about performance

L: 206cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 171kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 8litres Also try: Ninja 250.

250R na 2.75 na na 2cyl 249cc 5M 28 22.6 na na na22.6 28 5M na /10 650R na 4.97 na na 2cyl 647cc 6M 72.7 61 na na na61 72.7 6M na /10

ST7: It’s hard to see why someone would pick the ST7 over a Harley, unless Hyosung offers a solid bargain.

L: 247cm Seat Height: 76.2cm Wheelbase: 169cm Weight: 244 Wheel size: 16inches Fuel tank: 18litres Also try: Sportster XL 883 L

ST7 na 5.96 na na 2cyl 678cc 6M 61.6 57.3 na na na57.3 61.6 6M na /10

Ninja : Best combination of sport and cruising comfort. Handles like an R15, comfort levels as good as a Karizma and more power than both put together.

L: 208.5cm Seat Height: 76.2cm Wheelbase: 139.9cm Weight: 172kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 18litres Also try: Three Karizma ZMRs

250 na na na 3.10 2cyl 249cc 6M 33 22 na 6.7 21.522 33 6M 6.7 /10 650 na 4.57 na na 2cyl 649cc 6M 71 66 na 6.7 17.3 66 71 6M 6.7 /10

Duke : True to its heritage, the Duke 200 is a machine that is easily swayed into almost anti-social antics. Top shelf parts and value for money

L: na Seat Height: 810cm Wheelbase: 136.1cm Weight: 125kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10.5litres Also try: Pulsar 200

200 na 1.17 na na 1cyl 200cc 6M 25 19 na na na19 25 6M na /10 390** na 1.17 na na 1cyl 200cc 6M 25 19 na na na19 25 6M na /10

6/10

8/10

HYOSUNG Dealers 2 Warranty na Website www.dskhyosung.com

India sales in 2012: NaCompany description: The Korean manufacturer tries to give the same thrills as its Japanese and American rivals at a more affordable price.

88888888/10

6/10


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ROYAL ENFIELD Dealers na Warranty na Website www.royalenfield.com

India sales in 2012: NaCompany description: They’ve kept alive the charisma of big bore singles although emission norms have muted them to a fair extent. Reliability is still not the best.

MAHINDRA TO ROYAL ENFIELD

MAHINDRA Dealers na Warranty na Website www.mahindra2wheelers.com

India sales in April 2011: 9,558Company description: After buying the defunct Kinetic motors, Mahindra has taken its first step into the highly competitive two-wheeler market.

Duro DZ: The all-new Duro, well not all that new. Remember the Kinetic Nova?

L: 181.9cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 127cm Weight: 114kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6.5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Suzuki Access

na 0.50 na 55.4 1cyl 124cc V 8 9 80 na 45 9 8 V na /10

Flyte: Inherited from the erst while Kinetic-SYM collaboration.

L: 179cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 126cm Weight: 105kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Suzuki Access


Rodeo RZ: More focused on youngsters. Takes on the likes of Activa, Dio.

L: 179cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 124.5cm Weight: 106kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 4.5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Suzuki Access


Pantero: The Mahindra manages to impress with little value features that are usually not seen in this segment.

L: 200cm Seat Height: 80.5cm Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 120kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 13.7litres Also try: Bajaj Discover 100T

na 0.43 na na 1cyl 106.7cc 4M 8.4 8.5 na na 498.5 8.4 4M na /10

Centuro: Loaded with a list of features that are a first in its class.

L: 203cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 120kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12.7litres Also try: Honda Dream Yuga

na 0.45 na na 1cyl 106.7cc 4M 8.4 8.5 na na na8.5 8.4 4M na /10

Bullet : The thump is enough to buzz your senses. However, this one is basic, tough and macho. Can ride on almost any surface.

L: 212 Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 137 Weight: 163kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 14.5litres Also try: Electra, Machismo.

500 na 1.54* na na 1cyl499cc 5M 26 40.9 117 na na40.9 26 5M na /10 Electra 5S na na na 1.25 1cyl 346cc 5M 18 32 na na na32 18 5M na /10

Thunderbird : The cruiser in the crowd. Quite comfortable on the highway and an extremely steady bike. Now with a modern 350cc engine.

L: 204cm Seat Height: 77.5cm Wheelbase: 124cm Weight: 179kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Avenger

350 na na na 1.45 1cyl 346cc 5M 20 28 120 na 4528 20 5M na /10500 na na na 1.84 1cyl 499cc 5M 27.2 41.3 130 na na41.3 27.2 5M na /10

VISIT US AT TOPGEAR.COM

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Classic: A true beast. The 500 features the all-new fuel-injected TwinSpark engine. This is the most refined bike in the Bullet stable.

L: 213cm Seat Height: 80cm Wheelbase: 137cm Weight: 187kg Wheel size: 18-19inches Fuel tank: 13.5litres Also try: Electra, Machismo.

350 na na na 1.33 1cyl 346cc 5M 19.8 28 120 na na28 19.8 5M na /10500 na na na 1.55 1cyl 499cc 5M 27.2 41.3 130 na na 41.3 27.2 5M na /10Desert Storm na na na 1cyl 499cc 5M 27.2 41.3 130 na na 41.3 27.2 5M na /10Chrome na na na 1cyl 499cc 5M 27.2 41.3 130 na na 41.3 27.2 5M na /10

Access: Suzuki’s attempt to redefine practicality is great for college goers. 125cc power at Activa’s price.

L: 178cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 125cm Weight: 109kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6.4litres Also try: Honda Activa, Dio, Kinetic Flyte

0.42 0.4 na 0.43 1cyl 124cc V 8.6 9.8 na na na 9.8 8.6 V na 8/10

Bandit : Proper cross country tourer for those who aren’t fans of the Harley way.

L: 213cm Seat Height: 81/83cm Wheelbase: 1485cm Weight: 250kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank : 19litres Also try: Harley Davidson XR1200 Sportster, Ducati Monster

1250 8.5 8.5 8.5 10.08 4cyl 1255cc 6M na na na na na na na 6M na /10

GS 150 R: Possibly the most refined bike in India with good ride and handling. The six-speed gearbox is super smooth.

L: 209.5cm Seat Height: 790cm Wheelbase: 134cm Weight: 134kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Pulsar, Unicorn, FZ-16, Apache

0.61 0.58 na 0.62 1cyl 149cc 6M 13.8 134 na na na 134 13.8 6M na /10

GSX-R: Suzuki’s litre bike completes a Japanese trio. Arguably the most comfortable of the lot.

L: 204.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 140.5 Weight: 205kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17.5litres Also try: Yamaha YZF-R1, Honda Fireblade

1000 12.75 12.75 12.86 15.75 4cyl 999cc 6M 191 na na na na na 191 6M na 9/10

Hayabusa: The fastest production motorcycle in the world is here. Performance bikes will never be the same again.

L: 219cm Seat Height: 805cm Wheelbase: 148cm Weight: 260kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 21litres Also try: Yamaha YZF-R1 or a few hundred Pulsars put together

GSX 13000 R 12.5 12.5 na 14.89 4cyl 1340cc 6M 198 154 na na na 154 198 6M na /10

Intruder: This is a mammoth motorcycle with an engine big enough to put most cars to shame. The biggest cruiser yet.

L: 248cm Seat Height: 705cm Wheelbase: 171cm Weight: 347kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 19litres Also try: Most cars that you can think of or maybe even a boat

M800 na na na 9.78 2cyl 805cc 5M 52 68 na na 22 68 52 5M na /10M 1800 R 12.5 12.5 na 15.72 2cyl 1780cc 5M 127 160 na na na 160 127 5M na /10

Sling Shot: Reskinned Zeus to break the lull, or so Suzuki hopes. Stylish design, quality of materials not very good though.

L: 203.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 128kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Honda Shine, TVS Flame, Discover, Hero Honda Splendor

Sling shot 0.47 0.45 0.47 0.52 1cyl 124cc 5M 8.5 10 na na 6010 8.5 5M na /10Sling shot+ 0.49 0.48 0.49 0.55 1cyl 124cc 5M 8.5 10 na na 6010 8.5 5M na /10

Swish: Want a pefromance scooter with a bit of style? The Swish is what the doctor ordered.

L: 178cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 125cm Weight: 128kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6litres Also try: Honda Dio

0.49 0.51 0.51 0.55 1cyl 124cc 5M 8.5 9.8 na na na 9.8 8.5 5M na /10

Apache : Into its second generation now with a bigger engine and more ‘race effects’. Still a great looker.

L: 202cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 130cm Weight: 136kg Wheel size: 17/18inches Fuel tank: 16litres Also try: Pulsar 150, Achiever, Unicorn.

RTR160 0.59 0.59 0.59 0.7 1cyl 159cc 5M 15.2 13.1 105 na 42 13.1 15.2 5M na /10RTR161 Fi 0.66 0.66 0.66 0.79 1cyl 159cc 5M 15.7 13.8 107 na 43 13.8 15.7 5M na /10RTR180 0.65 0.64 0.65 0.78 1cyl 178cc 5M 17.1 15.5 119 4.15 3315.5 17.1 5M 4.15 /10

ROYAL ENFIELD TO SUZUKI

SUZUKI Dealers na Warranty na Website www.suzukimotorcycle.co.in

India sales in 2012: NaCompany description: Maker of the fastest production motorcycle of the world has found the going tough in India. Limited number of dealers and products are not doing any favours

TVS Dealers 618 Warranty 2 years or 30,000km bikes,Model dependent for scooters Website www.tvsmotor.in

India sales in July 2012: 1,61,255Company description: They’ve had their ups and downs but seem sorted out now. Strong presence in southern India, rest of India needs some attention.

6/10


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VESPA TO YAMAHA

Flame: New-generation 125cc from TVS. Embroiled in a lot of controversy. Nevertheless, decently built and good to look at.

L: 203cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 132cm Weight: 123kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 7.5litres Also try: Bajaj XCD, Yamaha Gladiator

SR 125 KS 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.57 1cyl 124cc 4M 10.5 10 na na na 10 10.5 4M na /10 SR 125 ES 0.47 0.47 0.47 0.51 1cyl 124cc 4M 10.5 10 na na na 10 10.5 4M na /10

Pheonix: A straight forward commuter bike. What you see is what you get. With a little more attitude and style, it would have stood out.

L: 198.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 116kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 14litres Also try: Nothing really

0.53 na na na 1cyl 124.5cc 4M 10.8 10.8 95 na na 10.8 10.8 4M na /10

Scooty: It’s tiny, petite and peppy. Convenient for city errands. But buy a bike for regular commuting. Perfect as your first two-wheeler.

L: 168.5cm Seat Height: 106cm Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 85kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Nothing really

Pep Plus Streak 0.36 0.36 0.36 0.43 1cyl 87cc V 5 5.8 na na na5.8 5 V na /10Pep Plus 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.41 1cyl 87cc V 5 5.8 na na na5.8 5 V na /10Teens 0.27 0.26 0.27 0.31 1cyl 59cc V 3.5 4.5 na na na 4.5 3.5 V na /10Teens Electric 0.31 0.31 0.31 0.31 1cyl 60cc V 1 3.3 na na na 3.3 1 V na /10

Jive: TVS’s different take on the 100cc commuter bike, made extra special with the omission of the clutch.

L: 197.5cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 126cm Weight: na Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15litres Also try: Bajaj 100 XCD, Hero Honda Dawn

na na na 0.51 1cyl 109cc V 8.2 8.3 na na na8.3 8.2 V na /10

Wego: With the Wego, TVS has set its eyes on Honda’s share of the gearless two wheeler market.

L: na Seat Height: na Wheelbase: na Weight: na Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Honda Aviator

na na na 0.51 1cyl 110cc V 8 8 na na na 8 8 V na /10

Vespa: Simply called Vespa, this 125cc scooter is undoubtedly one of the best-looking scooters out there. Sticker price is a shocker, thoug

L: na Seat Height: na Wheelbase: na Weighthh : na Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Dio, Suzuki Swish, Yamaha Ray

LX na na na 0.78 1cyl 125cc V 10 10.6 na na na10.6 10 V na /10VX na na na 0.78 1cyl 125cc V 10 10.6 na na na10.6 10 V na /10

FAZER: Purely a commuter. Surprisingly a good handler and has a refined engine. Perhaps failed to take off, as expectations were too high after RX

L: 197cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 133.5cm Weight: 135kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 13.2litres Also try: Pulsar 150, CB Unicorn Dazzaler

Fazer 0.42 0.81 na 0.90 1cyl 153cc 5M 14 14 na na na 14 14 5M na 7/10

FZ: Boldest of the 150cc lot with tyres to chew and spit out the competition. If a bit cheaper we would’ve recommended you buy two of them.

L: 197cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 133.5cm Weight: 137kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Pulsar 180, Apache RTR

16 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.85 1cyl 153cc 5M 14 14 115 5.1 na 14 14 5M 5.1 6/10S 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.82 1cyl 153cc 5M 14 14 115 5.1 na 14 14 5M 5.1 6/10

YAMAHA Dealers na Warranty 2 years or 20,000km Website www.yamaha-motor-india.com

India sales in April 2012: 25,817Company description: Have made a name out of manufacturing fast bikes. Great products, but dealer network not good enough to back them up.

VESPA Dealers 8 Warranty na Website www.vespaindia.com

India sales in April 2012: naCompany description: If there ever was a company that married history and tradition with a modern outlook, Vespa is it. You buy into one of the coolest brands in the world with this one.

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YAMAHA

FZ 1: Street fighter looks and performance to go with it. Will give you all the thrills of a litre class bike but will be easy to ride around the city as we

L: 214cm Seat Height: 81.5cm Wheelbase: 146cm Weight: 214kg Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 18litres Also try: CB 1000 R

FZ 1 na na na 10.72 4cyl 998cc 6M 147.9 106 na na na106 147.9 6M na 8/10

Ray: Aimed at ladies, but not surprisingly, it endears itself to the opposite sex too. Fun to ride, looks good and is a Yamaha

L: 183.5cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 127cm Weight: 104kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Dio, Suzuki Swish

na 0.46* na 0.55 1cyl 113cc V 7 8.1 na na na8.1 7 V na na/10

SZ: Cheaper alternative to FZ16, cuts down on essentials like disc brakes and pass beam

L: 205cm Seat Height: 80.2cm Wheelbase: 132cm Weight: 132kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 14litres Also try: Hero Honda Hunk

SZ-R na 0.54 na 0.69 1cyl 153cc 5M 12.1 12.8 na na na12.8 12.1 5M na 5/10SZX na 0.58 na 0.66 1cyl 153cc 5M 12.1 12.8 na na na 12.8 12.1 5M na 5/10

SS125: Another delicious product from the Yamaha stable. We’ll have to see whether even this one is a victim of buyer ignorance

L: 199.5cm Seat Height: 79.5cm Wheelbase: 129.5cm Weight: 125kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 13.6litres Also try: Discover 125

na 0.49 na 0.65 1cyl 123cc 5M 11 10.4 na na na10.4 11 5M na na/10

YZF-R1: Want to be like Rossi? Well, you can start with at least looking like him on a Yamaha.

L: 206.0cm Seat Height: 83.5cm Wheelbase: 141.5cm Weight: 177kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 18litres Also try: Hayabusa. CBR1000RR

10.5 15.60 na 15.60 4cyl 998cc 6M 177.4 112.7 285 na na112.7 177.4 6M na 9/10

YZF-R15 2.0: Same old R15 tweaked for better performance. Though no power upgrade will put off a few people

L: 197cm Seat Height: 80cm Wheelbase: 134.5cm Weight: 136kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Karizma ZMR, Bajaj Pulsar 220

na 1.1 na 1.29 1cyl 150cc 6M 16.8 15 140 na 4015 16.8 6M na 7/10

V-Max: Welcome to the world of muscle biking. Be ready for some seriously fast acceleration, and hope no one is crossing while you are at it.

L: 239.5cm Seat Height: 77.5cm Wheelbase: 170cm Weight: 310kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15litres Also try: Apollo 11, SR 71

20 25.05* 20 25.65* 4cyl 1679cc 5M 200 166.8 na na na166.8 200 5M na na/10

YBR: Entry level sub-110cc from Yamaha. Yes the badging might say it’s a 110cc bike but it’s an Alba clone.

L: 206.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 130cm Weight: na Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 13.6litres Also try: CT100, Splendor Plus, Star City

110 na 0.46 na 0.48 1cyl 106cc 4M 7.6 7.85 na na na7.85 7.6 4M na 5/10125 na 0.52 na 0.60 1cyl 123cc 4M 10.88 10.4 na na na 10.4 10.88 4M na 5/10


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BBC TopGear India 2013-08

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